Current Normandale 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.

Welcome Pastor Amelia

Warmest greetings to you all! My name is Amelia Houdek. You may have seen me walking around Normandale Lutheran Church and perhaps you have wondered, “Who is that lady?” Mystery solved! I have the privilege of serving as your interim associate pastor. I am most grateful to be part of this body for a season: to serve you, to encourage you, and to pastor you. Even though I have only been at Normandale Lutheran a very short time, I sense the passion this congregation has for mission, ministry, and music! We have some things in common already!

I commute from Andover, which is in the northwest suburbs. My husband Chris and I have been joyfully married for 18 years. We have two boys, Xander (14) and Noah (11). Our two dogs, Bob and Molly, round out our family.

I trust that we will get to know one another quickly. Please do not hesitate to introduce yourselves! I look forward to serving Normandale Lutheran Church.

With joy~
Pastor Amelia

Call Committee

Click to our special section to keep you informed on what is happening with the Call Committee.

Share the Journey

To follow Pastor Nancy Windels's journey and send prayers and support, you can go to her site on Caring Bridge.

Church Council Update

As I complete my term of service on the Church Council, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this congregation, the growth of my own faith through this journey and the wonderful people I have gotten to know and love!

I have been reflecting back on my two council terms and am so thankful for the ways that God has blessed our congregation:

• We began efforts to March off the Maps with a capital campaign based on mission and ministry. And with just a few months ‘officially’ left in the campaign, we have reached 95% of the $3.5 Million goal. What an amazing testament to the faithfulness of this congregation—we are doing incredible things!
• We looked out into the future with our Vision 40 task force. The framework they have provided us is insightful, faithful, and a wonderful tool for the present and the future.
• We watched incredible growth of ministry programs like Seedlings Ministry, Healing & Wholeness, and Faith Imprints that reach out to so many members at different life stages.
• We said goodbye to beloved pastors and staff members and welcomed new ones who are wonderful additions.
• We walked together as a community through the high and low moments of both our individual lives and our corporate life together.

God has so much in store for this congregation as we start a new year and continue to be together in community and in prayer. I love being a part of this congregation and I am SO excited about the future of Normandale. With God’s hand guiding us, we are going wonderful places!

God’s Peace,
Sarah Howard, Council President

Vision 40 Update

Looking ahead is done by individuals, families, businesses and institutions. Thus, it is prudent for churches to do the same. Normandale has long had effective Long-Range Planning Committees to advise our Church Council on future steps.

A few years ago, the Long-Range Planning Committee, with the approval of the Council, established a group to look ahead forty years. Forty is Biblically-based, with that number occurring repeatedly in God’s work throughout history. Also, the 100th anniversary of the Church would occur in a little over 40 years -- 2050.

The Forty-Year Vision Task Force was the vehicle selected to handle forward visioning. The 14 member Task Force was multi-generational, with the youngest member being 10 and the oldest a charter member. Listening was a key ingredient of the Task Force’s efforts. During the past two years, charter members and staff were interviewed. Small group sessions with over 200 Normandale members were conducted. These groups utilized spiritual discernment as a means to listen for what the Holy Spirit wants us to be and do. The discernment sessions were scripture-based, prayerful, and inclusive – encouraging all to participate. Emergent themes which revealed themselves from past congregational ministries and for future thinking for Normandale were:

• Depth -- Going deep in our spiritual lives, in our involvement at church. Not just "skimming the surface."
• Relationships -- People want to really know each other here, develop relationships with each other.
• Connections -- Connected to each other, the ministries of this church and to the world around through local and international outreach.
• Roots -- Deeply connected to Scripture and to Lutheran traditions and theology.
• Family -- A congregation with a "family feeling." People take care of each other, are there for each other.

In future months, the Vision 40 Task Force will offer the congregation opportunities to learn more about discernment and how it can be used to think about and plan for the future. The themes noted above will be explored more deeply.

The Vision 40 Task Force Report is comprehensive and enlightening. Members are encouraged to read it in its entirety.

Copies will be available in the church office.

Lois Nordling,
Task Force Chairperson

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 2010

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!