Posted by hlewis |
Last Sunday we celebrated an amazing woman’s 97th birthday at the early service. Shirley Schrodt now lives in Independence, but always comes back to Salem to celebrate with her friends. She has touched so many of our lives, and we love the excuse to have flowers and treats for her special day! I wanted to share with you something amazing that happened behind the scenes that morning:
…Posted by tgraham |
I’m so excited to be able to return and see families and their children, but I really, really need your help!! This wonderful opportunity to care for and play with infants through 5-year-olds can’t happen until I have a regular rotation of helpers ages 14 and older. I’ll be happy to share my phone number through the church office or Pastor Jon If you have any questions about your responsibilities.…
Posted by svanbaale |
Most Johnson County kids go back to school next week. My youngest starts on Thursday, and my oldest goes back Friday. Hopefully starting school on Friday the 13th won’t be unlucky. You might remember Friday the 13th in March 2020, when the kids were supposed to go back to school for one more day before spring break was to start but instead did not return in person for about…
Posted by jbrudvig |
Recently, quite by accident, I discovered a scrap of paper with words of encouragement penned by Brazilian lyricist and novelist Paulo Coehlo. It reads, “If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”
But saying goodbye is difficult to do, isn’t it? During times of grief, loss, and unexpected change, many of…
Posted by rgarza |
I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. We’ve all heard that phrase when we were growing up, or we would hear from our parents, “If you hang around trouble, you’re going to get into trouble.” Well, I heard both plenty of times. I know my younger brother heard it more than I did, and that didn’t seem to bother him. He still hung around trouble. I’m not sure why; was it more fun?
…Posted by jloos |
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who…
Posted by wcanady |
Hello! For this installment, I wanted to rush to the point and share with you all of the gospel songs that I enjoy. Please take time to listen to them, or perhaps add them to your personal listening list.
1. “Power Belongs to God” by Hezekiah Walker (https://youtu.be/Rfi64Idrp88)
This selection is by Hezekiah Walker, who is a well-known…
Posted by svanbaale |
I am sure you have heard the expression, “You can’t go home again.” That is something Jesus discovered when he returned to his hometown to teach. Sometimes you have to leave home to truly be appreciated and accepted. That is what Jesus found in this Sunday’s Gospel.
“[Jesus] came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue,…
Posted by hlewis |
There have been a lot of songs with the message that we need to trust that God is on our side even when things don’t work out the way we hoped. Mercy Me sings, “I know You’re able, and I know You can … but even if you don’t, my hope is You alone.” Hillary Scott sings about trying to understand why her broken heart is a part of God’s plan, and yet “…sometimes I gotta stop, remember…
Posted by jbrudvig |
Like the disciples who journeyed with Jesus across the Sea of Galilee, many of us may struggle to heed Jesus’ invitation, “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35). It is only natural, after all. Our brains are hardwired to resist change. We hesitate to venture into unfamiliar waters. Or maybe we just prefer to remain where we are, anchored in the comfortable and familiar.
Living…