Trinity Lutheran Church - Havertown, PA

Translator

Main Menu

Home

- - - - - - -

Who's Online

Members Log In

Worship: 8:15am and 10:45am
Sunday School: 9:30am

Letter from the Pastor for February, 2010

                                              February, 2010
Dear Christian Friends:

I am sharing the text of my sermon from January 17th, since a couple folks asked for copies of the sermon – so here it is – and I hope and pray that God’s Word opens all of us up to God’s possibilities in our world.

As I was preparing to write my sermon, I asked my chef husband –“Honey what do you get from reading the Wedding at Cana?”   He answered immediately, “obviously someone planned very poorly - that they did not figure on enough wine for all of their guests”.

And that was an important issue for him as a chef, for it was his livelihood to correctly calculate how much food and beverage it would take to feed the invited guests.    The only thing worse than running out of food – would be for people not to like the food – and I guess then there would be plenty of leftovers. So in hearing the story of the Wedding at Cana – my husband immediately focused on there not being enough.

And interestingly enough, that is exactly what Mary is focused on. "They have no wine." Jesus – THEY have NO wine! And this statement causes panic not only for the chef and the caterers and wedding planners – but for all of us. In a very basic and real way – isn’t that the concern that we all have? Will I have enough? Am I running out? Am I rich enough? Safe enough? Good enough?

And isn’t that the question of this congregation -Will we go over the budget? Will we have enough to pay the bills? Will we be able to keep the lights on? Will Trinity be here in 10 years – 20 years from now?

They have no wine - says Mary.
We have no cash reserve – says the Treasurer
The money is just not there - says the Finance Committee

It's the recognition of scarcity. It is being stamped and labeled in red letters – INSUFFICIENT! Not enough! We almost can hear the panic – the worry – the sense of failure in Mary’s voice - They have no wine. Mary, she takes her concern to Jesus. And Jesus responds as he always does, with abundance. In the end this is not a story about not having enough – it is a story that tells us that with the Lord, we have more than we will ever need.

Our Lenten Schedule

Week One- Wednesday February 24th at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm -- Why are we Afraid?
Week Two- Wednesday March 3rd at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm    -- Fear of Not Mattering
Week Three- Wednesday March 10th at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm – Fear of Disappointing God
Week Four – Wednesday March 17th at 12: 30pm and 7:00 pm -   Fear of life’s final Moment
Week Five – Wednesday - March 24th at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm -  Fear of Global Calamity
Week Six - Wednesday - March 31st at 12: 30 pm and 7:00 pm - Fear of God getting out of my box

HOLY THURSDAY -   April 1   SEDAR MEAL -    in Social Hall at 6:30 pm. Reservations Required. We will have dinner and a re-enactment of Jesus’ Last Supper.

GOOD FRIDAY – Community Service – 2:00 pm – 300 pm

Our Lenten Theme

This year our Lenten Theme will be FEARLESS:
Imagine your life without fear.

Ash Wednesday February 17th 8:15am (chapel) and 7:30 pm (main church)
Service of The Imposition of Ashes (Ashes optional)
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. The biblical witness is found in the opening epic of the human story: "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). In the tenth century the use of ashes was employed to visibly remind worshipers of their mortality as they began their Lenten "watch by the cross."

Fearless – is the theme of our 2010 Lenten Journey. We will be reading and discussing Max Lucado’s new book “Fearless”. The book will be on sale beginning in February for $15.00 and there will be two opportunities on Wednesday to be part of a Lenten Encounter. We hope that you will grow and trust God through the fear and become a new creation that embraces life, love and God’s grace.