Pastor Andrew Hinderlie

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Pastor's Pondering 2020

“But be always growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be all glory, both now and to the day of Eternity!”2 Peter 3:18 Weymouth New Testament

 

September and this time normally bring to mind the end of summer vacation, school re-entry, autumn colors, the waning of our daylight hours, and for Trinity Worship time changes (from 9 am to 10 am) Rally Sunday, families back in church and Sunday School for youth and adults.  This summer has flown by too quickly for many of us as our lives have not been as we would have wanted or desired for our children or us with work, vacations and lives changed.  And we still have no idea what to look forward to this fall.  In times like this that we need to remember, it is not the first time our country and this world has had plagues, wars, civil unrest, political divisions, and differences.  There is truly nothing new under the sun; this world has been through it all and will go through it again as long as humanity acts as humanity has done since the beginning of time: selfish without consideration of others' needs or what we simply call sin.  Jesus teaches plainly what it means to be his follower, and the Apostles encourage believers to continue to grow in faith, grace, and knowledge of Christ Jesus.  Today we refer to this as discipleship.

As your Pastor, I admit I don't know what this year will bring though I do know it won't be the same as years past.  I do know that whatever happens, God is with us, and we can put our trust in God for it only God that can carry us through the good and difficult times.  I do know that pulling together, supporting each other, and Trinity during this time, we shall get through it.  I do know that we can choose to back away or step up to the challenges we are facing with God's help. As Worship committee we met and have suggested to council that while we worship under God's fabulous dome if it rains we will have everyone go inside and be back inside this fall as long as things don't change from Panhandle Health.  Please see Kay Peterson's article and watch for letters in the mail. 

This year we are planning to get back into what we as Lutherans believe is important in the normal life of the church besides worship, and that is education.  This year Lon Woodbury has continued to do his book studies each Thursday afternoon at 3:30 pm, and we hope this will continue, and more will join in with this opportunity.  We also plan to have several educational opportunities for all of us, young and old, during the year and will use whatever means we can to provide possibilities to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in our discipleship.  I hope that given the opportunities for growth in faith and knowledge, you will join in on this adventure.

Prayer 96 from the old ALC red hymnal is often referred to as the Holden Village prayer, and so we pray for this coming year:  “Oh Lord God who has called us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden and through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen”