Trinity Lutheran Church Lake Norden, SD Member NALC Pastor David Patterson (605) Trinity Office:

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1 Trinity Lutheran Church Lake Norden, SD Member NALC Pastor David Patterson (605) Trinity Office: Secretary Brittany Larson (605) Website: Pg 1 Upcoming Events Pg 2 Pastor s Pen Pg 3 Council Minutes Pg 4 Prayer Program Birthdays Faith Milestones Pg 5 Kids Page Pg 6 Ladies Luncheon Cemetery Meeting Pg 7 News About our People Pg 8 Evangelism Corner Date Event Time April 6 th TLCW Bible Study 1 pm April 12 th April 14 th April 14 th April 16 th April 19 th April 24 th April 27th April 27 th April 28 th April 29 th Danish Cemetery Trinity 7 pm Evangelism Meeting 6:30 pm Church Council Meeting 7 pm TLCW Ladies Luncheon 12 pm Nursing Home 1:30 pm Confirmation Public Badger 6 pm Administrative Professionals Day Deadline for Newsletter TLCW Quilting 1 pm Newsletter Folding 8:45 am It s the annual church cleaning tiem again and we need your help (men, women, & youth) anyone that could and would help. There ll be a list on the bulletin board in the entry and also in the West entry. Please choose a job or jobs on the list and when completed cross it off. Whatever time works for you (after work, after supper, or during the day). All help is appreciated! Adult bible study has completed for the year. Due to busy schedules, it will resume this fall. 1 P a g e

2 JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN! But will we rise from the dead too? There seems to be some confusion about this in America today. Mainline Protestant Christians across the country (including Lutherans) have just attended Easter Sunday services and all proudly proclaimed that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, and surveys as recent as 2014 show that nearly ¾ of Americans believe that Jesus did rise from the dead. But when you ask whether they think that we will also rise from the dead, the numbers look quite different. A 2014 survey titled Relationships in America survey project conducted by the Austin Institute showed that only 37% of Americans believe in the resurrection of the dead and that same survey showed that just 42% of professing Mainline Protestants (including Lutherans) believe in the resurrection of the dead. This means that the majority of Lutherans today do not believe that they will rise from the dead. This is a problem. It is not logically consistent to believe that Jesus rose from the dead while not believing that we will also rise from the dead. We can t have it both ways. Either Jesus rose and because He rose we know that we will rise, or we will not rise and since we will not rise, Jesus could not have risen. Don t agree? Listen to the Apostle Paul: Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19, ESV) In a world that considers empirically proven facts to be real and considers all else to be defined as personal truths, it has become all too easy to ignore this logical inconsistency -- after all, it's MY truth. For it to be true, all that is required is that I believe in it. Here s the problem, in this world of relative, personal truth, only empirically proven facts are real. Personal truths aren t real, they re just the delusions we hold onto in this world to make our lives tolerable. But how can we trust that empirically proven facts are any truer than anything else? And if there is nothing external to ourselves that can be real and true, then there is no reality at all and everything in this existence is meaningless. As Lutherans, we all want to say we are saved through Faith Alone, but we must remember that it is not faith alone that saves us. It is the one in whom we believe that saves us. If we are saved, we must be saved not by our faith, but by God who freely gives us that faith. If we are saved, we are not saved by the work of believing, but by the one in whom we believe. It is the substance of our faith that saves, not the faith itself. This means that the substance of our faith must be real and not just a personal truth. We must hold as real and objectively true that God became a real man in Jesus, that Jesus really did suffer and die for our sins, that Jesus did really rise in the body from the dead, and that if Jesus really rose from the dead then so will we. Each and every part of this must be objectively real, and not just something we hold as personally true. If Jesus rose, then we will rise; if we will not, then He did not and our faith is in vain and we are most to be pitied. So ask yourself, do you believe that Jesus really rose from the dead? Then rejoice, for you too will rise. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, ESV). JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED. HALLELUIA! Rev. David Patterson 2 P a g e

3 Council Minutes Trinity Lutheran Church 10 March 2016 Meeting was conducted by President Larry Jensen Present: Bud Larrabee, Bob Hauschildt, Aaron Swanson, Gerry Koisti, Lee Swanson, Brittany Larson, Larry Jensen, Roger Anderson, and Charles Anderson Absent: None Devotions: Aaron Swanson had devotions Secretary s Report: Gerry made a motion to approve secretary s report, seconded by Bud. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report: Treasurer s report reviewed. Lee made a motion to approve, seconded by Brittany. Motion carried. Committee Reports: Christian Ed: No report Evangelism: Bud reported they were working on something for Mother s Day. Property: Gerry reported that Scott Steffensen had noted some loose shingles on roof while doing some work. Old Business: David Patterson from ILT will be available to fill the pulpit through end of June. Lenten Service offerings will go toward campers with $100/camper as funds available. Brittany made a motion on this, seconded by Charles. Motion carried. Discussion on plaques for organ. Lutherans Outdoors will not be asked to conduct a service as we have an interim Pastor. New Business: Discussion on pay guidelines for interim pastor. Larry will visit with Badger. Brittany requested a printer/fax for use at home as she will be working more from home. Gerry made a motion to proceed, seconded by Charles. Motion carried. Global and Local Missions were discussed. This will be tabled until next month. Next meeting will be April 14, 2016 at 7 p.m. Brittany will have devotions. Gerry made a motion to adjourn and seconded by Charles. Submitted by: Lee Swanson 3 P a g e

4 April 3 rd : Terry & Paulette Kasten; Tracy (Lee) Barlow; Terry Pedersen; Harry Anderson April 10 th : Brooks (Jager) Borchard; Christina Bahr; Rebecca Halonen; Darren Kastein 3 Marla Andrews 7 Ethel Koistinen 7 Jessica (Koistinen) Prouty 10 Terry Pedersen 12 Roxie Bevers 13 Sharon Jager 13 Christopher Kretzschmar 14 Larry Jensen 14 Tanner Steffensen 16 Scott Skoglund 17 Darla Koisti 17 Brandy Aho 19 Cole Bjornebo 22 Brett Kasten 23 Roger Haufschild 23 Steven Hauschildt 23 Nicole Jager 24 Dawn (Hakeman) Nelson 27 Harvey Aho 29 Lee Ann Swanson 29 Larry Barnett 30 Ashley Jensen April 17 th : Bradley Ruotsalainen; Dan, Christi, & Broden Koistinen; Emily Antonen April 24 th : Scott Bentley; Linnea (Swanson) Sando; Nina Harding; Robert & Theresa Hauschildt Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of Harlan Olson. Harlan passed away on March 8 th. Funeral was held here at Trinity on March 14 th with Pastor Joe Turrill. May you feel God s comfort during this difficult time. We thank God for giving us the time we had with Harlan. Welcome to our Church family Dawson Alan Jager! Dawson was baptized into the faith on March 13 th 2016 with Pastor Mark Jamison. Parents are Brady & Ciara Jager. Sponsors are Jake & Sarina Hanson; Gerald & Britany Larson, and Paul & Monica Everson. 4 P a g e

5 What was the name of Esther s cousin who raised her after her parents died? A. Hegai B. Haman C. Mordecai D. Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) Answer: C (See Esther 2:7.) 5 P a g e

6 LADIES MARK YOU CALENDARS! On April 16 th the women of Trinity will be hosting a ladies luncheon at the Community Center with Diane Culver giving us a delightful program using her hat collection. Please wear a hat if you can & that will make you eligible to win one of the door prizes. Any type of hat will do, anything from a beanie or bonnet to a fancy creation. It s all for fun! Tickets are still available and are $5.00. Tickets can be purchased from any lady of Trinity or Vicki Koistinen at First Premier in Lake Norden or Brittany at the church office until April 12 th. Please plan to attend & help make our ladies luncheon a success! Hope to see you there! Event schedule: WNALC Annual Gathering (Aug. 9, 9:00 AM 5:00 PM) Braaten-Benne Lectures in Theology (Aug. 9, 1:30 PM Aug. 10, 11:30 AM) NALC Mission Festival and Convocation (Aug. 10, 1:30 PM Aug. 12, 5:00 PM) Dates: August 9-12, 2016 Location: Wyndham Anaheim Garden Grove Hotel Anaheim, California The annual meeting of the Danish Lutheran Cemetery will be held on Tuesday, April 12 th at 7:00 pm in the educational unit at Trinity. All are welcome to attend. The confirmation class of 2016 will have their public exam on April 24 th at 6 pm in Badger. Please join us in celebrating their faith with a potluck supper to follow. Confirmands are Trey Ramstad, Cecili Carlson, & Gavin Holland. 6 P a g e

7 Congratulations to Sarina & Jake Hanson on their marriage. Sarina is the daughter of Pat & Tammy McNamara and Bill & Gina Adamson. Congratulations to Macy Muller on placing throughout the year at Cheer Competition! Macy s last competition was held on March 20 th and her team placed 5 th. Way to go Macy we re all so proud of you! Congratulations to Tanner Steffensen on making to it Regions for wrestling! Tanner wrestles for the Lake Preston Knights. The members of Trinity are all so proud of you on this high accomplishment! Abby Antonen placed 1 st placed at the State Art Competition -A division - Multi Media. We are so proud of you Abby congratulations! 7 P a g e

8 Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is this man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is int eh law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked with perish. From the Reformer Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said to the people, Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. About the Reformer Still another deputation approached [Huss], his three friends John of Chlum, Wenzel of Duba and Lacembok, and four bishops. They were sent by Sigismund. As a layman, John of Chlum did not venture to give Huss advice, but bade him, if he felt sure of his cause, rather than to be against God, to stand fast, even to death. One of the bishops asked whether he presumed to be wiser than the whole council. No, was the reply, but to retract he must be persuaded of his errors out of the Scriptures. An obstinate heretic! exclaimed the bishops. This was the final interview in private. The much-desired opportunity was at hand for him to stand before the council as a body, and it was his last day on earth. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church Pulling It Together It is easy enough to run back to Egypt when the desert gets hot. It is a far better thing to stand still in your moment of weakness, for these are the times when God shows his strength to his people and sometimes through them. His grace alone is sufficient for you since power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, you should gladly boast about your weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in you. (2Cor 12:9) Instead of relying on your own strength to get back to Egypt, stand strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. (Eph 6:10) And forgive our guilt, as we forgive those guilty of sinning against us. (Matthew 6:12) Q: What does this mean? A: We pray in this request that our Heavenly Father will neither pay attention to our sins nor refuse requests such as these because of our sins and because we are neither worthy nor deserve the things for which we pray. Yet He wants to give them all to us by His grace, because many times each day we sin and truly deserve only punishment. Because God does this, we will, of course, want to forgive from our hearts and willingly do good to those who sin against us. Luther s Little Instruction Book Pulling It Together The pastor was disenchanted with the drove the Lord had entrusted to him. There were some who loved him and supported his efforts and there were some who seemed to oppose his every move. If he understood that he deserved far worse than what he was receiving, he would be in a better position to be that humble donkey that Augustine says must simply bear the Christ. Was the pastor himself not one of those who rejected the Lord though he loved him? First one cries Hallelujah, waving palm branches, and then he cheers the whip. Yet the gospel proclaims that where great judgment is demanded, abundant grace is offered. If not you, who will be there to carry Christ s grace to the other dumb donkeys? Delight in the Lord not in what you mistakenly think you deserve. 8 P a g e