May - June Newsletter
Dear Members and Friends of Trinity,
Greetings in the Name of Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ!
With the mortgage burning service coming up on May 4th I have been thinking a lot lately of how things used to be in the past. I looked through one of the small history brochures we have on the history of Trinity. It’s interesting to see the pictures of the ground breaking for a new building in 1962. Pastor Mather, who I never heard of until now, standing there watching the ceremony. The realtor holding the stake, and William Hipp hammering it into the ground. All of those people long gone. I did get to know Elizabeth Hipp while I was here. She is also gone.
I would love to go back in time and stand with the group of people who held the first church service in the V.F.W. Hall in New Milford in 1958. Actually, if my parents had known anything at the time, they could have taken me to the service, as I was 7 years old. It only takes about 1 ½ hours from the Bronx, New York! But I don’t think that we had many connections with people in Connecticut back then.
On Pentecost Sunday, May 11th we will observe the Rite of Confirmation at Trinity. I wonder at how different children I am confirming are from the children who were confirmed in 1958. The class of ‘58 would be 63 years old now! If we knew where they are we could invite them to join us for our celebration. But growing up is so different now for our Confirmands than it was 50 years ago. It was a simpler life back then, and things moved at a slower pace. As easy as it is for me to say, “Those were the good old days,” recently an old gentleman told a group that “These are the good old days,” the days that we are living in today.
I just grumbled to myself, but who knows?
Fifty years isn’t really that long when you consider the age of the Christian Church. Two thousand years, and our old testament roots go back much farther. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our confirmands are being taught that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and people are still reading it today. Christians are still being baptized, and they are still receiving Holy Communion. And we are still spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that He died and rose from the dead for the forgiveness of our sins. And we will one day be united with our loved ones, and be with Jesus in Heaven.
And so in 2008 we continue to be thankful for our church. May God bless our Confirmation Class this year. May he also bless the class of 1958, wherever they may be!
Blessing also to you and your families.
Pastor Christian Bunzel
Congratulations To The Confirmation Class of 2008
Pentecost Sunday – May 11, 2008
They are: Steven Peter Eng, Wendy Lee McGrath, and Rachel Katherine Watson. They will become Communicant members of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Milford, CT through the “Rite of Confirmation.” They will also receive their First Holy Communion on this day. They have met all of the requirements, attendance in church on Sundays, attendance in classes, and above average grades on all tests! It has been a pleasure instructing this class and getting to know them better. We thank the parents of these fine young adults for their support throughout the year. We thank the Mothers for sharing this day with us. This should make for a very special Mother’s Day, one you will always remember!
GIFT FROM THE CONFIRMATION CLASS – is a “very large” white fair linen which covers the top of the altar in the chancel. It was purchased through Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri. The actual Linen Company is in Butler, New Jersey. Thank you to the Confirmand’s Parents and the Trinity Ladies Group for this donation. The Altar Guild is very grateful for this much needed item for our altar! So is the Congregation!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Michael and Stephanie James by Affirmation of Faith
Saint John’s Episcopal Church, New Milford, CT
Mathilda Pieck
Transferred from First Lutheran Church, Greenwich, CT
CHRISTENING
Nicholas Vincent Sartori, Son of Anthony and Holly (DuBois) Sartori.
Godparents are Peter Johnson and Stacey Ramsey. God Bless little Nicholas always!
TO OUR SENIORS ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS
May 10, 1927 – Hermine Filippi
June 4, 1925 – Lillian Gubler
June 22, 1921 – Evelyn Buss
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Patrick and Tommi Delzell – May 21st – 20 years!
Pastor Henry and Louise Koepchen – June 19th
MORTGAGE BURNING SERVICE – is Sunday, May 4th at the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist. Barbara and Karl Engels and Harold and Karin Roeske will be representing the congregation for burning the mortgage. Barbara and Karl have been members since before 1962, when the church was built. Barbara never forgets washing hundreds of dishes at the V.F.W. Hall after a fundraiser dinner for the new church (1959). Her sons Ron and Doug were little boys with flu bugs at the time. Barbara must have been in the kitchen until 2:00 a.m. (No paper plates were used then.) Harold and Karin have been members since 1970. Harold was President in 1981. Also representing the congregation will be President Mark Haglund. Representing the youth are Rachel Watson and Matthew Forbes. A Mortgage Burning Responsive Prayer will be lead by Pastor Bunzel, followed by the singing of the Doxology, “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.” Praise Him indeed! Thank you to all of our present members for their hard work in making this day become a reality!
THE GENESIS OF TRINITY (a history of our church from the beginning through 1995) is available on the table as you leave worship on Sundays in honor of Trinity’s 50th Anniversary. The Genesis of Trinity was put together in five parts by Len Franck with the help of Elizabeth Hipp as part of Trinity Tidings in 1995 (Pastor Christian Bunzel’s first year at Trinity!).
CLEAN UP DAY is Saturday, May 17th 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Workers needed both in and outside. Please bring rakes, heavy brooms, gloves, and some garden tools that might be useful. We’ll wash the outside windows around the building. Hoses are provided. Questions, call the office, Gary Hults 355-0823, or Rudy Confortini 354-5175. Let’s keep God’s estate looking beautiful!
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER APPRECIATION AND BREAKFAST will be observed Sunday, May 18th at the 10:30 a.m. service. Our teachers are Carolyn Haglund, Sherry Olmsted, Pastor Christian Bunzel (Confirmation), Karla Buffington (Substitute), Ted Miller (Wednesday Adult Class), and Gary Hults (Sunday Adult Class). A breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m. for children, parents, teachers, and adult classes. Thanks also to Sherry Olmsted who is our Church Council Representative for Education. A job well done by all! (The children are well behaved!)
PATRIOTIC SERVICE – On Sunday, May 25th Memorial Day weekend, we will observe with a service of hymns and prayers for our country, remembering those who have died for the cause of freedom. We will have the Pledge of Allegiance. God Bless America!
OUR CLASSIC CAR SHOW is Saturday, June 6th 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. If you would like to help out during this fun-filled evening call Ted Miller at 354-3537 or Mike Bloch at 354-5303. For our anniversary celebration see if you know of anyone with a “1958" car to bring to the show. This event is very popular in the community. “Thrivent For Lutherans” gives us matching funds. Food will be for sale (burgers, hot dogs, sausage and peppers, etc.) And more. Ice cream floats, candy, cakes, and cookies. A DJ will play music from the 50's and 60's. Dashboard plaques are given to the first 75 cars. A 50/50 raffle is held. Join us for a fun night! The evening is usually not too hot, but very pleasant! Admission is FREE.
SUMMER SERVICE SCHEDULE begins on Sunday, May 25th at 9:30 a.m. Fellowship Hour at 10:30 a.m. Mark the date and plan to worship with us all summer! Remember the words to the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy” . . . “Early in the morning our songs shall rise to Thee!”
NEW MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION is on Saturday, June 21st. The class of 2008 includes Zachary Humiston, Lauren Miller, Matthew Miller, Charles Slagle III, and Daniel Watson.
THANK YOU’S . . .
OUR CLEANING SERVICE is US! – We thank those who are doing a wonderful job in keeping God’s House clean. Our cleaning crew is Pastor Christian Bunzel, Lillian Gubler, Donna Kelley, Tricia Kubas, Sherry Olmsted, and Gerold and Diann Onofrio. Thanks to Tricia Kubas for being chairperson for this group and seeing everything is in order.
THANK YOU – to the members of our Altar Guild, Barbara Engels, Lillian Gubler, Cathy McGrath, Penny Murphy, and Kila Strohl for faithfully serving in this important ministry of setting up the Holy Eucharist and beautifying our altar every week. “Indeed, it is a ministry that can only be carried out with a song in one’s heart.” (Altar Guild and Sacristy Handbook) And a beautiful job on Easter! Thank you also to Pastor Bunzel for your help.
THANK YOU – to Pastor Bunzel, Mark Haglund, Council, and Congregation for remembering my 10th Anniversary as Church Secretary. I am happy to work with all of you. Thank you for the card, gift, and the beautiful flowers! I wonder how many of you know that yellow is one of my favorite colors. Again I’ll thank Wendy (who came with me whin I started in1998) for cheering me on. Cathy McGrath
ITALIAN NIGHT was a huge success! Practically a full house. Thanks to Sherry Olmsted and Donna Kelley for chairing this event and to all who baked, cooked, cleaned, set up, and for the table decorations! Nice Italian Flags!! Thanks to Elder Ted Millini for handing out door prizes. Among the many winners was Father Bonzelli! A great night was had by all!
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GOD’S ALPHABET
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of “camp complaining”
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do along
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To thank is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We’ll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there’ll be good times and yes some will be bad. But . .
Zion waits in glory . . . where none are ever sad!
SPRING
When winter’s day has ended and Spring returns
once more,
How manifold the blessings, God heaps around
each door.
Hyacinths and daffodils, the tulips bright array.
Can’t help but cheer our hears,
though care-filled be the day.
From lofty perch in treetops near
Birds lift glad hymns of praise,
Thanking God for sun and rain, and all his
caring ways.
Trees burst forth with blossoms bright,
Sweet-scented lilacs bloom,
Brought indoors they add a touch of heaven
to each room.
When winter’s day is over, Spring sets
our hearts aglow.
I think it is God telling us
that He loves us so!
By Kay Hoffman, from the book,
“A Rainbow of Hope”
