Husband, father, reader, guitar player, pastor, a person who is really banking on that whole grace thing!
Dear Trinity friends, I want to share thoughts about political developments that have unfolded in the past 48 hours. As your pastor and a person of faith, I have deep concerns. If you know me at all, you know that while I am not afraid to talk about issues that are political in nature, I … More Thoughts About the False Claims Made About Lutheran Service Organizations
Hello friends! First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for being here. Thank you for deeply caring about the life of this congregation. Thank you for your time, your energy , your faithfulness, your generosity, and your commitment to the mission and ministry of this church. Trinity is not just a building; it is … More Pastor Todd’s Annual Report to the Congregation
My wife, Lori has a large family. She has 6 brothers and sisters, plus, kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, in-laws, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces…you get the idea. There’s a lot of ‘em! So, when her family gathers for Christmas, or other holidays… well, it can be a little nutty. What they consider a medium sized family gathering is probably 25-30 people. And … More Come and See
One of my favorite movies is the Pixar film, “Toy Story.” I’m fairly certain, that if you’ve spent any time at all with a young person under age 10, you’ve probably seen it. But just in case you haven’t, a quick review: Toy Story is about a collection of toys belonging to a little boy named … More In That Moment
Dear friends, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration. I want to give you an important update about Pastor Chris Meester and his family. Many of you are probably aware that Pastor Chris’ wife, Laurel, who also serves as an ELCA pastor in Blooming Prairie, is pregnant. Their baby is due … More An Update on Pastor Chris’ Family
Of course, the shepherds were terrified. Of course, they were! They had to be terrified…because that night, they were just minding their own business…doing what shepherds do, when out of nowhere, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shown around them. They were terrified at the shock of it all, but … More Love Knows Your Name
Christmas. Just hearing the word fills our hearts with warmth. It brings memories of glowing lights, joyful gatherings, candlelight, and music that stirs our very soul. But beyond the joy and tradition, Christmas is the season of love coming to earth; a celebration of the child who changed…well, who changed everything. Today, through these beautiful carols … More This is Christmas
Dear Trinity friends, It was with sadness that I received Kate Verlautz’s resignation from her role as Director of High School Ministries at Trinity. She has served in this role for over 12 years, which is remarkable. Kate will be completing her work in our congregation on January 5, 2025. Kate explained that while she … More Staff Transition at Trinity
Pastor Alan Sherouse writes a story about preparing for Christmas with his children. He wanted his kids to understand the real meaning of Christmas. So, one night, in the middle of December, he sat down at the kitchen table with his youngest child, and they began to assemble a cardboard cutout nativity scene: a stable, a manger, Mary and Joseph, … More You Are a Blessing
One of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up was “The Twilight Zone.” Remember that show? I loved all the stories. But there was this one episode that I’ll always remember. This episode was set in the future. It centers on a man, who was sentenced to a year of punishment for committing a crime. … More Seeing What Can’t Be Seen
Test Driving Theology 