By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist Teaching and leading a group of young people towards the day when they confirm their commit-ment to Christianity is a challenge and a privilege for clergy. I take this role very seriously. In this world of ours, naming oneself Christian is no longer a given. And it never should be. Naming oneself Christian comes with a … [Read more...]

By Pastor Bridget Sheely Co-Pastor of Prairieland Parish As we walk through each day and navigate our way through ups and downs, joys and concerns, happy moments and heartache, it becomes very clear that this earthly life is anything but redundant, mundane or one dimensional.  Yes, we can feel at times that we are stuck in a rut.  But the truth is we all have our peak and … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Geselle Valley Christian Center “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “all people are like grass, and all their glory (like the K. C. Chiefs) is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.  And this is … [Read more...]

By Pastor Kris Hertsgaard Kincaid Christ Lutheran Church, Preston Have you noticed how much Jesus prays? Throughout the Gospel of Luke, we see Jesus pray when he is baptized, lonely or tired, and making important decisions. One of the prayers Christians recite most often is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught this prayer after being asked by a disciple for Jesus to teach him … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston  (and Lenora)  Even since the days of the pandemic, I have been very careful with taking needed precautions with regard to COVID-19.  Well...it finally caught up with me early in January 2025.  I was fully vaccinated so I am thankful the symptoms were mild.  … [Read more...]

By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches How is 2025 going for you so far? A new year often signifies a fresh start for many people but, more often than not, resolutions set on December 31 are abandoned a few weeks into January. Practiced in most parts of the world, people set goals for a new year which revolve around continuing good … [Read more...]

By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish -  St. Paul, Saetersdal and  St. Matthew’s, Granger The Christian Century, a Protestant periodical, began as The Christian Oracle, then in 1900 became The Christian Century, with hope “genuine Christian faith could live in mutual harmony with the modern developments in science, technology, immigration, communication and … [Read more...]

Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Herod was troubled at the news of the Christ Child’s birth, as were the religious leaders and all of Jerusalem. But the magi rejoiced and worshipped the Infant King, even as had the shepherds before them. God grant us the faith to join the magi and the shepherds! “For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep … [Read more...]

By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches I was driving home from a Christmas celebration one year late at night. At 11:58 p.m. on December 25 the radio station played a Christmas song. And the very next song, starting at 12:01 a.m. on December 26, returned to classic rock. For much of the world, Christmas ends at midnight on the 25th. But for … [Read more...]

By Pastor Pam Seebach Harmony, Mabel, and Newburg United Methodist Churches A common phrase, when one doesn’t understand what the person in front of them just said is, “Come again?”  In effect, you are asking them to repeat what they just said so that you might hear, and understand, the second time.  We just experienced the coming of the Christ Child, a joyous event for those … [Read more...]

By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free If your Christmas is different this year … the words caught my attention as I sat staring into the frost on the windowpane.   I don’t know why my heart grabbed hold of this song; music had been playing all day long.  Each tune a bliss filled sonnet of God’s great wonder, melodies saturated with the joy of the coming of … [Read more...]

By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist In my Christian tradition it is generally thought that singing Christmas hymns should wait until the day of Christmas Eve. Most of us in mainline Protestant churches fudge on that a little. We recognize that banning Christmas carols until Christmas Eve isn’t practical or even good practice. So in my congregational … [Read more...]

By Pastor Marke Geselle Valley Christian Center We just had a Workers Appreciation Banquet last Saturday evening for all those in our church who volunteer themselves, giving of their time and energy for the ministry of the church and community.  There are those who greet, usher, teach classes, make coffee, work in the kitchen. Some take care of babies in the nursery and … [Read more...]