For a printable version of this week’s news, please click Engaged Weekly 09252022

This fall, I am taking two classes at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. One of those classes is called Being Lutheran in America. This class focuses on the history of the Lutheran Church on the North American Continent from the early colonial period to the present, learning about how various churches were formed and ultimately how the ELCA connects to churches from the past. This has already been a fascinating class for the six weeks I have been in it.

Lutherans today are not commonly known as being a very diverse lot. Indeed, the ELCA is one of the least diverse churches in the United States, coming in at 96% white. Interestingly though, I have learned that it was not always like this. Since the beginning of the Lutheran Church, once it had left Germany in the late 1500s/early 1600s, people of African descent have been a vital part of congregations with many serving as lay leaders and as pastors. Indeed, Lutherans of African descent can be traced back over 355 years! That makes me sit back and say wow! I never knew any of this. In fact, African-descent congregations and pastors were most prevalent in South Carolina and on the Island of Saint Thomas, in what is today the Virgin Islands. The Danish captains who colonized St. Thomas wanted to educate the African-descent population in Christianity in general and Lutheranism in particular. They educated all people, free or enslaved, although most were free at the time. And eventually, Lutherans of African descent outnumbered Lutherans who had come from Europe on the island! Lutherans of African descent were also fairly common in New York and Pennsylvania as well.

It is information like this that has been so helpful as I have taken this class. It is apparent that ecumenism, racial and ethnic diversity, and theological diversity has been a part of the Lutheran Church since the very beginning. This gives me great hope in thinking about the future of the Lutheran Church in the United States as we imagine new ways of being church while also imagining ways we can return to our roots. This class has been fascinating for me and I am enjoying it immensely. There is quite a bit of reading and writing involved but it is about a topic I am quite passionate about. I have learned fun facts like how the first Lutherans on the North American continent were not German and that many of the issues we face today in the Church were the same issues faced by our Lutheran ancestors centuries ago.

It is comforting to know that we have this lineage in the United States that can be traced back centuries. This shows that we are not alone. Indeed, we are surrounded by a communion of saints, those who have run the race before us, revealing that God has always been present and has always watched over Christ’s Church. As I stated previously, this gives me hope for the future and a deeper appreciation of the past.

If you would like to take a class at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, either for credit or as an audit (attending class without the homework) I would highly encourage you to do so. Trinity Lutheran Seminary is currently tuition free, meaning you can take classes for free! This is an incredible opportunity and I have found the seminary community to be immensely helpful as I continue my walk of faith. If you ever have any questions about seminary or what I am doing at seminary, feel free to ask! I would love to share my insight into the life of seminary.

Peace,
Vicar Jaren Summers

Ringers and singers are invited to join the choir!  Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 6:00 pm for the children’s choir, 6:30 pm for bells and at 7:30 pm for voices.  No previous experience necessary!  For more information, please contact Minister of Music Josh Brodbeck at josh.brodbeck@engagedbygrace.org.

As we move into a new ministry year, Holy Trinity continues to provide The Word In Season and Portals of Prayer daily devotional resources. The lessons in the first follow the traditional set of passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and the lessons from the second align with the seasons of the year.

Adding to the resources listed above is Acts of the Almighty – Meditations on the Story of God for Every Day of the Year, by Pastor Walter Wangerin, Jr.  Though this resource was written to be read January 1-December 31, we began the story of God on Rally Day, September 11.  You can use the Acts of the Almighty devotional to follow the pattern of our weekly Bible passages in the Narrative Lectionary when reading the January 1 devotion as August 3, January 2 as August 4 and so on that the February 13 entry would be read today, September 15. (You can access a Devotional Date Conversion Table here Devotion – Almighthy Acts of. God Dates

You can learn more and purchase the devotion book for yourselves here:  Acts of the Almighty book

You can also pick up a hard copy of the devotional book at Holy Trinity’s Welcome Center that includes a copy of the Devotional Date Conversion Table too.

Everyone’s invited to join their Holy Trinity family for a casual meal in Grace Hall on Thursdays at 5:30 pm.  Whether you’re staying for choir practice or just popping in for a quick bite, we’d love to see you!

Everyone is invited to attend the WELCA Bible Study on Tuesday, September 27 at 10:00 am at Holy Trinity.  You do not need to be a member of a WELCA group to attend.  The topic will be “Jesus and Nature: Teachers of Faith.”  Hope to see you on the 27^th!

The Apostle Paul prayed, “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16).  God’s glorious riches includes God’s gifts of Word and Sacrament through which God’s Spirit works to nurture us in faith so that we might be strengthened with God’s power to do the tasks that God has called us to do: to serve others and share with them our resources, both of ourselves and our finances.  For more information about stewardship, please contact Max Buban.

For a printer-friendly version of this week’s news, please click Engaged Weekly 09182022

Our engagement with the story of God through the 2022-2023 ministry year has begun. Starting on Rally Day last Sunday with the Flood and Promise where God wrestles with the frustration at the good works of creation being squandered by human wickedness and evil intention, instead God promises to never give up on us and all creation.  As a reminder of that promise, God places the rainbow in the sky with its hope of sunshine after the rain.  And when you trust in the promise, you are the rainbow too (see the picture above!) — being a reminder of hope to the world in all that you say and do!

With Sunday morning activities beginning with a Warm-up of children’s songs and Bible lesson at 9:45, Worship at 10:00 and Wrap-up activities until 11:15, we will be following the story of God from beginning to end, celebrating the love of Christ Jesus our Lord which is present and active throughout.

For your faith enrichment through the week, please pick up a set of At-Home Devotional Resources or find them here At-home Devotions – Season 1 or under the Bible Readings tab on the church website.

I look forward to sharing with you this new adventure in God’s Word among us today!

Peace,
Pastor Steve