Reconnecting through Sunday Forums
by Carol Swanson
Sunday Forums were on Zoom through May and hybrid format beginning in fall 2021. They are an im-portant way to reconnect with one another and our partners in ministry, like Lutheran Social Services, Bega Kwa Bega, and Central Park Elementary.
Recently I led an introductory discussion on the Gospel of John using 5 emphases in Process Thought: ex-perience, creativity, love, freedom, and relationship.
How do we experience Jesus in this gospel?
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us…full of grace and truth” (1:14): a new creativity.
God so loved the world… (3:16)
The truth will make you free (8:32).
Relationship…”become the children of God.” (1:12)
As we continue hearing John in 2022, may we find ourselves renewed.
PoP Sending 13 to Youth Gathering
by Julene Hawkins
July 24th – 28th, 2022, the ELCA Youth Gathering is coming to Minneapolis! Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the country gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service, and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives. Prince of Peace is excited to send 11 high school students and 2 adult chaperones for a week of faith formation at the largest gathering of Lutheran Youth. Fundraising activities included making lefse for the Christmas Café Bake Sale.
Exploring Mental Health
by Suzan Hurlbut
Last winter Pastor Ruth led a book study on Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son by Mindy Greiling. Mindy is a Roseville native and former State Legislator. Her son Jim has had a long struggle with schizophrenia and Mindy and her husband have tried to navigate and improve Minnesota’s inadequate mental health system. This book is an illuminating and frank account of caring for a person with mental illness. We were fortunate to have Mindy join us for a Zoom discussion. In the past few years we have done books like Addiction and Grace by Gerald May, Breathing Underwater by Richard Rohr, Traveling Mercies, Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne LaMott.