NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 17

DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

St. Olaf Lutheran Church 601 6th Street NE

Devils Lake, ND 58301-2525

Phone: 701-662-4911

FAX: 701-662-4820

Email: stolaf@gondtc.com

www.stolfchurchdevilslake.com

Pastor Jim Paulson

Email: stolafprjim@gondtc.com

Darci Gilbertson

Office & Financial Secretary

Kirk Sweeney, Custodian

Dan Nybo, Organist

Marisa Smith

Youth Ministry Coordinator

LEAVE ROOM FOR JESUS

Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

PLEASE SIT 6 FT. APART

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Alyssa Schall Chad & Amanda Engen

SSgt. Sherri Read & SSgt. Barry Read

Cpl. Jeffrey J. Olson Sgt. Jesse S. Olson Grant Thompson

Justin & Jill Johnson Derrick Owens

Jonathan Pearson Matthew Martin

Sgt. Major Brian Soper Nevon Heisler

Brian Pederson Cory Schall Brent Schall

Amy & Cory Everson Austin Dammen Ryan Mertens Gregory Fritz

Spc. Jade Baker Major Miranda Iverson SSgt. Billyjo Sandberg 2d Lt. Cassidy Pearson Lt. Col. John Boynton

Kaitlyn Thompson Matthew Alexander

Trentin Ystaas

If you know of someone serving in the military, please let the church office (662-4911) know.

General Fund Envelope Giving & Gifts & Memorials

Date 9:30 a.m.

June 29 July 5 July 12 27 July 19 19 July 26 18

Envelope Giving

$1,060.00 -

$5,970.00 $4,245.00 $1,010.00

Gifts & Memorials

$290.00 -

$310.00 $150.00 $130.00

Electronic Giving for JUNE (33 Households): $4,580.00

Auto Exp (Mileage) ..................... 130.40 BCBS Exp ..................................... 848.50 Bulletin Exp ................................. 187.63 Confirmation Exp ........................ 145.95 Mission: EaND Synod (2% Env. Giving) Total sent to Synod .............. 619.76 Electricity Exp ............................. 771.00 Envelope Giving Exp (EFT) ............ 39.38 Gas (MDU) Exp ........................... 462.00 Insurance Exp ............................. 626.17 Maintenance Exp ........................ 793.22 Johnson Controls (Call Ctr.)- 582.44 Nardini Fire Equip.—210.78 Office Equip. .............................. 644.36 Office Supplies ............................ 123.18 Pastor Housing Allowance……..2,000.00 Pastor Soc. Sec. Allowance ......... 385.76 Payroll Exp .................................. 358.13

Pension/Ins Exp ...................... 1,655.36 Postage Exp ................................ 135.27 Retreat Ctr. Exp. (Guide One Ins)150.00 City of Devils Lake ...................... 132.54 NDTC (tele./internet/security) ... 921.52 Wages ...................................... 7,798.16 Worship Exp ............................... 794.00 Jeremy E. (Livestream—2 mos.)-550.00 Sundays & Seasons Subscript.—519.00 Total Expenses .................... $19,997.31 Total Income: ......................... 15,398.87

Retreat Center Fund

Expenses Guide One In. .............................. $150.00 Nodak (2 mos.) ................................. 95.00 Greater Ramsey Water..................... 20.45 MDU (2 mos.) ................................... 51.55

June General Fund Expenses

Dacotah O’yate The clear box at the back of the sanctuary (entrance) is set up at each worship service to bring awareness to mis-sions that we want to support with our donations. Each month we will highlight the mission of the month. For the month of August, we are collecting donations for our Lutheran brothers and sisters of Dacotah O’yate as a mission partner. One of their pressing needs is to obtain a new riding lawn mower.

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Dear St. Olaf members and friends The Summer is half over and unfortu-nately the coronavirus pandemic has continued to disrupt our lives. What started with medical education for the public, daily government briefings, and concerns about wearing person-al protective equipment and the need for social distancing has also led many to become desensitized to the dangers of transmitting the disease. If you remember, first it was access to medical supplies were the big problem and then keeping the hospi-tals and medical staff from being overwhelmed. Like some outbreak of a seasonal flu, many of us hoped the virus would run its course so life could return to what was familiar. Medical knowledge of the virus said otherwise, that it would take disci-plined behavior over a longer period to lessen the spread of the virus. But the cancellation of so many group activities, like major sporting events, festivals, and fairs over months has reeked unprecedented havoc so the emphasis of social distancing and curtailment of public activities seems unwelcome still. Since we have resumed worship in the sanctuary of St. Olaf, our mem-bers have done a great job of being conscious of the need to lessen the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Two recent funerals in the sanc-tuary and several in- person worship services have kept our attendance to below 65 people or less, with worship at around 20-30 people. To be dili-gent, we have installed plastic shields at the lectern, pulpit and at two music stands, and we have blocked off pews to encourage social distancing. The challenge, however is to not letting our guard down, both here at St. Olaf and around town. Frequent hand washing still is im-portant as well so we’ll continue to encourage using the hand sanitizer stations. Our desire to be together and to have the usual closeness and a sense of community continues to make us vulnerable to anyone conta-gious with COVID-19. Many people in our areas and in our country are willing to set aside precautions and to take risks which will cause resur-gence of COVID-19. I wear a mask whenever it seems needed, but I confess I should do it more often. I

hope we can routinely ask ourselves, if we can afford not to wear a mask at this time. I don’t think wearing a mask outside is as important as wearing one inside, but social dis-tancing is here to stay. If we aren’t several feet apart we making our-selves and others unnecessarily vul-nerable. A Scripture from Romans 12 comes to mind now as we wrestle with our needs to be socially active while liv-ing in a time of a pandemic. This Scripture is used at weddings, and it is often referred to as a passage that speaks to the marks of being a Chris-tian. It starts with “let love be genu-ine...” and urges the listener to rise above the temptation to put our own wants above others, to instead put the needs of others first and then to handle the misbehavior of others with a God like grace. St. Paul wanted his Christian converts to spread the faith by the way they lived and talked, however inconvenient it might be. Dear friends, our ability to build faith and encourage others, in this difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic, is still about being mindful of the needs of others for their spirituality and for their physical health. Paul empha-sized the connection between keep-ing the peace, living honorably, being noble in our deeds, and yet still pro-fessing faith in the promises of Jesus Christ without contradiction. We are confronted with the challenge of be-ing mindful of lessening the spread of the virus when we personally want to resume what we have known as nor-mal behavior. Since the risk of con-tracting COVID-19 hasn’t lessened in our areas, we still have the responsi-bility to care about others even when it isn’t convenient. When you get right down to it, being a Christian has been inconvenient for different rea-sons over the almost 2000 years since the resurrection, but the prom-ises of faith remain the same.

As we respond to what people refer to as the new normal, of not being as close to others, of refraining from physical contact, and wearing masks, we have to remember all the saints who were rejected out of inconven-ience for their faith in Jesus Christ. Christians turned away from food used in pagan sacrifices, they re-fused the worship of emperors, re-jected self aggrandizement, and fought of the seductions of immorali-ty. What are we, as Christians in our time, willing to do to lessen the chance of another person becoming sick from COVID-19? What would God ask of us so we continue to care for others spiritually when health risks inhibit our usual contact? I be-lieve that the answer lies in seeing opportunities to care, even when oth-ers don’t. While lock downs and busi-ness disruptions have kept more people at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the down time has led us to be more aware of injus-tice for others. Seeing ourselves as being part or the cause of a problem makes for an inconvenient reality. We’d rather pass on it and think it is overblown or someone else’s fault. Truth is when confronted with incon-venience we often try to change the subject. But as people of faith we have resources, we have the Holy Spirit, who guides us to think like our savior Jesus Christ. The challenge is whether we listen and believe the guidance or again dismiss it. Our will-ingness to follow Jesus through the guidance of the Holy Spirit is on the line now. Is awareness of injustice, awareness of careless behavior that can spread COVID-19, and aware-ness of poverty, hunger, police bru-tality, and racism enough to follow the Holy Spirit now? This crazy Summer may turn out to be the wake up God offers us as our response to the tragedy of this pan-demic. I don’t blame God for the pan-demic, but I do believe God can guide us to be better as we recover from it. May the fire of God’s Spirit guide us to faithful people! Serving Together in Christ, Pastor Jim

Pastor Jim Paulson

The council met Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at noon on Zoom. Present: Pastor Jim, Evan Markestad, Marisa Smith, Crystal Eversvik, Dan Ness, Darci Gilbertson, Dale Giedd, Mike Boehmer. Absent: Jeri Steffan, Dona Krahler, Sherry Boehmer, Cindy Brown, Kitty Overbo. Pastor Jim opened with a devotion.

Dale G. moved to approve the minutes from the June meeting. Evan M. seconded, motion carried. Treasurer’s Report: Mike reported the balances in the General Fund, Designated Funds and Building Fund as of June 30th were: General—$28,243.47, Designated—$91,503.45 and Building—$50,2778.22. Mike made a motion to add to the Designated Fund: “Radio Fund” the word “streaming” to include the live stream of the worship service on Facebook. Dona-tions for the radio broadcast and the live stream of the worship service will be placed in the Radio/Streaming Fund and expenses will be paid from that fund. Dale 2nd, motion carried. Reports from Pastor Jim and Marisa Smith were reviewed. Pastor Jim reported: 1. we are now open for funerals with limitations and guidelines. The pastor from Our Savior’s moved to Wisconsin. Our Savior’s is in the process of calling an Interim Pastor. Pastor Jim may be asked to do funerals until they receive one. 2. Pastor Jim and Mari-sa are working on St. Olaf’s confir-mation program. 3. Baptisms are being planned for upcoming Sunday worship services. Marisa reported that VBS started with 30 bags (with VBS activities for the week) distributed and she has sent out emails to Sunday School teachers and is waiting for respons-es for the upcoming school year. Church Properties: Dale Giedd re-ported that the men’s bathroom at St. Olaf is completed; Retreat Cen-ter: dehumidifiers are now working; Kyle Blanchfield will look over the

roof for any needed work; some trees were knocked down by strong wind and were cleaned up; Wednes-day night horshoes are at 7:00 p.m. The Retreat Center will remain closed to worship this summer due to the COVID19. No reports from Christian Ed, Con-gregational Life, Lay Ministry, Wor-ship & Music, Outreach & Evange-lism, Youth & Family Ministry or Stewardship. New Business: A letter will be sent to the Faith & Care Groups each month asking for a reader and ush-ers for each Sunday worship ser-vice. There will not be coffee fellow-ship at this time. Plexiglass shields will be installed on lecterns for Pastor Jim and readers and also on music stand for the vo-calist. Facebook, website, other options to connect people will need time and resources going forward. Worship & Music Board will work on ways to start serving Holy Commun-ion safely in the future and will help find a song leader every Sunday. Unfinished business: A professional-quality sanitizer for the church—Kirk is using a sample. The committee on re-opening did meet a couple of times to finalize guidelines. They also met with ushers. The first wor-ship service in the sanctuary went well. Twenty-seven members that attended followed the guidelines. Synod Assembly is scheduled via Zoom for August. The election of a new bishop will be held. Pastor Jim and Marisa Smith will be participat-ing. Next meeting will be August 11th at noon via Zoom. Meeting closed with the Lord’s Pray-er. Respectfully submitted, Darci Gilbertson

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Thank yous July Council Meeting Minutes

Thank you to Loretta Bloomquist for finishing the 3 Quilts for the Red Willow Bible Camp Auc-tion. Thanks also to Judy Ovre for volunteering to deliver them. We are so grateful for all the Ladies who work on the quilting days and beyond! I know we have all missed being together on Tuesday Mornings. I pray you all are doing well during this trying time. It is my sin-cere hope that "this to shall pass" ...SOON, and we will all be able to enjoy our fellowship once again. Until then I pray you stay safe and well. God Bless Myrna Unger WELCA President

Faith & Care Group #7—August 2020

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Duane A. & Pam Armstrong Adam & Sara Bachmeier, Lane, Brooke, Brittany Corey & Allyson Bartlett, Danielle, Anna, Miranda, Jayden Pam Bartlett Sarah Bergeron Karin & Kyle Blanchfield, Warren, Landen Rudi & Dianne Bloomquist Michael & Sherry Boehmer Paul & Karen Clementich, Sean, Blair & Erin Robert Cruse Bill & Angie DeWall, Jacquelyn, Janessa & Jadyn Frans & Brittany Du Plessis, Ian, Jenner Aaron & Bethany Elshaug, Sophie Norris & Renae Elshaug, Marti & Hannah Codi Peterson Fandrich Idelle Foss Richard & Rita Foss Roger & Michelle Fritz, Gregory, Rachel Perry & Denise Garske Scott Gerrells, Kody, Robyn, Stevie Monice Goodman Bryan & Janet Hannesson, Benjamin, Logan

Gary Johnson Connie Jorgenson Steven & Becky Juntunen, Tenneil Kristy Laber, Mason, Reiley, Tyler Amy Lee, Austin & Brady Joanne Legacie, Dustin, Brady Newton & Karen Lindseth Heather MacDonald, Aubrey, Burkley Judy MacDonald Karen Meier Keith & Cynthia Myhre Cathy Odendaal Mark & Eva Olson Sharon Peterson Angie Ralston, Lexi Hazel Ralston Florene Rogne Harris & Dianne Saele Lois Senger Marlys Sollin Janice Sowatzki Allen & Peggy Tabor Muriel Thoreson Laurie Tostenson Marlene Young

Faith & Care Group #1—September 2020 Ray & Deb Bertsch Leonard & Marie Birkeland Gordon Braathen Doug & Darlene Carlson Rhea Crane & Doug Longie Brad & Deb Eback, Marissa, Emily, Landen Chad & Alisha Ehnert, Morgan, Breydin Diane Engebretson Cory & Amy Everson, Faith, Blake Jim & Debra Frank, Darren, Malloree Mark & Darci Gilbertson Larry & Elda Hatten Kimberly Hatten Robert & Sheri Hatten, Kendall, Stephanie Steve & Sharon Johanson Roger Knutson Steve & Becky Lang, Amanda, Kaylee Judy Lee Darin & Stacy MacDonald, Beth Vonda Markestad Ronald & Barbara Miller Jamie Minnerup, Shayla, Shelby, Brynlee Arnold Moen Dan & Bonnie Ness, Nikki, Wyatt Kitty Overbo Darren & Nikki Paulson, Lyla, Tucker Kenneth & Joann Paulson Brian Pederson

Kim Pederson ReAnne Pederson, Keegan, Emmalynn, Seth Janet Peterson Brent & Toni Pflaum, Travis Kim Rau & Kevin Birkeland, Cody Dennis & Karen Riggin Lance & Tammy Riggin, Hunter, Nash, Har-per Roxanne Rose R. Glenn & Ardys Salisbury Anna Schemionek Randy & Julie Schemionek, Alexus, Justin, Ryan Ray Sletteland Wayne Sorenson Brian Sowatzki & Deb Weber, Brady, Griffin Michael & Cheryl Steffan Arlo & Darlene Svedberg, Erika Sierra Thomas, Noah Kris Thompson, Kayla, Kaitlyn, Austin Gary & Kerry Thompson Kristie Tollefson Clarence Jr. & Linda Toso, Justin Jason & Niki Toso, Kyleigh, Kole Janet Tweeten Mary Vilandre James & Kelly Wang, Marit, Peter Steve Weber

Lawrence Tollefson Ruth Swanson

If you or someone you know

are in need of prayers, please

contact the church office:

662-4911.

Your name and concern will

be held before God and

prayed for by everyone on

the Prayer Chain.

You will be asked if you would

like to be included in the prayers

at Sunday worship or you may

request it.

Kelsey Peterson & Jordan Becker July 25, 2020

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Month at a Glance

August:

− 4th: Mini Pool

Party

− 16th: Mentor

Zoom Call

−23rd: 1st

Communion

Zoom Call

−23rd:Amazing

Race

Fist Communion Make-

up Zoom Call Sunday, August 23rd, 2:00

p.m.

This meeting is for youth that

were 5th graders in 2019-2020

school year and did not attend

the meeting in May. If you did at-

tend and want to refresher

course are welcomed to attend,

but are not required to. An email

will be sent out to parents soon.

10th Grader Mentor Meeting Make-up Zoom Call

Sunday, August 16th, 2:00 p.m.

Any 10th graders (2020-2021) that were not able to make it to the last

zoom meeting, please make it a priority to attend this meeting. Please

have your mentor and at least one parent be present on this call. Emails

will be sent out soon with zoom information.

St. Olaf Youth & Family Ministry

2021 Youth Gathering Postponed

The ELCA just announced that the

2021 Youth Gathering will be post-

poned to the summer of 2022. The

2022 ELCA Youth Gathering will be

held July 24-28,2022. This means that

students going into the 7th grade this

school year will have the opportunity

to attend! More details about this

change will be coming soon.

First day of Sunday School

Scheduled for September

13th!

What we need…..

More Sunday School Teachers!

If you are interested in being a

Sunday School teacher please

contact Marisa Smith and plan

to attend a teachers meeting

Wednesday, September 9th.

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St. Olaf Youth & Family Ministry

3rd-6th Graders are Invited to Bring a

friend to St. Olaf's Mini Pool Party

August 4th, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Mike Dosch Memorial Swimming Pool

1209 5th Ave NE Devils Lake

Suggested donation: $3 per Youth

Have any question?

Please contact Marisa Smith

9-12th Graders and 2020 High School Graduates are Invited to Join St. Olaf ‘s

Amazing Race

August 23rd at 7:00 p.m.

Starting in the St. Olaf Parking Lot and Ending there with a Bonfire with

Hotdogs and S'mores

We still have LOTS of Take-Home VBS bags left.

Included in each is a reusable bag, tattoo, bracelet, kazoo, bouncy ball,

story book, and 5 days of lessons. Each lesson includes an easy craft!

Feel free to stop by and pick up bags for your child(ren).

Music and videos for each day have been posted on Facebook to ac-

company each lesson.

General Fund

In MEMORY of Yvonne Knutson from Jamie Travers, Myrna Peterson, Ker-mit & Glenna Garske, Rich & Carol Lybeck, Dennis & Jean Aardahl, Jerry & Daria Miller Kade Lybeck from Rich & Carol Lybeck Harper Larson from Rich & Carol Lybeck Wade Christianson from Mike & Sherry Boehmer Gerald Johnson, Jr. from Dennis & Jean Aardahl, Jerry & Daria Miller

Radio Fund

In MEMORY of Yvonne Knutson from Robert Dahl, Frank & Deloris Johan-son, Cathy Wolfe & Eugene Serumgard, John Sletteland Terry Spidahl from John Slet-teland Merle C. & Cora Horner from Myrna Unger Steven Webster from John Sletteland Ruth Swanson from Frank & Deloris Johanson

Norway Cemetery Fund

In MEMORY of

Leland & Millie Oleson from Myrna Unger

Altar Guild Fund

In MEMORY of Livonia Crane from Doug & Ronnie Anderson

Tablets Fund Replacements for activity bags

In MEMORY of LaRissa Unger from Myrna Unger

Memorials

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Red Willow Bible Camp to hold annual quilt auction

Sunday, August 30

Red Willow Bible Camp Quilt Auction Schedule: 10:00 a.m. View auction items 11:00 a.m. Picnic Lunch 12:15 p.m. Silent Auction closes in RC 1:00 p.m. Live Auction in Chapel 2:30 p.m. Raffle Drawing 3:00 p.m. Chapel Silent Auction closes

Quilts may be viewed on August 27 & 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

If you wish to donate a quilt, please call Loretta Bloomquist at 665-3170 or drop off at St. Olaf. Donation forms and silent bidding forms are availa-ble on the RWBC website: https://www.redwillowbiblecamp.org/quilt-auction/

Loretta Bloomquist made the strip quilt above from fabric strips do-nated to the St Olaf quilters.

St. Olaf offers electronic giving

Electronic giving allows you to make donations on a scheduled, auto-matic basis. If you are writing checks and pre-paring envelopes every week, you will especial-ly appreciate electronic giving.

How to get started To set up electronic do-nations, simply com-plete the authorization form available in the Centennial Room or call the office and Darci will send you one. Donations can be debit-ed automatically from either a checking or savings account.

General Fund: Operating expenses such as electricity, gas, telephone, internet, office supplies & equipment, cleaning supplies, worship supplies, weekly bulletins, monthly newsletter, wages, insurance Building Fund: stained glass windows, park-ing lot, roofs, all building related expenses Designated Funds: • 7th Grade Bible Camp Fund: for 7th grad-

ers attending 1 week of Red Willow Bible Camp. It is a part of our Faith Formation.

• Altar Guild Fund: Flowers, wine, wafers

and cups and miscellaneous needs of the altar area

• Bible Fund: WELCA and this fund help

provide 3rd graders and 7th graders with Bibles

• Child in Our Hands Fund: Plastic boxes,

candles, certificates and quilts for baptism • College Scholarship Fund: proceeds from

this fund are given to an ELCA college (that matches it) to help an enrolled St. Olaf member

• Contingency Fund: for any large contin-

gencies that may come up: an appliance, furnace or other issue

• Faith & Care Fund: expenses for funeral &

other lunches, some kitchen supplies • Library Fund: any expenses related to

maintaining and improving our library

• Music Fund: music and equipment related • Norway Cemetery Fund: for maintenance

of the cemetery • Organ Fund: for repairs or replacing of the

organ • Radio/Live streaming Fund: weekly radio

broadcast and the live streaming of the worship service on Facebook

• Retreat Center Fund: for the needs at the

Retreat Center • Seminary Scholarship Fund: to help an

individual attend seminary • Sunday School Fund: for items needed in

the classrooms or building • Youth Scholarships Fund: to help youth

attend St. Olaf activities, trips or camps

Donations and memorials are greatly appreciated and help keep St. Olaf

alive and well!

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Funds and their function at St. Olaf

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 9:30 Worship Service In the

sanctuary & Livestreamed on Facebook. Also available on KDLR 1240 AM/ 99.7 FM

Radio

3

4

-10:30 Pool Party

5

-10:30 Staff Meet-ing

6

7

8

9 9:30 Worship Service In the

sanctuary & Livestreamed on Facebook. Also available on KDLR 1240 AM/ 99.7 FM

Radio

10

-5:30 Youth & Family Ministry Meeting

11

-Noon Church Council Meeting—Zoom

12 -10:30 Staff Meet-ing

13

14

15

16 -9:30 Worship Service -2:00 Mentors Zoom Meeting

17

18

19 -10:30 Staff Meet-ing

20

21

-4:00 Spire Dead-line

22

23 -9:30 Worship Service

-2:00 1st Com-munion Mtg.

-7:00 Amazing Race

24

25

26 -10:30 Staff Meet-ing

27 28 29

30 9:30 Worship Service In the sanctuary & Livestreamed on Facebook. Also available on KDLR 1240 AM/ 99.7 FM

31

NO ACTIVITIES DUE TO THE NATION-WIDE VIRUS RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Sunday Worship Service has resumed in the sanctuary and is also available on KDLR radio

1240AM/99.7FM and live on Facebook

Synod Assembly via Zoom

2020