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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”.
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.
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
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
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
   
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