The Mirror

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August

2018

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The Congregational Church of Excelsior thecongregationalchurchofexcelsior.org infoccoe@aol.com (952) 474-5919

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From the Pastor 1

Music Notes 2

Board of Christian Education 3

Board of Missions 4

From the Pastor

Well, the “Dog Days” of summer are finally here--- (I can hear them barking out my office window!). But before summer’s hot days fade all too quickly into autumn’s cool nights, there’s still plenty of time to get in some serious---or not, biking and hiking. And speaking of hiking, it reminds me of the brief but famous poem that made the rounds a while back. I’m sure we’ve all read---and been moved by, the meditation called “Footprints.” It’s fact, it became so popular that just about everyone I know had it emblazoned on a wood plaque and hung near the kitchen doorway so you couldn’t miss it when you walked in!. And--ironically (especially since it’s a spiritual reflection), it led to enormous battles---including legal, because no fewer than four people insisted that they were the authors (which they no doubt felt entitled them to huge royalties!). But, when you read “Footprints” closely, you’ll notice that it pertains solely to times of pain and struggle. (After all, when else do we really need God? Certainly not so much when life is peachy and things are going our way!).

But that’s just the (interesting) back story, and not the real point of all this. Putting all the ugliness aside (proving once again that just about anything---even good things, can get messed up when human egos inevitably get involved), another intrepid follower of Jesus---identity unknown (at least to me), came up with a new, more expansive twist on the theme. It’s not so much a poem as it is a commentary. Here goes:

“Imagine that you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For most of the way, the Lord’s footprints go along steadily and consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, circles, turnarounds, starts and stops, departures and returns. And for a long way, it goes on like this.

But, gradually, your footprints come more in-line with the Lord’s, soon paralleling His. Now you and Jesus are walking as true friends! Everything is perfect! Then an odd thing happens: your footprints that were once etched in the sand next to Jesus,’ are suddenly walking precisely in His. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus safely becoming one. In fact, the small footprints inside the large seem to be growing larger, until they disappear altogether.

Now there is only one set of footprints; they have become one. This goes on for a long time until, surprisingly, the second set of footprints is back. But this time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place! Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. There your dream ends.

Now you pray: ‘Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and the fits. I was a new Christian back then. I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me to walk with you.’ And the Lord responded: ‘That is correct.’ Then I said to the Lord: ‘…and when my smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, so I followed you very closely.’ And the Lord replied: “Very good. You have understood everything so far.’ Then I continued: ‘...when the smaller footprints grew I

(Continued on page 2)

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Pastor, from page 1

suppose that I was becoming more like You in every way.’ ‘Precisely,’ said the Lord. Then I wondered: ‘…so, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than the first.’ There was a long pause as the Lord answered with a smile in his voice: ‘You didn’t know? That was when we danced.

‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to

Music Notes

"Our Father..." When questioning Tom about why the Lord's Prayer has to be printed in the bulletin each Sunday he told me many do not know this prayer by heart! Wow! I have always liked the Episcopal word of introduction before Jesus's prayer is said. Buechner helped me ponder this today and I share it in our month of August. Blessings as we are BOLD to sing or say, "Our Father..." Lydia

Lord's Prayer

IN THE EPISCOPAL ORDER OF WORSHIP, the priest sometimes introduces the Lord's Prayer with the words, "Now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say..." The word bold is worth thinking about. We do well not to pray the prayer lightly. It takes guts to pray it at all. We can pray it in the unthinking and perfunctory way we usually do only by disregarding what we are saying.

"Thy will be done" is what we are saying. That is the climax of the first half of the prayer. We are asking God to be God. We are asking God to do not what we want, but what God wants. We are asking God to make manifest the holiness that is now mostly hidden, to set free in all its terrible splendor the devastating power that is now mostly under restraint. "Thy kingdom come . . . on earth" is what we are saying. And if that were suddenly to happen, what then? What would stand and what would fall? Who would be welcomed in and who would be thrown out? Which if any of our most precious visions of what God is and of what human beings are would prove to be more or less on the mark and which would turn out to be phony as three-dollar bills? Boldness indeed. To speak those words is to invite the tiger out of the cage, to unleash a power that makes atomic power look like a warm breeze.

You need to be bold in another way to speak the second half. Give us. Forgive us. Don't test us. Deliver us. If it takes guts to face the omnipotence that is God's, it takes perhaps no less to face the impotence that is ours. We can do nothing without God. We can have nothing without God. Without God we are nothing.

It is only the words "Our Father" that make the prayer bearable. If God is indeed something like a father, then as something like children maybe we can risk approaching him anyway.

-Originally published in Whistling in the Dark and later in Beyond Words

mourn, and a time to dance.’ ---Ecclesiastes 3” So may the road we choose to take be one of dancing, as well as sorrow---and dancing beyond sorrow. Blessings,

Rev Tom

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Board of Christian Education

We owe many thank yous this month!

First, a big thanks to all of the volunteers that helped with the Fourth of July parking fundraiser! We raised $961!

Next, big thanks to our volunteer Sunday school teachers, including Tina, Janet K., Janet H., Carley and Karla. This summer's focus is on fishing - and some of the great fish stories of the Bible.

As of this writing, a July Kick It event was planned on July 19 at Lake Ann Park. Our next Summer Kick It is set for Aug. 15 at Marty Swain's house! Thanks for hosting!!

Next year, we are considering having Kick It on Sunday nights. Let us know what you think!

Please enjoy learning more about this month's youth spotlight subject, the wonderful Brianna Tudor.

Chair Janet Holler, Carley Kregness and Karla Wennerstrom

Brianna Tudor

What school do you attend? I attend Jordan High School and will be a senior. I am going

to South Dakota for school the next year. Mom's relatives are

in South Dakota.

What activities are you involved in? Playing soccer in High School. I play defensive mid position.

My dream is to travel.

What is your favorite memory of KICK-IT or a Church

activity?

I like all of the Christmas pageants we did. It was so much fun.

Where do you see God in your life? Church is a place we can all connect, where we meet for one

reason and one purpose, to be with God. It's kind of cool we

can bond with others and bond with Jesus. Kara Hartman & Brianna Tudor

Flute/Piano Trio 10 a.m. Sunday, August 5

Brenda Gezel Keske has 3 children and works as a pharmacist. She was Mrs. Holsten’s piano student years ago, and continues to enjoy playing her flute now with the Minnesota Valley Community Band!

Marie Friesen started studying piano at age 4 and culminated her studies with a year in London studying piano performance at the Royal College of Music. She teaches a few students now and enjoys playing with the MVCB on her second favorite instrument, the flute!

Becky Lyngaas Janes is a first grade teacher at Victoria Elementary. She is Lydia Holsten's "daughter" having been her piano student and now is mother of Ally and Sarah, Lydia's "granddaughters" - and wife to Kelley - who have all shared musical talents at CCoE services.

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Board of Missions

We on the Missions Board hope all are having a

lovely, albeit hot, summer.

We're happy to report that the Red Cross blood

drive on June 28 went very well. Huge gratitude to

those who gave in this personal and SO-important

way. Each unit of blood donated is split into parts

to help more than one person, so your gift is

multiplied many times over.

ICA donations keep rolling in, thanks to your

generosity. We're enjoying our theme-of-the-

month donation suggestions and hope you are too.

As always, any food/household items are welcome

at any time, but for August let's stick with our kid-

friendly summer themes and focus on peanut

butter & jelly for youngsters' last month home

from school. Some of you have brought in PB

already, which is great; Costco has 2-packs of

large jars for about $8, and it's available at the

Dollar Store too. Same for jelly/jam. And if you'd

rather support ICA monetarily, that's a huge help

too, as they can buy in bulk with our funds; just

put cash in the grocery-cart fishbowl or drop your

check, with "ICA" in the memo line, in the collection

plate or mail it in to the office. And don't forget, as

those zucchinis and squash start to ripen on the vines

in your gardens that ICA takes produce now. Quick

transport is, of course, important for these items, so

let Marty Swain know if you'd like a pick up, or drop

them at the ICA K-Tel location yourself and let them

know you're from CCoE.

The result of July's Noisy Offering was $148.55.

Happy late summer to all from your Missions Board,

Marty Swain (chair), Sharon Graef, Mark Krueger,

Ross Rogney

Miriam Erickson 10 a.m. Sunday, August 19

Miriam is in high school and working towards a career in music. She is a singer/songwriter and a worship leader playing events such as open mics and solo concerts. Worship is also a big passion of hers and she is currently on both her church and school worship teams. As her junior year approaches, she is picking up every opportunity to play and is very excited for the opportunity to lead worship on Sunday, August 19.

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The Congregational Church of Excelsior/The Mirror

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West Suburban Grief Coalition www.westsuburbangriefmn.org

Our church supports the West Suburban Grief Coalition. Many have found their programs to be helpful in dealing with the grieving process. The meetings are held from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Refreshments and registration start at 4:00 p.m. The location rotates among area churches. The summer meetings will be held at Church of St. Therese of Deephaven,18323 Minnetonka Blvd., Deephaven, MN 55391 (952-473-4422). Our coordinator for this group is Kathy Sherwood.

August 2nd

“Miracle that Came in the Mail” presented by Julie Bonde, The Dragonfly Project

August 9th

“Journey Following Father’s Death” presented by Kelly Tabara

August 16th “Understanding Grief”

presented by Mary Marcoux Spiritual Care Manager, Friendship Village, North Memorial Hospital

August 23rd

“Your Loved Ones Legacy” presented by Judy Young

August 30th

Participants Small Group Sharing

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The Congregational Church of Excelsior/The Mirror

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The Congregational Church of Excelsior 471 Third Street

Excelsior, MN 55331

952-474-5919

We’re on the web: www.thecongregationalchurchofexcelsior.org

Miriam Erickson

10 a.m. Sunday, August 19