Inspire: Beginnings by St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church

INSPIRE BEGINNINGS

All is Calm: Yoga for Advent

Find stillness and calm during this Advent season with a 60-minute slow practice led by Amanda Berger (mat) or Kathy Hagedorn (chair), accompanied by Rachel Brandwein on harp.

Chair Version Thursday, December 19 11:30 a.m. Mat Version Friday, December 20 7:00 p.m.

Register for the evening class at spdlc.org/register by Dec. 17. Space is limited. For the chair class, no registration is needed. Suggested donation of $20 received to support Christmas ministries.

If you are experiencing profound loss or grief, the holiday season can be particularly hard. Join us for a special Christmas worship service with a gentle message of hope in the birth of Christ.

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.

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 2 , Winter 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, Beth Dudycha, Berit Francis, Mark Schmid, Valerie Strand Patterson website spdlc.org/inspire

email editorial aberger@spdlc.org on the cover

Photo by Michael Held

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

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

ISAIAH 43:18-19

Igrew up in the era of “Just Do It.” Nike’s slogan was everywhere—from clothing to advertisements—using professional athletes to encourage people to push beyond their limits, becoming the best version of themselves. You couldn’t walk through the halls of my middle school without seeing or hearing the message: Just Do It.

Even today, everyone from life coaches to our parents to social media influencers want us to take the plunge, facing whatever unknowns as they happen, and just do “it” (whatever that “it” may be).

However, God often takes a different approach, planting the seeds of new beginnings long before the time is right to act. In the Old Testament, Joseph’s dreams of Egypt precede their fulfillment by 20 years. It is 70 years of exile in Babylon—so long that God tells the people to settle in and make friends and homes for themselves— before they will be returned to Jerusalem. And prophecies of the Messiah were spoken centuries (some 600-700 years!) before the birth of Jesus; then, after his birth it was another 30 years before Jesus began his ministry.

In God time, there are often years between the dream and the doing. These years may be short or long as God develops, grows and shapes the people for the work which they are finally called to do. This work, which early 20th century priest and philosopher Teilhard de Chardin calls “the slow work of God,” is the work of a lifetime.

As we begin a new year, 2025—a new quarter century—there are many beginnings happening all around us. Throughout this issue, we are considering the whole process that comes with any new venture—from the dream to the development to the doing. We offer reflections and insights into each of these phases, from discernment to fulfillment, noticing where the Holy Spirit is in the process.

Together, we are dreaming about and beginning to develop new ministries— along with several new staff and a new capital funds appeal to support that growth (pgs. 22 & 30). Faith & Life speaker Thomas Wagner offers an in-depth look at his work as a therapist and how he integrates contemplative practice into that work (pg. 12). And we share the story of one member, Kirby Johnson, who is in his own transition. He shares his big dream, how God has shown up in the process, and what it feels like to take a big step (or, rather leap) of faith in the second half of life (pg. 10).

Because God goes with us, we don’t need to fear the future, even when change is scary. Whether you’ve been sitting on a dream for decades or feel like God is pushing you faster than you are ready to go, we can be assured that the Holy Spirit goes before and beside us—God is making a way.

WHAT I’M READING:

Jen Galley

You’ll often find members of our staff with their noses in a book. This issue we asked Jen Galley (Adult Education) about what she’s been reading, and here are some of her recommendations.

What is one book that you love? How to Walk into a Room by Emily P. Freeman

What are you reading right now? How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Storytelling from The Moth

What’s next on your list? Try Softer by Aundi Kolber

BIRTHING THE HOLY

AMANDA BERGER

In the moment of her sacred “yes,” Mary became the God-bearer. She is the one person in the Gospel stories who bears witness to Jesus’ first breath and his last sigh. And throughout history, Mary’s own story has been told through art, poetry and hymns and her presence has brought comfort to those who have experienced visions of her in times of turmoil.

Protestants often have a weird or reluctant relationship with Mary, due to unfamiliarity and maybe even a little fear of our Catholic brothers and sisters’ devotion to the mother of Jesus. And yet there is so much to appreciate about her legacy for all of us.

Most of what we know in scripture about Mary comes from the Gospels, and we get to see her interactions with Jesus in several of the stories from his life. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, we are introduced to the young woman who is asked by an angel to be the mother of God’s son—she is greeted in a way that is found nowhere else in scripture: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). She searches for a teenage Jesus when he is lost among the crowds at Passover, only to find him in his Father’s house (Luke 2:49). We continue to see Mary at Jesus’ first miracle—the wedding in Cana (John 2:1). Mary is present throughout Jesus’ ministry—in Galilee and clearly in Jerusalem, as she is present at his crucifixion. Mary was not absent from Jesus’ life—in fact, it seems that she was very present throughout all of it.

We know that throughout scripture names are important, and the name Mary has ancient roots in the Jewish tradition. A variation of the name Miriam, it reminds us of Moses’ sister who was a slave in Egypt—a name which means “bitter” or “rebellious” and references that time of captivity. The name is transformed, though, as it becomes Mary, meaning “beloved.” And today, you cannot hear the name Mary without thinking of her anointed role—it is a name of love and surrender, a fitting name for the mother of the Savior.

God does not force Mary into the role of Jesus’ mother but instead asks her to willingly partner in God’s redemption plan. Putting ourselves in her place, it is hard to imagine agreeing to this unbelievable request so quickly. Our own desire for power and control over our lives would probably cause us to hesitate. Surrender is at the heart of Mary’s “yes,” and surrender isn’t a word we love in our modern, individualistic culture.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).

What might it look like in your life this Christmastide to echo Mary’s words, “I am the Lord’s servant”? What might it mean to surrender, opening to what God might be birthing anew in your life?

If you would like to learn more about Mary, we recommend the book Birthing the Holy by Christine Valtners Paintner.

Faith & Life

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6

7 PM

Join us as former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry shares his story of “Faith & Transformation: A Personal Story of Restoration.” Strawberry played 17 seasons in the MLB, and throughout his career was one of the most feared sluggers known for his prodigious home runs and his intimidating presence in the batter’s box.

Strawberry helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship in 1986 and the New York Yankees to two World Series championships in 1996 and 1999. He was also suspended three times by MLB for substance abuse. You are invited to hear about his incredible accomplishments and his own recovery story and how it gave him a new beginning.

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

Read

I CHEERFULLY REFUSE

By Leif Enger. A master storyteller, Enger’s novel set in the not-so-distant future follows a grieving man on his

unexpected adventure in a sailboat navigating the wilds of Lake Superior.

Watch

THE SWIMMERS

Netflix, PG-13 . Two teenage Syrian swimmers were in the process of training for the Olympics when the civil war in their country escalated. Their attempts to survive,

thrive and begin again are captured in this biographical film. Many refugees were hired behind the scenes and as extras to help ensure the story was told accurately.

Listen

WISER THAN ME WITH JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS

“Julia Gets Wise with Ann Lamott” In this podcast from May 15, 2024, Louis-Dreyfus interviews Anne Lamott, shares a nugget about

parenting adult children, and gives listeners a great technique to allow others to be fully themselves.

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

Reflecting on the theme of “Beginnings,” my mind initially went to what might be considered obvious beginnings.

I thought about the start of the program year, which happened a few months ago. I thought of Advent, which is the start of a new church year. And I thought about the start of the calendar year, which—of course—begins on January 1.

As I’ve sat with the theme a bit longer, though, it has struck me that in my life as a pastor, I’m exposed to significant and important moments in people’s lives that we may not think of as beginnings. Perhaps we think of them instead as moments of transition. Or perhaps we even think of them as endings. But as Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca wrote 2,000 years ago—and as the band Semisonic repeated in its song “Closing Time”—it isn’t always easy to distinguish between endings and beginnings: “Every new beginning,” Seneca wrote, “comes from some other beginning’s end.”

loves us travels with us through each of these transitions, and never abandons us. We may be changed by these moments—indeed, how could we not be?—but the God who loves us remains a steadfast anchor throughout them all.

Many biblical passages point to this truth, but one that I’ve always loved comes from the 43rd chapter of Isaiah where we are reminded of the faithful presence of this God.

At a time when we are celebrating wonderful new initiatives at St. Philip the Deacon, starting Advent, and looking ahead to a new year, may these words be both a promise and a blessing:

Understood that way, beginnings take the form of all kinds of life events: Births. Baptisms. Confirmations. Weddings. Retirements. Illnesses. And yes, even death.

Each of these transitions marks important inflection points in the lives of individuals, families and loved ones, which force us to sit with questions like: Who am I? Where have I been? Where am I going? What does the future hold?

At another level, they also invite us to sit with a deeper truth, namely, that the God who sees us and knows us and

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ... Do not fear, for I am with you”(Isaiah 43:1b-3a, 5).

In Steadfast Love,

MEDITATION

“Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.”

TEILHARD DE CHARDIN

Impress it Upon Them

BY AMANDA BERGER

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Frequently, as leaders in the church, and particularly as those who work with young people, we hear older generations say things like:

“I am so worried about the youth and children—I just want to see them love God.”

“My children/grandchildren/ nieces or nephews want nothing to do with the church—and it just breaks my heart.”

“I don’t know how to talk to my children/grandchildren about faith/church/God.”

These are legitimate observations and concerns—and ones that all of us are capable of doing something about. A lot of people see children’s and youth ministry as particular subsets of church ministry, and as a ministry in which they feel they have no place. However, children and youth ministry can be a whole church ministry—and something every single one of us, regardless of our own age or child status, are called to.

In the passage from Deuteronomy above, the commandment given by God is not to

turn over those younger in faith to the professionals, but rather it is to model and live faith in daily life in such a way that it is impressed upon children. Faith is learned; given from parent to child, within families, from older generation to younger, and by practicing faith wherever you find yourself—at home, out in the world, when you are relaxed and at rest, and when you are in motion. Young people are always watching us to see how we live as Christians in all things: our relationships to other people, how we save and spend our money, how we care for others, how we care for ourselves, and absolutely how we live out our relationship with God. The living of our lives is the single greatest teaching moment that we have.

Young people see us worship. They see us participate in classes and Bible studies and commit to quiet time and our devotions at home. Children see us pray and serve. They also see how we invite others (including them!) to come alongside us as we do it. So, even if you don’t have children living in your home, who is watching you? To whom are you modeling a life of faith and how’s that going?

It’s also possible that the “young people” to whom you are modeling faith are not all that young.

What might it look like to come alongside someone in early adulthood or a young couple with small children and be a person with whom they could share their challenges, and their questions about God, and about the spiritual life? Is there a way that you could serve as a companion or mentor or prayer partner, as one who is just a little bit further along in your journey with Jesus?

The relationship doesn’t have to be anything formal or planned. It might be as simple as sitting with unfamiliar companions at coffee hour and getting to know them. Or, you might offer a friendly face and a kind face, a meaningful prayer, or a compassionate, helpful presence in the life of a friend or neighbor— regardless of their own expression of faith. It is unfair to lament a world which doesn’t know Jesus if we are keeping it all to ourselves.

A LEAP OF FAITH

BY AMANDA BERGER

Any new venture is a step of faith. But when a big, new adventure presents itself in the second half of life, it can feel more like a leap than a step. Some authors and psychologists are describing this move as “falling upwards” or moving from “strength to strength”—a move that invites people to lean into the gifts that come with age and wisdom in a new way.

SPD member Kirby Johnson has recently done just that. An oral surgeon, Johnson joined an oral surgery practice in 1990, a place where he worked for 34 years. “I had a great career there but had a new idea about making families’ wisdom tooth removal experience a good one,” said Johnson. “In my old practice, I had plateaued and wasn’t making progress with some of the strengths that I have.” After so many years in the business, Johnson was well-connected to many wonderful experts in his field and felt a nudge in the direction of doing something new. Johnson commented, “Steve Jobs once said ‘business is the ability to connect the dots.’ And I kept asking myself why do I know all of these contributors if not for a project ‘such as this’? (to paraphrase Esther from the Bible).”

Working with local architects, Johnson began designing a state-of-the-art office at the intersection of Hopkins Crossroad and 394—and Wise Decision Wisdom Teeth Specialists was born. “I have worked with the biggest dental consultant in the country before, and he took a keen interest in this project,” said Johnson. That affirmation of Johnson’s abilities was encouraging. “It seems like this is a natural progression of my career—that I’ll be able to use my expertise and experience to help families.”

It seems like such a niche service—the removal of wisdom teeth—but it is something of a rite of passage for families as their children reach their late teens and

early 20s. “I’ve taken out over 100,000 teeth, and I have called every patient the evening of their surgery to see what went well and what didn’t. This is my vision for what an oral surgery practice can be—it should take the families’ perspective into account,” said Johnson. “At the end of the day, I just love meeting people and employing the human touch in dentistry.”

This description makes it all sound easy, but the whole process was one of deep discernment for Johnson and a willingness to trust where God was leading him. “Business really is a spiritual undertaking, and I hope to pattern our practice with Christian values,” said Johnson. He described talking with Pastor Westermeyer, who was helpful in processing some of the issues that Johnson had with his old office and presenting some recommendations for discernment in a big life decision.

“I pray about my business and my patients every day. I think prayer helps. We have accomplished a lot—but there have been a lot of huge obstacles that have miraculously ended up with great outcomes.” For example, when the first choice of location fell through, Johnson described that feeling as a “gut punch” and that he felt “down for at least a month” as they looked at alternative locations. In the end, after lots of sleepless nights and furtive prayer, an even better location was found. “It seems that it’s all been part of God’s plan, and I’m sure there’s going to be many more obstacles in the future,” said Johnson. In faith, he describes bringing these big questions to God, and how when there’s been a big problem, there has also always been a solution that’s presented itself.

Johnson said, “I left a very good job, and now I have undertaken a significant financial burden to see this dream come true. I’m not sure that taking a risk like this is for everyone, and I’ve doubted myself on a few occasions. But I think I’m just driven by the outcome that we’re going to be serving patients at a higher level … I take that as an answered prayer. This has truly been a leap of faith.”

Kirby Johnson (pictured on the left in the photo to the right) is the founder of Wise Decision, but it is far from a solo endeavor. He is so grateful to the staff and other medical team members who are integral to making his dream a success.

From that time till now, the pursuit of intimacy with God, and service to it, has been the animating force of my life.”

FAITH & RESILIENCE: AN ABIDING SOURCE

INTERVIEW WITH TOM WAGNER

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

Over the past several years, there has been an increased awareness about the role of mental health, resilience and finding hope in everyday life—for our families and communities. When Dr. Tom Wagner joins us in person, he’ll continue to lift up these themes. In this interview, Tim Westermeyer offers a little preview and a chance to get to know Wagner ahead of his Faith & Life Lecture on March 20.

I hope that the stories I tell each week connect with the Transcendent core of my readers.”

Who are you and what do you do? Nothing like a good open-ended question! For over 30 years, I’ve maintained a counseling practice specializing in marriage and family therapy. My doctoral research centered on resilient, happy marriages in difficult circumstances. Specifically, I interviewed self-described resilient/happy couples caught up in the grind of medical residency. It just so happened that during that time of life, my medical school student wife and mother of two children was beginning her intern year as a pediatric resident. Let’s just say that I had a personal stake in learning all I could about what leads to success in medical marriages!

Over the years, my research interests have broadened to include resilience in all its forms. My love for writing, facilitating and speaking to groups has led to a satisfying adjunct career in retreat and workshop facilitation, as well as a once-a-week article in my blog, Sundaymorningcafe.com.

As for the “who” of me … at a particularly dark time, my sideways adolescence got interrupted by what one might describe as a “religious experience.” From that time till now, the pursuit of intimacy with God, and service to it, has been the animating force of my life. That focus on the relationship with Holy Presence informs my practice of psychotherapy and research in some obvious, and some not-so-obvious, ways. Over the years, I’ve found that both the informal/inexplicit as well as the formal/ explicit spiritualities of my clients and research subjects can provide a tremendous source of resilience and well-being.

Is there a story behind the name of your blog, “Sundaymorningcafe”? I’ve found that in my own faith tradition of Catholicism,

perhaps the best kept secret is the richness of the contemplative tradition that goes all the way back to the first centuries of the early desert mothers and fathers of the Christian tradition. The contemplative tradition within Christianity contains a smorgasbord of spiritualities that is as broad and deep as every personality type. In my experience, most seminarians are never trained in these approaches; consequently, when they become pastors, neither are their congregants. For the last 15 years, my weekly article has attempted to exist at the crossroads where psychological insight meets solid contemplative practice. It’s my hope that my work can speak to the heart of anyone interested in questions of meaning and mindfulness, whatever religious tradition, or no religious tradition at all. I hope that the stories I tell each week connect with the Transcendent core of my readers.

You describe your counseling work as “time-limited and resource based, with a special eye toward the client’s spirituality.” Can you tell me what you mean by each of those three things? You bet! Time Limited. For me, this means that counseling has a beginning, middle and end. It’s meant to locate strengths, enhance resilience and solve problems in as timely a manner as possible.

Resource Based. Frequently, clients come to counseling with a problem-saturated way of looking at their issues, their lives or even their very selves. If I can shift their focus to find sources of strength, resilience and skills already present in their lives, progress normally kicks in organically.

An eye toward a client’s spirituality. For most of my 20s, I studied to be a Catholic priest. I never developed a knack for celibacy,

so I didn’t get ordained. Having left the seminary behind, when it came time for the secular study of counseling and psychology, I found a resonance between my earlier theological studies and what I found in the writings of so many researchers in the fields of psychology and systems theory. So, by “a client’s spirituality,” I am listening and watching for what is most Holy in a client’s life. If the client's spirituality is rooted in an explicit religious tradition, I try my best to operate within that system to see how those beliefs and practices can act as a resource in getting them unstuck.

We’ve heard a lot about the loneliness epidemic in our culture. What has caused that, do you think, and how can the community of the church help to address it? Such an important question! So many layers to it! Ask anybody in a helping profession about the “recent loneliness epidemic” in our culture and you’re likely to get a wry smile and a response like, “This is nothing new!”

Anyone in a helping profession has been noticing this for so long! Artists have been singing, painting and writing novels about it for many, many decades. From where I sit, I think that the pandemic of 2020 just exposed a long-standing problem, even as it heightened it. What may be new right now is the helpful message, “You’re not alone in your loneliness!”

Lately, I’ve been seeing the issues of loneliness and isolation through the eyes of Wendell Berry’s novels and essays. In a word, he sees consumerism as the community shredding machine at the heart of American loneliness. A financial system that is dependent upon constant short-term growth, as well as unsustainable levels of debt for almost everyone, quietly, but inexorably, takes time, resources and focus away from the bonds that have always sustained humanity. Beauty is lost to glamor. Discipline is for chumps. Ownership rather than relationship is the coin of this realm. I’m not the first to say this, but I’ll surely repeat it. “The global village” predicted at the advent of electronic media has not only failed to come to pass, it has actually fragmented people into ideological gated

communities, made more space for false information, kept our children indoors and away from each other. From what I see from my counselor’s chair, is that media in all its forms is making us more angry, scared and isolated from one another.

What can the church do about it? In the fourth century, Augustine of Hippo said, “Oh Lord, our hearts were made for you, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Among all the organizations in our culture, our spiritual communities are best suited to understand and speak to the loneliness that lies at the heart of the human condition. This is what my resilience research has led me to: an abiding source of community and resilience pulses at the heart of each person. Recovering how to connect with that Transcendent core of the self is essential work for our time. This work cannot be done in isolation. This work has to be done together in communities with experienced mentors who are capable of a deep form of accompaniment on this journey. Nobody can come to this alone.

On your website, you have this beautiful statement: “We live in a God drenched world. Scratch just below the surface of things, and you will notice, right there under your fingertips…divinity. For those who are looking for it, all of reality holds the potential for revelation.” If, as you say, the world is so drenched in divinity—which I happen to agree with— why is it so easy for us to miss it? Maybe more importantly, how would you encourage people to see it more fully? It probably goes without saying, but one obvious answer to this question has to do with what brought me to resilience research to start with: the ubiquitous experience of suffering. I agree with the aphorism that the least wrong thing you can say about God is that “God is love.” In the midst of suffering, it’s hard to see or experience that Loving Presence. It seems to me that in those moments, that Loving Presence has to be mediated through the Beloved Community that Christianity describes as “The Body of Christ.”

I can remember attending a talk by the 20th century mystic Anthony De Mello.

In answer to the question, “Why is God so hard to find?” he passed along this story: “There once was a fish that was quite a seeker! She kept looking and looking for the ocean, but all she ever found was water!” De Mello, like the spiritual masters in every tradition, describes God’s Spirit as nearer to us than our own breath. God’s presence is easy to miss because it’s so close you can’t see it.

In my own resilience research, I’ve found that the intentional practice of noticing Beauty is an incredibly accessible way of developing the eyesight to see this Presence at the core of everything. The way that the discipline of “beauty checks” works, is that once you locate something beautiful (whether it is physically beautiful like a landscape, or morally beautiful like kindness or generosity) the next step is to momentarily “stop” what you’re doing, “drop” down into your body so that you can “savor” it. This methodology of “Stop … Drop … and Savor” is very close to what gratitude practitioners like Brother David Steindl-Rast, Lucy Hone, and Marty Seligman are getting at in their respective research. For me, the term “gratitude” suggests an intellectual exercise. I prefer the term “savoring” as a much more holistic term that includes the somatic inner experience in the practice.

The theme for this issue of Inspire is “Beginnings.” What does that word mean for you, or what does it suggest for you in your work?

Last April, my wife and I took our very first empty nest spring break vacation. Without thinking too much about it, we returned to the same timeshare resort complex in Florida where we took most spring break vacations with our children through the balance of their childhoods. Except this time, we vacationed child-free. It didn’t take long for us to notice that our old stomping grounds were tinged with a kind of loneliness. In real time, we were feeling the effects of the truism that every new beginning starts with an ending. In other words, there is a natural kind of grief that is built into the normal processes of growth. Explicitly attending to that grief

of the ending, and naming it, allowed Lisa and me to manage our grief, first by naming it, second by using our humor to soften it, and third, planning brand-new activities appropriate to this age and stage in our lives.

It seems to me that the acceptance of these little endings and learning how to carry them through a new beginning is an essential aspect to the art of joyful living.

You’ll be with us for the Faith & Life Series on Thursday, March 20, speaking on “Faith & Resilience: Finding Hope in Challenging Times.” What can people expect to hear when they come to that event? During our time together, you’ll experience some very practical ways to enhance your own resilience. We’ll flesh out in more detail what I mean by intentional practice of Beauty, and what it means to “savor” your life. Time will be reserved to touch into some simple approaches to immunize yourself from the resilience eroding impact of cultural negativity.

Our spiritual communities are best suited to understand and speak to the loneliness that lies at the heart of the human condition.”

Cultivating the Spiritual Gift of Discernment

BY VALERIE STRAND PATTERSON

After his father King David died, Solomon was anointed king. Solomon was young and it was a big job—he felt overwhelmed with the responsibility before him. In a dream, God invited Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted. Surprisingly, instead of asking for power or wealth, Solomon prays, “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:9). God was pleased with this request and granted it to Solomon.

Solomon’s discernment was soon put to the test. Two women came to him claiming to be the mother of one baby. Both women had sons, but one of their children had died, and they were fighting over the remaining baby. How would he determine who was the child’s rightful mother? He asked a question which revealed the hearts of the women—one held malice and the other held love for the child. The baby was returned to its mother (1 Kings 3:16-28).

To this day, we associate Solomon with wisdom, which is closely related to discernment. In the scriptures, the subject of discernment will include words like wisdom, understanding, discretion, prudence and testing. And while discernment can be used interchangeably with decision making and choices, in a Christian context it carries the added implication that God has been a part of the decision process. In short, discernment often means including prayer, conversation with wise others, and God as a part of discovering the next right step in one’s life.

The Greek word, found throughout the New Testament, for the gift of discernment is diakrisis, which refers to spiritual judgment, understanding, assessment or separation. Some people are specifically given the spiritual gift of discernment—it is God-given and comes easily—but it is also something that all Christians can pray for and cultivate. The development of discernment is then a lifelong task that calls for devoted prayer and attentive listening.

rightly discerned which mother had a true heart for the child.

But there is another way to understand discernment as well. In this way, we may look at the account of Jesus’ appearance on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Two disciples on the first Easter day were traveling from Jerusalem, hearts broken from the crucifixion, when Jesus, unrecognized, walks and talks with them and explains all of the scriptures about the Messiah. They invite Jesus to stay for supper; and then when Jesus took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, their eyes were opened. At that moment of recognition, he left their sight and they ran back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples and others about Jesus’ appearance. They discerned his life and presence in the breaking of the bread.

and small decisions, to listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading for what comes next, and to notice where God might be calling us in our crossroads moments.

Tools for Discernment

Based on Henri Nouwen’s book Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life, the following four spiritual practices aid us in recognizing—discerning—God’s abiding presence in our lives. Each of these practices helps us to know God more intimately, which in return, helps us to see God more readily in our lives.

“when Jesus took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, their eyes were opened.”

Beloved author and theologian Henri Nouwen believed that the Road to Emmaus story highlights the heart of discernment: seeing and understanding God’s presence in our lives. Discernment is about being responsive and sensitive to God’s presence and extends to listening for God in the ordinariness of life—in scripture and experience, in dreams and the words of friends, in nature and the events of the world around us. It is also about listening to that place within us where our deepest desires align with God’s desire. We look at our various motives and options and impulses and seek the ones that draw us closer to divine love and compassion for ourselves and others. Discernment involves inviting the Holy Spirit into every part of our lives—thoughts, worries, plans, pain and suffering, loneliness, regrets—all of it.

1. Devotion to the scriptures and theological reflection.

2. Abiding with Christ in prayer.

3. Recognizing Christ in Holy Communion.

4. Sharing comfort and restoration from Christ with others.

From this perspective, discernment is the spiritual gift or ability to assess sensitively between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and falsehood, as when Solomon

As we mature in our faith, discernment becomes a way of life, rather than something that we do only when necessary. We learn to engage God’s presence in both big

Another great tool for discernment is to sit with a spiritual director. Trained to help you discover where God is at work in your life, a spiritual director is the perfect person to accompany you during seasons of discernment and to help you listen for the Holy Spirit’s leading. At SPD, we have two staff who are certified spiritual directors who would love to work with you—or who can recommend another spiritual director from their network. To learn more about the practice of spiritual direction and to connect with Amanda Berger or Jen Galley for an initial consult, visit the link below. spdlc.org/spiritual-direction

Open the Ears of Your Heart

BY AMANDA BERGER

It’s possible that it has something to do with my childhood obsessions with Joan of Arc or “The Sound of Music.” Or in the curiosity aroused in college when I first read the spiritual memoir of author Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk, where she writes about her extended stays at St. John’s Monastery in Collegeville, Minnesota. Or perhaps it was more recent. Recognizing a kindred spirit in St. Benedict as I read books on faith formation and spiritual disciplines for my spiritual direction certification class.

It could have been in any of those moments that God first planted the seed. But it was in my first visit to St. Paul’s Monastery last winter that the idea of becoming a Benedictine oblate (pronounced aah-blate) began to seem like a possibility and something that I truly desired. Oblate, which comes from the Latin word oblatus , means “one offered up.”

An oblate is an associate of a monastic community who agrees to integrate practices and commitments of the monastic community within their daily life. Oblates do not take the same vows as monks and nuns; they are both male and female, married with family or single, and can be from any Christian background. And while there are oblates in many monastic traditions, those of the Benedictine tradition are often the most familiar (due to authors, artists and activists who were oblates—people like Kathleen Norris, Dorothy Day and Rumer Godden—among others).

St. Benedict of Nursia founded the Benedictine Order in A.D. 529. Benedict’s Rule, or way of living in relationship with God, the community and the world, has been used for over 15 centuries and people continue to find relevance and guidance from it. I certainly found that to be true as I began to read the Rule and could see immediately its wisdom for balancing my own spiritual life, vocation, family and rest.

The thing that most appeals to me about Benedictine spiritual practices? Benedict was deeply committed to a way of moderation. The rule is neither too strict nor ascetic, but favors simplicity. The highest priorities are the health of the community and the support of individual spiritual growth. I also deeply appreciate the Benedictine vows of stability (commitment to the people and community for life), faithfulness (a commitment to monastic values and the willingness to allow Christ to transform one’s life), and obedience (listening for God’s leading in all things).

The thing that most appeals to me about Benedictine spiritual practices? Benedict was deeply committed to a way of moderation. The rule is neither too strict nor ascetic, but favors simplicity.

I have only just begun the process of oblate formation. Over the next year, I will be guided by the community at St. Paul’s Monastery as I learn about how to integrate Benedict’s Rule more fully into my own life. At the end of that formation process, I will then be invited to make a promise to the community to continue living by the rule and commitment to involvement in the community—serving and worshipping alongside the St. Paul’s Monastery community.

What might that look like? Alongside the commitment to incorporating Benedictine values and practices into my home life, it might also look like: serving on the spiritual direction team at the monastery, participating in regular retreats and classes with the oblate community, or it might look like dinner and bingo night with the sisters. The only thing it certainly means is a promise to be a part of the community in some way.

As I continue to learn more about Benedictine spirituality, it occurs to me

that I have been living by some of their tenets for years already. I firmly believe in stability—I have been committed to St. Philip the Deacon for 18 years (and counting!), whether in peaceful, exciting seasons or seasons of challenge. Attentiveness to God’s leading and presence in the world has long been my definition of our purpose in the world. And a willingness to be transformed by the person of Jesus is not something that I ever considered as optional.

If you are curious about the Benedictine Rule, I highly recommend Joan Chittister’s TheRuleofBenedict:A Spiritualityforthe21stCentury . Written like a daily devotional, Chittister presents a section of the Rule, then offers her own commentary as a Benedictine sister on its relevance for modern life.

Given New Life

BY BETH DUDYCHA

Recently, local news outlets carried the story of Dave Pratt and his family, who worship at Pax Christi Catholic Community Church in Eden Prairie. When I saw the story, I knew I wanted to hear this story firsthand, for myself. As I listened, I was struck by how different things might have been in my own life had one variable changed in my family history. I was reminded of how lucky I am that my father survived the Vietnam War. Our family exists and continues to grow with children and grandchildren because of my dad’s survival. Bob Pratt’s family, likewise, is not just a story of surviving, but also a gorgeous legacy of thriving.

Bob Pratt was born in 1922 in Burlington, Iowa. He was trained as a bombardier-navigator on a B-17 after he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. He flew many missions in Europe during WWII. One winter mission ended when the plane was hit by ground fire. Pratt and his crew jumped out of the plane, using their parachutes, and landed on snow in Yugoslavia. Pratt survived the jump, though now he needed to survive the frigid night. He used the silk fabric from the parachute as a blanket as he tried to stay warm until sunrise. He made it. That parachute saved his life two times. The crew received help from local anti-Nazi residents and were smuggled back to Italy.

Upon returning to Iowa, Pratt carried home with him the parachute and some maps. His friends and family were overjoyed and grateful he was home alive. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia, and in 1946 they had their first child. Maude Pratt, Bob’s mother and the baby’s grandmother, wanted to do something to celebrate this new life. As she was used to making do with what she had during wartime supply shortages and rations, and hoping there was no future need for a parachute, she began to sew. She cut the fabric and carefully sewed a tiny baptism

gown from the parachute’s silk threads. She created sleeves, a collar and a bonnet that flowed around the baby as she entered the Christian family. She created a visible reminder of her son’s sacrifice for the world in his service, and used the object that saved him twice to continue to save others. Baptized into a new life, the new baby wore the same cloth that saved her father during the war.

Dave Pratt, Bob’s son, wore the gown when he was baptized. Since then, his children and many grandchildren have all been baptized in this precious heirloom; 28 new lives have been baptized in the gown. “Without that gown, we wouldn’t be here,” said Dave. “We wouldn’t be alive because that gown saved my father’s life. I mean that parachute saved my father’s life.”

Did Maude realize she was creating a new legacy from this at the time she made it? Maude was probably very excited about her grandkids, and at the same time grateful that her son, unlike many, came home alive from the war. It was likely a mix of many emotions to welcome a new baby after the trauma of war. Pratt said, “I wonder if she was thinking about the sacrifice her son made for the world in his service, not wanting us to forget that good things can come from anywhere, from anything, even from horrific events like war.”

Has there been a moment in your life where you knew you were experiencing a new beginning, like Maude may have as she created this baptismal gown? What was the impact of that experience?

STAFFING FOR THE FUTURE

SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING! NOW IT SPRINGS UP; DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT? I AM MAKING A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS AND STREAMS IN THE WASTELAND.”

ISAIAH 43:19

BY AMANDA BERGER

There are times in our lives— as people and communities— when we only see in hindsight how important a particular moment in time is. You may not realize the impact that a book, a chance meeting or a social moment has until months or years later as its impact plays out in your life. You only recognize the shift after it has happened. And then there are other seasons when you know you are at an inflection point.

This is true for us as a faith community— we are at an inflection point. We can see it easily, in the present moment, because it would be impossible to add five new staff and shift three other staff roles without creating a sense of expectation and excitement for what lies ahead. As in any season of change, there are bound to be some growing pains, but that is an indication

of growth and forward movement, of God birthing a new thing in our midst.

Perhaps you can take inspiration from this forward movement we are experiencing to reflect on your own life. Consider the following questions: What have been some inflection points in your own life? How were you surprised by what God was doing? What new thing might God be doing in your life? What invitation might there be for you, from God?

We invite you to keep all these individuals and ministries in your prayers as we live into a new era of mission and ministry at SPD. If you are looking for ways to get involved, we invite you to reach out to any of them with the email listed here and learn about volunteer or service opportunities available within each of their ministry areas.

NEW HIRES & NEW ROLES

MAKAYLA DAHLEEN

Makayla’s vibrant energy and deep thoughtfulness are infusing our pastoral and children, youth and family teams with creativity and vision for the future. WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT MAKAYLA: Her experience in intergenerational ministry and revisioning family ministry are a perfect fit for our congregation as we look for ways to enhance our current offerings and expand our ministry to reach even more families in our community. mdahleen@spdlc.org

JEN GALLEY

With an impressive resume of experience teaching in both church and college settings, Jen is a natural fit as our first Director of Adult Education. WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT JEN: Her incredible depth of knowledge and compassionate presence embodies Jesus’ teaching style and welcome of all people. jgalley@spdlc.org

CELINA KOBETITSCH

Our organist, Celina, has traveled the world learning from masters of her craft and playing some of the most historically significant pipe organs ever built. WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT CELINA: Not only is she an accomplished performer and worship leader, but she is also a composer, arranger and creative partner who greatly enhances our music team. ckobetitsch@spdlc.org

CHARLIE OLSON

After a 400+ hour apprenticeship with Amanda Berger, in May of 2024 Charlie stepped into the role of Director of Middle School Ministry. WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT CHARLIE: Incredibly relational, he’s a good listener, asks great questions and genuinely loves people. Sit with him at Pizza & Play or meet him for coffee and you can’t help but feel his kindness and curiosity. colson@spdlc.org

JOBETH RANFRANZ

A familiar face to our handbell choir, JoBeth had already been a regular substitute director with the group before agreeing to take on the role permanently. WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT JOBETH: Her 25 years of experience leading handbell choirs brings a professionality and depth of musical skill to the group that will challenge and continue to grow this still new (3 years!) choir. jranfranz@spdlc.org

FAMILIAR FACES IN NEW ROLES

KATHY HAGEDORN

Now focusing her energy on programming for our Pre-K children, Kathy also oversees our Childcare Center. WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT KATHY: Her long tenure and experience on the CYF team at SPD (24 years!) gives her a deep familiarity with families through multiple generations—kids she taught in Sunday School years ago are now bringing their own children to SPD. khagedorn@spdlc.org

NORAH LONG

We’re used to seeing Norah in our music ministry, but as of this fall, she said a big, scary yes to spending even more time with our elementary age children. WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT NORAH: She is a brilliant teacher who is using her rich creative gifts and acting skills to bring the Gospel to life in new ways for our young people. nlong@spdlc.org

RENEE PUTNAM

This new role, Service and Engagement, is a natural fit for Renee’s passion for connecting people to one another and helping people to see the ways in which their gifts make a difference in our community. W HAT WE LOVE ABOUT RENEE: Renee exudes kindness and a servant’s heart; she has her eyes and ears on multiple organizations throughout the Plymouth/Wayzata community and is deeply committed to seeing how we, as a congregation, can impact the world around us for good. rputnam@spdlc.org

ONE WORD

BY AMANDA BERGER

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice.”

T.S. ELIOT

Many people choose a “Word of the Year” to become a theme or guide for the year ahead. Sometimes their word is aspirational (something they want to live into—like listen or peace or stop) or a word that gives them a measuring tool against which they can measure their choices in the forthcoming year (words like challenge, serve or engage). These words are meant to help shape the thoughts and actions of a person throughout the year ahead. How a person lives into that word is completely up to them.

Imagine a person chooses “serve” as their word of the year. They might decide on 12 acts of service for the year (one a month) in which they want to participate. Or if a person’s word is “peace,” then perhaps they commit to twice weekly meditation sessions, giving to an organization that

PROMPT ONE

If a word immediately pops into your head, hold that word before God. Ask: What might there be in this word for your body, mind, heart and spirit? What would God have you learn from this word? Why do you think this is what immediately comes to mind?

works to heal war-torn areas of the world, and they resolve to mend a friendship that has suffered a rupture.

This practice can be focusing and life-giving, it can also challenge you to try new things—and ideally, there is something in it that feels compelling and fun.

If this is your practice (or maybe you want to try it for the first time!), what might it look like to ask God to help you choose your word? Is it possible that the Holy Spirit might invite you to a word you never would have chosen for yourself?

Use the prompts below to help choose your word of the year. Begin with a simple prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead the process.

Once you settle on a word, brainstorm ideas of what it might look like to live into that word. Make some tasks small and easy to do in just a few minutes. Others could be big or challenging—things that might

PROMPT

TWO

If you just straight up asked, “God, what word do you have for me?” what do you hear? Consider what word God would choose for you. Notice what immediately springs to mind—what is your gut reaction to that word or words?

really stretch you and take the whole year to develop. You aren’t committing to any of these ideas right now, but rather just exploring what might be possible. Take your time. Notice how that word shows up. Which of your brainstorming ideas feel exciting and begs you to explore more?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE SUPPORT FOR THIS PRACTICE

We have a printable One Word devotion available at spdlc.org/links. This 12-session journal offers prompts and reflections for getting started on your one word—to be used over the first days of your practice or monthly throughout the year ahead.

PROMPT

THREE

This may seem like a silly pratice, but maybe just try it out and see what happens: Grab a Bible. Pray “God, open my ears, eyes and heart to your word for me today.” Then open to a random page. Begin to read anywhere on the page that catches your eye. Notice if a particular word or phrase sticks out to you. What might God be saying to you?

Modern Day Pilgrims

Giving Globally

BY BERIT FRANCIS

Many years ago, my family took a vacation to Sumba, Indonesia. While on vacation, our family visited a malaria clinic and were moved to provide funding for the procurement of insecticide imbedded bed nets for all the islanders. In the first year after that donation, the rate of malaria on the island of Sumba had dropped by more than 50%.

My husband, Michael, was sharing this experience with one of his business colleagues in Australia, who told Michael that he served on the board of directors for Vestergaard, the Swiss-based company that had developed these bed nets. As we were so impressed by the impact of these nets, the colleague encouraged Michael to share our story with the company’s CEO. Because of that connection, Michael was asked to join Vestergaard’s board of directors.

A leader in global health, Vestergaard focuses on malaria prevention and eradi-

cation of waterborne diseases. Their client list is impressive: the United Nations, the Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders. They also have a US-based division called LifeStraw which provides consumer water filtration systems to major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, REI and Costco. As a “B Corporation,” the profits from the consumer division are reinvested in research and development for the global health business.

The LifeStraw division has developed largescale products which clean the filthiest of water and remove 99.8% of impurities and diseases. They donate these products around the world in times of crises, natural disaster or to communities without access to clean water. They are currently active in Ukraine, Syria and throughout Africa; closer to home, they provide resources to Flint, Michigan. Each year the company’s employees and board visit Kenya where they spend 10 days out in the field installing the newest versions of their safe water systems.

His first year on the board, Michael had the opportunity to be part of this volunteer brigade. It was such an enjoyable and meaningful first experience, he convinced me that I, too, would enjoy this unique opportunity.

In February 2024, I went to Kenya with Michael and the volunteer team. I was somewhat tentative but quickly became educated and acclimated through an orientation day of what to expect in the field—including learning some basic Swahili words and a few songs! However, nothing prepared me for the heartwarming reception that I received.

Each team of volunteers went to three or four schools each day. We were met with enormous enthusiasm and what appeared to be pure joy from both teachers and students. All of us (volunteers) commented on how remarkable it seemed that these children were filled with so much joy despite not possessing much. For me, there was a stark juxtaposition between my own material possessions in comparison to theirs.

I had some feelings of guilt and shame. I have tried to adopt the philosophy of “To whom much is given, much is required” into my life right here in the United States, but seeing this contrast in Africa elevated my viewpoint tenfold! Another takeaway was the realization of what a luxury it is to take for granted access to clean water—something I’ve had for my entire lifetime. I also noticed the respect the students had for us as visitors and for their teachers. It seemed as if the children truly believed that attending school was a privilege.

As part of the experience, we also visited a health clinic that Vestergaard started 20 years ago. I met the man who donated the land in which the clinic is built upon. He lost a son in the delivery process as the hospital was too far away. I was overwhelmed with his generosity and desire to help the community at large despite his own devastating loss. The clinic is focused on malaria care, general health and recently added maternity services. In the last year,

Michael and I helped fund a new initiative which involves providing young girls and women with period panties. The clinic had discovered that girls were not only missing school when on their menstrual cycle but also were engaging in sex for payment so that they could afford to buy menstrual supplies before this initiative began. To date, there has been a major improvement in both school attendance and changed behaviors.

In February 2025, I plan to return to Kenya again to volunteer time at the clinic in advance of participating in the annual fieldwork. Because of the success of the work in Kenya, needs have been met and we will be moving our efforts to Uganda and Rwanda for next year’s campaign.

If you would like to donate to help support LifeStraw’s project of providing menstrual supplies, visit spdlc.org/links for project and giving information.

LIFE TO THE FULL

Solitude & Silence

This 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. Up next? The practice of simplicity.

What deadens us most to God’s presence within, I think, is the inner dialogue that we are engaged in within ourselves, the endless chatter of human thought. I suspect that there is nothing more crucial to true spiritual comfort than being able from time to time to stop that chatter, including the chatter of spoken prayer.”

FREDERICK BEUCHNER, TELLING SECRETS

you are an introvert, the practices of silence and solitude likely sound like heaven. If an extrovert, these practices are likely to have you picturing something the exact opposite.

Creating space for solitude and silence is both simple and challenging—we often don’t even realize how noisy our world is until we try to dial it down. A lot of that noise comes from the world around us, but in nearly equal amount, the noise comes from within our own minds. Author Ruth Haley Barton uses this image:

We are like jars of river water all shaken up. When we are allowed time to be alone and quiet, the sediment settles to the bottom, and as that happens the water becomes clear and still. Similarly, as we find time in solitude and silence, our thoughts settle and we become clearer—and better able to notice the still, small voice of God.

Jesus often retreated away from others— to the wilderness, to the Mount of Olives, to a place away from the crowds—to find a place where the presence of other people and other voices were silenced, so that he could hear God’s voice more clearly.

Simple definitions:

Solitude = Being Alone Silence =

Being Quiet

Though the definitions above are the nonnegotiables of silence and solitude, they can be practiced in different ways. You may need several days, a few times a year, to reset and listen. A retreat (silent and solo, or another type) may best meet your needs. Or you could be best served by smaller, daily doses of this time—30 minutes each morning, sitting in the quiet by yourself, with God and a cup of coffee.

In our very noisy and distracted world, silence and solitude are rare; they are something that we have to actively claim for ourselves. When we begin these practices, it may take us a long time to slow down. Our minds and bodies may fidget and feel restless. At first, we may feel agitated instead of renewed. But as we return again and again to the practice of silence and solitude, we will begin to feel the deep, abiding peace of God—so much so that you may crave this time more, the more of it you give yourself.

If you want to go deeper in learning about this practice, we recommend the book Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton.

Capital Appeal 2025-2027

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

As we approach the end of 2024, we also approach the conclusion of our current three-year appeal—Being Made Whole. Thank you to everyone who has supported this appeal over the last few years. Your faithful generosity has allowed us to achieve our financial and missional goals and has positioned us well for the future.

As we look ahead to the next three years, our upcoming Salt & Light appeal will allow us to build on the health of St. Philip the Deacon and expand the mission and ministry of this remarkable congregation.

As communicated in materials sent this fall for the 2025-2027 appeal, called Salt & Light , our upcoming appeal will be similar in some ways to past appeals.

We will, for example, continue our practice of providing support for missional partners and will extend our partnerships with Mental Health Connect and Rise Early Learning Center.

We will also make some modest repairs and improvements to our physical plant, continue to faithfully manage our mortgage, and pay down some principal.

The headline for this appeal, though, is about making what is already a healthy, vital and vibrant church even more effective at spreading God’s love in a hurting world.

As New York Times columnist David Brooks points out, “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% of Americans report that no one knows them well. Another finds that 36% of Americans report that they felt lonely frequently or almost all the time, including 61% of young adults and 51% 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

SALT&LIGHTCO-CHAIRS

help people connect through service and engagement, and to connect with 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.

Thank you to everyone who has already so generously made a commitment to the Salt & Light appeal. Our prayer, as always, is that everyone connected to St. Philip the Deacon will participate. If you haven’t yet responded, I invite you to join your brothers and sisters in supporting this important effort.

To learn more, visit spdlc.org/saltandlight, or— as always—feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions at twestermeyer@spdlc. org or 763-475-7136. We also invite you to chat with any of our appeal co-chairs, pictured here.

Back Row: Debbie & Kyle MacIntyre, Beth & John Jacob. Seated: Greg & Julie Lindberg.

LOVE + SERVE + GROW

LAY VISITATION MINISTRY

BY CINDY CARLSON

This year, we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of our Lay Visitation Ministry. This ministry, centered around a monthly visit from a caring church member, keeps those who are homebound connected to the life and ministry of St. Philip the Deacon.

For some of those members who are unable to regularly participate in-person in the life of the church, Lay Visitors have been specially trained by Susan Path, Parish Nurse, to bring the sacrament of Holy Communion and the gift of friendship.

The Role of Lay Visitors

Lay Visitors receive training in prayer, deep listening, empathy, sharing Holy Communion, and tips for working with the elderly and those experiencing dementia.

Lay Visitors receive scriptures, prayer, conversation starters, hymns and items to share with their visited friends.

Special gifts, like Valentine’s cards made by Sunday school children, Palm Sunday palms, Easter crosses, and Christmas ornaments made by SPD families are brought to visited friends as well.

Share the love of God with those who cannot be with us regularly in person at SPD.

WHY

Choose to Serve as a Lay Visitor?

If you would like more info about serving in Lay Visitation Ministry, please contact Susan Path at spath@spdlc.org

“For the last several years, I have been visiting a couple of elderly women. I became a Lay Visitor because I knew that if my mother had not been able to attend church when she got older, she would have treasured someone who would come to her and read the Gospel, pray, and offer communion to her. I am honored to be able to do that for these ladies … We shouldn’t take the power of human presence and human touch for granted.”

JEAN

STOERMER

“It is an honor to get to know a member of SPD unable to attend services, to pray together, bring communion and to reaffirm that God and SPD have not forgotten her.”

PATTI RICHARDSON

“

Everyone has something interesting to share from their past or present. The wisdom and insight that is shared in our conversations is truly a gift, and concluding the time together with communion seals the bond that has been established. I always leave a visit feeling as if I have received so much more than I could ever give.”

BARB PAULSON

“Helping someone feel or be less isolated is the foundation of the program. I am reminded by a verse in a song by Paul Stokey, ‘Wherever two or more of you are gathered in His name, there is love.’ For me, being a Lay Visitor has meant bringing St. Philip the Deacon to my visited friend and sharing God’s love.”

STAN RAGNES

OUT & ABOUT

For the first time, our Habitat for Humanity crew was a part of a project closer to the finish; and instead of framing walls, we were hanging cabinets, painting and doing finishing work. Pastor Mark Schmid commented, “This is about as late in a build as we’ve ever been involved, and it’s so fun to do the work—like hanging cabinets, installing the dishwasher, and painting interiors—that really makes it start to feel like a home.” Thank you to all who shared their time and talents on our build this year!

WINTER CALENDAR

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

We will help tackle world hunger by supporting the Souper Bowl of Caring mission. Consider how much is spent on munchies for the big game and consider making a gift to the Souper Bowl of Caring, which will make a difference in the lives of people who are suffering from hunger. Funds collected in the soup kettles will be used to support ministries focused around food.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 THE CONVERSATION

Mike Henry to share his newest musical program, “The Top 100 Countdown.” This presentation will include music and video clips from the top 100 greatest songs recorded of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.

LENT 2025

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, when we will hold three Ash Wednesday services—at noon, 5:30 and 7 p.m. The worship services will include the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion. The following weeks in Lent (March 12 through April 9, 2025), there will be a midweek Wednesday evening (7 p.m.) worship service using the Holden Evening Prayer service. Prior to worship there will be a Lenten Soup Supper served in Fellowship Hall.

Event Registration

Scan the provided QR code and navigate to the event of your choice to register.

FRIDAY JANUARY 10

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL

TUBING AT ELM CREEK

If you like sledding, you’ll love snow tubing! Ride a moving sidewalk up a 10-story hill and then soar back down on a specially designed inner tube. At Elm Creek in Maple Grove, all of the tubing lanes are designed for safety and fun. All you need are warm winter clothes. Register at spdlc.org/register.

SUNDAY JANUARY 19

KALEIDOSCOPE QUARTET

AFTERNOON CONCERT

Kaleidoscope Quartet presents four-part vocal music with joy, range and soul. Based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, the quartet’s four members bring farreaching specialties, skills and vocal timbres to create a kaleidoscope of sound.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY

SILENT MOVIE WITH ORGAN

Don’t miss the opportunity to relive cinematic history and enjoy the rare experience of a silent film accompanied by a majestic, live organ performance. Our guest organist Jason Roberts will perform during the showing of the 1925 Charlie Chaplin movie “The Gold Rush.” There will be a reception in Fellowship Hall following the performance.

FAMILIAR FACES STEVE GRIFFITHS

Steve Griffiths, our assistant organist, has been a familiar face on the organ bench—covering vacations and easing transitions any time we have needed him. He has also been a valuable leader and conversation partner over many years at SPD as we have grown and shaped our music ministry into the vibrant, inspirational ministry that it is. It’s about time the congregation got to know him better!

Describe when you knew you’d be going into ministry. To be honest, I never planned to go into music ministry. I grew up in a very musical family that was heavily involved in our church. My dad was a choir director for 30 years and both he and my mom played significant roles in church leadership. In high school, our organist left, and the pastor asked me to play for Sunday services. I had no idea what I was doing! My Dad reached out to Linda Armstrong and she became my first organ teacher. She was instrumental in teaching me the ins and outs of service playing and that’s where I started to love playing the organ. I also studied organ at St. Olaf. After college I had some small church jobs and sang in various choirs here and in Seattle. In the late ’90s, when Armstrong was the Director of Music at SPD, she needed an assistant organist and the rest, as they say, is history. So, I never necessarily “wanted”

to go into music ministry; it’s just what my family did, and what some of the most influential people in my life did. So here I am.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I really don’t get a chance to play the organ all that much. So, it’s always fun when I get to “fill in” at SPDLC. It gives me a reason to practice!!

What are three things on your lifetime to-do list? Go white water rafting out West with the family. Visit Moab, Utah, and go rockcrawling in Jeeps. Publish a piece of music.

How do you take care of yourself—spiritually, emotionally and physically—so that you stay healthy in ministry? Interestingly enough, playing the organ (and singing in choir) are the things that help me stay healthy. These activities are fundamentally spiritual, emotional and physical—all rolled into one.

2. 3. 4. 5.

What are you passionate about right now? I’m really passionate about the music program here at SPD, and its future under the leadership of Sam Grace and Celina Kobetitsch. I think that choral and organ music/hymn singing is at the center of the Lutheran tradition. My most spiritual moments are almost always musical. And for me, when I have the opportunity to play the organ, with brass, with the choir, and with the congregation singing, that is pretty much heaven on earth. And so being a part of a church that values these investments is so important. For me, music is the heart of the church. It’s where the magic happens.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

SPD OUTDOORS:

ICE FISHING RETREAT

JAN. 30–FEB. 2

At Border View Lodge on Lake of the Woods. A great weekend of faith, fishing and fellowship led by Pastor Mark Schmid. Register by Jan. 12th at spdlc.org/register.

YOUTH

WINTER RETREAT

FEB. 14–17

At Wilderness Canoe Base. For both Middle School and High School youth, this is a weekend to connect, grow, restore and play. Register by Feb. 7th at spdlc.org/register.

IN OTHER WORDS:

JESUS & THE BEATITUDES

FEB. 21–23

At The Benedictine Center in Maplewood. An overnight retreat for women focusing on Jesus and the Beatitudes, while we worship with the monastic community. Register by February 7, 2025, at spdlc.org/register.

Light & Life To All He Brings

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS AT ST. PHILIP THE DEACON

DECEMBER 15 Festival of Lessons & Carols All Weekend Services

DECEMBER 17 Blue Christmas 7 p.m.

CHRISTMAS EVE Family Service 11 a.m.

Worship Service with Holy Communion 2 and 4 p.m.

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

CHRISTMAS DAY

Worship Service with Holy Communion 11 a.m.

17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

ECCLESIASTES 3:11