Author Archive: Rev. Dr. Jonathan Sloan
Help for Refugees
As you may know, we are collecting household items for a refugee family we hope to sponsor in the near future. We are working with Morning Star Lutheran Church who has sponsored a refugee family from Afghanistan. We won’t know where the family is from until we get official notification a family is set to […]
Continue ReadingA Time for Reflection
As we turn the page of our calendars to March, we begin the season of Lent, a season before Easter when we are called to reflect and prepare for our Easter celebration. We reflect upon the sacrifice Christ made for us and prepare to celebrate the difference that sacrifice makes in our lives on Easter […]
Continue ReadingNew Life
I love Spring, for a variety of reasons. Even though I love the snow of winter, I am always very happy as it comes to an end, and spring, new life, abounds. I love being able to go outside without a coat and enjoy the clean air I love watching the bright skies show up […]
Continue ReadingPastor’s Manna – Signs of Change
Signs of Change As much as some of us might not want to admit it, the autumn and early winter season has come upon us: •You can hear the wind blowing through the trees •You can smell the fireplaces lighting up, beginning to warm our homes and hearts. •You can feel the briskness of the […]
Continue ReadingPastor’s Manna – Thrive
Thrive The original Middle English meaning of the word thrive was “to grow or increase”. Our modern-day understanding is “to flourish or prosper”. Are you thriving? Not only in the sense of prospering, but are you … Growing? Increasing? Flourishing? Isn’t it hard to measure your life? How does one measure their level of growth […]
Continue ReadingPastor’s Manna
Back to School Discovery! It is the time of year that many of us used to dread…. The end of summer break from school… The end of summer vacations, The end of all day long relaxing and playing, It is time, to go back to school! It is time for our children to get back […]
Continue ReadingPastor’s Manna – But then…
But then… Just a week ago, on Easter Sunday, we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was quite literally a triumph over evil, a victory over death, a defeat of sin. For the disciples, it changed everything. Their teacher and leader had been killed. They had been hiding behind doors, fearful of the […]
Continue ReadingPastor’s Manna – From Death to Life
From Death to Life Last month our region experienced significant flooding damage as rivers swelled to historic levels and overflowed their banks. This affected many people, including people within our congregation. Some towns were completely cut-off from the world and on their own for awhile. Some people lost all they possessed, and some people lost […]
Continue ReadingPastor’s Manna – Lenten Practices
Lenten Practices Have you ever wondered what the season of Lent is all about? Why do some people give things up? Why do all these places suddenly advertise fish? How is this related to our faith? The Catholic church began a tradition that a person would give up something for Lent, remembering the 40 days […]
Continue ReadingPastor’s Manna – God’s Word for You in 2019
God’s Word for You in 2019 On the first Sunday of 2019, I passed out different Star Words to those who had gathered for worship. This was a piece of paper, cut into the shape of a star with a word written upon it. The word was one of 150 words from a list of […]
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