WEEKLY MESSAGE

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 On November 24, Vicar Andrea reminded us that Christ died for our sins, and now we are all alive in Christ. We think of Pentecost, 49 days after Easter Day. as a time of fire, tragedy, smoke, when we all call on the name of the Lord. We still offer our lives in service to other people. Christ says "I am the vine and the branches, and without me you can do nothing. I am with you always, until the end of time." 

 On November 10th Vicar Andrea featured the second of three G's of Giving: Generosity. We are a community, acting as God's hands and feet in getting his work done, carrying out his work. Doing so, we enjoy so many gifts. especially the gift of grace. While we look to government or others to be generous with us, often we ourselves fail to be generous. God calls us to be generous. We may hope to receive whatever we donated in life. But for us, when born, we have been given a gift of faith and love, with no requirements. We are not generous because we may receive rewards in heaven. We are generous because God is generous. Jesus was the incarnate generosity of God. 

 The November 3rd service was for All Saint's Sunday. The congregation lighted candles for people who have gone before us. Pastor Dave's message focused on our recognition that God loves us and has given us many gifts. That gratitude is the beginning of Christian life. In giving thanks, we need to worship with gratitude and generosity and ask for guidance. We need to remember that life is a gift for which we are grateful. 

 On October 27, Vicar Andrea distributed Play-Doh containers to the congregation in recognition of the Reformation and Martin Luther's work in 1917. As we can mold that clay, we see that the church is a living, breathing thing that changes across the ages. She asks what reformation looks like in today's church. She explained that God loves us and dwells within us. She tells a compelling story about a  boy facing heart surgery. The boy insisted to the surgeon that, in the operation, he would find Jesus in his heart. The surgeon disagreed and gave a clinical explanation. In the end, when the boy survived the operation, the surgeon was moved. He told the boy that he now agreed that he had seen God in the boy's heart. In the same way, Jesus in our hearts is an image we can trust when forces greater than ourselves come to threaten us. God asks us to reform, not for reform's sake, but so that the whole of creation can know God's truth and grace 

 On October 20th, Pastor Dave asked (the children's sermon) whether it would be possible to confine God in a box. Later, in the sermon, he recalled a lengthy history of attempts to confine God in a special place: first in a tent (with King David in the Ark of the Covenant) and subsequently, in Isreal's history, in the Temple, which has been repeatedly destroyed. But as we all know. God doesn't live in one place. Even now, if you are doing well, God is here for you. At the same time, if you are suffering, God is still here for you. "Trust me," God says, "I am always here for you."  God's presence is not something we can control. It is something God in Christ offers us, and we thankfully receive as a gift.  

 On October 13th, Vicar Andrea reminded us that fall is the season for us to think of what we are thankful for. For Holy Trinity, it is time to focus on our plans to bring in a full-time Pastor. At the same time, our Vicar Andrea has finally been approved by the faculty in her training as a pastor. Now the congregation responds to a regularly scheduled site survey to assess satisfaction with what's going on in our church. At the same time, Vicar has prepared a 16-page document for the Synod summarizing her own dreams for her career and her future as a pastor. Next she will meet with Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton. Everyone hopes our Vicar will stay with us forever! Vicar Andrea turned to today's lesson in Samuel, where Hannah and Mary took stock of their lives and thought of the future. Hannah struggled with infertility, but through faith in God, she became the mother of Samuel, the prophet who anointed both Saul and David. Vicar gave us a beautuful prayer from Hannah's prayers. This prayer reminded Vicar Andrea of the last four years at Holy Trinity, which have had high moments and some not always high. Remembering four years ago, Vicar Andrea felt called by God then to stay with Holy Trinity. Even now, we give thanks to God for what has happened (and what will happen in the future). She reminded us that, even in the depths, God is always with us. That God is with us and we are joyous together. We need to ask where God wants us. The very fibers of our being are woven with care. While life is fraught with challenges, remember that we do not face our challenges alone. 

On September 22, Vicar Andrea shared the verses that are on a plaque outside the motel room where MLK Jr was murdered - Behold, here comes the dreamer. Let us kill him and see what becomes of his dream.

Sometimes, dreamers and dreams are killed, silenced, or ignored because they are threatening, uncomfortable, or require one to change.

God has a dream for all of creation. This is why we pray the peace prayer every service at Holy Trinity. We are asking God to be God's partner in bringing about a New Heaven and a New Earth, a place where all may live in peace. God's essence is good, and God is good all the time; God is calling us to join the dream to create this reality.

May we be strengthened through the power of the Spirit to become dreamers so that all may know the goodness and hope we have in the name of Christ.

 On  September 15th Chaplain Dave Rohlwing presented the second sermon in our Gospel of Luke series. He began with the story of Abraham, who God commanded (at 75 years old) to pick up everything and go to the promised land. Abraham was promised many descendants, even though he and his wife Sarah had no children. Abraham complied because he had faith, but he lamented and became angry because nothing seemed to make sense. Chaplain Dave discussed anger and lamentations. In his work as Hospice Chaplain, he counsels people who are facing death, often feeling angry with God and feeling guilty to feel this way. As chaplain, he can listen and provide a safe space for people to express their lamentations, their pain of loneliness and fear, not unlike the lamentations of many throughout history. In these times, a chaplain can remind people that God is here with us and we can start healing and working through our grief, which strengthens our relationship with God. Complaining and lamenting are a natural part of faith, a back and forth dialogue with God, which keeps our relationship with God alive. 

 On September 8th, Pastor Dave started our lectionary year that is following the Gospel of Luke.  But we begin in the Old Testament and work through the entire Bible through the year - starting in Genesis at the beginning and working through all the way to the end of the New Testament. Starting in Genesis with the Creation Story, we see that God was pleased with the world he created. No plants were there until man was created to till the earth. The man was lonely and Eve was created as a companion and partner. But they are easily distracted, facing temptation and choices. Paul calls Jesus the new Adam. In the same way, the first thing is when the spirit sends Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Like Adam and Eve, Christ begins his work by being tempted. But unlike them, Jesus overcomes temptation. Similarly, in our lives, we face temptations. Jesus Christ recenters you, reclaiming you. You find focus and direction. Each of us are usefui to God so his dream might come true. Even if we might not know it, God works through the lives of his people. God doesn't want to work alone. God created people to work as partners.