Engaged by Grace Weekly January 29 – February 5, 2023
For a printer-friendly version of this week’s news, please click Engaged Weekly 01292023
For a printer-friendly version of this week’s news, please click Engaged Weekly 01292023
An Introduction to Holy Trinity seminar will be conducted during the learning hour at 9:00 am on Sundays, February 5, 12, and 19. The class is designed to help 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 three sessions, we’d love for you to participate. People interested in membership at Holy Trinity will be received at the conclusion of the seminar. Please sign up at the table in the Gathering Space or contact Director of Equipping Ministers Laura Hudson at laura.hudson@engagedbygrace.org or Pastor Steve Wachtman at steve.wachtman@engagedbygrace.org if you have questions or would like to participate.
As the new year begins, Holy Trinity will be reorganizing the Hospitality Committee. The Hospitality Committee provides Sunday Hospitality after church and hosts special events during the year. We will meet after church on January 29th for a brief meeting to sign up for activities that members want to participate in. If you are unable to attend, please let Chris Pryor know.
What happens when two longtime Holy Trinity members take a trip to the Deep South with the mission of “Listening and Learning” about racism and the Civil Rights movement from Black Americans? Fred and Chris Burton did exactly that as they traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, and throughout Alabama in Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham. Some of their encounters were planned beforehand; many others resulted in them screwing up their courage and approaching people on the street, in restaurants, and in churches to engage them in casual conversations about race. On Sundays, February 5 and 12 at 9:00 am, these two adult sessions (teens are welcome too) will show photos of and expand on the Burtons’ Civil Rights “Listen and Learn” self-organized “tour” in which they experienced many unplanned “grace moments”. Participants will reflect on spiritual readings that connected to their trip and ponder their own “listen and learn” vacations. Copies of the series of letters that Fred wrote for Holy Trinity’s Engaged by Grace Weekly newsletter will also be available.
Providing altar flowers is a beautiful way to celebrate an important occasion, to remember a loved one and to give glory to God. There are still plenty of openings in the coming months. If you’d like to provide flowers, you can sign up at the flower table in the Gathering Space or by contacting the church office at 614-486-9433 or email@engagedbygrace.org. Altar flowers can be taken home following worship or given to a shut-in to brighten their day. The cost is $30. Checks, electronic drafts, or credit card payments can be made payable to Holy Trinity with “flowers” noted in the memo line.
As stewards, we continually fall short of God’s expectations for us. In spite of our good intentions and best efforts, we sin daily. We fail to use our time, talents, and treasures as wisely and faithfully as we should. Through faith, we recognize our sins and are sorry for them. As believers, we place our trust in Jesus for forgiveness for our sins, and we are determined, with the help of God, to be more faithful in how we live our lives as stewards. For more information about stewardship, please contact Max Buban at maxmbuban@sbcglobal.net.
For a printer-friendly version of this week’s news, please click Engaged Weekly 01222023
We are new creatures in Christ, the Apostle Paul declares (2 Corinthians 5:17)! As such, we no longer view ourselves or others the way we once did. We have a new role; we are ambassadors for Christ, “as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). And those to whom God appeals are the lost for whom Christ has died. What a sober responsibility we have! As stewards of the Gospel that we spread not just with our mouths, but with our actions as well, let us implore God to enable us to be His light in this dark world. For more information about stewardship, please contact Max Buban.
For a printer-friendly version of this week’s news, please click Engaged Weekly 01152023
For a printer-friendly version of this week’s news, please click Engaged Weekly 01082023
Welcome to my running online dialog on matters of our life together in faith community at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church—where the grace of Christ Jesus our Lord engages each of us and, in turn, sends us out to engage others with that grace as well. I look forward to learning and growing together.
- Pastor Steve Wachtman