By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) A long time ago I was doing some work at the old church in Lenora. As many of you know, the historic Lenora Church has been a labor of love for me over the years. While working in the yard, my shovel struck a buried rock about a foot under the ground. … [Read more...]
The way, and the truth, and the life
Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church On the night when our Lord Jesus was betrayed, the hearts of His disciples were troubled. He had been explaining to them yet again that it was necessary for their own sakes that He depart from them, and that they themselves knew the way to where He was going. But the hearts of the disciples were troubled. So an … [Read more...]
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church to celebrate sesquicentennial
Among the gently rolling hills of Southern Fillmore County is Granger, Minn., This small unincorporated town has a historical milestone coming up. They are celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Matthew’s Lutheran church. In the late 1850s, the village of Granger was founded and from there, German settlers started holding church services in their homes. It wasn’t until … [Read more...]
Cowboy’s “Code of the West”
By Rev. Deanna Woodward Maple Leaf Parish - United Methodist Churches of Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston and Spring Valley For about the last 15 years, our parish church in Cherry Grove has hosted a Cowboy Church Service at 6 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. Musicians from around the area come to share their vocal and instrumental music talents and all are welcome … [Read more...]
A trifecta at St. Mary’s Catholic Church
A large crowd gather Sunday, June 25 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caledonia to celebrate three milestones. The 150th anniversary of catholic history in Caledonia, the 80th birthday of Sister Michaeline Healy, and Father Matt Wagner’s last weekend as St. Mary’s pastor. The church’s history is embroidered on a quilt that was on exhibit during Sunday’s celebration. Each … [Read more...]
What’s that about??
By Pastor Pam Seebach Harmony, Mabel, and Newburg United Methodist Churches I remember as a child being intrigued by the many ‘‘other’’ churches in our town. I was raised in the United Methodist Church and am still a United Methodist today. But I wondered why there were so many different churches – what’s that about? What goes on in a Catholic Church, I wondered? How is a … [Read more...]
Blooming where you are planted
By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free How can I bloom where there is no water? If you are like me, you may have been praying for rain with more fervency these days. The farmers and those who make a living from the soil have been praying hard for rain. How can things grow without water? When we think of this call to bloom where you are planted, we think I … [Read more...]
God is bigger than you
Rev. Peter Haugen Chatfield, MN Our Lord Jesus said, “It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word” (St. John 8:54-55). Jesus knows God. None better. And when He taught us to pray, He did so, saying, … [Read more...]
The Bible says, “Obey your parents”!
By Pastor Stuart Weist First Baptist Church of Preston I heard this before, both in my youth and as an adult. I have heard more than a few times Christian parents weaponize this phrase out of Ephesians 6:1 without giving any thought to the rest of the passage. Their goal is to simply have children that follow their every command. But that’s not what the Bible says, and … [Read more...]
God is bigger than ‘He’
By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist and Commissioned EarthKeeper of the UMC Do you remember when the movie “The Shack” came out? What is it that you remember most? Are you like many people who can’t remember exactly what the movie was about but do remember Octavia Butler as Papa God? What did you think? Were you of the delighted or the shocked camp? … [Read more...]