By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist We had an unusual All Saints Sunday at Chatfield UMC on November 2. While we always celebrate the saints who have gone before us and who now surround us a great cloud of witnesses; this Sunday we also baptized a newly named saint of God. As we lit the candles of remembrance for the saints we were honoring who are no … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – God Bless You All This Fall!
By Pastor Bridget Sheely Co-Pastor of Prairieland Parish When life swallows you up with sadness, hurt, frustration or fear. When you begin to be led by the hand to the dark side of life. Where do you go or how do you find your way back to peace? Who do you turn to for help when you can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders any longer? The fall season gifts … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – God’s Ordered Abundance
By Rev. Tim Sandeno St. Johns Lutheran Church and School, Wykoff I have heard many say that autumn is their favorite among the seasons. While maybe not yet peak for our area, the trees are changing and the reds, yellows, and oranges of fall are making their appearance. I pray that God provides abundantly for those who love this season. I have seen during my walks that … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – God of Grace and God of Glory – Harry Emerson Fosdick
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) As many of you know, I have great respect for the theology expressed in traditional Christian hymns. Recently while reading some devotional material, Harry Emerson Fosdick’s great hymn from 1930 really spoke to me in light of all the … [Read more...]
Whalan Lutheran Church Makes Donation to City
The city of Whalan gratefully accepted a $200 donation from the Whalan Lutheran Church during the regularly scheduled October 13, 2025, city council meeting. The money is earmarked to go toward ballfield expenses. The council thanked the church for its gracious donation. Present at the council meeting were Mayor David Hallum along with council members Thore E. Johnson, … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.”
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) In 2007 I received a book written by Bishop Rueben P. Job. It was not a big or lengthy book, yet it was a book of transforming power and love. THREE SIMPLE RULES lifted up a powerful life and world changing way to live. Quoting … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Toil and Trouble
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger “Vanity of vanities! (Eccles 1:2b) The Hebrew literally means vapor of vapors, but it’s translated many ways: “utterly meaningless,” “all useless,” “nothing but smoke.” That’s Ecclesiastes’ conclusion about much of life – its toils and gains are vapor. Authorship … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Oh, Those Assumptions!
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches There was once an elderly woman who went to the grocery store in California to do some shopping. When she returned to her car, she noticed four men getting into her car in a big hurry! They were trying to steal the car! The woman dropped her shopping bags, reached into her purse, and pulled out a … [Read more...]
Looney Valley Lutheran Church Celebrates 150 Years
On Sunday, September 28, Looney Valley Lutheran Church will join together to celebrate a century and a half of its existence. Using a theme of “Yesterday we remember, today we celebrate, tomorrow we await,” the church will host a coffee hour at 9:15 a.m. followed by a special church service at 10 a.m., a noon meal of meatballs and turkey and a program at 1:30 p.m. Three of … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Where Does The Road Lead?
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) Recently on a cool, pleasant evening I went for a walk on a quiet country road. There was a gentle breeze and the evening was peaceful with colorful wildflowers and the songs of roadside birds. As I walked along, I got to thinking … [Read more...]