Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4,5  EHV)

Federal social distancing guidelines have now been extended until April 30th. If we give in to our “inner complainer,” there’s a lot to complain about here. But let’s do something different. Beginning April 1st (no foolin’!), let’s conduct “30 Days of Gratitude.”
 
Trinity family and friends, I wish we could set up a huge Blessings Jar in our church’s Welcome Center. But since we are unable to gather at the present time, here’s my suggestion: set up a “Blessings Jar” at home. Each day, beginning on April 1st, every member of the family can write down one blessing for which they are thankful (on a slip of paper) and place it in the jar. At the end of each week (or at the end of the month), take a look at your blessings together.
 
During this most challenging and extraordinary time, let us make an intentional effort to express the joy and gratitude we have in Jesus! The spiritual blessings for which we are most grateful – forgiveness of sins, life with God now and forever – are the center of any expression of gratitude. But, truly, blessings of all kinds overflow for each of us.
 
Some suggestions for a 30 Days of Gratitude observance in your home:

• Blessings Jar – Designate a jar as a “Blessings Jar.” Every day, on slips of paper, each family member can write down one thing for which they are thankful. Parents, here is a tremendous opportunity for you and your children to be thankful together. Imagine how full that jar will be on April 30th!
• We want to express gratitude, not merely with a few throwaway words (“I’m thankful” or “I’m grateful”) but with concrete, intentional actions that honor God and serve others. Write down actions for which you are grateful to be able to carry out…and then carry them out!
• Daily include all of these items for which you are thankful in your prayers
• If you wish, send me a grateful thought or two (text/email) and I’ll include some in this blog and/or bulletin announcements (anonymously, of course)
• I’ll offer a few expressions of gratitude of my own here on this blog throughout the month of April
• And why not? When this is all over and we are able to gather together again for worship, bring your expressions of gratitude and place them in a huge Blessings Jar in Trinity’s Welcome Center. That might come in handy for a sermon illustration or two or for a couple of children’s messages. Seeing such a jar filled with so many blessings would be a powerful lesson all by itself. So, save your gratitude slips and bring them in when we gather together again!

 
A few announcements

1. Trinity family and friends – you don’t need my permission to share these devotional posts! Share electronically! Print ‘em out! Share!
2. An opportunity to help medical providers at the Marshfield Clinic: They need homemade face masks! Info: facebook.com/MarshfieldClinicHealthSystemFoundation/posts/3082128291831677 Contact Bonnie Butzer if you are able to serve in this way: 715-356-2215
3. Martin Luther College is making available online Holy Week devotions written by their faculty. Sign up at this link to receive a devotion in your email inbox every day from Palm Sunday to Easter.       https://mlc-wels.edu/publications/seasonal-devotions/#email
4. The April edition of the Forward in Christ is available at this link:

                   https://online.nph.net/fic-free-issue-form

1. Parents can now download six weeks of Christ-Light lessons for free at https://online.nph.net/cl-ss-downloads, compliments of Northwestern Publishing House, so they can offer Sunday school at home. Bible stories offered follow the life of Jesus, including several of his miracles and the events of Holy Week and Easter. Different levels are available for children ranging in age from pre-kindergarten to grade six. 

​God bless you and yours,
 
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

How have the coronavirus-inspired restrictions impacted your schedule? If you have children who are supposed to be in school, your household is upside down…and will be for some time to come. If your livelihood is deemed “non-essential,” you’re trying to be patient because that paycheck is pretty essential! Bills and financial obligations aren’t going to magically disappear.
 
Everyone’s life/schedule/routine has been adjusted, often in unimaginable ways. Personally speaking, for me, Friday is the new Sunday. Friday morning at 9 a.m., with volunteer help, I’m ready to record the video of Sunday’s sermon. This has compressed, or at least moved back, my usual schedule of sermon study/writing/memorizing. It’s no problem, really, just a matter of adapting to the “new normal” for now. The video (and this week, some additional worship content including two songs) is uploaded to our website www.trinityminocqua.org by Friday noon along with a link the bulletin for the week (which includes announcements, Bible study, printed sermon copy and sermon notes).
 
It’s strange preaching to an empty church. And yet, there are blessings even now.

• People are able to access Sunday worship on Friday or Saturday or any day of the week due to online offerings
• We’re able to enjoy a variety of worship opportunities presented by other faithful WELS congregations and pastors
• This is a powerful reminder that worship isn’t just one day a week, it’s every day; it’s a way of life
• Something else I’ve noticed – Trinity’s faithful continue to send their offerings to support this ministry! They arrive mostly by mail (every day except Sunday, of course – 6 envelopes came on Thursday) and some are dropped off in person

 
We’re learning, or perhaps re-learning, that the Word of life is always available to us in abundant ways. May you encourage others to enjoy the abundant blessing of God’s all-powerful, ever-abundant Word!
 
For me, Friday is the new Sunday. For now. But the shock to system of “life as we knew it” has given me a chance to read and study and meditate on God’s Word at new and additional times. What spiritual blessings have you gained through the coronavirus crisis?
 
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits--
3 who pardons all your guilt,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with mercy and compassion,
5 who satisfies your life with goodness,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.  (Psalm 103:2-5 EHV)
 
Some brief announcements:
   1.   An opportunity to help medical providers at the Marshfield Clinic: They need face masks! Bonnie   Butzer is making the pleated kind 7 inches wide by 7 1/2 to 8 inches long with sewn straps not elastic. They would take whatever you want to make. Just put them in a bag and drop them off at the clinic. Also if you have any store bought ones at home that you are not using please drop them off so they can be put to use. Contact Bonnie if you are able to serve in this way: 715-356-2215
   2.   Martin Luther College is making available online Holy Week devotions written by their faculty. Sign up at this link to receive a devotion in your email inbox every day from Palm Sunday to Easter.       https://mlc-wels.edu/publications/seasonal-devotions/#email
   3.   The April edition of the Forward in Christ is available at this link:
                   https://online.nph.net/fic-free-issue-form
   4.   Parents can now download six weeks of Christ-Light lessons for free at  https://online.nph.net/cl-ss-downloads, compliments of Northwestern Publishing House, so they can offer Sunday school at home. Bible stories offered follow the life of Jesus, including several of his miracles and the events of Holy Week and Easter. Different levels are available for children ranging in age from pre-kindergarten to grade six.
   5.   A potential opportunity to enlarge a gift to Trinity: Thrivent has been matching 50% of donations to qualified organizations, up to $2,500. Trinity Lutheran Church and School qualify. You don’t have to be a Thrivent member and you can use credit card or checking. The $1 million Thrivent originally set aside is used up. However, they may be adding additional funds. If you are interested, and if you would like to see if funds are available, check out this link:
https://www.livegenerously.com/inspiring-stories/offers/national-volunteer-week.html
   6.   The 2020 WELS International Youth Rally has been canceled.
 
God bless and keep you,
 
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand​

​Do you recognize the picture? Regular attendees of worship at Trinity might…though this picture is not easily seen. I see it clearly every time I lead worship. This stained glass window of Jesus at prayer (in Gethsemane?) is located in Trinity’s balcony. It has quite a history: it hung in the chancel of Trinity’s original downtown Minocqua sanctuary before it was relocated to its current location. It may well be more than 100 years old.
 
It is a powerful reminder to the preacher and worship leader that he is not alone, that Christ himself intercedes. After all, it is his message that is proclaimed! I love the image. Even if I can’t see anyone in the balcony during worship, I find myself glancing at the image. It’s comforting to me personally.
 
Romans 8:34 comes to mind: “Christ Jesus, who died and, more than that, was raised to life, is the one who is at God’s right hand and who is also interceding for us!” 1 John 2:1b,2 declares: “If anyone does sin, we have an Advocate before the Father: Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world.” (Both Scriptures are from the EHV)
 
A picture/stained glass window like this doesn’t make this truth any more real. Even if no artist had ever rendered this scene visually, God’s Word declares the truth: Christ Jesus intercedes for us! Christ Jesus is our Savior! And he continues to intercede even now: “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5,6a).
 
Some are predicting that when the current Covid-19/coronavirus crisis and accompanying restrictions cease, more people will continue to go online for worship than go back to the way we “used to” worship, i.e., in person and together. I believe the opposite. I believe that people will see that online, “social distancing” worship is not enough. We need the encouragement and fellowship of fellow Christians. We need to worship together, confessing sins and receiving absolution, hearing the Word and responding with praise. We also need to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
 
Online worship has been a blessing in many ways – preachers are all “televangelists” now; but God’s people hunger for the public assembly, to be able to receive the Means of Grace together and to respond together with worship and praise. Until we are able to return, we long to be together in the house of the Lord.
 
Here’s a resource I became aware of today. Are you interested in downloads of 80 free hymns from our hymnal? Organ or Piano music, your choice? Click on this link:   
https://online.nph.net/cw-hymn-downloads
 
Continue to go to www.trinityminocqua.org for sermon videos, devotions, and announcements.
 
In Christ,
 
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

​First, a prayer to begin the day – Luther’s Morning Prayer (use every morning if you wish; memorize it!)
 
I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
 
A week ago, in our local area, children remained at home for what will be quite an extended “Spring Break.” This wasn’t due to cold weather or a snowstorm, but to Covid-19, the novel virus which is spreading infection and fear across the world and our nation.
 
A week ago, I spent most of the day trying to make sense of the Governor’s gathering limit of no more than 50 people and what it would mean for worship. After communicating with our congregation’s leadership and area WELS pastors, the decision was made to cancel all worship services for the time being. (The Governor’s directive the following day to limit gatherings to no more than 10, sealed the deal.)
 
A week ago, Trinity held its last worship service (Monday eve) for the foreseeable future. About half the usual number of worshipers attended.
 
A week ago, we were at the leading edge of so many changes, changes which still seem to come by the hour. So much has changed…for now. How long will they last? What will life look like when this crisis recedes?
 
It’s easy to be afraid when our focus is on the things that cause fear and fright, like Peter looking at the wind and waves when walking on water. Far better to focus on our Lord, who has not and will not ever change. Here are a few promises of his that have not changed:

• God will work everything out for my good, specifically, for those who love him – that’s you and me, by grace.  (Romans 8:28)
• God will never let me be tempted beyond what I am able to bear.   (1 Corinthians 10:13)
• God will take care of me no matter what.  (Matthew 6:31-34)
• God has given me eternal life.   (1 John 5:13)
• God will hear and answer my prayers.  (John 16:23)
• God forgives any and every sin for Jesus’ sake.  (1 John 1:7)
• God considers me his dearly loved child.  (1 John 3:1)
• God is more important and “bigger” than me or anyone/anything else.   (2 Corinthians 10:17,18)

​
A Scripture that highlights God’s relentless love and mercy:
   
“Nevertheless, I keep this in my heart. This is the reason I have hope: By the mercies of the Lord we are not consumed, for his compassions do not fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. My soul says, “The Lord is my portion. Therefore, I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good to hope quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”   (Lamentations 3:21-26  EHV)
 
Here’s a prayer for the end of the day – Luther’s Evening Prayer (use this every evening; memorize it!)
 
I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
 
God is with you,
 
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

I don’t know who these people are. But the picture is priceless. A great moment is being captured, and Jesus photobombs the picture. Well, not Jesus himself, but a picture of Jesus photobombs the pic.

Other than “Jesus and me” selfies, I don’t think Jesus would whip out a smartphone all that often. His goal wasn’t self-promotion. Rather than selfies and self-centeredness, his goal was selfless sacrifice on behalf of others. He came not to be served but to serve, to seek and to save the lost.

On the other hand, social media is where people are today; during a pandemic, more than ever! Wouldn’t Jesus meet people where they are, even in the realm of social media? Would Jesus have a Facebook page? Would he tweet? Would you be able to link up with him on LinkedIn? Would he blog? Would he have a website?

I believe he would have a unique presence in these domains.

But would Jesus photobomb pictures? Absolutely, without a doubt: Yes!

Our Savior has a sense of humor. He’s great company, playful, whimsical, creative (just take a look around). And then there is his insistence that he is with us wherever we might be at any moment. Again and again, hundreds of times throughout Scripture, he assures us, “I am with you always. I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5) Remember one of the names he wants us to call him: Immanuel, which means, “God with us.”

So, take another look at all of your pictures. Chances are, you didn’t actually photobomb an image of Jesus into any of them. But he’s there. In every picture. You can’t see him, but he’s there, right by your side. Picture him however you like: Standing tall and straight beside or behind you and family, humorously inserting his smiling face into the pic at a goofy angle, or carrying you and everyone in the photo. Picture him however you like, but be sure to picture him in each pic. He’s there.

Call it divine photobombing or get deeply theological with words like “omnipresence.” Just know and believe Jesus is with you.

A Quick Update
I’ll be recording a sermon today (Friday). It will likely be posted today as well. Also posted on our website, www.trinityminocqua.com, will be a PDF file/bulletin. This includes the Scripture readings for this week, announcements, prayer suggestions, a brief Bible study, and a printed copy of the sermon. Please read through this material and share with others. Gather with family, if you are able, and listen to/watch the sermon for encouragement from God’s Word!

I intend to follow this schedule for the time being:

• Online devotional content (website and email) delivered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Sermon Video for the weekend uploaded by Friday

​In the coming weeks, as our current situation remains, I plan on presenting sermons with sermon slides and sermon notes in the bulletin. These items are absent this week for two reasons: 1) We had been scheduled to have a guest preacher; 2) It took some time to adjust to the rapidly changing environment regarding the suspension of worship and devising a plan to deliver God’s Word in regular, meaningful ways. Sermon videos may also likely include hymns/music (embedded into the PowerPoint slides and/or provided by Hymnsoft) for encouragement as well.

Late this week, I’ve begun calling members to offer a word of encouragement and to see what needs people might have. On Monday, our Elders will meet to further discuss.

Please contact me at any time with information, suggestions and/or concerns!

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

In Matthew 14, Jesus’ disciples find themselves on a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the night in the middle of a storm. That’s a lot of “middles” to make the point that they are in deep trouble. Suddenly, they see the figure of a man, and he’s walking on the water! Now, they’re terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. We can understand their fear, their doubt. We’ve been spooked by things as well.

It’s Jesus. And he says immediately, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Key words here, “It is I.” Ego eimi in Greek. He’s not just saying, “Hey, guys, it’s me.” What he says immediately calls to mind the divine name Yahweh, the name God used for himself when he appeared to Moses at the burning bush, I AM. Ego eimi in Greek is, literally, “I am.” “Take courage. I am…the LORD. Don’t be afraid.”

That’s not a ghost. It’s God. It’s Jesus.

Blessed Peter, reckless, impulsive, foot-in-mouth, but bold Peter says, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” One word propels him out of the boat and into the water, “Come.” This isn’t just any word, but a Word from the Word made flesh, the Word of God from God himself. And Peter finds himself walking on water.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” He doubted. He was going so well, listening to Jesus, focused on Jesus, but then looked away, saw (!) the wind (you can’t see wind, the effects/results of it, but you can’t actually see the wind), saw the waves, the whitecaps, the trouble he was in, Jesus no longer at the center, Peter in the middle of it all, and one thought comes to mind: What am I thinking/doing? All Peter can see is the trouble that he is in, wondering what am I going to do to get out of this?

About to go under, Peter suddenly remembers how he came to be out there walking on the water, who it was that enabled him to do it – Jesus. The antidote for doubt and fear isn’t faith (bigger, better, stronger faith) – it’s involved, it’s there, but don’t go looking inside yourself for faith to measure its quality, quantity, consistency, reliability. The antidote for doubt and fear is Jesus, the object/content of faith. Peter remembers Jesus and cries out, “Lord, save me!”

There’s so much in those words, “Lord, save me.” Remember when Jesus called Peter to be his disciple – he’d fished all night, caught nothing, Jesus tells him to put out into deep water and let down the nets, a catch so huge the boat nearly sank. Peter fell at Jesus knees said, “Go away from me, Lord: I am a sinful man!” 

You and I can cry out, and we do, Lord, save me. Save me from whatever madness/craziness this coronavirus thing has unleashed on our world. Save me from the stress of work and family, from my cranky boss and my crabby computer, from relationships gone wrong, from finances gone foul. But you and I need more than rescue from the storm du jour, whatever crisis is current in our lives. You and I must cry out, “Lord, save me.” Save me from my sins – impatience, pride, recklessness, doubt, and countless more, all of which make me thoroughly wretched, just one of which condemns me to eternity without you.

Jesus offers more than just a hand, he gave up his life in order to give us forgiveness and life forever with him! He took it back again with power and glory on Easter morning to assure us these gifts are ours by grace!

For the current crisis, Jesus offers a hand, pulls Peter out of the water. He also offers a rebuke, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Have you felt the sting of rebuke? Could this be said to you/me, “You of little faith, why do you doubt?” Unfortunately, yes. As the storms of life sweep over us, faith takes a beating. We can be overwhelmed by a sea of doubt and despair.

Faith falters. I doubt. I panic. I see the wind and the waves. And they are huge. I don’t know what to do. And then the voice, God himself says to you, Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” I AM. Remember, ego eimi in Greek? I AM. Not just I’m here with you/for you. I AM the Lord. When you and I leggo my eggo/ego (“ego” is “I” in Greek), when we stop focusing/fretting on self, then faith fixes on ego eimi, I AM. On Jesus.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
​
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

Crisis, anyone? Panic anywhere?

I don’t mean the agony/ecstasy of your favorite pro or college team snatching victory from the jaws of defeat…or vice versa. As you know, they’re not playing right now. I’m not referring to the latest stubbed toe, hangnail, or paper cut.

What’s the latest challenge to blindside you? Medical, physical, relational, emotional? Unexpected difficulties rise up as sure as the sun each morning. We can’t avoid them. The question is: how do you deal with them? How will you deal with the newest one to hit you…maybe even today?

You’ve been living in a cave if you’re unaware of what’s going on worldwide and nationwide regarding the Covid-19/Coronoavirus pandemic. Things keep changing by the day, even the hour. Regardless of your view of this “crisis,” it’s here and there’s plenty of fear.

The gist of the phrase “never waste a crisis” did not famously originate with Rahm Emanuel (President-elect Obama’s then chief-of-staff) in 2008. For all I know, one of the ancient Greek philosophers (Socrates, Plato, etc.) muttered something like this.

This phrase, now commonly applied to economic or diplomatic crises that can be exploited to advance political agendas, can be traced back to at least 1976, when M. F. Weiner wrote an article in the journal Medical Economics entitled “Don’t Waste a Crisis — Your Patient’s or Your Own.” Weiner meant by this that a medical crisis can be used to improve aspects of personality, mental health, or lifestyle.

Let’s apply it spiritually. Every crisis is an opportunity to trust Jesus and possibly share the truth of the Gospel. Seriously. Every single challenge offers this. Even, and dare I say especially, the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic. So, don’t waste these opportunities. See them – and seize them – for what they are. Blessings for growth in the midst of life’s journey.

You have a choice to make every time a crisis hits, be it personal or national. What will you do? How will you react? How will you handle it? Take your cue from King Jehoshaphat who, when confronted with impossible odds and certain defeat at the hands of an enemy, said, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you, (Lord).” (2 Chronicles 20:12b)

A New Testament version of this: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal.” (Hebrews 12:2) During the entirety of the Covid-19/Coronavirus event, let’s combine common sense with confidence in Christ. Let’s spend more time looking at Jesus and less time looking at the things that fill us (and the world) with fear.

And daily, join with the psalmist in declaring, “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.” (Psalm 78:4)

Then, truly, no crisis will ever go to waste.
​
God keep you in his gracious care,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand