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A Service of Hymns: May 17, 2020

A blessed Sunday to all of you. Today, we gather around God’s word as it is proclaimed in song. Wherever you may find yourself this day, may these words, notes, and our collective song bring you healing, hope, and life in the name of the one who is crucified and risen for the life of the world.

An accompanying handout for today’s service can be accessed at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2sfxwq8e6k7zln1/A%20Service%20of%20Hymns.pdf?dl=0

A Sunday school lesson for the young people in our lives can be accessed at: https://iksynod.org/ssah05172020/

This lesson is on the lectionary texts for the 6th Sunday of Easter.

More to come in these next days regarding Holy Trinity’s transition to in-person worship. Please stay tuned via the website and Facebook pages.

Speaking of the website, check it out! In the corner you can even click on the “Give” button in support of Holy Trinity’s mission, in Jesus’ name.

If todays service is meaningful to you, or you think it will be meaningful to someone in your life who is not connected to Holy Trinity, please share the above YouTube link, this website post, or share our Facebook post on social media. It is an easy, simple way to share the gospel and to share what’s been going on at Holy Trinity, especially during these past couple of months in the midst of a global pandemic.

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Easter 5 (May 10, 2020)

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

A blessed 5th Sunday of Easter to you all, and a Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and those who provide motherly care.

Due to a number of circumstances beyond my control (including a reappearance of illness/symptoms that have prompted yet ANOTHER period of 7 day self-isolation for me), the promised worship service/devotion in my last note to you will not be ready for distribution today. Thankfully, it was not necessarily particular to either the 5th Sunday of Easter, nor was it particular to Mother’s Day. So, it will be ready (fingers crossed) for you all next week.

I am thankful for the wonderful sharing of resources amongst my colleagues at the churchwide offices, at the synod office, and in other congregations throughout the country. So, for the 5th Sunday of Easter, I hope you enjoy seeing a familiar face. I am thankful for Pastor Heather Apel (Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership for the I-K Synod) and her powerful, faithful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Heather’s sermon for the 5th Sunday of Easter can be found here:

A Sunday school lesson for the 5th Sunday of Easter can be found here:

https://iksynod.org/sshome05102020/

A deep thanks to those of you who have been so generous during this time of the COVID-19 wilderness. Please continue that generosity by sending gifts to the church, or by giving online at our website (holytrinitync.org).

Please be watching for an update on Monday regarding Holy Trinity’s plans as we move forward in these next weeks toward in-person worship.

I close with a prayer for Mother’s Day:

God of all creation,
pour out your blessing on all mothers
and those who provide motherly care.
You have made them in your image
and given them children to love and care for in your name.
Bless them with a heart like your heart:
loving and kind, comforting and strong,
nurturing and grace-filled.
As they participate in your ongoing creativity,
give them discernment
to help their children discover their unique gifts.
As they teach their children,
grant them wisdom to know what is truly valuable.
As they strive to share your unconditional love,
give them long-suffering patience and a lively sense of humor.
As they model your mercy,
help them extend the forgiveness
they themselves freely receive from you.
In all circumstances fortify their faith,
that they may love you above all.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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Worship: May 3, 2020 (Easter 4, Year A)

May 3, 2020 bulletin

A PDF of the bulletin, including a full text of the sermon, can be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/obxayaijsqvvsvx/May%203%2C%202020%20bulletin.pdf?dl=0

Today’s Sunday school lesson can be found at: https://iksynod.org/sunday-school-home-fourth-sunday-of-easter-may-3-2020/

Thanks to all who participated in worship today!

Stay tuned over the next several days for further announcements regarding Holy Trinity’s plan for moving forward in the times of COVID-19, including plans to slowly transition back to in-person worship. Please check the website (www.holytrinitync.org) and our Facebook page for the latest up-to-date information.

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Worship: Easter 2, Year A (April 19, 2020)

April 19, 2020

A downloadable version of the bulletin, along with a full text of the sermon, can  be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/znkw1awwmpy8e9a/April%2019%2C%202020.pdf?dl=0

For school age children, Sunday school materials for the 2nd Sunday of Easter can be found at: https://iksynod.org/sunday-school-home-second-sunday-of-easter-april-19-2020/

This was a fun service to plan and execute, and rightly so! After all it is Holy Humor Sunday! Not that I planned anything in particular…

So, your homework for the week is to Google “Holy Humor Sunday.” It actually has a rich, interesting history.

Please know that I pray for each and every one of you daily. Let us continue to pray for our world as it remains in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. Be well, sisters and brothers.

Peace,

Pastor Matt