WELCOME

Welcome to Prairie Faith Shared Ministry. Located in north central Kansas, six ELCA Lutheran congregations have stepped out in faith to enter into a truly shared ministry. We strive to provide the best tools for our members to grow as disciples of Christ and to proclaim the Good News of Christ within our communities and throughout the world. We hope you will join us at one of our churches for service on Sunday to experience for yourself the fellowship of Christ.

Until further notice...Pastor Randy will be doing live services on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. on the Bethlehem Lutheran Church facebook page.  If you'd like to participate from home, contact us about getting an email of the bulletin. This Sunday, if you'd like to have a palm for Palm Sunday, you can come pick one up from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Also, Pastor Jon will be doing live services on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. on the Zion Lutheran Church facebook page.

St. John's Lutheran Church is having an Offering Prayer on Wednesday's from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. until services are resumed.  Contact Kim at St. John by phone or email or stopping by the church.

We have received news from Bishop Candea that they will be continuing to worship. Please check out the ELCA website at www.css-elca.org/worship.

 Each Sunday morning a worship service, led by myself and Bishop’s Associate Dave Whetter, will be posted on the synod website. If your congregation is not able to livestream a worship service or provide a video link to a sermon or worship experience by your pastor, simply click on the synod website and worship from your own home. We are also inviting those congregations that are willing to share their livestream with others to provide links that we will post on our website as well. Links to your online services can be sent to communications@css-elca.org. You will have lots of opportunities for worship!

Each Wednesday evening through Lent, I will lead a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. using Zoom. You will find the link to join that worship service on our website as well.

Each day (Monday through Friday) at 1:00 p.m. we will briefly pause (just for five minutes) to pray together (no matter where we are in the synod.) You can do this on your own as an individual or join a staff member on Facebook Live.

It is important to remember during these times of “social distancing” that we are all together in our love of God and our love of the mission at PFSM. Despite our temporary Coronavirus suspension of most church activities, we will continue to pay our bills, meet our monthly obligations, and care for our Staff and employees just as they care for you and our church facilities. To that end, we ask everyone to remember to give your offering as you normally would each month. If you want you can drop it off at the PFSM office or mail it to:

PFSM

338 N. 7^th St.

WaKeeney, KS 67672

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

 338 N 7th Street
WaKeeney, KS 67672

Emanuel Lutheran Church

 27037 Highway 147
 Ogallah, KS 67656

Immanuel Lutheran Church

 438 N Main Street
 WaKeeney, KS 67672

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

 510 E Cedar Street
 Ness City, KS 67560

St. John Lutheran Church

 394 St John - St Andrew Rd

Ellis, KS 67637

Zion Lutheran Church

27001 283 Hwy

WaKeeney, KS 67672

 The WaKeeney Community has come together to support a KIDS FOOD BOX for families that need food for their kids while to school is closed. This is FREE food for the kids; please come and get a box.

A person can pick up the Kids food box at the WaKeeney United Methodist Church.  Use North entrance only.  A volunteer will meet you at the door with a box.  You can receive one box a week for the next two weeks.

Time and hours are--Tuesday thru Friday 9 am to 7 pm.

If school closes for a longer period of time we will try to continue.  For right now it is for two weeks.

  Donations for this community mission is collected at Malay's Grocery Store  in care of VIRUS FUND.

If you want to volunteer to help please contact Niki Kinderknect at 785-432-0538.

MidWeek is open to ALL children and adults in the area.  It begins @ 6:00 p.m. every Wednesday evening (September-April) with a delicious meal prepared by Ruth Shiltz, Margaret Schmitt, and Doris Hafliger.  After the meal around 6:30 p.m, the children have music with Marlene Long & Kerah Deines. Then, from 6:45-7:30p.m. the children have their religion classes. Also during the children's class, there is an adult bible study group in the church library room from 6:30-7:30p.m. Parents are encouraged to eat with their children and then head to their bibly study while their kids are learning about God!  Adult Bible Study is open to everyone in the community, not just members of Prairie Faith Shared Ministry. Volunteers for MidWeek are ALWAYS needed and appreciated!! It’s going to be a great school year full of learning and fun!

Prairie Faith Shared Ministry Council Minutes

The regular meeting of Prairie Faith Shared Ministry Council was held March 3, 2020 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

The following churches and representatives were in attendance: Bethlehem – Richard Jensen & Margaret Schmit; St. John – Bob Schonthaler & Katie Dreiling (absent); Immanuel – Raymond Rumpel & Donna Deines; Emanuel – Larry Pearson(absent) & Kathleen Fabrizius(absent); Our Redeemer – Tonya Fenley & Joe Lutters; Zion – John Fabrizius(absent) & Curt Fabrizius

Also in attendance was Pastor Randy Gibbs, Parish Nurse Nancy Bollig, Pastor Jon Anderson, Pastor Kim Frederking. Devotions were given by Richard Jensen.

• The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved

• The treasurer’s report was approved as printed. The copier contract is up for review. Richard Jensen will compare the old & new contract and get it reviewed before the final date. A new line item will be added to the budget for the copier, separate from the other office supplies.

  Staff Reports

• Pastor Randy is very glad to have Pastor Jon back. Spoke of the house that he has purchased in WaKeeney. Will be visiting with the Bishop and setting a retirement date. Spoke of the Lay Leaders training and implementation. How has it worked? Is anyone getting any feedback? How can we strengthen the lay leaders gifts. Please return to your congregations and asked for input.

• Pastor Jon is back at work and preaching. Will not be doing hospital visits until after March 9. He is now going back to Kansas City only once a month. He is feeling better all the time and deeply appreciates everyone’s prayers and support.

• Pastor Kim thought the ordination service went well, only a few glitches. Will be off in March for about a week on vacation. Installation is scheduled for March 15, 2:00 p.m. at St. John. March 21 is the Western Kansas Conference to be held at St. John at 1:00 p.m. -4:00p.m. with the Bishop and Staff. All leaders from each congregation are encouraged to attend.

• March 29^th at 2:00 p.m. in WaKeeney volunteers are needed to help load moving trailers for Pastor Kim.

• Parish Nurse Report – A written report is attached. Highlighted: the Lenten Calendar that has been provided for everyone’s use during lent. Let the office know if more copies are needed. The AA group is meeting regularly at BLC on Mondays/Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Prayer shawls will be blessed o March 8^th, more shawls are always needed. The KDOT grant for the purchase of a bus has been approved. Discussed the budget cuts to the PFSM Health Ministry. The Health Ministry will run out of funds in November. Discussed ways of continuing the programs of the Health Ministry without funds and volunteers. Feedback (How would you like to work with the health ministry? What would you like to see happen in your community)

Communications from our congregations

• BLC : Upcoming Baked Potato Bar. Pastor Jon will be the recipient of the funds raised. Working on the front steps of the church.

• St. John: March 29^th the St. John women will be having their Spring Tea. A garage sale is in progress to sell the furnishings at the parsonage. Looking at replacing the roof on the church and some of the other buildings.

• Zion: Hosting with Immanuel the first Lenten Breakfast tomorrow morning.

• Immanuel: Will begin the process in 2020 of closing down the church. If your congregation is in need of pews, tables, refrigerator, stove please contact Immanuel as soon as possible.

• Our Redeemer: No ongoing projects at this time. Looking at continuing services for approximately 4 years.

• Emanuel: no representatives were present.

Old Business

New Business

Health insurance for Pastor Kim was discussed. Richard Jensen will be checking into the questions we have and will deal with the issue. Will possibly need to go over budget.

• March 8^th Joint Service at BLC, potluck to follow. Presentation at 1:00 p.m. on Stress by Laurita Burbach, loose offering will go to the Parish Nurse Ministry.

• April 19^th joint service at Zion, Food for the Poor will provide a speaker. Potluck will follow.

The next council meeting will be May 5, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. Curt Fabrizius will have devotions.

Look at Our Photos

Come see a slideshow of the 2014 Vacation Bible School, the April Joint Service, and the 2014 Live Nativity - get a glimpse of the activities that take place at PFSM. Check out the video of past Joint Reformation Services posted under Prairie Faith Memories Photos.

Meet Prairie Faith Shared Ministry

Come to the About Us section to meet the church leadership, and find out what we're all about!