Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church |
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Just after Christmas, Janna and I brought two of our grandchildren to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It was their first visit to a museum, and so not to overwhelm them, we decided to show them just the “Period Rooms.” At 6 and 8 years of age, they haven’t learned the names of van Gogh, Monet or Renoir. Although they may know the names of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, but not as artists. They know the names as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Unfortunately, the museum was filled with visitors either scrambling to see a performance of How the Grinch Stole Christmas in the Children’s Theatre, or lining up to see a special exhibition of Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi. We were lost somewhere in between the crowds, when I spied a favorite painting of mine by French artist James Tissot, called Journey of the Magi. Tissot was working on authenticity and travelled to Palestine three times to capture the landscape. He depicts the Magi at the moment when their caravans meet in the vast, arid landscape of the volcanic hills on the shores of the Dead Sea between Jericho, the Kedron Valley, and Jerusalem. In his own commentary, Tissot notes that their flowing saffron robes—a luxurious counterpoint to the simple woolens of the shepherds— signal their status as astronomers. My grandchildren were not disappointed by the painting. It was a story they knew well. Besides, they weren’t sure what “Period Rooms” were anyway.
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The following day Janna and I returned to the Institute to see the Uffizi exhibit. I was surprised that there were two large presentations of the Magi in the final hall, one of them by Sandro Botticelli, called the Adoration of the Magi. It was an interesting study in contrasts over the two days. Tissot captured the sense of journey and discovery, while Botticelli focused on the act of worship and gift giving. Both are elements of the Festival of Epiphany which is traditionally celebrated on January 6th, the 13th Day of Christmas. |
The story of the Magi and their prolonged Christmas journey into the new year, underscores for me the power of hope. Life does not change with the flip of a page or by the shifting of one old calendar for a new. More often than not, we do have to wait until the new year to see what the future brings. We have to cling to hope lest disappointments, detours and delays diminish our joy. Like the Magi, we must train our eyes to focus on what is good, even if it is simply a new star that appeared in the night sky. When we do, however, we soon discover that God reveals himself in the most unlikely of places- and what an amazing wonder that it is. We cannot help but return home in a new way. |
Happy New Year 2023!
Pastor Arden Haug
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Inspired by Christ, living and growing in faith, Lake of the Isles is a loving and open community of worship, witness, & service in God's world
In-Person,
Livestream Worship,
& Sunday School
Sundays – 9:30 AM
Coffee Hour – 10:30 AM
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Upcoming Events
January 6th
Our Saviour's Shelter Meal
January 7th– 9:30 AM
Priscilla Circle
Christy Room
January 7th– 9:30 AM
Deadline/Registration
Wonders of Italy Tour
January 8th– 9:30 AM
Epiphany of Our Lord
Sanctuary
January 12th – 7:00 PM
Growlers & Theology
Parsonage & Zoom
January 15th – 9:30 AM
Baptism of Our Lord
Sanctuary
January 19th – 7:00 PM
Women's Bible Study
Library
January 22nd – 9:30 AM
Wedding at Cana
Sanctuary
January 22nd – 5:00 PM
Women's Book Club
Home of Deb Gilroy
January 26th – 7:00 PM
Growlers & Theology
Parsonage & Zoom
February 5th – 9:30 AM
Candlemas
Sanctuary
February 5th – 11:00 AM
Annual Meeting
Fellowship Hall
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Children's Ministry January 2023 |
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Movie/Pajama Day
January 8th
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Sunday School resumes on this Epiphany Sunday with our traditional viewing of the movie 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 to church in their pajamas and any comfort items to snuggle with while we watch the movie together.
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The Lord’s Prayer
Children ~ Grades 1-3
One of the faith milestones for our early elementary age children is to study and learn The Lord’s Prayer. Children in Grades 1-3 will do a three week unit studying and learning the Lord’s Prayer during Sunday School January 15, 22 and 29.
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Our Saviour's Housing Meals 2022-2023 |
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For many years, Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church has provided a meal on the first Friday of each month. Due to COVID-19, our monthly meals are by donation. The shelter orders & serves the meal. Cost per meal is $250.
Thank you to Carol Kuehn & Family for the December contribution.
Our 2023 schedule:
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Lizbeth & Mark Brown
Mary & Dave Goplen
Ellie Holmquist, Heather Jacoby, Ruth Lee, & Gretchen Robinson
Rick Gripentrog
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Join us
January 7th
9:30 AM
for a time of camaraderie
in the Christy Room.
There is no membership requirement or time commitment.
Just come to enjoy the fellowship, for a few minutes, or a couple of hours!
(No knitting skills required)
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Growlers & Theology
Thursday, January 12th & 26th
7:00 PM
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The informal study of theology and
adult beverages continues at the Parsonage.
We are using in-person & Zoom options.
Over the next few months, we will explore the last
and often most misunderstood book of the Bible, Revelations.
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Baptism of Our Lord
Sunday, January 15th
9:30 AM
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The First Sunday after Epiphany is traditionally marked as the Baptism of Our Lord. It is the day in which the church remembers Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan. In the yearly retelling of Jesus’ life, it is the shift from the Christmas story to Jesus’ adult ministry. The Baptism of Our Lord also allows us to reflect on the meaning of baptism. In particular, the day allows us to reflect on the sacred gifts and benefits offered at baptism. |
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Women's Bible Study
Thursday, January 19th
7:00 PM
We are studying Children of the Day,
by Beth Moore.We meet in the Library.
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Women's Book Club
Sunday, January 22nd
5:00 PM
Our monthly meeting is at the home of Deb Gilroy at. This month's selection is The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoffer. Join us!(and bring a snack to share if you like) |
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Wedding at Cana
Date, January 22nd
9:30 AM
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It has become a tradition at Lake of the Isles to celebrate Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine as the Wedding at Cana Sunday. In the Syriac Christian Church of the Middle East, the Sunday before the beginning of Lent is marked as Cana Sunday. It is a day to celebrate the gifts of family and food before the penitential season of fasting begins and to be reminded that God’s abundance will be shared again. In the Western Church calendar, this same passage is often read at the beginning of Epiphany season. It is a revelation of Jesus’ divine nature and his first miracle. |
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For Lake of the Isles, it is an occasion for celebrating the many couples who have been married in the church |
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Candlemas
Sunday, February 5th
9:30 AM
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February 2nd has many names. In popular culture, we refer to it as Ground Hog’s Day. In the church, it has been known as Candlemas, the Festival of the Purification of Mary, and as the Presentation of Our Lord. According to St. Luke’s gospel, the infant Jesus was carried by Mary and Joseph to the Temple in Jerusalem on the 40th day since Jesus’ birth, which is February 2nd. It was during this visit that the old prophet Simeon, who had been assured that he was to see the Messiah before his death, saw the couple and their infant son Jesus walking across the Temple. Having seen the infant Messiah, Simeon took the child into his arms and announced, “Now, oh God,
I can leave this
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world in peace- for I have seen my salvation.” He then continued his prophecy with the word that Jesus would be the light for all the world.
This year we will celebrate the Presentation of Our Lord, or Candlemas on Sunday, February 5th. It is also Pastor’s Haug 10th anniversary at Lake of the Isles. The Lake String Quartet will perform music of winter themed music as well as accompany the Church Choir in a cantata by Dietrich Buxtehude and a beautiful anthem by contemporary Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen.
The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will follow the worship service on February 5th at 11:00.
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Wonders of Italy Tour
April 10th – 21st 2023
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Pastor Haug will lead a tour to Europe after Easter 2023.
Deadline to register is January 7th
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The 10-day tour includes
- 4 nights in the heart of Rome,
- 4 nights in Montecatini, Tuscany
- 2 nights in Venice.
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Early Christianity in Rome |
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All are welcome to join!
We meet on Tuesdays at 9:30 am in the Christy Room or the Sanctuary.
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LOTI is available during office hours for a time of quiet meditation. You can use the sanctuary to spend time in prayer, light a candle, listen to recorded sacred music, and/or use a guided meditation tool. Please call the church office to reserve a time. (612) 377-5095
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Wednesday Morning Bible Study |
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All are welcome to come and join our Wednesday morning Bible study!
Pastor Haug leads the morning bible study group in the Library & via Zoom at 10:00 AM Wednesdays.
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To view, go to our YouTube channel, or to find the livestream link & worship service bulletin go to loti.org. |
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We're hosting Coffee Hour after the service in the Fellowship Hall.
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LOTI Sermons Podcast
Check out our new podcast series on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or Google…wherever you listen. You can find it by typing LOTI Sermons in the search bar of the platform you are using for podcasts. Listen to any of the sermons wherever you are, anytime!
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Cody Rustad
Keeley Baker
Kathryn Bracken
Laura Nortwen
Naomi Mechels
Kelsey Stenglein
Mary Goplen
Bernie Reisberg
Kathy Hering
Ruth Lee
Dominik Amann
Gretchen Robertson
Nickolas Messerli
Robin Bloom
James Olson
Susanne Haas
Mary Sabatke
James Aagaard
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January Worship Volunteers |
Altar Servers
01 Linda Nelson & Mary Flynn
08 Mary & David Goplen
15 David & Carolyn Hagford
22 Cathy Carlson & Kathy Hering
29 Ruth Lee, Ellie Holmquist, Eivor Lund
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Ushers
01 Linda Nelson
08 Don Holzschuh
15 Anita Duder
22 Lars Olson
29 Diane Stensrud
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Worship Assistants
01 Michelle McCreery & Marty Carlson
08 Mary Sabatke & Kathy Hering
15 TBA
22 TBA
29 TBA
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Readers
01 Mary Flynn
08 Mary Jubenville
15 David Ackerman
22 Pierre LaMere
29 Lorraine Spies
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Coffee Hour Hosts
01 Don Holzschuh
08 Eric & Naomi Mechels
15 Janna Haug & Pauline Haug
22 Ryne & Jennifer Nelson
29 Diane Stensrud, Robin & Mark Bloom
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Staff Members
Jim Olson –Worship Technical Assistant
Sarah & Trevor Skorburg – Caretakers
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Contact us if you have events, schedules, or other information to share with the congregation.
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Council Members
Pamela Aagaard
Ross Bartels – Treasurer
Catherine Carlson
Casey Christy
David Hagford
Steve Hoyt – Vice President
Eric Mechels
Katie Messerli
Michelle Reisberg
Jon Sprain – Secretary
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Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church
2020 W Lake of the Isles Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 377-5095
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