Mar 4, 2017 | News, News-for-Home-Page, Pastor Jim's Blog
Ash Wednesday begins our Lenten journey to Jerusalem, to Holy Week, and Easter. The Ash Wednesday worship service will be observed at 7 pm. Join us for the imposition of Ashes, Holy Communion, and special music by the Trinity Senior Choir and Karl Olsen.
The Surprise 30 Anniversary Celebration
Felicia and I thank you for the wonderful surprise celebration of the 30th anniversary of my ordination. For more than 27 of those years we have served alongside of the people of Trinity Lutheran Church. You are the most wonderful congregation, and we have been blessed to have shared our life and ministry with you.
My thanks too, are extended to Felicia and my girls for their love, their sacrifices and their support. It was an honor to have my sons-in-law Michael and Court, with us on Sunday as well. Our family has been blessed beyond measure. We thank you.
I would be remiss if I did not thank Karl and Robin for their partnership in the work that we share. They have given their lives to this church and we are all indebted to them. Their dedication and love is remarkable. Without Robin and Karl our congregation would not be the wonderful place that it is. My love to you both.
Finally, you will be hearing a lot about our new commitment to help the people of Bihar, India. At our Annual Meeting on February 5th our congregation pledged $100,000 to support the Bihar Project. We will be making a $25,000 gift in each of the next four years. We will be partnering with nine other Lutheran Congregations and Lutheran World Relief.
This joint effort will help 56,000 people out of abject poverty. We cannot solve all the problems of the world, but we can make a difference. We can be the hands and feet of Jesus, not just on Whidbey Island, but in the world.
In honor of the wonderful surprise celebration of our 30 years of ordained ministry, and as a thank you for the privilege of serving the best congregation in the ELCA, Felicia and I are going to donate $1,000 to the TLC Bihar account.
We are so grateful to you, and for you.
So, let’s keep the TLC miracle going. Blessed to be a Blessing — let us be generous, and let us share the amazing grace and extravagant hospitality of our God with all people.
My love to you,
Pastor Jim
Jan 24, 2017 | News, News-for-Home-Page, Pastor Jim's Blog
“Now I appeal to you brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and for the same purpose.” I Corinthians 1:10
This week was an amazing week in the history of our country. We witnessed the peaceful transfer of power. Former Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, Congressional leaders, and political adversaries stood together as President Trump was sworn in to the highest office in our land.
This was an amazing week in the history of our country. The day after the inauguration, millions of women, young girls, and men joined hands and hearts in peaceful protest. The Women’s March on Washington morphed into something extraordinary. Cities across the United States and across the globe were filled with marchers.
It is clear that our nation is divided. Perhaps only the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement rivals the divisiveness that we see today.
The USA is Divided—TLC is United.
In the reading above, Paul encourages the Church to “be united in the same mind, and for the same purpose.” At TLC, we are united in our calling. We seek to follow Jesus Christ in our worship and in our serving. It is critical in this time of upheaval that we keep our eyes on the prize. We must be clear about our mission, our calling, our reason for gathering in the first place.
We are not united in our politics and we do not seek to be united in our politics. If we are to be faithful in our calling to follow Jesus, then we must be a safe place for sinners of all sizes, shapes, persuasions, ethnicities, and political affiliations. It makes no difference to me if you are a Trump supporter or a Trump protester. If you are coming to TLC to worship, love, and serve then you will be respected and welcomed here. Either all are welcome, or all will be excluded.
Our Nation is divided. I ask your help in keeping our Church united in Jesus Christ. What should we do? We should be active in the political process. We should work for justice, peace, and the common good of all people. We should march, write letters, vote, and be advocates for the voiceless.
Be guided by the Holy Spirit and by the Holy Scripture. Let love be your guide and you will not sound like nails on a chalkboard to family and friends. Be humble. You may have it all figured out but then again, I am guessing that every once in a while, even you have been wrong. If we are going to follow Jesus, then we should keep the 10 Commandments. I am hoping that you are doing OK with the commandments dealing with murder, adultery and stealing. But there is also this commandment: “Thou shall not bear false witness.”
This commandment is not only a prohibition from lying. Luther taught that if we are to keep this command from God, then we must go out of our way to explain our neighbor’s actions in the kindest possible way. Your mother told you, “If you can’t say something nice, then do not say anything at all.”
I want to encourage you to keep your political opinions off Facebook and other social media outlets. There is a whole lot of mean spirited, commandment breaking going on on social media and we are not better for it. When you carry the name of Jesus, if you are a Christian, then breaking the commandments reflects poorly on your church and on your Savior.
Our Nation is divided—Let us take care to keep TLC united in love, in service, in patience, in humility, in worship, and in Spirit.
I appeal to you sisters and brothers that there be no divisions among you.
Love,
Pastor Jim
Dec 23, 2016 | News, News-for-Home-Page, Pastor Jim's Blog
How does a path become a path?
It is quite simple actually. One person walks in a particular direction. Through woods or weeds or waist high grass. One person walks in a particular direction and soon others follow. In the beginning, it is sometimes hard to determine where the path is. But with each step, the pathway becomes more defined.
Soon the steps of a thousand people beat down the vegetation. Bare dirt and stone make it clear that others have passed this way. This pathway where others have traveled, leads somewhere.
If everyone felt it necessary to walk their own way, then there would be no pathway. A leisurely walk would become a test of one’s navigational skill and many would be lost.
Danielle took this photo last Sunday. Fresh snow on the sidewalk that leads to the doors of our church. What do you notice? Footprints small and large, heels, dress shoes and boot prints, the trail of a walker or two.
The path to TLC has become a pathway for many. This is a safe place. Others have walked the pathway that we might be here today. Our parents and grandparents, our charter members and new members have walked this pathway.
In this season of Christmas we are reminded that the path which leads to Bethlehem, to the water, to the bread and wine, to Jesus, is a safe pathway for all of God’s people. In this season of Christmas, we are reminded that the stable in Bethlehem was crowded with an un-wed mother, a blue-collar carpenter, common barn animals, unclean shepherds, and star gazing foreigners.
Look at those foot prints in the snow. Those are the foot prints of our brothers and sisters. Rich and poor, black and brown, ex-cons and recovering addicts, gay and straight, democrat and republican. Either all are welcome or all will be excluded.
I am thankful to be walking the pathway of life with you!
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Jim
Christmas Eve Services at 4, 7 and 9 pm.
Christmas Morning service at 9:00.
Dec 18, 2016 | News, News-for-Home-Page, Pastor Jim's Blog
Christmas is just around the corner and I am so excited. Tomorrow, I will be dressing up the Preschoolers in nativity garb. The little ones make the cutest sheep, angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph that you will ever see. On Sunday at the 11:00 am Service, the Sunday School will be presenting their Christmas program.
Don’t forget this Sunday is Christmas Sweater Day. Dig those sweaters out of the moth balls and have fun at TLC.
On Christmas Eve, we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus with three unique services. A delightful Children’s Service will be held at 4:00 pm. There will be several special music offerings from our Splash Children’s Choir, from our Middle School Students, and from Karl Olsen. We will sing your favorite Christmas Carols and with the help of our children we will build a live nativity.
At 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, the sanctuary will be aglow with the flames of 400 candles as we sing Silent Night, share Holy Communion, revel in the Christmas Gospel, and be blessed by a variety of special musical selections.
On Sunday, December 25th you are invited to join us for a reflective Christmas Morning Service at 9:00 am. There will be a festive coffee hour following the service. Bring Christmas treats, cookies or sweets to share.
Christmas is just around the corner and I am so excited. Thank you for sharing the joy of this Holy Season with me.
Ho Ho Ho! – Pastor Jim
PS: I just have to say this. The 8th Commandment DOES apply to Social Media. For your own good, and for the good of your neighbor–Please do not break any commandments!
OK—the 8th Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” What does this mean? We are to come to the defense of our neighbor, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.
In Social Media and in life—“if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.”
Dec 13, 2016 | News, News-for-Home-Page, Pastor Jim's Blog
This will be Cam’s first Christmas and my first Christmas as grandpa.
I think about her often. She lived in a modest home, built by her father. She walked with a limp. I was with her when she broke that leg. When I stayed overnight we made fudge together. She taught me how to play poker. She was the first person I knew with a remote on her TV, and yet she never did get a dishwasher or a microwave.
She volunteered tirelessly. Her hospitality was comfortable and gracious, no pretense. Her door was always open. There was always room at her kitchen table. The coffee was always on.
She was my Grandma Elliott. She raised three children in the Great Depression. She carried the family on her back when my Grandfather was ill. She loved me. I always knew that; and she loved Christmas.
She loved Christmas, the tree, the decorations, her family gathered at her house. The cards, the food, the music, she loved Christmas. She loved the story. The promise of life stirring mysteriously in the womb of a virgin. The journey by donkey from Galilee to the sleepy village of Bethlehem. The stable, the shepherds, and the angels. A Christmas star bearing witness to the light of the world. The lamb of God lying in a feed trough. The journey of the Wise Men as they brought gifts to an infant king.
It was just a few days before Christmas when she died. I was with her that day too. She was struck down by some strange disease that attacked the immune system. She had contracted the disease through a blood transfusion. The doctors did not even have a name for the disease at that time.
I remember that Christmas vividly. Presents under the tree from a Grandmother who was gone. Fudge she had made sitting on a plate. An empty place at the table. No limp. No poker. Her smile and laugh were only a memory.
Christmas still came that year, it always breaks through the darkness of winter. Christmas came and the story was told. My Grandmother loved the story. Don’t lose the story this year. Don’t be so distracted that you miss the story. Come to church and hear the story read, preached, and sung. Invite friends to join you at TLC.
For unto you a child is born and this is good news for all the people of the world.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Jim
PS: The Memorial Service for Byron Birdsall will be on Friday, December 16th, 2:00 at TLC.
Nov 30, 2016 | Events, News, News-for-Home-Page, Pastor Jim's Blog
Weekly Word from Pastor Jim
This Sunday at TLC you are invited to wear your favorite Seahawk, Husky, Cougar, Bronco, or even Patriot gear. Actually, we will be talking about John the Baptist this Sunday. So, if you are so inclined, you could wear a leather girdle and eat a few locusts.
On Sunday, December 11 we will be lighting three of the four Advent Candles as we continue to make our way to Bethlehem. In days gone by the color of Advent was purple, but on the third Sunday of Advent a blue candle would be lit. On December 11, you are invited to WEAR BLUE. Blue shirts, blue jeans, blue hats, blue dresses, blue ties, and blue sweatshirts will all be in style at TLC.
On Sunday, December 18, in addition to the Sunday School Christmas Program, we will be having our second annual Christmas Sweater Sunday. (The louder the better.) This might be your only chance to wear that sweater in public this year. At the 9:30 a.m. service that morning, this Grandpa will be holding little Camden James McNany, as he is baptized into the Christian Church.
Christmas Eve is on December 24th this year and we will be celebrating with a family Christmas service at 4 pm. Candlelight Services with Holy Communion will be held at 7 and 9 pm.
The next morning, on Christmas Day at 9 am we will gather for a simple, beautiful celebration of the Nativity. I will have the coffee made early that morning. Please join us.
Finally, I would ask your help as we seek to make our year-end General Fund budget goals. We have given away more than $200,000 this year! Praise be to God. Now it is time to balance our bottom line. Blessed to be a Blessing! I thank you in advance for your Christmas gifts to TLC.
Ho Ho Ho and I will see you in Church!
Love, Pastor Jim
