Author: Co/Mission Couples Ministry

April 16, 2020 Co/Mission Couples Ministry

It sure looks empty and dismal out there, doesn’t it? No people… no cars… in fact, it looks like 1920 out there even though I just took this photo today. Glad to say, there are some bright sunny memories to look at from the OneLife recent past. Scroll on to see!

February Stuff

Tubing the Badlands then BBQ with Street Level

Back in February, OneLife took a Saturday to hit the hills with Street Level. Skidding down the hill with 17 tubes tied together was quite the picture. We really enjoyed our time on the hill with those guys! Thanks for making winter bearable.

March Stuff

Frozen Chicken Curling… It’s a thing!

Then in March, we gathered on the ice of Lake Menomin for a challenging competition of Frozen Chicken Curling. It was actually really nice out that day. There was a large table of snacks and hot cocoa. Passers-by didn’t know what to make of it. I am sure we looked crazy but we had a lot of fun.

The winning team took home all 12 frozen chickens as their prize. That’s 2 per team member. Nice!

Pizza and Talk

Our last official gathering was in mid-March. We all drove to Hudson and gathered in Green Mill’s back meeting space to talk through one of the last sessions from our fall retreat. By the way, Green Mill pizza is beyond delicious. But we had a great time of fellowship and discussion. Making Space (by Jeff Vanderstelt) has been a challenging series to travel through.

What’s ahead?

Thanks to a global pandemic, meeting together has been suspended. There may be a possible online opportunity to meet together. We are discussing ins and outs of that. Beyond that, we continue to pray for each other and connect over the phone or by email now and again.

We’re all fantasizing about that day when we can all come back together… bonfire… hog roast… singing… dancing… but whether here or there or in the air, we will see you again sometime.

Peace… Out!
February 16, 2020 Co/Mission Couples Ministry

An Old-Fashioned House Hop

Gnosko has had a couple of group fellowship events recently.  First up was a Progressive Dinner in Mid-December.   It was an opportunity to host an old fashioned house hop.  We even dressed up a bit to add an element of something unique.   Each home had a small group responsible for setting up food and décor. We met prior to our first round to prepare together.   The full group showed up at each location to partake in that particular course.  We had three courses—appetizers, main dish, and dessert!  

What a great time was had by all in interaction, preparation, and more. These events are fun to change things up. To mix and mingle with the rest of the group. Along with the ones we had pairings with for the food prep portion.  The evening was capped off with a nice round of Baloney.   We truly learn more about one another when we get a peek into gaming strategies. Who’s competitive and who’s not, and best of all who is not a good liar!  Some do not have the fine art of a poker face. We had some great koinonia. 

Beginning a New Year

At the end of January, we enjoyed another time of Gnosko games and goodies with game day and treats.  There were endless options for games laid out on the tables. The same could be said for the food selections.   We ended up with three good games groups.   We are grateful to be able to come together and have this time in fellowship, food, and fun. As well as opportunities to pray for and encourage one another.  

Small-Group Gatherings

We have had opportunities and time throughout the month to get together on our own. With a couple or two in our group and just have dinner together. Or getting together in town for an activity.  This spurs a natural opportunity to include and encourage one another in our day to day dealings. As well as continue to reach out to the greater community.  We also seek to remember to include our neighbors whether it’s in a bigger group event. Or just in a small setting on our own.

This brings to mind a great Bible verse: Philippians 2: 1-2 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Please pray for us as we are seeking where God wants to lead our group this year.

December 16, 2019 Co/Mission Couples Ministry

What’s been going on?

You wouldn’t know it unless you took the time to think but the last time you read a report from us was back in August. We were reflecting on the Biking for Tacos ride and other events that put us outside and enjoying the warm air. Today we stand knee-deep in the snow with weather patterns that have followed the predictions of the likes of the Farmer’s Almanac. –How do they do that, by the way?

Since then, we have made a shift in our meeting schedule. What used to be a once-a-week regularity gave way to a twice a month format with the hopes of helping the overall schedule of the church and to help stem the busy schedules of some of our people. Our monthly gatherings now consist of one monthly member gathering (either a fellowship, a work project, or a trip to somewhere) and one full group fellowship time. This has created space for OneLife’rs to have more family time at home, more organic fellowship/discipleship time with each other and others outside of OneLife and even outside the church.

What did we do this last quarter?

September was flag football season at Samens Field. We stumbled our way through an impressive game and then robbed ourselves of any calorie burning by consuming the delights of a rather successful community chili.

  • Handolf The Great
  • Reach!
  • Good Game… Good Game…
  • Elissa blocking…
  • Lucky socks…
  • Aaron Rogers passes the ball…

October brought our retreat. A few friends from Duluth came down to join us. Friday night we divided the couples into groups of 3-4 couples and they were free to meet in homes or at restaurants with the goal of eating together and talking through the first session of the series (which we had to watch before coming together). Then Saturday got us up to drive to Bayport, MN for the remaining sessions at the Bayport Nature Center. Our event ended around 5pm where we took a group photo and sent everyone home. Some people even went to dinner afterward to continue the conversation.

  • Sessions
  • Fellowship Time
  • Cool Meeting Place
  • It’s the group, y’all…

November took us to the Pederstuen’s house for an evening of Win Lose or Draw and snacks. It was clear that we needed to unwind together. The night was full of conversation and laughter. We got to see just how fast people could draw things on the dry erase board, and how difficult it was too. The kids were there too and, I think… I think, they had a good time. November also brought a workday for the members. We all joined Gnosko at the campground to split wood, move leaves, and plant grass seed. It may have been only 40 degrees but working kept us warm.

  • Drawing…
  • Drawing…
  • Drawing…
  • Chillin…
One Night at Pederstuen’s

December had our members decorating the sanctuary at church for Christmas. Multiple feet of pine garland and lots of red bows later, we were once again transformed for the holidays. Cookies and cocoa were had by most. The kids even had little projects to work on. It was crazy to watch the kid’s line up to vacuum the floor afterward. In the immortal words of my parents, “How come you don’t want to do that at home?” The night ended with Jason Haugley taking children on his lap to pull on his beard… an experience new to most of the kids.

  • Pine Pine Pine
  • Pinestache
  • The Kids and Projects
Dolling the Place Up

Finally, December brings a Christmas potluck to our full group fellowship this coming Friday. Ideas stir as we contemplate our activities for the evening. I assure you it will be in the Spirit of Christmas one way or another.

In our near future

We’re looking ahead to the New Year with plans to host cross-fellowships again… some that include possibly sledding with fried chicken and pizza, a turkey-related ice event, and a city trip scavenger hunt of some sort. More details to surface.

Until then, Merry Christmas, y’all! We love you!

October 16, 2019 Co/Mission Couples Ministry

Over the Summer

August found Gnosko cooking up chicken for lunch at the campout following Sunday’s service.  There was no shortage of watermelon and the chicken was something to look forward too.  Grilling is the Summer thing to do!  Our group enjoyed the various tasks to make this food event happen from prepping the food in the Summer kitchen to the manning the meat grilling station, to serving and cleanup.  

Fellowship

In Mid-September Gnosko full group attended the Glenn Kaiser concert held at the bandshell on the waterfront in Hudson!   It was a nice warm, sunny day.  So, Summer came back to us again and we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the day including the music and sharing of Glenn’s testimony and ministry in action along with some great tunes.   Three hot air balloons floated by just through the trees.  They even dipped down into the water and left a trail of water raining down as they ascended back up.  Future fun perhaps to one day take our own ride/turn up in one of those.  What a neat perspective. There were opportunities to get to know the community at large in the audience and the vendors who were present.  Some of us took advantage of pairing up with another couple either before or after and grab lunch or dinner together.  

Heading into Fall

At the beginning of October, we found ourselves flipping flapjacks for the Prayer Breakfast.  It was a lot of fun to be able to serve breakfast for all who attended.

As a Gnosko group, we took a Fall color tour down to Alma WI to meet at Buena Vista Park on Sunday, October 13th. We had a great time although it was very windy and chilly, at least we did not have the 4” of snow that we had when we went last year.

Out of Town adventure!

Our Gnosko leaders are planning an escape room adventure in Rice Lake on Friday, October 18th which is described as a peaceful Ocean Charter Tour until a storm picks up and destroys the ship, leaving you and the other six people aboard stranded on an uncharted desert island… WITH AN ACTIVE VOLCANO???? This should be a good test for us as leaders to see how well we can work together.

What’s ahead

Also coming up this fall we would like to do some local home repair projects in our community. So please be in prayer for us on this and let us know if you know of someone in need. This could be sheetrock, window or door repair, as well as winter-proofing.

August 16, 2019 Co/Mission Couples Ministry

Rewind OneLife

JUNE: Mid-June drew us away from life in Menomonie for a couple of days to Duluth. OneLife group members (kids and all) took to the highway to help JFBDuluth host a coffee and ice cream vending booth at the Park Point Rummage Sale event. They share our heart in connecting with the community. It was a very nice time shaking hands with people and working shoulder to shoulder with our northern family.

THE NO-CANOEING CANOE TRIP: We had the novel idea of canoeing the “Green” Cedar River. With all the best intentions we gathered enough canoes and planned the route. The moment the Sunday service ended, dark clouds moved in with an overwhelming amount of lightening. Lightning-strikes and metal boats on water do not make for safe events. So, at the last minute, the group decided to cruise to Bayport for ice cream and chill at a park when the storm passed.

Ice Cream Kiddies
They’s lovin’ them some ice cream

JULY: First of all, I have to expose a grave ignorance on my part. Back in July, when Duluth Community Group joined OneLife to host our 4th Annual Biking for Tacos event, it wasn’t until we were almost completely done with the entire event that I connected why Laura was wearing that huge colorful sombrero. See, the event was called Biking for “TACOS”! Really, I thought she was just overly concerned about sunburn or something… Sheesh! I am slow.

Biking for Tacos this year put us in conversations with people from the community again; even some long-ago acquaintances. It was a great way to share a little fun with Menomonie. Duluth crew, it was really nice to hang with you guys for a couple of days.

  • Time to Eat
  • Jason and Adam
  • Follow the Gray Sand Road
  • Tasty Stuff
  • “Bikers”
  • Getting Ready
  • Los Tacos
  • Hydration

NEIGHBORHOODS: Over the summer, various OneLife members hosted gatherings in their neighborhoods to connect with neighbors and co-workers. These gatherings included various activities like homemade ice cream and hot dogs, evening breakfast, and a movie in the woods. This year these events seemed decently attended and connections were made, and at very little cost or work.

Fast Forward

As we head into the fall, we will be meeting twice a month to fellowship together. We have a few ideas in mind like our annual flag football and chili day, among other things. We are really looking forward to what’s in store.

let's play ball
…last year’s flag football game

Keep your eyes on the church calendar for more information about when we are meeting and what we are doing.

June 16, 2019 Co/Mission Couples Ministry

Reaching out in Red Wing MN

In May and June, we headed to Red Wing to assist Patti from the Connected Connection. The Gnosko member’s split into two groups. One staying behind to assist in organizing and the other group trekked to the property where we moved some of Patti’s items back to the shop location.

We moved a twenty-foot bar with ornated detailing from the 1880s. Moving that large item proved challenging. The group was able to get it from inside the building and onto a trailer bound for Red Wing. Back at the shop, a transformation of the outdoor space was completed with teamwork. Lunch was provided by Patti.

The next time we went we assisted Patti with shipments going to Honduras via cargo plane. We cleaned and organized donated items. We are blessed to help Patti, who at 78 years young is moving mountains assisting others. Pattie is a great example of serving others and does not let her age stop her.

Heyde Center for the Arts

In April, Gnosko found a bit of sunshine, warmth, and fellowship. We attended the 55th Annual Spring Art Show at the Heyde Center for the Arts in Chippewa Falls, WI. Local artists from the Chippewa Valley were invited to submit their art for the free show. This is a great community event to enjoy different mediums of art and creations. What a uniquely individual spark God puts within each of us…He created us to create, and this is just one form of that. Here’s a good article that speaks to it. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/make-god-look-great-create. Wrapping up our fellowship destination was by unanimous decision to Olson’s Ice Cream!

Healthier Living Update

With the help of the Holy Spirit, lots of support and encouragement, our Gnosko group is feeling much lighter these days. To the tune of 137 pounds (that’s 548 sticks of butter) and 68.25 inches lost! Please continue to pray and support our healthy habits.