From Nate Bergengren . . . (email Nate Bergengren directly here) Last spring, as Incarnation began to re-envision student ministry, we used the work of the Transition Task Force, led by our Interim Student Ministry leader Nick Clark, to establish some hopes for our 6th-12th grade family ministry. They included:   Students knowing they are valued by God and they are valuable for our ministry. Building a seamless bridge across our middle school to high school ministry. Re-imagining the middle school confirmation process to include significant family involvement. Creating more relationship building opportunities for middle school students within Incarnation and open spaces for them to invite friends. Developing high school leader teams (students and adults) who can connect with and mentor younger students. Active Service: Serving within the congregation/the community/the world. In the process, Incarnation also restructured the staffing for student ministry:

In June, I began my work as the overall Formation Leader for Teens and Families. After interviewing a number of candidates for the part-time positions, we have recently hired Adam Boldenow and Michael Sell to fill the part-time formation positions. Let me introduce you to Adam and Mike.

Adam (they/them) is our new Formation Leader for Middle School and is excited to help guide our younger teens and their families take a big step into their faith through the confirmation process. Recently graduating St. Olaf college where they majored in Religion and Biology, Adam has begun the journey into Luther Seminary in St. Paul, where the hope is to earn a Master of Divinity and become an ordained pastor. Originally from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and from a rather large extended family, Adam is currently living in NE Minneapolis with two college friends. Adam would tell you they are an extremely nerdy individual, who likes Science fiction, fantasy and everything in between. Adam self-describes as, “an extrovert who is energized by being around others, bringing people together and creating community.” Beyond that, some of Adam’s hobbies are hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, walking, video games, board games, watching movies and TV. Adam is excited to work with the Teens & Family Formation team at Incarnation and foster a community that is inviting and open to all, increasingly attuned to God’s Spirit, and fun to be a part of.

Mike (he/him) is our new Formation Leader for High School. Mike spent this past summer up at Camp Amnicon as a wilderness guide leading youth groups on weeklong trips, experiencing God’s grace on the rivers of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Mike studied Sociology and Political Science at Augsburg University, where he was able to reconnect with his birth state of Minnesota. It was in Colorado where he spent most of his life, practicing faith and ministry. He has served in homeless ministry, 10+ years of camp, and a mission trip to Iringa, Tanzania! While he has grown up in a Lutheran church as the son of the music and worship director, he says he’s spent most of his young adult life “cut off from the sunlight of the spirit”. Serving and giving back is the call Mike feels now, living a life of gratitude, openness and invitation. Mike says, “we all may experience grief, loss and sorrow in our lives, but God is ever present. Our ability to comfort and create a safe space for those suffering is God at work in our lives every day, and an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” Mike is excited step into life with Incarnation and looks forward to getting to know you and investing in high school teens and their families.

We feel God inviting us to live into our baptismal promises in an increasingly meaningful way, settling into the ancient truth that the family is the primary way we begin to know God and form a vibrant and valuable faith, not just to us but to the world God so loves. For a deeper sense of context and inspiration, the MSM (middle school ministry) and HSM (high school ministry) websites are being updated regularly. Take a look at our Vision 1-Pager too! We know this is a stretch for some families; we are attempting big, holy shifts in culture. This is a transition year in the middle of a pandemic, so we’ll be starting as best we can, adjusting as we go, learning a lot and asking for and offering plenty of love and grace as we go along the way. We are being called into this newness by a loving and gracious God, so let’s be brave together. Peace.

Nate Bergengren Formation Leader for Teens & Families (email Nate Bergengren directly here)

Kairos is Tonight! The Kairos for this night (also on Zoom, 7 - 8:30p) will be a semi follow up from the 13th, entitled "Wayfinding: Paths to Co-creating a Better World." This initially was intended to be facilitated by Greta/Deb/Kristin/Becky and we've secured Dan Bielenberg and Kelly Chatman to co-create and help us facilitate this session. It should be really good! Note that attendance on the 13th is not required for you to gain much from the 26th. Sign up for the zoom link here https://incarnationmn.org/connect-grow/adults/kairos

Last Sunday's Worship:

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If you are new to Incarnation or you want to learn more about Incarnation ministries, please complete this online form we'll use to connect you to a ministry leader according to your interests.  Giving during this time is as important as ever! Please consider giving online, allowing Incarnation to receive the funds quickly. Mailed in gifts will take longer to process as the Incarnation Office is open limited hours. You will be able to donate to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, Feed My Starving Children, the Operating Budget and more through the same link. You can find the online worship web page here.   To be added to the public prayer concerns list, please use this online form, otherwise contact Amy Martell at amartell@incarnationmn.org. If you would like to add someone else to the public prayer concerns list, please obtain their consent first. If you are ill, someone is hospitalized, or there is a death, call the Incarnation Office at 651-484-7213. If it is outside of Office Hours, contact the on-call Pastor at 651-484-7213 ext. 204. The Staff Directory, with email addresses, can be found here. You may email the Incarnation Council directly, here. Questions? Contact Erin Thorstad, Director of Communications.

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