The Spring and Summer

Well, this has been an unusual year but with its own interesting twists. OneLife began the spring suspending any gatherings since, well… you know. It was tough to know what we could do and how we would do it, but like the other groups, we began to gather online. First, it was a simple conversation. “What’s happening?” “How’s everyone doing?” We found ourselves talking for a longer period than we anticipated. Life was not great and people were feeling the disconnect. Online meetings were helpful but they kept most of us on the surface.

Then the online meetings morphed. After a cordial conversation, we began to read through a simple devotional and talk about marriage. This added a positive dimension to our online meetings albeit still missing some depth.

So next we tried a game… and on a shared WebEx screen at that. Interestingly, there is a very workable and fun online version of Scattergories. It was amazing to see how fast nobody could come up with obvious answers in 120 seconds. Man, did we laugh! It was people talking over people. It was ultra-chaotic at times for 12+ screens to play a game like this over the inter-webs. While fun, we vowed not to conduct such a competition like this again with so many screens at once.

Together

Since the death of the age of WebEx, we have begun to find ways to get together in person. Our first trek was out to Wakanda Park for a casual 8-mile morning bike ride around the lake loop followed by a picnic under the shaded canopy of hardwoods. The weather was wonderful. This day also marked our first full gathering with those who remain from our previously named older families group, Gnosko. That day was the birth of a new version of couples ministry. Welcome to the crew, guys!

Finally, in an effort to learn more about each other, our last fellowship took us out to the shoreline in Hudson, WI where we each brought curbside dinner and tidbits about ourselves. We went around the group and each couple answered these three questions:

• How did you and your spouse meet?
• What was something you remember vividly about your wedding?
• What is one thing you have learned together from being married?

It was really nice to learn new things about our church family and to reminisce.

What Shall Be

Looking to the future, we have some exciting ideas to round out the warm weather months. Sadly, we will not be playing our annual flag-football game this fall but, never fear, we’re considering Drive-In movies, scavenger hunts, hikes, fires, etc. We also are working on hosting a retreat this fall. Pray for wisdom and clarity.

Meme of the day:

It sure looks empty and dismal out there, doesn’t it? No people… no cars… in fact, it looks like 1920 out there even though I just took this photo today. Glad to say, there are some bright sunny memories to look at from the OneLife recent past. Scroll on to see!

February Stuff

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Back in February, OneLife took a Saturday to hit the hills with Street Level. Skidding down the hill with 17 tubes tied together was quite the picture. We really enjoyed our time on the hill with those guys! Thanks for making winter bearable.

March Stuff

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Then in March, we gathered on the ice of Lake Menomin for a challenging competition of Frozen Chicken Curling. It was actually really nice out that day. There was a large table of snacks and hot cocoa. Passers-by didn’t know what to make of it. I am sure we looked crazy but we had a lot of fun.

The winning team took home all 12 frozen chickens as their prize. That’s 2 per team member. Nice!

Pizza and Talk

Our last official gathering was in mid-March. We all drove to Hudson and gathered in Green Mill’s back meeting space to talk through one of the last sessions from our fall retreat. By the way, Green Mill pizza is beyond delicious. But we had a great time of fellowship and discussion. Making Space (by Jeff Vanderstelt) has been a challenging series to travel through.

What’s ahead?

Thanks to a global pandemic, meeting together has been suspended. There may be a possible online opportunity to meet together. We are discussing ins and outs of that. Beyond that, we continue to pray for each other and connect over the phone or by email now and again.

We’re all fantasizing about that day when we can all come back together… bonfire… hog roast… singing… dancing… but whether here or there or in the air, we will see you again sometime.

What’s been going on?

You wouldn’t know it unless you took the time to think but the last time you read a report from us was back in August. We were reflecting on the Biking for Tacos ride and other events that put us outside and enjoying the warm air. Today we stand knee-deep in the snow with weather patterns that have followed the predictions of the likes of the Farmer’s Almanac. –How do they do that, by the way?

Since then, we have made a shift in our meeting schedule. What used to be a once-a-week regularity gave way to a twice a month format with the hopes of helping the overall schedule of the church and to help stem the busy schedules of some of our people. Our monthly gatherings now consist of one monthly member gathering (either a fellowship, a work project, or a trip to somewhere) and one full group fellowship time. This has created space for OneLife’rs to have more family time at home, more organic fellowship/discipleship time with each other and others outside of OneLife and even outside the church.

What did we do this last quarter?

September was flag football season at Samens Field. We stumbled our way through an impressive game and then robbed ourselves of any calorie burning by consuming the delights of a rather successful community chili.

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October brought our retreat. A few friends from Duluth came down to join us. Friday night we divided the couples into groups of 3-4 couples and they were free to meet in homes or at restaurants with the goal of eating together and talking through the first session of the series (which we had to watch before coming together). Then Saturday got us up to drive to Bayport, MN for the remaining sessions at the Bayport Nature Center. Our event ended around 5pm where we took a group photo and sent everyone home. Some people even went to dinner afterward to continue the conversation.

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November took us to the Pederstuen’s house for an evening of Win Lose or Draw and snacks. It was clear that we needed to unwind together. The night was full of conversation and laughter. We got to see just how fast people could draw things on the dry erase board, and how difficult it was too. The kids were there too and, I think… I think, they had a good time. November also brought a workday for the members. We all joined Gnosko at the campground to split wood, move leaves, and plant grass seed. It may have been only 40 degrees but working kept us warm.

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December had our members decorating the sanctuary at church for Christmas. Multiple feet of pine garland and lots of red bows later, we were once again transformed for the holidays. Cookies and cocoa were had by most. The kids even had little projects to work on. It was crazy to watch the kid’s line up to vacuum the floor afterward. In the immortal words of my parents, “How come you don’t want to do that at home?” The night ended with Jason Haugley taking children on his lap to pull on his beard… an experience new to most of the kids.

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Finally, December brings a Christmas potluck to our full group fellowship this coming Friday. Ideas stir as we contemplate our activities for the evening. I assure you it will be in the Spirit of Christmas one way or another.

In our near future

We’re looking ahead to the New Year with plans to host cross-fellowships again… some that include possibly sledding with fried chicken and pizza, a turkey-related ice event, and a city trip scavenger hunt of some sort. More details to surface.

Until then, Merry Christmas, y’all! We love you!

Rewind OneLife

JUNE: Mid-June drew us away from life in Menomonie for a couple of days to Duluth. OneLife group members (kids and all) took to the highway to help JFBDuluth host a coffee and ice cream vending booth at the Park Point Rummage Sale event. They share our heart in connecting with the community. It was a very nice time shaking hands with people and working shoulder to shoulder with our northern family.

THE NO-CANOEING CANOE TRIP: We had the novel idea of canoeing the “Green” Cedar River. With all the best intentions we gathered enough canoes and planned the route. The moment the Sunday service ended, dark clouds moved in with an overwhelming amount of lightening. Lightning-strikes and metal boats on water do not make for safe events. So, at the last minute, the group decided to cruise to Bayport for ice cream and chill at a park when the storm passed.

JULY: First of all, I have to expose a grave ignorance on my part. Back in July, when Duluth Community Group joined OneLife to host our 4th Annual Biking for Tacos event, it wasn’t until we were almost completely done with the entire event that I connected why Laura was wearing that huge colorful sombrero. See, the event was called Biking for “TACOS”! Really, I thought she was just overly concerned about sunburn or something… Sheesh! I am slow.

Biking for Tacos this year put us in conversations with people from the community again; even some long-ago acquaintances. It was a great way to share a little fun with Menomonie. Duluth crew, it was really nice to hang with you guys for a couple of days.

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NEIGHBORHOODS: Over the summer, various OneLife members hosted gatherings in their neighborhoods to connect with neighbors and co-workers. These gatherings included various activities like homemade ice cream and hot dogs, evening breakfast, and a movie in the woods. This year these events seemed decently attended and connections were made, and at very little cost or work.

Fast Forward

As we head into the fall, we will be meeting twice a month to fellowship together. We have a few ideas in mind like our annual flag football and chili day, among other things. We are really looking forward to what’s in store.

Keep your eyes on the church calendar for more information about when we are meeting and what we are doing.