Solstice Yearns for Light

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1 January 2019 With sin darkening our world, sometimes it feels that there is no hope. And then the light comes. -Christine Eid Solstice Yearns for Light by Christine Eid, Director of Children s Ministries One of the hardest parts of the fall for me in Minnesota is when the daylight begins to decrease. When I first moved to Minnesota, I couldn t figure out why I got grumpy and depressed in October. My doctor identified SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and gave me strategies to get through the time of year with increased darkness. It s not so bad anymore as I have learned to expect the change, and know what I need to do to feel better. So, while I love the colors of the fall and the change of season in that way, I do miss the sunlight each day. Friday, December 21 was 2018 s day with the least amount of light; our shortest day. Each year, when we get to the winter solstice, I think, Yes! I made it through another year! And I begin to watch for the little bit of additional light each day with joy. The early church fathers identified the date to celebrate Christ s birth around the winter solstice so that Christians would not participate in the

2 pagan celebrations. And so, the two always coincide. But this year I reflected on the change of season with some new insights. As we get closer to the darkest day of the year, it seems that there is no hope for having the sun. And, with sin darkening our world, sometimes it feels that there is no hope. And then the light comes. Literally, days begin to get longer after the solstice, and literally, the light of the world through Christ came at Christmas. In John, chapter 1 it reads, In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband s will, but born of God. RightNow Media Launch We are excited to be launching RightNow Media. It gives you access to thousands of bible study resources for all ages. If you didn t receive an from us, here are the ways you can gain access and setup your account: BY TEXT: Text CROSSVIEWLC to from your smart phone. Moments later, you should receive a link that you can follow to set up your account! ONLINE: Go to This will allow you to setup your account and jump right into the content. QR CODE: You can scan the QR code below with your mobile device to request access. Questions? Jonathan Zellar (jonathan@crossview.net). Important Cross View Financial Update This is a very exciting time at Cross View. The congregation has responded with unprecedented generosity to the 4.0 Building for Generations campaign, and we thank you! Continuing to honor our ongoing annual operating budget pledges is also critical to the success of Cross View. As of the Voters meeting on December 2, our financial position for 2018 was strong, based on budgeted receipts for November and December, which was very similar to prior year receipts. However, November receipts were low, nearly 50% below budget. November and December are our largest giving months of the year, contributing 28% of our full year receipts. Given recent lower than expected results in October and November, we will be in a deficit position for the year unless December receipts resume as expected. Please consider your gifts prayerfully. God is leading this church and His people into a new era of serving Him. Let s finish strong! Cross View Council We, the Cross View Staff, want to extend our sincere thanks to the members and friends of Cross View for your Christmas gifts. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to serve with you in 2018 as we worked together in various ministry areas. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. We look forward to working with you as we continue Christ s mission here at Cross View, in our community and in the world. 2 Cross View Clarion

3 Cross View s Fourth Decade Transitions, Growth, and Blessings In each issue of the Clarion from October to February, we will look back at Cross View s journey from our humble beginnings to our development and growth into the Church we are today. Cross View rang in a new year and a new millennium by hosting 24 homeless people from central Minneapolis at the church for a week in early January Members continued to band together in support of myriad service and social activities. There was a family retreat at Camp Okoboji in Iowa, and a youth trip to Nenana, Alaska, for fellowship with the Athabascan Indians. On the night of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America, Pastor Gerry Coleman held a special prayer service for the community. There was strong turnout at the event, and Cross View members turned to God for direction and healing. In November, members poured themselves into the planning and preparation for the annual Thanksgiving event at Trinity First Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, and there was a record turnout for the event that year. In spring 2002, Pastor Coleman accepted a call to Concordia College, Bronxville, NY. Before leaving Cross View, he led a Bible class examining the Muslim world and its traditions. When Associate Pastor Bode took a call to St. John s, Buffalo, MN, Palmer Ruschke stepped in as interim pastor. Forty-one candidates were considered in the process of calling Cross View s next senior pastor. In August 2002, a traveling choir from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, performed at Cross View for a concert and celebration that attracted an overflow crowd. New entry doors to the narthex were installed in the fall that were designed by Cross View member and architect Terry Helland. In November of 2003, children s ministry began rehearsals for The Christmas Locket an original play written by Cross View s Audrey Duensing while the senior youth staged a jubilant production of the musical Godspell. At the same time, the call committee and members of the congregation met with three finalists for the senior pastor role at Cross View. Each was strong, but one stood out. He was a young pastor from Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood, Colorado Steve Wheeler. On February 29, 2004, Pastor Wheeler was installed as Cross View s senior pastor. A few weeks later, in a presentation marking Cross View s 35th Anniversary as a church, long-time member Jean Johnson told the congregation: The Lord has richly blessed us in the past, and we pray that His blessing will remain with us as we all enthusiastically welcome Pastor Wheeler and his family to Cross View. That same year, Cross View leaders and their counterparts from St. Luke s Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park explored the pros and cons of a potential merger of the two churches. Following weeks of prayerful consideration, the merger was ultimately rejected by a vote. In the following months, a new sound system was installed at Cross View, and a new worship schedule was introduced that retained the traditional worship service every Sunday but also included a new, contemporary worship service format during the late service on alternate Sundays. Annual events such as the SWANS Valentine Dinner, Maundy Thursday Seder meal, Christian Art Festival, Advent Reflections, and Children s Nativity continued to provide social events for members and outreach into the community. In 2007 Lyle Heggemeier, Director of Adult Ministries, accepted a call from Faith Lutheran Church near Rochester, New York; Paul Emch retired after 55 years of musical ministry that included 12 as Cross View s organist; and Christine Eid joined Cross View as the Director of the Children s Ministry. The Easter 2008 drive by re-enactment of The Final Days of Jesus in the Cross View parking lot drew strong community turnout and coverage from community media outlets. Later in the year, a garden and plaza seating area was dedicated to honor the memory of beloved Cross View member Jean Johnson. At the end of 2008, Cross View had grown to 847 baptized members. Top to Bottom: Final Days of Jesus (2003), Godspell (2003), Installation of Steve Wheeler (2004), Children s Nativity (2008), Trinity First Thanksgiving Meal (2008). 3 Cross View Clarion

4 Outreach & Missions THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE & HOSPITALITY CHILDREN S NATIVITY WARMLY GREETS GUESTS On a beautiful Saturday winter morning (12/8), Cross View families and volunteers welcomed many children, parents, friends and family members. About 180 people (81 of those were children) came through our doors during outreach event. Many spent a lot of time petting live animals (the bunnies, llama & alpacas were favorites). They registered in Bethlehem and then made their way along the Nativity story, interacting with story characters and placing stickers on their Nativity scenes. Some then headed over to refreshments and crafts, while many families and little ones played Nativity dress up and took family photos. Best of all, over 60% of families didn t call Cross View home and were asking not only about the event, but about Cross View and the rest of our mission and ministry. Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered at Children s Nativity. 4 Cross View Clarion

5 Outreach & Missions Alaskan congregations as they continue the slow and steady work of loving people in Alaska and sharing with them the incredible news of Jesus. It shines through each of you as you continue to pray, provide, and participate in the work of Jesus in Alaska. Thank you for being a part of our work. God bless you as you celebrate Jesus during this holiday season! Pray for Todd Roeske and Jan Bruick as they travel to Bethel in January to continue to build upon established relationships throughout southwest Alaska. We also seek God s wisdom in finding an AMC missionary to serve in Bethel and beyond. LIGHTING THE WAY Pastor Todd Roeske, Alaska Mission for Christ On some nights, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are just a background green haze in the sky. They are not very impressive. The real beauty of the Northern Lights comes on the nights when they flicker and dance. The ebb and the flow of the lights is what draws people to Alaska and other northern destinations to gaze at God s incredible light show. Ministry also has ebbs and flows. A year ago, we were excited to have a new missionary in Juneau, Pastor Aaron Spratt. Along with that, Pastor Keith Aschenbeck was loving people in Tanacross and the Tanana River Valley. We were also eagerly searching for a new missionary to serve in Southwest Alaska. It seemed as though things were moving along very well. But since then, we have had no inquiries nor nominations for the call to Southwest Alaska. Then to our disappointment, Pastor Keith took a call to Texas. However, God s light continues to shine. Lay deacons, pastors, and local Christians have stepped up to cover the services in Tanacross. Some volunteers have driven six hours one-way to ensure that services continued in that little village. The community continues to be served with God s Word and Sacraments. Ministry will continue this winter as God provided our Summer Camp Hosts from Nebraska to volunteer to fill the vacancy in Tanacross from January to March. Who wants to go to Interior Alaska and brave -50 temperatures to share the Good News of Jesus? Rev. Carl and Darlene Lilienkamp is who the Lord is sending. They covet your prayers as they humbly shine the light of Jesus in Tanacross this winter. The busy season of summer servant event teams is over, but God s light continues to flicker and shine through the ministry of Pastor Aaron in Juneau as he reaches into small communities and provides Word and Sacrament ministry. It shines through the ministry of our Servant Event Coordinator, Jan Bruick, as she recruits and equips teams for next summer. It shines through the work of the 13 LCMS FOREIGN MISSION WORK: DANGEROUS WORK On October 27, a group of Christians at the Children Center where we work tried to force us to close the center down. They came to the center wearing masks to hide their faces and put up three banners outside the center s fence saying, Warning: The center will be permanently closed starting on November 1, They also warned our staff, If you don t close down the center and leave, we will not guarantee your safety. This group of Christians wanted to take over the property and turn the center into a residential area. We have yet to resolve this problem. To see a video, go to The Lord says, God is our refuge and strength, an everpresent help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). This is why our family and many other foreign missionaries are doing what we are called to do. We know that the Lord called and sent us to do foreign mission work. He is our refuge and strength because He is ever present with us. This is also why we always ask that you keep us in your prayers. Therefore, thank you for your prayers for our safety and your financial support of the Lord s work through our family. Please continue to keep the situation at our Children s Center in your prayers. Your missionaries, Fung, Kalia and Mercy Lo. 5 Cross View Clarion

6 Christian Education MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SUMMER ACTIVITIES Yes, the snow is falling and temperatures are dropping, but we are in the beginning stages of planning our summer activities! Mark your calendars for these events coming up! VBS: Roar! Life is Wild.God is Good June 17-21, 2019 Music Camp July 22-26, 2019 (Registration will open online in late January. Watch the weekly announcements for when!) 5TH GRADE STARTS WELCOME TO THE LORD S TABLE ON FEB. 24 Welcome to the Lord s Table is a Sunday class for 5th graders and parents in preparation for their first communion. Class begins Sunday, February 24, with first communion on Maundy Thursday, April 18. Details for the class will be mailed to families in January. ROMANS FREEDOM IN CHRIST Join us during Sundays in January and February as we study Romans, looking at the effects, extent, and remedy for sin. Join us as we dig into the bondage of sin versus our freedom in Christ and following Him. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM THANK YOU! We give thanks for awesome presentations of the Christmas Gospel by Cross View children. Here are just a few pictures showing their joyful singing and message. 6 Cross View Clarion

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8 Women s Ministries WOMEN S DINNER OUT Beat the post-christmas blues of winter and join women of Cross View on Thursday, January 24, 6:45 PM, for dinner at Fireside Foundry at 6736 Penn Ave S, Richfield. Fireside was a recommendation by Glenda Kibat as a place with a fun motif and great Google reviews! Check out their menu at Want to join us but afraid you will be too late to order with everyone?? Send an to Quynn Iske (qunika@msn.com), and we can place your order with the group. You can also contact Quynn by phone or text at Watch the Connection Center in January to sign up! WOMEN S BOOK CLUB Next month, Joyce Crosby will host Women s Book Club. We will read and discuss the book Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate and will meet at church on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 1:00 PM. All women of Cross View are welcome to join us. Please contact Marcy Nordhus at mpnordhus@gmail.com if you have any questions. CROSS VIEW CARDS AND GAMES Friday, January 11 7:00 PM Location: Cross View, Fellowship A RSVP to Hosts: Mary & Chuck Daenzer or Barb Reichart WOMEN S SPRING CRAFTING RETREAT COMING IN MARCH! The annual women s ministry spring crafting retreat will be March 29-31, Mark your calendars and plan to attend this time of fellowship and Bible study, while completing those unfinished projects you have at home. Not a crafter? Come with other projects from home that you might have, or enjoy a time to read and reflect. A service project for participants will also be available. Watch for more information and registration details in the Weekly Connections coming soon! Connect with Cross View members and friends (adults of all ages) for several hours of fun and fellowship by participating in cards and games of your choice. New participants are welcome! Senior Adult Ministries CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER With an increase in the population of older adults there is an increase in demand for people to help support and care for them. Senior Adult Ministry at Cross View is offering an educational presentation entitled CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER. This presentation will define who is a caregiver and the impact of care giving. We will learn about available resources to help provide care and services to support the needs of the caregiver. We will also introduce Long-term Care Choices Navigator to help find aging services that assist in living and aging well in the community. Other topics such as Senior Linkage Line, helpful resources, comparing services, support groups and more will also be presented making this an ideal seminar for anyone currently involved or may becoming involved in this experience. Date & Time: Tuesday, January 15, :00 AM Noon 9:00 AM doors open and light breakfast compliments of Thrivent 10:00-11:30 AM presentation 11:30 AM-12 Noon, additional questions Location: Cross View Lutheran Church Contact: Rich Meier or or rrameier@usfamily.net Sign up at the Connection Center to attend this free, informative presentation. Senior Adult ministry spent an afternoon caroling and visiting Cross View members Bob Ulrich, Delores Ranta, Marion Lind, Milt Grimm, and Ed & Shirley Schmidt. 8 Cross View Clarion

9 Youth Ministry CHRISTMAS PARTIES The junior and senior high youth both had their Christmas parties in early December. The junior high youth had an ugly sweater and game theme, and the senior high had an HQ Trivia theme. HQ Trivia is a live trivia game show that can be played on almost any mobile device. You play through 12 questions in an attempt to win a portion of the prize money. It s free to play. Oh, did we mention that we got a shout-out from the host? Early Childhood Center ECC PROGRAMS & PARTIES The Early Childhood Center ended 2018 with a Christmas program and classroom Christmas parties to celebrate Jesus birth. The Christmas program was about having hope, joy, peace and love for Jesus. The Christmas parties are an annual event in the classrooms, where the children have special activities, fun games and a yummy treat! Both of these events are a great time to connect with the families, as we invite the parents and extended relatives to the Christmas program and ask for parents or grandparents to volunteer for the classroom parties. We look forward to all God has in store for our Early Childhood Center in We plan to participate in the 10:30 AM service on January 27 to celebrate National Lutheran Schools. 9 Cross View Clarion

10 4.0 Building Update Cross View solidified the 2019 $6.94 million building project at the December 2 Voters meeting with continued overwhelming support. Members granted Cross View leadership authority to finalize financing. Voters approved not to exceed loan terms by a 116 yes votes, 1 abstention, and 1 no vote margin. The approval also reaffirms member 4.0 Building for Generations campaign pledges as well as yearly operating budget giving commitments. Please prayerfully consider your gifts. God is leading Cross View and His people into a new era of serving Him. Two loans will support the building project: A bridge or construction loan up to $2.0 million and a five (5) year term will be available during construction and through the pledge payment schedule. Funds will be drawn as needed and repaid as 4.0 Building for Generations pledges are received. The bridge loan will have a variable or fixed (TBD) interest rate in the expected range of 4.1% - 5.0%. Members can minimize interest cost and maximize funds for the expansion by following their pledge payment schedule or prepaying pledge amounts. A year $3.04 million mortgage will provide long-term financing. Cross View s loan portion will be $2.64 million. The Early Childhood Center s loan portion will be $400,000. The interest rate is expected to be between 4.5% - 5.0% (5-10 year fixed) with no prepayment penalty. Cross View leadership interviewed Bremer Bank, Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) and Thrivent. Multiple interviews, a loan term sheet comparison, and financial projections are being analyzed and lender selection will be made in early January. The Building Steering Committee reviewed sanctuary sprinkling at their December meeting. The City of Edina requires sanctuary sprinkling as part of the building project. Pope Architects and Anderson Companies presented sprinkling options. The Building Steering Committee agreed to remove the sanctuary ceiling, install sprinkler piping, additional insulation, meet other code requirements, and install a new wood ceiling. Additional design considerations including type of ceiling wood, lighting, speakers, and acoustical impact will be finalized by the end of February, Please direct questions to Building Steering Committee members Lynn Pahl, Janet Smith, David Frauenshuh, Pastor Wheeler, Scott Douglas or grow@crossview.net. Jan. 20 Voters Mtg A Voters meeting will be held at noon on January 20, 2019 in the fellowship hall. A light lunch will be served and childcare provided in the senior high youth room. Agenda items include: Approval of the 2019 Cross View Church and ECC budgets Building expansion update Small Groups Welcome All Hard path? Rocky places? Weeds and thorns? Rich dirt? Do you know where your heart is these days? Is it in one of these places, or maybe more than one of these places? Being part of a small group at Cross View could be just what you need to soften your heart, move out the rocks of sin, pull those distractions and nuisances, and enrich the soil of your heart so the Word of God can be fruitful in your life. Fill out an interest inquiry (available at the Connection Center) or let Pastor Steve or Pastor Toby know of your interest in becoming a member of a small group. New groups are forming in January, and you will be contacted to help you connect, grow, and serve in a small group that might be a good fit for you. Twelve21 will begin a new study in January on the book Joining Jesus by Greg Finke. If you are interested in joining the group or need to be added to the Facebook group or chain, please let Jonathan know. This group meets for bible/book study the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month. Our next meeting is 6:30 PM on January 10. Hope to see you all there! Here is a snapshot of our Christmas party. Twelve21 Altar Flower Sign-Up Altar flowers are given to Cross View to beautify our worship space. You may designate a particular occasion or remembrance in the bulletin for which you have given the flowers. A 2019 flower signup is posted on the bulletin board near the kitchen. Flowers may be ordered through Cross View s regular florist or provided by you personally. 10 Cross View Clarion

11 CROSS VIEW LUTHERAN CHURCH INVITES YOU TO ATTEND OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET & PROGRAM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019 SOCIAL HOUR AT 4:00 PM DINNER AT 5:00 PM PROGRAM AT 6:00 PM MINNEAPOLIS MARRIOTT SOUTHWEST 5801 OPUS PKWY, MINNETONKA, MN DINNER IS COMPLIMENTARY. A FREE WILL OFFERING WILL HELP OFFSET THE EVENT COST. Invitations will arrive in the mail early in the New Year! 11 Cross View Clarion

12 Developing fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ along life s journey Rev. Steve Wheeler, Senior Pastor ext 203, steve@crossview.net Rev. Toby Schmidt, Associate Pastor ext 206, toby@crossview.net Christine Eid, Children s Ministry ext 215, christine@crossview.net Jonathan Zellar, Youth & Young Adults MInistries ext 207, jonathan@crossview.net Stacey LaMere, Director of Early Childhood Center ext 222 stacey@crossview.net Renee Kirchner, Director of Church Administration ext 204 renee@crossview.net Rebecca Waller, Music & Fine Arts Ministries ext 210, rebecca@crossview.net Margaret Garrison, Administrative Assistant ext 200, margaret@crossview.net Alyssa Meger, Finance Specialist ext 204, alyssa@crossview.net Claire Oie, Administrative Assistant ext 200 claire@crossview.net Jason Paulson, Contemporary Music jason@crossview.net Russell Draeger, Organist russell@crossview.net Lynn Pahl, President Nadar & Georgette Alaraj, POBLO Todd & Kim Roeske, Evangelistic Missionaries in Alaska Rev. Dr. Harry Wendt, Crossways International The Clarion is published monthly by Cross View Lutheran Church. Items for inclusion may be dropped off in the church office or sent via to rebecca@crossview.net. GROW WITH CROSS VIEW SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:15 am Traditional 10:45 am Contemporary SUNDAY EDUCATION 9:30 am OFFICE HOURS Tues.-Fri., 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Closed Monday CALENDAR Cross View s most current calendar is always available on our website at CONNECT WITH CROSS VIEW 6645 McCauley Trail West Edina, MN, (Office) (FAX) (ECC)