PASTOR'S NOTE
As I journey in Ireland, I leave with you all an old Celtic prayer from the Carmina Gadelica, which has accompanied me on my spiritual journey since it found me it years ago when I was studying at the School of Theology at St. John's University..
May I speak each day according to Thy justice,
Each day may I show Thy chastening, O God;
May I speak each day according to Thy wisdom,
Each day and night may I be at peace with Thee.
Each day may I count the causes of Thy mercy,
May I each day give heed to Thy laws;
Each day may I compose to Thee a song,
May I harp each day Thy praise, O God.
May I each day give love to Thee, Jesus,
Each night may I do the same;
Each day and night, dark and light,
May I laud Thy goodness to me, O God.
Blessings !
MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Harriette Burkhalter I was very pleased and most proud to be part ( small part) of the ordination service for 3 of our total ministry team members on April 6. That ordination was a big milestone for our Spirit of the Heartland Team and for Total Ministry in the Diocese. I have been an Episcopalian all my life and my current opportunity to serve you as part of the team is the most enriching and joyful experience of my life. My responsibility on the Team is that of lay evangelist and although I only spend the summer months in Minnesota, it is my hope that in that time we can work together and find ways to represent the good news of Jesus Christ in our communities. If you have ideas and thoughts about new ways to do that, give me a call, send an e-mail, or let's talk after church. Harriette Burkhalter 320-453-7805, or harrijac@meltel.net.
WHERE'S OUR TEAM?
The Ministry Team met at Paynesville for our regular monthly meeting on Saturday, April 13th. Our transitional deacons looked very fine indeed in their new clerical collars. We were all still flying high from the wonderful events of April 6th, when Cedar, Randy, and Rob were ordained by the Rt. Rev. Fred Putnam at the Church of the Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre. The enthusiastic support from each of our churches made it a red letter day for all of us. Each church contributed and participated in so many ways. We are deeply grateful to each of you for all of your loving prayers and support. Total Ministry is becoming a reality in the lives of all of us, and it is exciting to see how it is evolving.
On the 13th we were joined by the Rev. Canon Sandra Holmberg for our morning session. She assisted us in working through some communication difficulties, and in looking at ways to ensure clearer communication in the future. We were blessed to have her with us to lend her wisdom and gentle spirit to a discussion that was difficult at times, but ultimately rewarding.
As always the day flew by too quickly. The afternoon was spent working out just some of the growing list of details involved as we are nearing the change from rector/priest-in-charge to total ministry congregations. The day ended in the sanctuary, where our transitional deacons did some exploration and practicing of their new role in our Sunday worship services. The day concluded with worship.
Our next team meeting is scheduled to be held at the Church of the Good Samaritan on Saturday, May 11. We hope some of you will be able to join us during the open team time from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with worship scheduled at 4:00 p.m. We'd sure like to have you.
Your Servant in Christ, Johanna - Johanna Morrigan
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
ANNUAL MEETINGS
Here is the annual meeting schedule for this summer. Save the dates!
St. Stephen's Sunday, July 7, 2:00 pm
Our Saviour's Sunday, July 14, 11:15 am
Good Samaritan Sunday, July 21, 12:15 pm
VESTRY MEETINGS FOR MAY
May 5, 2:00 pm St. Stephen's
May 8, 7:00 pm Our Saviour's
May 19, 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 received 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@meltel.net or320-453-7805 if you are interested.
YOU ARE INVITED
Mark your calendars now! On Friday June 14 at 6:00pm Spirit of the Heartland parishioners are invited to gather at St. Stephen's Church in Paynesville for an evening of food, fellowship and FUN! The evening will include a special guest entertainer who will bring us an important message. Details will follow! Plan now to be there!
EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY
EFM is a whole lot more than Bible study. Here is just some of what people from Little Falls have to say about the impact of EFM on their lives:
"EFM has offered me a way to ‘put it all together.' It has brought my faith to life in a way that I never thought was really possible for an ordinary lay person. It is no longer a struggle to keep God in the center most of the time, and to remember that God is indeed very much alive today - even in all the messes that we humans keep creating. It has been a life-changing experience for which I am deeply grateful."
"EFM has brought my life into relationship with scripture. It has also taught me how to see places in my daily life where Jesus/God are present, and how to make decisions based on that deepened awareness. Through EFM I have arrived at a place of understanding that has enabled me to answer the call to serve God's people through the priesthood."
"I have always had a longing to find myself in the story of creation, but it seemed to be so far away until I started exploring the ancient stories in the Bible with a group of loving people on a similar quest. In EFM I found the collective memory of God's people by visioning backward and forward, then coming to the realization that the present is right in the middle of God's creation history and future, and that I am part of the ongoing story. This deeply wonderful experience has brought me a new perspective on how I experience God and the world around me."
EFM OPEN SESSIONS
Attend an Education for Ministry Seminar to find out for yourself what a blessing this program can be in your life. Free, open sessions on Thursday May 9: 9:00 am to 1:30 pm in Melrose (320-256-3098 or annbeard@meltel.net) for directions) and 6:45 -9:30 pm at St. John's, St. Cloud.
BOUNDARY WATERS RETREATS
Reserve your place now: Region III Fifth Annual Boundary Waters
Wilderness Retreat, July 16-19 and Women's Retreat, September 25-28.
Contact Pat (pat@motherflash.com) for more information.
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):
May 16: 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
THE TREASURER needs your help! Please indicate on checks written to the church where your contribution is intended - pledge, building fund, clergy discretionary fund or other. Collection envelopes are available for your convenience, and you are encouraged to also place cash contributions in them if you would like a statement of giving.
GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY for Our Saviour's new building addition has been rescheduled to take place Sunday, June 9. A delay in finalizing plans and financing details prompted the vestry to delay the ceremony that was originally set for April. Please plan to join us for this history-making event!
Our new parish hall building project is just one component of the Mission of our church, "to make Christ's love known and welcome all who seek God." In this mission, we are dedicated not only to making our church accessible to handicapped persons but also to serving many and varied needs of our community.
As a Total Ministry parish we look to the words in The Revelation to John, reflected in the Spirit of the Heartland mission statement: to "listen to what the spirit is saying to the churches", to increase the ministry of "all the baptized", and to bring together the members of the "body of Christ" in Central MN.
We are successfully presenting educational activities within our church and the greater Spirit of the Heartland. Two chief offerings are Education for Ministry (EFM) and the ALPHA series on the Christian faith which are offered in all three parishes, as well as a continuing series about The World's Religions. Our new accessible area will greatly increase the efficiency of our group educational efforts by giving us one adequate and comfortable meeting space for all. Other Christian community outreach programs are being explored and we welcome any suggestions that "YOU, THE CHURCH " may have. We are all ministers of Christ, celebrating the community of God, each of us with God's given talents, working together, sharing the teaching of Jesus with all who seek a deeper relationship with God.
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. Look for sign up sheets in the church.
VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Good Samaritan
Our Saviour's
MARCH BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Church of the Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
May 1st Louis Kaufman
May 8th Cynthia Ann Evans
May 24th Ivy Hildebra
May 28th Thomas Pelkey
May 28th Cheyenne Pelkey
St. Stephen'sr, Paynesville
May 14th Betty Halvorson
May 19th Bud Hassenstein
Church of Our Saviour, Little Falls
May 9th Millie Thompson
May 12th Marge & Mike Hayden
May 13th Lalo Quillo
May 15th Kori Quillo
May 26th Joe Hayden
May 30th Mike Hayden
St. John's, St. Cloud
May 6th Maren Kay Welsand
EXPANDING MINISTRIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY:
HEARTLAND HOME HEALTH CARE & HOSPICE VOLUNTEER TRAINING
You are invited to enrich your life by becoming a Hospice Volunteer. Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice is offering free volunteer training at their office, 2012 8th St. N., in St. Cloud. Volunteer opportunities include patient visits, respite for families, office assisting and bereavement care. For more information about time commitment and expectations, or to register for the training, please contact Jackie at 320-654-1136. It will be the most rewarding call you will make.
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