Vacancy pastor Joshua Skogen: Filling in for Evangelical Lutheran Churches 2021
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FAMILY - Vacancy pastor Joshua Skogen, his wife, Katie, and their children, Caleb (12), Micah (10), Lana (9), Nora (7), and twins Luke and Levi (3).
By BARB FINSETH
Staff Writer
Pastor Joshua Skogen began serving the Hartland and Manchester Evangelical Lutheran Churches as vacancy pastor at the beginning of August of this year. Previously, Pastor Shawn Stafford served for 10 years with the people of these two churches before leaving to fill a position as an assistant professor in the Religion Department at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.
In the Evangelical Churches, it is customary for a local pastor of their fellowship to serve a vacancy on a part-time basis until a full-time pastor is hired. Pastor Skogen is now serving as full-time pastor for Scarville and Center Lutheran congregations in Iowa. He has taken the responsibility to line up pastors or seminarians to cover each Sunday worship service for Hartland and Manchester. He also travels to Hartland to teach confirmation class, visit shut-ins, and provide personal pastoral care wherever it is needed.
Joshua and his wife, Katie, live in Scarville, Iowa with their six children, ages 12, 10, 9, 7, and identical twins three years old. In personal time, Joshua says he enjoys, "spending time with my family, visiting extended family, playing disc golf, and helping with the youth wrestling club in Lake Mills, Iowa.”
Joshua was born in Peru, but grew up on a dairy farm in rural Princeton, MN. When he was younger, some pastors began suggesting to Joshua that he should consider entering the ministry. Then he won the "future pastor" award at his church's youth camp, and, "That got me thinking about it. I love Christian doctrine and I care about the souls of others, so becoming a pastor seemed like a possible fit for me." With the encouragement of a pastor, he started his study in Greek and Hebrew in preparation for seminary.
In 2000, he earned an Associate of Arts degree at Bethany College, then continued his studies at Southwest Minnesota University, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in secondary education in mathematics. He worked for a few years before beginning his seminary education at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, graduating in 2010 with a Masters of Divinity degree.
Pastor Skogen served churches in Waukon, Iowa and Portage, Indiana before accepting the call to serve as full-time pastor with the Scarville and Center Evangelical churches in 2018. He says it is now such a pleasure to be able to meet and serve the people of the Hartland and Manchester congregations while they search for a full-time pastor.
The Hartland and Manchester churches are a part of the Lutheran denomination affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. They practice a conservative, traditional liturgy.
Pastor Skogen expands on the Evangelical Church’s beliefs: "We believe that the Bible is God's Word, and we submit to it as being authoritative in all that it says. The worship services use the historic liturgy, which we have shared in our Christian Church through generations. It keeps us focused on Jesus Christ, who was crucified for our forgiveness and eternal salvation."
Council approves 10% tax levy
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The City of New Richland accepted its preliminary tax budget calling for a 10.9% tax levy increase during its regular council meeting, Monday, Sept. 27.
In the 3-1 decision, Council Person Jason Casey cast the first no vote of any council member, on any decision, all year.
“I would like to see if each department could provide us with a budget including a 5% cut and a budget with a 10% cut,” Councilperson Casey stated. “We will have another meeting to discuss changing it before the December meeting.”
Mayor Gail Schmidt agreed and said, following meetings with the heads of various departments, they would return to the budget proposal in November. A work session was scheduled for Monday, November 17, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
The final budget meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13, 2021, where residents of New Richland can voice their opinions/concerns.
Tax levy increase set at 7.9 percent
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By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
Several guests were present to address the Ellendale City Council during its second meeting of the month on Thursday, Sept. 23. Gwen Reiss of Two Doves Boutique discussed the replacement of a mural in Ellendale’s community garden, for which she plans to raise funds and gain public input during the upcoming Fall Festival. Reiss presented two mural plans, one of which is the current mural on the building by the community garden, and the other is a historic “Ellendale” sign.
There were some concerns from the council regarding the idea. Councilperson Steph Kibler noted that it is still unknown if the mural, which alone will cost roughly $16,000, can be placed on the building. If it cannot, a post will need to be purchased to hold the sign, which will add another roughly $15,000 to the total cost of the project.
“If you hold a vote,” Kibler said, referring to a vote that is planned by Reiss during the Fall Festival for citizen input on the sign, “it’s still going to be at least two years before the City’s going to be able to budget for the installation.”
“That will leave time for the rest of the money [for the mural] to get raised,” Reiss said, adding, “and we’re at least a fourth of the way there.”
Coming in 2022: Bruss Heitner funeral home new building
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By SUE NASINEC
Owner, and director at Bruss Heitner Funeral Home
I have wanted to be a mortician since I was ten years old. Sadly, the death of one of my best guy friends led me to realize that I wanted to help people because I was fascinated by science and what could be done after a person died.
As a student at Ellendale-Geneva High School, the big 7th-grade half-hour report was renowned by the sixth graders (knowing it was coming up) and the 8th graders who were glad it was over. The teacher at the time was Douglas Parr, who I am happy to report I am still in contact with today. The report had to include several components: two interviews with someone directly related to your topic and props to get your point across. Well, challenge accepted.
I reached out to two people. The funeral director in New Richland, MN, Howard Fredriech, who owned and operated the funeral home. and my minister, Pr. Charles Espe, LeSueur River Lutheran Church. Those interviews lasted (according to my mom), longer than a couple hours due to my questions being answered in the best possible way. I reached out to the owner of the Ellendale Funeral Home, David Bonnerup, and interviewed him too. He allowed me to use the chapel for my presentation. We brought the whole 7th-grade class to the funeral home. David brought up his hearse, which sat outside the funeral home, an embalming machine, so I could explain how it was used, instruments, and memorial paraphernalia to share with my classmates.
I was so nervous about everyone’s arrival and for the report I was about to give that I ran to the bathroom and was not at the door as they arrived. So out of a possible 200 points, I received 198 because I was not ready at the door. (A lesson I learned and have never forgotten).
Farm and safety day: NRHEG’s 5th grade class takes part in 23rd annual event
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NRHEG 5th grade teachers Cassidy Williams, Marcus Fischer and Olivia Erickson watch and listen intently with their students as the mock accident unfolds during Student Farm Safety Day.
By BARB FINSETH
Staff Writer
More than 350 students from five area schools, including 63 NRHEG 5th graders, took part in Farmamerica’s 23rd Farm Bureau Farm and Home Safety Day, Tuesday, Sept. 14. The annual event takes place the third week in September at Waseca’s Farmamerica site during National Farm Safety and Health Week.
Event co-coordinator, Debbie Roemhildt, was assisted by volunteers, farmers, farm families, FFA students, and many businesses in setting up six safety stations, which students in their school groups rotated through, learning specific safety concerns on the farm. These included safety instructions on animals, tractor Power Take Off (PTO), ATV/boat/snowmobiles, electrical, chemical, and lawnmower/chainsaws.
The students and teachers attending were from NRHEG, WEM, JWP, Waseca, Trinity Lutheran, and Team Academy.
Each student received an event t-shirt creating a sea of red t-shirts everywhere on the grounds as they attended safety presentations, moved to the different stations, and ate picnic lunches. The weather co-operated beautifully and the kids were able to spend most of the day outside.