Yearly and Monthly Special Events:

Var Saa God – Var Saa God is a fall festival held every other year on the third or fourth Saturday in October in odd numbered years (07, 09).  This event is our major fundraiser for NLCW charity donations to various organizations outside the church, such as Green Lake Bible Camp, Meals on Wheels, Puppet Ministry, blind ministry, All-State Lutheran Choir, etc. 

A Planning Committee begins preparing for this event a year ahead, it helps to go to other churches to get ideas the fall prior to the festival.  The Church, luncheon area, and grounds are decorated with a fall, holiday with a Scandinavian flair.  A Scandinavian luncheon is served by workers of all heritages dressed in Scandinavian clothing. 

Members of the congregation donate food for the meal and for a bake sale, a cookie walk, and items for the craft sale.  Each committee comes with ideas to help make this an event of fun and fellowship.  A  food and worker list is published in the September or October Winds newsletter.

Mission Fest  - Mission Fest has been held annually in various locations since 1882 and now is held at Nordland on the last Saturday in June.  All proceeds from this festival are given to support our missionaries.
 
There is a dinner of fried chicken and/meatballs served cafeteria style.  Members over 80 are our special guests for the day.  A freewill donation is taken for the meal and afternoon lunch.  The youth sell pop and candy. 

An auction is held in the afternoon with entertaining auctioneers selling donated quilts, rugs, handicraft items such as embroidery, painting, crocheting, knitting, hardanger, woodworking, etc.  It’s fun to share your handiwork. 

A committee of volunteers including someone from the previous year’s committee gets together about two months before to go through the notes and records kept from years past.  They set up work schedules and food lists.  This is published in the June “Winds” newsletter.  Everyone is asked to donate either by working and/or bringing food or money. 

Mission Sunday - A mission speaker joins us for worship either on the Sunday after or before the Mission Fest.

Ice Cream Social – The Ice Cream Social is held in mid-August to benefit a project for the Church.  The social features BBQ, potato salad, hot dogs, and fresh pie and ice cream. 

Harvest Sale – An auction that is held every fall, everyone is invited.  The proceeds are used for church maintenance such as remodeling, painting, carpeting, etc.  This is a night of fun and entertainment by our own auctioneers.  People donate crafts, baked goods, product, home canned jams, pickles and salsa, frozen meat and more.  It is held in the church fellowship hall and a brown bag lunch is served. 

Rally Sunday – This is the festival that begins the Sunday School Year.  The Sunday School teachers are installed, the Cradle Roll 3 year olds are honored for their first Sunday in Sunday School. 

Senior Graduation – Our youth who attend schools throughout Stearns, Meeker and Kandiyohi counties, mostly from the NL/S, Paynesville, and ACGC schools.  At a May Sunday Service, our seniors are honored and presented with quilts especially made for them by a quilter from the congregation. 

Reformation Sunday – Reformation Sunday is also Confirmation Sunday which makes this day especially joyous.

Cradle Roll Sunday  - At three years old, the toddlers are honored by the congregation at a special presentation during the Sunday Church service.  Besides a congregational gift, the special service lets the child know they are old enough to begin Sunday School classes.