Posts from February 2025
E-note February 28, 2025
Dear Peace Members and Friends, This past Sunday we bid “Farewell and Godspeed” to Pastor Joe, who resigned as our Associate Pastor and now will be “taking some time to spend with my family as we consider and discern next calls and opportunities.” We wish him well! And now this puts Peace in a bit of a transition. The mythical Roman god Janus was said to have been “two faced.” The god had one face with which to look backward…
CYF Blast February 27, 2025
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, A change is in the air. Literally. The days are getting longer and the mild-for-Minnesota weather has us all thinking about spring. With that, Lent is right around the corner. In fact, next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday with worship at 6:30pm. You may be wondering if this service is appropriate for children? (And Good Friday for that matter too.) Pastor Mark writes….Is Ash Wednesday “appropriate” for children? Yes! Let me share a reminder and…
E-note february 21, 2015
Dear Peace Members and Friends, I know a couple who has a running argument—discussion—on how to say good-bye, say after an evening in someone’s home. He decides when it’s time to go, saying, “Well, this has been wonderful and we wish we could stay, but it’s late and we should be going” and then moves toward the door. She sits there. She knows that it’s late. She wants to go, too. But she feels it’s rude to get up and…
CYF Blast February 20, 2025
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, It has come up very quickly, but this Sunday 2/23 will be my last as your Associate Pastor. And while it’s incredibly bittersweet, and I grieve these upcoming goodbyes, I invite you to come to worship this weekend so that we can celebrate and give thanks for our shared ministry together. I’ll offer one last message, and there will be some fellowship time for farewells during the education hour. It would mean a lot to me…
E-Note February 14, 2025
Dear Peace Members and Friends, Happy Valentine’s Day! This is the day that the church celebrates the memory of a saint who fell in love. Let me take a few moments and tell about St. Valentine. Valentine lived back in the 3rd century and was either a priest or bishop from Rome. At that time, it was illegal for Christians to worship in public. Many got arrested, simply for believing in Jesus. Valentine would visit Christians who were in prison.…
CYF Blast February 13, 2025
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love—a subject that the Bible talks about a lot! For example, 1 John 4 proclaims: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we…
E-Note February 7, 2025
Dear Peace Members and Friends, We had a good annual meeting last Sunday! Among other church matters, ministry reports were presented, gratitude to many was offered, a budget was passed for 2025 (totaling $776,546), new council members elected (Robin Kennedy, Michelle Stockinger, and Tom Tisthammer), and there was good conversation. My thanks to everyone who attended! Beginning this Sunday, I’ll be taking some vacation time with my wife, Marcie. Meanwhile, the season of Epiphany continues in worship. Pastor Joe will…
CYF Blast February 6, 2025
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, As I mentioned last month—and as you’ve hopefully seen in the Blast, Sunday worship bulletin, and the Peace website—our deadline for summer camp registration is quickly approaching! The deadline to sign up for Camp Wapo Seeds, Camp Wapo Youth Camp, Camp Wapo Family Camp, and the Boundary Waters canoe trip through Wilderness Canoe Base is just one week away—next Saturday, February 15. After that, the spots that are reserved for our congregation become open to…