Here begins a journey to the past. Try reading that last line in your best Rod Serling voice. Stacy has been going through stacks of old bulletins, deciding what to keep and what to recycle. Along the way she finds interesting, even humorous news and notes from Trinity’s past. Recently she came into my office chuckling, and, when I read the note she was reading on the back of an old bulletin, I decided I should share it with you all. The item below comes from the worship folder for August 27, 1967. I won’t include the note about the Voter’s Assembly meeting, at which only men were invited to ‘show their concern for our mission here!’

OUR ENTRANCE MURAL A WITNESS

Last Sunday just before the 11:00 service a ‘hippie’ stopped in front of our church to gaze at the mural of the birth, death, and ascension of Christ that adorns our entrance. He very seriously said “Christ is love.” Mr. Labrenz said, “He sure is, and that’s what we proclaim; won’t you worship with us today?” He said, “I’ve just worshipped,” but was interested as Mr. Labrenz told him about our concern for young adults and gave him a newsletter. He gave his name and address, and will be visited in his ‘pad.’ He was perhaps the best visual aid that could have illustrated the meaning of the parable of the Good Samaritan, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Several people remarked that they wished he would have come in. One said, “He looked more like Christ than anyone here.” Mr. Labrenz remarked to one person, “That’s our ministry,” to which she responded, “Probably the most difficult, but keep it up.” We hope all who are members and who worship here heed the meaning of the word “neighbor” and see Christ in people.

Amen! We might not have let women vote in those days, but we were working at seeing Christ in the neighbor. The more things change, the more they stay the same sometimes (except for women voting!).

A few weeks ago, as we were closing up the church after a Saturday evening wedding, I saw a shadow approach the front doors of the church, drop something with a thud, then leap up high and tap the foot of Jesus’ cross on the very mural admired by the ‘hippie’ in 1967. I opened the door to find a young Hispanic man delivering the new phone books. He had wanted to touch Jesus for luck. He saw my pectoral cross and asked if we had a rosary for him. I refrained from a monologue on the Reformation and its theological repercussions on the accoutrements of the faith. He declined an offered “Portals of Prayer.”

We have Jesus to offer to the world, to touch, to taste and see that the Lord is good. We can help our neighbors, all our neighbors, not just touch Jesus for luck, but be touched by Jesus for eternity. The power of touch—it’s in your finger tips.

Summer Blessings,
Pastor Don

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August Celebrations

Happy Anniversary to Markus & Natalia Mielke (8/11), Donald & Lois Schatz (8/12) and Bob & Allison Stotler (8/27)!

Trinity Ladies!
This September a new Bible study is beginning just for you.  It will meet in the evening at the Chapel on the Ave.  "Life Light" is the name of the material we will be using, starting with the book of Matthew.  It is an in-depth study involving home preparation & daily devotions which culminate with a weekly group study. This will be a time for enriching your faith life and enjoying fellowship with other Christian women. Friends are welcome.  A tentative day and time are Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30. Lois Schatz is leading. If you are interested, please contact her by email or phone (DL5map@msn.com/425-673-0831) so materials can be ordered.

From the Church Office
If you prefer to be reminded of your Service Schedule commitments via email instead of phone, please email Stacy in the office at stacyschulze@trinluthseattle.org. If you prefer not to receive a printed newsletter, please contact Stacy in the office at stacyschulze@trinluthseattle.org or 206.324.1066.

Please note that if your church mailbox is so full that nothing else can be placed in it, you will not receive anything until some items are removed.

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Stacy has been working on the back-end of the church website.  If you find something is not working or looks odd, please let her know (stacyschulze@trinluthseattle.org)

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Here are a few more updates for your church directory:

• Morena Newton’s email address is mmnewton1@seattleschools.org
• Pastor Al Lindemann’s  home phone is 206-323-1914; his cell number is 206-323-2665

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Church Picnic
The Church Picnic will be on August 27 and will be at Trinity so we can invite the neighborhood. Bring some nonperishable items for a food drive. Watch the Capital Hill Times in August for an article on our event!

Trinity Bike Ride
Join us on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at the Centennial Trail in Snohomish. The ride is an "out-and-back" ride with lots of scenic places to stop along the way. It is 17 miles one way; so, the total ride can be 34 miles or anything less than that.

An Outing at Valley Camp
The lower camp site at Valley Camp has been reserved for September 16th and 17th.   Anyone who would like to camp overnight is welcomed to join Chris Sherman and the Brunners.  The remodeled cabin is also available for rent that weekend.  The Heckels will join the campers on Sunday for a potluck picnic.  There is a covered picnic area with tables and electricity.  If you are not sure where the lower camp site is, you have driven past it on your way to the main covered picnic building.  Anyone interested in attending can contact Sharon Heckel at 425.697.5951.

An Evening with the Wilders
The Compass Center invites you to an evening of bluegrass with “the Wilders” in support of the Nyer Urness Fund for the Compass Center Chapel. The evening entertainment will also feature “The Shed Boys.” Join us on Friday, August 11th, 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E., Seattle, WA 98112. A $15.00 donation at the door provides an evening of music, fun, food and drink.

The Lectio Divina Group  will meet Tuesday evenings September 26—November 14 in the TLC Fellowship Hall from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

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We have made it past the halfway point on the Judkin's Park build schedule.

Firstly, much appreciation is felt for all that donated their time and talents on June 3rd to take part in Trinity's second "Volunteer Day." Also, a big thank-you to all who have contributed so generously towards the fund drive. Because of your commitment to this ministry, much has been accomplished on the renovation --putting us that much closer to our goal of the home's completion and dedication ceremony slated for late November.

Kathleen, our site supervisor, is interested in having 3-4 experienced volunteers to work on Wednesdays. Beginning Wednesday, August 2, through completion of the house, the volunteer schedule will now be expanded to 4 days a week.

Pastor Don, Andrew, and Stacy are going to have a Trinity Staff Workday at the Thrivent/Habitat Build in Judkins Park on Thursday, August 24. There are 3 or 4 more open slots that day if you would like to be 'on staff' with us! If you have the inclination to pound a few nails during the week, please contact Chris Sherman (206-322-2674 or christopersherman@earthlink.net) to reserve your spot on the schedule.

Thank you for your continuing prayers, commitment, and support.

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Jesus turned the values of his day upside down; we ought to do the same. I am amazed at who my neighbor might be. If we cannot say, “hi,” to our neighbor, then can we really be honest with ourselves? The man among the tombs could be the same person in the pew we can’t relate to. I know many who have been there:

I know a person who bums coffee. I am on my pc as he looks in. I know he will ask for coffee, so I offer him a cup. He sits in disbelief. The fellow is safe. I begin to understand his frame of mind as we talk. On and off, he asks questions and feels safe enough to say, “no.” I could have been like him.

The fellow who taps my shoe says, “I need a coffee.” I look at him and bless him. We walk to Jack in the Box. Quiet time at Westlake ends with a call from King County Jail. Tough love is not soft. We help secure an I.D. for her, but she still finds herself in Jail.

I need to share that there are times you got to be tough and walk on. Pray for the choices they have made. Fun blessings. When would we see people like this in our church sitting in our pews?

We need to turn our values upside down. We need to begin at home, reaching out to our neighbors. Like the woman cutting her laurel bushes in her manicured lawn or the person wrapped up in a blanket on the street. We need to be sensitive. We need to take a risk because I was among the tombs, and I was that person sitting in the pew. I’ve felt Trinity’s prayers in my life and in the lives of the people I meet. However, we still need to go out to OUR neighbors and, one by one, bring them to Jesus.

Each day is a challenge. Our focus must not rest on ourselves as we sit comfortably in our pews while not focusing on the one wrapped up in his blanket.

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Come celebrate the mission work of LMS on August 13th, 2006, and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of fellowship and art. LMS is hosting this function to honor our volunteers, who work hard at providing compassion, while reflecting God's love to those in need of spiritual care.

LMS is providing free admission to the newly renovated Seattle Asian Art museum. All are welcome; so, please feel free to bring your friends and family.

There will be museum tours, appetizers, a no-host bar and live music to enjoy. LMS will hold a brief gathering to honor our volunteers for the gifts they consistently provide our community.

Celebrate!
On November 4, 2006, we will have the opportunity to join together and Celebrate! Celebrate our faith in Jesus as our Savior. Celebrate our ministry to hurting people. Celebrate our chaplains. And, Celebrate our future!

Please join us at our first Dinner-Auction to be part of this Celebration.

We will have both a silent and live auction with many exciting items of varying values on which you can bid. In addition, we will have a “Dessert Auction” featuring luscious home-made desserts. Invitations will be in the mail soon, and reservations will be limited to 200.

We Need Your “Stuff”
LMS is holding our annual “Stuff Sale.” You can help by donating sellable items. The sale will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, September 14-16, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.We need: Houseware and Glassware; Toys, Games, and Hobbies; Tools and power equipment; Working radios and other small appliances; Clean furniture and household furnishings; Collectibles, coins, jewelry and antiques. No large appliances, computers, monitors, or child car seats, please!

If you have anything to contribute, please bring it to Trinity , put it on the stage, and advise Dick Lootens of what you brought.  He will get it to the stuff sale and will provide a receipt upon request.

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Mexico Trip Helps Concordia Nursing Students Better Serve Latino Patients
Fifteen of the Nursing students, accompanied by faculty member Donna Bachand, traveled to Mexico in May for a 4-week immersion learning experience. This trip was truly student-motivated, and something nursing faculty had considered but didn’t expect would happen for another year or so. Nursing student James Marbas instigated a discussion which became an information session which became a reality. Nursing students received course credit and an opportunity to engage in a service-oriented learning experience which led them to lessons no one could have expected.

While in Mexico, the students resided at Universidad de las Americas, a safe residential university, which was their home base from which they took daily trips to hospitals, clinics, and even to visit and learn more about traditional Mexican healing. Students immediately realized in their visits the lack of access to ready technology and resources, and the implications that can have on the ability to care for illness, yet they also saw how capable the Mexican medical staff was at keeping necessary environments sterile, being technically competent, and, most importantly, the impact compassion and understanding can have on ill patients.

Learning more about Mexican culture and the medical options Mexicans have gives these students an extraordinary understanding of the cultural background and medical choices Mexican-Americans in this country, especially in Northeast Portland. For many Mexicans, visiting a healer is a first attempt at getting well, and modern medicine is a secondary option. This trip helped the students understand why many Mexican-Americans hesitate seeking modern medical care.

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