Greetings, salutations, and hellos; let me introduce myself, my name is Pastor Ben Carlsen, I have been contracted by your council to serve as Interim Pastor here at First. I’m sure you’re aware, but interim is the time in between “regular” pastors. My role with you will be to serve you as your pastor, but also to walk with you as you mourn the departure of Pastor Phil and to help you prepare for welcoming your next regularly called pastor. Now, I shall begin by stating that we have come together in ministry in the midst of, as I like to say, interesting times; I am sure every one of you has been directly affected by the current pandemic in one way or another. So as we walk in ministry together we do so knowing that we won’t be doing things “the way we’ve always done them” for a while. While we are, in some ways, I think on the upswing – there is still cause for caution and vigilance. Even so, you, and many other congregations have learned on the fly to navigate this reality – and now together we will continue to be creative and adjust practices still taking safety and health into consideration. Myself, along with the council, will pray and do our best with the information we have available to provide the best ways to keep healthy and safe all those who are a part of, are impacted by, and connected to First’s ministry.
Having said that, I want to say that I look forward to getting to know you and the community of Harvey as I serve as your interim pastor. And as I learn who you are, let me shorten the time it may take you to get to know a bit about me. I grew up in the Red River Valley, in Climax, MN, graduating from Climax High School in 1990 and enrolling at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. Following college I worked in the Twin Cities area for a couple of years and enrolled at Luther Seminary in January of 1996. In August of 1998, Pia and I were married and we currently have in our house, two dogs – Syntyche (who is ours) and Paco (who we are puppy raising for Leader Dogs for the Blind), one of whom will be with me when I am staying in Harvey. We also have two cats – Tobit and Moon.
have been serving in pastoral ministry since June of 2000. From 2000-2007 I served a three point parish in Drayton, ND; from 2007- 2010 I served Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Sebeka, MN; from 2010 to 2016 I served as Associate Pastor at the Redeemer\Black River Parish of Thief River Falls, MN; from 2017 – 2019 I served First Lutheran in Bottineau; I have just concluded an interim at Peace Lutheran in Burlington, ND.
The contract council and I have entered into is for ¾ time. The month of May will be doing some experimentation to determine the best way to schedule my time in Harvey. I will be with you for every Sunday and in town 3 days a week (give or take) but which days those are, are yet to be determined. Council and I will work through the month of May to find a schedule that is positive for myself and the congregation. Related to my schedule, one of the areas I have been asked by council to pay attention to is communication between pastor, parishioners, administrative staff, and church council. I will be fleshing this out more in the time to come, but for now, know that one of the things that will be a part of this is to schedule a baptism or wedding be sure to first call the church office and connect with Karla, then connect with me (as will Karla as well, but having two people inform me of something is better than one). Having said that, my contact info is 218-640-1511 (mobile) and revben12@gmail.com. I look forward to serving with you until you have called your new pastor. One final note, if I ever email you or as you see, my sign-off is “PB;” a shortened “Pastor Ben” that a parishioner used for me many years ago, and I have taken on its use.
In Christ, PB
Having said that, I want to say that I look forward to getting to know you and the community of Harvey as I serve as your interim pastor. And as I learn who you are, let me shorten the time it may take you to get to know a bit about me. I grew up in the Red River Valley, in Climax, MN, graduating from Climax High School in 1990 and enrolling at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. Following college I worked in the Twin Cities area for a couple of years and enrolled at Luther Seminary in January of 1996. In August of 1998, Pia and I were married and we currently have in our house, two dogs – Syntyche (who is ours) and Paco (who we are puppy raising for Leader Dogs for the Blind), one of whom will be with me when I am staying in Harvey. We also have two cats – Tobit and Moon.
have been serving in pastoral ministry since June of 2000. From 2000-2007 I served a three point parish in Drayton, ND; from 2007- 2010 I served Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Sebeka, MN; from 2010 to 2016 I served as Associate Pastor at the Redeemer\Black River Parish of Thief River Falls, MN; from 2017 – 2019 I served First Lutheran in Bottineau; I have just concluded an interim at Peace Lutheran in Burlington, ND.
The contract council and I have entered into is for ¾ time. The month of May will be doing some experimentation to determine the best way to schedule my time in Harvey. I will be with you for every Sunday and in town 3 days a week (give or take) but which days those are, are yet to be determined. Council and I will work through the month of May to find a schedule that is positive for myself and the congregation. Related to my schedule, one of the areas I have been asked by council to pay attention to is communication between pastor, parishioners, administrative staff, and church council. I will be fleshing this out more in the time to come, but for now, know that one of the things that will be a part of this is to schedule a baptism or wedding be sure to first call the church office and connect with Karla, then connect with me (as will Karla as well, but having two people inform me of something is better than one). Having said that, my contact info is 218-640-1511 (mobile) and revben12@gmail.com. I look forward to serving with you until you have called your new pastor. One final note, if I ever email you or as you see, my sign-off is “PB;” a shortened “Pastor Ben” that a parishioner used for me many years ago, and I have taken on its use.
In Christ, PB
Greetings to you from your Lutheran neighbors to the east and south in Bowdon-Bremen-Concordia!
It has been my privilege to be walking with you as your vice-pastor in these past few months. You have a capable council and ministry team, which meant my assistance was needed in only a few areas. It was my joy to help organize a First Communion service this past month, when ten third graders joined us at the Table.
We had gathered for class on the Sunday afternoon before, when the students came with a family member and spent an hour and a half absorbing through Bible stories and video clips how and why we receive Christ’s body and blood in the bread and wine. Each youth was assigned his or her own “Communion word” to remember and say each time it came up in class – Words of Institution (“In the night in which he was betrayed”), Matthew-Mark-Luke-and-Paul (where Jesus speaks these words), Elements (bread and wine), Sacrament, Real Presence, Means of Grace, Forgiveness-Life-Salvation (3 benefits of Communion) – they learned these bite-sized lessons well. We practiced kneeling around the altar, cupping our hands to receive, and saying an “Amen” after receiving.
On Wednesday evening, April 14, we first shared a supper together because there are so many Easter stories where it is over a meal that the disciples discover the Lord is alive and with them. Many thanks to the serving group who lovingly prepared a menu they were sure the First Communion students would love – chicken nuggets and Mac ‘n’ cheese! During supper, as I went around to each family, I found that the kids were remembering not only their own Communion word but those of their classmates. As I preached and mentioned the words they had learned during my sermon, I noticed young arms spontaneously shooting up when they heard their Communion Word being spoken.
These young members are respectful, enthusiastic, eager, and delighted to receive Holy Communion, exactly the attitude one could wish in all Christians who approach the Lord’s Table. It was a delight for me to be there with these families and truly celebrate the gift of God to us. You who are parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and adopted church family – savor the opportunities you are given to walk alongside a young one. As they learn, so you also end up learning from them and from their fresh perspective and joy!
In May you will be welcoming Rev Ben Carlson as your interim pastor. May his presence among you be fruitful for God’s mission and bring both him and you great joy. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as you enter this next chapter of First Lutheran’s ministry in Jesus’ name. The peace of the risen Lord be with you all.
In Christ,
Pastor Pauline Crowder
Greetings to you from your Lutheran neighbors to the east and south in Bowdon-Bremen-Concordia!
It has been my privilege to be walking with you as your vice-pastor in these past few months. You have a capable council and ministry team, which meant my assistance was needed in only a few areas. It was my joy to help organize a First Communion service this past month, when ten third graders joined us at the Table.
We had gathered for class on the Sunday afternoon before, when the students came with a family member and spent an hour and a half absorbing through Bible stories and video clips how and why we receive Christ’s body and blood in the bread and wine. Each youth was assigned his or her own “Communion word” to remember and say each time it came up in class – Words of Institution (“In the night in which he was betrayed”), Matthew-Mark-Luke-and-Paul (where Jesus speaks these words), Elements (bread and wine), Sacrament, Real Presence, Means of Grace, Forgiveness-Life-Salvation (3 benefits of Communion) – they learned these bite-sized lessons well. We practiced kneeling around the altar, cupping our hands to receive, and saying an “Amen” after receiving.
On Wednesday evening, April 14, we first shared a supper together because there are so many Easter stories where it is over a meal that the disciples discover the Lord is alive and with them. Many thanks to the serving group who lovingly prepared a menu they were sure the First Communion students would love – chicken nuggets and Mac ‘n’ cheese! During supper, as I went around to each family, I found that the kids were remembering not only their own Communion word but those of their classmates. As I preached and mentioned the words they had learned during my sermon, I noticed young arms spontaneously shooting up when they heard their Communion Word being spoken.
These young members are respectful, enthusiastic, eager, and delighted to receive Holy Communion, exactly the attitude one could wish in all Christians who approach the Lord’s Table. It was a delight for me to be there with these families and truly celebrate the gift of God to us. You who are parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and adopted church family – savor the opportunities you are given to walk alongside a young one. As they learn, so you also end up learning from them and from their fresh perspective and joy!
In May you will be welcoming Rev Ben Carlson as your interim pastor. May his presence among you be fruitful for God’s mission and bring both him and you great joy. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as you enter this next chapter of First Lutheran’s ministry in Jesus’ name. The peace of the risen Lord be with you all.
In Christ,
Pastor Pauline Crowder