Calvary Lutheran Church Rapidan, Minnesota October 2017 Newsletter Interim Pastor Gerry Giese Ministers: All Members Church: 278-3317 E-Mail: calvary@hickorytech.net Web site: www.calvaryrapidan.org Adult Study at 9:00 am Worship at 10:15 am Fellowship/Coffee Hour following worship A Letter from Interim Pastor Giese: Dear members of Calvary, grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus. Amen. I would like to share a few thoughts with you and introduce my family and myself. I am originally from Swift County, where I grew up on a dairy farm east of Benson. I graduated from Luther Seminary in the fall of 1976. I have served St. Paul in Humboldt, S.D., Trinity in Jeffers and Trinity in Welcome. Since 2001, I have served interims at First in Renville, Immanuel in Atwater, Trinity in Westbrook, Augustana in Gibbon, St. John in Morgan, Good Shepherd in Wells, Our Savior s & Central in Fairfax, St. Peter Parish in New Richland, Trinity & Waverly in Truman, Circle of Faith Parish in Welcome, Community in Geneva, St. Olaf in Austin and my last interim at Our Savior s in Cleveland. After 40 years of ministry, sixteen years of Interim Ministry, I officially retired on August 1 st. I now identify my official clergy status as retired with options. That option brings me to begin a part-time interim ministry with you. In many respects, together we will explore what this part-time means for ministry for you the members of Calvary and for me.
My wife s name is Mary and she is a registered nurse and works at the Mankato Clinic as a Medications Coordinator. She is originally from Lac Qui Parle County and we have been married since December of 1972 and we make our residential home in Eagle Lake. Our oldest son Brad and his wife Leann live in Sartell. They both work for Merrill Corporation. Our second son Aaron and his wife Becky live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aaron is a physical therapist in Manchester and Becky is an elementary school teacher in the Holy Family school system. They are the parents of Sammy who is in 4 th grade, Lily who is in 2 nd grade and Elliot who is in pre-school. Our youngest son is Brian and his wife Angela live in Kasson, Mn. Brian is a special education para-professional in the Kasson schools and Angela is a registered nurse and works at St. Mary s Hospital in Rochester. They are parents of Megan who is in 6 th grade and Jared who is in 1 st grade. As you can see, like so many families, we too are experiencing the mobility of our society, as our sons and daughter-in-laws engage in their respective careers with their family. So my friends, shortly we will begin our interim journey together. During our interim time, there are three questions that we will place our focus: 1. Who are we? 2. What is our mission? 3. How are we going to accomplish this mission? What are our resources? Our goal during this time will to discern our future and the ministry that will empower us to continue to proclaim the good news of our Lord, who loves us and empowers us in faith for our journey. Together, I ask that you daily uplift in prayer each other, members of the parish council and all who participate in the life of our congregation and in our studies. Pray for each other, especially those times when we gather together to discuss the ministry of our congregation. Pray for wisdom, for diligence and for God s grace. Last, I ask for your prayers, as I minister among you in worship, in study and in pastoral care. Please remember Mary and I will daily uplift you in our prayers. May the Holy Spirit of our Lord guide us in our ministry during this interim and always. God s blessings to you in your work and in your play and in your rest. Pastor Giese 2
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It s not hard to notice the season of fall is upon us. The leaves are beginning to change and the temperature is beginning to fall. Perhaps some of you have even gotten out your electric blankets. Well, in case you hadn t noticed, Calvary is embarking on a new season as well. This change began over the summer as the Council took a serious accounting of our churches financial future. When scrutinizing the budget, reality set in that the Church had to do something drastic or face closing its doors in a year or two. Given this scenario, the Council felt Calvary only choice was to give up the luxury of a full-time pastor. Upon presenting the facts to Pastor Sue, she shared she would not be able to serve Calvary in a part-time capacity. Pastor Sue s last day with Calvary was September 30, 2017. Simply by God s grace and loving hand, the council is pleased to report the hiring of an Interim Pastor who was looking for part-time work. Was he an answer to our prayers or were we an answer to his? His name is Pastor Gerry Giese. Pastor Gerry is a skilled and seasoned Interim Pastor who has shepherded no less than 12 congregations through the same transitional steps of identity and self-reflection now facing Calvary. Come and see what God has in store for the future of Calvary. Amazing things can happen when you least expect them. Carol J. Reedstrom, President of Calvary Prayers: During the month of September we prayed for: Kathy Thorson, Esther Kunz, Vicki Reedstrom, Rachael Nelson, Jessica Reedstrom, Faye Schwantes, Darlene Redman, Kathy Diesch, Pastor Sue Froelich, Gene Griffen, and Arlen Ostermann. Women s Groups from St. John s and Calvary: Our October Mission is providing bag lunches for farmers and truckers waiting at the Rapidan Elevator. Can you help by supplying food or your time? Our lunches include cheeses, ham, turkey, cookies, apples and water. Clear Plastic bags so they can see lunch of choice. St. John s Women s Group will be handing out their lunches this coming week, October 9 13 th. We will be handing our lunches out the week of October 15 th. 3
Knit/Crocheted Bed Mats: Paulette Nelson took 12 mats to Centenary Methodist Church. They really appreciated them. The Salvation Army Men s Shelter could use some for their beds. Keep up the good work Monnie! Please continue to bring in you clean plastic grocery bags so we can continue this important work. Men s Group: Will meet the first Saturday of November. They are still deciding on their Bible Study, more information will be coming. Luther League: Through October 15 th the Luther League will have a silent auction going. You will find sheets with services offered or baskets for sale at a starting price. If you want to purchase the service or item; you must outbid everyone else. The bidding will close at worship on October 15 th. At that time we will have egg rolls, fried rice, cinnamon and caramel buns for sale during the fellowship time for a free will offering. All money raised from the silent auction and food sales will go towards their trip to Holden Village next spring. Invite all your friends to join us that Sunday! Fellowship Committee: It was 500 years ago when Martin Luther posted the declaration on the church door. To celebrate Reformation Sunday on October 29, Calvary is having a 12:00 (noon) Pot Luck dinner, with a suggested German theme. You are invited to participate in the celebration of our inheritance? Worship and Bible Study: continues as we go through the five session Bible study on Reformation Themes. Each of the remaining sessions will focus on key teachings of Martin Luther on the two kingdoms, vocations and justification. On Sunday October 29 th we will watch a DVD narrated by Rick Steves during our learning hour on the main places and themes of the Reformation. Our worship services will continue to reflect the theme of our Bible study. The remaining worship services will take us to October 22 nd. October 29 th is the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation. Please join us each Sunday at 9:00 am, as we learn more about our Lutheran faith and the man who started it all. 4
October Calendar: Sunday, October 1 st : Worship Tuesday, October 3 rd : Special Council Meeting Sunday, October 8 th : Worship 9:00 am 10:15 am 6:30 pm 9:00 am 10:15 am Tanzania Summit at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester 3-6pm Monday Friday, October 9 13 St. John s Women s Group - Handing out lunches at Rapidan Elevator 11:00 am 2:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Sunday, October 15 th : 9am Worship with Holy Communion 10:15am CLCW making and packing lunches for following week Monday Friday, October 16 20 th Calvary Women s Group Handing out lunches at Rapidan Elevator 11:00 am - 2:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Tuesday, October 17 th : Council meeting Sunday, October 22 nd : Worship Sunday, October 29 th Reformation Sunday Worship with Holy Communion 7pm 9am 10:15am 9am 10:15am 5
Stewardship Matters WE BELIEVE THAT STEWARDSHIP IS A RESPONSE TO ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US. WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE WORLD. AS ACTS OF STEWARDSHIP WE Pray for the ministry of Calvary Lutheran Church Worship regularly and actively invite others to join us in the worship life of Calvary. Actively share gifts, talents, and abilities within the ministry of Calvary. Give financial support of the ministry of Calvary. Weekly Budget 9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 Attendance 19 35 34 44 Total September Need September Actual $1,834.00 $ 495.00 $ 1,789.83 $ 1,618.00 $1,080.00 $ 7,336.00 $ 4,982.83 DATE GREETER LECTOR COFFEE HOUR October 2017 Worship Assignments USHERS DEACON ACOLYTE Communion Assistant 10/1 Heather Pasbrig 10/8 Carol Reedstrom Ziegler Family 10/15 Heather Pasbrig Luther League & Pasbrigs Carol Reedstrom 10/22 Carla Diesch Paulette Nelson 10/29 Wendy & Mike Howieson Heather Pasbrig Wendy & Mike Howieson Jolene Anderson 6