Visual Faith- Annapolis, MD

It started with ONE person attending a workshop

 at the SED Tending the Flame Event.

Then she told another, and another.

What if we could bring these tools

 to our OWN congregation?

And invite others?

ON FACEBOOK even?

So they got a THRIVENT ACTION GRANT.

And it happened-

April 16, 2016 at

 St Paul's Lutheran Church- 

Annapolis, Maryland.

With fun fanfare.

A welcoming atmosphere.

Care for those coming for the event. 

And a welcome to the young

 and the young at heart.

 Show and Tell display all ready to share.

Faith formation tools.

Along the way.

 On the journey.

Grace and Blessing Together.

GOD is LOVE.

The message and the gift.

Swag bags for everyone.

 Friends and family joining together- 

learning about visual faith tools for

 Prayer and Bible Study.

Led by Connie Denninger

and daughter Sara Wilson.

A team of Faith Artists 

supplied ready to go margins 

for journaling. 

Many more handouts were ready

 for take and go packets.

 Thanks to the Creative Faith Artists:

 Pat Maier, 

Karen Hunter

 and Peggy Thibodeau-

for Bible journaling margins.

 Graphic designer Melinda Ransdell 

created the handouts for

 Visual Prayer and Bible Journaling 

for the event.

Pat Maier created the powerpoint slides

 for bringing the visuals to life for the group.
The materials are available for YOUR event
 in the Files section here:
DC Metro Bible Journaling

L to R- Melinda Ransdell and Connie Denninger 

and host for the event Heather Rosenkoetter,

Three pastor's wives celebrate God's goodness 

in an event brought together by TEAMWORK.

 Thank you Lord.

And the person who started it all- 

Claudia Breedon---- a very special thank you.
What if this was coming to YOUR Neighborhood?

Deanna Hinz- Central Region

Deanna Hinz- Central Region

Once in awhile you meet someone 
along life's path that ends up
 fitting the role of mentor.
Whether it is an assigned role- 
or you just sort of follow them-
 observing, noting, imitating.
The encourager that brings words
 to lift you out of a life puddle-
and helps you scoot back into the fray.

 I was a mid 30's pastor's wife
 when I met Deanna Hinz.
 I was fascinated by her role
 as a woman leader, 
her quick wit and sense of humor,
her eye for design, and surviving 
as the mother of four sons.
But what most caught my attention
 was her graciousness.
The overflowing bucket kind of grace.
The cool as a cucumber, unflappable,
steady-on forward
in all circumstances kind of grace.
She continues to meet difficulties with
 this embodied grace.

She cared for a mother-in-law and the MIL's sister-
meeting the ups and down with a raised eyebrow, 
one liner, 
and that big bucket of daily grace.

The Lord has used that trait 
as He fills her daily.
 Grace receiver - so that Deanna 
can shower others.

Her life partner is Richard T. Hinz.
Rich has served in many roles within the church
and one of them was as 
President of the Southeastern District- LCMS
 from 1978-1994.
When I met Deanna, in 1988,
she had already been quietly dealing 
with Richard's diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.
This would alter their shared life journey.
In 2004 Richard wrote-
My Odyssey with Parkinson's Disease
 for Wheat Ridge ministries.

Recently, Deanna has written 
an update that serves as an insert in the booklet.
This includes more of the story 
with the DBS- Deep brain stimulation journey.
Deanna is also honest 
about the challenges of the
life-changing diagnosis.
She gives helpful insights, 
points to helps along the way, and
continues her ministry of 
encouragement with words of hope.
The Odyssey Journey is available here:
my-odyssey-with-parkinsons-disease

Struggles continue in the 
partnership of their journey.
Richard has the disease, but Deanna 
is impacted in everything she does,
 or pursues by the disease.
And she truly knows that
 it is not of her own strength 
that she meets each day.
Whether care receiver or care giver, 
the comfort promise rests here:
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself
and God our Father, who loves us 
and by His grace gave us 
eternal encouragement and good hope, 
encourage your hearts and strengthen you
 in every good deed and word."
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Pray about who the Lord might be
 calling you to mentor-
it can bring great blessing.



Thankful for Deanna as a mentor in my life.
It is one of my richest blessings. 
Connie

Beth Mays- Bible Journaling

Beth Mays- Northern Region

1.What brings you JOY in Bible Journaling?

When I first learned about Bible Journaling, my mind became so consumed with doing everything perfectly. Being a "rule-follower" at heart, and rather insecure about my abilities, I don't often just let myself go. Or if I do, my perfectionist side starts rearing it's ugly head. I like following guidelines; knowing boundaries helps me not get "too carried away". If what I was doing wasn't getting attention, maybe I wasn't doing it right or good enough. When I read an article about giving yourself a "permissions" page in your Bible (this Bible is for..., is not for..., it will..., etc), and listened to an excellent [read: eye-opening] Bible Journaling tips video, it changed my entire lens I was looking through. I was gently convicted that this new thing I found myself enamored with. Perhaps,I was making it about me and not about God and my faith. In other words, something that was supposed to be bringing me joy was bringing me stress! NOW that I am looking through it with a more appropriate lens, I have found myself discovering much joy worshipping and studying through journaling. What brings me the most JOY is placing a more visual aspect to what I am praying on/reading about. I remember more because of journaling. It is not something to cross off a 'to-do' list anymore. I can be messy, I can make mistakes, I can be myself and that brings me joy I had forgotten how to find.

2. How do you see the Holy Spirit using Visual Faith tools in your life right now?

These tools that have been introduced into my life cause me to place focus on something that is productive and fruitful. What journaling does is cause me to take focus off of television and phone screens and divert it to the Word and what God is trying to tell me in that moment. It is relaxing and reflective. Additionally, it has brought me out of my introverted shell a bit more. I have met more women in my church because of journaling and I hope to meet many more.

                    3. What words of encouragement for those 
                  on the faith journey would you like to share?

I would say, don't give up! Being a Christian doesn't mean we get a free pass through trials in life. They will happen - God promised it (John 16:33 - "In this world, you will have tribulations...). BUT he also provides us with words of comfort (...but take heart, I have overcome the world"). Additionally, I would seek out Christ-loving people to be in your corner. In those times of trial and tribulation, seek advice from those people. They have most likely been in a similar situation and can provide you with Christ-centered advice. 

Beth is a member of Lutheran Church of Our Savior 

in Bryan's Road, Maryland. 

She serves on a team working to encourage 

Visual Faith art tools for personal Bible Study time. 

She is also a gatherer of  Bible Journalers 

who meet in community to share this blessing

 with each other and introduce

 this spiritual discipline to any newcomers.

She shares here the first page she did in her own Bible.

Holly Lustilla- Southern Region

Deaconness Holly Lustilla

1. What brings you JOY these days?

Joy comes to me in many and varied ways, from praying with a hospitalized or home-bound member, to seeing a Confirmation student "connect-the-dots" during class, to simply sitting back with a cup of coffee and my morning devotions. To be honest, it is truly my vocation as deaconess that brings me joy these days. To serve God through serving His people, the Church, is quite a joyous service.

2. What do you SEE the Holy Spirit doing in your life right now?

While I may not be always able to "see" what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life, I can say that He is constantly pushing me back into His Word, forcing me to revisit "old" stories and accounts. I will be the first to tell you that I do not know everything out there concerning the faith, and I believe that, alongside the Holy Spirit's promptings, fuels me to constantly return back to the Scriptures and the Confessions. It's always a good idea to return to the Word and delve a little deeper.

3. What words of ENCOURAGEMENT do you have for others in the faith journey experience?

You are never alone. No matter how dim the light may seem, it is never pure dark. Christ, the Light of the World, was born into this world for you, lived a pure, spotless life for you, suffered, died, laid in the tomb, and is risen again for you. Take joy and comfort knowing that what ever kind of sin you keep secreted away and closest to your heart has been paid and atoned for, and is remembered no more. You have been baptized into Christ's death and Christ's resurrection. You now turn that great and glorious message towards a world that so desperately needs peace and comfort. We live and serve in the great hope that Christ is coming again to make all things right and new. Take heart, for HE has overcome the world, sin, and death.

We give thanks for the heart and work of Holly in the Southeastern District- here is  bit more about Holly.

I grew up a Lutheran school teacher's daughter, so we followed wherever my father's teaching Call took us. I have lived in several different cities/towns throughout Michigan and Florida, the longest lasting just around 8 years, so I am no stranger to moving where we/I am needed most. I graduated from Florida State University in 2012 with a B.A. in Music, with hopes of attending graduate school for musicology. The Lord had other plans for me and I enrolled, albeit a few months late, in the deaconess program at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in the fall of 2012. I served my deaconess internship at Eternal Shepherd Lutheran Church, Seneca, SC from July 2014 to July 2015, and accepted their Call to become their deaconess. I was commissioned into the diaconate in late July 2015 at Eternal Shepherd.

Seneca, South Carolina has been and is a wonderful fit, not just because the people of Eternal Shepherd make it that way. The area is full of trees, mountains, and waterfalls. All amazing places to just get away and truly explore the beauty of Creation. Seneca provides someone who has lived and moved from big cities to small, small towns a well needed place to grow roots, while still be close to several larger areas. For me, personally speaking, it is a welcomed bit of slower paced life. 

Stacey Crosson- Central Region

Stacey Crosson- Central Region

The world needs hope.  (Can I hear a sister say Amen?!)

We live in a world full of hurt.  And for anyone who isn’t ok with numb, the feelings are real.  Substantial.  Thick.  And just plain, exhausting at times.  It’s time to feel light.  

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” our Lord promises.

On April 16 I’d like you to join my faith community at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, VA in learning more about how to welcome and care for others who are hurting and need their burden lightened.

Here are three reasons you might consider attending:

-It will be a safe place to explore difficult things.  Topics which are hard to understand, such as anxiety, depression, and suicide, will be presented with love and respect by professionals who understand the complexities of such things.  You’ll be able to talk with them first hand and find a professional you trust.

-Caring connections will be made with others and you will learn you are not alone.  We are not alone.  We are ALL in this together.  Individuals and families who live with mental health issues tend to isolate themselves, pulling inward to self-protect.  You’ll discover there is healing in letting others in. The Church community can be a place of hope and healing.

-Finally, you’ll receive HOPE!  If you’re a caregiver, you’ll find joy and hope in the journey.  If you are someone who is struggling, you’ll have the opportunity to meet others who are living resiliently and courageously with mental health issues and be encouraged!  If you’re a church member or friend of someone who is struggling, you’ll be equipped to reach out and care.

So find a friend and bring them with you…that way, you won’t feel alone (and you can both tell everyone you’re attending because of your friend!) 

Details:  Saturday, April 16, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Springfield, Virginia 22152.  Register athttp://www.poplc.org/hope.  Or call 703-451-5855 for more information.

A bit about Stacey:

Stacey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Family Life Educator, and Christian educator.  She is a graduate of Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota and Nova Southeastern, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  Stacey has over 25+ years experience working with individuals, couples, and families in restoring healthy relationships.  Prior to moving to Virginia last year, she lived abroad in Germany for 13 years where she worked at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center as a LMFT and later in private practice in Wiesbaden, Germany.  She is married to her best friend, Jeff, and is the proud mama of two growing, wise girls, Ella and Ava.  She currently serves as the Minister of Care and Outreach at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Springfield, Virginia. 

We give thanks for the heart-felt ministry of Stacey.

 Stacey comments about ministry life-

 "My greatest passion in ministry is helping others to experience

 the gift of reconciliation, first, in their relationship with Jesus Christ 

and then in their daily interactions with other people. 

I pursued studies in Christian education and family therapy 

in order to equip myself and others for this ministry of reconciliation."