Monthly Musings...From the Team Ministry.

What is Your Ministry?

By The Rev. Robert C. Cavanna

Your ministry team is commissioned and ordained. It is functioning and serving the parishes learning as we move forward into 2003. As I get to know each and everyone of you better, I want you to think about a question which I believe you must answer if you are true to the calling of the Gospel and to your role as members of Total Ministry congregations. What is YOUR ministry? Oftentimes we are doing things both inside and outside the church but we aren't thinking of it as ministry. For the most part, each of you has a ministry within the church. Some of you are lay readers, chalice ministers, altar guild persons or ushers.

I'd like to challenge you to think beyond our church walls. Think of something which you might do outside our church walls which you would like to do and which would serve people. These are just 10 ideas of mine. A few of them are coordinated from within the parish but they are outreach/ evangelism activities. You know your communities better than I do and you are certainly a better judge of your community's needs. Here's my list of possible ministries for you.

1. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in some capacity.
2. Help with a community meal or home delivered meals.
3. Teach adults to read. Your community education program in your school district is always looking for volunteers to work with illiterate adults.
4. Volunteer some time to help in one of the schools in your district. Working with young people is a valid and uplifting ministry. (In Little Falls we are hoping to get a grant for "After School/ Homework " help for children).
5. Volunteer to work in your local hospital. Hospitals are always looking for greeters and people to answer the phones. Do it in the name of your parish.
6. Work in a hospice program. You will need training for this specific work but you would find it most rewarding. Do it in the name of your parish.
7. Offer your parish hall for Al-Anon, AA and other support groups. This is more of a Vestry decision but your ministry could be to coordinate these groups using the parish hall. This is not only good outreach but it brings people into the church who would otherwise would not know about the Episcopal Church. It also gives the parish another small source of revenue.
8. Be a minister of music and concerts. Coordinate music groups, carol singing, and other musical offerings. The space could be rented to other groups or they could be "free will" offerings for our own performances.
9. I don't know if each of our parish halls would be big enough but be the coordinator of yearly blood drives. Again this is a ministry of helping others and bringing people into our buildings which they would ordinarily not do except for something like donating blood. This would have to be coordinated with the Total Ministry team and the outreach ministers.
10. Engage in a ministry of communications. With the Vestry's approval and team involvement, handle all media releases/articles to the local newspapers. Small town papers are always looking for news with "local" folk. This ministry would have to be coordinated with the team members who are responsible for outreach and evangelism so as to avoid duplication of effort. It could be a powerful ministry and an inexpensive way to keep our churches names and programs in the communities' minds.

I'm sure you know of and can think of many more possibilities for ministry. What will YOUR ministry be and how will you both live out the Gospel and bring Christ's message of love and healing to a broken world? It's entirely in your hands. Don't let another year go by without deciding and choosing your own ministry!

SUNDAY WORSHIP TIMES

9:00 am St. Stephen's in Paynesville
(320)243-2012
320 Wendell Street, Paynesville, MN 56362

10:00 am Our Saviour's in Little Falls
(320)-632-5731)
113 NE 4th Street (PO Box 344) Little Falls, MN 56345

11:00 am Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre
(320)-352-6882
529 Main Street (PO Box 205) Sauk Centre, MN 56378

WEDNESDAY NOON PRAYER

12:00 pm Our Saviour's in Little Falls

If you're able to get out and about the next couple of months, please join us for the following:

• Good Samaritan Coffee Hour Fellowship: February 2nd and March 2nd following 11 a.m. worship
• Our Saviour's Coffee Hour Fellowship: Each Sunday following 10 a.m. worship.
• Thecla's Guild, February 28th at 7 p.m. Contact Jan Zeman for more information.
• Lenten Events: Watch for in our March Newsletter!

PRAYERS FOR:

Cynthia, Cindy, and Cedar

CELEBRATIONS FOR:

January Birthdays:
Barb Griffith, February 3
Paul Schlauderaff, February 4
Bea Thruber, February 4
Judy Rose, February 11
Quentin Starin, February 15
Lu Tax, February 24
Kim Riddle, February 26
Peter Tax, February 29

January Anniversaries
Dick and Millie Thomson, February 9
Harry and Fran Svardahl, February 14<

Happy Valentines Day!

Content from this section is continained in this month's "Monthly Musings" above.

New Tri-Church Phone Answering System!

Beginning now any call you make to your local church should be forwarded free to Kathy Bies-Jaede for referral. Or if you prefer, the direct number is: 320-259-7153 Or (Toll Free) 1-866-553-4415

Vestry Meetings:

Good Samaritan: February 16 –12:10 p.m.

REPORT–DECEMBER MINUTES--HIGHLIGHTS
Motion for Pat G. to be 1/4 time passed according to Diocesan Guidelines. Morris Ministry program going well. Lois Mayer now living in Sauk Centre and available to to do substitute organist work. Many thanks to Fran Svardale for minutes!

St. Stephen's: February ? –10 a.m.

REPORT–JANUARY MINUTES--HIGHLIGHTS
The Vestry of St. Stephen's met at 10 a.m. on Sunday Jan. 5th at the church. It was voted and approved to hold the Sunday worship services in the undercroft of the church until Palm Sunday or perhaps Easter, depending on the weather. Bill Henderson will get the sign made for the front door of the church. ..Next year's Epiphany cake will be handled by Doris Dodds...The financial report was discussed and approved...The Seekers group of EFM will resume at 9 a.m. at St. Stephen's on March 27th. Many thanks to Doris Dodds for Minutes.

Our Saviour's: February 12--7 p.m.

REPORT--CELEBRATING NEW SPACE

More than two years ago the parishioners at Our Saviour's moved their Sunday coffee time from the basement to the church sanctuary for accessibility reasons and began planning for a new accessible parish hall addition. With an air of celebration, the vision of a new parish hall became reality January 12th as parishioners initiated the new space with its' first after-church gathering. There was a real sense of community and enthusiasm as we tried out the new floors, rested our eyes on softly colored walls and marveled at two brand new full-sized bathrooms!

The previous day the Spirit of the Heartland Total Ministry Team held their monthly meeting in the new space and the EFM group met there the following Thursday evening, followed by the Christian Education group which met there January 22nd to continue it's exploration of the World's religions.

Stay tuned for more action as the Vestry begins its' monthly meetings in the Parish Hall February 12th. Also stay tuned for more information about an upcoming special Lenten Series, "Journey Into Reconciliation" to be presented in the new hall. It will be a five-week series exploring issues of reconciliation for individuals and families, for our local congregations, our communities and the world, starting after Ash Wednesday, March 5th. More information later.
By Jan Zeman

Good Samaritan Bible Study This group usually meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month at Noon at the church. Join us this month on February 11 and 25.

St. Stephen's Book Study This group usually meets the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. They are taking a break for the winter months and will resume again sometime in March. Call Doris Dodds for more information.

Our Saviour's Discussion Group This group had been meeting on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Black and White Hamburger Shop. There is no meeting scheduled however for this month; please call Jan Zeman with any questions.

Who is Fran Svardahl?

For those of you who don't know about this–one of our Team Leaders, Maren Kay Welsand is heading up a program at SOH churches in which parishioners share stories about their lives for the monthly newsletter! Parishioners can also share their poetry or other creations in this monthly news column; both Quentin Starin and Marge Campbell have done this already in the previous months. So lets get started!

Fran is what we call a "cradle Episcopalian" having being baptized at a little Episcopal mission church in Minneapolis. She and her younger sister attended various Sunday schools as children. Her parents were not that active in the church but her paternal Grandparents were and began taking them regularly to St. Mary's in St. Paul when Fran was about 9 years old. Fran loved Junior Choir and Young People's Fellowship

Fran graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in 1945 and married "her returning soldier" Harry on Valentines Day, Feb. 14, 1946! They picked the date mainly so Harry wouldn't forget; they've been happily married 60 years. They had three sons in due time: Jim, Dave, and Janny, and then later Julie and Mary. Involving their children in the Episcopal church was always a priority even though Harry had been raised strict Missouri Synod Lutheran...Fran eventually persuaded Harry of the blessings of being Episcopalian!

Fran worked part-time on week-ends, attended choir, attended PTA meetings and focused on raising her children. She also was very involved with Mr. And Mrs. Clark at church and put on a terrific variety show during the 1950's called "Cheese & Crackers!" The show went on for 2-3 years and for the most part "kept them out of mischief!" Church was always either first or second in Fran's life and she was thrilled when the Cursillo movement came along in the 1970's.

Fran and Harry began coming to Good Samaritan in the 1960's when they began building their A-Frame on Cedar lake in Todd County. A college classmate bought enough land for 3 families so they could all build adjacent cabins. Weekends and vacations became "lake weekends" and the families all had a blast! There would be 30-40 adults and kids all eating a meal together as well as swimming, boating, building... Good Samaritan then became their church away from home. They always felt welcome. Harry and Fran served on vestry, sang in the choir, served as Warden, etc.

Fran's one regret is that the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" was removed from the hymnal! She feels blessed to be part of Spirit of the Heartland and cares a lot about Christians and the church ‘acting in the world." She quotes "Ye are the salt of the earth!" Praise Be to God for her life and for her 10 exceptional grandchildren!

So What are We All Up To?

Bring a Friend/Neighbor to Sunday Worship Month
By The Rev. Robert C. Cavanna

Did you know that if each parishioner brought just one person to church this month, we would have an additional 40 to 50 persons visiting our parishes!

Top Ten Reasons to Do So:
10. It's good outreach.
9. It's relatively easy to ask someone.
8. It is the easiest kind of evangelism.
7. It tests your social/asking skills.
6. It's a good thing to do.
5. You'll feel good about it.
4. Your companion will be welcomed warmly.
3. Who knows what will come of it?
2. Your guest will meet a lot of loving/caring Christians.
1. You are exposing someone to a compassionate and inclusive church which lives out Jesus Christ's admonition/ commandment to love everyone!

Spirit of the Heartland Who's Who

Pat Gillespie, Pastoral Mentor, Priest in Charge, Webminister
Mary Ann Erdmann, Finance Administrator (Staff)
Kathy Bies-Jaede, Communications/Christian Education(Staff)
++++++++++++++++++
Harriette Burkhalter, St. Stephen's, Lay Evangelist and Outreach Minister
Doris Dodds, St.Stephen's, Lay Evangelist and Outreach Minister
Rob Cavanna, St. John's, Priest Sacramentalist and Preacher
Cynthia Evans, Good Samaritan, Lay Intercessor
Cedar Morrigan, Our Saviour's, Priest Sacramentalist
Johanna Morrigan, Our Saviour's, Deacon Preacher
Roger Phillips, Good Samaritan, Sacramentalist in Formation
Lu Tax, Our Saviour's, Lay Liturgist
Maren Kay Welsand, St. John's, Lay Community Life Minister
Randy Welsand, St. John's, Priest Sacramentalist and Pastoral Care Minister
Jan (Zippy) Zeman, Our Saviour's, Lay Preacher

"Spirit of the Heartland" is a group of Episcopal churches in Central Minnesota where all the baptized members minister together in Total Ministry. Congregation members serve as a team in the ministerial leadership roles traditionally filled by a seminary-trained priest. Ministers from each congregation serve in all Spirit of the Heartland congregations. For more information contact www.motherflash.com/spirit or 1-866-553-4415 or 259-7153

This column will return next month! We ran out of room this time because of some extra news articles.

2 Worship 9, 10, 11 a.m.,
Coffee Hour, Noon, Good Samaritan
11:30 a.m., Preachers Our Saviour's
4 Ministerial, Good Sam., 11:45 a.m.
SOH Council, Good Sam., 2 p.m.
Worship 9, 10, 11 a.m.,
6 Ministerial, Paynesville, 9 a.m.
EFM, Little Falls, 6:30 p.m.
8 Team Meeting, Little Falls, 9 a.m.
9 Worship 9, 10, 11 a.m.,
11 St. Mike's HE, 11 a.m.
Good Sam Bible Study, Noon
12 Vestry, Our Saviour's, 7 p.m.
16-20 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
16 Worship 9, 10, 11 a.m.,
Good Samaritan Vestry, 12:10 p.m.
20 EFM, Our Saviour's, 6:30 p.m.
23 Worship 9, 10, 11 a.m.
25 H.E. Worship, St. Mike's, 11 a.m.
Bible Study, Good Sam., Noon
26 H.E., Univ. MN Morris, 8 p.m.
27 EFM, Our Saviour's, 6:30 p.m.
28 St. Thecla's Guild, 7 p.m.

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