"Christ is Alive!  Let Christians sing.

His Cross stands empty to the sky.

Let streets and home with praises ring.

In death his love shall never die."

--Christ is Alive! Lutheran Book of Worship #363

75th Anniversary and Memorial

Stained Glass Window

1931-2006

Pastor’s Letter                                                     Lent/ MARCH 2023  

Grace and Peace be with you this Lenten season,

I remember a time when I participated in an ecumenical worship service on Thanksgiving Eve.  The worship was hosted at a neighboring Lutheran church and we had clergy participating from many denominations: Mennonite, Brethren, Methodist, Lutheran, UCC, and Non- Denominational.  I was sitting next to Pastor Mel, the pastor of the community church that resided in the old Walmart in town.  He had been a pastor for 30+ years and was very well respected within the community.  He was going to read one of our scripture passages for this community service.  Prior to him, my Lutheran colleague Gene got up to read.  As he approached the altar he stop, reverenced and bowed and made his way to the lecture where he introduced the scripture reading in the formal way we Lutherans are accustomed to. “Thanks be to God”. Mel learned over to me and asked, “help me, what am I supposed to do when I go up there?”, he asked.  His tradition wasn’t used to reverencing the altar, crossing himself and he obviously was concerned about respecting the traditions that were in this place and wanted to be respectful.  I replied to him “do what feels natural for you, don’t pretend to do what feels unnatural.”  

Click here to read Pastor John's full letter

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