In November I had the privilege of being the guest preacher at Wedgewood United Methodist Church. Wedgewood is the church where I spent the bulk of my ministry. I was there for 21 years and I have very fond memories of the people and ministries of the church. In fact, many of the regular readers …
From Worship Experiences
Sunbury United Methodist Church
A few weeks ago Tom and I visited Sunbury United Methodist Church. For the last four years, Tom and I have mostly been attending Lewis Center United Methodist Church when we are in Ohio. We really like the congregation. Pastors Tom and Phil were both wonderful preachers and the church is a nice mix of …
North Dakota Skies and the Long View
Tom and I are back in Ohio. But, before I tell you about our journey home, I wanted to share some final thoughts about North Dakota and our time there. All this week, and perhaps some of next, I will still be talking about North Dakota even though I am sitting in my office in …
Blessing for Our Travels from Zion
Last week Tom and I attended our last worship service at Zion Lutheran in Fairview, Montana. The Wednesday night services have been a great blessing for us. It is hard enough for us to find a place to worship when we can’t go on Sunday mornings. But this church, with Pastor Tim, has been a …
Make Up Your Own Last Line
A few weeks ago, at the Lutheran service Tom and I attend on Wednesday evenings, the bulletin didn’t have the last line of the hymn. The hymn was “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” and the last line just didn’t appear. Pastor Tim wasn’t sure why it had gotten lost, but, instead of four lines, there …
Zion Lutheran (ELCA) Church in Fairview, Montana
Tom and I have been attending worship at Zion Lutheran Church this summer. One of the wonderful things about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is that they often have Wednesday night church services. We loved the Vesper services at the Trinity ELCA church in Hovland, Minnesota when we worked at Grand Portage. And we …
Earthbound and Unaware
My favorite picture of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is one that was taken by a drone. I love the perspective of the picture, because you can see the Missouri River behind the fort. When we are standing at the Fort we can’t see the river. It is on the other side of …
Every Season Shows God’s Love
Most days, for the last 11 months, I have taken a walk on the Ohio to Erie Trail across the street from our house. I walk first thing in the morning, mostly because if I put it off, I tend to find excuses not to do it. I usually do a three-mile loop through the …
Letting God’s Love Heal Our Hurts
This last week, someone that I love very deeply did something that hurt me. It was a small thing, tiny and insignificant, something that I shouldn’t have paid any attention to, but it hurt me so much that I was still upset about it the next day. Tom thought it was stupid for me to …
Pleasing Aroma and Sweet Smell or Foul Odor
Are you a pleasing aroma or a foul odor? Last Sunday Pastor Phil once again made an off-the-cuff remark that got my imagination going. In his sermon, he mentioned that Pastor Matt had sent out an email inviting us to service in the church. He said that Pastor Matt’s email was “my odor.” After repeating …