Trinity Connections
Pastor Phil Wold
philwold@gmail.com cell - 307-763-1115
Trinity ConnectionS
SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE - Sunday worship at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.
February 2
“You are the salt of the earth…”
“You are the light of the world…”
Matthew 5:13a, 14a
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a pretty high opinion of you.
Yes, you.
He doesn’t say “Some of you are…” he says that “you are” ...the salt of the earth ...the light of the world.
It is difficult to keep a reflection on these words brief…
I will try.
Think about this as an announcement of the wonder that is you.
Consider it a wonderful enlistment in God’s reign of love in the world.
For, you see. You are - in the opinion of Jesus Christ our Lord - quite an extraordinary gift to the world, formed and created and sent from God’s own love.
Peace, Pastor Phil
February 1
“You are the salt of the earth…”
Matthew 5:13a
On Sunday we hear from the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus declares that you are the salt of the earth. Preachers are quick to point out that Jesus does not encourage us to BECOME salt of the earth.
He announces that it is so.
I have a suspicion that your standing as Salt of the Earth is grounded in the fact that God loves you, and has called you to live in that love always, and to share it with generosity.
This quote form Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber says much the same thing:
And this is it. This is the life we get here on earth.
We get to give away what we receive.
We get to believe in each other.
We get to forgive and be forgiven.
We get to love imperfectly.
And we never know what effect it will have
for years to come.
And all of it…
all of it is completely worth it.”
Nadia Bolz-Weber, Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People, p. 171
Blessings to you, Pastor Phil
January 30
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Psalm 15:1
Here is a nice prayer from the devotional Bread for the Day.
Holy God,
your mercy and forgiveness invite us into your presence.
As you have made us new,
so also make us into signs of your righteousness for others. Fill us with kindness, integrity, and mercy
for the sake of our neighbors.
Amen
A blessed week to you, stay warm! Pastor Phil
Bread for the Day, Augsburg Fortress, 2022
3rd Sunday after Epiphany
January 29
I hope to see you at worship today at 8:30 or 11:00 The service will be posted online.
The Prayer of the Day for today:
Holy God, you confound the world's wisdom
in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart.
Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice,
and perseverance in striving for peace,
that in our words and deeds
the world may see the life of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior
and Lord.
Amen
January 28
A Prayer inspired by our Gospel reading tomorrow...
THE GOSPEL
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds he went up the mountain.
He began to teach them.
Christ,
our teacher,
you are a
peacemaker.
You hunger and
you thirst for justice.
Yet you are meek and
merciful and strong
and powerful
in all that
counts.
Please be a blest
beatitude for
each of
us.
Let us live in you and
be beatitudes
for one
an-
other.
Copyright © 2023, Anne M. Osdieck. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.
Blessings to you today! Pastor Phil
Previous Connections are in the Archive pages