Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church | | | |
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E Pluribus Unum
Out of Many, One
September 2026
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Washington as Statesman at the Constitutional Convention,
Junius Brutus Stearns, 1856
| On September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention endorsed the document created during their four-month-long convention. The U.S. Constitution that they wrote lays out the framework for our federal government and delineates how its three branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial bodies should function. Not all the delegates, however, felt that the constitution had gone far enough. They felt it needed further clarification and protection. This was the purpose of the amendments, which the first ten are known as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment addressed the issue that we have meditated on throughout the summer. E Pluribus Unum. Out of Many One. People from the various states were concerned about their differing religious practices. Could Massachusetts Puritans, Connecticut Congregationalists, New York Dutch Reformed, Delaware Lutherans, Pennsylvania Quakers, and Virginia Church of England followers, truly become one? | The First Amendment to the Constitution was to deal with this issue in two ways. The first is the so called Establishment Clause and the second is the Free Exercise Clause. The Establishment clause prohibits the federal government from "establishing" a state religion. The precise definition of "establishment" is unclear. Historically, it meant prohibiting state-sponsored churches, such as the Church of England which was the general practice in half of the original 13 colonies. While the free exercise clause allowed for the freedom of individuals to practice their faith unencumbered by the government. | George Washington was a strong advocate of religious tolerance. In 1775, he issued an order to Colonel Benedict Arnold, who was about to invade Canada. The order stated that Arnold’s army was “to avoid all Disrespect to or Contempt of the Religion of a Country by ridiculing any of its Ceremonies or affronting its ministers or Votaries.” Washington later forbade his own troops from celebrating Pope’s Day, wherein Protestants often burned effigies of the pope. He received acclaim from the Universalists when he supported the right of one of their clergy to serve as a chaplain in the Continental Army, and his respect was also extended to the Jewish community. | The complete separation of church and state may not have been as much of a priority for Washington as it was for some of the founding fathers. Washington believed that the two should coexist for the good of society. As he emphasized in his farewell address, religion was a strong support for morality, which he thought was essential to good government. | On Rally Sunday, September 13th, we will conclude our nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. I would like to think of it as our nation 250th anniversary of inter-dependence. At the end of the Revolutionary War the colonists discovered how much they needed each other to survive. We need each other today as well. We may not agree with our neighbors on the issues of religion and politics, but we need each other to face the daily challenges of life. | Join us as we celebrate this 250th anniversary in music, history and God’s Word. | Pastor, Pastor Arden Haug | |  |
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In-Person, Livestream Worship & Sunday School
Sundays—9:30 AM
Coffee Hour—10:30 AM
| Inspired by Christ, living and growing in faith, Lake of the Isles is a loving and open community of worship, witness, & service in God's world |
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Upcoming Events
September 5th—9:30 AM
Priscilla Circle
Christy Room
September 12th
Our Saviour's Shelter Meal
September 13th —9:30 AM
Rally Sunday
Sanctuary
September 24th—7:00 PM
Council Meeting
Zoom
September 25th—5:00 PM
Women's Book Club
Home of Deb Gilroy
September 27th—9:30 AM
New Members Received
Sanctuary
October 4th—6:00–8:00 PM
Young Adults Gathering
Patio
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| LOTI End of Summer BBQ 2026—A Great Time! | | On August 12th we hosted our annual BBQ with a grand turn out of 75 in attendance. Our buffet tables were laden with delicious sides and desserts alongside burgers and brats fresh off the grill! Special thanks to Diane LaMere for planning and grocery shopping; to Pierre LaMere for grilling; to everyone who contributed to the buffet, and to Bill and Kathy Fredell who helped to set up and clean up! | | Children's Ministry September 2026 | | | |
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Registration is open for the upcoming program year which begins on Rally Sunday, September 13th. Sunday School is offered for children who are age 3 (by September 1st) through 6th grade. We ask that all families register their children. Register using the button provided to the left; or on our website, under the Lifestyle/Children & Family Ministry tab.
Questions? Contact diane.lamere@loti.org
Children’s Ministry Director.
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Back to School Blessing
September 13th
All children and youth will be invited to come forward during worship on September 13th for a special blessing of the new school year.
| | | The most needed items include sugar, salt, cooking oils (16–24 oz containers), canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, mac n cheese, canned soups, canned chicken/tuna, Ramen (not in cups), toilet paper, soap, shampoo & conditioner. They accept all non-expired shelf stable foods. | | |
All donations make a huge difference. Donations are collected on the wooden cart in Fellowship Hall. Volunteers deliver them to the food shelf on Friday mornings.
joyceuptownfoodshelf.org
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Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church provides a meal on the second Saturday of each month. Our monthly meals are provided by donation. The shelter orders & serves the meal.
Thanks to Kristie Eklund for June in memory of MaryBrooke Maher for August
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SEP 12
OCT 10
NOV 14
DEC 12
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MaryBrooke Maher
Leslie & Steve Hite
Mary Sabatke, in memory of Bruce Sabatke
Michael & Jana Kavoukjian
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Join us
Saturday, September 5th
9:30 AM
Christy Room
for a time of camaraderie!
There is no membership requirement or time commitment.
Just come to enjoy the fellowship, for a few minutes, or a couple of hours!
(No knitting skills required)
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Join the Choir!
Wednesday, September 2nd
7:00 PM
Choir Room
| Interested in joining the choir? Our weekly choir rehearsals begin on Wednesday, September 2nd. Please contact Dr. Kristina Rizzotto if you are interested in joining the choir or would like more information. | | |
Join us as we welcome Flagstone Dixieland Band for Rally Sunday!
Celebrate with cake and ice cream after our service.
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September 13th
9:30 AM
Sanctuary
| | And for the kids, a very special treat! | | | | |
Women's Book Club
Friday, September 25th
5:00 PM
Home of Deb Gilroy
We are reading Pillar of Salt by Albert Memmi for our first gathering of the program year. Join us! Bring a snack to share if you like…
LOTI Groups
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New Members Received
Sunday, September 27th
9:30 AM
Sanctuary
Please contact diane.lamere@loti.org if you would like to be received as a member of LOTI.
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2026-27 Conversation & Cuisine
Sign Up Now—Don’t Be Left Out!
September 30th
Have you ever sat next to someone at church coffee and experienced FOMO (fear of missing out) when you heard them making plans to have dinner together? If so, they could very well have been talking about their Conversation and Cuisine group. Conversation and Cuisine is a casual evening of getting together with church members while enjoying a meal in each other’s homes (or choice of a restaurant). Groups of 7-8 members (and friends) of Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church are formed to help them get better acquainted with each other by gathering for three meals during the course of the year. If you would like to join one of the 2026 -2027 groups, please let Janna Haug know by September 30th. You can connect with her during church coffee or contact the church office.
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Young Adults Gathering
October 4th
6:00–8:00 PM
Patio
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All young professionals (college age—thirty somethings) are invited to join us for a fireside evening of sips and snacks on the church patio. This will be a casual evening to meet and mingle with other young professionals and to learn more about our community at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church. Guests, co-workers, and friends are welcome! Contact Miranda Stadem-Ward for more details and to RSVP. | | |
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Calling All Singers!
Tuesdays
Beginning September 8th
1:00–2:15 PM
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
720 E Minnehaha Pkwy
| | Do you have a love for singing and service? Holy Cross Lutheran Church is launching a funeral choir that will rehearse weekly and be available to sing for funerals and memorial services across the South Minneapolis area and beyond. For more information contact Mark Fideldy, Holy Cross Music Director. admin@holycrossmpls.org | | |
All are welcome to join!
We meet on Mondays at 7:00 PM via Zoom.
Janna Haug, Debra Gilroy, Linda Nelson, Diane Stensrud & Carolyn Hagford
| | Wednesday Morning Bible Study | | |
All are welcome to come and join our Wednesday morning Bible study!
Pastor Haug leads the morning Bible study group in the Christy Room & via Zoom on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM.
| | To view, go to our YouTube channel, or to find the livestream link & worship service bulletin go to loti.org. | | | Coffee Hour is hosted in Fellowship Hall each Sunday following worship. | | |
Happy Birthday!
Diane Svard
Louisa Elias
Benjamin Huntley
Louise Quam
Barb Perkins
Sophia Rizzotto
McKenna Gruys
Ryker Alden
Rebecca Patterson
Mary Jubenville
Jacob Hovda
Trygve Svard
Drew VantHull
Noah Stenglein
Taylor Rondestvedt
Crosby Morrison
Heather Jacoby
Charlie Gruys
Katherine Bracken
Pamela Aagard
Joseph LaMere
Charlotte Hurliman
Ginny Gjerdevig
David Hagford
Miles Gruys
John Mittelsteadt
John Frahm
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Worship Volunteers
Altar Servers
06 Linda Nelson & Cindy Peterson
13 Carolyn & David Hagford
20 Dave & Mary Goplen
27 Cathy Carlson & Kathy Hering
Worship Technical Assistant
Jim Olson
Ushers
06 Don Holzschuh
13 Bill Fredell
20 John Mittelsteadt
27 Lars Olson
Worship Assistants
06 Kathy Hering
13 Mark Duff
20 Philip Friedlund
27 Marty Carlson
Communion Assistants
06 Mary Sabatke
13 Michelle McCreery
20 David Ackerman
27 Lisa Mittelsteadt
Readers
06 Mary Flynn
13 Kathy Fredell
20 Mary Jubenville
27 Mary Sabatke
Coffee Hour Hosts
06 Eric & Naomi Mechels
13 Loti Events Volunteers
20 Eric & Renate Amann
27 Steve & Leslie Hite
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Spain & Morocco
March 29—April 11, 2027
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When I was a freshman at St. Olaf College 50 years ago, I played the role of Sancho Panza, the comic sidekick of the legendary character Don Quixote, who fought windmills in the musical Man of La Mancha. The play brought us the beloved song, The Impossible Dream and is set in a prison in Seville in southern Spain during the time of the Inquisition when Jews and Muslim Moors were persecuted and forced to convert to Christianity. I didn’t know the background of the story at the time, but over the next 50 years, I recognized it was the place I wanted to visit for its beauty, its history, its architecture and art and its inspiration.
| | For centuries, Spain and Morocco were places where the world religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, lived, worked, prayed, and sometimes struggled alongside one another. On this tour we will walk through the Cathedral of Seville, once the site of a great mosque, and stroll through the Santa Cruz Quarter, Seville's thriving Jewish quarter before the expulsion of 1492. We will stand beneath the horseshoe arches of the Alhambra in Granada, built by Moorish caliphs and later claimed by Catholic kings, and we will gaze upon the towering minaret of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, one of the largest houses of worship in the world. | | There’s much more to this tour than historic religious sites. We’ll experience the amazing food and wine, and the superb hospitality of the Kingdom of Morocco, a former French colony, which today, though Muslim, is a western oriented, secular state that is open to other religions. And then there are the tantalizing landscapes, including the brilliant sunlight of Barcelona which inspired Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaudí’s iconic cathedral Sagrada Família, the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the mighty and imposing Rock of Gibraltar, and the pastel colors of Morocco’s Marrakech against the Atlas Mountains. | | Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque, Winston Churchill, 1943 | | Come join us and explore Spain & Morocco in 2027. It doesn’t have to be an impossible dream. | | |
Arden & Janna Haug
Peace, Pastor Arden Haug
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Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church
2020 W Lake of the Isles Pkwy
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 377-5095
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