I am so excited for you to meet Deacon Stephanie Anderson on Tuesday night at the Meet and Greet. If you can’t be there in person, we will be recording it and posting it online. Just a reminder that the vote to call her will happen in person immediately following the Meet and Greet. 

Let me offer my perspective on why calling a deacon to serve among us is the right thing to do at this time. Both deacons and pastors are called and ordained by the whole church. Deacons are as well vetted as pastors though a candidacy process led by the synod. Deacons are theologically educated in the same schools and hold similar degrees as pastors. Deacons are called to a Ministry of Word and Service; which means they call us in the church to keep our hearts and minds focused on the needs of our neighbors and God’s work in the wider world. This is critical in a time of rapid cultural change. The church of the 1960s is never coming back. Days of people flocking to church on Sunday mornings because it’s “the right thing to do” isn’t going to happen. But people will find a home in the church if they see that we are responding like Jesus to the needs of the world. Calling a deacon to serve among us, especially one as gifted and experienced as Deacon Stephanie, gives us an opportunity to have someone in leadership who can shepherd us into new spaces and patterns of ministry, and who has ours and our neighbors’ best interests at heart. Augustana has been a leader in many things in the church. I see this as one more way we can lead the wider church in innovative and effective ministry. I am excited to have a ministry partner who is caring, engaging, committed to the gospel, and will encourage us to live most fully into Jesus’ call for our church in this time and place.

I’m grateful to the Call Committee and their faithful discernment in this process, and for their patience in waiting for the right candidate for Augustana at this time.

See you in worship!

Congregational Meet & Greet

Tuesday, January 17 | 6:30 pm

Congregational Vote Immediately Following the Meet & Greet

Come meet Deacon Stephanie Anderson, candidate for Deacon of Discipleship & Community Mission at Augustana. Stephanie is excited to share her story and meet the wonderful people of Augustana Lutheran Church. Immediately following the Meet and Greet, the congregation will vote to call her to the position. 

We are excited to share with you that the Augustana Church Council unanimously voted to bring forward Deacon Stephanie Anderson to be called as Deacon for Discipleship & Community Mission. Both Pastors and Deacons are rostered leaders in the ELCA. Deacons regularly serve in leadership in congregations. In this role, Deacon Stephanie will serve alongside Pastor Jason to guide the mission and ministry of Augustana.

She will provide leadership and direction for all education and community mission focused ministry of Augustana, along with the program staff who serve in those areas. She will regularly preach and provide leadership in worship and be part of the pastoral care team, providing regular visits and presiding at occasional funerals. Her gifts and experience will enable us to imagine new ministry possibilities we’ve not considered before.

For the past 3 years, Stephanie has served as Deacon of Faith Enrichment at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN, where she was responsible for adult education, young adult ministry, hospitality, and new member engagement. Prior to serving at St. Andrew’s, she spent 7 years managing programs for Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) in the ELCA. 

Augustana Annual Meeting

Tuesday, January 24 | 6:30 pm | Fellowship Hall

We will celebrate the ministry that we accomplished in 2022 and look forward with imagination at what kind of ministry God is calling us to in 2023. Copies of the 2022 Annual Report will be available beginning Sunday, January 15 at the Information Center or click on the image to the right.

One important task will be to approve changes to our constitution that will keep our congregation’s constitution aligned with the model constitution of the ELCA. These changes are required for all congregations of the ELCA. Changes include clarification of provision of the termination of a call of pastor or deacon due to disability, edits that provide for more inclusive, clearer language, and edits that align the various parts of congregational and synodical constitutions with the language of bylaws and continuing resolutions. These documents are important in guiding our work as a church. Click below to review a full copy of proposed changes to the Constitution. A desk copy of these changes is also available in a binder at the Information Desk at church. 

Where Faith Meets Family

January Take & Make

Sunday, January 15  |  9:45 am | Hint: Happy New Year!

 All families are invited to join us for our monthly Where Faith Meets Family Take & Make project. We’ll gather in the lower level Commons during the 9:45 am hour on the third Sunday of each month, in place of Youth Forum and Kids’ Kingdom. Families will receive ideas on simple practices to grow their faith together and a bag of supplies (and instructions) to take home.

We are starting a new series for students in grades 5 and up and any adult who supports and cares for a student in those grades. We will gather once a month with a guest speaker coming in to guide and facilitate our conversations. Each speaker will have a unique focus that will help us see the different ways our mental wellness & our stories can be impacted. In addition to gathering to learn and discover together, participants are invited to join for fellowship over a meal. Here is what you need to know about our first event in this series.

Wednesday, January 18

5:00—5:45 pm Dinner

5:50—7:00 pm Presentations from NAMI (one for students and one for parents)

Student Topic: Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, with NAMI Educator, Renee LaBat

This is a one-hour class will talk about what anxiety and stress are and where they come from. Youth will practice coping strategies for stress as well as learn the difference between positive and negative coping strategies. They will also learn the warning signs of an anxiety disorder and where to go for help.

Adult Topic: Listen, Limit, Lead, Love: Parenting in an Unknown Frontier

with NAMI educator, Mary Lillo

This is a 30-minute video followed by a 30-minute presentation for adults who care for and support students. No parent in other generations has parented while living in a constantly connected, 24/7 digital world. This presentation will have you rethinking the time you spend swiping, scrolling, and watching and provide you with tips to practice and share Digital Wellbeing with your family.

Please let us know if you will attend. Email Cathy Hendrikson or Joann Arneberg.

Youth Ski Trip

Friday, February 17 – Monday, February 20

We are very excited to have the youth ski trip to Giants Ridge return this year! It is a weekend filled with laughter, fun, fellowship and of course, skiing/snowboarding. This weekend is open to all students in grades 7-12. We can’t wait to have our two villas filled! For more information contact Abby at anorlineweaver@augustana.com.

Adult Forum | Sunday Mornings at 9:45

This month we will look at the “Power Within” through the lens of embodiment to understand our own emotional experiences, the experiences of others, and how embodiment relates to our Christianity.



January 15 | Dr. Deanna Thompson

Author of Glimpsing Resurrection: Cancer, Trauma, and Ministry

Dr. Thompson will share from her own story and research how faith is experienced through the trauma of serious illness and reflect on the wisdom and hope offered through the voices of those who have been shaped by their struggle with serious illness. Dr. Thompson was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2008 and is currently in her 4^th remission, and directs the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community at St. Olaf College.

Women’s Coffee & Conversation

Mondays 10:00 – 11:30 am  |   January 23 - February 13

January 23 - How Do We Stay Christian Individually and as a Community?

We will finish McLaren’s book by uncovering new ways to personify our Christianity both individually and as a congregation.

Book Study

The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism

by Katherine Stewart.

Online discussions  |  January 29, February 26, March 26  |   6:30 – 7:30 pm



Many of you have asked for more education on the topic of Christian Nationalism. This online study will tackle this book by discussing only four chapters a month, January through March. Books can be purchased on Amazon. Email Stacy to join the group.

Blood Pressure Screening

Sunday, January 15 | 9:30 - 11:00 | Augustana Office

Stop by the office to have your blood pressure checked by a licensed professional.

Whole-Person Wellness Screenings (for individuals 60+ years old)

February 2    |    45-minute appointments between 9:00 am and 1:15 pm

If you are 60 years old or older, consider participating in this wellness screening. The screening will include: screening for cognitive changes, or depression on your terms, developing a whole-person wellness plan with individualized goals, speaking to a Registered Nurse about your overall wellness & barriers you face, getting connected to resources in YOUR community that can support your wellness goals, and influencing programming in YOUR community! Screenings will be administered by staff from the University of MN School of Nursing in conjunction with the Faith Community Nurse Network. Take charge of your health and schedule your screening. Sign up online at https://hipaa.jotform.com/fcnntc/AugustanaRegistration or contact Joann Arneberg for assistance.

Have questions about the Whole-Person Wellness Screening?

January 15    |    Informational Session     |    10:00 to 11:00 am

If reading through the description above has you asking questions or seeking more information, join Augustana Faith Community Nurse, Joann Arneberg, for an information session to get your questions answered and learn more about the upcoming Whole-Person Wellness Screening.  

Family Support Group

Monthly, 2nd & 4th Mondays, 6:30 to 8:00 pm

Facilitated by Joann Arneberg, Augustana Faith Community Nurse

 Does your loved one live with a mental illness? NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers family and friends of individuals living with a mental illness an opportunity to meet with others who share their concerns and experiences. The meeting is free of charge and registration is not necessary. We will resume on January 9, 2023.  

Socks & Underwear Collection

& Bundling Event

Throughout the month of January, we will collect new socks and underwear for children and adults to be donated to The Drawer, one of our new local mission partners. Items of all sizes and gender can be dropped off at the Information Center or the church office until Friday, January 20.  

The Drawer Bundling Event

Friday, January 20    |    Dinner 6:00 pm, bundling 6:30 pm

Join us for an evening of pizza, fellowship, and community service. We will

prepare and package (bundle) all the items collected for The Drawer. Items

were collected at the Thanksgiving Skating event and at the Advent Fair, along with what will be donated through January 20. Please drop off items at the

Information Center or in the church office.

Looking for Ways to Get

Involved at Augustana?

Ways to Serve on Sundays

Families, couples, and singles, we would love your help on Sunday mornings! Usher, read the lesson, serve Communion, or be the welcoming face at the Information Center. Contact Barb Rolfes to learn more or sign up.

Help with Community Meals

More volunteers are needed for these coming winter months to help prepare our meals each Thursday. Please sign-up below if you would like to help.  

Tasting the Goodness of Guatemala

Sunday, January 29

The Global Missions group has some opportunities planned that you may want to add to your calendar!

Join us for a new cooking series centered around the cuisine of our global mission partners. The series will start on Sunday, January 29 with Tasting the Goodness of Guatemala. For those who want to learn how to prepare the food, we will cook together beginning at 4 pm. If simply enjoying the food is more your style, then come at 5:30 pm. Advanced sign up is required by Monday, January 23. Menu will be posted on the online signup page.

The office will be closed

Monday, January 16

for the Martin Luther King

holiday.



 Augustana COVID Task Force Update

To help curb the spread of illness, the CDC, county and state health departments recommend the following when we gather to worship:

• If you are experiencing symptoms related to any potentially contagious disease, please do not come into the building until symptoms subside.
• We encourage you to discuss with your doctor about getting the COVID vaccine and boosters for you and your family members and consider getting the flu vaccine now.
• Masking remains optional in our building. Masks at Augustana remain an optional way to protect against getting sick. To accommodate those who are particularly vulnerable and vigilant, the last three rows on the east side section of the sanctuary have been designated for those who wish to sit with other masked people.

Please contact Joann Arneberg, Faith Community Nurse, for further information. 

Augustana Connect is intended to highlight activities and events coming up in the next few weeks. For ongoing weekly activities, please check the online calendar. 

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