TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

504 S. Westnedge Avenue

Kalamazoo, MI 49007-6004

269-344-6181

www.tlckzoo.com

office@tlckzoo.com

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID

Permit # 575 Kalamazoo, MI

Worship Services

Sunday at 8:30 & 11:00 am

Wednesday at 7 pm

Sunday School at 9:45 am

Trinity Staff

Pastor Rev. Ken Johnson

Associate Pastor Rev. Jake Lehman

Organist/Director of Music William Musselman

Children’s Choir/Pianist Sara McGarvey

Office Staff Katie Grubaugh &

Trudi Giffin

Custodian Margaret Stevenson

Director of Family Ministry Heidi Albertson

Church Council

President Karen Adams

Secretary Teri Koretsky

Treasurer Mike Mueller

Financial Secretary Don Nelson

Worship & Music Gege Shurney

Christian Education Lisa Ruble &

Emily Wright

Service & Social Ministry Kay Nelson &

Donna Gardner

Facilities Shaun Wright

Evangelism, Fellowship Erin Sutherland &

& Communications Ashley Wineland

Stewardship & Finance Bill Sherrod &

Jerry Molitor

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Library

Carolyn Albert

Mary Bittner

Maryann Hubbell

Julie Huston

Sunday School Coordinator

Emily Wright

Trinity Foundation Members

Jerry Molitor

Maridel Greer

Mike Mueller

Jim Allen

Rev. Ken Johnson

Rev. Jake Lehman

Missionaries

David Kramer, Tillers, Int.

Eisleben Church, Germany

May 2017 – Number 1018

Tips for Kids & Cookout at WMU! On Thursday May 18th we’ve got a big night lined up! We’ll start off by teaming up with the

Youth of Zion Lutheran church to work with the Community Healing Centers at the Roof-Sit/Tips for kids Fundraiser as we pump gas and collect tips at the Downtown Shell

Station (corner of Westnedge and Kalamazoo Ave) from 4-6pm. After that we’ll head over to Solid Grounds Campus Ministry house at WMU for a good ol’ fashioned BBQ that

we’ll wrap up around 7pm! So, Sr High Youth and Middle Schoolers, sign up at church or on Facebook and plan to be

at the Shell station by 3:50. This is a great opportunity to reach out and make a difference in the lives of other youth in our community!

Acolyte Awards and Ice Cream Feast!

If you’ve served as an Acolyte over the past year (or even if you haven’t!) join us from 12:15-1:15 on Sunday May 21 for a pizza, Ice Cream, and the 4th Annual

Acolyte Awards presentation! Pr Jake will present fun awards for special skills and outstanding service in acolyting while we all enjoy some pizza and an Ice Cream

Sunday Bar to reward the acolytes! Everyone will get ice cream, but toppings will be divided in a fun way among those who have served as an acolyte the most!

Sign up on the youth board if you plan to come!

Middle School Summer Camp!

If you’re a youth in 6th-8th grade, come join us for a week at Camp! We’re heading to Stony Lake Lutheran Camp the week of June 18-23, and cost is just $100! You can register online by going to www.elcalivingwater.com/summer. Just click “register” and enter the code TLCKZ$290 when prompted to identify yourself as part of Trinity and get the discount If you’re interested or have any

questions, call the office or speak with one of the pastors! Thanks!

Krissy on the

Court!

In an effort to support our fellow youth (and get out for some fresh air) anyone who is able is invited

to meet at Kalamazoo Central High school to cheer on Krissy

Hubbell with the Loy Norrix team! The meet starts at 4:00 on

Tuesday May 9, so come on out cheer on Krissy, and if there’s

time, we’ll head over to Starbucks afterward for a tasty beverage! Sign up on the youth board or facebook if you plan to come!

Mission:Nashville!

For this summer’s Sr. High Mission Trip, we’re heading to Nashville, TN!

The trip will take place from July 2- 8, is open to all students currently in

8th-12th grade, and cost is just $120! We’ll also be making an overnight

stop at Mammoth Cave on the way home to sweeten the deal!

Time is running out to register, so If you’ve not yet registered but would

like to, Talk to Pr. Jake ASAP! Contact Pr. Jake if you have

questions!

Confirmation

Seven of our finest will be confirming their faith on Sunday May 7 during the

Service of Confirmation at the 11:00 worship.

It’s been a blessing to work with them as they’ve worked

to deepen their faith over these last couple of years.

Be sure to be there to support your fellow youth as they take

this big step faith in front of the congregation! Congrats!

WELCA Mission Action

Thanks to those of you who continue to remember our summer rummage

sale when you are cleaning and down-sizing.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to receive any additional sale items as we have no storage space

available until the last week of June. Please remember: No Electronics.

Worship Assistants for May

Lectors Acolytes Greeters

May 7 8:30 Nicole Shugars Helen Spence Rodney and Jill Freudenburg 11:00 Pat Mason Kaijsa Johnson Ken and Vickie King May 14 8:30 Suze Breischaft Krissy Hubbell Ginny Giese and Trudi Giffin 11:00 Mark Sutherland Marissa King Brien and Candy Leonard May 21 8:30 Karn Erlandson Michelle Yarzebinski and Ben and Helen Howes Anna Schreiner 11:00 Erin Sutherland Simon Dorow and Raili Nelson Jim and Maggie Lamson May 28 8:30 Cathy Mejia Emma Shugars and Max Shugars Kris Spence and Karn Erlandson 11:00 Jerry Molitor Alina Offerman and Ben Meyer Tom and Joy Kuhs

Our May project is the Shepherd’s Center. It is an interfaith organization that promotes vital aging in its community. The center provides handy hands services, transportation, and an adult break time club. Offerings will be taken at Circle Meetings. In March the YWCA Domestic Assault Program received $125.09 in personal care items, toys, infant items, household items, and art supplies. Thank you for your generosity in helping those in need.

Joyce Magerlein, Mission Action Chair

SCRIP Sales continue at a good pace with Meijer and Kohl’s our best sellers. Harding’s reports only quarterly now so we are awaiting news of our rewards there.

Spring in the air for sure and many are tackling home and yard improvements. Remember that we have Lowe’s, Menard’s and Home Depot cards as well as Meijer for your indoor and outdoor projects. Also it is not long until Mother’s Day and you might want to plan ahead for the special dinner out or gift. (Also see S.W.E.L.L. news)

We are continuing to purchase items for backpacks for foster kids (Samaritas’s count is now about 200 but not all are school age), supply bus tokens, and furnish funds for Bingo prizes. Thank you for helping us help others!

News from the SCRIP Table

From the SWELL Partnership (Volunteers supporting Samaritas foster

kids, Seita Scholars and others in need in SW Michigan)

SWELL will have Wenke Bucks available at the SCRIP table while supplies last (think Mother’s Day!). The certificates come in $10 and $2 is returned to SWELL for our use in supplying birthday presents, Bibles, and food and prizes for the various events held by Samaritas for the kids and families in the Samaritas foster care system. This group also supports the Seita Scholars at WMU and considers requests for other special needs in the SW Michigan area.

New and Used Greeting Cards Don't throw away those “free” greeting cards and enve-lopes you get in the mail or ones that you have received. There is a need among seniors who could not otherwise afford them so save your cards and turn them into the office or to Linda Ward.

Family Ministry

Our Family Celebrates Nature Together:

Kalamazoo Nature Center Sunday, May 7th from 12:30pm-3pm Bring your own picnic lunch and meet us at the Kalamazoo Nature Center (7000 N. Westnedge Ave) at 12:30pm. We’ll eat lunch at the picnic tables near the parking lot. Then we’ll explore the Interpretive Center and enjoy a nature scavenger hunt while walking some of the trails. *If it is raining, then we’ll have an indoor picnic at Trinity and still visit the Interpretive Center at KNC from 1pm-3pm. Sign up by May 4th on our Facebook page or email Heidi at hmfuerst@aol.com.

Sunday Morning opportunities in May: Sunday School is almost done for this school year, therefore we will only have one meeting for each small group in May. *Be sure to come on Sunday, May 21st for Trinity’s Annual Spring Fest where we share talents and honor all the hardworking Sunday school teachers! Watch the bulletins for details.

Infant & Toddler Small Group:

Date: Sunday, May 7th Time: 10am-10:40am Place: Family Ministry Rm

Parent Small Group:

Date: Sunday, May 14th Time: 10am-10:40am Place: Family Ministry Rm

Looking ahead… June Family Ministry Planning Meeting—This has been an amazing year and it’s time to get your feedback! We will have a Family Ministry Planning Meeting on Sunday, June 11th at 10am. We will review this past year’s activities, discuss activities for the summer, and share ideas for the 2017/2018 schedule of events. Kids are welcome to attend. Watch your mailbox in mid-May for a Family Ministry questionnaire to help you review our ministry. June Event—On June 18th, we will spend an afternoon welcoming the start of Summer Vacation at Airway Fun Center. We’ll bowl, play games, and eat pizza. Watch the News & Notes and the Family Ministry Facebook page for more information.

THANK YOU! Many thanks to Brandon Huston for his time spent as Director of Family Ministry at

Trinity. He is set to graduate from seminary in May and we wish him all the best on his future endeavors.

ONLY A MOTHER . . . will be a Scrabble par tner with a kid who thinks “cookie” begins with “k” . . . can see across town and locate a missing shoe from her office desk phone . . . will unwind 56 feet of toilet paper so her little darling can have the empty roll . . . to make a Mother’s Day present. Happy Mother’s Day!!! Opportunities to Give Women have the greatest potential to bring lasting change to their communities yet, around the world, they are not afforded the same access to education due to social and political structures. You can change that. With your support, we can provide educational and training opportunities, including 4-year scholarships to ELCA colleges and universities, for 200 international Lutheran women by 2019! Give at: ELCA.org/InternationalWomen (800-638-3522). Also, Women of the ELCA honors the life of Katharina von Bora Luther by supporting global connections, living theology and leadership development for women throughout our church. Your generous gift to Katie’s Fund helps continue the legacy of that bold woman of faith. Give At: welca.org/katiesfund.

You Are Not Alone A devotional for group or individual use

We are presented with 10 reflections from 10 diverse women of many generations, sharing what it means to trust God, who knows us completely, with our joys and our struggles. Each woman was asked to reflect on a particular time in her life, in a way that might help others in similar circumstances. Much like the many women’s circles that engage in Gather Bible studies each month, may these authors’ warm, personal stories, shared Scriptures and prayers embrace you with a sense of fellowship, Christian hope and the knowledge that you are not alone.

The joys of Easter, the discovery, the surprise, is past us now in May. Now we live into the season until Pentecost. We live in an imperfect world and we know that life is not all sweetness. Good Friday shows up in small ways and large. “We grieve our losses, we resent our oppressors, we rue the day, we raise a fist in anger, we fear the future. We resist as is appropriate, reach out in solidarity with others, serving the neighbor known and unknown as we have been called. We receive the support of others when we need to be held up. But we don’t get to skip the Good Fridays just because we believe.” Within my group of Soul Sisters, this year has brought deaths of three parents, children in great pain, marriage and planning weddings of our children, the birth of a grandchild, family members who struggle every day. We continue to feel blessed in our relationships with one another and the loving support we receive – a real kinship of spirit and acceptance of shared imperfections. We truly are NOT alone. With the Holy Spirit and other women and men of faith we can receive the nourishment that will get us through the next Good Friday in our lives. He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Gracious God, you can hear us all. Give us wisdom to see beyond our familiar worldviews and the courage to engage in the complexity of the creation you have so lovingly given. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LORD BLESS YOU! Kay Nelson

Women of the ELCA Newsletter May 2017

Circle Meetings · Esther Mary will meet on Tuesday, May 23rd at Joyce Cleasby’s home at

1:00. Hazel will provide the dessert. · Lydia will meet on Tuesday, May 16th at 7:30 at Holly Wohlfert’s home and

Holly will lead the Bible Study. · Martha will meet on Thursday, May 18th at 9:30 at Trinity. Betsy Kelly will

lead the study and host. · Miriam will meet on Tuesday, May 2nd at 6:30 at Tr inity. · Rebecca will meet on Wednesday, May 24th at 9:00 at Tr inity. Marie

Belleville will host and Laura Cook will lead the Bible Study. Women of the ELCA Purpose Statement

As a Community of Women Created in the Image of God, Called to Discipleship in Jesus Christ, And Empowered by the Holy Spirit, We Commit ourselves to

Grow in Faith, Affirm our Gifts, Support one another in our Calling, Engage in Ministry and Action, & Promote Healing and Wholeness.

Christian Action Joyce Magerlein tells us that $125.09 in personal care items, toys, infant items, household items and art supplies were donated to the YWCA Domestic Assault Program. Thank you for your on-going support! In May, our project is the Shepherd’s Center – an interfaith organization that promotes vital aging in our community. Please take an offering and a Thankoffering at your meeting.

BINGO at Ministry with Community

BINGO pr izes are needed for our monthly time with folks who attend Ministry with Community – the 3rd Tuesday afternoon of each month.

Rachel’s Day - Sunday, May 7th Women of the ELCA supports Rachel’s Day but many might not know what it is. In 1994, one woman urged her congregation, Bethel Lutheran Church on the west side of Chicago, to support children facing violence. They began by clearing a vacant lot and turning it into a garden – Rachel’s Garden. It became a place where folks – mostly mothers – could come to mourn children killed by gun violence in the past year. They also planted a white cross and flowers in remembrance of hese young ones. Two years later at the 3rd Triennial Convention of the Women of the ELCA a memorial was passed resolving “That ELCA women encourage their congregations to recognize the first Sunday in May each year as “Rachel’s Day”, based on Jeremiah 31:15-17 wherein Rachel grieved for her children, to mourn the loss of our children and to renounce the forces of evil and fear that plague our nation.” Today, children are also threatened with death by suicide, often a result of being bullied. (3rd leading cause of death in young people!) We also see drugs, abuse, neglect, poor education, health and hunger contributing to the death of children. Rachel wept beyond consolation but she would not be deterred and her actions bore witness to the urgency and gravity of the situation and the need to act.

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OUR MAY BIRTHDAYS

Ruth Brown, Bonnie Cleasby, Phyllis Botticher, Ruth Krueger, Lisa Budzinski, Mark Dobbins,

Duane Rasmussen, Patti Bosar, Rich Ellstrom, William Peevey, Diane Dobbins,

Cathy Rysenga and Barb Hogg

OUR MAY ANNIVERSARIES

1 - Lucy Sellin - Judy Sherrod - Aiden Sauerhoff 2 - Alexis Bakalyar 3 - Alex Aivars 4 - Sheree Sorensen - Henry Forester - April Alexopoulos 5 - Michael Mueller - Tara Conklin 6 - Marie Belleville 7 - Chris Running 8 - Nancy Diment 9 -Anna Schreiner - Cale Forester 13 - Maridel Greer - Matthew Schreiner - Max Wineland

14 - Julie Kelley 15 - Chris Allen 17 - Lois Litchford - Kris Spence 19 - Diane Dobbins - Gina Landry 20 - David Counterman 22 - Jim Harding - Emily Ritchie 23 - Joseph Zimmerman - Julia Lehman 24 - Evan Williams 28 - Arlene Warnicke - Susan Kloster-Larkey 31 - Barb Sipe - Avery List - Cathleen Orr

4 - Sandra Roethler & Todd Alfes - 1994 15 - Candaice & Brien Leonard - 1993 16 - Kari and Joshua Mix - 2009 - Shaun and Emily Wright - 2009 17 - Betsy & Michael Kelly - 1975 19 - Kathy & Jerry Molitor - 1973 - Daina and Tim Graves - 2012 22 - Jeffrey and Amanda Kurth - 2010 24 - Sidney & Michael Mueller - 1975 26 - Mark and Bonnie Sandmeyer - 2012 27 - John Johnson and Cynthia Running-Johnson - 1986 29 - Sharon & Evan Kokales - 1965 30 - Linda & Steve Jones - 1992 (25 years) - Joyce & Jim Magerlein - 1981

Trinity Summer Concert Series We are back again for a 4th season of the Trinity Summer Concert Series. This summer we have amazing musicians of vari-ous genres who will share beautiful music with us. As always, the concerts are free and open to the public. A free-will offer-ing will be collected at each concert to benefit a local, non-profit organization. A light reception will follow each concert. Be sure to mark these dates down on your calendar!!

Wednesday, June 14th at 7pm: The Merling Trio, classical Free-will offering to benefit the Invisible Need Project at WMU

Wednesday, July 12th at 7pm: Hazeltree, celtic/folk Free-will offering to benefit the Kalamazoo Refugee Council

Wednesday, August 2nd at 7pm: Benje Daneman’s SearchParty, jazz Free-will offering to benefit Kalamazoo Kids in Tune

These concerts occur only because of the generosity of Trinity and its members. If you would like to help financially support the Trinity Summer Concert Series, please let Heidi Albertson, Pastor Ken or Pastor Jake know. Thank you so much!

“Thank you to all who sent cards and called me when I lost my husband, Tom. Thanks also to Martha Circle for the flowers placed on the altar for me. God bless you one and all” Lois Litchford

Dear Trinity Family, Thank you for the flowers. They were much appreciated. They made the apartment feel warm and friendly. Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness. Ruth Eiseman

May 10, 2017

This month our Ladies Luncheon will be held at The Beacon Club, 5830 Portage Road at 11:30 am

We will be seated on the porch, can order off the regular menu and will be given individual checks and, of course,

there will some surprises.

If you haven’t signed up in Fellowship Hall and would like to attend, please call Greta Decker at 381-1537.

Pantry needs… Boxed potatoes (scalloped, au gratin, etc.),

Hamburger helper, baking supplies & condiments We also need both plastic and brown paper shopping bags.

Walk. Give. Change the World.

Join us Sunday afternoon, April 30 at Bronson Park for the 42nd Kalamazoo Valley CROP Hunger Walk.

Registration begins at 1:00 PM with a sendoff at 1:45 P The Walk begins at 2:00 PM Gene Wood will be in Fellowship Hall on April 30 before the walk to sign up or donate.

After many years of faithful service, our nursery worker Abby Wohlfert is stepping down. We thank her for the time and dedication that she’s given to the little ones at Trinity.

As we prepare to fill the position, we’re asking for volunteers to serve in the nursery during worship on Sunday Mornings.

Volunteers can be all ages 16 and up and must be willing to have a background check performed. Maybe pairs of older members or energetic “empty nesters”

or Moms of the little ones could take a turn. This is a wonderful way to get acquainted with young members of Trinity.

Thank you for helping to serve this very valuable ministry in our congregation! Please sign up on the nursery door or contact the office if you would like to volunteer.

30s40s potluck is a low key time of fellowship for anyone who falls in (or close to) their 30s and 40s! if that’s you, come on out with a dish to pass and your favorite beverage and join us as we gather from 6-9pm on Friday May 12th at Pastor Jake and Melissa’s house for a fun and relaxed evening of conversation and good food!

Theology on Tap – Lost in Translations - (open to everyone!) Ever wonder why there are so many versions of the Bible and what the difference is, or how we get from the original

writings to the Bible that you read? If so, come on out to Theology on Tap (if not, come anyway)! We’ll be meeting at

the Old Dog Tavern on Thursday May 25th from 7-8:30 to discuss the translation and construction of the good book!

Men’s Bible Study The Men’s Bible Study meets on the 1st and 3rd

Wednesday each month at 7am in the fellow-

ship hall. If you’ve not joined us before, this is

a great way to get involved and kick off your

day with some fellowship, Bible study, and

breakfast! Contact either pastor if you have

any questions.

Wednesday Evening Prayer – Services and Cookout The Wednesday Evening Prayer service will continue through

this month each week at 7pm. The service offers a short

peaceful time of worship featuring music from local student

musicians and Holy Communion. We’ll celebrate the final

service before summer break on May 24th with a cookout in

the courtyard starting at 6:00 followed by a musical offering

by the Children’s Choir at the service!

Adult Bible Study – Address the Mess Wednesday Evening Bible Study will resume on May 3 as we begin the series

entitled “Address the Mess” featuring Andy Stanley. The study takes a look at

the messes that we encounter in others, the world, and ourselves - exploring

how God can use the messes in our lives to teach us more about himself. Bring

your mess and join us each week May 3-24 at 6pm in the lounge!

Join us this summer for an unforgettable VBS!

Calling all kids preschool age through 5th grade! Join us on a South American experience this summer!

Our Vacation Bible School program is Passport to Peru, and we’ll be exploring the local culture

while also learning about God’s love and sharing it with our friends.

VBS runs June 26-29 from 9-11:30 am. Invite your friends, neighbors, and cousins for a fun week of games, snacks, Bible stories, and songs…the more, the merrier! Online registration is now open; look for the link on the church website. We can’t wait to explore Peru with you! And…calling all adults and teens! We’d love your help with VBS. VBS is an awesome experience—you’ll find yourself singing the songs even after the day is over. Lead a crew of kids around from station to station, run the games, help decorate, and more. If you’re willing to help, we will find a spot for you! Please contact Emily Wright or Lisa Ruble for more information.

Open Park Ministry would like to invite you to participate, and /or donate to, its

First Open Park Fellowship for 2017. This will be our “7th year anniversary celebration”.

June 10, 2017 Noon—4 pm Martin Luther King Park

The Menu : polish sausages, chips, bottled water, cake and juice (for children)

Items Needed: paper plates, napkins, bottled water and juice

To donate or participate, please call Genita Gardner at 269—5143

We are also taking donations of personal need items — shampoo, deodorant, panties, (etc.)

The following recipes were submitted by Bertha Boettcher per requests following the Fellowship Time on March 19th

Overnight Coffee Cake 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 1/2 cup sugar Topping: 1/4 c. packed brown sugar 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

1 egg, beaten 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup All-Purpose flour 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg (optional) 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Beat well. Spread into a greased 8” square baking pan. Combine top-ping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake, uncovered, at 350 ° for 40-45 min. or until the cake tests done. Yield: 6-8 servings

Candied Fruit Cookies 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 2 1/2 cups pitted dates, chopped 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup each— chopped candied cherries and pineapple

3/4 cup coarsely chopped Brazil nuts, toasted 1 egg 3/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (note from Bertha: 1/2 tsp baking soda I used walnuts and pecans because I had them on hand) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in fruits and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2” apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 min. or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Makes 6-7 dozen small cookies.

“The Social Ministry Committee wishes to thank Laura Woodruff, Marianne Fuerst, Donna and Larry Gardner and Don and Kay Nelson for providing and serving meals in March and April for the WMU students who attend Solid Ground (Lutheran Campus Ministry) on Sundays.”

Tips for Kids – Come Support Our Youth! On Thursday May 18th from 4-6pm the youth of Trinity

and Zion Lutheran will be working with the Community

Healing Centers and the Tips for Kids fundraiser to raise

money to help prevent child abuse. They’ll be pumping

gas and collecting tips form 4-6pm at the Downtown Shell

Station (corner of Westnedge and Kalamazoo Ave) so if

you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and let them fill up

your tank and wash your windows for a small tip to a

good cause!

“For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow…Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest…”

Exodus 23:10-11a,12a

When I was called by Trinity to serve as one of your pastors, it was July of 2010. I had just graduated from seminary and moved here with in a midsize U-Haul with a wife and one 11 month old child. Now seven years later we’ve got three kids, a mortgage, and a midsize U-Haul would just take care of the kids’ toys. In some ways it’s hard to believe that seven years has passed since I first came to Trinity, but when I look at the relationships that have formed, the growth that has occurred, and the ministries that we’ve experienced, it’s clear that it’s been seven years well spent.

Beginning with those relationships, there are many blessings to serving as a pastor at Trinity and one of those blessings comes in the form of a Sabbatical. For the months of June, July, and August I will be taking a sabbatical that will lead me to many places of learning, spiritual enrichment, and rest. I am incredibly grateful to be in a congrega-tion that recognizes the value in stepping away from the regular rhythms of life and ministry in order to be refreshed and restored. I wanted to take this occasion to share my plans for this summer as well as express my profound gratitude for this wonderful opportunity.

I will begin my time by taking a class on prayer and spirituality at a Presbyterian Retreat Center in New Mexico. I’m hoping the class will offer me fresh ways of understanding prayer that will enhance my prayer life both on Sabbatical and when I return.

In June my family and I will travel to the Isle of Iona in Scotland. Iona is a center of Celtic Spirituality that goes back nearly 1500 years with the founding of the Island Monastery by St Columba in 563AD. While there, we will learn from the presenters, take part in worship, and live in the rhythm of the Christian community on the island. I have always been interested in Celtic Christianity and find that the strong themes of human unity and Christ in creation resonate well with the needs of the world today. After our week at Iona our family will spend some time resting and exploring Scotland to visit the many natural, historical, and religious sites the nation has to offer.

When we return, we will attend Camp Luther; the Lutheran family Camp where my wife and I met and where I first truly felt called to ministry. Returning to camp always re-energizes my faith and call as well as the faith of my family in ways that I’ve not been able to experience anywhere else.

In August my wife and I will travel to Germany to complete a bicycle tour of the Lutheran Heritage sites. In addition to being a trip that I’ve wanted to do for a long time it will be a wonderful way to observe the 500th anniver-sary of the Reformation while enhancing my own understanding of Martin Luther and the events that continue to shape our faith and our church.

Finally to conclude the Sabbatical, I will travel to Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky for a silent retreat. This Cistercian Abbey that was home to Thomas Merton is a place of incredible peace and prayer that will be a wonderful place to reflect on my experiences and return to ministry.

Again, I want to thank you sincerely and wholeheartedly for this tremendous opportunity. I ask for your prayers during this sabbatical as I look forward to living in these experiences and discovering how they might refresh and renew me both personally and as your pastor. I continually give thanks to God for the opportunity to serve among the family of faith at Trinity and will keep you in prayer throughout these coming months. May you have a truly blessed summer!

Peace, Pastor Jake