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Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Towanda PA February and March 2012

The Chili Cook-off Is Almost Here!
Feb. 12th	The Pastor is ready for another year of stiff chili competition, heated sportsmanship, and hot finished products. The entire congregation (and friends of the congregation) are invited to submit their entries for this year’s annual Chili Cook-off. The competition will start to heat up after Church on Sunday, February 12^th as participants compete to win the “best chili” and “burn the pastor” competitions. Anyone may submit chilies for either or both categories. If you do not cook chili do not worry, we need testers to judge the “best chili”. All are welcome to taste.	In This Issue: Chili Cook-off The Night Pastor’s Message The Question Box Parish News Worship Highlights Adult Education Parish News Cont. Thank You Parish News Cont. Carings & Sharings Calendars Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 908 S Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 (570) 265-5322 trinluth@epix.net www.trinluth.com	1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5
The Night Is Coming
Mark Your Calendars: The Night Of Mystery Is Coming March 3^rd, 2012 at 7:00pm	We cannot tell you much about “The Night,” but we can tell you when it will be held: Saturday, March 3^rd, 2012 at 7:00pm. We guarantee that this event will be like none other before. However, we also guarantee that it will be just as much fun as past “The Night” events. Mark your calendar now and look for an opportunity to sign up very soon. We hope to see you at “The Night.”

Trinity Trumpeter

	Some Reflections After The Flood
A Message From Pastor Jira Albers “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2	At this moment in flood recovery you may see your affected neighbors at the point of frustration because the drywall work is a huge, huge task and because basic faith questions are sinking in and starting to stir what is already unsettled. Here are some reflections on some of those basic questions of suffering. Why did this happen to me? Another way to ask this question is, “What did I do to deserve this?” We are used to reading about bad people being punishes by natural disaster in the bible whether it be the entire evil world wiped away by a flood or Ananias and Sapphira falling dead because they did not share. Such stories cause us to wonder: “What did I do to deserve this?” In Luke 13:1-5, Jesus is asked if people whose bodies were desecrated after death or people who were crushed by a crumbling stone tower deserved what they got. Jesus answer is a clear “No.” Such events may cause a person to turn their attention back to God, but God did not instigate the event in order to inflict harm. The created world is not God, therefore it is not perfect. Rain, rivers, and homes just don’t mix well. Sometimes bad things just happen, and there is no reason.	Why did this happen to good people when there are so many bad people? My first thought leads me to these words from Christ, “[God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” Natural disasters are not punishment. The good and the bad aspects of nature effect all equally. It is not personal. My second thought takes aim at the line drawn between good and bad people in the first place. As Lutherans we confess that we are all in bondage to sin. There is no separation between the good and the bad. Jesus implies this very thing by saying, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” All are in need of love and grace, and no one deserves unneeded suffering. What does your faith tradition say about what good can come out of the flood? Water is a powerful symbol for Christians. In baptism we are both drown in the waters and washed clean and fed by them as we are raised to new life. Yes, water can destroy, but it can also be used by God for new life. God may not be involved with the cause of suffering, but God certainly can transform suffering into something new.
The Question Box (Questions About Our Lutheran Life) "Why do we proclaim in the creed to believe in the holy catholic church since we are not Catholic?” This is a good question, one that many people have wondered about, but have felt too stupid to ask. We proclaim to believe in “one holy catholic and apostolic church” because we are “catholic”; we just are not “Roman Catholic.” “Catholic” comes from the Greek term καθόλου meaning literally “on the whole” or generally meaning “universal.” We believe that we are a part of Christ’s universal church; the same church passed down from Jesus through the apostles. This term in the creed does not refer exclusively to the Roman Catholic Church, though it need not exclude them either. – Pastor Jira Albers

Trinity Trumpeter

Parish News

Worship Highlights

The Grace House

Grace House

In response to a lack of emergency housing in the area, Grace Connection has established the “Grace House.” The Grace House will provide people experiencing homelessness emergency shelter for one to two weeks. If you are interested in contributing toward Grace House or assisting in cleaning and preparing the house, talk with Pastor Jira Albers (Grace Connection President).

Inter-Generational Brunch and Child’s Faith Worship

Sunday, February 26^th, 2012 young and old will eat a great brunch and build faith together. Sunday, March 25^th, 2012 the congregation will worship with the heart and faith of a child. Friends are invited to attend also!

Jr. Youth Group Event: March 22^nd

Thursday, March 22^nd at 6pm, in the Hart Center basement the Jr. Youth will gather for a meal with their family and will continue their night having fun with the Pastor while parents enjoy a light bible study about faith and family. Friends are encouraged to come!

Welcome The Newly Baptized

On Sunday, Jan. 15^th

Aaron Keith Lineberry, Jr. & Thomas Franklin Lineberry were Baptized. Welcome!

Transfiguration of our Lord

Celebrate Divinity Hidden In The Everyday!

Feb. 19^th at 10:15am

Ash Wednesday

Start Lent Right!

Feb. 22^nd at 7:00pm

Lenten Worship

Wed. Feb. 29^th - March 28^th

11:45am Lunch @ Methodist

6pm Supper, 7pm Worship

Child’s Faith Worship Mar. 25^th

Worship as a Child of God!

Mar. 25^th at 10:15am

Adult Education Opportunities

	Afternoon Fellowship Studying the scriptures while enjoying each other’s company.
Tues. Feb. 7^th and 21^st In The Hart Center

	Tuesday Night Book Club Reading and talking about faith issues from “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult
Thursday, May 24^th and 31^st at 7pm In The Troup Home – Monroeton

	Book of Faith Bible Study Connect with the people in our book of faith as you connect with your Christian community!
Tues. Feb. 7^th at 7pm – Estelle Home Tues. Mar. 6^th at 7pm – Cranmer Home

	The Night Little can be said about “The Night” except that it is nothing like you have experienced before in previous years.
Saturday, March 3^rd at 7:00pm Mark Your Calendars Now!

Trinity Trumpeter

	Parish News Continued
	Help With Flood Recovery Efforts First Presbyterian Church in Towanda is in the process of working with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to create a "volunteer village" which will host mission groups to work in flood recovery and rebuilding. These groups will come from all over and stay for one week. If you and others in your church are interested in scheduling groups to come to our area, this village is fully ecumenical and is encouraged by Lutheran Disaster Response. You, your fellow congregation members, your co-workers, your scout troops, and your civic groups are invited to work in conjunction with this effort. One site coordinator for Bradford County is still needed to help coordinate efforts. Support and training will be provided if need be. Please consider volunteering in this crucial way. In addition, if you and your church are interested in providing meals for volunteers, as you are able, please let First Presbyterian Church know. If you would like to minister to these groups in this way, you may invite them to your church, or serve them at First Presbyterian. Please pray for this effort. There is a real concern that the passage of time has led people to forget that there are many, many neighbors who are still suffering the effects of the flood. Pray for them, as well as this effort to serve them. If you are interested in scheduling groups, can volunteer as a work site coordinator, have questions, or are interested in serving meals to the workers, please contact these Presbytery leaders: Marge Zeigler, overall coordinator, reply to presbylack@aol.com. Jan Thyren, work-site coordinator, jthyren@aol.com OR call the presbytery office at 348-0643.
Columbarium Space Available	Thank You Members Of Christ! *Thank you to Karen Troup and Dave Estelle Jr. for their presentations during the 2011 stewardship campaign. *Thank you to Christian Thomason and Satchel Manchester for their gift of piano music during the Christmas Season. *Thank you to Peggy Cranmer for her work to make our new stairs “shine.” *Thank you to all of the children who participated in the Children’s Christmas Program. Their work made for a very special day.
As you make your end of life arrangements do not forget that the church has columbarium space available. Call (570) 265-5322

Trinity Trumpeter

Parish News Continued

WILLING WORKERS/VESPER GUILD In February, Willing Workers will meet in the Hart Center on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 7,14, 21 &28, attend the Noon Wysox Church Luncheon on the 14^th and have Fellowship Bible Study at 12:30 p.m. with Pastor Jira on the 7^th and 21^st. On Feb. 22, Ash Wednesday, All are invited to attend the service of Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes at 7 p.m. in the church. Vesper Guild will meet on Wednesday, the 29^th,at 9:30a.m.and plan to attend the Noon Ecumenical Lenten lunch at the 1^st Methodist Church on Main St. in Towanda. In March, they will meet on Wednesdays, March 7, 14, 21 and 28, and are planning to attend the Noon Lenten lunches at the 1^st U.M. Church of Towanda following the meetings. Vesper Guild will meet on Wednesday, March 28th at 9:30 a.m. in the Hart Center. A Simple Supper at 6 and Service at 7 in the church will be held on five Wednesdays in Lent, February 29, March 7, 14, 21 and 28. All cooks in the Congregation (and some who are not cooks!) are reminded to get out their favorite Chili recipe for February 12, Trinity’s annual Chili Cook-Off! It’s been a “Blast” in the past, with many delicious different varieties to sample. CARINGS AND SHARINGS Please keep Emma Hart in your prayers. She is at the Skilled Nursing @Memorial Hospital. Also baby Thomas Lineberry who has been in and out of the hospital. Special thanks to TOPS market as they gave us several boxes of various items. Dave Estelle was able to take 14 boxes of food items to TACO. Sullivan Terrace in Dushore also received several boxes. There are still several items in the lower level of the Hart Center for anyone interested. The electric, heat and water has been shut off in the Parish House. Thanks to Paul Cook, Duane Carrington and Dave Estelle who took care of this thus saving us some money. The future of the building is still under works. REMINDER: Lilies will again be available for Easter. ALSO: Daylight Saving Time begins on March 11..Spring ahead!

Trinity Trumpeter

Serving Us In Worship

The Rev. Jira A. Albers, presiding minister

Altar Guild- February Marian Feathers Cindy Estelle

Altar Guild- March Thelma Allis Kay Hartman Cathy Bellanca

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February 5- Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Acolyte- Cassidy Estelle

Lector- Dave Estelle

Communion Assistant- Dave Estelle

Ushers- Thelma Allis & Debbie Philippi

Counters- Kathy Smith & Cindy Estelle

February 12- Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Acolyte- Zane Carrington

Lector- Karen Troup

Communion Assistant- Dan Troup

Ushers- Peggy Cranmer & Doreen Secor

Counters- Maureen Engelhard & Cindy Estelle

February 19- Transfiguration of Our Lord

Acolyte- Mason Kunkle

Lector- Mary Lou Vanderpool

Communion Assistant-Mary Lou Vanderpool

Co Ushers- Ann Feusner & Jan Seaberg

Cc Counters- Peggy Cranmer

February 22- 7:00 PM Ash Wednesday

Acolyte-Michael Wallitsch

Lector-Cathy Bellanca

Communion Assistant-Cathy Bellanca

Ushers-Cindy & Dave Estelle

February 26- First Sunday in Lent

Acolyte- Nathan Chilson

Lector- Cindy Estelle

Communion Assistant- Cindy Estelle

Ushers- Thelma Allis & Debbie Philippi

Counters- Bryan Champluvier & Cindy Estelle

March 4- Second Sunday in Lent

Acolyte- Nicholas Dunn

Lector- Kathy Smith

Communion Assistant- Kathy Smith

Ushers- Peggy Cranmer & Doreen Secor

Counters- Maureen Engelhard & Cindy Estelle

March 11- Third Sunday in Lent

Acolyte- Cassidy Estelle

Lector- Dave Estelle

Communion Assistant- Dave Estelle

Ushers- Ann Feusner & Jan Seaberg

Counters- Peggy Cranmer & Bryan Champluvier

March 18- Fourth Sunday in Lent

Acolyte- Zane Carrington

Lector- Karen Troup

Communion Assistant- Dan Troup

Ushers- Cindy & Dave Estelle

Counters- Cindy Estelle & Kathy Smith

March 25- Fifth Sunday in Lent

Acolyte- Mason Kunkle

Lector- Mary Lou Vanderpool

Communion Assistant- Mary Lou Vanderpool

Ushers- Thelma Allis & Debbie Philippi

Counters- Paul & Aggi Cook

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Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 908 South Main, Towanda PA 18848, (507) 265-5322 trinluth@epix.net