Remember

Remember

Word From Wiese

May 27, 2026

Lieutenant Commander Brice Johnson.Remember Word From Wiese Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church May 27 2026 Peachtree City Georgia

On Memorial Day, our nation invites us to take the day to remember those who gave their lives in the promotion of our country’s best values. I spent time remembering and giving thanks for Lieutenant Commander Brice Johnson.

As a young counselor at Camp Luther, one of the kids in my Discovery group was Mary Asher (Mash) Vendt. With a brilliant mind and athletic prowess, Mash shined as a cadet in the Air Force Academy where, among her many responsibilities, she taught other candidates to skydive. Meeting the dynamic Brice at the Academy—almost a Tom Cruise in Top Gun type character in looks and charisma–I was honored to preach and preside for their marriage ceremony in the gorgeous Cadet Chapel on base in 2009. (Actually, at their reception, I spoke with a couple living in Peachtree City, the location we had just read about, having been sent an invitation to consider a call to Christ Our Shepherd!)

The careers of Brice and Mash were soaring until a very unfortunate fighter jet malfunction took the life of Brice in 2018. Once again, I met Mash and family at the Air Force Academy, but this time at the cemetery to preach and preside for Brice’s funeral.Remember Word From Wiese Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church May 27 2026 Peachtree City Georgia 2

While it’s painful to recall the tragic nature of Brice’s untimely passing and resulting pain for Mash, I’m glad Memorial Day prompts me to recall the warm feelings so many of us carry for Brice’s life.

Memorial Day’s invitation to remember inevitably leads me to remember our Lord, who is the one who told all of history in John 15:13, ““Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Each week, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper Jesus tells us to remember him! After telling the story of Jesus taking the bread and giving it to his friends, we quote Jesus’ command, “Do this, remembering me.” We say the same after the cup and wine.

How is each and every Sunday a type of Memorial Day for us? It’s a time to remember Jesus’ death on a cross and how “on the very night in which he was betrayed,” Jesus focused himself enough amid his grief and worry, to feed, teach, and encourage us. Yet, simultaneously, it’s a time to remember our friendship with Jesus and the great love we share which no untimely or horrible death can ever jeopardize.

I ask your prayers as this Thursday through Saturday, Pastor Wes, Jaycine Lester, and Kendra Milburn join me in representing COS at our annual Southeastern Synod Assembly in Columbus, Georgia.

The four of us join voting delegates from our 141-congregation, 4-state synod.  Together, one could argue that we are really gathered to ask, “how shall we remember Jesus together?” For in our mutual worship, service organizations, ministry efforts, disaster relief, leadership development, discipleship formation and so much more that we accomplish together as a synod, we are trying to honor the memory and teaching of Jesus! Right? We are honored to try to enact his hopes for us and our neighbors in the confidence of his triumphant death and resurrection.

So that leads me to two quick questions for you:

Reflection Questions:

  1. On Memorial Day, was there a service member who passed away in the line of duty for whom you gave thanks and honor? If you don’t know anybody specific, how could you learn the personal story of such a service person?
  2. As you take communion each Sunday, how do you lean into Jesus’ invitation to remember him in that act? In your thoughts, how do you remember Jesus? How does your offering or some actions throughout the week remember Jesus?

In Christ’s hope,

Pastor Fritz

Let us pray: Gracious Lord, thanks for the gift of remembering. As we remember sacrifice each Memorial Day, help us also to remember Jesus by remembering his call to love our neighbors with courage, compassion, and faithfulness. Give us hearts that move beyond comfort and convenience, and teach us to serve with humility and purpose. May the victory of Christ over death give us confidence, peace, and hope until the day we are gathered into your eternal presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.