A monthly ministry of Lord of Life Lutheran Church of Maple Grove, Minnesota
LifeTIMES
March 2016
Holy Week worship on Pages 2 and 6
LO R D O F LI FE LU T HE R A N C H UR CH (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. prayernetwork@lordoflife.org
office@lordoflife.org
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march worship and music March 3, Midweek Lenten Worship 7 pm in Samaritan Hall with soup supper preceding in Fellowship Hall March 5/6 Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren Saturday: Praise Band Sunday: Lord of Life Brass at all services, Canticle Choir (8:30 am), Joyful Noise! (9:45 and 11 am)
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.
March 10, Midweek Lenten Worship 7 pm in Samaritan Hall with soup supper preceding in Fellowship Hall
—Lord of Life’s Global Ends Policy
March 12/13 Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren Saturday: Praise Band Sunday: Canticle Choir (9:45 and 11 am)
PASTO RAL S TA F F Rev. Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Senior Pastor, peter@lordoflife.org Rev. Sarah Bunge, Pastor of Evangelism/Worship, sarahb@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor of Programming, Learning, and Missions, karengl@lordoflife.org Rev. Karen Sue Greimel, Pastor of Pastoral Care, ksgreimel@lordoflife.org Rev. Charles ‘Chick’ Lane, Pastor of Stewardship/Generosity, chickl@lordoflife.org Rev. David McCarty, Pastor of Outreach/Mission, davem@lordoflife.org Rev. Donna Rohrer, Pastor of Adult Education, donnar@lordoflife.org Pastoral Intern Kari Lyn Wampler, MA, LMFT, karilynw@lordoflife.org Pastoral Intern Taylor Wilson, taylorw@lordoflife.org
TABLE OF CO N T E N T S Worship and Music / Pastor’s Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 2-3 Lord of Life’s Family of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 4-5 Holy Week Worship / Generosity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 6-7 Lord of Life Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 8-14 Karing Kingdom Preschool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 On February 7 during worship, several young scouts received special religious emblems as part of the Duty to God program. Presented by Ed Hatlem, a scout for 50+ years, along with prayers from the congregation—best wishes to all these scouts with their learnings ahead!
March 17, Midweek Lenten Worship 7 pm in Samaritan Hall with soup supper preceding in Fellowship Hall Holy Week Worship (see Page 6 for more details) Palm Sunday, March 19/20 Pastor Sarah Bunge Church School children sing in all worship services Saturday: Praise Band Sunday: New Life Ensemble Breakfast in Fellowship Hall (9 am-12:30 pm) Maundy Thursday, March 24 7 pm in Samaritan Hall with soup supper preceding in Fellowship Hall Good Friday, March 25 11 am Family Worship 7 pm Canticle Choir Easter Saturday / Easter Sunday, March 26/27 Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren Worship at 8, 9, 10, 11 am, and 12 noon Saturday: Praise Band Sunday: Canticle Choir, Bel Canto, and Lord of Life Brass at all services
<> Saturdays at 5:30 pm with Holy Communion Sundays at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 am with Holy Communion the first and third Sundays
Worship and Music
Third Wednesday, March 16, worship at 1 pm at Arbor Lakes Senior Living in the 2nd floor community room and at 2:30 pm at Rose Arbor Assisted Living in their red room
2 March 2016
Third Sunday, March 20, worship at 10 am at Good Samaritan - Ambassador in New Hope Worship and music schedules are subject to change.
Mindful Prayer
For those of you I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, I am the newest pastoral intern at Lord of Life. I am blessed and so very fortunate to be able to be a part of this team. I am soaking up all the wisdom and gifts this place has to offer. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can. When I am not exercising my pastoral skills at Lord of Life, I am a practicing licensed marriage and family therapist. It is my hope that I will be able to bring some wellness skills into this faith community during my internship. So, let’s start with my favorite ... mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that has been gaining in popularity in the U.S. for about the last 10 years. Research abounds and all findings are impressive. Those who regularly practice mindfulness show significantly Pastoral Intern Kari Lyn Wampler decreased mental health issues, an increase in activity in the MA and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) prefrontal cortex of the brain (the part of the brain that evokes happiness), and a greater sense of peace and acceptance. Mindfulness is achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and non-judgmentally accepting whatever feelings and thoughts you may be experiencing. By being fully present, we let go of any resistance and fears we may be harboring. As a person of faith, I am intentional to find God in the midst of my mindfulness practice. It is my steadfast belief that in this mindful place, we are at our most connected to God. Nothing is distracting us from God’s presence, majesty, or grace. Here we have our greatest potential to live in communion with God. So here is the faith practice I propose: •
Simply sit in the present moment.
•
Radically accept this moment, with whatever feelings or thoughts you are having. Notice any tension in your body, and as you do so, try to soothe and release that tension.
•
As you live into acceptance, clear your mind of any thoughts, keeping a calm mind. If you notice your mind wandering to thoughts—which is totally normal—usher them back out and return to a calm mind.
•
Now, imagine that you are sitting in this moment with God. Focusing on an image may be helpful. You can imagine yourself sitting in the warm light of God, imagine yourself in the loving embrace of God, or imagine a light inside of you that is of God (think of This Little Light of Mine).
•
Practice for 10 to 20 minutes per day. Mornings work best for me, but choose a time that works best for you. If you struggle at first, keep working at it. You are building new muscles here and just like any new exercise, it takes time.
That’s it. You are practicing mindful prayer. Repeated exercising of mindful prayer will have a lasting impact on many of life’s struggles such as lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased depression, greater ability to weather life storms, more acceptance, and less resistance with day-to-day tasks. In these reflective days of Lent, this is an extraordinary way to connect with our Savior. I pray this new practice is as rewarding for you as it is for me.
Pastor’s Article
See Page 10 for an article about the next Word for Women book study led by Pastoral Intern Kari Lyn Wampler, MA, LMFT.
March 2016 3
baptisms At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age. The next baptism class will be Sunday, March 13, at 11 am. No registration is necessary. To schedule a baptism, please call the church office (763.420.5015). January 2 David William Moebeck January 3 Lauren Leona Denzen Erickson Otto Scott Ferguson Quinn Luella Lestor January 9 Reagan Kay Lamb January 10 Elliot Anne Dahl Haley Linnea Ende January 17 Harper Dorothy Cook Kinsley Grace Klee
Lord of Life’s
Family
bereavements Prayers of sympathy for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the resurrection. Jim Hawkinson and family at the death of his father Rose Hobson and family at the death of her sister Henry & Karen Jaeger and family at the death of their son
January 24 McKenzie Lea Bronczyk Emmett Otto Sweeney
Neil Larson and family at the death of his mother
January 30 Ellie Elizabeth Nolte
Donna Lemke with Daniel and Matthew and family at the death of her brother and their uncle
January 31 Oliver Dean Carlson Austin Jacob Doty Wyatt Jeffrey Merrifield
Brian McDonald and family at the death of his mother
Renae Larson and family at the death of her nephew
Kate Martin and family at the death of her grandmother Lynn Ullestad and family at the death of her mother
You are indeed my rock and my fortress. Psalm 31:3a
A Rock, A God Moment
Familiy of Faith
by Nancy Bourbonais Our family always tends to search for rocks when on any kind of outdoor event, especially on lakeshores. Common searches are for very smooth rocks, rocks that are shaped like something (the state of Minnesota at right), or rocks that we can paint on as a memory from the adventure. We have a lot of rock in our frontyard, too, and often as kids the girls, Jennifer and Cora, would just search our own rock garden and ask to paint on them.
4 March 2016
Every year for the past 12 or so, I pay attention for the Cora rock and the other painted rocks to appear after the snow has melted away. Sometimes it is early when I notice them, others it isn’t until midsummer when I’m doing yard work and happen to turn them over. No matter—I know they are there and when rediscovered each time, I just stop in my tracks and smile.
of
Faith weddings January 9 Taylor Wanhala & James Grayson January 30 Anna Paulsen & Michael Thorbrogger
welcome to new members Neil Christians Bill & Patti Dahl Craig & Amy Jo Fulgency with Grayson Jared Monetti & Michaela Engdahl Linda Ogaard Bryan & Jonna Schnettler with Grayson Ryan & Jennissa Schommer with Clara Matt & Heidi Segedy with Eleanor, Bergen, and Lena Jo Matt & Heidi Steinmetz with Tanner, Ashton, and Gabriella Darla Theisen
You are encouraged to share your creative gifts with the Lord of Life family. If you have original artwork, poetry, photos, or a God moment— please contact me. I would love to share it in a future issue as space allows. Thank you. —Editor Bev Mello (bevm@lordoflife.org)
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.
Family of Faith March 2016 5
Holy Week Worship palm saturday/palm sunday, march 19/20 All four gospels describe Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” With children raising palm branches—all Church School children will sing during these worship services. A Palm Sunday breakfast will be prepared by A Work of Love (AWOL) youth missionaries. From 9 am to 12:30 pm, all freewill donations will benefit their mission trips this summer.
maundy thursday, march 24, 7 pm The word, maundy, comes from the Latin word for command. Knowing His death is coming soon, Jesus gives the commandment to love one another as He has loved us. Loving service is the theme of this day. During worship we consider our own loving service in response to Jesus’ ultimate service to the world. Worship will transition us from Palm Sunday’s joy into the grief of Good Friday.
good friday, march 25, 10 am and 7 pm Family worship at 10 am: Experience the last days of Jesus’ life through Scripture readings, songs, symbols, and a reading of The Giving Tree. This family worship is appropriate for all ages. Evening worship at 7 pm: Lord of Life’s Canticle Choir will lead the congregation in hymns and anthems, along with Scripture. This year’s service is a Journey Through the Life of Christ. Beginning with the birth of Jesus and the joy and tenderness of the newborn Baby, then we will highlight Christ’s baptism, the first miracle and wedding at Cana, the raising of Lazarus, triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, arrest at Gethsemane, and Jesus’ crucifixion/burial.
easter saturday/easter sunday, march 26/27 The Easter proclamation is shared in worship at 5:30 pm on Saturday and on Sunday the resurrection celebration continues with services at 8, 9, 10, 11 am, and 12 noon. Lord of Life’s Brass, Bel Canto, and Canticle Choir will enhance our Easter weekend of worship.
Holy Week Worship
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
6 March 2016
A Month of Giving Completed
by Pastor Chick Lane In December, I used this article to encourage you to invite children into generosity by giving them some money to give away to charities of their choosing during December, the month of giving. My wife and I did that with our two granddaughters. This month, I want to let you know how it went. We gave our two granddaughters, ages 7 and 4, four envelopes each, with $10 in each envelope. Our instructions were simple; each week they were to talk with their parents and decide where to give the money. In Week One they both decided to give to Feed My Starving Children. They had heard about this ministry in Church School, so it was an easy decision. In Week Two they went different directions with their giving. The seven-year-old heard in Church School that the local foodshelf was very low on toilet paper. She decided to help solve the problem, so she and her mom went to Target to use the $10 on toilet paper. The next Sunday she brought it to Lord of Life’s Service Center. The four-year-old announced that she wanted to give her $10 to a chef. After a little parental coaching, the decision was reached that she wanted to give the money to a place that fed hungry people. Sharing and Caring Hands got her $10 for that week. Week Three found the girls Christmas shopping and resulted in $10 each being placed in a Salvation Army Red Kettle. Certainly not one of the megagifts the Salvation Army received, but a pretty big gift for two young girls. Week Four’s gift was the result of a family conversation. After talking about several possibilities, the girls remembered how the younger had fallen and ended up at Children’s Hospital where she received excellent care and several stitches. The choice was then easy, each girl wanted to make a gift to a place where they had had a very positive experience, so Children’s Hospital it was. If you did something like this last December, I hope your experience was as positive as mine was. If you didn’t, I’d encourage you to give it a try later this year. My hope is that my granddaughters grow up to be generous people, and I think this experience was a step in the right direction.
First follow-up to the February 2016 article A Succession Plan for Our Senior Pastor—
Budget Year-to-date January 2016
Actual
Total member contributions
$311,314
$303,649
$7,665
$49,667
$42,701
$6,965
$360,981
$346,350
$14,631
All other Total receipts
Budget
Difference
Lord of Life Weekly Giving — January 2016 $180,000 $160,000 $140,000 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $0
1/3 1/10 1/17 1/24 1/31
Actual $159,432 $55,188 $48,805 $53,594 $43,962 Budget $69,270 $69,270 $69,270 $69,270 $69,270
What is the current organizational structure that supports Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren?
In January 2015, Lord of Life’s Congregational Council approved a new leadership structure for the staff. The Strategic Operations Committee (SOC) was charged with making a recommendation to the council that would both provide ongoing support for Pastor Peter, due to Pastor Todd Buegler accepting another call as a lead pastor, along with the retirements of Pastor David Lippitt, Finance Director Colleen Anderson, and Executive Administrator Al Albrecht. This plan also needed to provide the needed long-term structure to support our next lead pastor. Most of these changes have been implemented. To view Lord of Life’s current organizational chart, visit lordoflife.org/staff. To make additional comments or questions, visit lordoflife.org/soc.
Generosity
Frequently Asked Question
March 2016 7
In a Suitcase LifeGARDEN
by Bret Jordahl In March, One Mission One World: Jamaica missionaries will serve at Westhaven Children’s Home, Clifton Boys’ Home, and a Montego Bay medical clinic. Each missionary is given a suitcase filled with much needed supplies generously donated by members of Lord of Life. Items needed include: full-size and carryon suitcases (with wheels, please!), protein powder, disposable gloves, bars of soap—a complete list is posted at lordoflife.org/jamaica. To donate, please bring all items to the Service Center. Thank you!
In addition to your own garden plot, you will be working alongside other members in the mission portion of the garden. LifeGARDEN is currently entering its seventh year and has donated over 68,000 pounds of vegetables to foodshelves—over 17,000 pounds just last year. We also host garden events such as the annual kids’ pumpkin harvest in the fall.
L5 Forums
by Bob Zappa Spring is coming, and with that is a great opportunity to get involved with Lord of Life’s community garden, LifeGARDEN. Beginning March 1, registrations will be accepted for the 2016 season.
For more information and to register, visit lordoflife.org/lifegarden or stop in the church office. Questions? Contact Bob Zappa at garden@lordoflife.org.
Ready to Roll!
Save the dates for these upcoming L5 Forums: April 3: Wholehearted Living, Pastor Karen Sue Greimel April 10: Why Don’t Young People Come to Church?, Dr. Andy Root April 17: Christianity in an Age of Religious Diversity, Dr. Deanna Thompson April 24: In His Footsteps - Our Holy Land Experience, Pastors Karen/Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren
Men’s Breakfast
The next men’s breakfast is Saturday, March 19. Special guests will be Laura and Kent Dirks sharing personal experiences with the One Mission One World: Uganda ministry. The freewill donation breakfast begins at 7:30 am and will wrap up by 9 am. Sign up on the bulletin board or visit lordoflife.org/realmen.
by Myra Faust Looking for fun with some movers ‘n shakers? Enjoy dice games? Looking for fellowship with other Lord of Life women? Come check out Bunco! We meet the second Tuesday of the month at different members’ homes; come as your schedule permits. We want this to be easy for all so decided to simplify how our group works this year. The hostess (or co-hostess) is responsible for providing several tables (four players per table), drinks, and dessert. Each member brings a snack, if they want, and $5. We arrive at 6:30 pm to socialize then get rolling at 7 pm. We end usually around 9 pm. It is always a lot of fun with laughs!
Lord of Life Ministries
The hostess sends out an evite each month; we request you respond as soon as possible. The hostess decides how many tables to set up according to how much room she has. Typically, we have 12 people, but have been known to have a “teddy bear” fill in for a blank spot at a table if we are short.
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March 2016
We welcome new members, and encourage you to give us a try! Please contact Sharon Quast (grammyq@hotmail.com) or Myra Faust (golfbabe60@gmail.com).
‘Recharge My Soul’ Week
by Kirk Hoover In January, I was blessed to return to the Dominican Republic (DR) to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, glorifying our Father. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 About a year and a half ago, I made a commitment to God that I would not say “no” to requests about service to Him or my faith. That commitment has led me to accept a leadership role for the DR mission trips. I am honored and excited to see what God has in store for me. My fourth DR mission trip was exciting and spiritually rewarding. Lord of Life organized and led this mission trip that brought together 39 folks from 11 churches and 7 states, to serve and let their lights shine. This diverse group adds to the flavor of experiencing a different culture and language, tied by brotherly love and faith in Christ. One of the greatest benefits of my DR missions is the love expressed daily by all who serve. 1 John 4:16 (ESV) states, So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. High up in the mountains of San Cristobal, our team shares encouragement, love, and faith led by the Holy Spirit. This creates a safe and warm environment that helps my faith grow stronger each year. I call it my annual ‘recharge my soul’ week. My faith is also strengthened knowing we are making an impact on families’ lives. This year we had four teams working on separate new houses that would become homes for families in need. World Servants DR, local pastors, and community leaders coordinated pre-construction of the home sites. Our teams worked throughout the week constructing houses of block, wooden lap siding, and cement floors. Those new homes will greatly improve the life quality for the families. The Holy Spirit could be felt at the home sites as extended families, local friends, and our teams all worked together to complete the construction process. As a leader, I had the opportunity to work with each team and was inspired as God brought people together. I witnessed one team member, Lee from Philadelphia, who worked for hours cutting lap siding boards with a Dominican who did not speak English—and Lee does not speak Spanish. It was clear God helped each man to understand what was needed without using verbal communication. They completed the work with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts. God’s focus this year was to share love, grow in faith, and let the Holy Spirit guide us to shine our light before others to glorify His name! If you are looking to recharge your soul and share the warm embrace of God’s love and serve Him, I encourage you to learn more about the annual DR mission trip. It is a rewarding experience that can only be explained by those who have made the trip—join us next year! Visit lordoflife.org/dr2016 to see their blog along with more photos from this year’s mission.
Lord of Life Ministries March 2016
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Looking ahead to Saturday, April 2—
Celebrate Recovery Event
Lord of Life is honored to host a Celebrate Recovery oneday national event on Saturday, April 2, from 8:30 am-4 pm. Churches from all over the midwest will be sending pastors and lay people to learn how they can start or maintain a thriving Celebrate Recovery ministry in their church. It’s possible up to 1,000 people may attend this event. There are lots of opportunities for you to volunteer that day. Contact Michelle Welinski at michellew@lordoflife.org or 763.420.5015 x118. To attend the event, preregistration is at celebraterecovery.com.
by Michelle Welinski At Celebrate Recovery we learn the first step toward healing is when we come to realize that we need to admit that we can’t beat this struggle—whatever “it” is we are facing—on our own. It would seem pretty hopeless if that is where we left it. When I first attended a Celebrate Recovery meeting, I had no idea what it was about or how 12 Steps could help me cope with my son’s drug problem. As I continued to go each week, more and more I wanted what the other mothers around the table had. They were able to laugh, they were able to put in a full day’s work, they were able to make it through the day or days without crying. They were no longer letting their child’s addiction take over their lives. I desperately wanted what they had. I had to figure out the “how.” The good news is, we do not have to figure out the “how” alone. At Celebrate Recovery we learn there is power in community. God places people in this ministry to meet us exactly where we are at. We no longer have to go it alone. There are people on the same path as you and people a few steps ahead of you. Each is willing to walk alongside one another.
Military Family Support Ministry—
Hamel Rodeo
If you are looking ahead and planning your summer— please save the dates, July 7-10, for volunteering at the Hamel Rodeo. This is a great family activity and includes admission to the rodeo. Visit lordoflife.org/ militaryfamilysupport for the sign-up genius link.
Fare for All
First Things First ...
The Food Group’s next Fare for All is on Thursday, March 3, in Samaritan Hall from 4-6 pm. Open to everyone regardless of income, this is a great opportunity to save up to 40% off fresh fruits, vegetables, and frozen meats. For more information, visit lordoflife.org/thefoodgroup.
Please stop trying to fix “it” alone. Be brave and try Celebrate Recovery. Your situation can change. There is hope. And who could not use a little hope? Celebrate Recovery meets every Tuesday. Optional dinner from 5:30 pm-6:15 pm. Programming starts at 6:30 pm. Childcare is available and programming for children age 5-5th grade. No registration needed. Just come as you are. Questions? Contact Michelle Welinski at michellew@lordoflife.org or 763.420.5015 x118.
Beginning on Wednesdays, March 30 through April 27, in Word for Women—
Lord of Life Ministries
Wholehearted Living
10 March 2016
Pastoral Intern Kari Lyn Wampler, MA, LMFT, (see pastor’s article on Page 3) will lead a study about engaging from a place of worthiness while cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to create the lives we want to live. We will read together, The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, and embark on a spiritual journey that can lead to more fulfillment, self-acceptance, and deeper relationships. For women of all ages, Word for Women meets on Wednesdays from 9:30-11 am for Bible study, prayer, and small group fellowship. Childcare is also provided.
Older Wiser Lutherans march
Thursday, March 3: “Servant Hands and Hearts” with guests from Loaves of Love and CROSS Services. Chase the March winds away and come hear about these exciting ministries. Faith, Food, and Fellowship at noon in Fellowship Hall with a freewill donation lunch. See you then! Thursday, March 10: Come join in for planting at 101 Market’s “Joe’s Basket Days.” Leave church at 9:30 am; return at 2:30 pm. Cost is $2 plus the cost of the plants you plant in the 12" or larger container(s) you bring or purchase there. They will grow your plants; you pick them up in May. Enjoy lunch (your own cost) at Cowboy Jack’s afterwards. Get a head start on spring! Wednesday, March 16: Worship service at Arbor Lakes at 1 pm and/or Rose Arbor Assisted Living at 2:30 pm. Thursday, March 24 (note date change): Coffee’s always on for LifeTIMES labeling in Fellowship Hall!
save the date Thursday, April 7: “Naturalist Looks at Spring in Minnesota … Christians’ View of Nature” Jim Gilbert’s Nature Notes may be heard on WCCO Radio on Sunday mornings. His observations have been part of Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendars since 1977. He has written five books on nature. Jim and his wife have hosted 20 ecotours to Costa Rica, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, and Kenya. We begin at noon with a freewill donation lunch. Don’t miss it! Thursday, April 21: Enjoy a tour of the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (Mindekirken) in south Minneapolis. Also included will be a tour of the Norway House with exhibits of Norwegian art and more. Leave church at 8 am and return by 2 pm. Cost is $11 plus lunch on your own at 50th Street Café.
Memories!
by Joan Holmes On January 21, after lunch at Maynard’s in Rogers, the OWLs visited the nearby Ellingson Classic Car Museum. “That was my first car!” was heard by a few OWLs and many of them wanted that pretty baby blue Thunderbird! They saw a 1939 Maybach, a car which was often seen in Hitler’s parades through Germany in the early ‘40s. With over 90 models it is an impressive exhibit and only $5 admission.
On January 7, it was almost a full house for ‘lunch and a movie’ ... with great popcorn, too!
Lord of Life Ministries
See the bulletin board or lordoflife. org/owls for more details of upcoming events. Cancellations due to weather will be on the authority of the event leader and made at least 24 hours in advance when possible; calls will be made to all participants. Questions? Contact Joyce or Gordy Martin directly at grjsmartin@ embarqmail.com or 763.497.7355.
March 2016
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high school field trip Saturday, March 5, 8:30 am–1:30 pm Cost: $10 Volunteer at The Food Group and afterward cook lunch together! Sign up at lordoflife.org/highschool.
palm sunday breakfast Sunday, March 20, 9 am–12:30 pm Breakfast will be in Fellowship Hall on Palm Sunday! All donations will support high school youth going on A Work of Love (AWOL) mission trips this summer.
Rumor has it that spring is just around the corner. And after that—summer! Summer programming information has recently been mailed to families. Visit lordoflife.org/summer to register and learn about Vacation Bible School, Summer Stretch, and more.
march schedule
middle school mission trip
C3 and middle school/high school
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Sunday, July 17 to Friday, July 22 Cost: $360 through March 16, $380 after March 17 (this includes $150 non-refundable deposit) Cost includes transportation, meals (except some meals en route), program costs, and lodging. We will be renting vans and staying at a church in Milwaukee. Why Milwaukee? It is one of the poorest cities in the nation with over 40% of children in poverty. The organization, Serve Boldly, seeks to respond to neighbors in need by working with those who are already caring for the city. For more details and to register, visit lordoflife.org/missionschooltrip.
Sundays: March 6, 13
5-6 pm: C3 groups (7th & 8th grade only) 5:15-6:30 pm: Family meal 6-7 pm: C3 groups / L5 class 7-7:45 pm: SNL@LOL (March 6) / Ecclesia (March 13) Worship in Samaritan Hall 7:45-8:45 pm: Explore middle school youth group Express high school youth group
Wednesdays: March 2, 9, 16
4:30-5:30 pm: C3 groups 5:30-6:30 pm: Family meal 6:30-7:30 pm: C3 groups / L5 class
Lord of Life’s CYF team believes in intentional program development– existing programs, new programs– helping us all to live as a faith community that continues to witness and serve God gratefully in our daily lives. We have a great team–people called to serve at Lord of Life.
Lord of Life Ministries
We are ready to partner with you, to join in ministry. Thank
Children, Youth & Family Staff
you for joining us on this journey.
12 March 2016
left to right: Lynn Leisen, Faith in the Home/Milestones; Carly Tappe, Ministry of Inclusion/Childcare/Karing Kingdom; Kirstin Delp, Director, CYF and Early Childhood; Neil Christians, Middle School; Julie Wilson, Elementary, Elizabeth Pedersen, High School; Debbie Zaic, CYF Office Manager/Registrar.
c3 saturday/final make up retreat Saturday, March 12, 8:30 am- 2:30 pm (check-in open 8:15 am) This retreat is for those 7th/8th graders who did not attend the fall retreat and for 9th graders who need to make up a retreat from the previous year. Cost is $15. Lunch and snacks provided. Register online at lordoflife.org/c3saturdayreg.
Egg Hunt Easter Eve
church school march update March 5/6:
Church School as usual with 1st graders together with parents for a special prayer milestone event
Sunday, March 6, 4-year-olds worship with families and sing in worship
March 12/13:
Church School as usual
Saturday, March 26, 4pm Lord of Life Backyard Invite a friend, enjoy a real egg hunt and hear the Easter story! Please bring a bag of individually wrapped candy to share. Rain or shine!
March 19/20: All Church School children/youth sing in worship for Palm Sunday (drop off in regular classrooms, pick up in Samaritan Hall) March 26/27:
Easter—Christ is risen! Please worship together as a family—no Church School
/lordoflife /lolcyf
In January at the Maple Grove Community Center, 124 Lord of Life students joined 14 other churches for a night of fun and fellowship. Youth donated non-perishables for the foodshelf. A big thank you to the high school and adult volunteers!
Lord of Life Ministries March 2016 13
First Communion
At Lord of Life, first communion instruction is given to 5th graders and their parents. We invite any 6th9th graders (and their parents) who have not received instruction to participate. This year’s instruction takes place on Saturday, March 12, 9-11:30 am and Monday, March 14, 6-8:30 pm. Students receive their first holy communion on April 2/3 or April 16/17 at the service they usually attend. For more information, visit lordoflife.org/firstcommunion.
first communion instruction includes the passover seder meal and making a stole
Hunger and Poverty in Our World Today •
795 million people—that’s 1 in 10—can’t access the food they need to live active lives1
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1 billion people live in extreme poverty, living on less than $1.25 per day2
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In the United States, more than 48 million people were unsure where their next meal might come from at some point last year3
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46.7 million Americans are living in poverty4
Through ELCA World Hunger, Lord of Life joins countless others in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), our country, and world to work together doing what Christ calls us to do. Through ministry, financial support, advocacy and commitment, we are helping to make a difference in the lives of others.
To: Bethany (above) Thank you for giving your own money; Lord of Life is grateful you ♥ helping people!
Join Church School children as they fill Feed the World coin banks this Lent. Banks are available at the Youth Booth, the Welcome Desk, and the main office. Money raised goes to ELCA World Hunger. Banks may be returned any time in April. _____________________________
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2015 The World Bank Poverty Overview 3 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2015 4 DeNavas-Walt, Carmen and Bernadette D. Proctor, U. S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, P60-252, Income and Poverty in the United States, 2014 U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 2015 1
Lord of Life Ministries
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14 March 2016
March Bible Verse: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
Happy March!
by Angie Schiebel, Director of Karing Kingdom Preschool Will our month be a lion or a lamb? Or maybe a little bit of both?
Kids’ Random Acts of Kindness by Conari Press with foreword by Rosalynn Carter These inspirational stories of generosity … from whimsical and funny to moving and thoughtful … are written by children of all ages and reveal their surprisingly insightful feelings about kindness and compassion.
In the month of March, we will continue with our theme for the letter M: Moons, Mars, and Outer Space, learning constellations and space exploration. Next it’s L is for Lutheran Schools Week. The theme this year is “God’s Kids.” We will focus on our kindness projects during this week, reinforcing how children can share compassion and kindness with others. There is also some fun in store with Mismatch Day and Wacky Hair Day. Following Lutheran Schools Week, it is E is for Easter. During that week, we will focus on Jesus’ love and sacrifice for us; this will also be our Chapel Chat theme. We end our month with S is for Spring. Yes, it’s just around the corner! For more information about Karing Kingdom Preschool, please contact us at kingdom@lordoflife.org or call 763.420.5015 x127.
Lord of Life Ministries
‘Dads & Donuts Day’ made memorable—and tasty—moments together!
March 2016 15
LO R D O F L I F E L U T H E RA N 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
Nonprofit US Postage Paid Maple Grove, MN Permit #14
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. Submissions may be edited. Deadline for the April issue is March 1. Copyright © 2016 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
R E T U RN SE RVICE RE Q U E ST E D
SNL@LOL sunday, march 6, at 7 pm
Join in as we begin a new worship service. Loud funk music, inspiring relevant preaching, and authentic community will all come together. Once a month, we’ll gather informally, worship fervently, and be spiritually fed for the month ahead. —Pastor Sarah
caught reading lifetimes
God’s Work. Our Hands. In Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina, Larry & Glorianne Svitak are caught reading LifeTIMES
Lord of Life’s One Mission One World missionaries in the Dominican Republic—see Page 9 for Kirk Hoover’s article
Sally & Lauren Stille at the Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy
16 March 2016