Author: Clarice Erickson

Sunday, March 1: Worship at 10:30  We begin our journey to the cross in our first week of Lent, with the sacrament of Communion. Choir will be singing a familiar song. Fellowship downstairs to follow.

Monday, March 2: Bible Study is cancelled as Pastor Paul is out of town. (Sorry!)

Tuesday, March 3: Morgan Park community meeting at Good Fellowship Club, 6 pm.

**Women's Fellowship, 1:30 pm, in Fellowship Hall. All women are welcome to attend.

**"Grill's On" Community Potluck, 5-7 pm: Join us in the Fellowship Hall as we share a community meal together. Friends and strangers welcome! As always, bring what you have, or just bring yourself. There is always enough!

Thursday, March 5:  AA meets in the Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

"Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him."  ~Matthew 4:11

   …Always wanted to talk to that guy…I mean, I've prayed countless times to him, and received guidance from him enough to consistently say "thank you" and "amen" – but really, I just want to talk to him. Small talk. Chit-chat. "How's the weather?" "What'cha think of (this or that)?" I want to hear him engage in group conversation, or table fellowship. Watch a game together. Head out camping for the weekend.

    In the same sense, I'd love to be a witness to the moment quoted above. He's been fasting. He's been tempted by the devil. He's just about to begin his public ministry. "And the angels came and waited on him." I mean: did they talk? Jesus and the angels…did they banter in the context of their common experiences? "Hey, thanks for lending a hand…by the way, how's Dad doing?" – that kind of thing.

   In my casual approach here, I don't mean to be flippant, and certainly not disrespectful. It's just that in all of my prayer I've learned that to welcome him into my life means to welcome him into every part of my life – and certainly not every moment of my life is laden with the solemnity of intentional prayer.

   Really, I mean, what's Jesus talking to you about when you're, say, cooking dinner…sauteing onions to put on your burger? (I know, I know…but I do eat healthy…sometimes.) What's Jesus say when you're looking for a lost wallet, or taking out the garbage? 

   That's the kind of Jesus that I really want in my life…and of course, he is there.

   Always there.

   I just need to include him in the conversation.

Keep in touch, Friends

Pastor Paul

Sunday, Feb. 23: Worship at 10:30.  Celebrating the end of the season of Epiphany with the Transfiguration story. Fellowship downstairs to follow.

Monday, Feb. 24: Bible Study at 6 pm. Join Pastor Paul as we explore this week's scripture in the lectionary and bring it into our lives and faith. Questions encouraged.

**History Work Day, 10 am: Sort and organize photos and other materials.

"Grill's On" Community Potluck, followed by Ash Wednesday gathering:  Join us at 5 pm as we share a community meal together. (Friends and strangers welcome! As always, bring what you have, or just bring yourself. There is always enough!) We'll head upstairs around 6 pm to welcome the season of Lent with our Ash Wednesday service. Jim Larson will be here with his mountain dulcimer.

Thursday, Feb. 27:  AA meets in the Fellowship  Hall, 7 pm.

**Morgan Park WinterFest: Feb. 22, 3-6 pm at Good Fellowship Center for some Winter Fun! Ice skating with skates available in the warming shack. Parks & Rec will have snowshoes with a demo and walking tour. Indoor crafts and assorted board games and when hungry grab a hot dog, chips and hot cocoa! Everyone welcome to this free event hosted by the Morgan Park Community Club . We look forward to a fun day.

**"Winter in the West, West Duluth, Feb. 22-23: More information here: https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200018944162914

**Feb. 27: Community Chili Cook-Off, 4:30-6:30: Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 4831 Grand Avenue (to benefit CHUM West Duluth Food Shelf). Can our congregation take home the trophy?

"Get up and do not be afraid…"    ~ Matthew 17:7

    Grumble grumble…pesky good-for-nothing cold or flu or whatever this thing is that I've had for the past two weeks – enough already! I sit here at the desk, humming along to the music, and my voice echoes as if I have my fingers in my ears.

    All of this has meant that the past days have been spent lying down. Luckily, it's been sunny, and the windows are filled with enough light and warmth to keep me from sinking into dull moans and mumbles…but with the down time comes the pesky nudges: taxes and finances, childcare and church matters. The to-do list grows longer.

    Last Monday, in Bible Study, we were talking about productivity…about how we push ourselves and drive ourselves to be at our best at all times and the notion that anything less than our best feels imperfect, or worse: lacking or lazy. And today I'm thinking: Our "best" is just that – a peak performance. What if I am performing my "most ok" or my "good enough" or my "can't complain, could be worse?" I mean: what if I am just getting by? Day by day, is that really something I should be ashamed of?

    "Get up," Jesus says, "and do not be afraid." And I think: Let yourself not feel well, Mr. Paul. Do not fight it. Give yourself permission to not be at your best. Because if you cannot permit yourself to be less than your best, how can you ever tell another that he or she is ok just being who they are?

    So: next Sunday's sermon might not be my best. I haven't had the rigor of study and creativity that I have in my best of weeks. On the other hand, maybe, because I've accepted my limits and capacities, I'll be speaking from a heart and soul that resonates in a clearer and communal way.

    Either way: "Get up," Jesus says, "and do not be afraid." Let the days pass as they will, and welcome them with the best self you can bring, but let us all remember that every day cannot be our best.

Keep in Touch

Pastor Paul  

Congratulations to Dick Linde  on his "new and very important" position in the church.

Sunday, Feb. 16: The UP Choir will be singing. Fellowship follows service downstairs.

Monday, Feb. 17: Bible study at 6 pm. Join Pastor Paul as we explore this week's scripture in the lectionary, and bring it into our lives and faith. Questions encouraged.

Wednesday, Feb. 19: "Grill's On" Community Potluck: Join us between 5 and 7 as we share a community meal together. Friends and strangers welcome! As always, bring what you have, or just bring yourself. There's always enough!

Thursday, Feb. 20: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm.

**Ruby's Pantry: 11am-12:30pm: Mission Creek Church

**Morgan Park Winter Fest: Join us from 3-6 pm at the Good Fellowship Center for some Winter Fun! Ice skating with skates available in the warming shack. Parks & Rec will have snowshoes with a demo and walking tour. Indoor crafts and assorted board games and when hungry grab a hot dog, chips, and hot cocoa! Everyone is welcome to this free event hosted by the Morgan Park Community Club. We look forward to a fun day!

**"Winter in the West", West Duluth: More information here: https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200018944162914 

**Community Chili Cook-Off, 4:30-6:30: Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 4831 Grand Ave. (to benefit CHUM West Duluth Food Shelf). Can our congregation take home the trophy?

"For we are God's servants, working together…"   ~ 1 Corinthians 3:9

   Here comes the cold…but with it, the sun. With it, the simple squeak of the shoes on the snow and the clear, crisp air.

   I'm the goofball that likes this weather. Notably, I like the bright sun. So in the midst of a day of shuffling and sorting and "I'm-gonna-get-my-things-together-so-as-not-to-have-anxiety" I stepped away from the office, where there are only stained glass windows, and went home to lay in the sun.

   Which I did…until a phone call, and an invitation. A friend says "it's cold"…a friend says "let's get out", so off I go to share time with friends. Others joined us. We laughed and shared stories. We had reunions. By the time I got home, the sun had set, but the light and the warmth in my heart was retained.

   That, and earlier this week, a crew gathered here at the church to bake doughnuts and cookies. Because of a head cold, I stayed away, tucked in my office so as not to spread my cooties, but I could hear them…with the echo of laughter up the stairwell.

   There is no sound sweeter, reverberating through the church, than the echo of laughter.

   We need each other, friends. We need friends, each and every one of us. Here I'm tempted to give a nod to life's challenges, and that thin thread of darkness that all of us have woven through the fabric of our lives, but when we're sharing time and sharing stories, when the laughter echoes up the stairwell in the church, that thin dark strand seems to become even thinner…eclipsed by the joy of friends.

   That's church, my friends. That's God's grace.

Keep in Touch

Pastor Paul

Sunday, Feb. 9: Worship at 10:30: Affirmation of New Leaders. Also: Cathy, Linda and Ashley will share their musical gifts! Fellowship downstairs to follow.

**9:00 am: Baking Day – Doughnuts & Cookies: All who like to bake (and eat) are welcome to join in the fellowship and fun. Doughnuts will be sold at $5/dozen. If you would like to order doughnuts, please put your name on the sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall, or leave a message at the office by Sunday morning. Doughnuts will be ready for pick-up around 12:30 pm on Monday.

**Bible Study, 6 pm: Join Pastor Paul as we explore this week's scripture in the lectionary and bring it into our lives and faith. Questions encouraged.

Tuesday, Feb. 11: Council Meeting: Trustees & Deacons meet at 6 pm, whole council at 7 pm.

**History Work Day: 10 am: After a couple months off, we will begin work again on sorting and organizing materials.

**Grill's On! Community Potluck: Join us between 5 and 7 as we share a meal together. We'll be ready by 5:00 for the folks in the choir. Friends and strangers welcome! As always, bring what you have, or just bring yourself. There is always enough!

**Choir meets at 6 pm in the Sanctuary (just double-checked, I got it right this time!). We'll sing on Sunday. All skill levels welcome. No long-term commitment required.

Thursday, Feb. 13: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm.

**Feb. 22: Winterfest at Good Fellowship Club: Skating, snowshoeing, games, crafts, food.

**Feb. 27: Community Chili Cook-Off, 4:30-6:30: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (4831 Grand Avenue) to benefit CHUM West Duluth Food Shelf. Can our congregation take home the trophy???

"…let your light shine before others"   ~Matthew 5:16

     Sipping my morning coffee and watching the snow fall (which still makes me happy…I know, I'm weird), I got to thinking about the folks I know that have totally aced the "doing good in the world" thing. Notably, those that achieved that status without bragging or grandstanding or seeking praise and compliment. I tip my morning cup o' joe for their cup o' joe of remaining humble. I thank them, and think: why can't I do that?

     I can't do that because every week I stand up and talk to you…or sit here and write to you. My work is essentially demonstrative. I'm supposed to tell you what I'm thinking and feeling, and tie those thoughts to the weekly walk of faith we all take. Take this week, for example: we witness the nod to transition that Jesus shares, but in the same way, we know that God, through Jesus, did a new and different thing in the life and ministry and teaching of his son. He didn't stand broad-shouldered in the temple shouting "as God's son, I'm here to tell you that things are different now!" Rather, he hung out with the people, heard the stories, honored the tradition, and did the work of "doing good in the world" as it seemed right to do.

     And he made a difference.

     So as a fellow that admires humility, but has a title (and by consequence entitlement) that keeps him talking and sharing out loud, I like to think that the new thing God calls us as a church to share and celebrate is best expressed in the acts of love and care that fly under the radar of sermons or reports. Have you felt love here? Hope so. Have you shared your love? The same. I can tell you that I see it. I feel it. I am thankful for it. That "light" Jesus refers to is, indeed, shining here, and looking forward, has a hopeful future.

     But it is best witnessed in others…after all: I talk too much.

Keep in Touch

Pastor Paul 

**Worship at 10:30, with Communion (and what feels like a "greatest hits" of scripture – cool!…yes, your pastor is a geek). Followed by fellowship downstairs (and later, someone can invite the Pastor and his kids to a Super Bowl Party if they want, he won't complain).

**Citywide Snowball Fight! (Morgan Park edition): 12:00-3:00 pm, at the church. We'll have Hot Chocolate.  Details: Duluth is having a city-wide snowball fight (at Leif Erickson) and encouraging local communities to share in their own! More details here: https://www.perfectduluthday.com/the-event/citywide-snowball-fight/

Monday, Feb. 3: Bible Study at 6 pm. Join Pastor Paul as we explore this week's scripture in the lectionary and bring it into our lives and faith. Questions encouraged.

Tuesday, Feb. 4: AA meets in the Fellowship Hall, 6 pm

**"Grill's On!" Community Potluck: Join us between 5 and 7 as we share a meal together. We'll be ready by 5:00 for the folks in the choir. Friends and strangers welcome! As always, bring what you have, or just bring yourself. There is always enough!

**Choir meets at 6 pm in the Sanctuary. We'll sing on Sunday. All skill levels welcome.

Thursday, Feb. 6: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 6 pm

**Morgan Park Community Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 pm at the Good Fellowship Club. As a church, we are also a neighbor here in Morgan Park. Join us in guiding your community into the future.

**Feb. 27: Community Chili Cook-Off, 4:30-6:30: at Our Savior's Lutheran Church (4831 Grand) to benefit CHUM West Duluth Food Shelf. Can our congregation take home the trophy???

**Monday, Feb. 10, 9:00 am: Baking Day – Doughnuts & Cookies: All who like to bake (and eat)  are welcome to join in the fellowship and fun while making doughnuts and  Valentine cookies.

    You read that right: "City-wide Snowball Fight"…and the blurb with the details says: "let this snowball fight spread through the city" – so I thought we could offer our place and our snow for the joy. Why not? Will somebody get a face full of snow? Sure. Will anybody get hurt? Hope not. But to be certain, there'll be smiles to go around. It's worth it, just for the fun of it.

    "For the fun of it" may not be the typical phrase people associate with church, but I'm thinking that's overdue to change. I've seen plenty of people walk into church with nervously pensive eyes and a guilty demeanor, as if God is an angry parent waiting at the door with arms crossed and a stern brow, but that said, I've also seen their body language change as they encounter the other folks that walk through those doors with a smile and a welcome and an earnest "I'm darn glad to be here!"

    Joy is contagious. That's why I think "for the fun of it" is a noble phrase for church.

    Well, sure: matters such as faith and justice and right-relation are serious business, and deserve our full attention and care, but for all of our moments of contemplation, shouldn't our proper response to God's presence in our lives be celebration? Good Friday leads to Easter, Crucifixion to Resurrection.

    We do this well here…this balance between "pray" and "play"…in our potlucks and projects and doughnuts and cookies (just to name a few), I hear plenty of laughter and joy. We are blessed to have a happy people, and because of that, we are equipped with a trust and comfort to care for one another when the going gets rough.

    …But that's not going to keep me from throwing a snowball at you…you've been warned.

Keep in Touch!

Pastor Paul