This Week at Esther
THIS WEEK AT ESTHER
Sunday, August 16th – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Fellowship Before and After Worship
10 am – Worship with Holy Communion led by Megan Townsend
2 pm – Worship at St. William’s
Monday, August 17th
6 pm – Christian Education Meeting
Thursday, August 20th
6 pm – Worship Committee
Sunday, August 23rd – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Fellowship Before and After Worship
10 am – Worship led by The Youth
2 pm – Worship at St. William’s
*NEWS AND NOTES*
Ice Cream Still Available! If you missed the Ice Cream Social, you’re in luck! We still have individual cups of ice cream available in the basement kitchen freezer. Feel free to help yourself and place your donation in the box provided. Suggested donations: $2.50 per cup or 5 cups for $10.
Christian Education Meeting will be held Monday, August 17th at 6 pm.
Sabbath at the Lake will be held on Tuesday, August 18th at Trinity Point on Maple Lake in Mentor, MN 8:45 am – 3 pm. Mail your registration form by August 10th. Registration cost: $30 (includes lunch).
Worship Committee will meet on Thursday, August 20th at 6 pm.
Widows & Singles Share & Care Day will be August 21st at 1 pm at Parkers Prairie City Park. They will have a potluck and enjoy visiting and taking in the Parkers Prairie Farmers Market.
The Ready, Set, Go Giveaway is being hosted by Grace Christian Church on Sunday, August 23rd from 12 pm – 2 pm. This includes the following: 1) Free school supplies are available for students of the Parkers school District. 2) Free clothing will be provided for all ages and sizes, including some brand-new items donated by Walmart. 3) Free snacks for anyone attending, along with the opportunity to play on the playground. All are welcome!
You are invited to the Sixth Annual 2026 Remembrance Day Walks by Humble Hearts Grief Support Services on Sunday, September 13th at the Lake Brophy Park in Alexandria, MN. There is also a walk in Sleepy Eye, MN on Sunday, September 27th. 12 pm – 1 pm is registration, meal, and shopping, 1 pm- 2 pm is the Remembrance Walk, and 2 pm – 3:30 is the Inspirational Program and Recognition of Loved Ones (Alexandria only – dove release). Scan to register donate and learn more!
Vanco online giving platform is a great way to set up a scheduled giving plan for even when you cannot make it to church. Go online to estherlutheran.com, go to the tab “ways to support Esther Lutheran Church” and click on the link https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZP4R or download the app Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement. Any questions please ask Mandy Arvidson.
Check out the Esther Calendar on our website to stay up to date on everything happening! Go to estherlutheran.com and click on “Esther Calendar.”
We welcome you to join in the weekly “Behold the New Has Come” devotions available on our website estherlutheran.com on the “Behold” tab. Devotions are posted to the website and emailed out each Monday. If you are not currently on the email list and want to be, please notify Mandy in the office. Each weekly devotion includes a challenge for the week. This past week’s challenge is:
Choose just one of the Baptismal Promises and spend time this week dwelling in the power of that promise. Think creatively about how you might live out that promise in the world. Be courageous as you work to embrace what it means to keep that promise of baptism. Remember the words of the song, “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.”
Ask yourself, What is the value of a “pledge of a clear conscience toward God?” The promises of Baptism wash the weight of our sin clean and leave us with a clear conscience, not just once, but as many times as is needed as we live out our promises each week.
We hope these devotions and weekly challenges will inspire conversations and stories that we can share with one another as, together, we grow in faith through this initiative.
Sunday School begins on Sunday, September 13th! We welcome all children ages 3 through 6th grade to join us.
During worship on September 13th, we will also celebrate the start of the school year with a Back-to-School Blessing and Prayer, followed by a Backpack Blessing during the Children’s Sermon. We hope you’ll bring your backpacks and join us for this special day!
Confirmation classes will begin again in September with a Get-to-Know-You Potluck and Planning Night on Wednesday, September 16th at 6:00 p.m. Students and their parents are invited to attend. We welcome everyone from 7th grade through adults to join the class, whether you are preparing for confirmation, have already been confirmed, or would simply like a refresher on the faith. For more information or to sign up, please contact Jewel Townsend.
38th Annual NW MN SWO Convention will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN on September 18-19th.
Fall Conference Gatherings: Conference 5: October 15th at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN and Conference 8 at Grace Lutheran in Brandon, MN.
You belong here. We believe that each person has unique gifts, are created in God’s image, and is a beloved child of God. We welcome you to join us each week to share in the community of faith at Esther – “Knowing Christ – making Christ known through faith, hope and love”. If you would like to become a member of Esther, please contact Mandy in the church office at 218-338-2171 or secretary@estherlutheran.net or Jewel Townsend at 320-760-2503 or jewellht17@gmail.com.
Esther Lutheran Church, ELCA
11019 625th Ave, Parkers Prairie, MN 56361 – Telephone:218-338-2171
Website:estherlutheran.com
Email: secretary@estherlutheran.net Facebook: facebook.com/estherlutheran/
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ESTHER LUTHERAN CHURCH 