The mission statement for the ACT Parish’s 2023-24 initiative is bold:
Dinner Church is experiencing worship and participating in community life together. It’s not just church with dinner. It’s a deeper experience for people who might be disenfranchised with traditional Sunday morning services. Sometimes you need to unpack things to really understand them, and this is one of those times: The rest of this article explains the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the statement itself and includes an invitation to participate. Depending on the liturgy, music leaders and pastor, worship can be uplifting, comforting, thought-provoking – and if we’re being honest – sometimes boring. Pastor Jennifer Thul and members of the ACT Parish are adding a new adjective to worship: Tasty. “We’re calling it Dinner Church,” she said. “And it’s different than what we do on Sundays,” She explained that the focus is on community and connecting with one another in a relaxed environment. “One of the greatest needs Daryl and I have seen since coming here is isolation and loneliness,” Jennifer said. “The Spirit is calling us to do something about this.” Hope Lutheran in Sunburg hosts first Monday of the month, starting Oct. 2. Dinner Church begins at 6 p.m. and concludes at 7 p.m. Mamrelund Lutheran of Pennock hosts the third Monday of the month and Bethesda north of Murdock hosts the fourth Monday. The second Monday is devoted to ACT Parish members providing meals for students at Ridgewater College in Willmar. “I’d talk about ‘Eleanor Rigby’ buy I’m not sure people remember the song,” Co-Pastor Daryl Thul added. “I think Jennie said it best when she introduced it to me a while back. “She explained that there are so many ways for people to communicate with one another and connect, but that they don’t,” he continued. “It’s so busy that unless we take the time to connect, we won’t.” “The bottom line is we need to know our neighbors and we need to know God better, too,” Jennifer said. “And I’m not so sure we know our neighbors as well as we did in the 70s and 80s.” Dinner Church is not just for the lonely: It is for all. And it is free. The Southwest Minnesota Synod of the ELCA Endowment Fund awarded a $2,000 grant to the Parish and the Monday night dinner church is scheduled through Spring 2024. Using the time and talent cards church members filled out earlier this year, Jennifer eallied those who checked ‘food ministry.’ Joyce Rudningen of Hope Lutheran was one of those and at a recent council meeting shared her excitement about being the first congregation to open its doors for the new ministry. “We’re ready!” she reported to the board. “I think it can help.” |
Dinner Church Schedule: 6:00-7:00
February 19th at Mamrelund February 26th at Bethesda March 4th at Hope March 18th -at Mamrelund March 25th at Bethesda |
Middle: Connie & Joel Lee bth celebrate Birthdays this month
Above: The Gronseths are alive and well in Glenwood! Right: Leslie and Blue are living large near Brooten. The picture of Leslie includes a high chair that was likely put into use when his mother was an infant - a chair that has lasted five-plus generations and more than a century! |
Men's Bible Study resumes at Sherrie'sAt 7 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month, Pastor Daryl leads the Men of the ACT Parish in a Bible Study.
The group met in October and will continue meeting monthly. The Bible Study will be working through Augustine's 'City of God.' Before you stay after because it sounds way too complicated, please know Pastor Daryl has worked with Soldiers for the better part of his adult life and will use language that will make it possible to understand the work of this Saint who influenced the church and the way we believe more than anyone aside from the first church leaders (Paul, Peter ...). |