Services

All 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 for Sunday, September 20, 2020

Prayer of the Day – Almighty and eternal God, you show perpetual lovingkindness to us your servants. Because we cannot rely on our own abilities, grant us your merciful judgment, and train us to embody the generosity of your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading – Jonah 3:10-4:11

Psalm – Psalm 145:1-8

Second Reading – Philippians 1:21-30

Gospel – Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon – In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. The text for this 25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time is taken from Matthew 20:1-16. (Read Gospel). Vs. 16. “So the last will be first and the first will be last.”

There are many ways of measuring success. Of course, the most popular would be that the more money you earn, the more successful you are. That is why in our Gospel for today the people complained. Those who worked from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. received the same pay as those who worked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the boss told them that he has the right to do what he wants with his money. Both arguments make sense.

The measure of success depends on how you define success and what scale you use to measure it. The laborers in the Gospel are interested in measuring their success economically. They feel that full time workers should be paid more than part time workers. However, doesn’t it rain on both the worker and the slacker. Doesn’t God’s forgiving grace fall upon the new convert to Christianity of age 65 as well as on the baptized baby of age 1 month? The way I figure it, we should be satisfied and thankful for what we are given and never mind what others have been given. Sweep off your own front stoop and don’t judge your neighbor. God has the right to treat all of us as he wishes. Perhaps God sees some people and expects more from them. And God sees others and “lets them slide” since he knows that they aren’t capable of much more. Just like when we give to charities. God may expect more from a wealthy person than from a poor person. However, what a poor person gives from the heart is just as important as the abundance given by a wealthy person.

Members of a congregation have different gifts. Some with the talent of speaking in public may feel comfortable in reading lessons or preaching a sermon for the pastor. Some may serve the church in different capacities such as teaching, being on the church council, or showing up at worship. No one is greater than another. This is how the kingdom of God works, whether we see it that way or not.

The kingdom of God is like a generous employer who knows there is enough work for everyone to feel useful. The kingdom of God is like having enough to be generous, and ensuring that others have enough too. Within “The Church” those who have more, perhaps more money and/or perhaps more intelligence will “help out” those who have less. That’s what a good Christian does. And he does it humble without bragging about it. The “poor person’s” Christian example or inspiring personality can in-turn be a huge example to others.

The parable warns against allowing yourself to be reduced to a reward for your work. God created a world where there is enough for everyone. You are more than a wage. You cannot be measured by the hours that you work or by what you save or by a score you receive. You are infinitely more valuable than that.

Of course, we all know that it’s wise to save for retirement. It’s good to work hard and be a “company man” or a “company woman.” Isn’t it better to be happy in the work that you do than to only look for the paycheck? It’s good to pay your bills on time. In the world in which we live, these are good attributes to have. However, your outlook on life and eternal life is different. You cannot add up a person’s wages to find their worth within God’s kingdom. If you are more valuable than an hour’s wage, so is everyone else. Likewise, God gives out beauty to all in different degrees. One expression says it well. “When God gave out good looks, you must have been first in line.” God has the right to do with his gifts as he sees fit. Live your life and do not allow the social and economic scorecards of human society determine your value. God grant us this faith. In the Name of the Father, Son, + and 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.

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