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New Lenten Paraments Dedicated

February 25, 2026

This Lent, Edina Community Lutheran Church dedicates new paraments created by liturgical artist Jeff Wunrow of Saint Louis. Commissioned by the congregation, these pieces are offered to the glory of God and in loving memory of Pastor Stephanie Coltvet Erdmann, who served ECLC from 2014–2018.

The design reflects the spiritual movement of Lent through layering, texture, and depth. A deep violet field grounds the work in the traditional color of the season, holding together themes of repentance and Christ’s sovereignty. Curving bands of varied fabrics sweep across the surface in intersecting arcs, suggesting the winding path of faith and the subtle geometry of the cross woven within human experience.

The quilted construction echoes our congregation’s long-standing practice of offering baptismal quilts and sending quilts to those in need — a quiet testimony that love is something we stitch into tangible form.

As we enter this holy season, these paraments invite us into humility, honesty, and hope — trusting that even in wilderness journeys, God is at work, weaving redemption into every seam.

ECLC’s Lenten Special Offering and Worship Schedule

February 11, 2026

As we prepare to observe Lent, our broader community is suffering and the journey is hard; we yearn for God’s presence.

To respond to the unprecedented need in our community, our Lenten Offering will support the mutual aid funds of our five immigration-focused partners:

The need for mutual aid (rent, utilities, food, medical and transportation expenses) is at a crisis level. The Mission Team is giving $2,500 as a challenge grant to inspire your giving. Every dollar given by the congregation will be matched up to that amount. With your help, we expect  to exceed that goal!
 
This is an urgent plea at a desperate time. Please give as generously as you are able. Every gift matters. 

To make a gift, donate online here and click on Lenten Offering or mail a check made out to ECLC with “Lenten Offering” noted in the memo line. 

Join us in community on Wednesdays and Sundays during this holy season. 

Ash Wednesday, February 18: Worship at 7pm. (No Soup Supper)

Lenten Wednesdays, February 25 - March 25: 

  • Soup Supper at 6pm 
  • Confirmation mentoring at 6:30pm
  • Worship (Holden Evening Prayer) at 7pm (Livestreamed)
  • Choir rehearsal to follow worship

As we bear the weight of this heavy time, we lean on God’s promise: That this journey ends not at the Cross, but in the Resurrection. Love will overcome. Evil will succumb. Hope reigns. In it all, God is among us. 

In Christ,
Pastor Jeff and Deacon Lauren  

 

Annual Congregation Meeting Sunday, February 8, 2026

February 4, 2026

The Annual Meeting of the congregation will be held Sunday, February 8, 2026. Members are encouraged to attend as we elect officers, council members, delegates, and adopt a budget. The pdf of the annual report, meeting agenda, and budget is available to download here and printed copies will be available at the meeting. 

We will have an alternative schedule that day:

  9:00 AM: Farewell and Thank You Reception for Pastor Natalia
10:00 AM: Worship Service (in-person and live-streaming)
11:15 AM: Annual Meeting

There is no Sunday School or Community Enrichment.  

Guest Preacher & Community Enrichment Leader — February 1

January 21, 2026

We’re delighted to welcome Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis as our guest preacher at both the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services, and as leader of our Community Enrichment hour at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 1. This is also Reconciling in Christ Sunday! 

Rev. Dr. Davis is a gifted preacher, public theologian, and longtime advocate for justice. Formerly the Lead Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, he brings deep experience in social justice organizing, public policy, and progressive theology. He has served as Chaplain of the Minnesota State Senate, Senior Pastor of All God’s Children MCC, and Domestic Policy Advisor for The Episcopal Church—where he helped organize national advocacy for marriage equality. Recently he ran for mayor of Minneapolis in a campaign that called for greater awareness of the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. 

An Adjunct Professor at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Rev. Dr. Davis combines sharp moral analysis with pastoral warmth and a hopeful vision for the church’s public witness. We’re honored to have him with us for a full morning of worship, learning, and conversation. 

Join us — and bring a friend. 

Gratitude and Goodbye

January 14, 2026

In the interest of ending as I began - with clear communication - I wanted to offer my next steps and also share my deep gratitude for you all and this community of faith. 

First, as is likely obvious by the fact that we have scheduled a vote (Jan 25), there is a new pastor on the way (yey!) and my time at ECLC is coming to an end. My last day in the office will be January 29, and my final Sunday will be February 8th. During that morning we’ll have a party to celebrate all we have done together at 9am, worship at 10am, followed by the annual meeting after worship. 

It is bittersweet to leave of course, I have enjoyed my time with you all so much, and yet, as I’ve been saying a lot lately: I was always meant to go! I leave filled with gratitude for the ways you welcomed me and accepted me and came alongside me in the work we did together. Interim is temporary, but you all sure make a lasting impression! 

Your new pastor is a delight, and I am thrilled for ECLC and I can’t wait for you all to meet her. What a gift she will be to this place! I look forward to hearing about all the ways you welcome her and celebrate the many gifts she brings to share with you all. 

Since your new pastor will likely begin sometime in mid-March, and I am done in early February, we have put together a plan to offer co-pastor coverage and also a “fresh start break” to Pr Jeff in the transition. We are deeply grateful to Mary P. for her willingness to step in as a bridge pastor in this in-between time. We are also grateful for the guest preachers and presiders who will be in and out during the month between mid-February and mid-March.  

This is a horrific time in our history, and this past week has been harder every day, but I am heartened by the many communities groups, neighbors, churches, schools, and businesses who are showing up for each other and I am grateful to leave ECLC knowing that you all are doing this work out in the world with me and others, even when we’re not together. 

With deep gratitude and love - 

Pr Natalia

Accompanying Cristo de Paz through Scholarships         

By ECLC Ministry Partner Liaison Sue J.

January 7, 2026

Epiphany: the church year season of Light.  We celebrate the light of Christ.  There is another kind of light that shines in the dark: the lamp of learning.  Good teachers – books – the internet – give knowledge that improves our lives and our communities. 

ECLC is privileged in its partnership with Cristo de Paz in El Salvador to support the light of learning in that community.  For 13 years members of this congregation have paid educational fees for the children of the Cristo de Paz – an inspired request by Pastor Conchi.  When we traveled to El Salvador last April, we met and spoke with some of the students.  Sponsorship made it possible for a few students to attend college – previously an impossible dream.  Many hope to work at good-paying jobs.  One spoke of attending seminary.  The length of our scholarship ministry is allowing these students to dream bigger dreams.  The younger students now have examples in their neighbors advancing through education, speaking of growing up to become nurses, doctors, or teachers.

The teachers we met in El Salvador were impressive, imaginatively inspiring and challenging students.  The buildings were simple, but the learning was advanced.  At the high school we were shown a building set aside for a program in auto mechanics.  There were no tools or students to be seen, but the instructor’s passion filled the space.  We can be assured that the children of Cristo de Paz have good mentors.  

We’re asking you to continue the ministry of ECLC with Cristo de Paz.  Those of you who are currently sponsoring a child’s education will receive (or have received) an email requesting your continued support.  Families whose sponsored child has graduated or left the program are being asked to sponsor a new child.  The amount of the one-time annual fee will vary, depending on the student’s educational level, but is between $73 for elementary students and $160 for high school students.  College student fees are $1500 but families may be co-sponsors and share this fee. 

Both continuing and new sponsors, please contact Susan or Deacon Lauren to let us know of your interest.   

Leaping into the New Year

December 31, 2025

My mother once shared a memory of her father on New Year’s Eve.
Just before midnight, he lifted her onto the big chair in the living room.
As the clock struck twelve, he said, “Leap into the new year!”
And she did—arms out, whole body committed—jumping into his waiting embrace.

That’s how faith often works.
Not cautious tiptoeing.
Not certainty.
But a full-bodied leap—into love, into hope, into the promise that we will be caught.

This new year asks for courage like that.
A willingness to jump without knowing exactly what lies ahead, trusting that God’s arms are already open.

As we cross this threshold, may we leap—not because we are fearless, but because we are held.

Happy New Year. Jump boldly. 

Pastor Jeff 

Merry Christmas Eve ECLC!

In his sermon on Sunday, Pr Jeff referenced theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and how he challenged us to think about our actions through the lens of love, not one of purity or perfection. It brought to mind this quote, which is from one of Bonhoeffer’s Christmas sermons: 

Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.

This Christmas, however you celebrate, we hope that you too can find ways to see the glory of God in the lowliness of the manger, in the extraordinary made ordinary, and in the love that chose to come be with us. 

We hope to see many of you today at our 3pm, 5pm or 9pm worship services, and for those of you unable to be with us, we wish you safe travels, good health, and a happy holiday, however you spend it. 

Sharing the Story

December 10, 2025

As Advent goes on and Christmas draws closer, this is a time to reflect on the story of Jesus’ birth. For the past several weeks, Sunday School Classes of all ages at ECLC have been learning Christmas songs and exploring advent themes, including stories of those who show up in the early days of Jesus’ life. This Sunday at the 11am service, our Sunday School kids will be telling the story of the Nativity through narration and classic Christmas songs. We hope you can join in exploring the story of Jesus this weekend at the kids’ Christmas program! 

Signs of the Season:

December 3, 2025

Advent is here. 

We are observing the season of anticipation in a number of ways at ECLC. On Sundays the clergy are wearing black robes in place of their white albs. This is to signify the way Advent invites us to enter into darkness, the places of growth, nurture, and inner-reflection. It is also a reminder that white is not the only color with sacred meaning. 

Soup supper with bread and homemade preserves will gather us on Wednesdays in Advent at 6pm. 

Our mid-week liturgy at 7pm on December 3, 10, and 17 is departing from the beloved tradition of Holden Evening Prayer and instead drawing on another moving prayer service that originated at Holden Village, Prayer Around the Cross. This service was co-written by Susan Briehl and Tom Witt. Participants engage in a communal prayer, acknowledging the brokenness of the world and our shared yearning for healing and justice. This simple service will include lots of singing and will have its center in the lighting of candles.

The candles will be held in sand box “boats” crafted by local actor and artist, Sam Bardwell. These are on loan to us from Luther Seminary and will be present all three Wednesdays, and on Sunday mornings December 7 and 14. 

Take note: Christmas Eve Worship times are: 3pm, 5pm, and 9pm. (5pm and 9pm will be livestreamed)
On December 28, ONE SERVICE AT 10am!

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