current · pride, burnout, and emptiness. according to nieuwhof, many of these realities can sneak...
TRANSCRIPT
Our journey of faith leads us to build bridges of understanding and peace, to reach out
with compassion, and to share the hope of Jesus.
Zumbro Lutheran Church | A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
JULY 2020
THE ZUMBROCurrent
2 FROM THE PASTORSPastor Shelley writes of concerns of today and offers an option to those who feel led to be a voice to help others.
4-5 MISSION MARCHES ONEven in the midst of a pandemic, the commandment to serve our neighbors calls us to show up in all the ways we can.
6 IN-PERSON WORSHIP RETURNS TO ZUMBRO
We'll begin weekly, limited outdoor worship on Sunday, July 12.
2 LSS DROP-IN CENTER PLANNED
The drop-in center at Zumbro will begin small, with the hope and prayer that we will be able to mimic what is offered in Mankato.
PHOTO: PHOTO: THE REACH, MANKATOTHE REACH, MANKATO
2
From the PastorsThe first
Saturday after
George Floyd’s
murder there was a peaceful
demonstration planned at MLK
Park here in Rochester. A handful
of Zumbro staff planned to attend
in solidarity. I figured I should
bring a sign to hold. But what
should it say? Black Lives Matter?
No Justice, No Peace? God Loves
Everyone? I spent a lot of time
worrying that whatever it said
would offend someone.
Those worries were compounded
by other concerns. Was it safe
to gather with so many people,
even if we were wearing masks?
What if I didn’t fully agree with
the chants and speakers? Would
some of our members be upset
we were there? All these worries
were almost enough to make
me ditch the sign – and the
demonstration – altogether.
You may have felt similarly
conflicted this month. There
is tremendous energy around
issues of racial equality. People
have filled streets and torn down
monuments. By mid-June, 14 of
the top 15 non-fiction books on
the New York Times paperback
bestseller list were about the
complexities of history and racial
injustice. It’s clear that whatever
happens next is probably going
to be hard and messy and
sometimes incredibly hurtful.
The good news is that again
and again in scripture God’s
people are sent into uncharted
and uncomfortable territory. In
Matthew 10 the first disciples
were told to head out completely
unprepared – no money, no map,
no talking points. Simply be
present, Jesus told them. Present
– and vulnerable.
Perhaps you share some of my
internal struggle about what is
happening in our country these
days. How do we talk about race
and justice in respectful ways?
How do we name the ways
our system has failed without
by Pastor Shelley Conningham
Perhaps you are feeling the call to use your voice to speak up for the voiceless. There’s a reason Jesus’ original name for the Holy Spirit is advocate. It implies that God is on the side of those who need help, and that God will provide courage and strength to those who stand up for them. The Advocacy Team at Zumbro is dedicated to lifting up issues of social justice, equity, and dignity for all people in our community. If you are feeling the call to use your voice (or your pen, or your social media presence) to join the Spirit’s work, contact a member of the team:Joan Hernandez Lindeman – [email protected] Williams – [email protected] Ahrens – [email protected] Peterson – [email protected]
discounting the efforts and
commitment of those who serve
in it? To say nothing can imply
that we don’t care. Yet it takes
tremendous courage to tiptoe
into difficult conversations. That
can be scary for those of us who
don’t like to ruffle feathers or
perpetuate stereotypes. We have
to trust that if we are willing to try
– even if our efforts feel painful
and awkward – the Holy Spirit will
be our guide.
After all, change is never easy.
We’re probably going to make
mistakes, and experience
discomfort, and maybe be
tempted to just give up. But
as long as we are all doing
something to learn, grow, help,
and love, we are following Jesus
… one step at a time. And God
promises to be with us as we do
this hard work.
So let’s talk – and let’s listen.
Here’s where my sign landed. Does it send the right message?
ZUMBRO'S ADVOCACY TEAM
3
Sunday WorshipSERMON SERIES | Didn't See It ComingOur sermon series, “Didn’t See it Coming,” continues in July. The
title comes from a book by Carey Nieuwhof with the same name. No
need to buy the book, but we invite you to come along with us on the
journey.
With COVID-19 keeping us closer to home, we’re spending time
looking inward. The more interior topics this month include freedom,
pride, burnout, and emptiness. According to Nieuwhof, many of these
realities can sneak up on us when we’re not looking. After a time, we
find that we’re not the same persons that we were 5,10, and 20 years
ago.
Hopefully these sermons will provide some guidance for our journey
of faith. With help from God, and some effort on our part, we can
change course. The goal is to live the thoughtful, purposeful lives that
God intends for us.
WHEN OUR FREEDDOMS AS AMERICANS KEEP BUMPING UP AGAINST EACH OTHER
SUNDAY, JUL. 5 | 8:30am (online)1 Peter 2:13-17Preaching: Jen GruendlerSpecial Music: Ralph Schornack, pianist and vocalist
HOW PRIDE GETS THE BEST OF USSUNDAY, JUL. 12 | 8:30am (online) | 10am (outdoors)Galatians 5:24-6:5Preaching: Pastor Vern ChristophersonSpecial Music: Amy Adamson, cello
HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE BURNING OUTSUNDAY, JUL. 19 | 8:30am (online) | 10am (outdoors)1 Kings 19:1-10Preaching: Pastor Vern ChristophersonSpecial Music: Now the Feast; Michael Bostwick, clarinet
WHY MONEY, POWER AND SUCCESS CAN LEAVE US FEELING EMPTY
SUNDAY, JUL. 26 | 8:30am (online) | 10am (outdoors)Ecclesiastes 2:1-11Preaching: Pastor Jason Bryan-WegnerSpecial Music: Jenny Kruse, vocalist
BUILDING BLOCKS OF BAPTISM CLASSTHURSDAY, JULY 9 | 8PM
Register via Events in Realm
BAPTISMThora Marie Copeland
WEDDINGJackie O’Reilly and Erik Hasselquist
SAINTS GONE BEFORE USPaul F. Lamoreux
Robert G. Decker
Robert O. Hagen
See details on page 6.
4
Mission Marches On-Part 1Even in the midst of a pandemic, the commandment
to love and serve our neighbors calls us to show up in all the ways we can. Our Church, Our Future Capital Campaign guides us to expand our partnership with Lutheran Social Services and to open a Youth Drop-in Center at Zumbro. While some of our work has been paused or delayed, our commitment to keep the wheels turning remains.
LSS Youth Services (LINK) has a Drop-in Center in Mankato called The REACH. It is their hope to bring a similar program to Rochester. Zumbro will use the Our Church, Our Future Capital Campaign mission funds to renovate space, while LSS will assume responsibility for staffing and operating the drop-in center. There will be opportunities for us to be as involved as much or as little as we would like to be.
What is a drop-in center? A youth drop-in center is a safe, nonjudgmental place for young people who are at-risk, experiencing homelessness or have run away. It is a place designed for youth, to receive services, make community connections and learn to meet their needs in ways that lead to becoming healthy, independent, and successful adults. Youth can access basic necessities like meals, toiletries, and transportation assistance. They will be able to explore housing and shelter options with a case worker, receive support and education, as well
as, preparation for employment and independent living. (Please explore the LSS Website for details on the services provided. https://www.lssmn.org/services/youth-homelessness/mankato/the-reach) The drop-in center at Zumbro will begin small, with the hope and prayer that we will be able to mimic what is offered in Mankato.
Who will it serve? The LSS Drop-in Center will serve youth ages 16 – 24, from diverse backgrounds. LSS employees are knowledgeable, and trained to support youth dealing with issues such as homelessness, mental illness, chemical dependency, parenthood, and sexual exploitation.
Why is a youth drop-in center important? Often the spaces that are open to individuals at-risk, or experiencing homelessness are designed for adults. They can feel unwelcoming and unsafe to youth who are often experiencing trauma. Many youth feel retraumatized every time they are asked to explain why it is they are on their own. A drop-in
by Sarah Lichty, Director of Mission
center for youth is designed for them, and staffed with outreach workers sensitive to their needs. It is, at its best, a place for these kids to lay their burdens down, find respite, build relationships, and experience love, support, and encouragement.
Where will it be? Back in October, the LSS Drop-in Center Team formed and began to imagine where a drop-in center might fit into our building. We consulted with LSS Youth Services Director, Tammy Moses, and developed a proposal to present to our Building and Operations Team. After careful consideration, consultation and an eye to cost-effectiveness, it has been decided that the Youth Room (Rm. 208) would be the best fit for meeting the needs of LSS.
There is much to be done, but this journey has begun. Questions? Please contact Sarah Lichty, Director of Mission.
See the LSS video ‘Journey Toward Possibilities’ here: https://lssmn.wistia.com/medias/f43fzroh7v
The REACH, Mankato
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Mission Marches On-Part 2This quote by Socrates, “The secret of change is
to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new,” has become a mantra of survival in 2020. We all have had to make that choice, right (moment of vulnerability: Some days I am better at making this choice than others)?
My heart literally ached when we canceled our summer youth mission trips (even knowing there was no safe way to do them), because I have seen time after time the power of these experiences for young people.
But again, we can fight the old or we can join in on building the new. As Ecclesiastes reminds, there is a time and season for everything.
So, what does mission work look like for our youth in summer 2020?
-A community mission garden has been planted in Zumbro South Park. Youth and families care for it and dream about what might grow. They play in the dirt and leave prayers for all that is growing and new in our lives and world.
-Two weeks have been set aside for our middle school and high school youth to serve with local mission partners in small groups. Youth can register online. Adults can help. Contact Jen.
-We are partnering with a local artist who will work with youth on creating a mural for the hallway outside the emerging LSS Youth Drop in Center. This will help us celebrate the way God will use the old youth room in new ways.
-We are reimagining the needs of Luther students and Zumbro youth and updating space for them that will meet their needs in new ways.
by Jen Gruendler, Youth and Young Adult Minister
-We are creating space for parents and youth to wrestle with racism and privilege, and how we can become active participants in building bridges of understanding and peace and wholeness through conversation and book studies.
-We have hired one of Zumbro's young adults to intern with Open Table. Sara Holmes (with guidance from Sarah Lichty) will help us think about how we can continue to engage families and young people in this mission.
Change is hard. Grief is real. But so is the fact that God is always doing something new. The Spirit is always creating new ways of being church and new ways to follow Jesus. This summer our youth are called to serve locally-that’s clear, and I cannot wait to see what God will do in and through them.
Our hearts are full of gratitude for the many volunteers, donors and fruit-cup-givers that have sustained and blessed this ministry. You are a joy and a gift to work with. THANK YOU!
What better way to celebrate than to introduce you to our new summer intern!
Hi Zumbro and Open Table family! My name is Sara Holmes, and I am so excited to start as the summer intern with Open Table. In the fall I will be starting my junior year at the College of Saint Benedict/St. John's University (just outside St. Cloud, MN) where I'll study math and computer science. In my spare time, I love being outside--especially when I am leading wilderness trips and working with kids, writing hand-written letters to loved ones, and spending time with friends and family. I feel so blessed to have been a Zumbro member since baptism and am looking forward to serving in this new way. Blessings!
Open Table Celebrates Five Years
In-person Worship Returns to ZumbroChurches have been trying a variety of things when it comes to resuming in-person worship. Oursituation is complicated by a variety of factors: our parking lot is often filled up with constructionequipment and dumpsters; our sanctuary renovation is a few months away from completion; our gym is dusty and would be very hard to disinfect; plus access to our lowest levels would be hampered by work on our new and existing elevators.
We have decided to begin weekly outdoor worship starting Sunday, July 12. We will still stream andbroadcast our 8:30 service, but at 10am we will move outside for an
additional service. In an effort to protect people’s health, look for these elements in our worship:Face masks are required. Extras will be made available.Bring lawn chairs, though we will set out a few disinfected chairs.Worship participants are expected to practice physical distancing, except in the case of family units.
We're going to try for a simple order of service that won't requre bulletins.
Worship leaders will be appropriately spaced from the congregation. They will wear masks except when speaking or singing.
A songleader will lead the music, but the congregation will not besinging, only humming.
We will celebrate communion on the first and third Sundays, withparticipants encouraged to bring bread and wine/juice from home.A few pre-packaged communion sets will be available.
In case of rain, we will put a worship update on the website no later than 8:30am on Sunday. We will also leave a message on the church answering machine. We invite you to come out and give it a try; and don’t forget the sunscreen.
Youth (grade 6-graduating seniors) join us this summer as we serve our local mission partners in July and August. Contact Jen with questions and to register online. Space is limited to keep small group work possible. We’re also looking for adults and young adults to help with the week. Contact Jen at [email protected] to serve and shepherd our youth.
7
Farming in TanzaniaFirst Corinthians 3:8
says that one who
plants and the one
who waters work togetherwith the
same purpose. And both will be
rewarded for their own hard work.
This certainly is the story of the
Tanzania farming project. Zumbro
has been ‘watering’ the 130 acres
of corn in partnership with staff
from Iambi Lutheran Hospital
and Nkungi village since late last
fall. Through your financial gifts
to the Our Church, Our Future
Capital Campaign, financial
support for seed, fertilizer, labor,
weeding, and harvest are working
together to generate income
that will support staff salaries at
the hospital and provide funds
to purchase essential medical
supplies.
The Zumbro Tanzania Task Force
is grateful for the congregation’s
continued support that helps
sustain the covenant we have with
Iambi Lutheran Hospital (ILH).
The farming project is one way
in which Zumbro is reaching out
with compassion to our brother
and sisters in Iambi to develop
a revenue stream to sustain ILH.
During this growing season,
Zumbro was able to provide jobs
to Nkungi villagers who hand
weeded the corn field over
three or four weeks. Each person
weeded for an average of six
hours a day. Harvesting the
corn also provided employment
for the village and unlike harvest
with combines and heavy
machinery in Minnesota, it is also
done by hand.
Joshua Ngiliule, the farm project
leader has provided timely
communications with the team
all through the farming process
and recently informed Zumbro’s
Tanzania Task Force that Iambi
is happy with the corn crop. It’s
estimated that after putting aside
by Julie Neumann, Tanzania Team Member
funds for the next planting
season, the farm will produce
about $8,000 that will be used
to assist with operations of the
hospital.
As Minnesota farmers are just
finishing planting; we praise God
that Iambi is celebrating a good
harvest.
As we seek new ways to be
church while maintaining physical
distancing, we are learning about
how to be connect better online.
We launched Realm, our church-
wide online community platform
in June. Many received an emailed
"invitation." We hope you do
answer the invitation. We'll be
utilizing Realm for outdoor
worship, online Bible study, VBS
and other events. Staff will use
the information when printing our
next directory.
For those who did not receive
an "invitation," you can log in
by visiting the Zumbro website.
Click the blue "Sign In" at the top
left of your screen. Enter your
email address and password. If
you don't know your password,
click "Forgot your password?"
Follow the prompts. Once you're
"in" review your information and
add a photo. We would love to
see you! If you need help, email
Margaret at
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGEPAID
Permit No. 344Rochester, MN 55901
www.zumbrolutheran.org (507) 288-2649
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Vern ChristophersonDirecting [email protected]
Jason [email protected]
Shelley [email protected]
Kristy GiereMusic [email protected]
Janette ReevesFamily [email protected]
Jen GruendlerYouth and Young Adult Minister [email protected]
Connie SaundersAdministrative [email protected]
Ruth MonsonCongregational Life Minister [email protected]
Tracy ScharBusiness [email protected]
Sarah LichtyDirector of [email protected]
Margaret DillardCommunications [email protected]
Bob GiereDirector of Zumbro Lutheran ChoirDirector of Wednesday Worship Band [email protected]
Ralph SchornackMusic Assistant
Robert Schneider Building Manager [email protected]
Karla DexterOffice [email protected] William DengDinka Lay Evangelist
Zumbro Staff
Newsletter DeadlinePlease submit items for the AUGUST issue of The Zumbro Current by JULY 10, [email protected]