Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
Looking for our prayer partner
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Parker Palmer calls himself a “contemplative by catastrophe,” writing “I’m most likely to go deep only when I slam into a wall or fall off a cliff.” I might speak about [...]
A Lesson from Powwow: “Feed Your Enemy”
By Brenda Blackhawk I’ve just returned home from the 155th annual Homecoming Powwow in Winnebago, Nebraska. I knew when my family packed up the campers and vehicles 10 days ago that I would be writing a [...]
What gets you up in the morning?
By Pastor Craig Pederson My 17-year-old son Evan sometimes finds it a challenge to get going in the mornings. (Can I get a witness?) On school and work days, thankfully, he gets up to speed [...]
Created for relationship
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Sitting by a Minnesota lake over the Fourth of July, I marveled watching my daughters with their friends. College friends had flown from Philadelphia and Indianapolis with their babies to be [...]
The thin, fragile pages of power
By Pastor Norma Malfatti My grandmother was a night owl. From the time I was old enough to stay up past an 8:30 bedtime, I learned that my grandmother never went to bed before midnight [...]
What does ‘good news’ mean?
By Bob Hulteen In 1985 I was fortunate to be invited by my then-pastor, Jim Ellison, to represent the synod at a national gathering in Chicago to discuss the church that was being formed by [...]
‘You’re gonna need a bigger boat!’
By Meghan Olsen Biebighauser Later this week my family and I will be taking a beach vacation near my hometown on Long Island, New York. I’m so excited to introduce my kids to the sounds, [...]
A matter of character(s)
By Pastor Craig Pederson Last week I returned to my hometown in west central Minnesota (Starbuck) to officiate and sing at the funeral of a beloved neighbor of my family. Joe Hoium died of heart [...]
Thor’s hammer and David’s heart
By Pastor Norma Malfatti One of my New Testament professors in seminary regularly assigned an integrative project for the end of the semester. This project required that students create some practical application of using Scripture, [...]
Land of 10,000 actions
By Madeline Troyer I have been loving Minnesota lake culture. During the winter months, the lakes have a unique appeal. But it’s really warm weather that draws me to them. I grew up going to [...]