Weekly message & Upcoming Events

     Dear friends and members of Highland and Big Canoe Lutheran Churches,

     Today we remember Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711-1787), the so-called “Patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.” Born in Hanover, Germany, and educated at the University of Göttingen, he adopted a broad form of Lutheran pietism. Like other Lutheran pietists, he wanted to express his inner experience of God’s love and grace through a life of genuine religious commitment. Muhlenberg thus devoted himself to prayer, the study of the Bible, the confession of his sins, and the reception of divine grace. He desired to manifest a living faith in Jesus Christ, his Savior and Lord.

            After graduating, Muhlenberg soon expressed an interest in missionary work, first to the Jews in Germany and then to people living in India (through the Danish-Halle mission). In 1742 he was sent to America by that same missionary society. Muhlenberg’s missionary work in America was in response to the pleas from three Lutheran congregations in Pennsylvania to have the Halle mission send them a pastor. Muhlenberg instructed these congregations in the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions (as contained in the Book of Concord of 1580), and he sought to bring back into the churches members who had become disaffected. He worked tirelessly as a faithful and caring pastor.

            In the course of his mission work, he founded many congregations and schools, and he strengthened those that existed, mostly in the area around Philadelphia. In addition, he visited many communities along the eastern seaboard, seeking to establish Lutheran congregations in them.

            Through many letters, he encouraged Lutheran pastors to be sent to America, especially from Germany. Through his other writings and direct teaching and mentoring, he trained many pastors to serve in American settings. In 1748 he organized the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, the first permanent Lutheran synod in America.

            Muhlenberg valued the special role that music plays in Lutheran worship. (He often served as his own organist!) He also played a central role in developing the first Lutheran liturgy in the English language (in 1748). Today, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg is remembered as a church leader, a journalist, a liturgist, a musician, and especially as a pastor to the congregations he served.

            Prayer for the Day: Loving God, Shepherd of your people, we thank you for the ministry of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who left his native land to care for the German and Scandinavian pioneers in North America; and we pray that, following the teaching and example of his life, we may grow into the full stature of Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

            See you in church!

            Pastor Becker

            10-7-26

Upcoming Events:

Sat, Oct 10 (9am-noon): Big Canoe Bake & Quilt Sale w/Lefsa demonstration/sale (Big Canoe)

Sun, Oct 11 (9am): Bible class in the nave at Highland

Sun, Oct 11 (9am): Sunday School in the fellowship hall at Highland

Sun, Oct 11 (10am): Worship w/Holy Communion at Highland – 20th Sun. a. Pentecost (green)

Oct 13-14: Pastor Becker attends a pastoral retreat at Creighton University

Sun, Oct 18 (9am): Bible class in the nave at Big Canoe

Sun, Oct 18 (9am): Children’s Sunday School in the fellowship hall at Big Canoe

Sun, Oct 18 (10am): Service of Healing at Big Canoe – St. Luke the evangelist (red)

Sun, Oct 18 (11am-3pm): Meatball Supper at Big Canoe

Fri, Oct 22 (9:30am): Pr. Becker meets with his ELCA colleague group (Decorah)

Sun, Oct 25 (9am): Bible class in the nave at Highland

Sun, Oct 25 (10am): Reformation Sunday w/Holy Communion at Highland (red) (Gregg Wennes to sing)

Sun, Oct 25 (noon-3pm): Lutefisk Supper at Glenwood Lutheran Church

Sat, Oct 31 (4:30-6:30pm): “Trunk or treat” at both church parking lots for Halloween

Nov 1-4: Pastor Becker is serving as the presenter at a pastor’s conference in Orlando, FL

Nov 1: Daylight Savings Time Ends!

Sun, Nov 1 (9am): Sunday school meets in the fellowship hall at Big Canoe

Sun, Nov 1 (9am): Bible class in the nave at Big Canoe – Pr. Brian Scott (Lutheran World Relief)

Sun, Nov 1 (10am): Worship w/Holy Communion (BC) – All Saints (white) – Pr. Brian Scott (LWF)

Sun, Nov 8 (9am): Bible class in the nave at Highland

Sun, Nov 8 (9am): Sunday school in the fellowship hall at Highland

Sun, Nov 8 (10am): Communion and Thankoffering Service at Highland – 24th Sun. a. Pentecost (green)

Sun, Nov 8 (after worship): Potluck meal and Highland WELCA meeting

Fri, Nov 13 (10am): Pr. Becker leads the worship service at Green Lea Manor (Mabel)

Sat, Nov 14 (5pm): Saturday evening worship service at Big Canoe – 25th Sun. a. Pentecost (green)

Sun, Nov 15: NO WORSHIP SERVICE AT BIG CANOE OR HIGHLAND!

Sun, Nov 22 (9am): Adult Bible class in the nave at Highland

Sun, Nov 22 (10am): Worship w/Holy Communion at Highland – Christ the King Sunday (white)

Sun, Nov 29 (9am): Sunday school in the fellowship hall at Big Canoe

Sun, Nov 29 (9am): Adult Bible class in the nave at Big Canoe

Sun, Nov 29 (10am): Worship w/Holy Communion at Big Canoe – First Sun. in Advent (blue) (5th Sun.)

Sun, Dec 6 (after worship): Joint council meeting at Big Canoe (budget planning)

Matthew L. Becker, STS, B.A., M.Div., M.A., Ph.D.
Pastor, Big Canoe and Highland Lutheran Churches, Decorah, IA

1377 Big Canoe Road, Decorah, IA 52101

Treasurer, Lutheran Quarterly

Senior Research Professor of TheologyValparaiso University
College of Arts & Sciences Room 314
1400 Chapel Drive
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone:  219-916-8535
E-mail: matthew.becker@valpo.edu