Rev. Aaron Bueltmann- Lego Master

 Some recent time spent with  

 Rev. Aaron Bueltmann 
allowed us to learn 
about his Cathedral Creation.

This was built for a competitive level event-
Brickfair in Northern Virginia in 2019.

In a  recent interview with Aaron,
he shares some of his Lego story:

1.  How long have you been a builder of Legos?

I  have been fascinated with LEGO since I was very young. One of my uncles gave me a little airplane set and I remember being amazed with how a handful of pieces could be reconfigured in nearly endless ways. 

2. Do you use your own designs and how do you come up with your plan?

 I start with some visual inspiration. With the cathedral project, I envisioned many of the church buildings I had explored as a kid as well as European cathedrals I had seen later in life. Once I have an idea of the visual space I want to create, I imagine which LEGO pieces I would use to create that effect. Then there is a process of trial and error as I figure out a way to achieve the look I have in mind, as well as making sure that it is structurally sound and won’t fall apart! 

3. Do you have helpers or is this a single person hobby when you build?

Until about a year and a half ago, I didn’t really know any others who viewed LEGO as a serious medium for artistic expression. Then, I discovered a group of AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) in the Baltimore area and started to work on collaborative building projects with them. I built the cathedral by myself, but displayed it as part of a city display the group had built to exhibit at a big LEGO fan event in northern Virginia called Brickfair. 

4. How does this hobby lead you to new places for ministry opportunities?  

I found it amazing to show up to Brickfair with this cathedral and see the amazement on faces as people viewed it. This opened the door for many great conversations—but there were hundreds, if not thousands of people who would stop and examine the details of the cathedral. I simply could not talk to them all. At first, I felt like I had missed many opportunities to share what this cross-topped building means to me, but in retrospect, I don’t think that was entirely problematic. The way we use our words (even well-intentioned words, and yes—even well-intentioned words about Jesus) often build upon dividing walls we might not even know existed. Art can connect people in a shared experience without any words or walls. Some of the amazing stories of evangelism from the history of Christianity are rooted in an experience of amazement in art or aesthetics. I think it is very interesting that the first people in the biblical narrative to be described as “filled with the Spirit of God” are not prophets, but artists (Exodus 31:1-5). God used Bezalel’s artistic skill in making the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant as divinely-inspired artworks to point people towards the promise of Jesus, who is God dwelling with us. 

5.  Are you preparing for another competition? What are you dreaming of building next?

I’ve started working on my next projects for Brickfair, as well as developing new ideas to reach wider audiences. Follow @anticipationbuilds on Instagram to see some behind-the-scenes photos as well as to see what is next in the upcoming year! 

Aaron in Petra on a recent trip

 to Israel and Jordan.

He serves as Pastor at 
Advent Lutheran Church

 in Forest Hill, Maryland.
Aaron made it to the second round 
of interviews for the new 
FOX Reality show of LEGO MASTERS.
Check it out on Wednesday evenings
 to learn more about this 
master level creative art.

Want to know a bit more?

Here is a YouTube interview-

Aaron Bueltmann- Lego interview

Thanks to Aaron for sharing some insights
 into the land of  Lego- Competitive level .

Not Without Hope

Devotions from John 5:1-9

In this reading the lame man feels he has no options. 

(a true definition of poverty = no options) 

He cannot get into the pool by himself. 

He feels there is no one to help him. 

His situation would be discouraging for anyone.

But then, Jesus comes and heals the man, 

fills the man’s life with hope and a future.

This photo is of the Pool of Bethesda as it looks today.
(from my recent Dec 2019-Jan 2020 Holy Land Trip) 

At the top we can see people’s homes of the 21^st century,

 below that (see the pointed arch on the right)

 is from the time of the Crusaders in the 11^th and 12^th century.

 Further down is excavation from the Byzantine Era – 4^th century and finally, 

at the very bottom is the 1^st century Pool of Bethesda. 

In fact, just outside the bottom edge of the picture 

you could see the columns that would have held up 

the colonnade that is referenced in the reading.

 I thought about this picture and the Kingdom work that is before us. 

 I could not help but think that there are schools, congregations 

and ministries in the geographic boundaries of the Southeastern District

 that remind me of the lame man.  

They may feel as if they have no options. 

They can see where they want to go, 

they may have a vision of mission but without help, 

they cannot get where the Spirit is calling them.

I do think MALIM (MidAtlantic Lutherans in Mission) 

IS and CAN BE a very real expression 

of the love of Jesus to congregations, ministries and schools

 in need of a little help. I think we are in an exciting time

 with abundant opportunities right on our doorstep.  

My prayer is that with the Spirit’s wisdom, 

we move forward to encourage the work of God’s mission.

We Pray:

Gracious God, we come to your Word 

to know how you would have us live in this world. 

Bless our lives and time together that we might

 be a blessing to others. Move your Spirit among us t

o fill us with the vision, wisdom and boldness necessary 

to carry out the work you have placed before us.  Amen.

This was a devotion for a MALIM Board of Directors Meeting

 written by Deaconess Robie Hillhouse.

To find out more about the work of MALIM-

Facebook-Mid Atlantic Lutherans in Mission
malim.org
https://www.malim.org

Installation of Rev. Lucas Witt

 Rev. Lucas Witt  and his wife Sylvia 

with their three children at his installation.

  Pastor Lucas is the new 
Associate pastor and missionary

at Immanuel Lutheran Church

 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Rev. Donald Schaefer was the officiant 

 and installed Rev. Witt on 

Sunday, December 15, 2019.

Rev. Aaron Bueltmann 

with a blessing for his fellow circuit pastor.

A Blessing for the whole Witt Family.

Rev. Lucas served as a vicar

 at this congregation.

The gathered Circuit pastors join together

 for the installation celebration. 

The beautiful historic church

 is especially lovely at Advent.

Pastor Witt invites all to

 join them for the reception.

Welcome back to the Southeastern District!

May the Lord bless

 your ministry here among us.

Installation- Rev. Jonathan Blanke

The Installation Service 

for Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke

Resurrection Lutheran Church

Cary, North Carolina

Sunday- Dec. 15, 2019

Front Row: L to R:  Rev. Daniel Tesso Nedjo,

 Rev. Mike Merker, Rev. Bill Beyer,

 Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Rev. Larry Eckart,

 and SMP Vicar Alan Shaw

Back Row: Rev. Jonathan Frusti, Rev. Jim Daub,

 Rev. Larry Lineberger, Rev. Jon Richter,

 Rev. David Brooks, Rev. Scott Lohman.

The Blessings from the Pastors 

to the new installed pastor.

Southeastern District Vice President- 

Rev. Bill Beyer 

presided for the Installation.

Rev. Bill Beyer and the 

newly installed Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke.

This is the beautiful altar at 
Resurrection Lutheran Church

 for the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

A very special welcome to 

Pastor Jonathan and his wife Juli.

May the Lord bless

 your new ministry setting.

(Special thanks to Megan Daub and Jamee Thieme
 for photos for this post and assistance
 from Rev. Michael Merker.)