For a printable PDF version of this week’s newsletter, please click Engaged Weekly 091519

I hope you’ve had a chance to walk by the new church garden on your way into and out of the building through the course of the summer.  Planted by children of Vacation Bible School in June, watered all summer by our Child Development Summer Program, warmed by plenty of summer sun, under the leadership of Mandy Richards and her family, last week we harvested the first fruits that God has grown among us there. And while we used those vegetables and herbs at a harvest festival of sorts for our first Thursday Evening Supper of the season (Please join us sometime?!), God is using the garden to strengthen our community in more ways than that.

When describing the new garden during a recent visit with long-time member Charlie Wilcox who died just this week, his first response was “That’s great! I suppose we’ll be sharing some of the harvest with the food pantry, right?”

Charlie’s wonderfully faithful idea is yet another encounter with God’s grace in the midst of the garden.  Having served for decades with his wife Mary at the Lutheran Social Services Food Pantry, his first thought at age 98 was love of neighbor.

To be sure, the church garden is but one of many signs all around of God’s creative wonder and gracious Spirit that gathers us together in community with all people.   What other signs do you see and attribute to God’s abiding presence in the world?

See you at church!

Steve Wachtman
Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Concerts at Holy Trinity is pleased to announce the ninth season for the support of arts in our local area.  We look forward to providing outstanding concerts for the church and community and are proud to add a concert this year, bringing the total to eight which include:

Sunday, September 15, 4 pm– Violinist Fred Ripley will join Minister of Music Joshua Brodbeck for a variety of duets.

Sunday, October 27, 4 pm– 4 Hands, 4 Feet – Organists Martin Kasparek and Joshua Brodbeck will present a concert of organ duets, including the U.S. premier of a new piece by composer David Loxly-Blount.

Sunday, November 10, 4 pm– The choirs of Holy Trinity will present their very first concert!  Many favorite and loved anthems will be sun, and some solors will be presented by our excellent choir.

Sunday, December 1, 4 pm– The Brass Band of Columbus will present their Christmas Concert.

Sunday, February 16, 4 pm– Tenor soloist John David Nevergall will present an afternoon of solors based on relationships.  Perfect for the middle of February!

Sunday, March 15, 4 pm– The Tony Hagood Jazz group will give us a great afternoon of Jazz and Gospel music.

Sunday, April 26, 4 pm– The Delaware Community Chorus, under the direction of Artistic Director Joshua Brodbeck, will sing their spring program. The volunteer chorus has 70 singers presenting an Afternoon of English Choral Music.

Friday, May 22, 7 pm– Patron Concert, a private concert for financial contributors to the concert series will feature special artists including Artist-in-Residence Joshua Brodbeck.  A special reception will follow.

We look forward to seeing you at our concerts this season.  Invite your friends and family to each concert and have an enjoyable, entertaining, and inspiring time.

An Introduction to Holy Trinity seminar will be conducted during the Sunday School hour in the month of October.  This seminar is designed to help interested people learn more about the ministry of our congregation and the encounters with God’s grace that we share here.  Even if you can’t attend all the sessions, we’d love for you to participate.  To indicate your interest, please contact the church office or sign up at the Collection  & Signup Corner in the Gathering Place.  Contact Pastor Steve or Laura Hudson for more information.

Holy Trinity’s full Sunday School program gets underway Sunday, September 15 at 9:30 am.  Beginning with a large group opening led in part by the high school students in Grace Hall, younger children will then proceed to their respective grade-level classrooms for the remainder of the hour.  See you Sunday, September 15 and invite a friend!

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 24 at 10:00 am in the church library.  This session will provide an opportunity to study stewardship of emotions, specifically through the Psalms, which reveals sometimes surprising ways to express and contend with anger.  Drawing on the experience of ancient biblical writers, “we will learn to look for God in times of deep emotions…finding hope and grace along the way.” All are invited.  Please join us!

In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  The yoke that Jesus is referring to is understood to be our Christian life.  Once we have assumed his yoke, God’s commandments are no longer a heavy burden that weighs us down.  Instead, we see them, by God’s grace, as expressions of God’s will written into our hearts.  To express our gratitude for who God is and what God has done for us, we look for ways to use our lives and resources in God’s service.  For more information about stewardship,contact Max Buban.

For a printable PDF version of this week’s newsletter, please click Engaged Weekly 090819

Following is a brief recap of the approved minutes of the July 2019 Church Council meeting:

• VBS was highlighted by an attendance of 80 children, 20 volunteers, and a new garden was planted.
• Youth Room renovations are underway.
• Roof assessment for repairs and replacement was received. Property managers will put together a proposal.
• Jacob’s Porch’s new constitution is awaiting approval by the Southern Ohio Synod and ELCA.
• Several people have expressed interest in attending Intro to Holy Trinity class in the Fall.
• Receiving estimates for replacing Holy Trinity logo on exterior wall at front entrance.
• Donations of approximately $250 from 4^thof July hospitality were sent to Fisher House in Dayton.
• OSU School of Music (brass dept.) is interested in using Holy Trinity for rehearsal and concert space while construction is happening on campus. May trade using our space in exchange for playing in worship.
• OneDrive account has been set up as collection site for Council and staff to share documents.
• Josh will be working part-time with Southern Ohio Synod to replace his former work at Methodist Theological Seminary in Delaware.
• New seminary intern Sara Wunsch will begin her service at Holy Trinity on August 1.
• Income and expenses are within expected estimates for this time period.

There really is no differentiation between what is ours and what is God’s.  Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”  Quite clearly everything belongs to God, including ourselves!  Contrary to the world that teaches us that our bodies are our own to do with as we please, the Apostle Paul declares, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (Corinthians 6:19-20).  For more information about stewardship,please contact Max Buban.