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Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church

January 2018

A New Year 2018

New Year's is one of those few occasions in life when just about everybody is thinking about the same thing - and that is time. It's a time for good wishes, for your neighbors and friends, as Charles Dickens penned in A Christmas Carol, "Here's to us all, God bless us every one!" It's a time for reflection and hope, as the old Irish saying exclaims, "In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want." And it's time for joyous reveling. As American poet Phyllis McGinley once chimed, "Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy, Happy New Year, everybody."

Except for New Years, we seldom think much about time except when we're running late. And yet, New Years is not simply about time flowing like a river and carrying us all along. New Years is something more. As English essayist, Charles Lamb once wrote, "New Year's Day is every man's birthday." It is about change, new possibilities and dreams. Interestingly, January 1st also the day when the church celebrates the naming of Jesus.

In scripture, we read that on the 8th day after his birth, Mary's son was circumcised. On that day, Jesus also received his name. Among the Jews, circumcision was an important rite. It affirmed the family covenant with God. As for the name Jesus, it was heavy with significance. It was the same name as that of Joshua, the Old Testament hero who led Israel into the land of freedom.

Perhaps that is why the early church thought it was so important to place his name's day on the first day of the new calendar year. Our days, our weeks, and our months, should unfold fully aware of his place in our lives. Yes, Jesus is the Savior, the one who delivers and rescues us. Jesus is the one who leads us into the new year, just as Old Testament prophet Joshua did when he led the people of Israel into a new and promised land of freedom, and into a new way of life.

My friends, a new year lies before us. We do not know what it contains. But we can pray fervently in the holy name of Jesus that God will be with us. May it be for each of us a year when we pray our Savior's name, Jesus, with faith and fervor. May it be year when you and I discover anew that this world can be a very different place through the power of Jesus' holy name. Amen.

Happy New Year 2018! Pastor Arden Haug

The Women's Auxillary Priscilla Circle will meet January 5 at 9:30 am at the home of John Bergford. 2218 Mt. View Ave, Minneapolis.

Call John at 612 377-1319 for directions.

The Festival of Epiphany

The Twelve Days of Christmas end on January 5th. Historically, these were favorite days for music and theatre. William Shakespeare wrote his comic play "Twelfth Night" for the close of the Christmas

season. In Leipzig, Germany, during the time of J. S. Bach, the city marked the Advent season with silence in the churches. There was no music performed until Christmas Eve. The twelve days that followed were filled with music. Bach's own Christmas Oratorio was to be performed on the First, Second and Third days of Christmas.

On Sunday, January 7th, we will celebrate the close of the Christmas season with the festival service for Epiphany. Epiphany traditionally marks the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem. This will allow us one last chance to sing such favorite Christmas carols as "The First Noel" and "We Three Kings." Sunday School will resume this day as well.

Special Meeting of LOTI Congregation

The Church Council is calling a special meeting of the Congregation on January 7, 2018. The purpose of this meeting is two-fold: (1) to authorize the Council to enter into a contract for the remodeling of the downstairs bathrooms; and (2) to authorize the Council to obtain financing of up to $70,000 to fund the bathroom project and to update our failing climate control system ("HVAC"). The financing would likely need to be secured by a mortgage on church property. There appears to be a broad consensus that the main bathrooms downstairs are inadequate in terms of space, functionality, and overall appearance. In addition, the church's HVAC system has been failing steadily over the last several years, and the estimate to stabilize it is in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. We currently have approximately $30,000 cash-on-hand for the bathroom project (including $10,000 from the Endowment Fund), and roughly $7,000 in pledges that can be used to fund the projected cost of the project, which is currently estimated at approximately $79,000. As long as we will likely need financing to complete the bathroom project, we think it makes sense to borrow funds to update the HVAC system as well, as it is not the sort of project that will likely excite up-front donations in the way we have seen with the church bell, zimbelstern, restrooms, endowment, or other projects. With a little bit of luck, the special meeting should be short (hopefully no more than 5-10 minutes). In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Marty Carlson at (612) 804-1777, or Pastor Haug at (612) 377-5095, if you have any questions. Thank you.

Sunday School News

We are looking forward to resuming Sunday School on Sunday, January 7 with our annual movie day watching a beautifully animated movie called 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 in their PJs for our movie day!

Growlers & Theology

Following the model of Luther in his home in Wittenberg, Germany, Pastor Haug leads a twice monthly gathering at the Parsonage. The group will meet Thursdays, January 11 & 25.

LOTI Beer Glasses

are for sale.

One for $10 and two for $15.

Working Speaker Series

Working is the theme of an ongoing speaker series in which people talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do. Many people within our congregation are engaged in fascinating work, and this series gives us an opportunity to learn more about what they do.

The next segment of the series will be Sunday, January 21st featuring new member Matthew Nesheim. Matt entered the Army on May 10, 2005 as an Infantryman. He served two tours, the first during the "Surge" in Iraq from 2007-2008 and the second during the "Surge" in Afghanistan from 2009-2010. In Iraq, he was a member of an elite reconnaissance platoon tasked with hunting down the most-wanted terrorists in Iraq and Baghdad. In Afghanistan he was a squad leader in the 82nd Airborne Division. He exited the Army in 2010, when he and his wife Kate relocated to Milwaukee, WI where she was working on her PhD.

Matt's talk will take place after a brief coffee break following the Sunday morning service. Those who are interested will be invited to take their coffee/tea into the Christy Room for about 45 minutes. The first 15-20 minutes will be an informal talk by Matt, leaving the remaining time for questions from those in attendance.

Faith Together

This new offering, beginning January 21, is for families with PreK-K age children. We are calling it Faith Together because it's intention is just that - a time for families to practice faith together. Our focus in this initial gathering is to talk about and explore prayer in the family. This will be an interactive time of faith for parent and child...details to come.

Women's Book Club

The first meeting will be on Friday, January 26, at 5:00 pm at Deb Gilroy's home, which is near LOTI. Beverages and snacks will be served. Feel free to bring something to share. We will discuss "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamante. This fabulous book has lots of discussion possibilities. Many of us have read it before but felt it was worthwhile to discuss. If you've never read it, you're in for a treat!

DebraGilroy

LindaNelson

Wedding at Cana Sunday

Music for a Wedding & Wine Pairing Event

In St. John's gospel, we read that Jesus first miracle was performed at the wedding in Cana. It is the familiar story where Jesus turned water into wine. This passage of scripture is often read at weddings. On Sunday, January 28nd we will use this story to celebrate the gift of marriage and the couples who were married at Lake of the Isles in 2017 and those who will be united in marriage in 2018. The worship service will feature the Lake String Quartet performing a variety of selections for the wedding day including, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," with LOTI Choir and Psalm 23, the theme song from "The Vicar of Dibley."

In the afternoon at 4:00, we will have a Wedding at Cana Wine Pairing. Deb Black from The Wine Company will pour a sampling of wines that are paired with different appetizers. The menu includes the following wines and appetizers.

We are looking for volunteers who will make one of the appetizers. (Recipes will be provided.) Please contact linda.nelson@loti.org if you can help. The $20 reservation will be directed to CES Community Emergency Services.

Please contact 612-377-5095 or linda.nelson@loti.org for reservations.

LOTI Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the congregation will be held January 28th, immediately following the worship service.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Join us on Wednesday morning for Bible Study at 10:00. The informal study will explore the Book of Ecclesiastes. And yes, coffee and treats are a part of every Wednesday morning.

Prayer Ministry

The prayer ministry group would welcome anyone who would like to join them on Tuesday mornings in the Christy Room at 9:15-10:00 a.m. Please contact Janna Haug, Deb Gilroy or Linda Nelson for more information if you are interested.

Janna Haug

Debra Gilroy

LInda Nelson

Spark Family Magazine

The latest edition of the Spark Family magazine has arrived. Please feel free to take home an issue. They are available at both entrances to the Sanctuary. This is a great resource for families with toddlers up to 6th grade! The first page of the story is geared for younger children and the second page of the story is geared for 3rd - 6th grade.

Our Saviour's Housing Shelter Meals

Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church has provided a meal for 40 the first Friday of every month for many years. This is a wonderful opportunity for families or a group of friends.

Check your calendars and choose a month for 2018:

February 2

March 2

April 6

May 4

June 1

July 6

August 3

September 7

October 5

November 2

Reserve your month by contacting Cheri Moe at (952)431-5226 or moeclana@aol.com.

She will provide recipes for a crowd. Thrivent members are eligible to apply for a Thrivent Action Grant to cover the cost of the meal and purchase supplies for Our Saviour's Shelter continuing needs.

Offering Envelopes

If you are using envelopes, please find them in a basket in the Narthex. Envelopes are no longer numbered, so please record your name prior to use.

January Birthdays

Cody Rustad

Patrick Bracken

Naomi Mechels

Laura Nortwen

Mary Goplen

Kathy Hering

Elyssa Gustafson

Dominik Amann

Ruth Lee

Jackson Ulland

Kara Long

Nicholas Messerli

Gretchen Robertson

Lucienne Walters-Beck

Jane Wolke

Susanne Haas

Max Formell

Mary Sabatke

Morgan Larson

Megan Larson

Ethan Rand