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Staff Trax

Hello, Salem!

Hello, Salem! It will be my privilege to walk with you for a time in worship and supply work on April 27 and May 4.

Since we’re going to be walking together, it would be good for you to know a little bit about me.

My name is Pastor Merle Brockhoff. (I go by Pastor Merle; as shorthand I am sometimes just called “PM.”)

I’ve been a Lutheran pastor for 40 years, serving…

Spy Wednesday

Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, then progresses to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. But have you heard of “Spy Wednesday”?

When preparing services for Holy Week, I came across information on this little-known day. According to Augsburg Fortress, Wednesday in Holy Week “was formerly called ‘Spy Wednesday,’ an allusion to the gospel accounts in which Judas is identified…

Making a Difference: Volunteering with the Home-Delivered Meals Ministry

I have been volunteering with the Home-Delivered Meals ministry, formerly known as Meals on Wheels, through Salem for several months now. Honestly, at first I was hesitant because I wasn’t familiar with how it worked and worried about the time commitment. But serving others and making a positive impact on our community is something that matters deeply to me, so I reached out, asked about the ministry…

Look at the Company He Keeps!

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in that tree, and He said:
“Zacchaeus, you come down! For I’m coming to your house today!”

This song is how I learned about Zacchaeus as a child. It certainly…

Doing Justice

I want to share about the Good Faith Network and the impact it has had on my faith journey.

Many of you know, but for those who don’t, the Good Faith Network is in interfaith organization in Johnson County comprised of almost 30 faith communities across three faith traditions — Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. We advocate for justice around the most pressing issues in Johnson County. We…

Caring for Creation

The Creation Care Team is a collection of people from Salem Lutheran Church, Overland Park Lutheran Church, and Overland Park Presbyterian Church that meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. by Zoom to discuss issues and to schedule events related to God’s creation — the natural environment. Next up is a retreat sponsored by the Creation Care Team from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on…

Welcoming All People

Salem’s Welcome Statement: We, the members of Salem Lutheran Church, affirm the belief that we are all created in God’s image and are called to love one another as God loves us. We are a community that welcomes people of all ages, cultures, economic statuses, ethnic backgrounds, family blends, gender identities, physical and mental abilities, races, and sexual orientations. We seek to…

Goodbye and Godspeed

Dear Partners in Ministry,

When facing a daunting challenge or entering an uncertain time of transition I am reminded of the phrase, “Every long journey begins with a single step.”

After four years of serving as your pastor, I am amazed at the steps that we have taken together. And now, as I say goodbye, my heart overflows with gratitude. Your generosity in the face of uncertainty…

The What, Where, When, and Why of Transfiguration

This Sunday we will celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord. I did a quick Google search on the topic, and AI told me all I needed to know about Transfiguration. See the results below.

The Transfiguration in the Bible is when Jesus' appearance changed to reveal his heavenly glory. The word "transfiguration" comes from the Latin words trans- ("across") and figura ("form, shape").

Church is Family

I have lifelong experience with change. I grew up moving a lot with my Army family, have lived all over the country, and spent several years in Europe. Moving was an adventure for me; I was always excited to be able to start new, meet new friends, and explore new places. I’ve been taught by 13 different piano teachers. My hometown is Leavenworth, KS — I lived there the longest (5 years) and…

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