TLCW general meeting will be held on January 6 th 2016 in the educational unit at 7 pm. Date Event Time. TLCW General Meeting 7 pm Jan 13 th Jan 14 th

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1 Trinity Lutheran Church Lake Norden, SD Member NALC Pastor Mark Jamison Trinity Office: H: (605) C: (605) Website: Pg 1 Upcoming Events Pg 2 Pastor s Pen Pg 3 Council Minutes Pg 4 Prayer Program Birthdays Pg 5 Kids Page Pg 6-7 NALC - Bishop s Christmas Message Pg 8 Evangelism Page Pg 9 Epiphany Pg 10 Prayer Date Event Time Jan 6 th TLCW General Meeting 7 pm Jan 13 th Jan 14 th Jan 14 th Jan 17 th Jan 19 th TLCW Bible Study 7 pm Evangelism Meeting 6:30 pm Council Meeting 7 pm Trinity s Annual Meeting 11:45 am Nursing Home 1:30 pm Jan 24 th Trinity (Badger s Annual Meeting) 9 am Jan 27 th Jan 29 th Quilting 1 pm Fold Newsletter 8:45 am TLCW general meeting will be held on January 6 th 2016 in the educational unit at 7 pm. 1 P a g e

2 The New Year always gives us opportunities for resolutions and trying on new things. Here is a story that makes sure we ll have even better understanding in the New Year that God is better than we can imagine he is. Last week, I took my grandchildren to a restaurant. My six-year-old grandson asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, God is good, God is great. Thank for the food, and I would even thank you more if Nana gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen! along with the laughter from other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, That s what s wrong with this country. Kids today don t even know to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never! Hearing this, my grandson burst into tears and asked me, Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me? As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my grandson and said, I happen to know that God thought it was a great prayer. Really? my grandson asked. Cross my heart, the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes. Naturally, I bought my grandchildren ice cream at the end of the meal. My grandson stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae, and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already. Too many religious people make God out to be a kill joy. They are hypercritical about others who aren t religious in the exact same way they are. God is way better and more gracious than the woman, who criticized the 6-year-old boy, understood God to be. This is a God, after all, who gave up his only begotten Son on a cross so we can one day live with him forever. Let s pray then God will give us his grace and wisdom in 2016 so we don t turn off people to God with our crankiness and intolerance. Let s also pray the love of Christ will shine through us each day like the grandmother and the elderly gentleman did. Happy New Year, Pastor Mark 2 P a g e

3 Council Minutes Trinity Lutheran Church 10 December 2015 Meeting was called to order by President Rusty Antonen Present: Rusty Antonen, Dan Koistinen, Gerry Koisti, Brittany Larson, Bud Larrabee,, Lee Swanson, Scott Steffensen, Larry Jensen, and Pastor Jamison Absent: Roger Anderson Devotions: Pastor devotions Secretary s Report: November minutes for council and joint council meeting with Badger reviewed. Gerry made a motion to approve Trinity Council Minutes. Seconded by Bud. Motion carried. Larry made a motion to approve the joint Council minutes. Seconded by Lee. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report: Treasurer s report reviewed. Dan made a motion to approve. Seconded by Brittany. Motion carried. Committee Reports: Christian Ed: No report Evangelism: There will not be a winter carnival. Pastor and Cindy will put on a concert in February that will be open to the community. An invite a Friend to Church is being discussed. Probably will be set for Mother s Day. Property: Lighting in the Sanctuary was discussed. A temporary fix will be done by Scott. Long term goal will be a replacement & will be brought up at annual meeting. Piano in education unit will be discarded around the first of the year. If anyone wants the piano, contact a council member or Pastor. Old Business: Joel Williams made a visit w/kinner & Company in Brookings to review the W2 employment and Social Security and Medicare payments for Pastor. This has been resolved to be in accordance with tax policy. New Business: There needs to be a Registered Agent for the Church s Annual Report for the state. Rusty volunteered to fill this post as Sue will no longer be doing this. Thanksgiving offering will be given to the Union Gospel Missions. Gerry made a motion to approve. Seconded by Brittany. Motion carried. Christmas Offering will be split between the food pantry & the general fund. Larry made a motion to approve. Seconded by Dan. Motion carried. Nominating Committee for new council members will be Rusty, Scott, & Dan. A 4% raise will be given to Christy (for maintenance/cleaning) & Brittany (Church secretary). Gerry made a motion to approve. Seconded by Lee. Motion carried. Brittany & Lee will work on making some changes with the computer setup for the projectors. Budget Committee will be Gerry and Lee. Next meeting will be January 14, 2016 at 7 p.m. Rusty will have devotions. Larry made a motion to adjourn and seconded by Bud. Submitted by: Lee Swanson 3 P a g e

4 January 3 rd : Dorene & Barry Lemme; James & Cynthia Juntunen; Elwood & Gayle Andrews January 10 th : Ray & Joan Arneson; Abby, Emma, & Evan Schultz; Mark Anderson; Rhonda Paso January 17 th : Gerald & Doris Koisti; Chance Niemann; June Hakeman; Charles Anderson 2 nd Raquel (Jager) Gorder 2 nd Mike Jager 2 nd Darian Riter January 24 th : Jessica Koistinen; Lila Grape; Danielle Schaefer; Seth Swanson; Jamie Jager- Jorgenson January 31 st : Kristie Kasten; Leona, Sam, Bella & Kayla Kretzschmar; Darin Riter 3 rd Doug Hakeman 8 th Jeanne (Steffensen) Olney 8 th Jenna Johnson 10 th Danielle Schaefer 13 th Lana Niemann 14 th Cindy Jamison 17 th Jason Arneson 21 st Delbert Riter 21 st Morrell Spencer Trinity s annual meeting has been set for Sunday, January 17 th following the 10:45 worship service. All reports must be to the office by January 14 th. Thanks for your understanding! 21 st Ethan Swanson 22 nd Abby Antonen 22 nd Ronald Koistinen 26 th Carmen Antonen 31 st Reid Tuohino 4 P a g e

5 According to the Gospel of John, which disciples led others to Jesus, and whom did they lead? A. Matthew led Judas. B. Andrew led Simon-Peter. C. James led John. D. Philip led Nathanael. E. All of the above. F. B and D. Answer: F (See John 1:40-42, 45ff.) 5 P a g e

6 Bishop s Christmas Message Dearest followers of Jesus in the North American Lutheran Church: Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ with the words, Christ is born! Oh, come, let us adore Him, I offer you a brief reflection on a subject that has preoccupied my thinking during the entire Advent season. This persistent thought began with a devotional meditation based on Luke 2:9: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote the following words of reflection based on that text. We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God s coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us. The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a conscience. His words indicted my conscience and caused me to pause and question my own spiritual life and conviction. We are indifferent to the message When I was asked to write an article about the greatest threat to the Church today, Bonhoeffer s thought shaped my response. The Church seems to be under assault from within and without. The lack of Biblical and Confessional preaching and teaching, combined with a lack of interdependent mutually-accountable relationships and institutional preservation, has undermined our capacity for genuine outreach, evangelism and mission. Many within the community of faith are content to attend occasionally and to give sparingly. In addition, our world promotes relativistic truth, and decides moral issues based on popularity and tolerance rather than Biblical mandates and transcendent truth. Freedom of religion is being relegated to freedom to worship. Traditional concepts of marriage and family are being redefined. Throughout the world Christians are being persecuted, displaced and murdered by the terrorist acts of ISIS. Yet not one of those factors or all of them together are a greater threat than the one that Bonhoeffer suggests. The greatest threat to the Body of Christ is our indifference our apathy! It is so easy to blame others and retreat in fear but our own indifference or apathy is slowly eroding, weakening and undermining the faith of individual believers, as well as the capacity of congregations\ for vibrant ministry and faithful mission. Apathy or indifference is manifest in several important ways: the loss of zeal, the loss of interest in the spiritual realm, the increasing secularization of both the individual Christian and the local congregation, and a hardness of heart, a state where our excuses replace faithful responses. The Scripture has a harsh word about indifference and apathy. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:16). These words of warning are so severe because indifference is incompatible with love! It is impossible to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and remain indifferent toward Christ. We cannot love others with the 6 P a g e

7 love of Christ and remain apathetic toward them. We cannot say we love Christ or others and remain unmoved and unchanged in our attitude and disposition. Elie Wiesel is a Jewish Holocaust survivor and a Nobel Laureate. Some years ago I heard him speak and will never forget several quotes from his message. He said, The opposite of love is not hate; it s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness; it s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy; it s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death; it s indifference. When asked about whether he believed an individual could really make any difference in the midst of overwhelming problems, Wiesel said, There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. The Talmud tells us that by saving a single human being, a person can save the world. Every act of love, every expression of encouragement, every word that proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ makes a difference. Every disciple of Jesus possesses power in and through Christ, the capacity to make such a difference. The Christian life has always been more than the struggle to survive. It is investing our life in Christ in the lives of others. Living and loving with the certainty that the only life worth living is a life of sacrifice and service for the sake of the ministry and mission of Christ. We are not indifferent or apathetic about everything. We demonstrate our passion in concerts, in theaters, in football stadiums and basketball arenas, in celebrations with friends and co-workers. I believe the world is longing to experience passionate Christians who demonstrate a profound love for Jesus and for those to whom He has sent us with the Gospel. Love is always passionate toward the beloved. It is this passionate love that Christ has for us that is poured out on the cross for our redemption and salvation. What wondrous love is this! It is a love that compels us to love Christ and our neighbor as our self. This wondrous love born in a cattle stall and laid in a manger is dispelling my indifference to my own apathy! What Wondrous Love is This, while not a Christmas hymn, has brought me consolation and hope. What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul... When I was sinking down... Christ laid aside His crown for my soul. To God and to the Lamb, Who is the Great I Am, while millions join the theme, I will sing... And when in death I m free, I ll sing His Love for Me... through all eternity... We cannot simply strive to change our own attitude and disposition. We cannot overcome our apathy or indifference by simply willing it. This Wondrous Love this One who gave His life for my redemption and salvation, who gives me life that is eternal is the One who transforms my indifference to passionate love toward Him and all those He came to save. May the celebration of His birth, the wonder of His love, and the presence of Immanuel God with us overcome every manifestation of our indifference and transform it into manifestations of our passionate love for Christ and our neighbor. In the name of the One who comes to save us from our sin, ~ Bishop John F. Bradosky 7 P a g e

8 Cleaning Out the Closet Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12) The post-christmas closet-sort usually starts about now. What should I keep? What should be given away to make room for the new things I ve received? Paul had some good things to say about our spiritual wardrobes: Build it around a few basic pieces. Compassion and kindness are never out of style. What you choose to wear changes your behavior. Growing up, I wore hand-me-downs. Wearing clothes from other people always felt a bit like wearing costumes, and the outfits often prompted different attitudes in my imagination. Wearing certain clothes can be a way to play at being someone different. What image do I want to project to the world? Do I want to blend in or stand out? Adolescents often exhibit great variety in what they choose to wear as they struggle to find themselves. When you dress up in elegant clothing, you probably aren t going canoeing. When we put on the wardrobe of Christ, it begins to shape our behavior as well first choice, then habit, and then truly part of us. So Paul instructs: Put on Christ and wear his gifts proudly. Lord Jesus, help me to boldly and consistently dress my heart for your mission in the world. Amen. Sure Promises There is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath. 1 Kings 8:23 Daily Reformation, 1 Kings 8:22-30, From the Reformer Many strange things, according to human sense and reason, are written in the books of the kings; they seem to be slight and simple books, but in the spirit they are of great weight. David endured much; Saul persecuted and plagued him ten whole years; yet David remained constant in faith, and believed that the kingdom pertained unto him. I should have gone my way, and said: Lord! thou hast deceived me; wilt thou make me a king, and sufferest me in this sort to be tormented, persecuted, and plagued? But David was like a strong wall. He was also a good and a godly man; he refused to lay hands on the king when he had fit opportunity; for he had God s Word, and that made him remain so steadfast; he was sure that God s Word and promise never would or could fail him. Martin Luther, Table Talk Pulling It Together God made his promises so long ago but they may as well have been made this morning. Even the most precious of his promises pertain to you because you are a citizen of the kingdom. God made promises to David that applied to his heirs as well. God also not only made promises to Abraham but to his heirs too. This means that God has made his promises even to you. (Gal 3:29) This should serve you well in standing strong. If you had to be steadfast because of your own promises then you just might fail. But the assurance you have is in the Almighty. Stand strong in it in him! 8 P a g e

9 The Meaning of Epiphany Epiphany, which comes from the Greeks word epiphaneia, means an appearance or a revealing. Centuries ago, the church set aside January 6 th, the 12 th day after Christmas, to make the revelation of the divine Christ to the wise men, who were Gentiles. Jesus first followers were Jewish, so the revelation of the divine Christ to the non-jewish magi reminds us that Jesus came to earth to save the whole world. Symbols of Epiphany include light, a star, a crown (or three crowns) and a globe or stylized portrayal of the world. The color of Epiphany is green to symbolize life, growth, hope and eternity. On the church calendar, the Epiphany season lasts until Ash Wednesday, which is determined by the date of Easter. Ecce Agnus Dei Latin for Behold, the Lamb of God, this is the phrase John the Baptist used twice to point out Jesus to others (John 1:29, 36). It marks Jesus Epiphany (manifestation, revelation) as the Anointed One (Christ, Messiah). The Light of the World Early Christians celebrated both Jesus birth and baptism on Epiphany, January 6. Only in the fourth century did Roman Christians appropriate a pagan festival to celebrate what we now call Christmas a contraction of Christ Mass. But the origin of when we celebrate Jesus birth doesn t detract from the day s holiness. In fact, God has always transformed things of the world to serve his purposes and show his glory. The festival honoring the Unconquered Sun, held on what was then considered the winter solstice, was deemed the perfect time to praise the Sun of Righteousness (a prophetic name for Christ; see Malachi 4:2). By claiming this day as our own, Christians profess that earthly darkness winter s seasonal darkness and the darkness in our hearts and lives is brightened not by a heavenly body that will one day cease to shine but by Jesus, the real unconquered and unconquerable Light of the World. 9 P a g e

10 1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember to pray for our loved ones is, as C. S.Lewis once said, a "sweet duty." 2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers. 3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance. 4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them. 5. And lastly comes our little finger the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively. A Mom s Empty Chair A woman s daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her moth. When the pastor arrived, he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside her bed. The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit, I guess you were expecting me, he said. No, who are you? said the mother. The minister told her his name and then remarked, I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up. Oh yeah, the chair, said the bedridden woman. Would you mind closing the door? Puzzled, the minister shut the door. I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter. But all my life, I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt at prayer. Until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest, sit down in a chair. It s not spooky because he promises, I will be with you always, then just speak to him in the same way you re doing with me right now. So I tried it and I ve liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours each day. I m careful though, if my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm. The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her momma had died that afternoon. Did she die in peace? he asked. Yes, when I left the house about 2 o clock, she called me over to her bedside, told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found her. But there was something strange about her death. Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that? The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, I wish we could all go like that. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. I asked God for water, he gave me an ocean. I asked God for a flower, he gave me a garden. I asked God for a friend, he gave me you! Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God. 10 P a g e