Son Times Fall 2021

SON TIMES ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH

FALL 2021

Leadership

“Start Right Here” When it comes to cell phones, when they are acting up, I know how to do only one thing. I shut it down and I hope that, when it reboots, the problem no longer exists. When it comes to computers, I do the same thing and/or I hit Ctrl/Alt/Delete.

I have no idea how often that works. Not very often would be the most accurate guess.

When it comes to life in the world right now, I find myself wondering if there’s a way to just Ctrl/Alt/Delete, but, alas, I have yet to find a way. Instead, perhaps like you, I try to stay abreast of all that is going on in the world right now—and—I try not to become overwhelmed.

Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, those who serve you in and through St. Andrew have done their level best to do whatever we can do to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ into your lives. In a matter of weeks we had to learn how to livestream worship and now we know that we will provide worship online until the day Jesus returns once and for all. I want to thank all the wonderful staff members of St. Andrew who, in a short period of time, figured out how to provide such a wonderful, remote, worship service! In addition, a special thank you to the music staff—led by Tim Graf. Each and every week, we are blessed by the talents of great musicians.

Even though we have no idea what is going to be awaiting us on the second Sunday in September—September 12—we are making great and wonderful plans to create a welcoming, exciting, and fun experience for people as they return to worship and programming this fall.

In years gone by, we have reserved one Sunday in September to roll out the red carpet. This year, we will do just that on not one but THREE consecutive Sundays. Information will be available on how to become involved in all of the exciting ministries we have here at St. Andrew. Doughnuts, caramel rolls, food trucks, and fun galore are a must! In many ways, my friends in Christ, that is how we are going to start afresh or Ctrl/Alt/Delete. Starting Sunday, September 12, St. Andrew and its many ministries, will come alive after a long spring, summer, fall, winter, spring, and summer nap! Gee whiz, it sure was a long time—when one really stops and thinks about it. All the more reason to Start Right Here! See you all on Sunday, September 12—if not before.

Be well and God bless!

David Lillejord Senior Pastor

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Start Right Here

Rally Sunday

Rally Weekend(s) Mark the Start of Fall at St. Andrew Just as the State Fair marks the end of summer for most of us Minnesotans, Rally Weekend marks the start of fall programming for people at St. Andrew. And for those who really love rallies, this year there will be not one, not two but THREE Rally Weekends. That’s right!

On Sunday, September 12th, is Rally #1, with Elliott Meier’s famous Caramel Rolls. It will be your chance to reconnect with some of your friends you haven’t seen since pre-COVID and to meet staff members old and new who can’t wait to meet you!

Sunday, September 19th, is Rally #2. This will be the weekend when we celebrate Jan Maudlin, who has been on our staff longer than anyone else here at St. Andrew. We will invite you to wish Jan well and have a piece of cake to celebrate all she has done in worship and music ministry at St. Andrew.

Sunday, September 26th, is Rally #3. On Rally 3 we will have food trucks lined up outside to feed you breakfast or lunch or both. From the Anderson pizza truck to the Purple People Feeder, from smoothies to cupcakes, we’ll have it all. PLUS… there will be games and activities for kids of all ages, including the much-loved bouncy house.

The staff at St. Andrew is so ready to get back to work with you in person. Rally Weekends 2021 are a great place to start as we get back together doing God’s work together.

Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism

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Start Right Here

Small Groups

Back row left to right: Cheryl Harjes, Rita Radke, Tammy Sperr, Gail Feneis Front: Mary Hanson, Pat Frandle, Amy Sasik (Not pictured: Kathryn Hernke)

Breaktime Small Group Celebrates Friendships Born out of Pandemic We all remember the darker days of the pandemic late last spring. Life had shut down in most ways. Worship was only online. Those were tough and uncertain times.

I remember getting a note from Cheryl Harjes and Tammy Sperr about how lonely people must be getting. They had called with an idea. Let’s create a new small group over Zoom (a very new online platform at this point) for folks.

No preparation, just togetherness. Fun conversation about a faith topic and see where it goes. The basic idea was it is better to be community than be alone.

The small group named Breaktime at 1:00 PM on Monday afternoons was born.

We advertised through the church. Word was spread from friend to friend. We had selected content like John Krasinski’s Good News episodes shared on YouTube.

As a cast member of The Office, Krasinski’s humor, filmed-at-home, and warm-andfuzzy-feeling antidotes illustrated how 3

people were caring for others even while the pandemic raged. It felt good to smile and even laugh. Podcasts with Kate Bowler or Brene Brown were selected.

Speakers were invited. Breaktime gathered week after week, laughing, listening, and supporting along the way.

Fast forward 12 months to earlier this summer. The time came earlier this summer when Breaktime had the chance to get together for the first time faceto-face. Most of these group members had not met each other in person.

Gathering at Smith Coffee and Café, the members laughed that they did not realize how tall/short other members of the group were! As I write this article, the group is gathering in person yet again to enjoy the relationships they have created together all starting during the early stages of the pandemic.

When I think about the evolution and accomplishments of Breaktime, it is an illustration of small group devel-

opment at is finest. It is a place where trusted friendships take root. They dedicated themselves to weekly contact for one hour because friendships take a little effort that way. We get out of them what we put into them. Finally, faith matters, too. We share a unity in God and Christ that brings hope. Over all, we can see that faithful friendship, learning, listening, and laughter truly are the best medicine.

As we “Start Right Here” this fall with a new year of programming, there is a small group for you. I invite you to be open to what might happen when you become part of one. It might surprise you. I would welcome the chance to get you connected.

Welcome, Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

Start Right Here

Service

Christian Service—The Art of Listening In my role of leading Christian service opportunities at St. Andrew, living out our faith in daily life (our mission statement) can be seen practically as something we do. For instance, we purchase school supplies for Forest Hills Elementary School, collect PROP food items, or hang siding at a Habitat for Humanity project in Chaska. We ‘do’ a great deal for others as we live out our faith in daily life. While we are accustomed to be good ‘doers’, where does listening fit in?

I think listening is very important when it comes to Christian service. I see listening as relational as we sit with our partners. It is part of a back and forth conversation between two groups where views, ideas, and opportunities are expressed and dreamed. It is not task-orientated, but deliberative, planful and slow.

Here are few examples of what I am describing. In late May, I began the conversations with staff at Forest Hills Elementary School about the school supply drive this August.

In our second year of support to students, 60 students (10 per grade) were blessed with supplies. However, as we listened to the needs at the school, we heard in a new way how teachers often go without some needed supplies in their classrooms. So, we added this component to the drive this year. Donated funds would go toward purchasing supplies for teachers. We added this component because of listening.

Another example: I have been exploring St. Andrew hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. I have had conversations with the Minnesota Depart of Health and Hennepin County. In an effort to do what it right at the right time, I also reached out to our partners at PROP and the City of Eden Prairie for their local perspectives. These conversations helped me determine a strategy for how and when we might offer a clinic in our Fellowship Hall. I learned that we don’t

need to do a clinic right now; we can wait until the vaccine is available to younger ages. When we listen to the right people, we make the right decisions.

We know that not listening to others can lead to challenges.

Help can become harm. What we think needs to be done might not fit the need. For example, I remember a project launched in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake sounded like a good idea.

Wouldn’t Haitians welcome fresh milk? Let’s open a dairy and build a business with earthquake assistance funds. Sounds good, right? However, Haitians culturally are not accustomed to eating dairy products in their diets. With so few people desiring milk, the expensive project had to be abandoned. It appears no one asked or heard that most people in Haiti don’t drink milk.

We are good at ‘doing’ good things for others as a faithful practice of caring for our neighbors. It makes me smile to be a part of a generous congregation like St. Andrew. Keep it up!

We at St. Andrew do a good job listening, too. At least we try. I never want to overstep or assume that I have all the answers. I take a humble and listening position as I talk to our partners about possible plans. What they say might surprise me. The result is deeper ownership and dignity. Our partner organizations and their perspectives matter. The people they serve are served in the best possible way. True accompaniment of others happens when we givers provide what is truly needed and the receivers are empowered at the same time. Both win.

Let us strive to continue in this model. Thank you for your partnership in our shared work.

God Bless, Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

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Baptism

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f the many things that the pandemic changed or took away were public baptisms. In a church our size, there were five to ten baptisms on a monthly basis. I think it’s awesome to bear witness to the gowns and the beautiful outfits but, most of all, it’s awesome to be involved in something so holy and life-changing. “In and through baptism we are reborn children of God and made members of the church, the body of Christ.” E.L.W. If you have been to worship or you have worshipped online, you have noticed that we are now having public baptisms. Join me in rejoicing and welcoming just a few of our new brothers and sisters in Christ.

David Lillejord Senior Pastor

Jen Hoffer

Maggie Pearson

Lindsay, Noah, & Jared Bickler

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Oaklyn & Natalie Hahn

Start Right Here

Confirmation

Do you know?

A regular column featuring useful-in-jeopardy information from our teaching pastor.

What is confirmation?

Every year we celebrate with about a hundred 9th graders their confirmation.

We dress them up in robes, put stoles around their shoulders, cut some delicious Costco cake, and throw a big party.

But what does it mean? What actually is confirmation?

We might as well start at the beginning. The question of the early church was how can someone become a new Christian? Jesus told the first Christians to, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

But Jesus didn’t leave much of a roadmap (that we know of ) for how to do this. The early church knew that the mysteries of faith were important to pass on from one generation to the next, so they practiced training and teaching before baptism, so that one may learn the Christian faith.

This process was called catechesis and it involved a long period of instruction leading up to the catechumen1 being baptized and receiving the Lord’s Supper.

The process of learning about the Christian faith and life has been around since the earliest days of the church.

As Christianity moved from an underground movement to the official religion of the most powerful empire in the world (Rome), babies began to be baptized into faith. Much later, the reformers and Martin Luther especially changed attitudes toward the celebration of what had then become a sacrament 1

of the church, which in medieval times was carefully guarded and shrouded in expertise and priestly mystique. Even though Martin Luther famously called confirmation “monkey business,”2 his reforms doubled down on the process of catechesis, by writing the Small Catechism so that anyone from the most educated lawyer to the least educated farmer could understand the Christian faith and life.

So today. What is confirmation?

Well, it’s a process through which people deepen their understanding of faith by practicing reading scripture, conversation with others, and prayer. But you know what? It isn’t just for middle schoolers.

It’s for all of us. We all participate in confirmation by attending worship or Bible study or small group conversation.

Of course the process of confirmation ends in a celebration, where young people affirm their baptism and their faith, claim it as their own, and receive the prayers of the whole church to support them. But once again, affirming our baptism is never meant to be a one-time thing. We can do it every day! And if you’d like to intentionally go about catechesis, think about being a confirmation guide! You’ll get to learn from pastors and students alike!

Pastor Matthew Pastor of Teaching & Young Adults

Confirmation is Here!

Register 6–9th grade students for Confirmation on our website Join us for an Open House Confirmation night on September 22.

And if you are interested in becoming a confirmation guide, reach out to a pastor.

The one being catechized with a catechism through the process of catechesis. Don’t church people have weird words for everything?

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For more, read our friend Rev. Dr. Hans Wiersma’s article available online at Word & World entitled “Monkey Business? On the History of Confirmation.”

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“Notes” from the Music Office

Worship & Music

“As long as we live there is Starting Right Here in Worship How is worship music foundational for us? How is it fundamental for us as Christians? During this time when we find ourselves needing to be ready for anything, we go back to the things that matter the most to us and we find strength and purpose therein. For us as people of faith, this means that God’s gifts of worship and music remain a treasure to us no matter what circumstances we may be forced to deal with in the days and weeks ahead. Whether or not we have been able to join together in singing the great hymns of faith, those hymns can still speak to us, shape and inspire us when we take to heart their profound wisdom that comes to us from across the ages. Many hymns transport me back to my childhood and I can still hear my grandmother’s voice as she belted out the greatest hits of the old Lutheran hymnal.

I remember how the hymnal was always open on the piano in my great aunt’s living room and I don’t doubt for a minute the role that these beloved hymns played in helping to shape her sturdy faith that remained unshakable throughout her long life. All of these things work together to nurture our faith. That is what excites me about the fact that we will have our Sunday School children with us in worship on the first Sunday of each month starting in October. We want to give these children the same opportunities to be exposed to worship that we had as we were growing up. Worship matters.

For so many, singing is such a vitally important part of how we worship that it has been a real loss to go without it. This loss is real and should be acknowledged as such but I also know that corporate worship remains at the heart of our lives as Christians. As the author of Hebrews 7

never enough singing.”

puts it: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). The reason we gather together is to offer our “sacrifice of praise” to the one who sacrificed all out of his great love for us. As people of faith, I believe that it is so vitally important for us to stay connected with our faith community through worship as there is just no substitute on earth for the way in which we connect with God and with each other. It is where our sins are confessed and forgiven and our faith is rekindled, enlivened, revitalized, and enriched through the preaching of God’s Word, through the holy sacraments, and through music, of which Martin Luther said, “next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.”

As we gear up for the return of our choirs and bell choirs this fall, I’m excited to announce our new Spirit Singers Director (for Grades 5-9), Sarah Gilbertson, and our new Canticle Choir accompanist, Jodi Edstrom. Sarah Gilbertson is the director of choral activities at Chanhassen High School in which she directs the Concert Choir, Bel Canto, the TTBB Choir, the 9th Grade Treble Choir (Aurora), the Chamber Singers, and Vox. She received her Masters in Music with an emphasis in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University, studying with Dr. Edith Copley. She is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.S. in Music Education. Prior to her graduate studies, she was the choral director at Chaska High School, and Champlin Park High School. She has sung with the Bach Society of Minnesota, Sebastian Singers,

–Martin Luther

and Kantorei. In 2000 she received the “Outstanding Young Choral Director Award” from the MN American Choral Directors Association. Both Sarah and Jodi are phenomenal musicians and both have already contributed mightily to St. Andrew’s worship life over the past several years: Sarah through her participation in the St. Andrew Chamber Choir and her directorship of our seasonal high school choir, StAnd4, and Jodi through her flute and piano playing and her work as a vocal soloist. I’d like to acknowledge with gratitude both Kirsten Hanninen (Spirit Singers) and Jan Maudlin (Canticle Choir) for their many years of dedicated service to St. Andrew’s music ministry. We are so blessed to have our returning music staff members: Larry Bach (Canticle Choir director), Hannah Fleming (Starlite Singers director), and Linnae Stole (Ring of Fire and Peace bRingers director). I look forward to continuing in my role as Bells of Joy director as well.

Please join me in giving thanks to God for all of the people who give of their talents to make our worship music something special at St. Andrew, not only these great leaders but all of the participants as well. It is a great joy for me to serve alongside these wonderful people. As choirs start up, I invite you and your children to consider participating. Not only is it great fun but it makes a difference!

See you in church!

Tim Graf Worship & Music Coordinator

Start Right Here

Visitation Ministry

Friendship & Community Starts Right Here Where can we find ‘friendship and a sense of community?’

Hopefully we find things that add to our quality of life in our family, in our neighborhood, or even among colleagues at work.

The Apostle Paul reminds Christians in the church in Rome (12:4-5) “We’re better together than we are alone.”

We have a group of senior ladies at St. Andrew who got to know each other by participating in our Prime Timers’ programs.

Over many luncheons and outings together a friendship developed. They would tell you that ‘they’re better together than they are alone.’ You will see them worshiping together in row seven from the front of the sanctuary. Sometimes there are four or five of them but sometimes more. During this past year when COVID-19 shut us down and kept us in our houses and apartments, they met online every week using Zoom.

Of course, health issues happen to many of us as we age but they have been a support for each other. When one of them went through grief, due to the death of her husband, they embraced her and loved her through those difficult days and reminded her that ‘she wasn’t alone.’

The Delta Variant has put a scare into our state, our schools, and in our churches. However, St. Andrew remains a place where we can find support and hope, friendship and community when we can’t find it in other places.

Jesus said, “I have not come to be served but to serve and give my life for many.” I understand this to mean that community and friendship isn’t entirely about what others can do for us but is an opportunity to consider what we can do for others.

Roger Schindel Visitation Pastor

We’re better together than we are alone.

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Start Right Here

Landscaping/Wednesday Meals

Building & Landscaping Improvements Sometimes fall isn’t the best time to plant a garden—but, once in a while it can be the best time. St. Andrew has now been on this site for almost 27 years. You might have noticed we have taken down some of the trees and shrubs because they were no longer healthy. Additionally, earlier this summer, the City of Eden Prairie came through and identified a few ash trees that would have to go. Our beautiful yard was beginning to look a little sad.

So, we began to have conversations about what we should do. We knew it would be a big project, but with a little guidance from our gardening experts and thanks to a substantial memorial gift honoring someone who loved gardening, we were able to get started on much of the work yet this fall.

We are excited about these improvements yet this fall, and all the color that will come through in the spring and summer of next year. There will be more work to do, but we think we have made a good start in making the outside of our building look ready to go this fall. I guess fall really is a good time to start!

Wednesday Meals Start Back Up This Fall It has been almost two years since we have been able to offer meals on Wednesday evenings at St. Andrew. But beginning Wednesday, September 29th, our Wednesday meals will be returning. We will be trying a couple new vendors this fall as well as bringing back a few of your favorites.

The punch card system will be our preferred way to pay for the meals again this year, but we will also have the kiosk available for those “I forgot my card” moments.

If you have any punches left on your cards from two years ago, they are still good. You can begin purchasing your cards on Rally Sunday, September 12th at the reception desk as follows: • •

$ 5 for small portions. . . . . . . 5 meals for $25 or 11 meals for $50 $10 for large portions. . . . . . 5 meals for $50 or 11 meals for $100

We’re looking forward to serving you and seeing you on Wednesdays this fall!

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Start Right Here

A More Just World/Endowment

A More Just World In June of 2020, the killing of George Floyd got global attention as we watched injustice unravel our lives in ways we never imagined. This event caused most of us at St. Andrew to stop and reflect on the why’s and how’s of racism, bias, prejudice and so many other injustices in our world. How can we make an impact in the lives of our friends and neighbors that will work toward bringing an end to these issues in our world.

Many of you participated in the IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) assessments, which was a wonderful tool for us to use to learn about our own biases and areas of growth. We are excited that we now have two IDI qualified administrators in Pastor Peter and Tova Werlinger.

They will be working with new staff and council members as they begin their work with the wider church this fall.

Questions around racism and bias led to the shaping of a new ministry at St. Andrew called “A More Just World.”

The intent of this ministry is to begin conversations on many fronts that will help us listen, learn, reflect and act for A More Just World. This past year we have focused primarily on the area of race and bias. Beginning this fall we want to begin to branch out into other areas and have conversations on topics such as the LGBTQ+, affordable housing, homelessness, aging, single parents, women’s issues, poverty and many others.

These are the places where we want to start this fall as we continue to listen and learn and reflect and act for “a more just world” here at St. Andrew. If you have questions or topics you would like us to consider as we plan ahead, please contact Pastor Peter or Pastor Gail.

A New Start on the Endowment Committee One very significant but often not talked about ministry here at St. Andrew is the work of our Endowment Committee. This is a group of seven individuals appointed by the Congregation Council to manage the Endowment Fund and award grants to recipients whose requests align with the mission of this Fund.

What is the mission you ask? To providing funding to support extraordinary programs/ministry initiatives within the Congregation, outreach into the local community or Synod and programs for church-wide ministries, world hunger and global mission programs Does that work sound fun or interesting to you? Well—now is a great time to get started. The Endowment Fund is looking for applicants who are interested in this work. We would like to fill one position as soon as we can due to a mid-year opening.

We will have two more positions opening in January 2022, when terms renew.

If you would like to be considered for an appointment to the Endowment Committee, contact Pastor Peter at pastorpeter@standrewlu.org for more information.

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Early Learning

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22–23

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ew starts are hard. Think about when you started a new job, a new school, became a parent or tried a new hobby.

Even though we know that new starts can be difficult we also know they bring new opportunity for growth, learning and friendship. God promises us a new start each day as it says in Lamentations 3:2223. We remind families each day that we are here to walk with and beside them, not in front of or behind them through each change they are experiencing as a parent.

Never has this philosophy been so apparent to us as we navigate through the daily changes and challenges that we have been faced with during the COVID-19 11

pandemic. Looking ahead to the start of a new program year, we as early learning staff, are challenging ourselves to start right here and be the change we want to see in the world. While working alongside Pastor Gail, we are taking a deep dive into our Christian curriculum to set our youngest learners up with a faith-filled foundation that starts right here, in looking at how they can effect positive change. The smallest of actions, in combination, can result in the biggest differences. We look to set an example for the children that even though our opinions may differ from one another we can work together to make things better for all.

Our challenge to you is to start right here, be the change you want to see in the world, take that step and see where God takes you!

Melanie Eggers Childcare Director

Melinda Eddihi Childcare Assistant Dir.

Kathi Wieman Preschool Director

Start Right Here

Children’s Ministry

Leap of Faith into the Unknown To most children, the idea of starting something new is scary.

There are so many unknowns involved and so many things that come that are unexpected. And for children who feed off of habit, like myself, that is a hard thing to face. So, why should we continue to support our children to do new things and go into unknown places?

Experience. Do you remember as a child the first time you were away from your family? It is a scary time, full of different emotions. But it is almost guaranteed that after you forgot about being away from your family that you had a blast. If we don’t support our children to have different experiences, which some may find scary, they won’t be able to experience new things.

Faith. Imagine sending a child off to school on a bus for the first time. Control is out of your hands and placed into the bus driver’s. Sometimes control is just out of our hands. And unfortunately we cannot control everything. So we need to have faith that the people who do have control use it wisely. We also need to remind ourselves that we can always place our trust into God’s hands.

Growth. Think of the first time a child tries to stand up.

They are going to fail at first, and that is ok. Children should not be expected to succeed on the first try. But if they never try they can never succeed. Trying, failing and succeeding all leads to growth.

So, I invite you as we jump into the new school year with unknowns of the pandemic that we continue to support our children to do new things. We have many upcoming events and these events will look different to the children. There will be different leaders, new friends and new curriculum. It may be scary, but we need to support our children to take a leap of faith.

Sarah Dorr Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Children’s Ministry Save the Dates: Sunday, Oct. 3: 1st and 2nd Bible Celebration and Instruction Wednesday, Oct. 20: Family Movie Night

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Church Anew

Church Anew Blog Summer Recap

Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder

Rev. Angela Denker

Austen Hartke

Katie Langston

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Church Anew as a ministry continues to work toward our mission to “offer dynamic learning opportunities to ignite faithful imagination and sustain inspired innovation.” In the spirit of this work, we’d like to share some of our favorite conversations that have taken place on the Church Anew Blog this summer.

Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder of Chicago Theological Seminary wrote on the Olympics, faith, mental health, and the power of rest in her blog “Choose Yourself... Sometimes”: “One of my favorite preachers, the late Rev. Shirley Prince of Memphis used to say, ‘Lord, speed me up or slow the world down.’ It is perfectly self-saving, not self-centered, to resist the world’s rat race. It is in order to recline, repose, and rest. Rest is physical. Rest is spiritual.

Rest is mental. Rest is political. Choose yourself, and like a soothing zephyr during a sunset—rest.”

Have you needed a good cry lately? In a new blog, Rev. Angela Denker wrote a reflection on John 11:32–37 and suggests that to care and to weep is an essential component of the Gospel.

“To admit that you care is to admit your own powerlessness and fallibility. To admit that you care is to open yourself to sadness and pain, to hearing places where you have previously failed, to admit that you are inextricably tied even to the person you disdain because, at root, humanity is a we. This is what Jesus demonstrated so powerfully when he came to Lazarus’ tomb.”

For Pride month, we featured “The Blessings of a Complex Story”

by Austen Hartke, author, founder of Transmission Ministry Collective, and

Minnesota native where he reflected on his journey as a trans person of faith and a cultivator of community: “If we can learn to hold complex theological truths together—such as the complete humanity and complete divinity of Jesus, or the bread which is also Christ’s body—we can learn to honor and empathize with the complex stories present in God’s people.”

Finally, Katie Langston of Faith+Lead at Luther Seminary writes on reconciliation in a polarized age and the lessons she learned from having difficult conversations with her Mormon Mom. “Meaningful reconciliation requires us to deal deeply with differences, to be honest and present with one another, yet in the process to regard each person as God’s precious image-bearer, worthy of dignity and respect. More challenging still, it requires us to be changed as much as we seek to change our conversation partners—not necessarily to change our minds on matters of conscience, but to change our perspectives about those with whom we disagree, to love them as Christ first loved us.”

For more engaging articles on what it means to be the church today, check out the Church Anew Blog at churchanew.org/blog.

Alyson Brinker Church Anew Marketing Coordinator

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hat can travel around the world without ever leaving the corner? If you thought stamp you are right! Because a letters go all around the world and here is our letter to you!

Just a few month ago I married the most wonderful bride.

God blessed me so much through our relationship and now our marriage. But there was some things that I did not expect, challenges that we had to work through. I have always been a person that is not good at sitting still, Caroline on the other hand will say that is a spiritual gift of hers. So when we have a free day and I want to tear apart the house and reorganize everything she says, “Or we could watch Harry Potter.” So naturally we compromise and watch the entire series of Harry Potter. It is sometimes hard to start new things, I think about projects that I would like to do and the amount of time I would have to commit to it once I start. Sometimes it seems overwhelming.

We focus too much on the challenges and not the result that we will see. In reality we usually compromise and we start a project then watch Harry Potter. It is one of my favorite feeling once we have completed our project, the house is cleaned and organized and I can relax when we watch the movie rather than thinking of the work I still have to do. I know all of you have had to take on something that you were not thrilled about. I wonder how you felt when you were starting it. Were you feeling overwhelmed, or did you accept the challenge with glee. Did it turn out the exact way that you thought it would or would you like to do over on it. I always joke with my friends that the first step to failure is to take a step. But without that first step where would our growth be? If I had not failed so

High School Ministry many times I would not be the person I am today. Today we all have a first step to take, I am not sure what your first step is but we all need to accept the challenge that is in front of us and start moving forward. It might be difficult but it is where our growth comes from.

If your first step is focused on the church we are here to help! We are starting our program year and we have many opportunities for you to be involved with. Joining us for our Weekly youth group or (WNYG) every Wednesday at 7:00 PM here at St. Andrew. We will grow closer to our friends and God through some great activities and meaningful conversation. We also have our Sunday Night Bible Study which is run by high school students with topics that are important to high school students. We also have some fun activities planned like movie night, Timberwolves game, and paintball as well as other exciting events. But if your focus is more on service we have you covered, help out with many volunteer opportunities such as Wednesday Dinner, Children’s Ministry, Greeting on Sundays and so much more.

So as you start this new school year off remember that St. Andrew is starting up with you and we are excited to see what this new year has to offer. We cannot wait to see you soon and to grow with you in Christian community. God’s blessings to all of you as we take our first step on our new adventures.

TJ Helgren High School Ministry Coordinator

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Start Right Here

Looking Back to Move Forward This summer at Spirit in the Pines Camp, much like the Olympics, has come to a close. At times it did feel like a marathon as the summer of 2021 continued to challenge us all. Our hope and goal for normalcy was still somewhat of an elusive target.

The restrictions to the number of campers per cabin, mask wearing, camper pods, the continued threat and the associated anxiety of COVID, etc. were all met head on with careful planning and guidance from a dedicated group of staff members from St. Andrew. That group created our mandated COVID Plan for camp. Through thoughtful and careful implementation of our plan from the camp staff (and with God’s blessing), we were able to have a wonderful, safe, and impactful summer without a single case!

It was a summer filled with great fun and laughter, new twists to familiar games, and friendships created and strengthened. Throughout this summer God’s love and grace was shared and experienced through the campers, counselors, families, and staff. Even with the needed changes for THIS summer, it felt like camp—and we are all better for it! This summer the “we” represented 532 campers in 2nd–11th grade, 129 high school and college age volunteer counselors, 174 family campers, and 22 camp staff !

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Here is a sample of what parents and families had to say about camp this summer: “My daughter had an amazing time at camp! Thank you for providing the highlight of her summer!”

“Thank you for having Family Camp this summer. It was amazing and we loved every second of it! My kids never want to leave. Thank you again for this opportunity.”

“My daughter is home and declared it the best week ever of camp. Thank you so much!”

“Thank you for always keeping us informed Burke. We are so lucky and blessed you are there taking care of our kids! I always feel confident sending both of our children to SIP with you. They always have such a wonderful time! Praying for you and your staff. Thank you all so much for loving our kids so much!”

“I can’t thank you and the staff enough for sending home such a happy camper (pun intended)!!! My son always comes home full of stories, and new memories and my gratitude can’t be put into words. He loves camp and had such a great time.”

“I know this year has been difficult to say the least, and the staff at SIP rose above the challenges and provided another fantastic time. Thank you all so much! “ “Words can’t possibly express our gratitude for all you are doing this summer for your campers. Our son just returned from his first sleepaway camp and WOW. He’s talked nonstop of new friendships, new activities, new experiences, and great memories. His only regret is that camp wasn’t longer :) Thank you for providing a safe and spiritual retreat during a time when kids need it more than ever!!!”

All of this wouldn’t be possible without those 129 wonderful volunteer counselors who shared, cared, and loved their campers! Thank you!!! Tremendous gratitude needs to be lifted up to those 21 amazing camp staff as well! They worked so very hard in providing an organized, safe, fun, tasty, loving, and spiritual camp experience for all! Thank you!!!

Blessings and Peace, Burke Hancer Camping Ministry Coordinator

Spirit in the Pines

Upcoming Spirit in the Pines Camp dates: October 1–3, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fore! The Guys Golf Retreat October 15–17, 2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9th Grade Confirmation Retreat More information at standrewlu.org/ministries/camp 16

Start Right Here

Hello St Andrew!

This time of year is always a time to reflect back on the summer and my year.

I think about all the things we accomplished over the summer and some of the things left undone that will need to be attended to this fall. It is also a busy time of year with school starting and activities in full swing with my kids too, so this time of year I have to be more intentional about my faith and time with my family. For many of us, this summer felt like a bit more of a return to a new beginning after what we hope was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted everyone in the world. This felt refreshing for many of us to spend time with friends, family, and co-workers again after a long absence this summer.

We have also been able to interact as a church community more over the summer as restrictions and mandates were rolled back. There is a lot to be grateful for this summer and also so much to look forward to this fall at St Andrew.

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Council I have felt blessed to be involved in our St Andrew community the past decade and the impact this community has made on my life and my family. My two daughters just came back from Spirit in the Pines one as a camper and one as a high school volunteer in August. They both shared this was one of the best experiences of all time and they loved the pod system as they got to know the campers in their pod even better had this not been a part of our protocol for COVID safety this year. Their exuberance permeated the walls of our home and it was exciting to see how their involvement in this ministry positively impacted the lives of my daughters. One of the highlights for them they shared was crying at their last campfire together singing songs with campers and counselors as the holy spirit and love from the week swept across them. As a parent, it made me excited to see how this experience among others at St Andrew will continue to enrich their lives and faith.

As you may know, our theme for this Rally newsletter is “Start Right Here.”

We want to continue to build a community of faith that all of us can engage in as programming is back and ready for all of us to start right here after the summer.

As I stated earlier, I think intentional decisions this time of year are important for our faith and life. There will be a significant amount of programming for our youth and adults to engage in and my encouragement is to step into something you have done in the past that COVID hit the pause button and one, two or three new pieces of programming/events that enrich your faith or sense of community with others. Our St Andrew community is as strong as your engagement in the ways we are engaging all of us to live out your faith in daily life.

Eric Werlinger Council President

St. Andrew Member Directory It is one of St. Andrew’s goals to make a big church “feel” small. It is our hope that this digital directory will help you get connected with new people—as well as—develop an even deeper relationship with those people you already know and care about.

Our church directory is available to view on any web browser.Learn more about how to login and how to update your information. Upload a family photo and help connect names to faces. We have a video demonstration to help with all of the steps. Check it out today! standrewlu.org/directory

Social media; what’s the big deal?

Staying connected in this day and age is huge. From calling your grandparents and seeing how they are doing, to commenting on a Facebook photo that your cousin posted of their new baby. Staying connected comes in all forms even if it involves the internet, a computer, or a screen. Why should you like St. Andrew on Facebook, Instagram, twitter, and Tiktok? Let me break it down for you.

Daily Photos & Video

We are actively sharing what is happening at St. Andrew. They may be photos, videos, or graphics. By following us you will be able to see those images and then interact with us. Leave a like, a love, a comment, share it with your friends, and let them know you participated and were in our photos.

Event Information

Scrambling to figure out what, when, and where events are going on this week?

St. Andrew’s social media will keep you up-to-date on everyhting that is happening within the congregation.

We Will Make You Smile

Having a bad day and you feel like no one is on your side? When I feel this way, I take a deep breath, thank God that I am alive, and keep going. On our social media channels, we post quotes, bible verses, and devotions that are encouraging, loving, and motivational. Each week we bring in a member of the congregation to speak about their lives and tell us how they live out their faith in daily life. They are so inspiring to listen to, and we get to learn about each individual as a person. Let us put a smile on your face just like you put a smile on ours.

We promise to keep the topics relevant, informative, and to always keep you smiling. We want you to stay connected with us, and we want to show you how we are Living Out Our Faith In Daily Life, whether that is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok. Celeste Nitti Media & Communications Specialist

/standrewlu @standrewlu @standrewlu @standrewlu

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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 7179

13600 Technology Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952.937.2776 | standrewlu.org

START RIGHT HERE

9:00 & 10:30 AM | In Person & Online Sunday, Sept. 12 | Rally Sunday #1 • •

Caramel Rolls Ministries Information

Sunday, Sept. 19 | Rally Sunday #2 • •

Music Ministry Celebration Cake

Sunday, Sept. 26 | Rally Sunday #3 • • •

Food Trucks Games & Activities Bouncy House

/standrewlu @standrewlu @standrewlu St. Andrew Lutheran Church @standrewlu