By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” You’ll undoubtedly recognize this from the Declaration of … [Read more...]

By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches Noah built the ark at the age of 600, demonstrating obedience and faith for an aging man! Abraham was called by God at 75 years old to become the father of a great nation, while Sarah, his wife, was 65. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt at 80 years old, after a long life of preparation. Anna, a … [Read more...]

By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches One of the great joys of being a pastor during the summer is participating in trips with our young people. I want to share a particularly meaningful story from a trip a few years ago.  On the second to last night of our mission trip to the Duluth, Minn., area, our group joined for supper with two other … [Read more...]

Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Even we Christians often fall into the trap of believing that suffering is a sign that God is punishing us. We do not understand that God reveals Himself, reveals His love in suffering, that He uses suffering to purge us, to purify us, to draw us to Himself. We Christians do not seek suffering, but we do interpret … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) On October 2, 2024, my beloved wife, best friend and partner in ministry passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition.  I was shocked and devastated by her passing.  Pastor Deanna Woodward was truly a ray of sunshine and light in my life … [Read more...]

By Pastor Pam Seebach Harmony, Mabel, and Newburg United Methodist Churches Students and teachers (for the most part) have been released from school for the summer.  Ahead of us stretches a long expanse of summer days, an expanse of time which, as a child, seemed endless.  Long days of doing nothing, interspersed with trips to the library or the swimming pool.  Beautiful, … [Read more...]

By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free James 5:7–8: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it re-ceives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient” John 12:24: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the … [Read more...]

By Rev. Anders Nelson Mabel-Henrytown Tri-Point Parish - Mabel First Lutheran Church, Scheie Lutheran Church and Henrytown Lutheran Church As we celebrated Memorial Day last week, I was reminded of the rich collection of hymns that celebrate our national identity, giving thanks for the grand experiment in demo-cracy that we get to be a part of here in the United States and … [Read more...]

By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist On May 18 the texts that were read in many churches were from John chapter 13 and Revelation chapter 21. Both passages spoke to a new thing. In Revelation God says: “Look, I am making everything new.” In John, Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment, love each other as I have loved you.” As I read these verses in … [Read more...]

By Pastor Bridget Sheely Co-Pastor of Prairieland Parish Peace and Grace to you during this beautiful Eastertide season.  I love this time of year.  As we approach spring into summer and celebrate the holiest and most rejuvenating seasons of our spiritual lives.  Easter is a time for us to not only repent of our sins but a time to renew our commitment to our Lord and … [Read more...]