Photo: Katie Ricke is ordained by an elder at the Celebrtion of Life in Ministry Service on Friday, June 9, at Legacy UMC. Photo by Doreen Gosmire.

"Friends the house is on fire this evening," said Bishop Bruce R. Ough, in his sermon during the Celebration of Life in Ministry Service.

United Methodists from North and South Dakota gathered at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck to celebrate the ministry of retiring clergy, honor the memory of clergy and clergy spouses, receive a new clergy and ordain others.

Bishop Bruce R. Ough preached telling worshippers and those being honored that Jesus suprirsed the disciples with a gift—the Holy Spirit. "A very special, very transformative, very unique gift, the Holy Spirit.  A gift that will cause us to live expectantly. A gift that will surprise us again, again and again."

Those clergy and clergy spouses that were memoralized at the service included: Clergy—Reverend Russell Wilson (August 16, 2016), Reverend Wilbur Ray Martin (December 10, 2016), Reverend Charles Finney (February 27, 2017).  Clergy Spouses— Harlon Siebreacht spouse of Rev. Lyla Siebrecht (September 30, 2016),  Edna Boar dman widow of Rev. Harold Boardman (November 4, 2016), Verlaine Wales widow of Rev. Roland Walkes (November 8, 2016),Geraldine Traver widow of Rev. Frank Traver (January 13, 2017), Evelyn Whitney widow of Rev. Frank Whitney (February 23,2017), Sharleen “Shari” Archer spouse of Rev. Royal Archer (March 13, 2017).

The ministry of nine retired clergy was celebrated with a collective 245 years of service. Retiring clergy are: Reverend Linda Baldock, Reverend Rick Hazen, Reverend Mark Holland, Reverend Mary Elizabeth Jassman Massingill, Reverend Iva Laudermith, Reverend Nancy Manning, Reverend John McKnight, Reverend Clifford Nelson, Reverend Marilyn Spurrell.

These persons were commissioned for the work of an elder: Janice Lynn Antrim, Valerie Sue Hummel LaBounty,  Autumn Marie Krueger, Thomas Donald Sumers.

Lou Ellen Whitmer was commissioned as an Associate Member of the Annual Conference.

Six were ordained as elders: Jennifer Lynn Anderson, Mark John Ehrmantraut, Justin Dale Iverson, Kori Ann Lehrkamp, Katie Jean Ricke, Robert Lee Salmonson.