(Note: We normally only post Pastor Jim’s weekly email note on Facebook and send it out to parishioner’s emailboxes, but with the local email network down this week, about 180 people may not have received this.)
Pastor Jim’s Message – April 25, 2012
I literally ran through the rain last Sunday afternoon. I was running from the National Cathedral in a black suit with black shoes, a black shirt, a clerical collar, and of course my TLC cross was around my neck. I was running to flag a cab so I could catch a shuttle to the airport.
It is not often that I travel in my professional attire. I had spent the weekend being an extrovert, meeting lots of people that I did not know, engaging in so many discussions and being interviewed for a documentary. All I wanted now was to be invisible, to be silent, to reflect on the weekend, to recharge the old battery. In case you are wondering, if you ever want to be invisible, do not wear full formal clerics to a major airport.
Soldiers saluted me. The team from Notre Dame bowed to me. Three people confessed their sins, and one person felt much better about getting on that airplane knowing that I was along. Once aboard I was able to rest. But when the plane landed, as I stood up, I sneezed. That is when I heard the voice of the Choir — eleven people said in harmony, “Bless you Father.”
This Sunday April 29th we have a very special service planned for you. I know that every week is special as God’s people drag their broken bodies and broken lives to a wellspring of Grace. This week I will be preaching on the Psalms and sharing a favorite story with you. Karl will sing a song that will touch your heart. You will laugh and cry this Sunday. You will be blessed by a people, a place, and a God who desires only good for you.
I missed you last Sunday but I can’t wait to see you this week.
In Love,
Father Jim
How do the Psalms speak to us today? Come and learn from this gifted scholar and highly popular professor.
Evening Lecture Series Part I / Sunday, April 15 / 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Evening Lecture Series Part II / Monday, April 16 / 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Rolf Jacobson has been an associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary since 2003.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., in 1987. He holds a M.Div. degree from Luther Seminary (1991) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J. (2000).
Ordained in 1991, Jacobson served for five years as associate pastor of Como Park Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
He also served as editor of “Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms.” His articles have appeared in Word & World, Theology Today, Interpretation, Teaching Theology & Religion. He is also the associate editor of the Book of Psalms Section of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Trinity Lutheran Church (Main Sanctuary)
18341 State Route 525 • Freeland, Washington
Dr. Jacobson will also be preaching at all three worship services Sunday, April 15.
The event is free and open to everyone. Come early for best seating.
If you haven’t already read TLC’s Spring Newsletter, why not take a few moments and read it now.
Just click on the newsletter to view the PDF. There are several interactive video links inside for you to enjoy.
This Saturday at 2 p.m. at TLC — Show Your Support of Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami/Nuclear Plant Displaced Survivors.
More than 100 Whidbey Japan Benefit friends will present a community-invited memorial service and “We Are One” Concert to help ongoing relief efforts in Japan, plus the 2010 Haiti earthquake and 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Join us in remembering nearly 20,000 Japanese earthquake victims, sending warm thoughts to the survivors, and encouraging a spirit of “peace.”
Saturday, 2pm, March 24th
Trinity Lutheran Church
18241 HWY 525, Freeland, WA
Free admission. Donations are appreciated.
We are very fortunate to have several artists attending TLC, one of whom is Byron Birdsall, world-renowned for his Alaskan landscape watercolors.
For the next three weeks his newest venture of pen and ink drawings of “Old Time Seattle” plus several selected watercolors of Seattle scenes and religious art are on display in Trinity’s main church lobby.
The lobby is open Tuesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and of course, on Sunday mornings.
The pen and ink drawings are also available for sale as a benefit to TLC.
Additional biographical information on Byron and his work can be found on these websites:
http://www.anniekaills.com/art/birdsall/index.htm
http://www.artshopgallery.com/Byron_Birdsall.htm
In case you missed this video at church today (or experienced some audio problems at the 8 a.m. service), here is a video which explain’s Trinity’s Endowment Fund and how it will affect our church, our community, and our world.
For more information, visit TLC’s Endowment Fund web page by clicking here.
Blood supplies are dangerously low…
On Monday, Feb. 6 between noon and 6 p.m. the Puget Sound Blood Center will be here at Trinity and turn our gym into a clinic. There is a desperate need for blood as the supplies are low from the snow week. Please consider donating to help save a life. Contact Robin in the church office (360-331-5191) for more information. Thank you.
It’s a new year – a fresh new year full of promise and possibility.
No doubt there are some resolutions you have made at the beginning of this month which may be a bit wobbly by now. Perhaps they involved eating healthier, exercising more, managing your finances better… Or perhaps your resolutions lean toward deepening your spiritual life and more closely following the example of Christ in your interactions with others.
Whatever your resolution, these selected sermons from the past may help you in your effort to effect meaningful, positive change in your life. Visit http://trinitylutheranfreeland.org/resources-for-you/resolutions/.
As a service to Trinity members/attendees, as well as our local community, Trinity offers the popular “Financial Peace University” class — which is especially important in these challenging economic times.
Learn to take control of your finances in this popular money management series developed by best-selling author and money expert Dave Ramsey.
This class is taught by Trinity Lutheran Church’s Treasurer, Cathy Darracot, Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in Trinity’s Fireside Room which is in the main church building, (go all the way down the colorful hallway, then take a left and go all the way down the Sunday School wing to the last classroom).
Each class session lasts approximately two hours. During the first hour, Dave Ramsey teaches on video. During the second hour, class members come together for small-group discussion. Group members support each other and hold each other accountable as they work together to transform their financial future.
There is still time to register: Call the church office at (360) 331-5191 to register. The $100 fee covers a lifetime membership, with many additional benefits and savings. See www.daveramsey.com for more information about the benefits.
You are invited to join us for Christmas Eve Worship Service…
There are three services this Saturday evening:
a 5 p.m. family service with a Christmas skit for children;
an 8 p.m. candlelight service with carols and Communion;
and a 10 p.m. candlelight service with carols and Communion.
And on Sunday morning (Christmas morning) there is one service at 10 a.m. All are welcome.
Here’s an early Christmas gift, “A Prayer for Guidance” which was recorded in September of 2007. It features the vocal talents of George Henny, Rob Mellish, and Karl Olsen. Simply beautiful.
In case you missed this sermon from December of 2009, give a listen to ways to Survive the Holidays.
And lastly, in honor of Winter Solstice today, here’s one of the most often viewed video sermons from last December, 2010:
Online Giving
Be In The Loop
