The Trinitarian HOLY WEEK EASTER SUNDAY. Palm / Passion Sunday MAUNDY THURSDAY

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1 The Trinitarian Trinity welcomes all to a community in Christ; serving others, growing in faith, living in hope, and reaching out in love. March 2016 Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Joel 2:13 Dear Friends in Christ, Lent begins with the call to "Return to the Lord." Through the 40 days of Lent we hear of all God has done for us in the temptations in the wilderness, in his struggle with the religious fundamentalists and the politically powerful, in his parables, in his prayers, and in his rejection, suffering, and death. At first we may hear this call to "return" as an admonition to give something to do something for God. Maybe we think if we do the disciplines of Lent prayer, fasting, and giving offerings for the poor and needy then God will be gracious, merciful, and loving to us. Maybe we think that we need to "change our ways," and then God will accept us. But God does not call us to "fix ourselves up" so that we will be acceptable to God. God just calls us to return home." God is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love," whether or not we offer our prayers, fasting, or offerings whether or not we "change our ways." God does not call us to "return" after we have changed ourselves. God just calls us to return home or as the old hymn puts it, Just As I Am. We are not called to "return to the Lord" with something in our hearts, hands, or head we are just called to "return." And when we return, we find out that God loves and accepts us as we are. When we do return and experience God s welcome, offering nothing in return, the transformation begins. It is only then that we respond to God's grace and mercy for us with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. We begin to trust God's mercy and give up trying to earn God's favor. Only then does our prayer, fasting, and offerings for the poor and needy begin to flow naturally. We respond with love because God first loved us. The same is true of God's call to "return" to the cross and the empty tomb. When we "return" to the foot of the cross, we realize that we have nothing to offer Jesus, accept our sin. When we "return" to the empty tomb, we realize that Christ's victory over every sin and even death, was done without anything we could add. When we realize that the cross and the empty tomb are God's ultimate gracious and merciful gift, God s good and gracious welcome home transforms us to go and tell everyone we meet that God's love is for them (and not against them) just as they are. Roger L. Berner Pastor HOLY WEEK Palm / Passion Sunday with Blessing of Palms & Procession 20. March am HOLY COMMUNION 9:30 am Sunday School with Adult Classes/Adult Inquiry am HOLY COMMUNION MAUNDY THURSDAY 24. March 12:10 pm HOLY COMMUNION 40 minutes and spoken 7:30 pm HOLY COMMUNION with Stripping of the Altar 25. March The Seven Last Words of Christ Noon to 3:00 pm Living Faith Luth. Church Veirs Mills Rd, Rockville, MD come for all or part of the service led by several pastors of the Montgomery County area 7:30 pm TENEBRAE SERVICE at Trinity Lutheran Church a service of psalms and shadows HOLY SATURDAY 26. March 7:30 pm The Great Vigil of Easter with reception of new members EASTER SUNDAY 27. March 2016 am Festival HOLY COMMUNION with choirs, organ, trumpet, & tympani 9:30 am Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt am Festival HOLY COMMUNION with choirs, organ, trumpet, & tympani Trinity Lutheran Church Old Georgetown Road North Bethesda, MD A Reconciling in Christ and a Stephen Ministry congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America office@trinityelca.org web: TrinityELCA.org facebook: facebook.com/trinityelca

2 Easter Flowers Please order by Sun 20. March It is time to order your flowers to decorate the sanctuary for the Easter services. You have the choice of ordering: Easter lilies, azaleas, or hydrangeas. I wish to order: Easter $19.00 each $16.50 each (6-8 blooms, double stem12" - 15" across) White Red Hydrangeas (Pink/Blue, 3 $17 each Please check if you would like to: donate pick-up Easter flowers are given to the glory of God By Pledging for Mission as of 21. February Pledging Update as of 20. January 2016 Trust in the Promise 65 families have pledged $286,123 to our annual stewardship campaign. BIGGER than a Building! 63 families have pledged $481,000 to our 3 year mission appeal. Total amount received to date for BTAB! is $141,948. Thank you for your generous support. Wednesdays in Lent 2016 In memory of In honor of Please make your check payable to Trinity Lutheran Church and indicate "Easter Flowers" in the memo line. You may put your check and order form together in the Sunday offering plate or mail them to Trinity. You Said Lutherans Believe What? An Adult Inquiry Class Six Sundays at 9:30 am 14. February March If you are interested in becoming a member of Trinity, please join us for this class. If you have been a member of Trinity and are interested in learning more, this class is for you as well. Please talk with Pastor Berner (Prberner@aol.com) about your interest or the church office (office@trinityelca.org or ). WERE due in January! If you have not submitted your report, please do so as soon as possible. Reports submitted after 1. April 2016, will not be included in the 2015 Annual Report March 6:30 pm Soup & Bread Supper 7:15 pm Hymn Sing 7:30 pm Evening Prayer When you go to bed on Saturday 12. March! Trinity Men s Group Meeting The January meeting will be on the Wednesday 2. March at 1:00 pm at the home of Dick J. Please let Dick know if you plan to attend. 2

3 9. February 2016 Council approved a contract with Eickhof Columbaria Inc. for $34,482 with an initial payment of $22,988. Contract covers the purchase of niches and memorial wall plates. Mason expects to complete foundation work in February/March, weather permitting. Council approved the Finance Committee's recommendation to use $52,280 from Renewing from Generations/BTAB! building funds to pay down the mortgage, leaving plenty in our accounts for future mortgage payments while we continue to receive BTAB donations. Council approved the Parish Life Committee's recommendation to purchase 10 new round dining tables and a storage cart. Jim K, Secretary Sunday Christian Education Opportunities for Every Adult! Adult Forum Sundays at 9:30 am Room 10 We will continue the study of Luke through 6. March. Beginning 20. March we ll start an 8 week study of Genesis.. All are welcome to attend. 13. March Bethesda Help Speaker Trinity collects non-perishable food items to support the work of Bethesda Help. This is an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides emergency assistance to residents in our local area. Linda Chaletsky from Bethesda Help will speak at our Adult Forum and tell us more about the services they provide for people in crisis situations. L.I.F.E. Class Living in Faith Every Day Sundays at 9:30 am Library We study the scripture readings a week ahead of the Sunday worship. We discuss and share how these Bible readings relate to our lives. See you there! The Trinitarian deadline is always the 15 th of the month. The deadline for every Sunday bulletin is 9:00 a.m. on the preceding Tuesday. Cheers from Anita On 21. February, in church, we read Luke 13: In this passage, Jesus compares himself to a mother hen protecting her brood. When I was talking to the youth about this passage, they thought it was weird. After we got through birds being gross, they said it wasn t an image they were used to. So I started thinking... I wrote a paper in seminary about how God is like my dog. (This is the start to my book, if I ever right one.) I wrote about my experience being raised by my mom and Collies. I wrote about how I was shepherded by the dogs while growing up, and how I am shepherded now. We are comforted as Jesus being the Good Shepherd, and we are the sheep. So, I started thinking about imagery of God, where God is seen as an animal? In Hosea 18:8, God is depicted as a mother bear protecting her cubs. In Deuteronomy 18:31-32, God is depicted as an eagle, protecting the young in the nest. What image of Jesus is the most helpful? What image of Jesus is the most comforting? Notes from Sarah Recently, Pr. Berner asked me if I had learned anything surprising about Lutherans or the ELCA since I began working at Trinity last summer. While I can t say I ve learned anything surprising, I have continued experiencing something I would never have expected to find when I first began playing for churches outside the conservative Baptist world I grew up in, a world where liberal churches were characterized as having no real Christians. At Trinity and the other mainline churches where I ve worked and worshiped, I ve been surrounded by folks who live out their faith in incredibly tangible ways people who affirm I believe in God on Sunday morning and then minister their faith to the sick, to the poor. People who share their faith in song with their brothers and sisters. People who welcome strangers into their community. People who the Apostle James calls doers of the word, and not hearers only. I m so glad I ve discovered I was misinformed all those years ago! Sarah B 3

4 BIGGER than a Building! in MOTION Widening TRINITY's circle, volunteering at A Wider Circle As a part of the BIGGER than a Building! mission weekend last November, the Social Ministry Committee organized an opportunity for Trinity members to volunteer at A Wider Circle in Silver Spring. All those who volunteered were impressed and moved by the positive impact this organization makes for individuals in need in our community. In February, Trinity hosted a pot luck luncheon with guest speaker Mark Bergel, founder and Executive Director of A Wider Circle. Trinity learned more about A Wider Circle's mission to help those in need rise out of poverty with dignity and hope, providing not only gently used items, but also job readiness workshops. Reaching out in love and serving others, the Social Ministry Committee will coordinate quarterly volunteer trips to A Wider Circle. The first will be Sunday, March 13 from 12:30 to 2:30. We will leave Trinity just after 12:00 noon. All ages are welcome to volunteer. If you are interested in participating, please contact Margaret F. A Wider Circle address is, 9159 Brookeville Rd. Silver Spring. Additionally, for anyone who has donations for A Wider Circle (other than large furniture), if you bring them to Trinity on Sunday, March 13, we will take them with us to A Wider Circle. For detailed information on donations accepted by A Wider Circle, visit their website awidercirlce.org. In the Mail Dear Parishioners, Everyone at Bethesda Help sends thanks to you for your cash contributions of $300 & $500 that we received in December Generous donations such as yours allow us to continue to feed our hungry neighbors. Best wishes from everyone at Bethesda Help Dear Trinity, Your generous contribution of $ in December 2015 will help provide essential food to more than 39,000 individuals in Montgomery County. Thank you for being part of our mission and work. Your donation is crucial to our efforts to feed hungry families. Sincerely, Jackie DeCarlo Executive Director, Manna Food Center Trinity to host Support U Seminars presented by Lutheran Social Services "A Crash Course for families with aging loved-ones" 23. & 30. April 2016 Busy people can learn more about issues and resources as they take on increasing responsibility for aging or ill family members through this 2-part series called "Support U." Normally a 6-week course, Support U will be conducted in two intensive sessions, at Trinity on two consecutive Saturday mornings. The program is hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church and led by Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area and open to the public. Support U sessions provide important information and opportunities for peer group discussion. Sign up for one or both sessions. Part 1 Saturday 23. April 9:00 AM 12:00 noon Topics: Planning Ahead, Finding and Using Resources, Self-care Part 2 Saturday 30. April 9:-00 AM 12:00 noon Topics: Family Communications, Dementia and Chronic Illness, and Financial Well-being. A discounted tuition of $20 per session is available to attendees, thanks to grant funding. Online reservation site: Telephone reservations call: ext Social Ministry Collection Sundays As part of Trinity s Social Ministry mission goal to serve others, Trinity sponsors collections for various social service agencies. The First Sunday of every month is Hunger Sunday. Please bring non perishable food items or Giant gift cards. The Third Sunday of every month is Paper Products Sunday. Items needed: paper towels, Kleenex, diapers/pullups, full size toiletries, gift cards from Walmart/Target/Kmart, etc. A suggested items list is posted in the Social Hall. 4

5 Attention Bread Bakers! Trinity has a long-standing tradition of providing Communion Bread in place of wafers during the Easter Season. We need volunteers to sign up to bake bread for a specific Sunday (seven in all). We provide the recipes; you provide the labor of love. The two loaves may be dropped off before the early service, or left in the church refrigerator the day before. Look for the poster in the Social Hall or contact Carol Bruno to sign up for Sundays 27. March - 8. May. Copies of the approved recipes are located in the Altar Guild Mailbox in the copier/mail room. Please contact Carol B with any questions: Jello-fest Cook-off and the winner is... Trinity's annual cookoff was another great success. While the "winners" are below, the true winners are the Youth Group. Thanks to the Congregation's tremendous support, over $250 was raised to support the summer Youth Group Mission Trip. This year we had 2 categories for jello entries: appearance and taste. Entries captured Trinity's creativity including a Winter Scene, an ocean, a castle with a melting moat and Trinity's pool. The winner for appearance is Donna S's "Fruit Sunshine Surprise". Who knew Donna was a jello enthusiast providing 5 entries!?! First place for taste went to Margaret F's Berry Layer Treat and second place went to Gretchen's Amazing Mandarin entered by Nancy J digging out a family recipe from her aunt. As if eating jello was not enough, during fellowship there were many jello stories shared of fond jello memories and some funny jello disasters. With good food & good fellowship we are all winners! If you have an idea for next year's cook off share it with Anita! Directory Updates Please call the church office for details. Natasha B Jill L Shirl & Wes O Betty Y Youth Group 13. March - Come join us for Game Night! We'll have Spaghetti & Meatballs, and "Dirt" for dessert. We'll play some awesome games. See you then! Jr. Youth Group 20. March - After worship, we will eat pizza and "dirt." Then, we will head over to Bethesda Health and Rehab to help lead worship. We'll be back to church around 2:45 pm. Easter Egg Hunt! 27. March - The youth will host our annual Easter Egg hunt between services on Easter Sunday. This will be a peanut free hunt. Please invite your friends! Come to Trinity on Saturday 26. March at 10 am and help prepare for the Easter Egg Hunt! Shekinah April - Seventh and Eighth Graders! We're heading to Shekinah! Shekinah is the Synod retreat held at the 4H Center in Front Royal, VA. It'll be a great weekend. Watch your for more information and registration forms. First Communion! First Communion Sunday is 24. April, with classes beginning on Sunday 10. April. Please tell Anita or Pastor Berner if your child would like to receive First Communion. Upcoming Events 10. April - Youth Group Service Project Night 15. April - Kids Night Out 17. April - Youth Sunday 5

6 MAUNDY THURSDAY 24. March 2016 The Tension Builds Tonight, tension hangs thick in the room. The gospel writer invite us into this tension as we hear Jesus say he "knew his hour had come" (John 13:1). Along with Jesus, we know what is coming, and we have no option but to follow. The tone is set. But even as we know what is coming, we approach this night with questions. Peter's question on this night invites our own: "Are you going to wash my feet?" (John 13:6). While footwashing is uncomfortable for some, that feeling is appropriate on this night of uncomfortable questions and commandments. "Is there release from this tension?" we ask. "Can this be different? Must we love everyone? Is this your only parting word to us?" These questions accompany us as we shuffle to the washing station, the table of grace, and that garden where we'll stay tonight. They questions pull at us, creating a tension inside of us that won't be relieved for another few days. We become okay with this, relying on God amidst this uncomfortable tension. This story is coming to a climax. And even as we may know the ending, we're caught here on this side of the tension praying for release. But not yet. Not until we wash, eat, drink, and wait. Tonight we receive the grace of God, the love of Christ, in both commandment and physical action: washing, bread, and wine. Live into the tension this night; do not rush for release. Hear the commandment to love your neighbor and do so. Tonight we are invited to wait and to pray. GOOD FRIDAY 25. March 2016 A Cross-shaped Eclipse Tonight we sit in darkness, and we do it on purpose. Tonight's darkness is like the darkness of an eclipse that time when the shadows overcome the light, even just briefly so that we might begin to understand and know light more fully. Even though in our hearts we know that this darkness too shall pass, the shadow is very real tonight as we hear how Christ is betrayed and killed. The story of Jesus' crucifixion is not one for the faint of heart... and yet it is. All of our hearts are faint at one time or another. This day, when it seems like death has eclipsed the warmth of God's love and light, we boldly and triumphantly claim the promise that God in Christ has trampled death, has put death to death through the cross. Tonight we look upon the tree of the cross, the tree of salvation. It reflects that first tree that we read about at the beginning of the Bible, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17). Now, on the far side of Eden, we find God undoing all of our thoughts about good and evil, making good out of the cruelness of the cross. Tonight we see God eclipsing the evil of the world with a cross-shaped shadow, saying definitively that there is no evil in the world from which God cannot bring resurrection. Tonight we sit in darkness, praying that Christ remembers us when he comes into his kingdom. Praying that the eclipse will not last too long... just long enough for God's work to be completed. We hear the answer in Christ's declaration from the cross, "It is finished." RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD, THE VIGIL OF EASTER 26. March 2016 Night of Our Safe Passage This is the night when God, like a mother in her hour of labor, births the whole creation anew. It is the night where we stand helpless, waiting and praying for safe passage. Waiting, we tell stories of other births, assurances of other safe passages. On this night, we tell the story of chaos passing over into ordered creation. We cling to the story of the treacherous passage that Noah and his wife underwent on the floodwaters and celebrate with them as they step off the ark and onto dry land. On this night, we lean in to hear the story of the Israelites' safe passage through the sea; they are free at last from Pharaoh's land! This is the night we rejoice as the dry bones take on flesh and we breathe a sigh of relief when after a three-day passage in the belly of the fish, Jonah is spit up on shore. This is the night of our watery passage. Like infants we are emerging from the womb. With Jesus we are being raised from the tomb. This is the night to stop and take notice of all that we leave behind when we cross over this pass. What has left your heart hardened? Tonight those things are drowned. What have you felt pressing in on you while you were carried in the gut of that big fish? Tonight you are released. What chaos have you encountered in the darkness of night? Tonight it is banished by the light of Christ. This is the night when our old self is drowned and a new one emerges from the water, taking in its first new breath. It is the night of our safe passage into life abundant. Alleluia! Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress. 6

7 The Apostles Creed 2 Thomas C Amanda P 5 Mary H 9 Wendy C Sutton R Karen W 10 Bill K 18 Kathy H Wedding Anniversaries 1 Brian & Ione L 8 Bruce S & Zidi B 15 Linnea A & Victor N 31 David & Leslie C Tom & Nancy M Charles C January 2016 cousin of Steve S Birthdays Deaths 20 Ann K Jacqueline R 24 Fred K 25 Scott D Connor D Andrei S 26 Brooke P C 27 Amanda S Ingrid S February 2016 mother of Lisa S Linda C February 2016 wife of Robert C Come, help prepare for The Great Vigil of Easter Saturday 26. March 10:00 am Lots of hands will make light work as we decorate (and then cover with black cloths) the sanctuary with flowers and candles on Saturday morning 26. March at 10:00 am. If you are serving as an Assisting Minister or Acolyte for the Vigil, we will rehearse at 10:00 am. We will also be setting tables for the Easter Brunch. Your service on this Holy Saturday to help prepare could be a meaningful part of your Lenten discipline, as we work together to make the joyful celebrations of the Great Vigil of Easter and Easter morning's services possible. Lesson John 1:1-18 I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. Prayer Jesus, shepherd of my soul, seek me daily when I stray. Guard and protect me, and grant me obedience so, that I may remain faithful to you, resisting all temptation to follow the passions of my wandering heart. May I this day and always find my rest in you. Amen. Rise! Shine! Trinity's Easter Brunch Sunday 27. March 9:30 am Join us once again to celebrate the Risen Christ together over a bounteous brunch buffet prepared by Kingdom Catering Service. This is the same company that served us a luscious brunch last year. All are welcome. The delicious menu will include assorted fresh juices, sliced seasonal fresh fruit with yogurt dips, freshly scrambled eggs, French toast with warmed maple syrup, sliced smoked bacon, country style sausage, assortment of bagels, croissants, Danish, scones and muffins with cream cheese, preserves and butter, coffee and tea. The cost is not yet available. You may pay at the door. A free-will offering may be made for children 4 and under. Place your completed form either in the offering plate or in the Parish Life mailbox. Thank you and hope to see you there. Easter Brunch Number of adults Number of children ages 5-12 Number of children 4 & under Name Phone No. 7

8 Opportunities to Serve in March 2016 Serving As 6 Lent 4 13 Lent 5 20 Palm/Passion Sunday 27 Easter Sunday Acolyte Anjali A Anusha A Joshua B Joshua B Assisting Min Jerry B Nalini A Jerry B Leslie C John B Miriam M Joshua B Children s Ch. Donna S Jessie M Margaret F David C Anita S Anita S Easter Easter Greeters Tom M Margo W Jane R & Eric S Peggy J Joan E Mary Nora R Nancy J Peggy J Lector Nancy J Robyn K-V Kathy L Jim K Tom M Ushers Diana & Bill B Mark P & Rich G Donna & Steve S Patricia S & David C Nancy & Thor N Angela B & Julie N Donna & Steve S Peggy & Dick J Coffee Hour Donn & Steve S Lily C & Nancy N Easter Brunch Altar Custodian Jill L & Carol B Bulletin Assembly Prior Thurs 3. March Trinity Singers 10. March Nancy M 17.March Dick J 24. Mar 31.Mar Trinity Nancy M Singers Tellers Julie N & Thor N Peggy & Dick J Annie A & Mina Peggy & Dick J Maundy Thursday 24. March 12:10 pm Assisting Minister..... Carol B Lector Susan S 7:30 pm Acolyte Anjali A Assisting Minister.... Sarah G Lector David C Greeter Ushers Altar Care Good Friday 7:30 pm 25. March Acolyte Assisting Minister.... Nancy N Lector Kathy L Greeter Ushers Lighting Altar Care Worship Assistants The Great Easter Vigil 7:30 pm 26. March Acolyte Assisting Minister Jim K Lector Carol B Readers Sarah G Nathan L Brooke P C Angela B Jim K Greeter Ushers Altar Care Fire 8

9 Have you missed Trinity events because you lacked transportation? Trinity has missed you too and the following members of the congregation would like to provide you with a ride to Trinity events: Carol B Marilyn C Margaret F Peggy & Dick J Miriam M Nancy N Len S Zip codes are provided to aid in finding a driver close to you. Do not hesitate to call. If you would like volunteer to drive, call Dick J. Hunger Sunday is the first Sunday of each month. Please bring non perishable food items or Giant gift cards. Paper Products Sunday is the third Sunday of each month. Needed items include: Diapers (size 3* and 4) Paper Towels* Brand new kids underwear* Trash bags (white and black)* *From urgent needs list at the shelter *Gift cards for Target, a grocery store or Walmart or K-Mart are needed for incentives for individuals. *A monetary donation would also be gratefully received. Holy Week Schedule Palm/Passion Sunday 20. March & am Holy Communion with Blessing of Palms & Procession Maundy Thursday 12:10 pm 24. March Holy Communion 40 minutes & spoken 7:30 pm Holy Communion and Stripping of the Altar Good Friday Noon - 3:00 pm 25. Marc h The Seven Last Words of Christ at Living Faith Lutheran Church Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville come for all or part of the service 7:30 pm Tenebrae Service at Trinity Prayer Vigil Friday 3 pm Sunday 8 am Easter Vigil Saturday 26. March 7:30 pm The Great Vigil of Easter with reception of new members Easter Sunday 27. March & am Festival Holy Communion 9:30 am Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt 9