Welcome to

 TRINITY LUTHERAN   CHURCH
  Brattleboro, VT

Look Within, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, August 25, 2024 Luke 17:20 Jesus taught: People will not say “’There is the Kingdom of God,’ or ‘Here is the Kingdom of God,’ because the Kingdom of God (that place of joy and peace) is within you.” Jesus taught that the kingdom of God – joy, peace – it is within us. But we so often look for it elsewhere. Rest in God’s love for you. That is where joy can be found. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Jeff Herman May assisting, Lynne Stone as lector 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.

Get Out of the Boat, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, August 11, 2024 Matthew 14:29 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Jesus summons Peter to walk on the water, to do the miraculous, the extraordinary. We second guess ourselves all the time. There is the doubt. We create excuses… any justification to keep on sitting in the boat. Take that chance. Be of good courage. Trust that God has blessed you. Take up that new hobby. New life awaits. Just have to get out of that boat. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Kris Grotz-Kuch assisting, Gene Kuch as lector 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.

Pay Attention, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, August 4, 2024 Mark 6:46 - And after Jesus dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. Many of us push, push - and I do not refer to physical push push, I refer to the emotional push, push. We go through emotionally draining times. Are we aware of the drain? To see our need for rest we must live with awareness. Look for the red flags, which are different for each of us. Take time to rest. Or re-frame it: time to get the cup filled up a bit, without feeling guilty about it. Pay attention to the red flags. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Jeff Herman May assisting, Kris Grotz-Kuch as lector 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.

Move On, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, July 7, 2024 Mark 6:11 Jesus instructed his disciples: “If any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust from your feet, when you leave, as a testimony against them.” If we read Jesus we see that we need be ready to “go it alone.” He sends the disciples out two by two. He warns them they will be rejected. And for us...people will not clap for us. No one is building us a monument. Sadly, we need be prepared for “incoming flak.” Stay aware of how you (and I) are affected. Stick to your path. God is our silent cheerleader. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Hannah Cooper assisting, Micaela Carlton Newton as lector 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.

The Path to a New Life, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, June 30, 2024 Mark 5:34 Jesus said to the woman: (Y)our faith has healed you. Go in peace...” Why are we afraid to take on new tasks and delve into unknown futures – to do anything out of our norm? Even in small matters: we look over a menu… and order the same thing again. We sit in the same seats. We wear the same style clothing. Often it is fear of the unknown which keeps us rooted in place. With belief – the confidence we can – there is new adventure and new life. Believe we are loved. Believe we have gifts. Believe we have a home and resting place in God. Believe God will energize our Spirit. Believe we can live into a new future. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Jeff Herman May assisting, Lynne Stone as lector 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.

Survive the Storm, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, June 23, 2024 Mark 4:35 A great windstorm arose, so that the boat was being swamped. Jesus was asleep. They woke him up and said, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Jesus then rebuked the wind and sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" There is the battle – fear versus faith. Fear that life will not go my way on my terms. Faith that God will see me through. Usually we ask that God works things out for us. Save me! Storms always occur. Every day has its storms of a sort. We might pray that we find peace amidst the wind and rain. Christ is present in those storms. Have to look. Live in Christ. All will be well. Pastor Dennis Walker presides, with Kris Grotz-Kuch assisting, Beverly Wolf as lector 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.

Do Some Good, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, June 16, 2024 Mark 4:26 Jesus taught: "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how...” We are the sowers here - we throw the seeds out and hope that what we are doing is meaningful. We would love to see the seed blossom and we hope to get some kind of positive reaction, but sometimes it doesn't come. Jesus is subtly teaching – live in Christ, and do not depend on the reactions of others. God knows what you have done. And so do you. Throw the seeds. Do some good. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Ron Solberg assisting, Gene Kuch as lector 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.

Perseverance, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, June 9, 2024 Romans 5:4: Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Mark 3:25: If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. We often seek the easy route, comfort. We might consider the active life we could lead but that takes work and it is hard. We can so easily become divided against our self, become our own worst enemy so to speak. Everyone is able. Every one of us. We may have different abilities but we all have a chance, a way forward. Live with hope. And such hope can be our inspiration and energy. Don't be your own worst enemy. You are able. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Hannah Cooper assisting, Kali Taylor as lector 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.

Let it Go, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, June 2, 2024 Mark 2:27 Then Jesus said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath." Jesus questioned the Israelite view of the Sabbath and said one can “work” and do good on the Sabbath. The issue was: what is God calling us to do. Focus on God, not the rules. It is difficult to give up our hopes, expectations and plans and to hold to God’s presence. It sounds like we are giving up on “life as we know it.” Do what you need to do, but hold those plans in a loose grip. When we have a loose grip we can trust that all will be well. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Kris Grotz-Kuch assisting, Scott Robinson as lector 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.

The Spirit of Truth, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, May 19, 2024 John 15:26 Jesus said; ‘The Advocate will come, that I will send from God, the Spirit of Truth…’ Who is your advocate? The one who tells you to push – whether at work, at play or in taking on a new endeavor – a hobby, volunteering…. something. You are squeezing this gift of time… and life. Jesus said, I am sending you an advocate. You have an advocate in God. Squeeze it. Go, go while you can. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Hannah Cooper, Micaela Carlton Newton as lector 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.

Trapped? Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, May 12, 2024 2 Corinthians 5:17 (I)f any one is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. Monkeys are trapped by putting a banana in a vase with a narrow top. The monkey discovers the banana in the vase, reaches down to grab it and is caught when the monkey refuses to let go of the banana. And so it is when we refuse to let go of old patterns we fall into. Those patterns are what we are used to and they bring us comfort. But we are trapped. The word of Jesus is a call to let go of these old ways. Claim the presence of Christ to set us free. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Jeff Herman May assisting, Lynne Stone as lector 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.

The Joy Thief, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, May 5, 2024 Matthew 6:34: Jesus taught: “Trust God…tomorrow will worry about itself.” If we understand that we have evolved to look for trouble – for our own survival! – then it follows that we are inclined to see all that is “wrong.” Focusing on all that is “wrong,” we are not as inclined to see all that is good. We see what is askew in people, in neighborhoods, - everywhere. It is what evolution has prompted us to become. Hence, we pay attention to crime incidents, disasters, etc. in the news. Instead, let's do something which is unnatural. See the good and rejoice in it. The good abounds, when we have eyes to see. Treat yourself to a taste of joy. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Hannah Cooper assisting, Beverly Wolf as lector 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.

Savor It, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, April 21, 2024 John 20:19 Jesus stood among the disciples and said, “Peace be with you!”… Again he said, “Peace be with you! As God has sent me, I am sending you.” Jesus sent the disciples to make disciples. In our time I suggest the bigger issue is being a disciple. What might be “marks” that reflect that we are living in God? Peacefulness. Jesus said his parting words – I give you peace. He taught, be not anxious, have faith and be at peace. Many of his teachings were about living in peace. We can get so “caught up” in the matters of our minds. Slow it down. Look for the goodness of the day. Savor it. When we do, we begin to experience the flavor of God’s peace. Pastor Marsha Heydenreich presides, with Hannah Cooper, Kali Ziter-Taylor as lector 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.

Be Present, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, April 14, 2024 Luke 24:15 (This is a resurrection appearance of Jesus) The disciples talked with each other about all that had happened and Jesus came up and walked with them, but they did not recognize him. The disciples walked with Jesus but they did not recognize him. In one sense they were wrapped up in their own thoughts and that pre-occupation blinded them to the presence of Christ. We can so distracted by our own thoughts that we do not see the goodness before us, we do not hear the person next to us. Pay attention, be present today, live in the moment. Pastor Marsha Heydenreich presides, with Jeff Herman May assisting, Anna Anderson as lector 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.

Take the Leap, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, April 7, 2024 John 20:29 Jesus said to Thomas, “…blessed are those who have not seen, yet they trust.” On top of Mt. Greylock, when the winds are just so, you will find a group of air gliders hooking into their gliding apparatus. They run off the side of the mountain and glide until they land. They have to trust the apparatus, the winds, their instruction. If doubt overcomes them, they never know what it is to fly. Sometimes our “programming” keeps us on the side of the mountain. Safe. Secure. Can I trust in God and have the courage to jump. It may move me to take that chance in reaching out to another, in giving of my self, in risking the embarrassment of trying something new. I may experience the joy of flight. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Jeff Herman May, Micaela Carlton Newton as lector 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.

The Easter Metaphor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, March 31, 2024 Luke 24:11 The apostles did not believe the women (that Jesus was risen) because their words seemed to them to be nonsense. Easter is a grand metaphor for life. We are programmed - typically by the views, attitudes and expectations of others. That “programming” can hold us captive so that we do not see “joy” but instead we can get swallowed up in sadness, suffering and despair. We end up living (the day, the week?) in the darkness. The Easter metaphor is that darkness can turn to joy. God invites us be people of the "third day". People who move from darkness to new life. May we be people who live in that "third day". Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Kris Grotz-Kuch assisting, Beverly Wolf as lector 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.

Be a Light, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, March 17, 2024 Luke 23:28: Jesus said – “(D)o not weep for me, weep for yourselves…” Jesus said, “Weep not for me… weep for yourselves.” We see vast amounts of wealth juxtaposed with those who are food insecure. We see groups clamoring for power in the Middle East and the Ukraine and death and injury visited upon people who simply want to live. How can we not weep over the ways of humanity? We can sink into a depressive state… or…. We decide that – with God’s Spirit - in some way we shall be a light in this darkness. Share a bit of kindness and grace, a smile, some laughter. Be a light. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Jeff Herman May assisting, Kris Grotz-Kuch as lector 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.

God So Loved The World, Trinity Lutheran Church, Brattleboro, VT, March 10, 2024 John 3:16 For God so loved the world… We are loved. You are loved. You. God sees you as very lovable. Sadly, it is when life goes south that we might come back to the reality that God loves us. It is our fall back, “insurance” position. Perhaps it is the source of healing. The point is we want to avoid getting to the place where we need healing. Start today with God loves you. Let it be the launching pad instead of the fall back. See what a difference it makes. Pastor Jon Heydenreich presides, with Ron Solberg, Diane Hill as lector 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.