Dear Augustana,

This weekend in worship we’ll hear Jesus’ teaching on prayer. Specifically, we’ll hear the words of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. This is a prayer that is deeply woven into our worship life and one I hope that is part of your daily practice as well. Sometimes when a prayer is so well-known it can lose a bit of its luster.

As a simple practice this week, I invite you to pray each line separately, then pause to imagine more deeply what that line says to you about God and God’s relationship to you. I think of this as being in prayerful conversation with God. If you’ve got time, write down some of those insights.

Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed (holy) is your name…

               Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven…

               Give us today our daily bread…

               And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us…

               Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil…

               For the kingdom, and the power, and the glory are yours now and forever…

               Amen (Which means “Let it be so.”)…

See you in worship,

WELCOME DEACON STEPHANIE ANDERSON

Dear Augustana,

It was such an honor to join you on Tuesday evening (1/17) for our "meet and greet" conversation! It is with joy and gratitude that I accept your call to serve as your Deacon. I look forward to the ways we will faithfully walk with one another, and with God, to discern how we are called to be church together, to deepen our faith alongside one another, and to share Christ's healing love with the whole world.

It's nothing short of an absolute gift to be stepping into this role. As the apostle Paul said in his prayer for the Philippians: "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now." (Philippians 1:3-5)

Blessed Lent to you in these coming months. I look forward to seeing you in March*, just in time for Holy Week!

God's grace and peace,

Deacon Stephanie

* Monday, March 20th, to be exact! 

Pastor Deb's Farewell Celebration

Sunday, February 5 | Farewell Blessing | Reception with Coffee & Treats

Card of thanks and well-wishes can be sent to or dropped off in the office.

Imagining Our Future Ministry Together 

Throughout February, you will be invited to participate in a Congregational Assessment Tool. We are in a different place emotionally, organizationally, and spiritually than we were just a few years ago. We will gain important information from you about the overall energy for ministry, capacity to adapt to a changing world, desired priorities for our congregation, and strengths which can propel us into the future. Our goal is to have 350 individuals complete the assessment. This survey is conducted by Holy Cow! Consulting. They have helped over 5,000 congregations across the country discern their future. Beginning next week, there will be a button in this weekly email enabling you to access the survey. Please allow approximately 20 minutes to complete. All responses remain anonymous. Thank you! We look forward to your insights.

Annual Meeting

Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Meeting last Tuesday night. Congratulations to the congregational leaders elected:

Church Council: Rachel Larson and Lesley McDougall

Harvest Fund: Beth Skwira and Doug Downhour

Audit Committee: Matt Storlie, Pat Armon, and Jeff Hawthorne

Personnel Committee: Heather Johnston

Nominating Committee: Heidi Satre, Dave Koziol and Byron Schwab

Columbarium Committee: Leon Dill

The 2023 budget was approved as well as the constitutional changes. If you were unable to attend the meeting, click below to experience God's power at work in Augustana!

Spring New Member Event

Sunday, February 26 | Noon (lunch provided)

If you’ve been worshiping with us or connected with a ministry and are interested in being a member, join us for our Spring New Member Event. Learn more about ways to grow, serve, and live out your faith as part of the Augustana community. Childcare available upon request. New members welcomed into the congregation on Sunday, March 12 at 9:45 am. RSVP to Barb Rolfes in the church office (651.457.3373) by Wednesday, February 22. 

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. 

Lenten Mentoring 2023 News

Lenten Mentor Orientation | Wednesday, February 15

7:00 pm | Youth Room

Lenten Mentoring will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Lenten Mentoring is a special part of the Confirmation Ministry at Augustana; providing students the opportunity to learn and grow in their faith through conversations and activities with an adult mentor from the congregation. Information about Lenten Mentoring was emailed to all registered confirmation students & families.  

Prayground Reminder for Parents

The Prayground is there for your little ones to use during worship, however, please remember that the Prayground is in the sanctuary. We ask that children play quietly while they are there so others can worship. A parent needs to be sitting near the Prayground (within a pew or two) so children are not running up and down the aisles looking for you. We also have the nursery staffed during all 9:45 am worship services and during the 8:30 am service when the senior choir sings for children aged 4yrs and younger. Thank you for your help with this! 

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 29 | Embodiment and the Church

Ellie Roscher, MFA in Writing, MA Theology Luther Seminary

God created our bodies with care and calls them very good. God took on a body and became flesh. Jesus' ministry tended to, healed, and restored (often marginalized) bodies. Yet our church remains fairly disembodied. Ellie will talk about her own path to deeper embodiment, present her most recent book of body stories, The Embodied Path, and offer some tangible ways to claim the stories of our bodies for healing and wholeness in community. Ellie will have books available for purchase. Follow Ellie at ellieroscher.com

Women’s Coffee & Conversation

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

The Power of Aging | 3-part series

Harnessing our personal wisdom and the expertise of Arthur C. Brook’s From Strength to Strength and Joan Chittister’s The Gift of Years we will celebrate our power within as we mature body, mind, and spirit.

January 30 | Valuable Advice

We will personally and in small groups construct valuable pieces of advice people learn far too late in life. Stacy will also share life-changing lessons learned from “the wisdom keepers”.

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



After our presentation on Christian Nationalism, many of you have been asking for more education on this topic. This book was recommended by our presenters as an easy yet provocative read. Stewart’s research reveals that Christian Nationalism is a political movement that seeks to gain power and to impose its vision on all of society; this movement has turned religion into a tool for domination. 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.

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: physical metrics, 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! Contact Joann Arneberg with questions.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions

Thursdays, February 16—March 23  |  1:00-3:30 pm  |  At ReaLife Cooperative

This wellness class is for anyone over 60 years old. Topics include: nutrition, exercise,

medication use, sleep, pain management, emotions and communicating with medical providers. Led by Joann Arneberg and Rebecca Indahl, Faith Community Nurses. The class is free of charge, but donations are always welcome. Pick up a flyer in the church kiosk or see Joann.  

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. 

Blanket Collection

Do you have blankets that you don’t use and aren’t sure what to do with them? We will be collecting new and clean, gently used blankets and comforters to be given to Walking With A Purpose MN. Walking With A Purpose MN provides blankets, food, warm weather gear and other resources to those who are experiencing homelessness in St Paul and on the West Side. Blankets can be dropped off in the church office or the Info Center until the end of February. 

February Auggie Bags   

Every February the Community Mission committee chooses one or two non-profits for which to collect items. In the past we have collected items for Second Stork, Union Gospel Mission, and Wakota Lifecare Center to name a few. This year we have chosen a theme of “Supporting Local Schools” as our recipient. We will collect child-size underwear, socks, hats, & mittens for the elementary nurse’s offices and hygiene products for the nurse’s offices at the middle and high schools in WSP, SSP, and IGH. We will also collect items to make classroom packs for the teachers with sanitizing wipes, dry erase markers, healthy/nut free snacks, markers, Kleenex, Flair felt tip and Sharpie markers. A list of items will be available at the Information Center. Donations can be dropped off at the Information Center or the church office anytime in February.  

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.

“Your Mic Isn’t On!”



You’ve probably heard that in worship more than once over the last several months. We are looking for a few people interested in making the sound in worship the best it can be (and make sure Pastor Jason turns his mic on). Training will be provided. Contact Pastor Jason or Nate Thompson, Digital Communications Specialist if you have questions.  

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

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 reservation required.

2023 Guatemala Trip Information Sessions

Interested in learning more about our upcoming trip to Guatemala? We will be holding two identical information sessions in the next few weeks:

•  January 29, 3:00 PM (stay for the Goodness of Guatemala event!)
•  February 5, 12:00 PM (immediately following our send-off of Pastor Deb)

Both sessions will be in the Jerusalem Room. If you are interested in learning more but unable to attend either session, please reach out to Matt Howard at matthewhoward09@gmail.com to make other arrangements! 

February Newsletter | Click the Image to View

New LED Exterior Sign!

Augustana has a new exterior sign thanks to a generous gift from Tom and Kristi Sullivan. This programmable LED sign will be much more visible in all weather and lighting conditions and offer greater flexibility in our messaging. There is a bit more electrical work to be completed, but look for the new sign to be operational soon!  

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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