Are you looking for a way for your church kids can have fun serving this summer? Last year at my church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Twin Cities, we started providing Lemonade Stand kits for families to host their own lemonade stand in their community and raise money for My Very Own Bed. (This organization provides … Continue reading Lemonade Stand Fundraisers
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VBS: Water Works
Hello Everyone! Vacation Bible School is one of my favorite weeks of the year! I love the messy and gooey fun, the singing of camp songs, and silly skits. VBS is a great tool to reach out to the community, to grow faith, and build friendships. This year, Water Works VBS is all about that: … Continue reading VBS: Water Works
Water Works: Summer Devotional
This summer at Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Twin Cities, we are all about water! Vacation Bible School is called "Water Works" at the Minneapolis and Minnetonka campuses. (VBS Water Works will soon be a blog post!) VBS stories will cover Creation, Noah's Ark, Jonah, and Naaman. To go deeper into the water stories of the … Continue reading Water Works: Summer Devotional
The Generosity Project
In 2019, there was a great resource put together under the direction of Linda States called the "The Generosity Project." My role as a contributor allowed me to write and share storytellings and curriculum around the idea of money, family, and stewardship. Once the download was ready, the pandemic of 2020 hit and people had … Continue reading The Generosity Project
Ash Wednesday – Family Blessing Service
This year, Ash Wednesday is on February 14, Valentine's Day. We have the typical 7 pm service with all the trimmings. People love the service with Holy Communion, ashes, dimmed lights, and departing in silence. It's traditional, lovely, and we remember we are dust. But I also lead an Ash Wednesday - Family Blessing service … Continue reading Ash Wednesday – Family Blessing Service
Church Friends
Human development studies suggest that people are more likely to make friends until we’re in our early 20s. As young people, we trust peers easily, spend more time in places that incubates friendships, and we have more time. Luckily, church is one place that all ages can make friends. Community is one of the reasons … Continue reading Church Friends
Some Christmas Fun
Yes, I know. I am kind of late sharing Advent and Christmas ideas. But I have been busy: I started my DMIN this fall, I am supervising a diakonal intern, and all the normal pastor ministry stuff! It's been a great fall, so if you can't use these ideas now, maybe you can next year. … Continue reading Some Christmas Fun
Kids in Worship
I work for a congregation that has two campuses: one is urban in Minneapolis, MN, and the other is suburban in Minnetonka, MN. One Sunday at the Minnetonka campus, I invited the kids forward for storytime. We had a mob of them that day, and I said to the congregation, “Isn’t fun to see all … Continue reading Kids in Worship
20 Questions for Confirmation
Confirmation is tricky. Parents value education for their students to learn about the stories of God and Martin Luther's small catechism. But I am not sure these are things students value or need to talk about. I have been at my church for almost 3 years, confirmation has waded through the Bible stories of Jesus … Continue reading 20 Questions for Confirmation
Ice Cream Can Heal
The world is a divisive place these days. Just the other morning, someone said to me, "The people are rejecting God!" and someone else said, "The church is rejecting the people!" It's a game of judgement and finger pointing. So I have decided that whatever I am about in the world as a pastor, parent, … Continue reading Ice Cream Can Heal
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