Thankful for the welcoming sense of community in area

Greetings and Peace:

As a relatively new pastor/priest in the area, I am so thankful for the sense of “community” that exists in Kasson/Dodge County. It is so inspiring and such a blessing.

I have been filled with a great deal of appreciation for the Kasson Ministerial members and the area faith communities. All have been welcoming and truly rooted in caring about the people/community of Kasson and surrounding areas and how to best serve God and God’s people with our time and resources.

A major thank you goes out to your ministers/clergy who have been not only supportive of the new clergy in town...they are purposefully prayerful of one another and in offering supportive fellowship. I can’t tell you how much that has meant to me.

As many of you know, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church hosts the weekly Wednesday night community dinner (A Place At The Table).

The area churches and businesses and individuals are helping us to genuinely make this a “community” dinner. Because of the community’s “buy-in” (in donating food, money, workers and prayer support) the dinners are able to not just exist but be offered at no cost to those who come to share in conversation, fellowship and a meal. God’s agape love is overflowing in this community in caring for one another.

Although, I am not on site a lot...because my position is only part time and I do elder care for my mom and commute from Chatfield, I have been filled with awe at the individuals that have swung in to say “hi” when they have seen my old white van parked in front of the church. I am beyond grateful for your “welcoming spirit and shared family approach to working together.” To each of you, I say “thank you”.

This community is blessed in having individuals, faith communities and businesses like (but not limited to) the Salvation Army and Lions networking together to be more effective in meeting the needs of one another in a constructive and productive way.

I am inspired by all of you and proud to stand with you in seeing “neighbors/friends” with names and who matter instead of just seeing people with numbers that are often lost in the system.

Thank you for having made my first five months in the Kasson Community both wonderful and memorable. God was merciful in answering my prayers in allowing me to be called to a place where love abounds in the sharing of gifts, time and talents. Thanks be to God...Amen.

Rev. Alice Mae Applequist is priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Kasson.