Monthly Musings...From the Team Ministry.

By Roger Phillips

Soon after you receive this newsletter, Rosemary and I will be arriving to live at our lake home on Big Birch Lake until late October. In Orlando, this past winter, we have been led by God to leave the Cathedral of St. Luke, after 28 years, and to begin ministering in the small mission of St. Christophers, on the northwest side of Orlando.

This mission, which once enjoyed full parish status (financially self-supporting) had fallen on "evil times" and nearly everyone left, except for a faithful few. But the remnant are a beautiful multi-racial, multi-cultural, mix of old and young and in many respects are very similar to our parishes here in the Spirit the Heartland. And that is why I perceive The Lord called me to minister there this winter in order to begin my training in preparation for ordination as a Priest-Sacramentalist on the Spirit of the Heartland Team. So, as a layperson and Candidate for Holy Orders, I am assisting the Vicar/Priest-in-Charge in all aspects of ministering to our "flock". It is a wonderful experience.

And here is another exciting aspect: St. Christophers, with the approval and support of the Diocese of Central Florida is newly engaged in a two year redevelopment project, designed to rebuild the parish congregation, with the goal of becoming self-sufficient financially and re-attaining parish status. The program entitled Project 6:15(taken from Jeremiah 6, verse 15) lasts for two years and is a systematic program of church growth, under the supervision of church growth specialists. The program is "tailored" specifically for St. Chris, with definable goals they can accomplish each quarter, and during which they are coached and guided towards successful completion of each. I look forward to actively participating in this program and sharing the results with our Team to determine, if in the future, it might be applicable here in the Spirit of the Heartland.

I ask your prayers for Project 6:15 and your Brothers and Sisters In Christ at St. Christophers, Orlando and for their success. To this end, let me share with you a special prayer that we are praying daily, and you could also could share in, by adding the name of your parish, and all of the parishes in the Spirit of the Heartland in addition. Hear is how it goes: "Dear God, please show us how YOU want to express YOURSELF, through the Church of Our Saviour in Little Falls, through St. Stephens in Paynesville, and through the Church of The Good Samaritan in Sauk Centre and through St. Christophers, Orlando, in these communities, at this time."

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: March 2nd and April 6th following 11 a.m. worship
• Our Saviour's Coffee Hour Fellowship: Each Sunday following 10 a.m. worship.
• Thecla's Guild, March 28th 7 p.m. Contact Jan Zeman for more information.

PRAYERS FOR:

Zippy and Cynthia

CELEBRATIONS FOR:

May Birthdays
Lois Kaufman, May 1
Maren Kay Welsand, May 6
Cynthia Evan, May 8
Millie Thomson, May 9
Lalo Quillo, May 13
Betty Halvorson, May 14
Kori Quillo, May 15
Ivy Hildebrand, May 24
Joe Hayden, May 26
Thomas Pelkey, May 28
Cheyenne Pelkey, May 28 May Anniversaries
Marge and Mike Hayden, May 12

Mother Daughter Tea?

Join us on May 17th at Noon at St. Stephen's in Paynesville for a wonderful afternoon tea. Bring a friend, mother, daughter, aunt, or cousin. This is a great way for us to get to know each other in all of our three churches and to have some fun admist all of the seriousness of the world. Please R.s.v.p. to Maren Kay at 240-8504.

Our UTO Ingathering Sunday this spring will be on May 11th. The UTO is a personal and family devotional program of the Episcopal church (i.e., pause, think about your blessings, thank God for each one, and for each thanksgiving, and 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. Every cent you give represents the dream for tomorrow's life and gives hope to people all over the world.

Good Samaritan:
Next Vestry Meeting is 12:10 p.m. May 18th March Vestry Tidbits: Discussion included: news that Richard Schutzenberg is leading the Tuesday Bible study on War and Peace as depicted in the Bible; Roger Phillips talked about a proposal at his church in Orlando Florida called Project 615 which will be national project soon to be in Minnesota; the Outdoor Episcopal church sign blew over and will be fixed; Food Shelf Baskets will be placed in the Narthex and the Community Meeting Room–everyone is asked to bring canned goods, etc. every time they come to church!

St. Stephen's:
Next Vestry Meeting is 10 a.m. May 4th

Our Saviour's:
Next Vestry Meeting is 7 p.m. May 14th

SOH Council Meeting:
Next Meeting is 2 p.m. May 6th

1 Preachers at Our Sav., 12:30 pm
5 LF EFM, 6:30 pm
10 Bible Study Good Sam., 12 pm
11 Our Sav. Vestry, 7 pm
12 EFM Seekers, 9 am
14 Team Meeting, 9 am, Paynesville
15 Good Sam. Vestry, 12:10 pm
19 LF EFM, 6:30 pm
24 Bible Study Good Sam., 12 pm
26 EFM Seekers, 9 am LF EFM, 6:30 pm

Oh my, where do I begin? This last month we have all been very, very busy doing God's work! Preparing for the Sunday worship services keeps most of the team busy and of course full with the word of God. It is such a pleasure being part of three wonderful parishes, each with their own unique flavor and gifts. Everyone is a child of God and the love of God shows through all of us in different ways! I urge everyone to reflect upon how each of our parishes is unique and different and special. Certainly, everyone is very welcoming to every person who enters through each of our parish doors.

Sometimes things do get a little challenging however. These are the times when our strength and courage are tested. We have had more than our share of injuries, surgeries, and hospitalizations in the past month. I have been so pleased to see the team go into action and cover the all of the services as needed.

I hope that all of you have a great Easter season. God Bless You All!

Maren Kay Welsand,
Community Life Lay Minister

Look for Your Parish Questionnaire!

Keep your eyes open in early June for a parish questionnaire coming to you from Spirit of the Heartland. Your response is most important. We will be using this questionnaire to determine the future of our parishes in terms of long range planning. The questions will cover many facets of our life together in the Spirit of the Heartland ranging from financial issues to service preferences. Your response will be tabulated and used to guide the TEAM as we plan for the future.

Thank you!
Harriette Burkhalter

In an effort to make the newsletter type larger and yet stay within our 5 sheets of paper postage allowance, some changes have been made this month. You'll notice that only 1 month of the calendar is included this time. Please check the June Notes above for planning ahead. Please also send me feedback if you can at: biesjaede@yahoo.com. Your suggestions are always welcome!

Thanks!
Kathy Bies-Jaede

So What are We All Up To?

Spring has sprung in the Spirit of the Heartland. Rebirth and renewal are evident as far as we can see. A familiar ritual is happening in our homes and our yards as we rake leaves, pull up the remains of last years' weeds and debris from our flowerbeds. Rooms, long sealed up from frigid outdoor temperatures, awaken to fresh breezes flowing through opened windows, and spring cleaning is underway.

So, too, your ministry team is feeling the arrival of spring as we breathe deeply and inventory where we have been since Ordination and Commissioning last October. From Advent through Christmas, Epiphany and Lent, there seemed to be no spare time between the changing of the liturgical seasons before coming to the most holy time of the year, the Passion of Jesus and the celebration of his resurrection.

We have kept the home fires burning as we awaited the return of our "snow birds" once again. It has been a long winter and we are all looking forward to spending time with them during this time of renewal. The lingering days of April's Easter Season will have witnessed ongoing growth for our team with the Ordination of Doris Dodds to the Diaconate and the Commissioning of Roger Phillips to the team. Plans are underway for more cluster-church activities this year and we look forward to seeing more of each of you.

Spread wide your arms and welcome this most refreshing time of year. God be with you.

- Jan (Zippy) Zeman, Lay Preacher

Spirit of the Heartland Who's Who

Sandi Holmberg, Supervising Priest & Priest in Charge
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, Deacon Evangelist and Outreach Minister
Rob Cavanna, St. John's, Priest Sacramentalist and Preacher
Cynthia Evans, Good Samaritan, Intercessor Emerita
Cedar Morrigan, Our Saviour's, Priest Sacramentalist
Johanna Morrigan, Our Saviour's, Deacon Preacher
Roger Phillips, Good Samaritan, Sacramentalist in Formation & Lay Intercessor
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<

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