Helko

“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself,” Jesus says in John 12:32.
The Greek word for “draw” used above is helko.  It is not a nice, sweet way of drawing people.  Nope, not like a gentle arm on the wandering shoulder at the nursing home.  Nope, not [...]

Fargo-Moorhead Flood Update

From the Fargo Forum Website:
Sandbagging efforts at both Sandbag Central and the Fargodome are going strong, but volunteers are still “desperately needed” to help build dikes and sandbag houses, the city said in a news release.
Volunteers are asked to report to one of three locations: First Assembly of God Church at 3401 25th St. [...]

Ssssserious Ssssstuff

This coming Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Lent.  All along, we have been reading these great stories of Covenant for our First (Old Testament) Lessons.  We’ve had the giving of the 10 commandments, Abraham and Sarah, and Noah.  Now, this Sunday, March 22, 2009, we will deal with this odd little part of the [...]

Zeal For Your House

At the age of 23, I had to make a decision to leave a church community that was doing something I felt was objectionable.  Though I hardly crafted a whip and made a scene in the narthex, I did refuse to be complicit in some very real, very destructive, patterns in the congregation.   It was [...]

Book of Faith Lenten Journey

The Book of Faith Lenten Journey resource has readings, reflections, and more for each of the 40 days of Lent.  We are basing our mid-week Lenten worship on the theme of this book, which happens to be an extended study of The Lord’s Prayer.
There are still several copies available for purchase in the church office, at [...]

Lenten Schedule 2009

Our mid-week worship services are a time to pause and re-center a busy life.  Why not come and join us? 
Your first opportunity for mid-week worship is at the Prairie Manor Chapel at 1:45.  Services last approximately 40 minutes and will be led by area pastors.  All are welcome.  The theme mimics that of the evening [...]

Bird by Bird

One of my favorite stories by Anne LaMott, a writer, is her tale about her 10-year-old brother’s elementary-school bird report.  As so often is the case, her brother waited until the night before the report was due to start.  Feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility of writing about so many birds in just one night, their father [...]