Trinity Lutheran Church; Arendtsville, Pa

As Trinity celebrates the sacrament of Baptism, we also reflect on the prayer King Solomon prays over Israel in 1 Kings 8:54-66. When we consider Solomon's prayer that Israel "devote [themselves] to the Lord [their] God, walking in his statues and keeping his commandments," we consider what our own devotion looks like, viewed through the lens of God's never-ending love for us and all God's children.

Trinity hears the story of King Solomon's first few moments in power, and reflects on the gift of wisdom given to him by God.

Trinity dives into a story of the death of Absalom, David's son and a troubling character in 2 Samuel 8. In the midst of a heartbreaking mess, how God acts in the midst of such a mess. God does not call bad things good, but does grow good things in the midst of these things.

Trinity continues its time with the story of David's terrible acts towards Bathsheba and Uriah. In this story we consider the tension between grace and justice, recognizing that the truth of our actions - good or terrible - are spoken clearly by the same mouth that grants grace.

Trinity hears the story from 2 Samuel 11:1-15 of David lusting after and forcibly taking Bathsheba as his own. As we dwell in this story, we realize that we too have taken people and property as our own and used them both for our own selfish desires instead of treating all people and all property as the good creation of God that all people and all things are.

Trinity celebrates the blessings of grace and forgiveness that are poured out on each of us in our baptism. Dwelling in the story of 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, we recognize that in our best moments, our worst moments, and everything in between, God will always, always, always, always love all God's people.

We hear this Sunday the story of David and the Israelites moving the ark of the covenant in 2 Samuel 6:1-19. The story changes in orientation from a celebration of David and Israel to a celebration of thanksgiving to God for God's blessing on God's people. In this story, Trinity considers its own orientation, and what it might look like to give thanks to God every six steps.

Trinity is fed by the complexity of David's calling this Sunday, as we hear the story of David's first few days as king in 2 Samuel 5:1-5,9-10. In this story we consider our own callings from God, hearing these words both internally and externally.

Deacon Chelle Huth, Director of Lifelong Learning, Certificate Studies & Adjunct Faculty at United Lutheran Seminary joins Trinity to work through our initial experience of David's anointing in 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13.

Trinity continues to follow the story of 1 Samuel, looking at the experience of the Israelites in chapter 8 crying out for a king. In our reflection, we consider what it is they were asking for in such a request, and how we similarly cry out to this day.

On the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Trinity celebrates the graduates of all kinds in our midst as we reflect on the Third Commandment, to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. In a world full of business and demand, we are a people with need for and stories full of rest.

On Holy Trinity Sunday, Trinity turns its focus to the Old Testament, seeking to understand our central stories of faith a little more fully. Understanding where the prophet Isaiah falls on the timeline of our faith, we take our first recent steps in hearing the good news of God in the Old Testament, recognizing that our lives look like Isaiah's as we approach the table, receive bread and wine that touch our lips, and are sent into the world with a message from God.

On Pentecost Sunday Trinity celebrates its youth who make public affirmation of their baptismal faith and reflect on our place in the midst of our scriptural stories.

On the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Trinity celebrates the ascension of Christ and the voices of love that repeat themselves throughout our lives.

On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, Trinity reflects on the members of our communities that serve as First Responders, and the way that their work, when at its best, echoes the command of Jesus in our text.

On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Trinity focuses on another familiar image of Jesus and the Father, the vine and vinegrower. We together reflect on our reactions to the pruning the vinegrower does, and take time to search for God throughout our lives.

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter Trinity dwells in a familiar image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, reflecting honestly on our tension filled lives of being shepherded.

On the Third Sunday of Easter, Trinity is joined in worship by Rev. Martin Zimmann, a gift officer and alumni/ae relations director with United Lutheran Seminary.

On the Second Sunday of Easter, Trinity looks at the familiar text regarding the disciples' and Thomas' first few experiences of Jesus. In the midst of this, we explore the relationship between faith and doubt.

Happy Easter! On this Easter Sunday, Trinity celebrates the resurrection of Christ and dwells for a moment our new, daily relationship with both life and death.