Community. Connection. Creativity.

In a busy, disconnected, and even scary world, these can be hard to experience. And yet, we were created for community - to care for one another, to build each other up, to share the heaviness of life. This connection is where Christ shows up, as God’s children come together for a meal, to worship, to laugh, and to create.

Rediscover this vision of community at Camp House this summer. Find connection on the shores of Lake George as you experience the rhythms of faith. Feel God’s presence while you sit quietly with others taking in a sunset or gather to hear a word of scripture. Hear the Spirit’s whispered reminder that you are loved.

Our weekly pastor, musician, and artist in residence will offer opportunities for worship, music, creativity, and learning, while the Camp House staff will help you experience the uniqueness of the site - brick oven pizza, daily saunas, a pontoon cruise around the lake, and evening games and fellowship.

​Ordinary Time is a community, and we can’t wait to welcome you into it. 

who

You! Anyone! Whoever yearns for connection and community. Come on your own or with your family, friends, or youth group.

when

You pick when to come and how long you stay - one night, a few days, a full week, or longer. Camp House will be on Ordinary Time from June 13-July 17 and August 13-16!

where

Camp House sits on beautiful Lake George in Minnesota's Northwoods. This rustic camp is in Brimson, MN, about 1 hour north of Duluth.

why ordinary time?

In between the extraordinary moments in Jesus’ life - feeding, healing, giving life, excising demons - Jesus made time for the ordinary - sleeping, eating, praying. Ordinary, everyday, natural, normal, familiar, routine, habitual activities. Our faith should be the same - familiar, natural, everyday. The normal walk with God, the routine of prayer, devotions, worship, the everyday moments where you reflect Christ to someone else. We can't live on the mountain. We need the ordinary to make room for us to feed and nurture our faith.
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camp house is on ordinary time
june 13 - july 17 and August 13-16, 2026

You pick when to come and how long you stay - a few days, a full week, or perhaps for the whole month! Though each week (Saturday to Friday) will have a team of program leaders, participants in Ordinary Time are welcome to select the days and dates that best fit your schedule.​

SCHEDULE

Each day will include opportunities for learning, worship, music, conversation, traditional camp activities, and fellowship around the meal table. Enjoy a morning sauna or yoga and a devotional time before breakfast, moments of rest throughout the day, evening community games, and perhaps an evening paddle on Lake George. Our staff will also happily provide suggestions for places to see and explore along Minnesota’s north shore for those seeking a day of off-site adventure. Check in each day is at 3:00 p.m. followed by a welcome orientation at 4:00. Check out is at 11:00 a.m. Participants are welcome to stay into the afternoon if they choose, however they will be asked to move out of their housing so we can prepare it for the next guest.
  • June 13-19
  • June 20-26
  • June 27-July 3
  • July 4-10
  • July 11-17
  • August 13-16
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Sherri Larson
​​Sherri is an ELCA pastor whose route to ordination included Augsburg College, Luther Seminary, several years of youth ministry, and 15 years of teaching high school English. Sherri accepted a call in 2022 to Kandiyohi, MN (Ebenezer and Tripolis), and they introduced her to Camp House. She’s so drawn to this holy ground and the beautiful things God is doing here! Sherri is eager to facilitate meaningful worship, reflection, Bible study, and conversation, and to collaborate with Carol, Steve, staff, and campers of all ages for a great week. 

Sherri loves poetry and coffee. She won’t turn down an offer to walk, play cards, or do puzzles, and she’ll be happy to coordinate a cornhole tournament…with no expectation of winning.
Carol Meier
Carol is a musician and composer who loves taking part in the songs we sing together as God’s children. She graduated from Luther College with a degree in music education, spending her college summers in camping ministry. In addition to teaching in a variety of settings, Carol has spent many years in church music, currently serving as the music director at Eagle Lake Lutheran Church (Willmar, MN). More recently, Carol studied liturgical music and composition from Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary. She is passionate about writing songs for the church that give new expression to the expansive love of God. In 2023, Carol and pastor/poet Meta Herrick Carlson co-created The Prairie Liturgies, commissioned and inspired by Shalom Hill Farm (Windom, MN). You can learn more about Carol and her music at carolmeiermusic.com. Some of Carol’s favorite things include long walks, good talks, campfires, and making music with people of all ages and abilities…all things she looks forward to doing at Camp House!
Rev. Steve Thomason
Steve is an associate professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship at Luther Seminary, a post-Evangelical, missional, neo-Lutheran theologian, rostered in the ELCA, and an artist. Steve’s passion and calling is a fusion of art and theology. He is the author of A Cartoonist’s Guide to the Bible, which is an online resource for visual learners to explore, teach, and preach the scripture using creative visual illustration and animation. Explore the resource at cartoonistbible.com. You can find all his work at artpastor.com.

The fusion of art and theology is evident in Steve's history. He began his career as an Art major and a caricature artist for a large art business in Las Vegas, NV. His call to ministry began at an Evangelical Mega Church in Las Vegas where he was ordained and became the Director of Adult Ministries while earning his M.Div. from Bethel Seminary. In 2002 he stepped out of the mega and into the micro by experimenting with house church ministry for 5 years. He and his family moved to Minnesota in 2007, and in 2010 God led him into the ELCA where he transferred his ordination and enrolled in the PhD program in Congregational Mission and Leadership at Luther Seminary. He served as an associate pastor at two suburban ELCA congregations in the Twin Cities prior to joining the faculty at Luther. His art has infused his preaching, teaching, and spirituality at every step of the way.
Ordinary Time Leader bios for this week are coming soon!
​Beth Dorsing
Beth is a Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter who has been one of the faces of 100 White Flags since 2006. A remarkable singer and songwriter, Beth brings a warm and joyful presence to the stage as she shares original music that tells stories of life, love, and loss. She has performed nationally on many stages ranging from youth gatherings with thousands of middle and high school students to intimate coffee houses and tap rooms. Beth brings with her music her insights and stories of all she’s learned and experienced in life.
Linh and Benji Stoebner
​Linh is a fashion designer and artist with over 35 years of experience in the fashion industry. She currently designs for Clothier Design Source and teaches CAD at St. Catherine University. At camp, she’ll lead art and cooking classes that invite creativity, play, and hands-on learning. Her son, Benji, is a 14-year-old student at South View Middle School in Edina and a camp counselor assistant at Artlet26. A passionate origami artist and budding entrepreneur, he loves sharing the art of paper folding and encouraging others to explore their own creativity.  Together, they bring their shared love of art, design, and making to the Ordinary Time community.
Karen Wight Hoogheem
Karen serves as the Pastor for Worship and Spiritual Direction at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove. Ordained in 2003, she has served as an ELCA pastor in Ishpeming, MI (Upper Peninsula), Ames, IA, and Coon Rapids, MN, and received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from St. Catherine’s University.

She experiences God in silence and solitude, journaling, walks in her neighborhood, and in relationships with other people. She shares, "One of my joys is re-introducing people to the rich tradition of Christian spirituality. The prayer practices help us connect with God, ourselves, and the world as we lean into God's loving relationship and listen for how God invites us to participate in God's healing presence in our daily lives and communities."

Karen has been married to Joel since 1999. They have two children—Hannah, who is a student at Iowa State University, and Ian, who is a student at Fridley High School. She loves getting coffee with Hannah, talking music with Ian, and kayaking with Joel. She enjoys hiking on segments of the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin with friends and family.
​Brian Schroeder
Brian is a queer worship leader and songwriter from the Twin Cities. Throughout his 15 years in ministry, Brian has consulted with churches of all sizes to innovate in worship and communicate an expansive view of God. In 2024, he released his first worship album titled Creation, It Rings, which includes congregation-tested, theologically-rich, and immensely singable songs written for inclusive churches. His most recent single, Sweet Darkness, is a contemplative worship song reimagining darkness as a gentle place where our loving God can meet us. His songs are available on all streaming platforms, and worship resources can be found at brianvschroeder.com. 

Brian is the Director of Emerging Worship at Lord of Life Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Maple Grove, MN. He has a Masters of Arts in Leadership & Innovation in Ministry from Luther Seminary. He lives in the Twin Cities with his husband, Rev. Tyler Sit.
Meta Herrick Carlson
​Meta Herrick Carlson (she/her) is a pastor, poet and coach. Her ministry is rooted in a love for practical rituals, accessible language, and healthy communities. She has authored four books of blessings and liturgies (the Ordinary Blessings series and Speak It Plain) and a children's book We Remember Your Baptism (February 2026). Meta laughs at her own jokes, dresses her pit bull in sweaters and packs extra snacks just in case. She and her family love getting lost in the woods, and then find their way back home to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  
Nate Crary
​Nate is a church musician in the Twin Cities, currently serving as Director of Worship with Christ the King Lutheran (New Brighton, MN) and as a musician with Lutheran Campus Ministry - Twin Cities. Nate is a lifelong musician, beginning violin at the age of four, and has always found a way to use his gifts of music and art in the church. 
Since graduating Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) in 2007 with degrees in music and art, Nate has led worship in a variety of settings from Juarez, Mexico to Denver, Colorado to Spicer, Minnesota to Bethlehem, Palestine. Along the way, he has helped people find their voice when singing their prayers to God.
Sara Dovre Wudali
Sara Dovre Wudali is a writer and editor living in Saint Paul whose work is attuned to social equity, racial justice, and beautiful ordinary human gestures. She was a 2023–2024 Poetry Fellow in the Loft Mentor Series and has received support from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. She is the co-author of the poetry collection, The Sweet, co-editor of the anthology, All You Need is One Avocado, the poet-in-residence at Café Marguerite, and a mentor with the Minnesota Prison Writers Workshop. Dovre Wudali grew up on a farm in southwest Minnesota, where the wind blows through the cottonwoods and box elder bugs rule. You can learn more and read her work at saradovrewudali.com.
Rev. Christian Muellerleile
Christian is a Lutheran pastor who serves as Food+Faith+Farm Manager at Good Courage Farm—an Agrarian Ministry affiliated with the Episcopal Church near Hutchinson Minnesota. He loves experiencing God in creation while farming, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing, practicing archery, and hanging out with his family. Christian lives in Litchfield, Minnesota with his spouse Kateri and his teenage kids, Augustin and Antonia.
Julia & Nathan Bloom
Cabin of Love is Julia and Nathan Bloom, a married folk/pop duo from Saint Paul, Minnesota, who’ve been writing songs and making music together for over 25 years. The Blooms help lead music at Humble Walk Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, and also enjoy performing at local venues. 
Meg Erke
Meg is a 2D mixed-media artist living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is the author and illustrator of Minnealphabet: An Outdoorsy Homage to Minneapolis and the illustrator of “Outdoorsy: A Coloring Book Celebrating Our Connection to the Natural World”.  She is the Co-creator of the award-winning River to River Greenway Mural in West St. Paul and the recipient of a 2023 individual artist Residency at the Tofte Lake Center.  Meg’s work is inspired by the natural world (most often the woods, water, and trees of the Midwest). She looks for and finds ways to connect with students and collectors through art and nature. She believes that art connects us. It is a powerful tool that helps us articulate our stories when words can’t convey the magic and beauty of a moment or a scene. Meg is working to document that magic and help others do the same.

housing

Though our cabins are rustic, they do all have electricity. Our beds are comfortable, with handmade quilts on each one. In addition to shared bath house facilities, we also have an outhouse for those who would love to join “team latrine”. We also have limited camper pads and plenty of space for tenting.

You are welcome to tell us who you would like to room with, especially if you are coming with friends or family. Families will be housed as a unit unless you indicate differently. Individuals joining us as for a personal experience will be assigned housing with one other individual. All housing is multiple occupancy; there is no single occupancy housing.

Meals

Lingering around a meal table or over a cup of coffee provides space for deeper conversation and connection. Our schedule invites this rhythm, and we hope you will experience it. Camp House meals are simple yet filling, and made with great care and love. Fresh ingredients and a homemade touch are core to your meal experience. Those exploring the area will be able to request a pack out lunch, and twice a week we’ll fire up our brick oven for a wood-fired pizza experience. Meals are included in the program cost.

We also take our coffee seriously, just like the Finnish who settled in this area. Bring your favorite travel mug to enjoy “Khavi” times throughout the day.​

cost

Adults $100/night | Youth (age 4-12) $70/night | Children 3 & under - free
​Deposit amount $50 per reservation. No discounts apply to Ordinary Time.
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promotional materials

We invite you to share this opportunity with your congregation. Whether it’s a small group from your church, a gathering of friends, or an individual seeking spiritual renewal, Ordinary Time is open to all. Your church is an essential part of making this happen. We know that when congregations encourage participation, people are far more likely to take the step to retreat, reset, and be filled. Find more information here to help spread the word.​