We’re GIVING THANKS for lives impacted at MainStreet this past year! This is Tony’s story: For a long time I was hardcore cynic who didn’t find any value in the church. I walked away from faith in college. I mainly saw hypocrisy in the church and had never encountered any depth or true discipleship. I … More Tony’s Story
Jesus’ mission prioritized the marginalized and neglected people of his day. He didn’t send out his apostles—i.e., “church planters”—saying, “Go ye therefore to the sprawling suburbs and invite the upwardly mobile dual income families with children.” He said, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21). Would you try growing a church with such folks? … More Funding the Jericho Inn: A MainStreet Update
Its been about 7 years since I stood on the stage of the Little Theater at my old high school, sweating bullets as I tried to rally folks around a vision of a new kind of church. The church’s name, if it ever got off the ground, would be “MainStreet” because of our desire to … More Seven Years of Light
“So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). Always a highlight in ministry is celebrating new beginnings and renewed commitments. One prayer and desire I have for the precious folks who came to the waters this past … More A Tapestry of Love
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? Walk up the street to a life with meaning.” Jesus was a wise sage, steeped in the ancient wisdom of the Jewish Scriptures, who formed a community of learners who welcomed his message. His message offered a new Way to be human, an alternative Way to … More Walk Up the Street to a New Life
During Advent in 2013 we examined Psalm 23 in a sermon series entitled Who’s Your Shepherd? It remains one of my favorite series we’ve done to date. I contended that when we let God be the guide, or shepherd, directing our lives and influencing our decisions, He leads us to green pastures of the “abundant … More MainStreet Memories: Who’s Your Shepherd?
Here’s another favorite MainStreet moment as we celebrate our anniversary this January. Enjoy! I’m continually amazed looking back at the MainStreet journey to realize just how unprepared and unformed I was as a pastor to be attempting such a significant task. I marvel that the Covenant and Northwest Conference would invest so much time, energy … More MainStreet Memories: Stripping Off the False Self
On our anniversary this January, I’m sharing some favorite stories from the early days of planting MainStreet. Enjoy! Preachers make a living with words, and so we’re all too aware of the old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Equally as powerful as a picture is some dramatic participatory theater or a … More MainStreet Memories: Over Our Heads
On the occasion MainStreet’s anniversary this January, I’m sharing some favorite stories I’ve written down for a forthcoming book documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! In September of 2011 we were preparing for our first monthly preview worship service at the Gillespie Center. I remember that spring looking at our small, tired launch team and saying, “Well, … More MainStreet Memories: Crown Connection
On the occasion of our 6th anniversary, I want to share some favorite memories from a book I’m working on documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! Church planting is not for the faint of heart. It is frontline missionary work with a high casualty rate. More church plants fail and than succeed. Many wide-eyed dreamers set … More MainStreet Memories: Across the Lake
Every January we celebrate MainStreet’s birthday. On the occasion of our 6th anniversary since launching weekly worship in January 2012, I want to share some favorite memories from a forthcoming book documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! In the summer of 2010 we were given the green light by the Northwest Conference and Church Planting Director, … More MainStreet Memories: God’s List
A pastor once challenged his congregation, “I’m not going to preach on another Bible verse until we start obeying and living out the one I preached on last week.” He supposedly preached on that same verse an entire year, or so the story goes. … More New Year: One Verse
A letter to my church: “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Phil. 1:3). Tomorrow most of us will be gathered around a big family table sharing not only food but also the full array of emotions that come with being together with extended family and relatives. If you had the … More A Thanksgiving Reflection
If you read the Book of Acts carefully, you’ll discover it isn’t really about Paul’s (or Peter’s) journey to Rome. Its a travelogue of the gospel message about Jesus! Its all about the movement of the Word from Jerusalem to Caesar’s Palace. Its the long and winding road the Wisdom of the Ages traversed to get from the backwater of the Palestinian foothills into the heart of the ancient world’s power-brokers and influencers. Today, we still need that Word to travel! … More The Long Journey of the Word
In 2012 a newspaper article was published describing the original vision for our MainStreet location, and I encourage you to go read it here. Here’s a taste: MainStreet will soon open a new center in the Stonegate Plaza in Mound. Hometown Pastor Jeremy Berg is quick to make clear, “This is not a church building; … More NEW: Three Taverns @ MainStreet
Strangely enough, it started with the popularity of our local Westonka “Dog Days” celebration. Everywhere I drove around our small community I saw red yard signs in proud pet owners’ lawns making it clear to all residents and visitors of our city: “We love our dogs!” The event, now in its 7th year, is a … More ‘Love Your Neighbor as Your Dog’
Sunday 2 Serve – July 30, 2017 Last summer, on Sunday, July 31st, seven local area churches spent their regular worship time going out to serve local communities together. This joint initiative, called Sunday 2 Serve, was a roaring success in its first ever year of joining many churches together across many communities. In just … More Churches Unite For ‘Sunday 2 Serve’
Have you ever met a traveling salesperson who refuses to leave the office? Have you ever met a daycare provider who can’t stand kids? How about an illiterate librarian? These are oxymorons and contradictions. I worked on the grounds crew at a golf course in high school. I spent most of my summer cutting grass. I loved … More Going Green 6: Nomadic Gardening?
During Advent in 2013 we examined Psalm 23 in a sermon series entitled Who’s Your Shepherd? It remains one of my favorite series we’ve done to date. I contended that when we let God be the guide, or shepherd, directing our lives and influencing our decisions, He leads us to green pastures of the “abundant … More Who’s Your Shepherd? (1)
I preached this sermon in the summer of 2012 to rally the congregation of to make a deeper commitment to MainStreet and invest financially in our building campaign to move into our own space at Stonegate Plaza. A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER It was spring break of 1998—my senior year of high school. Several of my … More SERMON: Church Road Trip
On January 15, 2017, MainStreet Covenant celebrated our 5th anniversary. Exactly five years ago, I preached an inaugural sermon telling the story of Erik August Skogsbergh, a renowned Swedish preacher and one of the founders of the Covenant, and of his dynamic ministry in Mound in the 1890s. In those days crowds took the … More Aboard the MainStreet Boat – 5th Anniversary Reflection
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.” -JESUS While MainStreet may not be growing large right now, we are certainly growing young! We average about 60 in worship but have 25 regular kids (ages 0-12) who are growing bigger each day crammed into a small nursery and one classroom! Three … More MainStreet Kids Ministry Campaign
Originally posted on Jeremy L. Berg:
Dear MainStreet friends, On the eve of Thanksgiving 2011, Keri and I have much to be thankful for. The past year has been perhaps the most difficult and most satisfying year of our lives. One year ago, I was unemployed and scrambling to raise seed money to start planting…
Here’s a sweet and thoughtful video our church put together for Keri and I for Pastor Appreciation Month. All I can say in return is “Thanks for being such a fun, grace-filled, caring and committed church family to lead.” I hear other pastors complain about the shenanigans they have to put up with — petty … More Feeling the Love at MainStreet!
When the church bells ring on Sunday morning, July 31, you’ll find several local church sanctuaries empty. But this doesn’t mean they won’t be worshiping. “Most Sundays we worship God with words and music,” says Pastor Meg Newswanger of First Presbyterian in Maple Plain. “On July 31 we will worship God with our hands and … More Sunday2Serve: The Church has Left the Building!
Jeremy L. Berg 