Lord of Life Compass January February 2024 Issue

C O M P A S S Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, MN January/February 2024

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LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN

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

Prayer requests may be submitted to prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.

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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

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Welcome

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Let ‘Er Rip!

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In Christ

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Breathe

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Faith Formation

12-13

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Baptisms & Bereavements

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Weddings & Welcome

Spiritual Direction

16-17

Centering Prayer

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Calendar of Events

lordoflife.org

office@lordoflife.org

Prayer Network / Ichthys

/lordoflifelutheran /lolcyf

/lordoflifeluth

/lordoflife /cyf_lordoflife

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Ash Wednesday / Lent

Compass is a bimonthly ministry from Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA). Paper is the most sustainable natural resource. 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. Credits: Creative Market, Unsplash.

Copyright © 2024 Lord of Life Lutheran Church

WELCOME In her 1993 science fiction novel Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler tells a story of a post-apocalyptic world set in the far-flung year of… 2024. The novel deals with an Earth beset by climate change and social inequality, so it is up to the discerning reader to decide whether this is to be considered speculative fiction or not.

Regardless, we are beginning a year that sounds fictional to some of our ears: 2024. Yet here it is. And it is real. And in a world full of change and challenges, where do we see God at work in our midst?

This issue of Compass points us in some possible—and hopeful— directions. You can explore where to see God in “ordinary times.” You can consider what it means to be “in Christ.” You can read about prayer and faith formation ministries. You can learn about the life-giving opportunity of spiritual direction.

Pastor Kaitlyn highlights Jeremiah 29:11: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Since we have agency, God’s plans for us are adaptable, just like any architect’s original blueprints. But what always remains is God working for good to give us a future with hope.

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by Executive Pastor Kaitlyn Forster (kaitlynf@lordoflife.org)

When it comes to faith and hope, scripture is filled with beautiful one-liners to help us grasp such big concepts.

They fill the entire Bible and some examples include: •

1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

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Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

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Jeremiah 29:11: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

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Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

They are wonderful verses to meditate on and make for excellent wall art. Verses like this can be a source of comfort on the days when everything feels tested and uplifting when everything is great. However, I wonder if they are as meaningful on days that are neither tremendous nor terrible. Not especially joyful nor sad. Maybe the word I am looking for here is, ordinary. With just one line, they aren’t able to get into the who’s-its, what’s-its, and how’s-its. They don’t tell me how to trust or give any clue as to what a plan could be. It makes me ponder, how do we comprehend our faith and relationship with God in those moments that feel too ordinary?

Each night at dinner in my house, we spend time going around the table sharing our highs and lows of the day and where we saw God. It’s a great practice to think about faith in this way and helps connect us with one another. Inevitably though, my 4-year-old always ends her turn with a twinkle in her eye and a smirk on her face as she proudly proclaims that she saw God in her toots. Yes, you read that right. Nothing is funnier to a 4-yearold than flatulence and other bodily functions.

At first, I was a bit concerned and thought she was saying it to get a reaction—which is very likely true. But the more I tried to make sense of it and meet her where she is at in her faith journey, the more I appreciate the image. Maybe seeing God in her toots helps her to feel God’s presence when life is stinky. Maybe she feels God at work, in and through her, and that includes the less favorable moments that adults shy away from talking about.

Maybe God’s presence to her is the warmth of laughter that comes from making others smile.

Whatever her experience of faith may be is still a mystery to me. But how she invited God into an ordinary moment of the day is something that we all can strive for. Our relationship with God can look like the relationship we share with those around us that we trust the most. The ones whom we can be the fullest version of ourselves around, toots and all. The relationships that have moved beyond the shiny and new moments, have weathered the storms, and are able to sit quietly with one another without expectation. Simply enjoying each other’s company.

So, maybe this season, we can ponder what our relationship with God looks and feels like, to give more depth to these big concepts of faith, hope, and love. We can have faith in a God who will be constant and with us, no matter what arises. We can hope for the burst of the Holy Spirit to fill the room, sometimes silently. We can lean into a love that bears all things.

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C H R I S T

by Lead Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem (joel@lordoflife.org)

The phrase “in Christ” appears well over 50 times in Paul’s letters in the New Testament. The importance of being “in Christ” for Paul likely had its origin in his encounter with the risen Jesus as Paul (then called Saul) was on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1-19. In his experience of Jesus, Paul was transformed from one who threatened followers of Jesus into one who was a follower of Jesus. This encounter created a close relationship between Paul and Jesus.

Being “in Christ” is the root of our faith and is central to our identity as followers of Jesus. Andrew Root writes, “To be ‘in Christ,’ then, is not a concept. On the road to Damascus, Paul encounters not a new idea but the very person of the living Christ, who calls him by name, coming to his own person, to bind Paul’s person with Jesus’ own resurrected and transcendent person. Faith itself is to have your being (your person) in the person of Jesus Christ. Faith is the experience of sharing in the person of Christ.” 1 Our lives as Christians can seem quite peculiar at times. We follow a poor rabbi from the Middle East who loved, taught, and healed, and who was crucified by Rome for being acclaimed as the “Son of God,” which was a title reserved for Caesar. Then this One was raised from the dead, promising salvation and new life for the world, disrupting Paul’s plans on the way to Damascus, and inviting us into relationship with him today.

Part of the peculiarity of following Jesus is that we enter the reality of death and resurrection. The new life Christ offers comes through death. That doesn’t feel very hopeful, does it?

Paul, having firsthand knowledge of dying and rising with Christ, provides us a different perspective, as beautifully translated in the Common English Bible: “If we have a hope in Christ only in this life, then we deserve to be pitied more than anyone else.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.

He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died. Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:19-22

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A significant part of the hope we can experience as Christians is that our faith tradition does not ignore or deny the reality of death. It is altogether too real, a painful incursion of suffering that we do not welcome. God, however, does not let death get the last word. That is why being in Christ, living in Christ, hoping in Christ is not only about this life. Our lives today are shaped by the cross of Christ because we know that death does not get the last word. Death may be a reality, but it is not the ultimate reality.

Being in Christ is our ultimate reality.

It’s peculiar, indeed, to consider ourselves as being “in Christ.” Yet, as Helen Cepero insists, “Throughout the letters of Paul, ‘in Christ’ becomes a place of identity, a place of transformation in love, a place of coming home to God. Living in Christ is a home, a way of being where we lose none of our uniqueness but instead discover a new life in the midst of the very center of who we are and where we live.” 2 The claim Jesus makes in relationship with each of us is not to be Lord of part of our lives. Jesus is the Lord of our entire lives. Who we are, what we do, where we go are all shaped by our relationship with Christ if we trust in Paul’s words that “everyone will be given life in Christ.”

What we do with that life from Christ matters because each one of us matters. You matter. Your life matters. And a life in Christ brings forth the liberating good news of Jesus to a world that desperately needs it. The fact that we have a role to play by being in Christ may be the most hopeful reality we can imagine!

Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church’s Obsession with Youthfulness by Andrew Root

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Christ-Shaped Character: Choosing Love, Faith and Hope by Helen Cepero

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P R A Y E R

N E T W O R K

You may not see them. You may not hear them. That is because Lord of Life’s prayer warriors are behind the scenes, offering private prayers for many. Prayer is not a formula or ritual but a personal, meaningful connection with God. Prayer is a conversation with God to express faith, gratitude, and needs.

Common elements to help develop a prayer life include finding a quiet place where you can focus, free from distractions. Begin with reverence and an awareness of the presence of God. Maybe light a candle or use other symbolic elements to signify you are not alone. Locations may vary: pray in a church, at home, or anywhere you feel comfortable (there may even be holy moments at the keyboard!). Pray alone or with others. It is open to everyone. Express adoration and praise to God with thanks for blessings such as family, friends, health, opportunities, and salvation. Admit mistakes and shortcomings asking God to cleanse and restore you.

You are encouraged to become a part of the prayer network by visiting lordoflife.org/prayernetwork, opting in to receive prayer requests. Here are recent examples: “Please pray for [... ...] who is in critical condition and was just transferred to the U of MN from Sioux Falls with a nonfunctioning pancreas.

Please keep his wife [...] and their family in your prayers, also. May they all feel God’s loving arms holding them closely at this difficult time. Thank you! [... ...]”

“Please pray for [...] and family at the sudden and unexpected death of [... ...]. May the promise of the resurrection bring peace and comfort to those grieving.”

“Please pray for [... ...] and family as they process new information regarding her cancer journey.

May God’s Holy Spirit continue to bring clarity and uphold and strengthen them each day.”

“Please pray for the Lord to use me and my gifts for good in the world and find me a job that suits me best. A place where I can grow and develop my professional skills and improve my current mental state. Relieve me of this seasonal depression, so I can serve. [... ...]”

“Please pray for my mom who is in the hospital where doctors are trying to stop her from having a third stroke in a two-month period. I am so worried for her. She is the only family I have, and I am still very young. Please pray God heals her and lets me have her with me longer. I can’t lose her. Thank you and God bless. P.S. I am sorry I am not a member of your church however I am trying to get as many prayers for my mom as I can. I sincerely thank you.”

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I C H T H Y S

You may have noticed the ichthys symbol in Lord of Life’s narthex carpeting (see photo below).

Many Christians sometimes wear the fish symbol as a lapel pin. You’ll even see this symbol of Christianity on vehicles as if it is a brand such as Ford or Chevy. How did it all get started?

In first century Rome, Christians were being persecuted when gathering or worshiping—their meetings needed to be secretive. Sometimes meetings were held below ground in catacombs. They had to be careful as if their lives depended on it, because they did!

One would use a stick or finger or edge of sandal in the dust on the ground making one of two lines. Then the other person would fill in the second line. With this “password protection,” then they safely shared their faith, next location for worship, news of Christian brothers or sisters, and so on. The symbol has endured as a legacy for believers to know and recognize each other.

Also, the word ‘fish’ in Greek is ichyths (also spelled ichthus) or “ƗХΘΥΣ” and is an acrostic for Iota (Jesus), Christos (Christ or the anointed), Theta (God’s), Upsilon (Son), and Sigma (Savior).

B R E A T H E This winter—maybe when you’re out & about in the crisp wintry air with the car warming up or even at home cosy by a toasty fire—try a new way to pray! It’s called a “breath prayer” and it’s actually an ancient form of prayer, easily adaptable for today.

Many theologians have made breath prayers their own. One of the most common or historic forms is known as “The Jesus Prayer.” With that as an example, as you fill your whole self with breath and feel the air in your lungs, pray “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God,” Then exhale slowly and as you do, pray: “Have mercy on me, a sinner.” And simply repeat this practice with ten deep breaths in and out, words spoken or unspoken. (You could consider switching the word “sinner” with “your beloved child” and notice how your body and soul responds to the change.) The main format—although you’re open to doing whatever you want—is to breathe in a name of God then breathe out a request/desire. It could be as simple as “Savior, help.”

A breath prayer is an easy way to pray and connect with God. This way of praying can be helpful when we don’t have a lot of words, or are overcome by anxiety or another emotion. It can also be a good way to simply bring our attention back to God throughout the day or evening.

If you’d prefer to make it very personal, compose your own statements. Here are a half-dozen pairings which you may want to consider for a breath prayer.

Inhale: Beloved savior, Exhale: Help me serve and love.

Inhale: Precious Holy Spirit, Exhale: I sense a transformation to peace.

Inhale: Creator of all, Exhale: I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Inhale: Light of my life, Exhale: Illuminate a path of love.

Inhale: Giver of all good things, Exhale: I choose to live generously with all you have given me.

Inhale: Ever-present God, Exhale: I invite you into every moment.

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F A I T H

F O R M A T I O N

by Middle School Ministry Director Neil Christians (neilc@lordoflife.org)

At Lord of Life, the confirmation ministry is called C3 (Christ / Community / Confirmation). Every fall, the seventhand eighth-grade students in C3 take time for a retreat at Camp Onomia in Onamia, MN. This is a beautiful camp on the shore of Shakopee Lake. In early October, the fall leaves were at their peak, providing a beautiful place for the students to connect with God and build community.

Each year at this retreat, we focus on our C3 topic for that year. Seventh- and eighth-grade students meet throughout the school year with a focus on either the Bible or Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. This year’s focus was on the Bible. The theme is “God’s Story / My Story / Our Story” where students study major stories in the Bible and talk about how it connects to their daily life as well as what it means for the larger Christian community. We question and reflect on how we live out our faith life in the world today.

At the retreat, students enjoy large group and small group discussion, games, music, crafts, and other activities throughout the weekend. Of course, what would a camp retreat be without an evening bonfire? The camp has a beautiful campfire area with a large stone cross that looks out across the lake. Students choose songs they would like to sing, and the leaders share their own faith story and why C3 is so important to their lives.

These retreats are an amazing time and one of the most meaningful experiences for students and C3 leaders!

Nestled amongst the trees, here are some quotes from the students:

“I learned awesome things about God that make me believe more.”

“We learned more about how God is working in the world right now.”

“I grew closer with God by singing songs.”

“I will remember making and hanging out with new friends.”

“I am a child of God loved beyond measure! He cares, so I will care. He loves, so I will love.”

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“I learned about God’s story and how it connects to my story and our story.”

Eighth Grade Confirmation Retreat

Seventh Grade Confirmation Retreat

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P R A Y E R

S H A W L S

During winter months, consider curling up with a tangible symbol of God’s love—a prayer shawl. Created by over forty people, each producing anywhere from one a year to multiple shawls a month, prayer shawls are like a soft, gentle hug from God. Primarily given out for grief or cancer, there are knitted or crocheted or fleece-tied prayer shawls available in all sizes.

Think cosy Spirit-filled snuggles in a perfect size for child or adult. Some shawls are incredibly detailed with intricate designs, others may be simpler stitches. Leading the ministry since 2010, Janet Seim explains, “When in Florida during winter months, I participate in the prayer shawl ministry at a Methodist church. Some ministries have very specific rules about pattern, type of yarn, etc. One of the things I like best about Lord of Life’s ministry is the freedom to be creative‑—we cherish a ‘no rule’ creative community and simply encourage an approximate size.” The selection is varied yet the meaning is still the same: providing God’s love, comfort, and peace to the recipient.

The ministry meets monthly for a devotion, fellowship, and shop talk on stitches or patterns plus intercessory prayers for all who were touched (literally!) by a shawl. All skill levels are welcome. Join in for a Saturday, January 13 retreat from 9am-12pm. Regular monthly meetings (second Thursdays, 7pm except January) are also a welcome place for you to experience a community that spreads God’s love in every fiber they touch.

Perhaps you have someone on your heart recently yet they are not local—prayer shawls may be mailed! They are carefully wrapped with tissue paper and a card with a tender message. A shawl maker shares, “I always encourage people to give a shawl or to request one themselves, even if they somehow feel that their situation isn’t dire enough to warrant a shawl. Shawls don’t need to be reserved for severe illness or death; we can all use comfort and prayers sometimes, even for things that may not seem catastrophic. As a shawl maker, I’m glad that anyone can receive a shawl when they feel the need. And it’s been amazing that we’ve never run out!” There is never a charge or payment requested for a shawl. Feel free to call (763.420.5015) or email the church office (office@lordoflife.org). In the kingdom of God, it could be an answer to prayers!

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~f rom the prayer shawl ministry team~ “My mom received a prayer shawl when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, several years after her diagnosis of breast cancer. Being a prayerful woman and on the prayer team at her church, the shawl had deep meaning for her. It was always draped on the back of her recliner, and she took it with her on many hospital stays.

With the prayer shawl stimulating conversation, Mom enjoyed talking to people about her faith and love for the Lord. It got to the point that when I’d pack her things for a hospital trip, she said, “All I need is my prayer shawl.”

Mom peacefully passed away draped in her prayer shawl.

It brought her so much comfort and she said it was like being wrapped in the arms of Jesus. I joined the prayer shawl ministry in honor of my mom to share the peace and comfort she received. My first shawl went to a cancer patient.” —Roxanne C. “Before I became a part of this ministry I was both on the giving and receiving side of shawls. Both were unbelievably touching moments that I felt God’s call to join in this amazing ministry and give back. So glad I did! I look forward to spending time with these talented women each month.” —Jerri Lynn L.

“Each time the prayer shawl ministry gets together, we offer prayers specific for each individual who has been gifted a shawl since a previous meeting. That act really brings the ministry to life. We also do a quick show-andtell of shawls made and ready to be donated. It’s always fun to see new patterns and ideas—the creativity of this ministry is amazing!” —Kris W. “I’ve been involved in the prayer shawl ministry for many years—I’ve made more than 300 shawls and knitting or crocheting them brings me a feeling of joy and creativity. Not all of us have skills like singing or public speaking to use in service to God, so I feel lucky that my handiwork ability can play that role for me. One of the special moments in the ministry is when we gather to pray together for all the recipients of shawls each month. It’s a powerful reminder of how God has blessed my life, and a way for me to help serve others by lifting up in prayer those who have needed the comfort of a shawl. For someone like me who enjoys crafting the shawls, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that my simple handiwork can impact people who need comfort. While I don’t know many of the recipients personally, I feel a special connection when someone receives one of my shawls and hope they can feel the care I’m “sending” their way that is in the shawl.” —Marlene J.

“When creating, I don’t always know where the shawl will find a home. But, I send prayers during the creation, and I squeeze love & comfort into each stitch. Knowing that the receiver will get a “hug” from the Lord, that embrace is meaningful to me. Jesus’ love will comfort them & they will be held in his arms. May they experience peace.”

—Evelyn S.

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At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age.

To schedule a baptism, call the church office

B A P T I S M S

(763.420.5015) or visit lordoflife.org/baptism. The next baptism classes are January 8 and February 5.

October 8, 2023

November 19, 2023

Evelyn Mae Schutz Iris Grace Winn Lennox William Winn

Dylan John Perreault Sienna Mae Seeman

October 15, 2023 Colten William Burns Remy Lou Westphal October 22, 2023 Zara Lee Knowles Jackson Brian Osgood

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November 25, 2023 Bryce Thomas Myslajek Grace Marie Myslajek November 26, 2023 Paisley Wren Anderson

BEREAVEMENTS

WEDDINGS

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

Monica Alley and family at the death of her mother, Vani Alle Pat Blanchar and family at the death of her husband, Jon Blanchar Michael Dittmar and family at the death of his wife, Kathy Dittmar Clint Eckstrom and family at the death of his wife, Tedde Eckstrom Lynn Hendrickson and family at the death of her brother Burnett Hjulberg and family at the death of his sister, Kathleen Strehlow Carol & Stu Holmer and family at the death of his sister, Kristen (Holmer) Mann Julie Jones and family at the death of her brother, Kenneth Jones Matthew Kasowicz and family at the death of his father Betty Klande and family at the death of her brother, Herb Scheffler Julie Klatt and family at the death of her husband, Ron Klatt Joleen Mallinger and family at the death of her husband, Jim Mallinger Jennifer Neu and family at the death of her cousin, Kim Connell Lorrie O’Meara and family at the death of her husband, Jim O’Meara Joan Schulkers and family at the death of her brother, Jim Paulson Claire Sontag and family at the death of her friend, Lindsey

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS October 2023 Jerry and Patty Berg Derek Knutson and Greta Schoenberg Brad and Vanessa Wankhede Langenfeld with Rafa, Arie, and Frankie Langenfeld

October 6, 2023 Charlotte Wolf & Zach Anderson October 7, 2023 Kristine Sundsteine & Jim Schumacher October 22, 2023 Kelly Hudson & Spencer Nord

November 2023 John and Gayle Albrecht Kathy Albrecht Karen Breuninger Sylvia Orth with Ariana Gavilan Jerry Otten Paul and Lindsay Petersen with Nathan and Hailey Rob and Debra Rischmiller

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 Diane Steffen (dianes@lordoflife.org or 763.420.5015) or visit lordoflife.org/membership. You are invited to become a part of the Lord of Life faith community.

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A Contemplative Ministry at Lord of Life—

S P I R I T U A L D I R E C T I O N Spiritual direction is a ministry of companionship or holy friendship. It is a threeway conversation between you, the spiritual director, and God. Offering an opportunity to look and listen for God’s presence and action in your daily life, spiritual direction helps you listen for who God has created you to be and how God invites you to live at this stage of your life.

There are many reasons to consider talking with a spiritual director. Most importantly, spiritual direction supports you and your relationship with God. You might want to meet with a spiritual director when…

• • • • • •

You have questions about faith and life You desire a deeper connection with God You desire a deeper understanding of yourself You want to grow in your life of prayer / meditation You want to respond to suffering and injustice from a place of faith and prayer You are in a time of transition and would like support as you discern some next steps

Spiritual direction is different from counseling. Spiritual direction is a contemplative relationship for discernment, which supports your desire to respond to God’s invitation for you. Counseling can be a very helpful tool for discernment, too. Unlike counseling, however, spiritual direction does not offer advice or ways to fix or solve a problem. Spiritual direction supports your relationship with God amid all the complexities of human life.

You may wonder what happens in spiritual direction. You can expect to meet for about an hour. The session begins by taking a few moments to slow down and get grounded in faith.

That may be an opening prayer, a poem, or silence. Once you feel ready, you can begin to talk about whatever you wish to talk about. People sometimes talk about important relationships, work or lack of work, retirement, life transitions, God sightings in nature, pets, or events in the wider community or world. You can expect a spiritual director to listen respectfully and to ask questions that are intended to help you go deeper and notice God’s presence in your life. After an hour, the session ends with a closing prayer.

Spiritual direction is typically a monthly meeting. It can be a long-term relationship (lasting a few years) or it can be a short-term commitment (lasting a few months). Spiritual direction can happen in-person or online via Zoom.

Lord of Life offers spiritual direction. In addition to being an ordained pastor, Karen Wight Hoogheem is a trained spiritual director. You can meet with her for spiritual direction. She can also refer you to another spiritual director. There are many gifted spiritual directors in the Twin Cities!

To learn more, visit lordoflife.org/spiritualdirection or email Pastor Karen directly (karenwh@lordoflife.org) to arrange a time to talk about the possibility of spiritual direction in your life.

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I N V I T A T I O N

Centering prayer is a method of Christian silent prayer that deepens our relationship with God. It is a prayer in which we can experience God’s presence within us. The method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to deepen that relationship.

Linda Botner started practicing Centering Prayer about five years ago. She says, “An intern pastor formed a group at the church I belonged to. I joined because I had been searching for a deeper spiritual practice. Other ones I had tried did not connect with my Christian faith. I felt at home with centering prayer. When the intern left, some of us formed a group and still meet to this day.”

Linda, a member of Lord of Life’s Contemplative Community, is excited to offer the opportunity for others to experience centering prayer at Lord of Life. The group will meet on the first Tuesdays of the month at 2pm in the Prayer Chapel. The first gathering is January 2.

When someone asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17) Centering prayer is a spiritual practice that helps people discover God’s presence within ourselves and in our lives.

Please consider this invitation to be a part of the centering prayer group at Lord of Life. Join others in God’s invitation to “Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46

A Thought for the New Year “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

—Rumi

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J A N U A R Y 1

Happy New Year!

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Centering Prayer Gathering (2-3pm, see Page 17)

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Older Wiser Lutherans (OWLs) Faith, Food & Fellowship (begins 11:45am)

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Baptism Class via Zoom (5-6 pm) Brewed Theology, OMNI Brewing (7-8pm) Registration opens for summer programming (lordoflife.org/summer)

Thank you to so many who answered the call for warm, gently-used winter coats, gloves, hats, scarves which have been given to the Maple Grove Giving Connection & Osseo School District 279!

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Prayer Shawl Retreat (9am-12pm, see Pages 12-13)

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Karing Kingdom Preschool Registration opens for 2024-25 school year

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OWLs It’s All Fun & Games (1:30-3:30pm)

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Middle School Mission Trip Info Meeting (12:30-1:30pm) Youth Room Summer Camp Sunday

Summer registration: lordoflife.org/summer beginning January 8!

Worship with Lord of Life Saturdays (5:30pm) with Livestream Sundays (8:30, 9:45, and 11am) with Livestream Church School (age two - 6th grade) during regular Sunday worship Childcare available for birth - age two during regular Sunday worship

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F E B R U A R Y 1

Older Wiser Lutherans (OWLs) Faith, Food & Fellowship (begins 11:45am)

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C3 Retreat Make-up Day (9am-2:30pm)

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Baptism Class via Zoom (5-6pm)

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Centering Prayer Gathering (2-3pm, see Page 17) Grief Share Loss of a Spouse Event (6:30pm)

12 Brewed Theology, OMNI Brewing (7-8pm) 13 Grief Share Session 1 begins (6:30pm) 14 Ash Wednesday Worship & Imposition of Ashes (11am) Soup Luncheon (noon) Lenten Soup Supper (5:30-6:45pm) Ash Wednesday Worship & Imposition of Ashes (7-8pm) 15 OWLs Movie Day (begins 1:30pm) 19 Winter Release Day (9-5pm) 21 Lenten Soup Supper (5:30-6:45pm) Lenten Midweek Worship (7-7:45pm) Feed My Starving Children NW Metro MobilePack at St. Joseph the Worker 22 Feed My Starving Children NW Metro MobilePack at St. Joseph the Worker 23 Feed My Starving Children NW Metro MobilePack at St. Joseph the Worker 24 Feed My Starving Children NW Metro MobilePack at St. Joseph the Worker 28 Lenten Soup Supper (5:30-6:45pm) Lenten Midweek Worship (7-7:45pm)

Especially if severe weather, visit lordoflife.org or call the church office (763.420.5015) for the most up-to-date calendar items / specific event times or severe weather cancellations.

Stay connected with recurring events: Alone...Together Men, second Monday

Gethemane Clothes Closet, first & third Saturdays

Alone...Together Women, third Monday

Gethsemane Food Market, Mondays

C Confirmation Ministry, Sundays / Wednesdays

Griefshare, Tuesday eveningss

Canticle Choir, Wednesdays

Job Transition Group, first and third Wednesday mornings

Celebrate Recovery, Tuesday evenings

Love to Paint, Tuesday afternoons

Children’s Choir, Thursday evenings

Men’s and Women’s Cancer Support, first Monday

Contemplative Community, third Saturday morning

Men’s Small Groups: Mon. 6pm, Tues. 7am, Sat. 7am

Fellowship with the Fellas, first and third Tuesdays

Prayer Shawl Ministry, second Thursdays (see Page 12)

FreedomWorks Connection, third Thursday

Ring and Sing, Thursday mornings

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Sharing and Caring Hands, second Saturday mornings Word for Women, Wednesday mornings

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Lord of Life

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Ash Wednesday worship with imposition of ashes is February 14 at 11am and 7pm. A soup luncheon will follow the morning service and a soup supper will precede the evening service.

During the season of Lent, midweek worship will be 7pm on Wednesdays with music from the Holden Evening Prayer and a traditional Lenten meditation. Soup suppers from 5:30-6:45pm in Fellowship Hall will precede worship. Weekend worship during Lent will focus on the theme “This is the Way” as we follow Jesus on his way to the cross.

Lent will be a time for reflection and a deeper commitment to the path of discipleship as we worship together and contemplate Jesus’ invitation to follow him in his way of compassion.

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