Hi, Everybody. If you thought last week’s newsletter was long…
This Sunday, January 26, 2025, is the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Lutheran Loose Change Sunday, and RIC Sunday. Reconciling in Christ Sunday is when we celebrate Holy Trinity’s having gone through the RIC program to show our intentional welcome to the LGBTQIA+ community. (We were welcoming before we went through the program, but I guess it was purely unintentional). If you’d like to learn more about Reconciling Works and their RIC Program, go to https://www.reconcilingworks.org/about/. We will be celebrating with liturgies during the worship service including a reading of our Welcome Statement. You are encouraged to bring colorful treats for after the service. (It isn’t RIC Sunday if your tongue isn’t stained with food coloring!)
Your Holy Trinity Giving Statements for the 2024 year are available to pick up in the narthex (the sanctuary entrance area by the double doors). Thanks, Terri MacFarlane, for getting those ready (contact Terri if there are any questions). Any that aren’t picked up soon will be mailed out. So please, save us the cost of a stamp (whatever that is!).
Presiding ELCA Bishop Eaton has issued a pastoral message on the recent executive orders of the Trump administration. You can read the message at https://www.elca.org/news-and-events/presiding-bishop-eaton-issues-pastoral-message-on-executive-orders.
Don’t forget to take the Giving Survey at https://forms.gle/iT9vattja2kfGG429 so we can get an idea of how generous our congregation is in giving of their time and treasures to other charities besides HTLC. Do it soon – it’s quick and easy and requires little typing (which is hard to do if your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing).
Adult Forum will be returning on Feb. 2, Feb. 16, and Mar. 2 in the Activity Room from 10:45am to11:30am. Dean Sieglaff will be presenting “Test of Faith” – a video series funded by the John Templeton Foundation, featuring scientists who are willing to explore the inspiring intersection of science and Christian belief and challenge some common pitfalls that seem to put the two at odds. Is modern science a threat to religion? Is God an idea whose time has come and gone? No matter where you are on your faith journey, or what your perspective is on science, join us for what is sure to be a fun and lively discussion.
February 9 is Super Bowl Sunday (with none of your favorite teams!), and Holy Trinity, along with many other organizations, is participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring. This is a national annual effort to collect food and money for local food pantries. We will be collecting non-perishable food items, and people will be at the doors holding soup pots to gather monetary donations. Our “goal” is to “tackle” hunger! After worship service, we will have a Soup Potluck in Holland Hall. Hospitality will be providing beverages and bread and you bring whichever homemade soup, chili or stew you’re famous for. Education is planning to have a Bake Sale with proceeds going to food for the homeless. Please sign up at the Media Table if you plan to attend or bring a soup.
A reminder that a Celebration of Life for Neal Bierbaum, followed by a lunch, will be held on Saturday, February 1st at 11 am here at Holy Trinity. Hospitality is providing the luncheon food and is asking that people bring hand-held individual desserts like cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. You may view Neal’s obituary at https://fremontchapeloftheroses.com/obituaries/neal-r-bierbaum/
Another reminder that Holy Trinity’s Annual Congregational Meeting will take place on February 23, 2024, following the 9:30 am worship service.
Please consider becoming an Associate Member or a full Voting Member of HTLC. We will be welcoming a lot of new members on February 16 during the worship service. Please contact Pastor Tim for details.
Back in December, our Cause of the Month was Marielle’s Winter Relief Project. Thank you to all who donated and a huge thank you to Carmen who helped facilitate donations by giving people specific items that could go to Winter Relief. These donations are helping the Sunday School kids put together more than 150 personal meal bags and personal care bags in the next month. Students at Logan High School, where Marielle is a senior, are running a drive as well and will be putting together more bags for Abode to distribute later. Below is a final count of what we received in donations:
72 cracker or nut packs
138 granola bars
23 soups or stews
60 fruit cups
132 waters
160+ utensils with napkins
62 toothpastes
27 toothbrushes
26 sets of toothbrushes and toothpaste
120 pairs of socks
61 Packs with soap and 3-4 bandaids
51 hand sanitizer or wipes
14 blankets
Assorted additional items plus over $400 in cash – a very successful drive!
We are still looking for volunteers to head up a Mardi Gras celebration or to decorate the church (you can call yourself a Visual Artist if you must). Please talk to Pastor Tim if you’re interested.
-Keith
your friendly Parish Life Coordinator