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 6 | Lizbeth & Mark Brown |
| FEB 3 | Mary & Dave Goplen |
| MAR 3 | Ellie Holmquist, Heather Jacoby, Ruth Lee, & Gretchen Robinson |
| APR 7 | Rick Gripentrog |
| JUN 3 | Jim Olson |
| JUL 7 | Debby & Dr Remi Pizarro |
| AUG 4 | Denise Wilkens, Mary Jubenville, Mary Flynn, Twyla Hobbs & Linda Nelson |
| SEP 1 | Kathy & Mark Hering |
| OCT 6 | Bruce & Jean Carlson |
| NOV 4 | Mary Sabatke |
| DEC 1 | Elizabeth 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.
Greetings!
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, my neighbors and I set up the Advent wreath outside the church for the third time. Surprisingly, for a structure that was built from an old architect’s drawing table, cardboard forms for pouring cement and coat hangers, it is holding up amazingly well. Back in 2020, during the first year of the pandemic, I created the wreath as a reminder to everyone who passed by the church that our congregation was still active and worshiping. There is no doubt, those were dark days. In comparison, a year later, the future seemed bright. Many were vaccinated, boosted, and ready to return for Christmas services. Then came the Omicron variant. Before then, I barely knew a soul who had Covid, but suddenly I could name a dozen with personal connections. Now, nearly 70% of Minnesotans have had Covid, and new cases occur every day. Yes, this December the ongoing pandemic is more of a nuisance than a fear. So, the ramshackle Advent wreath has found its place outside the church again announcing to the neighborhood that in spite of life’s trials and sorrows and war, Christ is coming to the world anew.
Our congregation has been active and thriving through these Covid years. Nowhere has this been more apparent in the care and restoration of the sanctuary windows. Join us for worship on
Sunday, December 4th as the first of the side windows will be rededicated. The images, patterns and colors are stunning.
Appropriately and serendipitously, the first window to be rededicated features a unique image appropriate to the season of Advent. It was difficult to see the finer details in the uncleaned, stained glass, but the image is that of a unicorn. In Christian thought, the unicorn represented the incarnation of Christ, a symbol of purity and grace that could be captured only by a virgin. Many Renaissance artists painted pictures of the Virgin Mary and the unicorn. The two side panels of the Rose of Sharon and the lily portray flowers described in the Bible as traditional symbols of purity.
Every window has a story to tell, and over the year ahead we will endeavor to complete this restoration. We are fortunate at Lake of the Isles to be surrounded by such beauty, and by a congregation committed to maintaining and renewing the wonders entrusted to our care.
Peace, Pastor Arden Haug
Children & Family Ministry December 2022
Winter Gear Drive
Thank you for your amazing response to this year’s winter gear drive and helping to meet the specific needs of the families that Project for Pride in Living (PPL) serves. While our process was different this year, your generosity was steady in abundance! You directly, positively impacted the lives of 138 people. The donations went to PPL just before Thanksgiving.
College Care Packages
Twelve care packages will be heading to our college age young adults in the next week – just in time for finals preparation. Thank you to the Sunday School children for helping pack them and thank you to the families who donated the snacks. The college students love receiving this gift of love from LOTI.
This year the Sunday School children will present the nativity scene during the Lessons and Carols service on Sunday, December 18th. Details will be sent via email to Sunday School families for this very special day.
Sunday School Calendar Notes
| DEC 11 | Children process in worship with Sancta Lucia |
| DEC 18 | Children present the nativity scene during the Lessons & Carols service |
| DEC 24 | Christmas Eve Family Service (4:30 PM) |
| DEC 25 | No Sunday School (Christmas break) |
| JAN 01 | No Sunday School (Christmas break) |
| JAN 08 | Sunday School resumes |
Valley Grove Tapestries Come to LOTI
Valley Grove Lutheran Church, outside of Northfield, Minnesota disbanded as a congregation in the early 1970’s, but its iconic placement atop a secluded hill just north of the Big Woods State Park continued to claim a place of people’s imagination. Concerts, weddings and occasional services were held there.
During the pandemic, local weaver, Robbie LaFleur, was commissioned, through Nordic Churches Project, to create a series of four tapestries honoring the two historic church buildings at Valley Grove.
Minnesota filmmaker, Paul Krause, created a documentary for TPT about the history of the Valley Grove Preservation Society and included the development and creation of the tapestries.
On Sunday, November 20th at 11:00 am artist Robbie LaFleur and former LOTI member, Valley Grover and painter, Tom Maakestad, will display the tapestries and an original painting of Valley Grove as the opening of a six-week exhibition at Lake of the Isles.
As an aside, this is where the Haugs have owned cemetery plots since in 1987.