Volume 55, Issue 7 JULY 2017
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Worship in July ................... 1
I Believe ................................ 2
About Our People ............. 3
Transitions ........................... 3
Birthdays/Anniversaries .... 3
Office Information ............. 3
Moments of Generosity ... 4
Annual Meeting .................. 4
Facilities Note ..................... 4
St. John’s Book Club ......... 4
Chi Rho ................................ 4
Thank You ........................... 5
Community Meal ............... 5
TRUST .................................. 5
Loaves & Fishes .................. 5
Women’s Retreat .............. 5
Hymn Festival ..................... 5
WELCA Gathering ............ 5
The Messenger
GATHERING FOR WORSHIP
Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
July 2: Pentecost 4 - “Baptism: Gift and Mission” Readings: Jeremiah 28:5-9 Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 10:40-42 Music: Clara Willette, guitar July 9: Pentecost 5 - “Rest for Our Souls” Readings: Zechariah 9:9-12 Psalm 145:8-14 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Music: July 16: Pentecost 6 - “How Does Your Word Grow?” (outdoor worship) Readings: Isaiah 55:10-13 Psalm 65:[1-8]9-13 Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Music: St. John’s Brass July 23: Pentecost 7 - “Weeds AND Wheat?” Readings: Isaiah 44:6-8 Psalm 86:11-17 Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Music: Zyla Jazz Combo July 30: Pentecost 8 - “Where God’s Grace Finds Us” Readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12 Psalm 105:1-11, 45b Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Music:
THE MESSENGER “Bui ld ing and Nurtur ing a Fai th Communi ty” PAGE 2
From the Pastor:
Grace to you and peace form God our Father and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
2016-2017 was a very good year! As a congregation we have made significant improvements to the church facility,
from paving the alley to improved sound in the sanctuary. But during the year of focus on Growing relationships with
Christ, with each other, and with the world around us, our exposure to the Bible grew as we read a second year from
the Narrative Lectionary, our list of participants with Loaves and Fishes grew as Andrew Dosdall recruited friends/
colleagues to join forces with our folks at Loaves and Fishes, the number of families receiving food backpacks at
Ramsey Middle School (newly renamed Justice Allan Page Middle School) grew from 10-15, our congregation’s
worshiping attendance is on the rise, the number of people attending weekly Bible Study is growing, and we just
welcomed into our church-family 11 new members on June 4th. We are Growing! God isn’t done with us yet.
Now, as we turn our focus to the fall and the start of a new program year, 2017/2018 will be an entire year-long focus
on Welcoming: Hospitality and Invitational Ministry. You are a people who know how to set a culture of welcoming
hospitality. It comes naturally to you and you do it so very well. Now we need to name it and be intentional with it so
that we continue to provide that beautiful sense of welcome to everyone who comes through the doors. We then need
to leverage that sense of hospitality and employ it to address the opportunity/challenge I now set before us to also
intentionally extend that sense of hospitality not only beyond the walls of the building, but also connect Sunday to the
other days of the week. This is what I mean by invitational ministry. Together we will explore what it means to share
this gem of faith that we have been given and be invitational (extending the welcome to all), inspirational (the Holy
Spirit within us), intentional (with great purpose), and incarnational (letting the Love of Jesus flow through us to oth-
ers). It will be a very fun year!
In addition, during this coming year we arrive at notable and significant mile markers worthy of congregation-wide
celebrations:
This August marks Tina Shear’s 30th year of service as Director of St. John’s Child Care Center.
Purchased in 1967, Chi Rho Retreat Center turns 50! The celebration is scheduled for August 19-20.
Founded on Tuesday, May 29, 1883, St. John’s English Evangelical Lutheran Church marks this congregation’s
135th anniversary.
The Congregation’s name officially changed with the 1925 relocation and merger with St. James Lutheran
Church to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Washburn Park.
May 29, 2018 happens to also be a Tuesday, by the way….
St. John’s Lutheran Church is filled with vitality, life, faithfulness, and a strong will to touch and change many lives
with the love of God in Christ Jesus; and we are blessed to be in the possession of many “ministry tools” to accomplish
it. The key thing needed now is focus with unified purpose--intentionality. To that end, the Church Council has called
for the creation of a Mission Statement before the end of the 2017 calendar year with the intent of bringing the St John’s
Child Care Center, the St. John’s Chi Rho Retreat Center, the St. John’s Foundation, the St. John’s Music Series, and
the ministry of all Congregational Committees underneath the one Mission Statement of St. John’s Lutheran Church,
Washburn Park.
We have learned who God is calling us to be Serving. We have taken the time to explore God’s call to be Growing.
Now we turn toward a year of Welcoming, celebrations, and Missional focus. This will certainly be a wild ride, but oh
what fun we’ll have. I am honored to serve you. To God be the Glory.
Pastor Mark A. Tiede
THE MESSENGER “Bui ld ing and Nurtur ing a Fai th Communi ty” PAGE 3
About Our People
Happy Birthday!
6 Lisa Vollmer
8 Marjorie Sethna
9 Betty Shannon
13 Vincent Fanciulli
20 George Wilson
22 Eleanor Willette
24 Grant Johnson
27 Jeff Carlson
Austin Davis
29 Alicia Nordstrom
Happy Anniversary!
7 Robert & Marlene Holden
9 Ron & Bonnie Conrad
11 Patrick & Leah Coveney
If your birth date and/or anniversary has not
been included or is incorrect, please call
the church office at 612-827-4406.
Thank you!
July Birthdays
& Anniversaries
Remembering in Prayer
Those in need of healing, comfort or sustaining care:
Dave Holms, Anne Kinney, Mike Lee, Jane McDonald, Brian Miles,
Lenore Schaffnit, Gregory Smetana, Oly Stromberg, and Margaret
Thompson
Please let the church office know if you would like to
share information with the congregation.
You can reach the church office at 612-827-4406
The phone system at church has changed. Callers to St. John’s now have
the option to talk with or leave messages for individual staff, Child Care
or even Chi Rho by choosing one of these eight new prompts:
1. Church Office/Ann Paulson 5. Joseph Sahai/Matthew Bell
2. Sam Grace 6. Dave Helm, Chi Rho
3. Tina Shear 7. Bookkeeper
4. Venita Ditlevson 8. Pastor Mark Tiede
Email the church office at [email protected]
Email Pastor Mark at [email protected]
Transitions
New members of St. John’s (June 4, 2017)
Patrick and Leah Coveney; Kaitlyn
Wiener & Isaac Johnson; Sharon Koschak;
Craig McAllister; Beth McAllister, Jaeden
& LiLianna Micco; Susan Lillevold; and
Bergit Nerheim
Members Transferred (June 11, 2017)
Merwyn and Joyce Larson, to Mt. Olive
Lutheran, Minneapolis
On June 28th Nicole Vaughn tendered her resignation as
St. John’s Bookkeeper, a position she held for only five
short months. In her resignation letter she wrote: “While
I do enjoy working for the church, I have chosen to look
for work which offers more hours and benefits. I also do
so enjoy report analysis and hope to focus more on that type of work in the
future.”
We wish Nicole well and have begun the search for a new bookkeeper.
THE MESSENGER “Bui ld ing and Nurtur ing a Fai th Communi ty” PAGE 4
Moments of Generosity
We are grateful for Mark Nervig's service as St.
John's treasurer. Mark was a careful steward of
our resources. He patiently guided our councils
and congregational budget meetings through
detailed financial reports, while reminding us of
the bigger picture: that how
we care for and use our
resources is an expression
of our faith in Christ.
Thank you, Mark, for
your years of faithful
service!
St. John’s Book Club will meet to discuss
Jodi Picoult’s newest book, Small Great Things,
on Sunday, July 9 at 11:30 a.m. in St. John’s
lounge/library. The author tackles prejudice, race,
privilege, and social justice.
If you need a copy of the book
or have questions, feel free to
contact Jennifer Belz or Jennifer
Burdick (651-636-0899
Or [email protected]).
Come, join the discussion;
everyone is welcome!
ST JOHN’S CONGREGATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING was held on Sunday, June 25 for
nomination and election of new council members
and reception of reports of officers, committees
and organizations.
Elected to three-year council terms were Jennifer
Burdick, Jim Gambucci, Bea Hasselmann and Ann
Paulson. Council members completing their terms
are Bonnie Conrad, Jesse Fanciulli, Jack Hurbanis,
and Mark Nervig.
The council membership change takes effect when
the council meets in July.
Copies of the annual report
will be available in St.
John’s office and on
Sunday; email or mailed
copies are available if
requested.
A Facilities note:
The City of Minneapolis is planning street
seal-coating projects in the area around St. John's
for the weekend of July 16. If pertinent details
become available, we will add to the Sunday
bulletin or St. John’s website.
CHI RHO AT 50!
July 2—Fireworks at
Chi Rho, Annandale
Sponsored by
Greater Lake Sylvia
Association.
August 19-20—CHI RHO SUMMERFEST
Saturday: Music, Food, Games
Sunday: Pancake Breakfast &Worship
Overnight accommodations are available; you may
contact St. John’s church office for reservations.
The Chi Rho committee and others are hard at work
planning for the Summerfest celebration. If you
want to be involved in any way, please contact
Brad Nelson, Dave Helm, or Oly Stromberg of the
committee.
July’s calendar includes three family reunions and
Kor Am Tae Kwan Do, Edian Cross Country Boys
& Girls, Jordan Boys & Girls Cross Country, and
Camp Tamarack groups. Lots happening!
See our Facebook posts at
https://www.facebook.com/chirhocenter
“68 miles due west”
THE MESSENGER “Bui ld ing and Nurtur ing a Fai th Communi ty” PAGE 5
Community Meal:
Saturday, July 22 at noon Come and help…
come and eat!
St. John’s volunteers
welcome guests, help prepare food and beverages, bus
and wash dishes, and clean up. The time commitment is
about two hours, 11:30-1:30 each fourth Saturday.
If you would like to help, you may sign up on the poster
outside Fellowship Hall, or contact the church office to
volunteer or for more information. Bring your family...
invite a friend or neighbor!
The Women’s Evening Retreat, Wednesday,
June 14 at St. John’s included seven participants. Guest
instructor Lynn Whitfield led the group in gentle yoga, a
light potluck supper was shared, and Anna guided a time of
reflection on a Wendell Berry poem, “The Peace of Wild
Things.” The closing centered on a
remembrance of baptism.
Marge Huseth’s flute meditations
were a much appreciated addition
to this retreat. Seventeen women
have participated in the three retreats
so far this year.
We very much welcome feedback and
suggestions for continuing to grow in
this relational ministry of listening and
reflective practices.
~ Anna Carlson , Ann Paulson Photo by Pastor Mark
All Women of the ELCA are welcome at the Tenth Triennial
Gathering being held at the Minneapolis
Convention Center, July 13-16, 2017.
The gathering theme, “All Anew”
resonates with reformation and
transformation images in this year of
observance of the 500th anniversary of
the Protestant Reformation. At the gathering, participants
will explore ways in which the Holy Spirit changes us,
acknowledging that reformation and transformation have
happened and continue to happen within the community of
women known as Women of the ELCA.
Pre-Gathering Coloring Devotionals and more information
related to this event may be found at
http://www.welcatg.org.
A big THANK YOU to all of
the volunteers that worked on
the Community Meal on June
24th. They are Jennifer & Matt
Burdick, JoAnn Christoferson,
Larry Fraser, Sharon Koschak,
Diane Rooney, Marj Sethna, Susan Zabel - and a special
thank you to Elsa Burdick for handing out ice cream
bars.
~ Bob & Marlene Holden
P.S. “The Great Pepper Mystery” - all the pepper
shakers are empty!!! Where has it gone?
Loaves & Fishes
St. John’ turn to serve
Monday, July 24 at 5:00 p.m.
TRUST congregations join together to prepare and serve
meals at Loaves and Fishes at St. Stephen’s Church,
Clinton Avenue, on the 4th Monday six
times a year.
If you’d like to know more about serving
the community in this way, please ask
Marlene Holden (612-927-6369). Your
help is much appreciated!
The TRUST Chore Program is currently
looking for housecleaners. Pay is $15 per hour, and you
can set your own schedule. Cleaning supplies are pro-
vided by the client. For more information , or to come in
and fill out an application, call Wendy at 612-827-6150.
Uptown Heating & Air Conditioning partners with TRUST by offering Air Conditioning
Checks for $69, which TRUST receives. Call TRUST,
612-827-6159 for a coupon.
Rise, Remember Well the Future: A Hymn Festival led by the National Lutheran Choir
Tuesday, July 11, 7:30 p.m. St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 S. 8th St., Minneapolis
Join the National Lutheran Choir and church musicians
from across the country in a hymn festival as part of the
Association of Lutheran Church Musicians Biennial
Conference in Minneapolis. The evening will include
hymns and choral music of the church that connect the past
to the present with an eye to the future. The hymn festival is
open to the public.
Tickets will be available at the door (sold by ALCM):
$20/Adults, $10/Seniors & Students.
For more about the choir, visit NLCA.com
Information Church Office ................ 612-827-4406
Church Office Fax ........ 612-827-0574
Child Care Center ........ 612-827-1237
Chi Rho Center ............. 320-274-8307
Church Office email:
[email protected]
Website ............ www.stjohnsmpls.org
Like us on Facebook!
Parish Staff PASTOR
Mark A. Tiede
DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP & MUSIC
Samuel Grace
OFFICE ASSISTANT
Ann Paulson
ORGANIST
Peder Flaten
BOOKKEEPER
CUSTODIANS
Matthew Bell
Jon Dosdall
Joseph Sahai
CHILD CARE CENTER DIRECTOR
Tina Shear
CHI RHO CENTER MANAGER
David Helm
Church Council Jennifer Belz, Vice President
Jennifer Burdick, Interim Secretary
Bonnie Conrad
Steve Dosdall, President
Allan Ferguson, Interim Treasurer
Jack Hurbanis
Sean Stagg
Oly Stromberg
Sarah Tellijohn
Eric Willette
THE MESSENGER “Bui ld ing and Nurtur ing a Fa i th Communi ty”
St. John’s Lutheran Church 4842 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55419
St. John’s Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA). We believe in the Triune God—Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior,
and the Gospel as the power of God for salvation for all that believe.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the
written Word of God, inspired by God’s Spirit speaking through their
authors, recording and announcing God’s revelation centering in Jesus
Christ. We believe the Church to be a people created by God in Christ
and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Sunday Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.
Nursery care is provided.
Traditional worship that is joyful and welcoming to all.
ELCA Presiding Bishop: Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop: Bishop Ann Svennungsen
