“kids preach adults baptized” · vice president julie luers treasurer steve hanneman ... resume...

“KIDS PREACH ADULTS BAPTIZED”

By Pastor Scott Searl

Just a few days before Christmas as a family of faith, we had the opportunity to participate in the baptism of two adults. Jen and Garrity, a new couple to our family, were baptized together on the same Sunday that our elementary age students provided our sermon for us. The kids offered their annual Christmas sermon in costume, song and even a rap! After their sermon, they then assisted with the baptism.

It was pure joy to see Garrity, who is very tall, bending down to have hands full of water poured on his head by our kids. There was celebratory laughter as the kids then poured handfuls of water on Jen’s head as she too bent down to be baptized. I loved the juxtaposition of the usual arrangement of things. Adults baptized, kids preaching! It was such Gospel or good news all around.

Our kids, who I would imagine often feel, well, like kids, were lifted up. Their voices spoke to us of God’s love, God’s promises, God’s hopes for our lives and God’s gracious gift of a child. Our kids, who are normally humbled by their station in life, were raised to a place of preaching honor. They reminded us that it was a child that was born to demonstrate the depth of God’s love. Then our adults humbly bowed and received the gift that the children had just told us about: The best thing anyone can ever be called is child of God… beloved child of God. Our truest, best self, a child that God loves so much he would die to show us that love.

The good news, or Gospel, of Jesus is that life isn’t always what it seems. The most powerful among us are often the weakest. The weakest and most vulnerable often know more of the truth of our dependence and interdependence than those who have everything. Our identity isn’t something we earn at school or by being successful. Our highest identity is given, as a gift, without merit. God’s love is free. Giving in to that love is freeing. Giving up our sense of being self-made is humbling, truthful and calming.

I know many people like to make new years resolutions for self-improvement. I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We all will likely do it again. But instead, maybe this year, instead of a new years resolution, what if you just simply recalled that you were baptized. What if your first prayer of the day was, “I am baptized!” which is to say, no matter what happens today or what I mess up today, God loves me. I am a beloved child of God. What if instead of a new years resolution for self improvement, we all allowed God the space that God would like to occupy most… our heart, trusting that God loves us. What if your primary identity wasn’t your work status, your report card, or your score as parent of the year… what if you simply bowed down to receive the greatest gift of all… God’s love!

I loved watching the reversal of roles on the day the kids preached and the adults were baptized. I’d love to have that sense all the time, the joy of kids’ laughter, the hope of kids’ future, and the excitement of being once again reminded that the best way to be an adult is to trust that we are actually still children, God’s beloved children.

January 2019

News

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

500 Blake Road South Edina, MN 55343 (952) 935-3457

Staff:

Pastors Scott Searl & Joanna Mitchell

Assistant/Visitation Pastor Fred Jensen

Director of Music/Organist David Surdez

Shepherd’s Song Director Emily Koski

Diaconal Intern Brian Henning

Administrative Assistant Shawn Wacholz

Custodian Kevin Wicks

Faith Community Nurse Kaye Wothe

Church Council Members / Officers:

President Bruce Nelson

Vice President Julie Luers

Treasurer Steve Hanneman

Financial Secretary Andy Schultz

Secretary Shauna Kieffer

Service Scott Koelsch

Worship & Music Allie Jensen

Building & Facilities Dave Wiemer

Learning Joan Dillon

Growing Relationships Robin Beck

Caring Gretchen Marble

LMCC Karla Palmersheim

Evaluation Chris Polston

Telephone & Voice Mail Extensions:

Worship Times 1

Directions 2

Shawn Wacholz 11

Pastor Scott Searl 12

Pastor Joanna Mitchell 13

Brian Henning 14

Emily Koski 15

Emergency Message Mailbox 24

Kaye Wothe 25

Kevin Wicks 26

Shepherd Online!

Pastor Scott Searl [email protected]

Pastor Joanna Mitchell [email protected]

Shawn Wacholz [email protected]

Kaye Wothe [email protected]

Brian Henning [email protected]

Church web site www.sothchurch.com

Center for Service www.hopkinsvolunteers.org

Program Outcome Participants will develop a clear understanding of what it means for them to be a Christian and answer the questions to their own satisfaction, "Why am I a Christian? Why am I a part of a church community?" Participants will write a short easy addressing these questions. Sessions 1) Shedding our shoulds 2) God and Jesus 3) Holy Spirit and Church More Information and Registration This three session class is available to everyone at Shepherd of the Hills and Calvary Lutheran Church. The three classes will be held on Sundays (January 6, 13, 20 from 10:45-11:45am) and Wednesdays (January 9, 16, 23 from 6:30-7:30pm). Nursery care will be provided. If you are interested in participating, sign up for a small group at the Welcome Desk and indicate your preferences of group makeup and meeting days. Contact Pastor Joanna with any questions.

News

HAPPY HOUR RETURNS! By Kaye Wothe, Faith Community Nurse

Get happy by Easter!! The “Happy Hour” class series will be offered again this late winter-early spring! “Happy Hour” is a science and research based positive psychology class developed in Rice county (Northfield) over 6 years ago by professionals in psychology and community wellness in an effort to combat or prevent increasing common struggles with depression and anxiety. We briefly learn the brain science, some recommended tools to help re-direct our thoughts toward positivity, learn about resources to help us, and test some of these methods. The class series will be starting Thursday, March 21st to April 18th at 7pm (the last week is Maundy Thursday so we make a meeting time adjustment that night. If Thursday nights do not work for you let Kaye know). Each class is 90 minutes long. All are welcome including members of the community around us, friends, and family. Contact Kaye Wothe, Faith Community Nurse ([email protected]), if you have questions or want to sign up. A sign up board will be at the Welcome desk as also.

PRESIDENT’S POST By Bruce Nelson, Council President 2019—we begin again. 2018 is over—another ending. Where one thing ends, something else begins. Emotions go back and forth. A colleague of mine just closed her mental health practice, a bittersweet experience—she looks forward to retirement while feeling sad that something she has invested so much in and loved, is

over. A client of mine is relieved that the first phase of his cancer treatment has concluded, but he dreads the second phase. Last summer, I coached Louis’ baseball team, and I was very excited when we won the championship at the end of the season—this was followed by the start of August, and I went through an emotional let-down.

Did you have a good Christmas? You are reading this entry post holidays. I am writing this entry just before Christmas. I hope I have a consistently meaningful Christmas this year. In years past, I have had patches of hollow mood in late December, sad about another year over and the various endings that have occurred, some the inevitable result of time passing. Those who know me well know that existential ‘moments’ (not to be confused with ‘senior moments,’ which, oh-by-the-way, I now have as well) whap me pretty hard sometimes.

One beginning to anchor us is the birth of Jesus, which symbolizes all good starts. Jesus came alive in his birth—may he spring to life in our hearts throughout the year. May we cultivate a mindset of openness, freshness, and ‘beginner’s mind,’ much the way of a young child, and discard unhealthy preconceptions- this may allow us to be more receptive to new dawnings.

It is written that God is Alpha and Omega, beginning and end. Let us celebrate good beginnings and ends, and not fear or dwell on hard beginnings and ends. This year, let us hang on to the spirit of Christmas, remember and be inspired by the start of Jesus, and experience many times over internal re-births of goodness (of ourselves and others). Peace, Bruce

ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, January 27 at 10:30 a.m. (after 9:30 a.m. worship service)

Please make plans to join us for our annual meeting January 27th at 10:30 a.m. The Council will bring forward our budget recommendation for Congregational vote. Nursery care is provided. We have a lot to share, so we hope you will be able to be there!

Learning

CIRCLE MEETINGS Deborah Circle New members are welcome! Date: Thurs., January 10 Time: 9:30 a.m. Hostess: Dawn Jensen Location: Church Bible Study: Members Contact: Mimi Drangeid (952) 934-9318

Lois Circle Date: Tues., January 8 Time: 1:00 p.m. Hostess: Marge Bullemer Location: 11922 Sunrise Lane Minnetonka Bible Study: “Mtg w/ Jesus, Session 1” Contact: Nadine Broholm (952) 935-5054

SPECIAL SERVICE TIMES FOR JANUARY One worship service at 9:30 am Sunday morning worship during January will be one service at 9:30 am. We look forward to God’s house full of warm, welcoming people. We look forward to a reminder of God’s love, hope and care for each us. Come join us!

WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

Come for Bible study, food, and fellowship! The Wednesday morning group meets at 9:30 am for coffee, treats and fellowship before they begin a Bible study. The Bible study begins at 10:00 am and is based on the following Sunday’s sermon text. All are welcome. Weekly meetings will resume January 9.

WEDNESDAY SPEAKER SERIES

Please join us on February 6th at 6:30pm for our next Wednesday Night Speaker event. Dinner will be served at 5:30 pm. All are welcome, kids and adults. Speakers start at 6:30 pm. We hope you will join us!

Date: Wednesday, February 6 Topic: “Stereotypes that Threaten Education” Speaker: Presented by professional educators Sarah Miziorko and Kathleen Wilson Description: What happens if we assume girls struggle with math or certain students have bad behaviors? How are learning outcomes altered with societal stereotypes? How do our cultural beliefs influence our interactions with others, educational expectations, and assessment results? Join us as we share from an educators point of view the experiences of our students and teachers, as well as, possibilities for addressing these challenges with young people. Sarah Miziorko: Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with a minor in mathematics 1-9 at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire and a MAEd in Education at Hamline University. She has been in education for 18 years in public and private institutions in multiple states. In St. Paul Public schools, she was a rock star middle school math teacher and a teacher leader in her building. She then became a district math coach where she coached teachers K-12 and facilitated professional development district-wide. She is currently a building math coach and teaches middle school math. She has a fantastic husband and two cute and fun boys who like to do stuff with her, her occasional moodiness notwithstanding. Kathleen Wilson: Kathleen earned her undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Mathematics Education grades 5-12, as well as her Masters Program in Educational Leadership from Bethel College. She has over 20 years’ experience as an educator with a focus on high-need youth. Thirteen years were spent as a high school teacher in St. Paul, as well as a building instructional coach where she discovered her love of facilitating professional development for adults. For 5 years, she was the K-12 Math Supervisor for St. Paul Public Schools. She has supported instruction as a teacher, department chair, trainer, facilitator, building coach, district coach, supervisor, adjunct professor, and consultant. She currently teaches high school mathematics in a small all boys school in Minnesota and consults around the country. Fun fact Kathleen grew up in New Jersey, so watch out for her east coast sass.

Learning & Service

WoSOTH BOOK CLUB Sunday, February 24 at 12:00 noon The Women’s Book Club will meet at McCoy’s in St. Louis Park. Book: “Educated” by Tara Westover

MoSOTH BREAKFAST Saturday, February 23 at 6:45 am The men will meet for breakfast and fellowship. Our speaker is Ted Olson who will share his adventures hiking the Continental Divide Trail.

SOCKS FOR THE HOMELESS

It’s time once again to start our donation of socks for the homeless. The box behind the Welcome desk is there waiting for new white crew socks. As we have done in the past, we will provide new white crew socks to HCMC. They

use the socks to give to the homeless who come for treatment of frozen feet and other foot injuries. Without these socks they are sent back out with cold wet shoes and no socks. If you wish to help with this important project leave new white socks in the box at the Welcome Center. We will get them to HCMC. Thank you.

LOAVES & FISHES Monday, January 14

Mark your calendar for our next serving date of Monday, January 14. We prepare and serve an evening meal at St. Gabriel's Church (1310 Mainstreet, Hopkins). Timing is as

follows: 4:00 to prepare, 5:00 to serve and 6:00 for clean up. We are finished by 6:45. If you would like more information or are able to volunteer, please contact the church office.

2019 OFFERING ENVELOPES

2019 offering envelopes are available for pick up in the narthex through January. If you wish to have your envelopes mailed to you, please notify the church office at (952) 935-3457.

FAITHFUL ADULTS Wednesdays at 6:30 pm Looking for a way to explore topics of faith with other adults? Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm we meet in the chapel for discussions on faith, politics, bible stories, questions, and daily life. An informal group, there is no need to sign up, simply stop in the chapel at 6:30pm for discussion, fellowship, prayer and conversation. Contact Pastor Scott for more information.

MENTAL HEALTH CONNECT HOW DO I CONTACT A NAVIGATOR FROM MENTAL HEALTH CONNECT IF I NEED HELP?

Call 612-312-3377 and ask for Mental Health Connect staff or call 952-212-8051 to reach a navigator directly.

Worship

WORSHIP ASSISTANT SCHEDULE

COMMUNION COMMUNION ALTAR DATE TIME LECTOR PRESENTERS ASSISTANTS GUILD USHER Jan. 6 9:30 Fred Jensen L Cushman & B Edmundson E Edmundson & B Nelson K Goodroad Rinker Team Jan. 13 9:30 Ellen Levernier C Biewen & N Broholm C Biewen & S Miziorko L Kopperud Lilly Team Jan. 20 9:30 John Perry D & K Wiemer D & K Wiemer J Snell Lilly Team Jan. 27 9:30 Hub Nelson S Wacholz & R Beck R Beck & S Miziorko L Lilly Edmundson Team

Update from the Mentoring Team about our Refugee Family: I am extremely grateful to Shepherd’s commitment to helping new refugees in Minnesota by giving money, resources and time in order to show our love and care. This past year, we made the commitment to sponsor a refugee family through Lutheran Social Services. We raised some money, went through training and finally received a contact with a family in Minneapolis. Our family was in the intensive services, which meant for us that they had already been in the United States for a year, but still needed support. We knew this was a possibility when we had reach out to LSS because of the travel ban, there are very few new refugees arriving in Minnesota, and in the United States. Our team felt that even though we wouldn’t have a newly arriving family to sponsor that there would still be meaningful work. We met our family in May, and then met with them periodically throughout the summer. They had 6 beautiful children, who were kind, happy and who wanted to play with us. However, we had a hard time connecting with mom and dad. Our team experienced a number of cancellations and had a hard time communicating and also finding a shared perspective in how to connect with the family. We met with LSS multiple times to get help and find new ways of succeeding. However, early in December we decide to terminate the relationship.

Our team is disappointed. Nevertheless, we want you all to know that while we were unable to make a successful connection with a family this time, we do believe that there are other local families who we might better to be able to serve. We know through the schools and our relationship with the BRCC that there are families in our neighborhood who could use support and people who care. The mentorship team was Kristin Hannemann, Avital Poston, Gary Nash, Richard and Carole Schulze and me (Pastor Joanna). I am so thankful for this team. They worked hard, cared deeply and despite frustrations stayed committed to helping and loving our neighbor. I was so fortunate to serve alongside them. Thank you for understanding and thank you for your commitment to loving our neighbors. Pastor Joanna

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 New Years Day

2

3 5:45 TOPS Group

4 Office Closed at noon

5 6:30 Council & Staff Holiday Party

6 9:30 Worship 10:30 Coffee & Fellowship 10:45 Why Jesus?Why Church? 6:30 Apollo Rehearsal

7 7:00 SMART Recovery 7:00 Troop Meetings

8 9:00 Quilting 10:00 Staff Meeting 1:00 Lois Circle

9 10:00 Bible Study 6:00 Shepherd’s Song 6:30 Why Jesus? Why Church? 6:30 Wed Programs 7:30 Chancel Choir

10 5:45 TOPS Group


12

13 9:30 Worship 10:30 Coffee & Fellowship 10:45 Why Jesus? Why Church? 1:00 Scout Court of Honor 6:30 Apollo Rehearsal

14 Loaves & Fishes 2:00 Caregivers Mtg. 7:00 SMART Recovery 7:00 Troop Meetings

15 9:00 Quilting 10:00 Staff Meeting. 6:00 Council Supper 6:30 Council Meeting


17

5:45 TOPS Group

18 Office Closed at noon 6:00 Scout Lock-in

19

20 9:30 Worship 10:30 Coffee & Fellowship 10:45 Why Jesus? Why Church? 6:30 Apollo Rehearsal

21 7:00 SMART Recovery 7:00 Troop Meetings

22 9:00 Quilting 10:00 Staff Meeting


24

5:45 TOPS Group


26

27

9:30 Worship 10:30 Coffee & Fellowship 10:30 Annual Meeting 6:30 Apollo Rehearsal

28

7:00 SMART Recovery 7:00 Troop Meetings

29

9:00 Quilting 10:00 Staff Meeting

30 10:00 Bible Study 6:00 Shepherd’s Song 6:30 Wed Programs 7:30 Chancel Choir

31 5:45 TOPS Group

Office closed at noon

January 2019

Worship Schedule

* Winter Worship Schedule December 2, 2018 - January 27, 2019

One service at 9:30 am

Regular Worship Schedule * February 3 - April 21, 2019

9:00 & 10:30 a.m. Worship

THE BEST EASTER GIFT EVER!! Sunday, March 17th at 11:45am, there will be a class on completing your Advanced Directives. Nursery care will be available if requested. What happens to you if you can not speak for yourself regarding your healthcare decisions? Who knows what you want and can legally represent you? Without a signed Advanced Directive others will make choices for you, often at the price of a lifetime of stress, remorse and creating divisions in between family members. Make your wishes known and empower your health care agent with your wishes, come and complete your Advanced Directive. If you have been to a class before but do not have it done yet, come to this class and we will fill them out as we go if you wish. Talk with Kaye Wothe, Faith Community Nurse if you have any questions.

NEW YEAR, NEW ME…RIGHT? By Brian Henning, Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Insert cliché about making New Year’s Resolutions here. The whole concept of New Year’s resolutions almost bothers me. This is one

of those moments in our lives which comes once every 365 days that we try to make ourselves new again. However, as the story always goes, by January 15 we are so deep into our lives again that we forget those things that we wanted to do, could not have possibly found time to do them, or abandoned them for one reason or another. It is kind of an insane tradition we have. As people of faith, it is even more absurd that we subscribe to this tradition. One week after we witness to and celebrate the birth of the newborn Messiah, who came to make all things new, we turn everything back on ourselves again and try to figure what we need to do to make ourselves new. Please do not mishear me, I am not saying that having goals to be healthier is a bad thing. However, I do want us to ask our question differently. If there is one thing I think we could all mostly agree upon it is that being a Christian does not give us the confidence to provide answers to every question. Instead, it reminds us of God’s love so that we can ask the better, harder, deeper questions. So, in the midst of the beginning of this new year, I wonder what it could look like if we all asked ourselves a question instead of making declarations of how we feel we are supposed to be living. For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to eat healthier and exercise,” wonder aloud, “how am I caring for the gifts God gave me, including my food, my body, and my time?” Maybe instead of, “I won’t get mad in traffic this year,” how about, “how will I try to see God everywhere?” I think we can ask some really hard, but great questions about ourselves that point us back to that child in the manger to has come to make all things new, including us. I hope this new year is a great one for you and your family and if you have already made goals for this new year I hope you can stick to them and that we can help support you in those goals. However, I also hope that this year can be different for all of us. I pray that we can feel the Holy Spirit blowing across us and making us whole. I pray that as a community we can continue to help each other stay vulnerable to the movement of God. I pray that this year we focus on what God does and help others see God, too, the God who makes all things new, instead of trying to make ourselves new and better. I pray that this year we can let God’s light shine brightly in every community we find ourselves in by loving, caring, listening, and simply being present for each other.

Staff Reflection

Staff Reflection

DISCIPLINE By Emily Koski,

Shepherd’s Song Director

I never make New Year’s resolutions. We do set annual family goals and I certainly create work objectives I intent to complete by year-end, but resolutions feel different. Rather than a goal you strive for and work toward, a resolution is a line in the sand, a firm decision to do or not to do something. In my mind, I’ve always thought that if something is so important that you need to give it a hard stop or a kick start, why wait until January 1? Why not just do it right away when you realize that particular thing needs to happen? Plus, the statistics on New Year’s Resolution success rates are pretty dismal with 80% of folks saying they’ve failed by February and only 8% actually achieving their resolutions by year end. Why, then, do we as a society feel the need to make these resolutions at this time of year? I believe the answer is one word: motivation. With the fresh start of a new year, that desire or willingness to do something different is all around us and within us! We’re motivated to eat better, exercise more, curb excessive spending, treat people better, and the list goes on. This is a great start, to be sure. But the problem with relying on motivation to get the job done is that it’s all about how you feel, and, unfortunately, feelings are fleeting. Motivation is a fickle friend you can’t count on to stay by your side for too long before something – anything really – throws it off: a bad night of sleep, a tough meeting, crazy kids. Pretty much anything can crush your motivation without warning. So, then, what can we do to stay on the right track with the resolutions we decide to pursue? Enter our good ol’ friend discipline. She’s not as fun and energetic as Motivation, but she keeps her eye on the prize and slowly and steadily gets the job done. Discipline is more like training yourself; it’s a regimen you follow to develop or improve a skill. A skill like saying no to the 3rd cookie. A skill like leaving the store if you feel the urge to buy something you don’t need or can’t afford. A skill like taking a breath and slapping on a smile before responding to whiny kids. Discipline is a plan – it’s what you do, regardless of how you feel, to accomplish your goal. As Christians, it’s worth noting that discipline and disciple share an important root word discipulus, the Latin word for pupil, learner or trainee. I love this connection because as people who want to follow Christ and learn of The Way, we can’t rely on motivation to get the job done. We must practice discipline, must teach ourselves habits we can rely on even when we just don’t feel like it. Habits like: reading the bible or devotionals, acting and speaking with love and helping others the way Jesus would – even in uncomfortable situations. Continued above

Discipline continued

I don’t profess to be an expert on all of this – I’m constantly trying to improve my discipline game, but I do feel better knowing why I just can’t get on board with New Year’s resolutions driven solely by motivation. They just don’t work! But it’s nice to know what does. If you’re ready to make a change this season, I encourage you to join me in walking into the new year with our reliable, strong and steady partner, discipline. Why continued from page 11

driven era. Community was in the top 3 important things in life, with first being God and second being family. In the most important times of my life community has been there to help me reach my goal, celebrate that accomplishment and hold me up if I needed to find another option. Almost every week I find myself wondering how people get through life without a church community and am sad for the loss of relational richness they miss. I guess you could say I receive and hopefully give in action the experience of ‘Why Jesus’ in my church community. Additionally, my church community helps me act in the larger community outside SOTH in ‘Why Jesus’ ways too.

Throughout time I have heard people be critical of “church” people for acting in sinful or broken ways. While I do not condone or encourage this, I have to say my own brokenness is why I need Jesus and church all the more.

I hope you find meaning in “Why Jesus? Why Church?” and are able to reflect on your life of faith in ways that bring you greater understanding of what keeps you at church.

In Community with You, Kaye Wothe, Faith Community Nurse

Pastor’s Reflection

EDUCATION: Our Choices, Our Children and Our Responsibility By Pastor Joanna Mitchell

I consider myself extremely lucky because both of my daughters care about their schoolwork. Of course, we have the occasional complaining about homework, but for the most part they are responsible about their studies and they do well in school. Thanks be to God! However, while I am thankful my children are thriving, I do not think this is where my responsibility to our schools ends. In fact, I have become more and more convinced throughout the years, that I need to do more to support our kids and work so that ALL students have opportunities and can thrive as well.

When we first enrolled our children in school, we were looking for the most holistic, well-rounded education for our daughters. We were selected for lottery for a charter school in Nerstrand, Minnesota. They had art regularly, and music and gym every day! We were thrilled. It felt like our kids were getting a private education without the price. We loved the school for a number of reasons. However, Nerstrand looked very different than the rest of the elementary schools in the Faribault area. There were very few students of color and many of the students came from middle to upper class families who were fairly well educated. The school thrived in part because of the parental involvement. However as great as the school was, there were some things that were missing. We felt removed from the real community in Faribault.

When we moved to Hopkins/Edina area we knew we wanted something different in terms of schools for our kids. We wanted a school that cared and nurtured our children (of course), and also allowed them to meet children who were different than them, not only in personality, but in race, religion and economics. We were so glad to find a great fit at Alice Smith Elementary School and in the Hopkins School district. From day one, it felt like coming home. The principal knew the students and loved them, and the school was rich in diversity of all types (race, religion, economics, background). Alice Smith has fantastic teachers and is a neighborhood school that is connected and caring. This year, Lily will finish 6th grade and our time at Alice Smith will be over. I continue to feel so lucky about the schools our children have attended.

According to current research, segregation in schools has grown in the past 15 years and Minnesota has one of the largest achievement gaps in the nation. Over the past few years I have listened to so many podcasts and educational programing about how to change the achievement gap that exists and time and time again the answer appears clear: our schools need to be racially integrated. It makes a tremendous difference. If you don’t believe me, please listen to the podcasts for This American Life: The Problem We All Live With (Part 1 and 2). And yet, in spite having this evidence about the importance of integration, MN families continue to make choices to segregate and open enroll their children.

When I began, the journey of choosing a school for my kids, I will admit that I made a choice based only on my family and the best choice for my own children. I chose art and gym and music. We were enriched. Today, I will still chose the best choice for my children, and I recognize that what is best for both my girls is also best for everyone too. My girls don’t have gym every day, Continued above

Education continued

but they do have classes with kids who allow them to know about other countries and other faiths. My children don’t have music every day, but they receive a well-balanced education where they thrive in reading and math and also get multiple-perspectives about history. I am blessed.

Now, I think the choices, I make for my own kids have to expand beyond my own family. I have a responsibility to not only help my own children to thrive but all students. It matters to me that my children go to a school that is 40% white. They are helping eliminate the achievement gap without even knowing it. And while, I might want to pat myself on the back and feel good about my choices, I cannot. I confess instead that I feel a tremendous burden to do more. My children come home every night and have parents who can help them in math and reading. Jeff and I are able to help them with homework and our ideals about life demonstrate that education matters. But, what about the kids who don’t have that at home? What about the families who have unstable housing or parents who are working multiple jobs and cannot be there to help with math and reading? What more can I do to make a difference for them?

I am super excited that in February one of my best friends Sarah Miziorko and her colleague Kathleen Wilson will be here to talk about education. Sarah and Kathleen have been teaching and coaching in the Twin Cities area for over 15 years. They know way more than I do about education for our children, the achievement gap, the many obstacles our students and families face. They also understand that even the way we think about ourselves reflects how well we do on tests and in classrooms. I hope that you will join us on Wednesday, February 6th at 6:30pm to have a dialogue about education, the stereotypes that exists and barriers and what we can do to improve education in the state of Minnesota, not just for our own children and grandchildren, but for all children.

Blessings, Pastor Joanna Mitchell

WHY? The Faith of a Child By Kaye Wothe, Faith Community Nurse

I am very excited about “Why Jesus, Why Church” this month. I have been reading ahead about it. It has made me inventory my faith again. Yes, this feels like a

somewhat frequent event for me.

Why? 1) I work for a church, and in a unique role so it seems like I should have thought this through and it impacts why I choose to work at a church. 2) I have family and friends who do not believe in Jesus, or they do but not in church, making me check my faith. 3) I have family and friends who believe in and are active in faith traditions that have not historically been labeled as “Christian” secondary to not believing in Jesus Christ as Savior, and/or believe their own works save them. They seem to be able to state what they believe very readily, making me work to be able to do the same so I can comfortably talk with them as it comes up and not be defensive or seem like I am judging their choices. 4) I attended a Lutheran seminary for my graduate degree. 5) The world feels (and research proves) less religious daily. This in turn makes me wonder about why I believe.

What? I also find myself inventorying what I believe because of all the above. So this article is my ‘before’ “Why Jesus, Why Church” commentary on what I believe. I will be interested to see if exploring my faith through this exercise will change some of what I understand my faith to be simply by exposing me to new information or perspectives. I am aware that the content of my faith has been overall stable over my lifetime. However, what aspects of my faith that I thought or felt were important at different times of my life varied and some beliefs have blossomed into being a bigger focus. For example, when I was a young child the important part of my faith to me was that Jesus loved me along with the child level stories of the Bible that were printed in Golden Arch books. Then when I was a confirmation age kid the most important part of my faith was learning the basics of my faith tradition, the creeds, the commandments and what they meant according to Luther, and the ‘rules’ of faith ( I was raised in the Missouri synod Lutheran tradition, which has more rules). When I was in high school and college exploring what my faith meant in action like relationships (how it brings together and how it separates people), how it impacted what my identity was and how my faith informed how I treated others. At this phase I studied other faith traditions in attempt to understand them better and to feel like I was more fully choosing my faith tradition not just accepting the one my family had plopped me into. I must admit the rebel in me wanted to pick something else, but either I was already so formed as a Lutheran or it just simply was a good fit that the only thing I changed was the type of Lutheran I am. I became ELCA Lutheran, which actually better reflected my family’s beliefs by then too.

Then when I married being a Lutheran was easy as I married an ELCA Lutheran. When I became a parent I became a bit over protective (ok so maybe more than a bit A sleep deprived, fearful, protective mamma bear as some would say.) I took my faith with me in this protective way, I guess worried what my kids would choose or how people my kids encountered and/or loved would impact them with their faith choices. This made me more judgmental at times about the faith of others and desperate for them to share my faith tradition.

As I and my kids became older, I was better able to see this behavior was not really a reflection of the faith in heart, mind or soul. Then I went to seminary for my graduate degree in Community and Congregational Care, where I was able to Continued above

Faith Community Nurse

Why? The Faith of a Child continued

further affirm what I believed. I did have classes on the contents of the Bible and what they mean. However what really helped me was putting the contents of the Bible all together to get a full sense of what it means to my faith. I do not think one can build their faith on ONE story or scripture from the Bible.

This brings me to my faith today, or to why I believe in Jesus and why I believe in the community of the church. Here’s where it gets more personal. I believe in Jesus because He has called me. I can not even begin to tell you how many times a reading from the Bible or sermon has marked me, it keeps running through my brain, tugging at my heart and bounding in my soul. He has saved me over and over all my life, “70 times 7” (Matt 8: 22). Jesus has given me hope every day when my anxiety, poor self-esteem or unhappiness with my behavior would otherwise take me to bad places, He told (tells) me I am forgiven and His child no matter what. Jesus’s role model throughout the Bible on how to behave in relationships and how to treat other people informs how I should treat others (along with the forgiveness I need when I don’t behave that way), and the importance of relationships and community. Jesus’s moral guide intertwined with these relational values has been very important to me every year older I get. Most importantly, I am seen as the sinner and saint I am and still loved.

This leads to “Why Church”. The Bible is full of examples of relationship and community. It calls us to worship together in community and to act out our faith individually and as a community. The actions that a large number of people can accomplish is different and greater than each person can do alone. For me personally, “Why Church” is that I have been loved, cared for, forgiven, allowed to act on my faith to serve others in more powerful ways than I could alone outside a community. I grew up in a small town and before email, internet, Amazon, and the digital device Continued on page 9

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