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May Letter from the Pastor

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  April 30, 2013

Dear Friends,

Last month I wrote about the concept of “Sabbath rest” and invited you to be part of theAll-Church Summer Retreat in August.  I wrote of Sabbath being a gift from God to us for the refreshment of our bodies and our souls.  Vacation time, days off, coffee break, and even a brief walk at noon, can give us a sense of renewal and send us back to our work with a clearer head.  Gathering with other followers of Jesus for worship also is a gift intended to refresh us and to give praise and thanks to God.

Sunday morning worship has been the practice of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1904.  We, like Christians around the world, gather on Sunday morning in recognition of Jesus’ resurrection on the first Easter Day.  In John’s Gospel, the disciples gather on the first day of the week but they gather in the evening.  For early Christians, living in Jerusalem, keeping the Sabbath from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday, (the seventh day) would have been the normal practice.

As the church moved from Jerusalem, into Judea, Samaria and the entire known world, worship practices began to change.  The Apostle Paul always began his ministry in a new city by worshiping in the Jewish synagogue, moving into the homes of Gentile Christians later to share the Good News with all people.  In honor of the resurrection Christian worship was held on Sunday not on the Sabbath day.

Last year while I was visiting friends in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, I had a taste of what it would be like to be the minority religious community.  In Dubai, the days off were Friday and Saturday, with Sunday being the day that everyone went back to school or to work.  Sunday morning in Dubai is a difficult time for worship and prayer. Being there made me think of how hard it can be to make it to church here, too.

Sunday morning is no longer set aside by our culture as a time for church. There are many alternatives to worship such as, work, sports, sleeping in, gardening, and family activities.  I give thanks every Sunday for those who take time out of their busy weeks to refresh themselves and others by participating in worship.  I also am thankful for parents who brought me to church on Sunday mornings.  In worship I learned of God’s love for me and the world and I learned to love and serve my neighbors.  In worship I experienced music, prayers, community, and peace.

When you can, come and share in the blessings of worship for your life,

Pastor Jocelyn

 

April Letter from the Pastor

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  April 1, 2013

What does the Lord require of you?  To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

Dear Friends,

Have you made your plans for some time of rest and relaxation this summer?  Summer is the traditional time for activities that take place outside.  Every person, no matter their age or abilities can benefit from time spent in nature, which was created for us by our loving God.  Time spent hiking in the woods or sitting by a river gives us a chance to renew our souls and recharge our physical batteries.

This summer everyone is invited to participate in an All Church Retreat at a place that is designed to be welcoming and accessible to all.  We gather under the theme, “What does the Lord require?” a question asked by the prophet Micah.  Our relationship with God is of course God’s gift to us through grace, but Micah challenges us to grow in discipleship.  We will learn more about justice and kindness and we will talk about what it means to walk humbly with our God.  Deaconess April Boyden from Bellingham will be our retreat leader.

One sign of being a person of God is to observe a time of “Sabbath.”  The Sabbath was a gift from God to the people of Israel designed to allow them time to rest and refresh themselves, their servants and their animals.  This summer’s retreat will provide a time of Sabbath for people of all ages. Imagine the rest a retreat provides, spending quality time with your church friends, not having to grocery shop or make meals, and the beauty and peace of the countryside. There will be times of worship, study and discussion but there will also be ample time to do those things you enjoy. Swimming, hiking, fishing, crafts, photography or just sitting still are just some of the options.

The Cascadian Center is just north of Mount Vernon and you may come for the entire retreat or for just a day. The details are on the front page of the newsletter, and I hope you will consider taking part in this retreat, even if you have never gone on a retreat before.  Some scholarship money is available (please talk with me) and all rooms are accessible.  Make plans now to spend time in nature, sing around a campfire and enjoy great friends!

Blessings of peace and joy,

Pastor Jocelyn

 

March Letter from the Pastor

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  March 1, 2013

Dear friends,

Spring is on the way!  Our little pink rhododendron has been blooming for the last week—it is always my first indication that the days are going to get longer and warmer.  The plant and seed catalogs are starting to pile up at our house and the primroses are showing their bright faces!  We are in the season of Lent, a word that literally means to lengthen.  The days lengthen and the plants grow longer and taller each day as we move closer to the joyous celebration of Easter.

But first we must walk through the days of Holy Week when we hear again the story of the last Supper that Jesus ate with his beloved disciples.  Before the joy of Easter, we experience the desolation and death of Passion Sunday and Good Friday.  We might want to take a short cut and get to Easter without the sadness, but that would dilute our joy. 

Good Friday is called “Good” because on that day the greatest good gift for humanity was given in the self-sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The abundant grace and mercy that give us joy were given through his pain, suffering and death.  The Apostle Paul reminds us of God’s abundant love when he writes, “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-6)

The grace that Jesus gives us is not cheap.  We have been given costly grace, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, True God and True Man.  Jesus freely gave himself for us, but it was at a severe cost to him.  Out of thankful hearts, we respond to his sacrificial love with our own costly gifts on behalf of the world. 

We are invited each Lent to grow our faith through Bible Study, prayer, sacrificial giving, and worship.  On Easter we are invited to celebrate with great joy the resurrection of Jesus and the beauty of spring!

Growing in grace,

Pastor Jocelyn

 

February Letter from the Pastor

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  February 6, 2013

Dear Friends,

In the face of great need and remembering the command of Jesus to “love our neighbors”, many of us often wish that we could do more for those who are hungry or homeless.  Thanks to our able administrator, Christa Johnson, we have some great news about how our gifts can go further!

Trinity Lutheran Church receives $5,000 Economic Outreach Bridge Grant. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation grant aids efforts to support basic needs in community:

 “Difficult economic conditions and high unemployment rates have caused many Americans to seek support for basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter from local nonprofits,” said Kathy Larson, grants program manager for the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. “This grant program is designed to help effective organizations maintain their financial stability in the face of increased demand on their resources.”

The funding was awarded to Trinity based on our effectiveness in addressing basic needs of the local community such as food, clothing or shelter through the Trinity Aid Bank (TAB).  Our staff persons are good stewards of the gifts you give and they are compassionate listeners to those in need.  They are creative and kind as they seek to help in a wide variety of situations. 

In order to make the best use of the gifts you give, we have also elected to participate in a complementary challenge grant program sponsored by the Foundation. For every dollar given by donors by Mar. 31, 2013, the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation will provide an additional 50 cents—up to $5,000—in support of the our TAB ministry.  Thank you in advance for your support of this life-changing ministry! This is a great time to invite friends or family to join us in giving gifts during this “matching opportunity”.  Gifts of any size can be brought or sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, Attn. TAB, 2324 Lombard Avenue, Everett, WA 98201 or gifts can be given through PayPal on our website.

Jesus says, “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.”  Matthew 25:34-36

Living hopefully in God’s kingdom,

Pastor Jocelyn

 

October letter from the Pastor

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  October 1, 2012

Dear Friends,

I love being Lutheran!   I know that Martin Luther himself did not expect to begin a new church but wanted to reform the existing Church.  He certainly did not want a church named after him.  What he did want was a church that told the story of God’s love for humanity.  Luther lived his early life in fear of God, but spent the last years of his life trusting in God’s mercy and grace.  For me, Lutheran = mercy + grace!

Luther called the church a “priesthood of all believers.”  He wanted every person to know that God heard their prayers and that the Bible was a book for all of us to read in our own language.  Luther was not the only reformer who translated the Bible and argued with the pope—he was following in the footsteps of Jan Hus, a Czech priest and John Wycliffe, an English priest.  There were many reformers who followed him, including those who stayed in the Roman Catholic Church to make many changes within that church.

Sometimes we in the church have heard the word “reform” as an encouragement to separate ourselves from those who do not agree with us.  Sometimes it is hard for us to remember that we are truly “One in Christ.”  It takes patience for us to “make the effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  In Ephesians 4:4-6 we read, “There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

As we celebrate the beginnings of the Lutheran Church on October 27, we also celebrate our sisters and brothers in other faith communities with whom we share One Baptism and the Lord’s Table.  We give thanks for all who work for peace and justice in the world in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  We remember with thanksgiving all who have taught us of God’s abundant love and mercy!

Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

One in hope,
Pastor Jocelyn

 
 

Pastor, I have a question?

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  August 30, 2012
Dear Friends,

One of the joys of being your pastor is hearing you say, “Pastor I have a question?”  Sometimes your questions are clarifying something from the sermon or they touch on Biblical or theological concerns.  Other times you bring your personal concerns about life.  Whatever the question I am always happy to sit down with you to figure out an answer together with you.  I do not have all the answers but I am happy to think with you about even the unanswerable questions such as “Why is there evil in the world?”
 
In September and October we will have a series of classes.  For some people these classes will answer their questions as they consider becoming a member here at Trinity.  But everyone is welcome to come and bring their questions and share in the fun!  We will consider some big topics such as how Lutherans understand the Word of God, how the Ten Commandments and the Creeds are important in our daily lives, a bit of history about Trinity Lutheran, and how your talents and interests can be part of ministry in this faith community.  Obviously we will discuss the questions you bring, too!  The classes will be held after worship in the Koinonia Room on September 23, October 7, 14, and 21.  We will welcome new members on Sunday, October 28th.

I welcome your questions after worship on Sunday mornings or in my office during the week.  You can make an appointment via e-mail or by calling or you can just drop by.  If you can not come into the office I am happy to meet you for a cup of coffee or I will drop by your home. 
You are also welcome to join in one of the weekly Bible Studies at any time.  Some of our Wednesday students have been meeting on Wednesday morning for a long time—but they are happy to welcome new questioners to the mix.  We meet at 10:45 on Wednesday morning in the Sojourner’s Room.  The Monday evening group meets at my home from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. (You can call the church office for directions.) Questioners are always welcome!  
Jesus often taught because someone asked a good question.  “How many times should I forgive someone?”  “Who is my neighbor?”  “Is it okay to pay taxes to the government?”  “Will my dog go to heaven?”  Oh wait, Jesus did not answer that one—but we can have a great time talking it out together!  Jesus invited questions and so do we here at Trinity!
 
Thanks be to God for his unending mercy and grace and for all the questions that we ask!
Pastor Jocelyn
 

Welcome!

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  July 7, 2012

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. —-Romans 15:7

On Sunday mornings at Trinity Lutheran Church we have a number of opportunities to say a word of welcome and peace to one another.  We share the Peace of the Lord as we greet those whom we know and those whom we are meeting for the first time.  Sometimes the peace turns into a brief conversation as we share important information and maybe a laugh with one another.

We also greet people before and after worship and these times of welcome go a long way in helping those new to Trinity feel at home.  Hospitality is something we do really well!  Whether it is the friendly greeters and ushers or the amazing hostesses and hosts during coffee hour, you welcoming people do a great job! Thank you for your welcoming spirits, your bravery in greeting strangers, your helpfulness to those with a special need.  You make Trinity a warm, friendly place to encounter the Word of God.

I especially want to thank those of you who take turns as coffee hostesses and hosts! 

Actually that title is a bit misleading. You provide much more than “coffee”!  There is always tea, juice and ice water in addition to the “Fair Trade” coffee and a warm smile.  The choices of things to eat vary from week to week but they are always delicious!  The treats usually include items that are gluten and/or peanut free and there are always cheese and crackers provided by the hostesses and the hosts!  Thank you women and men of Trinity who do this fabulous service for the rest of us! 

Would you like to help with this welcoming ministry?  You do not have to be able to bake—maybe you could be the one to bring the cheese and crackers—and purchased items are very acceptable!  There are directions posted for making Lutheran World Relief Coffee and John Martin is always willing to help with set up and clean up.  Thank you John!!!  Some of those who serve as hostesses or hosts have indicated that they prefer to have someone else serve with them.  This is a great way for two people to pair up and share the work and the fun.  If you would like to volunteer to be half of a team, please call Gina in the office (425-252-1239) and she will pair you with an experienced person. 

All of us are part of this hospitable welcome!  Whether we are servers or partakers, our kindness and listening ear can be just what someone else needs that day.  I hope that all those who enter our doors can find the welcome expressed in the choir song, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need* sung in our June 10th concert: No more a stranger, nor a guest, but like a child at home. 

Welcome home all who enter through these doors!  May you be refreshed and ready to take Christ’s welcome with you all week long! 

Pastor Jocelyn

*Lyrics from Psalm 23, paraphrased by Isaac Watts

To Dubai and Back

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  May 30, 2012

To Dubai and Back. . . .

In late April I flew to the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, a lovely place which is rapidly becoming a tourist destination due to its sunny climate. It has beautiful beaches, and it has amazing and unique buildings, including some of the most beautiful resorts and hotels in the world. If you add in the great shopping at some of the world biggest and fanciest malls, one of which includes a winter wonderland complete with skiing and penguins, you will know why many people choose to visit Dubai.

None of these wonderful places is why I went. I went to see my best friend from high school and her husband, who have been living and working in Dubai for the last fourteen years. They will retire in June and leave Dubai, so this was my last chance to visit them and see Dubai from a non-tourist point of view. I loved the amazing buildings and I fell in love with Arabic mosaics and designs. I found shopping in the malls and the traditional “gold and spice souks” to be a great adventure and lots of fun, but I went to Dubai for the people. Maggie and I were able to share memories of our mothers that only we have—what a blessing for both of us, now that they are gone.

I was able with Maggie and Russell’s help, to see a side of Dubai that most tourists will not see. I visited with young Emerati women, all robed in black from head to toe in their math class taught by Russell. I had tea with Maggie’s fellow teachers and friends at the Dubai American Academy. I met the attendees of a baby shower, both male and female, who included people from almost every European country who had come to Dubai to work in a variety of fields from engineers to bakers. That evening I was part of an international community gathered to celebrate a baby and her parents.

Far from being fearful when riding the Metro by myself, I felt safe and welcome. Everywhere I went I felt free to be my usual friendly self and had a number of interesting conversations. People I met wanted to know where I was from and were happy to tell their own stories. In many ways it was a very strange land and I was a stranger, but I was welcomed, sometimes because of Maggie and Russell, but often just because I stopped and asked a question. For a week, I enjoyed this great adventure and I look forward to traveling to some other amazing place in the future. My world is now both larger and smaller. Just fourteen hours away by plane, I met people loved by God, who had stories to tell. Thanks Maggie and Russell for this great time!

May we all be blessed by those strangers we meet who become friends and may we always give thanks for our amazing differences and our amazing similarities! Please watch the Pew News for when I will be sharing my amazing pictures and stories.

Pastor Jocelyn

Easter Continues

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson  |  April 30, 2012

Dear Friends,

The joyous Easter season begins with Easter and continues until Pentecost.  We have seven glorious Sundays to celebrate the Good News of the resurrection.  Of course every Sunday of the year is a celebration of the “first day of the week” when the women came and found the empty tomb!   During the Easter season we celebrate with special joy because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and conquered sin and death on our behalf.

The resurrection of Jesus gives us reason to trust that God holds our future in his hands!  As far back as the prophet Jeremiah, God promised, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  Easter and the resurrection encourage us to trust in our hopeful futures with God!

What we will do with our earthly futures is a question we ask at every age.  “What will I be when I grow up?” is a question not just for children but for all of us.  In her book, The Gift of Years: Growing Old Gracefully, Joan Chittister, invites us to live hopefully and with purpose every day of our life. This is a book that a small group could use to walk with each other through times of transition and change.  I invite you to contact me if you would like to be part of such a small group.

On April 15th we celebrated the many generations of people who are part of Trinity.  In the Circle of Blessing led by Professor Mark Jackson, we honored those of every age, who are making their own unique contributions to our faith community and the world.  From the youngest to the oldest, God’s grace carries us through the challenges of each day, strengthening us to serve others.

Joan Chittister includes in her book this great poem by Robert Browning:

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in His hand

Who saith, “A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half;

Trust God: see all, nor be afraid!”

This poem reminds us that Trinity is a faith community where we can grow older and wiser together.  At any age, we can continue to grow in faith and trust in the God who loves us and holds us!

Blessings on your further

Lenten Journey Coming to an End

by Pastor Jocelyn Carson\  |  March 26, 2012

Dear Friends,

Our Lenten prayer journey will soon be coming to an end as we walk together through the solemnity of Holy Week and move into the joyous season of Easter.  In just a few short days we will move through a myriad of emotions evoked by hymns, prayers and Bible verses.  I am reminded of the words of Psalm 30:11-12, “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.”

Holy Week begins with the joyful, exuberant procession of Palm Sunday, when our children will lead us up the aisle with waving palms and glad hosannas!  We hail Jesus as our King, and we welcome the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God.  Too quickly our joy turns to sorrow as we hear the words of the Passion of Jesus from Mark’s Gospel.  The story begins with Jesus celebrating the Meal with his friends and ends with some of them placing his body in the tomb. We will receive Holy Communion at the Altar on this day.

On Maundy Thursday, we are invited to worship with our friends at Central Lutheran.  We will hear the words of Jesus about loving and serving one another and we will take part in the Lord’s Supper.

On Good Friday, we meet in our darkened sanctuary to hear the Passion Story again, this time from the Gospel of John, interspersed with familiar hymns of the Cross.  As our worship concludes we have the opportunity for Prayers around the Cross.  This time of personal and corporate prayer echoes the prayers that we have prayed during our Lenten journey this year.

On Easter, we sing our glad Alleluias once more when God indeed clothes us with joy!  Our Lenten journey becomes an Easter journey as we walk with our resurrected Lord through all the days to come. 

We are truly Easter people—even as we walk through the shadows of Lent, we have always known that our journey ends in joy at the empty tomb!  As we move through our personal sorrows and joys, we know that God walks each step with us and that our journey with God always ends with the peace and joy of the resurrection.

Blessings on your continuing journey—may it lead you ever closer to the heart of God,

Pastor Jocelyn

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