When someone is new to something, there is a period of orientation. For example, when someone takes up a new game or sport, they need to first learn the rules. Likewise, when someone is a new disciple of Jesus, a period of orientation follows. It's necessary, because by nature we assume that Jesus' kingdom works the same way the world works. The truth that is uncovered this week is that the principles on which Jesus' kingdom runs are the exact opposite of the principles of the world. That which the world considers to be a blessing can often be a curse. And that which the world calls bad, God always uses for the good of those he loves.

It does not surprise us that from the beginning of his ministry Jesus demonstrated his commitment to proclaiming good news of the kingdom of God, regardless of whether people rejected his message or embraced it. That was Christ's agenda, and he was committed to it. What is surprising is that, also from the beginning, Jesus demonstrated his plan to carry out this proclamation by sending others to speak on his behalf. More surprising is whom he sends, not angels, but mere human beings. In many cases, it was individuals who seemed to lack the qualifications to speak on Christ's behalf. Yet, Christ equipped and prepared them. Do you feel unqualified to tell others the good news?

Join your fellow Trinity members and other members of our Waukesha community for an evening of board gaming. We will have all sorts of games available to play from classic board games to newer strategy games. Everyone is welcome to attend, from children all the way up through adults. Bring your own favorite game, or play one of ours!

We'll start with a brief devotion at 6:00 PM and will begin gaming at 6:15 PM. In order to help our organizers plan snacks for the event, please consider helping us by RSVP-ing by following the link found below.

Last week we saw that there can be a temptation to alter the message we proclaim to avoid apparent failure and rejection. This week we see that there is also a temptation to alter the message we proclaim because of apparent success. If a church makes its central focus things like personal improvement, healing for the sick, or social justice, that church may draw a crowd. It just fails to carry out the agenda Christ has given his Church. The gospel of forgiveness is to be the center of all our preaching and teaching. The agenda for Christ's Church is set. It's the same agenda that was followed by the Church's Christ.

When one proclaims God's Word, typically the intentions are good. We want others to know the joy of salvation and the love of Christ. Therefore, it can be surprising to us when God's Word is met with apathy or rejection by those who hear it. It's easy to conclude that when the Word of God offends human minds and hearts (including our own), something has gone wrong. The truth that is uncovered this week is that rejection of Jesus' words is not the exception but the rule. Jesus' words will always offend. However, we will see that God can use even the rejection of his Word for good.

Is the pursuit of God and the pursuit of pleasure two separate paths? Many make that assumption—that life with Jesus is a boring, sterile experience. They are dead wrong. Jesus came to undo everything that is wrong with our world as a result of sin's curse. He also came to multiply our joy and deliver delight beyond our wildest dreams. Note that when Jesus begins to reveal his glory, it isn't by going to a hospital to cure every ailment. Instead, he starts at a local wedding, one of the greatest sources of joy in this life. The truth uncovered for us this week is that life with Jesus is not a life with less delight, but infinitely more.

The twelve days of Christmas are over. Likewise, our worship series—What Child Is This—comes to an end today with the Festival of the Epiphany, a celebration of the the first time non-Jewish believers worshiped the newborn Savior. They were guided by a special light in the sky to the child who would be a light for all people. We live in a world where sin can divide people along so many lines: ethnicity and race, the rich and the poor, red states and blue states, etc. The only dividing line Jesus cares about is the one that separated sinful mankind from a holy God. By his death and resurrection, he removed that line and united all believers into one Kingdom. For that, we offer him our finest gifts.

Already as a child, Jesus' saving work had begun. His entire life, he served as our subsitute, perfectly obeying God's Law. Just think of how we often neglect the study of God's Word. Then look at twelve-year-old Jesus, eager to be in the temple learning more about Scripture. However, he would need to do more than be our substitute. Eventually he would lay that perfect life down as the sacrifice for our sin.

A baby is born every twelve seconds. That's 140 million babies born each year. Yet, there is something that sets this child apart from all others. It is not simply his humble beginnings, with a cattle trough as his first cradle. It is not just the miraculous nature of his birth, his mother being a virgin. There is so much more. This child is the only hope we have for peace and a future. This child can wipe away every tear, drive away every fear. Here is the truth of Christmas. With this child, you lack nothing. Without him, you have nothing. Let us use this season of Christmas to answer this most important question: WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

By this time of the holiday season, people are often weighed down. They feel guilty about presents that are not perfect, or parties that did not go as planned, or year-end projects that did not get completed. To top it all off, now is when it dawns on people how little attention they have given to the spiritual preparation Advent invites. If that is how we feel, perhaps the frenzy of December has actually done us a favor. We have been stretched to our limits. We have been made aware of our shortcomings. We have been humbled. Perfect! For being made aware of our weaknesses does not disqualify us from God's care. It does the opposite. It is what prepares us for the work he does best. He is a God who lifts up the humbled.

Join your fellow Trinity members and other members of our Waukesha community for an evening of board gaming. We will have all sorts of games available to play from classic board games to newer strategy games. Everyone is welcome to attend, from children all the way up through adults. Bring your own favorite game, or play one of ours!

We'll start with a brief devotion at 6:00 PM and will begin gaming at 6:15 PM. In order to help our organizers plan snacks for the event, please consider helping us by RSVP-ing by following the link found below.

Celebrate Christmass. The double “S” is not a typo. The word “Christmas” comes from the Old English phrase “Cristes Maesse,” meaning “The Mass of Christ.” “Mass” comes from the Latin verb that means “to send.” In the early church, “Mass” came to refer especially to Holy Communion. After the Lord’s Supper and blessing, God’s people were sent into the world to proclaim the grace and forgiveness they received in that holy meal.

In the 16th century, to distance themselves from false teachings about the Mass prevalent in the Catholic church, many Lutherans stopped using that term. That was wise. However, a potential negative consequence is that the connection between Christmas and the Lord’s Supper was diminished. At Christmas, God wraps himself in human flesh, not only so that he could die for our sin, but also so that he could give us his very body and blood in this most special feast. Christmas culminates in the Mass of Christ.

Just as it is easy to lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas, so also, we can easily lose sight of the significance of Holy Communion. It is easy to approach the table casually, like it’s nothing but a liturgical snack. It is so much more! So, while we won’t bring the term “Mass” back, our prayer for this worship series is that it would change how we come to Christ’s table. In these midweek services, let us prepare our hearts to truly Celebrate Christmass.

What would it be like to meet God? We know he is almighty and holy. He loathes sin. No wonder that when God appears to his Old Testament people, their first response is typically terror. But when Jesus Christ came into our world, he hid his glory and power. He humbled himself so that sinners would be drawn to him rather than driven away in fear.

"Advent" is a Latin word that means "coming." The season of Advent is the four week period before Christmas that the Church uses to connect the two "comings" of Christ. The first time the Lord came into our world it was as a tiny, helpless baby, born in a manger in Bethlehem. However, when Jesus comes again, it will be in all his power and glory with his angelic army behind him. He will be coming as judge at the end of time. Let us use these four weeks to see how the events of Jesus' first coming remove all our fears about his second coming. We can hold our heads high when the Lord comes near.

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD.

Give thanks at Trinity this Thanksgiving Eve with a community meal at 5:30pm followed by a special service in English and Spanish. A morning festival service in English will be at 9:00am on Thanksgiving Day,

• Thanksgiving Eve Community Meal: November 27, 5:30pm

• Thanksgiving Eve Bilingual Service: November 27, 6:30pm

• Thanksgiving Festival Service (in English): November 28, 9:00am

DEN GRACIAS AL SEÑOR, PORQUE ÉL ES BUENO.

Agradece en Trinity esta Noche de Acción de Gracias con una comida comunitaria a las 5:30 p.m., seguida de un servicio especial en inglés y español. Un servicio matutino de festival en inglés será a las 9:00 a.m. en el Día de Acción de Gracias.

• Comida comunitaria de Noche de Acción de Gracias: 27 de noviembre, 5:30 p.m.

• Servicio bilingüe de Noche de Acción de Gracias: 27 de noviembre, 6:30 p.m.

• Servicio de festival de Acción de Gracias (en inglés): 28 de noviembre, 9:00 a.m.

The Church has marked the passing of yet another Church Year, waiting for its Lord to return. How long will we have to wait and watch for Jesus to return? We do not know. Jesus said he would return soon. However, the definition of “soon” for the One who has no beginning or end will naturally differ from ours. Whenever Jesus returns, it will take us by surprise. So, how do believers avoid growing lethargic? How do we remain ready and watchful for Christ’s return? Our Savior points us to his Scriptures.

The promises Jesus has made us this past year—promises that give us comfort and hope and purpose—were not merely spoken. Jesus ensured those promises were written down in Scripture. As we see in Scripture all the promises that Christ has fulfilled, there is a discernable effect. The Spirit creates within us an eager anticipation regarding the Scriptural promises that are as-of-yet unfilled. While we cannot be certain when the day of fulfillment will come, we are completely confident of what that day will bring. No matter how many years we must mark, we watch with eager anticipation, and we pray, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

If you were making a list of things that might make society more peaceful, would you include “more judgment”? Likely not. Many people assume that judgement leads to conflict, not peace. However, a lack of judgment is a luxury many cannot afford. Our world is full of victims of abuse, violence, and oppression. In many cases this evil goes unnoticed and unpunished. A future without the hope of judgment means no peace. If there is no hope of judgment, victims would be driven either into total despair or to be consumed by the desire for revenge. A future that includes judgment, however, gives those who are wronged the peace of knowing that one day there will be perfect justice.

When we are horribly wronged, what are our options? Taking matters into our own hands? Despair? Jesus provides a better option. Trust that he will keep his promise to return, bringing judgment. The effect of that promise? We have peace, knowing that every wrong will eventually be righted by the one righteous Judge.

King David once said that guilt makes you feel like your very bones are rotting. Guilt makes you feel weak… sick. Guilt can make it hard to focus on anything else… hard to function. And guilt is an inescapable fact of life. Everyone carries guilt about something. Worse, our efforts to deal with guilt—minimizing our mistakes, making excuses for our sin—don’t help, they only make us feel worse. What alleviates the burden of guilt?

Just one thing—God’s gift of grace. Christ’s love is undeserved and unconditional. He pardons every sin. This is the entire reason Jesus came to earth. This was his mission—to give the gift of grace! When we receive that gift, our guilt melts. Left in its place is the joy of our salvation.

God grants the status of “saint” (which means “holy one”) to every believer. It might appear that status is of little practical value. If you achieve the status “billionaire” or “celebrity” or “senator” your life is going to be vastly different than most other people, most likely better. But if God calls you a saint, just like everyone else, you will struggle with trials, temptations, and sin. Being a saint does not make life easier. In some ways it makes life more difficult as we struggle against a world that is hostile toward Christ. This might lead us to ask, “Is it really that big a deal that God calls us saints?”

For centuries, the Church has answered that question by celebrating the Festival of All Saints. This week we take a peek at the saints who have died and now live in the glory of Christ’s light. Through eyes of faith we see the saints enjoying glory in the place where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:1-6). We realize what a precious gift this status of saint actually is. We understand that soon enough we shall join all the saints in that glorious heavenly city. And that gives us amazing stamina to face the challenges of this world with the strength Christ gives to all his saints.