925 North Forest St., Bellingham, WA 98225
phone: (360) 734-7180 fax: (360) 734-0788
www.centrallutheran.net; email, office@centrallutheran.net
119 years of faith in the heart of Bellingham
WORSHIP SCHEDULE 8:30 AM traditional, 11 AM contemporary, 9:45 AM fellowship and Sunday school for all ages
Grace and peace to all
the “saints and sinners” of Central Lutheran Church:
Orthodox: Part 1
Orthodox. This is one of my favorite words. In Greek it means
“correct/straight/true” (orthos) “thinking/opinion”
(doxein). In classical Greek this was the answer to the pursuit
of truth. Truth required both good logic and good facts. Good
logic could do nothing with false information, and good information
was useless if it could not be understood or properly used.
Truth needs both, in other words.
In the early church, the word “orthodox” took on
the specific meaning of moral truth as taught by Jesus; then
it gradually began to mean correct thinking in objective themes
or statements, which become the formal creeds during the third
and fourth centuries. In the east these creeds become the formula
of faith, while in the west the process of the creeds become
the foundation for defining the faith. Given this subtle difference
in interpretation, the east didn’t need new creeds, while
the west continued to develop creeds. The eastern church became
the “Orthodox” one, because they fashioned their
faith around the first creeds. The western church, while expanding
the required creeds to spell out the true faith, became known
as “Catholic,” because it worked “according
to” (kata) “the whole” (holos)—in other
words, by meeting in councils representing the whole church—to
determine the definition of faith.
Martin Luther survived an unsuccessful challenge to the expanded
required creeds and some abuses of those expanded creeds by
calling for a new council to determine the orthodox understanding
of grace based upon his rediscovery of the gospel, which he
found through study of the scripture. In other words, Luther
simply wanted to reform the church’s activities around
the teaching of scripture. Many joined Luther’s protest
movement (thus the name Protestants) of those who believed in
the gospel. (The Greek word euangelion—eu [“good”]
angelion [“messenger”]—became “good
news,” which in turn became evangelium in Latin, and thus
those who believe directly in the gospel instead of the church’s
process are called evangelicals.)
During the course of the protest, much of the activity was conducted
in the court of law of the day, and documents were written to
be presented as evidence—statements which demonstrated
that civil and church laws had not been broken. These statements
of defense—otherwise known as confessions—become
the definitions of the rediscovered gospel and outlined how
the Protestants should live according to that gospel. Some of
the Protestants wanted other issues to be the basis of the reform
or definition of true faith. Luther, wanting to make clear which
issues he saw as crucial, wrote first the small “teaching”
(in Latin, catechism) and then the large “teaching.”
A decade later, at a meeting of Protestants, Luther was asked
to summarize just what the faith-defining issues and beliefs
should be. Since the group was meeting in the city of Smalcald,
his summary is called the Smalcald Articles.
After Luther died (of a sickness contracted while traveling
to arbitrate a dispute amongst princes), the emperor attempted
to unify the empire by waging war against the Protestants to
establish a single church. When there was still no victory after
30 years, the new emperor agreed to let the local princes choose
between Luther’s and Rome’s understanding of the
true church. Thus all the Protestants gathered and wrote what
Luther’s understanding of the true church was, and everyone
signed the formula of agreement, or concord (from the Latin
word concordia—formed from com=agree and cors=heart).
All these writings were collected and published in one book,
which included a couple other of Luther’s commentaries,
and that book is now called “The Book of Concord”
(BC). All “orthodox” Lutherans subscribe to the
BC as the essential writings of the Lutheran Church, seeing
them as a true exposition (something between and explanation
and a demonstration) of the Word of God.
To be continued—
Benefit Concert for Shalom
Center
On Sunday, October 18, 2009, at 3:00pm a number of musicians
from Our Saviour's Lutheran and Central Lutheran Churches will
be putting on a joint benefit concert in Central’s sanctuary
for the Shalom Center of Western Washington University. The
Shalom Center, an interdenominational faith center, does important
work for the well-being of the students who use and need the
facility, providing a place of calm and reflection in a world
of constant activity.
Jeff Fox, Corean Bakke, Jodi Oliver, Merrilee Swinehart, Susanne
Snortland, Kathleen Barraclough, Kathy Reigstad, Pastor Tim
Whiteman, Bob Kenney, Mary Walby, and the Bellingham Norwegian
Ladies Chorus will perform vocal and instrumental pieces. Admission
is free, but we ask that people realize the important work that
the Shalom Center does and the dedication that Pastor Chris
Berry brings to his calling. Bring your friends and family for
an entertaining afternoon and support this worthy cause.
Habitat for Humanity
Whatcom County, 7th Annual Raise the Roof Auction
Saturday, October 17, 2009; 5:30 pm at the Semiahmoo Resort
Tickets = $50/person; for tickets or more info, call Habitat
at 360-715-9170
Mission Sewing Update: Mission Sewing Group thanks
you again for your help with school supplies. We still need
your help with our layettes. Items needed are sweaters sizes
0-24 months and cloth diapers (12 per pack). In addition, for
Adult Health Kits we need the following per kit:
1 toothbrush (adult size only)
1 bath-size bar of soap
1 nail file (metal only)
6 BandAids (1 ¾” wide, 3” long, or boxes
of ones all the same size)
We will be wrapping layettes and Adult Health Kits on October
20. Please place your items in the blue wicker basket in the
Narthex. If you no longer care to shop, you may give a financial
contribution and say what you would like the ladies to purchase
on your behalf. Again, thank you for caring and sharing. “God’s
Work – Our Hands”
Literacy Council: Imagine what life would be like
if you couldn’t read to your children or grandchildren,
help with their schoolwork, read a book, decipher a prescription
bottle, apply for a job, or seek health care. In Whatcom Country,
30,000 people may need help with reading or using English as
a second language. Whatcom Literacy Council’s winter training
for volunteer tutors is scheduled for February 2010. Those who
are interested in participating are invited to attend our Tutor
Primer at the Downtown Bellingham Library on the third Wednesday
of every month. Learn about becoming a volunteer tutor in your
community. No previous teaching or foreign language experience
is required. For more info, call the Literacy Council at 647-3264.
From Lutheran Community Services Northwest:
October Is Clergy Appreciation Month: Thank you, Pastor!
Lutheran Community Services celebrates the work and dedication
of our pastors. They accompany us on our spiritual journeys,
welcoming souls into the world and being there when souls travel
from this world into the next. … May the expressions of
appreciation that begin this month continue to lift our pastors
up in the year ahead.
Children’s Programs
Do you have room in your heart and home for a child in need?
Lutheran Community Services Children’s Programs find foster
homes for children up to 17 years old, including refugee and
immigrant children. If your heart is speaking to you to consider
this amazing opportunity, contact Andrea Hixson, 206-694-5713.
Refugee Resettlement Program
Many of the refugees that LCS serves arrive in the United States
without family or friends to assist them. Acting in place of
such connections, we gather together basic household furnishings
to help refugees set up house. Contact Caroline Van der Harten,
(206) 587-0320 if you can help.
Items needed include:
Furniture: beds, tables, lamps, etc.
Kitchen items: pots and pans, dishes, linens, etc.
Bed and bath items: bed linens, towels, etc.
Bishop’s
Message: Together We Study the Book of Acts
by The Rev. Wm Chris Boerger, Bishop
In my report to the congregations and rostered leaders of this
synod from the 11th Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA I invited
the synod to be in Bible Study of the book of Acts for the months
of October and November.
In our recent debates I heard questions about the importance
of scripture in our life as a church and I heard conflicting
understandings about the role of the church in the world. I
want to take these comments seriously. I have always found the
book of Acts as a challenging description of the church and
its many issues. The story of how the church came into being
is an important one for us to know. I believe that we will find
that we have much in common with these early believers and their
story can inform ours.
So I invite you to read the book of Acts. In the coming days
I will post thoughts and reflections of my reading on the web.
This is not intended to be the final word on the issues raised
by the texts. Rather, I invite you to look over my shoulder
as I re-engage with this part of the Bible.
Your study can be in family groups, as an individual, as a
small group or in some form of congregational gathering. The
format is not as important to me as the fact that we together
will be looking at the same portion of scripture for these two
months. I intend to bring this to conclusion by the first Sunday
in Advent, November 29.
The writer of Acts saw the church as an inspired community.
That community would have to define what the role of a disciple
of Jesus would be in a changing world. The structure of the
synagogue would influence and give way to the assembly of the
followers of Jesus.
This new gathering would make decisions, guided by the Holy
Spirit that would change long held views of what it meant to
be a follower of God. This new church would reach out to people
outside itself so that the story of Jesus could reach the whole
known world. This assembly would wrestle with how to use the
variety of gifts given to it by God.
The book of Acts will raise some discomfort in us as we see
the power and the conviction of the early church. We need that
discomfort to instruct us on how we might reach out with power
and conviction to our time and our places. We are the heirs
of this legacy. How we move into the world in response is a
significant question that must be addressed.
So I invite you to join me in this time of prayer and study.
I pray that we will learn from God's Holy Spirit what it means
to be the church of Jesus Christ and how that church is to act
in God's world. I invite you to join in this time of prayer
and reflection.
The mission of
Central Lutheran Church
is to be a church so deeply and confidently
rooted in the gospel of God's grace,
revealed in Jesus Christ,
that we joyfully give ourselves in witness and service.
Mailbag
To Pastor Tim and the members of Central Lutheran Church:
For everything you’ve done … for being the special
people that you are … thank you so very much. May God
continue to bless each and every one of you, and our new school.
With friendship and gratitude. — Miss Angie (our new
preschool teacher)
Church Council Minutes, September meeting – 9/8/09
See the church office for full minutes taken by Diane Ecker.
This is an unofficial synopsis.
Recording secretary update: A recording secretary is still
needed.
Treasurer’s report: We inched ahead, primarily due
to memorials given. Those monies will be set aside for now.
We lost a renter in the Intern House in August, but gained
two in September. Budget info will be available to committees
next month in preparation for the 2010 budget. Gary will run
member statements to let people know how much they’ve
given thus far.
Pastor’s report: The fair booth went well, but Pastor
Tim wants to do it differently next year (though not sure
how yet.) Beginning again are Confirmation, Kidz Club, and
Sunday School. We’re also back to our regular worship
schedule. We’re considering a joint Thanksgiving service
with St. James Presbyterian & Our Saviour’s (the
same churches with which we share the Easter sunrise service).
Committee reports:
Personnel – The Preschool & Nursery Coordinator
background checks have been run. Erin is working only 20 hours
a week, but that position is budgeted for 30 hours. Can we
add a second person? We have someone who’s interested.
Fellowship – They talked about goals and what’s
next. The biggest challenge – most on their committee
are wrapping up terms; they need to find more people to help.
Worship & Music – The committee recommends having
communion every Sunday during Advent as well as using Setting
1 from the LBW. We’ll decorate the sanctuary for Christmas
on Sat, December 5 (in case people are gone the weekend before
for Thanksgiving). The committee is talking about using the
Reclaim service book (from publishers working with WordAlone)
during worship – possibly to be used as a Lenten discipline.
There will be communion on Reformation Sunday – two
students are being confirmed.
Parish Ed/Youth/Property Management/Evangelism – no
reports.
New business: Council discussed but made no decisions regarding
church leadership, which currently has several vacancies.
A motion was made and approved for Pastor Tim and Randy to
contact those council members who have been attending infrequently
and ask them to either come or vacate their positions. Alternative
leadership formats were mentioned and will be discussed at
upcoming cottage meetings. LutheranCore, with which CLC recently
affiliated, is having a convocation in Indiana this month
which Randy will attend. They’ll be adopting a constitution
which they’ll post on their website to be available
for comments. Council also discussed but made no decisions
about whether, and in what way, Central should respond to
recent denomination-wide decisions on the part of the ELCA.
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