Lord of life lutheran
June 2021
C O M P A S S
T H E
P A C E
by Elizabeth Pedersen (elizabethp@lordoflife.org)
Recently I had a chance to lead one of our 9th grade confirmation ministry small groups. That night, one of the questions posed around the topic of identity was about the kind of person the students hope to be 20 years from now. When I wrote the question, I had in mind a discussion about integrity and character—I thought it would lead to thinking about how we relate to others and engage our faith as a part of how we understand who we are. And so when a majority of the answers to the question was “successful,” it gave me pause. And I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
The Pedersen Family— John, Emelia (3½), Elizabeth
THE PACE OF LIFE.....................................................2-3 BIBLE 101: RHYTHM FOR A REASON.......................4-5 community life / DAILY DEVOTIONS.................. 6-7 sent to serve .......................................................8-9 LILLY GRANT FOR THRIVING CONGREGATIONS....... 10 COntact Us ..................................................................11
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What even is success? It’s such a relative term. On a larger scale, I think most of us can agree that in our country, success = money. But on a smaller, real-life scale, success can mean so many different things. And it can change. Pre-pandemic, my idea of a successful day or week meant packing the schedule and to-do list and plowing through it all like a nondestructive beast. Now? This pace is no longer possible. Maybe it’s the late-pandemic brain fog, or maybe I’m just out of practice, but the fact that last weekend I took on a major yard project, swim lessons, book club, and a night of emotional support for a friend and ended up crying in our team meeting the following Monday from being overwhelmed tells me it’s time to reevaluate.
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F
L I F E We are getting close to the end of pandemic life. And while I encourage you to persevere through this last bit of keeping the virus at bay so we can say goodbye to it rather than too many more of God’s beloved—I think we also ought to start imagining what God desires for our lives moving forward. Here are some questions to ponder: • What does it mean to be faithful and compassionate to the person you have become over the course of the pandemic in redefining success? • When our children and youth look to you for a model of successful living, what do you want them to see? • Given all you have experienced in the last year, what pace is God calling you to set for your life moving forward?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2a (NIV)
. . . let us throw off everything that hinders
and the sin that so easily
entangles
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R H Y T H M
F O R
A
R E A S O N
by Pastor Karen Greimel (kareng@lordoflife.org)
Bible 101
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus . . . Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NLT) “Pace yourself” were words I heard almost every day from Al Albrecht, Lord of Life’s former parish administrator. Initially, I didn’t connect with this wise advice and kept a frenzied pace, but over the years they have almost become a mantra. When we read the gospels, we realize just how busy Jesus was. From the start of his ministry to death and resurrection, Jesus was constantly on the go, tackling challenges both great and small. Turning water to wine, healing the sick and paralyzed, casting out demons, teaching and preaching, growing the ministry, questioning religious leaders . . . heading to the cross. Yet, in all this business we see a rhythm. Hard work then retreat, hard work then retreat. Both before and after events we read that Jesus withdrew to
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out-of-the-way places for prayer and direction from God. Jesus paced himself. Jesus never waited for an official “sabbath” to retreat. When he sensed it was time to retreat, he just went. Have you ever pushed yourself too hard? Or, not hard enough? Jesus’ pace may not always agree with ours. He may slow us down when we want to speed up. He may move us ahead when we would rather stay put. There is a real craft to implementing a rhythm to life, to practice a pace that welcomes and allows for God and the plans prepared for you. Jesus had a rhythm for a reason. He needed time to hear what God was saying, encouraging, strengthening, and guiding. And then he returned refreshed to implement God’s plan. There are benefits to implementing a rhythm, a pace that is guided by Jesus into your life. Pacing permits maintenance of productive living. This rhythm allowed Jesus to remain stable and emotionally healthy, equipped to
do God’s work. When we honor work and rest, there is less chance of burnout. Sabbath is not just a day; it can be an hour or minutes each day to find God. The sabbath can be a welcome break that renews us while also allowing us to grow closer to God. Maybe it is something as simple as taking time to admire beautiful June flowers. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV) Practicing mini-sabbath breaks improves stamina and reminds us to share our work and rest time with the Lord. I guarantee that more problems get solved, creative initiatives are revealed, and stress is reduced when we apply a pace shared with Jesus. This week try taking a minisabbath each day. Make note of your experience. I would love to hear about it. Bless you.
reflection questions: • What changes have you noticed about your pace of life in the last year and what have you learned? • How can you apply what you have learned? • Are you willing to implement a minisabbath into your life? 5
C O M M U N I T Y
L I F E
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) or visit lordoflife.org/baptism.
For details on your wedding, visit lordoflife.org/weddings.
April 3 Alexander James Miller Nathan Jess Miller Oscar Jess Miller Sullivan Elizabeth Miller Steven Ward April 10 Kennedy Lee Theisen April 17 Maddyn Plumedahl April 18 Brody John Tauer April 24 Drew Brooklyn Byrd Lena Klair Lienemann
To schedule a wedding, contact Wedding Supervisor Michelle Tomlinson (michellet@lordoflife.org).
welcome new members Leslie & Shann Anderson 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.
bereavements Prayers of sympathy for those grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the resurrection.
Judy Albrecht and family at the death of her sister Donna Anderson Joy Fragodt and family at the death of her mother Helen Maltby Karen Jaeger and family at the death of her husband Henry Jaeger Dick Miller and family at the death of his father 6
Beginning in March 2020— Lord of Life’s pastors and staff began writing daily devotions to provide hope and encouragement. Through the pandemic and beyond, it strengthens and supports our community of faith. Thank you to Emerging Worship Leader/Social Media Specialist Brian Schroeder for this devotion from April 22, 2021. If you would like to read more Lord of Life devotions or receive them going forward, visit lordoflife.org/hope.
“Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:11 This devotion is less of a “devotion” and more of a “long list of encouragements because even though there’s a lot of hope out there, it’s also been a really tough year and I want you to know that you are awesome and beautiful and loved.” Take your time with these. I really want you to hear them. Ready? Here we go. You are loved. You are important. You are beautiful. You are doing your best. You are right on time. You are doing a great job. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay to feel joy. It’s okay to feel okay. You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not too big; you are not too small. You are not too loud; you are not too quiet. Give yourself grace. Give yourself forgiveness. Give yourself time. Give yourself a hug. You are imperfect, and that’s okay. You make mistakes, and that’s okay. You fall short, and that’s okay. You go too far, and that’s okay. You are good. You are worthy. You are enough. You are a child of God, loved beyond measure, sent to serve the world. Reflection How can you encourage someone else today? Prayer God, help me to believe this encouragement. Help me to embrace my inherent goodness, so others may see it and discover their own. Amen.
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S E N T
T O
S E R V E
by Bev Mello (bevm@lordoflife.org)
‘Pace of life’ for many folks in this corner of the world may mean a vacation during the month of June. Some may choose R&R around a pool with a fruity, umbrella-garnished beverage, soaking up Vitamin D— or being at a theme or water park. (And there is certainly nothing wrong with that!) Yet others may choose to use ‘free’ time answering the Holy Spirit’s call to serve. Three Lord of Life members feel the phrase “sent to serve the world” was meant specifically for them. They served in the Dominican Republic, Uganda, and the southern United States. Perhaps the Holy Spirit may not lead you to those places. It could be locally with Lord of Life partners Feed My Starving Children or Gethsemane Lutheran or CROSS food shelf—or within Lord of Life for children, youth & family opportunities. Consider your Discipleship Path while sensing the Holy Spirit’s direction. And may we keep in mind Lord of Life’s 1978 charter which states “Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.” To learn more about service opportunities, visit lordoflife.org/discipleshiponline.
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There are many ways to give back, but I wanted to do something more hands-on than just putting money in the offering plate. When I heard about a dental mission trip, it sounded like the perfect opportunity for me to serve. I have been a hygienist for a very long time, so I went in 2010 and yearly until COVID-19 made this year’s trip cancel. I have always heard when you help others you get more out of it than you give; I’ve found that certainly true. And meeting other people in a Christian community that I would’ve never had the opportunity to meet or talk to has been very rewarding. Besides doing dentistry on so many who badly need it and teaching about dental care in the schools there—you get to experience a different culture including worshipping with Dominicans. The biggest takeaway I’ve had is to reevaluate my life as far as what I need to be happy. The people I met have literally almost nothing of material value and yet they have so much happiness and joy. It seems like in our world here we always want more and more “stuff.” Also disconnecting from computers and smart phones and simply praying with a group of Christians and with the community in the Dominican, reading God’s word daily, and reflecting on God’s plan is such a wonderful experience! —Pat Bolin
Years ago Lord of Life had a sermon series for us to discover our “sweet spot” of skills & passions overlapping with service opportunities. The good news is I found my sweet spot using my project management experience. The bad news (if you want to call it that) is that I found my sweet spot—and it was in Uganda! After years of Hope4Kids International children’s sponsorship and my family’s connections to the country, I was on my first mission trip asking, “Why, God, what are you doing? You’ve created a large portion of the world that is without clean water, has inadequate food sources, and inadequate healthcare. And then I had an epiphany or maybe it was more like a smack upside the head! I didn’t hear an audible voice, but I did in that moment receive a clear answer from the Holy Spirit/God/Jesus: ‘Why do you think you were brought here, Kent?’ ” From that moment on, I was hooked. God clearly had not abandoned or forgotten that corner of the world. I need to use my vacation time because it’s a long ways away and need to get there first—then, I can serve. Another way I think about serving is the greatest law is to love God with all your heart and mind and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself . . . our neighbors are all who God has created. —Kent Dirks
My previous job honored up to four hours of volunteer time (VTO) so I only had to use 36 hours of my paid time off (PTO). I now work for a company that honors up to 24 hours of VTO! Using PTO to serve has a way of refilling your tank in unexplainable, fruitful ways; whereas, vacations without that purpose can sometimes drain your tank so you feel like you need a vacation after your vacation! I’ve participated in four trips with Habitat for Humanity in Alabama. One major takeaway I have experienced on serving trips is my eyes and heart seem clearer. I feel more keen to “God winks,” hidden blessings and favor from God. I remember one time as were wrapping up one of the mission trips to Tuscaloosa, AL, I felt as if I were experiencing heaven on earth. We are here on this earth to serve one another which can be more rewarding than sitting poolside, but poolside is also sometimes needed. :) —Missy Benson
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L I L L Y F O R
G R A N T
T H R I V I N G
C O N G R E G A T I O N S
An exciting step is happening at Lord of Life. Through St. Catherine University’s Initiative for Contemplative Discipleship and Lilly Endowment, Inc., Lord of Life has been selected as the lead congregation for a $1 million grant. The aim of this grant is to strengthen congregations so they can help people deepen their relationship with God, build strong relationships with each other, and contribute to the flourishing of local communities and the world. On April 27, the Lord of Life council approved a new half-time staff position and hired Karen Wight Hoogheem as Director of Contemplative Discipleship. Karen shares, “My role will be to support adults journeying on Lord of Life’s Discipleship Path by offering spiritual direction, classes for adults on Christian spirituality, and continuing the partnership with St. Kate’s around the Contemplative Discipleship grant project.” Councilmembers Pat Smuda-Behr and Becky Kormann participated in the pilot program of 25 participants. Pat explains, “A spiritual director provides a listening ear to anyone with a desire to grow in their faith and be transformed through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Learning prayer practices as part of the Contemplative Community for Spiritual Transformation helped me be still as I sought time with the Lord and encouraged me to listen and reflect on God’s word and will for my life.” Becky adds, “I am so excited to welcome Karen; she is so encouraging and enthusiastic. The different practices I learned helped me connect and see God in so many different ways and places. I am grateful Lord of Life has seen the value in these practices and is making it an ongoing opportunity for our members and the community.” With a photo and brief bio on the next page, let’s give a warm welcome to Karen Wight Hoogheem in this new role at Lord of Life. 10
—see previous page
Ordained in 2003, I have served as a pastor in Ishpeming, MI; Ames, IA; and Coon Rapids, MN. I completed a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from St. Catherine’s University in May. My hobbies include long-distance running, baking and eating cookies, playing with my dog Hamilton, and enjoying time with family and friends. I am married to Joel Wight Hoogheem and we have two children, Hannah (15) and Ian (11).
—Karen Wight Hoogheem
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.
lordoflife.org
office@lordoflife.org
/lordoflifelutheran /lolcyf
/lordoflife /cyf_lordoflife
/lordoflifeluth
Compass is a monthly ministry by Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) printed by Wallace Carlson Printing using ecofriendly inks. After reading, share it with a friend or neighbor inviting them to the Lord of Life faith community. To receive Compass in the mail and/or electronically—call 763.420.5015 or email office@lordoflife.org. Credits: Ha Anh Tra, Hanna Greimel, and Joel Wight Hoogheem Copyright 2021 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
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Lord of Life Lutheran Church
Loved by God. Sent to Serve.
7401 County Road 101 Maple Grove, MN 55311-4313
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