500th Anniversary of the Reformation

Good morning! A joyful Halloween to you. It's also the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Here's a nice piece about the Reformation and ecumenism in The Atlantic: link.

Side note: the person hugging the Pope on the top photo is my seminary advisor!

Here's a link to the ELCA's Livestream where they'll be running programming throughout the day today.

May the Spirit continue to form and reform our hearts and minds for the next 500 years!

Happy weekend!

Happy weekend!

The weeks are going by so quickly this fall! I can't even believe it!

Here's this week's Post-Bulletin column. It's about the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

In other news....

Here's the Youtube channel for the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. I've recently had the opportunity to create a couple videos for work. They were really neat opportunities to collaborate and hear stories from the people we serve!

This one is 7 minutes long and answers the question, "What is mission support?"

And here's our fall issue of River Crossings....

Today Justin and I went to an auction in Zumbrota. It was my first auction!

Tomorrow I'm excited to preach and represent the Office of the Bishop at the 160th anniversary Sunday of Dale Lutheran Church in Kenyon!

Hope you're having a great weekend, too!

Great Weekend Alert!

Good Sunday evening to you!

Great weekend alert!

Friday night bonfire with friends under the clouds and stars. Roasted marshmallows included!

Saturday adventures with our nephews and niece! Jackpot! The sleepover went wonderfully. All three kiddos did a marvelous job! A special thanks to my mother for having us all over for the afternoon - for the yummy treats and the cool toys! We had a blast.

Saturday night we all watched the newest Smurfs movie in our pajamas and ate gluten-free pizza.

These days the g-free is so good you really can't tell the difference.

Sunday: more fun time at the pool with the kiddos and then an afternoon of cleaning and chores after they headed home.

Delightful weekend. Loved it all! Feeling very thankful!

Communication 101

I love my job, and I feel so grateful that part of my calling is to help people understand how the process of communication works.

That's what this week's column is all about.

Here's the link to Holy Everything in Rochester's Post-Bulletin.

(And here's my Worship Life column for this week about the Frana family who are members at the Unitarian Universalist church.)

Blade Runner 2049

Generally I'm not into big-budget action movies...primarily because there's usually too much violence for my taste and a lack of meaningful story and character development.

I have never seen the original Blade Runner film, and I had absolutely no expectations about Blade Runner 2049. 

When Justin suggested we go to a movie last Saturday, I was ALL IN because it was a rainy day, and movies on rainy days are delightful. 

He had wanted to see Blade Runner 2049, and after we noticed an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, we decided to go for it.  

I thought it was excellent! I'd give it 9 out of 10. Great script. Great acting. 

The special effects are incredible, and the story is very compelling. There are all sorts of twists and turns. There were three points in the film when the violence was too unappealing for me so I closed my eyes. I'm quite prone to nightmares so I have to be really careful about the images that go in. Other than that, I liked the film a lot. 

If you see it, you'll have to let me know! I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. 

Philippians 4:1-9

Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to travel to Cannon Falls, MN to visit the people of St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church for their adult education hour. It may be one of the most architecturally unique churches in the synod. I learned yesterday it was built in 1969. Outside the church are all sorts of lovely trees! I had to snap a photo before worship yesterday. The changing leaves. Radiant.

At St. Ansgar's, they host an adult education forum once per month rather than every week. It sounds like this approach tends to boost participation and it prevents the planning folks from getting overwhelmed with responsibilities.

We explored the topic of interpersonal communications for our hour together. I am so grateful for the opportunity to dive deeply into this topic with people because it's something that impacts all of our lives (personal, professional, and congregational), but we rarely the chance to think intentionally about the helps and hindrances of good communication. It was a great morning!

For worship, Rev. Randy preached. The central text for the day was Philippians 4:1-9. It is a passage of encouragement from Paul to the people of Philippi. I hope it lends a little encouragement your direction today, too. Have a good start to a new week.

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:1-9

This week's column

This week's column is about our niece, Lady Sophia and her wisdom.

Here's the link. 

Two columns

Good morning!

Two Post-Bulletin columns from last week:

1) About Las Vegas & guidance & changing our minds

2) Worship Life featuring Christy Cass

I hope you're having a good week! (Hoping to get into a regular blogging practice again next week. Things are calming down to a more normal, consistent pace. Wahoo!)

Happy birthday to my husband!

Happy birthday, Justin.

You are a wonderful son, brother, uncle, woodworker, husband, partner, employee, friend, and human.

Finn and I love you so much.

Have a terrific day and an incredible year!

Rochester Flag Project

Here's a link to this week's Post-Bulletin column. 

It's about the Rochester Flag Project.