It's a miracle!

Lutheran, The, May 2002 by Hafften, Ann

Congregations love to proclaim a miracle of grace and action in their midst. El Milagro/The Miracle Lutheran Church happily shouts this witness in Minneapolis and beyond.

El Milagro/The Miracle is the result of two neighboring congregations' decision to "consolidate their assets." St. Luke Lutheran, a 10-year-old Norwegian congregation, opened its doors and joined hands with Todos Los Santos (All Saints), a Spanish-speaking congregation that began nearly 10 years ago.

May is a month of celebrations for the new congregation. Syttende Mai, the May 17 Norwegian Constitution Day, is recognized by those with that heritage. Cinco de Mayo, May 5, is primarily a regional celebration (the defeat of the French army by Mexicans), but is also celebrated by Mexicans in this country.

This May, El Milagro/lhe Miracle will celebrate a year of worship and ministry together with a combined Syttende Mai-Cinco de Mayo party. It will be "Uff da and Ole," say its two pastors, Jim Gullickson and Tony Machado, laughing. They are so tuned to the newness and balance at El Milagro/The Miracle that they finish each other's sentences. Keeping up the excitement generated by the new congregation takes a lot of time, energy and work. But in the next breath they say, "It's not work-it's a breakthrough."

"Everything we're doing here is outside the regular paradigm of the church, everything is new," Machado says. "We want to plant this idea in the ELCA."

The two congregations were similar in number when they got together on Ash Wednesday last year for a trial period that lasted through Lent. "Now it's good to be one congregation," Machado says. "We are all better together than we would be apart."

El Milagro/the Miracle's early worship service is in English, attended mostly by the people from the former St. Luke. The second service is in Spanish in a sanctuary brimming with people from all of the Americas-many from Central America, others married to people from Argentina or the Caribbean, some who have adopted children from Latin America. It's important that members worship in their own language, Machado says.

On once-a-month "Harmony Sundays" and holy days, everyone worships together, about 200 in all. "It's wonderful to see the mix here on Sunday mornings," Machado says.

Most members from St. Luke are in their 90s. They could see the end of their congregation coming in the next five to 10 years, Gullickson says. They had to stretch and risk to help make El Milagro/The Miracle happen.

"This was originally a bilingual congregation, Norwegian and English. Now it's bilingual again," Gullickson says. "Identity was an issue, but everybody stepped back and thought about it. Now our identity is our ministry, and we are ready to move ahead."

Todos Los Santos worshiped in rented space about three miles away. Gullickson, serving St. Luke as interim pastor, reached out to Machado about combining resources. "St. Luke's welcomed us with open arms," Machado says. "They said, `What's ours is yours.'"

Gullickson explains, "St. Luke's was a congregation of the old Lutheran Free Church-it felt right to them to make a bold move like this all on their own. One older lady wondered, `Do you think people will really come to our church?' Then the excitement set in as people from Todos came to church. For our folks, it was like the excitement and fun of having a grandchild."

Both pastors emphasize the combined assets of the new El Milagro. Bluntly, St. Luke had the building and Todos Los Santos the people.

The well-maintained building of St. Luke was built in 1920, with a 1958 education wing. "Not a white elephant," Machado says. "These people have been good stewards of an important resource, and they bring that wisdom." They have foresight, experience and a spirit of "Let's do it," he adds.

St. Luke's location was another asset. El Milagro's neighborhood is growing after many dormant years. Nearby Hispanic businesses are prospering and people are buying the area's older homes.

Todos Los Santos brought people-families with youth and children. Theirs was a fast-growing congregation, and they bring a warm, welcoming attitude to the El Milagro/The Miracle effort. They bring enthusiasm and lots of music. "Maybe most important, they bring understanding of the immigrant experience of their new neighbors, insight into being new and 'other' in Lutheran Minneapolis," Machado says.

El Milagro/Tlhe Miracle installed its first church council in January; it will be bilingual. The congregation is working on building teams (not committees) and making plans for Spanish signage.

On a cold Palm Sunday morning, the new congregation brought the vision of "The Miracle" to the neighborhood with an outdoor procession of music, singing and palms.

Next up-the joint celebrations of May. Uff da! Ole!

Hafften, a free-lance writer living in Forest Lake, Minn., is The Lutheran's Minneapolis Area Synod correspondent and supplement editor.