Lord of life lutheran
July 2021
C O M P A S S
Pages 8-9
N E W
L I F E
by Lori Buegler (lorib@lordoflife.org)
Earlier this summer, my husband Todd and I drove our oldest son Nathan to Fort Collins, Colorado, so that he could serve as a Sky Ranch Bible Camp counselor. Last summer the Cameron Peak Fire burned 208,913 acres of mountain forest; Sky Ranch had to be evacuated. While some outlying parts of the camp were destroyed, most of the camp’s buildings were saved. Driving up the mountain and walking around camp, we were struck by the devastation. Wide swaths of burned trees, bare trunks sticking up into the sky, land filled with black soot and ash. And yet, when you looked closely, you could already see beginnings of new life. Green grass poking through darkened ground, small trees receiving more sunshine than before, resulting in quick growth. Despite the loss and majesty of the old fully grown trees, beauty also lies in the newness and promise of what is to come. We all know the “circle of life” well and see it lived out in our day-to-day lives. Spring elicits buds and shoots bursting forth from the trees and ground, summer produces fabulous growth, autumn gives a bountiful harvest, and winter leads to dormancy and waiting.
NEW LIFE....................................................................2-3 BIBLE 101: THE TRUE VINE.......................................4-5 community life / First communion................ 6-7 COMMUNITY garden & APPLE ORCHARD............ 8-9 creation care ministry................................... 10-11 COntact Us ..................................................................11
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And so we may take creation for granted. Plants grow and thrive, wilt and die. Grow and thrive, wilt and die. Until a disruption occurs. Drought. Flood. Heat wave. Deep freeze. Or a forest fire. And so it can be with our faith. At times we may hum along with expected valleys and peaks along our journey of life. And then something devastating happens! A death. A diagnosis. A disillusionment. It stops us in our tracks and makes us wonder, how we will move forward?
But just like the forest recovers after a fire, so too we can find a strengthening of faith through difficult challenges. It may seem like all we see is soot and ash, the remains of what used to be. As we look closer, though, we can see green starting to peek through. When we even look closer, we see the empty cross. A symbol of resurrection. In John 12:24, Jesus tells his followers that “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Forest fires are a time of death. And, they are a time of resurrection. The wooden baptismal font (shown near the cross and altar) suffered severe burns around the base. What a beautiful image that is—new life in Christ out of flames and sorrow! So it is with our lives. We experience death daily. Every single day we lose something. But every single day— because of God’s great love—we experience new life, resurrection, and joy.
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T H E
T R U E
V I N E
by Brian Schroeder brians@lordoflife.org
Bible 101
We don’t really know the location of Jesus and the disciples when Jesus talks about being the true vine in John 15:1-8 (see Page 5).
In the sentence directly before that passage, Jesus says, “Come, let us be on our way.” But we have no transition, no explanation, no hint of where they’re going. Before that, we know exactly where they are: Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem after raising Lazarus from the dead, and he and the disciples are sharing what we know as The Last Supper. Jesus washes their feet, commands them to love each other as he has loved them, promises that he will send the Spirit to be with them when he’s gone, and says, “Rise, let us be on our way.” And then? “I am the true vine…” It’s not until Chapter 18 that we get any indication of a new location—the Kidron Valley, where Jesus is arrested. In the meantime we have three full chapters of teachings from Jesus. Where are they? Are they in transit, perhaps walking by a vineyard that inspires Jesus to create this metaphor? Or did Jesus speak too early when he said, “Let us be on our way,” and had them sit back down? I don’t know.
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I do know, however, that this is how Jesus’ teachings show up in my life sometimes. In the unknown places. In the “I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do here” places. I’m sure the disciples experienced this a lot in the coming chapters, as the gravity of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection began to sink in. It’s in places like this that Jesus assures us we are eternally connected to him like branches on a vine, and God continuously tends to us so that we can grow in faith and love. So maybe it’s okay that we don’t know exactly where Jesus gave this message. What matters is that it was vitally important for him to share it before he died, so we can know that we are always connected to him. When we see branches on a vine, or on a tree, or even leaves or flowers growing on houseplants, we can now realize that this is the way we are connected to God— restoratively, lovingly, eternally—even if we’re not sure exactly where we are. reflection questions • Read John 15:1-8 on the next page. Where do you imagine Jesus and the disciples were in this passage? • As vividly as you can, try to imagine the picture Jesus is painting. What strikes you as the most important point(s)?
[Jesus says,]
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples. —John 15:1-8 CEB
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C O M M U N I T Y b a p tisms 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) or visit lordoflife.org/baptism.
May 1 May 8 May 15 May 16 May 22 May 23 May 30
Brinnley Marie Hanson Sianna Marie Lundgren Kristian Traeger Kircher Lillian Grace Roering Capri Therese Brooks Smith Alan Danielski Dalton Jett Meyers Henry Michael Bieno Averi Margaret Burns Charley William Bojan Allie Marie Hilstrom
b e r eavements Prayers of sympathy for those grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the
L I F E
Connie Schnabel and family at the death of her mother, Iona Driggs Jenny Silgen and family at the death of her fiancé, Larry Rufledt Krista Thelen and family at the death of her father, Marlo Miller w e ddin g s For details on your wedding, visit lordoflife.org/weddings. To schedule a wedding, contact Wedding Supervisor Michelle Tomlinson (michellet@lordoflife.org).
May 15 Megan Zaic & Ryan Ellingson Elizabeth Heinen & David Johnson May 22 Amanda Travis & Matthew Strauss May 29 Emily Walsh & Jared Thiele w e lc ome n e w me mbe rs Rob & Vicky Wavinak
resurrection.
Marge Avery and family at the death of her sister
commitment to be an active participant in congregational
John Cowan and family at the death of his brother, David Cowan
life. The expectation of not only new members but
Darlene Mickelberg and family at the death of her sister
financially. For more information, contact Katie Gartzke
Elaine Miller and family at the death of her husband, Marlo Miller 6
Membership at Lord of Life means you make a
all members—is to worship regularly, grow in faith, serve others, and support the church and its programs (katieg@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.
D ur i ng fo ur o u tdoor wo r ship services, 147 k i nd e rgartners through m i d d l e sc ho o lers recei ved t h e i r first c o mm uni on.
C on g r a t u lat i o n s t o a l l L or d of L if e y o u t h a n d t h e ir f amilie s o n t h i s mile s t on e i n t h e i r f ait h jou r n e y !
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One of the things I especially enjoy is working alongside those who have tended gardens for many years. They share great knowledge and super hints. It has been a treat getting to know people I would never cross paths with during a worship service. —Janet Seim
Lord of Life’s Community G On a June work day, these gardeners and others worked side-by-side with final crop seeding, tilling, watering, and weeding. Lord of Life’s Community Garden—also called LifeGARDEN—allows people to grow their own food plus helps those experiencing food insecurity. 2020 was the best season ever for the garden, with
individual gard herbs
shed
summer squash
melons
peppers
pollination plants
picn tabl
pollin & sw cha
communal gard corn
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cucumbers
Garden & Apple Orchard 20,000+ pounds of produce donated, with the majority going to CROSS food shelf along with Gethsemane and St. Olaf Lutheran churches in north Minneapolis. This bountiful harvest provided healthy food for many of our neighbors. Looking ahead, stay tuned for the annual pumpkin & gourd harvest this fall! —Bob & Sandy Zappa
den plots
nic les
nation wiss ard
pumpkins
apple orchard
green & red cabbage
winter squash
beans
potatoes
den crops tomatoes
LifeGARDEN is a place where people of different generations—who share an interest in growing our own food and a commitment to feeding our neighbors—come together. Particularly this spring, it has been a joy to greet old friends and meet new gardeners. It is amazing what can get done when a group of people unite in a common purpose. Suddenly the task of tilling rows, building mounds, hauling wheelbarrows of compost, and finding a home for countless seedlings doesn’t seem so overwhelming. When the harvest comes in, these same workers will show up to search for that perfect ear of corn and ferret out the last hidden green bean. It is in times like these that I truly understand what it means to be the body of Christ. —Barb Mewaldt
Visitors and families are always welcome to stroll through the garden and orchard to see how things grow. Of course, be mindful of all individual and communal garden plots staying within major pathways—and please be careful as some of the ground may be uneven or bumpy!
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C R E A T I O N
C A
by Julie Jones
If you’re as old as I am, you may recall the “Give a hoot; don’t pollute” anti-litter campaign in the 70s. As a grade schooler, I took that slogan to heart and formed an ecology club with my friends. We would clean up litter in the road ditches out in the country where we lived. Then, we bought a glass-cutting kit and a candle-making kit, turning discarded beer bottles we found into candles inside glass holders, which we sold at garage sales. I don’t think we ever recouped the cost of the kits, but it was fun turning trash into something useful! As I grew older, I realized I always felt close to our Creator when I marveled at God’s creation. My favorite adventures were enjoying off-the-beaten-path scenic places and spotting a new plant or
bird I had never seen before. I couldn’t look at the intricate details of a flower without marveling at how God created such stunning beauty. My interest in the environment led to a career securing grant funds to restore wetlands, produce an environmental television show, create recycling programs, and expand recreational trails. So, when I learned Lord of Life had a Creation Care ministry, I was excited to join in using my personal interests and job experience to help our congregation care for God’s amazing creation. Now, I’m helping secure grant funds enabling Lord of Life to better care for God’s creation—such as the organics composting program. Those of us in the Creation Care ministry strive to be educated on environmental topics, so then we may share what we have learned to help the congregation. I believe everyone wants to do the right thing; sometimes it’s simply difficult knowing what is the most accurate, scientific information.
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For example, recently two of us watched a webinar on supporting bird habitat. We thought the concept was so timely that we created this year’s Earth Day event on the topic (to view, visit lordoflife.org/creationcare). Did you know an oak tree can support 318 different species of caterpillars? Many species of birds need thousands of caterpillars and insects to feed their young before they leave the nest. If you are planting a new tree, oak is hands down the best choice to support bird habitat. And how wonderful it is that hundreds of us at Lord of Life have been able to plant oak and other native trees given out at church services on Earth Day over the years. Also, now, I find it rather ironic that I get to help coordinate the Creation Care ministry semi-annual highway cleanup along Highway 101 near the church building. Being part of the Creation Care ministry allows me to grow that seed God planted in my heart as a child. If you have elementary children who feel connected to God’s creation as Julie did—“ReNew” is an environmentally-focused program in July inspiring kids to grow in faith, have fun, and change the world! Onsite & online options available: visit lordoflife.org/elementary.
R E
M I N I S T R Y
by Blake Toms
Being involved in the Creation Care ministry allows me to do something that I truly believe in: caring for God’s magnificent creation and hopefully bringing others into the realization that our planet—that we were tasked to take care of—is worth protecting. I need to have projects to work on, which is why I help with the Adopt-a-Highway & Parks clean-up twice a year, Blessing of the Animals event, and Earth Day celebration. Park & highway clean-ups and the Blessing of the Animals are “hands-on” doing projects. The Earth Day celebration is a chance to educate and inform the congregation in ways everyone can participate in the care of God’s creation, even in small ways (such as the organics bins at church mentioned in Julie’s article). Handing out tree saplings is a highlight of the Earth Day celebration because it gets people to put their hands into the dirt and plant a tree—I love hearing stories of how big the trees are that have been planted in the past! The lessons I’ve learned in this ministry helps me do more with the environment in mind: the way I tend my yard, planting pollinator and vegetable gardens, trees and shrubs that feed birds and animals. not using chemical weed killers, cutting down on grass-planted areas, reducing water usage for the yard and gardens. These and other practices I’ve picked up while being part of this ministry. We all can make a difference in caring for God’s magnificent creation.
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
Visit lordoflife.org/worship for the most up-to-date worship schedule.
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
lordoflife.org
office@lordoflife.org
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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Compass is a monthly ministry by Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) printed by Wallace Carlson Printing using ecofriendly inks. 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. To receive Compass in the mail and/or electronically—call 763.420.5015 or email office@lordoflife.org. Credits: Suzie Olson and Jeff Thiemann Copyright 2021 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
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Lord of Life Lutheran Church
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B O O K O F T H E M O N T H Using discipleship practices of Learn & Invite—Lord of Life provides a book recommendation to read, process, and reflect on. Books are chosen to inspire, challenge, and help deepen faith: • • •
July: Dear White Peacemakers by Osheta Moore August: Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey September: God Can’t: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and other Evils by Thomas Jay Ord
Invite and join in to discuss the book of the month for a “lunch and learn” conversation at noon via Zoom or in-person at Lord of Life from 7-8:30pm. On the fourth Thursday of the month, bring your own chair, or computer, and get ready for great conversation. No registration required: • • •
July 22: Dear White Peacemakers August 26: Miracles and Other Reasonable Things September 23: God Can’t: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and other Evils
Visit lordoflife.org/adultlearning for discussion questions and Zoom link from June’s “Book of the Month,” Everything Is Spiritual by Rob Bell.
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