By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches In May 2018 I went hiking in Israel with a dear friend of mine.  I’ve led a couple of group tours there with church groups (and will again in April 2024), but this time I wanted something unique.  The main part of the hike was on the “The Jesus Trail,” a 40-mile hike from Nazareth (the hometown of Jesus) … [Read more...]

Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church On the evening of our Lord Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples are not rejoicing. They are so captivated by their own anxieties and worries that they have locked themselves in the Upper Room “for fear of the Jews” (St. John 20:19). Even worse, this is after St. Mary Magdalene has reported that our Lord’s tomb was … [Read more...]

By Rev. Deanna Woodward Maple Leaf Parish - United Methodist Churches of Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston and Spring Valley Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven.”  Matthew 19:14 This time of year, we move into confirmation and graduation season—important milestones in the lives of young people and … [Read more...]

By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches One of the things I love so much about spring is watching as different plants begin to sprout and grow. It starts with my daffodils, irises, and tulips. Then the grass begins to green, and buds on trees slowly begin to become leaves. It always feels like a miracle to have new growth and new life after a … [Read more...]

By Pastor Pam Seebach Harmony, Mabel, and Newburg United Methodist Churches On the last page of most good stories, you will find the words ‘The End’ prominently printed following the final sentence of the story. This is fitting because every book or story eventually ends. Even Tolstoy’s 1,225-page book “War and Peace” eventually arrives at the end – no more story. Jesus’ … [Read more...]

By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free Moment follows moment, day follows day, as you get older, they can start to fly by so quickly you can barely keep track.  Events and time move quicker than we can process all that is happening, so we don’t process.  We keep our head down, reduce our focus to things that impact us directly and yet more and more of life … [Read more...]

By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist and Commissioned EarthKeeper of the UMC As Earth begins to awaken under the warming closeness of Brother Sun; our hearts rejoice! Mother Earth is awaking from her slumber. She is sighing with renewed growth. She is stretching her molecules so that roots can expand again. She is warming within so that dormant seeds can … [Read more...]

By Pastor Bridget Sheely Racine/Wykoff/Sumner Center UMC I saw my first robin the other day and oh, the joy that filled my heart!  We are so very blessed to live in a region where we get to experience the beauty of all for four seasons and I believe spring to be such an inspiring season.  It brings with it renewal and rebirth.  So, the moment I saw that robin I was not … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) Did you know that this powerful Christian hymn is 250 years old this year?  2023 marks the 250th anniversary of this great hymn written by John Newton.  John Newton has a remarkable conversion experience in completing surrendering his life to Jesus … [Read more...]

By Pastor Michael Harman St. Johns Lutheran Church and School Many Christians are in a part of the Christian Church year called Lent, a period of 40 days plus Sundays before Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). Lent reminds us of Jesus fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights tempted by Satan. Some begin with ashes placed on the head as a symbol of repentance.  … [Read more...]