May 17, 2021

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.

upcoming events

~~NEW OFFICE HOURS~~

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.

STARTING 08/17/2020

Rotation Schedule

May 2^nd –

Bethlehem – Pastor Christine

St. John & Emanuel – Pastor Jon

Zion & Our Redeemer – Lay Leader

May 9^th –

Bethlehem – Pastor Kathy

St. John & Emanuel – Pastor Kim

Zion & Our Redeemer – Pastor Jon

May 16^th –

Bethlehem – Pastor Jon

St. John & Emanuel – Pastor Kim

Zion & Our Redeemer – Bishop Candea

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Bishop Candea

scandea@css-elca.org

Our hope lies in the foolishness of the cross

I’ve been thinking a lot about hope these days. How do we have hope while still being honest about the realities and challenges we face? There is hope that we will finally get this virus under control with the roll out of the vaccines, but at the same time are warned “we are not out of the woods yet.” Many had hopes at the inauguration of a new president that we could come together as a nation and heal. Yet we continue to be deeply divided along partisan lines. Where is the hope that the church will be a public voice that proclaims the good news of God’s reign of justice when many still interpret this as being too political and don’t agree with what “justice” looks like? Some are just hoping that the church, that their congregation, will continue to exist.

We are in the season of Lent which is not typically described as a season of hope. That is the focus of Advent. But if Lent is about journeying with Jesus to the cross, I would propose that this is indeed a journey that leads to hope because our hope lies in the foolishness of the cross.

Think about it. Instead of just repeating, “Jesus died on the cross” (what does that really mean?), let’s review what actually happened. Jesus’ public ministry barely lasted three years, three years of traveling on foot without the capacity for mass communication. He didn’t raise any money for a campaign, didn’t start a new organization, didn’t change any public policy, didn’t rally troops to storm the palace, didn’t get elected king. He didn’t just crawl up on the cross and die. He was arrested and executed by the authorities of the day because his teachings and actions challenged the status quo, daring to proclaim that this was God’s, not Caesar’s, reign and that God’s reign was a very different way of life. He died a painful, humiliating death which “proved” that Rome was stronger than Jesus and his followers. It is foolishness to look at the cross and see anything but defeat.

Yet, we dare to believe that on the cross, God was doing something new. We dare to trust, with our eyes wide open, that in the humiliation, the suffering, the weakness of the cross God is present. We dare to embrace the foolishness of the cross and hope, not in ourselves, but in God.

Richard Rohr (whom I quote often because I find his writings so insightful) wrote about the need to be “holy fools.” He said, “it is not about protecting the past by control (conservatives) or reacting against the past by fixing (liberals). Both groups are too invested in their own understandings to let go and let God do something new.”

Lent is a time for us to face and be honest about our agendas, biases, egos, need to both control and fix things (confession of our sins) so that we might let go and return to God (trust that God is indeed doing something new.) What decisions might we make, actions might we take, words might we share if our hope was truly in God to do something new? What might hope that clings to the foolishness of the cross look like? That is our challenge and invitation this season. That is where we experience healing and transformation, not just survival, for the church and for our neighbors.

Let’s start being “holy fools!”

PFSM Council Meeting Highlights—April 2021

The regular meeting of Prairie Faith Shared Ministry Council was held April 6, 2021.

The following churches and representatives were in attendance: Bethlehem – Richard Jensen & Margaret Schmidt; St. John – Bob Schonthaler & Katie Dreiling; Emanuel –Kathleen Fabrizius: Our Redeemer – Joe Lutters & Tonya Fenley. Guest:

Also in attendance was Pastor Kim Frederking and Pastor Jon Anderson.

Devotions were given by Richard Jensen.

Minutes from the February 2^nd meeting were approved as presented.

Treasurer’s report was approved as presented.

Staff Reports

Pastor Jon said he had received an email from Bishop Candea and it instructed him to contact Kathy Whitney about providing pulpit support for us. Her husband is a pastor in Phillipsburg and she is an ordained pastor also. The email also advised that if lay leaders are continued to be used then they just start the PMA process. That will more than likely be a problem.
Pastor Jon said he had talked to Kathy Whitney and she is interested. Pastor Jon is proposing to use Kathy as a regular supply pastor. If she comes every Sunday, Pastor Jon and Pastor Kim will continue with weekday responsibilities. Pastor Jon will contact Kathy to see if she’s intersted. If she is willing she can start May 9th

Discussion was held on lay leader training and also that when lay leaders are being used there will be no communion.

Pastor Kim said that at the end of May the Bishop will be sending someone out to help us. Services went well for Easter. VBS will be the end of the first week in June and will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with a campout on Friday night. There were 4 students in the First Communion Class and they celebrated on Easter Sunday. June 2 or 9^th an adult Bible Study will start on the Book of Genesis. There will also be a Women’s Luncheon on April 18^th. A family has donated playground equipment to St. John’s. Kim is scheduled for vacation April 26^th-May 5^th or that could be changed if she is having surgery. Pastor Kim reported that keeping up with pastoral care has become overwhelming.

Margaret gave a report on the Health and Wellness Committee. She talked about Prayer Partners, a Walk that is being promoted and also continuing to follow social distancing, washing hands and wearing masks.

New Business

Kim said that St. John’s would like to invite all the other churches to a combined service on July 25^th to celebrate their 100^th anniversary of their church building with a Cruise and BBQ.

Masking in churches was discussed.

Rotation schedule will continue through May 9^th.

Discussion was held on standardized bulletins.

Discussion was held on the PFSM secretary duties. Richard will discuss her job duties.

Next meeting will be June 1^st at 7 p.m. with Margaret doing devotions.

Meeting adjourned.

These are interesting times, to say the least. One of the things we have discovered is that it is hard to be a person of faith in these trying and fearful times. What are some of the things you find difficult to deal with as a person of faith these days? What are you wrestling with? What questions do you have? On Tuesday evenings, from 6-7 p.m., we will be gathering to talk about these things together. Perhaps we will find answers, perhaps not. But it will be a time to talk together as people of faith about issues that concern us, and listen to the concerns of others. Best of all we will discover that we are not alone! We can support each other in this journey. If needs arise, we are open to other times and specific topics. Just let us know. Join us.

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

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

midweek1

**Due to Covid-19, no meals are being served. MidWeek is from 6:45p.m. - 7:30 p.m.**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!

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!