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

“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.

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.

For a printable PDF version of this week’s newsletter, please click Engaged Weekly 061018

This Sunday, June 10, we offer prayers and recognize Holy Trinity’s members of the Class of 2018:

High School

Harry Baker, Upper Arlington HS, attending Florida State University

Brianna Barrett, Upper Arlington HS, attending Indiana University

Callie Burton, Upper Arlington HS, attending Ohio University

Hannah Caldwell, Upper Arlington HS, attending Miami University

Ryan Cochran, Hilliard Darby HS, attending Miami University, majoring in University Studies

Kyle Eicher, Dublin Coffman HS, attending University of Rio Grande, majoring in Sports & Exercise Studies

Caroline Favret, Upper Arlington HS, attending University of South Carolina

Haley Gillespie, Upper Arlington HS

Abby Gray, Upper Arlington HS, attending Ohio State University, majoring in Social Work

Peter Hoffman, Upper Arlington HS, attending Miami University

Hannah Meyer, Grandview Heights HS, attending DePaul University

Ruby Miller, Upper Arlington HS, attending Ohio University

Cate Warnement, Metro Early College HS, attending McGill University, majoring in Pre-Med

Abby Wild, Upper Arlington HS, attending Butler University

College

Noah Cochran, BS in Special Education, cum laude, Bowling Green State University

Sarah Heuerman, Miami University

Sophia Kiselova-Sammons, BA in Russian Language & BA in Anthropological Science, Ohio State University

Grace VanFossen, BS in Public Health, University of Kentucky

Annika Wachtman, BA in International Studies and Public Relations, Capital University

Post-Graduate Work

Julia DeNiro, Masters of Public Health, Ohio State University

Stephanie Engel-Brooks, MA in Youth & Family Ministries, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University

Kristin Farley, PhD, Ohio State University

Tom Fenner, Masters in Higher Education Administration, University of Georgia

TJ Lynch, Master of Divinity, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University

Suzie Ward, MD, University of Cincinnati Medical School

God loves both the rich and the poor.  However, it can be difficult for the rich to love the Lord because they can so easily become absorbed in the things they possess.  Jesus warned that wealth can be highly dangerous.  He told how difficult it was for the rich to be saved when he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”  (Luke 18:24-25)  God doesn’t condemn wealth.  The warning is about the attitude that an abundance of money and possessions can cause. Paul wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”(1 Timothy 6:10).  For more information on stewardship, please contact Max Buban.