Erik 🕊️

Federal authorities plan operation in Minnesota focusing on Somali immigrants, AP source says Federal authorities are preparing an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, focusing on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the U.S.

ICE is coming to the twin cities, particularly targetting our wonderful somali community.

Pray for their safety, pray that the Church here boldly stands with our immigrant neighbors.

Pray for the abolition of ICE. ⚓️

I looooove Lindström as the Swedish Chef :)

It’s a sin against God and good taste that the American Lutheran Church’s former national headquarters is now site of the Hennepin County Jail

"It is perfectly normal for kids to follow gender 'stereotypes' because that is how God made us." This statement is both theologically and historically suspect -- like, even if you think God wants men to "act like men," what men act like has not been remotely consistent across periods & societies.

So I know there are a million more pressing issues with this but the thing that struck me, reading this stupid essay, is how atrocious her Biblical scholarship is.

haunting images

The sanctuary of Mount Olive Church. Brick walls, colorful stained glass, and terracotta floor tiles.

Delightful morning at Mount Olive! I got to preach at the 8:00 and the 10:45, Pastor led an engaging and insightful adult forum on Mary Magdalene, and several friends joined for worship! (Wesley and his siblings, dear @margueritek.bsky.social, and my pastor care prof!) My heart is so full 🥹🕊️🕯️

need one of those bell curve memes with:
• on one side it’s Evangelicals saying, “Jesus is my boyfriend :)”
• the middle is the Frozen Chosen saying, “Jesus is NOT your boyfriend, have some respect!!!!!!”
• and then the other side is me and the mystics saying, “Jesus is my boyfriend :)”

Christ the King Sunday is the perfect opportunity to remind everyone that the separation of church and state protects both the church *and* the state from each other.

My Catholic faith calls me to welcome the stranger.

Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda rejects the humanity of our immigrant neighbors.

We need to build an immigration system based on dignity, due process, and safety for everyone.

red and green northern lights

pretty views from my driveway :)

abolish the senate

Fifty years ago today the Edmund Fitzgerald set out on her final voyage.

Church is better when it's gay

a pigeon figure hanging from a string in a glass case in a museum. the pigeon appears to be made of metal or a shiny stone material

and here’s another medieval church pigeon from the Halland Museum of Cultural History in Varberg, Sweden

incredible to hear the story how the villagers built this new church around the medieval church, then carried the old church out, piece by piece, once this one was completed. and the church is surrounded by the churchyard where my ancestors’ bones have rested for 7 or 8 centuries. special place!

also forgot to mention this specific church is the one in my ancestors’ hometown of Veddige, Halland! they still call this the new church even though it was built in the mid-1800s. the pigeon, the altarpiece, and a big crucifix all came from the medieval stone church that once stood there

a close-up view of a wooden pigeon painted gray and white, hanging above the pulpit at Veddige Church in rural Sweden

a wooden pigeon painted gray and white, hanging above the pulpit at Veddige Church in rural Sweden

one of my favorite pieces of folk religion — in Swedish, there’s only one word for dove and pigeon (as they’re essentially the same thing), so above the pulpits in these old country churches, they have depicted the Holy Spirit as their own local pigeon variant. delightful!! 🕊️🕯️✨

the downfall of Target can be directly linked to their abandoning of their Minnesota roots

Minnesotans love DEI and hate talking to strangers in the store

good luck Target

What a treasure!!

Julie Blaha, Minnesota’s goat

God bless Brenden, my gay, former Catholic, atheist/agnostic therapist who has to spend every Tuesday from 2 to 3 unpacking the Fourth Commandment with me

A paper with colorful pictures of a church, a pastor confirming students, and the Lord’s supper. The document says, “In Remembrance of the Day of Confirmation. Claus Henry Feil. Born October 2nd 1897. Confirmed March 16 1913. Ev. Church of Peace, Rochester, Minnesota.”

a cropped screenshot of Claus Feil at 16 years old, from the picture of his confirmation class in 1913.

My great grandfather’s confirmation certificate from 1913. He was confirmed at the Evangelical Church of Peace (now Peace UCC) in Rochester, Minnesota. An interesting reminder that a huge chunk of UCC churches in Minnesota started as German Reformed congregations. What a fun piece of legacy!

and two weeks ago, half the chancel party had the last name Nelson … I love you Minnesota

3 of the 6 people in the chancel party today were named Erik or Eric hehe

what a happy new experience

a picture of Erik and Wesley in Stockholm. Erik has glasses and light hair, and he wears a white shirt with blue vertical stripes. Wesley has dark hair and is wearing a dark blue button-up shirt.

dreaming again about being in Sweden with Wesley ✨

the silent final e of course

Eugene!

this is like my roommate (named Josh) who has started to only refer to Jesus as Josh