● January 2026 "The Mountain Top Messenger" Newsletter
(please click on above link to open current newsletter)
Happy New Year! 2026, Wow! After remembering the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's,
10's, it just seems a bit surreal that we are now into the year in which we will celebrate
the 250th anniversary of our nations independence. It is particularly amazing in my
mind that I remember the 200th anniversary quite well. I believe it is going to be a very
interesting year.
However, before I look too much at the upcoming year, I would like to mention a few
things about the ending of last year. First, a very large thank you to all of those talented
musicians who helped make our Christmas Eve services so memorable. The choir
was outstanding and all of the solo's and accompanists were spectacular. I have receive
numerous compliments and wanted to take a moment to pass them on, you are
all greatly appreciated. Along those lines, June and I would like to thank all of you who
gave us cards and gifts for Christmas, we are very grateful and I am attempting to get
a personal thank you to all of you, but unfortunately it is a slow process. Please know
that we thank you for your remembering and caring about us.
I haven't really figured out a topic for the year as I did last year with the 10 commandments.
So I am still open to suggestions. I have gotten a few suggestions for some
shorter topics that I am planning on incorporating for the next several months.
A reminder to everyone that in both the Sunday morning and
Monday morning Bible studies we are reading through and discussing
a booklet written by Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann entitled
"The Two Realms and the Separation of Church and State". It
has been a very interesting and thought provoking study to this
point, we are about a third of the way through the book and we
have additional books available if you would like to join us. Following
the Bible study, the books will be available for self-study in the Library.
A while back, I believe I mentioned that we would be doing a
sermon series on the Book of Daniel, originally it was going to
be done during the current season of Epiphany, however, the series is a couple sessions
longer than the season, so instead of being during Epiphany we will do the complete series
following Easter when we get back into the green season of what we call
ordinary time. And yes I said Easter, it may seem a bit hard to believe but Ash
Wednesday is just a little over a month away.
One last item this month, I wanted to let everyone know, as some have heard, I had
received a phone call from another LCMS Church the other day and they asked if I
would be open to receiving a call. Now, before anyone gets concerned about that,
the first thing I did was to let them know that I am not eligible to receive a call, so I
would not be able to consider a call. I, as am SMP Pastor, am called to Zion Lutheran
Church in Ashland, WI. Under the current Synod rules, I am not available to take a
call. I am your Pastor as long as the Lord allows me to continue and wish to have
me. I would also reiterate that being called as your pastor and being able to serve all
of you has been, is, and continues to be the greatest blessing in my life. I pray the Lord
blesses us with many more years together.
Next month, I will be doing a piece on what the
different colors of our Church seasons mean,
where they came from and why even have
them? I look forward to that and I look forward
to another year ahead with all of you.
And now: The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make His face shine upon you and be
gracious to you, the Lord look upon you with
favor and give you peace.
Pastor Rick
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