January 2020 Newsletter Message

The calendar has turned over to 2020, meaning that it is time once again for New Year’s Resolutions! Many people will resolve to join a gym, eat better, be nicer to people, or any number of other noble pursuits. A good New Year’s Resolution should be challenging to keep and produce a favorable enough result that keeping it is worth the work. 

While coming up with an idea for this month’s Trinity Tidings article, I thought that I might write a New Year’s Resolution for Trinity. One thing led to another, and I ended up writing it in a Robert’s Rules of Order format used at our synod assemblies. The “WHEREAS” clauses in the resolution are adapted from my favorite section of Luther’s Small Catechism (The Apostles’ Creed), and then we finally get to the resolution part.

WHEREAS, God has created each and every one of us together with all that exists; and
WHEREAS, God daily and abundantly provides for and protects us out of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy without any merit or worthiness of our own at all; and
WHEREAS, Jesus Christ is our Lord and has redeemed us, lost and condemned human beings; and
WHEREAS, Jesus Christ has purchased and freed us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death so that we may belong to him and serve him; and
WHEREAS, We cannot by our own understanding or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, and enlightens us and the whole church; and 
WHEREAS, The Holy Spirit keeps us in the one common, true faith, forgives all sins, and on the last day will give to us and all believers  in Christ eternal life: therefore, be it 
RESOLVED, that Trinity Lutheran Church will work in 2020 to welcome people, seeking to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people and groups that the church often overlooks; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Trinity Lutheran Church will work in 2020 to nurture people in faith, building their trust in the boundless love, grace, and mercy of God; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Trinity Lutheran Church will work in 2020 to serve people in helpful ways, showing the compassion of Christ in words and actions.

Peace to you and your family in this new year, and I look forward to keeping these resolutions together!

Resolved,
Pastor Micah

P.S. Thank you all for the Christmas greetings, cards, and gifts! Trinity is a congregation with a reputation for loving its pastors, and I am grateful for the love you show me!