August 27, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Confirmation Parent Meeting is Wednesday, August 30th at 7pm. This is for all youth in 7th & 8th. If you can not make this meeting, please contact Pastor Brad
Confirmation starts back up Wednesday, September 6th at 5:30pm for 7th graders. 8th graders will start the following week.
Women of Trinity Fall Gathering, Thursday, September 7th at 6 pm. Bring a dish to pass.
Sunday School starts back up Sunday, September 10th at 9:45 am.
Youth Mission Trip Presentation will be Sunday, September 10th at 9:45 am. Come see the amazing work our youth did in Colorado.
2024 ELCA Youth Gathering Informational Meeting: Sunday, September 10th, 10:15 am. The Youth Gathering is in New Orleans July 15-21, 2024. All current high school students can attend.
It’s back to school time!! The WOT will be collecting items for our local schools and for kits to go to Lutheran World Relief. There are two different boxes set out for collection so make sure you put yours in the box you want your items to go to. The bags you take off the pews are the ones that go to Lutheran World Relief and each bag has a printed copy of all items needed to fill that bag. There are copies of items needed for our local schools on the display table by the kitchen. Thank you for helping us help others!
Sign up to bring snacks for Crew and/or Sunday School. Any and all are very much appreciated. Sign ups are on the table in the Narthex.
The Crew begins on Wednesday, September 20th, for all 3rd-6th graders from 3:30 pm till 5:00 pm.
We invite all teachers, school personnel, and day care workers to join us for worship on Sunday, September 24th, as we bless and honor their work.
MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended.” Isaiah 51:6
When I first saw this verse as I examined the scriptures in preparation for this week’s sermon, I couldn’t help but think of the people of Lahaina, on Maui, and the devastation they have faced since wildfires wiped out that historic town. It was, and has been, sad to see such destruction. The loss of life. The loss of everything people owned and incredible history. Having had the privilege of visiting that community, it adds extra meaning and sadness to what has happened. The despair the people must be feeling has to be overwhelming.
Thinking about that despair, I couldn’t help but think of the despair I have felt in my life, those times when it seems like everything was lost and that there was no hope. Have you ever felt that way? Felt completely without hope, lost, despairing? I bet we all have in some way or another. Faced with loss, filled with grief and pain, hurting in body, mind, and soul, it seems like our world has been devoured by a wildfire of suffering and hurt that seems never ending.
In those moments, the promise of these verses from Isaiah 51 comes forth like the dawn after a long night. The salvation of the Lord is forever. This salvation is for you, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No matter what happens in life, this salvation is always there for you. It is our foundation to stand on. No matter how much it feels like the earth, and our life, is slipping away from us, the promise of salvation in Jesus gives us something to stand on. Sometime to build on. Something to trust when everything else seems lost.
In those times when I have been in despair, it is the promises of Jesus Christ, the hope of salvation and new life in him, that has seen me through. Given me something solid to stand on. And something to build anew on. No matter what happens, we can trust that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is there for us, to save us, to strengthen us, to walk with us every day.
I continue to pray for the people of Maui and for all who are suffering in any way. I hope that you are praying for them too. But I hope that we all never forget that the salvation of the Lord is forever and that, no matter what, can trust that Christ is there for us. May God bless you today and always!