December 2017 LifeTIMES magazine

LifeTIMES

A monthly ministry of Lord of Life Lutheran Church of Maple Grove, Minnesota

December 2017

From faith formation at Lord of Life to a pulpit in Kansas, read about Pastor Marie Sager and one of the ways she “connects with God.”

Courtesy of Pastor Marie Sager

—see Page 6

worship

7401 County Road 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311-4313 phone 763.420.5015 fax 763.420.7286 web lordoflife.org Visit lordoflife.org/staff for a full staff listing with photos.

Prayer requests to prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.

office@lordoflife.org

/lordoflife

/lordoflifelutheran /lolcyf

/lordoflifeluth

—Lord of Life

9/10 16/17

Rev. Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Senior Pastor, peter@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Joel Wight Hoogheem, Lead Pastor, joel@lordoflife.org Rev. Karen Greimel, Pastor of Pastoral Care, ksgreimel@lordoflife.org Rev. Charles ‘Chick’ Lane, Pastor of Stewardship and Generosity, chickl@lordoflife.org Rev. David McCarty, Pastor of Outreach and Missions, davem@lordoflife.org Rev. Donna Rohrer, Pastor of Adult Education, donnar@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus

TABLE OF CO N T E N T S Worship & Music / Pastor’s Article.............................................................. Pages 2-3 Family of Faith / Craft and Bake Sale........................................................... Pages 4-5 Pastor Marie Sager / Generosity.................................................................. Pages 6-7 Celebrating Advent and Christmas .............................................................Pages 8-9 One Mission One World: The Holy Land / 2019 Lenten Pilgrimage..........Pages 10-11 Lord of Life Ministries............................................................................... Pages 12-14 Karing Kingdom Preschool............................................................................. Page 15 Caught Reading LifeTIMES.............................................................................. Page 16

Worship & Music

Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren Advent Conspiracy: Spend Less Lord of Life Canticle Choir: Arise, Your Light Has Come!

Advent Conspiracy: Give More Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem Advent Conspiracy: Love All Church school children sing in worship

Travelers’ Christmas 5:30 pm with candlelight: Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

PASTOR A L S TAF F

2 December 2017

See Pages 8-9 for more details.

2/3

/lordoflifeelca

Lord of Life exists to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus Christ and for its faith community to witness and serve God gratefully in daily life.

december

music

L O R D O F LI FE LU T HE R A N C HUR CH (ELCA)

23

Christmas Eve 11 am, 1, 2:30, 4 pm with children’s sermon: Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem 5:30, 8, 9:30, 11 pm with candlelight: Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren

24

Christmas Day 9:45 am: Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren

25 30/31

Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

Saturdays: 5:30 pm - Praise Band and Holy Communion Sundays: 8:30, 9:45, and 11 am - Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays Third Sunday: December 17 - 10 am, Good Samaritan Ambassador in New Hope Third Wednesday: December 20 - 1 pm, Arbor Lakes Senior Living, and 2:30 pm, Rose Arbor Assisted Living

Worship and music schedules may be subject to change; visit lordoflife.org/worship for the most current information.

Merry Christmas Happy New Year!

& Third graders received Bibles— more photos plus others from Martin & Katie Luther’s photo booth on Page 12, and even more on social media sites!

Can Christmas Still Change the World?

by Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem “I have come to hate Christmas.” It was not Ebenezer Scrooge or the Grinch who said this. It was a faithful church member who said these pointed words to me several years ago in reflecting on what the song calls “the most wonderful time of the year.”

You are not alone if you have ever felt a disconnect between what you know Christmas is about and what Christmas has become. So many of us feel tangled up in the trappings of our Christmas celebrations, yet we struggle to break free from the stress, pressures, and financial burdens of having the “right” sort of Christmas.

The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a Savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and an empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

Pastor’s Article

© adventconspiracy.org

—continues on Page 13

December 2017

3

Lord of Life’s

of

Family of Faith

Family Faith

baptisms

bereavements

At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age. The next baptism class will be Sunday, December 3, at 12:15 pm. No registration is necessary. To schedule a baptism, please call the church office (763.420.5015).

Prayers of sympathy for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the resurrection.

October 1 Aubrey Rachel Bollin October 4 Christopher Paul October 7 Madeline Elizabeth Friedman Rachel Irene Friedman October 8 Berit Marie Davis Ethan Reed Engel Elizabeth Marie Koch October 14 Lyla James Erickson October 15 Alexa Rose Miezwa Everett Douglas Sutherland October 16 Anthony James Pomerleau October 21 Brady Grant McCaffery October 22 Boe Allen Bingham Ellyn Barbara Dick Penelope Louise Nelson October 29 Adam Cefre Raymond

4 December 2017

Robin Cady and family at the death of her father Diane Carlson and family at the death of her friend Sandy Cornelius and family at the death of her mother Joe Dooley and family at the death of his son Kirstine Dooley and family at the death of her son Greyson Ellingson and family at the death of his grandmother Pam Ellingson and family at the death of her mother Brooke Ellingson Eischens and family at the death of her grandmother Julie Gilstad and family at the death of her mother Kim, Anna, Julie, Megan, and Sean Grace and family at the death of their husband and father Ellen Hanson and family at the death of her cousin Carol & Vernon Peterson and family at the death of their son-in-law Patrick Reiter and family at the death of his brother Kim Ross and family at the death of her husband Daniel Ross and family at the death of his father Jerry Sorenson and family at the death of his sister Ed, Deb, Anne, and Tony Stec and family at the death of their father/grandfather

weddings

welcome to new members

October 7 Brooke Ellingson & John Eischens October 13 Morgan Martinez & Trent Bolin

Heidi Elkin with Payton and Evie Mark & Kathrine Hoien with Nick Rob & Tara Hutchinson with Finn and Sean Tyler & Lisa Nelson with Connor and Kate Ed & Josie Stueve with Evan and Cort John & Kim Valerius with Sam and Jacob Abel & Sam VanTassel Membership at Lord of Life means you make a commitment to be an active participant in congregational life. The expectation of not only new members but all members—is to worship regularly, grow in faith, serve others, and support the church and its programs financially. For more information, contact Karen Klevar (karenk@lordoflife.org or 763.420.5015 x116) or visit lordoflife.org/membership.

You are invited to become a part of the Lord of Life family of faith.

craft & bake sale After all worship services on December 9/10, you are invited to this year’s Craft & Bake Sale. All proceeds benefit Lord of Life missions. A talented youth created this stained glass gingerbread church last year. It won’t be at this year’s Craft & Bake Sale, yet you can be!

lefse-making time In anticipation of a high demand for lefse during the Craft & Bake Sale, you are invited to join Food Service Coordinator Shane Awker on December 2. You will make lefse to support Lord of Life’s missions. Due to kitchen space, there’s a maximum of 12 people; please register at lordoflife.org/lefse.

Family of Faith December 2017 5

From the cover, written by one of Lord of Life’s ‘own’ in our family of faith—

One of the Ways I Connect with God

by Pastor Marie Sager I remember one of the first times I was in this publication; the caught reading LifeTIMES feature had just been introduced on the back page. My mom, Joyce Sager, caught me in action actually reading the magazine, without being posed, at our kitchen table. A lot has changed for me since then, yet a constant has been that faith is a vital part of my life.

I am now an ordained pastor: The Reverend Marie Sager. Lord of Life will always hold a special place in my heart as the congregation that fostered my call to ministry. I grew up being involved in the church. I was in many children’s musicals and choir. I attended vacation Bible school and church camp as long as I could. I taught church school and was a Summer Stretch counselor. I was also blessed to travel to Tanzania on a mission trip with others from Lord of Life.

And the one thing that connects all of these events in my life?

Photography.

I have always loved taking photos. It is one of the ways I connect with God. So, when I was asked about my poinsettia photograph for a cover, I was honored. For me, photos of God’s creation are powerful. They tell a story. This poinsettia blew into my yard from a neighboring cemetery and froze in an ice storm. Although the flower was cold and artificial and icy—it spoke to me as something incredibly beautiful, life-giving, and hopeful. Things that are especially important during Advent: the anticipation of the Christ Child.

Another photo (at right) that tells a story is one I took after Lord of Life’s Good Friday worship in 2008. To see all of those strips of muslin cloth, with hand-written decriptions representing congregants’ sins, draped over the cross is an image that I will never forget. For me, that photo tells of the power of the resurrection. That even despite our sins, Jesus rose from the grave. We are resurrection people!

So this Advent season, I invite you to join me, @PastorMarie Sager, in my own Facebook tradition of taking a photo-aday based on a word. I use the list from lecfamily.org/advent, but you may use any list. Or, even just commit to taking one photo-a-day to see God’s creation through a new lens.

May God’s peace and blessings be with you now and always—merry Christmas!

Pastor Marie Sager

Pastor Marie Sager Trinity Lutheran Church Hays, Kansas

6 December 2017

/PastorMarie Sager

Ways to Give at Year-end

by Pastor Chick Lane

Through the fall, this column has invited you to consider different ways of giving to support the ministry of Lord of Life. We have looked at giving stock, giving required minimum distributions, and giving electronically. In this final column on the topic, I want to ask you to consider your year-end giving.

2. Decide where you want to make a year-end gift and how much you will give to each recipient. If you live with others, make this a group conversation. If you have kids in the house, make sure they are in the conversation. Do some research on possibilities, and then make a group decision.

Many people make special gifts at the end of the year. I know some people do this because they receive a year-end bonus. I know one person who has “side income” in addition to their regular salary; they give 10% of that annual income away during the month of December. My wife Chris and I set aside some money throughout the entire year and have a lot of fun giving that money away in December.

3. Write the checks or go online to make your gifts.

Again, if kids have been involved, make sure they are a part of this process as well. This can be a great teaching moment about generosity.

Maybe you make a practice of year-end giving.

Maybe you don’t. Whatever your past practice, consider this article an invitation to give it a try this year. I’d like to recommend a four-step process:

Year-end giving is a wonderful, joyous activity at our house. I hope it can be this at your house as well.

4. When thank yous arrive from the recipients of your giving, share those with anyone who was part of the giving process.

1. Decide how much you want to give away. Obviously, this would be in addition to any ongoing financial commitments you have to Lord of Life and other organizations you already support.

Budget Year-to-date October 2017 Actual

Total member contributions

Budget Difference

$2,840,374 $2,829,120 $11,254

All other

$227,299 $211,515 $15,784

Total receipts

$3,067,673 $3,040,635 $27,038 Lord of Life Weekly Giving — October 2017

For details about giving, direct debit, gift acceptance policy, and more,

$100,000

visit lordoflife.org/give. Thank you for

$80,000 $60,000

your financial support.

$40,000 $20,000 $0

10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29

Actual Budget

$57,039 $61,917

$54,830 $61,917

$53,689 $61,917

$51,021 = $302,315 $61,917 = $309,586

Generosity

$85,737 $61,917

December 2017

Page 7

Jesus is the reason for the season; Reflections of Faith offers wonderful A •

from Advent calendars on a key chain to varieties of traditional paper calendars,

•

from adorable felted wool figures to wooden manger scenes to wall art, and

•

beautiful jewelry by Palestinian artisans with proceeds to benefit their lives.

You may find just the gift you are looking for this Christmas. Stop and browse in Reflections of Faith before or after all worship services.

Saturday, December 23, 5:30 pm worship will be with candlelight.

Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve day worship will be at 11 am, 1, 2:30, and 4 pm with a brief children’s sermon during all services.

Childcare is available. Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem will be preaching.

One of the essential paradoxes of Advent: that while we wait for God, we are with God all along.

—Michelle Blake, michelleblakewriter.com

Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve worship will be with candlelight at 5:30, 8, 9:30, and 11 pm with Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren at the pulpit. Childcare is available at the 5:30 pm service, as well as at all earlier services.

cross toy shop ‘CROSS’ means Christians Reach Out in Social Service. As you may know, Lord of Life partners with CROSS in many areas such as fresh produce in the summer from our LifeGARDEN and foodshelf needs and clothing throughout the year. Now as we approach Christmas, donation opportunities are available for the CROSS Toy Shop on December 16, hosted again this year in our building. The Toy Shop is for families, registered through CROSS, where parents in need can select a Christmas gift for their child/ren. Donations may be dropped off in the Service Center through December 15—a list of suggested unwrapped gifts is available at lordoflife.org/cross.

—Jenny Rogalski, Adult Ministries Coordinator

Celebrating Advent and Christmas

christmas cookie drive for a great cause

8 December 2017

Military Family Support Ministry will host a cookie drive again this year sending cookies to troops on a carrier and also sharing with local vets and their families. The cookies are always very well received—and so much appreciated. If you bake and have time to make an extra dozen or two of cookies, please bring them to the Service Center between December 3 and 10. There will be a table marked for the collection.

Thank you in advance for your support of this wonderful ministry!

—Karen Nelson, Missions and Ministries Coordinator

Advent and Christmas items:

Enjoy a Christmas tradition—

Arise, Your Light Has Come!

by Lee Fuchs, Choir Director This celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ will take place on Saturday, December 9, at 5:30 pm, and Sunday, December 10, at 8:30, 9:45, and 11 am. It will include pieces by our Canticle Choir, Lord of Life Orchestra, and Bel Canto. Some titles include A Spotless Rose, I Want To Walk as a Child of the Light, Before the Marvel of this Night, and more. There will be readings from the Christmas story, and the congregation will also be involved in this celebration of Jesus’ birth.

‘the star’ christmas film for families

All are invited to “Come to the Manger”—

A Christmas Program!

A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind. He finds courage and goes on an adventure with other animals, such as wise-cracking camels, following the star to become heroes in the greatest story every told—the first Christmas. On Friday, December 1, at 6 pm, Lord of Life has reserved the Arbor Lakes Theater for this animated film. All youth must be accompanied by an adult; $5 tickets are available at the front desk. Tickets may sell out quickly!

presented by Lord of Life’s children’s choirs and church school children Church school children, ages 3 years – 6th grade, are busy preparing music, art, and more for Come to the Manger Christmas programs on Sunday, December 17, plus sharing a sneak preview in worship.

Christmas program rehearsals, Saturday, December 16:

9 am: Church school participating – Saturday (5:30 pm) and Sunday (8:30 and 11 am) 10:30 am: Church school participating – Sunday (9:45 am)

Christmas programs, Sunday, December 17:

3:30 pm: Church school participating – Saturday (5:30 pm) and Sunday (8:30 and 11 am) 5:30 pm: Church school participating – Sunday (9:45)

Light appetizers and sweet treats will be offered following each performance. Word sheets and listening links are available at lordoflife.org/churchschool.

Celebrating Advent and Christmas

Church school sings in worship, December 16 or 17. Sing two of our Christmas songs during your regular church school.

December 2017 9

One Mission One World: The Holy Land—

The Place They Call Holy

by Cheryl Myhr I am writing this on the eve of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. It was just two years ago when my husband, Greg, and I were part of Lord of Life’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On that Reformation Sunday, we worshipped at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine.

Despite the fact that Pastor Mitri Raheb’s sermon was mostly in Arabic, Martin Luther’s name was a familiar sound throughout the sermon. Pastor Mitri reminded us in English of Luther’s challenges for us as Christians to be “little Christs” wherever we may be from and in whatever language we may speak.

One Mission One World: The Holy Land

The images and experiences of this pilgrimage to Israel and the West Bank, Palestine, continue to make a lasting impression on me and my understanding of the place they call holy. It introduced me to stark differences between the lives of God’s children living in Israel and those living in Palestine, including Jesus’ birthplace, Bethlehem. The startling inequities in living conditions, public services, education, natural resource allocation, and many other aspects of everyday life—depending on what side of The Wall you lived—made a huge impression on me. I kept thinking how sad this must make God feel. This reality made me feel uncomfortable, mad, and sad. Each day of our pilgrimage, we were walking where Jesus had walked and studying His words—yet God’s children were being oppressed right where it all began. With the Gospel’s call and Luther’s reminder of our responsibility to be Christ’s hands and feet on this earth, Pastor Mitri’s phrase “little Christs” was tugging at my heart and mind.

10 December 2017

As it turned out, the Holy Spirit was filling many of the other pilgrim’s hearts and minds with the same thoughts.

We needed to find a way to make the phrase “sent to serve the world” not just words that we repeat at the end of worship, but to transform those words into loving our neighbors in Palestine. Soon after our return, Lord of Life’s Holy Land ministry was formed.

One of the ways this ministry supports people in the Holy Land is by partnering with Bright Stars of Bethlehem and providing scholarships to students attending Dar alKalima University College of Arts, Culture, and Design in Bethlehem, Palestine. Pastor Mitri Raheb is founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University; he is a widely published and well-respected Palestinian theologian and peacemaker. He was born and raised right near Manger Square in Bethlehem. He often jokes that his great great great great great grandmother probably even babysat for Jesus. Through the work of the Holy Land ministry and your gifts to Lord of Life, we have provided multiple scholarships to Dar al-Kalima students. These scholarships provide necessary tuition assistance to help chart a new course for Palestinian youth. This assistance brings hope for future generations committed to building a culture of democracy, critical thinking, free expression, and skills necessary for a 21st century job market.

Peace, shalom, and salaam.

To learn more about this ministry, please contact Bev Mello (bevm@lordoflife.org) or me (gcmyhr@embarqmail.com) or visit lordoflife.org/theholyland.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, “Peace” is written in stone along a pathway. In 2015, Lord of Life pilgrims shared the body and blood of communion together during worship in the garden.

Thank you to Greg Janssen for sharing this photo, when visiting “living stones” were a part of the Janssen’s pilgrimage.

Bev Mello

You are invited to GriefShare—a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences.

Meets on Tuesday, December 5, 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

For more details, visit lordoflife.org/griefshare.

Save the dates: Feb. 21-25, 2018—

MobilePack™

In the new year, Lord of Life will again participate in a MobilePack™ with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC).

2019 Lenten Pilgrimage

Held in Champlin at the Egan Companies location, shifts and registration details will be shared soon. We would love to have 1000+ packers to serve!

God’s Work. Our hands.

Come and worship experiencing holy moments while on a fishing boat in the Sea of Galilee.

See undeveloped vistas and valleys pretty much identical to what Jesus would have seen.

Along with Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem, and possibly other Lord of Life pastors, join in a pilgrimage with tentative dates March 28-April 8, 2019. If you want to learn more about the itinerary and plans as they develop, contact Pastor Dave McCarty (davem@lordoflife.org).

2019 Lenten Pilgrimage

Come and walk in His steps in Cana, Capernum, Jericho, and Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa.

Come and learn about Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, Palestine, growing up in Nazareth, and more.

Come and feel the Bible come alive in your own faith journey with other Lord of Life pilgrims.

December 2017 11

Older Wiser Lutherans december events Thursday, December 7: Annual Christmas Party, Glory to God in the Highest, with harpist Reuben Correa.

Pastor Peter will give devotions. We welcome donations to Source MN. Please check the bulletin board or pick up a card in the office listing all the suggested donations. Festivities begin at noon in Fellowship Hall with a freewill donation lunch. Come, bring a friend and celebrate the season.

Wednesday, December 20: Worship service at Arbor Lakes at 1 pm and/or Rose Arbor Assisted Living at 2:30 pm.

Thursday, December 21: The Plymouth Playhouse event to see The Looney Lutherans in Hold the Lutefisk is sold out. To be placed on a waiting list, please contact Karen Nelson.We will enjoy lunch before the play at the Green Mill. Leave Lord of Life at 10:30 am and return at 4 pm. Cost is $24 with lunch on your own.

worship fu

Spend les

No labeling LifeTIMES—happy new year!

save the date

Lord of Life Ministries

Thursday, January 4: “Lunch and a Movie” A warm meal, warm fellowship and a good movie: A Case for Christ to warm the heart. It all starts at noon in Fellowship Hall with a freewill donation lunch. Don’t miss it—a perfect way to begin the new year!

12 December 2017

Thursday, January 18: Curious about the publishing of the daily newspaper? Here is your chance to see and hear all about it at the Star Tribune’s Heritage Center.

We leave LOL at 11:30 am, returning by 4:30 pm. Cost is $20 which includes lunch. Sign up/pay soon—we are limited to 20 people for the tour.

Questions? Contact Karen Nelson (763.420.5015 x138 or karenn@lordoflife.org), check the bulletin board or lordoflife.org/owls.

Give Mor

love all

ully

ss

re

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again? What if – instead of spending lots of money to buy things people don’t need – you spent time with the people you love? And what if you gave some of that money you didn’t spend on those gifts they didn’t need to provide, for instance, clean water for people in the world who have no access to it?

This Advent, unite with fellow followers of Jesus as we experience God’s life-giving grace instead of the crushing weight of consumerism. Join the groundswell of Christ-followers who are choosing to make Christmas what it should be: a joyous celebration of Jesus’ birth that enriches our hearts and the world around us, not a retail circus that depletes our pocketbooks and defeats our spirits.

Welcome to the Advent Conspiracy, a movement calling us to proclaim Christ in how we prepare for and celebrate Christmas. Advent Conspiracy shows how to substitute consumption with compassion by practicing four simple, but powerful, countercultural concepts:

Worship Fully—because it all begins and ends with Jesus!

Spend Less—and free your resources for things that truly matter.

Give More—of your presence: your hands, your words, your time, your heart.

Love All—the poor, the forgotten, the marginalized, and the sick

Five Suggestions ELCA Good Gifts Lutheran Disaster Relief CROSS Services: local support One Mission One World: Dominican Republic: housing Jamaica: food via FMSC Uganda: water wells For links to all ... visit lordoflife.org/adventconspiracy

in ways that make a difference.

If you think that you’re too busy for this, that just highlights how important it is for you to join the Advent Conspiracy! Each week during the season of Advent, a different topic will be highlighted as we seek to faithfully prepare for our Christmas celebrations.

Here is how you can be a part of the Advent Conspiracy: Step 1: Commit to attending worship each weekend in Advent (beginning November 25 and 26).

Step 2: Get a copy of the book, Advent Conspiracy: Can Christmas Still Change the World? It’s full of inspiration and ideas for making our Christmas celebrations align with our faith and values. Copies of the book are available in Reflections of Faith ($8).

Step 3: Read the book and attend the weekly Advent Conspiracy class with me on Monday evenings at 7 pm in the Luther Room. You can also attend the Advent Conspiracy overview on Sunday, December 3, at 8:30, 9:45, and 11 am in the Luther Room.

Step 4: Talk with family and friends about how you experience God’s calling to have a meaningful Christmas celebration. And enter the life-giving story of God’s compassion for all humankind and all creation.

Prepare for Christmas with kindness, patience, and love. Spend less on presents, give more presence.

Join the Advent Conspiracy for your sake and for the sake of the world!

—Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

Advent Conspiracy

l

—continues from Page 3

December 2017 13

God’s continued blessings on 174 confirmands, and their families, who affirmed their baptismal promises in four services on Reformation Weekend.

Visit Lord of Life’s social media sites for literally hundreds of photos!

Confirmation Sundays: December 3 and 10 5-6 pm: Small groups 5:15-6:30 pm: Family meal 6-7 pm: Small groups 7-8 pm: Explore middle school youth group -or Express high school youth group Wednesdays: 4:30-5:30 pm: 5:30-6:30 pm: 6:30-7:30 pm:

December 6 and 13 Small groups Family meal Small groups

parents, please note Registration opens Friday, December 1, for After School Program Winter Session and Winter Release Day

Saturdays (5:30 pm) and Sundays (8:30, 9:45, and 11 am)—

Church school is weekly faith formation for children 2 years - 6th grade:

Friday, December 8, 6–10 pm

December 2/3: Advent Lesson - Spend Less. Regular church school for 3 years - 6th grade; 2 year old parent child class at each hour

Parent Night Out For birth-5th grade, $15 per child

Lord of Life Ministries

December Church School

It’s a Christmas celebration at—

Drop off your children for Christmas-themed games, snacks, stories, crafts, and service projects. December proceeds go to One Mission One World: Jamaica missionaries and high school Youth Gathering participants. Parents are invited to stop in Fellowship Hall between 9-10 pm for dessert and coffee before picking up their children.

Register at lordoflife.org/pno.

14 December 2017

December 9/10: Advent Lesson - Give More. Regular church school for 3 years - 6th grade December 16/17: Advent Lesson - Love All. Regular church school for 3 years - 6th grade; all children sing in worship plus children’s Christmas program, Come to the Manger.

December 23/24: Children worship with families; see Pages 3 and 8-9 for details on all services.

December 30/31: Children worship with families; no church school.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 (KJV)

Happy December!

by Karing Kingdom Director Angie Scheibel

God Gave Us Christmas

by Lisa Tawn Bergren In this sweet Christmas story, a mama polar bear and her cub go out to find God on Christmas Eve.

We begin our celebration of the Christmas season by ringing bells for the Salvation Army on Friday, December 1, at Maple Grove Cub Foods from 10 am12 noon. The second week includes Santa, Christmas trees and ‘Kris Kringle’s Kraft Time’ when we create holiday crafts. We end December in celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Karing Kingdom’s Christmas program is Thursday, December 14, at 7 pm in the sanctuary. At 10 am on Friday, December 15, we will have a special family event presented by A Touch of Magic.

Our parent ‘Meet and Greets’ are Monday, December 4, and Tuesday, December 5. We will be making sandwiches for Lord of Life’s Nourishing Our Neighbors ministry.

For more information about Karing Kingdom Preschool, email us at kingdom@ lordoflife.org or call 763.420.5015 x127.

Registration for currently enrolled families for the 2018-19 school year will begin Monday, December 4. Online alumni registration begins in the new year on Monday, January 8. Online open registration for the general public will begin Thursday, January 11, 2018.

Karing Kingdom Preschool wishes each of you a most blessed Christmas as we celebrate the greatest gift—God’s Son Jesus!

Karing Kingdom Preschool December 2017

15

LO R D O F L I F E L U T H E RA N CHU R CH (E LCA ) 7401 County Road 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311-4313 phone 763.420.5015 fax 763.420.7286 web lordoflife.org LifeTIMES is a monthly ministry of Lord of Life Lutheran Church printed by Wallace Carlson Printing using ecofriendly inks.

To receive LifeTIMES in the mail or electronically—call 763.420.5015 or stop in the church office or email office@lordoflife. org with your name & address. We invite you to share faith stories, Lord of Life ministry events, photos, poetry & artwork to bevm@ lordoflife.org. Submissions may be edited. Deadline for the January issue is December 1.

Copyright © 2017 Lord of Life Lutheran Church

T IME SE NSIT IVE MAT E R IAL R E T U RN SE RVICE RE Q U E ST E D

Merry Christmas Happy New Year!

&

Name Address City ST Zip

Caught Reading LifeTIMES

caught reading lifetimes

16 December 2017

After a week of serving in the Dominican Republic, these Lord of Lifers enjoyed a day of sightseeing and shopping.

To learn about their work, visit lordoflife.org/dr2017 for a daily blog of activities. Shown left to right: Back row: Chris Jasper, Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem, Ladd Leimer Jr., Ladd Leimer Sr., Larry Stokes Middle row: Lisa & Pastor Dave McCarty, Doug Hum, Kristi Stoltz, Annie Bonow, Lindi & Dave Lund Front row: Merle Waldron, Amy Ruch, Sandy Stokes, Matt Eich, Kjell Ferris

Nonprofit US Postage Paid Maple Grove, MN Permit #14