Worship Times:

8:30am- Contemporary Worship

9:45am- Traditional Worship

11:00am- Contemporary Worship

Trinity’s Lenten Sermon Series There are a lot of issues and ideas out there that challenge faith. Some of these grab at our own hearts and make us question what we believe. Some of these keep people away from church altogether. This Lent we will examine a few of these ideas and issues in our Sunday Sermon Series: NAILS. Join us each Sunday in Lent, as we tackle some of the toughest questions and issues facing Christianity today. Not every issue has an “easy” answer, but the answers themselves might surprise you and demonstrate that our God, in the end, is a God of grace and worthy to be praised! Join us for NAILS.

Also this Sunday:

Congregational Meeting immediately following the 8:30am and 9:45am service and immediately before the 11:00am service.

Jr. High Retreat Deadline is today.  Form and fees are due to Michelle. (Info online and at the Youth bulletin board.)

The flocks have formed and are landing all over central PA!  Purchase your flamingo insurance this Sunday to guard against being “pinked.”

Adult Education Opportunities

 “Milestones” Building Faith Through Families, Library

 “Saving Jesus” Spiritual Thrillseekers, Room 209

Ash Wednesday Schedule

5:45pm- Meager Meal provided by the Fellowship Committee in the Fellowship Hall

Senior High Supper Club will join the Meager Meal and the Ash Wednesday Youth Activities!      

6:45pm- Service for Children and Youth in Library with imposition of ashes followed by BOLD programming. (Henna tattoos for Lent will be provided!)

7:15pm- Traditional Ash Wednesday Service in Sanctuary. Service of Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes

BOLD Music Ministries (Youth Praise Band and Choir)  will NOT meet this week.

²Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, ³and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. ⁴And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. ⁷Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” ⁸Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

⁹As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.

I have a saying: “Lo! I tell you a mystery! Elvis impersonators never die.”

Now, for the very young among us—an answer to the question, “What is an Elvis impersonator?” And, appropriately, the answer comes from Wikkepedia.

“An Elvis impersonator is someone who impersonates or copies famed American musician Elvis Presley. Professional Elvis impersonators can work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts are in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis. There are even a number of radio stations that exclusively feature Elvis impersonator material.

Many impersonators sing Presley’s songs. “While some of the impersonators perform a whole range of Presley music, the raw 1950s Elvis and the later 1970s Elvis are the favorites.”

In short, Elvis impersonators climb into jumpsuits, put on wigs with slicked back hair, flaunt huge sun glasses, and match the gyrations and the “thank you very much” of the man many still call the king.

Simply put, these men do every thing they can to become the person they so, so admire…

And it all made me wonder, on this Transfiguration Sunday,

What would it mean, to be more like God?

As some of you have heard me say before, Western Christianity—that’s us—has always made a little less of the Transfiguration than the Christianity of the East—i.e., the groups who fall under the category of the “Orthodox”: Russian, Greek, Syrian and so on…

While we certainly see the event as important, the Orthodox, who have always approached Christ and humankind from a slightly different angle, see in the Transfiguration something the West would almost call heresy.

They see in the transfiguration a sign of the divinity of Christ—and we’re OK with that. But they also believe that this divinity is actually, through Christ, then given to you and me. In Christ, they say, God became human so that humanity could become divine.

And while this exciting, and controversial idea may or may not float your own theological/philosophical boat, there is doubtless the idea in the gospels (and in all of Christianity) that part of the purpose of the Christ event, and part of the purpose of the gift of the Holy Spirit (i.e., God’s spirit), is to make us more like God.

Think, for a second, what that would mean? Close your eyes, even, and think, what would it mean to be more like God?

Did you think about all the bad things that you wouldn’t do? All the rules you would be suddenly able to follow without question? Maybe…but I’m guessing not. I’m guessing you’d probably think more about how, if you were more like God, you’d be…

…more able to love others

…more forgiving of your friends and family

…more accepting of the people different than you

…more willing to sacrifice, so that others can have enough

…more concerned that people have what they truly need

…more concerned that people know they are loved…and that you love them.

When you think to yourself, “How would it be to be more like God?” This is the kind of stuff that should fill your mind.

But here’s the thing, we can argue with our Orthodox Christian friends about just how “divine” you and I can become. Lord knows all you have to do is look at the crimes of Christianity over the centuries to know that evil, not good, is what drives people at times, even people who are Christians…

But there can be no doubt that you and I, who have received the holy spirit in baptism, who partake of that spirit in worship, prayer, and at the table, have within us at least a tiny, powerful, mustard seed sized bit of Christ. We have within us the capability to do better, to be a bit more like God.

And notice something…when you think about being more like God—it’s not about being “more religious.” It’s not about living a life filled with rules. Instead it’s about living the life of Jesus. A life of love. A life of faith. A creative, selfless, exciting life where everyday is filled with the possibility of showing love to others.

I think most of us, from time to time, suffer from the feeling that we are not, or have not, become all that we were meant to be. (If you’re not one of those folks, great—that’s usually a good sign.) But many times, we can’t shake the feeling that there should be more, that we somehow have missed the boat that life meant for us to take.

This kind of feeling isn’t always bad. It can inspire you to do the things you are meant to do. It can encourage you to stop wasting time doing things that, in the end, aren’t so necessary.

But the truth is, when you are living a little more like God, when you are living a life where you are:

…more able to love

…more forgiving

…more accepting of people

…more willing to sacrifice

…more concerned that people have what they need

…more concerned that people know you love them.

Do you really, really think this feeling that you “somehow should have been something more” will be so prevalent in your life? I don’t.

Maybe we can agree with the Orthodox that Jesus makes us divine, maybe not. In the end, I’m not sure it’s that important, because the knowledge that he saves us is the same, and the knowledge that his spirit makes us able to do better, to be more like God, is still truth.

And today, as we watch him transfigured, I think we are given an invitation. To surrender. To let that spirit of God take hold of us. To respond, and to take up the path that will even lead us to more personal fulfillment. The path of being just a little more like our savior.

The path on which, if we will join him, we will shine.

VBS will be held in the evenings on June 24th through 28th and will focus on Daniel’s Courage in Captivity.  It’s sure to be a fun event!

Life has become very complicated. There was a time when one parent could stay home while the other went out to make a living. In our world, both parents usually have to work while sharing the tasks of maintaining a household.

On top of this reality, the demands placed on the lives of our children have also increased. Gone are the days when Mom and Dad said, “Go out and play,” and kids disappeared for the afternoon to frolic with the neighbors. Now, sports, dance, and music all demand an adherence to schedules.  As a result, parents often end up feeling like they own a taxi service while kids, simultaneously, can begin to share the stress that endless running around can bring.

What is the answer? Balance. Perspective. Good choices. And, not least of all, recognizing what is important based on what God tells us is good for us—and for our kids.

Join Pastor Mike and the Building Faith Through Family group on March 11th in the Library for an exploration of how to bring a sense of balance and peace to our over-busy lives!

New to Beth Moore’s  study this year is the optional level of participation for the members of the group. Participation levels range from just watching the videos to not only watching the videos, doing the homework, and rewriting the book of James,  but also memorizing the all 108 verses of the book of James.

However, before choosing at what level you will participate, Beth says to, “Do only what BLESSES and not what burdens.”

This line stuck out to me, because as most of us think about what we are going to do for Lent we focus on what we can give up. We give up things that are hard for us to live without- -chocolate, sugar, watching television, etc… As the season of Lent continues we find ourselves feeling burdened by the discipline we chose for Lent. We begin to feel as though what we said we would give up becomes more complicated and more of a hassle for us in our lives than it is anything else.  We find that those things that burden us are really not helping us to grow closer to God.

So, we sometimes give up our Lenten discipline before Holy Week even begins. Lenten disciplines are not meant to burden us. They are meant to challenge us so that we may find new ways to connect to God. Lenten disciplines should be used to remove those things that separate us from God and instead use that time to worship, to serve, to love, and to give thanks.

As you prepare for Ash Wednesday and begin to think about what your Lenten discipline will be this year, consider choosing a Lenten discipline that blesses you, not one that burdens you.

Prayers for you as you prepare yourself for the death and resurrection of our Savior.

Shalom,  Pastor Katie

Take a moment now to mark your calendars for our future sessions and events:

• Wednesday, February 22nd – Ash Wednesday and start of Flamingo Fundraiser

• Sunday, March 18th – 12:00 noon curriculum meeting (including lunch)

• Wednesday, April 4th – Easter Egg Hunt Activity and servant night

• Sunday, May 6th – 12:00 noon curriculum meeting (including lunch)

• Sunday, July 15th – Commissioning at 11:00 Service; 12:00 noon logistics meeting (including lunch)

Lent is coming up and we will start to work on the music for Good Friday.  This year, it will be in the form of a short cantata will focus on the last week of Jesus’ life which led up to the crucifixion.  It will be accompanied by a string and woodwind ensemble.  The orchestra was a wonderful addition to the singing at Christmas and this Good Friday cantata will again reinforce the choral music with instruments.  In addition, our Good Friday evening service will have visual graphics highlighting the music and plans are underway to have some of our dance students participating through dance movement that will vividly enrich the service of music, readings, candles, and ultimately darkness. For singers, music will be available beginning on the Sunday after Ash Wednesday, February 22.  CD’s of the music will also be available for your learning.  A sign up sheet is located on the music ministries bulletin board.

Rehearsals will take place on Sunday mornings, beginning on February 26 and continuing on Thursdays (8:30-9 p.m.) and Sunday mornings, (9- 9:30 a.m.).  A Saturday dress rehearsal is scheduled for March 31 and the Good Friday service is April 6.

Pre-registration is necessary for this event.  Please sign up at the youth bulletin board or at the back of the sanctuary, list the number of people in your family and the amount of pizza you would like to order.

The cost of the show is $10 per adult, $8 per student.  Pizza will be $1.25 per slice; Trinity will supply paper supplies, fresh fruit, and water to drink.

We’ll begin with lunch at 12:30, work through the study together in family groups, and then travel to the High School for the show.   We look forward to seeing you there!