By Pastor Michael Harman St. Johns Lutheran Church and School There is great comfort in First John 3:1. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” ESV. God’s Word tells us we can’t earn His love. It’s given. A free gift. By His … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – The importance of faith, worship, commitment and being involved: A time for renewal
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) United Methodist Churches Here is an old photograph from about 1890 of pioneer people standing in front of the historic Lenora Church. It must have been a church picnic, a holiday of some sort as the people came together for this photo. I am impressed with the … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – We overcome the world
Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church God promises that “whatever is born of God overcomes the world… And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5). This is a comforting word for us Christians in the midst of our current struggles and anxieties and fears. Or at least it should be. But we … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – Sabbath and Holiness around us every day
By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches May is often one of the busiest months of the year, with ball games, graduations, family events, and preparing for summer gatherings. In the midst of a very busy season, it is extra important to think about taking time for Sabbath and rest. Often when we think about Sabbath we think it means needing to … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – The elusive peace
By Pastor Pam Seebach Harmony, Mabel, and Newburg United Methodist Churches Recently, someone said to me that we need to pray for the people in Ukraine. True! We held a prayer service in Mabel with Ukraine and its people as the focus. But, as I planned the service, my ears and heart were caught by multiple reports on the radio of other war-torn areas of the world. People … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – Planting the seed
By Rev. Deanna Woodward Maple Leaf Parish United Methodist Churches of Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston and Spring Valley Have you ever had this experience? You walk up to someone you know and ask “How are you?” The person answers, “Well, I lost my job last week. My spouse left me. I haven’t been able to sleep lately. My daughter fell and broke her arm in two places, and my … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – When words fail
By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free Words usually pour from my heart; thoughts, feelings, insights, and ideas often come naturally. But Sunday as the palm branches waved, as children shouted Hosanna, my heart began to sink. Holy week is here. This is the week we all have been preparing for, we have been longing for and yet as Jesus sets His face towards … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – Batter My Heart, O God!
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger As we come to Holy Week, I share a poem by one of the great English poets, John Donne, who is commemorated in the Lutheran and Anglican churches on March 31, the day of his death in 1631. Born in London, January 22, 1572, Donne grew up Roman Catholic, but converted to the Church … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – Old radio once told the news of WWII
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) United Methodist Churches My mother was a young woman during the era of World War II. Pictured here is her old AM radio that she listened to during the 1940s. On this radio she heard the news of the events of that war torn era. I believe she listened to the news of … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Inch by inch, seed by seed
By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist Do you ever sing words to a song and realize you are singing them “wrong”? Sometimes it is embarrassing, sometimes serendipitous. I learned that the song I sing to my seeds when I am planting a garden aren’t the words as written by David Mallett. However, in this case it is serendipitous because the way I sing this song … [Read more...]
