Our Pastor
 Kathy King
(507) 382-2483

This is what God says,the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, the God who summons horses and chariots and armies—they lie down and then can’t get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles: “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?                    Isaiah 43: 16-20 The Message

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I would like to take a moment to be grateful to those who did the work of leading in our parish churches in 2024: the board chairs, the leadership who faithfully attended meetings, the worship team, our musicians, and those who weekly produced our PowerPoints and bulletins—Thank You! To our Bible Study groups and to each member who came to worship as the Body of Christ, you brought His presence to our gatherings—Thank You!

As we enter this year of 2025, I find myself thinking about my life and what’s to come. There is something that has made me more thoughtful as I approach a new decade in my living—this year that I will move into birthdays that begin with a 7. We all remember being children who looked at people in their 70’s as REALLY old. But I can’t help but be incredibly grateful that I have lived God’s blessing of 69-1/2 years.  Where do you find your thoughts in these early days of January 2025? Are you looking forward to a New Year of possibilities or are you apprehensive about what this year will bring? I think it’s in our DNA to be a little dualistic as we think about the future. If we enter a new year without regard to the One who gifted us with the days we live, we can’t help but be apprehensive; but if we open our hearts and praise God for the gift of each day, we can’t help but be excited about the possibilities 2025 promises.  Isaiah reminds us today that the same God who orchestrated a way free for the Israelites through the ocean’s waters is orchestrating something new for us. Peterson’s translation of Isaiah’s words reminds us that we won’t find this new thing if we “keep going over old history.” We are called to “be alert and be present” so that we realize the brand-new that God is creating in these days. Let us take a deep breath, forget past shortcomings and disappointments, and stand in God’s amazing creativity as we wonder what’s to come in this year of 2025. Let us put our complete trust in the God who want’s us to see that new things are exactly what God provides when we open our hearts to share God’s love with everyone and everything.  One final thank you to those who remembered Jerry and I with Christmas cards and gifts, you touched our hearts with your thoughtfulness!

The old year is past—Happy New Year, dear ones!

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