Author Archive: Leesa Bell

Love takes many forms

Posted on by
Love takes many forms. Can you imagine this grandpa the head of a multi-billion-dollar corporation?  Or maybe he is a four-star general at the Pentagon? No, of course not! If he held either of those positions, he would have more self-respect and he wouldn’t put on that silly hat.  Love takes many forms.
My Grandfather was a serious man, yet I have a picture of him with a silly birthday hat on.  Some of us who are grandparents know that we would do anything for our grandchildren, the silly hat and not taking ourselves seriously doesn’t come close to the limit of lack of discretion. We would do anything for our grandchildren. True love is like that. We will do anything for the ones we love. We would even die for them. Whether it is our parents, our spouse, our children, or our grandchildren, or a friend, when we love, truly love, there are no limits to what we will do.
Jesus is making that point as he says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” I am the one who will lay down my life to make sure the little sheep are safe. I am not a hired hand, I am invested. If something happens to the sheep, it happens to me.
As we are Post-Easter people, we understand that Jesus laid down his life for us, but people in Jesus day had no idea what was going to happen. They were unfamiliar or didn’t know the breath of God’s love. Other cultures of the time worshiped gods that explained creation of humans as entertainment or slave labor. But the true God and his son Jesus love all of their creation — especially the people.
Jesus doesn’t mince words. Jesus died for us and he would die again out of sheer love for us—to have us know the love of God and to have us feel safe and experience true safety even in a world that being safe is never a sure thing.

Jesus, Is that You?

Posted on by
In Luke 24:41, Jesus, in his post-Easter appearances to the apostles, looks like a ghost, so naturally the Apostles are afraid.  They thought Jesus was a ghost once before when he walked on water, so the Apostles are confused and scared. Jesus tells them who he is and not to be afraid. Then Jesus does something interesting: he asks if there is anything to eat. It is not that Jesus likes boiled fish or is hungry after a rough couple of days without eating. It is that Jesus wants to prove to them that he is human and that he is present in the flesh.
It was important that Jesus prove that he is back to his human state so that they could understand that he was raised after being dead, instead of being a person trapped between life and afterlife as a ghost. This was a moment of proof. Jesus ate the fish, and the Apostles concluded that ghosts don’t eat, so this must be Jesus in the flesh.
It is interesting that while Jesus was alive with them, he was trying to have them see his divine nature; that after his death, Jesus wants to reveal his human nature. Through that fish, their eyes were opened to who Jesus was and what happened to him. They even saw how Jesus predicted it, and how it was prophesized in Scripture. It was also revealed that repentance and forgiveness are to be proclaimed.
As time went on, a fish became the symbol for faith in Jesus Christ: Ichthus (IXOYC), or Greek for fish. Christians used this symbol as a way to connect with each other and share their faith. While Jesus taught in parables, the physical example he used to hook people to his message was the fish — from “Come be fishers of people” to eating fish to convince the Apostles of his resurrection. So today, think of the fish as a simple item that becomes sacramental as it opens our eyes in faith.
Pastor Gerry
The Gospel according to Luke 24:36b-48
 36bJesus himself stood among [the disciples] and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence.
44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.”

He is Risen

Posted on by
Wheeeeeeere is Jesus? “He is not here, he has been raised. Go tell his disciples and Peter to meet him in Galilee, there you will see him.”  They fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them. Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome were stunned! I think I would be stunned too in their emotional roller coaster ride of life, death, and life. As the story unfolds, they did tell the disciples and Peter, and they did meet Jesus in Galilee.
What I like about the story is that Jesus is not boastful. He is not walking around appearing and disappearing to those he knew. Even with all the gospel accounts, there are very few post-resurrection appearances. We all know history would have done a better job of recording the resurrection if Jesus had more witnesses. What if Jesus would have appeared to Pilate or Herod? Or maybe, just think of what kind of in-your-face message Jesus could have presented to good old Caiaphas, “So much for your ‘permanent solution’ to your problem….” I could think of a hundred great appearances Jesus could have made which would have projected the new church into the next millennium.
But Jesus did not do that. He met with his disciples and a few others and flew off to heaven without too much fan-fare.
Jesus was humble in life and his character did not change even after the resurrection. He had done what he had come to do. He had been such an influence that he made a difference. He left it up to the apostles and Peter (with the Holy Spirit) to carry the message forward. Today, 2,000 or so years later, we celebrate the victory won by Jesus. We celebrate that Jesus gives us hope that just like him, this earthly life doesn’t hold us, we will rise also.
Today, this resurrection seals Jesus’ credibility. It seals his gift to us in dying on the cross and opening a new relationship with God. Today, we celebrate this new day in Christ Jesus where we all are given hope in new life in him. Alleluia! Jesus has risen!
Pastor Gerry

Consecration Service & Brunch

Posted on by

November 12, 2017 is Consecration Sunday. During this special stewardship service, we will present our Estimate of Giving Cards in the offering plate. You are encouraged to discern your Estimate of Giving before coming to church, and bring the card with you (click here to download the Estimate of Giving Card). You may also write it up during the offertory. We will celebrate during worship the gifts we offer together in response to God’s love for us. Musically, we will be led by the talents of Ryan and Tucker Benton. After the service, we will continue the Consecration Day Celebration with a Pot Luck Brunch. We invite you to bring a breakfast casserole, fruit, or breakfast pastries to share for the brunch. Join in as we celebrate the things we can do together and look forward to a great morning at Holy Trinity.

Solid with God Youth Retreat

Posted on by

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Youth Retreat

We need youth leaders, people to prepare and deliver dinner on Friday and Saturday night, and people to help with transportation.   Call or email Pastor Gerry today!  703-209-3599  pastorgfj@gmail.com

Nov. 17-19, 2017

Mar-Lu-Ridge

Grades 7-12

For Attendees…

Cost:  $60.00

We will leave on Friday Nov. 17 at 6pm and return 12:00 noon on Sunday, Nov. 19.  Bring payment to the office by Nov. 8.

Things to bring:  Bible, blanket, sheets and pillow, two days of warm clothes, toiletries, sneakers, and a fun attitude.

 

 

Steeple Repair Project

Posted on by

More Good News! When a church has serious repairs, like the steeple, we fret. We wonder how we are going to pay for it. Some churches feel defeated by the circumstances of major repairs. Not Holy Trinity. We set up a plan to provide the opportunity to contribute to our steeple and our generous people exceeded our goal in two weeks. We asked for $25,000 and we received $32,320. (The additional funds will support other building maintenance projects.) We now have the contracts signed, the down payments made, and we are planning the days that the work will be done.  Special Thanks to Roger Bailey and Larry Grant and all the Steeple Project Team who have worked hard in getting estimates and bids and presenting their plan to Church Council.

Serve Others

Posted on by
As you can imagine, there are many stories from the Hurricane Katrina mission trips to Bayou La Batre, just south of Mobile, Alabama. On this trip, we were working on the new construction of a Habitat for Humanity house. While we were there, some other professionals were working on the house too. When lunch time came, we all took the break to eat our peanut butter and jellies at the same time.
One of the professional workers was pretty young, perhaps in his twenties. With his Creole accent a clue, I asked if he was local. He was. Then I asked him a simple question that was a tough question for him – I asked where was he during the storm.
He said that he and his girlfriend were living in a house about a mile from the gulf. He convinced her to stay at the house during the storm with him. At night, the water started to rise and enter the house, from under the front door. They were mad as they put their TV and other items up higher in the room. But the water kept on coming. By daybreak the water was up to their necks and still coming. They pulled down the step ladder to the attic and climbed up. He brought his hammer with him in case the water would continue to rise and he would need to hammer through the roof.
There they sat. Cold and scared. In the attic, with the water rising. The young man confessed to his girlfriend. “I am so sorry that I did this to you. I am so sorry that I put you in a position that could harm you or take your life. I am so so sorry.” The water continued to rise to the attic, and he took his hammer and banged out a hole in the roof and his girlfriend and he crawled out and three hours later, they were rescued from the roof.
They are married now. He works on Habitat for Humanity houses as service in thanksgiving for still being alive and in the hopes that these houses will withstand the unwanted drama that he faced.
When I think about it, the happiest times in my life have been when I am serving, especially doing something for someone that they can’t do themselves. Sure, it may make us feel needed, but it also makes us feel purposeful and kind and those are two things we need to survive. Think about your willingness to serve the church or outside the church. Sometimes it is hard to sign up, but when we get engaged in the project, we do so happily and joyfully—and we make a difference. Somewhere, Jesus is in all of that. After all, he told us he came to serve.
Pastor Gerry

Lunch Bunch

Posted on by

Wednesdays at 11:30am

The Lunch Bunch is an opportunity to get together with friends at least once a month with a spirited talk and meal. It will be informative and fun as we discuss related topics that help us grow in our faith together.  Please bring a brown bag lunch or you can place an order with us for a sandwich from Deli South (Just call or email the church office). We hope you can join us for these spirited times together.
Our discussion Topic:
The History of the Bible
We know that the Bible covers 4,000 years of history with God. There are stories that go back to the beginning of time. There are stories that chronicle important times in Hebrew history. There are stories of Jesus and letters regarding his continual influence. And that has been the way it has been for 2000 years.  Where did the Bible come from? How was it put together? What do we know about the authenticity of the stories and history? Are there any calibrating sources? We will take a look at the origins of the bible and how the Bible became a book of sacred writings that is the backbone of our faith.

Music Program News

Posted on by

“Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.”

–Martin Luther

The treasure of music is something that lasts a lifetime. Time and again I have observed within the church or working in nursing homes, that music sticks with us. It becomes part of who we are. In the words of Helen Kemp, an icon is church music, stating in one of her warm-ups: “Body, mind, spirit, voice; It takes a whole person to sing and rejoice.” Perhaps this is why the words of hymns, often taken directly from scripture, stay with us long after many other capabilities have gone.

We invite you, all of you, to come and join us in singing and rejoicing! We have choirs for ages Kindergarten through adult. What you sing-will stick with you, and you will have a lot of fun!

Children’s Choir – Grades K-5: Starts September 20th and meets every Wednesday from 6:15-7:00 PM as part of Wednesday Night, LIVE!

Youth Singers – Grades 6-12: Starts September 20th and meets every Wednesday from 7:15-7:45 PM as part of Wednesday Night, LIVE!

Chime Choir – Grades 6 through adult: Starts September 20th and meets every Wednesday from 7:45-8:15 PM as part of Wednesday Night, LIVE! (No experience necessary!)

Chancel Choir – adults and interested high school singers: Starts September 6th and meets every Wednesday evening from 7:15-8:30 PM as part of Wednesday Night, LIVE!  You are most welcome in the Chancel Choir any and all Sundays and holidays in the coming year. If you can’t make mid-week practice, we can work something out. We have great music lined up for 2017-2018, including for a November Hymn Festival Sunday service. Sing every week, or just on occasion, as you can. Soloists welcome! If you have some special musical offering, and/or would like to involve friends, school- or work-mates in some Sunday music, please contact us. Thanks in advance, for your talent and good will.

Nancy Fox & Marcia Merry