_____________________________________________________

—ARNIE’S CORNER–

Have you ever wondered why…

We exchange the Peace?

In the Old Testament, a kiss is referred to as an expression of friendship and love, reverence and farewell. Similar references are found in the New Testament, where Paul’s letters often refer to the “holy kiss”.

The early Christians practiced the use of the kiss during the celebration of the Eucharist as Christ’s words of peace were recalled.

The sharing of the Peace – whether it is a hug, kiss or handshake – is a significant moment in the Eucharist and accounts for current efforts to engage all the faithful in its action. It is intended to be a profound experience of unity in baptism, reconciliation, mutual acceptance and an expression of resolve to work together in the Church’s mission.

The Peace is a response to the Gospel that has been proclaimed and an act of preparation for the Communion which is to follow. The Peace may not be omitted from the Eucharistic liturgy.

We light candles?

Lighted candles and lamps are among the oldest liturgical appointments, dating back to biblical times. Originally used as illumination for reading as well as symbolism, modern practice is purely symbolic. The lighted candle basically references Christ, the Light of the world which is never extinguished. Hence, we carry that light in and out of the church at the beginning and end of the service.

~~ Arnie

Dessert and Dialogue

Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, invites members of Holy Trinity to attend “Interfaith Dessert and Dialogue” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.

The program is intended to continue the Muslim-Christian relationship begun in 2006, which has given participants the opportunity to learn about each other and share faith experiences.

Lutherans from Reformation and Cross of Glory will get together with members of the Raritan Turkish-American Cultural Foundation for dessert (provided by Reformation), coffee and tea; will guide table conversations on issues of faith and will brainstorm on inter-faith program meant to serve the greater community.

Children and young adults are welcome. Youngsters will have the experience of meeting children from other faiths. There will be plenty of room for them to play during the adult discussion.

Reservations are required (deadline: Aug. 11). If you are interested in participating, please contact Pastor Arnie.

— CHRISTIAN EDUCATION –

Calling All Christians

The Christian Education Committee is looking for volunteers to work with our children.

Our fourth and fifth grade Sunday School classes each have two experienced teachers who are returning in the fall, but we are in need of a third. A third teacher would share the joy of teaching and allow more flexibility to our teachers’ schedules.

We would also appreciate having a few more people to call

(occasionally) when a teacher will be absent. If you are interested in teaching but not quite ready to commit, please think about adding your name to our substitute list.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Please contact Sheila Wall or Cathy Taft to volunteer or inquire. Sheila’s telephone number is (732) 223-6635. Cathy’s phone number is (732) 223-5785.

Free Parenting & Marriage Workshops

“Defiance, Disrespect & Distractions”
Presented by Celebrate!Calm

Friday, September 12

7 pm – 9 pm

Marriage Workshop

Saturday, September 13

9 am – 11 am

Parents Workshop

Parents
Is there an alternative to confrontation with your children? Do you need help calming your explosive household? Tired of yelling, negotiating and bribing a disrespectful or defiant child? Do you want your child to take responsibility for his homework, morning routine and chores? Help give a good kid a better chance and/or turn around a situation that’s headed for the rocks.

Spouses

Have you realized that you can’t change your spouse?! Do you have a list of resentments and think the grass is greener somewhere else? Perhaps you’ve withdrawn and given up, but nothing is written in stone! Come take a chance—we’re going to change your relationship.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is thrilled to have nationally-recognized expert and best-selling author Kirk Martin here to conduct these life-changing Workshops. Martin has used his humorous, engaging style and practical, memorable strategies to transform over 35,000 families across the country. Based in Washington, D.C., Celebrate Calm specializes in working with intense children, including families affected by AD/HD, Anxiety, Sensory issues, Aspergers, Autism, ODD and OCD. However, the information Kirk shares is useful to all parents.

Martin will expose 5 common myths and provide practical strategies to:

· Create a Stress-Free home—eliminate yelling, arguing and whining.

· Channel disrespect and defiance into positive experiences.

· Help improve focus, attention and behavior in school.

· Develop vision, motivation and responsibility.

· Create stress-free discipline and homework time.

Martin will help explain behavior that is both frustrating and difficult to deal with, and share techniques for creating a calmer and stress free environment. Medication and nutrition will be addressed as well.

Parents Workshop
These workshops typically cost $250. Because we want to serve our community by supporting relationships and families, attendance is FREE. Registration is required, because space is limited.

Please RSVP by contacting Joy Blazak at Joyjoywrld57@msn.com, or calling our church office at (732) 223-0533. Additional information can be found at www.CelebrateCalm.com.

Library

Sunday School reopens on September 7. Class visits to the library will begin a few weeks later, starting with the sixth graders. The class visit schedule will be posted on the library bulletin board in mid-September.

Book Reviewers Wanted

We are looking for children (and adults) to review books in our library. Reviews are posted in the Lamplighter and on the Library Blog. All reviewers will be eligible for a gift certificate from Barnes & Noble in a drawing to be held during Children’s Book Week in May 2009. Look for the sign-up sheet on the kiosk in Fellowship Hall or on the library book cart downstairs.

Thank you!

— SPIRITUALITY –

Looking Ahead to Retreat

Our next women’s retreat is scheduled to begin Friday evening, Sept. 26 and will continue through lunch time on Sunday, Sept. 28.

We will be dipping into the deep well of the Word to find refreshment, peace and wisdom.

Is the Bible a mystery to you? Is it a beloved companion? In either case, come and find inspiration.

Theme: Opening the Book of Faith.

Location: St. Marguerite’s Retreat House, Mendham, New Jersey.

Cost: $162.99, which includes housing and the cost of the book “Opening the Book of Faith.” (Three full scholarships are available.)

We ask that you make a $25 non-refundable deposit to reserve your place. Please make your check payable to Holy Trinity and write “women’s retreat” on the memo line. The balance is due by Sept. 14.

Questions? See Pastor Mary!

Let Go of Your Ego

Our next book discussion will center on Ekhart Tolle’s A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. Discussion will be on the five Wednesdays in October (Oct. 1 through 29). Choose the time that best suits your schedule: 10 to 11:30 a.m. or 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Please call the church office to sign up (for yourself and a friend!) and to reserve a copy of the book, if you would like one. Cost: $11.20 apiece. Books will be available in the office in August.

Pastor Mary will lead the discussion.

— WOMEN OF THE

EVANGELICAL CHURCH

IN AMERICA (WELCA) –

The Louise Circle, a representative of Hope Circle and Louise Moenke of the Elizabeth Circle will meet after the 8:45 a.m. service on Sunday, Aug. 10 in an effort to discuss – once and for all –our next fund- raiser, which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22.

This project can be accomplished if we cooperate and divide the items needed to be done beforehand. Items for discussion are: the sign, a sign up sheet, compiling a list for the Lamplighter of the items we request to sell; notifying the Property Committee in advance of the set-up; the bake table; items for the jewelry table; clean up!

Will Circle of Hope do the luncheon? Who will serve as treasurer and make up change envelopes for those who are cashiering?

We believe we have enough people to unpack, set up and sell.

We have done more difficult things before. If we all pull together we should be able to pull this off but we need to get going!

Any questions, call Ruth Walsh. Ruth’s telephone number is (732) 528-7695.

Thank you!

Come and See What

the WELCA Have to Offer

All women of Holy Trinity are invited to attend The New Jersey Synodical Women of the ELCA (WELCA) 21^st Annual Convention Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008 at Hope Lutheran Church, Freehold.

The topic will be “Angels Among Us” (Hebrews 12:2). The Rev. Mary Jane Hastings will be the chaplain and keynote speaker.

Please contact Laura Malta for more information. Laura’s telephone number is (732) 267-1434. Her e-mail address is lbergenhead@access4less.net

Project Linus

The healing power of a blanket,

made with love.

The Holy Trinity Blanketeers will meet at 1 p.m. on August 11 in the room behind the kitchen in Fellowship Hall to make blankets for Project Linus N. J., Inc. All are welcome.

Whether you knit, crochet, quilt, hand sew or machine sew, we gratefully accept on Project Linus’ behalf your donation of child-friendly, colorful, washable fabrics. Your TLC will mean so much to a child in need.

Blanket size guidelines are as follows:

Preemies : 12x12 to 24x24 inches

Infant: 30x45 inches

Toddler: 36x36 inches or larger

Teen: 63x87 inches or larger

Finished blankets may be dropped off in the church office.

If you have questions about this program, please call Gloria Smith. Her telephone number is (732) 449-1942.

Thank you for your support!

— WORSHIP AND MUSIC –

Music Scholarship Opportunity

Each year Holy Trinity chooses one or more youth to receive a music scholarship endowed by Arno and Jeanne Schwarz. This year we have enough in our scholarship fund to award two $500 scholarships. In order to be eligible to receive the Schwarz Music Scholarship, youth must be active participants in the music ministries of Holy Trinity.

Scholarships can be used for private lessons, music camps, workshops, or the purchase of instruments.

If you would like to be considered for the Schwarz Music Scholarship, please fill out the form below and return it to the church office no later than Friday, August 15. Scholarships will be awarded at the beginning of the program year in September.

" -------------------------------------------------------

Name: _______________________________________

Age: ______ Grade: ______

Parent/Guardian: _______________________________________

Address: _______________________________________

_______________________________________

Phone: ______________________________

Parental E-mail: _______________________

Instrument/Voice

Part (SATB): _______________________________________

I am an active member of:

_____ The Holy Trinity Choristers

_____ Joyful Noise

_____ The Holy Trinity Choir

— REST IN PEACE –

Holy Trinity member Alice Conklin passed away June 14, 2008. Pastor Mary presided at Alice’s interment on July 17 in Greenwood Cemetery.

Francis Zengel, Denise Harkness’ father, passed away on Tuesday, July 15. Pastor Mary presided at Francis’ memorial service on Saturday, July 19 in the Holy Trinity sanctuary.

Holy Trinity member Robert Gugliemelli, father of Barbara Barrella, died June 30. A service in Bob’s memory will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 9 in the Holy Trinity sanctuary.

— LOVE AND MARRIAGE –

Pastor Mary officiated at the wedding of Susan Guthrie and Richard Thomas at 630 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23.

—BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY–

On the first Sunday of each month, Holy Trinity offers bereavement support to those grieving a loss or a change of some kind. On August 3 and September 7 the group will meet from 8 to 8:45 a.m. Chris Ann Waters, author and nationally certified bereavement specialist, leads the discussion. Consecutive attendance is not required and people are welcome to attend as needed.

Transitions is a monthly devotional written by Chris Ann that addresses matters of grief and change.

The July devotional was distributed as a worship bulletin insert. It is printed below for the benefit of anyone who didn’t have the opportunity to read it:

Fireworks

‘… And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability; and he immediately went on a journey.’

“The truth is, I am not sure that there was any merit, with me, in the part I took in your difficulty; I was drawn to it as by fate; if I would, I could not have done less than I did. I always was superstitious, and as part of my superstition, I believe God made me one of the instruments …

~~ Abraham Lincoln

Letter to Joshua F. Speed, July 4, 1842

Fireworks fill the skies on special occasions. The Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, and summer weekends, find towns displaying beautiful colorful bursts that capture our attention and feed the senses. The fanfare that fills the air on the ground is memorable for young and old alike. There is something fun and youthful about watching firework displays; it is an excitement one does not outgrow.

Scripture tells us about many of our Christian ancestors who performed acts of faith that were firework-worthy. Moses, Abraham, and Esther fulfilled powerful acts of faith as they were given high callings. The fulfillment of God’s plan in each one brought glory to God and attention to them, so much that their acts were recorded in scripture. Yet, their respective roles in history (which produced large benefits for many Christians) do not minimize the other acts of faith that were small to man but great to God. The boy giving up his lunch, the widow giving her two mites, and the every day acts by Christians everywhere, are meaningful to God.

God gives talents to each of His children. The use of these talents is part Spirit driven and part an act of will. God does not force us to exercise our will but the Holy Spirit kindly nudges us to do so. In the excerpt above from a letter Abraham Lincoln wrote, he was deflecting the expression of gratitude he had received from a man grateful for President Lincoln’s help in an hour of need. President Lincoln felt he was simply being used as God’s instrument to fulfill what was necessary at the time. So often our talents are utilized in ways that receive no public recognition and no recording in a book. But God’s sees every quiet act of obedience and every offering for the highest good. That truth should always be enough to keep using what one has.

In matters of grief and special changes in our lives, the quiet use of one’s talents is present. Weak as they may seem, they are not lost on God. But often in grief, there is no display of faith acts that seem to warrant acclaim or mere recognition. Grief is weighty and complex to those who bear it, and confusing to those who want to help. Losses, expected or unexpected, do not come with instructions. One must mire one’s way through as best as one can, often employing faith without realizing that one is doing so. At times, just staying the course in day-to-day living makes evident the use of one’s talents. It may not even seem as though faith is active during these times. It is. More than our faith, God’s faith upholds those who suffer a loss.

As you, or someone you know, struggle with a challenging transition, may the small ways in which you use your talents to go through grief’s labyrinth, aid you in producing deeper faith. Suffering never appears as though it has merit. But we need only look at Jesus and the cross to know what His suffering ultimately produced. Jesus is with you every step of the way.

Faithful God, Thank You, for the blessing of talents You give to Your saints. Each person is different; talents are different. In times of sorrow or glee, may Your presence give the saints strength to utilize his or her talents knowing that Your heart lights up whenever we continue taking our steps of faith in You.

In Christ alone, Amen.

PROGRAM FOR PARENTS, TEENS

AND ALL WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TEEN SUICIDE

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide and Dr. Elliot Katz will present a program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug 13 in the Manasquan High School, Broad Street.

The presentation is sponsored by the South Monmouth Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and by Project P.A.C.K.M.A.N (Police and Community Kids Music Against Narcotics).

“We strongly encourage your attendance at this program as our community struggles to deal with our recent tragedies,” Alliance director Mark Gillespie said.