Fairhaven, MN
January 18, 2022 Dear friends, On January 18 the church commemorates a festival called the Confession of St. Peter. It recalls a striking episode in the ministry of Jesus to his disciples. Here’s the account: Matthew 16:13-19 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
January 10, 2022 Dear friends, Our next Family Night is this Wednesday! We spent the first few Family Nights talking about Baptism, and now we’re making our way on to the Lord’s Supper. It’s encouraging to hear the kids of all ages thinking about what it means that God feeds
January 3, 2022 Dear friends, Epiphany is the name for a festival and a season in the church. Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, just following the 12th day of Christmas, and it is the name of the season that runs up to Ash Wednesday (March 2nd this year). Epiphany
December 20, 2021 Dear friends, I’ve written before about how the church marks time with color. Another way that the church marks time is with texts of Scripture and prayers. Each Sunday of the Church Year has its own propers — readings and prayers for the day. The days leading
December 13, 2021 Dear friends, Another hymn for you today as we make our way towards Christmas! First, have a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWICUo65wW4&ab_channel=KingsCollegeChoir A multitude of the heavenly host praised God as they announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Think of what a marvel that is! The angels,
December 5, 2021 Dear friends, Our hymn of the day for Sunday is “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People,” based on a beautiful passage from Isaiah 40. It’s God’s call to his prophets and apostles to bring good news to his people. This is the kind of good news that a
November 29, 2021 Dear friends, Advent wreaths are a relatively modern tradition, only going back in America to about 100 years ago, but the church has always marked time and seasons one way or another. One of the legacies we enjoy from centuries of wholesome tradition is our lectionary: the
November 22, 2021 Dear friends, It’s such a common expression that, like many turns of phrase, it so easily loses its meaning. “Thank God!” gets bandied about like cheap slang. And yet, there is something ironic about how regularly it gets used. In fact, perhaps it should be used more
November 15, 2021 Dear Friends, O Lord, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of the end of all things and the day of Your just judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You forever
November 8, 2021 Dear Friends, Be busy with prayer. It is your privilege as children of God to bring all your cares before your heavenly Father. Do not think of it as moaning or grumbling or complaining, which accomplish nothing. Quite to the contrary, your prayers are effective. They prompt