Christ In All Things

The Catechetical Life is an “audio brochure” of sorts. (It is based upon a brochure that Pastor O’Donnell wrote.) It is intended both to teach and to be a means of evaluating one’s family and congregational life. With a little bit of humor, we teach about life in the Church. We teach the difference between “Law” and “Gospel.” We make an important connection between a classical method of teaching—catechesis—and the mission of Christ...

We live in “a time of trouble” (Dan. 12:1), in the midst of great tribulation. Satan and his wicked angels have been thrown out of heaven and have come down to earth “in great wrath,” with woeful “temptations to sin” and with constant accusations (Rev. 12:8–12; Matt. 18:7). Even so, we are encouraged by the presence and protection of St. Michael and the holy angels, whom God sends to help us in the strife (Dan. 10:11–13). By “the a...

We asked St. Paul’s congregational leaders, John Nelson and Dale Stratil, to listen to Episode 77, “Reflecting Christ: Stewardship as Identity,” before its publication. John is currently serving as St. Paul’s 1st VP, and Dale is currently teaching a Bible class on stewardship. In this episode, we ask them to reflect on things that really stuck out to them from Dr. Meador’s teaching on stewardship. Our prayer is that this episode re...

St. Paul's member, Rev. Dr. Richard Thompson is our guest preacher this Holy Cross Sunday.

The observance of Holy Cross Day occurs every year on September 14th. Holy Cross Day has stood as a monument and touchstone for nearly eighteen centuries encouraging believers to confess “Christ Crucified.” (1 Cor. 1:23) In our Old Testament lesson we see an excellent precursor of God’s redemption through the cross. Those who look with faith u...

Christ gives a radical mercy to us, and calls from us—in His Name—the same. The call of Christ is absolute. He is God. He is worshipped as God by the magi (Mt 2.11). He is worshipped as God after His resurrection, by the disciples (Mt 28.17) Thus, the First Commandment applies in our worship toward him: “You shall have no other Gods.” Nowhere does this hit more powerfully than with family ties. If family “responsibilities” call for...

We believe that a consistent, Scripture-based order of service, or ‘liturgy’—particularly sung liturgy—is better for the faith-formation of all ages. We believe that Jacob and Delores: A Love Story presents powerful evidence for that conviction. In this episode you’ll hear Season Two’s Jacob’s Story re-told, and—in a clip we received permission to publish—you’ll also hear a much older woman names Delores confess her faith in Christ...

“Jacob’s Story” is about a lot of things. This account, his parents’ summary of his last days with us, is both heart-rending and faith-filling. It is a tragedy, but one that is imbued with Christian hope. “Jacob’s Story” is an episode to which we will refer many times in Season 3 and beyond, for what happened with Jacob Juneau changed more than the lives of his family. It changed the lives of many others. We suspect, as the convers...

In Part 2 of our interview with Brett Helwig we talk about how life in the church is forming him, and how his talents in music and engineering combine in Christ. We have a delightful introduction to his very engineer-ish encounter, courtship, and marriage to a vivacious farm girl named Kerri. We also hear about the Helwig’s journey to membership at St. Paul’s and love of God's creation. To listen to Brett is to hear a man who is ve...

Brett Helwig is “not an overthinker.” Funny thing to say for an engineer! Yet, as you’ll hear in Part 1 of our interview, Brett Helwig thinks both broadly and carefully. He comes from faithful, servant stock with deep, deep Christian faith. That family was very formative for him, as were some significant events in his young life. Brett was born in 1995, so as of this recording he’s less than 30 years old, but to hear him is to hea...

Chief of sinners. Child of God. Pastor Harrison Goodman preaches Christ crucified as a light that shines in darkness and a hope for the hopeless. As content executive, he helps to make these same gifts known online by employing the many voices and talents of our brothers and sisters in Christ. He believes that while the internet cannot replace Word and Sacrament ministry, it doesn’t need to try. How he came to be a Christian, a hus...

Chief of sinners. Child of God. Pastor Harrison Goodman preaches Christ crucified as a light that shines in darkness and a hope for the hopeless. As content executive, he helps to make these same gifts known online by employing the many voices and talents of our brothers and sisters in Christ. He believes that while the internet cannot replace Word and Sacrament ministry, it doesn’t need to try. How he came to be a Christian, a hus...

Chief of sinners. Child of God. Pastor Harrison Goodman preaches Christ crucified as a light that shines in darkness and a hope for the hopeless. As content executive, he helps to make these same gifts known online by employing the many voices and talents of our brothers and sisters in Christ. He believes that while the internet cannot replace Word and Sacrament ministry, it doesn’t need to try. How he came to be a Christian, a h...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Kerri Helwig we move from the discussion of changing churches and the challenges of friendship to the absolutely formative culture of farm life. Though Kerri doesn’t live on a large farm, she has a fascinating career in agriculture. She brings a delightful humor to related “aromatic” subjects, to discussion of her artistic creations, to her courtship and marriage to Brett Helwig (Whom she met at t...

It is flat-out amazing the stories that you can hear simply by asking someone the origins and meaning of their name. Then, when you ask, “What are the top three-to-five things that formed you as a human being,” well, that’s a recipe for a really great conversation. From the tragic and inspiring story from which Kerri got her name, to the challenges of changing churches and its impact on friendship, you will enjoy meeting Kerri Helw...

What does a White Castle slider have to do with grief? Listen to “Grieving with Hope: Year Two” to find out! This concludes our series of interviews with Pastor Jason Schockman regarding death of his father on August 8, 2022. This series is intended to provide a listening ear into the grieving process, where hearers encounter the reality of grief and an abiding Christian hope. Discerning ears will note the maturity of this two-year...

This is Part 2 of our interview with Grace Beatrice Olson, and it really is a treasure. In a congregation nearly 160 years old, not often do pastors have the opportunity to converse with members who have connections to the congregation’s founding. Grace was able and willing to share stories from farm life and early St. Paul’s church and school. We talk about the development of hymnals, its use as a prayer book, her fascinating work...

Grace Olson is a Loppnow, making her a descendant of the some of the founding members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in 1865. As you’ll hear, Grace has delightful senses of humor and curiosity. Grace comes from a family of six children, and speaks with thankfulness about her family of origin and the life of faith inculcated by her parents and key figures in the history of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School. Whether you’re a histo...

Dave Meyer has no illusions about what worship is and the purpose of the Church. He says, “We’re not here on Sunday mornings because we’re wonderfully good people. We’re here because we know how bad we are and we need that forgiveness.” In Part 2 of our interview with Dave we explore what it means to be “Lutheran,” we further discuss his shared faith and practice in his family, the importance of being asked to serve as a youth, and...