MEET OUR DEACON
The Rev. Amy HuberHi! I am very blessed to be assigned to the Spirit of the Heartland group, even if for only one week each month. So far I have spent three very full days with the members of the Team Ministry group in the last 3 months and am starting to feel a connection with them. They are wonderful to work with, each having their own strengths to share and I have enjoyed the spiritual journey. I am looking forward to being able to worship with the congregations in the Spirit group and hope to be able to do so in October.
Rev. Pat asked me to share a little about myself with you. I am the third child of five children (all brothers). My father was the son of an Episcopal priest and was a teacher. My mother was a housewife until we were teenagers and then taught music lessons. We lived in northern Wisconsin and a Chicago suburb growing up.
I married a career military man at 18 and we had 4 sons. This gave us the opportunity to live in Idaho, Okinawa, and Belgium. I became a single parent in my early 30's when my marriage ended in divorce and I went to college to get my degree in Elementary Education. I met my husband during this time. I have since taught on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico and worked for 7 years with Developmentally Disabled adults. I currently am working with American Indian children at a boarding school in North Dakota. We have a large number of children in Special Education, mainly due to emotional disturbances from abuse and neglect. My husband and I have lived in Western Minnesota for 11 years and are empty nesters. We have 3 grandchildren and our 6 "his and mine" sons live in the mid- west.
My call to the deaconate came in 1995 shortly after the death of my mother and my journey has taken me to many new insights. I trained for 2.5 years with 7 others people in Duluth and, in spite of the long monthly treks, I learned much about my relationship and myself with God and others. It was a rewarding experience and gave my strong connection with the others in my group, 5 of whom were ordained with my on June 17th of this year.
I am assigned the other three weeks of each month to my home parish, St. James, in Fergus Falls. We have been, for the last month, without a priest and so my responsibilities are somewhat muddled at times. I said when I was assigned to the Spirit of the Heartland that God works in mysterious and wonderous ways. I did not at the time know that St. James would soon be without a rector. I pray to be of assistance to your parishes, and to learn from your experiences. I look forward to sharing God's work with you. May God's blessings be with you, our nation and the world.
MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Rosemary Phillips
Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
Called as Administrator
As some of you may know, my husband Roger and I live most of the year in Orlando, Florida where we own a property management business. We found Good Samaritan several years ago following our purchase of a home on Big Birch Lake. We eventually plan to live there six to eight months of the year, although not for another four to five years.I was born in St. Paul and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School. I spent many summers with my maternal grandparents (Tom and Rose Vos) in Holdingford until we moved to Afton when I was in the 7th grade. I attended Stillwater High School and my interests in those days were 4-H (calf and horse projects), acting (senior class play and 4-H play contest) and showing horses. I went off to Merrimack College in Massachusetts; married, had three children (born in Minnesota, Rhode Island and Georgia while traveling with my husband in the Navy) and was eventually divorced. I met Roger singing in the Virginia Beach Civic Chorus and attended my first Episcopal Church service with Roger at Church of the Advent in Norfolk, Virginia. Though I was primed (because of my Roman Catholic background) to feel guilt and distress for attending a non-Catholic church, I was blessed with a deep and abiding sense of peace which provided the security I desperately needed at the time.
We married in Virginia and shortly returned to Orlando, Roger's home, April 1, 1972. During the next twenty years, we became active in Cursillo, Marriage Encounter and several other renewal movements in the Episcopal Church. I worked for the Program/Planning Officer for the Diocese of Central Florida and then as Executive Secretary to the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, eventually leaving that position to go back to college. I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and was planning to pursue a doctorate when Roger decided it was "now or never" to start his own company. Needless to say, I was "pressed into service" (though not unwillingly) as my administrative and legal background had provided me with the skills needed by the new company.
We are now at a new point in our lives and know God has led us to become part of the Spirit of the Heartland ministry team. I look forward to sharing the gifts and talents the Lord has given me for the work of the Spirit of the Heartland. I feel blessed to be part of the loving, caring team He has put together in this place.
WHERE'S OUR TEAM
By Randy Welsand September 8th and 9th, we met for our fall retreat at the ARC Retreat Center in Cambridge, Minnesota. We gathered on Friday night at this beautiful location and continued through Saturday finishing up with a worship service at The Church of the Good Samaritan on Sunday. We experienced wonderful fellowship while continuing with our training and spiritual as well as personal growth. Joining us were our newest members Roger and Rosemary Philips and our Deacon, The Rev. Amy Huber. Roger has accepted a call to the Priesthood as Priest/Sacramentalist and Rosemary as Lay Administrator. During our last discernment, Doris Dodds also accepted a call to the Priesthood as Priest Sacramentalist and Jan "Zippy" Zeman has answered a call as Lay Preacher. We are now 15 members strong as your Spirit of the Heartland Total Ministry Leadership team. Randy has begun a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the St. Cloud VA to further his development. Rob will be meeting with the Standing Committee on Sept. 26 for acceptance as a candidate for ordination to the Priesthood. We are in our "field education" year and you will be seeing more of us doing as well as learning. We ask for your continuing prayers as we move always forward. These are exciting times for us all as we move forward in God's name and service. Together we will serve God and each other as a total ministry team, as equal members in the Priesthood of ALL believers. - Randy Welsand.
MEET OUR PARISH MINISTERS
Maurine Rae Fowler Pederson
Organist, St. Stephens, Paynesville
I was born in Worthington, MN and started playing for the Church of the Brethern at age 13. I attended High School in Worthington and college at St. Olaf, then worked as an announcer (part time) for radio stations for the next 22 years.
I married Donald Pederson in 1950 and we lived in Adrian, MN where Don taught. We moved to Paynesville in 1964 and I played at the Methodist Church in Redwood Falls and Paynesville. I started playing at the Episcopal Church in 1970 and added Nordland Lutheran Church in 1990. In addition, I taught piano and organ for 40 years.
My husband and I own ‘Pedersons' where we make hockey jerseys for pro teams, colleges, high schools and associations. We have two sons, Robert ( wife janet) of St. Joeseph, and Gordon of Mesa AZ. We enjoy three of the cutest, smartest grandchildren, Shelby, 9, Dylan, 6, and Catlyn, 5.
My hobbies are music, golf, sewing, knitting, reading, church, and family, not necessarily in that order.
It's been a pleasure to be at St. Stephen's for so many years and to have been able to use the talent God gives for almost 60 years.
He sent them out two by two
Many of your Total Ministry Team ministers are beginning their year of field education in preparation for ordination and commissioning next fall. Thus you will be seeing more of them in the coming year - in your churches and in your homes. The ministers will begin making pastoral calls on each parish family sometime within the next several months. As Jesus sent his disciples out two by two, the team ministers will be going out two by two as well. So don't worry. You will not be inundated by the entire team.
The purpose of these visits is to give ministers and laity a chance to begin to get to know one another better, to ask questions and express concerns about Total Ministry, and to give the team feedback about what is important to you. We hope to catch all the summer folks before they have flown south, but if a few are missed, they will be visited next spring when they return.
You will be hearing from a team minister about setting up a time to get together sometime in the next few months.
THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
It's that time of year once again. On Sunday, October 7th, all three parishes will celebrate the traditional "Blessing of the Animals" in honor of the Feast of St. Francis. In light of the terrible tragedy our nation has suffered, it seems particularly appropriate to honor a man who sought peace and love among all of God's creatures - a goal reflected so clearly in the prayer that is attributed to him:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
At Our Saviour's in Little Falls on the front steps of the church at 11:30 a.m.
At Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre in the sanctuary at 12:30 p.m.
At St. Stephen's in Paynesville in the sanctuary at 3:00 pm.
There will be refreshments at all churches after the blessing for the animals and their people.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre continues a Bible Study on passages about Baptism. Second and fourth Tuesdays at noon. All welcome.
St. Stephen's in Paynesville continues a new Book Study on The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. Thursday, October 4, at 11:00 am. New participants invited.
CHURCH RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Grannie Annie's Blueberry Salad
Ann Beard, from the Alpha Retreat
1can of blueberry pie filling (or cherry or apricot)
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained.
1- 12 oz carton of cool whip
1 can sweetened condensed milk
nuts to garnish.
Put cool whip in large container and add the sweetened condensed milk and fold til blended. Add pie filling and drained pineapple and blend all together. Garnish with nuts and keep in a covered container for at least 2 hours or overnight. Enjoy!
VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Good Samaritan, August 19
Good Samaritan, September 16
Quarterly Vestry Meeting at St. Stephens on Sunday, October 7, at 2:00 pm. Bring your animal friends to vestry! Blessing of the Animals follows at 3:00 pm.
OUR SAVIOUR'S NOTES
Building Project Update: We're pregnant! The Bible is full of stories of old, holy women surprised by pregnancy -- Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth. And now our own beautiful 'grand old lady' church building is reproducing as she approaches her 100th birthday. On Sunday, September 23, the congregation affirmed their support for the Vestry moving forward with plans for an accessible, multi-purpose building adjoining the present sanctuary. Like pregnancy, it's a hopeful and scary, exciting and uncertain time. Watch your mail for a letter about our next step toward a new and smaller beautiful building alongside our historic 'grand old lady.' Watch us grow.
Our Saviour's will be serving Share a Meal on Oct.4th at the First Lutheran church. Please sign up if you can bring food and /or help that day. All of us are encouraged to come and eat there too and socialize with the guests.
Our Saviour's is in need of volunteers to clean the church. A once-a-month, dusting, vacuuming, entry and bathroom cleaning, is all that is required. Please let any vestry member know if you can help.
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Church of the Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
October 6th Max & Lois Kaufman
October 7th Marge Austin
October 8th Roger Phillips
October 8th Paul Schulzetenberg
October 28th Pete & Lucia Wilson
St. Stephen's, Paynesville
October 8th Maurine Pederson
Church of Our Saviour, Little Falls
October 6th Holly Ryan
October 10th Debbie McCrudden
October 14th Nancy McCrudden
October 19th Brett Dobmeier
October 19th Charlie Preble
October 26th Robin Wood
October 27th Carol Lovdahl
October 28th Stacy Barker
October 30th Charlene Starin
MINISTRY SCHEDULES
Good Samaritan
Our Saviour's
St. Stephen's
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