May 26, 2021: Memorial Day

This weekend is the unofficial start to summer. It is Memorial Day. Boats will be put in. Grills will be turn on. Beers and other drinks will be poured and many people will get sunburned. I hope you have a great weekend!

We all know that this weekend wasn’t started so we could all take an extra day off and kick back to relax. Instead, we have this day to remember the sacrifices that many have made in service to the country. Each year, on social media, I see the following quote. (This year I saw it from Heidi Morrison.) It says the following.

Armed Forces Day is for those still in uniform.

Veterans Day is for those who have hung up their uniform.

Memorial Day is for those who never made it out of their uniform.

I think it is good to be reminded of the distinction. Frequently, it seems we have a tendency to wrap them all up together and honor the people who have served in the military (past and present) whenever we have a patriotic holiday. But there are differences between them and to not remember or distinguish each can lead to minimizing, even though it is done unintentionally.

I am extremely grateful to live in the country I do. I wake up every day not worried about basic necessities that many in the world do. I have fundamental rights that I can and do exercise. Additionally, in my life, I am safe, fall asleep easy and wake up with opportunities in front of me. I am grateful.

Much of the reason that I am able to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities I do, is due to the sacrifice of those individuals who “never made it out of uniform.” Starting with the Revolutionary War and continuing through other wars and conflicts I have learned about, and through those of which I will never know, there are countless people have died to make my life possible. Again, I am grateful.

Along with the feeling of gratitude, like all of you, there is another emotion inside. That is one of sadness. It is for all the lives lost. All the men and women who did not return to their families and did not get to fulfill the dreams for the rest of their lives. Also, it is for the family and friends of those who have died and grieve differently than I, in a more personal way.

But I also grieve because when we remember victims of war, it serves as a reminder that God’s kingdom is not a reality among us and too often we have chosen ways that take us further from it, rather than moving toward it. While we can have conversations about whether a war or violence is “just” or not, I don’t think it is ever God’s desire or hope for the world. Jesus speaks of loving your enemy and praying for those who persecute you. The early church grew exponentially because they were known for a different way of life that might be might be best embodied in the Sermon on the Mount, of which part of the teaching is “Blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.”

I also think about God’s future and what heaven will be like, when it comes fully to earth. I don’t think war or violence will ever be part of it. Whatever divisions we have created between people will be no more and all will be one. I continually am reminded of Ephesians 2:14.

“For he (Christ) is our peace; in his flesh, he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.”

So, this Memorial Day, when you are enjoying an extra-long weekend, at some point, say the following prayer.

Almighty God, you are our strength and our shield. We give you thanks for the people of our armed forces, past and present, and especially for those who have died while serving. May their sacrifices serve the cause of peace, and may our nation be ever grateful for their service. With your wisdom and strength guide our military's leaders, and give to all people a desire for justice and peace. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. – adapted from the ELW prayer for the armed forces.

Grace and Peaace,

Pastor Tim

May 20, 2021: Flower Moon or Blood Moon

Flower Moon or Blood Moon, take your pic

It is again upon us. Last month, we had a Supermoon that was called a Pink Moon. This is when the moon is the closest to the earth in its orbit and it appears bigger and brighter than other full moons. If you remember, it is called a Pink Moon because it is supposed to coincide with the earliest blooming of the spring wild flowers, Phlox submata (Creeping Phlox), which is pink in color.

Coming to your skies next week is the Blood Moon (imagine Vincent Price saying that in a creepy way in your head), also known as the Flower Moon (imagine a little girl prancing in a field whispering this in your ear). The phenomenon that causes the Blood/Flower Moon is similar to the Pink Moon. Again, due to its orbit, the moon will be at its closest to the earth, therefore it will appear 7% larger and 15% brighter. But there is another aspect to the be aware of. It will also be a lunar eclipse. This means the earth will also be directly between the moon and the sun. This will cause the moon to appear reddish in nature as the light from the sun moves through the earths atmosphere on its way to illuminating the moon, giving it the name of Blood Moon. (When this does not occur, and it is just a Supermoon it is called a Flower Moon, due to it coinciding with the blooming of May flowers.)

Unfortunately, due to our location in the northeast of the US, we will not get to enjoy the reddish color of this eclipse. That will be best seen in Hawaii, at about 1am. Here in good ‘ol New Hampshire and the rest of the eastern seaboard, we might get a reddish glimpse, but it may not even be noticeable.

This makes me think of what I see and experience on a daily basis compared to what other people see and experience on a daily basis. I have come to thoroughly enjoy the phrase, “My experience does not make the rule.” What I mean by this is just because my life has led me to believe certain things about how the world works, that does not mean that everyone else experiences it the same way. They will have different experiences that will lead them to believe something different then myself. Just like we will view the moon one way on May 25th, and someone else will look at the same moon at the same time and see something different.

I think we do this with our lives. We like to use anecdotal stories from our lives to make a point, because one has a much harder time arguing against an experience that has occurred and the facts that surrounded it. What we need to remember, is that other people will have experiences also that are just as legitimate but have been affected in very different ways. That does not mean one is right and one is wrong, but it means they both exist and need to be honored and understood.

Empathy is a trait that I think is in short demand in the world today. The way I have come to grasp empathy is it means to be able to understand another person’s feelings and experiences. It does not mean that you agree with certain actions that may have been taken, but you can understand why someone did something. It is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.

This is what I ask. On May 25th at approximately 9:30pm, the Blood Moon (or Flower Moon for us here in New England) will be the closest to us here in New Hampshire. Go outside and take a look at it. As you do, think about the people in Hawaii that will see the same thing, yet see something different. Then when you wake up the next morning and you interact with others throughout your day, look at them and remember this. They will see the same things in the world, yet have a different experience than you. They will have opinions developed and beliefs formed because of those experiences. Say a prayer of thanks for all of those experiences. And then ask for one thing. Ask for Love to be what is primarily felt in everyone’s experience.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

May 18, 2021: Summer Worship Schedule

Here we go. What follows is our proposed worship schedule for this summer. But, before I get to that, let me remind us all that everything could change. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that what we do one week may not necessarily be what we do the next week.

The following were the guiding factors that went into the church council’s recommendation:

• Find a way to bring as many of us together, at one time, in as safe a way as possible.
• Continue an online option for those who are still not able to meet in person.
• Be mindful that children 2-12 years old are still not eligible for the vaccine and are still encouraged to wear a mask indoors in public settings.
• Act in the best interest and show solidarity with those who are still at-risk, both within our congregation and around the world.
• Respect the fact that we have a congregation of mixed opinion regarding the COVID vaccination.
• Move toward having as full a worship service as possible.

What this means…

From now until June 6th, our worship schedule will not change, but we are adding the following for the 8:30am indoor/in-person worship service.

• Increase the amount able to attend from 40-65.
• Resume congregational singing.
• Require masks to be worn by everyone, vaccination status does not matter.

We will continue a zoom worship service at 9:30am for the next 3 weeks, with our last zoom service being held on Sunday, June 6th.

Beginning Sunday, June 13th, we will begin the following…

• One worship service at 9:30am, held outside, under the tent and the surrounding area.
• We will sing.
• Return of the children’s sermon.
• Masks are optional.
• You do not need to sign-up or check-in.
• Please bring your own chair, but one can be provided for you.
• Coffee and Cookies will return after the service
• For inclement weather, we will move inside (rain, heat, humidity). If we move inside, masks will be required but we will not limit the amount of people who can attend. We will make this notification as soon as possible, but it might be a “game-time” decision.
• The service will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel and posted to our website immediately afterwards.
• The building will be open for people to go into the sanctuary to sit and reflect.

Please know there was good and strong conversation at council regarding these recommendations. There were a variety of opinions and it was hard coming to a consensus.

As you read the upcoming schedule, some of you might be elated, because that is exactly what you were hoping for and fully agree with the decisions. Some of you might be disappointed because you believe it is unnecessarily too cautious. I, and council, understand that we are not going to please everyone.

The more I think about this, I believe this is a really good option moving forward. While we are planning on primarily being outside, New England weather is rarely fully cooperative to our plans. I have to imagine, there will be several Sundays, throughout the summer, in which we will be forced to move inside. If you desire to be in the sanctuary for Sunday morning worship, I hope this will suffice. If you are still not able to be indoors but long to be in the physical presence of your sisters and brothers in Christ, we hope this will suffice.

I will never say that we have made all the correct decisions throughout the pandemic. I am sure there are things that could have been communicated better. I am sure there are ways in which we could have incorporated more people into what we are doing. I am sure there are…well, you could probably list off a couple of items that you wish we would have or could have done differently. I hope you know this, we have always made decisions based on what we believe is best for the health and safety of immediate church community and wider community in which we live. Sometimes that is what we personally want, sometimes it is the opposite of what we want.

I think outdoor worship this summer will be fun. It will have a different feel to it. Perhaps a lighter, more energetic and renewing feel to it. After all that we have gone through this past year, we could all use some new energy and a lighter feeling.

One last thing, Wednesday evening worships will begin again on Wednesday, June 16th. We will hold them under the tent and outside, and when weather dictates, move them inside. In addition, look for information about VBS soon. We are going to combine it with the Wednesday worships during the end of July and beginning of August and call it “Backyard Wednesdays.” We plan on having a cook out, worship and then VBS-style activities. It should be a lot of fun and hopefully reminiscent of backyard bbq’s that you have with friends and families over the summer.

Thanks for your patience and prayers.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

May 15, 2021: The new CDC Guidelines

By now you have most likely heard that the CDC has issued new guidelines regarding mask wearing and social distancing for vaccinated people. If you haven't seen them, here is a link.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

I will be honest, my immediate reaction, through my personal contemplation as well as consulting a few council members, was to say that we can resume in-person worship, with singing. Many of you might have had the same reaction as I did. But as more opinions came out about the new guidelines, I may have jumped the gun. Bishop Hazelwood sent out an email yesterday, asking congregations not to jump to that conclusion immediately. You can read his thoughts here.

https://www.jameshazelwood.net/blog

For this weekend, at least, we will continue doing what we have been doing so far. We will offer usual worship options that we have settled on over the past couple of months. You can either join us at 8:30am in-person and in the sanctuary. We ask that you wear your mask and stay distant. Remembery, you may watch the live-stream of that worship on YouTube. Additionally, we will have our zoom worship at 9:30am. Both the in person and zoom services are recorded and posted to watch at your convenience.

The Church Council is scheduled to meet Monday evening to talk about these new guidelines and what they mean for worship this summer. Based on our prior meeting last week, I am excited for what is coming and what we will be doing together. I know we are all highly anticipating resuming in person worship and getting back to a "sense of normalcy," but for one more weekend, I ask for your patience. We have done this for over a year, we can endure just a little longer. We are getting close.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

May 13, 2021: Israel & Palenstine

A week or two ago, I used a video clip from the tv show Ted Lasso that featured a scene in which the main character, Ted Lasso, quoted Walt Whitman by saying, “Be curious, not judgmental. If you missed it, you can watch it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x0PzUoJS-U

I bring it up again, because there is some disturbing news going on in the world today. The conflict and violence between Israel and Palestine has again bubbled over into violence, with 32 Palestinians and 3 Israelis being killed in the last couple of days. If you are unaware of what happened, here is an article from Reuters’.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-rocket-fire-israeli-air-strikes-gaza-2021-05-11/

I have heard about the violence between the two groups for years but never understood it. The main point I thought I knew or understood was, which is what I believe most of us know, the land they all want to occupy is extremely sacred land to the three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The more I learned about it, the less I saw it as a simple religious war and learned how complicated and multi-faceted the conflict really is. In almost everything I read or watched, if someone was trying to give an editorial or attempting to explain it, I would hear or read the words, “I know I someone is going to disagree with me about…” There does not seem to be a coherent narrative. Depending on who one listens to or talks to, different points are made and explanations are given.

The best I have found I can do is not approach this by trying to determine who is right and who is wrong, but only to learn about what is at the core of the conflict and try to understand and empathize with all that is happening. To go back to Ted Lasso, I believe I am being asked to “Be curious. Not judgmental.” (I think this is going to be my new motto in life. It sure seems to be coming up often and I have watched the above scene a good 20 times.)

If you are interested, or curious to learn more, I have two videos that I have found helpful.

The first one is from Vox. It is a 10-minute video that attempts to give a brief overview of the conflict without taking sides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRYZjOuUnlU

The second video is a tv special Rick Steves’ did for PBS as part of is travel series, “Rick Steves’ Europe.” It is 56-minutes long. Rick attempts to give an impartial overview of the conflict while humanizing it by featuring the people of Palestine and Israel and allowing them to share their feelings. I thoroughly appreciated this special because it allowed me to see the people who are affected by it and to hear their stories. I found myself empathizing with everyone involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg1unr6eNpQ&t=2412s

In the end, I don’t have a solution and I won’t attempt to offer one. To think that I could suggest one that someone hasn’t thought of before after watching and reading about it for a few hours would be arrogant and diminish the hard work that others have poured into it. Rather, I only offer my compassion and empathy for all of those lives of people who have been caught in the middle who are only trying their best to live a life of wholeness and happiness.

A scripture verse that continually comes to mind for me during times of conflict, unrest, turmoil and war is Philippians 4:7. It reads, “May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind in Jesus Christ.”

What I like about this verse is the phrase, “…peace of God which surpasses all understanding…” I don’t know what the answer is, all I know is that it is currently beyond our understanding and perhaps we need to pray to be opened to ideas and ways of thinking that we are currently unaware of or think impossible.

I think it also opens us up to praying for the innocent people who are caught in the middle who live in constant fear. We pray for peace that is beyond their understanding and, more specifically, beyond what they are currently experiencing.

So let us pray.

Creator of all nations and people,

We put up boundaries and walls.

We keep people out and keep people in.

We trust our own sense of peace and distrust others.

Currently there is violence going on in the world that needs to end.

This is happening in Palestine and Israel and in many other places which don’t make the news.

We pray for your peace which we don’t understand.

We pray for your peace which seems beyond our grasp.

We pray for your peace to come upon those in positions of power which will bring peace to those caught in middle.

Simply, we pray for your peace in all of our lives.

Amen.

May 10, 2021: Apologizing

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my new favorite tv show, Ted Lasso. If you aren’t familiar with it, the premise is as follows: Ted Lasso is an American football coach who is hired to coach the Richmond Football Club (soccer) of the English Premier League, by the owner, and recently divorced, Rebecca. She does this with the hopes that Ted will fail spectacularly and force the team into relegation (demoted to a lower league) thereby hurting her ex-husband where she believes it will hurt most. This is revenge for of all the hurt he caused her in their marriage.

There are many themes to write about that the show addresses, but one that seems to occur repeatedly is how to give and receive and apology. Normally, it seems in life, apologies can be brief, general and even sarcastic or without feeling. Think about a child, rolling their eyes at their parents while saying, “Sorry”, not because they have regretted their actions and realized the hurt they caused, but solely because their parents said they cannot have dessert until they apologized. Or perhaps, think about it in a relationship between two adults. One says, “I’m sorry” but they don’t really know what they are sorry for and are just saying it to get the conversation over with because they know it is the right thing to say.

What about the responses to many apologies? What do we typically say? “No problem.” “Forget about it.” “It isn’t a big deal.” Although much of the time that isn’t the case, is it. “It” was a big problem, that is why someone was hurt. One might say “forget about it” but is the person saying that actually going to forget it also? Lastly, it is a big deal, that is why there was an argument.

If that is the way many of our apologies and acknowledgement of them go, is it any wonder why many of us have the same argument over and over.

This is what I love about Ted Lasso. When someone apologizes, it is specific and genuine. The person apologizing understands why the other person was hurt or upset. They don’t try to justify their prior behavior, instead they have compassion and empathy toward the other person. They acknowledge what they did and name it.

In return, the other person does not try to diminish the apology or the hurt that was caused by it. The apology is acknowledged with a simple “Thank you for saying that.” Another response is “I forgive you.” There aren’t any lingering affects wondering “Did they really mean that?”

Now, I understand this is tv and it doesn’t represent real life. When we are hurt deeply, it generally isn’t something that we can just name and move on from, but I do believe the way Ted Lasso represents apologizing can be a blueprint for us. We have all hurt someone and been hurt. When we hurt someone, do we really understand how our actions might have been the cause of the hurt or are we too busy trying to justify our actions so we don’t have to admit our mistake. When we accept someone’s apology, do we still hold onto a grudge? Do we let our anger linger and even though we say we accepted their apology, we act as if it was never offered?

Remember, when we apologize and accept an apology and offer forgiveness, it doesn’t mean everything can always go back to the way things were. Sometimes, proper boundaries are needed and the relationship changes. Too often though, I think we don’t think we are willing to do the work that is needed. We apologize insincerely and accept apologies with the same insincerity right back.

Apologizing and forgiving is hard work. I get it. I have not been very good at either in many instances in my life, but I can think about the times in which I have done the work of both and I am glad that I have.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

I would show a clip of an apology from Ted Lasso, but it would give away too much of the show and I don’t want to ruin it for you if you haven’t seen it yet.

May 6, 2021: The Book of Happiness

“It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. Every moment is a gift.” ― Dalai Lama XIV, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

One of my favorite books is “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. It is written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Douglas Abrams. The two men are good friends and the book is a recording of a visit between the two of them as they reflect on life and faith and what it means to be happy and where happiness comes from.

While they have vastly different life experiences, they share a mutual love of the world and for humanity. I loved reading about their interactions with each other and how personal they seemed to be with each other. They were willing to share their experiences knowing what they shared was going to be honored and respected. The other person did not judge the experience, but rather tried to understand the experience. They encouraged and supported one another and while reading, you could feel how genuinely the two men cared for one another.

A characteristic that both men share about how they live their life is gratitude. They are both extremely grateful people, which in turn, they believe is what makes them happy people. While happiness is in the title of the book, I believe gratitude is the most prevalent topic of the book. Happiness is the result of being grateful. We don’t start with happiness; we end with happiness. We begin with gratefulness.

I know we are all tired right now. Even with the sun shining and the weather getting warmer, because of the pandemic, everything can feel like a slog. Heck, even without the pandemic, life can be heavy. When the heaviness sets in it is easy to let it weigh you down and take control of your life. A way to combat that heaviness is with gratefulness. You don’t have to be grandiose about it or come up with an exhaustive list. You just need to think about one thing, however little, that will lift your heart and, hopefully, put a smile on your face.

Right now, I am sitting in my office looking out the window at Walmart. Not the best view in the world, but there is a tree right outside and the leave are a deep dark red. The sun is out and as soon as I finish this article I get to go home for the weekend (I try and take Friday’s off and have nothing scheduled for tomorrow!) and go to my son’s lacrosse game. I am pretty grateful for those things, which makes me pretty happy. I can feel a chain reaction.

What are you thankful for?

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

May 3, 2021: We need your feedback for Summer Worship

It is May and was yesterday a beautiful day! I greeted people outside as they came in for worship and it felt good. Obviously, we weren’t “at capacity” but more people are returning to indoor/in-person worship. It was great to see people.

As you most likely have seen, the CDC has released new guidelines concerning what people can do if they are vaccinated, what they should continue to refrain from if they are unvaccinated, and guidelines over mask wearing for everyone. I am in conversations with a team of people from church and council to determine what these new guidelines will mean for us and how we gather for worship here at Holy Trinity.

The options we are considering serve a two-fold purpose. One, how can we gather in a way that brings as many people physically together to participate in as full a worship service as possible? Two, how do we provide an online experience to connect people to our community and worship who are still not able to gather in-person, whether it is pandemic related or geographical distance?

Some of those options being considered would be to move our primary worship service, on Sunday mornings, outside and only have an indoor service if weather dictates it. It would be similar to our outdoor Easter service at the building. This service, whether it is indoors or outdoors would be live-streamed to our website. This might mean the discontinuation of our zoom service. Also, since we had such a good time with an outdoor/midweek gathering last year, we would like to do that again.

Additionally, just so you are aware, we are not going to require people to be vaccinated in order to attend. We understand that some people have reasons for intentionally choosing not to do so. Therefore, when we gather, the safety protocols we will implement around distancing and mask wearing will be with the assumption that we are always in a mixed group of vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. Things we require when we gather indoors, will be different than what we require when we gather outdoors.

After a year of zoom and other forms of digital worship with reduced in-person experiences, we realize new routines and habits have formed. I have read that as many as 25% of the church going population has stopped attending during this time AND do not intend to return. As we continually contemplate the best way to worship during the COVID pandemic, please be mindful of the habits that you are forming, and have formed, and please keep worship part of them.

Lastly, to help us determine our worship schedule for this summer, please take a couple minutes to complete the following survey. Results will be anonymous. Please keep in mind this is not a vote to determine what we will do. We are gathering information to help us determine what we feel is the best course of action.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

April 26, 2021: Pink Moon

Tonight is a “Pink Moon.” If you don’t know what that is, you are in good company, because I didn’t know until just a few days ago. Prior to me googling it, I had only heard of a “Pink Moon” from the 1972 song of the same name by the artist Nick Drake. But after tonight, I plan on having something else to associate with it.

The “Pink Moon” has nothing to do with the color of a moon on a certain night. Instead, it is a supermoon in April that generally coincides with the one of the earliest blooming spring flowers in the US, Phlox subulata, commonly known as creeping or mountain phlox and is pink in color. A supermoon is when the moon is full and it is extremely close to the earth. Depending on your definition of “supermoon” we will have 2-3 of them this year and they will all happen in consecutive months. The first was in March, called the “Worm Moon” (coincides with worms coming out of the ground as the weather warms). It will then be followed by the one now in April, and then on May 26th, called the “Flower Moon” and by now you can guess why it was given this name. It will reach its “fullest phase” tonight at 11:32pm EST. I just checked the weather and we are supposed to have clear skies tonight with the temperature in the low 40’s. Could be a lot worse and not much better!

If you are able to stay awake that late, I invite you to head outside to see it. Even if you are not able to stay awake that late, at some point, before you go to bed, head outside. It might not be at its biggest, but it will still be pretty amazing.

Now, before you go out, find your Bible. (Don’t feel bad if you have to think about where it is or blow dust off of it. Heck, use your phone and download an app. I frequently do when I make visits! I use the one called “YouVersion.”) Find Psalm 8 and then step out the door. Locate the moon (hopefully it won’t be difficult otherwise be prepared to be disappointed) and take a few moments to look at it. Breathe in a few deep breaths of the cool air and let it fill your lungs. When you are ready and before you get too cold, read Psalm 8 aloud. Here it is for you to read now.

O Lord, our Sovereign,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouths of babes and infants

you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,

to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars that you have established;

what are human beings that you are mindful of them,

mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,

and crowned them with glory and honor.

You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under their feet,

all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

The cosmos are absolutely stunning. It is mind boggling to think about how large it all is. Space is so vast and endless that it would be easy to feel insignificant. If you noticed in the Psalm people have been feeling that way since the beginning of time. Again, you are in good company if this thought crosses your mind. Yet, that is not the truth. In the midst of all of creation, God thinks of you, thinks of all us, as a little lower than God’s self!

Think of how beautiful and wonderful all of creation is. You are…we are…the pinnacle of God’s creation. We aren’t an afterthought; we are THE thought! You matter. You are important. You have value and worth simply because you are part of God’s creation. Not because of anything you have accomplished, or anything that you have failed at. No, simply because you can fill your lungs with the cool air of the night, you are God’s and you are loved. And when the time comes when you can’t fill your lungs with air, and those lungs have breathed their last breath, you will become part of God’s restoration project in a new way.

Remember, we are in the season of Easter. The hope of the risen Christ is among us! We have been talking about the goodness of creation and how there will be a physicality to the resurrected life! Look outside at the beauty and goodness of all of creation and be reminded of the goodness and beauty that is you.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

April 22, 2021: The George Floyd murder trial verdict

We have all seen the news about the verdict in the George Floyd murder trial in which police office Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three accounts. I liked what the prosecuting attorney Keith Ellison had to say about it afterwards. “This is not justice but accountability.” I take that to mean justice has more to do with systemic changes while accountability is more about individual actions.

I believe a primary way we make systemic change is through our individual actions. If I want to be part of systemic change, I first must recognize how my individual actions impact the world around us and contribute to our situation. I can’t expect laws to be passed to combat racism if I am not willing to do the work to learn about racism.

This may apply to any social issue. If I want the environment to support life on earth for generations to come, I need to understand my role in it. If I want people of all genders and sexualities to be treated equally, I need to understand my role in it. This isn’t about one person “changing the world” but it is about all of us, acting together, doing our part to change the world.

I don’t have any new or wise words concerning the outcome of the George Floyd trial except only to encourage us all to keep learning. Learning about why these situations keep happening.

Vicky and I just finished watching Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ last night for a second time. There is a scene in which the main character, Ted, is playing darts and explaining his world view to one of the protagonists. He gives a quote from Walt Whitman, “Be curious. Not judgmental.” He speaks about the people who are judgmental are the ones who think they know everything about everyone, so instead of asking questions they simply judge the person.

I think root of racism, and any other -ism for that matter, is due because people are judgmental and not curious. We unjustly criticize and condemn other people when we believe we know better than them and why they should have made a different decision or what we believe would have been the “correct” decision.

Let’s be honest, it is easier to judge. We all want to be right. If we are curious and ask questions and are truly open to hearing and receiving new information, we might have to change our way thinking. We might have to say we were wrong. We might have to admit an error in our ways. That is never fun. But, let’s be honest, our faith should actually encourage and empower us to not be afraid of learning and growing and changing our thoughts and opinions. Our faith should open us up to learning about another person’s or people’s situation and how we may have contributed, consciously or unconsciously, to it negatively. (Yes, we may also have had a positive impact but our faith should inspire a sense of humility within us so we don’t need our “good deeds” recognized or advertised.) Our faith, should compel us to be honest and then seek to make amends or make things right, not just for one individual, but for all of society. I think this is the pursuit of justice.

By learning about race and racism in America, and in your own life, you will not end racism, but you will make it a little less prevalent in your life and in the life of the people around you. I think that is a good place to begin.

There is a great opportunity to learn about race and racism happening next week that is being sponsored by the National Council of Churches and an organization called “Grace Matters.” It is titled, “White Privilege: Moving Beyond the Basics –Toward the Beloved Community.” It is April 28, from 7-8:30pm EST and is free. Use this link to register.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/white-privilege-lets-talk-tickets-147883328015?fbclid=IwAR0zWd8M_Ypqx1N87gaZ8wWwxYKSfUlBfjQrk92K6TfBWowB53RQgvnXzYk

Also, if you are interested in watching the scene from Ted Lasso described above, you can watch it here. (Warning: it does contain two swear words.) If you haven’t watched the series, the ending of the scene provides a little spoiler for that episode, but it doesn’t not spoil the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8k-bSEhEDo

Lastly, I shared this video last year around this time and it is worth watching again to learn a brief history of racism and racist policies in America and helps provide a better sense of why the world is the way it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUwcs9qJXY

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

April 19, 2021: NT Wright

I wanted to do a quick follow up from my sermon yesterday. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to or watch it, you can find it here. (https://youtu.be/Eukzj_LHcl4)

I might have presented some ideas to you that were new and therefore may not have fully made sense. Or perhaps, you understood what I said, but are not sure if you agree. If you would like to talk further about it, I would love to have some conversations about it. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

The reason why I wanted to follow up though, was not because of the content of the sermon, but rather because of the book that I referred to during it, “Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense” by N.T. Wright. I am thankful for all the ways that Mr. Wright has been influential on me and my understanding of the resurrection and what “the Good News” really means. He has a way of using analogies that makes sense and allow me to shift my understanding of concepts that help me see things in new ways. If you ever have a chance to listen to him or read his books, I would highly recommend it.

One of the things that I greatly appreciate about Wright is that he is highly respected from both the progressive and conservative sides of Christianity. He has a way of speaking that appeals to many people.

One area that he receives criticism from the progressive wing are concerning his views on same-sex relationships. During my sermon, I recommend reading the book mentioned above. If you do, he does speak of homosexuality and comes to a different conclusion than what we just affirmed as a congregation in becoming RIC (Reconciling in Christ). I only mention this to you, because, while I hope you take the time to read the book, I don’t want you to then wonder, “Did we make a mistake about our conversations and vote this past year?” I don’t believe we did for a minute.

Honestly, if you read any theologians or scholars, you will most likely find something to disagree with. (unless you are listening to me or reading something that I write.) Remember, we are talking about God. We are using words, which have limits, to describe something that is outside of any category we have. This means, as soon as we attempt to describe God, at some level, we are missing the mark. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t talk or speculate, it only means to do so with a bit of humility.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

April 13, 2021: False Self

In several different instances in my reading lately I have come upon the concept of the false self as presented by Trappist Monk Thomas Merton. If you are unfamiliar with it, Merton describes the false self as follows.

Every one of us is shadowed by an illusory person: a false self. This is the man I want myself to be but who cannot exist, because God does not know anything about him. And to be unknown of God is altogether too much privacy.

My false and private self is the one who wants to exist outside the reach of God’s will and God’s love—outside of reality and outside of life. And such a self cannot help but be an illusion.

We are not very good at recognizing illusions, least of all the ones we cherish about ourselves—the ones we are born with and which feed the roots of sin. For most of the people in the world, there is no greater subjective reality than this false self of theirs, which cannot exist. A life devoted to the cult of this shadow is what is called a life of sin.

We all have an ego. It is how we want to view ourselves and be viewed by others. It is based on our accomplishments, our looks, our bank account. It is what we cling to for our worth. It is based on something tangible...and temporary. It comes from ourselves and not from God.

When our value and worth come from God, it is eternal. It doesn’t matter what are accomplishments are or aren’t. It doesn’t matter if there is grey hair and wrinkles or smooth skin and colored hair. It doesn’t matter what is in the bank or what is parked in the garage.

When we can shed our false self, we see it for what it is. A mask that covers our true self. When it is disposed of our authentic self will immerge that can truly receive love and more fully give love.

I am still learning. I am too caught up in an image I present to myself and to the world. It is what prevents me from risking. It is what prevents me from experimenting. It is what prevents me from fully understanding what love is.

Perhaps, the first step is not to immediately try to shed the false self, it is only recognizing that it is there.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

To learn more about Thomas Merton, here is an article from the New Yorker Magazine. https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/thomas-merton-the-monk-who-became-a-prophet

April 1, 2021: Easter

While the vaccines are rolling out and we see light at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic, we are not there yet. In fact, over the last couple of weeks, numbers of cases, deaths, and positive test rate are actually increasing, including here in New Hampshire and specifically Rockingham County.

Therefore, I don’t have a devotion or any “wise” sayings today, just a reminder for our worship gatherings this weekend.

Concerning all indoor worships

• There will not be any congregational singing. All singing will be done by the worship leaders.
• Please wear your mask at all times, even if you have the vaccine. People singing and speaking will be able to take off their mask, but only at the appropriate time.
• Please observe the 6-foot physical distance rule. You may sit next to the people you came with, but leave space between your group and another group. White tape designates rows of chairs where you CANNOT sit.
• Please do not visit with each other, in the narthex, after worship. Due to the nature of the services, we ask you to depart in silence from the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Service.
• You must sign-up using Sign-Up Genius to attend. The links are available in this email and on the homepage of our website, www.htelc.com. We are not accepting walk-ins. Sorry.
• Please “check-in” when you walk in the building with the Greeters. They will have communion and a bulletin for you pick-up.

Concerning all outdoor worships

• Please wear your mask at all times, even if you have the vaccine.
• There will be congregational singing, and we do ask you to wear your mask for this.
• Please observe the 6-foot physical distance rule.
• Signing up with sign-up genius is encouraged but not required. It will help us have the appropriate amount of supplies available.
• Bring a chair for the outdoor worship at the church. We will be gathering in the fenced in area for the 11am worship. It will have the feel of our Outdoor Summer Gatherings.
• You won’t need to check-in, but there will be a table with Greeters with communion and bulletins for you to pick up.
• Unless the weather is a downpour, we will still gather, so please dress appropriately.

Don’t forget, all the indoor worships will be available through a live-stream. You can access it through our website or through our YouTube channel. We have increased our internet at church so the stream should be even better!

It will be good to be together, even if it is not exactly the same as it has been. Christ still rises whether we are at a park on the water, in the sanctuary, sitting on a chair outside the sanctuary, or watching a worship at home on a screen.

If you would like some “wise” words as we enter Holy Week, or even if you don’t, watch the following video. It comes from Luther Seminary and was made approximately 10 years ago. It is one of my favorites and I have seen it countless times. It is titled “Easter is Coming.” If you haven’t seen it before, you will not be disappointed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c2inXKD6PI

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

March 25: How Long, O Lord?

How long, O Lord?

How long will we hear about mass shootings?

How long will we see people running in fear out of buildings?

How long will we see police and first responders running into those same buildings?

How long will we stand by in bewilderment, wondering why this keeps happening?

How long, O Lord?

If you have ever said or thought those words, you are in good company. They have been said for thousands of years.

One of the Psalmists says those same words in Psalm 13.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exulted over me?”

You can also hear them in the song, “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” by U2.

“How long, how long must we sing this song? How long? How long?”

How long?

I don’t know how long.

As we enter Holy Week, we do not hear about how long everything will last. Rather we are given hope that it will not last forever.

As we enter Holy Week, I invite you to look at the cross and the death of Jesus, not as something that God did, but rather, what we did to Jesus and to see the hope that it offers.

It is all too common that when we think about Jesus dying on the cross, we believe we should be the ones there instead. We have sinned and God is angry and wants to punish us. But the sin is so great that we can’t take the punishment and satisfy the so-called wrath of God. So, Jesus comes to the rescue and takes our place.

This line of thinking actually continues the violence that we see in the world. Because if God uses violence to save the world, then we are justified to continually use violence to do the same. If God’s answer to sin is violence, then that needs to be our answer also.

What if we looked at the cross and saw not what God did to Jesus, but what we did to God? God came to show us a new way of life and we said that we know better. We said the world doesn’t respond to love and kindness and justice and mercy. The world responds to fear and aggression and power and strength.

What if we looked to the cross and saw that despite us doing our worst, God did not retaliate and “give the people what was coming to them or what they deserve?” What if we looked at the cross and saw that what God defeated was the use of violence rather than using violence.

What if we looked to the cross and saw that God took all of that on and defeated it once and for all, took on all the things that lead to death and came out the other side to a new life?

What if we looked to the cross and saw an invitation to reject those ways of sin that lead to death and to live this new life with and in Christ?

The answer to all of those “What if…” questions won’t give us a time frame of when it will stop. That will only be answered when Christ comes again. Scripture is pretty clear that no one knows when that will be.

What we do know is that we are invited into a life that works against violence and hate and as we live this new life, there might actually be less violence and hate in the world.

The cross of Christ gives us the hope that our work won’t be in vain.

The cross of Christ gives us hope that in the end, violence and hate and all those things that separate us from God and from one another (sin) will not last, because they have ultimately been defeated.

I don’t know how long. But my hope, and God’s promise, is that it won’t be forever.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

March 21, 2021: Christmas Lights

I took my Christmas lights down yesterday. You don’t have to say it, but go ahead, you can. Okay, I will say it for you. “Well done!” Perhaps you were thinking, “Wow! You got that done fast! Christmas was only 3 months ago! I am impressed!” Most likely, you weren’t going to say or were even thinking any of those responses. I don’t blame you. Taking down Christmas lights on the first day of spring is not an occasion for positive reinforcement.

When I was in the middle of taking down the lights, I had 2 neighbors stop by and give me a hard time. Nothing mean spirited, just a couple of jokes. But then one of them said, after the joke, “I never put mine up this year because I didn’t have the energy for it, so good for you for even doing it. Who cares when you take them down.”

I think my neighbor’s reaction, after the joke, is what we all need right now. Because, after 1 year of COVID, I don’t know what accomplishment qualifies as worthy of recognition or not. There are days when I don’t want to get out of bed and just wish I could blink and we would be at some point in the future and none of this happened. There are other days in which I get right out of bed and my energy is high and I make a list, tackle a new project and actually get it all completed. Then there are days, somewhere in between, when I wake up, think about what I have to do that day and pray for the strength to do the best I can, knowing I will not get to all of it before Vicky and I will give in to a glass of wine and a show on Netflix around 9pm.

I don’t know where you are in the midst of everything. I am assuming you have many days like the ones I described above. Some days you get it all done. Some days you get nothing done. Some days you get some things done. Wherever you are or however you are doing, let me tell you the following.

“Good job! Keep it up! I wish I could do what you are doing. Wait. What’s that? You didn’t get it done yet? That’s okay, you can try again tomorrow. I trust you will accomplish it by the time it needs to be done. And if there isn’t a set deadline for it, like my Christmas lights, well, if you wait long enough and never do it, people will think you are ahead of the game the next time it needs to be done. Like if I would have left my Christmas lights up, people eventually would have said, ‘Wow you got your lights up early this year! Well done!’ Or if you didn’t get anything done today if you decided you needed a day to watch a show, check out Ted Lasso. It’s awesome!”

Or if that is too long to remember and confusing, try these three words.

Give yourself grace.

Pastor Tim

March 18, 2021: Christ Still Rises

The liturgy for our worship service is the backbone of our gatherings. It provides the outline of what we do. Most of the time, people think of the liturgy as the standard or set parts each week. It is the Kyrie we sing near the front of the service. (“Kyrie, Eleison. On our world and on our way”) It is The Great Thanksgiving that we recite before communion (“The Lord be with you.” “And also with you. “Lift up your hearts.” You know how the rest goes.) It is the Communal Blessing that is said right after communion. (“May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.”) Much of these words are lifted straight from scripture and have been said by Christians for almost 2000 years. They are really powerful.

What I love about having a worship service that is based in liturgy, is that I don’t have to come up with the words to always describe what is going on in the world or what is going on within me. I can rely on the words of the saints that have gone before us.

But the liturgy is also the hymns or songs that we sing at other parts of the service. They are written by people, as long as 500 years ago or as recently as last year. They are just as sacred and powerful as the other parts of the liturgy.

Just this morning, a new hymn was shared with me that I don’t want to wait until Sunday morning to share with you. (We will use it for our Prayer Song during our zoom service and I will ask our musicians can learn it so we can sing it when we are all back together.) It is titled “Christ Still Rises.” Some days, many days lately, I don’t feel that I have the words that we all need to hear. I find myself craving someone to preach the Gospel to me. To give me words of hope. This song did it for me this morning and I hope it does the same for you.

Technically, I think it is an Easter hymn. It speaks of Christ rising. Obviously, that is an Easter theme. But sometimes, we need to hear things that are out of order in the church season. It is the same way that in the middle of winter, we love an unseasonably warm sunny day. It reminds us that the cold and dark won’t last and it gives us the strength to carry on.

So, as you listen and watch, may you have the strength to carry on when you feel that you are running out of steam, or perhaps have already run out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3it9Bi1Y1Nk

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

March 8, 2021: Holy Week and Easter Sunday Schedule

In worship yesterday, I gave a brief announcement about our worship schedule for Holy Week. Here is more detail about what to expect, along with a modification for Good Friday from what was shared last week. All of this is subject to change due to pandemic conditions, weather and the amount of people who sign-up to attend.

Palm Sunday

8:30am – In-person worship in our sanctuary, maximum of 40 people. We will begin outside with our palms outside and parade into the sanctuary. Live-stream available.

9:30am – Zoom worship

Maundy Thursday

6:30pm – In-person worship in our sanctuary, maximum of 40 people. Live-stream available.

Good Friday

All Day – Good Friday Experience - Come to the sanctuary and walk through the coloring posters of the Stations of the Cross and read the accompanying scripture.

6:30pm – Tenebrae Service held in-person and in our sanctuary, maximum of 40 people. Live-stream available. (This is a change from last week.)

Easter Sunday

6:30am – Sunrise service at Hilton Park in Dover (just on the Dover side of the turnpike bridge. Drive as if you are going to Newick’s and proceed back under the bridge.)

8:30am – In-person worship in our sanctuary, maximum of 40 people. Live-stream available.

9:30am – Zoom worship

11:00am – If weather permitting, join us for a worship service in our fenced in area where we held our summer outdoor gatherings.

As I put together this worship schedule, I wonder if it will suffice. I ask myself, “Are there enough opportunities for people to participate in the way they want or are able?” or “Will these provide meaningful experiences?” “Should I/we… (fill in the blank)?”

Honestly, I don’t know. What I do know is I am trying to let go of those questions and instead just trust. Trust that it is not dependent on me. Trust that it is not dependent on you. Trust that it is not dependent on how we feel or what we do. Trust that whatever we do it will suffice and it will be enough. This is because our faith is not about what we do, rather it is about what God has done.

Remember the mystery of our faith.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Our job is to proclaim it. I trust come Holy Week, we will proclaim our crucified God has risen from the dead.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

March 4, 2021: Good Friday Experience

I know we are still about 4 weeks away from Good Friday, but to accomplish the idea that we have, we need your help.

Traditionally at Holy Trinity, at least the last three years since I was here, Good Friday has consisted of a Tenebrae service. A Tenebrae service is a “Service of Shadows.” It is done in a darkened space and consists of alternating readings, hymns and distinguishing candles.

This year, we would like to shift from a Tenebrae Service to a “Good Friday Experience.” As you might have seen, we have coloring posters for the Stations of the Cross available for you to color in the sanctuary during Lent. The idea is once these posters are completed, we will display them in the sanctuary for you to come and look at and contemplate while reading the scripture and a brief devotion that would accompany each one. The sanctuary would be open all day on Good Friday for you to sign up and attend. For those of you who would not be able to make it, a video would be produced with the posters as the primary images while being accompanied by someone reading the scripture and devotion.

While this will feel different than past Good Friday services, I believe it can be just as meaningful and perhaps accommodate more people. Even though we are beginning an in-person worship this weekend, there are obviously limits on what we are still able to do. Congregational singing is not something that we are ready to participate in. Singing is a big part of the Tenebrae service. Therefore, during this time, the Good Friday experience, might be a better way to have a meaningful Good Friday. But in order for that to happen, we need the posters colored. There is a link below to sign-up to have time in the sanctuary.

Thanks.

Pastor Tim

March 1, 2021: In Person Worship resumes Sunday

After our last council meeting, I let you all know, in the following Tidings, that we would potentially resume an “in-person” worship, when the website, www.covidactnow.org, designated Rockingham County “orange.” Late last week, this occurred. Through email conversation, council has determined that we are safe to offer the opportunity for people to worship “in-person.” Here are the details.

• Worship will be 8:30am service
• Strict safety protocols enforced
• Wear masks, no congregational signing, physically distanced, no Fellowship afterwards
• Please sign-up using the “Sign-up Genius” link
• In order to make this happen, we will need volunteers for “Greeters,” “Counters,” and “Cleaners.”

This will obviously raise some questions around Holy Week and our Easter schedule. We are still working on putting this together. Hopefully, if we continue to move in the right direction, we will be offering some type of in-person worship. But, because there is still so much unknown, we can’t offer specifics at this time. What I can say is, plan for, at least, an outdoor gathering (possible sunrise?), an indoor gathering (assuming numbers stay in the right direction) and either a pre-recorded worship or a zoom worship (TBD).

It is unbelievable that we are approaching 1 year of not being in the sanctuary, except for 3 Sundays in October. When this all started, council made the decision to suspend indoor worship for 2 weeks! No one thought we would still be doing this. Yet, through it all, we have faithfully gathered each week, even if it hasn’t been in our building. We have still done baptisms. We have still done weddings. We have still done funerals. We have still received communion. We have kept the faith and worshipped together.

Thank you all for the ways in which you stuck with it and are sticking with it. It hasn’t been easy. We are not done. But a new day is coming. That is the promise of Easter that we are moving towards.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

February 25, 2021: Enneagram

You have heard a lot about this over the past few weeks, and you will hear about it one more time. Last night was our first session of learning about the Enneagram using the book, “The Road Back to You.” A friend of mine, David Ronka, and myself are hosting this every Wednesday, during Lent, from 7-8pm on Zoom. The reason why I am sharing it with you again, is that last night exceeded our expectations. We were planning on having approximately 20 people join us and if it was really anticipated, we might have 30. As it turned out, 35 people were on zoom! David and I felt great energy from people as they were ready and motivated to learn more about who they are and their motivations behind their actions and personality.

If you were hoping to join and weren’t able to, for whatever reason, it is not too late. If you decided this wasn’t for you, but now you are having second thoughts, it is not too late. You can join us next week. In order to get caught up, do the following.

1. Buy the book “The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self Discovery” on amazon or another bookseller. https://www.amazon.com/Lead-When-Where-Youre-Going/dp/1538127679
2. Watch the “Introduction to the Enneagram” video that David and I put together. It is 20 minutes long. https://youtu.be/Vrz2fgtZZrI
3. Read Ch. 1 and 2 in the book and take an online test.
4. Go to https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test-2 (Remember to click on "test 2". If the link does not work for you try this one instead. https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test a. Answer the questions as best you can without overthinking (should take about 10-15 minutes) b. The results will be ranked from highest to lowest in terms of your number -- make a note of your top 3 numbers
5. Read the chapter for your top number (and if you want to go further, can also read the chapters your second and third number). Or if you are doing this with someone, ask about their results and read their number.
6. Join us next week on zoom! Each week, we will utilize the breakout rooms on zoom to talk about what we are learning, David and I will create another video introducing new information and then we will go to breakout rooms again to begin to process it. It is that simple. We hope you can join us.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim