Trinity Lutheran Church |
A Mission Outpost in a Troubled World |
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March, 2010 You may hear the sound of singing and laughter on Sunday mornings coming from the sanctuary in between services; that would be the Sunday School opening! Every Sunday all the Sunday School classes gather before breaking into their own age groups to pray, sing, celebrate birthdays, welcome visitors in our midst and to learn about Ephraim, the Sunday School sponsor child. There have been many conversations on how to say Ephraim’s name, so as a community we started fondly calling him “E”. E. has been the Sunday School’s sponsor child for many years now. His parents both died of AIDS, so E. lives with some other children and a house mom in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Twice a year Trinity is blessed to hear about the ministry in Ethiopia through the “Ethiopian necklace women” who share the story of the women and children in Ethiopia. You’ve probably seen the Ethiopian necklaces, scarves and blankets in May and December. Usually they bring with them greetings from E., as well as an update on what he has been doing. It is my great pleasure to visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this month, where I hope to meet E. in person. My original plan was to visit elsewhere in Africa and visit Ethiopia in the far off future, but due to different reasons this trip has come about sooner than planned. With many e-mails and phone calls it has, indeed, turned into quite a trip. I am learning new things along the way about myself and about what to expect when I arrive in Ethiopia. “I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” Traveling has always been a passion of mine, probably due to the fact that I traveled often as a kid to visit my dad. He lived in a different state for most of my adolescent life, so I would look forward to packing up my suitcase and awaiting Dad’s arrival. On many four day weekends, my grandparents would take me to see him, too. Packing doesn’t pose quiet the joy it used to for me, but as I begin to lay out my items for the upcoming journey I realize I am going somewhere exciting, and that brings me joy. One of Trinity’s members said to me, not too long ago, “The world is big; go out and see it!” That is what I found so thrilling about traveling. It is the way to experience the differences all over the world, including culture, landscape, people, food and much more! “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” There are also unknowns in travel. If I have ever experienced this, it is now as I plan my trip to Ethiopia! In the end, I believe all the details and unknowns will be worth it when I land in Addis Ababa and meet the people I have heard so much about.
February, 2010 “A mission outpost in a troubled world”. As a congregation we hear the above statement often, after all it is our church’s mission statement. However, we don’t stop at hearing the statement, we strive to live it out by feeding the hungry each month, providing gifts for Good Shepherd Day Care through the Giving Tree, building houses in Juarez, Mexico, growing our relationship with the Navajo Mission in Rock Point, Arizona, giving money to the community through the sale of grocery coupons, and the list goes on. Every member, young, old and in between, is important in carrying out the mission, which is one of the reasons the high school youth have chosen to take a risk next summer. That’s right, they are traveling to San Juan, Puerto Rico in June to lead a Day Camp at an ELCA congregation. What is the risk? Well, for one thing, a lot of the youth have not been outside the continental United States; it tackes courage to sign up for a trip that takes one out of his/her comfort zone. Second, there will be a language barrier between our kids and the kids in San Juan (we’re not quite sure how great of one, yet). Third, our youth are taking the gospel to people who may or may not have heard it before; this can be quite a daunting task. “A life without cause is a life without effect.” Though there are risks, the youth chose (with great joy!) to go to Puerto Rico. They are anticipating the partnership with Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, as well as the opportunity to lead a Day Camp in an exotic church. For years now the high schoolers have been PUNKs at Trinity’s Day Camp, which serves as a mentoring ministry. They are called upon to run errands, to watch after the younger youth, to assist the counselors throughout the week, as well as to lead motions for songs. Our youth are experienced in this ministry, so it will be a great opportunity for them to take their gifts and faithfulness to the people in San Juan. “‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ You have set an example for the youth in making life different, and you have also supported them as they take risks to make life different for others. Throughout the months leading up to their mission trip the youth will share with you ways in which you can support them, whether it be through fundraisers or by your prayers and questions. Look for more information in the Puerto Rico section of the youth bulletin board. Thank you for taking the youth seriously and for walking with them as we, as a congregation, strive to be a “mission outpost in a troubled world.”
September, 2009 In order to truly share the experience Trinity's participants in the National Youth Gathering July 22nd - 26th had, I would need the space of the entire Holy Post (and perhaps some more paper still). We had an unbelievable time exploring New Orleans on a street car, worshipping in the Superdome with 37,000 Lutherans, painting murals under a bridge for a kid's park, playing music ("jamming") with other students, eating beignets in Jackson Square, donating blood, dancing in the hotels at night, sharing our highs and low of each day (once by the Mississippi River) and much, much more! It was an incredible adventure with well behaved and fun-loving youth and adult leaders. One of the bigger picture ideas I am continuing to carry with me after our experience is "being the change". Many of the speakers (we heard from at least two each night at worship) had done extraordinary things as ordinary people. The men and women who shared their stories with us said they had a feeling that they should do something upon encountering someone or an issue throughout their lifetime. Each of the speakers acted upon their feeling and great things happened because the individual chose to listen and respond to the tug of their heart to do something. "Be the change you with to see in the world." ~ Chandi In many ways this fits in with Trinity's mission to be "a mission outpost in a troubled world". We are called to go out into the world to make life different. None of us have magical powers (at least, no one that I know of), but we have God's love to fill us and reassure us. In addition, we have God's presence through the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us discern God's will for us. We also have our fellow believers to encourage and support us (ask the Trinity youth and adults who say Lutheran all over New Orleans how that felt). It was humbling to have people all around New Orleans thank us for coming to serve them. A lady popping her head out of her car, a man passing our group on the street, the ticket guy at the airport; they were all grateful. We won't always get the gratitude we were blessed enough to experience in New Orleans, but that doesn't mean we aren't needed. We need to be the change in Boulder and everywhere we go! "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use |
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