Trinity Lutheran Church Brattleboro

Today is Sunday November 22, 2020, and it is Christ the King Sunday. This is the second Sunday since in-person worship service was suspended due to a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in Vermont. It is also the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We live-streamed to Trinity's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/trinitybrattleboro/) and apologize for the glitches. Today we explore what it means to "See with hearts enlightened". We are truly thankful, grateful and blessed for all that we have, and for all that we are able to share with each other, and with the Brattleboro community as a whole. Despite all, we know we are blessed. At this special time of year we offer deep thanks and gratitude to Pastor Randy Wilburn for keeping us UNITED and IGNITED during these difficult Covid-19 days. Presiding today is Pastor Randy Wilburn, and Ron Solberg as Assistant Minister, and Laura Josephs on Piano. We reaffirm Trinity's Mission: To Serve God and His Creation with love, respect and dignity.

Time after Pentecost Sunday, November 15, 2020. Paul urges us to live in harmony with one another, and to not repay evil with evil but to “overcome evil with good”. John has a vision of what will be and stresses peace. The risen Lord Jesus provides visions of peace that passes human understanding and power beyond human imagination. Sundays and Seasons Texts for Sunday, November 15, 2020 Romans 12:14-21 Paul presents benchmarks for faithful relationships with Christians and non-Christians. Love is the steadfast standard of our behavior. When we encounter evil, we do not resort to its tactics but seek to overcome it with good. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” While Christians cannot control the actions and attitudes of others, we seek to live at peace with all people. Ephesians 2:13-18 The author of this letter reminds his audience that originally they were not part of God’s chosen people. Through Jesus’ death, however, they are included in God’s household of faith, whose cornerstone is Jesus Christ. John 14:27-29 As Jesus talks of returning to the Father, he promises to send the Holy Spirit, who will teach Jesus’ followers and remind them of all that Jesus taught. He said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Now more than ever before, we seek a peace that overcomes fear.

Time after Pentecost Sunday, November 8, 2020. Today the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ’s coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory - the marriage feast of the lamb. Sundays and Seasons Texts for Sunday, November 8, 2020 Amos 5:18-24 In the days of Amos, people thought that the day of the Lord would be a time of great victory, but Amos announced that it would be a day of darkness, not light. He said liturgy is no substitute for obedience. The Lord demands justice and righteousness in the community. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Some of the Thessalonians are worried that dead Christians will be excluded from the resurrections to eternal life when Christ comes again. Paul reassures them with the word of hope that all Christians, living or dead, will be raised into everlasting life with Jesus. Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus tells a parable about his own second coming, emphasizing the need for readiness at all times. Are we wise and watching Christians?

Sunday November 1 is All Saints Sunday. We will pray for the deceased and remember those close to our hearts by lighting a candle for the person named. We will also ring our bell once for each 10,000 who have died from Covid.

Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in and ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission. Sundays and Seasons Texts for Sunday, October 25, 2020 Jeremiah 31:31-34 The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy. The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets. Romans 3:19-28 Paul’s words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the Law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through thru the divine activity centered in Christ’s death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ. John 8:31-36 Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.

In today’s first reading God uses the Gentile ruler Cyrus to accomplish divine purposes. When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus, he tells them to give the emperor what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God. To gather for worship reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to God rather than to any earthly authority. Created in the image of God, we offer our entire selves in the service of God and for the sake of the world. Sundays and Seasons Texts for Sunday, October 18, 2020 Isaiah 45:1-7 The prophet announces that Cyrus the Persian emperor is the one the Lord has anointed to end Israel’s exile. The Lord makes this choice so that the whole world will recognize this Lord as the only God. Persia had a god of light and god of darkness; the Lord claims sovereignty over both light and darkness. Matthew 22:12-23 After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with questions. They ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar. Jesus said “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” We know we owe everything to God.

Facebook live recording from Sunday, October 11th, 2020. Texts for Sunday, October 11, 2020 Exodus 32:1-14 While Moses is delayed on Mount Sinai, the people grew restless and made a golden calf to worship. Moses interceded with an angry God to spare Israel. Moses boldly asks mercy for them reminding God that the Israelites are God’s own people, and reminds God of the promises God made to Israel’s matriarchs and patriarchs. Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus tells a parable indicating that the blessings of God’s kingdom are available to all, but the invitation is not to be taken lightly. For many are called, but few are chosen.

Sunday, October 4th, 2020 outdoor service with communion for St. Francis Day, with special guest musician Rob Freeberg on trumpet.