Pastor Jim’s Blog

The Best Weekend Ever

The Best Weekend Ever

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... Last weekend I took a group of elementary students to Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham. I cannot tell you how good it felt to load the van with kids and head out of town. It has been two years since I’ve driven a van full of Trinity kids...

read more
I Will Not Let You Go

I Will Not Let You Go

Today’s Word from Karl Olsen... “God has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b OK. I’m holding on to that. Looking around our church, island, region and world these days… it’s something I have to remember often. A little rambling… I live a pretty...

read more
Ukraine Refugee Relief Response

Ukraine Refugee Relief Response

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... Thank you for your generous and compassionate support of the refugee crisis in Eastern Europe. We might not be able to stop this war, but we can make a difference! Since March 2nd, Trinity has already given $25,000 to Eastern Europe. We...

read more
Thankful to Be on This Journey with You…

Thankful to Be on This Journey with You…

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... The Covid19 pandemic threatened our community on a variety of levels. Over the past two years many have been sick with the virus, but few have been seriously ill, and to the best of my knowledge, no one from TLC was ever...

read more
The Nobility of Longing

The Nobility of Longing

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... No one has ever accused me of being noble. Nope. Been accused of lots of things - selfish, talks too much, really sad golfer, doesn’t listen (who does?), insensitive (“Siri, why have I had trouble with women?” “This is Alexa.”)… you...

read more
Good Fences

Good Fences

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy You have probably heard it said that good fences make good neighbors. We have come dangerously close to being poor neighbors lately. You may recall that during a wind storm in November, we had a large Madrona tree fall on one of our...

read more
Is It Age Appropriate?

Is It Age Appropriate?

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... Listening is important. I have listened through the years to many parents who were exasperated, fatigued, and generally flummoxed over the behavior of their children. The age of the children? Babies who won’t sleep, terrible two-year...

read more
We Made it Through the Door

We Made it Through the Door

Today’s Word from Ron Roesler... Have you ever wondered what causes some people to attach themselves to fringe beliefs? Beliefs that defy conventional wisdom, or beliefs of those who think radically different than yourself? When I was younger, I had difficulty...

read more
A Firm Foundation

A Firm Foundation

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... We have been entrusted with a precious gift. The gift of a church, a community, a beautiful and flawed gathering of the young and old. We have been entrusted with a precious gift: a community of diverse opinions, political persuasions,...

read more
Apophatic or Cataphatic?

Apophatic or Cataphatic?

Today's Word from Pastor Tom... It is often said you can put mystics of varied and different religions in the same room and they will instantly bond, or hear one another. Put theologians of different religious ilk in the same room and within 10 minutes someone will be...

read more
Where the Guest is God

Where the Guest is God

Today's Word from Sheila Weidendorf In India, Where the Guest is God I come to touch my feet upon the earth in the place where the guest is God In this land where Everything exists within Nothing and holiness is never more than a breath away I come to feast my eyes...

read more
Betty Lehman

Betty Lehman

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... It was 69 years ago. The population of Island County was holding steady at 11,000. Dwight Eisenhower had moved into the Oval Office. Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom. The Korean War had just ended. The unknown Elvis...

read more
Eight Funerals and a Wedding

Eight Funerals and a Wedding

Today's Word from Pastor Jim__“For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”_ Ecclesiastes 3We currently have eight funerals, or graveside services, scheduled at TLC. We also have two of our members on Hospice Care. Among the...

read more
The Rim of Life

The Rim of Life

Today's Word from Pastor Tom...“For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. “ Psalm 92.4With one day yet of travel, we are 3,400 miles into this adventure. When it comes to car travel our typical MO is to load the...

read more
Where Do You Want to Start?

Where Do You Want to Start?

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121 Sometimes, when catching up with an old friend, or sitting down with a coworker, the first question...

read more
That’s the Deal

That’s the Deal

Today's Word from Karl Olsen... “In love, it’s only those who trust each other, who can make it until the end.” Auliq Ice “…in sickness and health, as long as we both shall live.” Spoken by millions of lovers… In my life as a musician, I’ve been part of many weddings....

read more
Humility

Humility

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... There are many attributes that are universally accepted by humans of all races, religions, and nationalities. Included on the list would be kindness, compassion, mercy, hospitality, honesty, integrity, dependability, creativity,...

read more
In But Not Of

In But Not Of

Today's Word from Pastor Tom... “In but not of…” One of the great lines of scripture. A slight paraphrase from John chapter 17, Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prays for his followers who are “in” this world but not “of” this world. For me this is one of the most...

read more
From India, With Love

From India, With Love

Today's Word from Sheila Weidendorf... I am writing this from the rooftop of our Rajasthani farmhouse, nestled in the arms of the Aravali Mountains outside of Udaipur. Udaipur is a gleaming white marble city known as “The City of Lakes.” The historic palace of the...

read more
A Great Year Ahead!

A Great Year Ahead!

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... 2022 is going to be a fantastic year! I expect there to be some bumps in the road, but by any measure I am certain that 2022 is going to be a great year. A year of beautiful sunrises and sunsets, a year of hot showers and tasty food, a...

read more
Touch the Future

Touch the Future

The Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment will give away $240,000 in 2022. This money will support local charities, national and international causes, and provide needed scholarships to dozens of college students. Make your final statement in life consistent with the...

read more
Flawed Humans: They’ll Know we are Christians by our Love

Flawed Humans: They’ll Know we are Christians by our Love

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... There has been a lot of criticism of the Christian Church in recent years and it has led many to be skeptical of all organized religion. The criticism has been mostly fair. This is not a new story; the Christian Church has opened itself...

read more
Creation

Creation

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... Our first story, Genesis chapter one: “Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our own image, according to our likeness’..” We were created in the image of God. Now there is much that we could say about that. Female and male were...

read more
Us Lesser Knowns

Us Lesser Knowns

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... That’s me on the left. For those who attended the October 31st Reformation Service you undoubtedly recognized me adorned in my red chasuble. Not every pastor is gifted with a bobblehead doll, or a red chasuble for that matter. This...

read more
Leftovers

Leftovers

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... “When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’” John 6:12 Right around the time the new year rolls in, we start to put away the Christmas decorations. Lights come...

read more
There’s No Place Like Home

There’s No Place Like Home

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... On January 23rd we will celebrate the Third Sunday of Epiphany. Our reading that morning will be from the 4th Chapter of Luke. In that text, Jesus will be coming home to Nazareth. He had left home some time earlier; he had been baptized...

read more
Blessed Effulgence…

Blessed Effulgence…

Today’s Word from Sheila Weidendorf... As I write this, the season of Advent (my favorite in the liturgical year!) has come and gone, and Christmastide is all but concluded. 2021 has tucked itself into the recesses of memory as we herald in a new year—a fresh start, a...

read more
Never Too Old!

Never Too Old!

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... Who said, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Not true. Why, for example, just recently I had an experience that taught me why it is helpful to turn on the light prior to brushing my teeth. Did you know that in the early morning...

read more
Immanuel

Immanuel

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... As we wind down from our joyous Christmas celebrations, for some, there is a lingering sadness. A sadness that comes with the memories of loved ones who are no longer here, or perhaps with the experience of not being able to be together...

read more
What Do You Know About Mary?

What Do You Know About Mary?

Today’s Word from Karl Olsen... “Let us learn from the Virgin Mary how to be bolder in obeying the word of God.” Pope Francis “In trial or difficulty, I have recourse to Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.” Saint Therese of Lisieux “When I find...

read more
Christmas Anticipation

Christmas Anticipation

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... You know that part of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” where we sing “… He sees you when you’re sleepin...” It is a faint childhood memory but I think it was the old cowboy Gene Autry who sang it. Well, that always struck me as a little...

read more
Room for a Little One

Room for a Little One

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... I had the joyful experience of visiting the preschoolers in their outdoor classroom today. They excitedly lined up on their little stump seats to wait for my Bible story. Today, though, I didn’t bring my Bible. Instead, I brought one of...

read more
Venti, Venti…

Venti, Venti…

Today’s Word from Sheila Weidendorf... O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. O come, o Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily, to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in...

read more
Christmas Memories

Christmas Memories

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... Their ages were age one, two and a half, and almost four. Our one and only time as a family in Hawaii. It was right after Christmas. There were so many things I appreciated about that time in our family life. For one thing, it was...

read more
Spreading Smiles

Spreading Smiles

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... I’ve mentioned before that both of my daughters raise and show goats in 4H. My youngest, Lia, spends the whole year training her pack goat, Norman, by taking him on almost daily walks. Together, they stroll up and down the roads around...

read more
Let All Things Now Living

Let All Things Now Living

Today’s Word from Karl Olsen... "Let All Things Now Living" by Katherine K. Davis, Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise, who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, who guides us and leads to the end of our...

read more
Finding Sunshine

Finding Sunshine

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... The windstorm that struck our beautiful island early this week was incredible! I’m sure this is one that future generations will grow tired of hearing about. We’ll all have remarkable stories about the weather that we’ve experienced...

read more
The Lovely Dark

The Lovely Dark

Today’s Word from Karl Olsen... It’s amazing how many timers and clocks we have in our lives. This past weekend when we “fell back,” I’m sure I set nearly 10 different devices around our house, from thermostats to light timers, to clocks. All in the effort to avoid...

read more
Focus, People, Focus!

Focus, People, Focus!

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... By the time you read this, Brenda and I will have experienced the Andrea Bocelli concert at the completely remade Key Arena, now known as Climate Pledge Arena. The last time I was in that arena it was to watch the Seattle Sonics go down...

read more
Misplaced

Misplaced

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 Have you ever been lost? Or maybe even just misplaced – like you know where you should be, but you’re not quite sure how to get there? It’s really not a good feeling....

read more
When Life Gives You Green Tomatoes…

When Life Gives You Green Tomatoes…

Today’s Word from Laura Canby... I enjoy harvesting veggies from my garden this time of year -- a reward to labors during spring and summer. Usually, I have buckets of various red tomatoes: plum, Roma, heirloom, cherry tomatoes, beefsteak, etc.  We enjoy them in...

read more
Honoring Angels

Honoring Angels

Today’s Word from Trinity member, Ron Roesler... Life is a constant flow of transitions and lessons… When born, we know very little. At eighteen, most of us knew everything. At least I believed I did. Then, it takes a lifetime to learn and realize how little I/we...

read more
Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou My Vision

Today’s Word from Sheila Weidendorf Text Origin: Middle Irish Poem “Rop tú mo Baile” Attribution: Saint Dallan Forgaill Tune: Slane (the village from which this Old Irish folk tune was collected) Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart Naught be all else to me, save...

read more
A Promise Made

A Promise Made

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom A promise made is a promise kept. I remember my dad uttering those words while he quietly wept. Some business partners had, years before, made a promise on a handshake, and were now reneging. Through hard work he had kept his side of the...

read more
What is Your Calling?

What is Your Calling?

Today's Word from Deacon Amy... "Your calling is where your own greatest joy intersects with the needs of the world." – Frederick Buechner I love this quote from Frederick Buechner. I first heard it my Vocation class at Trinity Lutheran College. It was an entry level...

read more
Renewal in the Wilderness

Renewal in the Wilderness

Today's word from Laura Canby... “…He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.” Luke 5:16 The Gospels tell us that Jesus frequently went into the wilderness (nature) to pray. I like to think that in addition to conversing with His Father, He was refreshed by the...

read more
Making a Positive Difference in the World

Making a Positive Difference in the World

Today's Word from Trinity member Ron Roesler... I am just one of seven billion people. What can one person do to make a positive difference in the world? What could one in billions possibly do to affect the whole world? I have my own problems and opinions. As good as I...

read more
An Evening Hymn, This Morning

An Evening Hymn, This Morning

Today's Word from Karl Olsen... One of my favorite hymns, in our hymnal or any other, is an old favorite sung to the hymn tune TALLIS CANON, All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night. Part of my affection for this hymn is its straight forward, wonderful,...

read more
Uncommonly Common

Uncommonly Common

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... “I’m an idiot!” Not an uncommon piece of internal conversation I have that is never ever to be available for an outside audience. But it is, none the less, a fairly regular piece of ticker tape that floats across my frontal lobe. I mean...

read more
More Kindness

More Kindness

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... “Nothing in nature lives for itself. The rivers do not drink their own water; the trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule...

read more
Drills – Revisited

Drills – Revisited

During Pastor Jim's Sabbatical, we have decided to revisit some previous missives. They were written in the earlier days of the pandemic. The original publication date has been left on the missive. A Word from Pastor Jim March 18 2020 I remember the drills. Not the...

read more
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary in Our Sanctuary

Twenty-Fifth Anniversary in Our Sanctuary

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... Twenty-five years ago, we were preparing for our first worship service in our newly built sanctuary. We had been planning, fundraising, and laboring for years in anticipation of this day. In August of that year my parents would be...

read more
Walking in Limbo

Walking in Limbo

Today's Word from Mark Winslow This pandemic time reminds me a great deal of a previous time in my life about forty years ago. Walking in limbo. I was 28 years old and experiencing the happiest day of my life, at that time. I was getting married to the woman I loved,...

read more
’Til Each Tear Becomes a Rose

’Til Each Tear Becomes a Rose

Today’s Word from Sheila Weidendorf... Pastor Jim recently preached the good word about Love as the Greatest Commandment—the love of God, the love of neighbor, the love of self. But life and love among we mere mortals can be a tricky business. Human relations are...

read more
Extravagant Hospitality

Extravagant Hospitality

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:1-2 It was one of those quick church conversations while moving about from office...

read more
Joy

Joy

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... As I write this, I am listening to our Karl play and sing “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” Assuming you were blessed by his devotion last Wednesday, the tune “Kingsfold” might still be ringing in your head. This is a favorite hymn of...

read more
Choose Kind

Choose Kind

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... “Nothing beats kindness… it sits quietly beyond all things.” Charlie Mackesy. I was waiting in line at a sandwich shop the other day when an older gentleman in front of me turned to look at me and smiled. He told me that he liked my...

read more
Happy Birthday Web and Marion!

Happy Birthday Web and Marion!

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... I hope you will join us this Sunday, September 26, for a very special day in the life of our community. We are having a birthday party this coming Sunday for Web Halvorsen. On September 28th, Web will be celebrating his 103rd Birthday....

read more
Whose is it?

Whose is it?

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... “The heavens are yours, the earth is also yours; the world and all that is in it -- you founded them.” Psalm 89:11 The flamboyant entertainer Liberace was a remarkable musician, but he was known for his lavish costumes, lavish rings,...

read more
Providence

Providence

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... “The grass withers, the flower fades, surely the people are grass.” Isaiah She approached me after the worship service; the mask covered a face that had weathered seasons of great joy and unspeakable sorrow. There were things about...

read more
I Am the Vine… You Are the Branches

I Am the Vine… You Are the Branches

Today's Word from Laura Canby... As I did morning slug patrol in the garden, vines of tender, unfolding grape leaves caught my eye. A long-ago memory came to mind – along with a hankering for dolmas. I was a freshman in a Christian college in Northern California above...

read more
The Art of the Tune

The Art of the Tune

Today's Word from Karl Olsen... “The art of sewing lyrics with the tune is very interesting….” Ankit Tiwari, Indian playback singer and songwriter. Last Sunday we played a song called The Invitation as part of the Prelude music for the church service. If you were...

read more
9/11

9/11

Today's Word from Pastor Jim...  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 Our nation changed twenty years ago today; our world was changed by terrorism. Our nation has been changed by Covid19; our world has been changed by this pandemic....

read more
The Spirituality of Craft

The Spirituality of Craft

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... It’s Labor Day. I am laboring on Labor Day. Looking out over Lake Chelan at the masses enjoying the fruits of our last summer holiday, I sit at the computer typing my little fingers off. I’m a laborer. On Labor Day. Now in the interest...

read more
A Little Faith

A Little Faith

Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my daughters and I took some time away recently. Leaving home, when you have a small farm, is a big undertaking. It can sometimes be a challenge to find someone reliable and competent to manage the...

read more
Love of Neighbor

Love of Neighbor

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... The bubonic plague is believed to have been in existence since at least 224 B.C.E. The plague arrived in Europe in October of 1347. In the five-year period that followed, one third of the population of Europe was dead. The bubonic...

read more
What If You Only Had a Day?

What If You Only Had a Day?

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... She smiled when I sat down by her bed; she squeezed my hand firmly, her eyes communicated as she was no longer able to talk. Scripture washed over her, the Lord’s prayer rhythmically echoed, the familiar words now touched the deepest...

read more
Love Demands Caution and Sensitivity

Love Demands Caution and Sensitivity

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” 2 Corinthians 13:12 It was the 21st day of October 1989. The next day I would be installed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. Felicia was nursing four-month-old Kelsi as I shared bedtime...

read more
When Jesus Calls

When Jesus Calls

Today’s Word from Sheila Weidendorf My daughter, Ada—age 17 and the last of my five children still in my nest—is something of an archivist. We both collect words and phrases, delighting in things people say that are unexpected, or that have never been said to us...

read more
A Source of Inspiration

A Source of Inspiration

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim...  “What matters is to turn one’s predicament into a human achievement.” Victor Frankl I spend a fair amount of time giving pep talks these days, mostly to myself. Victor Frankl’s life story has been a source of inspiration for more than...

read more
“Shank!!”

“Shank!!”

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom... “He’s at a loss for words!” giggled my sister. It was true. I was so stunned by the moment I was left without a single word. Admittedly, it doesn’t happen much, but the sudden appearance of friends wishing me a happy birthday had left...

read more
Walking in Darkness

Walking in Darkness

Today's Word from Deacon Amy... "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 My family is taking a little time away before busy schedules resume in the fall. We had originally planned to travel east toward Montana, but wildfires and pandemic...

read more
Do You Believe in God?

Do You Believe in God?

Today’s Word from Pastor Jim....“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up to the heavens and say there is no God.” Abraham Lincoln.“If there is no God, nothing...

read more
Speak the Words of God

Speak the Words of God

Today's Word from Pastor Jim...I thought this morning that I would start by telling you a lie and the truth. I am counting on you to determine which statement is the lie and which is the truth.1. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never...

read more
Grief and Joy

Grief and Joy

Today's Word by Karl Olsen...It is a human dichotomy, that we can experience joy and grief in close proximity, both exceedingly real and life-impacting. One sometimes influencing the other, but ending up perhaps in gratitude, giving thanks for the good...

read more
Scholarship Thank Yous

Scholarship Thank Yous

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland — who are we and what are we about? We are followers of Jesus. Jesus — who cared for the marginalized, ate with sinners, and touched the untouchable. We are pilgrims on a journey of faith. We do not...

read more
It Hurts When They Leave

It Hurts When They Leave

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “By the waters of Babylon we sat and wept.” Psalm 137 It hurts when they leave, and they always leave. The most painful part of parish life and ministry is when they leave, and they always leave. We buried Tom Bast two weeks ago. After...

read more
Angels Unaware

Angels Unaware

Today's Word from Pastor Tom... I was dumbfounded. He didn’t remember. It was his decision that altered the course of my life and he didn’t remember. “Tom, it was so nice of you to take the time to search me out. After all these years this is indeed a fine gesture but...

read more
Compassion Camp

Compassion Camp

Today's Word from Deacon Amy... Our theme at Vacation Bible School last week was all about Compassion. That’s a pretty big concept for kids! We talked about kindness and love and taking care of each other. Our chant for the week was: I see your hurt, I feel your hurt,...

read more
Should I Stop Praying?

Should I Stop Praying?

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me...

read more
Home is in the Heart

Home is in the Heart

Today's Word from Sheila Weidendorf... If early 20th century writer, Thomas Wolfe, was correct, “you/we can never go home again.” Of course, we can—geographically-speaking—go anywhere we wish these days, even into the reaches of space itself if we’ve sufficient...

read more
Sabbatical Update

Sabbatical Update

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Sabbaticals in the church, and in higher education, have a long history. For six years I served as the Chair of Academic Affairs at Luther Seminary and our committee regularly reviewed and approved sabbatical proposals. In the ELCA...

read more
What a Ride!

What a Ride!

Today's Word from Pastor Dennis... “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people.” Well, something like that. Eventually it gets to the people and thus the “church.” Luther once said - among a whole lot of other things - that God works...

read more
A Word on Worship from Pastor Jim

A Word on Worship from Pastor Jim

Wearing a Mask as a Sign of Unity in Fighting the Pandemic Join us for worship on August 1st at Trinity Lutheran Church. In-person worship will be held at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. For your convenience, the 8:00 a.m. service will also be live-streamed and can be viewed at...

read more
Leave it to the Amateurs

Leave it to the Amateurs

Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Soffit… Webster’s, “the underside of a part or member of a building.” Soffits are not typically a topic of conversation. They are not a part of construction that typically captures one’s attention. They are the eaves for goodness’...

read more
Embrace the Day

Embrace the Day

Today's Word from Deacon Amy... Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. Psalm 57:8-9 My daughter, Lia, sent me the attached picture today. She...

read more
Masks

Masks

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Now there are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common...

read more
Time is Precious

Time is Precious

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... We arrived at our room, and I took off my watch. I had not taken that watch off for 16 months. I made the decision not to put it back on until it was time to go home. Felicia and I had left the island, all by ourselves. We were...

read more
What Sweetness Awaits

What Sweetness Awaits

Today's Word from Sheila Weidendorf... If you’ve read any of my missives about Old Tyme music—which I dearly love—you know that I’m NOT a big fan of what I have called “Pie in the Sky” Theology. It’s a kind of “It’s okay if we suffer now because we will be rewarded in...

read more
A Servant Life

A Servant Life

Today's Word from Karl Olsen... "…anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." Martin Luther King, Jr. "Vocation is the...

read more
Hurt People Hurt People

Hurt People Hurt People

Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Luke was a physician, a second-generation Christian. Though he authored the third Gospel (and the Acts of the Apostles) he never met Jesus. Both of his works were addressed to the same individual, Theophilus. His name means “lover...

read more
Marked with the Cross of Christ

Marked with the Cross of Christ

Today's Word from Deacon Amy... When we are baptized in the Christian Church the pastor says to us, “child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” What a beautiful statement – we have been marked with the cross of...

read more
Scholarship Thank You

Scholarship Thank You

Today's Word from Pastor Jim and Luc Gandarias... Luc Gandarias and his brother Gabe have grown up at TLC. Luc is a 2021 South Whidbey High School graduate and class valedictorian. Luc was awarded the TLC Ruby Scholarship. His name will be added to the long list of...

read more
Serendipity

Serendipity

Today's Word from Deacon Amy... “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 My daughters are busy preparing for the Whidbey Island Fair. After not having a fair...

read more
A Tee Ball Kind of Church

A Tee Ball Kind of Church

Today's Word from Pastor Jim...   Felicia and I went to a Tee Ball game last night. It was a great opportunity to see our grandsons, and to watch preschoolers performing amazing athletic feats while wearing their finest baseball regalia. The sun was warm, the grass...

read more
To Attain His Feet

To Attain His Feet

Today's Word from Sheila Weidendorf...   For today’s spiritual/musical exploration I want to go back to my beloved India. In a way, there is no such thing as India. The word “India” is derived from the Greek Indus, the name given to a great river that runs across...

read more
Welcome Back

Welcome Back

Today's Word from Pastor Jim...   “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Pave paradise, put up a parking lot.” Week by week since April we have been easing back into worship. For thirteen long months the church had been empty...

read more
Order of Allegiance

Order of Allegiance

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Happy Fourth of July Weekend! The Fourth of July falls on a Sunday this year and I hope that you will be joining us for worship. We would invite you to wear red, white and blue to church. It will be a festive Sunday with songs of faith...

read more
Touching the Future

Touching the Future

Today's Word from Pastor Jim... His hair was long and white. He wore slim Western ties and cowboy boots. In years past he sat near the front at Trinity Lutheran Church with his wife, Clodagh. They had lived lives of public service working for the states of Alaska and...

read more
Two Killers

Two Killers

Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd...  Ask people to tell you two things they couldn’t live without and the list can get pretty funky. “Air conditioning” makes sense, it’s hot right now. “Cruise control” would be on my list. Beyond the trivial we would find the heart...

read more