West Prairie September Council meeting. THE PASTOR S PEN by Rev. Steve Bang

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1 12 West Prairie September Council meeting West Prairie Council met on Sept. 10, Council members present for the meeting were: Misty Juveland, Lanette Branstad, Judy Norstrud, Jan Reimann, Denise Holst. Also present were Pastor Steve, Carol Carson and Lou Nath. Members not present were Steve Reimann and Robb Jacobs. Judy called the meeting to order and read devotions. We had a few corrections to the last months notes. We will not be sending Money to Pleasant Hill. The amounts from the Anniversary money is 10% of offering goes to the caring fund; 50% goes to a charity of choice and 40% is general fund. Misty was also present at the meeting last month. Misty gave the secretary's report. Carol gave the Treasurer's report. We did well on the Anniversary. The total cost of the Anniversary ended up to be $ Checking account looks good and now that the parsonage is sold we should not have those expenses that go along with that. Moved by Misty and Seconded by Lanette. Pastor Steve gave his report. Seven confirmation students this year for confirmation: two from Sion and five from West Prairie. Pastor also had Tim Schmit call to see if we were interested in having Dave Anderson and Roger Walck come to West Prairie and put on a concert. The council decided that it is just not the right time of year for them to come on a Wed night to entertain. They had Oct 15 opening and we thought farmers will be in the field and it would not be a good turn out. When they come around we can check them out. Moved by Misty, seconded by Jan. Young Plumbing and Heating tested the furnace in the fellowship hall basement and found the heat exchanger to be in non-working condition. We will be having a Congregational meeting Sept 21, 2014 during coffee on what should be done. Ideas on who we should get to remove snow was discussed. For the New Business we also need a pianist/organist for Jan thru April. Judy is going to contact Waldorf college and see if they have a student who would like to be a part of this. We also tabled the 50% of the anniversary money to be decided where we will donate this. Next council meeting will be on Oct 15, The meeting was Adjourned. Moved by Lanette and Jan Seconded it. We closed with the Lord Prayer. Secretary Misty Juveland Sept. 21, 2014 minutes of the congregation meeting are unavailable at time of printing. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, The Lord is my Shepherd, and that s all I need to know. West Prairie Lutheran Church LCMC-Lutheran Congregations in Missions for Christ October 2014 Steven Bang, pastor THE PASTOR S PEN by Rev. Steve Bang T he time has come - it s harvest season! When the crops are ready they must be harvested or it may prove to be unfruitful if there is a delay. Farmers certainly know that. And we pray for good weather and safety so that they may be able to accomplish what they need to do. God bless the farmers this harvest season. There is a harvest of another kind that the Bible talks about. It is the harvest of souls. Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest. Matthew 9:37,38 says, Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to sent out workers into his harvest field. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to his need for workers. It is God s will that we work and be fruitful in His kingdom. In order for us to be fruitful, we must have faith that acts and brings forth fruit because Faith without works is dead. (James 2:26) Just as the farmer must go to the field with his equipment and actively engage in doing the harvest, so we as believers (harvesters) cannot be fruitful unless we obey God s will. There are times when we might delay or be tempted to delay before we decide on whether to obey or not. The time for us to obey is now. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to Him. After all, it s harvest time! See you in church! Pastor Steve

2 October Ushers... Blake and Easton Jacobs October Lectionary... Julie Reimann Acolyte... Will Kirschbaum October Altar Flowers... Misty Juveland Communion Set Up... October 5 and 26: Tammy Holland and Marlas Reimann Coffee Servers... Oct. 5 Julie Reimann and Colette Reimann Oct. 12 Fall Dinner Oct. 19 Denise Holst and Irene Eide Oct. 26 Lisa Durby and Sarah Kirschbaum Sarah Circle Wednesday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. with Louise Nath Naomi Circle Thursday, Oct. 9th, 7 p.m. with Denise Holst Couples Club Sunday, Oct. 19th, 7 p.m. with Bob and Louise Nath LCMC WOW Wednesday, Oct. 8th, 9 a.m. quilting; noon lunch, Stone Soup with Shirley Schutter and Louise Nath Church Council Wednesday, Oct. 8th, 7 p.m. October Birthdays! Happy Birthday to the following: 5 Kim Haugen, Wyatt Holland 6 Colette, Reimann, Jack Holland 7 Brad Ruby 8 Lanette Branstad 9 Mark Johnson 12 Louise Nath, Todd Buffington 20 David Peterson, Lana Heins 21 Terry Durby 25 Joni Bang 26 Paris Reimann 29 Marlas Reimann, Chuck Holland 30 Jodi Fjeld Wedding Anniversaries October 23 Dustin and Maranda Etter October 27 Kevin and Betty Williams Waldorf annual meeting Annual meeting of the Waldorf Lutheran Association of Congregations will be held Thursday, Oct. 9 beginning with registration at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Salveson Hall Ballroom on the Waldorf campus. College Update, Dr. Robert Alsop, president of Waldorf College Special music, Waldorf Choir Foundation update, Ray Beebe Campus Ministry update/ Mission Trip Slide show Election/Announcements Lunch Historical events during October There s more to the month of October than Columbus Day and Halloween. Check out these notable historic events: Oct. 1, 1908 Henry Ford s Model T went on sale for the first time; and after 70 years of American control, the Panama Canal Zone was handed over to Panama. Oct. 2, 1967 Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African American associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Oct. 4, 1957 Russia launched the first satellite in orbit, Sputnik I. Oct. 8, 1871 The Great Fire of Chicago erupted. The fire leveled 3.5 square miles and destroyed 17,450 buildings. Financial losses totaled over $200 million. Oct. 12, 1492 After a 33-day voyage, Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in the Bahamas. Oct. 13, 1775 The cornerstone of the White House was laid by George Washington. Oct. 14, 1947 U.S.A.F. Captain Chuck Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier by flying a rocket-powered research aircraft. Oct. 19, 1987 Black Monday occurred on Wall Street as stocks plunged a record 508 points. Oct. 24, 1861 The first transcontinental telegram in America was sent from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. Oct. 28, 1886 The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on Bedloe s Island in New York Harbor. PARKING LOT was full on the church grounds and across the road. It was good to see this celebration was well attended. 2 11

3 10 Lesser Festivals Continued from page 8 October 17: Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, martyr, c. 115 October 18: St. Luke, Evangelist Luke was born in Antioch and was by profession a physician. He became a disciple of the Apostle Paul and followed him until Paul s death. Having served the Lord continuously, Luke was filled with the Holy Spirit. Accepting that Luke is the author of the Gospel bearing his name and Acts of the Apostles, certain details of his life can be assumed. Although he excludes himself from those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus ministry, he used the term we in describing Paul s missions in Acts indicating that he was there. The composition of his writing and the range of his vocabulary indicates that Luke was an educated man. It is probable that Luke was a Gentile Christian when reading Colossians 4:11: Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. Luke died at age 84 and his tomb was located in Thebes, Greece. October 23: James of Jerusalem, martyr October 26: Philipp Nicolai, 1608; Johann Heermann, 1647; Paul Gerhardt, 1676, hymnwriters October 28: St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles October 31: Reformation Day On October 31, 1513, few people would have suspected that the sound of nailing a sheaf of papers to the door of the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany would resonate around the world and lead to the greatest transformation of Western society. When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door, he provoked a debate that culminated in what is known as the Protestant Reformation. It has created as much stir as when the Apostles preached the Gospel throughout the Roman empire. This law student turned monk initially protested the pope s attempt to sell salvation insisting that forgiveness was God s alone to grant. Luther s most significant contribution to Christian theology states that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone as written in Ephesians 2, verses Martin Luther translated the Scripture into the German language which enabled the people to study God s Word. The legacy of Martin Luther lives on in the creeds and confessions and Protestants owe a debt of gratitude to the many reformers who risked their lives rebuilding the church. Sunday School teachers/leaders installed During September 21st worship service Leading the classes each Sunday at West Prairie Lutheran Church are, from left: Caroll Carson, Jodi Fjeld, Lanette Branstad, Sarah Kirschbaum and Lori Jacobs. Classes begin at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday. The curriculum continues this year with part 2 of 3 in the series covering the Bible from Genesis through the book of Revelation. It is the resolve FAITH FINER (at right) sang This Little Light of Mine during the morning worship service of West Prairie s 125th Celebration. of the Board of Education to continue this education from pre-school age through high school and adults. 3

4 125th Anniversary plans culminate in successful, meaningful celebration At the beginning of 2014, planning for the 125th anniversary of West Prairie Lutheran Church began to take shape. Coordinators Lanette Branstad and Janell Carson met with several church members to discuss how to celebrate this important milestone. Committees with chairpersons were formed and each far exceeded their responsibility for performing duties and securing services. In preparation of the coming event, cleaning of the church proper, basement rooms and fellowship hall was completed over several days by the ladies. Grounds and cemetery were attended to by a number of men and women. THE DAY ARRIVED! Early arrivals tended to last minute details and greeted guests as they arrived. Overflow seating was in the fellowship hall. Acolytes Easton Jacobs and Brandon Finch lit the altar candles as the church bell tolled signaling the start of the worship service. The men s choir was chosen to sing the opening hymn, Rise Up. Youth participating in worship is a focus at West Prairie. Faith Finer sang This Little Light of Mine, an uplifting version of an old Sunday School favorite. Lessons and Psalm were read by former pastor, David Johnson. Pastor Bang delivered a powerful sermon on the theme of the celebration, Lift High the Cross, based on Matthew 16: Organist Ruth Sheldon and pianist Alaina Ingebritson provided accompaniment during congregational hymns and during the administration of Holy Communion. Worship service concluded with the congregation singing the theme hymn, Lift High the Cross. Ushers were Caroll Carson, Bob Nath, Kim Haugen and Bill Schutter. Continued on next page MAKING SURE the sound system operated properly was handled proficiently by Janell Carson. THE MEN S CHOIR, accompanied by Jonie Bang, opened the morning worship service with Rise Up. Pictured above from left: back row- Garrett Fjeld, Gene Fjeld, Terry Durby, Chuck Holland, Randy Holstad, Caroll Carson; front row Jonie, Bob Nath, Pastor Bang, Wendell Finer. A POWERFUL SERMON delivered by Pastor Bang was followed with ministration of Holy Communion served by Pastors Steve Bang and David Johnson, and lay persons Gene Fjeld and Judy Norstrud. 4 9

5 Lesser Festivals and Commemorations The following names are listed in the LBW for the month of June: October 4: Francis of Assisi, renewer of the Church, 1236; Theodor Fliedner, renewer of society, 1864 October 6: William Tyndale, translator, martyr, 1536: William Tyndale was born in the early 1490s in England and educated at Oxford where he was ordained a priest, then attended Cambridge where he studied the Scripture in its original Greek language. After Luther posted his 95 Theses, this theology was embraced with enthusiasm on campus and Tyndale converted to Lutheranism. Tyndale served as chaplain in the household of Sir John Walsh where frequent guests were clerics. Tyndale s controversial opinions began to arouse the fury of church authorities. He moved to London with the intention of translating the New Testament into English, an act that was strictly forbidden by the Bishop of London. He then left London for Germany where he continued his translation work and sought out the help of Martin Luther. He completed the English New Testament after one year. Copies were printed by the Guttenberg press and smuggled into England. Tyndale s work was de- nounced by the Roman Catholic church and Tyndale was accused of heresy. He went into hiding and began translating the Old Testament from Hebrew into English which was accomplished in two years. After Henry VIII s break with the Catholic Church signaling the beginning of the English reformation, Tyndale believed it was safe to carry out his work in public. He moved to Belgium where he lived more openly. However, he was betrayed by one he had befriended and subsequently captured. He was imprisoned for 18 months under harsh condition during which time authorities tried to make Tyndale recant his words and deeds. Tyndale refused to deny the truth of the Gospel and two months later was declared a heretic and killed by strangulation and his corpse burned in the city square. His last words were Lord, open the King of England s eyes. Tyndale s translations became decisive in the English Bible. A century later eight of ten translators of the Authorized, or King James Version agreed that Tyndale s original translation was best. October 7: Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, missionary to America, 1787 Continued on page TH WORSHIP SERVICE Continued from page 4 A noon meal of pork loin/ chicken breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cole slaw, fruit salad, rolls and beverage was served by Stevermer Catering of Bricelyn. Merle Durby and Bob Nath opened the time capsule and announced its contents. Church youth assisted Janet and John Haugen get the 125 red and white balloons ready for the launch. The afternoon program, enceed by Lanette Branstad, will be highlighted in the November newsletter, accompanied by photos. SERVING AS Acolytes were Easton Jacobs and Brandon Finch. YOUTH RELEASED 125 red and white balloons prior to the afternoon program during the celebration. Prior to the launch, they helped Janet and John Haugen prepare the balloons. 8 5