Redeemer Lutheran Church - Hartford, WI

09/02/2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/01/2026

** Good News From Pastor Steve | September 1, 2026 **

Dear fellow redeemed,

Mistakes, bad decisions, disagreements, arguments, fights, domestic disputes, neglect, abuse, exploitation, assaults, murders...

We all have them! And I'm sure I can add words to that list of things that cause troubles and conflicts in our families, friendships, at our work places, neighborhoods, and just about every way that people interact.

So when this Sunday's Gospel Reading tells us, "If your brother or sister sins against you..." you can be very sure that it will happen, today, tomorrow and every day of life in this world! "For all have sinned" (Romans 3:20).

James 4:1-2 says it this way: "Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts."

So what is the answer to all of this? Avoiding other people? Only being with those who agree with you? Defending what we think and believe? No matter what others think or do? Fighting? Going to war with our enemies?

The Scriptures present a different path: one of love and prayers for all, including our enemies; seeking repentance and reconciliation, forgiveness, patience, persistence in communicating love and offering forgiveness, peace and hope.

That is the goal of Jesus' words in Matthew 18, when he begins with "If your brother or sister sins against you...". It isn't to make sure that person knows of his/her sin (though it may include that). it isn't to make sure they confess and repent (though that will usually be happening). It isn't to exclude them from your community (though sometimes that may happen. But if so, then the goal is always, always to work toward reconciliation). As we see in the reading from Romans 13, and from all of Scripture, love is the overarching theme of all our interaction with people.

An important point here to make as we consider times of conflict and how to resolve the problems between people is this: repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, love, all takes time. In a world of instant gratification and everything-needs-to-happen-right-now, the work of human community is a life-long process. We plant seeds, we nurture the growth, we prune when necessary, we wait, and we encounter storms and setbacks, and we start over again, and it goes on and on, as long as God gives us!

May the Lord of all work with us, and walk with us as we love one another, as God has loved each and every one of us.

Your brother in Christ,
- Pastor Steve

08/30/2026

Jesus gives some challenging instructions. First for Himself: to suffer, die and rise for our salvation. And also for us: to put God first, not ourselves; to be willing to sacrifice and suffer for God; and to be active in our commitment to God’s will for us.

Jesus gives some challenging instructions. First for Himself: to su...

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/25/2026

** Good News from Pastor Steve | August 25, 2026 **

Dear fellow redeemed,

I just made an error in the writing of this blog for this week. But it brings me to a point I'd like to make in this message. When I was typing the above words, I mistakenly (or was it?) wrote the words "Good News for Pastor Steve".

And the more I think about this, maybe "for" is better than "from". Because truthfully, the "Good News" that I'm writing about doesn't come from me; rather from God! And I need to hear this Good News from God as much as anyone else!

Of course, I can share the Good News with you. And so in a way, it does come from, or rather through me. But it can just as well come from you, or anyone else!

Honestly, whenever I'm preaching, leading discussions of the Scriptures, praying, I am very much benefitting from it as much, if not more than anyone else.

So that brings me to the Scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday. And I am struggling to understand and accept these words: Jesus telling us to "deny themselves, take up your cross and follow Me."

What do those words really mean for each of us today? How do we do what Jesus is asking? And what if I don't want to do what He is telling us to do?

I guess this is why we can still be spending time in devotions and prayer, coming to a service every week, listening to the Scriptures at least weekly, and the hours that we spend reading, studying, preparing for all of the above.

You know, sometimes I wonder, as I realize that I've been at this pastoral ministry for 42+ years, and have been preparing for it ever since I was a child, and I'm looking out at people who have also been members of the Church for so many years, faithful in their service in so many ways, all very much as with me. And I wonder: do we really need to hear all of this again? I mean, how many times, and how many ways can a person hear the same story of the Scriptures, and of God's love and grace?

And then I'm reminded of the story of the old man who had been married to his wife for many, many years. And his wife asked him one day, "Why don't you ever tell me that you love me anymore?" And the old man answered, "I told you I love you on our wedding day! That should be enough!!" I think I'm already hearing many of you say, "NO! Once is not enough!" And I agree!!

And I think God will agree also! He wants to hear our prayers and worship and our questions, and complaints, and troubles. Just as I want to hear from my family and friends, no matter what their concerns may be.

I also realize in my own life (and assume that you may agree with me for your own life) that I need to hear again and again the promises of God for each and every one of us! I forget some of the truths I've heard before. I turn away from God with my sin, doubts, and yes, at times unbelief.

But God never gives up on me, and on any of us! That's the message of all of Scripture: God coming to us again and again, reminding us of His love and grace for all!

Now about those words in this Sunday's Gospel reading?! Let's look at them together. And try to understand it all. God will be patient with us. I mean, he's been patient with us all through our lives, and the history of His people!

With you as God's dearly loved people,

Pastor Steve

08/23/2026

Rocks have an important part in God’s story! From being in our Rock of Refuge, to the Church as “living stones”.

Rocks have an important part in God’s story! From being in our Roc...

08/19/2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/16/2026

Rev. Chris Manke is the Executive Director for Outreach for Hope, a ministry of the Greater Milwaukee Synod which supports life-giving ministries that serve with people of low income communities through the Southeastern corner of Wisconsin.

Rev. Chris Manke is the Executive Director for Outreach for Hope, a...

08/13/2026

** Good News From Pastor Steve | August 11, 2026 **

Dear fellow redeemed,

I have a challenge that I'd like to share with you and hopefully get some advice and suggestions on how to address it. As you know, we have a congregation that is worshiping an average of 35 on a Sunday. The average age is 70 and above. And the history of our congregation is that we are slowly decreasing in numbers. Now, I would like to say here that we HAVE received new people, who are regularly attending here. And for this, we praise God! And of course, there are a lot of people who are NOT with us at Redeemer. 35 out of the population of our community is certainly exceedingly small.

So how do we reach those who are not with us?

As you probably know, I am at the lower end of that "average age". So I am beginning to think like many of you, that doing things differently is not a preference for me. And if anything, at this age, we all start to slow down, not take on new projects. I also know that many of you are remarkably busy. (And that is not unusual, as most people are always busy :).

But here's the problem. If we as a congregation are going to reach the many people who are not with us at Redeemer, if we are going to increase the participants in our congregation, then something has to change.

I'm sure you've all heard the popular quote: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

So we need to do some things differently! We need to try some new ideas and activities. Otherwise, we will stay as we are. And that will only happen as long as we are alive. Let's admit it: none of us are going to be around forever; most of us are not even in 5, 10, 20 years.

Our Church Council has been reading and discussing a book entitled, "Faithful Innovations". And after reading and discussing this book, we are going to be bringing some suggestions for the future of our congregation.

Here's the outline for us as we look forward as a congregation:

1) Listen: to God and one another. Learn all that we can about where we see God at work in our community, and what our neighbors are saying and what they need.

2) Act: try something new, as we respond to how we see God nudging us toward connecting with people and serving them

3) Share: with one another, as we reflect on what we have learned.

I especially appreciate the authors of this book asking us to do things that are SIMPLE, REPEATABLE, AND AFFORDABLE.

These three words are important. This doesn't have to be some 10-point complicated process that in the end will not accomplish much. And besides, this is not a sure answer to bringing more people into our church. Rather, the point here is that we do more outside the building of our church; let's become the church without walls; the church in our neighborhood, and among the people who may never come through the doors of the church.

So I am asking you to join me in prayer. Asking God to give us wisdom and guidance and the strength to say and do as He leads us. And I invite you to talk with one another here at Redeemer, with family and friends, with neighbors, etc. And learn all you can about how we as God's people can help and serve one another, in response to the love and grace God has given in Christ. One more thing: share your ideas and suggestions with me, and with our Church Council. Let's work together and follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, right here in the Hartford community!

With you in Christ,
- Pastor Steve