Trinity Lutheran Church

November 12, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Mission Madness 2023:

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

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

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

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

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

FINAL TOTAL: $4870!  INCREDIBLE JOB EVERYONE!  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 30, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

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

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

5. Homer Simpson, 2001.

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

4. Christmas Elf, 2019

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

3. Butterfly, 2009

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

2. Uncle Fester: 2002 or 2003.

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

1. Batman, early 1980’s for multiple years

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

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

Have a Happy Halloween! 

October 26, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

CURRENT TOTAL $1010

DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 5^TH.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 15, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

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

  $500 PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. 

$1,000 PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween

$1,500 PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November.

$2,000PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume

$2,500PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard.

CURRENT TOTAL $380

Crew October 18th at 3:30 pm till 5pm for all 3rd-6th graders!

Lagers with the Lord Monday, October 16^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome to join us for this time of faith conversation and fellowship.

High School Lock-In, October 27^th, 6pm till 7 am on October 28^th.  Sign-up in the Narthex.  Need some parents to drive at 6:30 pm till 7:30 pm for our Scavenger Hunt for Hunger and a parent or two for some of the overnight hours.  See the sign-up in the Narthex.

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

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

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

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  One of the coolest things this year in being at Boyceville football games has been our awesome cheerleaders.  We have a lot of them this year and not only do they cheer at varsity games, they cheer at JV games, which is super fun.  If you don’t know, I come from a family of cheerleaders.  My mom was a cheerleader and a cheerleading coach.  My sisters were both cheerleaders for football and basketball.  I had to listen to a lot of cheerleading going on when I was a kid, especially when they would practice in our living room while I was trying to watch TV!  Anyways, our cheerleaders at the Bulldog games have been super loud, which I love to hear when I’m up in the booth announcing.  They bring great energy and they have had to do a lot of jumping jacks this year with all the points we have scored! 

  I thought of our awesome cheerleaders as I read these words Romans this morning: “If God is for us, who is against us?”  This comes from Romans 8:31b. Have you ever thought about how God is cheering you on?  That our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is with us, cheering for us as we make our way in the world.  That image brings me comfort. I don’t think God wants us to fail, to sin, to make mistakes.  I think God wants us to make the right choices, to succeed in the important ways of life.  I think God cheers us on as we celebrate the joys of life. 

  But the other thing is that God never stops cheering for us.  Our cheerleaders cheer on the Bulldogs win or lose, in warmth and in the cold, when it is a perfect night for football or when it is raining sideways with 20 mph winds.  They are there for the team no matter what and God in Jesus Christ is there for you no matter what.  No matter the storms, the difficulty, nothing keeping God away from cheering you on.

  May you know every day that you are not alone, that Jesus Christ is there for you, loving you, forgiving you, and giving his life for you.  And remember that God is cheering you on, this day and every day!  May the Lord bless you today and always!

October 8, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

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

  $500 PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. 

$1,000 PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween

$1,500 PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November.

$2,000PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume

$2,500PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard.

CURRENT TOTAL $160

Crew October 4th at 3:30 pm till 5pm for all 3rd-6th graders!

Fall Family Fest, Sunday, October 8th, 2:30 pm till 5pm: Inflatables, games, food, and more for all ages!

Craft & Vendor Fair, October 14^th, 9 am at Boyceville High School.  We are looking for helpers for this event.  Please see the sign-ups on the table in the Narthex. 

October 15^th we will Bless First Responders  We invite all EMT’s, Firefighters, and Law Enforcement officers to join us for worship at 9 am as we bless them for their service and vocation.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, October 16^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome to join us for this time of faith conversation and fellowship.

High School Lock-In, October 27^th, 6pm till 7 am on October 28^th.  Sign-up in the Narthex.  Need some parents to drive at 6:30 pm till 7:30 pm for our Scavenger Hunt for Hunger and a parent or two for some of the overnight hours.  See the sign-up in the Narthex.

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

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

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

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  On Tuesday, I exchanged emails with the executive director of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Stout in preparation for my visit there this Monday, where I will do my annual semester Q&A session with the students there.  She was sending me some questions in advance, deep, faithful questions that some of the students had already raised that she wanted me to be ready for. It is one of my favorite things, to have these deep, faithful conversations with young adults who love Jesus and want to grow in their faith and knowledge of God.

  On Wednesday, a group of Trinity members gathered together to put together Weekend Meal Program bags at WestCAP, a program that is a sponsorship between the Boyceville churches, WestCAP, and Boyceville Schools that help provide food for the weekends for families in need.

  On Thursday, I stopped at Luther Park in Chetek to drop off a bunch of Recharge sign-ups for our middle school youth and to reconfirm that they were coming at the end of October and the first weekend in November to help me run lock-ins for our High School and Middle School youth.  Without their help, we would not be able to do these lock-ins as it has become harder and harder to have parents staff it.  With Recharge, it gives our confirmation youth an event that not only allows them to explore their faith but also to get familiar with Luther Park before they go to summer camp.

  On Friday, I pulled into to church to see a group of people loading up a U-Haul trailer to take our Lutheran World Relief kits to be collected in Eau Claire.  Boxes of school supplies, health kits, quilts, and more were loaded up to make a difference to people around the world.

  What do all these things have in common?  They are part of our Missions here at Trinity and many of these ministries are supported by our mission and benevolence dollars.  These are just a few of the ministries that help expand our ministry beyond our walls.  And these organizations are the reason we do Mission Madness.  It isn’t about me doing stupid things.  It is about helping these organizations to fulfill their mission, a mission that we are a part of.  The work they do is work that we cannot do on our own.  By partnering with them, we are expanding our ministry out into the world and making a larger impact than what we could on our own.

  You can make a difference with your financial gifts through Mission Madness.  Donate online through the link in the announcements.  Send in a check in the mail or drop something in the offering plate.  You can support a specific ministry or just write “Missions” or “Mission Madness” in the memo line.  Help our partners.  Serve the neighbor.  Make a difference by supporting our mission partners.  And remember that you are loved and saved in Jesus Christ. 

October 1, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

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

  $500 PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. 

$1,000 PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween

$1,500 PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November.

$2,000PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume

$2,500PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard.

Crew October 4th at 3:30 pm till 5pm for all 3rd-6th graders!

Fall Family Fest, Sunday, October 8th, 2:30 pm till 5pm: Inflatables, games, food, and more for all ages!

Cross Generational Worship: Sunday, October 8^th, 9 am.  Our theme this year is “Stitched Together By God’s Love.” 

Craft & Vendor Fair, October 14^th, 9 am at Boyceville High School.  We are looking for helpers for this event.  Please see the sign-ups on the table in the Narthex. 

October 15^th we will Bless First Responders  We invite all EMT’s, Firefighters, and Law Enforcement officers to join us for worship at 9 am as we bless them for their service and vocation.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, October 16^th, 6 pm at Buckshot’s.  All are welcome to join us for this time of faith conversation and fellowship.

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

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

As I walked into the sanctuary of the church this morning, I got to see an incredible site.  It is all of our pews covered in colorful quilts.  You will see a picture of that at the end of “Musings” (taken by Becky Nyhus on Wednesday when they set them out).  Even though I had walked by it multiple times this week, there is something about turning on the lights and seeing them all displayed.  Seeing them on the pews made me think of how it is a great representation of what the church is.

  Each quilt is unique.  Unique colors, unique patterns.  They aren’t all the same size.  Just as the church is made up of unique individuals, of every gender, color, size, background, and more.  We sometimes forget that.  Also, just as the quilt has it’s own unique pattern, we have our own unique gifts, given by God for the sake of God’s mission in the world and for serving and loving our neighbor.  Our gifts don’t need to be the same as our neighbors.  Rather, they are ours, uniquely given so that we might display God’s love in Jesus Christ.

  At the same time, how the quilts came into being in like the church.  Someone donated the fabric.  Someone cut the fabric into squares or pieces to be used.  Those pieces are sewn together to make a top and then paired with a bottom.  Those are tied together with yarn and then the whole thing is sewed together.  Each quilter in the quilting room has their own job, their own skills and talents, but they are used to create a quilt which brings comfort to the afflicted, warmth to the cold, and joy to all who receive it.  This is just like the church where you use your gifts and talents for the sake of bringing the love of Jesus Christ to others.  Your financial gifts, your gift of time, the gift of your talent to serve. 

   If the quilters don’t use their gifts, then a quilt cannot be made.  If we don’t use our gifts, our ministry will die and cease to exist.  If we don’t give of our time, our financial resources, or of our talents, then our ministry withers and fails.  It is why we need you to continue to keep making “quilts” if you will in this place called Trinity Lutheran Church.  To give of our financial resources so that we have a building that can be open to do so much but also a staff to make it all happen.  If you don’t give of your time and your talents, then events don’t happen, the Gospel isn’t proclaimed and the poor and needy are not lifted up. 

  My hope and prayer is that right now you are thinking about how you can use your gifts, your resources, this day, this moment, to further the kingdom of God.  To keep making quilts that will bring the warmth of Jesus Christ to all who need it.  And I hope that, just as a quilt surrounds us, that you are surrounded by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.  For that we can say, “Thanks be to God!”  Amen

September 25, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

October 1^st is our Blessing of the Quilts and our “Turn Back the Clock” worship  Join us at 9 am as we bless the work of our quilters and we go back to doing worship how we did when PB arrived 21 years ago!

Crew October 4th at 3:30 pm till 5pm for all 3rd-6th graders!

Fall Family Fest, Sunday, October 8th, 2:30 pm till 5pm: Inflatables, games, food, and more for all ages!

Cross Generational Worship: Sunday, October 8^th, 9 am.  Our theme this year is “Stitched Together By God’s Love.” 

Craft & Vendor Fair, October 14^th, 9 am at Boyceville High School.  We are looking for helpers for this event.  Please see the sign-ups on the table in the Narthex. 

October 15^th we will Bless First Responders  We invite all EMT’s, Firefighters, and Law Enforcement officers to join us for worship at 9 am as we bless them for their service and vocation.

Lagers with the Lord Monday, October 16^th, 6 pm at Buckshots.  All are welcome to join us for this time of faith conversation and fellowship.

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

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

The results of the Mission Madness survey are in.  But before I reveal the winners, I want to take a moment to remind you why we do Mission Madness.  Sure, part of it is to see me do stupid things and possibly embarrass myself publicly multiple ways.  But it is really about helping others, about following our call to serve the neighbor.

  All the other stuff means absolutely nothing if we forget why we do it in the first place.  Serving the neighbor is part of who we are as followers of Jesus Christ.  By giving of our financial resources to our partner organizations, we help them fulfill their mission while at the same time fulfilling ours.  To help others.  To spread the Gospel.  To serve the poor and needy.  We do this out of thanksgiving for the resources we have been given but also as a way to live out our faith.  For if we truly take seriously the gift of the faith we have been given and the saving grace of Jesus Christ that is given to us, then good works, then generosity, flow for us.  For as it says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” 

  My hope and prayer is that as you designate funds for “Mission Madness,” you will do so not just out of a desire to see me dress as a clown or get pelted by water balloons.  I hope that you will give those financial resources as an act of living out your faith and answering God’s call to serve the neighbor.  Just put on your offering “Mission Madness” or designate it specifically to one of our Mission partners (Luther Park Bible Camp, WestCAP, Stepping Stones of Dunn County, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Stout, the ELCA, American Lutheran Home, Lutheran Social Services).  May the Lord take our offerings and use them to bring hope to others.  And without further adieu, here is the 2023 Mission Madness list, as voted on by you:

$500 PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. 

$1,000 PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween

$1,500 PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November.

$2,000PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume

$2,500PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard.

I thank you for voting and most especially for your upcoming generosity to make a difference for our partner organizations. 

September 10, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Sunday School starts back up Sunday, September 10^th at 9:45 am.

Youth Mission Trip Presentation will be Sunday, September 10^th at 9:45 am. Come see the amazing work our youth did in Colorado.

2024 ELCA Youth Gathering Informational Meeting: Sunday, September 10^th, 10:15 am.  The Youth Gathering is in New Orleans July 15-21, 2024.  All current high school students can attend.

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!

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

The Crew begins on Wednesday, September 20^th, for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Sunday, September 17^th is Blessing of the Animals and Parking Lot worship. Bring a chair and your beloved pets.

We invite all teachers, school personnel, and day care workers to join us for worship on Sunday, September 24^th, as we bless and honor their work.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

  One of our favorite traditions here at Trinity is “Mission Madness.”  This month-long event is an opportunity for us to raise funds for our mission partners, which are organizations like Luther Park Bible Camp, WestCAP, Stepping Stones, the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, and more.  We do this by you all giving money to our benevolences, or earmarking offerings to one of our organizational partners, and I do what I like to call “stupid stuff.” Over the years, I have worn too many Packers and Brewers things to remember, eaten most of the food I absolutely hate (though not ALL), grown beards, did the hula in a grass skirt, defeated Katie Wagner in a tricycle race and spaghetti eating contest, and been smashed in the face with pies and cupcakes, just to name a few of the things we have done.  The important part of all it is supporting our mission partners but doing so in a fun way. 

  For this year, I thought it might be fun to let YOU choose what “stupid stuff” I will do this year.  The below list is a combination of suggestions from my own brain, one of our high school youth, and my wife Amy.  I invite you to respond to this email with your choices by September 24^th.  Mission Madness this year will start on October 1^st and go through November 5^th.  Thanks for voting and for supporting our Mission partners!  

Mission Madness 2023

Choose five from the following options:

____PB can’t wear any Star Wars clothing for two weeks.

____PB dresses as a clown one morning for crossing guard.

____PB cannot eat any BBQ for one month.

____PB takes a chocolate cake to the face.

____PB dresses as Packers fan or player for Halloween

____PB must lead his Pastor’s Conference meeting in the Packer poncho

____PB must eat a serving size of mayonnaise

____PB must grow a beard for a whole month

____PB gets pelted by water balloons after the Men’s Band concert in November.

____PB has to drink one cup of church coffee

____PB wears an inflatable dinosaur costume

____PB sings “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the congregation. 

September 3, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

OFFICE CLOSED ON SEPTEMBER 4^TH FOR LABOR DAY

Confirmation starts back up Wednesday, September 6^th at 5:30pm for 7^th graders. 8^th graders will start the following week.

Women of Trinity Fall Gathering, Thursday, September 7^th at 6 pm.  Bring a dish to pass. 

Sunday School starts back up Sunday, September 10^th at 9:45 am.

Youth Mission Trip Presentation will be Sunday, September 10^th at 9:45 am. Come see the amazing work our youth did in Colorado.

2024 ELCA Youth Gathering Informational Meeting: Sunday, September 10^th, 10:15 am.  The Youth Gathering is in New Orleans July 15-21, 2024.  All current high school students can attend.

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!

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

The Crew begins on Wednesday, September 20^th, for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

Sunday, September 17^th is Blessing of the Animals and Parking Lot worship. Bring a chair and your beloved pets.

We invite all teachers, school personnel, and day care workers to join us for worship on Sunday, September 24^th, as we bless and honor their work.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

 “Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.”  Jimmy Buffett from the song, “He Went to Paris.”

  As we got ready for the day on Saturday morning, Amy came into the living room with shocking news: Jimmy Buffett died.  One of our very favorite singers of all time, I had come to love his music through Amy after we met.  We went to incredible concerts over the years in places like the Twin Cities, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati, with a full set-up to tailgate all day.  We have visited Margaritaville’s all over the place and putting his music on when driving places was a weekly occurrence.  We even got to appreciate the members of his Coral Reefer band, especially Peter Mayer who has in years past led the band at the ELCA Youth Gathering.  It hit us hard.

  About an hour later I was heading up to play golf, listening to Margaritaville Radio, when the song, “He Went to Paris,” was played.  When it got to the lyric that I have at the top of this musings, I started to cry.  Look, I’m not a crier by nature, but I couldn’t help it.  It just hit me right in the soul.  As I reflected on the lyric, I thought about how Jimmy’s music is so positive, filled with gratitude for just the gift of life.  At his concerts, he always thanked the crowd not only for that day but for his entire career and I always believed him.  It wasn’t an act.  I think he was truly grateful for all his success and for all life had brought him.

  I have thought more and more that it is can be very hard to be positive in life.  I’ve been called a positive person, but I can find in myself an incredible cynicism and how easy it is to just see all the crap in life.  To make that the focus.  A great example is the fact that the Cubs have lost the past two games in the 9^th inning and I was declaring to friends that the season is over and we won’t make the playoffs and woe is me.  It is easy to look at the world and see all the tragedy.  Death.  Cancer.  Natural disasters.  Racism and discrimination run amok.  The tragedy stares us right in the face all the time. 

   But there is also magic.  So much magic.  The laugh of someone you love.  The smile of a child.  A beautiful sunset.  A good song.  Weddings.  Anniversaries.  Birthdays.  The snuggle of a dog.  A great tasting meal.  There is so much magic in the world and it is a gift.  A gift from our loving Savior.  And the greatest gift we get from Jesus is that we have the promise of eternal life and that because of that gift, we can see the magic of life.  The joy of life. 

   Jimmy Buffett’s music reminds me to look and see the magic of life and the joys of the simple things.  A good cheeseburger.  A cold margarita.  The beauty of creation.  The joy of sitting back and relaxing.  The magic of life itself. To see the gifts of God right in front of my nose.  He is truly going to be missed but will live on in the songs that he gave us.  I hope that when I get to the end of my life, whenever that may be, that I might look back upon it and give thanks to God for it.  And that I might say those words Jimmy gave us, “some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.” 

  May God bless you today and always. 

August 27, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Confirmation Parent Meeting is Wednesday, August 30^th at 7pm. This is for all youth in 7^th & 8^th.  If you can not make this meeting, please contact Pastor Brad

Confirmation starts back up Wednesday, September 6^th at 5:30pm for 7^th graders. 8^th graders will start the following week.

Women of Trinity Fall Gathering, Thursday, September 7^th at 6 pm.  Bring a dish to pass. 

Sunday School starts back up Sunday, September 10^th at 9:45 am.

Youth Mission Trip Presentation will be Sunday, September 10^th at 9:45 am. Come see the amazing work our youth did in Colorado.

2024 ELCA Youth Gathering Informational Meeting: Sunday, September 10^th, 10:15 am.  The Youth Gathering is in New Orleans July 15-21, 2024.  All current high school students can attend.

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!

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

The Crew begins on Wednesday, September 20^th, for all 3^rd-6^th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.

We invite all teachers, school personnel, and day care workers to join us for worship on Sunday, September 24^th, as we bless and honor their work.

MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended.” Isaiah 51:6

  When I first saw this verse as I examined the scriptures in preparation for this week’s sermon, I couldn’t help but think of the people of Lahaina, on Maui, and the devastation they have faced since wildfires wiped out that historic town.  It was, and has been, sad to see such destruction.  The loss of life.  The loss of everything people owned and incredible history.  Having had the privilege of visiting that community, it adds extra meaning and sadness to what has happened.  The despair the people must be feeling has to be overwhelming. 

  Thinking about that despair, I couldn’t help but think of the despair I have felt in my life, those times when it seems like everything was lost and that there was no hope.  Have you ever felt that way?  Felt completely without hope, lost, despairing?  I bet we all have in some way or another.  Faced with loss, filled with grief and pain, hurting in body, mind, and soul, it seems like our world has been devoured by a wildfire of suffering and hurt that seems never ending. 

  In those moments, the promise of these verses from Isaiah 51 comes forth like the dawn after a long night.  The salvation of the Lord is forever.  This salvation is for you, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  No matter what happens in life, this salvation is always there for you.  It is our foundation to stand on.  No matter how much it feels like the earth, and our life, is slipping away from us, the promise of salvation in Jesus gives us something to stand on.  Sometime to build on.  Something to trust when everything else seems lost.

  In those times when I have been in despair, it is the promises of Jesus Christ, the hope of salvation and new life in him, that has seen me through.  Given me something solid to stand on.  And something to build anew on.  No matter what happens, we can trust that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is there for us, to save us, to strengthen us, to walk with us every day.

  I continue to pray for the people of Maui and for all who are suffering in any way.  I hope that you are praying for them too.  But I hope that we all never forget that the salvation of the Lord is forever and that, no matter what, can trust that Christ is there for us.  May God bless you today and always!