Lord of life lutheran
NOVEMBER 2021
C O M P A S S
F E E L ,
R E M
by Pastor Karen Greimel (ksgreimel@lordoflife.org)
Bbelessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation,
who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.
2 Corint hians 1:3-4 FEEL, REMEMBER, HEAL..........................................2-3 BIBLE 101: BELOVEDNESS........................................4-5 community life / PEACE ..................................... 6-7 IT'S SIMPLE...............................................................8-9 A NEW HOME, A NEW COUNTRY............................... 10 ABOUT THE COVER / COntact Us ...........................11
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All of humankind are united by the experiences of life and death. These experiences are not an event, but a process. A process which brings with it opportunities to feel deeply, remember, and heal. Remembering invites us to feel the joy and the pain of life and death. It’s easier to remember the joyful times in life. But remembering a loved one no longer with us is painful. In times of grief, we might feel alone—but we are not alone. God is with us, crying with us, holding us . . . consoling us. God knows our pain because Jesus came to die for our sins—a suffering endured on our behalf. God never wants us to be separated from our loved ones, and especially not separated from God. Every funeral I have the honor to officiate, my homily includes one common denominator—a quote by author Leslie Marmon Silko:
When someone dies, you don’t get over it by forgetting; you get over it by remembering, and then you become aware that no person is ever truly lost or gone once they have been in our life and loved us, as we have loved them.
E M B E R ,
H E A L
God wants us to remember . . . the gift of life—not the sting of death. Through the promise of Jesus, the gift of life continues in a unique and eternal way. Over time, the pain of remembering shifts into a form of healing. We find ourselves not forgetting but remembering with love and increased strength. We never forget, but the previously persistent pain and sadness retreats and attracts joyful memories. The joy of knowing that person, loving them and them loving us. This anonymous poem reminds us:
All are in differing places in this process, but united by the experience. We are also united in consolation. The consolation given by God and that consolation given to one another.
In times of darkness, love sees . . .
I would like to invite you to a time of remembering on Sunday, November 7, at 7pm, in the Lord of Life sanctuary for a Service of Remembrance. This special gathering is open to all who have experienced a death at any time in their life; you are encouraged to invite family members or friends. Being with others who share in this experience offers consolation as we feel, remember, and heal together.
In times of silence, love hears . . .
Bless you with God’s comfort and love.
In times of doubt, love hopes . . . In times of sorrow, love heals . . .
For details on the November 7 Service of Remembrance, contact Michelle Tomlinson (763.420.5015 or michellet@lordoflife.org).
and in all times, love remembers. May time soften the pain until all that remains is the warmth of the memories and the love. Within this grief process, it’s possible for us to gather with others who are also navigating the feeling, remembering, and healing.
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B E L O V
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” 4
—Matthew 5:1-12
by Pastor Kaitlyn Forster (kaitlynf@lordoflife.org)
Bible 101
When I think of the word “blessed,” I have to admit that the ones whom Jesus is blessing in these verses of Matthew are not the first who come to mind. I often want to believe being blessed means everything feels ‘put together’ and ‘in place.’ That I’ve got my ‘stuff ’ figured out, if you know what I mean. So, I am always a little taken aback when I revisit these powerful words from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. To offer some context cues, the Roman empire was one that strived to be marked by greatness—celebrating the wealthy, the strongest, the celebrities. It was heavily influenced by expansion, profits, and power. If I am being honest, that doesn’t seem much different than the culture I currently find myself in. It’s here where Jesus offered this sermon as one of his first teachings. Departing from the crowds
E D N E S S who had been following him. Reflecting on the people, with all of their beauty and pain, he had encountered. The Beatitudes were the opening that he gave to the disciples. Blessed are those who have been overlooked. Blessed are those who have deep needs that yearn to be seen. Blessed are those who have had more than their fair share of hurt, pain, suffering. Jesus was inviting them to challenge the narratives that they had been given about how to be a society, by bestowing words of love and acceptance on those who may not have felt them. Recently, I read Dear White Peacemakers by Rev. Osheta Moore, and she so aptly notes each beatitude takes on a common Roman ideal and turns it on its head as Jesus’ way of extending
compassion, saying, “I see you and you are not alone” (Page 128). It certainly is a powerful way to envision the kingdom of God as one that uplifts the moments that make us feel vulnerable as the very ones that convey belovedness. She also invites the reader to recognize this belovedness that Jesus extends as a starting place for making the world a better society to live in. When we can recognize our own God-given belovedness, we are more equipped to recognize the belovedness of others. Recognizing love as what binds people together also empowers us to have tough conversations with grit and grace and to be led by faith into peacemaking.
On November 9, Lord of Life is hosting Rev. Osheta Moore to share more about her book, ministry, and call towards shalom (peace). A followup Bible study on the Beatitudes will be on Tuesday, November 16.
n o v em b e r 9 rev . o s h eta m o o r e n o v em b e r 1 6 fo l l o w- u p s t udy For more details on these events, visit lordoflife.org/dearwhitepeacemakers.
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C O M M U N I T Y baptisms
weddings
At Lord of Life, we baptize individuals at any age. For the next
For details on your wedding, visit lordoflife.org/weddings.
baptism class or to schedule a baptism, call the church office
To schedule a wedding, contact Wedding Supervisor
(763.420.5015) or visit lordoflife.org/baptism.
Michelle Tomlinson (michellet@lordoflife.org ).
September 5, 2021 Maxwell Jon Hagen September 19, 2021 Claire Elizabeth Hinkley Livinia Belle Lundgren Parker Lee Matz Lemay McPherson Ross September 25, 2021 Brody Ronkowski Brooks Ronkowski September 26, 2021 Kellan Jesse Anderson Cecelia Rose Connolly Annie May Dunagan Chloe Sue Flynn Beau David Gardner Olivia Grace Sobota Gavin Charles Villanueva
bereavements Prayers of sympathy for those grieving the loss of a loved one; may they be comforted in the promise of the resurrection.
Walter Erickson and family at the death of his wife, Suzanne (Sue) Erickson Aaron Gregerson and family at the death of his father Barb Janssen and family at the death of her parents, Lowell & Betty Melbye Brad & Mary Peterson with Adam Peterson and family at the death of their son and brother, Jacob Peterson Steve Simula and family at the death of his brother, Wayne Simula Merle Waldron and family at the death of his cousin, Vickie
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L I F E
September 5, 2021 Olivia Humphrey & Adam Hanninen September 25, 2021 Ashley Antolick & David Rakoff
welcome Sam & Sammy Christofferson with Leighton Craig & Larissa Johnson with Axel John & Allison Kyriagis with Ben, Max, and Ellen Janet Klein 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.
Peace is not something you wish for. It’s
something you make, something you do,
something you are, and something you give away.
—John Lennon
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I T ’ S
S I M P L E
by Lead Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem (joel@lordoflife.org)
Where is your heart? If you have a basic understanding of the human anatomy, you know that your heart is located within your rib cage, about 2/3 on the left and 1/3 on the right, connected by coronary arteries and a web of nerve tissue. Jesus offers a different answer: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:32-34) Perhaps Jesus lacks a basic understanding of biology. Jesus says your heart is where your treasure is. Obviously, Jesus is not speaking literally. Rather than offering an anatomy lesson, Jesus is reflecting on love, values, passions, and commitments. It’s simple, he says, whatever you love and value the most is where your heart is. It is interesting that Jesus first highlights some economic realities before talking about the location of one’s heart. Placing possessions and wealth ahead of God and neighbor is not a 21stcentury innovation. Yet Jesus’ words of encouragement and warning certainly still apply today. Elsewhere, Jesus is very blunt about all this: “No one can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24) Jesus points us to a straightforward commitment to and investment in loving God and caring for our neighbors. “Giving alms,” which Jesus commends, is a crucial way we seek the common good.
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I will never forget the day Sue and Paul walked into my office at one of the previous congregations I served. They were active members, eager leaders, and generous givers. That day, however, they shared that they had been doing daily devotions together. Through their Bible reading and prayer, they felt a deep sense of gratitude to God and a desire to make a significant change in their lives. Sue said, “Because we see how much God has entrusted to us, we want to double our giving to the church next year. It feels like a stretch to our budget, but we know God will provide.” Together, we decided that this would be a trial run for them, that if this decision proved to be difficult for their household finances, they could reduce their offering. But they never did. Their treasure was in their faith in Christ, their commitment to the congregation, and their love of others. To me, this was an inspiring example of how Scripture, prayer, and trust in God can shape faithful lives. Maybe the Holy Spirit is inviting you to consider taking a step similar to what Sue and Paul did many years ago. Are you willing to risk generosity? Or maybe the Holy Spirit is nudging you to reorganize some priorities and change some habits as a way to simplify your life and free you to place your treasure in more meaningful places. Whatever the case may be, Jesus is with you, both to encourage and challenge you to hold onto his words, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
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A A
N E W N E W
H O M E , C O U N T R Y by Bev Mello (bevm@lordoflife.org)
Lord of Life is no stranger to partnering with Lutheran Social Service (LSS) of Minnesota. For instance, Word for Women participants faithfully worked for many years on garage sales at the LSS Center for Changing Lives in south Minneapolis. Some of you may recall decades ago when Lord of Life supported a Ukrainian family who made their home at the “Fish House,” on former church property at Fish Lake Road / County Road 10. We are a country of immigrants, unless your ancestors were Indigenous / Native American. With refugees from Afghanistan arriving in Minnesota, several families will be sponsored by Lord of Life. Immigrants arrive with only the bare necessities; generally the state department provides some financial assistance for 90 days. After that point, newcomers really are on their own to live independent lives without a vehicle, without appropriate outdoor garments, without household items such as cleaning supplies or furnishings. Lord of Life’s Military Family Support Ministry and other active Lord of Lifers will be an integral part of the Afghan families’ assimilation into the community. You are encouraged to join in with others to support these families. You can learn what is needed by visiting lordoflife.org/afghan and especially to learn about “A Circle of Welcome” through LSS. Above all, please keep these families in your prayers for a smooth transition to a new home and a new country. 10
a b out t h e c o v er Lord of Life continues to be blessed by members who share their time and talents. Gail Blackmon (shown at left in Lord of Life’s Prayer Chapel) is one of those members. She is co-leader of a GriefShare group as well as a gifted artist who participates in the “Love to Paint” group which meets on Tuesdays. Gail shares, “A few years ago I was very inspired by a visual shared on screen by Pastor Karen Greimel during a prayer class. After my husband passed away in 2011, I had hit a ‘painter’s block.’ I found it quite a challenge to express the emotions I felt. Everything I tried to paint was thrown away! But this opened up new inspiration for me; my oils and brush just flowed while painting this piece of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Praise God.” You are encouraged to view the original oil painting in the Prayer Chapel, located in the upper commons area near Samaritan Hall.
LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA)
7401 County Road 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311-4313 phone 763.420.5015 fax 763.420.7286 web lordoflife.org Visit lordoflife.org/staff for a full staff listing with photos. Prayer requests may be submitted to prayernetwork@lordoflife.org.
PASTORAL STAFF
WORSHIP / CONNECT
Rev. Dr. Joel Wight Hoogheem, Lead Pastor, joel@lordoflife.org
Visit lordoflife.org/worship for the most up-to-date worship schedule.
Rev. Kaitlyn Forster, kaitlynf@lordoflife.org Rev. Dr. Karen Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus, karengl@lordoflife.org Rev. Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren, Pastor Emeritus, peter@lordoflife.org Rev. Karen Greimel, ksgreimel@lordoflife.org Rev. David McCarty, davem@lordoflife.org
lordoflife.org
office@lordoflife.org
To connect with an adult ministry representative, contact Karen Nelson (karenn@lordoflife.org). To connect with a children, youth, and family representative, contact Chelsey Grandstrand (chelseyg@lordoflife.org). For all ministry events and calendar items with the most current dates, times, details, event locations, and registrations—visit lordoflife.org.
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Compass is a monthly ministry by Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) printed by Wallace Carlson Printing using ecofriendly inks. Paper is the most sustainable natural resource. After reading, please recycle or share with a friend or neighbor inviting them to Lord of Life’s community of faith. You don’t need to be a member to receive Compass. To receive it in the mail and/or electronically, call 763.420.5015 or email office@lordoflife.org. Credits: Gail Blackmon, Lightstock. Copyright 2021 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
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After 7pm worship Thanksgiving Eve, all are welcome to Fellowship Hall for a piece of pumpkin,
Name Address City, ST 00000
apple, or pecan pie— Happy Thanksgiving!
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On October 3, LifeGardeners aimed to please and even rinsed the dirt off after pumpkins were picked—thank you!