Good May Disciples,

This past week as I was doing some planning for what is coming up, I came across these words.

“God is creating a new world out of this one. God is making all things possible, starting here and now. God is renewing life, love, and connection for the benefit of what is and will be.”

God is creating.

God is making.

God is renewing.

As we continue through the Easter season, these are some of the topics we should be focusing on as followers of Christ. Maybe for some of you, you feel like the world is crumbling around you. Maybe for others, you feel like the world is the best it has ever been. It depends on how you view the world.

But being a follower should give us some moral support. When Jesus was resurrected, it showed us that what we all think we know is overcome by what Jesus can do. That is why we live the life of faith. We call on the Holy Spirit to guide us, to teach us, to show us the way. And I believe that nothing can truly change without some intervening from the Holy Spirit.

So, this month, I ask you as disciples to pray for some guidance for the future. The future of the world, and even the future of the church. We have to ask the tough questions, such as, how do we love more, or even how do we reach out to those who are questioning the validity of the Risen Christ.

With that, I want to thank all of you who helped over the month of April with all that was happening at the church. It was very busy, but also very rewarding.  Again, thank you all.

Blessings,

Pastor Greg Leslie

April 2025 Breeze Newsletter Online

Good April Disciples,

We are just a few short weeks away from Easter Sunday or, as some call it, Resurrection Sunday. Whatever you call it, the outcome is the same.

Easter is always the transition point of spring; flowers start popping out of the ground, the trees may have buds, and you never know if there will be snow on the ground.  We put it all in God’s hands.  But whatever the temperature may be that day; the church will be ready for another easter celebration.  But we still have some time to get there, meaning plenty of Lent to get through. So, let’s not lose focus on the outcome we are searching for.

So, what are you searching for?

Over the past couple of years, I have asked myself that question over and over.  I think most of you have heard me speak of the search for joy. I like to find joy in everything that I do. Yes, as we age, I understand that the joy you are searching for changes. Maybe it is in grandchildren, or even great grandchildren. Finding joy in family and friends. Or how about this: finding joy in being a follower of Christ.

I know that on the first Easter morning when the women went to the tomb to take care of Jesus’ body, there had to be a lack of joy. The stone was rolled away, and when they went in, there was no body to be found. There was concern. But all of a sudden, from behind them, a question was asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but has been raised.”

Those are the joyous words, “He isn’t here, but has been raised.”

Friends, this Easter that is where the joy can be found, in knowing that Jesus has been raised. And this is something that He did for each one of us. He died to take away the sins of the world. He died to save us. Who else would do that?  That is why I find Easter so joyous.

As always, make sure you check the church calendar; there are many things happening in April.

I thank you all for your discipleship.

God Bless,

Pastor Greg Leslie

In Loving Memory of Arla Jean Allen

September 22, 1934 ~ February 16, 2025

Arla Jean Allen, 90, of Motley, died February 16, 2025, at a care home in Hastings.

We celebrated the life of Arla Allen on Saturday, March 22, at 11 am at the Motley United Methodist Church, where Arla Allen had been a member since 1940 and attended faithfully for many years, first in one of the back pews and then from the farm study via Zoom.

Arla was born in Philbrook on September 22, 1934, to George and Adeline Peterson.  She grew up on her parent’s farm in Motley.  After graduating from Motley High School in 1952, she moved to the Cities, where she worked for 1^st National Bank in St Paul.  She moved back to Motley in 1983 and ran the “Country Attic Antiques” store that her parents had started at the farm.   Arla spent decades running her antique shop and enjoyed meeting people from all over the world.  She enjoyed the outdoors and will be remembered for her love of animals, nature, and the family farm.

She is survived by one son, Steve Allen, and significant other, Jacki Beedle; two grandchildren, Danielle Allen and husband, Brian Prevost, and Cory Allen; one great-granddaughter, Pearl Prevost; cousins, Ladonna Peterson and Gordan Martin; and many more cousins and friends.

Eulogy for Arla Allen

Thank you for being here today to celebrate and remember the life of my grandmother, Arla Jean Allen. It’s really beautiful to be doing so in a place where she has been a member since 1940.

Arla was born on September 22, 1934, in Philbrook, Minnesota to George Peterson and Adeline Hunter Peterson.

Shortly after birth, the family moved to a farm in nearby Motley.  After graduating high school in 1952, Arla moved to St. Paul, where she married and had her son Steve.  She remained in the St. Paul area until 1983, when she returned to the farm in Motley.

Anyone who knows Arla knows she loves nature. She had a deep understanding of the land she lived on and a passion for taking care of it.  She enjoyed sharing her knowledge with others, most notably working at Camp Shamineau for over 10 years.  While there, she found purpose in helping kids from the city get to experience the woods, lakes, and animals of northern Minnesota, many of them for the first time.  I often went to work with her while on summer vacation and remember the look of wonder in campers’ eyes when she showed them how to make tea out of birch bark or perfect a bird call.  I know she impacted a lot of kids’ lives during her time there.

Arla will also be remembered for her love of antiques, running the antique shop on her farm for over 50 years.  She had a love and respect for items that carried a history – things that have existed for decades and have a story to tell.  She enjoyed getting to talk with collectors from all over the country while running her shop.  She would spend hours down in the barn helping people find new treasures. She was really good at that.

I have so many vivid memories with my grandma on the farm.  Saturday mornings were spent picking raspberries.  We would ride the four-wheelers to the patch with her dog Tess chasing closely behind.  We would sing songs in the sunshine and pick ice cream buckets full of berries to have with Sunday waffles.  So many Sundays were spent in her kitchen slathering those hot waffles with raspberries and endless amounts of whipped cream.  Looking back on these memories, I realize now my grandma was a master of slowing down and appreciating the small things in life. Something that’s really, really hard to do in today’s world.

Those who knew Arla knew how much she loved her family.  She was a constant source of strength and so proud of our accomplishments – big or small. Her legacy is not confined to the past but lives on through us – her family and friends. To honor Arla is to slow down, enjoy life’s little moments, and realize the significance they hold.  Since she has passed, I see her everywhere: in birch trees, in the crisp morning breeze, and in the face of her great-granddaughter Pearl, the fifth generation to know our family farm.

My family and I would like to thank you for being here and celebrating her life and legacy.

Danielle Allen

Arla’s Granddaughter

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free,

I’m following the paths God made for me.

I took his hand, I heard him call;

Then turned and bid farewell to all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to sing, to play;

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found my peace… at the close of play.

And if my parting left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah yes, these things I, too, will miss.

Be not burdened… deep with sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full; I’ve savoured much:

Good friends, good times,

A loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with grief.

Lift up your hearts and share with me,

God wants me now…

He set me free.

                                               Anonymous

In Memory of Stephen “Steve” Warren Sunde

July 9, 1954 ~ December 31, 2024

Stephen “Steve” Warren Sunde, 70-year-old resident of Cushing, MN, passed away Tuesday, December 31st, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at the Motley United Methodist in Motley, MN, (847 3rd Ave. S – Motley, MN 56466) with Pastor Greg Leslie officiating. Visitation will be held from 9-11:00 A.M. on Friday, January 10, 2025 at the Motley United Methodist. Caring for Stephen and his family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls, MN.
Steve Sunde was born on July 9th, 1954 in Grand Forks, ND to Warren and Genevieve (Papenfuss) Sunde. Steve grew up with his family in Dilworth, MN where he graduated high school in 1974. He worked various jobs until his graduation from St. Mary’s Junior College in 1984 with his associates degree in Physical Therapy. Steve worked for St. Gabriel’s Hospital, including St. Otto’s Care Center and Little Falls Orthopedics, as a Physical Therapy Assistant for over 35 years until his retirement in 2022. Steve married Alice Coenen on September 14th, 1991 in Randall, MN. They were married for 33 wonderful years and loved traveling the world together. Steve also enjoyed golfing, fishing, and in his younger years, training and running marathons; he took immense pride in having completed eight marathons. Steve was a lover of all animals and had many pet dogs and cats throughout his life, and he cherished his time spent with his family and friends.
Steve is survived by his wife Alice, his sister Pat (Del) Palloch of Moorhead, MN, mother-in-law Ardy Coenen of Little Falls, MN, numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great, great nieces and nephews, and his two beloved dogs, Cinder and Tinker.
He was preceded in death by his parents Warren and Genevieve Sunde, brother Dean Littlejohn, sister Wendy Winter, infant brother Warren Jr., and father-in-law Odell Coenen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Kindred Spirits Rescue, Lakewood Health System Cancer Center, and/or Lakewood Health System Hospice.