THE PRAIRIE STAR JOURNAL

Worship Schedules

Bethlehem

8:30

Good Hope

1st & 3rd Sundays 9:45

Grace Lutheran

11:00

Deadline All October news-

letter items must be received by Friday September 21st.

Thanks

PRAIRIE STAR LUTHERAN PARISH

BETHLEHEM GRACE LUTHERAN GOOD HOPE

. . . from Maintenance to Mission . . . too many surveys have been done in small congregations that seem to indicate many of the participants in these smaller churches have their focus on the hope that their congregation will be able to maintain itself into the future. Another way of putting it: peo-ple have developed a “survival mentality”. Let's do what we can to make sure our church “survives” into the future. The problem with this becoming the primary focus of any church is that it leads to decline, the very thing sur-vivalists are wanting to avoid. This mind-set looks “inward” instead of “outward” at opportunities around to be part of God's mission. In a recent article in The Lutheran magazine entitled “Facing future with resolve” (p. 4

August 2012) the Editor uses the example of Calvary Lutheran Church in small town Angola, IN. as one “little” congregation that is trying to do more than just “maintain” itself. They are focusing “outward” as they assess their role in being part of God's mission in the world. As I look at our ministry to-gether in the congregations that make up the Prairie Star Lutheran Parish, I hope our activities and gatherings give us opportunities to do more than just “maintain” what we have. There are great new opportunities around us and nearby that can renew our focus and keep us vital participants of God's mission. One such example is the new Joy Ranch in Watertown. I'm de-lighted to hear that already, a number of folks from our communities have been checking out and participating in Joy Ranch as it has begun its start-up programs.

This month, we resume many of our activities in the parish. Please note our September through December worship times: 8:30am Bethlehem; 9:45am Good Hope; 11:00am Grace. Confirmation classes are scheduled a variety of Saturdays in September and October. The CYO Kick-Off for the year will take place at the parsonage on Sunday, September 23 at 7:30pm. Circles and WELCA groups will be

meeting again. The list goes on . . . may all of these activities contribute to making us

“outward focused” individuals and congregations who are eager to be part of God's

mission in our world! See you in church . . . Pastor Dave Larson

September 2012

THE PRAIRIE STAR JOURNAL

Prairie Star Parish Council Minutes August 15, 2012

Vice President Brian Hovde called the meeting to order. Present were Mark, Brian Hovde, Char Loterbauer, Jody Peterson, Rick Peterson, John Thoreson, Karen Snow, Pastor Keith, and Pastor Dave.

Secretary’s report was read. Correction in the typo that the parsonage is being reshingled. Rick moved and Brian seconded to accept the minutes with the listed correction. Motion passed.

Treasurer’s report was not available for review.

Pastor’s Report:

New parish email address - pstarlp@gmail.com The pastors will be handing out the annual evaluation and will be putting it in the newsletter as well. Please turn them to your church. Pastor Keith reported that the CYO advisors had an initial planning and came up with possibilities to present to the students or a retreat at Joy Ranch, Bible studies once/month on Sunday/Wed., a mission trip next June, the angel tree shopping, and the poultry party.

Congregation reports:

Bethlehem: Sunday school rally day will be Sept. 16th. The anniversary had a good turnout. The wild game feed will be Nov. 11th from 11:00-1:30.

Good Hope: The bazaar went well. Had a good turn out for Cassandra’ ordination including 20+ pastors.

Grace: The parsonage is reshingled and the stove has been replaced. Rally day is not yet confirmed.

Old Business:

The Prairie Star Logo is still being worked on. The newsletters have been received.

New Business:

1. Worship times were discussed. September through December 2012 will be Bethle-hem - 8:30 am Good Hope - 9:45 am and Grace - 11:00 am. Possibilities for worship times for the new year were discussed, but not finalized.

2. Member numbers need to be to Merl by October 1st for next year’s budget.

3. The office computer programs are out of date and not all information is being re-ceived. Brian moved to authorize the pastors and Karen to purchase a new computer for the Parish not to exceed $600. Jody seconded. Motion passed.

4. Moving the office to Bethlehem was discussed to be more convenient for Karen. The pastors are going to check into the wording of the parish agreement for the office location.

5. Help with the newsletter and bulletins are needed. Karen is going to be having sur-gery and will be off her feet for about a month. Please talk to Karen if you are able to help.

Next meeting will be October 24th at 8:00 at Bethlehem.

Respectfully,

Char Loterbauer, Secretary

God Bless

NOTE: Worship time change for Grace – beginning September 2, Sunday

services at Grace will be at 11:00am The time (11am) will remain

in effect through December 2012.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The 2nd annual Game and Garden Dinner will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran in Vienna on Sunday, November 11 from 11am-1:30pm. This

year tickets will be sold. $10/adult and $5/child (under 10) The menu will be the same as last year: Walleye, Venison Meatballs, Pheasant, etc.

WORSHIP TIMES FOR FALL: worship services for September through December will be: 8:30am Bethlehem; 9:45am Good Hope; and, 11:00am Grace

RALLY DAY will be Sunday, September 16 at Bethlehem and Grace.

Dear Friends and Families in Faith, The Community Youth Group (CYO) would like to welcome all students grades 7-12 to the kickoff celebra-tion at Pastor Keith’s house on September 23rd at 7:30 pm. We will be roasting hotdogs and marshmallows over a campfire. We will be discussing a mission trip to an Indian Reservation that the CYO would like to take part in next summer. We will also be discussing other events that take place during the school year, such as the annual Poultry Party held at the Vienna Town Hall, shopping for the Angel Tree at Christmas time, and visiting Joy Ranch for a weekend. Officers will be elected at the kickoff. Our monthly meetings/get togethers will be held every month on the 4th Sunday. We would like to get the students input as to what time would work best and that will be established at the kickoff celebration. We look forward to seeing eve-ryone at the kickoff and having an exciting year.

Bethlehem Church Council Meeting August 1, 2012

President Matt Vandersnick called the meeting to order and Pastor Keith Garness gave devotions. Matt Vander-snick provided lunch.

Pastor's Report Confrimation letter later this month with schedule, youth planning meeting this week and plan through the year. There is an activity director in Bryant and Clark so there will be no conflicts. On the 23rd of August from 5:30 -*:30 burgers with the bishop @ Trinity in Madison.

Secretary's Report was read and accepted

Treasurer's Report Flower's 366.31, Memorial 3,855.46, Building 9,080.01 (7909.63, Local 18,184.94, Cash 14,990.41, Scholarship 1,576.19, Campership 1,618.34, Offering 27,675.529, Anniversary 1,384.12+106.00=1,490.12 Beginning Balance 1,170.38 Building / Remodel Boettcher Windows 6,836.64, Pro Touch Painting 9,952.14, Dakota Gutter 408.00, Pommer Con-struction 8,681.59, Stuart Lewno 1,553.97, Matt Vandersnick 1,413.54 total of 28,845.88 There are still Christmas ornaments and cookbooks to sell.

Old Business - 100th anniversary recap - went smoothly, great job.

Building Project - 9,080.01 see Treasurer's report for totals. We need to replace the back door.

Office Reorganization Kristin Vandersnick worked on that

Green Hymnals Donate to Hosana Matt talk to Cheryl Brekke

New Business - Summer attendance on average 52

Sunday school preparations on average 32 children we need a sound barrier to keep the noise out and the attention of the children. Matt proposed that a 3 person committee take charge Johnny 2nd. The committee is as follows Erin Brenden, Johnny Rider and Matt Vandersnick. Also a part of the group will be Tracy Bochek and Tara Vig Sunday school teachers. After the window's are paid for out of the building fund are paid we will use what is left over for the divider's. Contact Kelleron Methodist church on vinyl dividers. There is also a Augsburg bill to be paid.

Parish discussion both pastor's are working on majority of Sunday's when during the summer get split. Good Hope does not want to change times on Sunday's. The times to accomidate Good Hope and Grace will change in Sep-tember.

Good Hope barrowed our T.V. and camera for Cassandra Lamb's ordination we recieved $50 and a Thank you!Office equipment computer and printer desk we have decided to do a silent auction highest bidder wins. Kristen and Matt Vandersnick have donated a labtop computer and Karen Snow and Chris Bochek have donated an external hard drive to use for Sunday school. Karen Snow made a motion to move the parish office from Grace to Bethlehem eve-ryone excepted and it will be taken to the Parish meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday September 5th at 8pm at Bethlehem, Devotions will be led by Pastor Keith Garness, Luch will be provided by Karen Snow. We closed with the Lord's prayer

Respectfully submitted by,

Karen Snow, Secretary

Grace Lutheran's Annual Turkey Dinner is coming! Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4PM

GLCW news

Grace Quilters will be meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5 at the church to put together the nine quilt tops we have ready and to prepare some more. There will be a potluck lunch. Come join us for fellowship and the fun of working together to bring comfort to those in need.

GLCW Annual Meeting and election of officers: Wednesday, Sept. 19. at 5:30 p.m.

Medary Conference WELCA Fall Retreat at Badger Legion Hall, 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18. $6.00 Registration (includes lunch and am/pm coffee.) Bible study and Silent Auction with proceeds to go to Lutheran Student Centers at SDSU, USD, and NSU; join us for a day of fun, fellowship and faith renewal.

GLCW will begin the 2012-2013 “Gathered by God” Bible Study series on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 9:30 at the church. Pastor Keith will again be leading the study. Bring your favorite Bible and the September Gather magazine and join us for coffee and fellowship. This year’s

theme will be “Gathered by God,” written by The Rev. Dr. Audrey West, who wrote the wonderful study we shared in 2004-2005 on the Parables of Jesus. Her friendly and clear writing style that will inform and entertain us as we focus on themes like “Gathered to Learn,” “Gathered for Life,” “Gathered and Empowered,” and “Gathered for Rest and Community.” The key verses will be from the New Testa-

ment, stories of Jesus and his disciples and the work of the early church.

I hope you are looking forward to resuming our monthly meetings, as we gather to share, talk and study. Be sure you have renewed your subscription to Gather magazine, and put the date of Sept. 12 on your calendar. If you have access to the Internet, go to the website for WELCA, http://www.womenoftheelca.org/ and click on the “Publications” tab to read about the Gather magazine and the linked arti-cles about this year’s Bible study. If you don’t have a computer, never fear: everything you need to follow along is in the monthly magazine delivered to your mailbox. We can provide copies of the first month's lesson if you are waiting for your subscription to begin.

If there is interest, the Evening Bible Study Circle will again meet on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. For potluck supper and discussion of the Gather Bible study or another topic, if you desire. We will meet on Sep. 13 to get started. Call Sue Garness (625-3010) or Char Loter-bauer (625-3366) if you have questions.

Sue Garness

GLCW Mission Growth Chair

Bethlehem WELCA Sunday, August 5, 2012

Cheryl Brekke called the meeting to order and gave devotions. Diane Rider read our purpose. Treasurers Report was read motion to ac-cept first by Marcine Hanson and 2nd by Dianne Rider motion approved the balance on hand $4,426.53.

Thank you notes were read from Good Hope for helping with Casandra Lambs ordination.

Joy Ranch for the donation in helping with there kitchen.

We recieved a Donation from Wilma Holmstrom.

Sunday school Rally day September 16th, 2012

Heritage Day we will be having a Sew and Bake Day October 6th at Bethlehem church.

Bring your recipes this is also a great day for you to learn how to sew. If you will be sewing at home just a reminder that the quilts are 6 squares across and 8 squares down.

Naomi Bible study has been moved from the 2nd Tuesday of the month to the 3rd Wednesday of the month @7:30p to start in September.

The Ruth circle acct of $15.28 has been approved to be dissolved into the general fund 1st by Dianne Rider and 2nd by Deloris.

We closed with the Lord’s prayer.

Pastor David Larson and Pastor Keith Garness

PO Box 197 Willow Lake, SD 57278

Grace Office: 605-625-5578 Bethlehem Office: 605-625-3142

E-mail: pstarlp@gmail.com

PRAIRIE STAR LUTHERAN PARISH

BETHLEHEM

GRACE LUTHERAN

GOOD HOPE

Grace

Bethlehem

Good Hope Clark

County

Prairie Star

Lutheran Parish

Happy Birthday!!

Donna Williams 1 Rebecca Peterson 16 Sue Garness 25

Mary Hovde 1 Alfred Fryslie 16 Lorie Terhark 25

Trinity Peterson 1 Madison Brenden 17 Sara Nicole Thonvold 26

Julie Virchow 1 Vonnie Ladwig 17 Monty Torper 26

Karina Fuller 2 Alan Hamre 17 Taylon LaMont 27

Nicole Tonak 2 Carrie LaMont 17 Linda Larson 28

JoAnn Eggleston 5 Barb Lamb 18 Kristin Vandersnick 28

Elizabeth Edenfield 5 Samantha Verdon 19 Mavis Brenden 30

Vernon Singrey 5 Lane Hovde 21

Angela Gjerde 7 Olleen Kirkeby 21

Cheryl Gorman 8 Dustin Guerdet 21

Hadley Gjerde 10 Matthew Miller 21

Austin Vig 10 Jody Peterson 21

Carol Laverick 11 Evett Lewno 23

Penni Lamb 11 Cleo Fulton 23

Emma Weelborg 12 Lloyd Brekke 24

Savannah Hovde 14 Julayne Thoreson 24