Trinity Lutheran Church

December 21, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Christmas Eve Worship Services: 2 pm, 4:30 pm, 9:00 pm.  All services have special music, Holy Communion, and a candlelight portion.  2 pm and 4:30 pm have a children’s sermon.  Come worship the newborn king!

No Bible Study December 22^nd or 29^th

Office Closed December 25^th & 26^th

Blood Mobile December 29^th, Noon till 6 pm.   Sign-up at www.redcross.org 

No Worship on Wednesday, December 31^st,

There is a new way to give at Trinity: Venmo!  You can find us using: @TrinityLutheranBoyceville. If it asks you for a phone number, use 1349

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  Christmas is a time in which we give gifts to others, but also a time in which we receive gifts.  And sometimes those gifts are things (like bacon!) and sometimes those gifts are not material possessions.  I was reminded of this last night as I couldn’t sleep, first because I had to get my heart rate down after a thrilling Bears victory over the Packers, and then because my brain wouldn’t start working. 

  Often at night when my brain won’t start working, it is because I’m thinking about work.  Running sermons in my head, going through lists of things to do, thinking about where the church is going.  The other thing I’m often thinking about is the state of the world or myself, and those thoughts are much worse and often negative (kind of how I often feel about the Bears).  In those darkened hours, I often see my own failings and failures and beat myself up on how I could be better in every aspect of my existence, and at the same time I start to despair about the world.  The devil loves to hit me at these times and take away my positivity and rip away my believe that people will rise above hatred and violence and bigotry and their own self-interest for the greater good. 

  But last night, as I tossed and turned and couldn’t get to sleep, the Lord gave me the gift in reminding me of the gifts of life that weren’t the physical gifts of the world, though at one point I did think about the deliciousness of the Peanut Butter Blossom cookies Amy made and almost got up and had one at 2:30 am.  I thought of the little gifts I had throughout the weeks, little gifts that remind me of the joy of life.

  I thought of finally have a night home with Amy, the first in awhile, of having meats and cheeses and watching some Disney YouTube with a drink and how just fun that is, giving the dogs treats and then having them lay between us on the crowd as we relax together.  I thought of the little kid who ran up to me and gave me a big hug when I walked into the ELC room at Tiffany Creek Elementary School dressed as Santa on Wednesday.  I thought of the joy of great conversation with a close friend at our annual Christmas lunch on Monday.  I thought of the privilege of being in a living room of a church member who needed some comfort and asked me to provide it, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.  I thought of the joy of another member who is a shut-in who was excited for my visit with them and took me all around their nursing home introducing me to all of the workers.  I thought of a short nap I got the other day with both of the dogs snuggling on me. I thought of the joy of watching two people in love exchanging vows on Saturday at the wedding I got to do. I thought of all the great talents and dedication of our church staff that put in so much work this time of year and how they make everything happen behind the scenes that not a lot of people see.  I thought of Amy who let me sit in her chair last night so I could watch the Bears. So many gifts.

  Life can be rough and is rough.  It is easy to despair.  One of the things I beat myself up at night, and the devil likes to exploit, is that I despair so much more easily now than I used to.  But there are so many moments of joy too, so many gifts.  God put those gifts in front of us to remind us that we are blessed, loved, and valued.  After all, we have the greatest gift of all: salvation in Jesus Christ.  The babe born in Bethlehem was sent to bring us to eternal life, give us hope, and shine light on us every day.  May you feel that light today, may you see the gifts in your life, and may you know that you are loved every day.  Have a very Merry Christmas and may God bless you!

December 16, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crew Wednesday, December 17^th,   from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Sunday School Christmas Program, Sunday, December 21^st, 9 am

Christmas Eve Worship Services: 2 pm, 4:30 pm, 9:00 pm.  All services have special music, Holy Communion, and a candlelight portion.  2 pm and 4:30 pm have a children’s sermon.  Come worship the newborn king!

There is a new way to give at Trinity: Venmo!  You can find us using: @TrinityLutheranBoyceville. If it asks you for a phone number, use 1349

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  “Restore us, O God;  let your face shine, that we may be saved.”  Psalm 80:3

After all the activities of Spirit of Christmas, I came home Saturday night pretty beat.  It was a long but fulfilling week of activity.  Fun activity.  Amazing experiences of ministry and seeing God at work in so many ways, but also, just a lot of work and a lot of hours (and about 28.9 miles on feet from Wednesday through Friday.  Couldn’t count Saturday due to no pockets on my Elf costume), and I was one tired Brad.  Spent.  Exhausted.

  But sometimes it doesn’t take a Spirit of Christmas and all of its activities to make us exhausted and feel spent.  Life can just do that.  Stresses of work and family life.  Things like the violence we see in the world like the horrific shooting in Australia this week.  Dealing with grief and loss.  Anxiety over providing for our family or how our kids are doing.  Things that just break us down, empty us out, make us feel less than whole. Even in this holiday season, we can feel empty and alone and spent.

   But that is why God comes in Jesus Christ, in that babe born in Bethlehem.  The light of the world shines on us so that we can be saved, restored, renewed. Through God’s grace, our brokenness can be restored, our suffering soothed, our sickness healed, our grieving comforted.  Restoration happens because the Son of God, Emmanuel, is with us.  Is with you.  Every single day.  The light of God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ shines on you and restores you.

  On Saturday night, I laid down in bed, exhausted and spent.  But I woke up Sunday, renewed and ready to go.  We get renewal every day in Jesus Christ.  May you feel that renewal today and if you feel spent, exhausted, emptied out, place your faith and hope on Jesus.  Let the light of the world shine on you, restore you, give you strength and hope, for he is your salvation, your life, your renewal, and your hope.  May God bless you today and always!   

December 7, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lefse making is THIS WEEK!  Come join us for this Trinity tradition!  Wednesday, December 10^th and Thursday, December 11^th.  We begin at 7 am both days, have a potluck lunch at 11:30 am, and then go in the afternoon until we are done.  Bring your potato peelers on Wednesday morning.  We have a job for every kind of person, can train you to do anything, and appreciate every minute you can volunteer!  Sign-up in the Narthex or just show on up!  Bring friends! 

We are looking for items for the Spirit of Christmas Silent Auction! The Silent Auction is our main fundraiser for the Mission Trip to Denver, CO in June 2026 for our High School Youth!  New items or craft items only please.  Items should be at the church by Thursday, December 11^th.  Contact PB if you have questions. 

Pre-order your lefse!  $5 per package (three pieces).  See sign-up in Narthex or call the church at 715-702-2755 

Sunday School Christmas Program Practices will be on Sunday, December 7^th & 14^th at 9 am till 11 am!  PLEASE NOTE THE START TIME IS AT 9 AM!!  Please have your child at both practices. 

Men’s Band Christmas Concert Sunday, December 14^th, 6:30 pm

Lagers with the Lord on Monday, December 15th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.

Crew Wednesday, December 17^th,   from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Annual Mitten Tree is up!  Bring in hats, mittens, scarves, and gloves to decorate the tree.  We are also collecting items for the Coat Closet as well, like boots, snowpants, and winter coats, which you can put in the box by the Mitten Tree. 

Sunday School Christmas Program, Sunday, December 21^st, 9 am

Christmas Eve Worship Services: 2 pm, 4:30 pm, 9:00 pm.  All services have special music, Holy Communion, and a candlelight portion.  2 pm and 4:30 pm have a children’s sermon.  Come worship the newborn king!

There is a new way to give at Trinity: Venmo!  You can find us using: @TrinityLutheranBoyceville. If it asks you for a confirmation number, use 1349

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

   Our dog Baxter does something a little strange (to be honest, Baxter does a lot of things strange).  One of his favorite places to lay is on the chair in between someone’s legs.  Doesn’t matter if it is Amy’s legs or my legs, if someone is in the chair with the leg stand up, Baxter is on that chair, laying between our legs.  He will paw to get up there and if Daphene dares to lay in that spot, he will get upset until we clear it so he can lay there or wedge himself back into that spot. And Baxter can lay in that spot for a long time, every now and then jumping down to make sure he has his Lamby with him (sometimes he uses it as a pillow) or maybe a bone or another toy to play with. 

  But he also does something a little strange while he is hanging out in his favorite spot.  Out of the blue, without a single prompt or stimulus, he will get up and just crawl up our body and put his face right front your face.  He might even give you a little kiss.  It is incredibly sweet and I always think of it as him saying, “Hi.  I love you.  Just wanted to remind you.”  And then he crawls right back down and goes right back into his spot like nothing ever happened.  Sometimes Amy tries to cajole him to do that and he won’t budge.  He does it on his own time and own accord.  But he does it and it is so cool and makes you feel so special. 

  I’m convinced that the Lord does that to us on a daily basis.  That every day, the Lord just pops up in an unexpected way to remind us that we are loved.  It comes out of the blue at times to remind us that we are loved, that we matter, and that we are not alone.  Sometimes we might not even fully perceive it was the Lord because it comes so far out of the blue.  But it is a moment that we need.  It could be a moment of peace in the midst of chaos and busyness.  It could be a moment of strength when we feel weak.  I can be a moment of thankfulness and gratitude.  But I think God is so often working it the small moments of our day to remind us that we are not forgotten, that God is active and working, and showing us that we matter and we are loved.

  So look for those small moments, those moments that at the time might not seem like a big deal but mean something.  Those moments might be your Lord reaching out to you, reminding you that your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is there for you, loving you and caring for you and that you are not alone as you go through this life.  And take that moment to give thanks for this God who loves you and for those things in life like a small dog that crawls up your body to give a moment of love.

  May God bless you today and always!

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Baxter in his spot

November 30, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Order Poinsettia’s for Christmas!  Deadline is Wednesday, December 3^rd.  Cost is $10 per plant.  See attached form.

We are looking for items for the Spirit of Christmas Silent Auction! The Silent Auction is our main fundraiser for the Mission Trip to Denver, CO in June 2026 for our High School Youth!  New items or craft items only please.  Items should be at the church by Thursday, December 11^th.  Contact PB if you have questions. 

Crew Wednesday, December 3^rd,  from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Women of Trinity Christmas Gathering, Saturday, December 6^th, 9 am  Featuring entertainment by the Gethsemane Bells from Baldwin at 9:30 am and a luncheon.  All women are welcome!

Sunday School Christmas Program Practices will be on Sunday, December 7^th & 14^th at 9 am till 11 am!  PLEASE NOTE THE START TIME IS AT 9 AM!!  Please have your child at both practices. 

Men’s Band Christmas Concert at Knapp United Methodist Church, Saturday, December 6^th at 7 pm.

Lefse making is almost here!  Come join us for this Trinity tradition!  Wednesday, December 10^th and Thursday, December 11^th.  We begin at 7 am both days, have a potluck lunch at 11:30 am, and then go in the afternoon until we are done.  Bring your potato peelers on Wednesday morning.  We have a job for every kind of person, can train you to do anything, and appreciate every minute you can volunteer!  Sign-up in the Narthex or just show on up!  Bring friends! 

Pre-order your lefse!  $5 per package (three pieces).  See sign-up in Narthex or call the church. 

Lagers with the Lord on Monday, December 15th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.

Annual Mitten Tree is up!  Bring in hats, mittens, scarves, and gloves to decorate the tree.  We are also collecting items for the Coat Closet as well, like boots, snowpants, and winter coats, which you can put in the box by the Mitten Tree. 

There is a new way to give at Trinity: Venmo!  You can find us using: @TrinityLutheranBoyceville. If it asks you for a confirmation number, use 1349

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  Today is the First Sunday in Advent (Happy New Year!) and Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus.  Advent is kind of a forgotten season of the church year as it is overshadowed by Christmas, though many of us do Advent calendars but they aren’t often focused on Jesus.  We might have candy ones or coffee ones or dog treat ones or whiskey ones (no one has gifted me the whiskey ones yet) or just ones in which we are counting the days till Christmas.  But, I do hope that during this season of Advent you take a moment to say a prayer or read a scripture (or check out the daily video devotion on Trinity’s Facebook page) to spiritually prepare for the coming of the birth of Christ.

  Here at Trinity, we have a lot of stuff leading up to Christmas Day and with everything going on, I thought I would put in one place all the stuff happening.  Not only because I know many of you skip the announcements before these musings ( you know who you are) but also so that you could put some of these things in your calendars so you don’t forget them.  This is a great time of year here at Trinity as we prepare for Christmas and for the celebration of Jesus’ birth, as we celebrate long-time traditions, and have a chance to get together as a community.  So these are ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS specific events that you will see below.

          December 6: Women of Trinity Christmas Gathering, 9 am

                                  Men’s Band Christmas Concert, Knapp United Methodist, 7 pm

          December 7: Sunday School Christmas Program Practice, 9 am-11 am

                             Men’s Band Christmas Concert, First Lutheran Cumberland, 6pm

          December 10: Lefse making, 7 am start, goes all day!

                                    Confirmation Christmas for Kids shopping, both classes, 5 pm.

          December 11: Lefse making, 7 am start, goes all day!

          December 13: Spirit of Christmas all day in Boyceville and at Trinity!   

                                       Lefse & Bake Sale, 9 am till 2 pm      

                                       Silent Auction, 9 am till 3 pm   

                                       Soup Lunch: 11 am till 2 pm

                                       Live Nativity: 4:30 pm (downtown by library)

        December 14: Christmas Carol by Request Worship, 9 am

                              Sunday School Christmas Program Practice, 9 am-11 am       

        December 14: Men’s Band Christmas Concert at Trinity, 6:30 pm

        December 15: Lagers with the Lord at Buckshot’s, 6 pm,

   Topic: “The OTHER Christmas Story: Matthew 1:18-25”

       December 17: The Crew Christmas Party, 3:30 pm-5 pm,

                             Christmas Carol by Request Worship, 6:30 pm

       December 21: Sunday School Christmas Program, 9 am