Announcements and Upcoming Events
15th Annual Back to School Giveaway (Hosted by Immanuel) – We are accepting new and gently used newborn through teenage appropriate clothing. Please bring any donations to Immanuel. If you would like to help, there is a group that meets at 8:30 am each week to sort the clothes we have already received. All are welcome!
High School Families, mark your Calendars – 1:00pm on July 19 at Immanuel Pastor Dan will host an informational meeting concerning the upcoming ELCA Youth Gathering “Imagine More.” Youth who are entering 8th-12th grades in the fall of 2026 are eligible to attend. This meeting will explain what the Gathering is, the theme of the Gathering, give vital information, and offer an opportunity to ask questions. Anyone attending will need to have made a decision to attend with a monetary deposit by September of this year, so if your youth are at all interested, they and their parents are highly encouraged to attend this meeting! If you have any questions, reach out to Pastor Dan.
Community Trail Nights – Anyone is welcome to join in a walk (or run, jog, or ride) together on the Prairie Farmer Trail every Wednesday evening during the summer starting at 6:00 pm. Meet at the Ridgeway Community Center.
Meet Pastor Nathan Wicks
Pastor Nathan seeks to connect people to the living and abiding word of God, recognizing that
in the encounter of faith, Jesus Christ is truly present which changes everything. He has a deep trust
in the surprising way the word of resurrection comes through the mystery and darkness of the cross
of Christ, and seeks to live this trust by walking with people and communities wherever their journey
has brought them, be it a dark and stormy valley, the shadow of death, or the green pastures and still
waters where heaven comes to earth. The touchstone scripture verses for Pastor Nathan point to a
theology of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18-2:2; Philippians 2:5-11), or agrarian themes (parable of the sower;
John 15:1-5), or both (John 12:23-26; Psalm 126:5-6, Gen 3:19b).
Pastor Nathan has a heart of care for the land and its people, having spent several years after
college working in agriculture as a vegetable farmer and on a grass-based dairy. He loves the way
worship centers himself and the community in lives of prayer and songs of lament and praise. He
loves music, sharing gifts of playing guitar and composing songs for worship. He and his family
(spouse, Sarah; boys, Karl, Ellis, and Philip) can be found walking the trails, riding bikes, at the pool,
floating on the river, sharing meals, or at the many athletic and music activities and events that fill up
their lives. He loves reading fiction and theology, woodworking, baseball (go Royals!), lifting heavy
metal objects (weight training), and noticing which wildflower has started blooming in the prairies and
woods lately.
He studied English, Classics, and Philosophy at Luther College (’07), and went to seminary at
Wartburg Theological Seminary (’19). His first call was to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in eastern
North Dakota (Gackle). He has served Peace and Orleans in Ridgeway since 2022, and began
working in the shared ministry with Immanuel, Cresco in 2026
Meet Darcy Wemark (Administrative Assistant):
Darcy has been the Administrative Assistant and Youth Director at Orleans and Peace for the past 3 years. Originally from Elma, Darcy and her husband Eric dairy farm south of Ridgeway. Darcy has also taught full-time and part-time along with subbing over the years in the Decorah Community Schools. Together, they have two grown children, Carson and Addison who are involved in the family farm and two children Bryson and Emerson still in school.
