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.
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
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
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