Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship

Our annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship was held on Sunday evening, November 22nd, 2009.  The Ecumenical choir (40+!) did a lovely job with two special pieces of worship music, and Pastor Charlie Leonard preached a touching and challenging sermon.  We raised over $470 dollars in offering for our local families in times of emergencies, along with donations [...]

Bishop Hanson’s Online Town Hall Forum Announced

A letter and video from Rev. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA was released this week (November 19, 2009). 
You can view the video here
Or
Read the letter here.
This Town Hall Forum, scheduled for Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 4:30 pm, will require a computer with fast internet connection in order to stream the live feed.  Many of [...]

Back and Forth

The Gospel reading for Christ the King Sunday, November 22, 2009 can be viewed here.

Jesus in on trial before Pilate in the 18th chapter of John.  But as you read even these few verses (or if you’re ambitious and check out the entire chapter!) you will grasp the amount of vacillation, in every way.
Physically, Pilate [...]

Advent Conspiracy Added to Blogroll

Advent begins on Sunday, November 29th, 2009. 
This may get you in the holiday spirit.  It’s in the blogroll too, so if you want, you can show it to family & friends.  www.adventconspiracy.org 
Click on the upper right in the website to view the promotional video.
Hoping your season will be filled with the joy of giving.

Large Stones

In 2001 when I traveled to the temple ruins in Jerusalem (often known as the Wailing Wall, sometimes known as the Western Wall), I immediately noticed three things.
1.  The guns pointed at me.  Israeli soldiers take security very seriously.  You just keep moving through security lines and pray you don’t set off any alarms.  (Ironically, I [...]

Bishop’s Bits: Since You Asked

Our Southeastern MN Synod Bishop Harold Usgaard has written a brief letter about his own convictions in light of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.  You can read it here.

Life-Giving

A devotion based on 1 Kings 17:8-16 for Sunday, November 8, 2009 
by Spiritual Care Minister Barbara A. Peterson

“Would you bring me a little water … a piece of bread?”
The audacity of Elijah to ask a poor widow, destined to die of starvation, for a little water and a small cake of bread. Asking the poorest [...]