The Resurrection Connection | | |
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The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
in the St. Paul Area Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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Winter 2023
In this Issue:
What's in Worship
Pastor's Corner
What We've Been Up To
News from the ELCA
Letter from ILAG
Lent in Guatemala
Links
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February 22nd is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the church season, Lent. The season of Lent holds together the paradoxes of human experience in the contrasting imagery of the parched desert and the streams of living water. We take time in this liminal season acknowledge the perennial question of what is breaking down (in individuals, in our congregations, in our communities, and in the world) and what is waiting to be (re)born. You will notice the color purple adorning the worship space and you may also find that the music we sing is more somber and with less musical accompaniment.
This leads us into the Triduum, the days in which we walk with Jesus from Maundy Thursday through Good Friday and to resurrection in Easter Vigil. We run the gamut of human emotion, from hope in the new commandment to love each other; to the guilt, despair, and hopelessness of Good Friday; to the deep mystery of the Easter Vigil.
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Easter greets us with boisterous joy in the resurrection. While Lent was a long 40 days, the Easter season is even longer - 50 days! - reminding us in the marking of time that in Christ, life always triumphs over death. The Easter theme of new life follows naturally from the Lenten mystery of the tomb that is transformed into a womb. What has been hidden and unseen in the season of Lent blooms forth, and the beauty of new growth reverberates in the natural world throughout the northern hemisphere.
(Reflections above based on Seasonal Essays in Sundays and Seasons, a publication of 1517 media.)
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Calendar
Check out the on-line calendar for up-to-date activity information! Click the button below.
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Beloved of God,
Welcome to the new iteration of the Resurrection Connection; one that celebrates the stories of God at work in our congregation and the world God so loves.
The theologian and author Frederick Buechner wrote, "And my story and your story are all part of each other too if only because we have sung together and prayed together and seen each other's faces so that we are at least a footnote at the bottom of each other's stories. In other words, all our stories are in the end one story, one vast story about being human, being together, being here."
Continued below
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In the pages of this newsletter, we will celebrate, mourn, and honor what God is doing in our midst and around the world by telling stories through words and pictures. To that end, we need your help! Whenever you take photos of activities of this congregation, share them with us! If you are moved to share a story of our congregation or partners in ministry, let us know! We hope to collect short pieces and photos from each ministry committee each quarter for this publication.
You may notice that the 80+ birthdays and the Mission of the Month are not included in the newsletter any longer. Never fear! They will be published in the weekly News and Events on the first Wednesday of each month.
We are entering the Lent - Easter cycle, the time of year when we focus on the foundational story of our faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. My hope is that we will each find ourselves part of this story of divine love and grace and that together, we will carry this sacred story into the world.
In Christ,
Pastor Sarah
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Learning and Youth and Outreach teamed up together in service! Fourteen LCR folks volunteered along with others from the community and together did a whole lot of good!
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Senior outreach and fellowship celebrated Christmas together with music and delicious rosettes. LCR members and community friends making music and memories! | | |
Epiphany celebrations would never be complete without the children and youth of LCR leading us in worship. The angel's call: "Hey star! Come forth with your light!" is like an invitation to us all to shine our light wherever we go just as these young people do. | | |
What a joy to welcome David Cherwein back for the 2023 Hymn Festival, Singing in Wonder! We are grateful to Jennifer Baker-Trinity for her inspiring reflections. The theme is based on the hymn by David and his late wife, Susan Palo-Cherwein, Infinite Beauty. Each stanza ends with a call to wonder: stirring to wonder...growing in wonder...living in wonder...breathing in wonder...singing in wonder.
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Government and Civic Engagement
The ELCA is developing a social statement on government, civic engagement, the relationship of church and state and related matters, as called for by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Social statements are the ELCA’s primary documents to address significant social issues. They are intended to aid reflection and shape conscience and to set forth the ELCA’s teaching and policy on the major social issues and questions of contemporary life.
An ELCA task force provides primary leadership for the statement’s development over a five-year period, using an established process of study and widespread participation in theological and moral deliberation.
The task force is now offering a six session study curriculum for use throughout our church. It provides a guide into the issues and invites participant feedback for the task force. Take a look. The study response period is open through Oct. 15.
To learn more about the task force members, click here.
Here is a detailed timeline of the task force's work.
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Date posted: Tuesday 24 January 2023
Guatemala
January 10, 2023
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
- Isaiah 40:31
Bishop Patricia Lull
Pastors of Companion Churches
Brothers and Sisters
Greetings from the Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala! As we start a new year, our prayers are being lifted to our Lord giving thanks for the partnership we share between SPAS and ILAG.
In this new year of 2023, we look forward to receiving you at ILAG in Guatemala, our brothers and sisters are eager to see you, to worship together, and to learn from each other. The churches in the communities always ask, “How you are doing?” and are hoping you visit them again soon.
We, as a church, aware of all the challenges life has, we trust in God, who renews our strength, to continue serving in a world that needs a lot of compassion and love. We are certain that we, together, can make a difference, and share our gifts to each other.
And talking about sharing our gifts, we are beginning the school year at CLAG, full of hope and continue improving the CLAG facilities, where the students have an opportunity to get a good education in a safe and beautiful place. This is a place that will change lives and develop leaders thanks to your support.
We are so grateful to share this experience of accompanying new generations who will impact Guatemala in a positive way in the near future.
Many blessings to you in this new year of 2023.
On behalf of the ILAG
Rev. Karen Castillo
President – ILAG
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Dear Community of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection,
Thank you for your gift of $200! It will be put to good use supporting the Reconciling in Christ Program across the ELCA.
Much joy, Aubrey Thonvold
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Dear Members of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection,
Thank you for all you are doing to support Emmet D. Williams. I thoroughly enjoyed coming to speak with you all. And truly all of our students are being blessed by the amount of volunteers that are meeting with students or supporting indirectly. The support of Every Meal is also appreciated. Finally, the gift of money from your pancake breakfast was so generous.
In gratitude,
Jen Wilson
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Dear friends at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection,
Thank you so much for your support of Cherish All Children through your Mission of the Month gifts! WIth your gifts, we are more equipped to reach youth and families to promote safe and healthy relationships and stay clear of exploitation. We are so grateful for your ongoing partnership!
Joy McElroy
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Dear Lutheran Church of the Resurrection,
THank you so much for your contributions to Lutheran Summer Music! I'm from the suburbs of Chicago, so not too far from Valparaiso, but living on campus at Valparaiso University is like a totally different world. I'm so thankful I've been able to spend the last few weeks here. This is my first time being in a large choral and theater group since before 2020, so it has been very refreshing and rewarding to do it here again. I'm already looking forward to attending next year.
Thanks again, Jimmy
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Dear Pastor Sarah and LCR,
We are so grateful for the generosity of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. Blessings on your Advent season!
In gratitude, Emma Wagner, Lutheran World Relief
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Dear Pastor Sarah and LCR,
Thank you for sponsoring the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Chair in my name. What a generous and kind gift! It is my great honor to sing in the National Lutheran Choir. I believe in the mission and outreach that this gifted organization brings to the church. Your support of NLC is extremely important and valued.
With gratitude, Christine Cherwien
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Links to Sunday morning and Wednesday evening worship services are on our website prior to each service. Or go to the LCR YouTube page to livestream. | |
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Wednesday Morning Prayer
Join us each Wednesday at 8 am on Zoom for Scripture, prayer, learning, and delightful discussion!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91793468392
Or call: 312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 917 9346 8392
Email or call Pastor Sarah with any questions:
pastorsarah@lcr-elca.org
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Taking Faith Home is a weekly Bible study and prayer resource developed for individuals, families, and friends to use during the week. It offers suggested readings, a hymn, questions to consider, and a ritual to engage our whole lives in faith practices. find out more by clicking below. | |
Want to check out the upcoming readings and some related artwork? Click the button below to go to Vanderbilt Divinity Library's Revised Common Lectionary website. | | | | |
