January 2012 Worship & Mission Month

Sunday, January 29 / Epiphany Four
Mark 1:21–28

8:30 & 11:00 am

Follow Justice. Do we stand up to what is evil in the world? Are we ready for miracles? What and where are the miracles today? Pastor Dale Howard, preaching

Today's bulletin announcements.

Pancake Breakfast / Fellowship Hall

Annual Meeting

pancakesPancake Breakfast / 7:30am—12:15pm / Fellowship Hall

Sponsored by our youth (fundraiser: youth programs)

Annual Meeting—12:15 pm / Fellowship Hall

Nursery provided—call Tobi Duffy at 952-929-1697 ext 28 to reserve

The Annual Meeting of Normandale Evangelical Lutheran Church will be held Sunday, January 29 at 12:15 pm. The agenda will include election of committee and Church Council members, 2012 budget approval, and reports from leadership, including the presentation of our strategic plan. The Annual Meeting of the Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation will follow the meeting of the congregation.

Upcoming Events

With so much happening, don't forget to check the calendar to see what is going on this week! mittens

January 27-28 - Men's Retreat
January 29 - Pancake Breakfast
January 29 - New Member Classes
February 1 - Service and Coffee-time Connection
February 1 - Preaching with the Pastor
February 1 - Wednesday Dinners: Spaghetti & Meatballs
February 1 - Boys Choir Pizza Party
February 5 - Registration forms available for summer camps
February 5 - The Orchard "Lutheran Life, Is it Possible?"
February 5 - Blood Pressure Checks
February 7 - N3R ministry (Revive - Recover - Restore)
February 8 - Deadline for registering for ski trip
February 8 - Girls Choir Pizza Party
February 16 - Cherub Choir Pizza Party
February 18 - Overpopulation Crisis Avoiding Global Catastrophe by Ending Our Delusion
March 24 - Mission Bangladesh! Brunch

 

Death & Dying: Part Two—Before We Say Goodbye

November 6 - Having the Conversation: A Heart to Heart with Aging Parents
November 13 - “And Peace at the Last": Tending to the End of Life
November 20 - How Then Shall We Live? Completing Your Advanced Directives as an Affirmation of Life

Click here to go to the power-point presentations, discussion questions from these lectures, and the videos of these lectures, as well as those from the first series given in March.

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Worship 8:30 / 11:00 am
Coffee & Fellowship 9:30 am
Sunday School 9:45 am
Youth & Adult Education 9:45 am

Pastor Paul's Letter

The Desire for Joy

The desire for joy is inherently stronger than the fear of sadness, though under certain circumstances our preoccupation may be with avoiding the latter rather than seeking the former.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century Theologian

reachThe picture to the right was taken this past summer in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

It was captured by my daughter, Hannah, while I was beginning the day with the rising sun. Each morn-ing I greeted the sun with stretching joy, reaching upward in my small attempt to meet the Creator. Our campsite was the perfect location for the meeting.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises…Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord.
Psalm 98:4, 7-8

As midwinter comes, there is the temptation to become preoccupied with avoiding the fear of sadness, as Aquinas describes, but my desire for joy is inherently stronger. Joy is more than happiness, for it remains in spite of circumstances. Joy is found in deep spiritual connection, the unbending confidence in God’s presence, regardless of surrounding condi-tions and events.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
St. Paul, from prison, to the Philippians 4:4-5.

In all times and places, through every circumstance…seek joy, for God is with you. Jesus Christ comes to you. The Holy Spirit blows through you. Seek joy. Stretch in the morning to meet your God. Lean your life toward the light of Jesus Christ. Live your days in love for all creatures and creation. Rest your nights in the confidence that God watches over you.

And when your final day on earth arrives, be ready to awaken to the greatest joy of all. I will be the one you see stretching to meet it.

Peace and joy,

Pastor Paul