Dear Augustana friends, 

I’ve really enjoyed seeing where Flat Jesus has been this summer through all your pictures. If you haven’t had a chance to share where he’s been with you, we’d love to see some of your Road Tripping adventures! You can send your pictures to Cathy Hendrikson ([email protected]) or tag Augustana in your social media posts.

One of the things I love about traveling is meeting people where they live. It usually doesn’t take much for people to share something about their hometown that is meaningful to them or that they’re proud of. And isn’t it fun to be part of other people’s delight?! When I was traveling earlier this summer, my family and I had dinner at a farm where they serve everything farm-to-table. The farm had been in the same family for at least five generations. At one point early in the meal, one of the owners came to our table and told us that his partner was going to share the history of the farm, but that the whole talk would be in Norwegian. So, he invited us down into the barns and cheese cellar to tell us how the cheese we were about to eat is made. It turned out he was the cheese maker, and as he shared the history of how this traditional Norwegian cheese was made, you could see the pride and care he had for his work. Without looking too hard, you could tell this was God’s calling in his life. The time he took to not only tell us about the farm, but to show us as well, made us all feel like we were part of that place.

In the Scripture reading for Sunday, Jesus sends disciples out in pairs to extend peace to everyone they meet. They are told to travel lightly and rely only on the hospitality extended to them as they travel. He warns them the travel won’t always be easy and not everyone will welcome them. But he also assures them that nothing will be lost by extending peace to everyone they meet.

That’s sound advice for the journey of faith and life – It doesn’t cost us anything to extend peace to everyone, everywhere. In fact, when we do, we’re richer for it because we may just have the chance to delight in people’s lives and see where God meets them on their journey through life as well. Pay attention this week to who God may be calling you to extend peace to, and see what God may do with those encounters. Blessings on your summer journeys, friends.

See you in worship,

Staff Transitions

Augustana is seeking candidates for two full time positions: Director of Children & Family Ministry (birth-grade 6) and Director of Youth & Family Ministry (grades 7-12). Detailed job descriptions can be found by clicking the graphic above. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Deacon Stephanie or Pastor Jason.

Roadtrip Through the Bible Series

Sundays in July

Summer is a great time for road trips. We discover new places, find ourselves in memorable situations, and share the road with others we wouldn’t otherwise encounter. The journey of faith can be that way too. In this series we will explore some of the road trips people have taken throughout the Bible, and as we do, we’ll discover some of the ways God meets us on the road through life.

Faith On The Go Cards

In the month of July we will Roadtrip Through the Bible! Whether you are hitting the road or planning a “stay-cation,” grab a pack of cards for reflection.

There are no rules for using these cards!

Choose to use as a:

• Devotion
• Reminder of God’s presence in your life
• Conversation starter with family and friends

The front of each card includes the week’s sermon theme, Bible passage, and a thought for the week. Flip the card over to find questions to use as personal reflections or conversation starters with family and friends. Experiment, explore, and discover what works best for you! 

Starting this Sunday, we will have Faith On The Go cards available at the

Information Desk or Hospitality Table.

Pet Blessing at Outdoor Worship

Sunday, July 9 | 9:00 am

This year’s VBS theme was Pets Unleashed: Where Jesus Cares “Fur” You! With our theme surrounding pets and taking care of them, we thought it would be fun to do a blessing for the pets of Augustana members and visitors. All types of pets are welcome to join for a blessing at the 9:00 am outdoor service this Sunday.

Humane Society Supply Drive

During the month of July, we are collecting pet supplies for the Humane Society of MN (Woodbury location). Donations can be dropped off before or after Drive-In Worship at the Hospitality Table (by the north doors), at the Information Center, or in the church office anytime during the week.

Items being collected:

• Unopened cat and dog treats
• Jars of baby food meat for sick cats
• Small bags (less than 10 lbs) of cat and dog food
• Greenie’s pill pockets
• Potty pads
• Poop bags
• Hand sanitizer
• Clorox wipes
• Non-retractable leashes
• Food and water bowls
• Assorted cat and dog toys

For almost 40 years Augustana has partnered with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) to express the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives, and builds community.

The work of LSS is is grounded in two principles – God loves all people without condition and God yearns for us to love the neighbor. These principles help assure that:

• Children and families will have safe, stable homes and the opportunity to thrive in community.
• People with disabilities will have access to social services and the opportunity to contribute to community life.
• Older adults will have choice in the services they need and opportunities to participate in community life.



To learn more about LSS, check out the video below or visit their website.

All ages are welcome along with friends, family, and community members!

Madagascar Jr. Theater Show

Monday, July 10 | 5:30 pm dinner | 6:30 pm show | Free



Join us in Augustana's East parking lot for dinner and a theater production of Madagascar Jr. presented by ETC Productions. If the weather is bad, we will move inside to the Fellowship Hall. 

Please sign up below if you are planning to come for dinner so we can plan accordingly. 

Kids Zone!

Every Sunday during 9:00 am outdoor worship there will be a Kids Zone! Children aged 3 years to 4th grade are invited to join Cathy and Maia (our weekly nursery worker) on the lawn near the little library. The Kids Zone will have different activities for the children to engage in during worship.

For safety reasons, please walk your child over to the blanket and pick them up after worship is done. Children will not be allowed to walk in the parking lot without an adult with them. 

Ice Cream Wednesdays for Youth

Second & Fourth Wednesdays of the month | 6:00 - 7:00 pm | New location each time



Join Deacon Stephanie and Abby for ice cream Wednesdays in the evenings this summer! All Augustana youth and friends are invited to come!

The next meet-up will be on Wednesday, July 12 at Hometown Sweets located at 3045 80th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076.  For future locations, please check out the calendar on augustana.com.

Summer Stretch

July 19, July 31, August 10 & August 15

9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Cost: $10 per person



Summer Stretch is for students completing grades 6-12. The days will be divided between volunteering locally in the community and fun recreational activities. Invite your friends from school, church, and your neighborhood to join! Lunch and snacks will be provided. Register by clicking the button below which will bring you to the calendar, select the date for which you would like to sign-up, and follow the

on-screen instructions.

Summer Saturday Toddler Time

Saturdays: July 22 & August 19 |

9:00 - 10:30 am

Join us one Saturday a month this summer for Toddler Time! Toddler Time is a great opportunity geared towards families with children ages 4 years and under. Children get some activity and play time and parents have the opportunity to connect with and get-to-know other parents of toddlers. There will be both large and small motor activities for the children.



No need to sign up, just show up! Coffee and treats will also be provided.  

Working Women of Faith

Thursday, July 13 | 6:00 pm

This "come when you can" dinner group gathers every other month to enjoy dinner out and great conversation about the intersection of faith, life, and vocation. Please contact Susan Berg-Williams at [email protected] for location and details. 

Join us at the St. Paul Saints Ball Park!

Friday, July 14 | 5:30 pm Dinner | 7:07 pm Game

Sunday, August 20 | 2:07 pm

We have a limited number of tickets available for these Saints baseball games. Tickets are on a first come, first served basis with payment. Tickets can be picked up in the church office one week prior to the game. Reserve your tickets below.

Summer Hiking Group with Pastor Jason

Saturdays: July 22 & August 19 | 9:00 am | Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan | Open to All Ages 

Join Pastor Jason for a monthly hike and devotion as we connect with nature, God, and each other. To receive details on the location of future hikes, please click the button below.

“We Make the Road by Walking” by Brian McLaren

Book Discussion on August 23 | 7:00 pm

As we head into these summer months and kick off our July Road Trip sermon series, we find ourselves eager to pause, breathe deeply, and explore new ways of honest, faithful living. We invite you to read with us, “We Make the Road by Walking” by Brian McLaren, a simple book of insightful reflections and transformative practices for the journey. We hope that this book is an excellent companion to your summer and helps us explore together what a difference an honest, living, growing faith can make in our world today.

We will be selling copies of the book at church for $10 (cash or check). Stop by the Hospitality Table or Information Desk to pick up a book, while supplies last.

Then, consider joining Pastor Jason and Deacon Stephanie for an evening of conversation and fellowship on Wednesday, August 23 at 7:00 pm as we discuss the book. Register by clicking the graphic below. 

Praying as a Community 

 The names of those we pray for this week are listed below. We invite you to pray for them throughout the week so that our prayers are multiplied and the care for those in need is broadened. Prayer requests can be emailed directly to our prayer team at [email protected]. All requests remain confidential.

 Prayers for Peace & Comfort:  We pray for the family of Pat Stokes. We also pray for the family of Mary Bloomquist. 

 Prayers for Healing & Strength: Carol Biermeier, Le Braun, Sarah Greene, Annika Hansen, Jennifer Johnson, Mary Schwab, Anne Storlie, Jeanine Wedekind, and Mary Wilmes. 

Upcoming Memorial Services

Max Williams

July 8 at Augustana

Visitation: 8:30-10:30am

Service: 10:30am

Reception to follow

Mary Bloomquist, Founder of Bega Kwa Bega

July 15 at Augustana

Visitation: 3:00-4:00pm

Service: 4:00pm

Reception to follow

Faith-Filled Yoga

Flow (Mat) Yoga 

Tuesdays | July 11 - August 22 (no class 8/29) | 6:00 - 7:00pm | $35 for 7 weeks or $6 drop-in

Chair Yoga 

Thursdays | July 13 - August 31 (no class 8/24) | 10:00 - 11:00am | $35 for 7 weeks or $6 drop-in

NAMI Family Support Group

Monthly | 2nd & 4th Mondays | 6:30 to 8:00 pm

Facilitated by Joann Arneberg, Augustana Faith Community Nurse

Does your loved one live with a mental illness? NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers family and friends of individuals living with a mental illness an opportunity to meet with others who share their concerns and experiences. The meeting is free of charge and registration is not necessary. 

Looking for Ways to Get

Involved at Augustana?

Second Stork Layette Packing

Saturday, July 15 | 9:30 - 10:45 am | 130 Eva Street, St. Paul, MN 55107



We will meet at Second Stork (address listed above) to bundle layette packs for newborn babies at the hospitals and clinics that Second Stork works with throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. This event is open to those who are 8 years and older.

For more information about Second Stork and their mission, please visit secondstork.org.

Ways to Serve on Sundays

Summer is a great time to volunteer in worship! From ushers to communion servers to hospitality hosts, many hands make Augustana a welcoming place where all can experience the love of God. (Families and children ages 10 & up can serve, too!)

Click on the button below, select a Sunday that works for you, and sign-up to serve! For more information, or if you have questions, please contact Barb Rolfes.

Help with Thursday Community Meals

3:00 - 4:30 pm | Meal prep

4:15 - 6:00 pm | Deliver/serve meals to cars as they drive up to the north doors

Have you ever prepared and served meals to 450 people in just over an hour? And all for $1.67 per meal? That’s

exactly what the Community Meals Team does every

Thursday at Augustana. We are always looking for more people to join us!

Email Cathy Hendrikson or sign up below to get involved.

Augustana Connect is intended to highlight activities and events coming up in the next few weeks. For ongoing weekly activities or to register for activities, please click the image below.



We appreciate your generosity! Augustana makes it easy to support the vision and ministry of Augustana! 

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