GOD
SPEAKS OUR LANGUAGE
June,
2010
Whoever we are and from wherever we come, the Holy Spirit knows how to
speak to us
in ways we can understand. For some of us, the Spirit speaks in words,
in favorite verses or images from Scripture:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”; “Nothing can separate us
from the love of God…”; “God so loved the world that he gave his only son to
die for us…”. For others the Spirit
speaks in music: the swell of an organ, the breathy quality of a flute, the
harmonics of a guitar, the familiar melody of a hymn we’ve heard since
childhood.
For some the Spirit speaks in laughter: in joy, which
catches us by surprise. For others, the
Spirit speaks in tears: in the cry of a child, a neighbor , a stranger in need;
or the yearnings deep within us calling us to sorrow and forgiveness. For many of us the Spirit speaks in nature:
in sunrise and sunset, the cycles of the seasons, the greening of spring, the
gold of harvest, the cleansing of water, the rush of wind, and the dance of
fire. For others, the Spirit speaks more
profoundly in silence, in a still, small voice.
How does the Holy Spirit sweep you up into the presence of God? I encourage you to notice more often the
language that the Spirit uses to speak to you.
God’s Spirit
works to give each of us a language of our own. The Spirit
works in our lives to help us find our own ways to tell others about God. What is your way of pointing others in God’s
direction? Maybe it’s your courage, that
people can see in the ways you have confronted troubles in your life. Perhaps it’s your patience and self-control
evident in the ways you forgive those who have hurt you. Maybe your language is a word of compassion
in the way you reach out to others who are hurting. Perhaps you point others to God through the
ways you challenge the injustices in our society. Each one of us has a sacred word to speak,
through the way we live, that can draw others to God. This is why we sometimes say, “When the worship
is over, it’s time for our service to begin”.
I encourage you to notice more often the ways that you give voice to the
Spirit of God within you.
Yours
In Christ,
Pastor
Tom Lichner
Make
It Simple
A Reflection on Simpler Living
"Simplicity is more than time management. It's more
than wholistic health. It's more than quality time versus quantity time,
self-care versus social reform. Simplicity requires us to become more focused -
to serve one God instead of many. Simplicity coaxes change in the core of our
being as we begin to question some widely held assumptions and ask ourselves:
· What are the
values that guide my actions?
· What is my fair
share?
· When is enough
enough?
· Why don't I feel
good?
· How can 1 live a
more integrated faith?
· Who are my
neighbors, and do I really care about them?"
(From
Preface of Tis a Gift to Be
Simple: Embracing the Freedom of Living With Less,
Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen, Augsburg Press, 1992)
Proposition on Stewardship in These
Times
Stewardship is about more than being obedient.
Nothing wrong with
"obedient," of course. But if
stewards are to "be found faithful," something else characterizes
them. Stewardship is about knowing God’s plan. That's why a steward is someone
who is "working the plan" of God. Carrying out the will of God for
the world. Being flexible, smart, adaptable, nimble, and smart. Sometimes walking outside the footsteps of the
disciples. Leader and follower at the
same time.
CARD SHOWER
Martin Skrovina
Margaret Rush
1637 Eighth
Avenue
Moravian Kings Daughter Home
Bethlehem, PA 18018
61 West Market Street
Birthday – June 16 Bethlehem, PA
18018
Birthday – 7/2
Henry & Cheryl Seiss
8505
Monarch Place
Imperial Lakes
Palmetto, FL
34221
RECENTLY
HOSPITALIZED
William Bigg,
Jr./Carol Ebeling
Nicole Kresh/Louise
Rittoper
IT’S A BOY!
Bridget & Mike Hujsa became
the proud parents of a son on April 25. They named him Landon John and he
arrived at 12:18 AM weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. Bridget says
“they love being parents.” Landon’s grandparents are Cheryl & Warren
Wilson.
Congregation Council Meeting
June 8th – 7:00 PM
******
Electronic Recycling Event
Date:
June 19, 2010
Location: Lehigh Valley Lutheran
School
Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Electronics in our landfills are an increasing
concern. Toxic chemicals in electronic products can leach into the land
over time or are released into the atmosphere, impacting nearby communities and
the environment. Please don't add to this problem. Instead, bring your
unwanted electronics to Lehigh
Valley Lutheran School so they can be recycled responsibly. With the help
of Advanced Green
Solutions, components will be recycled in an environmentally friendly way.
None of the recycled components will end up in landfills. Advanced Green
Solutions will separate batteries and other components that would otherwise end
up in landfills, illegal dump sites, or shipped abroad to become someone else's
problem. Equipment that is found in working order will be resold to companies
who refurbish and recycle back into the community. None of the items
collected will end up in a landfill!
There is a small fee for
certain items. Please go to http://sites.google.com/site/lvlsrecycling
for details regarding accepted items.
Used
printer ink cartridges will also be collected at the event.
Committee Nite
June
1st @6:30 PM
IT’S
GRADUATION TIME …
Congratulations to Lauren Horwath who completed requirements
for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University.
Lauren plans to continue graduate studies in structural engineering at Lehigh.
Congratulations also to Kimberly Gomboz, who graduated Magna Cum
Laude in December, but with the Class of 2010, from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, in Troy, New York. Kimberly was a candidate for a
Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media, Arts & Communication.
We wish these graduates the best
of luck in their future endeavors.
SUMMER SABBATH DAY
Open to All Adults
July 26th – 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Treat yourself to a day of guided prayer, walking,
resting, music, journaling, devotional reading, worship/eucharist, solitude,
and spiritual direction upon request. Bring your own lunch! Attendance is held
to 20 people so you will need to register by calling the Church office
(610.865.2684). Cost is $20/person. Make your check payable to Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church
and mark the memo portion “Summer Sabbath.” For additional information, please
speak to Pastor Lichner.
RECENT BAPTISMS
The following
children were received into the membership of Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church
through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism during the month of May: Shellie Hope
Dean, daughter of David & Erica Dean (May 9);
Leah Elise Raab,
daughter of Ryan & Sandra Raab (May 16), and Jackson Cole Mroz, son of
Frank & Jennifer Mroz (May 30).
RED SCHEDULE
BOOK
Please remember to schedule all church meetings in the RED SCHEDULE BOOK.
For the sake of good
communication and administration, please reserve your time and space in the Red Schedule Book located in the church
office. This will also assure that your meeting will be advertised in the
weekly worship bulletin and the monthly newsletter. Phone the church office
Tuesday-Friday between 9:00 AM-2:00 PM to schedule your meetings.
The Mail Room will be open on Sunday mornings for you to walk in and
personally schedule a meeting in the Red
Schedule Book. You will find the book on the desk just inside the Mail Room
the door.
Remember to include your name and telephone
number when reserving a meeting time and place in the Red Schedule Book and
keep in mind your request needs to be approved by Congregation Council at its
monthly meeting.
FLOWER/BULLETIN SPONSORS
NEEDEDSponsorships for altar flowers
and weekly bulletins are available for the following Sundays in February and
March:
Altar – June 13 & 27
July 4 & 18
Bulletins – June 6, 13, 20 & 27
July 4, 11, 18 & 25 *** Please use a Sponsor Form in
addition to signing the chart to let us know how you want your gift
acknowledged in the bulletin. Simply fill out the form (attached to the flower
chart) and drop it into the mailbox on the church office door. (Flowers -
$35.00/Bulletins - $20.00) Thank you!
Property Committee Meeting
Tuesday, June 1st , 6:00 PM
******
SUMMER
WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS
Sunday, June 13, 9:00 AM
Worship in the Nave
LAST SUNDAY
OF JUNE, JULY & AUGUST
Worship at
9:00 AM in the Chapel
BROAD STREET
CONGREGATIONS
Worship-in-the
Park & Summer Picnic
Sunday, June
13, 11:30 AM/Worship
12:00
NN/Picnic & Games (until dusk)
Louise Moore Park, Bethlehem Township
In the
Pavilion - Rain or Shine!
Holy Trinity
Members are asked to bring desserts.
Apartment Board Meeting
June 1st – 7:00 PM
SAVE THE DATE
Women’s Retreat
“A Little Child Shall Lead Them”
Saturday, September 18, 9 AM-1 PM
This
retreat has been rescheduled in the hope that more women will be able to
attend. It is open to all women from Grace, Holy Trinity, Rosemont, and Salem Lutheran
Churches. Come see how
stories from children’s books are tied into the Bible lessons we all know and
love. The presenter will be Cynthia Simmons, a Presbyterian pastor. There will
be a $10 fee to help defray the cost of morning refreshments and a light lunch
(donations of breakfast or lunch items
would be greatly appreciated).
Watch
future newsletters and bulletins for additional information. If you have
questions regarding the retreat, please contact Zel Shifter at 610.390.7200.
THANKS TO
ALL …
The Membership/Evangelism
Committee would like to thank everyone who made monetary donations or purchased
supplies for the school kits to be sent to Haiti. The committee was able to
assemble 30 kits which will be shipped to the children in Haiti in time
for the opening of their school year.
CROP WALK UPDATE
Matt Piszel, coordinator
of the CropWalk for World Hunger has advised that over $23,000 was raised for
the 25th Anniversary of the CropWalk last October. Of that, $5,800
will be distributed to the following agencies: New Bethany Ministries,
Northeast Ministries, Victory House, New Jerusalem Community Food Bank, Trinity
Episcopal Soup Kitchen, Salvation Army of Bethlehem, West Bethlehem Emergency
Food Pantry, Nazareth Area Food Pantry, and Pennsylvania Avenue Interfaith Food
Pantry.
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL & TEACHER RECOGNITION
The last day of Sunday
School will be June 6 beginning at 9:00 AM with a Strawberry Festival taking place
after classes end. The children will be making cards to send to HTLC’s shut-ins
during class time and the adults will hold their classes as usual. After class
time ends, all will meet in The Gathering Place to enjoy the annual Strawberry
Festival and teacher recognition.
HAVE YOU
REGISTERED FOR VBS?
Vacation Bible
School has been scheduled for July 11
thru the July 15 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, and this year’s host church is Grace Lutheran
Church, located at 74 East Broad Street, Bethlehem. These will be five days of
summer fun and learning and the theme is “SonQuest Rainforest.” All children
Pre-K to 5th Grade are invited to join in all the fun activities
planned for them. There will be lessons, songs, crafts, snacks, and so much
more. All you need to do is fill out the registration form enclosed in this
newsletter and drop it off at church. We’re hoping to see all the children from
the Holy Trinity family at VBS this year!
MONTHLY FOOD BANK DELIVERIES
June 17, 2010 – Approx. 8:30-9:00 AM
The West Side Emergency
Food Pantry now receives monthly
truckload deliveries and they can use all the volunteer help they can get to
get the truck unloaded. If you have some free time and are able to lift and
carry, please consider giving the food bank some help with this project. If you
have questions concerning the project, please direct them to Jane Cygan at
610.625.0411.
Congregational Council
Summary
of 9 May 2010 meeting
Treasurer’s
report:
¨ The
“funds in the red” will continue to appear in the Sunday bulletin and in the
newsletter. Council is hopeful that this will encourage members to donate to
these specific needs.
¨ The review of our insurance coverage continues
¨ The security system has been serviced.
President’s
report:
¨ The
new application for use of church facilities is in place along with the new fee
schedule.
Pastor’s
report:
¨ The next joint service for the Broad Street
Churches will be on 13 Jun. 2010 at 11:30 A.M. at Louise Moore
Park. It will be followed by the joint picnic. Because of this, H.T.L.C’s. summer
schedule of one service at 9:00 A.M. will begin on 13 June 2010.
¨ The joint catechetical retreats/workshops have
been a success with a positive reaction from students. Joint catechetical program with Salem L.C.
will continue in the fall.
¨ Council approved Pastor’s recommendation to
establish a 125th anniversary task force to prepare to celebrate the
congregation’s anniversary in 2012.
Worship
& Music:
The worship surveys of the congregation are
in and have been tabulated.
However,
since there were only 43 forms, the results are statistically
insignificant. Eight more forms came in after the tabulation
was completed.
Joint
Venture Task Force (J.V.T.F.):
A.
Cygan read a statement to the Council from the J.V.T.F:
The shared ministry
study group believes that they should now move forward on developing an
arrangement to be implemented within the next two years. However,
in order to do this, they need to have a commitment from each
Congregation Council on whether they are willing to move towards a joint
ministry arrangement by June of 2012.
Based upon the commitments received, the study group will develop a
joint ministry recommendation for these congregations. If a congregation chooses not to commit at
this time it will still be invited to continue its participation in the
discussions. Each of the congregations
has been given these documents (titled: Challenges to Sharing Staff and Proposed
Arrangement for a Four Congregation Joint Ministry With 4 Sunday Services) … for their May Council meeting (and is) asked to
introduce the question of movement to a shared ministry arrangement by June of
2012. Councils will be requested to
advise on whether they will make the commitment …. at or before their
Congregational Council meeting in June of this year (2010).
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