Blogs And Devotionals (Page 31)
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…
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…