February 2024

Transfiguration & Fastelavn

Sunday, February 11th

9:30 AM

Sanctuary

In the days before Ash Wednesday people traditionally celebrate by enjoying special foods and customs. The word Carnival which means farewell to meat and Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday offer a hint at the foods that were once forbidden by the church during the penitential season of Lent. In the English tradition, people were encouraged to use the fat and eggs to make pancakes before Ash Wednesday. In Central Europe, people eat jelly filled doughnuts, and in Scandinavia families eat Lenten buns. Often these are made with fresh cardamom and filled with whipped cream and marzipan.

In Denmark there is a special children's party tied to the Sunday before Lent known as Fastelavn Sunday. Of course, everyone eats the special Lenten buns, but the children also try to break open a wooden barrel filled with chocolates and sweets. They arrive at the party dressed in costumes, so nobody knows who is hitting the wooden barrel with a wooden stick. But the one who wins, is presented with a crown. In the middle ages, black cats were associated with the devil, so a cat was placed inside the barrel. After being attacked from all sides, the cat escaped from the barrel and was never seen again taking all the evil with it. (Fortunately, Danes don't have a cat in the barrel anymore, but it is always painted on the side.)

Join us for Fastelavn Sunday, February 11th. Special music will be performed in worship that day by Hymnus Angelicus.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14th, with services at 11:30 am and 7:00 pm. 

Children's Ministry February 2024

Who will break open the barrel this year? Come with your muscles, kids! We will gather in Fellowship Hall after worship to see who can break open the barrel and see what’s inside.

Fastelavn

Sunday, February 11th, 10:45 AM

Fellowship Hall

There will be no Sunday School on February 18. We will be off for President’s Day weekend.

Women's Bible Study

Thursday, February 1st

7:00 PM

Library

We gather on the first Thursday of the month and will continue with our reading… Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman, by Beth Moore. Join us!

Debra Gilroy,  LOTI Groups

Shelter Meals

2024

Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church provides a meal for 40 on the first Friday of every month. Our monthly meals are provided by donation. The shelter orders & serves the meal. Cost per meal is $250. You may contribute online at myvanco.com or mail a check to the church. Thanks to David & Mary Goplen for January

FEB 2

MAR 1

APR 5

MAY 3

JUN 7

JUL 5

AUG 2

SEP 6

OCT 4

NOV 1

DEC 6

Anonymous Giver

Rick Gripentrog

Liz & Mike Brown

Robert & Kristi Brownson

Susanne Haas & Ross Formell

Jim Olson

TBD

TBD

TBD

Mary Sabatke, in memory of Bruce Sabatke

TBD

Please consider signing up for any of the remaining months in 2024.

To do so, contact Diane LaMere.

oscs-mn.org

Join us

Saturday, February 3rd

9:30 AM

Christy Room

for a time of camaraderie

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)

Growlers & Theology

Thursday, February 8th

7:00 PM

Parsonage

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, January 14th

11:00 AM & 7:00 PM

Sanctuary

The season of Lent is considered a “moveable period” in the church year. It is a preparatory season for the festival of Easter, and since Easter is determined by the lunar calendar and not a calendar date, the entire Lent and Easter season shifts from one year to another. This year the first day of Lent known as Ash Wednesday begins on Wednesday, February 14th. Historically, churches have chosen to mark the 40 days and Sundays of Lent as a penitential period focusing on the agony of Jesus’ death on the cross and spiritual growth. The number 40 was both symbolic of Jesus 40 days in the wilderness, and it was intended to represent a tenth of the year. Men and women, thus, dedicated a tenth of the year to sacrificing, learning and growing in faith. The English word “Lent” actually comes from the old English phrase to “lengthen.” This implies both the light and days in spring growing greater, but also that Christians grow greater in faith.

The Ash Wednesday services on February 14th will follow the traditional liturgy of reflection, confession and the imposition of ashes. The remaining five Wednesday 7 pm evening services will be celebrated with Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.

Benefit Concert 

Sunday, February 25th

2:00 PM

Sanctuary

Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church will partner with The Isles Ensemble and Music for Food to present a benefit concert for CES -Community Emergency Services.

Founded in 1971 by Pastor William Berg, CES originally functioned as an outreach of Augustana Lutheran Church to offer critical aid to Minneapolis residents. Decades later, it stands as a fully independent, expanded nonprofit with the largest Meals on Wheels program in the state. It is also serves the most diverse and needy community in the city. 

Music for Food is a national organization which recently established a chapter in the Twin Cities. It is driven by the spirit of volunteerism, and it could not exist without the support of its musicians and its audience. There are three components to its mission,

1) Musicians give performances and choose a local shelf to support.

2) Audience members donate

3) the designated food shelf receives 100% of the contributions.

The congregation will host a post-concert reception in Fellowship Hall.

Music for Food

Member Directory ~ Photographs Due

Sunday, February 25th

To update your photo in our new member directory, please send one to Michelle McCreery or she can photograph you after worship. We will publish the new directory later this month.

Easter Flower ~ Orders Due

Sunday, March 3rd

Selections include:

White Lilies with 5 flowers or more............$9.25

Tulips (yellow, red, or purple)......................$8.75

Mums (white, yellow or purple)...................$9.25

Pink Hydrangeas.........................................$16.25

All are welcome to come and join our Wednesday morning Bible study!

Pastor Haug leads the morning bible study group

Choir Rehearsal

Lenten Wednesdays

7:45 PM

Sanctuary

Join the LOTI Choir & Director of Music, Dr Kristina Rizzotto, in preparation of anthems of the season. All you need is a love of music!