Centered in Christ As One Body with Many Members (and ...

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church October 2021

Centered in Christ – As One Body with Many Members (and

Small Groups!) Pastor Martha Schwehn Bardwell

On Sunday October 3, we have the joy of surrounding Eleanor Lau as she is washed in the waters of baptism, sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. And a couple of weeks after that, on October 17, we will gather again to bless Mara Hanlon on her baptism day. What a deep joy it is to get to celebrate and welcome these children of God as the promises of God drench them with unconditional love and grace!

These baptisms will be different than pre-pandemic baptisms. Eleanor’s baptism will be outside in the backyard at the 9am service– our first outdoor baptism! As I write this, Mary and I are still figuring out what to use as a font. As we sing “Love is Flowing,” the squacks, barks and meows of critters brought for the day’s Blessing of the Animals will add surprising harmonies to our human song. Mara’s baptism, while still being planned, will likely be at the 10:30 indoor service. Masks and physical distancing will be practiced to ensure good public health, and around the font, these practices will serve as visible reminders, both of the vulnerability and risks involved in human life – vulnerability and risks that are always held in and supported by God’s promises and grace - as well as the call to love and serve our neighbors in embodied ways – a call that binds us together as we live out our baptismal identities.

Another difference about these baptisms is that we can’t all gather together to be part of them. In these days as the pandemic drags on, and we eagerly wait for our members under 12 years old to be vaccinated, we persist faithfully together and yet as a somewhat fragmented community. Some of us attend the 9am worship service; some of us attend the 10:30. Some of us join in person and some online. Some of us have lost the habit of attending worship at all. And yet – the same Spirit that blesses Eleanor and Mara – the Spirit of wisdom and joy in God’s presence – never loses its grip on our lives, but rather moves among us and in us, binding us together into the body of Christ across all divisions for the sake of the world.

One way to stay connected, to remain centered in Christ, and to nurture our baptismal callings in community is to be part of a small group at OSLC. We have various small groups already going on! Over the years, we have discovered that it seems to work better for groups to organically form out of members’ desires than it does for staff or committees to design them. Here is a ‘nudge’ from MCFF (Ministry of Community and Faith Formation) for you to find your place. If you’d like to be part of any of these groups, or start your own, please contact the folks listed below or Pastor Martha ([email protected]).

Continued next page


Faith and Feminism – Faith and Feminism meets about once a month. After taking a summer break, we are planning to gather on Sunday, October 24 at 3pm for an in person, outdoor gathering. Please contact Deb Swenson-Klatt ([email protected]) to be added to the email list and learn more about this and other upcoming gatherings.

Men’s Breakfast – Men’s breakfast meets at Butter Bakery Café once a month. I’m not sure if they also meet on Zoom or not. If you’re interested in learning more about this group, contact Dan Swenson-Klatt ([email protected]).

Wednesday Bible Study – Wednesday Bible Study meets every week on Zoom from 10:15am – noon.

We begin by sharing prayer concerns and thanksgivings, and then we read the Scripture texts for the upcoming Sunday service, bringing each one into conversation with our lives as we listen for how God is calling us today. To join bible study, contact Pastor Martha or Mary Preus.

OSLC Choir – Make a joyful noise! OSLC choir is always accepting new members. Just show up to a Wednesday evening rehearsal or a Sunday morning rehearsal before singing at the 10:30 service. To learn more, contact Mary Preus ([email protected]).

ISAIAH Core Team – The ISAIAH core team stays active building power and organizing for racial, economic and environmental justice in Minnesota with ecumenical and interfaith partners. They meet about once a month. For more information, contact Paula Keller ([email protected]) or David Scheie ([email protected]).

Reparations Book Study – A book study of From Here to Equality is underway, with the first session on

September 30. We meet every-other week on Thursdays for several weeks this fall. If you would like to jump in on this Zoom offering, please email Paul Batalden ([email protected]).

Young Adults Group - The young adults group meets here and there for fellowship with each other. To learn more, contact Linnea Peterson ([email protected]).

Chicago Avenue Garden Work Group – A small group has been tending the community garden on Chicago Avenue in the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. We have been meeting to do work at the garden on Mondays from 10-12, with a femme-led neighborhood work day on Thursdays from 11-1. To get involved, email Rico Morales [email protected].

Called to Care for Creation - Called to Care for Creation (CCC) will be an opportunity to gather around

issues related to climate change and creation care, to keep up to date on what is happening in this regard, to pray and lament together, and to be intentional about taking concrete action towards a more flourishing creation. It will be a time to nurture one another in hope as we answer God’s call to care for all that God has made. This is a new, emerging group – to learn more, contact Rebekah Fergus ([email protected]).

We have other opportunities beyond worship this month as well, which you will learn about as you continue

to read this Sentinel issue. In this season, may our roots continue to stretch ever deeper into the fathomless

love of God in Christ, and may we find ourselves filled and strengthened for loving service to one another

and this aching and beautiful world.

mailto:[email protected]








Worship with Holy Communion

9:00 Backyard Worship- join us in person 10:30 Worship in the Sanctuary- join us in person or on Facebook.

Call the office at 612-871-2967 to reserve your spot in the sanctuary for the 10:30 worship.

Worship Folders

To get your worship folder, go to oursavioursmpls.org and find it under the Worship, Music and Arts tab.

First Wednesday Zoom Prayer

Rest in the Spirit with Word, Song, Prayer, Silence, Each Other

Join us for contemplative prayer at 7pm on Wednesday, October 6. We will share in a simple service of Scrip-ture, prayer and song. It will be a time to pause from our busy days to be centered in Christ.

October 6 from 7 to 7:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81959425384?

pwd=aWcwVmJuSEVVbkhxZC9JT0JBalFTQT09

Meeting ID: 819 5942 5384

Passcode: 994210

Worship for this Sunday, October 3

9am worship –Baptism of Eleanor Frances Lau, Blessing of the Animals and community garden tour –

At 9am worship, we will praise God and witness with joy as Eleanor is showered with God’s promises and

love through the waters of baptism. At the end of our service, we will bless pets and stuffed animals and all

God’s critters that show up for worship in the spirit of St. Francis who saw all animals, plants, planets and

even death as kin. You may stay after the service for a tour of our community garden just north of church on

Chicago Avenue led by Jim Johnson.

10:30 worship – Welcoming Guest Preacher Babette Chatman – Rev. Babette Chatman, co-pastor at Augs-

burg University, will be joining us as guest preacher this Sunday. She is a powerful woman of God and she’ll

surely bring a word of grace and hope to our ears!


OSLC Fall Worship schedule – Outside, Inside, and Virtual!

9am – Outdoor Worship in the OSLC backyard

We continue with our OSLC outdoor worship service. There is no sign-up for the 9am outdoor service.

Although we are saying 9am for this service, we will actually begin at 9:10am and the service will last for

about 30 minutes. Some weeks will include Godly Play storytelling as our Scripture story/children’s sermon

for the day. On those weeks, children will be invited to stay after for work time if they would like.

10:30am – OSLC sanctuary worship with Facebook Livestream

At our usual 10:30 service, we will continue to cap our indoor capacity at 50 people, and we will require

masks and physical distancing. You can sign up for our 10:30 worship service HERE by calling the office at

612-871-2967

For both of our Sunday services, we will be communing by bread only. In his writings, Martin Luther assures

us that Christ is fully present in just one element. Jesus – the one who taught us to love our neighbors – is with

us indeed as we take this step to keep our community safe while continuing to share in this holy meal that

brings us comfort, strength, forgiveness and life.

Out of care for our community, stay home from in person worship if you are at all sick or have been exposed

to someone with Covid-19.

Ushers for 10:30 am service needed

We need volunteers to usher for the 10:30 am service. If you are willing to serve, you can sign up for a shift

using the Sign Up Genius link below. If you want to know more about what an usher does or want to be added

to the list to get emails inviting you to usher, contact Nancy Nygaard Johnson at [email protected].

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4EA5AA29A31-summer

Wednesday, October 20 – Community Meal and Zoom

Wednesday Connections

On October 20, we are going to enjoy some community connection time together. From 4:30-5:30, pick up a community meal ‘to go’ made by our amazing cook, April Smith, or have one delivered to your doorstep from volunteer deliverers. We are not charging for the meals, but we would appreciate donations from members to cover some of the cost. Then, from 6:30 – 7:30, enjoy a Zoom Wednesday Connections time for conversation together. We’ll have time to pray together, read Scripture, or otherwise get centered in Christ, and then we’ll have time to simply connect and check in as a community.

Sign up for a meal HERE – https://forms.gle/CGqJVzhnrptonQd99

Zoom Wednesday Connections for October 20 at 6:30

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89667520917?pwd=dS9oeDViY3Q1VWx6cWRFWHlxSCtOdz09

Meeting ID: 896 6752 0917 Passcode: 996759


Our Saviour’s Community Services

Introducing Mike Huffman, OSCS Permanent Executive Director

As you may know, the Board of Directors of OSCS recently announced the selection of Michael Huffman as

its permanent Executive Director, beginning October 4th.

Mike brings a unique mix of relevant experience and familiarity with OSCS to his role as Executive Director.

As Director of Outreach and Shelter at St. Stephen's Human Services, he was our partner in the relocation of

our shelter guests to a hotel, early in the pandemic. He has also taught English as a second language in Moroc-

co, and he and his wife have volunteered at our English Learning Center.

Mike is a warm and passionate leader who understands and values the unique culture of OSCS. When we

spoke last week, he said, “I’m thrilled for the chance to lead such a strong community of advocates. From my

first meeting with staff, I could tell they cared about each other and I’m excited to participate in and support

our work together."

There will be many opportunities to get to know Mike in the coming months, but I want to invite anyone who

can to stop by during an informal meet-and-greet, between noon and 2:00 pm on Tuesday, October 5th, in the

church backyard.

English Learning Center–

October Mission of the Month

I also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone at

OSLC for your commitment and steadfast support during

the past 18 months, including your current giving for the

English Learning Center as Mission of the Month!

This would have been a challenging time for OSCS even without the COVID pandemic and the racial reckon-

ing sparked by the murder of George Floyd. With your faithful support, OSCS has not only survived; it has

thrived. I wish you and OSCS all the best in the years to come.

With deep gratitude,

David Fey

Interim Executive Director, OSCS


President Update

Dear Members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church,

A combination of the Executive Committee of the council and the

Personnel Committee continue to interview interim candi-

dates. “Who does that include?” you may ask. Linda Thorson is

Vice President of the Council and heads the Personnel Committee

that also includes Cara Herrick and Magdalena Wells. The rest of

the Executive Committee of the Council includes Joel Beard,

Treasurer, Linnea Peterson, Secretary, Pastor Martha, and

me. Together, we have just completed two additional interviews

and are presently discerning those experiences. In this last inter-

view process, we have contacted some members of the congrega-

tion who may have information that will help us make our deci-

sion to either conclude our relationship with the candidate or move forward to possible interim ministry. A

candidate for interim ministry is approved for service at Our Saviour’s when the interview committee makes a

recommendation to the church council and the council votes to approve this recommendation.

The interview committee is clear that we want an interim candidate who can facilitate the Ministerial Site Pro-

file and Call processes along with being able to assist with worship and pastoral needs. The ministerial site

profile will not only say who we are as a community of faith but will also name our hopes and dreams. In her

exit interview, Pastor Laurie shared that our discernment ought to include the scope and challenges of our

property, the increasing needs for pastoral care, and a staffing arrangement that would effectively address

these two concerns. Plus, it is critical that we maintain a thriving worship experience along with Sunday

School and faith formation and Bible Study and so many other treasured experiences at Our Saviour’s. The

pandemic has separated us in ways we could not have anticipated and these multiple processes with the inter-

im’s guidance will also help weave us together in similar and new imagined ways.

I will keep you appraised of our interim interviews. Just remember, the interim candidates are also interview-

ing us. So, even if we believe the candidate is a good fit for us, the candidate may not feel we are a good fit for

the candidate. It is a mutually agreed upon decision by both parties.

With all of this, your love and prayers for our journey at this time and in this place are welcomed.

Yes, we are a blessed community. I appreciate all of you. Please feel free to contact me with any of your

thoughts, questions, concerns, or hopes. We will walk all of this together.

God’s Love and Peace to you all, Elaine Johnson

Church Directory Update

We will be updating the Church Directory in the next couple of weeks. If you have moved or changed your

phone number or email address within the last year , please send your new information to Alex in the church

office at [email protected] or call 612-871-2967


Vanco Mobile App for Giving is here

Vanco, our eGiving provider, has launched an updated mobile app called Vanco Mobile. This replaces the cur-

rent GivePlus mobile app. If you currently use GivePlus for making donations, your information will be car-

ried over to the new app and donations will continue to occur. You will need to download the new Vanco Mo-

bile from the App Store or Google Play to be able to continue to maintain and make new donations. Your log-

in credentials will stay the same. All current GivePlus users should receive an email with info on the up-

dates. Please download Vanco Mobile soon. Vanco will be retiring GivePlus Mobile on January 31, 2022. If

you have any questions, or assistance with the new mobile app, please contact Nancy Nygaard Johnson

at [email protected].

October 9th, Fall Workday at OSLC- In-

side and Out!

Fall is upon us and our church and the grounds are in need of atten-

tion. Volunteers are needed to assist with inside and outside work

projects to maintain and improve our worship and social areas.

Please bring gloves if you intend to work on outdoor projects, and

plan to wear a mask for any inside work. Please come to the church

on Saturday October 9th from 10-12. We are looking forward to see-

ing you and sprucing up the corner of 24th and Chicago together! In order to plan for snacks and jobs to do,

please email Nancy at [email protected] if you intend to come, but still come even if you don’t let us know

ahead of time.

The Property Committee

Community Emergency Service (CES) Update

CES, our neighborhood food shelf, is once again able to operate utilizing

their client-choice model. This means that clients get to “shop” for the foods

they enjoy and that are best for their individual/family’s needs. Until recent-

ly (due to COVID) clients were given standardized bags of groceries

(general or specific for various ethnic groups) and were not able to enter the

building. However, curbside pick-up is still available for those not ready for

indoor visits to the food shelf.

• Help restock the shelves by donating items from the list. Donations can be dropped off in the coat room. • Jar spaghetti sauce • Baked beans • Pork n’ Beans • Canned Carrots • Canned Peas • Can Diced Tomatoes • Can Beef Stew • Canned Meat (tuna, salmon, sardines) • Black tea bags (plain) • Dry lentils


Current Parable Amy Blumenshine While the headlines may have shifted, some of us are still weeping over the tragedy of the American war

against Afghanistan. There’s a lot of loss and ongoing suffering to lament related to the wealthiest nation in

the world bombing the poorest nation in the world for over 20 years. As the US military withdrawal was news,

the veterans support network became alerted that some post 9/11 veterans might be particularly suicidal. We

don’t yet have the data but we do have reason to believe that self-inflicted deaths are related to moral injury,

the violation of deeply held principles and beliefs. We also have reason to believe that collectively, we share

the impact of moral injury.

One of our leading Lutheran theologians, Rev. Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug, professor at Monrovian University,

published a couple of articles recently in TomDispatch.com. She has collaborated with the Coming Home

Collaborative (!) over the years as we’ve pressed for better understanding of the suffering experienced by too

many veterans and their families. In these articles, she dives deeply into understanding the American blindness

regarding military harm, including raising a parable. {https://tomdispatch.com/a-parable-of-all-american-

violence/ and https://tomdispatch.com/moral-injury-and-the-forever-wars/, please note that the editors of

TomDispatch.com preamble each article.}

She writes: “The unending violence of our war culture became a kind of security blanket, money in the bank.

Few protested the outlandish Pentagon budgets overwhelmingly approved by Congress each year, even as

defeats in distant lands multiplied. Violence would protect us; it would save us. We couldn’t stockpile enough

of it, or the weapons that made it possible, or use it more liberally around the globe — and increasingly at

home as well.” Sadly, just last week, despite supposedly ending wars, Congress yet again has increased the

Pentagon budget, defeating amendments that sought to shift spending to domestic needs.

The Moravian University professor notes “Philosophers know that such violence almost invariably turns out to

be grounded in inequality and so sharply conflicts with this country’s most basic values, especially the idea

that human beings are equal. To act violently against the other, people must believe that the object of violence

is somehow less worthy, of less value than themselves.” How could this not be part of our own

neighborhood’s self-destruction?

May we claim our authority as Christians and moral agents to repudiate these suicidal delusions and policies.

Faiths 4 Climate Justice - Monday, Oct 18

Faith and spiritual communities around the globe are showing up on October 18th for Faiths 4 Climate Justice,

a massive day of action demanding world leaders act more boldly on climate justice ahead of the Glasgow UN

Climate Talks in November.

As part of this action, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light (MNIPL) is hosting a multi-faith prayer gathering

for federal climate action. Join us at noon at the entrance to the Federal Building in downtown Minneapolis

(212 3rd Ave S Minneapolis). Through song, prayer, meditation, and silence, we will make a public stand for

federal climate action. Afterwards, we’ll gather for lunch at a nearby park across the Stone Arch Bridge.


Friday, Oct 1 7am Men’s Breakfast at Butter Café and on Zoom

Sunday, Oct 3 9:00am Outdoor Worship– OSLC Backyard 10:30am Worship in person and on Facebook in the Sanctuary Monday, Oct 4 7-8:30 Church Council Meeting

Tuesday, Oct 5 12:30-2pm Staff Meeting (CR)

Wednesday, Oct 6 10:15-12pm Online Bible Study on Zoom 7-7:30pm First Wednesday Zoom Prayer Saturday, Oct 9 9:00-12pm Property Meeting and Clean Up

Sunday, Oct 10 9:00am Outdoor Worship– OSLC Backyard

10:30am Worship in person and on Facebook in the Sanctuary

Tuesday, Oct 12 12:30-2pm Staff Meeting (CR)

Wednesday, Oct 13 10:15-12pm Online Bible Study on Zoom

Sunday, Oct 17 9:00am Outdoor Worship– OSLC Backyard

10:30am Worship in person and on Facebook in the Sanctuary Monday, Oct 18 12n Faith for Climate Justice Rally at Mpls Federal Building 7-8:30 Racial Justice Committee Meeting Tuesday, Oct 19 12:30-2pm Staff Meeting (CR)

Wed, Oct 20 10:15-12pm Online Bible Study on Zoom

4:30-5:30pm Community Meal To Go

6:30-7:30pm Zoom Community Connections

Sunday, Oct 24 9:00am Outdoor Worship– OSLC Backyard 10:30am Worship in person and on Facebook in the Sanctuary Monday, Oct 25 5-6:30 Finance Committee Meeting

Tuesday, Oct 26 Sentinel Deadline 12:30-2pm Staff Meeting (CR)

Wed, Sept 27 10:15-12pm Online Bible Study on Zoom Sunday, Oct 31 9:00am Outdoor Worship– OSLC Backyard 10:30am Worship in person and on Facebook in the Sanctuary

October 2021 at Our Saviour’s


Lectionary Text for

Home Devotions

The Sentinel Vol. LX, No. 10 is published by

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. 2315 Chicago Ave

Minneapolis MN 55404

Deadline for the November Sentinel is Tuesday, October 26 at 9am!

October 3 Genesis 2:18-24 Psalm 8 Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 Mark 10:2-16

October 10 Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 Psalm 90:12-17 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31

October 17 Isaiah 53:4-12 Psalm 91:9-16 Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 10:35-45

October 24 Jeremiah 31:7-9

Psalm 126 Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 10:46-52

October 31

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 46 Romans 3:19-28 John 8:31-36

How to Reach Us

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

2315 Chicago Ave

Minneapolis MN 55404

612-871-2967

oursavioursmpls.org Pastor:

Martha Schwehn Bardwell option 4

Music Director:

Mary Preus option 6

Bookkeeper: Diane Palmer option 5

Office Manager:

Alexander Farino ` option 7

OSCS

612-871-5900 Interim Executive Director:

David Fey option 1

Executive Director: Michael Hoffman option 1

Prayer List

Paul Rogers

Diane Rowe

Rachel Ackland

Anton Moore

Kelly Lewis

Luke, Jacentia, David, and Mateo (Karen Winan’s family

members sick with Covid-19)

Congratulations to Tezra and Scott Osthus on the birth of their

son Linden Mark Osthus

Centered in Christ As One Body with Many Members (and ...

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