A River Runs Through It

Image of River flowing over rocks

by Pastor Jeff Holter

I wrote the article below for the EcoFaith magazine, however I believe we can hear the echoes with the invitation to wait expectantly for the Messiah. There is a yearning in our hearts to also await the day when all the world is changed by his arrival.

My wife, Joan, and I were invited to our nephew’s wedding this fall. It was a destination wedding to Glacier National Park. Our nephew and his wife met at work but spent their vacations traveling to national parks throughout the country. It was the end of the park season and we anticipated traveling through snow. Already we had determined not to fly out to Montana but to enjoy the drive through North Dakota and all the way to Glacier. I suppose that for some that sounds boring, but we wanted to take in the scenery of the central plains.

The route we chose was the northern route, going through Fargo and then taking highway 2 to Glacier. There is another route, going south and taking the freeway through Bismarck, ND. But then all one sees is traffic and endless pavement. What both Joan and I wanted was to see the terrain of the rolling plains. You can not travel at the speed of “not seeing anything” but you do see the creatures and native topography of these rolling hills. As you get closer to Glacier you begin to see the Rockies and the mounds of rocks jutting out of the plains.

As I recall our trip, what matters the most is the realization that what made the trip memorable was both the joy of the wedding, the nature, and natural world we encountered. Let me elaborate!

Sometimes no matter how observant one tries to be, you can’t guarantee the weather or wildlife are going to cooperate. The first day we drove up Glacier to Logan’s Pass. The rode is very narrow and the air is very thin. Still, when we arrived, we decided to climb to a mountain lake, about a three mile hike up a steep hill. After a mile and a half, thin air was getting the best of us. Darn aging! We decided that one and a half miles was absolutely OK with us and we started down the path again. 

We had just stopped to rest when someone yelled “BEAR”! We turned around and, sauntering up behind us was a grizzly bear. We froze, until Joan realized our bear spray was in my backpack. Joan quickly dug into the backpack while I took out my cell phone and started taking pictures of the bear. It wasn’t hungry for Lutherans that day, and just kept crossing the path, moving toward other food. I have the pictures, and I won’t forget that experience. I keep thinking of all the beauty we saw on this trip: buffalo, antelope, moose, wild mustangs, so… many prairie dogs and one lone coyote who was also keeping an eye on the prairie dog village. This is a great country and our world can be a place of beauty and wonder and can still boggle the mind.

Our trip back home was also very meaningful. We continued taking the roads less taken, bringing us to a roadside parking lot for a needed stretch of the legs and some time to move around. Joan and I parked the car and walked down to the river which the road seemed to be following. The river was very low and water moved very slowly. The shore line exposed the river bottom where rocks with dried up moss and mud caked stones once shined when the water had covered them. We walked closer to the running water and realized we were not alone. 

A gentleman came up behind us, taking a rest from what we came to find out was a long trip from Bismarck. We talked for a bit, sharing our mutual appreciation for the river and the beauty of the nature in front of us. That led to other disclosures: where we were from and the joy of having been at our nephew’s wedding.

The man shared why he was there. He and his wife were coming home from a doctor’s appointment. He relayed that his wife has cancer and things did not look good, but they always stopped at the river on their way home to celebrate the goodness of God and beauty of God’s good creation. He then told me that this river was actually very special because it was the river and location of the movie, “A River Runs Through It.” The movie stars Brad Pitt, and was directed by Robert Redford. However, when I remember that movie,  I think how nature, in all its glory, can bring peace and wholeness when life gets crazy. When we are tested beyond our human endurance. 

Nature is our healing. Nature is God’s way of putting things into perspective. It keeps us from losing hope. Nature’s resilience gives God’s grace a means to visibly show us how God is available to us. Holding us and giving us a place to renew our spirits. I believe this is God’s true testament to us. How we treat nature is our true testament we can trust God to be there for us no matter what. Enjoy your day, enjoy life and give thanks to God for God’s goodness endures forever.

Peace, Pastor Jeff

God's (Other) Gifts to Us

Members of Family of God Lutheran Church sing Christmas Carols.

by Rose M. Fife, Music Director / Communications

It was one of those moments when the decision was made for me.

The announcements that Sunday morning mentioned, “Come to Open Arms. Help us greet people, shake their hands.” And I knew, despite that day’s To Do list, I’d be going. Plopping down my music, I sat at their piano, as surprised as they were that there was going to be live music today.

I tried to quietly play along with the music in the service (incidentally the service I had just played. It’s harder than you think to play music along with yourself from an hour ago.) So Becky jumped in to mute the service every time music was played.

I thought we had figured out the plan and the residents were tolerating it until one woman burst into tears and ran to hug the Activities Director. I lowered my hands from the keyboard and thought, “Well, that didn’t go to plan. Not a problem. No more live music.”

When I later apologized to Shelley, wonderful Activities Director, for upsetting the residents, she said the reaction was the opposite. The woman was so grateful to hear live music and see more people that she couldn’t contain her emotions. I was speechless, touched, changed. Again and again I am reminded of one of God’s gifts to us all: Music. To celebrate, to grieve, to connect, to emote… it is there for all of us.

On Sunday, December 8, 10:30, we have another opportunity to share more music, more love, and more Christmas spirit with the residents at Open Arms Senior Living. Join us for caroling! I’ll bring the songbooks. You bring the Santa hats.

The Story

This year during Advent, we return to the Gospel of Luke. This is so refreshing for me. Because the story of Christmas takes flight with detail after detail that brings Jesus’ birth to life. We can’t help but be taken in by stars that shine bright and shepherds that keep watch over their flocks by night. We also tune our ears to listen as Mary spills the news of her pregnancy to Elizabeth who is also expecting, even in her advanced years. The miracles just keep jumping off the page as the story unfolds and draws us in.

What I love most is this story’s ability to transport me to my childhood in Mt. Vernon, SD, and to Trinity Lutheran where I first heard the story of Jesus. From his birth to the empty tomb, this sanctuary of my youth planted the seeds that have fueled my curious heart all these years. I wonder if this is the same story that most children and young adults turn to when they remember what sparked their faith life?

What is it about this story that speaks so deeply to us? Maybe it is several ideas. First, as children we are pretty impressionable, and this story is told from a child’s vantage point. 

 No matter how dysfunctional our family systems may be, the child in all of us longs to feel we are a blessing to our parents. The sacredness of the story reveals not only the hope of this love of our parents, but is a testament to the love God (our creator) has for us. Bound by this love, pondering the movement of the incarnation, we are led to believe that God, our heavenly parent, is even more gracious and loves us more than any earthly parent could. 

Second, as the story unfolds, it tells the truth about life. Life is hard. Not everything goes according to plan. In real life and real time we see how delicate life can be. Along come evil rulers and those who do their bidding. Children become pawns in their schemes and Mary and Joseph must flee to protect their family. Most people I have met can share a story of trying to find their way in an uncertain world.

This Advent and Christmas, we are going to celebrate a story of hope. A conviction of things prayed for and a belief in things that are not easily seen. It should not surprise you this season is a time to open your heart to faith. A faith that God cares about you, and holds you close. It will be a time to let the story speak to you and assure you that fears and doubts do not determine whether God will love you. God does, period. It is a part of the journey that out of our fears and doubts, faith is given an opportunity to grow. Grace is received by faith. So do not fear your fears, do not hide your doubts. Let it be ok to struggle. Then hear how God comes to you in the flesh to embody this love of God in Jesus. 

Christmas is an experience. It draws us into the presence of a God who meets the challenges of life and gives the assurance that He is here. In the messiness and the questions and all that life throws at us, God refuses to abandon us. So… Come Oh Come Emmanuel and Capture Captive Israel (a man seeing God)…’ Ys (Man) r’h (to see) ‘el (God). This Christmas I want to see God.

Have a Blessed Christmas, Pastor Jeff

Thanksgiving Hands

This November, we will be gathering to give thanks for all of God’s blessings

this past year. This is one of those times when it is good to bring everyone

together since it has taken the sacrifice of all the people in these two

congregations to make this happen; we are now a “Parish.” Who could have

imagined this just a few years ago? This Thanksgiving as we remember all the

hard work and dedication that went into this journey, we are both excited to see

what the future holds and thankful that God has blessed us with this parish

ministry.

Thanksgiving hands are active hands. We have put these hands together in

prayer, but also in holy work. Not being a musician, I love watching a good

musician playing an instrument during worship. When we gather at the altar and

come to receive forgiveness God offers in the bread and wine it is thankful hands

that assist me during Holy Communion.

I have seen first hand the active hands that serve our meals both at Family

of God and at Kenwood. Our dinners and the pasties we prepare are seasoned

with the goodness of home cooking, and the joy of serving our congregations and

community with a deep dedication to ministry. These are Thanksgiving hands.

Our churches are a place were people come for comfort and understanding

when loved ones die and when illness and grief are too much to bare. Here we

serve as pastors and councilors and friends. We also serve as those who

encourage, and support and who lift high the Cross of Christ. Here in this place

new light is streaming, here in this place darkness is vanished away.

The mundane also plays a melodious tune in our parish. Coffee needs to be

made, newsletters must be written and sent out on the parish web sites.

Bathrooms need cleaning and flowers need pruning. The list is an endless list, and

thank filled hands (like Kirby Puckett) touches them all. We are dedicated,

correct? But why are we dedicated?

Thanksgiving hands are the way they are because of one thing; they are

thank filled and actively so because of what God has done for us in Jesus. Here,

too, we are imitators of the one who’s hands set the ultimate example of what it

means to serve. Hands that extended themselves in love for us. On the cross,

Jesus made sure that nothing would be held back, nothing spared. Everything

was on the line, we were being drawn into his embrace and our only response

was this; “Thank you, Lord!” This has always been what motivates us.

Thanksgiving is what gives our hands wings and joy and a heart willing and ready

to serve.

Embrace your Thanksgiving heart--it is yours created by Jesus to be your

way of life!

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Jeff

Faded Blue Jeans

It is that time of year; when the weather gets a bit colder and we exchange

shorts for blue jeans. Summertime brings out clothing for warmer weather, but

as the summer heat gives way to cooler fall evenings, it is more in keeping with

my body’s comfort zone to pull out some faded blue jeans to wear. It is

interesting to me just how comfortable a pair of old faded blue jeans can be. I

have a few pairs that have been with me now for decades. Yes, decades! Some

are almost white at the knees, having been washed so many times that there is

very little blue still present in the fabric. But, I keep them because they are

soooo… comfortable. The fabric, once stiff when it was purchased, has now

become soft and pliable. Over time, those jeans have molded to my body and tell

a story of the many places I have been to and of vacations spent where blue jeans

are the best choice of clothing to wear.

Those faded blue jeans fit well and feel great. Most of us realize, however,

that you don’t get a pair of comfortable faded blue jeans unless you wear them.

Yes, the first time you put on a pair of blue jeans they are awful. Patiently, you

wear those blue jeans in; and then one day, they are incredible.

Together, we are as a parish like a pair of new blue jeans right now. We

have purchased this pair of blue jeans and they are still a bit stiff and

uncomfortable. Still, all that is needed is some time. Time to wash out the

stiffness and time for those jeans (Parish) to get to know each other better. To

mold the ministry to the bodies that we are in Christ, of course this is not going to

be easy and that is the point. It is extremely hard to do. But we know something

about faded blue jeans. We know that it is worth it to not throw those new jeans

away, because it is from those new jeans that faded blue jeans are born.

Patience! It sometimes comes down to this simple good advice. Be

patient! The other day when we gathered together for the picnic, I was a bit

apprehensive. Don’t ask me why, I just was. Then, I watched as people started

coming in and sitting next to each other and the quiet space became disquieted

as we turned and started conversing with each other. It was reminiscent of my

first day of school. Sitting next to someone I didn’t know and suddenly

discovering that we had something in common, and washing away my fears and

replacing apprehension with a sense of community. Oh, to be a child again!

So, here we are going into the fall. Time to put some of the stiffness away,

time to wash out some of the blue and find common ground and enjoy the

comfort of knowing that we are creating a faded blue jean kind of ministry. A

ministry molded to who we are and what God is calling us to become. Praise be

to God!

Blessings, Pastor Jeff

Fall Makeover

Ready, Set, Go!

There is no longer a time buffer between talking about being a parish and

actually living into parish life. Fall is just around the corner--and maybe it is just

me, but already the morning air feels a lot like fall. Now no one in their right mind

would want to shorten the summers up here in the Northland. Still, it just feels

like autumn is speeding towards us like a freight train.

Life is filled with seasons. There are seasons in nature and there are

seasons in life. My children are not very appreciative of the season I seem to be

entering in life. It is the season of the aging body. No one gets to be a stranger to

that season. It’s the aches and pains that seem to accumulate over a life time.

Then they hit you all at once making you suddenly aware of all the less than

healthy ways you have treated your body when you were younger. Still, we are

given an opportunity to play a bit of a mulligan with our health by just treating

our bodies with a bit more respect and a bit more care.

Fall makeover is this time in the calendar year when we move from summer

to fall and there are all sorts of changes that we need to make. But, it’s good! It’s

healthy! It is also very necessary. My son Kyle started trimming the perennial

plants around our house yesterday. I’m hoping to coat the blacktop in front of my

garage to protect it for winter.

The church is also getting ready for a busy fall. Sunday School is soon to be

starting in both Family of God and Kenwood. We are going to have to make

decisions about Adult Bible Study and a host of other things. The most important

of those decisions is to prepare and to be patient and kind. As this fall makeover

takes place, we all know that change is hard. We may not look the same or move

as quickly as we once did. We will have a few aches and pains to deal with. But

listen, it is all good. With age and changing seasons comes wisdom.

The makeover is hard, we feel the wind of it first, and the chill of it surprises us. We

will survive! We will do good ministry together and we will trim and prune and

wrap up and protect so that come spring there will be new growth and roots deep

in the soil of God’s grace. I invite you to check out the fall colors with me. To

appreciate the makeover that is here for us to enjoy.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Jeffrey Holter

(Your Fall Guide in Christ)

Youth of Ministry

You probably think I have mistitled this newsletter message, but I intentionally want to lift up not the ministry to youth but the ministry of youth. It is no surprise that we struggle to keep our young people active and engaged in the church. It is oftentimes because we hold on to tradition and maybe even think that they do not appreciate what we hold on to; certainly there is some truth to that idea. We may, however, be surprised that our youth are not always opposed to tradition but find it hard to be “left out” of tradition and what constitutes good “Lutheran” tradition.

The ministry of our Youth in whatever form it may take is a Lutheran tradition. Reaching out to “all” people is as Lutheran as it can get. That includes worship and a strong theology of inclusion. The sign “All are Welcome” is not a new idea. Lutherans have from the beginning been called to share the good news to everybody. What can frustrate our youth is what frustrates all people. It’s a ministry that invites some and excludes others. It’s the idea that we should practice what we preach and open not just our communion table but also other areas of our ministry together in the body of Christ.

I just returned from the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. It was awesome! It was noisy! Did I mention that it was noisy? It was NOI……SY! What was noisy? It was the sound of 16,100 youth praising God. But…it was also the sound of youth opening their minds and hearts to a way of thinking about faith. Their faith. And it was the sound of 16,100 youth becoming aware that as they are created by God to be brave, authentic, free, disruptive to evil and filled with the spirit of God to be His disciples. That is a mouthful! Is this not the tradition we are all being called to hold on to? I know it is what inspires me. I hope it inspires you also.

 If… If we can open our ministry to the tradition of inclusion I know with all the faith God has given me that the future of our church is going to be awesome! You heard me, “Awesome!” We all have something to share. After each day at the gathering we met to reflect on the day’s events. I would ask the youth what most spoke to them at the gathering. They shared some very interesting

thoughts. The most provocative day was the day about being “disruptive.” Who knew that we are called to be disruptive? It seemed so far from my way of thinking until the speakers got up and talked about what they understood that to mean.

It’s not the disruption fueled by disrespect. Instead it is the disruption of speaking truth to fear, and speaking out against injustice, and holding on to love instead of violence, prejudice and racism. I was honored to be a part of the youth of ministry that has so much to offer this wonderful Lutheran church. I am humbled by their patience and hope to invite all people to work with me in this ministry of our church for our church.

Thank you, Everybody!

 Pastor Jeff Holter

The Calm Before the Storm

The Calm Before the Storm

by Pastor Jeff Holter

Our family used to take vacations on the many beaches while in Brazil. We

would pack our VW van up with all of our beach stuff and head for the ocean. It

was not “Glamping” like they do today, with fancy hotels to cater to your every

need. We truly did “Rough It.” For the most part, we would set up a canvas tent

on the sands along the shore, hoping that we were not too close to the ocean

when the tide came in and not too far away, which would require one to walk

though the grass loaded with thorns. In the end, we got pretty good about

knowing when to move farther inland to avoid the storms that were pretty

common along the coast.

Everyone in our newly created “Parish” has been very kind. I have been

asked many times; “So, pastor, how are things going?” All I can tell you is that so

far things are going well. The worship schedule is going as well as can be

expected. Then, it has only been a couple of weeks so far. And I am getting to

know a few more names of the people at FOG; with time, that will only feel more

natural. The worship team at FOG even allows me to sing along with them on

Sundays. Boy, are they ever in for an awakening. But… so long as they sing songs

that I am familiar with we will be ok. The storm hits when the music requires me

to actually read music. Bring your ear plugs then! But all in all, this has been a

good transition to “Parish” life and “Parish” identity.

Believe me when I say that the real storm is yet to come. There will

inevitably come days when we will need to have all hands on deck! Preparation is

the key. What will be needed at that time, is everyone working together, because

the difference between a storm that can devastate us and a storm that will draw

us together “is” preparation. I like what I am seeing in the “Parish Council.” We

are going through the calm right now. The financial picture has calmed down for

both congregations and that is a breath of fresh air. Who knows what tomorrow

will bring there. The activities are on auto mode but people have been working on

overload for quite some time now. How will we manage the growing need for

changes in leadership? It is hard to let go when you have been responsible for so

long. Take a breath … it will work out!

My vision right now is that of a parent whose eldest child is getting ready to

go to college his/her freshman year. I haven’t been here for a long time and this is

all new to you as well. Best advice I have is to listen to each other. Listen actively,

and communicate often. We will find the time to support each other even if the

storm hits. Anticipate, celebrate, but don’t accuse or get judgmental. The last

thing anyone wants to hear in the storm is, “Why didn’t you tie down the tent?”

Just start holding on and seeing that everyone is ok. Check and make sure that

everyone is safe. Keep moving, because storms pass and then the sun/son

appears and hope is renewed and peace is restored and God still loves us and we

are still his “children”. And we… well, we are still one in Christ. That is the

message we cling to. In Christ … we are ONE.

Colors Flying

Colors Flying,

by Pastor Jeffrey Holter

“We are just getting started on this journey we are calling a “Parish.’”

This past week, a couple of things happened that I was looking forward to. The first was the engine noise from the race track in Proctor. Every year I anticipate the noise from the Proctor Speed way, and like clockwork, it never disappoints. The engines will begin roaring about 6pm and sometime about 10-11pm it ends. The sound is deafening and I love it.

The other event I enjoy happens on Wednesday evenings during the summer. The sail boats begin lifting their sails and journeying out into the open waters of Lake Superior. It is actually quite magical to watch, especially from the vantage of a hillside in Duluth. The sail boats come in many shapes and sizes, and the sails also come in different sizes and bright and beautiful colors. It is as if all the boats are flying their colors and letting everyone enjoy the freedom of the open water.

There is a familiar story in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 14: 22-33). It’s the story of Jesus walking on the water. As Matthew tells the story, Jesus comes walking on the water and the disciples in the boat think he is a “Ghost.” I get it--ghosts can be pretty scary. But then Jesus speaks to them and says, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

What follows is one of those situations where someone over plays his hand. Like Kenny Rogers says, “You got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” Peter gets it into his head that he too can walk on water and kind of invites himself into the storm. Not a good idea! Anyway, so long as Peter keeps his eyes on Jesus, “ghostly” things stay away. But it doesn’t take long before this story takes a turn. The end of the story is classic Gospel. Jesus steps in and takes Peters hand so that the storm does not overwhelm him. So that death does not have the last word.

We are just getting started on this journey we are calling a “Parish.” It actually could be the biggest storm we will face together. We could be treading some pretty perilous waters, and there are potentially all kinds of “ghosts” out there. It’s frightening and we may also want to over play our hand. Perhaps thinking we can control everything, if we just play our cards right. But the truth is the sea is deep and the waters are rough. I suspect that we have become accustomed to doing things ourselves, even when the water is 10 feet over our heads. This story could spell disaster for us unless…unless Jesus just happens to be close. I mean holding our hands close. Really…close enough to call out to us to take ahold of his hand. To stop trying to control everything on our own. Sounds like perfect advice especially when your name is Peter. “The Rock!”

I like letting everyone know what the shape of my sail looks like. To know what are the colors that I fly under. So here goes. Jesus is first, my wife is second, my family comes next and then comes the church. Of course, after church there are a myriad of other things. One more thing; when times have been difficult like the storm in the gospel story I find that holding Joan’s hand gives me strength. Jesus pulls us out of all sorts of difficult situations. We may find that these two churches are one of God’s way of offering a hand. It will take faith to take that hand, but I believe that we can because Jesus is with us. Close, yes, oh so very close. And promises never to let go!

Blessings, Pastor Jeffrey Holter