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...]

By Pastor Kris  Hertsgaard Kincaid Christ Lutheran Church, Preston  On Wednesday morning, November 6, leaves covered our lawn, and as I was walking out to the car my foot squished into the ground.  I realized I had stepped onto a “stinky dog nugget.” “Well,” I thought, “about half of our nation woke up today thinking things are a stinky mess.” Later, as I was walking … [Read more...]

By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish -  St. Paul, Saetersdal and  St. Matthew’s, Granger As I write, Election Day is a few days away; this will not be published until a week after.  In these contentious times, I simply pray all goes properly, and that we who are Christians behave well, now and in days to come, as citizens – not just US citizens, but citizens … [Read more...]

By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches I want to share an article from a pastor friend of mine who grew up in Chatfield, Pastor Chris Brekke: Minnesota Steve bought a horse. It was a strong and healthy steed that had been owned by a Baptist preacher. The oddity about the horse was that to get him to go you had to say “Praise the Lord” … [Read more...]

Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical  Lutheran Church Death is a dread foe, stinging us, separating us from those we love. Death hurts. And that hurt is often sharpest when he swoops into our lives suddenly, without warning, seemingly out of nowhere. We must be ready. But we so often aren’t – especially we who are left behind. There is no easy fix for Death’s … [Read more...]

By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches This week is the first school field trip for both my kindergartener and my third grader! Kids get SO excited for a field trip! In my family we write them on the calendar and count down to the big day.  Much of the learning at school happens in the same building, so the chance to learn and explore … [Read more...]

By Pastor Pam Seebach Harmony, Mabel, and Newburg United Methodist Churches When I was young, I was a Brownie, then a Girl Scout.  When my son was young, he joined the Cub Scouts.  Good programs, introducing young people to skills and thoughts they might never have encountered before!  Both the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts have a code which they memorize and recite (you … [Read more...]

By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free Words are filled with power, impact, and beauty.  They can paint a vivid picture, captivate the imagination, and convey a window into our souls.  But have you ever thought about how often words are diluted with our flippant use of them.  The word hope for example.  People always say things like “I hope so,” but what … [Read more...]

By Pastor Stuart Weist First Baptist Church of Preston Labor Day has passed, school is back in session, and everywhere children are starting a new academic year.  This is a legacy of education that has been marching forth from generation to generation.  It’s always fun to hear a young person talk of a new, exciting thing they just learned in school that perhaps we had … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston  (and Lenora)  A BRAND NEW GRANDDAUGHTER!!! Recently, my wife and I became grandparents again!  We now have five awesome  grandchildren.  As of this writing the youngest one is only about a month old.  She is a precious, sweet little girl.  I love holding her in … [Read more...]

By Pastor Bridget Sheely Co-Pastor of Prairieland  Parish Fall – to lose the old, to have its proper place.  This is just part of the many definitions of what the dictionary says “fall” is.   What I find fascinating is that the dictionary is talking about fall like “I fell down,” not fall like “the season” and yet how appropriate the definition is. I love fall!!  … [Read more...]