Ministry Programs

Programs for children, youth and family energetically serve participants from birth through college years with a broad variety of programming.

Church wide Theme

 Our theme for 2017 is
"Going Deeper in Faith." 
We will also be celebrating the anniversary of the Reformation in 2017!

Church Staff & Council

Our staff consists of a Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, and a host of support positions.  Meet our pastors below, and click the image above to meet the rest of our vibrant, energetic staff.

Meet our Interim Senior Pastor, The Rev. Dr. George Martin

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I began serving the Lutheran Church of the Cross (LCC) in August 2016. I’m here until we call a new Senior Pastor. As an experienced interim pastor (8 times now) I am never a candidate for the job, but only here to do some important work preparing the church for its next “called pastor.” I’m also too old to be considered for this position. I’m 74!
 
I was first ordained in 1967 as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church and then a year later was ordained a priest in the same church. So what am I doing serving in a Lutheran Church? Good question! Both the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a “concordat” about 17 years ago to mutually recognized each others' sacraments and the validity of ordination in each community. Since then many Lutherans have served in Episcopal churches, and here at LCC it’s the other way around.
 
This church wasn’t brand new to me when I started as Interim Pastor in August. My family has been coming up here for over a 100 years. We have a home on Pelican Lake as well as in the Twin Cities. When I was up at the lake (especially during the summer,) I worshiped here at LCC at the 8:15 service.  I knew and liked the former pastor. Supposedly, I was retired and wasn’t going to do another interim, but I was happy to accept the offer of the Church Council and Bishop Aitken to serve.
 
My wife and I have four adult children and ten grandchildren. Our cabin is a great meeting place for all of our family throughout the year. We love to be on the lake and I especially like to work in the woods. I’m a wood turner and a wood carver; I’m also working on a book on St. Paul, and will be able to get back to my writing when I retire again.
 
If you’re wondering about what you might find when you come to LCC, let me tell you (from personal experience) the following:
  1. One or more pastors and greeters to welcome you.
  2. Wonderful music in a congregation that loves to sing!
  3. Good coffee.
  4. A focus on children and youth (clearly present and participating.)
  5. A commitment to the earth through the ministry and leadership of the Creation Care Team.
  6. The most amazing rummage sale you’ve ever seen in your life - twice a year!
  7. A thoughtful community of learners sharing a common faith walk.
  8. Joy and laughter!
  9. So much more……
 
I look forward to welcoming you!
Pastor George
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        Thank you so much for stopping by the Lutheran Church of the Cross website! I am Pastor Kari and I have the privilege of serving as the Associate Pastor here. I came on staff in May of 2014. I moved to the Nisswa/Brainerd Lakes area from Minot, North Dakota where I served as the Campus Pastor at Minot State University and Congregation Pastor Hope Lutheran in Surrey, North Dakota.  Moving back to Minnesota was a move back home, as I grew up near St. Paul.  

      It truly is a blessing to be at Lutheran Church of the Cross.  When people ask me about LCC, I often say that you will experience spirit filled worship with wonderful music, hospitality and welcome and openness to all, genuine desire to grow in faith together as Disciples of Christ, and wiliness to reach outside of our walls to serve our community and the world. As a congregation we have assembled of very strong team for children, youth and family ministry and continue to make that a priority ministry of this congregation.

            As I think about 2017 and LCC – it will be a year of welcome. As a congregation we will be welcoming our new Senior Pastor. We know that God is preparing that Pastor to come to be among us and as a congregation we are also getting prepared to welcome him or her to be among us.
              Blessings!

Meet our Associate Pastor, Kari Williamson

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