Inspire: Creativity

INSPIRE

C R E AT I V I T Y

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

Weaving a Creative Life • Jennifer Pharr Davis: A Voice in the Wilderness • Creative By Design • New Year, New You: Inspired Intentions for 2020 • Giftable Goodies winter <¤+…

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Adult Confirmation

EVERY ISSUE

Tuesdays January 21–February 18 6:30 pm

3 Editor’s Letter

Following the structure of Luther’s Small Catechism, this series will walk through the basic foundations of our Lutheran faith. It is open to adults who are interested in being confirmed as well as to adults who are interested in a refresher course. The series will conclude with a service of Affirmation of Faith for those interested. Register at spdlc.org.

4 Scripture Connection

5 Read, Watch, Listen

6 Ref lections on Faith

30 Modern Day Pilgrims

33 Out & About

34 Giving Thanks

YogaFaith Gentle Flow Thursdays, 9:15-10:15 am YogaFaith Flow Saturdays, 8:00-9:00 am Cost $4/Class

YogaFaith classes find unity between thought, breath and movement, as we flow from pose to pose. Each class includes a devotional practice and prayer. All levels class. Drop in, no registration necessary. Led by Amanda Berger, certified YogaFaith Trainer.

35 Calendar of Events

36 Familiar Faces

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St. Philip the Deacon

INSPIRE

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

ENCOUNTER

E M B O DY

ENCOUR AGE

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22

Devoted Living: Praying in Color

Weaving a Creative Life

New Year, New You: Inspired Intentions for 2020

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Sing Gloria

Jennifer Pharr Davis: A Voice in the Wilderness

12 Creative By Design

21 To Tell You My Story is to Tell of Him

24 Indeed, It is Very Good: A Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eye View on Creativity

26 Giftable Goodies

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INSPIRE

Bible Art Journaling

Vol. 2, Issue 2, Winter 2019 Published by St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church 17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447 (763) 475-7100 editor in chief

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

Amanda Berger design

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

Cheryl Mathison, Kate Sterner contributions

Cindy Carlson, Renee Putnam and Rachel Arends website

www.spdlc.org/inspire email editorial

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

Photo by Annie Spratt Š2019 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: D AT E S

COST

Tuesday, January 7; 3-8 pm Saturday, February 22; 9-3 pm Saturday, March 28; 9-3 pm

$15 for materials and light meal and snacks

Come and experience God and Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word in a creative way as we document our faith! These workshop sessions are drop in style: come when you can; leave when you must. Each session includes a simple technique presentation and a prompt to invite your faithful ref lection and artful devotion. No experience necessary and friends are welcome! Facilitated by Pastor Mathison.

(A) Your article may be edited for length and content. (B) Articles must fit in the larger themes of our publication and reflect the mission of St. Philip the Deacon. (C) All submissions will be reviewed by our editorial staff to determine the suitability for our publication.

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

Submissions will not be returned.

INSPIRE

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St. Philip the Deacon

Creativity has been a constant in my life.

Whether in music, dance and theater as a teen, youth ministry, quilting and mixed media painting as a young adult, or now as a writer, yoga instructor and mother, the ability to think outside the box, put new ideas into action and to create have been central to me as a person and in the work that I do. It is through this creative work that I have most often experienced God at work in my world and in my heart.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Over the years, as I have taught and shared this gift, I have heard time and again people say, “But I’m just not creative.” However, I don’t believe that’s true of anyone. Creativity is one of the key things that sets humankind apart, and a key component of being created in God’s image—the ability to imagine, create and build in this world. Every day humans form new inventions, solve problems, add beauty to the world, engage in new relationships and envision the impossible. It is central to who we are, God-given and ever present. For those who express doubt about their own creative abilities, my answer is just that you haven’t noticed your life as an expression of creativity.

BUT. Creativity is also like a muscle, one that has to be exercised and challenged. Experts agree that creativity can be increased. It can be embraced, encouraged and honed, glorifying God by our simple acceptance and use of it. Whether you nurse the sick, raise children, work in IT or sit at a desk, you are using creativity every day.

We pray that within these pages you find encouragement to embrace your own creative gifts, no matter how nascent. Our hope is that this creative energy and inspiration follow you throughout the Christmas season and into the New Year.

Pax Christi,

“Remember, before anything exists on earth, it exists fully formed in Spirit. The Great Creator does not play favorites; each of us came into being to carry on the re-creation of the world through our gifts.”

S A R A H B A N B R E AT H N A C H

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SPD BOOK CLUB Our book club meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month for a staff-led discussion of a book featuring topics of faith.

All are welcome—whether you finished the book or not!

DECEMBER 17

Where the Crawdads Sing by Della Owens. Discussion led

by Pastor Cheryl Mathison.

SCRIPTURE CONNECTION “Attention is the beginning of devotion.”

MARY OLIVER

When it comes to daily devotion, it is important to note: one size does not fit all, all the time. Practices that once were fulfilling and satisfying may over time begin to feel empty. When that happens, it’s time to try something different.

That’s why it is important to have a toolbox filled with a variety of practices that you can turn to. You can read scripture, make use of a devotional book, listen to music, pray, sit in the presence of God, write or draw in a journal or some combination of these! The most important thing is to initiate a practice that is engaging for you.

Visio Divina (Latin for “divine seeing”), while not new, might be unfamiliar. Visio Divina is an ancient spiritual practice, that rather than beginning with words as in Lectio Divina, it begins with an image.

JA NUA RY 21

Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis. Discussion led

by Trisha Ragner.

To begin, all you need is an image: a painting, a photograph or gazing out the window at nature. You can do this at home, but don’t neglect other possibilities—like going to a nearby museum or coming to St. Philip the Deacon where there are many beautiful images worthy of devotion,

including the stained glass windows and the three St. Philip the Deacon icons in the worship center, the statue of St. Philip in the chapel and the St. John’s artwork hanging in the narthex.

Also, you will need a journal or notebook, pen and the Visio Divina prompts below.

Here is how it works: 01. Begin with prayer. Still and quiet yourself. Invite God to be present with you.

02. Look at the image you have selected.

Focus on the first thing that captures your attention. It may be a shape, or a color or a tiny mark. Trust this. Keep your attention there and just listen with your eyes.

03. After a minute or two allow yourself to take in the entirety of the image. Notice shape, color, texture, balance, value, form, line. Stay here for a few moments and observe without judgment and without any agenda. Just look. See. 04. When you are ready, use the prompts below to write about your experience, insights, questions and discoveries.

VISIO DIVINA JOURNALING PROMP TS

What do you notice in this image?

What emotions, memories, thoughts, or questions does this evoke in you?

FEBRUA RY 18

Living into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America by Catherine Meeks.

Discussion led by Kate Sterner, and guest Dr. Mary Hess, professor at Luther Seminary.

What scripture comes to mind? Note: Some images are representations of a Bible passage. When known, be sure to look up the reading.

Where do you see God in this image? What might God be trying to say to you?

Where do you see yourself? Is there something happening in your life right now that is reflected in this image?

Write or draw your prayerful response to the time spent with God in Visio Divina.

Want more? Check out the book Meeting God through Art: Visio Divina: A Guided Prayer Journal with Images from the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Therese Kay

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St. Philip the Deacon

Read STE AL LIKE AN ARTIST

By Austin Kleon—This quick read provides 0 life-changing principles for inviting more creativity into

Faith & Life TOD WORNER T H U R S D A Y, MARCH 5 7:00 P M

Tod Worner, a practicing internist, teacher and writer, joins us for a conversation about the state of medicine today. How can physicians and patients reclaim the soul of medicine and once again make it a meaningful engagement between a healer and a patient, rather than a business transaction driven by efficiency and utility?

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

All are welcome!

For more information visit faith-and-life.org

your everyday life—not just for artists, but for everyone.

Watch GET TING TO THE NUTCR ACKER PG—Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make the Christmas classic The Nutcracker come to life.

Follow young dancers at

the Marat Dukayaev Ballet Theatre as they audition, rehearse and perform to the beloved music of Tchaikovsky.

Listen GUIDED ADVENT MEDITATIONS

By Caroline Williams—Each of these four guided meditations is about 10 minutes long and drawn from the Gospel of Luke. Perfect for centering yourself at the beginning of each week of Advent, we

find ourselves drawn into the stories of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Simeon and Anna. https://www. carolinewilliamsyoga. com/secondary-blog-page/ advent-meditation-one

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BY TIM WESTERME YER

A

number of years ago, I had an incredible opportunity to visit England. I’ve always been a fan of all things British, and I loved the chance to see and experience firsthand places like Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. I remember being particularly struck, though, by the grandeur and beauty—and history—of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The original cathedral, which had stood on the site for more than a thousand years, was one of the casualties of the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed two-thirds of the city.

After the fire, an architect named Christopher Wren was commissioned to design and rebuild the cathedral.

Even though he was involved in the design and construction of dozens of other churches in London after the Great Fire—55 in all—he always viewed St. Paul’s as his crowning architectural achievement. Until his death in 1723 at the age of 91, Wren was known to visit the cathedral and sit under its dome.

If you visit it today, you can sit where he sat and look up at the beautiful dome he designed. And if you look down, you will see a large brass circular plaque which repeats the words from Wren’s tomb, which lies below the floor in the crypt of St. Paul’s. The inscription concludes with these last words, which have come to be regarded as one of the world’s most famous epitaphs: “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around.”

In other words, don’t look here at the floor. Don’t look at this plaque. Don’t look at the tomb where his body lies.

Instead, if you want to see what Christopher Wren did—

if you want to see his legacy—look up. Look around. Look at the soaring spaces. Look at the glorious views. Look at the dome which points beyond itself to something greater. Look at this place of worship, which draws our attention to eternity.

As a designer and architect, Wren was certainly creative in one particular, specific way. But his life is also a reminder that each of us—made in the image of a God who created the world we inhabit—is also invited to create.

Maybe God isn’t asking you to create a domed cathedral, but I promise you that God is inviting you to some particular calling—to some particular way to creatively serve that only you can accomplish. As British author and theologian John Henry Newman writes: “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission.” And you do too.

As it relates to your own creativity—and as one way to discover what your specific creative mission might be—it may be a useful exercise to ask: “Where would people look to see my monument?” That question may help you to identify and see the ways God is already using you to create a more caring and loving world. It may also help you to recognize the places where, like Wren, you can help to build and construct a more beautiful view from what currently appear to be only ashes.

Blessings on Living Creatively,

INSPIRE

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St. Philip the Deacon

M E D I TAT I O N

“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”

KURT VONNEGUT

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D E T O DE V G N I V I L YING A R P OR COL

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St. Philip the Deacon

Q U I C K S TA R T G U I D E

1.

Gather a few supplies. You’ll want a black pen, a piece of paper, and either markers, colored pens or colored pencils. These don’t have to be fancy—basic supplies are fine as you are getting started.

WORDS BY AMANDA BERGER A R T W O R K B Y VA L E R I E S T R A N D P AT T E R S O N

Prayer, in its simplest definition, is a conversation between us and God. While prayer can take many different forms, one beautifully creative method of prayer is that of praying in color. Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson first encountered praying in color when she was given the book Praying in Color

by Sybil MacBeth. “I have found that praying in color is a deep joy,” said Strand Patterson. “The method helps me stay with my prayer for a long time. In fact, sometimes an hour passes and it seems like just a few minutes.”

can center on any person or situation, offer prayers of gratitude or for intercession, or focus on scripture. There is no one right or wrong way to do it.

Praying in color is best described as doodling with a God-filled intention. It

“Sometimes we just don’t have the words to say, and each stroke of the pen can be a prayer, since God knows our hearts,” said Strand Patterson. “I also use this method to meditate on scripture, read a few verses each day, and then pray in color around what word or phrase stands out for me.

Even on busy days, it draws me back to the practice.”

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.”

P S A L M 4 2 :7- 8

You’ll be surprised by how absorbing this prayer practice is, and the beautiful works of art that your prayers become. Consider keeping your praying in color in a small journal or in a book so that you can revisit your prayers and see how they have been answered. Or, you may even consider giving your work of art as a gift to one for whom you have prayed.

Pastor Strand Patterson offers that if you are interested, she’d be happy to meet you for a tutorial. “My favorite method is to meet you at Caribou—I’ll bring everything we need—and at the end of an hour you will be an expert!”

2.

While a private, quiet spot is best, praying in color can happen anywhere. Set out your supplies and then take a moment to center yourself with a few deep breaths.

3.

Begin with your black pen and start with God. Write a name for God in the center of your paper. As you continue to enter into God’s presence, embellish the space around God’s name. Then, write the name, situation or a word about which you want to pray. Add a line to connect this person or situation back to God. As you reflect and talk to God about the situation, keep your pen in motion adding shapes, swirls, dots, scallops—anything you can think of!

Continue to do this with other people or situations as you spread your doodle across the page.

4.

Next, add color. Using your markers or colored pencils go back and begin to fill in with color and pray again for each item on your page. When you feel like there’s nothing more to do or add, then you’ve finished your prayer. Amen!

Visit prayingincolor.com for more information and prayer resources.

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Sing Gloria!

National Luther an Choir

BY AMANDA BERGER

INSPIRE

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St. Philip the Deacon

“ Wh at does t he birt h of Jesus h av e to do w it h us today ?” This quest ion of t e n f or m s t h e s ta r t i ng p oi n t a s a r t i s t ic di r e c t or D r . Dav i d Ch e rw i e n be g i ns t o dr e a m a b ou t t h e a n n ua l N at ion a l L u t h e r a n Choi r Ch r i s t m a s F e s t i va l . This annual celebration of Jesus’ birth, held at the Basilica of St. Mary, is a must-see for many in our faith community and one that has become an annual SPD event.

The Christmas Festival is only part of The National Lutheran Choir, or NLC, legacy of great choral music in the Twin Cities.

Founded in 1986 by Dr. Larry Fleming, the 60-member choir draws much of its membership from the strong music programs of nearby Lutheran colleges.

“The tradition of an exemplary choir performing music of the church is strong and long-standing, and a high-level choir built to sing the music of the Lutheran church specifically was fundamental to the founding of the choir,” said assistant conductor Adam Reinwald. “As the NLC enters the modern choral world, a performing body with singers steeped in the tradition of the music they sing is unique ... devoted, skilled singers singing music of the faith many practice.”

This doesn’t mean that the choir focuses exclusively on the music of Martin Luther or Bach. “We keep a balance of

memory and vision. Sometimes these are large works such as Bach’s B Minor Mass or small anthems such as F. Melius Christiansen’s anthems,” says Cherwien.

“We also always look for new music to include—in two ways: 1) through the ever-expanding awareness of traditions other than European or Eurocentric that Lutheranism now includes in its corpus of music, and 2) we commission new music—that which becomes a part of the future of the tradition.”

The effect of the choir singing at the Basilica of St. Mary is nothing short of breaktaking. “I believe that there is power in the music from the National Lutheran Choir,” said Jean Hill, SPD member and frequent NLC concert attendee. “When I’m experiencing the beauty of its performances, I can honestly say it is one of the key times I have the opportunity to slow down (and be quiet!) and just contemplate the many blessings from God that I have in my life. I believe one can become very emotional from the choir’s music. My emotion is joyous, one that praises God and one that gives thanks.”

It is clear how much passion the choir has for both the legacy of Lutheran music and their faith. In addition to their local concerts, the NLC tours throughout the United States (visiting North Carolina and Georgia in 2020). “This is a group of singers,

board, staff and artistic leaders that believe in music with a purpose,” said Reinwald, “music with spirit behind it, and the ability of sung music to be a positive force in the world. The commitment level from the singers—almost all of whom are volunteers—is nothing short of astonishing.”

If you would like to join the SPD group attending the Christmas Festival on Friday, December 13, contact Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org. Fee includes concert ticket and round trip transportation.

The National Lutheran Choir will also present their Winter Concert at St. Philip the Deacon on Sunday, February 16, at 4:00 pm. “The Winter program is hugely eclectic!” said Cherwien. “We are singing music of pretty much every era— Bach, Mendelssohn, Vaughan Williams, Christiansen, Fleming, Spirituals, Cuban and Caribbean, Russian music, and brand-new settings of familiar tunes like ‘Sweet Hour of Prayer’—all structured around all topics in the songs we sing every Sunday. There will also be some congregational singing— 'Praise to the Lord,' 'Now Thank We All Our God,' and 'Give Me Jesus,' to name a few.”

For more information about the choir, events and tickets visit nlca.com.

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ne of the first things we lear n about God in the Bible is that God is creative. Wildly crea tive.

Genesis paints a pict ure of the Alm ight y populat ing the world wit h sun , moon and stars carefully hung in the hea ven s; plants, trees and vegetat ion blan keti ng the eart h; fish and swa rms of living creature s teem ing in the waters; winged bird s soa ring above in the sky; and anim als and cree ping things on the move upon the ground .

And one of the first things we lear n about hum ans is that we, male and fem ale, are made by God in God ’s own ima ge. We are therefore, each and ever y one of us, creative by design.

Giv ing creative expression to fait h is not hing new; people have bee n illu strating their fait h right from the very beg inn ing covering the wal ls of caves, sket ching in the dirt , and fash ioni ng scu lptu res out of mud .

CREATIVE

BY DESIGN ONNECT L P YO U C E H N A C HOW ART

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

“I found I could say things with colors and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for.”

GEORGIA O’KEEFFE

WITH GOD

Wh at is new is the prac tice of Bible Art Jou rna ling (BAJ). Credited to Sha nna Noel, BAJ is the prac tice of illu strating you r fait h in the margin s of you r Bible.

Usi ng watercolors, colored pencils, acrylic paint and ephemera, the focu s of BAJ is not the art but rather it is about the message of scriptu re and what it mea ns to you as a creative way to doc ument you r fait h.

Here at St. Phi lip the Deacon , BAJ began two yea rs ago wit h a weekend retr eat followed by occ asional hou r-and-a-half sessions held in the even ing. Par ticipant s from ages 10 to 80 showed up to hea r a dev otion, reflect on a passage of scriptu re, lear n a tech nique suited for BAJ and spend tim e together in the Word and in fellowsh ip.

It wasn’t long before they wer e ask ing for more frequent gatherings and more time together. Bible Art Jou rna ling Workshops are now schedu led monthly on Satu rdays from 9 a.m . to 3 p.m . Par ticipant s continue to enjoy a scriptu re read ing, devotions, tutorial s on new tech niques— wit h load s of time to reflect deeply on the Word whi le enjoying the company of others.

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St. Philip the Deacon

WA N T T O K N OW MORE? Co mp lete Gu ide to Bib le Jo urna lin g by Jo an ne Fin k an d Re gin a Yo de r Th e Illu str ate d Fa ith we bs ite is ful l of res ou rce s to he lp yo u ge t sta rte d an d to try ne w th ing s.

Be su re to ch ec k ou t th e blo g an d vid eo se cti on .

Ch ec k ou t: illu str ate df ait h.c om

a mean ing ful pracWhen asked how BAJ is tice, par tic ipa nts said: us on Jesus and to “It’s a great way to foc also fun to bond lea rn about God. It’s people, and lea rn wit h my mom, meet new es. It’s just so much some new BAJ techn iqu rt it’s ha rd to stop!” fun and once you sta 12) —Katherine Bixby (age

me to ste p out of “BA J ha s ch allenged a ver y po sit ive way my com for t zone in ent under sta nd ing and provided a dif fer fun , rel axi ng and of Bible ver ses , in a for offeri ng thi s cre ative way. Th an k you fel low ship ha s bee n wonderf ul cla ss. The nard wonderf ul.” —Julie Leo

te taker' in my Bible “I have always been a 'no ng ways to ma ke and I have loved lea rni ing ful usi ng creative that even more mean friend s and been techn iques. I’ve met new wonderf ul people at inspired by so ma ny is a priority on my the BAJ gat her ings. It a calend ar.”—Cher yl Sjaard t I can do wit h my “BAJ is someth ing tha an interesti ng way daughter. It gives us wit h each other, but to con nec t, not on ly ers of ou r chu rch also wit h other memb ing my daughter’s com mu nit y. I love see of the older women, head bent nex t to one or tips on how to sha ring their art work pli menti ng each ma ke someth ing, com t she can feel loved other. I adore the fac t tha s supportive, rel axed on by so ma ny in thi t way to exa mi ne env ironment . It’s a nea perspective and see scr ipt ure from a new ug h thi s sha red time God’s love shi ning t hro by together.” —Nancy Bix

lers work direct ly on Most Bible art journa . If you wonder if it’s the pages of their Bibles le, hea r wh at Pastor “OK” to wr ite in your Bib , aut hor of Wr iting Lisa Nichols Hickm an om composers like in the Margins, says: “Fr e Ba rth, bot an ist s Bach to theologia ns lik itten their thoughts and saints ... all have wr . In doing so they direct ly in their Bibles ves wit h our most engaged their ful lest sel a div ine conversasig nificant text, creating guides.” tion that tra nsform s and le with ma rki ng For tho se uncom for tab jou rna ls, ske tchdirect ly in the ir Bible, ets of pap er are a bo ok s and pla in she comple te you can gre at alt ern ative. When wh ate ver Bible you ins ert you r work int o er in a binder as a use or kee p them togeth compa nion pie ce. ctice BAJ and there There is no one way to pra son does it differis no right way. Each per n wi ldly creative self ent ly showing their ow ative God. as they encounter our cre

Al so , th ere are ton s of on lin e vid eo s av ail ab le. Go og le “B ibl e Ar t Jo ur na lin g vid eo s” an d yo u ca n wa tch an d lea rn !

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St. Philip the Deacon

Restore Series. Janet envisioned a little heart-shaped pocket that could contain the inhaler, and include a slip of paper with a prayer attached.

W E AV I N G A C R E AT I V E L I F E

BY K AT E S T E R N E R

“Everybody has creativity,” says Janet Withoff. “People who say, 'I’m not creative,' just haven’t found what they’re creative at yet. You have to be willing to try something.”

Janet and her husband, Peter Withoff, are something of a creative dynamic duo here at St. Philip the Deacon. Both are here several times a week, involved in music ministry and attending meetings and classes.

Peter and Janet met in 1998 and quickly found they had a common interest in fiber arts, especially embroidery and cross-stitch. In 2006, Peter discovered a beginner’s weaving course, which they attended together and became known as “the weaving couple.” Today they have five looms in their home with varying stages of work on them.

While Janet learned to cross stitch as a child, Peter was a first-year college student.

Both have continued to explore increasingly challenging projects ever since. Janet has always been able to just dive into projects without much planning. Peter prefers to approach his pieces more methodically, enjoying the process of reading pattern books and planning out how to do several projects with one warp on the loom.

Both believe it’s important to participate and provide leadership in handwork organizations. “Being in leadership in an organization is very important. They survive because of their volunteers.” Both are members of the Weavers Guild, where Peter served on the board of directors and took a turn as president of the Guild.

Janet has co-chaired the annual week-long retreat sponsored by the Needlework Guild of MN and was co-chair of a subgroup of the Needlework Guild. She’s also been President of the MN chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild, in addition to serving in other positions. Though contributing in this way is important, and it is important to take a turn doing it, Janet found that doing too much takes its toll.

Janet recently learned a lesson: taking a rest from her work was necessary to heal her heart. Within one year she lost both her parents, and then had a bad fall in which she broke a kneecap. She went into a slump, feeling numb and empty. It was hard to find enthusiasm for any creative pursuit.

But then parish nurse Susan Path approached her to see if she could come up with some kind of little handmade pouch for some aromatherapy inhalers as a gift for participants of the then upcoming

It was a big project, so Janet enlisted other knitters in the congregation to help, in order to avoid burnout, and she could share a little creative ministry with other knitters. The whole process helped to jump-start Janet’s creativity again and return to normal life.

“Those hearts were so appreciated by those who received them ... And it was a wonderful bridge [back to creativity] for me.

Janet also owns her own business, Threads of Praise, through which she creates woven and embroidered liturgical stoles and paraments for worship. When she is commissioned to weave paraments for a church, “people from the congregation are asking me to become a part of that community. ... You become part of their worship. It goes beyond me just having a great time weaving and creating.

What I’m creating is becoming part of their worship service.”

Both Janet and Peter find the creative process to be meditative and life-giving.

“For me, what is interesting is a growing understanding that God has given me some talents that I am meant to share. I am inspired when I think of how I’ve grown through using those [gifts], sometimes successfully, sometimes not,” Janet reflects.

“But it’s all still a process and you learn through the process.”

“There are so many ways to be creative,” say Janet and Peter. “All of us limit ourselves a little bit on what we think is creative. But think of teaching, working with children, writing—everybody is creative, and some don’t even realize it.”

As people of faith, Peter and Janet find it a great blessing to be given individual gifts of time and talent. But how much greater is the blessing when we share those gifts of creativity with others!

To see more of Janet’s liturgical pieces, visit her website, ThreadsOfPraise.com.

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A Voice in the A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H J E N N I F E R P H A R R DAV I S

BY TIM WESTERMEYER

Wilderness

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Let’s start with a broad and simple question: Why hiking? How did you start, and why has it become a passion? I always thought that nature was beautiful, but I never saw myself as a part of nature until I walked through.

I didn’t grow up hiking or camping, but I tackled the Appalachian Trail at age 21 because I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. The experience was completely transformational. I could go on and on about my love of hiking, but here’s the condensed version:

The trail takes you as you are. I’ve never found an environment more accepting than the trail. If you want a challenge, it’s easy to find one. If you want to sit on a stump, that’s great, too. If you want solitude, then it’s out there. If you need community, then it’s easy to form deep relationships on the trail. Are you looking for therapy, time for reflection, time for prayer? Just keep walking down the path and you’ll find it. There is a hiker saying that goes, “The trail gives you what you need.” I’ve experienced and observed that euphemism to be true time and time again.

To be clear, the trail is not my religion but spending time outdoors is an integral part of my faith journey.

Hiking is also extremely accessible and accepting. There are trails all across the country and most of them are free to access.

Despite what outdoor media campaigns suggest, you DON’T have to be in shape or own certain gear to have a meaningful experience on a trail. The trail doesn’t care about your ethnic background or socioeconomic status. There is no hierarchy or privilege when it comes to hiking. The trail does not care about your sense of self-entitlement.

The storms, grueling climbs, and biting insects are not discerning. But neither are the sunsets, wildflowers and mountaintop views. The more time I spent outdoors in an environment where people were treated without favor, the more I started to view myself as an equal. And the more I started to view everyone else as an equal.

In your book you write, “Don’t fight the trail.

You have to flow with it. Be cooperative, neither combative nor competitive.” Say more about this, and about how lessons learned on the trail can be applied to life more broadly.

This is actually a quote from my good friend Warren Doyle who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail 18 times. After 18 completions, he knows what he’s talking about! But to add to his statement, I would just say that the trail teaches you that you are not in control of your environment. In fact, it sort of beats that lesson into you with every climb, bee sting, briar patch, missed turn and late season snowstorm. I remember how frustrated I used to get with the weather.

The weather!!! And why was I frustrated?

Because it wasn’t meeting my ideal or my level of comfort? The weather wasn’t going to change to meet my wants or sense of entitlement. When I accepted that I could not control the environment, my enjoyment of the journey increased. I couldn’t control the weather, but I could splash in puddles in the rain, make snow angels in the late season winter storms, and work on my tan in the hot desert sun. I could also make adjustments to my hiking strategy so I could maximize the good conditions and accommodate for the challenges. The trail teaches you (read: forces you) to be adaptable.

You encountered some really tough things on the Appalachian Trail. Where did you see God at work during this journey? Everywhere! God was everywhere: in nature, in community, in dehydration and severe calorie deficits, in death. I brought along a small travel sized Bible in my backpack and it was amazing how REAL the Old Testament felt on my thruhike of the Appalachian Trail. All of a sudden I was worried about finding water or a safe place to camp. I was worried about staying safe from storms, people and wildlife. A lot of the concerns of the nomadic or displaced Hebrew people were now my concerns. I don’t think that spending time outdoors, or hiking or backpacking for extended periods of time is inherently dangerous, but you are forced to come face to face with your vulnerability on a daily basis.

You’ve traveled extensively in your life as a hiker. What have you learned by traveling to different parts of the world? Learning to hike, backpack and live outdoors is a universal language. It can take you so many amazing places. When I travel to a different country, I

always feel the most nervous in the airports or cities. When I get to the trail, I feel at home.

Traveling to different countries to hike and backpack makes you more empathetic and knowledgeable about international cultures and problems. I think it’s really good to get OUTSIDE the American bubble. So much of our American value system and how we perceive the rest of the world is predicated off our news, media messaging, and politicians.

It’s nice to step outside of that to compare our lifestyles and values with how the rest of the world lives. A common takeaway whenever I return home from international travel is that I want to get rid of half of our stuff and cable TV. (For the record we still have 3/4ths of our stuff and some limited channels through online streaming.)

Share the most memorable story of kindness that you experienced on the trail. When I thruhiked the Appalachian Trail as a 21-year-old, I came across the body of a young man who committed suicide on the trail. I was very shaken by the experience and 1,000 miles away from my friends and family. Another hiker on the trail heard what had happened and told his mom. She lived about two hours away, but she immediately jumped in the car to come and find me and make sure that I was okay. She lovingly kidnapped me from the trail, took me to her house, washed all my dirty stinky hiker laundry, and stationed her black lab to sit beside me and lick my hand while I watched movies and ate snacks.

I stayed with her a couple of days until I felt ready to go back to the trail. It was Matthew 25:35, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

What is your best advice for your children?

One thing I’m trying not to do as a parent is constantly tell my children to “be careful.”

It’s so easy to do. And it stems from a place of love and concern. But we have also created this culture where everything and everyone is a risk and always have to look over our shoulders. That’s not the world that I want to live in and I don’t want my children to always live in fear of risk, in fear of the unknown, and in fear of “the other.” When I am warning my children about a potential

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danger, I try to identify the risk. Sometimes they can identify the risk and avoid it or overcome it. Other times the identifying the risk might dissuade them from a certain activity.

Ultimately, I want my children to be able to weigh risks and take risks. I would rather raise them up to be bold and discerning than to always just be careful.

I presume there’s a strong sense of community among hikers. How would you describe the dynamics of that community, and what can other communities—like churches, for example—learn from the hiking community?

Oh my gosh, hikers are so much less judgmental than Christians. Until it comes to gear, and then we get a little snarky. But seriously, I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin as a Christian than hiking in community with individuals who were atheist, agnostic, Jewish, Wiccan and the list goes on. And here’s the thing: I was able to talk more deeply about my faith on the trail with my friends of different religions than I am in my daily life and with people who share similar beliefs.

I perceived the trail community as one that might not be receptive or friendly to Christian beliefs, but I was quickly proven wrong and I think the biggest reason for that is the type of conversation that takes place on the trail. It’s very easy to dive deep into discussion on the trail. With dialogue as our main source of entertainment, differing beliefs offer more to talk about than likeminded opinions. As long as it doesn’t feel like you are forcing your way of thinking on to another individual, then the trail community is very receptive.

Also, the hikers of other belief systems have asked really great questions of my faith that have made me question and rethink my theology. Sometimes it causes me to change my position on a topic or it provides a spiritual discipline that is more commonly utilized in other faith practices but can enhance Christianity as well. The conversations I have had with other hikers have helped me grow closer to God, they have strengthened my faith in Christ and they have also made me quicker to admit that I don’t know all the answers.

In the Bible, names are important—as are name changes. Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah. Saul becomes Paul. Simon becomes Peter. Apparently, names are important for hikers, too. Can you explain what “trail names” are for hikers, or why that tradition started?

Trail names are a fun hiker tradition in which individuals will go by a nickname or “trail name” during their time on the trail.

Some of my good friends are Early Bird, Allgood, Jukebox, Dormouse, Dirt Stew, Orange Dust, T-Rex and Boomerang.

Related to that, what’s the meaning behind your own trail name, “Odyssa”? I was comparing the trail to Homer’s “Odyssey.” So another thru-hiker suggested the name “Odysseus.”

I was surrounded by guys and decided there were already too many dudes on the trail and so I was determined to take a feminine trail name. We re-gendered Odysseus to Odyssa and I have been Odyssa ever since.

You have been very inspirational to many people. Who or what inspires you? A lot of the people in my latest book, The Pursuit of Endurance, have inspired me to do great things on the trail.

Off the trail, I am so fortunate to be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. I have a wonderful family and I couldn’t ask for better friends. That may seem generic or nondescript as an answer, but I think we should draw inspiration from the people we are the closest to because we see them in

their vulnerability. I also have an amazing husband—I would never have been able to pursue my dreams in the same way without his support.

This issue of our magazine is focused on the theme of “Creativity.” Would you say that hiking is a creative endeavor? If so, how?

ABSOLUTELY. Hiking is a performance art on the most creative and dynamic stage possible. I believe deeply in the importance of art and beauty to the well-being of humanity. And nature tops that list for me.

It also trickles down and inspires so many songs, paintings, cuisine, craft, etc. … What better way to rev your creative juices than to immerse yourself in creation?!

You’ll be speaking in early February on “Faith & Hiking: Hearing a Voice in the Wilderness.”

Without giving away your whole talk, how would you describe that voice? And are there reasons you tend to hear it only in the wilderness, as opposed to in other settings? I believe that the trail has a prophetic call for the modern Christian culture. Backpacking is an experience that embraces simplicity, encourages interactions with strangers, acknowledges our vulnerability, recognizes our bodies as a physical gift, creates space for questions and prayer, cultivates meditation and surrounds us with beauty.

Jennifer Pharr Davis joins us on February 6, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.

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St. Philip the Deacon

To Tell You My Story is to Tell of Him

I worked really hard on my cover—I drove a cool car, had an interesting job, and rather than go to the cool parties, I was the one throwing them. But even in a room full of people, I was devastatingly lonely. Sure, everything looked great on the outside—my dust jacket was super f lashy—but lifting the cover of my story, you would have seen blank pages and nothing of depth. The center had been hollowed out where I stuffed down the hurt, and it was easier to ignore it and run on autopilot.

BY RENEE PUTNAM

But God is R ich in Merc y !

Renee Putnam is the youth team administrator at SPD and loves sharing her faith with our young people.

Never in a million years would I have ever thought I would find myself in a park, in downtown Denver, eating lunch with a homeless friend and a group of high school students. But last summer, when I joined the youth from St. Philip the Deacon on their service trip, we were immersed in meeting those experiencing homelessness. We visited shelters and worked in a garden with refugees. One day, we packed bag lunches and offered to eat with people in the park. This was no ordinary picnic in the park. We had prayed that Jesus would lead us to the person we were supposed to meet and as we entered the park, Michael made a beeline for us. We ate our meals and listened to his story.

Our new friend Michael told us about how he wanted to break free from addiction and find friends who would be good for him. Together, we bowed our heads, right there in the middle of the park, and one of the kids prayed for Michael. We prayed he would experience the love of God. Tears streamed down Michael’s face! He knew he was not living the life God had intended for him, but in that moment he understood the unconditional love of God for him.

I’m not so different from Michael. I’ve chosen different ways to live my own story than he did, but ultimately, they were not healthy or life-giving.

For a good portion of my life, I wanted to be in charge of my own story—make MY mark on the world.

College-age, I never thought I could ask the Author and Perfecter of our faith how to live my life. In my mind he was just a big, angry God in the sky.

It worked for a little while to do things my way and I wasn’t always so careful with my story. There were other people, also looking out for “number one,” who shredded my story. I’m sure I did some damage right back.

The night I finally recognized my own brokenness and invited Jesus to write my story is still fresh in my memory, even though it was over 18 years ago. I felt Jesus’ hand on my side, leading the way. Though I had been ignoring God, he was always there right next to me!

Jesus came that we may have life. From that prayer of surrender on, daily I ask Jesus, “How do you want to love me best today?” Sometimes, he tells me to rest, others times, to notice people. I get a front row seat to how God is working when I ask him to direct my way.

Last summer, his answer was to go on a service trip to Denver, pack a lunch, and sit in a park with his beloved ones.

Listening to that prayer led by the young person in that park was another seed of faith placed in a hollow, weak place of my heart. God waters the seeds of faith with his word and is growing something beautiful—abundant life, which was far better than what I was trying to write on my own f lat, dull pages. There is still hardship, but it is always unexpected and creative—better than what I could ever hope for or imagine!

If I should speak then let it be Of the grace that is greater than all my sin Of when justice was served and where mercy wins Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in To tell you my story is to tell of Him Big Daddy Weav e “My Story”

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NEW YEAR NEW YOU INSPIRED INTENTIONS FOR 2020

BY A M A NDA BERGER

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et’s face it: when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, most of us give up before we even start. Resolutions of losing weight, exercising more or spending less time with our technological gadgets are well-intentioned but aren’t really much fun and seldom last more than a couple of weeks at best. While self-improvement is a noble aim, especially as we seek to renew and transform our hearts and minds to be more like Jesus, if those resolutions are lackluster or require more time and energy than we have at our disposal, we are destined to fail.

Beginning in 2004, I set out to make my New Year’s resolutions fun. For nearly 15 years, I’ve not only accomplished a crazy amount of lifetime goals, but had fun doing it. So, in no particular order, here are my top 5 favorite resolutions.

TIPS FOR ACCOMP LISHING YO U R G OA L S

You don’t have to start now or do them all at once. You have the whole year to try things, so it’s okay to wait until March, July or October to start.

Break down big goals.

If attempting a big or ambiguous resolution, like “simplify my home,” can you break that down into six doable steps? For example, deep clean one room each month. Throw out faded or broken Christmas decorations as you put them away in January.

Once a week, declutter and organize a drawer or closet. Have a garage sale. Try a buying fast for 30 days.

Hire someone to clean the windows. Now, space these tasks out over the course of several months.

Take a break and come back to it. So you miss a few days or get sidetracked for a month. Who really cares? No one is grading you. Jump back in with something especially fun.

When you’re done, you’re done. Maybe you imagined living into your resolution for the whole year, but now it’s September and you’re over it. It’s okay. Be done.

Whatever you did was more than you had at the beginning of the year, so congratulate yourself on choosing a fun resolution and sticking to it.

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St. Philip the Deacon

“ Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

ROMANS 12:2

1. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY. Each week, take yourself on a “date.” Visit a new shop, restaurant, garden, park, coffee shop, library or museum.

Explore things that are a little outside your comfort zone and neighborhood. Keep a little journal and note the place and your impressions. You won’t regret this adventurous time for yourself; and when family comes to visit or friends are looking for ideas of things to do, you will become their go-to person for exploring the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

2. TRY A HOBBY THAT HAS ALWAYS SPARKED YOUR INTEREST. Pottery? Sailing?

Cooking? Swing dancing?

Weaving? Curling? All of these activities and so many more are easily available through local organizations and community education classes.

It’s typically affordable and requires a low commitment. If you totally fall in love with it, then you can find ways to dig deeper into it through connections you make in your class.

3. SPEND A YEAR LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. Ok, so not really. But you can still take a year to read about a country, cook their food, learn a little of the language, enjoy their films and literature, and take advantage of local options to explore that culture. For example, imagine yourself living in St. Petersburg, Russia. Visit the Russian Museum of Art, enjoy dinner at Moscow on the Hill, learn to make borsht, read some Dostoyevsky, enjoy the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s performance of Prokofiev and watch the Nutcracker Ballet. This can easily be done with pretty much any country, especially because we live in such a beautifully diverse metro area.

4. EMBRACE A NEW SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. It’s easy to fall into predictable patterns in our relationship with God (just like any other relationship, eh?). So, what would it look like to shake things up a bit? Invest in a new daily devotional book, work with a spiritual director or go on a retreat. Commit to worship at a new time each week (each of our worship services at SPD are so different!). Sign up for a Bible study or class for the first time, or try a creative spiritual practice like praying in color or Bible art journaling. Maybe your heart longs to try out combining faith with movement like our YogaFaith classes. The options are endless for deepening our spiritual lives, and inevitably will lead to new friendships with other believers as well.

5. CREATE A STANDING DATE ONCE A MONTH FOR A WHOLE YEAR. We all know that investing in relationships is worthwhile, but gets placed on the back burner when life gets busy. Consider implementing a standing date with someone that you want to invest in. If they’re local, try to meet up in person. If they are far away, a phone or video chat will do as well, but make it consistent. Carve out that time to connect and you’ll look forward to it the rest of the month.

Use your imagination. What speaks to you and your interests?

Consider reading a favorite author’s entire oeuvre. Go see live music every Friday night. Commit to walking everywhere you go within 3 miles of your home. Start a bridge club. Learn to make French pastry. The options are endless and not only feed your body, heart and soul, but also make you a more interesting person.

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A Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eye View on Creativity

INDEED, IT IS VERY GOOD

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f you ask a group of 5-year-olds how many consider themselves to be artists, nearly the entire group will raise their hands. Ask again a couple of years later, and the group will instead point out the peer that they believe to be the best artist. As we age, we begin to compare and judge our creativity, instead of believing in our inherent abilities.

INTERVIEW BY R ACHEL ARENDS

The Bible begins with a detailed description of God â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creativity, when the Earth and everything on it originates out of a formless void. We are blessed to have been gifted this same creativity to invent, imagine and construct. Our own creativity can take many forms in how we express and show these gifts. Few are more creative than the youngest of our sisters and brothers in Christ. May you be inspired by their heartfelt awe of the world around them and their own expressions of creativity.

Our interviewees include: Acher, age 3; Della, age 4; Livian, age 6; Abby, age 11; Lilly, age 13; Colin, young adult.

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St. Philip the Deacon

R A C H E L A R E N D S : W H AT D O E S I T M E A N T O B E C R E AT I V E ?

Archer Imagination. And I use my imagination to make dinosaur footprints.

Della Creativity is being different than my sister.

Livian Creativity is being yourself.

Abby Something unique, not thinking of what people would not do.

Lilly Having your own ideas in your own special way.

Colin To express your personality and imagination.

R AC H E L : H O W D O YO U L I K E T O B E C R E AT I V E ?

Archer Creative is when I pretend to be a T. Rex or a dump truck or a firefighter.

Della You can be creative by coloring a picture of a mermaid.

Livian I am creative when I wear the clothes that I want.

Abby When I get dressed I try to pick a unique outfit. I like to be creative when I get a project for school; I try to choose the most creative way to do it.

Lilly What clothes I wear at school and making my own style.

And also theater and saying lines in my own way and being creative with how I say them.

Colin I like to show my creativity through jokes and making people laugh, also through stories.

R A C H E L : W H AT I S Y O U R FA V O R I T E C R E AT I O N T H AT G O D H A S M A D E ?

Archer Color.

Della My favorite thing God has made is butterf lies.

Livian My favorite thing that God has made is me!

Abby All of the trees and plants in the world and how there are still some out there that are unknown. Also the ocean with all of the animals in it and us people.

Lilly The world and all of us.

Colin A kangaroo. It is a mystery to me.

When something is created, there is often a sense of pride that goes along with it. Our art may be framed and put on display, it may be filmed and viewed by many, it may be posted to social media for all to see or mailed to a loved one. We learn that God was also proud of his creations in Genesis 1:31, â&#x20AC;&#x153;God saw everything that God had created, and indeed, it was very good.â&#x20AC;?

Go out today. Find some of your God-given creativity to design, dream and invent. Then, take a step back and see that indeed, it is very good.

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Giftable Goodies RECIPES & PHOTOS BY AMANDA BERGER

Holiday Table Pr ayer Dear Heavenly Father, love brought Jesus to the earth, and love brings us to this Christmas table.

Today as we share this holiday feast, may we also share with one another a joyful heart and a warm smile. May our Christmas dinner be filled with kindness. And may the memories of today warm our hearts for years to come. Amen.

BETH MCLENDON

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The winter holiday season is full of reasons to give homemade goodies. Each of the following recipes is perfect for gifting to friends, neighbors, teachers and others for whom holiday shopping can be a challenge!

Swedish Cardamom Loaf This recipe got rave reviews when served to the SPD staff! This dense, spicy loaf is perfect for gifting—or enjoying with your family throughout the holiday season. ½ cup butter, softened 1 ½ cups sugar 3 large eggs 1 ½ cups all-purpose f lour 1/8 tsp baking soda 1/8 tsp salt 1 tsp cardamom 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tsp vanilla extract

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture, and then add sour cream and vanilla. Beat on low until just mixed.

Pour into a greased and floured 9” loaf pan.

Bake at 325° for 1 hour, 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar if desired, or top with orange glaze below.

OR ANGE GL A ZE

Zest of ½ an orange Juice of ½ an orange ¼ tsp vanilla extract 4 cups powdered sugar Combine all ingredients in a bowl, whisking until smooth. Spread or drizzle onto cardamom loaf.

Make it giftable: Look for festive or pretty loaf pans and make the pan part of the gift!

Wrap in plastic wrap and tie with a bow.

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St. Philip the Deacon

Homemade Cocoa Mix This hot cocoa mix is simple to make and contains no additives or preservatives. It’s perfect for keeping on the pantry shelf or for gifting in decorated jars. Makes one quart of mix.

2 cups confectioners sugar 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups powdered or instant nonfat dry milk Optional: mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, whipped cream In a large bowl, sift the confectioners sugar, then the unsweetened cocoa, to get rid of any lumps. Stir in the powdered milk, and whisk well until everything is combined. Add mini marshmallows to the container, if desired.

This can be kept in the pantry for 6 months.

Biscotti

To make hot cocoa, combine equal parts hot cocoa mix and hot water. As a guideline, ½ cup of cocoa mix and ½ cup hot water is about right for a single serving. Tip: Put the hot cocoa mix in the cup and add the hot liquid on top, and stir, in order to not get any lumps. Enjoy!

I first encountered biscotti when I worked for a family-run, Italian style coffee shop.

This is a perennial favorite for gift giving and serving on my own holiday cookie trays. Also serves as a perfect accompaniment to a coffee gift card! Makes about 48 cookies.

Make it giftable: Put the desired amount of mix into a mason jar and secure the lid.

Top with holiday fabric and ribbon. You can tuck the jar, along with a bag of mini marshmallows and a cute mug into the gift bag as well. Include the instructions to mix equal amounts of cocoa mix with hot water and stir until dissolved.

4-4 1/2 cups all-purpose f lour 1 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup butter, softened 2 cups sugar 4 large eggs 1 tbsp vanilla 1 cup sliced natural almonds 1 cup almond f lour

Heat oven to 325°.

Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets.

In medium-sized bowl, combine 4 cups of f lour, baking powder and salt and set aside. In large bowl, with electric mixer or stand mixer, on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light and f luffy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla to butter mixture and beat well. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture until well blended. With a spoon stir in almond flour and sliced almonds. If dough seems too soft to shape, stir in some of the remaining 1/2 cup of flour.

Divide dough in half and shape into a long, f lat-ish log (about 3 inches wide), placing each log across one of your baking sheets.

Bake logs for 30 minutes or until firm and golden brown.

Transfer logs to cutting board. Using a serrated knife and a sawing motion cut (the short way) into 1 1/2 inch strips. Then cut each strip in half. Arrange on the cookie sheets and bake for 15 more minutes.

Cool slices on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.

Make it giftable: Wrap cookies into a bakery box or food gift bag. Tie with bakers twine or ribbon for a festive touch.

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Love in Any Language

BY AMANDA BERGER

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St. Philip the Deacon

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Photo 1 Katherine and Caroline with children from the school.

Photo 2 Caroline, Kris and Katherine Germain In Chania, Greece.

W

hat was their favorite thing about Greece? Well, there was the “world’s best hummus.” Or maybe the 17-mile bike ride exploring Santorini. The churches and museums were breathtaking. But without even taking a moment to confer, all of the Germain women agreed that the best part of their trip were the smiles and the hugs from the children with whom they worked teaching English.

“I’ve wanted to do a trip like this since graduating from college, so when I found Global Volunteers in St. Paul and learned about their program that sends volunteers overseas for one to two weeks to teach English, I just knew this is where and when we were supposed to go,” said Kris Carlson-Germain. “I wanted to have this experience with my girls of serving together.”

While the family of five includes Kris, her husband Henri, and the children Katherine (11th), Caroline (10th) and William (7th), the women have done a special “girl’s trip” the past three summers. This year, however, instead of only engaging

the culture as tourists, they spent a week serving at a school in Maleviziou on the island of Crete, teaching English to low-income Greek children.

“There was a really wide range of abilities.

Some could easily speak whole sentences and some had no English at all,” said Katherine. Kris added, “They loved to play interactive games like Duck, Duck, Goose and Simon Says, and they loved playing UNO.” While it was fun for the kids, it also helped them to learn colors, parts of the body, numbers and counting, and how to ask questions. They also did a lot of art projects to help them learn words for animals and colors as well.

“You learn a lot more about the culture of a place when you are interacting with the people so closely,” said Kris. “It’s great being a tourist and I love traveling, but this was really special. We lived with them. We stayed in a family-run hotel, which became like our family while we were there. They were so kind, and while they didn’t speak much English, we were able to connect.”

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“Being with the kids made this trip so memorable. We’ll remember the kids and their names, and the hugs. My favorite part was seeing the kids so happy and learning,” said Caroline. “I felt like I saw God everywhere ... we were in one of the most beautiful places in the world and how we got to meet all these amazing kids and we could see them improve in just the one week.”

While they loved teaching at the school, they also saved time for sightseeing throughout Greece. The trip included two days in Athens and several days exploring Santorini. The Germains saw beautiful architecture and art, and ate the most amazing food. Both Katherine and Caroline rated the trip a 10 out of 10.

It’s hard to pick a favorite moment or thing from a trip like this—so many beautiful things are packed into just a few days. “I just loved watching my girls getting hugs and seeing that such a small thing can make such a difference. One teeny little act of kindness can make a huge difference in a kid’s life,” said Carlson-Germain.

Photo 3 Caroline reads a Dr. Seuss book to her Greek students.

Photo 4 A beautiful church in Santorini.

Photo 5 In Chania, Greece.

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OUT & ABOUT The Habitat for Humanity build has become an annual opportunity to serve within the greater Minneapolis area. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s build, in Northeast Minneapolis, saw SPD members serving by framing a garage, drywalling and painting alongside Habitat staff and recipients.

PHOTOS L E F T T O R I G H T, TOP TO BOT TOM

High school students Will Huenemann and Matthew Lehr.

Alan Helvick, Clayton Anderson, Charlie Weihe and Larry Olson raise the framing for the garage.

Carl Tuura, Nancy Nechas and Naomi Davidson share a laugh during a break.

Pastor Mark Schmid, Clayton Anderson and Alan Helvick work on the table saw.

The Habitat for Humanity build for 2019.

Charlie Weihe and Larry Olson lift the garage framework into place.

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GIVING THANKS

F

or four years, St. Philip the Deacon has partnered with Mirlie Abraham and Paulin Mathurin to provide black school shoes to children in five different rural communities throughout the Cap-Haitian region. This year, 491 pairs of shoes were provided to specific children, with another 200 pair available for additional children. The shoes were distributed by a local team under Mirlie and Paulin’s leadership. In addition, SPD also provides food from Feed My Starving Children, soccer balls, and school supplies.

"So please, as always, pass on our deepest thank you to everyone involved.

These shoes are such a huge blessing … and the kids just get so thrilled by them … I have never seen so much excitement for a pair of black school shoes. The Sunday after the team came was when we gave them out and if you could have been in that room—it was literally ALIVE and felt like there was an even greater abundance of children.

However, it wasn’t that the numbers had increased, it was that the children we had there that day were creating so much joy because of their new shoes.”

—Jocasta Keeley, New Gen Nourish Haiti

INSPIRE

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St. Philip the Deacon

T U E S D AY DECEMBER

17 S I N G B O L D LY: C H R I S T M A S

WINTER CALENDAR

CA RO L A N D A DV E N T A N T H E M S

7PM—SPD hosts Sing Boldly! A sing-along featuring Christmas Carols and Advent Anthems at Wayzata Brew Works in downtown Wayzata.

JA N UA RY 30 THRU FEBRUA RY 2

T H E C O N V E R S AT I O N : VISIO DIVINA T U E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 1 4

6TH A NNUA L

Visio Divina is translated as “divine seeing.” It is related to the prayer form Lectio Divina (divine reading), but instead of Scripture, this form of prayer uses visual elements to help set your mind on prayer.

It allows God to speak into your heart through the image. Pastor Cheryl Mathison will introduce this experiential form of prayer.

I C E F I S H I N G R E T R E AT

Join SPD Outdoors for a time of faith, fellowship, fun and fishing at the 6th Annual SPD Outdoors Ice Fishing Retreat on Devil’s Lake in North Dakota.

For more information Contact Pastor Mark Schmid at mschmid@spdlc.org.

ENCOUNTER: V I S I O D I V I N A AT M I A T H U R S D AY, J A N U A R Y 3 0

S AT U R D AY

Praying through art is a multisensory way to connect to God through prayer. Visio Divina is one form of prayer using images—works of art, stained glass windows, icons, even images in nature. Experience prayer in this new way through the practice of Visio Divina at Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA).

FEBRUA RY

8 T H E D O T AT S TA G E S T H E AT R E

T H E C O N V E R S AT I O N : HISTORIC CHURCHES OF MN T U E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 1

The guest speaker Doug Ohman is a photographer, historian and storyteller. He will provide a photo journey that explores the history of many of Minnesota’s oldest churches.

Complementing our Kid’s Read: The Dot, attend Stages Theatre for a story about the power of the creative spirit which comes to life through music and dance with the Stages Theatre collaboration with Escalate Dance in the performance of The Dot.

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FA M I L I A R FA C E S LINDA ARMSTRONG

1.

Describe when you knew you’d be going into ministry. It happened so naturally that I am not sure there was one exact moment. My first VBS experience at Mount Olivet in Minneapolis as a preschooler brought me into the sanctuary where I saw the big stained glass window of Jesus holding out his hands in welcome. That was my first introduction to Jesus and the first song I learned was “Beautiful Savior.” As a young child attending church and sitting behind the organist, watching every move she made enticed me to become like her. And it was there that I became her assistant years later. My experience as a student at Augsburg College in the 1970s, where I sang in the choir and met lifelong friends that chose ministry as their profession, also inf luenced my life path.

2.

Uplifting. Inspiring. Soul-stirring. Just some of the words you might use to describe the music at SPD, led by the gifted Linda Armstrong, director of music.

Her early calling to music ministry has become an entire life dedicated to the glory of God through music.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I love cars. I enjoy learning about the different makes and models that have been made over the years, and being able to identify them. I love going to auto shows and I love to drive (fast)!!

3.

What are three things on your lifetime to-do list? I love to travel and I would like to travel around Italy extensively.

I would like to take an Alaskan Cruise. Just watching all 10 of our grandchildren as they grow up will be very fulfilling to me.

4.

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

Well, I go to church A LOT. And what I am amazed at is how I learn so much about myself and God with every sermon I hear. I am never bored and my spirit is always renewed each week here at SPD. Emotionally speaking, I find great joy in just being home with my husband and dogs and seeing the grandchildren as much as possible. Physically? I work out at the YMCA four or five times a week and move pianos and organs around a lot.

5.

What are you passionate about right now? At this very moment, I am passionate about the children and adults I work with in the choir program at SPD. Singing is a lifelong activity that is so good for us mentally, physically and spiritually. I love being able to take a group of singers and make a beautiful song happen. I love to watch the faces of children as they explore their voices and learn to work in a cooperative effort and then feel the pride of accomplishment. I love sharing my love of Jesus with them and helping them to grow in their own spiritual journeys.

Public Conversations Where Faith Comes to Life

JOIN US FOR A SERIES O F TA L K S A B O U T B E I N G AND BELIEF

The Faith & Life Lectures are open and welcoming public forums where members of the Twin Cities community can hear nationally known speakers ref lect on how Christian faith intersects with different dimensions of everyday life. We invite you to join us for the 2019-2020 series of lectures.

J E N N I F E R P H A R R D AV I S

February 6, 2020 TOD WORNER

March 5, 2020 R YA N S A U N D E R S

May 14, 2020 All lectures begin at 7:00 p.m.

Free and open to the public. www.faith-and-life.org

17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447

â&#x20AC;&#x153;He who works with his hands is a laborer.

He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.â&#x20AC;?

S T. F R A N C I S O F A S S I S I

V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT S P D L C .O R G