A Surprise Conference

I was on vacation August 27-September 3, and planned on having a quiet staycation at home. On August 23, I saw on Social Media that Dr. Syeed had come out of retirement and was elected to be the new president of the Islamic Society of North America. He had just retired at the end of 2017 from his job in Washington DC. I knew ISNA was having their Annual Conference down in Houston Texas over Labor weekend so I checked to see if I still could go to show my support to Dr. Syeed who came to Redwood Falls about two years ago. 

All the hotel rooms were booked solid. They were expecting a record number 20,000 people to attend this event. I sent a congratulatory note to Dr. Syeed and told him I tried to come but there were not rooms left.

Two days before the conference started I received a note from Dr. Syeed saying if I still wanted to come, ISNA would waive the conference fees for me and they found a room for me. So I made plane reservations and flew down to Texas.

I was told I would be staying at the Marriot Marquis and my room would be $115.00 a night. When I walked into my hotel room I found I was staying in a $2,000 a night suite for my quoted price. It was amazing. I had four large rooms to myself. All the outdoor walls were glass so I had a remote control to control the shades in the bathroom. I have never stayed in such a luxurious room. 

The conference allowed me to catch up with folks I have met at the last two annual conferences and the Interfaith forum I intended in Washington DC. I am treated with such kindness and respect at these events. 

I have always had in my heart to help the underdog. When a bully pushed my daughter down every day on the playground I went straight to the principal to make sure it stopped. When an exchange student in seminary was being picked on by a professor I confronted the professor. When a church member felt they were being treated unfairly at work I went and talked to their employer at work and without  using the church member’s name  I stood up their boss. As American Muslims are the most hated people in our society right now, I feel compelled to stand up  for them. There is so much hatred, ignorance, racism, and fear in this country towards people that are different than ourselves. I feel it in my heart of hearts to stand up for people until they have the same rights and privileges that we all have. We all need to be treated with love, respect and dignity. This is a core value for me. I don’t help Muslim people because I am crazy or I had a concussion. I help Muslim people because they are created and loved by God. 

Whenever you get to know someone of a different culture, race or religion you grow as a person, your world view expands. If you haven’t yet, challenge yourself to meet and befriend someone totally different than you. There is a wonderful line in the movie Mame, ” Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.” 

May God bless you and all the new encounters you have!

Pastor Scott Prouty

Being Generous with Our Stories

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia…” Act 22:1-30

Dave and I sat in the exam room, each holding a two-week-old baby. My face was wet from crying and we each looked like people in desperate need of a good night’s sleep. But still, we were laughing as little August and Corinne’s doctor expounded on the difficulties he and his wife had had when their children were babies. We left the doctor’s office with a referral for me to see a therapist for treatment of my postpartum depression, the knowledge that our babies were healthy, and (perhaps most importantly) the assurance that we were not the only people in the history of the planet who had ever had trouble adjusting to life with a new baby. By sharing the story of his struggles with new parenthood our doctor had helped us to feel less alone in our struggles and had given us hope that better parenting days lay ahead of us.

When we think about generosity we don’t usually think of “our stories” as something that we can offer up in service to the Lord. God wants to use every aspect of our life however to accomplish His purposes. As we entrust them to Him this will include our backgrounds, experiences, struggles, triumphs, fears, and hopes: our stories.

There were many passionate believers in the early Church but God was especially able to use one believer, with a remarkable background, to spread the Good News; Paul. One of the main reasons that Paul’s testimony about Jesus was so powerful was because of Paul’s story, and it is a story he told often. He had been known for fiercely persecuting believers until, of course, his conversion to the Jesus Way on the road to Damascus. Throughout his ministry Paul used his story to help build up the kingdom of God. He often reminded people that he had previously been an enemy of the Church so that the power and grace of Jesus Christ could shine all the brighter through his life.

Paul wasn’t the only apostle who blessed generations of Christians by sharing his story, even when the details made him look bad. Simon Peter also shared his story to build up the church. He did not keep secret what must have been the most regrettable night of his life, the night he denied even knowing Jesus three times. Because Peter didn’t bury his failures, but talked openly of them, we are all able to be comforted, encouraged, and emboldened by reading about the grace that Jesus shows Peter after His resurrection.

If Paul, Peter, or any other of the story-sharing disciples of Christ, would have chosen to keep the details of their past and present circumstances and choices private our scriptures would be anemic, and the Church probably would not have grown as powerfully as it has. You and I also can build up the Kingdom of God by sharing our stories. This does not mean that we need to broadcast every detail of our lives, regrettable and otherwise, everywhere we go. It does mean though staying open to sharing our stories as the Spirit prompts us.

Dave now sees new moms on a regular basis. Some of them struggle with postpartum depression. I have given Dave permission to share any detail of my story he feels would help a struggling new mom. He often does this, and just hearing that another woman has felt the same way is sometimes enough to lighten the overwhelmed mom’s heart or convince her to seek treatment for depression.

As we live into the belief that God can move mountains let us all trustingly lend our stories to the work of mountain moving. 

Dear Loving Lord, I entrust You with every detail of my life. Please open my eyes to where I may build up Your Kingdom by sharing my story. Amen.

Now Go and Do: Is there any aspect of your story that you have been afraid to share with others? Who do you know that might benefit from knowing that part of your story? Consider sharing your story with that person.

Love, Your Generosity Project Team (Adrienne Danielson, Deb Hess, Shari Fuhr and Marlys Mathiowetz)

It is a Celebration!

2018 marks 15 years for The Piecemakers!

We had our first meeting on May 21, 2003, and have spent the last 15 years cutting, pinning, tying and sewing. We have shared coffee/treats and stories while putting together quilts for many different occasions. We have had the privilege to make quits many of you have purchased for yourselves or loved ones. We are also humbled to have made many quilts for those sick, hospitalized or just in need of something warm to snuggle.

In honor of 15 wonderful years we are going to raffle a quilt! Chances ($1) will be available to purchase starting March 25. You can purchase them from Char, Marlys or Tina in the office. The quilt will be on display in the Narthex until May 20!

Thank you to all those who have helped us along the way both in your talents! We wouldn’t have had so much fun over the past years without each of you!

The First 150 Years (1867-2017)

We are celebrating our 150th Anniversary all year round but our actual anniversary date is being celebrated on March 26, 10:15 am. Come join us as we are greeted by the Transitional Executive Presbyter of Minnesota Valleys Presbytery, the Rev. Rick Carus of Willmar, the Synod Executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Ruling Elder Elona Street Stewart of Eagan and the Stated Clerk of General Assembly, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson of Louisville, Kentucky.
Our Parish Associate, the Rev. Pamela Prouty, who is both the Stated Clerk of Minnesota Valleys Presbytery and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, our Seminary Student Intern Amy Levinski, our Clerk of Session, Ruling Elder Adrienne Danielson, and Ruling Elder Deb Hess, who is Moderator of Minnesota Valleys Presbytery and I will all be leading morning worship.

We will start worship by having the children, choir and worship leaders proceed into the Sanctuary, the children will sing the introit. The Chancel Choir will be singing later in the service. We will honor those that have been members of our church for fifty years or longer. The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson will give the morning message. He is known to be one of the best preachers in our denomination. Following worship we will take a group photo in the sanctuary. Following the picture, we will have a catered roast beef dinner by Baune’s Cafe at 12:15 pm. The dinner is being paid for funds given by a church member for the anniversary celebration. Please sign up for the meal by March 20, so we have enough food on hand. Following the meal we will have a cake reception from 1:30-3:30 pm, for the public. If able please stay around to have fellowship and greet visitors.

In Christ’s love, Pastor Scott Prouty