+WORSHIP | IN-PERSON or ONLINE | 9:30 AM+
Today’s festival is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close today and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in several days. On a high mountain Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son, echoing the words at his baptism. This vision of glory sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in Jerusalem. We turn this week to Ash Wednesday and our yearly baptismal journey from Lent to Easter. Some churches put aside the alleluia at the conclusion of today’s liturgy. This word of joy will be omitted during the penitential season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter.
This Week’s Online Bulletin: HERE
View the February 2023 Trinitarian HERE
Readings for this Sunday
Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 2
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
Masks are now optional. Please read more here.
We continue to worship in a hybrid fashion. Please worship in the manner which is best for your household. Although we no longer require advance signup for in-person worship, please check in with a greeter as you arrive (for contact tracing purposes if needed). If a change needs to be made to this plan, we will notify you via email.
Welcome to our Guest Preacher, Rev. Franklin Morales
Pastor Franklin Morales was born in Venezuela and is a former Catholic priest. He did his philosophical studies in Venezuela, his theological studies in Rome, and a one-year internship in Central America, where he had first-hand contact with the realities of poverty, criminal gangs, inequality, and hunger that force many of our Central American brothers and sisters to emigrate from their countries of origin looking for a better future for themselves and their families. Pastor Franklin discovered in Lutheran theology a gospel that seeks liberation and equality for all people without distinction through ways of justice and peace, where the relationship with God through prayer is manifested in service to the neediest and with creation
Welcome Pastor Paul Collinson-Streng!
Last Sunday we welcomed Pastor Paul Collinson-Streng to join Trinity as our interim pastor through April 23. Pastor Paul is away this Sunday for a prior obligation. Please give him a warm welcome when you see him next week! Pastor Paul can be reached by cell or text at 410-258-7603. Feel free to leave a message.
+COMMUNITY NEWS+
From Pr. Paul:
Join @ELCAYoungAdults for #NoPlasticsForLent!
Lent begins Ash Wednesday, and there is always still time to take the #NoPlasticsforLent pledge, led by ELCA Young Adults.
While we often think of giving something up for Lent as depriving ourselves of something, this Lenten practice has a more positive spin. While giving up single-use plastic, or committing to eco-friendly practices, or just reducing plastic waste for 40 days may be a challenge, it’s a step towards better caring for creation. Maybe at the end of Lent, you will have found practices that you can sustain on an everyday basis!
We know the problems we face are bigger than re-usable grocery bags. That’s why this initiative is NOT just about plastics. Instead, the heart of our challenge this Lenten season is that EACH PERSON / community commit to a spiritual practice that is accessible and deepens their relationship with God and all creation.
This could be giving up single use plastic, tending a plant as a spiritual practice, committing to have a conversation with someone new weekly about why ecojustice is important to you as a person of faith, or something else!
We know that when we all gather together, by the power of the Spirit, we can have a huge impact on our communities and world.
Take the pledge today to help take care of God’s creation: https://sites.google.com/view/noplasticsforlent/forms/2023-pledge-form
Share with each other, what is YOUR commitment to creation care this Lent?!
Trinity’s Lenten Benevolence Offerings will go to Lutheran Disaster Response this year. Lutheran Disaster Response brings God’s hope, healing, and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. We will focus on domestic relief. There are many immediate needs here. Visit the ELCA Disaster Response webpage (https://elca.org/disaster) to learn more about how you can help.
Dinner, Discussion, and Dessert | Sat, Feb 25 | 6:30 pm
Come gather for dinner and fellowship at the Mayers’ home. The RSVP link is below which includes items for you to bring and the address. If you have any questions, please contact Valerie (valerie@vmwishes.com)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050e4caba82f4-dinner7
Lenten Soup Suppers and Holden Evening Prayer | Thursdays in March, 6:00 pm
Join us in the social hall for a simple supper of soup and bread prior to Lenten vespers at 7:00 pm. We will start at 6:00pm, allowing for plenty of time for conversation and fellowship. There is a sign-up link below to RSVP (so we have an estimate as to how many to set up for) and provide a soup or bread. Signing up would be helpful, if you forget, come join us anyway. Thanks
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050e4caba82f4-lenten#/
Souper Bowl Tallies
Last Sunday we collected $113 and 27 cans of soup, the majority of which was in the pot for the champion Kansas City Chiefs! The real winner is Manna Food Center who will receive the cash and soups. Thank you, Trinity, for your generosity!
Trinity Prayer Event for the Call Process: Intergenerational Sunday School February 26, 2023
Have you wondered how Trinity, as a congregation, can support the call process of a new pastor? Trinity’s Stephen Ministry program is sponsoring an Intergenerational Congregational Prayer Event, to be held after the church service on the first Sunday in Lent, February 26. At this prayer event, we will learn new ways of opening our hearts in prayer to specifically listen and be guided by the Holy Spirit. There will be opportunities to pray together and pray individually, try a variety of prayer practices, including some art work and breath prayers, and to continue to pray for our congregation in the days, weeks, and months ahead. We welcome Trinity’s children at this prayer event, which will be an intergenerational time of prayer. The children will take part in Trinity’s annual pretzel-making experience as well as other children’s prayer opportunities. Join us for this time of prayer and be a part of a beautiful way of coming together as a spiritual community to prayerfully support our call process for a new pastor as it continues.
HELP WANTED!
Do you enjoy creating videos and slideshows? Do you have a few hours per month to help make Trinity’s website and social media posts more “like”-able? Can you come up with better jokes?
We would like someone to help the Worship Ministry Team to take photos and video of our worship services and our musicians for Trinity’s website and social media posts. If you have a talent for this, and a little time to give, please contact Mary B.
ONLINE GREETERS NEEDED
Do you like chatting? Do you want an acceptable excuse to have your cell phone out during worship services?
We need a few people to take turns moderating the chat room during our Sunday morning worship. While this is ideal for people who worship online, you can also do this while attending in person. Please contact Mary B if you can help with this.
+HAPPENING AT TRINITY+
Save the Dates:
Food Drive | Feb 18
Ash Wednesday Service | February 22 | 7:30 pm
Prayer Event Setup | Feb. 25
D3 Dinner | Feb 25
Prayer Event | Feb 26
MEF Committee Meeting | Feb 26 | 11 :45 AM
Soup Supper and Lenten Worship | March 2
+Next Week at Trinity+
Sun, Feb 19, Transfiguration of Our Lord | Food Collection
9:30 am Holy Communion Worship Service (Coffee Hour to Follow)
10:45 am Adult Forum-Room 10
10:45 am Children’s Sunday School- Room 8
Mon, Feb 20
7:30 pm Heavenly Handbells
Tues, Feb 21
7:30 pm Congregation Council
Wed, Feb 22
7:30 pm Ash Wednesday Service
Thurs, Feb 23
7:30 pm Trinity Singers- Choir Room
Sat, Feb 25
9:00 am Stephen Ministry Prayer Event Setup
Sun, Feb 26, First Sunday in Lent | Food Collection
9:30 am Holy Communion Worship Service
(Coffee Hour to Follow)
10:45 am Intergenerational Prayer Event
11:15 am Mission Endowment Committee
+CLASSES AND MEETINGS+
Adult Forum | Sundays | 10:45 am | Room 10
Trinity Singers | Thursdays | 7:30 pm | See the Calendar for Future rehearsal dates
Sunday School for Youth | Sundays | 10:45 am
Trinity Men’s Group | Every Second Wednesday | 1:00 pm | Zoom
Contact the church office for zoom info
Heavenly Handbells | Mondays | 7:30 pm | Sanctuary
Stephen Ministry | See the Calendar for meeting dates
Mission Endowment Committee | See the Calendar for Future meeting dates
+DONATIONS AND AID NEEDED+
Food Collection: Food Drive | February 18, 2023 | 9-noon | See the list of critical food needs here
Our monthly food drive collection will be given to Bethesda Help (bethesdahelp.org). Thanks to all for their ongoing support of the food drives – the need in the community continues to grow. Trinity’s food drives will continue the third Saturday of the month from 9-12. The list of food donation requests is on Trinity’s website. If you have any questions please contact Margaret F at gmfitzwm85@gmail.com
Afghan Refugees (LSS): Lutheran Social Services (LSS) is reaching out with immediate needs due to the influx of Afghan refugees arriving in this area. They are in need of drivers, storage space, rooms on a temporary basis, and housing settlement. Contact: https://lssnca.org/help/donate-goods.html
+REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS+
We are grateful that people have been lifting up our members and friends in prayer during Zoom gatherings. Please also call the office at 301-881-7275 or email office@trinityelca.org to add them to the list below.
nursing/rehabilitation center:
Martha R (Bethesda H&R)
Philip T (Manor Care Potomac)
Yulie N (Village at Rockville)
home
Tigist G, Margo W, Lineth M, Isabel F, Gio S, Vimala P, Anya N
family and friends
Lonnie B, friend of Carol B
Donald B, brother of Marilyn C
Pastor Sarah F-M, friend of Anita S
David G, friend of Tad and Vi D
Karen and Harold S, friends of Pamela B
first responders
Lisbeth N-D
Greta S & Linda A, sister & sister-in-law of Anita S
Vanessa B, friend of Elizabeth & Ben R
*For family and friends, prayer requests will be kept on the list for four weeks. After four weeks, please complete another card/call the office.
+RESOURCES+
Our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrinityELCA/streams
+OFFICE HOURS+
Carol B will be our interim admin 9-3 Mon-Thurs, and interim Pr Paul Collinson-Streng will be in the office on Tuesdays but also can be reached by phone or text at 410-258-7603
