L O V I N G . L E A R N I N G . W O R S H I P I N G . S E R V I N G

Volume 36, Issue 2 | March 2015

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NORMANDALEnews March 2015

This is an open letter to you from my heart to yours. I am hoping to communicate with clarity the ways in which I see the work of ministry before us. We have gathered from your collective and individual comments, and seek to incorporate all that I have learned from you and others, alongside our understanding of what it means to be the church, “the ekklesia,” the gathering of God’s people in Jesus’ name… and so, I begin with our mission statement…

“Led by the Holy Spirit, and living in God’s grace, Normandale Lutheran Church is a community proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through love, learning, worship, and service.”

Led by the Holy Spirit…we are Pentecost people. We believe that God has blown the very Spirit of God into crea-tion, including us. This Spirit, breath, wind, is what guides our lives, each of us individually and all of us together. To understand that guidance, we practice discernment, which is the personal and communal listening that is gathered together for the building up of the body of Christ. As we engaged in the strategic planning process beginning in the fall of 2011, we were led by the Holy Spirit, as we moved from chaos and disparity to vision and unity.

Living in God’s grace…this is fundamental to our under-standing of who God is; gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God’s grace, in the suffer-ing love of Jesus, is the source and ground of our being. Without it we are lost. With it we are saved. We live in grace for ourselves and for all people, seeking to be the beloved community of the forgiven.

Normandale Lutheran Church is a community…Oh, how we wrestled over the word “community,” as we engaged the strategic plan. It is overused in our world to the degree that its meaning appears lost. As the church, we are the “ekklesia,” the gathered, those who come together around Jesus Christ. When we gather, we proclaim Jesus, by nature of our common faith in him. We are followers of Jesus, and in that truth, we gather together in him, to offer our collec-tive life to God’s will and purpose for the world through us. We seek to understand Jesus; his teachings, his life,death, and resurrection. We encounter the living Jesus through sacramental practice, and we seek to grow into his way of being and life. Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ…Our commu-nity is defined by forgiveness, God’s for us and ours for each other. We practice a theology of imperfection, embracing quirks and eccentricities of others, as central to God’s crea-tive intent. We value diversity, breaking down the walls of separation, so that all may know the gracious love of Jesus. We are an open community, where invitation, hospitality, welcome, and engagement are natural to our practice. With “community” comes “place.” We exist together in time and space, not by accident, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our being together is part of the tapestry of God’s weaving, and we trust that our gathering is purposeful. Our place is 6100 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55436, a place marked more than sixty years ago, by a people with a vision.

We have inherited this place, as others have worked ahead of us to provide it. We have entered at different points along the way, some for great length, and some just yes-terday. We believe that ownership of this place is equally shared by all of us, with each of us providing, according to our ability, what is needed to maintain, sustain, and renew it for current and future service to the community we are, and for the community that follows. We live in gratitude to those who invested their money and lives for our benefit, and now we consider what that means for us in this time. We also believe that our investment in this place should not exceed our ability to afford it, nor should our invest-ment today risk the future congregation to such a degree that they cannot continue to build human community, both here in Edina, and all around the world. And, we believe that it is our responsibility to renew this place, so that those who come after us will not be overburdened by the same questions of maintenance, sustenance, and renewal. Apart from the sanctuary remodeling in 1999-2000, our place has been mostly untouched for twenty-five years, with some spaces untouched for forty years and more. As a tool for mission, the facility, entrusted to us, is in need of sharpening, all for the purpose of building up the commu-nity, the gathering, the ekklesia, for the purpose of pro-claiming Jesus Christ. This responsibility includes mainte-nance, sustenance, and renewal of the place in which our community gathers, grows, and gives. “Through love, learning, worship, and service.” Through love, God’s love, we proclaim Jesus. This love is realized in the simple greeting to a stranger become friend. This love is realized in coffee together over life’s realities. This love is realized when prayer is offered in times of suffering. This love is self-giving, offering up our lives to the well-being of others and the world. When we gather for fellowship, as brothers and sisters of the beloved community, we proclaim Jesus, as we love one another. We will craft our spaces to better serve our ability to love, providing time at the table, and surrounding vital-ity that will afford more opportunities for God to knit our lives together. Through learning, we proclaim Jesus, as we grow in our individual and communal faith. The Scriptures are the source and norm of our faith and life, and so we teach them in worship, bible study, and especially to the chil-dren entrusted to us. We seek to understand God’s crea-tive intent, so that we might be co-creators with God in the world’s unfolding. While the subject matter of our faith has constants, the method of learning is changing at a high speed. As the church, the “gathering,” we need spaces and tools that meet the next generation of learn-ing. I firmly believe that we can shape a next generation of followers with greater learning than our own, as we employ a more highly interactive, engaging approach to sharing the Scriptures and our history together.

(Pastor’s Page continued on Page 4)

Through worship, we proclaim Jesus in Word, sacrament, and song. The singularity of our worship space, both in its beauty and in its limitation, is something for our attention. Given our 24% decrease in average weekly worship attendance over the past 14 years, we need our ear to the ground of culture and community, in order to hear what change is needed. If time is the greatest driver, then options are the only answer. I believe that the future “ekklesia” will be marked by multiple gatherings beyond Sunday morning. We also know that alternative gatherings of time, size, and sound, will enhance our ability to proclaim the Gospel through worship. Through service, we proclaim Jesus to those in need. Need is defined by one’s inability to meet life’s most basic elements. Need is the place where compassion meets Jesus. We believe that all are entitled to the safety of home, daily bread and the care of those around them. Justice means seeking a system, by which all can have their daily needs met. For those of us who have more than we need, it is our calling to share with those who do not. Our ability to gain wealth is a gift from God, entrusted to us, so that we might be generous in places of need. This is both an individual and communal responsibility. And so we serve, offering up our lives, our talents and our money, to the places of greatest need. For our community, that entails a significant investment in hous-ing in the Phillip’s neighborhood. It entails serving the elders in our community through The Center for Healing and Wholeness. It entails Global Mission in Peru and India, through music minis-try and healthcare initiatives. What else might it mean? As we invest in our gathering, I believe and trust that God will use our increased strength to broaden our service to those in need. It is critical that our investment in the four pillars of our mission; love, learning, worship, and service, remain in balanced strength, so as not to burden the community beyond its ability to meet them all. This is truly the work of dis-cernment, listening, both individually and communally, to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This discernment will take on new directions, as time, context, and culture shift. God is interactive with the world, not as puppeteer, but as our source of life, energy and power for co-creation, in this particular time and place, for the limited days we have together on this earth, for the purpose of God’s will and the good of all people, all of it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. As you consider your gift to the “All Together in One Place,” pray for a generous heart of gladness, that all that you offer will be joy-fully received and faithfully used. We are blessed to be together on this journey of faith, with Jesus our Lord leading the way. I trust our collective faith and vision. I trust our love for God and our desire to serve the world. I trust our financial ability to meet the vision God has cast before us. I trust the unknown future and our ability to adapt our decision-making to what we cannot yet know. I trust our love for one another, as the prevailing platform upon which we all stand. For all that is behind us, “Thanks be to God.” For all that is to come, “Yes.”

With you in faith,

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The “All Together In One Place” Comprehensive Campaign provides for renewal and improve-ments in a multitude of areas within our church facility which are needed to serve the congregation of today. These changes will enable us to continue growing in our outreach to the community and the world beyond.

Greg & Lisa Buck Normandale Lutheran Church has been our church home for 30 years. We have been very blessed by this congregation and the “All Together in One Place” Campaign is the way to pass the blessings forward.

Lowell & Deb Stortz Normandale has been the center of our family life. We have been blessed to give our children this solid foundation. We would like to see future generations benefit from the improve-ments envisioned in the Comprehensive Cam-paign.

Maggie & Lee Valenta

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

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Enthusiasm continues to grow as we share information and excitement with one another! If you would like a conversation or to arrange a personal visit during March regarding the Campaign, please call the office or email Steve Olson at steveo@normluth.org.

Sunday, March 8: Come to worship as we reflect on the impact our gifts will make, and pick up your personalized Campaign Packet and pledge card.

Sunday, March 22: “All Together in One Place” Celebration Sunday! Each of us are invited to offer our gifts, pledges, and prayers during worship.

Sunday, April 12: Dedication of All Together Pledges and Groundbreaking Thanks be to God for bringing us All Together in One Place!

So God created humankind in his image . . . (Genesis 1:27)

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son . . . (John 3:16)

We are created in the image of God. God is the greatest giver of all. We are at our best when we discover the joy of being a giver, just as God intended for our lives.

For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began something even to desire to do something - now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.

(2 Corinthians 8:9-11)

We can’t out-give God, the greatest giver of all; but we can respond with joy to what God has provided for us: our-selves, our time, our possessions, signs of God’s gracious love. We have been given the gift of faith in Jesus Christ; our response is our way of saying “thank you.”

Ask, and you will receive; Seek and you will find; Knock, and the door will be opened for you. (Matthew 7:7)

Asking is a privilege, when we ask in God’s name. When we ask others to give, we are doing them a favor. We are offering them an opportunity to grow in their faith and generosity.

I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance be-tween your present abundance and their need . . .

(2 Corinthians 8:13-14)

We have the opportunity, and the “response-ability,” to address the needs in our community and throughout the world.

What shall I return to the Lord for all the Lord’s bounty to me? (Psalm 116:12) We have been incredibly lavished with an abundance of God’s gifts. There is plenty to be shared.

- Our opportunity for giving

Go therefore and make disciples . . . (Matthew 28:19)

For I was hungry, and you fed me . . . (Matthew 25:35)

Led by the Holy Spirit and living in God’s grace, Norman-dale Lutheran Church is a community proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through love, learning, worship, and service.

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

…Many people will tell you that separation and divorce are the most painful and stressful experiences they’ve ever faced. It can be one of the loneliest, confusing, and disorienting chapters in your life.

Don’t do it alone!!

DivorceCare is a 13-week small group experience designed to help you face the challenges of divorce or separation and learn strategies to move toward rebuilding your life. Each 2-hour session includes a video featuring top experts on divorce followed by a non-judgmental, supportive small group discussion with trained facilitators who “get” what you’re going through. This is not a therapy group; rather a support system for hurting individuals. The program is open to anyone going through the challenging times brought on by divorce or separation. Read more about the process at divorcecare.org.

Thursday Nights through May 7 | 7:00 – 9:00pm | Drop-ins welcome

Cost: All costs will be paid by NLC Location: NLC | Room 204

Registration: Call the church office at 952.929.1697 x 10 or email janet@normluth.org

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Normandale Luther Church strives to be a welcoming place, with a desire to embrace all into our community, so that we may share in God’s love for us and the good news of Jesus Christ. Join us as we explore how we may become a more welcoming place in the specific context of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. We invite you to listen, learn, converse, and share stories on one another’s perspectives in the love and grace of God. Welcoming Forum

Amy Marga, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Luther Seminary Sunday, March 15 | 9:45-10:45 am Fellowship Hall Welcoming Small Group Gatherings

Sunday, March 22 | 9:45-10:45 am Room 204 Wednesday, April 15 | 7:00-9:00 pm Lower Level Conference Room Saturday, April 25 | 9:30-11:00 am Room 213

Contact Amy James (amy@normluth.org) or Patty Beadle (pattybeadle@aol.com) for questions.

The Columbarium Task Force continues to move forward toward development of a proposal for a columbarium at Normandale. With the growing trend toward cremation over traditional burial, many churches are choosing to construct a columbarium for members and their families. Task force members have visited various sites and churches to view installations, both indoors and outdoors, and have met with several columbarium providers. Renderings are being prepared to illus-trate proposed possibilities. Please join our informational forums (listed below) on topics such as wills and estate planning, end-of-life decisions, and funerals or memorial services. FORUMS | 9:45-10:45 am | Fellowship Hall

March 1:

Dr. Jason Reed on “End of Life Directives for Medical Care” & an attorney on “Wills and Estate Planning.” March 8:

Gordon Eid, Chair of the Columbarium Committee on “Is a Columbarium Right for Normandale Luther-an Church” & Dean Newins, Principal Architect, OPUS, on ”Renderings for Possible Columbarium Locations.” For questions or comments, speak with members of the task force: Dana Arnold, John Bernhardson, Gordon Eid, Karen O’Neill, Orv Sietsema, Bill Wilkening, or our adviser, Pastor Paul.

Gordon Eid, Chairperson

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

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Experiencing the presence of God through

Normandale Lutheran Church Growing up in Edina, I attended several different churches. I was bap-tized at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, confirmed at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, and spent my high school years at Normandale.

My wife, Natalie, and I married in June 2010 and began looking for a church to call home. We visited several churches, Normandale being one. In June of 2011, we learned that Normandale had hired a new senior pastor, Paul Pettersen whom had married us. When we did our marriage counseling with Pastor Paul, my wife said to me “wow….he's great, so easy to talk to and so relatable, different from any other pastor I’ve met.” We became members of Normandale shortly thereafter.

Recently, I was asked to share a little bit about how I experience the presence of God in my life. After much thought, I realized that it is at Normandale where I feel closest to God. It’s the one spot where the craziness of the outside world stops. Even if it’s just the 5 minutes it takes me to drop off my son at preschool or Sunday school, I feel a comfort being around all the other kids and parents of the church. It’s different than being at a kid’s soccer game or a school event. It feels like home and that feels good.

When I was tired of just attending on Sunday and wanted to be more involved, I talked to Amy James about how I could serve. The way I chose to participate is as an usher. It has been great getting to know my fellow ushers, and learning more about them and their lives. The best perk is greeting and interacting with members on Sunday morn-ing. My son, Owen, helped me usher last month. I enjoyed seeing the smile he put on peoples’ faces as he handed them a bulletin and said, “good morning.”

As I continue to challenge myself and find new ways to participate and give back to the church, I urge other members who might feel like I once did. If you are just going through the motions of worship, step outside your comfort zone. Get involved and experience the presence of God in our church community. As Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Bio: Aaron Ouska is a realtor at Edina Realty. He and his wife, Natalie, live in Edina with their two sons Owen (4) and Liam (1).

Last fall I reported on the progress Normandale and the North Western Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church (NWGELC), Ranchi, India were making in developing congregation-based community health care for tribal people. Our partnering task forces had agreed on an implementation plan, which we refined and detailed during face-to-face meetings in November. (Hans Quitmeyer, Jim Meffert, and I represented Normandale. Jim reported on our partnership in the January Normandale News.) Basically, the NWGELC will be responsible for program supervision and operations; Normandale will continue to participate in strategic planning and provide capital for specific projects and staff training. We look forward also to sending medical (and other) teams to Ranchi in coming years.

Now another team travels to Ranchi to participate in launch-ing the program, following our Implementation Plan. We’re on schedule. We will:

Break ground for the construction of a 6-apartment faculty/staff residence.

Break ground for the Health Ministry Centre. Receive a draft Job Description of a “Ministry Health Director.”

Continue to broaden personal relationships.

Pray, sing, worship, converse, eat, play, and be together.

Members of our Ranchi “Launch Team” are Ann Bentdahl, Amy James, Kim Sannerud, Pastor Paul, and myself. Our pictures—along with architectural drawings of the resi-dence and health centre—grace the church narthex display case. Please keep us in your prayers even as you continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in India and our partnership.

Incidentally, our financial obligations will be met through our Comprehensive Capital Campaign—All Together in One Place. Our half of the staff residence will be $63,250 (for Health Centre staff; the other 3 apartments will house seminary faculty). The Health Centre itself will cost $68,000. We will forward all funds through the World Mission Prayer League (which has already established financial connections), and then only upon receipt of invoices for work done (and approved by the NWGELC Health Programme Supervising Committee).

The possibilities for this ministry outstrip our imagination.

Pastor Dale

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. [Psalm 98:1]

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

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How was it possible that nearly 150 children kept the secret of a surprise 80th Birthday Party for their director? Yes, I do believe in mira-cles, and this truly was another one of God’s miracles, because that’s exactly what happened after worship on

January 25! The Boys & Girls Choirs sang at the 8:30 am service, and when I came back to our rehearsal room I was surprised by a beautifully decorated cake, a huge “Happy 80th Birthday” card signed by the chil-dren, and a roomful of excited children and parents. What a surprise!! I must confess I was moved to tears! Thank you so much dear children and choir moms for your thoughtfulness and your love! A card I received at Christmas said, “God is Good and He shows His goodness through you.” He truly shows His goodness through you faithful sing-ers and you faithful choir moms and grand-moms (dads and grandpas at choir camp too)!

Normandale Preschool and Blessing Place are proud to announce that they have recently earned accredita-tion by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the leading organization for early child-hood professionals. With assistance from the Minnesota Association for the Educa-tion of Young Children (MnAEYC), Normandale Preschool and Blessing Place

completed a rigorous quality improvement process, was assessed to ensure that they met certain standards, and was ultimately accredited.

This process takes a tremendous amount of time and dedication, but it’s clear that the process of becoming accredited benefits children, families, teachers, and pro-grams. Choosing an early childhood pro-gram for children can be difficult for par-ents, and knowing that a program is ac-credited and therefore of the highest quality takes some of the stress away.

Accreditation is a third party endorsement of a program’s ability to meet research-based quality standards. It in-cludes parent and staff evaluations of the program, class-room observations, and program and classroom evalua-tion by an outside assessor from the accrediting body.

We are grateful to the support we had from MnAEYC and the funding of the Greater Twin Cities United Way, as we went through this process. It took a lot of the fear and mystique out of it and it’s no exaggeration to say we couldn’t have done it without their assistance. Identify-ing the areas to improve and then improving them has made a huge difference for the staff, the directors, and ultimately and most importantly the parents and the children who rely on Normandale Preschool and Blessing Place to meet their educational needs.

I am proud of our entire Normandale Preschool and Blessing Place Team for their efforts on behalf of our program and the children and families at Normandale Preschool and Blessing Place.

JoAnne Gustafson, MAEd Director, Normandale Preschool

What an exciting ministry I’ve experienced with the children of Normandale these past 34 years! It has truly been “God at Work!” I thank and praise Him for His faith-fulness.

My prayer each day is this: “May God grant me Work until my Life is over and Life until my Work is done!” Only He knows how long my ministry with Normandale Children’s Choirs will be!

Thank you, Normandale family, for your constant encouragement, for your love, and especially for your continued prayer support. “Not to us , O Lord, not to us, but to Thy Name give glory, for the sake of Thy steadfast love and Thy faithfulness!” Psalm 115:1 With love in Him,

Ruth Oliphant

Children’s Choir Director

NORMANDALEnews

for the

outpouring of care, congratulations, cards, gifts, and meals which many Normandale-ites have expressed and/or given upon the birth of our new daugh-ter, Lena. Your love and connection has

been a blessing. May God continue this work in you with others in our community! Lena and all of us look forward to continuing to hear of God's love through you.

Sincerely,

The Ruuds - Pastor Charlie and Becky, Lucy, Hattie, & Lena

March 2015

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For more information about Children’s Ministries, contact Liz Paul, Children’s Director 952-929-1697 x 14, elizabeth@normluth.org

Sundays | 9:45-10:45am | Rooms 212-213

It is an opportunity for parents with kids of all ages to share challenges, victories, and wisdom with one another. Join us each week for a unique topic and vibrant conversation.

Upcoming Schedule

March 1 Speaker: Pastor Charlie “Stump the Pastor” March 8 Screens and our Kids March 15 But I don’t have all the answers! Faith questions & kids March 22 Pinterest Problems: Pressure to keep up

1st Grade Faith Marker Lord’s Prayer

Sunday, March 8 9:45-10:45 am Multi-Purpose North One Year Old Faith Marker Bedtime Blessings

Sunday March 22 10:00-10:30 am Sanctuary

Family Camp at Camp Wapo is a marvelous, unforgetta-ble time for families of all ages in God’s outdoor king-dom! Join other Normandale families and friends for a weekend of fun, fellowship, crafts, campfires, swimming, and kid-friendly Bible studies. Accommodations at Wapo are in a hotel-style lodge, complete with individual rooms for families, with a private bathroom and shower! The main gathering space is even air-conditioned! Camps offer weekend pricing options that range from all-inclusive lodging and food to tenting on camp grounds where you can opt to eat in the dining hall or bring your own food; you pick what best fits your budget. There’s plenty of time to spend together as a family, as well as scheduled and fully-planned group activities. Come join our Normandale family for camp. Cost: $250, including meals

Registration: February 1 through May 1

Each summer Normandale kids head off to Camp Wapo to learn more about God through the camp experience. Join us! To register, visit the Camp Wapo registration page at: http://campwapo.org/pages/registration Seeds Weekend Ages: Students completing 2nd – 3rd grade Dates: July 10-12 Cost: $150 (due with registration—$100 of this fee is Non-Refundable/Non-Transferable) Transportation: Car pool Youth Camp Ages: Students completing 4th - 8th grade Dates: July 5-10 Cost: $410 Deposit: $100 (due with registration—this is a Non-Refundable / Non-Transferable deposit) Transportation: Bus/Car pool Scholarships are available to ANY child wishing to attend VBS or Camp Wapo.

Super Service Sampler Sunday, March 22 | 2:00-4:00pm (see Page 15 for more information) AMEN: Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 4 | 10:00 – 11:30am (see Page 16 for more information) Rummage Sale | May 1 & 2, 2015

As you begin your spring cleaning, remember to set stuff aside for our Normandale Giant Kid’s Rummage Sale again this year. We will start collecting dona-tions after Easter. Watch for more information coming soon!

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

For more information about Youth Ministries, contact Steve Hanson, Director, 952.929.1697 x 29 or steve@normluth.org

All 7-12th grade students and their friends are invited to come along on this once a year trip. We will travel to Duluth at Spirit Mountain. While our days will be filled with skiing, our nights will be filled with swimming and fellowship (along with some late night devotions).

We leave on Friday, March 20 at 5:00 pm and return on Sunday, March 22 by 6:00 pm. Cost includes lodging, 2 lift tickets, 2 water park passes, dinner on Friday & Saturday, breakfast Saturday & Sunday. Need money for two lunches. Forms in the church office or at the Welcome Ctr.

The dates for the biennial Normandale Youth Choir tour are set! NYC will be singing concerts or for worship in nine Lutheran congregations in the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota. Overnight stops include Big Timber, Bozeman and Billings MT, Seattle WA, Coeur d’Alene ID, Rapid City and Arlington SD. Some of the sites to see…Seattle Space Needle, Pike Place Fish Market, Mt Rushmore, Wall Drug, Washington State Ferry, and Puget Sound.

Ages: 3 year olds - 5th grade

Grade 6 & up: Volunteers (Free!)

Time: 9 am – 12 noon

Sometimes we face challenges that seem like moun-tains in front of us, but with faith in God’s power we can conquer our challenges. Join us this summer as we scale Mt. Everest to learn about God’s amazing power for love, grace, and forgiveness. With God’s help, we can move mountains!

Cost: 3-11 year olds before July 1: $35 per child/$80 max per family after July 1: $40 per child/$100 max per family

Contact: Liz Paul, 952-929-1697 x 14 or elizabeth@normluth.org

for

high school-age youth takes place every three years and is about faith formation, worship, study, fellowship, service, and play. It is an opportunity for youth to engage with peers from across the United States and the world who share a common commitment and

faith in Christ. The Gathering will be held July 15-19, 2015, in Detroit, Michigan. The Gathering is a five-day event that begins on a Wednes-day evening and ends with a service of communion the fol-lowing Sunday morning. The opening night sets the stage for

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The youth of Normandale need your help as they prepare for the Pacific Northwest choir tour this summer! We invite you to share a special evening with us featuring wine, amazing desserts, and coffee. There will be great auction items including two tickets to the upcoming Billy Joel concert, catered dinners, and summer getaways. The money raised at the auction will help subsidize the indi-vidual cost to go on the trip. Please join us on Thursday, April 9 at Braemar Golf Course from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Cost is $40 per person. Reservations being accepted at the Welcome center and online at www.normluth.org/Events.

the days ahead in which young people may have an encounter with Jesus that energizes their faith and helps them discover their call to serve in the world — locally and globally. On the days between Wednesday and Sunday, young people rotate through a variety of service learning experiences in the surrounding com-munity. They explore and strengthen their faith by studying God’s word, serving their neighbor, sharing bread and wine in worship, participat-ing in lively faith discussions and broadening their experience of God’s world and diverse communities through travel.

Dancers needed for Easter Vigil worship service. All abilities (grades 3-12) welcome. If you love to move and want to praise and seek God through dance, we can't wait to meet you! Contact Betsy Gaasedelen, bgaasedelen@gmail.com

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

Dinner is served 5:00-6:45 pm in Fellowship Hall. Cost: $4 per adult and $3 for children 12 & under.

March 4 Spaghetti March 11 Baked Chicken March 18 Meatloaf March 25 Ham & Scalloped Potato Casserole

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We are seeking two support teams for our two incoming resident families this summer. Each team consists of a man and a woman who meet regularly with our case manager, Val Pruitt and the resident. These teams help each resident establish goals, setting priori-

ties, developing strategies, and checking progress.

Please prayerfully consider this calling to this ministry service that is so important to our residents!

Contact Phil Larson at 952-994-7898 or plarson@normandalehouse.org

We are all still kind of numb following the news of the death of photo-journalist Kenji Goto. I started hearing about his work a week or two ago, when he had been captured by ISIS militants. The more I heard about him, the more I liked what I heard. Kenji went into war-torn or danger zones, AIDS places, epidemic places, etc, especially to capture the lives of the children and women, the everyday people of the land. He published some photo-journal books of the lives of children. He went into many schools to talk to young people in Japan, telling them about the children and mothers in other countries. He wanted people to realize we are fundamentally part of the same cloth as human beings. Then he went into Syria to save his friend (two weeks after the birth of his second child.) His last video mes-sage was to his father, saying with a gentle smile, "I am going into Syria of my own volition. I'm sure I'll be back, but in the event that something should happen, the responsibility lies completely with me who has made this choice. Please don't think anything bad of the Syrian people." I later found out that he became a member of a Presbyterian church here in Tokyo in 1997. In an interview he said that he always carries a Bible, and Psalm 54 is "his verse." So, I guess just real-izing he is one of the relatively few Christians in Japan, I couldn't help feeling even more gratitude for his work and his being. He would not flaunt that. But it was behind a lot of what formed him, it seems. Thus, his message mentioned below is even more meaningful. We need more voices like this that honor "others." We hoped he would be released and indeed it looked as though he might be for a few days last week. But it was not to be. As one of my friends responded: "Thanks for sharing more than we've heard on the news about this fine man. The world needs more like him and hopefully that can happen with his posthumous influence. The bottom line is....... What is this world coming to??" They showed in the news Muslims all over Japan, and hundreds more in Jordan at the Japanese embassy, mourning for Kenji, and holding signs saying "I am Kenji, We are Kenji." There have been joint clerical displays with Muslims, Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Shintos. Already Kenji has performed a kind of miracle of a rare voice of unity. He has touched a heart in this land. God is Love. In case you haven't seen this, go to: http://abcnews.go.com/International/slain-japanese-journalists-poignant-message-hate-humans/story?id=28681794

Love, Carol Sack

Missionary in Toyko, Japan

Methodist Hospital Hospice will be providing training sessions this spring, April & May, for new volunteers. Our volunteers give respite care to caregivers who are car-ing for terminally loved ones in their own private homes.

Commitment is a maximum of 4 hours per week, and training is 4 sessions.

If interested, please call Libby Swanson at 952-993-5381.

NORMANDALEnews

They are in need of many household items: Dining room table/chairs Living room sofa/chairs

Full size bed/bedding Kitchen items

If you can help donate, please call Binta at 612-232-9198.

March 2015

Normandale Lutheran Church has come to be a living tribute to the memory of loved ones and a glorious reminder of the awaken-ing. All members of Normandale are invited to share their blessings by means of decorat-ing the church at Easter with blooming

plants, or by making a contribution to community con-cerns. Please make contributions in the amount of $16 for each gift (forms are available at the Welcome Center or at www.normluth.org/News) and return it to the church office along with your payment. The deadline for plant orders and contributions to community concerns is Sunday, March 29.

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N O R M A N D A L E C E N T E R F O R

Healing & Wholeness

This 6-week small-group education program is designed to provide you with a wealth of self-care tools that will help you take care of yourself while taking care of others. You will learn to reduce stress, improve your self-confidence, balance your life, better communicate your feelings, increase your ability to make tough decisions, and locate helpful resources. Our Healing & Wholeness facilitators have undergone training and preparation through the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging. When: Thursdays, March 26—April 30 | 1:30-3:30 pm Where: Normandale Lutheran Church Cost: $60 suggested contribution (includes a $30 workbook) | Sliding Fee Scale available—please inquire.

Are you age 60 and older with an ongoing health condition? You’ll receive support, find practical ways to deal with pain, sleep issues and fatigue, manage weight and decrease your fall risk with this 6-wk program. All facilitators have been trained by the Minn. Department of Health or the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging. When: Wednesdays, April 15—May 20 | 2:00-400 pm Where: Fairview Southdale Hospital, Shalom Room, Lower Level 6401 France Ave. So., Edina Cost: $60 suggested contribution. Sliding Fee Scale available—Please inquire!

This 8-week program can help you improve your quality of life and increase your independence! You will learn to recognize falls hazards in your home, be assertive about falls prevention, and incorporate exercises that increase strength and balance. When: Tuesdays, April 7—May 26 | 2:00-4:00 pm Where: Our Lady of Grace Catholic Community, 5071 Eden Ave., Edina Cost: $60 suggested contribution. Sliding Fee Scale available—Please inquire

Memory Movements is designed for people with mild memory loss along with a partner, friend or family member. Known for his gentle spirit, instructor Brian Kuebler has experience teaching this enhanced class within other community programs that serve those with memory loss.

When: Thursdays, April 16—May 7 | 1:00—1:45 pm Where: Normandale Lutheran Church Cost: Reduced to $28 a couple—includes the participant and a partner, friend, or family member.

Thanks to funding from the Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation, we are able to offer this class at a reduced cost!

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

each month has the following activities:

10:30 am Kaffebord and conversation, blood pressure, games 11:00 am Book Club in Library 12:15 pm Chapel Service 12:30 pm Lunch 1:15 pm Program

March 12 Not the usual corned beef day as our speaker is from the American Swedish Institute with a program, The Immi-grants Trunk. It will be the story of where they came from, why they came, and what did they brought with them. Birgit Anderson will be doing the Book Club: Gray Mountain by John Grisham. It is about the desperate condi-tions of the Applachia area. Clarice Ottoson will be doing blood pressure checks until noon. Chapel Service will be presented by Val Pruitt from Normandale Housing. Lunch will follow the theme of the program.

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Bus leaves NLC at 6:40 pm; returns to NLC at 10 pm

Black Sheep pizza & salad bar

Non-alcoholic beverages including Citrus Ginger Ale

Brewery tour & history of Fulton

Good times, laughs, & fellowship Sign-up @ normluth.org/For-Men or the Welcome Center

NORMANDALEnews

Children in the audience will be given the opportunity to walk through the orchestra while they are playing and even conduct!

The Civic Orchestra will open the concert with the Brahms Serenade #1. The concert will conclude with an anthem of hope and peace written by Wilberg, “Let Peace then Still the Strife.” Soloists for the Requiem are Normandale members, Marnie Gaasedelen and Mark Garner.

The transformation begins. The library will be closed as we pack up the books for storage. Keeping the books safe and clean is a top priority. Books that will no longer be circulated will be available over the next few weeks in the Upper Narthex (outside the Sanctuary). Please look through the tables of books and help yourself. Stop by; you may find a favorite author or pick up a book for a friend. They are yours to take home!

BAPTISMS “For freedom Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5

Taylor Elizabeth Kemp (February 22) Daughter of Scott & Jamie Kemp

Shaeden Oline Jungwirth (February 8) Daughter of Matthew & Jenny Jungwirth

Reese Elisabeth Ritter (February 8) Daughter of David & Jenny Ritter

Annabelle Blanid Oslund (January 11) Daughter of Joey & Sarah Oslund

Blaize Wilbur Stanley Pierre Paul (December 28) Son of Stanley Pierre Paul & Allison Wilbur

Maya Jade Lindemann (December 28) Daughter of Michael & Gwendolyn Lindemann

FUNERALS “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 1

Ruth Neve (Funeral on March 7, 3:00 pm, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Minneapolis) Julie Smeby (February 5) Britta Joy Garven (January 16)

John Carl Swanson (January 10)

Lawrence R. Henke (January 9)

March 2015

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Normandale Preschool and Blessing Place meet daily Monday-Friday

Blessing Place 9-12:00 Normandale Preschool 9-3:00

NO Preschool or Blessing Place on March 30-April 3

NORMANDALEnews

Sunday, March 1 8:30 am Worship | Holy Communion 9:30 am Coffee Fellowship 9:45 am Forum: Columbarium Ministry 9:45 am FnL (Fellowship n Learning/7-12th gr) 9:45 am ParentRest 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship | Holy Communion

Monday, March 2 7:00 am Men’s Morning Bible Study 8:30 am Sew Day Quilting 5:30 pm Reading Buddies @ Hope Academy

Tuesday, March 3 1:00 pm Senior Committee Meeting 6:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Wednesday, March 4 9am-noon Podiatry Clinic 9:30 am Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am Adaptive Yoga 4:45 pm Boys Choir Rehearsal (3-6th gr.) 5-6:45 pm Wednesday Night Dinner 5:15 pm Brass Rehearsal 5:15 pm Preschool Committee Meeting 5:30-pm Wednesday Night Explorers (K-6th gr.) 5:30 pm Youth Choir Rehearsal (7-12th gr.) 5:50 pm Girls Choir Rehearsal (3-6th gr.) 6:15 pm Normandale Chamber Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Lenten Vesper Worship 7:45 pm Normandale Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 5 9am-noon Podiatry Clinic 10:00 am Thursday Morning Bible Study 2:00 pm H & W Tai Chi 4:30 pm Cherub Choir Rehearsal (K-2nd gr.) 5:45 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm DivorceCare 7:00 pm Conversation with Opus

Friday, March 6 7:00 am Friday Morning Bible Study 10:00 am Meditation in Movement (Yoga)

Saturday, March 7

Spring ahead one hour Saturday night: Daylight Saving Time Begins

9:30 am Flute Rehearsal 10:30 am Food Disorders Support Group 11:00 amMpls Civic Orchestra Concert

Sunday, March 8 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Coffee Fellowship 9:45 am First Grade Faith Marker 9:45 am FnL (Fellowship n Learning/7-12th gr) 9:45 am ParentRest 9:45 am Sunday School 9:45 am Forum: Columbarium Ministry 10:25 am Cherub Choir Pre-service Rehearsal 11:00 am Worship

Monday, March 9 7:00 am Men’s Morning Bible Study 10:00 am Normandale Women Board Meeting 1:00 pm Archives Committee 5:30 pm Reading Buddies @ Hope Academy 6:30 pm Children’s Ministry Committee

Tuesday, March 10 6:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Wednesday, March 11 7:00 am Preschool Staff Meeting 9:30 am Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am Adaptive Yoga 4:45 pm Boys Choir Rehearsal (3-6th gr.) 5-6:45 pm Wednesday Night Dinner 5:15 pm Brass Rehearsal 5:30-6:55 pmWednesday Night Explorers 5:30 pm Youth Choir Rehearsal (7-12th gr.) 5:50 pm Girls Choir Rehearsal (3-6th gr.) 6:15 pm Normandale Chamber Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Lenten Vesper Worship 7:45 pm Normandale Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 12 10:00 am Thursday Morning Bible Study 10:30 am Second Thursday 2:00 pm H & W Tai Chi 4:30 pm Cherub Choir Rehearsal (K-2nd gr.) 5:45 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm Serving @ Our Saviour‘s Shelter 7:00 pm Mary’s Circle @ Sue Schultz’s home 7:00 pm DivorceCare

Friday, March 13 7:00 am Friday Morning Bible Study 10:00 am Meditation in Movement (Yoga) Saturday, March 14 8:00 am Environment 9:00 am H & W Memory Companions 10:30 am Alzheimer’s Support Group 10:30 am Food Disorders Support Group

Sunday, March 15 7:45 am Boys Choir Pre-service Rehearsal 8:30 am Worship | Holy Communion | Blessing of Prayer Shawls 9:30 am Coffee Fellowship 9:45 am Welcoming Forum 9:45 am FnL (Fellowship n Learning/7-12th gr) 9:45 am ParentRest 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship | Holy Communion| Blessing of Prayer Shawls 4:00 pm Normandale Choir | Civic Orchestra Concert “Requiem”

Monday, March 16 7:00 am Men’s Morning Bible Study 8:00 am Sew Day Quilting 5:30 pm Reading Buddies @ Hope Academy 6:00 pm Stephen Ministry Leadership 6:40 pm Men’s Event: Fulton Brewery (bus leaves from NLC) 7:00 pm Stephen Ministry Supervision

Tuesday, March 17 6:00 pm Finance Committee 6:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous 7:00 pm Executive Committee

Wednesday, March 18 9:30 am Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am Adaptive Yoga 4:45 pm Boys Choir Rehearsal (3-6th gr.) 5-6:45 pm Wednesday Night Dinner 5:15 pm Brass Rehearsal 5:30 pm Wednesday Night Explorers (K-6th gr.) 5:30 pm Youth Choir Rehearsal 5:50 pm Girls Choir Rehearsal

6:15 pm Normandale Chamber Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Lenten Vesper Worship 7:45 pm Normandale Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 19 10:00 am Thursday Morning Bible Study 2:00 pm H & W Tai Chi 4:30 pm Cherub Choir Rehearsal (K-2nd gr.) 5:45 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm DivorceCare 7:00 pm Church Council

Friday, March 20 7:00 am Friday Morning Bible Study

Saturday, March 21 9:00 am Environment 9:00 am Book, Bagel & Brew 9:30 am Flute Rehearsal 10:30 am Food Disorders Support Group 4:00 pm Kids Night Out

Sunday, March 22 7:45 am Girls Choir Pre-service Rehearsal 8:30 am Worship | Campaign Pledges 9:30 am Coffee Fellowship 9:45 am 6th Gr. Sunday School Seder 9:45 am ATOP Prayer Group 9:45 am Small Group Welcoming 9:45 am One Year Old Faith Marker 9:45 am FnL (Fellowship n Learning/7-12th gr) 9:45 am ParentRest 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship | Baptism | Campaign Pledges 2:00 pm 2nd Annual Super Service Sampler

Monday, March 23 7:00 am Men’s Morning Bible Study 5:30 pm Reading Buddies @ Hope Academy 7:00 pm Priscilla Circle @ Sandy Reichert’s home Tuesday, March 24 1:00 pm Ruth Circle @ Bev Mattheis’ home 6:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Wednesday, March 25 9:30 am Women’s Bible Study 9:30 am Rachel Circle 10:00 am Adaptive Yoga 12noon Miriam Circle 12:45 pm Fairview Stroke Tai Chi 4:45 pm Boy’s Choir Rehearsal (3-6th gr.) 5-6:45 pm Wednesday Night Dinner 5:00 pm Life Reimagined @ Edina Fairview Southdale Hospital 5:15 pm Brass Rehearsal 5:30 pm Wednesday Night Explorers 5:30 pm Youth Choir Rehearsal 5:50 pm Girls Choir Rehearsal (3-6th gr.) 6:15 pm Normandale Chamber Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Lenten Vesper Worship 7:45 pm Normandale Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 26 10:00 am Thursday Morning Bible Study 1:30 pm Powerful Tools for Caregivers 2:00 pm H & W Tai Chi 4:30 pm Cherub Choir Rehearsal (K-2nd gr.) 5:45 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm DivorceCare

Friday, March 27 7:00 am Friday Morning Bible Study 10:00 am Meditation in Movement (Yoga)

Saturday, March 28 9:00 am Environment 10:30 am Food Disorders Support Group

March 2015

NORMANDALEnews

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March 2015

Normandale Lutheran Church 6100 Normandale Road Edina, MN 55436

Phone: 952-929-1697 Fax: 952-929-2767 Email: office@normluth.org

Sermons posted weekly

online at www.normluth.org

Like us on Facebook

Affirming Ministry & Mission

Led by the Holy Spirit and living in God’s grace,

Normandale Lutheran Church is a community

proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through

love, learning, worship, and service.

Normandale News (USPS 673-490) is published monthly by Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55436. Periodical postage paid at St. Paul, MN. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Normandale News / Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55436.

Worship Times:

Sundays: 8:30 & 11:00 am

Wednesday Lent Vespers: 7:00 pm: Mar 4, 11, 18, 25

For the calendar of events, go to: http://www.normluth.org/calendar

Website: www.normluth.org Visit for upcoming events, ways to connect and serve others around us. Visit the site for addi-tional information and registration. Give online: www.normluth.org/give

NORMANDALEnews March 2015

There will be a drivers education class for those updating their qualification for insurance discount on Tuesday, April 21 , 1:00-5:00 pm. Call 1-888-234-1294 to make a reservation. The cost is $20, but there is a $2 discount if you are an AAA member.

(located in Upper Narthex):

Flowers or Plants: If there is a special occasion, bless-ing, or person you would wish to acknowledge by placing flowers or plant in the Chancel for Sunday morning worship, please see the chart in the narthex. Up to two arrangements may be ordered each Sun-day, with the exception of Sundays during Lent. A $50 contribution for each occasion is request-ed; check payable to Normandale Lutheran Church with a notation “Chancel Flowers” on the memo line.

Help Support our Missionaries! You’ll find new

“Missionary Support Charts” on the narthex bulletin board at the rear of the sanctuary. Our pledged mission support is $120 each

week for Jim & Carol Sack and for the Ekka family in Ranchi, India. We need $30 from 4 persons / cou-ples / families every week to meet our commitment.

BAPTISMS “For freedom Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5

Annabelle Blanid Oslund (January 11) Daughter of Joey & Sarah Oslund

Blaize Wilbur Stanley Pierre Paul (Dec 28) Son of Stanley Pierre Paul & Allison Wilbur

Maya Jade LIndemann (December 28) Daughter of Michael & Gwendolyn Lindemann

FUNERALS “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 1

Britta Joy Garven (January 16)

John Carl Swanson (January 10)

Lawrence R. Henke (January 9)

Our next blood drive is Thursday, April 23, 1:30-6 pm. More donors are needed! We would be happy to answer any questions if you are won-dering whether it's right for you. To donate, contact Alta Fossum at 952-941-7022.