Samhold Lutheran Church

Gonvick, MN
A Congregation of the North American Lutheran Church
Divine Service Celebrating the Life of John Birkeland
20 February 2016
Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW)
Prelude

(please stand when indicated by *)

WE PREPARE FOR WORSHIP

*Remembrance of Baptism/Entrance Rite

279
Processional Hymn
Abide with Me #629
Apostolic Greeting and Prayer
280
WE HEAR THE PROMISES OF GOD IN THE WORD
First Reading:
Micah 6:1-8
Special Music
Psalm 73
Second Reading:
1 Peter 3:8-12
Gospel Reading:
Luke 10:25-37
Sermon
Rev. Kris Snyder
Hymn
Just as I Am #592
OUR RESPONSE TO THE WORD
* The Apostles Creed
282
* Prayer of the Church
(respond: hear our prayer)
* The Lords Prayer
(congregation)
C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is
in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and
the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Benediction
Nunc Dimittis

P I am the resurrection and the life. Says the Lord. He

who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and
whoever lives and believes in me will never die
John 11:25-26

C Lord, now Your servant go in peace; Your word has been

fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which
You have prepared in the sight of every people: A light
to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your
people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and
to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forevermore, Amen.
Luke 2:29-32
Commendation
Sending Hymn
We Shall Overcome Back of Bulletin
Postlude

Organist
Special Music
Pastor
Guest Pastor

Linda Rusten
Terri Godtland
Rev. Kris L. Snyder
Rev. Christopher Szarke

Faith Milestones:
Baptized
Confirmed

January 29, 1964

Samhold Lutheran Church
June 3, 1979
Samhold Lutheran Church

We Shall Overcome
African American Spiritual

1.

We shall overcome;
we shall overcome;
we shall overcome someday. [Refrain]

Refrain:
O, deep in my heart
I do believe
we shall overcome someday!
2.

Well walk hand in hand;

well walk hand in hand;
well walk hand in hand someday.

3.

We shall live in peace;

we shall live in peace;
we shall live in peace someday.

4.

We are not afraid;

we are not afraid;
we are not afraid today.

5.

God will see us through;

God will see us through;
God will see us through today.

John Olaf Birkeland

November 12, 1963 February 10, 2016
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of
my heart and my portion forever
Psalm 73:26 ESV

John Olaf Birkeland was the first son born to Arlene and
Betty (Sunquist) Birkeland, on November 12, 1963 in Bagley,
MN. Along with his ten siblings, John enjoyed his childhood
days growing up in Gonvick. He was baptized and
confirmed at Samhold Lutheran Church, and he graduated
valedictorian from Gonvick-Trail High School in 1982. John
went on to earn his bachelors degree in Mass
Communications from St. Cloud State University, he also
became a life-long Husky fan. With his education in
advertising and public relations, John was hired by
AT&T. In his 14 years with the company, John got to
experience living in cities across the country, and to John,
the bigger the city, the better. However, it was not until he
returned home to Minnesota that John landed the
opportunity to start working on something for which he was
truly passionate, human rights.

John Olaf Birkeland was the first son born to Arlene and
Betty (Sunquist) Birkeland, on November 12, 1963 in Bagley,
MN. Along with his ten siblings, John enjoyed his childhood
days growing up in Gonvick. He was baptized and
confirmed at Samhold Lutheran Church, and he graduated
valedictorian from Gonvick-Trail High School in 1982. John
went on to earn his bachelors degree in Mass
Communications from St. Cloud State University, he also
became a life-long Husky fan. With his education in
advertising and public relations, John was hired by
AT&T. In his 14 years with the company, John got to
experience living in cities across the country, and to John,
the bigger the city, the better. However, it was not until he
returned home to Minnesota that John landed the
opportunity to start working on something for which he was
truly passionate, human rights.

Between the years of 2003 and 2014, while working as the

State-Wide Support Liaison for Self-Advocacy Solutions
(SAS) of ND, John contributed to countless initiatives that
were taken in order to provide equal rights to people with
disabilities. He spent his years with SAS educating people
with disabilities on voting rights, presenting at conferences
across the country and helping to pass equal rights
legislation in North Dakota. Johns tenacity and dedication
to spreading the message of equality earned him the 2012
State Self-Advocacy Ally of the Year Award. The selfadvocates of ND and dear friends from the LISTEN Drop-In
center will forever remember John as their champion for
justice.

Between the years of 2003 and 2014, while working as the

State-Wide Support Liaison for Self-Advocacy Solutions
(SAS) of ND, John contributed to countless initiatives that
were taken in order to provide equal rights to people with
disabilities. He spent his years with SAS educating people
with disabilities on voting rights, presenting at conferences
across the country and helping to pass equal rights
legislation in North Dakota. Johns tenacity and dedication
to spreading the message of equality earned him the 2012
State Self-Advocacy Ally of the Year Award. The selfadvocates of ND and dear friends from the LISTEN Drop-In
center will forever remember John as their champion for
justice.

The most important thing in Johns life was undoubtedly his

family. He prioritized his brothers, sisters and dozens of
nieces and nephews by always making sure to send each
and every one a birthday card and a mix of the greatest

The most important thing in Johns life was undoubtedly his

family. He prioritized his brothers, sisters and dozens of
nieces and nephews by always making sure to send each
and every one a birthday card and a mix of the greatest

hits. He was proud to be the godfather to his niece

Libbi. He kept everyone up to date on what was going on in
the world because that was important to him; and never let
anyone miss a great Saturday Night Live skit, because a
good laugh was important to him too. When it came to who
was the favorite of all the family dogs, there was no
competing with John. At every family gathering, they were
by his side. His passion for politics was mirrored only by
that of his mothers, and no matter where his lifes journey
took him, he never missed an opportunity to come home
and visit with his Dad.

hits. He was proud to be the godfather to his niece

Libbi. He kept everyone up to date on what was going on in
the world because that was important to him; and never let
anyone miss a great Saturday Night Live skit, because a
good laugh was important to him too. When it came to who
was the favorite of all the family dogs, there was no
competing with John. At every family gathering, they were
by his side. His passion for politics was mirrored only by
that of his mothers, and no matter where his lifes journey
took him, he never missed an opportunity to come home
and visit with his Dad.

John's second love was great music. He never missed an

opportunity to remind friends and family that the right song
could wisp you away to somewhere new, help you get
through a tough time, motivate you, inspire you, and most
importantly, make you wanna dance! All those who knew
John Olaf Birkeland, knew him as a loving brother, an
amazing uncle, a dedicated son and a beautiful man. With a
heart of gold and the gentlest of souls, he was loved and will
be missed by many.

John's second love was great music. He never missed an

opportunity to remind friends and family that the right song
could wisp you away to somewhere new, help you get
through a tough time, motivate you, inspire you, and most
importantly, make you wanna dance! All those who knew
John Olaf Birkeland, knew him as a loving brother, an
amazing uncle, a dedicated son and a beautiful man. With a
heart of gold and the gentlest of souls, he was loved and will
be missed by many.

He is survived by his father Arlen Birkeland, Brothers

Dean (Teri) Birkeland and Richard (Julie) Birkeland, Sisters
Ruth Ann (Craig) Haugen, Donna Ballard, Diane (Craig)
Malkovich, Sandy Danielson, Barbara (Dean) Halverson and
Carla Tice.

He is survived by his father Arlen Birkeland, Brothers

Dean (Teri) Birkeland and Richard (Julie) Birkeland, Sisters
Ruth Ann (Craig) Haugen, Donna Ballard, Diane (Craig)
Malkovich, Sandy Danielson, Barbara (Dean) Halverson and
Carla Tice.

He was preceded in death by his mother Betty, his brother

Neal Birkeland, his sister Peggy Brovold, his nephews
Brandon Edevold and Benjamin Brovold and his niece Dana
Edevold.

He was preceded in death by his mother Betty, his brother

Neal Birkeland, his sister Peggy Brovold, his nephews
Brandon Edevold and Benjamin Brovold and his niece Dana
Edevold.