Tonight was my first Monday’s Meal–a monthly event put on by Impact Ministries (Team Leader: Ilene Polley). Here’s what happens:
I paid my $6 and went upstairs into Mercy
There were several round tables set up, all with lit candles and table cloths. The food was buffet style: yummy homemade chili, Sahlens hot dogs, ambrosia, cookies… BEAUTIFUL food, served with grace.
I had a great conversation over dinner with some great women.
Then the program….Lee Strobel talking about The Real Jesus. The idea is de-bunking some of the myths that are out there in our culture. He is a great speaker and the program was informational and helpful to me.
What a lovely evening–if you haven’t gone to a Monday’s Meal, yet, I recommend it! The next one is the first Monday in June (June 2, to be exact).
As a P.S., if you ever wonder if Jesus is the real deal–a true, historical figure who Lived, died on the cross and rose again–and wonder if you can say that to people in your life with surety, Lee Strobel’s book “The Case for the Real Jesus” would be a great read. He also has a great website: LeeStrobel.com which has thousands of free videos which are searchable. Punch in “Muslim” or “The Gospel of Thomas” or whatever you’re looking for help with and video responses will pop right up.
I wrote about Fake Fun, recently–here’s some more. I took most of them, but one was submitted by Darcy Fesmire. If you send me one, I’ll add it to the web album! Remember, Fake Fun turns into Real Fun Real Fast!
Pastor Chuck always has a smile on his face when I first see him on Sunday morning, but this morning there was a special sparkle, which I know came from the fact that his son Jon was confirming his faith today. One of the things I love most about him, is that as much as he loves being a pastor, he loves being a husband and father more.
While they were warming up before the 8:45am service, I got to tell the choir that one of their long-time, beloved members, Ginny, received a good report from her cancer surgeon yesterday. She will still have some treatments, but the prognosis is good. The choir is being directed during the interim after Ruth Kovach retired by Kathy Gibson…and they sound wonderful!!
I love it when I get the chance to greet people as they arrive for the Education Hour at 10:00–for me, it’s clear that there’s something exciting happening when all these people of all these ages are gathering to study God’s Word.
I was special guest at Everyday Faith this morning. Pam Stone and Marsha Peth asked me to share the story of my Bible with the third graders and their parents. My Bible is a work-in-progress gift for my Godson/Nephew Paul when he turns 18. Every time I read it, I pray for him. I’m always writing notes to him in it, and quotes and drawing in it. There’s photos in there, too, of Paul as he grows up. I got a little teary when I was talking about it.
The Everyday Faith kids made gift bags and beach balls for kids in Haiti because they’re in the Minor Prophets section of the Bible. One of the big messages of the Minor Prophets was “Take care of poor people!” There are also poor people all around us right here…how can we help?
CONFIRMATION. I love all the people everywhere, the kids who are confirming their faith, the craziness, the honor we give to families in the service–knowing that families are God’s original idea for passing along the faith. I so appreciate all of Jason’s good work in preparing the service and the kids for this day. And I love having the small group leaders be part of it–Paul Zimberg and Heide Mathien. I love a Pastor who looks each confirmand in the eye, smiles warmly and invites them to kneel to receive the blessing. I thought the music was great today, too. We have some logistical things to write down for improving things next year–Kathy Figini is making a file.
I need to write the children’s message down before I forget it–it really worked. The book I want to write some day is about children’s messages being times for congregation and children to teach each other. Those little kids looking into the eyes of those big kids while we all said, “Keep praying. Keep worshiping. Keep helping others. God wants you to and we need you to.” Good moment. So much more powerful than Sue Steege entertaining the little ones for a few minutes.
In a day of many fun moments, my favorite was during Communion. A little boy whom I didn’t recognize…seemed like he was there for the confirmation, maybe came up for the blessing. Buzz cut, little grey vest with a red tie on, maybe 6 years old. For the blessing, I usually say, “God loves you so much. He always has and He always will” (I’m thinking I’m might like to perk up what I say, but that’s for another post), and make the sign of the cross on their forehead. So with this little boy, I put my hand on his head and said, “God loves you so much…”, he looked up at me, giggled, twinkled his eyes and said, “I know.” Not silly, not cocky, just so sure, already that God loves him so much. Oh that we would all receive His love that way every every day!
Phil Morris, one of our Cornerstone small group leaders and the teacher for our 7th-8th grade Sunday school class told me about a new craze for taking pictures: it’s called Fake Fun. You just ask the subjects of your photo, on “three” to pretend they are laughing like crazy–to pose. So, even though they aren’t making a sound and aren’t really laughing, it looks like it. BEST PICTURES, EVER. If you take one, why don’t you post it in the comments? By the way…what is your favorite thing to do to have REAL FUN? On my list:
Movies with friends (saw “Kite Runner” last night–the story is so powerful)
Read read read read. I love to read a great novel.
Walk
Cook, especially if I’m cooking for friends (last night: Quesadillas and a new Spanish Rice recipe)
OK…I’m going to try an experiment. I have a new toy called an “Eye-Fi” card. It should automatically upload photos to my web album as I take them of the prep and the Confirmation Banquet tonight. If you keep coming back to this blog post and clicking on it, let’s see if you can follow along on the evening!
Remember, it’s an EXPERIMENT. That means I don’t know if it’s going to work.
Always always glad to be back at First Trinity when I’ve been away for a Sunday. Sunday is “Game Day” for me and I love love love it.
Isn’t the banner above beautiful? You can check it out live in the Hall of Joy (leads into Celebration–the gym). The Kingdom Quest kids made it during welcome activities, led by Pam Jones and her daughter, Kelsey. The flying creatures are the outline of kids’ hands. New Life–one of my fav themes.
My PIT Crew (Pastor’s Intercessory Team) prayed with me live and in person at 9:30. It feels luxurious to have that kind of prayer coverage. I am so grateful.
I thought the choir sounded beautiful today at the 8:45 service–and Doreen Sutherland rocked the house with the organ on “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”.
I love a congregation where we miss our Pastor when he is not there, but rejoice that he is with his family on the day his grandson is dedicated. Both are true.
All this and Pastor Touloute, too. God is so, so good. All the tiem.
Pirate Joe made a visit to Everyday Faith today (third graders and their parents working through the Scriptures…). Here he is:
Pirate Joe was looking for treasure and the kids helped him see that God’s Word is the Biggest Treasure of all. I crack up every time Pirate Joe talks about “Me stinky sister” and almost tear up with gratitude for the fun + solid Bible learning + parents and kids + Holy Spirit WOW that is Everyday Faith. My true favorite images are ones like this, where kids and parents (or grandparents) are bent over their Bibles, together:
It seems that cancer is so many places at First Trinity…and the Prayer Gathering organized by members of Ginny Opferbeck’s Life Group tonight was the best part of a very good First Trinity Day. 75+ people showed up to pray for her in light of her cancer diagnosis and her surgery this Tuesday. P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. There were many sweet moments, but hearing Ginny’s grandson Aiden’s chatty voice out in the narthex while we were praying silently for his Grandma was the most beautiful to me. It made me wonder why we don’t gather much more often to place ourselves before God on behalf of our hurting, suffering, scared and haunted loved ones. What I loved (one of MANY things I loved) about tonight, was the “grass roots” nature of the gathering–it was not written or led by staff. It was written, thought-of and led by Ginny’s life group (especially Karen Ruch). Body of Christ in action, baby. I love it!
We had some women’s hoops tonight–it was a slow return with many people not able to make it at the last minute. I have a bum foot (made a Crocs mistake that is too long to tell, here–sore foot is the result), so I played “All Time Point Guard” for one team and Christine (hurt knee) played it for the other. I don’t know why playing hoops with friends is so restorative to me, but it so is. If you would like to join us, let me know!!!
Saturday: My nephew Paul Charles Steege’s First Communion (my Lutheran-raised, turned devout Catholic brother keeps calling it “Second Communion” because it happens in second grade–cracks me up) at Annunciation Roman Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 51 second graders and their families. A certain joyous-ness that happens with kids that age. They believe what you say: Jesus is in this bread and this wine.
Sunday: Worship at my home church, Woodbury Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minnesota (I also graduated from Woodbury High School–they’re not so clever with the naming in Woodbury). The faith community that stretches over time and miles. The Gospel proclaimed to me at Woodbury along with the question: “Would you ever think about being a DCE?” People who worshiped and sang with my parents. Roots.
Monday: Ralph Mueller’s memorial service at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Tonawanda, New York. The Gospel preached with boldness and clarity. Sons who told the stories of a faithful father. The mixed emotions of loss and New Life.
The constant? God’s Word. In all three worship services, God’s Word was read, reflected on and taken in. Little children read it. Adults read it. Teen-agers read it. God’s Word is alive–it matters. The Word comes to us in Holy Communion. As I heard in Woodbury: it is the Rock. You can stand on it. The Word comes to us as comfort when those we love go to join our Lord.
I’m home in my own condo after a quick trip to Minnesota for my nephew Paul’s First Communion. This will be a different Sunday Night chat, since I didn’t worship at First Trinity today, but here goes:
I worshiped at my home congregation, Woodbury Lutheran Church at their Genesis (contemporary) service. My KINDLE and Youth Gathering friend was leading the Genesis service so that was super cool
It was a powerful mix of emotions: I cried through the first two songs, overwhelmed by memories of my dad’s funeral, which had been in that same room, almost 24 years ago, plus gratitude to that community of faith which birthed, in me the desire to be a Director of Christian Education.
I also had to check myself so that I spent less time evaluating the worship service (it was very well done!) and more time connecting with Jesus. Church-worker hazard.
Woodbury is two weeks away from the “Grand Opening” of “Cafe 121″–a super cool space for youth. It is a coffee house (espresso and snacks and more), free wi-fi and just a fantatastic hang-out, study, connect space. It will be open Monday - Thursday from 2:30-8:00pm. When I said I’d pray, Derek and Joel said, “Pray for our kids to bring their friends so that it can be an outreach to the community.” Will do.
An unexpected joy was running into people from my youth at Woodbury…retired Pastor Paul Pfotenhauer and his wife Rhoda, and a few others who knew me as a young person and knew my parents. So sweet. I am so grateful.
I can’t wait to worship at First Trinity next week! As great as today was, I am alway so happy to come home to First Trinity…
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