Son Times Summer 2024 | Vol. 1

SON TIMES

SPLASHING INTO SUMMER SMALL GROUPS HOSPITALITY WORSHIP CAMP OPERATIONS GRADUATION

Welcome to Summer at St. Andrew

There is something about summer. This started in my early years with the close of school. I remember walking out of school that last day to the wide-open summer before me. Later, raising three boys, Michele and I enjoyed resetting our family schedule during the summer break. It always included a different pace to life, including a vacation to visit family or have a new experience together. We still operate and plan this way even as the boys have gotten older. It’s time to enjoy the longer days, the patio, baseball, and time away, to name a few.

This summer’s SonTimes from St. Andrew is following the theme of “Splashing Into...”. I think there is good playfulness and fun in this title, and not just about a summer of lakes or swimming pools. Its tone prompts us to explore new opportunities for our lives of faith and community. It encourages us to dive into something new and refreshing in our faith lives to see where it might take us. So, we staff at St. Andrew hope that you consider this newsletter as an invitation to engage actively with St. Andrew this summer:

• The Good Book sermon series will take us into stories of scripture that are not so familiar to us, where God’s grace emerges anew for us.

• Summer Socials, including food trucks, fun, and community, are on the second Wednesday of each month.

• Short-term and pastor-led studies for learning and engagement, among other small groups

• Vacation Bible School (and VBX) for elementary school children

• Service opportunities like food and school supply drives and Habitat for Humanity

As you will read in this Son Times issue, your St. Andrew staff is preparing to make this summer memorable for you and the whole family. In all that we do, our prayer is that the love of Jesus emerges within it all to welcome us just as we are and assure us that we are part of God’s grace in the world.

Welcome,

Peter Johnson Interim Senior Pastor

Splashing Into Worship This Summer

Summer is when we can splash into the serious business of Sabbath as we unplug in many ways from the pace we keep throughout the rest of the year. God knows how we need rest and even gave us a commandment about Sabbath as a reminder that we need to take care of ourselves: “remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.” Luther’s explanation of the third commandment invites us to “keep [God’s] word holy and gladly hear and learn it.” What this means for us at St. Andrew, is that your leaders have a strong desire to provide you with excellent, compelling, and inspiring worship services all year long- even in the summer!

This summer, we’ll dive into our series, “The Good Book,” and an incredible variety of themes and characters presented in the Biblical texts we’ll explore. As I was looking at these stories from both the Old and the New Testaments, I was struck by the kaleidoscopic nature of this overview of scripture: a merciful midwife, a “wrestler” who gets a name change, forgiveness in the face of family dysfunction on a colossal scale, a shipwreck, lukewarm Laodicea at the end of the world, an old dog learning new tricks, and a few more. I look forward to hearing these stories brought into the daylight and to hear how God can use these ancient stories to build us up in

faith. Along with these preaching topics, we have a fantastic array of soloists and instrumentalists lined up to enrich our worship services each and every Sunday with stirring and memorable music at both our traditional 9:00 AM service and our contemporary 10:30 AM service. Join us and invite a friend!

Although we’re heading into summer, it’s not too early to be thinking about your involvement in our choirs as we gear up for this next program year. In a recent conversation at a choir rehearsal, I shared about the gifted people leading our choirs here. My new friend responded with the observation that St. Andrew is blessed by an “embarrassment of riches” when it comes to our music staff. I couldn’t agree more! We are so blessed to have Larry Bach leading our Canticle Choir with the support of Jodi Edstrom at the piano. We have some of the finest music educators in the metro area leading our youth choirs: Hannah Fleming, Jill Boyd, and Sarah Gilbertson. Each of these women has a knack for creating fun and welcoming spaces for our kids as they gather on Wednesday evenings for fun-filled rehearsals. And our handbell program at St. Andrew is thriving thanks to the tireless efforts of Linnae Stole and Vicki Grant, who excel at training youth and adults in the art of handbell ringing.

It is also my joy to lead our adult handbell choir, Bells of Joy, who are always up for a challenge as we tackle new music. If you or your child has been on the fence about joining a choir at St. Andrew, let me offer some encouragement and invite you to give it a try. We’d also love to welcome back any of you who were involved in the past but have gotten away from the habit of coming to rehearsals. We have a lot of warm, welcoming, and talented people who would love to make music with you as we offer our gifts to God through music ministry.

As we head into God’s gift of summer, my prayer is that we as God’s people will join in the song of all creation as we praise God together:

This is my Father’s world; the birds their carols raise; The morning light, the lily white, declare their maker’s praise.

-Maltbie D. Babcok

See you in church!

Tim Graf Director of Worship & Music

Splashing In, but Don’t Get Wet

I have never liked high places but admired those not bothered by heights. When I was about 14 years old, I was challenged by a friend at my hometown swimming pool to dive off of the tenfoot high dive. Of course, I wasn’t about to flake out on a dare, so I climbed the ladder up to the high dive. Have you ever stood at the end of a diving board 10 feet off the water? The problem is that the water’s so clear that you can see the bottom of the pool, which is 12 feet deep. So, from the diving board to the bottom of the pool, it was 22 feet. Once I stepped on the high dive board, I knew there was no turning back. I had to dive. So, I took a fast walk to the end of the board, made my bounce step, and flew up into the air and down into the pool head first. I have no idea how good my form was, but I lived. I survived the high dive. I worked off the high dive all summer and got pretty good at a swan dive by the end of the summer. Honestly, I never really conquered the fear of being so high, but I learned to control my fear and prove that I could do it.

We talk about ‘diving into projects’ or ‘diving into our work, a new job, or a new experience.’ This summer’s preaching

“When a tree has deep roots, it won’t be blown over by storms and can handle the weight of the fruit it bears.” –

theme is “The Good Book.” We will dive into the Bible and build our understanding of God’s message for us. If we just dive into the Bible on Sunday morning for a 20-minute sermon, we’ll hardly get wet. I think that we will not feel satisfied by simply wading in the shallow end of the pool. Yes, I hope you’ll think about hitting the high dive and diving deeper into God’s Word because it will result in deeper faith and a much more satisfying relationship with God.

Isaiah 37:31 reminds us, “When a tree has deep roots, it won’t be blown over by storms and can handle the weight of the fruit it bears.” Well, that verse encourages us to be sure that our ‘roots of faith’ go deep to deal with life’s challenges and storms. Let us not be satisfied to stay at the shallow end of the Good Book this summer, but let’s take a deep dive and splash into it with commitment and see how it deepens our faith in the weeks ahead as we live out our faith in daily life.

Roger Schindel Visitation Pastor

Isaiah 37:31

Making a Splash in Hospitality

The golden orb shines intensely in the crystal blue sky. Cool water beckons at the shoreline, inviting relief from the sweltering heat. The child unreservedly runs to the end of the dock, lifting off, embracing knees tightly to their chest before plunging into chilling refreshment. The cannonball initiates the ripple effect in the waves. But more than that, others follow to join in the glee of summer fun—bravely, confidently, with abandon.

Where there is a splash, there is a ripple effect. The Oxford Dictionary defines the ripple effect as the continuing and spreading results of an event or action. Like the child’s cannonball into the water, a smile has a significant impact, too. We lead with it in our greetings and interactions with one another. It sets a tone, a light-hearted gift, and certainty in Christ that there are brighter days. It is contagious.

St. Andrew is calling you to “splash into summer.” What action will you take? What ripple effect will you initiate? Many opportunities are available throughout the summer to act and engage in the community. Sunday Worship is one of them as it continues through the summer at 9:00 and 10:30 AM. All are invited to participate in many ways, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Worship is foundational and does not happen without you.

Summer is a busy time that calls us in different directions. I invite you to actively engage in hospitality this summer— whether you are new, have been here since the beginning, come one day or never miss a single Sunday—find a way to engage and make a splash. Sign up for greeting, serving communion, ushering, or serving coffee. Spread your smile as you serve. We need you.

Signup schedules can be found on the St. Andrew website under Volunteer or by contacting Kari Shellenbarger at kshellenbarger@standrewlu.org for more information. Make a splash. Spread a smile. Enjoy the Son!

Kari Shellenbarger Hospitality & Volunteer Coordinator

Human Resources:

Did you know we have around 75 full-time and part-time employees year-round and an additional 20-ish seasonal camp staff in the summer? That’s a big team to take care of through:

• Payroll Administration

• Benefits Administration

• Policies and Procedures

Team: Denise Loftus

Oversight: Staff Support Committee

Splashing Into Church Operations!

A look under the hood:

Meggy Wagner, Sr. Director of Church Operations Reports to the Senior Pastor

Finance:

Did you know that St. Andrew’s operations generate $5 million annually? The Finance team tracks (and watches over!) all of that through:

• Bookkeeping & Accounting

• Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

• Restricted Fund management, including support to Benevolence and Endowment committees

• Analysis & Reporting

• Budgeting & Strategic Planning

• Production of Annual Report, Annual Meeting

Team: John Nolan, Denise Loftus, Kim Callahan, Monday morning Counters

Oversight: Sara Ross (Treasurer), Finance Committee, Financial Review Committee

IT Systems:

Hospitality & Volunteer Coordination

Did you know we served nearly 200 meals on our busiest Wednesday nights this year? And that we serve around 500 donut halves and holes on an average Sunday morning? That would not happen without our fabulous team and the many tireless volunteers who make St. Andrew a welcoming community:

Team: Kari Shellenbarger, our Wednesday Night Team, and our Incredible Volunteers:

• The Donut Hole Volunteers

• Wednesday Night Dinner Volunteers

• The Funeral Reception Committee

• Greeters, Ushers, Communion Assistants

• Seasonal Decorators

• The Worship & Arts Committee

Did you know that we have a work order system for the building? Software for event scheduling? For building access? A CRM (client relations management database) for the church? Another one for Early Learning? Another one for Camp? Accounting software? Mass email software? Around 40 computers? Several WiFi networks? A Firewall? Some of our systems are up to date (accounting), others need an upgrade (our church database). We are working on the following:

• Analyzing performance

• Writing specifications

• Looking for synergies

• Upgrading systems for better efficiencies

Team: Denise Holtz (Consultant), Solution Builders (IT Services vendor), all stakeholders

… and last but not least, the Sr. Director of Church Operations participates in leadership teams:

• Council

• Stewardship

• Communications

• Church Anew

Interested in participating? Join our volunteer teams! Some of our committees also have open spots: Worship & Arts, Property, Financial Review. Let Meggy know if you are interested: mwagner@standrewlu.org. We’d love to hear from you!

Business Ministries:

Some of our ministries are sizable businesses by themselves, with their own licensing and accreditation requirements.

Early Learning—Childcare and Preschool

Did you know that we have 80 children enrolled in our childcare program and 40 in our preschool program? Our team does an excellent job taking care of them every day! We are blessed with this wonderful program where all God’s children are welcome and well cared for!

Team: Melanie Eggers, Melinda Eddihi, Kathi Wieman Oversight: Finance Committee

Camp—Spirit in the Pines

Did you know we welcome around 1,000 campers and staff to our beautiful summer camp each year? Our 3:1 camper-to-staff / counselor ratio is one of the essential factors in creating an affirming community where faith stories are shared around the campfire, making camp a magical experience for every camper!

Team: Sarah Blasing, Meghan Kelley, Caleb Wragge Oversight: Finance Committee

Facilities:

Did you know that we have 82’380 square feet in our building? That is a lot of space to keep clean and orderly, as well as extensive HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and automation systems to maintain! Here’s what it takes:

• Building and Grounds Maintenance

• Repairs and Upgrades

• Contractor and vendor management

• Licensing & Monitoring

• Safety & Security, including building access control and camera maintenance

• Insurance & Risk Management

• Policies & Procedures

• Long-term capital improvement planning

Team: Michael Stigen, Chuck Noble, and our fantastic team of fabulous building volunteers, including Spirit in the Pines maintenance weekenders

Oversight: Finance Committee, Safety Committee, and currently forming a brand-new Property Committee

Early Learning Making a Splash

“Water is life and a gift from God. Without water and the Spirit we cannot live.”

–Isaiah 44:3

As the weather begins heating up, we often think about different activities for children to be engaged with outside. Splashing in the water is always a favorite among children, whether rain puddles, lakes, swimming pools, sprinklers, or classroom water tables. Children are fascinated with water! Through baptism, water is a part of how we begin our walk with God through our lives. The splash of the baptismal waters assists a child through a multitude of transitions, such as graduation from preschool to kindergarten, losing a first tooth, and meeting new teachers and classmates. The waters of baptism are reaffirmed at confirmation and continue throughout each child’s life journey. As we celebrate the 33 St. Andrew Early Learning graduates who will be heading to Kindergarten, we reflect on all the moments/drops in their lives that have made a big splash. We continue to offer many opportunities to make a splash in individual children’s lives by providing programs and events throughout the summer.

We rounded off the school year by celebrating our graduates with a Graduation Celebration, balloon twisting, and refreshments.

Fun-filled Preschool Camps begin June 3 and are offered each week with different themes taught by our Preschool Teachers.

Childcare will feature weekly water days, an annual “drive-in” movie in the gym, and participation in St. Andrew VBS week.

We are currently registering for both Early Learning programs (the half-day program from September to May and the full–day year-round program). Contact the directors with questions about availability and program information.

“Your baptism is a step of obedience, a leap of faith, and the beginning of a walk with the Lord that will last forever.” – Author unknown

Melanie Eggers Childcare Director

Melinda Eddihi Childcare Assistant Director

Kathi Wieman Preschool Director

Hanging on the wall in my living room are three portraits—a picture from my wedding day and a picture of each of my kids in their baptismal outfits. I had each of my children’s baptismal outfits made from my wedding gown, so we hung those pictures together on our wall. I often look at the picture of that young couple, and those tiny babies, and reflect on the promises that were made, on those very important days. I remember promising to regularly bring them to worship, to place in their hands the Holy Scriptures, and to provide for their instruction in the Christian faith. In turn, the church promised to partner with us as we worked to raise our children in faith. When I think about what I most wanted my kids to know and remember, it is the words spoken shortly after the water was splashed on their foreheads. The Pastor made the sign of the cross on their foreheads and said, “Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” I’ve always told them it is like an invisible tattoo that can remind them and the world of some essential truths. That cross on their forehead is a reminder that they are loved by God, no matter what, always. It is a reminder to live as God’s beloved child, remembering WHO they are and WHOSE they are. I also want them to remember that God loves ALL people, and I hope they show that in how they treat their friends, neighbors, and all the people they encounter.

Here at St. Andrew, we take those promises made at baptism very seriously, too. We want to be a place where young people can grow in faith, and where we can give them a foundation of Christian community and support as well as knowledge of who God is, and how much God loves them, and we want to be a place that supports families on this

journey. We want to be a place to connect with other families, a place to learn and grow in faith, and a place where we experience God’s love in tangible ways.

The rhythm in my house has changed this summer as we lean into different schedules and activities, just as it does in many of your homes. At my house, I moved my two college kids home for the summer recently. The same two kids that hang in portraits on my wall as infants in their baptism outfits are grown-up college students, home for the summer. This means a lot more activity is happening in my house, the grocery bill has skyrocketed and the routines that we settled into as empty nesters has changed!

The rhythm of activities also changes here at St. Andrew for the summer! We will lean into time at Spirit in the Pines as many of us will head to camp for family camp and weekly bible camp. We will enjoy summer Sunday School at 9:00 AM. We look forward to our Vacation Bible School and Summer Socials, which are full of fun, fellowship, food, and the opportunity to connect with other families in the St. Andrew community. Families who can help support you as you raise your children in faith. We want to celebrate the gifts that God has given all of our kids, and our Children’s Ministry staff will be attending games, concerts, recitals, and activities this summer that our kids are participating in—check out the link on our website to tell us about something you have coming up! As you splash into summer and new rhythms, we hope you find the time and space to connect with St. Andrew and the many different things happening!

Shawna Berg Children’s Ministry Director

This June will be the first time I will be back working at Spirit in the Pines as part of the program staff since I was in college (2016). Before I was on staff, I was a counselor, and I was a camper. I believe with all my heart that Spirit in the Pines has the chance to change lives and help kids connect with God, themselves, and their friends. Spirit in the Pines has helped me become who I am today and continues to help me with my faith every day. It would be nice to say that I loved camp from the first time I got off the bus. Honestly, I never wanted to go to Spirit in the Pines. I have a stubborn/loving Mom who thought that camp would be good for her son. Being an elementary school kid, I thought she was sending me up as punishment the first time I went. I was so nervous the whole time I was up there; I really did not have much fun. You would think that would stop my

mom, wrong again. My mom continued to send me up there every year. Every year, I noticed I was having a little more fun. Each campfire, game, devotion, and new friend filled my heart. It started to become the highlight of my summer, and as a counselor, it became the only thing I did during the summer. Somehow, they let me be a counselor for 11 weeks of the 12 weeks of camp one summer. When I was on the program staff, I got to help kids find their connection with God. I still hold some of these memories tightly. I also found some old photos of my time at camp and some from when Spirit in the Pines first started (you have to check them out)! This summer, I am Splashing into Camp again. I am ready to help our kids make connections and build themselves up. Spirit in the Pines provides a unique opportunity for kids to learn from other kids. I understand

that coming to camp for the first time or the fifth time can fill kids with anxiety. When I was young, I got pushed out of my comfort zone, and I can’t thank my mom enough for sending me to camp every year. Camp is why I am passionate about helping my church community here in Eden Prairie. My grandma always reminded me about how blessed we are as a family. Working here at St. Andrew for the last four months, it’s now a little easier to see how blessed I was as a kid. God gives us each the chance to “Splash” into anything we want this summer. I am blessed I get to do it up at Pleasant Lake.

Caleb Wragge Youth Engagement Director

This is the third summer I will spend as the director at Spirit in the Pines Camp. I know by now that the days and weeks are long, but honestly I could not be more excited and hopeful for what is to come.

Ironically, my parents never sent me to camp. But like many people, I still had a very formative experience with outdoor ministries; mine came as an entering freshman at Wheaton College on a twoweek student hiking and canoeing trip. My memories of that trip still feed me today, which is why I can say without any doubt that every single week at Spirit in the Pines is one that changes lives forever.

This is why I am so passionate about growing our camp scholarship fund. We want more kids to receive the gift of a week of camp. We want to give them an experience where they realize that they are uniquely gifted and called by God and that community can be done differently. It can actually model the unconditional love and acceptance that we find in our faith.

Life is hard; no one escapes that, but love really does go with us the whole way. Camp is a place where we can catch a glimpse of that through each other’s campfire stories and affirming words. We know kids who go to camp have a much higher chance of engaging their faith in community for a lifetime.

So please join me in this incredible ministry in any way you can! Yes, summer is off and running, but it is never too late to get involved with camp at Spirit in the Pines. You can give a small gift to our scholarship fund by going to standrewlu. org/giving, clicking on online giving,

and then camp. You can also come to camp or volunteer!

Typically, a handful of openings remain in all of our sessions, including our family camp program on the weekends. For easy reference, we keep our current openings up to date at spiritinthepinescamp.org/current-openings

There are volunteer opportunities both at camp and here at St. Andrew. Our bus send-offs on Sunday mornings are always lively, and extra hands are more than welcome. Onsite, we are always happy to have someone volunteer in the kitchen for a week or weekend. The best part is you get to hang out on our beautiful lake with us with down time to relax. If you are interested in volunteering, just send an email to campingministry@standrewlu.org.

Finally, one of the best things you can do is to extend an invitation to kids in your orbit who might love coming to camp! We are working hard to build our camp scholarship fund so that any kid who wants to attend camp can do so. So take a moment to think about the kids in your life—maybe it’s your grandkids, your neighbors, or other friends in your kids’ friend group—and take a risk and extend that invitation. Everyone who is a part of our camp community now was invited for the first time once.

We are looking forward to an incredible summer, and we hope yours is fabulous, too!

Sarah Blasing

Outdoor Ministry & Youth Leadership Director

This summer it is important for me to embrace where we are in the life of St. Andrew. Winter and Spring had some important tasks: Completion of the Transition Task Force listening session and report out, identifying and establishing a call committee, and working with the call committee to set a direction to call our next senior pastor. After those activities, it is tempting to take a deep breath and just look forward to the end of the call process. However, this spring revealed some important truths about St. Andrew.

First, the organization of the church is strong. A simple new member meeting this spring provided a wonderful dissonance to me: The council and I were in the midst of reviewing details of the task force report and weighing budgets and a path forward. I went to the new member meeting prepared to address any questions about our future—and the new members reminded me that they were here because they felt welcome, not because of any strategic plan.

It’s possible to forget that we are in an interim period at all:

• The music program remains vibrant.

• Confirmands were confirmed.

• Camp counselors are in place.

• Kids are thriving in early learning.

• Wednesday nights still happen.

• Worship attendance has remained strong.

That all that happened is a testament to everyone involved. It would be easy to say: “Things are great,” and leave it at that. However, this time of transition has also brought to light opportunities to think differently about things.

It has been important to embrace how much St Andrew has changed over the years. Spirit in the Pines, St. Andrew Early Learning, and Church Anew would all be substantial organizations on their own, but here they are combined into a single entity. That combination is great; those things all support each other. But it does mean we need to ensure the support structures are there so that nothing is neglected. That raised the big question I am considering this summer: What do we want that support to look like? It’s not a simple answer, but with so many talented people in the church and congregation, I know we can set things up to continue building on our strengths.

This summer, I will be transitioning from my spring mindset of “first, make sure the senior pastor call process is strong” and jumping into asking, “How can the council better support the new and evolving church?” While I am grateful that it sometimes doesn’t feel like the church is in transition, I want to embrace the opportunity that change brings. My goal for the rest of the year is to try to leave things on the church council in a better position than I found them, knowing that it was already in a good position when I started.

Brendan Dolan Council President

“Like the rush of a violent wind and tongues as of fire…”

(excerpt from Acts 2)

Fire, amazement, wind, bewilderment, crowds, astonishment, it must be the Holy Spirit. And it is! Fires have already brought smoke into the Metropolitan area, wind disrupts, disturbs, topples centuryold trees and changes the landscape. Wildfires rain ash and devastation in their pathway. Yet with blazing red and festive song St Andrew celebrates the arrival of the winds and fire of the Holy Spirit just 50 days after Christ throws open the tomb, rises from the dead and ascends into heaven year after year after year at Pentecost. Who wouldn’t be bewildered and even a bit frightened?

Early in March, I joined in your mission here at St. Andrew as your Interim Transition Pastor. It was still a dark time; winter was cold and gray everywhere, yet inside this space, life, light, possibility, and resilience were alive. Sometimes, when a pastor leaves a

congregation, there is great fear, anxiety, worry, and an exodus. But what I have discovered is a community on fire, willing to be disrupted by change in the winds of the Spirit. You are a community shaped by the Spirit, filled with the power of young voices and music, of engaging reflection, pressing the edges through Church Anew, finding joy in Wednesday meals and yoga and a gym that is a welcome place for many, a place where kids feel welcome to grieve, even in a parking lot, where a Bible camp shapes faith and invites friends and strangers into God’s creation and a building where on any given day, a door opens and on the other side there is yet another something happening.

But winds and fire disrupt. With the partnership of the Holy Spirit, the Bishop, and the Council, your Call Committee is faithfully and diligently working on

your behalf to call a new Senior Pastor. In the next few months, I will work with a team to review your governance, make recommendations to the Council, and update St Andrew’s Constitution.

The current study of Last Standing Woman by Winona LaDuke has heightened interest in a Sacred Sites tour in the Twin Cities. The tour is guided by Native leaders who help non-Natives deepen our understanding of the First People who settled and shaped this area and continue to. Watch for details!

You are a fire and wind congregation, not afraid to be dislodged by the Spirit. It is good to walk beside you in these days.

With a grateful heart,

Susan Tjornehoj Interim Transition Pastor

Splashing into...Small Groups

If you were to look around your life, how many smaller groups of people do you belong to? For example, we are all part of families who we count in our inner circle. For those of us working, I think you can also count people with whom you work as a group of colleagues or friends who share in a similar task. Another small group Michele and I found ourselves in was a gift our boys gave us over and over—we met the parents of their friends on the sidelines of sports fields, regattas (our boys were all rowers), or music halls. We have found that we still get together with these friends—of course, we talk a little about the boys.

Michele and I also count ourselves as part of the St. Andrew community, just like you. Our church is bigger in some ways, and it is on display with our Sunday morning services when hundreds of people gather. We also have enjoyed the gift of friendships, shared experience, and learning by diving into the smaller things. The Patio Crawls help us connect casually with people from St. Andrew (who you later sit with during worship) or even our rich travel experiences with groups. I enjoy leading studies because

others help connect me with others and God in new ways.

Back in January, I got a call from a member of the St. Andrew Book Club. The phone call was to inform me that their long-time leader, Mary Gustafson, was planning to retire at the end of the program year from her leadership of the group after 30 years. Wow, what a run! They are grateful for leadership after all these days and were beginning the plans of honoring her dedication as their group leader and fostering the good experience they enjoy.

For fun, I did some math. If they have been meeting monthly for thirty years and read nine books a year (September–June), that is 270 books. If each of these books was 300 pages long, they would have read together 81,000 pages. No wonder the group has gotten so close— look at all that they have done together!

Most importantly, I ponder how their lives have been enhanced by the presence of the other members of their group. For instance, how many followup meetings have happened at the coffee shop for further conversation? I wonder how many commonalities of life have

been discovered and discussed, creating a fresh sense of understanding and fellowship. I also wonder when a member of the group has had a difficult time, even the death of a parent, and image how the group members have come alongside them with their faith and prayers and warm and supportive embraces. These gifts of community can’t be quantified, but they sure can be celebrated as a gift from God.

Our goal at St. Andrew through small groups like this is to foster a sense of belonging. I believe God would want all people to experience this. They give the participants a deeper connection with others and a sustained faith and life. Please consider joining a small group this summer. We have pastor-led studies on Wednesdays at 8:00 AM or Thursdays at 9:00 AM. For the casual amongst us, the Patio Crawls (3rd Thursdays) or Wine and Fellowship (4th Thursdays) are easy places to connect. There is something for everyone.

Welcome, Peter Johnson

Interim Senior Pastor

Splash!

I visited a small village in the Cascade Mountains following my sophomore year in college. It’s an impossibly challenging journey to get there. We rode the Empire Builder from Minneapolis across the Northern United States into Washington. Jumping a public bus from Wenatchee to Chelan, we caught a ferry along a frigid, crystalline lake through the mountains and orchards to a landing halfway down the massive lake. From there, a school bus drove us all the way to an old mining camp that had served as a Lutheran retreat center since 1962.

Along with a few college classmates, I volunteered in the kitchen, baking hundreds of hotdog buns for youth groups from the Seattle area and preparing meals for pilgrims who spent time in worship, prayer, hiking, and exploration. I loved the rhythm of Holden Village, centered in shared mealtimes, evening worship (vespers), the incoming youth groups on the weekends, and ample opportunity to hike throughout the beautiful surroundings. At the end of our three weeks, I was off to another camp in Northern Wisconsin to spend the summer as a canoe guide. I wanted something to mark the journey, so I got down to my skivvies and jumped twenty feet off the dock into Lake Chelan. The thrill of the fall, the plunge into the water, kicking my way back to the surface, then taking a deep gasp of cool mountain air.

Lost to history for thousands of years, one of the first handbooks of the Christian faith was rediscovered in 1873.

Entitled the Didache, which simply means teaching, this book outlines the practices of baptism, holy communion, provides

several hymns, and offers instructions on preparing initiates for baptism. While scholars debate the specific date that it was compiled, many find agreement that it was written in the middle to late first century, before much of the New Testament was written. In essence, the Didache is an image into the worship practices and faith confessions of the earliest followers of Jesus. It is like glimpsing those first people who were baptized into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

The Didache insists that baptism should take place “in running water. But if you have no running water, baptize in other water; and if you cannot in cold, then in warm.” There is something about crystal, cold water that shocks the system and awakens the senses to the mysterious work that God does in the promise of baptism. On that cold afternoon in Chelan, I knew God was whispering something new in me, calling forth things in me that I could only begin to glimpse.

Baptism is a powerful and invigorating promise. God’s crystal-clear promises to renew us and carry us into eternity are clarified in this moment of water and word. Indeed, we baptize infants because faith is not something we do but an unearned and unmerited gift from God. The shock of water that May afternoon reminded me of God’s work in my life and reinvigorated a faith that had become stifled.

Just this last month, 65 students affirmed their baptism, which is what our Confirmation process leads to. They claim this faith as their own, acknowledge their parents’ promises, and make their own promises. I wish we could have all taken

a trip to Lake Chelan (maybe Superior would be closer!) to submerge our bones in the fresh chill of God’s promise. While ice baths and polar plunges are made chic right now, I fear they lack the connection to the ancient promises of our faith, practiced generation after generation. But anytime you dip your toes in water, whether icy cold or fiery hot, we can remember the faith God provides for us, free of charge.

My invitation is this: When you find yourself splashing into something this summer, take a moment to feel the water, breathe in the chill air, give thanks for God’s promises in your life, and welcome the faith that God is always creating in you, fresh every morning. And if you want to talk about baptism, if you’ve never been baptized, or if you are curious about what it means, give me a call. I’m always happy to talk more about it.

Matthew Ian Fleming Pastor of Teaching Church Anew Director

Join Me for Wine & Fellowship

With Dave Allen, our resident wine expert, every fourth Thursday at 6:30 PM, we’ll taste some wines from around the world, gather in conversation, and sip our way into Summer. I hope to see you there!

• June 27

• July 25

• August 22

Splashing into Renewal

This April, we gathered an incredible assembly of preachers from diverse traditions, backgrounds, and perspectives. Working closely with this team is an honor, especially as we convene cohorts of preachers of color around the theme Rewilding Otherwise Preaching. I have much to learn from this amazing team and am honored that they are a part of the cloud of witnesses our community can learn alongside.

Over the next several months, the Church Anew team will be up to some really amazing things behind the scenes. We are preparing two major initiatives that will carry us into the next four years.

• St. Andrew Lutheran Church received $1.25 million in funding to help twenty ELCA congregations transform their ministry. We’ll provide coaching to leaders, consulting for congregations, support renewal from various experts, and enrich the worship lives of hundreds of congregations nationwide. This work is supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

• Church Anew is an implementing partner in another grant, Rewilding Otherwise Preaching, which is a partnership with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. With $1.25 million in funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc., Church Anew will convene cohorts of preachers of color to articulate gospel messages that draw from ancestral traditions and narratives.

Church Anew continues to share fresh witness, inspiration, and vision with Christian leaders across the country. We’re grateful for this ministry of our congregation that will nourish leaders for years to come!

Matthew Ian Fleming Pastor of Teaching

Church Anew Director

Summer Socials Summer Socials

Jun. 12, Jul. 10, Aug. 14 | 4:30–7:30 PM

Summer Socials are back! The Children, Youth, & Family Team is hosting a community event for everyone to enjoy and connect with others. Join us for food trucks, a bouncy house, games, and live entertainment in St. Andrew’s parking lot. Come for fun and fellowship for all ages! Invite your friends and neighbors. Everyone is welcome!

For those of us who grew up in the Lutheran church, we likely remember something about our Confirmation experience. It may seem like a part of our former life and in a place far away. Perhaps we remember the pastor who taught us, the friendships we made in class, the scripture verses or parts of Luther’s Small Catechism we memorized, or the room in the church basement where the classes were held. The actual Confirmation Sunday (this year on May 5) is considered a milestone moment we celebrate with our families as an important rite of passage. No matter what part of our Confirmation experience we remember, Confirmation is part of our story of faith. You could say that it was a splashing into the faith of adulthood.

I recently met with a group of Confirmation small group leaders. They are awesome, each in their own distinct way. These are faithful adults in our congregation who take youth seriously. They want to provide a setting as a caring adult where friendships develop between youth and the faith is passed on to the

next generation, one way or another. Leading a group of middle schoolers takes creativity and patience, but mostly, it has to do with being authentically present with youth. Here are two meaningful examples of the power of Confirmation through the eyes of small group leaders.

First, one small group leader talked about how the group appreciated sharing highs and lows each session. It is a time for students to share something good that is happening in their lives and get a little deeper into something that challenges or frustrates them. In this small group leader’s case, much of the session is spent hearing about and supporting students facing particular life situations. Yes, they get into the curriculum, but they strive to faithfully support each other. It is an excellent ministry to offer an open ear and caring counsel to students who need it. God is working amidst these circumstances to create a deeper sense of belonging.

Second, the students were asked to design and wear a red stole for

Confirmation services. They placed images about themselves and their faith lives on their personalized stole. In a few instances, Psalm 23 was written on their stoles. Why was this? After each Wednesday session, their small group leader made it a point to recite Psalm 23 together. It took no time for the group to memorize it. I am confident they will continue to draw strength from those ancient words of hope.

May we all continue to learn and grow in our faith, remembering our past but also experiencing the newness of faith and life that God desires for those on the faith journey. It is a way that we are repeatedly embraced by the love of Jesus. Milestones like Confirmation create memorable moments for students and families. But it is in the rest of life that we can have trust and hope in God. May God continue to bless and renew us.

Peace,

Peter Johnson Interim Senior Pastor

THE GOOD BOOK

Meeting Our Ancestors in Faith, One Story at a Time

Sundays | 9:00 & 10:30 AM

The Bible can be a barrier for a lot of people of faith. It’s large, intimidating, and can be confusing! Many people are wary of reading these texts, carry bruises from their upbringing, or simply don’t have enough information for the stories to make any sense. This summer, we invite you to spend time reclaiming the “good” in The Good Book—learning and relearning how ancient stories relate to our stories here and now. Based on Anna Carter Florence’s newest book, A is for Alabaster: 52 Reflections on the Stories of Scripture, this summer sermon series will highlight and expand upon some of the favorite stories from the book. For those who want to dig deeper, we invite you to join the Pastors’ book study, which will go through the entire book. Join us and invite a friend for this memorable series that begins on Sunday, June 2!

13600 Technology Drive

Eden Prairie, MN 55344

952.937.2776 | standrewlu.org

Starting Sunday, June 2

Meeting Our Ancestors in Faith, One Story at a Time

Sundays | 9:00 & 10:30 AM