Trinity Connections
Pastor Phil Wold
philwold@gmail.com cell - 307-763-1115
Trinity ConnectionS
Sunday worship at 9:00 a.m.
April 24
Here is a Psalm verse for today from Psalm 24. I'm sharing this in the RSV translation. I suspect this is how many of us first learned these words.
The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein;
for he has founded it upon the seas,
and established it upon the rivers.
Psalm 24:1-2
Having marked Earth Day on Monday, it may be wise to remember, as we consider our call to care for God's creation, that all that we have and all that we are is gift from God. Peace, Pastor Phil
April 23
Early on the first day of the week,
while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb
and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
John 20:1
Here is a Henri Nouwen reflection I set aside a few weeks ago.
As we have considered the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, I have a suspicion that a great measure of the comfort we find in this Good News is that in Jesus Christ, God is watching over you, and knows you as God’s good creation.
We have heard the story of the encounter between Jesus and Mary of Magdala, two people who love each other.
Jesus says, “Mary.”
She recognizes him and says, “‘Rabboni,’” which means Master” (John 20:16).
This simple and deeply moving story brings me in touch with my fear as well as my desire to be known. . . .
Often I am tempted to think that I am loved only as I remain partially unknown.
I fear that the love I receive is conditional and then say to myself,
“If they really knew me, they would not love me.”
But when Jesus calls Mary by name he speaks to her entire being.
She realizes that the One who knows her most deeply is not moving away from her,
but is coming to her offering her his unconditional love. . . .
Mary feels at once fully known and fully loved.
The division between what she feels safe to show and what she does not dare to reveal no longer exists.
She is fully seen and she knows that the eyes that see her are the eyes of forgiveness, mercy, love, and unconditional acceptance. . . .
What a joy to be fully known and fully loved at the same time!
It is the joy of belonging through Jesus to God and being fully safe and fully free.
Henri Nouwen
May joy accompany you today, Pastor Phil
April 22
In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth…
Genesis 1:1
I have shared this before for Earth Day. It is a line that I have often seen attributed to Martin Luther, but I am not certain it is an exact quote of Luther, or where he might have written this. (I found one reference that located this in a compendium of Luther quotes published in 1869. Ha!)
I suspect it is close to something Luther may have written in a commentary on Genesis…
"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection,
not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime."
Martin Luther
While some people suggest that the Bible inspires attitudes towards the environment that fuel destructive habits; an ethic of care for creation is grounded biblically as well. In verse 28 of Genesis 1 we read: “…and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over… every living thing that moves upon the earth.’”
The “dominion” God calls for might well be a domination, that is true. But there are many who see something quite different than domination. They see a caring stewardship of God’s creation.
Blessings to you this Earth Day, may we join together in loving care for this earth God has created and put under our stewardship! Pastor Phil
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 21
I hope to see you in worship today at 9:00.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called Good Shepherd Sunday.
The service will be posted on our web site.
The Prayer of the Day
O Lord Christ, good shepherd of the sheep,
you seek the lost and guide us into your fold.
Feed us, and we shall be satisfied;
heal us, and we shall be whole.
Make us one with you,
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
April 20
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6
Tomorrow we hear from the 23rd Psalm as well as Jesus’ pronouncement in John chapter 10: “I am the good shepherd.”
Here is a prayer grounded in the promise of the Good Shepherd:
Shepherd of all,
by laying down your life for your flock
you reveal your love for all.
Lead us from the place of death
to the place of abundant life,
that guided by your care for us,
we may rightly offer our lives
in love for you and our neighbors. Amen.
Reproduced from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
A blessed Saturday to you today! Pastor Phil
April 19
“I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
A dozen years ago, Dr. David Lose, as preaching professor at Luther Seminary, wrote a reflection on Sunday’s Gospel reading. There he suggested that this Sunday, the preacher should conclude his or her sermon by encouraging the congregation to give a simple affirmation to one another.
He wrote:
“And so I’d like to suggest that at the end of the sermon we invite each person to turn to another and say these simple words, “You are a beloved child of God, and you are enough.””
An interesting suggestion, isn’t it? He felt that Jesus proclaiming to us that he will lay down his life for us is an amazing message that God considers you worthy of this gift.
Here is how he said this in his comments:
Why does Jesus the good shepherd lay down his life? To tell us that we are, in fact, enough. Jesus, especially in John’s gospel, doesn’t die in order to make some kind of payment to God or to satisfy God’s wrath or to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus, in John’s Gospel, is the Revealer, the One who comes to make the invisible God visible and the unapproachable God accessible. Jesus comes to reveal that God loves the whole world, no exceptions. Jesus comes, that is, to tell us that we are already beloved, that we are enough, that we need no shoes or book or car or reputation or lover or high status job or big bank account or list of achievements or anything else to be deserving of God’s love. That — God’s unconditional and unending love — we’ve already got.
And so, as we venture into the coming weekend, I would like to say to you; “You are a beloved child of God, and you are enough.”
Peace, Pastor Phil
April 18
The Lord is my shepherd.
Psalm 23:1
As I have mentioned, this coming Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday, and we will turn to Psalm 23 for one of our readings.
I liked this reflection on the Psalm by Austin Shelley, a Presbyterian pastor in Pittsburgh:
The shepherd’s staff has two useful ends:
a crook for drawing the sheep away from danger,
and a blunt end for prodding them toward places they would rather not go.
A good shepherd both protects and agitates as needed,
both gathers in for shelter and leads out to graze in new pastures.
And so it is with God, the Good Shepherd
who draws us in to hold us—
but also relentlessly pursues us and, in order that God’s purposes might be fulfilled,
challenges us to go where we would rather not go.
Yes, God comforts and protects us.
But God also knows something of our potential and urges us toward that vision.
May God shepherd you today, and always, so that you might know the saving and the prodding of the shepherd’s staff.
Pastor Phil
April 17
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
Philippians 2:5-6
I often think about a comment a friend made several years ago, when the ELW hymnal was published. The words of the Nicene Creed have a new translation, rather than confess that Jesus “became man”; we proclaim:
“For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.”
My friend said he liked the translation; “truly human” - yet he wished it had been “the truly human one.” I like that suggestion, even though it is probably not an accurate translation.
[I know, who talks about such things when with their friends?
There is a reason I divide people into two groups: “ministers” and “normal people.”]
This often comes to mind for me when we proclaim the Nicene Creed. As we confess; in my own mind I think: “For us and for our salvation Jesus …became The Truly Human One.”
Jesus is the one who was given for you, he is the one whom God sent for you, who gave his life for you, was raised for you and who calls from the tomb, proclaiming God’s victory over death, and your call to live in God’s love and light.
May you know the presence and the promise of the truly human one, whom God sent for you and for all the world.
Peace to you, Pastor Phil
April 16
"I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
John 10:11
This coming Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, and we call this Good Shepherd Sunday. Each year on Good Shepherd Sunday we hear Psalm 23, and our Gospel reading is from the tenth chapter of John, where we hear Jesus announce that he is the Good Shepherd.
Like many of you, I love Trinity’s statue of Jesus the Good Shepherd that stands outside our church.
Here is Psalm 23 for your reflection today:
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
May you know the promise of the one who watches over you always.
Pastor Phil
April 15
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:45-47
Years ago, a friend and colleague of mine opened his sermon on yesterday’s Gospel story quoting a compelling assertion made by Canadian theologian Rudy Wiebe.
“Jesus says in his society there is a new way for people to live:
you show wisdom, by trusting people;
you handle leadership, by serving;
you handle offenders, by forgiving;
you handle money, by sharing;
you handle enemies, by loving; and
you handle violence by suffering.
In fact you have a new attitude toward everything, toward everybody. Toward nature, toward the state in which you happen to live, toward women, toward slaves, toward all and every single thing. Because this is a Jesus society and you repent, not by feeling bad, but by thinking different.”
Rudy Wiebe, The Blue Mountains of China, pg 215-216, 1970. Quoted as a prelude to his book “Thinking the Faith” by Douglas John Hall, 1989
This is a compelling summation of our faith walk.
What an amazing way to consider how vastly our encounter with the risen Lord has changed our lives. What a way to name the transformation of our perception of God’s world.
May your faith inspire thoughtful love for all whom God has given into your care.
Peace, Pastor Phil
The Third Sunday of Easter
April 14
I hope to see you in worship today for Third Sunday of Easter Worship at 9:00.
The service will be posted on our web site, click here.
The Prayer of the Day
Holy and righteous God,
you are the author of life,
and you adopt us to be your children.
Fill us with your words of life,
that we may live as witnesses
to the resurrection of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
April 13
Here is a rich prayer grounded in the Gospel story we will hear in worship tomorrow.
Peace, Pastor Phil
Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people. Amen.
Reproduced from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
April 12
A blessed Friday to you.
It looks like we might have some wonderful weekend weather. Enjoy!
Here is a rich Easter quote for your meditation today. this is by Lesslie Newbigin, a British missionary and theologian who lived from 1909-1998:
“The resurrection cannot be fitted into any view of the world except one of which it is itself a total starting point, because the resurrection is the validation of a protest against everything that there is. …The cross is the ultimate protest against things as they are, in the name of what ought to be ... the world as it is is not God's last word.”
Lesslie Newbigin
May we listen with expectancy and hope for God’s last word to us all! Pastor Phil
April 11
That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem;
and they found the eleven
and their companions gathered together.
They were saying,
“The Lord has risen indeed,
and he has appeared to Simon!”
Luke 24:33-34
As I mentioned yesterday, on Sunday we’ll hear a resurrection story from the Gospel of Luke. The disciples are gathered together, and the risen Jesus appears in their midst.
One preacher, taking note that these disciples were in community, had this to say:
"Our experience of life in this world is such
that we always have to keep learning
what it means to have faith.
That doesn't typically happen well when we try to go it alone.
Faith is something that thrives and grows
in the context of a community."
"It Takes a Village," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer
The resurrection is an elusive gift, and we do well to gather together whenever we can:
to remind one another of this good news...
to uphold one another when it is difficult to believe...
to bear one another up when we are hurting...
to make Christ present, when the Spirit chooses to work through you.
I hope to see you on Sunday
Peace, Pastor Phil
April 10
Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
Luke 24:36
On Sunday we will hear one of the resurrection stories from the Gospel of Luke. I wonder if we can ever fully comprehend the wonder of this one who so recently bore the terror and violence of the crucifixion, arriving as the bearer of peace.
What is Jesus’ message for these disciples who had abandoned him when the Romans arrested him? “Peace be with you.”
I wonder if they knew that Jesus had proclaimed from the cross; “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) I wonder if they felt that Jesus’ word of forgiveness was as much for them, as it was for the Romans.
It is a fabulous gift that we are called to share when we gather together to worship; ‘The peace of Christ be with you.’
May you know the peace of Christ, today and always!
Blessings, Pastor Phil
April 9
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
John 20:20
[I scheduled this email to send tomorrow - yikes!]
On Sunday we heard the story of Thomas, of his doubt at the news of the resurrection, and then his profound confession of faith in response to meeting the risen Lord: “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28
In many of the resurrection appearances in the Gospels, there is mention of Jesus’ wounds. In fact, while - for some reason - they are not immediately able to recognize the risen Jesus, the showing of his wounds reveals to the Disciples his true identity.
I set aside this quote which takes note that Jesus’ wounds bear a message of their own, speaking of the measure of God’s love for all people, and the humble nature of God’s rule in our world.
These wounds are there for all ages and all time,
to reveal the humble and forgiving love of Jesus
who accepted to go to the utter end of love.
The risen Jesus does not appear as the powerful one,
but as the wounded and forgiving one.
These wounds become his glory.
Jean Vanier
A blessed Easter Tuesday to you, Pastor Phil
April 8
As we sang the closing hymn during worship yesterday, I thought the 4th stanza of "Alleluia! Jesus is Risen!" would be fitting for our devotion today.
Weeping be gone; sorrow be silent:
death put asunder, and Easter is bright.
Cherubim sing: O grave, be open!
Clothe us in wonder, adorn us in light.
refrain: Jesus is risen and we shall arise.
Give God the glory! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Jesus is Risen! - Herbert Brokering; ELW #377
This poetry rings out the promise of Easter and the joy of the resurrection.
In First Corinthians 15, Paul proclaims that "the last enemy to be destroyed is death." This hymn sings out the good news of death put asunder, and the promise of life with God.
May you know the wonder of God's presence today and always.
Peace, Pastor Phil
Second Sunday of Easter
April 7
I hope to see you in worship today for this Second Sunday of Easter! Worship at 9:00, and the service will be posted on our web site.
Today we hear the story of Thomas.
The Prayer of the Day
Almighty God,
with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord's resurrection.
By the grace of Christ among us,
enable us to show the power of the resurrection
in all that we say and do,
through Jesus Christ,
our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
April 6
A prayer for the 2nd Sunday of Easter
THE GOSPEL
He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
The Lord God formed them out of clay
and blew into their nostrils
the breath
of life.
My Lord and my God!
Jesus breathed on them
and gave them
his own
Spirit.
My Lord and my God!
Christ Jesus, fill us with your
very own life so we can
take your love and
forgiveness to
every single
person on
earth.
My Lord and my God!
Copyright © 2024, Anne M. Osdieck. All rights reserved.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.
April 5
A colleague wrote in a newsletter once, that while some of Luther’s hymns can be difficult to sing, we might want to read them devotionally.
Here is Luther’s great Easter Hymn, Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands.
Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands
By: Martin Luther ELW Hymn #370
Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands
For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand he stands
And brings us life from heaven.
Therefore let us joyful be
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of alleluia!
Hallelujah!
Our Savior Jesus, God’s own son
Here in our stead descended;
The knot of sin has been undone,
the claim of death is ended.
Christ has crushed the poor of hell;
Now there is naught but death’s gray shell -
Its sting is lost forever.
Hallelujah!
Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
Who died on the accursed tree -
So strong - God’s love to save us.
See, his blood now marks our door;
Faith points to it; death passes o’er,
And Satan cannot harm us.
Hallelujah!
So let us keep the festival
To which the Lord invites us;
Christ is the very the joy of all,
The sun that warms and lights us.
Now his grace to us imparts
Eternal sunshine to our hearts;
The night of sin is ended.
Hallelujah!
Then let us feast this Easter Day
On Christ, the bread of heaven;
The Word of grace has purged away
The old and evil leaven.
Christ alone our holy meal;
The hungry soul will feed and heal;
Faith lives upon no other!
Hallelujah!
April 4
"Truly I tell you,
just as you did it to one of the least of these
who are members of my family,
you did it to me."
Matthew 25:40
One of the ministries that Trinity Lutheran Church has supported over the years is Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. They are now Global Refuge, and they continue to do wonderful work.
We received an Easter card from them, and I thought I would share it with you. The Ukrainian egg design below is from the cover of the card.
The message:
Just as the pysanka
- a traditional Ukrainian decorated egg -
has long served as a symbol of hope,
you too are a pillar of hope for new Americans.
Thank you for being part of our Global Refuge family.
Wishing you the joys of Easter!
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah
President and CEO, Global Refuge
The back of the card reads:
"Rooted in faith, Global Refuge believes we are
called to welcome those fleeing persecution
and seeking refuge in the United States.
Since 1939, Global Refuge has offered love,
hope, and a new beginning to 750,000 people."
April 3
“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
Luke 24:5
I was looking through the hymnal last month preparing for midweek worship, and I saw this Easter blessing that concludes the Morning Prayer service.
I thought I could share it with you this morning to begin this day.
Easter blessings to you! Pastor Phil
PASCHAL BLESSING
As many have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Alleluia.
On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”
O God, for our redemption you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin so that we may rise to live with Christ forever; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Almighty God bless us, and direct our days and our deeds in peace.
Amen.
ELW page 308
April 2
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
Mark 16:5-7
Happy Easter to you!
I would like to share a bit of the Easter greeting that our ELCA Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton offered last week.
Bishop Eaton refers to the resurrection story from the Gospel of Mark, and concludes with these words:
[Mark] says that they were seized with fear. Well, the word means “possessed.” And yes, we believe that in baptism because of the resurrection, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and we now are all Spirit-possessed.
When things seem to be staying the same, when things seem to be happening and coming at us so quickly, I think it's very important to take time to be a little amazed, to be standing in a different place, to have a sense of this awe and trembling before the Lord, and to allow ourselves to be possessed by the Spirit, who will give us power and courage in these times.
My favorite hymn is “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song.” It's ELW 808. And the last verse goes like this:
“I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;
but courage will come with the sound of his steps by my side.
And with all of the family Jesus saved by his love,
we’ll sing to his dawn at the end of our journey.”
Be well, dear church. Happy Easter.
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton - Easter 2024
April 1
But go, tell his disciples and Peter
that he is going ahead of you to Galilee;
there you will see him,
just as he told you.”
Mark 16:7
It is Easter!
This is a time to remember and recall the wonderful story of the resurrection. Part of that recollection, is a remembering (and reminding one another) that Jesus has promised to go ahead of us, and to meet us on our way.
This Easter season, open your eyes, and look for the surprises God might have in store for you!
A blessed Easter to you!
Easter Monday is a time for telling jokes. On April Fool’s Day, we rejoice that in the cross and resurrection, God has played a great trick on death itself!
I saw this quite a while ago and I set it aside for today.
Three statisticians go out hunting together.
After a while they spot a solitary rabbit.
The first statistician takes aim and overshoots.
The second statistician aims and undershoots.
The third statistician shouts: “We got him!”
Easter Sunday
March 31
A Blessed Easter to you!
Alleluia! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Lutheran theologian, Robert Jenson, said that the way you can tell you are dealing with a living God, is that the living God surprises. The gods of our own making are entirely predictable, always in agreement with our own opinions and ideas.
The resurrected Jesus shows forth our surprising God, who will stop at nothing for you to know God’s love and grace.
May you be surprised by God’s gracious love for you, and may the gift of the resurrection call you to live in surprising ways in this world.
The Prayer of the Day
O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
An Easter Blessing
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The God of resurrection power,
the Christ of unending joy,
and the Spirit of Easter hope
☩ bless you now and always.
Amen.
+++
Easter Sunday Evening
March 31
Once again, a Happy and Blessed Easter to you.
He is risen!
The reading for Easter Evening is the story of The Road to Emmaus, where Jesus meets Cleopas and his companion. When they share a meal, they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Cleopas and companion return to Jerusalem to tell the disciples that they have seen the risen Lord.
Lutheran theologian, Robert Jenson, says that the way you can tell you are dealing with a living God, is that the living God surprises. The gods of our own making are entirely predictable, always in agreement with our own opinions and ideas.
The resurrected Jesus shows forth our surprising God, who will stop at nothing for you to know God’s love and grace.
May you be surprised by God’s gracious love for you, and may the gift of the resurrection call you to live in surprising ways in this world.
Prayer for Easter Evening
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread, open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
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