Hymn of the Day for Easter 5 - April 28, 2024

“The Rice of Life ” ACS 965   

music by I-to-Loh (born 1936)

Text by Rev. Dr. Andrew Fowler (born 1935)

In today’s Gospel: John 15:1-8, we are told that Jesus is the true vine, God is the vinegrower, and we are the branches that bear fruit. In order to bear fruit, we must stay connected and nourished by that true vine. Apart from the vine, the branches wither and fall making fodder for kindling a fire. In this hymn, rice, an essential food for most Asian peoples, is used instead of bread, the staple food of most western cultures. Many times we’ve heard about “Jesus, the bread of life”, or of Jesus’ miracle of multiplying fish and loaves of bread. In The Lord’s Prayer we use every week, we ask God to give us our daily bread. When the Israelites were starving in the desert, God gave them “manna”, which was apparently a bread-like substance. This is all based on an assumption that the person using these images comes from a cultural background where bread is a basic staple of sustenance.

In Asian cultures, rice and noodles are of primary importance in the daily diet. Almost every meal uses rice. “The Rice of Life” ACS 965, refers to manna in the desert (or perhaps Christ as well) as “The rice of life from heaven came to bring true life from God above”. In John 15:4, Jesus says, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” In stanza 4 we sing, “The living rice, for all a sign, came down eternal life to give, Abide in Christ, the living vine; in Christ, with people, die and live.”

So why do we sing a hymn of Asian culture in our western culturally rooted congregation? Learning about diverse cultures helps us realize that there are numerous approaches to life, culture, and religion. Many times, interacting with people from different cultures helps you view things from a different perspective. Understanding that different perspective can help us add depth to our own experience. Pastor David Anderson in his sermon 2 weeks ago (with the help of Henry Swisher) made a point about how hospitality, especially sitting down to share a meal with someone, fosters peace and forgiveness. Henry said that once you bring someone in, you start talking to them and get to know them and it becomes difficult to be an enemy of someone whom you’ve gotten to know. Sometimes we can think we know something so well only to be enlightened to yet a deeper understanding of it when we hear someone else share their perspective.

"The Rice of Life” was written by Rev. Dr. Andrew Fowler who, at 85, passed away in 2021. He was born in Temple, TX. He graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX with a BA (1957) double major in English and History. He received his BD (1963), STM (1964) and DMin (1976) from Perkins School of Theology, SMU. He spent much of his time as a missionary in Malaysia. Professor I-to Loh is well known as Asia’s foremost church musician and ethnomusicologist. He composed the tune for this hymn. The main focus of his life’s work in Taiwan and numerous Asian seminaries has been to develop and cultivate music and liturgy for Taiwan and Asia that are homogenous within the cultural contexts of those areas of the world. His guiding principle has been that in Asian churches “modernization” does not equal “Westernization”. This hymn expands our metaphors for holy communion contextualizing the scriptural image of Jesus as the “Bread” or “Rice” of life.

Peace!

Deacon Gary Butler

Adult Education Forums

Sunday, April 28 the forum will be a conversation with the group from LCR who travelled to Guatemala this spring.

Sunday, May 5 and Sunday, May 12

Pastor Hank French will lead a two-part study on the topic of Christian Nationalism, an extreme movement trying to reshape American political, economic, and civic life by fusing them with a particular type of “Christian identity.” On May 5^th the forum will explore the beliefs, goals, ideological commitments, and strategies of Christian nationalism. On May 12^th, the forum will consider several biblical texts that provide a faith-centered vision of the role of Christianity in the modern world that runs counter to and challenges Christian nationalism. Please join us!  

Busy Weeks for LCR Youth

The young people in our congregation are busy! Our high school students meet weekly to connect, reflect, and examine their faith. Some are involved in advanced instruction in church music and performance at Lutheran Summer Music. Others experience Bible study, chapel, games, and fun at Camp WAPO. Along with weekly Sunday school classes, the preschool and elementary kids have opportunities to get together and enjoy themselves, with older kids and adults at an annual late-over and other activities. And this year five high school kids are going to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans!

To support all of these activities, the Youth and Education committee is going to hold several fundraisers in the coming months. Below is a list of coming events! We hope you will be able to join us as we work together to help the kids as they grow in faith!

Sunday, May 5 Annual Bake Sale

Each year we send all of the proceeds to a worthy cause, either local or global. This year donations received at the bake sale will go to Lutheran Disaster Response - see note below.

Sunday, May 19 Caramel Rolls!

Enjoy delicious homemade caramel rolls after church! Just the smell will draw you in!

Sundays, June 9, 16, 23, and 30

We will start our sales of “stock certificates” in a fundraiser we’re calling Take Stock in our Youth.” More details to come!

June Car Wash

Questions? Contact Sue Hendrickson, Terra Swisher, Jason Koering, or Rebecca Sauer

Baked Goods Needed for the Bake Sale on Sunday, May 5! 

The Sunday School is raising money to support Lutheran Disaster Response as the ELCA works with partners in Israel and Gaza to help with the severe humanitarian crisis that is rapidly unfolding in those places. Please support this worthy cause! You can donate baked goods, and of course, you can buy yummy treats! If you plan to donate baked goods, please bring them on Sunday, May 5 ready for others to purchase.

Irish Pancake Fundraiser for Emmet D. Williams School on April 27

LCR will hold a pancake fundraiser (free will offering) to benefit the Emmet D. Williams school in the Fellowship Hall at LCR on Saturday, April 27 from 8:30 - 11:30. The breakfast will feature Irish pancakes, bangers (sausages), home-produced maple syrup, and Irish coffee (non-alcoholic). The event will include Irish music, provided by a renowned local Irish band. Volunteers are welcome to join the effort - speak with Phil Peterson.

Maple sugar candy and maple candied nuts made by Come On Over Sugarbush Confections (Terra Swisher & Amy Perkins) will also be on sale to support the 5th and 6th grade' 3-day trip to Deep Portage Learning Center in May. Deep Portage's environmental education program "prepares and inspires learners of all ages to sustain and celebrate our natural world through the exploration of woods, water, and wildlife."  

Treat your ears and your taste buds this Saturday, April 27!

Communion Class on April 28 

Children ages 4 - 9 (preschool - 3rd grade) are invited to learn about communion with Pastor Sarah on Sunday, April 28th from 11:30-1:00.

Whether your child has never taken communion or has been taking communion for a long time, whether they have attended a communion class before or not, this is an opportunity to learn about the Lutheran understanding of communion in age-appropriate ways.

We will:

• Receive a personalized book about communion (If your child has already received A Place For You, please bring it with you)
• Bake communion bread
• Practice taking communion
• Learn about the first communion with Jesus
• Find out what "eucharist" means

Click this link to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AACAF29ABFBCE9-48865967-communion

Each child should plan to bring a grown-up with them (one grown-up per family group is fine). Older and younger siblings are also welcomed to attend the class, and/or eat lunch with us.

Bookworms Meet May 1

Bookworms will meet on Wednesday, May 1 at 1:00 in The Fireside Room. All are welcome! The book “Sooley" by John Grisham will be discussed.

“Sooley" follows the story of Samuel Solleymon, a teenager from South Sudan who is separated from his family because of an ongoing civil war while pursuing his dreams of becoming an NBA player. The text jumps between Samuel’s experiences in America and his mother’s experiences in a Ugandan refugee camp. The novel focusses on global inequality and the difficulties facing refugees, as well as the potentially dangerous consequences of a sudden rise to fame and fortune.

April Monthly Mission: MN Interfaith Power and Light

Earth Day is April 22, so it is fitting that our Mission of the Month for April is MN Interfaith Power and Light. MNIPL works in partnership with faith and spiritual communities and all Minnesotans to build transformative Power and bring the Lights of peoples unique gifts to addressing the climate crisis. Our congregation has benefited from some of the workshops MNIPL has provided and we hope to address climate justice in the future. Please take time to learn about this important organization and give via your monthly mission envelope.

David & Gloria Anderson 50th Anniversary Party

The Resurrection community is invited to attend the celebration of David & Gloria Anderson's 50th wedding anniversary in the LCR Fellowship Hall on Saturday, May 4 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Click on the invitation for more information and to RSVP.

Plant Sale Details - Two Important Dates

Plant Sale Pick-Up on May 9 - Items that were ordered through the Gertens website will be ready for pick up on Thursday, May 9 at 6:00 p.m. There is a worship service that evening at 7:00, so you can take your plants before the service.

Additional plants will be sold on Sunday, May 19. Use this opportunity to purchase a few more plants for your own home or to buy and donate to the church for use in the gardens here. Financial donations can also be made to help the church purchase items for the gardens.

Moments of Gratitude

• To the Sunday School teachers - you're AWESOME!
• I am grateful fora newly surfaced parking lot!
• Thankful for Linda Lee, Deb McDermott, and Dick and Sue Hendrickson for being my "village!"

Sign Up for Every Meal Distribution Slots

Open slots for Every Meal helpers exist for the coming weeks. Please consider signing up to help with this project to address the needs of those living with food insecurity by packing meals for distribution. The sign-up slots are most often on Fridays, with a few weeks adjusted for holidays and school breaks. The site for signing up to help with packing meals is available at THIS LINK.

VBS Registration has begun!

Vacation Bible School registration has begun for summer 2024 and we hope that your kids will sign up and invite their friends. The week is Sunday, July 28 (1:00 to 4:00 pm) through Thursday, Aug. 1 (9 am to noon). Students age 4 through grade 6 (completed) are encouraged to register, and we are always looking for teen counselors- anyone who has completed grades 7-12! This year's musical is "Are We There Yet?", the story of Moses and the Israelites. The performance is Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm. Register online at 2024 VBS REGISTRATION

We hope your children can attend. It’s always a great week!

Questions? Please contact Rachel Wright rachelwright72@gmail.com

or Sue Hendrickson suehendrickson24@gmail.com

National Lutheran Choir Spring Concert: New Day

Our final concert of the first season with Artistic Director Jennaya Robison celebrates women composers including Hildegard von Bingen, Mariana Martines and Minnesota composer, Jocelyn Hagen.

Sunday, April 28 – 4:00pm at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN

For tickets and more information, visit NLCA.com.