March 2018 LifeTIMES

A monthly ministry of Lord of Life Lutheran Church of Maple Grove, Minnesota

ŠLightstock

LifeTIMES

March 2018

office@lordoflife.org

/lordoflife

/lordoflifelutheran /lolcyf

/lordoflifeluth

march

worship

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 to prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.

3/4

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.

Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren

Lenten Worship 7 Midweek Pastor David McCarty

10/11

/lordoflifeelca

music

L O R D O F LI FE LU T HE R A N C HUR CH (ELCA)

Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

Lenten Worship 14 Midweek Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

17/18

Pastor David McCarty

Lenten Worship 21 Midweek Pastor Chick Lane PASTOR A L S TAF F

24/25

Rev. Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Senior Pastor, peter@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Joel Wight Hoogheem, Lead Pastor, joel@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

Palm Saturday/Palm Sunday Pastor Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren Church school singing during worship

Thursday 29 Maundy Pastor Karen Greimel

Rev. Dr. Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus

Friday Family Worship: 10 am 30 Good Good Friday Cantata: 7 pm

TABLE OF CO N T E N T S Worship & Music / Pastor’s Article.............................................................. Pages 2-3 Family of Faith ............................................................................................. Pages 4-5 Generosity....................................................................................................... Pages 6 Lord of Life Ministries.................................................................................Pages 7-14 Karing Kingdom Preschool............................................................................. Page 15 Caught Reading LifeTIMES.............................................................................. Page 16

31/ april 1

Easter Saturday: 5:30 pm Easter Sunday: 8, 9, 10, 11 am, 12 pm Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

Wednesdays: All midweek Lenten worship is in the sanctuary at 7 pm with freewill offering soup supper ready about 5:45 pm in Fellowship Hall Saturdays: 5:30 pm - Praise Band and Holy Communion Sundays: 8:30, 9:45, and 11 am - Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays

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Third Sunday: March 18 - 10 am, Good Samaritan Ambassador in New Hope Third Wednesday: March 21 - 1 pm, Arbor Lakes Senior Living, and 2:30 pm, Rose Arbor Assisted Living

Worship schedule may be subject to change; visit lordoflife.org/worship for the most current information.

Worship & Music

march 30 is good friday

2 March 2018

This year’s evening Good Friday worship will feature Seven Last Words, a cantata by Michael John Trotta performed by the Canticle Choir and orchestra. The four gospels offer words from Jesus as he hung on the cross. The church has used these Seven Last Words as a way to meditate on the meaning of the cross of Christ, and this year’s choir cantata at 7 pm continues that tradition.

Encouraging People

by Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem

“Who are the people in your neighborhood?” is how the song goes on Sesame Street. It’s a great encouragement for each of us to look beyond ourselves to the people who live around us and who contribute in their own ways to make life work for all of us: the baker, the firefighter, the postal delivery person, the teacher, the trash collector, and so forth. It’s a song about community and about how we’re all interconnected.

In a similar vein, a song could be sung to the same tune that goes “Who are the people in your life of faith?” Just as the Sesame Street song affirms the value of all the different work people do—or the vocations God gives us, to get churchy on you—we also know that being a follower of Jesus Christ is not a solitary endeavor. We are all, in some way, interconnected.

Throughout this season of Lent, we pastors are sharing stories of the people in our lives who have strengthened our faith, walked alongside us, and helped shape us into the people God has made us to be. We’re calling this “Encouraging People,” as we highlight those who have been—and are— encouraging to us. Your faith has been profoundly shaped by any number of people who have encouraged you. This could be a good opportunity both to thank God for those people and to let those people know just how crucial they have been—and are—to your life of faith.

At the same time, “Encouraging People” is one of the things we do as followers of Jesus. (See what we did there with the series title?) It’s very likely that you have helped encourage others in their lives of faith, be it family, friends, co-workers, or even strangers. Perhaps they have acknowledged you, but perhaps not. Either way, you can trust that God is working through you to encourage others.

Who in your life might need some encouragement in her or his faith? Who in your life has encouraged you and how can you thank them for that?

Pastor’s Article

od? In your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? ho or hb g ei n r u o y n the people i e r a o h w , h O “ The people that you meet each day!” d? o o h r o b h g i e n Say, who are the people in your March 2018

3

Lord of Life’s

Family Faith of

baptisms

bereavements

At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age. The next baptism class will be Sunday, March 18, at 12:15 pm. No registration is necessary. To schedule a baptism, please call the church office (763.420.5015).

Prayers of sympathy for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the resurrection.

Family of Faith

January 7 Samuel Joseph Grovender Maggie Lynn Hammer Keaton Andrew Mitzel January 14 Amelia Everly Klesk Elizabeth Victoria Price Lacey Marie Price January 21 Beck Drew Loney Fiona Grace Peck January 27 Alexandra Mae Carlson Isabelle Jean Carlson January 28 Joseph Michael Dinger Serenity Rose Smith

4 March 2018

Dan Book and family at the death of his father Katie Book and family at the death of her grandfather Chris Braun and family at the death of his father Karen Braun and family at the death of her husband Ashley Grow and family at the death of her grandfather Brady Hoag and family at the death of his mother Katja Manrodt and family at the death of her grandmother Alissa McCormick and family at the death of her grandfather Kay Mourer and family at the death of her best friend Natalie Norcutt and family at the death of her father Scott Wagner and family at the death of his mother Jim Zeece and family at the death of his grandfather

weddings Cora Bourbonais & Micah VandeWege Suzanne Haas & Scott Long Jenna Brady & Tom Windle

welcome to new members Erin Eklof with Kya Palmer Kathy Ellefson Michaela Hegre with Ella Nik and Lacey Hempel with Lincoln Collette Hoppe Chuck and Karen Juntunen Jeremiah and Karla Konz with Chloe and Parker Ann Sanders Matt and Tamrah Tenhaeff with Grant and Annika 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.

Rock of Ages

by Bonnie Hewitt My parents, Keith and Marian Holt, loved walking the beaches of lakes Leech and “Winnie” up north searching for interesting driftwood or rocks to add to their cabin landscaping. I remember how excited Mom was to show us this rock she had found with the cross on it! She eventually put it amongst her houseplants—which is where I now display it. My parents’ love, faith, and appreciation of God’s creation has definitely been passed on to their family.

Family of Faith March 2018 5

Volunteering Really Is Good for You

by Pastor Chick Lane

Last year in this space I wrote about the book, The Paradox of Generosity. One of the premises of that book is that living generously makes you a happier, more satisfied person. I’ve known this is true, but in early February I proved it again in my own life.

Largely because of my wife’s encouragement, she and I were volunteers in Crew 52. We were two of the Super Bowl Host Committee’s 10,000 volunteers. For three straight afternoons we set up shop at a hotel near the Mall of America and helped outof-town visitors navigate their way around the transit system, events, restaurants, and yes, the watering holes, of the Twin Cities. The best part of the job was the satisfaction of hearing “thank you” from people we were able to help. On the last afternoon, a group from Tampa we had helped the previous day stopped to thank us and tell us how helpful our advice had been. They were also pretty sure we were fools for living in this weather.

Helping other people made me feel better about myself. I knew I was doing the right thing. That is precisely the point of The Paradox of Generosity.

I’ve reflected a bit since those days as to why this volunteering was such a positive experience. A lot of my satisfaction had to do with the way Chris and I were treated. Our time was respected. We were told when training events were to begin and when they were to end. They started on time and ended on time. One two-hour event had me nervous; it turned out being great. There were 10,000 of us in the hall. Speakers included our governor, our two US senators, the mayor of St. Paul, with some training thrown in. Second, we were thanked. Sometimes the thanking went a bit too far, but there was no question that we were appreciated. Third, we did work that mattered. I love the Twin Cities. Being able to help travelers who were more than a little nervous Budget Year-to-date — January 2018 about below-zero weather find their way around, and even have fun, felt great.

Actual Budget Difference I’m hoping you have an opportunity to volunteer in the coming months. I’m also hoping you have a positive experience.

I’m pretty sure that you will be a happier, more satisfied person after you volunteer than you were before you started.

See Page 16 for more smiles from several other Lord of Life Crew 52 volunteers!

Total member contributions All other

$293,656 $280,000 $13,656 $52,501 $50,000 $2,501

Total receipts

$346,157 $330,000 $16,157

Lord of Life Weekly Giving — January 2018

$140,000 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000

Generosity

$20,000

6 March 2018

$0

1/7 1/14 1/21 1/28

Actual Budget

$126,601 $ 82,500

$103,922 $61,588 $ 82,500 $82,500

$54,046 = $346,157 $82,500 = $330,000

Older Wiser Lutherans march events Thursday, March 1: Celebrate “Life’s Journey” with the author of Song Poet, Kao Kalia Yang. She will share whispered sorrows and hopes of her father and Hmong families suffering in Laos, the rigors and fears of life in a refugee camp, and the adjustments to life in Minnesota.

(See more details at right.) You will not want to miss it— we begin at noon for a freewill donation lunch. Bring a friend! Please sign up on the bulletin board or register at lordoflife.org/owls.

Thursday, March 15: Travel to St. Paul for two fun tours: first, the Gangster Tour of the Landmark Center and second, a Cabinets of Curiosity tour of the J.J. Hill Center Library. Leave church at 9 am and return at 3 pm. Cost is $15 with lunch on your own at the St. Paul Hotel.

Wednesday, March 21: Worship at Arbor Lakes (1 pm) or Rose Arbor Assisted Living (2:30 pm).

save the date Thursday, April 5: “Farm Heritage” with Gordon Fredrickson sharing the complex relationship between agriculture and the food we eat, the environment, the economy, our lifestyles, our agricultural heritage, and new technology. Welcome spring with a new appreciation of God’s creation! We begin at noon in Fellowship Hall for a freewill donation lunch. Space is almost filled ... see you there!

Wednesday, April 18 (note day): Travel to Old Log Theater for a delicious lunch and delight in watching the play, Guys and Dolls. Leave the church building at 11 am and return by 5 pm. Cost is $55 which includes lunch. Make your menu selection when you sign up and pay, please. A fun spring day awaits!

Sponsored by the OWLs ministry—

Author Kao Kalia Yang

On March 1, an award-winning Twin Cities author visits Lord of Life to share her remarkable book, The Song Poet. It chronicles her father Bee Yang’s life in Laos, Thailand, and Minnesota. After a childhood in war-torn Laos, he and his growing family spent almost a decade in a Thai refugee camp before settling in Minnesota. The book’s title is a nod to the elder Yang’s talent for Hmong song poetry. In 1992, five years after he and his family arrived in the states, Bee Yang released a six-song recording, “They were songs of love, of yearning, of losing home and country.”1 Beginning at 12 noon with a freewill offering lunch, bring a friend along to learn of an inspiring life journey. No registration is necessary. Please sign up on the bulletin board or register at lordoflife.org/owls.

In case of inclement weather and an event’s cancellation, the OWLs’ event leader will plan to contact all who are registered for that event. Questions? Contact Karen Nelson (763.420.5015 x138 or karenn@lordoflife.org), check the bulletin board or lordoflife.org/owls.

Lord of Life Ministries

Excerpts from a review by Kevin Canfield, Star Tribune, http://www. startribune.com/review-the-song-poet-by-kao-kalia-yang/378330461/

1

March 2018 7

A

Conversation

about Suicide

From Maris—

by Michelle Welinski

The goals for my message are:

No one wants to talk about it.

•

To help people (especially tweens and teens) understand the true realities of suicide. I use a very direct and honest approach to help them and their parents think about it differently than they perhaps have before.

•

To help people understand how the connected world we live in can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to mental health and suicide.

•

To help people see what they can do right here, right now in order to make a difference.

But suicide is on the minds of many, both people struggling with thoughts of self-harm or those worried about others who may be.

In 2003, Maris Ehlers lost her brother to suicide. Over the years, her evolving life roles of mother, photographer, and marketing consultant kept bringing her back to the topic of suicide today—and why we don’t want talk about it, especially with our kids.

Join in as Maris tells not only her brother’s story, but also shares real and powerful information meant for adults and teens alike. With a focus on social media, faith and the internet, she talks about the how’s, why’s, what’s changed, what we need to know, and what we can do to help prevent suicide.

The conversation begins on Monday, March 12, from 6:30-8:30 pm. Childcare is available. Due to the nature of the subject matter, youth (7th grade and older) and parents are encouraged to attend together.

Questions? Contact Michelle Welinski at michellew@ lordoflife.org or 763.420.5015 x118.

Lord of Life Ministries

© Maris Ehlers Photography

8 March 2018

After my brother’s suicide, I felt confused, angry, hurt, anxious, and afraid. It took years to be able to put his death into perspective, and it took a lot of searching—researching suicide itself, the causes of it, the fallout from it and even what it meant for me and my faith. I also felt like I had no one to talk to about it, and I want to change that for other people. Talking about suicide is a very powerful tool in helping to prevent it.

Going forward from this experience, I hope my message will empower people to talk about suicide as a form of prevention. I hope my message will help people reach out to others, know when to get help, and to realize that their words and actions matter ... that genuinely connecting with other people is one of the best ways to help ourselves and others.

source mn support Since 1995, Source MN has been a friend providing physical needs and housing as well as a voice of God’s love and forgiveness to the marginalized and skeptical. Located in south Minneapolis, it serves young adults between the ages of 15-25 who may be homeless, high school dropouts, or affected by prostitution and drug use.

Save the date: Monday, April 16—

Coping with Anxiety

Back by popular demand, Lord of Life’s January Refresh speaker, Lora Matz, MA, LICSW, will return to share tips, techniques, and strategies to help cope with anxiety or panic attacks. Parents and their children or youth are encouraged to attend together.

For those who may have missed Lora’s message in January, a video is at lordoflife.org/anxiety. No registration is required on Monday, April 16, from 6:30-8:30 pm. All are welcome to this community support and mental health awareness event.

On March 28, provide food for or serve dinner at Source Minnesota. Carpool from Lord of Life at 3:45 pm or meet at Source by 4:15 pm. Serve until 6:45 pm. Contact Chuck Denninger (chuckdenninger@yahoo.com) for more details.

marriage encounter

by Peter and Phyllis McMahon We encourage you to rediscover the one you love on the next Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend. It is April 6-8 in St. Cloud; apply now at GodLovesMarriage.org or contact us directly (mcmahonp@comcast.net or 763.561.15750 for more information. Weekends fill fast and preregistration is required.

One Mission One World: Jamaica—

In a Suitcase

Lord of Life Ministries

by MaryLynn KenKnight Thank you to the congregation for their generosity in past “In a Suitcase” collections. This year’s collection continues through March 18 at 12 noon. We are requesting donations in preparation for our mission trip the end of March. Clifton Boys’ Home and West Haven Children’s Home in Jamaica needs our support for many supplies such as: • adult and children’s diapers • children’s Tylenol® (liquid) • children’s cold medicine • XXL bibs for adults • toothpaste • baby powder • deodorant • Vaseline® Please note that rolling suitcases are not needed this year. Thank you for your continued support—it is appreciated!

To learn more about this ministry, visit lordoflife.org/jamaica.

March 2018 9

One Mission One World: World Mission Prayer League (WMPL), second in a two-part series—

Following Your Heart Wherever God Leads You Submitted by Greg and Cheryl Myhr

Adult Forum/Prayer School: Meet the Selin Family

Hello! We are Ben and Jody Selin. We live in Mongolia with our four children: Audri (16), Kaylee (14), Keean (13), and Aidan (10). We are missionaries with World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) finishing up our first two-year term. We will be in the US for three months on a short home assignment, look forward to meeting and getting to know you on the 18th. Thank you for your commitment to our family and our work in Mongolia!

We first felt called to Mongolia six years ago. At the time we were living a typical American life, but we started feeling a restlessness in our souls. We knew something new was on the horizon but we weren’t 11 am, sunday, march 18 sure what it was. One day when Ben was at work, he clearly sensed the Lord tell him that we were to move to Mongolia. This was not what we were expecting! We had heard about Mongolia a lot through Ben’s sister and her family who lived here for many years, but we had never considered going to Mongolia. We had talked and prayed about missions over the years because Jody felt called to the mission field at a young age, but it had never seemed like the right time to go. Now we knew it was the time!

We immediately started making plans. We had made a fast-track plan, but God had a slow-track plan in place. We spent four years in a preparation time. We sold our house miraculously, lived at a discipleship camp, went through mission training, went to Bible school, received counseling, and started homeschool. We kept trying to get a visa throughout this time, but the door was not opening. God had a lot of work to do to get us ready for what He had planned. We had no idea at the time what that was!

Now Ben is the director of Flourishing Future NGO (non-governmental organization). The focus of this ministry is to help families living in poverty. We have two community centers, social workers who meet with families, an academic scholarship program, a medical fund, two small businesses, and we partner with two children’s shelters and an alcoholic recovery center. Jody is an advisor for Desert Rose, one of the shelters that we partner with. It is a home for girls who have been abused and who need a safe place to live for a season.

Lord of Life Ministries

We came to Mongolia originally under a work visa for Ben to teach English with this NGO. God quickly showed us that He had much more planned for us in Mongolia! We never would have dreamed of all that He had in store. We have learned that God’s ways and plans are sometimes way bigger than what we could ask for or imagine! All God is looking for is a heart that will follow Him wherever He may lead!

Interested in learning more about the work of World Mission Prayer League or would like to be involved with the Selin family? Please contact us directly (gcmyhr@embarqmail.com).

10 March 2018

Cookies, Care, Concern for Veterans

by Michael Yu On behalf of the Military Family Support Ministry, we would like to thank the congregation for thousands of cookies (3,000 to be precise!) collected over the holidays for deployed soldiers and local veterans. We partnered again this year with North Metro Blue Star Moms who also contributed to the enormously successful project. We would like to thank Jane and Paul Brunelle, who made sure this annual cookie drive went smoothly. Here’s what was accomplished: •

Six large care packages were sent to three deployed and stateside troops

•

Welcome packages, including cookies and a $10 gift cards, given to 100 residents at the new affordable Veterans’ East Apartments near the VA Medical Hospital

•

Nothing Bundt Cakes® in Maple Grove generously donated 200 bundt cakes

•

Dropped off treats for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) shelter in Minneapolis and the Salvation Army’s veteran shelter in St. Cloud

•

At the Salvation Army, we bought furniture and purchased paint to make their common room more comfortable

•

Donated $1000 in fuel/food gift cards to MAC-V for homeless veterans with temporary yet immediate relief for legal, job, and long-term shelter assistance

The Military Family Support Ministry’s

We ended the year helping three veterans with financial assistance. One was sleeping in his car and did not have enough gas money to make it to special VA assistance in another state. We made sure he had two nights of sleep in a hotel, food, and gas to get to where he needed to go. We helped two other local veterans who needed unexpected financial assistance. Your generosity and support was deeply felt and appreciated by all these soldiers and veterans.

mission is to support active, reserve,

In mid-February, we visited the Calvary Baptist Church in Minneapolis to feed approximately 100 homeless guests with a hot meal. It’s been our annual tradition to do so representing Lord of Life. I want to thank Linda and Bill Carlyon who helped lead our ministry in shopping and preparing the menu to serve to those in need. During this event, we met three veterans who we referred to local veteran service organizations. Laurie and Jens Ahrens brought warm mittens made by the Mittens on a Mission ministry to donate to anyone who needed them. It has been a joy to witness how the combined efforts of our ministries can make a positive impact in the community.

the fourth Monday of each month from

retired, and prior service military members and their families.The ministry is made up of veterans as well as non-veterans who simply want to help.They meet on

6:30-8 pm. Anyone who would like to become involved is welcome! Meetings are very casual and include a potluck dinner.

For more information, visit lordoflife.org/ militaryfamilysupport.

Lord of Life Ministries March 2018 11

What We Learned

by Children, Youth, and Family Executive Director Kirstin Delp

The Children, Youth, and Family ministry team recently attended a conference in Houston, Texas, for members of the ELCA Network of Children, Youth and Family Ministry.

We hope your family hears the message that we are all children of God, loved beyond measure, sent to serve the world.

Lord of Life Ministries

We are inspired and hopeful that each child, youth, and adult who chooses to join in on summer adventures will Find Forward, the conference’s theme, at Vacation Bible School (VBS) or camp or Summer Stretch or at any of the summer programs to learn more about God at work in our lives.

Here’s what we learned!

For information and registration for children and youth summer programming, visit lordoflife.org/summer.

12 March 2018

I was inspired by a poem, Show Up, to be fully present where I am and ‘show up’ for co-workers, friends, family, plus Lord of Life’s children/families.

As one of the adult leaders going to the Youth Gathering, it was incredibly fruitful to spend time learning about its mission/ goals as well as how it will help teens form their faith. I also learned there are other curriculum resources available for me to implement in elementary VBS. —Kelly Rodger

Finding Forward is how we can move forward into the great promises that God has in store towards hope, peace, love.

How can we add more of these to our lives? How can we add healing and hope?

How can we “add” more as we “venture” forward? “Ad-Venture” will be the 2018 Summer Stretch theme. As we venture to serve and build new relationships, how can we add more hope, peace, love to this world and to our lives? Sign up for Summer Stretch and a great Ad-Venture!

—Neil Christians

Middle School Leadership Opportunities Kansas City Mission Trip Shores of St. Andrew Camp Summer Nights Summer Stretch

Children, Youth, and Family Milestone Ministry Faith in the Home

The story is Jesus! In social media workshops, I was reminded our Facebook goal is to share the story of Jesus. Summer posts are filled with smiling young people engaged in a myriad of activities: serving, playing, learning, traveling, singing, crafting, laughing, listening, and more all in the name of Jesus. You love your children. We love your children. And most of all, Jesus loves your children!

May you see this through the faces of those you encounter on our Facebook page.

—Lynn Leisen

Elementary Adventure Week Evening VBS Shores of St. Andrew Camp Summer Church School VBS

Preschool Evening VBS Ring ’n Sing Summer Church School Vacation Bible School

A speaker introduced The Ecotone: a muddy middle between familiar/safe and new/fresh. I thought, darn, think I’m stuck in the Ecotone. But he explained it isn’t exactly a bad place to be because it’s the most fertile soil for a seed to grow. The Lord puts us into the Ecotone for a reason. Going forward I ask how can I encourage those around me to see that maybe this muddy messy middle is the best place to be?

It’s where God wants us to be where we can grow.

—Kristi Stoltz High School

ELCA Youth Gathering Leadership Opportunities Shores of St. Andrew Camp Summer Nights

This changes everything. What does that mean? I’m sure you could come up with an answer (say it together now … “Jesus!”). But when you step back and take a look at life, how does God’s call, love, hope, grace, and the cross change everything? This summer’s ELCA Youth Gathering will focus on that question.

We’ll have 100 high school youth and adult leaders joining 30,000 others to discover what (and who!) changes everything for us.

—Elizabeth Pedersen

Graduate Employment Opportunities

Children, Youth, and Family Administration Registration Support

lordoflife.org/summer

Lord of Life Ministries

We learned about grieving, questioning, exploring, and more over a fourday timespan. I was reminded of God’s push to bring me to Lord of Life and was challenged to continue to listen and seek God’s call. I was inspired to think bigger for summer/fall programming with our team. I wondered how God will reveal Finding Forward this summer when we get to come together in so many different fun, exciting, and faithbuilding events.

—Kirstin Delp

It was all about reconnecting, learning, and moving forward. I worked the registration piece of this fabulous gathering. The workshop I enjoyed most focused on gratitude: the learner mindset vs the judger mindset—which is the better path to follow? When I’m at the Youth Booth, it is always helpful to be reminded I never know what path or journey the person, family, youth, or child is experiencing.

This summer I will be eager to greet everyone with a helpful hand and a smile!

—Debbie Zaic

March 2018 13

Welcome, Heidi parents, please note Church school children are singing during worship on Palm Saturday/Sunday, March 24/25.

Detailed information has been mailed to families of those who are receiving their first communion; it is s also located at lordoflife.org/firstcommunion. As a reminder, the First Communion Festivals are: • Monday, March 5, 6 - 8:30 pm • Saturday, March 17, 9 - 11:30 am • Monday, March 19, 6 - 8:30 pm

From Lord of Life’s Souper Bowl of Caring™, 450 canned goods were collected for the CROSS food shelves. Thank you for your support to the hungry in our community.

Lord of Life welcomes Heidi Segedy, the new director of childcare/ ministry of inclusion. Heidi shares, I’m beyond excited to work at Lord of Life! My husband Matt and I have been worshipping here for about five years and are the proud parents of three active children. Nora is 12 and is on the autism spectrum. She loves “Jesus school!” We love that she has a buddy to be with her while we attend church. Bergen is 10 attending church school and VBS this summer. Lena is five, who happily transitioned from nursery to church school.

The last ten years I’ve volunteered, and worked, with students and families living with special needs. I am co-chair of District 279’s Special Education Advisory Council as a passionate advocate for special needs children. I am eager to bring that perspective to this role, thrilled to join a team dedicated to making church school a great experience. Let’s make it easier for families with infants, toddlers, and special needs children to come to church then be filled back up with Christ’s love! This is truly a dream job for me.

good friday family worship

Lord of Life Ministries

10 am - March 30

14 March 2018

Family memories and faith moments are shared while worshipping and learning about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. From teachings and the reenactment of The Giving Tree

by Shel Silverstein, all ages will experience holy moments.

Come worship on Good Friday.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16

Happy March!

by Karing Kingdom Director Angie Scheibel What will our month be—a lion or a lamb? We The Wish Tree

by Kyo Maclear Charles wants to find a wish tree. But his siblings say there’s no such thing. During his journey, Charles discovers that wishes can come true in the most unexpected ways.

begin our month continuing with the letter Z for zoo.

The Minnesota Zoo’s Zoomobile will make a visit to our school, bringing along some animal friends. The second week in March is Lutheran Schools Week; yes, the letter L is for Lutheran. We will celebrate Karing Kingdom with a variety of fun activities. A wee bit of mischief is in store as we enjoy some leprechaun fun during S is for St. Patrick’s Day.

For more information about Karing Kingdom Preschool, email kingdom@lordoflife.org or call 763.420.5015 x127.

Our final letter of the month is E for Easter; Chapel Chat’s theme will be Easter as well. Our March Kindness project is a canned food challenge.

Preschool will be closed March 26-April 2; school will resume April 3/4.

Karing Kingdom continues to take registrations for the 2018-19 school year.

what’s your favorite donut— of course with sprinkles!

Dads and Donuts Day Karing Kingdom Preschool March 2018 15

L O R D O F L I F E L U T H E RAN 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 LifeTIMES is a monthly ministry of Lord of Life Lutheran Church printed by Wallace Carlson Printing using ecofriendly inks.

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16 March 2018

With generosity of time to volunteer, many Lord of Lifers were on Crew 52 in support of Super Bowl LII; here are just 15 of them ‘in uniform.’ The variety of volunteer assignments for these folks included hotel greeters, skyway hosts, volunteer headquarters, a special opps hotel host, and Super Bowl Live! including the zipline across the Mississippi River.

See Page 6 for Pastor Chick Lane’s take on being a Crew 52 volunteer.