Announcements & Newsletter

UKRAINE RIBBON PINS AVAILABLE – There is a display in the Lobby. Please take a pin and make a donation to help the Red Cross in Ukraine (cash please). This is sponsored by Nataliya Gryb who works in the New Milford Post Office. Our member Susan Cheloudakis made ribbons and is a fellow worker.

PRAYERS AND SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE – The Ukrainian Lutheran Church and surrounding Eastern European partners are providing resources and accepting refugees fleeing war. They are expecting up to 4 million refugees from Ukraine being received by 5 surrounding countries. Please continue to pray for all those impacted. If you would like to donate by mail, make your check out to “The LCMS,” and write “Ukraine Relief” in the memo line. Mail to: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861. (or donate online) https://www.lcms.org/ukraine

Trinity Tidings February / March 2024

Dear Members and Friends of Trinity,

1 Corinthians 15:9 says, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” We use the word “if” often during our lives. “If I had done this, or if I had done that, things would have turned out better. If I acted sooner someone wouldn’t have died.”

After the Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912, Anna was told to go to a higher deck. But she was cold and decided to go to a lower deck where it was warmer. She was subsequently saved. Years later her son wrote, “The decision turned out to be crucial. Most of the people on the upper deck drowned.”

So often life seems to depend on “if” on certain conditions. This is true of events on which our eternal salvation depends. What if Christ had not risen from the dead? St. Paul wrote what the results would have been in the above verse. Our faith would be futile, there would be no Easter, no reason to pray, worship, or minister. There would be no church you attended where you grew up and no Trinity in New Milford.

However, the “if” is canceled and all these outcomes are avoided. Christ did rise from the dead. Christ Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. The apostles and many others knew this for sure for they had seen and heard and touched the risen Lord for themselves.

We rejoice in a faith that is valid. It rests on this promise of Jesus: “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies: and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” So, during life I’m sure that I will continue saying “if this and if that” but not about my Christian faith. It is here for all of us, and it is here to stay. Lent is a good time for us to meditate on our faith in Jesus and his death and Resurrection. It will get you through. Never give up. Just “keep the Faith.”

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Christian Bunzel

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS – Our Bishop of the New England District, The Reverend Bob Beinke who is recovering from knee surgery. We pray he gains his strength and mobility soon. Praise God for healing.

BIRTHDAYS – Mary Joyce who turned 103 years young on December 6^th!

Claire Belden (February 7^th – Age 9) Great Niece of Pastor and Daughter of Michelle and Todd Belden of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

Lynn Buffington (February 15^th) in North Andover, Massachusetts. God Bless them with good health. Anyone who would like their birthday listed in the newsletter during the year, see our Parish Secretary.

FUNERALS

Dorothy Ann Mark Franck (April 29, 1933 – August 28, 2023). The Memorial Service was October 28, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Church. Our deepest sympathy to her daughter Cathy and grandchildren Jon, Colin, and Wendy.

Martha W. Ley (July 12, 1938 – October 18, 2023). The Funeral Eucharist of Christian Burial was November 1, 2023 (All Saints Day) at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Church. Interment at Center Cemetery, New Milford. Our deepest sympathy to her family.

Robert C. Wolgast (September 12, 1942 – October 23, 2023). The Funeral Eucharist of Christian Burial was November 14, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Church. Our deepest sympathy to his wife Joanne and their family.

All three were very faithful worshipping Christians at Trinity Lutheran Church. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” We will miss them, until we meet again!

ASH WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE – The church is open from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for prayer and meditation. IMPOSITION OF ASHES: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and at the Holy Eucharist at 6:00 p.m.

DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR LENT – “Be Gracious to Me” by Jonathan Schkade of Hope Lutheran in Shawnee, Kansas. He uses the themes from Psalm 41 to help you consider your troubles and blessings in the context of Christ’s life on earth. Enduring troubles beyond your own, Jesus suffered and died to earn for you full deliverance from sin and death. These devotions show how God’s grace in Jesus has reversed your fate, bringing you to life in God’s presence forever. They are available in the Narthex and Lobby

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

PALM SUNDAY – March 24^th – Holy Eucharist: 10:30 a.m. Receive palms.

HOLY THURSDAY – March 28^th – Holy Eucharist: 6:00 p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY – March 29^th – Tenebrae Service of Darkness: 6:00 p.m.

EASTER SUNDAY – March 31^st – High Holy Eucharist: 10:30 a.m.

THANK YOUS

To Randy Weimar for his continued work in the building updating smoke alarms with batteries, storm windows, detectors, meeting with the Fire Inspector, and assisting at the altar when needed. Also, to Ben Weimar for helping. Doing a great job and much appreciated.
To Danny Krizan and his son Glen for a great job in clearing the brush around the church building, blowing leaves, trimming the bushes by the Lobby main entrance, and clearing the Island Garden. It makes the grounds look very attractive.
To Chris Wharton for her dedicated gardening at the main entrance, corner, and Island gardens during the year. It gets very hot doing the work, although it doesn’t seem very warm now. Also, for changing the flower arrangement in the Main Entrance Pedestal for each of the four seasons.
To Patrick Delzell for hanging the Advent Wreath in the Chancel/Sanctuary by the pulpit. It adds to our festive services.
To ALL MEMBERS who donated Poinsettia plants gracing the Chancel during the Christmas services and during Epiphany. We had 25 plants this year. Thanks to Danny Krizan for donating the Chancel Christmas Tree in memory of Nancy Krizan.
To Mark Haglund for transporting the Christmas tree from Scott’s Nursery and putting it up and decorating. Also, to Mark, Randy, and the Trinity Elf for taking it down and putting decorations away. It is a pleasure and gets the job done fast!
To our Readers during the services. They are Laurel Barron, Richard Brunhuber, Marybeth Folchi, Randy Weimar, and Laura Weimar. We also welcome our newest Lector to the group, George Folchi. We appreciate worship leaders who step up to proclaim the Word.
To Sunny Harris for beautifying the services with her many solos. She has great talent and sings in Latin, French, and of course, English.
To our Treasurer, Roger Arguello for his super dedicated service in taking care of counting donations, recording, and paying all bills during the year. We don’t know what we would do without him! God bless you Roger with continued good health (and a well-deserved trip on a Utah vacation!).
To Michael Gold for continuing to take charge of all Fellowship Hall rentals. They include four A.A. groups, the New Milford Garden Club, and private parties. In January one A.A. group cleaned, stripped, waxed, and buffed the Fellowship Hall floor. A great job!
To the Acolytes serving on the altar. They are Markus Wesaw III, William Wesaw, Brendan Sartori, Nicholas Sartori, and Ben Weimar. WELCOME to Richard Brunhuber who has signed up and joined the team as a Crucifer. They all enhance our worship and add “a touch of class” to the services.
To Jennifer Osborne for beautifying the Christmas Eve Candlelight service with solos and enhancing the singing of the hymns. Also, to the Trinity Women’s Group for their donation.

TRINITY UNCOVERS SPRING – We have a display in the Lobby with a picture of Trinity Church on the hill with snowflakes all around. You may take a snowflake which has a monetary amount and donate to help us with the winter expenses such as oil, electric, and snow plowing

A.A.R.P (American Assoc. of Retired People) – is no longer meeting here since it has closed the New Milford Chapter of this organization. Those members are welcome to attend the events at the Senior Center on the Green in town.

EASTER PLANT ORDER – Would you like to buy an Easter plant to enhance the altar on Easter Morning? Please mail this form with your check payable to “Trinity Lutheran Church” to P. O. Box 388, New Milford, CT 06776 or place your order in the box provided on the Narthex table. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY.

At the time of this printing, our supplier does not yet have an order due date. Please order ASAP to ensure we can get our complete order in on time. Thanks so much!

Name ___________________________________ How many? ____ Easter Lily @ $9.00

Check one: ____ given to the glory of God How many? ____ Hyacinth @ $8.00

How many? ____ Daffodil @ $8.00

____ given in loving memory of:

How many? ____ Tulip @ $8.00

________________________________________________

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

Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

The Serenity Prayer

GOD, grant me the serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change,

Courage to change the
things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the
pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this
sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make
all things right if I
surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy
in this life, and supremely
happy with Him forever in
the next. Amen.

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to

eternal life.

A Prayer for Animals

O God, you created all living things on the face of the earth and gave us dominion over them: Grant that we may be faithful to this trust in the way we treat all animals, both wild and tame. Teach us to admire their beauty and to delight in their cunning; to respect their strength and to wonder at their intelligence. Grant that our use of them may be both merciful and wise. So may we lend our voice to their praise of your goodness, which endures for ever.

The Pastor’s Prayer Book

by Robert N. Rodenmayer

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