And They're Off!

These two vans are filled with luggage, laughter, expectations, anxiety, hope, energy, and ten students, four adults, all fired up to rise up together. On their way to the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering, this group will immerse themselves in worship and work under the theme Rise Up Together. The gathering website explains the theme: We were meant to be together, and we are a church that believes God is calling us into the world—together. So every now and then, we gather young people and adults together to share their unique stories and to experience the larger story that makes up the ELCA; we gather to be inspired, encouraged, strengthened, connected and sent out to do God’s work in the world—together!

Please pray that the Resurrection group, and the thousands with whom they will gather, will indeed be inspired and called to rise up in praise and in service. We believe each participant will know God’s presence and grow closer to Jesus Christ in varied and amazing ways this week.

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.

Giving Your Gifts, Giving Your Best

"Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it."   1 Peter 4:10  (The Message)  

God blesses each and every one of us with different abilities, skills, and talents. Our job is to discover what we have been endowed with and how we might better serve our congregation and God's creation as a whole. Many of you are blessed with the gifts of hospitality, teaching, and evangelism. Others are blessed with creative or organizational talents. We have all been gifted different abilities so that together we may work whole to build a community of believers. As the Director of Music Ministries, I feel it is my duty to inspire, conspire, and participate in anything and everything that has to do with the creative side of worship and church life.

I am a firm believer in the idea that many have untapped creative talents that could and should be used in the life of the Church. We have so many opportunities to use these talents to better our community, to serve one another.  Here are just a few examples of how your talents may be used in our Church. 

"I can sing or play an instrument, but the Worship Team doesn't seem to be my cup of tea."  Awesome! Let's get you to play some special music. Or let's organize another group of musicians that meets regularly and participates in worship (Hint: Choir/ Flute Ensemble/Brass Choir/ Harmonicas for Jesus)

I have a musical ear, but I can't play an instrument and I am not comfortable singing in front of people."  Great! We can train you to run the sound board. Not only would this fulfill the use of your musical ear, you are helping the entire congregation worship. We are planning an official training session this summer! 

"I can't sing a lick, but I can draw or paint."  Wonderful! We are starting a worship design/ creativity co-op. We want your ideas on colors, pictures, themes or graphics that will enhance our worship.

"I can't sing or draw, but I can dance."  Amazing! We have plenty of space in our worship area if you want to worship God through dance. Choreograph something for yourself or a group. Share it with us during worship.

"I love acting."  Me too! Let's get a group together and find some sketches that match with the sermon series. Maybe God will use our acting to connect with some people at a different level.

"I really love working with computers, graphics, and making videos."  You have a spot on the video team. Let's use this great technology that we have and move our worship experience to the next level. Let's create videos to make scripture relevant. Hint: Connect with the acting folks above.

"I can build things."  We want you! Let's create installations that might coincide with the sermon series, something that people can touch and connect with.

"I can't sing, play, act, or draw, but I really enjoy organizing things."  Excellent! Us creative types come up with some great ideas, but are unsure of how to go about actually executing these ideas. We need your brain!

"How do we start?"  Contact Jeff by calling the church office. We can meet and get the ball rolling. All of these things are possible at Resurrection. You have permission to be creative and to use your talents here. Let's talk, let's have coffee, let's draw some sketches, make some videos.

In all of these things, may we serve our Savior and Lord, that He may be pleased with our work. May we serve His people and His Church.

Until next time!

In Christ, 

Jeff Martin, Director of Music Ministry

The Communion of Saints

This week finds several families of Resurrection grieving over the death of their loved ones.  Whether death comes after a long illness or suddenly, as it did to a 25-year-old man in a car accident, family and friends of each one who died still experience a personal loss.  Sorrow grips their hearts!  Even though Christians do not grieve as those who have no hope, as St. Paul tells us (1 Thess. 4:13), we do still grieve, and we do need comfort!

One of the petitions in the service for the Burial of the Dead pleads for the gift of increased faith in the midst of overwhelming circumstances: Help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. The promise that Jesus died and rose again to win our salvation and that he will return one day to raise us from the dead is the core of our faith. However, when our hearts are heavy with grief, our faith may become clouded over, and therefore we pray for help to trust.

In addition, this prayer asks for help to believe in the communion of saints, which is the gathering of believers in Jesus Christ united in faith. Yes, it is none other than the Church! When we are bent over with the weight of sorrow we need help to believe that we are not alone, and assured that fellow believers are praying for us and supporting us. It is equally important that the rest of us are willing to BE the church, the communion of saints, joining hands with those in need, becoming an answer to their prayer.

The 1981 Special Olympics state finals were held in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Nearly 3,000 special athletes competed in summer games, in which caring was more important than winning. According to Bob Becker of The Grand Rapids Press, the events were run like those in any other track meet, with one exception. Each finish line was manned by what the special Olympians dubbed as "huggers." Their job, in addition to calling out the winners, was to encourage each one at the finish line with a hug and a pat on the back. Becker said that love was the key to the event's success.

In a similar way, you and I both know the key to the success of our life together in the Church is love, encouraging others in all circumstances of their lives.  Let the “huggers” step forward in times of joy as well as in times of sorrow. Let the confirmands, the graduates, the worship team, the ushers, the education leaders, the staff—receive your affirmation; at the end of any race we run in life, no matter how well we have run, we need a “hug!” May the Holy Spirit help us to trust and believe and then encourage us to BE the Church!

 Written by: Rev. Ron Freimark

Our Congregation's DNA

Generosity is a deep part of our congregational life. Giving seems to be a part of our mission. There are many factors that have contributed to the spirit of generosity.

First is God's generosity towards us. "For God so loved the world that God GAVE us God's son." John 3:16. Without the gift of God's grace we would be lost. 

Our congregation’s history also reveals that we are the recipients of generosity. The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) saw the need for a new Lutheran congregation in the southeast corner of Woodbury and called Pastor Ted Vanderpan to be the mission developer for Resurrection. He and his wife Sara gave generous of their time and energy to start the Vibrant Life of Resurrection.  

Inez and Glenn Oehlke had the option to sell the land our church occupies for a significant profit, but chose instead to sell it at below market-value to both St. Ambrose and to Resurrection. Later Inez donated the farm house and surrounding buildings to the congregation. Generosity is part of our congregation’s DNA.

Generosity continues to strengthen our mission. In March we donated more than a $1,000 in a special offering to CURE Ministry and Beacon of Hope church. We are blessed to be a blessing to others.

There can sometimes be a snag in our giving to God’s Kingdom. In our busy, active lives we sometimes forget to write the check for the Sunday offering or we leave our cash at home. This is where Simply Giving helps.
 

There is no "mystery" to Simply Giving. 

 
Simply Giving is an easy way to have your donation to Resurrection deducted electronically from your bank account. It can be done once a month or twice a month as you choose. You set the amount to be deducted. It provides three benefits to your giving:

 

• Convenience: No check writing or forgetting.  
• Comfort: You know your Estimate of Giving will be met.
• Consistency: Your offering makes it to Resurrection even in your absence.

Currently Resurrection has about 75 families using Simply Giving. We have a goal to increase that to 100 families before summer comes. Will you be one of those households?  To begin using this convenient option of giving, please complete the Simply Giving Form available here and return it to the attention of Jay Hickey in the church office. Simply Giving Forms are also available in the office and on our website, under Stewardship 2015. 

“For your heart will always be where your riches are.” 

 Matthew 6:21 (GNT)

Pastor John Keller

Oh, The Places We Shall Grow

A previous year's presentation of a Dr. Seuss tale.

On Sunday, April 19, Sarah Storvick,  Betsy Hickey and Hannah Koehler used rhyme and story to tell of Resurrection's current facility concerns. 

With apologies to Dr. Seuss, we present a brief tale:

One Fish, Too Squished . . . or Oh, The Spaces We Will Grow!

At one end of town, where new neighborhoods sprout,

sits a wee little church . . . spacious, glorious land all about.


Sundays and Wednesdays, the building is hopping.

But ideas and dreams, our square footage is stopping.


Programs and people clamor for space.

Getting on the calendar? It’s always a race!

And what about the children who need a quiet space?

How lovely it would be for them to have a comfy place.

Students in grades five and six hike across the plain,

an adventure for some, for others a strain.

And a pain. Some complain. Guests may be filled with disdain.

Can anyone spell chilblain? Is this the right way our children to train?

Classes for grown-ups? Many are yearning,

but there isn’t a space for adults to be learning!

Struggles with allergies? This is truly serious stuff.

Keeping a dear child away—something at the farmhouse makes it too rough.

Eighth graders meeting on nursery chairs,

small group space would be an answer to prayers!

Places to rehearse, to practice, to stage . . .

Constant take-down make Barry and Larry age!

Yet, servants and leaders are creative and clever, sharing God’s love through heartfelt endeavor. Forever.

That is the end of our little story, but the great news is that God’s story for Resurrection is still in its early chapters. What we hope you take from that rhyming riff are two things.

One, we have been witness to amazing creativity over the years, and we are so thankful to work with both adults and children – who are flexible and willing to work with whatever resources and spaces and talents they are given. 

And two, we see amazing potential. Ideas that have potential. Children with incredible potential. Youth who are realizing their potential. Hopes and dreams and desires that long to be realized. For the sake of the potential God will bring to us in the years to come, we pray that this congregation can work toward expanding our ability to serve the children and youth moving into our community.

And yet, we do face limits – with busy lives, and overly full calendars, many of you like to combine your visits here – and would love to participate in a Bible study while your children learn at confirmation or in Sunday School. But space limits that.

Others might like to have a team meeting while their students are in confirmation small groups, but no meeting space is left over. Sunday School small group leaders wrestle with the distractions of all meeting in one room, which makes focus difficult. Any of us will happily walk to and through the farmhouse with you if you would like to experience for yourself the pros and cons of that unique space. 

 We invite you to prayerfully consider what the space needs for children and youth ministry are today, what they may be a few years from now, and what they could be when whatever-child-you-may-visit-with this morning is bringing children of his or her own to worship here. If children bring out any good thing in us, we hope it is thought-filled planning and trust-filled living for those who will come after us. May God find us faithful!

Just Right!

We were starting a new chapter in life when we first visited Resurrection in the fall of 2011. Our kids were grown and lived out of state, so our needs were different from those that had led us to our previous church home. We weren't sure exactly what we were looking for, but decided to visit three different congregations, trusting that we would just know when it was right.

Resurrection was the first church we visited. We were greeted warmly and felt very comfortable in this new space. The energy was great – everyone seemed involved in the life of this congregation, from little kids to “mature” folks like us. Above all, we felt the love. Resurrection members really care for each other and the community around them. We not only pray, as a church, for other church communities each week, but we join with them in service to others.

Jim and I have very different styles when it comes to new situations. I tend to jump right in, building relationships as I go, while he tends to build relationships slowly before making any commitments. I was surprised when after our first visit he said "I like this church." Coming from Jim, that is high praise!

We never did visit the other congregations on our list. Resurrection felt just right for us. We visited often during the fall and winter, and became members in the spring of 2012. I have found plenty of ways to serve and make connections, and Jim’s need to take things a little more slowly has always been respected.

God has brought us just where we need to be. We are home, and now it is our turn to extend a warm welcome to other visitors. We hope they will find that Resurrection is just right for them too. Even if they eventually settle elsewhere, they will know they are always welcome here.

Written by: Jeannie LeMere