There was once a church where people played God. They used the ‘m’ words. The people said ‘My’ and ‘Mine’ of everything. They said, “My church.” They said, “My liturgy.” They said, “My money.” They said, “My kitchen.” They said, “My tradition.” They said, “My God.”

One day the Lord appeared among them. He came again the next week. He brought others with Him. The Lord and his friends were a joyful group. One week later, the Lord brought still more friends.

“My God,” the people said, exasperated.

“Yes?” said the Lord.

“You look familiar,” said the people, eyeing the stranger suspiciously.

“Oh?” replied the Lord.

“But you don’t act right.”

“Oh?” replied the Lord.

“Let us tell you a few things,” said the people. They trotted out the ‘my’ words. My church. My worship. My hymnal. My kind of people. My decorum. My God.

“OH!” replied the Lord. The next week, the Lord did not appear, nor did the people who had come with him.

“My goodness,” said the people. “That was close! Well, let’s start the service.”

“My church,” they began, “My God….”

The church belongs to God. The church is a collection of God’s friends. Jesus spoke, “I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). The church exists as a servant to the world. We are not making a church for ourselves here at Trinity. We are being the church for the city around us. How will those from the city feel comfortable here? How will they meet us? How will they meet Christ in and through us?

Jesus looks and sighs, “My friends.”

We respond, “Amen!” So be it Lord.

Blessings,
Pastor Don

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Coffee Hour Contributions
This month the coffee hour fund donated $100 to Concordia Lutheran School in honor of Student Work Contribution on a Community Project.

Gordon & Leena Meeske
Coffee Hour Coordinators

Fred Hutch Shore Walk
Joanne Welty will be doing the Shore Walk for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute again this year.  It's on June 25, and she will be accepting sponsors at the morning service.

From the Church Office
If you do not wish to receive a printed newsletter in your church mailbox, please let Stacy in the church office know by phone or email: 206-324-1066 or stacyschulze@trinluthseattle.org.

Housekeeping
Our crew is working on the kitchen and waiting for the electrical to be done before the new refrigerator and range can be used.  This electrical work can easily wait until next month when hopefully it will be taken care of by Marv Nelson (Laura's son). 

Upcoming Events
On three Wednesdays (May 31, June 7 and June 14) Pastor Don will be leading a group experience in Lectio Divina—the holy reading and praying of Scripture. We will meet from 7:00pm until 8:30pm each of those evenings, in the Fellowship Hall at church. If you would like to explore this ancient prayer form, please come. On our last evening we’ll discuss the possibility of continuing a Lectio group on a regular basis beginning at the end of summer.

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We have a block of 40 tickets for the Dead Sea Scrolls. The tickets will be $20.00 each and they include the I Max theater.

The church picnic will be on August 27 and will be at Trinity so we can invite the neighborhood. We will ask them to bring some nonperishable food for a food drive.

We can get discount tickets for a Mariners game. If any one wants to go, get in touch with me. If there is enough interest, we can get the tickets and decide on which game to go to at that time.

Thank you,
Mary Hansen
Program Coordinator

Correction!
Regarding last month’s announcement about the Science Award: it was Mark Klick who received this award, not his father Tim. Congratulations to you, Mark!

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The Lutheran Church, historically, has been privileged… maybe not during its inception when Martin Luther was attacked by the Papacy in Rome, but afterward… after his reforms took root. Several countries even adopted Lutheranism as the official religion. And, in the United States, churches, in general, have thrived because this is a country founded, in part, on religious tolerance. Churches have grown accustomed to having people simply come into their doors without much effort on their part; however, today this isn’t the case. Churches need to be more than welcoming… they need to be inviting.

Consider the following story:There is a woman named Jane. Jane is new in Seattle. She came up from Houston to work for Microsoft. With her new salary and health benefits, she needs to find a doctor. She’s a bit nervous about finding a new doctor because the one she had before knew her since she was born. The first thing she does is ask her new friend Ahmad ,whom she works with. Ahmad, who has lived in Seattle for over 10 years, tells Jane about a number of doctors but can’t restrain himself from speaking so highly of his own doctor, Dr. Seung. It doesn’t take long for Jane to decide. She goes to Dr. Seung’s office the next day.

This story can be examined in a variety of ways when paralleled to evangelism, but I would suggest looking for the simplest explanation: People like to come by personal invitation.

We often speak of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) in building the Kingdom, but consider augmenting it with the Great Invitation (John 1:43-46). “Come and see.” It’s simple evangelism. No longer is the burden to find the right words solely on you, but on the community into which you are inviting them and on the God in whom you put your trust. Ahmad is our example to help people find healing. Go and do likewise.

Andrew Potsko,
Director of Student Ministries
Chapel on the Ave

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One definition of appreciate is to share with someone a positive comment and add value to someone’s life. This definition reminds us that we are blessed by God’s gifts and that we need to share them with others. We have been celebrating our teachers this week, and I believe we have a top-notch staff that deserves all the appreciation we can muster. I also believe that this appreciation should travel much farther than the teachers. A heartfelt appreciation should be extended to the churches, who have the vision of sharing the Gospel to kids in Seattle, for those who support our school financially, and to our kids, who teach us daily about the meaning of patience and grace. I sit here in the office looking out the window with great appreciation for all of you and for this great place we call Concordia. Appreciation is not enough, but it is a frame of mind that we all must pass along to others. Share your appreciation with someone; make their day with a compliment or two.

Dave Meyer,
Concordia Principal

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I am stuck on the question, “Who is my neighbor?” It seems to be a catchy puzzler!

We use the phrase a lot, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When I heard a homily on this topic some years ago, I pondered if I should speak with my male neighbor who wears a skirt. The person might have a PhD. Looking at the whole picture: when, where and how to share Jesus with him? ‘Who is my neighbor’ echoed in my mind. Is it the person who heard voices that we see screaming? One day, there he was, without a job, no friends, by the sidewalk. He had no social worker. He is in and out of jail. Who is my neighbor?

We have itineraries and stuff. We have families. We have careers. We go to the grocery store on-line. We don’t interact with just anyone. We have our kids in sports. After sports, we go to Dairy Queen or Red Robin. Talk about Desperate Housewives! We talk about bosses and promotions over cocktails. What about kids not raised in a Christian environment? What about teenage tragedies that happen in middle and upper-middle class neighborhoods, schools and families?

This past month I encountered a young adult who was high, really high. I was asked it she could get her I.D. One option was tell her to get a Social Worker. It’s not my problem. The other was to go with her. A friend just ‘laid into her.’ I gave her the money. I also gave her my P.O. Box number. “Grandma sends packages,” she said. But she’s not my child or grandchild! But, the Lord placed her in my life. I could just let ‘the system’ take care of her. She shows me the receipt. Trust and Prayer! Check out her note below.

Who are our neighbors? Where are they? Jesus looked up a tree and found one! He looked at a tax collector. I thank Trinity for prayers and for ministry, for helping me be a Light on the Hill. Surrogate Grandmothers might be needed. Grandfathers too! Is the Lord showing you your neighbor?

Thank you, Trinity.

Debbie Ruppert,
Light on the Hill Minister

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To Whom It May Concern: 5-8-06

Hi, my name is Rita S. I am a 27-year-old woman struggling to stay clean on the streets of Capitol Hill. I have 2 ½ months clean and have started to look for a job. Debbie has rented a PO Box so that my WA ID can be sent there, and other things like school applications in the future.

Thank you,
Rita S.

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Trinity, along with the other congregations in the Central Seattle Thrivent chapter, is sponsoring a Thrivent Builds home located in the Judkens Park area of Seattle. On Saturday, May 13, there were 12 Trinity members involved in the hands-on construction of the house. There will be more opportunities for hands-on participation coming up this summer. We also need help with funding for this project: we (the Central Seattle chapter) need to raise $12,500. There will be fund raising projects to help reach this goal, including a concert at Magnolia Lutheran on June 25. However, individuals can also contribute to the success by including "Thrivent Builds" as a part of their stewardship activities.

Trinity's next volunteer day will be the first Saturday in June (6/3/06).

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LCS Divorce Lifeline
Are you or a friend experiencing separation or divorce? LCS Divorce Lifeline offers therapeutic groups for adults and workshops for children and teens. For more information, www.lcsnw.org/divorcelifeline, or 206/694-5700 or 800/509-0515.

Interested in becoming a foster parent?
Lutheran Community Services Foster Care programs provide foster care for young children 0-9 years old and refugee and immigrant children of all ages. Are you interested in learning more about becoming a foster care parent? For additional information, call 206/694-5713.

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Summer Sports Camps
For boys and girls entering grades 5 through 8.

Basketball: June 26-30, 9AM-Noon
Volleyball: July 17-20, 9:30AM-Noon
Cheer: July 10, 11 & 12, 9AM-Noon.

Registration forms can be picked up in the school office at 4141 41st Ave. SW or downloaded from our website at http://www.seattlelutheran.org.

For more information call (206) 937-7722 Ext. 22.

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