-
Trinity TidingsThursday 23. March 2017
Trinity welcomes all to a community in Christ;serving others,
growing in faith, living in hope, and reaching out in love.
TrinityLutheran
Church
11200 Old Georgetown Rd.North Bethesda, MD 20852
Phone301.881.7275
[email protected]
Web
TrinityELCA.org
Facebookfacebook.com/trinityelca
A Reconciling in Christand
a Stephen Ministrycongregation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Potluck Luncheon
Sunday 26. March 12:15 pm
Now that we have had our first (and hopefully last) snowstorm of
the year,it is time to Welcome Spring with a potluck luncheon at
12:15 pm, afterthe second service. Bring your favorite salad, side,
speciality, or sweetto share and join the fun and fellowship.
The Parish Life Team will provide beverages.
Fourth Sunday in Lent 26. March 2017 Assisting Us in the Liturgy
Today
8:15 am 10:45 amAcolytes Joshua BAssisting Ministers Nancy N
Sarah GChildren’s Church Anita S Anita SGreeters Tom M Trevor H,
Maggie & EvieLectors Sarah M Susan SUshers Nancy & Tom M
Rich G & Mark PCoffee Hour Dan & Rob S Welcome Spring
Potluck LuncheonAltar Custodians Carol B & Christine
BBulletin Assembly Diana BTellers Thor N & Julie N
mailto:[email protected]://www.TrinityELCA.orghttp://www.facebook.com/trinityelca
-
Fourth Sunday in Lent26. March 2017
Z 1 Samuel 16:1-13Z Psalm 23 Z Ephesians 5:8-14Z John 9:1-41
____________
Now I See
Blindness means different things to differentpeople, but it
means something to everyone.While only some people experience
physicalblindness, everyone has moments in whichwe struggle to
discover a truth or to see abigger picture, as well as moments
ofrealization or revelation or suddenremembrance — moments when we
say,"Now I see." Often such a moment showsthat we were blind in
some way. The momentof new sight might be a move of repentance,a
stumbling out of naïveté, or an awakeningto the needs of the world
around us and theradical way God loves that world.
When Jesus meets the man born blind in John9, he initiates all
sorts of new vision. He treatsthe man's physical condition. He
declaresthat the man's lifelong state does not have todo with how
good or evil he or his parentsare. Gradually the man also sees who
Jesusis; he progresses from labeling Jesus "the mancalled Jesus" to
declaring, "He is a prophet,"to worshiping the Son of Man. In this
gospelreading we see Jesus challenge theassumptions the religious
authorities holdabout how to follow God and even what
"sin"means.
The story of the man born blind invites us toopen ourselves to
the moments that make ussay, "Now I see." These moments include
therealization of our wrong actions and our sinfulinaction, what we
have done and left undone;but they also include the rethinking of
ourcategories, the reconsideration of how God isasking us to
minister, the new affirmation ofour baptism, and further listening
to God'spromises and God's call. The God who cannotbe confined to
categories or pathways comesto us today to challenge our blindness
andopen for us an ever-new way of salvation.
Reprinted from Words for Worship, © 2016 Augsburg Fortress.Used
by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
Stewardship Update as of 19. March
61 families have pledged $289,270 to ourannual stewardship
campaign.
BIGGER than a Building! – 63families have pledged $481,440 toour
3 year mission appeal. As of 5.March $260,285 has been given
toBTAB!
If you have returned your commitment cards,THANK YOU! If you
have not returned yourcommitment cards for Grace ChangesEverything
and BIGGER than a Building!,please prayerfully consider the
blessings Godhas given you and respond generously. Theinformation
for our annual stewardshipprogram and our special mission appeal
are onthe Trinity web page under the “Giving” tab. Thank you and
God bless you in yourgenerosity!
Continuing This Week Last Day!
The Sparkhouse Book Fair 26. March
9:30 am-12:30 pm Sunday
with over 30 children’s books and videos
2
-
Remember in Your Prayers
. . . the churchour synod & bishops
Bishops Elizabeth Eaton and Richard Grahamour missionaries
Stephen Deal & Marta Giron, Central Americaour
congregation
Trinity Church
. . . the nationsAfghanistan, Central African Rep., Congo,
Egypt,Ethiopia, Haiti, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Libya,Myanmar,
Namibia, North Korea, Palestine, thePhilippines, Russia, Somalia,
Sudan (Darfur),Syria, the United States, Yemen, and Zimbabwe
. . . the sick and suffering nursing/rehabilitation
centerMargaret B, Aarondale Assisted LivingElaine D, Potomac Valley
N. & W.Bruce S, Sunrise of McLeanPhilip T, Manor Care
PotomacJohn W, Sunrise of Rockville homeBillie J Fred K June LCraig
O Rob W Betty Y family and friends*Margaret C, mother of Cathy
CWilliam D, friend of Cathy CDorothy F del V, friend of Ani SJanet
D, aunt of Susan KRay H, friend of Margaret FFred H, friend of
Diana MHoward M, friend of Margaret & Greg FJack R, friend of
Marilyn GJacob S, friend of Lisbeth N-DAmy P S, friend of T. &
N. NAlvin E, father of Donna SNoble S, cousin of Miriam MDon W,
cousin of Cathy C
. . . serving in the armed forcesMark B, friend of Joe C
*For family and friends, prayer requests will be kepton the list
for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, pleasecomplete another card. Thank
you.
Baptismal Days30 Mar Bill K, Nathan L, Mary M 1 Apr Linda H,
Ginger H, Hagen S
This Week at TrinitySunday 26. March 2017Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sparkhouse Book Fair
8:15 am Holy Communion 9:30 am Sunday School/Adult Classes/
Adult Inquiry 9:30 am Confirmation Class 10:45 am Holy Communion
12:15 pm Welcome Spring
Potluck LuncheonMon 7:30 pm Heavenly HandbellsTues 11:15 am
Staff MeetingWed 6:30 pm Soup & Bread Supper
7:15 pm Hymn Sing 7:30 pm Evening Prayer 8:30 pm Trinity
Singers
Thur 9:30 am Trinitarian Mailing
Next Sunday 2. AprilFifth Sunday in Lent ELCA Hunger Offering
Sunday
8:15 am Holy Communion 9:30 am Sun. School/Adult Classes/
Adult Inquiry 9:30 am Confirmation Class 10:45 am Holy
Communion
Looking Ahead at Trinity 3 Apr NO Heavenly Handbells 4 Stephen
Ministry Supervision, 7:00 pm 5 Hymn Sing, 7:15 pm Evening Prayer,
7:30 pm
Birthdays26 Mar Brooke P C27 Amanda S29 Theodore R 1 Apr Rebecca
B
Anniversaries31 Mar Leslie & David C
Nancy & Tom M 1 Apr Margaret & Greg F
Deaths Aurora B Wilma O
relative of Len S sister of Keith C + August 2016 + 21. March
2017
Elilio G Mfriend of Len S & Ani G S+ 22. March 2017
3
-
You Said Lutherans Believe What? An Adult Inquiry Class
Six Sundays at 9:30 amthrough 9. April
If you are interested in becoming a member ofTrinity, please
join us for this class. If you havebeen a member of Trinity and are
interested inlearning more, this class is for you as well.
Pleasetalk with Pastor B ([email protected]) about youri n t e r e s
t o r t h e c h u r c h o f f i c e([email protected] or
301-881-7275).
Please make your check payable to Trinity LutheranChurch and
indicate "Easter Flowers" in the memoline. You may put your check
and order formtogether in the Sunday offering plate or mail themto
Trinity.2017 Lenten Benevolence Offering toLutheran Social
Services–Trinity has named theLutheran Social Services Capital
Campaign as its2017 Lenten Benevolence recipient. Make yourcheck
out to Trinity, writing Lenten Benevolence– LSS on the designation
line, and use the specialLenten Benevolence envelopes in the pews.
Thesewill be given to the LSS Capital Campaign to assistin meeting
our $5,000 goal.
Please order by Sun 9. April
Flowers It is time to order your flowers to decorate
thesanctuary for the Easter services. You have thechoice of
ordering: Easter lilies, azaleas, orhydrangeas.
I wish to order:_____ Easter lilies @ $19.00 each
(10+ blooms, double stem)
_____ Azaleas @ $16.50 each (6" pot) ___White ___Red ___Pink
_____ Hydrangeas (3 blooms) @ $17 each (7" pot)
___Pink ___Blue ___White
Please check if you would like to:____ donate _____ pick-up
Easter flowers are given to the glory of God
By ______________________________________
In memory of _____________________________
In honor of _______________________________
John 9:1-7
As Jesus walked along, he saw a manblind from birth. His
disciples askedhim, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man orhis parents,
that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man norhis
parents sinned; he was born blindso that God's works might be
revealedin him. We must work the works ofhim who sent me while it
is day; nightis coming when no one can work. Aslong as I am in the
world, I am the lightof the world.” When he had said this,he spat
on the ground and made mudwith the saliva and spread the mud onthe
man's eyes, saying to him, “Go,wash in the pool of Siloam”
(whichmeans Sent). Then he went andwashed and came back able to
see.
4
-
For more than seven decades, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Service(LIRS) has been a champion for migrants and refugees from
around theglobe. It is a story of courageous and compassionate
service for hundredsof thousands of people who have sought safety
and hope in America’scommunities.
In 1939 the National Lutheran Council (NLC), begun in 1918 to
respond to such post-World War I needs asimmigration and refugee
resettlement, set up a Welfare Department with an office for the
“rehabilitation andplacement of Lutheran refugees.” It helped 522
refugees in the first year. With the end of the war (1945),refugee
camps spring up in Germany, Austria and Italy for displaced persons
(DPs) from Eastern Europe,one-third of whom are Lutherans. [Two
Trinity members, one in Sweden and from Norway, worked to
helpsettle refugees during and after World War II.] In 1946, a
trickle of refugees of refugees came to the United States under
regular immigration quotas includesa group of 21 teenage boys, most
of whom are Estonian Lutherans. In 1947 the U.S. Congress passed an
actauthorizing the admission of 205,000 eligible Dps and the
constituting convention of the Lutheran WorldFederation (LWF) in
Lund, Sweden, made helping refugees a priority. In that year Howard
Hong (a St. OlafCollege philosophy professor) became the director
of the Lutheran Resettlement and Emigration program forrefugees in
Germany and Austria. In 1948 the first Lutheran DPs arrive in the
United States on 30. October.
Today LIRS continues this work with migrants and refugees, U.S.
Lutheran congregations, and many Lutheransocial service partners.
One of the greatest needs now is settlement of people driven from
their homes by thewars in Syria and children bing separated from
their parents from many nations. A Trinity member recentlysent a
link from the Center for the Study of Social Policy, as source
material for understanding immigration tothe USA today.
http://www.cssp.org/media-center/blog/dividing-families-dhs-plan-separate-children-from-parents
This report from CSSP cites a report a from Lutheran Immigration
and Refugee Services (LIRS). Here is the linkto the LIRS report
https://supportkind.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/BetrayingFamilyValues_Feb2017.pdf
Yes, Lutherans in America have been leaders for decades in
helping, supporting and sponsoring immigrantsand refugees. LIRS
helps us to learn more about the emerging immigrant and refugee
crises around the worldand the policies of our elected leaders.
To learn more about Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services,
go to: http://lirs.orgTo learn more about the reality of the Syrian
Refugee Crisis, go to: http://lirs.org/syria
“‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or
thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we
saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you
clothing? And whenwas it that we saw you sick or in prison and
visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you,
justas you did it to one of the least of these who are members of
my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will sayto those at his left
hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil andhis angels; for I was hungry and you gave
me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I wasa
stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me
clothing, sick and in prison and you didnot visit me.’ Then they
also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or
thirsty or a strangeror naked or sick or in prison, and did not
take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you,
justas you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not
do it to me.’” Matthew 25:37-45
5
http://www.cssp.org/media-center/blog/dividing-families-dhs-plan-separate-children-from-parentshttps://supportkind.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/BetrayingFamilyValues_Feb2017.pdfhttp://lirs.org/syria/http://lirs.org/syria/http://lirs.org/syria/
