PASTOR S NOTE. St. Paul s Lutheran Church. Newsletter September In This Issue. Anchored in Christ. Pastor s Note. Parish Office News

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1 St. Paul s Lutheran Church 200 Burdick Expressway East Minot. ND Anchored in Christ Newsletter September 2018 PASTOR S NOTE Dear Baptized Saints of St. Paul s Lutheran: It has been great to get to know many of you these past two months. It is always a joy to hear your stories where you are from, what you do, and who you are. Now, considering this, I have been asked by several of you to share a little more about myself in a public format, such as a newsletter like this. While I hesitate to share about myself for the risk of shifting attention to me, I do realize that it is beneficial for you to know a little about the shepherd/pastor that you have called. So, let me do my best to give you a brief rundown of my background. I grew up in Bottineau, ND playing hockey, hunting, and going to school at Bottineau High School. It was in High School that I started dating Serenity. Yes, we are High School sweethearts who had our beginnings in Bottineau. After High School and two years of college at Dakota College in Bottineau, Serenity and I got married (1999) and moved to Minot to finish our college courses at Minot State University in the areas of Finance and Marketing. Following a short career in a finance job in Minot, Serenity and I moved to Fergus Falls, MN where I enrolled in Lutheran Brethren Seminary to become a pastor. I chose the Lutheran Brethren Seminary because this was the denomination that both Serenity and I grew up in. In 2004, I graduated from seminary and moved to Rancho Cucamonga, CA. (They put a North Dakota boy in a suburb of Los Angeles.) While I was in Rancho Cucamonga, I completed my pastoral internship and was ordained into the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. In 2006, following some economic hardships in the Rancho Cucamonga church, I took a call to the Bakken Oil Boom area in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. Over the next 7 ½ years, I served as a pastor in Williston and Sidney, as well as helping Continue Reading on Page 2 In This Issue Pastor s Note Parish Office News ND District News Main Street Living North Hymns of the Month September Birthdays From the Pastor s Study What s Going On At St. Paul s? In the Community... Service Lists Calendar

2 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 2 Continued from Cover plant a church in Watford City, ND. Also, at that time Mattias and Anya were born, and Serenity began her photography business, Serenity Richard Photography. While in the Bakken Oil Boom, Serenity and I became more and more intrigued with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In other words, we began to drift away from the contemporary praise band churches that we had been a part of in the Lutheran Brethren. We began to desire the ancient liturgy. We found ourselves wanting a greater emphasis on the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion. We found ourselves wanting to be in a church where the Holy Absolution was announced every week. But why would a young 30-year-old pastor in a contemporary praise band church want the old liturgy and the sacraments? Well, believe it or not, there is a big trend among younger Christians right now, where young Christians are leaving the contemporized churches and seeking out liturgical churches like St. Paul s. The reasons why? The answer, we live in a culture where everything changes on a daily basis. Things change so quickly and so often that young people are seeking out something constant in their life. They are seeking out something stable and unchanging to keep them anchored in the waves of life. They are seeking out liturgical churches. But I digress. So, to make the transition to The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, I enrolled at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis for their doctor of ministry program. The idea was to take as many classes from the seminary as possible so that I would be prepared for ministry in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In 2013 the big change happened. I announced to the Lutheran Brethren that I was joining the LCMS. It was a challenging time, but I am happy that the transition was handled with respect, dignity, and class for all parties involved. As a result, my family and I moved to St. Louis, MO and Bottineau ND where I took LCMS colloquy classes (classes to join the LCMS) and finished my doctoral dissertation. Then on November 2013, I was installed in Zion Lutheran Church of Gwinner, ND becoming an LCMS Pastor. And Zion Gwinner is where I served until I was called here to you in St. Paul s. We all are very excited to be back to our home area being close to our roots and near family and longtime friends in the Bottineau and Minot area. We are grateful that we were able to close on a house in Surrey this past June and are so very thankful that we get to be a part of St. Paul s. Matthias is now in 5 th grade, and Anya is in 4 th Grade in the Surrey School. Alaythia is very excited to begin pre-school this year. And Serenity is finishing a very busy photography year traveling all around North Dakota to photograph weddings, seniors, and families. So, that is my story. But it is not all of my story. Like your stories, all of our different events, turns, and changes have a common and consistent thread running throughout. And that is the thread of Christ-crucified for the forgiveness of sins. This is the great grand story of salvation that all of us are grafted into. What does this mean? Well, even though we all may have different backgrounds, we are all bound together into Christ and His forgiveness. Thank you for the warm reception at St. Paul s. Thank you for your gifts and love. And mostly, thank you for valuing the Gospel and calling me to proclaim the message of Jesus crucified and resurrected for our sins and justification. I look forward to the opportunity to get to know all of you in the months and years to come. Anchored with you in Christ, Pastor Richard

3 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 3 Hi St. Paul s, Welcome to our September 2018 newsletter. Thank you for all the encouraging and inspirational feedback received for the August newsletter. Please continue to let us know what you think as we roll each monthly newsletter. We hope you enjoy what s new this month, such as the addition of the What s Going On At St. Paul s? and In the Community Also, if you have an article or would like to add something to be included in the newsletter, please let us know by the 15th of each month. Enjoy! Grace & Peace, Ruth THE LUTHERAN WITNESS Subscription renewals are due at only $22.01 a year. Please submit checks (payable to St. Paul s) to the parish office if you would like to subscribe or renew your subscription. MEN S BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays, starting September 11th at 6:45am.

4 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 4 ND District News From the Desk of the District President LSSND as RSO of the LCMS Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are like me, you do not care for acronyms. And here I title this article with acronyms. Please forgive me! Acronyms do make for easier writing and reading if you can keep the acronyms straight in your head as you write and read. (LSSND) stands for Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. (RSO) stands for Recognized Service Organization. (LCMS) stands for The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Therefore, the title means: Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota as a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. This is the definition of an RSO from the LCMS website: To extend its mission outreach, education and social ministry, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod works with independent Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) that agree to ensure their programs are in harmony with the doctrine and practice of the LCMS. And: Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) are 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations that are independent of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, but they operate ministry programs that foster the mission and ministry of the church. RSO organizations reach out in mercy and love to meet the needs of those who are suffering, poor, sick or lonely. They address human, social, economic, educational, and spiritual needs. Now, to the point of this article: The North Dakota District of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod HAS BEEN (notice: the past tense; more about this later) working in conjunction with Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota for decades. A little of the history (that I know) of that partnership is that a former district president was the chairman of the board of directors of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. Also, a former business manager for the district and a district pastor were quite involved with the housing portion of LSSND. The Board of Directors (BOD) for LSSND is comprised of the bishop and two members from the East Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) of North Dakota, the bishop and two members of the West Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) of North Dakota, and the District President (or his appointment) and one member of the North Dakota District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Therefore, the West ELCA had three (3) BOD members, the East ELCA had three (3) BOD members, and the LCMS North Dakota District had two (2) BOD members. Now, for the HAS BEEN: The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod s Recognized Service Organization requirements are that we have an equal voice on the board of directors of an RSO. Therefore, LSSND was being asked to add another LCMS member to its board. That was causing some strife to the LSSND BOD because of the lack of financial support from the LCMS members and churches. The East and West ELCA churches and its members contributed $510,546 in the year and the LCMS in the same year contributed $7082. What I saw was that even with strong participation on the BOD of LSSND by influential members of the ND District LCMS over the years our financial support was low; thus telling me that our congregations, members, and pastors were not in support of this and it wasn t fair to LSSND for us to expect more BOD participation. Next, dealing with some theological issues: LSSND stated that they are supportive of life and of husband and wife (male and female) and do not encourage abortion or same-sex adoption. However, they do take government funding and have to offer those services if they are asked.

5 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 5 ND District News From the Desk of the District President (Continued) Also, there has been discussion to leave open the concept of embracing our full communion partners (defined as those denominations the ELCA develops a relationship with based on a common confessing of the Christian Faith and a mutual recognition of Baptism and sharing of the Lord s Supper ) to work together on projects of mutual interest and concern. *Full communion partners of the ELCA are: Presbyterian Church (USA); Reformed Church in America; United Church of Christ; Episcopal Church; Moravian Church, United Methodist Church (LSSND BOD Faith and Public Life Committee-Minutes, April 12, 2018). For the reasons stated above the North Dakota District of the LCMS is no longer involved with LSSND and LSSND has decided not to continue as an RSO of the LCMS. This does not mean that we do not continue to reach out in mercy and love to meet the needs of those who are suffering, poor, sick or lonely and address human, social, economic, educational, and spiritual needs. We may continue to do this by support of LCMS World Relief, LCMS Disaster Response, individually reaching out to the neighbor in need, and support of our district missions (UND and NDSU Campus Ministry, Watford City Church start, Christ Care for Kenya Children, and Chile Mission support) who deliver God s Word and Sacraments for spiritual needs. This has been an article to inform you, and I leave you with these Words of God: From John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. And Galatians 6:10, So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Your servant in Christ, Rev. Arie D. Bertsch ND District President Visit For More ND District News

6 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 6 TV PROGRAMS September 2 Rev. Jared Nies St. John s Lutheran Church Perham, MN presents the message: Dressed For Battle based on Ephesians 6:10-20 MAIN STREET LIVING TV MINISTRY With this update we can give you a sneak preview of some exciting changes coming up for the Main Street Living TV & On Line Ministry! In addition to MSLN having begun broadcast in the Duluth area earlier this year, both Lincoln, Nebraska and Sioux City, Iowa are scheduled to join the Main Street Living Network in October! Also in October, we will be premiering the return of the well-known This Is The Life series of programs from Lutheran Hour Ministries, which have been remastered! These will take the place of the current Kid s Corner half hour programs which we have been showing following the MSL worship services. Please continue to help spread the word to your extended family and friends! In addition to viewing the TV programs Sunday mornings, please also let them know that they can watch all of the Fargobased archived programs at any time on line at A special THANK YOU to both the LWMLs of both the ND & MN North District who have approved our grant requests (for the biennium as funds become available)! To add your much needed financial support, checks may be sent to Main Street Living North, 821-5th Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58103, or donate by Credit Card or your PayPal account at: Thank you and God s blessing in Christ! September 9 Rev. Alan Eppen Zion Lutheran Church Edgeley, ND and Bethlehem Lutheran Church Forbs, ND presents the message: Be Strong and Fear Not! based on Isaiah 35: 4-71 September 16 Rev. Ross Fritz Grace Lutheran Church, Breckenridge, MN presents the message: He Hung Around based on Mark 9:14-29 September 23 Rev. Paul Preus Zion Lutheran Church Ellendale, ND presents the message: Friend, Go Up Higher based on Luke 14:1-11 September 30 Rev. David Walsh Redeemer Lutheran Church Menahga, MN presents the message: Acting in the Name of Christ based on Mark 9:38-41 MAIN STREET LIVING is a locally produced TV program that includes a 30 minute worship service led by participating pastors of the North Dakota and Minnesota North Districts of our LCMS, along with a 30 minute children s program called Kid s Crossing. Programs are broadcast at 9:00am Central time on the following FOX stations: KVRR Fargo-Moorhead Channel 15.1, KBRR Thief River Falls-Grand Forks Channel 10.1, KJRR Jamestown Channel 7.1, KNRR Pembina Channel 12.1, and cable and satellite systems carrying these stations, and archived on

7 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 7 SEPTEMBER HYMNS September 2, 2018 Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Divine Service One Opening Hymn: #528 Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing Sermon Hymn: #849 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness Closing Hymn: #806 Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart Communion Hymns both services: #617, #619, #620, #621 September 9, 2018 Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity Divine Service Three Opening Hymn: #809 Great Is Thy Faithfulness Sermon Hymn: #750 If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee Closing Hymn: #725 Children of the Heavenly Father Communion Hymns both services: #740, #605, #392, #588, #411 September 16, 2018 Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Divine Service One Opening Hymn: #741 vs 1-4 Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense Sermon Hymn: #741 vs 5-8 Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense Closing Hymn: #818 In Thee Is Gladness Communion Hymns for both services: #622, #623, #700 September 23, 2018 Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity Divine Service Three Opening Hymn: #698 May We Thy Precepts, Lord, Fulfill Sermon Hymn: #557 Seek Where You May to Find a Way Closing Hymn: #662 Onward, Christian Soldiers Communion Hymns for both services: #625, #627, #628, #632 September 30, 2018 Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Divine Service Four Opening Hymn: #549 All Hail the Power of Jesus Name Sermon Hymn: #694 Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower Closing Hymn: #803 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee Communion Hymns for both services: #696, #634, #636 Oh sing to the LORD a new song, or He has done marvelous things!

8 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 8 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to everyone born in the month SEPTEMBER 1 Kaitlyn Karhan Julia Smith 2 Kay Miller Brooke Satcho 4 Daren Fenner Ellis Haake Jerrod Peterson 5 Kathy Grubb Jay Kruger 7 Roberta Klabo Kylee Pape 8 Carl Rundberg 9 Abby Miller Henry Schaefer 11 Karma Pitcher 12 Steven Reing 14 Ashley (Werre) Lategan 15 Kinsey Fjeld Nathan Gabor Martha Lang 16 Peggy Hilson Jason Shappell 17 Joy Bossert Chelsea Storbeck 18 Casey Fjeld Reagan Plesuk 19 Mike Coughlin 20 Chadd Gillmore 21 Landen Satcho 23 Lydia Racz Vernie Rued 24 Christina Larsen 26 Donald Prey Carol Tribitt 27 Samuel Beaudoin Lucille Schieve Elsie Scott 29 Noah Hudson Tristian Hudson 30 LaVaun Mackey Meredith Pfennig Gary Zietz St. Paul s - Did You Know? Hey St. Paul s, did you know that we are in the process of creating a resource center? are very excited to announce that bibles Yes we and books will soon be available for purchase. Over the next couple of weeks, work will be starting to create shelving for a new resource center.

9 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 9 Pastor s Study Hours Monday-Thursday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Friday Pastor s Day Off Parish Office Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Please contact Pastor or the Parish office if you need spiritual care; know of someone hospitalized and needing a visit; have a prayer submission; or have any other church-related circumstance. Pastor Contact Information Parish Office Contact Information stpaulsrev@srt.com stpaulsofc@srt.com Cell: Office: Office: Blog:

10 Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 10 F rom the Pastor s Study A New Discovery On How To Keep Youth In the Church By Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard There is a fairly new study that reveals some profound insights on what it takes to keep today's youth in church after they leave home and become adults. What did the study find? Did the study find that hip and cool music in the church were the reason for keeping youth in the church as they entered adulthood? Did the study find that relevant and flashy sermons brought forth greater church attendance among young adults after leaving home? How about those who attended youth group; was youth group the reason for youth staying in the church after high school? According to some, what this new study discovered could be classified as the 'holy grail' for keeping teenagers in the church. What is this profound 'holy grail' discovery? Believe it or not, it isn't marketing or worship service renovations or stellar youth programs but rather it is 'Parents.' Yes, the study found that if parents visited with their children about the Christian faith in their homes - showing its importance - and if parents/families were active in their local church, then 82% of their children would continue in the church as adults. According to one researcher, the involvement of parents with their youth in regard to the Christian Faith is "nearly deterministic" of what will happen to youth when they come into adulthood. From Parents No. 1 influence helping teens remain religiously active as young adults Ahead of the Trend, Association of Religious Data Archives: The holy grail for helping youth remain religiously active as young adults has been at home all along: Parents. Mothers and fathers who practice what they preach and preach what they practice are far and away the major influence related to adolescents keeping the faith into their 20s, according to new findings from a landmark study of youth and religion. Just 1 percent of teens ages 15 to 17 raised by parents who attached little importance to religion were highly religious in their mid- to late 20s. In contrast, 82 percent of children raised by parents who talked about faith at home, attached great importance to their beliefs and were active in their congregations were themselves religiously active as young adults, according to data from the latest wave of the National Study of Youth and Religion. The connection is nearly deterministic, said University of Notre Dame Sociologist Christian Smith, lead researcher for the study. Other factors such as youth ministry or clergy or service projects or religious schools pale in comparison. No other conceivable causal influence comes remotely close to matching the influence of parents on the religious faith and practices of youth, Smith said in a recent talk sharing the findings at Yale Divinity School. Parents just dominate. For their part, parents need to realize a hands-off approach to religion has consequences. Parents, for better or worse, are actually the most influential pastors of their children, Christian Smith said. Parents set a kind of glass ceiling of religious commitment, above which their children rarely rise. It is clear from the data above that we cannot diminish the importance of parents' influence upon their children in regard to the Christian Faith. Thus, it is obvious that what is needed in today's church is not more separate programs for our youth; programs where youth are segregated from their parents in the church. But rather, what is needed in today's church is robust catechesis of youth 'and' continual catechesis/equipping of parents, so that parents may care for their children's physical, emotional, 'and' spiritual well-being. This happens as the 'whole' family is actively involved in the life of the church, continually receiving the Lord's Word and Sacraments, week after week after week.

11 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 11 What s Going On At St. Paul s? Choir News Choir Practice is starting again on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Choir Practice Every Wednesday: 7:00 pm Please contact Jennifer Larsen if you would like to join the choir or have any questions. Sunday School News We are very excited! Rally Sunday is September 9 th! Please join us Wednesday September 5 th for a Mystery Dinner at 5:30. Then Parents and Students in Pre-school through 5 th grade can meet their teachers. Go look at their room and fill out this year s registration form. Confirmation Parents and Students will have a meeting with Pastor Richard. We hope to see you at the Mystery Dinner and cannot wait for Fall session to start!

12 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 12 Confirmation Sunday School & Confirmation Mystery Dinner Wednesday, September 5 th ~5:30pm~ Parent Meeting with Pastor following Dinner. Classes will be held on Wednesday afternoons from 4:15pm to 5:45pm This year s Confirmation will begin on ~ Wednesday, September 12 4:15pm ~ and will tentatively end the Wednesday before Confirmation Sunday, which is on May 5th of Confirmation is for youth going into 6th Grade to 8th Grade

13 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 13 Lutheran s Layman s League (LLL) ~ Wednesday, September 19 6:30pm ~ Family Presentation with Potluck. Everyone is invited to attend. Come out and hear Doris and Pres. Bertsch present the ND District Mission Projects Altar Circle There is no Altar Circle in September. Next meeting is Tuesday, October 2nd, at 4:00pm. Letters for communion prep and cleaning were revised to reflect changes in communion care. Please review your letter and contact Theresa if you have any questions.

14 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 14 ~ LWML ~ Fall Women s Retreat The Women of the LWML ND District is hosting their annual retreat September 14th-16th at the Chieftain Motel and Conference Center in Carrington, ND. Volunteer Opportunities Dates are still available. Sign up today. See church bulletin board for more information.

15 In the Community... Adults only as seating is limited RSVP no later than September 3rd at dakotahope.org or call (701) St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 15

16 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 16 SEPTEMBER 2018 SCHEDULES If anyone serves me, and where I am, If anyone serves me, GREETERS 2nd 8:00 AM - Carl & Cora Rundberg 10:30 AM - Steve & Bonnie Beaudoin 9th 8:00 AM - Wally & Eilene Darkow 10:30 AM - Don & Diane Ladner 16th 8:00 AM - Kim & Linda Filipek 10:30 AM - Adrian & Colleen Fitchner 23rd 8:00 AM - Dave & Sandy Llewellyn 10:30 AM - Ray & Priscilla Schwarz 30th 8:00 AM - Melven & Arlene Hausauer 10:30 AM - Tim & Melissa Sutton ACOLYTES 2nd 8:00 AM - Jack Schaefer 10:30 AM - Ella Darrow 9th 8:00 AM - Justin Peterson 10:30 AM - Brynn Bernsdorf 16th 8:00 AM - Ella Darrow 10:30 AM - Joshua Shappell ELDERS he must follow me; there will my servant be also. the Father will honor him. 23rd 8:00 AM - Joshua Shappell 10:30 AM - Jayde Satcho 30th 8:00 AM - Brynn Bernsdorf 10:30 AM - Elizabeth Larsen USHERS 2nd 8:00 AM - Team 1: Joe & Lyle 10:30 AM - Team 2: Brian Lokken 9th 8:00 AM - Team 2: David & David Jr. 10:30 AM - Team 3: Dana Larsen 16th 8:00 AM - Team 1: Asa & Mark 10:30 AM - Team 4: Don Ladner 23rd 8:00 AM - Team 1: Joe & Lyle 10:30 AM - Team 1: John Bishop 30th 8:00 AM - Team 2: David & David Jr. 10:30 AM - Team 2: Brian Lokken John 12:26 2nd 8:00 Darren Kabanuk 10:30 AM - Joe Hudson 9th 8:00 AM - Roger Pelzer 10:30 AM - Ray Schwarz 16th 8:00 AM - Kim Filipek 10:30 AM - Mark Bonnie 23rd 8:00 AM - Duane Faydo 10:30 AM - Mark Schaefer 30th 8:00 AM - Darren Kabanuk 10:30 AM - Brian Lokken

17 St. Paul s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter 17

18 Anchored in Christ