LOTI celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution on Sunday, May 18th with Norwegian music by Edvard Grieg and folk hymns,  as well as costumes and desserts during the coffee hour.  Congregation members brought traditional Norwegian foods like rosettes, sandbakkel cookies, rice pudding, fruit soup and lefse.  Pastor Haug and Janna Haug prepared a delicious wreath cake or  “kransekake” which is usually made to celebrate special occasions like weddings, baptisms or Christmas.

O Holy Spirit, root of life, creator, cleanser of all things;

 Anoint our wounds, awaken us with lustrous movement of your wings.

O holy Wisdom, soaring power, encompass us with wings unfurled, And carry us, encircling all above, below, and through the world.

                                                                 Hildegard of Bingen, 1098-1179

The colorful work of Chinese artist He Qi attests to the mysterious and unpredictable movement of the Holy Spirit.  As a child growing up in China, it was forbidden to study the Bible. Oddly, it was not illegal to study Christian art.  Qi became curious about the Christian faith through art.  Even though, he didn’t know the scriptures behind the images, he recognized that there was an unspoken power and presence inherent in the art.  In time he began to understand color and symbolism, and after emigrating from China to the US, he learned the biblical stories as well.

Qi’s portrayal of the Day of Pentecost, the birth of the church, and the giving of the Holy Spirit, poignantly draws these themes together.  The gift of the Holy Spirit, which appears upon the disciples’ head as flames of fire, is represented by doves.  This captures both the movement and intensity of the Spirit.  The Chinese lanterns as well as the candle portray the festive and celebratory nature of Pentecost.   Perhaps the most intriguing details are buildings. The closed doors of the Upper Room, Jerusalem’s temple columns and peasant homes are to be seen, as well as a stone bridge.

For Qi, the meaning of the story of Pentecost rests on this bridge.  It seems to state that the entire movement of the Holy Spirit crosses back and forth atop this bridge.  Our prayers rise to God by the Spirit across the bridge, and God’s story of grace and salvation comes to us by the power of the Spirit across this bridge.  It is a helpful metaphor in understanding the work of the Holy Spirit.  The story of Jesus Christ and his love is carried across the bridge to us by the Spirit.

On Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, we celebrate again the mysterious movement of the Holy Spirit across that bridge into to our lives.  Martin Luther understood the meaning of the Spirit’s movement across the bridge in his Explanation to the Apostles’ Creed.  “I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called through the gospel.”

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Peace, Pastor Arden Haug

 Thank you!

On Sunday, April 27th, the special organ concert “A New Dimension” was held at Lake of the Isles.  The musical program highlighted the possibilities of sound that can be played from the newly regulated and re-tuned organ.  We received over $1,400 in offerings and memorial gifts which covered the cost of the work.  The organ sounds magnificent.

Special thanks to our musicians who performed at the concert:  Isaac Drews, Kenneth Vigne, Gary Lynn, Debra Gilroy, Arden Haug, Alexandra Mauney and Matthew Bacon.

And, thank you to Susanne Haas, Michelle McCreery, Marty Carlson and Mary Knoblauch for the post concert refreshments.

Camp Amnicon is a high adventure camp affiliated with the ELCA and located on the south shore of Lake Superior.  The summer camping season will soon begin and there is much preparation to do.  The Family Camp wall tents must be put up and furniture moved in.  Staff cabins in the woods need to be cleaned and made ready for the summer staff.  Meals must be prepacked for camping trips.  In exchange for your volunteer labor, you have a bed to sleep in (bunk rooms) and delicious meals.  No special talents are necessary and all ages are welcome.  This would be an excellent opportunity for families or a group of young people.  There is also time to explore the 700 acres of wilderness.  You may even choose to spend a night sleeping on the beach or in a family camp tent.  Camp Amnicon depends on volunteer labor to make it possible to serve the many at-risk youth who attend camp on scholarships.  If you are interested or want to learn more, talk to or call Cheri Moe or Margaret Coleman.

 

It is hard to believe how fast this year has gone and we are wrapping up the program year on May 18!   I would like to take this time to say a very HUGE thank you to our amazing teachers who have been so dedicated to teaching Sunday School this year.  It has been a delight to work with you and watch you share your faith with our Sunday School kids.

Please join me in thanking and giving thanks for these teachers:

• Preschool/Kindergarten: Sheridan Swee and Max Formell
• 1st/2nd Grade: Susan and Abby Melbye and Reagan Riddle
• 3rd/4th Grade: Justin Kappel and Nancy Lupardus-Twitchell
• 5th/6th Grade: John Sundeen and Angie Smedlund

We give thanks to you for your commitment to this ministry!

(more…)

  This joyful Eastertide, away with sin and sorrow!

My love, the Crucified, has sprung to life this morrow.

Had Christ, who once was slain, not burst his three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain. But now has Christ arisen.

  ELW 391, vs 1

In 1894, an Anglican priest and church musician George R. Woodward beautifully captured the spirit of the season of Easter in his hymn, “This Joyful Eastertide.” After all, the festival of Easter, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, is more than a one day event. The joy of Easter is spread across 50 days until next church festival of Pentecost.   It is interesting to note that Woodward left two equally sprightly Christmas carols, “Ding-Dong, Merrily on High” and “Past Three O’Clock.” All three of Woodward’s songs remind us that the life we have been called to experience in Christ is not a dour, sad funeral dirge, but rather, we have been invited to experience an uplifting melody of rhythm and movement.

According to St. Luke’s gospel, Jesus appeared for 40 days after his resurrection of the dead. Together with St. John’s gospel we read stories of Jesus being seen over and over again, eating meals with his disciples, walking with them on deserted roads and teaching them about the meaning of his life and death. On one occasion, Jesus returns to the Sea of Galilee to see his disciples return to their former vocations. As much as they recognized the miraculous nature of Jesus’ rising from the dead, they couldn’t quite imagine what this would mean for their lives and their futures. Perhaps, you can’t make that connection either.

Martin Luther once said, “It really doesn’t matter if Jesus rose from the dead if He isn’t risen in you!” That is what we are to discover in this “joyous Eastertide.” It was what Jesus’s followers experienced as they were being transformed from disciples into apostles- the one who are sent. That is what we meditate on in our Easter music, lessons and worship. We are trying to capture the energy of the resurrection within each one of us.

There are of course, many other ways in which we can experience the miracle of Easter. Luther himself stated, that, “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” It is the miracle that we celebrate in “the breaking of the bread” and in the sharing of the peace. But principally, we experience the wonder and joy of Jesus’ resurrection in the words of Scripture. For it is Scripture we are assured that the resurrection is not an empty vain hope, but it is Christ’s resurrection that holds the promise that casts away our sin and sorrow.

Peace, Pastor Arden Haug

“And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord,, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.”   Matthew 28:2

Throughout the ages, Christians have discussed what truly happed at the moment of Christ’s resurrection. Some theologians have pondered whether it was a mighty wind that filled Jesus’ lungs that caused him to rise from the dead, or perhaps a mighty bolt of lightning. Others have suggested that the resurrection was as slight and unseen as a human breath.   St. Matthew’s gospel offers its own colorful and dramatic portrait. The evangelist compares the resurrection to an earthquake, and an angel descending from heaven to roll back the stone from the tomb and releasing Jesus from the bonds of death. It is a powerful image.

Of course, there were no eye witnesses to the moment of Christ’s resurrection. In scripture we have only the accounts of those who saw the resurrected Jesus and we read how his resurrection changed their lives.   For the Church, the resurrection remains the great mystery of the Christian faith. The resurrection was the final explanation and exclamation point that all Jesus’ promises and teachings were true.  It offered a glorious assurance that there was a possibility for all of us to begin a new life.   It states that God can and will dramatically enter into our broken lives and give new life.

As we prepare to celebrate Holy Week and Easter at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, I invite you to join us for worship as we remember the mystery of Christ’s passion, death and burial and to meditate on the meaning of Christ’s journey to the grave and his resurrection. Listen again to the scripture and discover what new insight you see in the Easter journey.

April 17th, Maundy Thursday, 7:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Together with our neighboring church at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, we will celebrate the Institution of the Lord’s Supper which we hear every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper … “in the night in which he was betrayed.”  The word Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum.  Not only did Jesus celebrate a Passover meal with his disciples, but he also gave them a new commandment or mandate.  The worship service will follow an Episcopal order. Our two choirs will combine for an anthem, organist Kenneth Vigne, and Pastor Haug will preach.

April 18th, Good Friday, 7:00 pm at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church

Together with our neighboring church, we will celebrate the mystery of the Cross. Many people are acquainted with Roman Catholic practice of the Stations of the Cross. In ecumenical discussions there was concern that only half of the stations were based on scriptural reference. In 1991, John Paul II instituted a new series of fourteen Stations of Cross, each of which was based on Scripture alone. Our Good Friday Service, which will be led by Rector Marlene Jacobs from St. Paul’s, will incorporate these readings, choral anthems and hymns.

April 20th, Easter Sunday, 9:30 & 11:00 pm

At last, we celebrate the fulfillment of the Easter journey’s end with Christ’s victory over death- and our promise of life over death, and good over evil.   It is a day in which we celebrate the angel rolling the stone away, and proclaiming the good news, “He is not here: for he has been raised as he said.”

It is a familiar story to be sure, but one continues to renew life and hope.  It is in studying and meditating this great that our own faith is resurrected anew.

Peace, Pastor Arden Haug

CARITAS CONCERT

Greetings, fellow LOTI members,

LOTI hosted the annual Caritas fundraising concert on March 23 for Neighborhood Involvement Program (NIP), and it was wonderful!

Many of you know that LOTI was one of the six congregations which founded NIP in 1968, in the true spirit of neighbors helping neighbors.  Today, NIP is a comprehensive health and social services agency offering primary and preventive health care, dental care, behavioral health services, and programs for seniors and youth.  It serves people in our community without health insurance, or whose insurance has deductibles or co-pays too costly for them to access more traditional health care services.  I have the privilege of serving as the LOTI representative to the NIP board of directors, a role held by Mary Sabatke before me.  LOTI used to make an financial donation to NIP, but is not able to now; instead, we offer our congregational support in other ways, including hosting the Caritas concert and through individual donations.

The Caritas concert was free, but a good will offering was collected, with donations matched by Thrivent.  It’s not too late to support NIP and get your donation matched – please include a donation in next week’s offering, or mail a check to the church, with “Caritas/NIP” noted on the subject line.

Thank you those who attended the concert and have made a donation, and I encourage those of you could not be there to show LOTI support through a donation.

Jennifer

http://www.neighborhoodinvolve.org/