Ministries

Education

Little Cherubs Christian Preschool - The school is growing with the opening of our new, dedicated facility. Classes are available for a number of age groups. Hands-on science classes by Debi Bertenshaw continues as an addition to the curriculum of Little Cherubs.

Sunday School - Regular classes are held for K-12 at 9:10 each Sunday morning, between the two services. Sunday school children practice stewardship by contributing to The Christian Children’s Fund, Cheshire Food Bank, and Heifer International. They also send cards to our CLC shut-ins at Easter and Christmas. Our Sunday school teachers share the responsibility by team-teaching our CLC children.

Adult Bible Classes - Adult Bible class is held on Sunday mornings during the Sunday school hour. Pastor Gustafson and Tim Boerger lead these classes. Tuesday evening Bible class is led by DCE Joe Ferwerda.

Recurring Classes - Throughout the year, classes are also held for First Communion and Confirmation. Adult Information Classes

Vacation Bible School (VBS) - For one week, each July, we hold a Vacation Bible School that is open to all children, members and non-members alike. VBS will be held July 14-18, 2008. Please click on the link to view the Registration Form.

Social Welfare

Local Food Pantries - The First Sunday Food Drive helps keep the local food pantries stocked year-round. Throughout the year, we collect and donate food items. Each month volunteers count the items and deliver them to a food pantry in the area.

Baskets of Love - The bassinet in the hallway draws attention to this program. Contributions include clothing and any other items needed by babies during their first year of life. The donations have been taken to the Waterbury Church of Christ, where they are gathered in baskets and given to mothers at Waterbury Hospital for their newborn babies. Contributions of new and gently used items are greatly appreciated.

Relay for Life - Grant and Marta Day, captain and co-captain of CLC's Relay for Life Team, organize an annual musical fundraiser, “Stepping Out,” to support Relay for Life and our team, “Clan CLC”. Each year, the team grows in size and funds raised increases. We are now at a Silver Award level. Join us this spring in this worthy cause in the fight against cancer.

Lutheran World Relief School Kits - Members not only contribute school supplies and fabric, but also sew the bags that hold the supplies. In addition, Thrivent provides matching funds which are all donated to Lutheran World Relief.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry - The Prayer Shawl Ministry consists of about 15 knitters who make homemade shawls for members and residents of local nursing homes.

Prison Fellowship Ministries - Members contribute cosmetic items and sweets as part of Christmas care packages given to the inmates at Webster Correctional Facility. A Christmas scripture accompanies each gift.

Worldwide Ministry - The Worldwide Ministry offerings of CLC members support social service programs, near and abroad. Additionally, CLC's discretionary fund is administered by Pastor Gustafson, the social welfare deacon, and the congregation president to provide confidential financial assistance to members in need.

Evangelism

Welcome - We welcome all visitors to CLC as part of our Christian endeavor to Share Christ with Others.

Christmas Cards - Christmas cards containing with the schedule of holiday services are sent out to all visitors from the past year, inviting them to join us for worship.

Visitor Welcome Bags - We deliver gift bags to visitors’ homes after services. These bags provide a special welcome to CLC as well as information about our church.

Pictorials - As a new project for 2008, photos will be displayed of various groups at CLC, (such as Council, Choir, and Sunday School teachers). This will help develop relationships within our church family and will help newcomers become connected as well.

Fellowship

Sample Fellowship activities: - There are numerous fellowship activities held throughout the year: Easter Breakfast, Church Picnic, Advent Jubilee Dinner, Progressive Dinner, Weekly Lenten Supper, and Receptions for major church events and services.

Weekly Coffee - There is a weekly Coffee and Danish gathering each Sunday between the two morning services. In the summer, this switches to an outdoor Lemonade and Cookies gathering after the single 9:00am service.

Cheshire Lutheran Church Women (CLCW)

Mission - The membership of the Cheshire Lutheran Church Women includes all of the women members of the CLC, with the men and children participating in many of its activities. The organization provides the women with an opportunity to express their Christian faith through fellowship and service to others.

Ladies Night Out - This is our annual, fellowship evening dinner out for all women of CLC.

Apple Pie Workshop - The workshop is held each October to create the apple pies that are sold at the November Craft Show and Bake Sale. This is a fun, congregation-wide event attended by men, women, and children who peel apples, make crust, and construct over 100 pies each fall.

Craft Show and Bake Sale - Held each November as a major fund raiser, the Craft Show and Bake Sale is a community-wide endeavor that draws hundreds to CLC. Featuring high quality, juried crafters, as well as the famous Cheshire Lutheran apple pies and baked goods, it is always well-attended and appreciated by everyone.

Cookie and Gift Exchange - This fellowship event is held in early December with ladies donating four dozen home-made cookies of their choice and a small gift for exchanging. The goal is that each woman would be able to return home with a variety of Christmas cookies and a gift. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other women in the congregation!

Gift Certificates for Teenagers - CLCW collects gift certificates for local Cheshire teenagers in need. The certificates are given to a local women’s shelter or similar organization for distribution.

Angel Tree: - This Christmas season charity event is held so the children of the church have an opportunity to give other children in need small gifts.

Donations - What CLCW takes in, it then distributes to those in need. Some typical donations include: Tuition Assistance, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Lutheran Home of Southbury, CLC Youth Group, and Safe Haven of Waterbury.