Dear Friends,

 I want to let you know that I will not be in worship with you this Sunday, but for a very good reason!

 The congregation where I grew up, West Linn Lutheran Church, is celebrating their 50^th anniversary this year. Throughout the year they have been holding a variety of events to celebrate the ministries of the congregation as well as those who have served as their pastors over the years. This Sunday, April 21^st, they are celebrating the ministry of Pastor Gary Olson. Pastor Gary was my pastor when I was growing up in the church. Sadly, he passed away just a couple of months after Rhonda and I returned to Oregon to serve here at Community of ChristChurch. He played a major role in my faith formation over the years and he will always hold a special place in my heart. You can imagine, then, how honored and moved I was when I was invited to be the guest preacher at West Linn to celebrate Pastor Gary’s ministry.

So I will be worshiping with the good folks of West Linn Lutheran this Sunday and while I am there I will be sure to bring them your greetings and well wishes. To make it easier for me to accept the invitation to preach, the pastors at West Linn, Tim and Donna Hertzfeldt-Kamprath, offered to ‘swap pulpits’ with me. So I am pleased to tell you that my friend and colleague, Pastor Tim, will be preaching and leading worship this Sunday. I know you will all do your best to make him feel welcome. I look forward to being back with you for our Celebration of Blessings! Sunday on April 28^th.

God’s peace,
Pastor David

        Belonging, Behaving,
                   Believing: Blessings!

We lift up the ministries that encourage belief through learning and faith formation. We will pray over and ask God’s blessings on all those who have been involved in the past year in the ministries of Nursery, ChristKids, Friendship Club, CREW, OPUS, Adult Faith Conversations, Small Groups and Bible Study Groups.

A special testimony on "Believing" will be given by Shanti Binder.

 As we conclude the month of Stewardship, on April 28th, we will share our blessings for the ministires of ChristChurch by filing out a commitment card for the 2013-14 fiscal year and join together in celebration with an old fashion church potluck!

**Food signup sheets are in the Commons- just add your name for main dish, salad, or dessert.  We look forward to sharing a meal together in celebration of ChristChurch and it's ministries!

We have two open door opportunities that welcome you ANY Sunday:
Daily Faith and Sole2Soul.

NOTE: April 28th there will be no ChristKids, Friendship Club, OPUS & CREW or Adult Faith Conversations.  Instead, we will be together at the
CELEBRATION CHURCH POTLUCK!