Weekly message & Upcoming Events

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

     In this season of Easter, when we reflect more intently upon the mystery of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we might ponder the following details that support the reality of this event, as reported in the biblical Scriptures:

(1) the radical change that the disciples experienced between the Friday on which Jesus died and the following Sunday evening, when they went from being full of fear and dejection to being full of joy and confidence. The witness of Jesus’ disciples to Christ’s resurrection did not waiver for the rest of their earthly lives, even in the face of persecution and death;

(2) the radical change that Saul of Tarsus experienced a few years after Jesus’ death, when Paul stopped opposing and persecuting early Christians and began serving as one of the church’s central leaders. Paul explained his radical turn-around as the result of the risen Christ revealing himself to Paul (cf. Gal. 1-2; Phil. 3);

(3) the power of the witness to Christ’s resurrection, which has led many millions to turn from despair to hope, from fear to joy, from doubt and uncertainty to confident faith in the living God;

(4) the various reports that people have made throughout the centuries regarding their own visions of the risen Christ; and

(5) the assumption that almighty God may be expected, on occasion, to set aside or act beyond the laws of nature, at least as we understand them.

God’s love is greater than the power of death. The new life that God grants in and through Jesus is not defeated by death. That new life is eternal life. God gives us this new kind of life because of what Jesus did on his cross and in his tomb. God does not want us to perish but to have eternal life (John 3:16).

It is worth pointing out that none of the authentic witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus tried to depict the resurrection itself or the specific features of the risen Christ. Since “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50), the nature of Jesus’ risen “spiritual body” must be radically different from his earthly body, “more real” than what we moderns understand by “reality.” I think the only way to make sense of the various resurrection reports about the risen Christ is that the one who had been crucified was really living. Vindicated by his heavenly Father, Christ made himself manifestly present to his disciples, though not in a “flesh-and-blood” manner, but physically, tangibly, nonetheless.

            A related point also needs to be underscored: the disciples were kept from recognizing the risen Christ until he revealed his identity to them. For example, the disciples on the way to Emmaus did not know to whom they were speaking until that person—the risen Jesus—made himself known to them in the breaking of the bread (Lk. 24:31). Other resurrection accounts report the same phenomenon (cf. Jn. 20:11ff; 21:4ff.).

            The being of the risen Jesus is thus different from what it had been prior to his death. A clear indication of this new being is that none of the disciples can take hold of the risen Christ as if he were still an ordinary “flesh-and-blood” human being. He makes himself suddenly present where and when he determines, and just as quickly he vanishes from sight, only to make himself present again elsewhere.

            Bottom line: the resurrection of Jesus is like no other historic event; it is a reality that we cannot fully understand. The proper response to the good news about this event is faith and adoration, as when Thomas exclaimed to the risen Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

 Christ is risen! He’s risen, indeed! Alleluia!

            See you in church!

            Pastor Becker

            4-22-2026

Upcoming Events:

Wed, Apr 22 (6:15pm): Confirmation instruction with Isabella and Brenden (Zoom)

Thurs, Apr 23 (9:30am): Pr. Becker meets with his ELCA pastoral colleague group in Decorah

Sat, Apr 25 (11am): Luther League to go roller skating

Sun, Apr 26 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in the fellowship hall at Highland

Sun, Apr 26 (10am): Service of the Word (Highland) – Fourth Sunday of Easter (white)

Sun, Apr 26 (10am): Blessing of the quilts and kits at Highland (Highland)

Sun, Apr 26 (after worship): Highland WELCA will meet

Apr 26-27: Pastor Becker will be in Valparaiso, attending to university matters

Tues, Apr, 28: Pastor Becker will be leading a pastoral retreat in Chicago

Sat, May 2 (7am): Special consecration service for the pastoral candidates in Jos, Nigeria (via Zoom at

            Big Canoe)

            --Rev. Dr. David Albertin from Michigan City, Ind. is the guest preacher

Sun, May 3 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in the nave at Big Canoe

Sun, May 3 (9am): Children’s Sunday school meets in the Fellowship Hall at Big Canoe

Sun, May 3 (10am): Worship w/Holy Communion at Big Canoe – Fifth Sun. of Easter (white)

            --Rev. Dr. Steve Albertin from Indianapolis, Ind., is our guest preacher

Fri, May 8 (10am): Pastor Becker leads the worship service at Green Lea Manor (Mabel)

Fri, May 8 (morning): Terje Mikael Hasle Joranger from Norway visits Big Canoe for historical info

Sun, May 10 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, May 10 (10am): Worship w/Holy Communion and blessing of seeds, etc., and steeple at Highland

            (Sixth Sunday of Easter [Rogate Sunday]) – Also Mother’s Day (white)

May 11-13: Pastor Becker attends a pastoral retreat at Creighton University

Tues, May 12 (2pm): Gather Bible study (Highland)

Sun, May 17 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in the nave at Big Canoe

Sun, May 17 (9am): Children’s Sunday School meets in the Fellowship Hall at Big Canoe

Sun, May 17 (10am): Service of the Word at Big Canoe – Seventh Sunday of Easter (white)

Fri, May 22 (5pm): Wedding rehearsal (Big Canoe)

Sat, May 23 (3pm): Wedding of Molly Oehme and Beau Benzing (Big Canoe)

Sun, May 24 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, May 24 (10am): Pentecost Sunday w/Holy Communion at Highland – Pentecost Sunday (red)

May 29 – June 9: Pastor and Detra are on vacation (Pastor Gies will be serving on 5/31 and 6/7)

Sun, May 31 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in Fellowship Hall at Highland – Pr. Gies

Sun, May 31 (10am): Trinity Sunday w/Holy Communion at Highland – Fifth Sunday (white) – Pr. Gies

Sun, Aug 23 (after worship): Side-by-side event, starting at Highland (rain day is Aug 30)

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