ACT PARISH MURDOCK-DEGRAFF CLUSTER NEWSLETTER

BETHESDA AND BUFFALO LAKE OF GRACE CHURCHES

OCTOBER 2015 PASTOR DAN CROONQUIST , PASTOR MARI THORKELSON

PASTOR DAN : 320-220-3055 (CELL) ; OFFICE : 320-599-4548; HOME : 320-382-9099

CROON@FRONTIERNET .NET

PASTOR MARI : 320-444-1238 (CELL) ; OFFICE : 366-3426

MARIMUSIC@EARTHLINK .NET

FROM PASTOR DAN . . .

Pastor Dan 1 &

6

Bethesda announce-

ments & Missions

2-3

Act Parish Announce-

ments; other act

church announce-

ments

4

Preaching schedule;

Confirmation sched-

ule

5

ACT Mystery Dinner;

junior high gathering

info

6

Website info; misc. info;

library info

7

Dear Friends,

A few years ago I had the opportunity to serve on a local community education and recreation board. One of the first things I noticed was how different things were from the time when I grew up in the area. No longer were the area parks staffed as they had been in the past, nor were the same kinds of equipment, pro-grams, and offerings made available. In addition, there weren’t nearly as many kids gathering at the parks and making use of the space and facilities. The fact that everything seemed to be so scaled down and scaled back, and just different from the way I had remembered it, was disappointing. I mentioned this to one of the people in a leadership position with the recreation department, and his response was that times had changed, people had changed, and our society and culture were different. He assured me that they would certainly be open to sug-gestions, and that if anyone had an idea, or wanted to try something new, that would certainly be an option. However, it soon became very apparent that there was just no going back to the way things had been in the past.

Not long after this experience, it occurred to me that there was a striking simi-larity between this feeling I had – a feeling of nostalgia, and even the notion of an ‘idealized past,’ and the feeling that many of us have with the church. When it comes to the church, many of us remember things the way they were when we were growing up. And then when we compare that with the way things are now, it can be somewhat disappointing. Many things are just different. The number of programs and the level of activity has changed. It’s simply not the way things were. Our society and culture have changed. People have changed. Some of it may be for the good, and some of it may not be. To be sure, that is certainly something that can be debated.

One thing that is certain, however, is that things always change, and nothing stays the same. While we can’t go back in time, and while things can’t always be exactly the way they were, that doesn’t mean that things can’t be good. Things are going to change. Things are going to be different, but that is okay. God is with us. God is faithful. God is good. God promises to be with us and bring to completion what he has begun. The church will continue to exist, and God will continue to do a new thing in, around, among, through, and sometimes in spite of us.

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BETHESDA ESTHER QUILTING CIRCLE

Esther Circle will be quilting on October 1st at 9:30 Meeting to follow and offering will be taken.

The Bethesda coffee dollars received each Sunday at the coffee hour will be designated to one specific area each month. Watch for the monthly list in the newsletter and on the bulletin.

October coffee dollars will be given to the “prayer garden” fund.

The next month’s dollars will be given toward the “Adopt a Family”.

Ushers for October Jean Lesteberg Liz Lesteberg Tanja Jensen Pam Jones and Doug Nash Usher/Alter Guild Guide and Duties have been emailed out. Those that don’t have email, you should find a copy in your mail box. There is also a copy on the bulletin board. If you need an extra copy, contact Jan.

Sarah Circle Bible study will be held on Thurs-day, October 15th at Sherrie’s Café hosted by Elsa Olson.

Bethesda members —

PLEASE check your mail boxes following

each worship service.

Bethesda Women of the ELCA

Wednesday, October 14th at 6:30.

We will finalize the Soup and Sandwich fund raiser which is scheduled for October 18th and discuss the upcoming November activi-ties including Thanksgiving Eve and making lefse.

** We also need workers for the 18th so please plan to help out with this fund-

raiser.

It is time to support the Bethesda Sunday school with your education funds. An amount of $15/family is requested.

Your donation of may be given to Carla Olson or placed in the collection plate.

Thank you.

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Missions of the Month October . . .

Each month a list of giving opportunities in the Parish will be included in the bulletin and newsletter.

Monetary donations are always welcome as well.

+ Buffalo Lake

Safe Avenues needs:

Women’s Clothing, Children’s Clothing, Hair Care Products (new), Cosmetics (new), Toiletries

Used Cell Phones, Gift Cards for Fuel, Gift Cards for Groceries

Dishes, Kettles, Kitchen Utensils, Food Storage Containers

Table Linens, Kitchen Towels, Silverware, Kitchen Chairs, Small kitchen Appliances, Vacuum Cleaners

Bed Linens, Quilts, Pillows, Lamps, Small Rugs

Bath Towels, Paper Towels, Facial Tissue, Toilet Paper

There is a box in entry @ Buffalo Lake for these items or call or text Katherine Claussen @ 320-894-8441

to have your items picked up.

+ Bethesda

School Supplies:

Box of crayons (16 or 24); #2 wooden pencils with erasers; large glue sticks; rulers with both standard &

metric measurement; highlighters; 3-subject spiral notebooks and single subject spiral notebooks; wide-

rule spiral notebooks; colored pencils; gallon and quart size zip lock bags; boxes of kleenex

Romans 12:8 “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership

Bethesda Blood Pressure

Clinic

Bethesda will be holding a blood pressure clinic on 4th before and after the 9:30 worship.

Bethesda Soup and Sandwich dinner

Variety of soups with a pulled pork sandwich

October 18th

11am-1pm

Adults: $8.00

Children 6-12: $5.00

Under 5: free

If you haven’t been asked to provide food for this fundraiser, a donation of $20-25 is requested to pay for the additional food items which need to be purchased. Checks should be made

payable to Bethesda Women of the ELCA.

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** Caffeine & Conversation **

CAFFEINE & CONVERSATION will be held on Tuesdays at 9:30 at the Bethesda

and Wednesdays at 1:00 at Hope.

If you have not been able to join us yet, PLEASE consider coming- we have great conversation about Scripture and life, yummy goodies and wonderful fellowship (and coffee!)

ACT PARISH ACTIVITIES

KMS Area MOPS Thursday, October 15

Bethesda Lutheran

MOPS will meet October 15 with supper at 5, meeting from 5:30-7 at Bethesda. There will be childcare provided, plus evening snack for children. If you would like to volun-teer for childcare it would be much appreci-ated. Please contact Carla Olson @ 320-875-4595 or Pastor Dan/ Mari.

Autumn Bazaar.

St. John's Lutheran Church

October 3, 2015

10am-1pm

Grandma’s Attic, Craft’s, Bake Sale, Lunch and

a new this year: The Bar Bar. People will be

able to pick their own dozen bars from an as-

sortment of bars to purchase.

** MEN’S BREAKFAST **

See you October 3rd at 7:30!!

Hope Lutheran

Picture of the Past Fall Event

October 3rd, 10:30-1:00

Shop the: Vintage Room

Grandma’s Attic

Apron Booth

Don’t miss the Garden Market, Bakery

Shoppe and Cards & Napkins areas.

Lunch is also available for purchase.

“10 Early Sings of Alzheimer’s”

Hope Lutheran Church, Sunburg

October 4th at 6:30pm

This presentation by Bonita Kallestad is intended to

build awareness and understanding of memory loss.

It is in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association

of MN/ND and ACT on ALZ Team of Willmar area.

Come & learn more and gain an awareness of this

disease. Hand-outs will be provided and refresh-

ments will be served. FREE ADMISSION!

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OCTOBER 2015 PREACHING SCHEDULE

Rev. Dan Croonquist Rev. Mari Thorkelson Narrative Lectionary Readings

Oct. 4 Buffalo Lake – 8:15am St. Johns – 8am Exodus 1:8-14; 3:1-15 and Mark 12:26-27a

Bethesda – 9:30am West Lake – 9:30am

Mamrelund – 11am Hope – 10:45am

Oct. 11 St. Johns – 8am Buffalo Lake – 8:15am Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-9 and Mark 12:28-31

Monson Lake – 9:30am Bethesda – 9:30am

Hope – 10:45am Mamrelund – 11am

Oct. 18 Buffalo Lake – 8:15am St. Johns – 8am Ruth 1:1-17 and Mark 3:33-35

Bethesda – 9:30am West Lake – 9:30am

Mamrelund – 11am Hope – 10:45am

Oct. 25 St. Johns – 8am Buffalo Lake – 8:15am 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 6:1-5; Palm 150 and

Monson Lake – 9:30am Bethesda – 9:30am Mark 11:8-10

Hope – 10:45am Mamrelund – 11am

ACT ANNOUNCEMENT

A Call Committee has been formed to look at the second pastoral position with Pastor Dan as the lead pastor This Call Committee has been requested to make a recom-mendation to the ACT Council at the Council’s meeting on October 25th.

Call Committee Members: Buffalo Lake—Stan Claussen

Bethesda—Mike Olson

October Confirmation Schedule at Hope

October 7th

6pm - 6th grade

6pm - 7th grade

7pm - 8th-9th grades

7pm - 10th grade

October 14th

MEA—No confirmation

October 21st

Confirmation service event

at Calvary Lutheran in

Willmar — time to be an-

nounced

October 28th

7pm—8th-9th grades

REMINDER to Confirmation Students: The Sermon Notes outline is available at the church. Please use this form.

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/continued from page 1

While it can be enjoyable at times to remember with fondness the good old days, it is also comforting to remember that the gospel, by its very nature, is forward-leaning. God is leading us into God’s preferred future, and we simply cannot move forward with nostalgia. If we continue to allow what has been to determine what is, and what is to de-termine what will be, then we will not be able to allow God’s Spirit to lead us into what might be - that exciting, un-certain, risky, surprising journey of possibility.

As we continue to go forth together, please consider engaging in some spiritual practices and disciplines which can be

helpful in dealing with change. Here are some examples I came across in a recent article that I read:

Patience. Change is a very long process. Many won’t accept change until they have hurt enough, heard enough, or had enough. It takes time. Be patient.

Compassion. Change can be frightening. Be compassionate and grace-filled. Fear and coercion are rarely compassionate. Meet people’s anxiety and worry with grace and understanding.

Prayer. Change takes work. It involves both individual and communal work, as well as the work of God’s Holy Spirit. It is a partnership. Pray for God’s wisdom, presence and direction, and pray for each other.

Service. In the midst of change, continue to serve. Practice hospitality and the forgiving, nurturing, reconcil-ing, and welcoming love of God made known to us in Christ. God’s grace comes first, and then we are able to respond in faith and love.

May we continue to walk together wherever we are led.

God’s peace,

Pastor Dan

Junior High Youth Gathering

Best Western Plus & Conference Center, Willmar

November 20-Saturday, November 21

(or Saturday, Nov. – Sunday, Nov. 22)

“Can You Hear Me? My God Will Hear Me- But as for me, I

watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my

God will hear me. Micah 7:7”

Guest speaker David Hunstad and with the band, Tanner Clark.

It’s for grades 6th-9th, Cost is $47 per person. For more informa-

tion please contact Pastor Dan or Pastor Mari.

“ Halloween Mystery Dinner”

ACT Adult Activity

Bethesda Church

October 30 at 6:30 pm

Get ready for the supper of mysteries.

Please sign up on the sheet at your ACT church.

DEADLINE: Sunday, October 25th

(Costumes are optional)

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October 4 — 1-5pm

Everyone is invited to the Foods

Resource Bank/ Stai Threshing

Show at the Lyle Stai Farm. Lo-

cated South of Kerkhoven at

1185 160th Ave, SE.

A free will donation meal will be

served around 3pm.

HOLD THE DATE . . . November 22nd

The 4 “B’s”

Batt, Barbershop, Barbecues and Bars

4:00 pm at the KMS High School

Sponsored by the Area Churches Together Parish

and

KMS Community Ed

(more information will be forthcoming)

Bethesda Library News . . .

“Accidental Saints” by Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber

In a time when many have rightly become disillusioned with Christianity,

Accidental Saints demonstrates what happens when ordinary people share

bread and wine, struggle with scripture together, and tell each other the

truth about their real lives. This unforgettable account of

their faltering steps toward wholeness will ring true for be-

liever and skeptic alike.

(Find in Section 3, Bo)

Thank you to Bobbie Jones who is now working with the ACT website as well as the ACT Facebook page.

See website: www.actparish.com

Facebook: Area Churches Together (ACT) Parish

Please send your church info and pictures to her at:

Bobbie_80@live.com