Trinity Lutheran Church June 2022 Newsletter

Newsletter Archive

June 2022

Trinity Lutheran Church

Villa Park, IL

Always Growing in Christ

lions_roar

The Lion's Roar

Amos 3:8
"The lion has roared; who will not fear? 
The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?”

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.  1 Corinthians 11:29

Should I Take Communion or Not?

Maybe you have been there. You’re in the pew at your friend’s or relative’s wedding, confirmation, baptism, or something and it is time for Holy Communion. The usher is madly waving you forward. You’re holding up the process! So, you stumble out of the pew and wander to the front of the church where some well-meaning person is ripping off chunks of a French loaf (it looks remarkably like the loaf you saw on sale at Jewel on the way to church) and shoving little cups of grape juice in your hand. Oh my, what a nice snack, but I thought we were receiving the Lord’s Supper.

Or, it becomes even more complicated when you’re at an ELCA Church.  See, the problem there is that all bets are off. The word “Lutheran” means nothing more than an historic connection to the churches of the Augsburg Confession. They might believe just as you do but they might be just as protestant as the people with the French loaf and grape juice. Why? Because the Bishops of the ELCA are more interested in promoting the quasi-Marxist organization, Black Lives Matter, and advancing the LGBTQI+ agenda than policing the administration of Holy Communion in their congregations. So, if you went to church that morning to hear Law and Gospel from the Divine, Inerrant Word of God, you are very likely in the wrong place.  But, here comes the usher, waving you forward to receive…what?  We don’t really know, do we? It is the LORD’s SUPPER but they do not seem to know Him very well and they certainly don’t believe what He says.

Should you take Holy Communion or not when visiting a non-Missouri Synod congregation? The easy answer is no.  You have no need to receive communion every Sunday.  You can receive it at your home LCMS congregation the next Sunday and until then, you are covered by Baptismal grace and fueled with the Word of God to which you have access every day. Holy Communion is not a family tradition. It is a sacrament. It is not tantamount to holding hands around the Christmas tree and singing “O Tannenbaum.” It is far more like open-heart surgery where the living God is being implanted into you to wipe away your sin and empower your soul.  I am assuming that you would not undergo heart surgery just because an usher waved you forward.  And even if you desperately needed heart surgery, you would not undergo heart surgery at a clinic where the physician cared more about the living conditions of the cleaning staff than he did about the latest cardiological techniques. Before you wander up to Holy Communion at a non-LCMS church, ask yourself these questions:

  1. It is the Lord’s Supper not mine. I believe of it exactly what the Lord says of it. Do I know what this group of people really believes, teaches, and confesses about the Lord’s Supper? Because you cannot trust that they believe, teach and confess the same as us just because they have the word “Lutheran” in their name.
  2. Am I desperate for Holy Communion or can I wait to receive it next week at my home congregation where I know what I am receiving?
  3. By receiving the Lord’s Supper here, I am giving the impression that I agree with all of their teachings because Holy Communion is the highest expression of unity that there is in the Christian Church. Is that the message I wish to convey? Do I agree with them ordaining female, gay and transgender people? Do I agree with the political premise behind Black Lives Matter? Do I believe that it is the first priority of God’s Church to right social, gender, or racial inequality? And if I believe all of that, should I attend an LCMS church?
  4. By receiving Holy Communion just because everyone else is, am I cheapening the sacrament and treating it more like a mere tradition instead of God’s Holy gift? Am I going to allow social pressure to force me to make a public, physical confession that I do not believe?

It is good to worship together with other Christians. It is good to celebrate watersheds in their lives: confirmations, baptisms, weddings, funerals. We rejoice when people are connected to and involved with the Holy Church. But we do not pretend that all other Christians are proclaiming God’s Word fully or correctly. We understand that the devil, the world and our own sinful flesh are always trying to pollute God’s Holy Word and we diligently stand against that. It is not easy to stand for what is right and holy but it is our calling as God’s people and He will empower us to do whatever He calls us to do.

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English District Gala

Watch Party

June 12, 2022

5:30 PM

The Gala watch party is almost here......join us for music and yummy food in the Trinity Gardens at 5:30 on June 12.  At 6:00 we make our way into the transformed Trinity Center for more good food, drink (and special beverages) games, and the watch party.  Bow ties are optional but good food for everyone.  
The Gala Watch Party sign-up sheet is in the Narthex, with a notation for a dish to enjoy or a donation for the party.
Please register for the event at www.englishdistrict.org and bring a friend.  

Election of Board of Directors

The following Directors are up for election:  Lay Ministry, Christian Ed, Stewardship, Asst. Director, Parish Fellowship and will be voted on at the June Congregational Meeting on June 12 at 11:45.

Villa Park Summer Fest

Saturday, June 18th

11 am - ?

Villa Park's Summer Fest is coming up soon and we plan to have a table to hand out information about Trinity. Anyone interested in helping out by manning the table for an hour or more that day, please contact Marna Rundgren at marnarundgren@gmail.com.

Summerfest

Vacation Bible School

June 13th- June 17th

Join us for a fun and exciting week at Vacation Bible School! This year we will be exploring God's love with a luau theme. Expect plenty of games, activities, and fun twists all week long!


K-5 Monday - Friday 9AM - 12PM
3 year olds - PreK - Tuesday - Thursday 9AM - 11:30AM
2 year olds - Tuesday - Thursday 9AM - 10:30AM - *Parents will be contacted for diaper changes.

Contact Ashley Collins with questions or to volunteer at VBS@trinityvp.com

Click here to register.

Click here to volunteer.

Third Thursdays

Thursday, June 16, 7 pm

Thursday, July 21, 7 pm

Thursday, August 18, 7 pm

 

Last summer's must-attend events are back! Third Thursday was a ton of fun. If you did not make it last year, don't worry you have another chance. Join Us in the Prayer Garden on the Third Thursday of the Month Each Month of Summer!

Bring a chair, bring a snack, a game, an instrument. We will be enjoying the beauty of our prayer garden and each other's company.

This is a family-friendly activity. All are welcome.

Trinity Prayer Garden Pavers

Adopt one of Trinity’s Prayer Garden Pavers! The Prayer Garden at
TLCVP has long been a place to gather & we are excited to bring a new program in which we can create lasting memories to mark congregants' celebrations, recognitions of service, remembrances, & more. See flyer in the
Narthex for more details.

Houston Style Rodeo

Saturday, June 25

5:30 pm 

Join the youth to celebrate before they head off to the 2022 National Youth Gathering in Houston. Enjoy mechanical bull rides, Texan food,
and family-style fun! There is no charge, but your donations are always appreciated.

TCNS News

Ms. Tracy Swiston, director of Trinity Christian Nursery School, is
retiring in August. Tracy has led the preschool through many challenges and triumphs and we are so grateful for her service. We are asking the members of Trinity to help us honor her hard work and dedication to our program. Donations can be made in the provided envelopes in the Narthex. Upon her retirement, Tracy plans to travel and spend time with her husband and grown children. She will occasionally be visiting us at school as a substitute.

The nursery school is seeking applications for DCFS-qualified Christian Director and teachers. Please contact tcnschair@gmail.com if you would like to apply.


The Board of Christian Education is seeking a board member to fill in a vacancy in the Preschool board. Please contact drtsod@att.net to apply.

Worship Services

Saturdays 4:30 pm

Sundays 8 am & 10:30 am

More Information

Each month you will receive a newsletter from Trinity in your email.  If you have any upcoming news, events, photos or other information to share, please email Marna Rundgren @ marnarundgren@gmail.com


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