Wednesday morning Bible Study has begun! Join pastor as he leads us through the book of Mark on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM.
Author Archive: Leesa Bell
Steeple Repair Project
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
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
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
“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
Free Pizzas to Help Little Blessings
Get FREE PIZZAS and help Little Blessings raise money!
For every large pizza you buy at regular menu price, you get 1 free!
Buy 1, Get 1 FREE-
Buy 5, Get 5 FREE and so on!
Valid for carryout at participating locations in DC, Maryland, & Virginia
The card is $15
Unlimited use through SEPTEMBER 2018!
Cards will be available for purchase after services on September 3, 10 & 17 and in the preschool office from 9:00-12:00 Monday-Friday.
“Lord, Save Me!”
Have you ever been rescued? Have you ever spoken the words: “Save me?” It is really hard for a guy to admit that his life depends on the capacity of someone else to save them. We see rescues out of traffic accidents or at a hurricane when someone is stranded on a roof. When it is you, when the words come out of your mouth, it is a whole different thing.
We can’t say to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” until we admit we need saving. We can’t yield to God unless we know that we can’t do it ourselves. In our independence and self-sufficiency we will try everything else before we get to the point, we say “save me.”
Jesus has already saved you and me. He has already pulled us out of the trap of short term life that we have here and promises new life in him. You can believe that or not. But I ask “What do you want to have happen?” Wouldn’t you rather bank on what you want or is good for you? Just like Peter, Jesus pulls us out of the water. Jesus saves us. Reach up and see what happens.
Pastor Gerry
The Gospel Reading: : Matthew 14:22-23
[Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Youth Pizza Party
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Planning Sunday
August 20: Worship & Luncheon
During Worship, we will pray and reflect about the Holy Trinity community doing God’s work and the gift of a planning process. A luncheon will follow, and each table will be given three questions to answer. It is that simple. We will continue the process on September 17 and October 1 during Sunday School Hour. Results will be shared through Constant Contact in mid-October. We will invite comments and do a review and vote at council to adapt the visional and missional statements and objectives.
Walk the Talk
You have heard the saying, “Walk the talk!” That means that your actions are consistent with what you have been saying. That is important criteria when we judge people. If someone says they care, then leaves us hanging to fend for ourselves, you would say that the person’s actions are not consistent with their words. You may conclude that the actions are true and the words are a lie. St. Paul has a word for walking the walk: Cruciform – that everything Jesus said and did was consistent with his purpose. Jesus said he would lay down his life for his friends and he did.
Can you imagine Jesus preaching all day and then not being able to shake off the people and have them leave? So, it is getting late. It is time to eat. Can we hear Peter addressing the crowd, “The show is over, go home!” But that is not Jesus, is it?
In this story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, Jesus shows his true colors. He shows he cares. He shows that he means what he says. He shows he walks the talk. He shows he is Cruciform. This is a great example for us to follow. It is also a great comfort as we look toward our new life in him.
Pastor Gerry
The Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.