2nd Sunday After Epiphany

Second Sunday after Epiphany Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-41

In a blog post penned by Delmer Chilton, a pastor authoring an article in Living Lutheran, he shares a memory of feeling lost.

Read it here.

His story is simple; an everyday kind of thing. It's an experience that could be dismissed as one that isn't worth sharing with anyone. When he reflected on this experience, he was reminded of a God-present life. A life that includes God's eyes set on him everyday, all the time, even when he might not be looking in His direction. The Gospel of John illustrates how John the Baptist told others about the Messiah. In telling them, they learned and followed Jesus.

How does this week's text apply to your everyday life?
Do you have a seemingly everyday experience to share with others that might lead them to the Lord?

Sunday School

January 12th marks the first Sunday after Epiphany, a day to recognize Jesus' baptism. Reference the Gospel of Matthew 3:13-17.

Most Sunday School classes resume on the 12th at 9:15. 

The Not-So-Silent Night

Many children from the elementary Sunday School program participated in a delightful Christmas pageant during the late service on Sunday. The premise of  The Not-So-Silent Night  targeted sounds and emotional responses in preparation for Jesus' birth. 

 The shepherds who visit baby Jesus on the night of his birth are so excited about the events of the evening that they make a great deal of noise and are arrested for disturbing the peace. The play takes place in the court room where the shepherds are on trial.

Click once on the picture to make it larger

Luke 1:35 ...the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.

Advent Noise!

Each Sunday in Advent is celebrated with a theme and a candle lighting in the sanctuary. Recently, the contrast between silence and noise were addressed at the beginning of the church service. In the midst of this season, pray for opportunities to listen for the Lord and speak of His love.

Women of the congregation, along with friends from the community, joined together in unity on Tuesday, December 3rd.

 An evening of delectable desserts and fellowship was enjoyed by more than 170 women in the CLC.

 The planning team designed the program to highlight Jesus as the Star of Unity. An invitation to students and faculty from Hartford Elementary, provided welcome "Advent Noise" to the evening. Ten students in the Morning Music program at Hartford performed three delightful songs on xylophones, uniting community neighbors with church members and friends.

Holy Trinity Quilters donated several quilts to the raffle as well as a generous assortment donated to the families of Hartford Elementary.

 The deep blue of Advent is meant to inspire in us the hope of faith, and to encourage us to keep watch for the promised light of Christ to break over the horizon, changing night into day, darkness into light, and filling our lives and our world with a holy and righteous splendor.

We need both silence and noise to journey through Advent. The joy of fellowship is especially sweet and the tranquility of silence allows us to ponder the treasures of this season.

"Prepare the way of the Lord." - Matthew 3:3

 

 

Darcy Trivia

Joy Sunday also marked a milestone celebration day for Darcy Mittelstaedt, serving ten years as Director of Youth & Family Ministry at Holy Trinity.

Notes, cards, and gifts were presented to Darcy by members and friends of the church, including a parade of youth who gathered to show their appreciation for her time and talents.

How well have you gotten to know Darcy? Check out her answers to the following questions:

1. What is your favorite color? Red
2. Have you had any pets before Peanut? Not when I was living by myself, but I grew up on a farm and had tons of pets including, cats, dogs, rabbits, goats, horses, pigs, cows, ducks, and chickens.
3. Where were you born? Uijongbu, South Korea
4. Besides your birth place, what other countries have you visited? I have been to Europe, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany) I ‘ve been to the Holy Land (Israel, Palestine).
5. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade
6. You're know for several hobbies. Do you have a favorite? Right now it is Viking Knitting Bracelets.
7. As a child, what did you daydream about? Being a world traveler.
8. What favorite foods do you prepare for guests in your home? Hmmm, I do not consider myself a very good cook, however, I love to bake. So I would probably prepare a garden salad, with garlic cheese monkey bread and a lasagna, with a Yummy chocolate Bundt cake.
9. What super power would you like to have? Why? A super power I would like to have would be to read other people’s minds because I am always wondering what others are thinking about.
10. What is an interesting fact that most people don't know about you? I was born without a left eardrum. And I have had 10 surgical procedures so far in my life.
11. What do you dislike? I dislike kimchi.
12. Do you have a pet peeve? People not using their car turn signals to turn!

Were you surprised by any of Darcy's answers? Continue the conversation with her and with others, building relationships and being present in your community. 



Thank you, Darcy! We appreciate you!

Celebrating the Birth of Martin Luther

Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483.

Luther taught that salvation and subsequently eternity in heaven is not earned by good deeds but is received only as a free gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. His theology challenged the authority of the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge from God. Those who identify with these, and all of Luther's wider teachings, are called Lutherans.

His translation of the Bible (instead of Latin) made it more accessible, which had a tremendous impact on the church and on German culture. It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the writing of an English translation, the King James Bible. His hymns influenced the development of singing in churches. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage, allowing Protestant priests to marry. Together, they had six children.

Martin Luther is also recognized for the Ninety-Five Theses and both the large and small Catechisms. He died at the age of sixty two, on February 18, 1546.

All Saints Day

On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed “Ninety-five Theses” to the Wittenberg Castle Church door, the date that Lutherans observe as Reformation Day, is also the eve of All Saints Day (All Hallows Day), commonly known in today’s culture as Halloween.

This Sunday, Holy Trinity will celebrate ALL who walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ.  Some, having completed their kingdom work, now live in glory.  We, still doing kingdom work, live in the cross.  As we hear the bell tolls and the names of some of those who left us this year, please offer thanks to God for their witness … and the witness of ALL THE SAINTS.