Inspire: Healing

INSPIRE

HE ALING

a m a g a z i n e f o r t h e s t. p h i l i p t h e d e a c o n c o m m u n i t y

For They Shall Be Comforted • Practicing Proximity • The Cracks Are How the Light Gets In • Mike Singletary: Be Strong and Courageous • Chosen For One Another fall <¤<¤

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IN EVERY ISSUE

3 Editor’s Letter Twice weekly ref lections from Pastor Tim Westermeyer to inspire your faith journey.

4 Scripture Connection

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5 Read, Watch, Listen

6 Ref lections on Faith

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The Conversation Continues…

Giving Thanks

34 Modern Day Pilgrims

36 Familiar Faces

Find community, care and connection with others from SPD. Tuesdays at 1:00 pm.

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St. Philip the Deacon

INSPIRE

F E AT U R E A R T I C L E S

INVITE

EX TEND

RECEI V E

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Devoted Living: Healing Prayer

The Calling to Be a Nurse

Choosing Solitude

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Chosen for One Another: Lay Ministry

For They Shall Be Comforted

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Practicing Proximity

Be Strong and Courageous: An Interview with Mike Singletary

23 Grief Remembers

26 The Cracks are How the Light Gets In

30 Recipes: Comfort My People

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INSPIRE

Vol. 3, Issue 1, Fall 2020 Published by St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church 17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447 (763) 475-7100 editor in chief

Tim Westermeyer m a n ag i n g e d i t o r

Amanda Berger design

Malley Design s ta f f w r i t e r s

Cheryl Mathison, Kate Sterner contributions

Valerie Strand Patterson, Sherri Larson, Norah Long website

spdlc.org/inspire email editorial

aberger@spdlc.org o n t h e c ov e r

Photo by Amanda Berger Š2020 St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church. All rights reserved.

submissions

WORSHIP FROM ANY WHERE SPDLC.ORG/LIVESTRE AM

Do you have an idea for a story or love to write? Contact our managing editor with your submission, but please keep in mind the following guidelines: (A) Your article may be edited for length and content. (B) Articles must fit in the larger themes of our publication and reflect the mission of St. Philip the Deacon. (C) All submissions will be reviewed by our editorial staff to determine the suitability for our publication.

While we would love to include all submissions, space and cost limit our ability to do that.

Submissions will not be returned.

INSPIRE

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St. Philip the Deacon

As a community, a nation and a world, we have been walking a very hard road in 2020. And it is still a long road to finding healing from where we are today. When we first planned the themes for our 2020 Inspire issues, we had no idea that this would be the world into which they spoke, especially this theme of healing.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

For the past many months, we’ve been living in a very difficult time. We’re still facing COVID-19 with more questions than answers. We’ve been rocked by protests and riots, leaving us compelled to face the injustices in our nation and world.

We are shaken and vulnerable, but perhaps in a place more awake to possibility than we have been in a very long time:

A P L A C E T H AT DEM A NDS EQUA LIT Y AND JUSTICE .

A P L A C E T H AT COMM ANDS CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

A P L A C E T H AT COMPEL S US TO

organizational and cultural levels to find reconciliation and healing.

The Christian church, however imperfectly, throughout history has worked to be an advocate for healing. Walking alongside the grieving, widows, orphans and the sick have been central roles of the church. Add to that the work of people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, Desmond Tutu and so many others who have long sought justice. The long lineage of the people of God is that of finding ways to be present, hold space, work for justice and equality, and offer hope as we all seek to be healed.

Healing is almost always accompanied by change—seldom does it mean going back to how things were before, but rather means moving forward. When it comes to health, sometimes healing looks like changing your diet or giving up too much sun exposure. Relationally, it might mean the end of a relationship. It often means letting go of what we thought was good to embrace something better.

All of us have experiences of deep loss and hurt, and we are all in our own processes of healing. In this issue, may you find resources, encouragement and inspiration for wherever you are in that process. And as we navigate our “new normal” may you know that you are not alone—for God and the community of St. Philip the Deacon go with you.

Pax Christi,

BE MORE COMPA S S I O N AT E , M E R C I F U L AND HOPEFUL .

This is the place that Jesus asked his followers to bravely enter, with the power of the Holy Spirit, two millennia ago. This incredibly important work has been given to us: broken, sinful people looking for the best way to do the next right thing.

And there is no script. There is no one perfect way to respond to injustice, grief, suffering and loss. Each of these arenas require hard work on personal,

“Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone.’”

BRENE BROWN

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SPD BOOK CLUB Book club will meet either via Zoom or in person—depending on social distancing guidelines in place at the time of meeting. Announcement of meeting style will be made in our E-newsletter.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY SCRIP TURE CONNECTION B Y C H E R Y L M AT H I S O N

Knowing what to say to someone who is suffering, grieving or in deep hurt is not easy, as is evidenced in the book of Job. After Job loses his livestock, his servants, his family, his house and his good health, (all in chapter 1 of the book, by the way) we read about what his friends said in response for the next 41 chapters.

SEP 15

Learning to Speak God from Scratch by Jonathan Merritt.

Discussion led by Cheryl Mathison.

If you know the book of Job, you know that his friends were far from helpful or comforting. In their attempt to show Job how it must have been all his fault, they totally missed the mark. In chapter 16, Job speaks to his friends saying, “You are miserable comforters.”

No one wants to say the wrong thing or to be labeled a “miserable comforter.” So, what DO you say when you don’t want to say the wrong thing?

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Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler.

Discussion led by Valerie Strand Patterson.

Surprisingly, the book of Job also has the answer to that question. There is, in chapter 2, a beautiful accounting of what it looks like to meet another person in their grief, suffering or pain.

Job 2:11-13 reads:

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Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman. Discussion led by Amanda Berger.

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air

upon their heads. They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.”

There is so much to imitate from this passage: • When his friends heard, they left their homes to go to him.

• His friends met together, perhaps for strength, and then went to Job. • His friends openly wept when they saw Job, sharing in his deep grief.

• In a ritual act of mourning, they tore their robes and threw dust upon their heads.

And then the most sacred thing of all happened: They sat with Job for seven days and seven nights and no one spoke a word. (Job 2:13) There were no words and it was enough.

No trite words of “It’ll be ok,” or “I’m sure God won’t give you more than you can handle,” or “When this happened to me... .” His three friends showed up with nothing but their presence. And they sat with Job. For seven days. That is the power of presence.

In the midst of grief, we can follow the lead of Job’s friends—to go, to find strength in community, to weep alongside, and to also participate in the rhythms of mourning.

This story teaches us that it is enough to just show up and to let God speak through your presence.

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St. Philip the Deacon

Read ELE ANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE

By Gail Honeyman. Quirky, but interesting Eleanor is clearly not fine. As Eleanor begins to recognize her loneliness and confronts the

Faith & Life

reality of her past, she finds friendship and healing from trauma. Recommended by Justin Daleiden.

Watch DE VS

LECTURE SERIES T H U R S D A Y, NOVEMBER 5 7:00 P M

Paul Grangaard will speak about how his faith upbringing molded a servant leadership style and consumer insights that together led to significant growth under his leadership at Piper Jaffray, turnaround success at Allen Edmonds Shoe Corp, and now at Faribault Woolen Mill Co. Faribault Woolen Mill is currently supporting the work of rebuilding South Minneapolis through sales of their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do What is Rightâ&#x20AC;? justice blanket. Visit faribaultmill.com for more information on how to support that initiative.

The Faith & Life Lecture Series is free and open to the public.

All are welcome!

This intense tech thriller recommended by Clay Thomas of middle school ministry, follows computer engineer Lily as she searches

for the truth about the unlikely suicide of fellow engineer, Sergei.

Listen THE OLYMPIANS Clay Thomas invites you to check out the retro-inspired music from The Olympians that will remind you of classic

1970s soul bands with horns deftly layered over keyboards, harp and strings.

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BY TIM WESTERME YER

M

onths ago, we were making plans for the fall of 2020 here at St. Philip the Deacon. Those plans included, among other things, communicating news about the mission emphasis of our next three-year capital appeal—namely, a focus on mental health and wellness.

Our sense was that, as a culture, we have a lot of work to do regarding mental health—improving access to resources for people who need mental health support, strengthening community organizations that are focusing on mental health issues, and also building up our own capacity as a congregation to deepen and expand our ability to respond to mental health needs.

This issue of Inspire—focused on Healing—was originally intended in part to support that strategic emphasis on mental health.

And then, of course, 2020 happened.

In the face of a global pandemic and profound cultural challenges around issues of race, we came to realize that Healing still made sense as a theme for this issue, but for different reasons than originally planned. Rather than serve as a framework for the mental health emphasis of our upcoming capital appeal, we recognized that a focus on healing—on wholeness, on being made well— was important for all of us during this disruptive, challenging and difficult year.

In the fifth chapter of John, Jesus sees a man who has been suffering from an undisclosed condition. Jesus asks him, “Do you want to be healed?” Initially, that may seem like a strange question—of course, we think, the man would want to be healed. But maybe the question isn’t so difficult to understand when we look at another detail in the narrative. We’re told that the man has been

suffering with this condition for 38 years. So, for nearly four decades this man’s patterns of behavior and ways of approaching the world had all become deeply connected to his medical condition. Those patterns had become familiar. Comfortable. If he allowed Jesus to heal him, those patterns—his very identity—would be disrupted and changed.

And change, as we all know, is hard.

But change, as it happens, is also necessary for growth.

We never hear from this man again after this encounter in John, but I’d like to believe that, once he was healed, he was not only made well physically, but that he was made whole in other ways, as well. I’d like to believe that when the physical pain and suffering he experienced for 38 years was taken away, he experienced the radical change offered him by Jesus not as the burden of something different, but as the blessing of a different kind of future.

2020 isn’t over yet, and—no doubt—we’ll be healing from its effects for a while to come. And that’s ok. The church has always been a place of healing—of being made well.

As we look ahead to the future—a future that may look a bit different than the past as a result of this disruptive year—I pray that, with this man, we can accept Jesus’ invitation not only to be healed, but to be changed.

Grace and Peace,

P.S.—By the way, we aren’t forgetting about the emphasis on mental health. We still plan to focus on it for our next capital appeal, but—because of this year’s events—it will now be pushed out a year. We’ll be communicating more about that in the months to come.

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St. Philip the Deacon

M E D I TAT I O N

“You cannot, by pure self-discipline, renew your own spirit. This is God’s responsibility. Yours is to be still, to listen, to relax. God is at work and will refresh and recreate as you give Him time and attention.”

LUCI SHAW

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DE VOTED LIVING

HEALING PRAYER

BY AMANDA BERGER

INSPIRE

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St. Philip the Deacon

From the first story of Abraham praying for the healing of Abimelech in the book of Genesis, the people of God have looked to prayer for reassurance, encouragement and intervention in the face of illness. Throughout the Bible there are additional stories of how God has worked to heal people, through Jesus, the disciples, and through the practice of healing prayer.

At St. Philip the Deacon, we have a healing prayer group, which has met weekly for more than 20 years, to pray for those seeking healing (in person or via prayer requests). Those who gather to pray for healing find comfort and strength in one another, although praying for healing for ourselves and for others can certainly be practiced on our own.

Often requests for healing prayer are accompanied by the practice of laying on of hands and anointing with oil. These sacred gestures of care have a rich history, notably that oil is a symbol of healing and cleansing. The laying on of hands, symbolic of God’s power and protection, is a physical action that provides comfort and reminds the sick that they are not alone.

“I believe that when we pray for healing—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual—something good happens, because God loves us so much,” said Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson, who meets regularly with the healing prayer group. “Sometimes it is the healing we are praying for, whether that comes by God’s own hand, by medical intervention, or by the love and attention of family and friends. We, however, are not in charge; we simply lift up those who are ill and hurting to God’s presence and have the courage to ask.”

More prayer is never a bad thing. If you would like to begin praying for healing, you are invited to use the prayer list in the Sunday bulletin as a starting place.

Consider praying, by name, for those who are listed and for any other prayer concerns of our faith community.

During the pandemic, the healing prayer Strand Patterson noted that during the past several months, the requests for healing prayer have poured into the church. Each member of the healing prayer group prays individually for a list, well over a page long each, of those seeking healing. They pray each day by name for those on their lists, which includes doctors, nurses and other frontline workers, those suffering from COVID-19 and those who are mourning. Many of those being prayed for are also noted in our Sunday worship bulletin, but that list is far from exhaustive as many seeking prayer wish to remain anonymous.

“Sometimes what is received from God is not the healing we ask for,” said Strand Patterson, “but rather a deepening of faith, or a more expansive sense of God’s presence with us, or some other needed thing. We often hear how much it means to people on our list to be prayed for. Praying for one another is a hallmark of Christian community.”

group has been meeting twice a month via Zoom to pray together. Anyone is welcome to use their time and gift for prayer to actively pray for the healing of others. Contact Pastor Strand Patterson for information about joining the group.

Likewise, if you have prayer concerns that you would like to have prayed over by our healing prayer group, you may email those requests to prayers@spdlc.org.

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CHOSEN FOR ONE ANOTHER

BY P A S T O R C H E R Y L M AT H I S O N

“You have not chosen one another, but I have chosen you for one another.”

C.S. LEWIS, THE FOUR LOVES

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St. Philip the Deacon

“I am overwhelmed with how our lay visitors facilitate a positive ripple effect of love and care in our congregation. St. Philip the Deacon models that our most vulnerable members are loved and comforted by their faith community and Christ. We have not forgotten them.” S U S A N P A T H , P A R I S H N U R S E

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ver my 32 years in ministry I have had the great privilege of bringing the sacrament of Holy Communion to many, many people in their homes.

Without exception, the highpoint of these visits is saying the Lord’s Prayer together.

Even for those experiencing memory loss, that prayer is so deeply woven into the fiber of their being that they often still say those words out loud. So it is, at each visit, I am reminded of how our beloved Lutheran liturgy makes such a deep impression on each one of us.

month anywhere from 25-35 people enjoy a home visit and receive the sacrament from one of our 40 lay visitors.

the facility to visit one of our members. She knew exactly where she lived and would go right to the door in eager anticipation.”

Each visitor participates in a six-week training course exploring topics such as listening, prayer, empathy, dementia, boundaries and faithful conversation. Path also offers opportunities for continuing education by inviting guest speakers to address relevant topics.

The expansion of our caring ministries was an early initiative of Senior Pastor Tim Westermeyer. He recognized that having a coordinated team of lay people helping to provide spiritual care to other members of the church would not only allow us to reach more people, but also utilizes the gifts of some of our members with a calling for such work.

Bringing the sacrament to—and visiting with—those who are either permanently or temporarily homebound has been a high priority of the church since, well, forever. The Old Testament book of Nehemiah speaks of the people of Israel gathering for the reading of scripture, followed by a time of teaching, a time for fellowship, and, importantly, a time to visit those who could not gather. And, of course, in the New Testament when asked, “When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Beyond sharing the sacrament, each visitor has access to a wide variety of resources to share with their visited friends. The monthly Lay Visitor newsletter provides, among other things, a season-appropriate scripture reading, a prayer, a devotion and a conversation starter. Path supplies many resources available for check out from church including birthday kits, activity boxes and coloring pages. Additionally, each month there is a “to share” item. These gifts are lovingly created by members of St. Philip and have included Easter baskets, Valentine cards, nativity ornaments and Christmas cookies.

The ministry of visiting those who are homebound belongs to the whole church, not just the clergy, and we are fortunate at St. Philip the Deacon to have a faithfully committed and well-trained team of Lay Visitors who care for our homebound members. Under the direction and supervision of our Parish Nurse, Susan Path, each

And not to be forgotten is our one and only canine lay visitor: Zoey Gilbertson! Zoey is a trained companion dog who is always ready to greet our visited friends. Jill Gilberston recently reported: “Zoey would get excited when we arrived at

Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Our lay visitors are sent knowing that, through them, Christ is present at every visit.

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Practicing Proximity STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY NOR AH LONG

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St. Philip the Deacon

Proximity has long been a tenet of learning for me.

This spring, it was at the heart of my desire to stay home, three blocks from Minneapolis’ 3rd Precinct, as my neighborhood burned in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. Proximity is a phenomenal teacher.

IT

“

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

JAMES BALDWIN

was beautiful to see our communities come together in the aftermath of both the tragedy of Floyd’s death and the decimation of our neighborhoods. My small part of that was organizing Hi-Lake Initiatives, including Paint our Peace. Within the first three weeks, 600+ neighbors had participated in our community paints, spurring hundreds of deep, fun, neighborly and occasionally surprising conversations. One particular surprise shook me— not because of what surprised me but why: I wasn’t expecting to hear what I heard from someone who was black. What? Me? I live in South Minneapolis, I love all my neighbors, I’m out every day having great conversations with people of all backgrounds, colors, ages, persuasions. I’m not racist. I’m anti-racist! ...Surprise. Of course, it’s not quite so straightforward. Surprise manifests from assumptions, and pinpointing which assumptions are behind it requires scrutiny. Close examination revealed many assumptions in my conversation, but I had to face that, at least in part, my surprise was related to skin color.

That’s racism. Consciously or unconsciously, it’s camouf laged in assumptions we make, fears we manifest, neighborhoods we circumnavigate, conversations we avoid, reasons we take action or inaction. It’s in me. It’s in you. Whether or not we choose it or want it, it is woven into the very fabric of our American lives.

I met Ty, a security guard, during a week of mural signings at our Aldi building. At first meeting he was brief, polite, sussing me out. Next meeting, he sat with me on his break. The next time we talked, he remarked that the mural signatures reminded him of pointillism. Surprise. He had gone to school for art. I mentioned I’d love to see his work. On his next break, he brought photos: amazing portraits, all in pointillism. The next day, on the plywood by his station, Ty had begun a portrait, in pointillism, with a marker.

Pointillism had, strangely, come to mind the week before as I contemplated proximity and perception. In pointillism, a picture is created from thousands of tiny dots of individual, unmixed colors. From a distance the observer’s brain perceives, for instance, a swath of green. Up close, that green is revealed to be a collection of colors (no green at all), juxtaposed to create the illusion of green, of sameness. Proximity also works this way in life. From a distance, details blur together; it’s easy to see cultures, issues, religions, people, in the aggregate. On a map, Yosemite Park is just green.

Step into the park, drive down its roads, camp under its trees, and Yosemite becomes alive with detail and experience, impacting the camper in a way the map reader will never understand.

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INSPIRE

St. Philip the Deacon

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From a distance, even our wonderful SPD family could be reduced to a blanket perception based on denomination, neighborhood, size, ethnicity. We, of course, know our church family contains a diversity of human beings—each with their own history and story to tell—united as one body, the Church. So it is with other groups.

Through closer proximity, individual conversation and listening more than talking, we can begin to understand the stunning array of individual colors represented: each detail, story, heart, life, family, belief, perspective.

Jesus was a strong proponent of close proximity. Children were invited close, outsiders to his faith were treated as neighbors, the ostracized shared his table. In Mark 3:13b-14, “He appointed twelve ... to be with him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.” Note the order: be with, send out, have authority. Our relationship with Christ precedes the work we do for him. Proximity before power.

Proximity will also empower our endeavors to pursue racial healing and justice. When family or friends have a problem, we naturally jump to action. When a brother, mother, child is ill, we learn all we can, explore options, get in the doctors’ faces, demand research, pursue change and march for funding. We work and fight hardest for those we love. So, let’s actively and intentionally increase our beloved family. To do this, we can shop in neighborhoods we wouldn’t normally frequent. Enjoy quality food and people at minority-owned restaurants in new areas. Pursue conversations with people of different colors. Pay attention to what surprises us as we listen. Examine our assumptions. Own when they don’t hold water. Own why. Building these firsthand relationships within less familiar communities will naturally fuel our drive to understand and fight on behalf of their struggles, and our action will gain power when it is borne of a personal investment, not just of money, but of friendship and love. We will fight harder because we will be fighting for family.

600+ participants into Paint our Peace, I had still only begun to see the colors of my community. But, I was 600 pixels closer, and my friend Ty was one of them. May you also turn a discerning, loving gaze on both yourself and your broader community. May what you see surprise you. Step close. Discover the dots.

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THE CALLING TO BE A NURSE

LuA nn C ulhane

or l at h Gr ace K

M ic h e l e G on y e a

BY K AT E S T E R N E R

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They support physicians, provide personal care, administer medication, manage vital documentation, perform diagnostic exams and provide civic education. Nurses also provide emotional support for their patients, which takes empathy and compassion. Nursing is not just a profession, but also a calling.

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St. Philip the Deacon

Wit h mor e t h a n 2 8 5 y e a r s of com bi n e d e x pe r i e nc e i n a w i de va r i e t y of s pe c i a l i z at ions , this interview with eight SPD members who have embraced their calling to nursing expresses the privilege and blessing it is to serve as a nurse.

W H Y D I D YO U B E C O M E A N U R S E ?

Ba r b K l e v e n: I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. There was never any other interest. To be a part of a person’s life during their most vulnerable and intimate moments is very rewarding to me.

E r i n P e t e r s on: Since I was a little girl, I was fascinated with science. I knew I would not be happy in a lab looking into a microscope for most of the day. One of my friends told me about her plans to become a nurse and what it would involve. I knew right away that this was what I was meant to do.

N a nc y Fa bi a n: I do believe nursing is a calling. I can’t recall ever wanting to pursue any other career. Working in other capacities in the medical field, including management, I always felt that direct patient care was most rewarding.

N a nc y Fa bi a n

D I D YO U H AV E A N Y P R E C O N C E P T I O N S O F W H AT A N U R S I N G C A R E E R W O U L D B E L I K E B E F O R E YO U S TA R T E D ? I S I T W H AT YO U E X P E C T E D ?

Ba r b K l e v e n: I knew it would be demanding, but until I experienced it, I didn’t realize how much I could impact a patient’s hospital or surgery experience. Every surgical patient is nervous and exhibits their fear in different ways. I find it immensely rewarding to somehow assure them and their family to trust our team to protect them under anesthesia and return them to their family safely.

patients a back rub before they were ready to retire for the evening.

That was a very powerful time. It doesn’t seem like much but while giving a patient a back rub, you learned an amazing amount of information that they maybe would not have shared with you otherwise. They would tell you of their fears, their concerns, or that they were in much more pain than they were telling anyone because they didn’t want to bother the doctor. When they are not looking you in the eye, and adding the power of the human touch, amazing things happen.

W H AT W O U L D YO U S AY I S T H E

E r i n P e t e r s on: I had zero family experience or exposure to the medical field or nursing before I started my nursing classes. I absolutely love my current role as a pulmonary nurse practitioner.

I never expected I would have the level of autonomy I now have in my practice.

M ic h e l e G on y e a : I knew I wanted to help people, and I had an idealistic plan in mind; however, I did not realize how challenging it was going to be. I assumed there would be good days and bad days as with any occupation, but I underestimated the emotional strain that caring for chronically ill patients would cause. Working in the hospital was a challenging/tiring job, but it was great experience. I met people from all walks of life and learned a lot during my time at the hospital.

Je a n S t oe r m e r : When I graduated from college and started my career 45 years ago, hospital nursing was very different. One of the things nurses did when they worked the evening shift was give

MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT YO U R J O B ?

G r ac e Kor l at h : Being realistic about a patient’s diagnosis and prognosis yet being encouraging at the same time while [still] keeping my spirits up. Sometimes patients and families can become challenging as they go through many different emotional and physical situations, and it’s our goal to work with them through these times.

Je a n S t oe r m e r : During this time of COVID-19, I have been reminded many times how hard it must be for the patients and their families when they cannot touch or be near their family members during their last moments on earth. One of the most challenging times for me was many years ago when I worked in a respiratory intensive care unit and we had a patient who had been there for several weeks. He was only in his 50s and we had tried to wean him off the ventilator repeatedly. He was coherent and he

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and his family finally decided it was time to turn the ventilator off for good. VERY difficult day! One of his sons called me at home a couple of days later to thank me. I wasn’t quite sure what he was thanking me for—his father had died. I was crying more than he was.

K at h l e e n P e a s e: I think my most challenging work as a nurse was as an instructor. My role was not only to teach clinical skills, time management and documentation techniques, but even more importantly, to explore ethical concepts and demonstrate compassionate care. To help student nurses to be at ease with patients of all ages. To be confident in their skills and knowledge.

To be humble. To be open in their communications and work as a team. To accept people where they are at in their times of need. To be grateful and gracious.

D E S C R I B E A P A R T I C U L A R LY R E W A R D I N G E X P E R I E N C E YO U H AV E HAD AS A NURSE.

L uA n n C u l h a n e: As a public health nurse in 1982, I dealt with many immigrant Hmong families. They came to Minnesota from refugee camps and we needed to monitor their health status and T.B. medication regime. I would visit their homes where, often, several generations resided. The families would greet me with big smiles and nods. Then they would offer me some of their precious new American discovery, Orange Crush pop! Every time they would have a can or bottle of Orange Crush for me. It was so sweet that even though they could not speak my language, I knew that they appreciated my help.

G r ac e Kor l at h : I’ve had many rewarding experiences as an oncology nurse. It makes me feel good when patients come back 5 -20 years later and they look at me and say, “Oh good, you’re still here!” They feel more comfortable. They may have come back for a recurrence or a new cancer diagnosis. It’s also been very rewarding to be with patients and their families during their final days and weeks as we attempt to make their final journey as comfortable as possible. When we receive positive feedback, that’s as rewarding as it gets. The knowledge that we made a difference!

M ic h e l e G on y e a : It is customary after a patient’s last chemotherapy infusion for him/her to “ring the bell” three times, signifying the end of chemotherapy. No matter how many times I hear this bell ring, I get teary eyed every time. There are always hugs, pictures and goodbyes that come with this and it is a rewarding experience to celebrate with each patient!

K at h l e e n P e a s e: The growth from being a nurse who had a sustainable job to a nurse who felt honored to be in a helping profession was gradual and subtle. I was nurtured by many. As I work now with so many younger nurses, I accept the responsibility of mentoring them. They deserve the encouragement that I received. My job has become a vocation.

E r i n P e t e r s on

One of the few instructors that I remember from the U of MN (almost 40 years ago) came into the Urgent Care last autumn curled up in her wheelchair, fragile, but alert. I would not have recognized her, but I recognized her name immediately. She was one of my favorites! I triaged her and cared for her. When it was time for her to be discharged, I told her who I was and what I remembered about what she taught me. I affirmed her life work, her dedication. We were both overjoyed! Meeting her was a gift of the Holy Spirit!

Na nc y Fa bi a n: I found working with patients who were newly diagnosed with cancer to be especially challenging and rewarding.

Everyone copes in a different way. I give thanks to God for providing me with the ability to serve others as a nurse.

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St. Philip the Deacon

F O R T H E Y S H A L L B E C O M F O R T E D

BY P A S T O R VA L E R I E S T R A N D P AT T E R S O N

Gr ief is pa rt of life. Most of us h av e exper ienced, or w ill exper ience, the loss of a lov ed one. Some deaths may be considered a welcome friend at the end of a long and well-lived life. Contrast that with a traumatic death, such as the untimely death of a young person or an accident or a death by suicide. In any of those situations, loss leaves many more questions than answers.

While all who mourn experience some similar emotions, traumatic death often results in more difficult, complicated and protracted grief.

repeating—often—the story of how my loved one died to help it seem more real.

2.

All the various feelings that come with grief deserve to be befriended and expressed.

Whether sadness, fear, anger, guilt, regret, relief or a host of other emotions, feelings are meant to be felt. Feelings that are pushed down, ignored or denied will take longer to heal. Tears should be invited to f low, rather than held back.

3.

Pastors, friends, and family members can walk alongside, or accompany, loved ones who are grieving. It is helpful to understand that grief is not linear, and its timeline is f luid. Grief is, as Thomas à Kempis said in the 15th century, “A proper sorrow of the soul.” So, listen deeply and patiently. Surround mourners with your love and prayers. Reach out with kindness.

Simply be with someone in their space of grief, not trying to fix, just being present.

Remembering the person who died. It is comforting to acknowledge that their memory is still a treasured part of our lives. There are many ways to do this: by telling stories, looking at photos, listening to their music, planting a tree in their honor, visiting their grave, making a gift to a cause in which they believed, and lighting a candle for them at the Thanksgiving dinner table are some ways to remember and honor the life that has been lived.

My teacher about grief is Dr. Wolfelt from the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado. He teaches that while grief is what we feel and think on the inside, mourning is the outward expression of that grief. When we mourn well, we can live well and love well. And through that process, we can experience joy again. When we mourn, we have six central needs:

Develop a new self-identity.

We often define ourselves by our roles, which can shift when a loved one dies. Who am I if I am not parenting my child? Who am I when I am not half of a couple? For many, tasks not previously their responsibility must be figured out, from mowing the lawn to managing the investments to caring for the home. This is hard work.

1.

5.

Allowing the reality of death to sink in. This means accepting the truth that my life is now one where my loved one is not physically present. This may mean

4.

Search for meaning. Mourning may be a time of questioning and/or holding tighter to beliefs and faith. We may ask, “What is my purpose now? When my husband was

ill, my purpose was to care for him. Now what?” Finding new purpose is part of the healthy work of mourning. We may find our time of grief to be a time of examining what is truly important and what is not.

6.

Receive ongoing support.

Whether from friends, family members, support groups or therapists. Keep in mind, if possible, that your family or friends may not know how to help you, even though they love you very much. Some will want you to get over your grief quickly. Some will be unable to be present with you in your grief and may unwittingly say things that hurt you. Have grace toward them but seek out those who are able to be supportive.

It’s not about getting over it, forgetting or going back to the way we were before. The death of a loved one changes us. But over time, the grief will become less raw; severe pangs of grief will be less frequent, we will eventually figure out our new identify and feel ready to rejoin the world.

If you are grieving, please know there is help and hope. If you are a friend of someone grieving, give them compassionate attention for a long time. In the words of Jesus, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). And, in the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4, “we do not grieve in the same way as those who have no hope.”

We grieve, and deeply, but with the hope of resurrection and new life. Hope is our legacy as children of a loving God.

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BE 4 0STRONG 3AND 0COURAGE AN INTERVIEW WITH M I K E S I N G L E TA R Y

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

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St. Philip the Deacon

M

ike Singletary is perhaps most recognized as the Chicago Bears’ Middle Linebacker with the ferocious eyes peering across the line into the opposing quarterback’s face. He participated in Super Bowl XX where the Bears defeated the New England Patriots and made 10 trips to the Pro Bowl in his 12 years of professional football. He also led the NFL as Defensive Player of the year three times and was Bears’ team captain for 10 years.

living under our roof after a couple of the married kids moved in while their house sold, a couple [kids] came home from college, and our regular family members.

Within two days of the shutdown, our entire year of income producing opportunities were wiped out because my business is event based. We all enjoyed being together and actually had great fun. God opened doors of opportunity for me in the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) business, which I had never been a part of before. It has been truly miraculous.

Singletary’s unique experience comes from his tenure as the captain of the NFL’s Chicago Bears. As captain of the Bears, Mike had a gift for bringing different facets of the organization together. He worked with upper management, middle management, and the players, helping them understand each other’s perspectives, appreciate their differences, and work together to get the most out of the organization. Building bridges is Mike’s nature.

We also scheduled you before the conversations around race and justice started up in a new way, following the death of George Floyd. I know you talk regularly, not only about leadership, but also about diversity.

Can you reflect on the conversations going on right now in America around race and diversity?

It’s definitely a time to face the injustices that Blacks have had to encounter going back to the days of slavery. A couple years ago, I did some extensive research on my own to learn about African-American history, which is generally not taught in schools—so I would know the whole story.

Obviously, none of us could have known this was coming, but I’m so glad I took the time to learn historical facts. I can

Since his retirement from professional football, Singletary has been a regular on the Fortune 500 company lecture circuit.

As a motivational speaker he is known for dynamic talks on leadership, teamwork and corporate diversity.

Thank you for taking some time to do this interview. We scheduled you to kick off this year’s Faith & Life season long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Can you start with how that disruption has impacted you and your life? With the initial quarantine orders, we had 12 people

EOUS

appreciate the passion of the supporters of this current movement who are doing it in a constructive way that would honor God and feel we won’t settle until improvements are made.

The theme of this issue of Inspire is “Healing.” Can you say a word about what healing means to you? Or how you understand healing? Either in your own life, or your sense of how we are in need of healing as a country right now? There was a time in my life where I really didn’t like my dad for the things he had done to my mom and to my brothers and sisters. I was an emotionally out-of-control person who was angry all the time. It wasn’t until God led me to forgive my dad that I experienced a turnaround in my life. That was my personal experience with healing.

As for America, I don’t see how we can heal without some type of reparations made to our Black citizens for the suffering of their enslaved ancestors. My wife and I have tried to come up with ideas, but I know this: the leadership of America needs to address this by acknowledging the ugly past, apologizing for it and offering reparations similar to what has been offered to other social victims.

You were known as a ferocious Middle Linebacker. That position, along with your role as the captain of the Bears for a decade, are both positions of leadership. How did those roles influence and inform your understanding of leadership? Those roles really enhanced my leadership. Since the age of 12, I have always been a leader. I was challenged by my mom to step up and be the man of the house, and I took that very seriously. I was not afraid to let some friends go, not afraid to set big goals for myself and plan steps to accomplish them.

Standing up for what I wanted in life took

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leadership. I have always been a person who stood for what’s right, no matter the cost. As a result, my peers have looked up to me and weren’t afraid to let me lead.

How does your understanding of leadership translate from the football field to the corporate boardroom or other venues? For me, it centers around my values, knowing the best course of action for every situation and having the courage to do it, no matter the consequences. I haven’t found that the “where” of leadership is a factor; I just see very few people with the courage to follow through.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, so remember when the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1986. I also remember the Super Bowl Shuffle. What are your memories of that rap video? The biggest thing I remember is the timing of the filming.

We had just lost to Miami, which was our only loss of the season, on a Monday night. We got back early Tuesday morning and had to gather early in the afternoon to film the video. The only reason I even

considered it is because it was presented as something that the proceeds would go to kids in need. But the actual filming of it brought us all together again. Leaving Miami, some of the guys were ticked at others, some were getting carried away with outside endorsements and such, and the loss helped us jell again. The video was really fun to make, and by the next day we were ready to go and determined not to lose another game, which we didn’t.

I’m writing this from Minneapolis, where you spent a short time on the coaching staff of the Vikings. What are your memories of being part of that team? My memories were “COLD!!” There’s nothing like Minnesota Cold! The Vikings also have some of the most faithful, loyal fans. I was really frustrated those two years with the Vikings because I felt we had quite a bit of talent, but fell short. It’s a great environment to play and coach in.

The Faith & Life Series is obviously a series about how faith informs all of life. Can you talk about how faith informs your life?

Maybe specifically how it informs your understanding of leadership or diversity?

There isn’t anything I do, think or say that isn’t shaped by my faith in Christ. I have studied the Word consistently over the past several years, and each time I do I learn more about myself, more about God, and more about people. My goal is to become more and more like Jesus every day.

People know you primarily in your relationship to football. What don’t they know about Mike Singletary? How are you spending your time these days? Most people probably don’t know how much I love music, how much I love to laugh, how much I love to dance, and how much I love my family.

That about sums me up!

You’ll be with us for the Faith & Life Series on October 1, talking about Faith & Leadership: The Courage to Rally the Team. What can people expect to hear at that event? If I’ve done my job on October 1, you’ll leave feeling bold and courageous and motivated to step into all that God created you to be!

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St. Philip the Deacon

GRIEF REMEMBERS

BY AMANDA BERGER

I

solation and grief often walk hand in hand. Perhaps not in the beginning, when friends, extended family and neighbors surround the bereaved at the funeral, provide meals and check-in constantly to see how you are doing. And while those gestures are lovely and heartfelt, the pain of loss lasts much longer than those gestures. While the bereaved are still wondering how to live in their new normal, it feels like everyone else goes back to their regular lives.

It is for just this reason that organizations like the Grief Coalition exist. “People need to hear they aren’t the only ones suffering, feeling alone, worried that they are losing their minds or memories,” said Alva Benson, SPD member and the coordinator of the Western Suburbs Grief Coalition.

“The healing takes place when the small groups meet and everyone tells the story of their loss … sometimes that healing can take a year, two and longer.”

Begun in 1993 by Dorothy Atkinson, the WSGC is a non-denominational group supported and hosted by 13 local churches.

The organization has trained facilitators who shepherd small groups for those grieving. Weekly meetings typically feature a speaker or presentation, followed by their small group meeting times.

Benson first began attending the meetings after the death of her husband, and after a few years, became a trained facilitator herself. “In the beginning, we were happy to see 20 people at a meeting and now we are averaging almost 70 each Thursday,” said Benson. “We have five spouse loss groups, one child loss and one focused on

the loss of a friend or family. Each group is led by facilitators trained, supervised and supported by a psychologist.”

and nurses. Sometimes the speaker is a participant who can share their personal journey through grief in a way that can help others.

Isolation is one of the hallmarks of grief— feeling like you are all alone with your deep sadness. “I have seen many come to my small group unable to say the sad, sad words about their loss. And as they listen to others and the weeks go by, they are eventually able to speak and take part. Soon they have made friends, meet for dinner and communicate outside of the group. That is the reward of my volunteering.”

Each person mourns in their own way, and there is no one “right” way to get through it. However, it is powerful to know that you are not alone and to be able to share your experience, and that is the strength of the Western Suburbs Grief Coalition.

While WSGC cannot replace professional counseling during loss, the experience and support of others who have had similar experiences can be deeply healing.

St. Philip the Deacon will host the grief coalition this fall, September through November, and host the annual memorial service and dinner just before the holidays. Speakers for the group include therapists, doctors, attorneys, life coaches

For more information about WSGC visit westsuburbangriefmn.org. There are also four other grief coalitions in the Minneapolis area as well as one in St. Paul if you know of others who need grief support, but do not live in the western suburbs.

“Grief is isolating, but it never leaves you alone. In the moments we wake up crying, the car rides with tears streaming, grief is our companion.

When everyone moves on, forgetting our loss, grief remembers.”

L AUR A COWARD

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Choosing Solitude

BY SHERRI L ARSON

“Three years of prayerful solitude in a rough cave...under the wise guidance of a spiritual father prepared him [Benedict] for his call. ...Discovered by local shepherds in that desert place, the young hermit interrupted his solitude to answer their request that he teach them the basics of the Christian faith.”

S T. J O H N ’ S / S T. B E N E D I C T W E B S I T E

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St. Philip the Deacon

The “hurrying world” is described like a wedge between our “selves.” Solitude is the healer of that divide.

Theologian Henri Nouwen wrote, “[Solitude] is a place of conversion, the place where the old self dies and the new self is born, the place where the emergence of the new man and the new woman occurs.”

The poet and the theologian remind me that solitude is far more than a challenge for a distractible writer or thinker; it is a place, a presence, and a power.

A card affixed on my assigned apartment bears the words of Saint Benedict: “Let all be received as Christ.”

I have been greeted in this way for each of my monthly weekend retreats over the past five years at St. Benedict’s monastery.

I participate in the Studium program, which grants space and time for musicians, teachers, pastors and writers to work creatively and practice solitude amidst the community of faithful servants.

When I began as a Studium Scholar, I committed to write. I longed for direction and accountability, but I wasn’t sure I’d be good at the discipline of solitude. This was not the forced solitude of the stay-at-home order, which has been lonely and isolating for many, but a deliberate spiritual choice and practice. A favorite poem, “The Prelude” by William Wordsworth, encouraged me. I scrawled an excerpt on a small piece of paper to carry as a reminder.

When from our better selves we have too long Been parted by the hurrying world, and droop, * Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, * How gracious, how benign is solitude.

*

“When from our better selves we have too long/ Been parted… .” This idea of “better self ” or “best self ” shows up in contemporary blogs and self-help books; Wordsworth brought it to the page in 1798! His imagery runs deeper than a self-improvement idea.

I’m never certain what thoughts and insights I will gain at Studium, but the solitude opens my ears and eyes. Sometimes I feel as if I am re-introduced to my better self. I find her on hikes in the woods, in the library, in the college center or the gazebo while I write and study.

Most recently, God met me in solitude through artwork in the cemetery. A printed guide instructs: “Stop at the sculpture of the Crucifixion. ... Sitting, waiting and wishing are good, and so are walking, believing and praying.” It feels like an invitation to escape the “hurrying world” of Wordsworth’s poem.

Three figures are within an arm’s reach of Christ’s broken body. One looks upward, reaching toward Christ. The second collapses in overwhelming grief. The third gazes beyond the crucified Christ, with a stunned expression of bewilderment.

More than just a “hurrying world” separates them from better selves and better truths; Christ who was their hope appears defeated. And they more than “droop” with weariness; they are suspended in an interminable “What now?” moment. Wordsworth’s simple words bring healing to such moments: How gracious, how benign is solitude.

How gracious is solitude. When I hear “gracious,” I think of a “gracious host.”

I think of the Benedictine words of welcome: “Let all be received as Christ.”

Solitude receives us like that—with kindness, acceptance, forgiveness and love.

How benign is solitude. I am struck by this word. Modern usage brings thoughts of illness or tumors, but the root, bene, means simply “good.” Benign is good, gentle, safe and favorable.

How gracious, how benign. When I began this program, I thought solitude would be lonely, sad and difficult. I have experienced the opposite. In his beautiful text Out of Solitude, Henri Nouwen explains: “In solitude we can listen to the voice of him who spoke to us before we could speak a word, who healed us before we could make any gesture to help, who set us free long before we could free others, and who loved us long before we could give love to anyone.”

God speaks, we are healed, we are set free, we are loved; such is the power of solitude to unite the self with God’s endless grace and generosity.

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St. Philip the Deacon

THE CR ACKS ARE HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN

K

intsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold epoxy. The gold fissures, or scars, are considered to enhance the beauty of the piece, creating something wholly unique and more beautiful because of its brokenness.

Like kintsugi, nearly all of us bear our own unique scars—some physical, but many more are mental or emotional. They are the evidence of having lived in this fallen world full of imperfect people.

Some wounds are profoundly deep, as in the case of abuse or complex trauma. Some of our scars stem from unintentional wounds or even benign neglect.

Regardless, any form of brokenness may take years of hard, personal work and/or professional counseling to even begin to move toward a place of healing.

BY AMANDA BERGER

“HE HAS MADE E VERY THING BE AUTIFUL IN ITS TIME . HE HA S AL SO SET ETERNIT Y IN THE HUMAN H E A R T; Y E T N O O N E C A N FAT H O M W H AT G O D H A S DONE FROM BEGINNING TO END.” ECCLESIASTES 3:11

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Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for each of us is beautiful. The beatings, the blood, the nail holes and the scars from whips, thorns, and spear, and finally cruelty of his death on a cross—these are made beautiful because of the power in Jesus’ blood to redeem everything. That power makes each of us whole once more.

T

hroughout the gospels, we read stories of Jesus’ healing miracles, and they all have one thing in common: the person in need of healing KNOWS they are not okay and they ASK Jesus for healing. In none of these circumstances does Jesus deny them healing. The aff licted are restored to wholeness within their families and community, despite the fact that healing comes its own moments of confusion and difficulty.

Think of Christ’s love from the cross like the gold used in kintsugi to repair the broken bowl. The cracks are still visible, but because they have been filled and infused with the power of Christ’s forgiveness and love, we have been restored and made all the more beautiful.

We cannot always see the whole picture of what God has in store. But we have faith that God can take the broken and make it beautiful again. None of us is beyond that love. None of us is beyond that restoration through Christ’s love.

In the words of songwriter Leonard Cohen, F O R G E T YO U R P E R F E C T O F F E R I N G THE R E IS A CR ACK IN E V E RY THING

We have been through one of the hardest seasons in our collective memory, and in many ways, are still there. The trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic is still widely to be revealed—especially for those who experienced tremendous loss, those on the front lines, and the lasting marks it leaves on our children and young people.

We are also reeling from the racial tensions of the summer, and the very difficult work that it will take to move forward. It will be necessary for us to be gentle with ourselves and to be curious with one another as we process this experience. It will take work and time to mend what has been so deeply fragmented in our lives.

To begin the healing process, it is first necessary for us to be vulnerable before our God, to acknowledge that we are broken and to ask for healing. And to recognize that this current hardship, for some, is piled on top of years of other kinds of hurt.

We can admit that we are not okay.

Also, we can take comfort in knowing that we will be made whole once again, but it will not be our work alone that gets us there.

This fragmentation is something that, no matter how hard we try, we, as humans, can never fully overcome. We are broken. But God can, and will, put us back together. God’s restoration comes not only through miracles of physical, mental or emotional healing, but in the overarching redemption of our broken world in the person of Jesus Christ.

T H AT ’ S H O W T H E L I G H T G E T S I N .

As a people of faith, we understand that we are not perfect and that we can come before God as we are, ready for redemption. As a Christian community, we have a place to belong that recognizes our brokenness and our need for healing. We do not have to confront that need on our own; we do it with our Savior and our community beside us.

So, as we continue to process our experience and find a way to move forward, we are invited to allow our scars to show, and to know, that—as God provides the healing—we are more beautiful for our brokenness.

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St. Philip the Deacon

GIVING THANKS YO G A FA I T H AT S P D

When stay-at-home orders were issued in March, our YogaFaith classes moved to Zoom and were among the first of our virtual offerings.

Taught by Amanda Berger (RYFT-200, RYT-200) these classes that combine scripture, prayer and movement have been a balm to many during this stressful time.

Provided purely as a free ministry to our community during this season, the gratitude expressed for this faith practice has been plentiful.

“I feel so good after YogaFaith each week!

Thank you for keeping us fit in these fitful times. I really liked the way you incorporated The Lord’s Prayer into Sun Salutation. Very creative and calming. I deeply appreciate your commitment to this practice. Thanks again for your inspiring devotion to your fellow yogis.”

“First, many thanks for continuing yoga classes with us on Zoom. You are a real blessing to me … my mind, body and soul.

I replay the class [archives] each day (or almost each day) if I don’t see you in person [during virtual classes]. The strength and stretch is so important to my body. The faith part of yoga is so good for the soul.”

— M A RY S T E I N B I CK E R

—BONNIE HERBOL SHEIMER

“This practice is with me daily. I think about what I learn when I’m in the garden, thinking ‘belly button to spine’ for core strength. Coming up from kneeling in the garden, I get up slowly to feel the spine little by little. My balance is improving— so crucial to bones at some ages! Thursday mornings are a sacred time for my body, spirit and soul with you helping/guiding us to nourish all three. I always appreciate your new and refreshing classes and willingness to try new ways of building strength and calm amid the outside world chaos. Thank you!”

“Thank you so much for continuing with the yoga sessions! They have helped me during the last couple months—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. What a blessing you are! Thank you!”

— LO RY DO R N B USCH

—BONNIE HANA

— DO R I S T U U R A

“Thank you for what you do as you lead YogaFaith at SPD. I very much appreciate the time you take to plan your classes as well as the personal notes you send to me.

You go beyond the normal as an instructor. Your work is special and particularly helpful at this time in our lives.”

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Comfort My People

Cod with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reason that we turn to comfort foods when we are stressed and overwhelmed: homemade, warming meals feed both body and soul to help us feel grounded and loved. Each of these hearty, homestyle recipes is perfect comfort food (and cozy for the cooler days of fall!).

BY AMANDA BERGER

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Old-Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

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Cod with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Old-Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

This deeply aromatic recipe offers completely different f lavors from traditional comfort foods—and is a bit lighter than more typical casseroles. Served over brown rice or quinoa, this recipe is also special diet friendly. Adapted from Real Simple Magazine, November 2018.

Hearty and warming, this simple dish is quick to prep and very hands-off once it’s in the oven.

This kid-friendly casserole contains lots of vegetables and is quick to prepare. You can easily prep it ahead to be baked when ready to eat.

INGREDIENTS

1 28 oz. can Whole Peeled Tomatoes, crushed with your hands 1 cup Kalamata Olives (or pitted Greek mix from an olive bar), halved 1 small Yellow Onion, sliced ½ cup Red Wine ¼ cup Olive Oil 3 tbsp Capers ½ tsp Crushed Red Pepper 1 ½ tsp Salt, divided Freshly ground Black Pepper 6 6-oz. Cod Fillets Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley, chopped Preheat oven to 425° F. In a large baking dish (9x13” glass dish works well) combine, tomatoes, olives, onion, wine, oil, capers, crushed red pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Stir to combine.

INGREDIENTS

6 tbsp of Butter, divided 1/4 cup f lour* 1 tsp dried Parsley Flakes 1 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme 1/4 tsp Black Pepper 1–2 tsp Onion Powder (or dried minced Onion) 3 cups Milk 6 cups peeled, thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes (about 5 medium-large) 1 ½ cups cooked Ham, chopped Preheat your oven to 375° F. Grease 9x13” baking dish with butter. Working in layers, place potatoes in the bottom of the dish, then sprinkle with chopped ham. Cover with potatoes and another layer of ham.

Repeat until you’ve used all the potatoes and ham.

Roast until tomatoes have softened and mixture thickens slightly, about 35-40 minutes. While tomato mixture roasts, season the cod filets with remaining salt and fresh ground black pepper.

In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir in f lour, making a roux, cooking for about a minute. Then, add parsley, salt, thyme, pepper, and minced onion until smooth. Gradually, whisk in milk and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisking often, to keep smooth, cook for about 2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

Remove tomato mixture from the oven.

Then, nestle the cod filets into the sauce, and replace in the oven. Roast for 10-15 minutes, until the fish is just cooked through. Garnish with fresh parsley to serve.

Pour sauce evenly over the layers of potatoes. Cover with foil and bake for 65-75 minutes. Uncover, dot with remaining butter and bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fully tender.

(While I don’t recommend freezing this recipe, the leftovers do reheat beautifully.)

*To make gluten-free, I substituted 2 tbsp Cassava f lour with excellent results.

INGREDIENTS

1 (6 oz.) package Chicken Stuffing Mix 1/2 cup Melted Butter 6 cups Zucchini, diced (about 3 medium) 3 cups Cooked Chicken (Rotisserie works great!)

1 (10.75 oz.) can Cream of Chicken Soup 1/2 cup Onion, diced 1/2 cup Sour Cream Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9x13” glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the stuffing mix and melted butter. Set aside 3/4 cup of the stuffing mixture for topping. Add zucchini, cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, onion and sour cream to the stuffing in the large bowl.

Spread zucchini mixture in an even layer in the prepared dish. Sprinkle reserved stuffing mix on top and bake, uncovered, for 40-50 minutes or until cooked through and the top is golden brown.

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St. Philip the Deacon

Sharing Comfort Food When someone experiences a big life change—loss of a loved one, serious illness or a new baby—our first reaction is to bring food to help ease the burden.

Consider the following tips to make the most of your food gift.

1.

Use a disposable dish. Your recipient will appreciate not having to worry about returning the container.

2.

Consider non-casserole items.

Most people gravitate toward cozy, warm dishes. But the gift of a fresh salad, egg bake or breakfast pastries may be perfect.

3.

Does it freeze well? In the early days, many people will bring gifts of food to families—maybe even more than they can eat. Consider making your recipe freezer ready and including instructions for cooking.

4.

Ask about special diets or picky eaters. Although it’s the thought that counts, a food gift that acknowledges a dairy allergy or picky toddler is much more useful to a family in crisis.

5.

Often a close friend or relative will organize a meal calendar, like Meal Train, to help schedule meals. This helps to space out meals and avoid everyone coming at once. Ask how you can be a part of the schedule, or if one does not exist, consider organizing it.

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

34

Worlds

Apart,

Near at Heart

BY AMANDA BERGER

INSPIRE

St. Philip the Deacon

Many people dream of the first trip they will take post-COVID. SPD member Kit Spangler longs to return to China, his “home away from home” since he visited for the first time in 1990 as a student.

The

recent quarantine marked one of the longest seasons of staying home for Spangler in a long time. Fluent in Mandarin and having worked extensively throughout China for most of his adult life, Spangler, who is currently Director of Strategy and Business Development-China for Diamond V, a division of Cargill, is missing friends and colleagues. “I spent 155 days in China in 2019—and my most recent trip was in January of 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning,” said Spangler. While he admits to not having a lot of time for sightseeing during his business trips to China, Spangler has also enjoyed taking trips to share this beloved country with his family.

China, as one of the oldest civilizations in the world and one of its fastest growing, has a rich history spanning millennia.

When Westerners arrive in China, Spangler noted, they are often overwhelmed, largely due to the language barrier and difficulty communicating. But Spangler was quick to say that travelers do not need to be afraid of China, and that it is possible to navigate the country in a way that allows visitors to encounter and engage meaningfully with Chinese people. While it is good to see the major tourist sites, like The Great Wall and the Forbidden City, Spangler also urges getting off the beaten path to see the “real” China and meet its people.

“I probably have more friends in China than here at home,” Spangler shared. “One thing I’ve learned in so many years of travel to China is that people are people. They are pretty much the same no matter who they are, and language is our biggest barrier. But when we talk, we talk about their kids and families—like conversations you’d have with anyone anywhere.”

Spangler has had the chance to travel with many other business associates and with family, and almost to a person their initial reaction to China has been the same: “They are amazed—it’s

35

nothing like they thought it would be. The people are nice and it’s very modern. They question what they’ve been told about China because what they see doesn’t match up.”

Spangler is concerned about the current political tensions between the United States and China, and the fear that seems to be spreading about China in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

He believes that Americans, in general, are quick to condemn a country with a history and system of governance that they don’t understand. “China was a world power 500-700 years ago. They went through a rough spell with exposure to the West. World War II was horrible for China,” says Spangler, who has a Masters degree in Chinese language/Chinese modern history and politics. “They’ve had their own internal revolution and cultural revolution, and now after so many years, they’re back on an upward trajectory.”

“People don’t need to be afraid of China. We need to engage China.” Spangler believes deeply in citizens’ diplomacy—the belief that as visitors and travelers we have a role to play in representing our own countries of origin. Spangler tries to live by the adage “You may be the only Christ that people run into,” thereby allowing his faith to inform his interactions with people as he travels, modeling compassion, generosity and service. “When I talk with my friends in China, we share our concerns about the relationship between our two countries. We talk about the current state of the COVID pandemic. He’s concerned about us—and he’s in Beijing.” It is interactions like this that remind us how very small the world really is.

36

FA M I L I A R FA C E S JOAN HARPER

1.

Describe when you knew you’d be going into ministry.

It was never a conscious effort on my part to go into ministry. I grew up going to church and being involved in church activities. My parents were part of committees and groups at church so the congregation would grow and thrive. I did think about attending the deaconess which was available through the church body I attended growing up. In the end, I think the Lord was just grooming me to be welcoming and interested in sharing the Gospel. At SPD, I just ref lect the welcome I received on my first visit.

2.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I played field hockey in college. Not because I was very athletic, but I knew the rules of the game from high school gym class. I did get to play.

Joan Harper’s bright smile and welcoming presence make you feel at home from the moment you walk in the door at St. Philip the Deacon. Joan has served as hospitality and wedding coordinator since 2004.

3.

What are three things on your lifetime to-do list? I would love to take some glass blowing lessons (I know someone to help me with that endeavor!), visit the Grand Canyon and travel to Australia and New Zealand.

4.

How do you take care of yourself—spiritually, emotionally and physically—so that you stay healthy in ministry?

Prior to the stay-at-home orders, I enjoyed Zumba classes when I was able. (It is more fun in a group than in my living room.)

Emotionally, I have friends and family that I can talk to and feel safe letting my feelings out if needed. Spiritually, I am blessed to work with great Christian people, and we can take the time to pray for one another and ask for prayers as well. Sabbath rest is another part of my self-care. This usually involves a nap and time with my family.

5.

What are you passionate about right now? At this time, my passion is that we can take the time and effort to get to know others in a loving and kind way. You may be surprised to learn the things you have in common.

Public Conversations Where Faith Comes to Life

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M I K E S I N G L E TA R Y

October 1, 2020 PAUL GR A NGA A RD

November 5, 2020 JOSH STR AUB

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March 25, 2021 N AO M I T U T U

May 5, 2021 All lectures begin at 7:00 p.m.

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