For a printable PDF version of this week’s newsletter, please click Engaged Weekly 061718

Holy Trinity’s next date to cook and serve breakfast at First English is Sunday, June 24.  We will meet at Holy Trinity at 8:15 am, leaving at 8:30 for First English.  We should return about 11:30.  July 22 will be our next serving date.  Please consider joining us!  New faces are always welcome and fresh fruit donations are appreciated.  Important Note:  We are switching Sundays in August and September when we will temporarily move to the second Sundays of the month: August 12 and September 9.  Please contact Becky or Jeff Warnement with questions.

“Here I Stand” in God’s Grace, Word, and World!

Martin Luther was a man transformed by God’s grace and he wanted others to know about God’s wonderful grace too!  During our week of VBS, we’ll explore how the love of God, through Jesus Christ, gave Martin Luther (and especially us!) the confidence to stand in God’s grace, in God’s Word, and stand up for others in God’s World.  Registration forms are available and can be dropped off at the church reception window or by completing the electronic version below. Please contact the church office at 614-486-9433 or Vicar Andrew at andrew.potsko@engagedbygrace.org if you have questions.

By the grace of God, TJ Lynch will be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  The Rite of Ordination and Service of Holy Communion will be held at 3:00 in the afternoon on Sunday, June 24, 2018 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2001 Northwest Blvd., Columbus.  The congregation is invited to attend.  Clergy and other rostered leaders are invited to vest and process.  The color of the day will be Red.   A light reception will follow.  TJ has been called to serve Calvary Lutheran Church in Bluffton, Indiana.

The Wachtmans and Brodbecks would like to check interest among members and friends of Holy Trinity for a Lutheran Heritage, Music and Passion Play Pilgrimage in 2020.  A two-week itinerary traveling by luxury motor coach to the cities below would include:

• Sites of the Lutheran Reformation
• Host family stay with our German partner congregation (hotel optional)
• Josh playing cathedral organs along the way, and
• Tickets to the world-renowned Oberammergau Passion Play.

Germany: 

• Eisleben – Luther’s birth and death houses
• Erfurt – Augustinian Cloister where Luther studied
• Wittenberg – site of the 95 Theses and Reformation Museum
• Eisenach – Wartburg Castle where Luther hid after excommunication
• Schwerin – home of Holy Trinity’s partner congregation
• Rothenberg – picturesque German city
• Munich – home to Oktoberfest if we travel in late summer or early fall
• Oberammergau – home to the Passion Play

Switzerland:  

• Zurich
• Lucerne
• Imier
• Geneva

France: 

• Paris

Nearly 400 years ago the history of the Passion Play began. The plague raged in many parts of Europe and did not spare Oberammergau either. In 1633 the Oberammergau villagers promised to perform the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ every tenth year, in so far as no one else was to die of the plague. The villagers’ prayers were answered by God and therefore in 1634 the first Passion Play took place. The promise has been kept ever since when the 42nd Passion Play will take place in Oberammergau in 2020.  Because of the great demand for play tickets, deposits for this trip will be necessary well over a year in advance.

More than a simple sightseeing experience, the pilgrimage is planned with meaningful encounters throughout.  Josh and Steve invite interested persons to learn more at an informational meeting at 9:40 am on Sunday, July 8 between worship services. You may also indicate your interest by marking Ministry Opportunity B on the All Good Gifts card or contacting the church office.

The Holy Trinity co-ed softball team is eager to welcome people interested in playing. Games take place on Sunday afternoons and continue through early August at St. James Lutheran Church, located at the corner of Trabue and Rome-Hilliard Roads. There are no games Sunday, June 17 due to Father’s Day.  Since everyone misses a few games for vacation and family activities throughout the summer, it’s helpful to have as deep a roster as possible.  All confirmed women and men (high school age and up) are eligible to play.  Please sign up at the Collection & Signup Corner or contact the church office if you’d like to play.  Please contact Mark Abell or Doug Myser with questions.

Holy Trinity’s Beacons group will meet July 11, the second Wednesday in July, since the first Wednesday falls on Independence Day. As has been the custom, Holy Trinity will provide hospitality on our front lawn during the 4^thof July parade.  Be sure to mark your calendars!  Beacons have also begun their Summer Soap Collection.  Wrapped bars of soap are collected for Lutheran World Relief to be distributed in areas hard-hit by natural disasters and other areas of need. Our goal is to collect 325 bars this year.  Please place your donations in the labeled basket at the Collection & Signup Corner in the Gathering Place.  We appreciate your participation in this summer project.  We continue to need more members, so please consider joining with us on (usually) the first Wednesday morning of the month.  Questions?  Seek out Shirley Doolittle or Mariruth Seubert for more information.  Blessings!

Each year, Holy Trinity shows its support of the Upper Arlington community by welcoming neighbors during the annual 4^th of July parade, providing cold water and tasty treats to parade goers. If you would like to provide home-baked or store-bought goodies for the parade, please sign up at the Collection and Signup Corner in the Gathering Place or contact the church office. Treats should be dropped off by 8:30 am on Tuesday, July 4^th. Thanks for your help!

Hosting Holy Trinity’s hospitality table after worship on Sunday mornings is a great way to share fellowship with church friends or celebrate a special event in your life. Beverages are provided by the Hospitality committee. You are asked to provide a light snack to share. There are currently several dates open for hosting this summer. Please see the signup sheet near the coffee station for available dates and times. Please contact Chris Pryor if you have questions.

God calls us, as stewards of God’s gifts, to give what we have.  The Lord doesn’t ask us to give what we don’t have. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12).  Satan will make every effort to tell us that we don’t have anything to give or that what we could give would be so small it would be meaningless.  With God’s strength, we can give faithfully from a small or large amount of money. God is just as pleased with those who give generously from a small sum of money as those who give generously from a large sum.  For more information on stewardship, please contact Max Buban.