PASTOR'S NOTE
The Christmas rush is behind us. Is anything any different in your life now than it was before the holidays? Has anything changed?
It's certainly different at our house. We got a new puppy for Christmas. Little "Shingle Harrison" needs to be watched all the time ... because she's too cute not to watch and because we're still working on the house training. It's almost as all-consuming as a new baby.
A new baby changes almost everything. Most of all a new baby changes those who love it. Jesus was the firstborn child in an ordinary family. Like all babies, he turned his parent's life upside down and inside out. They were new people because of him.
But Mary and Joseph's child changed more than the lives of his immediate family. With the birth of Jesus, God changed the whole world. Ordinary human life is changed into something divine and everything is transformed.
God's choice to come among us as a baby was a sign not only of God's great love but of God's ability to change our lives. God's love can change our lives as radically as the birth of a new baby changes the baby's family.
Welcoming even a little puppy into my life means lots of changes to keep "Shingle" (and myself) healthy and happy. What changes can we hope for when we welcome Jesus?
Blessings!
MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Doris Dodds Being a "cradle" Episcopalian, I have been involved with the church since I was a child. Sunday School, Junior Choirs, Senior choirs and all the other things we Episcopalians get involved in. I even thought I knew about everything there was to know about the Bible and my Church. Guess again!!
I am in my third year in Education for Ministry and I have learned so much that sometimes I am astounded by the revelations God reveals through the Bible and the wonderful people involved in EFM.
My call to Sacramentalist on the Ministry is awesome. My love of the church and my Savior make this call even more amazing. In retrospect, God has been nudging me gently for years and years but, like most of us, I was "too busy" to listen to His call.
When small miracles began to happen on a regular basis, I found I was hearing the call very clearly. Miracles or angels or whatever name you use, come into your life and leave their message and their imprint on your heart. God uses the ordinary events in your life to change your heart and your direction. He certainly has changed mine.
I look forward to meeting all the members of our three churches and serving all three as Sacramentalist. As God continues to use me to serve His church, I look forward to bringing whatever talents I have to be used in our three churches as Sacramentalist.
God's peace to you all - Doris
WHERE'S OUR TEAM?
Cedar Morrigan
Our Saviour's
Our December team meeting was held at St. Stephen's in Paynesville. We have increased the length of our team meetings to a full day and that seems to be helping us. We needed more time to just connect and be with each other. That bonding time whether it is talking about the joys or the hardships in our lives is very important.
We spent our educational/lecture portion of this meeting discussing Christian Ethics and Moral Theology; followed by a couple of case studies. Finally, we had a pop quiz. In January during our regular meeting time we will be meeting with the examining chaplains for total ministry. So the quiz was preparation for that oral questioning. I do not think any of us are really looking forward to that assessment of our preparation in the canonical areas prior to commissioning and ordination, but through the experience of the quiz we did discover that we know or know where to find an amazing amount of information. The areas of assessment are:1. The Holy Scriptures; 2. Church History, including the Ecumenical Movement; 3. Christian Theology, including Missionary Theology and Misology; 4. Christian Ethics, and Moral Theology; 4. Studies in contemporary society, including racial and minority groups; 6. Liturgics and Church Music; Christian Worship and Music according to the contents and use of the Book of Common Prayer and Hymnal; and 7. Theory and practice of ministry. TOTAL MINISTRY IS GREAT! We don't all have to be prepared in all of the canonical areas because we are assessed as a group and we get to discuss and answer the questions put to us as a group. And as a group we did an amazing job on our pop quiz.
LECTOR REMINDER
The lector for Holy Eucharist reads the Old Testament Lesson, announces and leads the Psalm, and then reads the Epistle.
ST STEPHEN'S VESTRY
Quarterly Vestry meeting at St. Stephen's on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, at 2:00 p.m. Your chance to find the ring in the Epiphany Cake.
OUR SAVIOUR'S VESTRY
Because of Ash Wednesday, on February 13, the February meeting will be moved from the usual second Wednesday, to Wednesday, February 6, at 7 p.m. (The January meeting remains on second Wednesday, January 9.
ARTICLES AND RECIPES
Share your thoughts, news and meditations with all members and friends of Spirit of the Heartland churches. We also need your recipes to share. Give them to Pat or pass them on through one of your vestry members. We want to hear from you.
OUR SAVIOUR'S NOTES
If you are writing a check to the church please indicate on the check which fund it is for such as Pledge, Clergy Discretionary, Building Fund etc. It will be a big help to our Treasurer. Thank you. Please do not leave food in the kitchen cupboards; put in refrigerator or take home. Cleaning volunteers needed for monthly cleaning chores. Please call Debbie McCrudden or other vestry member.
VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Our Saviour's
December 12th -
CHURCH RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Courtesy of Jan Zeman, Our Saviour's
ZIPPY'S CORN CHOWDER
6 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
4 cooked potatoes, diced
1 onion, sliced
1 can, Cream of Celery soup
1 can, whole kernel corn, w/juice
3 cups milk
salt, pepper, seasonings to suit
Fry bacon crisp, remove from heat and drain on paper towel. Remove all but 3 tablespoons grease from pot. Saute onions in remaining grease. Add celery soup, corn, milk, diced potatoes and seasoning. Simmer one to one and a half hour. Sprinkle crumbled bacon on top.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Church of the Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
January 13th Jon Coltvet
January 15th Ann Beard
January 19th Clayton & Dorothy Peterson
St. Stephens, Paynesville
January 17th John & Betty Halvorson
January 26th John Halvorson
Church of Our Saviour, Little Falls
January 1st Brittney Wright
January 17th Marcie Cheeseman
January 22nd Bill Cheeseman
MINISTRY SCHEDULES
Good Samaritan
Our Saviour's
St. Stephen's
Read our Region News
Check our Calendar
Newsletter Archives
Return to Spirit of the Heartland INDEX