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...]

By Pastor Marke Geselle Valley Christian Center “As I walked into our church today, I walked into a maze of STUFF!  You name it and it was probably in our foyer and fellowship hall.  The ladies are preparing for a church garage sale to help provide ministry funds to use for our church’s women’s retreat at the end of the month and for other ministry endeavors.  Stuff here, … [Read more...]

By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish -  St. Paul, Saetersdal and  St. Matthew’s, Granger For churches using the Common Lectionary (the Bible readings chosen for all Sundays and Holy Days in the Christian year) the story of Doubting Thomas, John 20:24-31, is recounted the Sunday after Easter – every year … for decades ... maybe for centuries! Every year we … [Read more...]

By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches Pastor Phil Callaway tells of driving his 5-year-old son past a local cemetery.  Of course, 5-year-olds sometimes have an interesting perspective on things.  Noticing a large pile of dirt beside a newly excavated grave, the boy pointed and said, “Look, Dad, one got out!!!”  Calloway laughed at the … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora)  I believe many of my readers know that I appreciate the depth, integrity and theology of traditional Christian hymns.  I often use my hymnbook as a devotional resource in my life.  As we approach Easter and come down the homestretch of the … [Read more...]