• March 17, 2024
    Dearly beloved, We all need a little Jesus! A few weeks ago, I talked about and then gave out “Little Jesus”. The kids had fun finding them around the building. A number of people have …
  • March 3, 2024
    Dearly Beloved, One of the many blessings of a community of faith is the ways in which we all come together to reach out in love to people both within the congregation as well as in the wider …
  • February 25, 2024
    Dearly Beloved, This coming Sunday, we continue to walk with Peter’s “wandering heart” as he bravely steps out of a storm-tossed boat to walk to Jesus. Fear overwhelms him and he …
  • February 11, 2024
    “And Jesus was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one on earth could brighten them. ” (Mark 9:2-3) Dearly beloved, On April 8th, there will be a …
  • January 21, 2024
    Dearly beloved, There is a human tendency to pay closer attention to what is right at hand. Often things that have been in the same place for a long time get overlooked. For example, there are …
  • January 14, 2024
    Dearly beloved, This coming Monday has been set aside since 1986 to remember and give thanks for the life and witness of Martin Luther King, Jr. (see the information about the community event in the …
  • December 24, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Another Christmas swiftly approaches – are we ready? Certainly there are gifts to wrap (or still purchase), decorations to display, foods to prepare and homes to be dazzled …
  • November 12, 2023
    Dearly beloved, We are getting ready for a whirlwind of a weekend. As I sit down to write this, the “pitter-patter” of feet are moving above me as things are set up for this …
  • October 22, 2023
    Dearly beloved, This past week I met with a newly formed group from within the larger community to talk about ways in which we may foster greater compassion and kindness in our area. We continue to …
  • October 8, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Our readings this week move from the call of Moses to the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy. This last book of the Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible) is a series of sermons …
  • October 1, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Here is a letter from Wycliffe Associates thanking us for the stamp donations we make: Dear Trinity Lutheran Friends, Thank you for the large shopping bag of stamps that Ralph …
  • September 24, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Wrestling is not one of those sports that I tend to watch (football is my sport of choice – Go Bills!). Yet, I have often found myself wrestling over the years – it seems …
  • September 10, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Phew! Not liking this heat whatsoever! It is as “Mother Nature” is angry with us. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1 & …
  • September 3, 2023
    Dearly beloved, We conclude our series this weeks on “I’ve been meaning to ask…” with the question of “where do we go from here?” In this age of GPS, it …
  • August 27, 2023
    Dearly beloved, We continue our worship series with the question of “what do you need?” “Need” not “want”. What do we really need? How much of what we think we …
  • August 20, 2024
    Dearly beloved, We continue our series “I’ve been meaning to ask” with the question: “Where does it hurt?” This can be a decidedly vulnerable question to be asked or to …
  • August 13, 2023
    Dearly beloved, This week, we begin a new worship series called “I’ve been meaning to ask..” with this week’s question of “Where are you from?” coupled with …
  • July 30, 2023
    Dearly beloved, This week’s Wisdom reading is from the book of Ecclesiastes with its most familiar “time” passages. It immediately brought to mind “Turn! Turn! Turn!” …
  • July 2, 2023
    Dearly beloved, As we turn the page of another month and enter the month of July, we find ourselves once again celebrating the 4th of July. It is the day when we celebrate the gift of freedom in this …
  • June 25, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Another month has almost drawn to a close; summer has officially dawned, school has ended, and summer activities and events are increasing. Many of the regular activities here at …
  • June 11, 2023
    This week, we begin a five week series call “Come to the Water”. Think about how many times we use as well as need water in our daily lives. Scientists tell us that our bodies are 55-60 % …
  • June 4, 2023
    Dearly beloved, This Sunday is the day we honor God as the Triune One. Much ink has been spilled over the years trying to understand the Trinity. I’m not sure about you, but the more I try the …
  • May 28, 2023
    This Sunday is Pentecost (don’t forget to wear red)! It is my favorite Sunday of the Church year (don’t like when it falls on Memorial day weekend as I know many people go away). The Acts …
  • May 21, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Calendars are filling up with so many different special evens in the coming weeks: graduations, weddings, end of school year activities. I don’t want you to miss out on a …
  • May 14th
    Dearly beloved, As we mark this year’s Mothers’ day, I am mindful of so many who find this day difficult. * For the parent whose child is lost to drugs or alcohol, bitterness or anger or …
  • May 7th
    May 7, 2023, 5th Sunday of Easter Moravian Music Sunday May 7th has been established as Moravian Music Sunday by the Moravian Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shares Full Communion …
  • April 30, 2023
    Dearly beloved, I used to joke and say that the “reason” I became a pastor is that I love to eat (and don’t like to cook). Gathering around food has often played a role in the life …
  • April 23, 2023
    Dearly beloved, This Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day. Beginning on college campuses in 1970, it has spread across the globe with more than a billion people participating in this event every year. …
  • April 2, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, Our Holy Week begins with the waving of palm branches and cries of Hosanna as Jesus enters Jerusalem. The tensions build throughout the week as his friends betray, deny and run from …
  • March 26, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, Our local community has faced some difficult news and situations recently – particularly in one of our local school districts. Without getting into all the nitty-gritty of this …
  • March 18, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, Most days on Facebook, I try to look at what comes up under memories (posts & pictures from previous years). I love seeing old pictures of family, friends, and various church …
  • March 12, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, How are we already halfway through Lent – don’t like that time is moving so quickly – and we are a mere three weeks until Easter. How are your Lenten practices …
  • March 5, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, I love the Church! I have been blessed by and witnessed countless people over the years who have exemplified the love of Jesus. They have lived their faith with true …
  • February 12, 2023
    Dearly beloved, Thank you for all your prayers during my recent bout of Covid – it finally caught me after three years. Continuing prayers for all those who are currently infected with it as …
  • January 22, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, I am writing this before I leave for Guatemala; by the time that you receive it, I will be on my way home (boy, time does fly). Hopefully, you have had a chance to see the pictures of …
  • January 15, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, As you are receiving this, myself and Deacon Charlie Germain have most likely already landed in Guatemala and made the trip to San Lucas Toliman on Lake Atitlan. We will be spending …
  • January 8, 2023
    Dearly Beloved, This Sunday we hear from John the Baptist as he calls people to return to God with their whole hearts. This is followed by Jesus’ baptism when the Holy Spirit descends on him …
  • December 25, 2022
    Dearly beloved, The time has indeed drawn nigh and the celebration of God-with-us/Emmanuel is here! All the planning and preparation culminates as we gather in worship to mark the arrival of Love …
  • December 18, 2022
    Dearly beloved, As we gather this week, we mark the 4th week of Advent, lighting the candle of love. Love is at the heart of our faith, for it is love that was born in that manger. Here is a prayer …
  • December 11, 2022
    Dearly beloved, I’ve come to a recent realization – that though I participate in singing and music every Sunday – the rest of my week has been sorely lacking in that most precious …
  • December 4, 2022
    Dearly beloved, The December countdown has begun! It’s time to start opening those little doors on your Advent calendars! I don’t remember these calendars being a thing when I was growing …
  • November 20, 2022
    Dearly beloved, As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I share a reflection from Henri Nouwen on gratitude: In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of …
  • November 13, 2022
    Dearly beloved, When you do remember getting your first Bible? Was it for your First Communion? Confirmation? Another time? As a pastor, I have more Bibles than I know – some received as a gift …
  • November 6, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, So many saints have been in my thoughts and hearts this week! On Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, I marked 30 years of ordained ministry! It’s gone so very fast!! As I reflect on these …
  • October 30, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, This Sunday is Reformation Sunday when we remember the actions of Martin Luther which brought about great change across the land. His was a call to remember who and whose we are. He …
  • October 23, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, The Bible is often perceived as fairly staid and even uninteresting. Admittedly, there are parts (such as the genealogies) that can make many an eye glaze over. There are also parts …
  • October 9, 2022
    Dear beloved, This week we hear the account of the giving of the Ten Commandments. As we reflect on them, we can turn to Martin Luther’s Small Catechism and find a fuller meaning and significance. …
  • October 2, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, With at least some degree of a “return to normal”, the level of activities have greatly increased and our calendars are starting to fill up. Here are a few more things …
  • September 25, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, At sundown on Sunday, our Jewish siblings mark Rosh Hashanah, one of their high holy days. It is both a celebration of a new year as well as the opportunity to look back on the past …
  • September 18, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, We move this week from the flooding of the world to the call of Abram, from judgment to grace. In God remembering God’s promises, the primary focus shifts our actions (or …
  • September 11, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, This Sunday, we start the Narrative lectionary again (go here to learn more about it and why we are using it: https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative-faq) For the first few weeks, …
  • September 4, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, As we turn our calendars to September, as school buses resumed their treks and as the weather cools, we pause in these moments to… Breathe More activities will fill our …
  • August 28, 2022
    Dearly Beloved, I was blessed this week by a visit from Rev. Michael Plekon who served as one of the pastors of Trinity a number of years ago. He further blessed us/me with the gift of his most …
  • August 21, 2022
    Good morning, I have been working on the testimonial on why I give to Trinity Lutheran Church for the better part of this year. It is not that I have been procrastinating, it is just I have so much …
  • July 24, 2022
    Today’s Readings: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Mark 13:32-37 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1)   And the peace of God, which surpasses all …
  • June 26, 2022
    Dearly beloved, We are in the midst of reflecting on the Apostle’s Creed. I thank Dorothy Kafalas for preaching & Mary Beth Commisso for leading worship last week while I was away. They …
  • July 10, 2022
    Today’s Readings: Genesis 1:26-31 Revelation 21:1-7 John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) And the peace of God, which surpasses …
  • July 17, 2022
    Today’s Readings: I John 4:7-21 John 1:1-4 Let us love one another, because love is from God; (I John 4:7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and …