May Day!

HELP!!! Many people know that the common distress call, "mayday," is an anglicized version of the French m'aidez (help me). I think I need to use that term this month because what a month May is going to be at Trinity Lutheran!

May began on, well, May Day, May 1, with the Spring Choir Concert. Trinity's many wonderful musicians and singers participated in that event: led by Brad Newsom and accompanied by David Reeder and Margaret Armstrong, our Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, Men's Chorus, and the women of Grace, we were blessed with an afternoon filled with a marvelous variety of musical numbers. And the catered meal and fellowship afterwards put the icing on the cake (or, I guess, the dressing on the Chinese Chicken salad). A really nice day - thanks to all for their hard work!

May 8th brings us to Mother's Day, a chance to honor, remember and celebrate our mothers and those who nurtured us in life. We have planned a special coffee hour for this day.

On May l5th we observe Pentecost Sunday, the celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. Confirmation Day, the affirmation of baptismal vows by our 8th graders, will also be celebrated on this day at the 10:30 service. Please note that this will be a bit more of a traditional service to accommodate the rite of Confirmation ("Affirmation of Baptism"). You are invited to join us in celebrating this new phase of the Christian lives of these young people: Jamie E., Rebecca F., Darlene S. and Tyler S..

Because of our congregation's enthusiastic and generous support of the organization African Team Ministries (which sells African-made crafts to fund AIDS prevention and awareness in Africa), on May 22nd we have an opportunity hear Bishop Gideon Maghina, Bishop of the Central Lutheran Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. He will bring the message at both the 8 and 10:30 services, as well as lead a special Sunday School hour in the AMC. What a great day this will be!

On Friday, May 27th through Monday, May 30th, Trinity's annual Memorial Day Weekend Family Retreat will take place at Mile High Pines near Big Bear. See the announcement within this Caller for further details. If you haven't signed up, it's not too late!

Lastly (whew!), we go to our Summer Worship Schedule on May 29th, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and continue it through Labor Day weekend. We will have one worship service at 9 am, followed by a Sunday School hour at 10:30. The Church Council decided to extend our summer schedule just a bit (last year it started on July 4th weekend) since we normally have only one service on Memorial Day weekend anyway. I know, I know... change is HARD for Lutherans, but I think this is a good thing! Instead of two really sparse services during the summer, we have one really decently attended one at which we get to combine the worshippers from the two services. "Will it be traditional or contemporary," I am regularly asked. "Yes!" is always my answer - we'll do a blended, contemporarily traditional service (ok, so I made that up). AND... plans are in the works for a special coffee hour/fellowship time each week, as well as fellowship activities throughout the summer.

Blessings, peace and joy!

Pastor Larry