Welcome …
To Winds of the Prairie Ministries, a five-point parish in south-western Minnesota, consisting of five churches: Bethany Lutheran in Arco, Bethany-Elim Lutheran in Ivanhoe, Grace Lutheran in Lake Benton, Peace Lutheran in Ruthton and St. Paul’s Lutheran in Minneota. We are a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Southwestern Minnesota Synod.
What we beleive
As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name throughout the world.
The ELCA Teaches — When Lutherans talk about faith, we are talking about the relationship God’s Holy Spirit creates with us. It’s a relationship where God’s promise of steadfast love and mercy in Jesus opens us to a life of bold trust in God and joyful, generous service to everyone we know and meet in daily life.
God has planted us in rich prairie soil to nourish the faith, reach out with the good news of Christ, and to serve our neighbors.
What we are doing:
o Sunday, September 24th 9:30am * NOTE TIME CHANGE FOR Bethany-Elim ServiceQuick-n-lite lunch to follow then it’s AUCTION TIME!
o Sunday, September 24th 2:30pm Service at Sunrise Manor Tyler
See Newsletter for more Events, News and Schedules. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Events/Initiatives:
Bethany Elim Service Auction September 24, 2017
Donation list will be going up August 1st. Ideas are posted on bulletin board or come up with your new ideas! If you have never donated or attended, please mark your calendars and join us for a super fun event! We are hoping to include another Youth auction, depending on donations. Sign UP Sheet for Brunch is on bulletin board. Sherry Rost & Deb Swanson. Questions: 694-1574, 507-828-3580 or 507-530-6019
Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response, designated for “Hurricane Response – United States” will be used entirely (100%) for this disaster until the response is complete.Together, we can help provide immediate and long-lasting support. Give today.
What you can do:
Pray – Please pray for the people who have been affected and are in the path of Hurricane Harvey. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.
Give – Gifts to “US Hurricane Relief” will be used to assist those affected by the hurricane until the response is complete.
Connect – To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response: Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts. Check the Lutheran Disaster Response blog. Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter.
** Please Note: Thrivent is matching members’ gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response. If you’re a member, visit Thrivent.com to give.
The Rock Christian Youth Center Annual Rummage
The Rock Christian Youth Center will be having its 13th Annual Rummage Sale Friday, Oct 6th, Noon to 7:00 pm, and Saturday, Oct 7th, 9:00am to Noon.
Donations Needed: Donation items may be brought to The Rock starting Sept 14th through Sept 30th and placed by the front doors. Please no old microwaves, old TV’s, computers, child car seats, cribs or broken furniture. Volunteers needed and very much appreciated to help set up for the sale. Call 507-828-2928 for volunteer times. The Rock is located at 148 Tyler St., Tyler, next to Maynards.
Backpack Program
Backpack program for kids of Hendricks, Ivanhoe, Lake Benton Schools to provide weekend meals. Donations can be given to the office and they will be passed along. Thank You. For details read the article in the Cross Winds Newsletter titled: Weekend Winners.
Reminders
Mutual Ministry Team
Are the pastor’s or staff doing something you like, dislike, concerned about? Who do you tell? Your Mutual Ministry Team—these people sit down with the Pastors and Staff and discuss your concerns.
Sermon Notes
TFA Students please leave sermon notes from Sundays and Wednesdays in the Sermon Boxes at church. Thank you, Pastor Eunice.
Bulletin Deadline
To have any announcements placed in your bulletin please either email the office at: [email protected] or call 507-694-1238. The deadline is Wednesday noon to get it in that week. Thanks
Prayer List
Thank you to all who have called in and updated the prayer list, it has been most helpful. The current Policy is, if you do not give the office or pastor an update within three weeks, your name will be removed. We want to keep these current in an effort to give everyone an update.Thanks for your attention to this matter. WOTP Office Staff please call 507-694-1353 or 507-694-1238 to keep your name on the prayer list. Thanks.
Bible Study
Have you thought about being part of a BIBLE STUDY? The Bible is the Living Word and grows in meaning as we grow in faith. Bible Study is how we are feed, challenge and grow in our faith. For personal study use the daily devotion found on the back of the weekly bulletin following the Faith5 model. Or grab a copy of the devotionals found in the back of the Church. Feed your Spirit and Soul. Current BIBLE STUDIES are listed in the calendar, events insert and home page (above). If those times don’t fit your schedule, start a new one! You don’t need a pastoral minister to be there but they do have resources for you to start one.
Sabbath Days
Pastor Eunice – Fridays. The office phone is always answered by someone on call, even if it’s a Sabbath day. In the event a call does go unanswered , it will be returned as soon as possible.
School and Public Events
With 5 different communities, 5 different school districts, and a variety of events the pastoral staff appreciates when we are informed of events that involve our members. A week’s notice is best so there is time to work events into the schedule. Written notes or email is best so there is a reference.
Hospitalizations
If you would like the pastor to call on you when you are expecting a hospitalization, please let us know. With the number of hospitals that our congregations cover it is always handy to know which hospital a person is at and what name they are under, as well as the dates he/she expects to be there. Federal regulations are such that people can’t just call and ask who might be there; we need to know names, especially if we know you by a nickname and you are listed under your legal name.
Communications
When calling the Winds of the Prairie Ministry Office please call 507-694-1238. Outside of office hours the number is usually forwarded to the pastor on call.
Mission Statement: As members of these congregations, we commit ourselves to this mission:
- To be united in our mission as Christ’s disciples and to increase the vitality of our individual congregations by working together
- To cooperate in such a way as to bring together sufficient financial and human resources to do effective and faithful ministry in all of our congregations.
- To recognize and strengthen the gifts of congregational members as we work in partnership with our called staff.
- To develop shared ministry and expand a wide variety of specific ministry opportunities.