Posts with the category “pastor-daryn”

Yesterday was one of those days. Put too much salt in my oatmeal. Mistimed my morning run, and the storm hit right when I was ready to step out the door. Kept forgetting my facemask. Concentration was nonexistent. Yes, one of those days, except I haven’t had a day like this in over 21 years, well, maybe ever. I had to get up in front of the congregation and all the people I deeply love and tell them that I have accepted a call to be the pastor at another church: St. Paul’s in Beatrice, Nebraska.   Read More

To my dearest brothers and sister in Jesus Christ,As you might have already heard that I have received and am currently considering a divine call to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Nebraska.  Karen and I flew down for a visit last week to talk with them there.  We’re still in the middle of the decision process.  It is an especially difficult decision for many reasons.  We’ve been here at C...  Read More

As we seek to navigate the pandemic situation, we most of all seek to remain faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the great commission as we reach out with the Gospel to our church family and our community. I wish to thank the whole church staff and the members of Christ Lutheran for pulling together and helping one another out through all of this. You’re such a blessing and gift of God!   Read More

Since the pandemic has not worsened and the rate of new cases appears to be declining for Wisconsin and phase one has worked well, here is our plan for the next step as we hopefully and prayerfully anticipate further forward steps in the future. Our next phase will begin on Thurs., June 18. Please note the big change in #5 below!   Read More

As we wrote last week, we find ourselves with the opportunity to gradually open our doors. Here is the plan for the first phase of reopening at Christ Lutheran. This will take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, at 9 a.m., with many safeguards and contingency plans in place. Though we hope to be able to go back to a full Sunday schedule in the future, we’re keeping with one service now so that we can do that one service as well as it can be done.   Read More

As I write this letter, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for you, the members of Christ Lutheran Church. I thank you for your prayers and your help and your patience and perseverance. All of these are God’s gifts to you, and through you, to me and the entire staff at Christ Lutheran. I’m writing to share some important news with you, as we continue to be the church under the conditions that are placed upon us with Covid-19 and “Safer at Home.”  Read More

It seems that every time I sit down to write, I begin with a sigh, a prayer, and a time of reflecting upon God’s Word. You’ve probably heard the news that Gov. Evers has extended the “Safer at Home” orders until 8:00 p.m., on Tues. May 26. Of course, we knew this was going to be a marathon, not a sprint. In some ways, the restrictions might be a little relaxed, but, as far as churches, it remains the same.   Read More

Online, many have suggested—and I have been intrigued to consider—that these are the days of a modern Babylonian exile, with the government’s orders to not gather, especially in groups of ten or more and to not get within six feet of people, due to Covid-19. I thought I’d examine that notion against Scripture and see how it stands up.   Read More

It is with a heavy heart that this letter must be written. The following decisions are not made lightly. But we feel as your called workers in Jesus Christ that these are the best decisions that can be made. Perhaps this will give us time to realize how important we are to one another and what a gift our fellowship in Jesus Christ is.  Read More

Total credit for my article today goes to the website, fervr.net! They exist for Christian teens, Christian students, and youth ministries. I’ll lump myself in the mix there somewhere, since I’m a kid at heart. The reason I’m sharing this blog (or whatever you’d like to call it) is that it raises some important issues that have been percolating in my mind for a while!  Read More

Covid-19 isn’t just in the news. It’s on all our minds one way or another. Already, our lives have been greatly impacted. Above all else we trust in God during times of crisis to help us as no one and nothing else can. Furthermore, we also seek how we may serve God and help those around us who may be in need. The church exists for times such as this.   Read More

Oh, how there are misunderstandings! Once a pastor (Lutheran, of course) was preaching on the Sacraments. His topic was their “for-you-ness.” After the service was over, one of the parishioners asked the pastor, “So, who is Eunice?”  Read More

I’ve been blessed, but it didn’t always feel like a blessing.  Permit me to explain.  My Dad, from the first day I laid eyes on him, was a pastor.  I also had an uncle that was a pastor in northern Wisconsin. (He sure loved to go ice fishing!) I had another uncle, that was a pastor in England, and, at one point, he was president of the Lutheran Church of England, and I dare not neglect to mention ...  Read More

A certain lady who served on many civic committees, when asked to select carols suitable for a community Christmas-tree lighting, sought the help of her pastor. After she scanned the list he had selected, she exclaimed in dismay, "But they’re all so theological." That little story is quite ironic! A good Christmas carol must be about Jesus and thus also about God. We know this to be true, and so good Christmas carols are theological, of course.   Read More

Advent has a special meaning all its own, which gently draws us forward into the whole Christmas season. It is a time of preparation and expectation that keeps Christmas and the incarnation, the birth, of Jesus in view, but beyond that, Advent looks forward to the second coming of Jesus on the Last Day.  Read More

Musings at the Beginning of a Study of Studies on the Songs of SongsUndertaking a new Bible Study on a book of the Bible that I haven’t led a Bible study on before is quite a task. What causes it to be so difficult?There are many reasons. First, there are radically divergent interpretational opinions and approaches even among confessional and conservative Lutheran pastors and scholars, going back ...  Read More

During our Guatemala Mission Trip one topic of discussion was how to boil the perfect “boiled” egg. (Don’t worry, there will be more in-depth stories to come!) So, I did a little research when I got back and discovered the perfect way to do it, and it was backed by research no less. Here it is.  Read More

Birds are amazing creatures! Right now, some of my favorite birds, the warblers, are getting ready to head south for the winter. While many people do the same, the trip is much more difficult, to say the least, for tiny little birds who have to fly, some of them, from Canada to South America.   Read More

It really is a reason for us to celebrate as a congregation. Our team has been meeting for several months, and now, in less than a month, we’ll be IN Guatemala!!!  Read More

Easing into Ezekiel!For our Wednesday Bible Class this year (the 9:30 a.m. Bible Class), I’m writing a Bible Study on the Book of Ezekiel! It’s a book that doesn’t show up all that often in the lectionary readings. However, the Old Testament reading from Ezekiel 34:11-24 will indeed be used on September 15th, right after our Fall Bible Classes begin! So, we have a great opportunity to explore a Bo...  Read More

In 1992 when the Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain, the world saw one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. Derek Redmond, a young man from Britain, had dreamed all his life of winning a gold medal in the 400-meter race. He had worked hard to get to the Olympics and his dream was within his reach. He was in the semi-finals and was running the race of his life. He could see the finish li...  Read More

THE FIVE SETTINGS!If you ever looked in the front of the hymnal, in addition to the other services, such as Matins, Vespers, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, etc. You’ll notice that there are five different settings of the Divine Service!  To understand these services, the basic pattern of worship is that it has both sacramental and sacrificial parts. Sacramental means that in these parts of the se...  Read More

What Can Worshippers Do in Case of a Violent Attack?What would you do if someone entered your church and began shooting? Hit the floor? Run? Try to reach your children? How quickly could you devise a plan for survival? “Your first option is to escape,” according to John Nicoletti, a security consultant who has co-written books on preventing workplace and school violence. Nicoletti, a police psycho...  Read More

A BIT OF A BOOK REVIEW FOR YOUIt seems that in current political (and other) discourse, the name, Hitler, is thrown around a little too frequently.  Non-Christians point to him supposedly being a Christian, and Christians point to him supposedly being an atheist.  What is a person supposed to think of all this?  Rather than just make assumptions, I am in the middle of reading a book by Richard Wei...  Read More

A little girl had been trying for months to learn the art of tying her shoes. She finally grasped the knack and was able to do it by herself. Her parents expected the child to be delighted but were surprised by her disappointment. Her father asked why she was crying. She sobbed, "I just learned how to tie my shoes." He said, "That’s wonderful, Honey, but why are you crying?" She replied, "Because ...  Read More

Airing Some Clean Laundry!You’ve heard of airing dirty laundry—a practice I don’t recommend, and I certainly don’t intend to do that now.  However, airing (or drying) clean laundry is good! Part of the process involves the use of a “lint” filter.  This crucial, yet simple invention makes dryers possible!  It keeps fires from starting, and enables the dryer to safely expel the moist, warm air that ...  Read More

As I sit and write this article, it’s really dismal outside.  Cold.  Gray.  Freezing rain.  Black ice.   My thoughts turn to warmer days.Almost two dozen years ago, in the summertime, I took my daughter, Clarissa, fishing.  She remembers the exact day.  I put aside all notions of looking for “lunkers” and anchored near where I knew the bluegills would be biting.  I “perfected” the art of bobber fi...  Read More