The Parish Pulse · 2020. 10. 9. · The Parish Pulse October 2020 ... community/fellowship, and to...
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The Parish Pulse October 2020 Newsletter of the Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran and St. Paul Lutheran Parish ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wow! These nearly two months that I have spent with you have literally flown by. It has truly been a blessing to get to know so many of you and to serve here. God is at work here in our parish. I want to share a few thoughts about dealing with change in our lives, our world, and our church. We truly live in a crazy, ever-changing world; but our good and gracious God is UNCHANGING! Before our chat about CHANGE, here are a few logistical updates: - Our website is ‘live and launched’! Please visit the site at www.blspelca.org. In today’s world of change and the challenges of a world pandemic, we have seen how important it is for us to find new ways to connect. That is the intent of this website! It was designed so that visitors to the site will connect with who we are as a parish, as two unique churches, as the ELCA, and as the body of Christ in the world. It was designed to be a place to connect for information, Bible study, prayer, for community/fellowship, and to celebrate our story and our people through pictures! Your feedback is welcomed on the site. It will be evolving week after week! Websites are living and breathing and are never- “done--done!” - Confirmation is going very well. We have four students who will be confirmed on Reformation Sunday, October 25, 2020. These four Confirmands are featured in this month’s newsletter, so please read their stories below. Now, let’s talk about CHANGE. Ponder these Scriptures and as you read them and think about building our lives and our church on the FIRM FOUNDATION OF GOD and not the shifting sands of this world: - Revelation 22:13 - I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. - James 1:16-18 - Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will, He brought us forth by the word of truth.
Transcript of The Parish Pulse · 2020. 10. 9. · The Parish Pulse October 2020 ... community/fellowship, and to...
The Parish Pulse
October 2020 Newsletter of the Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran and St. Paul Lutheran Parish
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Wow! These nearly two months that I have spent with you have literally flown
by. It has truly been a blessing to get to know so many of you and to serve here. God is at work here in our parish. I want to share a few thoughts about dealing with change in our lives, our world, and our church. We truly live in a crazy, ever-changing world; but our good and gracious God is UNCHANGING! Before our chat about CHANGE, here are a few logistical updates: - Our website is ‘live and launched’! Please visit the site at www.blspelca.org. In
today’s world of change and the challenges of a world pandemic, we have seen how
important it is for us to find new ways to connect. That is the intent of this website!
It was designed so that visitors to the site will connect with who we are as a parish,
as two unique churches, as the ELCA, and as the body of Christ in the world. It was
designed to be a place to connect for information, Bible study, prayer, for
community/fellowship, and to celebrate our story and our people through pictures!
Your feedback is welcomed on the site. It will be evolving week after week!
Websites are living and breathing and are never- “done--done!”
- Confirmation is going very well. We have four students who will be confirmed on
Reformation Sunday, October 25, 2020. These four Confirmands are featured in this
month’s newsletter, so please read their stories below.
Now, let’s talk about CHANGE. Ponder these Scriptures and as you read them and think about building our
lives and our church on the FIRM FOUNDATION OF GOD and not the shifting sands of this world:
- Revelation 22:13 - I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the
beginning and the end.
- James 1:16-18 - Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there
is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will, He brought us forth by the
word of truth.
- John 6:26-27 - (Just after the feeding of the 5,000) - Jesus answered them and said,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw the signs, but because
you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the
food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God
the Father has set His seal on Him.
- Hebrews 13: 8-9 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be
carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be
established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been
occupied with them.
We continue to be faced with changes in our world. We have surpassed 200,000 deaths in our country with this Covid-19 virus. The weather is changing as we move into fall and winter. We are contemplating how we move inside at our Bear Lake Church. Our country has been seriously ravaged with fires, tornadoes, and hurricanes. We continue to be faced with uncertainties and worries about the future. Well--there’s good and bad news on that front. How about the bad news first…If we put our hopes and confidence in the world--the worldly world as you have heard me call it, we will be disappointed every time. There is no lasting foundation in this worldly world. It is like trying to build a house on sinking sand. It just won’t stand up against any form of resistance--even small things! BUT… the GOOD NEWS--no!!! … THE EVERLASTING GREAT NEWS is that we have a God who loves us and has claimed us as his own. We have a God that is unshakable and unchangeable. When we build our lives, our church, our world on our unshakable and unchangeable God, we are building ON THE ROCK THAT CANNOT BE MOVED. As we work to transition at Bear Lake to the indoors or to another format for worship, and as we continue to worship indoors at St. Paul, let us keep God out front of all our actions. Let us lift up to God our concerns and our needs for God’s eternal guidance. I pray that we do not lose any momentum that the Holy Spirit has CLEARLY ESTABLISHED during these summer months. May God guide our steps as we continue to navigate our transitional and ever-changing world. May God guide our steps and keep us from resisting the necessary change(s) that we face. May God saturate us--individuals, families, and our churches, in God’s infinite GRACE as we look to a vibrant future in God’s mission, Christian fellowship, and vibrant worship in God’s holy name. This is just a reminder for the following: Main Parish Phone Number: 507-852-3796. Calls to Pastor’s cell and urgent needs: 303-887-4513. Parish website: www.blspelca.org. Pastor email: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please keep me in your prayers as I pray for you every day. Now, may the peace of God which passes all understanding--guard your hearts and lives through Jesus Christ; and may the blessing of God Almighty--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--be with you all--now and forever! Amen. Peace, Pastor Tim
Meet Our 2020 Confirmation Class
Jackson Frank: Bible Verse: Psalm 118:8 - It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. About the candidate: Jackson is in the 9th grade at Alden-Conger High School. He participates in the band. Jackson’s goals for the future include “understanding how life works” and to become some form of geologist. Hobbies: For his hobbies, Jackson likes to hang out with his friends. Who do you want to thank? Jackson wants to thank his Grandma Mary Jo, Pastors Daphne and Tim, and God. My One-liner Faith Statement: Jackson says, “My faith to me is like a lifesaver to a drowning person.” Cearra Grunzke: Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we walk by faith and not by sight. About the candidate: Cearra is in the 9th grade at Alden-Conger High School, where she plays volleyball, basketball, and softball. Hobbies: Her hobbies include sports, hanging out with friends, and shopping. Who do you want to thank? Cearra wants to thank her Pastor, her parents, her grandparents, and her aunts and uncles upon this milestone in her life. My One-liner Faith Statement: “I believe in Jesus Christ.”
Parker Hintz: Bible Verse: John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only son to die, so that whoever believes in him, would not perish, but would have everlasting life. About the candidate: Parker is in the 9th grade at Alden-Conger High School. He participates in baseball, basketball, football, and golf. He is aiming his career sights on being an electrician. Hobbies: Parker’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, and sports. Who do you want to thank? Parker wants to thank his parents and his grandparents at this milestone in his life. My One-liner Faith Statement: “I believe in Jesus Christ.” Madison Mattson: Bible Verse: John 14:6 - Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” About the candidate: Madison is in the 9th grade at Alden-Conger High School. She participates in volleyball, basketball, softball, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America. Her aspirations for the future could mean a career in physical education or the dental field. Hobbies: Her hobbies are many: being outside--with friends and family, watching football, watching volleyball, and watching basketball games. She loves working with animals and going to Crane Lake with her whole family. Who do you want to thank? Upon this milestone accomplishment, Madison wishes to thank her Mom and Dad, her sisters, her grandma and grandpa’s, aunts and uncles, and her pastor. My One-liner Faith Statement: “I believe in God, going to church, going to Sunday School, and to love everyone.”
CALL COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Bear Lake/St. Paul Parish call committee has started the process of finding a new minister for our parish. We've met twice on Zoom with Rev. Barb Streed from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA and one time at David and Bonnie Davidson's. We want to thank everyone for completing the surveys and letting us know the kind of leadership you would like to see for our parish. We plan to meet again on Wednesday, September 30th to go over the survey results and determine our next steps. All congregations need to have a Ministry Site Profile (or MSP) completed through the ELCA's website. We will need to finish that before we can move forward with calling a new minister. So, we're hoping the survey will help us fill out the MSP. If you ever have questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to any of the call committee members. We ask for your continued prayers for our parish and this committee while we go through the call process. Bear Lake/St. Paul Call Committee Members: David & Bonnie Davidson (Co-Chairs) Linda Erickson Carla Lindeman Deb Mortensen Albert Purdy Dianne Sailor Tim & Miranda Sailor Melissa Wangen George Wichmann Jean Wichmann
Bear Lake WELCA Thankoffering:
Just a note on the upcoming Thankoffering. I am encouraging the women of Bear Lake to start collecting a daily thankoffering. Each day could be a time to put coins in a jar for your own thankoffering with a prayer for one thing you are thankful for. There really are many things to be thankful for even in this time of the pandemic. On November 15th you may give the offering to the WELCA Treasurer (Nancy Mattson) as she will forward it to the Churchwide office. Thank You,
Carla Lindeman
Secretary of Stewardship
October is Pastor Appreciation Month!
Please remember in your prayers: Ron Godtland, Judy (Drescher) Schwab, Mary Jo Ditlevson, Bryan Lair, Phyllis Scherb, Bud Morgan, Dorothy Wencl, Marvel Schewe, Darlene Behr, Janae Clausen, Rob Kruger, Erma Nelson, and Dick Doppelhammer.
Please come and celebrate the Confirmation of Madison Mattson and Parker Hintz following the worship service on Sunday, October 25th. We invite you to a walk-by starting at 10:00 a.m. to congratulate the confirmands and grab a sweet treat to go. All are welcome!
Pat and Sue delivered Pastor Daphne's retirement quilt recently. She loved it! Thanks again to everyone who helped get this project completed for her.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Main Parish Phone Number: 507-852-3796 Calls to Pastor’s cell and urgent needs: 303-887-4513 Parish website: www.blspelca.org. Pastor email: [email protected]. Pastor Tim O’Shields – cell #303-887-4513 emails – [email protected] or [email protected]
Linda Mattson – secretary – 507-265-3343
email - [email protected]
Jean Wichmann – BL president – 507-951-0729 email – [email protected]
Jeremy Johnson – SP president – 507-383-1630 email – [email protected]
blspelca.org
October 1 Jennifer Farris October 3 Kelli Brune October 5 Betty Johnson October 6 Mary Jo Ditlevson October 7 Jodi Westrum October 8 Sam Hintz October 9 Shelby Watkins October 10 Mary Wangen October 12 Jarvis Burgett October 13 Donna White Beth Peterson October 18 Julie Schewe Adam Drescher Denise Westcott October 19 Brian White October 21 Shirley Behr October 25 Cloie Bangert October 28 David Lair Madison Mattson October 29 Rick Loock
October 2 Kevin & Marie Juveland October 3 Tim & Miranda Sailor October 12 Jeff & Julie Claussen October 17 Larry & Pat Beck Jarvis & Dawn Burgett October 18 Lowell & Debby Gabriel
2020
Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran Church Worship 9:00 am Sunday School 10:00-10:45 am St. Paul Lutheran Church Worship 10:30 am Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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4 Communion at both churches
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7 Rachel Circle at
Janet Venem’s 1 pm (LWR kits) Confirmation at BL 7 pm
8 Parish Council Meeting at St. Paul Fellowship Hall 7 pm
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11 Communion at both churches
12 Columbus Day
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14 Confirmation at BL 7 pm
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21 Confirmation at BL 7 pm
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25 Confirmation Sunday with Holy Communion
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28 Confirmation at BL 7 pm
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31 Halloween
