Central Lutheran Church
Central Lutheran Church: Called to Share God's Love.
Grow
True faith does not grow by being passive. When we are engaged in study of scripture, prayer and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, our personal faith life actively grows us into caring, concerned and celebrating Christians. Central has many opportunities in which to gather and grow.
Vacation Bible School
Central Lutheran and Lutheran Church of Hope often partner in offering Vacation Bible School, however, no VBS was held 2020 - 2022 due to public health needs.
In past years, we've clowned around at the circus, attended camp with Davey and Goliath, lived as a tribe in Galilee, traveled the rails, and swung through the rain forest in our search for connection with God and each other. VBS week is always chock full of games, stories, crafts, snacks, fun, new and old friends, songs, acting, and devotion.
Youth
5th - 12th grade youth: Registration forms are available now for the October 17-19 retreat in Seward. Our carpool can go down either Thursday evening (meeting here at Central about 6 pm) or first thing Friday morning. Kathy Freeman will be leading Central kids; we’ll be joining Pastor Aaron and Pastor Anna and Deacon Amanda from Anchorage, Pastor Meredith from Soldotna, and Pastor Sean from Eagle River, youth director Amanda from Wasilla, and all their youth groups in sleeping over in Seward at Resurrection Lutheran and the Alaska SeaLife Center, sharing meals, and an afternoon of activities (indoor or outdoor may depend on weather). Bring sleeping bag and pillow, 1-2 days of indoor and outdoor clothes, and needed toiletries or medications. Yes, you can bring a friend! Cost is $95, though some scholarship funds are available upon request. We’ll carpool back Saturday, arriving at Central at lunchtime.
Confirmation class and faith formation classes for all ages will begin Sunday, October 6, here at Central Lutheran Church. These Sunday evening events will include a shared meal, music, classes for age groups including adults, middle-school age confirmation youth, and youngsters led by a group of pastors and volunteers from five local ELCA congregations. We’ll host the first six classes here at Central, and then in January start a new six-week session hosted at a nearby ELCA Church.
Youth in 8th - 12th grades are invited to travel with our youth group each summer. 2019 was a road trip to visit multiple ELCA congregations in Mat-Su, Trapper Creek, Fairbanks and North Pole, Delta Junction, and Valdez, and our synod looks forward to replicating that trip in the future. In 2022, a synod camping trip gave youth the opportunity to hike and camp outside the Seward, AK, area for three days as a group, and that opportunity will be offered again in future summers. The ELCA Western States Youth Gathering is held in Thousand Oaks, CA, every three years, next in 2026. The next ELCA Youth Gathering will be June 28 - July 2, 2027, in Minneapolis.
College & Seminary Scholarships
Learn more about our scholarships to Pacific Lutheran University, ELCA Colleges and Universities, and ELCA Seminary programs on our scholarship page.
Bible Studies
The Divine Drama study begins this month, with the same class offered each week first on Tuesday evening, 6:30 to 8 pm, and again on Wednesday, Noon to 1:30 pm, in person and via zoom link. Classes begin on September 17 and 18 and continue weekly. The group order of manuals and workbooks was placed; we did order an extra or two, or you can still go to solapublishing.com and pick up the two manuals and two workbooks. Is the $55 cost a barrier to your participation? Don’t let that stop you from attending, we will be happy to find a set of books upon request. This class is for all adults and high school youth.
Early AM Study: starts September 10 with weekly meetings via zoom at 7 am Tuesdays to study The David Story by Robert Alter. “Acclaimed for its masterful new translation and insightful commentary, The David Story is a fresh, vivid rendition of one of the great works in Western literature.”
Women's Groups
Women's Bible Study Schedule
Women's Monthly Gather Study - 2nd Mondays at 2 pm, both in person at Central Lutheran and via zoom
Sarah Fellowship Circle - 1st Tuesdays at 10 am at Bell’s Nursery on Specking Road
Central Lutheran Church Women (CLCW)
Central women fill Easter Baskets and sew and fill Christmas stockings for Lutheran Social Services of Alaska each year. They attend retreats and large events at the state (Alaska Synodical Women's Organization) and national Lutheran (Women of the ELCA) gatherings, and hold occasional gatherings to bless expectant mothers or simply for fellowship. Many of these ladies also provide goodies and serve as hostesses for special events including weddings, funerals, and potlucks.
Men's Groups
The Men's breakfast and Bible study meets 1st Saturdays of the month at 9 am (no meeting in July due to holiday)
Independent Study Resources:
We can all use a little help in our spiritual walk. Our recent pastor, Jeff, suggests the links/resources below as a way to inspire new thought, find comfort, be challenged, or simply take a moment during the day to focus on God during the new year.
The Upperroom will send a free daily devotional to your email : http://devotional.upperroom.org/
Sojourners daily blogs, news, and devotions. http://sojo.net/
Devotional that takes you through the Bible in a year. http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions
Journey through the Psalms each day of the year. http://www.backtothebible.org/authors/warren-wiersbe
On-line passage look-up, multiple versions/translations, concordance search. https://www.biblegateway.com/
Free Bible on your phone, tablet, and computer, includes reading plans https://www.bible.com/
www.daveramsey.com Financial Peace university offers Christian money management