September 2019 Newsletter Message

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I write this article, I am in the process of ensuring that all of the last-minute details for our synod’s Mission Mt. Vernon trip are in place. So far, I am pleasantly surprised at how completely everything has come together, particularly given that I have never been in charge of a mission trip of this magnitude...let alone one that is not taking place in my area!

This Labor Day weekend, Mission Mt. Vernon will gather over 30 volunteers from around the synod (including Bishop Roth) in addition to several members from our host congregation, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Mt. Vernon. The jam-packed weekend will feature several community service projects, such as leading games and activities at Nature Trail Nursing Home, cleaning up four Mt. Vernon city parks, and packing Birthday Bags for a local food pantry. Another important part of the trip will be taking care of some much-needed maintenance work at Prince of Peace’s property, something that will be much more successful because there will be so many extra people to help. The recurring theme of our weekend will be prayer, with opening and closing prayers each day and Sunday morning worship at Prince of Peace that will be followed by a potluck meal. Attendees will even have some educational opportunities as Pastor Elise Rothfusz, our synod’s Director for Evangelical Mission, will lead a Sunday School conversation about evangelism and I will be presenting an evening “Community Ministry Toolkit” session. I am looking forward to teaching that workshop because it will give me a chance to share some of the neat things that are going on here, including the new SERVE Sundays for Sunday School. While I am in Mt. Vernon, stay tuned to the Trinity Facebook page for plenty of pictures and (probably) some videos!

To conclude this month’s article, then, I simply want to thank you for being a congregation who is and has been strongly connected to the work of our synod. It is a blessing to be the pastor of a congregation that understands that Christ’s church is greater when we work together! Trinity is not the largest, the wealthiest, or the most centrally located congregation in the Central/Southern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; however, you have been committed over the years to being an active part of that greater whole, and that, in turn, helps me enjoy taking an active part as well. I love this vocation to which God has called me, and I love serving God’s call here with you!

Peace, 
Pastor Micah