Go & Tell the Story

By Brenda Rivas, Communications Manager Here we go again. As the Fall falls on us again, we prepare for another winter, another Holiday season, and another new year. Living in a landlocked state, we get to enjoy some of the things that autumn brings, such as the changing colors of the leaves and college football. We don’t usually think about this time of year as a time to prepare ourselves for possible disaster or tragedy. Unfortunately, that is the reality for the people of the Southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean. When September comes, for them, it signals hurricane season. Growing up in the Northeast, we rarely saw hurricanes. And even when we did, the storms had lost their strength to wreak havoc. I remember in grade school going out during the eye of the storm to witness the incredible stillness and peace. For a moment, it was as if the world stood still. It was one of the most beautiful moments I ever experienced. It was so powerful, that even as a child I re

By Diane Harpster,  Administrative Assistant to the Bishop My daily drive to and from work is a time of day when I get to enjoy the signs of the seasons in the hills, valleys, and fields along Highway 36 between Fremont and Omaha.   Maybe it’s because I celebrated a milestone birthday this year, but it seems that the time between the appearance of the first tender, green shoots of corn and beans in the fields and today’s ready-for-harvest crop has passed awfully quickly this year.   The adage “the older you get, the faster times goes” rings pretty true to my experience these days. I find myself wondering how, as a little girl who loved the freedom and solitude of the farm, summer would stretch out as an almost endless expanse of time for reading, biking and horseback riding, dreaming, creating.   And, of course, the chores, which gave a sense of purpose and responsibility to the daily routine. Today, it takes intentional effort to experience such slo

By Lisa Kramme, Director of Faith Formation It was so surprising to me what time away from this work could do for my body and spirit.   On July 6 at 5:00pm, sabbatical from serving as the Director of Faith Formation with the Nebraska Synod began.   After walking away from the office that Friday, my husband and I headed to a surprise birthday party for my brother and sister-in-law, and following the party we sat around a newly-built firepit in the backyard of other family members.   We told stories under the stars and simply enjoyed each other’s company. During a lull in the conversation, I checked the time and was shocked to see it was 2:30 in the morning!   The last time I was up until 2:30 was during a youth ministry event when I couldn’t sleep, not because of loud people in the hallways but because the work-related checklist in my brain wouldn’t stop its incessant reminders of all that needed to be done.   Just like closing a large number of open apps on my