THE PARISH REPORTER

Greetings to all!

As I was working on this months news letter an article came across my

desk from the Fargo forum that I really felt would be a great thing to share

with all of you. It touches on the transition that is happening in our commu-

nity. I contacted the author of the article, Jessie Veeder, said that she would

love to share it in our news letter.

In Christ,

~Pastor John and Rachel

Finding a new kind of quiet in Boomtown

If you were to catch a long-time resident of Boomtown standing in line at the grocery store paying for lunch on the

run, fueling up a pickup, or guiding a group of students across a busy Main Street, you might ask what has changed

the most about their hometown over the last five years of progress.

And, after a pause and a little nervous laughter almost every one of us will shrug our shoulders and tell you that above

all, well… it’s just not so quiet around here anymore.

Quiet.

In these times of accommodating, building and rushing to grow a town beyond the fields and farmsteads that have

held the sidewalks in place for years, we become nostalgic in the face of uncertainty.

And quiet is familiar. So we say we miss it, thinking that perhaps if we had a few moments to stand along the horizon

on the edge of town without the noise of the future barreling down the gravel roads, leaving pot-holes in our roads and

cracks in our windshields, we might be able to see a bit more clearly.

I was thinking about the quiet as I climbed to the top of the hills around the farmstead last week in my search for

green grass and possibly a nice sunset to photograph. Among the familiar breath of the wind in my ear and the “caw,

caw” of the hawk circling above me I caught the periodic hum of a pickup passing on the red dirt road.

When I was younger the sound of those tires meant someone was coming in for a visit. Today it means they’re pass-

ing by, hopefully taking notice of that fiery red sunset.

As a kid growing up here I didn’t recognize the quiet unless it was disturbed by a mysterious sound I couldn’t place.

The howl of the coyote was familiar and safe. So was the shrill screech of the crow. But if the wind was right some-

times I would hear the strange drumbeat of a gas powered oil well pumping on the edge of the badlands and it would

send chills down my spine as my little mind searched for an explanation.

I haven’t heard that sound for years, technology has advanced and the industry has sent new sounds our way, but if I

heard it again, I could explain it. Funny, I guess it became familiar after all.

So I sat on that hill listening to the sounds of the pickups, the dogs crunching through the snow, the geese in the sky

announcing their arrival, and I wondered about the quiet and if it really exists.

Dunn County Lutheran Parish May 2013

St. John's Monthly Usher List

MAY USHERS

Ron & Loree Fettig, Gary & Roberta Fritz, John & Mary LeMieux, Gene & Gynell Harris

MAY READERS

Lorre Fettig and Gene Harris

JUNE USHERS

Ron & Loree Fettig, Gary & Roberta Fritz, John & Mary LeMieux, Gene & Gynell Harris

JUNE READERS

Lorre Fettig and Gene Harris

Those facing heath issues:

SHANNA HAUCK

IRENE KOVALOFF

BEAU DAVID BUEHNER

FAITH STROH

NORENE GUNWALL

JOHNNIE RAE GEVING

VIRGINIA BICE

CHARLES BICE

CHARLES LAPIERRE

JILL GALLOWAY

LISA FLANNAGAN

Remembrance:

THE FAMILY OF WALTER HOVDEN

THE FAMILY OF LESLIE DOE

And if it does, is it what we really want?

Ask my dad what quiet has meant to him on this place and he might tell you about a peaceful ride through the

trees, but he also might mention the kind that crept up on him, reminding him that his parents were gone and so

were his kids and he and mom were alone together on a ranch they’d worked all those years to nurture.

That’s a lonely kind of quiet, the kind a new Boomtown resident might describe, and the kind that settles in on top

of the fear when the phone doesn’t ring after a job interview.

A kind of quiet this community has heard before. So maybe in our nostalgia-laced rush to keep up we’re for-

getting that while quiet has always been our refuge, it has also been one of our biggest concerns.

Perhaps we’re not necessarily missing the quiet, but the familiar sounds that have been the backdrop of our exist-

ence as we climb these hilltops looking for a little space to breathe and work things through.

And we’re nervous about these new sounds because they’re drowning out the old. Because even in the excitement

of progress we all need a refuge, and we’re worried that we may wake up one morning and forget to listen for the

meadowlarks.

We’re worried we’re losing our balance.

When you ask us what’s changed, we should tell you this, but it’s hard to explain what being grateful and fearful

feels like. So we just say it’s not so quiet anymore.

Every Sunday after church in April and May,

we will be having an hour long missional

discussion at Normanna on where God is

leading our congregation. As we do this

work of discernment, we will need everyone

at Normanna's voice to be heard, so please

plan on coming and being a part of this dis-

cussion!

Our Saviors will have its Saturday evening

services on the Saturday before the 1st Sun-

day of every month at 5:30pm, with a pot-

luck dinner and fellowship to follow. This

means there will be no Sunday morning

service the following Sunday. This service

will use meditative music from Taize. All are

welcome to attend!

Don't Miss: Mother/Daughter Banquet- St.

John's Ladies Night Out- Visiting Voices,

Delectable Dining, Program: Soles 4 Souls.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 6:00pm MDT.

Tickets available from Debb Stroh 764-5496

and Diane Cuskelly 764-5713. Get tickets

early as there is limited seating.

Our Saviors will be having a ceme-

tery lawn mowing party! Come on

out with any mower or trimmer that

you have, or if you don't have any

equipment but could help, talk to Bill

Flaget. We will start at 10:30am on

Saturday, May 18th and around

lunchtime we will barbecue some

hot dogs and brats.

If you are an eligible member it is important to know there have been some changes. In our recent letter we were told if you have char-itable funds for a congregation you can start calling in April for Thrivent Choice Dollars (1-800-847-4836).

There is another change that you will be asked to vote by April 30th. Thrivent has already started to mail cards for voting. They call this "extending our common bond." A name will be voted between Luther-an or Christian.

Contact Thrivent:

800-THRIVENT

(800-847-4836)

Dates to keep in mind:

April 28th Pot luck after Church Service. Please join us for

fellowship and awesome food!

Mother’s Day Banquet will be held Wednesday May 8th

please contact Debb Stroh or Diane Cuskelly to get tickets.

The Hill Top treat signup sheet has many openings. Please

sign up or contact me if you would like to choose a month to

bring treats to Hill Top on the 3rd

Tuesday of each month.

April Showers bring May Flowers!

Vicky Brandvik St. John’s WELCA Chairperson

A Baby Shower

For Rachel Simonson

CELEBRATE WITH US! FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 @ 5:00PM

AT ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH 550 CENTRAL AVE., KILLDEER

Rachel is Registered at Target and Amazon.com

Gospel Seeds… May 2013

A Monthly Update from the Western North Dakota Synod Office

Calling All Missionaries…

You are a missionary - a person called by Jesus to go, make disciples of all nations - baptizing, teaching and preaching. Synod Assembly

this year is intended to be a gathering of the synod missionaries… We will tell stories of what God is up in our congregations, communities

and around the world. We will worship, share Holy Communion, pray and be involved in Bible Study. We will also spend time learning from

one another how to do this "spreading of the Good News" of Jesus Christ.

We encourage you to not only bring your voting members - but to encourage others to come to this gathering. This will be a "teaching" as-

sembly, where we will provide participants with resources to prayerfully discern why your congregation exists, the ministries God is calling you

to and how to move in those directions.

God is calling us to reach beyond ourselves. We are called to live God's grace in such a way that others would come to know true love.

Assembly Registration

Registration is now open! For the first time ever synod assembly registration is all on-line. You are able to register for assembly, purchase

tickets to the pre-assembly event and purchase tickets to the Mission Fest Gala event. The on-line registration allows you to either pay on-line

or print out the completed registration material and mail a check to the synod office.

Gala Event…

You are invited to the Mission Fest Gala - Thursday, June 6 beginning at 5:30pm at Zion Lutheran, Minot. The event is a fundraiser and

friend raiser for the synod's Ministry and Mission Trust Funds. Those attending will be treated to a prime rib or grilled chicken dinner, to excel-

lent musical entertainment and a silent and live auction. Tickets cost $25 per person and only 150 are available.

Thanks…

During this year's synod assembly we will take a moment to say thanks to Jan Zook who has served on staff for 12 years. Jan has retired

but will be with us at assembly. Cake and coffee will be served following the Friday evening banquet in honor of Jan.

During the assembly banquet we will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ELCA. During that time we will also have an announcement

worthy of great celebration - come to see what that is all about.

On the Road…

Synod staff members have been on the road over the several weeks. We have gathered with people in Bismarck, Dickinson, Williston and

Minot. We have met with the councils of Napolean, Kintyre, Belfield, Medora and Daglum. We were blessed to begin an area strategy conver-

sation with congregations from Wildrose, Alamo, Ambrose, Noonan and Crosby. We have been at women's cluster meetings in Beulah,

Westhope, Lincoln, and at Upper Missouri Ministries. Through these meetings we are blessed by hearing what in God's name congregations

and individuals of this synod are doing. Thanks!

Synod Mission Micro-Grants…

I am excited to announce that Faith Simonieg is now at work as Regional Gift Planner for the ELCA. Faith was Executive Director of the St.

John Lutheran, Dickinson Trust Fund. She began her work in early April. Faith is available to consult with congregations about how the ELCA

Foundation can be a partner in supporting congregation trusts or endowments. Faith is also available to individuals who would like to hear

more about how they can support ministries they care deeply about through estate gifts. We are excited that Faith has taken this position.

God Bless and Thanks, Mark Narum – Serving as Bishop

St. John’s Lutheran Church Council Minutes—April 10, 2013

Present: Pastor Rachel, Pastor John, Clay Bohmbach, Kara Bang, Larry Knudsvig, Tracey Dolezal, Linda Reems, Susan Pelton,

Patty Gerriets

The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm by Chairperson Tracey Dolezal. Devotions by Susan Pelton.

Minutes of the March meeting: Linda Reems made a motion to approve, second by Clay Bohmbach, MC.

Financial Report: Susan Pelton made a motion to approve, second by Kara Bang, MC.

Pastor’s Report: Holy week went very well. Pastors John and Rachel will begin encouraging people to help on the committees

within the church. Vacation Bible School will be starting on June 10, 2013.

Stewardship: No report

Worship/Music: No report

Property: Badlands Heating and Air payment was tabled until information is provided by Josh Andersen. Tracey will speak with

Josh. The new part for the sign has arrived. This will be installed as soon as the weather permits. The outdoor cross at the front of

the church will need some repairs this summer. The new office computer has arrived and works great. Annie and Storm Nies will

be the groundskeepers for the summer. Patty will get a quote from Scott Ashby for a sprinkler system for the church and parson-

age. He has done work in the area for several other parishioners and has done a good job. Bids for paving or cementing the north

parking lot as well as the road to the parsonage will be brought before the congregation. The price for the parsonage has been set

at $250,000 and the lot beside the parsonage at $25,000.

Finance: No report

Altar Guild: It was discussed that if there are not enough council members in church could someone from the Altar guild help with

communion. After a short discussion, any one from the committee that is comfortable with this is encouraged to help. The Altar

guild is responsible for filling the candles with oil and will keep track of this.

WELCA: Mother/daughter banquet is May 8, 2013

Social Concerns: No report

Thrivent: Congregational members who have Thrivent accounts are encouraged to designate their money. This information will be

in the newsletter and bulletin.

Unfinished Business: None New Business: None

Meeting was adjourned.

Susan Pelton, Acting Secretary

Our Savior’s

1 - Mitchel Keller

4 - Clarence Rohde

5 - Daniel Weisz

8 - Jacky Sorensen

12 - Luella Schaper

13 - Brandi Selle

14 - Jenna Stern

18 - Lori Entzel

19 - Holly Gullickson

21 - Nicholas Flaget

24 - Margie Mohl

28 - Leah Duttenhefner

19 Neil & Brenda Ferebee

30 Jim & Marolyn Lesmeister

St. John’s

1 Molly Nies

3 Wylie Bice, Kadee Fowler, Ben Pelton

6 Verne Wolf

7 Adele Berg, Tucker Bohmbach

8 Kale Oversen

9 Jodi Stroh

10 Cassie Bang, Larry Knudsvig, Dale Kling

14 Doris Henderson

17 Carolyn Paulson

18 Russell Kling, Karen Weisz

19 Rodney Wolf

20 Carolyne Kukla

21 Hunter Kovaloff, Bob Meester

23 Sarah Doe, Dane Jepson

27 Patty Gerriets, Dennis Paulson

28 Linda Brew, Tommy Schmidt,

29 Belle Bergerud

30 Glen Houghton, Julie Stevens, Sara Jund

31 Scott Gaugler

8 Reinhard & Sherlene Hauck

12 Scott & Beth Gaugler

21 Glen & Terri Houghton

28 Reuben & Phyllis Knutson

29 John & Rachel Simonson

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Contact Us

St. John’s: 701-764-5264

Parsonage: 701-764-5358

Email Us

St. John’s:

stjohnlu@ndsupernet.com

Pastor John:

John.h.simonson@gmail.com

Pastor Rachel:

PastorRachelSimonson@gmail.com

Dunn County Lutheran Parish

St. John's Sunday Schedule

9:00am Choir Practice and Sunday School

10:00am Worship

11:00am Fellowship

Normanna Sunday Schedule

10:30am Worship

Our Savior's Sunday Schedule

8:30am Worship

9:30am Fellowship

St. John’s Lutheran Church

PO Box 449

Killdeer, ND 58640-0449

PLACE STAMP HERE