Cross Ways

Thought for the Month:

Beaver Lake Lutheran

Church

April 2021 Grow, Go & Glorify God

“Success us the sum of small efforts,

repeated day-in and day-out.”

-Robert Collier-

“Be still” he says, “and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme over the world.”

Psalm 46

Happy Spring!

On behalf of my family and I, we would like to say a big, “Thank you” for the warm

welcome we have received in coming to Beaver Lake! It has been wonderful to read

the cards that were sent to us, some folks have stopped in to the office or dropped off

photos of themselves, and we have also been able to connect through the use of technology. I am grateful

for the ability to connect in whatever ways we can and I look forward to the day when we can gather again

in person and have the opportunity to get to know one another better.

I am excited to share some joyous news with you on Sunday, April 11 at 3pm, I will celebrate my ordina-

tion! While it is different than I could have ever imagined, I am thankful that technology provides ways

for us to worship and celebrate together. I would like to invite you to join me virtually, via Facebook live.

Please check Beaver Lake’s Facebook page in the coming weeks for the link to the Live worship service

through Tapestry Church if you would like to join us. I look forward to celebrating my installation at Bea-

ver Lake early this summer. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and we can all be together outside to

celebrate and worship together!

Well, I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year I start looking for God’s creativity in creation.

I’m already seeing the beginnings of beauty starting as I have been outside to look at the first flowers peek-

ing through the dirt and the rhubarb starting to spring up. I have also had the opportunity to spend some-

time getting to know the Beaver Lake gardens and walking the Labyrinth. I can’t help but to be in awe of

the vision of spring and I give thanks for the beauty of the earth that our Lord has created. Seeing creation

unfolding reminds me of Psalm 8:1: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You

have set your glory above the heavens.". I hope that you are able to get a glimpse of God’s handy work this

spring!

Have a blessed Holy Week Journey and a very Happy Easter!

Peace and Joy,

Pastor Tammy

FROM OUR PASTOR

Page 2 Cross Ways

News from the Council

The monthly Council meeting was held on Tuesday, March 16. The meeting’s focal

points include the following summary. Updating the Technology: Pastor Tammy, Leslie Shank, and Kim Richardson attended

the ELCA Tool Kit online workshop for digital technology opportunities. The workshop presenters highlighted how churches are using digital platforms, such as Facebook,

Google, and Instagram to not only promote their ministries BUT also to DO minis-try. Social platforms offer many opportunities to reach people that may never walk into our church doors; is there a way for us to reach them through technology? The council

discussed ways BLLC can improve its digital platforms to reach a wider audience in our community. Research into improving the WIFI signal in the church building, upgrading

the church website, and adding a Zoom account will be conducted over the next few weeks.

Indoor Worship: The SMART Team has recommended not to hold indoor services at this time. We will continue with online services during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday.

Outdoor Worship: Pastor Tammy suggested we plan for outdoor worship at the end of May or as soon as the weather allows. As outdoor worship may continue into the sum-

mer months, Bill Pringle suggested raising a large tent for protection from the rain and sun.

Community Gardens: Please see the separate announcement in the Crossways for more information.

Please do not hesitate to contact a Council member or Kim Richardson with questions or comments.

Cross Ways Page 3

Community Gardens: The Next Steps

The three year Domestic Hunger Grant we received from the ELCA in 2019 will be com-

pleted this year with the following tasks:

Building raised garden beds to allow for anyone with mobility or physi-

cal challenges to enjoy planting and growing vegetables or flowers

Attending to necessary repairs of the garden fencing or structures

Additional repairs or needs for the gardens

People are needed to help discuss how the community gardens can connect to our neighborhood and the people, and help alleviate food insecurity. We need your

ideas! Would you consider lending your voice and thoughts to help discern God’s mis-sion as the community gardens continue developing their presence in the neighbor-hood? How can we communicate the usage of the gardens to the community? How

can the gardens help families with food insecurity? There are different ways you can help; no physical labor is needed!

Deb Houtkooper will begin contacting interested parties, such as Arrive Ministries and Achieve Language Academy to inquire about using the available garden plots.

Thank You for Your Participation in the Easter Butterfly Mural!

Numerous separate images colored by our congregants will

merge together on Easter Sunday into a brilliant, multi-colored butterfly, a symbol of

the resurrection of Jesus, and if the weather cooperates, the mural will be displayed in

the outdoor sign area near Stillwater Avenue. The butterfly reflects the spiritual com-

munity of BLLC that has come together (even though we were at a physical distance)

to share the joy and Good News of Easter to the surrounding neighborhood. Our

heart-felt thanks! Happy Easter!

INCOME TAX FILING

Just a reminder that the Tax Filing Deadline is fast approaching. Both

the State and Federal Tax Filing Deadlines have been extended to May 17th. So you still have plenty of time to file your income taxes for 2020.

With this in mind, there are still a number of “Giving Statements” to be picked up. They

are on the table outside the Church Office. If you are unable to pick them up, call the

Church Office and they will be mailed to you.

Also, if you have not picked up your Offering Envelopes, they are on the same table

outside the Church Office

Page 4 Cross Ways

The Feet of Jesus

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good

things” (Romans 10:15)

How often had Mary kissed those little chubby, sweet and tender feet of her baby boy? The son she knew was special What joy to tweak those tiny toes Never dreaming the cruel torture that someday

Those precious feet would endure. Dirty little feet as a toddler running barefoot, Playing, laughing as he chased the butterfly – Now, at eventide as Mary washes those dirty feet, He, giggling, says, “Mama, would you tickle my feet?” Do you dare suppose that Mary knows that someday those feet would walk on water? Papa, pick me up so I can see all the people. Where are they going? Mama, am I getting to be a big boy now? Yes, see, you have your own little sandals like Papa’s and soon you will be able to help Him make things for others in his shop. Jesus, having been invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house was given no water to wash His feet, was given no kiss to welcome Him, nor was his head anointed with oil. But then, came this woman of the city, a known sinner. She kissed His feet and anointed them with oil, And washed them gently with her raven hair; Therefore her sins, that are many, are forgiven. When Jesus’ disciples saw Him walking on the sea, thinking Him a spirit, cried out with fear, “Be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid.” Peter answered, “Lord, bid me come to Thee.” And He said, “Come to me, Peter.” But Peter doubted and began to sink. Jesus stood before Pontius, Roman prelate, condemned to be scourged and bear the cross to the place where He was to be crucified. Jesus, King of the Jews, mocked and spat upon,

forgave the thief as well as you and me even as those precious feet were nailed to the cross.

-by David Millican Garinger, Spokane, Washington

Cross Ways Page 5

Deadline for Publications

Info for the Cross Ways is due by the 25th of each month.

Info for weekly bulletin is due by noon each Friday.

Electronic content can be emailed to jdhilpert@comcast.net.

Do We Have Your Correct Address?

Please notify the church office when you have a new

address, phone number or Email address. This will

help us with our church directory, other publications and

mailings.

For

Lu Larsen

From

Yvonne Anderson

Donald Bina

Phyllis Carlson

Gordy & Nancy Engfer

Marlene Haglof

Rod & Lil Johnson

Lois Neubauer

Janis Peterson

Wendie Setter

Kathleen Steidler

Memorials Given Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your

prayers by praying for those closet to

you. They are the easiest to remember.

To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S.

Lewis once said, a ‘sweet duty.’

2. The next finger is the pointing finger.

Pray for those who teach, instruct and

heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and

ministers. They need support and wisdom

in pointing others in the right direction.

Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It re-

minds us of our leaders. Pray for the

president, leaders in business and indus-

try, and administrators. These people

shape our nation and guide public opin-

ion. They need God’s guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Sur-

prising to many is the fact that this is our

weakest finger, as any piano teacher will

testify. It should remind is to pray for

those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.

They deed your prayers day and night.

You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger – the

smallest finger of all, which is where we

should place ourselves in relation to

God and others. As the Bible says, ‘The

least shall be the greatest among you.’

Your pinkie should remind you to pray

for yourself. By the time you have prayed

for the other four groups, your own needs

will be put into proper perspective and

you will be able to bray for yourself more

effectively.

Beaver Lake Lutheran Church

2280 Stillwater Avenue

Maplewood, MN 55119

651 739-8092

www.bllc.org

Beaver Lake Lutheran Church

Tammy Wilkinson, Pastor

Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship On Line

at

www.bllc.org.

04/21