Peace Notes Spring 2022 - Word of Peace Lutheran Church

Full-Blown
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear
the sound of it, but you do not know where it
comes from or where it goes. So it is with
everyone who is born of the Spirit.
—John 3:8
As I pulled into the church parking lot this morning,
my usual parking spot was filled and I had to find a
spot further back. I entered the building and immediately
tripped over a stampede of children busily
rushing down the hallway. The gathering area was filled with moms
sitting at tables sharing coffee and checking in on each other’s lives. A
bible study group was praying together in one of the larger classrooms.
To make it all the way to my office, I had to dodge staff members popping
in and out of other office as they collaborate with one another and
enjoy a good belly-laugh.
It must be Sunday, right?
No. It is just another Tuesday at Word of Peace. Rooms are full, chatter
is lively, and the coffee is almost gone.
Ordinarily I wouldn’t give all of this commotion a second thought. But
after a couple of years when so much of our time together was spent
at a distance, it does not go unnoticed. There is a joy that is blowing as
brothers and sisters in Christ gather together. Even when we cannot
see it, we can still sense the ways that God’s spirit surrounds and encircles
us.
Where have you sensed the Spirit of God blowing in your life lately?
Have you felt blown into a new direction at work? Is it the strength and
support of loved ones who have been uplifting you? Do you feel like
you can finally take a sigh of relief again?
Even when we cannot quite put our finger on it, we can sense that
God’s presence with us is as near as the wind that blows around us.
God’s spirit is with us always. Blowing us in new directions, filling and
sustaining us, brining joy and life to our world.
As we follow God’s call in our personal lives and in our life together,
may we trust that we are carried by the spirit of God.
Peace,
Tyler Strom
Pastor of Faith in Action
Rick Skare
Lead Pastor
Kristin Skare
Pastor of Spiritual Care
Tyler Strom
Pastor of Faith in Action
21705 129th Ave. N.
Rogers, MN 55374
(763) 496-2400
(press 3 to leave an emergency
message for a pastor)
Office Hours
Mon-Thurs 9 AM-4:30 PM
Our Vision
To be a community where
everyone experiences Christ’s
Love and shares Christ’s Love
with all people.
Our Mission
Christ works through us as we:
Worship God
Connect with others
Grow in faith
Serve our neighbors
Our Core Values
Love
Inclusion
Authenticity
Community
Service
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
Contact Jennie Priebe at
(763) 496-2401 or
jpriebe@wordofpeace.org
wordofpeace.org
2

Upcoming Sermon Series
Soul Food
March 6-April 4
The gospel of Luke records seven meals Jesus eats with others—Jesus
clearly enjoyed eating! It was in breaking bread
with others that Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God and
revealed important things about himself. In the weeks leading
to Easter, we’ll explore these deeply meaningful stories.
Shepherd Me O God
Wednesday Evenings, March 2-April 6
The 23rd Psalm is one of the best known pieces of scripture
by Christians all over the world. It is a text that is quick to the
lips in hospital rooms, at funerals, and in daily moments of
need. The ancient words of this song have a way of sticking
with us, nestling into our bones, and singing us home. During
the season of Lent, we will return to this text day in and day
out. We will pray it regularly, allowing it to enter our daily vocabulary
at home, work, school, or community. And by reciting
these words together, we will encounter a God who
shepherds all of us, and discover in ourselves a need for the
love of a shepherd to tend our needs.
Be Restored
April 24-May 23
The stories of Jesus from John’s gospel invite us to be restored
with life-giving good news. These stories promise us
peace, purpose, life, love, and healing. Be ready to be restored
even when life is hard!
3

Ash Wednesday Worship
Wednesday, March 2 at 5:30 & 7 PM, live streamed at 7 PM †
We mark the beginning of Lent with worship and the Imposition
of Ashes.
Wednesday Lenten Worship
Wednesdays, March 9-April 6 at 5:30 & 7 PM, live streamed at 7 PM †
Join us in person or online for Lenten worship with the Holden
Evening Prayer Service. Our theme for this year is “Shepherd Me
O God,” based on Psalm 23.
†
Live streamed services will be available on-demand after they premiere.
Sundays & Mondays in Lent
March 6-April 4
Join us for our "Soul Food" sermon series (details on page 3).
“The Chosen” Online Watch Party
Continues on Sundays at 6:30 PM through April 10
Join us online this Lent and watch the first season of this acclaimed
series about the life of Christ. Word of Peace members Dain and
Heather Swanson host a weekly online viewing of this series and
discussion to follow on Zoom. Episodes are also available ondemand.
All episodes are family-friendly and can be watched together. For
more information and links to watch, visit wordofpeace.org/
TheChosen.
Lenten Devotionals
“Shepherd Me O God” devotionals are available in the Gathering
Area and online at wordofpeace.org/lent.
4
wordofpeace.org/lent

Palm Sunday/Monday | April 10 & 11
Sunday worship at 8:30, 9:45 & 11 AM | Monday worship at 6:30 PM*
The celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with a musical offering by
our church school children and a blessing of palms for each worshipper. As we near
the end of our Lenten journey, we will follow Jesus through the events of his last
week on earth during this powerful worship service.
Maundy Thursday | April 14
Worship at 6:30 PM*
Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, he gives them instructions and the promise
of the Holy Spirit to come. In this special service, we will experience Holy Communion
and the Stripping of the Altar, signifying Jesus’ agony and arrest in the garden.
Good Friday, April 15
Worship at 6:30 PM
Jesus Christ is crucified on the cross for the sins of the world. It is a day of mourning
and of gratitude over the extreme sacrifice that he made for each one of us. We will
worship with readings, hymns, special music, and diminishing light.
Journey to the Cross Prayer Stations from Noon-8 PM—Spend time in prayer through
a variety of experiential prayer stations that are designed for all ages. Travel from station
to station as you journey with Christ to the cross. Look for registration details coming
soon.
We celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the promise of eternal life!
Saturday, April 16
Traditional Worship at 5:30 PM*
Sunday, April 17
Sunrise Worship at 6:45 AM*
Traditional Worship at 8:15 & 9:30 AM, live streamed at 9:30 AM †
Contemporary Worship at 10:45 AM & Noon,* live streamed at Noon †
7:30-11 AM Pancake Breakfast
*Worship with Holy Communion
†
Live streamed services will be available on-demand after they premiere.
wordofpeace.org/easter
5

“Word of Peace is my Family”
A Tribute to Bruce Peterson
Bruce Peterson was a member of Word of Peace for many years,
and he was a special person in the life of this congregation. His
life was so filled with challenges. He lived alone on very little,
and the people of this church and his neighbors took care of him.
A couple of years ago, Bruce fell and was moved to a nursing
home temporarily to recover. Sadly, he was never able to go
home and, because of COVID, it was difficult for anyone from the
church to see him. He missed his church so much. He told the
chaplain at the nursing home that “Word of Peace and the people
there are my family.”
Bruce died on January 4 of this year, and his funeral and burial
were at Word of Peace with all the arrangements provided by
the people of this congregation. Thank you to many of this congregation
who cared for him, loved him and supported him
through the years. As was mentioned several times at his funeral,
it was the people of Word of Peace who were just as blessed by
Bruce as he was by the people of Word of Peace.
Thanks be to God for the life and eternal life of Bruce Peterson. And thank you, Bruce, for your ministry and involvement
at Word of Peace.
It’s Easy to Become a Member of Word of Peace
Are you interested in finding out more about the beliefs and ministry
of Word of Peace? Are you looking for ways to become more involved,
connected, and serve in the life of the congregation?
The Word of Peace Membership Orientation is all online, and in just
five easy steps you and your family can make your participation at
Word of Peace more official. You are invited to take these steps to
membership any time at wordofpeace.org/membership.
6

Paul Olson
Word of Peace is incredibly blessed to have so many
wonderful volunteers! Volunteers are a crucial part to the
ministry of Word of Peace and volunteering is how we
respond to the love and care God gives us every day.
We would like to introduce one of our volunteers, Paul H.
Olson. Paul and his wife, Betsy,
moved to Rogers in 1979 from Eau
Claire, Wisconsin. They loved the
small-town feel of Rogers since
they both grew up on farms.
Shortly after moving to Rogers,
they found Word of Peace and
became members. They felt
connected to the out-reaching and
friendly atmosphere, and Word of
Peace reminded them of the
churches in which they grew up.
The encouragement of having faith
involved in daily living was, and still
is, important to them, making Word of Peace a perfect fit.
They raised their son and daughter in the church and they
were involved in church school and confirmation.
Paul was a Navy Corpsman, medical technologist, and for
20 years, a medical electronics engineer. After he retired, he
became a part-time library technical assistant. He loves
variety and some of his hobbies include gardening, working
on cars, biking, skiing, and fixing things. He is the treasurer
of the Friends of Rogers Library and a member of the local
biking group “Rim Riders”.
After 40 plus years, Paul volunteered in almost every
capacity at Word of Peace! He was an usher, he taught
church school for several years, he has been a member of
the choir and participated on ministry teams. Most recently,
you can find Paul in the sound & media booth during
worship.
Paul has been an active participant
in the Saturday morning men’s
Bible study group, where he has
built relationships with many
members of the church. Paul loves
joining others in praising God and
working alongside them in
ministries in our community. He
has volunteered in the community
with CROSS, Mobile Hope, and
Lutheran Disaster Response, and
on a global level, he has
volunteered with Mission Jamaica,
God’s Global Barnyard, and Global Health Ministries (GHM).
Paul volunteers at GHM weekly because he is able and
blessed to use his God given talents among other retired
missionaries and medical professionals. They send 12-16
sea containers of medical supplies and equipment to
African hospitals each year!
We are so thankful to have such amazing members and
volunteers like Paul, who help make Word of Peace the
wonderful community that it is. Thank you so much, Paul,
for blessing us all with your wondrous gifts and sharing
those gifts with Word of Peace!
Put Your Faith Into Action!
Worship Volunteers Needed
• Ushers
• Sacristans
• Communion Servers
• Hundreds of volunteers are needed
for Lent, Holy Week and Easter!
Sign up in the Gathering Area
or online at
wordofpeace.org/serve-at-church
Questions?
Contact Kristy Philips
kphillips@wordofpeace.org
or (763) 496-2421
7

Help Build a New Lutheran University in Nigeria
The leaders of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) have long recognized a critical need for a Lutheran
university in Nigeria. It is crucial, they believe, to educate a new generation of leaders who are prepared for
the complexities of the emerging interfaith society within Africa’s most populous country.
Today, Nigeria has university openings for fewer than 40% of the eligible population. Regional universities give
priority to local students. Qualified students in northeastern Nigeria—where LCCN is primarily located—do not
gain access to universities in the south, where there are many more schools. Access to professional programs in
public universities is limited, and depending upon
who is in power in the government, both Christians
and Muslims at times may experience discrimination
in higher education.
Furthermore, the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
prepares excellent high school graduates for postsecondary
studies through its vast network of primary
and secondary schools. Students consistently graduate
with superior marks. However, there aren’t
enough university spots available for these graduates.
Currently there is no private, church-related university
in the whole of northeastern Nigeria. The Lutheran
University would be the first, and would claim an almost immediate impact because of LCCN’s positive reputation
for excellent primary and secondary schools.
8

Work is underway
The Lutheran University Nigeria would
provide educational opportunities and
tangible hope in a region of the country
that has suffered from violence and civil
unrest for well over a decade.
The LCCN has identified and obtained
land for the university. They have raised
initial funds for filings with the Nigerian
government to establish the university.
But, the government requires there to be
at least $500,000 in the bank before the
university can be finally approved.
How we can help
Word of Peace is ready to respond to this call to action and support
our siblings in Christ in Nigeria. We have pledged to raise
$10,000 to support the work of our companion church in Nigeria
and make the dream of a new university a reality.
• During Lent, we ask you to pray for the Lutheran Church of
Christ in Nigeria and their labors to build this much needed
university.
• Consider what amount you can contribute to this campaign.
Let’s Fill our Bookcase to Reach $10,000!
Throughout the season of Lent, we hope to fill the bookcase display
in the Gathering Area with enough “books” to meet our goal
of $10,000 for the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria.
• Purchase a “book” for $100
• Purchase a “bookmark” for $25.
Questions?
Contact Pastor Tyler Strom at
tstrom@wordofpeace.org or (763) 496-2400.
9

10
10

Children, Youth & Family
We recently received the disheartening news that the
ELCA Youth Gathering, which was going to be held in
Minneapolis this coming July, has been cancelled. Not
postponed, like it was in 2021, but out-right cancelled—
another victim of ministry during Covid. The leaders of
the Gathering did not feel that they could, in good conscience,
bring together 33,000 people for a week of
service, learning, and fellowship when there is no way
to know what next summer will bring. It was a disappointing
decision, but understandable.
So again, we pivot. Summer ministry opportunities have
proven time and time again to have a life-changing
affect on a young person’s faith development, and we
are committed to offering these types of experiences
to our children and youth. Twenty-three of our high
school students had planned to participate in the Gathering,
but these resilient young people and their families
are willing and able to look towards a new ministry
opportunity. Instead of the Gathering,
we will be taking a group
on a service/learning adventure
to Nashville, Tennessee through
an organization called Serve
Boldly. Our young people will
spend time building relationships
together and with those in
the Nashville community
through service ministry with
local partner organizations. It
will be a different experience,
but no less powerful.
Kari Osmek
Director of Children, Youth
& Family Ministry
We also continue to offer summer opportunities to our
younger children and youth: VBS, Summer Stretch, and
many programs at Wapogasset Bible Camp. Learn
more about all of our summer ministry opportunities at
wordofpeace.org/summer.
Potato-Stamped Valentine Cards
On January 26, Joyce Oberdeck led over 50 confirmation students
and guides in a potato-stamping activity to make Valentine
cards. There was a lofty goal this year to make 250 cards!
These cards go out to military personnel, Word of Peace college
freshmen, and ill and homebound congregation members.
Lots of love and smiles went into creating these cards, and our
prayer is the recipients will have a smile when they receive
them!
Church School Offerings for
God’s Global Barnyard
During the season of Advent, church school kids collected loose
change in their special pig banks and brought them to church school
worship as their offering. The funds raised are donated to God’s Global
Barnyard (part of the ELCA Good Gifts program) which provides families
with livestock, training, access to clean water, safe markets, and
more. These animals, in turn, provide families with food, funds, and fertilizer—sustainable
nutrition and a sustainable source of income—all for
a better future. $781.44 was raised for God’s Global Barnyard!
In January, kids voted on their favorite barnyard animal for our ELCA
Good Gifts donation. For the first time in a very long time it was not the
chicks that won, it was the fish farm!
11

Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
ROGERS, MN
PERMIT NO. 9
CHANGE SERVICE
REQUESTED
JOIN US FOR
WORSHIP!
Sundays @8:30, 9:45 & 11 AM
Mondays @6:30 PM
Begins March 2
April 10-15
April 16 & 17
Details Inside!