Church

Like most Christian pastors, I was frustrated with the commercialization of Christmas and the lack of spiritual meaning expressed during the holiday, UNTIL I served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain and understood, for the first time, that there is more than one correct way to celebrate Christmas. After all, President Ulysses S. Grant made Christmas a Federal Holiday in 1870, the only U.S. Federal Holiday…

  St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org Father Joshua Miller, Pastor Sunday mass: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday daily mass: 5:15 p.m. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.    Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N.…

St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org Father Joshua Miller, Pastor Sunday mass: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday daily mass: 5:15 p.m. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.   Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N. Estey…

At the front of almost every Lutheran church, for the four Sundays before Christmas you will see a wreath with five candles on it. Four around the outside of the wreath and a larger one in the middle of the wreath. The four candles represent the themes of Advent which are hope, peace, joy and love, and one candle is lit each Sunday representing the theme of the day. But why do we do this, and…

A key theme running through the tapestry of scripture is that of a watchful God, intimately concerned with human affairs. From the Psalms to the Prophets, and into the New Testament, the Bible repeatedly assures believers that the Lord sees, knows, and considers every aspect of their lives, both public and private. Psalm 33:13-15 opens this perspective, describing the Lord looking down from…

St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org Father Joshua Miller, Pastor Sunday mass: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday daily mass: 5:15 p.m. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.   Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N. Estey…

St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org Father Joshua Miller, Pastor Sunday mass: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday daily mass: 5:15 p.m. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.   Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N. Estey…

Thankfulness often doesn’t come naturally. I remember growing up and having to call my great-aunt to thank her for a birthday card with spending money that she sent. My five-year-old self dreaded that call, hoping to leave a message. My mom was diligent about teaching us to express gratitude, though, believing that these habits cultivate a thankful heart. I think she knew, too, that we learn not…

Think about your day today. What was it like? Was it a good day or a difficult day? Was it a busy day? It seems like busy days are common for all of us.  Sometimes I am so busy that I don’t have time to appreciate the fact that each day is a blessing that comes from God. I don’t think that is good. Psalm 118:24 speaks wisdom about how we are to approach each day. “This is the day the Lord has…

Do 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…

St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org Father Joshua Miller, Pastor Sunday mass: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday daily mass: 5:15 p.m. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.   Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N. Estey…

In a conundrum or in despair we run in haste To a life of prayer that revives, But when life is good we slow our pace Because we do not understand the word “abide.”   A sign in our yard to keep on praying Is easier than to actually meet for an hour. Yet we see churches all over decaying Because we are not dependent on God’s power.   “But I can pray wherever I go!” We shout with self-…

Let’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…

St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org Father Joshua Miller, Pastor Sunday mass: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday daily mass: 5:15 p.m. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.   Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N. Estey…

St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org Father Joshua Miller, Pastor Sunday mass: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday daily mass: 5:15 p.m. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.   Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N. Estey…

A veteran newspaper editor was once quoted as saying, “A wise use of the garbage can is the secret to successful editing.” Cutting, chopping, and pitching unimportant sentences and details can be painful but helpful when finishing an article or column. But a wise use of the trash can is not only the secret to successful editing; it is the secret to successful living as well. I have to admit…