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Midweek Lent 2016 + Love Does No Wrong to a Neighbor

February 24, 2016 By moadmin Leave a Comment

Week 2: So that they would search for God

Vicar Anna Helgen
Wednesday, 24 February 2016; Text: John 4:1-42

Sisters and brothers in Christ, grace to you and peace, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” God loves the world. And this story, the story of Jesus and the woman at the well, is a story about that world. It is a story about God’s love becoming embodied in the world. A story that comes to life in a conversation between the most unlikely pair: a Jew and a Samaritan. A story that names for us what eternal life in Christ looks like. A story in which we, too, are invited to participate.

As Jesus sets off on his journey from Judea to Galilee, we learn that he had to go through Samaria. If you take a look at the Greek, however, you’d find that this sentence would be better translated, “It was necessary that he go through Samaria.” But it wasn’t necessary, at least geographically speaking, that he go through Samaria. So why? Why did Jesus take this route? While it may not have been geographically necessary that Jesus travel through Samaria, it was theologically necessary. Because God loves the world. All of the world. And that includes places like Samaria. God’s love cannot be contained by lines on a map or by boundaries that we create. God’s love is for the entire world.

Before we get to the story, it’s worth noting some of the history here to understand why Jews do not share things in common with the Samaritans. While both groups trace their lineage back to Abraham, the Samaritans saw themselves as descendants of the northern kingdom. The Jews and Samaritans disagreed over the proper place to worship God–or what we might call the religious center. The Jews worshiped in Jerusalem, whereas the Samaritans worshiped at Mount Gerizim.

This backdrop sets the stage for the conversation that ensues between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Now, again, Jews do not share things in common with the Samaritans, so the fact that this man Jesus, a Jew, is talking with this unnamed woman, a Samaritan, alone in broad daylight, without any other people present is quite a big deal. Serious boundaries are being crossed!

As the conversation begins, we notice that there is a mutuality present in the dialogue. Both parties need something from the other. Jesus is tired and hot from his journey, and he needs water to drink. The woman has a bucket and she can provide water for him. She can meet his need. Jesus shares with the woman about the living water that he can provide and she quickly becomes curious about this water. He can inform her curiosity. This mutuality is important because it helps to propel the dialogue forward.

Jesus learns some more intimate details about the woman’s life and she responds by calling him a prophet and speaking of Jacob as “our ancestor,” noting the shared ancestry for both Jews and Samaritans. As the conversation continues, both Jesus and the woman come to understand more about one another. Jesus shows in this conversation that God’s love is available to those outside of his religious center. And the woman begins to further understand Jesus’ identity–the last person that we’d think would recognize him as the Messiah! The question of where to worship God is discussed, and soon after, Jesus confirms the woman’s suspicions and reveals himself as the Messiah. Isn’t it interesting that dialogue is what leads Jesus and the woman into deeper understanding? It doesn’t involve research or writing a detailed plan, but jumping in and making conversation.

The disciples return and the woman decides it’s time to be on her way. She leaves her water bucket behind, returns to the city, and invites her friends to come and see, to come and meet this man Jesus who has spoken truth to her. She knows what it means to be in relationship with Jesus, and so she invites others to have their own encounter. I love how she invites them, “He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” It’s like she doesn’t yet fully understand who he is. She remains uncertain, and yet that does not end her relationship with Jesus, but encourages her to invite others to experience him.

And many of these Samaritans do come to meet Jesus! They have their own encounter with him and then invite Jesus to stay with them for a few days. The verb “stay” is better translated as “abide.” In John’s Gospel, the language of abiding is the language of relationship. To abide means to take up space with somebody. It might mean living in the same space, sharing a meal, having a conversation, or simply noticing another person. But in that space, hearts and minds are opened, stretched, and made into God’s image. In that space, we come to see one another as God sees us.

What might this story mean for us today? This story teaches us about what eternal life looks like. It looks like relationship right now–in this time and place–with God and with others. But it requires dialogue! Because dialogue leads to understanding and understanding leads to relationship. Talking with our neighbors is the first step in building a relationship. And with a relationship comes opportunities for appreciation and recognition.

We live in a religiously pluralistic culture and world. It can be easy for us to talk about loving people on the other side of the globe, but sometimes it can be more challenging to love our closest neighbors–like the Muslim woman you ride the bus with, or the Jewish man you run into at the grocery store, or maybe even the teenager with neon hair who sees faith differently than you do. We can be afraid of those whose rituals, customs, language, and history are different than our own.

But are we really so different? Should we be so afraid? Or should we reach out, say hello, and be open to the possibility of seeing God in the face of all our neighbors?

With the woman at the well, I invite you. “Come and see.”

Amen.

The Olive Branch, 2/24/16

February 24, 2016 By Mount Olive Church Leave a Comment

Click here to read this week’s newsletter.

The Gathered Brood

February 21, 2016 By moadmin Leave a Comment

God desires to gather us together like a hen gathers a brood under her wings. Gathering here opens us up to further opportunities for healing, forgiveness, and love. To be a part of a brood invites us to see those gathered with us as living examples of faith.

Vicar Anna Helgen
The Second Sunday in Lent, year C
texts: Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

Sisters and brothers in Christ, grace to you and peace, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I grew up in a suburb, so I’ve not seen first-hand how mother hens interact with their chicks. I know–I’m missing out. And it’s unfortunate that this vivid agrarian imagery is lost on me in this modern age of factory farms. Thankfully though, we do live in the age of the internet where we can look up anything in a matter of seconds. And since I’ll jump on any opportunity to look up videos of cute baby animals, I went to youtube to watch videos of mother hens and their chicks. Here’s what I noticed as I watched one of those videos:

As the mother hen pecks and scratches in the dirt for insects and seeds, her chicks are scattered about her, some venturing off farther than others, some staying close by. But each chick is aware of its mother; and the hen is always aware of her chicks. At the first sign of danger or uncertainty the chicks race to the mother hen, who opens her wings gently—almost like an embrace—and gathering the chicks close to her for security, they nestle in the warmth and familiarity of her wings.

There is a straggler chick though, who seems unsure–or perhaps unwilling–to nestle under its mother’s wings with its brothers and sisters. And so the mother hen goes out of her way to make sure the straggler chick knows where she is. Eventually, this chick too finds its place under the shelter of her wings.

What a powerful image of God’s love for us. God desires to gather us together–you and me, our neighbors down the street, the presidential candidates who fill the airwaves with mean-spiritedness–all of us. God desires to gather us together much like a hen gathers a brood under her wings. But often we are not willing. Often we’re like that chick that goes off on its own, who leaves the brood behind in search of a more succulent insect or a plumper kernel of grain.

What if we took seriously Jesus’ lament–and God’s longing for us–and imagined what it might be like to actually go there–to be gathered together under God’s wings? It’s worth asking the question why. Why does God want us to be gathered together? What is so special about our being with one another that Jesus would compare himself to a mother hen and us to baby chicks?

God wants us gathered together because here is a safe place where God offers protection and warmth. A place where we can settle in and rest. We can practice living as our best selves, but trust that when we don’t have all the answers, when we make a mistake, or when we wander off, God loves us unconditionally. The gathered brood is a place of love and forgiveness.

God wants us gathered together because here we will be brought into relationship with the stragglers and the strangers. The brood isn’t about our self-interests; it’s about the community. The gathered brood is diverse and being a part of it means that we’ll get to know people that we don’t know and we’ll come to appreciate those we maybe don’t like. But with this comes further exploration of how we live as God’s people in community with one another. We get to struggle together with the reality of practicing faith. The gathered brood is a community of faith.

God wants us gathered together because here we will get a foretaste of God’s goodness in the land of the living. The gathered brood is a sign of the new creation where all, even our enemies, are brought under God’s wings. Where what once divided us, now unites us. Where we live authentically with one another–with all the messiness and complexity that relationships bring. The gathered brood is a glimpse of God’s eternal kingdom.

God longs for us to be gathered together as a community because the brood matters–the people in our communities matter. Paul understands this, too. In his letter to the Philippians, he writes, “Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.” Paul writes to a community that struggles, like he does, with how to live for the sake of the gospel in the face of persecution. Paul’s hope is in Christ and the power of his resurrection, and this is what enables him to rejoice even in the midst of difficult circumstances. But living this way, with this hope, requires community.

And so Paul invites the Philippians to be like him–to imitate Paul’s own example. To be of the same mind of Christ, but to follow the example of Paul and others like him, those who recognize that struggle is a part of what it means to live in community. Paul is one example of many who has followed Christ, struggled over the meaning of the gospel, and tried his best to live out authentic faith. He’s a wonderful example for us, too, but he’s not the only one.

And so we, too, are invited to look to those in our own community–those in this brood–as living examples of faith. People we can learn from. People who have gone through their own challenges as they seek to live as the people God created them to be. People who have screwed up and started again. People who model for us what authentic faith looks like at all stages of life. People who teach us that the way to the cross is a way of surprise, a way of redemption, a way of promise.

Who comes to mind for you? I think of my confirmation mentor, Jean Sprague, one of the first people who gently pestered me to go to seminary. Her generous support and willingness to share the joys and sorrows from her own life taught me the importance of living in community. That we need each other to be reminded of God’s grace and goodness. That we need each other for inspiration and encouragement. That we need each other in midst of all that life brings us. Who is your Jean Sprague?

Take a minute to get cozy, take a deep breath, and settle into your pew. Imagine that God’s wings are wrapped around you, around all of us. Now take a look around at this brood gathered here today. Seriously: look around. This is your brood. This community is for you. This is a safe place. A place of unconditional love.

Gathering here means we open ourselves up to further possibilities for healing, forgiveness, and protection.

Gathering here means we build deeper relationships with God and each other.

Gathering here means we have the opportunity to learn from one another, to see each other as imperfect, yet beautiful examples of living faith.

Gathering here means living in deep expectation of what is to come.

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.”

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Midweek Lent 2016 + Love Does No Wrong to a Neighbor

February 17, 2016 By moadmin Leave a Comment

Week 1: Christ is in the least of these

Pr. Joseph G. Crippen
Wednesday, 17 February 2016; Texts: Matthew 25:31-40; Deuteronomy 24:14-15, 17-22

Sisters and brothers, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

This parable is almost too familiar to us.

We can recite it all. We know what Jesus says. We’re to care for those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned, strangers. When we do, we do it to Christ.

Except we’re missing something. These first ones, blessed by the King, didn’t know they were doing anything special or significant. In caring for “the least of these,” they were doing what was normal for them. When they saw hungry people, or had strangers show up, they welcomed them. They fed them. Had they known it was their King, it wouldn’t have changed their behavior.

That’s the powerful thing. Could we be so shaped that we know and act instinctively as if all people are our responsibility? Our political landscape is so dominated by people pandering to Americans’ self-interest, it’s stunning to realize how central the opposite view is to Christ.

We shouldn’t be talking about people in need as if we don’t know what’s right, or discussing the problems of society as if we can debate whether we should care or should act. If our priorities were aligned with Christ our King, they’d be set already. It would simply be a matter of deciding what action would actually accomplish them.

When we criticize other Christians, we’re missing the log in our own eyes.

Rather than bemoan all the Christians who seem to delight to exclude pretty much everyone on Christ’s “least of these” list, we need to look more critically at ourselves. Are we sure we live like those in the first group? Remember, it came naturally to them. They cared for people because that’s who they were.

If we want to be them, we need to have our “normal” changed. We need to learn new patterns. We begin, according to Deuteronomy and Jesus, by remembering who we are.

Remember you also were aliens, the “other,” Moses says.

The people are on the verge of the Promised Land. They’ve wandered in the wilderness forty years, aliens, exiles. And now, in the laws they are given in the Torah, they are told dozens of times that in the Promised Land they’re to care for the aliens among them, and the widows and orphans.

Why? Because: that’s who you were.

Israel is commanded to live with a perpetual remembrance of their wilderness wandering, to hold in their minds their nomadic life, their flight from slavery, their rescue by God. To remember forever they were unwelcome. We’re a nation of immigrants, but every immigrant group seems to forget that once they’re settled. That’s what Israel’s warned to avoid.

But the vulnerable are also part of Moses’ command. The “widows and orphans” are included with the aliens dozens of times, those on the fringes with no protectors, and no room for error.

How many of us have ancestors, or people we know we can call to mind, who once struggled this way, unwelcome, poor, hungry, alone, rejected? How many of us have struggled, needed help, wanted someone to look to us and make a difference? Moses says we can’t be who God desires us to be as long as we forget we also are people who have needed others’ help in more ways that we can count.

Second, remember you are followers of the king, Jesus says.

Everyone in this parable follows Christ the King. Some care for “the least of these.” Some do not. But all, all, want to serve their King.

Hearing this calls to mind our true identity: we are made into Christ, children of God, we belong to our Lord and have committed to follow him. We see here people who didn’t know how to act into their identity and people who acted simply because it was their identity.

If we need our normal changed, if we need our identity transformed, we need the grace of the Holy Spirit.

When the Spirit changes us, we see differently, act differently.

Filled with the Spirit, we see God’s anointed in those in need, those different from us, those who struggle.

Living in our true identity, we can no more ignore the cries of the poor than we can turn away from our God. We can no more pretend the disgrace of our nation’s prisons isn’t our problem than we can pretend we’ve never heard of Jesus. We who love Christ will clothe those who need it because that’s who we are, care for those who are sick because that’s who we are. That’s who the Spirit makes us.

There is another mystery in this, too.

When we serve others in love we serve our King. When we look into the eyes of another we see Christ. We see Christ.

So we can expect they will bless us as Christ in return. Knowing the other, the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned, the sick, the naked, is knowing Christ. So they will be Christ to us. What if we lived in the world as Christ expecting to see Christ and be blessed as well?

It’s good Moses and Jesus remind us of our core being, who we were – beggars before God – and who we are – children of God.

They cut through the rhetoric and tell us it’s all very simple and always has been: God cares for the vulnerable, the weak, the lost, the frightened, the oppressed. If we, as God’s people, shaped by the Spirit, want to be with God, that’s where we’ll be.

Because when we see Christ in others, we get to see Christ. What greater joy could we hope for?

In the name of Jesus. Amen

The Olive Branch, 2/17/16

February 16, 2016 By Mount Olive Church Leave a Comment

Accent on Worship

Under the Wings, or Who Is My Neighbor?

I have a carving of a hen on my desk. Herb had it made for me, and gave it to me as I left St. John’s, to remind me of Sunday’s Gospel reading. Jesus, facing suffering and death, laments over the people’s rejection: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

I once preached that our problem with Jesus the Mother Hen isn’t that we’re welcome under her wings. It’s all the others welcomed there. Herb admitted that was his problem; he also knew it wasn’t where he or Christ wanted him to be.

For people who claim the love of God in Christ Jesus, we struggle to welcome some people into that love. We play a “who’s in and who’s out” game.

In an ironic twist, those Christians who would exclude anyone who doesn’t meet their standards, whether Muslims or GLBT or poor or whatever, are the ones some of us would rather not share space with under Christ’s wings. Most of Christ’s followers have someone they look down on, someone they’d rather Christ kept out of the warm nest.

Snuggling under the warmth of a mother hen’s wings is also problematic when we consider the close quarters of such intimacy. It’s enough that Christ welcomes all, even sinners, even those whom we think are unChristlike Christians. But do they have to be so close?

On Lenten Wednesdays at noon Eucharist and evening Vespers we’ll listen to our Mother Hen. We’ll hear from Scripture of those whom Christ welcomes and loves, whom we struggle to embrace. “The least of these,” Jesus called them. A foreign woman at a well who has a different faith. A left-for-dead member of a different race. A poor man covered in sores sitting outside a wealthy man’s home. A sinful woman dragged into the public square for humiliation and punishment.

Paul tells us in Romans “love does no wrong to a neighbor.” Christ, our Mother Hen, stretches what neighbor means so far we struggle to embrace it. Thank God we’re not in charge of the wings. Perhaps this Lent we can learn to be truly glad for their breadth and their reach.

In the name of Jesus,

– Joseph

Sunday Readings

February 21, 2016: Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17—4:1
Luke 13:31-35

February 28, 2016: Third Sunday in Lent

Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
I Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9

Midweek Lenten Worship
Wednesdays during Lent
Holy Eucharist at noon + Evening Prayer at 7 pm

The theme for 2016 is “Love does no wrong to a neighbor: Who Christ calls us to be to those
not like us.”

A soup luncheon follows each Wednesday noon Eucharist, and a soup supper precedes each Wednesday Evening Prayer, beginning at 6 pm.

Meet the Voigts!

This Sunday, Feb. 21, there will be an opportunity for everyone to meet the Voigt family at Mount Olive. The Voigts are from Leipzig, Germany and are in the Twin Cities until August as part of an ex-change with the Minnea-polis Area Synod’s sister synod partnership with the Leipzig Church.
Come for a light lunch on Sunday after the second liturgy to meet the Voigts.

Sunday’s Adult Forum: February 21

“Reconciliation With God: The Question of the Atonement,” part 2 of a 3-part series presented by Pastor Crippen.

“In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Cor. 5: 19).
This is one of the more powerful ways Paul describes just what it is God is doing for the world in Christ Jesus, what the church calls the atonement.

Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer is a discipline practiced by many monastic communities. During the penitential season of Lent, the people of Mount Olive have the opportunity to learn about and practice this ancient discipline.

Wednesdays during Lent, beginning at 5:30 p.m., we will gather in the north transept (columbarium area) for a brief instruction, a reading from the Psalms, followed by 20 minutes of silence. There will be a short time for debriefing, then close with the Lord’s Prayer.

Please join us. For questions, call Sue Ellen Zagrabelny at 612- 875-7865.

Climate Justice Task Force–Join Now

Here is your chance to take action on your concerns. In January the Vestry supported the formation of a Climate Justice Task Force to investigate and recommend education and action for our congregation and its members. This short-term (3-6 months)”big issue” task force will investigate and make recommendations to other standing committees (properties, missions, neighborhood, education, etc). Climate Justice is already a consideration for many of these committees, and the Climate Justice Task Force will offer the opportunity for creative thinking and “whole picture” action. Say, “Yes!” when asked, or volunteer by leaving your name in the church office, dropping a note to Judy Hinck at judyhinck@gmail.com, or writing your name and “Climate Justice” on one of the cream-colored cards in the pew and placing the card in the offering basket.

New Albs are Here

… at least, some of them are.

Please wear the old albs for now and try on a new alb for fit. A chart on the closet door will help you find a size. Each alb has a tag on the sleeve noting the size. Please keep the new albs in the closet, older albs are on the rolling rack and also in the closet. Please let me know which size you will be wearing by noting it on the size chart.

We will look very spiffy at Easter!

– Carol Austermann

Lenten Devotional Book Available

“Return to God,” Susan Cherwien’s new devotional booklet for Lent 2016, is free and available at church. Pick one up for use during Lent!

This devotional is also available on the web in blog form at http://returntogod2016.blogspot.com/

Soup-Makers Needed!

Soup makers are needed to provide soup and bread for our midweek Lenten meals. Soup and bread for the lunch following Wednesday midday Eucharist should feed 40-50 people, and for the supper before Wednesday Evening Prayer, we need soup and bread for about 15-20 people.

If you can help by signing up to bring a meal (or two!), the sign up chart is available at the serving window at coffee hour on Sundays.

Lenten series on Christian Nonviolence

Every Church a Peace Church (ECAPC) and Mount Olive are sponsoring a five-Sunday Lenten video series on Christian Non-violence. These presentations provide the background under-standings for the “soul searching by Lutherans on the U.S. continuing war efforts,” called for by the Minneapolis Synod, ELCA. The peace community is invited and encouraged to be a part of the viewing and discussion of presentations by Father Emmanuel Charles McCarthy.

This Lenten video series is being offered during the Sundays in Lent in the East Assembly Room at Mount Olive at 12:45 and repeated at 3 pm. Light food and coffee will be available.

Each Sunday Lenten presentation can stand on its own and lasts about one hour followed by a half hour for questions and discussion. The first presentation held last Sunday, 2/14 is summarized below:
In the February 14 video presentation we learned that the Lamb of God represents a different kind of power than what we normally think of as power in present day Christianity. Power philosophically defined is the ability to make things happen or the capacity to produce change. Violence, fear, and intimidation are “powers,” as they produce change. But curiosity or care or love are also “powers” as they produce change. American Christians tend to think of lambs as symbols of utter powerlessness; that real power comes through political might and dominative power — the very powers that Jesus rejected.

Jewish writers on Jesus and Christianity have observed that we have rejected the life and teaching of Jesus for the same reasons they did. One quoted Jewish writer we heard on 2/14, said Jesus’ teaching of ‘love your enemies’ was a dangerous teaching for the survival of the Jewish nation at that time. How-ever, he also noted that since Constantine, Christianity has not implemented “love your enemies” but rather viewed it as equally dangerous for the same Jewish reasons; and relegated “love your enemies to a book or to monastics (who live apart from ordinary life), thereby leaving the world cruel, wicked, and pagan” i.e. Jewish writers are saying Jesus did not have much impact on making the world a more peaceful place. Importantly, Jews view “Messiah” as one who will bring peace.

We have to admit, few outsiders observing Christians would say, “there goes a bunch of lambs!”
(The exceptions, of course, are people like Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day etc. Admittedly, my own Lutheran upbringing and understanding was more like a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” than the nonviolent love that the Lamb of God Jesus incarnates.)

Jewish writers do acknowledge, however, that for over 300 years the Church was nonviolent. And it worked despite the fact that the Roman government sought to eradicate the movement with varying intensity during those 300 years. During that time, Christians refused to retaliate or defend themselves with violence. By the time Constantine became emperor, it was one of the largest, if not the largest, religion in the empire. What’s more, you could not be in the Roman army and kill if you were a Christian. However, in 414 after Constantine, ONLY Christians served in the fighting Roman Army (in 311 AD you couldn’t). In 104 years it was all turned around and hasn’t changed since then.

If you have any questions about this series or discussion, please contact me at 612 722-5957, or by email to allanbostelmann@msn.com.

– Al Bostelmann

The Sheridan Story

In some schools, as many as 92% of kids depend on subsidized school meals. Each weekend over 100,000 of those kids go hungry. The Sheridan Story is working to reduce that number by providing children and their families healthy nutritious food for the weekend which the children carry home from school.

What can we do?
We’re looking for at least 25 sponsors to support the children of at least one classroom at Jefferson Elementary for one year. A sponsor commits to $130 per year, or $12 per month ($144/year).

How will this work?
You can make checks to Mount Olive (marked “Sheridan Story), or arrange an automatic deduction from your bank by Sheridan Story (like Simply Giving).

What else can I do?
A big need will be volunteers to pack bags of food in children’s backpacks early each Friday
afternoon. The more volunteers for this the better, so it isn’t a burden for anyone. Also, groups or
families can participate in food packing at The Sheridan Story, either regularly or once in a
while.

When can we start?
There will be an opportunity to sign up as a sponsor or volunteer this Sunday, February 21.
Anna Scott will also be available that morning to set up the automatic deduction from your bank.

Coming Up

JRLC (Joint Religious Legislative Coalition) Regional Day on the Hill for the South Metro are being held Tuesday, March 8, from 5:30-8:30pm at Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville. This year they will focus on using our faith as “an inspiration and example as we chart our own strategy to use our stories to bring about legislative change.”

Please contact Anna Scott if interested. More information at : www.jrlc.org

Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack Event – Help pack two million meals during the five-day packing event February 24-28, in Champlin, MN.

Visit www.fundraising.fmsc.org/NWMetro for more information.

Ukrainian Easter Egg Workshop: Feb. 27

Have you seen Ukrainian Easter eggs (pysanky) and always wanted to know how they are made? Here’s your chance to learn! Cha Posz, Mount Olive’s administrative assistant, along with her husband Kurt, have offered to teach a basic class at Mount Olive on the making of pysanky. The class will take place on Saturday, February 27, from 9 am to 12 noon in the East Assembly Room next to the Chapel Lounge. A fee of $10 will be charged to cover supplies (you will get to bring tools home with you). Please e-mail or call the church office by Friday, Feb. 19 to register, so we are sure to have enough supplies for everyone on hand. All ages* are welcome! (*keeping in mind that it does involve hot wax and an open flame…).

Extra Fabric and Notions Lying Around?

If you sew or quilt or for some other reason have extra fabric and sewing supplies that you no longer use and wish to donate, please call Carol Austermann. Carol will be happy to take them to the Textile Center’s annual sale on April 9.

This is a great opportunity to purge your space of those items – clean out your clutter!
She will be glad to pick up your donations –give her a call at 612-722-5123.

Betty Diersen information

Betty has moved from her apartment at Augustana to a care facility in Cambridge, Minnesota, near her daughter, Karen. She is waiting to move into a memory care unit in Princeton, Minnesota, where Karen lives.

Any who wish to send cards or letters to Betty may send them to: Betty Diersen, care of Karen Diersen Anderson, 1477 Alpha Road, Princeton, MN 55371.

Workshop with Gertrud Mueller-Nelson

Our friends at Christ Church Lutheran asked us to share this information about an upcoming workshop by Gertrud Mueller Nelson. Some of you may know her as a beloved writer, others as a gifted artist and illustrator, still others as a wise teacher and workshop leader. She is all of these, and she’s coming to Minneapolis on Saturday, March 5.

Gertrud will offer a free workshop at Christ Church Lutheran entitled, “The Home and What’s Holy: Nourishing Faith in the Home.” Her wonderful book, To Dance with God, is a classic work on sharing faith with children and bringing ceremony and Christian practice into in the home. All are warmly invited to attend this workshop which is free and open to the public.

Christ Church Lutheran is located at 3244 34th Ave S. in Minneapolis.