Posted by svanbaale |
Sunday’s Gospel reading is the story is when the risen Christ appears to the disciples. It is shortly after he appears on the road to Emmaus, and breaks and blesses bread with those he met on the road. Then he vanishes and appears near 11 of the disciples and their companions.
At first, the disciples are frightened, feeling like they have seen a ghost. Jesus comforts them by having them…
Posted by hlewis |
I can’t help but compare Easter 2020 to Easter 2021, and I am feeling hopeful.
We are still the church. We worship together, in person and online. We pray for each other and are helping our neighbors. Let me give you some examples:
Posted by cschnaath |
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:34-35
I have served about 18 months as interim pastor for Salem Lutheran Church. I was excited when I began to be working with a staff of four! I was…
Posted by rgarza |
This weekend is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. What a perfect time to reflect on what people thought as Jesus is riding into town hoping he will change everything. That he will restore the kingdom and free them from Roman rule. What a celebration that was.
Thinking back to those times when circumstances looked one way but turned out to be something entirely different: A year…
Posted by wcanady |
In addition to this month’s songs, I wanted to personally take some time to thank Pastor Cynthia for serving as Interim Pastor during this uniquely challenging time. Thank you for caring for and about myself and my family during this pandemic; I will never forget your kind and loving care. Lastly, as we celebrate the coming pastorate of Pastor Jon, we celebrate the work and focus that will always…
Posted by svanbaale |
It has been a year since the coronavirus hit Johnson County. It has been a year since my kids came home from school on a Thursday expecting one more day before spring break, only to not return to school again for classes until after fall conferences.
For other things, it has been more than a year. I have not seen family or friends since December 2019, and some even before that. Most of our…
Posted by hlewis |
Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Rest from your labors. This commandment is a difficult one to follow, don’t you think? As worship and music director, Sunday is the day I rest the least! I encourage my three kids to be active outside of school, so weekends are not for resting at my house.
My mom tells the story that as a young teen, my favorite days were the ones with absolutely…
Posted by cschnaath |
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
Mark 8:35 (NRSV)
In the interims I have served I have used the resource “Taking Faith Home” from Milestone Ministries. After we used the Advent and Christmas cards and they were well-received, I thought this might be a helpful…
Posted by rgarza |
I hope all of you are safe and staying warm and healthy. Lent already? Some days (in fact, most days) I feel like 2020 was the year of giving up something — no weddings, birthdays, hospital visits, school, funerals, and, for the most part, one’s job — hoping it will get better each month, will I have a job, will my family be okay, or am I even going to be able to see my family. I struggled…
Posted by ttrana |
Twenty years ago, Paul and I lived in Fargo, ND. Twenty years ago, widespread mobile phone usage did not exist.
I took the call at work. Our neighbor Wallace was watching the farm while my parents were out of state on a much-deserved vacation. My dad's steers had broken the fence and had gotten out. Wallace had not been able to locate the cattle. I flew into action. I told my boss I was…