Protestantism

Celebrating Lutheran Schools Week in hats, with cake (03/06/10)
To mark the final day of Lutheran Schools Week, to honor its "For a Lifetime of Service" theme and to celebrate his 60th birthday, Principal Dewey Torkelson served birthday cake to staff and students at Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School Friday afternoon. ...

Boundaries, pastors to change July 1 in six area churches (06/02/09)
The members of six area United Methodist congregations will be realigning next month. The Terril and Graettinger churches, which are served currently by Revs. David Kruse and Michael Shaffer respectively, are among the six. In addition, members of the Everly and Royal United Methodist churches, currently served by Revs. Annette Ruhs Kruse and James Stevens respectively, and the Zion and Langdon churches of rural Spencer, which are served by Ruhs Kruse and Kruse, will be partnering as of July 1...

Milford Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking scheduled for Sunday (03/26/09)
The local alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans continues to build hope for low-income families as the mortgage crisis unfolds nationwide. Since 2005, this alliance has given thousands of families across the nation an opportunity to achieve the American dream of homeownership...

Area search under way for 'Kids Against Hunger' volunteers (02/10/09)
Area volunteers are being sought to take part in a March 7 event that'll not only be fun, but is guaranteed to fill the heart. The service project anticipated to be filled with fellowship will have interested individuals and groups signing up to package meals for Kids Against Hunger...

Gladys Brekke Martz (12/18/08)
Services for Gladys Brekke Martz, 98 were held Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 at Faith Pentecostal Church in Spencer. Rev. Dale Hodges officiated the service. Interment took place at Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Gladys Brekke Martz was born in Linn Grove, on Feb. ...

Lend your voice to a country church sing-along (12/13/08)
The drapes at Zion United Methodist Church will be lifted Sunday night, with lit candles glowing in the windows. The picturesque country church scene in rural Spencer, similar to one found on a Terry Redlin-inspired Christmas card, will host an annual tradition area residents have looked forward to, and others return to take part in...

Holiday Weekend Happenings (12/13/08)
Due to the weather and the cancellation of Grand Meander the ice sculptures were put on hold. The wonderful volunteers that were planning to carve the ice have all agreed to do the carving this Saturday. Today, the ice sculpture (left) will be done -- locations for the sculptures starting at 9 a.m. will be at Arts on Grand, Bogenrief's Studio, Toads Coffee and The Hen House...

Patricia 'Pat' Jones (11/28/08)
Funeral services for Patricia "Pat" Jones, 68 of Spencer will be held at 2 p.m., today, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 at First Congregational Church of Spencer. Revs. Thomas and Wendy Van Tassell will officiate the service. Visitation will begin at 8 a.m. Friday with the family present from 10-11 a.m. at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer and will also be one hour prior to the funeral service at First Congregational Church...

Briefs 8-14-08 (08/14/08)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center today. ...

Briefs 8-13-08 (08/13/08)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center on Thursday, Aug. ...

Briefs 8-12-08 (08/12/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Briefs 8-06-08 (08/06/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Briefs 8-05-08 (08/05/08)
The Spencer Area Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale. --- Sacred Heart School Registration Registration for all Sacred Heart Elementary School pre-kindergarten through sixth grade students will be held from 12-6 p.m. today, in the school library...

Thrivent supports Ecumenical VBS (07/31/08)
Clay County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans donated $500 in supplemental funds to the Ecumenical Vacation Bible School held this summer in Royal. Thrivent board members Linda Yungbluth and Dennis Galloway presented the check to Betsy Brugman one of the coordinators of this year's Bible School. ...

Briefs 7-31-08 (07/31/08)
Registrations for the Spencer 3-6 grade teams, part of the Midwest Youth Football League, will only be accepted until tonight. A final registration will take place at Scharnbrg Park's shelter house from 6-8 p.m. tonight. At that time, late registrations who haven't had their sizes taken yet will be fitted. ...

Thrivent supports Kellie Powers' family (07/16/08)
Clay County Thrivent Financial for Lutherans board member Jim Anderson presented a check for $1,000 to Kellie Powers' family. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided supplemental funds for the Hamburger Grilling Fundraiser and Bake Sale held for Kellie. Accepting the funds on Kellie's behalf are her daughter Tristin Powers and husband Les Powers....

Thrivent calls on county groups to help with tornado relief effort (07/16/08)
The Clay County Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Chapter is challenging the communities and the congregations of Clay County to help those with lost homes and property near the tornado-ravaged vicinity of Parkersburg. Thrivent will leverage any community donations with supplemental funding. All funds raised will stay in Iowa to be used by Lutheran Disaster Relief to help the families who are still trying to piece their lives back together after the storm...

Briefs 7-10-08 (07/10/08)
Arts on Grand will present Music in the Gallery at 7 p.m. tonight. This week's featured musicians will be Tim and Amanda, and possibly a few special guests. They will perform music for guitar and voice with a country flavor, including covers of songs made famous by such groups as Creedence Clearwater Revival. A $5 donation is requested, with proceeds going to the artists...

Briefs 7-09-08 (07/09/08)
The Spencer Area Farmer's Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale. --- Weekend Program at Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center will feature "Terrific Trees" at 10 a.m. on July 12...

Briefs 6-24-08 (06/24/08)
The Clay County Garden Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 25 at Arts on Grand, 408 N. Grand Ave., Spencer. The program will be on soil and roses. n For more information, contact Twila Henning at 262-1447 or Sue Biederman at 260-1143. --- The local Alzheimer's support group will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, June 30 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer...

Church Briefs 5-30-08 (05/30/08)
All area women are invited to the "Let's Have Flowers" prayer connection at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4 in the home of Bonnie Neisess, Treasure Village on Highway 86. It is a time of sharing and supporting each other with prayer and fellowship. Okoboji Women's Connection is a part of Stonecroft Ministries...

Clay County teens tantalize taste buds with BatschStein Salsa (05/29/08)
Don't even try to get Tyler Steinkamp and Ethan Batschelet to tell you what the secret ingredient in their salsa is. The two 18-year-old Clay County residents won't disclose the special ingredient that gives their Batschstein Salsa (a combination of their Swiss and German names) its special taste...

Briefs 5-28-08 (05/28/08)
Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School students will present their annual end-of--the-year musical titled "Livin' Inside Out in an Upside Down World," based on Psalm 51:6, at 7 p.m. tonight at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 500 Fourth Ave. S.W., Spencer...

Briefs 5-23-08 (05/23/08)
The Avenue of Flags committee is in need of help. It takes a lot of work each year to prepare for Memorial Day. Before the display of flags can get put up, the over 1,200 pipes in the ground that the flags go into need to be found. The more helpers, the easier it is and the faster it goes for all...

First Congregational Church to donate playhouse (05/23/08)
Currently on the grounds of First Congregational Church of Spencer sits a log-cabin playhouse, located near the entrance to the sanctuary. At the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 25, the entire congregation will gather around the house for a prayer of dedication as the playhouse is destined to become a fixture in the backyard of the Clay county CAASA (Center Against Abuse and Sexual Assault) shelter...

Graham to bestow handcrafted gift of music to First Baptist Church (05/17/08)
Stephan Graham would like to own another electric guitar. The 17-year-old son of Richard and Julie Graham, Spencer, began playing as an eighth grader who took lessons at school. As his musical interest has grown, Graham's acquired an electric Ibanez RG3 and a Ventura acoustic guitar...

Briefs 05-02 (05/02/08)
Spencer fall youth football sign-ups Registration for the Midwest Youth Football League fall session, for Spencer students entering the third through sixth grades will take place from 2-4 p.m., Saturday, May 3 in the Sacred Heart Catholic School gym. Registration forms will be available on site and participants will be fitted for helmets and shoulder pads at that time...

Welcoming May (05/01/08)
Jeanette Petersen, Peg Norris, Lorrie Hoffman, Pat Johnson and Polly Nolson (above) enjoy some fellowship at the 63rd annual First Congregational Church's May Breakfast Wednesday morning in the church's dining area. In addition to the over 2,000 May Day baskets which were available, homemade sweet rolls, baked goods, egg coffee, and pecans were served. (below) Kaye Price shows Muriel Schoelerman a special Spencer Tiger May Basket as she contemplates a purchase...

Briefs 4-29 (04/29/08)
Ladies Early Bird Golf sign up The Ladies Early Bird Golf League sign-up meeting will be at 9 a.m. today at Spencer Municipal Golf Course. n If unable to attend this meeting, call Bev Kimball at 262-6913 to reserve your team spot. New members and substitutes are needed. League play will begin at 8:30 a.m. May 13...

Briefs 04-26 (04/26/08)
Lutheran World Relief Rummage Sale Bethany Lutheran Church will host a rummage sale to benefit Lutheran World Relief from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. today in the church basement dining room. Celiac Sprue group to meet today The Northwest Iowa Celiac Sprue support group will have a general meeting from 2-4 p.m. today in the Cedar Room at Spencer Hospital...

Briefs 4-23 (04/23/08)
Photographers exhibit at Lakes Art Center Members of the Northwest Iowa Professional Photographers Association will have an exhibit in the Pearson Lakes Art Center Secondary Space thru May 22. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 24, from 6-7 p.m...

2007 Citizens of the Year - Tom and Wendy Van Tassell named Citizens of the Year (04/03/08)
-Pair united in their mission to help others- One child. One family. One smile at a time. The 2007 Citizen of the Year honorees, Tom and Wendy Van Tassell, have worked to improve this corner of the world since joining the Spencer community in 1997 as co-pastors of First Congregational Church...

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