The Resurrection Connection | | |
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The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
in the Saint Paul Area Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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Autumn 2023
In this Issue:
What's in Worship
Pastor's Corner
What We've Been Up To
New Members
Stewardship
From the ELCA
From the Saint Paul Area Synod
Links
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In Advent our lectionary texts ask worshipers to keep awake, to turn anew toward the expectation of the coming Christ, to remove obstacles to God’s movement (in our lives, churches, communities, and societies), to nurture the divine presence within, waiting to be born into the world. The earth in the northern hemisphere invites the church to engage darkness, silence, and stillness as it reaches the solstice. This is fertile darkness meant not to smother but to nurture growth as we turn toward the incarnate God.
One of Christmas’s themes is light! The lectionary texts for the Christmas season speak of light and illumination repeatedly and ebulliently. Jesus is the light of the world, a light that cannot be swallowed by the shadows of death, pain, or fear.
The time after Epiphany begins and ends with the divine voice claiming and affirming Jesus as “Beloved.” At his baptism the skies part, the voice calls, and all of creation is welcomed into the wonder of God among us. At the transfiguration the drama increases on the mountaintop, and God’s voice speaks truth and offers identity to this Son, the Beloved. Through this time from the Baptism of Our Lord until the Transfiguration of Our Lord, we too are invited into a worship life marked with great drama, spiritual movement, and holy affirmation. The lectionary texts draw each member of the assembly into questions about our own identity as children of God.
Based on Sundays and Seasons Seasonal Worship Essays Copyright © 2023 Augsburg Fortress.
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Calendar
Check out the on-line calendar for up-to-date activity information! Click the button below.
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Beloved of God,
This November my facebook feed has been full of people posting photos of their 30-day gratitude challenge or calendars made for families to practice gratitude as they sit down to dinner together. It seems that as we navigate away from the "pilgrims and Indians" Thanksgiving mythology, we're choosing to focus more and more on just simply giving thanks.
cont'd below
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Or maybe, because everywhere we look in the world and in our neighborhoods we come up against more terrifying news, we are hungry for good news. And practicing gratitude is one way of feeding our souls.
Whatever the reason, being grateful, naming that for which we are thankful aloud or in some way outside of just our thoughts, is good for us. The Mayo Clinic posted an article in December last year saying that, "expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease." Read the full article here.
As a congregation we've spent the weeks since Pentecost (that's 26 weeks by the end of the month) naming that for which we are grateful in the Resurrection community. We intended to end this practice on Christ the King Sunday, but the gratitude basket is so full, and the gratitudes keep coming in, so that I think we may as well continue our practice for a while yet. As the author of Colossians writes, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
As we come to the end of another calendar year, my third among you, I am grateful for you. I give thanks for your love of our triune God and our local and global neighbors, your generosity, your humor, your engagement in the ministry to which God calls us, the hope you embody, and so much more.
Thank you, Beloved.
In Peace,
Pastor Sarah
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Worship, Music and the Arts | | | |
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The Lewis Family
Stephen, Katelyn, and Oliver Lewis recently moved to Roseville from Albuquerque, New Mexico to be closer to family. Katelyn is a Los Angeles native and works in Human Resources by day and plays the French horn. Stephen is from Amarillo, Texas and is both an investment advisor and a baritone. Katelyn grew up in the Lutheran church and Stephen sung in the Episcopal Cathedral Choir. Music is what brought us together and is what brought us to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. We are excited for this new chapter of life in the North Star State!
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Carolyn Chapin
Growing up in Duluth, my life revolved around family, friends and my love of animals. My daughter, granddaughters, and seven great grandchildren are the loves of my life. Forty three years were spent working in the field of affordable housing. Today, I'm at home with my yorkie, Finn and all my art supplies, and with past friends and new friends met through my art and the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.
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Thank you!! for all you do and for the financial support you have given to ministry through Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. Because of your generosity we can be the engaging, inclusive, creative community that we are.
We ask that you prayerfully consider continuing to give and increasing your pledge 10% for 2024.
Why ten percent? Several reasons: 1) LCR has run a deficit budget for the last two years relying on the bounty of previous years to carry us through leaner years; 2) as we focused on the debt reduction aspect of our campaign in 2022, we saw slim increase in pledges for the 2023 general fund; 3) we experience the same rise in utilities and insurance costs as all households and businesses and occupy an aging building. These and the desire to meet the ministry needs of our congregation and community call us to increase our budget for 2024. And we need you!
Commitment Sunday is November 19, 2023
Please complete the statement of intent card you received in the mail or the form here. Making a commitment in this way helps us to plan the budget for the coming year.
If you are not currently giving to LCR's debt reduction campaign, Rooted and Renewing, and would like to, a separate pledge card is available in the Church Office or on the website.
Thank you for the many ways you contribute to the life and ministry of this congregation!
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Crisis in the Holy Land
In response to the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel's declaration of war against Hamas, including the ongoing siege of Gaza, the ELCA offers the following statements from some of our Lutheran and global partners in the region. Included are ELCA resources for a deeper understanding of the context, the humanitarian crises of the current war, and the ELCA's work for a just peace in Palestine and Israel. Click on teh link below.
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News from the Saint Paul Area Synod | | |
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Therapeutic Preschool Construction Kick-Off
Members of the synod council and staff and representatives of congregations rejoiced with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) as they helped kick off construction of the Families Together Eastside Preschool on Oct. 26. The project has been largely funded by a million dollar contribution through the synod's Planting Hope Campaign. Grace Lutheran on St. Paul's East Side will house this life-changing resource for children and families once renovations are complete. The therapeutic preschool is expected to be operational in the fall of 2024.
In her remarks, Alexis Oberdorfer from LSS expressed appreciation to Bishop Patricia Lull for her commitment to the project as part of the synod's capital campaign. She noted that the campaign's fourth initiative, "Investing in a transformative project on the East Side of St. Paul," was set without an understanding of what that project would be and with whom the synod would partner. "A transformative project that's going to change lives?" Alexis asked. "Well, I think we nailed it!"
LCR gave $10,000 from our Rooted and Renewing Campaign, $5,000 from a bequest, and $687.00 raised by the children and youth, to this important program, part of the million-dollar contribution made by the synod.
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Links to Sunday morning worship services are on our website prior to each service. Or go to the LCR YouTube page to livestream. | |
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Wednesday Morning Prayer
Join us each Wednesday at 8 am on Zoom for Scripture, prayer, learning, and delightful discussion!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91793468392
Or call: 312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 917 9346 8392
Email or call Pastor Sarah with any questions:
pastorsarah@lcr-elca.org
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Taking Faith Home is a weekly Bible study and prayer resource developed for individuals, families, and friends to use during the week. It offers suggested readings, a hymn, questions to consider, and a ritual to engage our whole lives in faith practices. find out more by clicking below. | |
Want to check out the upcoming readings and some related artwork? Click the button below to go to Vanderbilt Divinity Library's Revised Common Lectionary website. | | | | |
