October letter from the Pastor
by Pastor Jocelyn Carson | October 1, 2012
During worship on Sunday mornings in September we have heard from the book of James. We have heard words of wisdom about how to live with both active faith and consistent love. James addresses Christian communities on welcoming one another without partiality, the proper use of speech, and expressing our faith in God’s mercy through our care of one another. The book of James begins with Jesus’ command to “Love your neighbor as
yourself,” and expands it into wisdom for daily life. We are encouraged not to just talk about our faith, but to live it.
Here at Trinity one of the ways we live our faith is through our support of the Trinity Aid Bank which provides help for our neighbors. Because of your generosity we can provide emergency help with food, bus tickets, rental assistance, or a night at a motel. Our staff
also provides a listening ear and referrals for long term assistance. The needs of people
are huge and we are just one part of the support system of our community.
By the end of September we have helped as many people in 2012 as we helped all year in 2011. In order to better support each other in this faith work, we are going to begin blessing the food brought for the Food Bank on the 4th Sunday of every month. This is the day that our Sunday School leads us in making sack lunches for Central Lutheran’s Parking Lot Dinner and for our Food Bank. Our prayers that day will include those who receive these gifts. On the 3rd
Sunday of the month we will give out lists of what is currently most needed in the Food Bank so we can shop wisely.
On October 21 we will join churches across the country in celebrating “Bread for the World” Sunday when we will remember the hungry in our country and around the world
in our prayers. The book of James reminds us: “What good is it my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith
by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (NRSV)
As a community that follows Jesus, we celebrate our faith in God who is gracious and
merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. We rejoice in God’s grace and the blessings of peace and hope we receive through our faith. We also give thanks for the
opportunities we have to share God’s love with others. Thank you for your gifts thus far this year that have given nourishment, encouragement and hope to over 350 households.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed.
Blessed be God, who is our Bread; may all the world be clothed and fed. Amen.
Pastor Jocelyn