Benediction Lutheran Church

06/01/2026

We were so blessed to have the commissioning of Grace Sugg as a Director of Church Ministry and her installation as the Community Engagement Officer for A Place of Refuge Ministries. Thanks to all of the people from APOR who came.

06/01/2026

Worship at Benediction Lutheran Church from May 31, 2026

05/29/2026

Worship at Benediction Lutheran Church on May 31 is at 9:00 am. This service will include the commissioning and installation of Grace Sugg as the Community Engagement Officer for A Place of Refuge. It is also online at:
https://youtube.com/live/3FsIpuWyI_k?feature=share

Join us after worship for a reception in the lower level of the church as we celebrate the commissioning of Grace Sugg as a Director of Church Ministry and her installation as the Community Engagement Officer for A Place of Refuge Ministries.

Hmong Worship is at 10:30 am. It is online at:
https://youtube.com/live/DBbc99n4P2I?feature=share

French African Worship is at 3:00 pm. It is streamed on Facebook.

This week we celebrate the festival of the Holy Trinity. When God created the world, it was all good. We still see some of that goodness today, but it has been corrupted with the evil of this fallen world. However, God has redeemed this world through our Savior, and promises us the eternal paradise in Christ when goodness will be restored again. Our text is from Genesis 1.

05/27/2026

May 27, 2026 marks the 350th anniversary of the death of the beloved hymnwriter Paul Gerhardt. Here is my May 2026 newsletter article on his legacy and some pictures that I took of the Paul Gerhardt sites on my recent Germany trip:

He led a remarkable life, which involved a lot of grief, loss, and even persecution. However, he has given us some of the most beautiful hymns of hope, peace, confidence, and trust in Christ. Every Paul Gerhardt hymn ends with the joy of heaven.

There are two things that I find striking about his hymns, especially for preachers and teachers of the Word. They are illustrated by two works of art at his last congregation in Lübben. In front of the entrance to the church is a statue by Friedrich Pfannschmidt, which was erected for the 300th anniversary of Gerhardt’s birth in 1907. It portrays Gerhardt’s right hand pointing to a broken cannon behind him. His left hand shows us an open copy of his hymnal. This imagery shows that the war eventually passed, but the power of his hymns remained through the centuries. What I find especially interesting about this memorial is that his preaching robe is open to reveal the clothing of the common man. Paul Gerhardt‘s hymns relate to every one of us. He understands our struggles, fears, joys, and all that we go through in life. His hymns speak to our hearts.

When you enter the church in Lübben, you notice a life-size portrait of Gerhardt. It is hanging on the left side of the chancel. It was painted by an unknown artist, shortly after Gerhardt’s death. He is wearing the traditional robes of a pastor at that time, but what especially strikes you is the pointer finger on his right hand. It points over his heart, across a Bible, to a crucifix of Jesus Christ. The artist who painted that picture knew how the hymns of Paul Gerhardt direct us to Christ crucified for us. They give us comfort in Christ.

That is really the job of every Christian hymn and every Christian pastor, that we speak to the needs and joys of our people, which especially includes the need for the forgiveness of our sins, and we point them to Christ. It is He who brings the salvation, hope, joy, peace and love, that we all need now, and which Christ will give to us for all of eternity.

You can learn more about Paul Gerhardt from this booklet of our websitehttps://www.benediction-lcms.org/evangelischeandacht.org/Gerhardt-Book.pdf
or from this YouTube video from Deutsche Welle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HrXxqoC0gI

05/24/2026

The Benediction Lutheran Church worship service from May 24, 2026

Today we celebrate the festival of Pentecost. There are few events ...

05/22/2026

On June 7 at our 9:00 am Worship service at Benediction Lutheran Church have a special service to celebrate the hymns of Paul Gerhardt in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of his death on May 27, 2026.

05/22/2026

On Sunday May 31 our 9:00 am worship service will include the commissioning of Grace Sugg as a Director of Church Ministry and her installation as the Community Engagement Officer for A Place of Refuge Ministries A reception will follow.

05/22/2026

Pentecost Worship at Benediction Lutheran Church on May 24, 2026 is at 9:00 am. It is also online at:
https://youtube.com/live/AUi6wzePNVM?feature=share

There is no coffee hour, Sunday School or Bible Classes in the summer.

Hmong Worship is at 10:30 am. It is online at:
https://youtube.com/live/OAc02FHW67c?feature=share

French African Worship is at 3:00 pm. It is streamed on Facebook.

05/20/2026

Thanks to our friends in Michigan for this nice shout-out. That meeting was a blessed day for all of us. We still grieve the loss of our dear brother, but with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.

All Nations CelebrationOn March 14, the second annual All Nations Celebration took place at St. Luke, Haslett. 220 people from many different nations came and worshipped together. Just as last year, the event was filled with singing and prayer and fellowship.One of the groups in attendance was the F...

05/20/2026

Today we got a new front parking lot. Thanks to all who donated.