Lord of life lutheran
june 2019
C O M P A S S
welcome............................... 2 discipleship........................ 3 Bible 101........................... 4-5 Community life............... 6-7 The holy land blog......8-9 tough questions...............10 calendar............................ 11
WELCOME G
rab a favorite beverage. Sit down to relax. This is the first issue of Lord of Life’s Compass—a guide to deepen faith, teach, inform, inspire, and enrich your faith journey.
Compass is a tool to read and reflect on the messages of God’s love, as well as learnings and testmonies from others in our faith community— and beyond Maple Grove. It will include Bible studies, devotions, pastoral and guest essays, book/media reviews, faith questions— and an answer to them. The inside back page provides many of June’s event dates and details, along with their specific website urls. Keep in mind that the website, lordoflife.org, contains the most current information for activities and events.
Compass provides an opportunity to listen to the Holy Spirit at work in your heart during your own journey of faith. It is reinforcement that we are Loved by God. Sent to Serve.
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D I S C I P L E S H I P
by Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem
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compass helps get you where you’re going. It is a tool to help you navigate your way, knowing which direction you’re heading, and keeping you on the right path. As a faith community committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ, Lord of Life offers you this Compass for those same reasons.
The Lord of Life Discipleship Path is the way we talk about making disciples and helping disciples follow Jesus more deeply and more closely. Compass will help you stay on the Discipleship Path, helping to equip you to navigate
your faith journey. Each step of the Discipleship Path includes a question that a person at that step often asks in their life of faith: Consumer (What’s in it for me?), Contributor (What can I give?), Conductor (How can I lead?), and Connector (Who can I empower?). Each issue of Compass will help guide you more deeply along the Discipleship Path, focusing on Why-How-Who more than the What-Where-When. You’ll learn about what the Bible is and how God continues to speak to us through it today. You’ll hear stories about people of all ages
living out their faith as disciples of Jesus Christ. You’ll be inspired by the good news that you are loved by God and sent to serve the world. My prayer is Compass will be a helpful tool in this incredible journey you are on called a life of faith. I trust that this exciting new publication will bless you, keep you focused on God’s abundance, and give you the confidence that you are on the right path through your connection to the Lord of Life community.
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ght ard cion that rouonly ans ally d it.�
ans
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you show me the path of life. in your presence there is fullness of joy. —psalm 16:11a
psalms
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hen holding the Bible in your hands—the book of Psalms is generally right in the center. The definition of a psalm is a sacred poem, one of 150 lyrical poems or prayers. King David is the author of this book (except for Psalms 1–2, 10, 33). Yes, he’s the lowly shepherd who slayed Goliath the Giant with a slingshot and a rock then eventually became the King of Israel! His life genuinely reflects being vulnerable and human; sometimes the psalms reflect sorrow, grief, and requests for forgiveness. Psalms are also songs of praise, thanksgiving, prayers for peace, proclaiming the power and majesty of God. Many Psalms reflect joy and laughter and happiness. Some of the following psalms may be helpful meditations during times of difficulty or times of joy. Open your Bible and open your heart to the Word of God. Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Psalm 10:17 O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear.
Bible 101
Psalm 18:1-2 I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 25:1, 4 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 145:17 The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
The Word of god
Don’t have your own Bible? Stop by Reflections of Faith, the church’s bookstore near the main church office. Along with a colorful highlighter or two, find your own Bible and look for your favorite Psalms! Mention this article and get 10% off your total purchase when it includes a Bible. If this brief study is a refresher for you, dig deeper. Research these questions: If it wasn’t David who wrote all the psalms—who did? Where and what was Sheol? What does Selah mean? For online resources, consider biblegateway.com and biblehub.com. 5
C O M M U N I T Y
P
rayer is vital for connection to God. Particularly daily prayer gives an opportunity to share with God all aspects of our lives. It gives us a chance to express gratitude and love. It provides a platform for confessing sin and receiving forgiveness and grace. Many in our faith community are encountering specific faith milestones; please include these people in your prayers for God’s love and peace.
baptisms
At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age. The next baptism class will be Monday, June 10, at 6pm in Room 125. No registration is required. To schedule a baptism, call the church office (763.420.5015).
April 6 April 13 April 14 April 20
Isaac James Braun Camila Jo Gronewold Farrah Ray Henry Dwayne Buchholz Brecken Joseph Glynn Wesley Theodore Frake Alma Siiri Lundgren Emmy James Roth
bereavements
Prayers of sympathy for those grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the resurrection.
Steve Bernu and family at the death of his father Lucy Chisato-Rodvik and family at the death of her cousin Kelie Davis and family at the death of her uncle
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L I F E
Allan Gorsett and family at the death of his sister Steve Hanson and family at the death of his cousin Don Jeronimus and family at the death of his wife Phil Leith and family at the death of his cousin Sara Lofgren and family at the death of her mother Jim Phillips and family at the death of his brother Deanna Podratz and family at the death of her husband Terry Robertson and family at the death of his mother Kris Schutz and family at the death of her brother Michael Winegar and family at the death of his sister Elizabeth Wozniak and family at the death of her uncle
weddings
April 27 Ashley Metcalfe & Michael Perreault
welcome new members
Todd & Katie Burkholder Jeff & Jen Dickman with Hailey Paul & Jennifer Hamel with Lily and Michael Don Heuer James Lundequam with Makena Ricky Moriel Terry & Mary Muller Ryan Ruud & Ross Rafferty Kerby Voss Greg & Jane Wray 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 Katie Gartzke (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.
prayer alive
To be a Christian without
is no more possible than to be
without breathing. —Martin Luther
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m
arch 3 1: “I was thinking of Pentecost when we were praying
the Lord’s Prayer,” Bruce Baldwin said as we left worship at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem this morning. Indeed, from a service led in Arabic with nods toward us English speakers from the United States and a few random Swedes, it was a joyous cacophony as we prepared to celebrate Holy Communion. (See side-by-side comparison of English / Arabic bulletins.)
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pril 1: The words, “You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and
marked with the cross of Christ forever,” are poignant in any setting. They took on a special poignancy, however, as our group stood in the Jordan River for the affirmation of our baptism. Standing in the same body of water where Jesus was baptized was an incredible experience as we reflected on Matthew 3: When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This is where it happened, where the heavens were torn apart, the Spirit descended, and God’s voice proclaimed the identity of our Savior, Jesus Christ. So there was a palpable connection to Christ as we heard our identities as children of God reaffirmed today.
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pril 6: Our day began bright and early with a journey down the Via Dolorosa (“the way of sorrows”). At each station of the cross, we would hear Scripture, reflect upon what the station represents, and pray together. It begins with Pilate’s condemnation of Jesus and concludes with Jesus’ body being placed in the tomb. There are fourteen stations and we took turns reading and praying through them all.
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pril 7: Our final day together as a full group began with a very early morning trip to the Temple Mount, one of the holiest sites for Muslims and also the location of the first and second Jewish temples. Peter Sabella, our guide, taught us about the history of the site and talked through many of the contemporary geopolitical realities and tensions that exist on a daily basis because of the ways different faith traditions view and value this particular piece of land.
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pril 7: Worship was a mix of liturgy from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnbook and songs from different parts of the world. Pastor Carrie Ballenger Smith, who visited Lord of Life last summer, preached on John 12:1-8 as we heard the same texts here today that Lord of Life used this weekend in worship. We are a sponsoring congregation for Pastor Carrie’s work, so it was a privilege to bring greetings from Maple Grove to her and the congregation today.
THE
HOLY
LAND
E XC E R P T S f r o m pas t o r j o e l ' s b l o g Visit lordoflife.org/hlblog to learn of each day’s pilgrimage.
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this holy
summer’s questions
Why Am I Afraid to Ask the Tough Questions? Response written by Pastor Kaitlyn Forster
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ast September, we had a worship service that encouraged the asking of questions as an offering to God. In that sermon, we recognized that questions can be a part of our faith practices and can strengthen our relationship with God. Through questions and conversations, we learn, grow, and invest ourselves. As mentioned in previous publications, the 300 plus questions that were offered—which remain anonymous—were filled with depth and yearnings of the heart. Many of the questions were ones that I, myself, would have a tough time asking aloud and really pondering. This question, then, made me pause and reflect, why are we afraid to ask the tough questions? Like many of the questions that are asked, there doesn’t seem to be any easy answers. We could resist asking the tough questions out of fear of feeling stupid, or not wanting to take the time to face the tough emotions that come with them, or even not wanting to appear un-centered or ungrounded. There are so many reasons why we choose not to ask the questions at all but they seem to get at one central focus: asking the question and seeking an answer may change part of our identity. When we really take the time to wrestle with the tough questions, especially when it comes to faith, we have to be prepared for our lives to change. We may be called to act in new ways. We may realize that we need to take time to mend broken relationships. We may even have to confront our own poor behaviors and seek forgiveness. Maybe even a little bit of all of the above. Whatever is holding you back from asking the tough questions, I pray that you find a safe space to explore what it is that you are avoiding and how you can invite God into the conversation. In the meantime, this summer, our worship series will highlight 15 of the many tough questions that were asked by people in the congregation. Maybe this will be an entry point into your own tough questions and offer some hope, reassurance, and even a few changes in the conversations that will follow.
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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. Compass is a monthly ministry by Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) printed by Wallace Carlson Printing using ecofrriendly inks. To receive Compass in the mail or electronically—call 763.420.5015 or email office@lordoflife.org. Copyright 2019 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
PASTORAL STAFF 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. Charles ‘Chick’ Lane, chickl@lordoflife.org Rev. David McCarty, davem@lordoflife.org Rev. Donna Rohrer, donnar@lordoflife.org
office@lordoflife.org
/lordoflifelutheran /lolcyf
/lordoflife
WORSHIP/MUSIC SCHEDULE Saturdays at 5:30pm includes holy communion and music led by David Frank and the Praise Band. Sundays at 8:30, 9:45, and 11am with holy communion on the first and third with music leaders David Frank at 8:30/9:45am and Brian Schroeder at 11am. Mondays at 7pm in the backyard. If inclement weather, worship will be in Samaritan Hall. Worship leaders may vary each week.
lord of life lutheran church
/lordoflifeluth
Photo credits include Freely, Lightstock, Lisa McCarty, David Orwall, Unsplash, and Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem.
june Calendar of events
For the most current dates and details, event locations and registrations, visit lordoflife.org. To connect with an adult ministry representative, contact Karen Nelson at 763.420.5015 x138 or karenn@lordoflife.org. To connect with a children, youth, and family representative, contact Chelsey Grandstand at 763.420.5015 x128 or chelseyg@lordoflife.org.
ADULTS
June 3: Women’s or Men’s Cancer Support Groups, lordoflife.org/cancersupport June 4: Fellowship with the Fellas, lordoflife.org/men June 4: Prepare for Prayer, lordoflife.org/prayerlife June 6: OWLs Faith Food & Fellowship Annual Picnic, lordoflife.org/owls June 8: Sharing and Caring Hands, lordoflife.org/sharingandcaring June 10, 24: Nourishing Our Neighbors, lordoflife.org/nourishingourneighbors June 13, 27: Divorce Support Group, lordoflife.org/divorcesupport June 13: OWLs MN Twins game, lordoflife.org/owls June 17: NAMI Support Group, lordoflife.org/nami June 18: Job Transition Group, lordoflife.org/jtg June 18: Pause for Prayer, lordoflife.org/prayerlife
June 20: FreedomWorks meal (off-site), lordoflife.org/freedomworks June 24: Military Family Ministry Meeting, lordoflife.org/mfsm
YOUTH
June 3, 17: Middle and High School Summer Nights, lordoflife.org/summernights June 10-13: Adventure Week, lordoflife.org/adventureweek June 15-22: AWOL blog, Bentonville, Arkansas, lordoflife.org/awol June 17-20: Preschool Vacation Bible School (VBS), lordoflife.org/preschoolvbs June 24-27: Evening Vacation Bible School, lordoflife.org/eveningvbs June 24-27: Preschool VBS, lordoflife.org/preschoolvbs
ADULTS / YOUTH
June 2: CROSS: Fill the Truck! at sanctuary entrance, lordoflife.org/cross June 4, 11: Little Hands Ring and Sing, lordoflife.org/childrenschoir
June 10: Hope Lodge meal (off-site), lordoflife.org/hopelodge June 17: The Food Group (off-site), lordoflife.org/thefoodgroup June 26: SourceMN meal (offsite), lordoflife.org/source
MONDAYS
June 3: Summer Bible Study beginning, lordoflife.org/lifelonglearning June 3: Monday Summer Worship beginning, lordoflife.org/worshipschedule
TUESDAYS
Celebrate Recovery, Grief Share Group, lordoflife.org/cr or lordoflife.org/griefshare Love to Paint, lordoflife.org/social
WEDNESDAYS/THURSDAYS
June 12/13: Beginning Summer Stretch, lordoflife.org/summerstretch
VARIOUS:
Men’s Bible Study, lordoflife.org/men
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Lord of Life Lutheran Church
Loved by God. Sent to Serve.
7401 County Road 101 Maple Grove, MN 55311-4313
NonProfit Org. U. S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 4665
Name Address City, ST 00000
C O M P A S S
Asking tough questions? See Page 10 and worship this summer on Saturdays (5:30pm), Sundays (8:30, 9:45, 11am), and Mondays (7pm).