Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
The ministry of consolation
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen It continues to amaze me how clearly I remember the people who attended our son’s funeral in 2015: My brothers’ families from California and Montana who’d just gotten back from their [...]
Decisions are made by those that show up
By Bob Hulteen Two of my colleagues jokingly challenged me to work a clip from The West Wing into my next staff devotions. I would say that they know me so well but, in all [...]
Let’s Rally, … Really!
By Pr. Craig Pederson One of the joys of ministry is discovering insights into the ways of God through vehicles I never expected. This week, the ways of God have been revealed to me through [...]
Tap, tap, tap
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen In the past seven days, I presided at three ordinations. I’m pretty sure that’s a record for me as bishop. Two men and a woman; two full-time and one half-time; two [...]
Finding Center
By Emilie Bouvier “FWAP.” There’s something so gratifying about feeling the weight and hard slap of clay against the wedging stone in my kitchen. This is the first step in the process of pottery throwing [...]
Grace-filled daily-ness
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen I’ve blogged before about my family reunions – the Rev. David and Kari Svennungsen Memorial Golf Tournament and Potluck held every year on the last Saturday of July in Montana. I [...]
What’s in you?
By Pr. Deb Stehlin Yesterday I spent time with one of our synod’s pastors, who’s dealing with brain cancer. The level of her suffering is difficult for me to describe. Each time I visit, I [...]
When two or three are gathered, you didn’t organize well enough
By Pr. John Hulden OK, so Matthew 18:20 is that oft quoted, much beloved verse: For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. (NRSV) It’s beautiful, right? (Caution: [...]
Make straight a path, Lord, … oh, and the hair
By Grace Corbin It was 6:45 in the morning. I was standing in the bathroom of my house, straightening my hair and getting ready for another day of classes during my junior year of high [...]
It looks different from here
By Bob Hulteen Last Sunday I walked downstairs to retrieve the StarTribune from my front porch. Now, I hadn’t yet had coffee, which friends will acknowledge makes me potentially homicidal. Add to that a forecast [...]