Two Moody County congregations are welcoming in new pastors this holiday season, and both pastors say they sincerely are loving their new home communities.

Our Savior’s Lutheran, Pastor Ramona Hayes is still settling into her new home and community. “It’s going really well,” she told the Moody County Enterprise. “Flandreau is just a lovely town.”
Hayes and her husband Tim are both originally from Indiana, Tim grew up in Fort Wayne area and she grew up in a community about 30 miles south of there. The two arrived at Flandreau most recently from Langford, South Dakota, where she had a four-point parish (she was responsible for four different churches). Prior to that, she was at churches in Pollack and Harriet.

Prior to entering into ministry, Hayes worked as a bookkeeper. She also spent time earlier in her life and career working for her parents at their transportation company, ran daycare out of her home when her children were young, drove a school bus and worked as a Christian Education Director at her home congregration. By the way, knowing there is a need for bus drivers in every community, she chuckled and made sure to state that her CDL has expired and she is not interested to drive a school bus on South Dakota roads.
As for the new appointment, Hayes said that she truly is excited to get to know the congregation better, especially given how involved everyone seems to be at all ages. “They are very socially oriented and want to be of larger service to the world, so that’s something they’ve already got going for them. But you can always deepen your faith and knowledge of the Lord.”
On a personal note, she and her husband are also excited to be somewhere less rural than where they have been for some time. “This is the first time we’ve lived in a town that really has a grocery store and where the church and funeral home are in the same town, and we’re only 30 minutes from Sioux Falls instead of two hours,” she said.
Hayes adds that she is also very creative and a maker in her free time. Like Thompson, she also makes jewelry, and her husband is a golfer. They look forward to learning more about what all they might offer the area and the area them as they adjust to their new home.
Worship on Sundays is at 9 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran. Advent services are on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. The church’s very active youth group also meets at that same time. For more information, contact the church at (605) 997-2186.