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...]
This gift is for you, beloved
By Pastor Bridget Sheely Racine/Wykoff/Sumner Center UMC Spring has sprung and summer is right around the corner. What a wonderful time of year! I can’t help but feel a sense of renewed life this time of year and as I drive through the countryside all the wonderful sights only confirm my senses. Newborn calves dot the landscape, flowers are waking from their winter … [Read more...]
Love finds a way
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) When I was ordained as a pastor, some very talented artists from my home church made a beautiful and inspiring banner. The banner depicted a crown of holly and a crown of thorns which represented the birth and crucifixion of Jesus. Red letters … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – From every nation under heaven
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger Pentecost Sunday and Memorial Day were the same weekend this year. Pentecost celebrates the Holy Spirit’s outpouring on Jesus’ disciples and how “Jews from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5) first heard the Gospel proclamation. People from all over the Roman Empire and … [Read more...]