Trinity Lutheran Church

November 16, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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 13^th!

Lagers with the Lord on Monday, November 17^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.

Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 19^th at 6:30 am!  Wear your orange and camo!

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

No Worship on Wednesday, November 26^th.  Office closed November 27^th & 28^th.

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!

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! 

November 10, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mission Madness 2025!  Runs from October 5^th till November 16^th.  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 23^RD, PB WILL WEAR AN ELF COSTUME FOR SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 13!

Crew Wednesday, November 12^th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Kids sing in church on Sunday, November 16^th at 9 am!

Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 19^th 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

November 3, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mission Madness 2025!  Runs from October 5^th till November 16^th.  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 23^RD, PB WILL WEAR AN ELF COSTUME FOR SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 13!

Crew Wednesday, November 12^th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Kids sing in church on Sunday, November 16^th at 9 am!

Deer Hunter’s Worship on Wednesday, November 19^th 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. 

  May the Lord bless you today and always! 

October 26, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mission Madness 2025!  Runs from October 5^th till November 16^th.  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 2^nd!

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 2^nd, 9am!  Join us for a morning of great music and fun!

Potato Pancake Meal, Sunday, November 2^nd, 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 2^nd, 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 1^st, 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 2^nd 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

Tracy Danovsky (now Kubala)

after her wedding.  Tie supplied by

Katie & Brian Moll

October 19, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lagers with the Lord on Monday, October 20^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s. 

Mission Madness 2025!  Runs from October 5^th till November 16^th.  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 19^th!

$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 2^nd!

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 2^nd, 9am!  Join us for a morning of great music and fun!

Potato Pancake Meal, Sunday, November 2^nd, 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 1^st, 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!

  May God bless you this week and always! 

October 12, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crew this Wednesday, October 15th from 3:30-5:00pm, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Mission Trip Meeting Wednesday, October 15^th, 7 pm!

Mission Madness 2025!  Runs from October 5^th till November 16^th.  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 12^th!

$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 19^th!

$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 2^nd!

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 5^th, 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 5^th, 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.

May God bless you this week and always! 

September 28, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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 1^st,

at 9 am

Reminder to 9^th grade confirmands that your confirmation folders are due on Wednesday, October 1^st!

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 5^th!

Mission Madness 2025!  Runs from October 5^th till November 16^th.  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 5^th, 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. 

  May God bless you this week and always! 

September 14, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crew starts back up Wednesday, Sept 17th from 3:30-5, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Lagers with the Lord Monday, September 15^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s. 

Voices of Praise is back starting Wednesday, Sept 10th at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!

Mission Trip Informational Meeting Sunday, September 21^st, 10 am.  We will be heading to Denver June 13-20, 2026.  If you are a high school student but can’t attend the meeting, please see PB. 

Crew snacks needed! See the sign-up on the table in the Narthex or call the church. We are looking for snacks for 50 youth. No need to serve them, just to provide them! You can bring anything you want! Cookies, cheese, fruits, vegetables, anything you can dream up the kids will eat! Make it as big or as small as you want! Talk to PB if you have questions.

It’s back to school time!! The WOT will be collecting items for our local schools and for kits to go to Lutheran World Relief. There are two different boxes set out for collection so make sure you put yours in the box you want your items to go to. The bags you take off the pews are the ones that go to Lutheran World Relief and each bag has a printed copy of all items needed to fill that bag. There are copies of items needed for our local schools on the display table by the kitchen. Thank you for helping us help others!

Neighbor to Neighbor Health Fair, September 27th, 10 am till 1 pm. This event is to provide resources and information specifically for the Hispanic population of our area and in conjunction with the Northwest Syn od of Wisconsin. We are collecting personal care items as well to hand out during this event. Items include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, dish soap, laundry detergent, underwear (men’s & women’s), socks. Want to help? See the sign-up on the table in the Narthex.  We need help setting up, taking down, manning the Trinity table, and passing out items for our personal care distribution. 

Do you know someone who speaks Spanish? We are looking for Spanish speakers to be interpreters for the Neighbor to Neighbor Health Fair.  They  would go around with families during the fair to help translate for the participants and providers.  If you know of someone, ask them if they are willing to help and contact PB as well. 

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. 

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

  As many of you know, I love food.  I love a good meal.  But sometimes, you just need something simple.  Something delicious.  And there is nothing more delicious, and more simple, than popcorn. I love popcorn.  This love of popcorn is inherited from my mother, who ate it I swear six out of seven days.  She basically survived on Diet Coke, coffee, and popcorn for the most part, and she could eat popcorn by the tonnage. 

  In recent years, there is trend to have all sorts of different flavors of popcorn.  Heck, in the store the other day I saw Pickle flavored popcorn.  That crap is not for me.  Give me popcorn as God intended: butter and salt.  That’s it.  All it needs.  Frankly, I do love my popcorn salty and I take my own salt shaker into the movie theater to make sure of it.  Movie theater popcorn is the best popcorn around and, in my humble opinion, Alamo Drafthouse (there is one in Woodbury) has the best popcorn out there.  Love it.  They use clarified butter and serve it in a big metal bowl, which makes eating it even better.  Heavenly.

  My friend Pastor Tim Schmidt is also a popcorn fiend.  When he would travel around to watch his kids play sports, he would rate each school’s popcorn.  When we go out for lunch to places there is nothing better than when there is free popcorn and we have to be careful to not ruin our lunch by eating the popcorn. One of the things that baffles me is that while he announces games for Cumberland, he eats popcorn.  He has to have it.  I can’t imagine eating while announcing (at the same time, he can’t believe that I don’t eat popcorn while I announce).  Popcorn is just that good.

  Why am I talking about popcorn?  Well, I guess for one I just love it.  But also it is a reminder to appreciate the simple things.  It is easy to forget about the simple joys of life.  I know I can forget about them at times.  The little things that we take for granted.  With the craziness of the world, we sometimes have to stop and remember and appreciate the small things that bring us joy.  Popcorn is one of those things for me.  It not only connects me with my Mom and my closest friend, it reminds me that you can have something delicious that is pretty simple.  It is comforting and makes me feel happy when I eat it, whether it is at the movie theater or at home with Amy while we watch a show.  It is the food I sometimes want after a long day that just makes me feel good.

  So take a moment today or this week to appreciate the small things, the simple things.  Think about something like that which brings you joy, makes you feel comfort, brings you a memory or connects you to the people you love.  For these small things are gifts from God. And have some popcorn.  With lots of butter and salt.  Nothing better. 

  May God bless you today and always! 

September 7, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sunday School Rally Day is Sunday, September 7^th, at 9:45 am!

Voices of Praise is back starting Wednesday, Sept 10th at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!

Crew starts back up Wednesday, Sept 17th from 3:30-5, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Crew snacks needed! See the sign-up on the table in the Narthex or call the church. We are looking for snacks for 50 youth. No need to serve them, just to provide them! You can bring anything you want! Cookies, cheese, fruits, vegetables, anything you can dream up the kids will eat! Make it as big or as small as you want! Talk to PB if you have questions.

It’s back to school time!! The WOT will be collecting items for our local schools and for kits to go to Lutheran World Relief. There are two different boxes set out for collection so make sure you put yours in the box you want your items to go to. The bags you take off the pews are the ones that go to Lutheran World Relief and each bag has a printed copy of all items needed to fill that bag. There are copies of items needed for our local schools on the display table by the kitchen. Thank you for helping us help others!

Lagers with the Lord Monday, September 15^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s. 

Mission Trip Informational Meeting Sunday, September 21^st, 10 am.  We will be heading to Denver June 13-20, 2026.  If you are a high school student but can’t attend the meeting, please see PB. 

Neighbor to Neighbor Health Fair, September 27th, 10 am till 1 pm. This event is to provide resources and information specifically for the Hispanic population of our area and in conjunction with the Northwest Syn od of Wisconsin. We are collecting personal care items as well to hand out during this event. Items include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, dish soap, laundry detergent, underwear (men’s & women’s), socks. Want to help? See the sign-up on the table in the Narthex.  We need help setting up, taking down, manning the Trinity table, and passing out items for our personal care distribution. 

Do you know someone who speaks Spanish? We are looking for Spanish speakers to be interpreters for the Neighbor to Neighbor Health Fair.  They  would go around with families during the fair to help translate for the participants and providers.  If you know of someone, ask them if they are willing to help and contact PB as well. 

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

   There was a man who fell in the ocean and he couldn’t swim. When a boat came by, the captain yelled, “Do you need help, sir?” The man calmly said “No, I’ve prayed and God will save me.” A little later, another boat came by and a fisherman asked, “Hey, do you need help?” The man replied again, “No, I’ve prayed and God will save me.” Eventually the man drowned & went to heaven. The man asked God, “God, I prayed for you to save me.  Why didn’t you save me?” God replied, “Fool, I sent you two boats!”

  I’ve always loved this little story, and other versions that are similar.  And I think there is an important lesson in this story.  God works through people.  God sends people into our lives to answer prayers.  Even more so, God sends you to people to answer their prayers. 

  I think this is important to remember.  Of course, God does act by God’s own hand.  But often, God works in and through others.  I know I have often spent countless times waiting for God to act, looking for the signs that God is doing something, when all along God had sent others to me to show me that God had heard my prayers and was answering them and maybe answering them in ways I wasn’t expecting and showing me that I had been heard.

  At the same time, as we have faith and trust in God, we also put that faith in action by going out into the world.  We don’t just lock ourselves away.  We use the gifts that God has given us, our voices, our talents, our treasurers, to do God’s work in the world.  We offer prayers but we also follow those prayers up with using our gifts to help others, encourage others, and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in whatever way we can.  I think of Jesus, who took time out for prayer but then went out and healed and taught and served and gave his life so that we would be saved and reminded us that he would be with us always till the end of the age.

  As you go out into the world, know that the God is working in and through others for you and that you are God’s vessel for others.  Continue to pray for the world and for others.  But don’t just pray.  Act as well.  Use your gifts for the sake of the world, as Jesus did, for in doing so you are someone’s answered prayer.

  May God bless you today and always.  

August 31,  2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Women of Trinity Fall Gathering, Saturday, September 6^th, 9 am.  Brunch meal, with speaker Rev. Jeanne Hartfield. 

Sunday School Rally Day is Sunday, September 7^th, at 9:45 am!

Voices of Praise is back starting Wednesday, Sept 10th at 7pm, join us for singing and fellowship!

Crew starts back up Wednesday, Sept 17th from 3:30-5, for all 3rd-6th graders!

Crew snacks needed! See the sign-up on the table in the Narthex or call the church. We are looking for snacks for 50 youth. No need to serve them, just to provide them! You can bring anything you want! Cookies, cheese, fruits, vegetables, anything you can dream up the kids will eat! Make it as big or as small as you want! Talk to PB if you have questions.

It’s back to school time!! The WOT will be collecting items for our local schools and for kits to go to Lutheran World Relief. There are two different boxes set out for collection so make sure you put yours in the box you want your items to go to. The bags you take off the pews are the ones that go to Lutheran World Relief and each bag has a printed copy of all items needed to fill that bag. There are copies of items needed for our local schools on the display table by the kitchen. Thank you for helping us help others!

Lagers with the Lord Monday, September 15^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s. 

Mission Trip Informational Meeting Sunday, September 21^st, 10 am.  We will be heading to Denver June 13-20, 2026.  If you are a high school student but can’t attend the meeting, please see PB. 

Neighbor to Neighbor Health Fair, September 27th, 10 am till 1 pm. This event is to provide resources and information specifically for the Hispanic population of our area and in conjunction with the Northwest Syn od of Wisconsin. We are collecting personal care items as well to hand out during this event. Items include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, dish soap, laundry detergent, underwear (men’s & women’s), socks. Want to help? See the sign-up on the table in the Narthex.  We need help setting up, taking down, manning the Trinity table, and passing out items for our personal care distribution. 

Do you know someone who speaks Spanish? We are looking for Spanish speakers to be interpreters for the Neighbor to Neighbor Health Fair.  They  would go around with families during the fair to help translate for the participants and providers.  If you know of someone, ask them if they are willing to help and contact PB as well. 

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

   Ah, my friends, it is that great time of year.  Football season has arrived!  Not only that, but it is still golf season and baseball season and your friendly neighborhood pastor is in sports heaven.  Since the Cubs are still in a playoff hunt, I’m fully invested in watching baseball every night.  At the same time, the weather is perfect for golf and I can get out and play as much as my schedule will allow.  Plus, my favorite non-major event, the Ryder Cup, is coming up later in September and I follow that very closely, even though I fear the Americans are just going to get it handed to us on American soil.  And now football is going.

  Let me set the scene for you.  On Friday, I played golf (and actually played mostly well).  Friday night, at home, I had the Boyceville game on my computer watching the live stream of their win in Cameron while at the same time watching multiple college football games on my phone as Amy and I were finishing shows up on the main TV.  On Saturday night, since Amy wanted to read, I had the Cubs game up on the TV and college games going on my computer and my phone (yes, I have a sickness.  A disease.  Its ok.  I embrace it).  I was in sports heaven.

  Throw in the start of the NFL season on Thursday?  Let’s go.  Prime time joy time for ol’ PB.  Of course, it is slightly dampened by the fact that all of the Packer fans I live with are sky high right now after the Micah Parsons trade, as you should be.  I’m assuming you have all booked your hotel rooms for the San Francisco area for this year’s Super Bowl in preparation for your eventual championship and already have the parade planned.  I’m cautiously optimistic about my Chicago Bears who, despite being last in the NFC North last year somehow are tied for second hardest schedule in the NFL this year.  I’ll complain all the same and as long as we win one against the heavily favored Packers, like last year, it will make for a good year.  😊

  No matter what, it will be sports joy for me.  Heck, this week alone I will see football every single day for the most part, as I work three games this week in the booth for Boyceville, watch games as much as I can, and take a moment to appreciate the joy of the sport I love.  Because in the end, it is all about appreciation.  For when you enjoy something, you need to take a moment to appreciate it. 

  It is something I’ve been trying to do more of.  I can get a little negative about the sports teams I love and even the sports I play (at this moment, my friends and Amy are saying, a little?  That’s an understatement).  I tend to take a fatalistic approach, which is opposite of how I take most of life.  But these are meant to be escapes and I do love them.  And so I’m trying to appreciate them more.  Be thankful more, even when the Cubs get swept in SF or if the Bears offense looks awful or when I chunk an approach shot from 90 yards in the middle of the fairway.  Sports are a gift, not a burden, and I’m hoping being a little more appreciative, and little more thankful, will be better for my mental health and a reminder again of the gift it all is. 

  I hope that you take a moment to be thankful for the things, hobbies, pursuits and passions in your life that you enjoy.  They are gifts.  And no matter who you cheer for, on the football field or anywhere, that you enjoy watching them play and give thanks for that gift.  May God bless you today and always!