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November 2012
St. Paul’s Lutheran MESSENGER
Love your neighbor, Vote NO twice NOvember 6th!!
______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: 952-938-4683 Email: [email protected] Fax: 952-938-1141
Website: www.saintpaulslutheran.org
Our mission is to be “an open and inviting church spreading the Good News of Christ.”
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
WHO WE ARE A Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Minneapolis Area Synod, Western Parks and Lakes Conference.
MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to be an open and inviting church spreading the Good News of Christ. WORSHIP TIMES You are invited to join us regularly on Sunday mornings for 9:30 AM worship followed by refreshments and Christian education. Please check our calendar for days and times of activities and events.
CALENDAR An interactive calendar is available on our website: www.saintpaulslutheran.org. Just click the “Calendar” button at the top of the web page and click on any time or event for details and often a map. CONTACT INFORMATION The office is lightly staffed. Regular office hours are 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Please call before coming in case of unexpected closure. Phone: 952-938-4683 Fax: 952-938-1141 email: [email protected],
MAILING LIST Please provide the church office with your email address to be included in electronic delivery of the newsletter.
The community of St. Paul’s is pleased to send you this newsletter. However, if you prefer not to receive it, please call the church office or e-mail us to remove your address from our list.
CONGREGATION RELATIONSHIPS
Partners Igelsia Vida Abundante en Cristo, (Abundant Life in Christ), provides a worship service in Spanish at St. Paul’s on Sunday, 1:00 – 3:00 PM Bet Shalom Reform Congregation, Interfaith Thanksgiving service Lutheran Church of the Reformation, Lent & Holy Week services Mills Church Interfaith Thanksgiving service Mizpah United Church of Christ, Interfaith Thanksgiving service
Mission Augustana Chapel View Care Center in Hopkins Augustana Emerald Crest Feed My Starving Children ELCA World Hunger Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Intercongregation Communities Association (ICA) Lutherans Concerned/North America (LC/NA), (RIC) Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Meals on Wheels MN United for All Families Our Saviour’s Housing OutFront Minnesota ResourceWest of Hopkins Synod Disaster Relief Teens Alone Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
ARTICLE SUBMISSION Please submit articles as Word documents with your clip art and/or photos to stpauls@saintpauls lutheran.org and include your contact information. For informational emails and pre-printed fliers or brochures, provide your condensed version that can be directly inserted into the newsletter. Submission deadline is the fifteenth of each month. All submissions are subject to editing for space and content. All rights reserved by St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH COUNCIL & ASSISTING ADMINISTRATORS
Officers President – Pat Tollefson
Vice President – Darcie Rodman Secretary – Kathy Powers
Treasurer – Vince Jacobson
Council Members At-Large Aly Bonner
Mary Hromatka Kathy Pfaendtner
Mike Smith
Pastor Rev. Louise Mollick
Staff
Administrative Assistant, Newsletter Editor
Linda Dundas
Choir Accompanist Linda McGee
Music Director Rick Latterell
Facility Use Coordinator
Mary Hromatka
Finance Committee Assistant Treasurer
Mark Kokesh
Financial Secretary Mary Kay Peterson
Webmaster
Vince Jacobson
AUXILIARY BUILDING USE St. Paul’s encourages use of its facility by groups that will support our mission statement. Examples are the 12 Step recovery programs, local neighborhood organizations, and congregations seeking meeting space. Please contact us for more details. PUBLICATION The Messenger is published monthly by St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, 13207 Lake St. Ext., Minnetonka, MN 55305.
COUNCIL NEWS
St. Paul’s Church Council meets at 7:00 PM the second Tuesday of the month. Members of St. Paul’s community are welcome to attend and/or submit items for the agenda by contacting one of the council members.
Council Meeting Highlights Kathy Powers Council Secretary
October 9, 2012
GATHERING President Pat Tollefson called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. Present: Aly Bonner, Mary Hromatka Vince Jacobson, Pr. Louise Mollick, Kathy Pfaendtner, Kathy Powers, Darcie Rodman, and Pat Tollefson. Absent: Mike Smith
Stewardship Team: Mike Mikulay, Howard Rand, Tom Larson
Kathy Pfaendtner opened with spiritual nourishment from Luke Chapter 8.
REPORTS Stewardship:
Tom Larson reported on our vision for the future, the Narrative Budget, and the plan for cottage meetings. In “Our Vision for 2013”, we will be working to strengthen our ministry in two focus areas: worship and witness.
Cottage meetings will be held: Wed. 11/7 1:00 pm Church library Sun. 11/11 2:00 pm Kathy Pfaendtner’s Tue. 11/13 7:00 pm Larson’s Thur. 11/15 7:00 pm Tollefson’s Tue. 11/20 7:00 pm Hromatka/Bonner’s
Council Business:
Minutes from Sept’s meeting were approved as amended by Mary and seconded by Darcie.
Vince reported the cost of the parking lot repair would be about $5,400. Vince and Bernie reported and recommended that we do a smaller and less expensive repair for $1,400. Vince made a motion to authorize the property committee to spend $1,400 to repair and patch the parking lot. All voted and motion passed.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED): We found out there are various prices. The Property Team recommended we plan, and buy the AED in next year’s budget in January. Pr. Louise will be contacting the Minnetonka Fire Dept. and asking a representative to come to our next council meeting to advise us.
The Nominating Committee reported Mark Kokesh is currently acting as Assistant Treasurer in place of Bernie Johnson. The Church Council will be gathering names for the three council positions opening in 2013.
Pastor’s Report:
The Lighthouse may be starting up again this fall. Pr. Louise has been visiting with a few schools and may have up to 30 students interested!
Nov. 10 @ 7:30 pm we will be hosting an ICA Benefit at St. Paul’s. It will be a concert by Greg Millirin, flutist, and Gail Olszewski, pianist, from the MN Orchestra.
Saturday, Dec. 15, Creative Expression will host a Christmas dinner and puppet show.
Sunday, Nov. 18 @ 7:00 pm, St. Paul’s will host the annual Thanksgiving service with Bet Shalom, The Mills Church, and Mizpah.
Treasurer/Financial Secretary’s Report: Vince reported our financial picture has greatly improved. This is largely due to people’s generosity and is a real celebration. Thanks to all. Old Business:
Going Green Initiative - There will be a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23 @ 6:30 pm for the team to look at what more can we do, and what the plans for the future will be.
LSS Raising Relative’s Children (RRC) have offered to work and refurbish the east planting bed outside the kitchen door. They will begin soon and be finished by next spring. A big thank you to them.
SENDING Pastor closed with a prayer. The meeting was adjourned at 9:38 pm. Next Council meeting is Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Note: Highlights are not official meeting minutes
and are subject to correction and change.
COTTAGE MEETINGS Mike Mikulay, Stewardship Team
This year’s stewardship program will kickoff in November with a series of cottage meetings. As in previous years, we’ll meet in small groups to talk about our ministries at St. Paul’s, about some exciting plans for next year, and about how we will support these ministries through our time, talents, and financial resources. Everyone is invited and strongly encouraged to attend one of the cottage meetings. Please sign-up for the one that is most convenient for you. You can either do so on the sign-up sheet at church or by contacting Mike Mikulay at 952-933-9068 or [email protected].
Cottage Meetings will be held:
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 1:00 p.m. St. Paul’s Library
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2:00 p.m. Kathy Pfaendtner’s home in Shorewood
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7:00 p.m. Pat & Paul Tollefson’s home in Minnetonka
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7:00 p.m. Tom & Rachel Larson’s home in Eden Prairie
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7:00 p.m. Mary Hromatka & Dean Bonner’s home in Hopkins
Thanks in advance to our gracious hosts! A ride will be arranged if you need one. Please contact Mike Mikulay with any questions.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota “Every Neighbor Matters”
The ballot on November 6th will read:
”Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1.”
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? What we know from our work: - People in nursing homes in rural Minnesota
would have to get rides for many miles to get IDs in order to vote across the street.
18% of the elderly do not have government issued photo identification (Brennan Center for Justice, 2006).
- We have assisted people with disabilities who live in LSS homes with getting IDs. Some have to wait for over a year to get their IDs waiting for birth certificates and social security cards they’ve never had.
10% of people with disabilities do not have government issued photo identification (Michigan Law Review, 2007).
- You’ve heard us say there are 2500 homeless youth in Minnesota. At 18, they have a right to vote for people who would represent them, but without a current permanent address on their ID, they will have to cast a provisional ballot, which may not be counted.
18% of citizens aged 18 – 24 do not have a government-issued ID with their current address and name. (Brennan Center, 2006) There are over 200,000 registered voters in Minnesota who don’t currently have a valid photo ID. The system of providing photo IDs will cost Minnesota taxpayers an estimated $50 million we cannot spare to fix a problem the clean election process in Minnesota simply does not have. Because every neighbor matters, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota opposes the photo voter identification constitutional amendment.
MN United for all Families
“Get Out the Vote”
St. Paul’s will be home base for an all day, all evening “Get Out the Vote” final drive Tuesday – Friday, October 30 – November 2. Please contact Sean Herring, 952-221-0662 or [email protected], if you would like to participate. Their presence will not interfere with any previously scheduled activity at St. Paul’s.
Love Notes Love Votes SONGFEST Photos courtesy of Phil Eckhert
Local musicians sang out for the freedom to marry at the songfest on Sunday, October 7. A good crowd gathered in support of the “Vote No” initiative despite the cooler weather.
ResourceWest
now accepting
Winter Warm Wear Now thru Nov. 14
Needed
New/gently used coats
New/gently used snow pants
New/gently used books
New/gently used waterproof gloves/mittens
Monetary donations welcomed too.
Call (952) 988-5350 Visit www.resourcewest.org
Musical Goodies for Groceries A benefit for ICA Foodshelf
Greg Milliren & Gail Olszewski
in Recital
Saturday, November 10
7:30 – 9 PM
Greg Milliren is currently the Associate Principal Flute, with the Minnesota Orchestra and has captivated audiences across the nation with his expansive, sparkling tone and engaging, soulful expression. Gail Olszewski, multi-talented pianist, has played solo and chamber recitals that include the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and Music St. Croix, as well as numerous others.
St. Paul’s is honored to provide the venue for this benefit by Greg and Gail whose program will include favorite pieces from Bach, Prokofiev, and many more!
Admission fee: food items or cash donation for ICA, Minnetonka’s local foodshelf.
Come and See, Come and Hear!
Walk to End Hunger A benefit for ICA Foodshelf
Walk to End Hunger, Mall of America, 7 – 10 AM Thanksgiving Day: Fun indoor route, Easy 5K, Live Music along the way, Activities & Entertainment.
Visit walktoendhunger.org for more details.
November 4 – All Saints Sunday, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 25:6 - 9 Psalm 24 Revelation 21:1 - 6a John 11:32 - 44
November 11 – 24th Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 17:8 - 16 Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:24 - 28 Mark 12:38 - 44
November 18 – 25th Sunday after Pentecost Daniel 12:1 - 3 Psalm 16 Hebrews 10:11 - 14 [15 - 18] 19 - 25 Mark 13:1 - 8
November 25 – Christ the King, 26th Sunday after Pentecost Daniel 7:9 - 10, 13 - 14 Psalm 93 Revelation 1:4b - 8 John 18:33 – 37
You are cordially invited to worship
together as brothers and sisters.
Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service
Sunday, November 18 7:30 PM
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 13207 Lake St. Extension
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Offering – for community needs Refreshments & fellowship will follow
Offered by Bet Shalom Reform Congregation,
The Mills Church of Minnetonka Mills, Mizpah United Church of Christ, and
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Second Most Important Commandment
Vince Jacobson In Mark 12:29-31, answering the question, “Which is the most important commandment?”, Jesus said,
“The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”
These seem pretty straightforward on the surface, but I don’t know how to measure, for example, “all your energy”. Does that mean I should have no energy left for anything else? I think that it probably means I should invest all of my energy in the “God Bank”, but also have it available to spend other places at God’s discretion. I do like this translation in that it refers to “all your intelligence”. I usually find myself struggling with the conflict between following God’s wisdom and using my intelligence. This reminds me that even though such conflict is real and that I need to be alert to it, perhaps I should also invest all of my intelligence in the “God Bank” and spend it at God’s discretion.
In any event, the second most important commandment, “Love others as well as you love yourself”, is much more understandable. The word family comes to mind. I am blessed with loving families, both biologically and in my church. My biological family has taught me all about the intensity of loving others as much as I love myself. My church family has taken it a step further and taught me about the unlimited reach of the word “others”. That’s right, we recognize everyone as our true family but no genetics are required.
When we go away from our familiar environment, we take our sense of family and church and love for others with us. It’s all an inseparable part of the package. We just returned from our annual pilgrimage to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. One of the reasons we so look forward to Fiesta is because our ballooning crew is yet another group of “others” and we love every one of them, with all of their beauty and all of their warts, and we all extend our love to everyone we encounter. And the Christian connection is there as well. I look forward to deep discussions with my friend who is an officer of an ELCA RIC congregation, and my other friend who is an officer of a Missouri Synod Lutheran congregation. We
Sunday Bible Readings
have wonderful agreements and wonderful disagreements and we part loving one another more strongly.
The way I see it, the most important commandment tells us how to live with God, and the second most important commandment tells us how to live in God’s creation.
PRAISE THE LORD for giving us the second most important commandment.
Blessing of the Animals Photos courtesy of Phil Eckhert
Annually, around Saint Francis of Assisi day, our beloved companions are honored and blessed during Sunday worship in gratitude for all of God’s creation. Be sure to join us the first Sunday in October each year for this most enjoyable event.
Indoor plant watering
is being done by the office until it is decided which service team will take over from Ruth & Bernie. Please don’t water any plants without first testing the soil for dampness with a finger. (Plants should be allowed to dry out between waterings.)
Farewell and Godspeed Photos courtesy of Phil Eckhert
October 7th we bid Ruth & Bernie
Johnson Farewell and Godspeed.
They were wrapped in our prayers with a
Prayer Shawl to keep with them on
their journeys and in their new home. A reception followed.
Although Ruth &
Bernie will be returning from time to time, they are officially moving to Texas to be closer to family there. A “Journal of Memories” has been started and is located below the office window. Anyone who didn’t get a chance to share their stories with them is encouraged to write the memories down. (Multiple entries accepted.) The Johnson’s will be greatly missed. We are very thankful for the extended time they have been with.
Temporary forwarding address is: P.O. Box 652, Chanhassen, MN 55317. Please make a note of it in your church directory.
St. Paul’s Council welcomes Mark Kokesh! Vince Jacobson, Council Treasurer
When Bernie and Ruth informed us that they would be selling their home and moving to Texas, we each wondered about who would be able to step up and serve in the many areas where they have always done so much. I was especially concerned because of the specific bookkeeping talents that Bernie has shared and are not widely available.
In the true spirit of Matthew 7:7, I approached Mark Kokesh, one of our frequent visitors, and invited him to consider serving as Assistant Treasurer. Mark surprised me, not only in his immediate willingness to serve, but also in his thankfulness for being asked!
Please welcome Mark when you see him and thank him for his willingness to serve at St. Paul’s. We are very grateful to have him.
Express Metals Express Metals is no longer mailing checks. When you bring your scrap
metal in, ask them to make the check out to St. Paul’s Lutheran and then please bring the check to St. Paul’s or mail it in.
Thanks to all who have participated we received checks in October for $21.80 and $27.58. Note: Rey and Lois winter in Texas and left October 24, so please take your cans and metals directly to Express Metals. Do not bring materials to the church. Thank you for your help and cooperation.
Session II: 11/1-12/13/2012 Puppetry 12/15 Dinner Theater Puppet Show
Session III: 1/10- 2/14/2013 Community Mural 2/16 Installation of movable mural
Session IV: 2/21 - 4/4/2013 Creative Writing Written works shared weekly
during Sunday worship story time
Session V: 4/11-5/16/2013 Clowning 5/19 Pentecost Clowning Service
This free children’s ministry program is open to all youth in Kindergarten and up. Each six-week session will focus on a different theme, and each Thursday evening begins with a light dinner at 5:30 pm with activities finishing by 7:00. Please let us know you are coming by filling out the registration form on our website or calling 952-938-4683.
Magician Robert Halbrook Dazzles Pr. Syverson, Spirit of Christ Church
Everyone is invited to experience the humor and magic of Robert Halbrook, Thursday November 15 at 1:00 pm, Spirit of Christ Church, 5801 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park. He gives a dazzling performance that includes audience participation. Seniors, this is something you won’t want to miss! Dessert follows at 1:30 pm.
St. Paul’s Book Club invites you to join them.
Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00 pm
4047 Merilee Dr., Minnetonka, 55343 Lively conversation and light refreshments provided
Reading Schedule
November Secret Life of Bee’s by Sue Monk Kidd
December Holiday break
January Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
February Timekeeper by Mitch Album
March The Meaning of Mary Magdalene by Cynthia Bourgeault or The Magdalene Legacy by Laurence Gardner
April Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
May Grandmothers Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our Planet by Carol Schaefer
Please come even if you haven’t read the books. For 2013, check our monthly calendar for date and location, or watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin.
Stay up to date: Visit our calendar weekly
http://saintpaulslutheran.org/calendar.php
Celebrating Baptism We celebrate with those who are remembering their baptism this month:
Dean Bonner
3 Ruth Johnson 12 John Madson 13 Deb Campbell 23 Tom Powers 27 Roger Ramsden 29 Sheri Brenden
29 Jenni MacNaughton
1 Wanda Nelson
3 Sarah Eckhert
4 John Riggle
11 Ron Falk
12 Becca Tollefson
16 Paul Tollefson
18 Jim Uden
23 Bill Schwitzer
30 Jack Powers
& Happy Anniversary
15 Mike & Beth Mikulay
28 Chuck Rudolph
& Darcie Rodman
Pr. Louise will be on vacation beginning Monday, November 5 through Saturday, November 17. Retired Pr. Howard Rand has graciously agreed to preach during Pr. Louise’s absence. Please call the office with any pastoral care needs and, if possible, leave a message during off peak hours. Office hours are 9:30 am – 1:30 pm, Monday – Friday.
November 4th
Reminder: Sunday Service Team sign-up
Thanks to all who signed up in October to help with Sunday services! Each week we continue to need participants to perform duties as listed on the office door. The need is heightened at this time because four very active members of St. Paul’s community are in Texas for the winter and the shoes they leave behind need to be filled.
We want to provide a rich worship experience without the need to call or email to fill the volunteer positions. Please continue to sign up regularly.
The Funny Side of Parenting
I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask her what color it was. She would tell me and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, “Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself.”
Directory update: Please make a note of it in your Church Directory.
Pr. Louise & Carl Mollick 8000 Victoria Lane St. Louis Park, MN 55426
We're moving in on Nov. 8!
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
13207 Lake Street Extension Minnetonka, MN 55305
God’s work. Our hands.
WELCOME STATEMENT
We at St. Paul’s are committed to welcoming you . . .
If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersexual, transgendered or straight.
If you are seven, seventeen, forty-seven or one hundred and seven.
If you are black, brown, red, yellow, white or any shade in between.
If you are broken, healed or in recovery.
If you are rich, poor, or somewhere in between.
If you are able-bodied, disabled or differently-abled.
If you have a strong faith, have doubts about your faith or aren’t sure you have any faith at all.
If you have accepted Christ’s love, question Christ’s love or don’t know if you are loved.
If you are looking for a church home, have never had a church home or need a place to find peace.
We are committed to welcoming everyone, living as a reconciling people
in our life together and in our outreach to the community.