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Singleness and Vocation and Comfort
By Keri Wolfmueller Dear Sisters, I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I know that marriage is a good gift from God, and so are children. But what does that mean for those of us who haven’t gotten married yet and might not? Hi Sister! Thanks for trusting us with your question, that’s a special place to be. First, know you will be in our prayers. We will pray that God will grant you His comfort, peace, joy, wisdom, and contentment with whatever your future may hold. I feel like everything I’m going to say you know. You are a student of the Scriptures. So,…
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Why All This Crazy Violence?
By Keri Wolfmueller Where on earth did all the crazy people come from? And, for goodness sakes, how did they get guns? These seem to be the two platforms people land on when discussing the current rise of violence in our country. The argument sways between more gun control laws or between mental health issues. Well, I’d like to offer up a third alternative. We’ve got to dig a bit deeper, go back a little further. Our country is in LOVE with death. Sound weird? What if I say it like this, our country places NO value on life. Making more sense? I’d like to argue that we have…
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Have You Noticed the Change?
By Keri Wolfmueller A prayer request for the Scheer family. “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:11 Dear Readers, We feel it has become time to share with you an important event happening in the life of this blog’s creator and Editor, Holly Scheer. Perhaps you have noticed a change around here. Maybe there hasn’t been the consistency you’ve come to expect. Maybe you’ve noticed there are fewer posts. Does it seem a bit disorganized? There is a reason. Holly has another vocation aside from the Editor…
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Fun Reformation Activities for Children
By Keri Wolfmueller If you need a craft project or fun activity to use with your child you probably google it, and Pinterest and the like have a million ideas ready for you to go! There is one topic I have found very little on and yet it is oh so important in the Lutheran church, the Reformation! As an Early Childhood Educator and mother of four, I’ve done a little brain storming and thought I’d share a few ideas. Hope they help. Have a Blessed Reformation! My favorite creation, a song about Martin Luther, to the tune of Zacchaeus: Luther was a brave little man, and a brave…
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Comfort for Those Tending to the Lord’s Littlest Sheep, Part 3
By Keri Wolfmueller Tricks of the Trade and Quiet Activities for Young Children Thanks for joining the conversation about having children in church! Please see Part 1 and Part 2. I’m just as normal as you. However, I’m going to boldly assert a “Top Ten” list of helpful things to know and practice when you have little ones with you in church. This is not the Ten Commandments. This list holds no value regarding your salvation. You therefore are free. Every parent is unique and sets their own standards of what is acceptable for their child. Every child is unique. Some respond to discipline. Some respond to rewards. Some naturally aim…
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So Your Husband Just Received His First Call…
Dear Sisters in Christ, It was June 26, 2005. On that day my husband was ordained and installed as a pastor in the Lord’s Church. I remember it well. There was an illicit buzz in the heavy, hot air that filled the sanctuary. My stomach had been doing regular somersaults since the Call Service a few months prior; it was now out of control. It was real! It was happening! The organ was resounding! The kids and I were all dressed up and ready to go. But…was I ready to go? Was I ready to be THE “pastor’s wife?” I certainly had been doing some research. The previous four years I…
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Comfort for Those Tending to the Lord’s Littlest Sheep, Part 2
by Keri Wolfmueller Understanding Age Appropriate Behavior Greetings! If you are just now joining us, please see Comfort for Those Tending to the Lord’s Littlest Sheep, Part 1. Surprisingly, one of the most valid arguments against having children in church is sometimes brought to us from educators or pediatricians. These men and women have invested years into studying how children learn, how to best instruct them, how to care for them, and keep them healthy. (Please note the use of the word sometimes, this is not an absolute to these vocations.) The argument goes something like this, “It is not appropriate to expect young children to sit through an hour…
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Comfort for Those Tending to the Lord’s Littlest Sheep, Part 1
Part I: The Why of Taking our Children to Church Full of frustration and embarrassment I am driving away. Away from the staring faces, away from the haughty looks, away from the very place I should love to be. I cannot hold back the tears and my lips are quivering. My head is swirling with thoughts. “Why do I even go to church? I never even hear the sermon! Surely they remember what their toddlers were like? It can’t just be my child. I cannot believe my son just lapped the sanctuary during the prayers!” Yes, it’s quite true. I have had on any given Sunday a child lap the…