2026 Winter Compass

C O M P A S S Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, MN Winter 2026

be a light in community ©getty images for unsplash+

CO M PA S S W I N T E R 2 0 2 6 LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN 7401 County Road 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311-4313 Visit lordoflife.org/staff for a full staff listing with photos and email addresses. Send prayer requests to prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.

Phone: 763.420.5015

Website: lordoflife.org

Email: office@lordoflife.org Enews (weekly): lordoflife.org/enews

Facebook: facebook.com/lordoflifelutheran, lolcyf

YouTube: youtube.com/lordoflifeluth

spenser-semblat © unsplash

Instagram: instagram.com/lordoflife, cyf_lordoflife

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3 welcome 4-5 there’s always room 6-7 advent + cantata + christmas cross 8-9 craft + bake sale of 10-11 communities namibia + corcoran community belonging 12-13 being in community feasibility site study update 14-15 learning community 16-17 contemplative community spiritual practice: 18-19 alament 20-21 confirmation photo album staff welcome + 22-23 new worship

Compass is a guide for those along the path of faith who seek to grow closer to Jesus Christ. It is a quarterly ministry from Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA). Paper is one of the most sustainable natural resources. After reading, please recycle or share with a friend or neighbor, inviting them to Lord of Life’s community of faith. You don’t need to be a member to receive Compass. To receive it in the mail and/or electronically, call 763.420.5015 or email bevm@lordoflife.org. © 2026 Lord of Life Lutheran Church

WELCOME Back when our daughter Hannah was born in 2005, I remember calculating her year of high school graduation: 2024! That seemed like a fictional year, one that would surely never exist. Yet here we are, on the cusp of the year 2026. These days, when I gather with parents for the Lord of Life baptism class, I do a similar calculation for the newborns. They’ll graduate around the year 2044. I checked. That is a real year.

God has been faithful to us for the entirety of our lives, and God will remain faithful to us in 2026 and beyond.

Life will look very different in 2044 than it does today. Life in 2024 looked a lot different than life in 2005, let alone 1995 or 1955.

And it’s okay that change is a part of our lives. Development and maturity are knit into the fabric of creation. How do you hope and pray God will lead you to change and grow in the coming year?

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THERE’S

ALWAYS

by Lead Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

Luke 2:7 says, “There was no place for them in the inn.”

In Luke 22:11, Jesus says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”

On the surface, these may seem to be unrelated passages, other than they’re both about Jesus. The connection, however, is that the same Greek word (kataluma) gets used to describe the place mentioned in both texts.

I’ve never heard anyone suggest that Jesus hosted the Last Supper in a hotel. Further, both archaeology and cultural customs have shown that Bethlehem had no hotel.

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In the story of Jesus’ birth, the reality is not that the Holiday Inn, Hilton, and Motel 6 were all booked. On the contrary, the guest room in the home of Joseph’s family in Bethlehem was already occupied. Mary and Joseph weren’t booted out and left to fend for themselves in a drafty stable.

That would have been completely unthinkable according to Middle Eastern hospitality.

Instead, Mary and Joseph were welcomed among all the rest of Joseph’s extended family in the main living space—which was on a raised platform, up from where the animals stayed during the night. Troughs—or mangers— separated the two spaces as the animals stayed on a lower level in the main dwelling place both to be protected from robbers and to provide warmth for the house. The guest room was full, but there was always room for more in the home.

Although tradition and countless Christmas pageants have placed Mary and Joseph alone in a faroff stable, the reality is that they were surrounded by the hustle and bustle of family members and activity when it came time for Jesus to be born.

In much the same way, so many of our households will be filled with the hustle and bustle of people and activities as we celebrate this Christmas.

And, just as it happened in Bethlehem, so it will happen in our homes: Jesus will come among us and our hustle and bustle.

To me, that’s the most remarkable part of Christmas: that in Jesus Christ, God comes to us, among our family and friends, to save and love and challenge and comfort us. And, just as it was in Bethlehem, I pray that there’s always room for Jesus in our homes and lives.

“Mary and Joseph weren’t booted out and left to fend for themselves in a drafty stable. That would have been completely unthinkable according to Middle Eastern hospitality.”

© unsplash, shutterstock, lightstock ai

ROOM

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Advent

A Season of Giving & Receiving Starting November 29

Christmas Cantata and Craft & Bake Sale

Saturday, December 13, 5:30pm Sunday, December 14, 8:30, 9:45 & 11am Come hear the “Seven Joys of Christmas” cantata

by Kirke Mechem.

You will recognize many of these carols from all over the world written with fresh, lively arrangements sung by the Canticle Choir alongside woodwinds, piano, and percussion.

Be sure to stop by the Craft & Bake Sale afterwards, and support Lord of Life’s ministries by purchasing handmade goods donated by our community.

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Christmas Eve at Lord of Life

Travelers’ Christmas Tuesday, December 23 5:30pm Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 24 10am, 12, 2, 4, 6 & 8pm Find info about music, candlelight options, and childcare at: lordoflife.org/christmas

One Big Celebration Sunday, December 28, 10am

*Saturday’s service is at the regular time, 5:30pm 7

C R O S S Christians Reaching Out in Social Services

by Barb Mewaldt and Donna Kinsman Walther, Lord of Life members

“You Matter Here” are the first words you see when opening the CROSS website.

They have been a shining light in this community since 1977, welcoming those who need food, clothing, emergency assistance, or other aid. Last year alone, CROSS distributed nearly 2 million pounds of food to families, as well as providing school supplies to 773 children, and birthday or holiday gifts to 1,500 children.

Every single person matters—including you!

Lord of Life’s family of faith has been a valued partner with CROSS since its inception. Over the years your generosity has consistently made a difference by contributing money or food, donating school supplies and fleece for tie blankets. Again this year, you have made a child’s Christmas bright with a toy or special gifts. You’ve volunteered at the CROSS site. Fresh vegetables have been grown and harvested weekly for CROSS from LifeGarden. And you’ve been an advocate for CROSS’s needs and given prayers for the families they serve.

Whether your contribution is large or small, it all makes a difference—it all matters! CROSS’s needs are greater than ever: requests for help are already up 29% over the past year. You can help by dropping off food and gently used seasonal clothing in the CROSS bins, located in the Service Center. In the upcoming year, we will be highlighting certain foods every month, but all nonperishable donations are always welcome. With the need for food constantly growing, monetary donations can be the best and easiest way to support CROSS. They use these funds to purchase food in bulk, multiplying the impact of every dollar. CROSS was founded on the simple idea of neighbors helping neighbors. Whether they live in Maple Grove or a nearby community, whether we know them or not—these hard-working parents, fixed-income seniors, and growing families—all are our neighbors.

Simple gestures bring hope and light in uncertain times. We would love to have you join in on this journey. Volunteering with CROSS has given a hands-on understanding of what neighbors are experiencing. The task force always welcomes new participants!

to learn more, visit lordoflife.org/cross

Above: Fresh produce from LifeGarden is given to CROSS weekly during harvest season Left: Barb Mewaldt third from right; Donna Kinsman Walther shown seventh from right

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Donated back-to-school supplies and a backpack collection were one of many CROSS campaigns by Lord of Life this past year. Thank you for being a light in community!

craft & bake sale

by Connie Luebke Lord of Life member, Craft & Bake Sale Coordinator

Here are two of my family’s favorite lefse recipes that we enjoy. The recipe on the left requires ricing potatoes (twice), so I only use that one when my husband Lee is available. It’s nice to have an instant mashed potato recipe as well! A reminder for the community, the Craft & Bake Sale is after all worship services on December 13 and 14. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support ministries within the church, either by shopping or providing items for the sale. There is still time for you to craft and bake for your favorite ministry—be a light in community!

Mrs. Olson’s Recipe

Lefse

Lef se with instant potatoes

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

½ cup whipping cream ¼ cup butter 1 tablespoon salt ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup vegetable oil 8 cups potatoes, riced or mashed 2 cups flour

2 cups skim milk 1 cup whipping cream ¼ cup butter 3 cups instant potatoes (prefer Potato Buds brand) 1⅞ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon sugar Flour

Directions: Wash potatoes; do not peel. Cook/boil. Remove jackets (skin) before ricing (twice). Add all ingredients, except flour, to measured potatoes.

Cover with towel and cool. Set in fridge several hours or overnight. (Do not want condensation to form on potatoes.)

Add flour to cooled potato mixture. (Mixing it with hands works best.) Form lefse dough into golf-ball size portion or larger (may use ice cream scoop ~¼ cup). Keep chilled. Roll out thin using floured pastry cloth and rolling pin. Cook on hot, dry lefse griddle or non-stick pan, once on each side until light brown spots form. Place between flour sack towels to cool.

Notes: Idaho russet potatoes are best. Rice potatoes twice. If lefse breaks, not enough flour in dough. Keep dough well chilled. This is the #1 recipe in a taste test with our family. Enjoy!

Directions: Day 1 (or very early in the day): In a large saucepan, place skim milk, whipping cream and butter. Heat to melt butter. Place instant potatoes in a large bowl with salt. Pour warm liquids over potato flakes with the sugar and mix well. Add plastic wrap tightly around the potato mix. Refrigerate overnight, or for several hours to cool.

Day 2 (or late in the day): Preheat griddle to 4500. Measure 2 cups of refrigerated potato mix into a bowl. Add ¼ cup flour and mix well with a fork (hands work well, too). Turn out on floured cloth and form a roll. Keep covered. Cut off pieces and roll out. Bake on griddle, front and back. Keep covered between towels until completely cooled.

Notes: Eat, refrigerate, or freeze! Enjoy with slathered butter (of course) then white or brown sugar. Some folks enjoy it with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon as well!

ily event—have fun! m a f l a n o i t i d ...make lefse a tra

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be a light around the world community: namibia

by Kent Dirks, Lord of Life member + Hope 4 Kids International Project Manager

Together, we help build communities of hope—one act of love at a time. Lord of Life, in partnership with Hope 4 Kids International (H4KI) and the Lutheran Church of Namibia, brings hope to communities—working together to restore health, love, and dignity.

My best memory is how well the H4KI mission team worked together. Our team included two youth (11 and 17)—watching them interact and work very hard with children and adults gave me much hope for the future. ~Claudia

Namibia, which borders South Africa, is very sparsely populated. Many children, separated from their families by great distances, live in boarding facilities near schools which are operated by the Lutheran Church of Namibia. Due to very limited government and church funding, maintaining boarding facilities is a constant challenge. Last year, Lord of Life helped ease that burden by providing hundreds of new beds for children who had been sharing—two or three to a bed. This August, I led a team of volunteers to Namibia for an eleven-day mission trip.

At three different villages, we organized faith-based arts and crafts activities with the kids, partnered with a local leader who runs a soup kitchen feeding hundreds in her community weekly, and worked alongside her on her farm, which supplies food to the kitchen. We also painted the new soup kitchen and made concrete blocks for a home under construction. Lord of Life’s mission team returned to Minnesota deeply moved—knowing efforts made a tangible difference in children’s lives—and feeling even more blessed by the joy, gratitude, and love we received from the communities we served.

You are invited and warmly welcomed to be part of this story of hope.

Join in on the next service mission to Namibia, August 4–18, 2026. If travel isn’t possible, you can still make a lasting impact by knitting winter hats for the children we’ll visit or sponsoring a child’s boarding fees so they can attend school.

Let God’s light shine through you in community around the world!

to learn more or get involved, contact Kent directly: kent.dirks@h4ki.org or 612.270.1104 10

The most meaningful God moment for me was worshiping together with the village community. God’s love truly transcends culture and language. It was a privilege to be a small part of the work God is doing in that community. ~Jason

— and in our own backyard! community: corcoran

by Brian + Jill Dejewski, Cofounders of Mobile Hope

Maple Hill Estates is located less than two miles from the Lord of Life campus. There are 189 homes in this mobile home community; and this is one of three mobile home communities that Mobile Hope (one of Lord of Life’s ministry partners) serves locally. It is here that some church members have found a wonderful place to be a light in community and serve.

Quest is an after-school homework help program offered at the onsite community center three days every week. Students get off the bus and are welcomed by a group of committed volunteers. In their backpacks you will find notebooks, pencils, and a homework sheet, but the majority of students are carrying additional darker realities that make their backpack feel even heavier.

They may have fear of an eviction notice on their door when they get home. They may have a parent struggling with mental illness or addiction and it is affecting the tension in the home. Or they may have the burden of caring for their younger siblings while their mom works multiple part-time jobs. Poverty is a complex reality, and the different traumatic events that occur for children can impact their physical health, mental health, and behavior. Studies show that one of the best ways to combat and overcome difficult life situations is to have one caring adult who invests in their life.

Bonnie Hewitt, a member at Lord of Life, has been doing this for the past 12 years at the Corcoran location! She said yes initially because she was a retired schoolteacher who wanted to use her skills. Now she says yes because she has seen the power of serving her local community. She has developed relationships with the volunteers and loves the children—children like Dylan.

He is one student who had a hard time focusing and wasn’t very motivated. Yet, year after year Dylan would show up and intentionally look for Bonnie. Now Dylan is in 10th grade, getting homework completed, and asking questions when he doesn’t understand. Bonnie says she is grateful for the opportunity to serve and encourages others to join her!

to volunteer with Mobile Hope at any of its three locations, visit lordoflife.org/mobilehope 11

feasibility study update A huge thank you to everyone who participated in Lord of Life’s Feasibility Study this fall! A total of 387 households participated in the study conducted by Davy and Associates, a church fundraising consultant. Its purpose was to assess the congregation’s readiness and capacity to move forward with a capital campaign to fund projects/ initiatives that will prepare Lord of Life for where God is calling us in the future.

We are eager to share that there is momentum to move forward as we more fully refine and define the campaign purposes.

There will be opportunities to learn more soon, and details from the Feasibility Study have been sent electronically and are available in the church office.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support!

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L E A R N I N G Finding Kinship with

by Brian Schroeder, Design Strategist + Emerging Worship Coordinator (pictured below with husband Tyler in Norwich, England)

A few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have believed you if you told me that, in 2025, I would fly halfway across the world to sit in a small room that a medieval woman willingly bricked herself into after experiencing a near-death experience during which she had ecstatic visions from God. Yet here we are.

I also probably wouldn’t have believed you if you had told me that this same medieval woman’s teachings would absolutely reignite my faith and that she would become a close spiritual companion, offering insights into God’s love that would shape the music I write and the kind of faith life I would lead.

Yet again, here we are.

Julian of Norwich lived in England in the mid-14th to early15th century. When she was thirty, she became ill and so close to death that Last Rites were read to her by a priest.

As the priest held a crucifix in front of her face to comfort her, she received 16 visions in which God’s divine love was revealed to her. These visions were wild and graphic, tender and joyful. From these, Julian shared insights about the nature of God—how God has no wrath or anger towards humanity, how God joyfully sustains us, and that we are enclosed in God’s love forever.

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C O M M U N I T Y

Julian of Norwich

Perhaps the best encapsulation of Lady Julian’s writings is this excerpt: “I saw that the Divine Spirit is everything that is good, everything that comforts us and gives us pleasure.

This Spirit is our clothing. In love, the Divine One wraps us up, holds us tight, and encloses us with tenderness. The Spirit lives in everything good that we encounter, the entire universe, and we shall never be abandoned.”1 Julian recovered from her sickness and decided to become an anchoress, meaning that she chose to live enclosed in a small cell attached to a church for the rest of her life. The cell had three windows: one window to receive food from caregivers; one window looking into the church’s sanctuary so she could participate in worship; and one window looking out into the street, where people could visit and seek her counsel.

She was bricked into this cell, her anchorhold, for at least thirty years until she died in her seventies.

It is in this cell that she wrote down her visions. These writings, which in medieval England could have led to her execution if found out, were secretly protected and distributed by nuns for two centuries before being published in the 1600s— the first book published in English by a woman.

More than fifty years later, Mother Julian is an important spiritual ancestor for me and countless others. I had the privilege of visiting her anchorhold in Norwich this past summer, and

I experienced a spiritual peace and quiet joy I had never experienced before.

As remarkable as it is, I wouldn’t say that Julian’s story is what I find such spiritual kinship with. After all, I am skeptical of spiritual visions and I am certainly not called to become an anchorite. What enlivens my spirit most is the way she talks about God. For much of my faith life, I had bashfully claimed that maybe God actually loves us completely; maybe God has no anger toward us; maybe God isn’t a legalistic ogre tallying our sins, but rather, simply delights in our existence and wants to be close to us.

I was shy about saying these things, knowing there are plenty of Christians who could confidently, with the help of Scripture, defy these claims.

But turns out I’m not alone in these beliefs! Julian of Norwich wrote them down in the 1400s! It’s through her writings, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, that I can now more

confidently proclaim the endless love and radical joy that comes from God. It’s changed how I approach my spiritual practices, how I show love for others, and how I interact with God. Praise God for Julian of Norwich, whose Revelations of Divine Love expanded beyond her simple dwelling and helped awaken the faith of Christians throughout centuries, including mine.

“All this God showed me with utter joy, as if to say: ‘See! I am God. See! I am in all things. See! I do all things.

See! I never lift my hands from Creation, nor shall I ever, world without end.”1

Recommended Reading: 1 All Shall Be Well: A Modern-Language Version of the Revelation of Julian of Norwich, by Ellyn Sanna The Complete Julian of Norwich, by Fr. John Julian

...stay tuned for opportunities to learn more about Julian of Norwich!

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COMMUNITY BELONGING

by Pastor LisaMarie Doerrmann

Inclusion is a basic desire of all of us—we want to belong. In school we want to be part of the “cool” crowd or hang out with friends. At work we want to be in the group that does the “good” jobs. If it’s “us” and “them,” we want to be in the “us” group.

In Genesis 2:18, right after creating the Garden of Eden and placing Adam in it, God reflects that God’s children should not be alone. This was true at the beginning and is true today. We are meant to be in community with all of God’s children.

Every weekend, we gather in church or online to worship together. But this community can be a small part of our week. Throughout the week, we gather in different communities—families, work teams, friends, neighbors and clubs—sometimes formally, or maybe informally, like sharing a quick word while waiting in a checkout line. These interactions help us to see commonality with those around us. These interactions are what God intends, knowing that we are not meant to be alone.

At Lord of Life, we have opportunities to increase our involvement with the greater community in which we live, work, and play. Lord of Life supports group meetings for both community and church groups, including Bible studies, AA meetings, celebrate recovery, scouts, and craft groups.

These are all opportunities for intentional community building.

In addition to worship and outreach programs, care and support ministries are a big part of how we create community (visit lordoflife.org/support for a list). This past fall, we began a Caring Connections ministry, where we arrange visits and connections with people in our community who may not be able to make it to church, who are missing connection and community due to aging or circumstance. Very often caregivers do all they can to access care and to care for their loved one. Frequently when I visit with someone, they share with me that they miss being called by their first name, or that their friends are either far away or have passed. They long for a friendly connection in addition to family. If you know of anyone who would welcome a friendly visitor, please let us know.

There are so many “us” versus “them” mentalities in the world, but I think we can simplify it. We are all children of God, so there is “us” and “all of us,” but no “them.” In addition to Caring Connections, there are plenty of opportunities to both reach out to others, or to bring others to events through or at church. An invitation, a kind word, a prayer, a cup of coffee or even simply a smile across the aisle in the grocery store can go a long way to make someone feel connected. God tells us that it’s not good to be alone, and we can help create connections so all people feel God’s love because they belong.

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b e i n g i n c o m m u n i t y I am a junior at Maple Grove Senior High School. High school has been a rocky road so far for me through the ups and downs of not making theater shows, making friends, attending dances, and eventually finding my people! The place where I feel like my faith took off was when I went to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. It really showed me that I can be who I want to be everywhere and not feel like I need to be two different people. I have grown in my community by volunteering in summers for VBS and Adventure Week, going to Bible study, co-founding a high school summer program, and being a part of the high school leadership team. These are all places where I feel that I can express who I am and not feel judged or not loved.

The growth in my faith has helped me be more inclusive and a better person in my everyday life. I feel like people would describe me as a caring and bubbly person who tries to put others first. Be that person who brings the light in dark situations and helps others become better people and helps them feel the joy that you have. Your community might not be based around Lord of Life like mine is, and that’s ok. I want you to feel happy and loved in your community like I do in mine. ~Jordan Palmer

Community to me is the feeling of belonging and comfort that comes with knowing a group of people for a long period of time. For example, there is a Dungeons and Dragons club at the Maple Grove Community Center that I have been a part of for around three years now. Different kids come and go as the seasons change, but there has always been a group of us who stayed since the beginning. We’re able to interact with each other easily and switch in groups in order to work better together. Being able to help those new players has been a great feeling for me. I love making others feel as comfortable as they can. That’s what community is all about to me. ~Joanna Hustoft ...a special

thanks to our youth guest writers, jordan + joanna!

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contemplative community contemplative connections

On the third Saturday of every month through May, it is a joy for me to welcome all as we seek to deepen our relationships with God. The world seems to be spinning faster and faster; this is a great time to breathe, open up, and invite God’s peace within. I’ve found it to be a grounding, and calming time set aside each month for spiritual connection and fellowship. I would love to have you join in!

The group meets from 9-10:30am; soon we will be studying the book, Speak, My Soul by Marsha Crockett. So we may prepare and provide you with a book, we ask that you register through lordoflife.org/transformation.

Dates are also on that page.

Come, be refreshed and replenished in God’s perfect love. ~Gwen Denninger

first sundays taizé worship On the first Sundays from September-May, Taizé worship invites you to a time of meditation and reflection welcoming God’s presence and action within. Generally held in the sanctuary at 6:30pm, it is a focused time of spoken and sung prayers, periods of silence, and a reading. There is no preaching nor communion. Near the end of this special worship time, a healing blessing and annointing of oil is also given, if one desires to receive it. You are invited to come step away from the demands of busyness and what may seem to be an endless task list in life to experience God’s love and Holy Spirit. You are welcome to a time for peace together in community. ~Pastor Karen Wight Hoogheem + Brian Schroeder

sweet darkness Through my time sitting in the dark silence during First Sundays Contemplative Worship, I discovered the darkness to be a place of peace where God meets us.

With this in mind, as well as the teachings of Julian of Norwich (read more on Pages 12-13), I wrote my new song, Sweet Darkness. In the recording, you’ll hear that I recorded the first and last verses inside Mother Julian’s anchorhold in Norwich, England, and incorporated them into the studio recording. Here are the lyrics:

Sweet darkness, where God in kindness dwells Still our minds to trust all will be well Quiet joy, troubles ease Sweet darkness, surround our hearts with peace Available on all streaming platforms or visit brianvschroeder.com. ~Brian Schroeder

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elin-malaash © unsplash

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When my son was young, he grieved when we put a “free”

by Rev. Benjamin Cremer, Guest Contributor sign on the old In a world, where vengeance is often celebrated and outrage monetized, lament is an recliner in his act of holy rebellion. It keeps us from numbing ourselves or retaliating in kind. bedroom. He Lament honestly names what is broken, mourns what has been lost, and dares to believe that God’s justice will come, not through our retribution but through God’s sat on the chair redemption. Practicing lament is how we keep our souls from being deformed by the very evils we grieve. at the end of the Lament is not weakness but a form of holy strength. It keeps us from being crushed driveway and by grief or consumed by rage. It allows us to make room for however we are feeling, while also engaging in community and connection that keeps our humanity and the cried (for nearly humanity of others first and foremost. two hours!) as In our fractured world, I believe practicing lament, both individually and together, he lamented the is how we stay tender without becoming bitter, how we long for justice without mirroring the violence of those who harm. The goal of lament is to make space for decision to give grief in all its forms to be heard in the hope for positive change to come. away the chair. His I deeply believe this is what our faith in Jesus calls us to: not to celebrate harm, not to become numb to death, not to desire the worst on someone we disagree tears were very sad with, or to gloat if they fall. That is not the way of Jesus. Jesus wept over the city that rejected him. He healed the ear of the man who came to arrest and very sweet. God him. He prayed for those who crucified him. To follow Jesus is to refuse the reactive logic of revenge, spite, or indifference. invites us to freely To follow Jesus is to see a world full of neighbors to be loved, not a lament our grief, world filled with enemies to be conquered. We desperately need a revival of love right now. This is why I believe lament is the right response right disappointment, now. Not bitterness, not gloating, not resignation, and certainly not revenge. and pain. Just like True lament opens us to the Spirit’s work of healing, justice, and peace.

True lament keeps our hearts soft in a world that would rather grow hard. my son, we can cry True lament reminds us of our own humanity and shows us the humanity in others. Imagine what our world would be like if we chose to honestly out to God when lament and process our pain together in community rather than be turned against one another in our grievances and perpetuate an endless something feels too cycle of revenge. much to bear. May the words on these pages support your prayerful Prolific on platforms such as Substack and Instagram (@brcremer), lament.

Rev. Benjamin R. Cremer is a pastor, speaker, theologian, and author. He facilitates

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—Pastor Karen Wight Hoogheem

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S PI R I TUA L

authentic dialogue and helps communities and individuals navigate through faith, theology, and contemporary issues. He lives in Idaho with his wife and family.

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R ACT I C E:

L A M E N T

a simple practice Lament is not complicated, but it does require courage and honesty.

Here is a gentle way to begin:

name the pain Write or speak aloud what has been lost, what grieves you, what feels unjust. Be specific. Lament begins by telling the truth.

bring it to God Use the Psalms as your guide. Pray the words of Psalm 13, Psalm 42, or Psalm 88, adding your own words. Say, like the psalmists, “How long, O Lord?”

express the full range of emotion Lament is not polite. Cry, shout, whisper, or sit in silence—whatever your heart needs. God can handle your anger, confusion, and grief.

Let it all out.

ask boldly for God’s action Pray for healing, justice, and restoration. Trust that God is not indifferent but working even when you cannot see it.

wait with hope Lament ends with a turning, however small it may be, toward trust. It may sound like, “Yet I will hope in you,” even if your tears still fall. kyungsu-kim © unsplash

Prayer: Lord, have mercy. Teach us to mourn with those who mourn. Teach us to hunger for justice without losing compassion. Teach us to walk in the way of peace.

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Congrat Conf ir D

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ng i r u

i rmation of baptism services f f a r u fo

ulations, mands!

October 25 -26,

th! i a f 148 young people were confirmed in the Lutheran

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WELCOME Lord of Life’s staff is a truly a community within a community. “Loved by God. Sent to Serve.” is more than a tagline. If you recognize two of these newer staff members—in the hallway or around campus—please greet them with a warm, welcoming hello!

bob thomas

Tearing things apart and rebuilding them is what I’ve been doing since I was four years old in the garage with my dad’s hand tools and my bike. I turned the bike into something uniquely mine.

That spark never left me. I went to college on a football scholarship, but had other ideas. I scraped together some money, purchased used fitness equipment, brought it back to life, and built a gym. What started as a side hustle grew into a business I ran for seven years. Along the way, I picked up construction jobs, learning every trade I could get my hands on.

Eventually, I sold the gym, shifting into HVAC and building maintenance in Utah. From there I became an associate director of facilities for a technical college, overseeing seven campuses which stretched me as a leader with problem-solving skills. When a school in Minnesota offered me a position, I packed up. Moving has never been daunting for me; I’ve done it 18 times throughout my life. Since then, I landed exactly where I needed to be.

Today, I’m helping keep Lord of Life’s building and campus in immaculate shape—work that’s both hands-on and meaningful. And now, my wife and I are pouring our energy into rebuilding a short school bus into a gluten-free sweet treats business, blending our love for craftsmanship, creativity, and family entrepreneurship.

Through it all, my greatest success isn’t the businesses or the jobs. It’s my family: my beautiful wife, Danielle, and our blended family of four kids, now 16 to 21. We spend as much time outside as possible, hiking and exploring. We walk 5-7 miles every single day, even in negative temps. Nature is where I feel most at home.

If something’s broken, I’ll figure out a way to fix it. If life throws me a challenge, I’ll rebuild and move forward. I’m Bob the Builder!

caroline helgren

Growing up, I watched my mom work in our church as the confirmation director.

Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, and after-school hours were usually spent in her office, listening to the ups and downs of church work. I saw firsthand the beauty of working in the church. So it’s no wonder I have followed in her footsteps!

After a summer as a camp counselor in Colorado, I heard from God— loud and clear—that ministry would be a part of my calling. Since then, I have been a youth director, working with middle and high school students. I met another youth director, fell in love, and married my husband, TJ. And I’ve practiced ministry outside of church walls, by working in several nonprofits in the Twin Cities. After welcoming our beloved daughter, Paige, this spring, I couldn’t shake the desire to work with other families of young children, and their sweet little ones.

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It felt like a “God thing” when I became an early childhood ministry director here. It’s been such a joy getting to know the families and staff at Lord of Life. If you see me around, say hello!

WORSHIP Saturdays 5:30pm

Sundays 8:30, 9:45, 11am

First Sundays 6:30pm

holy communion every week,

holy communion first + third Sundays,

contemplative Taizé worship with

livestreamed on YouTube

livestreamed on YouTube,

annointing, if desired

childcare available (birth-age two)

In January, stay tuned to enews + website for registration info on Lord of Life’s Children Youth & Family summer experiences such as, Vacation Bible School (VBS), Summer Stretch, camp, and more!

Middle school mission trip: Kansas City, MO, July 26-31, lordoflife.org/msmt

High school mission trip: Colorado Springs, CO, July 18-26, lordoflife.org/highschool

Dominican Republic mission trip: Feb. 28-Mar. 7, lordoflife.org/dr

For all events, changes, recurring ministry events, and announcements, visit lordoflife.org for the most current information. For a list of baptisms, bereavements, welcome to new members, and weddings, visit lordoflife.org/congregationallife. And, you are invited to Lord of Life’s prayer network (lordoflife.org/prayernetwork) to pray for the community.

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Lord of Life

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Loved by God. Sent to Serve.

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7401 County Road 101 Maple Grove, MN 55311-4313

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION

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It is being together in our wholeness... that makes it easier to believe we are beautiful. Our connectedness together—that is holiness! ~Richard Rohr

Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference, but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world. ~bell hooks

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The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look!

I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people.” ~Luke 2:10 CEB

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