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Church Directory

2016

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JUNE 2016

WILLISTON HERALD

JUNE 2016

There is sort of a whisper that is often heard throughout church congregations that you will hear when you are a part of one long enough. The subject of these whispers have to do with the fact people, especially Aaron Hanson young people, are leaving the Church. Some reasons are raised as to why this is happening. But I have seen a few polls now that have narrowed it down to two similar reasons. The first reason is that people do not think they can ask questions in church. They think it is a unsafe place to think open-mindedly and they will be looked down upon if you have doubts. The second reason is that these questions are asked, but the answers are not sufficient. The answers received are poor. This is discouraging in one sense, but encouraging in another. It is discouraging because people are leaving because of tough questions are raised, or they think they need to keep a tight lip. But is encouraging because some of these tough questions are easy to answer. Not because the question is a poor one, but because the questions are often of the perennial sort. They have been asked and answered throughout time, thus we have abundant answers from people in history. Take Young Earth Creationism vs Old Earth Creationism. This has been a perennial debate since at least the time of Saint Augustine in the year 400; or Philo, a first century Jewish scholar said it’d be a mistake to think that creation took 6 days. Or take Faustus, a contemporary of Saint Augustine, who asked questions like who wrote the four Gospels which Saint Augustine answers with reasons. Here I will attempt to answer some of these hard questions that I often see raised. This will be by no means an exhaustive attempt, but will at least get the ball rolling.

Do science and religion conflict? Does science butt heads with religion? The short answer is no, it does not. But it’s important to understand to what ends each one aims. Science is a method to discover natural phenomena when nature is left alone. Religion, in a very broad sense, is when humans seeks to worship something bigger than themselves. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Conflict arises when some people take science as the only way of knowing things. They will say that science is the only way we can discover what is true. This sort of philosophy is called empiricism, scientism or verificationism. The only way we can know if something is true if we can verify it by the scientific method, or by our five senses. This conflicts with religion often times because people worship God. However, God is not verified by the scientific

Answering Tough Questions method, or sensed by the five senses, so you cannot have knowledge that God exists. This sort of epistemology, or way of knowing what is true, is fraught with many problems. First, there are a number of things that we know to be true without science. These are metaphysical truths (Do other minds exist? Does the external world exist?), mathematical and logical truths, moral truths, aesthetic judgments (what is beautiful cannot be scientifically proven), and science itself. Using science to prove science is circular. Saying that we can only know what is true if it is backed by science is an assertion that is not backed up by science, thus it is self-defeating. But then there are questions in regards to some verses in the Bible. Passages are often quoted making it seem like the Earth is flat, or has four corners, or gives a geocentric model of the solar system. When it comes to questions like this, it must be kept in mind that the Bible does not seek to be a scientific textbook. There are various genres in the Bible, poetry, history, etc, but science is not one of them. I will explain more about this under “Is the Bible without errors?”

How do we know God exists? Our culture has deep modern roots. What I mean by that is modernity is the prevailing way people see truth. Some folks say that we are postmodern because morality is seen as relative, and religion being based on opinion. However, that is not postmodernity, that is modernity! Modernity is the view that came from the Enlightenment. Where things that are not concrete, like moral values and religion are meaningless subjects and become based on opinion. God gets thrown into the category of non-concrete and is a meaningless subject. We cannot know that God exists in the same way we know that the sun exists. We can look at the sun and know it exists. So how do we know things exist that we cannot see? This is not just a problem when it comes to God, but comes up in science as well. We cannot see atoms or black holes. This is not a problem because of our size, physics literally does not interact with atoms so we can see them, and light cannot escape a black hole. We know that atoms and black holes exist by the things we do see. Experiments with static electricity gives us behavior in which we can explain by referring to unseen electrons. We can observe the rapid movement of stars at the center of the galaxy that give credence to the idea of a great gravitational pull that only a black hole could give off, even though we can’t see it. We can look through the window and see the movement of the branches and know there is wind and which way it is blowing even though we do not see the

wind. There are ways to reason to things that are unseen by what we can see. If we take two worldviews, Theism, the belief there is a God, and Naturalism, the worldview that the only thing with causal powers are other physical objects and forces of the kind studied in the sciences. In Theism, there is a God that is not physical but has causal powers and created the world. What evidence do we have for a being that is not physical yet has causal powers? I would say the beginning of the universe. From experience, we can see that everything that begins to exist has a cause. Everyday life we seem to just take this for granted. No one worries about things popping unexplainably on the middle of the highway. All of the modern scientific data point to the universe beginning to exist a finite time ago. The universe contains all the physical things. Before the universe there was no physical things, so something that is not physical had to of caused it. The only explanation we have is God.

Why does God allow evil and suffering? One of the most compelling arguments against the existence of God is the existence of evil and suffering in the world. Why would an all-knowing, all-good, all-powerful God allow evil and suffering in the world? When faced with this argument, many people find it quite compelling. If you believe in God, you have to deal with it. This problem has an emotional side and an intellectual side. Answering the intellectual problem can bring some resolve into the emotional side. This is how to respond to the intellectual problem. First off, the two premises: (1) God is all-knowing, all-good, and all-powerful and (2) There is evil in the world, are not logically contradictory statements. One premise does not negate the other. It is not like (1) A shape is a square (2) The same shape is a circle. A shape cannot be both at the same time. This burden of proof is on the one using the argument to show that it is impossible or highly improbable for God to allow evil and suffering. So what has to be done is additional premises have to be surmised in order to bring about the contradiction. Here are some additional premises to find bring about an implicit contradiction: (1) If he is all-knowing, he would know how to stop it; (2) if he was all-good, he would want to stop evil; and (3) if he was all-powerful, he would have the power to stop evil. However, evil still exists. So, God must lose one of the attributes of all-knowing, all-good, or all-powerful; thus not making him really God. These premises have to be necessary. In other words, they have to be the case for God. Let’s first look at premise (3)

Church Directory Does God have the power to stop evil? I do not find this to be necessary. If God is to create creatures with free-will, then they must have the freedom to do moral evil. It would be a logical contradiction for God to create free-willed creatures who never freely did evil. If you suggest that God can do the logically impossible, then this logical problem of evil evaporates. God could then be all-good, knowing and powerful, yet still have evil in the world. God’s omnipotence has always been understood as God having the power to do anything that is logically possible. But then there is the problem of natural evil. Evil caused by earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis and hurricanes. They themselves are not evil, but when it kills humans, that’s when we have a problem. But what would the earth be like if the earth did not have these sorts of events? Where the earth did not need these for the environment, or cyanide did not kill humans. It would be a weird sort of gerrymandering with the laws of nature where we could not do scientific investigation. It boggles the mind trying to picture a world such as that. It could also be the case that God chose this world so suffused with evil so that a greater number of people would come to know him. If this is just a possible reason, it shows that there can not be necessary premise that shows that God cannot allow evil.

Is the Bible inerrant? The answer to this question greatly depends on your definition of what inerrancy is. If you define inerrancy as everything in the Bible is true, you may be disappointed to find out that the Bible is not inerrant using that definition. There are things that the Bible says that is not true. A careful definition needs to be construed. I propose to define inerrancy that everything the Bible teaches is true. This definition allows us to take into account the different genres used throught the Bible. Where it is poetic, we treat it as poetry; where it is history, we treat as history. So when the Psalms say that the mountains sing and the rivers clap their hands, we treat that as poetic and not something that is literally true. Or, as I mentioned earlier, when the Bible makes seemingly scientific claims about the Earth. Is the Bible teaching that? Most of the time, the answer is a resounding no. For example, when the Bible says that God sits enthroned above the circle of the Earth, it is not teaching God is above the Earth literally sitting on a throne or that the Earth is circular. It is teaching the authority God has in respect to the Earth. God can see everything on Earth. For more answers to tough questions, visit Aaron’s blog at www.fortheloveofreason.wordpress.com

The peaches are coming

For the sixth straight year, some of the best peaches you’ll find anywhere have made the journey up from Colorado and to the Williston Basin. It’s all part of the Colorado Peaches fundraiser put on by the local chapter of Youth For Christ, wherein crates and crates of peaches come straight from the tree in Colorado, to the parking lot in front of TNT Fireworks on Highway 2. This year’s load tallies 600 cases, priced at $35 per. Youth For Christ organizer Dennis Jensen said he and his staff will sell them each night until about 7 p.m., or until they’re gone. Jensen expects that will happen by Friday night, but if some do remain, the rest will be sold at the Farmers Market downtown Saturday morning. Jensen’s history with Colorado Peaches measures four times as long as Williston’s. It was as coordinator of the Youth For Christ program in Fargo 20 years ago that

JUNE 2016

WILLISTON HERALD

he first got into the game. “I had a friend who called me from Bemidji and said I ought to do this,” Jensen recalled. “I said, ‘I’m not about selling fruit, I’m about reaching kids,’ and those first few years we fought like crazy just to sell 400 boxes. By the third year, people began to realize these are Colorado Peaches and the juice just flows down your elbow.” A few years later, Jensen formed a partnership with John Cox, a grower in Palisade, Colo., and the fundraiser grew so big in Jensen’s days in Fargo that some years they’d sell as many as 3,000 boxes. Jensen expects this year’s fundraiser to bring in $25-$30k for the non-denominational group that aims to reach out to at risk youths. Jensen said Youth For Christ’s biggest annual fundraiser is its banquet dinner set for April 7, 2016. For more information, call (701) 5804483 or (701) 580-4484.

Our mission is Jesus’ mission

We exist to help people connect with their Creator through Jesus Christ and experience lasting life-change in relationship with Him.

Worship Service

9:00am

Worship Service 10:30am Children’s Ministry Wednesday 6:30pm Base Camp (Youth)*

Liberty Evangelical Free Church 701-572-8767

506 14th St W Williston, ND 58801 office@lefcwilliston.org Pastor: Brian Martin

*During the school year we have an active youth group on Wednesday nights and Sunday morning children’s ministry program. Wheelchair Accessible

Worshipping God with a whole heart. Following Jesus with a whole life. Taking the Gospel to the whole world.

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WILLISTON HERALD

Church Directory

JUNE 2016

Large, but not impersonal, New Hope strives to serve the entire community BY MATT HICKMAN EDITOR@WILLISTONHERALD.COM

Indoor Playground & Meg-A-Latte Coffee Shop HOURS: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 6:00 AM-7:00 PM Wed: 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM Sat, Sun: 7:00 AM-6:00 PM

SUNDAY SERVICES 9:30 & 11:15 AM

New Hope Church

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(701) 572-HOPE

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721 26th St W

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We have rooms available for birthday parties, weddings and other special ocassions. For more info call (701) 572-HOPE.

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WILLISTON — With its coffee shops, indoor playground, rooms for meetings, birthday parties and the like, all contained in a spacious and airy ambiance, one word might come to mind to one coming in for the first time. Megachuch. It’s a label Mike Skor, the church’s pastor of five years, isn’t particularly fond of because it implies something impersonal that doesn’t describe New Hope at all. “We just do our best to accomplish our mission in the world. We love people and we know God loves people, so we just want to reach as many people as we can with him,” Skor said. “Yeah, we have a lot of numbers, but as we say, ‘every number has a name.’ We never want to get so big that people feel lost, so we always work to connect people in small groups.” With an average Sunday attendance at two services of 1,300 that can reach higher than 2,000, keeping members connected is a priority for Skor and his staff. “The lifeblood of our church is small groups — we call it ‘group life’, constantly helping people meet in group life,” Skor said. Skor said those groups include a men’s group, a moms’ group, a mothers of preschoolers group, recovery groups and traditional studies groups, just to name a few. Though New Hope is Wesleyan affiliated, the tone of the church and its contemporary worship style, has a feel that’s far more Evangelical than denominational. Skor said that’s intentional, and one of New Hope’s ambitions on the horizon is spreading out to rural areas around Williston, many of which have no non-denominational church homes. “That is one thing we are unapologetic about. Continues on Page 9

JUNE 2016

WILLISTON HERALD

At Life Church, finding God starts with finding friends

BY MATT HICKMAN EDITOR@WILLISTONHERALD.COM

WILLISTON — When Chris Walstad was first invited to the church he now pastors back in 1986, he wasn’t necessarily looking for spiritual fulfillment. He found that over time, and 30 years later, that appreciation for the steps it takes to bring a seeker into a church family, has helped inform Life Church Assembly of God’s motto, “Find Friends, Find God, Find Life.” “Statistically, when people initially attend church, they’re not really looking for God, so much as they’re looking for community; they’re looking for friends,” Walstead said. “We think, in the process of doing that, when they’re here for a while, they’ll find a relationship with God and then find purpose for their life. Then, help other find friends, find God and find life.” It’s been a successful formula for the assembly on 26th Street West in Williston, which now features three Sunday services averaging 500 members. Walstad described the style of the worship as contemporary and energetic, though, he points out, the earliest service is intentionally quieter. “It’s just a vibrant, exciting group of people and they’re fun to pastor,” Wals-

tad said. “They’re fun, diverse, hopeful, enthusiastic and incredible. I love ‘em. They make the church what it is.” After that first invitation to an Assembly of God service in 1986, three years after it opened at its current location, where it remains the only Assembly of God congregation in Williston, Walstad became increasingly interested in the Christian life. “I came upon invitation and my life changed. I started working with the youth as a lay leader and realized I needed more, so I went to bible college and became a youth pastor for a couple of years,” Walstad said. “Then, I left and pastored a church in Glenellen, North Dakota for 14 years and came back six years ago. I was not even on the radar to come back to Williston, but I’m loving it and having a great time.” Walstad said that one of the greatest strengths of the church is its youth ministry, led by Pastor Dan Dangerfield, whom Walstad considers ‘hands-down the best youth pastor in North Dakota.’ “Our kids ministry is strong. On Wednesday night, our building is maxed out with kids,” Walstad said. “We have youth meetings on Wednesday nights, and we always have our MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) ministry and homeschool groups during the week.”

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS: -Men’s Breakfast Saturdays, 7:30am // Dakota Farms Restaurant Contact Pastor Chris for details @ 701.572.5042 STUDY GROUPS: -Journey through the Bible and Prayer Sundays, 6pm // Life Church Sanctuary Contact the Pastoral Staff for details @ 701.572.5042 -Women’s Bible Study Thursdays, 9:00-11:30am // V. Braaten Residence Contact Val Braaten for details @ 701.770.1628 -Thinc Diphruntly- by James McDonald Thursdays, 6:30// Sutton Residence // Childcare not provided Contact Gabi Sutton for details @ 612.282.1412 STARTING THURSDAY, APRIL 26TH, 2016 YOUTH GROUPS WE OFFER: Remedy Youth takes place every Wednesday from 6:30-8:00PM, on campus at Life Church Assembly of God. -- Remedy Youth is not just a place, but a movement. It exists to be a beacon of hope for students in NW North Dakota. Mark Twain said, “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.” We want to help you find out why. AFTERHOURS GROUP: When: Tuesdays @ 7:00 PM Where: 1905 26th St W, Williston, ND 58801 Who: Ages 18-30 something Contact: Josh or Rochelle Heilbrun @ 701.572.5042 --After Hours is a generation of twenty somethings passionate about Jesus. Whether through worship, giving, or service, we want to know Him better and make Him famous in our city. When we gather together in one place, with one heart and one vision, something special happens. Hearts are healed. Hope is restored. Faith grows. And relationships are formed that stand the test of time.

OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm CHURCH ADDRESS: 1905 26th Street West • Williston, ND 58801 PHONE: 701.572.5042 EMAIL: willistonlifechurch@gmail.com WORSHIP TIMES: 8:30 am, 10:00 am & 11:30 am

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WILLISTON HERALD

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Church Listings

ALEXANDER CHURCH OF NAZARENE, Pastor Larry J Duffy SUN Worship Service, 9 am; SS, 10 am; ALEXANDER TRINITY LUTHERAN ; 828-3589 SUN Worship, 9 am

ALLIANCE CHAPEL, WILDROSE, Pastor Greg Knopp; 539-2367 SUN Worship, 11 am; Bible study, 9:45 am WED Bible study/Prayer service, 7 pm APOSTOLIC LIGHTHOUSE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, 523 1st AVE W, WILLISTON, Rev. DD Puckett; 774-8631 SUN SS, 2 pm; Worship, 3:30 pm WED Bible study, 7:30 pm ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH, 19 4th ST NW, TIOGA, Pastor Daryn Pederson, 664-2604; www.tiogaassembly.com SUN 9:30am Sunday School; 10:30am, Worship service BAKKEN BAPTIST, Sons of Norway Hall, 720 4th Ave W. Pastor Jon Pust, 701-609-7908, www.bakkenbaptistchurch.org SUN Sunday School, 10am; Worship, 11am Sons of Norway Hall; 6pm New Williston Armory, 10 Main St. Call or visit our website for details on Wednesday evening Bible study

BIG SKY CHURCH: AMER BAPTIST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, FROID, MONT., Neil & Mary Kaye Knudsen, Pastoral Team; 406-7662472 SUN Worship, 8:30 am; SS, 10:15 am; Food Bank Collection (2nd Sunday) WED FW Friends\ After School Program, 4 pm CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 521 13TH AVE W; 572-7839, KJV/Independent, Pastor Michael Calhoun, www. calvarybaptistwilliston.com SUN SS, 10 am; Worship, 11 am; Evening Service, 5 pm WED Bible Study & Prayer, 7 pm

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 521 13TH AVE W; 572-7839

CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH in Alamo; Pastor Zacharias Shipman & Pastor Emily Shipman SUN 9:00am, Worship; 10:00am, Sunday School; Easter Morning Service: 7:00am CHURCH OF CHRIST, 508 26TH ST W; 572-2368 SUN SS, 10 am; Worship, 11 am; Eve Worship, 6 pm

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, 1805 26TH ST W, Williston 1st Ward, Bishop Terry Packer, 701-609-5347; Sacrament Meeting 3:00 pm Sunday School 4:20pm YM/YW/RS/Priesthood 5:10pm Scripture Study, Thursday, 7pm 2nd Ward, Bishop Matt Azure, 406BEAVER CREEK LUTHERAN 769-2090; CHURCH, Pastor Jon Wellumson; 572- Sacrament Meeting 8:00 am 0853 SUN Worship Service, 9:00 am; Sunday School 9:20 10:00am, Sunday School YM/YW/RS/Priesthood 10:10pm 3rd Ward, Bishop Russell Gentry 707BETHEL FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 246-0681 CULBERTSON, MONT.; 406-787-9930 Sacrament Meeting 11:30 am SUN SS, 9:45 am; Worship, 11 am WED Sunday School 12:50pm Bible study, 7 pm YM/YW/RS/Priesthood 1:40pm Activity Night - Wednesday 7pm

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1601 1ST AVE W, 572-9018, 572-7445

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE, 1601 1ST AVE W, Rev. Nathan Porthen; 572-9018, 572-7445 Sunday: Sunday School for children, teens and adults -9:30-10:15 am Worship Service; Tuesday Prayer from 6:30 am Wednesday: Men\ s Prayer Breakfast-6:30 am Prayer Service- 7:00-7:30pm : Worship Team Practice-7:30-8:00pm Third Saturday of every month-Ladies Prayer Breakfast, 9:00 am-Third Sunday of every month-Mission Service

COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, FAIRVIEW, MONT. SUN Worship/SS, 11 am (MST) CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH, MISSOURI SYNOD Rev John Frahm III, 18th & MAIN,; 572-9021 www.concordiawilliston.com SUN 9:30a.m. Worship; 11:00a.m. Sunday School for all ages CORNERSTONE FBC, 1320 19th Ave. W.; 572-2724; www.cornerstonefbc.us SUN SS & Connect Groups, 9:30 am; Worship Service, 10:45 am WED 7

Church Directory

EMMANUEL FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1213 3RD AVE W, WILLISTON

p.m. Prayer Time THURS Worship, 7:17pm

EMMANUEL FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH, AFLC, 1213 3RD AVE W, Rev. Jon Wellumson; 572-0138 SUN : Sunday School for all ages, 9:30am; Worship, 11:00am WED Youth Bible Study, 6:30 p.m. EPIPHANY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 112 6TH AVE NE, WATFORD CITY, Father Brian Gross; 842-3791 SAT Mass, 5:30 pm SUN Mass, 10:45 am

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WILLISTON HERALD

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH 1805 Main Street, Williston, 572-9021

FELLOWSHIP CHURCH (Reformed); 317 8th S East, Williston, ND: WED 7pm, Bible Study FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 302 NE 4TH ST, TIOGA, Pastor James Booth; 664-3573 SUN SS, 9:30 am; Worship w/Lord\ s Supper, 10:45 am FRI Joint Service New Hope, 12 Noon

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 400 7TH AVE NW, WATFORD CITY, Rev. John R. Lane; 842-6978 EPPING LUTHERAN CHURCH, SUN SS, 10 am; Worship, 11 am; Pastor Steve Anderson; 568-3376 SUN KMHA Radio 91.3 FM, 11 am; Evening 10:00am, Sunday School 11:00am, Worship (oilfield workers and others), Worship WED 7:00pm, Church Council 7 pm WED Fellowship Meal & Bible Study - Church Fellowship Hall, 7 pm FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), SAT Oil Field Workers\ Breakfast HWY 85, 17 MILES NORTH OF WILLIS- Church Fellowship Hall, 5:30-7 am TON; 572-2667: SUN Worship: 10am; Sunday School, 9:30am FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 916 MAIN, Pastor Martin Mock, ; 572FAITH UNITED METHODIST 6363 SUN Worship times: 9:00am, CHURCH, 219 1ST AVE W, Pastor Sanctuary; 10:00am, Chapel; 11:00am, Mark Britton; 572-7694 Sanctuary WED 6:30pm SAT 6:03pm, GIFT meal worship service SUN 9:15am Sunday school for FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), ages 2-adult; 10:00am, Coffee Fellow- 313 S TORNING, TIOGA, Pastor Sandy ship; 10:45am, Worship Service Anderson; 664-2824

CORNERSTONE FBC, 1320 19th Ave. W. ; 572-2724; www.fbcwilliston.com

SUN SS, 9:30 am; Adult SS, 9:45 am; Worship, 11 am; Chapel @TMC-LTC, 4 pm; Annual Bake Sale, Sat, Dec 13 @ 2pm. Pie & Coffee Served. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 315 4TH AVE E, WATFORD CITY, Rev. Sharon Norstog; 842-3408 SUN Worship, 10:30 am

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH, WILLISTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY, Pastor Paul Licciardi (701) 818-7707 1302 Davidson Drive, Independent, K.J.B SUN: Worship, 11:00 am Where the fundamentals are Preached GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), 1821 9TH AVE W,; 572-2667; Rev David Maxfield

WILLISTON HERALD

Church Directory

JUNE 2016

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN,

CORNER OF 26TH ST and 9TH AVE W, Williston

SUN 9:30 a.m., Contemporary Worship WED Glory Band 8:00 p.m. SAT 5:00 p.m. Worship GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN, CORNER OF 26TH ST and 9TH AVE W, 774-8919, www.willistongoodshepherd.com SUN Worship, 11:00 a.m. Coffee, 10:00 am; Sunday School; 10:15 a.m GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, Wildrose; Pastor Zacharias Shipman & Pastor Emily Shipman SUN 10:00am, Worship; WED 7:00am, Men\ s Breakfast KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, 572-8609 SUN Bible Discourse and Watchtower Study, 10am TUE Book study, 7:30pm LIBERTY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH, 506 W 14TH ST, 572-8767 Pastor Brian Martin SUN Worship Services: 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. LIFE CHURCH ASSEMBLY OF GOD, 1905 26TH ST W, 572-5042 lifechurchwilliston.com Service Times: 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am Children\ s & Youth Activities,

6:30pm, Wednesdays Lead Pastor: Chris Walstad Children & Family Pastor: Dan Dangerfield Youth Pastor: Colin Delaney Worship Arts Pastor: Rochelle Heilbrun Young Adult Pastor: Josh Heilbrun LIGHT OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH (AALC), 512 17th St. W., ; 774-3827; Rev. Morris Kirchhof, Interim Pastor SUN Family Worship and Praise Service, 9:30 A.M.; Family Fellowship Time, 10:35am; THURS NO Women\ s Bible Study, 2 p.m. FRI NO Men\ s Friday Morning Bible Study @ Gramma Sharon\ s 7 a.m. LIGHT OF THE WORLD FELLOWSHIP, 22 2ND ST W, Pastoral Care SAT Children’s church and prayer, 5 pm; Worship service, 6 pm LIVING FAITH, PO BOX 992, 212 2nd AVE NW, WATFORD CITY, ND 58854 SUN 8:34 am WED Confirmation, 6 pm; Wednesday School, 7 pm; Bible Study, 7 pm LUTHERAN BRETHREN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH, 213 26th St. E.; Pastor Ron Erickson; 572-6256 SUN

LIBERTY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH, 506 W 14TH ST, 572-8767

Light of Christ Lutheran Church 512 17th Street West Sunday School/Bible Hour, 8:45am; Worship Service, 10:00am: Communion, 11:15am TUES Prayer Time, 9:00am WED Men\ s Prayer Breakfast @ Dakota Farms, 6:30 a.m.; 180: 7:00-9:00pm; Youth Lock-in 7:00pm THURS Bible Study @ Briarwood 10 a.m.; Woman\ s ministries, 7:00pm MISSION LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMC, Worshipping in the Chapel at Bethel Home, 1515 2nd Ave. W..; Pastor Kevin R. Beard, 701-580-7030

SUN Coffee 10:30 am, Worship Service at 11:00 am WED Bible Study, 7:00pm NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH OF GOD Meeting at, 6330 2nd Ave W, Frontier Museum, Pastor Wayne Sharbono, 352-895-4702 SUN Worship 10:30 a.m. Bilingual Gathering/Servicio Bilingue Adrian & Janice Nieto; 701-770-8545 SUN: Healing Services @ Harmon Park, 10:30am & 2pm Domingo a las 10:30am & 2pm FRI Community Library 6pm

Church Directory

JUNE 2016

WILLISTON HERALD

From on Page 4: New Hope: Serving the community We know our roots, but we aren’t a stoically denominational church… We are strongly Evangelical,” Skor said. “There’s a lot of communities within four hours of us that have virtually no Evangelical church presence and we’re working on bringing churches to them. Many of those places don’t have the resources to have independent churches.” Even as the church grows, it hasn’t lost sight of its original mission. Started 56 years ago in the home of Jim and Carolyn Smith, who still attend New Hope services every Sunday, the church continues to be a presence for good in the community. Among the church’s community minded projects is their Faith in Action movement that helps fix and clean up schools around the Williston area. “We know we grow best when we’re serving, so we reach out to our community,” Skor said. “Last Sunday, we had our Faith in Action program where we don’t meet for our typical Sunday morning worship service and instead spread out around the region — hundreds of New Hopers going as far away as Medicine Lake and Ray, going to nearly public school to help on things the school system either didn’t have the time or resources to do.” Only after the work was done was it time for fellowship and lunch at Harmon Park.

“Then we had a huge picnic, just to let people connect,” Skor said. “We want to be here for the community… We’re not just a church for us; we’re a church to serve the community.” Even the impressive campus building is an expression of that community inclu-

sion, Skor said. “When we finished expansion of the facility about a year-and-a-half ago, we built it specifically for the community,” Skor said. “We built space to lease out to local coffee shops… we have an indoor playground 7-days-a-week that’s open

whenever the coffee shop is open. We have rooms and space for meetings and birthday parties at minimal cost — just to cover the custodial cost and utilities. We have concerts here frequently — good, family concerts. It’s a fun place for people to come.”

Get to know New Hope Wesleyan Church Do you have any child care provided? We have childcare provided during our Sunday Services. Quest Kids for ages 6 months-5th grade. Do you have an active youth group? Yes. Our youth group is called Encounter Student Ministries. They meet on Wednesdays during the school year. Mid High 6:30-7:45 PM and Senior High 8:15-9:30 PM. Average attendance is 136. What ministries do you have that help serve the community? -Single Ladies’ Oil Change (free of charge) twice a year -Thanksgiving Baskets for those in need in the community -Faith In Action (we pick one Sunday in June when we cancel our regular services and go out into the community to serve) -Celebrate Recovery, Ongoing benevolence, Kids’ Ministry, Youth Ministry

Do you have contemporary, traditional or both styles of worship? Contemporary What time are your services? Do you have Sunday School? Sunday Services 9:30 & 11:15 AM; no Sunday School What else goes on during the week at your church? -Indoor playground and Meg-a-LAtte Coffee Shop that are open to the community during the week. -Quest Kids (ages 4yrs old-5th grade) on Wednesdays (during the school year) 6:30-7:30 PM -Over 30 small groups meeting throughout the week...for people all ages...Men’s Groups, Women’s Groups, Young Adult groups. How big is your church? The average weekly attendance? 1,176

WILLISTON HERALD

Church Directory

JUNE 2016

NEW HOPE WESLEYAN CHURCH, 721 W. 26TH ST.; 572-HOPE SUN Worship, 9:30am, 11:15am; WED Kids Quest,Youth Worship Middle School,High School, 7:30 pm

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, TRENTON, Rev. Russell Kovash, 5720236, 774-7967 SUN Mass, 11 am Holy Day Masses 7 am, 12:10 pm & 7 pm

NORTHWEST UNITED LUTHERAN PARISH Pastors Emily & Zachariah Shipman 9:00 Worship @ Concordia (Crosby) 9:00 Worship @ Grace (Wildrose) 11:00 Worship @ Faith (Ambrose) 11:00 Worship @ Calvary (Alamo)

ST JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 300 2ND ST. S., FAIRVIEW, MT, 7425332, Rev. David Warner SUN Adult Bible Study, 7:30 am; Worship, 8:30 am; SS, 9:45 am

OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CATHOLIC CHURCH Father Brian Gross, Alexander, ND SUN: 8:30 a.m. Mass OUR REDEEMER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH (AALC), 1024 6THST W, ; 572-3724 SUN: 9:00am, Worship Service/Holy Communion; 10:00am, Coffee Fellowship; 11:15am Worship Service (Chapel); MON: Weight Loss Support Group, 4:30pm TUES 7:00pm, Worship Service; Open AA Meeting, 7:00pm WED: 9:00am, Quilting THURS 6:00pm, TOPS OUR SAVIOR\ S LUTHERAN CHURCH, RURAL WILLISTON; 5726363 SUN 11 AM Worship Service RAY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 216 SCORE ST, Pastor Steve Anderson; 568-3371 SUN 9:30am Worship; WED 7:00am, LMM; 10am, Quilting SAVING GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH 1701 4TH STREET WEST, WILLISTON 701-570-7169 SUN - Worship Service 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. ST BONIFACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, GRENORA; 694-3743 SUN Mass, 9 am; HOLY DAY Masses, 8:30 am

ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 106 6TH ST W, Rev. Russell Kovash, 572-0236 SUN Mass 9 am; MON: Mass, 7 pm TUES-FRI Mass, 7 am SAT Confessions, 3:30-4:30 pm; Mass, 5 pm HOLY DAY MASSES, 7 am, 12:10 pm, 7 pm ST. MICHAEL and ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CARTWRIGHT; (701) 744-5310 or call (701) 570-4949 The Rev. Randy Keehn SUN Sunday worship at 10:30am ST MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH, RAY, Father Benny; 664-2445, 6643531 SUN Mass, 9 am WED Mass, 9 am ST OLAF LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), GRENORA, 694-3411; SUN Worship, 9:00am ST PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 111 E 14TH ST, 572-9278; Rev. Michael K. Paul SUN 11:00 a.m. Worship Service TUES First Tues of the month, 7:00pm, Free Community Supper WED 6:30pm, Youth Group; SAT 11:00am, Men\ s Fellowship Meeting ST THOMAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 213 N GILBERTSON, TIOGA, Father Benny; 664-2445, 664-3531 SUN Mass, 9 am TUE -FRI Mass, 9:15 am SAT Mass, 7 pm

SALVATION ARMY, 15 MAIN, Captains Joshua & Rhegan Stansbury; 572-2921 SUN SS-9:30a, Holiness Meeting-11a,TUE: Bible Study - 7p, Women\ s Ministries - 8p WED: Youth Activities - 5p TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2419 9th Ave W. 774-9056 THURS: Youth Church, 2:45pm TRINITY LUTHERAN (ELCA), 7 MILES SOUTH OF TIOGA, Pastor Sandy Anderson; 664-2580 SUN Worship, 11 am TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 214 S. LINCOLN, SIDNEY, MT, Rev. David Warner SUN Worship, 11 am TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, RURAL WILLISTON; 572-2992 SUN Worship, 9 am UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), ZAHL, 694-3411; SUN Worship, 11:00 a.m. WATFORD CITY AREA LUTHERAN PARISH; Pastor Rob Favorite & Pastor Mark Honstein; 842-3244 SUN 10 a.m. Sunday School @ Banks Lutheran; 11 a.m. Worship @ Banks Lutheran; (first 2 Sundays of the month); 10 a.m. Sunday School @ Garden Lutheran; 11 a.m. Garden Lutheran Church (last 2 Sundays of the month); 9 a.m. First Lutheran Traditional Worship; 10 a.m. First Lutheran Sunday School; 11 a.m. First Lutheran Family Worship WATFORD CITY ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH, S. OF CITY, Pastor Sheldon McGorman, Nick Ybarra, Shannon Combs; Church 842-3353 SUN SS, 9:45 am; Worship, 10:45 am WED Bible quiz/Youth/Mpact/Adult Bible Study, 7-8 pm

WATFORD CITY SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, 315 6TH ST NW, Pastor Peter J Simpson, 701-5801676 SAT Sabbath School for everyone, 10:00 am; Worship, 11:15 am, Potluck, 12:30pm WED Bible Study & Prayer, 7:00pm WATFORD CITY WESLEYAN CHURCH, 304 2ND AVE NE, Pastor Jeff Ruggles; 842-2355 SUN SS, 10 am; Worship, 11 am WED Wed. Night Youth, 7 pm WILLISTON BASIN FELLOWSHIP, 2419 9th Ave. W., Williston, 701-7700039 - Worshipping in TCS, Non-Denominational SUN 10 a.m. Coffee and Donuts; 10:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Service WEST PRAIRIE LUTHERAN, 15 MILES WEST ON HWY 2, THEN NORTH 7 MILES ON WMS CTY #5 (GRENORA ROAD), ; 774-8919 SUN Sunday School, 10:00 am, Coffee, 10:30am; Worship, 9:00 am WILLISTON SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH FELLOWSHIP, 701 2nd Ave. W, Williston; Pastor Peter J Simpson, 701-850-5731 www.willistonadventist22.adventistchurchconnect.org SAT Sabbath School for everyone, 10 am; Worship, 11 am; Potluck, 12:30 TUES Prayer Meeting, 6:00pm WILMINGTON LUTHERAN CHURCH, ARNEGARD, Pastor Dan Paulson SUN Worship, 10:00 am ZION LUTHERAN (AFLC), TIOGA, Pastor Richard Carr SUN Family Sunday School 9:00; Traditional Worship 10:30

Church Directory

JUNE 2016

WILLISTON HERALD

Get to know LifeChurch Assembly of God What are some key theological differences that set you apart from other local congregations? Life Church preaches from the entire Bible. Our sermons focus on timely, relevant messages, right from the Word of God, that are applicable to everyday living. We focus on genuine, meaningful worship, in an environment that allows people to come to know Jesus Christ on a deeper, more personal level. Do you have any child care provided? Life Church provides classes for the 10:00am and 11:30am services. We have a fully-prepped nursery, with trained and highly-qualified staff. Every volunteer undergoes an application process (including a background check) before they begin ministry. We have a full team of faithful and committed people taking care of your children. Do you have an active youth group? Every Wednesday night at 6:30pm, our REMEDY Youth Group and our Kids Ministry meet. It is divided into two age groups: Kids Ministry (for nursery age – 6th grade) and REMEDY Youth (7th grade through 12th grade). At these Youth Groups, we have worship, games, socializing, snacks and fun! What ministries do you have that help serve the community? Life Church participates in MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) during the school year. We also partner with Salvation Army for various projects, including meeting twice a month for making food boxes. This year, Life Church is partnering with New Hope in the “Faith in Action” event, which involves various community services. Do you have contemporary, traditional or both styles of worship? Life Church offers both styles of worship. Our 8:30am Sunday service is more tra-

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ditional in style, while our 10:00am and 11:30am services are more contemporary. While we do have some variations in format, sincere and meaningful worship is the biggest focus of our services. What time are your services? Do you have Sunday School? We have three Sunday services on Sunday: 8:30am, 10:00am, and 11:30am. While Life Church does not offer a traditional Sunday School, we do have Kids Ministry at 10:00am and 11:30am on Sunday (held in a different room while the main Sunday Services are being held). What else goes on during the week at your church? Every Tuesday at 7:00pm, our young adult group, AfterHours, meets for discussion, socializing, and snacks – A great way to connect with other young adults your age. Coming soon, Life Church will also be starting an archery-based outreach program (from Center Shot Ministries), a fun and exciting program for all ages. How big is your church? The average weekly attendance? Life Church averages about 500 attendees for every Sunday service. We also reach out to our community region with our TV broadcast on KUMV Channel 8, on Sundays at 9:00am. Why should someone consider coming to your church? Life Church is a friendly, exciting, and hope-filled community. We welcome people from all different walks of life. Here, you will meet outgoing and genuine people – the kind you make lifelong friends with. Most importantly, Life Church is a great place to worship God – a perfect church for imperfect people.

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WILLISTON HERALD

JUNE 2016

Reconciliation at the heart of religious faith From their earliest days as members of the Church, Catholics are taught about the importance of reconciling their sins. That importance is formally recognized through the sacrament of reconciliation. Confession, and the frequency with which it should take place, varies depending on where a person is. People, parishes and even some areas of the world do it differently. While the expression and forgiveness of one’s sins may vary, confession remains a cornerstone of the Christian faith. Many people are first introduced to reconciliation as young children. Children preparing for their first Holy Communion must complete certain lessons and rites prior to being given the gift of the Eucharist. That includes participation in the sacrament of reconciliation. Confession and clearing oneself of mortal sin is done before receiving holy sacraments. It’s also customary during particularly solemn seasons of the Church, such as Advent and Lent. Parishioners who have become lax in attending church may want to visit the confessional to have their sins absolved before they can, in good conscience, receive the Eucharist once again. According to reference material provided by Catholics Come Home, Inc., an independent, nonprofit Catholic apostolate that inspires and educates, the sacrament of reconciliation was established by Jesus Christ so that people could have their sins washed away and experience the renewal that such absolution provides. Some may question why they have to confess their sins before a priest and why sins are not absolved when confessing them to God directly through prayer? Daily prayer is an important component of the faith, but reconciliation involves priests because of a belief in the Mystical Body of Christ. The faithful collectively form this “One Body,” so their actions are not independent of one another. When one person sins, all of the faithful are affected, and when one part of the Body shares joy, so do all others. This is best exemplified by the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:26. Even if the sins are not heard by others, they still have an impact. Therefore, confession before a priest serves as a more public way to be absolved of sin by the entire Body of Christ, as

Did You Know?

Church Directory

the priest is a representative of this faithful community. Sin can form a separation among the Body, and the sacrament of reconciliation helps mend that rift. A core tenet of Christianity is that God loves all sinners. It’s understood that even the most faithful can falter, and by participating in reconciliation, men, women and children demonstrate that they recognize their errors and that, in spite of those mistakes, they will always be welcomed in the eyes of God.

In addition to being the most widely practiced of the world religions, with some 2.4 billion adherents, Christianity also is one of the most influential religions in history. More than 2,000 years ago, Christianity began as a small sect of Judaism in ancient Israel and areas primarily known today as the Middle East. The crux of the religion is the teachings and the miracles exemplified through Jesus Christ. “Christ” means “the anointed one” and is not Jesus’ last name. He was born of God the Father and sent down from heaven to fulfill the Old Testament laws and prophecies. Many people were easily swept up by Jesus thanks to his charisma and peaceable nature and message. Christianity teaches that people were changed and relieved of sin by Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Christianity, God sees people as being worthy and made whole more so by their faith in what Christ did on the cross than by any individual efforts or works. Through the years, Christianity has weathered schisms, and now there are many different denominations, each with their own specific beliefs. The Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and Protestant Church comprise the three largest branches of Christianity.

Church Directory

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

JUNE 2016

WILLISTON HERALD

Confirmation occurs when a young person confirms the promises made on his or her behalf during baptism. Confirmation marks the final sacrament of Christian initiation and further links a person to the Church and his or her faith. A key aspect of confirmation is the presence of the Holy Spirit. Although the Holy Spirit acts in each of the sacraments, it is perhaps during confirmation when the greatest connection is made. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “the effect of the sacrament of confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.” The Holy Spirit serves as a guide and helper to all. What gifts does the Holy Spirit bring? Various theologians describe them as such. 1. Wisdom: This is a person’s ability to value spiritual things over worldly possessions. It helps one desire items that bring people closer to God. 2. Understanding: A gift of comprehension, understanding is the ability to absorb the meanings and teachings of the Church. This gift also helps people to be more tolerant of and sympathetic toward others. Having understanding means being able to recognize when others need compassion or assistance. 3. Right judgement/Council: A person who has received this gift knows the difference between right and wrong. This is essential for avoiding sin and leading a life that mirrors that of Christ. The gift of council also inspires people to encourage others to do what is right. 4. Courage: Being faithful requires courage, especially when a person’s beliefs may not be accepted, and may even be feared, by others. Courage allows one to stand up and defend his or her faith and be firm in decisions as they pertain to religion. 5. Knowledge: The gift of knowledge guides a person on the path that will lead to God. Knowledge assists as the faithful look to avoid any obstacles that would derail their efforts. 6. Reverence: Also known as piety, this gift is confidence and obedience in God. It also makes a person want to serve God and others. Reverence fosters a greater respect for the Church and its teachings. 7. Wonder and awe: This gift makes the magnificence of God that much more apparent. A portion of this gift is fear; not a fear in God, but a fear of offending him through sin. Confirmation is marked by the sealing of one’s faith through the power of the Holy Spirit, further strengthening the seven gifts bestowed upon believers at baptism.

Christians in the world

Christianity’s predominance in the world makes it a powerful influence. That influence is perhaps even Each year, millions of young people commit to the more remarkable when considering Christianity sacraments and profess to fulfill the tenets of the originated with a modest following of 12 disciples Christian faith. Each sacrament helps Christians just over 2,000 years ago. In addition, the number strengthen the bonds they have with their faith. of Christians in the world now greatly outnumbers Christianity has a significant impact on local comthe amount of subscribers to Judaism — the religion munities, as evidenced by the crowded parking lots from which Christianity evolved. outside Christian churches each Sunday morning. But Christianity has reached every corner of the globe. Christianity is a global religion that influences life far According to data from the prayer guide, Operation beyond the borders of North America. World, the United States and Canada are not even According to Adherents.com, at the onset of the 21st among the 25 most Christian countries based on century, Christianity had approximately 2.4 billion ad- population percentage. However, the sheer number herents. Around one-third of the world’s population of Christians residing in the highly populated United identifies as Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, States helps America earn the title as the country Pentecostal, Evangelical, or another denomination of with the greatest number of Christians. The followChristianity. And the number of Christians continues ing is a list of countries with the largest number of to grow. For example, the Catholic Church alone individuals identifying as Christian, according to Pew has as many adherents as all of the people living in Research Center information from 2010. China.

1. United States: 246,780,000 2. Brazil: 175,700,000 3. Mexico: 113,500,000 4. Nigeria: 92,281,000 5. Philippines: 86,500,000 6. Russia: 67,640,000 7. Republic of Congo: 68,558,000 8. Ethiopia: 54,978,000 9. Italy: 54,070,000 10. Germany: 50,000,000 In terms of the country with the highest percentage of Christians, Nicaragua holds that honor, as nearly 98 percent of Nicaraguans identify as Christian. Christianity is a far-reaching religion that is unrivaled in terms of the number of adherents. What began in a small area of the Middle East has now spread to billions of people across the globe.

WILLISTON HERALD

JUNE 2016

Individual religious documents must be stored in a safe place Maintaining good records can be beneficial in a variety of ways. People sometimes have a need to consult important paperwork, such as birth certificates, social security cards and mortgage contracts, and the ability to organize such documents effectively can make it easier to handle those situations when these records are needed. Important documents should be kept in a safe, easily accessible place, and the same can be said for educational documents and religious certificates. Parents need to access their kids’ records during Communion and Confirmation season. Completing early sacraments is often a prerequisite to participating in those that come later in life. Catholic children who do not attend a Catholic school will need to be enrolled in faith formation classes in order to receive Holy Communion or to be confirmed in the church. In addition, they will need to provide proof that they are practicing members of the faith. For example, many churches and religious educational organizations require copies of baptismal certificates for children to be eligible to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation. These same certificates may be necessary later in life as well, most notably when men and women want to get married in a church. Parents may want to store their kids’ religious documents in a folder. This makes it easier when kids become adults and must prove that they have completed the sacraments. Keep these items in a secure place, such as a home safe or in a

Church Directory

safety deposit box. If these documents are lost and need to be replaced, it can take time to contact the parish or church where sacraments took place. Godparents or those serving as Confirmation sponsors may also need to produce certain documents. Churches typically require documentation from godparents and sponsors to verify that they are practicing members of the faith and will guide the children they are sponsoring accordingly. Sponsors may find they will need to provide a letter from a pastor or priest verifying their attendance at church and status as an active participant. Copies of sacramental certificates may also be required. Knowing these requirements in advance helps everyone participating in sacraments to be prepared for what is expected of them during this religious journey.

Communion ceremonies vary among denominations The celebration of Holy Communion is a thread that links all Christians. While the components of receiving the Eucharist are similar, each church and denomination has its own variations on the sacrament. The depiction of Holy Communion on television and in movies routinely shows the Catholic celebration, so many are familiar with how Catholics receive the Eucharist. But members of other Christian churches celebrate the sacrament differently. Lutheran Lutheran beliefs are similar to those of Catholics, but there are some differences in the vocabulary used to describe the Eucharist. The term “transubstantiation” is not used in the Lutheran Church to describe the change of the bread and wine into Christ. Furthermore, Catholics maintain the practice of reserving communion wafers in the tabernacle, believing that Christ is still present. According to Busted Halo, an online magazine for spiritual seekers, Lutherans do not believe that the presence of Christ continues in the bread and wine after the time of the Eucharistic celebration.

Orthodox Orthodox Christians believe that the Eucharist is a sacrament, but they refer to it as a “mystery” rather than a “sacrament.” Followers accept the Real Presence of the Eucharist but do not attempt to explain how this change occurs. The service is commonly known as the Divine Liturgy in many Orthodox churches. Reformed and Presbyterian Presbyterian and Reformed denominations have a different view of the Eucharist. Derived from the teachings of John Calvin, Reformed and Presbyterian churches teach that Christ is not literally present in the bread and wine. Instead, Presbyterians believe that Christ is spiritually present and is received with the power of the Holy Spirit for the faithful. Baptists and Other Groups Baptists and similar denominations largely view The Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of Christ’s suffering. According to the spiritual resource Christianity in View,

many deny any form of physical or spiritual presence of Christ in the bread and wine. In addition to the practices reserved for each denomination, there may be other rules regarding the celebration of Mass and the Eucharist. For example, the Vatican mandates that only Roman Catholics who are in good standing with the Church and are free from mortal sin are allowed to participate in the Eucharist. In addition, Catholics must fast for an hour before receiving Communion, while some churches make Communion open to any Christian. Some churches offer Communion every day or once per week. Others do it less often. Celebrants may walk up to the altar to receive from a common cup and bowl, while others pass around the Eucharist among parishioners. What’s distributed also may be different. Fruit juice may be substituted for wine. No matter how the Eucharist is shared and celebrated, it remains a sacred component of church ceremonies.

Church Directory How to choose a confirmation sponsor

JUNE 2016

WILLISTON HERALD

Sponsors have long played a role in Christianity. Confirmation sponsors in particular serve as living witnesses, ready to speak to the church and community on behalf of the confirmand’s readiness to continue his or her devotion to his or her faith. The role a Confirmation sponsor plays in the confirmand’s life does not end with celebration of the sacrament. This person will play a vital part of one’s religious life and can be a person to turn to when questions about faith arise or just when a person just needs someone to speak to. Therefore, choosing a Confirmation sponsor requires forethought. The sponsor also must conform to the guidelines imposed by the Catholic Church. The criteria for a sponsor are: • The person must be at least 18 years old. • He or she must be a confirmed Catholic and have received the Sacrament of Communion. • The sponsor must be in good standing with the Catholic Church and must be a current, practicing Catholic. • A godparent can serve as a Confirmation sponsor. • A sponsor cannot be the father or the mother of the confirmand. • Some churches prefer the sponsor be the same gender as the confirmand to make it easier to communicate. Confirmands should keep in mind that the sponsor will be required to attend the ceremony and should therefore be someone who lives nearby. In some cases, a church may allow a person to stand in as a proxy for the sponsor if he or she cannot make the trip. Choosing someone who is nearby or a member of the family also helps facilitate conversations about faith and enables the sponsor to routinely check in on the person he or she is sponsoring. Confirmands should avoid selecting a sponsor based on popularity or because choosing a particular person is what their parents or another family member wants them to do. A confirmand who is torn over which person to ask to be his sponsor can pray on the subject in an effort to make their choice easier. During the ceremony, the Confirmation sponsor will put his or her hand on the confirmand’s shoulder to provide support during the blessing. Many sponsors choose to bestow a special gift on the confirmand, such as a rosary or Bible.

The meaning of Confirmation Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments within the Catholic faith. During Confirmation, Catholics receive the Holy Spirit and become adults in the eyes of the church. Most Catholics are confirmed around the ages of 14 or 15, and the ceremony is presided over by a bishop, who possesses the fullness of the priesthood but also rules a diocese as its chief pastor. Though once routinely performed before a child reached his or her first birthday, nowadays the western Catholic church confers the sacrament when people are old enough to understand it. After the Second Vatican Council, which occurred in the 1960s and addressed the relationship between the Catholic Church and the modern world, it became normal for Catholics to receive the sacrament of Confirmation between the sixth and tenth grades. This time span is considered to be the age of discretion, or when Catholics have a reached a point in their lives where they have been deemed to be morally responsible.

WILLISTON HERALD

Church Directory

JUNE 2016

Get to know St. Joseph’s Parish What are some key theological differences that set you apart from other local congregations? Here are three: 1. Catholics believe that the living Word of God is passed through history both in writing, known as Sacred Scripture and orally, known as Sacred Tradition. (2 Thess. 2:15; John 21:25; 1 Cor. 11:2) 2. Catholics believe we need more than faith alone to be saved as the apostle James and all the scriptures explain. 3. We believe that at the Last Supper and at every Mass the bread and wine become Jesus’ real body and blood as he told us. Do you have any childcare provided? Not at this time. Do you have an active youth group? Yes, throughout the school year. In July we will be bringing a group to Poland for World Youth Day to worship God with Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of other Christians around the world. What ministries do you have that help serve the community? The Knights of the Columbus help with various projects around the community, the Altar Society serves funeral lunches, and there are other various ministries.

Welcome to St. Joseph’s Parish Roman Catholic Church 106 6th St. W Williston, ND 58801 701-572-6731

Do you have contemporary, traditional or both styles of worship? Yes, but mostly traditional. What time are services? Do you have Sunday School? Weekend Mass times are 5:00pm Saturday and 9:00am Sunday. Also on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month we have Mass in Spanish at 2:00pm. We have faith formation on Wednesday evenings during the school year. What else goes on during the week at your church? Besides daily Mass and confessions, we have men’s group Wednesday mornings, men’s bible study Thursday evenings, a mothers’ group, and other groups at various times as seen on our website www.stjparish.com How big is your church? The average weekly attendance? There are between 900-1000 registered families in our church. There are about 700-900 who attend on any given week. Why should someone consider coming to your church? Since the Catholic Church is undeniably the oldest Church and has liturgy which is as old as the Last Supper, when you come to St. Joseph’s you will not experience the latest fad but rather an ancient way of worship with Jesus Christ himself present.

WEEKEND MASS TIMES

(Fulfills Sunday Obligation)

• SATURDAY 5:00 PM • SUNDAY 9:00 AM • SUNDAY 2:00 PM (This Mass is only on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. It is in Spanish.)

WEEKDAY MASS TIMES • MONDAY 7:00 PM • TUE - FRI 7:00 AM • WEDNESDAY 11:30 AM Hospital Mass • THURSDAY 10:00 AM Bethel Nursing Home • SATURDAY 8:00 AM

CONFESSION TIMES • TUE - FRI 6:30 - 6:50 AM • SATURDAY 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM; and 7:30 - 8:30 PM • SUNDAY 8:00 - 8:45 AM... or by appointment: 701-572-6731

VACATION BIBLE CAMP • JUNE 27 - JULY 1: ages 7 - 14

stjparish.com

WEEKLY EVENTS

(unless otherwise noted in bulletin)

SUNDAYS • 10:00 AM (after Mass) coffee and donuts, O’Neill Hall MONDAY - FRIDAY • Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament • Monday 3:00 - 10:00 PM • Tues - Wed 12:00 - 10:00 PM • Thursday 12:00 - 9:00 PM • Friday 12:00 - 4:00 PM NOTE: Times may vary if there are events in the church such as funerals, weddings, etc.

TUESDAYS • 5:45 AM Men’s Group, O’Neill Hall WEDNESDAYS • Morning Quilters, Parish Life Center THURSDAYS • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Scrip sales, St. Joseph’s School Office: • 8:00 PM Men’s Bible Study, Parish Life Center

MONTHLY EVENTS • FIRST TUESDAY 7:00 PM Catholic Daughters devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help - 7:30 PM Catholic Daughters meeting, O’Neill Hall • FIRST & THIRD TUESDAYS 7:00 PM MACH Mothers Group, Parish Life Center

PARISH OFFICE: parishsecretary@stjparish.com 701-572-6731 • FAITH FORMATION: dre@stjparish.com 701-572-0201 XNLV275557