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"Blue sky Sara, there is just a little bit of blue sky!"

8/31/2020

 
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by Pastor Sara Spohr
 
Imagine an 11-year-old shouting this with the purest kind of happiness. Imagine two people just smacked in the face with gratitude because of a momentary peak of sunshine and blue sky.
 
In August, I spent four days backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail with my niece Anna. We had an amazing and unforgettable time. The list of things I am grateful for because of that trip is long and the stories to tell are many. But for today, I want to relate the joy and gratitude we found in just a brief moment of blue sky.
 
This blue sky was gifted to us at about 5:30 p.m. on day three of our hike. You have to know that the night before we laid awake in our tent listening to rain and thunder. You should also know that we woke up to a thick fog and the certainty of a rainy day. We debated even heading out on a hike that day knowing that we’d be wet and miserable at some point. We ended up hiking 13 miles through mist and fog. We hiked all the way to Carlton Peak only to have our view considerably limited by cloud cover. We hiked home again on spent legs fueled only by filtered river water and Jolly Ranchers. It never actually rained that day but we were soaking wet from dew, mist, and our own sweat. We longed for sunshine to dry us out and lift our spirits.
 
When we arrived at our campsite, I put on dry, warm clothes and took a nap in the hammock. Anna set to building a swing out of our bear bag rope and a stick. We each found contentment in closing hours of our day, but when the clouds broke and Anna came running with her gleeful message, “Blue sky Sara, there is just a little bit of blue sky!”, we were filled with a new joy we didn’t realize we needed so much. We were filled with gratitude for light, warmth, and for drying clothes. What a gift.
 
Actually, both parts of our day were a gift. In the cloud and mist we saw new views of the river and trail, and we came upon a stand of red pines shrouded in the morning mist that was absolutely breathtaking.  We also found strength in our bodies and encouragement from each other that left us feeling accomplished and satisfied. Then, in that moment of sunshine and blue skies, we were filled with a joy and hope that we would never have appreciated so fully without the cloudy day. In reflecting on that day, there was peace in every moment. Some of it was obvious, some of it we only saw when we looked back.
 
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7 (NRSV)
 
I take away a little bit of encouragement to look with intention at the cloudy and uncertain moments in my daily life for a new perspective. I am also reminded that I can find a truer kind of joy in the small gifts of sunshine in my work, relationships, and daily tasks. The peace of God is at work in all of our moments both sunshine and clouds, thanks be to God!

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Families Moving Forward - A Most Unusual Year

8/13/2020

 
by Robbie Becker
 
Robbie Becker is our congregation’s host coordinator for Families Moving Forward – a program of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative that provides shelter and hospitality for families experiencing homelessness. LNL is a Beacon collaborating congregation.
 
As I write this on our final day of “hosting,” I try to imagine the roller coaster of emotions the FMF families are experiencing. It’s frightening enough to be without a place to lay your head, tuck in your children and brew a cup of tea before bed. The extra virus “what ifs” are nearly unfathomable: What if I can’t maintain a safe distance in a crowded space? What if I get sick and have to go to the hospital? Where will my kids go?
 
I don’t think any of us have a clear understanding of this reality. Yet, we are blessed to participate in a ministry that helps these families find a path to stable housing in the midst of COVID-19.
 
Our experience this year has been marked by a number of differences.

  • No families on site, but at a local hotel: By developing a “no contact” plan, we served the families remotely. Our volunteer drivers’ first stop was Kat Vann’s front porch, to pick up a bag of beverages and desserts for each family. Next stop: one of six local restaurant partners to pick up dinners packaged for 2 to 4 families. Finally, a touch free drop off at a Bloomington hotel.

  • 7 volunteers instead of 70: A small group of the FMF leadership team packed beverages, cookies and breakfast items, generously donated by Neil Oxendale of Oxendales’s Market. A varied menu was ordered each night from local partners: Eat For Equity, Grande Sunrise, Bull’s Horn, Fat Lorenzo’s, Mama Sheila’s and Town Hall Lanes. Thanks to our volunteer drivers: Jen Dowzak, Louis Hoffman and Rebecca Hamblin. Maggie O’Groske, Barb Tauferner, Cammie and Owen Kimmes, Tanya Refshauge and Ginny Rudloff.

  • A very different budget: We managed to put together a $2,000 fund to purchase 10 to 15 dinners each night for six nights from local restaurants. Much of this money came from a generous $1,000 donation from our partners at St. James Episcopal. Remaining funds from last year and unused Service Team money filled the gap. Due to the pandemic, no home cooked food was allowed this year. In comparison, our average budget in the past five years was $800.

  • Different interactions: Although we waved to FMF staff at drop offs, we missed getting to know the families! Sharing a meal, hearing stories, playing games and reading to the kids was the best part of hosting. (Admittedly, I don’t miss the ear-splitting shouts of joy in the gym!)
 
A year of Zoom meetings, emails and text messages instead of seeing each other at church? It’s been challenging for all of us. HOWEVER, I am boundlessly grateful for our ability to participate in FMF this year. Just consider our blessings!

  • The funds needed to buy dinners magically (divinely?) appeared.
  • Hands were raised when the call for drivers went out.
  • A restaurant server donated $50 towards our bill; another restaurant added food at no cost.
  • Our member and local grocer continued to support our ministry.
 
Even in the face of an aggressive virus, the generosity of neighbors shines through. Yes, blessings.
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Lake Nokomis Lutheran
5011 31st Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Located in the New Branches building