“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-39
It actually started out as a joke when the house across the street went up for sale a few weeks ago.
"Whatever you do for the least of these, you do unto Me!" Matthew 25:40
This is a story that I frequently share when teaching religion classes, and despite the fact that it happened over thirty-five years ago, the details return with such clarity each time that I share it due to the emotional impact it had on me.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
Each year during the month of March, the staff and our middle schoolers have a little friendly competition with our March Madness brackets. Last year, COVID temporarily interrupted this fun and exciting St. Matthew tradition, so it was very enjoyable to have this be one of the numerous slices of normalcy that returned during this school year!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
One of my favorite conversation starters is when people begin a dialogue with the opening line “Have I got a story for you!” A few days ago, I had the great joy of hearing this story from a very proud and excited grandma:
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!" Luke 24: 5 & 6
Of all of the newsletter articles that I have written over the past twenty-four years, this is one of my all time favorites, so about every three to four years... I bring it back for a repeat! Not only do I find the story extremely endearing, but I truly treasure the child-like faith that is expressed. I hope that the message that this young disciple shared touches your heart in the same way that it does
mine each time I read this.
Join Us March 20th for Donuts with Pastors in Back Parking Lot!
I distinctly remember dozing off on the couch the night of March 12, 2020, and waking up around 11:00 p.m. to see Governor Whitmer on the television announcing that all Michigan schools would be closed starting March 16, 2020. As a staff, we had been preparing for an online virtual format in the event that it was going to be necessary, but now it was "Go Time" to quickly implement all of those strategies and plans.
"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave them the right to become children of God."
John 1:12
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:4 - 7
"But the greatest of these is love" 1 Corinthians 13:13
A few years ago a group of our friends were discussing some of their most endearing acts of love that they had done for their spouses. There were stories of an engagement ring frozen in the ice cube of the aspiring bride's drink, cards hidden in brief cases, flowers delivered to work, and surprise house cleanings.
After numerous stories were shared, one friend announced, "Once, I bought my wife a $500 box of chocolates!" As the group sat in disbelief, he continued on with his story...
To celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week, the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod put out an appeal for devotional writers from Michigan Lutheran schools across the state so that they could post these spiritual inspirations on their blog for many to read. Mrs. Kurien's first grade class eagerly answered this challenge and collectively wrote a devotional to submit. Last Tuesday, they became published authors as the MI District shared their writing on the MI District website.