 This time of year, we are all just plain busy. With the school year in full swing, the holiday season fast approaching, and preparations underway for winter, we yearn for rest and an easier routine. During busy times, we seek places and spaces that offer rest, connection, and renewal. There is such deep, restorative value in slowing down, taking a breath, and being fully present with the people around you. Ordinary Time, a faith-centered rhythm at Camp House in the summer months, provides participants an opportunity to find rest and to gather as a community to reconnect with the Creator, creation, and perhaps even our creative sides. For 5 weeks this past summer, participants at Camp House were led through activities for learning, creating, playing and being. There was time for devotions, worship, education and artistic classes led by pastors, musicians, educators and artists. Meg Erke, a 2D mixed-media artist from Minneapolis, led a community painting project and saw the magic of the camp community in action: “The community painting project created during week 1 of Ordinary Time at Camp House was delightful to watch unfold throughout the week. I set up the canvas, easel and paints, made a few marks to get the ball rolling and walked away. Each time I came back to check on the painting it changed and evolved. It was impossible to tell who had contributed which marks but it was clear that many hands continued to nudge the work forward. Periodically I’d notice that the painting had stalled and people weren’t sure where to go next and I’d fill in a little bit of the background or help highlight an area and folks would jump back in. The finished product was a perfect metaphor for camp and community. The nurturing and supportive environment let each person trust that their additions would benefit the whole. This ministry is impossible without each individual’s contributions and presence, and your participation has a greater impact than just on yourself. In Meg's words, "It’s hard to predict what each person will contribute to the community but in hindsight it’s clear that the beautiful finished project would be impossible without each individual's contributions." Learn more about Ordinary Time at Camp House. You may not know it, but you make camp and this ministry special for everyone. Your kindness and generosity are imperative to that legacy continuing on. On November 21, Green Lake Lutheran Ministries will be participating in Give to the Max Day, with the goal of raising $30,000, ensuring that the joy of God’s love will continue to spread and ripple on. Through your donations, you change lives and we need your help! Will you join us by making a gift on Give to the Max Day?
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We might be a little biased, but we think the camp community is one of the best out there. The best communities give people a comfortable place to be an authentic child of God. They are shaped by those who feel encouraged to share the gifts and skills God has given them with others. When you join in at camp, you can find a place to be yourself and you give others the opportunity to experience God’s love and grace too. At Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, we believe there is a place for everyone here. No matter who you are, there is a way for you to get involved in the fun at camp. We need you here! Emmett, a 5th grade camper at Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp, has found his place at camp: “The second you drive in, you see the chapel and the water. When you walk up, you feel like God is with you. You see the counselors playing with the other kids and are welcomed to your cabin and choose your bunks. Then you eat, have Bible study, and worship at Chim-Chim or the campfire. Before you know it, we are going home and no matter what you do or where you go, God is with you.” He has learned that God is with you at camp, and goes with you when you leave these spaces. And camp will be here when it’s time for you to come back! Justin and Sarah, summer staff alumni, found their places at camp early in their lives and have made it into their family's place now too: “Green Lake Bible Camp has always been a special place for our family. My wife and I grew up going to Green Lake Bible Camp in the summers and we’ve made many memories there over the years. Now we are blessed to witness camp through our kids’ eyes. Attending family camp over the past few summers is always a highlight for the year. We’ve grown closer as a family and we have grown to be a part of a community of families who attend during the same week. Our daughter Grace says that camp is special because we get to spend time as a family and meet new friends. Our son Gus says that it is a place to learn about God, enjoy kids’ time during the parents night out, and to have fun. We hope their experiences at camp will have a lasting impact for years to come. And we can’t wait to be back at camp next summer.” While it might seem small, you have an extraordinary ripple effect on the lives of those at camp. Your act of kindness, through your generosity all year long, makes so much more possible.
On November 21, Green Lake Lutheran Ministries will be participating in Give to the Max Day, with the goal of raising $30,000, ensuring that the joy of God’s love will continue to spread and ripple on. Through your donations, you change lives and we need your help! Will you join us by making a gift on Give to the Max Day?  The Lutheran tradition has a deep passion and tradition of service. Serving and accompanying one’s neighbor provides a deeper understanding of God’s presence in our lives. Pastor Troy Pflibsen, a member of GLLM’s Board of Directors, shared what service meant for his son and his family:
“My son was in college when I asked him which high school experience was most important to him, the ELCA National Gathering or the service trip to the St. Louis area. He quickly came back with “the service.” I later unpacked this with him and learned that for him it was a ‘both and’: The service day at the National Youth Gathering and the service trip to St. Louis. His response named in his own experience the key biblical teaching that the other, service to the other, brings the greatest joy. So much self-help literature focuses on caring for oneself. We are to “put ourselves first.” Yes, self-care is important, even essential, but so is service to others. Service is where we find meaning. Service is where we find purpose. Service is where we find connection. This constant refrain appears in the Old Testament. In a very dramatic way, service is where the story of Joseph ends. It is the heart of Esther’s story. It is central to Jesus’ teaching. It is clear in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 and elsewhere. My son named service when reflecting on his high school experiences. Scripture names it as well. How is God calling you to serve others?” Green Lake Lutheran Ministries is proud to provide this educational and spiritual opportunity for youth through Serve Boldly. On Serve Boldly trips, youth are given opportunities and exposure to organizations and ministries that provide direct, indirect and advocacy support for our neighbors in partner communities. Experiences with Serve Boldly not only nurture the faith development in youth, but empower them to lead and compel them to practice justice and kindness in their own communities. What could be better than that? Thank you to Pastor Troy Pflibsen, GLLM Board Member and Director for Evangelical Mission, Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA for sharing! To learn more about Serve Boldly, visit www.gllm.org/serveboldly Over the past few years, we have embarked on a journey of discernment and transformation as we consider rebranding Green Lake Lutheran Ministries. This decision was not made lightly, but as we continue to expand our reach and strengthen all our ministries, we recognize the serious need to strengthen our brand to reflect the comprehensive nature of our work and mission. Under the guidance of our dedicated Board of Directors, a specialized task force was convened to spearhead this project alongside staff. Their mission was to investigate, strategize, and guide the necessary steps to redefine our visual identity, ensuring consistency and relevance in an evolving environment. After extensive collaboration with our talented designer, we are thrilled to announce the completion of our new logo.  This rebrand is a fresh, modern, and intentional representation of GLLM that reflects the organization’s values and commitment to mission as well as a nod to the history that has stood strong for decades. You’ll notice the colors aren’t all that different, but we’ve added a vibrant yellow. Yellow is often associated with joy, energy, and warmth and in our case helps to convey a sense of radiating hope for the future. Explore the elements of GLLM’s new logo and the intention below! Exploring the Elements of our New Logo
In collaboration with our designer, our new logo was intentionally created with distinct elements that convey the essence and values of our ministry.
Digging into some history:
Until the organizational merger in 1992, three sites operated separately. An example of Green Lake Lutheran Bible Camp’s logo is shown below on the left. The merger in 1992 brought these ministries under one umbrella, necessitating an organizational name and logo (right) which has stood strong for over 30 years.
As our rebrand begins to roll out in the coming weeks and months and we begin to navigate through these changes, it is important to note that while our visual look will be changing, our commitment to sharing the life-changing love of Jesus remains unwavering. We invite you to share in our excitement as we embark on this new chapter! And, as we enter the final stages of our rebranding journey, Green Lake Lutheran Ministries is gearing up for a significant transformation in which the Task Force and Board of Directors is recommending for the organization to be renamed (with site names staying the same.) This pivotal moment in our organization’s history will require an important organizational vote, which is slated to take place in the next year. Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this next phase of our rebranding journey. If you have questions on the rebranding process, please reach out to Kenzie Ruiz, Director of Marketing & Communications. Opening your mailbox to find a piece of mail can feel like magic – especially when you receive the Green Lake News! While it might seem like your camp newspaper just shows up, a lot of care goes into making sure that you get an update of what is happening at Green Lake Lutheran Ministries. It starts with a cup of egg coffee. Five or six times a year, the Merry Mailers gather in the Chrysalis House Dining Hall at Green Lake Bible Camp, around 9:00 AM. Friends greet each other with pats on the shoulder and side hugs as they hang up their coats. They pick a seat at a table full of mailing supplies and select a quilt to sit on. As they settle in for the day’s mailing project, the egg coffee is poured. The volunteers soon get to work collating, folding, stuffing, sealing, stamping and labeling thousands of pieces of mail. Staff flow in and out of the tables, joining in to label a few newspapers, fill coffee cups, or pass out cookies. As more and more volunteers arrive and begin helping, the room starts to hum like a well-oiled machine. Oftentimes, the Merry Mailers only see each other on mailing days, but have formed a caring and fun community. As they stick on labels or fold letters, small talk turns into deep conversation, catching up on life updates and current news stories. They celebrate each other’s joy and join each other in their troubles. The group reminisces on old memories of Spicer, rehashes Bonanza episodes, shares recent photos of grandchildren, and laughs at well-timed jokes. You can probably guess some of the recurring jokes:
Amidst the jokes and cups of egg coffee, the Merry Mailers accomplish an incredible amount. Over the course of three hours or so, this small-but-mighty group performs a big act of service. They generously give us a few hours of their time, sometimes skipping Bible study and quilting days at church, to make a monumental task fly by. They bring joy and laughter to a relatively dull, repetitive project, and care for one another in the process. They work hard to make it clear and share the word: there are ways for everyone to get involved at camp. God has saved a spot for you here and you’re welcome here, as you are. As you read your latest copy of the Green Lake News, know that you’re welcome to join them next time, or any time, at camp. And please pardon any small coffee stains you might find! We will need more volunteers this upcoming fall and winter, at events like the Dinner Theater! To volunteer, contact Kirsten at 320-796-2181 or [email protected]! For 30 years, the "Spice Girls" have loaded up their sewing machines and supplies to stay at Green Lake Bible Camp for a quilting retreat! They come twice a year, for a total of 60 times, from all across the country! They have accomplished countless projects, but enjoyed the time to rest too. Camp has served as a place to get away, where they can set their worries aside, spend time in sabbath and find peace in the comforting, encouraging presence of God. They have gathered as friends to share in life’s joyous and low moments. They have lost just a few members over the years, and miss them dearly, but really love coming here still. And for all groups, this is more than just a chance to practice their hobbies. Sure, quilting retreats offer their guests a chance to share their tips and patterns, but they offer so much more. Over the course of this year, Green Lake Bible Camp will host 18 quilting retreats with 11 different quilting groups. One might think that all quilting retreats are the same, but each group is unique. Some groups stay for three nights; some groups gather for four nights. Some groups prefer their tables set in pods of four, while others prefer their tables to be in rows. Some groups host show-and-tells, share devotional time, bring other crafting projects, and do puzzles for a break from quilting. One group plays “find-the-thimble” and have asked staff to help hide the thimble. Some groups prefer fresh popcorn during their late-night quilting sessions, while some bring their own snacks. Every group loves Karla’s famous quiche and caramel pull-apart rolls. And we love hosting each and every group - each one is a blessing and we are honored to host their cherished time together. To host your own quilting or any other kind of retreat you can dream of, give us a call at 320-796-2181, email us at [email protected]g or visit Retreats & Rental Spaces. Pictured: One of the talented quilters from these groups made quilts for the Quilt Auction during her stay. When she delivered her quilts for the Quilt Auction, she shared these photos of her quilts around Green Lake Bible Camp.  Andy arrived at camp wrapped in layers of defiance, convinced that "everyone is picking on me." His grandmother, wary but hopeful, left him in our care with caution: "This is going to be a hard week, do the best you can."
By the end of the week, those layers had been peeled back, revealing a boy who could sing, smile, and share his adventure. Sitting next to his grandmother at our closing worship, watching Andy with newfound joy, we were reminded of the change that can occur when God’s love is given space to work! Your donations to camp have a boundless impact. We need you! Make your life-changing gift today.  Jasmine stepped into our camp wildly homesick yet brimming with untapped potential. With enthusiastic encouragement from her counselor and cabin mates, she discovered her own resilience, made lasting friendships, and threw herself into activities with abandon.
She let herself enjoy a week at camp and grew immensely in a safe and nurturing environment. Her triumphant message at week's end, “I’m coming back baby!” is a testament to the courage and growth that you make happen. Your generosity helped create a safe and nurturing environment for Jasmine to join in and flourish. By donating today, you ensure that Green Lake Lutheran Ministries not only continues but thrives, as a sanctuary for growth, discovery, and community for everyone who engages with our ministries. We need you! Make your gift online today.  Zaria’s experience at camp was nothing short of a transformation. Her journey was illuminated by a passionate, faith-driven young adult who served as a beacon of the life-changing love of Jesus. Her counselor embodied care and confidence and made her feel valued and secure.
As her parent shared, “She LOVED her counselor. As a parent, there’s not much more I can ask for than a counselor that makes my child feel heard and secure.” Your generosity helped create a safe and nurturing environment for Zaria to join. By donating today, you ensure that Green Lake Lutheran Ministries not only continues but thrives, as a sanctuary for growth, discovery, and community for everyone who engages with our ministries. We need you! Make your gift online today. |
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