From the Pastors’ Desk
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
301 E. Stuart Street
Fort Collins, CO 80525
www.trinitylutheranfc.org
WORSHIP TIMES
SATURDAY: 5 PM
SUNDAY: 8 & 10 AM
(FELLOWSHIP: 8:45 & 11:30 AM)
FAITH VILLAGE: 9 AM
Pastor Gabi Aelabouni
[email protected]
Pastor Meghan Aelabouni
[email protected]
Minister for Faith Formation,
FOCOLU
Kevin Dragseth
[email protected]
Director of Faith Formation—
Children and Families
Kelli Karst
[email protected]
Visitation Pastor
Reverend Paul Schairer
Director of Music
Christopher Reed
[email protected]
TLC Preschool Director
Brenda Harju
[email protected]
Financial Secretary
Debbie Schwartz
[email protected]
Office Administrator
Deana Andrist
[email protected]
Director of Communications
Natalie Grapes
[email protected]
Church phone: (970) 482-1226
Church fax: (970) 482-0817
Email: [email protected]
TLC Preschool: (970) 221-9852
OFFICE HOURS:
9 AM - 3 PM MON. - THU.
9 AM - 1 PM FRI.
JUNE/JULY 2016 Issue Deadline:
May 16, 2016
2,000 years later, there are Christians in every region of the earth, who pray
and worship in languages almost too numerous to count. The Spirit made the
good news of Jesus Christ global—little wonder that Pentecost is considered by
many to be the “birthday of the church!”
And Pentecost is not over. We are still called and sent, like the apostles, to
share the Gospel (that good news of God’s love and grace for us in Jesus) in
ways that our neighbors can hear and understand, though words and deeds of
love and service. That’s our purpose as a church. But how do we do it?
In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul describes “spiritual gifts” that all
Christians receive. Paul highlights both the diversity of the gifts and the unity of
the Spirit who gives them. According to Paul, every community of faith, like
Trinity, has been given all that we need from the Holy Spirit to fulfill our purpose
in the world. But (and this is important!) no one person, volunteer or staff, has
been given all of the gifts needed. And every person who is a part of Trinity has
a part to play, through the gifts the Spirit has given you. No one is extra; no
one’s gifts are unnecessary. Truly, we can only do this together.
Trinity has grown over the past five years in membership and in our level of
activities. We completed a successful capital campaign that will strengthen our
building, our budget, and our benevolence for ministry. The Holy Spirit has
guided and supported us. Thanks be to God! But our work is not done. In the
midst of this growth, pastors, council, and staff have identified volunteers as a
pressing need for Trinity. We know that when we keep going to the same
people to ask for their time and participation, it leads to burnout; and we have
struggled at times to find the best ways to help more people get involved. At our
retreat in April, we discussed some of the reasons people volunteer, or don’t
volunteer. Our conclusions were that in a time when so many of us are busier
than ever, Trinity needs to move beyond “filling slots” and take seriously Paul’s
promises about spiritual gifts in the Christian community.
Alongside a volunteer coordination task force composed of members Jean
Ferrin, Marilyn Hartig, and Sharon Johnson, Trinity’s council will be working on
two main goals: (1) to help every member of Trinity identify their spiritual gifts,
know how to use their gifts, and understand why their gifts are important and
needed; and (2) to develop a better way to coordinate information and
communication so that more people can be plugged in to Trinity’s ministries in
ways that are joyful and life-giving. We recognize that accomplishing these
goals also means building relationships between members, so that we know
one another, and are known. That’s what it means to be a “welcoming faith
community living together in God’s love to share the joy of Jesus Christ.” We
hope you will join us on this ongoing journey of faith
Peace,
Pastors Gabi and Meghan
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