A Pastor Looks At 30

A Pastor Looks at 30 (with a nod to Jimmy Buffet)

On July 14, 1996, I was installed as the pastor at GoodShepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Novi, Michigan.  Who knew that I would serve here as a pastor for thirty years?  There are unlimited memories from the past three decades.  Trying to detail them will be impossible.

July 14, 1996

As you can see from the photo on the right, we arrived with two children.  While here, God blessed us with five more, although the youngest of the five was stillborn.  Isaac is interred at Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia, awaiting the resurrection.

Our children were all blessed to receive a solid Christian education at St. Peter's Lutheran School in Plymouth and at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Livonia.  Good Shepherd members generously provided amazing assistance with tuition which made this education possible.  I had wondered if they would grow tired of this generous gift after a year or two, but they came through every year.  Our gratitude goes beyond words.

Easter 2026

We are also grateful that our children attended MichiganLutheran Seminary to further their Christian education there.  (Peter has one year to go.)  They have proven to remain faithful beyond their years at MLS and have settled in to Lutheran congregations in their new homes.  I am reminded of the words of the blessed apostle John who wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 4).  I don't feel like I have praised my children enough.  They are a true source of pride.

I would be remiss if I did not single out my dear wife, Laura, who has been a wonderful blessing as a wife, and particularly as a pastor's wife.  She has been an encourager, a sounding-board, an unofficial secretary, and stress-reliever for me.  I wish I could have been helpful to her at church as she had to manage, at one point, five children ages 7 and under.  A few times one of our children was able to escape her grasp and ran up to me during the service.  Unfortunately, I had to return the child to his or her mother and let the juggling continue.  As you can see in the photo above, she managed them well.  Their manners and integrity are to be credited to her.

While I could name so many people who have crossed our paths over these past thirty years, I am sure that I would regret failing to mention someone later.  Some have been here for my entire ministry.  Some for many years.  Some for only a short stay.  All were dear to me.  You entrusted me with your burdens, concerns, and fears.  You might have feared that I would think less of you by confiding in me with your struggles.  On the contrary, I prayed more for you out of a deep compassion for you.  You welcomed me into your homes.  You invited me to share in some of the most joyful and sorrowful moments of your life.  You willingly gave of your time, your money, your skills, and your devotion to God's kingdom, and you were glad to work with me in doing so.  What a blessing!  I prayed for each of you by name every week.

I was grateful that Good Shepherd was so receptive to efforts which enhanced the reverence of our Divine Services.  We now have holy communion every Sunday.  We have a processional crucifix (a gift from John & Amy Warner), used in the festival portion of the Church year.  We employed the Gospel procession for the high festivals (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost).  We welcomed chanting the liturgy.  We gained an appreciation for the Triduum in Holy Week.  We recently added a very ornate Gospel book (a gift from Mark & Carol Casmer) and chasubles (a gift from Pastor & Susan Gibbons) which help to hide the person of the pastor and to accentuate the office.  After all, the pastors may change, but the vestments will not.

I could not tell you how many baptisms, marriages, funerals, or confirmations I performed.  And I would not feel bad if people did not remember that I had performed any of these rites for them.  I want them to remember the divine promises that are everlasting.  That is what matters.

Something few people would know is that I taped a Bible verse to the pulpit.  It is intended only for the preacher to see.  It states, "Sir, we want to see Jesus" (John 12:21).  It reminds me of the duty of a pastor, and I pray that I have been faithful to that calling.  Before every sermon, I pray, "Send your Holy Spirit with this sermon so that it might be worth something to those who hear it."  I trust God has heard my prayer and blessed the sermons accordingly.

Thirty years have not been perfect.  While Good Shepherd's members may not know or remember my mistakes, there are many conversations or actions I wish that I could have back.  The pastor's daily prayer includes this petition: "Fill my heart with a passion for souls and with skillfulness to give unto each and every sheep or lamb entrusted to my care what is due unto it at the proper time. Give me at all times sound advice and just works; and wherever I overlook something or in the weakness of my flesh speak or act wrongly, do Thou set it aright, and help that no one may through me suffer harm to his soul."  I rely on the Lord's mercy and forgiveness for the wrongs I have done in making bad assumptions or in speaking or acting rashly.  I pray that God would still work out his purposes despite my flaws and failings.  And I am equally grateful that the people of Good Shepherd have patiently borne with my weaknesses.  I continue to pray to do better.

I have been overwhelmed by the attention, the gratitude, and the generosity (although not surprised by the generosity) of the people here as I am making my way to St. John's Lutheran Church in Lake City, MN.  It has been such a joy to serve at Good Shepherd.  The people here have been wonderful, and the people in the congregations in the area around us have been wonderfully supportive as well.

I had told a few people, "Only a stupid person would leave as the pastor of Good Shepherd in Novi."  Well, guilty, I guess.

God bless Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church of Novi, Michigan.   And God bless St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lake City, Minnesota.  I look forward to more joys and blessings there.

Sermon -- Last Sunday at Good Shepherd (June 14, 2026)

GOD PRODUCES THE GROWTH.  GOD RECEIVES THE GLORY.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-9

In the name + of Jesus.

     The apostle Paul established many congregations throughout his missionary journeys.  We are familiar with his relationship with these Christians from the letters he wrote to them.  Paul’s letters often concluded with greetings to individuals.  But even if some were not singled out, Paul assured all the people of how dearly he regarded them.  For example, consider this greeting: “I thank my God every time I remember you.  Every time I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.  I am convinced of this very thing: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3-6). 

     Pastors are fond of the people they serve, and the people often return the affection for their pastor.  That was the case in Corinth.  Unfortunately, the affection for a particular pastor began to divide the congregation as each pledged their allegiance to one pastor over another.  St. Paul wrote, “The news I heard about you … is that there are rivalries among you.  What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ or ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas,’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’  Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized into the name of Paul” (1 Corinthians 1:11-13)?  There is always a danger to exalt a pastor and to cling to an individual.  Even pastors can get sucked into this, thinking, “These people are coming to church because of me!”  It is dangerous for both the pastor and the people.  The pastor ends up serving his ego more than Christ or his people.  The people, on the other hand, drift away from Christ when their pastor leaves because they were devoted to a personality instead of the word of God.

     Paul wrote to the Corinthians to keep them properly focused on the role of a pastor and the relationship the people have with their pastor.  “What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  They are ministers through whom you believed, and each served as the Lord gave him his role.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but it is God who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7).  It is God who produces the growth.  Therefore, it is God who receives the glory.

     Corinth had been founded by Paul.  Then they were served by Apollos.  Each had served faithfully.  But the Church is not about the pastor.  The Church does not exist for the sake of the pastor; the pastor exists for the sake of the Church.  In the Old Testament, the Lord spoke through the prophets.  The word of the Lord came to them, and they proclaimed what they were given.  In the New Testament, the Word made flesh came.  Jesus taught the apostles about the kingdom of God.  He commissioned them to write God’s words for the Church to read and to hear and to ponder.  He also bestowed sacraments to the Church to grant forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation.  This is how God creates and strengthens faith.  It is how God adds people to his Church and preserves the ones who are here.  It is God who produces the growth.  Therefore, it is God who receives the glory.

     I have had the privilege of being your pastor for the last thirty years.  I did nothing inventive.  I preached what God had written.  They are God’s promises; I just repeat them.  And I administered the sacraments Christ established.  They are God’s work; he just used my hands.  It has been a great joy to be with you, to preach and teach God’s word, to feed you with the body and blood of Christ, to baptize many, and to absolve those who are troubled by their sins. 

     When you called me to be your pastor, you did not know who you were getting.  You asked the Seminary to send a graduate, trusting that the Lord of the Church would provide his people according to their needs.  For me, I had never heard of Novi until I was assigned here.  But Christ worked through his Church to bring a pastor to you.  And Christ worked through his Church to bring me to this time and place.  Our friendships have been enjoyed for these years; and I pray they have been established for eternity.  But our friendships have been centered on the one thing that matters—the words and works of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He has bound us together in the faith.  He has continually blessed all of us through his word and sacraments.  Pastors are temporary; God’s gifts are eternal.  Therefore, God receives the glory.

     You and I have been united by God’s grace.  We share the same confession.  The first confession we share is the one that begins our service.  We confess that we are sinners.  It is a general confession.  We acknowledge that we are, by nature, sinful.  As much as we want to stop sinning, we don’t and we can’t.  As much as we fight against temptation, we still give in.  We were born into this condition, and we cannot change it.  That reveals itself as we do what is evil and fail to do what is good. 

     When you encounter other people, you present the best version of yourself you can.  On social media, you are a superstar with amazing achievements and Hallmark moments.  But God is not fooled by our presentations.  The Lord has exposed our sinfulness to us.  The Lord makes us be honest with ourselves.  Before the Lord, we can’t pretend. 

     “If you, LORD, kept a record of guilt, O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is pardon (Psalm 130:3,4).  This is why we can confess our sin freely.  We hold God to his promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).  The Lord promises to pardon the penitent, and he is faithful to that promise.  More than that, the Lord is just to forgive our sins.  Why?  Because our sins have been taken away from us and put upon Jesus.  Jesus Christ has already suffered and died for our sins.  Jesus carried the record of our guilt to the cross where he was damned for us.  Since Jesus was punished for all our guilt, it would be unjust to punish us for them all over again.  They have been taken away.  How could God condemn us?  God does not condemn the innocent.

     You and I have been united in this confession.  It is not just a confession of sins that unites us.  It is the confession of faith that unites us.  That is what makes us all children of God and heirs of heaven.  We confess what our Lord has revealed to us through many people—parents, Sunday School teachers, Christian day school teachers, friends, family, and pastors. 

     In Corinth, Paul and Apollos were among those who proclaimed God’s promises.  St. Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but it is God who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).  God uses many servants for the good of his people.  Those servants are truly a blessing.  Each one serves his or her purpose in God’s kingdom.  St. Paul wrote, “The one who plants and the one who waters are united, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For God is the one whom we serve as coworkers” (1 Corinthians 3:8-9).  It is God who plants the faith, and it is God who produces the growth.  Therefore, it is God who receives the glory.

     St. Paul reminds you of the role of your pastor.  “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but it is God who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).  This is not false modesty on the part of St. Paul.  It is recognizing where the devotion of God’s people needs to be.  God used Paul to plant the church in Corinth, but it was God who made it take root.  God used Apollos to water the seed which was planted, but it was God who made it grow.  Or course, Paul and Apollos both moved on from Corinth.  But this is true of anyone who has blessed you in teaching you God’s word.  Grandparents and parents do not remain forever.  Friends come and go.  Church members move.  And no pastor is permanent.  But God’s word and sacraments remain to bestow eternal blessings.  Through these, God produces the growth.  Therefore, it is God who receives the glory.

     When God’s people gather together—whether it was in Corinth or whether it is in Novi—it is for the same reason.  You come where God’s word is rightly preached and the sacraments are rightly administered.  You do not come for the pastor; he does not make the word of God effective.  The prophet Isaiah assures you, “Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return there unless they first water the earth, make it give birth, and cause it to sprout, so that it gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, in the same way my word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty.  Rather, it will accomplish whatever I please, and it will succeed in the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11). 

     Before each sermon, I pray that God will send his Holy Spirit so that it will be worth something to those who are here.  Not every sermon is going to be an award-winner.  Nevertheless, the word of God is living and active.  It will produce fruit because it is God who produces the growth, even when the sermon is a dud.  Therefore, God deserves the glory.  Even when the sermon is a dud, we come to this altar to receive the body and blood of Jesus which will never fail to bring the forgiveness of sins and strengthen faith.  This word of God will continue here.  This sacred meal will be served here.  The penitent who confess their sins and long for relief will find absolution here and receive peace here.  Therefore, God’s salvation will continue to be bestowed here—whether the pastor’s name is Paul, Apollos, Gibbons, Schaefer, or whomever God has intended to serve you next.  It is God who produces the growth and sustains the faith.  Therefore, it is God who receives the glory, and it is our Lord who deserves your fully and faithful devotion.

     Throughout the course of life, you get to experience many things for the last time.  Sometimes you don’t know it until those moments are long gone.  There was a last time your parents held you.  You didn’t know it when it happened.  There was the last time you pushed your child on a swing.  You didn’t know it was the last time.  Other times, you knew it.  High school graduates knew it was their last day in high school.  The San Antonio Spurs knew their season ended last night.  Today, we all know that this is my last sermon as the pastor at Good Shepherd.  It is the last for me, anyway, but not the last sermon here.  The word remains.  The sacraments will still be given.  God will still produce the growth, and so God still receives the glory.

     I can’t tell you what God’s plans are for Good Shepherd, at least as far as how long you will have to wait for the Lord to provide your next pastor.  I can tell you that the Lord of the Church loves his people and works all things for the good of those who love him.  I can tell you that by continuing to come and hear God’s word and to partake in the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Spirit will strengthen and keep you in the true faith until life everlasting.  And I can tell you that we will all be together again.  For the Lord has told us what will happen at the last: “And I heard what seemed to be the roar of a large crowd or the roar of many waters or the sound of loud rumblings of thunder, saying: Alleluia!  For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come.  His bride has made herself ready, and she was given bright, clean, fine linen to wear. (In fact, the fine linen is the ‘not guilty’ verdicts pronounced on the saints.)  The angel said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’  He also said to me, ‘These are the true words of God’” (Revelation 19:6-9). 

     We will be united again, and it will not end after thirty years.  The Lord will gather us for the wedding feast and we will rejoice in his presence forever, even as we rejoice and feast for this moment now.  This is God’s promise.  Therefore, give him the glory and your full and faithful devotion.  And be sure of this: “that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Update from Good Shepherd (June 11, 2026)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will resume on Sunday, September 13.  

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

PASTORAL CARE
In case of emergencies such as a hospital stay, you may contact Rev. Paul Schaefer from St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Plymouth at (734) 658-5735.
Rev. em. Gregory Gibbons can be reached at (734) 968-3523.

OPEN FORUM / VOTERS’ MEETING
          We will have our summer Open Forum after church on Sunday, June 21. The Voters’ meeting will follow to ratify any actions that need to be made.
Points of discussion:
          · Review and vote on vacancy pastoral call
          · Review of potential property opportunities and related considerations.
          · Updates on the pastoral call process and our status.
          · Discussion on protentional stewardship events and opportunities for congregational involvement.

PRE-CALL MEETING WITH THE MICHIGAN DISTRICT PRESIDENT
          Rev. Snowden Sims will be coming to Good Shepherd to discuss what our members consider the strengths needed in the next pastor. Our input will help him determine who are the best eligible candidates for the call lists he will supply. All are invited to attend the pre-call meeting which will be Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from June 7, 2026: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, June 7, 2026

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (June)

>          The Smart TV has been delivered and will be installed to replace the projector and screen in the fellowship hall in the fairly near future.

>          We are hoping to have the chairs in the sanctuary reupholstered.  One estimate has been received at a cost of $450 per chair.  We are attaining a few other estimates before we begin this project.

>          We are receiving estimates to replace the flooring in the pastor’s office and in the bathrooms.

>          There have been a number of ideas proposed about the parsonage and needed repairs and maintenance.  A parsonage committee has been developed to spearhead these updates.  If you are interested in helping out or learning what plans are being made, speak to Ken Reisig and he will direct you to the members of the parsonage committee.

OFFICE HOURS
           Pastor Schroeder will be quite limited in his office hours leading up to June 14. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).
          Office hours for vacancy pastors will be announced later.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (June 7, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- The need for a good hat

For the past decade or better, I have donned a fedora, particularly in the non-summer months.  I think that it makes any man's head look good.  Hats should come back.

Of course, with hats coming back, people need to re-learn hat etiquette.  I am not a master of hat etiquette, but there are a few facts I am aware of.  Most important among them: Men, take off your hats in church!  This is a sacred space.  If you are asked to remove your hat for the singing of the national anthem, how much more should your hat be removed in the presence of God!

I also think of how our American society has denigrated into a nation of slobs.  Save the pajama pants and lounge-wear for your house, not for the mall or the airport.  I don't think we need to return to men wearing suits everywhere, including baseball games.  Still, that was a great look.  See here:

The preferred head-ware has diminished in quality over the years, too.  Take a look at the chart below.  

I think we peaked in 1935.  That, of course, is my opinion.  But my opinion is based on the quality of the hats people used to wear.

Bring back the fedora!!!

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (June 7, 2026)

HE CALLS THE UNWORTHY AND THE UNWILLING.

EXODUS 3:1-15

In the name + of Jesus.

      Quiz time.  Multiple choice.  Which of these would you want to join this congregation?

     A)  The first guy is a cheat who overcharges people in his business.  But since he is the only one in town that people can go to, there is nothing anyone can do about his theft. 

     B)  The second guy is a religious zealot.  He is a self-appointed crusader.  He does not merely spout off about his religious opinions, he attacks and vilifies anyone who disagrees with him.

     C)  The third guy is a one-percenter—wealthy and influential.  Apparently, he thought he could get away with anything.  He killed a man in an act of vigilante justice.  He ran away from the law and was in hiding for a long time.  Now he’s back.

     Which of these three do you want to join this congregation?  How about all three?  They are, in order, St. Matthew, the apostle Paul, and Moses.  Each one is highlighted in the readings today.

     The Bible never has any problem showing that people are sinners.  The point of the Bible is not to show you one example after another of perfect people to imitate.  If that is all the Bible is, it would feature no one but Jesus.  And to be sure, he is an example we should strive to live up to.  Should; but we do not.  No one does.  Jesus does not bring you into his kingdom because you are worthy.  No one is.  And Jesus did not bring you into his kingdom because you were willing and eager to belong.  No one is. 

     This is what the Lord says: “Those who are in harmony with the sinful flesh think about things the way the sinful flesh does…  For the mind-set of the sinful flesh is hostile to God, since it does not submit to God’s law, and in fact, it cannot” (Romans 8:5,7).  So, no one is worthy of God’s love.  And sinners do not willingly obey God’s word.  Nevertheless, he calls the unworthy and the unwilling.

     When the Lord called Moses to deliver the people of Israel out of the bondage of slavery, Moses was not interested in going.  That’s not to say that Moses never had the desire to do it.  Moses was born to Hebrew parents who kept him hidden for some time, against Pharaoh’s orders to kill the Hebrew baby boys.  After Pharaoh’s daughter rescued Moses from the Nile River, she sought a wet nurse to care for him.  He was taken right back to his mother and father.  No doubt, they taught him about the Lord and his promises.  But eventually, Moses was raised in Pharoah’s house.  “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in his words and actions” (Acts 7:22).  He learned how to be leader, and he had hoped to put that to good use.

     “After some time, … he went out to his own people and observed their forced labor.  He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own people.  After he looked this way and that, and he saw that no one was there, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand” (Exodus 2:11-12).  Moses “thought that his brothers would understand that God was giving them deliverance by his hand, but they did not understand” (Acts 7:25).  Moses had taken the role of deliverer upon himself apart from God’s calling.  It failed miserably.  Moses fled and spent the next forty years as a shepherd.  He was content to do that for the rest of his life.

     When Moses was 80 years old, God called Moses to go back to Egypt and deliver his people.  He called the unworthy and the unwilling.  Moses had proven his unworthiness by usurping authority that was not his.  But once God granted that authority to Moses, Moses proved his unwillingness.  Now he did not want the job.  The Lord told Moses to go anyway.  He calls the unworthy and the unwilling.

     Our Old Testament reading does not include the entire exchange between the Lord and Moses.  If you read Exodus 3-4, you will discover that five times Moses threw up excuses why he should not do what the Lord told him to do.  But the Lord calls the unworthy and the unwilling.  God’s call, God’s mercy, and God’s love are never based on how worthy or willing we are.  It is always based on who God is.

     He calls the unworthy and the unwilling, but few people believe that they are unworthy of God’s love.  We tend to love ourselves.  If someone does not like us, we are confused by that.  Our family and friends like us.  We like ourselves.  Why would anyone think differently?  But this self-centered love only proves our sinfulness. 

     We love ourselves above all things.  We love others who love us back.  And we love God when he agrees with us.  This reverses God’s command.  Jesus taught us, “The most important [commandment] is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).  

     Note the order: God first, then others, and yourself last.  And we accept that to an extent.  But when God commands us to do things that are hard, that’s when we prove our unwillingness.  If you read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), you will find many commands that are hard.  And the Lord does not tell you to try to do these things.  He commands you to do them.  If you fall short, that is sin; and sin incurs God’s wrath. 

     Consider just one of those commands.  Jesus said, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.  For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  Indeed if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Even tax collectors do that, don’t they?  If you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even the unbelievers do that?  So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:44-48).  Do you willingly love those who hate you?  Do you gladly pray for those who slander you?  Do you faithfully do good to those who do evil to you?  Doing these things isn’t easy, but it is godly.  It is what God himself does.

     Doing what is godly usually means doing what is hard.  Fighting temptations is hard.  Standing firm on God’s word is hard, especially when you are alone in doing it.  It is easier to concede to your sinful desires.  It is easier to dodge accountability for your sins than to own up to them and bear the consequences.  We are more willing to do the easy thing that we are the right thing.  And if we are unwilling to do the good God seeks, we are unworthy to receive the good God gives.  Repent! 

     Nevertheless, he calls the unworthy and the unwilling.  The Lord appeared to Moses at the burning bush.  “The LORD said, ‘Do not come any closer.  Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’  He then said, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’” (Exodus 3:5-6).  This was the first time that Moses had encountered the Lord face to face; it was not, however, the first time Moses had ever heard of the Lord.  Moses believed in the Lord and in his promises.  Moses knew that God would come and deliver his people to the Promised Land.  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had sworn by his very essence that he would bring their descendants to the Promised Land. 

     If Moses felt he was insufficient to be Israel’s deliverer, he was not wrong.  But when God called Moses, he added this promise: “I will certainly be with you” (Exodus 3:12).  Moses, it’s not who you are; it is who I am, declares the Lord.  God called Moses to do the hard thing, but God would be with him to provide the strength to do it.  He would even work in Moses the willingness to serve as God directed.  It never did get easy, but Moses did the hard thing because it was the godly thing to do.

     We have a God who also chose to do the hard thing to save us.  God Almighty took on our humanity and chose to live in meekness and weakness among sinners.  He suffered the insults of many.  He was beaten and mocked by the wicked.  He was falsely accused of all kinds of wickedness by those who plotted his death.  “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.  Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent in front of its shearers, he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).  On the contrary, Jesus did the hard thing.  He accepted the charges against every sinner and made them his own.  Jesus willingly was cursed for our unwillingness to do the godly works which the Lord commands.  Although Jesus is worthy of honor and praise, he was damned for the unworthy—for cheats like Matthew, for persecutors like Paul, for murderers like Moses, and for every sinner, no matter what they have done or who they have been.  He calls the unworthy and the unwilling and coverts them into godly people with godly desires.

     Although Matthew’s thievery earned him scorn, the Lord Jesus redeemed him from his past.  He sent him forth to freely gave away the riches of God’s grace.  Although Paul had zealously hunted down Christians for imprisonment and even death, the Lord Jesus redeemed him from his past.  Paul was sent forth with redirected zeal.  Paul hunted for those who were not yet Christians to release them from the bondage to sin and death.  Moses tried to seize authority that was not his when he acted as Israel’s deliverer.  The Lord did not need the man who was bold.  Instead, he called a humbled Moses and sent him to deliver God’s people from slavery to freedom. 

     Perhaps your story is not as spectacular.  Nevertheless, God has redeemed you from your past, whatever it was.  He calls you to a noble life.  He has set you apart for a greater kingdom and for godly works.  He calls the unworthy and the unwilling.  For, God converts the unwilling so that they find joy in doing what is good and right even if it is hard or mocked by others.  And the God who is called “I AM” has promised, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20) to support you, to encourage you, to defend you, and to uphold you no matter how hard it gets.  The Lord invested himself willingly and completely to save you.  By this, he proves you have tremendous worth to him.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (June 4, 2026)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will resume on Sunday, September 13.  

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

OPEN FORUM / VOTERS’ MEETING
          We will have our summer Open Forum after church on Sunday, June 21. The Voters’ meeting will follow to ratify any actions that need to be made.
Points of discussion:
          · Review and vote on vacancy pastoral call
          · Review of potential property opportunities and related considerations.
          · Updates on the pastoral call process and our status.
          · Discussion on protentional stewardship events and opportunities for congregational involvement.

PRE-CALL MEETING WITH THE MICHIGAN DISTRICT PRESIDENT
          Rev. Snowden Sims will be coming to Good Shepherd to discuss what our members consider the strengths needed in the next pastor. Our input will help him determine who are the best eligible candidates for the call lists he will supply. All are invited to attend the pre-call meeting which will be Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM.

FAREWELL / OPEN HOUSE FOR PASTOR AND LAURA
Good Shepherd will be hosting a farewell open house on Sunday, June 7 from 12pm until 3pm. We are inviting area congregations as well. We will be getting a food truck but also need members to help with dessert. If every family could bring a minimum of one dessert on that day that would be great. We will have tables set up for desserts in the WEF. We also need help on Saturday (June 6) and Sunday after church to set up. Ask Mary Mitchell or Dan Rauchholz how you can help. Please RSVP to Carol by May 31 at goodshepherdnovimi@outlook.com so we can have an idea of how many people will be attending.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from May 24, 2026: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, May 24, 2024.  Note: The YouTube title says 2024, but this was, indeed, in 2026.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (May)

>          TODAY (June 4), Good Shepherd will host a table at Novi’s Community Day.  Community Day will be held at the Novi Civic Center.  Feel free to stop by between 4:00-8:00 PM and say “Hi” to us. 

>          Payment has been made on a Smart TV to replace our projector and screen in the fellowship hall.  We are still waiting for its delivery.  It will be installed shortly after that. 

>          We have had issues recording the service and uploading them on our YouTube channel.  We will be looking at replacing some equipment and running new wiring to improve our recordings.  When the new equipment is in place, we will begin to live-stream our services again.

>          We are hoping to have the chairs in the sanctuary reupholstered.  One estimate has been received at a cost of $450 per chair.  We are attaining a few other estimates before we begin this project.

OFFICE HOURS
           Pastor Schroeder will be quite limited in his office hours leading up to June 14. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).
          Office hours for vacancy pastors will be announced later.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

Sermon -- Holy Trinity (May 31, 2026)

THE HOLY TRINITY IS AN ETERNAL MYSTERY.

MATTHEW 28:16-20

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Bible contains a number of hard teachings.  When people encounter them, they tend to want to make the hard teachings easier.  They rework the Biblical account to make it appealing to human reason.  So, for example, our Old Testament reading detailed the creation of the universe.  God created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them in six 24-hour days.  You will not find that in any science text book.  So, how do you uphold the Bible and still say that you trust the science?

     The solution for many Christians is to interpret the first chapters of the Bible as a parable.  But here is the problem: Genesis is a historical account, and it is to be read as a historical account.  When Jesus told parables, he made it clear that it was a parable.  Many of Jesus’ parables begin, “The kingdom of God is like” and so forth.  It is clear that Jesus is making a comparison, and that is how we understand it.  We find no such literary device regarding the creation. 

     It is only when people do not believe God’s word that they argue it is to be understood as a parable.  They trust the science, but they do not trust the word of the Lord.  They read that God created the heavens and the earth in six days, but they follow up by insisting, “Well, that’s not what it means.”  That is unbelief.

     This evolutionary mindset continues with doctrine as well.  Many theologians argue that Christian doctrine developed over time.  They will say that the resurrection of the body was a later addition to the faith.  They will also claim that the doctrine of the Trinity was a later innovation.  For example, some contest, “Did Noah or Abraham think the Lord is a Triune God?  Look at the Bible and you will see they never said ‘Father, Son, and Holy Spirit’!”  That sounds persuasive.  But just because they did not use the phrase, “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” does not mean they did not confess the Lord rightly. 

     Jesus gave us the most vivid revelation of God.  He regularly referred to God as his Father.  He also made it clear that he is the Son.  Jesus declared, “All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23).  If they are to share equal honor, then they are equally God—Father and Son.  Jesus also told his disciples, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).  If the Holy Spirit is the source of truth, then he, too, is God.  That is why Jesus told us to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).  It is not in the names, as if there are three gods.  It is in the name, because God is one, just as Scripture says: “Hear, O Israel!  The LORD is our God.  The LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4)!  And yet this one God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

     This is a hard teaching.  In fact, it is an eternal mystery.  It did not develop over time.  God is unchanging.  Even if the revelation of God became clearer over time, God did not change who he is.  The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  It is not a secret, however.  It cannot be a secret because you know what it is.  You know that God is one, just as we confess in the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God.”  And God is three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  That is no secret.  God tells us that plainly about himself.  We, however, cannot understand it.  That is what makes it a mystery.  Every effort to logically explain this mystery ends up destroying the teaching—either resulting in three gods or melding the three persons into one.  Rather than try to make a hard teaching easier by changing it, we marvel at it. 

     The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  But the world did not have to wait for the coming of Jesus to reveal it.  Since the Lord is eternal and unchanging, we find the same God on page 1 of our Bibles as we do in Jesus’ command to baptize.  This is what we hear at the foundation of the world: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was undeveloped and empty.  Darkness covered the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.  God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3).  First, there is the mention of God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.  Then there is the Holy Spirit, hovering over the waters.  He is the Lord and giver of life, since the Holy Spirit plus water equals a new creation, just as he did in your baptism.  So, where is God the Son?  The Apostle John calls him the Word.  “In the beginning was the Word.  …Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made” (John 1:1,3).  So, when God the Father spoke, the Son was at work.  The Holy Trinity was there—as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

     The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  Something else which is a mystery is how people who are without sin and in harmony with God’s will can rebel and choose what is evil.  That happened with Adam and Eve.  Satan had convinced them that taking what God had forbidden would produce happiness and freedom for them.  He sold it this way: “God knows that the day you eat from (the forbidden tree), your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). 

     To this day, this desire to be like God is the root of all sin.  We want our own way.  When God presents us with a hard teaching, we conclude that God is the one with the problem or that he did not really mean it.  We reject God’s word when it corrects or condemns us.  We pray, telling God to bend his will to our will.  When God tells us “No,” we look for someone who will tell us, “Yes!  Go and do it!  You’ll be happy you did!” 

     Not only is God’s word rejected, God himself gets re-created.  People have always crafted gods who are just like they are.  Canaanite gods promoted sexual promiscuity.  Guess why they were popular.  Going to the altars of Roman gods promised prosperity.  Guess why they were popular.  And anyone who is spiritual crafts a god who is just like he is.  Who wouldn’t love a god who agrees with you on everything?

     But a god who has to be created is a powerless god.  A god who you can disagree with and who will not uphold his own commands is a useless god.  That is why Adam and Eve did not take their stand against the Lord and say, “Look now, we are gods, too!  Respect us!”  Instead they hid in fear from the Lord, knowing that they deserved the death God had threatened.  If you do not recognize your own sin, you might look brave as you boast about your importance.  But in the end, death comes to all.  All will be judged by God because he is God and we are not.  No sinner will stand before him.  Repent.

     The Triune God is unchanging.  Mankind had changed because of sin, but God is still merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness.  So, the Triune God promised to save sinners—from the very first sinners.  He promised to destroy the devil’s work.  That means he promised to take away the curse of sin.  The Lord had warned what sin meant: “You shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17).  But he promised to reverse death.  God’s work of salvation means, “You shall surely be delivered from death and live!”  So, you see, even the resurrection of the dead is not a doctrine that developed over time.  Our sin infected bodies will die, but the Lord himself assumed a body in order to rescue us completely from the effects of sin. 

     The eternal God entered our time as a mortal man.  This, too, is a great mystery that God became a man and yet remain unchanged.  We will confess that later in the Athanasian Creed, although we still will not be able to wrap our heads around it.  It remains an eternal mystery.  Just because it is a hard teaching does not make it untrue.  God became a flesh-and-blood man so that he could live in our place, perfectly obedient to God’s word.  He did not seize the world by force or consider equality with God as a thing to be grasped.  Rather, the Son of God lived in humility, perfectly dependent upon the goodness of his Father. 

     More than that, the Son of God willingly took from his Father the cup of wrath that was meant for the people of the world.  After all, we had earned it.  But out of love for mankind, the Father sent his Son to consume all divine wrath for us.  The Son willingly took the cup—first, out of love for his Father and then, out of love for mankind.  God the Son was slain on behalf of people who longed to be gods themselves.  Then he took up his life again to secure our own resurrection from the dead—a resurrection to life and light and glory and peace.  And to grant us the right to become children of God, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convert us from rebels to righteousness. 

     This is why Jesus tells us to baptize people “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).  The Holy Trinity made you his very own through baptism.  He cleansed you of all sin and set you apart for a godly life both now and in eternity.  While we glorify God the Son for our saving work, the Holy Trinity fully invested himself in saving and restoring what was ruined by sin.  God the Father sent his only begotten Son to save us.  God the Son became a man to unite himself to us.  He consumed all of God’s wrath so that we are not consumed by it.  He rose from the dead to eliminate death.  He exalts our humanity so that we will be restored to the perfection God had intended.  He will restore the Paradise he had created.  God the Holy Spirit works in us to believe even the hard teachings, to teach us “to keep all the instructions [the Lord has given]” (Matthew 28:19), and “to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

     The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  It is a hard teaching; but just as I cannot tell you what you are like, so also God must tell us what he is like.  He reveals himself as one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You and I will never be able to unravel this mystery.  In fact, I wonder, will the Holy Trinity remain a mystery even when we see him in the glories of heaven?  I don’t know.  But rather than try to unravel the mystery, we will simply marvel at it. 

     Our greatest comfort comes not from what we cannot understand, but from what we do: The Holy Trinity is on our side and serves for our good.  He is the God who saves, who loves his children, and who longs for us to dwell with him forever. 

     “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The Holy Trinity and Bad Analogies from Lutheran Satire

We will confess the Athanasian Creed this Sunday since it is Holy Trinity Sunday.  

Here you can enjoy St. Patrick "explain" the Trinity to our favorite Irish Lutherans, Conall and Donall.  From Lutheran Satire.  Enjoy.

Sermon -- Funeral for Lucy Chrsitiensen (May 29, 2026)

Christian Funeral for Lucy Christiensen

+ November 28, 1929 – April 19, 2026 +

THE LORD IS MAKING ALL THINGS NEW.

REVELATION 21:1-5

In the name + of Jesus.

     Lucy Christiensen lived to be 96 years old.  That’s a long time.  She had experienced a lot over her nine decades of life.  Some of it was good.  No doubt, she counted the birth of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren among the best things she got to experience.  Other parts of it were not so good.  Although she was blessed with a marriage of 55 years, it came to a sad end when she had to bid farewell to her beloved Don.  She also saw the heart-breaking loss of a son-in-law, Floyd. 

     At one point in her life, Lucy enjoyed country dancing and throwing baseballs to her little friend, Bobby.  As time went by, she was reduced to a wheelchair.  It is something you might have expected when she hit her 90’s.  It may have been expected, but it is hard to watch people get old.  For that matter, it is hard to get old.  Lucy’s time on earth ended on April 19, 2026.  It also was somewhat expected, but it, too, is hard to see.

     The Bible reminds us of the reason why death comes to us all.  It says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Whenever Lucy came to the chapel services at Pomeroy Living, we had a confession of sins: We are by nature sinners, and we prove it by our thoughts, words, and actions.  Lucy freely confessed that.  Sin is the reason death reigns in this world.  No one escapes death because no one is sinless.

     Our confession is an honest assessment of who we are.  Lucy was beloved by many, and you all have fond memories of her.  I am not here to tell you to forget them.  You love your loved one for a reason.  In the same way, you have a fondness for one another.  But I am willing to bet you’ve had your share of spats and fights over the years, too.  This happens with sinners.  Lucy was one of 13 siblings.  There is no way they lived perfect lives amongst each other.  Siblings prove their selfishness with fighting and rivalry.  So, rather than try to convince God that we are better than we are, we confess the truth: We are sinners.  The judgment against us is deserved.  The wages of sin is death.

     Lucy freely confessed it because her hope was not in herself.  Her hope was in her Savior, Jesus.  Jesus came into the world to restore everything that sin has corrupted.  Jesus has come to make all things new.  To do that, he had to take away the sin that has corrupted everything.

     Jesus made himself accountable for the sins of all people.  If Jesus bore our sin, he had to die; for the wages of sin is death.  Jesus was put to death on the cross.  Though he was innocent and holy, Jesus died the death of a sinner.  He received the punishment that sinners deserve—the wrath of God.  That is where your sins were dealt with.  Jesus suffered God’s damning judgment so that you would receive God’s blessed favor.  Jesus suffered divine punishment so that you would receive a divine pardon for all your sins.  That is where Lucy found her comfort, and it is the only place you will find yours, too.

     Jesus has taken away our sins, but we still see the reality of death.  That is because these bodies of ours are still stained by sin.  They get old.  They experience pain and frailty.  Eventually, they give out.  These bodies of ours are not eligible to enter the heavenly kingdom because nothing sinful can enter in.  So, Jesus is not done with Lucy yet.  The Lord will make all things new. 

     This body has been reduced to dust and ashes, but it will be raised up new.  St. Paul wrote, “The Lord Jesus Christ ... will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).  The Savior who died to save us also rose from the dead.  Jesus lives forever, and death has no mastery over him.  In fact, Jesus has authority over death and the grave.  On the Last Day, Jesus will raise up all the dead and will judge all people.  Lucy, of course, knew what her judgment was already.  She is covered in Jesus’ innocence; for she was cleansed of all sin through her baptism.  In baptism, Lucy received a new status—child of God.  So, when Jesus raises up her body, it will be restored and renewed.  In fact, it will be made perfect.  And like Jesus’ risen body, she will never die again.  That’s because Jesus is making all things new.

     Lucy had told me many times that her favorite hymn is “In the Garden.”  She liked the idea of Jesus walking with her and talking with her.  The hymn retells the story of Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus immediately after his resurrection.  Jesus appeared to her in the garden where the empty tomb was.  In that garden, Jesus consoled Mary who thought that death had killed the Lord.  But Jesus lives, and he lives to comfort us in our sorrows.  Our Lord, however, does not tell us to find him in a garden.  He tells us to find him in his word and sacraments.  That is where Jesus delivers the benefits of his death and resurrection.  That is where Jesus comes to comfort, encourage, and sustain us in the Christian faith.  It is why Lucy came to our chapel services every week.  Lucy knew she needed it.  You need it, too, if you desire to enter the heavenly kingdom.

     Now, Lucy actually does walk and talk with Jesus.  And it is not a momentary visit.  It is an eternal conversation.  St. John tells us about the glories that await God’s people: “Look! God’s dwelling is with people.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).  The former things are sin and sickness, pain and sorrow, guilt and grief, and every problem that we endure in this world.  But not in heaven.  All sin will be taken away.  All things will be made new.  The Lord will bring his redeemed to the perfect Paradise he has prepared for us.

     While Lucy’s body awaits the resurrection, her soul dwells with the Lord in peace and joy.  The joys of heaven will never get old.  The glories of heaven will never fade.  The peace of heaven will never be interrupted.  It is the kind of life that everyone longs for.  It is the life that Jesus Christ has won for us.  Lucy longed for it.  And now she has it.

     The one who was seated on the throne said to me, “‘Look, I am making everything new!’  He also said, ‘Write, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Revelation 21:5).  These words are trustworthy and true.  They are your hope in times of grief.  They are your confidence in the face of death.  They guarantee an eternity of peace and joy in the presence of a Savior who loved you enough to live for you, die for you, and conquer death for you.  Jesus loved Lucy-Goosey, too.  And now he tells her face-to-face. 

     Death will have an end.  Life will not.  The former things will pass away.  The goodness of God will remain.  Jesus will make all things new.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (May 28, 2026)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will resume on Sunday, September 13.  

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

OPEN FORUM / VOTERS’ MEETING
          We will have our summer Open Forum after church on Sunday, June 21. The Voters’ meeting will follow to ratify any actions that need to be made.

FAREWELL / OPEN HOUSE FOR PASTOR AND LAURA
Good Shepherd will be hosting a farewell open house on Sunday, June 7 from 12pm until 3pm. We are inviting area congregations as well. We will be getting a food truck but also need members to help with dessert. If every family could bring a minimum of one dessert on that day that would be great. We will have tables set up for desserts in the WEF. We also need help on Saturday (June 6) and Sunday after church to set up. Ask Mary Mitchell or Dan Rauchholz how you can help. Please RSVP to Carol by May 31 at goodshepherdnovimi@outlook.com so we can have an idea of how many people will be attending.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from May 24, 2026: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, May 24, 2024.  Note: The YouTube title says 2024, but this was, indeed, in 2026.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (May)

>          On Thursday, June 4, Good Shepherd will host a table at Novi’s Community Day.  Community Day will be held at the Novi Civic Center.  Feel free to stop by between 4:00-8:00 PM and say “Hi” to us. 

>          Payment has been made on a Smart TV to replace our projector and screen in the fellowship hall.  We are still waiting for its delivery.  It will be installed shortly after that. 

>          We have had issues recording the service and uploading them on our YouTube channel.  We will be looking at replacing some equipment and running new wiring to improve our recordings.  When the new equipment is in place, we will begin to live-stream our services again.

>          We are hoping to have the chairs in the sanctuary reupholstered.  One estimate has been received at a cost of $450 per chair.  We are attaining a few other estimates before we begin this project.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
          The pastor will be a little looser in observing formal office hours in the summer (usually, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). During the summer months, it is more enjoyable to read outside than in the office, weather permitting. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

YouTube -- Pentecost (May 24, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, May 24, 2026.  Note: The YouTube title says 2024, but this was, indeed, in 2026.

Worship Notes: The Athanasian Creed

            The Athanasian Creed is one of the three catholic creeds.  The word catholic means universal, as in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  The word creed comes from the Latin word credo which means “I believe.”  Luther said of this creed, “I doubt whether the New Testament church has a more important document since the Apostolic age.”

            Although named for Athanasius, the bishop of Alexandria (ca. 296-373), it is almost certain that he did not write it.  Neither Athanasius nor his contemporaries ever refer to it.  But even if Athanasius did not write the creed, he certainly would have ascribed to it.  Athanasius was one of the bishops at the ecumenical Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) which opposed the heresy of Arius (ca. 250-336).  Arius denied the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching that he is of a similar substance to God the Father, but not of the same substance.  In essence, Arius claimed that Jesus Christ is not the eternal God.  This belief has resurfaced in modern-day cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.  The Council of Nicaea adopted the Nicene Creed to affirm that Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from True God” and “of one being with the Father.”

            The Athanasian Creed first appeared in Gaul (France) late in the 5^th century.  Early in that century, Europe was invaded from the east by barbarian tribes, notably the Vandals and Goths.  This event marked the beginning of the Dark Ages.  During this time, the people and the clergy lapsed into illiteracy and ignorance of the Scriptures.  In addition, some of the invaders were Arian in their beliefs.  Out of this confusion came the need for a clear statement of faith.  The result was the Athanasian Creed.

            The Athanasian Creed quickly assumed an important role in the orthodox church.  (Much of the visible church was overrun with Arianism.)  Emperor Charlemagne (ca. 742-814), in order to preserve the true Christian faith, decreed that all churchmen had to learn this creed and to be able to teach it to the laity.

            The second portion of the Athanasian Creed reaffirms the Nicene Creed regarding the person of Jesus Christ.  However, it begins with a most excellent presentation on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  It says no more and no less than Scriptures say, letting the paradox of God’s nature stand (i.e., God is one; God is three).

            Confessors of the creed should not be put off by the second to last article which says: “Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into eternal fire” (cp also John 5:28,29).  The article does not teach salvation attained by human works, but simply reflects that our good works (or lack thereof) are evidence of God-given faith (or unbelief).  When we remember that our good works are actually God’s work through us, then we will understand this article correctly (cf Ephesians 2:8-10).  In addition, we remember that are judged based on Jesus’ merits, not our own.  We have been given the credit for Christ’s righteousness.  Therefore, we are heirs of eternal life.

            This creed ought to bring us great comfort, as it speaks clearly about our God and his plan for our salvation.  Its clearness and boldness are refreshing in this age of doctrinal confusion.  This is no wishy-washy confession.  It states what the Scriptures teach – there is no God but the Lord revealed in the Scriptures, and there is no salvation outside of the name of Jesus Christ.  All who deny this deny the truth; and all who deny the truth forfeit salvation.

            Finally, a study of this creed and the history which surrounds it shows how important it is for us to be familiar with the history of the Christian Church.  When we understand how Christians who have gone before us identified error and combated it, then we will better be able to do the same.