Lutefisk/Meatball Dinner
September 28, 2010
Our Annual Lutefisk & Meatball Dinner will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm. The event is located in our Centennial Hall. Continue to check back to see more details and prices as the event gets closer.
Pastor’s blog 9/20/10 C & W Proclamation
September 20, 2010
Wasn’t the C&W service fun? I enjoyed being at beautiful and chilly Pioneer Village yesterday. It was great to see so many people from the community and surrounding area at the service. I thought that all of the participants did a great job. I had a good time interreacting with cowboy Travis Ternus as he told his cowboy’s tale. We all had a laugh and gained something from his story about intolerance. I am always struck by the wonderful 4 part harmony of the Southwest Connection. Some styles of singing are timeless aren’t they? I was especially moved by their rendition of “Turn your radio on”. What about that Jesus rap by Lisa Waldner what a super job she did. Oh their are so many people to thank who made the service possible.
I think what is most impressive to me about the service is that it is purely about proclamation. We go to Pioneer Village with all of the work it entails to Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a new way. Sometimes when we are in the same worship space every week we get a little complacent which is quite natural. Some of us may tend to forget that we are part of the community and are called to share the Gospel with the members of the community. The Gospel is not ours to keep at First. We are called to share it with the world. The service at Pioneer Village reminds me of that fact. When I see so many people from different congregations and communities I realize that the Good News in Jesus Christ is truly for all of us. All of us not some of us. How great it is to know that God’s love is for all no exceptions. Thank you members of First for your support in making the C&W service such as success and powerful witness to our commmunty.
Pastor’s blog 9/15/10 Coming and going
September 15, 2010
Well I’m back! It always amazes me how vacations throw me off my regular schedule. I think that is good because vacations are supposed to be a break in the schedule. During our time in the Black Hills I slept a little later, ate a little more, spent time with animals that I don’t see around here, hung out with my kids, celebrated my 31 st wedding anniversary with Sara, visited some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and enjoyed not having a regular schedule. All of the vacation time helped me to recharge my batteries for the busy fall season at 1st. The real struggle is coming back to a schedule of: work, exercise etc. I find that when I first return from vacation getting up to exercise early in the morning seems to be harder and getting back into a work schedule that includes sermon prep time, meeting time, confirmation, council meetings, community meetings, counseling etc is a challenge.
Oh it all works out as after a couple of weeks the schedule starts to feel normal. The exercise is easier to make time for and the many responsibilities of ministry start to fall into place. I find that there is always one constant that helps me to fully embrace my calling here at 1st and that is my prayer time. When I am on vacation my prayer time varies according to what we are doing that day. When I am back at work my prayer time becomes an anchor that starts off my day and points me toward the future. I guess you could say that Jesus “Takes the wheel” in a sense and helps me to refocus, re-energize and re-enter his wonderful call to me – serving the people of this treasured church.
