Pont’s Ponderings Proclaiming the Gospel! Living In Christ! Caring for Our Neighbors! May-June 2019

Pontoppidan Lutheran Church Newsletter

2

From Pastor Nancy Monke

Dear members and friends of Pontoppidan, May/June 2019

There were times when we wondered if spring would ever come, right? Inevitably spring comes every

year, but after a winter like we had there were moments of doubt. Well, for us church folks, it’s also still

the Easter season. We celebrate the resurrection for weeks after the day, and the change in reality is

even more amazing than spring in the Red River Valley. We have hope and victory and triumph no matter

what floods, wind and weather assail us.

Churches too, have seasons. Sometimes a worshipping community will last for two thousand yeas like

some in Egypt and India have. In the United State, the oldest churches might be some 250 years old, but

not much older. Pontoppidan itself is only 142 years old, a spring chicken by many standards.

Yet we hear of churches in our country dying out, especially in rural areas where the population is

diminishing. Some of you have told me of your home churches in rural areas that are no longer

operating. Most churches in the United States are diminishing. We would be right to ask, will that

happen to our church? We don’t want that, but it’s a fair question. And what makes the difference?

We’ve been talking a lot about what makes a church vibrant and living at Executive committee meetings,

on the Call Committee, on the Parish Planning Council and at the Triannial Meeting. Sometimes a church

simply comes to the end of its natural life span and it’s time to say goodbye to a fruitful ministry and close

the doors. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS ANYWHERE NEAR THAT TIME FOR PONTOPPIDAN.

Pontoppidan was something of a neighborhood church in Fargo. Now we are as far flung as Harwood and

Glyndon. There is incredible loyalty to this church and the relationships we experience here. But with

the recent revitalization of downtown Fargo, I believe we have another season to our ministry.

Downtown Fargo needs us as a flourishing ministry. We see businesses and housing exploding right

outside our doors. There are people here who need to hear the Good News of Jesus and the Easter

message as much as we have needed to hear it. There are people here who need community as much as

we have found we need each other.

I am really excited to take a look at the next season of ministry at Pontoppidan. More than likely, next

Fall we are going to take a really good look at our context in downtown Fargo and ask what this area

needs from us. I believe people are longing to know the kind of life and joy we know in Jesus. I believe

that people are longing for the kind of caring community that we experience with each other. We’ve got

what everybody is longing for, we just need to let Fargo know about it. It’s Easter. He is risen. We’ve got

the Good News and each other. Let’s get that message out there.

Thanks be to God,

Pastor Nancy Monke

3

QUESTIONS?

Please contact

Kim Stromberg at 232-0998

or kim@pontonline.org

Thank you, parents, students and teachers, treat servers for a wonderful Sunday

School Year! It went by so quickly!

Thank you for filing all my donation requests this year and the many prayers for our

students and teachers!

Parents/Grand-parents, Jesus said” let the children come to me”

Thank you for getting them to Pont each week!

Please remember to join us for 2 large events.

ROAR VBS June 9-12 as we join teams with St John Lutheran at their campus.

I’m in need of teachers, group leaders and many youth to help with skits and class

Please register your students and please extend to friends, cousins anyone who

would like to join us each evening.

Sunday, May 19th Pont Family Day!

We will host our annual carnival for all children!! 11am, following our 10am Worship

Service!

And……..FOOD TRUCKS ARE COMING! FOOD TRUCKS ARE COMING.

Join us in the back-parking lot after Worship!

Save your monies to eat as a group following Worship in our back-parking lot! They

will have sandwiches, cheese curd, mini donuts and other goodies! ALL ARE

INVITED TO JOIN US, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!!!!!

Sunday School Teachers, we will celebrate your discipleship during worship on May 19th,

please join us there!

4

QUESTIONS?

Please contact

Kim Stromberg at 232-0998

May Kitchen & Acolyte Schedule May 5

Kitchen—Spanjer/McGee Family

Acolytes—Erika Spanjer & Abby Olson

May 12

Kitchen—Frank Framily

Acolyte — Andrew Trogstad & Caitlin Frank

May 19

Kitchen—Selseth Family

Acolytes—Jacob Selseth & Emma Thornton

Sunday May 19th we will celebrate our graduating Seniors, CLASS OF 2019!!

Join us at worship as our quilters wrap you in our love as you journey forward! and

please turn in 5 photos to Jenifer in the office prior to May 12th!

Luke Trogstad

Jennifer Luehring

Sarah Jabens

Youth please consider assisting with VBS! WE need many helpers! Please reach

out to Kim Stromberg as soon as possible.

Please watch for summer coffee schedule and closer to the start of school we will

meet and spend time together

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING

STUDENTS FOR ALL YOU DO AT

PONT!

Serve Coffee and treats, weekly

Help with Sunday School

Acolyte

Lent meals

Lent Worship

Bake Sale

VBS

5

MISSIONS

Richard and Helen Arnseth in honor of Curt Moe’s 90th birthday

RADIO Bev Hubbard and Family in honor of Curt Moe’s 90th birthday Audrey Bueide in honor of Curt Moe’s 90th birthday Anna/Naomi Circle in honor of Curt Moe’s 90th birthday Paul and Cindy Linstad in honor of Elin RaeAnn Braun’s Baptism

UNDESIGNATED Hope Hektner in memory of Arlene Classon, Beryl Hektner, and Arlene Mehus

Memorials & Honorariums

A NOTE ABOUT ARLINE MELHUS, a former member of Pontoppidan. Arline died

2/18/2019 Arline lived in Tampa, FL, and married Arne at Pont, (I think). I met her when we had babies the same day at St. Luke’s Hospital; my Vicki, and her Gregory. We became good friends from Couple Club, a sewing club, until they moved to Florida and Arne had an orange grove, but we kept in touch,. Arne’s folks were Paul & Bertha Melhus. Submitted by Hope Hektner

Oak Grove Lutheran is looking for families to host international students!

We are currently looking for hos families that are willing to open their homes and hearts to students from

around the globe. Host families come in many different shapes and sizes some are retired, others have small

children, some have no children, while others are empty nesters or have high school students themselves.

Could your home be the home away from home for one of our students? If you would like to explore this

option further please feel free to contact Kristi.kegel@oakgrovelutheran.com

or call 701-212-5296 (cell), 701-373-7118 office.

SAVE THE DATE!

Back by Popular Demand: Ron Hall

of the Same Kind of Different as

Me Foundation will join us on

Tuesday, October 22 at the Delta

Hotel in Fargo for the untold story,

The New Life Center’s Fall dessert

social and fundraising event.

WELCA

Our next WELCA meeting will be on June 4, 2019 at 1:30 pm.

We will tour the New Life Center at 1902 3rd Ave. N Fargo, ND.

The New Life Center is helping men move from being homeless

and hurting to becoming whole and healthy. This opportunity is

open for all members of Pontoppidan (men included) who would

like to know more about this organization that we help support.

Meet at the church for rides at 1:00 pm if needed.

6

A.G. “Mike” Mickelson in memory of Gladys Mickelson A.G. “Mike” Mickelson in memory of Kathy Mickelson Audrey Bueide in memory of Jerry Bueide Paul and Cindy Linstad in memory of Leonard and Dorothy Linstad Ruby Craik in memory of Milo Craik and Sydney Salvi Mike and Vonnie Rostad in honor of Mike and Vonnie Rostad’s 60th wedding anniversary and thankful for family and friends of Pontoppidan Art and Nancy Olerud in memory of our parents Art and Nancy Olerud in honor of our children Del and Sue Jordahl thankful for our children, grandchildren, family and friends Lydia Circle in honor of Gordon Berntson Anna/Naomi Circle in honor of friends of Anna/Namoi Circle Mayone Dalos in memory of Ingel Dalos and Easton Schlicht Mary Circle in honor of Mary Circle Friends, Dorothy, Phyllis, Bernadine Marcie and Ben Hushka in memory of John and Luella Schliebe Marcie and Ben Hushka in memory of Ben and Josephine Hushka Brian and Sarah Trogstad thankful for Sunday School Teachers and Pont Volunteers Roy and Lisa Sander in memory of Roy and Beverly Sander (Roy’s parents) Roy and Lisa Sander in honor of Muriel and Jack Hinman (Lisa’s parents) Tom, Jackie and Sarah Jabens in memory of Bob and Sylvia Jabens Tom, Jackie and Sarah Jabens in memory of LaVerne Kallod Tom, Jackie and Sarah Jabens in honor of Dale and Mary Kendall Ed and Sandy Cegla in honor of our grandchildren LaDonne Vik and Vicky Anderson in honor of our mother Carol Anderson LaDonne Vik and Vicky Anderson thankful for our family and the grands, Carsten, Siri and Soren Kayla Berg, Cheech Berg, Tim Larson and Junior Berg in memory of Sharon Berg Marian Seelig and Family in memory of Eldon Seelig Marian Seelig in honor of Family Marian Seelig: Easter Greetings Richard and Helen Arnseth in honor of our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren Charles and Vicki Hartz in memory of Chester and Lorraine Hartz and David Hartz, parents and brothers Charles and Vicki Hartz in honor of our children and grandchildren Sarah Circle in honor of Circle friends Jim and Marianne Johnson in memory of Al Hektner, Arlie and Virginia Johnson, in honor of Hope Hektner, and thankful for our children and grandchildren Phil, Lisa, Noah, Claire Johnson in memory of Harvey and Marlys Johnson and Duane Vig Phil, Lisa, Noah, Claire Johnson in honor of Grandma Addie Vig Bev Hubbard thankful for so many friends and family for giving me rides and helped in many ways since Ray died. Blessings! Loretta Olson in memory of Roland and Larry Olson Florence Thune and Family in memory of husband, Wallace Thune, sons Roger and Dennis Thune Florence Thune and Family in memory of twin grandsons, Nicholas and Christopher Lily and Aster Nelson in honor of our mom, and thankful for our family Anne Snyder in memory of my son, Adam Anne Snyder in memory of parents, Alvin & Glo Berg, brother, Richard Berg, and sister-in-law, Sharon Berg Bill and Denise Duke in memory of and in honor of family and friends Malvina Moe in honor of Curtis Moe’s 90th birthday Marcia Goodyear in memory of Don and Nell Wickstrom Marcia Goodyear in memory of Laurie Miosek Donald and Paula Sell in memory of parents, Alfred and Valda Sell, and son, Michael Lee Strom Donald and Paula Sell in memory of mom, Shirley Herrick Bonnie Streed in memory of Art Streed and Parker and Corinne Kveback Betty Trogstad in memory of Jerry Trogstad and Vern and Mabel Trogstad Betty Trogstad in memory of Ted and Cora Skonnord and Christine Hogan Betty Trogstad thankful for my family, Kevin and Sue Koskela, Olivia and Seth; Brian and Sarah Trogstad, Luke, Andrew and Nate; Mark and Jenny Trogstad, Samantha and Peyton; and my brother John and Sally (Miller) Skonnord

Easter Plants

7

May Birthdays

1: Marcia Goodyear, Emma Evans, Zach Nicklaus 2: Charles Hartz, Amy Johnson 3: Marian Seelig, Asher Helm 4: Chris Olerud, Carrie Knutson, Melissa Christensen 5: Kim Cordova 6: Renee McMullen, Alexis Rheault, Marissa Oelke, Ansley Knutson 7: Cindy Peterson, Corey Smith, Kyrabella Plante, Espen Grant, Tristin Frank 8: Chad Froseth, Robyn Holm, Julie Peterson, Gabriella LaFromboise, Lily Nelson, Jeannie Sundby, Pat McNitt 10: Alison Trimmer, Carmen Froseth 11: John Lerfald, Linus Sander 12: Ryan Fagerwick, Gayle Holm, Joyce McDowell, Adleigh Lehse 14: Binh Truong 16: Mayone Dalos, Toni Kleber, Anne Zmyslinki-Seelig, Russell Benz 17: Jocelyn Olson 19: Keith Lindsay 20: Sandy Cegla 21: Clarice Hansen, Terri Nesemeier 23: Irene Johnson, Jerry Kallod, Joyce Ingberg, Eli Nelson 24: John Oelke, Krista Steele 25: Susan Koskela, Jack Jacobsen 26: Seth Koskela, Jennifer Braun, Sophia Andersen 27: John Skonnord, Elijah Nelson 28: Devon Murray, Michael Tweiten, Ella Thornton 29: Dorothy Anderson, Peter Selseth 31: Amy Krogh, Maryellen Sundby

May Work Group

Chairpersons:

Backman, Grace 701-297-7524

Bonn, Erin/Brennan 701-306-8242

Do, Bao (donate)

Everett, Christina/Jamie 373-5024

Goodyear, Marcia/Jamie 232-8534

Helgeson, Darla 212-5145

Kallod, Twyla 235-5426

Kleber, Toni/Mitch 218-233-8754

Lepper, Jennifer/Ken 235-3716

Lindsay, Keith 298-7701

Muhlenkort, Linda

Olerud, Art/Nancy 261-0167

Olerud, Chris/Sherie 306-3649

Selseth, Diane/Brad 237-6951

Stinar, Dennis 701-306-4482

Volk, Barbara/Felix (donate)

Clean refrigerators downstairs, in sacristy and upstairs. Wipe off stoves and ovens. Clean off islands downstairs.

June Birthdays

1: Sarah Stensland, Robyn Gatz, Owen Kielb 2: Sherry Kling, Justine Evanson, Cindy Norquist 3: Carsten Astrup, Siri Astrup, Caleb R. Johnson 5: Hannah Berg, Audrey Bueide, Jonathan Linstad, Mychal Luehring, Mai Truong, Emily Thompson, Dayce Littlejohn 6: Sarah Linstad 7: Gaye Hannestad, Josh Johnson, Jeannie Paul 8: Kailey Trimmer, Matthew Stinar, Bonnie Streed 9: Laura Thornton, Alexander Kain 10: Kevin Briggs, Kevin Koskela 11: Delroy Jordahl 12: Debra Galt, Elsbeth Kielb, Jack Groener 13: Mona Fagerwick, Melvina Tranby, Joni Workin, Evan Anderson, Zachary Trimmer 14: Angie Bennett 15: Kaitlin Selseth, Miranda Lewis 16: Dyllan Badar, Jayden Bakkila 17: Kathy Bruse, Seth Holm, Adam Grant, Milo Johnson 18: Paul Grimes, Kyle Schlicht, Sam Kain 20: Pam Heier, Ava Truhlicka 21: Lenora Kopp, Carter Holzhiemer 22: Ben Thornton, Jeremy McIntyre 23: Jessica Magnuson, Karoline Olsen 24: Teresa Huff, Doreen Albertson, Braxton Berlin, Kira Murray 25: Roger Kling, Zoey Hamilton, Tamara Meyer 26: Amanda Horpedahl, Don Sell, Kimberly Koskela, Marilyn Isaacson 27: Gary Peterson, Maggie Pfaff, Nathan Trogstad, Cooper Magnuson 28: Linda Schlicht 29: Morris Krogh, Gay Seelig, Jacob Selseth 30: Heather Badar, Carol Smith

June Work Group

Chairpersons: Davis, Marlys/Robert 388-7118

Chavez, Victoria/Boyer, Nathan 936-3510

Duke, Denise/Bill 361-1840

Hansen, Clarice/Clair 237-6784

Ingberg, Joyce 232-6859

Johnson, Casey/Jaine 701-870-5384

Johnson, Val/Ron 261-4470

Kunnanz, Charlene 277-8255

Meth, Lisa/David 298-0846

Nelson, Derrick/Alicia 701-729-2466

Schlicht, Linda 200-6044

Skonnord, John (donate)

Stangeland, Cheri/Peter 730-1808

Clean refrigerators downstairs, in sacristy and upstairs.

Wipe off stoves & ovens. Clean cupboards on the east wall.

8

Church Staff Pastor Nancy Monke Church Secretary Jennifer Johnson Financial Manager Chuck Ritterman Director of Christian Education\Youth Kim Stromberg Organist Sue Jordahl Choir Director Del Jordahl Church Librarian Sandy Cegla Congregational Visitor Teresa Huff

Council Officers President Pam McGee Vice President Brian Trogstad Secretary Eva Blanchard Treasurer Jenny Trogstad

Board Members Worship Teresa Huff Evangelism Discipleship Ben Hushka Ministry Jeff Huff Fellowship Cindy Linstad

TV & Radio Broadcast

The worship service is broadcast at 10:00 am on radio 1100 AM and the TV broadcast is on the City of Fargo channel 68 on Sunday’s at 12:30 pm (there is a one week delay). Repeated Wednesdays at 2:00 pm.

Office Hours

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.