Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Hopefully we will be well into our committee work concerning our 45th Anniversary Celebration for our very own West Prairie Lutheran Church? The date is set for Sunday June 29th, 2025. We have the Bishop on board to come preach and preside at Holy Communion that day. So, if asked to help out on the committee please do, as we as a congregation are only 45 years old once and then we are 46 years old. Now as far as May is concerned–Springs Work continues or is near completion, seeding possibly near completion too, school’s out for the summer, graduations, upcoming weddings are being planned, and our Synod Assembly. With that in mind the time for our Synod Assembly is scheduled for the end of May, early June (that would be May 30th through Sunday June 2nd in Watford City). And so, we need or would like at least 2 voting members (they used to be called delegates but their title has been changed since we became the E.L.C.A.). Please keep this in your thoughts, as we need people to attend in order to keep abreast of how God is leading us in 2025 in our Western North Dakota Synod and in our E.L.C.A. and beyond. As has been the tradition since Bishop Craig was installed as our Bishop the Synod Assembly continues over the Sunday of the weekend. And so Pastor Steve will be in Watford City attending the Assembly on Sunday June 2nd, which means we will need someone to step up and not only read the sermon that the Bishop will have prepared but also conduct the liturgy. Any volunteers? And of course in case of emergency Pastor Steve is only a phone call away if need be. And now my “food-for-thought” piece for the month of May, it is entitled, 10 Gems.. Little Bites of Wisdom 1. It’s always a good idea to plan ahead. remember, it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. 2. Laughter is internal jogging. It can do wonders for your body, as well as your spirit. 3. You can’t possibly have everything. Where would you put it? 4. Keep your temper. Nobody else wants it. 5. The only sure way to double your money is to fold it and put it in your pocket. 6. Want to protect your house against burglary? Tack the following note on your front door before you leave to go anywhere: “Steve, the python got loose again. Don’t go in until I return. He is too big for one person to handle alone. I’ll be back soon. 7. To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup. Whenever you’re wrong, admit it. Whenever you’re right, shut up... 8. The high cost of health care these days is enough to make you sick... 9. They asked 5 year-olds to come up with a 11th Commandment and this is what one child wrote– “An 11thCommandment, thou shall not jump to conclusions” 10. And of course probably the “best” gem of all is this last one– “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so” How’d it go? Perhaps we already have heard most if not all of these gems? Aside from the last one, I liked the following one the best, the one about the 5 year-olds writing about an 11th Commandment. In Christ, Pastor Steve
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are continuing our Adult Book Study, and our Midweek Lenten Worship Services with those wonderful soup and sandwich suppers put on by those willing to sign up. I hope you enjoyed the last three Chapters of Session #3 of “The Chosen” series. These last three sessions for our time on the Sundays in March will be entitled: “Why Evil Anywhere?” This study will be on Sundays March 3rd, 10th and 17th, from 8:45 until 10:00 in Pastor Steve’s office. Our theme for our Midweek Lenten Worship continues to be: “With the CROSS in view, let’s see how God spells–LOVE...GRACE...MERCY...FORGIVENESS...COMPASSION; every time God looks at you and me through Jesus’ eyes.” The schedule for these is Wednesdays March 6th, 13th, and 20th with Soup and Sandwich Supper at 6pm and Worship at 7pm. Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday schedule is as follows: Palm Sunday March 24th at 10:30am followed by lunch benefitting Sharon Goethe, put on by the men of West Prairie (approximately 11:30am); Good Friday is March 29that 7pm (no supper before) and Easter Sunday we will have Contemporary Easter Sunrise Service at 7am with Holy Communion, and Traditional Easter Service at 10:30am with Holy Communion. Now our brief “Food-for-thought” segment...entitled: What Is One Man’s Junk Is Another Man’s Treasure That’s what I wrote on the board. My English as a second language class was discussing our environment. We read about a city in Brazil where people are cleaning up the neighborhood and exchanging bags of trash for bags of groceries at city hall. Since the government doesn’t have to pay for garbage pickup, everyone is saving money. I chuckled as I told my students about putting my junk beside my garbage can at night and having it all taken before the garbage truck arrived the next day. One student from Vietnam told of seeing people searching the garbage dump for usable items. He said the people would take the items home, wash them, and then either use their treasures, or sell them. During the discussion, a student from Mexico became very quiet. Finally, he spoke softly. “When I was living in the streets, I was junk, yes?” He hesitated then spoke again. “Jesus, He find me and wash me up. And now I’m His treasure.” Not junk, that’s you and that’s me, because we belong to Jesus. Powerful and true, forever. In Christ, Pastor Steve P.S. As the news of the resurrection fills the air at Easter, may the news fill us with renewed strength, hope and courage to accept that we are loved eternally. Love in Christ, Pastor Steve and Zachary Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
With the coming of February, we begin our Lenten Journey to the cross with Jesus, ending with Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday after the events of Good Friday, which saw Jesus betrayed by Judas, denied three times by Peter, abandoned by all the other disciples except John, hung on a cross and buried. Our Lenten Season begins with Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, February 14th at 7pm with Holy Communion and Imposition Of Ashes. The rest of the Midweek Lenten Services all begin at 7pm, with a soup and sandwich supper beginning at 6pm. The theme for our Lenten Journey this year is--with the CROSS in view, let's see how God spells---LOVE...GRACE...MERCY...FORGIVENESS...COMPASSION; every time God looks at you and me through Jesus eyes. Right along with this Lenten Journey we have our Spring Book Study, as we conclude the last three sessions of season 3 from the series "The Chosen". We will then continue with a mini study of some other portion of the Bible, as the study guide for season 4 will not come out until after our book study. As far as my "Food-for-thought" piece, please take a look at the following, entitled: "A Meditation On Guidance" When I meditated on the word, GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "DANCE" at the end of the word. I remember reading a devotion one time that said doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. But when one person realizes this and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to surrender to the other with willingness and attentiveness. And so, my thoughts drew back to the word GUIDANCE. So when I saw the letter "G" I thought of God, followed by "U," and "I". "God," "U," and "I" "DANCE!" God, you and I dance. And all of a sudden, I knew what guidance meant to me. This is not to say that I am always a good dancer, as I want to lead God around more often than not; but when I remember to let go and let God lead, good things always happen. One other thing- Church Council Installation of Officers will be held on Sunday, February 4th, so please keep our council in your prayers. In Christ, Pastor Steve Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Well I don’t need to tell you that 2023 has changed to 2024, whether we wanted it to or not! And so we need to get right at it now don’t we, for December 31st of 2023 came way too quickly. With this in mind, I would like to say that with the coming of June of this year of 2024, I will mark my third year with you as your pastor, for I came here to West Prairie Lutheran Church in June of 2021. And my how these first two years have flown past, with a swiftness about them that takes your breath away. So with this in mind, what will 2024 bring our way do you suppose? For the last two years have brought their share of seedtime and harvest, sickness and health, boom and bust, weddings, funerals, baptisms, good times and bad times; and more than likely than not 2024 will bring more of the same. I look forward to walking in this new year with you as we together do the ministry that God has called us to, in this part of Western North Dakota. Well enough of that; let’s move onto my monthly “Food-for-thought” piece before we look at other upcoming items this month will bring: “Food-for-thought” for January... “The Parable of The Twins” “Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived. Weeks passed and the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: “Isn’t it great that we were conceived? Isn’t it great to be alive?” Together the twins explored their worlds. When they found their mother’s cord that gave them life, they sang for joy! “How great our mother’s love is, that she shares her own life with us!” As weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed how much each was changing. “What does it mean?” one asked. “It means our stay in this world is drawing to an end,” said the other. “But I don’t want to go,” said one. “I want to stay here always.” “We have no choice,” said the other. “But maybe there is life after birth.” “But how can that be?” responded the other. “We will shed our life cord and how can life be possible without it?” “No, this is the end. Maybe there is no mother at all.” “But there has to be a mother,” protested the other. “How else did we get here? How do we remain alive?” “Have you ever seen our mother?” said one. “Maybe she only lives in our minds. Maybe we made her up because the idea made us feel good.” So the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear. Finally, the moment of birth arrived. When the twins had passed from their world, they opened their eyes and cried for joy–for what they saw exceeded their fondest dreams. That is death as experienced by the followers of Jesus! Happy New Year then, for now we know two things that we can carry through-out 2024… thing #1: the word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth and we have beheld His glory, the glory of the heavenly Father. And thing #2: now we know that there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord; because of the birth of Jesus we just celebrated. Okay one more item, our Annual Meeting on Sunday January 21st following our Worship Service with our soup and sandwich potluck. With this in mind please have our reports for the Annual Meeting Booklet to Alison at the very least the weekend before our Annual Meeting (Sunday, January 14th). And if called upon to serve on our Church Council, please don’t hesitate to say yes, as I believe we will be in need of a Vice President and two Church Council members-at-large? Anyway, please keep our Annual Meeting, the work of our Church Council and our ministry here at West Prairie Lutheran Church, in your prayers as we move forward into 2024. In Christ, Pastor Steve P.S. On behalf of Zach and I, our prayer for you and yours in this new year is for all the happiness, health, and goodness your hearts can hold. Love in Christ, Pastor Steve and Zach Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
You know this already, but look at where we are now, the twelfth month of the year. December, and with this month comes a look at the past as well as a look to the future, for we are ending one year and soon to start a new year. So many loose ends as we move from 2023 into 2024, not the least of these is the fact that we grow another year older. Another year older and wiser? Maybe!? At least another year older, we’ll leave the wiser stuff for another time and another place, okay? As with all the other months in 2023, I would like to next share my “food-for-thought” piece, so here goes...this is entitled– “Don’t Be Afraid To Fail” You’ve failed many times although you may not remember. You fell down, the first time you tried to walk. You probably almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn’t you? A couple of other things coming this month that bear looking at–there is NOT going to be any Sunday morning Worship Service on Sunday December 24th. Instead on that Sunday December 24th, don’t forget about our Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service at 4:00pm. Also this year we are not going to have our Annual Christmas Program due to Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday and our decision to not have any Sunday morning worship that day. However, there will be potluck with prayer partner reveal and gift exchanges on December 17th! Also included in our Grace Notes Newsletter for the month of December we have a Daily Bible Reading Guide for 2024 from the American Bible Society, so please take advantage of this. The first four months of the year are included at this time; look for the May through August in May edition of Grace Notes. One more item, we will be looking for Church Council member(s) in January at our Annual Meeting (on January 21st) so be thinking about that. In Christ, Pastor Steve P.S. On behalf of Zach and I, we want to wish you a joyous and safe Christmas with you and yours. And may this new year of 2024, be filled with much happiness and a stronger sense of God presence in your lives loving you and supporting you. Love in Christ, Pastor Steve and Zachary Anderson Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
First of all, with the month of November comes Thanksgiving, and the possibility of travel. If you find yourselves out and about, or if other family members find themselves out and about, whether driving or flying, may God be with you and yours. With that in mind, please be aware that our Thanksgiving Eve Worship for 2023 will be held at 7pm on Wednesday, November 22nd. Included in our November Grace Notes Newsletter, as well as in our bulletins for the month of November, is information from our E.L.C.A. World Hunger Appeal for 2023, so please take a look. Pastor Steve is planning on going to Maryland again this year. His trip is planned from Wednesday, November 8th through Wednesday, November 15th, which means that Pastor Steve will be gone on Sunday, November 12th. At this time, Sherri cannot fill in for Pastor Steve, so we are looking for another person. Pastor Josh from Grenora will be covering any pastoral emergencies while Pastor Steve is gone; his cell number is (701) 694-3411. Our Fall Book Study that started in October will continue in November on November 5th and 19th. As Pastor Steve will be gone, we will not meet on November 12th. The theme is Session 3 of “The Chosen” series and we will continue to meet from 8:45 until 10:00 in Pastor Steve’s office. And now my “food-for-thought” piece for our November Grace Notes Newsletter: Come In Come in. But don’t expect to find all dishes done, all floors a shine. Observe the crumpled rug, the toys galore the smudgy finger-printer door. The little ones we shelter here don’t thrive on a spotless atmosphere. They’re more inclined to disarray and carefree even messy play. Their needs are great their pleasure small. All day I’m at their beck and call. It’s “Mommy come! Mommy see!” Wiggly worms and red-scraped knee, Painted pictures, blocks piled high, my floors unshined, the days go by. Some future day they’ll flee this nest and I, at last, will have a rest. And which really matters more? A happy child or a polished floor? The one thing I noticed is that a “stay at home mother” probably wrote this piece, and if I am not mistaken that is a luxury that fewer and fewer mothers can attain to, in this two-income society anymore. But all in all, this is a good piece to ponder on as far as the needs of children and the importance of allowing them to have a childhood. In Christ, Pastor Steve P.S. As we greet another November when we celebrate yet another Thanksgiving together as Pastor and Congregation–may God bless you and yours with many, many blessings. In Christ, Pastor Steve Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I want to start right out by reminding all that our Fall Adult Bible Study is starting this month. We begin on Sunday October 15th and end six weeks later on Sunday November 19th (the Sunday before Thanksgiving). The time is 8:45 until 10:00am and we will be meeting in Pastor Steve’s office. *THE READING FOR OUR FIRST SESSION ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 15th IS THE INTRO, CHAPTERS 1 AND 2*. And the book is Season 3 of “The Chosen” series. The study books will be out on the table in the Fellowship Hall starting on Sunday October 1st so that we can pick them up. And as in the past, even if you can not attend the weekly session feel free to pick up a study book anyway, and enjoy. Harvest Festival is on Sunday the 8th of this month with Special Music from Jim and Virginia Vanek, and our annual barbeque with sides as potluck. So mark those calendars and tell your friends! Also this month we have a 5th Sunday, and we all know what that means, our 5th Sunday Special Music. Kellee Black has committed to be here on that Sunday to share her musical talents with us. Thank you Kellee and God bless! Okay and now for my every month- “Food-for-thought” piece: “Martin Luther’s Favorite Scripture” On the occasion of the celebration of the Reformation, I thought now would be a good time to share Martin Luther’s Favorite Scripture with you. Just in case anyone wanted to know this and/or read these scripture passages through: the book of John, the Letter to the Romans, the letter to the Galatians, and First Peter. Of course Luther loved all of scripture, but these were his “go to” scripture for inspiration, solace, and insight into the mind of God. If you feel so inclined, please look these passages up and take some time to read them, as a way to get even more of an insight into the mind of Luther. The mind of Luther, and how God spoke to him about the whole idea of “... for by grace you have been saved by faith and not of your own works lest anyone should boast...” an insight which set in motion the birth of any and all Protestant Churches in the world. In Christ, Pastor Steve Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
September is upon us once again, as the summer has flown by without so much as a whisper...not to say that the summer was not without its joys and highlights, when I say this of course I am referring to my trip to Norway the last two weeks of July and the first couple days in August. What an experience that was to put my feet on the soil of my ancestors and savor the beauty of the landscape. With that in mind, I want to thank everyone who made this trip even more enjoyable by stepping-up and taking on duties that I would have normally have had to carry out. This was a huge relief to me in my going and in taking the time I needed to drink in all that Norway had to offer, so thanks again. But enough of my summer, how was yours? Good I hope, with plenty of fun in the sun, family time, barbequing, playing on the water and the list can go on and on, right?! And now for September–here at West Prairie Lutheran Church my thoughts go to my annual Pastor’s Conference in Medora from Sunday, September 10 through Tuesday, September 12. I am looking forward to this chance to reconnect with old friends and make new friends. As far as our time together in September, Sunday worship is in store and the challenges of harvest await us. I would also like us to consider the possibility of worshiping outside at the front door as we did in June. That was fun and if the weather cooperates who knows, right? And as always in looking down the road to October our Harvest Festival Sunday, October 8th. And speaking of October and November, we are having our Adult Bible Study–which is Season 3 of the “Chosen Series”. We will begin on Sunday, October 15 and for the next 6 weeks until Sunday November 19th (the Sunday before Thanksgiving). The time is 8:45 until 10:00 in Pastor Steve’s office. And on and on with November and then December and we find ourselves looking at 2024! Anyway and now my “food-for-thought” piece for the month of September… “Snapshots–5 Common Pictures of Jesus” Take a look, of an article I read recently concerning how you and I view Jesus (and not only you and I but also people who are followers of Jesus on the whole): #1. Jesus As Example–not in a way to keep Jesus at arms length by thinking that because of Jesus being “perfect” and beyond our reach, but by seeing Jesus as a role-model of who to pattern our life after. #2. Jesus As Friend–Many combine Jesus as example with Jesus as a friend, who will assist and accompany us. #3. Jesus As Lord–The one who calls us, challenges us, and seeks us out. #4. Jesus As Savior–The one who seeks to transform your life and my life in a relationship [with Jesus]. #5. Jesus As Presence–God active and alive in our everyday activities. Anyway, please think of these images of Jesus in our everyday lives and ask Jesus to reveal Himself even more to our hearts. In Christ, Pastor Steve Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am writing this near the end of June so that I can have this to Alison before I leave for Norway on Sunday July 16th. This is kind of weird in a way because I have not even left for Norway as yet and here I am talking about after the trip and the month of August. Well, I am sure the time spent in Norway will be fantastic and over way too fast, but all of that is for another time. But before we leave these moments talking about my time away, I want to thank Sherri for filling in for me on the 23rd and the 30th of July. And I want to thank Pastor Josh for his willingness to handle any pastoral emergencies while I was gone. I want to thank Dee and her daughter Molly for the beautiful music on Sunday July 30th. And I want to thank all of you for stepping up and making things happen while I was gone. Okay, I want to look forward to August for a moment, as when I am back in the states it will be Wednesday August 2nd and the month will have already started. So it's August…harvest may be starting or going full blast (be safe out there farmers). School starts this month as the long days of Summer are over after Labor Day (so be safe children). One item for our consideration in August on Sunday August 13th, we will NOT have worship at West Prairie Lutheran Church as there is worship scheduled at the bible camp prior to their corn feed. So, we NOT will plan to worship at West Prairie. Okay and now my “food-for-thought” piece for August: The Bible in Fifty Words “God made. Adam bit. Hope died. Love rose. Noah arked. Spirit flamed. Abraham split. Word spread. Joseph ruled. God remained. Jacob fooled. Bush talked. Moses balked. Pharaoh plagued. People walked. Sea divided. Tablets guided. Promise landed. Saul freaked. David peaked. Prophets warned. Jesus born. God walked. Love talked. Anger crucified.” How about that? I especially loved “Noah arked” and “Saul freaked” as a way to talk about Noah’s Ark and the flood, and the persecution of the Christians at the hands of Saul. Anyway, happy August! And God bless you and keep you. In Christ, Pastor Steve |
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