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Ministries of Christiania
Prayer | Education | Library | Confirmation | FaithTrek Sunday School | VBS | Spiritlife Day Camp | Bible Exploration
Holy Communion Preparation | Nursery | Missions | CLCW | Congregational Life
Christiania has a strong ministry for prayer. Each Tuesday morning, the prayer coordinator begins the phone calling chain or sends the information via email. If you would like to participate, please inform Karen in the church office at (952) 461-2283 or email by clicking here.
Cody Metz Caring Bridge Website
www.CaringBridge.org/visit/codymetz
Brandon Petersen's Caring Bridge Website
www.CaringBridge.org/visit/brandonpetersen
Ronnie Anderson's Caring Bridge Website
www.CaringBridge.org/visit/ronaldanderson
Rachel's Road
www.CaringBridge.org/mn/rachelhansen
Adult Education
Forum: A variety of topics are presented every Sunday morning during the Education Hour. Recent discussions have included The Lutheran Course, Amazing Grace and other hymn stories, the daVinci Code, Depression, Faith and Politics, and Faith Goes to the Movies.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study : Rise and shine with God’s word! This group meets at 7:00 a.m. for study and fellowship.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study : This group is reading and discussing "Experiencing God."
CLCW Bible Study : Christiania Lutheran Church Women meet on the third Wednesday of the month for study. 2006-2007’s topic is Hope in the Midst of Suffering.
Serendipity Bible Study : A small group meets in homes once a month for conversation around life application of Scripture.
SALT : Senior Adults Learning Together is a cooperative effort of many congregations in Scott and Dakota County. In the fall and in the spring on Monday mornings seniors gather for coffee and a choice of several lectures with lunch following. SALT is hosted by Risen Savior Catholic Church in Apple Valley.
The church library is tucked in the southeast corner of Fellowship Hall and is packed with great children’s DVDs and books on a variety of topics for all ages.
Click Here to go to the Confirmation Page
Confirmation recognizes that faith is a gift of God, and a young person’s response to God. It is an experiential and educational process for young people in grades 7, 8, & 9 to explore the basics of the Christian faith and to respond with their own “I believe.” Young people learn Luther’s Small Catechism (Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments, Baptism, Holy Communion, the Creed) and participate regularly in worship and service and fellowship. FaithAlive is a part of confirmation that helps shape community and is a regular part of the 6:30-8:00 p.m. Wednesday class time during the school year. The Affirmation of Baptism is the third Sunday of the month, May 20, 2007 at the 10:30 a.m. worship service.
Information coming Soon!!
Children age 3 (with a parent) through grade 2 (completed) gather for a fun filled, relaxing way to learn about Jesus. VBS is June 25-28, 2007, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and the theme is (ala Indiana Jones) “Quest for Truth: Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Registrations come in May and each child brings an adult to help in a variety of ways some time during the week. Cost is $10 each. Click Here for the Registration Form.
Please note the time change to 6:00 p.m. from 6:30 p.m.
Children who have completed grades 3, 4, 5, & 6 are invited to SpiritLife DayCamp August 6 – 9, 2007, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. College student camp staff from Camp Onomia leads the children in games, songs, worship, crafts, Bible study and outdoor activities. The week concludes with congregational worship on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. There is also a Thursday night bonfire and an overnight! If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth by clicking here.
Sunday, November 4 at 9:35 a.m. in the Heritage Room - Bring a parent and your new Bible!
Where is the story of David and Goliath?
"You mean there are two Creation stories?"
"What do all those numbers mean in the Bible?"
Bible Exploration is a fun way to learn the answers to these questions, and more. We will play games (with prizes), talk about how the Bible helps us, and discover all the different kinds of stories, letters, prayers, and advice God gives us!
Children in grade 3 receive a New Revised Standard Bible in the fall, usually on Reformation Sunday, as a gift from the Christiania Lutheran Church Women. On a Sunday following, they learn how to use their new Bibles, including Table of Contents, Chapter and Verse, and Books in an interactive session with their parents and one of the Pastors.
Children in grade 5 are prepared to receive their first communion, usually during the season of Lent. The four week classes include a video, skit, game, Bible work, interviews, writing a newspaper account, and conversations with a parent who attends the Preparation with the student. Children paint their own first communion chalice and are invited to receive the bread and wine at the Table on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.
A volunteer staffed nursery is along the east wall of the hallway between the sanctuary and the FaithTrek Sunday School wing. Children under 5 are invited to play in a safe and healthy environment when they are unable to sit with their families in worship. Martha N coordinates volunteers.
Christiania enjoys reaching out to those in need globally and locally. A special relationship has been formed with a congregation in Tanzania
- Christiania's gifts to benevolence hover around 10% of the total budget.
- Gifts go to support the larger church through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Saint Paul Area Synod, the Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala, a new Hispanic congregation in St. Paul, world hunger and disaster relief throughout the world, Lutheran Social Services, Camp Onomia, Lakeville Assistance Fund, Habitat for Humanity, 3 local food shelves, Meals on Wheels, Northfield Retirement Center and others.
- In addition, Christiania Lutheran Church Women (CLCW) makes gifts of $7,000 every year, and individuals make many other gifts, primarily for education, church buildings and medical supplies to Iringa and unexpected tragedies in our community, that are not run through the budget
Loaves and Fishes
On the 5th Tuesday of the month Christiania shops for, prepares, serves and cleans up a meal for low income working people at the Creekside Community Center in Bloomington. The meal of pizza, salad, peaches and apple cobbler is always appreciated and the crew, including many teenagers, has lots of fun working together. The next meal is Tuesday, May 29, 2007.
Adopt a Highway
In the spring and in the fall, teenagers and adults gather to clean up four miles of County Road 46 in front of the church. We gather for pizza following. The next clean up is Sunday April 22, 2007 at 11:30 a.m.
Baby Shower for Jesus
Around the Festival of Jesus' Baptism in January, the congregation brings in new and slightly used baby items for Lutheran Social Services.
Spring Cleaning Drive
After Easter the congregation brings in dust mops, buckets, sponges and other household cleaning supplies for Lutheran Social Services.
Operation Backpack
In July and August, the congregation brings in backpacks, pencils, notebooks, crayons and other school supplies for children in the Northfield School District. Christiania has been recognized as one of the most generous donors!
Grocery Cart and Minnesota Food Share Month
A grocery cart sits in Fellowship Hall to collect groceries for the food shelves in Dakota, Rice and Scott Counties. A special emphasis for gifts, including money, is emphasized in March.
Habitat for Humanity
Christiania members have worked on homes in Rice County.
Iringa
Christiania is partnered with the Ihemi congregation in Iringa, Tanzania, East Africa. Twice the congregation has visited, and members have traveled to help with student sponsorship, clean water drilling, to teach at the local university, and the establishment of the Agriculture Institute. Thirty-six secondary students and two divinity students are being sponsored by the congregation and individuals.
Financial Gifts
Christiania Lutheran Church Women (CLCW)
Every woman in the congregation is invited to participate in CLCW.
Anniversary Cookbook is now Available! Hundreds of Delicious Recipes from your Friends here at Christiania!
Available for $15 at the Church!
Norwegian Supper
One of the most anticipated and beloved events is the annual Norwegian Supper, usually held on the fourth Saturday evening in October. This year’s date is October 27, 2007. Lutefisk, meatballs, lefsa, boiled potatoes, vegetable, sweet soup, and traditional Norwegian desserts are on the menu. Tickets usually go on sale to the congregation the first Sunday in October and by phone or in person to the community the following Tuesday.
Bible Study
Third Wednesday of the month in the Heritage Room, led by one of the pastors. The group may take a break or field trip during the summer; check the calendar.
Quilting
Quilters sew and tie quilts usually on the first Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. In 2006, 74 quilts were donated to the B Robert Lewis House for abused women and children, among other places.
Book Discussion
Readers meet and discuss books usually on the last Wednesday of the month at 11:30 a.m. Recent selections by members include Gilead and Dancing with Alzheimer’s.
Lunch Bunch
Friends gather at local restaurants usually on the second Wednesday of the month.
Funeral Lunches
When a funeral is held in the church building, the CLCW offers to serve a lunch to the family and friends following the service/internment. Women of the congregation provide bars and cake and coffee and lemonade, and are willing to serve sandwiches and/or salads.
Cookie Bake
Soon becoming a tradition, women gather early in February to bake cookies and breads to be shared with special members of the congregation the following Sunday.
Other Events
CLCW also serves a Birthday Party at the Northfield Care Center, sells Free Trade coffee through Lutheran World Federation, cleans the kitchen and nursery, serves coffee and refreshments for fellowship after worship in the summers, serves Lenten suppers, honors confirmands and graduates, gives candles to the newly baptized and medallions on the one year baptismal anniversary, assembles the Spotlighter and sends notes to the ill and more.
Congregational Life provides fellowship and support opportunites
Fellowship
Periodic gatherings for getting acquainted and entertainment has included trips to see Church Basement Ladies (April 21), Lutheran Night at the Twins (July 10, 2007), You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (March 2007), and Beauty and the Beast (December 2006).
Congregational Picnics/Dinners
Often Christiania gathers at our ballfield, 2 miles east of the church on 267th Street, on the last day of Sunday School, and at church on Harvest Festival, usually the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Leadership of the church gathers for a picnic usually on the second Tuesday in July and for a dinner at church in early December.
Pick-Up Softball
Children, youth, and adults meet at the Twin Church Ballfield, 2 miles east of the church on 267th Street on Tuesday's at 6:30 p.m. during the late spring through summer. The Property Commission keeps the field mowed and is considering adding a port-a-potty for the season. Treats often show up after the game.
Spring Luncheon
Women are invited to hear Joan Claire Graham, auther and publisher of the Minnesota Memories books on Wednesday May 9, 2007. Her talk will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by a potluck luncheon.
Christmas Tea
In December women gathered for a potluck and a program. In 2006 they shared treasures and memories of Christmas.
Congregational Camping
Campsites and camp motel rooms are open for all during the annual camping weekend at Camp Onomia, usually the first weekend in August. Camp provides a sandy beach, paddleboats, canoes, a playground, basketball court, ball fields and balls, and dock for members' boats for fishing and tubing. Often the adults do a Bible study on Saturday morning while the children have activities with camp staff. Sometimes the group shares cooking responsibilites. Worship is at the campfire Saturday night.
Dinner Groups
Small groups of 5-8 meet for dinner in each other's homes, sharing small devotions and great times of laughter and conversation. Groups meet for one year and sign up's for new groups begins every August - September.
Yoga Class
Thursday afternoon and evenings, Sheilah Giles leads a small group in stretching and muscle conditioning through traditional yoga positions. A small fee is requested.
Blood Pressure Checks
Once a month, usually on the second Sunday of the month, our parish nurses, Michelle V. and Kim K., take blood pressures between Sunday services.
Friendly Visitors
Individuals trained in active listening and prayer visit with shut in's and special members of our congregation for support and caring.
Parents of Preschoolers
This new group began in fall 2006 and has started Date Night, a cooperative babysitting service once a month on a Saturday night from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m., Welcoming New Babies, and Dinner Groups with preschoolers. The Parents of Preschoolers occasionally meet on Sunday mornings for coffee and conversation, the next gathering on Sunday April 22, 2007.
Graduation Recognition
The Christiania Lutheran Church Women (CLCW) honors all high school and college graduates in June during the Fellowship Hour following Sunday worship with special treats and short interviews on students' next plans.
Christiania Lutheran Church
26691 Pillsbury Ave.
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 461-2283
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