MAY 2020 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 05

We Belong to Each Other

Inside This Issue Online Worship 3 Care for Creation 6 Midvale Stories 7 Thoreson Scholarship Essay 8 We Belong to Each Other by Pastor Katie Baardseth

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (Romans 12:4-5).

In this time, we are often hearing the phrase, “We are all in this together,” which is really good news. The Bible phrases it even more powerfully: “We all belong to each other.”

God knows that going through life by yourself, as a lone ranger, is a myth. Even the Lone Ranger had a partner. You need me, and I need you. You need the people around you, and they need you. We belong to each other. Look around - Adam had Eve, Laverne had Shirley, Han Solo had Chewbecca, Anna had Elsa. God didn’t design you to go through life by yourself. And belonging is not limited to two-person partnerships, whether you’re married or not for example makes no difference. Belonging in God’s family happens through the love of Jesus - so it’s about all of . You belong with Midvale, we belong to each other.

One of Midvale’s top priorities since “Safer-at-” started has been to stay connected with each other. Belonging to each other means that we look for ways to care for one another at all times, and especially . For example, to ensure that people were included with Midvale in a time of physical dislocation, we contacted all members without email to check in. As I made calls, I was thrilled to find out that you Midvale members had ALREADY reached out to each other with needful support. I was usually the second or third Midvale person to call!

One of you shared: “Thank you for calling Pastor Katie, I’m in contact already with Norma, Linda and Brenda from my worship service. We are talking regularly. Brenda even made a mask for me, which is the thing I needed most!”

I spent equal time, not only calling, but thanking people for living out what it means to be the Body of Christ to one another. Pretty terrific, huh?! That conversation was one chapter in the story God continues to write, and it is titled, “We belong to each other.” God, through the outpouring of love through Jesus Christ, unifies us and allows us to help one another.

Sometimes we may feel like a chapter in this story is going longer than we like. And if you have been feeling isolated, yearning for a contact, please reach out to me or another member of Midvale or a staff person. You belong, and we do not want you to be left out. Midvale members, please continue to look for ways to connect with each other.

Know today, Midvale Community Lutheran Church, that you are already provided with the two things that God desires most for you: God’s power and community. That’s what sustains us - we are the Body of Christ and we belong to each other.

2 Worship With Us Worship Schedule Saturday - 5:00 pm Worship Is Online Through May Sunday - 8:00 and 10:30 am At the time of this newsletter's publication, Governor Tony Evers has In-person worship and extended the "Safer-at-Home" order though May 26. In order to comply education are cancelled until PRAISEwith this order and because we prioritize the health and safety of all in our further notice. community, Midvale is planning on continuing online only worship through at least May 25. However, please watch for updates in The Moments weekly email newsletter, Midvale's Facebook page and your email inbox. If there are any changes, we will to communicate as soon as possible. Day of Pentecost May 31 Pentecost derives its name from Online Worship Each Sunday the Jewish festival celebrating the harvest and the giving of the Live Stream at 9:00am law on Mount Sinai fifty days Midvale is offering live stream worship each Sunday at 9:00am through Passover. Fifty days after Midvale's Facebook page. You do not need to be a member of Facebook to Easter, we celebrate the Holy watch the worship. The order of worship will be available to view or download Spirit as God’s presence within on Midvale's website so you can follow along at home. After the live stream and among us. In Acts 2:1-21 concludes, a link to a video recording of worship will be available on the the Spirit arrives in rushing church website so that if you miss the live stream or have trouble connecting, wind and flame, bringing God’s you can watch worship at any time. For the order of worship and link presence to all people. We to the online worship video go to: midvalelutheran.org/worship/worship- celebrate that we too are given schedule the breath of the Holy Spirit and sent out to proclaim God’s redeeming love to all the world. Tips for Connecting to Live Stream Online Worship How to Reach To find our worship go to Midvale's Facebook page - facebook.com/ midvalelutheran or use the link on the church website midvalelutheran.org. If the Church Staff you have difficulty connecting to the live stream worship, these tips may help: All church staff are working 1). Refresh your web page. If you look at your web address at the top of your remotely or staggering their screen, you will notice a circular arrow button. If you select this, the screen time in the church building in will refresh. order to the intention of the "Safer-at-Home" order. 2). If you are a regular Facebook user, you can go into your “settings”, The building is closed. To reach select “notifications”, click “video” and you can receive a notification when a staff member, email them the church begins a live video. using the list on page 9 of the 3). Usually our video will say “Live from Mevo" or Midvale Cam" but newsletter. You can also call the sometimes these labels don't appear. main church phone number 608- 238-7119 and use the prompts 4). You may have to scroll down on the Midvale Facebook page, because the to leave a message for the staff live video doesn't always come up on the top. member you desire to contact. All staff are regularly checking 5). Sometimes there is a problem beyond our or your control with the internet their voicemail messages and connection or other unknown. Thank you for your patience and for continuing will get back to you as soon as to try to learn this new way of participating in worship. they are able. For a pastoral 6). Remember that after the live stream concludes, a video recording of the emergency, call the church worship is available and if people have had problems connecting to the live phone number and leave a stream, they are always able to watch the video recording. Access the video message for one of the pastors. link on the church website: midvalelutheran.org/worship/worship-schedule 3 Join Us Thank You for Your Giving: for a BIG Each Donation Makes a Difference! Thank you for your continued giving to support our ministry. Despite READ! the inability to worship or gather in person, Midvale is currently in a The Immigration strong financial position. Because of your gifts we are able to: remain Action Team invites connected through online worship; retain our staff and the vital ministry you to join the Dane they provide; support and encourage those in need or living , find Sanctuary Coalition in a BIG READ new and creative ways for ministry and offer the gift of our faith to one Book Study. We will be reading and another, and support our community partners such as The Road Home, discussing The Death And Life Of St. Mark's Food Pantry, Madison Jail Ministry, Lutheran Social Services Aida Hernandez, A Border Story, by and others. Aaron Bobrow-Strain. To make a gift now: The Sanctuary Coalition describes • Give online by credit or debit card or automatic withdrawal using the the book in this way: Give Now button on every page of our website midvalelutheran.org “What happens when an • Mail a check to: Midvale Community Lutheran Church, 4329 Tokay undocumented teen mother takes Blvd., Madison, WI 53711 on the U.S. immigration system? Taking us into detention centers, • Recurring gifts by automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings immigration courts, and the inner account can be made using the form on our website: midvalelutheran. lives of Aida and other daring org/serve-share/stewardship or you can request a form by contacting characters, The Death and Life of the church office. Aida Hernandez reveals the human • Your bank website may have an online bill paying service that allows consequences of militarizing what you to request payments to Midvale. These are usually available at no was once a more forgiving border.” cost to you. Contact your bank for more information. We will now start our study on Other ways to give: Sunday May 3 at 6:30pm and meet every other week for 6 weeks. At • IRA Required Minimum Distribution - check with your financial adviser least through May, we will meet on how these gifts can benefit both you and our ministry. using ZOOM. Toni Swandby will be the leader. She will send the study • Donor Advised Funds - if you have contributed to a donor advised questions by email. We will be using fund, check with your financial adviser about making a contribution to the same study questions as the Midvale from this fund. rest of the congregations in the • Thrivent Choice Dollars - Members of Thrivent can direct their Thrivent Sanctuary Coalition. This book gives Choice dollars to Midvale. a detailed look at life on the border and everyone is encouraged to join Your giving not only supports our ministry together, it is an important the BIG READ. We will all learn a lot, response of faith to the gifts of God and the promise of the resurrection and those who participated in our we celebrate in Christ. Thank you! last book study know that sharing together enriches the learning. The first 20 people to sign up Pastor Goodwill Fund: through the MCLC office for the Help Is Available study will get their books free. There are still plenty of books! Please call Last year Midvale established our Pastor Goodwill Fund to help to sign up at 608-238-7119. Toni will congregants in need. The Goodwill Fund was designed to be flexible get your book to you safely when you and allow our pastoral team to respond to unexpected needs in a timely sign up. We do have to know about way. If you have had difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, please anyone who got their own book and reach out to the pastors to see if Goodwill Funds might be available. wants to participate, so please email There is a short one-page application you will be asked to complete. Toni ([email protected]) if If you are in a position to give above and beyond your normal giving, you did that. Toni will send all of the you may support the Goodwill fund by sending a check to church with participants a ZOOM invitation a "Goodwill Fund" in the memo line. Your gift will help those among few days before we start, so sign up us that are most in need. At the core of our faith as Lutherans is the soon! responsibility to care for our neighbor in need. Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 4 MIDVALE COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST, CALLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PRAISE, LIVE AND SHARE GOD’S LOVE.

when Bible School for children and youth is scheduled. ABS2020: God's Garden Now It may be the case that our urban/rural dialog event at LIVELutherdale in August with Sugar Creek Lutheran could Moved to Summer 2021 be done as part of this summer’s activity. In consultation with Pastors Katie and Blake and the Adult Education Committee, with great reluctance, as I remain extremely excited about ABS2020, God's the coordinator of Adult Summer Bible School, I have Garden, even as it becomes ABS2021. And I look forward decided that we should cancel Adult Bible School for this to working with others on activities for this summer as coming summer. ABS2020 was ready to go with fifteen we move through these weeks and months of limited events by eight presenters throughout the summer, social interaction. I hope before long we will safely both on site and off, all focused on the theme of God’s be all together again. Thanks for your partnership in Garden. For contracts, publicity, speaker engagement, the gospel, and all you do as part of this wonderful and administrative staff time, mid-April is the best time congregation. May God’s providence be with us in these to make final decisions regarding the Adult School. challenging times. The primary reason for canceling the adult program - Pastor Ken is that we are far from certain we will be able to hold many of the events. Even if we are able to gather, the events may be compromised with low attendance. Communication Resources And in light of the age of many participants, we may still want to actually discourage gatherings and travel For You through at least part of the summer, out of concern for In addition to our monthly The Community the well being of our older folk. newsletter which you are reading, and our website - All is not lost, however. Back in 2018 and 2019, we midvalelutheran.org - there are other important ways to decided that we would hold Adult Bible Schools in both stay connected with your church. 2019 and 2020; then take 2021 off. After that, we would • The Midvale Moments Weekly Email Newsletter - If plan ABS every other summer. We would have other adult you aren't receiving this, sign-up using the News and learning events in the “off” summers. It is now best to Events tab on the church website or email make 2020 the "off" summer and 2021 the "on" summer. [email protected] and request to be added. In the future, we would work to do ABS every other year as planned, but now in the odd numbered years. • Realm - This is Midvale's online directory and church member communication tool. If you haven't created an For 2021, we will keep the same theme, presentation account or need assistance contact our connections topics, schedule, off site commitments, and presenters coordinator, Laura Svaren: [email protected]. depending on their ability to slightly adjust the dates a year out. We will roll over our contracts and deposits with • Facebook Page - This is a public page where we live Holy Wisdom, MCC’s Community Garden, and Lutherdale stream our online worship and post announcements, rather than have losses due to later cancellations. devotions and other information. If you are on Facebook, like our page: facebook.com/midvalelutheran We are not alone in this regrettable situation. At this point, other organizations with excellent summer programs • Facebook Group - This is a private group for Midvale are canceling their summer’s plans to focus on the next, members who have Facebook accounts where you including Summerfest, American Players Theater, the Tour can share ideas and questions and interact with other de France in July, various sporting events throughout the Midvale members. To join, go to Midvale's Facebook world, and UW summer school programs. page and select "Groups" and request to join the group. All join requests need to be authenticated and This means that this summer would involve several adult confirmed by church staff. education possibilities which would be customized to our current situation, including the use of Zoom and/ • Zoom - This allows you to interact online by audio and or Facebook for online events, developing a few forums video. It is a tool we are using for meetings, Sunday to accompany worship as it comes back on line, and School, youth and confirmation groups, and Coffeeless having three or four evening sessions in August if and Fellowship. 5 Care For Creation Update The Road Home during Like many of Midvale’s groups, the Care for Creation COVID-19 Task Force has had some of its ongoing activities curtailed, such as regular education programs through The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, but our the Sunday Adult Forum and even the summer Adult vulnerable families served by Road Home are among the Bible Study. We are working with others in the church to most deeply affected. Road Home sent this request for find alternative avenues for meaningful activities during help in their April 2020 newsletter, despite the fact that the limitations of this health crisis. many face-to-face activities are on hold at the current time: In keeping with our education/information focus, even “There are still important ways your congregation before the pandemic, the Task Force committed to a can make a difference for families. We are looking for weekly column in the Moments dedicated to sustainable homemade masks to distribute to families that they can living practices, news of local environmental stewardship use at jobs that require them to interact with others or activities, and information on church related actions that to perform essential tasks like grocery shopping. Masks support and promote care for creation. This column, can be dropped off in the entryway of our building (890 called Earth Care Notes, began on Wednesday, April W Wingra Dr in Madison) between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. 15th. We invite all members to check it out every week Please call ahead to 608-294-7998 ext 312 if possible. and whenever possible, use the information to engage in We are also in the process of organizing some virtual activities that help protect the health of our planet. tutoring to help children with e-learning while parents work. If you are interested in participating, contact Alane Part of Care for Creation’s mission, in addition to Conn, Volunteer Manager, at [email protected] or 608- education and encouragement to members concerning 235-4260. Finally, donations are appreciated during environmental stewardship issues, is to offer help and this time. Due to business closures, many families in our support to other Midvale groups to increase their housing programs have lost much of their income that commitment to caring for the environment. The Task they depend on to cover basic necessities like food and Force encourages all members to think about ways rent. To help, you can order items from our updated wish in which we as a church body can strengthen our list online (https://trhome.org/wish-list) to be delivered commitment to caring for our physical environment. to our office at 890 W Wingra Dr in Madison, 53715. Please contact co-chairs Carolyn Cain or Eric James We can also use monetary donations (donatenow. if you have ideas to share or need suggestions for networkforgood.org/theroadhomedanecounty) to help activities or learning opportunities at Midvale that would families with rent and groceries.” further our goal. Thank you for all you do to support The Road Home. While this pandemic may have forced a reduction in Midvale is still looking for that very special person to attention to global climate issues, it has also shown us take on the Ambassador role for our congregation. we can work together to address a common enemy. Please contact Greg Lampe at [email protected] Saving our earth is an issue of similar threat which calls if you can fill this need. for us all to work together to meet this urgent challenge. Midvale needs an “all hands on board” approach to fulfilling our Christian commitment to “Caring for Creation.“ Please join us in whatever ways you can. St. Mark's Food Pantry Donations Accepted Saturdays Meditation Group meets at Midvale There will be a bin outside the main entrance of the Wednesday mornings church on Saturdays from 9am-4pm where you can The weekly Wednesday 11 AM meditations, guided place donations for the St. Mark's Food Pantry while our by George Bauman, are continuing during the building is closed. Thank you for your donations. shutdown as Zoom meetings. Anyone who wants to join these meditations is welcome and can notify Dave Braunschweig at [email protected]. He will send you an email invitation to the Zoom meeting, so Lenten Reflections in Art & you will be able to join the group just before 11 am on Wednesday. You need a computer with a camera and Poetry by Dylan Abraham sound in order to participate fully in the Zoom meetings The current art exhibit on display in the main hall of for meditation. However, if you have a computer Midvale will remain in place until we are all able to with sound but no camera, you can hear the guided return to church to enjoy the art. The art and poetry have meditation but will not see other people. timeless themes that we will connect with once we are able to return to church. 6 Betty didn't have coronavirus, but she was impacted Midvale COVID-19 Stories with the resulting isolation just the same. Compounding Midvale Safer-at-Home: Don and Coky Klimpel the physical isolation, she had terrible hearing loss, such that there was no way for her to be able to hear people Remember Don over the phone. I spoke often with her daughter, Shelly, Klimpel, the kind man acting as a go-between to keep her informed. Betty who happily pours was in her late 70’s and had a multitude of medical SHAREcoffee for all of us problems. Her kidneys didn't work very well even between services? before she was hospitalized for a serious infection that It will be a really essentially shut her kidneys down. It wasn't expected special day when we that they would improve, and she was left with the get our next cups of reality that she would forever be dependent on having coffee in person from dialysis treatments three times a week to stay alive. Don, won’t it? In the As she considered her many health problems, she meantime, Don and his wife Colleen, known to most of made the decision that this wasn't how she wanted to us as Coky, are safe and well at their apartment at Attic live her life. Even before this illness, she had thought Angels on Old Sauk Road. They feel blessed to live there. about her quality of life and end of life wishes. She How have things changed for them since all of this had let her family know that when the time came, she started? wanted to have hospice care at home with Shelly's Don makes coffee for Coky and himself. He especially assistance. Unfortunately, Shelly was now caring for enjoys sipping his brew outside on his balcony these her own daughter who had a serious bout of asthma spring mornings. Coky employed her excellent in the course of recovering from a caesarean birth, and seamstress skills to make masks for family members. felt unable to care for her mom as well. She feared Groceries come from Angels and from their kids. The exposing her daughter to anything that could set back kids deliver the groceries to the front entry. The Attic her recovery. As a result, Betty would need to go to a Angels staff wipe them all down and then deliver them hospice center to be cared for these last one to two to the door of their apartment. There are no group weeks of her life. It was incredibly sad to see Betty meetings at the facility, so their social interaction is with making these decisions without her family at her side, each other. They talk on the phone with their children and it broke my heart to see her disappointment when and wave at them out the window when they come told she couldn't go home to die. Thankfully, once Betty with groceries. Don is especially concerned about fellow arrived at hospice, she would be reunited with family. In Midvalers who are enduring this alone. Don notes that the meantime, her caregivers in the hospital were her we as a people have trouble relaxing and following only form of physical support, and I felt honored to be rules and hopes those behaviors don’t lead to a further there with Betty. extension of this current reality. They miss live worship at Coronavirus has uncovered a new way of life for all of Midvale. Until then, Don and Coky will have their coffee us, even if we never actually get infected with it. There in place at their apartment. The rest of us will miss is new uncertainty, fear, loss, and grief. But it has also seeing Don on Sunday mornings with a cup of Lutheran uncovered the importance of giving ourselves some coffee ready to serve. grace, the beauty of relationships with others, and the Midvale Essential Worker: Sue discovery of being in community in new ways. I am Wroblewski - Nurse Practitioner grateful for the awakening to these connections. I am grateful for all people who have reached out in support I am a hospitalist nurse to those of us in healthcare. And I am grateful to our practitioner. For those of you who church, boldly proclaiming in our name the importance are unfamiliar, that means I am the of community. person who takes care of you when you get hospitalized for an acute The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over medical condition. I order tests, your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going medications, and treatments for both now and forevermore. - Psalm 121:7-8 your illness, but more importantly, I care for you. Before PS - Sue shares that the photo is of her and Dahlia, COVID, that generally meant I worked with both you AND taken just before the shelter in place order. Sue offers your family in helping you to get better. But now we are her abundant thanks to all in Midvale who have prayed in this strange time, where we need to isolate in order to for Dahlia over the nearly four years of her life! "flatten the curve." Now, you are alone in the hospital, your family cannot visit you, and you are left with only a phone line (or maybe a video chat for those more tech Midvale stories continue on page 10 and the June issue 7 savvy) to connect you to your loved ones. of The Community. Thoresen Scholarship Essay In our prayers Marion Thoresen has honored her late grandson, Alex, by establishing the Alex Thoresen Memorial Scholarship for students pursuing post-secondary remember: education. This month we share recipient Katrina Anderson's essay. ✝ Hospitality as we welcome friends, visitors and guests. Katrina Anderson, Edgewood College ✝ Health, comfort and healing for: Throughout my life, I have developed a passion to care Dahlia Mae Hoffman (granddaughter for and support others. I first recognized my vocation of Sue Wroblewski), Julie Underwood when I was working with children at Midvale Community (daughter of Linda Crane), Adrian Lutheran Church and this calling continued to grow in me Gutierrez (grandson of Bob & Carol over time through a range of other volunteer settings. I am Ostergren), Joyce Morgan (cousin now halfway through college and preparing for graduate of Nancy Abraham), Ward Nelson school and supporting young people of all ages is still (brother of Debbie Miller), Steve what continues to motivate me and give me deep satisfaction. In addition Thompson (son of Anne Thompson), Winnie Tegge (mother of Suzy Tegge), to time spent with children in my church, I have also worked in many roles Tom Morrell, Dylan Abraham, Jeff that support children who have special needs and mentored the youngest Warnick (brother of John Warnick), and most tender of our students in the dance world. All of these rewarding Sue Miller, Quentin Engelhart (son-in- experiences led to my decision to complete my undergraduate studies in Child law of Becky Hagness), Akwa Stella Life and to work as a volunteer with hospitalized children. Ngang (wife of Ngwa Augustine), Lum Anne-Zina Ngwa (daughter of Since August 2019, I have been working in the Universal Care Unit at Ngwa Augustine), Mark Stahnke the American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH). My role requires many (son of Lila Jean Stahnke), Sharon responsibilities such as visiting and playing with child patients, supporting Henson (friend of Rebecca Hagness), their parents, and assisting nurses, medical professionals, and current child life Elizabeth Halpin (mother of Barb specialists. On this floor, I often meet patients who have extended stays at the Ingham), Diane Althaus (friend of the hospital. They may have a procedure like a tracheotomy or may be dealing Svaren, Fiegel, and Morris families), with erratic brain activity that leads to seizure-like behaviors. While I have Linda Hopper, Glenn Hoffman, Abigail Yanke (great-granddaughter been thoroughly trained to carry out these roles, I still must adapt to each of Sue Parisi). patient’s needs at any given moment. For example, an eight-month-old baby may need some nurturing or someone to play with while their parents are ✝ For the safety and well-being away. An eight-year-old child may just need someone to “hang out with” while of all who serve in the military, undergoing treatment or they may be feeling very alone in their hospital room. acknowledging all they do in service to our nation. One specific example of when I felt that I really connected with a patient was when I spent a lot of my time visiting with a twelve-year-old boy who had cystic fibrosis. I was always there early in the morning, often when his parents were at work, and he was left alone, watching television. The first time I interacted Stress with him, we spent my entire shift playing many different games, doing arts by Dylan Abraham and crafts, and watching some cartoons. Even though he was confined to his Whenever I'm down, room and later put in isolation, he did not let these things, nor his disease, And feel like a mess, stop him from enjoying our time or the Christmas season. We made Christmas Chances are that, decorations and presents for his sister and parents, talked about random I'm feeling stress. things, and I felt that I truly got to know this young boy. While I felt bad that Stress is stressful, he had this cruel illness, I found myself forgetting the reason why he was there, Any way you view, and rather, we played together as if we weren’t confined to the four walls of Takes away your happiness, his hospital room. Joyous moments few. This role is one of the greatest gifts someone might give a child who is facing Feeling like you want, this difficult reality. They are often only seen for their illness or for the things To crawl out of your skin, that are “wrong” about them, and many times, we fail to see them for WHO Take it easy, they are. Therefore, when I am visiting with a patient, my main goal is to see Is the way to begin. what they NEED beyond their medical issues. For example, I focus on what Take a walk, they might need for their social-emotional or mental health: things that will Or breathe real deep, make them feel valued or like a real kid while they are in such a strange Hang on in there, environment. And while it is always hard to leave a patient behind with whom Your sanity you keep. you really bonded, I know it is part of the career I have chosen and that it is When stress is low, measured against the discovery that they are no longer in the hospital. You I'm feeling much better, hope that something you did, one of the hundred games of Connect Four, one Feel like doing, of the ten episodes of Teen Titans, one of the many crafts you made, or one of And become a go-getter. the silly conversations8 shared, made an impact or brightened the child’s day in some way. My time spent in the hospital has taught me innumerable Midvale Community Lutheran Church lessons on how to care for others in a way that is 4329 Tokay Boulevard, Madison, WI 53711 not feeling sorry for them, but rather, having an Telephone �����������������������������������������������������������������608-238-7119 understanding of who they are. It also has taught me Email ...... [email protected] how to interact with a variety of populations and ages to Website ...... midvalelutheran.org assess their situation and determine their needs. Office Hours ...... May vary - please call first Two of my favorite quotes that sum up my work ethic and attitude toward serving others, especially children, will Midvale Staff also serve as my motto for my future work as a Child Life Specialist: Co-Pastor, Katie Baardseth: [email protected] Co-Pastor, Blake Rohrer: [email protected] “I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its Visitation Pastor, Ken Smith: [email protected] deepest significance.” - Pablo Casals Director of Children's, Youth & Family Ministry, Brenda Goble: “Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, [email protected] your hands for charity, your mind for truth and your heart Administrative Assistant, Pam Frey: [email protected] for love.” - Anonymous Business Manager/Bookkeeper, Amanda Mueller: [email protected] Connections Coordinator, Laura Svaren: For an updated calendar of events, [email protected] Director of Music Ministry, Laura Svaren: visit midvalelutheran.org and click on [email protected] "News and Events." Chancel Choir Director, Mary Schmidt: [email protected] Handbell Choir Director, Eleanor Mertzenich: [email protected] Memorials Children's Ministry Assistant, Marita Herkert-Oakland: [email protected] Irene Slater Karen Mandt Director of Children's Music, Ann McDermott: John & Susan Pat Peterson [email protected] Altschwager Nadine & John Custodian, Maimouna Ziegler: [email protected] Daniel & Wendy Pfotenhauer Buehrens David Slater Russell & Donna Esther Circle Congregational Council Frisinger You can contact Church Council members directly through Maryln Grimm Barbara Grimm your online Midvale Realm account or or by contacting the church office. Sharon Kampen Don & Nancy Faith Loraine Mael President, Frank Erdman Vice-President/President-Elect, Jocelyn Riley Treasurer, Derek Matzke Secretary, Kristin Crisp Adult Education, Nelse Grundvig May Baptism Birthdays Building and Grounds, Hans Borcherding Congratulations to our young people and their Social Ministry, Ben Kempinen families as they celebrate the day on which Evangelism and Communications, Laurie Stensland God said to them, “I love you. You are mine!” Congregational Life, Liz Mael and Danielle Lawson 5/1 ✝ Isabelle Akim 5/18 ✝ Jessica Mael Children/Youth Education, Mindy Anderson & Stefany Grainger 5/3 ✝ Luke Field 5/19 ✝ Ty Bierke Stewardship, Kent Lawson 5/6 ✝ Oliver Piepkorn 5/20 ✝ Wyatt Hill Worship, Randy Schultz 5/7 ✝ Bram Broderick 5/21 ✝ Claire Anderson Youth and Family Ministry, Becki Fiegel & Julie Walsh 5/8 ✝ Ruby Lindsley 5/22 ✝ Kajsa Rosenkvist 5/9 ✝ Jacob Brunner 5/23 ✝ Lucas Porcaro 5/12 ✝ Gus Lindsley 5/26 ✝ Louisa Massnick 5/12 ✝ Eli Minko 5/27 ✝ Emily Brunner 5/13 ✝ Arthur Waldron 5/27 ✝ Ruby Linder ✝ ✝ 5/14 Henry Wians 5/29 Jack Snell If you haveprayer a prayer request,chain please call 5/18 ✝ Beckett Bussian 5/30 ✝ Eli Miller 9 Mary Lou Leslie, 849-6450. Midvale Essential Worker: businesses, but also are taking advantage of the time Becca Burnett - Hospital that we have to be still and present in the moment. As Pharmacist we grieve what has been lost, I pray that we continue to come together to hope and work for sustained changes Life in the past month has that improve our healthcare system and our society. been nothing like any of us had anticipated. Like everyone else, I had plans in mind – Midvale Essential Worker: after my husband returned in mid-March from four Erdman - Nurse months of military training schools, we were going to I’m sitting in a surgery clinic triage enjoy a leisurely road trip home, then time with room. There are 3 other computer the friends and family he has not seen since 2019. We stations in the room that are empty. planned to host a baby shower for a fellow pharmacist The nurses that are usually there whose wife is expecting in early May, and I had a full are at home waiting for a call to be day planned to celebrate our fifth anniversary. Instead, redeployed to some other area of we reentered into a life that is in a constant state of the hospital or clinic where there is flux, and I began to prepare mentally for what could be need. Most clinic visits have been postponed so there coming in the days ahead. A fellow hospital pharmacist aren’t many patients coming into the clinic. Therefore, articulated what life has been like in healthcare during not a lot of staff is needed. Because there are no elective a recent WPR interview about the concern for possible surgeries being done, there aren’t a lot of patients drug shortages, stating, "We are going to hope for the calling except to ask if their appointment is being best but plan for the worst." changed to a telephone visit and do they really need to I returned to work where every day brings changes and go to a facility to have x-rays done or blood drawn for a barrage of new emails about policies and protocols lab tests before the visit. related to the pandemic. In some ways, working at the Then the phone rings and a patient is wondering if his hospital and the clinic feels strangely normal – I still surgery will still take place as scheduled. I assure him see my coworkers every week and we still go about it will. He has cancer and cancer surgeries need to our normal work to ensure that patients have safe and continue. He is glad that he doesn’t have to wait. He effective medication regimens. At the same time, work says he’s heard there are no visitors allowed. My heart is anything but normal. With a low patient population starts to ache because I know his wife is listening. I in the hospital, no elective surgeries or procedures, and explain that yes, that is true. I can almost see her start coworkers in masks and face shields at every turn, every to tear. The explanation comes automatically out of my day feels like the calm before the storm that we pray mouth, stressing phone calls can be facilitated, maybe never comes to Madison. There are moments when it is even FaceTime. He says he understands and thanks me too easy to allow this to bring anxiety and fear of what for the information. And his voice says it all. could happen in the days and weeks ahead. However, there are also so many days that bring inspiration as That brings the tears for me, the heartache. They have my colleagues step up to take action to protect our been married over 50 years. This is an extraordinarily patients and our staff, taking advantage of the time we scary time for both of them and their family. Their son have to prepare and to mitigate the potential impacts wants to be there but has kids at home and wants to of this virus. Hearts on windows and doors remind me of keep his parents safe. The prayers start. Please, God, be the support from our community, lower numbers in the with her as she drops him off and has to leave. I pray hospital mean that our actions are making a difference she has someone that can be with her, wait with her, in keeping people safe, and every patient with COVID-19 even if she can’t be held. Please be with the surgeons, who discharges from the hospital feels like a victory. anesthesiologists, and especially the nurses that will be taking care of him. I pray the nurses aren’t so stressed Pastor Blake talked in his sermon on April 19th about or overworked that they are able to know he needs to how Thomas wanted things to go back to normal, but be touched, even though it's with gloves. How different life after the resurrection was irrevocably changed, and compassion has to be now. Nothing can replace the Thomas came to open himself to a different reality. touch of flesh to flesh as caring is conveyed by feeling Many of us have been going through the process of more than words. I pray they will help the two of them grieving for the loss of the life we knew prior to the communicate by phone so both can know the other is outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and so deeply OK. They’ve been married over 50 years and both will be desire for life to go back to normal. I long for normalcy wondering if they will see each other again. in my work and in my personal life, but there are also things that I hope do not change once the outbreak I wish I could help them. As with so many of these patients. subsides. We are finding new ways to collaborate My skill set at this time does not make it feasible for me to both at work and at home, and new ways to remain be an inpatient nurse taking care of the patients. It’s been connected with people who are physically distanced too long. What I can do is try to prepare them for what’s from us. People are banding together to support local going to happen. And pray. And pray. 10 Taqueria James A. 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