Our Mission Statement:
We are a Gospel-centered community of people blessed by God to be a blessing to others.
All church activities, including in-person worship, are canceled for the next few weeks due to the coronavirus.
However, the Sunday morning service at 10:30 will be live-streamed through the church's Facebook page.
Joe Nolte is in charge of setting this up. You can contact him with any questions, at jtnolte22@gmail.com.
Get involved!
Highlights of our upcoming events:
The Coming Back Together Committee
-A new committee has been formed to make decisions about worship as we deal with 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,
We pray, as you do, that the dark end of this coronavirus pandemic time will soon break away for the sunlight of a new dawn of
healing for our world. At this time last year, if you were to speak of seeing light at the end of the tunnel, it would be the
headlight of an oncoming train: more disastrous occurences on the way. This year, it really appears the light will be the sunlight
of the tunnel's far end. Soon we should be on the other side of the pandemic and ready to proceed on with life in a manner more
befitting of our humanty.
I would like to pause and reflect on the positive aspects of our common dilemma. Twenty, perhaps even ten years ago, if this
pandemic had struck, we would not have had the technology to provide online services. Fewer people would have computers or other
devices on which to view them. We are thankful for the personnel with the aptitudes to conduct these services and for the growth
of proficiency among our congregation. We are further grateful for the advanced capabilities of communication through the internet,
which has kept us abreast of the latest data on the spread and the containment of the coronavirus in our world and in our community.
Despite the fact that we were not able to personally gather together, the ZOOM process let us hold meetings and view each other
in the rare intimate settings of our homes.
I believe it has been important to follow the advice of public health professionals, and do what we can to help our country--our
world--move through this time of difficulty in the most productive way. It has been an additional, though not most welcome,
opportunity for us to demonstrate love to our neighbor, even if it comes at some cost.
Even though it has been hard, and exhausting, the precautions, mindfulness, and attention to others that has been required of us
these days has had great potential. In the midst of this struggle, we discovered new and important ways to remain connected with
one another, to love and support one another, to share grace and forgiveness with one another. With the eye of a Christian
optimist, we very well may have received a transforming gift from our God: the gift of discovering how to be the church, together,
in the 21st Century.
Truth is: God might be more powerfully present right here and right now than has been the case for many of us in a long time. As
you wonder where this time might still be leading us, and when we'll find ourselves in a more familiar set of circumstances, know
that God's been at work, leading and accompanying us through these days. God's been at work through doctors, nurses, and other
medical professionals; through paramedics, fire fighters and other first responders; through law enforcement officers, security
experts and military personnel. Not to mention those who produce, transport and stock the goods on grocery store shelves; or
custodians, trash collectors and cleaning service staff who help make this world a safer place. God is at work right here.
At the same time, our faith, and the presence of Christ among us, empowered us to endure this pandemic time with faith and hope. We
will continue to be church together. Know that we will do our very best to stay connected, to offer opportunities to be inspired,
and most of all: to remind one another that we are welcomed into the love of God just as we are, and are sent into the world as a
reflection of Christ!
Peace to you. See you in church, sometime soon.
Pastor Roger
Outreach links:
Meals from the Heartland
Habitat for Humanity
Lutheran Services in Iowa
Lutheran World Relief
Make Malaria History
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