Blogs And Devotionals (Page 13)
E-Note January 19, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, He said to me: “Have you heard any good news lately?” I paused. I had to think. And my first response was, “Well, no—no I haven’t.” I had to admit that I hadn’t heard any good news on TV or read any in the newspapers. That’s why, when I read this Sunday’s gospel that begins, “…Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,….,” my reaction was, “What is it? I want to know!”…
CYF Blast January 18, 2024
Hello from New Orleans! This week I am attending the ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza, a continuing education conference specifically for those who work with young people in our denomination. During the conference, I’ll be hearing from excellent and insightful speakers during our general sessions, and I will also be attending various workshops. One main focus while I’m here is learning more about the ELCA National Youth Gathering, which will be hosted here just six months from now. It has been…
E-Note January 12, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, In these Sundays between Christmas and Lent, we keep the season of Epiphany. It is the season in which, having just celebrated God’s coming in Jesus Christ, we are now invited to see and experience him. This is the season when, in answer to the question, “Who is God, and what does God want from us?” we are invited, in the words of Philip in Sunday’s Gospel reading, to “come and see” Jesus. “Come and…
CYF Blast January 11, 2024
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, As I mentioned last week, it is time to think about summer camps and programming. Here’s what our schedule for summer 2024 looks like: Registration for Camp Wapo will be open January 15-February 15. Plan to register early (link below), as spots fill up quickly! We have a limited number of spots, and you’ll be assigned to a waitlist if we reach that number before the February 15 deadline. After February 15, any remaining…
E-Note January 5, 2024
January 5, 2024 Dear Peace members and friends, Today is the twelfth and final day of Christmas. Tomorrow—January 6th—the Christian calendar turns to a new season: Epiphany. On Sunday, we will celebrate this new season with—a day after—“The Epiphany of Our Lord.” The word “epiphany” can mean manifestation, revelation, appearance, insight, enlightenment, or a shining forth. Epiphany begins with the story of the Magi. You know it. These astrologers, magicians follow a brilliant star to the place of Jesus’ birth…
CYF Blast January 4, 2024
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, As we step into the new year, there are a lot of things that might catch us by surprise. For example, it’s already time to start planning for this summer! Our Summer 2024 Schedule: Wilderness Canoe Base is located 60 miles northwest of Grand Marais on the Gunflint Trail. During this extended family camp weekend, families will have the opportunity to venture into the Boundary Waters while also enjoying the amenities of staying onsite…
E-Note December 29, 2023
Dear Peace members and friends, The excitement and festivities of Christmas are largely over. Even some of those Christmas decorations are already put away! Now is a good time for us to ponder the meaning of the coming of God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. Christ has been born in Bethlehem. But what has changed? We go back to our routines. And yet, in the world, it’s New Year’s Eve weekend. As the old year ends and the new year…
CYF Blast December 28, 2023
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend, and that you were able to spend quality time with the people you love. And I hope that the joy that Christmas brings extends in your homes throughout this weekend and beyond as well. Here at Peace, we’ll be continuing the celebrations. This weekend will be the first Sunday after Christmas, and then we begin the six-week season of…
E-Note December 22, 2023
Dear Peace members and friends, “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” —Psalm 16:11 When I went to the Shrine Circus in grade school there were, of course, clowns. I remember the clown car pulling into the main ring. And the clowns would come piling out, one after another after another after another. How many clowns can fit inside of a tiny clown car? Enough to…
CYF Blast December 21, 2023
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, Christmas blessings to all! First, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Christmas Program possible! Sunday was such a joyous morning of worship, and all of the Sunday School children did an amazing job. Through their singing and acting, they shared both the Christmas story and the love of God. As I mentioned on Sunday and wrote in the bulletin, it took a great team of people to bring everything together,…
E-Note December 15, 2023
Dear Peace members and friends, I’m looking forward to Sunday and one of the highlights of the year: the Children’s Christmas program (9:30am). Actually it’s more than that! It’s less a program than it is worship. The participants are not only children, but the Peace Choir and all of us gathered together. Though it is still Advent, we will get to hear the Christmas story told and sung about by the children of the congregation. They have been working hard on their parts and they are excited! Join us for a wonderful…
CYF Blast December 14, 2023
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, This Sunday will be a very special day, as we will be hosting the annual Peace Christmas Program. This year’s program is called “Heaven to Earth: A Service of Lessons and Carols.” We have 29 Sunday School Singers participating; the Alleluia Singers and the Peace Choir will both sing as well. They’ve all been doing a wonderful job rehearsing and preparing and are so excited to praise God with you on Sunday–because you all, as a congregation, will play a part…