In our Lenten journey, we are reminded of our dependence on God, and we are sustained by hope in the future peace God has promised. As war involving the United States, Israel and Iran intensifies and spreads, we lament how far off that promise seems.

We do not know how many people have been killed, but we know the number will continue to grow. Early reports indicate that more than 100 Iranian schoolgirls and several U.S. service members are among them.

The church of Jesus Christ is called to proclaim the peace of God’s eternal reign and to work for an earthly peace here and now. The ELCA social message “Living in a Time of Terrorism” states that this earthly peace is a “precious yet fragile good.” Its existence depends on leaders who prioritize diplomacy over military engagement and deterrence over war, and on citizens who hold government accountable whenever military action is considered.

With many of you, I am distressed that a robust, public discernment through congressional authorization did not occur prior to the United States’ engagement in this war. As Lutherans, we affirm that government and the order that just laws provide are gifts of God for our safety and well-being. This war does not represent the promotion of this just order but rather its failure.  

The costs in lives and safety of this failure will be borne by those least able to avoid it — children, families and those without the means to flee.  Its deadly toll has been, and will continue to be, paid with the lives of our neighbors, including our siblings in Christ in the Middle East.  

This moment underscores the urgent need for robust, well-resourced diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. Our companions in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land have asked our church to pray fervently for peace and safety and to advocate for the dignity and security of all people. ELCA Witness in Society will continue to provide opportunities for this advocacy.

As members of the body of Christ, join me in prayerful, hopeful solidarity with our siblings and neighbors who suffer today.

Together:
• We mourn the rush to war and the combatants and noncombatants who have lost their lives.
• We yearn for creation’s fulfillment in “a new heaven and a new earth” where death and pain “will be no more” (Revelation 21:1, 4).
• We strive for justice and peace in all the earth, strengthened by faith in the crucified and risen Lord to persist.
• We trust that, through God who sustains us, our weariness and fear will not overcome us.

In Christ,

The Rev. Yehiel Curry
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Upcoming Worship – Sunday, March 8, 2026 – 9:25am

Jesus offers us the source and sustenance for eternal life through faith in Christ our Savior.

Worship – Sunday, March 1, 2026

As God gave Abraham His blessing, and Nicodemus the promise of salvation, so with each of us, God provides a good beginning (and ending) through the blessings of baptism.

A new devotion – every day in Lent !

Click here or on the graphic below.

Pastor Steve’s 2-Minute Devotion – 3/4/26

Worship Bulletin – Sunday, March 1, 2026

Read or print this bulletin – and follow along with this Sunday’s Livestream Worship Service – here on our website, or on our YouTube or Facebook pages.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The next Women’s Bible Study is Monday, March 9th, at noon. Bring a lunch and join us.
• A Church Council Meeting will be held on Monday, March 9th at 4:00PM.
• Ecumenical Lenten Service will be Wednesday, March 11th at St Aidan Episcopal Church with a potato bar from 5:00-6:15pm with a social reception following
• Future Lenten Services are at 6:30pm: Wednesday, March 18th at First United Methodist Church preceded with soup and salad bar, and Wednesday, March 25th at St. Olaf Lutheran Church followed by a social/reception..
• Pastor will be in the office on Thursday, March 12th from 9:00am – 12:00pm. Appointments are appreciated, but not necessary. If you wish to meet with Pastor at other times, please contact him directly. Looking ahead, he will be in the office he will be in on Wednesday March 18th, and Thursday March 26th from 9am-12pm.
• Roof Replacement: To take advantage of the Matching Pledge Offer, please return your Pledge Form by March 15, 2026. The due date for the Pledge Forms is March 31, 2026. Monies due by May 1, 2026.
• The next “Conversations with God” will be held on Thursday, March 26th at 10am. Please note the date change. This group will now meet the 4th Thursday of each month. We will take this time to gather for prayer, Scripture, and conversation on a different topic each month. March’s topic will be “Change “.

MINISTRY PARTNERS

• Special Giving for March is Habitat for Humanity – Washington and Dodge Counties.
• Community Lunch will be served on Saturday, March 28th, 11:30am, at First United Methodist Church. Fellowship prior to lunch.
• Lincoln Elementary School
  
  In the Nest:
• Casa Guadelupe English Language Learners “ELL” meets Monday & Wednesdays from 6-7:30PM.
• Al-Anon Meetings are held Thursdays at 7:00PM.
• Girl Scouts meet the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays.

THE NEEDS OF OUR PARTNERS

Lincoln Elementary School:
Clothing: Winter clothes for children in various sizes, snowpants, winter coats, socks, sweatpants for both elementary and middle school, regular gloves, and caps, gloves for playing in the snow.
Snacks include: Goldfish, Individually wrapped food items, Animal Crackers, and Granola Bars… NO bags of nuts. Food drive/pantry (most helpful in Feb – Summer) cereal, shelf stable microwave meals, canned goods and mac and cheese with cheese sauce (not add milk and butter).

Casa Guadelupe:
Clothing: Winter coats, boots, mittens, warm clothes, winter hats, socks (gently used items are OK).
Snacks: Kid snacks are OK. (NO nuts.) Fruits cups, cereal, canned goods.
Other Items: Books (gently used is OK.), new toys.

See The Herald and the giving tree in the coffee area for these and other needs.

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ITEMS NEEDED
Drop-off box located in front of the “Giving Tree” in the Narthex.

WINTER CLOTHES FOR CHILDREN

• Snow Pants – various sizes
• Winter Coats – various sizes
• Socks – various sizes
• Sweatpants – for Middle school kids sizes & elementary kid sizes
• Gloves – various sizes
• Gloves – for playing in snow

FOOD & PANTRY NEEDS (most helpful in February, Spring, Summer)

• Cereal
• Shelf Stable Microwave Meals
• Canned Goods
• Mac and Cheese – with cheese sauce (not add milk and butter)
• Snacks – for teachers to give to students
• Goldfish

INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED FOOD ITEMS

• Animal Crackers
• Granola Bars
• NO bags of nuts

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God calls us to bless our world and enrich our journey of faith through daily prayer. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America offers a great prayer resource called “Prayer Ventures.” Prayer Ventures provides a daily prayer for us to remember the world’s many needs, and to support vital and innovative ELCA missions and ministries through prayer. Each month the Redeemer website will provide Prayer Ventures shaped for that month’s emphases.

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Redeemer’s Giving Tree

A permanent Giving Tree is located in the Narthex! It’s simple to use and benefits many worthy causes in our community and at Redeemer. Simply remove a tag from the tree, bring in the donation on the tag and place it into the proper bin at the foot of the tree. Many thanks to Matt Nettesheim for constructing this amazing work of art (including LED lighting), to Jenny Nettesheim and Sheila Bauer for managing this project, and to Thrivent for providing a grant to help get it “off the ground”. We look forward to many years of use in service to others.