Weekly message & Upcoming Events

Dear Pilgrims of Highland and Big Canoe Lutheran Churches,

            There are only two contemporary accounts of the first Thanksgiving celebration, which took place at Plymouth Colony in late September 1621. The more well-known account is from a letter by Edward Winslow, which he wrote a few months after the event. His letter, dated December 12, 1621, was later published in 1622. Here is a portion of Winslow’s account of the first Thanksgiving:

Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

            Here is my proclamation for Thanksgiving 2025:

            All ye Pilgrims of Big Canoe and Highland,

            Inasmuch as our Great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of corn, wheat, beans, squashes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game; and inasmuch as our Great Father has protected us, has spared us from pestilence and disease, and has granted us freedom to worship him according to the dictates of our conscience; I, as your pastor, do invite all ye Pilgrims to gather with your families and friends at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, at 6:30pm, on Wednesday, November 26, to give thanks and praise to God through Jesus Christ our Lord with joy from the Holy Spirit in your hearts.

            See you in church!

            Pastor Becker

            11-25-2025

Upcoming Events:

Wed, Nov 26 (6:30pm): Thanksgiving Eve worship service (Big Canoe)

Sun, Nov 30 (8:45am): Bible class (on the Nicene Creed) meets in the fellowship hall at Highland

Sun, Nov 30 (10am): Service w/Holy Communion (Highland) – First Sun in Advent (blue)

Sun, Nov 30 (after the worship service): The Big Canoe Council will meet at Highland

Sun, Nov 30 (2-4pm): Hops and Hymns at Barney’s in Burr Oak

Tues, Dec 2 (9:30-noon): Pastor Becker will be in La Crosse for an appointment

Wed, Dec 3 (5:00pm): Midweek Advent soup supper and worship service (Big Canoe)

Thurs, Dec 4 (1pm): WELCA of Big Canoe meets for a Christmas Party (Big Canoe)

Sat, Dec 6 (10am-noon): Annual spiritual/planning retreat for both congregations (Big Canoe)

Sun, Dec 7 (8:45am): Bible class (topic TBD) meets in the nave at Big Canoe

Sun, Dec 7 (9am): Sunday school meets in the Fellowship Hall at Big Canoe

Sun, Dec 7 (10am): Service w/communion & baptism of Rawson Ferguson (BC) – 2 Sun./ Advent (blue)

Sun, Dec 7 (11:15am-noon): Youth confirmation class at Big Canoe

Tues, Dec 9 (1:00pm): Pastor Becker participates in a Crossings online presentation about Christmas

Wed, Dec 10 (5:00pm): Midweek Advent soup supper and worship service (Highland)

Fri, Dec 12 (10am): Pastor Becker leads the worship service at Green Lea Manor (Mabel)

Sun, Dec 14 (8:45m): Bible class (topic TBD) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, Dec 14 (10am): Service w/Holy Communion (Highland) – Third Sun. in Advent (blue)

Sun, Dec 14 (after worship): Highland WELCA will meet (Highland)

Wed, Dec 17 (2:30pm): Pastor Becker leads the communion service at Aase Haugen

Wed, Dec 17 (5:00pm): Midweek Advent soup supper and worship service (Big Canoe)

Sat, Dec 20 (10am-11:30am): Practice for the Children’s Christmas Program (Big Canoe)

Sun, Dec 21 (8:45-9:30am): Practice for the Children’s Christmas Program (Big Canoe)

Sun, Dec 21 (10am): Children’s Christmas Program and soup luncheon (Big Canoe)

Wed, Dec 24 (5:30pm): Christmas Eve service and potluck meal (Highland)

Thurs, Dec 25 (10am): Christmas Day service (Big Canoe)

Sat, Dec 27 (2-4pm): Open House at the Parsonage (carol singing at 3pm)

Sun, Dec 28 (8:45am): Bible class (topic TBD) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, Dec 28 (10am): Service of the Word (Highland) – First Sunday of Christmas (white)

Sun, Dec 28 (after the service): Joint council meeting of both church councils (at Highland)

Wed, Feb 18 (5:30pm): Shared Ministry soup/sandwich meal and Ash Wed worship service (Big Canoe)

Wed, Feb 25 (5:30pm): Shared Ministry meal and Lenten service (Pr. Becker preaching) (Burr Oak)

Apr 21 – May 5, 2026: Pr. Becker will be in Nigeria, Africa (ordaining 20 pastors)

August 9-14, 2026: Luther League/Shared Ministry Youth trip to the Boundary Waters
           

Matthew L. Becker, STS, B.A., M.Div., M.A., Ph.D.

Pastor, Big Canoe and Highland Lutheran Churches, Decorah, IA

Treasurer, Lutheran Quarterly

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