Pengilly United Methodist Church

09/06/2026

Labor Day Weekend Reflection
September 6, 2026

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08/31/2026

Monday Musing

Call me old-fashioned, but I still like reading a newspaper. As a kid, I remember when the local weekly newspapers, the Ely Echo and the Ely Miner would appear in our mailboxes. They had great local news, covered all school events—from sports to band and choir concerts—and included obituaries. I can hear my mother's voice today asking my dad if he knew that so-and-so had died, and then explaining how they were related to this person or that person. For the daily paper, there were the Mesabi Daily News and the Duluth News Tribune. On Sunday, the big thrill was getting the Minneapolis Star and Tribune! We frequently fought over the comics. My grandfather, sitting back in his recliner after a day of work at the store, would light his pipe, and we could see smoke waft above the pages of the Wall Street Journal. Back then, we looked forward to the news, especially the news printed on paper.

Even so, today I only receive one newspaper in the mail. Ironically, it is a small but vibrant weekly newspaper from a small town I have never visited. Until I started receiving the newspaper, the only two people I know in this town are the ones who gave it to me as a gift. However, after a year of reading the Kerkhoven Banner, when I open its pages, I feel like I know the wonderful folks who live there. I follow their sports teams, community events, and even read the obituaries. When I read the letters to the editor, I often picture the person who penned them. This gift has introduced me to people I would never have met otherwise.

In a very similar way, the Bible is also a gift. It is a library of many stories, letters, parables, and even has an obituary. The Bible has introduced me to people I would have never met otherwise and includes a talking donkey. Not unlike the Kerkhoven Banner but with wider circulation, the Bible expands my mind and helps me know not just about where I live but about the whole world and the universe. Its editor is loving and kind, full of mercy, compassion, and justice. The Bible is not a book about punishment, even though there are some harsh stories within its pages. Rather, it is a collection of stories about possibilities and promise. The best part of the Bible is that within its pages, you can find the Good News: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that just as I now have a relationship with the good folks of Kerkhoven, even though we have never met, we can also be in a relationship with Jesus Christ when we read, proclaim, and share Christ's message of hope and unconditional love found in the book called the Bible.

08/31/2026

Sunday Reflection- August 30, 2026

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08/24/2026

Monday Musing

Recently, and after a great deal of thought, I decided to put my house up for sale. I had been in conversation with a realtor for many months but finally decided to list it after coming home one evening from Hibbing and almost hitting a deer. I met with the realtor, who appraised the value and then offered suggestions to make the house more appealing to prospective buyers. I needed to recaulk the bathtub, vacuum up as much of Bingo's dog hair as possible, and, most importantly, get rid of clutter. When I first moved into the house several years ago, I had few possessions, mostly the essentials like a bed, a kitchen table and chairs, and a couch. Over time, however, there are now three couches and two beds. three desks, a piano, a china cabinet, a buffet, and much more. For example, there is a very large bookshelf with books stuffed into every shelf, and in some places, double-stacked with some perched so precariously they could come crashing down at any time.

Taking the realtor's suggestions seriously, I set about the task of caulking, vacuuming, and, of course, decluttering. After just a day or two, the house now looks just like the house I fell in love with in the first place. As I took down some drapes, opened windows, and organized my bookshelf, I started having second thoughts about selling. To be honest, if it does not sell, I would not be heartbroken. The good news is that If company arrived unexpectedly tonight, I could seat them at the table, provide them a clean bed for the night, and fix them breakfast in the morning using clean plates.

Today, as I sit in my living room with Bingo curled up at my feet, I think that I need to consider decluttering not just my house, but my life to create space for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. In John's Gospel, Jesus says, "In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"

It leaves me to wonder: If Jesus is willing to make room for us, what are we doing to prepare and make room for not only Jesus but also the stranger, the orphan, and the widow?

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

08/23/2026

Sunday Morning Reflection - August 23, 2026

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08/17/2026

Monday Musing

Friday afternoon, I received several calls in quick succession from a company trying to sell me an extended warranty for my car. I tried on many occasions to get removed from their call list but to no avail. So, after two quick calls where I politely informed them I was not interested, I got angry when the phone rang a third time. This time, I did not even bother to look at who was calling. I screamed into the phone, “I just told you a few minutes ago: do not call me again. What's wrong with you. I am not interested.”

There was a pause, and a familiar voice said, “John, all I wanted to do was wish you a belated happy birthday.”

Realizing it was an old friend and not a sales call, I apologized. We both chuckled and then proceeded to have a great conversation.

Growing up, when I would get upset, my mother would always caution me by saying, “Choose your words carefully.”

Today, I think word choice is a lost art that we need to practice daily. After all, no matter where we go—the grocery store, a football game, a coffee shop, even in classes at the seminary—we often use words that inflame, demean, and provoke others. Just the other day, I almost let some unkind words fly at a person who cut in front of me in the checkout line at a grocery store. But then I thought, to what end? Channeling my mother, instead of cursing, I gave them a smile and said, "No problem."" After all, the words I speak say more about me than about the person I am speaking to.

When speaking about the power of the tongue, James says, “With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way!” (James 3:9–10) I could not say it better if I tried!

Today, as sharp tongues go unchecked on social media and political campaigns make scandalous claims as they gear up for the midterms, now is the perfect time for us to fill our hearts with love so that when we speak, what comes out is not poison, but rather, words that heal: kindness, compassion, respect, and peace. Amen.

Image: Ursula Scheuer

08/16/2026

Sunday Reflection - August 16, 2026
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08/14/2026

Looking for faith, hope, and love? Join us at Pengilly UMC for Sunday worship at 8:30 AM. It is the place to be. Be welcomed and loved through the hope and promise of Jesus Christ!

08/11/2026

Great event in September!

08/10/2026

Monday Musing

The big day arrived! Filled with anticipation and great expectation, I went outside, leaned into the raised garden bed, and picked my first tomato of the summer. This was not just any old tomato; it was the perfect tomato for a BLT sandwich. I sliced the tomato carefully placing each slice neatly on whole wheat bread. I added crispy bacon, lettuce from the church garden, and a few dollops of real mayo. Delicious. I immediately gobbled down two sandwiches in quick succession.

Even though I have had good luck growing tomatoes in the past, they were not the types of tomatoes that make good BLT sandwiches. Last year, I grew so many Roma tomatoes that if I laid them end to end on the ground they could probably have reached Minneapolis and back again. There have been other years, when I ate so many cherry tomatoes that my eyes looked exactly like what I was eating. But this year, I had a singular purpose; I was determined to grow only big beefy tomatoes for BLTs.

In the spring, I prayed God would take pity on me. Lo and behold, God answered my prayer. A friend gave me three tomato plants that she thought would be perfect to help me accomplish the task. However, I soon discovered that I needed to change my thinking about what a tomato should look like. The plants she shared were not deep red Beefsteak, Big Boy, or Giant Belgium’s, but Cherokee Purple Heirloom tomatoes. The fruit, when ripe, looked more like a bad leg bruise than a tomato. However, desperate for the perfect BLT, I let go of my preconceived idea that a tomato must be red and quickly fell in love with the Cherokee Purple. After eating that sandwich, and with juice joyfully dripping down my chin, I thought if I were Jesus, I would say, “The kingdom of heaven is like a BLT sandwich made from Cherokee Purple Heirloom tomatoes.” Of course, I am not Jesus! I am, however, committed to the work Jesus has asked his followers to do.

Today, I believe that if the church is going to remain a place of hope, it must allow the Spirit to breathe new life into old structures just like a Cherokee Purple tomato transformed my BLT sandwich. It is only then that the Church can be renewed through the promise of the living Christ.

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19