PASTOR'S NOTE
"Many people live with the unconscious or conscious expectation that eventually things will get better; wars, hunger, poverty, oppression, and exploitation will vanish; and all people will live in harmony. Their lives and work are motivated by that expectation. When this does not happen in their lifetimes, they are often disillusioned and experience themselves as failures. "But Jesus doesn't support such an optimistic outlook. He foresees not only the destruction of his beloved city Jerusalem but also a world full of cruelty, violence, and conflict. For Jesus there is no happy ending in this world. The challenge of Jesus is not to solve all the world's problems before the end of time but to remain faithful at any cost." May the recent national tragedies bring forth a collective awareness that we must walk down the road of peace and love, not war and revenge. Pastoral Note selected by Rosemary PhillipsMEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Roger Phillips
Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
Called as Priest/Sacramentalist
Who Am I? I am you and me! I am 64, born in Pennsylvania, raised all over the USA during WWII and then primarily in Florida from 1949 onward. My early years spiritually were spent in the Baptist and Presbyterian churchs, as a "believing-in –the –head-only" kid and typical, I suppose; but upon being introduced to the Episcopal Church in 1959,the Lord spoke to my heart, for the first time that I could identify, and I was His forever. Then, it took me 10 years to get confirmed, while serving all over the world as an officer of the U.S. Navy and commanding two ships during the Viet Nam War, until the Bishop of Japan laid hands on me in 1969.My active Ministries as a layperson began in 1971 at Church of The Messiah, Winter Garden, Florida where Rosemary and I were attending upon our return to my home in Orlando. Messiah is a small, very active parish in an agricultural town 13 miles west of Orlando where I learned first hand about Lay Ministry and the "Ministry" of everyone in the congregation to each other. Here, I had my first and glorious introduction to lay reading, chalice bearing, reading a sermon, being on a Vestry and praying with people. It was also from Messiah that I attended Cursillo, which again changed my life, and introduced me to the Living Lord in a new and personal way. And it was as a result of Cursillo that I ceased being a "head Christian" and gave my life to Jesus Christ and began to lead a "new life" in Christ.
In 1973, we moved near to downtown Orlando and realized that our "community" was now truly not at Messiah, but at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and of course the seat of the Bishop of Central Florida, and a brand new diocese.(Florida had previously had only two dioceses and split into four in 1970.) I immediately plunged into parish and diocesan life at this large, vibrant church and became shortly a Sub-Deacon, Lay Reader, served on many committees and was elected to the Chapter within two years. Also, I was led to serve in the diocese on many committees including the Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee and with Rosemary became active in Cursillo, Marriage Encounter and several "renewal" ministries. Then came Junior Warden, Senior Warden and Co-Chairman of the Building Committee. And so it went until the end of the century. Now I can look back and see The Lord's Hand in all of this, as he was preparing me by my love of liturgics, administration and leadership to serve Him in the future here in Minnesota. And at the same time, I was engaged in my career of property management, which would result in the founding my own firm, with Rosemary, in 1984. However, It was actually during the mid-seventies, that I received my first "call" to the ordained ministry, but it came as a response to my pleading with the Lord to answer my question if I was "called" by Him and His response was a clear "NOT NOW".
So, my life continued happily in Lay Ministry until last year when you "called" me and I began to pray to hear the "call" as well. And then, as we all know, the "call" came this May 20th when The Lord spoke "SERVE ME NOW",SERVE ME NOW'! I am humbled and overjoyed and scared by His Call, but am being obedient to it as best I can. I am studying, praying and learning and, God Willing, will be ordained in approximately two years.
As for the next few years, we will be living both in Florida and Minnesota as we continue in our business and in our preparation for our ministries. But our hearts are here with you, and we will be back and forth frequently, staying many weeks at a time, God and our company willing, each spring and summer until we retire.
Finally, I want you to know that I am a firm believer in the active ministry of the laity and without your/our ministry the church cannot survive. We must reach out to those who do not know Christ and literally bring them to church. We must be bold and risk their saying "no" to our invitation and keep praying that God will lead us to those who need His healing and constant love in their lives as we all do.
Please pray for me and Rosemary and know in your hearts that we love you very much!
In His Love and Service, Roger Phillips
LOCAL MINISTERIAL GROUPS
All three parishes now have one of our team ministers attending meetings of the local ministerial group. If you have concerns or questions about our parishes' involvement in community events, these are the people to contact: Good Samaritan: Roger Phillips or Pat Gillespie Our Saviour's: Cedar Morrigan St. Stephen's: Doris Dodds .
UNITED THANK OFFERING
United Thank Offering ("UTO") is a personal and family devotional program of the Episcopal Church. Pause... think about your blessings... thank God for each one... and for each thanksgiving, take action by putting a coin in the Blue Box. By practicing the discipline of daily prayers and thanksgiving
PASTOR SNOWBIRD
Pat will be in Florida from November 19 to 23. She hopes she doesn't miss any snow while walking on the beach. In a pastoral emergency, please call her home number: 320-363-7422 to connect with a priest on call.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Good Samaritan continues Bible Study on Baptism, Tuesdays, November 13 & 27, at noon.
St. Stephen's continues Book Study on C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters" on Thursdays, November 1 (Letters 21-30) and 15 (remainder of book), at 11 am. Contact Elaine (320-243-3808) or Joan (320-243-4756) for location.
Our Saviour's begins a new series: "RELIGIONS: Encountering People of Other Faiths." Fourth Sunday mornings, at 8:45 am.
November 25: Judaism
December 23: Christianity
January 27: Islam
February 24: Hinduism
March 24 (No Meeting: Palm Sunday)
April 28: Buddhism
May 26: Tribal Religions
REGIONAL CONFIRMATION
Saturday, November 3, at 11:00 am, Jackie Oss will be received as a member of the Church of Our Saviour, Little Falls, at the Cathedral of St. Mark. Your prayers and presence are invited.
ST. STEPHEN'S NOTES
Community Thanksgiving service at St. Stephen's on Sunday, November 18, at 3:00 pm.
Guild meeting on Wednesday, November14, at 2:00 pm at Mary Ann's.
OUR SAVIOUR'S NOTES
We will have our annual food shelf offering on Sunday , November 11th. Donations of Money, Food and Turkey cards are most welcome. Please help with this much needed outreach program. Donations will be taken from the alter and delivered to the food shelf. Gifts of money are greatly appreciated .
There will be Church yard clean-up and maintenance on Sunday, November 4th at 2:00PM which will include cleaning the vines off the church outside walls.
Thanks to all who gave food and their time to "Share a Meal".It's a good thing.
VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Good Samaritan
Lessons and Carols at Good Sam will be new and different this year. The organizers of the community choir are unable to manage the event this year. We will have Bella Voce, including our liturgist Lu Tax, offering a service of Lessons and Carols on December 15 at 7:30.
Our Saviour's
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Church of the Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
November 2nd Max Kaufman
November 5th Char Hedin
November 12th Marie Cater
St. Stephen's, Paynesville
November 7th Don Pederson
November 13th Norval Curry
November 17th Mary Ann Erdmann
November 30th Rose Ekegren
Church of Our Saviour, Little Falls
November 1st Mickey Doucette
November 6th Amber Wright
November 8th Tano Gray
November 11th Jon Lovdahl
November 13th Patrick YoungBlood
November 16th Nina Quillo
November 21st Clarence Dobmeier
November 22nd Bunny Zehren
November 23rd Ron Lyschik
St. Johns, St. Cloud
November 5th Rob Cavanna
November 30th Gina Cavanna
MINISTRY SCHEDULES
Good Samaritan
Our Saviour's
St. Stephen's
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