Have you ever traveled somewhere new…somewhere different… maybe somewhere outside of your comfort zone? In 2015, I traveled to Wittenburg, Germany with a group of Lutheran pastors to experience the sites of Martin Luther and the reformation. Being there was amazing. The history…the architecture…the culture…I loved it. But at the same time, I felt, a lot, … More Crossing Borders
I was baptized at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis on June 6, 1965. Don’t bother doing the math. There is nothing particularly remarkable about that day…it was just a day like any other. June 6, 1965 was the 21st anniversary of the D-Day invasion in World War 2. On that day, the top 3 songs on … More Remember
Deer Island is a fishing village off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada. Small fishing boats head in and out of the harbor, into the North Atlantic every day. The island is so small, that it doesn’t have a lighthouse. And in the days before GPS systems fishing boats would regularly wander into dangerous waters, hitting the rocks, … More A Light Brighter Than Any
At our special congregational meeting on Sunday, Trinity voted to call Pastor Chris Meester to become a part of our pastoral team. It was a wonderful meeting, full of energy and excitement for the future. The unanimous vote to call Pastor Chris was 146-0. Pastor Chris is a graduate of Wartburg College, Waverly, IA and … More Pastor Chris Meester to Join Trinity’s Staff
For the shepherds outside of Bethlehem, the night of that first Christmas was just like any other night. All the sheep had been gathered in and there was nothing left to do except to keep watch, talk with one another, and stay stay close to the campfire, keeping warm. That night, however, their quiet routine was … More Hear, See and Go
Laura Jensen has accepted the children’s ministry position that opened after Sheri Berg retired last spring. Laura grew up in Owatonna and graduated from Owatonna High School in 2002. Laura and her husband, Cory, have 2 amazing children, Corrina (age 15) and Porter (age 11), along with 2 dogs and a cat. Laura loves to … More Welcome Laura Jensen to Trinity’s Children’s Ministry Position!
Dear friends, I pray for your joy and excitement as we enter the season of Advent together. We look forward to the gift of Jesus, and the love and hope that he brings. I am writing to invite you to a special congregational meeting to be held at 12pm on Sunday, December 11. Our call committee has been working … More Congregational Meeting to Call New Pastor this Sunday!
On November 15, 2017, arsonists set fire to the Masjid Al-Salaam mosque, in the town of Petersborough, in Ontario, Canada. No one was injured in the fire; thanks be to God. The fire was set around 11pm, which was just 30 minutes after the building had emptied out. The building experienced significant damage and would be closed … More When the Walls Come Tumbling Down
40 years ago, Karen Anderson was a young woman who had grown up in Owatonna and as a member of Trinity. After graduating from college, she went on to be trained as a medical missionary. Karen then moved to Chile, where she started EPES. With the support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Karen … More Celebrating 40 Years of EPES!
Truth…truth is tricky business. In the 1950’s a college freshman went out for the track team. He did it to please his father, who had been a very good runner in his day, setting school records in the one-mile race. His son, the freshman, had never run competitively. This freshman’s very first race was one-on-one against the university’s … More The Truth Will Set You Free
Test Driving Theology 