The Message . . . July 2014

PASTORAL PONDERINGS

This has been an incredibly busy month for me. From Synod Assembly, vacation, AFFIRM, and

meetings out of town; this has been a crazy month for traveling. In all these travels, I have had a lot

of time to sit on planes, in waiting rooms, and at the airport. In that waiting time, I have gotten to do

one of my favorite things, read. One of the books I read was, “Stitches” by Anne Lamott.

Anne writes, "Sometimes the pianist hits a few false notes, or the soloist warbles, and some of us sing

along enthusiastically in the wrong key and the old people's voices dim. But we all keep singing, a

mix of magnificence and plainsong that is beautiful, and the hymn plays on."

When I read this, I couldn’t help but think of that being a beautiful analogy for the life of the church

and the Christian community. I love the thought of “but we all keep singing. . .and the hymn plays

on.” We bring what we have to the song of Christ’s mission and together we mold that with the

other notes of the choir of saints. There is dissonance, but beauty at its best.

What is the song of the church that the world hears? Is it a song that sweetly lulls the listener and

the singer to complacency and sleep? Is it a song that is only understood by those who are singing?

Is it a song that rouses the masses, stirs the parade, and beats the drum for justice?

What is the song of the church that the world hears? Do we try to sing over one another or do we

delicately listen to the other and join our voices in one?

I pray that we never stop singing. I pray that we continue joining with one another in building a

beautiful hymn that stirs souls, comforts the afflicted, afflicts the comfortable, and reminds the world

that God has not forgotten about them.

As the last verse of “When in Our Music God is Glorified,” states, “Let every instrument be tuned

for praise; let all rejoice who have a voice to raise; and may God give us faith to sing always:

Alleluia!”

Continue singing, knowing that God gives us faith to sing always! The world needs to hear this song

of grace, so sing! Sing! Sing some more!

Pastor Kevin Strickland

CHURCH CALENDAR

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Thursday July 3 6:30 pm Oktoberfest Meeting @City Limits Cafe

Sunday July 6 9:30 am Worship

10:45 am Fellowship

Wednesday July 9 12 noon VBS planning meeting

Sunday July 13 8:30-9:15 am New Member Meeting

9:30 am Worship

10:45 am Fellowship

Sunday July 20 9:30 am Worship

10:45 am Fellowship

Thursday July 24 5:30-8 pm VBS

Friday July 25 5:30 - 8 pm VBS

Saturday July 26 9:30 am—noon VBS

Sunday July 27 9:30 am Worship

10:45 am Fellowship

“Keep It Simple” (Alcoholics Anonymous) meets every Wednesday evening at 8 p.m.

(closed meeting) and every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. (open meeting) in the

Dahlinger Fellowship Hall. Please tell others about this hope-giving resource.

Holy Trinity Office Hours are Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-12:00 noon.

Please submit announcements by 9:00am Tuesday morning for

the upcoming bulletin.

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Worship Assistants

July 6, 2014

Greeter: Elsie Irlinger

Acolyte: Gray Janovitz

Assisting Minister: Bill Gable

Lay Reader: Lindsay Bishop

Communion Set-up: Barbara Hansen

Communion Assistant: Ginny Gable

Ushers: Kathy Poole and Dennis Christian

Tellers: Lindsay Bishop & Mike Cottingham

Fellowship: Pat Cowan and Linnea Folger

Nursery Attendant: Jessica Shook

July 13, 2014

Greeter: Steve LaMontagne

Acolyte: Taylor Dahl

Assisting Minister: Nancy Collins

Lay Reader: Carol Cottingham

Communion Set-up: Suzi Sittel

Communion Assistant: Marcus Mendenhall

Ushers: Bob Poole and ST White

Tellers: Dennis Christian and Charlene Cullen

Fellowship: Les Dahl and Ann Bishop

Nursery Attendant: Gabby Depalo

July 20, 2014

Greeter: Carol Miller

Acolyte: Logan Phillips

Assisting Minister: Cathy Crimi

Lay Reader: Ginny Gable

Communion Set-up: Bill & Ginny Gable

Communion Assistant: Kathy Poole

Ushers: Julie Foss and Dennis Christian

Tellers: Russ Anderson and Suzi Sittel

Fellowship: Patty Anderson and Carol Miller

Nursery Attendant: Shanna Jones

July 27, 2014

Greeter: Carol Cottingham

Acolyte: Zane Shook

Assisting Minister: Gail White

Lay Reader: Kathy Poole

Communion Set-up: Linnea Folger

Communion Assistant: Kris Helou

Ushers: Carol Miller and ST White

Tellers: Tom Cullen and Bob Poole

Fellowship: Barbara Hansen & Carol Dronberger

Nursery Attendant: Sarah Depalo

Thank you to our new volunteer coordinator, Gail White. If you are interested

in getting involved at Holy Trinity, please see Gail for more information.

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Faith Formation News

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Have you searched for a place to call home? Have you

looked for a community to share your gifts and grow in

faith? Have you yearned for a large extended family that

will support you, uplift you, walk with you, and help you

grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Then we welcome you

home to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. We welcome you

to come home and worship with us, dine with us, fellowship

with us, grow in Christian love toward one another with us.

Have you considered becoming part of this family of faith?

First off, what does it mean to be a “member” of a church?

Many of us are members of Country Clubs, PTA’s, Rotary, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Homeowners

Association, etc. But what does it mean to be a church member?

Being a church member does not bring with it the same lifestyle and responsibilities that may come

from being a member of Boy Scouts, PTA, Rotary, Girl Scouts, YMCA, Country Club, or others.

The church does not exist so that it may be one more social sorority or fraternity for people. In-

stead, being a church member implies a relationship that does not hinge on what you wear, how

much money you have, your race, sex, sexual orientation, or sexual identity. Instead, it brings the

promise of eternal relationship with God in Christ. This relationship is nurtured by and with the

fellowship of believers, the communion of saints, the word proclaimed, the sacraments adminis-

tered, and prayers said. We as the church, serve as agents of justice and advocates of reconciliation

for a hungry world. We do this together as one family and there is a place for you in this church

and in ministry with us.

Come and learn more about Holy Trinity and what it means to be a member of this family of faith

over a conversation with Pastor Kevin on Sunday, July 13th in the Fellowship Hall from 8:30am-

9:15am. If you decide to join, we will welcome you on Sunday, July 20th.

Do you like to have fun? Do you like good food? Do you like fellowship?

If you do then come join us in planning our 10th annual Oktoberfest. We will meet at City Limits

Cafe at 6:30 on Thursday, July 3rd.

Save the date of September 27, 2014 for Oktoberfest.

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Prayer Needs For healing, God’s presence and comfort –

Dear Holy Trinity Family, Thank you so much for your love, friendship, and prayers. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. You not only saw to my needs but you supported and loved my family. God is good. I saw the Holy Spirit working through all of you. Special thank you to Pastor Kevin for his love and support. Thank you for the hospital, home visits, “meal Train”, cards, phone calls, flowers, the list goes on and on. Thank you for loving me and my family. Happy to report I am cancer free, no chemo and no radiation. God is good! Love, Carol Miller and family

Members: Carol Miller; Cottingham family; Tsegaye Arku for continued safety as he

continues to serve in Afghanistan

Friends: Ben Gordy, son of Bishop Julian and Pastor Morgan Gordy, injured in an

accident; Philip Foger, Barbara Hansen’s dad, praise for knee replacement and continued

recovery; Hattie Schulein, battling cancer, young granddaughter of Jean

Pfotenhauer’s cousin; Barbara Cowan, Pat Cowan’s mom having heart and kidney

problems; Kiel , Pat Cowan’s nephew , active duty in Afghanistan; Daryl Emerson, friend

of Carol Cottingham, chemotherapy; Jeremy Cottingham; Beth Hagen, chemotherapy

for breast cancer; Poole and Walker family on the death of Kathy’s aunt Beatrice

Sheppard; Jenny Gundrom and family; Fred Spruytenburg, friend of Cathy Crimi, put on

hospice care; Maureen Ramos, chemotherapy; Rose Fitzjerrells, Ron Hansen’s sister,

hospice for end of life; Terry Burns, battling cancer; Agnes and Len Akland for healing

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Sunday, September 7th

at 9:30am

Centennial Park Picnic Pavilion

We will not hold worship at Holy Trinity this Sunday, but will be worshipping at the

park and then having a picnic lunch following worship.

Mark your calendars and invite your friends! This is also the ELCA’s “God’s Work. . .Our Hands Sunday” we will be handing out water bottles and bag lunches

to park guests who pass by.

Wholeness Ministry is coming to Holy Trinity!

Do you have a heart for this and want to be involved?

Do you have great ideas to pass on?

Contact Carolyn Akland, Elaine Franklin, Julie Foss or Pat Cowan

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AFFIRM 2014 Southeastern Synod, ELCA Lutheran Youth Gathering

Almost 400 Lutherans gathered on the campus of berry college (Rome, Ga) for a week in june. Gathering to proclaim Christ in word and in action, to hear god’s word and share in his meal, and to be sent out—to GO! Pastor Kevin worked with the Bridges Unit that deals with how to we build bridges in our world. Moving from hate to love, intolerance to tolerance, and tearing down walls to turn them into tables of reconciliation.

July Birthdays 7/2 William White. 7/8 David Bishop 7/9 Sasha Pfotenhauer 7/12 Leo “Bud” Miller 2/12 Matt Ivey 7/18 Dick Sittel 7/20 Angela Sarola 7/23 Mac Folger 7/28 Becky Jones

Holy Trinity Celebrations

July Anniversaries 7/12 Bud & Carol Miller

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Weekend Away October 3-5, 2014

Lutheridge Camp in Arden, NC

Come join the fun for all ages! We will gather together for campfire, worship, and fellowship Friday night and Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon is open for you to explore Asheville, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Biltmore, or many other exciting venues, and then Sunday we

close with Worship on top of the Mountain.

The cost is $100 per person and $50 per child. This includes your two night stay, breakfast both days, lunch Saturday, and snacks.

Name:_______________________________ Phone:__________________ E-mail:__________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________ Food Allergies:________________________________________________________ If requesting a roommate, please list their name:______________________________

Registration and money due to Pastor Kevin by July 30th. Please make checks payable to

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

If you are interested in attending, please fill the bottom portion of this flyer out and return to Pastor Kevin by July 30th. Make check payable to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with

memo line: “Family Weekend”

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2104 Lutheran Men's Gathering July 18 (7PM)-July 20 (11 AM)

Guys, Guts and God's Glory Loews Vanderbilt Hotel 2100 West End Avenue

Nashville, TN

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14

Register today at lutheranmeninmission.org The Gathering will begin Friday evening July 18 at 7 PM with Tim Wright, pastor of Communi-ty of Grace Lutheran Church, Peoria, AZ challenging us on what it means to keep alert and help our boys and younger men to stand firm in our faith. Tim’s latest book is Searching for Tom Sawyer: How Parents and Congregations Can Stop the Exodus of Boys from the Church. Jesus laid down his life and asks us to do the same. The Christian life is not for sissies. Here you'll consider what great things God wants to accomplish through you. Saturday morning Ste-phen Handy and Jay Gamelin will speak to the courage it takes to be a Christian man. Ste-phen Handy spent several years in corporate America before becoming a United Methodist Pas-tor. He currently serves McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville. He is a visionary strategist and passionate communicator that desires to speak God’s truth so all people of differ-ent cultures, experiences, neighborhoods, and all of God’s unique diversity can be reconciled through the unity in Jesus Christ. Jay Gamelin is a gifted storyteller, an engaging leader, a hu-morist, and energetic presence with an unusual ability to describe the complexity of God and the walk of the disciple in simple, down-to-earth teaching. He is a pastor who “gets” men- and challenges them. 11:00 AM to mid-afternoon on Saturday will be spent in workshops built around our theme and the theme verse. Saturday evening we will gather to hear Larry Clark. Larry is the pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL. He has a rich history of leadership having served as campus pastor, con-gregational pastor, youth director, active member, Associate to the Bishop and executive direc-tor of the Lutheran Theological Center of Atlanta. He serves on the board of Lutheran Men in Mission. Larry will preach as only he can on our call to do all we do with courageous love. God's glory will be present throughout the weekend, but will be especially present as we wor-ship Sunday morning. The Gathering will close just before noon. We invite you to come early and enjoy the banquet at 5 PM. The cost is $40 and is limited to the first 200 to register.

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Notes from Synod Assembly (Cathy Crimi, Rundi Ream)

This year’s Synod Assembly provided an opportunity for all congregations of the ELCA in Alabama, Geor-

gia, Mississippi and Tennessee to come together to worship, study Scripture, conduct the business of our

Synod, and continue to build relationships with each other and our companion synod in Guatemala, Iglesia

Luterana Augustina de Guatemala. Many workshops were available covering a variety of topics that gave us

an opportunity to learn from each other and provide input into not only our synod but the ELCA nationwide.

Resolutions and Memorials that were passed are as follows:

2014-01 - A Resolution Calling for Synodical and Congregational Conversations about Ministering to

Same-Gender Couples and Families

2014-02 - A Resolution Encouraging Stewardship in the Synod

2014-03, as amended - A Resolution to Reform U.S. Immigration Detention

2014-04 - A Memorial Calling for a Worship Rite to Bless Same-Gender Couples

2014-05 - A Resolution of Thanks at the 2014 Assembly

Of special interest to Holy Trinity, Pr. Kevin was elected to a 2-year term of Synod Council as an at-large

representative, and Rundi Ream was elected to a 2-year term of Synod Council as a Conference 8 representa-

tive.

Details of all actions, including the resolutions and memorials can be found at: https://sites.google.com/

a/elca-ses.org/elca/newsandevents/2014-synod-assembly/assembly-actions.

Workshop notes:

Workshop on resolutions and memorials provided an opportunity for interested individuals with vary-

ing viewpoints to come together to have in-depth, respectful discussions of the proposals.

Listening post for a Social Statement on Women and Justice. This was an opportunity provided by

churchwide to listen to voices of what should be included in a social statement that will be drafted

and is expected to be presented to the next Churchwide Assembly.

Congregational Renewal Through Missional Planning – this was a scaled down overview of the pro-

cess Holy Trinity went through in preparation to calling a pastor.

Leadership as a Vocation

Reconciling In Christ luncheon

Notes from conversation with Bishop Karen Castillo (Iglesia Luterana Augustina de Guatemala). I had the

opportunity to chat briefly with Bishop Castillo. She had traveled with us last year as I participated in a dele-

gation from the Synod. She is especially interested in Lutheran congregations in the Southeastern Synod

(and others within the United States) building relationships with Lutheran congregations in Guatemala. We

will continue conversation on what that means to us all as partners.

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Reflections from the

Border

Submitted by Cathy Crimi, EALA Board Member

In May, as part of a divinity school class, “Traversing Our Nation’s Wound: Immigration &

US/Mexico Border”, I traveled to Arizona and Mexico, immersed in border and immigration issues. I

have to preface these reflections by my own personal identity as a child of God who continually

works to embrace the commands I believe we are given in both the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and

the New Testament of Scripture to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to take loving care of the for-

eigner. My identity additionally includes being the daughter of an immigrant, so I have lived at least a

glimpse of the impact of the treatment of immigrants on subsequent generations. Additionally, over

the past several years, I have listened to the stories and experiences of those who work in this country

without appropriate documentation, and have been made aware of round-ups in recent years of mi-

grant workers that have left crops rotting in fields with no US citizens filling the work force needs that

were left vacant.

During our time in Tucson, AZ and Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, we were host-

ed by Border Links, an organization in Tucson, AZ which raises awareness of border issues and who

hopes to motivate people to become active citizens. We met with undocumented migrant workers

both in the US (who had survived crossing the border and desert) and Mexico (who were attempting

to cross the border into the US), attended a vigil for Daniel Ruiz being held in detention (see his story

at: http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_0e229cb8-f5f4-57ba-91fc-

c0399d730b4b.html), met with John Fife, the pastor who served at South Side Presbyterian Church

when they began the Sanctuary Movement in Tucson, met with two individuals who had been in de-

tention, one for about six months, the other for about three years, both of whom came to this country

seeking political asylum. Additionally, we met with representatives from two maquilas (plants of for-

eign companies that assemble products) in Nogales, stayed with families in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

to hear their experiences with border issues, including the impact of NAFTA, visited the site in

Nogales, Mexico where Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was killed by US Border Patrol, went on an

Arizona desert walk, and met with staff from the Kino Border Initiative. We sat through an afternoon

session of Operation Streamline where 60-70 individuals are processed daily and sent to detention,

followed by a meeting with one of the public defenders. We also met with folks from No More

Deaths in Arrivica, AZ who provide humanitarian aid (food and water) to those crossing the Arizona

desert, and heard their stories of how their town has become a military zone even though it is 12 miles

inside the US border. Their children pass through a security checkpoint both going to school and re-

turning home every day that is manned by armed guards that stop every vehicle that passes on the

highway. The tourism of their town that had been comprised of bird watchers and hunters has disin-

tegrated, they believe, due to harassment of the Border Patrol. We participated in a tour of the Border

Patrol facilities, as well as a drive-along with Border Patrol Public Affairs staff.

Continued on next page

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All these interactions provided diverse views into border and immigration issues, and, as

can be expected, there were many conflicting stories. The differing realities that were shared

confirmed that the border and immigration issues are complex, and will not be solved by one-line

commentaries that do more to divide people than unite them to work for viable solutions. Hav-

ing said that, it seems there are some clear steps that can be taken, and that we can encourage our

politicians to do to support immigration reform to make our society more just for all people.

Remove security checkpoints within our borders along our highways that cause more har-

assment to our citizens and adversely impact our children.

Revise the process for attaining Visa category H-2A and provide adequate staffing. Cur-

rently applications from 1993 are being processed, so there is no reasonable expecta-

tion to attain one for migrant workers.

Return to the paradigm of allowing individuals to voluntarily return to their country of

origin without issuing an order of deportation. By issuing orders of deportation, if in-

dividuals return, they can be subjected to felony charges.

Look at alternatives to detention. It is estimated that over 90% of those that are processed

through Operation Streamline have only come to this country for work, and have NO

other legal issues.

Remove the guaranteed quotas of prisoners for our privatized incarceration institutions.

This only motivates law enforcement and our justice system to find reasons to incar-

cerate individuals, without consideration to their status.

Discontinue the subsidies to US farmers/corporations as agreed in NAFTA. By not living

up to the agreement, the trade cannot be “free trade”, and has had adverse impact on

especially peasant farmers in Mexico, causing them to need to find work elsewhere.

Additionally, for people of faith, I hope we will all look at creative ways that we can engage per-

sonally and as communities both of faith and society to love our neighbors, and care for the for-

eigner. There are numerous partners in this work from whom we can get ideas, and support.

Everything from our prayers and seemingly small acts of kindness extended to others provide a

tremendous amount of hope to those whose lives are in crisis.

-Cathy Crimi

Continued from previous page

Holy Trinity Staff Rev. Kevin Strickland Pastor

615-829-3981 (cell)

Rev. Dr. Delmer Chilton Pastor Emeritus

David Dorn Director of Music

Debbie Robert Administrative Assistant

Bill Gable Organist Emeritus

Church Phone #: 615.673.6289

Church Fax #: 615.673.6292

Church Email: htnashville@gmail.com

Webpage: www.holytrinitynashville.com

525 Sneed Road Nashv i l l e , TN 37221

Holy Trinity Lutheran

Church Mission

Statement

Disciples of Jesus Christ called to

proclaim God's grace and serve the

community