Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church

U R Enuff

Pastor Lindsay — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:24:23 +0000

The confirmation students at Red Oak Grove were given the task of changing the signboards at the church. On one side, they chose a verse from a psalm to display. On the other side, we had run out of S’s. Here is what they came up with -

If God could text, God would say, “U R enuff.” [Translation: You are enough.]

You, child of God, are wonderfully created, called God’s own, and enough as you are.

Things are hopping at ROG!

Pastor Lindsay — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:20:02 +0000

Here a few stories in photos of what has been happening at Red Oak Grove lately!

First Communion students bake communion bread with their families. They will come to the table for the first time tonight - Maundy Thursday!

March was Minnesota FoodShare month - our cart was overflowing with items for the local food shelves!

A Sunday School hallway egg hunt!

: Decorating cookies. Sugar for all!

Easter is coming …

Pastor Lindsay — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:03:39 +0000

Check out this video!

the 98%

Pastor Lindsay — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:22:40 +0000

The average person is awake for about 112 hours a week. The average church-going person spends two of those hours at church. Ninety-eight percent of our waking hours are spent in the activities of everyday life: drinking coffee, going to school, driving in the car, working and volunteering, cooking and eating with family and walking the dog. If we only look for God at church, we will be lonely for God 98% of our waking hours. On the other hand, if we learn how to pay attention to God’s abundant presence that is everywhere in every moment, we will experience the sacredness of everyday life.

This was the subject of a church newsletter from years past that became a topic of conversation in our time of worship yesterday at Red Oak Grove. We know that God is present outside of the church building. I think we know that God is at work in our every day lives, but sometimes I think that we need to tune our eyes to see those places. That’s the homework I gave yesterday morning – keep your eyes open and name those places where you see God in the every day. Point your finger and say, “There. That’s God at work.” Practice doing that this week. Whether it’s a conversation with a person at the supermarket, something your child does, or a moment of peace. Name those places and earn a gold star for your homework assignment by emailing in a photo [officeROG@gmail.com] that describes this presence or bringing a picture to worship in the next weeks. Add it to our photo board and we’ll soon have a collaboration of those 98% of our waking hours and how God is present in every. single. minute. of it.

What is the Bible?

Pastor Lindsay — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:55:19 +0000

Starting yesterday and continuing on Sundays through March, a Bible study is being held during the fellowship hour following worship. We are using David Lose’s Making Sense of Scripture and the key question we pondered yesterday was what is the Bible?

Do you think it’s a silly question? One that we don’t dare ask in church? One that you pretend to know the answer to in front of your pastor even if you’re not really sure?

I think it’s a perfect question and a great one to ask! Below is a summary of a few thoughts discussed yesterday. If you’re intrigued, join us next Sunday for discussion around the question of is the Bible true?

I think that’s what is most helpful about thinking about the Bible as a collection of things that together tells us a huge STORY about who we are. … it’s not exactly like the stories we grew up with. It’s chock full of all kinds of different things, some that seem pretty odd to us. But all those bits and pieces collected together make up this huge scrapbook, and that scrapbook tells the story of God and God’s people. [Making Sense of Scripture, p. 21]

… that’s what the Bible is ultimately about – God. It does have two major parts [the Old Testament and the New Testament], but it’s one story, the story of God and God’s unyielding, tenacious, and indefatigable desire to love, bless, and save the whole world. … God will do just about anything to tell the world and everyone in it that they are loved, that they have value, that they are special to God, and that God has a place and purpose for them. [p. 26]

Got two minutes?

Pastor Lindsay — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:00:24 +0000

Wondering why we put ashes on our foreheads? Curious why Lent is 40 days long? In two brief minutes, your questions can be answered! On this Ash Wednesday, check out the video below about what this day and the season of Lent are all about.

Alleluia!

Pastor Lindsay — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:01:37 +0000

Shhh!

We “buried” the alleluia during the children’s message yesterday. [That means we put the printed alleluias in a box and sealed it shut. They'll see light again on Easter morn!] The word of praise is traditionally not proclaimed in the season of Lent, the season of the church year that we usher in this week with Ash Wednesday. It’s not that we don’t praise God during Lent but that we approach the season with somberness and reflection on the human life and our need to cling to God and God’s love. And we save up our enthusiastic alleluia for Easter morning!

Many people during Lent take up a discipline of some sorts. Some don’t eat chocolate or don’t drink coffee. Some people promise to not use curse words or commit to doing yoga each of the 40 days of the season which lead us to Easter morning. Maybe you do something like that; maybe you don’t.

If you are looking for something – for a Lenten discipline – may I give you a few suggestions? Lent, in its very nature, is one of reflection. You can join us on Sunday mornings during coffee hour as we reflect on Scripture through Bible study. A favorite professor of mine from Luther Seminary is releasing a Lenten devotions, sent each day to your email, for the season. You can sign up here. Or, year round, God Pause email devotions are published each morning and appear in your email inbox.

So. What do you think? Will you come to Bible study or maybe sign up for an email devotion? What discipline, if any, will mark your Lent this year?

Second Annual Chili Cook-Off!

Pastor Lindsay — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:56:37 +0000

Red Oak Grove hosted it’s second annual chili cook-off this past Sunday following church. Six chilies we put to the test by the voters who sampled the fare. There was something for all tastes – the hot, the spicy, the elk meat, and the mild. It was super fun to gather after coffee hour, all in the spirit of chili and deciding which crockpot should receive our individual votes. Wouldn’t you know with SIX entries there was a three-way tie for first place! It just goes to show how hard it was to choose and how delicious each chili was! Thanks to all those who organized, who brought chili, and those who taste tested!

The three winning cooks!

100 is the magic number.

Pastor Lindsay — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:24:55 +0000

You know we’ve been all about mosquito nets and working towards helping our neighbors in Africa this month. Yesterday we wrapped up our January focus on these life saving nets. Through the Clarke Cares Foundation, every $10 would buy two nets which would then be matched by another foundation for a total of FOUR nets for every $10. Red Oak Grove pooled their coins each Sunday in January, making lots of noise throwing them in a big metal buckets during the offering. The women of ROG pitched in with a great donation to help the kids buy even more nets.

The total? 100 nets! That’s 100 families who will have a net to sleep under. 100 families who will have a better chance at not becoming ill with malaria. 100 families of children and elderly who will have a greater chance of surviving.

An example of bed nets hanging from the ceiling [these happen to be in a hotel in Tanzania].

We blessed the nets in worship yesterday. Everyone got up out of their pews and put a hand on the net we had and if they couldn’t reach the net, they put their hand on the shoulder of a person who had a hand on the net. [Or the shoulder of a person who had a hand on the shoulder of a person who had a hand on the net.] What a blessing to share.

Bless these nets that they may be a blessing to families who need them. We pray for their safe arrival and delivery to our brothers and sisters in Africa. May the nets keep families safe, healthy, and well. May you continue to work through us at Red Oak Grove, that we may see the face of Christ in our neighbors across the world as we love and read out to all in need. And all God’s people said AMEN!

The Ten Commandments.

Pastor Lindsay — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:50:53 +0000

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:1-3)

And so the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the people of Israel begins. You can read the whole bit in Exodus 20:1-17.

Or, check out this version crafted by the confirmation students at ROG.

Or, if you’re really brave, see what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if God texted them to Moses. [Caution: You may need a teenager to translate.]

Regardless of the language used, the Ten Commandments are ultimately about our relationship to God and to our neighbors. Which commandment is most difficult for you to follow? What are some ways we can do a better job at keeping these commandments at the heart of how we act on a daily basis?

[taking a nod from the Ten Commandments in text]

k thx bye.

ps wwjd?