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Faith

Faith Briefs

GriefShare sessions starting Aug. 3 If you’ve experienced the death of a loved one (spouse, child, friend, family), you are invited to GriefShare. This nondenominational program features Christ-centered, biblical teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. The DVD seminar features nationally respected grief experts and real-life stories of people, followed by a small group discussion of information on the DVD. You will find encouragement, comfort, and valuable information about facing your new normal in life and hope for the future. Information and ...

Taking the time to attend to others

I run late to most of my appointments. Phone calls smash into scheduled video calls, and then I hop off only to drive across town for a meeting with another potential donor or key stakeholder. It comes with the work of running an emergency shelter, housing and a food pantry. Always be closing. … “A.B.C.” an old acronym from my sales days. Unfortunately, though, all too often I let the clock dictate my attention to faithfulness. I make the work about the work, and not about the neighbors we serve. I know I’m not the only person to do so, but the feeling can still be ...

Friendships worth their weight in gold

Joy, my friends. My heavens, we forget, at our own peril, that life is also supposed to be filled with joy. The Apostle Paul lists joy as one of his vital “fruits of the spirit.” And God calls all of us to find genuine gladness in the company of others, likening it to a form of true ...

19th century naturalist writers already knew where to find God

The older I get, the more I wish I would have paid attention to the naturalist writers of America’s 19th century 35 years ago in Mr. Hassler’s literature classes. Oh, Mr. Hassler did his best to grab the attention of a teenage boy’s mind, but unfortunately I was not mature enough to ...

Faith Briefs

First Lutheran receives LSS Servant of Christ Award Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota has recognized First Lutheran Church in Marshall as the 2026 LSS Servant of Christ Award recipient for the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.   The LSS Servant of Christ Award honors congregations that are leaders in social ministry outreach or have contributed to addressing special needs in their community in extraordinary ways. The award is extended to one congregation in each of the six Minnesota synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of ...

What’s new with your neighbors? Would you know?

Oh, I read the headlines just like everyone else does. I hear the news reports about the epic rise in our feelings of loneliness, our move toward isolationism for fear of our neighbor, that our distrust in anyone unlike us is skyrocketing. I don’t doubt the data, nor the conclusions the ...