Rev. Ritch Grimes installed as Co-pastor by Milk River Churches (MRC)
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At left in photo Theresa Danley, Co-pastor of the Milk River Churches (MRC) leads the installation ceremony to install Rev. Ritch Grimes, at right, as the new Co-pastor of the MRC. Neal Rigg, center, of the United Methodist Church, also participated in the installation. Ritch Grimes, and his family, came to Chinook about five years ago when he was called to the Chinook Alliance Church. Ritch and his wife, Judy, and daughter, Stephanie, make their home in Chinook.
The Milk River Churches (MRC) installed Rev. Ritch Grimes as a new Co-pastor at the four congregations' joint monthly service. The MRC include two Presbyterian congregations in Havre and Chinook and the United Methodist and American Lutheran churches in Chinook. The monthly joint service is held the first Sunday of each month and is hosted by a different church each month. The joint service includes communion and a potluck following the regular worship service. The four congregations joined together in the face of a national shortage of ministers willing to serve in rural churches.
More than a year ago the local churches began working together. Theresa Danley, an active member of the Chinook Presbyterian Church, completed a course of study to become a Certified Lay Pastor (CLP). She was commissioned by her presbytery and installed in March, 2023 to lead the MRC. She rotated among the churches to hold services during the past year. The churches, when Theresa was preaching at one of the sister congregations, relied on retired ministers and lay leaders from the area to conduct their weekly worship services. With the addition of Rev. Grimes to the MRC the two co-pastors will alternate monthly to lead worship. During February, when Ritch joined the MRC, he led worship in the Chinook and Havre Presbyterian churches while Theresa led worship for the United Methodist and American Lutheran congregations in Chinook. During March the two co-pastors will switch schedules to preach at the other two churches.
Theresa Danley has been pastoring the MRC for a year now. She said earlier she was "looking forward to working alongside Ritch as we minister not only to the Milk River Churches but also to the communities these churches call home." Ritch Grimes added he was looking forward to ministering "not to just one church but the entire community." Ritch now has an office in the American Lutheran Church and Theresa's office is in the Chinook Presbyterian Church.
During the Lenten season the MRC is holding Wednesday night soup suppers at the Chinook Presbyterian Church. Soup is provided by a different congregation at each gathering. The light meal is then followed by a showing of an episode from the third series of "The Chosen"-a multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus. Soup is served at 6pm followed by a new episode from "The Chosen." All are welcome to share in the soup supper and enjoy the episodes from "The Chosen." There is no charge.
