July 2018 LifeTIMES

LifeTIMES

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

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Olson

–Maya

Angelou

July 2018

office@lordoflife.org

/lordoflife

/lordoflifelutheran /lolcyf

/lordoflifeluth

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.

PASTOR A L S TAF F Rev. Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Senior Pastor, peter@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Joel Wight Hoogheem, Lead Pastor, joel@lordoflife.org Rev. Kaitlyn Forster, kaitlynf@lordoflife.org Rev. Karen Greimel, ksgreimel@lordoflife.org Rev. Charles ‘Chick’ Lane, chickl@lordoflife.org Rev. David McCarty, davem@lordoflife.org Rev. Donna Rohrer, donnar@lordoflife.org

july

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.

30/1/2 7/8/9 14/15/16 21/22/23 28/29/30

music

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

Pastor Kaitlyn Forster Ephesians 2:1-10 Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren John 11:28-36 Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren Philippians 4:8-13 Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem Psalm 46 22: Brooklyn Big Band Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem Amos 5:18-24

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 Mondays: 7 pm in the backyard prayer labyrinth; if inclement weather,

Rev. Dr. Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus

the location will be Samaritan Hall Third Sunday: July 15 - 10 am, Good Samaritan Ambassador in New Hope Third Wednesday: July 18 - 1 pm, Arbor Lakes Senior Living, and

TABLE OF CO N T E N T S Worship & Music / Pastor’s Article.............................................................. Pages 2-3 Pause for Prayer........................................................................................... Pages 4-5 Getting to Know You: Pastor Kaitlyn Forster / Council Members ............. Pages 6-7 FreedomWorks Ministry..............................................................................Pages 8-9 Generosity....................................................................................................... Page 10 Lord of Life Ministries................................................................................ Pages 11-15 Caught Reading LifeTIMES.............................................................................. Page 16

Worship & Music

Getting to Know Pastor Kaitlyn on Page 6

2 July 2018

2:30 pm, Rose Arbor Assisted Living

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

steps in the spirit You are invited to mindfully enjoy the Minnesota midsummer weather. Focusing on Galatians 5:22-23 and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, Steps in the Spirit is a meditative prayer walk on the perimeter of Lord of Life’s land. With a boulder identifying a fruit of the Spirit, you may choose to rest on it for a while or continue the one-mile path. During all of your Steps in the Spirit, it provides an opportunity to be reflective, mindful, and prayerfully present in the moment. God bless you in this spiritual journey. If you would like something to guide you along the pathway, stop by the Service Center to view a poster and grab a map.

Embracing Change

by Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem I was recently at a conference where the presenter showed a cartoon of a group of people who were asked, “Who wants change?” Every hand was raised. The next frame of the cartoon had the same group being asked, “Who wants to change?”

Nary a hand was in the air. As I like to say, it’s funny because it’s true.

We all know and understand that change is inevitable. Often, we simply don’t really want it to happen to us.

The good news is God promises to be with us through all the changes we experience in life.

Change is most certainly afoot in our community. Neighborhoods around the church building are being developed at an astounding rate, so we have the incredible opportunity to engage our new neighbors as a faith community.

The change in leadership at Lord of Life progresses, too, as the transition from Pastor Peter to me will be complete on September 1, as he moves into his new, full-time role as senior pastor emeritus. In this issue of LifeTIMES, you will also be introduced to the newest member of our pastoral team, Pastor Kaitlyn Forster, as well as three new council members.

Change keeps happening in each of our lives, too: the kids keep growing, retirement approaches, medical conditions emerge, hearts are broken, new love is found, a beloved pet passes away or is welcomed into the family.

You may be wary of change or you may be ready to run headlong into it. As followers of Jesus, embracing change is an integral part of a life of faith. Being a disciple of Christ means having your life transformed. Being a Christian means things will never be the same. That’s the story of the resurrection. Death always figured it was the end, the last word. But death itself was transformed by Jesus into the gateway to eternal life.

In what ways do you sense God is calling you to change? Might it be something as small as a daily habit or something as big as a career change? How is the Holy Spirit changing your mind or your heart? How will you be part of this faith community that embraces change, knowing that God’s steadfast love guides us through it all?

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Pastor’s Article July 2018

3

Prayer Take

baptisms

a

Pause

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

The next baptism class will be Sunday, July 22, at 12:15 pm. No registration required; to schedule a baptism, call the church office (763.420.5015).

for

bereavements

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

Gwen Denninger and family at the death of her aunt

May 5 Abigail Edith Flynn

Cleo Groves and family at the death of her mother

May 6 Ayla Joy Dunagan Camden Padraic McMahon

John Lawson and family at the death of his mother

May 12 Mya Dawn Warming

DeeDee Jones and family at the death of her husband Sherry Paulson and family at the death of her mother

May 19 Niko William Henry Manrodt May 20 Kaia Nicole Andrew Rory Michael Goudy Charlotte Judy Lien

Pause for Prayer

May 26 Sonja Lois Bjerke

4 July 2018

embrace

pause for prayer

As we embrace change—birth, death, marriage, new beginnings or perhaps endings of relationships or any transitions— may we lift up in prayer all those in our midst. And do not forget to include yourself; give yourself time for God’s perfect will to be manifested. You are also encouraged to subscribe to Lord of Life’s email prayer network: prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.

May God bless all according to their needs. Amen.

weddings

welcome to new members

May 5 Melanie Day & Matthew Hendrickson

Dale & Sue Bondhus

May 12 Kaitlyn Hvidsten & Kader Toovi

Paul Martinek & Lauren Bjerke with Sonja Bjerke Chris & Jamie Meyers with Graeme and Quinn Scott Quist with Casey and Mason 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.

change

Pause for Prayer

the

July 2018 5

Welcome to Pastor Kaitlyn Forster With great joy and excitement, please join me in welcoming Pastor Kaitlyn Forster to our pastoral team.

She will be serving as pastor for community life, with a specific ministry focus with 22-50 year olds.

Pastor Kaitlyn’s first official day was June 19; she will be preaching on the first weekend of July.

It’s wonderful to have you at Lord of Life, Pastor Kaitlyn! —Lead Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem As shared in Pastor Joel’s June 1 email message to the congregation, Pastor Kaitlyn is passionate about “proclaiming we are beloved children of God, created for relationship, and called to share God’s redeeming love with the world.” Here are a few more personal insights in getting to know our newest pastor.

Is there a story or specific moment when you felt the Holy Spirit’s call to become a pastor—are there others within your family who work in the ‘churchy’ world?

“I started feeling the Holy Spirit’s calling towards ordained ministry in high school. As we were writing papers in English class for what we wanted to do when we grew up, I thought deeply about it and realized the place I felt the most comfortable and ‘me’ was at church. Plus, I had great pastoral mentors at my home congregation of St. James in Crystal. That all led me to wonder if being a pastor was something I could actually do.

So, I immersed myself in ministry opportunities, while never really telling anyone this was what I wanted to do. Saying I wanted to be a pastor while in high school seemed like a socially un-smart move. Then, I headed off to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, majoring in religion with minors in psychology and sociology. After that, there was no real turning back, and after starting at Luther Seminary in 2010, I’ve never wanted to. God has called me to the people and places along the journey, and for that I am forever grateful!

There really aren’t others in my family who work in the ‘churchy’ world. I joke that I am called to be a pastor because God has a great sense of humor. My dad was raised Catholic and my mom was raised Presbyterian; they wound up with a Lutheran pastor for a daughter.”

How long did you serve at St. John’s and what was your role?

“I was called to St. John’s in Mound in October 2014 as associate pastor. My primary roles included working with confirmation and high school-aged youth and their families—along with preaching, teaching, administering sacraments, and seeing where the Holy Spirit leads.”

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Yo

6 July 2018

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Forster

Getting to Know You

You’re a working mom, Pastor Kaitlyn, what would be some words of advice you’d offer to others in that journey?

“As a working mom, my words of advice are to remember to give yourself some grace. I am a relatively new mother with a 20-month-old; it is so easy to get caught up in being everything to everyone. I have to remind myself that the gift of grace is for me, too, and that it is ok to make time for my own well-being.

Sometimes that means focusing on being a mom, other times it means focusing on being a pastor, and other times it means feeding the parts of who I am outside of being a mom and a pastor. Being a working parent is hard and holy work; it takes a lot of effort and intentionality, and for me, it is one of the biggest blessings in life to pursue who God calls me to be in many different ways.”

Pastor Kaitlyn and her husband, Scott, have a 20-monthold son, Luke. Her hobbies include running and traveling, which she and Scott were able to combine as they both completed the Rome marathon in Italy this spring.

Welcome to New Council Members Karen Buellesbach

I have a son, Nick, who is a junior at University of Minnesota-Duluth. We have two cats (one of which behaves like a dog), and we both like to travel and cook.

We recently traveled to San Diego, California, and explored the sites. I work for Lee Hecht Harrison, a global management consulting firm, as regional director of professional services. In my spare time, I enjoy bike riding and reading and watching the Twins! My husband and I started attending Lord of Life in 1998 and became members in 2005. It was the first church we attended in Maple Grove—and we never left! We were married for 23 years and when he died unexpectedly at age 51, I greatly appreciated the pastoral staff and resources at Lord of Life. I am looking forward to supporting the congregation as a council member and see this as an opportunity to learn, grow spiritually, and contribute. My favorite Bible verse has always been Luke 2:10: And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

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Clark Hjelmstad My wife, Heather, and I have been married for nearly 20 years and have three boys: Drew (15), Casey (12), and Jonathan (9). Our days and nights are a “fun busy” filled with the boys’ activities. I work at Marketing Architects, a national radio and television advertising agency. In my free time, I enjoy reading about history, like to hike, and probably spend a bit too much time following sports. Lord of Life is a wonderful fit for us. I’ve had the opportunity to serve as confirmation leader, lead and participate in Lifelong Learning courses, lead church school, and be a “buddy.” I’ve also participated in men’s Bible studies, family retreats, and so much more! In some small way as a council member, I hope to help in fulfilling Lord of Life’s mission. I feel it will be a blessing and look forward to serving. My favorite verse is Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mark Robinson

Getting to Know You

My wife, Roxanne, and I have been married for 18 years. We have one son, Caleb, who completed his sophomore year at Maple Grove High School. As a family, we spend a lot of time at the soccer fields watching Caleb play soccer. I enjoy running, boating, and watching sports in my free time. I work at Target as a director in financial services. We came to Lord of Life because of the children’s ministries.

Lord of Life is a much larger congregation than we were used to, but we found it to be warm, welcoming, and a great place to grow in our faith journey. We love it! We’ve been members since November of 2012. Our family participated in the Jamaica mission trip a couple years ago and can’t say enough good things about the experience—an amazing family opportunity to worship and serve. We’re going again in 2019 and are eager to see what God has in store for us! As a council member, I look forward to helping shape Lord of Life’s future and supporting its mission. It’s a great honor to be a part of the council. My favorite verse is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

July 2018 7

a portion of a building on the new FreedomWorks campus

“The revolving door stops here” is FreedomWorks’ tagline. As a faith-based reentry program assisting men to successfully integrate back into society after incarceration, FreedomWorks has been faithfully supported by Lord of Life since FreedomWorks’ inception in 2003—

Welcoming Change for FreedomWorks

by FreedomWorks Executive Director George Lang My story began 12 years ago after serving my third prison sentence. After my release, I entered FreedomWorks as a participant. At that point I experienced firsthand the ineffectiveness of programming that occurs when not able to provide adequate reentry services directly to its participants. For the last six years, I have been the executive director of FreedomWorks. The original vision of FreedomWorks was to provide a safe harbor and bed space for up to 15 men supported by Christian community. However due to the size of that facility located on Penn Avenue North in Minneapolis, we consistently faced challenges with very limited supportive services offered to the reentry community.

a new campus What had started out as a simple phone call in October 2016 between Pastor Dave McCarty and me has now led to the recent purchase of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church property in north Minneapolis! Since that initial conversation, this has been a complete journey of faith. Referencing Hebrews 11, I could definitely relate to when “Abraham went out not knowing where he was going.”

Lord of Life Ministries

We close on July 5 and will occupy August 2018. The new campus will allow expanded programming and services for men in the near-term, then expand to women and children in the long-term. The new facilities have enough space to house over 150 program participants at one time. The campus will continue to include Christian core values with the reentry program, but will also have the potential to expand other program models by adding: •

chemical dependency treatment,

•

mental health wellness care including cognitive and behavioral therapy,

•

part-time employment training opportunities through a building maintenance program and culinary services,

•

affordable housing for our graduates,

•

and potentially a food shelf and thrift store.

I’d like to offer my most sincere gratitude for all the generous support we have received from Lord of Life over the past years, particularly for Ministry Leaders Cheryl and Greg Myhr. We look forward to expanding our partnership serving our King.

To learn more about this ministry that changes people’s lives—and changes our communities for the better—visit lordoflife.org/freedomworks or directly to myfreedomworks.com.

8 July 2018

a testimony Brady’s release date was approaching, decisions needed to be made. In the past, this was always easy—Brady would go to the place that lets him have the most freedom. But something was different this time around.

He wanted more for himself. He wanted a fighting chance to never return to prison.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep

Brady went through the list of halfway houses and treatment centers. Some seemed cheap—others easy.

“Come here, do this and don’t do that and you’ll be fine,” was about all he heard. Brady had heard it all before.

standing firm and do

Then FreedomWorks caught his eye. Something about those guys seemed different: The revolving door stops here. Brady felt that was him: a revolving door of prison, treatment centers, probation and parole offices, courtrooms, and dope houses. He gave Steve Stoltz a call, they prayed together, and it seemed right.

to a yoke of slavery.”

not be subject again —Galatians 5:1

A few months later Brady went through the prison gates one last time. He arrived at FreedomWorks and knew right away this was where he was supposed to be.

Brady shares, “I worked an honest program; it wasn’t always easy, nothing good ever is. I abided by the covenant and felt myself changing on the inside. I was doing it for Christ; I was doing it for me.”

As a graduate looking back, Brady can’t imagine any other program offering him the sense of community that he experienced at FreedomWorks.

—Brady Irons

... upon completion of this transition, FreedomWorks will be the largest post-prison reentry ministry in the state of Minnesota

Lord of Life Ministries

© Google Maps

aerial view of the new FreedomWorks campus in north Minneapolis

July 2018 9

Second in a series of four articles from the book, Giving to God by Dr. Mark Allan Powell—

Faithful Living

by Pastor Chick Lane This month is part two of a four-part series on Dr. Mark Allan Powell’s insights on God caring how we acquire, regard, manage, and spend money. This creates the acronym ARMS. This month, I want to discuss God’s caring how you regard money.

“... this ditch has become quite full of well-intentioned Christians.”

As with much in life, there are two ditches to be avoided in regard for money and possessions. One ditch is to imagine that money and possessions are evil and are the source of nothing but trouble in life. There have been times in history when the church has strongly emphasized this; this ditch has become quite full of well-intentioned Christians. In today’s America, this ditch is pretty much empty.

The other ditch is to place too much emphasis on money and possessions, and to see them as the goal of a well-lived life. In this ditch, financial accumulation is one significant measure of judging who has achieved success in life. In today’s America, this ditch is standing room only.

Budget Year-to-date — May 2018 Actual

Total member contributions All other

Budget Difference

$1,467,468 $1,515,600 ($48,132) $135,856 $132,100 $3,756

Total receipts

$1,603,324 $1,647,700 ($44,376)

Lord of Life Weekly Giving — May 2018

$140,000 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000

$40,000 $20,000

Generosity

10 July 2018

gratitude Living a life of gratitude means recognizing that God is the source of all that we have in this life.

In fact, it means believing God is the owner of everything, and all we “have” is entrusted into our care by God. God cares about each of us so deeply that God has entrusted some of what God owns into our care, our management. One way we take care is to say thanks to our loving, generous God. Gratitude helps us recognize what I “have” as coming not as the result of my own wisdom and strength, but instead from God’s loving hand.

trust

$60,000

$0

For Christians who strive to stay out of both ditches, Dr. Powell offers two important words: gratitude and trust.

5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27

Actual Budget

$127,931 $ 77,175

$61.825 $77,175

$61,604 $77,175

$48,613 = $299,973 $77,175 = $308,700

Trust means I count on God to continue to be the source of what I need for this life. Living a life of trusting God takes me out of a “dog-eat-dog world” where there are limited resources available and I am in a daily struggle to make sure I get my share ... and then some. Trust in God fosters an attitude of abundance, which in turn creates a culture of watching out for and caring for my neighbor, rather than seeing them as competitors for those limited resources.

Stop for a minute and ask yourself: How do I regard money? Am I in one ditch or the other? What can I do to expand gratitude and trust in my life?

Older Wiser Lutherans july events Thursday, July 12 (note date change): Explore “East India” as Pastor Peter shares his experiences and impressions from his trip to this country.

You will not want to miss it! Kevin Lenz from Beds for Kids will give an update on his ministry.

We begin at noon with a freewill donation lunch in Fellowship Hall.

Wednesday, July 18: Worship at Arbor Lakes at 1 pm and/or Rose Arbor Assisted Living at 2:30 pm Thursday, July 19: Take a ride on the Lake Harriet Trolley, stroll through Lyndale Park Garden, have lunch at Esker Grove (in Walker Art Museum), then walk across the street to enjoy the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Cost is $6 plus lunch on your own. Wear comfortable shoes—leave church at 8:15 am, return by 3:30 pm.

save the dates

last call for hamel rodeo As shared in the June issue, Military Family Support Ministry and Lord of Life’s men’s ministry, 2B REAL Men, are organizing a large group of volunteers for Hamel Rodeo again this year.

The rodeo is Thursday, July 5, through Sunday, July 8. Hamel Rodeo is a fun event for families or individuals to volunteer. Spots are still available— and you’ll get a free tshirt—yeehaw!

Shifts are about 3.5 hours selling tickets, smiling, and greeting cowgirls and cowboys. To sign up for a volunteer shift, visit either lordoflife.org/ militaryfamilysupport or lordoflife.org/realmen.

pastor carrie from jerusalem Lord of Life’s Holy Land ministry is welcoming Pastor Carrie Smith of Jerusalem’s Redeemer Lutheran English-speaking congregation.

Pastor Carrie will be preaching at all five SaturdayMonday services on August 3/4/5. More details on her visit will be provided in the August issue. Until then, save the date to worship that weekend and to learn about her ministry and life in the Holy Land.

As a reminder, the Jesus’ Steps - Your Journey pilgrimage will be March 29-April 8, 2019, with an optional extension to visit Petra, Jordan.

Learn more about Pastor Carrie Smith and the 2019 pilgrimage at lordoflife.org/theholyland.

August: No Faith, Food, and Fellowship August 16: A paddleboat river cruise down the Mississippi on the Spirit of the Water. You will enjoy an almost hour-and-a-half cruise down the scenic Mississippi, enjoy a great lunch and great fellowship. Leave church building at 8:30 am, return by 4:30 pm. Cost is $40 (includes lunch).

September 6: Food, Faith, and Fellowship brings a guest speaker from Caring Bridge, a powerful connection point. Freewill lunch in Fellowship Hall begins at noon.

September 20: New Bell Museum—details to come

Every year many teachers use their own money to buy school supplies. They do it because they want all their students to have an equal opportunity to succeed. That is also why we, at Lord of Life, collect school supplies for CROSS, Maple Hills Estates, and Palmer Lake Elementary. The beginning of a new school year is an expensive time for many families.

If you would like to lend a helping hand, Lord of Life will collect school supplies for CROSS from July 19-31. Collection of supplies for Palmer Lake Elementary and Maple Hills Estates will continue into August.

Thank you for helping all students get off to a good start this school year. —Barb Mewaldt For more details, including a list of needed items, visit lordoflife.org/cross.

Lord of Life Ministries

Questions? Read postings on the bulletin board, contact Karen Nelson (763.420.5015 x138 or karenn@lordoflife.org), or visit lordoflife.org/owls.

school supplies needed

July 2018 11

God’s Global Barnyard Summer Project Visit the display near the main office.

Summer Church School

On Sundays through September 2, children age 3-completed grade 3 are invited to worship with their families at 8:30, 9:45, or 11 am. They leave for continued learning on the lesson of the day doing projects, singing songs, and reading from the Bible.

Summer church school is free; no registration is required.

Welcome, Chelsey Grandstrand!

We are happy to welcome Chelsey to Lord of Life’s Children, Youth, and Family staff. Chelsey’s role is as an adminstration specialist, serving with registration and finance support.

Chelsey will also work with check-in, hospitality, and communication logistics within the department.

Lord of Life Ministries

Chelsey has a variety of experience including work with Wells Fargo, teaching art in elementary school, and as a preschool teacher. Chelsey also currently is a yoga instructor and enjoys spending time outdoors.

12 July 2018

Learn more about summer church school— see above!

Summer Nights For middle school and high school ages—join in Mondays at 7-9 pm on July 2 and 16, along with August 6 and 20. Gather for worship, then hang out in the backyard for campfires, s’mores, gaga ball, nine square in the air, cornhole, Giant Jenga™, and more. Invite your friends!

Elementary Vacation Bible School (VBS)

The cross changes everything: our hearts, identity, purpose, and community.

VBS participants will learn through worship, songs, games, crafts, and stories each day. Three weeks of VBS are offered from 9 am-3 pm for children who have completed kindergarten–5th grade:

July 16-19

July 23-26

July 30-August 2 Cost is $80; visit lordoflife.org/summer.

Photos: CYF: 2017 Elementary VBS: Week 1: Day 2: DSC_0719 CYF: 2017 Elementary VBS: Week 1: Day 4: DSC_0763 CYF: 2017 Elementary VBS: Week 2: Day 1: DSC_0748

Preschool Vacation Bible School—

From July 9-12, preschoolers (age 3 to completed kindergarten) will learn how Jesus rescues us through life’s storms. From 9 am-noon, Shipwrecked is filled with fun Bible learning experiences! Children travel station to station creating art, playing games, experimenting with bubbly science, and hearing incredible Bible stories. Visit lordoflife.org/summer for more details and registration.

Lord of Life Ministries

Shipwrecked!

July 2018 13

Registration for 7th–10th grade C3 confirmation ministry is open—

All About C3

Why is the confirmation ministry called C3? The first “C” stands for Christ. Our own personal relationship with Christ is the most important component. The second “C” stands for Confirmation, which is an affirmation of the promises that were made in baptism. The final “C” is Community where we gather with a common purpose of exploring and growing in faith together as we learn what it means to follow Christ.

What is confirmation? It is a ministry that helps individuals grow in Christian relationships and to participate more fully in God’s mission. Students learn what it means to be a child of God, loved beyond measure, sent to serve the world. Students join together for a large group teaching time followed by discussion in small groups. Small groups are vital for learning and growing together as well as building lasting Christian friendships.

If you have a student in 7-10th grade, register at lordoflife.org/c3. If your student is entering 7th grade, you will want to attend the Getting Ready for Confirmation Milestone. It’s a great time for family conversation and fall preparation—register at lordoflife.com/readyforc3.

Lord of Life Ministries

C3 isn’t simply for students.

High school and adult C3 leaders are also a vital part of this ministry. At right, learn what one leader shared about his experiences. C3 is a time when leaders also grow in relationships and in faith!

If you are looking for a way to grow in faith along with a small group of students, we encourage you to connect with Neil Christians (neilc@lordoflife.org) or Elizabeth Pedersen (elizabethp@lordoflife.org) to learn more. They’ll provide all training and curriculum.

14 July 2018

summer cyf staff

Thank you

Lord of Life’s 2018 summer faith formation programming for children and youth would not be possible without the outstanding support and positive attitudes of these folks.

A sincere thank you to everyone for your service! summer stretch leaders

Lord of Life Ministries July 2018 15

L O R D O F L I F E L U T H E RAN 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 August issue is July 1.

Copyright © 2018 Lord of Life Lutheran Church

TIME SENSITIV E MATERIAL RETURN SERV ICE REQ UESTE D

Caught Reading LifeTIMES

caught reading lifetimes

16 July 2018

Adventure Week Leader Sierra and her group were caught reading LifeTIMES at the “Faithfulness” boulder on the one-mile pathway: Steps in the Spirit. Learn more about that on Page 2 ... and learn more about summertime youth faith-building opportunities on Pages 12-15!