Spirit Garage Calls
Pastor Holly Johnson
YOUR GIVING MAKES A DIFFERENCE
by Pastor Bob Wertz, Pastor of Stewardship and Planned Giving
First Sunday is November 5
After months of good and faithful
work by so many in the Spirit Garage
community, the search party has
recommended a candidate, the
Bethlehem council has voted to
extend a call, and Holly Johnson has
said, "Yes!" Holly has some history
with Spirit Garage, a great love of the
church, and the right gifts and skills
for this time and place. We are excited
and grateful to the search party, the
pastor pickers and true north for
leading this community in the in-
between time. And a special shout-out
to John "Kernsey" Kerns for being the
glue that held the ship together.
Holly Johnson is
a pastor in the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America. She
grew up in the midwest
(Minnesota, Illinois,
and Nebraska) and
“Pastor” was not in any
part of any dream she
had of what she would be when she
grew up. Instead, her career dreams
included: singer in a band, teacher,
nurse, and admissions director. She
has spent time on the West Coast as
a youth director, and also did campus
ministry and a young adult mission
start in Fargo Mo orhead. She comes
to us from Berkeley, CA, where she
worked as the director of admissions
at one of the places where pastors and
other faith leaders are trained.
Holly says, “After completing my
third position in youth ministry, I
wasn't sure I wanted to be in church
every Sunday morning. But before my
planned sabbatical from worship, I
had to go check out this church I had
heard about called, "Spirit Garage" in
Minneapolis. I went back every week
to see what would happen next. I could
have become one of the 30-somethings
that saw church as 'somebody I used
to know.' I am thankful God called
me back through the Spirit Garage
community. I hope I can provide a
space like that for others."
Three BIG ways your giving will make a difference
in the near future:
1. Commit to connecting personally in the upcoming 2018 annual pledge drive/
sermon series Stewards of God’s Mysteries. Worship is at the heart of this process,
followed by a generous response to a God who continually invites us to go deeper.
Key dates are:
Sunday, November 5: Pick up your stewardship packets in the Gallery
at Minneapolis and Narthex at Minnetonka.
Sunday, November 12: Enjoy a “thank you” treat following worship at
both campuses from the Stewardship Ministry
teams.
Sunday, November 19: Commitment Sunday. Please bring your
completed pledge form to worship.
2.
Learn more about the future possibility of affordable housing on the
Minnetonka site!
Beacon Housing and Bethlehem: A Future Together
Sunday, November 19, 10:45 am
Friendship Hall/Minnetonka campus
(This event mirrors the October 15 event held at the Mpls campus)
RSVP to Pastor Bob Wertz at [email protected].
3. Interested in hosting, along with three other people, a birthday luncheon for
the residents at Beacon’s 66 West Apartments in Edina on Tuesday, December 12?
Other Beacon volunteers are inviting us to take part and inquiring whether
Bethlehem members can help. It’s a wonderful way to build relationships and
serve food at the same time! Contact me at [email protected].
Installation Service Sunday, November 5
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities will celebrate the new calls of Pastor
Mary Pechauer and Pastor Ben Cieslik as co-lead pastors with a Service
of Installation and Holy Communion at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 5, at the
Minneapolis campus. We’re excited to welcome guest preacher Pastor David
Lose, Senior Pastor Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church. We look forward to music
offered by a mass choir that includes both campuses. We rejoice that God’s Holy
Spirit has led us to this place in our life as a congregation. We hope you’ll join
us as we celebrate this occasion as the family of God.
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