McKenzie County ND

Sixty people gathered from across the county to celebrate, worship, and enjoy fellowship with their neighbors on Monday, November 19th at the Johnson Corner Wesleyan Church (JCWC). This service is an annual event sponsored by the McKenzie County Ministerial Association (MCMA) and rotates around the centrally located churches of the county.

Upon arriving, I and my wife were welcomed by our host, Pastor Adrian Timmons of JCWC. He and his congregation had prepared well for us and the gathering community. The JCWC runs a school and had recently relocated their congregation’s sanctuary from the old church building into an addition to the school. Their new sanctuary is beautiful and is quite functionally integrated into the school building and operation.

I was pleased to see so many from the MCMA in attendance: thirteen in all. Not everyone had a role in worship leadership but all participated in worship and fellowship.

Adrian greeted everyone and led off the worship service. At the apporpriate time he explained to the gathered assembly just what the “Good Samaritan Fund” was and how this worship service supplied money to it. Simply put, the “Good Samaritan Fund” serves to help poor travelers to continue their journey. Three agencies are involved with the fund: the MCMA, the local sheriff’s office, and First International Bank. The MCMA encourages the community to provide the necessary resources either through attending and contributing at the Community Thanksgiving Service or through a special offering in their respective congregations; and the MCMA also encourages the community to refer stranded travelers to one of the pastors of the MCMA as their contact to access the Good Samaritan Fund. The sheriff’s office provides the “vetting” of the traveler when the pastor and traveler visit the Law Enforcement Center to obtain the vouchers used in the fund. The vouchers enable the traveler to get gasoline, meals, and a night’s lodging at local facilities. First International Bank administers the fund and pays the merchants when they submit the vouchers.

The Good Samaritan Fund is used every year, sometimes by as many as eight or ten travelers and their families.

As I look back on the evening, I see gracious hosts, inspirational worship, a generous community, and neighbors–near and far, rich and poor–sitting down together and enjoying the “mutual conversation and consolation of the saints.”

The 26-members of Masque & Gavel enthralled full houses in three nights of The Spell of Sleeping Beauty, performed in the Watford City High School Media Center Nov. 15,16 and 17, 2007.
The seven scenes were well-rehearsed and very entertaining, complete with dancing to the tune of The Macarena!
The children’s production was set “Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Never Nod,” with costuming and props, done by the deft extraordinary talent of Jamie Jokela, and set design and construction accomplished along with Director Charles Simpson. Hair and makeup were believably done by citizens Vicky Schaff, Jokela, Jena Jenks, Joy Patten, Kelly Shively, Carol Sanford, Karen Holte and JoLynn Pelton.

Extra seating was necessary for the audience, which responded very well to the performers, and particularly to the cast call, by delivering a standing ovation. Children, too, filled the audience and interacted with the dark character of the Evilina, played deliciously evil by Alesia, who was dressed entirely in black.

In the end, Prince Alexander, portrayed by Zane, hopped out of his frog role, faced off the Dark Knight, played stunningly by Vincent, kissed the cheek of sleeping Princess Briar Rose, played by Missy and saved the entire castle of sleeping folks.

Other cast members were: Naomi as Baroness, Marissa as Lady Jessica, Kendra as Queen Eleanor, Abigail as False Princess and one of three Quills, Christina and Amanda as the other two Quills, Joel as King Rudolf, Andrew as Prime Minister, Kyle as Chef, Lisa as Nursemaid, Mike as Spider, Jayson as Bat, Katie as Black Cat, Chelsey as Queen Samantha, Chans as Baron, Katie as Blue Witch, MeLinda as Red Witch, Jana as White Witch, Jamie as Green Witch, Krista as Yellow Witch, and Molly as Pink Witch. The Seamstress was played by Valerie.

Once again the community of McKenzie County has enjoyed the fine art of theater, thanks to the Watford City High School members’ performances and valuable contributions by community citizens.