Blogs And Devotionals

Dear Peace Members and Friends,Here we are in a true interim period. Last Sunday, August 30 we celebrated theconclusion of Pastor Jeff Engholm’s interim time at Peace and our new SeniorPastor, Anne Schaefer, will start after Labor Day. This Sunday, September 6, we have the privilege of having Pastor PhilipFormo as our guest pastor. He will be preaching on the Matthew 18:15-20 textwhere Jesus gives us a step-by-step process for resolving personalconflicts with a goal of reconciliation. We will pray,…

August 28, 2026 Dear Peace Lutheran Church Family and Friends, Over the past thirteen months we have traveled the “interim road” together, completing surveys, holding listening sessions, filling out paperwork, and discerning the mission of this congregation in anticipation of calling your next pastor. Now that this transition is complete, my time with you is coming to an end. Of course, this is not the first transition that has taken place at Peace Lutheran Church. Many pastors have come and gone since…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, This past week has been full: on Monday night, a group of Peace members traveled to The Dubliner in St. Paul to sing along with the Fleshpots of Egypt bluegrass band; on Tuesday afternoon, another group shared good food and good conversation at the Sovereign Estate Winery in Waconia; on Tuesday evening, the Church Council gathered to make final plans for welcoming Peace’s new pastor; on Wednesday morning, the Peace Staff met to…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, We’re halfway through August and heading into the home stretch of summer! Thanks much for your continued donations to our VEAP and Poplar Bridge Elementary School collections, and thanks also for your ongoing overall support for the congregation. The ministry of the church is driven by the Holy Spirit working through YOU and every single member of the congregation. Thank you! This Sunday morning we’ll gather to hear about God’s all-inclusive, all-welcoming, radical hospitality as…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, Our congregation’s ministry continues to be strong through these summer months – just check out the Peace Facebook page for recent pictures from the VEAP Work Day, Church Grounds Clean-up Project, and the Older Adult Luncheon! And there’s certainly more to come as we continue to collect household items for VEAP, collect school supplies for Poplar Bridge Elementary School, gather with grieving folks at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church on Thursday afternoons, and more!…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, What a great week it’s been! We just had a group of kids spend time at Camp Wapogasset, our Older Adults group had a great lunch last Thursday, and then Thursday afternoon we had a work crew help out at “VEAP Headquarters” just a short drive from Peace. Lots of fellowship, learning, and service activities for all ages! This Sunday morning we’ll be gathering for worship in the sanctuary, conversation in the Fellowship…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, After spending some vacation time up in Northern Minnesota a few weeks ago, it is so sad to watch the wildfires sweep through the area that I just traveled through. I’m certainly grateful that no fatalities have been confirmed so far, and I also realize that forest fires like this one are a natural part of creation’s life cycle. (My understanding is that this fire was started by lightning strikes, with dry conditions…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, What a great day last Sunday: after a year of preparation, processing, and prayer, the vote to call Peace’s next pastor passed by an overwhelming majority! Many thanks to the Call Committee, Church Council, and all those who participated in this prayerful process of reflection, discernment, and action! As we now move into the “homestretch” of this time of transition, please continue to keep the ministry of Peace in your prayers, and pray especially for Pastor…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, This Sunday morning at worship we’ll hear the familiar story from the gospel of Matthew about the Sower and the Seeds: “Some seeds fell among the weeds, some fell on rocky soil, some fell in shallow soil, and some fell in good soil where it grew, blossomed, and flourished.” It’s a parable that you’ve probably heard numerous times, and yet in these old stories there’s always something new to be gleaned. (Did you see what…

Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, We had quite a day last Sunday when the power went out just before we were to begin our morning service – YIKES! Fortunately, everybody kept their cool and we proceeded as usual, with just a few minor adjustments. For instance, we sang along with the piano instead of the organ, and we gathered under the dim emergency lights instead of our regular lighting. But it all went well, with the best news…

June 26, 2026 Dear Peace Lutheran Church Friends and Family, At worship this Sunday we will hear Jesus encourage his followers to welcome each other, welcome the stranger, and welcome everybody. WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME! It’s our calling as Christians to extend hospitality to all, and so we shall! We’ll gather this week for Worship, a Children’s Message, Singing, Praying, and Holy Communion (followed by Holy Donuts!) Since we’re all about WELCOMING this week, why not invite a friend to join…

Dear Peace Lutheran Friends and Family, We’re getting ready for a big weekend, with THREE celebrations in all our various communities! First, today we’re celebrating JUNETEENTH, the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday’s name is a combination of June and nineteenth, referring to June 19, 1865, the day when the word of the end of the civil war finally reached Texas. Second, this weekend is also SUMMER SOLSTICE, marking the beginning of summer…