Welcome to

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Brattleboro, VT

Make it Count, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, August 7, 2022 Luke 12: 37 Jesus taught, (about the master who comes home from the marriage feast) “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake… you must be ready.” Most read this story – in its literal context – as a prophetic word about the coming of Christ. We might consider it a reference to the second coming. Set aside the literal for a moment. I suggest we look at it as a story about life and death. The master is coming – are you ready? Every day we read of accidents and sicknesses that impress upon us that life is fragile and short. Young or old – make this day count. No more going through the motions. Make it worth something. When we live alert, ready, awake – we live a blessed life. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, joined by Jeff Herman-May as assistant, Gene Kuch as reader, and Marsha Heydenreich on piano. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome.

Peace in the Middle, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, July 24, 2022 Romans 5:3 … we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. We really admire those who work hard. We respect those people who struggle, who never give up, who despite all obstacles charge forward and persevere. But at what cost to ourselves and to our loved ones? We are called to be people of the middle way...to balance work with rest...to balance quitting with denial...to balance caring for others with caring for ourselves. Knock, seek, find, persevere...this is all good of course...but recognize the limits. The way of Jesus is the middle way. Be at peace in the middle way. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, joined by Jeff Herman-May as assistant, Diane Hill as reader, and Laura Josephs on piano. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome.

Martha and Mary's Story, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, July 17, 2022 Luke 10:40 (paraphrased) Jesus said to Martha – Martha your mind is full of so much. You are distracted and upset. Martha said to Jesus “Lord, don’t you care that Mary has left me to do the work by myself Tell her to help me!” Mary had a centered focus...she's was in the moment, so to speak. Martha was distracted. Instead of having focus and being in the flow of her preparations, her mind took her elsewhere. She got angry and complained...where is that lazy Mary...I have to do all the work - AS USUAL...and you (Jesus) won't back me up. When we are not present in the moment our mind, typically, will stray to a place of anger, and sometimes we will blame God for our situation. Take a page from the book of Martha and Mary. Be mindfully present in where you are. Don't play the victim's role. Practice acceptance. Invest in what is before you. Be at peace. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, joined by Ron Solberg as assistant, Beverly Wolf as reader, and Laura Josephs on piano. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome.

The Key to Caring, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, July 10, 2022 Luke 10 forward (paraphrased): A priest and a Levite were going down the road and saw the man beaten on the side of the road and they passed by… We wonder why the priest and Levite do not stop. If we put a modern spin on this - perhaps they were absorbed by their own agendas. They had someplace to get to and something to tend to. To put it simply, they were in a hurry. Often we don't notice the suffering of others because we are too busy with our own lives. The key to caring is to slow down and listen. The good Samaritan takes the time to listen to others. God listens to us. Be the presence of God for those around you. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, joined by Kris Grotz-Kuch as assistant, Micaela Carlton Newton as reader, and Marsha Heydenreich on piano. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome.

Don't Lose Your Focus, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, July 3, 2022 Luke 10:4 Jesus instructed his disciples to go out “…and greet no one on the road…” Does Jesus really mean greet no one? Probably not. Let's picture a disciple who is so focused that she/he has a singular vision – and that singularity of vision is captured in this instruction to greet no one. In other words, do not allow anyone to alter your focus. Concentrate on the next five feet and don't get distracted. Be present where you are. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome. Happy Birthday U.S.A! We know we are blessed.

Don't Lose Your Focus, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, July 3, 2022 Luke 10:4 Jesus instructed his disciples to go out “…and greet no one on the road…” In the Good Samaritan story Jesus tell of the traveler who stopped to help a suffering person. But in this instruction to the disciples he says greet no one on the road. Does he really mean greet no one? Probably not. Let's picture a disciple who is so focused that she/he has a singular vision – and that singularity of vision is captured in this instruction to greet no one. In other words, do not allow anyone to alter your focus. Don’t lose your focus. Deal with what is before you. Concentrate on the next five feet and don't get distracted. Be present where you are. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, joined by Ron Solberg as assistant, Kris Grotz-Kuch as reader, and Laura Josephs on piano. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome. Happy Birthday U.S.A! We know we are blessed.

Let It Go, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, June 26, 2022 We all have attachments to material things. We all love and value our possessions of course, but for some folks these things can become their identity. The house, the job, the car, the boat, the check book, the list can go on and on. Some of us go from one attachment to the next. We are attached to one job, then another… from one house, then the next… from one car to the next… We never really arrive. So what is it that you cling to? Let go of the attachments… live in Christ. That is the way to peace. Our service is outside today at Trinity's beautiful back yard altar. Sound quality is not the best, but the birds are singing and it is beautiful here. We appreciate the good, and do our best with the technology. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, joined by Ron Solberg as assistant, Kris Grotz-Kuch as reader, and Laura Josephs on piano. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome.

All Will Be Well, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, June 19, 2022 Luke 9:2 Jesus instructed his disciples: “Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic…” The word of Jesus to the disciples was to live simple. Take nothing and rest in God's goodness. If we can stay in that place we realize all will be well. If we don't stay in that simple place, we panic. Jesus was saying live simple, live out of God, and trust that all will be well. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, joined by Jeff Herman-May as Assistant Minister, Diane Hill as reader, and Laura Josephs on piano. No matter who you are in your walk of faith, or where you are in that journey, you are invited to the communion table at Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation, more or less traditional and relaxed, and a Reconciling in Christ congregation where all are welcome.