Lefse making is THIS WEEK! Come join us for this Trinity tradition! Wednesday, December 10th and Thursday, December 11th. 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 11th. 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 7th & 14th 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 14th, 6:30 pm
Lagers with the Lord on Monday, December 15th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.
Crew Wednesday, December 17th, 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 21st, 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.
Order Poinsettia’s for Christmas! Deadline is Wednesday, December 3rd. 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 11th. Contact PB if you have questions.
Crew Wednesday, December 3rd, from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Women of Trinity Christmas Gathering, Saturday, December 6th, 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 7th & 14th 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 6th at 7 pm.
Lefse making is almost here! Come join us for this Trinity tradition! Wednesday, December 10th and Thursday, December 11th. 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
Order Poinsettia’s for Christmas! Deadline is Wednesday, December 3rd. 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 11th. Contact PB if you have questions.
Crew Wednesday, December 3rd, from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Women of Trinity Christmas Gathering, Saturday, December 6th, 9 am
Sunday School Christmas Program Practices will be on Sunday, December 7th & 14th 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 6th at 7 pm.
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
Thursday is, of course, Thanksgiving, and everyone has an opinion on Thanksgiving dinner, and I am no exception, and so I have decided to rank the items on a typical Thanksgiving spread. Now, this is a traditional Thanksgiving meal and I know that many people have all sorts of things on their table and some of these things are never included on MY table and some were barely included even when I was a kid. But when you think of Thanksgiving, you think of them overall.
Also, I am not including any desserts. Why? Well, for one, when you think of desserts at Thanksgiving you think of pies like pumpkin pie or pecan pie, both things I despise. And, if you do this meal right, you should be so full that dessert happens later and you don’t quite have room for pie. So I did not include pie on this list. Sue me. Also, I did not include condiments like gravy. Gravy is not a dish, it is a condiment. Again, sue me.
Here are the items I am doing to rank in my list you all are going to yell at me about just like you are yelling at me already about the dessert comments above. I have included nine items: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, sweet potatoes, wild rice, cranberry sauce, dinner roll. Notice again, there is no salad. Take your salad home and leave it there. Ok, let’s get started from worst and going to first. I look forward to your feedback.
9: Cranberry Sauce: I don’t care if you make it fresh from real cranberry’s, or as I have heard from many people, the only way to have it is from the can where it looks like an alien made it, there might be no more disgusting thing that could hit my plate than this. I think I tried this once as a child, and then again as an adult just to see if my taste buds had changed. They hadn’t. Awful. Almost put this on Mission Madness this year and I’m sure it will make it in future years. Get it away and keep it away.
8: Sweet potatoes: Nothing sweet about these except that I don’t ever have to eat them. There was a moment, a small moment, where I didn’t mind a sweet potato fry. Really and truly. But I think I might have been suffering from a small moment of insanity or living in an alternative reality or it could be that almost anything can taste decent deep fried and full of salt. Not deep fried and full of salt? Awful. You can keep these weird, disgusting potato like things for yourself. My stomach has to keep room for the good stuff.
7. Turkey. UPSET ALERT! I know you are shocked. How could the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving table be so low on my list. I want you to know that the biggest debate I had with myself was whether this or the next item would go here. But let me spit some knowledge here: turkey sucks. It is the worst meat of all time. I would rather have any other meat on my Thanksgiving table other than turkey except for one thing: turkey is necessary for stuffing (we will get to that in a bit). I really, truly, only eat turkey at Thanksgiving and leftovers from Thanksgiving. You will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever see me choose it at any other time. I blame my Grandma Schmika (may she rest in peace) who cooked a bird so dry it could have been used to build buildings. Amy makes a lovely, moist bird every year. I eat a leg every year in memory of Mom, who always had a leg at Thanksgiving (we are dark meat people). But turkey sucks. Yet, it is extremely necessary for Thanksgiving and so we will continue to get between a 17 and 20 pound bird every year for just Amy and I.
6. Mashed Potatoes. AND THE CROWD THROWS KNIVES. The worst way to make a potato. Amy makes a very good version of this, full of creaminess and butter that I really like. But I would rather have my potatoes fried or baked or done a hundred different ways. My sisters loved me at Thanksgiving because I never took one drop of them. Just passed them by and they could have more (I had my eye on other things). Here is how you know how something is over rated: when you need to douse it in a ton of other stuff it to make it even to make it go down so that it doesn’t taste like Elmer’s glue (Amy’s doesn’t need hardly anything for that, which is why it is so good). And yes, I know what Elmer’s glue tastes like. I was a kid. I tasted it. And so did you.
5. Corn My Uncle Bob’s favorite vegetable (not), but one of mine, I do love corn. And it should be a little higher on here. As a kid, I would take a scoop of corn, though a dollop of butter in it, salt it like I was having popcorn, and go to town. Always reliable. Always good, even from a can. Got to love corn. We usually don’t have it on our table at Thanksgiving most years anymore but was something you could count on.
4. Dinner Roll There is nothing that saved young Brad Peterson’s stomach more than the dinner roll. Who doesn’t love a good dinner roll? Give me a King’s Hawaiian dinner roll any day (we use them for our leftover sandwiches post-Thanksgiving). When the Thanksgiving meal was especially bad at Grandma Schimka’s (I really did love my Grandma. She was super cool. Taught me how to play poker, gave me really nosy toys that annoyed my parents, but wasn’t always the best cook), I would just fill up on the reliable dinner roll). A hot dinner roll with butter just always does it. Bread never fails. Never. Even now, I can’t resist a good dinner roll in a buffet line. Have to grab it. And two pads of butter. Always two, one for each side.
3. Wild Rice I love wild rice. Love it. Uncle Ben’s please, if you do. No substitute. No other brand. Don’t serve me up those generics. Get the good stuff. The wild rice will be well represented on my plate. As much as I love it, we don’t eat a lot of it and so I appreciate it at Thanksgiving. I’m also a man who doesn’t like to mix my food. I like to keep my food separate from each other. But the wild rice can get it other things and I don’t mind. It does have a mind of its own and just naturally does where it will. It has a, well, a “wild” spirit if you will, and when it gets into something it shouldn’t, that’s ok. It melds easily into other things, never detracting and always enhancing. It’s a giver, an enhancer, that wild rice. Also always a reliable go to when I was a kid.
2: Green Bean Casserole My appreciation for this dish has only grown over the years because I don’t get it every year (Amy is NOT a fan. She dislikes both green beans and mushrooms). I think this year I may need to have her teach me how to make it (I understand it is easy to make, but I’m an idiot. Can idiot’s make it? I once failed at making a flourless chocolate cake). It has so much goodness, which the richness of the cream of mushroom soup (which I would never eat on its own), to the deliciousness of the green beans to the crunchy French fried onions on top. My Grandma Schmika did make a good one (see, I said something nice about her cooking!), and I have always loved it. We are having it this year and I can’t wait especially since I know I will have to eat it all. I can do that. I can easily do that.
1: Stuffing. In this list of my favorite foods of all time, Thanksgiving stuffing is probably in the top five. I wake up Thanksgiving morning immediately thinking of this. I can’t wait. There is nothing better than stuffing that comes from a turkey. The only reason to have a turkey is to stuff it. That’s it. I really could care less about the turkey on the it is a vessel for stuffing. I love stuffing so much I was admonished as a child for taking too much of it at probably every Thanksgiving. My justification was that I wasn’t really taking anything else so why couldn’t I have as much as I wanted? And really, if the Thanksgiving meal was just stuffing, I would be perfectly happy. I knew Amy’s Mom truly loved me because at Thanksgiving she would a bowl of stuffing in front of my plate and that BOWL WAS JUST FOR ME. MY OWN BOWL. I have never felt such love. Amy’s stuffing is the best I have ever had and every year I get to be the taste tester. We not only stuff the bird, we make a huge crockpot full of it, which is also good, but the stuff in the bird is magical. Magical, I tell you. Just takes you to another plane of existence. I almost cry every year. I love stuffing so much in college I once at it for every meal in a day. I love my stuffing full of sage and pepper (no sausage in mine, though I have had it that way and its not bad). Love it herby. Stuffing is the bomb and I give thanks to God every Thanksgiving for its existence. And I’m going to eat so, so, so, so, so much of it.
And there you have it. My definitive Thanksgiving meal rankings. I’m sure you have yours and maybe you have things on your table every year that are different. I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and take a moment to give thanks to the Lord for the blessings of this life, for the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, and for, of course, stuffing! May God bless you this day and always!
Mission Madness 2025! All CHALLENGES AND GOALS MET! THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! TOTAL RAISED $5,971
PB will be dressed as an elf at the Spirit of Christmas on December 13th!
Lagers with the Lord on Monday, November 17th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.
Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:30 am! Wear your orange and camo!
Order Poinsettia’s for Christmas! Deadline is Wednesday, December 3rd. Cost is $10 per plant. See attached form.
No Worship on Wednesday, November 26th. Office closed November 27th & 28th.
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 11th. Contact PB if you have questions.
Crew Wednesday, December 3rd, 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.
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
Last Sunday, I was with the band at Cross Lutheran Church in Roberts where I my friend Pastor John Sutherland is the pastor. Some of you might remember Pastor Sutherland when he was Assistant to the Bishop as he preached here at Trinity a few times. I love listening to him preach and he pulled out a nugget on his sermon from Amos that has stuck with me, but before I share it with you, a little context.
The sermon was on Amos chapter five, the most famous verse being Amos 5:24, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” But before this most famous verse, God, through Amos, has been railing on the people for their neglect of the poor and needy, and that even though they are worshipping God, God will be ignoring them because of how they are acting out in the world. Verse 23 reads, “Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen o the melody of your harps.” This is not a new concept in the Old Testament as it pops up in Isaiah and elsewhere in other prophets. What is going on is that the people are worshipping God and in some cases going through the motions of worshipping God, but then going out into the world and abusing the ones God is calling on them to protect and care for.
In this context, Pastor Sutherland said a great line that has really stuck with me. He said, “God sometimes doesn’t like us very much, but God always loves us.” I thought that was really profound. God doesn’t really like the people here in Amos very much. And yet, God is willing to pour God’s own righteousness on them. Later on, in Amos, God will offer a promise of restoration to the people of Israel, of redemption and hope. Why? Because God loves them. God never will give up on them, despite their sinfulness and waywardness.
The same is true for us. We are God’s children, sinners who need redeeming. And there times that God doesn’t like us very much. We hear God’s call to care for others and how we should be in the world, but like rebellious children, we do the opposite. I’m sure many of you have family members that you sometimes don’t like very much but still love. Yet, you do still love them. In our case, our heavenly Father sends his only Son to dies on a cross and rise from the grave to save us and to show us how much we are loved. Our God never gives up on us, never disowns us, never sets us aside, no matter how much we might disappoint God.
That is important to remember. Because there are voices out there that says there is a limit to God’s love and mercy. There are people that say that God will fully reject us forever. Those voices are wrong. Time and time again God shows us in Jesus Christ that when we repent and turn back to God, this God of steadfast love and faithfulness and mercy is ready to welcome us back. This God offers us forgiveness and our Messiah, Jesus Christ, is the shining beacon and sign of that love every single day. There is no doubt that God sometimes looks at us and doesn’t like us very much. But never, ever, does not love us. As it says in Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I give thanks for the wisdom of people like Pastor Sutherland and for the reminder that God does not give up on us, despite our sin, and that God’s righteousness and justice can flow out into the world in and through us. But more importantly, God’s love is shown through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, flowing to us like a mighty river, on us who are sinners and need that love every day. May you feel like that love and moved by that love, may you go out into the world to share that love others. May God bless you today and always!
Mission Madness 2025! Runs from October 5th till November 16th. You can give to a specific mission partner (like Luther Park or WestCAP) or just designate your gift towards Mission Madness. Every time we hit a giving goal, PB will do the following:
$500 PB has to eat five red grapes: Already happened
$1,000 PB has to eat a hard boiled egg: DONE
$1,500 PB has to wear a Packers or Brewers tie every day for one week: DONE
$2,000 PB has to eat cold tuna noodle pasta salad with peas (the meal he hated the most as a child): DONE
$2,500 PB has to drink two ounces of black church coffee. (PB does not drink hot beverages nor coffee of any kind). Done
Currently we have raised $5,301 We only have $250 left to fulfill all our Mission goals for the year! Let’s close them all out and PB will add some extra stuff. If you have an idea, let him know!
NEW MISSION MADNESS CHALLENGE! IF WE RAISE THE FINAL $250 BY NOVEMBER 23RD, PB WILL WEAR AN ELF COSTUME FOR SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 13!
Crew Wednesday, November 12th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Kids sing in church on Sunday, November 16th at 9 am!
Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:30 am! Wear your orange and camo!
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.
Voices of Praise is back every Wednesday at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!
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
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
2 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?
13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
Luke 20:27-38
27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed, they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead but of the living, for to him all of them are alive.”
Many of you will remember back in the day when you took a road trip you had to pull out this thing called a map. Do you remember a map? You know, that paper thing that you had to unfold to find your way to go places? You may have even owned a road atlas that you used for big trips. Do you remember how, once you opened a map, that it was almost always impossible to get it folded back correctly, or was that just a “me” thing? One of the first things I did when I moved here was buy a series of maps, including a Dunn County one, to help me navigate around when I got called out to some of your places where out there. Reading a map wasn’t always the easiest thing either, which is why it was so easy to get lost. To not know where you are going can be a very frustrating, and anxiety inducing thing.
That is why, in the modern world, GPS is so much more comforting, at least for the most part. It tells you what turns to take. It tells you how long it is going to take. It even tells you when you are going to run into an accident, how to avoid construction, and the best route to take. And it might do it in a cool voice too! Amy’s GPS talks to her in a very posh British accent. I want mine to talk like Yoda, but that could get weird. Either way, having that really gives me a lot more confidence when I have to navigate, especially when I got a van full of kids on a Mission Trip. You have a lot more security when you know where you are going.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have security because we know where we are going. What do I mean by that? Well, we know that when our mortal life is over, we have eternal life in Jesus Christ. Our readings today deal with the resurrection, and through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have the promise of eternal life. This promise is for us, given to us by our loving Savior. We have not earned it. It has been given, won for us over sin and death by what Jesus Christ has done for us. We are saved by grace through faith, and this is not our own doing, it is the gift of God. As it says in our Job reading, we know that we shall see God, because our vindicator lives, or in the traditional translation, our redeemer lives. And because Jesus rose from the dead, that resurrection is for us as well. That is why God is the God of the living and not the dead, because for us we have eternal life, and this mortal life is not the end of something, but the beginning of something.
Yet, we do forget. We sometimes get lost in life, and we forget that we do have that place prepared in glory by our loving Savior. I remember having to remind my Mom as she prepared to leave this earth, that she was loved by Jesus Christ and that she had a place prepared for her in heaven. She needed that reassurance, to hear that promise again, just like we need the reassurance of that GPS telling us when we need to turn as we drive to our destination. Jesus leads us to our heavenly home, reassuring us that through his grace and mercy that we are loved and saved and that we will be with him in glory forever, reunited with all those who have gone before us.
My friends, the promise of the resurrection is for you and it will not be taken away. Trust in that promise. Have faith. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has defeated sin and death for you on the cross, and risen from the grave to bring you to eternal life. He has shown you the way and will bring you to eternal life. For that we can say, “Thanks be to God!” Amen
Mission Madness 2025! Runs from October 5th till November 16th. You can give to a specific mission partner (like Luther Park or WestCAP) or just designate your gift towards Mission Madness. Every time we hit a giving goal, PB will do the following:
$500 PB has to eat five red grapes: Already happened
$1,000 PB has to eat a hard boiled egg: DONE
$1,500 PB has to wear a Packers or Brewers tie every day for one week: DONE
$2,000 PB has to eat cold tuna noodle pasta salad with peas (the meal he hated the most as a child): DONE
$2,500 PB has to drink two ounces of black church coffee. (PB does not drink hot beverages nor coffee of any kind). Done
Currently we have raised $5,141 We only have $500 left to fulfill all our Mission goals for the year! Let’s close them all out and PB will add some extra stuff. If you have an idea, let him know!
NEW MISSION MADNESS CHALLENGE! IF WE RAISE THE FINAL $500 BY NOVEMBER 23RD, PB WILL WEAR AN ELF COSTUME FOR SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 13!
Crew Wednesday, November 12th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Kids sing in church on Sunday, November 16th at 9 am!
Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:30 am! Wear your orange and camo!
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.
Voices of Praise is back every Wednesday at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!
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
It has been a very interesting weekend. On Friday, I had the privilege to announce another Boyceville Bulldog football playoff victory, as they defeated Pepin/Alma to move on the playoffs. They played a great game and it was a great night, especially it being Halloween (I got to play Thriller and I really wanted to play Ghostbusters but couldn’t fit it in). I do want to thank Andrea McVeigh and Heidi Kothrade for taking my place at Trunk-or-Treat so I could get to the field for my announcing duties.
However, it was also a little sad, because it was our last home game of the year. I really enjoy announcing the football games. There is nothing like it and I do take it pretty seriously. I love the roar of the crowd, of announcing the touchdowns, of picking a great song to get everyone going, and the “first down” tradition. I especially love the banter in the booth with my amazing partners Jeremy Mittlestadt and Nick Schaff. Nick runs the scoreboard and Jeremy is our spotter and we work as team. We have a ton of laughs, have our own inside jokes (hashmarks), and just work great together. Friday nights aren’t the same to not be in the booth together and I am so thankful to have such great teammates. But we will keep cheering on the Bulldogs and hope for more victories down the road!
When I came to Boyceville, I wasn’t just called to be pastor of Trinity. It was originally a two-point call, with two-thirds time to spent at Trintiy and one-third to be spent at Our Savior’s in Wheeler. Trinity separated from Our Savior’s eighteen months after I arrived, so my time there ended and I stayed at Trinity, but it was still a significant place in my formation as a pastor and I have fond memories of serving there and there are many connections of people of Trinity and people of Our Savior’s, as they were in partnership for over 75 years. On Saturday morning, Our Savior’s held their final worship service and I was privileged to attend and take part. It was sad, but also celebratory, celebrating 128 years of faithful ministry. The legacy of Our Savior’s lives on in so many who continue to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and live out there faith in other places and in the memories they have of Our Savior’s. I am thankful for my time there and the people who helped me as a young pastor.
Sunday we had our Potato Pancake Meal and Men’s Band concert. During the concert, we debuted a new verse to the “Excuses” song, featuring the Packers, which I hope people enjoyed. I always love playing with the band. I will always enjoy every time we get together, audience or not. I am so thankful for all the great guys who helped put the meal on today and all the work that went into putting it together. We gave $1,000 to our Mission Madness. I also drank coffee as part of the Mission Madness event. Disgusting. So much worse than anything else I have done this time. Even worse than the tuna noodle casserole. You people that drink it every day have some weird tastes. Just awful. I hope to never do that again. Ever.
And then, I got to go home, receive love from my dogs, see my awesome wife and enjoy some lovely time with her, scream for joy as my Bears pulled out a victory that should have never been in doubt, and remember that 9 years ago, the Cubs won the World Series. God is good.
Mission Madness 2025! Runs from October 5th till November 16th. You can give to a specific mission partner (like Luther Park or WestCAP) or just designate your gift towards Mission Madness. Every time we hit a giving goal, PB will do the following:
$500 PB has to eat five red grapes: Already happened
$1,000 PB has to eat a hard boiled egg: DONE
$1,500 PB has to wear a Packers or Brewers tie every day for one week: DONE
$2,000 PB has to eat cold tuna noodle pasta salad with peas (the meal he hated the most as a child): DONE
$2,500 PB has to drink two ounces of black church coffee. (PB does not drink hot beverages nor coffee of any kind). Happening November 2nd!
Currently we have raised $3,801! We only have $850 left to fulfill all our Mission goals for the year! Let’s close them all out and PB will add some extra stuff. If you have an idea, let him know!
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our Mission Partners!
Crew Wednesday, October 29th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Men’s Band Worship Sunday, November 2nd, 9am! Join us for a morning of great music and fun!
Potato Pancake Meal, Sunday, November 2nd, 10 am till 11:30 am Two kinds of Potato Pancakes, Kielbasa Sausage, Apple Sauce, Dessert, Beverage. Free-will offering taken to benefit Trinity Missions.
Calling all men! We need your help on Sunday, November 2nd, to serve the Potato Pancake meal. Come at 9 am to help prep and then serve the meal.
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.
Voices of Praise is back every Wednesday at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wheeler will be having its final worship celebration on Saturday, November 1st, at 9:15 am. Fellowship following the service to share refreshments and memories of the past 128 years of ministry. Public is welcome.
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
As I looked over all the stuff that I would have to do for Mission Madness this year, I really thought the worse thing I was going to have to do was the Tuna Noodle Casserole with peas. I mean, I hated this meal as a child, and outside of the noodles, we have done three of those ingredients as Mission Madness things in the past: peas, canned tuna, and mayonnaise. I was dreading it and if there was anything that I might spew, it was going to be that. As a child, I was a master of hiding it in napkins, getting it to the dog to eat, and taking as little as possible to get out of eating it. But I had to eat my portion publicly and it had been a long time since I had eaten it.
I know there is nothing that this congregation loves more (outside of Jesus, of course), than to watch me suffer. It is why you enjoy these eating challenges and such, so I saw the glee on our faces as I prepared to eat this monstrosity, especially since I had already suffered through a hard-boiled egg (why do you people eat things that smell like bad farts?) But the thing was, I had an angel on my side. And that angel was Cheryl Wyss. See, when I first discussed the Mission Madness challenges with my sounding board group, the illustrious quilters, there were very excited about the Tuna Noodle Casserole and Cheryl wanted to make it. And Cheryl is not my mother. I loved my mother dearly. But my Mom was not a great cook. Adequate, but not great. Cheryl is.
Cheryl decided if she was going to make this, she was going to make it as she would make it for herself. So she used something that was foreign in my household growing up outside of salt and Lawry’s seasoning salt: spices and seasoning. And when I opened up the container, it looked nothing like what I remembered as a kid. I could tell there was pepper in it (which was just something on our table that we never used). I could tell there was other things in it outside of mayo, peas, and tuna. And I thought I might have a chance. When I sent a picture of it to Amy, I think she was a little bummed because it wasn’t going to be as bad as possible. And she was right.
Mind you, when I tasted that tuna and those peas, I wanted to spew like a garden hose. But my experience that stuff came into play. But the noodles on their own without that other disgusting crap? Delicious. And that saved me. My guardian angel saved me. So thank you Cheryl and may God bless you always.
But you know what has sucked beyond all measure? Wearing a tie for six days straight. And not even the Packer tie part (thank you Brian & Katie Moll, Bill & Julie Fisher, and Terry & Beth Ford for the ties). I’m used to wearing those disgusting colors. No, it is wearing the tie part. I wear a tie once a year: for prom. That’s it. Part of the joy of being a pastor is I get to wear a clerical and so I don’t have to wear a tie. I hate it. I hate stuff around my neck and tight around my neck. It is why I have never worn necklaces or chains or anything like that. Even worse, this week I had a series of long meetings that went very late at night so I was often wearing a tie till after 9 pm. Ugh. When I finally took the tie off on Saturday night for the last time I felt just like I do when I hear God’s promise of forgiveness in Jesus Christ: pure freedom. Wearing a tie every day might be my version of torture. It makes eating peas seems almost blissful.
But, we must sacrifice for the Lord, and we do, because we have raised almost $4,000 for our Mission Partners, and I hope that we can hit our ultimate goal of covering all our benevolences of the year. Two more weeks to go and I hope that you will join us on November 2nd for the Men’s Band concert and Potato Pancake meal. All the money raised at that meal goes to Mission Madness and you get to see me do the last challenge, drinking coffee. I hate coffee and I don’t drink hot things. Should be fun. Well, not for me but for all of you. But it will be better than wearing a tie.
May God bless you today and always!
Me in the tie on Saturday with Tuna Noodle Casserole with peas
Lagers with the Lord on Monday, October 20th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.
Mission Madness 2025! Runs from October 5th till November 16th. You can give to a specific mission partner (like Luther Park or WestCAP) or just designate your gift towards Mission Madness. Every time we hit a giving goal, PB will do the following:
$500 PB has to eat five red grapes: Already happened
$1,000 PB has to eat a hard boiled egg: Happening October 19th
$1,500 PB has to wear a Packers or Brewers tie every day for one week: Happening starting October 20th
$2,000 PB has to eat cold tuna noodle pasta salad with peas (the meal he hated the most as a child): Happening October 19th!
$2,500 PB has to drink two ounces of black church coffee. (PB does not drink hot beverages nor coffee of any kind). Happening November 2nd!
Currently we have raised $3,556! We only have $1,900 left to fulfill all our Mission goals for the year! Let’s close them all out and PB will add some extra stuff. If you have an idea, let him know!
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our Mission Partners!
Men’s Band Worship Sunday, November 2nd, 9am! Join us for a morning of great music and fun!
Potato Pancake Meal, Sunday, November 2nd, 10 am till 11:30 am Two kinds of Potato Pancakes, Kielbasa Sausage, Apple Sauce, Dessert, Beverage. Free-will offering taken to benefit Trinity Missions.
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.
Voices of Praise is back every Wednesday at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!
Crew Wednesday, October 29th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wheeler will be having its final worship celebration on Saturday, November 1st, at 9:15 am. Fellowship following the service to share refreshments and memories of the past 128 years of ministry. Public is welcome.
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
When you are in need of something or you need to find something out, I bet you do what I do: you Google it. Maybe you might turn to YouTube if you need help with something. Then, you might call a friend or a neighbor or a family neighbor. Maybe you might turn to Wikipedia for a piece of information or find out some fact about something. When we need help with something, we now have a variety of resources that we can turn to, many of them at right at our fingertips with a few presses of a button.
But there are somethings we need help with that can’t be solved by a Google search or a YouTube video. Sometimes we need help and we have to turn to something a little greater than that. Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Sadly, at times, we turn to the Lord only as a last resort. When the problem seems too big for us, we turn to our God in desperation. We turn to the Lord in the last moments, often out of fear. Of course, there are those problems, those issues, that are just too big that frankly only the Lord can deal with, that only the Lord can handle for us.
The good news for us is that our Lord is there, ready and waiting for us to bring our problems to this loving God, this loving Savior, who is ready to bear our burdens and problems, ready to be our help. After all, this loving Lord has already defeated sin and death for us and has the promise of eternal life for us. This Lord promises to be with us always to the end of the age. This Savior promises that nothing will ever separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ. This Lord is ready and willing to hear our problems, to be our help, to be our refuge and strength in the midst of trouble.
We all have problems, both big and small. We can turn to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ first to be our help. God does not have to be our last resort but can be our first. For our loving Lord is there to provide us comfort and hope. We might not always get the help we want or the answers we desire, but if nothing else, we get the assurance that we are not alone, that our problems are heard, and that our Savior Jesus Christ is with us, that your Savior is with you, always, till the end of the age. And there are no pop up ads, like on Google or YouTube!
Crew this Wednesday, October 15th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Mission Trip Meeting Wednesday, October 15th, 7 pm!
Mission Madness 2025! Runs from October 5th till November 16th. You can give to a specific mission partner (like Luther Park or WestCAP) or just designate your gift towards Mission Madness. Every time we hit a giving goal, PB will do the following:
$500 PB has to eat five red grapes: Happening this Sunday, October 12th!
$1,000 PB has to eat a hard boiled egg: Happening October 19th
$1,500 PB has to wear a Packers or Brewers tie every day for one week Happening starting October 20th
$2,000 PB has to eat cold tuna noodle pasta salad with peas (the meal he hated the most as a child): Happening October 19th!
$2,500 PB has to drink two ounces of black church coffee. (PB does not drink hot beverages nor coffee of any kind). Happening November 2nd!
Currently we have raised $3,100! We raised that during the WestCAP fundraiser last week! We only have $2,300 left to fulfill all our Mission goals for the year! Let’s close them all out and PB will add some extra stuff. If you have an idea, let him know!
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our Mission Partners!
Voices of Praise is back every Wednesday at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!
Thank you to all of our volunteers that helped at the WestCAP spaghetti dinner last Sunday and all those that helped at Oktoberfest Craft and Vendor sale on Saturday and those that packed LWR boxes this past Wednesday!
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
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:5-7
The following verses were the second reading this past Sunday, October 5th, and I preached on them on Wednesday night at Trinity, and the day before at my monthly nursing home service at Glenhaven (I didn’t preach on them at Trintiy on Sunday, the 5th, as I was on vacation that morning). I enjoy these verses, as Paul reminds Timothy of his faith, a faith that as passed on to him from his grandmother and mother. For many of us, that is how our faith is passed on. From grandparent to parent to us. I know I can trace my faith that way. Passed on from generation to generation to generation. It is one of the things that is so important about the church, the gathering of the generations, sharing the same faith, modeling the importance of faith, of living out your faith in the multitude of generations, not only in families, but just seeing it being in lived and shared and encouraged in people of all ages, supporting each other as fellow disciples of Jesus Christ.
Of course. it isn’t only faith that we pass on from generation to generation. It was something I was thinking about when I preached on these verses, as I was wearing a Cubs jersey at the time on Wednesday as the Cubs were playing the Brewers in the playoffs. On Wednesday, it was 36 years to the day I attended my first ever Cubs playoff game with my Dad in 1989 as they faced the Giants in the NLCS. It was the only game they won that series (and was my first time ever in a bar, but that is a story for another time). 6 days earlier, on Tuesday of this year, I attended by second playoff game ever, this time with my nephew and his Dad, as we went to Game 1 of the Wild Card round, also a Cubs victory. I have spoken of passing on my Dad’s legacy of fandom to my nephew, and last night we both mourned the end of another Cubs season (congrats to the Brewers).
But we don’t just pass on faith in Jesus Christ to other generations. We pass on team loyalties. We pass on traits, characteristics, ways of looking at the world, traditions, and all sorts of other things. Many of them are positive, like how my parents taught me to try to make a difference in the community I live in and how you should always hold the door open for someone or compliment someone when they look nice or do something well. Some are innocuous, like whether you have a star or an angel at the top of your Christmas tree or if you have ham or turkey on Christmas Eve for dinner. Some things we pass on might not be so good, like racism, bigotry, or hatred of people different than yourself. But we do pass on things on. We do leave legacies.
What legacy are you passing on? What lessons are you leaving for future generations? Have you thought about what things you are lifting up to your children, your grandchildren, your nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors about what is truly important in life? As I have grown older, I am constantly more and more thankful for the mentors and elders in my life who passed on lessons and legacies that have shaped me, from my parents and grandparents to teachers and coaches and others in my community, like members of my home church, that made a positive and lasting impact on how I see the world. For without them, I would not be who I am today.
It doesn’t take much to leave a lasting legacy upon someone else. All it takes is sharing a part of yourself. Sharing your faith, sharing your love, your wisdom, your heart. I hope you will consider how you can impact someone else today, tomorrow, and in the future, whether it be a relative, a neighbor, or a complete stranger. Do not be afraid to share yourself with others. Do not be afraid to share your faith and pass on what you have learned in this life. Do not be afraid to share yourself and make a lasting impact on the future generations, for they need you. May God be with you as you leave that legacy to others.
Crew this Wednesday, October 1st from 3:30-5, for all 3rd-6th graders!
Join us as we pack up Lutheran World Relief Kits this Wednesday, October 1st,
at 9 am
Reminder to 9th grade confirmands that your confirmation folders are due on Wednesday, October 1st!
Fall Family Fest and WestCAP Fundraiser: Sunday, October 5, 4pm till 7pm. Inflatables, Games, and fun for the whole family starting at 4 pm. Spaghetti meal at 5 pm. Men’s Band concert at 6 pm. Free-will offering taken to benefit WestCAP food pantry here in Boyceville.
Voices of Praise is back every Wednesday at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!
Mission Trip registration forms are due on Sunday, October 5th!
Mission Madness 2025! Runs from October 5th till November 16th. You can give to a specific mission partner (like Luther Park or WestCAP) or just designate your gift towards Mission Madness. Every time we hit a giving goal, PB will do the following:
$500 PB has to eat five red grapes
$1,000 PB has to eat a hard boiled egg
$1,500 PB has to wear a Packers or Brewers tie every day for one week
$2,000 PB has to eat cold tuna noodle pasta salad with peas (the meal he hated the most as a child)
$2,500 PB has to drink two ounces of black church coffee. (PB does not drink hot beverages nor coffee of any kind).
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our Mission Partners!
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
Yesterday, we hosted our first Neighbor to Neighbor Health Fair here at Trinity. Neighbor to Neighbor, for those that don’t remember, is a ministry of our Synod that reaches out to the Latino population, and one of the things that they do is hold Health Fairs to bring needed resources to a population that often has a hard time accessing such resources. We had all sort of providers and organizations here, such as Hearing and Vision Screening, Mayo Clinic, Dunn County Health Department, as well as places like Arbor Place, The Bridge to Hope, Stepping Stones, WestCap, and others, like Luther Park, Chippewa Valley Voters, and JONAH. We had a Mexican Food Truck here to provide food truck, our local one from right here in Boyceville that you see at Pickle Fest, and one thing that we did that many don’t do is we did a personal care item distribution of things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, detergent, soap, and more. We had a wonderful turnout on a beautiful day and I was really pleased with how it all turned out, even with a little more wind than we wanted and some pesky bees!
But what I was really pleased with was our incredible group of volunteers that came to help. We had people that came to help set-up, those that came to work the event, and those that came to tear down, which was really great for me, because I had to leave a half hour after the event to go to the Twin Cities to perform a wedding! Even better, our volunteers ran the gambit, from some of our oldest members to confirmation and high school students. Parents served with their children, which is a great example of modeling faith and service. Helping at this kind of event can be very difficult and put us outside of our comfort zone as interact with people that we don’t know and can’t communicate easily with, especially a little short on interpreters. But what came through was our volunteer’s joy and welcoming smiles. This is what it means to be the church. To open ourselves up in love to others and to try a make a difference in their lives. To lift up others. To really embody what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves.
I want to thank all of you that also dropped donations over the past couple of weeks as well that helped make our distribution a success. Your generosity is appreciated. My vision is for us to continue to be a church that reaches out in our community. I love the fact that so many of you give of your time to our ministry partners, whether it be to WestCAP or Stepping Stones or many others. This upcoming Sunday, October 5th, we are going to be helping out WestCAP with our Fall Fest fundraiser for them and I hope that you will join us for the Spaghetti Meal at 5 pm and the Men’s Band Concert at 6 pm. They need our help and they do so much. Bring the kids at 4 pm to have fun with the inflatables, then stay for the meal and concert. Be generous as Mission Madness starts because the funds we send to our partners in ministry makes a direct impact on the lives of other people.
We are church together and as the church, we look outward toward our neighbor, as Jesus has called us to. A church not in action is a dead church. A church only worried about itself is a dying church. A church standing still is sinking slowly into irrelevance and complacency. But a church focused on pushing outward, on serving, on meeting the needs of others, that is a vibrant church. That is a growing church. That is a church that is answering God’s call in Jesus Christ to love. That is who I want us to be. That is who I think we are. May we continue to be that and more and never lose sight of it.
