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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
October 27, 2021
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We are congregations who seek to be a collective expression of the Body of Christ, joyfully participating in Christ's ongoing life and work. "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."
(I Thessalonians 5:11)
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Congregation of the Week of October 31 - November 6
First Presbyterian Church of Round Lake
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Ruling Elders/Spiritual Leaders: Mark Ruesch, Lori Morrison, Bob Widman, Ronda Sammons, Jewel Garms, Neil Robinson, Jolene Thomsen, and Kyle Wendland
Clerk of Session: Lori Morrison
Church Secretary, Treasurer and Organist: Becky DeJong
Church Co-Treasurer and Financial Secretary: LaRae Wood
Multi-Media Coordinator: Jerry Wood
White House and Grounds Caretaker: Donna Watje
Custodian: Shellie Williams
Christian Education Committee: Brenda Vogelaar and Anna Robinson
Memorial Committee: Bobbi Habben, Shirley Geertsema and Ronda Sammons
Concerned Christians Committee: Donna Anderson, Linda Koning and LeeAnn Armstrong
Ministers: Members of the Congregation and our Church Family
Pastor: The Rev. Robert D. Bartlett
We pray for our ministries:
- Monthly financial support of the Helping Hands Pregnancy Center and the Manna Food Pantry in Worthington
- Monthly support of the Lakeside Center at Okoboji
- Weekly sharing of our worship services over the internet
- Sharing in worship, fellowship, ministry with our sisters and brothers in the Brewster Presbyterian Church
- Ministry of hospitality to those who enjoy no charge overnight lodging in our Parish House when visiting family and friends in Round Lake
- Join with members of the Bethel Lutheran Church in hosting seasonal gatherings for our community at the Round Lake Community Center
- Provide camp scholarships for children attending Summer Church Camps
- Join with the local boy scouts in providing food baskets/gift certificates to local residents experiencing hardships (including gifts for their children) during the Christmas Season
- Providing assistance in paying heating bills for struggling families in Round Lake
- Share travel expenses for local residents as they travel for extended medical treatments
- Covering our neighbors with prayer through our congregational prayer chain
- Supporting and encouraging our pastor as he ministers on our behalf within our larger community
We remember in prayer:
- The congregations, pastoral leadership, ruling elders, church and presbytery staff and the faithful servants of the Lord across the Presbytery
- The victims of natural disasters and personal tragedies
- Farmers, and all who are dependent upon agriculture, especially during the harvest
- Our Presbyterian Women and for a good response to their current sale of Christmas wreaths and holiday greenery
- Those dealing with health issues of every kind, including those affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic, chronic illnesses and disabilities
- For the healing of our national divisions and conflicts
- Members of law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, and members of the United States Military services and for their families
- For the maintenance of faithful ministries and for the continuing witness of each small and/or rural congregation in our presbytery, especially as each of us wrestles with diminishing resources and declining memberships
- The Sessions of the Round Lake, Brewster, and Worthington churches, as they prayerfully work together to create and share faithful, imaginative and energetic mission projects that will reveal how the Christ is actively working within our communities by optimistically moving forward in the service of our Lord as together we effectively and efficiently share our available resources
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A Word from Kathy
The very first question anyone asked God was in Genesis, chapter 4. Cain asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God did not answer directly, but the rest of scripture points to the answer. Yes, indeed we are called to care for all our siblings.
The last year and a half have been challenging. Between the election, George Floyd’s killing, and the pandemic, it seems that our society has become so very contentious. We live in a divided nation where everyone has strong opinions, and we can’t even agree on facts.
My friends, God does not call us to always be right. God does not call us to point out the errors in those we disagree with. God calls us to love one another. That is our Christian duty to look out for the welfare of others and to show them the light of Christ’s love.
Thought for the Week
"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."
--Madeline L'Engle
Kathy Terpstra
Gap Executive Presbyter
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Presbytery’s next stated meeting is on Saturday, November 6, at the First Presbyterian Church, 706 Third Avenue South, Saint James. This meeting is in person only. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and the business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m.
Please call or email Karen Lange by Friday, October 29 to indicate:
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If you will be in attendance and would like a meal reserved (Note dietary restrictions)
- If you request to be excused
- If childcare will be needed
The presbytery minutes are available on the presbytery website.
FIRST-TIME COMMISSIONERS
There will be an orientation at 9:15 a.m. for first-time commissioners. Stop at the registration table for the location of the orientation session
MEALS
Lunch is $10 per person, payable at the registration table. We no longer charge congregations in advance for their commissioners.
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King’s Garden, Valley, NE – King Lake Flood Recovery
By Al Jergenson
On October 10-16, 2021, members of the “Mission Without Passports” (First Presbyterian – St. Cloud) and Mission Work Team (First Presbyterian – Foley) collaborated with volunteers from St. Cloud and Shakopee and another from First Presbyterian – Mankato to form a group of ten who traveled together to Elkhorn, NE to help with ongoing efforts in flood recovery following the massive flooding that took place all around Omaha, NE in March of 2019.
The Mission Without Passports group had worked in that area for a week in October of 2019, but then COVID hit, and volunteer assistance dried up, and people in the King Lake area were left to shift for themselves. Our group decided to return, and do what we could with another week of work, and so we teamed up with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and “The King’s Garden” (a Christian organization working in the community there to coordinate ongoing recovery efforts.)
During the week that we were there, we worked primarily on two houses – one house that was completely gutted, and the work included stripping off all the windows, doors and siding, removing part of the floor joists and subfloor, removing a steel tank that was under the house through the opening in the floor, framing new walls inside the house, installing new headers and door openings on the interior of the house, and new windows and doors for the exterior of the house.
In the other house that we worked on, we removed old ceiling panels and insulation in a bedroom of the house, repaired rotted rafters, reinsulated the ceiling, installed a new vapor barrier and sheetrock, taped, mudded and sanded all the joints, installed new trim around the window, doors and closet, and new baseboard and cove molding around the room, leaving it ready for final painting. We also helped to close in an open porch, and insulated the ceiling of the porch.
Other work that our volunteers participated in included sorting truckloads of steel siding that had been donated, but needed to be sorted to type and size, marked and wrapped with plastic, so it could be stored for future use…as well as preparing large piles of cardboard to be used along with shredded wood chips in establishing a large new garden plot which will be used to grow fresh vegetables for the community’s residents.
Lodging for our group was provided by Peace Presbyterian Church of Elkhorn, NE. That congregation provided a beautiful facility for us to sleep in, cots for those who needed them, a wonderful kitchen in which to cook our meals, and a beautiful meeting room in which to eat and hold our devotional and planning meetings. Our mission team funds paid for the groceries we bought and prepared, as well as for the gas needed for transportation. We used our funds to also make a $500 donation to Peace Presbyterian in thanks for their hospitality, and a $500 donation to The King’s Garden for the purchase of building / construction materials in their remaining projects. Special thanks to our congregations and private donors who supported our work with your prayers and generous giving. The funds we did not use for this trip will provide a starting place for some future mission trip!
Members of our Mission Team were as follows:
First Presbyterian Church of St. Cloud – Tamara Calhoun, Lori Nelson, Mike Tollefson, Al Jergenson
First Presbyterian Church of Foley – Beverly Brock, Jenny & Paul Seaton
First Presbyterian Church of Mankato – Mason Bristol
Volunteer from Shakopee – Kevin Lyons
Volunteer from Rejoice Lutheran in Clearwater – Brad Johnson
It was wonderful to work in partnership with each other, and the trip provided us with a great opportunity to get to know one another better, as well as to get to know other volunteers and homeowners from the King’s Lake area and other mission groups.
Each evening, when we returned from work, we’d prepare our supper meal, and then meet together for devotions. Our devotional topics included reflection and discussion together on various scripture passages that included the divine call to show kindness, to serve others sacrificially, to use our talents and gifts creatively, to give of ourselves generously, to recognize and give thanks for divine protection, and to pray without ceasing for all those who we are privileged to serve. We came to see that we, as mission volunteers, are called (in the words of our Presbyterian Book of Order in its chapter on ‘The Church and its Mission’) “to be…a provisional demonstration of what God intends for all humanity” and serve as a “sign, witness and foretaste” of what God is doing in and for all of creation.
Our “Centering Passage” for the trip came from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Chapter 2, Verses 1-5:
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
In retrospect, we’ve all come to realize that there is so much more that each of us can learn through serving others with our God-given talents and gifts, and the opportunities for service are endless! We look forward to future opportunities for collaboration and service in Christ’s name, and invite any who would like to join us to do so!
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Records Review, Personnel and Finance Training Day |
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Thanks to everyone that attended our event on Saturday for clerks, personnel committee and financial folks! Thanks also to Bea Ourada, Deb Hess and Pamela Prouty for their wise leadership and teaching.
Here are some of the celebrations shared by the clerks of session:
Baxter: Lakes Area Presbyterian Church was able to pay a 2020 street construction assessment in the amount of $72,000, thanks to generous bequests previously received.
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Blue Earth: The Mission Committee organized a hands-on dental bag project for Kindergarten - 2nd grade students. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, a coloring book, and a bag were ordered through a local dentist. A tooth necklace was also ordered, which will hold a lost tooth. We had intended to pay for the items with our 5th Sunday pocket change, but the dentist donated the items. Church members assembled the bags that were given to the school to be given out at pre-school conferences. Next year it is our hope to expand this project to more grades. Our neighbor, Trinity Lutheran, would like to partner with this project.
We meant to take pictures of us assembling the bags, but realized afterwards we forgot. We put together 200 bags. We hope to do this project twice a year in the future and reach out to all preschool through elementary children in Blue Earth to promote the importance of dental care.
Cambria: Cambria PW Recipe Book is available ($15). All are invited to our worship and fellowship on October 31, which will include the congregational meeting of worshipful work, stewardship dedication and restart of our church anniversary celebration with ancestry potluck following worship.
Fulda: We celebrate serving at The Banquet in Sioux Falls, and the installation of Pastor Randy Knuth.
Kasota: We're excited that our shared yoke with Lake Crystal is under way, and we now have a new pastor coming!
Osakis: In 2019, we had monthly friendship talks, community meals and participated in Backpack Attack (meals for children).
Randall: Reverend Michael Hartwell will be starting a series entitled, "Preparing for a Post-Pandemic Event." The pandemic caused many people to reevaluate how they spend their time and their money. Some have even made lifestyle changes impacting their careers and residences. Many people have realized that relationships and experiences are far more important to them than the materialism that has dominated our culture for years, especially at Christmas. This may be a tremendous opportunity for the church to evaluate and refocus on how we celebrate the Advent season; except if we wait for Advent to prepare for Christmas, it is too late! So, we are going to spend four weeks in October and November to help prepare us for a meaningful Advent season.
Renville: Our Wednesday School is restarting with more kids than ever! The kids are so excited to come.
Saint Peter: We are working with a recently opened homeless shelter in Saint Peter to help them improve their facilities for the people they serve. We installed some outdoor play equipment for the children who live there too!
Spicer: After four years of searching, Hope Presbyterian secured a full-time pastor, who began leading us on August 2, 2021. We will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the merger between the New London and Spicer Presbyterian churches, which resulted in Hope Presbyterian.
Willmar: We celebrated our 150th Anniversary. We continue to host Family Promise.
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Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
We seek a down-to-earth, collaborative leader to partner with the 51 congregations of our western Minnesota presbytery. We are blessed to live, work, and worship in the beautiful landscape of lake country and rolling farmland, small rural communities, college towns, and resort communities. We are congregations who seek to be a collective expression of the Body of Christ, joyfully participating in Christ’s on-going life and work. We seek an EP who can help us live into this vision by encouraging us to build partnerships and embrace a vibrant future. You can find more information about the position on the CLC website. Or, you can email gmilloy@lakesandprairies.org. Deadline for Application is October 31, 2021.
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GA #225 (2022)
General Assembly #225 will take place...in two locations in 2022...Louisville, KY and your living room! The format for this General Assembly will be different. Commissioners and advisory delegates will meet in person in Louisville at the Presbyterian Center for committee meetings then from July 5-9, the GA will meet in plenary sessions virtually using Zoom. The GA Committees will be coming in person to Louisville over three sets of days: June 18-23, June 22-26 or June 26-30. We seek applications for commissioners and alternates. For much more information about GA, go the website: 225th General Assembly (2022) | From Lament to Hope (ga-pcusa.org)
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Pictures or Videos from Our Presbytery Sought
We are working on a video for our new website, and invite you to send pictures or videos that we might use. We'd like high resolution nature pictures from within our Presbytery. Send links or pictures to Karen Lange.
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Support Education for Children in Our Sister Presbytery in Guatemala |
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by Jim Krapf
Our Occidente partners report that school there continues, some places in person and other places virtually. Mission Co-Worker Leslie Vogel tells of students climbing the mountainsides to get reception for their assignments and then climbing again to submit their lessons.
The need for scholarships continues. Your donations in the past have made a tremendous difference. Additional contributions will again do so, particularly in this stressful time with COVID complications.
Their next school year begins in January. You can mail your checks made out to the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys and noted for scholarships to the presbytery office (PO Box 431, Kerkhoven MN 56252). Any amount is appreciated; but $250 per student is the goal. You may consider making this more than a one-year commitment.
You might also add 22% of your donated amount. Five percent is given to the national office of the Presbyterian Church in Guatemala as a part of our partnership agreement. This money assists in paying their administrative and program cost at the national level. Seventeen percent is given to our national office of the PCUSA, to pay for promotional efforts and to ensure the funds are used as intended.
Your donations will be in addition to the six scholarships that are provided through our presbytery’s Occidente Partners budget. Our goal for several years has been a total of $4000, providing 16 children with $250 each. Keeping our donations at this level can support more children beyond elementary into middle and high school.
Communications have been difficult and delayed because of COVID, but we hope that donors will eventually receive photographs, academic reports, and thank you notes from the children and/or their parents. Many churches display these to express appreciation and promote further contributions. We do not reveal the names of donors to the recipients to avoid further personal requests for assistance. We have found presbytery-to-presbytery arrangements are a fairer more manageable way to offer assistance. Occidente's Committee on Ministry will continue to select the recipients from among their now 20 churches.
Thank you in advance. Education yields opportunities. It makes a difference for that child’s future.
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The Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update
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The Academy Offers Hope for the Future
Many churches across America, including here in Minnesota, are finding it difficult to find and/or afford a full-time ordained pastor. Several churches, however, are finding what might even be a better solution: Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs). CREs are commissioned by the Presbytery to fulfill the role of a pastor for a specific ministry or congregation. For classes and more info, check out The Academy
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From Transformation & Development
The Commission on Transformation and Development is working to make sure we are serving you and your churches the best we can in this next year.
The Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development exists to resource congregations. We have identified six critical areas: discipleship, evangelism, mission, spiritual leadership, stewardship and worship. Please feel free to contact any of the members of the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development as to what might be areas that you may be seeking assistance with locating valuable resources. Those currently serving on the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development are: Randy Knuth, chair, Anne Veldhuisen, Michael Hartwell, Darlene Scherbing, Barb Wawrzyniak, Lindsay Jacaruso, Rollin Haynes and Steve Anderson. Please let us know how we can come alongside of your congregation. Please contact Randy Knuth, the chair, at 712-540-8243 or via email at knuthr758@gmail.com.
Having a difficult time finding pulpit supply? Have you considered a virtual sermon?
A Sermon for Every Sunday ( asermonforeverysunday.com) is a website that provides lectionary-based video sermons by America’s best preachers for use in worship, bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes, or individual use. All you do is push the button. If you have a computer and a projector, these professionally recorded sermons can be downloaded and viewed on Sunday mornings. The site features nationally known preachers from multiple denominations. Although donations are accepted, the sermons are free. Check out asermonforeverysunday.com.
Technology Grant
Thanks to the gracious generosity of the Budget and Finance Committee, we are now able to offer technology grants up $750.00 each year, not to exceed ½ of the cost of the total project. So, the total project will have to be over $1500 in order to receive that amount. This is effective May 27, 2021. Again, thanks to the Budget and Finance for graciously increasing these funds that churches may apply for in regards to technology upgrades or new projects. Please use the new form which is specific to the Technology Grant.
The above resources are shared by the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development
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Prayer List
- For Carissa Cunningham, daughter of Pastor Jason and Annalisa Cunningham (Luverne), who underwent heart surgery on Monday, August 9.
- For Rev. Mark Chamberlain, retired pastor, Willmar
- For Rev. Bob Bartlett, First Presbyterian Churches of Brewster & Round Lake
- For Rev. Michael Roys, retired pastor, Winnebago
- Pray for our brothers and sisters in the Occidente Presbytery of Guatemala - for their health, safety, and recovery from the effects of the Covid pandemic
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
Maine Presbyterian Church, rural Underwood - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Slayton - Pastor
Harrison Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer - Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Interim Pastor
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An invitation for clergy from MN Commissioner of Public Safety John Harrington
Join with other interfaith leaders to create a better system of public safety in Minnesota.
Kickoff event: Tuesday, November 23, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
We all want our system of public safety to be better — and we know that people of faith are compelled to seek justice. Interfaith Action invites you to a series of compelling conversations about public safety and policing in Minnesota.
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The Ministry Lab is hosting a "Gentle" Re-Opening - and celebrating with a slew of free resources!
*Consult with Rev. Emily Meyer on Wednesdays.*Meet our new assistant, Bridgette Weber on Thursdays.
*Visitors are asked to be vaccinated and wear a mask at all times.
~Find hidden treasures in our Gently-Used Book Give-Away - Wednesdays, Oct. 27 & Nov. 3.
~Let us soothe anxieties with fresh, new, FREE resources, for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and more!
~AND: the labyrinths are available again! Reserve one for Advent, New Years, Lent, etc., by emailing Emily Meyer.
We look forward to moving gently through the coming seasons with you!
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