Lord of life lutheran
JUNE 2020
C O M P A S S
ABOUT THE COVER: Lord of Life member Michelle Davis shares, “There was a week when the early coronavirus shutdown felt particularly full of uncertainty and anxiety; I was also very aware of the selfless goodwill of so many people. I found myself clinging to a vision of the whole planet being wrapped up by these acts of lovingkindness—or by the Holy Spirit—and I was driven to illustrate this thought as a prayer shawl draped around the earth.” Alongside her family of four, Michelle is a medical artist, creating illustrations and animations for the medical field. Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your gifts with the Lord of Life faith community!
Discipleship practices: worship .........2-3 Bible 101: Worship..........................................4-5 community life / psalm 119:103..............6-7 listening to god......................................................8-9 perspectives on worship......................... 10 contacts .......................................................... 11 2
DISCIPLESHIP PRACTICES:
T H E
WORSHIP
H E A R T
by Lead Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem (joel@lordoflife.org)
Since the topic of this month’s Compass is worship, let’s begin by talking about murder. (I bet you didn’t see that one coming.) In Genesis, we read, “In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.” (4:3-5a) This particular worship experience so enflamed Cain that he chose to kill his brother Abel in the earliest worship war recounted in Scripture. While most of us would never go to such lengths as Cain did when it comes to worship, this story highlights just how impassioned worship—and our experience of it—can make us. What I’ve noticed in the weeks when we’ve been forced by COVID-19 to move from in-person to online worship is that our passion for worship is more clearly focused on God’s promised presence and our connection to a faith community. When life feels so uncertain, matters of personal preference seem to recede and our desire to be rooted in Christ as a community becomes what really matters. In many ways, we have been embodying what the earliest Christian church did: there’s no script for these days, so we’re doing our best to figure out how to be church. That’s what we read in the books of Acts: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching
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W O R S H I P and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.� (2:42-47) Worship, at its very heart, is about who or what we value above all else. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to worshiping the God made known through Christ. Worship is a sign of deep and profound trust, as we do not seek to be productive, impressive, or competitive. We seek to be faithful members of the body of Christ, people who need to hear the good news and who need to be connected to God and one another in profound ways. Worship is the first of our five Lord of Life Discipleship Practices. You are encouraged to work toward the goal of weekly worship and daily devotions and prayer. These spiritual practices help us keep a proper perspective and allow us to weather whatever storms we face because we have the love, grace, and mercy of God fully present in our daily lives.
Worship, at its very heart, is about who or what we value above all else.
lordoflife.org/discipleshiponline 3
REVELATION AS A WORSHIP GUIDE:
C O M E ,
L E T
by Pastor Kaitlyn Forster (kaitlynf@lordoflife.org)
When I think about our worship life together, and the ways that we gather around God’s holy word, I find myself drawn towards the music that we share together. Music has a way of bringing me back to old memories, reminding me of loved ones, and providing space to feel in very big ways. It should come as no surprise that the music we sing in our worship services typically have their roots in scripture. You may be wondering, which book of the Bible has influenced the most songs, hymns, and liturgy? After all, there are many options to choose from. The gospels share the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that would certainly make for some creative fodder. The Psalms are written as poems and songs already, tapping into those metaphors and ways of explaining the unexplainable. But, both of those options are incorrect. It may come as a shock and surprise that the book of the Bible that has influenced our ways of worshipping the most is, in fact, Revelation. Revelation. The untapped, unnerving book of the Bible. This is the book that many avoid for fear of what they will find. The one that many feel is filled with doomsday, or apocalypse, predictions that will signal the end of the world as we know it. In days like the ones that we have been experiencing, our thoughts may have wandered here too. But, if we look at the ancient Greek, the
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Chris Vevea’s Worship Space
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W O R S H I P
language the text was originally written in, the word ‘apocalypsis’ does not actually mean the end of the world. Instead it translates to ‘unveiling.’ You see, Revelation was written as a cautionary tale, brimming with metaphors and illustrations, during a really fearful time in the life of the disciples. John of Patmos, the author, was exiled to an island and it is here that he speaks in veiled terms, warning the Roman empire that they have their priorities mixed up and will eventually fall. The priorities that matter, are faith in the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. God, Almighty. John taps into something incredibly raw and revealing. That even through the toughest trials and tribulations, God will be present with us and that despite the odds, we too can give praise to God. In each of the metaphors, the only consistent feature is that through whatever is happening, there is a distinct ‘unveiling’ of God’s presence leading the reader towards praising God. The
ultimate word for praise, that is found only in Revelation, is hallelujah. We hear hallelujah most frequently in the Easter season, but the praise that it conveys is one of builtup excitement for when the world returns and fear subsides. It’s also a word that we need to remember now, more than ever. In these tough days, God will see us through, give us hope for the future, and celebrate with us in joyous shouts. Hallelujah! Popular Hymns/Songs influenced by Revelation: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name Battle Hymn of the Republic Crown Him with Many Crowns Holy, Holy, Holy How Great Is Our God Of the Father’s Love Begotten Shall We Gather at the River When the Saints Go Marching In
dig deeper
Bible 101
What is your favorite worship song or hymn? Do you know which scripture influenced it? Take some time to investigate. ‘Apocalypsis’ translates as ‘unveiling.’ What new things are being unveiled to you? Where do you need to see God’s unveiling in your life? 5
C O M M U N I T Y baptisms
weddings
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).
For details on having your wedding at Lord of Life, visit lordoflife.org/weddings. To schedule a wedding, contact Wedding Supervisor Michelle Tomlinson (763.420.5015 x118).
bereavements Prayers of sympathy for those grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the resurrection.
Kara Anderson and family at the death of her friend Bruce Baldwin and family at the death of his mother Jan Dresser and family at the death of her husband Barb Hum and family at the death of her father Dave Lund and family at the death of his aunt Annette Nelson and family at the death of her friend
welcome new members Roger & Deborah Burgwalk Deb Gibbs Elizabeth Haley Donald & Alyca Judge with Eric and Tessa Dick & Vonnie Verdoorn 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
Jon Peel and family at the death of his sister
all members—is to worship regularly, grow in faith,
Brad Salman and family at the death of his father
serve others, and support the church and its programs
Todd Sparks and family at the death of his mother Jon Stein and family at the death of his mother Darlene Swanson and family at the death of her husband Merle Waldron and family at the death of his cousin
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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.
How sweet are your words
to my taste,
to my mo th!
sweeter than oney — P s a l m
1 1 9: 10 3
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L I S T E N I N G
T O
G O D
by Joy Todd (joytodd72@gmail.com)
It’s funny . . . I always wondered, “How do I know when God is talking to me? How do I know where God will take me?” I will share with you that I have never heard God speak so clearly to me as during my experience with an organ donation. Here’s how it unfolded. In the late 90s, I was identified as a donor match for a young woman with leukemia. Her health took a turn for the worse; the bone marrow transplant never occurred. It left me with a longing to help someone in a similar way. I attended a Via de Cristo spiritual retreat weekend. It was inspirational. It was also a key element for me in asking God for direction in my life.
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In 2014, I learned a co-worker needed a kidney transplant. I was immediately interested in trying to help and applied to become a living donor. Yet during that process, I learned my co-worker was ineligible for a transplant. So instead, I began the process as a non-directed donor which means my kidney would be given to someone anonymously. After extensive medical tests and psychological
evaluation, it was determined I was eligible to donate! After further unexpected scans, I was frustrated and still waiting to be entered into the National Kidney Registry to begin a donation chain to help match pairs. The day before a Monday scan appointment, I sat in church listening to a sermon by Pastor Peter. It included an organ donation story, which definitely piqued my interest. Pastor Peter commented at the end of the sermon that Lord of Life’s Choir Director Lee Fuchs was in need of a kidney, as his prior donation had fallen through. Have you ever had a moment when a shiver runs through your body, and you know something was meant for you to hear? Well, that was me. And I heard it as clear as day. I even said to my 12-year-old son, Cole, “Did you hear that? Lee needs a kidney!” He said “Mom, are you sure that’s meant for you?” I just knew it was meant for me to hear. After the service, I asked Peter, “Do you know what Lee’s blood type is? Which hospital he is working with?” Peter said, “He’s A positive and he’s working with
the U of M.” I said, “So am I, and I will be searching for my match starting tomorrow!”
through me. I had faith that God would see both Lee and I through surgery.
I didn’t know Lee at all. I messaged him that I heard he needed a kidney and that I thought I could help. With tissue typing and crossmatching tests, it was early December 2014 when I sent Lee a message that we were a great match. The surgery was scheduled for January 13, 2015.
As you can imagine, Lee and I became very close. We had a bond that I had never experienced before. Although he left us too soon, God blessed us with three years of friendship. I truly believe that God had a plan all along. Years prior to Lee’s need, God was preparing me . . . God’s timing was perfect!
Now, Lee and I began to get to know one another— coffee dates, a dinner out with his friends, him meeting my family and friends, and texting back and forth. We shared a fast and deep connection. It was, frankly, lovely.
From the late 90s to Pastor Peter’s sermon to surgery, I knew without a doubt that this was God’s beautifully orchestrated plan. The right doors opened with such a natural timing. I learned then to simply listen and pay attention to what God is trying to show me. Since this experience, I have had several small and less significant “pushes” from God, but I now truly understand what it means to hear God and faithfully follow that direction. For instance, it may be I randomly think of someone so reach out with a call or send a card. God’s direction in your life may not be an organ transplant, but listening to God is the important thing.
As the date grew nearer, I became very nervous, almost panicked at times. This was my first surgery! I had no idea what to expect. Over those four weeks, I prayed constantly or listened to gospel music 24/7. I recited Psalm 23 multiple times a day; it was calming. There were a few times with high anxiety yet my husband Mark would remind me, “Joy, God’s got this.” And he was right. It really wasn’t me doing anything—it was entirely God working
What does God have in mind for you? 9
W O R S H I P
P E R S P E C T I V E S
by David Frank (davidf@lordoflife.org)
When people find out that I am a church music director they sometimes tell me they’ve been to worship recently but “didn’t get anything out of it.” Then I ask what they brought to worship. Did they bring their frustrations and anxiety, their laughter and longings, their heartfelt prayers and a willingness to join others in something larger than themselves? To worship means to bring our whole self in heart, mind, body, and soul to praise, thank, ask, adore, and love our faithful God. In worship our hearts expand in compassion and togetherness as we slough off our selfish preoccupations. We experience the joy of the Lord’s presence but also the pain and brokenness of the suffering world. In worship our minds begin to grasp an ever clearer vision of the beautiful Kingdom of Heaven. The many words of hymns, readings, and sermon become the Word of God. Our will nears God’s will for us. In worship we are strengthened to re-engage the world. Then we will stand tall for Christ, shoulder our crosses, open and lend our hands, walk with Jesus, put our backs into building the kingdom. In worship our souls are anchored in the Lord. We regain our rightful place and perspective. Our “me” becomes “we.” We commune with all the saints past and present and pray “Our Father.” It is better to give than receive. The final measure of our worship is not what we get out of it, but what we give to it. 10
by Brian Schroeder (brians@lordoflife.org)
David does a beautiful job here explaining the intricacies of worship—in short, it is both vertical and horizontal. Vertically, we are connecting with God. Horizontally, we are communing with each other. It’s that directional interplay that makes worship so powerful, so essential to the church. Branching from that, I think it’s also important to examine the difference between worship leading and performing. David and I both have music performance skills, which certainly contribute to the high quality music at Lord of Life. But worship leading is more than performing. In many ways, worship leading conflicts with performance. Performance seeks to pull your attention toward the performer; worship leading seeks to guide your attention toward God. Performance seeks applause; worship leading seeks connection. Beautiful voices and impressive instrumentation are great in church, but if they’re not used to direct your heart to God, what’s the point? Worship leading is about holding the balance between musical excellence and the vertical and horizontal aspects of worship. This changes the way musicians show up to the worship space. You know that feeling when you’re spiritually moved in worship? You feel energized, awake, or even emotional—like you’ve woken up to some deeper flow that brings you closer to God and the people around you? The more I experience it, the less I’m comfortable trying to pin it down. But I can say that when we worship together, bringing all we have, God is with us somehow. And that gives us reason to sing.
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 ecofriendly inks. To receive Compass in the mail or electronically—call 763.420.5015 or email office@lordoflife.org. Copyright 2020 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
PASTORAL STAFF
WORSHIP/MUSIC SCHEDULE
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
lordoflife.org
office@lordoflife.org
Visit lordoflife.org/worship for the most up-to-date worship schedule.
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Photo credits include Chris Vevea (Page 4) and Merle Waldron (Page 7).
c o n ta c t u s 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 Grandstrand at 763.420.5015 x128 or chelseyg@lordoflife.org. For all ministry events and calendar items with the most current dates, times, details, event locations, and registrations—please visit lordoflife.org.
You have an opportunity to give to and through our church in a way that will make a difference today and in the future, both for our congregation and through two valuable ministry partners. This fund is called, “I Can Help!” •
One-third of the funds support CROSS Services and Gethsemane Lutheran Church to feed hungry people
•
One-third of the funds provide emergency financial assistance to Lord of Life members who are in need
•
One-third of the funds support the ongoing ministry of Lord of Life
Visit lordoflife.org/icanhelp for the most up-to-date information on this fund!
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Lord of Life Lutheran Church
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May the God of hope fill youjoywith all and peace. —Romans 15:13
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