+WORSHIP | IN-PERSON or Online | 9:30 AM+
Jesus’ parable about two sons who don’t do what they say reveals surprises in the reign of God. In the reading from Ezekiel the people claim the ways of the Lord are unfair, while God offers repentance and new life. Paul urges us to look to Christ as a model of humility, putting the interests of others above our own. Nourished by the broken bread and shared cup, we offer our lives for the sake of our needy world.
THIS WEEK’S SERVICE IS A SERVICE OF THE WORD.
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.
This Week’s Bulletin: HERE
SOON View the October 2023 Trinitarian HERE
Readings for this Sunday
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Psalm 25:1-9
Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32
Masks are now optional.
+COMMUNITY NEWS+
Welcome Deacon Deb Haynes
Deacon Deb Haynes is the Executive Director of Food for Others and an ordained Minister of Word and Service in the ELCA. Food for Others is a food bank serving over 3,000 households per week, almost 4,000 school children every weekend through a backpack program, and multiple community partners in Northern Virginia. Previously, she was the Director of Case Management for The Lamb Center, an ecumenical Christian ministry that serves people experiencing homelessness in Fairfax, VA. Deacon Deb is a teacher and supply preacher in the Metro DC Synod, sharing the gospel in the nation’s capital through a diaconal lens. She is a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Falls Church, VA, where she lives with her husband, college kid, and two spoiled rabbits.
Little Free Library and Little Free Pantry
We are excited to have our Little Free Library (LFL) and Little Free Pantry (LFP) open for business. Both are located near the entrance of the southside parking lot (the big lot), facing Old Georgetown Rd.
The LFL has 2 shelves and is accepting children’s and young adult books (lower shelf) and adult books (upper shelf). The books may be new or gently used books in good condition.
The LFP is accepting food items (no produce or perishables), as well as non-food items. Please review the list below for suggested items and items to avoid. Additionally, please consider the time of year. Containers may be damaged when the contents freeze. Contents may spoil if sitting in hot weather for an extended period. Pull-tab cans are good for those with limited kitchen gadgets.
Questions can be directed to Stella, Jerry, and Social Ministry members.
What types of items should be provided in the LFP?
- Individually packaged snacks: boxes of raisins, granola and protein bars with NO chocolate, fruit snacks, juices
- Food not requiring kitchen preparation: nuts and seeds, dried fruits, granola, nut butters, applesauce, cereal (especially those good for snacking)
- Toiletries: facial tissue packs, bar soap, hand wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant
- First aid items: mini first aid kits, bandages, topical antibiotics, anti-itch crème, hand sanitizer,
- Seasonal items: sunscreen lotion, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, sunglasses, hats, gloves, scarves
What types of items should NOT be provided in the LFP?
- Perishable items that need refrigeration
- Food within a 3-months of its best by date
- Food with damaged packages
- Dented cans
- Fresh produce of any kind
- Food that is spoiled or moldy
- Homemade or home-canned food products
- Opened or re-packaged foods (do not break bigger packages of food into smaller packages due to possible contamination and lack of nutrition label)
Faith Formation Bulletin Board
The bulletin board outside of Room 11 has information about our faith formation offerings this academic year. Individual flyers will be posted there about Adult Forum guest speakers. Please check it out.
Connect to Trinity’s Hearing Assistance System
Follow these easy steps to get connected:
1. Download the AudioFetch app to your smartphone or tablet.
2. Connect your phone/tablet to the AudioFetch WiFi network.
(No password should be required. This step will change next week.)
3. Connect your phone/tablet to your listening device. This will be unique to your situation:
●Bluetooth hearing aid
●Bluetooth earbuds
●Wired headphones
Please come to the A/V table if you need assistance.
Children’s Koinonia —Saturday, October 28th, 9:00am-12pm
Children are invited to gather in the social hall for a morning of fun and fellowship. We will paint pumpkins, make bird feeders, and play games. A snack will be provided. Toddlers and preschoolers are welcome as well. Young children need to be accompanied by a parent.
Please RSVP to Valerie M. so enough materials can be purchased
A Note from the Call Committee
With each interview, we ask the pastoral candidate to open with a brief devotion and prayer. In a recent interview, the Call Committee was touched by a prayer shared. The prayer is a graceful reminder of the need to trust in God. The Call Committee and Trinity’s journey to find our new Pastor continues. Please keep us in your prayers.
Patient Trust
Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.
—Teilhard de Chardin
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.edu with questions.
+HAPPENING AT TRINITY+
Women’s Retreat | September 29 and 30
Choir Retreat | October 14
Council Retreat | October 21
Food Drive | October 21
Children’s Koinonia Day | October 28
Reformation Day | October 29
Women’s Center Dinner | October 29
+Next Week at Trinity+
Sun, Oct 1 The Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
9:30 am Service of the Word
(Coffee Hour to Follow)
10:45 am Sunday School Classes and Adult Forum
Mon, Oct 2
7:30 pm Heavenly Handbells Rehearsal
Tues, Oct 3
11:00 am Staff Meeting
7:00 pm Stephen Ministry
Thurs, Oct 5
7:30 pm Trinity Singers rehearsal
Sun, Oct 8 The Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
9:30 am Holy Communion Worship Service
(Coffee Hour to Follow)
10:45 am Sunday School Classes and Adult Forum
+CLASSES AND MEETINGS+
Trinity Singers | Thursdays | 7:30 pm
Sunday School and Adult Forum Classes | 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 | October 21, 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
+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:
Yulie N (Village at Rockville)
home
Isabel F, Tigist G, Lineth M, Anya N, Vimala P, Elizabeth R, Gio S, Margo W
family and friends*
Donald B, brother of Marilyn C
Gene B, friend of Kim and Pam B
Pam C, sister of Mike M
Pastor Sarah F-M, friend of Anita S
Betsy G, friend of Margaret F
David G, friend of Tad and Vi D
Joe J, friend of Sarah M and Tom K
Terry K, brother-in-law of David and Leslie C
Anne L, friend of Len S
Randi L, friend of Mike and Valerie M
Juan-Maria M-M, friend of Len S
Beatriz N, Vera and Ben’s grandmother
Linda P, cousin of Julie N
Martha R (Sterling Care), friend of Trinity
Cristobal R-M, friend of Len S
Cristobal R-S, friend of Len S
Karen and Harold S, friends of Pamela B
Paul S, brother of Steve S
Alex V, friend of Sunhee P
Victor V and family, friends of Kim and Pam B
The Voigtsberger family, friends of Greg and Margaret F
first responders
Lisbeth N-D
Greta S & Linda A, sister & sister-in-law of Anita S
Vanessa B, friend of Elizabeth & Ben R
marriage
The marriage of Juliana C and Louis S, October 1, 2023, daughter of Marilyn and Bob C
*For family and friends, prayer requests will be kept on the list for 4 weeks. To renew, please complete another card/call the office.
+RESOURCES+
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrinityELCA/streams
+OFFICE HOURS+
Carmen will be in the office from 9-5 on Monday-Friday. Please contact the office or a council member if you have a request for pastoral care.
