Son Times Summer 2021 | Vol. 2

SON TIMES ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH

SUMMER 2021 | VOL. 2

What’s the Point?

What’s the Point?

Leadership

“What’s the Point?”

“You know . . . when you’re telling these little stories. Here’s a good idea: have a point it makes it a lot more interesting for the listener.”

Neal Page (Steve Martin) to Del Griffith ( John Candy) in: “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” Paramount Pictures, 1987 One day a professor at Luther Seminary told me a story that will forever guide and direct my ministry. We’ll call the professor: Rollie.

(Cause, that’s his name.) We were in class talking about church stuff when, all of a sudden, Rollie said: So, I was on a plane recently. I was going to a church conference. I was in the middle seat and there was a man in the seat next to me. We exchanged a few pleasantries and then he asked where I was headed, and why. I told him that I was headed to New York for a church conference. The man subsequently asked: “What do you do for a living?” I told him that I was professor at Luther Seminary. (Rollie told us that that always either ends further discussions or it propels a deep and meaningful conversation.)

The man replied almost immediately: “My family and I have always attended church. It has been a very important part of our life as a family.

Until recently, that is.” Rollie asked the logical question: “So, may I ask, what happened?”

The man replied: “All of a sudden we decided to have a family meeting. You see, with the kids growing older, they have jobs, my wife and I have jobs, the kids have activities and so do we—life had just become, well, unmanageable.

So, we all got together and we talked about all the things we’re involved in and we did an audit.” Rollie replied: “An audit?” The man replied: “Yes, everyone was asked to list everything they’re involved in—and— most importantly—they were to share what they get from said activities. In other words, what do you gain from your hobbies, time with friends, work, church, etc.?”

Rollie asked, “So, what happened?” The man replied, “Well, we no longer attend church. Apparently, of all that we have going on, attending church fed us the least.” The great thing about Rollie is, he didn’t judge. Instead, he took note and made sure that he told those who were studying for the ministry that, even when it comes to participating in a church, there had better be a point to it all.

In the next sermon series we are going to be asking the question: “What’s the point?” What’s is the point of it all? Christianity. Faith. Forgiveness. Hope.

My life of faith in relation to those around me. You know, as we: “Live Out Our Faith in Daily Life.”

My friends in Christ, join us as we dig down deep and discover the point of the most important aspects of our God-given life of faith.

Be well and God bless, David Lillejord Senior Pastor

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“What’s the Point?”

Whether you’re a new Christian or a lifelong person of faith, it is helpful for us to examine together the fundamental purpose behind some of the most important aspects of Christianity. Is the Bible still relevant today? What is God calling me to do and to be through my vocation? What does complete and total forgiveness really entail? What do true Christian generosity, community, and hope look like and how do they differ from the world’s understanding of these things? We invite you to join us for a compelling sermon series that answers these and many other questions.

August 1...................... “The Holy Bible” August 8.................................“Vocation” August 15.......................... “Forgiveness” August 22........................... “Generosity” August 29......................... “Community” September 5................................“Hope”

What’s the Point?

Safety/Hospitality

Safety First…Always!

I doubt that the first thing to come to mind when it comes to operating a church is the concept of safety and security. “What’s the point” one might ask. Of all the places one probably feels safe and secure, it might be a church, but the reality is that things can and do happen that put people at risk—even in a church—even at St. Andrew.

A couple of years ago, St. Andrew established a Safety Team. It’s purpose was to oversee the ongoing safety and security of those who come and go at St. Andrew. Under the leadership of Barb Carroll, their initial goal was to establish a Safety Manual which outlined our own internal procedures and practices regarding safety. Although COVID slowed their work a bit, they have made good progress on that goal.

After leading this team for the past two years, Barb has announced that it is time for her to step back from that work. We are so very grateful to Barb for all she has done in leading the team and wish her well as she gives more time and attention to her personal life.

In the meantime, the work of this team will continue. Barb will help in the transition to new leadership. We would also welcome others to be a part of this important work. Anyone interested should contact Pastor Gail at pastorgail@standrewlu.org or Steve Starks at sstarks@standrewlu.org.

Please join us in thanking Barb for her generous contributions toward safety and security here at St. Andrew.

Fall is Coming and Hospitality is Ramping Up Some have been surprised when we refer to Hospitality as a ministry. What could possibly be the point? Well—it has a very important purpose. In fact, it has several purposes—that is to make people feel welcome as they walk through the front doors of St. Andrew—to assist them in finding their way through our building—to be able to answer questions they might have about us—AND OF COURSE, to feed them. Whether we are talking about ushers on Sunday morning, greeters at the front door, or someone to set up and serve donuts and coffee, this work is all a part of the ministry of Hospitality.

As we move toward fall, we will once again ramp up the need for volunteers in all of these ways. Individual circumstances and interests have changed over the course of COVID, so the need for volunteers is significant. If you are interested in getting involved in making St. Andrew feel like the most welcome place it can possibly be, we invite you to consider helping us in that work. Just let me know at pastorgail@standrewlu.org or go to the website and sign up to help.

We would love to have you on our team of Hospitality volunteers.

Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism

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“Notes” From the Music Office

Music & Worship

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

St. Augustine

What’s the Point of Christian Worship?

Is worship for us or is it for God? In my younger days, I had been taught that worship is something we do for God and that’s the end of it. So my understanding of what the Bible called a “sacrifice of praise” meant something like: we should worship whether we want to or not. Or as my Dad would put it so eloquently on Sunday mornings, “Get your butt out of bed. We’re going to church.” Well, there is something to that approach as church did become something that was built into my DNA as I grew up and it remains at the core of my identity.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6) is often quoted when talking about the importance of bringing your family to church. But my slightly older, ever-so-slightly wiser self would answer the original question differently these days. Is worship for us or is it for God? I think the answer is that it is both for God and for us.

Even as God is faithful to answer our prayer petition “give us this day our daily bread,” so God also wants our spirits to be fed. Can our spirits be fed in other ways besides coming to church? Of course they can; it is undeniable that we experience the divine all around us in so many ways. But I believe that what we experience together when we worship 3

simply cannot be duplicated outside of corporate worship. I believe that all the elements of Christian worship work together to draw us out of ourselves and into community; out of ourselves and into the deeper mysteries of faith and life; out of ourselves and into song and into prayer that acknowledges the pain and sorrow in the world but also seeks to be part of the solution.

I believe that worship should inspire, challenge, comfort, affirm, and transform us. That’s a tall order, to be sure! But I also believe that our worship leaders and preachers at St. Andrew strive tirelessly to be relevant and inspiring and to make our worship services all that they can be to feed the people of God for service in the world.

Our sermon series for the month of August delves into many key aspects of our Christian faith and life as we wrestle with topics that are foundational for us: The Bible, vocation, forgiveness, generosity, community, and hope. We hope you will join us soon and often!

See you in church!

Tim Graf Worship & Music Coordinator

What’s the Point?

Seeds of Support

Haiti Crisis Deepens with Presidential Assassination On July 7 (the deadline for this newsletter), I arose in the morning like I normally do. The alarm goes off. Michele is scanning the news on her phone while I continue to doze. In the dark of the room, she exclaims the President Moise of Haiti has been assassinated. My heart sinks. I don’t need to open my eyes to read the article. My mind wanders into what I already know. A crisis in Haiti just got much deeper. Lord have mercy.

Seeds of Support Missions has been working in Haiti for over ten years now.

Over these years, our partnership with Redemption Lutheran Church in Jacmel has deepened understandings into this tiny Caribbean nation’s complicated history, but more importantly has deepened relationships between people. Over 25 mission trips to Haiti have brought members of St. Andrew and the wider community into contact with one another and created genuine friendships.

This is why so many at St. Andrew are

so deeply saddened at this turn of events.

When friends suffer, we do, too.

While details are starting to emerge about what happened, so much is unknown at this point. I have received emails from people already asking what my thoughts are of President Moise.

All I can say at this point is that some liked him. Some didn’t. More broadly speaking, this country has gone beyond a constitutional crisis into a leadership struggle without elected national leadership. A land and people who have been through so much over the years (political upheaval, economic stagnation and inflation, poverty, and earthquakes) now adds to the list another crisis they have never seen before.

I ask you to pray with me for Haiti.

When we get down to brass tacks, where the rubber hits the road, when all seems to be lost (I could go on and on with the clichés), we believe that God remains.

We trust that God has led people

through the worst of times. The Bible is a living testimony of this. We see in Jesus that God is one who lives among us, not aloof from us. We see the cross of Christ as the place where God meets the world’s greatest challenges. Please, pray for Haiti, for hope, and for peace.

One of our projects in Haiti was a water well. When we first started this project, we were not sure that we would hit water. When digging a well, it is always a calculated guess. But God is faithful. The well is deep but it hit water that still flows in the community. I pray that together with our Haitian friends will go to that deeper well of hopefulness and that we will take a long drink of the living water of Christ that sustains. May God bless them and may we continue to support and encourage them.

Pastor Peter Johnson Pastor of Small Groups & Service

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What’s the Point?

Service

Caring for Neighbors Never Goes on Vacation It is common during the summer to duck away from normal life over the summer. Michele and I have valued greatly the family time of these opportunities. If we are driving to the East Coast to visit family, a national park out West, or up to a Minnesota resort on a lake, these are some of our fondest memories.

I hope you have the chance to take some time away, too!

As faithful people in the world who care about the people around us and in our community, we also know that when it comes to people with needs, there is no vacation. Health issues and hospitalizations happen no matter the time. Job loss for some people stretches out through summer breaks. Internationally, we continue to pray for our friends in Haiti (see related article in this newsletter). For them a vacation is a far-away dream. When it comes to serving others, what is Jesus’ point? We can never really take our eye off the ball. Other people need us!

Two projects this summer will help you to keep your muscles and minds/hearts active in the service area. First, our partnership with Forest Hills Elementary School enters its second year. The social worker at the school would welcome the chance to help 10 students per grade at the school (60 students in total) who need school supplies. Also, teachers at some point always end up short of Kleenex, dry erase markers, and other items each year. Financial donations to the partnership will help keep the classrooms supplied with what teachers really need. For more information, click here.

Second, we are pleased to roll up our sleeves again this summer on a work project in our Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities build project August 18-20. After projects like this took year off last summer because of the pandemic, this Habitat project in Chaska is a great way to sink your energy into a simple building project surrounded by others from St. Andrew. You think you might need a lot of experience on building projects of this sort? Think again! Provided training and tools will equip us for a day of service. Up to 12 people can sign up each day and lunch is provided. Let’s get to work together!

Please enjoy the chance to relax some this summer. I know I will. Let us also keep alive and well our lives of Christian service toward others. Forest Hills and Habitat are just two examples of serving others this summer; you can be a part of many others. People need us. And, God needs us in this role, too.

Thanks for being God partners in the world.

Shoulder to shoulder, Pastor Peter Johnson Pastor of Small Groups & Service

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What’s the Point?

A More Just World

Training Brings Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Close to Home Tova Werlinger and Pastor Peter Johnson recently participated in a training session to become Qualified Administrators of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). With this training, they will be able to use this popular tool for helping St. Andrew individuals and groups wanting to learn more about navigate cultural differences between people. What were some key takeaways from the training session? Here are some responses from Tova Werlinger.

How has the IDI influenced you personally?

The IDI has really impacted me deeply in many ways. I would say it has actually impacted a large part of my life, including the ways in which I parent my two daughters, interact with the community, and the work I choose to engage in as a professional.

There is a section of the IDI that describes the way we perceive ourselves. What I didn’t know before taking the IDI was that I was holding assumptions about myself, or I was perceiving my actions to be impacting in a way that may not have been my intent.

In all honesty, when I first experienced the IDI seeing my perceived orientation data was very eye opening for me, but what this provided was a pathway for some self-discovery. Since my perceived orientation was described to me as the space or mindset of where I wanted to be I saw this as an attainable goal or path that I was already engaged in. I just needed to be more intentional in developing myself, widening my experiences, and seeking new perspectives. All of these things, have changed the way I do me in this world.

However one might choose to work towards overcoming injustice in this world, insights from the IDI can help us to begin or continue our collective journeys. The IDI helps us to take a look at ourselves, reflect on our intentions, and consider if our intentions match the impacts we hope to have.

This awareness can support us in becoming better listeners and learners working to create spaces that encourage intentional actions. This describes one way that we might live out our faith in daily life, by using the information from the IDI we can focus our work and grow in faith.

Regarding this work, what would be your hope for St. Andrew in two years from now?

My hope for this faith community is that in two years we will look back and see the positive impacts that our collective work with A More Just World has had on our community as a whole. I hope we will continue to be intentional in the ways we seek to expand our spiritual learning and build partnerships with our community. When we see or experience injustice we will be reflective and courageous in the actions that we bring forward as we live out our faith in daily life.

We thank Tova for her participation in the training program. Pastor Peter and Tova look forward to offering the training sessions to members of leaders beginning this fall. If you would like more information, please let me know.

Pastor Peter Johnson Pastor of Small Groups & Service

How do you think St. Andrew will benefit from having the IDI as part of the congregation’s ministry?

I see the IDI helping us to grow into and fulfill the commitments that St. Andrew has created for A More Just World – • Learning and Listening together • Sharing, Encouraging, and Acting together 6

What’s the Point?

Benevolence Fund Continues to Make a Difference It is the work of the Church in the world to make a difference. As we are able, we are called to bring goodness, healing, and hope into places in need. According to the life and witness of Jesus, this is the point.

Every offering given to St. Andrew contributes to our church’s Benevolence Fund. This year’s allocation from the offering plate is $100,000. These funds is faithful managed by the Benevolence Committee who meets quarterly to read and discuss grant applications that make a difference in the world.

Over the past six months, $10,000s has been given to missions like the following: • Seminary scholarships—St. Andrew members studying for church work in the future.

• EP Police & Fire Support—Encouraging our first responders with care packages • Forest Hills partnership—support our adopted EP school • Onward EP—Support youth homelessness in EP • Habitat for Humanity—Help build a house in Habitat for Humanity (see related service article on page 5) • Tributaries of Hope Ministries in Uganda—Provide food for malnourished children • Minneapolis Area Synod—mission support for our local synod’s work • Seed of Seeds of Support Missions—bolster our ongoing work in Haiti • Church Anew Support—Support the outreach of the program and its voices to the broader church • Bloomington Meals on Wheels—help alleviate hunger and loneliness of local shut-ins.

The committee also discussed the importance of supporting international grants. To better assist us in the process of evaluating these grants from abroad, we now ask that each international grant be accompanied by a St. Andrew member Sponsor who can be a local reference for information about the ministry.

Applications can be received for programs where growth in faith, growth in financial giving, or Christian service is uniquely encouraged. See the website for more information.

Blessings, Pastor Peter Johnson Pastor of Small Groups & Service

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What’s the Point?

Endowment

St. Andrew Mission Endowment Fund Update During the past year the St. Andrew Mission Endowment Fund has been presented with a number of wonderful and unique opportunities to support the needs of our community on both a local and global basis. In addition to reviewing and approving grants, the Endowment Committee has also focused on being careful stewards of the Endowment Funds assets.

Thanks to the strength of our long-standing partnership with Thrivent Charitable Impact/Investing and favorable financial market conditions, the Endowment Fund has grown substantially during the last 12 months.

Here are a several examples of recently funded grant requests: • Friends of Madagascar Mission “Church Roofs Project”— $6,000 to cover the cost of materials to place five metal roofs on recently founded churches.

• Longfellow Rising Public Art Project—$5,000 to support a public art project spearheaded by Holy Trinity Church in south Minneapolis. The “cocoon” sculpture will be made up of hundreds of green tiles that will include messages of hope from community members and will serve as a place of healing and togetherness.

• Westwood Rise Early—$5,000 to help support the development of a 62-spot affordable child care center in St. Louis Park in coordination with Westwood Lutheran Church.

• MATTER—$2,000 for planting 285 Chaya trees and providing training for women at community project sites in Zimbabwe.

More information regarding the Endowment Fund is available on the St. Andrew website (and please let us know if you are interested in applying to be a committee member).

Steve Moen Endowment Fund Committee Chair

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What’s the Point?

Spirit in the Pines

The Spirit has returned to Spirit in the Pines Camp!

Some things over the years are constant, like the sparrows returning to Capistrano after wintering in Argentina, the Loons returning to our Minnesota lakes after their time in the Gulf of Mexico, the campers and their wonderful spirit returning to Spirit in the Pines after a long winter in the cities . . . That long winter in the cities became more than a year of isolation, distance learning, and not being able to do most of the things you love with the people you love to do them with!

All of that has made our 20th anniversary at Spirit in the Pines this summer even more sweet. The smiles, the laughter, the sheer joy of children playing, singing, and praying have once again brought the Spirit to Spirit in the Pines. Here are just a few wonderful observations that the staff and I have seen during this first half of the summer.

Our youngest campers come off the buses wide-eyed and a little taken back by the energy and all of the commotion. However, you can see their quiet excitement … and questions—so many questions, for what lies ahead. Once that first hand goes up in the middle of my welcome/rules talk, there becomes a sea of hands in the air. You can just see the wheels turning and the excitement building as each question gets answered.

After they get settled into their cabins and having lunch, they dive right into a full afternoon and evening of games and activities. They wake up the next day feeling like camp veterans—ready for whatever lies ahead. When asked how his day at camp was, one 2nd grade camper was awestruck and could barely muster the words, “THIS IS AWESOME! I’ve been waiting for this for 4 years!” The sheer joy could be seen and felt with each word spoken. It was music to my ears!

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Our middle school campers have experienced, or have heard of the crazy and amazing games that are played at camp. All week long, they are constantly asking if they will be able to play Rat-atat-tat, Mighty, Mighty Scoop Noodle Challenge, Duel Ball, and Bonkers! The staff never really gives them an actual answer. They keep our plans hush-hush so we can surprise the campers later on. It is so fun to see their faces light up and to hear the cheers as their favorite games are announced! Bonkers is by far the all-time favorite for this age group. The campers go about trying to find counselors that are hiding all around the camp, all the while being chased by “Bonkers” (counselors with wet sponges in a tube sock trying to whop the campers). Being able to see the smiles and to hear the laughter (and shrieks) once again is such a blessing.

Our oldest campers come off the bus with most of them having big smiles and are excited to experience camp for the 1st or the 7th time! For some of the boys there is often a coolness factor as they get off the bus. They’re excited too, but don’t want to show it right away. Our oldest campers get to do many different games, activities, and late nights that the younger campers don’t get to experience. One particular moment that was a huge hit for campers and staff alike stands out. During the cabin/ team talent show, one particular boys cabin had an intricately choreographed, lip-synched dance routine to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”. It was a huge hit and really brought that cabin together!

Throughout the weeks, counselors have commented how close they have become to their campers and the fun they too are having right along with them.

During one particular week, cabins of campers were competing in an Olympic

Tug-of-war match. After 45 seconds or so in a stand–off of might, one particular counselor was encouraging his group and started chanting 1-2-3-PULL! The campers responded with delight and began to work as a team. A quick 10 seconds later, they erupted with cheers and fists in the air as they won their match. It struck one staff member that since the pandemic, these campers have had little to cheer about. They have worked independently from home, online classes, individual assignments, etc. They have not been able to be on a team, and maybe haven’t been able to experience the fruits of any kind of teamwork for a long time. So it was especially rewarding to see the joy of the victors, and the “we’ll get you next time” comradery of the losers knowing that they had tried their best.

The staff and I are just so happy to once again be at camp. To once again provide a safe and welcoming haven where the love of God is shared. To once again offer the campers a place where they can have so much fun just being a kid! Yes, the Spirit has once again returned to Spirit in the Pines! Just in time to celebrate 20 amazing years of camping ministry!

Burke Hancer Camp Coordinator

What’s the Point?

Do You Know?

Do you know?

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

Do you know what a Pharisee is?

Because they’re not fair you see? We know the camp song perhaps (I just want to be a sheep, ba-ba-ba) and we’ve heard Jesus tossing some shade at the Pharisees (kids, am I using that phrase right?). But perhaps we don’t know a whole lot about the Pharisees in the Bible. Your resident Bible nerd teaching pastor here to save the day.

Insert cool theme music here.

One of my favorite resources for Bible Nerd trivia is the book by Rolf Jacobson, Hans Jacobson, and our very own Rev. Dr. Hans Wiersma, Crazy Book: A Not-SoStuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms. Our friends’ definition helps us out:

Pharisees |

feh • reh • sees

The spiritual ancestors of Rabbinic Judaism, cousins of Christianity, and the most misunderstood people in the New Testament.1

If you’ve been around the Bible a bit, you might have an inkling that the Pharisees were some snooty ivory tower sorts who had their heads stuck so high up in the clouds they couldn’t smell the soil on a rainy day. You might also imagine that they were hypocrites, after power and control rather than working alongside the regular people. This couldn’t be anything further from the truth.

The Pharisees were actually the closest group of people to Jesus and the disciples. They worked out in the villages, alongside the fisherpeople and carpenters and farmers. The Pharisees gathered ordinary Jewish people around teaching them of the Scriptures as spiritual and living documents, embracing traditions of their ancestors, and how to live in accordance with the Laws of Moses (Torah).

The Pharisee we know the best is the Apostle Paul, who described of himself to Philemon: “as to the law, I am a Pharisee.” While their movement was contemporary of Jesus, Pharisee’s origins stretch all the way back to the tension between the prophets and the priests in the Old Testament (think Amos and Micah railing against the religious establishment of the Temple).

At the end of the day, the Pharisees are likely more like distant cousins of ours, concerned with some of the same concepts as Jesus and Paul, preaching out among the people, and ultimately helping people live their spirituality in their daily lives. So next time it comes up on a quiz-show, you’ll be ready!

Pastor Matthew Fleming Pastor of Teaching & Young Adults

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Jacobson, Jacobson, Wiersma, Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms, p. 225-226

What’s the Point?

Children’s Ministry

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i all, I am Sarah Dorr the new Children’s Ministry Coordinator, and I am so excited to jump into this position.

I am from Mahtomedi, Minnesota where I also worked at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church on the Children’s Ministry Team.

I am a recent graduate from Augsburg University’s Theology and Public Leadership program with a concentration in Youth Studies. Some things that you may find me doing outside of work are going on long walks with my dog, testing new recipes and hanging out with my family. I love talking about my faith and helping others share theirs. Working with children gives me energy and gets me excited for new challenges and opportunities! Speaking of opportunities, something that you can look forward to starting in the fall is Sunday School. And keep a look out for other fun opportunities starting this fall!

Sarah Dorr Children’s Ministry Coordinator

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What’s the Point?

Middle School Ministry

Middle School Ministry—6-8th Grade Confirmation This Fall When I was in Middle School back in the day, my family had gone through extensive moves geographically. Living in Egypt and then moving to North Dakota is about as extreme as you can get! I was fortunate that a constant for me in this season of big changes was my friendships at my church. It became an anchor.

On the one hand, I don’t remember a lot of what I was taught back then (sorry, Dad). But what I do remember is significant. My confirmation experience was about friendships with my buddies that spilled out of Confirmation into sports, foosball, and pool tables. I always knew they were part of my church family.

I also remember that I had a few adult faith mentors who cared for me like Dale 13

Wolf. And, that it met frequently on Wednesday evenings meant that it was predictable and constant. Routine was good. It was something I could count on.

Confirmation continues for middle schoolers at St. Andrew, and we hope to create a similar kind of experience for 6-8th graders: friendships with faith, adult faith mentors, and good consistency. With the Eden Prairie School District deciding to include 6th graders this fall in the middle school, we too (drum roll, please) are including 6th graders in Confirmation at St. Andrew!

Also, with middle school in Eden Prairie starting at 9:26 AM, we will also have a morning confirmation session planned before school in addition to

other time slots. Plans are finalizing and registration will open on August 30th.

An orientation meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 22nd.

Note to 9th graders and families: your schedule will be unique to 6-8th graders prior to your confirmation on Reformation Sunday, October 31st.

In summary, confirmation helps to establish the basics of friendships and faith. We look forward to the fall of learning, growing, and fun.

Welcome, Pastor Peter Johnson Pastor of Small Groups & Service

What’s the Point?

High School Ministry

C

aroline and I will occasionally ask each other “What number am I thinking of.” Then we will try to guess what number the other is thinking about. One time to be a smart I said the number I was thinking of was an imaginary number. I won and lost at the same time, which I think happens a lot in marriage.

I then thought about my high school math class and what I am sure was a common thought for many of you when you took high school math, what’s the point? What is the point of math if the only time I will ever use it is if I’m a rocket engineer? I will never use this again in my life so what does it matter if I can do it in high school. I think of all of the practical things that I should have been taught instead of imaginary numbers, like how to do taxes or budget, or loan applications. Practical things for my life that will actually help me to succeed. But what is the point for high school math, is it to really get you to know that A2 + B2 =C2? Are they really teaching me how to think critically and solve the problems you face each day? How to time manage and learn different study styles? How to keep fighting and never give up?

You see I learned that my math class was not just about math even if my teacher believed it was. It was giving me the tools to succeed in life. So even though I often wondered what the point was, I knew what the point really was. It was not about math, at least not to me. It was about learning from my mistakes and growing.

This happens in our faith life as well. You might have thought at some point in your life what is the point of my faith? What is the point if I pray, what is the point if I read my Bible, what is the point if I go to church? There are a lot of what’s the point in our faith life. Each of us has our own answer to these questions but for me the ultimate answer was Jesus. The reason that I do what I do is to grow closer to God and to try to understand him better. But another main reason is because of the people that I meet. It is about finding a community of exceptional individuals who help support me through tough times, hold me accountable during selfish times and love me always. It is about me becoming the person who God has called me to be.

So what’s the point for me coming to church and growing with God? Ultimately it is for me to have the foundation in life I need to succeed in all that I do. Trusting that God is with me guiding me and teaching me in all that I do. We have ways for you to grow as well as we get ready for the start of the school year. Join us for all that St. Andrew has to offer and grow with us in all of our upcoming activities. I look forward to seeing you soon and growing with you as we discover and share what the point of our faith is with others.

TJ Helgren High School Coordinator

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Congregational Council

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have been blessed to be a part of the faith community at St. Andrew my entire life. For as long as I can remember, Wednesday nights have found me gathered with a group in the music room for handbell choir rehearsals, Sundays have meant worship in the sanctuary followed by donuts with friends and family, and participating in groups like Seeds of Support Missions have helped connect me to the wider world of faith beyond St. Andrew.

But why have I chosen to invest the time and energy into the St. Andrew community over the years? For me, it all goes back to relationships built and friendships formed. Being a person of faith does not (I would argue cannot) happen in a vacuum. It means developing care and concern for others as Jesus taught, building community together, and committing to walking together as we wrestle with what it means to live out our faith in daily life.

As just one of numerous examples of what this looks like in my own life, five years ago I traveled to Haiti for the first time as part of a Seeds of Support mission trip. That week I met many people the St. Andrew community may recognize, such as our staff members Jorel, Kerlange and Joseph, Pastor Holande at Redemption Lutheran Church, and citizens from Pasquette such as Marlene, Viege, and so many more. Since that time, I have found myself in a community of people on the Seeds of Support Mission board who care deeply about the affairs of our partners in Haiti and want to walk alongside them as we try to understand how God is moving through all our lives. We celebrate in moments of joy, such as when Kerlange gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and mourn in moments of sadness, such as when Marlene, a pillar of the Pasquette community, passed away a few years ago.

But the key takeaway is that we have a community with which to honor these moments. It is inevitable that life will throw challenges at each of us, whether directly or towards those we love. Whether through Seeds of Support, in my handbell choirs, the young adults group, or elsewhere, I have had the opportunity to walk alongside fellow faith-seekers in moments of joy and moments of sorrow as we try to understand how God is at work in the world. These moments have shown me God’s presence in ways that wouldn’t necessarily be revealed on my own. That community, that care and concern for others who are on a shared journey of faith, is my own answer to the question of “What’s the point”?

Linnae Stole Council Member/Youth Handbell Choirs Director

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What’s the Point?

Visitation Ministry

What happens to us when there is no hope?

My father was 10 years old at the time of the Great Depression and years later he told me about standing in food lines in Sheboygan, Wisconsin with his mother to receive a ration of butter, cheese, flour etc. I’ve read that many people suffered from depression due to the loss of money and jobs during the Great Depression.

Even banks closed and the future looked pretty dismal. Of course, life slowly improved but my dad always remained a ‘child of the depression,’ which meant that he was always a conservative spender, a chronic saver, a person who couldn’t throw anything away because you never knew when you might need it if times got hard, and his ‘hope’ of the future always seemed to be tentative.

As the world struggled through the Covid-19 virus and millions of lives were lost because of it, there’s been a slow decline in hope. I noticed that when hope is lost joy also disappears and we begin to question what purpose life serves. Perhaps this is why alcohol sales soared the last year. It’s an attempt to dull the pessimism and move on without much hope. In some cases a sense of desperation and despair set in. I got a call a month ago from a relative who lost his job and whose mother lives with him and is dependent on him for their small apartment. He fell behind on his rent and

received an eviction notice. They had to be out of their apartment, with all their things, within five days. Worry and tears, anxiety and depression ruled the day.

There honestly wasn’t any hope but then they filed for government assistance and were allowed to stay in their apartment.

Only then did any sense of hope return.

So, hope can elude us pretty quickly and leave us feeling powerless.

Hope makes tough situations more bearable and can help improve our lives because it envisions a better future. In 1 Corinthian 13:13 the Apostle Paul talks about three great aspects of the Christian life: faith, hope, and love.

Hope is planted between faith and love—they hold up hope but hope is the bridge between faith and love. God doesn’t always take away our pain and suffering, but Jesus promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” We only learn that promise to be true if we act on it with trust and confidence. On that first Christmas Eve the angel said, “I have good news of great joy—Christ the Lord has been born.” Hope finally came to the world—we can cling to our faith and embrace God’s love— life is better with hope!

Roger Schindel Visitation Pastor

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What’s the Point?

Small Groups

Small Groups: A Way to Reconnect After the Pandemic Gradually over the spring and summer our society has grown more and more comfortable with more normal activities. The role of good health care and expansion of vaccinations has brought case numbers to a point where is ‘almost’ feels like normal for many of us. It has been great to see!

I have not taken for granted the joy people have found in reconnecting with each other. I have seen many smiles and gotten many careful handshakes and hugs. That light at the end of the tunnel that seemed so far away seems now to be much closer. Thanks be to God. We pray that we will continue in this direction.

It seems to me that we have gotten the point that relationships are important. When a good thing is taken away, we realize how much we missed it. We remember how much we valued and needed it.

I would say that now is the time to take advantage of these impulses to gather together so that our faithful relationships can be strengthened.

Small groups have always been a mainstay at St. Andrew. Groups gather in coffee houses to study or down the hall to watch Christian videos and have

discussions. Others gather in room at church or in homes to discuss books and articles. Other quilt, play cards, grill, or sample beer at local breweries. Others join Teaching Pastor Matthew Fleming for learning and fellowship.

At this point in the summer, we are cautiously confident that the ongoing pandemic will allow us to feel comfortable to gather together again within small groups. While we will still need to follow some continued precautions within the building, this fall is a chance to opt into relationships, Christian fellowship, learning, and fun.

Each year, St. Andrew pulls together Our Ministries Handbook, a catalog of opportunities in the church. Available early in September, it is a one-stopshop for all things St. Andrew. We will pull this booklet together for you, send you a copy, and enjoy reconnecting with your family and you in thoughtful and intentional ways.

So, let’s reemerge the right way. Let’s see this fall as an opportunity to restart faith and life anew. Welcome back!

Pastor Peter Johnson Pastor of Small Groups & Service

20-30-Somethings Trivia Night Do you remember a time when a full pub filled with good music, lively conversation, and good beverages was a regular occurrence? Perhaps you’re ready for a gathering in an outdoor setting over some good local brews and beverages. Join Lutheran 20-30-somethings from all over the metro at Broken Clock Brewery for music, trivia, fun, and fellowship.

Date: Thursday, August 30, 6:00–8:00 PM Location: Broken Clock Brewery, 3134 California St NE, Minneapolis Contact: Pastor Matthew at pastormatthew@standrewlu.org 17

What’s the Point?

Old & New Bible Study

“So if anyone is in Christ,

Meet the Church Anew Interns

there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

–2 Corinthians 5:17

Holly Beck

Jacob Boettcher

Old & New: Engaging in Biblical Study to Strengthen Faith Church Anew continues to reflect on new ways to work towards our mission to “offer dynamic learning opportunities to ignite faithful imagination and sustain inspired innovation.” When considering what more we could do to serve our audience by providing substantial materials and events to grow faith, curiosity, and learning, we decided on the new project of producing our own Bible study series.

The series, titled Old & New, focuses on uncovering the truth revealed in scripture about God constantly making us new.

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

–2 Corinthians 5:17 To begin work on this study, the Church Anew interns, Holly Beck and Jacob Boettcher, interviewed four members of St. Andrew. First, we interviewed Carole McMonigal and Sandy Perkins, two “Bible study veterans” at St. Andrew who help lead Women of

the Word. Carole and Sandy told us about their preference for a Bible study structure that encourages fellowship in a small group setting. They said “The Bible study is the vehicle for community-building.”

Their favorite part of the experience of doing a Bible study with others is the opportunity to “encourage each other through faith.” Carole and Sandy’s feedback was an important influence for how we designed the discussion guide to be used in small groups for the goal of community-building and encouragement.

The second duo that we interviewed was Laura Hoffer and Jamie Efnor, leaders in St. Andrew’s 20–30-Something Ministry. Laura and Jamie spoke to us about having a difficult time finding Bible study materials for the young adult group due to their interest in “wanting to connect scripture to what is happening today.” They told us about how 20–30-Somethings are curious about how to deal with social justice and human rights issues, telling us that they want to learn “what made Jesus

‘Jesus’ and how we can emulate that.”

Laura and Jamie’s comments about desiring a Bible study that upheld ELCA Lutheran theology and was applicable to everyday life were helpful in guiding us toward stories and interpretations that answered these questions.

Church Anew’s prayer is that this first Bible study under Old & New will be an encouraging tool to people at St. Andrew and beyond. We pray that the lessons included will spur us to “not lose heart,” but to instead rest in the blessing of being made new at all times and in all things.

“So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.”

–2 Corinthians 4:16 Holly Beck Church Anew Marketing & Communications Intern

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

NEW SERMON SERIES

What’s the Point?

August 1...............................“The Holy Bible” August 8........................................ “Vocation” August 15................................. “Forgiveness” August 22...................................“Generosity” August 29................................. “Community” September 5....................................... “Hope”

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