The Shepherd’s Post A monthly publication of Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Parish

Pastor’s message p. 2 Parish News p. 3-4 Christine News p. 4 Hickson News p. 5-7 Hickson Minutes p. 6 Walcott News p. 7-8 Walcott Minutes p. 8 February Calendar

February Events

February 2015

Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Parish 537 3rd Street

Walcott, ND 58077

A BIG thank you to everyone who got their annual reports in on time! I really appreciate it!

LeAnn Toppen, Admin. Asst.

WORSHIP

February 1 9:00 am Hickson* 11:00 am Christine* February 8 All Parish Worship 11:00 am Walcott*

- Pastor Karin’s Installation & potluck February 15 9:00 am Hickson 11:00 am Christine February 22 9:00 am Hickson 11:00 am Walcott

*Communion Worship

LENTEN WORSHIP

7:30 pm (soup suppers served at 6:30 pm where noted)

February 18 Hickson Ash Wednesday communion worship February 25 Walcott Soup supper March 4 Christine Soup supper March 11 Hickson Soup supper March 18 Walcott Soup supper March 25 Christine Soup supper April 2 Christine Maundy Thursday/1st Communion April 3 Walcott Good Friday

EVENTS

Tuesdays 9:15 am Quilting and potluck—Walcott Tues-Thurs 9:00 am-1:00 pm Parish office hours 1

Thursdays 9:00 am Bulletin announcements due February 1 12:00 pm Potluck & Christine Annual Meeting 6:00 pm Walcott LYO—Denise Heglie home February 3 7:00 pm Walcott Council meeting February 4 11:45 am 9th grade confirmation—KHS 6:30 pm 8th grade confirmation—Christine February 10 7:00 pm Parish Council meeting—Christine February 11 11:45 am 9th grade confirmation—KHS 6:30 pm 8th grade confirmation—Christine 1:30 pm Hickson Bible study —Alice Mathison’s home February 20 9:00 am March newsletter info due February 21 10:00 am Christine WELCA—Christine church

1Except week of 2/1: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Page 2 Pastor’s Message

Inward and Forward

R ev. Gerhard Frost said, “Our inward and forward journeys are best pursued if we can be nourished by rich and rewarding memories.” (Journey of the Heart)

In this last month we have begun the process of meeting one another. One by one you are sharing your stories. In order to look to our future together it is important to know something about where we have come from. It has been a privilege to hear both the heartbreaking and the humorous tales of days gone by - stories about your church history, your families, and your former pastors. We’ve only just begun to share our lives and at the same time create new memories together…

We value the gift of memory and grieve when we have loved ones who suffer from dementia or find our own memories slipping with age. But, Lutheran poet and pastor, Gerhard Frost, said there is an occasion when forgetfulness can be celebrated. That is when forgetfulness is connected to forgiveness. Frost writes, “When we fail to forgive, we retain memories that become intolerable baggage on the inward journey. When we cling to resentments and jealousies, we cripple ourselves with increasing bitterness. As we grow in age and in grace, we should remember that persons suffer more depression and despair because they can’t forgive and forget than because they can’t remember.” (Frost, Journey of the Heart)

Soon we will be entering the forty days of Lent. This also is a season of remember-ing. We look back as we remember Jesus’ wilderness journey - the journey that strengthened him for ministry and prepared him to bring good news to the poor, heal the sick, bind up the brokenhearted, and free the prisoner. We recall how Jesus’ life of passion and compassion would eventually lead to his death. From the cross Jesus will speak powerful words of grace and promise … “Forgive them for they know not what they are doing” and “this day you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:34,43)

We will be using the Holden Evening Prayer Service – it is beautiful. You will not want to miss this time together—and don’t hesitate to invite a friend or bring a family member or neighbor.

February 18 - Ash Wednesday February 25 - Pouring out – Making room for the light March 4 - God’s bottle of tears March 11- Broken vessels – God uses our brokenness/cracks to serve others March 18 - Love poured out – The cost of compassion/making the moment count March 25 - The Blessing Cup – Blessed to be a blessing April 2 - Maundy Thursday – First communion and Blessing of Hands service April 3 - Good Friday – Tennebrae service

ALSO, since we are Containers of the Spirit which dwells within, let us tend to our spirits this Lent – Using the symbol of cup/vessel/bowl/ to do so.

Inward and Forward together, Pastor Karin Moberg

As we begin our own spiritual pilgrimage through lent, we look back, we look inward and we look forward. We ask God to create a new heart within each one of us and we pray that we will grow both individual-ly and as a community in “heaven-sent absent-mindedness”…otherwise known as forgiveness, the most “beautiful form of forgetfulness.”

(Journey of the Heart)

PASTORAL ACTS 1/17: Tim Adair/Denise Colman wedding—Walcott 1/22: Gladys Nipstad funeral—Hickson 1/30: James Hanson funeral—Hickson

Offerings as of 12/31/14

Congregation 2014 Monthly November Y-T-D Totals

Budget Offering needed Offering

Christine $ 25,800.00 $ 2,150.00 $ 2,410.59 $ 18,077.59

Hickson $ 68,450.00 $ 5,700.00 $ 7,946.00 $ 74,424.00

Walcott $ 59,880.00 $ 4,990.00 $ 5,558.87 $ 59,233.74

Parish News

February Wish List

1. Devotional materials for the parish 2. Weekly bulletin mailing to homebound/nursing

home members: $7.50/wk/$30/mo 3. Sponsor March newsletter: $50 4. Sponsor weekly bulletin: $25 5. Mileage for Pastoral visits: **any amount

Please make check payable and mail to: Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Parish, 537 3rd Street,

Walcott, ND 58077

Total Wish List gifts received in 2014: $ 885.00

Total Parish Nurse Fund gifts received in 2014: $ 50.00 January 2015 Wish List gifts:

Lillian Johnson—to be used where needed: $100 Sonja Amundson—Parish Nurse Fund, In memory of Rev. Stanley Larsen: $25 Total Wish List gifts in 2015: $125

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Christmas offering

T hanks to everyone who contributed to the special Christmas offering. Parish members generously responded by contributing $573 to Churches

Sheltering the Homeless. Your gifts will be of great help to the churches in Fargo-Moorhead who generously donate space to house the overflow of homeless people during the cold winter months. Blessings to all for your contributions to this important ministry!

If you are interested

in sponsoring one of

these items, please

contact LeAnn

Toppen at 469-

2183 or email her at

shepluthpar@wtc-

mail.net Gifts will be

acknowledged in the

following newsletter.

Page 3

Parish office hours: 9 am– 1 pm Tues.-Thurs.

Bulletin printed: 9 am Thursdays

Parish Council mtg: 7 pm 2/10—Christine

March newsletter info due: 2/20

February Prayer Ventures and Christ In Our Home daily devotionals are available in the church entrances

PARISH NURSE FUND Thanks to everyone who supported the Parish Nurse Program —both financially and with your prayers—over the past years! Because we no longer have the program in our parish, the PARISH NURSE FUND WILL BE CLOSED (unless we get a new parish nurse).

The Wish List, however, continues to be an important way to support the ministries in the parish with your monetary gifts.

Thank you! LeAnn Toppen, Parish Treasurer

Page 4 Parish News/Christine News

Installation set for Pastor Karin

February 8th at 11 am—Walcott

T hat Bethany Retirement Living offers basic care in the

Towers at Bethany on University? Bethany’s basic care offers services similar to assisted living but is available to those with limited financial resources. Qualifying for

reimbursement through Medical Assistance, basic care would be the perfect option for many people who are trying to determine what level of care is right for them. To find out more, contact Bethany Retirement Living at 701.239.3439.

A look ahead…

Synod Assembly

THIS MONTH IN CHRISTINE

ANNUAL MEETING 2/1: follows 11 am

worship and potluck

WORSHIP 2/1 & 2/15: 11 am

POTLUCK AT WALCOTT 2/8: Follows 11 am

All Parish Worship in Walcott

Please bring desserts

Rylee Hendrickson Samantha Hendrickson 2/6: Kay Skoog 2/26: Trevor Dufner 2/28: Ryan Skoog

CHRISTINE

LUTHERAN

CHURCH

MISSION

STATEMENT Together we are

C laimed by God’s

Grace

L iving in Faith and

Fellowship

C ommanded to

Serve others and

Share the Gospel

A ttention: Synod Assembly delegates! The Eastern North Dakota Synod Assembly will be held on April 18-19,

2015 at the Fargo Inn. Registration opens March 2nd. Information for registration will be available on the synod’s website: eandsynod.org

- The Synod Season newsletter, Winter 2014

T here’s a special worship service planned that you

won’t want to miss! On February 8th at 11 am, an all parish communion worship service has been scheduled in Walcott. During the service, Karin will be installed by an assistant bishop from the Eastern North Dakota Synod.

Potluck dinner will follow and all are invited to come! Here’s what members of each congregation are asked to bring:

Christine: desserts Hickson: salads Walcott: sandwiches and hot dishes

Please join us on this special day!

Bethany...

Did you know?

THIS MONTH IN HICKSON

WORSHIP 9:00 am

Feb. 1 (communion) Food Pantry Day

Work Group: S & MJ Nipstad Acolyte: Jonas

Feb. 15 Work Group: J & S Nipstad Acolyte: none

Feb. 22 Work Group:

Ted Johnson family Acolyte:

Sam

LENTEN WORSHIP Feb. 18 (Ash Wed.)

7:30 pm Work Group:

Marcus Larson family

INSTALLATION OF PASTOR KARIN Feb. 8 at 11 am

at Walcott Hickson members:

Please bring a salad for potluck dinner

BIBLE STUDY Feb. 11 at 1:30 pm

Alice Mathison’s home

Page 5 Hickson News

Sunday School news

2015 Work Groups

An ice cream social was held during a portion of Sunday School on January 18th for a job well done at their Christmas program in December.

- MaryJane Nipstad

T he Hickson Sunday School children are busy working on

their regular lessons in addition to a 10 Commandments project and practicing songs which will be performed during the March 1st worship service.

T he 2015 work group chairpersons and schedule

has been set: Jodi Freitag: January, May & September MaryJane Nipstad: February, June & October

Penny Jo Vikander: March, July & November Laura Oster-Aaland: April, August & December.

Please respond with a big YES! when your chairperson calls you to serve. Thank you!

Feed My Starving Children

O n January 24th, eight members from Hickson

participated in a Feed My Starving Children event hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church, Fargo.

Founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children around the world and eliminating starvation. Children (over 5) and adults hand pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children and ship them to nearly 70 countries around

the world. Volunteers signed up for 2 hour shifts and in our two hour shift—54,432 meals were packaged. This meals 149 kids will have one meal a day for a year—as a result of less than 2 hours of work.

Next year they hope to have a two-day event—and we hope to have all three congregations partici-pating. It was an easy and fun way to make a difference.

- Pastor Karin (See page 7 for photos)

Page 6 Hickson Council Minutes

HICKSON LUTHERAN CHURCH UNAPPROVED COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

DECEMBER 9, 2014

Council members present: Jodi Freitag, Diane Ricker, Allen Ricker, Tyler Bauman, Kent Rademacher, Penny Vikander, Dawn Schaffer, Pastor Kathryn

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Secretary’s Report: Diane reviewed the meeting minutes from October 14, 2014. Penny moved to approve, Allen seconded. Rolle: All yea, motion carried. Treasurer’s Report: Allen reviewed the Budget Comparison Report for the year so far. We ended up at 38 giving units for theyear. Dawn moved to approve the report and Kent seconded. Roll: all yea, motion carried. Re-view and discussion of budget for 2015. Pastor’s Report: n/a

OLD BUSINESS 1. Cass County Joint Water Resource District: Jodi will sign as President of

Hickson Lutheran Church 2. Outside doors: On track for update/replacement of all doors and locks.

NEW BUSINESS 1. Request from Ryan Hanson to use the church for a wedding; but no date

has yet been set. 2. 2015 Work Group updates: group members and work group leaders will

remain the same. The schedule was set back two months for each group.

3. Annual Report: Jodi will work with LeAnn to update the annual report. New members for voting: Cash Aaland-Trustee (replacing Tyler). Need a deacon to replace Kent. MaryJane will replace Penny on the board of Ed. Dropped Thrivent representative.

CLOSING PRAYER AND ADJOURNMENT Allen moved to adjourn, Kent seconded. Roll: All yea, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted, Diane Ricker, Secretary

2/1: Casey Ricker 2/3: Cash Aaland Matt Peterson 2/7: Megan Johnson 2/8: Meagan Johnson 2/17: Paul Backlund Mary Freitag 2/19 Jayme Nettestad 2/20: David Andel 2/23: Dale Mathiason 2/28: Harland Nelson 2/29: Steve Brakke

2015 HICKSON COUNCIL

MEMBERS President: Jodi Freitag V President: Melissa Rademacher Secretary: Diane Ricker Treasurer: Allen Ricker (& Dawn Ricker) Trustees: Diane Ricker & Cash Aaland Deacons: Jodi Freitag & Melissa Rademacher Board of Ed: Dawn Schaffer & MaryJane Nipstad

With sympathy...

D eepest sympathy to the families of Gladys Nipstad (funeral: January 22) and James Hanson (funeral: January 30). May God give you

comfort and peace during this difficult time.

Page 7 Hickson News/Walcott News

Walcott birthdays this month….

2/6: LaMae Iwen 2/7: Rose Ensminger 2/9: Aden Oestreich 2/10: Easton Heglie 2/14: Keith Anderson 2/16: Greg Oestreich 2/17: David Anderson

2/18: Seth Heglie 2/23: Mike Brakke 2/24: Cordy Farsdale Stu Swandal 2/25: Amber Nordquist 2/29: Linda Stone

THIS MONTH IN WALCOTT

COUNCIL MEETING 7:00 pm

February 3rd

WORSHIP 11:00 am

February 8 (All Parish Communion Worship—Installation

of Pastor Karin) Walcott members:

Please bring hot dishes or sandwiches for

potluck dinner following worship!

February 22

LENTEN WORSHIP February 25th

6:30 pm Soup Supper 7:30 pm Worship

USHER Dan Girodat

LYO EVENTS Meeting

Feb. 1 at 10:00am

Lenten Soup Supper Feb. 25 at 6:30 pm

ALL YOUTH help serve

Feed My Starving Children

Continued from Hickson News, p. 5

Clockwise L-R: Cella & Jayme Nettestad, Darlene Young, Laura Oster-Aaland, Jodi Freitag, and Carol Freeman & Lorraine Read. Not pictured: Pastor Karin (who took the photos).

Page 8 Walcott News/Council Minutes

WALCOTT LUTHERAN CHURCH 2014 ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

January 18, 2015

The annual meeting of the Walcott Lutheran Church was held Sunday, January 18th, 2015 following the 11:00 AM church service and potluck dinner. President Greg Oestreich called the meeting to order, after which Pastor Karin led us in devotions and prayer.

REPORTS Secretary’s Report: Secretary Nina Stone read the minutes of the 2013 annual meeting. Shelly Swandal moved to approve the minutes, second by Renee Anderson. Pastor’s Report: Pastor Karin gave her report covering her start date of January 6, 2015.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS President Greg presented the following slate of officers: President – Shelly Swandal Vice President – Cheryl Anderson Deacon – Ron Heglie Trustees – Allen Stone Treasurer – Leeanne Girodat Secretary – Nina Stone Renee Anderson moved to cease nominations, seconded by LaMae Iwen. Renee Anderson moved to cast a unanimous ballot, seconded by Bette Jordheim. Synod Delegates: If the Synod assembly is in Fargo this year ,Shelly Swandal and Nina Stone volunteered to be the delegates. Bethany Homes Representatives: Bette Jordheim and Susan Hanson are the representatives for Bethany Homes.

BUDGET Treasurer Leeanne Girodat presented the budget. After discussion Denise Heglie moved to approve the budget with the change in expense to Shepherd of the Prairie of $47,878 making the total expenses $71,558, seconded by Holly Rieger. Mike Brakke made a motion to change the member offering in income to $69,492 to match the total income with total expenses, Denise Heglie seconded.

NEW BUSINESS Parsonage: There was discussion on whether to sell the parsonage. Steve Anderson made a motion to sell the parsonage, seconded by Keith Anderson. A vote was taken and passed with 38 yes votes and 1 no vote. The Lutefisk Dinner: will be held October 18th.

ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion by Steve Anderson and a second by Mike Heglie, the meeting ad-journed. We closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Nina Stone, Secretary

Pres.: Shelly Swandal VPres: Cheryl Anderson Sec: Nina Stone Treas: Leeanne Girodat Deacons: Derek Rhodenbaugh, Arnold Jordheim & Ron Heglie Trustees: Mike Heglie, Stu Swandal & Allen Stone Parish Ed.: Beth Oestreich, Tasha Heglie & Tara Cuypers

OTHER LEADERS (noncouncil positions) LYO Advisor: Denise Heglie Bethany Reps: Bette Jordheim & Susan Hanson Synod Assembly Delegates: Shelly Swandal & Nina Stone

PLEASE NOTE: - available in the church entrance -

Corrected copies of the Walcott 2015 Budget

Additional copies of the Annual Report booklet were made (with the corrected budget)

Page 9 February Calendar

Shepherd of the

Prairie

Lutheran Parish

537 3rd Street

Walcott, ND 58077

The Shepherd’s Post is published monthly for members and friends of

Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Parish.

CHURCH STAFF

Pastor ................................................................................. Karin Moberg

Administrative Assistant ................................................. LeAnn Toppen

Organists ................................................................. Kay Skoog, Christine

................................................................... Nora Hyde, Hickson & Walcott

Newsletter Editor .............................................................. LeAnn Toppen

Production Assistants ................. Marilyn Jordheim & Howard Ellenson

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Parish Office Phone (and Walcott Office): 701.469.2183

Hickson Office Phone: 701.588.4354

Pastor’s Phone: 701.793.6252

Pastor’s Email: pastorkarin14@gmail.com

Parish Office Email: shepluthpar@wtc-mail.net

Parish Website: www.lutheransonline.com/shepluthpar

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shepluthpar

NON-PROFIT ORG.

US POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT #2

WALCOTT, ND 58077

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Serving the ELCA Congregations of

Christine, Hickson & Walcott