Pastor Arden’s 10th Anniversary Celebration

On February 5th, before the Annual Meeting, we celebrated and gave thanks for the blessing of Pastor Arden’s ten years with us at LOTI. We are so grateful for all he has contributed and his outstanding leadership.


Daylight Saving Time

Sunday, March 12th

2:00 AM CST

Minnesota will begin daylight saving time 2023. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour!


Easter Flowers Orders

Due by Wednesday, March 15th

Due to a fire at Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery, we have a different supplier for this year.
2023 Selections include:


Candlemas February 5 th~ Celebration of Baptism

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Lord, now lettest Thou, Thy Servant depart in peace.” Luke 2:28-29

There is no one more surprised than me that I am marking a 10th anniversary of ministry here at Lake of the Isles this coming Sunday on Candlemas. I have never served in any one place, nor lived in any one house this long since I graduated from high school. 10 years ago, I returned from my third tour of service in Europe for the ELCA Global Mission. 10 of the previous 18 years had been spent rebuilding Christian communities in the former Eastern Block and the remaining years had been divided between two congregations in Minnesota. When I accepted the call to Lake of the Isles, friends and former parishioners frequently asked whether a small church in Minneapolis could hold my passions long enough to keep me in place. I will be honest, I wasn’t sure. There was only one position in the ELCA Global Mission that I would have sought. Surprisingly, when I was offered that position 5 years ago, I turned it down. I had discovered in the first years at Lake of the Isles that I was content and fulfilled in my ministry here and that I was prepared to complete my working career here- whenever that may be. So, let me say to all of you- thank you for 10 wonderful years.

Prior to Covid, Candlemas served not only as my anniversary date, but also as the congregation’s annual celebration of baptisms performed in the previous year. As a part of that commemoration, we would invite the baptismal families from the previous year to the worship service at Candlemas. There was a nice parallel with baptism of Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer their sacrifice. It was always a wonderful day to celebrate the return of families and to see how the children had grown. I would add, it was also a bit noisy on this Sunday with small toddlers unaccustomed to being quiet in church. During the worship service, the families were presented with a medallion inscribed with their name and their baptism date.

Regretfully, this was one of the traditions that fell away during Covid. So, this coming Sunday we have invited all of the children from the past 3 years to return. That is 34 children all together. These families and their children have an important message for us. They are not simply the next generation. They are the present generation and are both our joy and responsibility. They are also, the light for the future.

Over the past 10 years, I have reflected often on the story of Simeon taking the infant Jesus into his arms on Candlemas. On some occasions, I have meditated on his prophetic words, that Jesus would be “the light to all nations.” Other years, I have contemplated on the dutifulness of Mary and Joseph journeying to the Temple, but this year I am once again captured by the physical embrace of Simeon holding the child in his arms. It may be the result of three years of social distancing amid the pandemic, and the cautiousness with which we offer any human touch and contact. We need to hold hands, to hug and embrace one another– anything less than that is to not be fully human. The story of Simeon embracing the Christ Child is a witness to the wonder of physical touch. It is not simply human; it is divine.

Sunday after Sunday, God invites us into his holy sanctuary to feel and experience his touch in the gifts of bread and wine at Holy Communion, in the waters of Baptism, and in the Sharing of the Peace. In all these ways, God is taking us into his loving embrace, and how good it is. It is almost heavenly.

Pastor Arden Haug


Children’s Ministry February 2023

Candlemas

February 5th

We will share a song we’ve been working on in Sunday School for the season of Epiphany during the Children’s Message. Family routine will be the same on this day.

Fastelavn

February 19th

Who will break open the barrel this year? Come with your muscles, kids! We will gather in Fellowship Hall after worship to see who can break open the barrel and see what’s inside.


Tuesday Morning Prayer Ministry

All are welcome to join!
We meet on Tuesdays at 9:30 am in the Christy Room or the Sanctuary.
Janna Haug
Debra Gilroy
Linda Nelson
Diane Stensrud


Wednesday Morning Bible Study

All are welcome to come and join our Wednesday morning Bible study!

Pastor Haug leads the morning bible study group in the Library & via Zoom on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM.


Children’s Ministry January 2023

Movie/Pajama Day

January 8th

Sunday School resumes on this Epiphany Sunday with our traditional viewing of the movie The Very First Noel. Narrated by Andy Griffith, the movie tells the story of the three wisemen following the magnificent star in search of the newborn King.
Kids are invited to come to church in their pajamas and any comfort items to snuggle with while we watch the movie together.


The Lord’s Prayer

Children ~ Grades 1-3

One of the faith milestones for our early elementary age children is to study and learn The Lord’s Prayer. Children in Grades 1-3 will do a three week unit studying and learning the Lord’s Prayer during Sunday School January 15, 22 and 29.


Our Saviour’s Housing Meals 2023

For many years, Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church has provided a meal on the first Friday of
each month. Due to COVID-19, our monthly meals are by donation. The shelter orders &
serves the meal. Cost per meal is $250.
Thank you to Carol Kuehn & Family for the December contribution.
Our 2023 schedule:

JAN 6Lizbeth & Mark Brown
FEB 3Mary & Dave Goplen
MAR 3Ellie Holmquist, Heather Jacoby, Ruth Lee, & Gretchen Robinson
APR 7Rick Gripentrog
JUN 3Jim Olson
JUL 7 Debby & Dr Remi Pizarro
AUG 4Denise Wilkens, Mary Jubenville, Mary Flynn, Twyla Hobbs & Linda Nelson
SEP 1Kathy & Mark Hering
OCT 6Bruce & Jean Carlson
NOV 4Mary Sabatke
DEC 1Elizabeth Hansen

For information, contact Cheri Moe, or (952) 431-5226. oscs-mn.org


The Gift of Generosity

This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported LOTI this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions and look forward to support from all of our members in the year ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we encourage you to look into our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. Contact the church office for more information.
End of the year gifts to LOTI must be received by Saturday, December 31st.


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