By Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church In Genesis 17, God established circumcision as a sign for the people of God, for the Old Testament Church. Every male was to be circumcised. Circumcision brought individuals into the people of God, brought them under the covenant that God had made with Abraham and with his descendants. Any male who was not … [Read more...]
“Do All the Good You Can”
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) The above quote is from The Reverend John Wesley (1703-1791). In light of all that is before us in our world today, it is a timely reminder for us to focus on doing good. In a world full of things contrary to God’s ways, it is important for people … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions: It’s Time
By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free Has one minute ever felt like an eternity to you? The feeling of every single foot fall on that last minute or mile of your marathon, the last minute of your workday, the last push before the baby is born. Or perhaps you like I have felt the weighty measure of minutes while sitting vigil next to a loved one taking … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions: Giving Grace
By Pastor Stuart Weist First Baptist Church of Preston The Christmas season is upon us, and we know what that means. It’s that time of year to purchase gifts for family and friends, attend holiday concerts, put up lights, and hang ornaments on the tree. Hopefully all these holiday activities fill your home and heart with joy. Hopefully the lights remind you as a believer … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion: It’s A Miracle!
By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist You know how sometimes familiar Bible stories take on new meaning? That just happened to me with the story of the feeding of the 5,000-plus. A quick re-telling from John chapter 6. Jesus has gathered a crowd of people around him. They follow him wherever he goes, apparently. One day Jesus notices that the crowd is “hungry.” … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions: Respecting an Establishment of Religion
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger This week we recall again the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims’ coming to a new land. And a primary reason they came was religious freedom. They’d rejected the “trappings” of the Church of England and sought to live and worship in a simpler, “purer” faith. Many early settlers … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Who’s Watching?
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies will always be known as the team that suffered one of the greatest collapses in sports history. They let a huge division lead slip away by losing 10 games in a row at the end of the season. Despite the collapse, the Phillies’ season had its share of memorable moments, … [Read more...]
Autumn Beauty Reveals the Glory of God
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) One evening toward the end of the day, I saw a glorious sight as the final rays of sunlight were shining across the valley and giving radiant beams of light to bright red and orange trees in the distance. The blue sky, dark pines and glowing colors of red … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – Father John Dyer, an Amazing Pioneer Circuit Rider
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) One of my hobbies involves history. In this article, I’d like to lift up an inspiring Methodist Circuit Rider by the name of John Lewis Dyer. Rev. Dyer was affectionately called Father Dyer by those who knew him. He was a determined evangelist, deeply … [Read more...]
Holiness is Everywhere
By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches This past summer I traveled to the Holy Land and got to see the holy sites of Israel and Palestine. It was a trip of a lifetime, especially as a pastor. I got to see in person many of the holy places where Jesus walked! I remembered my baptism in the Jordan River. I rode in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. I … [Read more...]