Good morning: Along with other Midwestern states, Wisconsin has been called a “flyover state.” Some people have the perception that all the exciting and worthwhile events take place on either coast, and that there is no reason to spend any time in the places that lie between, the “flyover” states. It’s not true, but if someone has that impression, they are not likely to plan a vacation trip to Milwaukee any time soon. Do you ever think of this post-Christmas time as “flyover days”? The anticipation and excitement of Christmas is over and after New Year’s, what is there to look forward to? Long winter days with routine schedules of work and school, perhaps broken up by an occasional snowstorm, don’t seem all that exciting or important. We may wish we could just fast forward to the Fourth of July next week. Still, every day is a day the Lord has made for our blessing and therefore a day to anticipate and use to its fullest. After-the-Christmas-rush days are an ideal time to get back in the habit of daily devotions with the Lord and to spend more time with Him in prayer. Routine days and times are meant for us to go to the Lord’s throne in behalf of those whose lives have been turned upside down by sickness or by some other trouble or tragedy. This is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and how faithful the Lord has been in daily forgiving our sins, sometimes the same sins over and over. In spite of all the changes brought about by COVID, God’s providence never failed in providing life’s necessities and so much more. When people take the time to stop in a flyover state and explore, they find surprising hidden treasures: quaint historic villages, a breath-taking view of the Mississippi River, or new acquaintances who become lifelong friends. That is even more true for these flyover days before us now. The Lord has all kinds of treasures waiting for us in His Word. Encouraged and equipped by the Holy Spirit, we can then look forward each day to making the most of our time in carrying out the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do. That includes today! Yours in Christ, Pastor Services are at 8:00 and 10:45 a.m. Bible class is at 9:30 a.m. We continue our study of Luther’s Large Catechism. Here is the link for service signup: https://tinyurl.com/y2j5r8sn Signing up for the Sunday service by 6 p.m. Saturday is appreciated and helpful and a way of showing Christian love for one another. It gives the Elders and ushers an idea of how many people to prepare for. When you sign up you can also see how full the service will be, and if you wish, consider attending the other service. By signing up, you can easily be informed if that were advisable because of contact with someone at the service who later became ill. The governor’s mask order is still in effect for all indoor spaces, including churches. Masks are available in the entry if you forget yours.
