Trinity Connections

The First Sunday of Advent

December 1

Today is the First Sunday Advent. The first Sunday of the Church year.

I hope you can join us for worship at 9:00 The service will be posted online.

The Prayer of the Day:

Stir up your power, 

Lord Christ, 

and come.

By your merciful protection

awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins,

and keep us blameless

until the coming of your new day,

for you live and reign with the Father

and the Holy Spirit, one God,

now and forever.

Amen.

November 30

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful

Colossians 3:15

Tomorrow is the First Sunday of Advent, and we will begin a new Church year. I know we don’t wish one another “Happy New Year!” as Advent begins, which is fine. Yet we do embark on a new venture, with Luke being the primary Gospel for Sunday worship in the year to come. 

Here is an Advent prayer grounded in tomorrow’s scripture readings:

Eternal God, 

ever faithful to your promises, 

hasten that long-awaited day 

when you will establish justice in the land.  

Lift from our hearts the weight of self-indulgence, 

and strengthen us for holiness. 

Amid chaos and confusion, 

let your people stand secure. 

Raise our heads to greet the redemption that is drawing near, 

the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…

We ask this through Christ, 

with whom you have raised us up in baptism, 

the Lord who lives and reigns with you 

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

God for ever and ever. 

Amen.

From Prayers for Sunday and Seasons, Year C, Peter J. Scagnelli, LTP, 1992.

November 29

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful

Colossians 3:15

My internship pastor liked Colossians 3 for wedding sermons. 

“As God’s chosen ones, …clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. …forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful…” 

That’s just part of the passage, and it’s all good!

I like that list… compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness. All topped off with a call to gratitude. 

The Thanksgiving holiday invites us to consider some of the many blessings in our lives. I invite you to join me in gratitude for the community of Trinity Lutheran Church.

I am deeply grateful for your generosity, your faithfulness and the joy of being in this community together with you. Of course, community calls for compassion, kindness, forgiveness… the whole list is fitting - for a marriage, and for any community.

Blessings to you this season of gratitude and joy, and know that I am grateful for you.

Thank you. Pastor Phil

November 28th

Thanksgiving

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

I love that short sentence from Colossians 3. "And be thankful."

What great instruction. 

The Prayer of the Day for Thanksgiving:

Almighty God our Father, 

your generous goodness comes to us new every day. 

By the work of your Spirit lead us 

to acknowledge your goodness, 

give thanks for your benefits, 

and serve you in willing obedience, 

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Thanksgiving blessings to you and yours! Pastor Phil

November 27

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; 

…with gratitude in your hearts sing …hymns …to God. 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, 

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3

This quote from Thomas Merton is great for Thanksgiving season. 

Merton (wikipedia tells us) was an “American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion.” 

That’s a lot, and he has a lot to offer…

“To be grateful 

is to recognize the Love of God 

in everything He has given us

 - and He has given us everything. 

Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, 

every moment of existence is a grace, 

for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, 

is never unresponsive, 

is constantly awakening to new wonder 

and to praise of the goodness of God. 

For the grateful person knows that God is good, 

not by hearsay but by experience. 

And that is what makes all the difference.” 

Thomas Merton

May your gratitude flow from God’s great love for you and for all the world.  Blessings, Pastor Phil 

November 26

“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

As we make our way through this Thanksgiving week, I will re-work (and re-send), some Connections from the past few years. Blessings to you, safe travels to those joining family elsewhere, may gratitude shape your life!

I think often of a comment Mother Theresa made in an interview I read a long time ago. The reporter asked her something like: “For what are are you most grateful?”

I thought perhaps she should say something about the Gospel, about God’s gift of sending Jesus to save us… 

Her response was more like this. “I am most grateful for the poor. Because in caring for them, I may love my Lord.” 

For what are you most grateful? 

Family, friends, the great freedoms we enjoy and the many blessings that come our way. They all are part of the gifts for which we give thanks. 

Let us join Mother Theresa, in gratitude for the great gift that God has given us. The gift of calling us to respond to the outpouring of God’s love in Jesus Christ, by pouring ourselves out in love for the world.

Peace to you, Pastor Phil

November 25

“And the king will answer them, 

‘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

A few weeks ago, Jamie Lennon, who serves Lutheran World Relief to connect LWR to congregations, stopped here to visit. He wanted to personally offer a word of thanks to Trinity, for our generosity in support of LWR. I wish he had come on a Thursday to see our quilters at work, I’m sure that would have added to his regard for you.  

As it was, I think he was delighted to see our coffee cart, the LWR information we have posted, and he was able to meet a few other Trinity members as well.

All in all it was a great visit with Mr. Lennon. You might appreciate watching this video, which tells about distribution of quilts in North Carolina. 

As we have marked the end of the Church year whit Christ the King Sunday, may we give thanks to those who serve to make real the promise of the Kingdom of God, where care is given to God’s children in need.

THANK YOU QUILTERS! 

Blessings to you today, Pastor Phil

Christ the King Sunday 

November 24

I hope you can join us for worship today. 

Remember, Noisy Offering for ELCA World Hunger!

The service will be posted online.

The Prayer of the Day:

Almighty and ever-living God, 

you anointed your beloved Son to be priest and sovereign forever. 

Grant that all the people of the earth, 

now divided by the power of sin, 

may be united by the glorious and gentle rule 

of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and forever. 

Amen.

November 23

I hope you can join us for worship tomorrow as we wrap up the Church year with Christ the King Sunday. There is another of God’s beloved who is planning to come to worship sometime when all things work out. Jack is a service dog who serves in the Campbell County School District to help with the care of students there. Jack needs to develop his skills in being with other people, and so he may well be joining us soon. While we probably should not pet him, he would gain from our greeting him and taking note of his presence with us. 

I look forward to meeting this dog who has such an important task in caring for children!

Here is a prayer for Christ the King Sunday:

Christ,

perfect ruler,

source of perfect peace and justice:

reign now and forever

 over all creation,

all peoples, all

languages,

nations;

Over 

 our  

 hearts.

Copyright © 2024, Anne M. Osdieck. All rights reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.

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