Son Times Spring 2023

SON TIMES

SPRING 2023

LOST FOUND &

Lost AND Found

How often have parents heard the words, “I lost one of my mittens.” “I can’t find one of my shoes.” (OK, how in the world do you not notice losing one of your shoes?) “All right, when was the last time you remember having it/them?” At that moment, the search for what was lost begins.

Which made me think. It made me think of all the times, especially at school, the rink, or the ball field, when my wife and I would go to that relegated section that is usually poorly marked: “Lost and Found.”

For the record, I am not very squeamish but, more often than not, Lost and Found boxes, containers, receptacles are, well, disgusting. Thoughts like, how long has this been missing? What in the world is that? I highly doubt that anyone will come looking for that bounce around in one’s head while digging through lost stuff that, hopefully, one day will be found.

One of my all-time favorite parables is The Prodigal Son. Cliff Note edition: A young man rudely asks for the inheritance before his dad dies. Amazingly, the dad gives him the loot. The young man spends all the dough in living a dissolute life—the Bible’s way of saying that he was a very naughty boy. Being broke and homeless he decides to go back home. On his way home he thinks of what he can do to ingratiate himself to his father. Like—I can sleep in the garage. I will mow the lawn, for free, for five years.

But when the dad sees the spendthrift rascal coming up the driveway, the dad runs as fast as the wind. And when he reaches the son, he hugs him and says, “What was lost has been found. I am over the moon happy. We are going to celebrate and give thanks.”

There are many times in our lives we feel lost. Sometimes we’re lost and we don’t even know that we’re lost. Regardless of the circumstances, no matter what we’ve done or left undone, our risen, loving, and seeking Savior comes to us. In fact, I remember seeing a plaque that read: “Jesus has a wonderful lost and found department.”

This Sundays, in Lent, at St. Andrew, we’re going to bask in all the great stories and testimonies on how wonderful God’s Lost and Found department is in our lives. And then, on Wednesday evenings, we are going to explore the great depths of the biblical story of Jonah and what it means for our lives of faith today.

See you in worship!

David Lillejord Senior Pastor

Who is Lost Here?

We’re all familiar with Jesus’ most famous parable of “The Prodigal Son.” There have been countless songs and sermons written to tell and retell this tale that sits at the center of our understanding of the Christian faith. My favorite take on this in song form is the song “All I’ve Ever Wanted” by Lost And Found. Songwriters Michael Bridges and George Baum give the story a twist that helps us to see the heart of God:

You are all I’ve ever wanted, You are all I’ve ever known, I’ve been lost all these years ‘Till you came home.

We don’t always think of the father in the story as the one who is lost, but God is telling us here that his love for his wayward children is so great that he is incomplete without us. How can we not turn our feet towards home when we know that there is a Father who’s waiting to run and greet us? In my

younger days, when I thought I had it all figured out, I thought that there could be no forgiveness from God without the first step of repentance on our part, but this story teaches us that the son is not even able to give his whole repentance speech that he practiced all the way home before he’s cut off by the father’s emotional welcome. This doesn’t mean that repentance is unimportant, but it does teach us that God is more ready to forgive us than we are ready to ask for that forgiveness.

The most famous example of being lost and found in our hymnody comes from John Newton’s “Amazing Grace”: I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. If we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t very much like to think of ourselves as being a “wretch” but, theologically speaking, this hymn hits the nail on the head. The thing about grace that makes it “amazing” is how much it is undeserved. The old hymns have so much to offer in teaching us this

solid theological perspective. Another example comes from “Rock of Ages”:

Nothing in my hands I bring; Simply to thy cross I cling. Naked, come to thee for dress; Helpless, look to thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash, me, Savior, or I die.

My prayer for you as you enter into the Lenten season is that you find here in worship the kind of experiences that ground you in your faith and call you to a deeper, richer walk with God. We may know and confess that we are lost without God, but don’t forget that God, our patient and passionate and loving Heavenly Father, is lost without us, as well. Come on home. Supper’s on the table.

See you in church!

Tim Graf Worship & Music Director

Wednesdays in Lent

Jonah

Jonah walks a Lenten path. Like all human beings, he is prone to wander from his Creator in favor determining the shape and scope of his own future. This temptation is especially powerful when God calls us to take on risky ventures, travel to strange places, and confront things inside of us that prevent us from seeing one another as God does. God meets us in those liminal, Lent-like spaces when we find ourselves somewhere between trust and doubt, courage and fear, anger and empathy.

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22

“God Calls and Persists”

February 26 “Intercepted and Redirected”

March 5 “God in the Depths of Chaos”

March 12

March 19

March 26

“Obedience and Preservation”

“Faithful and Unfinished”

“Jesus, a New Jonah”

2

023 is a milestone year for me. I will turn 50. I know it can be a daunting time for some. The last couple of years I have tried to observe how others in my circle have approached this and look for ways to apply it to my own life. Some people have big fan fare parties, some ignore it all together. I am still trying to understand how I want to celebrate and show gratitude for this moment. What better way than to look to my faith to help me navigate this momentous occasion.

With the theme this year for Lent being “Lost & Found”, it got me thinking about my own stories of finding my way. There are times of the literal sense of being physically lost, not knowing where to turn to get back to a place of familiarity. There are also ways of being mentally or emotionally lost, feeling like you don’t have a sense of direction in life choices. Those to me are the scariest. Being physically lost, we can access maps

and find clear answers to turn left or right. The other kinds of lost offer no direct concrete paths to be found. God has given us free will to choose our way and it’s up to us to gather information, use our intuition and seek out help to make informed choices. When we are lost like this we become armchair experts, by reading, listening, and absorbing. But we sometimes ask the wrong places, we don’t truly listen to ourselves or we over think and get overwhelmed. Instead of turning to God and listening to the promises that have been offered we get in our own way. God’s love and protection offers us a place to feel supported and strong. We should be tapping into the everlasting love and grace given freely to uncover our own feelings and empower us to feel safe in a lost world and trust that God will lead us to be “found”. It’s the hardest thing that I know of, to allow ourselves to give over all control to God’s

power. But as I have lived these 50 years, I know I would not be here without doing just that. The scary times have always included a conversation with my maker and how to move forward anyway. So I guess I have my answer, tackling the year I turn 50 will be alongside God, sometimes I will be lost, and sometimes I will be found. And that’s ok, it’s as life should be and I feel grateful to be able to do just that, surrounded by the love of my family, friends, and most of all my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless and I hope to see you all in the Lenten Season, to learn more about being lost and found.

Joy Altmann Congregation Council President

“God has given us free will to choose our way and it’s up to us to gather information, use our intuition, and seek out help to make informed choices.”

Studying the Bible all by ourselves can often leave us wondering what God is saying to us—the meaning isn’t as clear as we would like, or there are a couple of ways to interpret its meaning. In either case we feel a little lost and confused. One way to work through that is to join a Bible study and hear how others might understand God’s word. In John, Jesus uses several “I am” metaphors to describe who he is, and more importantly, why each of those descriptions are so significant for us. Each week our Early Risers Bible study comes together to explore how God is speaking to us in scripture and why God’s word is so important. Through Wednesday, February 22nd, we will specifically dig into Jesus’ “I am” statements, but we won’t stop there. Each week we dig into scripture and are inspired by the ideas shared. If you would like to join our Early Risers every Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM, you are welcome any time. If you have questions, contact Pastor Gail and she will be glad to help you.

Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

–John 8:12

Staying Found in the Wilderness

It is fitting that I get to take this season of Lent, as well as the “Lost and Found” theme, to share with you about our high school summer trip. We’ll be going on a faith adventure experience through Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Colorado. As the 40 day season of Lent calls to mind the Israelites’ wandering in the wilderness, and then Jesus’ measured movement to the cross, it could be said that the essence of Lent is meaningful journeys such as these. And this year, Jesus invites our young people to follow in His footsteps, and those of the disciples, up a high mountain…

We will only be on trail in the Colorado wilderness for four days, but I am certain our time spent together will have profound impacts on all of us. When it comes to backcountry camping you take only the essentials. The paradoxical saying of “less is more” becomes very real for all involved. When essentially all you have is the environment around you and the company of your group, you experience reality in a whole new way. You go into deep conversations with friends that are otherwise hindered by the ever present demands of daily life. And you have the time and space to go deep into your own thoughts and talks with God in quiet moments by a lake or wildflow-

er meadow. I have been participating in and leading wilderness experiences for years and over and over again the theme I hear from youth participants is their relief that they are freed of distractions as they desire authentic moments like this to discern what’s happening in their lives.

What I have seen happen for others, and will attest to myself, after trips like these might be best described as transformation. The immersive experience of a backpacking trip becomes a catalyst for spiritual growth like nothing else can. I think of when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain and was transfigured before them. Each of our youth will encounter Christ, experience Christian community, and engage with scripture in a radically new way. On top of that, the actual physical, mental, and emotional challenges and triumphs that come with outdoor adventures provide innumerable learning opportunities and self-confidence boosters. One is truly a new person when they step off trail at the end of the week (a feeling that is only amplified by their first shower after four days spent outside).

So what does this have to do with Lost and Found? We continue the practice of Jesus, retreating to the outdoors and wild places to rest, reflect, pray, and

worship. This is an often overlooked and under-utilized spiritual practice; especially in a culture of ever increasing busyness, distraction, and attachment to electronic devices and cultural demands. We are at risk of losing touch with a powerful means of connecting with God. So, it is vital that we invite our young people to encounter God in the natural wonders as God’s people have done since creation. In doing so, they come down the mountain having found a renewed spiritual life and a new sense of self. One that I have seen propel them into a new phase of life full of direction and sense of call to serve their neighbor and the world.

In the world of backcountry navigation the saying goes, “stay found.” This means that one should regularly check their progress by way of map, compass, and landmarks (yes we’ll have GPS too, yay technology!). It is my hope, not only for this trip, but year ‘round and for all who experience high school ministry with us at St. Andrew, that we “stay found” in our identity in Christ.

See you on the trail!

Brent Haglund High School Ministry Director

Getting lost is easy. For example, when driving. Even with voice commands from the GPS in my car, I still sometimes manage to take a wrong turn, which will prompt the GPS to say ‘If possible, make a U-turn’, sounding vaguely exasperated. Or at work: When I plan to prepare for an important meeting or deadline, and halfway through the workday, I realize that I have done a million other things but have not focused on what matters. Or in my personal life: when I am pulled in too many different directions, and don’t notice that a family member or friend is feeling neglected. And all those examples are quite harmless compared to the really scary ways we can get lost in this life: toxic relationships, substance abuse, health issues, depression. ‘If possible, make a U-turn’. Sometimes that’s easier said than done.

Getting lost is stressful. Confusing, unsettling, or even downright scary. And all that extra adrenaline usually makes things worse: there’s a pretty good chance I will mess up the next couple of GPS directions after that first wrong turn, because now I’m disoriented; there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be thinking ‘I will never make that deadline, it’s too late now’; and there’s a pretty good chance that I’ll get defensive when my mom asks me why I have not called her in days. ‘If possible, make a U-turn’.

I can’t say that the parable of the Prodigal Son is one of my favorites. I tend to side with the son who’s done all the work all along and feels that throwing a party is a bit much for that scoundrel coming home. But the central point of the story for me is this: The lost son realizes that he is lost. And that he needs help. He comes home because he wants to be found, not to be rewarded. He makes that U-turn. To me, that is the key. When I feel lost, I pray. Because I want to be found. I want to re-focus and be peaceful again, and I need God’s help to achieve that. A prayer can take many different forms. Taking a deep breath. A work-out or a power walk with the dog. Gardening. Spending time with family and friends. Listening. Making a meal. Enjoying fellowship. Attending worship. Taking time to serve others. Slowing down enough to let the adrenaline go, and God back in. That is the other key to the story of the ‘Prodigal Son’ for me: God is always ready for us to be found, if we can admit that we’re lost. If we can make that U-turn.

Meggy Wagner Senior Director of Church Operations

When I hear the words “Lost & Found”, it makes me think of those lost & found boxes that have forever been a staple in many classrooms and schools. During the long winter months in Minnesota, most likely a day never goes by that a winter clothing item such as a mitten, hat or sock doesn’t go missing. As you can imagine, there are always several pair of the same mittens, snowpants, etc. in the same classroom. Despite every teacher’s well thought out plans of organization for getting each child ready for winter play each day, it is an amazing and exhausting under taking each day to help each child get dressed, undressed, and home with all of his/her correct winter gear. At. St. Andrew Early Learning, we embrace the importance and benefits of outdoor play and fresh air, and we know how this is teaching children independence and self help skills. It is wonderful to see everyone spring into action to help a classmate locate a missing item. It makes everyone happy when they can help each other and also puts a big smile on the face of the child when they find their missing item. Earlier in the year, we had a classroom where two children wore the same pair of boots to school. One of the children got home with no boots and the other child got home with two pair of boots. The parent whose child got home with two pairs of boots wanted to make sure the other child didn’t have to go a long weekend with no boots, and so they made a trip back to St. Andrew to bring back the boots. This was greatly appreciated by the family. We are so blessed with the kindness of our Early Learning families! Just like in the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd was so happy to have found his sheep, we too are happy when we find something we have lost. Jesus reminds us that everyone is important to him. He loves us so much that he will never give up on us. He never wants us to be lost.

Kathi Wieman Preschool Director

“Ask,

and it shall be given, seek, and you shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you”

- Matthew 7:7

When my kids were little, it seems like I would have to make a trek once or twice a year to their Elementary School to look through the “Lost and Found” for some item that had been misplaced, that they would tell me they couldn’t find. Often times this was gloves, a hat or snowpants—some item that they needed to play outside at recess. I was often amazed at some of the items I would find in the “Lost and Found” box. Look—here is one shoe? Wouldn’t you think that if you were missing one shoe you would notice? Here is a pair of glasses? Glasses are expensive! Wouldn’t you think if you were missing a pair of glasses, you would claim them! A nice winter coat—wow, someone must be pretty cold! Sometimes I would find the item (or items) I was looking for, and sometimes I wouldn’t, but it was always an interesting adventure, and I would often wonder why someone wasn’t looking harder for some of the items that I would find in that box, especially important items that seem like they would be precious to the person that lost them.

This is why, it doesn’t really surprise me to know the lengths that God goes to find the lost in the stories that we

read in the Bible. Many of us may have experienced a time where we felt lost, maybe even far away from our faith or God. I’ve had a few times like that in my life, and each time God has gone to great lengths to seek me out, even when I tried to ignore God. This happened most recently for me in 2016, after being a severe car accident. This car accident left me with severe injuries, and after a long hospital stay, I was put into a long term care facility for rehab. I was in the hospital for a month, and then the rehab for five months. I was struggling with my faith, and I was someone who at that point had given almost 20 years of my life to working in the church. There were a lot of people praying for me, and visiting me. As a matter of fact, I think at one point, one of the nurses made a joke about how she had never met so many different Pastors before in her life! I was on a lot of prayer lists. I resisted talks of my faith with most of them. A college friend had a family friend that began praying for me. On her own, Nancy decided to start sending me notes of encouragement with prayers and scripture. For the entire time I was in the rehab, and after I returned home, I received at least one, sometime

more than one note each week from Nancy, who I had never met. I began looking forward to reading her notes and prayers, and eventually, even found that God used Nancy in an amazing way to bring about not only physical, but spiritual healing during a time where I felt incredibly lost. Years later, I was able to meet Nancy in person, and thank her for the profound impact she had on me, during an incredibly difficult time.

We are God’s children, and it is incredibly Good News, that we follow a God, that doesn’t give up searching for us when we are lost and that we never have to worry about being forgotten like a discarded item in “Lost and Found” box. Perhaps this Lenten season we can find ways to reach out to others who may be feeling lost in big and small ways. Perhaps you can think of ways you can reach out, like Nancy did, and be Christ’s hand and feet in the world and in so doing, you can live out your faith in your daily life in a very real and powerful way.

Shawna Berg Children’s Ministry Director

One of my pastoral roles (and joys) is to host St. Andrew’s quarterly New Member Information Sessions. Participants already have engaged in St. Andrew in a variety of ways. At the start of the session, I ask the question “What do you like at St. Andrew the most”? The responses are a strong affirmation of our ministry. Responses like “the sermons are relevant to my life”, “worship is always so great and with good music”, and “I like the children’s programming” are common.

During my presentation, I also take the chance to answer what I like most about St. Andrew, too. I think I have a good perspective and there are lots of things to appreciate. Growing up shadowing my father (a pastor) and mother (a church musician), helped me understand smaller churches in different regions of the country and world. I have been a lead pastor, associate pastor, and an executive director. Suffice it to say that I have a few opinions on what makes a strong congregation like ours. What do I like about St. Andrew?

First, I like being part of a bigger church. We do things I never thought of doing in my smaller churches I have served. There is potential in numbers, both in our demographics and in our financial giving. We can make a measurable impact. A case in point is the hosting of the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack last October. This

event required hundreds of volunteers (437 in fact) and a financial commitment of nearly $30,000. The smaller churches I have been a part of would have difficulty doing such a project. But, for St. Andrew it was a great success. Honestly, if there is a constructive idea for a good ministry at St. Andrew, it may be in the range of possibility. Big churches can celebrate these kinds of ministries.

Second, I think there is something to be said for the ability to be highly engaged personally as well as anonymous at times. Many people like the fact that they can keep church life simple. They come to St. Andrew to worship God and blend in. As a corporate church, St. Andrew has a strong and competent staff who will make sure all aspects of the ministry hum along. Members can sit back and take it in. With busy and full lives, this is all that members often need. But, just as important, we will constantly invite you into deeper relationships with God, each other, and into service of our neighbors. We want to put our faith in action more and more often. I think St. Andrew has the best of both worlds—members can blend in when they need to rest in God’s goodness. And, they can step into well-organized opportunities to learn and serve.

Finally, St. Andrew is innovative and forward-looking. We take our heritage seriously. We are a Lutheran congregation and we hold tightly to our Lutheran faith—

the overarching grace of Jesus Christ for our lives. We stick to the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism for infants, Holy Communion, and that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness and peace. But when it comes to striving for excellence in today’s world, we always ask what will make us more effective in our sharing the story of Jesus with our community. For instance, did you notice that we are tinkering with our 10:30 AM service starting this past fall? Check it out if you have not already. We think this kind of contemporary service will be attractive to new people. Also, we know our society is seeking an authentic and open desire for greater diversity and inclusion of all of God’s people, from the Black to the LGBTQ+ community. St. Andrew’s A More Just World provides for us an impetus for listening, conversation, and growth. We believe that we can hold onto our heritage while also be creative with the ministry.

So, these are some of my answers to the question “What do I like most about St. Andrew?” How would you answer this? The way you answer this question is what others need to hear. This will help our church grow. I think you’d be surprised that studies show that people come to church not because of solid worship, preaching, and music (though this is vitally important and something we strive for). People don’t come to a new church because of warm and friendly people or the easy parking (though these things are important). Studies show that new people try out a church because someone in their friend group spoke well of it and invited them. That’s it. Join me in sharing with others how St. Andrew makes a difference in your life and our world.

Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

St. Andrew Strives to Grow by Welcoming New Members

We go through so many different transitions throughout the course of our lives. Which means that we go through different periods feeling lost and then feeling found. During the periods of feeling lost, I think it is so important to have those safe, caring, trusted people in your life to help be with you and guide you back. To help you realize you are being seen, hear, loved, and that you are exactly where you are supposed to be each step of the way.

This year in our confirmation program, we changed up what are 8th graders are doing as they transition out of confirmation to getting confirmed, and then into high school. We added in a mentor program. Building deep, good, quality relationships with a caring adult is so important to our lives, especially our lives of faith. And the transition from middle school into high school can be a very difficult one in their personal and spiritual lives.

Our 8th graders will be confirmed at the beginning of May, where we welcome them as an “adult” in our church community. We kind of make it seem like they should have this faith thing all figured out and we send them out to live that life of faith. That just seems crazy! I still don’t have everything in my faith life

figured out which is why we need those mentors who have different experiences of being lost and found who can help share their stories with us and be there to guide us back to being found when we end up lost.

The most amazing things about having mentors and small groups leaders in our confirmation ministry is to show that these youth are cared for, and it is making a difference having these adults in their lives. We have 8th grade small groups who still want to meet with their leaders after their class portion of the program has ended. That is because those relationships and trust they built has changed each other’s lives. It makes a difference in their faith lives having someone show them God’s love through listening and being present. It is through these faithful people that God is pulling each youth into the Body of Christ telling them that they are found and will never be lost.

We all need those people in our lives. Don’t forget to thank them and reach out to others to be that person for someone else. Go and be found.

Sarah Fike Pastor of Children, Youth, & Family

Iventure to say that all of my elementary school teachers had a box in the classroom marked ‘Lost & Found.’ It was always an adventure digging into the box of lost scarves, mittens, caps, etc. Most of the time I found nothing of value in the box and it wasn’t worth the time or effort to search.

I can understand not bothering to look for some things we’ve lost unless we consider it of great value. Many lost objects can easily be replaced. But what about people? Do people get lost and can people become lost from God? In Luke 15 Jesus tells three stories about being lost: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In the stories, Jesus explains that the things lost need someone to look for them or else they’ll never be found and that God is always looking to be close to us.

In early June 1982 I planned a canoe trip for our 12-year-old son and me in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Ely. We were canoeing and portaging for 8 days. The trip was going along great until day 7. We followed the map and compass to find our next portage but we couldn’t find it. The map showed the spot but we couldn’t find it amid all the huge boulders on the shoreline. We paddled back and forth several times but no portage. Adding to our predicament was the fact that there was a steady, cold spring rain. We pulled onto shore and built a fire, warmed up and ate a snack. While we sat there feeling sorry for ourselves a couple men popped out from between the huge boulders carrying their canoe, dropped it in the water, waved to us and left. Little did they know how much they helped us to find our way to the next lake.

Sometimes in life, we find ourselves in situations where we’ve lost our way and simply can’t find the way out. The lost sheep and lost coin were going to stay lost as long as no one bothered to look for them but we expect that when people are lost or spiritually confused and can’t seem to find God, he’ll make the effort to find us. In the story of the lost son, Jesus says that a day didn’t pass when the father didn’t look down the road hoping he’d see his son return to him. Sometimes God uses other people or even difficult circumstances to help us find our way back to him just as the canoeists helped my son and me find the portage. We had everything we needed except how to move forward to the next lake.

Imagine feeling lost from God or our family or lost from our friends and hoping someone will miss us, know that we’re lost and look for us. How terrible it would be to feel that no one cared enough for us to come looking for us. The father in the parable of the lost son made a way possible for his wayward son to return to him because the son always felt loved and accepted by his father. Remember how the son says, “Surely my father will receive me back, if not as his son but perhaps as a servant.” In these stories of ‘lost & found’ we all have a role—we might feel lost and separated from God or others or we may be the one who helps someone lost find their way back into that relationship. This coming Lenten season is 40 days long—that’s plenty of time for us to come closer to God or to help someone else find their way back to God. The journey is just ahead, let’s be a person who either follows the way or points the way to God.

Roger Schindel Visitation Pastor

A More Just World—Expanding Understandings of Welcome

The theme of lost and found has many layers. On a parental level, the boys played hide-and-seek with Michele and me when they were young. They would either squeal with joy or put on a frustrated face when found because they wanted to stay hidden. Also, I lose things from time to time—don’t we all. Thankfully, there is a difference between misplaced and lost.

Of course, lost and found is also a powerful theme on the Biblical/faith side of life as well. I have been taught from my earliest memories that God does not like things or people to be lost permanently. What is lost should be found and thus included. Jesus’ parables from Luke 15 record three stories back-to-back-toback about the lost and the found—a sheep from the flock, a coin by the widow, and a son from a father. In each story, the lost is valuable to the main character. When found, a celebration ensues. God takes delight in recovering the lost.

A nuance to being lost is that we sometimes find ourselves lost. What college do I attend or career to choose? The death of a loved one destabilizes life. In each of these ways, we can be lost. But, we experience being found, too. After a while, we realize we made the right college and career choice. Grief never goes away fully, but it subsides. We hope to go from a disconnected place that is unsettling to discovering a new place of emerging satisfaction. A true gift is to begin feeling the emergence of a peace within an unsettled life. In other

words, it is good to be in the process of being found.

One place where gradually I am growing and deepening in my understanding is with the LGBTQ+ community. This process for me began with the coming of my nephew, Jack. While this was several years ago, it was the first time I had to consider this issue in a personal way. It was no longer about others—it was now about me and my family. When Jack came out to Michele and me over dinner that night, I was surprised with the news. But the choice I had was obvious and right before me. I love my nephew. He is part of my family. When he left that night, I walked him to his car to reiterate my promise—being gay did not change any of my feelings and commitment for him.

In October 2021 St. Andrew hosted an important Wednesday night presentation about the LGBTQ+ community. Pastor Lillejord preached an inspiring Sunday morning sermon on the topic that month, too. At that Wednesday gathering, I had the opportunity to share my story of Jack for the first time in front of a group of people. It felt good to talk about it even if I was not sure what people would say or how people might feel. I am grateful to say that I was overwhelmed by so many who expressed their gratitude and support.

Since that day I have continued in my process of learning and growing.

I want to thank my friends within St. Andrew’s Outside the Lines Support Group, especially our leader Josh Eidem.

This small group was meant to continue the conversation about the LGBTQ+ community who are our neighbors and family members, build community, and provide support for each other. We started by reading a book together, but we talked about a lot of things. Admittedly, it was a little awkward for me at the start. The topic was new for me—I was not used to talking about it. I still mix up the LGBTQ+ acronym sometimes. It still feels a little odd to combine ‘his husband’ and ‘her wife’ in the same sentence. The group has supported me and each other as we have each felt the same way at one point or another. We continue to meet the first Wednesdays of the month at St. Andrew.

My point is that sometimes we don’t know who is lost and who is found. I don’t want to presume that I know who is lost and who needs to be found. It very well could be me. I need to let God do the work of figuring this out. And, the terms ‘lost’ and ‘found’ also can be rather static terms—one is either in or out. I prefer to be more dynamic than the absolutes of ‘lost’ or ‘found’ because sometimes I feel in between. I am getting found. Overall, I grateful that it appears God is not done with me yet. I pray that I can listen, learn, and grow. I would not have it any other way.

God bless,

Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

Do you know?

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

Lost in the Woods. Lost in the Bible.

Jonathan Groff sings one of the best songs in Frozen 2. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it. No seriously, right now. But you don’t need to know the plot of Elsa’s soul-searching and leaning into history, Anna’s questions of her role, or the moments of grief and loss (I told you it’s a great movie!) to hear the message of this song. In his perfect belty, Glee-ful, 80s-hair-band-rock style, Jonathan Groff sings:

“Now I know you’re my true north, ‘cause I am lost in the woods.

Up is down, day is night when you’re not there

Oh, you’re my only landmark, So I’m lost in the woods

Wondering if you still care.”

The feeling of being lost is one that all of us have come to at some point, right? And, perhaps by no surprise, it shows up time and again in the Bible. On Sunday mornings we’ll be reading three stories from Luke 15 about being lost and then found. They are amazing, but I thought I’d share a few of the B-side stories of being lost. May they help you romp further into the stories of scripture and hear God finding folks when they least expect it.

1 Kings 19: Elijah, the fiercest prophet of the Old Testament, sits under a tree in the wilderness, tired, persecuted, and perhaps afraid. God shows all the pyrotechnics of the Bible in wind, fire, and earthquake, but shows up to Elijah in “the sound of sheer silence.”

Jonah: A whale of a tale where the prophet gets lost at every corner – on a boat, in a fish, in a city, or on a hillside (sounds like Green Eggs and Ham!)

Ruth 1: Naomi is lost with the death of her husband without a family. Of all people, her daughter-in-law promises to stay with her in one of the most beautiful verses of scripture: “where you go I’ll go, where you stay I’ll stay. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.” While God does not show up in the entire story of Ruth as a character, God finds these two women again and again.

Genesis 21: Hagar is cast aside by Abraham and Sarah, left to die in the desert. In her hope for her son, Ishmael, she calls to God, who hears her voice. Hagar gives the first name of God in the Bible, “you see me.” Indeed God found Hagar and Ishmael.

One of my favorite poems from the Bible is Psalm 139: Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Exodus 3: Moses is lost in the wilderness, wondering about his purpose, questioning his lot in life, working a menial job. But God shows up in a bush that won’t burn, reveals the Divine Name, and calls Moses to free all of Israel from the most powerful enemy on the planet—pharaoh!

We may feel lost in the woods at times. Whether we are bold enough (or beautiful enough, like Jonathon Groff) to sing a ballad or whether we close our eyes and cry like Hagar in the desert, God hears us and God is with us. This is the promise that Jesus speaks so clearly in Luke 15 and the promise that we will explore together this Lent. So join us every week on Sundays and Wednesdays to hear the good news that God is indeed finding each of us whenever we feel lost.

Matthew Ian Fleming Pastor of Teaching & Young Adults

Church Anew—Forging Partnerships for the Future

What a year it has been at Church Anew! And what a year we have ahead! This next season in our ministry is all about forging lasting partnerships to sustain the momentum that we’ve built over the past several years, growing from a few hundred clergy gathered around tables to an international movement sharing a fresh, bold, and faithful witness with the world. In the next year, we are eager to work closely with some remarkable organizations including Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota; St. Olaf College and its Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community; The Collegeville Institute; The Episcopal Church in Minnesota; and the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the ELCA. Each of these partners brings something unique and valued to this inclusive table of mutual belonging that Church Anew is building for Christian leaders around the nation. Along with key partnerships with congregations in our region and across the country, we are also courting national foundations to sustain this work and propel our growth. The entire Church Anew team values St. Andrew’s prayers and support of this vital ministry of our congregation!

We are delighted to host Kate Bowler, Eric Barreto, and an amazing lineup, April 23–24. Then on November 11, we will host our new partners in the Episcopal Church of Minnesota and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry for a revival to bring healing to our communities.

An Evening with Kate Bowler and Eric Barreto

Sunday, April 23 at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30)

Join New York Times Best-selling author, Kate Bowler and Princeton Seminary professor, and gifted preacher, Eric Barreto, along with musical guests for an evening of fresh witness, inspiration, and honesty.

Renew 2023

April 23–24

Two days of amazing speakers, worship, conversation, and wonderful hospitality. A curated retreat with ample room to digest and discuss the words that each of our speakers share.

Member Discount

St. Andrew members receive 20% off either the evening or two-day conference! Register at churchanew.org and enter promo code SAL13600 upon checkout. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Matthew at pastormatthew@standrewlu.org.

Jacqueline Bussie

Angela Khabeb

Kate Bowler

Eric Barreto

Deanna Thompson

Being Found

At camp last summer we talked a lot about what it feels like to be found by God, and how that is actually slightly different than the idea we have of trying to find God. Sometimes we really want to find God in new ways in our lives, and that is wonderful. However, there are other times in all of our lives where we are more indifferent or actually opposed to the idea of finding God. In these times our interest or our trust or both can flicker. However, these times are just as—and possibly more—important than the spiritual rich times. And this is because it is here where we can recognize that God is going to find us anyways, whether we are out there looking for God or not.

Jesus says that God is like a good shepherd, and a good shepherd knows each of his sheep by name (John 10:3). It is not the sheep’s job to be able to find the shepherd; rather, is the shepherd’s job to find the sheep. The Good News of the Gospel is both that God wants to find all of us and that God can do it. I wonder if there have been moments in your life when you felt found? Perhaps this happened when you were least expecting it? Maybe this happened because you

thought you were too lost to be found, or maybe it happened when you did not even know you were lost yet.

Learning how to recognize these moments in our lives and being able to share them with one another is what makes being part of a spiritual community so important. This is the core reason why I feel called to camp ministry, and why I am so passionate about making sure that every kid can have an opportunity to go to camp. The camp setting offers both the time and the space to prioritize this kind of spiritual storytelling, and doing so changes lives. Then beyond camp we can keep telling our stories and in the process build more authentic communities with one another in our families, teams, and workplaces. As you practice the season of Lent this year, I invite you to expect to be found by God in new ways, and I also invite you to share some of your story however you may feel led to.

Sarah Blasing Outdoor Ministry & Youth Leadership Director

Summer Camp Registration is Filling Up Quickly!

This year we are offering more camp sessions and family camp weekends than ever before! Registration opened on January 23rd and we are already at 70% capacity for the summer. This important ministry is growing and we would love to have you be part of our camp community this summer!

Camp Questions? Please contact: Sarah Blasing at sblasing@standrewlu.org

standrewlu.org/ministries/camp REGISTER TODAY!

46th Annual Congregational Meeting

On Sunday, January 22, we held our 46th Annual Congregational Meeting, with 85 voting members present in person and online.

• We elected three new members to our congregation council: Jordan Butler, LoriAnn Gillick, and Dave King. Congratulations, and welcome to the council!

• President-elect Joy Altmann expressed our gratitude towards the members going off council: President Jim Smiley, John Kirk, and Juli Hermanson. We are grateful for their great work and leadership, they will be missed!

• Our Treasurer, Sara Ross, presented the 2022 Financials. Thanks to the great generosity and responsiveness of our congregation, our church fund finished the year above budget, a wonderful blessing given the economic headwinds last year. Our camp and preschool ministries underperformed in 2022, due to lower than expected enrollment in both programs, and higher costs, especially food, for camp. We moved $124,000 from our reserves into our operating fund to balance the budget. We approved the Treasurer’s report.

• The Chair of our Finance Committee, Steve Moen, spoke about the restricted funds and the general reserves of St. Andrew, as well as the work of the Finance Committee. He also read the statement of the Financial Review Committee.

• The 2023 Key Aims were presented and approved. They center around Worship, Connectivity, Growth and Hope. These Key Aims will serve as a guide to our leaders and staff throughout the year as they plan programs and activities. The Key Aims also determine the focus areas of the 2023 Budget.

• Our Sr. Director of Church Operations, Meggy Wagner, presented the 2023 Budget. The main investments in 2023 are in our staff budget, with all key program positions now filled with experienced leaders in their field, as well as in worship, especially music. The budget is balanced by improved financial contributions from other ministries, especially childcare and camp, based on enrollment trends and tuition increases in line with competition. We approved the 2023 Budget.

Thank you to everyone who attended this important meeting about St. Andrew’s business, and to all who have supported our ministries this past year. We are blessed by God through each and every one of you!

Finding your niche

Thank you to the dozens and dozens of volunteers who assisted is so many ways to ensure that St. Andrew was welcoming, beautiful, and inspiring for Christmas! There were over 3,000 people who attended in person and hundreds more who experienced the beauty and splendor online. Many hands made the work lighter, more enjoyable, and made a real difference in people’s lives! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The need for volunteer help and leadership never ends.The after Christmas clean up and storage takes several weeks. Wednesday night catered meals can always use help in the kitchen or serving. Sunday morning coffee and rolls could use a couple more couples to spread out the rotation and share the fun. Volunteer ushers for both services are wanted so that there could be 4 usher teams rotating monthly instead of three. Greeters for each service are needed to make everyone feel at home as soon as they enter the doors! Communion assistants are always needed for the first and third Sundays. The Alter Guild needs to be started up again with volunteers who will organize and care for the worship needs during communion, baptisms, and special worship services. The funeral committee is always looking

for those who can provide food as well as those who can assist in the preparation and serving during a funeral. Volunteers will be needed to set up Easter flowers in the sanctuary and fellowship hall much like the poinsettias were—and the list goes on. If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities or others, please go to the St. Andrew website and search volunteers. If you have any questions please call or email me, Burke Hancer at 952-697-7118, or bhancer@ standrewlu.org.

Are you handy or helpful or want to be? Do you know how to use a screwdriver? If you answered “yes” to any of the previous questions, have I got a deal for you! There is a group of men who meet most weeks doing a variety of things around the church that keeps St. Andrew going forward. Setting up or taking down Christmas trees—check. Organize areas, move stuff around—check. Put together furniture, toys, or ?—check. Paint, weed, change lights—you get the idea. There is always a need to broaden the list of men and women interested and available to volunteer in these ways. Often the work happens during a Monday or Wednesday morning. Please contact Burke Hancer if interested. I’m always willing to chat and

get to know folks over a cup of coffee!

Being a member of a large congregation like St. Andrew is wonderful. Yet in a large church it also can take a little more time and effort to find your niche. Sometimes a person can feel lost and disconnected within the church for a variety of reasons. A person can also find a place within the church that fills their cup and provides purpose. Sometimes the difference between being lost and found is as thin as a Bible page, or as broad as a genuine smile and hug. The many volunteer opportunities and activities offered at St. Andrew are here to help you find your niche with friends yet to be met.

The key to hospitality remains simple but poignant—be kind and care. “Welcome! It’s nice to see you. How are you doing today? What is your name? Would you like to join us?” We all have a part to play in helping each other find God’s love at St. Andrew through our genuine warmth, compassion, appreciation and hospitality. I look forward to seeing you at church!

Burke Hancer Safety & Facilities Director

Easter Flowers

St. Andrew has had a long tradition of filling our chancel and other areas with beautiful and inspiring flowers for Easter. You will once again have the opportunity to purchase and dedicate Easter lilies, tulips, or mums. Look for more details about cost, color options, and how to order in the near future through our weekly emails, our website, and on the church monitors.

Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, & Easter

Ash Wednesday

February 22

7:30 AM, 12:00, 7:00 PM

Wiggle & Worship 5:30 PM

Palm Sunday

April 2 9:00, 10:30 AM

Maundy Thursday

April 6 6:30 PM

Good Friday

April 7 12:00, 7:00 PM

Family Service 5:30 PM

Easter Sunday

April 9

8:00*, 9:00*, 10:00, 11:00 AM

Wiggle & Worship 10:30 AM

*Communion served in the Chapel following worship

Worship schedule is subject to change. Please visit standrewlu.org/easter for latest info.