E-notes

Dear Peace Members and Friends,    I opened up the newspaper this morning and read the weather forecast; a prediction of a possible high today of 78 degrees! Maybe—just maybe—spring weather is here to stay! I hope all of you are getting a breath of that fresh air today.This weekend we have the 4th Sunday in Lent. In worship (9:30am), we will hear one of the most famous parables of all. But what to call the story Jesus tells about…

March 21, 2025   Dear Peace Members and Friends,    As most of you know, we are in staff transition here at Peace. Last Tuesday, there was the regular monthly meeting of the Church Council and I have a brief report and reminder from that meeting at the end of this note.   But first, it’s always terrific to hear good ministry news and I heard some again this week from our Communication’s staff member, Daina Sivanich, who, along with…

March 14, 2025   Dear Peace Members and Friends,    It was really fun to see so many of you turn out for Wednesday night’s midweek Lenten activities; dinner, Holden Evening Prayer; rehearsal for the Peace Choir and Confirmation students gathered. A good night and so good to see you all!   Lent continues with worship on Sunday (9:30am). It is the Second Sunday in Lent and our Gospel reading describes one of the most memorable scenes in all the…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  Just a reminder: clocks jump ahead one hour early Sunday morning! On Ash Wednesday we began the season of Lent. Many see this season in the church as year as a grim, merely-to-be-endured time in the church year and understandably so. Lent begins with ashes on our foreheads, reminding us of life’s limits….and our own. Yet that’s exactly why I also see Lent as an opportunity not to be missed; a time to reflect, to…

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…

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…