November 2024 ~ Messenger

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…giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians
5:20-21
Rejoice always, pry without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the
will of God for Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of
water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with its bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy;
The meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with
grain they shout and sing for joy. Psalm 65:9-13

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Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

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We are all familiar with the seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. And living in
Wisconsin the transition from one season to the next can be very graceful or very abrupt. Two
days ago, it was almost 80, and later in the week there might be snow on the ground. Sounds
about right for Wisconsin.
In the Church there are also seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Trinity.
And to be fair, the transition from one to another can also be either very graceful or very
abrupt. Under the category of very abrupt might be the move from Lent to Easter. During Lent
we slowly make our way to the cross outside of Jerusalem, and over the course of Holy Week
dig deeper into the mysteries of God and the love which He shows to us in offering up Himself
in our place. And then almost overnight we leave behind the seriousness of Lent and find
ourselves standing in a church full of flowers with trumpets and bells ringing out the good news
that Christ is risen!

For the last five months, we have been making our way through the Trinity Season- the longest
season of the year in the Church- but just as early summer is not the same as late summer, in
the Trinity Season there are also little signs that things are changing. For the past few weeks,
since the end of September until Reformation Day the main theme in the lectionary (the
readings) has been focused on what it is to live in the church militant. The term “church
militant” is used in contrast to the “church triumphant.” Simply put the church triumphant is in
heaven and the church militant is on earth. As long as we are here on earth, we are said to be in
the church militant because here we have to contend for the faith and fight the good fight of
faith against the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature, but in heaven the faithful who
have fallen asleep in Christ no longer need to contend with such things, so they are said to be in
the church triumphant. And ever so gracefully the church and the lectionary over the next few
weeks is going to change our focus from what it is to be in the church militant to what we can
hope for and expect in the church triumphant. The Trinity Season doesn’t officially end until the
start of Advent, but already there is a shift happening in the readings, the hymns, and the
preaching heard in the church.

In much the same way that Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, Reformation Day is the
unofficial end of one part of the Trinity Season and All Saints’ Day is the beginning of something
new. Then after All Saints’ Day comes the last three Sundays in the Church year, and like the
autumn leaves falling to the ground these are signs that the Trinity Season and the Church Year
are coming to an end. And rather brilliantly the end of the Church Year focuses on the end of all
things and the return of Christ to judge the living and the dead. Which should be for us a source
of great comfort and consolation! More on that in the weeks ahead…

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Suehring

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CWG/LWML ~ Oct. 16, 2024

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The October meeting was called to order by President Sharon Thiel.
Pastor Suehring led us in a devotion on St. Luke, the evangelist, and the
uniqueness of his gospel.
Pastor Suehring also prayed for member prayer concerns,
Secretary, Barb Huebner took the roll call showed 4 members present and Pastor.
Barb also read the minutes from the Sept. meeting, and they were accepted as
read.
No treasurers report, sunshine report, or funeral circle report were given.
Loah Morton gave the over 80 birthday card report. 5 cards have been sent
for Oct. birthdays.
Bible of the month for Oct. are going to Eastern Europe
Prayer for the people of war torn Ukraine.
A newsletter was received from ABS Good News and Wycliff.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Christmas Tree project at the town hall was discussed and voted on.
Ornaments will be open books with the looks of the Bible on them connected
with gold cord to a mite box.
October birthdays are 9th, Marilyn Koepke, 14th Pastor Suehring, and 28th, Maria
Mueller.
Meeting was adjourned with the LWML Pledge and the Lord’s Prayer.
The next meeting will be Nov. 20, at 10:30 in the church fellowship hall.

Submitted by Barb Huebner, Secretary

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