ST. BARNABAS LUTHERAN CHURCH

Inside this issue:

Crosswinds

In Memoriam: David Helgen

2

Zoom Class Opportunities

2

Blood Donors Needed 4

The Marks of Discipleship

• Daily prayer

• Weekly worship

• Bible reading

• Service in and beyond the congregation

• Spiritual friendships

• Giving time, talents, and resources

May, 2020 Volume 36, Issue 5

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

(Galatians 6:2)

“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something

to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king

will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of

my family, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25)

The St. Barnabas community has generously been sharing with those in need in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March and April, over $27,000 has been given (over and above our regular offerings!) to share with ministries serving those in need or directly to individuals and families through the Starfish Fund. Many of our households have given part or all of their stimulus money to St. Barnabas for this purpose. Others have made gifts directly to Interfaith Outreach or other ministries — or helped out members of their extended family or neighbors. Each gift is a concrete way of “being

St. Barnabas Responds to Pandemic Needs with $27,000 of Extra Giving in March & April

Christ to our neighbor.” Several have shared that they find these gifts to truly be a source of “joy and thanksgiving.”

Thus far, the gifts given to St. Barnabas have been shared in the following ways:

Starfish assists $9,700

Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners $7,700

Lutheran Social Service $3,000

ELCA COVID-19 Response $1,000

Our inner-city companion congregations

Redeemer Lutheran Church $1,000

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church $1,000

The $9,700 in Starfish assists range from $25 to $700 to help people with food, housing, gas, prescriptions, and car repairs – mostly to people who are not part of the St. Barnabas community. Because of the great need, COVID-19 Assistance will continue to be the “Gift of Love” for May.

Thank you continuing to be the Body of Christ addressing the needs of the world even when we can not gather together for a period of time.

While it is difficult to definitively make any long-range plans in the midst of this pandemic, Pastor Wayne is planning on July 12 as being his final Sunday before entering into retirement.

Memory Book Project Holly Bayer encourages people to contribute to a memory book of Pastor Wayne’s 35 years at St. Barnabas. Should you wish to share a memory with him, each submission should be kept to one-page, though it may include both sides. You may include pictures, as well. Please send your submission to Holly at the following email address: bayer3holly@gmail.com. She’s ready to receive them beginning now. If you don’t utilize email or would prefer to give her a typed or handwritten copy, you can mail or deliver them to Julie Hoyme in the church office to get to Holly. If you need a photo scanned, Julie can help you with that, too.

Submission deadline is June 1 so Holly has plenty of time to have the book bound and printed.

Call Committee Continues Its Work The Call Committee has been busy as they continue their prayerful discernment in the search for St. Barnabas’ next Lead Pastor. They are grateful that Zoom has enabled them to keep on schedule even though they haven’t been able to meet in person. They received a list of candidates from the ELCA Minneapolis Synod office at the end of March. First round interviews were completed by the end of April. Next steps in the call process include:

• Second round interviews in May

• Final recommendation of a candidate to the church council by end of May

• Congregational vote by end of June

Transition Update

Crosswinds

Page 2

Book Discussion Group The next books being discussed by the Book Discussion Group are:

May 21 - Virgil Wander by Leif Enger

June 18 - Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Tome Explorers Tome Explorers read and discuss works of non-fiction on the 1st Sunday of the month at 6:00 p.m. The next books being discussed by the Tome Explorers group are: June 7– Sisters in Law: How

Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda Hirshman

July 5– Bad Blood by John Carryrou

Have Questions About the Transition/Call Process?

Transition Project Manager Lisa Pole Lisa.pole@comcast.net

Church Council President Lisa Turnquist lisa.turnquist@comcast.net

Call Committee Chairperson Emily McGarvey emily.a.mcgarvey@gmail.com Celebrations Chairperson Holly Bayer holly@bayerbuilt.com Prayer Group Chairperson Glenna Whitmill glenna@whitmill.net

On Tuesday afternoon, April 7, our dear friend David Helgen took his final breath.

David was 94 and a half years old, and though his memory faltered in recent years and his legs betrayed him in the past year, he remained mentally sharp up until his final three days.

David and Connie became part of the St. Barnabas community in the spring of 1993. He had recently retired after serving parishes in Austin and Osakis, Minnesota and Roscoe, Illinois (on the border between Beloit and Rockford). Connie died in 2006.

While St. Barnabas never officially issued a call to David, he served as our visitation pastor for about 22 of the 27 years he was part of the community. He sang in the choir until he was 92 and trained the assisting ministers for many years. Those who heard him read scripture or lead the liturgy will never forget his distinctive reading style. Many remember meeting him for the first time when he delivered a loaf of home-

baked bread after they worshiped at St. Barnabas the first time. Others have memories of visits in their home or in a hospital room, with David singing hymns to them by memory.

David’s favorite Bible verse was Psalm 118:24 — “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

For those who knew him, those words sum up his optimistic, joy-filled personality. Every day was a good day, despite the challenges it might hold, because it was a day made by God -- a gift for us to enjoy and make the most of. David was wounded in World War II as a 19-year old. He walked with Connie through many years of The book discussion groups

may not meet or may meet by Zoom. But here’s the list of books for the next few months if you want to get started on them:

Pastor David Helgen (1925-2020)

clinical depression. He experienced the typical congregational disagreements and challenges that face a parish pastor. His final years were made more difficult by arthritis in his neck and spine and bladder cancer. And yet, every single day David would joyfully assert, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

David’s four sons — Howard, Steve, John, and Phil — and their families laid their father to rest next to Connie and David’s parents at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Northfield on April 18.

David's funeral will be at St. Barnabas, but will have to wait until the "shelter in place" directive is lifted and we are able to once again gather for worship. We will keep you posted.

The family has suggested that memorial gifts may be given to St. Barnabas.

Pastor Wayne Offers Two Zoom Classes Each Tuesday

Tuesday Pastor’s Class (9:30-10:45 a.m.) This group has just started a new video series taught by Dr. Craig Koester of Luther Seminary, The course, “Reading Biblical Literature: Genesis to Revelation”, walks through the Biblical story in 36 30-minute lectures. This was one of the most popular classes at Luther Seminary. Dr. Koester creatively incorporates art and music into his presentations as he highlights the themes of the Bible. Depending on how much discussion follows, the group may watch one or two videos each week.

Tuesday Evening Bible Study (6:30-7:30 p.m.) This group reads and discusses the Gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday. Pastor Wayne emails the text out beforehand.

If you are interested in checking out one of these classes, send an email to Pastor Wayne (wpeterson@stbarnabaslutheran.org) and he will put you on the email list to receive the Zoom login information each week.

The tulips at the church entrance and the marsh marigolds in the rain garden are “telling the glory of God.” Coming soon - the crab apple blossoms

and the yellow lady slipper.

Crosswinds

Page 3

May Birthdays

1 David Kelzer 2 Heidi Eilderts

David Robarge

Peter Walthers

4 Michael Umland

5 Oskar Hembre Conditt

Ryan Jette

Ansley Johnson

Jackson Lane

Ellaria Smith

7 Jay Koepsell 8 Norman Anderson

Joseph Bernau

Patricia Phillips

9 Karen Ohm

10 Inge Milliken

11 Elizabeth Parks

12 Sally Lundeen-Hoff Valerie Nielsen

14 Alissa Hoyme

Kaitlyn Peterson

15 Kaitlyn Eilderts

Ian Novak

Kenneth Root Rose Umland

16 Donald St. John

18 Shannon Breimhurst Julie Snell Jeff Whitmill 19 Donald Johnson

20 Jean Humphries

21 Walter Smith

22 Pia Leiseth

May Baptismal Anniversaries

1 Ella Loon

Inge Milliken

Fiona Silbaugh

2 Joyce Arndt 3 Susan Hoornstra

4 Chandra Farrey

5 Christen Conrad

Jaxon Pinske

6 Mac McMillan

Robert Sanders

Walter Smith

7 Danielle Huar Olivia Knoop

8 Jeffrey Running

9 Jacquelyn Madison

11 David Baumann

Scot Larson

Zachary Walters

12 Hendrix Armajani Jared Holmquist Bonnie Welshons

13 Barbara Dalen

Lisa Pole

14 Jaxson Cook

Beth Grosen

David Meissner 15 Jay Johnson

16 Nancy Bjornlund

17 Charles Austin

James Parks

18 David Lindblom

19 Carol Dennis

Douglas Williams

22 Nicole Callejo

23 Emily Martinez

Joseph Tullberg

25 AnneliseArmajani Lucia Bernau

Flora Mandt 26 Lisa Gilyard

27 Amy Guttormsson

Susan Overby

28 Don Ilse

Colleen Lutz

29 Isabella Hembre Conditt

Robert Roycraft Clayton Smith

30 John Demro

Marlyce Payne

Stephanie Petsilis

31 Donna Larson

Lee Olson

A Beautiful Day for Working Together Apart

23 Alexander McGarvey

Addison Thoennes

25 Tracy Swwed

26 Kyle Holmquist David Reynolds

27 Connie Cook

Linda Eckman

Julie Hanson

Lisa Pole

Dorothy Pryor Joseph Seel 28 Jorand Braford

Joel Scalzo

Marjorie Vigoren

29 Cozy Smith

Emma Turnquist

The church building has been pretty quiet in recent weeks, so it was pretty exciting on Thursday to have three small task groups show up on the same morning. The tasks allowed them to keep their 6’ distance, even at coffee.

Thanks to: • the mulchers — Bobbi Dering (&

Reggie!), Karen Erickson, Martha Felland, Julie Hanson, Sue Houghland, Mary Pestel, Lisa Pole, Bonnie Welshons, Margaret Wold

• the lawn mowers — Dave Robarge & Karl Smith

• the quilters — Randi Braford & Rose Ann Parks

Together with Julie Hoyme and Pastor Wayne, this group of 15 was the largest gathering of St. Barnabas in the past two months, so Pastor Wayne felt led to stand up and give a sermon. (No, not really.)

ST. BARNABAS IDENTITY

STATEMENT

St. Barnabas Lutheran Church is a part of the Body

of Christ and a member congregation of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The source of our life together is the Word and Sacraments, celebrated in our worship.

We name ourselves after St. Barnabas, a New

Testament apostle. He was called “Barnabas”, meaning

“son of encouragement”, because he joyfully shared the “good news” of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He faithfully supported the work of the Church with his talents, prayers, and offerings.

MISSION STATEMENT

Sent by Jesus, we set our sails to be filled by God’s Spirit,

inspiring us to praise, grow and serve.

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID Twin Cities, MN

Permit No. 2595

Phone: 763-553-1239 Fax: 763-553-7839 Website: www.stbarnabaslutheran.org

Ministry Team Wayne Peterson, Pastor Amber Ingalsbe, Pastor Dr. Sue Megrund, Dir. of Children, Youth & Family Rose Umland, Parish Nurse Karl Smith, Lay Minister for Property Julie Hoyme, Parish Assistant Jeff Whitmill, SB Center for the Arts Mark Rodriguez, Parish Musician Cheryl Oie, Handbell Choir

ST. BARNABAS

LUTHERAN CHURCH

Three small boys were bragging about their fathers. The first boasted that his dad owned a farm. The second said his dad owned a factory. The third boy, a pastor’s son, replied, “That’s nothing! My dad owns hell.”

“No way,” the first scoffed. “No one can own hell!”

“Sure he can,” the pastor’s son said. “My mom told my grandma that the church council gave it to him last night.”

At the end of worship, a New York pastor was shaking hands with the departing congregation. A very old lady went past him with a big smile on her face. Behind her was her son, who said to the pastor, “Our mother thinks you’re the greatest preacher she’s ever heard.” The son then added in a confidential half-whisper, “We think her dementia is worsening.”

15600 Old Rockford Road

Plymouth, MN 55446

Return Service Requested

Barney’s Blarney Blood Donations Needed St. Barnabas usually hosts a blood drive in May, but the pandemic has necessitated canceling mobile blood drives through May. But blood donations continue to be needed! The Memorial Blood Center, 3021 Harbor Lane, remains open with new hours, procedures, setups, and guidelines for the safety of donors and staff. If you are feeling well and healthy and would like to donate blood, please call

1-888-GIVE-BLD (888-448-3253)

They are asking ALL donors and (requiring) staff to wear masks or face coverings. They need appointments throughout May, particularly around Memorial Day. Donors MUST have an appointment. They are not able to accommodate walk-ins at this time.

Are You Receiving (and Reading) the St. Barnabas E-mails? One important (but simple) way to help our St. Barnabas community during this “shelter in place” period is to read the St. Barnabas emails! If you are not receiving any St. Barnabas emails with the daily devotions or Sunday worship resources, that means either

1) we do not have your correct email address, which can easily be remedied if you would just send an email to Julie Hoyme (jhoyme@stbarnabaslutheran.org), or

2) your email software is diverting them to a spam or junk folder. You can remedy this by add-ing “stbarnabaslutheran.org” and “stbarnabaslutheran.ccsend.com” (used for the Constant Contact emails) to your Safe Senders list. If you are not sure how to do this, contact Pastor Wayne or Julie Hoyme.