FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER 2012

                                                Vol 8  No. 2

Father Michael, in addition to serving as Vicar of Trinity Episcopal,has been called to serve as the Interim Priest at St. John The Baptist Episcopal Church in Granby.  His office hours in Kremmling are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and in Granby on Thursdays and Fridays.  Saturday afternoon at 5 PM he leads worship in Winter Park at Cranmer Chapel.

Holy Eucharist Every Sunday at 11:00 AM.

The Trinity community gathers every Sunday for song, prayer, the proclaimation of God's Word and the celebration of Holy Eucharist.

Please join us this Sunday!

Coffee fellowship follows worship.

Repentance, turn, return—in Hebrew these three words have a common root: teshuvah, lashuv, shuvah.  Lent has a character of turning away from those things that often preoccupy us and moving in another direction, as Jesus did when he entered the wilderness.  Lenten disciplines are a turning away from those things that dominate and control us.  It is turning away from those things that hinder us from sensing and living in the steadfast abundant love of God.  Lenten turning is a path into the “wilderness” just as it was for Jesus.

 In life’s wilderness experiences, times of doubt, illness or loss, the temptations to question the loving presence of God are many.  The temptation to put ones ultimate trust in the false gods such as power, materialism, or worldly success, is strong.  So for the forty days of Lent we intentionally take the path that turns into the wilderness. We take on simple disciplines, prayer, fasting, acts of compassion and service, to show our willingness turn from our thoughts and actions that hinder us from experiencing the abiding presence God.

 We fast as a sign of our willingness to set boundaries for ourselves.  We fast as a sign of our connection to all those whose daily lives are affected by hunger.  We pray for forgiveness, for a right relationship with ourselves, with creation, with God.  We do acts of compassion and service to incarnate the love of God which encompasses us.

 “The word is very near you,” says the Lord.  (Deut. 30:14)  Not so you can merely hear it or think about it, but so you can do it and be it in the name of Christ.  Returning to God is not just a mental exercise, but a turn that changes us and the way we live.

Contact Father Michael Mortvedt at vicarmichael@q.com

Trinity Episcopal Church is a mission of the Diocese of Colorado. The congregation welcomes all to worship with us and practices open communion; where all Christians are welcome at the Lord's table.

Please join us this Sunday for meaningful worship and fellowship following the service.