Bethany Lutheran Church

Many who have grown up in the Lutheran church have heard the word vocation over and over... and over again. It's one that is drilled into the minds of many Lutherans, along with the question, "what is your vocation?"

Luther did a lot for the church, including nonclergy into the religious fold - bringing those who aren't called to ordained ministry to a recognition that there is work that God is calling them to, regardless of ordination vows. Before Luther, the word tended to be reserved specifically for those who were called only to roles in the church, but with Luther's expansion on the definition of vocation, all are invited to imagine where they are called to fit into God's earthly kingdom.

For Luther, these roles aren't stagnant either. They change throughout our lives as we come upon different seasons. Sometimes we are called to be student and sometimes we are called to be teacher. Sometimes we are called to be guide, and sometimes the guided. And the expectation was that a person would hold and does hold multiple vocations at a time and several different vocations throughout their life. Perhaps the question, "what is your vocation?" is asked so often because it is really more of a question of, "what is your vocation now?" "What is your vocation today?"

From his household chart in the Small Catechism, Luther always had a greater concern for one's vocation as member in their family and call to be caretaker and teacher to the children among us. Whether called to be grandparent, grandchild, father, son, or spouse - these are all roles in the house that one is called to.

Recently, mine and Paige's call has brought us to bring in a couple of kiddos into our home. They are both quite young and need a lot of attention and are at a critical stage of development of bonding with parents. While our language in the ELCA and the synod does not include foster care for parental leave policies (click here for ELCA parental leave report), our congregational council has agreed to the importance of taking the time away to focus on my vocation as 'dad' for a time.

To this effect, I will be on vacation from May 26-June 1st and on parental leave from June 2nd-July 14th.

Contacts for pastoral emergencies:

Pastor Jaime Benson from Bethlemhem Lutheran in Portage

608-742-8502

Pastor Karen Hofstad from St. Paul's in Baraboo

608-356-3230

Pastor Kris Totzke from St. John in Reedsburg

608-768-2556

Please keep our Administrative Assistant, Karen, in your prayers this week as she continues to mourn the loss of her dear mother.

Obituary

Elizabeth Mary (Bauer) Robinson

May 22, 1932 - May 4, 2025

PORTAGE – Elizabeth Mary (Bauer) Robinson was born in Madison, Wis., on May 22, 1932, to Charlotte (Staudenmeyer) and Clarence Bauer. She passed away May 4, 2025. Libbie lived in Arlington until she was eight years old, then moved to Portage. She graduated from Portage High school in 1950 and attended Madison Business College for one year.

She met the love of her life, Bob Robinson, while working for C.J. Berst as a receptionist and switchboard operator. Bob and Libbie were married September 5, 1953, at St. Mary's Church in Portage. They began their married life in Madison, where Libbie worked for General Telephone. From there they moved to Baraboo, where they began raising their children. In 1960, they moved to Portage, where she resided for over 60 years.

Libbie enjoyed golfing, working on puzzles, playing cribbage most nights with Bob, Shanghai Rummy, but most of all she loved refinishing old furniture, even a baby grand piano! She and Bob were avid Badger fans and had tickets to many football games. The highlight was attending the 1994 Rose Bowl game where the Badgers won. Go Bucky!

She started a coffee group with five women from their neighborhood in Portage that lasted for 60 years.

Libbie kept busy while raising their children by volunteering as co-coordinator for the Red Cross Blood Drive and coordinating Meals on Wheels. She remained a loyal volunteer for these groups for 20 and 19 years, respectively.

She is survived by her daughter, Laura (Steve) O'Rourke of Madison and their children, Kristin (Joe) Miller, Anna (Jeremy) Van Meter, and Nick (Emily); daughter, Margot Robinson of Lodi and her children, Cody, Jennifer and Ryan; son, Matt of Shorewood, and his sons, Micah (Clara) and Austin; and daughter, Karen (Brian) Landers of Wisconsin Dells and their daughter, Emma. She was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Hailey, Rafe, and Evan Miller, Jake Van Meter, and Noah, Hannah and Julia O'Rourke. She was preceded in death by her son, Rob in 1973; her brother, Bill in 2008; and her husband, Bob in 2013.

A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Libbie's life will be held at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Portage, Wis., on May 30, 2025, at 1 p.m. Visitation will take place from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., with a time of sharing from 12:30 p.m. until Mass at 1 p.m.

She would like to thank the following: Dr. Rak, for her last 32 years, since her cancer diagnosis; Ron and Tana, for being the greatest neighbors ever; the workers at Riverwood, who took care of her; the friends and dogs she met on her scooter rides; and Agrace, especially her hospice nurse, Katrina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Mary's School Tuition Assistance or the Columbia County Humane Society.

Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage (www.pmmfh.com), is assisting the family.

Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home

430 W. Wisconsin St.

Portage, WI

Vocation, Vocation, Vocation

Farwell, Yet I Remain

John 14:23-29

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Yard Sale

Remembering Elizabeth Robinson

Equal Exchange Coffee and Tea

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