PASTOR’S PEN
Dear Friends of Christ,
My
whole life was put into perspective and I stopped and realized what really
mattered to me. It was Oct 31, Halloween, Reformation Day, and my office
computer crashed. I signed in but it loaded a factory-direct version of
Windows, with none of my stuff on it. My e-mail, my internet, my address book,
my sermons, my reports, my confirmation lessons, my Free Cell win percentage:
all of it was gone. Life came to a halt.
Thank
God for Alex Madonna and his swift response to Diane Churchman’s frantic phone
messages! Everything was back online within hours.
Some
might read this and think of how technology rules our lives. For me, though,
this was a classic example of how we have to know who we are before we can know
where we are going. My computer still sort of worked. It could process text and
access the web. It couldn’t go anywhere, though. I could not find any old
files. I could not resume any assignments I’d begun. I could not communicate
with anyone. These files defined who the computer was. My computer had lost its
identity.
What
Alex did (whether or not that’s how he’d describe it) was get the computer to
remember who it was. He reminded it of its passwords, server names, file
locations and all that. It regained its identity, and now that it knew who it
was it could do what it had been designed to do. Likewise, when we Christians
know who we are we can do what we are called to do.
This
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany cycle we will be reminded once again just who we
are—people of the God who connects to us through Christ—and we’ll be tempted
once again to forget it.
If
ever there was proof of sin in this world it is that all of our best church
festivals can be turned into celebrations that have little or nothing to do
with faith. Advent is all about preparing for the coming of the Lord, getting
ready for our divine houseguest. The frenzy of preparation can become the point for us, so that we don’t
notice when God arrives. At Christmas we receive the present of God made flesh,
conquering sin and death as a vulnerable little baby. We’ll be tempted to
forget that Christ is our connection to God, kind of like our e-mail server, if
you will. We’ll try other server names instead. We’ll type in “holiday parties”
or “presents” or “decorations” instead of “Christ”. The former things are part
of our glorification of God; they can compete for our attention, though, and
cause us to lose sight of the God we glorify. By the time Epiphany rolls around
most of us are partied out and don’t even notice.
We
are people connected to God through Christ. We wear a baptismal cross on our
foreheads. We are part of the family Children-of-God. This Christmas, as at
every Christmas, we celebrate the incarnation of God. God is not distant. God
is not ignoring us. God is made flesh around us daily, whenever a brother or
sister in Christ speaks or enacts the good news of God’s love. God is in our
midst, listening to our prayers, guiding us in our ways, and loving us
recklessly. God’s reckless love is the only
reason for our Christmas gift of Christ.
Our faith might not get any
simpler than that, Friends of Christ. God gives us God for Christmas. We didn’t
work for it. We didn’t earn it. We just get it. When we remember that we might
just act that way toward others, and when we do that we’ll be doing what God
calls us to do. We just need to remember who we are.
We’ll
be tempted to boot up without Christ, to try using other e-mail servers, to
forget our identity as Children-of-God and recipients of the first and only
true Christmas present. This Advent and Christmas we’ll be reminded for whom it
is that we prepare. We’ll be reminded of who it is that we receive. The Word
will be spoken and will become flesh in our midst, restoring our identity just
as Alex restored the identity of my humble office computer. May the Word made
flesh motivate us to works of faith, labors of love, and gifts given wholly out
of grace, for these are the things which identify us.
In + Christ,
The Rev. Timothy A. Leitzke
Assistant Pastor
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Homegrown
Helpers
We
all have different ways of serving others.
In the Bible, 1 Peter 4:10 says: “Each one should use whatever gift he
has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its
various forms.” How do you serve or help others in need at Holy Trinity? What gifts do you use?
People who enjoy speaking can share the gift of
reading. During worship, the scriptures
and prayers are spoken. The library
staff reads books to the Sunday School children and encourages them to take out
books.
Do you have the gift of writing or of packing
boxes? Our service men and women and
college students receive a care package from Holy Trinity. Through Operation Christmas Child, a child
who would not expect a Christmas present will receive a shoebox filled with
necessities, toys and a note from children who care. Maybe you could be the person who sends Valentine’s
Day or Birthday cards to people who have no family, just because you care.
The gift of talking and listening! Yes, talking and listening are gifts. Do you enjoy making phone calls? Milestone Ministries at Holy Trinity desires
people who are willing to call parents and tell them about special events in their
children’s lives. These phone calls can
be made from home during the day or evening.
You can also call people you haven’t seen at Church in a while and let
them know that they are missed.
The office help gift looks like assembling the
Lamplighter or worship book, stuffing and unstuffing bulletins, folding letters
and stuffing envelopes.
The gift of hospitality! Make a pot of coffee or baked goods for
others on Sunday morning. Invite the parents who are waiting outside for their
Sunday School children to have a cup of coffee and conversation. Make a dinner for those in need or
lonely. The Breakfast Club helps the
Ronald McDonald house. Do you have this
gift of hospitality?
The gift of visiting our homebound! These are people from our congregation who
cannot come to church for many reasons.
Several times during the year, Holy Trinity makes crafts and takes baked
goods to our homebound friends.
Sometimes a child’s gift can make a difference in
a person’s life. When Morgan Harkness visited
her elderly neighbor who lived next door, she noticed how lonely and alone this
senior citizen was. Except for an
occasional visit from her minister or the meter reader, the only visitor this
elderly lady had was Morgan. She began bringing this neighbor hot meals,
visited on holidays and eventually visited a few times a week. In Morgan’s mind, no person should be
neglected, especially during the holidays!
Morgan wanted to do more to help the lonely and
the old. When she had the opportunity to
visit elderly people who were confined to their homes during Halloween, Morgan
jumped at the chance. Pastor Mary
provided Morgan’s parents with a list of area senior residents to visit. Morgan and her friends dressed up in costumes
and brought Halloween treats and cheer to each home. These fine young ladies (Kristiane, Bridia,
Madison H., Madison Brown, Kate Hannah, and Emily) have been visiting the
seniors for the past three years. Each
year Morgan is trying to volunteer at least twice for those less fortunate than
herself.
Morgan also has an interest in helping those who
are hungry and is volunteering her time helping at the Monmouth Food Bank. She wants to continue to volunteer her time
to help others with all her friends.
Morgan is in the sixth grade Sunday school class at Holy Trinity. This year her younger sister Madison joined
in too.
There are many other different gifts. Can you think of some? Psalm 100:2 says “Serve the Lord with
gladness.” We serve with a grateful
heart, giving our time to serve others.
The next time you serve God, why not ask someone to help you who never
served before?
~~ Servant in Christ, Karen Astrom
Oh, (Advent) Christmas Tree!
Advent marks the
beginning of a new church year and our preparation for the coming of the
Messiah. However, our busy schedules before Christmas make it too easy to
forget to ready our hearts and minds for Christ’s coming.
On Sunday, the 26th
of November, 28 families gathered and
prepared themselves for Advent by participating in our Annual Family Advent
Craft. They took time out of their busy schedules to decorate foam Christmas
trees with glitter, ribbon and sequins. I cannot express how joyous it was
seeing parents and children working together in the spirit of Christ creating
beautifully decorated trees.
As each family departed
from Fellowship Hall, they received a bag of ornaments with which to decorate
their trees each day of Advent until Christmas. Although this is a little gesture,
it reminds us to keep our hearts and minds in the spirit of giving and helps us
lead our children in the ways of Christ.
I would like to thank all
who helped set up and clean up in order to make this day possible, and to especially
thank the families that participated. If it was not for each of you being willing
to teach God’s lesson this day would not have taken place.
Thank you for all you do
and for keeping Christ in your hearts and minds. God bless everyone! ~~ Deb
Chesney
Good Morning Good Friday is
You probably think I’m crazy because you haven’t even had
your Christmas dinner yet, but…it takes A LOT of people to pull off this
wonderful event, and I’m already having nightmares about it! Our first organizational meeting will be
sometime in January (watch your weekly bulletins). Some of the jobs we will
need help with are:
If you even THINK you might be interested in doing
anything to help, please contact Joy Blazak at 892-9735 or Joyjoywrld57@msn.com.
Library
Our Sunday School library contains over 60 books
about Christmas, including beautifully illustrated editions of the Nativity
story and the gospels of Matthew and Luke; legends of St. Nicholas (the first
“Santa Claus”), the fourth wise man, the Christmas rose and the candy cane; the
origins of such carols as “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night”; Christmas
poems; Chris Van Allsburg’s popular The Polar
Express; as well as contemporary stories that convey the true meaning of
Christmas. Please take a breather during the hustle and bustle of the holiday
season to read aloud to a child in your life (or to yourself) and become lost
in wonder at God’s grace.
WORSHIP AND
MUSIC
Deck the Pews!
Thanks to everyone who has donated an
Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal!
To date the total is 220! Since the publisher’s
offer was Buy Five, Get One Free, our grand total is 264!
Our goal is to have 300 hymnals and orders are
still coming in J.
Peace and Love to All!
~~ In Christ’s Love,
The Worship & Music Committee
EVANGELISM AND
STEWARDSHIP
Our November College Care Package mail out was a
huge success! A record 35 boxes were mailed to our college students, lovingly
packed with donated food items and homemade goodies. The support for this important
outreach program to our youth was overwhelming! Many thanks to our church
family for its support.
Some members of the Breakfast Club baked brownies
and cookies. Other members brought in homemade and storebought items. Heartfelt
thanks to Evelyn Shibla, Pat and Chuck Augustine, Jeff and Denise Clayton, Barbara
Barrella, Meta and Lee Querns, Sue Kmetz, Linda and Dennis Dodds, Robert and
Chris Olsen, Jim Baxendale, Cindy Markus, Michelle Thorp, Candace Birkenhauer,
We will send our next mail out in the spring.
Watch for announcements so you can participate, either in the way of donations
or by adding your child to our list.
Remember to check the Evangelism bulletin board and
read the e-mail responses from our college youth! While you’re there, take a
look at our college map and locate where our students attend school.
We continue to pray for our youth’s safety, well-being
and success, and pray that they are reminded of the comfort that comes from the
light of God which shines in their lives daily.
If you have any questions or requests, please
send an e-mail to zpt123@aol.com. Thank
you!
W. E. L. C. A.
There’s a lot to look forward to in 2007! Here’s
a preview:
February:
Watch for Blanket Sundays. (Blankets
will be collected and distributed to people all over the world.)
March or
April: Luncheons where Chaplain Mark Farnham will teach us about a
labyrinth and where you can sign up to visit an outdoor labyrinth in
Comfort and Joy
Please continue to make blankets at home
during the winter months for Project Linus! You may drop them off in the church
office or call Dottie Meredith (732) 899-9321 for more information.
Children of God
During the month of
November and in early December, Holy Trinity welcomed these children into the
Body of Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism: Gregory Kenneth Desserich
and Rylee Simone Rotsma on 11/05; Justin Ryan Lopes on 12/03.
Connor Patrick Urig and
Ethan Riley Urig will be baptized Sunday, Dec. 10.
DATES TO REMEMBER
(or, better yet, to mark on your calendar!)
Advent 4 & Christmas
Weekend Worship
(All services include
Holy Communion)
Saturday,
Dec. 23
Sunday,
Dec. 24
4 p. m. Christmas
Eve Service for
children and families (with
sign language interpreter),
followed by blessing of
outdoor crèche
6 p. m. Christmas
Eve Service of Lessons and Carols
9 p..m. Festival
Liturgy of Christmas Eve with Adult Choir & Candlelighting
Eve with Special Music &
Candlelighting
Monday, Dec. 25
MAIL
BAG
To The Council & Entire Family of the
Thank
you!
Pastor
John Guidao-oab
Dear Holy Trinity,
Thank you so much for the care
package you recently sent up. It was
such an awesome surprise to see that everyone was thinking of me and to see all
the new treats I had received. As soon
as I opened everything up, my roommate spied the Ritz crackers and peanut
butter (his daily breakfast) and started to bargain with me for a healthy
sharing of the snacks. Everything was so
nice and tasty and I was so pleased to hear from my church family. Thanks again! Love, Kyle
Clayton
Dear Holy Trinity Family,
Thank
you for remembering me during my exam period with your generous gifts of food
and beverage. I know a lot of time and effort went into the preparation
and sending of this package. Thanks to all who were involved.
Thankfully,
Eric McLaughlin
To the Trinity Blanketeers:
Thank
you for your amazing and wonderful blanket donation. Project Linus New
W.
Jones
Volunteer RecognitionCommittee
Dear Holy Trinity:
Good
day! I just wanted to express my gratitude for the coat drive that was held on
the last Saturday of October, 2006. Usually, I’m a giver; however, my
circumstances over the years have been teaching me how to receive. I have very
limited income but need so many things. I appreciated the quality and care of
the items to choose from. I was surprised to find more than coats which were
available as well. I was fortunate to find a down winter coat in my favorite
color! I found jackets, sweaters, and a patchwork blanket. I even found a few
Ts and a crisp, white blanket for a new roommate who was unable to come. My
pastor used to say, “People can be nice but they don’t have to be nice to you.”
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the warmth and love that was
bestowed unto me that day. Your coat drive was an answer to my prayers, saving
me money I don’t have. May the Lord continue to bless your outreach ministry as
well as those who benefit from your service.
Yours
in Christ,
Barbara
A. Richardson
(Many
Thanks to Shelli Ritchie, who spearheaded the coat drive ♥)
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