Religion in Life
Religion in Life is an adult education forum on Sunday mornings during the program year (September-May) starting at 11:10am. This forum brings in a variety of guest speakers and presenters to address topics such as scripture and theology, ethics and faith in public sphere, and health and wellness.
The planned schedule for September 2024-May 2025 can be found here.
Upcoming Presentations in April & May
April 6 Church for the Sake of Our Neighbor Nicholas Tangen, Director of Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices with the Minneapolis Area Synod
The neighborhood is the most potent context for change and human flourishing we have. Health and wellness, safety and security, community and care are all qualities that are determined in the neighborhoods where we live. Churches and faith communities are essential partners in the neighborhoods where they are located, but we've often lost sight of the small simple practices that build community across difference and generations. How can we refocus on the relational health of our community, connect our neighbors' gifts for the sake of the common good, and celebrate how God is at work in the places where we live and worship? Join Nicholas Tangen for a conversation about these very questions.
Nicholas Tangen is the Director of Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices at the Minneapolis Area Synod. He is a neighbor, writer, and podcaster curious about God's call to be the church rooted in place. Nicholas lives in NE Minneapolis with his spouse Kristin.
April 13 On Being a Mayor: A New Avenue of Service Mike Krachmer, Mayor of Vadnais Heights & St. Michael’s member
This Sunday we are excited to hear from Mike Krachmer who, after stepping away from non-profit management, decided to throw his name in the ring and run for mayor of Vadnais Heights. The process of running for election was completely new and, in some ways, stepping into the role of mayor was unfamiliar territory. Yet, for Mike, it was and is an incredible way to meet his neighbors, the people of the city of Vadnais Heights, and to give back in service.
Today Mike will be sharing some of his experiences and learnings.
April 20 On-Break (Easter Sunday)
April 27 Current Events & World News Thomas Hanson, former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Diplomat in Residence at UMD
Join former career Foreign Service Officer Tom Hanson in conversation around the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. in the year ahead including the repercussions from the war in Ukraine, concerns facing China’s economy, conflict in the Middle East, and global struggles for peace and security. Don’t miss your chance to stay up-to-date on the year’s impactful developments in international relations!
Thomas (Tom) Hanson is a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State whose diplomatic postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden, and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. He also participated in the opening of new U.S. embassies in Mongolia and Estonia, worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and served as Director for NATO and European Affairs at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C. He has been a member of numerous national and international committees and provided services in many areas of foreign policy. Mr. Hanson holds a BA degree from the University of Minnesota and graduate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; the Institute of Advanced International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland; and the National School of Administration (ENA) in Paris, France.
May
May 4 Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action Mary Lowe, Professor at Augsburg University
Prof. Mary Elise Lowe from Augsburg University will introduce some of the main commitments of the 2019 ELCA social statement, Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action. Prof. Lowe served on the task force and writing team for the statement and is the co-author of the forthcoming book about the statement, Re-Engaging ELCA Social Teaching on Sexism. She will focus her presentation on the statement’s critique of patriarchy as a sinful social system, the ELCA’s commitment to neighbor justice, and the social statement’s teaching that sex and gender are constructed and multidimensional.
At the upcoming August ELCA Churchwide Assembly, assembly members will participate in a worship rite of confession for the sins of patriarchy and sexism. The ELCA is also in the process of reconsidering two claims in its 2009 social statement, Human Sexuality Gift and Trust. In these complex times, our ELCA social statements are important resources for ELCA members and faith communities as we engage our church's teachings on sex and gender.
May 11 Nature RX: Forest bathing and nature journaling Kristen Mastel
Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is a practice of immersing oneself in nature to improve mental and physical health. After facing career and personal burnout, Kristen found that taking the time to be out in nature, whether a walk with her pup, or out on the trails alone, was crucial to her mental and physical health and burnout recovery. She will share the healing powers of nature and provide skills to start your intentional journey through nature.
Kristen Mastel is an academic librarian with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, in addition to being a certified forest therapy guide, herbalist, and health coach.
May 18 The Year At-A-Glance St. Michael’s Church Council Members
In 2023-2024 St. Michael’s congregation, staff, and council engaged in conversations around worship and educational planning. To foster greater community, address changes in volunteerism since COVID-19, and maintain strong and intentional worship, schedules were adapted. There was the move from 2 Sunday services to 1 Sunday service and 1 Wednesday evening mid-week service with a community meal. Families also adjusted their schedules with Sunday school prior to worship, Senior High Youth Group following worship, and Religion in Life Adult Education after the Sunday worship service.
Part of the Church Council’s commitment is to evaluate the experiences of this past year. What has worked well? Where have there been challenges? What have we learned? This Religion in Life hour is the opportunity to gather at the end of this trial year and, as a community, reflect as we continue to build for the future.
Religion in Life is an adult education forum on Sunday mornings during the program year (September-May) starting at 11:10am. This forum brings in a variety of guest speakers and presenters to address topics such as scripture and theology, ethics and faith in public sphere, and health and wellness.
The planned schedule for September 2024-May 2025 can be found here.
Upcoming Presentations in April & May
April 6 Church for the Sake of Our Neighbor Nicholas Tangen, Director of Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices with the Minneapolis Area Synod
The neighborhood is the most potent context for change and human flourishing we have. Health and wellness, safety and security, community and care are all qualities that are determined in the neighborhoods where we live. Churches and faith communities are essential partners in the neighborhoods where they are located, but we've often lost sight of the small simple practices that build community across difference and generations. How can we refocus on the relational health of our community, connect our neighbors' gifts for the sake of the common good, and celebrate how God is at work in the places where we live and worship? Join Nicholas Tangen for a conversation about these very questions.
Nicholas Tangen is the Director of Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices at the Minneapolis Area Synod. He is a neighbor, writer, and podcaster curious about God's call to be the church rooted in place. Nicholas lives in NE Minneapolis with his spouse Kristin.
April 13 On Being a Mayor: A New Avenue of Service Mike Krachmer, Mayor of Vadnais Heights & St. Michael’s member
This Sunday we are excited to hear from Mike Krachmer who, after stepping away from non-profit management, decided to throw his name in the ring and run for mayor of Vadnais Heights. The process of running for election was completely new and, in some ways, stepping into the role of mayor was unfamiliar territory. Yet, for Mike, it was and is an incredible way to meet his neighbors, the people of the city of Vadnais Heights, and to give back in service.
Today Mike will be sharing some of his experiences and learnings.
April 20 On-Break (Easter Sunday)
April 27 Current Events & World News Thomas Hanson, former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Diplomat in Residence at UMD
Join former career Foreign Service Officer Tom Hanson in conversation around the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. in the year ahead including the repercussions from the war in Ukraine, concerns facing China’s economy, conflict in the Middle East, and global struggles for peace and security. Don’t miss your chance to stay up-to-date on the year’s impactful developments in international relations!
Thomas (Tom) Hanson is a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State whose diplomatic postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden, and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. He also participated in the opening of new U.S. embassies in Mongolia and Estonia, worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and served as Director for NATO and European Affairs at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C. He has been a member of numerous national and international committees and provided services in many areas of foreign policy. Mr. Hanson holds a BA degree from the University of Minnesota and graduate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; the Institute of Advanced International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland; and the National School of Administration (ENA) in Paris, France.
May
May 4 Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action Mary Lowe, Professor at Augsburg University
Prof. Mary Elise Lowe from Augsburg University will introduce some of the main commitments of the 2019 ELCA social statement, Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action. Prof. Lowe served on the task force and writing team for the statement and is the co-author of the forthcoming book about the statement, Re-Engaging ELCA Social Teaching on Sexism. She will focus her presentation on the statement’s critique of patriarchy as a sinful social system, the ELCA’s commitment to neighbor justice, and the social statement’s teaching that sex and gender are constructed and multidimensional.
At the upcoming August ELCA Churchwide Assembly, assembly members will participate in a worship rite of confession for the sins of patriarchy and sexism. The ELCA is also in the process of reconsidering two claims in its 2009 social statement, Human Sexuality Gift and Trust. In these complex times, our ELCA social statements are important resources for ELCA members and faith communities as we engage our church's teachings on sex and gender.
May 11 Nature RX: Forest bathing and nature journaling Kristen Mastel
Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is a practice of immersing oneself in nature to improve mental and physical health. After facing career and personal burnout, Kristen found that taking the time to be out in nature, whether a walk with her pup, or out on the trails alone, was crucial to her mental and physical health and burnout recovery. She will share the healing powers of nature and provide skills to start your intentional journey through nature.
Kristen Mastel is an academic librarian with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, in addition to being a certified forest therapy guide, herbalist, and health coach.
May 18 The Year At-A-Glance St. Michael’s Church Council Members
In 2023-2024 St. Michael’s congregation, staff, and council engaged in conversations around worship and educational planning. To foster greater community, address changes in volunteerism since COVID-19, and maintain strong and intentional worship, schedules were adapted. There was the move from 2 Sunday services to 1 Sunday service and 1 Wednesday evening mid-week service with a community meal. Families also adjusted their schedules with Sunday school prior to worship, Senior High Youth Group following worship, and Religion in Life Adult Education after the Sunday worship service.
Part of the Church Council’s commitment is to evaluate the experiences of this past year. What has worked well? Where have there been challenges? What have we learned? This Religion in Life hour is the opportunity to gather at the end of this trial year and, as a community, reflect as we continue to build for the future.
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St. Michael's Lutheran Church
1660 West County Road B Roseville, MN 55113 651-631-1510 Worship Service Times September through May: Sunday 10:00 a.m. & Wednesday 6:10 pm. (7:00 p.m. in Lent) June through August: Sunday 10:00 a.m. & Monday 7:00 p.m. (except holidays) |
