Son Times Spring 2024

SON TIMES ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH

SPRING 2024

ALTERED

Altered

Leadership

Altered: Unbelievable Stories of the Spirit on the Loose There is something powerful about a transformational story. Goodness wins out over everything else. We love these stories.

These are the heartwarming movies we watch with our kids. They are feel-good.

They remind us that the world is not such a difficult place after all. Testimonies are part of our faith experiences as well, where God does not stop making a difference for good for faithful people everywhere.

Within the ministry of Jesus, we witness how God gets involved in the lives of people and alters them for the better, more faithful, and more impacting.

This year, we are turning Lent upside down (or maybe it is right side up!).

When I grew up, we focused on Lenten disciplines of prayer, worship services on Wednesday, service projects) that would draw us closer to God. All good faith practices to be sure. Yet, we also believe that God does not wait for us to be involved in the world and in our lives.

Our Lenten season will focus on the kaleidoscope of stories from the Book of Acts where the Holy Spirit is on the loose in the world! We’ll see the ways the Spirit is active, altering perspectives, transforming communities, and consistently and

purposefully blazing a trail ahead of us.

We’ll catch up with the work of the Holy Spirit with Paul and the early Christian community who was experiencing this new faith the very first time. Join us for Altered: Unbelievable Stories of the Spirit on the Loose on Sunday mornings at 9:00 or 10:30 AM. Enjoy this newsletter prepared by your dedicated St. Andrew staff. We frequently witness the transformative power of God here at church and in our community.

We give thanks for the opportunity to share some of our stories from the halls, classrooms and relationships at our church. The Spirit is working within our church to inspire worship, warm faithful relationships, and commitment of service toward others, just to name a few. We hope that it inspires you as much as we have been inspired by the work of the Spirit around us.

See you in worship, Peter Johnson Interim Senior Pastor

Our new Wednesday night Lenten schedule is highlighted in this newsletter. This year, our Wednesday evening will be full of activities for all (dinner, musical groups, learning opportunities, and short, meaningful worship (6:30–6:55 PM) on ‘Why?’ questions of faith. I hope that you will join us for Lenten Wednesdays as well!

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“Notes” From the Music Office

Worship & Music

“For in him we live and move and have our being… we are God’s offspring…”

–Acts 17:28

Altered and Altared How have we been altered? While most of us Lutherans don’t have a dramatic conversion story to share, it is still clear enough to me to God is always at work in us and through us. The beautiful thing is that we’re not always meant to know what kind of an impact we may make on others. Likewise, we’ll also never be able to calculate how others have impacted us. Matthew 25:37 says it like this: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in…?” I know how many of my own views have shifted and deepened since my younger days and much of that perspective came through the painful circumstances of life and grief. And some of our wisdom comes not through grief and pain but through the good and Godly people that God brings into our lives every day.

Thinking on this brings me to a place of gratitude when I think of all the ways that my life has been enriched through the great people that God has placed in my path along the way.

I’m excited about this year’s Lenten theme of “Altered,” because it will take us

into the book of Acts which, frankly, we have neglected a bit during the course of all the sermon series that we’ve done over the years. There is something organic about having us live with the book of Acts for a season since our church’s mission statement is to “live out our faith in daily life”! That has the book of Acts written all over it! I believe that God is calling us to add to the book of Acts with our own stories: your faith story, my faith story, our faith story as the congregation of St. Andrew, our story as the greater Church living in the 21st century with all of its complexities and opportunities.

All of this leads me to wonder about how we are all shaped and altered by coming to worship each week. I don’t think it can be underestimated how God works in our hearts when we gather to hear God’s Word, sing God’s praises, receive the forgiveness of sins through confession and through the Lord’s Supper. I have the great privilege in my job of diving deep into the possibilities of worship music with an eye (or ear!) on how a hymn or song or solo will touch hearts, stir souls, deepen faith, proclaim the Grace of God in new and fresh ways

that we all need to hear. At the heart of a beloved hymn is a poet’s expression of his or her own encounters with the Living God and those sacred texts then live on to bring comfort and edification to generations of Christians. I find that awe-inspiring. Our faith traditions are so rich, but we are also called to bring about new faith traditions as we continue to add our own stories as “bonus material” to the book of Acts! My prayer for St. Andrew is that this Lent finds us with our hearts and minds engaged in new and lifegiving ways, not only for our own sake but for the sake of the world who needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May our worship not only find us “altered” but also “altared” as God brings us together into the holy spaces of this present place and time. Can I get an “amen”?

See you in church!

Tim Graf Director of Worship & Music

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Lenten Wednesday Nights: Community Night of Food, Fellowship, Worship, and Learning St. Andrew is experiencing a new, growing, and active ministry on Wednesday evenings. A wonderful homemade meal is lovingly prepared and served in the Fellowship Hall. Families are taking a break from the busy week for food and fellowship together with others. Early Learning families are picking up their kids and coming straight to supper. Choir and bell groups are gathering to eat together. Confirmation students are eating together, and small groups take advantage of the fellowship prior to learning sessions. Are you open to a new chapter for your Wednesday night? Consider joining us for the five weeks of Lent.

Why do we need to go to church?

Why doesn’t God just fix all the problems in the world?

Worship (6:30–6:55PM)—Relevant Worship for All Ages

Join us for worship each Wednesday of Lent.

Plan on family-friendly worship with songs, readings, simple interactive reflections, and prayers – all designed for all ages.

Our sermon series topic is ‘Why?’. From an early age, children ask the question ‘why’. They are curious and learning. As parents and into adulthood, these ‘why’ questions get more complex. ‘Why’ is an important faith question, too. Job asked God about suffering and loss. Many psalms express deep emotions and questions about God and God’s ways. Even the disciples asked ‘why’ as Jesus was leading the community on a new way. Let’s explore these ‘why’ questions together as families and as a church community on Wednesdays during Lent from 6:30–6:55PM.

Lenten Wednesday Night Schedule

Why? 3

5:00–6:00 PM.......Children’s Ministry Programming 5:00–6:15 PM......Dinner in Fellowship Hall 5:30–6:25 PM....Children’s Music Groups 6:30–6:55 PM....Worship in sanctuary 6:30–7:45 PM....Confirmation 6:30–8:00 PM....WNYG (High School Ministry) 7:00–8:00 PM.... Adult Education (Large & Small Group) 7:00–8:15 PM......Canticle Choir and Bells

Living the Questions— Learning for Adults

Lenten Wednesdays

Why did

7:00 PM God create After an interactive wormosquitoes? ship service that celebrates and honors our questions of faith, join a group of other adults to use our questions as a form of spiritual practice. We will use scripture, prayer, song, and story to ponder the most important questions of our lives and of our world, allowing us to slowly live our way into the answers.

Do dogs and cats (and all of our pets) go to heaven?

Why is there suffering in the world?

Why can’t God insist on a winning Vikings season?

Wednesday Night Dinners

Why do we use the Bible that was written so long ago?

Feb. 14........ No Wed. Night Dinner (Ash Wednesday) Feb. 21........ Chicken Tenders & Mac’n’cheese Feb. 28........ Lasagna Mar. 6......... Brats & Hot Dogs Mar. 13....... Hamburgers Mar. 20....... Pizza Mar. 27....... No Wed. Night Dinner (Holy Week) Dinner schedule subject to change

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Perm GRES, the power plant in Dobrianka, Russia

Altered The Holy Spirit has a habit of showing up where you don’t expect it.

Even when, or maybe especially when faith does not seem to be involved. My first degree was a Masters in Russian and Spanish Translation and Interpretation from Heidelberg University. And the very first job I landed was as a Russian translator for ABB Power Plant Control Systems in Mannheim, Germany. The Wall had just come down, and business opportunities in the newly accessible regions of the former Soviet Union started to open up. ABB had just secured a big contract to automate a Russian coalfired power plant in the Ural mountains.

As part of this contract, a dozen Russian engineers had come to Mannheim to help their German counterparts plan the automation of their power plant.

The first weeks on the job were a nightmare. I had no clue how a power plant worked, and no idea what the German technical terms were, let alone the Russian words. The Russians seemed eternally grumpy and frustrated; the Germans were scratching their heads. I was waiting to get fired, and wondering what I was doing in this job. I certainly did not hear a call!

ABB had rented hotel residences for the Russian engineers. They had never been outside of Russia before. They were 5

in utter culture shock. They needed help with everything: how to make a phone call, how to buy a ticket for the bus, and first and foremost, how to go shopping. I took them to a supermarket. They asked me what they were allowed to buy. ‘Allowed to buy? Whatever you want!’, I responded.

‘Is anything rationed?’ ‘Rationed??’ ‘Is all the meat and sausage in the display real?

It must be fake? Did the store just have a delivery, and tomorrow it will be empty?

What if we buy everything, how long will it take to get refilled? Surely weeks?’

‘No, they can refill this within the hour…’

That’s when the head engineer turned to me and exclaimed: ‘But Germany lost the War!!’ And one of the women stood in front of a pretty pyramid of lemons and started crying. ‘If only I could take a couple of lemons to my daughter, she is always sick!’ To this day, I can’t buy a lemon without thinking of Valerija and her daughter.

That’s when I started to realize why I was called to this job.They truly needed an interpreter, not only for the automation of their power plant, but for these strange circumstances they had been catapulted into. They needed a human connection, someone to help them go to the doctor, call their families at home, cook their own meals, and maintain their dignity. I was called to build bridges between two

cultures, help the Germans be patient with their temporary new colleagues, and to also see my own country from an entirely different perspective. It was eye-opening on so many levels. Deeply altering. And it was a Spirit-filled experience, even though the Russians were atheists. ‘Druzhba’ – Fellowship, was their highest value, and at the center of everything they did in this uncharted cross-cultural collaboration. ‘Druzhba’ felt like their version of the Holy Spirit, in a culture that did not allow religion, especially Christianity.

The one time I got to visit the power plant in Dobrianka in the Ural mountains, I can’t describe the generosity displayed towards our entire delegation.

‘Druzhba’ in full action. And that time around, I had to bridge the cultural divide for our German engineers, who were just as lost in Russia as our visitors had been in Mannheim.

When the project wrapped after four years, I went on to get my MBA, and was able to combine my knowledge of the former Soviet Union with my newly acquired business skills, working for an American Fortune 100 company in their Eastern European division. I even got to live in Kazakhstan, one of the former Soviet Republics, for several years. I am deeply grateful for the initial calling that helped me discern my purpose and my path, all the way (with some additional ‘alterations’) to you, our wonderful congregation, St. Andrew in Eden Prairie!

Different continents, different cultures, one Holy Spirit. Who keeps showing up.

Even if you just call it ‘Druzhba’.

Meggy Wagner Senior Director of Church Operations

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Visitation

Our Life Can Change in a Moment The Lenten theme starting on Ash Wednesday is entitled ‘altered.’ A life, a new year, a day can start with a certain predictability but an unexpected and scary diagnosis from a recent MRI can change your day and your life in a moment. My brother-in-law had a growth surgically removed from his neck six months ago. After 33 radiation treatments, he was assured that all was once again good, nothing to worry about. A month ago, he found the growth had returned and that means a trip to meet with an Oncologist. See what I mean?

Our life can be altered in a heartbeat without us wanting it. Change is always stressful even when it’s positive change.

The reason change is stressful is because life is now different and how we look at life and perhaps how we treat our life has been permanently altered and we are adjusting to a new ‘normal.’

Many people make New Year’s resolutions but studies show that only 6% actually follow through on their resolu-

tions while 23% quit by the end of the first week and 43% quit by the end of January. God has the power to change our life for good and sometimes others notice. A neighbor of mine told me over the holidays that she didn’t always believe in Jesus. One day she decided to go to church and the message of grace and love that Jesus promises touched her heart and soul and she invited Jesus into her life. She said, “My life changed and even my husband noticed and said that he liked the new person I had become.”

Yes, her husband could see the change in her spirit, her attitude and even in her interactions with others.

I like the hymn we sometimes sing in church “Lord, let my heart be good soil.” (hymn 512) “Lord, let my heart be good soil, open to the seed of your word. Lord, let my heart be good soil, where love can grow and peace is understood.

When my heart is hard, break the

stone away. When my heart cold, warm it with the day. When my heart is lost, lead me on your way.

Lord, let my heart be good soil.”

Romans 12:2 reminds us “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal (the altering or changing) of your mind.” I think that all of us realize that change is something we all live with and some of the change is just what we want and need and it’s good and but other change can be unwanted and be bad for us.

So, how do you see your story, your life changing? Is it the life you always wanted to live? As you go through life, can others see how God is changing you?

Can they see God in you? Embrace the journey and be ready because change is right around the corner.

Roger Schindel Visitation Pastor

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o not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

–Romans 12:2

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Early Learning

Altered We go through many changes in our lives but one of the most life-altering changes is the choice to become a parent.

Welcoming a child into the world brings a lot of hope, anticipation and inevitable change. If we look at the English meaning of the phrase life-altering it states having an effect that is strong enough to change someone’s life. In Early Learning we have the challenge to not only assist children through their life phases, but also to guide their parents through the everyday transformations that a child experiences. What separates St. Andrew Early Learning from its competitors is that we draw on our faith to guide how we teach not only the children but also their parents as we walk beside them in the journey to raise their child. We draw on our faith because it is the one thing that remains the same as we are told in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Melanie Eggers Childcare Director

Melinda Eddihi Childcare Assistant Director

Kathi Wieman Preschool Director

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any years ago, in one of the congregations I served we lost a young person, to very tragic circumstances. The day of her funeral rolled around, and the people began to arrive for her service. As I was greeting people, I couldn’t help but notice, that it was an unusual mix of people, very different from the people that we usually saw on a Sunday morning. Looking out at the crowd of young people we saw all kinds of tattoos and piercings. It was evident from visiting with them at the service, that they were a little bit uncomfortable being at the church, but still wanted to come, to pay respect to the friend that they lost.

After the service, the Pastor invited everyone to join the family for a luncheon in the fellowship hall. I went into the fellowship hall to see if I could help. I noticed that most of the young people went through the line, wrinkled their noses at the assortment of funeral hotdishes, and went to their tables with an empty plate. I glanced in the kitchen and saw “Betty” who led our kitchen team. I had many encounters with Betty over the years, usually because the youth of the church had created a mess in the kitchen, and I knew when she was upset, and I could tell that Betty was not thrilled at the responses she was getting

Children’s Ministry from these young people to her food.

After about fifteen minutes, I saw Betty throw her apron off, grab her purse, and storm out of the building with everyone just staring. “Uh, oh, Betty is really mad.” After about 15 minutes we saw Betty come back into the building with bags of fast-food cheeseburgers, which she placed out amongst the hotdishes.

Within minutes, the young people came up and were feasting upon the cheeseburgers. Betty took it upon herself to go and purchase 150 cheeseburgers, to serve to these young people. When I asked her why she did it, she said “they were hungry, and it was my job to feed them. They need that time to grieve and remember, and I wanted their experience of the church to be a place that was welcoming.” My perception of Betty was forever altered, and as I sat and visited with those young people, I realized that their vision of the church was altered too—all because of 1 woman, and 150 cheeseburgers.

That is how the Spirit works sometimes, transforming people and communities in ways that are surprising and unexpected. When we see children and young people for who they really are and welcome them to our communities

the results can be truly transformative.

We all have a part to play, in making our congregation a welcoming place to all of our young people. Take time to acknowledge the young people you see in worship and welcome them! Welcome their parents too, and make them feel welcome, acknowledging the work and stress that sometimes comes with bringing your young children into worship. Take time to learn the name of a young person, so you can greet them by name when you see them in worship or in the fellowship hall. It may not be your gift to help in Sunday School or Confirmation, but we can all be a friendly or welcoming face to the young people in our midst, and that can alter and transform the experience a young person has in this place, so that the Holy Spirit can be let loose to do its work!

Thank you for your continued partnership in ministry in this space, it is an honor to do ministry with you all.

Shawna Berg Children’s Ministry Director

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Children, Youth, & Family

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n my first job out of college, I was a children, youth, and family director, there were many things I learned and started doing in ministry. Not all of those things do I still implement, but there is one thing that I have used everywhere I have served.

That one thing is that I rarely do the praying with youth. Now I know what you are thinking, isn’t that an important part of your job? To which I say, yes it is but it is also my job to help youth grow and develop their own faith life and give them the tools they need to learn about faith and engage their faith on their own. So, I always ask youth who wants to pray and let them pray. By doing this, I hope they learn that you don’t have to have a fancy degree or have to know special words, but that you can pray in way or how ever you want to. There are no rules when it comes to pray. I also hope they learn to listen to the needs of their peers and include those prayer requests in their prayers showing support and care for one another.

Back to my first job, I was leading the annual family retreat to a Lutheran

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camp. On Sunday’s, the leader would plan and lead worship from camp with the group. I asked a couple kids to help me with different parts of the worship and then many more wanted to join in.

We had a lovely service where we read scripture, prayed, served communion, and heard a message. The majority of the worship service ended up being led by kids. One of the parents came up to me afterwards and made a comment about how I barely had to do anything and how I let the kids do my job. I responded saying isn’t it great that our kids feel so welcomed and comfortable with our church and worship that they want to help lead in worship. We gave them space to feel important and ways for them to share their faith with us.

That is the holy spirit working in our world. It works in ways for us to feel empowered to be a part of our of a community and to explore our faith.

The kids helping in worship didn’t just happen all of a sudden, but it was done through a loving, supportive, and caring faith environment that allowed them the space and confidence to explore leading in worship. That is something the Spirit is doing in communities. Just like how I rarely am the one who prays, I want youth to know that they don’t have to do anything special or the right way to know that they can be heard, loved, or seen by God. It places us in places that allow us to be fully engaged participants in our faith community.

My hope through these tools I use in my ministry and with our Lent series is that we explore and be open to where we are being altered in our faith, in our perspective, and in our engagement within our faith community.

Sarah Fike Pastor of Children, Youth, & Family

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ello, my name is Caleb Wragge I grew up going to church, and camp here at St. Andrew. I just moved back from Colorado so I could work at a church that means a lot to me. I have been married to my wife Carrie for 4 years. We have a Dachshund mix named Kona who sleeps most of the day. On a day off I enjoy watching sports, playing board games, and hiking. I am excited to get started in my new role as a Youth Engagement Director. I am particularly excited for Wednesday Night Youth Group (WNYG). At WNYG I want to make sure that our high school aged members know they are loved and have a place to be in our Church. My goal is to help amplify the voice of the kids and young adults of our church. St. Andrew is a community that helped me form an identity around Gods’ love. Like many people at St. Andrew this building

Youth Engagement changed my life for the better. When I was in High School at EPHS most of my life was focused on basketball. I played yearround, Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, it felt like I had time for nothing else. I did not even know if I was happy, all I really knew was that if I finished my schoolwork, I would go play basketball. Then one day I got a letter from another kid from WNYG. It read “Hey Caleb it would be so great if you came to youth group, we could hangout Sincerely, Matt.” I read it a couple of times and I had no idea what to think. I thought “Why would he want me to come, I only see this guy at Spirit in the Pines once a year.” I almost didn’t go, I felt nervous, I already felt like they were going to judge me. I felt God’s push, and I went, I told myself I’d fake being sick if I wanted to leave. It ended up being one of the many moments when my life was altered

by God. Before I knew it youth group was over, and I wanted to go back again. I kept going till I graduated that year. WNYG gave me the chance to do more than just talk with kids my age, we got the chance to talk and experience God’s love together.

I am grateful for the time I had in youth group. The guy that invited me is still one of my best friends, he was at my wedding, and I cannot thank him enough. As we start a new year my hope is to make WNYG a place where kids can come be themselves and feel loved. I appreciate the chance the St. Andrew community is giving me, and I am excited to help anyone that may need it.

Caleb Wragge Youth Engagement Director

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Do You Know?

Do you know?

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

Altered by Acts of the Spirit

Perhaps you grew up hearing about the Holy Ghost. In confession or creed or catechism, perhaps you recited understandings of the Holy Spirit among the other members of the Trinity. Maybe you had a pastor or youth director explain the Trinity in images like ice, water, or steam.

But the Trinity, and especially the Holy Spirit, continue to be one of the most vexing topics for Christians. Who is the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit interact with us? Can I feel the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit have to do with Jesus?

All valid and important questions.

In our sermon series this Lent, we are reading one of the most important books of the Bible that discusses the Holy Spirit—the Book of Acts. Also known as Acts of the Apostles, this book is actually more of a second volume to the Gospel of Luke. It is written by the same author and picks the story up where Luke leaves it off, with the disciples gathering around Jesus as he ascends into heaven. I can only imagine their questions of “What next?”

Acts of the Apostles follows the gift of the Holy Spirit in the early church and we’ll be hearing some of these stories every Sunday together. We will hear how the Holy Spirit is always ahead of the apostles, always working to carve out a broader welcome, always breaking down barriers, raising up leaders, and fostering faith in people who don’t always fit into 11

the center of community. But before we get into these powerful stories, I thought it might be helpful to understand the images that the Bible and our tradition use for the Holy Spirit.

First and foremost, Spirit comes from Greek and Hebrew words, two of my favorites actually. In Hebrew, the word for spirit is the same as the word for breath and wind, two other images for the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word ruach appears when a wind or breath or spirit from God broods over creation itself. God breathes a ruach into Adam and Eve. A ruach from God comes upon the prophets as they speak with bold conviction. In the New Testament, the word for Spirit is pneuma. We get words like pneumatic from this root because these tools use compressed air. Pneuma means air, wind, breath, and spirit, quite similar to the Hebrew tradition.

But wind, air, and breath aren’t the only images we have for the Holy Spirit.

The next image is fire. In one of my more foolish moments, when I was a canoe guide on the shores of Lakes Superior, I once lit a fire that was far too big. In all fairness, it was a day off and there were no campers around, but still, I can recall the bit of fear as the fire got bigger and bigger on the beach in front of this Great Lake. There is something uncontrollable about fire, something that has power and potential, but also that might mean things need to be destroyed in order for new life to come forth. When Moses meets God in the wilderness, it is a bush that

is burning. Later, God leads the Hebrew people through the wilderness with a pillar of fire by night. And on Pentecost, in the Acts of the Apostles, tongues of fire appear on the people as they speak in diverse languages and yet understand one another. The Holy Spirit, in some ways, is the fire that sustains all people of faith, sustains our imaginations, sustains our hope, sustains our bodies, and sustains our spirit. And like fire, it comes with passion and conviction and power and, at times, danger. At the end of the day, we don’t control the Holy Spirit.

In complete opposition to the image of fire, another image of the Holy Spirit is the dove. Doves are a symbol of peace and a gift to the whole world. The Spirit gives each of us gifts, named in Galatians as fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit brings the fierce fire of passion, the deep compassion of breath, and the eternal gifts that help us live our faith alongside our neighbors.

And in the end, we are all altered by the Holy Spirit, transformed in the image of God to see God’s love unfolding all around us. When it comes right down to it, we’re just a deep breath away from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst.

Matthew Ian Fleming Pastor of Teaching Church Anew Director

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Service & Outreach

St. Andrew on the Move in the World— Lives Orientated Toward Hope I often say that the reach and breadth of St Andrew’s ministry is far larger than I have ever experienced in a congregation before. We might think that this has to do with the size of our congregation. The bigger we are, the more impact we can make in the community. Together, we do make a huge difference.

While I am proud of what we do, I am also reminded that this is all God’s work and deserves the credit. God inspires us. God blesses and multiplies the work. He reminds us to pull together and make a difference. God deserves the credit for transforming lives—we are a vital vehicle through which this happens.

Take for instance our friends in Haiti this past Christmas living under difficult circumstances. As you may already know, we have not traveled to our Haitian mission partners for several years now.

Security issues are too dangerous. But the Holy Spirit continues to inspire our Haitian friends to boldly do projects that I could not ever have imagined. We may not be there, but the Holy Spirit is there.

Our translator friend Kerlange and husband Armstrong efficiently distributed food and medical supplies for Christmas at a local hospital in her hometown of St. Marc. Our friend Julien from the village we visited is doing a food distribution for the community

around Redemption Lutheran Church in Pasquette. Our friend Joseph is conducting kid’s clubs in Port au Prince with teacher friends at a local school, talking about the love of Jesus, doing healthy activities, and making sure participants have a good meal. Just when the world seems to give up hope on Haiti, we are surprised by God’s way of love that brings hope out of these difficulties.

With God, possibilities abound.

The Holiday Giving appeal in December also marked the first time we pooled our resources into one local charity: the PROP Shop. Many at St. Andrew did not know about Family Services program. Eyes were opened to their work. Financial donations of over $22,000 were given to the PROP Shop, not including the many in-kind gifts dropped off at the PROP Shop by supportive families. We have altered the lives of people through the PROP Shop, bringing God’s hope into the lives of many.

God will continue to inspire us into working in the world in meaningful and transformative ways. I have high confidence that we will continue to hear this call to serve.

Peter Johnson Interim Senior Pastor

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Church Anew—A Breakthrough Moment What a year it has been at Church Anew! And what a year we have ahead!

Church Anew has been a vital ministry of St. Andrew since 2018, nourishing Christian leaders to create vibrant communities of faith. Church Anew resources more than 1,500 local congregations with material for worship, training for effective leadership, and nourishing gatherings to sustain vitality.

Through our weekly blog, internationally recognized visionaries like Walter Brueggemann and emerging voices like Amar Pederman write compelling pieces to sustain the vision of the church across the world, drawing nearly 500,000 unique visitors since founding the blog in 2020.

Having grown 2700% in 2020 alone, hosting thousands of registrants in virtual gatherings in the pandemic, serving weary tech teams and preachers with virtual worship services, and providing cutting edge devotional and preaching resources through the blog, Church Anew has had many breakthrough moments. But 2023 will be a year to remember. We wrote three distinct applications to one of the largest funders of Christian expressions in the nation, Lilly Endowment, Inc. Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business,

Eli Lilly and Company. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities.

This December, St. Andrew Lutheran Church was awarded a grant by Lilly Endowment for $1,250,000 to renew reformation among ELCA congregations across the nation. We will be working closely with twenty congregations in yearlong transformational learning cohorts, finding ways to renew and revitalize local communities. Additionally, Church Anew will provide a reformation of resources through skill-building workshops offered to hundreds of churches across the nation. And finally, we will cultivate 95 testimonies from racially diverse emerging leaders that spark curiosity, conversation, and conviction in the body of Christ.

This is truly a breakthrough moment for Church Anew with three major grants, capacity to build our team, even more to grow our mission. As a ministry of St. Andrew, Church Anew continues to provide amazing opportunities for people like you to engage in our work including an upcoming gathering, Renew 2024.

Matthew Ian Fleming Pastor of Teaching Church Anew Director

Church anew is a spirit-led movement that nourishes christian leaders and ignites communities of faith by setting an inclusive table of belonging and developing resources for a fresh, bold, and faithful witness in the world.

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Church Anew

Voices of Persistence (on not giving up on the Bible) Sunday, April 21 at 7pm (doors open at 6:30)

Join six phenomenal presenters for an evening you won’t forget. We’ll wonder together about this ancient book of faith, finding ways to connect it to our daily lives. With presentations from diverse and fresh voices, music that will warm your spirits, and time for question and response, we will walk together into the story of scripture and the stories we live.

Renew 2024 April 21-22

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.

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.

Jeff Chu | Winnie Varghese | Mihee Kim-Kort Matthew Ian Fleming | Anna Carter Florence | Joe Davis

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Annual Meeting

47th Annual Congregational Meeting On Sunday, January 28, we held our 47th Annual Congregational, with 104 voting members present in person and online.

We elected three new members to our congregation council: Patrick Aaberg, Brian Heijerman, and Michelle Leisen. Congratulations, and welcome to the council! President—elect Brendan Dolan expressed our gratitude towards the members going off council: President Joy Altmann, Linnae Stole, and Vince Thomas. We are grateful for their great work and leadership; they will be missed!

Our Chair of Finance Committee Steve Moen presented the 2023 financial results. Thanks to the great response of our congregation to the yearend giving appeal, the Church Fund finished the year above budget, despite having to absorb over $65,000 of exceptional building repairs in the operating fund. Our Early Learning ministries had a strong year and came in slightly above budget, and Camp, while falling slightly short of budget, managed a great turnaround from a loss last year to a solid result this year. All funds together produced a surplus of $14,000, which will be transferred back into our General Reserves.

Steve Moen then spoke about our restricted funds and the general reserves of St. Andrew, and the projects that were covered from the reserves. He also explained the work of the Finance Committee and read the statement of the Financial Review Committee.

We approved the 2023 Financial report.

Steve Moen then presented the 2024 Budget.

The budget assumes a 4.8% increase in giving, based on continued growth in membership and ministry participation, as well as intentional stewardship.

The staff budget increase allows for several different pastoral scenarios, given the leadership decisions that will be made this transitional year. The Program 15

budget contains a $25,000 investment in our Children, Youth and Family ministries, as outlined in our Annual Appeal.

Other main drivers of the budget are the new Tweener room in our Childcare ministry, allowing for additional enrollment of infants and toddlers. The additional income from the room will be invested back into the ministry, through replacement of two additional PTACs (individual heating/cooling units in the classrooms), and playground upgrades ($40,000). We are also excited that our Preschool will add a new afternoon program in the Fall of 2024. Camp is also expected to build on the 2023 success but will have to absorb a hefty increase in liability insurance premiums. In total, we expect 2024 to produce a $25,000 surplus to be transferred back into our reserves. One project we intend to fund from reserves in 2024 is the replacement of the Sanctuary sound board. Given our aging building, we also need to be prepared for additional unforeseen repairs and upgrades, especially in our HVAC systems. We approved the 2024 Budget.

If you have any questions about our finances or budget, please reach out to Meggy Wagner mwagner@standrewlu.org.

Thank you to everyone who attended this important meeting about St. Andrew’s business, and to all who so generously supported our ministries this past year! We are blessed by our wonderful community of faith and look forward to living out our faith in daily life together in 2024!

Meggy Wagner Sr. Director of Church Operations

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Building Projects

Building Projects Bathroom renovation: The bathroom renovation is finished!

Have you had a chance to take a look at the beautiful, modern and calm design?

If not, check it out! We are now up to building code, with an ambulatory stall on both the Men’s and the Women’s side, in addition to the wheelchair-accessible stall. Flushing, soap dispensers and water faucets are all touchless, and there are two air dryers in each bathroom that will greatly help us to save on paper towels. A circulation pump ensures that warm water starts flowing quickly when a faucet is activated. This project was funded from the Building Reserve Fund, which was a Restricted Fund created for the Capital Appeal in 2018. The bathroom project was the last project covered by Capital Appeal funds, and the fund is now fully spent.

Walkway to the Prayer Garden: This project was fully funded by a generous sponsor and is complete. The silt fencing can only be pulled once the grass on the surfaces surrounding the

walkway has grown in, which we hope will be the case by late Spring 2024. We will also re-plant the flowerbed by the entrance to the Prayer Garden, which will also happen in the Spring. Bachman’s is working on a design, and we already have some sponsors interested in accent trees. Please reach out to Meggy Wagner at mwagner@standrewlu.org if you are interested in sponsoring Prayer Garden plantings.

Welcome Wall & Front Admin office: This project, fully funded by a generous sponsor, is still in progress. The main 70” information screen for the Welcome Wall in the Narthex is expected to be mounted late-January/ early-February, as well as some additional wall elements that will serve as pin-boards and magnetic bulletins for up-to-date information on busy ministry days. The newly created workspace on the right side of the Admin office entrance will become a shared work space and security desk, with dedicated monitors for the building cameras and

the main entrance, and a window into the vestibule. This will help office staff monitor building traffic when the front desk in the Narthex is not occupied, especially on Fridays.

Worship Art: Remember the beautiful, oversized ornaments and central star pendant suspended from the Sanctuary ceiling all Advent and Christmas season? Thank you to the generous sponsor who made this special work of art possible! We are looking forward to seeing it again next Christmas!

Benches by Doors 9 & 11: Have you noticed the new benches by the Childcare and Preschool entrances?

Those were funded by the memorial fund for a beloved Preschool teacher. These benches will provide a comfortable place for staff and children during drop-off and pick-up, breaks, and opportunities to gather outside—just maybe not quite this time of year!

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T

he time leading up to Lent always represents a time of change for the St Andrew Council, this year more than most. This Lent, St. Andrew is facing a rare opportunity to take a breath and define what we want our future during as we transition between Senior Pastors.

In the past weeks and months, we have said “Thank You” but not goodbye to the three council members who have served St. Andrew for the past 3 years: Joy, Vince, and Linnae. We have also welcomed three new members: Pat, Michelle, and Brent. It might seem that introducing new council members during a time of change for the church makes both more difficult; I view this as an opportunity. Even though Joy, Vince, and Linnae aren’t on the council anymore, we get to keep the wisdom and perspectives they shared with us.

At the same time, I am grateful that we get to have the benefit of adding fresh

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Congregational Council eyes to the collective experience we have as we work to support the church, congregation, and staff.

While we are being purposeful about our reflection on the past and preparation for the future. It is inspiring to see how everyone involved brings their best to the table, and I do mean everyone, Pastors, Staff, council, everyone who participates in groups or working sessions, and everyone who shows up on Sunday simply to be present for the church. I see positive intentions everywhere: • Leaders reflecting on their own style to decide how they can best lead.

• Kids in childcare being treated as an integral part of the St Andrew family.

• Musical artists sharing new songs with everyone.

• Plans to bring even more kids to camp.

• New creative directions to share the St Andrew ministry with members, friends, and strangers.

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Team members who are excited to join the St Andrew staff.

• Budgets prepared in a way that ensures stability through transition.

• People reaching out to their professional networks to bring creative ideas to the church.

• New members who have seen this and decide to join the church.

It would be very easy for people to look at a time of change and say, “We should just wait for a new senior pastor to be called before we do anything.” In reality, the opposite has happened, everyone I have encounter has taken the approach of asking “what can we do?” This Lent I appreciate that none of this happens by accident or chance; everything we see, hear, and experience has been a labor of love.

Brendan Dolan Council President

Smiles of St. Andrew

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Spirit in the Pines

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ur Lenten theme at St. Andrew is “altered” and I am really enjoying exploring it as I continue to prepare for the upcoming season of camp programs.

It is one of our biggest aims at camp, that everyone would leave their time in our community changed for the better.

Recently I came across something that someone unknown to me wrote, and it has stuck with me for the past few weeks because of the way it puts this hope in very simple but also concrete terms.

Christianity can be confusing, but the way of Jesus was pretty clear.

Move toward the poor Empower the woman Create space at the table Throw parties Widen the family boundaries Poke holes in oppressive systems Don’t retaliate with violence Forgive the enemy Don’t store up wealth Be present with people Heal Announce The kingdom of God is near –Dan Sadlier I have met many people in my life who have truly lived in these ways, but a few of them have really stood out. These

are people who ironically, not only took the time to invest in me, but also in others, and yet somehow were among the busiest people I knew. These are people who practiced creating space at the table, and now—having received that gift from them—it is something I try to turn around and give to others.

One of these people was a professor I had at Wheaton College named Jerry Root. He was a widely acclaimed C.S. Lewis scholar, but every time I would pass him on the sidewalk he would stop and ask me how things were going. I haven’t seen Dr. Root in over 15 years now, but I still frequently think about our conversations and I keep aspiring to live up to the potential he saw in me. Another one of these people was the Bishop I worked for over six years, who was on a plane more days than not, and even now at 4 years into retirement makes time to call me once a month. Investing in people, especially young people, in this way continues to pay dividends their entire life.

Right before Christmas I had the pleasure of talking to a grandparent of a first-time camper from last summer.

He had applied for camp on a waitlist late in the spring, and through some shuffling, and an IKEA purchase, we were able to create one more open bed and welcome him to camp. I connected with this camper several times during the week, and I was glad he was there.

His grandparent told me that he has been a changed kid since coming home from camp, and that faith is now part of how he talks about his identity. I was so overjoyed to hear this, and I knew that this was a significant thing based on my connection with him.

Every time we create space for someone it matters, and it often matters in ways that are more profound than we get to know. I didn’t know exactly how much this camper’s week at camp mattered to him until his Grandma came in to speak with me. As we enter the new year, and as we approach this season of Lent, I invite us all—in both our lives and our ministries—to do two things. First, let’s ponder how we can all pay attention to the work of creating space for new people. And second, when someone creates space for you, tell them how much it matters.

Sarah Blasing Outdoor Ministry & Youth Leadership Director

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Hospitality

Whose Work Is It? At the start of this writing, it is two days before Christmas Eve. There is a lengthy list lingering in my mind of things to do at home and at church to be prepared for the celebration of the birth of Christ. I am anxious that the presents will not all be wrapped in time, I am wondering if I have forgotten to find gifts for special people in my life, and there is worry that there will not be enough volunteers for the services on Christmas Eve (need 68, have 37). And yet, I have a strong pull to STOP—to REST in Him, the one who promises rest for those that trust in Him. It seems counterintuitive.

After all, if I am not actively pursuing people to fill in the gaps, how could the gaps possibly be filled?

“How?” indeed.

My husband prays over me, my anxiety dissolves, the peace that surpasses all understanding floods over me, and I am ready to rest. I call this the work of the Holy Spirit.

My mind clears enough to remember His faithfulness. I remember time and time again how St. Andrew has shown up. Remember Thanksgiving Pie? It requires more than pies. We need pie cutters, pie servers, pie cleaner-uppers— and people before then to greet and usher during worship. In a matter of a week, we went from a small handful of pies and helpers to more pies than we knew what to do with and an abundance of helping hands. Why? Because the faithful people of St. Andrew heard the cry and were moved to respond. I call this the work of the Holy Spirit.

In the book of Hebrews, the author is encouraging the body of believers to stay engaged with the church, to “hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope” because we find strength and encouragement from those who share in 21

that hope—our hope in Christ, the head of the church.

That encouragement is alive and well inside the walls at St. Andrew. The encouragement is here for those who are seeking it—but it does require engaging.

This past fall, our Wednesday Night Dinner set the table for all to come. Many have come. Many have shared with us that this meal is a wonderful break in the middle of the week. They find it encouraging to gather around the table, to be served and share a meal in the fellowship of friends. The opportunity to refuel by connecting with others—to encourage and be encouraged—gets them to the end of the week. I call this the work of the Holy Spirit.

As I moved into a state of remembering His faithfulness as I prepared for Christmas, I remembered I have never been left alone to accomplish a task that is meant to be lived out through the body of Christ. I set my fears aside and trusted the Lord to stir the hearts and minds of those within the church to step forward into the calling of serving one another.

It is a beautiful and marvelous thing to see the joy both extended and received by those who participate. On this side of Christmas, I can confidently say they did.

I call this the work of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you to all who served this past season and in those to come—God’s faithfulness appears in your faithfulness to one another. Thank you to all who come to Wednesday Night Dinner for showing up and encouraging one another. I call this the work of the Holy Spirit.

Kari Shellenbarger Hospitality & Volunteer Coordinator

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Easter Flowers A burst of colors will once again fill the chancel on Easter morning.

You are invited to contribute to this aspect of beauty and celebration of the Risen Lord through the purchase of tulips, mums and Easter Lilies.

Keep watch for the opportunity to order and dedicate your purchase of flowers in celebration, in honor, and in memory of your loved ones and

events. Information will be available via monitors, emails, the St. Andrew website, and the Welcome Wall.

Watch for the opportunity to order Easter Flowers starting February 14. Order deadline: March 10th.

Lily: $12 Tulip: $10 Mum: $12

Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, & Easter Ash Wednesday

Good Friday

7:30 AM, 12:00, 5:30, 7:00 PM

12:00, 5:30, 7:00 PM

Palm Sunday

Easter Sunday

9:00, 10:30 AM

8:00*, 9:00*, 10:00, 11:00 AM Wiggle & Worship 10:30 AM

February 14

March 24

Maundy Thursday March 28

March 29

March 31

*Holy Communion celebrated in the Chapel following the service

6:30 PM

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

ALLELUIA!