Over 550 from seven churches gathered together and enjoyed meeting, greeting, eating and worshiping together in Bismarck, North Dakota. “One Heart-One Purpose” was a four week sermon series that helped to launch a new, expanded partnership between Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota and Moffit, Center, Washburn, Turtle Lake and Watford City, North Dakota known as the Legacy Connection.

Photo: Folks gather for a food, fellowship and worship from seven churches as part of the Legacy Connection on Sunday, August 23.  Photo courtesy of Legacy UMC.

“One Heart-One Purpose”, was a four-week sermon series with four different clergy sharing the pulpit each week Rev. Kermit Culver, Rev. Brandon Vetter, Pastor Cory Thrall and Pastor Aylssa Quade.  All of these clergy are part of the Legacy partnership.  The partnership includes six established churches Legacy United Methodist Church (UMC)  in Bismarck, ND, Moffit UMC in Moffit ND, Center UMC in Center, ND, Washburn UMC in Washburn, ND, and Turtle UMC in Turtle ND.  A new church start in Watford City, ND is also part of the partnership.

The partnership involves clergy mentoring, worship planning, sharing of resources and talents. There are five clergy assigned to serve the seven churches.  The clergy gather monthly and sometimes more to plan worship, mission giving and more.  Each month a mission focus is selected.  For the past four weeks churches in the partnership have collected cash for the Bakken Oil Rush Ministry in Watford City, resulting in $780 cash offering. 

The theme “One Heart-One Purpose” was selected based on Jeremiah 32: 38-41 (NRSV).

38 They shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for all time, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

Four different topics about the partnership or union of the churches were developed based on Jeremiah 32: 38-41.  The topics were: the source of our union as Jesus, the mandate of our union is to spread the good news, the process of our union is making disciples, and the mission of the union to impact the world.

The leaders of the Legacy Connection Churches:  Kermit Culver, Legacy;  Jim Konser, Bakken Oil Rush Ministry; Keith Nelson, Sakakewa DS; Cory Thrall, Missouri Valley Parish Pastor, Brandon Vetter, Legacy; Kathy Konser, Bakken Oil Rush Ministry; Alyssa Quade, Watford City Church Planter.  Not pictured, Walt Schott, Legacy; Perry Kimble, Moffit. 

Photo: The leaders of the Legacy Connection Churches:  Kermit Culver, Legacy;  Jim Konser, Bakken Oil Rush Ministry; Keith Nelson, Sakakewa DS; Cory Thrall, Missouri Valley Parish Pastor, Brandon Vetter, Legacy; Kathy Konser, Bakken Oil Rush Ministry; Alyssa Quade, Watford City Church Planter.  Not pictured, Walt Schott, Legacy; Perry Kimble, Moffit.  Photo courtesy of Legacy UMC.

The four-week sermon series “One Heart-One Purpose” was a plan of the partnership to introduce the four newest clergy in the partnership to each of the churches. Pastors Kermit Culver, Brandon Vetter, Alyssa Quade and Jim Konsor rotated to four locations to share their sermon in the series.  They were at a different church each week.  Rev. Keith Nelson, Sakakawea District Superintendent concluded the series with everyone coming to Legacy UMC in Bismarck for one large worship and celebration.  

The four week "One Heart - One Purpose" partnership celebration between the Legacy, Moffit, Center, Washburn, Turtle Lake and Watford City UMC's, culminated Sunday Aug. 23rd, with a great day of worship and fellowship at Legacy.  “This amazing partnership is being fueled by God's grace, and the people's willingness to experience ministry in new ways,” said Rev. Kermit Culver, Legacy UMC.