A publication of Trinity Lutheran Church 816 E Clark ST, Vermillion, SD ( ) January 2019

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1 Called by God, Forgiven in Christ, United in Spirit, Sent to Serve The Servant s Song A publication of Trinity Lutheran Church 816 E Clark ST, Vermillion, SD ( ) Dear Members and Friends of Trinity, Where has the year gone? It s time for me to write my piece forthe Servant Song for January 2019! Working together in 2018, we accomplished some important things to prepare our campus for the next generation of Trinity s ministry. I hope you feel good about: A new boiler (new HVAC was installed in 2017) Four refurbished restrooms on the main floor A new sound system to replace the one that was installed when the 1992 worship space was built Early in 2019, new, brighter lighting for the worship space will be installed. Thanks to John Walker and the Board of Property for working to transform these hoped-for improvements into reality. Thank you, people of Trinity, for stepping up to the plate to get these things done! I understand that in 2019, we can anticipate replacing some roofing on the classroom section of our campus. January 2019 Functional characteristics, on the other hand, are things like open accessibility, high visibility, adequate parking, land, and landscaping, adequate space and facilities, and solid financial resources. Insight #2: When functional characteristics are improved, dissatisfaction in and about the congregation decreases. No one joins a congregation because systems for lighting, heating, air conditioning, and sound are working well. But dissatisfaction with those things might cause some to leave if these functional characteristics are not in place. But people DO join a congregation, stick with it and support it with time, talent and treasure, because they encounter God and others in life-enhancing ways. Worship, care groups, youth groups, Bible studies, are all ways that healthy relationships can begin and are sustained. Keeping the main thing the main thing means investing ourselves in those things that connect people to God and one another. Boilers, air conditioners, lighting and sound all are important because they create the conditions that make it possible for us to do that connective work, which is the main thing. Having said that, I believe that we are at a point where we as a congregation need to change our focus. Relational and Functional Early in the 1990s, Kennon Callahan, senior pastor of a Methodist congregation in the Dallas area, wrote Twelve Keys to an Effective Church. One insight from Twelve Keys that has stayed with me is the difference between relational and functional characteristics. According to Callahan, relational characteristics have to do with (big surprise) relationships people have with God and with one another. When a congregation has two or three missional ministries that provide face-to-face help and hope to our neighbors, that is a powerful relational characteristic. Worship, Groups for Bible Study, mutual support, fellowship and the like are examples of relational characteristics. Insight #1: When relational character- istics are strengthened, satisfaction in and about the congregation increases. VISIT US ONLINE: FACEBOOK: Trinity Lutheran Vermillion, SD 10 AM, SUNDAY MORNING RADIO BROADCAST on CHANNELS: FM or 1570 AM INSIDE this issue 1 Pastor s Message 2 Ministry Opportunities 3 Anniversaries & Birthdays and Congregational Meetings 4 January Calendar

2 Blood Pressure Screenings are available before and after worship, the second weekend of each month, in the Sletwold room. Wednesday weekly scripture study. Come. You are welcome! Men s group meets: W ednesdays at 7:00 AM, First Dakota National Bank conference room Women s group meets: W ednesdays at 10 AM, Sletw old room at Trinity. Quilters meet w eekly each Thursday, 9:00 a.m. in the Quilting room. Prayer Group meets Tuesday, January 8th, 9:30 a.m. at the Knutson s home, 126 S. Plum ST Women s Circles (Bible study groups) meet January 10 th Esther: meets at Dakota Gardens at 10:00 AM Martha: meets at 12 noon for a light lunch and Bible study afterwards, at the Huber s home: 941 Crestview DR Naomi: meets at 7:00 PM, the Madsen s home: 229 Walker ST BOOK CLUB In January, TLC s Book Club will read, The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo by Kent Nerburn. Our books will be Inter- Library loaned through Vermillion s Library. We hope to have them in the Church Office by end of December. This is the second Nerburn book picked by our group. He is a well-known Minnesota Author. He wrote, Neither Wolf Nor Dog which we read in Come. Everyone is Welcome! Weekend Worship with Holy Communion Saturday evenings: 5:30 PM Sunday mornings: 10:00 AM Sunday mornings: Trinity Choir: 8:45 AM in the balcony (all ages) Coffee fellowship: 9:00 AM in the gathering area Trinity Lutheran Church Scholarship Applications are due by Friday, January 4 th. Applications are available in the church office or found on our website: WORSHIP (tab) and Forms (heading). Applications will be reviewed and the recipients will be recognized at our Annual meeting on Sunday, January 27 th. All details of the scholarship is on the form. If you have questions, call the church: [Note: If you have received this scholarship already, you are not eligible to apply.] Trinity Choir: Trinity Choir members have had musically productive and spiritually rewarding experiences for the past several months. I greatly appreciate their efforts and commitment to bringing special music to Sunday morning services. I look forward to 2019 and more music activities for the choir and all singers. Please come and join us. Rehearsals are held Sunday mornings at 8:45 in the balcony. Paul Almjeld, Director, Trinity Choir. THANKS TO YOU!! Everyone who volunteered their time and talent throughout Everyone for your generous offerings through Thrivent Choice, Simply Giving, General, Maintenance, and Special Revenue, and for the many Special Projects in 2018 and into Everyone for being in ministry and mission

3 JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 1.2 Marty and Teresa Gilbertson 1.4 Larry and Loretta Severson 1.10 Len and Mary Griffith 1.12 David and Amy Nelson 1.28 TJ and Kelsy Jansen 1.31 Robert and Elaine Brown Sophia Nilson; Kirk Sorensen Dean Hansen; Braxton Moeller Robin Iverson; Charles Stewart; Nicole Klunder Jeanne Hagenbuch; Cassie Martin; Clarence Pederson; Kynlee Stewart 1.6 Kelsy Jansen; Shaunna Noteboom 1.7 Gavin Gilbertson; Nicole Hauck; Phillip Hauck; Marlys Miller; Isabelle Richardson; Craig Sorensen 1.8 Holly Meins; Glenda Schempp 1.9 Tara Nelson; Diana Radigan; Duane Schilling; Patty Waage 1.11 John Carrington 1.12 Zoe Kleeman; Carla Sorensen 1.14 Kevin Brown; Keeley Passick; Grant Riedel 1.15 Katrina Heles 1.17 Hannah Gruhn; Reece Proefrock 1.18 Beverly Fischer; Brandon Steenholdt; Ryan Steenholdt 1.21 Natalle Buckman 1.22 Karen Newton 1.23 Edith Heer 1.24 Mike Szymonski 1.25 Erin Rasmussen 1.26 David Lias 1.27 Doug Martin; Susanne Steenholdt 1.29 Reed Anderberg; Keegan Retzlaff 1.30 Mary Brevik; Lauren Lucas 1.31 Greg Styles Three Congregational Meetings to attend in January The New Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions meetings w ill be held, immediately after worship, Sunday, January 6 and Sunday, January 13. We are seeking your approval for this new document that will be in compliance with the (ELCA) Evangelical Lutheran Church in America s model constitution. The Executive Committee and the Congregation Council has worked hard on this document all year to be presented to you at these special congregational meetings. Given passage of the document in its entirety, will allow us to conduct our Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 27th, according to it. The New Constitution Document is available to review prior to these meetings on January 6 and January 13. We are the congregation; Our voices and votes are needed.

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5 Trinity Lutheran Church 816 E. Clark ST Vermillion, SD U.S. Postage PAID Vermillion, S.D. Permit No. 1 TO: January 2019 Contact Information Phone: Website: Facebook: Trinity Lutheran Vermillion, SD Pastor James Fowler jim@trinityvermillion.org Karla Tawzer, Office Manager office@trinityvermillion.org Marcy Lund, Parish Nurse grandmother_marcy2@hotmail.com Paul Almjeld, Choir Director palmjeld@yahoo.com