Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!! Alleluia!!! 1 May 2020

A Blessed Season of Easter to you and your family.

We’re in biblical territory. After 40 days and 40 nights of sheltering in place in our homes, we greet the 4th Sunday in Easter this weekend. No matter whether we are in Year A, B or C of our three-year lectionary cycle of scripture readings in worship, this is “Good Shepherd Sunday” and it will bring to expression its themes of compassionate care, healing and protection.

Those are welcome themes as the COVID-19 pandemic has led people and nations through the valley of the shadow of death during these 40 days and 40 nights.

Attached to today’s EBlast is an order of worship for this “Good Shepherd Sunday”. It contains the text of a sermon that would have been preached on Sunday were we able to gather together at Trillium.

Icon of The Good Shepherd

Also attached is an “Adult Forum in the Home” with a deeper look at the theme of good shepherds in the Bible. And here is your first sample of a Season of Easter video sermon:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJoZv1zp6iM

As we move toward the possibility of Zoom live worship in a few weeks, this first video sermon has a bonus feature: you can fast for-ward through it! This sermon on the theme of “Peace” was recorded at the Lutheran Church of Geneva

(the sanctuary with its balcony on three sides):

The sermon is a little dated, of course, but still speaks to both the need for, and the presence of, peace in our COVID-19 pandemic era.

Pastor Stephen

Good Shepherd Sunday Reflections from Trillium’s Director of Music, Lilla Hall

Dear Friends,

The psalm appointed for this Good Shepherd Sunday is Psalm 23. It is a favourite among hymn writers and there are many versions in our worship book. Over the years we have raised our voices and sung out:

Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us ELW 789 The King of Love My Shepherd Is ELW 502 The Lord’s My Shepherd ELW 778 Shepherd Me, O God ELW 780 Have No Fear Little Flock ELW 764

If you like, pick up your ELW and choose one of the hymns listed above, sing it out, remember where you first learned the hymn and reflect on where you were then and then look at where you are now. Look at how the world has changed and that these words from Psalm 23 can still give comfort, joy and peace.

For me with all that is going on in our world, in our country, in our homes, simply reading the text and pondering the words “…lead me…guide me...walk through the valley…follow me…” – give me lots to think about in this moment.

I‘ll leave you with a prayer from a book With Every Note I Sing by David Haas That We May Walk With God

We pray that God will pour out upon usthe many gifts which reflect God’s promise.May God strengthen us within, and make a home in our hearts,with justice and compassion at the center of our lives.Then we will be able to fully understand the unbelievable love of Christ,and to know this love which is beyond our comprehension,so that we may walk with God.

Peace,

Lilla

Lilla HallDirector of MusicTrillium Lutheran Church

Interim Pastor Appointment Extended

After 40 days and 40 nights of working from home with Ontario’s pandemic state of emergency looking like it will extend well into the summer if not into the early fall, Pastor Stephen had a heart-to-heart talk with Pastor Rebecca, Bishop Pryse and Rev. Doug Reble. With his end of June commitment to an event in Switzerland cancelled and plans to travel there postponed for a year, Pastor Stephen and Trillium’s Board agreed to extend his appointment as interim pastor to the conclusion of the state of emergency when Trillium can safely re-gather for worship at the church and subsequently hold a congregational meeting to vote on calling a new longer term pastor.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A children's message from Canadian Lutheran World Relief

Former ELCIC National Bishop Telmor Sartison recorded a special video edition of his children's storybook "Elephant in the Middle of the Room" which shares the story of Elephant and his friends on the farm as they learn about accepting new and different animals into their community. The story is a great way to spark a conversation among the youngest members of your congregation about accepting new and different people such as refugees, into our own communities. The video features the book's original illustrations and is read by Bishop Telmor himself. To read along with him, please click here.

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National Bishop Daily Song and Devotions

Are you aware that our National Bishop Susan Johnson is a trained singer? Are you aware that she’s regularly been singing a hymn and offering a prayer during these 40 days and 40 nights of COVID-19 pandemic? Check it out on the national ELCIC web site – https://www.elcic.ca/publichealth/BishopSusanHymnandPrayer.cfm -- and while you’re there, explore the site a bit and learn what’s going on from coast to coast to coast in our church.

Thank You to All Who Are Supporting Trillium

During these unusual weeks when we have suspended Sunday worship, we are deeply grateful to those Trillium members who make use of PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittances) or Canada Post to get their financial offerings to the church.

Thank you, too, to those who have offered assistance to help other Trillium members with errands such as delivering groceries or medications. Trillium is a remarkable community of support to one another.

Many thanks!

A Message for Community Ministry Volunteers

To all of our faithful and passionate Community Ministry Volunteers!

I can’t believe it has been 6 weeks since CM “closed until further notice” the suppers at Trillium Lutheran Church. For many of us, our weekly gathering was a time to connect with friends and community in a very special and unique way. I miss you, our team misses you, and our Community Ministry community misses you all! It is a strong reminder that it’s not just about the food...this ministry is about the people.

I want you to know that you are all very much appreciated and I am grateful that those of you who are able, are staying connected to some of our most vulnerable folks during this strange and unsettling time. Our hope is that when CM gets back to what we do best, gathering in the non-judgemental, safe and welcoming space at Trillium to break bread together, you will be able to join in again.

Until then, the team, and myself, wish you all the best of health and safety for you and your families.

Blessings & Peace,

Rev. Susan E. Cole and the Community Ministry Management Committee:John Witzel (Chair); Joyce Schneider (Treasurer); Glenn Menard (Secretary); Helen Weber; Larry Kelly; Karen Gould; Uli Kuebler; Melissa Burke; Nancy O’Neill; Warren Schmidt;

Confirmation Camp / Summer Lutheran Youth Camp

The several congregations involved in planning the August Confirmation Camp / Summer Lutheran Youth Camp met this morning. Influenced by the cancelation of CLAY 2020 and the reduced, cautious steps being taken by summer church camps, including Camp Kintail, the decision was made to cancel this summer’s camp.

Trillium Messenger

A newly re-edited and revised February – March issue of the Trillium Messenger Newsletter has been posted to our web site at www.trilliumwaterloo.ca There you’ll find many of the events and programs with a “Cancelled” or “Postponed” sticker on

them to bring them up to date with the current situation in the life of our congregation as well as in Ontario. That issue originally was published just before we closed down Trillium for worship and programs in mid-March.

A new May into Summer issue of the newsletter is underway. If you have content or information to be included, please get it to Pat Milburn by May 8th.

The TLC Social Committee has had to cancel our trip to the Hamilton family theatre Cambridge (Drayton Entertainment) to see '42nd Street' on Saturday, June 20, 2020. Drayton Entertainment has cancelled this production

Reduced Trillium Office HoursDuring Ontario's State of Emergency, Trillium's Office Hours are:

Wednesday & Friday – 9 a.m. to 12 Noon

Prayers with the global Lutheran Communion

The Lutheran World Federation continues to offer daily prayers and reflections for the Season of Easter. Here are the prayers for 3 - 9 May. https://www.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/2020/documents/20200501_easter_reflections_week_4_en.pdf

In the introduction, note the assurance that even if we are praying alone in our own home in self-isolation during the pandemic, we are not alone:

We commend these prayers to your use, whether alone in your home, as a family, or as your community is able to virtually gather from a distance during the season of Easter. And as you pray in solidarity with the Lutheran communion across the globe, and the communion of saints in all times and places, be encouraged by the counsel that Luther offers in his letter, A Simple Way to Pray:

“Never think that you are kneeling or standing alone, rather think that the whole of the Church…are standing there beside you and you are standing among them in a common, united petition which God cannot disdain. There we find God the Creator, God the Redeemer, God the Holy Spirit, that is, God who daily sanctifies us.”

Rejoice, in the good news that all creation shares in this season! Christ is risen! And with it, all creation sings hope in the promise of new life. (page 2)

New Assistants to the Bishop

On Thursday April 23, the Eastern Synod Council issued calls to the Rev. Christie Morrow and the Rev. Adam Snook to serve as Assistants to the Bishop of the Eastern Synod.

Pastor Morrow will be serving the synod on a 50% basis with primary responsibilities in the areas of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Stewardship (Generosity) and Public Policy and Service Ministries. The latter two of these portfolios had been staffed by Mr. Jeff Pym and the Rev.

Katherine Gohm, who had each announced their intention to conclude their service earlier this year.

Pastor Snook will provide leadership in the synod's Missional Leadership initiative while providing oversight in the Communication portfolio. With Bishop Pryse and the Rev. Doug Reble, he will also share the vital and ongoing work of providing support to congregations and rostered leaders.

The full announcement may be found here:Thf

hhttps://easternsynod.org/story/april-29-2020-eastern-synod-council-calls-new-assistants-bishop