News and Events
Current Normanale News
Listed here is a highlight of some upcoming events. For full event listings and happenings in and around Normandale Lutheran Church, click onto our Newsletters page and read our current newsletter.
Call Committee
Click to our special section to keep you informed on what is happening with the Call Committee.
Church Council Update
This congregation is an inspiration to me and I am humbled to be a part of it. We have officially entered the transition period in our senior pastor leadership, so I would like to highlight some items from the past few weeks:
I hope you were able to celebrate the ministry of Pastor Holm and Meredith on May 31. It was a wonderful service and reception attended by over 700 people! Many people spent hours planning and working to make that event so successful. I want to extend a special thank you to Marlyce Turnbull, Paul Schroeder, Jack Kemme, Gregg & Jen Colburn for leading the efforts to make that day possible.
This congregation continues to be generous and loving. We collected nearly $16,000 in contributions to celebrate Pastor Holm’s retirement. We were excited to give Pastor Holm and his family a trip to Fort Meyers, Florida for Twins Spring Training in 2010!! He and Meredith were thrilled! We have given the cash gift to the Holms and will help them make special arrangements for travel, lodging and on-field activities when the 2010 schedule is available.
The Twins are also excited to celebrate Pastor Holm’s retirement and will be providing some special highlights for him at spring training.
Pastor Holm earned a sabbatical in 2006 after seven years of service since his first sabbatical. He generously chose to defer his sabbatical so we could support Pastor Howard and Pastor Windels on their sabbaticals earned and taken in 2007 and 2008.
As a capstone experience at the time of his retirement, we have honored the congregation’s commitment to support rest and renewal of our pastors with a sabbatical for Pastor Holm this summer.
Pastor Holm will spend time studying in Canterbury, England and Washington D.C., enjoying rest and renewal while fly-fishing in Montana, and visiting the congregations he served.
Normandale was able to provide funds for these trips from contributions outside of the general fund budget. We wish him a wonderful and well-earned sabbatical!
We have welcomed Pastor Mark Bents to Normandale as the part-time administrative pastor during our period of transition. He brings leadership, wisdom, and faithfulness to us at this time. We are thrilled to have him here!
The Council asks you to join with us in prayer for our congregation, our staff and our Call Committee as we continue our journey in faith at Normandale.
Sarah Howard, President, Church Council
Congratulations Lloyd!
Lloyd Svendsbye, former president of Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary was presented The Christus Lux Mundi Award (which means “Christ the light of the world”), the most distinguished award presented by Luther Seminary. Lloyd is the 10th recipient of the award.
Lloyd oversaw the merger of Luther Theological Seminary and Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminaries during the 1970s and ‘80s. His life of service to the church includes his commitment to the mission and ministry of Normandale Lutheran Church, having served as our Congregation’s President, and currently serving on the Call Committee.
St. Paul's Partnership
10 – 14 August, Vacation Bible School
Summer Program Needs
Healthy, nonperishable snacks (e.g., canned fruit juice without sugar, whole-grain crackers, peanut butter)
Paper towels, cups, and plates (we will compost where possible)
Teachers (amateurs welcome!) of painting, photography, video, pottery, and other arts
Teams to cook lunch during Mission Minneapolis and “Spirit of Art” Wednesdays
Sponsors for Young Leaders Stipends ($144.00) and Children in Summer Camp ($46.00)
Hosts for Career Days at your workplace: a group of 5 to 8 Young Leaders will come for an hour during a weekday and ask you about your work.
Mission Bangladesh! 2009
October 3 - Dinner
December 5 - Brunch
Brunches start at 10:00am and dinners start at 6:00pm. Full information in the newsletters as the events get closer.
Young Adult in Global Mission
Bethany Sack
Bethany Sack has elected to participate in the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program and will serve in the West Bank.
A recent graduate of Bethel College, Bethany is asking for our prayers and financial support.
She is the granddaughter of Carl and Mim Manfred (Normandale members) and the daughter of Jim and Carol Sack, our missionaries in Japan.
Normandale is committed to spreading the Gospel of our Savior outside of its immediate community and, as you have witnessed from Sarah Larson’s presentation to the congregation during mission month (she went to Kenya last year through YAGM), young adults have successfully fulfilled this commitment.
Please support Bethany in her desire to serve through YAGM. Donations can be given directly to the church office. Your support is greatly appreciated.
The Global Mission Committee
Dear Ones,
We are both humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the many gracious gifts extended to us upon our retirement. It has been a privilege to serve the mission of Jesus Christ among you.
We promise to hold you in our thoughts and prayers in the days that lie ahead. Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Jesus Christ or the life together we have shared.
Thank you for your kind remembrance.
Summer Blessings!
Pastor David & Meredith
Music Concerts
Get Involved
Greeting Card Makers
This is a partner ministry between Normandale Lutheran Church and residents of The Colony. They gather on the 4th Thursday of the month from 6:30-7:30 pm in The Colony Café.
They spend an hour creating handmade cards for the residents to take with them, as well as to purchase in the gift store. This ministry seeks to provide an opportunity for creative expression, Christian community, and affordable cards for residents.
- Card making experience is helpful, but not necessary.
- All supplies and card designs are provided.
- Experienced card guides will be on hand.
Join us as we:
- Spend quality time with others of all ages.
- Use artistic talents (those known and as yet undiscovered…).
- Provide handmade cards for Colony residents and guests.
Schedule for 2009-2010
| July 23 | August 27 |
| September 24 | October 22 |
| November 19 (due to Thanksgiving) | December 17 (due to Christmas) |
| January 28 | February 25 |
| March 25 | April 22 |
| May 27 |
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact: Debby Fehlandt, 952-943-1347, or Pastor Nancy Windels, 952-929-1697 ext 18, nancy@normluth.org.
Please join us for this exciting ministry!
Past Features - Archives
Sabbatical - Fall 2007
Pastor Dale Howards letters from his Fall 2007 Retreat.
Click to read his wonderful letters sent whiles he was on Sabbatical in Fall of 2007
Monday - Friday