+WORSHIP | IN-PERSON or ONLINE | 9:30 AM+
In today’s gospel the Samaritan woman asks Jesus for water, an image of our thirst for God. Jesus offers living water, a sign of God’s grace flowing from the waters of baptism. The early church used this gospel and those of the next two Sundays to deepen baptismal reflection during the final days of preparation before baptism at Easter. As we journey to the resurrection feast, Christ comes among us in word, bath, and meal—offering us the life-giving water of God’s mercy and forgiveness.
This Week’s Online Bulletin: HERE
NEW! Families, please view This Week’s Children’s Bulletin: HERE
View the March 2023 Trinitarian HERE
Readings for this Sunday
Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95
Romans 5: 1-11
John 4:5-42
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.
+COMMUNITY NEWS+
Lenten Reflections
I am making it my Lenten discipline this year to write a blog piece each week of Lent. I thought I would offer them to you for your reflection. Each piece will close with questions to ponder. The themes I’ve selected are wilderness, enough, kairos, call, sighs, hospitality, and waiting. Valerie M
Lent 3 – Kairos
Kairos and God’s movement are this week’s reflection theme.
vmwishes.com/2023/03/09/week-3-kairos/
(opens in a new tab)
From Pr. Paul:
Join @ELCAYoungAdults for #NoPlasticsForLent!
Lent began on Ash Wednesday, and there is 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.
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. We will start at 6:00pm, allowing for plenty of time for conversation and fellowship before the service starts at 7:00 pm. 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 for supper anyway. Note: Midweek worship will be in-person only.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050e4caba82f4-lenten#/
Your Congregation Council
During this time of Trinity’s transition, we wanted to keep you up to date with Council activities. They recently held a retreat with congregation coach Michelle Snyder, and a summary of their day is outlined in this month’s Trinitarian (link to it is above). Your Council members are: Mary B, Carol B, Cathy C, Greg F, Valerie M, Nancy N, Len S, Frederic S, Leslie S, and Kim B, President. If you have any concerns or questions, please speak to a member or send an email to Council@trinityelca.org . Thank you!
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?
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.
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED
There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for Coffee Hour! Please call the church office to sign up, or click here or contact Chelsea Y at Chelsea.kiehl@valpo.org with questions.
+HAPPENING AT TRINITY+
Soup Supper and Lenten Worship | March 9
Change to Daylight Saving Time | March 11
Special Guest Adult Forum (In-Person and Zoom) | March 12
Reverse Yard Sale and Food Drive | March 18
Red Cross Blood Drive | April 18
Graduate Recognition | May 14
+Next Week at Trinity+
Sun, Mar 12, Third Sunday in Lent | Food Collection
9:30 am Holy Communion Worship Service (Coffee Hour to Follow)
10:45 am Special Guest Adult Forum-Room 10 and Zoom
10:45 am Children’s Sunday School- Room 11
Mon, Mar 13
7:30 pm Heavenly Handbells
Wed, Mar 15
5:00 pm Trinitarian Deadline
Thurs, Mar 16
6:00 pm Soup Supper
7:00 pm Holden Evening Prayer
7:30 pm Trinity Singers- Choir Room
Sat, Mar 18
9:00 am Food Drive and Reverse Yard Sale
Sun, Mar 19, Fourth Sunday in Lent | 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 11
+CLASSES AND MEETINGS+
Adult Forum | Sundays | 10:45 am | Room 10 and Zoom
In 1979, Luther Place Memorial Church established the Lutheran Volunteer Corps in order to create one-year service opportunities for recent college grads. On March 12, we will have speaker Dierdre Bagley attend via Zoom from LVC. She will speak on the state of LVC to their support congregations, and to update churches on how their gifts to LVC are being stewarded. (Lutheran Volunteer Corps was a recent recipient of funds from Trinity’s Social Ministry Team to “pack the pantry” for the nine volunteers who are living in Bon House in Washington, DC.) See more about LVC in this month’s Trinitarian.
if you cannot attend in person, please join the Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83661397287
Meeting ID: 836 6139 7287
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Trinity Singers | Thursdays | 7:30 pm
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 | March 18, 2023 | 9-noon | See the list of critical food needs here
Thanks to the many congregation members who continue to support our monthly food drives to support Bethesda Help. We are also pleased that each month we welcome donations from members of the neighborhood. Each month we drop off between 300-500 pounds of food and 10-20 gift cards. Bethesda Help is very appreciative and recognizes Trinity each month in the BH newsletter.. 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
Trinity Reverse Yard Sale to Benefit A Wider Circle | March 18, 2023 | 9-noon
We will be collecting smaller, gently used household items, clothes, and toys in the Trinity parking lot on March 18th to donate to A Wider Circle. Their mission is to end poverty using a holistic approach to integrate on-the-ground services for the creation of stable homes, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization. We will sort and transport your donated items to A Wider Circle where the items will be given to help people in need. If you have items to donate, please bring them to Trinity on March 18th from 9am – 12pm. Please contact Henry C with questions.
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:
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, Pam B
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
Family & friends of Rev. Lamar K, friend of Tom K
Martha R (Sterling Care), friend of Trinity
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, or email pastor@trinityelca.org
