Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church

08/25/2026

Rev. Paul G. Petersen was born August 19, 1923, to Rev. Justin and Nettie (nee Knutson) Petersen in Rembrandt, Iowa. After serving in the European theater in World War II, he attended Bethany Lutheran College, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Eau Claire State College.

Petersen was ordained July 6, 1952, at Richland Lutheran Church, Thorton, Iowa, where he served until 1956. He then served Bethany Lutheran, Luverne, Minnesota (1956-1965); Pilgrim Lutheran, Waterloo, Iowa (1965-1975); and St. Andrew’s Lutheran, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1975-1979). From 1979-1981 he was the Development officer at Bethany Lutheran College and 1981-1983 he served as the ELS Missions/Stewardship Counselor. He the returned to parish work serving at Faith Lutheran, Oregon, Wisconsin (1983-1988) and Holy Cross Lutheran in Madison, Wisconsin (1988-1992 and 1996-1997).

On August 21, 1949, Petersen married Lois (nee Bergum). Their marriage was blessed with five children: Steven, Elizabeth, Marilyn, John, and Emily. Lois died on January 4, 2022.

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” It’s the most important question in the world, and it is a question every human being must answer. The expected answer may be dead wrong. Some in Jesus’ day thought he was John the Baptist. Some thought he was the prophet Elijah who had come back from the dead. Today plenty of people believe that Jesus existed. They think that Jesus was a wise teacher or a role
model for love. Both answers are expected. Both miss the main point.

Jesus is a real human being, the Son of Man. He is also Lord and Savior, the Son of the living God. This unexpected truth is the core of saving faith.

08/25/2026

There’s a whole web page devoted to the worst road trips ever...

08/25/2026

Sister church bodies of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) support and encourage one another in a shared mission to proclaim Christ. View photos from the latest CELC convention held this past summer in Lusaka, Zambia.

08/25/2026

God wants you to know him...

08/25/2026

Please keep the students, staff, and volunteers of St. Mark Lutheran School in prayers as they begin another school year today! We have a number of members who attend St. Mark and are thankful for the wonderful Christian Education they provide!

Dear Father in heaven,

We come before you as another school year begins. We thank you for the blessings, the rest, and the refreshment of summer break, and we ask that you would be with students and teachers in the year ahead. Bless their studies, bless their friendships, and be with them as they grow in their understanding of the world, but especially your love for them in Jesus. We pray this in his name. Amen.