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Triduum

Triduum refers to the three days leading up to Easter. Too many people go right from the joyous shouts of Hosanna on Palm Sunday to the resurrection shouts of Hallelujah on Easter without experiencing the complete Passion Story through the Triduum.

Affordable Housing!?!?!? How can it be?

Do you make mortgage payments? If so, think about this for a while: Do you know that it is considered a government subsidy because of the tax deduction you receive on interest paid?

Gen Z & the Church: 5 Things to Consider

Carey Nieuwhof recently posted on his blog “A Sneak Peek into 5 Characteristics of Gen Z Church.” It is a summary of possibly takeaways from the Asbury Revival that occurred back in February.

A Commandment From God

John 13:1-14

A sacrament is a means through which God acts and gives us grace. For example, in communion, Jesus commanded us to “do this” and through the bread and wine we receive grace.

Christian Ethics: Why Do You Believe What You Believe?

Many people have strong opinions about specific ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, universal health care and war. But do you know..

Be Still

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth.”

Pride comes before the fall

Pride will get us to lofty places. When we have pride, we can be driven to places that, comparatively, are superior. Now, I’m not talking about pride in one's work. I’m not talking about doing a job well or seeing things through. I’m talking about a sense of self that makes us think that we are the end-all, be-all, answer for everything. An overabundance of self-confidence will, absolutely, get you to great places.

For Everything There is a Season – in Celebration of Christ South

For everything there is a season, and each season has a beginning and an end. Our beginning was a small group of people worshipping in a dance studio, and on Sunday, February 12th, we will gather one last time as Christ South. While we naturally seek to understand why things end or what went wrong, it’s important to remember that the real story of South isn’t those two points in time, but all that happened in between.

Annual Meeting Recap: Ceasing Worship at Christ South

In case you missed it, the annual meeting on January 29 was one of the largest we’ve seen, and one of the most emotional. No matter how one voted, it was a sad moment for everyone.

Top Four Myths About Young People and the Church

“How do we get more young people to come to church?” Almost every congregation asks this question! Churches all over the US are looking for ways to connect with young people as we watch weekly worship numbers decline, giving sliding downward, and the average age of most congregations going up. Every church is trying to find that magic bullet that will bring in more young people to combat against these rising concerns.

Where You At?

I know there are some who would wrinkle their nose at using a preposition at the end of a sentence. I, for one, love this American phrasing. It says all I want and doesn't bring any other baggage. ‘Where you at’ asks where you are; I want to know because I care about you. There are other ways of expressing the same sentiment, but when I hear this version, I know immediately: I am dealing with an American.

Hineni

This is the word of the year for Christ Lutheran. Hineni. It is Hebrew for, “Here I am” and the theme for our current sermon series. It doesn’t mean being counted as present in class, “Here I am!” It doesn’t mean being found by rescuers, “Here I am!” It means hearing the call of God, stripping away all fears and doubts, stepping forth in confidence and being ready for action, “Here I am.”

Christmas invite - Absolutely Nothing Better

Luke 2:8-15I was making cookies with my daughter the other day. We make a whole bunch of “drop” cookies. No baking, just mix the ingredients together and “drop” the resulting paste onto wax paper. In a couple hours we can eat to our heart’s content. We’ve picked up some of these recipes over the years and I didn’t realize it until we were almost done but, for me, that’s the official start of the Christmas season. Making Christmas cookies means Christmas is really, finally, here.

Finding the Christmas Spirit

Can you find the Christmas Spirit this year? I can tell you where!

Better To Be Crazy

Matthew 6 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Protecting Our Children

Recently, there was an article in the Charlotte Observer about a young man who had been abusing children over the course of five years through his volunteering with their soccer league. To make matters worse, the newspaper listed all the area churches where this abuser had volunteered at their children and youth programs.

Advent Traditions Galore! Hallelujah!

It’s happening, folks. Yesterday marks the day I saw my first Christmas Tree being driven home. Strapped to the top of a Nissan Altima, you just know this car is pulling into a house fully decked out with 5-foot-tallcandy canes plunged throughout the yard, faux icicles dangling from the gutters, tinsel strewn around the banisters, and mistletoe over every doorway.

Welcome: Deacon Kenny Champagne

I am so excited for you to meet Kenny Champagne this Sunday, November 20, at all the services at Christ Providence. With over fourteen years of working with youth and their families, Kenny will be taking on the position of Director of Family Ministries for Christ Lutheran.

STAND Sunday - If only….

There are more churches in Charlotte than there are foster children in the system in Mecklenburg County. Come learn how we can make a difference and band together as THE CHURCH to make an immeasurable difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

Better Than A Good Idea

Matt 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

He is Making All Things New

Cue the theme from Mission Impossible. A new AOL Instant Messenger window pops up on my desktop. It’s an upperclassman and new friend of mine asking if I, a freshman at Valparaiso University, am busy. It’s Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 11:00 PM (“Do you know where your children are?”).

My Final Blog ~ Thanks for 22 Years of Memories!

Retirement. It’s a strange new world, most of us only experience once. We can’t practice it or experience it until it arrives (kind of like having a first baby). We wait…and wait…and wait and start preparing and then suddenly things start changing... really fast! Little things you may not think about until it hits you in the face; like removing all the ongoing staff meetings on your calendar that were there in perpetuity for 22 years, and you are deleting the entire series or figuring out how to word an email away message that says you’re never coming back! I guess Teams will disappear when my email is disconnected. It was my lifeline to my colleagues during Covid and working from home… I’ll miss it.

New Director of Family Ministries ~ Deacon Kenny Champagne

I am pleased to announce that we have extended an offer to fill the position of Director of Family Ministries with an excellent candidate, Kenny Champagne. He will start on November 20.

The Bible Is a Love Letter

I find, when I’m talking to people about the Bible, that sometimes they have the opinion that the Bible is a book of rules. That God wants us to do XYZ and is looking to see if we follow.

A New Season

He offered this advice, “Just look where doors and windows seem to be opening and walk through them.”

We kicked it off – now what?

Were you in Church Sunday? I was in the house, as well as online, (as usual). The Spirit of the Lord was present. We had an amazing meal together thanks to Mike & Alicia, activities for the kids, and of course Worship. Over the last few months, nearly a year in fact, there have been a LOT of changes at Christ Lutheran, pastoral and staff. There have also been dramatic changes in the world we’re living in, amen?? But as Pastor Scott has been saying for a while now, it’s time to get back to our community in the house of the Lord. So, we kicked it off Sunday!

The Thief

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Potatoes

That’s what I think of on Labor Day. Potatoes.Some of you have heard this story.It was only about 3 acres. But, to us, it was a farm. Growing up in Ohio with Depression-era parents meant that you provided as much as you could for yourselves. We had an orchard with many varieties of fruit trees, animals of every kind, and a garden—a garden large enough to justify using our antique John Deere tractor to plow and disc it in preparation for summer crops. The garden produced crops large enough to also use the tractor for harvesting in the Fall.

The Community of Saints

Confirmation Sunday—August 28, 2022

Those who come from a more liturgical church background (Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopalian, etc.) may remember your confirmation. Mine was in 1976 at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Austin, Minnesota. I remember the years of going to church on Saturday mornings with Pastor Knutson, struggling with the memory work and reading my own copy of Luther’s Small Catechism.

Clouds

Looking up in the sky, you can tell what kind of weather the day is going to bring, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes it changes without much warning.

I Sing Because I’m Happy

Picture this situation: you’re in your car, sitting at a red light, singing your heart out along with your favorite song on the radio. Out of the corner of your eye, the person next to you in traffic is staring at you. You know what they’re thinking, and in an instant your face is red and you stare straight ahead, praying the light turns green as soon as possible.

A Day in the Life of a US Navy Chaplain

“Hey CHAPS, I have a question for you.” I am three months into my ministry as a US Navy Chaplain(or “CHAPS” as most sailors call me.) I love whenever a sailor says they have a question. Each time is an opportunity to listen, care for them, and sometimes share the Gospel of Jesus. This time the question was, “What’s God think about tattoos?” I could literally feel the sailors around me lean closer as we stood together in our ship’s small, medical room. Most of them had—you guessed it—LOTS of tattoos! This is what one version of a modern-day mission field looks like. A crowded room full of sweaty, tired, mostly 20-something year old sailors. To enter the US Military at any age is like entering a foreign country. The Navy has its own customs, traditions, rituals, and language. My first day aboard the ship began with a meeting called the Executive Officer call (The Executive Officer or “XO” is second in command of the ship). I understood about 5% of what was said in that meeting. That’s an exaggeration, but not by much. It is a good thing I love to learn. There is SO much to learn. Thankfully, there are many sailors willing to teach you. You just need to be humble and ask for help! Another good thing is my days are full of variety. As a CHAPS, I get to roam the entire ship. I may start my day by going to a training led by the medical team. Then I’ll attend an exercise that involves lowering a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) into the water. Afterwards, I may spend 1-2 hours counseling sailors who are having marital difficulty or struggling with anxiety. Then I will prepare for a Sunday worship service. I do all of this while our ship—the USS PHILIPPINE SEA—is undergoing maintenance. Maintenance is a stressful time for a Navy ship. The days are very long. Our sailors paint, fix broken parts, check equipment, stand watch, and then fix more broken parts. It is a grind. The pace takes a toll on even the toughest sailors. Whether they are religious or not, many of them come to me for a listening ear and a caring word. Our ship will eventually go to sea and believe it or not, doing so will be easier for many sailors that the long days right now. I am thankful I spent 12 years as a pastor before I became a chaplain. God used those years to shape me. I learned how to better rely on His power. “Hope,” Thomas Keating once said, “is the mercy and power of God.” Each day my hope rests not on what I can do, but on what God can do. And what can God do? Everything. God provides us with the right words when we don’t know what to say. God sustains us with strength. God opens doors to share His love. I am a witness of these things. This summer at Christ Lutheran’s VBS, the children and youth made LOTS of “Thank You for Your Service” cards for my crew. They also took up a special offering. I will use the offering to buy non-perishable items(i.e., snacks) for our sailors. They will be SO grateful! You all make a difference! This will open the door to share God’s love. Thank you! To the sailor who asked me about tattoos, how did I respond? The short answer is, with the gospel. “Whether you get a tattoo or no t”I said, “doesn’t change how God loves you. What matters is that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus.” “Huh. We like that CHAPS.” The sailors said. To which I replied, “Good. And oh, by the way. We have a worship service this Sunday at1745 (5:45 PM). Why don’t you come?” Thank you for prayerfully supporting Megan, our boys, and me, as we serve Jesus. The campus of “Christ Navy” is going great! God’s blessings,Drew