Happy Epiphany, Everyone:
The church office will be closed on Mondays and
occasionally we will be flexing the hours the
office is open on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays.
Thank you for your understanding.
We will return to our regular Sunday schedule next week
with Sunday School at 9 am, the Divine Service at 10:30, and
Catechism classes after the service. The Adult Class will
be starting a series called Strange Tales from the Bible.
We will look at some of the lesser known and often seemingly
bizarre stories from the Old Testament. So, you think Noah's
Flood is a cute little story for children? Think
again! Not only the Flood itself, but even more so what
happened after the Flood, is shocking. All are
welcome.
The Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday at 2 pm. We
will be examining a study from the Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne on the authority of scripture.
The service recording will be on Thursday at 6 pm.
Sometimes we have to reschedule the day or time due to
inclement weather. If you would like to attend, but not
sure about the weather, contact Pastor Ash.
A Minister's Musing: When do you take down Christmas
decorations? With secular society forgetting the 12 Days
of Christmas, some people kick the Christmas tree to the curb on
December 26 or January 2. In the church, decorations
are usually kept up at least through the Epiphany,
January 6. It is appropriate to keep some Christmas
decorations up until Candlemas, February 2, which is the
40th day after Jesus' birth. We have traditions and local
customs, which are good to follow, but no hard and fast
rules. Personally, I like to hang on to Christmas as long
as I can. Practically, the decorations often come down
when we have the volunteers to do the work. Have a
blessed Epiphany season.
A Personal Note: It was an emotional day Sunday, with
many huds and tears, when I announced my pending retirement
(June 1). Thank you for your constant love and
support. The feelings are mutual.
In Christ's service, Pastor Ash
Dear Members of First Trinity Lutheran Church:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.” 1 Timothy 4:7
I am writing to tell you that I will be retiring. My
last Sunday here will be June 1, 2025. Please be happy
for Melanie and me.
In 2024, I celebrated my 65th birthday and marked
35 years as a called and ordained servant of
Christ. I am thankful to God for the opportunity I
have had to serve Him in His Church. My tenure at First
Trinity Lutheran Church has been a joy and a blessing to
me. My hope is that I have been a blessing to you.
Why am I retiring at this time? It is important for you
to be assured that it is not due to any dissatisfaction with
the congregation. To the contrary, I am very happy with the
way things are in our parish. I do have some health issues.
These are things I have tried not to dwell on or discuss
publicly. I will be glad to have time to rest and
heal. I pray God will eventually give me useful ways to
serve Him in the future.
Also, Melanie and I have lived away from our families since I
began seminary almost 40 years ago. We never get to
spend holidays, or much time at all really, with our
children and grandchild. You know how important family
is. At this stage of life, having active, meaningful
time with them is something we want to do while we can.
Our plan is to move into a retirement community in Nevada near
our daughter and her family.
Eastern District President John Pingel has been informed and
I will be filing the appropriate paperwork forthwith. He
and Circuit Visitor Tom Lutz will be working with you on the
next steps the congregation needs to take. Before I go,
I will share with you some of my thoughts and hopes about the
future of First Trinity Lutheran Church. It is all good.
Thank you all for your love, support and prayers. May God bless
you and First Trinity Lutheran Church.
