I forgot all about Thanksgiving!

Lesa and I are hosting Thanksgiving for some of our family for the first time this year. My dad and sister will be here tomorrow evening and Lesa's mom and dad will come Thursday late morning. Lesa has quite a menu planned and I'm sure it will be a terrific meal. We are celebrating the Eternal Thanksgiving of the Holy Eucharist tomorrow night at Good Shepherd. If you are in the area, please join us, we will be using Divine Service 4.

There are so many things to be thankful for, chiefly the unhindered proclamation of the Word and the right administration of the Sacraments. What a blessing to live in a country where we are free to be faithful to our Evangelical Lutheran confession of faith.

Quite a Dry Spell

It has been way too long since I last posted anything. Here is the lowdown on what's been going on in my life and at our parish:
*Mid-October I took a teaching position at West Michigan Lutheran High School in addition to being pastor at Good Shepherd. I am teaching Freshman Bible History and Sophomore Lutheran Confessions. It has been a blast! Not only do I get to teach everyday, I get to do it with some really great kids who are open to traditional, confessional Lutheranism. Thanks be to God for this wonderful opportunity!
*I have had an article published in Higher Things Magazine on the Divine Service.
*I was interviewed on Issues, etc. about the magazine article. Quite an honor for me and a lot of fun. I hope to do it again soon (hint, hint)
*I have been preparing for Advent and the Blessed Nativity. Our Advent Midweek Services (using LSB's Evening Prayer, I'm even going to try using incense-Lord have mercy!) will be on blessed unions: Adam and Eve, Mary and Jospeh, Christ and the Church. Adam and Eve will focus on the fall and the promise (Gen. 3:15); Mary and Joseph will focus on the realization of the promise at the birth of the Messiah; Christ and the Church will focus on the ultimate completion of the promise now and at His second Advent.
*We will again be having two Christmas Eve Services, Candlelight Evening Prayer at 7pm, Midnight (almost) Mass at 11pm.
*Our daughter is growing by leaps and bounds. She is now 9 months old and we have started some preliminary talks about adding to our brood.
*I have been using and loving the Treasury of Daily Prayer from CPH. If you don't have it yet, get it now!
*Looking forward to an adult confirmation of Kenneth Higginbotham on December 7th and bringing Andy Wermuth into membership through transfer. Thanks be to God!

I'm sure there are a lot of other things that have been going on that I don't even remember, but I have been wonderfully busy! Just the perfect amount to keep me on my toes and to keep my mind active without being overly burdened.

Thanks be to God for all His benefits to me!