Having used a series of parables to teach His disciples and a large crowd of followers on the nature of The Kingdom of God, Jesus and His disciples head east, across the lake to a region inhabited primarily by Gentiles. Mark reports that it was evening when they departed. It...
Have you noticed these images recently around our church building? What do they have to do with spiritual gifts? What gifts has God given to you? There are 20 spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible. They can be broken down into 4 different categories. Serving Gifts—A Handprint...
Spiritual sages, prophets and gurus from all different spiritual traditions encourage us not to take ourselves too seriously. Their wisdom has echoed down through the millennia warning us that what we think we know is not always the truth and truth often shows up in the most unlikely places. To...
Merry Christmas and Happy Holy-days to all my neighbors who celebrate during these holy times! In my Christian tradition, Christmas is an opportunity to hear an old story. A writer named Luke shares that “Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him...
Christmas is one of those seasons when memory and hope collide. How well I remember memorizing and speaking the angel’s prayer at the close of the church Christmas program when I was in eighth grade. It was my first time leading a congregation in worship. Dressed in a costume made from a...
Service to others is a cornerstone of discipleship. The Faith Confirmation program encourages a life-style of discipleship in the Lord, Jesus Christ. This December, two 7th grade confirmation groups teamed up to adopt a family in need. This single parent family with five kids...
Advent is a time of waiting and it can be an invaluable time of rest and deep reflection, a time to wipe the slate clean and clear out the old so we can walk into a new year feeling ready to grow and move forward without a bag of boulders on our back or chains around our ankles tied to the caves...
On Tuesday, as I was leaving my house for the day, knowing I was going to spend time out of doors, in the elements, walking through tough terrain, I remember struggling to find the right gear to wear. “Which hat should I wear? How many layers can I handle? Do I need to bring dry stuff to...
Last fall, I penned a eulogy that appeared in the Forest Lake Times. The decision was made to pull the plug on a beloved 70 year old whose time had come. We had some great times together. Lasting memories that will never be forgotten. But ultimately, the spirit gave out and mercifully the Faith...
Thank you to our garden clean up crew who so generously donate their time and talents to keep our Memorial Prayer Garden beautiful and inviting! Pictured are Ann Sargeant, Renee Waddell, Joe & Nancy Mollner, Deborah Peterson, Dan & Karen Forsythe, and Jim & Colleen Marshall. Also...