All instrumentalists are invited to play Christmas Eve at one or more services (4, 7:30, 11 pm). Traditional carols.
Your ideas for Foyer Music and special offerings most welcome. Contact Marcia Merry for parts and rehearsal details.
Author Archive: Leesa Bell
Children’s Time in Worship
Little Children, Parents, Teens and Adults all enjoy seeing how Pastor Heidi turns the “Basket Surprise” into this week’s Children Sermon! Each week a different child gets to bring in the special basket, with an item they’ve chosen to “Stump the Pastor.” The result… lots of smiles, and a surprisingly good tie in with the Gospel! We invite all children and their families to join us each Sunday at 8:30 am or 11:00 am for Sunday Worship! All are Welcome!
Place in their hands Holy Scripture
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….” Colossians 3:16
One of the promises we make as our children are baptized is to “place in their hands the holy scriptures.” Here at Holy Trinity we take that promise seriously and gift our fourth grade students with Bibles. This year, Bibles will be presented on Reformation Sunday, October 30 at the 11:00 AM service. If your child is in the fourth grade you will receive a letter in the mail with the specifics for the day. If your child is older than fourth grade and has not received a Bible, please contact Mary Samios (email ChildrensMinistry@holytrinityleesburg.org or call 703.777.4912 x4).
Welcome to Worship for K & 1
A special Learning Opportunity Sunday, October 16
All Kindergarten and First grade students and their families are invited to join us for lunch and the opportunity to learn more about worship. Don’t miss this fun and informative opportunity to learn about the “Rhythm of Worship. In addition each child will receive a special “worship tote” to bring to church.
Taking Our Community from Good to Great
On Saturday, October 1, the worshiping community of Holy Trinity will gather in the fellowship hall for a one-day intensive leadership workshop. Held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., this time will focus on our ability to accept differences and to lead based on our strengths and mission as we strive to create a healthy congregation. The cost is $10 per person to cover lunch, snacks and materials. AND INVITE FRIENDS!!! The concepts and techniques that we will be talking about can be used in any community and are of benefit to all, especially those in leadership roles no matter where they are. Sign up on the board on Sunday or email Pastor Heidi at pastor@holytrinityleesburg.org to join the group.
“Chill Out” Room
Check out the “Chill Out” room for parents and their children. Kids, you are always welcome in worship – we hope you know this! We also know, however, that there are times when your parents get anxious about some of your enthusiastic responses to worship. When that happens, you can take your parents to the “Chill Out” room where they can relax. There are books and toys for you and a couch for your parents. We hope you find it a welcoming space. If you are not sure where it is, please ask the ushers to help your parents find it.
Loudoun Brass Quintet
On Sunday, September 25 at 11 am, the Loudoun Brass Quintet will provide special music for worship.
50th Anniversary Year Music
Thanks to all—performers and audience—who made music for the Holy Trinity 50th Anniversary Year (2015-2016) so wonderful. Please stop by to see the new photo spread on the bulletin board in the Commons.
In brief:
♫ June 14, 2015 was our Reunion Festival Choir and Orchestra;
♫ Aug. 2 “Celebrate Bach” benefit concert;
♫ Dec. 19, 50th Grand Finale concert by the White House Band. Instruments and choristers provided special music for Reformation Sunday, and our annual November Choir festival, as well as for Christmas and Easter.
♫ Our Trinity Men’s Chorus, Chancel Choir and Trinity Brass participated in January in the 2nd annual community choral tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., held at HTLC (and now so big, the event must move to a larger space).
♫ On April 10, our Children’s Choir musical was “Elijah!”
♫ On April 24, our Holy Grounds was packed for a bistro performance of Bach’s comedy, the Coffee Cantata, by the Loudoun Lyric Opera.
♫ On May 22, the annual pipe organ benefit event featured a “Brass Extravaganza” by the Saturday Morning Brass Project. The Washington Post ran beautiful photos of our organ and the players on the front page of “Loudoun Living,” May 29.
♫ Plus, the Loudoun Chorale gave beautiful concerts in December and May.
♫ Finally, we are proud of the Middle School Singers, a new choir for HTLC.
Soli Deo gloria (Glory to God alone)
Marcia Merry
Guest Minister Rev. Dr. Michael Kuchinsky
The Rev. Dr. Michael Kuchinsky of Derwood, Maryland will preach and preside on Sunday, July 3. Pastor Kuchinsky began his studies for the Lutheran ministry at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, where he received the Bachelor of Arts Degree. After teaching at and administrating a Lutheran school in urban Philadelphia, he earned the Master of Divinity Degree in 1984 from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Illinois. Upon graduation from the seminary, Pastor Kuchinsky became the pastor of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia. In January, 1990, he became Chaplain to Newberry College, Newberry, South Carolina. While serving at Newberry College, Pastor Kuchinsky earned the Master of Arts in Political Science Degree form the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.
In 1999, Pastor Kuchinsky, was awarded the Ph.D. Degree in Government and International Studies from the University of South Carolina (Columbia). Since earning the Ph.D., he has served as Project Coordinator for Bread for the World Institute, and later Vice-president and Director of Programming for the Luther Institute in Washington, D.C. Since 2006, Dr. Kuchinsky was Professor and Program Coordinator of Political Science and Global Studies at Gardner-Webb University from which he retired this past January. He continues to write, develop special ministry projects, and occasionally teaches courses in Religion and International Affairs.
Where have we broken the alabaster jar?
Do you see this woman?
Not one person at dinner with Jesus in the Pharisee’s house (Luke 7:36-51) saw her until she crashed the party, broke all the rules, crossed all the boundaries and touched Jesus.
But Jesus saw her – earlier in the day – when he had forgiven her. Now, after “creeping” on Jesus by following him to the Simon the Pharisee’s house, with the alabaster jar tucked carefully under her clothes, everyone saw her and what they saw, what they wanted to see, wasn’t good. They saw the sinner. And made a few assumptions.
Truth of the matter, doesn’t how Simon reacted describe us all? I confess that I can be a “Simon” more times than I am willing to admit. I make assumptions. I make judgements. I’ve been arrogant, self-righteous…the list goes on and on.
Then the Jesus in someone looks right past all of that and sees me like Jesus. She is a person working at Fairfax Orisman Toyota, and my God-sighting, who looked right past all the frustration over being stuck in traffic AGAIN as a consequence of Metro’s 300 day journey to safety and saw me and loved me anyway.
Jesus calls us to see and love like him. When we do, or experience others who show us that love, things change. Our demeanor, our attitudes, what we see, it all changes.
And as was pointed out, the verb form for “forgiveness” used twice in this passage in the original Greek text is one that suggested the action occurred in the past and continues into the present. In other words, the forgiveness of Jesus never stops.
And in that forgiveness we receive new identities as forgiven people and reconciliation and restoration and mended relationships and that never stops.
Jesus saw that woman and forgave her sins. He gave her a new identity. She was no longer “sinner” but “beloved child of God.” She had been freed. Her life, relationships, community had all been returned to her. And she breaks the neck of the alabaster jar and pours the ointment on Jesus’ feet in a marvelous act of love, gratitude and worship for the release to be free and to live into the possibilities that were now hers.
Where in our lives do we need forgiveness? Where in our lives does forgiveness need to be give? Where in our lives have we received forgiveness that creates a deep sense of gratitude.
When the woman broke the jar of anointment the aroma of freedom, gratitude and loved filled the home of Simon the Pharisee. It’s hard to miss that kind of joy, the expression of which may make us more than just a bit uncomfortable.
Where have we broken or need to break the alabaster jar in thanksgiving and praise? Express our gratitude, love and joy to God? What difference will it make?
Take the first step this week on the interesting journey toward forgiveness. Think of someone who has hurt or disappointed you or maybe someone you have hurt and disappointed and pray for them. And look forward to that day when you can break the alabaster jar in praise and thanksgiving!
Pastor Heidi