In 2025, Normandale Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrates 75 years of mission and ministry! And to honor this major milestone, a year-long commemoration has been planned that honors our past, celebrates our present and opens awareness, discussion and action that builds commitment and ensures our future. We on the Anniversary Advisory Committee have put together some ideas and plans for our commemoration that will allow us to gather, celebrate, learn, discover, experiment, listen, imagine and grow together as we move into the next 75 years.
In many ways, Normandale has always been the same – rooted in the word with a foundation of strength in Word and Worship, generous in our mission, excellent and joyful in our music, consistent in our caring of children and youth and the growth of their faith, grateful for our many gifts in the community and resilient in the face of challenges.
These things will not change in the future. But some things will change – we will face new and more complex challenges, we will need to adapt to a continually changing society, we’ll need to use our imagination and curiosity to discern and pray while we dream of what our community can be and do in the future.
Our plans include focusing on 6 areas that have been and will be part of who we are – worship, music, outreach, faith / community formation, leadership and our physical space. In exploring each focus area throughout the year, we’ll employ a variety of communication methods to honor, celebrate and imagine using technology, the written and spoken word, physical historical displays, gatherings for sharing and listening, festivals and events and various interactive experiences to reach every person, from the youngest to the oldest, in our community.
Throughout the anniversary year, there will be ample opportunities to get involved in leadership and volunteer roles alike. Be prepared to be invited to serve!
So, we have much to celebrate, and our plans are ambitious. But doesn’t Normandale deserve that?
We are Normandale – Like Always, Like Never Before.
We are who we’ve been, and we will continue to be. But we’ll also be like never before – alive and renewed in the Spirit, filled with gratitude for what we have and resolve and excitement for what is to come.
We are excited to celebrate with you in 2025. Again: happy anniversary!
In faith, the 75th Anniversary Advisory Committee
Edel Henningson
Brent Malcom
Jennifer Monroe
Kristi Shepherd
Lowell Stortz
Joanna Swanson
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me at handbell choir rehearsal or Normandale House meetings.
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me listening to the organ postlude on Sunday and often at Wednesday Women’s Bible Study.
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me chatting in the Fireside Room or working on the worship environment in the sanctuary.
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me in the back pews corralling children until they run to get a donut at the end of church.
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me in the last pew stage left on a Sunday morning, wrangling my two kiddos, along with my niece and nephews! Or, you might see me playing the cello for Sunday morning worship.
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me with my family in the second pew, stage right or transporting kiddos to and from choir practice on Wednesday evenings.
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me at Wednesday Women’s Bible Study or with my family in worship toward the front on the font side.
If you are looking for me around Normandale, you might find me in the Normandale Center for Healing & Wholeness or enjoying a cup of coffee in the Fireside Room with new and longtime friends.
Our Pastor Informs Us of His Retirement and the Church Council Appoints a Call Committee. This step starts the congregation’s process for bidding farewell to the departing pastor and calling a new pastor.
An Interim Pastor Is Installed. The Church Council determines whether to name an interim pastor to lead the congregation during the transition time between the prior pastor’s departure and the arrival of the newly-called pastor. If the Council decides that an interim pastor is needed, candidates for the position are identified, an interim pastor is selected and installed to serve the congregation.
We Prepare Our Ministry Site Profile. Our Ministry Site Profile (MSP) describes our congregation – who we are and what we are working on – and lets us introduce ourselves to pastors who might be interested in coming to Normandale Lutheran Church. The MSP is prepared in collaboration among the Call Committee, Church Council, Normandale Lutheran Church staff, and the Minneapolis Synod.
Identification of Potential Candidates. Candidates for our pastor position are identified from three sources: (1) candidates identified by members of our congregation; (2) candidates who express an interest in our position to the Minneapolis Synod; and (3) candidates identified by the Minneapolis Synod as “good fits” for our congregation. The Minneapolis Synod coordinates this process and provides Rostered Minister Profiles (resumés for pastors) for the candidates to the Call Committee.
The Call Committee Interviews Candidates. The Call Committee conducts a review process with each candidate provided by the Synod. This process may include an initial interview (ideally in person, but potentially via videoconference for out-of-town candidates); attendance at worship services and sermons conducted by the candidate (in person, online, or both); a second, more in-depth interview; and reference checks. Candidate identification and interview steps may take multiple rounds if the Call Committee determines that the interviewed candidates are not good fits or if a selected candidate decides not to pursue our position.
Final Candidate Recommendation. After the interview process, the Call Committee recommends a final candidate. The Church Council meets the candidate and reviews the recommendation with the Call Committee. The Council sets a special congregational meeting for the congregation to meet the candidate and vote on whether to extend the call.
The Congregation Votes to Extend the Call and the Candidate Accepts. Thus endeth the call process!
Our congregation plays three (3) very important roles in the call process, including the last step – voting to call the new lead pastor.
Do you have a question about the call process? A pastor to recommend for our lead pastor position? Looking for a status update? Please stop one of us when you see us around Normandale or send us an email.
Decisions made during our call process can be very sensitive – for Normandale Lutheran as a congregation, for candidates for our lead pastor position, and for the congregations that those candidates currently serve. For example, it would be awkward for a congregation to learn that its beloved pastor was pursuing a call with Normandale, particularly if the call was not extended and the pastor remained with her congregation. Similarly, it would be awkward for our congregation to learn that a pastor well known to our congregation was offered our position but decided not to take it.
For these and other reasons, the Call Committee will conduct all candidate evaluations under strict confidentiality. We will be as transparent as possible about our process and the status of our work, but we must keep information about specific candidates confidential.
Thank you for your understanding!