Trinity Tidings | May 15th Edition
Sunday Worship
Last Sunday. . .
Trinity Ringers opens worship with Margaret R. Tucker's "Festal Sounds". This is a lively piece that opens with a fanfare before a joyful melody comes through. A middle section becomes quite and contemplative with the melody moving to the lower bells. The opening melody returns to close out the piece.
This Sunday. . .
What's eternal life anyway? This Sunday we learn what is important to Jesus as we hear the prayer he prayed on the last night of his life.
Trinity Together Sunday Forum
Dr. Martha Good presents on Trinity's support
of Thomas Ford School
Trinity has long been committed to supporting education in the city of Reading. This year we chose to support the work of the Red Knight Accelerated Academy at Thomas Ford. Dr. Good will present on the state of the school and the difference our support has made throughout the year.
A Strategic Plan Update from Pr. Hans
Thank you for engaging so thoughtfully with the draft Strategic Plan over our three Forum sessions this spring, concluding yesterday. Following our conversations, I have made revisions to the draft you received. These revisions will be discussed by the Vestry in advance of our vote on Trinity Sunday, but I want to share with you now the most significant changes. Click on the image to read.
The circulated draft did not give Advocacy and Service the prominence it deserves. That was a mistake, and I want to own it plainly. Our listening sessions and Vestry discernment focused heavily on institutional health — on the conviction that a stronger Trinity would naturally produce more of everything, including service — and the draft reflected that framing.
But our Identity, as we discerned together throughout 2024 and 2025, names Advocacy and Service as one of our four emphases, equal in weight to liturgical worship, robust preaching and teaching, and musical excellence. A plan that did not say so clearly was a plan that did not yet match who we are.
Our commitment to Advocacy and Service is now woven through every phase of the plan rather than treated as a separate or subordinate concern. You will find specific commitments to Common Ground, Habitat for Humanity, Refresh Berks, the Literacy Council, ESL Dinners, and new ESL Conversation Groups throughout. This framing makes plain that institutional health and outward service are not sequential goals but simultaneous expressions of our one calling from the Lord.
A handful of smaller adjustments have also been made, including a more thoughtful approach to the Fall Festival of the Arts and an accelerated parking expansion timeline made possible by opportunities that emerged since the draft was prepared. The prose throughout has also been tightened; despite its broader scope, the document is now 23 pages.
I am grateful for the depth and seriousness of your engagement with this plan. Please continue to share your thoughts and comments on this revised draft with me and the members of our Vestry.
In Christ,
Pastor Hans
RMF Scholarship Concert
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Trinity Lutheran Church and Reading Musical Foundation are pleased to partner on these special recitals featuring recipients of RMF’s 2026 Merit Audition program. These students represent the finest student musicians across Berks County from elementary through high school. Enjoy an afternoon of music by the incredible group of young musicians!
275 Years in the Making: A Trinity Sunday You Won’t Want to Miss!
This May 31st, we aren’t just celebrating Trinity Sunday; we’re kicking off a milestone year as we begin our 275th Anniversary celebration. This is a day to honor our history, break bread together, and literally "set the stage" for our future.
We’ll start the morning with worship, followed by our Annual Meeting. This is a pivotal moment for our community as we review reports from our leadership and take action on our new Strategic Plan. Your voice and your presence are the heart of this process!
After the meeting, we’ll transition from business to fellowship with a Festive Brunch, leading into a truly historic musical event: “Our Hope for Years to Come.”
Dr. Wentz will lead us through an organ recital spanning five centuries of music. Most importantly, this is the very last time you will hear the majesty of our organ before the sanctuary renovation begins. From the iconic sounds of Bach’s "St. Anne" to modern masterpieces, let’s give our sanctuary the send-off it deserves.
The Schedule for May 31:
Worship Service at 10:00 AM
Annual Meeting (Strategic Plan vote)
Festive Brunch
Organ Concert at 1:30 PM
Educational Assistance
Form submissions are now open.
2026 Courtyard Cafe on Pause
Due to the impending construction, the Outreach and Service committee has decided not to host summer Courtyard Cafes in 2026. The pause will allow us to discern the purpose and future of the ministry to our neighbors. Any questions can be directed to Vickie Unruh, Outreach and Service Chair, or Dcs. Deborah Graf.
