Churches

Spring services will be at 7 p.m. Monday and 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday at Laestadian Lutheran Church in Brainerd. Refreshments will be served after the evening services. Guest speaker will be Aarno Haho, dean and minister from Kempele, Finland. The public is welcome.

Vessey gets award

WAVERLY, Iowa -- Retired Gen. John W. Vessey, the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and now of Garrison, is the 11th recipient of the Judge Henry N. and Helen T. Graven Award for outstanding Christian lay work given by Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. The Graven Award is funded by the Judge Henry N. and Helen T. Graven Endowment for the Ministry of the Laity.

Moose memorial service

The memory of the following Moose members will be acknowledged at a service at 2 p.m. March 26 at the Moose Lodge: Lonnie Russ Anderson, Clinton Besonen, Robert Breitling, Robert Danzl, Clifford Dybvik, Jon Haapojoki, Harold Jessen, Howard R. Lambert, Glenn Larson, Jerry Nichols, Darwin Potvin, Marvin Nutting, Glenn Post, Wayne Ramsdell, John H. Reimer, Lyle Swanson, Roy Swanson, John Thelen Sr., Chester Warren, Lee Hanson, Hazel Holst, Viola Keating, Sue Kidd, Helen Melin, Betty Oepke, Margaret Riley, Faye Strege and Zella Strong. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Glenn E. Derby from St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Brainerd.

Jim Gale to perform

AITKIN -- Jim Gale, gospel guitarist from Branson, Mo., will perform at 7 p.m. March 25 in the Aitkin High School auditorium. Gale will also share his story about how he went blind at age 15. Also appearing will be Common Ground. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. There is no admission charge, but a free will offering will be taken.

Park Prayers

Park Prayers will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Park United Methodist Church. The program includes Intercessory Prayer, devotions led by Shirley Moody and Faye Christenson, lay representative to the annual conference, speaking on prayer. All are welcome to attend.

Youth attends UMY's

Eleven youths and five adults from Park United Methodist Church were recently a part of a group of 1,250 who attended UMY's 2000 at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud. UMY's is the annual statewide gathering of United Methodist Youth in grades 9-12. The theme this year was Y2J (Year to Jesus). Speaker was Greg Specht and music was provided by Tim Lemmons.

Jubilee day for women

Pope John Paul II has designated a number of Jubilee days throughout the year 2000. The International Jubilee Day for Women will be celebrated March 25. The day has two purposes: to honor and remember women for their contribution to society and to the church and to reflect with women on the challenges of the next century. Registration will be from 8:30-9 a.m., with breakfast from 9-10 a.m. and speakers Sister Helen Claire and Sister Vivian Arts speaking about women saying yes to God to follow. Cost: $4. For reservations, call by Tuesday to Carleen Koering at 829-8237, Karen Lentz at 746-3552, Jeanette Houle at 825-3908, Mary Lou Haverkamp at 829-5950 or Cathy Olson at 829-3842.

Church Ministries Institute

The Minnesota Church Ministries Association will sponsor the Church Ministries Institute from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 25 at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter. The sessions are designed to bring training, exhibits and resources to pastors, teachers and lay leaders. Cost: $10 per person at the door. If you are preregistered by mail to MCMA by Wednesday, the cost is $8 per member of the church and $9 for non-members. The church pass rate (you can bring an unlimited number of leaders and teachers) is $85 if your church is a member of the MCMA or $110 for a non-member church. The smaller church pass rate for those churches with fewer than 150 in church attendance is $50. For more information, call 800-474-0326.

Jewish festivals and Jesus

CROSSLAKE -- Mission of the Cross Lutheran Church of Crosslake invites the community to the regular 9:30 a.m. Sunday service as well as an additional midweek service at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Pastor David Schoessow will preach on the relationship between some of the Jewish Holy Days and Jesus. There is also a new pastor's class from 6:30-8 p.m. every Thursday. For more information, to request complimentary resources, or to make an appointment with the pastor, call 692-4228.