Vocations
Meet our new Vocation Ministry Coordinator
T
he Congregation recently welcomed Teri Iverson to the role of vocation ministry coordinator. Iverson grew up in Valley City, North Dakota. She was active in her faith as a member of the Lutheran church, serving throughout her school years as a choir member, lector, usher, Vacation Bible School helper, youth group president and more. She was also very involved in SEARCH, a Catholic peer-led retreat program. “SEARCH was very influential in my faith journey and where I first felt stirrings about joining the Catholic Church. The more I learned, the more I was enamored,” Iverson said. “In fact, I chose my college, Concordia College — a private Lutheran liberal arts college — in hopes it would ‘cure’ me
of wanting to become Catholic. It did not!” She completed RCIA and joined the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil in 1989. Iverson earned a B.A. in psychology and a B.A. in mass communications and went on to serve as a youth minister for the next three decades, at St. John the Evangelist in Grafton, North Dakota; St. Joseph in Moorhead, Minnesota; St. Benedict of Wild Rice in Horace, North Dakota; and St. John the Baptist in Tipp City, Ohio. “It was a fabulous 30 years, and I enjoyed so much of ministry — especially service opportunities and summer mission trips. I loved watching all the students grow in their faith and realizing how fortunate they are,” Iverson said. Most recently, she managed a local retail store but said she
missed serving in a ministry role. “I missed being surrounded by faith-filled people, and I missed feeling like I was making a difference,” she said. “I prayed for God to make the path clear; I prayed for the Holy Spirit to lead me where I was supposed to go; and I prayed to have the courage to follow. And here I am!”
Enjoying each season of life
S
ummer is my favorite time of year. I love everything about it … the colorful flowers, the sudden thunderstorms, the smell of fresh cut grass, the endless sunshine and many cookouts. The September days remind me that summer’s days are soon to be memories and fall is coming. I enjoy the cool, crisp fall days … colorful views, the crunch of leaves, the smell of bonfires and pumpkins. What I don’t love is the dread of what comes after fall. Winter is my least favorite season … perhaps it’s spending the first 40 years of my life in North Dako4
Sharing & Caring
ta. I dislike the cold, the snow that oftentimes forces plans to change, the lack of sunshine — and from the moment winter starts, I find myself counting the days until spring. I wonder how often I look at life that way. When times are good … my heart feels like summer … sunshiney, joyful, exciting. When times are difficult, my heart feels cold, gray, dull. And oftentimes I find myself dreading (fall) or anticipating (spring) what’s to come rather than enjoying where I am and what I’m doing. Instead of accepting times of “grayness” as “bad” things,
how about if I see them as opportunities for growth? Instead of dreading an upcoming task or issue, I can turn those things over to God, who sees my whole life and knows where I’m being led. Instead of anticipating good things, I can stop and enjoy exactly where I am and exactly what I’m doing. Instead of dreading and despising and anticipating with anxiety, I can trust God to bring me those “summer” moments all year long. I bet if I did that, I’d appreciate all the seasons of life a whole lot more! Story by Teri Iverson
