july 2017 newsletter - razor planet€¦ · there will be no healing service this month, and it...

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July 2017

Newsletter

From the Desk of Pastor David Maxfield Dear Friends in Christ, “… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” (Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776) This year our nation will celebrate the 241st anniversary of the birth of our nation. We are not perfect, we struggle with equality to this day, we have competing notions of what liberty and the pursuit of happiness means, and sadly our civil and political discourse has too often turned to gutter language, images of vile violence. What was once seen as a grand and noble experiment in which all voices can be heard is becoming in the name of inclusiveness an experiment in which only accepted voices are heard. We are not perfect That is why this year I am spending time thinking about this one sentence and the vision they set forth. … endowed by their Creator… nature abhors a vacuum and will fill nothing with something. When God is omitted from the public square, culture and personal life, what/ who will take the place of the Divine? Who/whatever it is will be less, and chances are it will look a lot like the created and not the Creator… Perhaps that is why one of my favorite phrases to ponder is… God created humanity in the image of God, and we returned the favor…” Yet what I am most attracted to is the pre-eminent right which the founders identified… the right to life. It is so obvious that it almost hits home with a Homer Simpson-esque “duh” response. If there is no life, there can be no liberty, no pursuit of happiness, not struggle, no debate. If life is not a given what is there? It is the giftedness (endowed by their Creator) and the gift (life) which gives to each and every human a God-given dignity, worth and value. To paraphrase an old Sunday School song, “… we are precious in His sight.” Life is the first gift. It is as the founders identified the foundational right. This Fourth of July I encourage you to ponder this gift in the way you do best- turn on the sprinkler and get wet with the kids, cast the line and marvel at the fish that got away… putter in the garden or on the green…. ooh and awe at the fireworks display (please be safe), and be like an elder lady I met the other day. She was sitting outside of a care facility, the bright ribbon of her sun hat tied beneath her chin. Her eyes were closed but she was not asleep. “I am basking in the glory of life” she said. As you celebrate life this Fourth, may you be drawn to celebrate the giver of Life, the One who is Life. Shalom, Pastor David Post Script I wish to continue to thank you and encourage you in prayer as we continue to seek God concerning the ministry needs of the congregation. One of the things God continually asks of me is the openness to receive not my desire, but his will… let’s pray for this same openness to God’s dream for us. Check out the article on our “missionary” Molly and her upcoming year of ministry via the Young Adult in Global Mission program. What an exciting adventure! Don’t forget the Sunday Brunch on July 16. Thank you for your prayers and monetary gifts on her behalf. Oh the places you’ll go! The bulletin board is filling with pictures of the adventures of “Flat Jesus and Friends” this summer. Take a look, check it out on Facebook and have fun!

Oh, the places you’ll go!

Church on the Go! Summer is here! Gloria Dei is excited to announce a new project to stay connected with our members

and friends while they enjoy the vacations, family visits, and sight-seeing that comes with the warm

weather. Starting June 4, supplies will be available in the Gathering Area for your family to build your

own Church on the Go kit for those trips out of town! Word searches, coloring sheets, the weekly

church readings, and other activities will be available for you to choose from.

This is Flat Jesus, and we ask that each family that builds a kit takes one with them! After he’s been

colored in, take some pictures with him on your trips. Selfies, funny locations, and goofy situations are

all welcome! Then, just send the pictures to [email protected] and let us know where you took

Flat Jesus. We’re all excited to see where He pops up this summer!

We hope that Church on the Go, and especially Flat Jesus, will help remind all of us that Jesus goes with us everywhere we go.

Whether it’s to visit Grandma and Grandpa, see a Minnesota Twins game, relax by a campfire, or check out the Grand Canyon, He’s

always right there with us. We look forward to seeing where you and Flat Jesus go!

Evangelism Committee: We had a joyous time serving our VBS families and our neighbors from Prairie View Apartments Root Beer

Floats this month. We are working on new ideas for our God’s Work Our Hand’s Project this fall that will

allow for participation form all age groups; the date will be September 17. We are looking for volunteers to

assist with home bound communion; if you are interested please contact the church office. We are very

privileged to be able to offer our food pantry to those in need; last month 23 families needed our assistance;

your donations are so appreciated!! The Evangelism Committee members include: Audrey Frisinger, Mary

Kay Odegard, Bev Natwick, Mary Schroeder, Pat Day, Andrea Peterson, Lori Hahn, Judy Hogue, and Clarene

Vee. The committee meets the third Thursday of the month at 6pm in the gathering area- if you would like to

join us we would love to see you there!

Hello from Parish Ed Committee! VBS was wonderful this year. Our theme was Maker Fun Factory. We averaged 60-65 kids each day. We raised $141.95 for the Water for Peru Tithing project. Thank You to all the Volunteers who made this happen this year!

Lots of positive feedback from kids and parents that the kids really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Next project is getting ready for Church School to start again in August!

We are currently in need of Wednesday night church school teachers. If you would like to help with this next school year, please contact someone on the Parish Ed Committee or call the church office at 701-572-2667.

Please let us know if there is anything you would like to help with throughout the year. Members of our committee include, Georgette Huravitch, Rachael Studsrud, Liz Shupe, Sherry Weyrauch, Steph Amundson, Heidi Clemes, Ann Nelson, and Kami Dornfeld. Have a great summer!

Stewardship is everything I do after I say ‘I believe.’ It is a way of life. It is a way that we live out our callings as disciples. Stewardship is really all about love. Love is best understood not only in words, but also in deed. Stewardship is the way we love with all that God has entrusted to our care. I define stewardship as the way in which we use all of the resources that God has entrusted to our care to love God and our neighbor.

Stewardship Committee: The Stewardship committee consists of Wendy McGinley, Kent Reierson, James Bervig, Rick Clemes & Alberta

Parisian Stewardship committee is currently searching for a new stewardship program.

The Above & Beyond project - “Sponsor a Summer Camp Missionary” for UMM has been fulfilled. Thank

you to everyone that donated.

Greetings from the Worship Committee! We would like to thank all of you for embracing the idea of Flat Jesus! He has been a busy guy this summer and we can't wait to see where else he will pop up! Don't forget to bring Flat Jesus with you and forward your photos on to the office so they can be shared with the congregation!

Church in the park planning is underway and is scheduled for August 20th at Spring Lake Park! Pastor Dave will also be blessing the children's backpacks at this service to send them off into the new school year with ex-tra blessings from the church.

There will be no healing service this month, and it will resume its normal schedule in October.

Please consider joining us on July 25th at 6pm for our next meeting, we would love to see some new faces!

Submitted by Chelsey Vinger, Linda Clemes, Peggy Hagen, Kathy Molland, and Paul Solomonson

Canned Fruit

Chili

Canned Vegetables

Pancake Mix

Syrup

Spaghetti O’s

Ravioli

Juice

Fruit Snacks

Granola Bars

Diapers

Wipes

Band-Aids

Paper plates

Plastic forks, spoons, knives

Women’s products

Shampoo

Conditioner

Laundry Detergent

Toilet paper

Pasta

Peanut Butter

Dry Milk

Baked Beans

Canned Meat, Chicken or

Fish

Working together to be a community where all people are valued As the uptick in the oil continues, we are seeing more and more people that are homeless and/or have no

means by which to present themselves clean and tidy for a job interview. We are planning an event to help

our clients prepare for interviews by offering haircuts, showers, resume writing and interview practice. There

will be a large job fair in September. Do you want to help? We ask that you buy full size personal care items

to help them achieve success, see lists below. If you would rather donate money for us to buy the items, we

would be happy to do that also. Please make checks payable to Community Connections. Thank you for your

consideration.

Men’s List Women’s List

Bath towel & wash cloth Bath towel & wash cloth

Comb/brush Comb/brush

Nail clipper/file Nail clipper/file

Shampoo/conditioner Shampoo/conditioner

Deodorant Deodorant

Body wash/bar soap Body wash/bar soap

Toothbrush & paste Tooth brush & paste

Shaving cream Shaving cream

Razor Razor

Lotion/after shave Lotion/after shave

Notebook & pen Notebook & pen

Ankle socks Ankle Socks

Pocket calendar Pocket Calendar

Plastic hanger Plastic hanger

Please drop off items at our office before September 1, 2017. Thank you. Our office is located at: 603 Main Street, Suite 1

BIRTHDAYS

07/01 KATIE HANSEN

TIM KLEVEN KEIANA RONESS

JOSH SOLEM

07/02 DEEANN GRUNDSTAD

JADA OSBORN

07/03 BRADON CERKONEY

TYLER COLEBANK KARLA SHEETS BETTY TVEDT

07/04

BRITTANY FARSTVEET NORM HANSON

JEFF KLEVEN TANNER SCHAAN

07/05

DIANE ANDERSON HUDSON FARSTVEET

MOLLY GATHMAN 07/06

ABBIE AXTMAN DAN LERVICK DEB NOESKE

WINIFRED SCHIELE JAN STONER

07/07

KYLIE BOLDT JORDAN BRACKEY CHRIS HURAVITCH

RON LAWRENCE MIRIAM THEIGE

07/08

BRANDON BENTH JIM ENGEN

KRISTI OLSON

07/09 JADEN LYNCH PAUL OLSON

07/10

JAXON ALVARADO KASI BERGSTROM

RYLEE IRGENS KEEGAN REDKA SHANNA RUDE GARY SUNDET

07/11

LEON BRACKEY JEFF GRAUPE RAE OLSON

ASHLEY OWAN KATHY TROGSTAD

CLARENE VEE ALAN WENSTAD

07/12

KENTON CARNELL CODY KREIL

07/13

ADELYNN KNUTSON 07/14

ZOANNI LIFFRIG BRYCE PARISIEN

CATHELEEN STRINDEN

07/15 DAVE CHALLES CLAY GAFKJEN MATT KOHLER

MARY JO NEUBAUER KASETEN QUAMME

CARL ZEMAN

07/16 SADIE GRAUPE

BEV ZAHN

07/17 KATHY BRIGHAM

VERNA COLBY

07/18 BOBBIE KOHLER

07/19

SHANNON BACHMEIER NIKOLE HELLEN

JAXON JEANNOTTE ZACK NELSON RYLAN WOLD

07/20

EMILY EHLERT TY GERRARD MARTY HAUG JAY SOLEM

OWEN THEIGE

07/21 NANCY HOLGERSON

KYMBREE HOLM

07/21

LYNN LEININGER LEON SIME

ROSALIE TRONES

07/22 KERRY MONSON

07/23

BRAD KJORSTAD HAYLEE MOLDENHAUER

JERRY OPSAL MONIQUE WISNESS

07/25

TAMSEN ALLEN LAURIE GARBEL JAYDIS RAMSEY HAILEY VADER

07/26

BRAYDEN HELLER WAYNE KAMP

SCOTT SIM JADEN WYMAN

07/27

STEPHANIE BRACKEY LANDON EDWARDS KELSEY ENGBERG GARRETT HOLTE

TAMMY LACROSSE HEATHER POWELL

KENNEDY WHRITENOUR TENLEIGH WROLSON

07/29

APRIL COLLINGS BRIE MOLDENHAUER

MADISON NELSON

07/30 JASON BARTEN MISTI COTTAM VICKI HAUGE

MORGAN STRIETZEL

07/31 RYAN WICKUM

Sun Mon Tue Wed

2 3 4 OFFICE CLOSED

5 Glory Band -

9 10 GDLC WORK NIGHT - 6 PM SOS - 7 PM TCC - 7 PM

11 12 Glory Band -

16 Molly Haagenson’s Send off Brunch - 10:30 AM

17 18 19 Glory Band -

23 24 SOS - 7 PM

25 Worship Comm - 6:30 PM Parish Ed Comm - 7:30 PM

26 Glory Band -

30 31

JULY 2017Gloria Dei Summer Schedule

9:30 AM Unified Worship Service

8:45 AM Coffee Hour

Thu Fri Sat 1

8 PM

6 Quilting - 9 AM Exec. Committee - 5:30 PM

7 8 Bible Breakfast - 8 AM

8 PM

13 Quilting - 9 AM Council - 6:00 PM


8 PM

20 Quilting - 9 AM Evangelism Comm. - 6:30 PM

21 22 Bible Breakfast - 8 AM VES - 9:00 AM

8 PM

27 Quilting - 9 AM Property Comm - Noon


ULY 2017 Faith Lutheran Sunday Schedule

10:00 AM Worship

Gloria Dei Saturday Schedule

5:00 PM Worship

Worship in the Park

Date: Sunday, August 20th

Time: 9:30 AM

Place: Spring Lake Park Amphitheater

Come on out and join us for a fun, outdoor service

with a beautiful view, and don’t forget that there will be

a potluck to follow the service as well. Keep an eye out

for more information to come!

Gospel Seed...July 2017 A Monthly Update from the Synod Office A

Amazing Generosity!

There are times I am humbled by the generosity and compassion of congregations in this synod. For years, Our Savior, Reeder has supported a seminary student. Synod staff helped connect the congregation and the student; for four years, they formed a relationship. It is about prayer and financial support. For the past four years, this congregation has been walking with Kim Gifford. Each year Kim would get a financial gift from the congregation to help cover seminary expenses. During this time, Kim has visited the congregation to preach.

In mid-June, Kim was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and will now serve the people of Hope Lutheran, Surrey. Members of Our Savior called and asked if they could drive up from Reeder and help serve the lunch following the ordination – what an incredible gift!

Their compassion and generosity did not stop there. They have also made a gift to both the Mission Endowment Fund and Ministry Endowment Fund in Kim’s honor – I am humbled.

Within a couple of weeks, synod staff will provide Our Savior with the name of another seminary student and a new relationship will begin to be built. Nearly this entire time, Our Savior has been (and continues to be) without a called pastor of their own. Thanks for your faithful-ness.

Important Conversations…

In mid-June, we had the pleasure of hosting Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in the Western North Dakota Synod. During a whirlwind tour, we held a number of round table conversations. This visit was in part a follow-up to the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests of last fall, but also a way to talk openly about rural life and rural ministry issues.

Thank you to Lord of Life Lutheran, Bismarck; Bethel Lutheran, New Town; Barb and Dustin Roise (members of Bethlehem Lutheran, Ross); and the White Earth/McGregor Lutheran Parish for taking time to gather people for conversation.

What we witnessed was honest, open conversation where people were respectful of divergent viewpoints. This was another step on our journey of finding ways to go deeper in conversation in hopes of building relation-ships.

Stay tuned – there will be many more ways and oppor-tunities for these conversations to continue.

Synod Assembly…

It was a joy to gather with over 300 Western ND Synod Lutherans for our annual Assembly at the begin-ning of June. Together, we studied scripture, sang, celebrated and talked about life and faith here in Western North Dakota.

A complete wrap-up of all the action is available on our synod website – take a look.

Next year’s Assembly will be June 1 -2 at the Ramkota in Bismarck. Please mark your calendars now. We can’t wait to see you there!

_____________________________________________

You are invited to a Festival Worship with Holy Communion, October 29, 2017 at the Bismarck Event Center to commemorate the 500

th Anniversary of the

Reformation. Worship will begin at 11:00AM.

_____________________________________________

Prayers, please…

For Susan Peterson and family as they grieve the death of her husband/their father and grandfather, Rev. Bruce Peterson. At the time of his death, Pastor Bruce was serving the people of Our Redeemer’s, New England and Zion, Regent. May God be your strength.

For all who have been invited to serve as Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) around the world. We include in those prayers Kristian Aardahl (Faith, Bismarck); Krista Mathistad (Bethany, Minot) and Molly Haagenson (Gloria Dei, Williston). May God bless them as they venture off for this year of service.

For people who are discerning a call to ministry - whether as a pastor or as a deacon. May God’s Holy Spirit provide guidance in this time of wondering.

For those congregations who are in the call process. For patience, wisdom and the willingness of members to step forward to help where they can so ministry and mission continues.

For rain. Much of our synod continues to need moisture for crops and pastures.

God Bless!

Rev. Mark Narum

Serving as Bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod

General Checking Account:

May 1 2017 General Checking Account Balance 206,135.33

May Offering +27,650.37

May Expenses (28,739.53)

May 31 2017 General Checking Account Balance $205,046.17

Special Checking Account:

May 1 2017 Special Checking Account Balance 253,863.82

May Specials Offering +9,958.26

May Expenses (19,012.50)

May 31 2017 Special Checking Account Balance $244,809.58

Benevolences :

WND Synod—ELCA Benevolence 1638.35

UMM Bible Camp Benevolence 234.05

Bethel Lutheran Home Benevolence 163.84

Lutheran Social Services Benevolence 117.02

WND Synod– WND Benevolence 187.24

Total Benevolences for November $2340.50

Thrivent Mortgage Payment $6552.00

Building Loan Balance as of May 21, 2017 $225,808.73

May 2017 Financials

June Council Meeting Highlights Committee Reports – Pastor's report - Pastor Dave provided his monthly report on pastoral activity, and

further discussion was had on the need to actively get programs and volunteers up and running to aid in congregational support of the pastor.

Evangelism - The committee is already planning and looking forward to the annual God’s Work Our Hands event in September, and is aiming to hold the event on September 17.

Property - Work night is 2nd Monday of each month as the committee continues to work hard on their list of tasks.

Worship – Unified services have begun and Church on the Go is up and running.

Stewardship – Committee continues working on Time & Talent sheets and is already looking at possible programs for this fall’s Stewardship Drive.

Parish Ed – Vacation Bible School had a great turnout and lots of fun.

Nominating - Open positions for council

Property - 1, Worship - 2, Youth - One youth, and Secretary

Call Committee - Very active, prayerful, and working with Synod office. The commit-tee asks that the congregation join their prayers as we near the end of the school year and seminary graduations.

June 4 Worship 10:00 AM




• Faith Worship on July 16th will be held at Blacktail Dam at 10 AM. A barbeque lunch will follow. Plates, utensils, meat & buns will be provided. Please bring a salad or bars to share. Everyone is welcome.

Faith News July 2017

Bill Christensen All Good Dogs Go to Heaven

I was recently asked if there will be animals in heaven? I believe that there will be. Both Martin Lu-ther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer agree and have penned their thoughts for us. “Luther writes and I quote: “Surely there will be dogs and other animals in the kingdom of heaven because the earth will not be empty and desolate...God will create a new heaven and a new earth., and also new little dogs. These animals will then not only be not harmful to us, but they will be delightful, joyous and pleasant so that we can even play with them.” Luther also wrote about his dog Klutz: “Oh,if only I could pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish or hope.” Bonhoeffer wrote: “God created human beings and also animals, and I am sure he also loves ani-mals. And I believe that with God it is such that all who loved each other on earth...genuinely loved each other...will remain together with God, for to love is part of God.” The theologian in me wanted more so I turned to Genesis 1:25 “God made all creatures that move along the ground and God saw that it was good.” Notice if you will that God made the animals be-fore God made us. Another thought to remember is that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and screwed up God's perfect creation, not Rover. The bible ends in The Book of Revelations with God restoring the world to its perfect order and since God loves animals we can only expect that animals will be part of this wonderful new world. I have a dog who loves going to church, who joins me every morning for my devotion time and prayer. She is loving, faithful, loyal and very forgiving. She waits for me to come home and is ea-ger to see me with her tail wagging. I expect when I arrive in heaven she will be there joyfully wagging that tail and greeting my arrival and hopefully saying,”what took you so long?” I join with our Lutheran theologians, Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther in saying: “Animals in heaven: This is most certainly true.”

Faith Lutheran Church

June Memorials

In Memory of Delores Skaare

Mortgage Redution Fund

Dick & Marg McKennett Georgianne Tofte Gary Knudsvig

Wayne & Karen Kamp Wayne & Sheri Retzer John & Lois Kuester

James & Loyce Rauser Ione Nice

Clara Lindseth Terry & Renee Morris Jackie & Dennis Walls

Ginger Rondecus Gordon & Deb Anderson

Paula Schmidt Grace Henson

Christine Swigost A.J. Swigost

Floyd & Donna Pedterson Leslie & Nancy Holgerson

Rod & Sandy Opperud Dale J Livdahl

Gene & Tamara Johnson Barbara Tietz

Memorial Fund

Erling Gronfur & Cheryl Landro

A.L. & C.R. Landro Shirley Ledahl

Stan & Nina Grev Doug Gronfur

Lyle & Irene Hillstead M & D Dragseth

V.F & Susan Peterson David & Bev Anderson Ron & Shirley Miller

Doug & Kathryn Schmidt Joyce Krabseth

Mabel & Daniel Thompson

Food Pantry

Betty Hegge

Campership Fund

Ron & Deb Bingeman

In Memory of Palmer Hanson

Mortgage Reduction Fund

Harold & Arlene Tvedt

In Memory of Annie Barkie



Campership Fund

Roy & Kathy Trogstad

In Memory of Julie Clark


Bill & Lola Christensen

Campership Fund

Roy & Kathy Trogstad

Youth Group

Ron & Deb Bingeman

In Memory of Raymond Papineau



James & Loyce Rauser

Floyd & Donna Peterson

Stan & Shirley Lyson

Outdoor Flower Fund

Ron & Deb Bingeman

In Memory of Janice Tangedal


James & Loyce Rauser

Campership Fund

Ron & Deb Bingeman

In Memory of Calvin Solem



Stan & Shirley Lyson

Wayne & Sheri Retzer

Ardis & Levin Bean

Glory Band Fund

Keith & Barb Overland

In Memory of Ruth Challes Rossland

Quilters Fund

Ron & Deb Bingeman

In Memory of Pam Werlinger



In Memory of Phyllis Conover



In Memory of Francis Laqua

Quilting Fund

Ruth Olson

In Memory of Bob Priebe


Dick & Marg McKennett

Norm & Lisa Hanson

Gloria Dei Ministry Staff

Pastor David Maxfield 701-572-2667 [email protected]

Gloria Dei Office Staff

Ann Nelson 701-572-2667 [email protected] Amber Ogaard 701-572-2667 [email protected]

JoAnne Colebank 701-572-2667 [email protected] Georgette Huravitch 701-572-2667 [email protected] Wayne Colebank 701-572-2667 [email protected]

Faith Lutheran Church Staff

Bill Christensen 701-572-6424 [email protected]

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church ELCA

1821 9th Avenue West

Williston, North Dakota, 58801

Executive Committee

President - Ashley Weisz

701-770-1865

[email protected]

Vice-President—Carl Zeman

Treasurer - Lois Reierson

701-770-1922

Secretary -

Gloria Dei Council

Committee Council Representatives

Parish Ed

Kami Dornfeld

Heidi Jeanotte

Sherri Weyrauch

Evangelism

Lori Hahn

Judy Hogue

Property

Mark Telehey

Stewardship

Wendy McGinley

Worship

Youth Committee

Bill Reeb

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

july 2017 newsletter - razor planet€¦ · there will be no healing service this month, and it...

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