March Events

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The Monday Evening Pastor’s classes 

For the next three Mondays, you are invited to join the Pastor’s Class via zoom. We will study Richard Rohr’s book Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.  I think this is both Rohr’s best work and his most accessible one. Some have called Rohr one of the greatest living theologians because he blends so well the contemplative and active streams of spirituality. Copies are available for purchase at Comma, a bookshop (4250 Upton Avenue S in Minneapolis). Classes meet using this link on Monday evenings from 7:00-8:00 pm via zoom.

Next Sunday, March 12th. 

We welcome Linda Madson and Abby Abby Magnus-Lawson as our Personal Reflectors. Linda and Abby are the O.W.L. (Our Whole Lives) teachers for 27 7th-9th graders. Also, The Judstones will be performing the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song “Jesus Met the Woman at the Well” to go along with the pastor’s sermon on the same story found in the gospel of John chapter 4. Furthermore, after worship, Jinx Norvell and Anna Lovat will answer your questions and offer a Q(ueer) & A session for how to speak about human sexuality. 

Request for Questions:

On March  12, Anna Lovat, and Jinx Norvell, will be teaching us more about LGBTQ+ topics following the service. Please plan to come and hear what our youth have to share! They’d love to know what you’d like to hear about. If you have specific questions or topics you’d like them to talk about, please send them to Cindy Clague at ctclague19@gmail.com, and she will pass them along. 

Pam Joern’s Book Launch: Sunday, March 26, 1:00 pm

Come and invite your neighbors and friends to the launch of Pam’s latest novel, Toby’s Last Resort. Introduction by Sheila O’Connor, music by Jimmi Langemo. Pam will read excerpts. Q & A, light refreshments. Books are available from Comma, a bookshop.

Fendrick & Peck Concert

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Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 2 pm
in the Sanctuary of Judson Church

Judson favorites Fendrick & Peck (Madeline and Brian) will serenade us with music to warm the heart at the beginning of the new year. Their peppy acoustic instrumentation and sweet harmonies complement each other exquisitely in sharing songs of love, acceptance, and encouragement to live, to love, and to grow. The concert is at 2 pm. Pay what you can, $10-$20.

Mid-Week Pause Service, March, 30, 2022

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Bring your Hopes, Bring your Doubts, Feed your Soul.

Pause Worship Video is posted below.

Service

The Northern Vicar (pastoral notes from the intersection of Northern Exposure and The Vicar of Dibley)  

First off, welcome our new email subscribers! Second, I hope, for those of you who subscribe to the Star Tribune,
that the giant picture of me riding my bike in the Variety section did not mess with your morning. Third, as a follow-up to
last week – the conversation with Cathy Wurzer on Friday went well.

How are people responding to this exposure of Judson Church? One, I received an email from someone who works with
placemaking and neighborhoods and wants to partner with Judson. Two, a neighborhood couple wants to explore Sunday
bike repairs at Judson. Three, the accordion band that played at our Open Streets booth contacted and wants to play again.
Four, a representative from the E-Bike Challenge at the Minneapolis Convention Center this weekend wrote and asked if
I wanted to come and have a table to talk about Judson!  

And what to make of this exposure? I say we run with it, leverage it, and make new relationships with as many people
as possible. How about we live into our invitation: Bring Your Hopes, Bring Your Doubts, Feed Your Soul. How about we
respond with our three core values: Relational, Creative, and Inclusive. We have everything we need for this moment; just lean into it.  

Peace,  
Travis  

Three Things for this week:
1. One Great Hour of Sharing‐donate through Judson to help Ukraine.
2. Three evenings this week, write down three things you are grateful for that happened that day.
3. Write your favorite poem on a postcard and send it to someone.    

Find Judson on the internet through our link tree, linktr.ee/JudsonChurch  

In-person worship this Sunday, April 3, at 9:30 am with a Livestream on Facebook.  

Poem/Prayer for the Day “The World Peace Prayer”



Mid-Week Notice March 23, 2022

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Bring your Hopes, Bring your Doubts, Feed your Soul.

The Northern Vicar (pastoral notes from the intersection of Northern Exposure and The Vicar of Dibley)  

First things first, if you were not able to attend in person or watch the Livestream of the Sunday worship
gathering and experience the beautiful music, you really missed out. Do not fret you can watch a recorded version by going here.  

The week, thus far, has had its share of ups and downs. Lori’s older brother David died on Sunday morning; she is in WV for the funeral.
He was only 69, he died of complications associated with the early onset of Alzheimer’s. To us, his death seemed sudden, but for the family,
this has been a long struggle.

While Lori was away I decided it was a good time to fix the leaking bathtub. I fixed the leak but in the
process of repairing it, I also caused another problem that needed repairs beyond my plumbing capacity.
The plumber laid out my problem this way: it’s either a $150 repair or an $8,000 repair; luckily it was the
$150 repair! Now to finally clean all the dishes.  

Tomorrow, I will be on the MPR noontime show Minnesota Now with Cathy Wurzer. I will talk a little about my book,
specifically, the section where I talk about the 1-to-1 interviews I did with the community. I think I will be on at 12:20 pm,
but things can change.  

Peace,  
Travis  

If you would like to make a donation to help with the situation in Ukraine I recommend One Great Hour of Sharing.
You can make a donation on our webpage here.  

Find Judson on the internet through our link tree, linktr.ee/JudsonChurch  

In-person worship this Sunday, March 27, at 9:30 am with a Livestream on Facebook.  
Poem/Prayer for the Day

Tomorrow is the feast day of St. Oscar Romero (1917-1980) Here is one of his quotes:

There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried.

Mid-Week Notice March 16, 2022

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Bring your Hopes, Bring your Doubts, Feed your Soul.

The Northern Vicar (pastoral notes from the intersection of Northern Exposure and The Vicar of Dibley)

Yesterday was a big day for me, it was the official release day of Church on the Move: A Practical Guide for Ministry in the Community.

There were no fireworks, parades, C-SPAN interviews, or even in-person events.

In my dreams, I envisioned a warehouse full of books just itching to be released, like the bulls at Pamplona – but in reality, it was pretty melodramatic.

The book is about walking, bicycling, and taking public transit as a means for church renewal and social justice.
But in my soul, I view the book as a love letter for pastoral ministry and to Judson Memorial Baptist Church.
I can’t imagine writing a book with an entire chapter about church parking lots other than Judson, a church without a parking lot!
The parking lot chapter was adapted and edited by Christian Century and appeared as their cover story (who knew?).
If you would like to purchase a copy of the book please let me know, I will place a bulk “author order” for $10/copy.
Please do not feel any pressure or expectation to purchase a copy. There will be a copy in the library.
But if you do, please don’t pay full price (without y’all there would be no book!).

Peace,

Travis

If you would like to make a donation to help with the situation in Ukraine I recommend
One Great Hour of Sharing. You can make a donation on our webpage here.

Poem/Prayer for the Day

“A Hundred Objects Close By”by Mirabai (c.1498-1550) ~ the most renowned woman poet-saint of India.
from the book, Love Poems From God

I know a cure for sadness:

Let your hands touch something that

makes your eyes

smile.

I bet there are a hundred objects close by

that can do that.

Look at

beauty’s gift to us –

her power is so great she enlivens

the earth, the sky, our

soul.

Find Judson on the internet through our link tree, linktr.ee/JudsonChurch

In-person worship this Sunday, March 20, at 9:30 am with a Livestream on Facebook.

Mid-Week Pause Service, March 9, 2022

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Bring your Hopes, Bring your Doubts, Feed your Soul.

Pause Worship Video is posted below.

Service

Order Welcome – Travis Norvell

Healing Justice: The Struggle for Wholeness

Prayer – Travis Norvell

O Lord Hear My Prayer – in Ukrainian

The Northern Vicar (pastoral notes from the intersection of Northern Exposure and The Vicar of Dibley)  

This week I have been pretty much glued to the dining room table working on stewardship and budgetary items.
The Finance Committee creates the budget and stewardship information, my contribution is to find a story behind the numbers.  
The story behind the numbers is pretty amazing. Some highlights:  
-I’m mesmerized by our “reach” -248 subscribers to this email,
-1,900 engagements on Facebook since Christmas Eve,
-1,800 views on YouTube since Christmas Eve;
-10 visitors to in-person worship since we restarted in-person worship in Feb.
-The number of people who walk through our doors each week: 500!
-The uncountable cards, calls, and visits made last year. -The excitement around reimagining how we teach and nurture faith.
-The classes, neighborhood associations, counselors, and non-profit organizations that call Judson home.  

Let me be honest: yes, we have work to do as a church to become a thriving and flourishing faith community.
But we are heading in the right direction.

Also, I saw Carl Appelquist on Monday. He wanted me to say hello to everyone and give you his love.

Furthermore, (which is my favorite word) a review of my book was in Strong Towns today I share it because the author really
made my book look good not just for pastors but for those concerned about neighborhood life.  

Peace,  
Travis  

If you would like to make a donation to help with the situation in Ukraine I recommend One Great Hour of Sharing. Here is a press release from last week about OGHS and how you can donate.

Poem/Prayer for the Day by Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)
Your Soul’s Delight
There is a journey
you must take.
It is a journey without a destination.
There is no map.
Your soul will lead you.
And you can take nothing.    

Find Judson on the internet through our link tree, linktr.ee/JudsonChurch    
In-person worship this Sunday, March 13, at 9:30 am with a Livestream on Facebook.

Mid-Week Pause Service March 2, 2022

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Bring your Hopes, Bring your Doubts, Feed your Soul.

Pause Worship Video is posted below.

Service 3-2-22

Find Judson on the internet through our link tree, linktr.ee/JudsonChurch

The March Messenger, Tree of Life, and Calendar can be found by clicking here

In-person worship this Sunday, March 6th, at 9:30 am with a Livestream on Facebook.

Ponderings from the Pews – a Second Hour experience, March 6th – Sip a little coffee,
devour a delicious donut, and warm your heart with stories.

Several Judson family members will share their ponderings, musings, and stories during a
second-hour gathering in Judson’s sanctuary following Sunday’s worship service.
Masks are required and social distancing is strongly urged. Please join us for this special time!