By Daniel Thomas, CGS Musician

As I mentioned in a previous article, as we move into the Pentecost season we will be doing more contemporary music in our worship service. Some of the songs will be familiar to our CGS family as pieces we used to do in our periodic praise services, while others will be new to most people.

As we read in the Book of Acts, as the Holy Spirit filled the Apostles they began to speak in many tongues, but those who were present “heard the speech in their own language, even though they were from many different countries.” I think this is an apt analogy to using different musical styles in our service – whether it is classical, rock, folk, jazz, or some other style (Pastor and I both want to do a ska service someday!), if we listen to the words, and if we remember that the Holy Spirit fills the hearts and minds of all those who write music to worship, I think we can all hear the music in our own “language” – even if it is not a style we might normally listen to.

Here are links to some of the music you’ll be hearing this season. Although we may not play the music exactly as you’ll hear it in these links, it will give you the chance to hear the melodies and take in the words prior to each service. As always, I welcome your thoughts and conversation!

Forgiveness Waltz
Holy Spirit, Come
Great Comforter, Descend
Hymn To The Holy Spirit
Christ Has No Body Now But Yours
Holy, Holy
Holy Communion
Holy Spirit, Light Divine
Forever

I’ll continue to provide links to music as we go through the season.

CGS is seeking a part-time housekeeper for the month of June while Comfort returns home for the first time in approximately 20 years. To apply for this position, please fill out this application and submit it to pastormanda@cgslc.org. 
​

By Kevin Visscher, CGS Treasurer

In a recent article headlining the NYT, there was an interesting discussion of the current prosperity of California (it reclaimed its position as “the world’s 5th largest economy,” largely driven by the Bay Area in particular) alongside its many significant challenges, like an already large homeless population that grew statewide by 14% last year.

The contrast between economic prosperity and poverty here is not anything new, but it reminds me of how easy it is to become apathetic toward the struggles of those around us, even in times of prosperity. Do I recognize the challenges faced by others, and what am I doing about it? Does an examination of how I spend my time and money reveal anything about my values?

What is CGS’s role in this economic environment?

As CGS’s treasurer, I see many indicators that CGS shares in the area’s prosperity.  While our general giving through March is below our budget (by $15k, or 20%), it typically picks up significantly in the second half of the year to meet it and giving is quite similar to prior years by this time (less than $2k, or 3% lower than last year). Expenses are in line with what we budgeted ($5k under budget, or 5%). Net income is also similar to prior years at this time. Our cash and investment reserves are currently over $900,000. I think we are in a strong economic position, which is incredibly fortunate.

I'm also encouraged by the ways the CGS community is actively seeking to welcome and serve those who are struggling. For example:

• Getting started on the building into the future project and rethinking how we can share this space with those that may need it. Council and the building committee are working with consultants to start a listening phase and architectural drawings.
• Supporting local non-profits through congregational donations (we donated $5k to 4 organizations in January, which is approved in our annual budget). Did you see the thank you note we received from the LGBTQ Youth Space in the narthex?
• Cooking meals for people who are hungry at the Julian Street Inn (we reimburse our teams that cook monthly for the cost of the meals, about $2k annually).
• And many other ways I don’t have space to write about here.

​Looking forward, let’s work together to notice the needs around us and act together to share the abundance with which we’ve been blessed.

On behalf of the church council,  a tremendous "Thank you" for your engaged participation at the special congregational meeting last Sunday, May 6. For those unable to attend, following a great discussion, the congregation unanimously voted in favor of adding the additional funding to proceed with the listening phase of the Building Our Future program. A task force is being assembled to work with our development consultant to engage the CGSLC community in a variety of surveys and interviews that will provide guidance on our capacity to do a capital campaign. In the coming weeks watch for more information, including a web page that will be the central place to get information about Building Our Future. Again, thank you for your support and participation in our Special Congregational Meeting. 

In service, 
Theo Olson
President,  CGSLC Council

Pentecost \PEHN-tih-kawst\ n: A great name for a ’57 Chevy convertible, the birthday of the church, or the longest most ordinary time of the church year.
 
Pop quiz: What are the three major festivals of the CHURCH year?
And your answer is…
Okay, forget for a second that you are reading an entry on Pentecost. If you weren’t, would you have named Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost? Really? With God as your witness?
Speaking of WITNESS, Pentecost is all about witness and fire!
Pentecost was the day that the Holy Spirit came and lit a fire – quite literally (read all about it in Acts 2) – under the witnesses of the church. On the day of Pentecost – fifty days after the first Easter – tongues of fire appeared on the disciple’s heads, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began witnessing to Christ. Some people refer to this day as the birthday of the church.
Each year the church (all around the world) celebrates its birthday – that is, the day the Holy Spirit came and lit a fire in us – by marking the festival of Pentecost. The church also celebrates the season of Pentecost, which lasts from the Day of Pentecost until the first Sunday of Advent. It is the longest season of the church year.
See also: Church; Holy Spirit; Tongues (speaking in); Witness; Apostolic Mission

Apostolic Mission \ap-us-STAH-lihk-MIH-SHUHN\ A loosely organized effort to spread the world that, after a period of about 70 years, pretty much succeeded.

The story of the “Apostolic Mission” begins with Pentecost. (see above) On the first Pentecost, Jerusalem was crowded with foreign-born Jews who were in town for the Jewish festival of weeks. The followers of Jesus had been told to stay in Jerusalem and “wait for the gift my Father promised” (Acts 1:4). There they sat. Until that fateful fiftieth day when – woosh! The Holy Spirit came upon those followers and, spilling into the streets, they began to tell about Jesus. And here’s the neat trick: they told about Jesus by speaking in the native language of those foreigners that were in the city that day. A crowd gathered, and Peter had to explain that everyone was perfectly sober, since it was only nine o’clock in the morning. (We’re not sure why the time of day makes a difference, but maybe that says more about us than anything else.) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached. It was the first Christian sermon and it must have been a pretty good one since “about 3,000 were added to their number that day.”
The miracle of Pentecost is, in fact, a perfect metaphor of the Apostolic Mission. The mission of those early apostles was, put simply, to get the word out – to translate the gospel into other tongues, cultures, and world-views. The members of Jesus’ inner circle of followers were called “Apostles,” and it was these twelve Apostles who were originally charged with leading the mission to spread the word (When you think “apostle,” think “emissary,” or “ambassador,” or “messenger.”) Generally speaking, these apostles were eye- and ear-witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In addition, “signs, wonders, and miracles” were “the things that mark an apostle” (2 Corinthians 12:12).
The top two definitions are taken from {Crazy Talk} edited by Rolf Jacobson. They’re a great refresher as we inch up on Pentecost Sunday in a couple weeks. While we might enjoy the social scene, the opportunity for charity, or getting our emotional needs filled – the heart of our purpose is our mission – our Apostolic Mission.
Someone once told you about Jesus. What or who Jesus is, what God/Jesus means in their life, how they see God differently than others. Were it not for them, you wouldn’t be here. Were it not for the people who told them about Jesus – they wouldn’t have told you. The whole heart of why we are a community, become voting members, get baptized, come to worship, sing our hearts out, etc. – is our calling to talk to one another about God. Have you ever told someone about Jesus? In the cheesy way or in an authentic way? Have you ever spoken about Jesus in church? What’s stopping you? Email me and tell me what stops you from telling other people about the God you know: pastormanda@cgslc.org.

by Jean Herriges

I never imagined that I would be a regular churchgoer. As a child I attended church just a handful of times, and as an adult I found the idea of faith highly suspect. There always seemed to be so much hate mixed in with faith that I didn’t see any place for me, especially when I came out as a lesbian. Somewhere in my heart I felt envious of faithful people, like they had a secret I couldn’t share. Then my wife and I found CGS, and this special place made me – and us – feel normal, and welcome, and part of a community. Even then it took me awhile, and I still struggle, but I now realize that faith is there for me, too.

Now I find myself here at CGS week after week, and more involved in our shared church life every day. This has helped me strengthen my faith and feel the power of connection to all of you. I have been called to serve in so many ways, and this year I am honored to serve on the CGS Council as one of your leaders. As you probably know, the church is working on many exciting projects. Council would like to update the congregation on our progress and next steps, and so there will be a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 6, after worship.

Topics of discussion include the following:
· Council Updates
· Stewardship Report
· Christ Community Church
· Building Our Future
· Vote on additional expenditure to fund Listening Study
· Council Round Tables

Childcare will also be provided. Council will discuss each issue and answer your questions about the items. I’m particularly excited about the Building Our Future topic and the Listening Study. I am eager to hear what people are thinking about for the future of our church, and especially about how we might meet the needs of our surrounding community. Welcoming Christ Community Church to our building is one way we have connected to our broader ELCA community, and we will also discuss additional ways to help them serve their congregation.
​
Working with Council on these and other issues has helped me feel more connected to you and the rest of the congregation. My faith is evolving, too. I see the potential for us to tackle issues and solve real problems with the power of our hard work plus faith. I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Special Congregational Meeting on May 6, and appreciate everything you do for our community.