Category: Pastor’s Posts
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God Makes All Things New
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective: April 2025 For forty days, we have journeyed through the wilderness of sin and sorrow, remembering our need for a Savior. We have heard the call to repentance and felt the weight of Christ’s suffering as He made His way to the cross. As the dawn of Easter approaches, we prepare to…
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About Clergy Retreats
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective: March 2025 I joyfully remember the annual NALC pastor retreat I attended in January. This gathering provided not only a chance for learning but also a reunion with fellow pastors and a time for spiritual renewal that will enhance my ministry among you. Before the retreat, the NALC gathered pastors in the…
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Lent 2025
Lent is here! Or, it will be soon. The forty days of Lent begin on Ash Wednesday and end with the breaking of the Easter vigil. Christians began to keep Lent in the early days of the church. By the third century of our Lord, the church began to prepare for celebration of the resurrection.…
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Singing Epiphany
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective: February 2025 “To Jordan came our Lord the Christ,To do God’s pleasure willing.”(Martin Luther, LBW 79) Over break my son went through the hymnal to sing all the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany hymns. So I pointed out the Epiphany hymn, “To Jordan came the Christ Our Lord”, and he went to the…
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A New Calendar Year
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective: January 2025 “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!” Psalm 113:3. Happy New Year again; this time we turn the page in secular calendars rather than our liturgical calendars. As we begin this new year, we should take time to thank…
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Reintroducing the Small Catechism
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective December 2024 Happy New Year! Advent marks the beginning of a new church year. As we begin this new church year, let’s take a moment to reflect on what it means to grow in our faith. This Advent, I’m excited to introduce a new feature in our bulletin: each week, you’ll discover…
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Advent 2024
Advent begins on December 1. This season in the Christian liturgical calendar marks the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Advent is a time of reflection, prayer, and anticipation. It emphasizes themes of hope, peace, joy, and love symbolized by the lighting of Advent candles on an…
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Prayer Formulas
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective: November 2024 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV) I don’t know about you, but I…
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Nones & Unaffiliated
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective, October 2024 This month I want to share my thoughts rather than present a devotional. Where does the church fit into our lives? We all continue to lament that fewer and fewer people attend church. Why is this? What is this? Lets start with some raw facts. The Pews Research Center and…
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The Father’s Son
Pastor Patrick’s Perspective, September 2024 In that same hour {Jesus} rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been…