Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
Trustworthy Servants
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen When bishops ordain pastors or consecrate deacons, we ask if they will commit to being an “example in faithful service and holy living.” If their answer is yes, they respond: “I [...]
An Ode to Toast and the Limits of Winter
By Emilie Bouvier Wednesday, February 6, was the day that Charo was taken away. Who is Charo (other than a famous flamenco guitarist), you ask? Charo is the name of the large, delightfully warm, conveyor [...]
‘A widening gap’
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Everywhere you turn you can find a survey about why young adults aren’t coming to church. I thought I’d conduct my own. In a comprehensive survey of two, I heard: “It’s [...]
The great give away
By Pastor Deb Stehlin It feels like grace As I write this post, there is yet another windchill warning, and more snow is expected later this week. As a traveling preacher, I had kind of [...]
“Workin’ my Committee for the Lord”
By Pastor John Hulden I go out to church now workin' my committee for the Lord I go every second Tuesday night workin' my committee for the Lord Jesus called disciples [...]
Called to empathy
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen What a weekend! On Saturday I was honored to convey the church’s deep gratitude at the funerals of John Nelson and Orval Westby, two pastors who’d been ordained for 63 and [...]
Of Mystics, Image, and Story
By Emilie Bouvier Hush, hush, my little root … my little pod Hush ... hush ... my little grandmother I read these words from Meridel Le Sueur two mornings ago to a room of women, [...]
We. Are. Fam-i-ly.
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen “My church is like a family!” It’s the most frequent answer I get when I ask what people like about their congregation. “We feel like a family.” There’s much to celebrate [...]
Shutdown slowdown blues
By Pastor Craig Pederson Before I felt the call to explore ordained ministry, I was a federal employee. Fresh out of college in the early 1990s, I secured a job as a claims representative for [...]