Third Day and Night

On Friday we gathered with the other congregations from the Saint Paul Area Synod. With about 300 Youth we did an interactive Bible Study based on the story in Mark 2.  Four men carry a paralytic friend to Jesus for healing and they had to dig through the roof and lower his mat to reach Jesus.  We talked about what lengths we would go to in order to bring someone to Jesus.

As a pastor, I am so proud of what lengths our congregation goes to help our youth experience the healing love of Jesus. We call great staff like Hannah Koehler and Sarah Storvick, we equip dedicated volunteers like Leslee Donovan and John Moore, we provide challenging mission trips, and we financially support our children and youth ministry. 

The youth have shared many highs and some lows this week. But also lots of "God sightings", events where they felt God's guiding hands.  God has been active in our Rising Up Together. Thanks be to God.

Youth Mission Trip upcoming

This Sunday, July 12, ten of our congregation's youth will be commissioned at our 10:30 outdoor worship. They will leave on Tuesday for the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit. 30,000 Lutheran youth from across the nation will be there. Every evening (July 15-19) all will gather in Ford Field for worship, music and speakers. During the day we will scatter to various service and educational events. After the Youth Gathering Resurrection youth will head to Chicago for a service mission week with YouthWorks.

Please pray for our group and the four adult companions: Hannah Koehler, Leslee Donovan, John Moore and Pastor John Keller. Check this blog for further updates throughout the trip.

Sign of Patience

Block work started on our new sign

Waiting with joy is a Christian practice that builds patience.  Our congregation has had to practice patience as we waited for final city and county approval for our new road sign.  That approval was granted last month and our new sign is under construction. 

The sign is the final piece of our New Connection projects that started last year.   The other projects are either completed or in process.   Last August we connected to the city sewer system and this spring we started our consultation with the architects from Station 19 regarding our master plan for our build facilities.  A final report from Station 19 will be present to the congregation this fall or winter.   All the projects were funded through the generous donations to the New Connection fund drive one year ago. Thank You for your participation

Leroy Signs artist rendition of our new sign. 

The new sign will replace the one wooden sign at our entrance on Bailey Road. It will have an electronic display board that will allow us to publicize our ministry opportunities to the many people who pass by on Bailey Road. This will help us in our mission to call all people to the vibrant life of faith in Christ.  

This past week the monument foundation was built using the same block that is part of our building.  The other pieces will be coming in the next few weeks and our sign will be completed.   Thank you for your patience in this endeavor. 

May you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully  giving thanks to the Father. Colossians 1:11

Question for reflection:  What do you think should be our first message on the sign?