Pastor Jim’s Blog
Epiphany
Today’s Word from Pastor Dennis Hanson... The Church Year and the secular calendar do not always match up. Officially, in the church calendar, Christmas ends on January 5; January 6 is Epiphany Day. Then follow the Sundays in Epiphany which means “make...
The Twelfth Day of Christmas
Today’s Word from Minister of Music Karl Olsen... “On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…” No! That’s not our song for today, but, Yes! It is the twelfth day of Christmas! So, there’s time for one more little Christmas-themed message. Christmas...
What I Love About Trinity
Today’s Word from New Member Sally Rongren More people than ever are watching TLC’s video services, reading our daily messages, and sharing them with friends and family! And throughout this time of pandemic restrictions, many folks are making the decision to join a...
We Made It!
Today’s Word from Preschool Director Felicia Lindus Forward in Faith When the school year began, we had so many more questions than answers: What would the weather be? Could we stay outside? Would we stay healthy? Would this be fun? Would the program be beneficial for...
Lessons from 2020
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... Welcome to 2021! Have you ever been this excited to hang a new calendar on the wall? While we’re all eager to say good riddance to 2020, I have to admit that the tumultuous year taught me a few things. Here, in no particular order, is a...
What Now?
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... “Thank God this is over!” So said a golf mate in his summation of 2020. The year started with such promise, such symmetry, “20-20.” Like the good news of an eye exam, the year began so easily rolling off the tongue… “Twentyyyy -...
Building a Strong Foundation
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... One of the great stories in the Bible is found in the 41st Chapter of Genesis. Some 1600 years before the birth of Jesus, Egypt was the most powerful nation in the world. Pharaoh was the undisputed leader of Egypt; he was considered to...
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella – AKA Love Has Come
Today’s Word from Trinity Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf It’s a Two-For-One Christmas Special! Today’s Christmastide hymn is derived from a 17th Century Provençal tune that was, in its original form, music for courtly dance. Then poet and composer Nicolas Saboly...
The Gift of the Baby Jesus
Today’s Word from Reverend Dave Bieniek A few months ago, I wrote a missive about one of my favorite statues of Mary. It is called the Mother of the Whole World and features Mary holding a Baby Jesus in outstretched arms, who in turn has his arms outstretched to the...
The Last, the Least, the Lost, and the Forgotten
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... The Christmas story features the last, the least, the lost and the forgotten. Mary would sing the Magnificat; “My soul proclaims your greatness O God, and my spirit rejoices in you, you have looked with love on your servant here, and...
Christmas Eve
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd I have always had a deeper affinity for Lent over Advent which tends to strike most people as curious. After all, Advent is about getting ready for Christmas, it is about gift giving and Christmas trees and beautiful decorations and the...
2020 Sunday School & Confirmation Christmas Reading
Trinity's Sunday School and Confirmation classes present our 2020 virtual Christmas Program, a reading from the Book of Luke.
Lost in the Night – an Hymn for Advent
Today's Word from Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf... I once lived in a house set amid wooded hills. Behind the house a path led up one such hill, winding its lovely way through the forest. But at night, the path disappeared from view beneath the veil of darkness. In the...
The Manger Menagerie
Today’s Word from Pastor Dave Bieniek... Anyone who visits our house (or our social media pages) at Christmas realizes that we have a lot of Nativity scenes. Each one has a story of course, which makes each one important. Some of the Nativity scenes we have bought...
A Little Light in Dark Times
We get lots of cards at TLC. This one we wanted to share with a larger audience. Merry Christmas! Today’s Word from Mark Winslow 2020! Wow! 2020 is the number you like to hear if you are visiting an optometrist. “Great news! You can see clearly, both near and far...
God as Guardian
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... I went back to college in 2013 – I was one of the oldest students in most of my classes. One of our first projects was to create a visual display featuring images of God. I was pretty proud of my trifold photo collage. I hauled it into...
Faithful Posture
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... What do you think is the coolest invention of the past 40 years? Okay, okay, the vaccine for Coronavirus 19 wins, but what gets your vote for the next coolest invention after that? What would be the next neatest invention? C’mon,...
One Gift
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... There is one gift this Christmas that only you can give. You will not find it on Amazon or at Costco. It is too precious to rest underneath a Christmas tree. It is timeless and critical to human life and human relationships. There is...
Images of Jesus
Today's Word from Karl Olsen... On my mind today is really a song, rather than the hymns Sheila and I have been exploring in recent months. On my mind as we prepare to welcome, again, the birth of Jesus, is the different ways we see Jesus, and how that is informed by...
The Festival of Lights
Today’s Word from Pastor Dave Bieniek... This year, the Jewish feast of Hanukkah began at sundown on Thursday, December 10th. It is a moveable feast that happens somewhere between late November and late December each year beginning on the Jewish calendar day of the...
The Merriest Christmas
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... Let’s make it the Merriest Christmas that we can this year! I think that it is safe to say that this will not be a traditional Christmas, but it will still be Christmas. Through the centuries the birth of Jesus has been celebrated in...
Pandemic Blues
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... This time of year, when daylight hours are short and darkness creeps in early, can feel depressing and gloomy. Many people struggle with the holidays, deeply feeling the loss of loved ones. Our ongoing pandemic quarantine has only added...
Christmas Evokes Memories
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... This time of the year evokes memories. Many are from my own childhood. Most of them are positive, thankfully. My childhood memories of Christmas are probably pretty American typical, i.e. decorated tree, presents with pretty...
The Smallest of Presents
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... It was the smallest of presents, but it would potentially have the longest shelf-life. Sweaters and ties come and go, iPhone 5 is replaced by iPhone 6, the toys break or lose favor, but the ornaments come out...
Savior of the Nations, Come
Today’s Word from Trinity Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf Martin Luther (1483-1546), as well we know! — was a German theologian and Augustinian monk — ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1507. He is known well for his reforming work that ultimately sparked the...
Swiss Cheese & Cafeteria Methods on the Path of the Gospel
Today’s Word from Reverend David Bieniek... When I was working on my masters in Youth Ministry many years ago, we were taught the importance of offering a “cafeteria method of youth ministry” where youth of a parish could pick various places to connect with the church...
Thanksgiving and Christmas – Two Random Thoughts
Today’s Word from Pastor Dennis Hanson... Random Thought One: THANKSGIVING When the church celebrates the secular, national holiday of Thanksgiving, the text used is often of the ten lepers who beg Jesus to be healed. Leprosy was a serious disease. If our pandemic...
Advent Lament
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... Advent is one of my favorite seasons! It is a season filled with hopeful anticipation. We spend our time waiting, and preparing for the Christmas celebration. We put up lights, decorate trees, shop for the perfect gifts for our loved...
Satan and the Effect of Our Sin
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... “If Satan cannot bind you by your sin, he will bind you by the effect of your sin.” Never were truer words spoken. It was early in my ministry that these words became real. Though I cannot recall the exact work from whence they...
Facing Adversity Together
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... I have been reading a little about adversity. Let’s start with the definition: Adversity is a state of hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that one deals with in life. There are two things to be noted in this definition. The first is...
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Today’s Word from Trinity Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf... “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah 11:1 “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the...
Darkness and Light
Today’s Word from Reverend Dave Bieniek... This is by far the most difficult time of the year for me to live in the Pacific Northwest. These days many of us go to work when it is barely light outside and come home in the dark. It only lasts for a few months, and I...
Everything is More Difficult in a Pandemic
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Have you noticed that everything is more difficult in a pandemic? Let me put it another...
I Made a Cherry Pie Today
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... I made a cherry pie today, and told my daughters that my grandma would be rolling in her grave. Grandma Lois never would have used a store-bought crust or canned cherries. The joke in our family is that Grandma would have started by...
Thanks-giving
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... “It is not happy people who are grateful, it is grateful people who are happy.” I think on this thought a lot. I once read of a seminary professor who was blessed with a rather stunning conversation with his father. His father...
Down the Hall at Preschool
Today’s Word from Preschool Director Felicia Lindus We are Thankful We have much to be thankful for as we end our fall session at preschool. We are thankful for new friends, new spaces, and new things to learn. We are especially thankful for rain suits to keep...
We Gather Together
Today’s Word from Karl Olsen... We Gather Together Hymn by Adrianus Valerius – 1597 Wilt heden nu treden “Nothing is more widely loved,” The New York Times remarked in 1956, “than the tradition of singing We Gather Together to begin Thanksgiving festivities.” Although...
Thanksgiving The Year
Today’s Word from Rev. Dave Bieniek... In past years, maybe even last year, we probably all have gathered with large groups of friends and families. Last year we had 18 around our tables! I wondered how long we would be able to continue to grow this event. How big...
Wednesday is the New Sunday
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... Wednesday is the new Sunday. It is the new normal. The Sunday services are recorded on Wednesday morning. In the days prior, sermons are written and songs are rehearsed, flowers appear. Laura Canby walked into my office on Thursday...
Church Together
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... I just wrapped up three days of online meetings with pastors, deacons and bishops from Region 1 of the ELCA which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. There were 50 people present in these Zoom calls – that’s a lot...
A God Hole
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... “Three times O Lord have I called out to you, three times! How long will you keep me waiting?” Sounds kind of Biblical, don’t you think? And maybe a bit melodramatic. As far as I know it is not from the Bible, rather it is a line...
Welcoming the Kindness of Strangers
Today’s Word from Kelsi Lindus... The power was out on Whidbey and, on the west side of the island, it was difficult to say why. Where I sat, the trees were unmoving beyond the window. Unable to finish our work, my mom and I decided instead to run an errand, and drove...
Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling
Today’s Word from Trinity Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf... This tender and much beloved hymn was composed – both tune and text – by Will Lamartine Thompson, (1847-1909). Thompson had composed many pieces for the commercial market but didn’t find a publisher to accept...
An Open Heart is a Lotus Blossom
Today’s Word from Rev. David Bieniek... As I wondered what to write this week, I came across this blog post from several years ago. It seemed the wisdom was still true today, so I offer it anew. Returning from a chaplains’ conference, I sat on the plane next to two...
Make the Most of the Dash
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim “A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north, round and round goes the...
Breathe
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy Back in March, Laura Canby asked for people to submit photos of themselves with caring, inspiring, or hope-filled messages. My daughter, Ava, created a beautiful poster with the word “breathe” featured in a peaceful landscape. This poster...
I See Youuuuuuu!
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Vivian is two and a half. I love her. My granddaughter, she lives in Idaho, up in the mountains. I love her. Oh, you know that? Yes, I suppose I have mentioned her a time or two in these blogs. Is that a problem? Good. Anyway, she...
Why We Celebrate Veterans’ Day
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus (John 15:13) The greatest gift that we have in this world is life. Life comes to us as a gift; we have no part in our creation. We are not consulted on...
Nearer, My God to Thee
Today’s Word from Trinity Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf... 1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! 2 Though like the wanderer,...
A Dog’s Love
Today’s Word from Reverend Dave... I’m a dog person. I always have been. I don’t have anything against cats. I don’t hate them or their humans. In fact, I have loved some really great cats in my life. But I am at heart a dog person. So cat people, please do not take...
A Legacy of Faithfulness
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim Jerry Valade died suddenly last Monday. Jerry and his parents, Laurier and Mabel, were immigrants coming to the land of opportunity on October 10, 1942. They crossed the U.S. border at Sweet Grass, Montana, and made their way to San Diego...
Do Not Worry
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... Everywhere I turn lately, I see and hear a lot of anxiety – people are worried about the ongoing pandemic and quarantine, people are concerned about the election and the lengthy counting process, and people are nervous over riots and...
When Doubt is a Gift
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... I am a visual and kinesthetic learner. That is, I learn by seeing and doing. Reading is not my primary learning modality. Actually, reading is the primary learning modality for only about 10% of the population. Don’t get me wrong,...
Some Post-Election Guidance
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... We have now checked off the 8th month of this Covid-19 pandemic. October is in the books and in just two short months we can kiss 2020 goodbye. Sadly, that will not cure all of our ills; the pandemic will not magically disappear, but...
Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy
Today’s Word from Minister of Music Karl Olsen... Philip Paul Bliss, raised by his parents in a log cabin, but without much schooling except for his father’s music and mother’s lessons, left his Ashtabula, Ohio home in the 1830s at the age of 11, and worked on farms...
For All the Saints
Today’s Word from Reverend David Bieniek... Yesterday in the church year we celebrated All Saints Day. This is a time in the church year when we pause to remember those who have died in our families and our church communities, and to give thanks for the gifts they...
Age Appropriate
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” Mid-October, time for my annual physical, the yearly trip across the water to the Everett Clinic to visit my medical doctor. My goal each year is to have the...
Confirmation Sunday
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... My oldest daughter, Ava, was confirmed along with nine of her classmates last Sunday. Actually, she was confirmed with three of her classmates. Three others had been confirmed earlier that morning, and three more a couple of weeks...
The Underside of the Chair
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Originally published in 1955, “Profiles in Courage,” written by John Kennedy, chronicles the stories of 8 United States Senators whose acts of bravery and integrity mirrored the best of American democracy. Given our current...
A Message from Your Church Council
Dear TLC Friends, 1 Corinthians 13:13 has a message for us: “Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” For us, right now, love is an empty church. This is not easy for any of us to accept. We are reminded that Jesus did...
Nearer, My God to Thee
Today’s Word from Trinity Keyboardist, Sheila Weidendorf 1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! 2 Though like the wanderer, the...
Mindfulness in a Cup of Coffee
Today’s Word from Reverend Dave... Often in the morning, I will go in and pour a cup of coffee with cream and sweetener and take my first gulp before my eyes are even wide enough to see the sun outside, much less be mindful of what I am doing. But generally, as that...
Love is Patient, Love is Kind, Love Wins in the End
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... I have been at this a long time. I have witnessed dark seasons of war, recession, and terrorism. I have stood at graveside nearly a thousand times, saying goodbye to strangers, family members, church friends and best friends. There have...
It’s an Adventure!
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... When I was growing up, any time I was worried or nervous about a new experience, my dad would tell me to think of it as an adventure. When I was nervous about going to camp in 5th grade – he turned it into an adventure. When I got my...
Are We Winning Yet?
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... I giggle every time I remember the moment. My friend Bob and his wife Mary (not their real names) were cruising down the highway. “Cruising” is a kind word for they were, to the consternation of Mary, traveling at a typical speed...
We Can’t Go Back!
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim... 31 years ago, today, I sat in my office at TLC and cried. It was an exciting and deeply emotional time for me and my family. We had spent four wonderful and formative years on Bainbridge Island while serving Bethany Lutheran Church. Our...
This Is My Song
Today's Word by Sheila Weidendorf, TLC Organist...This Is My SongTune: FinlandiaComposer: Jean SibeliusText: Lloyd Stone, 1934Jean Christian Sibelius (186-1957) is often heralded as Finland’s greatest composer. Writing at the end of the 19th and into...
Living One Day at a Time
Today’s Word from Reverend Dave Bieniek...Recently I was talking to my mother-in-law about our upcoming travels. She asked if we thought we would be able to travel next year. My response was simple, “Who knows? We just have to take it one day at a time.”...
From a Distance
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim...“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.” ...We took our grandson, Cam, for a walk at bedtime last night. The clouds of October were taking leave in some other part of the...
Down the Preschool Hall – and Out the Door!
Today’s Word from Felicia Lindus... We weather the weather! We jumped right in to all of our weather adventures in the first week of preschool. The wind howled and the rain poured. The tent by the meadow went up, then down, and was put back up again. We found out that...
God’s Humility
Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd...“The proud cannot know God because God is not proud, but infinitely humble. Remember, only like can know like! A combination of humility and patient seeking is the best spiritual practice of all.” “The Universal...
Masked People Helping Others
Today’s Word from Pastor Dennis Hanson... That pesky mask these days – wear it or not; violation of freedom or expression of caring for others. That mask, the sign of our times. As a kid I listened faithfully to the radio program called “The Lone Ranger,” the masked...
The Hymnody of Trinity
Today’s Word from Karl Olsen, Minister of Music... Sheila and I have been writing about hymns and hymnody lately in these missives, and I thought it might serve us well to look at what that study is…so here is a definition of hymnody: From Merriam-Webster-- 1: hymn...
“To the Trees!”
Today's Word from Reverend Dave Bieniek... During the pandemic, we have gotten used to doing two things, both really well. Those things are going on hikes on the trails on Whidbey, and binge-watching TV shows that we have been wanting to see (and others we had no idea...
The Best Advice for Daily Living
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... The Best Advice for Daily Living Daily Word from Pastor Jim Last Sunday our sermon set its sights on the best advice of the Apostle Paul. Advice for daily living, advice for surviving the beautiful but difficult journey that we share as...
Living in Love
Today's Word from Deacon Amy... “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39...
Vacuum
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... What’s God’s name? Larry? Freda Mae? Mohammed? Jesus? Most of us would just probably defer to “God,” yet God is not a name. So, what is God’s name? Probably not a question you ever thought of. As Christians we confess God was...
How Much Does a Glass of Water Weigh?
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Can you tell me how much a glass of water weighs? Go ahead and fill a glass half full or empty, depending on your outlook on life. Now hold it up high and see how much it weighs. Even our oldest and weakest readers will be able to hold...
Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters
Today's Word from Trinity Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf... The baptismal hymn, Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters*, comes to the modern hymnody from 18th century New England. William Billings—America’s first and foremost choral composer—published a new collection of...
The View from my Window
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... One of the Facebook pages I like to follow is one where people post random pictures of views from their window. I have resisted putting any pictures up myself, but I do enjoy seeing what people see from their windows. Outside of...
Beauty as a Shield
Today's Word from Laura Canby...“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything...
Surprising Visitors
Today's Word from Deacon Amy... In the past two weeks, I’ve come across two very surprising insects on our cozy little island. One that I’ve never even heard of, and one that I’ve never seen outside of a zoo or pet store. The first caught my family by surprise, hiding...
Is it Personal or is it a Task?
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Okay, I admit it, I was/am an RBG fan. I know, it’s kind of ridiculous… a guy at my age, hanging on her every word, her very precise diction, her exquisite use of language. Her ability to use one word instead of three with such...
Consult a Higher Power
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... We get lots of phone calls at TLC. This week we had someone call who wanted Robin to trim the limbs off some trees at their house. It seems that she was told that we do this sort of work for people, for free. Well, if we were going to...
A Balm in Gilead
Today's Word from Trinity Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” (Jeremiah 8:22) In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, the people of Israel are in...
I Wish You Wonder
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Think and wonder, wonder and think.” Dr. Seuss “I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.” Gary Spence “Youth is the most wonderful thing in this world—and what a pity that is has to be wasted on children!”...
We Are Better Than This
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Scanning the horizon of current events, I can’t help but think that we are better than this. We are better than the circus that is being portrayed in the media and played out in Washington DC. We are better than the nightly vitriol of...
Nobody Ever Changed the World by Staying in Bed
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Some days it might seem like a good idea to just pull those covers up over your head and stay in bed. The thought could cross your mind, that perhaps calling in sick and checking out might be the sanest response to all of the pandemic,...
Unmoored
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Several years ago, prior to moving to the island after retirement, I was driving through Mukilteo heading for the ferry. It was a weekday morning. I was early for the ferry and not in a hurry. As I was passing through the 20 MPH...
Masks
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Everyone is wearing masks these days! The truth is, most of us have been wearing masks for a very long time. Masks hide emotions, masks hide facial expressions, masks hide the truth, masks keep us from being found out. Some religious...
It Is Well With My Soul
Today's Word from Minister of Music Karl Olsen... Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and Presbyterian lay leader in Chicago, who had invested heavily in real estate on Lake Michigan. A devout Christian, one of his close friends was the evangelist Dwight Moody,...
Patience in a Time of Pandemic
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 Do you remember the days of taking photographs with a camera? The photographer had to pace their production, each photo cost money, and film was a limited...
Dang 2020
Today's Word from Deacon Amy... Sometimes it feels that 2020 is just too much. A pandemic, quarantine, schools & businesses closed, weddings & celebrations postponed, funerals delayed, vacations cancelled… it’s all been too much. Then we throw in hurricanes,...
Staying Away from the DIS
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... I am writing you this morning to encourage you to stay away from the DIS. It has been a long season of DISruption, DIScomfort, and many of us have been DISplaced or generally DIScombobulated. As we move from the warm, smoky days of...
Truth
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... After ten years in parish ministry I was inspired to take a study leave and pursue a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. When I say I was inspired I mean I left a growing parish ministry in Canada to again become a student...
Fist Shaking at the Heavens
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come.” Psalm 121 I just returned to the office after a very touching and emotional graveside service at a smoke-filled Bayview Cemetery. The theme of my meditation was supposed...
Motherless Child
Today's Word from TLC Keyboardist Sheila Weidendorf... Sometime I feel like a motherless child Sometimes I feel like a motherless child And sometimes I feel like a motherless child A long ways from home A long ways from home Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone...
A Dwelling Place
A Dwelling Place... Today's Missive by Laura Canby... Hard to believe that it was nearly 10 years ago since I traveled with a group of TLC pilgrims to the Holy Land. It was a trip that would enhance, illuminate and deepen my understanding of the Bible. Places were...
Two Bowls, One Quilt, One Baptism, Four Generations
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... On a beautiful Sunday morning in September, Blakely JoAnn Shelton, ten months old, was baptized in the courtyard at Trinity Lutheran Church. It was 8 a.m. on a Sunday, the sixth day of September. In times gone by the sanctuary would...
Reflections from Pastor Eric Ottum
Today's Word from Pastor Eric... I was pondering the parable of the Good Samaritan this morning, and I remember a presentation in my first year of work as a pastor made by a leader of the Salvation Army. It was eye-opening to me because he focused on the man in the...