All Members, Winter Residents, Family and Friends,
Happy New Year! Here we are at the beginning of yet another year, 2026! Following a great Christmas Celebrations here at Trinity and with family and friends we got out of town for a week. Susan and I had a wonderful vacation as we cruised the Caribean on board the MSC Grandiosa! We celebrated my 69 birthday and were onboard for New Years Eve. We got home here in Lake Placid Sunday afternoon because Trinity Tots resumed this past Monday!
This is a Year of Jubilee for Trinty as we celebrate 50 Years of Ministry and look forward to the next 50 years. As your Pastor of nearly 28 years, it is my hope and prayer that people 50 years from now, look back at the next 50 years and say thank you to those who have preceeded them in ministry here at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lake Placid, Florida.
Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that God gave different gifts to different people for the equipping of the saints (church members) 11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” So as a Pastor, called by God and Ordained into the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod I have had 4 years of college and 3 years of seminary, plus field work while in seminary, a year of vicarage all learning pastoral skills. All this training and learning so I as one pastor among many can have the priviledge of training, inspiring and equipping YOU for the ministry that God has called you to accomplish in your life.
Yesterday, January 6th, 2026 was the observance of the Epiphany or shining forth of God’s Son. The day marks the 12th day after Christmas and is traditionally associated with the arrival of the Magi from the east. It is believed that it took the wise men up to two years to arrive to see the Son of God because they had to travel from such a distance. Epiphany also marks the official end of the Advent/Christmas Season and we enter into what the liturgical calendar indicates is the Season of Epiphany. The Season of Epiphany extends this year until February 15th which is noted aas as Transfiguration Sunday. Then that is immediately follow by Ash Wednesday which mark the beginning of Lent on February 18th, 2026. So the next several months are busy months and we moved quickly from the Christmas Season to the Lenten Season this year. Easter is April 5th, 2026.
Please remember that this Sunday there will be Communion but there will not be Communion on the January 18th. 2026.
This Sunday following the service we will have the annual congregational budget meeting for 2026.
Please remember that this week is the final week to sign up for the 50th Anniversary Luncheon to be held on Sunday January 18th, 2026 following Church. Rev. James Guelzow will be with us to preach on the 18th as he was considered the founding Pastor although at the time he was serving Peace Okeechobee. Pastor Norris will be leading the liturgy for that morning.
As part of our 50 Anniversary Year of Jubilee we would like to raise approximately $10,000.00. This money would be used to replace our damaged Carolon System. Additionally we are investigating what we can do to provide hymnal accompaniment when Susan is not here. It is very difficut to find an organist when we need one for our worship services.