PASTOR'S MESSAGE
At one time or other this winter, each of our older church buildings has had a problem with the heating system. So, short of us all rushing off to our new sister church building, St. John's in St. Cloud, or putting up a new building of our own, here are few suggestions from an internet clergy group for Keeping Warm in Church:
Holy Spirit appears to be at work in our churches. Even when the buildings are cold, the churches are warm. Of course the Spirit has been there all along, but now, like stirring up banked embers, things are catching fire. We see new faces in the pulpits (how much is hot air is for you to say ). Ideas about liturgy and education are spreading from one congregation to another. A few of those unfamiliar hymns are surfacing and sparks are flying.
Our ministry team is enthusiastic, which means filled with God's Spirit. And, beware, it's contagious! They are blessing and stirring up our lives. What flame of the Holy Spirit is hidden in your life that might be stirred into new life by the new warmth in our parishes? What ability has God blessed you with that the Spirit might now use to warm up and bless the lives of others?
May the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you, catch fire in your life and grow.
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MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Cedar Morrigan
Our Saviour's, Little Falls
Called to many, but currently focusing on Pastoral Care Ministry
"The Lord be with you!" There; do I have your attention? If I have learned nothing else about being an Episcopalian, it is that the above phrase will quiet and gather a group of Episcopalians and usually in an almost prayerful manner. Not only that, I happen to like it as a general greeting. I believe that God is with us always and being mindful about that with each other is important.
I was raised chiefly in the Roman Catholic church and was very active in that church until about 14 years ago. At that time, I was encouraged/asked by a priest to leave the church because so much of the politics of the church were hurtful to myself and many people I cared about. I have always been a deeply spiritual person and for a time was comfortable with worship in a family setting at home with Johanna and friends. As time went on, I found myself hungering for a larger (but not huge) community that worshiped in a church building with better music than I was capable of making. Finding the Episcopal church was truly a gift from God. It was like coming home to the wonderful liturgy of the Roman church without the hurtful politics (although the hymns are very different, the liturgy is even better). The warm and friendly welcome by the people at Our Saviour's convinced me that I was finally home.
I was received into the church almost three years ago. During that time I have gotten to know many people in Region III and especially in the Spirit of the Heartland churches. When I was called to the ministry team, I found myself very excited at the opportunity to serve with the people that I had begun to know in all of our churches. I have been honored to be a Lay Reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lay Eucharistic Visitor, Treasurer, Vestry member, a Youth Leader, active Altar Guild member and trainer of Acolytes, and a member of Diocesan Council. (And I can also park cars!) Needless to say, there was no way that I could continue in all of those duties and do justice to the Ministry Team, you or myself. So, I have had to give up some of those lay ministries and pared back on others.
With my involvement in EFM for 3 years, Cursillo, and Diocesan Events I have come to know that my call to ministry is stronger than I knew it to be or ever imagined it would be. I have always known that I was called to serve God and a church. As a young child, I began praying for the answer to where and in what church. I knew that the Roman church would not offer me the opportunity to minister in the name of the church. The call and confidence of the churches of the Spirit of the Heartland and the discernment committee helped me to find the answer. I am called to serve with a team of dedicated ministers from the Episcopal church in the Spirit of the Heartland. THANK YOU!
This is an exciting time for all of us. I believe that the Episcopal church in rural/central Minnesota is doing more than surviving. We are a church that is stepping out in faith so that we may thrive and grow; both of which I have witnessed already beginning to happen in a very short time. WE are the church. WE are the body of Christ. I am honored to serve with you and look forward to getting to know you as the beautiful spiritual beings that you are. Please hold the team in your daily prayers as we come together to serve. Together all of us can serve God and carry on the ministry of Jesus in our world today.
"Let us pray." Most loving and gracious God, bring us ever nearer to you that we may know and understand what it is that you would have us do as we all minister to each other in your Son's name; and so we pray that you grant to us your continuing guidance and ever present love, with the spreading fire of the Holy Spirit and the perseverance of Jesus the Christ. AMEN.
WHERE'S OUR TEAM?
The Spirit of the Heartland ministry team and preachers for SOH met in Paynesville at St. Stephen's Church on January 8, 2000.
The preachers schedule is up and running! The headlines could read:
From 12:00-2:00 is team-only time, and the rest of the team joined the preachers who are also team members for lunch and "check-in.""Rules of Life," and progress toward finding spiritual directors, both for ourselves and for the team.
During the team-only time we talked about the need for Critical Incident Reflection. There will be times when concerns of people and congregations will have to be confidentially discussed and dealt with. We are a group of people who are in formation to become "a priest" for a group of congregations. We need to be aware of what is happening within these congregations, so we can best serve them.
From 2:00-4:00 is the time we welcome anyone who would like to join us. We discussed The Book of Common Prayer and how that and the Hymnal fit into our "Why I am an Episcopalian" conversation. Check out the Catechism on page 845 of the prayer book. You might be surprised what you find! You might find out why youıre an Episcopalian!
Our new staff person, Antonia Kehr from St. Stephenıs, stopped by so we could meet each other. She will be acting as our communications person, since we have no team member for that position yet. Her salary is being paid for with grant money for SOH. Welcome aboard, Antonia!
Our gathering was ended prayerfully in song at about 4:00.
WHERE'S OUR TEAM ONLINE?
Find out more about the Spirit of the Heartland online.
Spirit of the Heartland Main Page
http://www.motherflash.com/spirit/
All of our churches have web pages and most sermons are posted at
http://www.motherflash.com/
Index of Ministry team pages:
http://www.motherflash.com/spirit/team/
Introductions to our ministers (including their email addresses):
http://www.motherflash.com/spirit/team/ministers.html
A public Discussion Board sponsored by our team
http://www.motherflash.com/discus/
A Prayer Page
http://www.motherflash.com/prayer/
And lots more, soon to include individual pages for each team member.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MIDWINTER BREAK
The regular Christian Education Programs at the Church of our Saviour, St. Stephen's, and Good Samaritan are all on midwinter break for the month of February. Look for new opportunities in Lent.
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