PASTOR’S
PEN
Dear
Friends of Christ,
I
know that I was not alone a couple of weeks ago in being horrified at the story
about a mob that beat and killed a man because the car in which he was a
passenger struck a young child. It was retribution, swift and severe, made all
the more haunting by the fact that the driver escaped and the child was not
seriously hurt.
It’s
a blunt example of humans trying to do good works, but really doing evil works.
Seeing something as terrible as a child run over by a car awakened a desire for
justice in the people in that parking lot. They wanted justice; instead, they
murdered an innocent man. The best work of humans, when done without God, is
always evil. We depend not upon such human justice — if we did, we would have
only despair. No, we depend upon God’s mercy. God forgives us.
It’s
a contemporary example of something called a ‘Theology of the Cross,’ first
described by Martin Luther in his ‘Heidelberg Disputation’ of 1518, a short and
weighty book that most of us probably haven’t read and yet which is very
important to the Christian faith. In it, Luther argues that, ‘Although the
works of man always seem attractive and good, they are nevertheless likely to
be mortal sins,’ and that, ‘The person who believes that he can obtain grace by
doing what is in him adds sin to sin so that he becomes doubly guilty.’ I’m
sure punishing that driver seemed like a good idea at the time, but those who
did it are now doubly guilty — they usurped God’s role as doer of good works
AND they committed an evil deed.
Mercy is that for which
God calls. That applies to us as well. God is not interested in doling out
terrible punishment for evil deeds. God loves us. God’s love, ‘born of the
cross… turns in the direction where it does not find good which it may enjoy,
but where it may confer good upon the bad or needy person.’ In other words, God
makes us good! God loves us and shows mercy to us so that we might love others
and show mercy to others. God calls us to show some mercy to that angry mob.
They’ll face justice, but it is not ours to discard them and forget that they
are sinners in need of redeeming. God redeems us, and God will redeem them,
too.
Thankfully, we don’t
usually encounter situations like the one in that
Some of us probably feel unworthy of serving
in worship as an assisting minister, unworthy to speak the words of scripture
aloud to the congregation, unworthy to approach the altar, unworthy to touch
the cup and distribute the wine or touch the paten and distribute the bread.
God makes you worthy. Those of us who read the scriptures and distribute the
sacrament are just as you are, children of God, sinners of Christ’s redeeming.
We are worthy, and you are worthy, because God makes us worthy. Serving as an
assisting minister is a wonderful chance for kinesthetic learning; by speaking
the Word and giving the Sacrament one gains a more tangible sense of God’s
love. Physically enacting the good news helps you to believe it. There are
always opportunities to serve in worship, and especially in the summer. This
summer, the 10:15 a. m. Holy Communion service offers opportunities to assist
and — since there is only one reading and the prayers are abridged — it might
be a very good way to get your feet wet if you’re new to assisting.
Some of us probably feel
unworthy of working in Christian Education, unqualified to answer faith
questions, untrained in working with people. God makes you worthy. God
qualifies you. Those who teach children, who guide Confirmation Learners, or
who lead adult forums are just as you are, children of God, sinners of Christ’s
redeeming. Becoming a SCS Teacher or a Confirmation Connection Guide or an
adult forum leader is a wonderful way for you to learn just how much God loves
you. Speak the words of grace to your brothers and sisters in Christ and you’ll
start to feel them more deeply in yourself. This year, Holy Trinity offers
three openings for Confirmation Guides. Two will lead a Small Group of First
Year Learners and guide them for the next two years. One will work for one year
with Mark Solan and a Small Group of Second Year Learners. We also have
opportunities to help feed the flock every time we gather. We make it easy and
order pizza from Squan Tavern, but someone coordinates that and makes sure that
there are drinks, salad and dessert available as well. It might not seem like
that big of a thing, but it makes a big difference, and if you’re worthy of
providing a salad for Confirmation Connection you’re worthy of guiding
Confirmation Connection as well.
Friends of Christ, the
point is that God is with us and God makes us worthy to serve God in the world.
God does not expect perfection from us and punish us when we fail; God knows
that perfection is not going to come from us, so instead God loves us and makes
us worthy to serve God despite our imperfect nature. We’re not forsaken, left
with nothing but broken human justice, forced to sort things out the way that
angry mob in the parking lot did; we are forgiven and made worthy of God.
Friends of mine from
college recently had a baby. This is amusing to those of us who knew them because
we knew them at their worst. We knew their flaws. We knew their bad habits. We
loved them anyway, but how on earth could they be parents? They’ll do it,
though, and they’ll be good at it, because that’s what God has called them into
doing, and they have the support of friends and family. You might think that
you’re not worthy of working for God. You know your flaws. You know your bad
habits. How on earth could you do a good job? You’ll do it, though, and you’ll
be good at it, because it’s what God has called you into doing, and you have
the support of your Father in heaven, and your Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
In
… Christ,
Pastor
Timothy A Leitzke
Introduction,
Hymn, & Coda
Introduction
Greetings to everyone at Holy Trinity! All I can say is
THANK YOU! Never before have I had such a warm welcome (or interview process)
as I have had here at Holy Trinity. From the first time I sat down at the organ
to the generous applause after hymns and anthems. I can say I’ve truly felt at
home.
~~ Ned Perwo
Holy Trinity Director of Music
Hymn
Hymns are amazing combinations of music, emotion and
theology. The best ones tell of God’s saving grace through the ages, the
Christian experience through the ages and help us feel as if our praise is
joining all those who have sung before us. You can think of it as a merger onto
a never-ending highway of praise that began before time and will continue into
eternity.
My personal hymn of praise is the story of how I ended up
at Holy Trinity. For the past year I had been auditioning up and down the east
coast searching for a new Director of Music position. I had interviewed with
every denomination possible. Each place had its own “catch.” Some churches were
pure social clubs, some only allowed paid professionals in their choirs, some
were missing the core theological elements I have known since I was a child,
and some just wanted to do the same old thing they’ve done for decades and
centuries.
Then came Holy Trinity … (the first time). About six
months ago I received word about the opening at Holy Trinity. I thought about
it, sent in my résumé and was in the running for an interview. Then as with all
things, doubt started talking to me.
“Keep auditioning, try living in another state, maybe you
should go back to school teaching,” etc.
So, I gave in to that voice, pulled my resume and kept on
auditioning. I have to say that it was a wonderful growth experience. I visited
and drove to places I would have never seen and interacted with all kinds of
people. I also saw every angle of the interview process. All things said and
done, I never found the right fit at any of those churches.
Fast forward to the end of April … After a fantastic Holy
Week at
From the moment I played the first notes on the organ I
knew that this was “the church!”
And here we are … Just a few weeks after my audition and
two weeks after my first Sunday and I love every minute of it! J
Coda
A coda is that extra little tag at the end of a song, so
here is mine. The Music Ministries at Holy Trinity are open to all. No
matter what your experience or ability, there are ways you can participate. As
the programs grow, some things will change and some things will remain the
same. All I ask is that you contact me directly when you have any
questions or concerns about the Music Ministries here at Holy Trinity.
That said, please read the following article. If you’ve
put off participating in the past, now is the time to use your gifts and talents
to the Glory of God. I hope to “see you in the loft.”
~~ In His Service,
Ned Perwo
Summer
Music Sign-Up
Attention
all vocalists and instrumentalists!
Summer time is here!
It’s during this season that the adult choir has a well-deserved break. However, the
This is the perfect time for vocalists and
instrumentalists to participate in the liturgy through solos, quartets, or even
just singing/playing the hymns and service music.
The first step is to dust off that instrument or hum a
few notes to make sure everything still works. J
The second step is to contact Ned Perwo, Director of
Music via phone, email, or the sign-up sheet located on the Worship & Music
bulletin board by the sanctuary door.
There is a plethora of music in the library waiting for YOU!
Hope to see you in the loft!
Contact Info
Ned Perwo, Director of
Music
(732) 223-0533 x14
NPerwo@holytrinity-nj.org
“Now the
Feast”
Instrumentalist
Sign-Up
Attention all instrumentalists!
Our Saturday service, which uses “Now the Feast &
Celebration,” has parts for flute, keyboard, guitar, bass, and percussion. Anyone who wishes to participate in a “Now
the Feast Band” should contact Ned Perwo, the Director of Music. (See previous blurb for contact info.)
The only requirement is a moderate facility on your
respective instrument, the ability to play in E Major (four sharps) and the
desire to learn. The ability to have fun
is expected! J
Also…
If you are an
instrumentalist who does not play one of the instruments listed above, you can
still participate in the service. The
prelude, hymns and postlude are a perfect opportunity to dust off that
instrument and get the fingers working again.
h BOOK REVIEW h
I Can Make
a Difference:
A Treasury
to Inspire Our Children
By
Harper Collins
Publishers: 2005
“How lovely to think that
no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world!”
~~ Anne Frank
The world doesn’t necessarily agree that we can make a
difference. This collection of stories
teaches children that one person can
do so, in some cases changing the world!
Included are delightful folk stories from around the globe; classic
poems by Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein, Eleanor Farjeon, Walt Whitman and
Langston Hughes; Aesop’s fables; short quotes from the Bible and the Koran; and
one or two sentences of wisdom by people as diverse as the Dalai Lama, Sitting
Bull, Helen Keller, Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Jr., Sojourner
Truth, Pablo Casals, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Albert Schweitzer.
The editor of this anthology is Marion Wright Edelman,
the founder of the Children’s Defense Fund.
She sheds light on values that we teach in our homes and in our Sunday
School, values that make us better people and that make the world a safer
place. Beautiful illustrations and the
brevity of the tales, poems and quotes, make this a book parents will enjoy
reading to preschoolers and that older children can dip into on their own, even
if their attention span is short.
A
dozen chapters illustrate that “I can make a difference” by:
1)
loving myself and others as God loves us and treating others respectfully and
fairly;
2) being courageous;
3) aiming high and holding on to my ideals;
4) caring and serving;
5)
being honest and telling the truth;
6) persevering and not giving up;
7) being determined and resourceful;
8) being grateful for the gift and wonders of
life;
9) working together with others;
10) being compassionate and kind;
11) being nonviolent and working for peace;
12) being faithful and struggling for what I
believe.
I found some old favorites of mine, like The Creation by James Weldon Johnson,
which begins:
“And God stepped out on space, And he looked
around and said:
I’m lonely – I’ll make me a world.”
Emily Dickinson shows up, too, with her
heart-held belief,
“If
I can stop one Heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one Life the Aching
Or cool one Pain
Or help one fainting Robin
Unto his Nest again
I shall not live in Vain.”
Isn’t that wisdom for a lifetime?
I found new gems in this treasure chest,
too. An Ethiopian tale called “The
Lion’s Whiskers” tells us how to cultivate love gently in the unloving. A
Jewish story named “King Solomon’s Ring” taught me where my Aunt Beu’s favorite
saying comes from: “This, too, shall pass!”
I Can Make a Difference is available in our wonderful
Sunday School library,
located
beneath the sanctuary, on the ground floor.
It was donated by Dana and John Quakenbush, in honor of Margaret Taft.
~~ Pastor
Mary
When Are We
Glad to Hear “Retreat!”?
It has become a tradition for Holy Trinity women to
“leave” for Mendham every fall, looking for spiritual refreshment. We set aside a weekend after the kids are
back to school and before holiday craziness sets in. We take a vacation from our usual
responsibilities to gain a fresh perspective and to re-center ourselves in
faith. We take along female friends,
sisters, walking shoes, Bibles, journals and favorite snacks to Saint Marguerite’s
Retreat House, where we enjoy listening to God and each other. You are invited, too!
Martin Luther said, “As
it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so
it is the business of Christians to pray.” Prayer will be our business from dinner on Friday, Sept. 14, till lunch on Sunday,
Sept. 16. We’ll pray in old and new
ways, tap into the wisdom of champion pray-ers, share our prayer frustrations
and insights, walk the labyrinth, enjoy free time, and gather around
family-style meals (that someone else will cook!). Many of us carpool, so don’t
let lack of transportation or map-reading skills scare you off. Upon request, scholarship moneys are
available to offset the cost of the weekend, which is approximately $160. A $35 deposit is required by August 1 to
reserve one of our 15 remaining spots.
The balance of $125 is due by September 1. Checks should be made out to Holy Trinity,
with “women’s retreat” on the memo line.
Don’t picture us on our
knees the whole time J or wonder if you’re “spiritual” enough to
come along. You are! As Philip Yancey says in his recent book Prayer:
Does It
Make Any Difference?
(see below), “When it comes to prayer we are all beginners.”
More questions? Want to help plan? Please see Pastor Mary!
Hope for
the Prayer-Challenged,
(i.e., All
of Us)
If we Christians are not people of prayer, who are we? In
his book, Prayer: Does It Make Any
Difference? Philip Yancey mentions a
The
opening Weekday Spirituality series of the fall will be a five-week discussion
of Yancey’s book. We’ve ordered copies,
which will be available in the church office. We’ll announce their arrival in
the weekly worship bulletin. Cost: $17.59
apiece.
In this book, Yancey
explores questions like these:
Does prayer change us or
God? Or both? Is God listening? Why do
so many prayers go unanswered? Does prayer really help with physical healing?
Why does God seem sometimes close and sometimes far away?
Last
spring’s series on intercessory prayer reminded us that prayer is mysterious
and powerful, frustrating and oh-so-fulfilling.
Would you like to grow in your personal prayer life? Would you like to see our community deepen
its prayer experience? Join us! Pastor Mary will lead the discussion.
Schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, 9/19:
Wednesday, 9/26:
Wednesday, 10/3:
Wednesday, 10/10:
Wednesday, 10/17:
We’ve previously read and discussed Yancey’s books What’s So Amazing About Grace, The Jesus I
Never Knew, The Bible Jesus Read, and
Soul Survivor. A man of faith and
currently the editor-at-large for Christianity
Today, Yancey’s background is in journalism. We have found his style quick-paced and
engaging, and his content thought-provoking.
h
COUNCIL CORNER h
Great News
and Thank You
Your
continued support through pew envelopes, the
Praise the Lord and keep
up the good work! Let’s double that by the end of 2007!
Envelopes are in the pews!
~~ Cindy Markus
Congregational
Council President
h STEWARDSHIP & EVANGELISM h
The Stewardship and Evangelism Committee wishes all our
friends and families a safe and healthy summer.
We also thank everyone for faithful giving and all the estimates
of giving that have been honored thus far this year.
The ministries at Holy Trinity continue all year,
even in our absence. In the summer, many members go away on vacation and attendance
is lighter. Please be mindful as you make plans for a busy summer
that our ministry never stops.
Thank you and God bless you!
Children of God
Holy Trinity welcomed Brooke Elizabeth Loughlin into the Body
of Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on Sunday, June 10. Her sponsors
were Joanne Martin and Keith Martin.
Brooke is the daughter of Lori and Thomas Loughlin.
Holy Trinity welcomed Noah Christian
Sterling Mencer into the Body of Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism
on Saturday, June 23. His sponsors were Scott and Lisa Kelley. Noah is the son
of Catherine Schwier-Mencer and Stewart Mencer.
h SOCIAL MINISTRY h
During the month of June, the Trinity Blanketeers donated
25 blankets to Project Linus for fragile children. We thank everyone who made
blankets for this project.
We will be meeting in the room behind the Fellowship Hall
kitchen at
For more information, please call
Gloria Smith. Her telephone number is (732) 449-1942. Thank you!
h WORSHIP & MUSICg
Play
a Supporting Role with the Altar Guild
If
you are looking for a way to
volunteer,
but are not a "center stage" type of person we have the perfect job
for you!
As a member of the Holy Trinity
Altar Guild, you can fill a much needed, highly important position without ever
being seen!
We are currently looking for
volunteers to help clean up after the Sunday
Perhaps those of you who assist us
this summer will choose to continue with the
We are also looking for people to
assist with the upkeep of our fair linen. This person will also be responsible
for laundering and freshening up the fair linen from time to time.
Please understand that these are not
tasks for one person. We welcome (and will train!) everyone who would like to
serve in this capacity.
If you are interested in
volunteering to help the Altar Guild in this way, please contact Worship and
Music Committee Chairperson Rebecca Parker. Her telephone number is (908)
216-6013; her e-mail address is bec1971@msn.com.
Thank you!
~~ The Worship & Music
Committee
Baptismal Coordinator(s) Needed
Please consider helping the Altar
Guild by volunteering to be a Baptismal Coordinator.
A coordinator’s responsibilities
include
setting up items for baptisms and placing them in the sanctuary immediately
before the service. A willingness to put
the items away after the baptismal service would be a great help to the Altar
Guild.
There are approximately 20 baptisms
a year at Holy Trinity. Most occur at the
Please contact Karen Kosequat or
Rebecca “Becci” Parker for more information and/or to volunteer. Karen’s
telephone number is (732) 295-3873. Becci’s contact info is in the previous
article.
A New Room for a Special Baby
We are very excited to announce that
we will be moving the baby grand piano from the choir room to Fellowship Hall.
This instrument was donated to Holy
Trinity by our dear friends (and long-time members) Herb and Helen Strucek in
honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. It has been used over the
years by the adult and children's choirs.
The piano will be on casters so that
it can be easily moved out of the way when various events are held in
Fellowship Hall during the program year. It will also remain covered and locked
so that no harm can come to it.
We look forward to using the piano
for our new monthly concert series, which will run September through June. (’Hope
to see you there J.)
We believe Herb and Helen would have
blessed this new endeavor.
~~ Worship & Music Committee
h
MAIL BAGg
Note: WELCA received this note and would like to share its
special message with you:
Dearest Ladies:
Thank you so much for
sending us the proceeds from your Attic Treasures sale.
We are uplifted by such caring hearts. I invite you to
follow Brielle’s story on “carepages.com” under the page title “Brielle’s
Thank
you.
In
Christian Love,
Kristen and
Jesus’
Words Resound in
World
Refugee Day Theme
(Reprinted
from material composed and distributed
by the
Jesus said that those who welcome the stranger in his
name welcome him. Lutheran Immigration
and Refugee Service (LIRS) celebrated World Refugee Day on June 20 and the
celebration continues!
LIRS has carried out the mission of bringing new hope and
new life through ministries of service and justice. This year’s World Refugee Day theme, “A New
Home, A New Life,” echoes their mission and invites us to recognize the courage
and resiliency of refugees who have suffered much in their homelands and have
begun to rebuild their lives through resettlement in a new country.
Lord God,
as you called your Son back home from his early childhood exile in Egypt,
gather from the four corners of the world all refugees who long for a
home. Grant peace to those who can
return to the homes they left behind, that they might rebuild their lives. Grant courage to those who must move on to
new homes, that they might re-root their lives.
And grant hope to those who continue to wait without a home, that they
might revive their lives. We pray this
is the name of your Son, our
Companion
Synod News:
(Reprinted
from material composed and distributed
by the
Namibian Children’s Hostels –
Nineteen “DHK” hostels (similar to boarding schools) are
operated by the
One goal is to form a foundation in
The United Church Council of the Namibia Evangelical
Lutheran Churches was formed this past spring. Pastors Bruce Ewen and Jennifer
Schweitzer (our Synod’s ecumenical officer and the pastor of Atonement,
Cross Roads
Summer 2007
(Reprinted
from material composed and distributed
by the
Come join the fast growing, spiritually enriching summer
program at
Cross Roads:
*Mature, loving staff
that exemplify Christ’s love
*Affirming safe space
*Intentional and
inspiring Worship and Bible Studies
*Exciting activities
teaching critical life skills
*All ages of youth and
adult welcome
Bring your family, come
with your youth group, come with a friend or come on your own and make new
friends!
For a summer brochure
and/or more information log on to www.crossroadsretreat.com
or call (908) 832-7264.
A Story of
Hopeful Communities:
“Showing
Hope”
by the Rev.
Donna Buckles
(Reprinted from material distributed
by the
In 1997 Eh and Eh Too Hso and their family fled their
village in
Finally, after 10 years
of waiting and wondering in Tham Hin, the eight Hsos was approved for
resettlement in the
“When we arrived here,” said Mr. Hso, “my children were
able to start attending school. I am
happy about that. My goal is to continue
my studies by attending community college and I hope someday to be able to
teach again. I am very anxious to get a
job.”
The Hsos have met
other Burmese refugees in
Youth
Ministry Calendar 2007
(Reprinted from material distributed
by the
When:
July 8-13
What:
Confirmation Camp
Where:
Cross Roads Camp
Who:
Confirmands and Pastors
When:
August 17-19
What:
Shalom Around
Who:
Young Adults – Ages 19 to 25
When:
October 7
What:
Youth Summit/Celebration
Where:
To be determined
Who:
Junior High youth, Senior High youth, Adults
When:
November 16-18
What:
Among the Wolves
Where:
Who:
Junior High youth; Adults
When:
November 7-11
What:
Senior High Servant Trip
Where:
Who:
Senior High youth; Adults
For additional information contact: Debbie at the NJ Synod (609) 586-6800; check
with Jeff Clayton or Kathy Lynch, Breakfast Club Advisors.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS
OF 2007 AND GOD BLESS YOU!
(This
list reflects information forwarded to the church office by the graduates’
families. Do you know or are you a
recent graduate who is not listed? Please drop a short blurb off in the church
office or send it via e-mail to diane@holytrinity-nj.org. We’ll publish an update in the September
Lamplighter.)
Graduate Alma Mater Interesting Facts About This Graduate
Mark Harris
John Kosequat Pt. Pleasant Borough H. S. John
will begin his college career in the
fall
at
Mechanical
Engineering.
Emily Leitzke The Lutheran Theological Emily
first felt the call to ministry while at
Seminary
at
husband,
Pastor Leitzke, in seminary,
before
he was called “Pastor.”
Jennifer Pretz
of
her senior class and received many
scholarships
(which she humbly prefers not
to
list here). In the fall, Jennifer will enter
her freshman year as a
pre-med major at
Kimberly Pretz
and
earned a spot on the Dean’s List. She
was
award the (one and only!) national
apprenticeship
offered by McCarter
Theatre,
her
studies in the fall.
Nicholas
Vandermolen Freshman
class in the fall.
Stephen High
Technology H. S. Stephen
received scholarships from High
Vandermolen Tech,
Lincroft PFA, the
Swim
Team and Continental Airlines. He
will
commence undergraduate studies at
Samantha Wilson
May
13 and was simultaneously
commissioned
as a 2nd Lt in
the
Commandant
of Cadets Award at the
university’s
Army and Air Force Reserve
Officers
Training Corps Chancellor’s
Review
and Awards Ceremony. This honor
is
reserved for a cadet in the top 25
percent
of the aerospace studies class
who
demonstrates exceptional leadership,
appearance,
bearing and character.