Trinity Lutheran Church

February 22^nd, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE YOUTH SERVICE HAS MOVED FROM MARCH 8^TH TO APRIL 12^TH

Lagers with the Lord February 23 at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.

Lent Worship with Holden Evening Prayer this Wednesday 6:30 pm.  Our verse is John3:16.  Meal prior at 5:30 pm till 6:30 pm.  Meal is Soup and Stews served by the Women of Trinity. Our Lent Theme this year is “Your Favorite Bible Verse.”

The Crew is Wednesday, February 25^th  3:30 pm till 5 pm for all 3^rd-6^th graders. 

The United Lutheran Church of Prairie Farm Youth in Christ will be here on Sunday, March 8^th to lead us in worship.

As part of our Lent theme, PB is looking for your favorite scriptures to be part of our Facebook devotions!  Email him your favorite scripture readings to pastorbradtrinity@gmail.com 

Have you made your Foundation gift yet?  Help start our Parsonage project with a strong foundation with an initial gift.  Letters have been mailed out and you should receive one in the mail.  You can give through check, online, or using Venmo.  Put “Foundation” or “Parsonage” on your gift and help us to start to build our parsonage project to a great start.

Raise the Roof Fundraiser Saturday, April 11^th, 11 am till 4pm, Boyceville Fire Hall.  This fundraiser for our new parsonage will feature a silent auction, raffles, games, “flip-flop” chicken, and more.  If you would like to donate items, you can drop them off at the church.  Contact the church office for more information. 

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

  Today is the last day of the Winter Olympics and as I have written before, I love the Olympics.  Though the Summer Olympics are my favorite, I have a soft spot for the Winter Olympics because there are so many strange and weird sports.  I have written before of my joy of watching curling, which is mesmerizing to watch and something I feel like I could do and just absolutely fail at.  Plus, they have stuff like the new sport of ski mountaineering which looks like a sport made to torture people.  Did you watch this?  It is so cool and so painful at the same time and I couldn’t look away.  They were literally running up steps in ski boots and someone lost a medal because they couldn’t transition from one type of ski’s to another type of ski’s.  It was nuts and glorious at the same time.  And, as someone pointed out, the Winter Olympics are filled with a majority of sports that could literally kill you, which the Summer Olympics can’t really say, which gives it another layer of wonderment.  Yes, let’s fly through the air on ski’s with no poles and see if we can land safely.  Sounds like a GREAT idea! 

  But what I love about the Olympics is just the story of people doing this absolutely crazy sports because they love it.  They will never really win a medal or gain any money from these sports but they love them and just getting there, to participate in the Olympics, is the dream.  I saw an American skier who finished like 12^th in a race and it was going to be his last race.  He was just so happy that he felt like he raced his best and then he broke down talking about what it meant to race in front of his wife and young son and to feel like he did his best.  It wasn’t about the medal or any glory, just doing his best on the biggest stage in front of the people he loved the most and who loved him.  I loved seeing the sportsmanship between a lot of the athletes (see the female figure skaters as an example or anyone who does the cross-country skiing) and am reminded what pure sport looks like.  I love the open honesty of the athletes on a whole range of topics, especially mental health, and also how sometimes the joy of just being there is victory enough. 

  We can be real cynical about sports these days, even Olympic sports.  I understand and sometimes share in that cynicism.  But sports can also still be a place where people can come together and be united in joy, where barriers can be broken down.  We can sometimes just enjoy seeing people doing amazing things and give thanks for watching it and experiencing it.  We can marvel at a Norwegian cross-country skier winning six gold medals and an American figure skater coming out of retirement winning gold and her teammate who didn’t but showed amazing resilience in the attempt. We can rejoice in the bobsled Mom with deaf kids winning gold and the biathlete who finished way outside the medals but it was the best finish ever for their country. Now, if I could only figure out how to be a world class skeleton slider without dying, that would be great, because that looks super fun!

  May God bless you today and always! 

February 15^th, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Winterfest for Sunday has been cancelled.

Ash Wednesday Worship is on February 18^th at Noon and 6:30 pm  Baked Potato Bar served by the Confirmation Youth at 5:30 pm.

Lagers with the Lord February 23 at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.

Lent Worship with Holden Evening Prayer starts on February 25^th, 6:30 pm. Meal prior at 5:30 pm till 6:30 pm.  Our Lent Theme this year is “Your Favorite Bible Verse.”

The Crew is Wednesday, February 25^th  3:30 pm till 5 pm for all 3^rd-6^th graders. 

Youth Service March 8^th, 9 am.

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

  Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and it got me to thinking about holidays in general and I realized something: I have a beef with every major holiday.  There is something about every major holiday, a grievance if you will, that bugs me.  That sticks in my craw.  That annoys me.  And so, I’m going to share that grievance with you at this time.  Please note that I do not include Memorial Day or Labor Day in this list. They are more like long weekends to me and don’t really fall under the holiday category in my eye or, maybe just maybe, could just be perfect.  We are going to start with our most recent holiday, Valentine’s Day, and go in chronological order from there through the year.

·        Valentine’s Day: If the biggest gift you give someone on this day is something that inevitably dies, flowers, that really isn’t a good look.  Here, what a lovely gift to show you my love, flowers, which will die, which means my love might die.  Just seems dumb to me.  Also, half of the people seem to hate this holiday or are miserable on this day.  If you need a holiday to tell the person you love them that you love them, that is NOT a good look. Finally, I’m married to a diabetic, so giving candy on this day could be really bad, but at the same time, when she has low blood sugar, could also save her life.  To a 50-50 situation there for me.  (Side note:  Amy and I went out for the first time in forever on Valentine’s Day this year to a new favorite restaurant.  Why?  A Baby Yoda Valentine’s Day mug.  See picture at the end of this email). 

·        St. Patrick’s Day: Yes, let’s have a holiday that promotes physical violence if you aren’t wearing a particular color.  Also, no one ever talks about the snakes.  Sure, St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland.  But in the marketing and on the shirts, there are never pictures of snakes.  Half the reason he is a saint is that he supposedly got rid of all the snakes in Ireland (mostly a myth, but still).  I’m going to be in the drunkest Disney park during this holiday this year and I have no doubt it is going to get INTERESTING. 

·        Easter:  You know where I’m going here.  THE EASTER BUNNY.  An abomination in every way.  I don’t have to say anything else.  Just awful.  Also, and I am part of this problem too, we all need to start getting empty tomb scenes in our homes like we have nativity scenes in our homes for Christmas.  This is the most important Christian holiday and hardly have the most important scene displayed in our houses.  Having the cross is important but we have to have the other part too. I have got to correct this.  Destroy your Easter bunnies.  Burn them to the ground. 

·        Fourth of the July:   Lot to love here.  Hot dogs.  Baseball.  Hanging out at the lake on the boat.  Fireworks.  Independence.  But here is the thing: that stuff is ON THE 4^TH.  For the love of God, can you keep the fireworks to only on the 4^th?  Some of us have dogs that get really scared of those fireworks.  Do we have to shoot them off on the 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, and 6^th?  I think you should be thrown in jail for three years if you shoot Fourth of July fireworks on any day other than the Fourth of July.  It is like six days of trauma for our poor dogs.  Keep it on one day.  We can handle one day.  Thank you.

·        Halloween: An introverts nightmare, to talk to strangers in costume.  Plus, can we have it without the eggings, toilet paperings, and the smashing of pumpkins?  Does every costume ever made have to have a slutty version?  Slutty cop, slutty nurse, slutty monk, slutty couch, slutty firetruck, etc?  Can we just have normal costumes?  We also need to remember the rules of Halloween.  Porch light off means don’t come knock on the door. Respect the rules. 

·        Thanksgiving:  Why turkey again?  Turkey is essential for good stuffing but is otherwise useless.  Why cranberry sauce?  Who decided this?  Again, pretty useless.  I think we need to introduce other meats into Thanksgiving.  Maybe some BBQ ribs?  Steak?  Also, if you need one day to decide to be thankful for stuff than we need to figure some other things out.

·        Christmas:  Here is the thing about Christmas: we put too much pressure on it.  We try to make it perfect.  Relax.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  It’s ok.  Don’t worry so much about it.  It is an important day but it isn’t the be all end all.  If we took a little less pressure off of it, it would go much better.  Don’t worry about everything being just right.  Let it breathe a little more.  Relax.  That would make it better for everyone.  Parents, kids, extended family.  Instead of forcing a magical moment, let the magic of Christmas just be.  Also, can we every year just give Joseph a little love?  Maybe a little?  The forgotten character of Christmas. 

·        New Year’s Eve: Once you get over the age of 30, it is impossible to stay up that late and have real fun.  It really is.  Maybe even 25.  I think the ball should drop at 8 pm.  Then we could all really enjoy it. 

And that’s it.  My holiday grievance list.  Have a great week and may God bless you today and always!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Me with the Baby Yoda Valentine’s mug

February 9^th, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pastor Brad has a new email address: pastorbradtrinity@gmail.com

The Crew is Wednesday, February 11^th  3:30 pm till 5 pm for all 3^rd-6^th graders.  It will be snow day so bring your snow gear!

Winterfest, February 15^th, 1 pm till 3 pm. Sledding, food, games.  All are welcome! PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS WEATHER PERMITTING AND IF WE GET MORE SNOW MELT THIS WILL BE CANCELLED.  CHECK FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES

Ash Wednesday Worship is on February 18^th at Noon and 6:30 pm  Baked Potato Bar served by the Confirmation Youth at 5:30 pm.

Lagers with the Lord February 23 at 6 pm at Buckshot’s.

Lent Worship with Holden Evening Prayer starts on February 25^th, 6:30 pm. Meal prior at 5:30 pm till 6:30 pm.  Our Lent Theme this year is “Your Favorite Bible Verse.”

Youth Service March 8^th, 9 am.

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

 Isaiah 58:1-12

Shout out; do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. ² Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they want God on their side. ³ “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day and oppress all your workers. ⁴ You fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. ⁵ Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? ⁶ Is not this the fast that I choose :to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin? ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.” If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, ¹⁰ if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. ¹¹ The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail. ¹² Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen

God is ticked off.  I don’t know how you can hear our reading from Isaiah and not come away with the sense that God is anything other than a pretty angry God.  “Announce to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins,” God says through the prophet Isaiah.  Oh, you know something is coming.  It is coming and it is coming bad. God is not going to hold back.  But why is God so angry?  What sins have the people committed?  It is this: the people are showing their faith, but they are not living it.  In other words, they are being hypocrites.

  They are worshipping God, and they want God to notice their worship.  Look at our fasting!  Look at us putting on sackcloth and showing our humbleness!  But they are doing this as an act of self-exaltation and self-centeredness.  But that is not true worship.  True worship means a focus outward, first on God, and then, if we are truly following the Lord, on the neighbor.  And that is God’s point.  You talk about fasting, and yet you abandon the poor?  You talk about sacrifice and yet oppress others?    Then you are not being true to me or true to worship.  Notice what God really wants.  He doesn’t want their fast or their fake works.  He wants them to loose the bonds of injustice.  He wants them to share their bread with the hungry, to break the yoke, to fight for the oppressed, to clothe the naked and to care for the homeless.  This is a recurring theme across all of the Old Testament.  Worship is great, but worshipping the Lord without having that worship mean something in our lives outside of trying to curry favor with God is worthless and meaningless.  Following this God means that our focus is not on lifting ourselves up and making ourselves holy.  It means knowing that we are sinners in need of redemption, and inspired by the salvation we receive, seeing the world with compassion and empathy because of the compassion we have received.  It means taking seriously God’s call to love our neighbor and to let our light shine like the dawn.

  The fact of the matter is these words from Isaiah should bother us today.  For what made God angry back in Isaiah’s time would make God angry now.  We give praises to God and yet ignore the poor and hungry.  We demonize the other and turn our back on the oppressed or gleefully join in on the oppression.  Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world.  We are to be the light so that others might give glory to our Father in heaven.  That means that worship is never about us but always about God, and that means our lives as followers of Jesus Christ is always about neighbor.  And this Jesus, and this God, always has His eye on the other: the poor, the orphan, the widow, the stranger, the hungry, the homeless, the oppressed. 

  Let us take a good look at ourselves and who we are: as individuals, as a church, and the people of God.  Are we serving ourselves, or are we serving who God calls us and wants us to serve: everyone else?  After all, our God sent his only Son to die for us and rise from the grave for us and saves us by grace through faith.  In response, may our worship be about him and not us, and may our purpose be about our neighbor and not about lifting ourselves up.  For that we can say, “Thanks be to God!”  Amen

TRINITY TIDINGS

February 1^st, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pastor Brad has a new email address: pastorbradtrinity@gmail.com

Annual Meeting is Sunday, February 1^st at 10 am

Sunday School will be singing on Sunday, February 1^st at 9 am

Super Bowl Pizza Orders are due on February 1^st and can be picked up next Sunday, Feb 8.

The Crew is Wednesday, February 11^th  3:30 pm till 5 pm for all 3^rd-6^th graders.  It will be snow day so bring your snow gear!

Winterfest, February 15^th, 1 pm till 3 pm. Sledding, food, games.  All are welcome!

Ash Wednesday Worship is on February 18^th at Noon and 6:30 pm  Baked Potato Bar served by the Confirmation Youth at 5:30 pm.

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

  On the way home from our little vacation to Walt Disney World, I had downloaded a very special program I wanted to watch.  I had saved it for a few weeks for that specific day, Monday, January 26^th.  What was this very special program and why did I save it for this very special date?  Well, the program was called “The Shuffle,” a documentary on HBO Max.  And what was this documentary about?  The making of the Super Bowl Shuffle by the 1985 Chicago Bears.  And the date?  It was the 40^th anniversary of the Bears winning Super Bowl 20. It was fun to see the making of the song and the iconic video and relive all the glory of that season and to take myself back to my nine-year old self.  I still have the VHS tape in a box and I had the cassette.  The song was everywhere and I still remember every part of the video. When you are 9 years old, this kind of stuff leaves an impression.

  But 2026 isn’t just the 40^th anniversary of the Bears winning the Super Bowl.  It is also the 10^th anniversary of the Cubs winning the World Series.  So it is the year of me remembering the two greatest sports events in my lifetime.  And it is good to remember, to look back, to celebrate those kind of things.  They can be a lot of fun.  But, there is a danger there.

  If we spend all of our time looking back, it means we can be stuck only in the past.  It means we never look forward, to see the new things in front of us.  Also, it means that miss the new directions that we can go and we can romanticize the past and see only the good things.  We forget the difficult things, like in Super Bowl 20 how the Bears were losing early or in the World Series the Cubs were down 3-1 at one point. 

  The church is susceptible to that, to look back at the good ol’ days and resist change, thinking that the way we have always done it is the only way to do it. Tradition is important and the past is something to honor, but it is not something to be a slave too.  For when we are only looking behind us, we miss what God is doing in front of us.  There always needs to be a balance, of honoring the past but striving towards and being open to the future. 

  That is why it has been a fun sports year for me.  As I celebrate the two greatest events in my sports lifetime, I have also enjoyed resurgent Bears and Cubs teams and the future looks like a lot of fun.  I’ve tried to enjoy it more so I don’t take it for granted and to be open to the future.  As someone who has been at the same place for a long time, I’m constantly asking myself if there is a new way to do something so that I don’t just do things the same way because it has always been done that way. 

  May we be true to who we are and our past while being open to the way the Spirit is leading us into the future.  May God continue to bless you and be with you!