Pastor Sarah Zender
- By Pastor Sarah Zender, Grace Lutheran Church, LuverneJanuary 28, 2026Sometimes, reading that Bible can seem perplexing with its different cultural traditions and practices. But, at other times, it’s as if it could have been written today with a few names changed and it would align perfectly for what is happening right now. If the apostle Paul were writing to us today, I suspect his letter to the Corinthians might sound uncomfortably familiar. I’m currently…
- December 23, 2025As Christmas arrives once again, it comes into a world that longs for hope and truth. For Christians everywhere, Christmas is not simply a celebration of tradition, nostalgia or seasonal cheer. It is the bold proclamation that God chooses to come close; fully present in human vulnerability, as a baby, wrapped not in power but in love. The Christmas story, told in the Gospel of Luke, begins far…
- By Pastor Sarah Zender, Grace Lutheran Church, LuverneOctober 01, 2025I made a mistake. When I was preaching this past Sunday, I said that when we as Christians grow in faith, it will change the way we view the political sphere and change the way we treat each other amidst politics. That statement is true, but my mistake was to forget that in these divisive times, people may have stopped listening halfway through and only heard this: “When we grow in faith, it…
- By Pastor Sarah Zender, Grace Lutheran Church, LuverneJuly 09, 2025“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13 NIV) In a treatise titled The Freedom of a Christian written over 500 years ago, Martin Luther argues, based on this biblical text and others, that Christians are simultaneously free and bound. Christians are free from the law and…
- By Pastor Sarah Zender, Grace Lutheran Church, LuverneJanuary 22, 2025This week I’ve been thinking a lot about words that, when used as a noun, should probably be used as a verb. The first definition of love, for example, is “an intense feeling of deep affection.” That is a noun. It is also used as a verb, but it reflects the moment of feeling that sense of deep affection. This is a great word to have in our vocabulary tool kit. A Wheel of Emotion is a tool used…
- By Pastor Sarah Zender, Grace Lutheran Church, LuverneNovember 06, 2024As I write this article, it is the day before our national election. When this is published, I hope that the results are clear and defined. Uncertainty creates a lot of tension in our collective hearts. It does not always bring out the best in people’s actions. As I prepare to vote, I am also preparing to preach on Sunday. At the church in which I serve, we follow a lectionary, which is a…
- By Pastor Sarah Zender, Grace Lutheran Church, LuverneJune 05, 2024I love an underdog. Always have. I’m GenX, so my list includes old ones. Rudy. Hoosiers. Miracle?! I suppose some recent ones I’ve seen aren’t even that new. The Hunger Games. Or Inside Out, when Joy finally recognizes the importance of Sadness. I love watching someone who is unlikely to win, sticks to their craft with perseverance and hope, overcomes the odds, and wins. Never gets old.…
- By Pastor Sarah Zender, Grace Lutheran Church, LuverneMarch 27, 2024My name is Pastor Sarah Zender and I’m the new pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. It is an honor to have space in a local newspaper to share thoughts about life and faith. I would like to share a little about myself first. I’m a big believer that knowing a little something about the person who is writing can help create greater understanding amidst the words which I’ll share. I was…
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