Services

Sunday church services have been cancelled until further notice. You can hear a service every Sunday on The Lutheran Hour by tuning into 970 AM radio at 7:30 a.m. or 104.9 FM radio at 7:00 p.m. The Lutheran Hour’s services are also available on their website: https://www.lhm.org/

Readings and Sermon First Sunday of Advent – November 29, 2020

Prayer of the Day – Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading – Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalm – Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Gospel – Mark 13:24-37

Sermon – In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. The text for this First Sunday in Advent is taken from Mark 13:24-37. (Vs. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.”)

It’s that time again. Today is the first Sunday in the Church year. The Advent theme is “watching and waiting.” When I was a child, my father used to yell up the staircase to the bedroom of my two brothers who were peacefully sleeping. My father would especially enjoy waking them up early in the morning and my brothers would detest hearing his words…”It’s that time again! Time to get up, it’s that time again.” If they didn’t get up, he would come back and joyfully repeat it until he heard the footsteps of the two sleepy heads.

There is plenty for people to be alert about lately, what with the pandemic we’re living through. In order to be prepared some people are having their “Last Will and Testament” made up by a lawyer. They have to be prepared in case the virus comes for them. It’s not a very pleasant though but its reality. Since I won’t be traveling to spend Christmas with family this year I have the presents wrapped and mailed out already. I don’t want to find myself at the Post Office in December in back of a long line. That’s a little bragging on my part, however, the Christmas cards are nowhere near being done.

Wake up and stay awake is what Jesus says in today’s gospel reading. Being awake and alert is to be a key feature of the Christian life. Another place in scripture it tells us to “be sober and be vigilant.” People who abuse alcohol and drugs aren’t living the life of preparing for Christ’s second coming in the proper way. Being drunk much of the time certainly isn’t being diligent in waiting for Jesus. You’ll not only be found asleep but you’ll be found passed out. We should live our lives and continue going to work and going to school as usual but live as though Christ were coming back at any time.

If we die before the second coming of Christ it doesn’t mean we’re waiting in limbo for thousands of years. When we die, the second coming will take as long as the “blink of an eye.” It’s like going to sleep and waking up. All of a sudden, it’s morning. There will be no waiting around.

For us who are living, life doesn’t stop. Like living in this pandemic, we don’t stop going to work or school. The world doesn’t stand still. That’s why there is a push to keep businesses open. We need a successful economy so we don’t want everything closing down. The country cannot close down. It’s nothing political, it’s simply fact. So also, we continue to live our lives as we wait the second coming.

Over the past 2,000 years, some Christians have taken upon themselves the job of trying to figure out when that return would be. But that’s a fruitless task. The signs that Jesus spoke about earlier in scripture like wars, natural disasters and persecutions have been pretty common occurrences. The coronavirus has had a dramatic impact on our world, but it is no more significant a sign than was the bubonic plague that ravaged Europe in the14th century or the Spanish flu 100 years ago.

Secondly, Jesus says, “neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father know the time of the end.” It is presumptuous to think that we can puzzle it out. So who are the watchers, and what are they to watch for? Those who study nature and human society can help us to discern what God is doing in world events. The clergy can warn us of the dangerous trends and help us point the way toward improving the state of the world. We should keep busy and live our lives perhaps warning others who need a little nudge to be a little “more ready.“ But have faith. Jesus didn’t die on the cross and rise from the dead just to come so we will have eternal life. And so on this first day in Advent we say “IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN.” Time to get up and time to be ready. In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bible verses to help combat fear and give us peace:

Psalm 56:3-4

Isaiah 35:3-4

Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 60:1-2

Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 14:25-33

Mark 4:35-41

Luke 8:22-25

John 14:27

Philippians 4:6-7

2 Timothy 1:7

The Genesis of Trinity

In the beginning…

On June 28, 1958 the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod sent Pastor Elwood E. Mather, Jr. to investigate the possibility of establishing a congregation in New Milford. He was to become Trinity’s first Pastor. Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danbury, a mission-minded congregation where many New Milford Lutherans worshiped, gave Mather its full support in helping him gather disciples for this new venture.

In August 1958 a planning meeting was held at the old firehouse on Church Street. It was attended by about 20 people. Half of those attending were employees of Kimberly Clark and were Lutherans from Neenah, Wisconsin. They and the four out of five families from New Milford who attended Immanuel in Danbury were the nucleus of what became Trinity Lutheran Church in New Milford. Our first services were held at the VFW Hall. At this meeting the name “Trinity” was chosen as the name of this new Lutheran church. Henry Wolter served as our first President in 1958 and again in 1959 and 1964. He was a member until 1972 when he moved to Vermont, returning to Trinity in 1992 until he and his wife Bertha returned again to Vermont in 1994. His burial service was celebrated at Trinity in June of 1995. Bertha later resided at The Lutheran Home of Southbury.

Since the hall wasn’t always available on Saturday evenings, the few ladies who served as the Altar Guild often had to set up the altar for services on Sunday morning. We had a homemade altar and cross made by some of the men of the church and our first fair- linen was given to us by the Altar Guild of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, Connecticut. The flowers for the altar were usually garden flowers from the members’ gardens. One week, we went into the field next to Helen Lillis’ home and picked Black-eyed Susans and Daisies for the altar since no garden flowers were available – they looked beautiful.

The first service of the new Trinity was held on September 21, 1958 at the VFW Hall on Route 202. 160 people attended and heard Pastor Mather say, in part, “This will not be a place where morality will be settled and sin left unmentioned. Nor will it be an organization that promises culture and social programs in themselves. Nor yet a social club. No, this is for all people and will be a house of God, to make men wise unto salvation through faith.”

That following Sunday, September 28, 1958 Trinity’s Sunday School was established to obey Christ’s call to “Suffer the little children to come unto me,” a tremendous outreach with the Gospel. 25 children attended. Members acted as Sunday School teachers and the Bible Class was held in the home of Cliff Heintz who lived adjacent to the VFW Hall. This day also saw another Trinity first, the Baptism of Patrick Wayne Sharkey.

Pastor Mather would drive around New Milford during the week, especially on Monday mornings which was wash day, and where he saw children’s clothes on the line (this was before most people had dryers), he stopped in and asked about their church affiliation and invited the children to Sunday School. If no car was available, he arranged for one of the members to pick up the children. Practically everyone who had a car was picking up children each Sunday.

111 people attended Trinity’s first Thanksgiving service held on November 27, 1958.

In 1958, when George Pratt, Jr. made the land where our church presently stands available to us, we were all enthused and ready to buy it; however, no money was available in the treasury. Reverend Bernard Jansen of Immanuel in Danbury visited some members in New Milford and through his efforts two of our families loaned the money to our church to buy the property. They took the money from their savings accounts and loaned it to the church interest free. So we now owned a piece of property – thanks to them.

On December 12, 1958 the Building Committee completed the purchase of the 4.843 acre “Old Fairgrounds,” where our church building now stands for a total cost of $14,800.

On February 7, 1959 Trinity’s Mary-Martha Society was formed. We met in the various homes of the ladies. We were always involved in a project to help the church – sales, suppers, etc.

Charter membership was celebrated on May 24, 1959 when 104 members gathered together to sign the charter. Among those who signed that document of faith were Evelyn Buss, Reinhard Cushman, Ella Cushman, Elizabeth Hipp, Emma Krenkcl, and Martin Ruopp.

One week later, on May 31, 1959, the first Communion service was celebrated at Trinity.

On September 17, 1959 the first choir rehearsal was held using a newly-purchased used piano. Rehearsals were held in the home of Helen Hargrave, on Mountain View Terrace, who was Organist and Choir Director at that time. It was reported that they “made a joyful noise unto the Lord.”

The six young people of Trinity’s first Confirmation class was received into membership on April 10, 1960.

Pastor Mather was installed as Trinity’s first Pastor at a service held at John Pettibone School on May 1, 1960. Members and guests from Bridgeport, Danbury, Bethel, and Trumbull, Connecticut and Walden and Jamaica, New York totaled 325.

In January 1961 a Voters Assembly of Trinity voted to become self-supporting, thereby eliminating Synod subsidy.

The membership had outgrown the VFW Hall so on February 1,1961 Sunday services were moved to the Matichewan Grange Hall on Route 7. We also needed additional Sunday School space. Bible class was held in the Grange kitchen, near the ever-present coffee pot. We now could prepare the hall on Saturday evenings for our Sunday services, except when they had a Saturday event. We also held potluck suppers there.

A junior choir was started soon after moving to the Grange Hall. To make choir robes for them was quite a project for the ladies of the church. We all brought white bed sheets from our homes and cut out the robes and sewed them. Ev Buss’ mother, Mrs. Korth, who was visiting from Neenah, Wisconsin, was a great help in directing the project. The robes with their red bows looked quite nice and the children loved them.

Pastor Mather held his Confirmation instruction classes in the house of Helen Lillis, whose son, Richard was in the class. This first class also included Anthony Larson, Bruce Breening, Elizabeth and Susan Piliero, and Michael Steinmann.

A building program drive kick-off dinner was held at the VFW Hall on March 12, 1961. The motto of the building fund campaign was “Remember There Is No Burden if Everybody Lifts!”

Thirteen months later, on Palm Sunday, April 15, 1962 the official ground-breaking festivities were held. Pastor Mather led the service and First Selectman Russell Carlson attended. Although the skies were threatening, the Lord held off the rain, a sign that Trinity would persevere. Others involved in the ground breaking included the Cushmans, Reinhard and Ella, and Martin Ruopp.

On May 9, 1962 the Building Committee met to open bids for construction of the church building. A standing vote for continuation of the building program was unanimous. Excavation work was begun on August 24, 1962. The total cost eventually came to approximately $130,000.

The first church picnic was held at the Hipp Farm with picnic lunches while sitting under the large maple trees on the lawn, followed by games and contests for all.

Trinity’s first Vacation Bible School was formed in the summer of 1962 and held at John Pettibone School. The staff totaled 21; 139 children of members and 58 non-members attended for an overwhelming response of 197 children – a sign that Trinity was meeting a need for this outreach.

The Cornerstone Laying Ceremony was held on October 28, 1962. Over 200 watched as Pastor Mather put it into place and President Reinhard Cushman placed the first concrete. William Buss and the newly confirmed (that day) Confirmation Class also placed concrete. The building of Trinity’s own house of worship had begun.

When construction of our church building began, we all had to be available for various jobs to be done. Mr. Karl Kuehn, one of our oldest members, who was also retired, headed up the work force that gave the ceiling boards the first coat of stain. We saved quite a bit of money doing this. During the daytime the mothers came to the church equipped with bags of rags and rubber gloves and under Mr. Kuehn’s direction, we stained the boards. Meanwhile, the children would play on the church grounds. Mr. Kuehn would come each day with his sandwich lunch and stayed all day to direct the work. In the evenings, when the men finished work, they would take over the job. We all took pride in being able to look up at the ceiling of our completed church and to know that we had personally had a part in preparing the Lord’s House.

On March 28, 1963 more than 500 parishioners and guests attended the dedication of Trinity’s new house of worship. Church officers Martin Ruopp, Reinhard Cushman, William Hipp, Clarence Buss, Fred Christensen, and Mary Martha Society officers Elizabeth Hipp and Evelyn Buss attended and heard Pastor Mather pray “God, make the door of this building we have raised to Thee wide enough to receive all who need human love, divine love, fellowship, and our Savior’s care. Make the door of this house the gateway to Thy eternal Kingdom.” Later Pastor Mather went on to say, “This new church which today we dedicate to the uplifting of Jesus and to the glory of God has been realized through the faith, vision, and stewardship of many people…Our purpose is to strive for unity of spirit and a sense of devotion to God’s word…Savior, I follow on guided by Thee.”

Less than one year after the dedication of the new church building. Pastor Mather left Trinity; on May 24, 1964 he was installed as the Pastor of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pine Island, New York.

Later that year, on October 4,1964 the Reverend Robert E. Wolter, coming from Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Bordentown, New Jersey, was installed as Trinity’s second Pastor. (He was the nephew of member Henry Wolter, a cousin to Rep. Jeanne Garvey.)

On April 26, 1967 a building debt retirement pledge drive was organized. On June 12, 1967 the Council voted to give women the right to vote on church matters. Trinity joined the New Milford Christian Unity program in November of 1967.

Len Franck wrote The Genesis of Trinity in 1995 with the help of Elizabeth Hipp.

Thoughts From A Church Mouse

God’s Office Hours

The doctor is in. Back in 5 minutes. Gone fishing. Closed for the season. We’re all familiar with signs such as these and many others telling us when we can be accommodated. We often have to plan our lives around these signs . . . how many times have we gone to a story, movie, restaurant, or gas station and a sign there telling us we’re too early or too late to do business?

Try bringing an appliance in for a repair or seeing a lawyer and you find that there is a minimum charge . . . payable in ADVANCE! Go to a Deli counter or a bakery and you’re told to “take a number.” Those of you who remember the oil crunch of the mid-70’s can recall being able to purchase gasoline only on alternate days, according to whether their license number was odd or even.

What if God had office hours? Just think of it . . . either pray between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, or forget about it! Personal problems are only heard on Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a special on marital problems the third Tuesday of the month. Problems concerning health are handled on every other Thursday. Have a problem on a Sunday? Sorry, try again another day, that’s His day off and He’s watching a football game on TV!

There is only one “business” that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 52 weeks a year, with no waiting . . . ever. The proprietor is God; He’s always on the job and available. And He doesn’t even require that you get in line or take a number. Talking to God can take many forms: prayer, worship, Bible study, grace, or just saying “thank you” when you see the sun rise or set, a newborn baby, or the smile on your child’s face.

Take advantage of God’s office hours: He’s a good listener. The rules are simple . . . there are none. No minimum or advance fees, in fact no fees at all! God is always in. He doesn’t take days off or go away on vacation. Remember, God is always in, and there’s never any waiting.

~ Martin

God Sends Us Help

Not too long ago I overheard someone telling a story. It seems that there was a very devout man who lived in a small cabin by a river and there came a time when it rained and rained. After about a week of rain, the river began to rise and approach the cabin and a State Trooper came by to warn the man that he was in danger from an impending flood and then offered to take him to safety. The man replied, “No, I’m putting my faith in God, He’ll take care of me.” It kept raining and after another week the waters rose above the first floor of the cabin and a man in a canoe came by offering to take the man to safety. Again, the man replied, “No, I’m putting my faith in God, He’ll take care of me.” It continued to rain steadily and after another week, the river rose above the second story forcing the man onto the roof. As he sat there he heard the noise of a helicopter hovering over him. The pilot called out that the dam was about to burst setting loose a torrential flood that would sweep away everything in its path and offered to take the man to safety. The man replied – you guessed it, “No, I’m putting my faith in God, He’ll take care of me.” Welllll, the dam burst and the raging flood swept away the cabin, killing the man. When the man got to Heaven and saw St. Peter, he demanded to see God. St. Peter wasn’t used to this sort of demand, but, since the man had led a very good and devout life, he took the man to see God. When God saw the man He asked him, “What’s the problem?” The man replied, “How could You let this happen to me, I put my faith in You and You just left me alone there to die?” God replied, “Why did you ignore the State Trooper, the canoe, and the helicopter I sent to you?” That’s a funny story and you all know how I like to share stories like that, though after thinking about it for a bit, I realized there’s more to that story than just a chuckle. How often do we approach God with our own ideas about what’s best for us and not see the help He’s continually sending us? If we listen and look hard enough, we’ll see that He answers our prayers but not always in the manner we expect, want, or order up. Remember, life is not a sprint, it’s a looooong marathon and God sends us help that’s right for the whole journey we’re on. So don’t look for that sudden thunderbolt from Him to solve our problems and thus pass up the opportunities he sends our way.

~ Martin

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