St. Peter Press May-July 2026

PARENTS AND TECHNOLOGY: NOT JUST NO, BUT A BETTER YES

BY PASTOR SHORT

 

It’s amazing how your thinking changes once you have kids.  As a parent, you want to protect your child.  You want to childproof the house.  You want them to be exposed safely to new foods in case any allergies are discovered.  You want to keep your eye on them at all times, because you never know what trouble they can get into.

But what about when it comes to technology? There is no way around it, we live in an increasingly digital world.  And countless books and essays have been written, warning us of the dangers technology poses before us.  Just go online, and you can find study after study showing how pornography use is at epidemic levels among teens, and easily 70% of teens say they have consumed porn. Social media studies done since the early 2010s shows there is a correlation between social media consumption and the increase of anxiety amongst teens.  It’s a known fact that algorithms on social media are meant to be addictive, locking us in a time waste of “doom scrolling” online.

And just as there has been much ink spilled about the dangers of technology, so also has much ink been spilled about how parents should regulate it for their kids.  Ideas include limiting screentime at home in some way, paying for internet blockers like Covenant Eyes to protect kids from nasty things popping up, or no phones or screens in rooms at night to protect kids from temptations, or at least from playing video games or doomscrolling all night instead of sleeping. Such ideas and boundaries are good.  Though what works will look different from family to family, all parents in some form or another should be employing them.

But I think it’s helpful to frame our thinking, when it comes to boundaries, in this way: not only removing something negative, but replacing it with something better.  We can make our kids follow the rules to some extent.  But “because I told you so,” while true, only goes so far. The real goal of such boundaries is not only to protect our kids from evil, but show them what a healthy Christian life looks like.  The goal is that they would experience a healthier way life is to be lived as Christians on this earth, and realize it is so.

For technology often does not mean better. It often just means easier.  It’s easier to play madden on the console than throw a football outside with dad.  But which one is better?  It’s easier to look at pictures of the opposite sex online.  The pictures won’t judge you, won’t hurt you, and they look perfect.  But is it not better to learn what real men and women, what real relationships, look like? It’s easier to doomscroll on social media or binge watch a tv show. But is not spending time together as a family in person better?

Yes, technology is easier.  That doesn’t mean any and all technology is bad.  But there is a way for Christians to use technology and social media healthily and not be used by it. 

And that takes intentionality.  And first of all, from us as parents.  We have to set the example first.  It makes no sense to tell kids to put their phones down while we are doomscrolling ourselves on social media.

And we as parents have to take the initiative. Because time together as a family does not magically appear.  You have to make it a priority.  Phones do not set themselves down, and are in fact easier to pick up.  Having an intentional space to set phones down in the house, whether a shelf or basket or whatever, is a great tool.  Thinking also about spaces, is the barrier to entry with screens in our house low because we have them in every room?  Could we replace at least some of them with bookshelves, with a guitar stand, with a space for family board games instead, to encourage more wholesome activities?  And even with kids, do we encourage our kids to hang out with friends in safe environments and provide such opportunities, to replace the itch social media would fill in a lesser way?

Well, with such questions, there is no one size fits all answer.  What works for one family might not work for another.  But that should not stop us from considering the wisdom of such ideas, and what fruit such intentional changes might produce.  For the goal is clear: How do we as Christian parents model to our children what real, incarnational, Christ-centered living looks like in a technology driven world?  Or, put as Nebraskans, what does the good life in Christ look like today?

 

 

 

LITTLE LAMB PRESCHOOL

By Martha Short

Another school year has come to a close at Little Lamb Preschool. We ended the year on May 6 with a graduation program. Another 20 students have completed our three-year-old program and before long, another group will begin. We had a great end to the year, full of discovery, experiments, and hands-on learning. We watched plants grow, learned new songs, mixed colors, welcomed special visitors, and of course, learned about Jesus and his earthly ministry and what it means for us. It never gets old to hear children belting out songs about Jesus. We pray that they carry this faith with them throughout their lives. As always, thank you for your continued support!

 

 

KIDS FOLLOWING CHRIST

After a year of fun, learning, and song, KFC is taking a break for the summer.  This past year, the kids worked through the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the New Testament!  Next year, we will work through the Story of Salvation in the Old Testament.

On April 29th, the kids celebrated the last KFC for this school year with a day of fun games. Thank you to Katie Tank for leading the 3rd and 4th graders this year! KFC will begin again this coming September. 

KFC is an after-school progam for kids to learn God’s Word here at St. Peter, that takes place on Wednesdays after school until 4:45PM during the school year.  All kids who are in 3rd-6th grade are welcome!

 

CONFIRMATION CLASS

This year, we were blessed to have seven children of God confirmed in the faith!  On April 19th, Knox Baehr, Brooklyn Kaiser, Megan Williams, Macey Mueller, Tatum Hanis, Ava Halladay and Collins Hild were confirmed as members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and received the Lord’s Supper for the first time.  May God continue to bless them and strengthen them in the faithful reception of His gifts! 

So also, confirmation class for this year has ended. We will start up again this coming August. We look forward to the upcoming 7th graders joining us next year! 

 

 

FELLOWSHIP/EVANGELISM COMMITTEE

By Gloria Westerman

Fellowship/Evangelism Committee prepared 36 Alleluia Baskets this year. We had many helpers to get them all put together! Heidi Widick took 13 to The Gathering Place, Pastor delivered 3 during home visits, 6 given to members here at Church to pass to family/friends, and the remaining baskets were hand delivered by Lavonne Ladehoff and I on March 30th . The Alleluia Baskets are truly our favorite project!! 

Our committee hosted the reception for St. Peter’s 7 Confirmands on April 19th. We also provided gifts for our 8 high school graduates this year. We have decided to not have a 5th Sunday brunch in May. Summer is gearing up to be busy and the Sunday before VBS week might be a bit crazy. Blessings to you on a fun summer! We will be back after a wee break in the fall.

 

VBS 2026

 

June 1-5, 9-11:30am.

Sign up is available for youth and adult helpers.

Participant registration now open May 1-18! Please sign up your children ASAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHURCH PROPERTIES

Thank you to all the assistance cleaning up the outside of the church and placing the rock back in March. More pictures can be found on Facebook. It turned out beautiful. The week following Vacation Bible School, our carpet will be installed. The company chosen will remove the pews and put them back. On June 14th, we should have the carpet done for our next Voter’s Meeting.

 

YOUTH GROUP

By Amy Williams

Greetings from St. Peter Youth Group!  We wrapped up our year with some fun outdoor games, food and fellowship time sending off our senior members with a card and their ACTS of prayer notebooks.  We spent the year watching the first season of “The Chosen” and enjoyed it enough that the group voted to continue with Season 2 next year!  We learned a lot about the life of Jesus as he interacted with the disciples and taught individuals and crowds his life-bringing truths.  While we will miss our Seniors, we look forward to welcoming a new group of recently confirmed youth into the fold next year.
Our service project this Spring was to clean out the gaga ball pit and playground area, removing a Winter’s worth of leaves, corn stalks, and random debris.  We celebrated with a competitive game of gaga ball afterwards! The youth would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your generous support throughout the year, but most recently at the Easter breakfast.  We appreciate your investment into the lives of our youth!

 

 

OLD SETTLERS CHOIR

Our church is in charge of the community church service this year during the Old Settlers celebration. 

We would like to invite area singers to be part of community choir under the direction of Nancy Sic. We welcome all ages from high school to senior citizens. Please invite others you know to share their gift of praise through song in the community choir.

Community choir practices will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 920 Linden Drive on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. Practices will be June 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th.

The Old Settlers community church service is June 28th at the North Bend City Park at 11:15 am.

GRADUATE BLESSING

On May 10th, we honored our seniors with a blessing and reception. We wish the best for our graduating seniors: Chasity Mueller, Hallie Mottl, Bridget Tauber, Reese Petersen, Cash Hanis, Hayden Frana, Mason Petersen, and Breck Reznicek. Gifts from the church were provided using Thrivent action team funds.

 

 

 

SISTERS IN FAITH & LWML

By Gloria Westerman

Several members gathered for our quarterly meeting on Monday, May 11th to discuss previous and upcoming events. We plan on again doing at least 100 Orphan Grain Train Christmas boxes this year. We have gathered many of the needed items but there are still some items that are needed. The current inventory list is on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall for the needed items and will be updated as we get closer to our assembly date in August. 

Church cleaning this year was a blessing. It was decided we would continue to hire it done with some duties to be added. Next year, we will be sure to start the process earlier that it will be clean for our Easter services.

We also discussed our upcoming Tapestry of Tables salad supper. Our theme this year will be “God is Love” and the date is set for September 27th, 2026. We have several good options for our entertainment which we will announce at our final decision at our next meeting which is scheduled for August 3rd. 

 

OLD SETTLERS SERVICE

Our church is responsible for the Old Settlers service on Sunday, June 28th. We will need some assistance getting chairs to the park. If able, please meet at the church at 9:00 am. Thank you!

 

 

PIECEMAKERS QUILTERS

The Piecemakers Quilt Group is going into summer mode, so they may or not be meeting every week. If you would like to join them, contact Lavonne Ladehoff to be sure they will be here Thursdays at 1 pm. Current members include Lenora Schuetz, Lavonne Ladehoff, Karan Legler, Gloria Westerman, Laurie Neemann, and Loretta Kloke. Jan Vopalensky also helps with the sewing. The ladies have 90 quilts ready to be delivered to Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk. No sewing or quilting skills needed. All are welcome to join in helping in our mission by doing God’s work. The quilters appreciate all the donations they receive. No money is needed to be spent with these donations; the ladies just donate their time. Please join us any Thursday afternoon, here at the church. 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

5/13/26

Income & Offerings:	$50,532.73
Expenses	$55,585.57

 

General fund balance as of 5/13/26: $18,011.67

 

~CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS ~

Prayers for Healing & Comfort:

Our Church Family: Sue Dodge, Laurie Neeman, Anna Stuehmer, Bernard Larson, Bonnie Wennekamp, Kelly Spath, Lenora Schuetz, Sharon & Merlin Metschke

Friends, Family, and Loved Ones:  Renate’ Scheuermann (Carroll Wiebold’s niece), Holly Colburn (Karan Legler’s daughter), Liam Settles (Grandson of Martha & Gordan Settles), Eliese Espinosa (Terry Sorensen’s half-sister), Justin Hall (Seth Harrell’s brother-in-law), Mark Langmeyer (Friend of Dave Saalfeld), Diana Kline (Cheyenne Chromy’s grandmother), Bruce Wilgers (Wendy Murphy’s brother), Ben Sasse (Kathy Mensik’s cousin), James Sorensen (Melissa Harrell’s father)

Prayers for Members & Loved Ones Serving in the Military:  Justin Chadwick, Mike Elofson, Lauren Martin, Seth Saalfeld, Matthew Schuetz, Chris Tank, Trevor Widick, Kobe Wilkins, Wyatt Olson, Owen Wynia, Kaylee Boyle

 

ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH OFFICERS & BOARD CHAIRS

President:  Fred Ladehoff 

Vice President:  Jim Wesch 

Secretary:  Kathy Mensik 

Treasurer:  Shane Madsen 

Elders:  Bryon Chvatal, Greg Kavan,  Seth Harrell 

Church Board Chairs

Church Properties:  Glenn Chvatal 

Education & Youth:  Melissa Harrell 

Fellowship & Evangelism:  Gloria Westerman 

Endowment Committee:  Amanda Hanis, Brent Karnatz, 

Troy Post 

Financial Secretary:  Danny Madsen 

 

 

PASTOR’S SUMMER HOURS:

Monday through Thursday 8-5.

Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.

(Subject to change. Just call.)

CHURCH CALENDAR

(Services are live-streamed.)

May 3-Worship w/Holy Communion-9am

     Mites Sunday 

5-Last Day of T/TH Preschool

    Last Women’s Bible Study 6:30pm

6-Last Day of M/W Preschool

     Preschool Graduation Program-6pm

10-Worship with Choir-9am, Graduate Blessing

     (NBC & LuHi Graduation & Mother’s Day)

11-Material Girls Quilt Guild-7pm

     Sisters in Faith 7pm

12-Men’s Breakfast Bible Study-6:30am

13-Church Council Meeting-7pm

17-Worship w/Holy Communion-9am

24-Worship with Pastor Steve Felton-9am

     (Memorial Day Wknd)

31-Worship at 9am

 

June 1st-5th Vacation Bible School

                        9am to 11:30am

3-Old Settlers Choir Practice-7pm

7-Worship w/Holy Communion-9am

     Mites Sunday

8-Material Girls Quilt Guild-7pm

10- Old Settlers Choir Practice-7pm

14-Worship-9am

     Voter’s Meeting-10:15am

15-19 Pastor on Vacation

17- Old Settlers Choir Practice-7pm

21-Worship w/Holy Communion & guitars-9am

     (Father’s Day)

24- Old Settlers Choir Practice-7pm

27-Worship-9am

28-Old Settlers Service in the park

7/27-7/4 Pastor on Vacation

 

July 5-Worship w/Holy Communion-9am

     Mites Sunday

12-Worship-9am

13-Material Girls Quilt Guild-7pm

19-Worship w/Holy Communion-9am

26-Worship-9am

 

 

Birthdays/Anniversaries

 

BIRTHDAYS–MAY                                           

1st-Tiffany Hogeland

8th-Heidi Juhl              

15th-Kinley Mottl                    

       Grayson Mottl                  

       Chuck Pospisil 

16th Mark Chromy                                               

18th-Tracy Kaiser                    

19th-Chris Tank                       

20th-Martha Settles                                             

21st-Jennifer Karnatz                                             

22nd-Hallie Mottl 

        Jon Roemmick

        Christian Sorensen                                             

23rd-Barrett Taylor 

24th-Bonnie Shultz                                     

25th- Hayden Frana                                             

26th-Tanner Bishop

        Ashley Wegner                                           27th-Sara Bishop

        Kirk Hansen

        Ava Harrell

28th-Greg Bogseth

30th-Zariah Elston

        Bridget Tauber

31st-Zoey Feala   

       Mason Petersen

       Reese Petersen     

ANNIVERSARIES-MAY                                     

3rd-Dan & Rachele Malousek(23)

12th-Scott & Rita Heinemann(2) 

26th-Jeffrey & Tracy Kaiser(14)                               

BIRTHDAYS-JUNE

1st-Charley Chvatal

3rd-Andrea Halladay

4th-Robert Saalfeld

6th-Hope Bunn

       Katie Tank

       Jim Wesch

7th-Linda Mylander

10th-Sue Dodge

       Cash Hanis

       Seth Harrell

12th-Daryl Lanc

13th-Dane Kelberlau

        Matthew Larson

14th-Dylan Olson

15th-Bradley Benzel II

       Bruce Williams

17th-Lavonne Ladehoff 

       Charley Mock 

19th-Jamie Halladay

       Sarah Olson

21st-Wes Bosco

       Mindy Siebels

22nd-Martha Short                                                                        23rd-Shawn Juhl                                                                       24th-Terry Sorensen

25th-Kyana Deveaux

       Patrick Gaughen

26th-Rachael Oerman

        Lane Taylor                                                                         27th-Bethany Wiebold                                                                       28th-Koda Baehr                                                                                            Steve Grueber                                                                                             Mark Mueller                                                                          29th-Jim Spath                                                                        30th-Brady Juhl

ANNIVERSARIES-JUNE

1st- Blake & Anna Wilberding(7)

2nd-D.J. & Kyrsten Mottl(19)

5th- Bart & Virginia Bosco(34)

      Jim & Mary Spath(44)

7th-Mark & Linda Brower(29)

8th-Alex & Bethany Elston(13)

10th-Sam & Katie Settles(26)

12th-Brad & Sue Benzel(44)

16th-Dave & Sheila Hull(42)

18th-Troy & Jana Post(32)

21st-Mike & Hope Bunn(29)

29th-Jim & Jules Emmons(52)

30th-Gil & Ashley Wenger(14)

 

 

 

BIRTHDAYS–JULY

2nd- Jon Baehr

       Danny Madsen 

       Evla Saalfeld                                         

3rd- Rita Heinemann

       Dan Malousek

4th-Nick Reznicek

5th- Bourbon Dolezal

8th-Kori Manning

        Hudson Schutt

9th-Brad Benzel

11th-Kirk Dolezal

       Sheila Hull

       Hope Spicer

12th-Corrine Mueller

14th-Cindy Kucera

       Krystal Penlerick

17th-Evan Balch

       Glenn Chvatal

18th-Cheyenne Chromy

21st-Kendall Karnatz

       Brooklyn Wilberding

22nd-Tristyn Feala

24th-Larry Tank

       Sarah Wesch

25th-Kaleb Bjorklund

27th-Kathryn Gaughen

28th-Eileen Chvatal

       Huxton Harrell

       Tom Mensik

       Connie Wamberg

29th-Brandon Dodge

       Wendy Murphy

30th- Arlee Tank 

        Brinley Tank       

31st-Emma Kavan

ANNIVERSARIES-JULY

2nd-Ryan & Johanna Fittje(21)

13th-Jason & Jenna Saalfeld(13)

18th-Marlyce & Richard 

        Franzluebbers(40)

22nd-Jon & Terri Baehr(20)

30th-Scott & Leta Wiebold(32)