You are there to baptize and to teach. You are not there to go to meetings or to format the bulletin. Nor is it your job to defend the synod or our doctrine. Of necessity, you must talk about closed communion, abortion, and such, but that is not your real mission. Don’t let them bog you down with that. Especially when things get tough, throw yourself into the real work: go see the shut-ins, force yourself to read and study, knock on a few doors. The worse things get the more you need to simplify your preaching. You (and your enemies) need to hear the Gospel in the most direct speech: “Jesus loves you. You are forgiven. None of this matters.” Never – never! – try to correct what you think is the people’s aberrant behavior or practice in the sermon.