Volume 55, Issue 5 MAY 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Worship in May.................. 1

Synod Assembly ................. 1

I Believe ................................ 2

May Lectionary ................... 2

Bible Studies ........................ 2

Fauré Requiem ................... 3

Backpack Program ............. 4

Sunday School ..................... 4

MBC Benefit Concert ....... 4

Moments of Generosity ... 4

Missionary Circle ............... 4

Chi Rho at 50 ..................... 4

May “Special Offering” ...... 4

Staff Corner ........................ 5

Easter Plants ........................ 5

Community Meal ............... 5

Loaves & Fishes .................. 5

Remembering in Prayer .... 6

Can you Help? .................... 6

“Meet & Greet” ................. 6

Birthdays/Anniversaries .... 6

Office Information ............. 6

Lutheran Center Update.. 7

SJ Child Care: Dana ........... 7

John Norris Scholarship ... 7

Summer Day Camp ........... 7

The Messenger

WORSHIP IN THIS EASTER SEASON

Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

May 7: “Philip Baptizes the Ethiopian”

Guest Choir: Sonamento

Craig Fields, Conductor

May 14: “Not ‘Us’ and ‘Them’”

Guest Musicians:

Barbary Coast Dixieland Band

May 21: “New Body, Old Clothes”

Music Sunday!

Bells, Brass, Big Choir

(potluck following worship)

May 28: “Clothed Anew in Faith”

St John’s Choir

Real Presence:

in our neighborhoods, with our neighbors We find Real Presence, we live Real Presence in our

neighborhoods and with our neighbors.

Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly May 5-6, 2017

Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ramsey

The Minneapolis Area Synod gathers annually to conduct business in the

Synod Assembly, which is the synod’s highest legislative authority. More

than 600 participants attend the Synod Assembly each year, including

representatives from each congregation (Anna Carlson & Andy Dosdall

from St. John’s) and active rostered leaders. The gathering is filled with

worship, inspiration, presentations, and necessary business. We all can

participate with our prayers.

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Recently a member came in to see me. He shared with me how

important Peder’s preludes are for him and rhetorically wondered if

others have that same feeling, and whether he was over-interpreting

the profundity of those moments. Not at all, I said. In fact the prelude

serves as a tool to prepare ourselves for worship. Have you ever

thought about the prelude as a tool to prepare yourself to worship

God? What else might you use to prepare yourself for worship?

And then ask yourself, “When does Christian worship begin?”

Recently I re-discovered an old file which contained this little gem

from the Westwood Watchman and the Miami Christian: Ten Rules

for Worship:

1) Worship begins as I close the door of my home. On my way I

pray for the church, for the minister, for those who worship far

and near.

2) Before I enter the House of God, I pause a moment that I may

cast off and leave outside all things and thoughts unbecoming a

child of my heavenly father: hatreds, frettings, worldly cares,

and sinful thoughts.

3) The moment I enter the door of this sacred house I cease all

conversation. I come in silence, for great things arise out of

quietness and minister to me and those about me.

4) As soon as I am seated I bow my head in prayer. I pray for

others as well as myself. I pray for my church and its great

causes. I ask God to be near.

5) I join in the singing of hymns and bow my head during the

Amen. I think about the words of the sermon and let their

meaning and spirit go down to the roots of my soul.

6) As I lay my offering on the plate, I say a prayer of thanks for

my money and ask God’s blessing on its use here and in the

uttermost parts of the earth.

7) Throughout the service I think of God objectively. As power,

peace, strength, love, God is all I need for life as it should be.

8) I listen as the minister preaches from God’s word, and I seek

to apply the message to my life. I pray for him as he preaches.

9) When the service has ended, in Christian friendliness, I speak

to those who are strangers to me.

10) As I pass through the outer portals I dedicate my life to walk

this week the high road with Christ.

The language is a bit dated, perhaps. The ideas might even be overly

rigid, and by adhering to these rules one might find that a sense of

effervescent joy (which is important to me) is excluded. But, I must

confess I personally often fail to do so, but would that we all took the

opportunity to address worship with this level of intentionality.

Because I think that the question is not only, “When does worship

begin?” but also, “When does Christian worship ever end?” Perhaps

this is our new edge on our journey of Growing in faith?

~Pastor Mark

Lectionary Readings for May

May 7 Easter 4

Acts 8:26-39 Psalm 22:25-31

May 14 Easter 5

Acts 15:1-18 Psalm 16:8-11

May 21 Easter 6

Galatians 1:13-27; 2:11-21 Psalm 30

May 28 Easter 7

Galatians 3:1-9; 23-29 Psalm 22:19-28

Bible studies with Pastor Mark,

based on the Readings for each following

Sunday, will continue in May on

Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and

on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in

St. John’s lounge. Come and join the

conversation anytime!

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THE MESSENGER “Bui ld ing and Nurtur ing a Fai th Communi ty” PAGE 4

Sunday School News Happy Easter everyone!

Here is the Sunday School Lesson Schedule for May 2017:

5/7 The Holy Spirit at Pentecost Acts 2: 1-21 5/14 The Early Believers - Acts 4:32-35 (Mothers' Day) 5/21 Beginning and End - Revelation 1: 4-8

SUMMER BREAK (See page 7 for information on this summer’s South Minneapolis Day Camp)

~St. John’s CYF Committee

Moments of Generosity

A heartfelt message of thanks goes

out to the St. John's Sunday School

teacher team!

This school year, we said good-

bye to Jesse Fanciulli and wel-

comed Dustin Olson to our team.

Our multigenerational team spans

seven decades to provide a broad

faith perspective for our children.

Throughout the year these faithful friends dis-

played their thankfulness through gifts of time

and teaching: Louise Carlson, Jesse Fanciulli, Lia

Gambucci, Tamara Gebhardt, Sam Grace

(music), Anne Nervig, Dustin Olson, Elizabeth

Roe, Pastor Tiede and Clara Willette.

Missionary Circle Missionary Circle is meeting at noon on Wednesday,

May 3 in St. John’s lounge. Diane Rooney will be the

hostess. Interested? Welcome...bring your lunch if you

like!

The backpack program….

“It really does make a difference” is one of the comments from the social workers at Ramsey Middle School. We want to continue to make a difference for these families.

When you shop for your family, remember the Ramsey

families also. Requested foods are canned corn, peanut

butter, rice, canned tuna or chicken, canned fruit, mac &

cheese and cereal (Cheerios, Rice Krispies and Mini-

Wheats). Cash donations are use to purchase fresh fruit

and any items we are short of. Brueggers at 46th & Nicollet

donates bagels to add to the backpacks as well.

We will fill 15 backpacks in mid-May

for delivery to Ramsey on Friday, May

19. Packing help is appreciated;

you may contact Tamara Gebhardt at

gebhardtfamily@msn.com.

Remember - we are making a difference!

~Community and Neighborhood Committee

CHI RHO IS ‘50’

THIS YEAR!

Dates to remember:

May 27-28 Work Weekend at Chi Rho

Sunday-Pancake Breakfast

8 a.m.—noon

Everyone welcome!

July 2—Fireworks at Chi Rho, Annandale

Sponsored by Greater Lake Sylvia Assn.

August 19-20—SUMMERFEST

Saturday: Music, Food, Games

Sunday: Pancake Breakfast &Worship

NOTE: Chi Rho Retreat Center is in need of a

piano…contact Oly at ojstrombergs@aol.com

“68 miles due west”

St. John’s Chi Rho Committee will

Present the ‘Special Offering’ during

worship on Sunday, May 7.

The Metropolitan Boys Choirs Present their 46th annual

Spring Benefit Concert

Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at St. John's Church 4842 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, 55419

Special Guest Choirs from Park Spanish Immersion School

Silent Auction beginning at 1:30 This will be a fun family event! Free will donation.

www.mbchoir.com Bea Hasselmann, Music Director

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Staff Corner: Matthew Bell is the

Afternoon/Evening

Custodian at St. John’s.

He came to work here in

October of 2015, when

St. John’s was seeking a

second-shift custodian. “I felt with my years of

custodial-maintenance experience, along with my

background working primarily in other parishes, that

this would be a great fit for me.” About his work at St.

John’s, Matthew says, “Other than my coworkers and

the congregation in general, who have shown gratitude

toward me, I enjoy the responsibilities and take great

pride in having the building cleaned and ready for the

next day.” He also works part-time as a Building &

Grounds person at St. Clement’s Episcopal church in

St. Paul.

Matthew has a daughter, 26, who also has two

children herself (a daughter, 4, and a son, 2). “Yep, I’m

a grand-dad.” He also has a 23-year-old son...as well as

a 3-year-old male bulldog named Boss!

Matthew likes to bike three - four times a week to and

from work (from St. Paul). He also is learning to invest

in the stock market.

His hope for 2017 and beyond is “that we all make it

through #45’s regime.”

Community Meal:

Saturday, May 27 at noon

Come and help...come and

eat!

St. John’s volunteers in this ministry

of hospitality welcome about 30-40

guests, help prepare food and beverages,

bus and wash dishes, and clean up. The time commitment is

about two hours, 11:30-1:30 each fourth Saturday.

If you would like to help, you may sign up on the poster outside

Fellowship Hall, or contact the church office to volunteer or for

more information. Bring your family...invite a friend!

Thank you to everyone who showed up to prepare for,

welcome and serve our guests in April!

It will be St. John’s turn

to prepare the meal for

Loaves & Fishes

Monday, May 22 at 2:30 p.m.

TRUST congregations join together to

prepare and serve meals at Loaves and Fishes

at St. Stephen’s Church on the 4th Monday,

six times a year.

If you can help or have questions,

please call Marlene Holden

at 612-927-6369.

Easter Plants

were given by:

Anna & Steve Carlson Jeff Carlson - In memory of Jane and Roger Carlson Louise Carlson - In memory of Walter Carlson Richard & Nancy Carlson - In memory of Julie Ann Carlson & Jill Marie Carlson JoAnn Christoferson - In memory of Everett & Arvilla Christoferson Ron & Bonnie Conrad - In honor of family Ron & Vicky Ercolani - In honor of Katie & Carmen Mark & Tamara Gebhardt - In memory of Jim Greenlee and Ruth Flesner Ron & Bea Hasselmann - In memory of loved ones and in honor of Pastor Mark Bob & Marlene Holden - In honor of their families Debra Jacobs - “Because this is a wonderful church” Betty Johnson - In memory of Bob Johnson Lori Johnson - In memory of David Lee, Audrey & Ronald Johnson Tracy Johnson - In memory of Mike Johnson Sharon Koschak & Family - In honor of her new church home Bill Matson - In memory of cousins Brad Nelson - In memory of Nancy & Bob Adams Anne & Mark Nervig - In honor of their family Sandy Rader - In memory of Bud Rader and parents, Mabel & Lloyd Barber and Mary & Arnold Rader Bob Slifer - In memory of Judy Slifer Oly & Julie Stromberg - In memory of their son, Mike Tom Swanson - In memory of Terry Denn Elaine Taylor - In memory of Glenn Taylor

Thank you for these gifts!

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About Our People

Happy Birthday! 1 Vincent Smith

6 Idamae Northrup

9 Emmy Nordstrom

12 Charlie Wilson

13 Dan Dunham

14 Emika Taniguchi

15 Jennifer Burdick

Mari Tellijohn

17 Marge Huseth

18 Julie Hurbanis

21 Clara Dahle

Cole Megal

22 Mary Johnson

24 Kyra Cohen

25 Sydney Eid

Anne Nervig

26 Steve Fricke

Maren Fricke

Mayson Lee

Norleen Schmidt

28 Jeanne Tuvey

29 Carmen Ercolani

31 Selmer Laubach

Happy Anniversary!

1 Andrew & Sarah

Tellijohn

9 Emilia & William Smith

13 Jesse & Brian Fanciulli

19 Jim & Cynthia

Gambucci

20 Brian & Jill Landin

If your birth date and/or anniversary has not

been included or is incorrect, please call

the church office at 612-827-4406.

Thank you!

May Birthdays

& Anniversaries

Remembering in Prayer

Those in need of healing, comfort or sustaining care:

Dave Holms, Anne Kinney, Mike Lee, Jane McDonald, Brian Miles,

John McWaters, Lenore Schaffnit, Gregory Smetana, Judy Tiede, and

Margaret Thompson.

Those experiencing great uncertainty and loss:

+ Pastor Melissa Melnick of Tapestry Ministries, Richfield, whose 22-

year-old son, Chris, has been missing since being swept into the

Mississippi River on April 25. Pastor Melnick and others from

Tapestryhave helped with worship and Lenten meals at St. John’s.

Please let the church office know if you would like to

share information with the congregation.

You can reach the church office at 612-827-4406

Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.—5 p.m.

Fri. 9 a.m.—1 p.m.

The phone system at church has changed. Callers to St. John’s now have

the option to talk with or leave messages for individual staff, Child Care

or even Chi Rho by choosing one of these eight new prompts:

1. Church Office/Ann Paulson 5. Joseph Sahai/Matthew Bell

2. Sam Grace 6. Dave Helm, Chi Rho

3. Tina Shear 7. Nicole Vaughn, Bookkeeper

4. Venita Ditlevson 8. Pastor Mark Tiede

Email the church office at communications@stjohnsmpls.org

Email Pastor Mark at pastortiede@stjohnsmpls.org

Can You Help?

Mike Lee, husband of Lori Johnson, suffered a serious accident while on vacation

in Mexico. He and his family could use your help with a meal. To offer help, click

on or retype this link in Google https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/4dqly2 and it

will bring you to Mike’s ‘Meal Train’ page. Select a date and follow the prompts

to create an account and tell them what you will be providing.

No internet? Call or stop by the church office and Ann or Pastor Mark will help

you. Help with rides to appointments may also be needed for a while.

“Meet and Greet with Pastor Mark”

Thursday, May 25, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

This will be an informal gathering open to all people

curious about St. John’s and its ministries, who want to

get to know the crazy pastor and meet some others who

are also curious about the congregation.

The invitation into membership is offered. If anyone

says yes, then we will hold a New Member Sunday on

June 4th for those who are wanting to be a part of our

work in the world.

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Lutheran

Community

Center

Dear All,

This is to give you

some progress report on the construction of the

Lutheran Community Center and Primary Health

care clinic in Juba, South Sudan. According to the

contractors, the construction work will be completed

by May 8, 2017.

Thank you for your support and prayers; God has

been good to us.

As the construction work continues to progress,

we are getting ready for the dedication of our two

buildings. The day of celebration and the formal

opening of the center is now set for October 4--12,

2017. This includes travel date.

Peace be with you!

Benyam

(Benyam Kassahun is program director for Southern

Africa, ELCA Global Mission. One year ago on May

4, Pastor Mawien Ariik of

Juba shared his story with St. John’s of the

beginnings of this project.)

Dana- our music teacher at St. John's Child Care

Families of St. John’s -

It is with great sadness that we inform you about the passing

of our dear friend and music teacher, Dana. She shared her

incredible musical talents with St. John’s for over 35 years and

our children adored her. Her love and enthusiasm for singing

and music rubbed off on us all. She made it very fun.

Her piano, violin and vocal talents were only over-shadowed

by her kind, loving and caring personality. She made time

for people and was always up for a thoughtful, meaningful

conversation. Dana was an amazing person and made such a

beautiful impact on so many lives.

Please be patient with our staff, as many of us have been

friends and worked with Dana for many years. We are grieving

too. We will keep families posted on any information we learn

on Dana’s celebration of life.

We WILL keep singing, Dana!

We promise.

Warmly,

Tina Shear,

Director, St. John’s Child Care

Honoring our John Norris Scholar:

St. John’s is proud to

support an endowed

scholarship through

Augsburg College

in memory of

John Norris, a former

employee of St. John’s.

Norris loved jazz

music, and this year’s

recipient, Matthew

Zyla, carries on his memory playing upright bass in

Augsburg’s jazz ensembles.

Matthew, a Music Business major, is pictured above

with St. John’s Director of Worship and Music,

Samuel Grace.

Photo by Rebecca Studios.

Information Church Office ................ 612-827-4406

Church Office Fax ........ 612-827-0574

Child Care Center ........ 612-827-1237

Chi Rho Center ............. 320-274-8307

Church Office email:

communications@stjohnsmpls.org

Website ............ www.stjohnsmpls.org

Like us on Facebook!

Parish Staff PASTOR

Mark A. Tiede

DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP & MUSIC

Samuel Grace

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Ann Paulson

ORGANIST

Peder Flaten

BOOKKEEPER

Nicole Vaughn

CUSTODIANS

Matthew Bell

Jon Dosdall

Joseph Sahai

CHILD CARE CENTER DIRECTOR

Tina Shear

CHI RHO CENTER MANAGER

David Helm

Church Council Jennifer Belz, Vice President

Jennifer Burdick, Interim Secretary

Bonnie Conrad

Steve Dosdall, President

Allan Ferguson, Interim Treasurer

Jack Hurbanis

Sean Stagg

Oly Stromberg

Sarah Tellijohn

Eric Willette

THE MESSENGER “Bui ld ing and Nurtur ing a Fa i th Communi ty”

St. John’s Lutheran Church 4842 Nicollet Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55419

St. John’s Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran

Church in America (ELCA). We believe in the Triune God—Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior,

and the Gospel as the power of God for salvation for all that believe.

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the

written Word of God, inspired by God’s Spirit speaking through their

authors, recording and announcing God’s revelation centering in Jesus

Christ. We believe the Church to be a people created by God in Christ

and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

Sunday Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

Nursery care is provided.

Traditional worship that is joyful and welcoming to all.

ELCA Presiding Bishop: Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop: Bishop Ann Svennungsen