Our Mission Statement:
We are a Gospel-centered community of people blessed by God to be a blessing to others.
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Highlights of our upcoming events:
NOTICE FROM RIVERSIDE LUTHERAN BIBLE CAMP, Story City:
-All Spring events at Riverside Bible Camp have been cancelled. Final decisions about Spring Work Day, Men's Retreat, Lil' Cowpoke
and Young At Heart Day are still be discussed. Look to Riverside social media and their website for more information.
Plans for Summer Camp 2020 are still in full preparation mode, so you are encouraged to register.
Camp officials are taking every step to ensure the safety of all campers and staff. Please continue to sign up for Riverside.
Click on to the link below for more detailed information. We will inform you of any updates we receive from Riverside as they come.
https://www.riversidelbc.org/single-post/2020/03/16/Update-from-Riverside-on-COVID-19
Want to spotlight your event? Email the webmaster at popdsm@gmail.com and we'll put it here!
This month's letter from Pastor Roger Osbeck
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
So, how are you doing? How well do you feel you are dealing with the current state of affairs we are facing?
The COVID-19 virus outbreak, the shutdown of public services and gatherings have taken their toll on a great many of us. This week
is supposed to be the celebration of May Day, the first day of the month, and a traditional welcoming of spring. These days,
many of us find ourselves wanting to sound out the traditional distress call "mayday, mayday, mayday" instead.
(Informational note: the term "mayday" as an international call of distress derives from the French m'aider, meaning help me.
As pastors, we are trying to keep connections with you through internet worship, daily devotions, and occasional
Wednesday Fun Nights, all offered through Facebook. We are very grateful we have this resource during this time
to be able to reach out in some tangible way. It certainly is not ideal, yet at the same time, it is helpful.
If you have been tuning in to worship, live on Sundays at 10:30 a.m., or any other time on video, you may notice we have
substituted stuffed animals for live people to help fill the pews. (Please note: this is not a comment on how we view our good
people in worship. It just seemed like a fun idea.)
The question on everyone's mind is, of course, when are we going to be able to get back together for worship and other church activities?
When are things returning back to normal? (Okay, that's two questions, but you get the idea.) While all that is still "up in the air," we are
getting closer to resuming our freedoms and starting the process of re-integration back into our custonary life routines.
A recent e-mail from our S.E. Iowa Synod bishop, Michael Burk, stated the following: I know people are already thinking about a time table for coming
back together, especially in light of anticipated declarations from the governor's ofice. I am convinced that it is still much too soon
and I will use next week's letter to reflect my thinking and to point in directions that I think will be helpful to you when thinking not
only about when to "come back," but how. Michael Osterholm, director of the university of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Diseases, said yesterday on
Meet the Press, people need to understand that "we are on virus time, not human time."
Of course, all of time is gathered up in the mystery and care of our merciful God. In the days ahead, whether taking a walk or sharing a meal
with family, whether reading scripture or on yet another Zoom meeting, hold fast to the promise that in Christ, we have a constant companion on this
uncharted journey. In Christ, God's grace and mercy abounds.
With continuing gratitude for your faithfulness in ministry, Bishop Michael L. Burk
We don't hold on to any illusion that what we have regarded as "normal" in the past will immediately materialize when the time comes for our
re-assembling and resumption of congregational life. We will keep you posted on the plans as they emerge. Keep watch for any changes.
In the meantime, send us word on the variety of activities in which you are engaged to occupy your lives during this "hiatus."
Peace to you. See you, sometime soon, in church,
Pastor Roger
Outreach links:
Meals from the Heartland
Habitat for Humanity
Lutheran Services in Iowa
Lutheran World Relief
ELCA Malaria Campaign
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