September 2018 Trinity Lutheran Church Wee Disciples Preschool & Daycare 1226 First Avenue North Great Falls, MT (406)

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1 September 2018 Trinity Lutheran Church Wee Disciples Preschool & Daycare 1226 First Avenue North Great Falls, MT (406) Back to. It s September, and everything is in full swing again: back to school and back to church attendance after vacations and weekends away. And since everything is back into full swing, it s a perfect time to get back to basics, back to the foundation. At the end of the first of his chapters on the virtue of faith in Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis provides a helpful reminder, by way of analogy, for the foundation of stewardship. He wrote: Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already. So then, when we talk of a man doing anything for God or giving anything to God, I will tell you what it is really like. It is like a small child going to its father and saying, Daddy, give me six pence to buy you a birthday present. Of course, the father does, and he is pleased with the child s present. It is all very nice and proper, but only an idiot would think that the father is six-pence to the good on the transaction. When a man has made these two discoveries God can really get to work. It is after this that real life begins. ( ). This is the first thing we are given to confess about stewardship, and it has to do with ownership. God owns everything, and we are

2 simply managers stewards acting on His behalf. This is true not only of all that we have in this life (Deuteronomy 8:17 18), but also all that we are in this life (1 Corinthians 6:20). The rest flows from here. Since we are stewards, or managers, of what belongs to God, entrusted to make use of it according to His will, there is an expectation of responsibility and accountability. For the Lord said, Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more (Luke 12:48b). And from this comes blessing and reward: Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master (Matthew 25:21). We have everything we need to support this body and life from our God s fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in us. We have everything we need for our spiritual life also from His merciful hands. On account of the sacrifice of His Son, our Lord Jesus, through the preaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments, we have the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and everlasting salvation delivered to us with absolute certainty that it is ours not as stewards but as sons (Galatians 4:1 7). Let us then, as His own sons, press all that He gives to us into the service of His church and to His glory. (From LCMS Stewardship Ministries) Welcome back! God s peace in Christ! Pastor Gerald Paul From Pastor Hans Fiene, River of Life Lutheran Church, Channahon, IL Once upon a time, Hazel sewed her family's clothes. She lived in an era when there were no department stores or major clothing labels. And Hazel's family couldn't afford the services of the nearest tailor, so Hazel sewed because that's what was necessary to survive. And

3 because it was necessary to survive, Hazel taught this skill to her daughter Sarah. When Sarah grew up and had her own family, she found that this skill was no longer a necessity. For a reasonable cost, and with the aid of a department store or a catalog, she could contract someone else to do the hard work of measuring and cutting and stitching. But even though she didn't need to sew anymore, Sarah still pulled out the Singer from time to time. She'd sit down with her daughter Kimberly in her lap and make a garment or two around Christmas. Sarah did this because the feel of the thread on her fingertips and the vibrations of the sewing machine on her palms reminded her of her mother, and she wanted to give some of those memories to her child. But Kimberly couldn't even tell you how to thread a needle anymore. Her grandmother sewed out of necessity. Her mother sewed out of nostalgia. But Kimberly doesn't sew at all because, without necessity, nostalgia rarely makes it to the second generation. The Christian faith is necessary. You are dead without it and nothing in this world can replace the salvation that Jesus gives to those who hear and believe His Word. But when your pastor doesn't see you for months at a time, when you let every conflict bump the Divine Service off your Sunday schedule, when you never talk theology with your children, you teach them that the Word of God is nothing more than a trinket we pull out of the closet whenever we want to taste the sweetness of our familial heritage. And when you teach that to your children, your children will not grow up to be Christians. They will not believe any more than Kimberly sews. SEPTEMBER LAMPLIGHTER DEADLINE Monday, AUGUST 20 TH!! THE LAMPLIGHTER BE MAILED ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 23 RD

4 Wednesday Morning Ladies Bible Study The Wednesday morning ladies Bible study group meets every Wednesday morning from 9:30 am to 11:00 am in the Stahlecker Room. Join us for a morning of fellowship time together as we study God s Word. Our Bible study is titled GRIEF and is focused on the emotions common to the grieving process whether it s grieving the loss of a loved one, loss of a marriage, loss of a job or loss of a home. This month the emotions discussed will be: Sadness (September 5) based on Psalm 31; Hope (September 12) based on Psalm 33; Faith (September 19) based on Psalm 100; Acceptance (September 26) based on Psalm 37; and Praise (October 3) based on Psalm 71. There's something about those summer months that seem to fly by; just ask the school kids who are sitting in a hot September classroom. As school commences, so Friday Ladies Bible study resumes with a new study this fall. Come and join the ladies as they begin the enriching study of 1 Peter. The ladies will be meeting from 1:00-3:00 pm on Friday, September 7 th, 14 th, and 21 st, they will be at the home of Marge Johnsten, th Ave S. Assisted Living Ministry will lead residents in hymn singing and a devotion at the following locations. Ladies and gentlemen will gather on Tuesday, September 11 th at 11:00 am at Bee Hive Home #2 (Clover), th Ave S. On Friday, September 28 th at 11:45 am there will be a no host lunch at Boston's Pizza, th Ave S. After lunch many will go to Highgate House, th Ave So. Treat yourself to this fellowship time with others, who will be blessed by your presence!

5 Ringers Needed!! The Handbell Choir is looking for people to join them in ringing the praises of our Lord. They meet every Tuesday evening at 6:00 pm and usually play one Sunday a month during the Divine Service. You do not need to read music, just have a love of praising the Lord! LWML Upcoming Events September 8 th ~ Trinity LWML Group Gathering ~ 9:30 am in the Stahlecker Room September 21-23, Montana District Retreat at Trinity Camp, Bigfork, MT ~ Theme: As Far as the East is from the West ~ Registration forms are in the spring issue of The Missive and on the narthex bulletin board. September 26 th - the LWML Board will be meeting at 11:15 am. As I read through the LWML summer The Missive, I came across this information I thought I d share with you... LWML Scholarships Available: Is someone in your congregation planning full time work as a Pastor, Director of Christian Education, Deaconess, or Teacher? Are they attending an LCMS school? Get them the LWML application from the website, or contact District Scholarship Chairman Edee Anderson for information. Mail the application to Edee ~310 Washington Street, Deer Lodge, MT ~ (406) Don t delay! The applications are due by September 30, 2018 Lutheran World Relief Kits The LWML will be collecting items for Lutheran World Relief layettes and school kits throughout the coming year. The back-toschool sales are a good time to pick up items for the school kits. Currently we have six backpacks sewn and ready to be filled. In May we sent off all of the completed layettes that we had ready so we are

6 in need of all the items required for a layette. Lists of needed items for both types of kits are posted on the narthex bulletin board. Rubbermaid storage tubs are located in the library for items to be placed in when they are brought to church. We pray for our members and their caregivers who continue to battle health issues and for our shut-ins: Gary & Sylvia Adams; Paul & Millie Birkholz; Jerry & Colleen Mans; Emil & Lidia Neumann; Gary & Rose Shelden and Ruth & Russ Waetzig; Eleanor Boumans at Highgate House; Ken Chapman at home; Alice Irion at a nursing home in Chinook; Rachel Keely at Park Place; Lydia Laubach at the Rainbow Retirement; Richard Mauseth at home; Evelyn McNaight at Missouri River; Emma Millet at Golden Eagles; Alene Morrell at Cambridge Court; Gladine Nehus in Helena; Emil Neumann at home: Alvina Presler (Millie Birkholz s mother) at Park Place; Dorothy Rosenberg at Rivers Edge Assisted Living; Ruth Schwartzenberger at home; Gordan Stach at home; Myrtle Storhaug at Golden Eagles; Juanita Winter at home. We pray for those serving in the military: Jaymes Crumley, USAF; Joshua Graham, USA (Sherrie Blomstrom s grandson-in-law); Clifton Grilley, USN (Headington s son); Jared Grina, USN (Headington s son-in-law); Chaplain Scott Kerns, USAF LCMS Chaplain at Malstrom; Krista Kotz, USAF; Brendan Murphy, USMC (Adam s grandson); Michael Somerfeld, USN (Gary Somerfeld s son); Tanner Tilton, USAF (Millie Birkholz s grandson).

7 Comparison of Giving Report ~ 2018 For the period July 29 th through August 19 th Comparison of Income to our Monthly budget needs Our minimum monthly budget need is: $16,450 July 29 th $2,926 August 5 th $4,900 August 12 th $2,771 August 19 th $2,298 Actual giving for report period ~ $12,895 a shortage of $3,555 If you have any questions, please call me at ~ James Lautenschlager, Assistant Treasurer Olthoff Nativity Collection This collection consists of over 800 different scenes of the portrayal of the manger scene that the world has come to see as a symbol of the birth of Christ. It has been set up and displayed at the Columbus Center from approximately Thanksgiving to two weeks after Christmas each of the last eight years. It was in a small hallway and in seven or eight glass display cases. Much of it was not accessible to the disabled. First Presbyterian Church is in a unique position to take over displaying this collection. They have a perfect location for a majority of the people in Great Falls to have viewing access to the collection and the opportunity to share the message of the Savior. First Presbyterian Church is looking for volunteers to help in the following areas: 1) Set up the display in November 2) Take down the display in January and pack it for storage

8 3) Work shifts from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm while the display is active If you are interested in helping with the Olthoff Nativity display, please contact Judy Mortensen at or stop by First Presbyterian Church at 1315 Central Ave. A Letter from the Seminary Student We Support Dear members of Trinity Lutheran, Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ! I have received word from the Financial Aid Office at Concordia Theological Seminary that I have been adopted by your congregation for the academic year. I am so grateful for the partnership that you have with the Seminary to support students like myself. I will be a fourth year student at CTS Fort Wayne this year and I plan on receiving a Call into the ministry upon completion of my Masters of Divinity. I am especially looking forward to corresponding with you this year because I lived in Montana before going to the Seminary. Originally, I grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota as the oldest of five. My parents and most of my family are Lutheran, and I had first thought about going to the Seminary in high school. After graduating from college in 2006 from Concordia St. Paul, I moved to Sidney, Montana and lived there for four years. I was blessed to join St. John Lutheran Church in Fairview, which is a sister congregation to Trinity Lutheran in Sidney. Both have been served well by Pastor David Warner and now Pastor Rolf Preus. Both of them were instrumental in encouraging me to attend the Seminary. During my first year at Fort Wayne I met my wife, Theresa. We were married in August 2017 in St. Louis. After the wedding, we moved to Basehor, Kansas to begin my year as a vicar at Risen Savior Lutheran Church. And on My 28, 2018 we were blessed with the birth of our first child, August Paul Wendorff. He was baptized

9 into God s family here at Risen Savior on June 10 th and has already brought much joy into our lives. Now that my vicarage has come to an end, I look back and I am so thankful for such a wonderful congregation and vicarage experience. I have grown much in preaching and teaching God s Word of Law and Gospel, and in my dedication to our great Lutheran heritage in the Book of Concord. We have such a rich theology and this next year I hope to grow in my theological education as I prepare for the Office of the Ministry. So, now that you know a little about me, I hope to get to know you all better as the year goes on. You are welcome to send us mail to our address at the Seminary. You can reach us at: Carl, Theresa and August Wendorff 6600 N. Clinton St. #201 Fort Wayne, IN cell: carl.wendorff@ctsfw.edu I am already very grateful for the financial support that you will be providing. I recognize that every gift has been given as a result of your hard work and dedication to the mission of the Church to raise up faithful Lutheran pastors. By the grace of God I desire to serve just such a congregation, and I am thankful for your encouragement. In Christ, Carl Wendorff

10 Join Us for Sunday school Where: Trinity Lutheran Church st Avenue North When: Sunday, September 9 th 8:30 9:30 am Who: Children ages pre-k through high school Children will have an opportunity to share what they did that day and everyone will enjoy a potluck lunch with chicken as the main course! Please bring a side dish, salad, casserole, relish tray, veggies, etc., to share. We will also hear from the youth group about their experience at the Higher Things Youth Gathering in Lawrence, Kansas this summer. SEE YOU THERE! PPIMPORTANT NOTEPP There will be a Youth group meeting following the presentation to plan the year ahead.

11 Trinity is looking into the option of creating online and mobile giving opportunities for our guests and members. We have included the following information for you to consider. Please let us know if this is a service Trinity should offer. You may share any feedback with Pastor, an Elder or a member of the Church Council. Vanco s Give+ Online Vanco s Give+ Mobile The next generation of giving With its modern interface and intelligent features designed specifically for faith-based organizations, Give+ Online simply makes it easier for donors to give. They can contribute using their debit/credit card or by making an ACH donation through their bank, and they can: Give to multiple funds Make guest donations no login in required Give in the moment or set up recurring tithes and offerings Our Give+ Mobile app is included with ACH or debit/credit card processing. Even better, Give+ Mobile is FREE for members to download and use. Benefits for your church: Boost overall giving by letting members and guests give anytime, anywhere from their smartphone Start using the app today with no additional set-up, monthly or service fees Benefits for your members: Quickly and easily donate using your debit/credit card or checking/savings account Make one-time donations or set up recurring giving to multiple funds Choose to create an account or donate as a guest Securely and conveniently manage donations using Touch ID/Fingerprint, PIN or password Securely and conveniently manage donations using Touch ID/Fingerprint, PIN or password

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13 Birthdays, Wedding, Baptismal and Confirmation Anniversaries September 3 rd - Jerry Colleen Mans (57) September 5 th - Ed Sherri VanVleet (48) September 7 th - Wally Diane Thompson (44) September 7 th - Seth Jamey Wheeler (17) September 8 th ~ Adam Tina Bink (11) September 20 th - Chad Michele Mans (21) September 23 rd - Dwayne Shelley McClellan (40) September 1 st Kathie Gessaman September 5 th Jacksin Graves September 7 th Carolyn Arves, Scott Kessel Denise Wegner September 8 th Dorothy Rosenberg (80+) September 10 th Brian Felstet, Pam Grosenick Pam Nommensen September 11 th Ada Burkstrand, Christopher Meehan September 12 th Jaymes Crumley September 13 th Alice Irion (80+), Patty Jones Al Redenbaugh, Brett Stene September 15 th Robin Western September 16 th Ericka Neumann September 18 th Shawna Burkstrand September 19 th Briana McClendon September 22 nd Charlotte Morrison September 24 th Jimmy Norris September 26 th Helen Suek (80+) September 27 th Janet Headington, Tonya Wandke September 29 th Hailey Houle, Aaron Sybrant September 30 th Michael Bush, Dayna VanVleet

14 September 1 st September 2 nd September 6 th September 8 th September 9 th September 10 th September 12 th September 13 th Spetember14 th September15 th September 16 th September 20 th September 22 nd September 23 rd September 24 th September 25 th September 30 th Jonathan Sybrant Monique McCurdy Robert Nommensen Sr., Gene Suek Malachi Dusek Clifton Grilley, Collette Grina Doug Nelson, Al Pearsall Dorothy Rosenberg Michella Dusek, Betty Guderjahn Tim Guderjahn, Patty Jones Russell Young Chuck Lorenz Karla Adelmeyer Cody Stene Connie Felstet Tracy Martello Wally Thompson Suzan Huestis, Joseph McClellan Pam Grosenick Cathy Christianson Mason Voegel September 8 th September 10 th Richard Mauseth Al Pearsall