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05/28/10

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“Bless them as they come to the table of your blessed Son by showing them your love and by giving them joy in your salvation.” – First Communion Prayer

 

In my family, there was always a strict separation between the “grown-ups” and the “kids.”  The “grown-ups” were my parents, their brothers and sisters, and their spouses; while the “kids” were my cousins and me.  This distinction could be seen most clearly at family gatherings, where there were always two tables for each group.  Even though many of us “kids” grew up – and some of us grew much taller than our “grown-ups” – the separation remained unchanged.  Well into my adult years, my parents would often speak of getting together with the “grown-ups,” which often prompted me to ask when I might ascend into “grown-up” category – especially since I became eligible to carry an AARP card!

 

These distinctions between adults and children – “grown-up” and “kids” – extended from my biological family to my church family.  During my youth, the “grown-up” table – the altar of Holy Communion – was reserved for adults only; children were only invited to the Lord’s Table on the day of their Confirmation.  I can remember feeling as excluded from that table as I did from the adult table at our family gatherings; when would I be considered “grown-up” enough to gather together to share in the Lord’s Supper – which Jesus said was for “all people for the forgiveness of sins”?

 

Thankfully, we no longer make our children sit on the sidelines while we “grown-ups” partake of Holy Communion.  First Communion is a day of celebration in which we welcome our children to the Lord’s Table, the place where they belong and where they are truly welcome – not only by us, but especially by our Lord (it is, after all, the Lord’s Supper!).  On First Communion, our children come to the altar with their families and their sisters and brothers in Christ to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, which is “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”  These children – who were welcomed into the household of faith that is the Church of Jesus Christ in Holy Baptism – are now invited to join us at the Table of the Lord.  As we welcome them to the Lord’s Supper on the day of their First Communion, we pray that they “will remain faithful to Christ and to his holy Church, finding joy and strength in his body and blood, the signs of his life for the world.”

 

As we prepare to celebrate First Communion here at Holy Trinity on Sunday, June 6, we are all invited to remember how central the Lord’s Supper is for all Christians.  In his Small Catechism, Luther teaches that this meal is “the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, instituted by Christ himself for us Christians to eat and drink,” and that “forgiveness of sin, life and salvation are given to us in this sacrament.”  As Lutheran Christians, we believe and teach that “in the sacrament, Christ takes on our sin while we take on Christ’s righteousness.  The sacrament’s emphasis is on God’s action rather than the strength of our faith.”  As we gather together at the Table of the Lord, Martin Marty invites us to consider what is happening as we partake of the Lord’s Supper:

  • “Look at me, folks, as I look at you.  We are sinners, but we are participants in the body and blood of Jesus Christ.  We get to see what prophets and kings wanted to see but could not.  We are part of the New Creation.  Our bodies are on the line.  We are committed.”

 

I have a feeling that if my parents and their peers were still with us that I would still be relegated to the “kids’ table” at family gatherings.  But I need not worry about whether or not I am invited to a place at the Lord’s Table; as our young people celebrate their First Communion this month, we all have the assurance that there is a place at the table where our Lord welcomes us to partake of “the gifts of God for the people of God.”

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Pastor Jeff Laustsen

 

 

 

 

 

Our Hunger Committee meets in the kitchen monthly on the 4th Sunday of the month to prepare meals for soup kitchens and others in need in our community.  Please consider joining them by donating your time, food, or funds to help in this ministry.  To find out how you can help, please call Jocelyn D'Antonio at 766-3722. 

 

COFFEE HOUR NEEDS YOUR HELP!

 

We are looking for you to help only ONE Sunday a year. Helping includes set up, clean up, and obtaining some supplies for the Sunday you choose (we will reimburse the expense if needed). If you are able to help, please email Bill Anthony at Anthony9@optonline.net for scheduling a date that is convenient for you.

 

The coffee hour committee is also looking for donations for supplies. If you would like to help, please put your donation in an envelope marked “Coffee Hour Donation”. 

 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

 

Our next book will be The Big Short by Michael Lewis.  We will meet at the home of Jean Glaser, 45 Ormond Street Rockville Centre at 7:30 on Monday June 21st.  Please join us! About The Big Short: 

When the crash of the U.S. stock market became public knowledge in the fall of 2008, it was already old news. The real crash, the silent crash, had taken place over the previous year, in bizarre feeder markets where the sun doesn't shine, and the SEC doesn't dare, or bother, to tread: the bond and real estate derivative markets where geeks invent impenetrable securities to profit from the misery of lower and middle-class Americans who can't pay their debts. The smart people who understood what was or might be happening were paralyzed by hope and fear; in any case, they weren't talking.

The crucial question is this: Who understood the risk inherent in the assumption of ever-rising real estate prices, a risk compounded daily by the creation of those arcane, artificial securities loosely based on piles of doubtful mortgages?

Michael Lewis turns the inquiry on its head to create a fresh, character-driven narrative brimming with indignation and dark humor, a fitting sequel to his #1 bestselling Liar's Poker. Who got it right? he asks. Who saw the ever-rising real estate market for the black hole it would become, and eventually made billions of dollars from that perception? And what qualities of character made those few persist when their peers and colleagues dismissed them as Chicken Littles? Out of this handful of unlikely—really unlikely—heroes, Lewis fashions a story as compelling and unusual as any of his earlier bestsellers, proving yet again that he is the finest and funniest chronicler of our times.

HOLY COMMUNION

 

This month we give thanks to God as our young people receive Holy Communion for the first time.  May the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen them and keep them in His Grace.

 

Madelyn Ajello                       Alexandra Barry

Connor Barry                          Lauren Habacker

Amanda Hetzel                       Liam Itgen

Dana Justin                             Kyra Lee

Caroline Livingstone               Kristen Miciotta

Joseph Nassar                          Kristian Nilsen

Michael Prudente                    Michaela Reis

Chloe Williams

 

CHILDREN OF GOD

Holy Trinity Sunday Church School remembers the Baptism of the following children for the month of June:

 

Ryan Habacker                       Lauren Habacker

Mary Justin                             Ryan McGloin

Karleigh McGuire

HTLC TALENT SHOW!  Sunday, June 13th following the 10 a.m. service.  All ages – sing, dance, play, joke, juggle, draw, poem, etc.  If you play a sport you can show off your trophy.  Advance sign-up is a must, so see the youth board in the narthex or contact Tim McGloin at 376-2315, mcglointim@aol.com

Thank you

  

 

 

 

 


 

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our dedicated Sunday Church School staff who volunteered their time and talents in helping our children “To know Christ and to make Him known.”

 

Teachers

 

Phyllis Brown, Saleena Franzo, Pam Gianni,

Brittany Jones, Patti Justin, Janet Knipe,

Marianne Seitz, and Kristin Tucker

 

Helpers

 

James Anemone, Barbara Barker, Steven Hajny,

Victoria Jervis, Matthew Jones,

Danielle McGloin and Chrissy Kurz, 

 

Worship Leaders

 

Pastor Jeffrey Laustsen and Deacon Janice Wunsch

 

Music Director

 

Krisi Anthony

 

Assistant Superintendent

 

Fran Jones

 

Superintendent

 

Denise Tucker

 

 

 

 

Joan & Francis Grogan

Fran & John Jones

Saleena & Joseph Franzo

Gail & Ray Bosch

Denise & Robert Tucker

Janice & Gerry Wunsch

Lauren & Tim McGloin

Jocelyn & Dan D’Antonio

Christine & John Pfeil

Mary & Harold Hansen

Wendy & Tom Wolber

Marilyn & George Dreyer

Judith & Harold Buck

Our Christian Service Group was also honored at a volunteer recognition party at Oceanside Care Center on April 29, 2010.

 

Jonathan Kamprath                 Kristen Avellino

Ryan Profitlich                        Caroline Akeson

Luke Kelleher                         Tracy Peterson

Dylan Avellino                        Evan Basista

Julianna Zaharias                     Kristen Murray

Nicole Donelan                       Jack Donelan

Kristin Famiglietti                   Michael Prudente

Rosemarie Sailer                     Lisa Brooks

Robert Ledlie, Jr.                    Grace Mueller

Amanda Landstrom                Matthew Jones

Meg Fielding                           Matthew Hajny

Michael Anemone                   Kristian Nilsen

Erika Nilsen                            Grace Kelleher

Marilyn Dreyer                        Martin Buckley

Susan Buckley                                    Laura Kaufmann

Terry Mueller                          John Pfeil

Victoria Gianni                       Ryan Mueller

On Sunday, May 2nd    

Holy Trinity members gathered

to celebrated a  special milestone for a very special lady.

 

Happy

 

Birthday

 

 ELSIE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

We’ve often

 

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This site was last updated 05/28/10