Dear Peace Family and Friends,
They say there are lots of “springs” in Minnesota – early spring, fake spring, deceptive spring, disappointing spring, and then… finally… SPRING! After last weekend’s blizzard that shut us down for worship, I’m hoping that spring actually does arrive soon, since this weekend does actually mean that spring has arrived, at least on the calendar!
Since I will be out in California this week visiting my family, we will have a special guest leading worship on Sunday morning, Pastor Anna Helgen. Pastor Anna has served as co-pastor at Edina Community Lutheran and associate pastor at Mount Olivet in Minneapolis. She also has a strong background in children, youth, and family ministry, with experience at Saint Timothy (St. Paul), Christ the King (White Bear Lake), and summer camps including Wilderness Canoe Base in northern Minnesota and Camp Christikon in Montana. She is now on hiatus from full-time ministry to spend more time with her family, which allows her to be with us today. Please extend a warm welcome to her!
The story we will be hearing from scripture this Sunday will be about the raising of Lazarus from the dead, a foretaste of what’s to come for Jesus down the road. And in addition to our usual prayers, songs, and Holy Communion, we will also be having a baptism at worship! We will welcome Lincoln Oistad to a life of faith. Lincoln is the son of TJ and Annette Oistad, and grandson of Peace members, Robert Endly and Donna Dahlen.
Finally, tomorrow morning, Saturday March 21, Transfiguration Lutheran Church in Bloomington will be having its annual “Buy Nothing” event from 9:00am to 1:00pm. This event is hosted in cooperation with VEAP, and provides all kinds of items for folks in need. Please feel free to pass the word along to anyone who might benefit from this event!
God’s Peace,
Pastor Jeff Engholm