Son Times Summer 2022 | Vol. 1

SON TIMES ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH

SUMMER 2022 | VOL. I

Leadership

Great Big Little Words “After all is said and done, more is said than done.”

–Aesop We live in a society of constant talking, chatter, and noise.

Then again, I am no one to talk, I have to work hard to have my sermons be less than 20 minutes in duration. (After all, I have so much that I need to say.)

One day President Woodrow Wilson was praised by a member of the cabinet on his precise and timely speeches. The President was then asked, “How long does it take you to write the speeches you deliver?” (This was likely when elected officials wrote their own speeches.) President Wilson replied, “It depends. If I am to speak for 10 minutes, I need a week. If I am to speak for 15 minutes, I need 3 days. If I am to speak for 30 minutes, I need two days. If I am to speak for an hour, I am ready right now.”

The older I get the more I realize how important this is— it’s not how many words people say to me, it’s what they say to me and when they say it. Oh, by the way, that is also something that I should always keep in the fore of my mind, too. In other words, as a friend and loved one, it is my responsibility to speak into someone’s heart, mind, and soul. Not recklessly or without thought. But, with care and purpose. “I’m sorry.” “I love you.” “I miss you.” “I forgive you.” “Yes.” “Of course.” “Always.” “Anytime.” Not long and complicated. However, those very short sentences or a single word bring a smile. They bring joy. They bring comfort and hope.

Starting Sunday, June 12, we are going to embark upon a new sermon series entitled: “Great Big Little Words.” Specifically, we are going to focus on: Hope, Share, Grace, Trust, Renewal, and Always.” I cannot promise that the sermons will be short—especially mine. However, I do promise you that, each and every word will be chosen on purpose—to give joy, comfort, hope, and even a little, or big, smile!

Be well and God bless, David Lillejord Senior Pastor

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Great Big Little Words Sermon Series June 12............................ “Hope” June 19............................“Share” June 26............................“Grace” July 3................................ “Trust” July 10......................... “Renewal” July 17............................ “Always”

“Notes” from the Music Office

Worship & Music

grace of God is not simply a holy “Thehypodermic whereby my sins are forgiven.

It is the whole giftedness of life, the wonder of life, which causes me to ask questions that transcend the moment.”

–Joseph Sittler, Gravity and Grace

A Vision for a Grace-Filled Music Ministry There are “big little words” in the church that will forever continue to be raised up. The reasons for this are simple: they are life-giving words and they reflect the truth of God that is much larger than ourselves. My hope and prayer is that we Lutherans never stop talking about the word “grace,” to name but one of the “big little words” from our summer sermon series. While God’s Word contains both Law and Gospel, I believe that people already have an inherent sense of the Law as our shortcomings weigh down on us every day of the week. Hearing the Gospel proclaimed faithfully is what can draw us back to God’s house each and every Sunday because we need it like our houseplants need water and sunlight. The worship services that inspire us the most are not the ones that convince us of our sinfulness but rather the ones that remind us of God’s grace that comes to us in ways that surprise us, renew us, and enlarge our view of what is possible in life.

So what does grace have to do with our music ministry? Everything!

The phrase I like to use to describe our music ministry at St. Andrew is: musical excellence in an atmosphere of grace. This

strikes a balance for me because it reminds me that, without question, our standards need to be high but we as musicians also need to challenge ourselves, to stretch ourselves, and this will involve times when we make mistakes. We play a wrong note or a wrong rhythm or we don’t quite get the words right. When this happens to those of us who perform, it can either discourage us or it can remind us that the very reason for the existence of the church is to bring God’s forgiveness and love to broken, imperfect people, which includes us! I remember a friend telling me years ago after I had made some mistakes in a performance that those mistakes often serve to teach the listener just how difficult a task it can be to make music. That has stuck with me over the years and my hope and prayer is that my role as I work with other musicians is to embody that phrase “musical excellence in an atmosphere of grace.” Where this analogy breaks down is that God’s grace exists in part to bring us the forgiveness of sins and we know that our mistakes are not the same thing as our sins. What the “atmosphere of grace” really points to is what kind of deep and meaningful

community we want our choir members of all ages to experience as they come together and serve together year after year. We have an opportunity to make music together but we also have an opportunity to love one another and forgive one another. If we only focus on the former and not the latter, then we’re missing something crucial. We also have a lot of fun together and if we can’t do that, then we’re doing something wrong.

I’ve seen this same kind of loving servant leadership exemplified in each one of our music staff members. I’ve seen it in action countless times and it simply flows out of them as they serve the kids and adults who participate in our choirs.

God’s grace is not only the “why” behind our music ministry but the “how” as well. We hope to grow our choirs as we continue in this rebuilding phase and we hope you’ll consider joining us in the fall!

See you in church!

Tim Graf Director of Worship & Music

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Great Big Little Words

A More Just World

“For You—For All” Whenever we receive Communion, whether in worship or privately, it is preceded by the Words of Institution.

In these words we are reminded of the inclusive nature of Jesus’ ministry and promise. Christ died “for YOU” and Christ died “for ALL.” And ALL means ALL—no one is excluded. Our faith calls us to live into that gift of grace and love every day with ALL people.

The work of “A More Just World” is intended to help us with that work…to see the injustice happening in our community and beyond, to hear the voices of those who have been discriminated against, and to learn how we can do better—to truly love ALL people as Jesus loves us.

The month of June has been identified to remind us how far we have come with that work and how much more work there is yet to be done. From the 3

LGBTQIA+ community and Gay Pride Month to Juneteenth and the celebration of the liberation of enslaved people. June is set aside as a time to learn and reflect and do more in our work for justice for ALL people.

St. Andrew has been doing some of that work through our small groups and adult forums, but we also have more work to do. We will continue that work in June and beyond—with the staff more specifically as well as with our leaders and ALL of you. Watch for more information in our e-mails and on our website on how we will celebrate the freedom and embrace the justice that is for ALL people through Christ.

Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

–John 14:27

Great Big Little Words

Confirmation

“They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.”

Many of you will read the title of this article and hear the tune that goes along with it. Peter Scholtes is the author of “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” Each verse of the song reflects how Christians come together: “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; We will work with each other, we will work side by side.” I bring up this song because it reminds me of Confirmation.

I always see Confirmands stressing about missing a class, getting service hours in, or worrying about being able to finish all their worship notes. Then, anxiously they ask if they can extend the deadline or wonder what happens to them if they can’t complete everything. The immediate thought process is that they will have to retake confirmation. But I’m going to let you all in on a little secret, there is grace for that.

We don’t ask you to complete these “requirements” to keep a tally on you or to see who will be confirmed or not. Instead, we have put these things as part of Confirmation to incorporate the different aspects of faith and being in a Christian community.

The service component is there to show us how important it is to be involved in your community and your church community. It shows what it looks like to be Christ to others. Like the song, service reflects love. It shows that we walk together, hand in hand, because we need each other to be the body of Christ.

The worship note piece is to learn and understand why and how worship is crucial to our Lutheran identity. It helps you see where you resonate, where you can be renewed, and where you are called throughout the week to love and serve your neighbor. It helps you be in community with one another as Christians, one in faith, one in Spirit, and one in the Lord. Worship helps recenter us.

The last component is confirmation class. These aren’t meant to be boring. They are meant to help us learn together as a community, to understand basic things about the bible and our faith, and to teach everyone helpful tools to keep faith a part of their lives. This time is to help us create faithful relationships with others in our own age group as well as with adults.

All these things bring us to reflect Christ in the world today and how we can do that as individuals and as a community. I think we look at confirmation as a rite of passage into this free for all, adult stage of faith. They no longer have “faith” requirements or have a structured program, now Confirmands have to choose how to keep their faith life an important aspect of their daily lives. But this is something we all struggle with.

We all know the things we need to do to reflect Christ in the world. We know what it means to be the body of Christ, but life happens. Sports, jobs, relationships, and so on get in the way of Christian living. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret… there is grace for that. So, let’s show Christ’s love in the world as much as we can, and when we stumble or forget, remember grace is abounding.

Sarah Fike Pastor of Children, Youth, & Family

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Great Big Little Words

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t camp this summer we are going to be focusing on four little words that are actually great big words. The four words are: take, bless, break, and give. They are the words of our eucharistic blessing, but they are also so much more than that.

Throughout my career in outdoor ministry, I have observed that spiritual formation happens in somewhat of a predictable flow. We take up hope, we are blessed with peace, we break into joy, and we learn how to give our love. And within this flow, formation certainly has its own unique shape for every person.

It can even have unique shapes for the same person each time it happens over the course of a lifetime.

Isn’t it true that we have all been given unique gifts, and that this whole world is a gift? Partaking in, and actively taking up, these things is (more than) enough.

Isn’t it true that over and above all of that, living life in community is a

TAKE UP BLESS WITH BREAK INTO GIVE YOUR 5

grace and a blessing that can uphold us through all circumstances? Community life is where it is okay to fail and to rest, because someone else can steer the boat for a time.

Isn’t it true that even when our expectations are dashed, and things break, we discover that there are things that are boundless? There is light and joy that persist in the midst of every darkness, even if they are small.

Isn’t it true that it is in giving that we truly receive? This is the one thing that can never be taken away from us— our ability to choose to love and generosity and empathy in the midst of any circumstance.

Speaking for myself I can say confidently that these four words have formed the rhythm of my life. I keep learning how to take hold of new things, I keep learning how to let others in, I keep learning how to let my expectations change,

and I keep learning how to turn around and give it all away. It is also true that the more I repeat this cycle, the quicker I am to choose generosity over stagnation in big and small ways every day.

These four eucharistic words may be tiny words in and of themselves, but they also give us language to talk about what the flow of spiritual transformation looks like and feels like.

This is helpful for all of us, but it is especially helpful for our young people who are just beginning to be able to internalize and lean into their faith. I am looking forward to the ways that all of the campers, counselors, staff, and I will get to explore these words together this summer at Spirit in the Pines!

Sarah Blasing Outdoor Ministry & Youth Leadership Director

Spirit In the Pines

Getting ready for an amazing summer at Spirit in the Pines!

There is still time to register!

Visit standrewlu.org/camp for more information and camp openings.

Camp Questions? Please contact: Sarah Blasing Outdoor Ministry & Youth Leadership Director

W: 952.697.7108 | C: 612.759.8493 sblasing@standrewlu.org standrewlu.org/camp

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Great Big Little Words

Do you know?

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

Lost in Translation

My daughters go to school in a magical forge where a new language emerges from their mouths and brains without effort.

It’s a true mystery, more confounding to me than any theological conundrum like theodicy1 or Trinitarian perichoresis.2 The teachers all speak Spanish and slowly so do my daughters. So much so that my eight years of Spanish classes in high school and college have been surpassed by my very smart (but very eight) second grader.

It still amazes me, however, that there are some words that seem to just get lost in translation. Love for example. Why do we only have the one word for the same way we love our spouse or child or beloved pet and the way we value and appreciate and consume say, pizza. It just doesn’t make any sense.

The Bible has a similar albeit much more complicated challenge. The Bible is written in two languages, Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament). While both

1 2

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of these languages are spoken today in places like Israel and, you guessed it, Greece, the exact languages written in the scriptures are all but lost. So when the wonderful people who translate the scriptures into our contemporary English meet, they have a lot of work to do, pairing ancient words with the limitations of our own language.

Our best guess is that Jesus spoke Aramaic, an ancient conversational language derived from Hebrew. It is quite likely that Jesus also read and spoke Hebrew, being a teacher (rabbi) of Jewish faith living in what is contemporary Palestine. The gospel writers, Paul, and the other authors of the New Testament all wrote in Greek because it was the language of learning and commerce, so their ideas could be shared more broadly. Some of them also used the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures called the Septuagint. In 392, the entire Bible was translated into Latin from Hebrew and Greek and this remained the authoritative scripture until the Reformers (Martin Luther among them) began to translate into the language of the people, German, Swedish, English, etc.

So what, you may be wondering? Why would I want to know all of this weird trivia about words in the Bible? Well I share this not to cast doubt on the scriptures, but rather to invite you into the ongoing work of reading these verses that show God’s vision for us and the whole world. Like the alchemy of immersion school, there is something that happens when we start to dig into the scriptures. The words of the Bible can become an alternative vocabulary for our lives. I find it helpful to hear some of the words in the language that they were written because it cozies me up as close as I can get to the people who spoke them, who taught and prophesied and healed and indicted. So my hope is that hearing a few of these words might do the same for you, give you a sense of just how close we are to the saint/sinners who penned them and close to the breath of God who animates their imaginations.

Matthew Ian Fleming Teaching Pastor

Theodicy is that untamed and untimely question of why do bad things happen to good people. Or another way to frame it if that doesn’t keep you up at night, “If God is all powerful and all good, why doesn’t God just stop all the bad things from happening?”

No I didn’t just sneeze on the keyboard. Perichoresis is the bonus-points theological word for the divine dance between all the members of the Trinity. But like any good dance, God doesn’t do it alone, rather drawing you and me into the dance of divine creativity as members of the body of Christ. So next time you’re out dancing, pull the perichoresis moves. You’ll be the talk of the town.

Did You Know

A few of my favorite (ancient) little big words

Ruach (ROO-akh) ‫רּוַח‬

This word can literally mean breath, wind, spirit, or life-force. God’s breath is always present within us, animating our own breath, just like God breathed life into Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:2; 1 Sam 16:13; Joel 2:28).

Its cousin in Greek is pneuma, meaning spirit or breath. We get the word pneumatic in English for tools that run with air (or breath).

Chesed (KHEH-sehd) ‫חֶסד‬ ֶ ֶ

We don’t have a good word for chesed. Some translations say loving-kindness, others mercy or grace. But these don’t really get close to the heart of God’s persistent, forgiving, slow to anger, unending, abounding love for creation. Our brains can’t quite get there, so maybe chesed is a good a word as any. (Mic. 6:8; Ps. 23:6)

Karis (KAH-rihs) Χάρις

The Greek word for grace, this is where we also get the term charisma in English. I love this word because it speaks to the core of God’s love for humanity. It’s used over 140 times in the New Testament and Luther noticed that it’s perhaps the closest word to the Hebrew term, chesed. ( John 1:16; Eph 2:8)

Pantokrator (pahn-toh-KRAH-tohr) Παντοκράτωρ

This word is rare in the New Testament, appearing once in 2 Corinthians and eight times in Revelation. It often gets translated as almighty, but literally it means all ruler or all creator. When we think of Jesus as pantokrator, we understand that in Jesus, God persistently creates within a world that sometimes feels headed to destruction. (Rev. 1:8; Rev. 11:17; 2 Cor. 6:18)

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Great Big Little Words

Renew. A little word with BIG impact Over the course of Monday and Tuesday, May 2–3, Church Anew hosted nearly 500 people in person and over 300 online for a time of spiritual renewal and leadership realignment. In opening worship, Rev. Jenny Sung called us to see the ways that God desires wellness in each of us: “There is something that has been grafted inside your being. There is a place inside that has never been wounded, that has never been hurt, where the Holy Spirit is raising you up with the same power that raised Jesus from the grave. It’s in you.”

Throughout two days of teaching, Rev. Dr. Tod Bolsinger helped tune leaders into the change that is forming us, aligning our vision with our self-reflection and spiritual practices: “Be wholehearted about the thing the mission requires us to do, therefore we stop doing other things. If you can’t solve every problem in the world, what is the one problem you’d like to give yourself to? Because you can give yourself to that problem wholeheartedly.”

Live music from our own Tim Graf and Elliana Meier grounded a full sanctuary who heard deep affirmation that we are worthy of love from local spoken word artist, Joe Davis. Joe called us to share not only our authentic selves, but also our tears: “Tears of mercy and justice kissed, rolling down my chin to meet rivers of righteousness slid round my cheek like a mighty stream these waters have shown me crying is not a sign of being weak but Love’s persistent flow within us during our time of grief.”

Then on Monday night with a full sanctuary, Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber gave a deeply Lutheran and inspiring message on the good news that a Biblical faith can provide. “There’s something about being a people of a story that gives me comfort in a way that nothing else can, specifically being a people of an old, old story. One that starts at the beginning of time, brushes the skin of the present moment, and reaches into a promised future…This hope to which we people of faith cling is not a naïve hope. It’s not like a temporary hope. It’s not like a popular hope. It’s the hope of people who have heard the dangerous rumor that there is life beyond death and hope beyond suffering.”

As a ministry of our congregation, Church Anew will continue to bring visionaries like Nadia, Joe, Tod, and Jenny to our church community, gathering people from all over the country into meaningful relationship and effective learning.

Thank you for your support of this ministry of St. Andrew!

Matthew Ian Fleming Teaching Pastor

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Church Anew

Great Big Little Words

Children’s Ministry

Sharing Our Lives What does community mean to you? Maybe you use unity as a synonym of community. Or community to you means people working towards a common goal. I do believe community is all of the above, but it also means sharing our lives with one another.

This means to not only share some time with one another and the high points of our days. But to also share the lows, the struggles of life, and being there through it all. That is the kind of community that I strive to create in children’s ministry here at St. Andrew.

Stepping into my position as Children’s Ministry Coordinator I knew I wanted to create relationships with families and for families to create relationships with one another. I feel this is especially important after a long period of time where we may have lost some relationships. However, we are now in a place where we may want to rekindle old relationships or create

new ones or both. Heading into summer my purpose of ministry is to do this. While creating summer events I had community and fellowship building as one of my driving forces.

Being able to do this again brings me a renewed sense of energy and excitement. I’m sure most of you would agree as well since we are social beings. Therefore, I invite you to be purposeful in creating a community where we not only want to be with one another but to share our whole lives together.

Sarah Dorr Children’s Ministry Coordinator

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Great Big Little Words

Graduation There is a lot of hope in what new adventures bring. For our early learning graduates and families, St. Andrew is a safe and happy place. It is a fun, learning environment with friends and teachers who they are most comfortable with and where there isn’t so much stress and worry from the outside world. As our graduates are anticipating change coming, we are seeing emotions that have been up and down. It makes it even more important that our teachers are assisting the children in learning and also modeling big, little words to their students. We continue to help them know that St. Andrew has always been a place where each individual child can feel that they can be loved and accepted for who they are. We do this by giving them the skills that they need conquer what they are unsure of and we reassure them that their parents, teachers, and Jesus is always by their side.

From an early age, we are teaching and modeling to our children that their words have meaning and have an effect on others. We are always helping them find ways to show kindness to others.

This year we are sending 35 amazing children off to Kindergarten in the fall. We have been blessed to have been a part of their early education years.

We are so proud of each of them and know they will all succeed in whatever path their future leads them to. In the final words of our Good Bye Song.

“Good Bye my friends and God Bless you in all you say and do!”

Melanie Eggers Childcare Director

Melinda Eddihi Childcare Assistant Director

Kathi Wieman Preschool Director

Early Learning Graduates 11

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

– Ephesians 4:32

Early Learning

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Great Big Little Words

Visitation Ministry

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound” Once a month I take holy communion to Elizabeth whose home is a shared room in a memory care unit. She is always pleasant and speaks in ways that still are appropriate but she doesn’t know what day of the week it is or what month it is. After my visit I walk out of the locked unit and before I get to my car Elizabeth no longer remembers that I was just sitting with her and sharing a time of ‘grace’ with her. Actually, as I think about it, grace usually enters into our hearts and minds in moments when we’re vulnerable and open to God’s spirit.

Grace slips into our soul quietly, spontaneously and all feels right with the world.

It was the week before Easter that I visited Elizabeth and shared with her a shortened and simple version of the gospel story of Good Friday and Easter.

I said to her, “Jesus died on the cross because he loves us so much and he gives his love again in this bread and wine.

So, we call it ‘Amazing Grace.’ The moment I said those two words – Amazing Grace – Elizabeth’s eyes and face lit up in a huge smile and she spontaneously began to sing “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” Of course, I joined in the singing and was so surprised that she managed to sing every word and yet I knew that if I had asked her to tell me the words a minute after we sang them, she wouldn’t have been able to do it.

Grace is one of those “big little words” probably over-used but only needs a moment to touch our heart and transform us and draw us preciously close to God.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

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The Apostle Paul speaks of a ‘thorn in the flesh’ that he suffered and prayed that God would take it away. Paul said, “God told me that his grace was sufficient for me and that his power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) That moment of communion and song with Elizabeth felt like a moment of ‘grace’ made perfect in weakness. Such moments can’t be planned or staged.

God simply finds a way to show up and be present in the most profound and simple ways. It’s what we’re calling in our sermon series “a great big little word.”

May we all have those moments of grace.

Roger Schindel Visitation Pastor

Great Big Little Words

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hat is the most delicious food you have never tasted? What is the funniest story you have never read?

What about the most beautiful song you’ve never heard or inspiring artwork you’ve never seen? And what is the best idea that has never been shared with you?

These questions seem fun but they are a strange tie in to living out faith in daily life. Exploring most of these is just fun and easy, heck, in the case of the funniest story, I won’t tell anyone if you just watch the movie. Even better, there are lots of people out there who will happily share their great ideas on what these things are; I daresay other people are the best at telling you things you have missed out on.

The only really tricky one on that list is the list one about ideas being shared it’s also the one where trusting in living my values has the biggest benefit. If people are the best at sharing foods or songs you should try, we can be somewhat less (ok, a lot less) enthusiastic on sharing more complicated or personal thoughts.

Buy why wouldn’t we? After all, the best idea that has never been shared has much more value than knowing what restaurant to try next. It seems counter intuitive that this best idea is, by far, the most difficult of these things to access. Sharing thoughts can have incredible value for business innovation, it can lead to people finding help they need or others that need their help, it builds relationships and entire communities. Considering why people wouldn’t share their ideas is enormously valuable.

This is where the value of relying on the “big little words” like sharing, trust and hope to be so critical as I live out my faith in daily life. The only time people

Congregational Council

will share a thought is if they trust they won’t be punished, mocked or dismissed for sharing it. In my experience, one of the worst ways to find new ideas is to ask “Does anybody have any new ideas?” If I want to find out anything deeper than where I should have dinner, showing goodwill is a pre-requisite (unless someone wants to try something they think I might not like, then I might not even get a dinner answer without grace). And the more complicated or personal the thought, the less likely it is to be shared without that trust.

For a long time I thought that being trustworthy and having positive intentions was enough to build the connections. It was only recently that a training session taught me that having good intentions isn’t enough—and ironically I was the one teaching when someone pointed out this lesson to me. The lesson was: someone has to go first. Someone has to be the first one to ask a dumb question; they have to be the first person to share something that they know could be dismissed as irrelevant or mocked as wrong. I found the trusting someone else with my own flaws or confusion opens the door for them to trust me as well, then we can start talking about some of those “best ideas that haven’t been shared (yet).”

This lesson put my own limitations into context: since only God can deliver on a word like “always”, I get to make do with what I have. Leaning into my confusion and questions can be the way that I can build others up as well.

Brendan Dolan Congregational Council

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

Sunday | 9:00 & 10:30 AM In Person & Online June 12. . . . . . “Hope” June 19. . . . . . “Share” June 26 . . . . . “Grace” July 3. . . . . . . . “Trust” July 10. . . . . . . “Renewal” July 17. . . . . . . “Always” /standrewlu @standrewlu @standrewlu St. Andrew Lutheran Church