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Pastor's Blog Created on Monday, 12 July 2021Read more...
I grew up in a massive church. In my churchgoing prime, First Lutheran in Fargo had something like 5,000 members, 7 pastors, and three full-time youth directors! Every week there were multiple worship services in two separate sanctuaries. It was huge! Over the course o...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Thursday, 15 April 2021Read more...
TWENTY MONTHS AGO, I submitted a proposal to the Congregation Council requesting a sabbatical for the summer of 2020. My intent was to spend time with my husband and our three kids, read, rest, reflect and write a book for women to find spiritual renewal amid the inten...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Monday, 11 January 2021Read more...
When there wasn’t enough toilet paper on the shelves last spring, there was more than enough at the church. Today, we have these and other leftovers. There are crayons not used by Church School children to make art, coffee grounds not poured into the big silver percola...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Thursday, 15 October 2020Read more...
Did you know God has two hands? You’re probably thinking, “well yeah, I have two hands and I was created in God’s image!” But I’m not talking about those hands. I am talking about the hands God uses to do stuff in the world. God’s right and left ways (or strategies) of...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Monday, 20 July 2020Read more...
Now you can say you have lived through a pandemic, something I had only read about in boo ks. Now you can say your church building was locked for two and a half months. Now I can say I am bit of a televangelist (without the gleaming white teeth) and we depended on Face...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Tuesday, 14 April 2020Read more...
It was Ash Wednesday. Becca and our new baby, Espen, were in church together for the first time. As they approached the front of the church for the imposition of ashes, I wondered whose line they would choose: Pastor Lisa’s or mine? They chose mine. And so, on February...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Wednesday, 29 January 2020Read more...
“Show me” - the mom in me says. “Show me”, when I’m not quite sure you have brushed your teeth, completed your homework, or done your laundry (as in washed and put away in a drawer). “Show me.” Each and every week, offering plates are passed around during worship. All ...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Wednesday, 16 October 2019Read more...
Why does Jesus need disciples? I mean, look at them! Throughout the story, they show a complete lack of understanding of his mission, they fail at multiple turns, and eventually they abandon him to die on a cross alone. So I ask you, why would Jesus (the Son of God–the...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Wednesday, 16 October 2019Read more...
At the synod assembly on June 7-8 in Minot, Rev. Phil Hirsch, executive director of the ELCA Domestic Missions unit, was one of the leaders of our annual gathering of about 175 congregations from across the western half of North Dakota. He named the challenges the ELCA...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Wednesday, 24 April 2019Read more...
If you have 18 minutes to spare today, go check out Chimamanda Adichie's Ted Talk on "The Danger of a Single Story." Just Google it (or click on the link). In her talk, Chimamanda speaks about the pervasive "single stories" we tell about Africa. Africa is poor. Africa ...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Tuesday, 29 January 2019Read more...
When it come s to New Year’s resolutions, I am rock star. The end of each December means a brand new start is around the corner and my palms sweat with excitement over the possibilities! What new goal can I work toward? What new promise to myself can I make? I am promi...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Tuesday, 29 January 2019Read more...
Jesus talked a lot about kids. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all remember times when Jesus invited children to be part of his lessons about faith and the Kingdom of God. That doesn't seem like such a big deal today. Today, when we think about kids we think about their potent...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Wednesday, 01 August 2018Read more...
Since its first edition on Sept. 1, 1923, St. John’s Messenger has kept people connected to St. John month after month. The newsletter has delivered words about upcoming and previous events. It has shared the names of those who were welcomed into the congregation, anno...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Tuesday, 26 June 2018Read more...
This month, your pastors wanted you to hear a different voice on the front page. These words were written earlier this year by our Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton: In 2017, we observed the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In 500 years, Lutheranism has grown into...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Friday, 25 May 2018Read more...
Have you ever wondered about your “digital footprint”? Th at’s wh at you dis cover if you google your own name. In seconds, you find text, images, or video somehow connected to you. Googling the name of a pastor is interesting because our names are often in print in co...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Tuesday, 24 April 2018Read more...
You’re probably thinking, “duh” because at this point, it’s the worst kept secret in Dickinson, but I figured I’d make it official by finally putting it in writing. Last summer, on my birthday, I proposed to my longtime girlfriend, Becca Simonds. For those of you who d...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Tuesday, 27 March 2018Read more...
“Imagination: Open Eyes...Burning Hearts...” is the theme for the Western North Dakota Synod Assembly on June 1-2 (see page 8 for details). At this assembly, it will be an honor for me to serve as chaplain, which includes leading prayers and participating in worship. (...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Friday, 23 February 2018Read more...
Last month, I was honored when my friend, Lisa, invited me to preach at her ordination. It was a fantastic experience as nearly all ordinations are. There is nothing quite like how the church celebrates when it welcomes a new pastor into the fold! In my sermon, I remin...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Friday, 26 January 2018Read more...
Moving to Dickinson 11 years ago meant leaving my doctor. I thought the world of Dr. Johnson, my doctor throughout my first pregnancy and birth and for the first few months of my second pregnancy until we moved. Not only would I miss my doctor in Coon Rapids, Minnesota...
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Pastor's Blog Created on Monday, 15 January 2018Read more...
This may seem like a strange title for a pastor’s front-page newsletter article. Of course Christ matters! You are reading a church newsletter after all! But many are wondering these days, “does Christ matter?” Christmas has ended. The decorations have come down. Our a...
