Services

Weekly 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/

Fifth Sunday of Easter – May 2, 2021

Prayer of the Day – O God, you give us your Son as the vine apart from whom we cannot live. Nourish our life in his resurrection, that we may bear the fruit of love and know the fullness of your joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading – Acts 8:26-40

Psalm – Psalm 22:25-31

Second Reading – 1 John 4:7-21

Gospel – John 15:1-8

Sermon – In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. The text for this Fifth Sunday of Easter is taken from 1 John 3:16-24. (vs. 16) “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

Many people in the past and today think that they know what love is all about. They actually only know a certain type of love which in some cases isn’t love at all. When someone “falls in love” with another person, that feeling of love could be mixed with physical attraction, social attraction, or monetary attraction. Believe it or not, in one way or another, everybody loves. Even the worst people in history loved. But on our own, most of the time the object of our love is self. It comes from self-preservation. When we love something, it’s generally because it brings us pleasure. When we hate someone or something, it’s generally because it is a threat to us. But is love or self really love at all?

An example of failed human love is in Jesus’ description of the religious leaders of his day. Their true love was not directed to those God had given them to care for, but rather their love was directed toward themselves. Remember, “This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” But we don’t.

The message of Easter reveals a different kind of love. It is a love that has “the other” as the object of its affection. It is a love that lays down one’s life for the sake of the other. It is not motivated by fear of loss, but rather it recognizes that it has received everything, and so it freely gives. When young couples fall in love, there isn’t much anyone can do to convince them that they are not right for each other. They get married and two years later, they are divorced. The old line they give is “we were young then.” In some cases, they hate each other but deny it. So what happened? You cannot always trust the “feeling” of love. It may not be true love.

A mother’s love for her child is a strong love, which is a good example of love. However, it doesn’t measure up to God’s love for us in that her love is for her own children. She does not have that same love for all children. Another point is we do not have to do anything to earn God’s love. When people tell us that they love us, it’s often followed by “because” and that word accompanied by something we did. For example, “I love you because you are always there for me.” Or, “I love you because you are such a good friend.” This is not wrong and it can make us feel good that we brought something good to someone else’s life.

But John is not talking about a love that we have earned. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us, for while we were still weak…Christ died for the ungodly.” Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” We experience God’s love every time we gather around our Good Shepherd in the Word and Sacrament. In the Holy Communion Jesus gives you his love. When we receive absolution of our sins, it shows God’s love. At the same time, guilt and shame are gone. We should feel like a little child who was so worried about a parent being angry but later being told by Mom or Dad “don’t worry, I forgive you and will always love you!”

No doubt, there are members of society today who don’t care about God’s forgiveness. They don’t care about being forgiven by their parents or anyone else for that matter. This Godless attitude is where much of the crime comes from. As Lutherans, we have always understood that obedience to God’s commandments begins with the Father’s love for us in Jesus. The greatest love the universe has ever known is Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin. When you feel or try to love another, remember where that love fist came from. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the Name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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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