Author: Julie Raffa

August 2022

The Pilgrim Herald
Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

A Widower’s Biblical Lament
“O Living God and consoler of all the sad hearted, I have lost my most beloved treasure on earth, for you have torn away a piece of my heart” (Johann Oelhafen)

His name was Johann Christoph Oelhafen (1574-1631). He was a well-educated and widely traveled jurist to the council of nobles who governed the city of Nurnberg, one of the most bustling cities of the day. On May 25,1601 he married his beloved bride, Anna Maria Harsdorffer (1582-1619), a young woman who was by all accounts his social equal, if not better. They enjoyed a comfortable and affluent life together. They also experienced the sorrows of life. Their first child, a daughter, died at eighteen months, while their second child, a son, died shortly after his birth. Not deterred by this early grief, Anna Maria would give birth to nine more children, with one dying prematurely. They soon settled into their bustling household with eight living children, four sons and four daughters.
Johann Christoph took seriously his responsibilities as Hausvatter (house father), forming his children in the Lutheran faith, a concern that also Anna Maria shared. Their house was filled with Lutheran hymnody as Johann Christoph was well versed in the sacred music of his time, even composing some of his own hymns. Anna Maria enjoyed this vocational gift of her husband. Johann Christoph was a very theological informed laymen, and so his family received daily catechesis, bible study, singing of hymns and prayer. They regularly attended church, using the rite of private confession and absolution and receiving often the Sacrament of the Altar.
Bodily illness and fear of imminent death were not only aspects of the current age, but also something that weighed heavily upon Anna Maria. Given that she had endured thirteen pregnancies over the course of her wedded life her body had certainly been through a lot. The loss of five of their thirteen children, while certainly met with great sorrow, was by no means at this time uncommon. They fared better than most. In the early modern period, roughly one out of every four or five children died in their first year of life, and only half reached the age of ten.
During the interval of late January, early February, Anna Maria got very sick. She was vomiting day and night large amounts of bile (fluid produced by your liver). On February 12, she called her two oldest sons to her bedside and said, “Alas, Alas! I now see both of you one more time before my end in this world.” Later that night, her pulse slowed, she began to grow cold and weak, yet was able to speak to her husband one last time, “Oh darling, help me just once more out of this torment.” Thirty minutes later she suffered a stroke. Johann Christoph records in his diary that Anna Maria died peacefully in his arms, as she had wished, at 12:45 a.m. on February 13, 1619. She was thirty-six years old. Johann Christoph was shattered by this devastating loss. In order to grapple with his grief, later that same day the forty-four year old widower began his Pious Meditations, a year-long lament.
The Pious Meditations take the basic forms of prayers, hymns/songs, and poems. Many of the prayers are original to Johann Christoph, although he does borrow at times from various devotional works and hymnals that he owned. The prayers he wrote are filled with Scripture and many of them take from the lectionary readings for a given Sunday. He was after all a bibliophile, a personal library that contained 1,900 works, an astounding collection for his day. The hymns/songs are sometimes simply copied from another source and others are from his own pen. The few poems the pepper his work are in some cases borrowed and in others, written by his own hand. The Pious Meditations was Johann Christoph attempt to find peace in his Christian faith in a time of deep sadness and melancholy that originated from the sudden loss of his wife. As you read these meditations you cannot help but notice that he needed such consolation every day.
I have written to you elsewhere about the loss of biblical lament in the modern church. These Pious Meditations, now translated into English, are another catechetical tool to reclaim such important language. Even as Johann Christoph lamented, he confessed that God remained sovereign (not in a Reformed way) over all things, including that of Anna Maria’s death and other suffering in the world. Echoing devotional literature of his time, he expresses his lament, “I have lost my most beloved treasure on earth, for you [i.e. God] have torn away a piece of my heart. Throughout the Pious Meditations, he interprets suffering—his own and that of others—as divine punishment for sin. But he can also employ a lay theology of the cross to arrive at a different conclusion, and this is where his meditations are uniquely Lutheran. On one page he prays, “Help me in all of this so that my immature faith may be able to perceive the affection of your fatherly heart, which is frequently hidden under the cross.”
The sacraments were vital to Johann Christoph’s faith. Throughout his diary he records when his children were baptized and when he and his family went to private confession/absolution and the Lord’s Supper. He even records when Anna Maria received the body and blood of Christ due to her illness. He pours out his heart and soul into these Pious Mediations that in rare entry he writes down the contents of his private confession. Further, he gives the prayer that he prayed to prepare himself for confession and along with the prayer that he prayed after he had received absolution. He, along with his family, had availed themselves of the prayers before, during, and after the reception of Holy Communion. It is quite evident that Sacramental gifts of Christ were a deep source of consolation to him.
With such a personal outpouring of his heart, soul, and mind, one wonders whose eyes and ears did he intend it for. No doubt, it was first for himself. He addresses his own soul and heart seeking to console it with his Lutheran faith. But he was not navel gazing nor simply emoting feelings as is often the case today when it comes to most devotional and consolation literature. This self-consolation involves Johann Christoph stepping outside of himself, as it were, and reflecting on himself from an external vantage point, even as he remains firmly grounded in his current painful situation. His children were also very much on his mind as he wrote these meditations as he mentions them several times. It was typical of the day that Lutheran parents were in the habit of teaching their children how to face death and how to grieve. Mindful of Luther’s instructions in the Small Catechism, Johann Christoph was certainly seeking to fulfill his duty as a faithful house father, likely sharing portions of his Pious Meditations with them.
His children’s children were on his mind as he wrote. He knew himself as a faithful Christian who knew how to grieve well, and he wanted to share that with the generations that would follow him. Bear in mind this not him writing a “tell-all” book as some sort of exercise in self-promotion. Absolutely not. Given all the effort and expense he put into creating it and given that he did not want it to be published, he must have had not only himself and his children in mind, but also future descendants. In short, he simply was providing an account of an extremely significant life event for his own sake and for the sake of his children and posterity. As was common at the time, especially among the upper classes, he likely intended this devotional work to be passed down from one generation to the next. A final intriguing audience to consider would also be God Himself. In his yearlong lament, Johann Christoph with all his heartfelt wrenching expressions of sorrow, confusion, despair, along with it the remarkable perseverance and faith—all of this was address to the Triune God. After all, he saw God Himself as the prime cause of his grief and also the true source of his consolation he so desperately sought in the midst of it.
There is so much more to tell you about Johann Christoph’s Pious Meditations. It’s translated version into English is an invaluable guide in the face of the inescapable realities we face such as mortality, loss, grief, despair, the obligation of parenthood, and the frequently mysterious workings of our divine yet human God working beneath His cross in inexplicable ways. Until the great Restorer, Christ Jesus, comes again and makes all tings new, death shall separate us, spouses from spouses, family from family, friends from friends. Those who are left standing in the cemeteries might well find great counsel and comfort in the Pious Meditations of a man who has grieved like all men and offers a Godly way to bear it beneath hymn, sacrament, most especially the Word of the Cross. Thus, there is wisdom here not just for the widow/widower. There is comfort here not just for the crushed in spirit. There is peace here not just for those who perpetually live under clouds of worry and depression. There is comfort for all Christians who bear in their bodies and souls the sufferings on account of our confession of Christ and incomprehensible sufferings that come without warming. As to how much benefit and consolation? Only you can determine that.
In the Bonds of Christ,
Pastor Raffa
Lutheran library
Having recently finished this book, I was eager to tell you about it. It’s significance for the modern church and Christian is invaluable for it teaches us something that has become quite foreign to us, even distasteful: biblically lamenting the losses and crosses of our lives with the promises of God upon our hearts, minds, and tongues.
I have attempted in a very brief way to you an historical sketch of Johann Olehafen reason for writing it a few theological brushstrokes. I have also given you two snippets from the Pious Meditations themselves.
Here is the blurb:
“This book deals with one instance of Christian lament in the late Reformation by exploring the efforts of a talented yet little-known layman to cope with the death of his beloved wife. For the first time, it provides full access to the remarkable work of private devotion that he authored to express his lament. A work of haunting candor, impressive artistry, and searching faith, The Pious Meditations is an extraordinarily rare and valuable source that has received very little scholarly attention. It furnishes both fresh insight into life in the past and important resources for life in the present. Written in a period that knew no radical separation between the academy and the church, it was informed by the author’s experience in both, and can continue to speak to both today.”
You can get this book on Amazon. Hardcover is 20.99 or Kindle format is 15.99.

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Pilgrim News
ATTENTION PARENTS:
Please remember to register your child/ren for Catechism and for Sunday school.
Catechism starts on Wednesday, September 7 at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday school starts on Sunday, September 11 at 9:15 am in the Music room downstairs.
There are registration forms available in the Narthex and on the Pilgrim website at
www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org It can be found under the Education tab.
Please register as soon as possible so we know how much material we will be needing.
Thank you
Church Directory
You may have noticed that Pilgrim is doing a Church Directory. You can sign yourself up with the QR code on the posters, you can sign up on the Pilgrim website at:
www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org click on the tab that reads Church Directory sign up and follow the prompts or you can contact the Church office and one of us will be glad to help you. We are having pictures taken on Tuesday, September 6—Saturday, September 10.
It won’t be a complete directory with out you!
Ladies Guild/LWML
The LWML is celebrating 80 years of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. We are encouraged to reflect God’s love by blessing others with 80 something. Our Pilgrim Ladies Guild would like to collect $80 for mites. A Place of Refuge, Orphan Grain Train, Camp LuWiSoMo are examples of Mission Mite Grants.
Please consider giving to our Mite Collection. There will be a box for donations in the Narthex on the counter.
We always give thanks to God for all of you.
Thank You for all the prayers, cards and well wishes.
Bernie Faul is doing much better.

2022 Pilgrim Silent Auction
Monday, Sept 11, 9:00 am through Sept 25th, 12:00 pm in the old fellowship hall
Items can be dropped off Sept 9-10th from 9-12 pm, Carolyn McAfee will be there
to take in items, any questions please give her at call 262-305-9776.
Any items that do not sell can be picked Sunday Sept 25th or Monday Sept 26, 9-12 pm,
If you can't make these pick up dates call Carolyn McAfee or talk to Sarah Spalda in the church office, 262-334-0375 , 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Monday -Thursday and we will pull them and set aside for you. All items will then be loaded up and taken to Bethesda Thrift Shop in Horicon.
SPECIAL VOTERS MEETING MINUTES
July 24, 2022
Chairman Bob Knuth called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. This meeting is to vote on 12 Liturgical Banners [seasonal banners].
31 people signed the attendance sheet with 3 people signing the Constitution.
Pastor Raffa began with a prayer and a reading, [which is attached] ending with explaining the Banners. Cost, discount, material and a picture of them. The cost is originally $1920, if purchased before July 31 a 20% discount is offered, the price would then be $1536.
Dave Boehlke made a motion to accept the banners and Ron Kabitzke seconded it. Majority accept. So in the near future we will be adorning our altar with our older banners along with the new Seasonal Liturgical Banners.
Ron Kabitzke mad the motion to adjourn the meeting and Dave Boehlke seconded it. Stood and sang “THE DOXOLOGY”.
Sincerely submitted by,
Nancy Rosenthal
Nancy Rosenthal

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Giving Opportunities At Pilgrim

There are many ways to support the work that Pilgrim does for us and others.
The most common way is through your Offering envelopes. If you have not picked yours up yet they are in the Cry room. If you do not have envelopes and would like them please contact the office.
Pilgrim will be setting up a PayPal account, this information will be available soon. Please note: Your donation statement will be coming from PayPal and not from Pilgrim.
Members who are aged 70 1/2 or older can contribute up to $100,000 from their IRA directly to a charity and avoid paying income taxes on the distribution.
This is known as a qualified charitable distribution. It is limited to IRA’s. If you are interested in this type of giving, please contact Pastor Fisher.
We also have the Amazon Smile program, if you shop on Amazon you can have a portion of your purchase price given to the charity of your choice.
To do this for Pilgrim, please designate Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church as your charity on the home page and place your order as usual.
Thrivent Choice is another good way to support Pilgrim.
To direct your Thrivent Choice Dollars call 1-800-847-4836 when prompted say Thrivent Choice.
Press 1 to direct Thrivent Choice Dollars or
2 to hear Thrivent Choice Terms and conditions. (if prompted, say or enter your phone number and date of birth.)
A representative will work with you to direct the Choice Dollars.
You can also direct your Choice Dollars online.
Visit the Thrivent website at thrivent.com/thriventchoice
Click on Direct choice Dollars Log is by entering your User ID and Password.
(If you have not registered on thrivent.com, click on Register for account access)
Choose the organization you what to direct Choice Dollars: To direct a previous organization: Click Direct Now next to the organizations name, or
Click on the View activity history link, scroll down and click on the name of the desired organization.
Choose Direct All or enter a specific number and click Direct Now.
Follow prompts on the confirmation page to direct Choice Dollars.
Pilgrim Lutheran Church Endowment Fund
The endowment fund was established by a generous gift from an estate to provide educational assistance, improvements, missions and human care benevolence help to members here at Pilgrim.
This fund is not to be used to pay any of the regular operating expenses at Pilgrim.
It is intended as a mission outreach for Missouri Synod Lutheran School tuition, church worker tuition and staff education assistance.
It can be used to support local, district and synodical missions.
It can offer financial assistance for congregational members facing economic and personal crises.
After the initial account was established, members have continued to add to the Pilgrim Endowment Fund with personal gifts and from memorials that have been designated to the fund.
At the January voters’ assembly, the committee designated an amount of the fund that will be available for distribution for the year. The applications are in the church office. The applications must be turned in to the committee by April 1 of that year and the committee makes recommendations from the applications at the June voter's’ assembly for the members to approve.
The monies approved are then awarded to the needs that have been approved.

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August 2022 — Page #

month volunteer schedule
Thursday, August 4: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Ginny S.
Elder: Patrick S.
Usher Team: A
Sunday, August 7: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Nancy A.
Altar Guild: Laurie L. / Nancy R.
Elder: Tanner S. / Gary J.
Usher Team: 3 / 4
Acolyte: Clayton K. / Wade J.
Thursday, August 11: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Karen S.
Elder: Dennis E.
Usher Team: B
Sunday, August 14: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Kathy P.
Altar Guild: Nancy R. / Julie R.
Elder: Ron K. / Dave F.
Usher Team: 1 / 8
Acolyte: Matthias R. / Josiah R.
Thursday, August 18: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Ruth K.
Elder: Kurt M.
Usher Team: A
Sunday, August 21: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Carolyn M.
Altar Guild: Norma B. / Carolyn M.
Elder: Tanner S. / Gary J.
Usher Team: 3 / 2
Acolyte: Rachel R. / Violet S.
Thursday, August 25: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Ginny S.
Elder: Dave F.
Usher Team: B
Sunday, August 28: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Julie R.
Altar Guild: Nancy R. / Rita F.
Elder: Kurt M. / Dan S.
Usher Team: 1 / 4
Acolyte: Clayton K. / Wade J.

Membership report
Baptized:
Ethan James Tinlin June 30, 2022 (Children’s Hospital)
Transferred In:
Rev. Mark & Carla Nuckols from Immanuel
Lutheran Alexandria, VA.
Transferred Out:
Rev. Austin, Beth, Edmund & Agatha Meier
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Two Rivers WI
Deaths:
Olivemae Olson July 1, 2022.
Funeral :July 16, 2022
Paul Soat, July 20, 2022
Funeral: July 27, 2022
Released from Membership: None

Designated Funds - Savings Account
General Fund Savings $36,238
Roofing Fund $8,301
Flooring Fund $2,725
Total $47,264
Approved Vendor/Payee Church Council Meeting Date
WE Energies November 8, 2021
GFL Environmental November 8, 2021
Concordia Plan Services November 8, 2021
Brotherhood Mutual November 8, 2021
Quill, LLC December 13, 2021
West Bend Water Utility December 13, 2021
Promissory Note February 14, 2022
Conley Media February 14, 2022
Concordia Publishing House February 14, 2022
Great America Financial Services February 14, 2022
South Wisconsin District - LCMS March 14, 2022
Payroll March 14, 2022

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2022 LUTHERANS FOR LIFE NATIONAL CONFERENCE – BLESSED FOR LIFE
Blessed with the gift of life.
Blessed by God for one’s entire life.
Blessed to be a blessing to others.
Lutherans For Life national and regional conferences allow our team to come directly to you with the For Life Gospel message. These gatherings are wonderful times spent together where we can provide valuable information and encouragement to you, your community, and the life-affirming work you are engaged in.
SAVE THE DATE! 2022 Lutherans For Life National Conference October 21-22 | All day Friday until Saturday at noon. Rock Island, Illinois (Quad Cities)
Speakers Melissa Ohden | Jeanne Mancini | Steve Deace
Workshop Leaders Rev. B. Keith Haney | Father Frank Pavone | Rev. Fred Hinz Col. John Eidsmoe | Rev. Dr. Wade Mobley | Deaconess Pam Nielsen Dr. Roni Grad | Dr. Kim Marxhausen | Deaconess Tiffany Manor Rev. Michael Salemink | Rev. Scott Licht | Michelle Bauman Virginia Flo | Deaconess Chrissie Gillett | Dr. Gregory P. Seltz, PhD
Special Friday Night Banquet Music Wendysue Fluegge
Conference Registration LFL Members: $125 | Non-Members: $150 Students: $25 | Children 12 and under: FREE
Exhibitor Information 2022 LFL National Conference Exhibitor Registration Form (PDF) 2022 LFL National Conference Exhibitor Registration Form (WORD)
Hotel Information Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center 226 17th Street Rock Island, IL 61201 309-794-1212 A block of rooms has been set aside for the conference.

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Lutheran missions
JULY 11, 2022 LCMS.ORG
Your Synod's response in Ukraine continues — here's how you are helping.
Dear Fellow Redeemed:
As war and violence continue to devastate Ukraine, your Synod has been able to respond quickly and adeptly. By God’s grace and your help, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has been able to meet both spiritual and physical needs of those in Ukraine and those fleeing that country. Here are a few examples of how your contributions are being put to work:
· The LCMS has issued grants for humanitarian aid and refugee support in parts of Romania, Latvia, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Your Synod is positioned to provide more aid as needed.
· The LCMS is providing transitional housing through subsidized rent at a residential complex in Romania — nearly $300,000 has been set aside to cover expenses for the next two years. The Synod is evaluating the possibility of purchasing a second residential complex in Romania for the same purpose.
· An LCMS missionary is offering ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to help displaced Ukrainians in Brașov, Romania. The ability to understand and speak English, the "trade language" there, will help refugees find employment and acclimate to life in a new place.
The LCMS continues to focus on planting churches and teaching the Lutheran faith — especially for displaced people seeking comfort and relief for their souls. The work to meet physical needs is very important, but the LCMS’ work differs from secular humanitarian organizations in that we share a far more critical resource — the proclamation of God’s Word, especially the precious Gospel.
· Our partner church in Germany, Selbständige Evangelisch—Lutherische Kirche (SELK), has created a position to manage the church's refugee care programs. Your contributions allowed your Synod to support this role and its related expenses through a $120,000 grant.
· Two floors at the Old Latin School (OLS) in Wittenberg, Germany (a project of the LCMS), are being rented for refugee housing. SELK intends to plant a church in the OLS to have Divine Services in English and Ukrainian. The pastor there will also provide Lutheran catechetical instruction for refugees and others in Wittenberg.
· A Lutheran school in Slovakia immediately accepted displaced Ukrainians in the early stages of the war. This school continues to provide a Christian education for refugee children. The LCMS has provided support for this to continue.
Refugees fleeing Ukraine have lost loved ones, parents, children, homes and livelihoods. The LCMS strives to share what is needed most — the comfort and peace that only Christ can provide. Thank you for helping the LCMS address physical needs as we bring the promise of comfort and peace in Christ to those suffering in Ukraine and the surrounding countries.
In Christ,
Your Friends in LCMS Mission Advancement
P.S. God uses you, your prayers and your contributions to meet physical needs and provide spiritual encouragement. Thank you for playing a critical role in this work!

August 2022 — Page #

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Communal Prayers
Longings for a Quiet and Peaceable Life: Dear Lord, how miserably unreasonable it is that while the kingdoms of this world flourish and are sustained by the prayers of Thy Church, yet at the same time, these do oppress and recklessly tread under foot Thy poor Church by whose prayers, faithfully offered, they are helped. For it is the Church alone, Go God whom thou has commanded to exercise care and diligence to pray for all in authority, as St. Paul has counseled (1 Tim 2) and, Thou has commanded because man needs peace, order, discipline, and safety to spread Thy Word, and by the word to gather the Church. Grant, therefore, beloved Father, that under our government we may lead quite and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty, as may be well pleasing to You. Amen.
For Widow or Widower: O living God, comforter of all who sorrow, I have lost the dearest of earth’s treasures, and feel as if Thou has torn from me a part of mine own heart. Yet, I believe that all this has not come to pass without Thy knowledge or permission. You gave me a wife (or husband) and did permit me to have them for a time; and has again taken them from this estate of sorrow unto Thyself. Comfort me a sorrowing distressed widow (widower), and help me to bear my grief. Hold before my heart and mind the gracious day when we shall be reunited in Your Son’s eternal kingdom in new joys and an even greater love before Your face. You alone can turn sorrows into eternal joy and pleasure, glorified forevermore. Amen.
For an Answer to the Cry of the Helpless: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, my longing is so great that I cannot express it in words. I know not how to ask. See my heart. What more shall I say? My suffering is greater than all my complaining. I cannot counsel myself with reason nor comfort myself with my own courage. Comfortless, helpless, and forsaken, I am completely at loss. My God, You will not abandon my hope. You will hear my prayer and satisfy my desires. I will pray and wait for grace. Here me and fulfil my hope. Amen.
Lament over Unworthiness: Lord it is true that I am not worthy that You should come under my roof; yet I am needy and desirous of Your help and grace that I may become godly. Therefore I came in no other confidence than that I have heard the sweet words with which You invite me to Your table and tell me, who am unworthy, that I am to have forgiveness of all my sins through Your body and blood, eating and drinking this Sacrament for peace and pardon. Dear Lord, Your Word is true; I do not doubt it. And on this basis I eat and drink with You. Let it be for me according to Your will and Word. Amen.
Lament over lack of Fruitfulness in Good works: Lord Christ, I go to Your Sacrament and yet remain fruitless as before. I have received such a great treasure, and it simply lies there inactive in me. This is why I bring my complaint to You. Since You have given and granted me the treasure, grant also that it may bear fruit and new life in me and demonstrate and show itself to my neighbors, even as I ought to do. Amen.
Family and friends requesting our prayers: Richard Lewandowski, Ethan Tinlin, Mark Selzler, Jim Stadelmayer, Rev. Clark Davis, Patricia Wirtz, Nancy Torre, Donald Bren, Sheryl Pajewski, Carl & Lois Pritzlaff, Paul Lierman, Sherry Cullen, Ron & Joyce Virchow Sr., Judy Clark, Inez Schwoch, Deb Sumner, Chloe Fisher, Ruth Mertz, Jerry & Gert Sullivan, Donna Sommer, June Fry, David Olson, Eric Johanen, Diane Behrens, Marge Legate, Suzanne Stadelmayer, Elaine Kuenzel, Ray & Frances Neerhoff, Jeanette Guillaume, Linda Schmidt, Travis Winkler, Brian Vonlender, Scot Meisenheimer, Thomas Kramlik, and Jody Meisenheimer

Voice of Faith

August 2022 — Page #

Birthdays
1- Bill Albert
Rita Frank
Jeanette Guillaume
2- Melanie Ruppier
3- Wade Janssen
4- Julie Raffa
5- Phillip Gohr
6- Dakota Guillaume
7- David Hoffman
Ethan Hoffman
Louise Kreis
8- Lorna Olson
Luke Selzler
9- Caryn Lewandowski
Dan Shay
10- Nick Rosenthal
Steven Virchow
11- James Audley
Reegan Brehm
Lynne Wille
13- Corey Janssen
Jennefir Walls
14- Adam Zell
16- Jeremy Mayer
18- Sarah Biskobing
19– Alex Franke
20- Lydia Hoffman
Michael Wiedmeyer
21- Pamela Nitzke
23- Barbara Rockrohr
Linda Stahl
24- Jodi Selzler
25– Ava Castro
26-Delores Crawley
Janet Ehlers
Jonathon Faul
27- Jeff Doughty
Carrie Roell
30- Katie Krubsack
Anniversaries
1- Jamie & Carrie Mulvey
3- David & Sheryl Pajewski
7- Tanner & Leah Schmidt
11- Keith & Cindy Gierach
Jim & Suzanne Stadelmayer
12- Tom & Kathy Greve
Chris & Julie Raffa
19- James & Beverly Hanson
23– Leah & Adam Bolstad
Dennis & Susan Gabor
28- Travis & Carrie Roell

A very special Anniversary wish to Pastor Raffa for Fifteen Years as associate Pastor at Pilgrim.
August 26, 2022.

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	1	2 / 2:00 p Chapel @ Auxiliary Court	3 / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference / On the End Times	4 / 7p Divine Service	5 / Office Closed	6 / 7a Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study
7 / 8a Divine Service / 9:30a Adult Class: / 10:30a Divine Service / 12p. Adult Class: 1st Samuel	8 / 5:30p Board of Trustees Meeting	9 / 2:00 p. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court	10 / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference / On the End Times	11 / 7p Divine Service	12 / Office Closed	13
14 / 8a Divine Service / 9:30a Adult Class: / 10:30a Divine Service / 12p. Adult Class: 1st Samuel	15	16 / 2:00 p. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court	17 / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference / On the End Times	18 / 7p Divine Service	19 / Office Closed	20 / 7a Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study
21 / 8a Divine Service / 9:30a Adult Class: / 10:30a Divine Service / 12p. Adult Class: 1st Samuel	22 / 10:30 a / Chapel @ Jackson Crossing	23 / 2:00 p Chapel @ Auxiliary Court	24 / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference / On the End Times	25 / 7p Divine Service	26 / Office Closed	27
28 / 8a Divine Service / 9:30a Adult Class: / 10:30a Divine Service / 12p. Adult Class: 1st Samuel	29	30 / 2:00 p. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court	31 / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference / On the End Times	August

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Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
462 Meadowbrook Drive
West Bend, WI 53090

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Phone: 262-334-0375
Email: office@pilgrimlutheranwb.org
Website: www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news, who publish peace and bring good news of
salvation. Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Romans 10:15b, 18b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.

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“Attend to my misery in grace, Lord my soul has its refuge in you, because in a time of great distress you have protected me through your goodness so that no misfortune has put me to death…
Christ without your consolation, I would now stand naked, and my suffering would be even greater if you did not preserve me with strong deeds so that no [further] harm nor suffering may befall me…
Delivery from worry comes, Lord, from depending fully on your goodness which is truly great, although not always apparent, and frequently hidden in affliction…
Let us be patient in our crosses and console ourselves with your great suffering, deriving from the same the confidence that you will not forsake us, but will most faithfully stand by us until we go from death into life” (pg.95-96)

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Inside this Issue:
Pilgrim News & Reports
3-6
Giving Matters
4
Lutheran Missions
8
Communal Prayers
10
Birthdays & Anniversaries
11
Calendar
12

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“I have received many kindnesses from my Lord God, why then would I want to become impatient in distress? Scripture certainly tells us everyone that when misfortune assails him, he should not despair…
Crosses along with joy, God has given to us for his good ends, therefore, he will also preserve my life in suffering and distress. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; at all times he does what is fitting in his eyes, according to his pleasure…
O Cross, the One who sent you to me on account of my sin and misdeeds, namely Christ my Lord, will turn you away from me. In this cross that has befallen me according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, he will not abandon me…
At all times I believe that in my crosses and suffering Jesus Christ will preserve me and not depart from me. For the right Man still lives, who is able to help me out of distress; may his name be praised….
Much difficulty accompanied my arrival in the world, with much difficulty I must also wander in it. Neither good nor riches are of any help in this task, one counts for as little as the other. Therefore , God should be my hope, because only with him may help be found; for this help I will expectantly wait” (pg.180-181).

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