All Members, Winter Residents, Family and Friends,
Greetings on this Monday afternoon! Yesterday was a good day here at Trinity as we recognized our teaching staff, one of the Students of the week and his family worshipped with us and we had communion. It was a great morning. Then in the afternoon we had a standing room only packed house for the Trinity Tots closing program. So many wonderful celebrations, promotions, graduations, and end of the year celebrations throughout the country this time of year. We pray God’s richest and abundant blessings on all students and graduates as we head into the summer activities. May almighty God keep them all healthy and free from hard or injury.
I received news via Mr. Robert Sesko that Mr. Don Wirsing passed away Saturday May 17th, 2025. He had suffered a stroke on Friday and passed on Saturday. Just before Don left to go back north he and I had a great conversation and I gave him Holy Communion. I am glad we had that final time together and pray God’s Blessings upon his family as they move forward. Don was suffering from at least two different kinds of blood cancer. He is at rest now in the arms of our Savior and reunited with his loving wife Jan.
Don marks the 3rd former member, associate member or communicant member who has passed in the past several months. All three of these dear people Paul Lang, Cor Palcer and Don have contributed so much to Trinity and have left a lasing legacy of faith and service to their Lord Jesus Christ. Such a time like this reminds us of the brevity of life and how we need to be sure all our affairs are in order for our families when the time comes of our passing.
As we move toward the summer months here at Trinity we notice a marked decline in attendance and activities as members go north and go on vacation. This could be a critical summer for Trinity as we are facing some challenges like we have never faced. So please remember Trinity as you move through the next several months in your prayers and in you weekly attendance. Former President Mike Bardon challenged all of us to give just $5.00 more each week! That will make a huge difference for Trinity!
Pentecost June 8th, 2025 will be here before we know it. This year for the first time in many, many years I will be confirming three young ladies, who happen to be sisters, Kylie Ann Pepper, Kate Lynn Pepper and Klaire Robyn Pepper. I do pray that everyone will take the time to encourage these young ladies in their walk in faith with their Lord Jesus Christ. As part of the Confirming of their faith, I try to find and appropriate Confirmation verse to give to each Confirmand.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod provides an extensive list of possible Confirmation verses in the Lutheran Service Book. As I was looking through this list there are some great texts suggested for use. I came up with an idea. Although I have my sermons outlined up until August, I got to thinking it would be fun to see if there are texts suggested here that YOU may want me to preach on. Yes after 42 years I am soliciting from this list of texts your suggestions for me to preach on specific texts in the coming year. So look over the list, make give me you suggestion and I will try to fit that text in the preaching schedule for the next year. Some Sundays at certain times of the year dictate the subject matter and text to preach, but there are many other Sundays that are not bound by certain expectations or seasonal holidays.
Have a great week and make it a great week for someone else as well!
Respectfully In Christ,
Rev. Richard A. Norris