church column
- By Pastor Ed Borchardt, Zion Lutheran Church, HardwickNovember 05, 2025Do you recall the television commercial, “Is it Chinet?” The word “china” was a play on words to emphasize their strength and durability compared to a regular paper plate. The Chinet commercial claimed, “It takes five of these (ordinary) paper plates to stack up to the molded strength of one Chinet paper plate china.” I don’t remember the first time using a heavy-duty paper plate. I do remember…
- By Pastor Bob Junak, Rock River Community Church, LuverneOctober 22, 2025Let’s talk about candy corn. That tiny tri-colored triangle of sugar, wax, and mystery. Is it corn? Is it candy? Is it a candle that got lost in the Halloween aisle? No one really knows. But every October, it shows up like that one relative who insists on bringing their “famous” casserole to Thanksgiving. You didn’t ask for it, but there it is. Candy corn tends to divide opinions. Some people…
- By Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, St. John Lutheran Church, LuverneOctober 08, 2025Imagine taking your great-grandmother's famous cake recipe, you know which one: the one she was known for, the one everyone demands you bring to every family gathering. But as you read through it, you notice ingredients that seem problematic. Your sister-in-law is vegan now, so the butter has to go. Uncle Joe's doctor has him on a gluten-free diet. And cousin Sally swore off sugar two years ago…
- 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 Joe Steenholdt, Christian Reformed Church, LuverneAugust 27, 2025When you hear the word “work,” do you tend to associate it with words like tiring, burdensome, or frustrating? Personal experiences and cultural factors often influence our perception of work. For instance, the 1981 Loverboy ballad “Everybody’s Working for the Weekend” reflects the desire to merely endure the daily grind only to enjoy time in between work weeks. However, if we look to the Bible…
- By Pastor Jeremy Wiersema, Reformed Church of SteenAugust 20, 2025Grandma, don’t worry so much! Mom, it will be fine, don’t worry. Growing up, I said those two sentences with significant frequency. That’s because I grew up in a family of worriers. I am incredibly thankful for the love I experienced from my grandparents and parents. Sometimes Mom’s and Grandma’s love came in the form of worry. Now I am grown up, and there are days I really need to take my own…
- By Pastor Ed Borchardt, Zion Lutheran Church, HardwickAugust 13, 2025I was recently asked, “Why is church membership important?” I thought that was a very good question. I understand some churches no longer have a membership. I’m not sure of the reasons. I can also understand such a question when the sad truth is that less than 30 percent of membership in a church is active. Active means to participate in a regular worship service (two to three times per month)…
- By Pastor Praveen Muthsuamy, Hills United Reformed ChurchJuly 02, 2025The last time we considered Hebrews 12:1-2, we noted that this passage calls us to run the race well by doing four specific things: 1. Running by considering the cloud of witnesses. 2. Running by laying aside every weight. 3. Running by laying aside every sin. 4. Running with endurance by looking to Jesus. We also noted two important things regarding the passage. First, if you are not a…
- By Pastor Mark Eliason, Palisade Lutheran Church, Rock CountyJune 18, 2025It's mid-June, and we are well into summer. School is done for the year, and all the school activities like football, basketball, track, volleyball and all the rest are on a break, at least for most. With summer break also come trips to the lake, family vacations, and with all those things to distract us, Sunday morning worship tends to be put lower on the priority list than other things. I…
- By Pastor Joe Steenholdt, Christian Reformed Church, LuverneJune 04, 2025We find ourselves at the beginning of the summer season, with Buffalo Days just underway and the promise of a full summer stretching ahead. The days are gaining more sunlight, and temperatures are rising. My family has exciting plans that include camping trips, swimming lessons, VBS, basketball, and volleyball camps. We look forward to sunny days at the lake along with more opportunities to cast…
- By Pastor Jeremy Wiersema, Reformed Church of SteenMay 28, 2025This past Monday was Memorial Day. Flags lined streets in many small towns and flew above cemeteries. Memorial Day, as we all know, is a day to remember those who have died while serving our nation in the military. There were gatherings across our nation and speeches were given that were heartfelt and carefully crafted. Those who died serving in our armed forces died so that people like you…
- By Pastor Ed Borchardt, Zion Lutheran Church, HardwickMay 21, 2025The Gospel of John gives an account of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. He is helpless in regard to helping himself to a pool (known to have healing remedies) which may help his condition. For 38 years friends, family, neighbors, strangers, no one helps him. Here we find him sitting on a mat. This mat is a tool. A mat is used for sitting, keeping the heat off his bottom side. A…
- By Pastor Andrew Palmquist, Bethany Lutheran Church, LuverneApril 30, 2025Every year, as spring comes, we see the miracle of life start once again. We look forward to the daffodils and tulips blooming and the fade from winter to spring. Things go from the gray and brown colors to living, vibrant green and vivid cheerful colors. Many people look forward to shedding their heavy coats in favor of lighter-weight apparel. Even though we go through this cycle every year, it…
- By Pastor Mark Eliason, Palisade Lutheran Church, Rock CountyMarch 26, 2025In the 13th chapter of Luke, Luke writes about sin and punishment. In this passage Jesus asks, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders…
- By Pastor Andrew Palmquist, Bethany Lutheran Church, LuverneFebruary 05, 2025“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is one! Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words that I am commanding you today are to be on your heart. Teach them diligently to your children.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 These powerful words are part of the “Shema,” a prayer that is spoken daily in Jewish tradition. Those verses were some of…
- 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…
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