"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40 (NIV)  

Although you may not have heard of the churches in Larimore and Arvilla, North Dakota, the Holy Spirit is surely at work.   

Larimore UMC and Arvilla PC-USA hold a combined service each week led by retired pastor Raenelle Sorensen, who has been serving in the area for 17 years. Together, they average 18-25 people in worship each Sunday. But that does not stop them from loving boldly and making a significant impact in their community.   

Members from Larimore UMC-Arvilla PC-USA present "The Old Woman in the Shoe." (photo from Brenda Beck)

One of their primary missions is to partner with the Good Samaritan Society in Larimore. The "Good Sam" provides senior living, long-term care, and rehabilitation therapy to forty-five residents.

"Our church has always been really involved with Good Sam," shared Rev. Sorensen. "We're quite well known in the community for our time that we spend with the residents."  

The relationship between the churches and Good Sam started even before Rev. Sorensen was appointed.   

"Good Sam used to have a birthday party each month for the residents who had birthdays that month. Different organizations and churches would come in and bring cake or cupcakes," described Rev. Sorensen. "We decided that cupcakes weren't enough. So, we have always done a little program for the residents!"

As time passed, churches and organizations decided to stop bringing in treats for birthday parties. However, the Lairmore and Arvilla churches wanted to stay connected with the residents in some way. Now, every October, the churches plan a fun theater event to perform for the residents of Good Sam, and they are always sure to bring cupcakes.

The theme of this year's play was "The Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe." Seventeen members from the combined churches came together to plan skits featuring 'naughty children' living in the old woman's shoe.   

"We were all the naughty kids. I had a great big lollipop that I refused to share, another group did a baseball skit, and a couple of the guys that had worked construction brought in Tonka trucks and drove their Tonka trucks all around," laughed Rev. Sorensen. "Also, three of the older ladies, in their late 80s, came in on stick horses and we sang 'The Old Gray Mare, she ain't what she used to be.' It's just all crazy, just craziness."

After the play, they always sing "You Are My Sunshine" with the residents before serving cupcakes.

"While we're serving the cupcakes, we're stopping at the tables and visiting with them, and you know that that's exactly what Christ asks us to do," said Rev. Sorensen.  "I think about the least and the lost. Those folks– a lot of them– have no one coming to see them. They have no one being a part of their life. To have someone come in and show love to them, I think, is definitely showing Christ's love by just being there and caring about them."  

The churches also work together to do a mission of the month. Recently, they sent 164 backpacks and 68 shoeboxes to the Spirit Lake Ministry Center located on the Spirit Lake Nation Reservation. 

"Sometimes it feels like the big churches are always doing something or are in the know. And sometimes, it's like us little churches aren't even there. But we are here, and we are sharing Christ's love just like those big churches," affirmed Rev. Sorensen.

Whatever the size of your church, if you are finding ways to love boldly and bless your community and are seeing the Holy Spirit at work, we would love to share your story through Monday @ Dakotas and/or social media. Reach out to share with our connection here.