Contents of Spirit News:

Address change
Children’s Ministry Update
Christmas Offerings
Events at Spirit of Hope
For the Bible Tells Me So
Greetings from Ganta
Healthy Congregations Note
Interfaith Choirfest
Minnesota Food Share Month
New Sunday School Coordinator
Reconciling Congregation Anniversary
United Methodist Women News
Women’s Retreat

We rejoice that last Fall 64 people enrolled for the Workshops! The enrollment period is open once again, and you can add your name to the list of those who participate. You can enroll for Workshop 2 (I’m hoping for 70-80 people total). Enrollment is open now. Perhaps you were not available last Fall, or were unsure whether to commit to the time involved. I hope you’ve heard from those 64 how helpful and informative they feel the Healthy Congregations Workshops have been. Workshop 2 will deal with these subjects:

• Tuesday, February 19: Healthy Congregations Respond to Anxiety
• Tuesday, February 26: Healthy Congregations Manage Conflict
• Tuesday, March 4: Healthy Congregations Respond to Change
• Tuesday, March 11: Healthy Congregations Act Flexibly and Creatively
• Tuesday, March 18: Planning for a Healthier Future

The five sessions, on Tuesdays, will be held from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. A soup supper will be served at 6 p.m. preceding each session.

To Enroll: call the church office at 763-545-0239.
Cost of Materials: $14 (materials can be shared by couples for $14)
Deadline To Enroll: February 10.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9,
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God...To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints...Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

So opens one of the earliest letters sent by the apostle Paul to a church he had founded. Truly, if you’ve ever worried about the spiritual, relational, or financial health of Spirit of Hope (or thought that others were worrying far too much about it), rest assured that this congregation is in fabulous shape compared to the church in Corinth. If you ever need reminding that congregational life is challenging and difficult, spend a little time reading some of Paul’s letters. It has never been a stroll in the park to be the church. It has never been easy to live as the body of Christ, to embody beloved community for one another, to follow Jesus or even to know what it means to follow Jesus in a particular time and place with a particular, warts-and-all group of people.

As I was looking over Paul’s letter and thinking about Spirit of Hope and what word God might have for you this morning, I thought that perhaps this was an opportunity for me to write an “Epistle from Kathleen to the Church of God in Golden Valley”...in honor of our nearly one year of sojourning together...in recognition of the journey you’re on together.

A letter from Kathleen, a creature and servant of God, to the saints at Spirit of Hope in Golden Valley: grace and peace be with you.

I thank my God for you often: for your warm hearts and generous hospitality; for your deep sense of commitment and responsibility and care for the physical and financial and spiritual needs of this church; for the power of your music and the skill of your artists; for your love for one another and your openness to me; for the way you paint houses for your neighbors in need, and serve food at Simpson’s shelter, and remember those among you who are sick and lonely and shut in; for your determination to hang in there when pastors have come and gone and you’ve felt abandoned; when you’ve differed about the wisdom and rightness of becoming a Reconciling congregation; when finances have become shaky; when you disagreed about what faithfulness to the gospel might demand.

I have heard from some of you who are frustrated with this interim process. Who worry that not enough is happening, who are uneasy because some work and programs are being put on hold while the congregation looks inward and reflects on its calling and relationship to God. Who wonder what in the world this “discernment team” is supposed to do. I know that others of you are afraid that Spirit of Hope has been labeled as a “problem congregation,” and who are bothered by that because you see so much that is strong and positive and hopeful here, and you don’t want that getting lost or overlooked. I understand that some of you blame the Reconciling process and decision of two years ago for some loss of members and their contributions. I’ve heard that others of you feel the decision to accept a very large debt burden in order to build the addition was an irresponsible one.

Anxiety is high. The desire to “do something” to resolve that anxiety quickly is tempting. The temptation to place blame is always present. Because of this, I want to remind you what every messenger of God in the Bible says when appearing before human beings: Fear Not. Chaos and change are a part of life, and God is in the midst of them. We don’t have to be in control. We don’t have to make things right. We don’t have to do it all. What we do need to do is listen. Listen to one another, to the promptings of the Spirit, to the movement of God in our midst. There is no need to rush just now. This is not an emergency. God is with this congregation, God is acting in the world, and God’s world will not stop turning just because Spirit of Hope turns inward for a time of shared reflection.

In a way, although this year involves a lot of work, it’s also a Sabbath year of sorts. The Sabbath was a gift from God to the people of Israel—a gift of rest and renewal. A whole day out of each week when a people who spent their lives barely eking a living out of a barren, rocky, hilly, dry landscape could stop their arduous labors and remember that God is God. The discernment process and the quiet, unfolding work of the discernment team offer a different kind of opportunity for this congregation to rest in God and listen deeply to who we are and where we are being called. There will come a time once again for decisions to be made and steps to be taken. But this is a moment to embrace a certain stillness. To empty ourselves in order to make room for something new to be heard, received, born.

It’s hard for middle Americans, who believe in doing and acting and solving problems, to think that something is happening when people are sitting still and listening. But the dormancy of winter leads to the fertile blooming of spring. A seed is being readied even before it sprouts, when it is lying quietly underground. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to let it rest for a while. There is a deep wisdom available to us in this discernment time, if we will allow ourselves to be open to it.

As we allow ourselves to take time for deep listening and reflections, we are not turning our back on the wider world. If we truly listen for God’s call and we truly open our hearts to one another, our inward journey will lead us back out into the world to serve in love.

So as I close my epistle to you, I ask that God may bless you fully, and I offer you the message of the angels: “Fear Not.”

We are pleased to announce that Danielle Buckmeier started as Spirit of Hope’s Sunday School Coordinator on January 1. Danielle grew up in Fergus Falls and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead with a degree in psychology. As a child, she attended a Nazarene church but was married to husband Greg in Grace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls, a church that she started attending when her parents became members while she was in college.

While Greg was attending the US Military Academy at West Point, Danielle worked as a sales administrator for Primedia, a magazine publisher. Upon Greg’s graduation, they relocated to the Seattle area, where Greg was assigned to an Army base. While residing in Seattle, Danielle worked in sales for a software company and a medical supply company. During this time, their two children Amelia (4) and Leighton (2) were born. Both children were baptized at Grace UMC.

Following completion of Greg’s active duty, the Buckmeier’s moved to Robbinsdale and Greg took a position in the logistics department at Best Buy corporate headquarters. Shortly thereafter, Greg was called again to active duty, serving in Iraq during 2006. During this time, Danielle split her time between their home in Robbinsdale and her parents’ home in Fergus Falls, where she assisted her aunt, the Sunday School Director at Grace UMC.

Upon Greg’s return from Iraq, he resumed his position at Best Buy, where he continues to work. Danielle came to us looking for a part-time position that would not interfere with her responsibilities as the primary caregiver for Amelia and Leighton. We are blessed to have found in Danielle a perfect fit for Spirit of Hope’s children’s educational needs. Please welcome Danielle, Greg, Amelia, and Leighton to Spirit of Hope.

As the new Sunday School Coordinator, I have been blessed to have been given the opportunity to assist the children in our congregation, and their families, grow to know the Lord and to build a foundation in faith that will carry them throughout the rest of their lives. I thank the congregation for allowing me the opportunity to work with the children of our church, and for your assistance in helping carry out this ministry.

Over the past month, the children and I have had a chance to become acquainted with one another, and have begun to establish the consistency within the Children’s Ministry Program for which the congregation has been searching. My hope is that this foundation will enrich the children’s learning experience, as well as help us to continue drawing new families to Spirit of Hope.

In the coming weeks, we are going to continue studying Jesus’ teachings leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection celebration on Easter Sunday.

Not knowing what to expect from the workshops, I was a bit leery. What I found was a place to reflect on my church with people also having those same thoughts I’d been having. I found a place to openly discuss issues of our church in a “safe” place where I listened as others talked, but also where I was listened to. We all seemed to WANT to participate. I felt many others should have also been participating...they were missing some great sharing and understanding tools. I came away from this first session feeling more hopeful. It’s a good start! (Merry Anne Rosengren)

On Friday, February 29, Good Samaritan UMC in Edina will host a viewing of the video For the Bible Tells Me So, a movie that chronicles the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families—including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson—and how people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. A group from Spirit of Hope viewed this movie last October. The Reitan family from Eden Prairie, who are featured prominently in the film, will be in attendance at the viewing at Good Samaritan (located at 5730 Grove Street, Edina 55436; telephone: 952-929-0049).

Good Samaritan is also raising funds to send copies of the video to as many of the 1,000 attendees of the General Conference in Fort Worth prior to their meeting on April 23-May 2. Donations for this project should be sent to Good Samaritan at the address noted above and payable to Good Samaritan UMC.

Spirit of Hope will participate in Minnesota Food Share, a month-long food drive to restock the shelves of the local food shelves. Food collected at Spirit of Hope will be given to PRISM for distribution in our community. There are many families who need the services that PRISM food shelf provides, so please keep them in mind as you do your grocery shopping.

The following list suggests items to be donated on the corresponding Sundays:

• March 2—Cereal and canned meats
• March 9—Entrée items (spaghetti sauce, stews, macaroni and cheese, etc.)
• March 16—Breakfast items (pancake mix, muffin mix, powdered milk, coffee, etc.)
• March 23—Non-food items (soap, diapers, napkins, etc.)
• March 31—Financial contributions

Monetary donations are also appreciated. Please make checks payable to Spirit of Hope and note PRISM on the memo line. Thank you!

Hello, my name is Jeanne Mohler, and I have been asked to speak as part of the celebration of our second year as a reconciling congregation.

All of us here yearn to be supported by God’s love, and a church family. That is the gift that Spirit of Hope has given to me, and my family.

Probably there are gay or lesbian members of your family—acknowledged or not, loved or not, supported or not. In my family my second cousin was gay, and my grandmother always opined that he was just “going through a phase.” I then pointed out that this “phase” had been present more than thirty years, and therefore could not be properly described as a “phase,” but more accurately who he was.

In my life I have been privileged to know many loving members of the GLTB community. They have enriched my life. I have been angered as they were denied human rights effortlessly extended to others, suffered as they dealt with rejection by family and faith communities, and felt joy as they celebrated their commitment to partners.

Yet all of this was relatively easy, since it was at an emotional distance. To have a son announce that he is gay is not easy. And, although, I said the right thing at the time—“Chris I will love you no matter who you are,” inside I was reeling. It took some time to embrace this, to see it as a blessing---it took some time for me to “come out of the closet.”

And in God’s way, all of this was occurring as Spirit of Hope was talking about, studying and discussing becoming a reconciling congregation. So, as I struggled, I was embraced by a community of faith, and Chris was embraced by a community of faith. I thank you for that.

One of my fervent hopes for my children was that they would, as I have, experience life with God in a Christian community—probably a wish shared by most of you for your children. We all want the best for our children. Thanks to you Chris has not experienced a rejecting church, a “don’t ask, don’t tell” church. He has experienced a loving church that not only accepted him tacitly but explicitly, by becoming a reconciling congregation. As a congregation, we are all better people for this.

At our second anniversary of reconciliation, I thank God, who certainly touched us with His or Her hand.

We have some fun, interesting, educational and working programs ahead of us. We pray for God to be “love” in us as we journey. We joyfully welcome all who come our way. We ask for God to deepen our faith and to see all of life through his eyes and guide us with the assurance of his walking...with us.

Wednesday, February 20, at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall - We will be making goodies to fill boxes to send to our grown-up youth who are away at college. We want these fine young people to know we are thinking of them as they have entered another phase of life, and bring a little taste from home to them and any other things we can think of to bring them up to date on Spirit of Hope happenings and community events.

Wednesday, March 19, 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall - We will be seeing a DVD. This is part of the program suggestions for study from the School of Christian Mission and the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries and to maintain our ‘Mission Today” status. A meeting will be held and refreshments.

Wednesday, April 16, at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall - This will prove to be quite an interesting meeting and guest speaker. Pastor Ruth Gangloff is a minister in northern Minnesota and is part of Mobile Ministry in the Methodist Church. She is pastor of a lovely, small church near Voyageur’s National Park and International Falls. She travels a 45-minute drive every Sunday from there to Crane Lake Chapel. Pastor Ruth lives in Orr. The small church in Kabetogama was featured in “Country” magazine two years ago. The building and grounds, even a new roof, were all done and maintained by volunteer help. The altar, baptismal font, organ front cover and pulpit were all hand carved. Pastor Ruth fits in so well with this small community that swells from tourists in the summer. She has many interesting stories to share with us. Pastor Ruth says she entertains herself on the many trips from Orr to Kabetogama by counting how many eagles she sees! Eleven was the highest count so far. We plan to invite other U.M.W. units from the Metro West conference to join us.

of $3,627 used to provide scholarships or funds to:

• Ganta Schools in Liberia ($1,247)
• Ag-Grad program ($827)
• PRISM ($953)
• Metro-West Builders ($600)

Kingswood Retreat Center
Watch for more information or call Marilyn Gresser at 763-545-2708

Spirit of Hope UMC would like to keep in touch with you as you change addresses— whether it’s permanent or temporary. Please contact the church office with your address change by email or phone 763-545-0239.

John Gbelia forwarded a list of names of 22 students (grade) being supported by the scholarship money from Spirit of Hope at $75 USD per student. These students are:

• Orland Kwanue (12)
• Louise Gwaikolo (11)
• Musu Daisee (11)
• Mercy Kiamue (11)
• Etta Kolubah (11)
• Cecelia Fredrick (9)
• Deboriah Luogon (9)
• Marcus Zain (8)
• Theodousous Sahn (7)
• Amstom Tomah (6)
• Amanda Gorgboyee (6)
• Shirly Sua (6)
• Cecady Williams (6)
• Oretha Miller (5)
• Pennewon Flomo (2)
• Derick Mesahn (2)
• Eric Sahn (2)
• Aletha M. Jackson (3)
• Jackquelline Samuels (1)
• Allington Gboe (K-2)
• Shadrick Dangan (L. II)
• Paye Yeanay (ABC)

Our choirs are combining with musicians from other local churches to present a music festival and worship service at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 10, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, 630 Wayzata Boulevard East, Wayzata. Admission is free; a free-will offering will benefit Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP).

The goal is to raise awareness of IOCP in the western suburbs as well as to enjoy the opportunity to sing and ring with other area churches. Back by popular demand, the guest conductor will be Jerry Rubino.

Join us for this celebration of our community tending to its root systems and its dream building.

A night full of fun. Invite your friends! The lifts will open at 11 p.m. until 5:30 am. It’s your chance to ski, snowboard or tube all night long!

Also going on are movies and video games (DDR/Guitar Hero) and room by the fireplace for those that think they may want to sleep.

Spirit of Hope will send snacks and water. Cost: $30 (includes lift, skiing or snowboarding rentals, games and movies. It does not include tubing or food from the cafeteria.)

Non-skiing youth may attend the event for a $10 fee. Non-skiing chaperones are free. Tubing is an additional $10, payable that night, We are on a short timeline. Greg and Pam Collins will be coordinating the event.

If you want to go, please email them at collins.family@comcast.net or phone them at 763-416-6094 and let them know that you are interested in attending. They will let you know where to send your payment and provide a copy of a health form to be filled out.

30-Hour Famine Lock-in
February