January/February 2023

Trinity Lutheran Church

Villa Park, IL

Always Growing in Christ

The Lion's Roar

Amos 3:8

"The lion has roared; who will not fear?

The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?”

^{Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.}^{(Philippians 3:12-14)}

Patience & Perfection

During the midweek Lenten services this year (beginning February 22^nd), the sermons will be based on a book by Dr. Daniel Paavola, Patience & Perfection. Dr. Paavola is gifted at taking seemingly complex theological ideas and reducing them to something very understandable and, more importantly, usable. In his book, he looks at seven themes that show up repeatedly in the Holy Scriptures, and they all circle around the idea that God has declared us perfect. We don’t feel very perfect. We don’t act very perfect but that is what God has said. And finally, we either trust God or we trust our own fallible senses and experiences.

Each week we will look at one of these themes that Dr. Paavola discusses. I would like for you all to read the book in preparation for Lent this year or at least to read it during Lent in preparation for each week. We will begin on Ash Wednesday, (February 22^nd), with “Instant Perfection—Patient Relationship” where we begin to understand that our perfection is tied up in the relationship that God has created with us by adopting us as His own children through Holy Baptism. Then we will look at another theme each week that will help us to understand and appreciate God’s patience with our perfection.

The books are in the Trinity Center and each one has an envelope tucked inside it. The books cost $15 a piece and if you are able to help offset that cost, use the envelope inside the book.

Dr. Paavola says, “You are perfect. But not for the reasons you think. It’s not because anything you do screams of perfection—it’s because God declares you to be so. In His infinite patience, God walks with you, drawing you closer to Himself each day. You sin, you falter, you stray. And even though you fail to keep to a perfect line, He persists in walking with you.”

Read the book and come to midweek worship during Lent and find peace in God’s plan for you.

Patience & Perfection

About the Author

Daniel E. Paavola is a professor of theology at Concordia University Wisconsin. He holds a master’s of theology from Princeton Theological Seminary and a PhD in exegetical theology from Concordia Seminary. His previous work includes Our Way Home: A Journey through the Lord’s Prayer.

Trinity Lenten Services

February 22, 2023 - Ash Wednesday

February 22, March 1, 8 15, 22, 29, April 5 - Lent Services & Soup Suppers

The Projects

Tuesdays, January 24 - February 14

3:30-5:30 PM

This after-school program for junior high youth includes snacks, devotions with Pastor Rogers, and projects in the craft room, kitchen, or
workshop. Volunteers are needed to lead and mentor, lead a project, or just lend a hand.

Hear what people say about The Projects:

From a parent - “It is a great place to send your Jr high kids that you know is safe. Junior high is a difficult time in a kid’s life and being a parent today is extremely challenging with the new territory of technology. Having a place like The Projects where you can send your kids for a couple of hours and you don’t have to worry about what they are doing is an awesome thing for parents. And the kids are happy when they come home. They don’t complain about going and ask to go each week!”

From a participant: The Projects is REALLY fun!

Contact Judy Bruschuk, 630-220-6364 or jbruschuk@aol.com for more info.

LWML Sweet Shop

Come to the LWML sweet shop on February 11th and 12th for some delicious baked goods. Your support will go to LWML missions. Thank you to the LWML and Dorcas ladies for their
participation.

Valentine Packages

The youth are preparing Valentine packages for college students and those in the military. If you know someone who would like to receive a package, please forward their address to Margaret: margaret@trinityvp.com.

Food Pantry

The Outreach House is in need of the following items: pasta & pasta Sauce, rice, cereal, dry & canned beans, canned fruits & vegetables, masa flour, peanut butter & jelly, tuna, chili, beef stew, sizes 4,5,6 pull-ups, baby wash, baby lotion, and diaper rash cream.

Your help in donating these items is greatly appreciated. Bins are located at the prayer garden doors.

Money Matters

To stay on track for 2023, we will only need each household to donate $5 more than their usual budgeted giving.

Sponsor-A-Bill: 1st Quarter highlighted bills are Snow Plowing ($4k/season) and Offering Envelopes ($208/mo). Please consider sponsoring one of the above to help keep our financial gap closed in 2023. Last year we raised $7,260 in Sponsor-a-Bill donations.

Ukraine Clothing Drive

While you're opening those new sweaters and pants this Christmas, don't
forget to donate your old clothing to our Ukraine Clothing Drive for Ukrainian refugees. We're in need of all sizes, children's, men's and women's clothes. Look for the red tote with the Ukrainian flag in the Narthex.

International Lutheran Council

"For Future of the Church and the Life of the World"

Sat, Feb 4th

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church 410 North Cross St Wheaton

4:30 Reception ~ 5:30 Fireside Talk ~ 7:00 Evening Prayer

For more information contact info@ILCouncil.org Or leave a message at 260-413-7613

Stewardship Corner

Your Past Does Not Define Your Future

New Year’s is a celebration of the past and the future. We take stock of the past with thanksgiving and sometimes even relief (that it’s over), and we look to the future in hope and anticipation, and perhaps with some worry, for what it holds.

The point is that New Year’s celebrations remind us of who we are as opposed to who we would like to be, and what we have done in comparison to what we want to do. It reminds us of our accomplishments, but mostly it reminds us of our failures. What we’ve lost. Who we’ve lost.

New Year’s is our own version of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. And we all play Scrooge. We are visited by the ghosts of our pasts, presents, and futures.

St. Paul writes: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Cor. 9:6–15).

St. Paul tells us that the Lord will both supply and increase what we need to give to the church for its work in the world. He tells us that this work God does in us will enrich and bless us in every way, and through this, will produce thanksgiving to God. With this in mind, here is some practical advice to help you take stock of your giving in years past and change what needs to be adjusted, improved, or done away with altogether.

First, attend the Divine Service to receive God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. If you’ve not been faithful in attending worship to hear the preaching of God’s Word, to receive forgiveness and feast on the rich food of our Lord’s body and blood for the eternal benefit of your body and soul, then repent and come to receive the gifts God freely gives. God doesn’t want your money. He wants you — all of you (Matt. 22:20–22).

Second, pray for the Lord’s help. Your right as a Christian is to speak with your Father, the King of all creation, freely through His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Go to the throne of grace and ask for strength and wisdom to follow His bidding faithfully (John 15:1–16).

Third, consider what the church is and what the church does. The church is a place of mercy. It inhales the mercy of the Father by the death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son through the preaching of the Gospel and the Sacraments. It exhales this mercy in love toward neighbors. You are a member of the church, of God’s family. Thus, you are not only a recipient of God’s mercy but a bearer of that mercy for the life of the world. You spread that mercy through the generous giving of your income to support the work of the church in the world, as the Israelites did in the Old Testament (Lev. 27:1–34).

Fourth, take stock of your current giving in light of the New Testament’s teaching on supporting the work of the church. Are you giving of your first fruits, taking it out of your paycheck first, or does God get what’s left over? Are you giving voluntarily and cheerfully? Are you giving proportionally and generously? The Old Testament required a tithe or ten percent. The New Testament gives freedom to be generous and to give more for the Church’s work. Are you relying on God’s promise to provide and increase what you need to do His work? If your answer is no to any of these, repent. If God gave you His only Son, will He not provide for you all things, even physical things? Trust Him, His Word, and heed it.

So, don’t let your past define your future. Rather, commit for the year a generous proportion of your income, which is God’s gift to you for this body and life.

– LCMS Stewardship Ministry: lcms.org/stewardship

Worship Services

Saturdays 4:30 pm

Sundays 8 am & 10:30 am

Save the Date

April 9 - Easter Services & Breakfast

May - Trivia Night

Mid-August - Golf Outing & Shirt Sales

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