The arms of Jesus - Lutherans Online

NORTH IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
PELICAN RAPIDS, MN 56572
AUGUST 2012
Pastor Curtis Tilleraas (218) 863-5447 (O)
508 37 th Avenue South (218) 284-1992 (C)
Moorhead, MN 56560
Email: tilleraascurt@yahoo.com
Parish Secretary, Kara Tollerud
43303 County Hwy 21, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 (218) 731-2672
Email: nilchurch@yahoo.com
Council President David Aas (218) 863-5455
45159 138 th Ave, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572
Council Vice President Tom Axness (218) 863-4395
42607 120 th Ave, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572
Council Secretary Jane Knorr (218) 863-7666
12790 County Hwy 30, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572
Email: bjknorr@loretel.net
Squares President Lee Follingstad (218) 354-2367
406 11 th St NE, Barnesville, MN 56514
Organist: Needed
Custodian: Stephen Ostroot (701) 367-4587
1501 College Way Apt. 208, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Treasurer: Lyn Smischny (218) 863-1306
16139 410 th St, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572
MISSION STATEMENT
As members of North Immanuel Lutheran Church and in recognition of the gift
of grace we have received through Jesus Christ, our Mission is:
-To develop a personal and spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ, our
Lord,
-To provide an environment for the continuing education and further
teachings of all the ages,
-To reach out to welcome all to grow with us in faith through worship
and serving others in our community and throughout the world.

Dear Friends in Christ,
August 2012
As I write this letter I am aware of feeling that summer is almost
at an end. Of course it isn’t, but we are over half way through it,
and back to school sales are already appearing here and there. And
although summer isn’t my absolutely favorite season I never want
it to end quickly, and it always seems to end quickly. At times like
this I am aware of my need to live in the moment, or to live “one
day at a time.” I need to live for all that each day has to offer, and
not let the gift of daily life slip through my hands.
Are you ever guilty, too, of letting the gift of daily life slip
through your fingers, as you live in fear or anticipation of the
future, as you contemplate leaving your home of many years and
moving into an apartment, assisted living or a retirement/nursing
home? Perhaps you are still in school and you feel like you’ve
done enough already and you just want to be done with it and get
on with your life?
I suppose there are thousands of ways that people have of
letting the gift of daily life escape them, so we all need to be
reminded every once in awhile that the gateway to another day is
today. This is the ‘day of salvation’, as the Bible teaches. This is
the day that the Lord has made, as the old hymn declares. Today
you will see people who are in need of your prayers, and they may
not even know it. Today you will remember people from your past,
and they are in need of your prayers, today, too, even if they don’t
know it. Today, you may be in need of prayers and if somebody is
going to pray for you you want them to pray for you today, and not
ten years from now. We may think that tomorrow represents a
better time for us, but when tomorrow comes we will find
ourselves with as many challenges and needs as we have today.
The other day, as I was driving home from North Immanuel, I
saw a bunch of cows hanging out in a small lake. It was very hot
out, but with their legs in the water those old cows were feeling
well taken care of – or so it seems to me.
I hope that you will take the time to celebrate the gift of daily
life, one day at a time, from now until the end of summer – and

eyond. Like the cows, I pray that you will take the time to step
out of your routine and seek the cooling and healing waters of
God’s love, His grace, and His Word.
This is the day of your salvation. This is a day that the Lord has
made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Curt

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be held for ages 3 years
through 6 th grade; Monday, August 6 th through Wednesday,
August 8 th from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Each evening will begin with a light supper. We will
present a small program Sunday, August 12, during the worship
service.
Please sign up your child/children and return to Dawn
Shulstad’s mailbox. If you would like to help with VBS—please
call 612-916-0401 and leave a message.
Name Age Food Allergies
North Immanuel’s Cradle Roll Ladies Aid meeting will be held on
Saturday, August 18 th at 9:30 a.m.
Please join us in welcoming our young children into Cradle
Roll and those graduating out of Cradle Roll.
The following children will be enrolled into Cradle Roll:
Keegan Alexander Jones
Leo David Hanville
Carter David Askegaard
Hadley Elizabeth Phillips
Colten Leon Dunham
Those graduating will be
Abigail Marie Dunham
Kaylie Mae Ross
Brody Dean Ross
Jonah Allan Follingstad
Brocke Ryan Dunham

Are you missing any cake pans, cookie sheets, Tupperware, coffee
mugs? North Immanuel’s kitchen shelves have a number that need
to be picked up. Any left after July 29 th will be given to “Pass It
On” or will become property of North Immanuel kitchen.
~Kitchen Cleaning Crew~
North Immanuel's Kitchen & Dining room is getting a Makeover
and needs your help! When? Saturday Aug 4 th ; Time? Starting at
8:00 a.m. Bring a Paint Brush, Roller and a Dish to Share. Paint
will be supplied! Don't like to Paint, but want to
help? We have something for you too. RSVP to Eileen Osborne or
Sandie Strandlien.
Here’s a List of Job Duties for August 4 th :
● Painters ● Mirrors
● Dusters-Cob Webs ● Carpenters
● Window Sills-From 3 rd Floor Down ● Furniture Movers
● Windows-Especially Main Floor ● Elevator Room-Clean &
Organize
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Outdoor Worship
9:30 am
Traditional Gospel and Bluegrass Music
will be provided by
"The Prairie Doves"
Nita Velo
Renee Fuchs
Laura Hagen
Burger and Brat
Lunch following services
Invite your friends, relatives and neighbors

Pastor Curt will be on vacation from August 23 rd -September 1 st ,
2012.
May the good Lord bless the memory of those dear saints who died
in August (in the years 1948-2011), and thereby were translated
from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant. Thanks be to
God.
Eddie Holt 8/1/1982
Carrie Jacobson 8/2/1950
Ferdinand Ishaug 8/6/1991
Mrs. Edwin Elton 8/6/1953
Alma Christine Osten 8/7/2008
Mrs. Ole (Mary) Osten 8/7/1982
Harry Strandlien 8/8/2002
Mrs. Mathilda Hanson 8/8/1978
Anton Johnson 8/13/1972
Theodore Vigenstad 8/17/1953
Byron A. Sillerud 8/18/1970
Mrs. Ole (Bertina) Julsrud 8/21/1971
Clayton Jerome Ishaug 8/27/2008
Melvin A. Haugtvedt 8/27/1977
Mrs. Lars (Olga) Ranum 8/27/1973
Mrs. Ole Resset 8/27/1952
Herman Dunham 8/28/2011
Russel S. Skunberg 8/29/1968
Walter Stephenson 8/31/1994

A Hopping Sight
As I was outside the afternoon of June 28, 2012, I noticed two
rabbits behind my trailer. One of them was sitting in a certain
spot. I wondered what it was up to, and after they hopped away, I
went to investigate.
What did I find? There in a hole in the ground and covered with
fur and grass was a nest of baby bunnies. I looked at and held at
least one of the baby rabbits every day. On July 1 st , I took out my
camera and counted the bunnies. There were seven baby bunnies
nestled in the hole.
When they
were born,
these innocent
lives didn’t
have their eyes
open. Because
I monitored
my new found
friends every
day, I noticed
that their eyes
were open on
July 5 th when
they were seven days
old.
On July 9 th , I couldn’t
find the bunnies in their
hole, but after carefully
looking I found them
hiding in the grass just
outside their hole. I
picked them up and
could only find six.
When I put them back in
their nest, one of them hopped away. Sadly, I discovered my

unnies were gone the next day. “He [God] sets the time for finding and
the time for losing, the time for saving and the time for throwing away.”
Ecclesiastes 3:6 TEV
Imagine what the bunnies must have felt like after a week of being
holed up in the ground with no light. At least, they couldn’t see
because of their eye condition. When they opened their eyes, there
was a whole new world for them to explore.
At times, it can appear like we’re stumbling around in the dark.
But, once we have the light of Christ to illumine our way, our
world also changes. We see things with a new perspective.
What would have happened if the bunnies had tried to leave their
nest before their eyes were opened? Chances are they may have
gotten lost or even worse succumbed to their enemies.
If you set out to do a task, would you rush into it right away or
would you wait until you had the right tools or equipment?
Sometimes, we’re so eager to see the final product, that we may
forget important details. Thankfully, God is watching over us and
takes care of the things we may have missed. If you trust God, you
will be prepared for whatever battle may come your way.
When you’re putting a puzzle together, you discover that some
pieces are missing. You do not have the complete picture. It’s
hard to be complete when there’s something missing. The bunnies
were missing their sense of vision. When they found it, they were
made whole.
Likewise, if we are lacking in an area of life, we may not feel
complete. Pray to God that He will strengthen you in your
weaknesses. By being strong in your faith and keeping Jesus at the
center of your life, you will experience spiritual wholeness.
Keep your eyes of faith open to Jesus. May your sight help others
see the “Light of the World”.
© July 20, 2012 by Kara Tollerud

To tell the truth
To prepare for a sermon on honesty, a pastor asked church
members to read Joshua 25. The next week, he asked, “How many
of you read it?” Half the hands in the church went up.
“Great,” the pastor said. “You’re the ones I want to talk
to…because Joshua has only 24 chapters.”
—From The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, Charles Swindoll
The arms of Jesus
A teacher took her class of 7-year-olds to visit residents of an
Alzheimer’s care center. One boy spied an elderly woman sitting
alone on a bed, slipped into her room and gave her a hug. She —
and many who saw the interaction — shed tears.
The boy scurried back to his group, apologizing for making the
woman cry. “She just looked like she needed a hug,” he said
meekly.
To the boy’s surprise, the teacher commended him: “Your arms
were the arms of Jesus to her.”
Scripture tells of Jesus taking children in his arms (Mark 10:13-16).
This child became Jesus to someone in her “second childhood,”
taking her in his arms and blessing her.
—Based on “She Needed a Hug,” Chicken Soup for the Soul:
Devotional Stories Sampler
(Simon & Schuster eBook, 2011)

Birthdays are a good time to reflect on the blessings that you have
been given by God. Here are our members who have birthdays in
August, so we can help each other celebrate.
Jeffrey Holt 08/02
Marilyn Stephenson 08/02
Lori Frederickson 08/02
Carter Askegaard 08/04
Cha’Von Kugler 08/05
Aneta Dillerud 08/05
Kevin Holt 08/07
Joseph Anderson 08/09
Mavis Ness 08/10
Janice Johnson 08/12
Laurie Jo Johnson 08/12
Cody Nord 08/12
Tracy Ross 08/16
Jeremy Lynnes 08/18
Chris Menk 08/18
Christa Johnson 08/19
Katlyn Johnson 08/19
Donna Johnson 08/20
Jason Ross Jr. 08/23
Keegan Jones 08/24
Melissa Flerschinger 08/25
Lois Ishaug 08/28
Abby Ganyo 08/28
Sandy Brummer 08/29
This list is not yet complete. If you have a birthday in August and
your name is not here, or if the date we have is incorrect, please
call it to Kara so we can update our records. May your birthday be
a blessed one!
CEMETERY BOARD OFFICERS
Chairman—Arnie Ness (218) 493-4308
Treasurer—Aneta Dillerud (218) 863-4392
Secretary—Eileen Osborne (218) 863-7913

NORTH IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
PO BOX 438
PELICAN RAPIDS, MN 56572-0438
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
SHARING
THE NEWS
WITH…
PRSTD STND
NON-PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE PAID
PELICAN RAPIDS, MN
PERMIT 74