Inspire: Stillness

INSPIRE STILLNESS

a magazine for the st. philip the deacon community winter 2022

Blue Christmas • Time in the Mission Field: An Interview with Dave Robison • Capturing Stillness • Getting Still • Lessons Learned from a Labrador

For anyone who is new to yoga or our YogaFaith practice, or would like a little refresher on the basics of the practice. Taught by Amanda Berger, YA-200. Register at spdlc.org/register.

Public conversations where faith comes to life.

The Faith & Life Lectures are open and welcoming public forums where members of the Twin Cities community can hear nationally known speakers reflect on how Christian faith intersects with different dimensions of everyday life. We invite you to join us for the 2022-2023 series of lectures.

COLE ARTHUR RILEY

March 9, 2023

MICHAEL CURRY

May 16, 2023

All events scheduled will be offered both in-person and via livestream. All lectures begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.faith-and-life.org

INSPIRE

Vol. 5 , Issue 2 , Winter 2022

Published by St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church 17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447 (763) 475-7100

editor in chief Tim Westermeyer managing editor Amanda Berger design Malley Design staff writers Cheryl Mathison, Kate Sterner contributors Valerie Strand Patterson, Mark Schmid website spdlc.org/inspire

email editorial aberger@spdlc.org on the cover

Photo by Adam Gonzales

©2022 St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church. All rights reserved.

submissions

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.

20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Potato.

His long orange and white body, capped with a striped tail and his flashing yellow eyes, have changed our family. Affectionately known as Tater, he delights us with his twitching tail, his fear of shoes and his persistent 3:30 a.m. desire for petting.

We didn’t think we were pet people at all. Neither me nor my husband, Mark, grew up with animals. They were fine for other people, but we didn’t really feel the need to have one at our house. Then, after months of asking, we finally caved into our daughter’s persistent requests for a furry friend. Scouring shelter and adoption sites, Charlotte fell hard for Tater. But when we contacted the shelter, someone else had already begun the adoption process and he was no longer available.

But then, just a week or so later, the shelter contacted us saying that the adop -

tion had fallen through—and would we still like to meet Tater?

It was an immediate yes, and he came to live with us just a few days later. Much to our surprise, all of us fell in love with Tater. And in just the six short months that he’s been with us, he’s taught me so much about stillness.

Tater’s world is comprised of about 85% stillness. There is his quiet watching of the world, endlessly fascinated by what’s happening just outside the window. There is his intense stillness right before a playful pounce—alert and focused on just one thing. There is Tater’s deep resting stillness, curled in the sunshine. There is a different kind of stillness as he leans into being petted.

As humans, we can cultivate similar kinds of stillness in the presence of God. The quiet tranquility of prayer. Watchful stillness as we meditate on the beauty and

suffering of the world around us. Alert, focused calm as we listen for the still, small voice of God. The renewal of the deep, restful peace of honoring sabbath.

Among the gifts of unconditional love, acceptance and joy that we can find in our animal friends, I think we can also learn a lot about stillness from our pets— as you will read in Mark Schmid’s article on page 28.

For those without pets, our “Stillness” issue offers other ways to slow down, find rest and stillness in the midst of a beautiful and busy season. We invite you to explore this issue slowly, savoring the visual meditation curated by Cheryl Mathison (pg. 12) or sink softly into the poetry selections on page 22. There’s so much here to linger over and find the peace of Christ within.

“Still, still, still One can hear the falling snow

For all is hushed The world is sleeping Holy star, its vigil keeping Still, still, still One can hear the falling snow.”

From “Still, Still, Still” an Austrian Christmas Carol

Merry Christmas and peace for the New Year, from Mark, Amanda and Charlotte Berger. And Tater, too.

This past summer, we welcomed a new addition to our family: Mashed

SPD BOOK CLUB

Book club meets both in-person (at SPD in The Fireside Room) and digitally at 6:30 p.m. Find the Zoom link in our most recent E-newsletter or by contacting social@spdlc.org.

DECEMBER

No Book Club Meets .

JANUARY 17

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown. Discussion led by Susan Path.

FEBRUARY 21

Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by Bishop Michael Curry. Discussion led by Olsen Pancoast.

SCRIPTURE CONNECTION

BY CHERYL MATHISON

Some of us, at least some of the time, wear busy like a badge of honor. While we know that excessive busyness can impact our physical health (fatigue, headaches, restlessness), our mental health (anxiety, frustration, overwhelm), and our spiritual health (disconnected from God, isolation, hopelessness), slowing down and letting go can be difficult.

Perhaps that is why the invitation to be still shows up so frequently in the Bible. It first appears in the creation story when after six days of work God rests, a non-action that we are called to imitate. But rest is just the beginning. If rest is the absence of work, then still is the presence of being.

The Hebrew word for still can be translated many ways including: sink down, relax, stop striving and be unoccupied. My favorite is a rather obscure translation that suggests stand empty. It suggests entering the presence of God with no agenda, no petitions, no urgency, just a quiet heart and some time. It is an exercise in trust, attention, knowledge and presence

EXODUS 14:14

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”

Keeping still while letting go of the worries and demands of the day requires a deep trust that the world can do without you for a bit and that your time in the presence of God will be protected by God.

I SAMUEL 12:16

“Now therefore stand still and see this

great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.”

Busyness can blind us from seeing how and where God is at work in our lives, in the lives of others and in the world. Stillness allows us to slow down so that we give attention to and notice the activity of our good God.

PSALM 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God!”

The psalmist is very clear here that in stillness we gain knowledge ; we come to know God, God’s character, and God’s deep love for the world.

I KINGS 19:11-12

“He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.”

As is made clear here in this story about Elijah, sometimes God makes himself known in sheer silence. Only when we are still and quiet, attentive and present, can we hear God’s voice and experience his presence

Consider this invitation: May you enter the seasons of Advent and Christmas with a quiet stillness that draws you deeply into the wonder and mystery of the Incarnation—God made flesh.

Faith & Life

Cole Arthur Riley is a writer and poet. She is the author of the NYT bestseller This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Guernica, The Boston Globe and The Washington Post.

Cole currently serves as the spiritual teacher in residence with Cornell University’s Office of Spirituality and Meaning Making. She is also the creator of Black Liturgies, a space that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature, and the Black body; and a project of The Center for Dignity and Contemplation where she serves as Curator.

Join us for her conversation on Faith & The Body: Reclaiming our Createdness.

The Faith & Life Lecture Series is free and open to the public. All are welcome!

Read

WHOLEHEARTED FAITH

By Rachel Held Evans. When Rachel Held Evans died at age 39 in 2019, she left behind a partially completed manuscript, tons of notes and

many blogs posts, talks and other books which her friend Jeff Chu has edited into a beautiful testament to an evolving faith.

Watch

KEEPER OF TIME

Keeperoftimemovie.com. This documentary explores theories and philosophies of time, aging and mortality with the context of watchmaking and horology.

Featuring four worldrenowned watchmakers, “Keeper of Time” is the first feature documentary about mechanical watchmaking.

Listen ON A COLD WINTER’S DAY

By Quadriga Consort. A unique and interesting collection of songs and carols from the British Isles done with a nod to their traditional origins alongside modern interpretation. The songs

feature harpsicord, viola di gamba, baroque cello, recorder and voice. While there are a few familiar carols, many will be new to most.

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

One of my favorite sentences from one of my favorite essays by C.S. Lewis is: “We live in a world starved for solitude, silence, and privacy: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.”

Could there be a more perfect summary of the theme of this issue?

Stillness, of course, suggests or implies each of the things Lewis mentions in that sentence— solitude, silence and privacy. Just as it suggests the “three words” at the start of this issue—silently, slowly, softly.

Lewis wrote those words in 1945, just as the second world war was coming to a conclusion. His complaint at that time was that there was precious little time to be alone. We live “in a crowd,” he wrote. “Caucus has replaced friendship.” And, he goes on, even when “someone is left physically by himself, the wireless has seen to it that he will be ... never less alone than when alone.”

The wireless. That was one of Lewis’s concerns in 1945—making him worried that time by ourselves, alone with our thoughts, being still, was being robbed from us.

What do you think he would say about our world today, where each of us walks around

at all times with a device that most certainly assures us that we will never be alone, that we will never have silence, and that we will never have privacy? He would, I think, be even more deeply concerned than he was in 1945.

In 1670, nearly three centuries before Lewis— and long before the wireless had been invented—French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote something similar to Lewis’ sentence: “All of humanity’s problems,” he reflected, “stem from our inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” And again, I ask: What do you think Pascal would say if he saw the state of the world in 2022? He certainly wouldn’t be filled with hope that we had discovered better ways over the last few centuries to “sit quietly in a room alone.”

Friends, as suggested throughout this issue, might I encourage you to find some time this season to be still? To be quiet? To be alone? If Lewis and Pascal—and countless others—are right, it may not only be good for you. It may also be good for the world.

In Stillness,

MEDITATION

“Stillness makes for a capable mirror. Look down in a rough and fast current, and you won’t see a thing. Still water allows you to lean in without danger and really see yourself. And in doing so, you may remember a liberty over yourself that is easily forgotten when things are jostling you about.”

COLE ARTHUR RILEY, THIS HERE FLESH

DEVOTED LIVING

Blue Christmas

BY VALERIE STRAND PATTERSON

“‘Comfort, comfort My people,’ says your God, ‘with gentle words, tender and kind …’” ISAIAH 40:1 (THE VOICE)

The joys of the season— Christmas music playing everywhere, lively decorations, cheerful gatherings of happy families and friends— can feel like a sharp contrast to the reality of one who is grieving an empty place at their table. People who are grieving losses of all kinds can feel set apart, outside, out of step, as the holidays magnify their feelings of loss and loneliness.

This is the reality of life. Grief and loss happen to everyone and is not a problem to be solved, but a natural response to losing someone we love, a response that needs compassionate tending. Grief needs tending, even when the rest of the world seems to be rejoicing. In this season, we remember that the heart of God became human flesh, not because the world was perfect, but because the world was and is hurting and broken, and in profound need of our Savior.

At St. Philip the Deacon, we create a sacred space for those who are grieving during the holidays, our Blue Christmas service. We acknowledge that we come to God exactly as we are, hurting, lonely, in need of loving community, acceptance and comfort for losses new and old.

“The Blue Christmas service is a safe place to acknowledge and reflect that the Christmas season is not filled with all joy for me but also feelings of loss and sadness,” said Patty Moorse. “It

is a time to remember those I’m not able to celebrate with, feel comforted by God’s presence and provide assurance that one day I will be able to experience joy with all once again.”

The music for this service is meditative, yet most certainly a Christmas service welcoming the birth of the Savior. We engage in a litany focused on the Advent Wreath, first lighting a candle for Christ and for all who yearn from peace and hope. We light another candle for the memory of those we mourn and miss, another for compassion given and received, then one for wisdom that leads to acceptance and peace, and finally one for faith, acknowledging that it can be a flame that flickers as we mourn. We share in Holy Communion and are nourished by Jesus, the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome.

In our Blue Christmas service, we invite the Savior into all of our hurting places and remember that there is hope and comfort, because Love Comes Down: Immanuel, God With Us. “Whether your loss is recent or long ago, attending the Blue Christmas service is an amazing way to slow down and remember those important people in our lives that are no longer here to celebrate the miracle of Christmas with us in person,” said Cheryl Johnson. “It gives me the opportunity to celebrate Christmas but in a quiet, calm and reflective service where it is OK to feel sad and shed a few tears.”

You are invited to join in our Blue Christmas service on Monday, December 19, at 7 p.m. We also encourage you to extend the invitation to this service to friends, relatives or neighbors who are in need of this kind of tender care and recognition of their suffering during this season.

MEMORY TREE

For those who would like to offer a visual remembrance of their loved ones during this holiday season, we offer our Memory Tree in the columbarium on the north side of the SPD building. There is a bin located near the tree where you will find an ornament on which you can write the name of the one being remembered. Then, place the ornament on the tree, knowing that you are not alone in your grief.

For those who grieve, the holiday season can be especially difficult.

GETTING

STILL

BY AMANDA BERGER

The following list includes many ways to slow down and find stillness. Stillness in this sense is not exclusively understood as being without motion, but as different ways to let us disengage the mind from the busy thoughts, inner monologue and constant action of everyday life. Each of these things engages the five senses in different ways. Fill in the spaces at the end to add a few ideas of your own!

Sit in a comfy chair and watch the snow fall.

Pour your favorite hot beverage with intention, and then enjoy it without doing anything else at the same time.

Take a break from technology—phones, computers, TV—notice how much it fills your time and occupies your mind. Have a face-to-face conversation with someone.

Go for a walk—without listening to music, a podcast or a phone call. Just the sounds of the world around you. Read a book.

Try out a little self-massage, focusing on your hands and forearms. Listen to music as your sole activity. Better yet, if you play an instrument or sing, consider doing it just for the joy of doing it, not practicing or performing. Take a nap.

15. Try out photography. Nearly all of us have phones capable of fun photography. See what beauty you can capture.

10. 11. 12 . 13. 14 .

01. 09. 17. 18 . 19. 20. 21.

Gather some art supplies for drawing or painting, without any particular goal in mind. Notice how the pen, pencil or brush feels in your hand. What colors speak to you? Work on a puzzle (jigsaw, crossword or sudoku) not on a device.

02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08.

Eat a meal alone, without watching TV or reading at the same time, savoring each flavor and texture.

Try a new craft project— knitting, whittling, cross stitch or sewing. Play Solitaire (with actual cards). Enjoy some quality time with your pet—cuddling or walking—enjoying each other. Look into their eyes, truly feel their fur or skin. Notice the rhythm of their breath.

16.

Pray, meditate or spend time in contemplation for 20 minutes.

Watch the birds. Bake bread.

Fill in your idea:

Fill in your idea:

Fill in your idea:

WATCH IN STILLNESS

It may seem strange to turn to YouTube for inspiration for meditation and stillness, but we’ve found several channels that offer videos that do just that! These videos invite you to walk through calm, beautiful, natural or historic places:

YouTube.com/NomadicAmbience YouTube.com/EverywhereIsImagined YouTube.com/RelaxationChannel YouTube.com/StockholmWalks YouTube.com/Fagelguiden

Compiled by Kate Sterner.

CAPTURING STILLNESS

PHOTOS & CAPTIONS BY SUSAN RAMLET WRITTEN BY CHERYL MATHISON

OPPOSITE PAGE

What more can be said about the Moon that hasn’t been said in poetry and prose? I’m fascinated by the vastness of space and the possibility it brings. Technology such as lenses and rockets help us explore and understand. The Moon as our nearest visible celestial neighbor is a thing of beauty and wonder, in all its phases. Taken from my backyard on a tripod.

THIS PAGE, ABOVE

This photo was taken in my backyard; the tree hangs over from our back neighbor. Hoarfrost is a rare and wonderful thing, when the whole world seems frosted and almost fake, like a perfect department store holiday display. This photo recalls the peace of a snowy walk, when everything is quiet except crunchy footfalls.

THIS PAGE, RIGHT

I love to examine the crystalline structures that snowflakes form. Did you know they’re always in six sections? It’s amazing they don’t all shatter on impact, but each one melts instantaneously on your finger. For a brief lifespan, their beauty is exquisite. Some say that geometry in nature is evidence of a Creator. Designs by humans often mimic patterns found in nature. This is an extreme close-up of a little blob of snow (about the diameter of a pencil eraser) on our patio chair.

The composition of this photo is peaceful to me. From clouds to sky to trees, from water to ice, I was drawn to the patterns, layers and reflected colors of the sunrise. This was taken on a morning walk in the neighborhood.

THIS PAGE, LEFT

The dandelion is quite a lovely flower. Rain and green and light remind me that spring and freshness and warmth will come again, and what a treasure each individual flower—even a weed—can be for some critter or another. This was taken on a morning walk in the neighborhood.

THIS PAGE, RIGHT

This was a labor of love—the weather and light conditions and bubble formula must be right for this to work! This was a soap bubble I blew (after many failed attempts) and captured as it froze before my eyes. The beauty of the bubble and the slow crystallization are fun to watch, and it reminds me that winter is a beautiful (and fun) season.

It may seem futile to encourage stillness at one of the busiest times of the year, and yet, quite likely, this is the season when we need it most. From Thanksgiving right on into the month of January so many demands are made on our time. Semesters come to an end and finals begin. Calendars fill quickly with invitations to parties and celebrations. To-do lists are ever expanding. While the Bible encourages stillness (see Scripture Connection article), stepping back from all the activity is both difficult and challenging ... though, it is not impossible.

Making time to enter mindfully into the presence of God at any time of the year offers countless benefits including calming the mind, soothing the body, and recharging the spirit. The images here invite us to a place of quiet. Each one evokes a strong sense of stillness, having captured a single moment in time. You are invited to linger over these images and enjoy the peace that comes with stillness.

Our photographer is St. Philip the Deacon member Susan Ramlet. You may recognize her as a member of the quartet and section leader for the Sanctuary Choir. Beyond SPD music, she sings as a freelancer with several groups around the Twin Cities. For her “day job” she manages a team of User Experience Researchers and Designers in the Information Technology division of Medtronic. And, on top of that, she is an avid photographer. Her photos have won awards, including

the first-place prize (2022) in the City of Golden Valley “Views of the Valley” for the frozen bubble photo you see above. Reflecting on her music, work and art, Susan said, “I am drawn to things that live at the intersection of art and science, which for me, is the thread that connects music, technology and photography.” (And, I should add, as you will see in the notes accompanying each photo, Susan is also a talented writer.)

In reflecting on photography as an act of stillness, Susan explained, “For me, photography is a vehicle for mindfulness. Like most of us, I have a busy brain that is constantly scanning, worrying and planning. When I see a color or object or shape, or something fleeting, tiny or seemingly insignificant, my camera has the ability to stop time and let me just focus on that one small thing for a while, while I try to capture the ideal image. I have been surprised to find an hour or two easily passed in pursuit of a bee on a sunflower.”

Brené Brown wrote in The Gifts of Imperfection , “Stillness is not about focusing on nothingness; it’s about creating a clearing. It’s opening up an emotionally clutter-free space.” May you find in these images a clearing, a clutter-free space, and a moment of peace and stillness where you meet God.

For me, photography is a vehicle for mindfulness."

LANGUAGE OF SILENCE

BY AMANDA BERGER

MAKING SPACE FOR STILLNESS AND SILENCE in our lives has gained in popularity over the last couple of decades because of its many HEALTH BENEFITS , especially as a means of REDUCING STRESS . Though Eastern meditation is more familiar within popular culture, Christianity has its own RICH TRADITION of practices which invite more STILLNESS AND QUIET into our devotional lives.

PRAYER MEDITATION CONTEMPLATION

Prayer is the practice of words. Although there are as many ways to pray as there are people in the world, prayer is defined as a practice of opening up to God—articulating our praise and our requests, offering our confessions and our gratitude. Prayer is verbal—whether our own personal prayer or the corporate prayers of worship—and is full of words and petitions, whether unvoiced or said aloud. This devotional practice is all about pouring out our hearts to God as a deeply receptive listener.

Meditation is the practice of listening. Christian meditation invites us to quiet our own minds, so that we might be more receptive to the word of God. Using scripture or an image to engage our imagination, meditation is where we listen for the voice of our Creator. We focus our thoughts in a way that provides a deeper understanding of God or some aspect of our lives of faith. Sitting in stillness and reflecting on the things of God provides us with deeper insight into God’s created world and invites us to develop an awareness of the nearness of God. From this awareness, we find deeper calm, quiet and peace. In a world defined by first impressions, busyness and speed, meditation asks us to slow down and go deeper. It is an invitation to less, in which we find more of God.

Contemplation is the practice of being. Contemplation differs from both prayer and meditation in that there are no words—there’s no inner monologue and no dialogue with God. It is the practice of resting in God. In contemplation we come to a place that is beyond words, where deep understanding and holy, unconditional love become the only language between God and God’s beloved.

“God’s first language is Silence. Everything else is a translation.”

Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O.

Kahlil Gibran

“A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.”

A.W. Tozer

Within our devotional life, we may find ourselves using all these practices of stillness. Prayer may give way to meditation, as we spill our own hearts and then listen for God’s response. Meditation is often a prelude to contemplation as we become more comfortable with quiet and stilling our own minds. Each practice draws us more deeply into relationship with God and calls us to “be still and know” (Psalm 46), where we let go of everything else and focus our entire attention on knowing God more.

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVE ROBISON

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

9 3 TIME IN THE MISSION FIELD

In this issue’s interview, Pastor Tim Westermeyer has a wideranging conversation with an American-born missionary to Japan who he met through YouTube. Dave Robison was born in California and did some short-term missionary work in Japan— where his mother is from—which led to his realization that he felt called to do missionary work there more permanently.

long the way, Robison also created a YouTube channel focusing on affordable wristwatches (yes, you heard that right). Dave and Pastor Tim connected through episode #124 of Pastor Tim’s own weekly podcast (YouTube. com/ReflectionsonFaith) in which he talks about the unexpected connections between watches and faith. We look forward to hosting Robison when he joins us for this year’s Faith & Life on February 9 at 7 p.m.

So, your job description is a bit ... unusual. You’re an American-born, Christian missionary living in Japan, who spends a fair amount of time and energy creating a YouTube channel that focuses on reviewing affordable watches. Let’s unpack that a bit, beginning with your own upbringing and background. Where did you grow up and how did you decide to become a missionary? I’m an American, born in Southern California, but my grandmother on my mother’s side was Japanese. That heritage definitely played a part in leading me to Japan. My father was a pastor, but when I was young, I never saw myself going into full-time ministry. I had a talent for working on computers, so I decided the best way I could serve God with my life was to do computer work for a missions agency. I went to a Christian college and majored in IT, with a minor in Bible. When I was a student, I had the chance to go on a short-term missions trip to Japan; and after graduating

I went to work for the JESUS Film Project where I had more opportunities to travel to Japan. Through those experiences with short-term missions, I felt God leading me to become a missionary.

And why did you choose Japan as your mission field? When I went to Japan for the first time in college, my main motivation was to experience my grandmother’s home culture. But after spending the summer there teaching English at a Japanese church, I was shocked at how few Christians there were in Japan. Most estimates put the Christian population in Japan somewhere between 0.5% to 1.5%. I also noticed that Japanese churches had a heart to reach their people with the Gospel, but really needed more ministry workers to accomplish that goal. After four short-term trips to Japan, I began to feel God was leading me to move there permanently to work alongside Japanese Christians to help plant new churches.

Incidentally I also met my wife in Japan during my first trip to Japan. She was the daughter of the pastor of the church we were working with. I think that was just one more way of God confirming my call to Japan!

And I presume you’re teaching and communicating in Japanese? How is that going? Would you say you are becoming “fluent”? I didn’t speak any Japanese when I first arrived

here but spent the first two years doing full-time language study. We’re planting a church in a rural town in Japan that was heavily damaged by the 2011 tsunami, and very few people here speak English. So, most of my work, including preaching and helping with community events for elderly tsunami survivors, is in Japanese. After being here for almost 10 years I can communicate pretty well, but I still get lost easily in conversations. I feel like I’m still working my way toward fluency.

You just had a child recently. Can you say a bit about your family? What is it like to be the wife or children of a missionary in Japan? We have four children, and our youngest just turned one. Our oldest was born in the U.S. and our other three children were all born in Japan. My wife is Japanese, and our kids look more Japanese than American, and so far, they’re blending in pretty well. Our kids are bilingual and go to Japanese schools, so Japan feels like home for them. And since my wife grew up here, she’s pretty comfortable as well.

So, to your YouTube channel. How did that start? And why? When I was young, I used to always love wearing a watch, but like a lot of people my age I stopped wearing one after I got a cell phone. I rediscovered the convenience of wearing a watch after moving to Japan and stumbled across some YouTube channels dedicated to wrist

"After spending the summer there teaching English at a Japanese church, I was shocked at how few Christians there were in Japan."

III IX

watches. I got the urge to try to build my own affordable watch collection. My younger brother had a YouTube channel at the time where he reviewed board games, and he encouraged me to start a watch review channel. Initially I set a goal of posting one video a week for a year and see where the channel was after that. In the first year I got up to 1,000 subscribers. I was having fun, so I just kept at it.

How did you come up with the title of your channel: Just the Watch? Is there some special meaning behind it? My original channel name was “Horology on the Cheap.” But after a few videos I decided it wasn’t a great name, not many people outside of watch collecting knew what horology meant, and “cheap” has a lot of negative connotations attached to it. I couldn’t think up any other name, until I did one video that was only video of a watch with no talking. I titled that video “Just the Watch,” and then afterwards decided that would be a better channel name than Horology on the Cheap, so I chose that. To me “Just the Watch” means something along the lines of “this is ‘just the watch’ I needed.”

In the past, you’ve mentioned that some of your family and friends aren’t even aware that you have that channel. Does that make it feel like you’re living two parallel lives? It did for the longest time. I was really embarrassed

about having a YouTube channel, particularly one about watches. Since I didn’t really get into watches until after I moved to Japan, most of my friends and family in the U.S. had no idea I was interested in them. There’s still a lot of my old friends in the U.S. that don’t know that I have a YouTube channel, but I’ve gotten more comfortable letting people know. I even went back to the U.S. this past summer to give some reports to churches about our work in Japan and had someone I’d never met recognize me from my watch channel!

What watch do you find yourself wearing most these days (wrist check)? And are there particular trends you’re seeing in the watch

VI

industry right now in terms of the kinds of watches you review? Lately I’ve been wearing a Seiko Alpinist Field watch a lot. It’s a reissue of Seiko’s first sports watch designed for Japanese mountain climbers. I’ve really gotten deeper into Japanese watch brands, which is kind of natural given where I live. One of the big trends in the affordable end of the watch spectrum is automatic GMT watches. GMT watches have an extra hand that allows you to see the time in two time zones at once. Seiko provides a lot of the mechanical movements for the watch industry, and they just released a new movement that’s enabling GMT watches to be produced at a lower price point than ever before.

Have there been opportunities to share your faith at all on your channel? If so, have those been well received by your audience, or have they been resistant to those efforts? I’ve had a few chances and I’m always looking for natural ways to work to talk about my faith. It’s been a strange thing to see my channel’s audience grow, to the point that there are about 70,000 people each week that watch one of my videos, compared to less than 5 people who hear me preach at our church plant each week. So, while I tend to think of the watch channel as my hobby, and the mission field as my calling, it’s humbling to think that God has put me in a situation where I’m able to get in front of so many people daily through videos. I definitely want people to know that as much fun as I have with watches, Christ is by far the most important thing in my life.

On videos where I do talk specifically about spiritual things, or when I mention my background as a missionary, the most common response I get is from Christians who are encouraged to see another Christian in a public place. Many seem to feel that modern culture has a negative view of Christians, and so it’s risky to identify yourself as one. I do get some negative responses sometimes when I talk about my faith, but for the most part even those are mostly polite.

Are there lessons you’ve learned from your work on the YouTube channel that translate to or informs your missionary work? Or more broadly, do you think there are lessons a congregation might apply from what you’ve learned as we work to share the Gospel using digital media? I think running the YouTube channel has really opened my eyes to what a powerful way of communicating and connecting with people online video has become. I’ve also learned a lot about creating videos and building an audience. When I think about my work among the Japanese, I know that many Japanese are reluctant to come to a Christian church but watch a lot of YouTube. So, in the future I would love to find the time to start a Japanese language YouTube channel covering Christian topics.

The theme of this issue is “Stillness.” Related words we’re using to organize the issue are “silently,” “slowly” and “softly.” When you hear words like that, what do you think of as it relates to the life of faith? We live in a world where it’s increasingly difficult to find space to be still and quiet. The demands of work, family, friends, hobbies all call for attention. And I think for many of us it feels like taking time to be still and silent is either a luxury we don’t have or a waste of time. The rare moments when I find myself in between tasks with nothing to

do, I’m always tempted to open my phone and fill the time. And yet Christ himself modeled times of quiet, solitary prayer and fellowship with God as something essential to our life of faith. I think this is a practice we as Christians seem to have lost and need to recover.

You’ll be with us in February for the Faith & Life series with a talk on “Faith & YouTube: Reaching the World with Videos.” What can people expect to hear when they come out to see you? YouTube has become a worldwide public square where people have instant access to videos about every topic imaginable. It’s a place where people congregate not only to watch videos but to ask questions, have discussions and get inspired. Anyone with a camera and a microphone has the potential to impact the lives of millions of people. In some ways it can be looked at like a mission field all of its own, and like all mission fields it’s a place where the hope of Christ is desperately needed. Christians living in this generation have a unique opportunity to speak to people all over the world without even leaving their house. I’ll tell you about how I started talking about watches online, and eventually found myself with an audience of tens of thousands of people with whom I had the chance to share my life and faith. And I’ll tell you how you can do the same.

"I think for many of us it feels like taking time to be still and silent is either a luxury we don’t have or a waste of time."

The Stillness of Poetry

CURATED BY KATE STERNER

Poetry is an art form perfectly designed to invite us to slow down and listen, considering the power of words to create images and emotions in our minds.

When we decided that the theme for this issue of Inspire was “Stillness,” my first

thought was to remember a poem that I love, “The Breathing,” by Denise Levertov. Read it, and you cannot help but to slow down, to imagine a complete and blissful stillness, a fleeting moment in time. What favorite poems do you know that bring you to stillness and give you a chance to exist only in the moment? Here are three that make me stop and listen.

The Breathing

BY DENISE LEVERTOV

An absolute patience. Trees stand up to their knees in fog. The fog slowly flows uphill. White cobwebs, the grass leaning where deer have looked for apples. The woods from brook to where the top of the hill looks over the fog, send up not one bird. So absolute, it is no other than happiness itself, a breathing too quiet to hear.

Permission: Public domain. No permissions required.

The Wise Men

BY G.K. CHESTERTON

Step softly, under snow or rain,     To find the place where men can pray; The way is all so very plain     That we may lose the way.

Oh, we have learnt to peer and pore     On tortured puzzles from our youth, We know all the labyrinthine lore, We are the three wise men of yore,     And we know all things but truth.

We have gone round and round the hill     And lost the wood among the trees, And learnt long names for every ill, And serve the made gods, naming still     The furies the Eumenides.

The gods of violence took the veil     Of vision and philosophy, The Serpent that brought all men bale, He bites his own accursed tail,     And calls himself Eternity.

Go humbly ... it has hailed and snowed ...     With voices low and lanterns lit; So very simple is the road,     That we may stray from it.

The world grows terrible and white,     And blinding white the breaking day;

We walk bewildered in the light, For something is too large for sight,     And something much too plain to say.

The Child that was ere worlds begun     (... We need but walk a little way, We need but see a latch undone ...) The Child that played with moon and sun     Is playing with a little hay.

The house from which the heavens are fed,     The old strange house that is our own, Where trick of words are never said, And Mercy is as plain as bread,     And Honour is as hard as stone.

Go humbly, humble are the skies,     And low and large and fierce the Star; So very near the Manger lies     That we may travel far.

Hark! Laughter like a lion wakes     To roar to the resounding plain. And the whole heaven shouts and shakes, For God Himself is born again, And we are little children walking     Through the snow and rain.

Permission: Public domain. No permissions required.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

BY ROBERT FROST

Whose woods these are I think I know.   His house is in the village though;   He will not see me stopping here   To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer   To stop without a farmhouse near   Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake   To ask if there is some mistake.   The only other sound’s the sweep   Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   But I have promises to keep,   And miles to go before I sleep,   And miles to go before I sleep.

Permission: Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” from The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem. Copyright 1923, © 1969 by Henry Holt and Company, Inc., renewed 1951, by Robert Frost. Reprinted with the permission of Henry Holt and Company, LLC. Source: Collected Poems, Prose, & Plays (Library of America, 1995)

One Shelf in the Room

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

In my Reflections on Faith piece earlier in this issue, I reference one of my favorite sentences from C.S. Lewis: “We live in a world starved for solitude, silence, and privacy: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.”

As I mentioned there, that sentence is deeply connected to the theme of this issue—stillness. And that theme, in turn, is connected to one of my favorite things: namely, books.

Why? Well, when we read, we are still. When we read, we are silent. When

we read, we are usually alone and by ourselves—in the privacy of our thoughts.

Personally, I find those things to be one of the gifts that books bring to my life. They allow me to slow down, to pause from the interruptions that my phone and computer create, and to—well, be still.

In addition to that gift of stillness, I also find in my books something else that Lewis lifts up in that sentence—namely, true friendship.

As I sit here in my office at church writing these words, I am surrounded by my small library of books. These books are written

by authors over the past two millennia and include wisdom from some of the most faithful and thoughtful individuals who have ever lived. Those authors—people like St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers, Frederick Buechner, Flannery O’Connor, Marilynne Robinson, and yes, C.S. Lewis—have become, in a very real way, my guides, my mentors, my conversation partners and my friends. And, I pray that through my relationships with each of them, I am able to be a better friend to others in my life as well.

Finally, in addition to the words and ideas that these authors communicate to me through their books—and the friendship I

feel for them—I also happen to be someone who has always loved and appreciated books as physical objects. I love the materials—the paper, the binding—I love the way the type is set on the page, and I love the fact that for some of my first edition copies of books, I am connected in a physical and tangible way to the time the author wrote. When I hold or read these handful of first editions that have a pride of place on my library shelves, I feel moved to slow down and be still even more deeply than I am with a book published, say, a year or two ago.

In the middle of the 20th century, an English printer, writer and poet named

Hilary Pepler set up a press in a small town called Ditchling. He wanted, he said, to “escape from the town and earn my living in the country, ... where gas and electricity have not penetrated.” In a short essay called “The Hand Press,” which was the last thing he published at that press, he wrote, “We live in the speed age and so must suffer accordingly. But we can exclude from the rush one shelf in the room, where books are sometimes to be enjoyed in peace.”

Pepler’s words are as true today as they were when he wrote them. And so, during this time of year, might I invite you to pick up a book that you love, sit down, and enjoy it in peace? Happy reading.

“We live in the speed age and so must suffer accordingly. But we can exclude from the rush one shelf in the room, where books are sometimes to be enjoyed in peace.”

BY AMANDA BERGER

MEETING JESUS ON MATS OUR

“In Christ we live and move and have our being …”

ou might be surprised to find out that the most challenging yoga posture in the entire canon requires little flexibility. It doesn’t ask anything of our strength, nor does it require steady balance. The most challenging yoga pose is savasana, or corpse pose, the shape that requires nothing of us but stillness and rest. This shape is what all the other twisting and bending and stretching movements lead up to: complete surrender to the idea that we can “just be.”

In fact, all the movement practice of yoga, known as asana, is designed to lead us to stillness. Created as a way to “get the wiggles out,” asana practice provides much needed physical release so that the body might be more comfortable during meditation practice and prayer. It is the gateway to stillness.

The word “yoga” means “union” or “to yoke.” Yoga is the practice of bringing together breath and spirit, body and mind in the present moment in order to silence our inner voice, find peace in the body and create space for spiritual awakening.

If all you were to do is lay on your mat and breathe, paying attention to the movement of your breath, quieting your thoughts, and listening for the still, small voice of God, you would be doing yoga.

Jane Suhr has practiced YogaFaith at SPD since the classes began in 2019. “Not long after I started practicing yoga, the pandemic started. I found it to be a way to focus on helping my body and mind to be healthy, and it was a way to help deal with the anxiety many of us were faced with in those early days of many unknowns. As I continued practicing on a fairly regular basis, I noticed that I was building strength in my arms and legs, and I was wanting/craving to practice yoga more frequently,” said Suhr.

Kristina Glenzinski joins our Monday YogaFaith class each week via Zoom from Princeville, Illinois. She connected with

our YogaFaith classes through a friend during the lockdowns of 2020 and has been a faithful attendee ever since. Although Glenzinski had previous experience with yoga in college and her local library offered classes, those offerings stopped in March 2020. “I had experimented with a few classes on YouTube and never found a personal connection with any of the offerings,” said Glenzinski. “I immediately found that connection [here]. The classes have such a natural flow to them ... the Christian spiritual element of the classes was new to my yoga practice and really resonated with me.”

Though no two classes are ever identical, they always include scripture, prayer and devotions interspersed during moments of rest and reflection. Our Thursday morning class meets in person, and one of the benefits of that practice is the community that has begun to form amongst those who come to class. Jan Kjellberg is a faithful practitioner during those Thursday mornings. She said, “I like the intimacy, smaller space, low light and soft music. The sacredness of devotions and being mindful of God’s presence. Yoga provides me personal time, a brief pause from life’s distractions. YogaFaith is a refuel of my whole being for another week.”

There are a lot of places that offer yoga classes, but few fitness clubs or community centers offer the chance to experience this practice as a means of Christian embodied prayer. This is what makes our classes unique—the chance to open ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit in ourselves and among the community of the class.

“The classes make me feel stronger physically, more refreshed mentally, and centered spiritually than I did when I started the hour. I am so grateful to have found a place in this community, if even from afar,” said Glenzinski.

If you would like to try out a YogaFaith class, you are welcome to join anytime. There are no prerequisites and classes are appropriate for all levels. We offer mat classes with Amanda Berger on Thursdays at 9 a.m. and via Zoom on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Kathy Hagedorn offers chair yoga classes on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. for those who desire a gentler practice or have mobility concerns. No registration is needed for these classes and a freewill donation is accepted.

If you are completely new to the practice of yoga, Amanda is offering an Introduction to YogaFaith class on Saturday, January 7, at 10:30 a.m. which is perfect if you are curious and want to know a bit more before joining a regular class. Registration for the Introduction Class is available at spdlc.org.

For a gentle yoga practice to help you find stillness and peace during the advent season, join us either on Tuesday, December 13, at 7 p.m. or Thursday, December 15, at 11:30 a.m. (chair version) for All is Calm featuring harpist Rachel Brandwein. This slow and meditative yoga practice unites breath, scripture, prayer and movement to help us reconnect to our bodies and find God’s peace and presence. Visit spdlc.org/register to register.

LESSONS

LEARNED FROM A LABRADOR

BY MARK SCHMID

The summer of 2002 was nearing the end, when I joined my Grandma Nervig on the cedar deck, overlooking Kabekona Lake, at her northern Minnesota cabin. For me, Kabekona Lake (which in the Ojibwe language means “End of the Trail”), with its crystal clear, spring fed water and Norway pines that reach far into the heavens, has always been a special and sacred place where one can pause, slow down, be still, rest and re-create.

Over the years, I had enjoyed countless cups of coffee and conversations with my grandma on that deck. It’s a place where tears of laughter and tears of sorrow flowed, sometimes simultaneously. It was a place of lively and on occasion difficult conversations, and it was always a place of welcome and belonging. It’s the place I told my grandma I was planning to propose to my girlfriend, Liza, and it’s the place where I told her God was calling me to ordained ministry. It’s the place where we visited during the summer of 2002 about her decision to no longer treat the cancer that was taking over her body and it’s the place as that same summer was nearing an end, that I told her with great excitement, that with my wife, Liza, and I buying our first house, I could finally get a dog!

With fall beginning to knock on summer’s door, my grandmother leaned back in her chair, smiled, and simply said, “Every boy

should have a dog.” When I corrected her and said I was almost 28 years old and no longer a boy, her smile grew and she repeated with a little more vigor, “Every boy should have a dog.” My grandmother knew from an early time in my life that I loved dogs. I would frequently ask my parents if we could get a puppy, even though I already knew the answer was “no” because my sister was allergic to them, but I persisted anyway. My parents eventually developed a unified response to my asking, “Someday, when you get your own place, then you can get a dog.” That is why I was so excited to tell my grandma, after years of waiting, the most terrific news.

On November 23, 2002, a few months after our last conversation on the deck at Kabekona Lake, my Grandma Nervig passed away peacefully at her home in Williston, North Dakota. Her funeral was held on a Tuesday, two days before Thanksgiving. On the way home, Liza and I drove to Dalton, Minnesota, and picked out our puppy from a litter of 13, all female, Yellow Labrador Retrievers. In that moment, I imagined my grandma proudly smiling from her heavenly home and simply saying, “You finally got your dog.”

Naming our new puppy was easier than naming our own children. We named her “Dakota”, “Kota” for short, after North

Dakota, the state where we both were born and raised; but over the years, I simply referred to her as “The World’s Greatest Labrador.” She had a light switch personality that when flipped on, she could run, jump off the dock, swim and retrieve all day if given the chance. She was a typical puppy, she insisted on using our shoes and furniture legs as chew toys and she found clothes around the house to be more suitable for tug of war than for wearing on one’s back. She was strong, competitive, protective and fierce. She could be cunning and mischievous, but she could also slow down and be lovingly tender, gentle and compassionate.

Early in Kota’s life it was evident that she had the sense to recognize and read people’s positive and negative feelings and emotions. She could sense the differences between joy and sorrow, calm and anxiety, and confidence and fear. Often, she knew when to flip the light switch on and also when to turn it off and simply slow down and be still.

Kota’s stillness came in such tender ways, quietly cuddling up next to you on a cold winter’s day or keeping a watchful eye on each of our kids, like a sentry, when they were sleeping in their crib as infants or later wildly running around outside as toddlers.

Kota’s stillness came in empathetic ways too ... when I found myself in a deep and debilitating depression in 2004, Kota was my therapy dog, ever present and loving ... a constant and needed companion on a difficult journey from darkness to light. Doris Day once said, “I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” Kota’s silent devoted companionship and presence during that chapter in my life helped pull me into the light of a new day. She was like that with everyone in her pack. If you were sick or sad or lonely, she was there, keeping you company along life’s way. In seminary we called this the “Ministry of Presence,” and her presence in our family was powerful and profound.

There is something to be said about knowing when to flip the light switch on and get going, get moving and make things happen, but there is also something to be said about knowing when to turn it off and slow down, be still and just be present. The world we live in tells us, “Don’t just stand there, say something,” but in reality, sometimes the best thing we can do is simply, “Don’t just say something, stand there.” Often our still and quiet presence, standing in the muddiness of life with each other, says far more than any words we could ever reach for and speak from our lips.

For fifteen and half years Kota was part of our pack, and we were part of hers. For fifteen and half years I had a front row seat in Kota’s canine Master Class on life and living—lessons learned from a Labrador.

On March 10, 2018, Dakota—a.k.a “The World’s Greatest Labrador”—passed away surrounded by her pack. Streams of tears flowed freely that day, an outward expression of our love and gratitude for Kota and her presence in our lives. In the stillness of that sacred moment, we said goodbye and surrounded Kota with the same unconditional love, compassion and presence she so freely shared with us for so many wonderful years.

When you sign up for a dog, you sign up for some of the most memorable and joyous times in life, but at the same time, you are also signing up for heartache and grief that will come at the end. The hope and prayer of course is for a wide chasm of time to reside between the two.

It is often in the stillness of life that we witness and experience some of the most subtle, yet profound acts of God. These acts of love, grace, compassion and blessing come to us in many and various ways ... through family, friends, neighbors, strangers and even through a silent devoted canine companion whose ability to slow down, be still and simply be present can bring comfort, joy and healing and pull you into the light of a new day ... lessons learned from a Labrador.

"I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.”

Worth Waiting For

BY AMANDA BERGER

Some things are worth waiting for. Despite a delay of nearly two years, Jackie and Wayne Peterson were able to celebrate their retirements with a spring trip through Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Balkan countries. Spending a month allowed them to move slowly through these locales, savoring the art, music and history in ways that they had only sampled on previous trips.

The Petersons spent the first two weeks on their own in four cities—Vienna, Austria; Lucerne & St. Gallen, Switzerland; and Munich, Germany. They spent four to five days in each city they visited, taking public transportation to explore each area. Art museums and music experiences formed much of their time in Vienna. “When we went to Vienna as young adults in 1979, it was still very much recovering from World War II. The music scene did little to accommodate tourists and public

transportation was under construction,” said Wayne. “Now, they are very tourist oriented. There are multiple opportunities to hear Strauss and Mozart whenever you want—every night of the week!”

One of the surprise highlights in Switzerland was the town of St. Gallen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “We visited the Abbey of St. Gall, founded in the eighth century, whose library collection includes some of the most important medieval manuscripts in existence and a baroque library that is a work of art,” said Jackie. Interestingly, St. Gallen was also a world leader in linen production and embroidery a century ago. “We visited a stunning little textile museum, which was a surprising and delightful look into that history,” said Jackie.

For the second half of their trip they joined a Road Scholar tour of the Balkans, an area which the Petersons highly recommend. Their group was small and traveled by bus through countries still recovering from the civil wars in the 1990s that divided Yugoslavia into six independent countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia. Because of the mountainous terrain, minimal public transportation and language barriers, being part of a tour group proved invaluable in learning about the complex history of this area steeped in influences from Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

A retired pastor, he was especially interested in the religious history of the area. The couple was especially enamored by Croatia’s second-largest city, Split (pronounced “Spleet”). Once the site of the retirement palace of fourth century Roman emperor Diocletian, Split sits on the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. The Petersons’ group happened to be there on the city’s patron saint day, celebrating with worship services, music, vendors and festivities the life of St. Domnius. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Split is known for its stunning architecture, rich history and magnificent views.

They visited countless museums and heard concerts of all sorts, but one of Wayne’s favorite experiences was worshipping at Old St. Peter’s cathedral in Munich. “There are three large Catholic churches in the center of Munich that were greatly damaged during WWII and the people have raised the money and restored them. Every Sunday St. Peter’s presents classical settings of the mass with choir and orchestra,” said Wayne. “We had the chance to attend, and the sanctuary was full. It was a rich worship experience even though the mass was entirely in Latin and German! The church continues to be vital in all the places we visited. It is active and doing great ministry in these beautiful, beautiful sanctuaries that people love and care for—even though they are 300-800 years old.”

Though you could make an individual trip out of any of these beautiful cities, the ability to connect them to one another and to see their shared influence and history made this trip truly unforgettable.

Standing at one point in Sarajevo, you could simply turn your head and see a Jewish synagogue, an Islamic mosque and a Catholic church,” said Wayne.

ON OCTOBER 2, WE HOSTED OUR FIRST ANNUAL SPD JAMBOREE.

A chance to connect with community, inviting friends and neighbors to an afternoon of square dancing, bingo, games, food, music by The Jolly Pops and so much more! We also collected donations for 3000 Acts of Kindness, which will take place in December at the Minneapolis Convention Center, providing supplies and resources to those experiencing homelessness.

Thank you to all who helped to make this event a success—we can’t wait for next year!

OUT & ABOUT

1) Alec and Arthur Niedermaier enjoy the day.

2) All kinds of folks gathered for bingo in the big tent.

3) The Jolly Pops performed in the backyard.

4) Billy Hartong of The Jolly Pops.

5) Bjorn and Libby Berg’s family check out the Crepe and Cakes food truck.

6) The SPD Staff welcomed all to the party!

7) Bingo was enjoyed by people of all ages.

8) Paul Carlson, John Hagedorn and Emma Ragner gather around the popcorn machine.

9) Youth volunteered to provide face painting.

10) Paula Pursley and friends paint rocks at the craft table.

11) The Westonka Whirlers taught participants to square dance.

12) Megan and Trenty Jones and Blessing Flahn have their bingo markers ready.

13) Deb Seppala receives donations for 3000 Acts of Kindness.

Kneading a Moment

RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY

BY AMANDA BERGER

The hands-on part of mixing bread dough is fairly quick but waiting for the bread to rise invites us into a process that takes the good part of a day—reminding us that good things are worth the wait. This Challah bread, traditionally made for the Jewish sabbath, is a beautiful addition to your own table or deliciously giftable.

Challah Bread

2 ½ cups warm Water (110° F)

1 tbsp active dry Yeast

½ cup Honey

4 tbsp Vegetable oil

3 Eggs, divided

1 tbsp Salt

8 cups unbleached, all-purpose Flour

1 tbsp Poppy seeds (optional)

1 cup Raisins (optional)

Placing the warm water in a large bowl, gently sprinkle the yeast over the top. Allow it to set for a moment, then beat in the honey, oil, two eggs and salt. Once well combined, continue to stir as you add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing well. As the dough thickens, begin to knead with the hands. Knead until all the flour is incorpo-

rated and the dough is smooth, elastic and no longer sticky. Return the dough to the bowl and cover with a clean, damp cloth or towel. Set in a warm place and allow to rise for 1 ½ hours or until the dough has doubled in size.

Punch down the risen dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Divide the dough in half and then knead each half for about five minutes, adding flour as needed to prevent stickiness. If adding the raisins, work them into the dough at this point.

Working with one half of the dough at a time, divide it into thirds. Roll each third into a long snake about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Beginning in the middle, braid

the three dough snakes together, pinching the ends together at the end. You can either leave the dough in a long braid or bring the two ends together, creating a braided round loaf. Grease two baking sheets and place one finished loaf on each sheet. Cover with a clean towel and let rise for one hour.

Preheat the oven to 375° F. While the oven preheats, beat the remaining egg and use a brush to generously coat each loaf. Sprinkle with the poppy seeds if using.

Bake for about 40 minutes, until golden brown. The bread is done when it has a hollow sound to it when thumped on the bottom. Allow to cool for at least one hour before slicing.

CONFIRMATION AT SPD

We invite you to celebrate alongside our 9th graders and their families as they mark this faith milestone.

WINTER CALENDAR

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10

KIDS MOVIE NIGHT

Elementary age kids and their friends are invited to join us for pizza, a movie and fellowship. Register at spdlc.org/register.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13

THE CONVERSATION

Christmas Moments to Remember with Mike Henry features video clips and music from the classic Christmas records of the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. Enjoy reminiscing about Christmas seasons of years gone by.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

WINTER FUN DAY

All ages are invited to join a day of winter fun at the Chi Rho Center in Annandale, including sledding, broomball, ice fishing, indoor games, chili and more! For more details and registration visit spdlc.org/register.

ICE FISHING RETREAT

Border View Lodge at Lake of the Woods. Join SPD Outdoors for a time of faith, fellowship, fun and fishing at the 9th Annual SPD Outdoors Winter Fishing Retreat on beautiful Lake of the Woods.  More information and registration available at spdlc.org/register.

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

Help tackle world hunger by supporting the Souper Bowl of Caring. Consider how much you spend on munchies for the big game and consider making a gift to the Souper Bowl of Caring, which will support food for Haiti.

Joining our staff in August of 2022, Sam has stepped into the role of Director of Music with amazing grace. His attention to vocal technique and gentle leadership have already made an impact on our thriving music ministry.

FAMILIAR FACES SAMUEL GRACE 1. 4. 5. 2.

Describe when you knew you’d be going into ministry. My short answer to this is that I didn’t know! I dipped my toes into music ministry when I finished my undergraduate degree, but I never knew I would later seek fulltime work in the field. I know that my experience is not unique—there are dozens of stories from scripture about people who suddenly found themselves answering God’s call to serve.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? In my family, I plan and prepare all of the meals. I love to cook, bake and experiment. Hosting family and friends for dinner is one of my favorite things in the world.

How do you take care of yourself—spiritually, emotionally and physically—so that you stay healthy in ministry? I find that verbally processing with others really helps me. If I’m stuck in my own thoughts, that’s usually a recipe for disaster. Spiritually, I find that intentionally crafting small moments throughout the day to pray and reflect helps keep me focused and healthy. I love to get on my bicycle, too—as often as I can!

3.

What are three things on your lifetime to-do list? 01 . Attend a big New Year’s Eve party in New York City (not Times Square): My wife Megan and I were married on NYE in 2016. I have a romanticized dream of dressing up in a tuxedo and dancing the night away for our anniversary. 02 . Master a useful trade as a hobby, like woodworking. 03. Eat at one of those sushi restaurants where food travels to your table by conveyor belt, even better if it is in Japan.

What are you passionate about right now? I’m passionate about issues surrounding equity and access—especially when it pertains to choral music and singing. Too many people choose not to sing because of a number of issues: physical or mental disability, personal identity, education, unwelcoming peer groups, and/or personal confidence. I am eager to use my gifts to inspire others and eliminate barriers for participation in music.

Worship Service with Holy Communion 2 and 4 pm

Candlelight Worship Service with Holy Communion 5:30, 7:30, 9 and 11 pm Livestream at 5:30 pm

Worship Service with Holy Communion 11 am

Light & Life To All He Brings Light & Life To All He Brings

17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447

ECKHART

“Nothing in all creation is so like God as stillness.”

MEISTER