Trinity Lutheran Church

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17

One of the new things Amy and I have gotten in recent months that I absolutely love is our air fryer. I absolutely love the air fryer. From chicken wings to pork chops, fries to steak, cheese curds to broccoli, the air fryer gets it done. Stuff comes out awesome and one weekend we used it for basically every single meal. It is simple, easy to use, and easy to clean. And sometimes, simple is the best.

The verses listed above are so simple and wide known that they can be taken for granted. Yet, they simply state the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God loves us so much that God sent Jesus to us to save us and bring us to eternal life. That’s it. Nothing more than that. Simple. Clear. Life-changing.

The simple things can be life changing. My weight loss didn’t come from a complicated diet or innovative weight loss program. It has come (and hopefully will continue to come) by doing simple things. Working out every day. Smaller food amounts at meals. Eating green stuff. Cutting out pop. Simple.

We can take the simple things for granted. It seems too easy. Too simple. But it isn’t. The simple things can be powerful. I bet many of you have been missing the simple things of life lately as some of the things we took for granted, like school, going to the store, seeing friends and family, are no longer so simple.

Jesus was sent by a loving God to save you. To forgive you. To bring you eternal life. We give praise and thanks to our God for the salvation that Jesus has won for us through his death and resurrection. It may be simple, but it is powerful. And it is needed.

I know that I need it every single day. This simple Gospel message has changed my life. Maybe it has changed your life. God loves you so much that God sent Jesus to save you. Simple. And life changing.

Sometimes in life the simple things are the best. Hold onto this most precious of simple messages, that you are loved by God and saved by God’s only Son, our Messiah Jesus Christ. Share that simple message with your family and neighbors and the whole world. Give thanks for it. Celebrate it with Alleluia’s! Live life with joy and hope because Jesus is risen and we have eternal life. For that we can say, “Thanks be to God!” 

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Brad

When we think of someone who is grieving, we think of someone who has been impacted by death, by the loss of a loved one or friend.  Grief causes all sorts of emotions: anger, depression, sadness, doubt, and more.  I know I have felt all of those things in my life when I have dealt with the loss of a loved one.  I even once punched a wall; I was so angry after a death.  I’ve said some pretty terrible things at loved ones, friends, and even God.  And there were times when I was in a deep malaise, in a funk where I did not feel like myself and full of frustration if it would ever end.

   We are grieving, my friends.  As you read this you may not have had a loved one die from COVID-19 at this time.  But we are suffering loss.  Our youth have lost being at school, of seeing friends and teachers and the comfort that comes from the routine of school.  Many are grieving that lost time and also all those experiences that we so often took for granted: concerts and plays, sports and dances, and all the rituals of school life.  

  We are grieving the loss of normalcy, of having to work from home and limit our contact.  We are grieving from seeing those we love, from family and friends. We grieve that we can’t go to the gas station or grocery store without worry or showering ourselves with hand sanitizer.  We grieve the loss of having a meal at our favorite restaurant, going to the movies, or sitting in our favorite coffee shop.  We grieve the upheaval of society and our daily lives.  We grieve the loss of control and we yearn; we ache for when we can “get back to normal.” 

   All this loss might make us angry and looking for someone or something to blame.  It might make us depressed, anxious, and fearful.  We might be getting frustrated and impatient.  We might be getting angry.  And then we see some of the phrases that are being used at this time, phrases like “Stay Safe.  Stay Strong.” Or “We are all in this together.”  We hear those phrases and then we beat ourselves up for not staying strong, for feeling like we aren’t in this together, for being angry and depressed and worried all the time.  We are grieving. 

   There is no shame in grieving.  You know who else grieved?  Jesus.  Jesus saw his friend Lazarus dead, saw the grief the poured out of his sisters, his friends, and he wept.  He wept.  Jesus saw the anger of the people who called for his death on a cross and grieved them, asked God to forgive them.  Jesus grieved.  And then Jesus brought life from death.  Lazarus was raised.  Jesus was raised so that we would have new life.  So that we would see, even in the midst of grief, hope.  Life. 

   We will not always be strong in these times.  We will grieve.  We will mourn.  But we will also endure.  We will survive.  And we will rise.  We will rise anew because Jesus has risen and because our Savior grieves with us. Weeps with us.  Comforts us.  Carries our burdens for us.  If there is one thing I have learned from all the grief I’ve had in my life it is this: Jesus is with me.  When I was angry, I felt Jesus calming me down.  When I acted horribly to those I love, Jesus brought forgiveness and helped heal those relationships.  When I wept, Jesus wept with me.  And Jesus will do the same for you.  We are grieving.  But we will arise, anew.  We will.  And Jesus will be there for us.  Always. 

Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God. ”Jeremiah 31:2

To be honest, when you are a pastor and you are preaching on Easter, you really don’t pay much attention to the other readings outside of the Easter Gospel. Well, at least I don’t.  Maybe better pastors than I do.  The above reading was part of our Easter worship yesterday and other than copying and pasting it into the bulletin I didn’t even give it a single glance or read even a single word of it until I read it during the worship service.  And as I read it, it really struck me as appropriate for our times.

   This reading in Jeremiah is written for those who are in exile in Babylon and they are words for us who face our own exile right now.  We are exiled from our schools, jobs, churches, social gatherings, and much more.  We are coping with a reality that seems like it may extend much longer than we ever thought even a month.  We might even be going a little stir crazy and getting a little cranky.  We might be frustrated and starting to wonder if this will ever end.

   Then we hear these words of hope and promise.  We are loved with an everlasting love.  We shall be built again, we shall again sing for joy, we shall plant and harvest.  In other words, we will be restored.

   To the exiles in Babylon, these words of God from the prophet Jeremiah gave them hope that they had not been forgotten and that they would be restored again.  For us, these words remind us that we also are not forgotten and that we will also be restored.  We will again gather with friends and family in the joys of praising God at church and the joy of being together in places where we don’t have to wear masks or stand six-feet apart.  We will be built up through the activities that we so often took for granted and now would love to have again, to go to the grocery store without fear or attend a movie or sporting event or eat in the dining room of a restaurant. 

   We may be in exile right now but we will not lose hope because we have a faithful and loving God who is giving us strength and patience and reminding us that we are not alone in this.  We will be restored because our loving and gracious Savior redeems us, restores us, and strengthens us.  Hang in there, my friends, and remember that God is faithful to you and will be with you. 

   If you picked up an Annual Report, you will see that in my report the congregation I talked about three goals, or visions, I had for Trinity for the coming year.  They are:

• Pushing ourselves out into the community more through service and meeting needs.
• Increasing the number of ways and means that we can give our financial gifts to support Trinity’s ministry.
• Give opportunities for the various generations of our church to come together in new and different ways.

  These goals I believe are crucial to the ministry of Trinity and I wanted to take the next couple of “Trinity Tidings” to talk about why I have chosen these items for goals, starting with the first goal. 

   As a church, we can spend a lot of time thinking about what is happening in a building with stained glass.  But the true mission and ministry of the church doesn’t happen inside the physical structure standing at 1039 Nordveien Dr.  Rather, most of our mission should be pointed outwards, into the community and world at large.  We already do many things that help our community, from the Boyceville Weekend Meal Program to Lutheran World Relief Kits to Adopt-A-Highway, to taking items to Pine Ridge.  Many Trinity members volunteer as part of other community organizations to make an impact.  Even our annual Mission Madness, which raises funds for mission and charitable organizations, seeks to impact people outside of the walls.  

   But let us be honest.  We could do a lot more.  A lot. 

  I want us to expand the way we reach out to Boyceville and the surrounding area.  I want to see us using our time and talents to help our neighbors, community, and others in our area.  If there is one thing I have seen on our youth mission trips, service to others not only helps them but strengthens relationship between those who are doing the service.  There is a sense of shared mission and accomplishment and a faith that is strengthened through the showing of Christ’s love. 

   So how do we accomplish this goal?  First off, I would love suggestions from all of you.  What is something that our community needs, or the neighbor next door, needs that we might be able to accomplish?  Where is there a void that we can step in and make an impact?  There are not bad suggestions or ideas.

   Second, we will twice in 2019, once this spring and then again in the fall, spend part of a Sunday being servants.  We will gather for worship and then go out into our community and so service projects, both big and small, and involving all ages of our church.  I’ve already been having conversation with people in our community about stuff that could be done and hopefully using some of your suggestions, we can fan out and make a difference.  It can be anything from yard work or painting, to clean up of a community area, to helping out a ministry partner with a project. I would love ideas of small ways we can make impacts for those who want to help but might not be as physically able to participate in a project.  This kind of service is not new as the ELCA has had “God Works, Our Hands” Sunday every year in the fall but that date always is the start of our Sunday School.  We are going to use that concept and do it at different times.

   Finally, we need to meet our financial obligations to our benevolences.  Our financial support helps them meet their goals and this year we did not meet our benevolences.  Increased giving by you, whether through the Mission Madness event or in giving throughout the year, will help us make a greater impact.

   I look forward to your ideas and suggestions and your willingness to answer the call of your Savior Jesus Christ to live out your faith in service to your neighbor. 

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14

   If you picked up an Annual Report, you will see that in my report the congregation I talked about three goals, or visions, I had for Trinity for the coming year.  They are:

  These goals I believe are crucial to the ministry of Trinity and I wanted to take the next couple of “Trinity Tidings” to talk about why I have chosen these items for goals, starting with the first goal.   Last Trinity Tidings, I talked about the first goal of pushing ourselves out into the community more through service and meeting needs.  Today I want to talk about the second goal, increasing the number of ways and means that we can give our financial support to Trinity’s ministry.

  This goal for Trinity might seem to be a little strange as it could seem that it is the only goal that isn’t about expanding our ministry.  But in actuality, this goal is all about expanding our ministry.  Trinity’s ministry does not exist without your financial support.  If there is no financial support, not only can we not expand ministry, but our ministry will decrease.  If we want to grow as a church, if we want to try to accomplish the first and third goals you see above, then we have to grow in our financial support.

  To help us do this means to increase the number of ways we can give beyond the checks in our checkbook and the cash in our wallet.  When the Synod came to talk with church council after our financial issues in the fall, one of the suggestions they made was to increase the ways that the people of Trinity could give.  And so we moved to add our giving app and to do credit card giving through an iPad.  I have actually been thinking about these things for a few years now, even going to a workshop at an event two years ago to get some early information.  At the time, I didn’t think Trinity was ready, but now I believe that it is.

   Adding our Give+ giving app and the Giving Kiosk gives us flexibility to help you support Trinity.  The Giving Kiosk especially will help us with special events as we can now process credit cards.  The app and the kiosk help us when you feel moved to give but open up the wallet to only find a dollar in it or realize you have left your checkbook at home.  More and more of our members are doing all their banking and financial management through apps and online and so implementing these new ways of giving in place now will help us in the future. 

  These new ways of giving can seem daunting and scary.  We can be hesitant to try new things.  Once you try it for the first time, you will find it to be really easy.  I encourage you to give it a shot and I have an incentive for you.

   The event that I first got information about kiosk and app giving is called “Walking Together.”  I’ll be doing two presentations this year at that event with one of them about our “Mission Madness” event.  If  we get 50 transactions through the Give+ App or through the Giving Kiosk at church by Ash Wednesday, March 6^th, I will wear a Packers Polo Shirt while presenting.  So not only do you get to try something new, but you get to let me wear embarrassing stuff in front of the whole Synod.  It is a win-win!

   I hope you will try out the app and the kiosk.  But I also give thanks for your financial giving and hope that you will continue to enthusiastically support the ministry of Trinity through those gifts, no matter how you choose to make them.  As it says in 2 Corinthians 9: “For God loves a cheerful giver.” 

As I finally got home late Saturday night after the Men’s Band concert, my body was absolutely exhausted.  My feet and back hurt, my voice was cracking and weak, and I thought that when I sat down I might not be able to get up for days.  Though my body was tired, my spirit was not.  It was energized and buzzing. And running through my brain was one word: generosity.

Generosity was on display throughout the week at Trinity.  There was the generosity of time as people came in to help make lefse, dropped off baked goods, gave donations for the Silent Auction, and worked all of the events of the Spirit of Christmas or stopped by to bid, buy, or hear the Men’s Band in Knapp.  Time is a precious commodity these days and yet so many people gave of their time to support Trinity during this week and support the community events in general.

People were generous with their talents and treasures, from baking awesome items or making great soup to all those who bought bake sale items and put bids down on Silent Auction items.  The Mission Trip Youth made over $6,500!  It is a massive and frankly unexpected amount and I was just blown away by how the church, and the community, support our kids and give them a chance to serve others in need.  The women also had a phenomenal haul as well, clearing over $3,400.  This generosity as an impact on all of our ministries.

There was definitely a generosity of spirit.  From all the laughter and conversation between people making lefse, to the way the crowd sang “Joy to the World” at the Live Nativity to all those that came up offering help as we had to rework our poinsettia orders after Sharon Seeger’s passing to joy of hearing our Sunday School youth practice their songs for next week’s Christmas program, the Christmas Spirit was alive and well and full of the love of God.  My favorite part of the Spirit of Christmas is the generous spirit that people share with each other even as we work hard to make lefse, organize the Silent Auction, and much more.

The sore back, hurt feet, and crusty voice are worth it because in the end it is the generosity that I saw and felt during this week that makes it all worth it.  It is a reminder that the greatest gifts we get are the people we get to interact with and the shared experiences we have with them.  They are gifts from God.

Thank you for your generosity, people of God, and for all the ways you shared and supported Trinity ministries and our community this week!

Late last week, your pastor took an enormous amount of verbal abuse from all sorts of people.  He heard from colleagues who questioned his intelligence and faithfulness. Even close friends took him to the woodshed, eviscerating him time and time again both to his face and through text message, some of them going for a few days.  Why?  Because last Thursday afternoon I put out a lot of my outdoor Christmas stuff.

You might have noticed if you went by the house.  Out there in a yard is a lot of my outdoor Christmas decorations.  I put out only stuff that needed to be staked into the ground (the plastic stuff will come out later this week).  My friends and colleagues felt that it was way too early to be putting stuff out and that since it wasn’t even Advent yet, I was somehow being a poor example for my congregation members.  My view?  The ground was going to freeze and I needed to get it out and in the ground before it froze.  There was an opportunity and I took it because if I had waited, it might have gone by and then it would have been twice the work to get that stuff into the ground.

Opportunity.  I think sometimes the Lord gives us a chance, an opportunity, to do something or be part of something pretty cool, something way cooler than putting Christmas stuff in the ground.  The Lord might give you an opportunity to use your gifts to make a positive impact in the life of someone else or help someone in need.  The Lord might give you an opportunity to give of your financial resources in such a way that you help a ministry grow and thrive.  There is an opportunity to share love and hope with another human being, whether it be a friend or stranger.  Opportunities open up where you are in the right place and right time to hear the Gospel message of hope, forgiveness, and new life that lifts you from despair.

The Lord gives us opportunities every day to not only see God’s presence in our lives, but to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make difference in big and small ways in the world.  In taking those opportunities, you might get criticized.  But let your heart and eye be opened to see those opportunities and don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith in seizing those opportunities.  You never know what awesome things might come from taking that leap.

Despite all the junk I got about getting my stuff in the ground, that night as it snowed and I felt a little sense of pride that I had not missed the opportunity that we presented to me.  And I gave thanks to God for the opportunity.  Every day I see the opportunities that God puts in front of me to show me that my Savior is there, that I have a calling to love my neighbor, and that I’m blessed with so much.  May you seize the opportunities God puts in your life and take a moment to see how much you are loved, saved, and called.  Have a great week!

On Sunday, I had an enjoyable time cheering for and then seeing a tie occur between the Packers and the Vikings.  It was great for me because I knew that there would be grumbling from both fan bases.  But then I got to thinking: how would I feel if the Bears had a tie?

Because you really could look at it two ways.  One way to look at a tie is to be grateful to not have lost. Yeah for a tie!  Anything is better than a loss and so you could be happy that you didn’t lose.  For those of us who assume their team is always going to lose, a tie is appealing because there isn’t a number added to the loss column.

Yet, at the same time, you could view a tie as a loss and be really upset about it.  If it isn’t a win then it is a loss and that could make you pretty angry.  You could dwell on all the chances to win the game (and there were so many for both sides in that game) and complain about a missed opportunity.  In listening to post-game coverage from both sides, it seemed like this was the route many Packer and Viking fans went.  Of course, as a Bears fan, that made me pretty happy!

In the end, it is a reminder that we often have different perspectives on the same event.  Neither perspective is right or wrong, but in each perspective we bring our own lenses, experiences, and values at play.  All of that factors into the way we view and live in the world.  So of course our faith in Jesus Christ is an important part of how we view things.  But just because we are Christian doesn’t mean that there is only one way to view something.

Too often we think that believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior means that we think about an issue one way.  Christians aren’t cookie cutters.  We come from different backgrounds, have had different experiences, and value different things.  Faith informs all of that and what connects us is a shared belief in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  But that doesn’t mean we all think or act the same way.

I once had a friend call me up because they felt that to be a Christian meant that they had to vote a certain way in an election or that they wouldn’t be a Christian.  It made me incredibly sad that my friend was questioning the validity of faith if it meant they had to vote a certain way.  Jesus is not a political party and faithful Christians can be found on every side of every debate on every subject.

The key for us is to respect each other’s perspectives and how we use faith to come to our decisions.  Faith is one factor that leads us and guides us in what we do.  What faith reminds us is that we are all human beings who fall short of the glory of God but trust in the love and grace of the Son of God who dies and rises from the grave for us.  Faith reminds us that we are all loved by God, no matter our views or disagreements.

As for me and a tie, I would view almost like a win for so often my team loses anything that isn’t a mark in the loss column is like a win.  But I also understand those that would view that tie negatively.  And my hope is that when the Vikings and Packers play again, another tie will happen because that would be completely awesome!

Have a great week and remember to let your faith not only guide you, but also open you up to listen to and understand the perspective of others.  But mostly, trust in the grace and love of your Savior Jesus Christ which is given to you every day!

I’m sitting up early Monday morning when I should long be asleep reflecting on the amazing comeback the Packers made against the Bears tonight.  I’m not up because somehow I’m so upset that I can’t sleep, more up because my face in burning from taking off the green and gold make-up I wore tonight as the last payout of Mission Madness from the spring (I wish I was joking or being factitious about the burning, but I’m not).

As I thought about the game, I thought of my wonderful host Kevin Bird and how at halftime he thought the sky was falling and the game was over, even though I said that if Rodgers came back the Packers would win (which was true.  There were witnesses).  I knew exactly how Kevin felt as not only was I predicting the Bears to lose despite a 20 point lead, but that I do that with all my sports teams.  I assume the worst case scenario.  In the past 24 hours I’ve declared the Cubs season over, the Northwestern Wildcats the worst team in Big Ten football, predicted a Bears loss, and figure that my next time out golfing I will play awful.  I’m a pessimist in this regard and I have to admit that it is starting to bother me.

Why do I always assume the worst? I don’t do that when I think about other people or situations.  I usually take the more positive angle, even the naïve one.  I assume that everything will work out for the best.  But when it comes to my sports teams?  Never.  Even worse, I don’t do it really well with myself.  I assume the sermon sucks, the presentation was bad, the Bible Study or confirmation less boring and uninspiring.  I feel like I’m always making the wrong choice and doing the wrong thing.  Why do I do that?  I wish I could explain it.  I’m a paradox, believing the best in others and the worst in myself.

This bothers me because I believe in a God of resurrection (and I’m not talking about Aaron Rodgers coming back from injury to beat the Bears).  I believe in a Savior who has risen from the dead.  I believe in a savior who told a girl to rise and a friend to come out from a tomb.  I believe in a Lord who heals the broken, lifts up the lowly, gives strength to the weak.  I believe in a God that offers love and forgiveness to all who call on his name, not matter what.  I believe in a Lord that tells parables of lost sheep being found and prodigal sons returning.  I believe in hope and resurrection.

Yet, I struggle to believe it in myself and I project that struggle onto my sports teams. We so often see the worst in ourselves and in others.  We look at the world and think it is going to pot and that somehow yesterday was better than today, forgetting that yesterday had just as many problems and issues as today does.  We so often see the darkness instead of the light, the terrible outcome instead of the positive one, the despair instead of hope.

My prayer for myself is that I might take the positive attitude and lens that I view others and apply it to myself.  To fret and worry less and trust in that promise of resurrection.  I hope you will pray for me in that regard.  And in turn, I will pray that if you struggle with seeing only the darkness instead of the light or if you keep diving deep into despair instead of grasping onto hope, that you might see the resurrected Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is your resurrection and life.  I will pray that your heart would be filled with hope, joy, and new life, that you will see the blessings and not the curses, the joys and not the sorrows, the resurrection and not the death.  I pray that we all can see that we can comeback from any deficit, no matter the score, because Jesus Christ is our Savior.  And lastly, I pray that my face stops burning!

This week, live as people of hope and resurrection.  For as it says in Psalm 30, “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.”

Day 3: Wednesday, June 27th: Space Center and First Mass Gathering

We started the day by putting on our Gathering wristbands, signaling that the Gathering was truly here. After enjoying some lovely breakfast pastries and muffins donated by Deli Express that were sent to our hotel, we met my friend Josh and his group from Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Eau Claire and headed to Space Center Houston. It seemed like half of the Gathering was there! It was packed and busy beyond measure, but that is the Gathering: lots of excited teenagers everywhere! We did have one bad thing happen on the way in which Kim’s van took a rock to the windshield, cracking it. We think we will be ok with it driving but it did put an interesting start on our day.

Once we got into the Space Center Houston we split up into groups and went exploring. We saw stuff about the planned trips to deep space and Mars, explored the International Space Station and what it is like to live in space, and much more. Most of the group ended up in the very long line for the tram tour of the Space Center. We saw where plans are being made and astronauts are training for upcoming missions, went into rocket park that includes a fully built and operational Saturn V rocket that was going supposed to take Apollo 18 to the moon, and much more. It was a fun day exploring this major Houston attraction.

Before we even left Space Center Houston, I ordered us pizza and wings from Papa John’s, which was delivered to our rooms. After gorging themselves on food, some kids went to the pool to swim, some hung out in their rooms, and at least one adult (me) took a nap. Then it was time for the first official item of the ELCA Youth Gathering: the Mass Gathering at NRG Stadium!

One of the things I love about the Gathering for myself is that it is one large reunion. I don’t have a big blood-relation family, but I have a HUGE Lutheran family and all day it was great to run into so many people I know and love, even people I haven’t seen in many years. I had people yell my name and run to me and I did the same thing to them. I know that throughout the week I will see more and more and I hope to run into actual blood family tomorrow when we are at Interactive Learning. One of the coolest was reunions was seeing some kids and adults from our Pine Ridge Mission Trip in the summer of 2016 who happened to sit in the section next to us at the Mass Gathering. An awesome moment.

Speaking of awesome: the Mass Gathering is an awesome experience every time! It took us a bit to get into NRG Stadium but once we did we headed up where my friend Josh found us a great spot in section 352, looking directly at the stage. Some went and got snacks, others talked and texted, and we enjoyed some of the pre-show music until it was time to get on our feet and rock out to God.

The Mass Gathering is a time of worship, of dance and song, of listening and thinking. It is inspirational. It pumps you up, makes you cry, and opens your eyes to the power of God’s love in Jesus Christ that flows from these young people. Tonight we danced to LZ7, sang with Ginny Owens, moved with the Gathering House Band, and were inspired by speakers like Bryan Stevenson, Rev. Tuhina Rasche, and Deborah Mouton. Even Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton, brought greetings and prayer. Our theme tonight was that God calls and we heard time and again that we are called to bring the love of Christ into the world to those who are forgotten and that we are called to bring about change and give hope to all. It was an awesome experience! I was so proud of how our kids fully engaged in the Mass Gathering and how they danced, sang, listened, and interacted with each other.

After making our way through the crowds we walked back to the hotel. That ten minute walk is so awesome compared to Detroit where we walked 30 minutes to get to a bus and then was on that bus for another 45. We debriefed the day, talked about expectations for our Interactive Learning Day tomorrow, and prayed. We look forward to another great day at the Gathering!

Day 4: Interactive Learning Day, June 28th, 2018.

The day started early as I drove some of my pastor friends over to a Kroeger’s grocery store to get some supplies. We picked up more fruit, water, some pop, and Chicken ‘N a Biscuit crackers. They kids have some weird tastes. They also wanted more close pins so that they could “pin” people during the Gathering.
After getting back and having Damien and Jered not only help get our stuff to our rooms but helping my friend Mara with her stuff, we headed out to the NRG Center for Interactive Learning. Interactive Learning is a time for out students to encounter God in a variety of experiences, both fun and educational, and a time to see God at work in a variety of ways. These experiences can be active or passive, quiet or loud, individual or in a group. Personally, this is one of the best parts of a Youth Gathering and a great opportunity for kids to really explore their faith and be challenged in the ways we look at the world.

Once we got to the NRG Center, we split off into groups so that the kids could explore the center on their own speed and time. Some of the experiences that stood out were doing a 360 Virtual Reality presentation about Malawi (our Companion Synod in Africa) and the important of crop diversity and management that is helping to improve people’s lives; exploring ways to stop human trafficking, hunger, and the plight of refugees; making bags for people in need; learning about our gifts using a Star Wars theme (I loved this one), making bracelets and enjoying a hammock village, and just visiting booths and meeting people.

One of the best parts of Interactive Learning is running into people, sharing swag, getting pins, bracelets, buttons, and more from organizations and individuals. There is a sense of openness, connection, and camaraderie among the participants. A variety of spaces were there for people to interact with each other and even an adult area for adults to take a break from their kids. This is sorely needed as today is a chance for both kids and adult to connect with God and each other without the other breathing down their neck. For me, it was again an awesome day to make connections with people I care about. I connected with my nephew Tyler early in the day, ran into former camp counselor colleagues/seminary classmates; saw many other colleagues, and ran into one of my dearest friends, Bishop Kristen Kuempel and her daughter Linnea. I haven’t seen Kristen in many, many years as they live in Washington and I hadn’t seen Linnea in at least 12 years or longer, which is sad since I was godfather at her baptism. I have to admit that I got a little emotional after seeing them and spending a few minutes chatting. It is a reminder that the Holy Spirit keeps us connected in love and friendship even when we rarely have a chance to see each other.

Kids grabbed lunch from one of the concession stands in the center or at one of the food trucks outside. Let’s say that the Starbucks was very popular. Some also went to the Gathering Store as well. We met up at 4:30 pm to do the bumper cars together and then headed out to go get in line to enter the NRG Stadium for the Mass Gathering.

As we waited to get into the Stadium, the Lord decided to give us a shower to cool us off. It also inspired the Gathering to open the stadium early so we got to go in about a half hour earlier than normal. We decided to go back to our same section, 352, and we all made it there safely despite groups of human chains attempting to clothesline or crush us (note: don’t move in a large crowd in a connecting chain. It is a danger to everyone. Have a plan for getting to your destination and communicate it clearly). Kids went and got some food and they helped me save seats for the group from First Lutheran Church in Cumberland. Per usual.

We had another Mass Gathering singing, dancing, and being inspired in our faith. Our theme tonight was “love” and we heard stories of how the love of God helped restore people, inspire faith, and change people’s lives. We heard from Caroline Meeker who came back from the brink of death due to anorexia when she was 9 years old and how the love of God restored her. The Rev. Aaron Fuller shared how God’s love has sustained him as a wrestling coach, Navy chaplain, and pastor and how that love changes lives. Deacon Erin Power talked about how the love of God in Jesus Christ showed her that the church is a place where is accepted and belongs. Marlon Hall brought the house down as he spoke of God’s love that brings resurrection and that love restores hope and that the love of God can never be taken away from us. He brought his small daughter Phoenix onto the stage as an example of God’s love and made most of our girls cry. We heard a lot of great music as well from the House Band and a drum and bugle band.

Once the Mass Gathering was done we headed back to the hotel where along the way I decided to carry Pastor Tim Schmidt, from First Lutheran in Cumberland, on my back. We debriefed the day, talked about tomorrow, and prayed. Tomorrow is Synod Day and also the only day they really get to sleep in. Thank you again for following us on this journey and many blessings to all of you!

Day 5: Thursday, June 29th. Synod Day

Today began with a run to Target to get stuff for the kids while those same kids had the opportunity to have most of the morning off. Some slept. Some swam down at the pool or laid out. Others just chilled in their rooms. It was a chance to recharge as we are at the halfway point of the Youth Gathering itself and the last time during the Gathering where we could sleep past 7 am.

We got together at 11 am to eat some lunch, which was make your own sandwiches, chips, fruit, and drinks. I left before the group as I agreed to help keep kids active before they came into the Grand ballroom, but everyone was doing just fine so my friend Mara and I just did crowd control. Kim & Tillie brought the kids down at 11:45 and they found spots to sit and Synod Day began with some songs.

The theme of Synod Day was Grace. We were reminded that grace is something we receive which we do not deserve and don’t ask for but we receive anyways. We were reminded that, because of God’s grace, we belong. There were fun games to get to know others and though those games we were put into groups of four where discussions happened. We heard God’s Word from Bishop Rick Hoyme who is retiring as bishop of our Synod on June 30th. This is the last thing he is doing as bishop. We sang, prayed, received the Lord’s Supper, and blessed Bishop Hoyme for his retirement. The kids sat on the floor while the pastor’s and chaperones sat in chairs and misbehaved! Synod Day is a chance for kids to connect with other kids from around the Synod. Let’s say that many pins were made and distributed.

After Synod Day concluded we had some time to chill and relax while we waited for the pizza and wings to be delivered to the hotel room. During that time, the group decided by vote to go back to our normal spot in section 352 instead of heading to the floor. After they devoured the pizza and wings like a pack of wolves who haven’t been fed for a few weeks, we got geared up and headed to NRG Stadium for the Mass Gathering.

We donned some glow sticks for our Mass Gathering time tonight and we heard some great music at the start from Rachel Kurtz which got the kids singing and dancing. Speaking of music, Tauren Wells blew the roof off the stadium and the kids asked if we could kidnap him and bring him back to Boyceville. I said no, but I better keep an eye on them!

The theme was grace and the freeing power of God’s grace for us in Jesus Christ and our speakers reflected that. Rev. Will Starkweather gave a powerful witness about how “there is grace for that” as he struggled as a teenager and young adult with harming himself. Elizabeth Peter and Jasmine Seguarra powerfully spoke of grace in their own lives. Michaela Shelley, who is living with a fatal disease, talked about how grace helped her to start a support group that touches people all over the world and gives grace to those young people suffering from horrible diseases. Our final speaker of the night was Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber who encouraged us to be people of grace and renounce the voices that so often stop us from living boldly and fully into the world.

The Mass Gathering ended with a great rendition of the song “This is Me” from the movie “The Greatest Showman” as 1,000 extras danced on stage and throughout the floor. It was a great way to end a Mass Gathering, but our night wasn’t finished. We had Communion Server training! We are communion servers Sunday morning for worship so we headed to the lower bowl for instructions. I went and got out packet and we report to section 106 where were are doing communion with a church from Maryland. We broke into teams and tried to figure out exactly what we are doing. To be honest, we aren’t fully confident but I know it will all work out in the end. It was weird to see NRG Stadium with all the lights on. We did a quick meeting in the concourse and the group headed back. Instead of going to my room, I went to another area for a farewell gathering for Bishop Hoyme. Then it was bed time. Tomorrow is Service Day so pray for us as we do service in Houston! Thanks for reading!

Day 6: Service Learning Day/Final Mass Gathering

Today we started nice and early as we had to be over to the NRG Center for our Service Learning at 7:30 am. Kim and I went and did a quick Kroeger run and also picked up McDonald’s for the kids for breakfast as a change of pace. It was a little close getting everybody ready and up but we did it and made it to our bus launch, which was bus number 17.

When you arrive at the bus launch they don’t tell you what you are going to do that day until you get on the bus. We were with a church from Stattford and we hung out for a bit until it was time to go. As we waited, some took the opportunity to actually wake up or get a little cat nap in. Being that it was the final day of the Gathering and our earliest morning since we left, tiredness was expected. Once we got on the bus, we heard what our project was going to be: working at the Houston Food Bank. The Houston Food Bank is the largest food bank in the United States, serving 800,000 yearly. Of that 800,000, only 3 percent are homeless, which was a surprising stat to us. We got instructions and then proceeded onto the floor to begin our work.

Our job at the food bank was to pack boxes with whatever category of food was that table. We got instructed in what we were doing and how to do it. We worked in groups of eight or more and at my table was Bishop Rick Hoyme on his last day as bishop of our synod. He gets very excited when Barry Manilow comes over the sound system. Each group boxed up items that had already been sorted and cleaned. Some had canned goods, dry goods, beverages, condiments, personal items, and more. There is a conveyer system around you that is bringing you the stuff to put in boxes, where you put your completed box, and an empty containers of the product you boxed up. Our kids worked really hard and other than Emma and Megan causing pop to spray all over them, we didn’t have any mishaps. There was great energy in the room as people helped each other and worked toward a common goal.

We worked really hard and it was taxing work. But in the end, we did some amazing numbers. 25,698 pounds of food as packed while we worked and that translates into 21,415 meals. A great cheer came up as we heard those numbers from Serena, a manager who at one time had to use the Houston Food Banks to survive. We took some pictures and then got our boxed lunches and headed back to the bus to go back to the NRG Arena.

When we got to the arena, there was a celebration of service going on with a variety of activities. However, with us having to be over to the worship service Sunday so early as communion servers, Kim and Tillie took many back to pack and get one more dip into the pool while PB stayed back with those that wanted to do stuff in the arena. After a few hours, they came back to get ready for the last Mass Gathering of the Youth Gathering.

We got loaded up into the PB’s van and headed out for supper at 4 pm. Though PB wanted Texas BBQ, no one else did so we split up between Jack-in-the Box, Five Guys, and Panda Express. After getting our fill, we headed back to the hotel and then walked over to the NRG Stadium for the final Mass Gathering. We again sat in section 352 and the groups from Cumberland and Eau Claire joined us. Much of the pre-Mass Gathering time was spent throwing snap chats to cute guys below us. Always an adventure with our youth! As we got closer to the start, the dancing and singing started and the kids woke up from the tiredness of the day as we learned that God’s Hope Changes Everything.

We heard inspiring stories of hope from Rev. Stephen Bouman, Carson McCullar (who the girls decided needed to be kidnapped and brought back to Boyceville), Joe Davis, Maria Rose Belding, and Jamie Bruesehoff and her daughter Rebekah. The speakers were powerful and moving. The House Band was jamming it out and at one point we did a cool wave using our cell phone lights. Then it was time for the main act: Tenth Avenue North.

Tenth Avenue North rocked it. Kids danced, sang, screamed, hugged, and more. It was a great way to end our final Mass Gathering. We took a group picture from our section 352 as we won’t be there Sunday due to serving communion. We headed back to the hotel for evening debrief, instructions about Sunday, and the end of the Gathering. We are looking forward to the trek home but we will also miss the wonderful people we have met, the fun times we have had, and the hearing again about how Jesus changes everything!

Day 7: Closing Worship and the Road Home: July 1st.

We had an early morning wake up call so that we could pack the vans prior to the Gathering Closing Worship, reporting down to the vans at 6:40 am. We ate the last of our breakfast items and started the walk to the other side of NRG Arena to report as communion servers for the closing worship. We had on our white shirts and khaki’s, the required uniform to serve communion the world over (not really). As some have said, it was “khaki’s for Jesus.” We got over to the loading dock at 7:15 am, which was on time, but had to wait about 20 minutes before we got in. We headed over and picked up our stuff to serve communion which included an umbrella, bread, wine, grape juice, and anointing oil. Once we had everything, we had the long walk (it was a full walk around the stadium) to our section, 106.

This was the first time we would NOT be sitting in our normal section 352. We found our reserved communion server seats and got into our teams. Each team was five people and with sixteen people, I volunteered to go with the other church group in our section who had fourteen, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Aberdeen, Maryland. We took the time to get organized and attempt to figure out exactly how it was going to work, trusting the Holy Spirit would help us figure out how to get five people in a small space to serve communion.
Despite being in a different section, our friends from First Lutheran in Cumberland came and joined us so that Pastor Tim and I’s streak of sitting together at Mass Gatherings is unbroken over the last two Gathering’s. Since we were communion servers for the whole section, we were spread out over the entire section so we weren’t all together which was strange.

During the closing worship, we saw the mosaic that was made up of our pictures from the interaction center up front as well as the boxes from our Synod Day. We heard Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton tell us that not only does Jesus change everything, but that we can be the people that change everything. We sang our favorite songs and also heard a speech from Savannah Sullivan who is from the Young Adults of Global Mission of the ELCA who asked us if we were ready to live for this, to live for Jesus. Then came time to do the offering and since there wasn’t a formal announcement, some confusion occurred if we were to start but we got it going and the kids did a great job. Then it came time for the big communion distribution and the kids rocked it and made it work, even when people didn’t follow instructions. We communed each other and then took our stuff back to the sacristy.

One of the highlights of every Gathering closing worship is the reveal of the next Gathering. The place: Minneapolis, MN! So it will be a really close Gathering for us. I think we will drive there and not fly! 😊 Pastor Tim found out the place from his source ten minutes before they announced. We took our final group picture and then headed back to the hotel to get loaded into the vans. We stopped in Dallas for In-N-Out burger (so good) and made our way to Wichita, KS, pulling in just after 11 pm. Everyone was ready for bed. Monday we will get going early and get home.
It has been a wonderful Youth Gathering. The kids have been great and have fully participated in everything. They were really well behaved and got along well with each other. Huge thanks to Kim Guy and Jamie Tilleson for being great chaperones. Thanks for reading. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2. This Changes Everything.