Special Worship In Niobrara On Saturday Morning

The Niobrara-Verdel Presbyterian Church and the Niobrara Lutheran Church will be celebrating this Saturday, July 11.  The two congregations are coming together as the Faiths United Parish. The congregations will worship and do missions together, and will call one pastor, all while still maintaining their own identities.

The Niobrara and Verdel Presbyterian churches merged to one church earlier this year, and now they are forming a covenant with the Niobrara Lutheran Church.  

Reverend Beverly Rautenberg-Panko has been the transitional pastor for two years. She cited Ruth 1:16-17 as relating to the new Parish:  "...for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."  She also credited faith, because through faith, we can go on the journey together.

The worship service will be Saturday morning at 10 am beneath a tent between the two churches.  This is to show the covenant not only between the two churches, but between the two churches and God.  The original covenant between God and His people was in a tent, and they relied on Him through all their lives.  The worship Saturday morning will be both symbolic and biblical.

Messages during the worship will be brought by  Bishop of the Nebraska Synod ELCA, Brian Maas, and Homestead Presbytery Moderator Elder Roger Shoemaker.

All are welcome to attend.  A light brunch will be served after.

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