salem english lutheran church september 2019...

Salem English Lutheran Church September 2019

The Excitement of Fall—Crisp, Fresh, and New The state fair is on, which can mean only one thing, fall is imminent and summer is...gulp...over. The school supplies are all ready to go, even if the kids are not, which can mean only one thing, summer is...sigh...over. These last weeks of summer are so precious and have been so lovely. But alas, fall is coming in like a freight train down the tracks. This summer will be particularly hard to bid farewell to. Baseball and waterparks, family and friends...it has been delightful and a bit lazy, as summer should be.

However, as difficult as saying goodbye to summer may be, I have to confess, I love the fall. Yes, I love the fall. It never fails to be full of crisp air and new possibilities. I can’t help but feel most at home in a season of flannel, fresh apples, and pumpkin spice. I think that the freshness in the air often correlates with fresh ideas and new directions. Fall is exciting.

Just as with everything else it seems, fall brings excitement to the church too. It’s the start of a new program year, Sunday school and youth group and adult faith formation get a jump start. It’s a time for visioning and change, a time to try new things. Fall is exciting in the church!

So, what is exciting at Salem? You don’t need to look any further than the pages that follow to see a myriad of places that Salem is filled with life and a burst of fall “freshness”. I am most excited about…

Gathering Sunday when all of SpringHouse gathers together for worship. What an amazing symbol of the church in the world when our three congregations come together in our “sameness” and in our “differentness” to worship. In a world that is so full of division, isn’t it wonderful to be part of a community that exists only in the breaking down of walls and building up of relationships?

God’s Work Our Hands Sunday when we will gather in worship and put our hearts and hands to work in the world. We will put pen to paper and learn how to use a laptop to make a difference in policy in real time. We will use our hands to do projects that will make a concrete difference in

Important Dates for your Calendar! Sunday September 8: Gathering Sunday Joint Worship at 10:30 am. (Sunday School and Youth at 9:15 am)

Monday September 9: Sanctuary Switch—many hands make light work!

Wednesday September 11: Theology on Tap at World Street Kitchen (6:30 pm)

Sunday September 15: Salem returns to a two worship service schedule. (8:30 am & 10:30 am)

Sunday September 15: GOD’S WORK OUR HANDS Sunday! Service/Advocacy during worship.

Sunday September 15: Adult Faith Formation kicks off at 9:30 am in the gathering space!

Sunday September 29: Intergenerational Event for ALL—Prayer

our community. What makes it even cooler is that we join with hundreds of other ELCA congregations who will also be taking part in this wonderful September tradition. That’s a whole lot of difference being made!

In the midst of transition comes exiting possibilities. As our interim summer youth minister, Craig Simenson, leaves to take up an interim call as associate pastor, we are working with several candidates on figuring out a good fit for our youth ministry position. I have the privilege of taking on some leadership during this transition time, making sure that youth ministry is kept a priority and our kids don’t skip a beat come Gathering Sunday. I am excited about working with our youth and their families and about the person God is bringing us to walk with them as we move forward.

I could keep adding bullets with things I am excited about...but just keep reading and you will see most of them. I hope you get excited about them too.

For today, I hope you are enjoying these last amazing August days and filling your soul with as much summer as you can. Drink it in like you are dying of thirst and it is life giving water...because it is. But get excited about what lies around the corner. Get excited about crisp air and flannel. Get excited about newness and possibilities, about opportunity and even change, as we launch into a new program year full of great ministry as this community of faith we call home. Blessings, Pastor Rhonda

Salem English Lutheran Church

Salem Scene September 2019

Salem News

Theology on Tap—WSK Edition

Join us on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30 pm for our next

Theology on Tap. We will meet at World Street Kitchen (right across the parking lot!)

There is much in the world to chat about in a safe place with friends of faith—we hope

to see you there! Oh—and it’s right next to Milkjam creamery, so there will be ice

cream!

Community Partners—Seasons of Giving

“I was a stranger

and you welcomed me.”

Matthew 25:35

This fall we will focus some of our energy on Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. With immigration and

refugees at the forefront of the conversation in our nation, it is

important that we, as the church, take a stand. Look for opportunities to learn and to give as we see the impact LIRS is

making right now. Here is a snapshot of what LIRS is about.

LIRS is an organization rooted in faith that believes that we are called to welcome individuals fleeing persecution and

seeking refuge in America. Over the years, our work has grown to encompass a wide-range of services:

•Refugee Resettlement: As a vital arm of the U.S.

refugee resettlement program

•Empowering New Americans: Employment services,

targeted education, and advocacy & leadership training

•Foster Care & Family Reunification: LIRS works with

vulnerable migrant youth and families to ensure that children in our network grow up in a safe, loving home.

•Immigration Detention Services: legal resources,

visitation ministry, and post-release services

•Community Engagement: Leveraging a nationwide

network of service partners and congregations

September Greeters

It’s Salem’s turn again! Could you take a

turn providing hospitality at the main SpringHouse doors on a Sunday morning

(10:10-10:30 am) in September? It’s a great way to connect with new folks and

be a resource for everyone at SpringHouse. See the sign-up sheet at church.

Stewardship Stuff

In an effort to streamline the work

that Laurie, our amazing office administrator does, the purchase of

a new laptop computer was made this week to replace the one she has

used for the past 6 years. This was long overdue.

While this purchase was not a budgeted item this year, we are

happy to report that we received generous gifts from two Salem families that made the purchase possible. In addition

we have utilized TechSoup to purchase non-profit, and

significantly discounted, versions of the updated software the office needs to operate.

We want to thank Scott Rusten for being willing to set up the

new computer and get it all ready for Laurie to work on. Having people in this community willing to put in time and

energy to help make things work is something we do not take for granted.

As always, we are so appreciative of the generosity at Salem

and are very happy that Laurie will have a new computer to do all of the wonderful things she does.

Sanctuary Switch

The next Sanctuary Switch will be

Monday, September 9, at 10 am. Salem will be moving upstairs to South

Sanctuary for the fall. We are looking for lots of help and some creative minds

to make this happen!



More News

God’s Work. Our Hands Sunday

Join us on Sunday, September 15 for God’s Work Our Hands

Sunday! During both of our morning worship services we will

take part in service projects and advocacy work that is

important for our community and our church.

We will join with hundreds of other congregations who will be taking part in this ELCA-wide day of service that has become a

yearly event celebrated by Lutherans in all different kinds of contexts and in a myriad of different ways. Salem participated

for the first time last year and it was such a great success that we are doubly excited for this year’s event!

Last year we made tie blankets for LSS and wrote advocacy

letters to our congressional delegates both in Minnesota and Washington D.C. Join us on

September 15 as we join hands

to make a difference this year!

As summer comes to an end, we will return to our program

year worship times. Make sure your calendars are marked for September 15, when we will return to two services—8;30 am

Traditional Worship and 10:30 am Jazz Worship.

As we launch into a new year we will jump back into the narrative lectionary sequence. This is the year of

Mark...although we won’t actually get to mark until later in the year. We will begin the fall in Genesis as we revisit some of

the great Old Testament history, spend some time with the prophets, and then launch into Mark at Christmas. It’s bound

to be a great year of scripture and learning together.

Here’s the scripture coming your way soon:

Sept. 15: The Garden of Eden-Genesis 2:4b-25

Sept. 22: Isaac Born to Rebecca-Genesis 18:1- 15; 21:1-7

Sept. 29: Jacob Wrestles with God-Genesis 32: [9-13] 22-

30

Gathering Sunday

Make sure to join us we gather as a SpringHouse community

to ring in a new program year.

First—make sure all kids and youth join in the fun at 9:15 am. Kids will meet for Sunday School in the squiggle space and

youth (along with parents) will meet in Lydia.

Then we will all worship together at 10:30 am. One highlight will be hearing from those who traveled to South Dakota on

the servant trip this summer. Come hear about the Cheyenne River Reservation and their horse ministry and the adventures

our SpringHouse group had. Then join us for fellowship in the gathering space as we celebrate being back together again.



SpringHouse News SpringHouse Office Hours

Starting after Labor Day, SpringHouse office hours will be back to Tuesday-Friday, 10-2. Staff are often around at other times,

but if you need to speak to someone in particular, it’s always good to call first to make sure your party is around. The main

SpringHouse number is 612-353-6292.

From the Building Coordinator

Did you know that the SpringHouse calendar is online? This is a great communication tool, and an excellent way to quickly

check if there is space in the building for your meeting or event. Find it at this link: https://calendar.churchart.com/

calendar/73956030

However, rentals that are still pending will not show up in the calendar, so if you need to reserve a room, please contact Deb

Murphy in advance (at least 24 hours, preferably more) at [email protected]. We can all help our building run

smoothly by planning ahead!

Adult Faith Formation

Paris to Pittsburgh by Elly Wagner

As a person who grew up near Pittsburgh when it was a very polluted steel mill city, I find it interesting that the president

singled it out as a city he was elected to represent rather than Paris, and that in response to the president's statement and

his pulling out of the Paris Accord, Pittsburgh's mayor, William Peduto asserted that "Pittsburgh is one of the cities leading

the fight on climate change." Peduto's statement inspired the

title of the documentary "The Climate for Change Is Now: Paris to Pittsburgh," which will be the topic for combined Adult

Education sessions on September 15 and 22. Join us in the Gathering Space at 9:15 a.m., to allow enough time to view the

video and discuss it, as well as consider actions that can reduce our carbon footprint as individuals and congregations.

Paris to Pittsburgh shines a light on the many forgotten communities and people who have been affected by the

climate crisis in our country and

captures what is at

stake for Americans and the inspiring

ways they're responding. Hope

to see you there

Share the Care Work Day September 7

Springhouse Building Committee is looking for volunteers for a

Share the Care event on Saturday, September 7 from 8 am to 1 pm. This session’s focus will be exterior maintenance, including

the wooden door surfaces, the garden, and tuck-pointing inspection with Mark Macpherson. Doughnuts, fruit, coffee and

juice will be provided. Please let Erica Larson ([email protected]) or Jon Hanke ([email protected])

from the building committee know if you will be able to attend.

Servant Opportunity Sneak Peak

What is in store for SpringHouse in the summer of 2020?

Rumer has it that we are headed back to Paraguay! That’s right...and you are invited! Dates will be late July of 2020 and

we are planning an informational meeting to happen in October to get you on board.

Watch for information to come out in the weeks and months

ahead about how YOU can become part of this amazing opportunity!

2020

https://calendar.churchart.com/calendar/73956030

https://calendar.churchart.com/calendar/73956030

mailto:[email protected]



Reaching Out ...

Simpson Shelter Meal

Our next opportunity to serve the evening meal at Simpson

Shelter will be Wednesday, September 4. We gather at Simpson United Methodist Church, 28th St. and First Ave. at

5:15 pm to prepare and serve the meal at 7 pm. Please sign up on the info table or with Mary ([email protected])

Support Families in Sanctuary

As a Sanctuary-Supporting/ Immigrant

Welcoming Church, we are working with

other faith communities in South

Minneapolis who are providing sanctuary at this time. One very pressing need is help with the cost of food.

Specifically, we can support families by donating Cub Food gift cards. You are invited to buy Cub Food cards and place

them in the offering plates on Sunday. They will then be

delivered to churches hosting sanctuary families. Thank you for your support in this ever important ministry!

Climate Justice Action in September

September is a good time to get more involved in climate

justice action. Call Elly Wagner at 952-922-7703 or email at [email protected] for more information or to arrange carpooling.

Start by watching the Democratic Presidential Candidates

Town Hall on Climate Change on September 4 on CNN. If there is enough interest, maybe we could arrange a town hall

watching party!

September 20 is the beginning of the week long Global Youth Climate Strike inspired by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager

who is calling all of us to take meaningful action in solving the climate crisis. Support this important movement by meeting at

the Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Go to www.mnipl.org to register.

On September 21 and 22, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light

along with Honor the Earth are holding a community gathering and prayer circle at the Headwaters of the Mississippi River to

honor the sacredness of water. Learn about Treaty Rights, pipeline routes, language and culture and more. This spirit led

resistance calls attention to the proposed Line 3 pipeline

project which threatens the livelihood of this essential waterway and the hundreds of thousands of communities who

live along its shores and depend on the many watersheds that it flows into. Let's imagine a new story of hope and justice

together, Check the Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light or Honor the Earth web sites for further information.

Then on September 28, join hundreds from across the Midwest

on the shores of Gichi-gami--Lake Superior--to stand up against the proposed Enbridge Line 3 tar sands pipeline. If

built, the Line 3 pipeline project would bring the world's dirtiest oil from Canada to Superior, crossing Ojibwe treaty land, wild

rice lakes , and the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It would have the climate impact of 50 coal

power plants. The event will be in

Duluth and include a rally, march and festival from noon to 6 p.m.

More on this event can also be found on the MN Interfaith Power

and Light website.

Volunteer Opportunity: Methodist Hospital Hospice

Methodist Hospital Hospice will be providing training sessions in

the fall for new volunteers. These volunteers give respite care to caregivers who are caring for terminally ill loved ones in their

own private homes, or visit terminally ill patients to provide comfort and support. They are especially seeking volunteers

who are veterans to visit patients who are also veterans. Commitment is a maximum of 4 hours per week (can be less)

and training is 4 sessions. For more information and to sign up,

contact Libby Swanson at 952-993-5381 or [email protected].

Lutheran Advocacy

Looking for a way to get involved in policy and advocacy?

Check out the ELCA Advocacy Network and the Lutheran Advocacy-Minnesota websites for ways to learn, increase

awareness, and participate in a myriad of ways that make a difference!

https://www.elca.org/advocacy

http://www.lutheranadvocacymn.org/


https://www.elca.org/advocacy

http://www.lutheranadvocacymn.org/



Sunday School and Children’s Ministry

Youth News

Sunday Morning Youth Group

Youth group continues to meet every Sunday 9:30-10:20 am in the Micah room, All high school and middle school youth

welcome! Don’t miss this great opportunity for fun, friends, and faith!

Godly Play Sunday School Kick-Off

Calling all kids of SpringHouse! We will gather to kick-off

Sunday School on Gathering Sunday, September 8. We invite all children ages Pre-k through 5th grade to join us in the

squiggle space at 9:15 am to get acquainted, do some crafts, and even have some snacks. Come be part of our amazing

children's programming at SpringHouse!

Intergenerational Event—Prayer

Kids, families, and adults are invited to join us for our first

intergenerational event of the year on Sunday, September 29 in the gathering space. There will be a myriad of opportunities

to learn about the different ways we pray. Yoga, prayer stones, icons, labyrinths, and more. Don’t miss this great

opportunity for all of SpringHouse to come together around prayer.

Annual Gathering Sunday Round-Up

Calling all youth, parents, and adult volunteers! Join us in Lydia at 9:15 am on Sunday September 8 as we look to a new

program year!

Donuts from Hans Bakery

Getting re-acquainted after summer

A look at the process of finding a new Youth Minister and

what the transition will look like

A look at events for fall

A sneak peak at a servant trip opportunity next summer

Planning for Sunday mornings.

Farewell from Interim Craig Simenson

Dear SpringHouse pastors, dear beloved SpringHouse

community: I am grateful for the chance to have journeyed with you this summer. Your welcome has graced me. Our

worship life together has nourished me. Your young people have impressed and inspired me. You have been a blessing to

my daughter Leona and me, and we will dearly miss you.

In Christ, in kindness, always,

Craig

Godly Play Sunday School Here are the stories coming to the Squiggle Space this fall!

September 15—The Prophet Jonah

September 22—The Prophet Jeremiah

September 29—Intergenerational Event: Prayer

October 6—The Prophet Isaiah

October 13—The Prophet Daniel

October 20—The Prophet Ezekiel

Youth Ministry Transition

As you know, our interim youth minister, Craig, has accepted

an interim call at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Blooming-ton and began his service there this week. As we move forward

with interviews for the position of youth director at Spring-House, we will be working with our Youth Advisory Committee

and our youth to make the transition smooth and to get the right person in place. Our hope is to complete this process in

the month of September, as we currently have candidates in

conversation with the pastoral staff and anticipate interview(s) by mid-September.



Calendar Week of September 1 Sun 9/1 9:00 am Summer Worship

Tue 9/3 8:15 am Lectionary Bible Study at SpringHouse

Wed 9/4 5:15 pm Simpson Shelter Meal

Sat 9/7 8:00 am Share the Care Week of September 8 Sun 9/8 9:15 am Sunday School and Youth

9/8 10:30 am SpringHouse Gathering Sunday Worship

Mon 9/9 10:00 am Sanctuary Switch


Wed 9/11 6:30 pm Theology on Tap at World Street Kitchen Week of September 15 Sun 9/15 8:30 am Traditional Worship

9/15 9:15 am Sunday School and Youth

9/15 9:30 am Adult Ed

9/15 10:30 am Jazz Worship

Mon 9/16 6:45 pm Building & Grounds


Wed 9/18 6:30 pm Salem Council

Salem Calendar on the Salem Website

Did you know that our congregational calendar is available on

our website? At www.discoversalem.org you can link to our

calendar. For some events there are extra details included, too. Check it out.

“We are a Spirit-led, welcoming, and bold Christian community,

rooted in the neighborhood and striving to live faithfully in God’s

world.” Salem Mission Statement

September Birthdays

Wish these Salem members and

friends a happy birthday! If you’re new to Salem and would

like your birthday listed, please contact Laurie in the office.

Tom Pieper — 9/7

Doralyn Dibble — 9/8

Susie Anderson — 9/9

Jasper Hanke— 9/22

Donna Greene — 9/27

Altar Flowers

Salem offers the opportunity to provide occasional floral

arrangements for worship, created by member Myra Urness Rusten. If you would like to honor a birthday, anniversary, or

other special occasion with an arrangement to beautify worship, and then take home to enjoy, you can sign up at

church or contact the office (612-872-4650 or

[email protected].)

Arrangements are $40 each. Checks may be written to

Salem.

Week of September 22 Sun 9/22 8:30 am Traditional Worship

9/22 9:15 am Sunday School and Youth



Tue 9/24 8:15 am Lectionary Bible Study at SpringHouse Week of September 29 Sun 9/29 8:30 am Traditional Worship

9/29 9:15 am Intergenerational Event




http://www.discoversalem.org


Christ tended to attract

an assorted crowd

Salem English Lutheran Church is a Reconciling in Christ

(R.I.C.) Congregation We are a Spirit-led, welcoming, and bold

Christian community rooted in the neighborhood, striving to live faithfully in God’s world.

612-872-4650

Pastor: Rhonda Hlavinka [email protected] Office: Laurie Zaepfel [email protected] Jazz Music: Tom Pieper [email protected] Traditional Music Kent Goodroad [email protected] Building Coordinator Deb Murphy [email protected] Building Manager: Rick Bowman [email protected]

610 West 28th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55408

salem english lutheran church september 2019...

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