E-notes

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…

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.…

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…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  Last Sunday in the Adult Education Hour, we previewed Sunday’s annual meeting and then met in small groups to talk about ministry at Peace. I was reminded once again of how faithful and talented our congregation is, and how joyful it is when God’s people gather together!  So it’s all the more reason to look forward to the annual meeting of our congregation on Sunday at 10:45am in the sanctuary. This meeting is an opportunity…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  I wonder if, before you read the rest of my note, you would pause to pray for two groups; for all who remain affected by the wildfires in California, including the firefighters, and also all those in Israel/Palestine; giving thanks for the truce and praying for all those who are just beginning to recover from that long and horrible conflict. Thank you. So why do people come to worship? There are all sorts of answers…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  Wherever you are, I hope you’re staying warm! I identify with Garrison Keillor when he describes a recent return to Minnesota cold: “Nobody is out for a walk, nobody is hanging out, everyone is heading briskly for a car or for a warm building. And there is no complaining. This is the remarkable thing. Nobody says, “My God, it’s cold out, I have no feeling in my face,” because (1) this is not a personal…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  Little did I know that when we had an Adult Education Hour in December on “Preventing Becoming a Victim of Fraud and Scams” that I would become one so soon! Many of you caring (and discerning!) Peace members who received an e-mail or text from me in the last day asking “for help” have written or called to find out whether this was a legitimate request from me. To which I said to them and now to all of you: “This…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  Remember Christmas? It’s almost a distant memory now. Many have packed up their trees, the decorations, and returned gifts that didn’t make the cut (or the size!). Those lights don’t seem to twinkle so brightly and the lefse is gone. And we plod into the new year because winter—real winter—begins now. Christmas? “Hark!” the herald angels sang. Then they stopped. And now it seems we are left to fend for ourselves. Not so fast! Sunday…

Dear Peace members and friends,  I hope you had a merry Christmas Day and are enjoying time with those you love!  As you know, Christmas in the church is a 12-day festival. As Christians discovered early on, the Good News of God-in-the-flesh in Jesus was too important, too history-changing, to take in quickly; one day was simply not enough! So in their wisdom, our ancestors in the faith have given us these days following Christmas day to live into the…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This coming Sunday, the children of the congregation will present “Great Joy for All.” Along with the Peace Choir and the rest of the congregation, we’ll hear the Christmas story through music, scripture, and storytelling. Following worship, there will be a Christmas cookie reception in the Fellowship Hall. Join us for a wonderful morning ahead! A reminder that the celebration of Christmas begins next Tuesday, Christmas Eve.…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  Christmas is getting closer! I love these days of Advent; days of preparation, anticipation, days of joy and fun, as we look to the celebration of God coming in the flesh—Christmas.    This Sunday we continue our Advent sermon series, “Whose House for Christmas?” with a look at John the Baptist’s “house.” John may be an odd choice. As Garrison Keillor writes: “…….when people came from Jerusalem to hear him [John] preach and to be baptized,…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  I’m looking forward to this Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent! Worship, education, service, and fellowship—all things that are life-giving during this wonderful season of the church year.   Our Advent sermon series—“Whose House for Christmas?”—continues. We’re touring the homes of different women and men whose stories light our way as we prepare to celebrate once again God’s coming to us in Jesus of Nazareth. This Sunday, I’ll have us stop by at the prophet Isaiah’s…