LOTILink
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church
February 2020















After four months of weaving together organists and choir director, I am delighted to announce that the Church Council has hired and appointed a Director of Music for Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church,  Dr. Cristiano Rizzotto. He has played on both the organ and piano for the Council, and rehearsed with the choir. He has demonstrated his ability to lead from both the piano and organ, and bring to the church a unique blend of music, history and heritage.

Latvian Brazilian organist Dr. Cristiano Rizzotto Vidal Pessôa (Kris Rizzotto) received a doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Music from East Carolina University, and a Bachelor's degree from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

Dr. Rizzotto graduated with a degree in piano performance in 2010, Magna cum Laude and performed as a concert pianist in Brazil. He attended East Carolina University in North Carolina, as an exchange student of the Brazilian Ministry of Education. Once back in Rio to graduate, he was nominated as the organist of the city's Benedictine Abbey, which houses one of the oldest organs in South America.  
 
Dr. Rizzotto returned to Eastern Carolina University in 2011 for the Masters degree program, which is also where he met his Brazilian born wife, Dr. Clara Rizzotto. After completing his master's degree in North Carolina, he continued his Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) at The American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, Oklahoma, where he studied under Dr. John Schwand. Interestingly, our former organist, Kenny Vigne, studied with John Schwand, as well. 

For the past 3 years, Dr. Rizzotto has served as the organist and choirmaster at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Golden Valley. Dr. Cristiano and Dr. Clara Rizzotto married in Alaska in 2015 and are now the proud parents of Kristian Walter, born in June 2017.

Join us 
Saturday, February 1
9:30am
for a time of camaraderie
at the home of
Jean Carlson
345 Waterford Drive
Golden Valley

Please join LOTI Women's Fellowship ~ Priscilla Circle.  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)
Presentation of Our Lord (Candlemas)
Celebration of Baptism, February 2nd

February 2nd has many names. In popular culture, we refer to it as Ground Hog's Day. In the church, it has been known as Candlemas, the Festival of the Purification of Mary, and as the Presentation of Our Lord. According to St. Luke's gospel, the infant Jesus was carried by Mary and Joseph to the Temple in Jerusalem on the 40th day since Jesus' birth, which is February 2nd. It was during this visit that the old prophet Simeon, who had been assured that he was to see the Messiah before his death, saw the  couple and their infant son Jesus walking across the Temple. Having seen the infant Messiah, Simeon took the child into his arms and announced, Now, oh God, I can leave this world in peace- for I have seen my salvation. He then continued his prophecy with the word that Jesus would be the light for all the world. 

This year as we celebrate the Presentation of Our Lord, we invite the families and children of those baptized in 2019 to be a part of the worship service. They will be presented a medallion imprinted with their child's name and their baptismal date to serve as a reminder of their connection to Lake of the Isles and their more important relationship as a  child of God.
The Lake String Quartet will perform music of Corelli and Vivaldi, as well as accompany the church choir in settings of two of the most familiar liturgical texts in the Bible, the 23rd Psalm and the Song of Simeon, or the Nunc Dimittis. 
 
Candlemas not only marks Pastor Haug's 7th anniversary at Lake of the Isles, but Dr. Rizzotto's first Sunday as Director of Music.
Children's Ministry

Sunday School Calendar at a Glance
FEB   2
Candlemas procession in Worship
& Service Day Fundraiser (after Worship)
FEB   9
Service Day Fundraiser (after Worship)
FEB 16
No Sunday School (President's weekend)
FEB 23
Sunday School
& Fastelavn (after Worship)
______________________________ 
 
Candlemas
Sunday School children will process in worship February 2 for Candlemas. Family routine will be the same on this day, however, the children will gather in the back of the Sanctuary after Communion for the candle processional.
______________________________

Sunday School Fundraiser
                         
                                          


                       


The Sunday School kids 
will be making 
Valentine's Day gifts 
for all to purchase
after worship on 
February 2 and 9.
($5 or $10)


The proceeds will be used to help offset the cost of supplies needed for our Service Day on March 22.

Thanks in advance 
for your support of our kids!

_____________________________________

Fastelavn 
will be celebrated after worship February 23, in the Fellowship Hall. Kids are welcome to bring their own costumes or use the ones provided after worship for some fun festivities. Bring your strong arms to try and break open the "kitty". Candy is sure to follow!
LOTI Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the congregation will be held February 2 in the Fellowship Hall, following Sunday Morning Worship.
In addition to the election of new Council Members, a vote will be required for improvements to the property. The loan amount will be $20,000 of new money being added to the existing loan, with a continued maturity date of February 15, 2028.
Women's Bible Study


Our group meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays. 
However, due to holiday schedules we will resume
Thursdays February 6 & 20,  7:00pm  in the Library. 
This session's text is Numbers: Learning Contentment in a Culture of More by Melissa Spoelstra.






Our Saviour's Housing Shelter Meals

Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church has provided a meal for 40 the first Friday of every month for many years. This is a wonderful opportunity for families or a group of friends to work together! 

Thanks to  Kathryn Anderson  for serving on January 3.

Sign up to volunteer for an event in 2020!

FEB 7
Janna, Arden 
& Pauline Haug
AUG 7
MAR 6
Mechels & Amann
Families

SEP 4
APR 3
Mary Knoblauch
& Marty Carlson

OCT 2
MAY 1
Chanda & Lars Olson
NOV 6
JUN 5

DEC 4
Cheri Moe & Family
JUL 3



Contact  Cheri Moe or phone (952) 431-5226 for more information.
Recipes are provided. 
Thrivent members are eligible to apply for a Thrivent Action Grant to cover the cost of the meal and purchase supplies for Our Saviour's Shelter continuing needs.
Donation of the grant by Thrivent members, who are unable to make the meal, is much apprecitated! (4-6 weeks lead time) 
If you have not served the meal, feel the cost is more than you can comfortably contribute, or would like to work with others, contact 
Cheri Moe or Linda Nelson. You will be connected with  others for a shared, enjoyable experience. 

Serving Outside the Church
First in a Series

On Sunday, February 9th, 
Bekah Olson, a representative of Alight (formerly known as the American Refugee Committee) will talk about the amazing work her global team is doing to help people  displaced from their homes and countries Alight, which is based in Minneapolis, works closely with refugees, trafficked persons, and economic migrants to not only help meet their basic needs, but to co-design solutions that help them build lives filled with joy, dignity, connection and purpose. Bekah's talk will take place at 11:00. After a brief time of fellowship, you can bring your coffee and snack to the Christy Room for Bekah's presentation from 11:00 -11:45.
Celebrate Valentine's Day a little early!
SMÖRGÅSBORD
SCANDINAVIAN BRUNCH
Sunday, February 9,  12:00 noon






We begin with a Mimosa followed by...

A variety of Breads & Hard Tack and Butter
Glasmästaresill - Traditional Pickled Herring
Creamy Herring flavored with Herbs and Ansjovis
Sherry & Tomato Herring
Three kinds of Scandinavian Cheeses
Eggs topped with Creamy Smoked Salmon, Horseradish & Dill
Boiled Fingerling Potatoes
Rosé Pepper and Herb Marinated Salmon & Sweet Dill Mustard Sauce
Smoked Sliced Ham
Beet, Apple, Brussels sprouts & Kale Salad topped with Vinaigrette
Pickled Cucumbers
Pickled Beets
Fresh Fruit Platter
Jansson's Temptation - a creamy potato dish
Swedish Meatballs & Lingonberries
Swedish Sausages & Mustard
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage 
 
Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin served with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
 
Semlor - Swedish Lenten Buns - 
Cardamom buns filled with Almond Paste and Whipped Cream


$27.00 adults, all inclusive 
$12.50 children 5-12 
Free of charge, under 5
 
HJÄRTLIGT VÄLKOMNA!


The monthly smorgasbord not only offers an opportunity for LOTI friends and neighbors to gather for fellowship and enjoy genuine Scandinavian hospitality, but the meals also support the benevolence work of our congregation.  Proceeds are directed towards those less fortunate in our immediate community.  Through the proceeds of the monthly smorgasbord, LOTI supports Joyce Community Food Shelf, Our Saviour's Housing and Community Emergency Services.
Growlers & Theology
The informal study of  theology and adult beverages continues. Following the model of Luther in his home in Wittenberg, Germany, Pastor Haug leads a twice monthly gathering at the Parsonage
The next meeting is  Thursdays, February 13 & 27, at  7:00pm .
Fastelavn 


In the days before Ash Wednesday people traditionally celebrate by enjoying special foods and customs. The word Carnival which means farewell to meat and Mardi Gras or Greasy Tuesday offer a hint at the foods that were once forbidden by the church during the penitential season of Lent. In the English tradition, people were encouraged to use the fat and eggs to make pancakes before Ash Wednesday. In Central Europe, people eat jelly filled doughnuts, and in Scandinavia families eat Lenten buns. Often these are made with fresh cardamom and filled with whipped cream and marzipan. 
 
In Denmark there is a special children's party tied to the Sunday before Lent known as Fastelavn Sunday. Of course, everyone eats the special Lenten buns, but the children also try to break open a wooden barrel filled with chocolates and sweets. They arrive at the party dressed in costumes, so nobody knows who is hitting the wooden barrel with a wooden stick. But the one who wins, is presented with a crown. In the middle ages, black cats were associated with the devil, so a cat was placed inside the barrel. After being attacked from all sides, the cat escaped from the barrel and was never seen again taking all the evil with it. (Fortunately, Danes don't have a cat in the barrel anymore, but it is always painted on the side.)
 
Join us for Fastelavn Sunday, February 23rd, before Lent begins.

& Wednesday Midweek Lenten Services
Throughout the Lenten season, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 26, there will be two midweek services held on Wednesdays. The morning service will be at 11:00 in the church library and will follow a Service of Reflection and Healing. The morning service begins immediately following the morning Bible study. The  7:00pm evening service will follow the order of Holden Evening Prayer. Both services will feature a meditation on  St. Matthew's gospel and this year's devotional book Wondrous LoveThe evening Ash Wednesday Service will be held in the sanctuary.
LOTI Book Club
You're Invited
to Read with Us! 
Gatherings are held at the
 Home of Debra Gilroy 
5:00pm 

Our selections for 2020 meetings are:
February 28
Geraldine Brooks,
People of the Book
March 27
Mary C. Neal,
To Heaven and Back
TBD
Anne Lamott,
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

February's Selection...

Inspired by a true story,  People of the Book  is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity by an acclaimed and beloved author. Called "a tour de force"by the  San Francisco Chronicle , this ambitious, electrifying work traces the harrowing journey of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in fifteenth-century Spain. When it falls to Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, to conserve this priceless work, the series of tiny artifacts she discovers in its ancient binding-an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair-only begin to unlock its deep mysteries and unexpectedly plunges Hanna into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics.

Snacks and beverages are shared.
Contributions are welcome, but not required.
LOTI Choir
Weekly rehearsals are 
Wednesdays at 7:15.
We are preparing for weekly anthems as well as looking ahead to music for Lent and Easter.
New singers are welcome!
Join us!
praying hands
Prayer Ministry Group
We welcome all who would like to join us on 
Tuesdays  from  9:15-10:00 am in  the Christy Room. 
Questions?  Contact  Janna Haug Debra Gilroy   or  LInda Nelson
Wednesday Morning Bible Study



Join us on Wednesdays at 
10:00 am for Bible Study. The informal study explores the Letters of St Paul. And yes, coffee and treats are a part of every Wednesday morning. 
Fellowship Hall Exhibition

Lauren
Tulips
Gilles

Louise Gillis is a classically trained painter of all mediums. For over twenty-five years, she has achieved notoriety as both a painter and instructor. Her knowledge of impressionist color theory sets the stage for portraiture, still life, interiors, landscape and murals in oil, watercolor, pencil and charcoal. This versatility allows Louise to focus on the needs of her subject matter and create the vibrancy and depth of each individual painting.
 
She is pleased to exhibit her paintings at beautiful Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church. 

( 612)865-2728
Pastor Arden's 2020 Tour has 4 places remaining...

HEART OF EUROPE
Featuring the Oberammergau Passion Play as well as
Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany 
& the Czech Republic
June 21- July 3, 2020

balloons_happy_bday.jpg
February Birthdays
Sophia Nortwen
Brad Peterson
Jameson Henry
Jeffrey Bruzek
Jean Krinke
Barbara Madson
Vicki Kuehn-Larson
Don Holzschuh
Robert Brownson
Kenneth Larson
Matthew Moen
Rick Gripentrog
Michael Huttner
Thomas Madson
Eleanor Holmquist
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Ushers*
February
  2 Linda Nelson and Ellie Holmquist
February   9 Ross Bartels and Brenda Weigel
February
16 Jon and Allyson Sprain
February
23 David and Carolyn Hagford
*
We are in need of more volunteers to usher. 
If you can help, contact Linda Nelson.
Initially, you will be scheduled with an experienced volunteer.
Altar Servers
February   2 Linda Nelson, Mary Flynn, & Pauline Haug
February
  9 Mary & Dave Goplen
February
16
Carolyn & Dave Hagford
February
23 Kathy Hering
Worship Assistants
February   2 Marty Carlson


February
  9 Kathy Hering



February
16 Al Aakre

February
23 Mary Sabatke   February
26 Mary Sabatke
Coffee Hour Hosts*
February   2 Carolyn and Dave Hagford
February
  9 Linda Nelson, Mary Flynn, Anita Duder
February 16 Eric and Naomi Mechels
February 23 Lars and Chanda Olson
*
We are in need of more volunteers to host coffee hour.
If you can help, contact Linda Nelson.
Initially, you may choose to host with experienced volunteers.
In This Issue
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Upcoming Events
February 1- 9:30 am
Priscilla  Circle
Christy Room

February 2 - 9:30 am
Presentation of Our Lord
Sanctuary

February 2 - 10:45 am
Service Day Fundraiser
Fellowship Hall

February 2 - 11:00 am
Annual Meeting
Fellowship Hall

February 6 - 7:00 pm
Women's Bible Study
Library

February 7 - 9:30 am
Shelter Meal
LOTI & Our Saviour's

February 9 - 10:45 am
Service Day Fundraiser
Sanctuary

February 9 - 11:00 am
Service Outside the Church
Christy Room

February 9 - 12:00 noon
Valentine's Smörgåsbord
Fellowship Hall

February 13 - 7:00 pm
Growlers & Theology
Parsonage

February 20 - 7:00 pm
Council Meeting
Christy Room

February 20 - 7:00 pm
Women's Bible Study
Library

February 23 - 9:30 am
Fastelavn Sunday
Fellowship Hall

February 26 - 7:00 pm
Ash Wednesday Worship
Sanctuary

February 28 - 5:00 pm
Women's Book Club
Home of Deb Gilroy
LOTI
Inspired by Christ, living and growing in faith, Lake of the Isles is a loving and open community of worship, witness, and service in God's world

Worship Service: 9:30 A.M.
Coffee Hour: 10:40 A.M.

Children are always welcome in worship. However, if the need arises, the Christy Room is staffed with a Nursery Attendant for your child. If you need assistance, please ask one of the ushers to help yo u.

Staff Members

Rev. Dr. Arden D. Haug - Pastor
Dr Kris Rizzotto - Director of Music
Dawn Allan - Choir Director
Diane LaMere - Children's Ministry
Al Aakre - Seminarian
Linda Nelson Office Manager
Tori ReisbergNursery Attendant
Sandy Swan - Wedding Manager

(612) 377-5095


Council Members
Ross Bartels - Treasurer
Martin Carlson - President
Casey Christy 
Jenny Cook
Ross Formell - Vice President
Debra Gilroy
Reagan Gusman
David Hagford
Kathy Hering
Chanda Olson
Jorgen Olson, Youth
Jon Sprain - Secretary
Joshua Wilcox

Michelle McCreery - LOTILink, Website, & Social Media


We welcome your input to the our newsletter. Contact us if you would like to submit events, schedules or other information to share with the LOTI congregation.