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SALEM CONNECTION

November 2020

Salem Lutheran Church 21276 Archibald Road PO Box 100 Deerwood MN 56444 Pastor: Mike Briggs Phone: 218-534-3309 Email: office@salemdwd.org Website: www.salemdwd.org

From Pastor Mike

“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being

with power through his Spirt, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted

and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the

breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you

may be filled with all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:16-19

Some religious traditions distinguish between saints, who obey God’s will, and sinners who disobey. Others set

apart saints as super holy people. Regular Christians like you and me aren’t particularly bad, they would say,

but we haven’t done anything extraordinary enough to be called saints.

For Luther being a saint isn’t about what someone did or didn’t do. It is about what God has done for him/her.

Christians, he said, are “simultaneously saint and sinner.” A “saint” is simply a forgiven sinner. We are called

saints not because we change into something different (we don’t), but because our relationship with God has

changed as a result of God’s grace.

How does that work? We admit in the meaning of the 3rd article of the Apostles Creed that we cannot make

ourselves into Christians. BUT, the Holy Spirit can and does make us into believers. A saint is simply a sinner

whom the Spirit has made into a believer. And that changes everything about our relationship with God. As a

forgiven sinner I no longer worry that God is against me. Because I know God has pardoned me, I am free to

turn the attention from myself to my neighbor – serving them, loving them, telling them the good news of God’s

love for them. Being forgiven changes everything.

On November 1st we remember and celebrate the lives and contributions of all those sinner/saints who have

gone before us. Especially we remember the lives and witness of the saints from Salem who have died in the

past year:

Renea McCall Gregory McBroom

George Pettersen Marian Erickson

Ronald Kretlow Clarice Lueck

Henry Hutchison Douglas Christensen

Many other Salem members have said “Good-bye” to loved ones in the past year. As we grieve and remember

with them, we also thank God for giving them to us to know and love in their time here. They each showed us

Jesus in some unique way. They each were the voice of the Holy Spirit whispering faith into our ears. Thank

God for them!

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On November 1st we also celebrate the lives of all the saints still among us. Especially we remember those

new saints who have been baptized into the family of God this past year:

Brynn Allison Herberg Joseph C. Zontelli

Faith Marie Fageroos Hunter Faith Johnson

Charlotte Jean Cekalla

Thank God for each of the saints in Salem’s community of faith. Thank God for the gifts and talents each has

been given as we follow Jesus in our time and place.

- Pastor Mike

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION will be on Sunday, December 6th at 10:00 a.m. Agenda

items include, but are not limited to, adoption of a 2021 budget and election of Salem council and committee

members and representatives. Please plan to attend as we make decisions about the direction of Salem’s

ministry in 2021.

THE 2021 BUDGET MEETING will be on Sunday, November 22nd at 10:00 a.m. Copies of the 2021 proposed

budget will be available for the consideration of, and questions from, congregation members. All are invited.

CHURCH RECORD UPDATE

Baptisms

Charlotte Jean Cekalla, daughter of Nick & Greta (Steever) Cekalla

Sponsors: Brittany Rasmussen and Henry Steever

Baptized: October 4, 2020

Affirmations of Baptism on October 11, 2020

Emmet Deseth

Hunter Johnson

PRAYER CONCERNS Lavonn Reeves, Justin Fort, Teppi Bundy, Steve Holmvig, Don Thulin,

Cookie & Terry Knopik, Joyce Benike, Mary Jo Berven, Becky Guimont, Jeff & Heidi Mitchell,

Bonnie & Mark Recucki, Larry Holst, Marlys Keefe, Arlene Welnicke, Jill & Shannon Martinson,

Erika Martinson, Tina Royer, Kris Schmidt, Nikki Huber, Elaine Dahlquist, Kathy Comstock.

If you have names that you would like added to, or removed from, the prayer concerns, please email

office@salemdwd.org or pastor@salemdwd.org

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PRAYERS OF CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY for Marilyn Holmvig, and all family and friends of Steve

Holmvig. Steve died Oct. 21st. Visitation will be at Koop Funeral Home on October 29th from 4 p.m. to

7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held October 30th at 11:00 a.m. here at Salem with lunch following at

the Legion in Deerwood. Please keep Marilyn and the family in your prayers.

LIL’ FREE PANTRY at Salem!

The Lil’ Free Pantry will be stocked with free food items for anyone who wants or needs

it. Any non-perishable and non-expired donations are appreciated and can be left within

the pantry, so take what you need and if you have a little something extra, you can donate

for someone else. The Lil’ Free Pantry will be located outside the youth door

entrance of the church. Donations can also be dropped off at church and left in the

youth room. Salem youth will be managing this project. Please contact Alex Schmidt at

gingflow15@gmail.com or text at 218-851-1569 if you are interested.

From the Salem Library: We have missed displaying books, changing bulletin boards, and writing news

articles for you. Now that the church is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to noon and 12:30 to

4:00 PM, we want to welcome you back to the Salem Library to check out items.

1. Remember that masks are required in the church building.

2. Please use hand sanitizer before handling books or any library materials.

3. Please write your first and last names on the checkout cards and place them in the front of the gold box.

4. When returning items, please place them in the blue return basket. This is important so that we can

put them in a cabinet for the prescribed quarantine period before returning them to shelves for others to

check out.

Our Salem Library has been blessed to receive money from family and friends of a Library Team member to

purchase some new books. We would welcome your requests and suggestions. There will be a box and paper

for your requests on the desk in the library.

1 John 3:1-10

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we

should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason

why the world does not know us is that it did not know

him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know

that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone

who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also

practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins,

and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning

has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices

righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for

the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy

the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's[b] seed abides in

him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are

the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is

not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

3 Wayne Brezina; Nathan Pelant

5 Herbert Schoon; Becky Zender

6 Elaine Greene

8 Lois Hicks

10 Joel Hartman; Laurie Venter

13 Ryley Bartels; Charlotte Hausker;

Shirley Ross

14 Helen Ryan

15 Tamara Kimball

19 Owen Deseth; Avery Lonergan

22 Noreen Steinbrecher; Tyler Wynn

24 Archie Olson; Kyle Skeim

27 Arlys Wanstrom

29 Leah Barnett

30 Anjoleena Blood; Shirley Goodwin

SEPTEMBER WEDDING

ANNIVERSARIES

19 Dick & Garnette Bordwell (1977) John & Margo Wojciak (1966) 20 Cory & Jacqueline Brix (2008) 23 Tim & Nancy Herberg (1970) 24 Greg & Shelly Skeim (1984) 27 Ken & Kathy Schultz (1999) 28 Tony & Tammy Kimball (1987)

Congratulations everyone!!!

Keep Up with Regular Offerings

By Giving Electronically

Just as you rely upon receiving income on a regular

basis, Salem Lutheran Church relies on your regular

contributions. Salem appreciates the efforts of

congregation members to make consistent donations

throughout the year – especially during this time when

the church is closed to worship and other activities. To

assist you, the church provides a convenient electronic

giving option for setting up regular contributions.

As you contemplate future contributions, please

consider electronic giving. Authorization forms and

additional information are available. Contact Salem’s

Financial Manager Ruth Blum by calling the church

office, 218-534-3309. Ruth’s office hours are Mondays

and Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ruth’s email:

finance@salemdwd.org

SALEM’S WORSHIP IS LIVE-STREAMED ON FACEBOOK every Sunday. You can access it on Salem’s website, www.salemdwd.org and on YouTube beginning every Monday after service. Weekly readings, announcements and sermons are mailed weekly to those without internet access. SALEM’S In-Person WORSHIP

We are now having in-person

worship each Sunday!!!!

We are following state, and

federal guidelines on social

distancing.

If you are feeling ill, or have

been exposed recently to

Covid-19, do not attend.

Please use sanitizer before

signing in.

Masks are required at all times,

covering nose and mouth.

Masks are also required for

children ages 5 and us.

(encouraged for ages 2 and

up.)

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The Nitty Gritty Sabbath Keepers are looking for additional volunteers to carry us into fall and whatever is ahead. Please call Pastor Mike or Kevin Edstrom if you would like to serve.

THE MEN’S BIBLE STUDY is meeting online by Zoom at 8:00 a.m. on Fridays. They’re studying the

weekly lectionary readings. All are welcome. Call/text (715-410-5404) or email (pastor@salemdwd.org)

Pastor Mike to receive a Zoom invitation.

Salem’s Call Committee for an Associate Pastor is assembled and beginning their work. They will review

Salem’s Ministry Site Profile and do practice interviews. Currently there are few, if any, candidates available,

but when candidates arise, they will quickly proceed with interviews. The Call Committee voting members are:

Whitney (Cragun) Fisher, Chuck Lubowitz, Ron Ogard, Jeff Mitchell, Don Hales, and Meriellen Pisarek. Pastor

Mike will serve on the committee as a non-voting member. Please keep the Call Committee, potential

candidates, and Salem’s ministries in your prayers.

SALEM LED SIGN UPDATE: We are excited to let everyone know that our Salem LED Sign (message

board) is now on the schedule to be built. Down payment has been sent to Albrecht Sign Company and is on

their schedule to be built and installed. Hopefully we will have it installed before Christmas. Electrical work

going out to the LED sign location will be completed soon, so that we can beat the frozen ground. A big

“THANK YOU” to all of you.

Church School will be a little different this year for preschool through 6th grade. It will be a lot like our

Virtual Vacation Bible School 2020. We received positive feedback that the VBS BOLT program was a good

experience and so we are working with the same company to buy a virtual Church School program that we can

send to your home each week for Church School “at home” or “wherever you may be.” This will be available to

all members and families that participate in Salem’s programs, VBS, and Kids Club. E-mails will be going out

to families the beginning of November to check of the interest level. The added benefit of this program is that

we would be able to continue using the materials when the children are gathering at Salem again for Church

School.

When we are able to resume Church School in church, we will need volunteers to teach our children. This

is a wonderful opportunity to share your faith and make a difference in the lives of children in our congregation

and community. Think about the people in your life who taught and mentored you on your faith journey.

Sharing your time and talents with children is an excellent way to “pay it forward”. Parents, grandparents,

adults, and teens are encouraged to step forward and consider Luke 18:16-17- {But Jesus called the children to

him and said; “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to

such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never

enter it.”} Please call the church office or talk to any member of the Faith Formation Team – Mark Carlson,

Raye Cragun, Lynn Hansen, Marlene Prill or Kris Schmidt about helping. You may share a position, be part of

a rotation, or offer to be a substitute if you can't commit to every Sunday.

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The annual “Taste of Christmas” will take place November 18th -21st with some

changes do to COVID-19.

Here are the changes:

•Individuals will NOT be able to prepare food items in their homes.

• Sheri Godfrey, Kathi Sharp and Carol Malek are certified as “Serv-Safe” by the

State. They will need to oversee the production of all items.

• Food items will be made in two locations Sheri’s kitchen and Salem’s kitchen.

•Volunteers who wish to assist will be able to do so by calling Kathi and

signing up for a time slot.

Nov. 3rd, 5th, 10th or 12th. 9am - 1pm.

Nov. 12th second shift from 1pm - 5pm.

• Sheri will be taking orders and preparing them. You will need to call her and

place your order. She will the inform of the cost.

• If you wish, they will consider making special items, please give that to them by

November 1st.

• All ingredients are being purchased by Kathi and reimbursed by Outreach.

• If you are able and willing, we would appreciate donations to help offset the cost

of the ingredients. If you would like to help, please drop a cash or check donation

off at Salem, The Mustard Seed or Salem WEST.

• Phone numbers: Sheri, 218.534.3557 & 218.232.0266 Kathi, 218.839.5952

We so much appreciate all of your help and hope that you understand why we need

to make these changes this year. Hopefully next year we can go back to how we

have done in the past.

Don Hales

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Salem Outreach Committee

September 16,2020

Present were Don Hales, Noreen Steinbrecher, Sandy Kretlow, Chuck Lubowitz, Cathy Aykens, Terry Tichenor, and Kim

Coughlin. Joyce Kohnen was absent.

MSC: Motion, Seconded, and Carried

Don Hales opened with devotions and Pastor Mike with prayer.

The minutes from August 26 was approved. MSC

Financials: The Foundations have improved since the start of COVID 19. Don wrote two grants: one for $10,000.00 from

Crow Wing County COVID 19 assistance and a Hallett Grant for $20,000.00. We will know about Crow Wing county grant

by the end of the month.

Script for the month was $32.09.

Mustard Seed:

Sales are great. Volunteers are doing great at the store. Taste of Christmas is still on for November. We looking into

baking the cookies and breads at the church, since we have 3 certified people that could oversee the kitchen.

Salem West:

We discussed building a mezzanine in building 3. A motion was made to build the mezzanine (8’ X 60’) not to exceed

$2000.00. MSC

Announcements:

Motion was made to accept DeeDee’s resignation as manager for SW and to promote Tanya to manager at SW. MSC

Discussed wages for Tanya and Jake (MS). Motion was made to increase their wages. MSC

Next meeting will be October 21,2020 at 1:00 pm.

Closed with prayer.

Submitted from Sandy Kretlow, Secretary.

“Faith over Fear”

One of our faithful and loyal customers, who shops every week at the Mustard Seed wears a face mask with this

simple phase, “Faith over Fear”.

When I think about 2020 these three simple words sums it all up. It is so easy in this world to place fear over

faith. Every time we turn on the news, pick up a newspaper or look at social media, all we hear or read is all

about fear, never anything about faith. So, I believe we should use our minds, be cautious, be smart, and make

the decisions that you feel are right for you and your family. Most of all, make these decisions with Faith over

Fear and not Fear over Faith.

Here is some information and news from Outreach:

Salem WEST is looking awesome, very orderly, organized and clean. This last month has seen more changes

with Dee Dee’s departure we have promoted Tanya Smith to the manager position at WEST. If you have not

had a opportunity to meet her please stop by and say hello. As it always seems, we are in great need of kitchen

and living room furniture, please give Tanya a call if you can help.

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Quilting: The ladies are back at work making new and beautiful quilts. They meet every Tuesday, so if you

would like to help just stop by the fellowship hall.

Movie Night will resume sometime in the future, will let you know when this fellowship can restart.

Mustard Seed has now been open 25 weeks since the forced shutdown. The safety plan that Jacob, Bev and

Julie put together has worked very well. As far as I know no one has contacted the virus from being at the store.

Volunteers are returning to help as they feel comfortable doing so. As you have probably heard, the store is now

open Wednesday through Saturday.

I can’t believe that I am saying this but we are preparing for “Taste of Christmas” which will be held November

18th -21st (Wednesday through Saturday). All food items will be produced in the church kitchen with oversight

from Sheri, Kathy and Carol. Nothing can be made by people in their homes. If you would like to volunteer to

help cook please call Kathi Sharp at 218. 839.5952 or to make a cash donation for ingredients please call Jacob

at the Mustard Seed 218.534.2945. Another option is to call Sheri and order from her at 218.534.3557 or

218.232.0266.

Christmas parties for Teen Challenge and Crow Wing County Jail will go on but will be a little different

because of COVID-19. We will only be providing the food this year as we cannot go in to these locations. We

WILL be providing gift cards to the inmates at the jail and the patients at Teen Challenge as we have in the past.

If you want to donate, we are asking you to order $10.00 gift cards for Target though the Script program.

Honduras: I really feel like we are being called back to Honduras to continue the work of building homes that

we started last year. These wonderful children of God need our help more now than ever. The country of

Honduras is now open for people to come and help. As of now I have six people who are interested in going this

coming January. If you have any interest in joining us please let me know.

Please remember;

“To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you are the world!”

Faith,

Don

SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH Special Meeting of the Congregation September 20, 2020

The purpose of the meeting was to elect three Call Committee members. The Call Committee will complete work necessary to call an Associate Pastor to Salem. The meeting was called to order by Mark Carlson. A quorum was established. Mark called for nominations from the floor. There were none. Ballots were distributed and the congregation was instructed to vote for three of the following nominated individuals: • • Whitney Cragun Fisher

• • Don Hales

• • Chuck Lubowitz

• • Rod Ogard

• • Meriellen Pisarek

• • Marlene Prill

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Voting took place. Election Results: Whitney Fisher, Chuck Lubowitz and Rod Ogard were elected. The meeting was adjourned. Submitted by, Deborah Carlson for Tracy Perpich

Artwork by Hunter Johnson

Confirmation was held on October 11th. From left to right: Emmet Deseth, Pastor Mike Briggs, Hunter Johnson

SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

Council Meeting

Thursday, Sept 24, 2020

Council Mission Statement: We exist, with God’s help, to provide leadership for the Salem Lutheran Church

Congregation

MSC = The motion was seconded and carried

Present: Mark Carlson, Jeff Mitchell, Pastor Mike Briggs, Terry Tichenor, Joel Huntley, Peggy Blistain, Jena Reed,

Tracy Perpich

The meeting was called to order by Mark.

Pastor Mike led the opening prayer.

CONGREGATIONAL INPUT

• • Kris Schmidt, representing the Safety Team, was present to explain data being used to determine the team’s

recommendations regarding church closure/reopening. The Safety Team is recommending the church remain closed

until there is a steady 3-week decline in Covid-19 cases in Minnesota. The Council asked several questions and

thanked Kris for the team’s continuing work and her presence at the meeting.

RE-OPENING OF CHURCH

• • The Council spent time discussing a possible reopening.

• • Each member was asked to vote yes or no to reopening, and each shared the basis for their vote.

• • The Council voted to reopen for in-person worship, using input from the Safety Team.

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• • There will be a Special Zoom Council Meeting on Tuesday, Sept 29 to discuss details.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

• • MOTION: to approve the minutes of the August 2020 Council meeting. MSC.

TREASURER’S REPORT

• • Treasurer Terry Tichenor highlighted items of interest including: Outreach’s dedicated account position has

improved, recovering some of the income lost during the state shutdown; Salem is behind in income compared to

2019; expenses have been holding steady; Operating funds are in good shape.

• • MOTION: to approve the August 2020 Financial Reports. MSC.

PASTOR’S REPORT

• • The City of Deerwood is planning a power outage to complete work on October 4. Other arrangements for

outdoor worship will be made.

• • The Capital Appeal will be done at the same time as the congregation complete their annual Estimate of

Giving forms.

• • The NE MN Synod has elected a new bishop, Amy Odgren.

• • Three Call Committee members have been elected: Whitney Fisher, Chuck Lubowitz, Rod Ogard. Three

additional members will be appointed by Council.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• • None were submitted.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• • LED Sign – plans are underway for the installation of the new sign. The Facilities Team is obtaining

necessary clearance from the city and contract will be signed this week to proceed.

• • Electrostatic sprayer – This will be used for sanitization of the inside of the church. The sprayer is currently

on back order.

• • Employment Policy – A draft of new policy with possible changes is now available. Discussion tabled until

the October 2020 meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

• • Resignation letter has been received from Dee Dee Frahm.

• • Compensation Working Group has met and will present a full proposal to the Council at the October

Council meeting. Member of the CWG: Cathy Aykens, Pastor Mike, Mark Carlson, Don Hales, Jeff Mitchell, Jena

Reed, Terry Tichenor

• • Portico – Pastor Mike’s insurance provision. MOTION: to approve the Gold package for 2020-2021, noting

that an Associate Pastor hired by Salem would receive the same coverage. MSC.

• • Call Committee appointments: Don Hales, Jeff Mitchell, Meriellen Pisarek

Announcements: none

The meeting was adjourned. Closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah Carlson for Tracy Perpich

If you have something you would like to add to the Salem Connection,

please contact Dawn Huffman at: 218-534-3309 or by emailing: office@salemdwd.org

All submissions for the Salem Connection are due by no later than the 20th of each month.

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SALEM STAFF

Pastor Mike Briggs pastor@salemdwd.org Administrative Assistant Dawn Huffman office@salemdwd.org Financial Manager Ruth Blum finance@salemdwd.org Facilities Coordinator Glen Helm facilities@salemdwd.org Choir Director Salem Ringers Director Kevin Edstrom Praise Team Director Becky Klingelhofer, Noreen Steinbrecher Organist/Pianist Becky Klingelhofer Director of Outreach Don Hales outreach@salemdwd.org Salem WEST Manager Dee Dee Frahm west@salemdwd.org Mustard Seed Manager Jacob Walker mustardseed@salemdwd.org Mustard Seed Asst Manager Bev Kunz COUNCIL MEMBERS

Pastor Mike Briggs 715-410-5404 Mark Carlson, president 218-851-7236 Jeff Mitchell, VP 651-260-8140 Tracy Perpich, secretary 218-838-7008 Terry Tichenor, treasurer 781-223-0258 Peggy Blistain 218-851-1208 Joel Huntley 218-546-9774 Jena Reed 218-670-0499 Paul Tesdahl 218-546-5036