March 2019 LifeTIMES

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

LifeTIMES

ŠLightstock

Would you be my neighbor?

March 2019

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 to prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.

office@lordoflife.org

/lordoflife

/lordoflifelutheran /lolcyf

/lordoflifeluth

PASTORAL STAFF Rev. Dr. Joel Wight Hoogheem, Lead Pastor, joel@lordoflife.org Rev. Kaitlyn Forster, kaitlynf@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus, karengl@lordoflife.org Rev. Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus, peter@lordoflife.org Rev. Karen Greimel, ksgreimel@lordoflife.org Rev. Charles ‘Chick’ Lane, chickl@lordoflife.org Rev. David McCarty, davem@lordoflife.org Rev. Donna Rohrer, donnar@lordoflife.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pastor’s Message: Lenten Series “Would You Be My Neighbor?”............ Pages 2-3 Lenten Studies / Connect Life...................................................................... Pages 4-5 Acts 29 Mission Trip / Generosity................................................................. Pages 6-7 Pause for Prayer...........................................................................................Pages 8-9 Lord of Life Ministries............................................................................... Pages 10-14 Karing Kingdom Preschool............................................................................. Page 15 Caught Reading LifeTIMES.............................................................................. Page 16

WORSHIP/MUSIC SCHEDULE Wednesdays during Lent at 7pm. Pastor Kaitlyn introduces the Lenten theme on Pages 2-3 with all Lenten Bible studies on Pages 4-5. Soup supper with freewill offering will be ready at 5:30pm.

Saturdays at 5:30pm includes holy communion and music led by David Frank and the Praise Band.

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March 2019

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Worship & Music

Sundays at 8:30, 9:45, and 11am with holy communion on the first and third with music leaders David Frank at 8:30/9:45am and Brian Schroeder at 11am.

Wednesday Lenten Series 2019—

Would You Be My Neighbor?

by Pastor Kaitlyn Forster

When my son was a bit younger, he would often wake us up in the wee hours of the morning—4am, 5am, and if we were lucky we could make it until 6am before hearing his agitated little cries. One way that I learned how to catch a few extra restful moments was to download the free PBS app on my phone, where we could stream episodes of the wholesome, quality children’s television that PBS has become known for. One of my favorites to listen to, in those half-awake moments, was “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” Based off of the older PBS TV show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” (which aired from 1968-2001), Daniel Tiger continues to teach empathy, emotional awareness, and processing life’s tougher moments with relatable stories and songs.

It also makes me recognize how influential Mister Rogers has really been over this past half century, and more about his life and legacy has come to light in recent documentaries and will be featured in an upcoming major motion picture. He truly believed in the power of community and being led by the teachings of Christ, for the sake of the world. He often began conversations about tough issues and encouraged his listeners to enter into that space, to process their feelings. These lessons, that have shaped generations, continue to hold important meaning in our lives together today.

Ash Wednesday, March 6:

You Are Accepted, Just the Way You Are

March 13:

The Truth Will Make You Free

March 20:

Many Ways to Say I Love You

March 27:

Everybody Makes Mistakes

pasto r's a rt i c le

This Lenten season (Wednesdays, March 6-April 10), we will journey towards wholeness and the radical welcome that Mister Rogers encouraged in his listeners. With themes as shown at right, we will grow deeper in our sense of discipleship, strengthen our own voices and relationships, and be guided towards the great love of a God who became a part of our neighborhoods and changed the world forever.

April 3:

Go Ahead and Cry. I’m Here to Be with You

April 10:

Life Is Deep and Simple . . .

March 2019

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From Pastor Donna Rohrer—

Crossways and Hamilton Studies

We will again do a Lenten Bible study by Adam Hamilton, this one called Simon Peter, Flawed but Faithful Disciple. We will watch a video with Adam on location and there is a book for you to read. You will be able to purchase the book in Reflections of Faith after March 1. The first session is Sunday, March 10, at 9:45am and Monday, March 11, at 7pm. Come join in as we learn more about Peter, the stumbling stone and the rock.

Plus, there is still time for you to join in the three-year Crossways Bible study. Questions on either study? Visit lordoflife.org/lifelonglearning or contact Pastor Donna (donnar@lordoflife.org) directly.

Beginning on Sunday, March 3, continuing through Lent—

Learn about Lutheranism / Adult Confirmation As shared last month, Pastor Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren and Lord of Life member/ Luther Seminary graduate, Ina Barton, will lead sessions on what it means to be Lutheran.

Held in the Luther Room at 11am, there will be teachings on the Bible, the sacraments, trinity, grace, and living a Christian life.

Participants will also have the opportunity to follow an adult confirmation track, if they would like to be confirmed— shared at right is Becky Kormann’s story.

You are encouraged to pray about this exciting

lenten

studies

step in your own faith

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journey.

Visit lordoflife.org/ adultconfirm or contact Pastor Karen directly (karengl@lordoflife.org).

March 2019

Becky Kormann I was raised Catholic and as a young child went to church with my grandparents. I was baptized, made my first communion, and went to a weekly catechism class.

When I was a teenager, church attendance declined and I did not participate in a confirmation program.

It wasn’t until I met my husband that I started going to church again on a regular basis. When we joined Lord of Life, I started going to Word for Women and really enjoyed studying the Bible along with book studies. I was also teaching church school and decided I should know more about what it meant to be a Lutheran. When the adult confirmation class was offered, it seemed like a great opportunity. After taking the adult confirmation class, I know more about Martin Luther and the Reformation, I know more about what we stand for as ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Lutherans, and it affirmed our central beliefs being inclusive and gracefilled. There was a small ceremony after the completion of the class where we were able to share our statement of faith, it was terrifying, but very meaningful to do.

Also, one of my favorite parts of adult confirmation was the chance to spend a lot of small group time with Pastor Karen GeisdendorferLindgren. Not only were we able to feel comfortable enough asking questions, we were also able to establish a relationship with her.

soup suppers All Wednesdays during Lent (March 6-April 10), soup suppers will be available at 5:30pm in Fellowship Hall. Two flavors of delicious hot soup will be prepared for a freewill offering

March 5, 7pm, at OMNI Brewing Barrel Room in Maple Grove—

Connect Life: “I’m Still Here”

Beginning with our own experiences, we have the ability to name and claim what faith, God, and life mean to us. Austin Channing Brown does just that in her book, I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. With chapter titles such as “White People Are Exhausting” and “Creative Anger,” she is nothing if not honest. And through her honest reflections, she invites the reader to process the deep systems that we are all entrenched in. She writes, “My story is not about condemning white people, but about rejecting the assumption—sometimes spoken, sometimes not—that white is right: closer to God, holy, chosen, the epitome of being.” Offering no easy answers or solutions, she leaves a deeply powerful and heart-breaking sense of reality.

This March 5 at 7pm, Connect Life conversations will revolve around the topics and themes presented in this powerful autobiography. We’ll discuss how we can recognize our differences to create space for healing and learning. We’ll create brave spaces, recognizing our individual limitations, to have uncomfortable conversations, for the sake of this world that we live in. There is so much to learn from this book, and we hope that you will share your voice in this conversation!

For more information and to reserve a space, visit lordoflife.org/connectlife or contact Pastor Kaitlyn (kaitlynf@lordoflife.org).

meal. All are welcome for fellowship prior to worship—bon appétit!

Prior to Lenten worship services at 6pm in the Luther Room—

Images of God

Join in on Wednesdays: March 20, 27, April 3, 10

Lenten study / connect life

There are many names for God and many ways that we experience God’s presence in our lives today. Yet, we often only focus on a select few metaphors to help us grasp the vastness of God, like God our Father, God as love, and God coming to earth through Jesus Christ. But if we look into the scriptures, images of God and God’s presence abound in many more ways— from silence and smallness to the beauty and vastness of creation.

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Join in on this four-week conversation, Wednesdays, March 20-April 10, at 6pm (right before Lenten worship at 7pm), as we explore some of the lesser known images and how they impact our lives today.

For more information and to reserve a space, visit lordoflife.org/lifelonglearning or email Pastor Kaitlyn (kaitlynf@lordoflife.org).

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Attend info meeting on March 10, 12:15pm—

Acts 29 Mission Trip

In July, the Acts 29 team will head to Houston, Texas. to rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey. This hurricane damaged 204,000 houses. Harvey is the second most costly hurricane in the United States, causing $125 billion in damages. Here are the basics on the trip: Ministry Partner: Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders Work Week:

Sunday, July 21, through Saturday, July 27

Housing:

Clear Lake Presbyterian, Houston, Texas

Cost:

$100 plus transportation costs

Age:

18 years and above

Team Leaders:

Merle and Michelle Waldron

If you are interested in this mission trip, meet on Sunday, March 10, at 12:15pm in the Luther Room.

acts 29

Questions? Feel free to email Merle and Michelle at mmwaldron@comcast.net.

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March 2019

Why Do We Give?

We donate both financially and with our time at Lord of Life because we feel that it is important to make an impact on both the local and broader communities. Volunteering with LifeGARDEN and the high school ministries on AWOL mission trips

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ing givin g f a

760 households gave

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by Susan and Jason Listberger

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electronically to Lord of Life in 2018. Of the $3,809,809 in total contributions, electronic giving accounted for $1,592,500 (41.8%).

(A Work of Love) have given us that opportunity.

If you would like to learn more

Working in the garden allows us to get our hands

about electronic giving, visit

dirty, enjoy the outdoors (when the mosquitos

lordoflife.org/directdebit.

aren’t too bad), and work with a great group of people to put homegrown produce on the tables of families and individuals in the Maple Grove area.

Volunteering on AWOL allows us to impact the broader community. Going on AWOL with great groups of high schoolers and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity lets us encounter God and make an impact in cities all over the country. It is also very special to see the interactions between the high schoolers and the people in the communities where we are working. Another great aspect of the AWOL mission trips is the community that is built, being the people God called us to be, and leading the life God would want for us. Whether it is volunteering in LifeGARDEN or on an AWOL mission, we don’t always interact with the people who are on the receiving end of the work we are doing. However, Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good

$

January 2018 year-to-date: $293,656 january 2019 year-to-date: $282,831

March 2019

generosity

works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

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P a u s e f o r P r ay e r i n o u r fa i t h c o baptisms

At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age. The next baptism class will be Sunday, February 10, at 12:15pm. No registration is required. To schedule a baptism, call the church office (763.420.5015).

January 12

Mia Joy Skoglund January 13

Tanner Anthony Bringe January 19

Reagan Renee DeVries January 20

Jack Patrick Nelson

pa u s e f o r p r ay e r

January 27

Blake Carter Anderson

Gavin James Barthel

Landon Daniel Bieno

Henry James Carlson

Anders Peter From

Makena Marie Olson

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March 2019

bereavements

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

Jan Brynteson and family at the death of her brother Jennifer Ellingson and family at the death of her mother Mel Enger and family at the death of his mother DeeDee Jones and family at the death of her son Lindsay Jones and family at the death of her brother Deanne Kassulke and family at the death of her aunt Dennis Loeks and family at the death of his brother Greg Manrodt and family at the death of his grandfather Susan Manrodt and family at the death of her father Steve Miller and family at the death of his father

m m u n ity & fo r all ou r n ei gh bo rs Lori Schwartz and family at the death of her father

Chad & Dana Hendrickson

Steve Schwartz and family at the death of his brotherin-law

Sam & Whitney Johnson with Finn

Sue Tobias and family at the death of her brother

Mike & Alex Meyer with Josie Melba Middendorf Katie Moroney with Lilly and James

weddings

January 12

Nikki Stiller & Joe Flanagan

welcome to new members Rose Chea with Kelvin and Kelly Eric Hanson

Adam & Tiffany Peterson with Ava and Beckett Thomas & Katie Roberts with Zach and Beau Roger & Colleen Schrom 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.

pa u s e f o r p r ay e r March 2019

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Dominican Republic Dental Mission

by Pastor Dave McCarty and Director Daniel Ne, Servidores Mundiales This past January Lord of Life joined dental professionals from other churches and traveled to our dental/medical clinic in the remote area of San Cristóbal in the Dominican Republic (DR). Dr. Monica Alley (at right) and Pat Bolin (first dental hygienist at right in photo below) have served in the DR for several years. They are always eager to share trip experiences and are also extending an open invitation to dentists, dental assistants, and hygienists to join the team next year.

When our teams come home, there is always a struggle of emotions with joy about having made a huge difference in the lives of the people they served, but also sadness after seeing the incredible need that remains. Last year, thanks to the generosity of our congregation through your commitment to benevolence, our ministry partner Servidores Mundiales was able to provide year-round medical and dental services out of the clinic. Below is a letter from the director with an update on the clinic and a thank you to our congregation.

—Pastor Dave

Hello, Amigos!

In the Dominican Republic—as in many Latin American countries and other places in the world— dental and medical services by professionals are a great privilege.

Many low-income families cannot access basic services because of the high cost and their remote location.

ministries

Thanks to God that with your financial support, teams from Lord of Life, and the help of Dominican men and women who are passionate about serving others, we can now take this help to communities in San Cristóbal, far away from the city. Our approach is to provide services to those who need it most, and also create awareness in the communities and schools about the importance of good oral hygiene. Beginning last year with the new clinic, in addition to the team that comes here from Lord of Life each year, we now have a staff of dentists and medical doctors from the Dominican Republic serving each month for the benefit of the most needy. It is very inspiring to see how the work impacts positively on our communities, returning lost smiles to children as well as adults. In each process of extraction, restoration, and cleaning—dental professionals save lives by treating potentially fatal emergency infections and providing routine preventive care. Likewise, medical doctors are providing neonatal and well-baby care, and treating what otherwise could become life-threatening diseases before they get worse.

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Our communities feel very grateful to your congregation for the work that is being done, and constantly express their gratitude at the very moment they are attended by our staff. On behalf of all those who live in this remote region, we thank all of you at Lord of Life who make this program work. This has been a great dream come true that we want to continue developing for a long time. Gracias!

—Director Daniel Ne, Servidores Mundiales March 2019

Come one, come all on March 18, 6:30pm—

How to Grow a Connected Family At this Refresh presentation, you will learn a framework of four timeless biblical principles for building strong relationships and anchoring your family in God’s grace and truth. Don’t wait for the storms of life or the strong currents of cultural influence to shipwreck your family. You can become an insightful, proactive parent, despite today’s frantic pace. Parents consistently tell us these four principles stick with them for years and change the course of their family

Words of Encouragement Are you looking for a way to make a meaningful difference? Sign up to write greeting cards to people who have submitted a prayer request through the Prayer Network.

All cards and postage provided. You will receive prayer requests daily, as will the entire Prayer Network. Each card writer volunteers for one month. Typically 10-20 cards are written monthly. To submit a request, visit lordoflife.org/prayernetwork.

forever. The materials shared will be geared for parents or caring adults of 2-12 year olds.

Reflections of Faith Chad Hayenga has spent over 25 years ministering to kids and families as a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified

Weekend volunteers are needed to help staff our gift/book store, Reflections of Faith. Shifts are Saturdays at 5-6:30pm and Sundays at 9:15am-12:15pm.

life coach, and speaker. He has been married for more than 25 years and has three daughters. Chad loves asking significant questions, bringing God’s grace and truth to life, and helping parents have “aha moments” in coaching sessions and workshops.

He has helped

march 18 6:30pm free event

thousands of parents learn to

be more peaceful, purposeful, and confident. Chad’s desire is that families would understand God’s purposes for their lives and seek to live out that purpose in creative and faith-filled ways.

Celebrate Recovery Celebrate Recovery focuses on healing—it is for anyone who has a “hurt, hang-up, or habit” within the community-at-large as well as the Lord of Life church body.

Celebrate Recovery is not restricted to people struggling with an addiction. We all have issues that may be interfering with fellowship with God and others. Therefore, we all qualify!

Join in as we pursue the freedom of real life in Jesus Christ celebrating the recovery only He can bring through God’s people and the Word.

Celebrate Recovery meets every Tuesday from 6:30-8pm. An optional dinner is served from 5:30-6:15pm. Childcare is provided. No registration needed.

This presentation is open to the community. There is no cost or registration needed and childcare will be provided. Questions? Contact Michelle Tomlinson at michellet@lordoflife.org or 763.420.5015 x118.

Questions on any of the ministries above?

Contact Michelle Tomlinson directly at 763.420.5015 x118 or via email (michellet@ lordoflife.org).

Ministries

To learn more about upcoming monthly Refresh events, visit lordoflife.org/refresh.

To view previous presentations, visit lordoflife.org/previousrefresh.

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On a wintry, snowy day, 80 OWLs gathered to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Pastor Joel read an article written by Ken Davis called, “I love you.” It reminded everyone how important it is to say, “I love you” to each other and how God’s love is shown to us every day. Using their gifts of music, Tim and Jerry Johnson of the Blessings Gospel Trio encouraged everyone to sing along to a campfire medley. Composed by Jerry, they sang “Jesus Whispers Peace,” “More of You, Lord,” and “We Are the Sheep; You Are the Shepherd” to name a few.

—Joyce Martin

ministries

Older Wiser Lutherans

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march events

save the date

March 7 - Faith, Food and Fellowship: Do you have cabin fever? Are you counting the days until you open the cabin? You won’t want to miss the world of Minnesota cabins with photographer, Doug Ohman. Leave the March winter blues behind and recall lazy days of summer. Invite a friend! A freewill donation lunch will be served starting at noon in Fellowship Hall. Please sign up on the bulletin board near the Info Center (located across from the main sanctuary doors), or contact Karen Nelson.

April 4 - Faith, Food, and Fellowship: Come to be encouraged in your faith and enjoy good food! Come to be a blessing and to be blessed by special fellowship. Enjoy a sing-a-long with Lord of Life’s Brian Schroeder. Invite a friend; a freewill donation lunch will be served at noon in Fellowship Hall.

March 14 (note week change): Join in as we travel to Minneapolis and tour the Pavek Museum to see antique radios, phones, and TVs. We will also tour the Bakken Museum that houses some mysteries of the electrical world and medical devices. We will have lunch at Patrick’s Cafe in Bachman’s between tours.

Leave at 9:30am and return by 3:30pm; cost is $41 including lunch.

May 2 - Faith, Food, and Fellowship: “Music Legends” Guest Jim Berner will showcase music legends of the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Invite a friend! A freewill donation lunch will be served at noon in Fellowship Hall.

March 2019

April 18: Explore Sea Life MN at the Mall of America. Have lunch at Radisson Blu. Leave at 10:30am and return by 4pm; cost is $43 including lunch.

Questions? Read and/or register on bulletin board near Info Center (in narthex) or contact Karen Nelson (763.420.5015 x138, karenn@ lordoflife.org) or visit lordoflife.org/owls.

March will be ‘in like a lion’ and ‘out like a lamb!’

We will start off the month by celebrating Lutheran Schools Week.

Karing Kingdom is part of the ELEA (Evangelical Lutheran Education Association). We will talk about the letter J for Jesus and learn about some of the parables told by Jesus.

In March we will also learn about K for kindness and really concentrate on showing kindness and love to all! The letter R for rainbow as we learn about Noah’s Ark in Chapel Chat and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Class and individual pictures will be taken on March 13/14.

Information and order forms will be sent home the week prior.

—Karing Kingdom Director Carly Tappe School will be closed March 25-29 for spring break and resumes April 1 (no foolin’)!

mMi inni issttrri ieess MM aa rr cc hh 22 00 11 99

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Confirmation Small Group lordoflife.org/c3

Mission Trip: lordoflife.org/msmt Summer Camp: lordoflife.org/middleschoolcamp

Vacation Bible School Volunteer Opportunities lordoflife.org/summervolunteer

Middle School

Summer Nights lordoflife.org/summernights

march confirmation schedule ministries

7th/8th grade

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March 10/13: Ten Commandments: Respecting Life March 17/20: Ten Commandments: Love, not Sex!

9th grade

March 2019

March 10/13: Faith & Life: Bullying March 17/20: Faith & Life: Technology C3 Leaders Wednesday, March 13 (5:30-6:30pm) or Sunday, March 17 (4-5pm)

Middle school youth opportunities abound for serving others, learning about faith with fellowship and fun woven into all programs.

For more info, visit lordoflife.org/summer.

Lord of Life is blessed to equip our youth. Loved

by God. Sent to Serve.

Why Is Summer Stretch So Special?

Each week youth head out into the Twin Cities community to make a difference in the lives of others. Of course, the afternoon is also fun visiting a Minnesota Twins game, Bunker Beach water park, or a movie theater.

However, it’s really the service projects that the youth love.

We strive to make the overall Summer Stretch experience the same for everyone. Youth will experience helping others in the Twin Cities through various ministry partners. However, we like to see youth all experience: • Caring for creation

• Helping with children

• Helping with local hunger

• Helping with world hunger (Feed My Starving Children) When youth serve as leaders and help others, they grow in faith! This year we anticipate around 350 middle school youth, 50 high school youth leaders, and 15 college-age youth leaders to participate in Summer Stretch. Please be in prayer for our youth as they head out each week on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. If questions, visit lordoflife.org/summerstretch or contact Neil Christians (neilc@lordoflife.org).

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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. 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. You are invited to share faith stories, ministry events, photos, poetry & artwork; send to bevm@lordoflife.org. Submissions may be edited. Deadline for the April issue is March 1. Copyright © 2019 Lord of Life Lutheran Church

TIME SENSITIV E MATERIAL RETURN SERV ICE REQ UESTED

CAUGHT Keeping up at entrances and exits and sidewalks with heavy snow, a special thank you to Ken Carraux (left) and Doug Fischer— and their team—who put the shovels and bobcat to work in removing snow this year.

Caught Reading LifeTIMES

Think spring!

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March 2019

READING

LIFETIMES Custodial team (not pictured) include: Bobby Dewitt John Graupman Tucker Johnson Kent Usgaard Greg Smith Eric Tappe Thanks to everyone!