Trinity Lutheran Church

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Annual Reports due on January 14^th.  Annual meeting on February 4th, 10 am. 

First Communion Class for any youth 3^rd grade or above on Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 am.  Make up class on January 28^th at 6 pm.  Parents should attend with their child. Please bring a Bible.  Please contact PB if you are coming on the 28^th. First Communion Sunday is February 3^rd at 9 am. 

Crew on January 17^th, 3:30 pm till 5 pm for all 3^rd-6^th graders.

Lagers with the Lord, January 22^nd, 6pm at Buckshot’s.

Super Bowl Pizzas!  Order Pizza’s by February 4^th to support our youth going to Luther Park Bible Camp this summer.  Pick them up on Super Bowl Sunday, February 11^th.  Form included in this email. 

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  Amy and I were flipping channels the other night and we came across “The Lion King.”  There are, of course, a lot of great songs in the movie but my favorite is probably “Hakuna Matata.”  Do you remember from the movie what that means?  It means “no worries.” I would love to live like that.  To have no worries.  To not fret or be anxious about anything.  Yet, that isn’t the case.  I worry all the time.  Maybe you do as well.  What are we to do with our worries?  Should we just keep singing “Hakuna Matata?” 

  Maybe our help comes from God’s Word.  As it says in Philippians 4:6, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” You could say it is the Bible’s own version of “Hakuna Matata.”  When we have a worry, we have a Savior that we can go to, a loving God who is there to hear our worries, our anxieties, our fears.  In the Lion King, it is Timon, Pumba, and Simba who are together to sing “Hakuna Matata.”  For us, we have our Lord by our side, the same Savior who takes those worries, those fears, those anxieties, and defeats them on the cross. This same Savior who promises to carry our burdens and to be with us always. 

  The thing I’ve realized over the years is that I won’t be able to stop worrying.  It will always be there.  But I can’t just forget them either.  Rather, I can give them to the Lord.  I can talk to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and know that he is there to listen, to take those worries, and to walk with me in the midst of my anxiety and worry.  And this Lord is there for you as well.

  May God bless you today and always!

December 30, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Office closed on January 1^st. 

High School Lock-In, Saturday, January 6^th, 6 pm till Sunday, January 7^th, 7 am.  Friends welcome!  Sign up in the Narthex.  I need parent drivers for the Scavenger Hunt at 6:30 pm. 

No Sunday School on December 31

Crew January 10^th and 24^th

Annual Reports due on January 14^th

First Communion Class for any youth 3^rd grade or above on Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 am.  Make up class on January 28^th at 6 pm.  Parents should attend with their child.  Please contact PB if you are coming on the 28^th. 

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  As a new year approaches, you might be sitting on December 31^st and reflecting upon 2023 and the year that it was.  For some of you, it might have been an incredible and awesome year.  Maybe some amazing things happened, things like a wedding, healing from a health condition, a new job, the birth of a child or a grandchild, an incredible vacation, or many other such things.  You will look back on the year and see it as an incredible gift and you might even be a bit sad to see it end.

  For others, you will look back on 2023 and think of it as one of the worst years ever.  Maybe there was a death of a loved one, a terrible health diagnosis, workplace stress and drama, family conflict, and other hardships and suffering.  You will look back on the year and see it as an incredible disappointment and you will look forward to the start of a new year, saying “good riddance” to 2023. 

  No matter where you fall on those two spectrums, as you prepare to say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024, I offer you this perspective: your Savior Jesus Christ was there in all of it.  Jesus was present in the good of 2023, celebrating with you, rejoicing with you, giving thanks with you.  At the same time, Jesus was present in the terrible of 2023, comforting you in your grief, giving you strength in the midst of weakness and pain, consolation in the midst of setbacks.  No matter what happened in 2023, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was there with you.  Laughing with you.  Weeping with you.  Lifting you up when you needed it and filling you with joy in the happy moments. 

  As we start 2024, remember the promise that Jesus is with you always.  Always.  In the good and the bad.  In the joys and the sorrows.  In the successes and failures.  Jesus is there for you in whatever way you need.  That is the promise of Jesus Christ, who dies on the cross and rises from the grave to bring you to eternal life, who promises to carry your burdens and rejoice in your joyful moments.  Jesus is there and will always be there for you always.

  Happy New Year and God bless!

December 17, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Men’s Band Christmas Concert. Sunday, December 17^th, 6 pm at Trinity.

Spaghetti Meal, Sunday, December 17^th, 5 pm.  served by our Youth Gathering Youth.

Crew December 20^TH  for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Christmas Eve Worship Services, Sunday, December 24^th, 9 am, 2 pm, 4:30 pm, & 9:00 pm.  Please note that the 9 am service will not have a Candlelight portion.  All services have Holy Communion. 

No Wednesday Worship on Wednesday, December 27^th.

Office closed December 25-29. 

Office closed on January 1^st. 

High School Lock-In, Saturday, January 6^th, 6 pm till Sunday, January 7^th, 7 am.  Friends welcome!  Sign up in the Narthex.  I need parent drivers for the Scavenger Hunt at 6:30 pm. 

Please consider bringing your Deer Hides to Trinity!  They can be placed in the shack in front of the church.  Please hides only, no heads or feet. 

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  On Thursday, I stood in front of my pastoral colleagues (and our Synod bishop), and led worship in a Elf costume.  Yep, an elf costume, the last thing I had to do as part of our Mission Madness.  I got lots of laughs from my colleagues and a few people who said they were not surprised in the least! 

  But as I thought about preaching in that outfit, it gave me some inspiration.  An elf is a servant.  The elves in the North Pole make the toys, make sure the North Pole runs, takes care of everything.  They work for Santa, they are not Santa, but they are servants.  Santa needs them.  Without them, nothing happens.

  We are elves for Jesus, servants who serve for the sake of the mission of Jesus in the world.  We share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed to others, shining the light of Christ on the world.  We don’t save people, Jesus does.  But we show people the love of God in Jesus Christ.  We tell them of what Jesus has done for them. How Jesus carries their burdens, forgives them their sin, strengthens them in weakness, and is with them always.  We serve the Lord in word and deed, no matter where we are.  We are elves for Jesus.  You are elves for Jesus.

  I hope that as you get ready to celebrate Christmas that you would give thanks for the babe born in Bethlehem who has come to save us.  And I hope that you might remember that you are an elf for Jesus, serving the Lord in whatever way that you can.  May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Me in my elf costume with my pastoral colleagues

December 12, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Crew December 13^th & December 20^TH  for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Men’s Band Christmas Concert. Sunday, December 17^th, 6 pm at Trinity. 

Spaghetti Meal, Sunday, December 17^th, 5 pm. 

Sunday School Christmas program, Sunday, December 17^th, 9 am.

Christmas Eve Worship Services, Sunday, December 24^th, 9 am, 2 pm, 4:30 pm, & 9:00 pm.  Please note that the 9 am service will not have a Candlelight portion.  All services have Holy Communion. 

Please consider bringing your Deer Hides to Trinity!  They can be placed in the shack in front of the church.  Please hides only, no heads or feet. 

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  The other night, Amy and I watched “A Muppet Christmas Carol,” which is my favorite of the adaptations of the Charles Dickens book.  (They are, in order, “A Muppet Christmas Carol,” “Scrooged,” “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” and the George C. Scott one).  Anyways, I assume you all know the tale and the thing that always strikes me when I watch any of the adaptations is that it is, to me, about Ebenezer Scrooge becoming generous.  Generous to his employees, his family, and the poor.  To be generous with what he has for the sake of others and the generosity of spirit, of having care and compassion for your fellow humans. 

  When I think of this past week at Trinity, that word generosity really comes to mind.  Generosity of spirit, generosity of time, generosity of resources, all the support and lift up the mission of the church.  We had so many volunteers on Wednesday during lefse making that I left to go replace my failing phone!  There was so many moments of laughter, of connection, of a generosity of spirit as we toiled over the lefse.  So many people gave the generosity of their time to make it all happen, and then of course all of you who made items for the bake sale and brought them.  Though it is a lot of work, one of the reasons I love lefse week is that generosity of spirit, of time, of being together in a shared purpose and mission.

  Of course, there was also the generosity of resources throughout the whole weekend.  The Youth had a record-breaking Silent Auction and Soup Lunch, raising over $9,000 total between the two and cash donations given in advance.  To be honest, we were pretty worried and many of our kids were concerned about the auction.  They got turned away a lot more at businesses this year and many of those businesses weren’t the nicest about it.  There was frustration.  But we were so thankful for the donations we did get, for the generosity of church members who brought items in, and of course the incredible response from the community.  Your generosity means that we can be confident that we have the resources to send our kids to New Orleans for the incredible faith experience of a National Youth Gathering. 

  Christmas is about joy, about hope, about giving thanks that our God loves us so much to become flesh in the form of Jesus Christ and save us from our sins.  And it is about generosity, of being generous in spirit, hope, love, and resources for the sake of the other.  Of responding to the amazing miracle of the birth of Christ and our salvation that comes with it.  And so I give thanks for your generosity, for the ways in which you show the love of God in the ways you are generous in the world.  May you see this day and every day the generosity of your loving God and may you be filled with Christmas spirit, joy, hope, and faith.  God bless us everyone! 

December 3, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Lefse Making: Wednesday, December 6^th at 7 am, Thursday, December 7^th 7 am.  Come at anytime during both days to help with this Trinity tradition!  No matter who you are, you can contribute!  There is a pot luck every day at 11:30 am! Sign-up in the Narthex or let PB or the office know and we will get your signed up!

Lefse & Bake Sale, Saturday, December 9^th, 9 am till 2 pm.

Silent Auction, Saturday, December 9^th, 9 am till 3 pm, benefitting our Youth Gathering Youth.  Last bid taken at 3 pm.

Homemade Soup Lunch, 11 am till 2 pm.  A variety of homemade soups served by the Trinity youth!  Free-will offering taken.

Items needed for the Silent Auction! The Youth Gathering Youth are holding the Spirit of Christmas Silent Auction on December 9^th from 9 am till 3 pm.  We are looking for NEW items, craft items, gift certificates, and more.  Please bring in items by Wednesday, December 6^th.

Crew December 13^th & December 20^TH  for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Men’s Band Christmas Concerts:  Sunday, December 3^rd, 6 pm at First Lutheran Church in Cumberland.  Chili Feed at 5 pm. Sunday, December 17^th, 6 pm at Trinity.  Spaghetti Feed at 5 pm.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, December 11th at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome!

Christmas Carol by Request Worship, Sunday, December 10^th, 9 am.

Sunday School Christmas program, Sunday, December 17^th, 9 am.

Christmas Eve Worship Services, Sunday, December 24^th, 9 am, 2 pm, 4:30 pm, & 9:00 pm.  Please note that the 9 am service will not have a Candlelight portion.  All services have Holy Communion. 

Please consider bringing your Deer Hides to Trinity!  They can be placed in the shack in front of the church.  Please hides only, no heads or feet. 

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  Hello everyone and welcome to Lefse week!  This week can be one of the busiest of the year for me, but it is also one that I look forward to all year.  I look forward to it not just because of the delicious lefse (and the amazing potluck that occurs on Wednesday and Thursday), but for the fellowship and the fun that occurs when we are making lefse.  From Paul Danovsky asking me every hour when the song “Snoopy’s Christmas” will come on, from tossing dough balls at Wendell Andrews, to all the conversations and laughter that come as we work, it is a wonderful sign of what the church does well.  We come together in faith and fun to serve the Lord. 

  At the same time, I know that lefse making can seem intimidating.  But anyone can learn and the seasoned masters that have been doing it for years love to teach it.  Even better, we have jobs for every kind of person of every age and ability.  And so, if you have thought about coming or you can now come to help us out, I encourage you to do so.  If for nothing else the constant abuse that comes my way from everyone!  It really is just a phenomenal time. 

  Even more so, if you can’t come to help make it, I hope that you come on Saturday to buy some, along with all the other amazing items in the bake sale.  I hope you’ll be generous with your bidding on our Silent Auction items, helping our youth get to the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer.  A Youth Gathering is a much more expensive trip than a Mission Trip so every dollar is very important and makes a huge difference. 

  The church is really just a bunch of people who come together to hear the word of the Lord and serve the Lord and the neighbor.  There is no greater example of that then Lefse week.  So I hope to see you this week, making lefse, bringing in baked goods, or bidding on Silent Auction items and having a cup of soup.  The schedule of everything is in the announcements.  Have a good week and may God bless you today and always!

November 26, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Items needed for the Silent Auction! The Youth Gathering Youth are holding the Spirit of Christmas Silent Auction on December 9^th from 9 am till 3 pm.  We are looking for NEW items, craft items, gift certificates, and more.  Please bring in items by Wednesday, December 6^th.

Mitten Tree is up! Bring in your hats, mittens, gloves, scarves for those in need.  Let’s decorate that tree!

Crew November 29^TH  for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.  Next Crew then is December 13^th & December 20th

Women of Trinity Winter Gathering  Saturday, December 2^nd,  9 am.  Join us for brunch, fellowship, and friendship.  All women are invited!

Men’s Band Christmas Concerts:  Saturday, December 2^nd, 7 pm at Knapp United Methodist.  Sunday, December 3^rd, 6 pm at First Lutheran Church in Cumberland.  Chili Feed at 5 pm. Sunday, December 17^th, 6 pm at Trinity.  Spaghetti Feed at 5 pm.

Lefse Making: Wednesday, December 6^th at 7 am, Thursday, December 7^th 7 am.  Come at anytime during both days to help with this Trinity tradition!  No matter who you are, you can contribute!  There is a pot luck every day at 11:30 am! Sign-up in the Narthex or let PB or the office know and we will get your signed up!

Lefse & Bake Sale, Saturday, December 9^th, 9 am till 2 pm.

Silent Auction, Saturday, December 9^th, 9 am till 3 pm, benefitting our Youth Gathering Youth.  Last bid taken at 3 pm.

Homemade Soup Lunch, 11 am till 2 pm.  A variety of homemade soups served by the Trinity youth!  Free-will offering taken.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, December 11th at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome!

Christmas Carol by Request Worship, Sunday, December 10^th, 9 am.

Sunday School Christmas program, Sunday, December 17^th, 9 am.

Christmas Eve Worship Services, Sunday, December 24^th, 9 am, 2 pm, 4:30 pm, & 9:00 pm.  Please note that the 9 am service will not have a Candlelight portion.  All services have Holy Communion. 

Please consider bringing your Deer Hides to Trinity!  They can be placed in the shack in front of the church.  Please hides only, no heads or feet. 

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  When we go on our Mission Trips, I always have the same conversation with our youth before we go and even after we arrive.  I remind them that we are there to serve in the way they need us, not in the way we hope to serve.  This means that instead of painting a house we might be reorganizing a store room.  Instead of building something, we might just be pulling weeds.  Those things don’t seem very exciting, but to the people we are serving, it is what they most need and we are there to serve their needs.

  For many years, we have had WestCAP tags to purchase Christmas presents to kids of all ages.  I know so many of you who have grabbed those tags and been incredibly generous in providing Christmas gifts for kids in need.  And it feels incredibly satisfying to do so.  It makes us feel good.  But this year, they need something different from us.  When we called about tags, they said they have plenty of people wiling to buy toys.  But what they really needed is stuff that we need every day but take for granted. 

  When you were a kid, did you open up stocking stuff?  When I did, there would often be some cool stuff, fun toys, even money.  But there would also be socks and underwear and deodorant and toothpaste.  Not every exciting but very much needed.  This year, we are going to provide those needed things for kids.  Underwear.  Socks.  Pajama’s.  Personal care items.  They might not be ask exciting as buying toys, but they are just as needed.  Maybe even more needed then that toy.

  So we aren’t doing tags this year, but we are going to meet a need.  So I invite you pick up some underwear, some socks, personal care items, and pajamas for kids of all ages.  Bring them to the church and place them by the tree in the Narthex. I thank you in advance for your willingness to serve, and to serve in the way that is needed by our community.  May God bless you today and always!

November 19, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Community Thanksgiving Service, Sunday, November 19^th, 6 pm at the United Methodist Church of Boyceville

No Worship on Wednesday.

Office Closed Thursday and Friday

Items needed for the Silent Auction! The Youth Gathering Youth are holding the Spirit of Christmas Silent Auction on December 9^th from 9 am till 3 pm.  We are looking for NEW items, craft items, gift certificates, and more.  Please bring in items by Wednesday, December 6^th.

Mitten Tree is up! Bring in your hats, mittens, gloves, scarves for those in need.  Let’s decorate that tree!

Crew November 15^TH  for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, December 11th at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome!

Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 15^th, 6:30 pm.

Please consider bringing your Deer Hides to Trinity!  They can be placed in the shack in front of the church.  Please hides only, no heads or feet. 

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

 On Thursday, we celebrate Thanksgiving. For many, it will be a time with family, a feast of food, football, and other fun.  But in the midst of all that, there might be a sense of not really being thankful.  Hearts that might be filled with grief and hurt.  Anxiety and worry that cling to the soul. Concerns about providing for that family or even conflict in said families that cloud and mar the celebration.  Feeling disgust over the violence and hatred that is in the world.  It might be a situation where the last thing you may want to do is give thanks.  What do I have to be thankful for?

  But I’d like to contend that even in the midst of all that, of grief, hurt, pain, suffering, doubt, anger, conflict, depression, and war, there is always something to be thankful for.  This Thanksgiving I’ll miss friends, family, and pets that have passed on, even recently, but I will still be thankful for the time I had with them, for the memories that fill my heart with joy along with the sorrow.  In the midst of war that rages in Gaza and the violence and hatred that seems to infect every aspect of our politics here at home, I’ll still be thankful for the freedom I have in this country and for those who are doing so much to try to make peace reign.  Despite anxieties and worries, I will remember that my Lord promises to provide.  And most of all, I will give thanks that my sin is forgiven and that I have a place prepared for me in heaven through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

  In Christ Jesus, we always can be thankful.  There is always something to give thanks for, even when it seems like there isn’t.  Take a moment to see the good even in the midst of bad, the joy in the midst of the pain, the light that shines in the darkness.  For our Savior Jesus Christ is there for us, carrying our burdens, comforting our hearts, giving us strength and healing and hope most of all.  And if nothing else, that is something to be thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!

November 12, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Mission Madness 2023:

  $500 PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. (Goal Met.  Happened on November 5^th and you can see it on our Facebook page.)

$1,000 PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween (Goal Met)

$1,500 PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November. (Goal met.  PB barely survived). 

$2,000PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume (Goal met, will happen on November 19th)

$2,500PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard. (Goal met. Will happen on November 13^th from 3 pm till 4 pm).

FINAL TOTAL: $4870!  INCREDIBLE JOB EVERYONE!  

Mitten Tree is up! Bring in your hats, mittens, gloves, scarves for those in need.  Let’s decorate that tree!

Crew November 15^TH  for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, November 13^th, at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome!

Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 15^th, 6:30 pm.

Please consider bringing your Deer Hides to Trinity!  They can be placed in the shack in front of the church.  Please hides only, no heads or feet. 

Community Thanksgiving Service, Sunday, November 19^th, 6 pm at the United Methodist Church of Boyceville

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

Women of Trinity Winter Gathering Saturday, December 2^nd, 9 am.  All women are invited!  You can sign-up on the table in the Narthex

Items needed for the Silent Auction! The Youth Gathering Youth are holding the Spirit of Christmas Silent Auction on December 9^th from 9 am till 3 pm.  We are looking for NEW items, craft items, gift certificates, and more.  Please bring in items by Wednesday, December 6^th.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  It looked pretty grim.  It was not looking good.  Like a football game in which a team starting the fourth quarter was down a couple of scores and the opposing team has the ball.  Frankly, there wasn’t a lot of hope and conversations and thoughts were being had about how we could learn from this.  How could we take a loss and eventually make it a win?  Would we have to change everything we had done for years due to the inevitable crushing feeling of coming up disastrously short?

  See, on October 16^th, three weeks in to Mission Madness, we had only raises $380.  We had three weeks to go.  No way we were going to hit our high goal of $2,500.  Maybe people were tired of the concept, didn’t care, or something else that we couldn’t think of.  We weren’t sure we were going to make $1,000 by October 30^th for me to be a Packer fan for Halloween, forcing me to have a back-up plan. 

  And, if you read the announcements before this Musings (which I know some of you DO NOT.  Shame on you! 😊), we not only made every goal, we were only $130 away from DOUBLING THE TOTAL!  I mean, it was almost as an incredible comeback as the 2016 Chicago Cubs coming back from 3-1 to win the World Series 4-3.  Even thinking about it now, I’m flabbergasted.  Incredulous.  And incredibly proud. 

   There was a need and you, Trinity, as is your history, met that need.  You exceeded that need.  You crushed that need.  Crushed it.  Your generosity is inspirational and more importantly, your generosity makes a difference in the lives of others.  Helps our Mission Partners spread the Gospel and care for the poor.  Your generosity brings hope to other who need that hope.

  And it brings me hope as well.  When I stand outside on Monday in clown make-up and costume, I’ll be thinking about how we have been able to make a difference in the lives of others.  I’ll be thinking of your faithfulness to this ministry and you willingness to go above and beyond for the sake of your neighbor and to give glory to God in Jesus Christ.  And I will be filled with hope that as we go on in the future, your generosity will continue to help keep our ministry strong and our ability to support your ministry partners faithful. 

  It looked grim, but in the end, it was an incredible triumph.  Thank you for your generosity and remember that no matter how grim it looks, there is always hope, because there is always Jesus, our Savior, who has defeated sin, death, and the devil on the cross and is with us always.  Thanks be to God! 

October 30, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Mission Madness 2023: Support our Mission Partners by donating to Mission Madness.  PB will do the assigned tasks only after you hit these financial goals.  You can donate in worship, send in an offering, or use the giving portal at www.trinityboyceville.com.  Scroll down and select “Mission”

  $500 PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. (Goal Met.  Will happen on November 5) 

$1,000 PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween (Goal Met.  Will happen at Trunk or Treat on Halloween)

$1,500 PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November. (Goal met.  Will happen on November 5^th after worship. 

$2,000PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume (Goal met, will happen on November 19th)

$2,500PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard. (Goal met.  DATE TBD).

CURRENT TOTAL: $3650!  INCREDIBLE JOB EVERYONE! You can still donate through this Sunday, November 5^th. 

Congrats to our 2023 confirmands!  Isabelle Bohn, Ellie Engemann, Brooke Fenton, Sawyer Garbe, Gretta Guy, Elliana Kietzer, Ella Lain, Lilly Lain, Sydney Larson, Lucy Wheeldon

Men’s Band Worship, Sunday, November 5^th, 9 am.

Potato Pancake Meal, Sunday, November 5^th, 10 am till 11:30 am. Potato Pancakes, Kielbasa Sausage, Apple Sauce, Bars, Beverage.  All funds raised go to Trinity Missions.  We are also looking for workers so please sign-up in the Narthex or show up at 9 am. 

New Member Class, Sunday, November 5^th, 6 pm.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining Trinity, please join us on November 5^th.  If you can’t join us, contact Pastor Brad. 

SPECIAL CAKE WALK THIS SUNDAY! Besides drawing for a cake, we will also be drawing for a quilt!  So get your tickets on Sunday, November 5^th! All proceeds help our youth attend the 2024 ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans!

Mitten Tree is up! Bring in your hats, mittens, gloves, scarves for those in need.  Let’s decorate that tree!

Crew November 1^st for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, November 13^th, at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome!

Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 15^th, 6:30 pm.

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

   As Halloween approaches on Tuesday, I am tasked with wearing the scariest costume ever: I will be dressed as a Packer fan.  Of course, this is not my choice, but is me fulfilling a Mission Madness goal. Thank you for supporting our Mission partners!  You can check it out at Trunk or Treat in downtown Boyceville from 5pm till 6:30 pm.

  But having to wear this costume made me think of my favorite Halloween costumes of all time.  So here we go, from number 5 to number 1.  Please note that for many of these I found pictures but that doesn’t mean I remember what year it was (though I will try)!

5. Homer Simpson, 2001.

This was when I was a senior in Seminary.  My friend Jen painted my head for me and I shaved my head for it.  I remember having to throw the shirt I’m wearing away because of all the paint on it. 

4. Christmas Elf, 2019

This was part of our Trunk or Treat where our theme was Christmas.  I believe that in this costume the Tribune Press Reporter took my picture and labeled me as “Pastor Brad Larson.”  I even got a note in the mail from our local State Representative at the time addressed to “Pastor Brad Larson.”

3. Butterfly, 2009

Amy made this for me after she suggested I be a butterfly.  I said I would only if she made me a costume, and she did.  Got a lot of laughs at this one when people came to the house. 

2. Uncle Fester: 2002 or 2003.

  I don’t have a picture of this, though I think it was more likely 2002 than 2003.  I shaved my head (again) and dressed as Uncle Fester.  But what makes this as an all-timer was a mom brought her child from church to trick or treat and the child freaked out.  They wanted to know why a monster had eaten Pastor Brad, since she recognized my voice.  Kid was so freaked out she refused to go to church for almost a month!

1. Batman, early 1980’s for multiple years

My Mom made this costume for me and I wore it until I basically couldn’t fit in it anymore.  Still my all time favorite! 

I even wore a modern version of this, but it just wasn’t the same. 

Have a Happy Halloween! 

October 26, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Mission Madness 2023: Support our Mission Partners by donating to Mission Madness.  PB will do the assigned tasks only after you hit these financial goals.  You can donate in worship, send in an offering, or use the giving portal at www.trinityboyceville.com.  Scroll down and select “Mission”

  $500 PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. (Goal Met.  Will happen on November 5) 

$1,000 PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween (Goal Met.  Will happen at Trunk or Treat on Halloween)

$1,500 PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November. ($490 away.  Must be met before November 5)

$2,000PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume ($990 away)

$2,500PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard. ($1,490 away).

CURRENT TOTAL $1010

DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 5^TH.

Men’s Band Worship, Sunday, November 5^th, 9 am.

Potato Pancake Meal, Sunday, November 5^th, 10 am till 11:30 am. Potato Pancakes, Kielbasa Sausage, Apple Sauce, Bars, Beverage.  All funds raised go to Trinity Missions.  We are also looking for workers so please sign-up in the Narthex or show up at 9 am. 

New Member Class, Sunday, November 5^th, 6 pm.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining Trinity, please join us on November 5^th.  If you can’t join us, contact Pastor Brad. 

Mitten Tree is up! Bring in your hats, mittens, gloves, scarves for those in need.  Let’s decorate that tree!

Crew November 1^st for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, November 13^th, at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome!

Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School.  Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

   The other day I had an issue.  My left shoe kept coming untied.  It would come untied while I was walking. It would come untied while I was sitting.  It would come untied even if I triple knotted it.  And I was vexed. Perplexed. Cantankerous.  (I just wanted to use some big words here).  Confused.  Why was this happening?  Was a ghost secretly untying my shoe?  Do I lack the skill to tie my shoe correctly?  Was it the laces?  I had no idea.

  But then it got weirder.  The next day my RIGHT shoe kept coming untied.  All the same things were occurring.  I was even wearing the same shoes.  What was going on?  I felt like I needed to hire some investigator to figure out why one of my shoes would come untied, no matter what I did, no matter the situation. It made me perturbed.  Irked, if you will.  Just constant danger of tripping and falling over my untied shoelace.  BTW, I have never fallen or tripped because of that.  I have fallen and tripped over air, but never my shoelace.  Why was this happening?

  Have you ever asked that question?  Why is this happening?  I know I have, and in situations much graver and difficult than the fact that my shoe kept coming untied.  When things happen, we often want to know why they are happening.  There must be a reason, right?  And when we can’t find an answer, it upsets us.  Disturbs us.  Can even make us angry.  There must be a reason.  There has to be.

  But sometimes there isn’t an answer.  Or, if there is, it is elusive and evades us.  Sometimes things just are, without explanation.  I first realized this after my Dad’s death.  I searched for a why for a long time.  Why did he get cancer?  Why did he die?  Why did he die despite my prayers and many other people’s prayers?  The thing was there was no answer.  There was no why.  There just was.  It was what it was and there was no explanation, no matter how hard I tried.

  But the thing was, when I stopped trying to find the explanation, when I just accepted that there was no answer, no explanation, it freed me to heal.  It freed me to begin to live again.  It reminded me that even when there isn’t an answer, there is a Savior who is walking with me.  Comforting me.  Strengthening me.  Healing me.  Sometimes the best answer is that there is no answer at all. 

  When I do Q&A’s with people, I always say that I reserve the right to say “I don’t know.”  Because there is not an answer for everything.  But there is a God who is there in the midst of our questions, in the midst of our doubts, in the midst of our wonderings and frustrations and hurt.  And that God, that Savior is with you today.  In the midst of your unanswerable questions.  In the midst of the things that make no sense.  Your God is there.

  Today, if you have struggled with something that just doesn’t have an answer, an explanation, give it to the Lord, who carries your burden.  Ask God to let you be ok with an “I don’t know.”  Ask the Lord to strengthen you and lift you up.  I may never figure out why my shoes kept becoming untied.  But I know this: my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is with me always.  And this same Jesus is with you.  May God bless you today and always!