Lord of life lutheran
JANUARY 2021
C O M P A S S
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F U T U R E
W I T H
H O P E
by Pastor Dave McCarty (davem@lordoflife.org)
Looking ahead to the new year—there are not very many things in my life that are for sure. But there is one thing, and that is God’s presence with me, day in and day out. In the good times and bad times, pandemic and no pandemic, God promises to be with me (and you) no matter what. So, the question I pose for the beginning of a fresh new year of 2021 is: Am I fully present with God and for others? Are you? I find it hard to be fully present with God and for others. And, when I’m not fully present in that moment, the one who misses out is me. Too often, I get myself bogged down with things that are beyond my control or I hang on to things that are better left in the past, and I miss blessings God is offering to me. Too often I get distracted with things that aren’t that important or I get my priorities in the wrong order, and I’m unable to be the friend or family member I want to be. On the other hand, when I’m fully present with God I find I see and hear God’s wonder and beauty that surrounds me. Similarly when I’m fully present for my family and friends, I see and hear how wonderful and beautiful they are. This is how I am trying to look at the new year ahead. Being disciplined when it comes to distractions. Being proactive to stay focused in the moment. Being present with God and for others is hard but sets the stage for the plans God has for each of us, plans for our welfare and not for harm, to give us a future with hope.
A Future with hope......................................2-3 BIBLE 101: STARTING WITH SCrIPTURE.......4-5 community life / PRAYER LIFE...................6-7 civil rights theologians...........................8-9 racial justice INITIATIVE.............................. 10 light the way / contacts .............................. 11
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Looking back, when’s the last time you were able to put everything else aside and be fully present with God, and for your friends and family? How did that make you feel? Looking forward, let’s be comforted knowing God is fully present with us, and pray that we can be fully present with God and for others. Amen.
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. —Jeremiah 29:11
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S T A R T I N G
W I T H
S C R I P T U
by Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem (joel@lordoflife.org)
Making sense of Scripture, understanding what’s happening in any given biblical text, and listening for God’s voice through it all are difficult to do. If you’ve ever felt as though you’re in over your head when you read the Bible or you just don’t know where or how to start—do not despair. You are in very good company. Reading the Bible is not easy. It’s why reading the Bible is a spiritual discipline. As with any other discipline, it takes a high degree of dedication, a willingness to learn, and a deep commitment.
Bible 101
This brief article can’t cover all the aspects that go into reading the Bible, but I’d like to offer a couple ideas about helpful ways to start. First, it’s good to
know there are a lot of different Bible translations. The texts of the Bible were originally written in Hebrew (the Old Testament) and Greek (the New Testament). This means that for those of us not fluent in the ancient forms of those languages, we have to read translations. Each translation has a different theological perspective. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just worth noting that every translation is biased because translators have to make thousands of decisions about how different words and concepts should be rendered in English. While we absolutely affirm that Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, it’s also important for us to be wise and aware about the very human decisions that go into bringing these inspired words to us today.
Comparisons of 2 Corin
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new revised standard version (nrsv):
common english bible (ceb):
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!
U R E As far as translations go, the two I’d most highly recommend are the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the Common English Bible (CEB). The New International Version (NIV) is another solid translation. The New Living Translation (NLT) is very easy-to-read. It’s also a good idea to have a good study Bible. The New Interpreters’ Study Bible and the CEB Study Bible are the two I would most highly recommend. Just remember: the study notes in any Bible are not the Bible itself. They are simply there to help the reader try to make sense of what they’re reading. And remember: all the study notes have a bias, too. The books of the Bible were written by different authors in different locations over the course of thousands of years. There are details that don’t align
well. There are contradictions. There are ancient ideas and genres that make little to no sense to us today. And that’s all okay. We can ask questions and wrestle with what we read. We can listen for God’s voice and pay attention to what resonates with us. And we stay in community, as we need others as conversation partners through it all. One modest starting point is to receive the daily devotions in your email inbox (visit lordoflife.org/ hope to opt in) from Lord of Life each day. Each day has a Scripture passage and a related devotion. It’s one way to engage the Bible, hear a word of hope, and turn to your own Bible to read more about the context and larger story of each day’s verses. Yes, it takes discipline, but so do all of the other most rewarding and worthwhile things we do in our lives. Happy Bible reading in the new year!
nthians 5:17 Translations new international version (niv):
new living translation (nlt):
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Online all translations: biblegateway.com Online devotion resource: luthersem.edu/godpause From the International Bible Society, listen free to the complete New International Version (NIV) Audio Bible (narrated by acclaimed actor Max McLean): biblica.com/resources/niv-audio-bible-listen-online-for-free
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C O M M U N I T Y
L I F E
baptisms At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age. For the next baptism class or to schedule a baptism, call the church office (763.420.5015).
November 1 Tucker Andrew Janneke Brooks Steven Perreault
November 8 Benjamin Bradley Engebretson Christopher James Engebretson Mia Violet Schilz
November 14 Grace Ellen McAdoo
November 21 Holden Scott Wessels November 29 Elyse Rose Mayer Sienna Adriana Mayer
bereavements
weddings
Prayers of sympathy for those we have lost in our community and for those grieving the loss of a loved one. May there be comfort in the promise of the resurrection.
To schedule a wedding, contact Wedding Supervisor
For details on your wedding, visit lordoflife.org/weddings. Michelle Tomlinson (michellet@lordoflife.org).
Elaine, Kim, and Mike Asmussen and family at the death of their husband and father, Steve Jerry Bergstrom and family at the death of his mother, Corinne Patty Davidson and family at the death of her aunt
Rosemary Morehouse
Steve Fretheim and family at the death of his brother, Terry
Nick & Suzanne Mayer with Sienna and Elyse
John Hanson, Allison Barry, and families at the death of their wife and mother, Ellen Hanson
Jeani Donnay Membership at Lord of Life means you make a
Neil Larson and family at the death of his father, Maynard
commitment to be an active participant in congregational
Nancy Phillips and family at the death of her good friend, Shirley
members—is to worship regularly, grow in faith, serve
Roger Seim and family at the death of his sister Bruce Stensland and family at the death of his father, Robert
life. The expectation of not only new members but all others, and support the church and its programs financially. For more information, contact Katie Gartzke (katieg@lordoflife.org or 763.420.5015) or visit
Dan Stone and family at the death of his father
lordoflife.org/membership. You are invited to become a
John Travis and family at the death of his mother, Martha
part of the Lord of Life faith community.
Mark Wenger and family at the death of his mother, Dorothy 6
welcome new members
Practicing prayer on a regular basis is part of living out our faith and is a vital part of our relationship with God. “Pause for Prayer” is the first and third Tuesday of every month. These online prayer sessions incorporate prayers that all attendees are invited to pray for, as well as individual prayers for healing, intercessory, or other. For more details, visit lordoflife.org/prayerlife. Another resource to enhance your prayer life is to view and practice the “Prayer Practice Instructional Videos” at lordoflife.org/hopeathome. These three videos demonstrate the Daily Examen, Centering Prayer, and the Lectio Divina; all are presented by Rev. Dr. Karen Wight Hoogheem. Strengthen your prayer life in the new year of 2021!
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Dr. Howard Thurman November 18, 1899-April 10, 1981
Alice Walker February 9, 1944-
We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.
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Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968
CIVIL RIGHTS THEOLOGIANS Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. by Pastor Kaitlyn Forster (kaitlynf@lordoflife.org)
The powerful words above were written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail.” That letter1 may be one of the most important written documents of the Civil Rights movement and chronicles the journey they were on, and that we continue to tread. It weaves through centuries of injustice calling people to take action for the sake of their neighbor. Being woven together in mutuality, or that ‘garment of destiny’ as he calls it, is also a profound statement of faith. For Dr. King, his actions and fight for freedom were deeply connected to his faith, and remind us of the letters Paul wrote to the Apostles in Scripture. This January, we celebrate Dr. King’s life, legacy, and the ways he enacted change in our society. He’s often the face of the Civil Rights movement, but he was far from the only voice of that era. One of the ways we can honor his memory today is to lift up other voices that remind us of this interconnectedness. For instance, Dr. Howard Thurman, author and theologian, was also a civil rights leader but a very different one than Dr. King. Instead of political activism, Thurman dug deeper into Scripture and his book, Jesus and the Disinherited, was one that Dr. King carried with him regularly. Because of his work, we too
can read the biblical story as one where Jesus’ love stretches far and wide. Alice Walker, most well known for her book, The Color Purple, has a poetic ability to transport the reader into her stories and writings. Coming from the “womanist” perspective—a term coined by her that refers to the African American woman’s experience— she has influenced theologians and the world alike. These are just two examples, of many, who have helped shape our world in similar ways to what Dr. King preached about often. Their voices uplift diversity, call out injustice, and remind us how we are all connected to one another.
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. –Dr. Howard Thurman I think us here to wonder, myself. To wonder. To ask. And that in wondering bout the big things and asking bout the big things, you learn about the little ones, almost by accident. But you never know nothing more about the big things than you start out with. The more I wonder, the more I love. –Alice Walker 1
Letter from the Birmingham Jail: letterfromjail.com
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RACIAL JUSTICE by Elizabeth Pedersen (elizabethp@lordoflife.org)
Last summer, Lord of Life held a Zoom event for those interested in engaging conversation around racial justice. Out of this initial event, the Racial Justice Initiative Leadership Team began. Over the last few months, the team has been meeting with the intent to lead growth and change at Lord of Life around racial justice. Much time has been spent on intentional conversation about mission and goals as we begin to formulate a path forward for our congregation. Most recently, we’ve added three sub-teams to focus on events, resources and overall vision, purpose and organizational practice. Throughout this year (and beyond), you can expect to hear from the team and be invited into the hard and holy work of recognizing racial injustice and dismantling systems that oppress people of color. As followers of Jesus, we understand our call to love our neighbors and work for justice and peace in all the earth, recognizing that freedom and equality are not something that diminishes if we share them with others, but instead grows stronger. All are welcome to be a part of this work—no matter where you find yourself on the journey.
Ready to start? Join in on a conversation about the book and movie, Just Mercy. Thursday, January 21, at 7pm. For more information, registration, as well as a list of resources on racial justice, visit lordoflife.org/racialjustice. 10
Lord of Life’s “Light the Way” was a drive-through experience sharing the story of Jesus’ birth. In the first ten days, 1,465 vehicles (including one small bus and a camper) drove through Lord of Life’s campus to celebrate a merry Christmas!
LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA) 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 may be submitted to prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.
PASTORAL STAFF
WORSHIP / CONNECT
Rev. Dr. Joel Wight Hoogheem, Lead Pastor, joel@lordoflife.org Rev. Kaitlyn Forster, kaitlynf@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus, karengl@lordoflife.org Rev. Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus, peter@lordoflife.org Rev. Karen Greimel, ksgreimel@lordoflife.org Rev. David McCarty, davem@lordoflife.org
Visit lordoflife.org/worship for the most up-to-date worship schedule. To connect with an adult ministry representative, contact Karen Nelson (karenn@lordoflife.org). To connect with a children, youth, and family representative, contact Chelsey Grandstrand (chelseyg@lordoflife.org). For all ministry events and calendar items with the most current dates, times, details, event locations, and registrations—visit lordoflife.org.
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Credits: Alice Walker by Steve Rhodes is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0, Creative Commons (Flickr-Dr. King), Howard Thurman by On Being is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, and Unsplash. Compass is a monthly ministry by Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) printed by Wallace Carlson Printing using ecofriendly inks. Share it with a friend or neighbor inviting them to the Lord of Life faith community. To receive Compass in the mail or electronically—call 763.420.5015 or email office@lordoflife.org. Copyright 2021 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
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Eternal God, you have placed us in a world of space and time, and through the events of our lives you bless us with your love. Grant that in the new year we may know your presence, see your love at work, and live in the light of the event that gives us joy forever— the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. —Evangelical Lutheran Worship
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