Zoar

I pastored in Eugene for ten years, and because we were a large congregation, I started something called neighborhood groups so our people in geographical proximity could get to know each other. There was a team captain in each neighborhood who called once a month and asked for prayer concerns. And then there was a quarterly get-together at the host's house. I was a neighborhood captain, and in our group was a very classy, dear woman named Sigrid, who was in her early 90s.

Friday afternoon I was wrapping up a visit with Myron and Nancy, and as I was getting ready to leave their place to go visit some other members, they both commented, "You must hear a lot of stories, Pastor...." I smiled and said, "Yes, I do. I get to hear all kinds of stories, and it's a great privilege." In fact, over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking a lot about some of the stories and bits of wisdom I've heard recently. And as I started to focus on my sermon pre

Congregation Events During Pastor Michelle’s Clergy Renewal The Mutual Ministry Team has been working to set up events during Pastor Michelle’s Clergy Renewal. Check frequently for updated information! Sunday, August 9th – a Farewell Reception for Pastor on her last Sunday before she leaves (after worship). Sunday, August 16th – A Welcome for Pastor John as our Bridge Pastor (after worship). August 21st – A trip to Mt. Angel. We will visit the church and then Abbey followed

Maybe it's the emotional roller coaster of being a companion to people who are navigating the peaks and valleys of life. Or maybe it's the bittersweet feeling of saying good-bye to our intern this past week - bitter because I'll miss her, yet also sweet because I trust God has important work for her to do. Or maybe it's my personal stress level, as I frantically try to round up all my runaway "ducks" and get them in a row, so that I can go on renewal leave August 11th in good

So you probably noticed that we're in the part of Matthew now where Jesus tells a whole lot of parables. It's like Jesus warmed up his audience with the parable of the sower where he stopped to explain what it means, and then he ratcheted this parable thing up a little more with last week's parable of the weeds, and then today he lets loose a rapid-fire series of parables that he ends by turning to his disciples and saying, "Have you understood all this?" The text says "they

On Sunday, July 26, we said farewell to Intern Pastor Katie Insalaco. Having graduated with a Masters in Divinity and completing her internship here a Zoar, she is moving on to the next step in her journey. Many have asked about what’s next after my internship ends and the short answer is “I don’t know”. I would love to pastor a congregation but there are very few open calls in the Portland area and I don’t want to move so opportunities are limited. Please pray that the right

Back in the day when I was a kid riding in the car with my family, I remember there were a few times when I was looking out the window, and I saw a bumper sticker that got my attention, though I wasn't exactly sure what it meant at the time. The bumper sticker declared, "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention...." Fast forward a few years to when I was a teenager driving myself around, and I saw that same bumper sticker on an older car: "If you're not outraged, y

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, our weekly Community Dinner celebrated 15 years of providing a hot meal for anyone in Canby. The inspiration for this ministry came from members Bob and Sally Boonstra who were on an Oregon Synod mission trip to Mexico in the spring when they were challenged by the question, “What will you do in response to what you’ve learned on this trip.” The Boonstra’s gave loving leadership to the ministry for 5 years, then turned over the ministry to Connie T

Pr. Michelle and I typically choose who's going to preach based on our schedules and not the lectionary so imagine my delight when I opened up today's gospel reading and it was the parable of the sower. I get to talk about soil health to a captive audience! Thank you, Holy Spirit! Now I don't need to explain the meaning of the parable too much because Jesus does it for us. He tells us that seed sown on a path is like the one who hears the good news but let's evil snatch it

Zoar Lutheran Church Celebrates in Canby Independence Day Parade Twenty-three members of the Zoar family participated in Canby's annual Independence Day Parade. Carolyn and Mark Shearer provided the truck and trailer, and Beth and Rosie Robles help with the decorations. Over 100 lbs. of candy and over 500 flyers inviting kids to Vacation Bible School were distribute over the 45-minute walk through NW Canby. DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS? PLEASE EMAIL TO office@zoarlutheran.org Parad

Yesterday morning, 23 of us from Zoar participated in Canby's annual Fourth of July parade. It was fun tossing candy, handing out flyers for Vacation Bible School, and greeting our friends and neighbors. We were grateful for cool weather, surprised by the larger-than-usual crowd, and encouraged by the words of community members who expressed gratitude he ministry Zoar's people do in Christ's name. Overall, it was a good morning, and yet for many of us, there was an uneasy fee

I want to begin this sermon by saying "happy heavenly birthday" to my sister, Sandy. Sadly, Sandy passed away from complications related to Parkinson's Disease on December 30th My sister was born almost a generation before me and would've been 81 years old today. She married young - at age 19 - so, I don't remember her ever being at home when I was a young child. In fact, her son, my nephew, Sean, is actually closer in age to me, since he's only four years younger than I am!.

From Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar: Saints of Oregon and Siblings in Christ, Nearly two years ago, the congregation at Bethany Lutheran Church in NE Portland reflected on the sacred history of their congregation as they prepared to leave it. Their ministry in Christ had served thousands of members, neighbors, and friends through more than one hundred years of life and faith. By the end of 2024, the congregation voted to close and gift their property to the Oregon Synod. In turn

Today's gospel holds a few oft-quoted and difficult nuggets. This text is a continuation of last week’s gospel when Jesus commissions the twelve to go out and "proclaim the good news ... Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons" (Matt. 10:7-8). Oh, and don’t take any money or provisions with you and you’ll be walking into really hard places but it's ok because the Spirit is with you each step along the way. In today>s reading, Jesus continues paintin

Canby Pride held its sixth annual event on June 14 at Wait Park in Canby. This year's theme was "Many Stories, One Community." (CLICK HERE for the Canby Herald article.) For the past 5 years, Zoar Lutheran Church has been a sponsor, supplying both financial support and having a booth with LGBTQ+ Christian swag and family-oriented craft projects. This year, besides the ever-popular rock painting, we had a Tree of Life where messages of joy, hope, wishes, and prayers could be a

Well, it's graduation time, isn't it? Who here has been to a graduation or a promotion or a moving up day recently? (Show of hands) This time of year can be a knotted ball of sorrow for leaving the past behind, nostalgia for the ways things were, anticipation of futures mapped out but not yet trod, relief for just getting past the finish line or regret for not quite making it there. It's a complicated time, this graduation season that we're in. And as I read today's gospel, I

Zoar continues its decades long tradition of offering Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the children of Canby. The 2026 theme is "Road Trip - On the Go with God" centered on Joshua 1:9: The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. VBS begins every morning at 9 am with an opening assembly with songs, skits and Bible stories, followed by a morning of crafts, science, music and snacks. A closing assembly brings the day to a close at noon. VBS is open to all children from potty-t

One day last week, I was driving through Barlow on my way to an appointment. I was almost at the stoplight at the intersection of Highway 99 when suddenly the bells began to clang and the railroad crossing bars came down. I rolled my eyes and sighed - as one does! - and thought to myself, "If only I'd been five minutes earlier! Grr..." Then I settled back in my seat to wait, hoping it wouldn't be a long train. Since I was right up front at the crossbars, I had a perfect view

Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1pm at Zoar Lutheran Church, Canby, OR The service is available to view on our YouTube channel: CLICK HERE Luverne Alan Jacobson July 7, 1937-March 22, 2026 The Reverend Luverne A. Jacobson (Pastor Jake), beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, pastor and friend, died peacefully at home March 22, 2026. Jake was born July 7, 1937, in Faribault, Minnesota, the son of Loyal Jacobson and Alma (Hostager) Jacobson. He was raised on a farm in Kenyon

Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry has issued his first in a series of monthly messages that will continue through the end of this year under the title "All Together in One Place." Each message will share a pastoral word, rooted in Scripture, that witnesses to God’s presence today, our rich theological tradition and the social teaching that connects us. Read the full message through THIS LINK. These are posted on the ELCA Facebook page and reposted on the Zoar Lutheran Facebook pa