God's Metanarrative

At a Southeastern District Conference a few years ago I was blessed to hear presenter -Marva Dawn.
She struggles with some health issues and at this time was using a walker to help her mobility. So in a feat with much effort, she left the podium and pushed her walker to the far corner of the large ballroom.
And in her wonderful style said something like-  "Let's jump into God's story of the world in this chapter and start here"......and spoke THE STORY as she crossed the room clear to the other corner.
It took her quite awhile to cross the ballroom floor.

She spoke about how our human minds can only fathom a small concept of TIME. And sometimes we get transfixed on a tiny speck of dust in the BIG STORY.  She pulled out a sheet of paper and held it up- thin side to our view.  Yup, that miniscule sheet of paper is my whole life- my whole legacy. My spot of time in God's Big META- NARRATIVE- in His Good plan for humans.

Somehow, I felt pretty invaluable at the prospects of my contribution... But, she did not leave us there.
A Book needs all the pages to TELL the STORY. God is not about using the Cliff Notes version, and leaving some parts out. There is a purpose for my sheet of paper. The thin piece of time that will be my life is connected to other stories. God is counting on my life to represent the thread of His Goodness, that is woven throughout all of the history of time. My story will be graced by new pages in future generations, because of what He had already done for me in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and uses a faltering and flawed faithfulness to still make a difference in the lives around me now and in the stories yet to be told. And because His grace is SO GRAND, we give thanks for being a part of HIS STORY.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly

 above all that we ask or think,

 according to the power that works in us, 

to Him be glory in the church of Christ Jesus to all generations,

 forever and ever. Amen."

Your story - by the power of Jesus - to all generations.

What is Jesus doing in your Story right now?

Blessings,

Connie

The Power of Story

Stories captivate and entertain us. Stories also educate and encourage us. Lately I have been reading the book-
Faith Formation 4.0 by Julie Anne Lytle. Since the purpose of this blog is to connect and unite the women living in the Southeastern District by story, I will be adding blog posts to help us think about the importance of story telling.

As followers of Jesus, we live out our lives here on earth with the power of the Holy Spirit breathed into each of us. We walk and move about learning to understand the mandate to Go and Tell and Make Disciples.  Each and every day is learning more about just what this means individually and collectively. This "working it out" begins to unite knowing and being to illustrate how the way we live our lives can become an invitation to others.

Lytle says," This is a story-keeping, story-telling, and story- making process whereby community members remember and retell their experience and understanding of God's presence and the response it inspires."

How wonderful when stories told include women in all walks of life and stages of life. Can you begin to see how the Master StoryTeller- wants to use YOUR STORY to bring HIS HANDIWORK glory?

Blessings, 
Connie

Deb Poese- Northern Region

I grew up on a dairy farm just north of tiny Freistatt, Missouri.  College was at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State), where at the age of eighteen I met the love of my life at a Bible study which was part of the Lutheran campus ministry there. That city boy from St. Louis is my faithful husband and father of our two grown children.  Watching our son marry the love of HIS life in July 2012 and then seeing the two of them now involved in our church family have been awesome joys for both of us.   

I have been committed to the work of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League for over thirty years, in its mission to support each Lutheran woman  "...so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world."   The women I have met along the way have amazed me and inspired me and frankly changed my life in so many ways.

Shortly after I became the president of the Chesapeake District of the LWML, I chose Ephesians 3:20  as my inspiration verse.  The  translation in The Message always makes me smile:  "God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!"    That's my God...I just need to let Him work and get out of the way. 

Deb Poese worships at Church of St. Andrew, Silver Spring, MD and can be reached at deb.poese@verizon.net. 

Rae Fangmeier- Southern Region

God is good all the time.  All the time, God is good!  I feel very blessed to be at this time in my life journey:  67 years old, in excellent health and finding joy in ever-expanding adventures.  

Tim's (husband) 25+ years in parish ministry were spent south of the Mason-Dixon line, i.e. in Florida and North Carolina.  Not too much of a sacrifice for a Michigan/Motown girl :-).  I found my niche in parish life by just being me - which felt pretty comfortable.  Then Tim worked on staff of the SED for ten years = new venues and lessened role expectations for "the pastor's wife."

And now my Medicare years.  This is a good thing!  I'm enjoying opportunities to serve in ways I never thought I'd be drawn to:  working weekly @ our church's soup kitchen (see photo), volunteering at our town's Crisis Assistance Ministries, looking forward to my fourth foreign mission trip this August, experiencing a four day silent retreat, embarking on women's prison ministry.  Who knew!  I am surprised by joy and suspect God is having a chuckle watching all this.   I'm so grateful that He continues to call and lead me, teaching me to trust and be thankful.  

Rae serves on the the Spiritual Life Team of the Southeastern District.

Holly Borrasso- Central Region

What a journey life takes us on! Since we were married in 2010, my husband Matt and I have lived in three different states, four different cities and I have held five different jobs! As we have traveled around the country, I have supported Matt in his journey through two different seminaries to become an ordained pastor.

Prior to our ‘life-in-transition,’ I grew up in the Northern Virginia before heading off to college at Concordia University Chicago. I graduated from CUC in 2010 with a BA in Lutheran Elementary Education and began teaching in the upper-elementary grades. 

Currently, Matt is serving his vicarage at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, VA where I am also serving as their Family Life Program Coordinator. God has sure blessed us with this placement; many lessons learned, the area rich with history and the members welcoming! 

In my position at the church, I get to spend a lot of my time showing love to others, along with planning family nights, women’s events, and whole-church activities with support from various congregants. The biggest blessing I witnessed was when I was working with a group of elementary aged children and we were studying the Lord’s Prayer. The amount of questions, determination and faithfulness was overwhelming! 

I have also had time to work on several of my passions, art and photography, in my free time. I have been able to express my faith through paint brushes and a camera lens, hoping to encourage others through new avenues! 

God has been working through us and through those around us to continue His will wherever we are placed. Throughout all of the changes we have been through on our journey thus far, we have noticed the constant of His abundant love and never-ending grace for His people. 

Holly blogs at:  Life in Transition--    http://hollyborrasso.wordpress.com

Emily Phoenix- Northern Region

Hi, my name is Emily Phoenix and I am so excited to be part of this special project to share stories and experiences that highlight and encourage the women of the Southeastern District. 

In November of 2012, I joined the staff at Galilee Lutheran Church in Pasadena, MD, as the Director of Discipleship. At Galilee, I oversee various ministry areas such as Education, Human Care and Lay Ministry. I also teach new member classes and help people connect to and serve both the church and the community around us. 

I am originally from the Midwest, Indianapolis, specifically. I attended Concordia University, Nebraska. My husband, Jack and I, were married last summer and moved from Detroit in October. 

I am an avid football fan, and love fall very much for that reason! I also enjoy running and at the beginning of 2012 ran a marathon!My husband and I just signed up to run the Baltimore half-marathon and look forward to preparing for that.  I also enjoy reading, card-making and volunteering.

I have been blessed with many opportunities to travel for both work and pleasure and enjoy every chance I am given to visit friends and family nationally and internationally! Mission trip opportunities to Brazil, Indonesia and Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina relief have had a great impact on me.

I am passionate about my faith and thankful for the opportunity to use my gift of writing to support and encourage the women who I am proud to serve alongside to share the message of Jesus Christ and glorify God! 

Emily blogs at: Unexpected Blessings---- http://unexpectedblessings.emilyphoenix.com.
She can be reached at Dodemily@galileelutheranchurch.org.

Tina Jasion- Northern Region

Meet Tina Jasion-Northern Region

I grew up in a very secular family and came to know Jesus at 13 through a youth group connection.  An immature faith was planted but grew in my twenties. Marriage and motherhood brought opportunities for the Holy Spirit to draw me to know the Lord of the Universe. This began a wonderful discovery- the journey of faith.

Early years of parenting connected me to the Sunday school stories of the Bible, right along with my children. What a process God was using for my shaping and training!  A faithful mother-in-law and pastor patiently answered EVERY question. The ladies of the LWML were my “mamma’s in the faith,” and I give thanks for all of my mentors.

After college I worked as an accountant, keeping some clients to work from home after my first son was born. After my second son, I taught Jacki Sorenson aerobic classes, maintained my accounting clients, and did a lot of volunteering at my church.   

During the 1995 LWML convention in Kansas City, the Lord moved my heart to answer His call into vocational ministry. The next six years taught me patience as I learned to worship in the waiting for His timing.  In 2002, I completed the Training Leaders for Ministry program through the Southeastern District LMCS, with a focus on missionary/outreach ministry. I then enrolled in the new Masters of Christian Outreach degree program from Concordia University in St. Paul MN, graduating with the first cohort in 2006.  

My passion is to help people to know the Lord!  I have had the blessing of serving in a variety of capacities and gaining new skills and connections

I am currently serving as the Director of LINC Baltimore (www.linc-baltimore.org), leading a movement to “build up the Kingdom of God in Baltimore”, helping churches to better serve their communities and starting new ministries in the metro area.  

My passion is in sharing God’s grace with others that they may come to know Him, discipling new believers and helping others do the same.  The Lord continues to open avenues for me to do this.  My blog, www.missionjesusstyle.blogspot.com provides sources of encouragement and resources for sharing the grace of God with others.

In 1983 I married Scott Jasion, the young man I fell in love with while attending Towson University.   We have two grown sons and live in Fallston, Maryland.  I love to read and enjoy recreational skiing in the winter and kayaking in the summer.  To God be the glory for the joys of life!

Sandi Becker- Northern Region

After 30+ years of professional work in various human service settings, I officially retired in February, 2010.  This gave me the opportunity to explore new opportunities to serve God.  Some church related, some community related, some for personal growth, and sometimes for all three-in-one.

My current love is working with a local equestrian therapeutic program for persons with developmental disabilities.  As a “side-walker”, my job is to walk along side of the horse and rider as they are taken through their paces.  What joy it is to watch the reaction of riders when they experience the pleasure of learning what they can do beyond what others may see as their limits!  What a great gift from God!

I am the wife of a LCMS Pastor, Tom Becker, who is currently serving Immanuel Lutheran Church in Preston, Maryland, in the North Region of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

The current joy of my life is preparing for our son’s upcoming wedding, at which his father will be officiating.  This marriage will result in the blending of two families, increasing the number of grandchildren to three!

The role of a pastor’s wife can be a challenge and isolating at times, but the blessings have been wonderful.  Attending the Annual Pastor’s Wives’ Retreat gives me the opportunity to learn, share, laugh, and of course to pray with my “sisters-in-Christ”.  

My faith gets stronger each day as I continue to have more time for reflection and prayer.   I thank God for calling us to our wonderful “country church family”, where our congregation blesses us with love each day.     

Sandi continues her love for working with therapeutic horses and we give thanks for the way she uses her gifts to bless others in need of tender care at
Talbot Special Riders. She can be reached at  sandiretired65@aol.com.

Sandi and a specially trained horse- Nathan.

Connie Denninger- Central Region

Sometimes we really don't know what will define us in different stages of life.  Airports and traveling are a more integral part of my current life. Being prepared for the waiting and shuffling, and packing and unpacking...ummm  not so good with that yet.  I continue to be amazed in the ways that God works to bring connections in our lives- especially when we spend a bit more time looking for them and expecting them.  I have served not quite a year along side my husband John, as he serves as the President of the Southeastern District- LCMS. We continue to live in our home in Springfield, Virginia.

The previous years were spent in mostly parish ministry- beginning in a small parish in SE Nebraska.
Then we had over 4 years in full-time Campus Ministry at Kearney State College, Kearney, Nebraska.  The life and ebb and flow of parish life is certainly wonderful as we were able to spend 24 years in one congregation at Prince of Peace in Springfield, VA. Long enough to marry the parents, baptize the children, and watch them graduate from college.

Although my college years prepared me for teaching the long lost art of Home Economics at Valparaiso University- the reality is that I have now taught from 3 year olds to high school level. The area that defines me is family life and faith life in the home. I love the interaction of passing the baton of faith to the next generation and doing that in creative ways that speak to the hearts of moms and dads and their children.

An area of joy currently is seeing all three daughters- Jessica, Laura and Sara- now married to wonderful faith-filled men. God has blessed us with the addition of some fine young men to the Denninger family. New to our lives is our first grandson Griffin and we are awaiting the arrival of the next 2 grandsons soon.  Gonna learn about the boys.

God is currently doing some hard work in me, as I continue to struggle with and be drawn at the same time to living a life of prayer.  What does that Look Like? What might happen if I give the Holy Spirit full reign in my life to teach me? Certainly an experiment in faith-filled living that He is moving in me right now.



This blog is dedicated to all the women of the Southeastern District - to get to know you, where you live and serve. That includes those married to Pastors, (and the initial focus of this blog) and those married to other church workers, the women who themselves serve and teach in our churches and schools, and the heartbeat of congregational life- the LAYWOMEN. May you learn a bit about a friend you already have and maybe meet a new friend along the journey.