Fall 2018 September October November Peace Notes
Pastor s Message Welcome to fall at Word of Peace! What a thrilling time of the year! This is when the church is abuzz with excitement as kids return to church school and confirmation, ministry teams are in full swing, and additional worship services deepen our connection to God and one another. It is good to be the church! This is an especially exciting year as we launch our churchwide campaign, Cover to Cover (page 4). All generations will walk through the Bible Tyler Strom Pastor of Faith in Action together as we rediscover the first language of faith. Our Cover to Cover exploration of the Bible will align our worship focus with our church school and confirmation lessons so that families will be able to share their faith more deeply. We are also holding a special class for adults this year on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings called Bible 101 (page 5) and are challenging the congregation to read through the entire Bible with our Bible Reading Challenge (page 4). New this year, we are also launching a new small group ministry called Life Groups (page 6). These groups are intended to foster deep connections with one another while also helping people grow in faith and service. If you are looking for a way to connect more meaningfully with others, then consider joining a group or leading your own. We are a church guided by our vision to know Christ s love and to share Christ s love with all people. As we move from a monthly newsletter to a quarterly newsletter, we hope to tell the stories of how people in this church fulfill its vision. These stories provide glimpses into the wondrous ways God is at work through the people and ministry of Word of Peace, and I hope you will be inspired by these stories and consider how God might be calling you to deeper relationship. Rick Skare Lead Pastor Kristin Skare Pastor of Spiritual Care Tyler Strom Pastor of Faith in Action 21705 129th Ave. N. Rogers, MN 55374 (763) 496-2400 (press 3 to leave an emergency message for a pastor) Office Hours Mon-Thurs 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Fri 8:00 AM-12:30 PM Our Vision Statement Our vision is to be a community where everyone knows Christ s Love and shares Christ s Love with all people. Our Mission Statement Christ works through us as we: Welcome all people to grow in faith, love and devotion, Share Christ through word and deed, Care for others and the world God made, and Work for justice and peace. NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS Contact Jennie Priebe at (763) 496-2401 or jpriebe@wordofpeace.org Grace and Peace, wordofpeace.org P.S. We ll kick-off the fall with a celebration on Peace Fest Sunday, September 9 and I hope to see you there. Why not invite a friend or neighbor? All are welcome at Word of Peace! 2
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Stories are the Backbone of our Faith From our earliest memories, we go on knowing and being known by the stories we tell and the stories we are told. Stories have the ability to lift us up when we are low, open our minds and hearts to new experiences, and lead us on unknown adventures. Stories remind us of who we are and whose we are. Since the beginning, the ancient church gathered together to share in some of the most powerful stories ever known: the history of God s people, the wisdom of the prophets, the poetry of musicians, the guidance of the enlightened, and the promises of God. We continue to gather together as church formed by these biblical stories and place at the center of our shared life together the ultimate story, Jesus Christ. From September 2018 through June 2019, Word of Peace will be on an exciting journey together as we walk through the Biblical story from Genesis to Revelation. We will hear the stories of God and God s people. We will encounter God and be transformed by this encounter through a variety of ways, including: Bible discussion topics in worship, church school and confirmation Heroes of Faith Sunday adult forum Bible 101 Wednesday and Thursday class Weekly At-Home Guide with activities for individuals and families Daily Bible reading challenge Join us as we take a journey through the Bible together Cover to Cover. Take the Bible Reading Plan Challenge! Read the Bible from cover to cover in 40 weeks! Sign up to take the challenge and you'll receive weekly inspiration and insight from Pastor Tyler throughout the 40 weeks. Everyone who completes the challenge will be eligible to win a fun prize! 4 Get all the details at wordofpeace.org/cover-to-cover Or, pick up a Cover to Cover handout at the Information Desk Sign up at the Information Desk or wordofpeace.org/cover-to-cover.
Adult Forum Heroes of Faith* Sundays from September 23 - November 25 at 9:45 & 11 AM From Abraham to Esther. From Mary to Paul. Some of the most famous characters in the Bible show us what it means to wrestle and grow in faith. Join us for in-depth character studies of these Heroes of Faith. This forum will be led by Word of Peace pastors and by guest speakers, Rev. Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker (Sept. 23 & 30) and Dr. Cameron Howard (Oct. 7 & 14). Both Rev. Schifferdecker and Dr. Howard are Associate Professors of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. Bible 101* Classes Begin September 12 & 13 Wednesdays at 6:30 PM & Thursdays at 10 AM Whether you consider yourself a Bible buff or a Bible beginner, this class is for you! Over the course of nine months, we will examine the major themes of the Bible cover to cover and discover how this ancient collection of stories continues to transform our lives today. For your convenience, this study will be offered on both Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings. The same topic will be discussed at both times so if you miss one, you can come to the other. *Heroes of Faith and Bible 101 are companions to the 2017-18 Word of Peace churchwide series, COVER TO COVER: The Bible in a Year. For more information, visit wordofpeace.org/cover-to-cover New Member Orientation Sunday, November 11 12:15-3:45 PM Are you curious about what Lutherans believe? Do you want to make new friends? Do you want to (officially) join in the mission and vision of Word of Peace? If so, please join us for the next New Member Class! In the class you will meet the pastors, hear what we believe and how we do ministry, make and enjoy a meal together, and spend time getting to know each other. To register, visit wordofpeace.org/membership or contact Susen Kay in the church office at skay@wordofpeace.org or (763) 496-2400. Child care is available upon request. Important Dates to Remember All Saints Memorial Service Sunday, November 4 12:30 PM at the Word of Peace Cemetery Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Pie Social Wednesday, November 21 6:30 PM For details, visit wordofpeace.org/events later this fall! 5
Beginning this September, Word of Peace will offer committed short-term small groups called Life Groups. Through Life Groups, we can build authentic relationships, discover our spiritual gifts, and empower ourselves to serve our neighbors. These groups enable people to: Connect with one another. By building up one another, we build up the body of Christ. Genuine relationships are formed when we connect with others, and it is through these relationships that we can continue to grow and serve together. Grow with God. People may find themselves in different stages of their own spiritual journey and Life Groups help people navigate the road. We are not solitary beings. Growing together on this journey will enable us to develop stronger connections and relationships while engaging with and serving the world. Serve others. People will discover their spiritual gifts which, in turn, empower their serving. Life Groups will find ways to serve their church, community, and world by putting their faith into action. Collectively, these three elements of Life Groups will help us create and sustain lifelong relationships with other people of faith. Whether you are looking for a group that focuses deeply on Bible study, a book study, a shared interest or a devotion with time for reflection and conversation, Life Groups offer an opportunity to share in the journey of faith with one another and be Christ in this world. Fall Life Groups will be finalized soon and listed in the Classes and Groups booklet (available Sept. 2 at the Information Desk) and online at wordofpeace.org/life-groups. If you have questions, contact Lydia Svendsen at lsvendsen@wordofpeace.org or (763) 496-2421. 6 6
The Gala Committee has been planning An Evening in Venice since April and we are so excited for this year s event! Our church community will gather together for a special night of entertainment, a delicious Italian meal, live fund-a-need and silent auctions, games, fun prizes, and more. Proceeds from this celebration will strengthen the Word of Peace mission of welcoming all people, caring for others, and working for justice and peace. Through your generous support from the Gala, Word of Peace will be able to continue its ministry serving the needs of the congregation, the local community and the world. Remember to RSVP by October 3. Complete the RSVP card (available at the Information Desk) or go online to wordofpeace.org/gala. Get ready for what is certain to be a fun and memorable occasion! Jill Smith Event Coordinator Save the Date! Women s Christmas Luncheon Registration Begins October 28 Women of Word of Peace: Bring a friend and enjoy a morning of good food, beautifully decorated tables, fun, and laughter to bring in the Advent season. We are happy to announce that The Looney Lutherans will join us! The Looney Lutherans have been entertaining Twin Cities audiences for years with their quick wit. Using music, comedy, and some help from the audience, these gals love to share their tips for living a long and healthy life, the Lutheran way. 30 table decorators and hostesses are needed to make this event a success! Table decorators receive a complimentary luncheon ticket. Look for the table decorating registration form in late-september. Tickets are $20 Registration begins October 28 Seating is limited! Contact: Kristin Skare, Pastor of Spiritual Care kskare@wordofpeace.org (763) 496-2404 7
Financial Update The Double the Impact giving campaign was a success with over $38,000 in additional gifts this summer! Thank you for your gifts, which help Word of Peace get finances back on track this summer. We were able to match a $15,000 gift from a generous Word of Peace couple and go beyond to raise over $38,000! This puts us in position to focus on all of the wonderful ministry this fall. Please Continue to Financially Support Your Congregation To ensure that we stay on track and strengthen our ministry, please continue to financially support the Word of Peace ministry this fall. Fall is a great time to catch up on your pledge, sign-up for automatic giving, and/or grow your financial offering to the church. Fall is also a great time to make a commitment to give back a portion to God from what God has first given to us to help Word of Peace serve our community and be a witness in the world. Rick Skare Lead Pastor Give to the Max Day is November 15 Give to the Max Day is a statewide day of giving with the commitment to helping make Minnesota a better place. On November 15, you are invited to give to Word of Peace through the Give to the Max Day website: givemn.org/organization/word-of-peace-lutheran-church. Live Generously! Pledge Sunday/Monday is November 18 & 19 Live Generously is the theme for Word of Peace s 2019 pledge drive. We will focus on deepening our understanding of giving as a spiritual discipline and how our giving enables you and your congregation to serve God s mission in the world. On November 18 & 19, each household will be asked to make a financial pledge to the Word of Peace ministry. All Word of Peace ministry is funded by your contributions and supported by your gift of time. Our gifts of time and finances are a reflection of our individual and collective witness to Christ s presence in our lives and our desire to share God s love in the world. We look forward to your participation as we explore our calling to be a generous and servant church. Look for pledge cards and more information later this fall. In Christ, Task Force Exploring Options for Building Expansion A renewed Building Task Force has been assembled and has begun exploring different options for expanding our facilities to accommodate our growing ministries. The Task Force is working with the Executive Team to discern when to execute a congregational building fund appeal to build additional facility space. 8
Spiritual Care Divorce Care Support Group Mondays at 6:30 PM beginning September 17 Separation and divorce can be painful and stressful, but you don t have to go through it alone. A DivorceCare support group meets each week for 13 weeks to help you face this challenge and move toward rebuilding your life. The group is facilitated by people from Word of Peace who understand what you are going through and want to help. The group will watch a video featuring top experts on divorce and recovery subjects, then talk about that week s topic and what is going on in each other s lives. DivorceCare is free and open to all to come when they are able. If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, please come. For more information, contact one of the DivorceCare facilitators: Mario Olson mario.olson@yahoo.com Jennifer Harlan jharlan716@gmail.com Retreat Dates Coming Soon! Learning to Listen Learning to be a better listener for your family and friends heals hearts, energizes communities, and transforms the world. Come to Pastor Kristin s home and be trained in the art of listening using techniques from the BeFriender ministry. Learn about what gets in the way of listening, techniques to be a better listener, and how you may use these tools to share your gifts in the world. Registration details are coming soon. For more information, contact Pastor Kristin at (763) 496-2404 or kskare@wordofpeace.org. Caregiving and Grief: Finding Hope in the Midst of Change and Loss Tuesday, October 9 at 6:30 PM You are invited to spend an evening with Pastor Sue Wallager as she shares both her personal and professional experience with caregiving and grief. Pastor Sue will explore the struggles and the hope we can find when we are in the midst of caring for people we love that are ill, aging, or dying. Sue Wallager is the Pastor of Spiritual Care at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka. She has served several churches throughout Minnesota, She grewup in Coon Rapids, MN and is a graduate of Luther College and Luther Seminary. This event is free and open to the public. Contact: Pastor Kristin Skare, Pastor of Spiritual Care kskare@wordofpeace.org (763) 496-2404 Sue Wallager, Pastor of Spiritual Care Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka 9
Judy Hanson Judy Hanson has been a member of Word of Peace since 2000. She recalls how she came to call Word of Peace home. We drove down Main Street in Rogers one evening, the street lights dimmed and then brightened as we passed each one. At that time, I knew the Holy Spirit was telling us that this would be our new home. One Sunday morning, I visited Word of Peace and was greeted by two gentlemen who welcomed me and told me what a great church this was. I had never been treated so graciously by members of a church that I was visiting, and I thought that this was where I could really belong. Judy served on numerous groups and committees during her years at Word of Peace, including the Evangelism and Visitation Team and Executive Team. She also served as a representative of the I-94 Chamber of Commerce. For many years, Judy has spent much of her time and energy advocating for the Rogers seniors, and she was instrumental in providing affordable transportation for area seniors. In 2007, the kids who attended VBS at Word of Peace raised over $5,000 to provide seniors with monthly transportation to shopping centers. Judy has been the faithful steward of this fund and was the director of the Word of Peace Kids Care Bus ministry for over a decade. She recently retired from this ministry and handed over the leadership of the Kids Care Bus to Word of Peace member, Kaye Allen. Judy continues to lead the weekly bus program that takes seniors to the grocery store each week. When asked why she chose to serve in these roles, Judy replied, The friendship of so many 10 Judy Hanson (second from right) with the Kids Care Bus driver and passengers seniors that I would not have otherwise known has added immensely to my life. Sometimes people who have led productive lives don t feel important anymore and slide into merely existing. But when you give people ways to be heard and included, they continue to feel valued. Knowing that our community cares about them and their needs and will help them find resources is a big part of maintaining the health and wellness of the senior population. Thank you, Judy, for putting your faith into action for all these years! Each of us has a story of how we put our faith into action. If you have a story that you would like to share, please contact Pastor Tyler Strom at tstrom@wordofpeace.org. If you are looking for ways to serve, or are discerning how God is calling you to put your faith into action, please contact any of the following: Pastor Rick Skare rskare@wordofpeace.org Pastor Tyler Strom tstrom@wordofpeace.org Pastor Kristin Skare kskare@wordofpeace.org Lydia Svendsen lsvendsen@wordofpeace.org
Faith in Action Serve Sunday is October 7 As Christians we are called, equipped, and sent to serve our neighbors. Serve Sunday is a day that we will engage in service work to make a positive change in our community, build and deepen relationships and share God s love. You are invited to take part in this special day of worship and service on Sunday, October 7. Our hope is that everyone at Word of Peace will have an opportunity to reach out and serve. There will be a variety of service projects available this day, some for people with only a few minutes to spare, some for people who have a bit more time, and some for the whole afternoon. Check the weekly bulletin and email newsletter for details as the date gets closer, and join us as we put our faith into action! If you are a Thrivent member, consider applying for a Thrivent Action Team grant to help support Serve Sunday projects! Grant recipients receive $250 in seed funds to make their service project happen. For more information, visit thrivent.com/making-a-difference/ living-generously/thrivent-action-teams/ Thank you for being a part of God s work, partnering with Word of Peace Lutheran Church and serving your neighbor in the spirit of Christ s love! Questions? Contact Jill Smith, Event Coordinator, at jsmith@wordofpeace.org or (763) 496-2402. CROSS CORNER Sarah is a 30 year-old mother of two children who comes to CROSS for food and emotional support. Sarah and her husband have taken four nieces and nephews into their household and they are in the process of getting custody of two more of Sarah s sister s children. They cannot bear the thought of their extended family being in foster care or with their birth mom, who is living in chaos and danger. This brave family is taking on the challenge from which 98% of the population would run. Sarah deserves to come to a clean, respectful, well organized, kind place that meets needs with the attitude of abundance versus scarcity. CROSS provides many wonderful services to the community. Your food and financial support continue to make a big difference to Sarah and others like her who bravely walk through the doors of CROSS each day. Thank you! Food Shelf Needs: Each month, churches in surrounding areas ask their congregations to donate specific items so that CROSS consistently receives a variety of donations throughout the year. Check the worship bulletin for a list of what to donate each month, or visit wordofpeace.org/cross. Food and household donations may be dropped off at the CROSS Corner in the North Gathering Area. Thank you! 11
One of the ways that we express our vision to know Christ s love and share Christ s love with all people is through the art of music. If you have been blessed with musical gifts, we encourage you to share those gifts with the Word of Peace community through the Music Ministry. Rehearsals will resume the week of September 9. All groups welcome new members beginning in the fall and no audition is needed (except for Angel Wings bell choir). Kids of the Kingdom (choir for grades 1-2) Rehearsals on Mondays from 5-5:45 PM Grace (choir and musical theatre for grades 3-7) Rehearsals on Thursdays from 6-7 PM Music Ministry Youth Bells (Grades 5-12) Rehearsals on Wednesdays from 4:45-5:30 PM Michael Sahlen Minister of Worship & Music Angel Wings Bell Choir (youth-adult) Rehearsals on Wednesdays from 6-7:30PM (audition required) Voices of Peace (high school-adult choir) Rehearsals on Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30 PM Festival Chorus will begin rehearsals for Festival of Carols on November 7 at 7:30 PM. Festival of Carols is Sunday, December 16 at all services. Grace Spring Musical The Grace Musical next spring will be Fired Up! the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace, from Daniel Chapter 3. There will be many parts for both boys and girls in grades 3 through 7, and kids are encouraged to join Grace choir this fall. Questions? Contact Michael Sahlen, Minister of Worship & Music, at msahlen@wordofpeace.org or (763) 496-2412. Fired Up! is written by Tom Long and Allen Pote. 12
Children, Youth & Family Kari Osmek Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry Wait a minute. I seem to be missing some information here. I say that often to my son when he s telling a story and I get confused halfway through. If I don t have all of the information, the story makes no sense. The same is true for hearing the story of the Bible. If we don t have all of the information, the story doesn t make sense. If we don t know who David is or why he was important in the Old Testament, we don t know what it means when Jesus is referred to as the Son of David. If we don t understand the story of Noah, we don t hear the saving reference to water in the words of a Baptism. If we don t know who Abraham is, the song Father Abraham makes no sense! (Well, that one doesn t really make much sense anyway, but you get my point.) It s important for us to have a framework for the stories of the people of faith. This year, our children, youth, and parents will all be hearing the same Bible stories on the same days. We will all be getting all of the information that we need to tell the story of our faith. Use this opportunity to talk together and to share what you are learning. Tell the stories together. Share information. Share faith. Thank You, CYF Interns! This summer, the Children, Youth, and Family Ministry was blessed to have three interns helping with some of our summer ministry programming. With staff restructuring earlier this year and a summer program that continues to grow, we knew that we would need more hands to make it all happen. We hired three young women who were a fabulous addition to our staff, and who brought new ideas and amazing energy. They were always willing to do whatever we asked even when we asked at the last minute! They were flexible, positive, and excellent role models for our young people. Jenna Reust worked with our VBS program; Kyla Mason helped with Summer Stretch; and Brooke Genzler was involved in both VBS and Summer Stretch. The interns started with training and behind-the scenes work in early June, and were absolutely indispensable. We continue to focus on leadership training with our high school youth to create additional summer ministry support, and to serve as confirmation junior guides and church school teachers. It is our hope that we will be able to employ even more young people as interns next summer, with them starting earlier in the spring. This Changes Everything! Three Word of Peace staff members and two adult lay leaders led a group of 19 youth at the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer in Houston. This was the first time attending for all 19 of our youth and 1 adult leader, so it was exciting to see their reactions as they witnessed the sheer volume of 31,000 people worshiping together. Christina Verbick Director of Youth Ministry The speakers at the Gathering were fantastic. They talked about relevant topics that hit home for many in our group. We spent a day at the Convention Center with some interactive learning and service opportunities. We also spent a day worshiping, playing games and getting to know other people from churches in the Minneapolis Area Synod. And on our final day, we volunteered at The Center, a place for adult residents living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We had a chance to get to know them, serve them ice cream, sing and dance, and play games with them. It was such a fun day! Thank you for your amazing support of our youth program and of the ELCA Youth Gathering. 13
Children in Worship Children, Youth & Family Word of Peace has always encouraged families to worship together because it s an important and enriching part of your child s faith. Now, there are even more ways they will feel welcome! In August, two new PrayGrounds were introduced in the Sanctuary. What is a PrayGround? A PrayGround is a space intended for families with infants and toddlers to quietly engage in age-appropriate activities while worshipping with their families. Small tables, baby bouncers, and soft toys help keep our littlest ones occupied. A number of congregations have implemented these PrayGrounds in their worship spaces and are seeing tremendous success! While it seems counterintuitive, children listen better when they have something that keeps their hands busy. Not only that, but kids pay better attention because they can actually see what s going on. We ve also taken great care in designing the spaces with things like plush toys and foam floor tiles to keep noise at a minimum. New Improved Busy Bags The Busy Bags have been completely revamped! We have nearly double the number of bags and there are three agespecific options. We are so thankful to Word of Peace member, Ruth Twito, who sewed and embroidered these beautiful new bags. We are thrilled to be able to offer these spaces to our families and we are so thankful for the generous gifts to the Children, Youth & Family fundraisers, which help make projects like this possible. For more information, visit wordofpeace.org/childrenin-worship or pick up a handout on the Busy Bags rack. SATURDAY, OCT. 27 4-6 PM FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Inflatables & Family Activities Concessions available for purchase SOCKTOBER We will be collecting packages of new socks for local homeless shelters. Please bring donations of packaged socks of any size and color. Bring Your Friends & Neighbors! Get Involved Donate treats, host a trunk (decorate the trunk of your car with a theme and hand out candy), lead an activity, or greet families as they arrive. Lots of volunteers will make this event a success and we d love to have you join us! Sign up outside the Children s Ministry office. Donations Welcome If you are able to donate candy and small trinkets for this event, please place them in the bins located in the Gathering Area and outside the Children s Ministry office. Questions? Contact Kari Osmek kosmek@wordofpeace.org (763) 496-2418 14
Transition from 17 Year-Old Database to New Church Management System At Word of Peace, people are at the heart of our ministry. Knowing where you are in your faith story is an important way for us to help you grow in your discipleship. As exciting as it is to be part of a large church, we recognize that sometimes you might feel like just a body in a large community of other bodies, without any real connection to other people of Christ. Word of Peace pastors and staff work hard to give personal attention to everyone but in a large congregation, it can be difficult to keep track of everyone s needs without having the right program to manage it all. For 17 years they have been using a database program designed for much smaller churches, and that program is no longer feasible. This year, Word of Peace is transitioning to a new comprehensive church management solution! This new solution will provide pastors and staff with systems and processes that will help them care for every individual of this church. It will help you grow in your faith and connect with other people in the church, develop your interests, fulfill your spiritual needs, and guide you towards becoming part of a strong Christian community. There are many ways to give. Choose an option that works best for you: Text Give to 77977 Online wordofpeace.org/give What does this mean for you? In the coming months, we will introduce a wonderful new tool for you called MYwordofpeace. Through this tool, you will be able to: Card Reader at the Information Desk Update your own and your family s personal profiles Sign up and pay for classes and events with ease Easily communicate with teachers, group leaders, pastors and staff Get real-time access to your giving record Enrich your connections with other people from Word of Peace We are so thankful for the generous gifts and offerings that you make to Word of Peace. It is through your giving that we are able to make improvements like this that will benefit the whole Word of Peace community! Cash/Check/Envelope by mail or in the offering plate THANK YOU for Giving to the Ministry of Word of Peace! 15
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID ROGERS, MN PERMIT NO. 9 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED FALL WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS SEPT. 9 Sundays at 8:30, 9:45 & 11 AM Mondays at 6:30 PM