Quarter of a Century

Time passes so fast… twenty-five years ago today I started at First Trinity Lutheran Church. Even though they brought me flowers this morning, the staff care committee is going to mark it in some way in September (they promised: low key), but I can’t let today go by without reflecting a bit.  Some random thoughts:

• I remember the installation day in 1984. We only had one service and it was HOT. I remember what I wore and how I was worried my make-up would sweat down my face. I remember Patti Young speaking for the youth of the congregation. My now dear friends Jim and Kathy Passage stayed home because it was too hot, Jim didn’t know what a DCE was, and they had a 2 month old baby (Timothy) which meant they weren’t getting a lot of sleep.
• I remember sitting in my office on July 2 and trying to figure out something to DO. For those first few years my heart was drawn most strongly to youth ministry. Those early youth groups were my training ground for almost all of my ministry. So thankful to those kids!
• My dad died in 1983,  a couple months shy of his 25 year anniversary at 3M. I remember thinking that that fact about him meant he was mature, loyal and settled. I don’t think of myself as those things, really.
• Speaking of my dad, he would be APPALLED to think that I am a Bills fan. When he died, Buffalo was only a crazy team in the AFC. Just a blip on the radar for us NFC Central Vikings. Of course NEITHER team could win the Big One.
• I slept on a fold-out couch for the first two years I was here, until I saved enough money for a bed.  Didn’t hurt me one bit. Sure was grateful for the bed when I got it.
• From the beginning, I just fell in love with God’s people at First Trinity. That’s what it is, for me. This particular group of God’s people has a place in my heart that is deep. I have just felt like it was God’s gift to me to be able to be present over the long haul with individuals and families. I have seen God work over and over in the lives of His people. People matter.
• My other big love has been God’s Word…that Word is so dependable and trustworthy and true. It is God’s clearest way of being with us as individuals, as families and as a congregation. I love nothing more than connecting up God’s Word with the people that matter to Him so much and their lives. Children, youth, adults…we all need the roots that the Word provides in order to live lives that matter right here in 2009.
• Church workers often get to be present for the “big” moments in people’s lives: births, baptisms, confirmations, deaths, weddings. That’s because people want to know that God is there in those times.  For me, getting to be part of people’s “real” lives…sadness AND joy…is a true privilege. It is celebrating life together. I am honored to be a witness to God’s work in all of our lives. As I write this I am remembering those who have gone before us and part of the big cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12)…Marlene, Ben, Milt, Lenny, Pete, Floyd, Tom, Judy,  Betty and more.
• I absolutely LOVE working on a team and the First Trinity Staff is just a great team to be a part of. Pastor Chuck, Jason, Tim, Eric, Sue Brese, Pastor Carl, Conny, Kathy Gibson, Kathy Figini, Dona Trautwein, Beth Vance, Kim Taylor, Debbie Ferrante, Lori Coons, Chris Fennell, Marilyn Sallach, Jim Brese, Dick McKie, Mary Lou Hartnett–you all rock. Also grateful for Ruth Kovach and Pastor Young, who have now retired.
• I will always be grateful for the kindness shown to me during my mom’s illness and death in 1997-1998.
• Being in one place so long has a very wonderful benefit to it in that (much like a long friendship, or I imagine a marriage)–we know very well our weaknesses and strengths and we see God working through it all. It’s His deal, that’s for sure. It really is about Him.

 

8 Reasons NOT to join a Life Group…

Leo Figini wrote a great post that included the eight reasons he used NOT to join a Life Group:

1.  I never owned a Bible and didn’t know how to use one, therefore I wasn’t about to start learning now.

2.  I was embarrassed because I didn’t know much about God and His life and was not about to give up my secret.

3.  I learned all the typical stories about God and Jesus when I was in Catholic grammar school so, what else is there to learn, and frankly, I wasn’t sure I really cared anyway.

4.  I go to church every Sunday, that’s enough for the week.  Anything more is just an inconvenience.

5.  I’m a man, It’s not cool to be seen walking around with a Bible.

6.  If I did go to a meeting, I would be deathly afraid that someone would ask me a question about the bible or ask me to find a particular passage and I would have no clue what to do.

7.  I am too busy on weekends to allocate time for this kind of stuff.

and lastly,

8.  Looking around at everyone in church, I have to be one of many people who feel like I do, therefore, why bother.

I love Leo’s honesty!

The rest of his post tells the story of how glad he is that he overcame those reasons (and his own self-described “stubborness”) to join a Life Group that has become “family” to him.  Maybe you’d like to try one, too? There is information on the bulletin boards, at the Information Center and/or feel free to contact myself or Paul Gerlach (Life Groups Team Leader).

P.S. Leo is a member of the Ministry Council (the policy-making, big-picture body at First Trinity). He posts minutes from the meetings on his blog, and also writes about the view from his “seat” at First Trinity. He is a great writer and his blog is worth adding to your regular reading list!

 

Sandwiched between yesterday’s snow storm and tomorrow’s…

Yesterday’s Snow Storm…More Tomorrow?

Who knows what tomorrow brings? Tune into this spot to find out if the Christmas Program is “yay” or “nay” (decision made by 2pm at the latest!).

 

Sunday Night Mind Dump

Not much to “dump”, since I wasn’t at First Trinity today. Here’s the things I wondered about:

• What did Jason do for the children’s message?
• How did the group like the Chadder videos at Servant Adventures?
• What Bible character did Pastor Chuck talk about in Bible class?
• Did Marsha come to church even though she’s recovering from surgery?
• Did we have a lot of visitors?
• What hymns did they sing at 8:45? What songs at 11:15?
• Who did Pastor Chuck pick on from the pulpit?

It’s been a good day here…the training team for the KINDLE event is arriving, so I feel not so alone.  I will always want to be at First Trinity on Sundays, though. I miss it!

 

Sunday Night Dump

• I love Mother’s Day at church. Lots of families that might not otherwise come to church come because they know the mom in the their life would love it. Moms are generally beaming.I would love to see them come next week, too.
• Had tons of fun being Large Group leader at Kingdom Quest today. We had a panel of moms (see the picture above). They shared:

• Something they do to serve their kids that brings them joy
• A complaint they hear from their kids that wears them out or discourages them
• How their relationship with Jesus helps them be a mo

And then the kids had the chance to ask questions. I thought it was powerful to have the kids hear some of the things they hear THEIR moms say, from other moms.

• Two C.W.M.s today. That’s Church Walking Mysteries. Very common in churches. Something is there one week and just disappeared the next–walked right off. Today: the boom box that the Everyday Faith folks have been using in Mercy and (most mysterious) Gerdy, the puppet. She was in her box in the Kingdom Quest storage area last week and today she wasn’t there. Our guest puppeteer had to use Cassidy , at the last minute–great job coming up with a new voice at the last minute, Carolyn!
• The kids responses in the 11:15 children’s messages were particularly hilarious. When asked what moms need, Emma P. said, “Children who don’t have a meltdown.” Ain’t it the truth?!?
• It was absolutely surreal watching the America’s Favorite Mom special tonight and seeing our Nora Leon win in the “adopting moms” category. They surprised her with an onstage appearance by her husband Leon, who they flew in from Haiti. I remember when they got engaged…the first First Trinity mission trip in 2005. Nora did not win the whole thing, but it was great to see ministry in Haiti up front in America, for tonight. THANKS TO ALL WHO VOTED!!!
• Feel really behind on so many things…hoping to get my bearings this week.
• Thought a lot about my mom today: Neva Rose Stewart Steege. One cool woman. I miss her.

 

Front Page News

Check out today’s Buffalo News, front page! There’s a great story about Dawn and Sheila Guetti, from First Trinity.  Sheila was adopted by the Guetti family, from Haiti. The reporter also interivewed Pastor Chuck and there was some stuff about the Joshua’s Men Life Group and  it’s just a great story!

 

Sunday Night Mind Dump

• Always always glad to be back at First Trinity when I’ve been away for a Sunday. Sunday is “Game Day” for me and I love love love it.
• Isn’t the banner above beautiful? You can check it out live in the Hall of Joy (leads into Celebration–the gym). The Kingdom Quest kids made it during welcome activities, led by Pam Jones and her daughter, Kelsey. The flying creatures are the outline of kids’ hands. New Life–one of my fav themes.
• My PIT Crew (Pastor’s Intercessory Team) prayed with me live and in person at 9:30. It feels luxurious to have that kind of prayer coverage. I am so grateful.
• I thought the choir sounded beautiful today at the 8:45 service–and Doreen Sutherland rocked the house with the organ on “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”.
• I love a congregation where we miss our Pastor when he is not there, but rejoice that he is with his family on the day his grandson is dedicated. Both are true.
• All this and Pastor Touloute, too. God is so, so good. All the tiem.
• Pirate Joe made a visit to Everyday Faith today (third graders and their parents working through the Scriptures…). Here he is:

Pirate Joe was looking for treasure and the kids helped him see that God’s Word is the Biggest Treasure of all. I crack up every time Pirate Joe talks about “Me stinky sister” and almost tear up with gratitude for the fun + solid Bible learning + parents and kids + Holy Spirit WOW that is Everyday Faith. My true favorite images are ones like this, where kids and parents (or grandparents) are bent over their Bibles, together:

• It seems that cancer is so many places at First Trinity…and the Prayer Gathering organized by members of Ginny Opferbeck’s Life Group tonight was the best part of a very good First Trinity Day. 75+ people showed up to pray for her in light of her cancer diagnosis and her surgery this Tuesday. P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. There were many sweet moments, but hearing Ginny’s grandson Aiden’s chatty voice out in the narthex while we were praying silently for his Grandma was the most beautiful to me. It made me wonder why we don’t gather much more often to place ourselves before God on behalf of our hurting, suffering, scared and haunted loved ones. What I loved (one of MANY things I loved) about tonight, was the “grass roots” nature of the gathering–it was not written or led by staff. It was written, thought-of and led by Ginny’s life group (especially Karen Ruch). Body of Christ in action, baby. I love it!
• We had some women’s hoops tonight–it was a slow return with many people not able to make it at the last minute. I have a bum foot (made a Crocs mistake that is too long to tell, here–sore foot is the result), so I played “All Time Point Guard” for one team and Christine (hurt knee) played it for the other. I don’t know why playing hoops with friends is so restorative to me, but it so is. If you would like to join us, let me know!!!

 

Moose, Mulch & Daffodils

Signs of Spring at First Trinity:

• Moose Moosmann was at church all day spreading mulch around
• The daffodils are up and beautiful!

 

Down to a Crown of Thorns

I LOVE HOLY WEEK.

Last Night’s Maundy Thursday service was really wonderful. Pastor Chuck and Jason did a dialog sermon that focused on the INCREDIBLE gift of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) for the past for the present and for the future. Jesus first gave us this gift on the night before He died on the cross. As the time for leaving the earth as a man approached, He gave us a way to have Him with us in a real and tangible meal forever.

I really connect with a practice that comes at the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday service–really a preparation for today (Good Friday). The altar is stripped bare of everything. With reverence, people enter the altar area and take everything off: communion ware, paraments (the colorful cloths that hang off the altar–in Lent they are purple), the book stand, the Bible, the white linen cloths…EVERYTHING. As this happens, Scriptures are read that talk about Jesus’ giving himself over to crucified: “He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:

When the altar is completely empty, a child carries forward the thorn of crowns and lays it on the altar. For me the moment is weighted by the pain that Jesus was willing to undergo for me and for all of us. That’s what we’re down to, friends: a Crown of Thorns.

Thank You, Jesus.

 

Home and so grateful

This is an iguana I ran into in Belize. Wow-did I ever think I would be writing that sentence in my lifetime? NOPE.

I am home…and so very grateful for a restful and beautiful vacation. I cannot wait to celebrate Palm Sunday in the morning at First Trinity. God is so very good.