All Together in One Place

 

All Together in One Place, Normandale Lutheran ChurchAll Together in One Place: A Comprehensive Campaign

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability…But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, ‘people of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and you young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams…’

All Together in One Place is a movement of people who long to be community, not by proximity of geography, but by a common desire to serve God and love neighbor. All Together in One Place is a vision of a place where people come into the grace of God in Jesus Christ, where they are known and know others, are cared for and care for others, are loved and love others. Let’s dream dreams together. Let’s see visions together. Let’s listen for the voice of God and follow. Young and old, male and female, wealthy and poor, decidedly faithful and completely unsure, forever Lutheran and denominationally neutral, from right next door and from around the world; all together, we will go forward by faith, not knowing what is before us, but only that God in Jesus Christ will guide us.      

Spring 2019 Update from Pastor Paul

Visions Realized, Visions Still to Come: All Together in Many Places

In 2014, we were wondering what the next five years would hold. We could see the ways in which our facility no longer provided life and spirit to our mission. We could see that our expansive partnerships in local and global mission would need our ongoing support. We could see that our investment and innovation today would serve the next generation of congregational life.
 
Oh, what God can do in five years with us, the time coming and going in a blink, while God was paving, promising, and providing for all that was needed.
 
In 2014, I wrote the following in our comprehensive case statement for All Together in One Place (ATOP).
 
“At Normandale Lutheran Church, we stand on the shoulders of sixty years of faithful people, a few who are still members, most of whom have journeyed on to eternal life. In gatherings of worship, at church council meetings, and staff conference tables, the Normandale community of faith discerned and decided for the future we now enjoy. Through generosity, hardship, and determination, all wrapped in trusting God, they offered their lives, their prayers, and their gifts to the vision God had to build a people, followers of Jesus Christ, Normandale Lutheran Church, a community proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through love, learning, worship, and service.
 
And so, through the years, as others enter our community of faith, they will indeed thank God for the faith and vision of the Normandale congregation of 2015.”
 
Here we are, five years later. The facility is indeed a sharp tool for mission, drawing people together in worship and fellowship. The Holy Spirit continues to propel us outward into housing ministry, local and global partnerships, calling us to nurture our sisters and brothers through housing, hunger, and healthcare. Our technology tools are better in place to serve the broad communication needs we have, reaching across generations to share the story of our life and ministry.
 
And no sooner might we rest into the temptation of settling, God, through the Holy Spirit is already out ahead of us.
 
And so, “What next?” is the ringing question. How will we move forward in faith together, trusting God to pave, promise, and provide yet again? Who will be sent to us along the way? How will we discern together direction, knowing that our plans often turn into laughter in the joy of God?
 
Only time will tell. Only generosity, hardship, and determination, wrapped in trusting God, will bring the results God intends. Only together will we slightly see, and remotely understand, the mystery of God’s work among us.
 
We have Gospel to preach! We have good news to share! We have God’s grace, mercy, and steadfast love to bolster and to guide. We will go forward in faith, knowing that God will be our vision, and Jesus our Savior!
 
Happy to be alongside you in ministry,
Pastor Paul
 

Please click below to open the NLC Together Magazine for April/May 2019 to read on and learn about the impact of ATOP here at NLC, in our community, and across the globe. And, as always, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

NLC Together April/May 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Additional All Together in One Place financing provided by Mission Investment Fund, a Financial Ministry of the ELCA.