Easter Flowers
Easter flowers will be displayed in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday and can be taken home after the 11:00 AM service or anytime the church is open during the week.
The list of donations will be posted on the Christy Room door.
Lent Begins on Ash Wednesday
February 18th
On Ash Wednesday, after we have made our penitential confession for our past and present failings and affirmed our desire to begin again, we are often challenged to embrace a new disciple for life. Sometimes it is to give up something for Lent, and other times, it is to take on something new. Lent is a reflective time for self-examination, prayer, self restraint and service which focuses on ourselves. These are all traditional Lenten practices, but they may keep us from seeing God and the outpouring of his abundant love. Instead, our Lenten pilgrimage may be all about doing works to appease God, rather than our faith in all that God does for us.
The Apostle Paul understood this dilemma and underscores that message in his Letter to the Romans. The Apostle hadn’t yet traveled to Rome, but he heard of a small Christian church gathering in the imperial capital city. It was a church that consisted of Jews and Gentiles worshiping together. They too were wrestling with what works they had to do for God or were they to trust in what God was doing for them. Paul believed that with proper encouragement this church could be a model for the Roman Empire. So, he wrote to them laying out the foundational beliefs of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Throughout the season of Lent, we will meditate on the words Paul found in the Book of Romans. A daily devotional book, Love Outpoured, will be available at church for you to read and study some of Paul’s most important writings. Wednesday Lenten worship services will focus on these writings. In addition, as preparation for the spring trip to Norway and Sweden, we will be introduced to the early missionaries who brought Christianity to Scandinavia. Like the Apostle Paul, they faced challenges, mistrust, persecution and martyrdom.
Join us for this Lenten journey from Rome to Scandinavia.
Peace, Pastor Arden Haug
Third Annual LOTI Wine & Song!
Marcus Hanson presented six delicious Spanish and Portuguese wines along with food and song pairings to a group of LOTI members and friends at the home of the Reisbergs. The evening’s musical pieces ended with Nessun Dorma! Truly a man of many talents, he sang a duet with Pastor Arden, as well as a solo of The Lord’s Prayer in our worship service earlier in the day. Michelle McCreery, Mary Knoblauch, Janna Haug, Kim Olson, Cindy Huttner & Isaac Carlson prepared Iberian food selections, including Spiced Marcona Almonds/Bohigas Rosat Cava, Blistered Padron Peppers/Pazo Torrado Albarino, Stuffed Piquillo Peppers, Tuna Empanada/Altún Tempranillo Rioja, Green Chorizo Pigs-in-Blankets/ Duris Reserva Douro, and Chocolate Bread with Olive Oil and Flaky Sea Salt/Quevido Ruby Porto. Many thanks to Michelle & Bernie Reisberg for hosting, once again.
Children’s Ministry February 2026
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. Special music performed by the young fiddlers of the ASI Lilla Spelmanslag.
Fastelavn
Sunday, February 8th
10:45 AM
Fellowship Hall
Sunday School Calendar Notes
February 15th—
NO Sunday School, President’s Day Weekend
Knitters Needed
We are in need of additional knitters to help make baptism blankets. If you have basic knit and purl skills, and are interested in helping, please contact the church office. [email protected]
Foodshelf Donations Needed
The most needed items include tortillas, cooking oils (16-24 oz containers) canned and dry beans, rice pasta, ramen (not in cups), mac n cheese, canned chicken, menstrual pads, toiletries and paper grocery bags with handles. They accept all non-expired shelf stable foods.
All donations make a huge difference. Donations are collected on the wooden cart in Fellowship Hall. Volunteers deliver them to the food shelf on Friday mornings.
joyceuptownfoodshelf.org
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church provides a meal on the second Saturday of each month. Our monthly meals are provided by donation. The shelter orders & serves the meal.
Thanks to Isaac Spanjer for sponsoring the January meal.
2026 Schedule
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Jim & Pat Bausell
David & Mary Goplen
Rick Gripentrog
Jim Olson, in memory of ChanSoon Olson
Kristie Eklund, in memory of Richard Eklund
Laura Nortwen & Kathy Greenbank
MaryBrooke Maher
MaryBrooke Maher
Leslie & Steve Hite
Mary Sabatke, in memory of Bruce Sabatke
Mike & Jana Kavoukjian
Welcome Service for Miranda Stadem-Ward
Happy New Year! As we begin this new year, I am excited to welcome Miranda Stadem-Ward as Lake of the Isles Intern Pastor. It is an important beginning for her and for the congregation. Over the past 25 years, I have worked with 10 intern pastors. One became an ELCA bishop, another the dean of an ELCA seminary, a third an assistant to the bishop; the majority, however, were ordained and serve as parish pastors.
Pastoral internship is an integral part of a future pastor’s education. It is also a graduation requirement for Master of Divinity students in the Lutheran Church. As I shared with the church Council in December, The purpose of an internship is to provide the candidate for ministry with meaningful experiences and challenges in order to mature as a church leader, to grow in their self-identity as s leader and to grow more confident and competent in the skills necessary for ordained ministry. Interns aren’t expected to be fully developed as preachers and teachers, nor are they to be regarded inexpensive labor. Miranda does, however, come to Lake to the Isles with many skills and experience.
Miranda Stadem-Ward was born in Northern California and has been serving in professional ministry since 2005. Originally ordained in the Assemblies of God in 2010 after completing her BA of Divinity and Counseling Psychology programs at Bethany University in Santa Cruz, California, Miranda has been deeply involved in several interfaith and ecumenical ministries throughout the United States, Central America, and the United Kingdom. After experiencing a call to help the Church reach people beyond its walls, Miranda earned her MA of Divinity and additional certificates in the History of the Reformed Church and Anglican Studies at Emory University’s, Candler School of Theology in 2014.
In the following years, Miranda served as a clinical chaplain at Emory University Hospital, on Emory and the CDC’s Ebola Team, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Burning Man Project community. Additionally, Miranda has worked in Corporate Leadership and HR Consultancy for the past 15 years, and currently works for Ralph Lauren in client development.
Miranda’s internship will be part time and will last until June 2027. She will be active in the educational programs, visitation and preaching. More importantly, her active presence will allow the congregation to grow and to serve the needs of new members.
The Service of Welcome will be held on Sunday, January 11th at 9:30. A reception to welcome Miranda, her husband Hans and son Theo will be held in Fellowship Hall following the service.
Peace, Pastor Arden Haug
Children’s Ministry January 2026
Pajama & Movie Day
January 11th
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.
Sunday School Calendar Notes
January 11th—Pajama & Movie Day
January 18th— No Sunday School
Advent & Christmas at Lake of the Isles
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are rarely seen in the city of Minneapolis, instead, curious seekers are encouraged to flee to the dark, rural countryside if they want to see and experience the mystery of the dancing light. Surprisingly, the Northern Lights brilliantly shimmered in the sky on November 11th. Neighbors around the lake sent their own favorite pictures capturing the mystery and aura of the lights shining over the church.
Throughout the ages, people have sought meaning in the changes in the heavens above. Whether it was the movement of stars, planets, comets, the moon or the sun, ancient nations believed that God was speaking to them through these signs. In the book of Genesis, God tells the prophet Abraham, Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have! In St. Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. The Christmas story itself is filled with the aura of a mysterious light in the sky when the company of angels appear before the shepherds in Bethlehem, and of course, the Wisemen from the East follow the movements of a star. So, you and I are in good company when we look to the skies in search of the Northern Lights.
The season of Advent, with its focus on the true light of Christ coming at Christmas, is not unlike the search for Northern Lights in the midst of the city. We may not be able to see the dancing light of Christ with the streetlights blazing all around us. Indeed, it may be easier to glimpse the true light in the dark solitude of the countryside. But the wondrous light is just above us just the same. It is only when your eyes are ready and prepared to see, that the Northern Lights begin to appear. That is the purpose of the waiting of Advent. It is preparing us to see the true light of Christ entering into our world.
Peace, Pastor Arden Haug