PASTOR'S NOTE
The April ordination has kept us all very aware of how soon we will be fully functioning Total Ministry parishes. Suddenly everyone has lots of questions about just how this will work. What seemed simple in anticipation three years ago, now looks incredibly complex. Replacing one person with twelve or ninety is not simple.
At the same time many of us have been studying the complexity of world religions, including Christianity. Then Holy Week arrives reminding us of complex theologies, including complicated words like "atonement," "sin," "justification," and "grace." It is easy to become overwhelmed by all the complexity and confusion.
Occasionally I choose for ongoing reflection some kind of modern simple proverb. This month it is attributed to Einstein:
Everything should be made as simple as possible,Looking at our internet communication system, our team ministers may have trouble believing that I have that proverb in mind. The simplicity there is not always easy to see. In the same way, when we consider our faith, especially in the context of world religions and the mystery of Holy Week, we often miss the underlying simplicity.
but no simpler.
Yet the bottom line of Christianity, distinguishing it from all other faiths, is quite simple. We believe that everything that is God – you name it: goodness, love, life, truth, beauty, wisdom, power . . . – was once all present in one human being, Jesus. Believing that opens for us the possibility that all those things can be really present in us also.
Jesus's call is simple: "Follow me."
God lives in those who follow.
MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Rob Cavannan Excitement and plenty of emotions surround all of us as we approach this first new stage in our journey together in total ministry. Cedar, Randy and I will be ordained as deacons on April 6th at Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre. This is the first step for us on our way to being ordained priests. We will serve as deacons for six months before full team commissioning and priestly ordination in October. Johanna will be ordained a deacon in October as she will be a permanent deacon on the team and, I might add, the first Canon 9 deacon in the Diocese.
Ever since I was a boy, I have heard the call to the priesthood in various ways. For a long period of time, I ignored the call or put it aside. It has not gone away and has come full circle to my being discerned and called to the priesthood as part of the Spirit of the Heartland Total Ministry Team. Each of us is callled to share in Christ's priesthood and to commit ourselves to a ministry of some kind. It may be coordinating Food Shelf efforts, being involved in the liturgies as lay reader or chalice minister or serving on the Vestry. It could also be coordinating Alpha sessions or providing music or reaching out to the poor and disenfranchised in our communities. Whatever we do, we are each offering Christ's love and compassion to a broken and hurting world. Total Ministry is a fresh look at the Gospel and the ways and practices of the early church. The priest alone didn't do everything - the priest and deacons were raised up from their own congregations and they worked alongside their friends and neighbors to carry out the Gospel in their communities. This is what we are doing in our three churches - working together to spread the Good News and to share our unique Anglican expression of it which is a message of hope, love and acceptance of all people as if each one of them were Christ himself. This is what Christ asks of each of us - to live out his love not only with our words but also with our actions. You're all full members of the Spirit of the Heartland team. This new journey will be different and at times scary but with Christ as the center of our work, we will succeed in living out the Gospel and in bringing others to a better knowledge of him and of his mercy and enduring love.
The journey for me has been filled with unexpected twists and turns so it's hard to believe that this first step on April 6th will actually take place. I continue to be impressed with your commitment and dedication to your individual parish church as well as the Spirit of the Heartland ministry. As one of your deacons, I hope to be a servant to you and for you. Pray for me and all of us as we work and move together in this unique and challenging journey. The Spirit is alive and living among us. We just need to take the time to listen and hear what She is telling us to do.
Have a Blessed Easter season and in times of quietness, our hearts should be like a tree, lifting their branches to heaven to draw down strength which they will need to face the storms that will surely come in life.
In Christ's love, Rob
WHERE'S OUR TEAM?
Randy Welsand
St. John's
The Spirit of the Heartland met at the convent in Little Falls for our spring retreat on the second Saturday in March and can you believe we were once again in the teeth of a winter storm? Maybe we need to add a team meteorologist! We gathered Friday night and continued through Sunday with a celebration of the Eucharist at the Church of our Saviour's. We had times of prayer and discussion, laughter and silence. The path to commissioning and ordination is becoming clearer as we go. As a team we are continuing to discover our many gifts and strengths as well as areas we still need to work on. All in all, we are one in this and ready to move forward. March 14th took the candidates for ordination and as many members of the team as could make it, to a final meeting with the Standing Committee in Minneapolis. Guess what? It snowed..... AGAIN!!! The worst snow storm of the season. The meetings went well and through the grace of God, we move forward to ordination on April 6 at Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre. It won''t snow in April.....will it? God's Peace!
MEET OUR PARISH MINISTERS
Elizabeth Quillo
Church of Our Saviour
Little Falls
We are so grateful to be a part of Our Saviour's in Little Falls. After searching for quite some time for a church in which we could feel at home and where there was openness and compatibility in spiritual philosophies, we finally came home to Our Saviour's. It already feels like home even though we've only been members since October 1st, 2000.
I come from a very different background than from where I am at now spiritually. I grew up as a medical missionary kid in the eastern jungles of Ecuador. My parents were part of a fundamentalist, inter-denominational mission and I went to a missionary school in which we were heavily indoctrinated with the teachings there. I feel that there were many advantages to growing up in this way. The Bible is very familiar to me and words and values were instilled in me, which I feel grateful for. Yet, as I reached adulthood, I could not continue in this type of spirituality and I eventually found myself in an Episcopal church above the vegetarian Riverside, Café near the University of Minnesota's campus. The icons of Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero and Martin Luther King made me feel sure that the philosophy behind this church's ideals was right for me since I had begun to see the importance of a commitment to the poor and oppressed in society as a vital part of a commitment to Christ.
I did not continue to attend church after marrying my husband, Lalo, although we were married at St. Clement's Church in St. Paul. Now, with four children and one on the way, we feel we need the spiritual nourishment we receive every Sunday, so much so that we even try to brave the snow and bad weather to be there and feel terribly disappointed when we can't make it. The children, Kori (9), Ch'aska (7), Maway (5) and Nina (2), feel very connected to the church and participate often as acolytes and occasionally as lectors. I also lector at times and serve as Lay Eucharistic Minister when I can. This participation has been very beneficial for all of us and has made us feel very much a part of the church and not just spectators of its happenings. I felt wary, at first, at the thought of formally becoming part of a church since for quite a few years I had wanted to stay away from institutionalized religion; but now I see how God so gently led us right to the place we needed most' a place which is full of acceptance and love and where you don't have to check your brain or humanness at the door.
Thank you for allowing us to become part of your family.
- Elizabeth Quillo, Our Saviour's
A NEIGHBOR'S VIEW
I was confirmed an Episcopalian when I was 25 years old and lived back East where I grew up. I had been brought up in another church by my parents but had gone to many churches with my friends and liked the Episcopal Church best - loved the service and also the intellectual freedom it afforded but mostly the service!
Two years later I moved to San Francisco where I lived for twelve years. I was single the whole time, partied a lot and needless to say, didn't make it to church very often. However, I lived only a few blocks from Grace Cathedral and when I did make it to church, that's where I went.
In 1981, I got married and moved to Minnesota but it wasn't untill 1985 that we moved to Litchfield and I became active in Trinity Episcopal Church. By this time, I had a three-year old daughter, Emily, who is now in college. She also loves the Episcopal Church also - growing up she was an acolyte, lector, lay reader and chalice bearer - and now attends St. Stephen's in Fargo where she goes to school.
At Trinity, I am a lector, lay reader and chalice bearer; also I am Treasurer and on the Vestry and do the bulletins and the newsletter. Sometimes, when we can't get an organist, I play the piano too! All this keeps me pretty busy! I work for Meeker County Social Services in Litchfield in the accounting department. I have been there three years and before that always did accounting work somewhere or another.
This is my first year of EFM classes and I've really enjoyed them, although I find it very difficult to keep up with all the reading. At my age, I can't remember all the details of what I've studied but am getting a good overview of the Old Testament. I most enjoy meeting with the group - they're a great bunch!
- Dorothy Hunt, Trinity Episcopal, Litchfield
SUNDAY WORSHIP TIMES
9:00 am St. Stephen's in Paynesville
10:00 am Our Saviour's in Little Falls
11:00 am Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre
WEDNESDAY NOON PRAYER
12:00 pm Our Saviour's in Little Falls
ORDINATION
Those team ministers called to serve as priest sacramentalists – Rob Cavanna, Cedar Morrigan, and Randy Welsand – will become transitional deacons on Saturday, April 6, at 3:00 pm, at Good Sam. Your prayers and presence are requested.
PARISH BUDGETS
This year will be tight for most of our parish budgets, but good news is on the way. In 2003 and following our operating expenses will all be significantly reduced. We will be paying Pat only 1/4 time instead of full time. We will have fewer supply fees. We need only pay expenses for the team ministers. Here is a rough ESTIMATE approximating the changes.
| Good Sam | St Stephen's | Our Saviour's | |
| 2001 Pledges | 21,536 | 8,500 | 14,964 |
| 2002 Pledges | 28,722 | 13,195 | 20,408 |
| Pledge Increase | 34% | 55% | 36% |
| 2002 Expenses | 51,646 | 21,809 | 44,008 |
| 2003 Expenses | 29,878 | 14,295 | 20,057 |
| Expenses Drop | 21,768 | 7,514 | 23,951 |
Pledges have increased significantly in all parishes, and based on the experience of other total ministry parishes will continue to increase. Both St. Stephen's and Good Samaritan have some money in the bank to get through this 2002. Our Saviour's, however, will need to take out a loan to meet this year's budget. Supporters of the Church of Our Saviour are encouraged to pay their pledges in advance if possible. Offering now in 2002 a gift planned for 2003 or 2004 would be a real blessing for Our Saviour's.
CANCELLATIONS
Reminder that emergency cancellations are to be done by the priest presider if it is a Communion Sunday and by the officiant if it is Morning Prayer. No one should cancel services unless told to do so by the person scheduled to the service. All parishes have phone trees that should be activated in such case. Presiders or officiants should check the ministry rota and notify any ministers that may be coming from elsewhere, including organists.
PAT IN IRELAND
Our Pastoral Mentor Pat will be on vacation from April 22 through May 2. She, Paul, and daughter Miranda will be visiting son Brendan, who is studying this semester in Cork, Ireland. In a pastoral emergency during her absence, you may contact any of our new deacons, who will know where to find a priest if required.
VESTRY MEETINGS
April 7, 2:00 pm St. Stephen's
April 10, 7:00 pm Our Saviour's
April 21, 12:10 pm Good Samaritan
UNITED THANK OFFERING
The 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, you will be expressing your deepest faith in your thankfulness to God. And every cent you give, representing your thankful prayers today, is the dream for tomorrow's life and gives hope to people all over the world. Our UTO Ingathering Sunday for all our parishes will be May 12th.
ALPHA FOR SPIRIT OF THE HEARTLAND
Last year we offered an Alpha course for our three churches. The course was well receive and it's possible to do it again. Are you interested? There will be an Alpha Conference at Hosanna Lutheran church in Lakeville on Monday and Tuesday, July 22 &23, 2002. The conference is an invaluable opportunity to find answers to your questions and to receive training and encouragement for Alpha Team members. Please, consider participating and helping to bring Alpha to our communities. Contact Harriette Burkhalter harrijack@sedona.net or 928-284-1690 (in Arizona) If you are interested.
HEADS UP! GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY
HEADS UP! GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY for Our Saviour's new building addition will be Sunday, April 14th . Plan to join us for services and this history-making event!
ST THECLA'S GUILD
ST THECLA'S GUILD Will begin meeting every month beginning with April 26th, and then the fourth Friday of each month thereafter at 7 p.m.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Spirit of the Heartland welcomes all to their events.
Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre will have Bible Study Series on the Psalms. Second and Fourth Tuesdays at noon.
St. Stephen's in Paynesville and Our Saviour's in Little Falls continue a series on world religions: "RELIGIONS: Encountering People of Other Faiths".
In Paynesville at 11 am (contact Pat for location):
April 4: Christian Denominations
Our Saviour's in Little Falls is on break until Pentecost, when they will continue the series with a session on Buddhism at 11:30 am on Sunday, May 26.
OUR SAVIOUR'S NOTES
SHARE-A-MEAL Mark your calendars for May 30th - Our Saviour's will host Share-A-Meal Thursday, May 30, 2002. Volunteers are needed to help serve and to provide food for the event.
VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Our Saviour's
March 13th
The building project funds and pledges remain at approximately $95,000.
Vestry is looking into grants and community donations. Discussed a date for a groundbreaking ceremony, later set for April 14th. Building plans are under review for final draft..
MARCH BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Church of the Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
April 2nd Pat Gillespie
April 2nd Fran Svardahl
April 6th Harry Svardahl
April 10th Sarah Coltvet
April 23rd Dorothy Peterson
St. Stephen'sr, Paynesville
April 3rd Elaine Vanderpool
April 12th Harriette Burkhalter
Church of Our Saviour, Little Falls
April 11th Jan (Zippy) Zeman
April 16th Andy Starin
St. John's, St. Cloud
April 28th Randy Welsand
MINISTRY SCHEDULES
Good Samaritan
Our Saviour's
St. Stephen's
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