Blogs And Devotionals (Page 27)
E-Note – ThanksGiving 2022
Thanksgiving, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I hope this holiday is a blessed one for you; even in the midst of whatever challenges you are facing. May I make a suggestion? Many of you have a Thanksgiving ritual of going around the table and answering the question, “What are you grateful for?” Yes, it is a good thing to point to the many gifts of our lives. But it isn’t always helpful to say, “I’m grateful…
E-Note November 18, 2022
November 18, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, It’s hard to believe but it’s Thanksgiving week just around the corner! I hope that your plans and preparations are going well. And what better way to begin the week than to come to worship on Sunday! It is our second Sunday in a two-week stewardship emphasis, “On Giving Thanks.” Why give thanks? When you think about it, our church—any church—is a community of thanks, offering gratitude to God. And as we give thanks and gratitude,…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week November 17, 2022
November 17, 2022 Dear Peace Families, There are three things I’d like to inform you about today! The first is about this year’s Christmas Program, “Follow the Star.” The program follows Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born. And above Bethlehem, a star shines bright for all to see. The angels proclaim, “Follow the star!” And so the wisemen, shepherds, sheep, and all the animals abide, and find the greatest gift the world has ever known. You can…
E-Note November 11, 2022
November 11, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, I have many things to share with you this morning; Harvest Pack, stewardship, some important staffing news, and, of course, a preview of Sunday’s worship. But first, let us recognize Veterans Day. Veterans Day is an official U.S. holiday celebrated on November 11th honoring people served and serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Unlike Memorial Day that remembers people who gave their lives while in service, Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. This sacrificial service assists in…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week November 10, 2022
November 10, 2022 Dear Peace Families, November. When colorful fall has officially become brown and gray fall. When the warm, sunny days have been blown out by the cold winds of the oncoming winter, and the rain chills you to your bones. I won’t speak for everyone, but for me, it can be hard to feel grateful when it feels so dreadful outside. But I’ve found that something that gets me out of the late fall funk is thinking about…
E-Note November 4, 2022
November 4, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, First of all, don’t forget to turn your clocks back on Sunday! Here’s one reason why: it’s All Saints Sunday. We will name this congregation’s newest saints, remember Peace members who have died since last All Saints Sunday, and, last of all, name those dear to you who have lived and died in the faith. We call them “saints”—not because they have performed miracles or lived perfect lives—but because, in the New Testament, St. Paul refers…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week November 3, 2022
November 3, 2022 Dear Peace Families, There’s an uncomfortable conversation that many parents dread having with their kids, and it’s one that is usually put off until they’re forced to have it—talking about death. We all die. It’s a fact of life, and it unites all of us in our common humanity. Yet it can sometimes seem taboo, as if avoiding the discussion will make it less likely to happen. But no matter how far we try to run away…
E-Note October 28, 2022
October 28, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, A beautiful day and an exciting weekend ahead! Sunday is Reformation Sunday. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace that so changed Martin Luther and the church of his time, and still transforms us in our day. How did Luther and how do we know about God’s grace? We know it in the story of Jesus Christ. On this Reformation Sunday, we will continue our sermon series, Great Stories of the Bible, with one of best-known stories of…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week October 27, 2022
October 27, 2022 Dear Peace Families, This weekend marks two important days for us—both of which are formally celebrated on October 31st. On Sunday, we will celebrate Reformation Sunday—a day in which we commemorate Martin Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses and having freedom in our faith. Christian freedom is important. The prevailing thought in Luther’s day (one that still lurks around today too) was that your had to do good works in order to get into heaven. But in rebellion against…
E-Note October 21, 2022
October 21, 2022 Dear Peace members and friends, It’s an exciting time at Peace and there is a lot of news to pass on to you today. First of all, I wish all of you students and parents a good MEA break. And for those of you who are teachers, I hope you get a bit of a break, too! If you are in town, I hope you will be in worship (9:30am) followed by the Education Hour (10:45am). In worship, we continue…
CYF Blast & Family Tip Of The Week October 20, 2022
October 20, 2022 Dear Peace Families, This week I had to bring my car into the local auto shop to get an oil change, in addition to some extra items that came up in my 100,000 mile inspection. It’s certainly not the most fun thing to do, for my time or for my wallet, but it is necessary to keep my vehicle running well and efficiently for as long as possible. And, it forces me to stop and assess how…
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…