There are often beautiful flowers in the chancel area during worship on Sunday mornings at 8:45am. These are given by individuals or families in our church to mark a special moment in their life: the birthday of a loved one, a wedding anniversary, or another similar moment. If this is something...
I am writing this newsletter article at the eleventh hour. I generally try not to procrastinate, but I am rewriting my newsletter article because a few trusted people told my that my first article was too political. One of the three pastors I shared it with thought I should post it. Also, one...
For the past month I’ve been having a blast thinking about our mission and vision. This sermon series has had me digging through old church newsletter articles, annual reports, and bulletins, while also thinking about our town and opportunities around us, while simultaneously thinking...
I wanted to update all of you on the changes to staffing at the Presbytery level in North Central Iowa. Because of the shrinking size of the membership within our Presbytery, steps were taken last year to partner with other nearby Presbyteries to combine in a few areas. As we seek to follow God...
There’s a fun youth group game that involves two teams, two individuals, and some of those foam pool noodles. Usually in a big room, the two individuals represent their teams, wear a blindfold, and try to hit their opponent with the pool noodle. To complicate matters, they start off in...
I recently read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. The last chapter is so funny as the children assemble for what will be a memorable Christmas performance. Little Gladys has been cast as the angel Gabriel, and she is excited to speak her lines. Here came Gladys, “from...
When I was in junior and senior high school, I spent a great deal of effort trying to prove the Christian faith to unbelieving friends of mine. I would refer to books like Josh McDowell’s Evidence that Demands a Verdict and Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ. I never had much success...
Thanksgiving has come and passed. And with Thanksgiving comes Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. I write this article to you on Giving Tuesday. What is giving Tuesday? It’s a time where people are starting to recognize that so much of the last week has been about finding the best deals...
I returned from my CREDO (rhymes with “play-doh”) conference with my cup overflowing. This conference, put on by our denomination, was the best one I’ve ever attended. CREDO aimed at encouraging pastors to be healthy in all areas of their life. We heard lectures on physical...
A highlight of autumn comes every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Men from our church start cooking as early as 4am. The church kitchen is abuzz with activity while delicious aromas fill the church building. After second service, our church gathers together in the Christian Life Center...
