Trinity Lutheran Church September Newsletter, 2012 September Activities Sept. 8 th - 8:00 A.M. - CHURCH WORK DAY Sept. 9 th - 10:00 A.M. - RALLY DAY & PROMOTION SUNDAY will be held during Sunday School. CONFIRMATION ORIENTATION will follow the 11:15 Service. All 7 th and 8 th grade students and at least one parent are urged to attend. Sept. 12 th - 1:00 & 7:30 P.M. BIBLE STUDY begins with the book of I Kings. All are welcome to attend! Sept. 16 th - TEACHER APPRECIATION at 10:00 A.M.
Sometimes I get a little off schedule when I am on vacation. I am usually in bed before 11:00 pm and sometimes I watch the news until the weather report has been completed and then I go to sleep. During this last vacation I watched the entire news program most evenings and of course toward the end of the program I was often enticed to watch Nightline with Diane Sawyer. On one particular evening I watched a segment of particular interest. It was about Atheist Summer Camp for children by Linsey Davis and Elizabeth Stuart. The camp was begun as an alternative to the many Christian sponsored camps throughout the country. The appeal to this camp is that there is no praying before meals or talk about Jesus, God nor any other higher power (they do have a session called the Socrates Café in which they are allowed to talk about anything including religion). One child even challenged God to come down to earth and show us that He is real (Jesus came down from Heaven to illuminate God the Father for us. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to talk about Him at this camp!). What I found most striking was not the idea of the atheist camp, but rather something that was said by one of its leaders, We encourage people to read the Bible because the best way to lose your faith in God is through reading the Bible. I wondered if this is why so many Christians don t read their Bibles. As if they fear the loss of their faith. Of course if this were true, then I should be a high-ranking atheist! YET I AM NOT! I won t deny that there are some few passages that truly challenge my faith at times. However, the majority of passages that confirm, strengthen and deepen my faith outweigh them. The Bible tells us about a loving and caring God who desires to interact with us in a special way after creating us. We can read time and time again how God choose to redeem His people even after they had turned to worship other gods. Our God relentlessly pursues us toward faith and service. Through His Son, Jesus, God gave us the gift of ultimate grace, redeeming our sins through His death and making us members of His household through Jesus resurrection and ascension. The New Testament has preserved for us the letters of St. Paul. Those letters deal with issues of faith, grace, atonement and salvation. All these issues are best summed up by St. Paul himself in 1 Corinthians 15:3, For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. (NRSV). Yes, Christ died for our sins. He died for your sins, my sins, and even the sins of those who challenge his existence. To access such grace one only needs to do one thing, believe. The atheists can eliminate prayer from meals at their camp. They can ban talk of God or Jesus from their camp activities. They can encourage others to read the Bible to try and destroy their belief in God, but they cannot take away from me or anyone else the simple truth that Christ died for our sins. For those of you who are adventurous and unafraid of danger, we will be studying 1 & 2 Kings in our Bible study this fall beginning on Wednesday, September 12 th at 1:00 and 7:30pm. Grace and Peace, Pastor Andy
SERMON PREVIEWS: Sept. 2 - PENTECOST 14 HOLY COMMUNION Sermon: THE REV. LOU DUNKLE Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Sept. 9 - PENTECOST 15 HOLY COMMUNION - 10 A.M. BAPTISMS/SHARE SUNDAY Sermon: THE ROYAL LAW James 2:1-17 Sept. 16 - PENTECOST 16 HOLY COMMUNION Sermon: THE SEARCH FOR PERFECT WORDS James 3:1-12 Sept. 23 - PENTECOST 17 HOLY COMMUNION - 10 A.M. Serm on: THE GREATER WISDOM James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a October 7 - PENTECOST 19 HOLY COMMUNION Sermon: THE REV. LOU DUNKLE Mark 10:2-16 October 14 - PENTECOST 20 HOLY COMMUNION - 10 A.M. Sermon: CUTTING WORDS Hebrews 4:12-16 August 19 - PENTECOST 21 HOLY COMMUNION - JR. CHOIR Serm on: THE SOUND OF THUNDER Mark 10:35-45 October 28 - REFORMATION DAY HOLY COMMUNION - SR. BELLS Sermon: A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALL HALLOWS EVE Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22) Sept. 30 - PENTECOST 18 HOLY COMMUNION - 10 A.M. Sermon: A REVERSAL OF MISFORTUNE Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22 SEPTEMBER 9 TH - 10:00 AM The Handbell Choir Rehearsals will begin on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 TH. Juniors will meet at 6:00 p.m., and Seniors will meet at 6:30 p.m. During the Rally Day celebration, students will meet their new teachers and have an opportunity to get acquainted. I hope you had a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you on the 13 th. Thank you, Florence C. Adler SEPTEMBER 16 TH - 10 AM
Reminder! PANTRY DAY is October 14 th! Over the past several years PANTRY DAY has become an annual occasion to receive monetary gifts for our church Pantry at 25 Knight Avenue. This is the only time during the year when we have such a financial campaign. While we have been blessed to receive a myriad of non-perishable items through the generosity of the members of Trinity and community organizations during the year, money is needed monthly for such items as chicken, butter and eggs, to name a few. October 14 th is the date for the Temple Talk to share news about our pantry. Envelopes will be in the church bulletin on the first three Sundays in October. Through its Community in Action funds, we have submitted necessary paper work to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to be eligible to receive a monetary gift in response to our own giving. So mark your calendars, listen to the Temple Talk and plan to give a donation to the Pantry for this necessary cause!
Well, summer is over and I can't wait for fall. It's such a beautiful time of the year. Last month at pantry, we helped 38 families with food and back to school items. Thank you everyone for your generous help and support. We would not be able to continue with our pantry and clothes closet without you. Items needed: Peanut butter & jelly, tuna, spaghetti & sauce, boxed potatoes, kids cereal, mac & cheese, apple sauce, canned vegetables, canned fruit, and pork & beans. All donations are truly appreciated. DATES TO REMEMBER: September 9 th...social Concerns meeting 7 th grade classroom at 11:15. If you think you would like to learn more about our ministry, please come to the meeting. September 27 th...pantry will open from 9-11 am and 6-7pm. September 3 rd & 17 th...clothes Closet open to members of the congregation from 6-7 pm. "To allow the hungry man to remain hungry would be blasphemy against God and one's neighbor." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer Caring & Sharing Sharon Fetters
Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matt 19:14 (NIV) There is nothing greater that one can do than to help lead someone else to Jesus. Jesus loves all children and has called each one unto him. I am sure that Jesus would agree that to accept him while still a child would promote a better life through walking in faith. Sunday, June 17 th began the Summer Sunday School program. It got off to a very good start with playing games outside, such as egg toss and spoon race. It was great to see the Kindergarten through 8 th grade children having good fun and fellowship, while receiving a Christian message. In the Sundays to follow there were other fun times that included games, crafts and Christian DVD s. Combining the classes in the summer helps the children get to know one another better and build Christian friendships. I would like to thank Pat Henry for her many years of faithful dedication to the Sunday School program. She certainly has accomplished a lot. I would also like to thank her for her confidence in me, as she has asked me to take over as head of Sunday School. With God s blessing and the support of members of Trinity, I will do my best so that we will continue to have a successful Sunday School. Once again, thanks Pat for all you have done. On August 21 st we had our first meeting to prepare for the new Sunday School year. Rally Day is this Sunday, September 9 th. We decided to combine Rally Day and Promotion Sunday. During the Rally Day celebration, students will meet their new teachers and have an opportunity to get acquainted. I would like to see young adults get involved and put their faith into practice. If you would like to share your faith and time with the children in Sunday School we will find a place for you. Please feel free to contact me. In Jesus name, Carl Nagel
Junior Choir Notes With the approach of fall brings a new excitement with the beginning of school, the beginning of Junior Choir rehearsals (and Junior Bell Choir rehearsals for those involved) and looking forward to all kinds of activities and holidays ahead. And so the Junior Choir will begin our 2012-2013 season singing one of my favorite songs: Celebrate God s Love on October 21 st. In preparation for our choir schedule, rehearsals will begin on the third Sunday in September which is the 16 th. As usual rehearsals are held in the Choir Room in the basement of the church. We welcome all those children in grades 1-6. Because letters are sent out to the children each month with the words of our upcoming songs, parents are encouraged to go over them with the children. For the children who are unable to read yet, this helps them learn the words and creates a special bond among family members through music. Again this fall Mrs. Dilks will be accompanying us as Mr. Kraemer travels with his family supporting his daughter Lily and her soccer team with the United States Naval Academy. Many thanks Mrs. Dilks! A reminder to those who are thinking about joining us, rehearsals are held before Sunday School from 9:45-10:00. We sing on the third Sunday of each month and Thanksgiving morning, as well as Christmas Eve. Children are expected to sing at two Services: either 8:30 and 10:00 or 10:00 and 11:15.. Some people choose to sing at all three. Feel free to call me at 856-939-4411 with questions. Enjoy this special and beautiful time of the year as we see God s handiwork especially in the colors of the trees changing from green to hues of yellow, orange and red. Love to all, Mrs. Schmidt
Lutheran Home Auxiliary does not meet the months of July and August, but the full time recreation staff and volunteers continue to provide the residents with meaningful activities. The 2012-13 year begins on Thursday, September 13 th with a potluck luncheon and meeting at 11 a.m. The fall fund-raiser this year is the Octoberfest dinner to be held on Saturday, October 13 th from 4-7 p.m.. This will take place at the Lutheran Home Social Hall. Tickets are selling for $12 - adults and $6 for children. The menu will be pork, bratwurst, hot dogs, sauerkraut, applesauce, mashed potatoes, string beans, rolls and homemade cakes for dessert. Please see me at church or Joanne in the office to purchase tickets. All proceeds go to benefit the residents. The food is prepared by the kitchen staff and is it good! I should be getting the total for the June Day proceeds at the September meeting and will report that to you as well as the activities planned for the upcoming year. Hope everyone has had a safe and wonderful summer. My family and I were fortunate to be able to visit Florida. While there we visited Holy Land experience. If you ever get down there, I highly recommend it. There are things there for all ages. Our family came away changed and truly blessed, inspired, strengthened, encouraged and ministered to. May you all be blessed in the coming year. Sincerely, Sandy Pagano