Blogs And Devotionals (Page 16)
E-Note August 25, 2023
Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, Well, it’s State Fair time. And the ELCA posted this limerick on a Facebook page: Fair season is upon us so here is a Doxology:O Lord protect this festivalThe riders as they rise and fall.The jams and pickles and the pies. Competing for the first grand prize. O Lord we thank thee for this food,When we are in a cheese curd mood.For Pronto Pups and onion ringsDoughnuts and other deep-fried things.Praise God from whom all blessings flowPraise him…
CYF Blast August 24, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, For Bloomington schools, school starts next week. As I’ve done in previous years, I’d like to share this prayer, “A Prayer for the First Day of School,” for all of our students, parents, teachers, and education workers as they prepare to begin this exciting new season. “O God of new beginnings, as this child begins this new school year, we are reminded that they are Yours and Yours alone. We have filled their backpack, and…
E-Note August 18, 2023
Dear Peace Members, What makes a good life? How would you answer that question? Not just life in the abstract. But what makes your life good? Every day we are faced with stories and suggestions about how to live our best life now, so many of which are shallow at best and life-diminishing at worst. And yet; yet, there is something about how we live and the choices we make and the habits we nurture that point toward something meaningful. How do we live without…
CYF Blast August 17, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, It was great to see so many of you this last Sunday as I returned from my parental leave. Reilly and I welcomed our son, Cameron, into the world on June 29, which also happened to be the last day of Vacation Bible School. I’m grateful to everyone who cared for us at the hospital, and to everyone who helped make our “Stellar” VBS such a blast! The six weeks of my parental leave that…
E-Note August 11, 2023
Dear Peace Members, After some time away, I’m looking forward to being with you on Sunday. Before saying more about that, however, a word of thanks to Rev. Alan Loose for leading worship last week. I know that many of you share with me gratitude for Alan and his presence among us. Thanks, Alan! There’s a bit of a reunion this Sunday. I’m back and participating in worship and Pastor Joe also returns to worship following his paternity leave. A summer Peace Choir group will offer an…
E-Note August 4, 2023
Dear Peace Members, I am out of town this week and, while I’m away, Peace member Pastor Alan Loose will officiate and preach at Sunday worship (9:30). Pastor Loose will continue with our current sermon series, “The Life and Ministry of the Apostle Paul” and sent along a preview for the day: “Have this mind among you,” counsels Paul in his letter to the Philippians, “which is yours in Christ Jesus.” He goes on to describe the attitude Jesus adopts in his…
E-Note July 28, 2023
Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, I hope that you’re staying cool this week! Even though it’s the middle of the summer, there’s a lot going on at Peace. This Sunday (9:30am), we have the joy of welcoming to the Church in baptism, Kaibigan Hawkins Del Rosario Thomson, the son of Jimmy Thomson and Arielle Del Rosario, and the grandson of Jim and Lori Thomson. We will continue with our sermon series, “The Life and Ministry of the Apostle Paul” and I’ll read “A Letter from Paul to Kai on…
CYF Blast July 27, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, While Pastor Joe is on paternity leave, I am continuing to join up with the ongoing editor, Daina Sivanich, to send along to you Peace’s weekly children, youth, and family newsletter. It’s an exciting weekend ahead! Sunday afternoon, nine Peace youth (4th-8th Graders) will head to Camp Wapogasset’s Youth Camp in Amery, WI for the week. The Peace youth are: Trevor Budz, Emery Byers, Kiya Losinski, Myla Macejkovic, Elsa Oman, Sofia Oman, Asher Rogers, Ayla Rogers, and Addison Tschida. We join together…
E-Note July 21, 2023
Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, First of all, I want to thank the many of you who last Sunday responded to VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People) and their special request for contributions in filling the food shelfs due to the increased number of household requests for this basic need of life. The children did a great job in collecting up those offerings and you responded generously. I’ll announce that amount on Sunday! We will also continue in worship (9:30am) with our sermon…
CYF Blast July 20, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, While Pastor Joe is on paternity leave, I am continuing to join up with the ongoing editor, Daina Sivanich, to send along to you Peace’s weekly children, youth, and family newsletter. Martin Luther spoke of the need for “the mutual consolation of the brethren.” He said, “a faithful friend is a great boon and a precious treasure in any situation of life….it remains a great advantage to have a brother/sister with whom one can converse…
E-Note July 14, 2023
Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, I still remember it: my first computer. My wife, Marcie, had schemed with our nephew and there in the living room, on Christmas morning, sat a new computer. In that moment, a new world was born for me. Now I had access to a whole new unseen universe (“the world-wide web”!). And there was a whole new way of living that went along with this new contraption. No more typewriter. No more carbon paper.…
CYF Blast July 13, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, While Pastor Joe is on paternity leave, I am continuing to join up with the ongoing editor, Daina Sivanich, to send along to you Peace’s weekly children, youth, and family newsletter. It was amazing. Two angry human beings. Wrestling. Angry. No, it wasn’t two men (or women!) It wasn’t UFC or MMA on television in my living room. No. It was at Target. In the toy section. It was two very young children. And it…