Love is in the air! Valentine's day quickly approaches and we will once again make our romantic plans with loved ones. I remember as a kid in school we always had a Valentine's Day Party. Our teacher would plan for snacks to be brought into class. During that party there was the dreaded Valentine ex-change. My Mom, every year, would take me to the store to pick out Valentines to share with my classmates. Of course, for me there was always a girl in my class who 1 wanted to impress. I would pick out a special Valentine just for her. There were boxes for each student and like little postal workers we would dutifully place a Valentine in each student's box. I would nervously wait to see if the girl I was sweet on would return my affections with a special Valentine for me. Unfortunately, every year my heart was crushed as I just got "plain" Valentines from my classmates. I tell this story not to garner sympathy, but to highlight for us the nature of our relationship with Jesus.

A New Year has begun and as we recover from our Christmas celebrations, I want to take the time to thank each and every one of you for your presence and prayers during 2025. It was quite a year, one that I will not soon forget. God is faithful and true and provided direction for us to follow in the New Year.

God has big plans for us, and I am so excited to see what those plans are moving forward…

This famous bible verse is our theme for this month. Christmas will be here before we know it and I am not sure I am ready. Preparation has not always been my strong suit. I always think of a lot of great things to do during the ramp up to Christmas. Decorating the house, planning large meals, traveling to visit friends and family, the whole thing can get to be a little overwhelming and ultimately depressing.

I forget the theme, for us a child is born, for us a son is given…

How can it be possible that November is here already!? With the colder temperatures also comes Thanksgiving and then Christmas. The harvest is coming to an end and soon the ground will rest and be restored during the winter months. I love autumn. Things come to their natural conclusion. The cycle of life needs rest, and so do humans. Winter should be a time for rest, and yet we find ways to fill our days with activi-ty. The pursuit of things can sometimes lead us away from God, who pursues us at an unending and unchanging pace…

Dear Friends in Christ,

The change of the seasons brings with it this year momentous changes in our lives. At the time of this writing the last service of closure at Calvary has not been decided but the date will be figured out soon. The Holy Spirit through the members of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church has issued a call to me to be the full-time pastor. I humbly accept the responsibility entrusted to me. We need to pause during these days and be thankful to God that we have found each other, and together we will be moving forward as a people of God. Sandy and I are grateful to be in your midst as beloved children of God…

Seasons come and go with the turning of the Earth.

Currently it is the season of summer and boy it is hot! Physical heat is certainly a reality these past days, but also the human heart has been full of emotional heat. The scourge of war is once again upon us, and we all are growing weary of the constant carnage and death. Let us pray that the season is finally changing and we are entering a new age of peace. Jesus says, "blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Let us pray that Jesus makes room in the hearts of all people to accept His lasting peace. The peace of Christ is the last and only hope for humanity…

What would life be like if today you went to the kitchen sink in your house, turned it on to get a glass of water, and nothing came out of the tap? Our world would be turned upside down. We take for granted that beautiful gift known as Lake Erie. Water is abundant where we live, what if it wasn't? How would crops grow? How would we manage to stay clean? What would our food taste like if we did not have a clean supply of water? The answers to these questions are too terrible for me to contemplate.

Spring is finally here! Hopefully by the time this newsletter is printed we will finally enjoy warmer temperatures and sunny skies. Soon summer will be upon us and the work of the church does not stop. Vacation Bible School is on its way! This year we are offering to all VBS in the synod the chance to partner with our sisters and brothers in Tanzania. The Dodoma Diocese is literally on the other side of the world, and just like us they need to hear the Good News of Jesus.

What would it be like if our churches were in the middle of a dense jungle?…

Lent continues and we will reach the inevitable reality of Good Friday followed by the joy of Easter Sunday. The promise is given and kept. And this is one of the great truths of our lives. The real promise of Jesus crucified and risen from the dead, renews us daily in the water of our baptism.

How do you keep warm? I am writing this on a day here in Northwest Ohio where the high temperature is going to be 14 degrees. It is a fact that we humans need to protect ourselves from severely cold temperatures. We are taught to layer our clothing, wear a hat and gloves. All of these things ensure that we can live and survive in the cold. Creation at times can be cruel, and northwestern Ohio winters can be some of the cruelest. Weather patterns are a part of life, and part of God's good creation.