By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) A school teacher asked her students to write an essay of 1,000 words describing something beautiful. One young student turned in a picture of a glorious sunset with flaming reds and oranges with dark, black clouds ... but with no writing … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Treasures
By Kevin Barnhart The sun was brilliant, shimmering off every blade of grass. The breeze was soft, and the birds were happily chirping around as we walked up and down the rows of fresh cut hay. It was 80 degrees, give or take as it is beholden to be if you are doing fieldwork, but all in all, the day was flooded with God’s love, light and goodness. My father-in-law had cut … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Jesus’ Disciples: A Foil for Our Understanding
By Pr. Anders Nelson In my work of preparing sermons, I often find myself trying to inhabit the perspective of some of the characters we read about in scripture. When preaching from the texts involving the prophets, I ponder how they might be feeling as they speak into a community in need of repentance and change. When preaching from Paul’s writings, I think about how the … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Extended Family
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger This July, 25 youth and adults from St. Paul Lutheran-Lime Springs went on a week’s mission trip to Costa Rica. At the end of August, they shared pictures and stories of what they experienced together. A recurring theme was their delight in making connections with the people … [Read more...]
It Is the Gift of God
By Rev. Peter J. Haugen St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2). “We … all formerly lived in the lusts of the flesh, indulging the … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Talitha Koum!
Pastor Mark Geselle Valley Christian Center In my Bible reading, I came across a word we don’t use much these days. Matthew, Mark and Luke record the story of Jairus’ daughter who was at the point of death. Jairus sent for Jesus because he had faith to believe Jesus could heal her. In the meantime, the girl died. Everyone knew she was dead. Her parents knew. Those paid to … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Three Things that Never Change
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches As the school year begins, so do our programs at church ramp up! Pastors and leaders get excited about more youth, children and families in church. What curriculum will we use? What topics and themes do we highlight? How can we bring out God’s story in a new and relevant way? What games should we plan and … [Read more...]
Leap of Faith
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church is celebrating 75 years of ministry this year. The theme for this year of celebration is “A Leap of Faith” as it both describes how Our Savior’s was formed, and our current faithful response to ministry today. Seventy-five years ago, discussions between Trinity Lutheran of the Norwegian ELC Synod and Zion Lutheran of the ALC German Synod came to … [Read more...]
Meet Me in the Water Revival Attracts Nearly 3,000 to Peterson
A small southeastern Minnesota town became the gathering place for thousands of people August 29-30 as the Kayla Gabbard Ministry brought its Meet Me in the Water Revival to Peterson. Nearly 3,000 people attended the two-day event with 1,021 attendees baptized in the Root River by Founder Kayla Gabbard, Pastor Elwood Patrick, and a team of baptizers. Local resident Nikki … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – A Warm Fuzzy or a Cold Prickly?
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) When I was in seminary, I had many blessed moments studying theology, Biblical studies, pastoral counseling, preaching, church administration and the various things needed in parish ministry. I had many talented and well-learned professors … [Read more...]