LIGHT FROM THE HEIGHTS

Transcription

1 LIGHT FROM THE HEIGHTS Arlington Hills Lutheran Church 1115 Greenbrier St. St. Paul, MN November 2017 Companion Congregation Idegenda, Tanzania To Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all in word and deed. OUR VISION: Arlington Hills Lutheran Church Community, A Beacon for the Kingdom o Jesus Christ. Welcome Pastor Chris! Pastor Chris Hagen has served 22 congregations in Minnesota, Chicago, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, most as interim pastor. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College, Eastern University (St. David, PA) and Luther Seminary. His wife, Ann Brearley, is assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Minnesota. Their daughter Rachel is a student at Metro State University, and their daughter Hannah is at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Pastor Chris and Ann live in Plymouth. Worship Services with Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary

2 2 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done We pray together every Sunday, and many of you privately, this plea for God to rule over us and all the world. It rubs wrong in a culture of fierce independence and so-called freedoms. It is a plea and prayer for another to decide our fate and command our days. At this end of this month we commemorate Christ the King. Jesus is our ruler, unelected, unchosen and immune to impeachment. Jesus shall be our Lord with or without our consent. Yet this same King, our God, rules with mercy, grace, forgiveness, forbearance, love. Occupy Advent is a movement using social media to talk about the original intent of the Advent season. Posted a while ago was this claim: Crying "Jesus is Lord" is renunciation of everything else that lays ultimate claim on our allegiance. If Jesus is Lord, then violence and anger are not. If Jesus is Lord, then the nation is not. If Jesus is Lord, then my stuff is not. If Jesus is Lord, then I certainly am not. If Jesus is Lord, then is not. 2 Pastor Chris

3 3 Two Friends, A Wheel Chair, Six Weeks, 500 Miles Please read Matthew 22: 37-39, Matthew 25: 35-40, Matthew 26: and 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 The book I'LL PUSH YOU is the record of Patrick Gray pushing Justin Skeesuck in a wheelchair, because he is unable to walk, across northern Spain. A map is included on two unnumbered pages near the beginning of the book. Justin and Patrick had shared many experiences during their friendship which began in elementary school. When they were considering the trip, Justin wondered why it should be done, not how it would be accomplished. Since the reasons for why were strong enough, he was positive that they, with God's help, would be successful. If you read the questions on pages 273 through 275 before reading the book Patrick and Justin's experiences and conversations will be more meaningful. The book describes the problems they solved, the progress they made each day, the food they ate, the places in which they spent nights, the people they met and the scenery they saw. Several times Patrick writes of a realization of why and how he should improve his family life. Were such thoughts of greater importance than his other experiences? Please be alert for the word provision. What meanings does it have and how might those meanings apply to our lives. The Bible passages that you were asked to read are included in conversations of Justin and Patrick with people they met during their journey. This is part of a comment by Justin (recorded on page 178, referring to Matthew 22: 37-39): "What does this kind of love look like? The only people we feel loved by are those who pursue us." The remainder of the paragraph contains more insight about the word pursue. These are comments by Patrick (page 229): "Being hands and feet to the world is often referred to as a Biblical concept. Jesus provides a clear picture in Matthew's 25th chapter about what it means to be hands and feet to the world around us." Pages 229 through 231 contain a different interpretation of this passage than the reader may have encountered. The passage from 1 Corinthians is quoted on page 143 as part of a discussion on the characteristics of a church. Patrick comments: "This is how we are supposed to live our lives. The result is a community where all feel welcome and safe, a place where healing can occur." Page 178 contains many observations about the Last Supper that the reader may not have realized are present in chapter 26 of Matthew's Gospel. On pages 102 and 103, Patrick considers a shortcut that he and Justin mistakenly thought would save time: "I don't believe that God litters our lives with obstacles, but he doesn't take them away or prevent us from making wrong decisions. He lets us walk the path we choose, and he lets us encounter the struggles of life, hoping we will learn and grow from each experience." Google ILLPUSHYOUBOOK.COM and select any of the websites that mention the word "trailer" to find a scenes from the film made about Patrick and Justin's journey. That film will be shown in a few theaters on November 2, Please be alert for an announcement of theaters and times when it will be shown in the St Paul area. I'LL PUSH YOU is available in the book case near the office door. Please return books you borrow as soon as you have finished with them so they are available for others to read and enjoy. Thanks. Clair 3

4 4 Culver s will be held on Monday, October 30 from 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. SunRay location. Daylight Savings time is November 5 Turn your clocks back one hour. Nice to be remembered by everyone. Roxanne brought me communion and flowers and a Prayer shawl from church. Thank you for your prayers, I am slowly getting better. Skai Zarins 4

5 5 VOLUNTEERS IN NOVEMBER NOV. 5 NOV. 12 NOV. 19 NOV. 26 USHERS RYAN HENK FLORENCE WAYNE HANSEN CHARLES AND DAVID LAUVER DENNIS LINDA AND ELAINE DAN REED RASMUSSON GERRY MCINERNEY TOM HANSON ROHRBACH RYAN HENK COMMUNION CHERYL MARY JON HELGASON JIM PERSOON HOLLMAN KOWITZ LECTORS CHRIS ROXANNE LOLITA DENNIS ANDERSON LARSEN SCHABER RASMUSSON GREETERS CLAIR AND DONA HABERMAN CAROL HANSEN AND MARY KOWITZ GEE WINTER AND SHARON SWANSON CAROL KRAUZE KARL EBERT AND VELTA KRAUZE HOSPITALITY FPA BOARD ROXANNE LARSEN AND ELAINE ROHRBACH SHARON HANSON AND RUSS RICHARDS OFFICE JOANN PRISCILLA JEANNE CAROL METLING REEVE SOBAN HANSEN 5

6 6 Upcoming this fall October 30 Culver s at SunRay November 16 Woodbury Senior Living 2:00 p.m Lake Rd. Woodbury, November 22 Thanksgiving meal with students November 23/24 Thanksgiving Office Closed November 30 Estates at Greeley 6:15 p.m. 313 Greeley St. S. Stillwater December 3 Inner Mission December 6 Gerten s delivery Pastoral Acts Deaths Albert Newman Baptism Julian A. Suarez Book Club meets the third Monday of the month at 10:30 a.m. See Clair Haberman if you have questions The Little Old Lay Who Broke All the Rules By Catharina Ingleman Sundberg 6

7 7 Arlington Hills Lutheran 1115 Greenbrier Street St. Paul, MN November 25, 2017 Address Service Requested Non-Profit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No Arlington Hills Lutheran Church Office Hours: Monday 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Tuesday Wed. & Thursday 9:00 3:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Phone: Arlington Hills Lutheran Church Staff Ext.# Senior Pastor Chris Hagen 17 Administrative Assistants: Diane Allmendinger* 11 Cheryl Hollman 16 Chief Custodian: Jim Jaszczak 23 Alley Shoppe Director Pam Wiehe 12 Asst. Custodian: Indira Perez* Organist & Choir Director: Handbell Director: Wedding Coordinator: Barbara Rossow* Chuck Linderkamp* Sharon Hanson* Fax: Visit us at: 7