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Fun and intrigue part of 'Crazy Dinner'
McCOOK, Nebraska -- Peace Lutheran Church is in their fifth year supporting two McCook men in their final year of seminary training, with a Crazy (Mystery) Dinner. This year the dinner is Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, at the church, 411 E. Sixth Street. Activities and adinner based on the secret theme start at 5:30 p.m. and run until approximately until 8 p.m. Organizers promise fun and intrigue, as diners will choose a four-course meal from the theme menu.
Past themes included guests traveling to Gilligan's island, where Gilligan, The Skipper, Mary Ann and others helped serve them; to New York Citym, where the group, then known as Tre Søstre, using the scenery from the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association's production of "Annie," to the Renaissance, complete with a working drawbridge to the dining area, and last year, to China, where guests enjoyed themselves in a human Chinese Checkers game.
Guests are welcome and babysitting is available. Proceeds will be used to help support Ryan Ankersen and Billy Traphagan in their seminary studies. Contributions will be supplemented by the Republican Valley Chapter of Thrivent for Lutherans. (Suggested donation $10/person or $30/family) You may call the church office at 345-2595 to reserve your seat by Monday, Nov. 4, 2013.
About the seminary students:
Ryan Ankersen and William"Bill" Traphagan, both raised in McCook, are in their final year of seminary formation before they become pastors in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Ryan is the son of Russ and Sue Ankersen, and Bill is the son of Dee and Mary Traphagan. Both are graduates of McCook High School, Billy in 2005 and Ryan in 2006. Both are 2010 graduates of Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. Both are married. Ryan and Keri were married in July 2010, and recently had their first child Abigail in July 2013. Bill married Stephanie in June 2011. They are expecting their first child in January.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has two seminaries that prepare men to become pastors.
Ryan attends Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Last year he spent his vicarage training at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Flemington, New Jersey. In addition to enhancing his scholastic training in preaching and teaching, he also spent a lot of time with the youth. Over the course of the year, he revitalized a high school youth ministry; encouraging students to grow in their faith walk, live confidently as disciples of Christ, and inspire change in the hearts of others. He participated and occasionally led praise worship. Also, in the months following the events of Super Storm Sandy, he had the opportunity to coordinate assistance to volunteer efforts on the shore.
Bill Traphagan attends Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Last year he served his vicarage and Stephanie her deaconess internship at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Terre Haute, Indiana. During this year, Bill devoted the majority of his time to further study and the refining of his teaching and preaching skills. He also found it a joy to coordinate and lead Immanuel's campus ministry to both Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Stephanie devoted herself to the study of the Scriptures and spent much of her time teaching the children at Immanuel. In addition to her local service, Stephanie also traveled to Ethiopia for two weeks with Deaconess Lumley, one of her instructors from the seminary. In Ethiopia, they assisted The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus and taught about works of mercy and the role of deaconesses in the church.
Stephanie completed the deaconess program and graduated last summer. She is not seeking a call as a deaconess, so that she can stay home with the baby.
Ryan and Bill will receive their calls to serve as pastors in April 2014. They will complete their studies and graduate in May 2014.