Art as Worship

Church of the Lutheran Brethren Vol 76, No.6

September/October 2009

www.ffmagazine.org

In This Issue

“In this issue” will be a bit different this time around as with this issue I am bidding you farewell as Editor for Faith & Fellowship. It was back in January of ’05 that I made my first venture into the tasks involved with getting this magazine into your hands. Quite a few issues later (not anywhere near as many as David Rinden, but perhaps a similar number to Brent Juliot, the two editors who preceded me) I look back at an enjoyable endeavor that had its fair share of frustrations and challenges but, overall, was simply something I loved to do.

Changes in direction, style, vision and goals lead to other changes and this is one of those. As we proceed with the implementation of new approaches to ministry through restructured leadership teams and restructured regions and restructured methods, we will all maintain a strong commitment to the unchanging mission of the Church and of the CLB’s place in it. I say, “Thank you!” to the many who have contributed, commented and critiqued along the way. You keep right on doing that—you will just be sending it to someone else! 

-Bruce Stumbo, August 2009

Please join us in thanking our editor Bruce Stumbo for his years of dedicated service to Faith & Fellowship Magazine!

During his time as editor he redefined it as a “Faith” and “Fellowship” magazine, giving everyone an opportunity to tell their own story (Fellowship) and responding to the ways that God is working in our lives (Faith). The magazine speaks to the reader in a personal way. God speaks through the writers as they tell their own stories. God used Bruce to move the magazine in a new direction and we hope to continue that personal touch that Bruce brought to the magazine, while we listen to our Lutheran Brethren congregations and meet their needs as a unified body in Christ.

During the coming year we will work with guest editors, giving each issue a unique voice. We will choose each guest editor based on the topic of each issue. It is an exciting, yet uncertain, time in the Lutheran Brethren and we hope to tell our story as a denomination as we move through the changes and transitions. Tell us your story. How is God speaking to you and your congregation? What is your congregation trying, learning and experiencing? Send us an email: ffpress@clba.org

3-9 10 13 14 15 18 18 19 Back Cover

Art as Worship

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“He Didn’t Throw The Clay Away”

12 16-17 Next Steps

Mission and Art In Or Out? snap shot! It all started with a used car Do You Innovate? Camp On The Road Church & Synod News On Our Website Faith & Fellowship Blog

WMCLB Projects At A Glance

cover image “crucifix” by Jim Olsen

FAITH & FELLOWSHIP Volume 76 - Number 6 Editor: Bruce Stumbo - bstumbo@clba.org Graphic Design: Carol Dumonceaux - carold@clba.org Director of CLB Communications: Tim Mathiesen - tmathiesen@clba.org 2

Faith & Fellowship

Art is the product of creative expression.

It’s something that plays with each of our five senses, communicating an idea, question, or statement, and sometimes something that can’t be explained. God works through art in so many ways, such as outreach, praise and worship, personal devotions and even as a Sunday morning sermon! We wanted to give artists a chance to talk about how they see God working through their art and how He has blessed them through their talent.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

“artifical spine”

by Jim Olsen

Jim Olsen

mixed media

Artist and Maintenance Technician for PPM Homes / Ithaca, New York

jimolsen14.xanga.com

“unrest” “at His feet”

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see page 18 for access to more of Jim’s art.

A rt and faith are interconnected and inseparable for me as an artist. In my experience, the two seem to intersect in many ways. God is a creator. This world that we are so fortunate to be a part of is His creation; His art. It is His expression of love. He is still in the process of making—he’s continually making things new; reinventing, fixing. He turns our ugliness into something beautiful.

I create mixed media pieces using old, broken, ‘useless’ things. In this way, I see myself imitating what God is continually doing; turning our brokenness into something new and restored. I take ordinary objects and bring out their beauty by contrasting them with other natural things, bright or bold colors, and pieces that have been weathered by the world. This is the first way I see faith and art inseparable, as it is reproducing what God does and continues to do.

Another way I see art and faith intersect is when I “get in the mood.” There are times where images and ideas come into my mind, and all I can do to express them is to depict them on canvas. God gives me ideas and inspires me with ways to visually draw parallels between ideas, stories, concepts, etc…and I’m able to express these things artistically. I respond by putting paint on wood or a canvas and express what I have received.

Art is also an opportunity to bring people’s attention to issues or thoughts of things that Christ cared about deeply.

When someone views a piece of artwork they can see, and possibly greater, understand or appreciate the concepts of peace, inequality, stewardship, or poverty, etc…simply by looking at something hanging on a wall in front of them.

When I create art I will often attempt to capture the beauty of God’s creation. Creating art can be a way to express devotion to God. In some cases by using my hands to create something, I am recording how God has been faithful.

And on a very basic level, it is being a steward of using a gift and talent that God has bestowed upon me. When I create art there is simply no way I can escape my faith and relationship with Christ. He is my inspiration, He is with me as I create, and He gifted me to paint and assemble things to express all that I do. I would not be an artist without Christ.

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Faith & Fellowship

Micah Nordtvedt

theater

Director of Worship Arts for Hope Church at Silver Lake / Everett, Washington

the cast of “Addie and Boots”

I

a scene from “Addie and Boots”

write and direct musicals (and nonmusical plays) for Silver Lake Theatre, which is an outreach ministry of Hope Church at Silver Lake. The stories that I tell have no altar call. Most don’t mention God. Yet themes of grace, judgment, forgiveness, love, and redemption are woven into the narratives. Stories have a way of becoming lodged in people’s intellectual and emotional memories. They serve as vessels to carry truth, ideas, and worldview. And they can capture ideas at which mere explanations can only grasp. I would guess that Jesus didn’t have people act out his parables and they certainly weren’t musicals, but he used the storytelling method of the day to communicate the Kingdom of God to people who needed to hear. Some heard and understood, and some did not. By grace He’s called me to be a storyteller in my time and culture, and in my artistry. Thus I find myself entangled in the quest to tell a story through the compelling fusion of theatre and music.

In what other medium exists the capacity to express the depths of humanity and the heights of the divine?

a scene from “Like A Fairy Tale”

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Randy Mortensen

writing

Pastor and author / Mayville, North Dakota

I

’m so glad David wrote down his psalms. Many psalms are preceded by a short note stating who wrote them.

Some include a bit more information. For instance Psalm 142 has this preface: “A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.” Notice anything unusual about that (other than the word maskil)? David wrote this psalm when he was in a cave. “…rescue me from those who pursue me,” he writes in verse six. He was hiding in a cave, fleeing for his life, and he penned words that we read in our homes and at church today. Amazingly, the words still resonate with us. We can all “cry aloud to the Lord” using David’s inspired words written under duress in a cave 3,000 years ago.

Words can carry us across time and resonate within us in different cultures and contexts. At home and when I travel, many of my favorite moments occur when I take out my journal and pen and pour out my heart on paper. Sometimes I lament. Other times I give thanks.

Oftentimes I simply jot down thoughts, which become recorded memories I can look back on years later— vividly—because I wrote them down. “Thank You, God!” and “Help me, Lord.” show up a lot in my journals.

Whether at home in my study, or at the Touriste Motel in Garoua, Cameroon, or aboard a Navy ship in the South Pacific—my personal “psalms” remind me not only where I’ve been in life, but more importantly where God’s been with me.

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2 6

Landon Snow fantasy series published by Barbour

Faith & Fellowship

Jeremy Flinn

photography

Photojournalist / Anaheim, California

zerisdesign.com

T oo easily I forget how real our conflict as Christians is, how tattered

and bloodied the casualties mount, and what lies eternally at stake.

Since our adversary finds at his disposal no lack of man’s creativity to carry out his vile agenda, I feel compelled to offer back the simple abilities our Lord has lent me for taking to the frontlines of this spiritual war. If my camera lens can assist in bringing to the forefront the service rendered in Jesus’ name— and the urgency with which we saints must act—then I have spent my breath well here on this earth.

Quite frankly, life is insane. And I find that looking through the lens is a way of seeing beyond the initial glance, the first impression, and into the deeper essence of what our Lord has set before us. It is the sight unseen, these in-between moments of life, and places seldom ventured where God’s gentle voice beckons; and I am drawn to rest in the stillness of His surrounding glory. This captured beauty too easily overlooked—this intimate communion with Him—proves all the more worth thanking Him for.

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David Pierce

music

Youth Pastor/Freelance Graphic Designer / Olympia, Washington

I

wish there was more creativity coming out of our churches. Not in the sense that the creativity needs to be directly targeted at our Sunday morning services, but that each one of us is creative in our own way. How can we influence the world? I’ve had the blessing of time recently to pursue different avenues of creativity.

I’ve been writing music, thinking up ideas from ministry approaches, and even writing a book on relationships.

These avenues aren’t directly focused at our church services, but they are focused at encouraging the body.

What are ways you can create? It doesn’t need to be in traditional forms such as art and music. What about in conversation? In planning? In relationships? Maybe it’s appreciating and enabling those who are in the creative process? The church should be a hotbed of expressing the Lord’s beauty in many ways. I’m excited to see that develop.

Brad Pribbenow Associate Pastor, Bethel Lutheran Church / Fergus Falls, MN

music cdbaby.com/Artist/BradPribbenow

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xodus 31:1-6 has served as a foundational passage for how I view the source, purpose and use of my artistic gifts. God is the source; glorifying God is the purpose; and the use is to be carried out under the inspiration, empowering and direction of the LORD.

For me, personally, I have no greater joy than assisting the Church in proclaiming, hearing and believing the Word of God. These are the primary activities in Christian worship. And, the use of music in these activities express the beauty, creativity and unity of God. As His children, we are given to reflect these characteristics in our worship of Him. The arts have always had significant influence in the life and worship of the Church. I am humbled to be called to serve God through the gifts He’s given me. And I gladly join with my brothers and sisters in Christ as they seek to do the same.

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see page 18 for access to David and Brad’s music.

Faith & Fellowship

Sara Ronnevik

painting/collage

A stay-at-home mom and teaches private art lessons for children / Fergus Falls, Minnesota

W hat is the line connecting our creative work in this life to our coming days in God’s eternal kingdom? It is

“Telling the Parable of the Sower”

reported that in his final days, Michelangelo said that he was only just beginning to learn the ABCs of his trade!

When I create I keep this in mind, knowing that I can never accomplish enough to satisfy myself here and now.

God made us in his image to continue creating forever.

So I think of my work as a sort of practice in preparation for my eternal employment. I imagine that as endless days of glorifying God in creating stained glass windows, mosaics, frescos, paintings and using a million other unknown mediums.

People ask me often what mediums I use. My answer is, “Anything with colors!” I use acrylic, oil and watercolor, as well as collage materials – anything I can glue onto paper. One of my artistic aspirations is to illustrate Biblical scenes that are rarely or never illustrated. One of these is of Jesus telling the parable of the Sower. The Bible tells us that he told this story from a boat. Were there pebbles and reeds in the shallow waters to represent the rocky and weedy soil? Did Jesus throw crumbs onto the water for birds to come and snatch up, as he told about the birds in the story? I do not however believe that art must be of a Biblical story or stamped with a Bible verse in order to be “Christian” art. Anything that is truly beautiful, truthful, creative and well-designed brings glory to God as it reflects the way that He has created the universe.

www.ffmagazine.org

“What Goes Up Must Come Down”

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see page 18 for access to more of Sara’s art.

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Mission and Art

by Gaylan Mathiesen

W hat do an artist and a prophet have in common? How might an artist impact the direction of a nation? There is a passage in II Kings 3 that has

intrigued me for years; the setting is one in which the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom are mobilizing forces against the rebellious king of Moab. When their own strength fails them, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, suggests that they seek out a prophet who can “inquire of the LORD” for them. The name of the prophet was Elisha, “who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah,” and the kings go to him and present their case. Elisha in turn told the king of Israel to go to the pagan prophets that his father and mother had trusted. However, out of respect for the king of Judah, Elisha agreed to their request. Next comes the part that catches my attention: the prophet says, “bring me a harpist.” What is this? Why would the prophet call for a musician? The answer comes in the next two verses, “While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, ‘This is what the LORD says…’” Here we see a specific instance of an artist (a musician in this case) being given a very intentional role in the bringing of God’s word to His people.

It is universally recognized that music has the power to stir us to our depths.

King Saul called upon David to play the harp when he was tormented by a spirit. The prophetess Miriam sang songs of deliverance after Israel crossed the Red Sea in safety. In Elisha’s case, it seems that the prophet called for a harpist with the intent of preparing himself for an encounter with God on a profound level. As the well-known commentator C.F. Keil put it, “He then sent for a minstrel, to collect his mind from the impressions of the outer world by the soft tones of the instrument, and by subduing the self-life and life in the external world to become absorbed in the intuition of divine things.”

There are many other such illustrations of God employing the creative arts in His work among us. In the New Testament, Paul called upon the church to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” The arts assist us in the work of teaching and proclamation, in fellowship and in the worship of God’s community. Our churches have no problem at all in thinking of proclamation, fellowship and worship in terms of the spoken word, but let us also remember examples in the Scriptures of how God also utilizes other means of sight, sound and smell to bring the Church into His presence, to equip us and send us out to effectively serve Him in His redemptive mission.

Dr. Gaylan Mathiesen is a professor at Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, MN

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Faith & Fellowship

“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?” Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. Isaiah 45:9,11-12 ESV

R en Fuglestad is a potter, and has been giving the message, titled “He Didn’t Throw The Clay Away”, since April 2007. It all started at Triumph Church in Moorhead as a collaboration between Ren and Pastor Jeff Seaver. It’s message is about being Christ-centered and about responding to the touch of the Holy Spirit within us as well as the Christian community outside of us—and so much more.

“He Didn’t Throw The Clay Away” www.ffmagazine.org

The art of pottery brings out a deeper meaning that allows God to touch the congregation in a unique way. Children are invited up to the front to watch the clay being formed into a beautiful pot as the message is shared. This is a special presentation that, when combined with Scripture, allows the Holy Spirit to speak through the Bible and the art of pottery in a way that words from a pastor may not be able to achieve on their own.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.”

So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done?” declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 17:21 ESV Ren and Judy Fuglestad attend Triumph Lutheran Brethren Church in Moorhead, MN (www.triumphlbc.org)

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see page 18 for access to more images and video

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Your Church And The Regional Pastor

see page 18 for access to Next Steps video series

“How will this affect our church?”

This is a common question asked by the members of our churches. So how will the constitutional amendment that was adopted at our last annual convention affect your church? Will you sense a change in the way your congregation is managed or the way your Sunday morning worship is done? The simple answer is “no.” You will not see any changes in those areas. The more complex answer is “it’s up to you whether you want to see a difference.” The new role of the Regional Pastor is the closest that the constitutional amendment will get to you and your church. However, the Regional Pastor will have no direct authority over your pastor and your congregation. He will be a cultivator, facilitator, encourager, and serve as a link for you to various resources. It will be up to you whether your church wants to be a part of a bigger picture. Why did the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) feel the need for the role of a Regional Pastor? It actually goes much deeper than helping connect churches with resources or being a pastor to the pastors.

The beauty of the constitutional amendment is seen in the intentional placement of the mission of the Church. The mission of the Church has been given to the local congregations. Actually the mission has always been in the local congregations. Our history as the CLB began with five churches coming together with a common mission. God’s Mission has been given to you and me and it is our responsibility to come together as a family within our congregations and as a cluster of congregations; being the hands, being the feet and being the eyes of a larger body. The mission and vision of the CLB will truly come out of our congregations, complementing and enriching the overall mission and vision of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

The Regional Pastors will give you and me and our pastors a link between one another and easier access to more resources from other regions, the Seminary and International Mission. We will now be able to easily share ideas, talents, experiences and wisdom with one another. We have done that in the past, but in today’s fast paced culture it is hard to take the time to connect with other churches and organizations. The Regional Pastor will be there to support your pastor and encourage the mission within your congregation. He will find out how other congregations in the area or other regions can assist in the plans of your church, empowering what you and your congregation is already doing in reaching out to your community!

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4,5)

The Duties and Qualifications of the Regional Pastor (as described in the CLB By-Laws Article I. A. 8)

a. He shall be an ordained pastor or elder of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. b. The United States Regional Pastors shall be nominated by the Synodical President and appointed by the Council of Directors. The Canadian Regional Pastor shall be appointed by the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Canada and affirmed by the Council of Directors. c. His performance shall be evaluated annually by the Synodical President with input from the pastors and congregations in the Region.

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d. His appointment shall be affirmed every two years by the congregations within the Region at their Regional Biennial Convention. e. He shall report directly to the Synodical President. f. He shall preside at the meetings of the Regional Executive Committee (as defined in By-Laws Article III. B). g. He shall provide assistance in the shepherding/mentoring of pastors, and in the areas of synodical and congregational relations, pastoral and congregational health, conflict resolution, and training/education.

Faith & Fellowship

h. He shall encourage, facilitate and support Ministry Clusters, congregations in the Region working together in various aspects of ministry. i. He shall be responsible for regional and cluster communication. j. He shall provide assistance in church planting efforts within the Region. He will work with individual congregations and clusters of congregations to reach people in new communities and will provide coaching, resources and encouragement. k. He shall pursue opportunities to utilize the resources of young people, by training, equipping, empowering, and networking in unity of mission and purpose. l. He shall generally preside at regional official functions (ordinations, installations, dedications, etc.) unless the local congregation should request the services of the Synodical President or some other mutually acceptable person. m. He shall recommend pastoral candidates to congregations seeking his advice. n. He shall schedule individuals and groups traveling through the Region unless the congregations make their own arrangements. o. He shall have other synodical responsibilities as assigned by the Synodical President. p. He shall be a non-voting member of the Council of Directors.

Numbers 5

number of regional pastors (Pacific, Western, Central, Eastern and Canada)

78

percentage of votes at the annual convention in favor of the constitutional amendment

2

number of laypersons from each region elected to the Council of Directors (at least one ordained)

1

Existing number of boards after the constitutional amendment: The Board of LB Seminary

2,250,000

Total contribution goal in dollars for this fiscal year ending April 30, 2010

In

or

Out?

by Dirk McIvor

As Lutherans and as children of God, we understand what it means to “live in our justification.” It means trusting in God for salvation. God has declared us guiltless for all of our unrighteousness and calls us to believe—to trust in Him for eternal life.

I wonder, though, have you ever thought about the phrase: “living out our justification”?

Some might say it means living as a Christian. This is not untrue, but the phrase means so much more. If I encourage you to “live as a Christian,” you might envision a list of rules and activities that you must follow and participate in so that you will give evidence of being a Christian. This approach falls far short of the liberty given to us in the Gospel. To live out our justification is to engage in living out what Christ has given to us: a life that is justified.

The life you live is a response to what God has done for you.

This is, in fact, true worship. You are not living for yourself, your neighbor, your family or your friends. You are living for God. You point to the Word of God to show people why you live the way that you do. God and His saving work on the cross through His Son is your major motivator for living and when people see you living out the Word of God lived out in your life they see the Word of God at work in a real way.

What does this mean? Does this mean that we need to live a perfect life to get to heaven? Do we have to perfectly obey all those rules and take part in all those activities on some list? Does this mean that we are justified by living a particular way? No! The only way that we are justified (made right with God) is by grace through faith in what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

God desires to save us and then to live our lives for our Savior, every day and without excuse. Others might very well see Christ in us and be drawn by God to trust in Him for their lives as they too come to Him in faith. Of course, we cannot do this by our own means, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can, as Paul said, live a life worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1).

So, what would God have us do? Would He want us to live in our justification or live out our justification? He actually wants us to do both! God has given us our justification; to live in it and to live it out—by His power, and according to His purpose.

Thanks to Rev. Rod Spidahl for the inspiration of this article in messages presented at Pastor’s School, Tuscarora Inn, August 2008.

Pr. Dirk McIvor serves Nanuet LBC in Nanuet, New York

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It all started with a used car Well, not just any used car, but a particular used car that the Johnson’s were looking for.

When they found it, they got more than they realized—and just what God intended.

by Matthew Lundgren

A little more than a year ago, Al and Corinne Johnson went looking for a good used car and found one at a dealer,

fifty miles from Billings in Columbus, Montana. When the Johnsons got the car home, they discovered that it had previously been owned and traded in to that dealer by the Anderson family. After further research, it turned out that the Andersons lived only a few blocks from the Johnsons. They got in touch to talk about the history of the car and discovered that there were some floor mats that did not make the trip to the dealership when the car was traded in.

Now, it happened that the Johnsons were on their way home from Bible study and stopped by to pick up the floor mats.

While they visited, they told the Andersons about the Bible study and that led to a conversation about our congregation, Yellowstone Lutheran Brethren Church. The Andersons expressed their desire for a family-oriented church where they could fit in. The Johnsons invited them to visit our congregation to see if it fit their needs.

The next week, the Andersons came to church with the Johnsons. In time, after they got to know the congregation and began to plug in, the Andersons mentioned the church to their neighbors, the O’Donnells and the Taylors. It didn’t take long for both these families to come to Yellowstone and

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get involved. They too have begun to invite their families and friends to come to church. Then, Rick and Rebecca Anderson shared their enthusiasm about their new church home with their family, particularly Rick’s parents and his sister’s family.

In a few weeks both of these families, the Andersons and the Kings, began to attend and get involved.

As a pastor I am always encouraging people to invite their friends and families to church. But I have to confess, I didn’t think someone would actually do it! But they did!

As a result of a used car and a little something we call the Holy Spirit’s work, twenty-one people have begun to attend our congregation.

I wonder who would come to your congregation if you would just ask them. If you need a conversation starter, maybe you could offer to buy their car.

Pastor Matt Lundgren serves Yellowstone LBC in Billings, Montana

Faith & Fellowship

Camp on the Road

By Mark Johannesen

A s a first time Senior Pastor I’ve been trying to tap into every resource I can think of to come along side our church.

Our church is in a small rural town in central Pennsylvania.

About a year ago we partnered with the CLB North American Mission department and had a seminar presented by Greg Anderson from Inspiration Point Bible Camp. When we booked the seminar we weren’t thinking about the summer of 2009, we were just thinking about training our teachers for ministry.

Sometime after we settled on the date for the seminar, I got a big surprise in the mail. It was an anonymous check for a large sum of money. I brought it to the trustee’s attention and from them learned that 15% of all our congregational giving is designated to missions and youth; this large check would also be split that way, meaning that our youth account had its own large balance.

On the 1st day of camp we had 67 kids and in total 78 kids came through our doors. It’s fun to have problems like too many kids especially when you know God has things under control. We had a great week and now that camp is over, our job hasn’t ended. Our goal was to reach out and minister to these kids and we want to keep doing just that. That by the way seems to be the hardest thing to do. Pray for us as we hope to do this again and that, most importantly, we can continue to reach out to these children and their families with the hope of Jesus.

Teresa

Pastor Mark Johannesen serves at Good News LBC in McAlisterville, Pennsylvania.

As the time for Greg’s arrival came closer, our elders started talking about the ministry of IPBC’s “Camp on the Road” through which the camp sends ministry teams to congregations to assist them in their outreach. We were hoping to meet with Greg about this while he was with us for the seminar. We did just that and shortly after recommended that the congregation approve spending significant monies towards a summer partnership with IPBC for a week of Camp on the Road. We told the church family that we would shoot for an attendance goal of 40 children which is 3 times more than what we have at our church.

The motion passed unanimously but I know a lot of people thought, “Where are we going to find 40 kids?” Well, we formed a COTR leadership team to handle all the details of preparation for our week of day camps. We made 2000 flyers, 30 posters for every mom and pop shop, a large sign for the road, we had tables at local fairs with information, we gave out invitations and information at the local Christian school, and we had public service announcements on every radio station in the area.

By the day of our registration deadline we had over 50 students registered. On that day, I-Point looked into getting more staff but by then the one additional airplane ticket was going to cost more then the four we had already purchased, so we continued with the present staff and our supplemental staff. www.ffmagazine.org

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Each fall as the school year begins, and many churches begin their fall schedule, we like to present the various mission projects that we, together, are supporting for the year. Already, our contributions have helped fund women speakers for the YC’09 Youth Convention in Colorado, and supported Liz Christenson and the Mission Impact ‘09 project for North American Missions. Look for updated photos on our website www.wmclb. com. Join us in supporting these projects during this school year!

WMCLB PROJECTS AT A GLANCE

2009 - 2010

International Mission: $4700 Kirsten Holzner (Chad) and Kris Larsen (Taiwan) will be receiving language schooling. One of the specific ways to assist women in ministry is to provide adequate child care and schooling for their children, which in turn frees these women to concentrate on their language learning.

North American Missions: $4700 $2100 Ellen Geraghty’s honorarium and expenses for National Youth Convention 2009 $1600 for two women workshop speakers’ honorarium an expenses for National Youth Convention 2009 $1000 toward the administrative costs for Liz Christenson’s ministry for Mission Impact 2009

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Faith & Fellowship

Training Mission: $4700 $1000 to fund Seminary Scholarships for women enrolled in Seminary classes $2200 to fund the Seminary Women’s Retreat (SWEET) in the fall of 2009 $1000 to fund child care for the children of women enrolled or auditing classes in Seminary $500 to fund Bible Study material for two studies for the seminary women

Hillcrest: $1000 Through a half day seminar the Resident Life Staff women in the fall of 2009 will receive training from Youth Leadership from Minneapolis, MN. www.youthleadership.org

NWMT Special Project for this year will not need any additional funding.

LTC II (Leadership Training Conference II) which was begun last year, will be brought to the rest of the districts this year, using funds already given; The Theology Project is also in process, so no additional funds are needed for it.

General Mills Box Tops for Education Please continue to send box-tops to: Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Amy Taylor, 610 Hillcrest Dr., Fergus Falls, MN 56537 Send by April 30th each year BoxTops4Education.com.

Digital StoryBook A Digital StoryBook is being kept to preserve an account of our times for the future. The National, District, and Local Teams are encouraged to send photo CD’s of special events.

Please include a description of the event, a caption for each picture, including names of the people in the picture.

H.E.L.P.: Household Equipment Linen Project Provides funds to alleviate the cost of missionary family needs when going overseas or returning for furlough, as well as aiding retiring missionaries to help set up their households upon returning to the homeland.

Please send funds to either:

Joy Mathiesen, 1421 Highway Terrace, Fergus Falls MN 56537

Marybeth Nordtvedt, 1728 Connell Dr., Fergus Falls, MN 56537 www.ffmagazine.org

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On Our Website Submit your own artwork!

Recent Transitions Rev. Tom (Shannon) Seaver resigned from Elim LBC,

Send us some examples of your own artwork along with a paragraph about how God has worked in your life through your art. We will post it on our website. email: ffpress@clba.org

Clearbrook, MN effective last May and has moved to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Rev. Kevin (Linda) Patch resigned from Grace LBC,

Bottineau, ND effective July 31 and has moved to Fergus Falls, MN.

Rev. Craig (Laurel) Jennings has resigned from Our Redeemers LBC, Minot, ND effective August 31.

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Listen to music by Brad Pribbenow and David Pierce!

View more photos of artwork by the artists!

Rev. Dale (Kathleen) Carlson has resigned from

Anchor of Hope LBC, Stanwood, WA effective October 31.

Rev. Dale (LuAnn) Hanson has resigned from Ebenezer LBC, Minneapolis, MN effective October 31.

Rev. Jason (Heidi) Lang resigned from Living Word LBC, Aurora, CO effective last May and accepted the call to serve as Associate Pastor at DeWitt Lutheran Fellowship (CLB) beginning last May.

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Pastor Brandon (Jennifer) Pangman has started

serving Bethesda LBC, Eau Claire, WI as Associate Pastor on July 1.

Pastor Andy Olsen has started serving Calvary Community Church (CLB), Fullerton, CA as Associate Pastor on July 15.

He Didn’t Throw The Clay Away You can view more images of Ren’s pottery and his day at Zion Lutheran Brethren Church.

Recent Placements Rev. Forrest (Julie) Erickson has started serving Desert Rose LBC, Tempe, AZ beginning in August.

Art as Worship

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Next Steps

Watch a couple videos about the mission of the Church and the role that the Regional Pastor will have in empowering you and your congregation.

Join us on Facebook!

www.ffmagazine.org

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Faith & Fellowship

Children will enjoy the Rachel Yoder Series Enjoy Wanda Brunstetter’s Always Trouble Somewhere Series. This series of chapter books are full of fun, adventure and life lessons. Children will love nine year old Rachel Yoder’s adventures and also learn about the Amish way of life.

Book One: School’s Out! Book Two: Back to School Book Three: Out of Control Book Four: New Beginnings Book Five: A Happy Heart Book Six: Just Plain Foolishness $4.97 each

Order this series of six books and save!

Also available are books seven and eight.

Growing Up and Jumping To Conclusions.

Order your copies today!

Buy Books 1-5 & Get The th 6 One FREE!

Sale expires October 31, 2009 or while supplies last.

Sale prices do not include shipping

All this and more at Faith & Fellowship Press

1-800-332-9232 email - ffbooks@clba.org

Faith & Fellowship is the official publication of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, 1020 Alcott Ave. W., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655, issued eight times a year (January/February, March, April/May, June/July, August, September/October, November, December) by Faith and Fellowship Press, 1020 W. Alcott Ave., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655. Phone (218)736-7357. The viewpoints expressed in the articles are those of the authors and may or may not necessarily reflect the official position of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA). Periodicals Postage Paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538.

(USPS 184-600) • (ISSN 10741712)

SUBSCRIPTIONS: in the continental U.S.: one year, $16.50; two years, $28.00. Canada and Foreign: $19.00 per year. Prepaid in U.S. currency only. Single copies and back issues, $2.00. Group subscriptions are available at reduced rates. Contact us for details. Periodicals Postage paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please give both old and new addresses and allow four weeks.

Direct all correspondence, including submission of articles, to: Faith & Fellowship, P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655; Telephone, (218)736-7357; e-mail, ffpress@clba.org; FAX, (218)736-2200.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Faith & Fellowship, P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538-0655

www.ffmagazine.org

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Periodicals Postage Paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538

I could have gone up Hwy 55 (Hiawatha). I might have even taken the curve on 35-W and just dealt with the delays (not likely if it can be avoided!). I had a couple other (longer) options and that got me to thinking: There is usually more than one way to get to where you want to go. Sometimes there are all kinds of ways to get where you want to go.

I know that when my wife and I are traveling we often have different ideas as to how to get to the destination we have in mind. “Why didn’t you turn there?” “Because I want to go this way.” “But…” Maybe you’ve been there. Anyway…

I’m grateful there is one way to God through Jesus Christ.

Scripture calls it the narrow way, but it is only narrow in the sense that it is singular. One. The only way. That’s comforting to me; it’s simple. Beyond simple, it’s God’s way. As we travel that narrow road with Jesus and His people He gives us great freedom to carry on the work of His Church (the Body of Christ is a traveling body!).

All of that to say this: When we travel in groups (congregations, synods, clusters, networks, etc.) we need to enjoy the reality that there is more than one right way to get where we’re going—to do what needs doing. We need to enjoy the journey together and encourage the gifts given to God’s people as He puts us in place for His purposes.

Where are you trying to get to? (Sorry). Where do you want to go? Where do you want to end up? What project are you

For change of address: Faith & Fellowship P.O. Box 655 Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655

On a recent trip into the center of Minneapolis I had to take a bit of a detour. I know my way around the southern parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul fairly well, so, when the sign on Crosstown (62) warned of a crash just north of 35th Street on 35-W, I wasn’t terribly concerned. Grateful for the sign, I had time to head north on Portland passing through some very pretty parts of south Minneapolis, then east to Park Avenue which is a one-way leading directly into the heart of the city.

I reached my destination safe and sound and with minimal delay.

working on that needs a goal and planning to get you there?

And who else is involved in the “travel” to that destination? Is there a right way and a wrong way?

Our vibrant little synod sits on the threshold of something new. Lots of “ways” have been examined and plans have been determined. Now we’re traveling a road that has some unexplored territory ahead, but, and for this I am very grateful, our destination remains the same: We are traveling, as a church, into and toward the One who calls us into His mission in this world, no matter where that takes us. And the greatest blessing of all? He’s already there.

But you already knew that,

Bruce Stumbo serves as a pastor with fellow travelers at Bethel LBC in Grand Forks, ND

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