INSPIRE HARMONY
AnnualWomen’sRetreat
IN OTHER WORDS: JESUS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
October 11-12 at SPD
Join us for Friday evening & Saturday day sessions that invite us into the presence of Jesus through The Lord’s Prayer. Register by 10.04.24.
IN OTHER WORDS: JESUS & THE BEATITUDES
February 21-23 at The Benedictine Center in Maplewood
An overnight retreat that focuses our attention on Jesus and the Beatitudes. We will also worship with the monastic community and enjoy their homemade meals. Register by 02.07.25. Register at spdlc.org/register
Public conversations where faith comes to life.
2024-2025 SEASON
All events begin at 7:00 p.m. Lectures are free and open to the public.
LORIE LINE
Faith & Surrender: A Life in Music
October 10, 2024
MICHAEL WARD
Faith & Philosophy: A Legacy from C.S. Lewis
November 21, 2024
DARRYL STRAWBERRY
Faith & Transformation: A Personal Story of Restoration
February 6, 2025
THOMAS WAGNER
Faith & Resilience: Finding Hope in Challenging Times
March 20, 2025
DAVID BROOKS
Faith & Connection: How to Know a Person
April 24, 2025
INSPIRE
Vol. 7, Issue 1 , Fall 2024
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 contributors
Cindy Carlson, Sam Grace, Beth Dudycha, Allen Hilton, Renee Putnam, Mark Schmid website spdlc.org/inspire
email editorial aberger@spdlc.org on the cover
Photo by Alexander Ugolkov ©2024 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.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Music theory has never been my strong suit. Even after 13 years of piano lessons, I still couldn’t hack my way through Music Theory 101 my freshman year of college. And though I can’t tell you the why and how, I do know that music needs all the parts to fully express the composer’s vision. The melody alone doesn’t tell the complete story—it needs the harmony, the dissonance and the dynamics to fully bring the music to life.
Also, just like a good novel, a musical story isn’t complete without some kind of conflict. We all think we want everything to just go along nicely, but without conflict and struggle, there’s no real story. There’s no growth. Without being tried and challenged, there’s nowhere to go: the story stagnates, or the music becomes monotonous.
one another.” (John 13:34). Jesus’ words didn’t include any kind of exceptions— which is a little bit convicting (okay, a lot), when I think about the big and small ways, every day, where I fail to love others well.
This issue of Inspire celebrates the place music occupies in our lives and in the life of our faith community. But this theme also calls us to think hard about harmony in other areas of our lives. Harmony doesn’t always mean something sounds nice; harmony can also be jarring, unexpected and disruptive. When a dissonant passage happens in music, it invites us to listen more closely. Could we bring the same posture to the rest of our lives?
Guest teacher Allen Hilton asks us to do just that in his invitation to a new class, found on page 16. Hilton makes a case for relationships over conflict, inviting us to listen better. Sam Grace (Music Ministry) writes of making a joyful noise for the Lord and the role that congregational singing plays in our faith community (page 22). And speaking of community, we’re excited to welcome many new faces to our staff, including Charlie Olson (Middle School Ministry). You can get to know him a little bit in our Familiar Faces section on page 36.
I recognize that the world we live in isn’t just nice all the time, and if it were, we still wouldn’t be happy. Just like the notes on a page, which make music because of their relationship to the other notes, we must know ourselves in relationship to other people to live our best story. That means embracing both love and joy in relationships and conflict.
As people in the church, we are called into that challenging space and through it, as we receive and live Jesus’ command to “love
In the words of poet Rainier Maria Rilke, may we “be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves,” so that we may move as people of compassion and openness, each of us one note in the vast symphony of God’s creation.
WHAT I’M READING:
Trish Arndt
You’ll often find members of our staff with their noses in a book. This issue, we asked Trish Arndt (Children’s Ministry) about what she’s been reading and here are some of her recommendations.
What is one book that you love? When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
What are you reading right now? Happy Place by Emily Henry
What’s next on your list?
Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! by Kate Bowler
SCRIPTURE CONNECTION
AMANDA BERGER
Athanasius:
“The
other Scriptures speak to us, but the Psalms speak for us.”
The Book of Psalms has been the prayer book of the church for thousands of years and was the prayer book of the Hebrew people long before that—in fact, it is the prayer book that Jesus used. The psalms truly speak of all that is in the human heart.
Even when they get uncomfortable— which some of the psalms do—with their anger, brutality and lament, the psalms represent the very real emotions humans feel. Praying through all 150 psalms on a regular basis acquaints us with all of who we are from our joy and praise to our frustration and despair, and helps us to recognize God’s presence, right in the middle of it all.
Praying the psalms is a practice that can invite us into deeper intimacy with our own feelings and bring us closer to the heart of God. So how does praying the psalms differ from just reading the psalms?
Here are a couple of different ways to pray the psalms:
Listening for a Word: Slowly, prayerfully read through a psalm. As you read, notice if a word or phrase catches your attention. Maybe even read it out loud. Hold that word in your mind and heart
and consider what God might be trying to say to you. Then, continue to read the rest of the psalm. Notice how that word or phrase continues to stay with you.
God’s Words, My Words: Many of the psalms are written directly as a prayer already. So, as you read a phrase, notice how this is present in your own life. For example, as you begin Psalm 121, you read, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” Pausing after that phrase, reflect on how you need God’s presence and help. How do you need God to show up right now? How have you experienced God’s help? This is your prayer. To expand on this practice, consider rewriting parts of the psalm from your perspective. For example (continuing with Psalm 121):
The Lord watches over me— the Lord is my shade at my right hand; the sun will not harm me by day, nor the moon by night.
By simply changing “you” to the first person “me” in this psalm, it becomes more personal—your own acknowledgment of God’s presence with you.
Though you can certainly just pick psalms at random or start at one and go to 150 in order, a quick search online will give you several plans for praying through the psalms in a month. You could also begin on September 1 by reading two psalms a day—you’ll have read them all by the beginning of Advent!
Faith & Life
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21
7 PM
Join us as Michael Ward presents a lecture on “Faith & Philosophy: A Legacy from C.S. Lewis.”
Michael Ward is an English literary critic and theologian. He works at the University of Oxford where he is an associate member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion. He is the author of the award-winning and best-selling Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis and of After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man; he is the co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to C.S. Lewis.
On the 50th anniversary of Lewis’s death (November 22, 2013), Professor Ward unveiled a permanent national memorial to him in Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey. He is the co-editor of a volume of commemorative essays marking the anniversary, entitled C.S. Lewis at Poets’ Corner
The Faith & Life Lecture Series is free and open to the public. All are welcome!
Read
THE WOMEN
By Kristin Hannah. As a part of the Army Nurse Corps, Vietnam was a complicated place to be, but Frankie McGrath’s story of coming back home to America afterwards was even more confusing. This captivating story took Kristin Hannah over 20 years to write and refine.
Watch
THE MIRACLE CLUB
Netflix, PG-13 . Kathy Bates, Laura Linney, Maggie Smith bring to life a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. Set in Ireland in 1967, stubborn grudges and hard feelings
blend with loyal friendship and spiritual growth. A miracle looks different to each of them, as does love and healing.
Listen STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
This curiosity driven podcast leans into every topic with a delightful conversational tone that captures any listener. There are over 1,500 episodes in the archives and depending on the topic, episodes are mostly suitable for kids, inspiring all ages to continue to be curious.
BY TIM WESTERMEYER
To this temple, where we call you, come, O Lord of hosts, and stay; come with all your lovingkindness, hear your people as they pray; and your fullest benediction shed within these walls today.
CHRIST IS MADE THE SURE FOUNDATION, V. 2
I’ve been thinking about a specific hymn—one we’re planning to use during worship for the first Sunday after Labor Day. In our pew hymnals, you can find it at number 645, “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation.”
I’m thinking of this hymn as it relates to the theme of harmony not so much because of the music—although the music is, indeed, harmonious—but rather because of the story behind it. It turns out that both the words and the music for this hymn have a long and rich history.
It wasn’t until a couple centuries later—in 1843—that the hymn tune as we know it was adapted by a priest named Ernest Hawkins who served as a canon at Westminster Abbey. Then in the 20th century, a publisher named Sydney Nicholson included the hymn in one of his collections, making it much more well-known. In that collection, Nicholson named the hymn tune “Westminster Abbey,” honoring both the original composer and the priest who adapted Purcell’s tune, both of whom had served that historic house of worship.
I’m struck by the way different people throughout history, at different times and places, took something that already existed—an all-but-forgotten Latin text, a concluding hallelujah to a rarely performed piece, a hymn that wasn’t well-known—and transformed it into something new and beautiful that we are still singing another 200 years later in 2024.
The words originate from a Latin hymn dating back to the seventh century. The author of those words has been lost to history. What we do know, though, is that the original Latin was translated into English in 1851 by John Mason Neale—the same person who translated hymns like “All Glory, Laud and Honor,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanual,” “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” and more than 10 others in our pew hymnals.
And then there’s the music. The tune used for this hymn was written by Henry Purcell, one of the greatest of all English composers, who also served as the organist at Westminster Abbey from 1679 until 1695. The tune was originally written as the concluding “Hallelujah” for a piece he composed called “O God, Thou Art My God.”
Recently, we used a prayer in worship that gets this point about how God works through us “across time and space” to accomplish his ends. I offer it here as a blessing, as each of us is called and invited to bring the gift of God’s harmony to the world today.
Let us pray: God of generations, you work in us far more than we can ask or imagine. Bless the church you have called into being across time and space, and fill us with the power of the Spirit for loving service.
Harmoniously Yours,
MEDITATION
“Christian faith is a grand cathedral, with divinely pictured windows. Standing without, you can see no glory, nor can possibly imagine any; standing within, every ray of light reveals a harmony of unspeakable splendors.”
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
DEVOTED LIVING
Prayers for the Ministry of the Church
BY AMANDA BERGER
Christians are called to be people of prayer, in constant conversation with God about the things that are important to us. The Apostle Paul invites us to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17) as one of the (many!) hallmarks of the faithful life of a follower of Jesus.
There are so many people, places and things that we can be praying for in the world— and those are all worthy and beautiful things to hold up to God in love. But how often do you pray for your faith community? And in a way that is specific?
One thing that we invite you to do this fall is to pray specifically for a ministry that matters to you. Even if you aren’t actively involved in that ministry, the prayer support helps to bolster and encourage the work of the church. You may even reach out to the point person for these ministries and ask for specific prayer concerns. Consider some of the following:
You have a heart to see people learn and grow in faith— pray for Children’s Ministry, Confirmation, Koin (Senior High School) or our adult learning opportunities.
You long to see justice and peace in our world— pray for ministries that support those without stable housing, Lutheran World Relief, our current capital funds appeal, or mental health initiatives. Pray for our eyes to be opened to the needs of the community around us.
You desire a strong, connected, compassionate community— pray for connection amongst our members, for strong faithful families, for joy and vibrancy in worship, and for ministries like the Interfaith Outreach Sleep Out and Habitat for Humanity.
You want others to know about what we do at SPD and how wonderful it is to be a part of this community— pray for our hospitality teams, for our communications and social media, Pastor Tim’s podcast, the Faith & Life Lecture Series and any other ministry that seeks to connect with those who are new to our community. Pray that we, as a community, might openly tell others about our church.
You long to see God glorified— pray for our worship teams, our music ministry, all volunteers who lend their gifts to worship, like the Altar Guild, choirs, readers, greeters and ushers. Pray for the Gospel to transform the lives of our members.
You believe in the good work of our staff & volunteers— pray for our team who works hard each day to faithfully live their callings. Pray for the pastors and program staff as they cast the vision for SPD and lead their areas of ministry. Lift up to God the support staff who literally make this place clean and welcoming for everyone who walks through our doors. Pray for those who volunteer their time and energy freely within all of our ministry areas.
Your prayers will be heard by God and felt within our community. And, as you pray, listen to see if you are being called to be a part of our life together in a new way. Are you feeling a nudge to volunteer or serve? Any of our ministries would be blessed by your presence!
Looking for opportunities to gather with others for regular prayer?
Here are a few options at SPD:
Holy Grounds
Mondays at 9:45 a.m. Learn prayer practices to support your own faith formation. More info? Talk to Amanda Berger, aberger@spdlc.org.
Healing Prayer Group Mondays at 11:30 a.m. Prays specifically for those in need of healing in our congregation. For more information and instruction, contact Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson at vstrand@spdlc.org.
Moms in Prayer Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
Meets to pray for our children who are students at local school districts (WHS) and those who are young adults in college/beginning careers. Contact person is Beth Albright, elizabethalbright80@ gmail.com or visit their website, momsinprayer.org/get-involved/ join-a-group.
Speaking
in Love the
You don’t have to hang out too long in Christian circles before you will likely hear someone say, “Now, I’m just speaking the truth in love …”
BY AMANDA BERGER
Truth
This phrase is often used when the word about to be spoken is probably not the thing that the listener wants to hear, and likely to be received poorly, but it’s going to get said anyway. It is often used to alert the listener to be ready, because the conversation is about to go downhill from here. Get ready to be defensive.
There is absolutely a right time and place for an honest, difficult word in the midst of loving and accountable relationships— which is exactly where this phrase comes from. Namely, that “speaking the truth in love” is a direct quote from the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:15, and part of a call to the believers in Ephesus to Christian unity, right teaching, and maturing in the spirit. The truth that Paul is naming is the reality of who God is, as revealed in the person and Gospel of Jesus Christ, which then calls us to a new way of living as we walk in the light of that truth.
What Paul is not instructing is speaking “truth” (or your version of it) to the other “in love” (or what you might think is love). The whole passage from which this one phrase is taken is written to a community of believers, who are essentially on the same page, who know that they cannot keep living as they did before, because having been reborn in Christ everything is different now. Paul is inviting them to be accountable to one another as they grow in spiritual maturity and discover what it means to live the Gospel. There is mutual trust as the believers figure out (together!) what all of this means for their lives.
Is that what you meant the last time you said, “Now, I’m just speaking the truth in love”?
I can’t answer that for you. Only you know the context of that phrase.
But as we live into what will be an emotionally charged political season, as well as
the impending holiday season, where we often go head-to-head with others in our lives who experience their own version of “truth,” what does it mean to speak the truth in love?
In a conversation where we feel like we need to say something hard, one important thing to check is our motivation. Why do we feel we need to speak this word? And what are we hoping will be achieved by speaking? Are we 100 percent sure that love is our motivation?
The love named in Ephesians 4:15 is agape love, the Greek word for a love which is both self-sacrificing and works for the benefit of the other. When we invoke the privilege of speaking the truth in love, our motivation must be from a place of absolute acceptance and love of the individual. How often do we, instead, speak from a place of righteous condescension and for our own benefit?
For example, say you disagree with the choices an adult child is making (about whatever—money, relationships, living situations, job, going to church, etc.). You are with them for Thanksgiving and after too much turkey, you decide it is your moment to “speak the truth in love.” You say your piece about the situation and the possible consequences. And, of course, one of three things happens: You get in a fight. You get the silent treatment. Or your child decides they’ve had enough and leaves the room. What’s probably not going to happen is that they respond with a “Wow, Mom/ Dad, that was so insightful! Thanks!”
What is your motivation? And what are you hoping for?
You might quickly say, “Well, I have to say it because I love my child. I want the best for them. I want them to be happy/ successful/healthy!”
But is it? Is it possible you are speaking from a different motivation? Could it be fear? Or disappointment? Or anger? Or judgment? Moral superiority?
All of those might be a good reason to say something to a friend or family member, but we can’t pretend that those things are love.
Does this mean that you should never say anything to someone that you disagree with? Not necessarily. But it does mean that you need to recognize that if they haven’t signed up for the same commitments (nominally, that they are living a Christian life and trying to grow spiritually and in faithfulness to Jesus), then being the morality police isn’t the place to start.
You start with the Gospel. You must just be love. You, as one who bears Christ’s image, are called to compassion, mercy, forgiveness. The one to whom you speak must see first that there is something different within you. They may even have to decide that they want some of that different “whatever it is” for themselves, too, before a word about anything else in their lives will land with love. Even as Jesus encounters the sinners throughout the gospels, he doesn’t ask them to “sin no more” until he has shown them that there is another freer, better way of being. One must first come to know the unconditional, life-transforming love of Jesus before they feel called to or want to change anything about their lives. And mostly, this will happen by you showing the same unconditional love of Jesus through who you are.
Why do we feel we need to speak this word? And what are we hoping will be achieved by speaking?
Everything to the Glory of God
Lorie Line has delighted listeners with her original compositions and arrangements on the piano, touring and performing, for almost 40 years.
AN INTERVIEW WITH LORIE LINE
BY TIM WESTERMEYER
Lori Line’s dedication to music began long before her professional career (at age 5!)—a career that has also been inextricably interwoven with her faith. Line’s lifetime of music has included over 65 albums, performances for presidents, PBS specials, and she continues to tour, playing around 50 concerts annually. Although she is a Nevada native, Line has called Minnesota home since 1986. We are delighted to welcome Line to our Faith & Life Lecture Series this fall and invite you to get to know her more through this interview she did with Pastor Tim Westermeyer in June.
You began playing piano when you were 5. Was that your decision, or did your parents “make” you? My kindergarten teacher first discovered me. She would teach us a song and we would sing along and then all the kids would go out for recess. Not me. I’d hop up on the piano bench and play the song she taught us. She noticed my gift, called my parents, and encouraged them to buy a piano for me. The rest is history. I loved it.
Your career had an unusual start—by serenading shoppers at Dayton’s department stores. How did you end up with that job? And would it be accurate to say that that job helped to “launch” your career? On a Sunday afternoon after church, [my husband] Tim and I walked by one of the pianists at Dayton’s. We were having lunch and Tim said, “You should have that job because you would get to do the two things you love to do under one roof: shop and play the piano!” I auditioned and became one of 17 pianists to serenade shoppers at the three stores that had pianos (Downtown Minneapolis, Southdale and Rosedale). Yes, being in front of sometimes 30,000 people a day, on 13-hour sale days, launched my career. People would make comments about songs that they liked, and I took notes and eventually made my first cassette tape. Dayton’s bought the project from me, and I became both vendor and pianist when I played at their stores.
You’re a performer and a composer and arranger of music. How do you think about those three aspects of your career? Do you like one more than the other? Arranging comes easier to me than composing but I do like both. I now have almost 800 songs arranged and
available for purchase. My goal is to be the most published arranger (pianist) in modern-day times.
You also have other hobbies, like cooking and gardening. How do those non-musical parts of your life relate to your music? Or do they just give you a break from it? I’m an entertainer at heart, so they do go together. I think I would be bored if I just played the piano! My job is so interesting because I get to do so many things that compliment playing the piano. I get to touch on all the senses: music, food, beauty in gardens, designing my costumes, creating stage sets, and then writing and blogging. When I get bored with one, I move to another project and think about things, then move back to them. And what’s wonderful is I work from my home, so I get to move about freely every day. Some mornings I wake up and say, “I should get a real job!” I guess I’ve been saying that for almost 40 years.
You and your husband are also working on launching The Tim and Lorie Line Foundation. What’s the story behind that, and what are you hoping to accomplish through it? Our goal is to be able to give to anyone and anything if we believe in the cause. Also, because I have royalties now and intellectual properties, all our hard work will pay off for decades. We intend to be in this position in 28 months.
me with the words, to fill me with his spirit, to play flawlessly with the true spirit and talent he gave me, again everything to the glory of God.
The theme of this issue is “Harmony.” How do you think of harmony, either musically or in other ways? Everything has to work together for good to honor our Creator. It all must be balanced, nothing too loud, nothing too soft, full of goodness, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, together as one.
My prayer is to be a healer—to bring people closer to Jesus, to inspire others, to bring peace. Most of all, to just be a shining light.” “
You have played for some pretty high-profile memorial services—including for Prince, Kirby Puckett and Congressman Jim Ramstad. How are those events different from a usual concert for you? The people in the audience are their fans, not necessarily mine ... so it’s fun to play for their crowd. (Some probably don’t even know who I am!) There is some pressure, but it’s not the same as playing for a concert for my super fans.
How is music connected to your life of faith? I think it’s important to use the talents that God has given you. Everything is to the glory of God. My prayer is to be a healer—to bring people closer to Jesus, to inspire others, to bring peace. Most of all, to just be a shining light. I always spend time in prayer before being in front of people, asking God to bless
We’re excited to have you join us in October for the Faith & Life Series when you’ll be talking about “Faith & Surrender.” First, why did you choose that particular title? And when people come for that, what can they expect to hear? I plan to play a hymn my grandfather taught me, “I Surrender All.” It is one of my most played pieces on Pandora, and it just came to me that it might be a good topic ... a good fit for your “harmony” theme. Surrendering to Jesus is a total commitment, freely given, ever loving and trusting him. Only our Savior can make us whole and complete, and that only comes by living in perfect harmony with him.
Join us Thursday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m. for Lorie Line’s presentation, “Faith & Surrender: A Life in Music.”
WTHE WHOLE REST
BY AMANDA BERGER
hat disturbs your peace?
For me, hurrying and busyness are great disruptors of my mental and physical peace. Paying any sort of attention to news or current events breaks my heart. Ruminating over what I might have done differently the previous day will wake me at two o’clock in the morning demanding a replay of each word and action. Peace is elusive but it is the very thing that my spirit desires the most.
When I’m most on edge, there are a few options for restoring my equilibrium— getting on my yoga mat or a walk outside, but one of the quickest and easily accessible is to put in my earbuds and spend a few minutes listening to music and breathing deeply. It clears the mental clutter and slows me down.
One of my favorite pieces of choral music is “Shalom” by Dan Forrest. This haunting and gorgeous piece features voices, piano and violin, intertwining with the simple lyrics: “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Peace, peace, shalom.” Over and over, the words wash over me; and as I listen for those five minutes and 35 seconds, I find my
breath slowing, body softening, at complete peace. Perhaps, I’m even experiencing a few minutes of the lyric’s promise: shalom.
Though peace and shalom are often used interchangeably and can both mean “an absence of conflict,” the Hebrew word shalom points to something more positive—a sense of wholeness, harmony and completeness that transcends the dissonance of everyday life.
Shalom is about a restoration—of the self, our communities, and our world. Shalom was the harmonious life in Eden and it is also the promise of Christ to come again, bringing an end to suffering, discord and death. As God’s creation, shalom is our origin story and it is also our future hope.
“Shalom is what love looks like in the flesh. The embodiment of love in the context of a broken creation, shalom is a hint at what was, what should be, and what will one day be again,” writes author Jamie ArpinRicci. “Where sin disintegrates and isolates, shalom brings together and restores. Where fear and shame throw up walls and put on masks, shalom breaks down barriers and frees us from the pretense of our false selves.”
The false self is an important part of human development; it defines and teaches you as a young person, helping you to discover who you are in relationship to others. It is a “launch pad” into life, and at the right point, you shed the false self, stepping into the true light of who you are.
The false self is a costume or a shell, a representative who functions in the world, but only covers and hides the true self. Unfortunately, a lot of people get stuck in the false self, which keeps them feeling stuck, trapped or addicted. This is not peace, and it’s definitely not shalom.
In our culture, where a multimillion-dollar wellness machine promises inner peace and finding health and wholeness is sold as an individual endeavor, there is a lot of pressure to continue living as your false self. Every day we’re being sold unrealistic examples of this promised peace in health, wealth and perfection. If we work hard enough and focus on our own selfcare, if we buy the right products or follow the right guides, wholeness is ours for the taking. Except this wholeness, this integration and harmony—shalom—is only possible as we find our true self, created by God, in the context of community.
Indigenous author and pastor Randy Woodley writes, “Shalom is communal, holistic, and tangible. There is no private or partial shalom. The whole community must have shalom or no one has shalom. As long as there are hungry people in a community that is well fed, there can be no shalom. … Shalom is not for the many, while a few suffer; nor is it for the few while many suffer. It must be available for everyone.”
Shalom is rooted in our relationships to one another and to our sense of self in Christ. And though we can get glimpses of shalom in a song, time in nature, or a moment of deep connection with another person, true shalom will only be possible when God’s kingdom is fully realized on earth, when human compassion and generosity also matches the deep needs of creation.
THE NOISE IN THE ECHO CHAMBER
BY AMANDA BERGER
Take a moment to reflect:
When do you not show up as your best self?
During the morning commute?
Youth sports? Black Friday?
Though these can bring out (sometimes extreme!) competitiveness and consumerist mentalities, many people point to election years as one of the situations which brings out the worst in our society. Magazine articles, blog posts and pundits are referring to this election cycle as “The Dread Election.” Recent medical studies show that people are still feeling the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder from the 2020 election. For many, we just don’t have the energy or interest to engage in another round of political drama.
But Allen Hilton believes that now is exactly the time to invite people into deeper conversation around political issues. Reaching across party lines, Hilton’s nonprofit, House United, works first to help people picture robust friendship and community between people who disagree—fostering relationships built on trust and curiosity. Their core vision is, “First, to remind Americans and people around the world that our differences ought to be an asset, rather than a threat, and that we therefore increase our quality of life by being different together; second, to help them experience the truth of this claim in their lives, their communities, and their work.”
This vision is ambitious and hopeful—just what is needed right now.
Hilton said, “Surveys tell [us] that both Christians and the general public across the U.S. live in a sort of post-traumatic fear of the 2024 election. The rancor of campaign seasons 2016 and 2020, along with the strained aftermath of the last transition of power haunt us into expecting the worst this time around. … Confronting this dread requires involving people in one another’s lives in ways that will help us do and experience things differently this go-round.”
BIG TENT BIBLE
People from the Cohort churches will bring our very different perspectives into robust, respectful discussion of scripture.
SKILL BUILDING
Skill-building workshops will teach us how to listen and speak with one another when we disagree on important issues.
COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS
We’ll practice these helpful new skills in a monthly online conversation about an issue that divides Christians in the U.S.
CLERGY CLATCH
A monthly meeting of the pastors from these congregations will help them to lean on one another and pray for one another as they face the challenges of leading Christians in a polarized place.
This Cohort is open to those who are curious and want to learn a better way. “For the past decade or so, my day job has been to help Christians come together across polarized lines of difference for the common good,” said Hilton.
and difference, Cohort members will gain a sense of purpose and employment in the project of polarization busting.” By joining one another under this “big tent,” Hilton hopes that faithful folk in all the Cohort churches will increasingly feel the redemptive beauty of God’s peculiar calling to be ONE Church.
The invitation is to be salt and light in our own communities, breaking down the distance between people, churches, neighborhoods and across our country, helping to foster healing conversations and provide space to recognize that what we want for ourselves, our families and the world is really not so different after all.
If this sounds like you, you are invited to join the Cohort which begins on September 10. Visit spdlc.org to learn more and to register.
CURIOUS
ABOUT WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE COHORT?
A Black Congregational Church Atlanta, GA
Hilton will join us this fall to lead a group of congregations from around the country, including St. Philp the Deacon, in an online cohort to help do just that. The House United Online Cohort will walk together this election season, from early September through the post-inaugural days of late January.
“The goal for this gathering of churches who are different than one another—theologically, culturally, politically and geographically—is to offer mutual support and fellowship that will break down our distance from one another.” Hilton has set an ambitious agenda which includes:
“I’ve noticed along the way that the churches I’ve helped share two deeply-felt desires: 1 . They don’t want to have enemies in their own towns (and pews!), and 2. They do desperately want somehow to be part of the solution, rather than the cause.”
Hilton describes the Cohort as “a powerful experience for all the churches who are involved. In an age of theological and political echo chambers, it’ll provide pastors, lay leaders, and congregants with access to a wide range of perspectives in Bible studies and on issues that face the electorate.”
Many people feel like there is little they can do to effect change in our political climate. Hilton offers hope and encouragement, “I hope that by going out of our way to participate in one another’s lives across distance
A Presbyterian Church Austin, TX
An ELCA church (that’s SPD!) Twin Cities, MN
An LCMS Church Arizona
An Episcopal Church Washington, D.C.
A Vineyard Church Columbus, OH
A United Methodist Church Kansas City, MO
Want to learn more about the House United cohort? Please join us for the first introductory session on Tuesday, September 10 at 7 p.m.
PEACE BY PIECE PEACE
BY
BY MARK SCHMID
In his book The Longing for Home: Reflections at Midlife Frederick Buechner writes, “The word longing comes from the same root as the word long in the sense of length in either time or space and also the word belong, so that in its full richness to long suggests to yearn for a long time for something that is a long way off and something that we feel we belong to and that belongs to us. The longing for home is so universal a form of longing that there is even a special word for it, which is of course homesickness.”
I have experienced firsthand that longing for the comfortable and familiar, that deep
longing for home. When I was 12 years old, I went on my first camping trip without my family. Though I was just a stone’s throw away from home, on the other side of the “Big Muddy” Missouri River, it felt like I was on the other side of the world. Tucked into my warm sleeping bag, I attempted to fall asleep, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the comfort, familiarity, security and peacefulness of home. On that fall night, from a payphone, an adult chaperone and I called my parents and through syncopated sniffles and falling tears I asked to come home because for the first time in my young life, I was homesick. I longed for my family, for the familiarity of my own room and for the comfort of my own bed. In that moment, all the special pieces of home added up to my being at peace ... peace by piece.
Since 2016, members and friends of St. Philip the Deacon have contributed over 5,000 volunteer hours on nine weeklong, new home construction and home renovation builds and a one-day Panel
Plant build with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, hoping and praying that all parts and pieces add up to a peaceful and peace-filled home.
Habitat was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller who envisioned a world where everyone has a decent place to live. They sought to give a tangible expression to the love and mercy of God through the work of eliminating poverty housing by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Sometime before his death in 2009, Mr. Fuller said, “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.”
Today, Habitat lives out their mission in all 50 states and in more than 70 countries and has helped millions of people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter. Habitat has been present in Minnesota since 1977 and in that time has built more than 2,700 homes statewide.
PIECE
Today, Habitat for Humanity Minnesota builds approximately 100 new homes and repairs 200 homes every year.
This fall (September 30 – October 4), Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity will host the 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project at The Heights, on St. Paul’s East Side. This new, energy-efficient development will take place on the 112-acre former Hillcrest Golf Course at the intersection of Larpenteur Avenue and McKnight Road. In total, The Heights will consist of 1,000 housing units and will have shops, trails, art installations and a new five-acre public park.
This endeavor will be Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s largest ever development, building up to 150 Habitat homes, including single-family homes, twin homes, and 3-unit and 4-unit townhomes. Over the five days this fall, more than 2,000 volunteers from the Twin Cities, the United States and around the world will gather to begin building Habitat homes, piece by piece.
The Carter Work Project is an annual event that celebrates the impact President and Mrs. Carter have had on Habitat’s mission around the world. In its 40-year history, the Carter Work Project has traveled to 14 countries and brings together thousands of volunteers to build homes and bring awareness to the importance of and need for sustainable, vibrant, affordable housing in our communities.
A few years before Mrs. Carter’s passing in November of 2023, she and President Carter handed off the Habitat for Humanity reins to country music legends Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Together, they will continue the lifegiving, humanitarian work of the Carters and they will serve as annual hosts of the Carter Work Project.
For Buechner, the meaning of home is twofold: the home we knew and the home we dream of. As a word, it not only recalls the place that we grew up in with all the sights, sounds, smells, stories, objects,
PIECE PEACE
people and places that combine to form our memory of home and that had much to do with the people we eventually became, but also points ahead to the home that, in faith, we believe awaits each of us at the end of life.
Piece by piece, working alongside Habitat for Humanity, may we help create a home that is both known and dreamed of; and may that home be filled with peace, hope, love, promise, laughter, and deep and faithful sense of longing and belonging ... peace by piece.
Join us September 30 – October 4 for the 2024 Carter Work Project and work alongside other adults and high school students from St. Philip the Deacon as we live out our faith in love and service. Volunteers must be 16 years old or older. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to participate, learn, grow and, of course, have fun! Hammer on!
LIFE TO THE FULL
Unforced Rhythms of Grace
This new column— Life to the Full—is about learning how to live “the good life” from the master, Jesus. Over the next several issues, we’ll be exploring what it means to practice the way of Jesus, learning from his own rhythms of being with God and living in the world.
“
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
This invitation from Jesus, found in Matthew 11:28-30
(The Message translation above), sounds almost too good to be true—and like something that as a culture we are desperately searching for. Many of us go through our days feeling chronically tired (44%), burned out (41%), and anxious (30%). Fifty-two percent of people report feeling lonely. But what other way of being is there? We’re so used to this overwhelming sense of busyness that we don’t even realize that there might be another way.
The phrase above, “unforced rhythms of grace,” sounds magical—and at the same time raises the question: Jesus, what exactly are you inviting me to?
The life that the Jewish people of Jesus’ time were used to was one filled with unrealistic demands of how to be in the world. Hundreds of rules detailing what to do, how to live, how to worship, and more defined life for God’s people. This was how people thought they needed to live in order to find favor with God. But Jesus comes along and basically says they’re making it too hard. The people are overwhelmed by the requirements. And so when Jesus says “love God and love neighbor,” he’s offering a radically simplified version of what
they’ve been taught before. And Jesus is inviting us to this way of being as well.
As Christians (literally “little Christs”) we are invited to walk day by day with Jesus, finding a deeper, more satisfying relationship with him, which in turn, informs our way of being in the world. It informs our attitudes and beliefs about our work, how we spend our money and time, how we interact with those around us and how we love others in Jesus’ name.
If you’re feeling drawn to a different kind of life, or even just curious about how one might begin to make more space and time for God, then learning from Jesus’ way of living may be just what you are looking for. We’ll unpack this over the next few issues. But for now, here are some of the practices of Jesus that will be integral to the journey:
• Solitude & Silence
• Simplicity
• Sabbath
• Slowing
If you want to “get ahead” and can’t wait to dive in, we recommend the book Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer or his podcast “John Mark Comer Teaching Podcast.”
MANY OF US GO THROUGH OUR DAYS FEELING
for All to Hear
BY SAM GRACE
There’s one thing I hear time and again from people when they learn that I lead choirs: “You don’t want to hear me sing!” If these are words you’ve spoken to me, I probably responded this way: “Actually, I’d love to hear you sing. Who told you to stop?”
Iam, obviously, an enormous advocate for singing—it comes with the job! Several observed health benefits to the practice include lowered stress levels, improved memory, and increased lung capacity. Singing also provides social benefits. One recent study from Swedish researchers suggests that when people sing together, their heartbeats may synchronize because their breath cycles align. Those who sing are consistently more engaged citizens, and performing music—including singing—is tied to higher test scores in schools.
So, who told many of us to stop singing? Unfortunately, I often hear it was from people like me! People may fear singing because they were given bad feedback about their voice at some point, be it from a teacher, parent, or worse: a choir director!
Oof. That one breaks my heart! However, as much as I’d love to put on my Chef Gusteau hat from “Ratatouille “and proudly proclaim “anyone can sing,” singing is not a mindless activity. It requires significant coordination of cartilages and musculature in the larynx, our power source (breath), and our resonators. All are fine-tuned by our proprioception, which is the perception and awareness of the position and movement of our bodies. For some folks, singing comes quite naturally. For others, it may require more practice.
But should anyone STOP singing? Absolutely not.
Admittedly, singing in most choirs does come with some prerequisites. At a baseline, singing in choir assumes that one can match pitch, meaning the pitches a person
sings match their intended frequency. However, singing in a church congregation has no limitations. We are part of one harmonious body lifting our voices for the glory of God—all of which are supported by the organ or piano, worship leaders, and our combined voices.
Have you ever looked around the room during church and observed people who aren’t singing hymns and liturgy? Maybe you’re that person. Believe it or not, congregational participation in singing is an increasingly discussed topic in the Christian church. A simple Google News search “Why don’t people sing in church” yields dozens of opinion pieces and talking points. Some blame room acoustics and the organ’s ability to lead a congregation. Others cite issues with masculinity, noting a disproportionate number of women to men who participate in congregational singing. Additional complaints include unfamiliar hymn choices or utilizing worship leaders on microphones, which allows congregants to participate more passively.
Although I see truth in many of these theories, I believe that our greatest concern with congregational singing is tied to increased anxiety and awareness about how others perceive us. There is much greater access to recorded music than was available a century ago, providing countless models of people who can sing well. We fear singing because we know there are great singers out there and they might judge us, so it’s easier to stand in the shadows and let the “professionals” do the work.
I think back to when “American Idol” first aired in 2002. I was in middle school at the time. The first few episodes of every season featured a slew of “bad” singers whose performances were received with facepalms and beratement from the judges. We watched from our homes, amused by others’ misfortune. I recall one famously “bad” audition performed
by a young man named William Hung, who sang a popular song by Ricky Martin. Although it was clear from the audition that he was not a contender for the show, I don’t think it’s fair to label him a “bad singer.” Revisiting the clip from his audition 20 years later, I found myself listening much more critically. First, he’s singing a pop song completely unaccompanied. It would be like showing up to karaoke without the backing track. He matches pitch beautifully and doesn’t deviate from the key center. If Hung were singing next to me in church, I wouldn’t think any less of it. But because we witnessed Hung’s (and others) public ridicule, it’s hard not to feel guarded when singing alongside others! How can we feel empowered to sing when we fear what others think about our voices? Why would we want to sing when we fear we will become the butt of every joke around the church?
It turns out we aren’t so much the bad singers we think we are—we’re simply influenced by the social norms around us. At St. Philip the Deacon, we are blessed with what many refer to as a “singing congregation,” but we needn’t be complacent. Instead, channel your inner Buddy the Elf (from “ Elf,” of course): “The best way to spread Christmas Cheer the love of God is singing loud for all to hear.” Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be Luciano Pavarotti to sing in choir— let alone open your mouth during the sending hymn of a service. All voices are welcome in praise and love of God.
If you want to explore your voice more, come knock on my door. I’ll be happy to listen! Also, if you’ve ever been curious about joining choir at St. Philip the Deacon, we welcome new participants to all our choirs, both adults and children, on a rolling basis.
If you would like to join, visit spdlc.org/ register to sign up and review our calendar and rehearsal times. You can also reach Sam Grace directly at sgrace@spdlc.org.
A FAIR AND GLORIOUS GIFT
BY AMANDA BERGER
As the organ drops back to just the softer reeds of its registration, the congregation can be heard singing, “Christ, our God, to thee we raise, this our sacrifice of praise.” Off to my left, I hear a rich baritone singing; as I glance up, I think to myself, “yep, a choir member,” mixed in the congregation since they’re off for the summer.
Then, Norah Long steps to the microphone, and in her strong soprano, begins the Kyrie, each note an invitation. And there is no hesitation in the congregation’s reply as they sing in one voice, “Lord, have mercy.”
There is a wind trio for special music and deft fingers at the keyboards. All this music is something I take for granted in its familiarity—week in and week out, the presence of the instrumentalists and vocalists who lead our worship in a way that feels effortless.
This is a gift—and not something with which all congregations are blessed. “Music plays a vital role in nearly all places of worship,” said Sam Grace (Director of Music). “St. Philip the Deacon shines by offering a wide rotation of musical ensembles: four choirs, handbells, brass, small vocal ensembles, chamber music ensembles and soloists.”
Many of these groups are made up of volunteers who share their gifts generously. In addition, SPD also has a talented professional music team. These musicians who lend their faithful leadership each week are also leading in the community—as orchestra and opera members, music teachers, performers and composers. Pastor Tim Westermeyer reflected on this leadership: “Our various ensembles—Saturday night worship with Norah, Erin and Linda; contemporary worship with Chris and Hope and Kam and Dave; our vocal section leaders Debi, Susan, Laurent and Woody; our organists Celina and Steve—are blessed with incredibly talented individuals. And, of course, we are doubly blessed that they are all led under the very able direction of Sam Grace. I give thanks for each of them, and for all the ways they make music both individually and collectively.”
This kind of leadership also means that SPD is a congregation who engages with this music. “The goal is always to involve the congregation actively, rather than as passive listeners,” said Westermeyer. “We take music and its role in worship seriously and realize that doing it well supports and enriches our lives of faith.”
This has been a legacy of the Lutheran Church for centuries, and St. Philip the Deacon is committed to continuing that
legacy of sharing the Gospel through music. “Music moves our emotions—it draws attention to the Holy Spirit in a way that words can’t always express,” said Grace. “And everyone can participate in music in some way, be it an ensemble, soloist, or by singing the liturgy and hymns from a pew.”
Martin Luther wrote, “Music is a fair and glorious gift of God.” SPD recognizes this gift as an expression of our love for God. Westermeyer concludes, “I have given thanks that I get to be part of a congregation that values and appreciates and supports outstanding music, and I’m delighted to report that what has always been a strong and vital part of our life is only getting better.”
“Music moves our emotions—it draws attention to the Holy Spirit in a way that words can’t always express.”
An Andante Kind of Life
BY AMANDA BERGER
been meeting with my current spiritual director, Carroll Lane, for about three years now. As we meet each month and she helps me to listen more deeply for the Holy Spirit’s presence and leading, I am often surprised by the things that come out of my own mind and heart.
I remember in one session, probably a couple of years ago now, I had been asking—both her and God—“Is this it? Is this all there is to life? That for the next 30, 40, maybe 50 years, I just keep doing the same thing?” Having just entered my early 40s, I was questioning my own patterns and what I sensed was a longing for something more. I wasn’t having a midlife crisis per se, but just wondering out loud if this sense of “Am I missing something here?” was a universal experience.
Then, Carroll Lane asked me, “What do you most want?” I sat in silence for a few moments, and then, in a flow of words I didn’t even realize I’d been thinking, I said something like:
“I want more margin. More space. I want to slow down and savor. I don’t want to be tired and achy. I want to feel like my mind and body are moving together—not one racing ahead of the other.” She listened attentively, her head tilted and eyes closed, as she listened for the Spirit’s prompting. And then she asked, “So what do you think that might look like?”
And in an almost whisper, I replied, “I think it looks like less.” And in the next
breath I also admitted that I don’t even know what that means. We laughed together and then she invited me to sit in silence for a few minutes, to jot down in my journal anything that came to mind.
I scribbled: Less decisions. Less rushing to get errands done and less time getting meals prepared. Less trying to be the mom/wife/ housekeeper I think I’m supposed to be from Pinterest. Less stuff in my house and less visual clutter. Less time on my phone and being a slave to other people’s expectations.
And then, without consciously thinking about it, I segued into what there would then be more of: more quiet and alone time; more time with God in prayer and scripture; more time in nature and more physical movement. More genuine connection with family and friends. More peace.
I dropped my pen with a big, slow exhale—“Oh, yes,” I thought. That is what I want.
Fast forward a couple of years. Since that session, I’ve been trying to practice this way of living. A more contemplative, slower, less rushed, and more attentive and satisfying way of being in the world. And it is kind of working, even though every morning, I have to start it over again. There’s no arrival, just practice.
And then, a few months ago, my sister recommended I read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. Within the first few paragraphs, I knew I’d found a companion for this practice of slowing
If you’re curious about or longing for more of this in your own life, I invite you to join me on September 21 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for a spiritual growth workshop based on the book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Think of this primarily as an exploration of the “why” of this way of living. Then, we’ll get curious about how this might look in each of our lives as well. Sign up at spdlc.org/register.
Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life … There is nothing else.
DALLAS WILLARD
down—someone a little further on the journey, and someone who even had a few ideas of what that might actually look like in the 21st century. I also felt uncomfortable, convicted and nervous. Could I do this? Do I even want to? Wouldn’t it be easier to just be “normal”? And where does the rest of my family fit in? The answers to these questions aren’t easy, but they are important and I’m more and more convinced that even just thinking about a different way of being is a big step in the right direction.
The word that comes to mind for how to describe what I’m learning is andante. It’s a musical term which means “a moderately slow tempo” or more visually, at a walking pace. Last spring, I started trying to live even more deeply into this invitation to an andante kind of life. Instead of sprinting through my days, I’m just trying to walk. Not a “downtown walk,” but at a moderately slow tempo, aware of what’s around me, with time for people and savoring and really listening. There’s also a lot more time for being with Jesus—in prayer, in conversation and in action.
And when I do it well—it’s glorious. I feel content, centered, calm. And then four out of seven days of the week I have to begin again 12 times a day. I cannot claim to be good at it, but as Ignatius of Loyola wrote, “Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet.” It’s the trying that counts.
As busy as we were, there was a lot we did not get to do. Some of these places require tickets or reservations months in advance, so on our list for next time is:
White House tour • FBI experience • Library of Congress • Ford’s Theatre • Museum of the Bible • Holocaust Museum • Arlington National Cemetery • National Museum of African American History and Culture • Mount Vernon National Archives • Georgetown University • C&O canal and towpath • Kennedy Center • Smithsonian Museum of Natural History • Smithsonian Museum of American History • Lincoln Memorial • Washington Monument • Tidal Basin
Modern Day Pilgrims Dudes in D.C.
BY BETH DUDYCHA
Being from Washington state, Washington, D.C., has always contained an urban legend-like quality in my imagination—lawmakers and judges walking past the White House in suits and robes, with a Starbucks in one hand and a gavel in the other. So, when our family—three teenage boys in tow—planned our spring break trip, we all had ideas of what we wanted to do, or not do, or what we thought it would be like.
For some of my children, the mere suggestion of the word “museum” seemed to give them hives. So, I knew it would be a balancing act to keep everyone engaged. I knew many of the attractions were free—what I didn’t know is that they also require a timed entry ticket.
The National Air and Space Museum was a premier destination for one of my kids, so we sauntered up to the entrance on our first day and the very kind ticket taker shared that tickets were sold out for the remainder of the week. Lucky for us, there is a second National Air and Space Museum by Dulles
airport that doesn’t require a timed entry ticket. We spent the entire next day at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which included a tour from a retired NASA engineer who passionately shared the history of aircraft technology. We saw the Concorde, the Enola Gay, the space shuttle Discovery and the mobile quarantine facility where the astronauts went for days after returning to earth, just in case they had moon germs.
We were able to secure tour tickets at the Capitol building and spent a bit of time at the visitor’s center there, hearing about how the Senate is different than the House, and exploring interactive exhibits about Congress, laws and the delegation of power in our government. It was inspiring to be reminded that our country is not a fixed-mindset government, but that it was built to change over time, with the people. Though it might seem slow at times, change has and will continue to happen within our government at the will of the people it represents.
We saw many emotionally moving memorials, holding a variety of responses from onlookers. People sacrificed a lot for our
country, many their own lives. The gravity of this was obvious as we silently walked through the Vietnam memorial—there were so many names. We were struck by the fact that my children and I would not be on this earth if my father had lost his life during his Navy tours in Vietnam.
The International Spy Museum was a great way to end our trip. With examples from the Renaissance to the Cold War, this is the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. We were given secret identities and a mission to accomplish as we wandered through the galleries. From weapons of mass destruction to torture, to the capture of Osama bin Laden, we learned what intelligence data is and what it is not, how to gather information, what real spy gear does, how leaders receive information, and how decisions can be made from this information that can drastically alter the course of history.
The Dudychas have only just begun exploring all that the “other” Washington has to offer, and we’re already looking forward to our next visit.
Capital Appeal Corner: Kicks Off January 2025
BY TIM WESTERMEYER
For more than 30 years now, St. Philip
the
Deacon
has conducted
Capital Appeals
every three years. As you would expect, the headlines and priorities for these appeals have varied.
In some cases, the emphasis has been on supporting mission partners around the world or in our own neighborhood. We have, for example, provided clean water in Malawi; raised funds for Christian micro loans in Colombia; built dormitories for a school in India and medical clinics in Tanzania; and supported our friends at Interfaith Outreach and developers of affordable housing in Minneapolis.
In other appeals, the emphasis has been on expanding or improving our physical plant so we can better serve our members and the community. The following spaces are all the result of these past efforts: our Sanctuary; the Center for Faith & Life; the Learning Center; the Music rehearsal room; and improvements to our Middle Level, the Fellowship Hall, the Atrium, the lower-level entrance, and the office suite. All these spaces continue to bless our mission and ministry today.
Faithfully managing our mortgage has also been a part of all these appeals— important in that this allows us to be fiscally responsible and have enough margin for effective ministry.
For the upcoming three-year cycle, all of these will be a part of what we’re doing— we’ll continue to partner with Mental Health Connect and Rise Early Learning Center; we’ll make some modest repairs and improvements to our physical plant;
and we’ll continue to faithfully manage our mortgage, and even pay down some principal.
The headline for this appeal, however, is really about making what is already a healthy and vital and vibrant church even more effective at spreading God’s love in a hurting world.
As New York Times columnist David Brooks writes, “We live in a time that is weirdly dehumanizing. We’re in the middle of a social crisis.” In his recent book, How to Know a Person , he outlines statistic after statistic that confirms this. To take just two of these, one recent survey finds that 54 percent of Americans report that no one knows them well. Another finds that 36 percent of Americans report that they felt lonely frequently or almost all of the time, including 61 percent of young adults and 51 percent of young mothers.
Here’s the thing: In this time of disorientation and crisis, the church can actually do something. And, more specifically, a healthy church like St. Philip the Deacon can make an outsized impact.
And so, in this appeal—in which we ask God to help us become the salt that flavors the world, and the light that can shine God’s love and hope into a hurting world—we are investing in ways to build community, to teach and engage our young people, to expand our educational
and spiritual growth opportunities, to help people connect through service and engagement, and to engage more people through our digital outreach.
Friends, the need is great, and—as we say all the time—it turns out that your gifts really can make a difference. I invite you to join your brothers and sisters at St. Philip the Deacon in this important work and to help us become salt and light for God’s world. Learn more at spdlc.org/ saltandlight.
We live in a time that is weirdly dehumanizing. dehumanizing. We’re in the middle of a social crisis.
LOVE + SERVE + GROW
COMFORT, COOKIES & CARE
TBY CINDY CARLSON
he gift of hospitality takes many forms, including freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or a 9x13 pan of lemon bars, or perhaps nicely chopped vegetables for a salad, a table prepared for guests, gracious smiles while pouring coffee or leftovers boxed up. These may seem like simple acts of care but are such a comfort when we serve at the time of funeral.
SPD is blessed with a wonderful team of women and men who make up the Funeral Hospitality Ministry. So often, when called to help, they do not know the families who are mourning, but they graciously respond to serve. This team faithfully bakes the most delicious assortment of bars and cookies. (Nothing seems to say you are being cared for quite like home-baked treats.) They work in the kitchen to set up and prepare the food for the reception; others serve the meal and clean up. It is these acts of love that help those grieving to feel they are in a community that is there to support and care for them during difficult times.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO SERVE?
MARTHA RUSTAD
So often I equate food with love and comfort, and I believe in being the hands and feet of Christ. Being able to serve a comforting food item like a bar or cookies to a family that is mourning is just my small part that contributes to the larger body of Christ.
JANET WITHOFF
I remember all the times others had helped my family with funeral receptions through the years, when we lost a loved one. I decided I wanted to give back and be there for those at our church.
ELLEN FINGERSON
I really enjoy baking and love that I can use that gift as a part of the funeral hospitality team. If my contribution can provide a small amount of comfort to someone grieving, that’s a blessing. I especially like to make Special K bars because they are many people’s (and my) favorite!
SHEILA BJORE
I want to do something to help the church community. Being on the funeral team, I meet other willing members who want to help! It is such a positive experience; everyone works together, joyfully, to get the job done. I go home feeling good to have been of help, but to have also been with such kind and caring people.
“IF MY CONTRIBUTION CAN PROVIDE A SMALL AMOUNT OF COMFORT TO SOMEONE GRIEVING, THAT’S A BLESSING.“
FUNERAL
HOSPITALITY TEAM
If you would like to be added to the on-call list to help with funeral receptions, contact Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org or 763-475-7115.
OUT & ABOUT
Back in May, Renee Putnam (Engagement & Service) launched a new SPD initiative, plogging. From the combination of jogging and “plocka upp,” which means “pick up” in Swedish, plogging provides a way to intentionally exercise and pick up trash. Several people from SPD met throughout our Plymouth-Wayzata community to practice plogging—even adding in lunges, squats and interval training. Good for the body and good for the community, we love seeing their #trashtags!
FALL CALENDAR
SUNDAY OCTOBER 6
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
We will be hosting an outdoor Blessing of the Animals service at church. This is a joyful and energetic event, enjoyed by pets and family members alike. Pets should be leashed or secured in a pet carrier, if you think they would be a little stressed.
FALL FESTIVAL
SATURDAY OCTOBER 26
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
SPD JAMBOREE
A festive outdoor multigeneration celebration with music, carnival games, children’s program, bingo and fun food. There is something for everyone. It is also a wonderful opportunity to invite a friend or a neighborhood to experience this community. All are welcome.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 & 12
WOMEN’S RETREAT AT SPD
On-site day retreat at church and led by Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson and Amanda Berger, the retreat theme is In Other Words: Jesus & The Lord’s Prayer. Register online by October 7.
Event Registration
Scan the provided QR code and navigate to the event of your choice to register.
There will be a family Fall Festival which will include Trunk or Treat (a safe Trick-or-Treating option for children). Families can come to SPD and “trunk or treat” in the parking lot out of people’s cars. In addition to Trunk or Treat there will be food, fall crafts, bounce houses and games for the whole family. Registration online.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15
THE LOONEY LUTHERANS AT
SPD
An evening of fun and fellowship including dinner (think hotdish and bars) and a musical performance by The Looney Lutherans. The evening will include music, comedy and some help from the audience to share their age-old wisdom of living a lively life, the Lutheran way.
but it also looks so rewarding and fun. I love watching cooking shows and seeing how they decide how to make a menu and what they do to make their dishes unique.
FAMILIAR FACES CHARLIE OLSON
1. 4. 5.
Describe when you knew you’d be going into ministry. I got to go on a mission trip to Cuba with my church the summer after my sophomore year of college. This trip completely changed my life. I learned so much and really leaned into everything we did. My youth director and I kept in touch after the trip and discussed how I could get involved in youth ministry. At the time, it felt like “why not?” go into ministry. I get to meet and serve so many awesome people through ministry. A lot of the time it really doesn’t even feel like a job—it has already become the most rewarding work I have done in my life.
2. 3. Charlie Olson joined us in January 2024 as an intern in youth ministry. After a 400-hour apprenticeship and training, we were delighted to invite him to join our staff full time in May. As he continues to get to know our youth and families, we would love for you to get to know a little bit about Charlie as well!
What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I love trying new foods and cooking for other people. One of the best times of the year for me is during the holidays when my brothers and I help my mom cook. My favorite thing I’ve made recently was fettuccine alfredo with handmade noodles.
What are three things on your lifetime to-do list? I want to travel. A few places that I want to go to are Zimbabwe, Norway, India and again to Cuba. I want to hike the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I also dream of becoming a chef and opening a restaurant. It looks like a lot of hard work,
How do you take care of yourself—spiritually, emotionally and physically—so that you stay healthy in ministry? Spending quality time with friends and family really keeps me grounded. I am starting to run again. It helps to get inspired to run when there are so many runners in our community! I also have found prayer to be so helpful whenever I feel overwhelmed or uncertain. It releases my mind to God, so I don’t have to worry because I am not in control of what happens.
What are you passionate about right now? Basketball is my favorite sport—I love watching it at any level of play. I think it’s my favorite because you can be creative in how you play and you can watch yourself get way better over time. Growing my faith is another thing I am passionate about; I love reading a story in the Bible and trying to apply that to my life and gain meaning from it. Learning about religion in general and about other religions is another thing I am passionate about. This helps me be able to have conversations with people of other religions.
Herald Music Series 2024-2025 All events are at 3:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
SUNDAY, APRIL 13
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
SPD offers many ways for children and families to connect to the life of faith and to one another. Special events happen throughout the year, and here are some of the regular opportunities to get involved: Cantus Vocal Ensemble Tickets required for Cantus events. Available at cantussings.org
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Monroe Crossing Bluegrass Band Freewill Offering
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Gustavus Choir Freewill Offering
SUNDAY, MAY 18
SPD Sanctuary Choir and Meetinghouse Church
Chorale featuring Artaria String Quartet Freewill Offering
Sunday School Sundays 9:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Begins Sept. 8
Children’s Storytime Tuesdays 5:00 & 5:30 p.m. Begins Sept. 10
Dynamic Deacons & Chancel Choir: Children’s Choirs Tuesdays 5:00 & 5:35 p.m. Begins Sept. 10.
Verse 5: Youth Group for Fifth Graders Wednesdays Begins Sept. 18
“And Jesus took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
MARK 10:16
Our Childcare Center is available for children 6 weeks through entry into Sunday School and is offered every Sunday during worship services. Questions? Contact one of our Children’s Ministry Leaders.
Early Childhood Kathy Hagedorn khagedorn@spdlc.org
Elementary School Norah Long nlong@spdlc.org
Special Events Trish Arndt tarndt@spdlc.org
Pastor of Family Life Makayla Dahleen mdahleen@spdlc.org
17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
COLOSSIANS 3:14