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...]

By Pastor Marke Geselle Valley Christian Center We’re having the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge Choir in our morning service this Sunday!   I’m always blessed to hear the stories of those going through this life changing, drug and alcohol program.  In those months in the program, lives and eternal destinies are changed.  Those with life controlling substance abuse, … [Read more...]

By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger No, that’s not a quote from Scripture, but Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18.  And at mid-August, I’m sure many of us feel summer is flying too quickly – again! The prophet Isaiah had his own spin on transience:  “The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston  (and Lenora)  Traditional, Christian hymns have much to offer our world today.  In about 1855 Joseph M. Scriven composed the words to a great Christian hymn.  From time to time, I believe we all feel lonely, discouraged and sad.  For our devotions today, I’d like … [Read more...]

By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) A few nights ago I was out in the yard transplanting some flowers that I had rescued from a construction site.  I like digging in the soil.  I like planting in the cool, rich, moist dirt.  As I planted the wild lilies, I got to thinking about the beauty … [Read more...]