Blogs And Devotionals (Page 22)
E-note October 14, 2022
October 14, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, Snow! It’s only October 14th! There’s a reason that they call Minnesotans “God’s Frozen People” and waking up this morning to see the white stuff on the ground and trees was another one. Yet we carry on! It was good to touch base with many of you during last Sunday’s Congregational Care Call. Council members and pastors had conversations with many of you. I was reminded again of the vitality of Peace people and how you—God’s people—have remained…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week October 13, 2022
October 13, 2022 Dear Peace Families, Over the weekend, I had the privilege of taking our Confirmation students on a World Religions Retreat. On Saturday we visited a Hindu temple, a Buddhist meditation center, and an Islamic mosque, while also stopping to eat some Middle Eastern food for lunch at the Holy Land Deli. The retreat was an opportunity for our students to gain a richer understanding of who our neighbors are and what they believe. When we pray for…
E-note October 7, 2022
October 7, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, This In Sunday afternoon and early evening is another “Congregational Care Call.” What is a “congregational care call”? Sometime between 4:00 and 8:00pm today, a fellow member/Council member of Peace will contact you by phone with the simple question, “How are you?” There will be no requests for you to do anything; this is just a phone call to hear how you’re managing. We look forward to contacting you, along with all the members of Peace. This week…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week October 6, 2022
October 6, 2022 Dear Peace Families, You probably (hopefully!) have already realized this, but I love working with students. They are fun and adventurous, humorous in their own unique ways, and delightfully curious in a way that adults sometimes lose touch with. One example of this occurred at last night’s Confirmation gathering. Middle school is a strange time in one’s life. Some students still cling to their elementary school days. Some can’t wait to start high school. All of them…
E-note September 30, 2022
September 30, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, As all of you are aware, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida yesterday and, this morning, is making its way inland in the Carolinas. It appears that this hurricane is one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States in decades. I want you to know that your offering supports the work of Lutheran Disaster Response at times such as these. Along with other partners in the region, Lutheran Disaster Response is responding with immediate relief, including water, clothing,…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week September 29, 2022
September 29, 2022 Dear Peace Families, As of today (Thursday), we are still in the month of September. But much to my dismay, I have neighbors down the street from me who have already had Halloween decorations up for multiple weeks. Skeletons sit on deck chairs. Ghosts loiter near the sidewalk. Witches grovel over a murky cauldron. The front yard is now a graveyard. I understand putting up Christmas lights early, or listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. But Halloween–in…
E-note September 23, 2022
September 23, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, It’s an exciting Sunday ahead! This Sunday we will welcome to Peace and the Adult Education Hour (10:45am), Dean Phillips, who represents Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district (which includes Bloomington) in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have asked him to speak about gun violence, gun safety, and current gun violence legislation. I’m also hopeful that time allows for a question-and-answer opportunity. Join us for this informative hour with Congressman Phillips! This week in worship (9:30am), we continue in…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week September 22,2022
September 22, 2022 Dear Peace families and friends, This weekend at Peace, we will be giving Bibles to our 3rd grade students. When a child is baptized (there is a baptism on Sunday too!), parents, sponsors, and the congregation make promises: To live with children among God’s faithful people To bring them to the word of God and the holy supper To teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the 10 Commandments To place in their hands the holy scriptures…
E-note September 16, 2022
September 16, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, At the end of today’s e-note, I have an important announcement and invitation to our Sunday morning Adult Education Hour a week from this Sunday, September 25,th that I think many of you will be interested in, so be sure to read today’s note to the end. This Sunday, I’m looking forward to preaching about relationships. Relationships—be they marriage or any kind of partnership or close friendship—often just happen. But after we realize we’re in relationship with another human…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week September 15, 2022
Dear Peace families and friends, I want to say thank you to all of you who have made our fall kickoff week so special. Many volunteers came together to host our Gathering Sunday meal, and more yet who helped lead worship. Our middle school Confirmation students gathered for the first time yesterday evening, as did our high school students, and our new parents of teens group. And this weekend, our Sunday School year begins, with thanks to all of our…
E-note September 9, 2022
September 9, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, It’s great to be back from vacation! The time away was refreshing and renewing and I’m excited about the months ahead, seeing all of you, and making the most of the all the opportunities to grow in faith and life this fall season. It begins this Sunday, “Gathering” Sunday. In worship (9:30am), we’ll begin a new fall sermon series: “Great Stories of the Bible.” Over the next weeks, we’ll look at some familiar Biblical stories and…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week September 8, 2022
September 8, 2022 Dear Peace families and friends, Today I have an invitation and a challenge for each of you. First, an invitation. Gathering Sunday is coming up this weekend, and we have a wonderful worship service planned, and it will be followed by a delicious meal in the parish hall. You are all invited, and we can’t wait to see you all, and are so excited to kickoff the new ministry year together. And now, a challenge. I would…