Pastor Jim’s Blog
Juneuary
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... Growing up in Texas, I had never heard of Juneuary. In fact, in Texas June seldom had anything in common with January. It was usually the first month that temperatures would hit greater than 100 degrees! Here in the...
It Could Be Worse
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... I had an Aunt who always used to say, “It could be worse.” It was a way of staying positive in the midst of circumstances that were not positive; perhaps even disruptive or painful. Look on the bright side. The house and...
Dinner Time
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Maybe the most recognizable piece of Renaissance art is Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” It is a fresco, a mural painting in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. I have not personally seen it. This...
The Evolving Word
Today’s Word from Pastor Dennis Hanson... Some of you may remember my friends Ole and Lena, Hittite family in the Midwest. The Pandemic has been hard for them, too. Along with the sad part of the epidemic, friends ill and some dying, no funerals and no...
Fog, Molasses, and a Bag of Bricks
Today's Word from Denise Wilson... Denise is a TLC member, and faculty at the University of WashingtonHere's a typical work day during the pandemic. These days amount to just about seven per week, since the apocalypse was declared and certain professions...
Is This Getting Old?
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where is my help to come?” Psalm 121I went out to start my little car earlier this week. It would not start because I had not driven it in several days. The two cars that I run around...
God’s Will
Today's Word from Philip Yancey... Has it really been two years since Janet and I joined you in worship at Trinity Lutheran? No one could have predicted the changes in all our lives since that time. Here's a reminder of where to put our trust, despite the...
The Moon and the March of Time
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... The full moon this month (which happened back on June 5) had three different names that I found interesting. In Europe it was known as the Rose Moon, presumably the time when roses are blooming and could be...
Looking for the Red Letters
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Strathmore, Alberta, November 1974... “Pastor, can you come over please, I need some help.” Two months into my first placement as a mission development pastor in this small prairie town, I received my first invitation...
A Note to Graduates
Today's Word from Karl Olsen, Minister of Music... "From small beginnings come great things." Proverbs These last few weeks have been filled with graduations, from preschool through college. Many days or years spent in pursuit of... a diploma? a cap and...
Life in Limbo
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... I have not really given you much attention. I probably have not looked at you since the first week of April, but you are still hanging there in my office. I glanced at you by accident this morning, and a wave of sadness...
Civil Disobedience
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Jesus, I have a request. Justice for others, mercy for me.”In the 1980’s I had a mentor and friend by the name of Jon Nelson. He was the pastor at Central Lutheran Church in Seattle. Jon was a character, rough around the...
Giving Thanks
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus.” I Corinthians 1:4Giving thanks is good, right, and healthy. If we pause to give thanks, then we are momentarily...
For Christ’s Sake!
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Long before he became disgraced and appropriately incarcerated, Bill Cosby delighted millions of fans with his comedic routines about his life growing up. Now, it was never permissible to swear in my family (I remember...
Confronting a Personal History
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... The events of the past few weeks have weighed heavy on my soul. I grew up in a single-mother, lower economic household in South Texas. Racism was all around me. And I hate to admit it, but it is embedded in my...
Notes From TLC
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton. This past week, she provided a sermon that could be shared across the ELCA. Follow the links below and be blessed by the...
Comfort in Memes
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy... If you’ve spent any time on Facebook or Instagram, you probably know what a meme is. Memes have become a form of communication in our culture, especially popular among younger generations. Dictionary.com defines a meme as,...
What Can I Say?
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Riots, protests, murder, racial tension, political turmoil, cities burning, and Covid-19 is put on the back burner for now. I am trying to think of what to say, that might be helpful. My tendency is not to speak unless I...
Moving On, Moving Out
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... A few weeks ago, Pastor Jim asked us to pause his sermon and make a list of all the places we have ever lived. It was quite a task. I believe that I have lived in 38 places, in my 57 years. When you take into...
We Are Protestants
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Lutherans are Protestants. We come out of the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther and others protested against the Church of the Holy Roman Empire. In the Dark Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was the only Church in...
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... I believe if I had a child or a grandchild of color, I would be fearful. As I write these words, as a white man of privilege, I am afraid. Afraid and growingly aware of how I have failed to appreciate the difference...
A Gift from God
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Five weeks after his birth, I finally got the green light to visit my youngest daughter and to hold my little grandson, Brooks. What a joy to touch his tender skin, to hear his little baby sounds, to change his diaper and...
Lament and Celebration
Today's Word by Karl Olsen, TLC Minister of Music... For some reason, I was up at 4:00 Saturday morning. Heading outside to let my tea steep, it seemed a good time to count my blessings. A warm bed (now only half full), a healthy family, the beautiful...
Pentecost Musings
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Tomorrow marks the great celebration of Pentecost. Though we have not yet received permission from our Bishop, we are going out on a limb and declaring this Sunday to be Pajama Sunday at TLC. This unprecedented display of...
Three Dogs, The Woods, and the Path of Peace – Part 2
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... Last time I wrote, we were in the middle of a dog walk. The walk continues today…The dogs lead the way down the trail. The old dog seems to pull the hardest, always wanting to be the lead. The bigger, youngest dog...
Three Dogs, The Woods, and the Path of Peace, Part 1
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... This was a blog I wrote my first month on Whidbey Island, back in July 2010. Sadly, two of the dogs have since passed on, but their lessons for me continue…I remember seeing a cartoon that showed a man talking to...
Going Forward
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... On Memorial Day, I went for a visit with Dad. Dad’s current address is Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville. It is a bit of a family joke, but we like to say Mom and Dad have a nice room with a view. Anyway, Dad’s headstone...
Protecting Jesus
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Then little children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them.” Matthew 19:13It was there in the beginning; I guess one might...
A Sermon From Our Bishop
Today's Word from Pastor Jim Trinity Lutheran Church is one of the 9,000 churches in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA is broken up into 65 regional bodies called synods. We are a part of the Northwest Washington Synod which stretches...
You Are Not Alone
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” The words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, found in the Gospel of Matthew, the fifth...
TLC Preschool Graduation
Today's Word from Felicia Lindus, TLC Preschool Director...Classes ended at Trinity Preschool on March 13 when we responded to the Governor’s mandate to close schools. Since that time, we have continued to support our students through emails, online...
The Stress Tank
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... This reflection came to me in a dream the other night. I was visiting a friend who said she was in so much stress that she just needed a hug. Since I was not able to give her a hug, I walked her through this...
How is Life Preparing Us? And for What?
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Sir was my German Shorthair Pointer. That was his name, Sir. Sir went to seminary with me (he was the only one who paid attention to me in preaching class); he rode with me in my summer job driving semi-truck around...
We Are Not Alone
TLC's reach is vast. This creative artistic piece was done by one of our TLC College students using themes from sermons. We hope that you will all enjoy the creativity, the images and words of comfort and hope.
Memorial Day
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... In 244 years of American History, there have been 32 occasions when distinguished citizens have lain in state at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C. The first to be so honored was the Speaker of the House from Kentucky,...
Saturday TLC Video Update
Your church is still working on behalf of people in need. See Saturday's video update by Pastor Jim. To make a donation to Trinity, follow this link: https://trinitylutheranfreeland.org/give/
Waiting With Eyes of Hope
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:6Thousands of years ago, cities like Jericho, Jerusalem, and Megiddo had walls to protect the inhabitants from...
Offering Jesus to the Whole World
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... I remember the day my nephew Jonathan was born. I remember seeing him for the first time. As many mothers do, my sister asked me, “Would you like to hold him?” Of course, I did. When we hold a baby, we know that we...
Is This Heaven?
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... I admit I am going through a bit of sports withdrawal. It can be pathetic. Every time I watch a replay of the '95 Mariners coming back to beat the Yankees three in a row to make it to the American League Championship,...
No Vacations from Being a Christian
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27I try to have a good attitude in public, even when I don’t have a good attitude in general. There are no vacations from our...
One More Thing…
Today's Word from Minister of Music, Karl Olsen... Good Monday morning to you all! I hope you’re well, and patiently staying safe during this crisis, even while anxiously peering toward the future for signs of a healthy re-opening! We’ve witnessed your continuous...
The Shoe-Turning
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... For this week I offer you an ancient story, that some wise person told me along my spiritual journey.An old woman leaves her village. She is tired of the pettiness, dishonesty, and unfriendliness of the people she...
Angels Unaware
Today's Word from Pastor Jim. .. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2Do you believe in angels? Or do you think that they are simply a sign of an overactive...
Circled Dates
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “My grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9It has been eight weeks now since I asked you to circle a date on your calendar. At that time, May 17th seemed like a long way off. The Center for Disease Control had just...
Maybe Growing Down Could Help?
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... I think that when I was a child, a small child, I wasn’t afraid. I believe that is true. This observation comes by way of 45 years as a pastor watching children, and 44 years as a parent. So, I’m thinking that if the...
I Wore a Tie Today
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... Pretty much every day for the past 34 years I have come to church wearing a tie or a clerical collar. I have more than a hundred ties, some of them attractive. I always figured that if someone took the time to come see me,...
Blessings of Spring
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... One spring morning not too long ago, before we were sheltered in place, I woke up to the most glorious site. Mt. Baker was out; the early morning colors of the sun were just beginning to reappear, subtle yet...
A Video Update
Tired of reading? Want to see an actual face in a familiar location? Click on the arrow button in this post to see Pastor Jim’s video greeting. Drive-by Food Drive at TLC Tuesday, May 5 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Your church staff will greet you safely,...
Grief, Hope, and Generosity
Grief, Hope, and Generosity; It is a Great Time to be the Church Together!...Today's Word from Pastor Jim...... I find myself writing about, preaching about, and feeling lots of GRIEF these days. I am continually reminded that no one has escaped the grief...
Y’all Need Jesus… and a Pony
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd... Recently I posted on Facebook a Ted Talk featuring the author Anne Lamott. She is exactly the incarnation of the line, “Hang out with sinners just enough to ruin your reputation with religious people.” If you have not...
A Brief Chapter in History
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Cast all your anxiety on God, for God cares about you.” I Peter 5:7It is an anxious time. We are bored. We are concerned about the days and years ahead. We are caged animals, longing for release from this isolation. We so...
Stillness
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... For years I have subscribed to The Daily Word online and each morning I get a word and a short meditation in my inbox. Some days it seems that someone looked into my life and said, “He needs this word today.” That...
Everyone Could Use a Little Kindness
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” Philippians 2 I had a conversation...
Blue Tape Living
Today's Word from Trinity Member Denise Wilson... During the COVID-19 pandemic, stores that remain open have chosen multiple options for keeping customers and employees safe in their stores. Prior to the pandemic, blue tape was only a "thing" while...
Throwback Thursday
Throwback Thursday... Country Music Sunday... We are bringing you this video from last October when we gathered at TLC to worship with a wide variety of Country Music hymns and songs.Put your boots on, get out that cowboy hat and your fiddle, and get...
Make a Decision and…
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd.. Sunday School teacher… “God answers prayer with three possible answers: yes, no, or not now.” I told the teacher I was getting a lot of “not now” to my prayer requests. To which she said, “Maybe, given what you are...
A Few Quotes for Today
Today's Word from Karl Olsen, Minister of Music... I love quotes. Not feeling all that "quote-worthy" most of the time, it is wonderful to see God's world and it's many wonders and quirks through the eyes of other humans on this journey, and maybe filter...
Unprecedented Times
Today's Word from Pastor 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 121We live in unprecedented times. Just a few months ago, unemployment was at...
Watching for Whales and Hope
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... The blue-green waters of Puget Sound seem to stretch on forever some days. There is life out here. We learn of the amazing beauty and diversity under these waters in so many ways – TV and radio shows, podcasts and...
God Loves Us Perfectly
Today's Word from Pastor Pastor Jim... “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.Yesterday, I wrote about the first sentence of this cornerstone teaching of Jesus. Today, we will look at the second...
Christianity is Not at War with Science
Today's Word from Pastor Pastor Jim... “I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6 There is no disconnect between our faith and science. No scientific discovery could shake my faith. Is there life on other planets? Science would tell us that the odds are very...
Finished! Right??
Today's Word from Pastor Pastor Tom Kidd...Jesus said, “It is finished.” John 19:30.Jesus said “It is finished” and then he gave up his spirit and died. We heard the text last Friday, Good Friday. Jesus said “It is finished” so it must be finished. But...
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!Today's Word from Pastor JimI look forward to Easter – 2021!“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.’ Yet you do not even know...
An Easter Song from TLC
Today's Word from Minister of Music Karl Olsen...Happy Easter Monday!I hope your Easter celebrations were filled with connections near and far yesterday.I know we talked with folks all over the country, sharing joy and news with those we love. So nice to...
Easter Eggs and Internal Beauty
Today's Word from Rev. David Bieniek... As a child I loved dyeing Easter eggs at this time of the year, and the truth is, I still do love dyeing Easter eggs.The problem is that I was a bit of a perfectionist. No matter how hard I tried, writing with that...
I Hope You See the Stars Tonight
Today's Word from Pastor Jim..."Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1Faith is moving forward when you are not sure where you are going, not sure what waits for you around the bend, not sure what...
Responding in the Time of Crisis
Today's Word from Pastor Jim...When this crisis began, I wondered how we would respond, and what God would be up to in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Concentration Camp survivor and noted author Victor Frankl said, “What matters is to turn one’s...
Holy Week and the Gift of Imagination
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd...An educator was expounding on the importance of imagination, “Creativity must be co-equal to literacy.” Picasso said, “All children are born artists.” So how is it that most of us would plaintively sigh that there is not...
Recipe for a Funeral
Today's Word from Pastor Jim...This season of isolation has brought with it a season without funerals. Unless you have recently lost a loved one, you probably have not been acutely aware of this painful reality. Funerals provide critical vehicles for...
Unanswered Prayers
Today's Word from Pastor Jim... When I reflect back on my life, I realize that most of the things I worried about did not happen. Most of the seemingly critical issues that caused me to lose sleep, were not very important in the larger scheme of things. When that girl...
Heroes Loom Larger in Our Memories
Today's Word from Pastor Tom Kidd.... Nels, my grandfather, was born in 1894. At his tallest, he was maybe 5’9” but in my memory he was a giant. A simple dirt farmer on the Minnesota prairies, Grandpa Nels, along with Ida, raised 7 children to adulthood,...
What is our Calling in the Midst of Crisis?
Today's Word from Pastor Jim...“Do not remember the former things. I am about to do a new thing.” Isaiah 43:18“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28What is our calling...
Fighting the Crisis on Two Fronts
Today's Word from Pastor Jim April is here. Thank God that we made it through March. March came in like a lion and never really backed off. March was marked by disruption, uncertainty, shock, fear, and finally, isolation. Church, sports, school, all things social,...
Loss in a Time of Isolation
Today's Word from Pastor JimWe are all experiencing loss in this time of isolation. I remember quite vividly January of 1997. My best friend, mentor, golf partner, and father, Harold Lindus, was dying of cancer. I had made plans to be with him later in the...
It’s a Small World After All
Today's Word from Pastor Jim When we are born, our world is very small. The whole world revolves around the comfort and nourishment of our mother’s breast, and a place to lay our head in slumber. Newborn babies sleep about 17 hours a day. In the opening months of our...
Where Are You?
Today's Word from Pastor Jim “All who believed were together and had all things in common, they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all as any had need.” The Second Chapter of Acts. Last week I asked a very simple question: “What day...
Priesthood of All Believers
Today's Word from Pastor Jim I have spent most of my life eating fruit from trees that I did not plant. If everyone were like me, we would have a lot of interesting little anecdotes to amuse us as we died of starvation. I have never planted a crop in my life, and yet...
In the Beginning of the Beginning
Today's Word from Pastor Jim“In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.” Genesis 1:1“In the beginning of the beginning that is always beginning, God created the creation that is still.” A more literal translation of the Hebrew Genesis 1:1If God created all...
Your Church Staff Keeps Working
Today's Word from Pastor JimYour Church Staff keeps working! We determined if Home Depot is essential to the people of Washington, then so is our work. Believe me, we are taking this virus very seriously. We are not meeting face-to-face. Our campus is...
Can Anyone Tell Me What Day it is?
Today's Word from Pastor Jim I am finding this whole coronavirus experience to be very disorienting. I wake up in the morning and I am not always sure what day it is, or what it is that I am to be doing. My entire adult life has revolved around the rhythm of church....
A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step
Today's Word from Pastor Jim“Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9If you are getting weary, raise your hand. Come on, be honest. This daily diet of isolation, gloom, and doom...
May You Live in Interesting Times
Today's Word from Pastor Jim I am getting dozens, if not hundreds, of texts and emails these days. There is a Chinese proverb that says, “May you live in interesting times.” OK, enough already. I am ready for a little boring, routine, mundane. But as with most things...
Aunt Alice Lee
Today's Word from Pastor Jim“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice… for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned...
“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”
"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone"Today's Word from Pastor JimWhen I was boy, I never wanted to go to bed. Today, they would call it FOMO—Fear of Missing Out. I wanted to stay up late. My siblings were all older. They had...
Drills
A Word from Pastor Jim I remember the drills. Not the dentist; that is a different story. Not the drills that my golf coach had for us; that, too, is a different story. The good news or bad news is that if this coronavirus goes on for weeks or months, you may indeed...
Church In a Time of Coronavirus
“I thank my God in every remembrance of you.” Philippians 1:3Worship services this Sunday will be canceled. In good conscience we cannot put a vulnerable population at further risk. A good shepherd will not expose the flock to unnecessary danger. Until...
This Too Will Pass
This Too Will Pass A Word from Pastor Jim Do you remember the days after 9-11? The markets were in chaos. The skies were eerily silent. Airports were empty. The future seemed uncertain. Time seemed to stand still and all of life was in a kind of limbo. The...
Our Life Together and the Coronavirus
A Word From Pastor Jim About Our Life Together and the Coronavirus At TLC we care about our community and the well-being, abundant life of all. There is no need to panic about the coronavirus, but we will use best practices to be prudent and responsible. Our staff is...
God Bless the Human Race
God Bless the Human RaceWeekly WordIn March, I will be taking 30 TLC Pilgrims to Israel. This year will be the 25th anniversary of my first trip in 1995. Israel was never on my list of places to go. Four of our “more senior” female church members took me...
Weekly Word: Do Not Be Afraid
“Do not be afraid. Fear not.” That word from God to humans appears 365 times in the Bible. Is that a coincidence? For each and every day in the year – 365 times - God tells us not to be afraid. And yet, we are afraid. When we are born, in our purest state, formed by...
Lessons From Preschool
Lessons From Preschool For the past 22 years I have lived with a Preschool Teacher. (I am her long-term, perhaps never-ending, project.) Kindergarten teachers are very happy when they get Trinity Preschool graduates. They know that our 5-year-old graduates...
Optimism in 2020
Optimism in 2020Weekly WordFelicia and I watched the new Netflix documentary called “Inside Bill’s Brain.” It is a three-part series offering insights into the genius of Bill Gates. It is fascinating, to say the least. Bill Gates reads 14 books a week; he...
Weekly Word
Weekly WordThe Seahawks are in the playoffs after an agonizing finish to the regular season. They literally missed winning the division by inches. But this Sunday at 1:00, they will be playing in Philadelphia. That means that their schedule will not...
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...
Christmas Memories
Weekly WordIt was a day that I will never forget for a variety of reasons. Thirty-eight years ago today, my Grandmother Elliott died. She loved Christmas. Christmas in my family revolved around my grandmother; at her house each Christmas Eve there would be...
Advent: A Season of Waiting and Preparing
Weekly WordWe began our Advent journey as we always do. On the first Sunday of Advent, we gathered for worship and lit one candle on the Advent Wreath. The candle is known as the Prophet’s Candle. It remembers the prophets of God who foretold the coming of...
Blessed to be a Blessing
Weekly Word I received a thank you card in the mail last week. “Pastor Jim and Trinity Church, our hearts are so humbled and thankful for your extremely generous check!!! We were able to purchase an entire case of the extra-large cans of Nutramigen formula for our...
The Walking Dead and Other Great Halloween Topics
Weekly Word My grandson is three years old. Camden said, “Mom, I want to have a conversation with you. A conversation, okay? About being dead?” He then asked his mother, “Where is heaven? Where is God? Can you still walk when you are dead? Are there any scary monsters...
Saddle up Your Horse and Come to TLC
Weekly Word I hope that you will join us for worship this Sunday, October 20th. I promise you that it will be a unique worship experience. Unique in the 66-year history of TLC. Inspired by the Ken Burns PBS Documentary titled, “Country Music,” we will be using country...
God’s Kindness Is In Your Heart
Weekly Word... My good friend Tony Aguilar called me this morning. We talked yesterday before he met with his medical team. Tony came to TLC as the love of his life, Teddy, was dying of cancer. Tony caught a double dose of the Holy Ghost here. He was inspired and...