Staff Trax

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble

And gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

(Psalm 107:1-3)

Our scripture will be a bit different…

I sang for my mom’s best friend’s celebration of life last week. She was an amazing woman who loved God and her family fiercely. The day before she died, she went to church with mom, and then spent the afternoon loving and caring for others at a picnic celebrating Pride Month. She wore a shirt she bought specifically for the event that said “Be You” with a rainbow, and there are many pictures…

This Sunday’s Gospel reading is the story of when Jesus visits the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary stops what she is doing to listen to Jesus, but Martha is busy preparing for his visit. She has no time for her guest.

Martha complains to Jesus that Mary has left her to do all of the preparation. Perhaps she expects sympathy from Jesus by sharing her irritation with her sister.…

Since we’re going to hear about the Good Samaritan this Sunday, I’d love to share a recent story.

On a Sunday afternoon in early June, my husband Brad and I were driving south to make some repairs to our lake house with a thunderstorm threatening. We turned onto an unpaved road, and about 100 feet later one of the truck tires went immediately flat. Brad found the jack and spare, and…

“… but Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’” (Matthew 19:14)

For four days, Overland Park Lutheran Church was transformed into the “Great North” as a way to remind children (and adults alike) that Jesus is our “true north.” Vacation Bible School was a huge success, and it was a reminder…

I am sure that you have heard of John the Baptist, but did you know that Tuesday was the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, a significant day in the Christian calendar, particularly within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism. Unlike some holidays, it is observed annually on the same date — June 24.

This feast day is celebrated to commemorate…

Last week our confirmands continued their faith journey in the Rocky Mountains at the beautiful Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp (RTLC). Nora, Ava, Faith, Samuel, and Ruby (along with Paul, Ken, and Mikhaelle) navigated high and low ropes courses, 4-13 mile hikes, white water rafting, fun dance parties, delicious meals, and meaningful Bible studies and worship.

RTLC is very intentional about…

Over the first weekend in June, Joyce Benedict, Renee Loya, and I attended the annual Synod Assembly for our Central States Synod. The main order of business was to elect a new synod bishop. After five rounds of voting, those gathered (more than 300, the majority being lay members from all over Kansas and Missouri) elected Rev. Dr. Donna Simon. But this was more than an election — it was a question…

This Sunday is Pentecost. We celebrate the birth of the church and wear red. But when I did a search on the internet for the word Pentecost, it was interesting to me that not only the Christian celebration came up, but also the Jewish one.

In Acts 2:1-21 (our First Reading for this Sunday), the Jews were celebrating Shavuot. They were “all together in one place” to celebrate…

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…