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FALL/WINTER 2015 an Apostle to the Santals: South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Our Stories Connect Evangelical Lutheran Church in America God’S Work

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FALL/WINTER 2015 an Apostle to the Santals: South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Our Stories Connect Evangelical Lutheran Church in America God’S Work Walking Together FAITH FOR OUR JOURNEY Cover Story: Bread, Wine & Jumper Cables The Sisterhood of Saints and Sinners FALL/WINTER 2015 An Apostle to the Santals: South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Our Stories Connect Evangelical Lutheran Church in America God’s work. Our hands. A Year of Stories to Tell editor’s letter Our theme this year in the synod is “Story.” We have and will see themes of: Telling Our Story, Telling God’s Story, Stories of the Heart and our assembly theme, “One Story: Always Reforming.” In this issue of Walking Together, you will find three stories of redemption: An outdoor worship service that resurrects a thinned out summertime worshipping community to a full parking lot full of enthusiastic believers. A resurrection story of a missionary who God lifted out of prison to become one of the greatest missionaries of our time, Lars Olsen Skresfrud...a man with a calling so compelling, he gave his life to start a church in another part of the world that is now our companion synod of the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. And possibly, the most exciting redemption story is that which we may see unfold before our eyes…The Sisterhood of Saints and Sinners, a special group of post- incarcerated women who are rising like a phoenix out of the depths of despair to a life centered on God. How do you find the courage to tell your story? Perhaps these stories can serve as examples of how to tell yours. As evangelical Lutherans, we On the cover: Visitors of First Lutheran are called to tell our stories that bring new life to God’s work as revealed Church in Janesville and their canine through our hearts desires. As we tell our story of what it means to be a companion joyfully worship from their Christian, we are invited to remember that in the gift of the body and convertible at the unusual and well-attended blood of Jesus we are forgiven. We remember that through the death and outdoor worship service. resurrection of Jesus, we are able to live anew each day. Our sins are wiped clean and we are free to live a life full of gratitude and love so that Contributing Writers This Issue: we can open our hearts to share God’s redeeming love with others. This is Christa Fisher, Jail Chaplain, MALC Bishop Mary Froiland, Back Letter the basis of our faith, our church, the ELCA and of Martin Luther’s under- Vicki Hanrahan, Synod Communicator standing that “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure N.N. Ronning & Santal Mission of the and certain that believers would stake their lives on it a thousand Northern Churches, Inc. Skresfrud Story times.” This is the faith that we share through these remarkable stories that Contributing Photographers: I hope will inspire you to tell yours. Vicki Hanrahan, Synod Communicator Margrit Segesser, BM Archives Vicki Hanrahan (Skresfrud Home) Editor and Synod Communicator [email protected] Walking Together: Faith for Our Journey is a quarterly publication of the ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. The office is located at: 6401 Odana Road, Suite 20, Madison, WI 53719 Phone: 608-270-0201 Subscriptions: Send email to [email protected] Walking Together Fall/Winter 2015 - page 2 Bread, Wine, and Jumper Cables Members of First Lutheran Church in Janesville, Suzanne and Stuart Hamilton, take a minute to share their reflections on what the Outdoor Worship Service at First Lutheran Church in Janesville has meant for them and their community. This is just one of the many ways that First in Janesville responds to the changing needs of their community. live in apartments around the church listen in on Sunday mornings as well.” Rev. Mary Froiland, Bishop of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin has served as a guest preacher and reflected “At one Inspired by one of the biggest TV ministries in the 50’s, Robert point in the service I felt the need to get a sense that the assembly Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, former was with me, so I asked them to flash their lights or honk their horns resident of California and now pastor in Wisconsin, Rev. Jim Melvin and they did!” According to Melvin, worshippers sing along with began the first outdoor drive-in worship service in the ELCA at First the music and sometimes honk when they like the music. The Lutheran Church in Janesville 23 years ago. worship music typically includes a keyboardist and soloist but they have changed up the music with string quartets and other special Every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 200-300 music from time to time. members and non-members of the congregation gather outdoors to hear the Word, worship God, sing songs and Long-time members, Stuart and Suzanne Hamilton have once-a-month to receive communion. But Instead of “At first glance, a been attending the outdoor worship for many years. ushering worshippers to pews, three ushers hand out drive-in service looks Stuart reflected on the visioning for it, “It supports the bulletins at the entrances to the parking lot and casual and too mission we have been given to nourish and empower worshippers find their parking spot to participate in the people with the word of Jesus Christ. We understood with simple, but when you 45-minute service by listening to it on their radio. the summer holidays, people were busy, they were on take into account vacation, attendance historically drops off, so how do you “We expected our outdoor worship service to be what you are trying accept that and deal with it and one way is to make it appealing to young families,” said, Rev. Jim Melvin, “and to do, if they get the easy for people to come and attend and get the Word. it is.” The service begins at 7:45 a.m. to attract those who At first glance a drive-in service looks casual and too want to worship before the busyness of their day begins. message rather than simple, but when you take into account what you are trying Families come with their kids, sometimes even in their not come at all, that’s to do, if they get the message rather than not come at all, pajamas and even bring their pets.” But First Lutheran surely better isn’t it?” that’s surely better isn’t it?” over the years has found the biggest draw of the outdoor ~Stuart Hamilton service is for people with mobility issues. Says Melvin, The attendance has grown and in the last few years, “They will tell us during the winter, ‘We can’t wait for the First has advertised around Janesville and that has paid drive in service to start in the Spring!’” off in attendance. Stuart adds, “We get a lot of people that don’t belong to the church that are from other churches and not Melvin explains that it’s a very simple service to put together. necessarily Lutheran churches that just really like the service and When they first began, they used a hay wagon as a stage and an like the message and choose to come to church here in the summer. AM transmitter, but when they realized they had something worth We’ve been members of the church for 26 years. You can see our expanding, they built a 15 X 15 X 4 foot stage with a permanent dog, Toby, sitting in the back seat there and it’s just nice.” roof and side tarps for protection from the elements. Today, microphones for worship leaders are connected to a mixer Suzanne explains, “Fellowship happens outside car windows connected to an FM transmitter and studio monitor. “It’s a very before the service and coffee is served. Communion is quite simple set up. You can pick up the equipment at a fleet radio interesting. A member of the congregation made flexible, products type store or electronics vendor. We don’t even need to stackable Plexiglass trays and the biggest challenge is figuring out be licensed because the signal only goes out a half mile,” explains with all the rows of cars who has been served.” “Serving in a Melvin. “Because we have this range, we find a lot of the folks that solemn moment with people in their cars is quite nice,” Stuart said. Walking Together Fall/Winter 2015 - page 3 It is not without its drawbacks, but it is remarkably flexible. Pastor Melvin and Pastor Naomi Garber walk around to talk with folks before worship begins. “You wouldn’t want to do this after worship though or you’d get run over!” admits Pastor Melvin. Three to four “car hops” serve communion. Bread and wine are served at the window of the vehicle and the family serves each other. Ushers stationed at the parking lot exits collect the offering and send folks off to the rest of their day filled with the Holy Spirit. “We follow the liturgy of an indoor service, but the difference is, when it rains, the service is cancelled. First Lutheran offers an indoor service immediately following.” Fellow members, Doris and Gerry Roehl, shared their impressions, “We were a little skeptical at first, but we like it because we are morning people and it fits our schedule really well. We believe where two or three are gathered, God is with us. We feel as though we have worshipped. In the summertime, this is normally the only worship we come to.
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