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From Our Newsletter |
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December 2009/January 2010 The Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) has been the church’s primary worship resource since its publication in 1978. In 2000, the ELCA began the development of new worship resources resulting in the publication of a new worship book in 2006, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). This is a marvelous resource incorporating fine design and outstanding content that is already in use throughout the ELCA. You may not know it, but at Holy Trinity, we have been using some ELW liturgies and songs for the past couple of years. And now, we would like to move forward with acquiring the new ‘cranberry’ hymnal as our primary worship resource. While there is much that is new in this hymnal, it also contains much that is familiar. Almost 700 hymns and worship songs are included from a variety of publications, 53% are from LBW; 20% are from With One Voice; 21% are from New Hymns and Songs (Renewing Worship); 6% from Libro de Liturgia y Cántico, This Far by Faith, Worship & Praise, and other sources. The Evangelical Lutheran Worship also contains 10 settings for Holy Communion, including Settings One and Two from the LBW and a chant setting based on LBW Setting Three and SBH Setting Two (I remember this well!). Worshippers at Holy Trinity have become familiar with Setting Seven, a new Hispanic liturgy. Other settings include a hymn-based setting (following Martin Luther’s pattern), several new compositions and a setting from the ELCA’s African-American hymnal, This Far By Faith. All 150 Psalms, Luther's Small Catechism and a Daily Lectionary are also included in the hymnal. This makes Evangelical Lutheran Worship a wonderful resource for individual and family devotions, in addition to its use in worship. I like this hymnal and believe it has much to offer our congregation in its worship life. In the next months, I invite you to take opportunity to learn more as we offer some ‘hymn sings’, question and answer opportunities and educational gatherings. You are also encouraged to take a look at the book. We have several copies of the ELW in the library available for your perusal. And please, ask questions. I just might share my favorite ‘new’ hymns with you! Shalom, Pastor Deanna November 2009 November is the month when we pause and take intentional time to offer thanks to God for the many blessings we have received. November is also when we will take time to thank God for the many blessings Holy Trinity Lutheran has received from God. In addition, we will consider how our gifts might be used to further bless God’s work and the ministry of Holy Trinity. It is a time when we turn our attention to stewardship. I say the word "stewardship" and people turn away. You read the word "stewardship" and check your wallet. Stewardship and the financial concerns of the church are often uneasy partners. However, the truth of stewardship is far broader than simple dollars and cents. Christian stewardship is about living and knowing whose we are. Christian stewardship is the way we respond to being God's people. We are richly blessed by God. Our life is a gift, a blessing. As members of a community of faith, we share our life in many and various ways. We share God's blessing in our actions. We give time to the ministry of Holy Trinity. We share our talents and skills and participate in God's work. We offer our money to further God's mission through this congregation. We are richly blessed by God and thanks is shown in our sharing. Many people have discovered an amazing truth: As we give thanks through our sharing we experience greater blessing. This is a truth of Christian faith and living. This is stewardship. Stewardship is about blessing and giving and life. In November we will be Embracing our Journey Through Stewardship. We will honor the saints who have been a part of Holy Trinity in the past, those who gave and supported this congregation so that today’s saints (you and me) might continue God’s work with our own giving. We will embrace the ways we share our time and talents. As a community we will hear from those who have served in El Milagro and New Orleans. And we will celebrate. Created in God’s image, we will celebrate the gift of generosity. As we have been blessed in our journey, so we will embrace our journey of stewardship as we offer our financial support to the work of God and the ministry of Holy Trinity. So, in November, I pray you will join me and others at Holy Trinity as we wrap our arms around the blessings of our life together and discover how God is at work. It is good to be here. I hope to see you on this journey. Shalom, Pastor Deanna Wildermuth
October 2009 Fall is my favorite time of year. I experience it as an opportunity new beginnings and fresh starts. It is my new year’s celebration. In the life of Holy Trinity the arrival of fall signals the beginning of a new program year, with Sunday School and music ministry picking back up. Bible studies and book groups return in full force. Worship attendance increases and we greet one another with excitement as we share summer news with old and new friends. So, welcome back. It is good to see you. I can’t wait to find out what God has planned for us in this new year. How will the Holy Spirit surprise us? And now for something completely different… BOOK of FAITH In 2007 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide assembly voted to embrace an initiative called Book of Faith. The bold vision for this 5-year initiative is: That the whole church become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sent by the Word. Perhaps you heard about this, you might have heard nothing until now. This initiative is not a program, although some resources have been developed. This initiative is invitation and encouragement for individuals and congregations to intentionally address what is central to our faith… God’s Word in Scripture. Holy Trinity Lutheran made a decision to be a Book of Faith congregation at a recent NW Washington Synod assembly, again this did not mean we established a program, but it does mean we plan to be intentional in our focus on study, reflection and conversation about God’s Word as individuals and in community. We commit to becoming more fluent in ‘the first language of faith’. So, what does this mean? For Bible study groups already in existence… keep up the good work. For those of you involved in personal study… maybe you can share how you do that with others. For pastors and Christian education folks it means providing a variety of opportunities to gather around God’s Word. So, what does this mean… for you? I invite you to reflect on your own engagement with the Bible. How might you become more fluent in the first language of faith? What would be most helpful? Here are some opportunities currently available at Holy Trinity for study and conversation around God’s Word: Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study – 3rd Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. Watch for other opportunities and please let me know your thoughts and ideas. Shalom, Pastor Deanna
September 2009 Greetings, It is a good thing to remember that my ministry with you at Holy Trinity has really just begun. I must allow myself opportunity for growth and learning, as well as setbacks and frustrations. And I must allow you the same opportunities. It is easy to forget that being here is still a relatively new thing, for me and for you. As pastor, I have many responsibilities. I visit people in the hospital or care centers or in their homes. There is a special obligation and expectation that God's word of comfort and presence will be spoken and heard. I attend many meetings and as pastor there is a special obligation and expectation to participate as a servant of the community of faith. I participate in worship services and teach classes and as pastor there is a special obligation and expectation that these be led with integrity, insight, and skill. But is any of this so different from your life as a person of faith? Actually, each of us has special obligations and expectations because we are followers of Jesus Christ. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. While many days find these tasks familiar, at other times we forget God and care little for our neighbor. Then it is good to hear Martin Luther say that each day we return to our baptism. We cling to the promise of God as if it were new every morning. Every day we begin again, forgiven, loved and free to live as God's chosen people. Every once in a while we need to be reminded that we are people who begin anew each day. Our baptism is not simply a point of time in our past. Rather, living in our baptism is a continuing journey of faith. Baptism is God's promise of a lifetime of new beginnings. This is grace at work. Thanks be to God! Shalom, Pastor Deanna August 2009 “Love to Serve”. That is a mission statement that runs through the heart of Holy Trinity. It begins with our youngest children and works its way up to all of our representative age groups. It is also the theme of Vacation Bible School this year. Vacation Bible School is a high energy week at Holy Trinity! We usually have about 60 children ages 3-11 participating as ‘campers’. The majority of these children are not members of HTLC. The first family to register this year has 4 children and lives in Issaquah! They heard about us last year and are returning, with several friends. VBS brings new families into our church and gives us the opportunity to show who we are in a meaningful way. Along with the campers, we have about 20 ‘junior counselors’, our own middle and high school age students. They give up a week of vacation to work with the younger children of the community. They are led by college students from Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham. This entire circle of involvement is so important to the life of this church. Our middle and high school age students form relationships with college people who are open and happy about their faith. They talk about the colleges they attend (often Christian colleges) and are healthy role models for our teens. Our teens are serving by establishing relationships with kids in the congregation and community. The younger children bond quickly with our older kids. They play games together, sing, craft, have snacks and meals with each other. The best part of all of that is seeing the younger kids light up when they see their older buddies at church, in the park, at the grocery store. They see older students who are engaged in the faith life at HTLC and look forward to what they can do when they get ‘bigger’. The “Love to Serve” theme will be carried out in real ways during VBS. There will be a ‘service’ project each day: it begins with picking up trash around the church, at the park and beach park; we are collecting Composition Books, Art Kits and Birthday Gifts for children at First Place School in Seattle (a school that serves homeless children); we will make wrapping paper and cards to wrap the gifts at our ‘service fair’ on the last day; our junior and college counselors will be making sack dinners and delivering them in Seattle during an ‘urban plunge’ evening. I am writing this letter on the plane to New Orleans. 12 of our high school students and 4 adults will be serving by painting 2 houses, allowing 2 more families to move back in to their home after almost 4 years. In August, another HTLC team is heading to El Milagro. The Emergency Feeding Program continues to provide 48 bags a month of food for families in need (a group that has grown exponentially in the past year.) We continue to provide breakfast for the Compass Center once a month. We are working on 2 Habitat houses with other area churches, and are participating in a golf tournament/auction to fund them. We do “Love to Serve”. Blessings, Kathy Fisher
July 2009 I love to read. I love to read brand-new books with the smell of the ink and the crispness of the pages pulling me into the story. I love to read old books, the scent of the paper and the softness of the binding quietly draws me into the pleasure of the story. Simply put, I love to read. Beginning ministry at Holy Trinity is like opening a new book. I am drawn by the unknown excitement, the anticipation of how things will develop. I am eager to spend time with the characters in this story of ministry. I want to get to know the place and the people and the plot of their lives. In other ways, beginning ministry here reminds me of the pleasure of reading an old book. The people here hold wisdom in the pages of their experience. I want to savor the stories of this community. Like a favorite book, there is something familiar about this place, too. Pleasant conversation and caring words are shared whenever two or more are gathered. Kind actions are quietly undertaken demonstrating love and care for the neighbor. Holy Trinity Lutheran is a place where the soft binding that holds everything together is the lasting strength of the Gospel. God's love and forgiveness made manifest in Jesus Christ permeates the pages of this community of faith. The story of ministry in Holy Trinity on Mercer Island is an ongoing tale. Now I have been called to enter this story and join you in its writing. And I will need your help. Sometimes the language of this community will be foreign to me. Please, explain so that I might understand. There are so many things I will not know. I will need to ask questions. Sometimes they might seem foolish. Please, forgive my ignorance. And while many of the struggles and successes of this community of faith will be familiar to me, there are others that I will need help to understand. I am excited about God’s work at Holy Trinity. I cannot wait to get started on this book. So, I will immerse myself in the pages of your lives. I will spend time scanning the chapters of this community. I will savor your stories of faith. I will enjoy discovering how the Word of God is written in this time and place. Shalom, June 2009 Another Synod Assembly has come and gone! We voted on several resolutions: —To petition our state and federal governments to use all possible political and financial resources to encourage Israel to end occupation of the West Bank and its economic siege of Gaza. —To learn about coastal Native American tribes and congratulate them on their 20th annual intertribal canoe journey. —Water for All: To commit ourselves to using reusable water containers; endorse the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign to challenge corporate control of water; and advocate for safe, affordable water for all. This resolution was motivated by concern for energy use in producing, filling and transporting bottled water; concern about disposal; and concern about personal stewardship. Globally, $100 billion is spent on bottled water each year; $15 billion per year in public investment would halve the number or people without safe water or sanitation by 2015. Further, cities and villages in the US and abroad have complained about water shortages because it has been extracted by corporations to make bottled water. —To thank 26 congregations, including Holy Trinity, for our financial commitment to mission support in this Synod. —To memorialize the 2009 Churchwide Assembly to adopt the proposed Social Statement on Sexuality, recommended by the ELCA Church Council, and to develop resources for ministers and congregations “to support same-gender relationships by holding them publicly accountable in the exchange of lifelong promises of love and fidelity.” (It remains at the discretion of ministers and congregations to solemnize such lifelong relationships.) —To memorialize the Churchwide Assembly to adopt the four parts of the Recommendation on Ministry Policies; and to reinstate to the clergy roster or candidacy “those whose rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” Pastor Sue Wanwig
Lent is the Church’s holiest season. We patiently wait for Christ’s resurrection. Might we be close to seeing Holy Trinity Lutheran Church’s re-birth as well? This weekend we welcomed Pastor Deanna Wildermuth to Holy Trinity. She is the candidate that has received unanimous endorsement from both the Call Committee and the Congregational Council. I hope you had an opportunity to meet Pastor Wildermuth and her family at one of the events. While calling a new pastor will be a joyous event for Holy Trinity, I see the transformation that has occurred in our Church, while we have been waiting, as the biggest news. Our journey as a congregation these past three years has been extraordinary. We learned to better communicate and lead through Bridgebuilders. Thanks to the hard work of many, we adopted a new Constitution, Congregational Covenant, and Congregational Profile (including Mission and Vision statements), which helped us strengthen our resolve and clarify our purpose. Dedicated members continued all of the ministries at Holy Trinity to ensure we remained committed to Christ’s work and worship. Now with this enhanced clarity and unity as a congregation, our Call Committee has recommended an excellent candidate to be our Senior Pastor. I have heard many at Holy Trinity describe the hope that they feel at Church these days. Recent events such as the outdoor work day and the sanctuary cleaning day improved the physical appearance of the Church. The willing workers who gave of their time demonstrated our renewed commitment to our church. Time has healed wounds. We have learned better ways to do God’s work together. With re-birth comes an opportunity for those who have not been with us for a time to revisit our congregational family. Won’t you join with us in worship? For those attending more regularly, let’s welcome all who enter our doors, old and new friends. Our next step is to officially decide to extend a call to Pastor Wildermuth. We will do this with a vote on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. This is your opportunity to be a part of this important step for the church. I hope you join us as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and a new chapter in the history of Holy Trinity. Your Servant in Christ, Lindsay Anderson, Congregational President March 2009 A recent article in the Seattle Times told the story of an Ethiopian family operating a grocery store in Madrona. The family takes pride in the fact that their store is open every day of the year- no exceptions. When the whole city shut down in December due to the snow, the store remained open. When asked about the secret to succeeding in America, the owner had this to say, "Dream. Have a plan. Be decent person. But above all, show up!" What a great line, and how applicable it is to so many things in our life! Take Holy Trinity, for example. We dream, we plan, we are good to one another. But most of all… …we show up! Gathering to hear God’s Word is a crucial element of our Christian faith, and hearing that Word together binds us together as a family. The last few years have been tough for our congregation. The pews have been a little empty (ok, maybe more than a little!), the coffers have been pretty low- but these last few months have been an inspiration. The events of last November and December could have been devastating to us. But they weren’t. Quite the opposite. It was as if those events silently galvanized our congregation. Since then, I have seen energy, vitality and most of all- I have seen people showing up!! Our church family has bonded together and said, “this is our church and our family and nothing is going to pull it apart!” Success is a fruit borne of determination, and the most visible sign of determination is showing up! Holy Trinity Church may not have the membership it once did, but the Spirit is still strong in our hearts, and we show it by showing up. Thank you to every one of you who show up each and every Sunday, you make those days special to me and my family. To those who may be wondering if now would be a good time to start showing up again, the answer is YES! Remember - Dream. Have a plan. Be a decent person. But above all, show up!!! God’s Peace, Love and Spirit and thank you for all you do,
February 2009 After being asked to write an article relating to the property committee for the Island Lutheran, I turned to the January newsletter to find some inspiration. It occurred to me that without a church building most of what we do could not be done. We need a place to worship, to pray, and to learn, to celebrate baptisms, confirmation, weddings and funerals, a place for meetings, offices for pastors and staff, a place to collect food and clothing for those in need, a place for Advent and Lent meals and services, a place for social events, a place for non-church groups to gather, and a place of peace and reflection. And more could be added. Those who have come before left a great physical plant. In 1948 the original Chapel was finished, followed by the Sanctuary in 1959, the Education Wing in 1964, and the Atrium in 1998. Each change has aided us to better complete our mission. “HTLC is a respectful, loving, and compassionate congregation living as disciples of Jesus Christ and growing in faith and knowledge of him. We gather to proclaim Christ’s good news through fulfilling worship and do Christ’s work by reaching out to the local community and the world.” (from the church’s constitution). As a congregation our goal should not be to have the most elaborate church building, but to have and to maintain our property in a condition that allows us to continue the work of the church. In the last few years, financial restraints have impacted our ability to carry out needed repairs and renovations. The more expensive projects such as replacing the roof and renovation of the fellowship hall have been postponed, as well as numerous smaller and less expensive tasks. Yet we continue to go forward, thanks to many members donating their time and/or money for various projects, such as the renovation of the pastor’s office. Adding to the work of the property committee are many ‘honorary’ committee members who have painted classrooms, reorganized library and storage places, and cleaned the nursery. It is a blessing that by working together on various projects we get to know one another better. So we hope that you will share your time and money as the need for new improvements arises. I believe this year will be a great one for Holy Trinity. I share this optimism with Lindsay Anderson (“Just think what we can do working together”) and Chuck Pietka (“I feel so much positive energy in our congregation”) who wrote articles in the January newsletter. Although the size of our congregation is smaller than before, I believe that it is a much stronger church which will grow in the years ahead. For the time being we need every member to do something in the church and get involved. Gary Schill
August 2008 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:3 Isn’t summer great? I hope every one of you are fulfilling the idea that rest is as important as activity. My feeling is that ‘rest’ is a dying art. I know, personally, that a chunk of time that I could use to read a book, take a nap, take a walk, go see friends, I often use to clean carpets, move furniture, catch up on all the things I’ve pushed aside until I ‘have time’. In the very first book of the Bible, and in most books that follow, God rested. God instructed us to rest. It is clear that work is important, but so is rest. In Leviticus, it is law. To not rest on the Sabbath will result in damnation. On our recent mission trip to New Orleans, our group of 18 spent a long day traveling, then a long day of sightseeing and fun. On Sunday, we went to worship and then rested (or ‘chilled’). Everyone was so tired. We chatted, napped, read books, talked. I was surprised that I got no objections from anyone. The group was ready to relax and refresh. We knew we had a busy, physical week ahead of us. It was wonderful wandering around the house, seeing relationships develop and quiet time being relished. Now here we are in August. I know many of you at Holy Trinity have your vacations planned, or you’re at the house on an island, or off to see grandma. Whether you are home or away, please rest. Sleep a little longer. Walk through a farmer’s market and cook something fun with the purchases. Read a goofy book. Read a serious book. Show your kids/grandkids your favorite movie from when you were their age. Have your friends over for lemonade. Take a nap. Rest now. Rest because you’ve had a busy year. Rest because your body and brain needs a break. Just rest. September is just around the corner, and you will get busy again. Holy Trinity ‘rests’ in July and August. We clean up, re-evaluate the past year and begin to plan the next. It is the rest that gives us the energy for fall. We are energizing Christian Education with new curriculum and adult education opportunities. Confirmation curriculum is changing, too. It is small-group, family focused…that will take some energy and volunteers. Committees are meeting and planning events and activities to bring us all together from September through December and beyond. Your energy will be needed to make the planning a reality. The Call committee is in the process of finding our new senior pastor. We have new families attending church that need nurturing. We are resting now, gathering the energy we will all need for the upcoming Just like all parents know that ‘nap time’ revives a weary child, follow God’s command, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matt: 11:28 Kathy Fisher Page updated on Thursday, February 18, 2010
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