The monthly newsletter for Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church. DO NOT SELL: Mary Lindsley, Ken Schucknecht, & Shirley Connell

Transcription

1 November 2015 TRINITY TIDINGS The monthly newsletter for Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church Appleton, WI PLEASE JOIN US!! Sundays in November November 1 All Saints Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m. Breakfast at Trinity 10:00 a.m. Community Time 10:15 a.m. As discussed at the town hall meetings in October, the council formed 3 committees to look at options for our future. The committees and committee members are listed below. We want and need your participation! Please prayerfully consider working on one of the committees as we explore options and next steps for our future. DO NOT SELL: Mary Lindsley, Ken Schucknecht, Kerrie Jo Wagner, Steve Schulze, Peggy Hoppe & Shirley Connell November 8, 15, 22 & 29 Worship at 9:00 a.m. Continental B-fast 10 a.m. Community Time 10:15 a.m. Blood Pressure Checks Sunday, November 1 Available the first Sunday of each month. Questions? See Gloria Howe. SELL AND RELOCATE: Chris Anderson-Kroiss, Sue Ruppel, Mary Robertson, Dena Krueger & Kay Schroeder SELL AND DISPERSE: Leanne Meidam Wincentsen, Wanda Fischer, Chris VanderWielen & Judy Natz President Jeanne Beckley will be an ad hoc member of each group. Council member's contact information is on the last page of the Tidings and Sunday bulletins. Feeding the Hungry... Serving the Community

2 Narrative Lectionary / Community Time November November 1 st BREAKFAST AT TRINITY & Kingdom Divided 1 Kings 12:1-17, November 8 th Elijah at Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18:20-39 November 15 th Hosea: Hosea 11:1-9 November 22 nd Isaiah s Vineyard Song Isaiah 5:1-7; 11:1-5 November 29 th Josiah s Reform & Decorate Christmas Cookies for L & F 2 Kings 22:1-10, 14-20; 23:1-3 THANKSGIVING BASKETS Trinity will be collecting food through November 4 for Thanksgiving Meals for families in the Fox Valley. You may individually Adopt -A - Family.. or drop off items at church that we will use towards a meal. Any questions, contact: Mary Lindsley OR churchlady0519@outlook.com Each Thanksgiving Box Meal will include: Each box will also include a gift certificate to purchase a turkey with funds provided by our Thrivent Action Team grant of $250. Cash donations are also welcome to use toward the purchase of gift certificates for meat. Make checks payable to : Trinity Lutheran Church with a memo line notation - Thanksgiving Meals. Last year, Trinity collected food for 40 meals! Thank you in advance for your generosity for this year s donations!! Box of Mashed Potatoes Box of Stove Top Stuffing 2 Jars of Turkey Gravy 2 Cans of Kernel Corn 2 Cans Green Beans 1 Can of Cranberries Have you noticed??? The 100th Anniversary Quilt designed & pieced by the Trinity Quilters is now hanging in the narthex. (West entrance) Please take an extra minute to view this piece of artwork depicting the history of Trinity!! 2

3 Our Stewardship program for 2015 is entitled, Because of God s Great Mercy stewardship program. Over the next few weeks, we are going to consider God s great mercy and our response to that mercy through our financial support of Trinity. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 God s mercy comes to you in our Lord, Jesus Christ. God s mercy also comes to you in many other ways. Among these are the material possessions you enjoy. They are gifts from God, but more than this, they are entrusted to you by God. The Bible teaches us that all that we have in this life comes from God. Our time, our talents, and our money and possessions all come from God, and in a very real sense still belong to God. In this life we are stewards, caretakers, managers of God s incredible bounty. Through Jesus we are God s own people. God has entrusted into your care all that you have. This good news is the beginning of our understanding that we are stewards. It is also the starting point of your thinking about your giving. When you give to Trinity, you are giving some of what God has entrusted into your care to accomplish God s work in the world. And through Trinity, it accomplishes a lot. Jesus disciple Peter writes, You are God s own people, in order that you may proclaim the might acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. God has made us God s own people for a purpose, and that purpose is that we may proclaim to the world the story of God s incredible love. We do that in word, and we also do that in deeds of love and mercy. Through Trinity, you are involved in proclaiming in both word and deed. You proclaim God s love in word as we gather weekly for worship, as we participate in our Cross+Generational community time, and as we support one another in life s journey. You proclaim God s love in deed in our community when you support Homeless Connections, the Salvation Army, and Loaves & Fishes. Sometimes it is difficult to see all that our congregation is doing. Make no mistake, because of you and many others, Trinity is making a difference as we proclaim God s mighty acts. Pastor Brian 3

4 Word from the Council President Friends at Trinity CHURCH, according to Webster s dictionary, is not only a building for worship, but also the body of worshipers. As the total is only as strong as the sum of its parts, the church is only as strong as the sum of its worshipers. There are many ways that you as a worshiper can help keep our church strong, not the least of which is active participation in congregational life beyond a weekly worship service. I started to make a to-do list of activities that go on in and through our church that you could be involved in: ushering, greeting, pew care, altar care, acolyte, reading, communion assistant, Loaves and Fishes, library, office help, security, building and grounds care, Salvation Army food service, council, music, community time, pancake Sundays, potlucks, tailgates, quilting, bible study, Crop Walk, train to use AED, Thanksgiving and Easter food drives, Stuff the Bus, continental breakfast treats, flowers for the altar, monthly service at Heritage, and all the committees HHH, Mutual Ministry, Property to name a few. I know I have missed some, but the point is: I invite you to step up to the plate you will not regret it. Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich. - Sarah Bernhardt Blessings to you, Jeanne Jeanne Beckley Council President 2015 World Community Day Our Journey Together - Friday, November 6 Immanuel United Church of Christ, 510 Sullivan Ave., Kaukauna Speaker: Melinda Rhodan Gardens in the Dessert A project for family gardens in Western Sahara refugee camps. 8:45 am - 11:30 am No reservations required for brunch. Cost $5.00 Special Collection will be taken for Support of National CWU and A Very Special Place: Paper Products. CARD CRAFTING & STEWARDSHIP The Stewardship Committee is looking into a card ministry to extend stewardship to our members by sending cards throughout the year - - possible ideas include holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. If you like crafting cards and / or have supplies and ideas we can use, please contact Judy Natz at

5 A SPECIAL INVITATION For ALL Women and Friends of Trinity Lutheran Church To attend the 2015 CHRISTMAS EVENT on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5th TICKETS $15.00 Per Person You may buy a table of 8 for $ :00am Preview decorated tables 11:00am Enjoy a special lunchette 12:00pm Returning Guest Speaker: Theresa Poole Tickets for the event will be on sale Beginning November 1, 2015 or you can contact Wanda Fischer at Quilt Raffle on the day of the event 5

6 Trinity Lutheran Church 209 S. Allen St., Appleton WI November 2015 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 All Saints 9:00 am Worship 10 am B-fast at TLC 10:15 am Community Time 4 pm JP Choral 6 pm MasterSingers 2 7:00 pm Bible Study 3 6:30 pm Exec. Comm. 4 9 am KiT Noonhour Phil. 6:00 pm Confirm 7:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Worship 5 9 am App. Women s Board Noon - AA 6:30 pm Singers 7:00 pm Ringers 7:30 pm AA 7:30 pm Al-Anon 6 3:30 pm L &F 7 8 9:00 am Worship 10 am Continental B-fast 10:15 am Community Time 4 pm JP Choral 6 pm MasterSingers 9 9:15 am L& F Board Mtg. 2 pm Worship at Heritage 10 8 am Quilters 11 9 am KiT Noonhour Phil. 7:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Worship 12 10:30 am HHH Noon - AA 6:30 pm Singers 7:00 pm Ringers 7:30 pm AA 7:30 pm Al-Anon 13 3:30 pm L &F News. Deadline 9:00 am Worship 10 am Continental B-fast 10:15 am Community Time 4 pm JP Choral 6 pm MasterSingers am Miniatures 17 2 pm Tea at Brewster 6:30 pm Council Mtg am KiT Noonhour Phil. 6:00 pm Confirm 6:30 pm EGA 7:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Worship 19 9 am Collate Newsletter 11:30 Red Ox Noon - AA 6:30 Singers 7:00 Ringers 7:30 pm AA 7:30 pm Al-Anon :00 am Worship 10 am Continental B-fast 10:15 am Community Time 4 pm JP Choral 6 pm MasterSingers Noonhour Phil. 7:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Worship 26 HAPPY TURKEY DAY! 7:30 pm AA 7:30 pm Al-Anon :00 am Worship 10 am Continental B-fast 10:15 am Community Time 30 4 pm JP Choral 6 pm MasterSingers 6

7 WORSHIP TEAM SCHEDULE November 2015: Love Team November 1 Greet - West: Terry & Gloria Howe Greet - East: Esther Jurgensen Altar Care: Shirley Jooss & Lorna Dorn Acolyte: Teddy Rusch Ushers: 1. Pete Mohr 2. Jeff Dorow 3. Mike Dorow 4. Jim Dorn Reader: Sandy LeMoine Communion Assistant: Sandy LeMoine Healing: 1. Dorothy Warren 2. Marilyn Schucknecht Children s Time: Jann Seidl Fellowship: Dorothy Warren November 8 Greet - West: Shirley Jooss Greet - East: Esther Jurgensen Altar Care: Shirley Jooss Acolyte: Can you help? Ushers: 1. Pete Mohr 2. Jeff Dorow 3. Mike Dorow 4. Jerry LeMoine Reader: Mary Robertson Communion Assistants: 1. Sandy LeMoine 2. Millie Mohr Children s Time: Sue Ruppel Fellowship: Sandy LeMoine Care of Pew Racks: Jan Liebscher November 15 Greet - West: Shirley Jooss Greet - East: Marilyn Schucknecht Altar Care: Shirley Jooss Acolyte: Emalee & Anna Funk Ushers: 1. Pete Mohr 2. Jeff Dorow 3. Mike Dorow 4. Jerry LeMoine Reader: Sandy LeMoine Communion Assistants: 1. Sandy LeMoine 2. Millie Mohr Children s Time: Wanda Fischer Fellowship: Shirley Jooss November 22 Greet - West: Dorothy Warren Greet - East: Marilyn Schucknecht Altar Care: Lorna Dorn Acolyte: Can you help? Ushers: 1. Mike Dorow 2. Jeff Dorow 3. Terry Howe 4. Jim Dorn Reader: Mary Robertson Communion Assistants: 1. Gloria Howe 2. Millie Mohr Children s Time: Mary Bankert Fellowship: Gloria Howe Care of Pew Racks: Jan Liebscher November 29 Greet - West: Marilyn Schucknecht Greet - East: Ken Schucknecht Altar Care: Lorna Dorn Acolyte: Emalee & Anna Funk Communion Assistants: 1. Kay Schroeder 2. Millie Mohr Ushers: 1. Mike Dorow 2. Jeff Dorow 3. Terry Howe 4. Jim Dorn Reader: Kay Schroeder Children s Time: Dena Krueger Fellowship: Millie Mohr 7

8 VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH November 2015: Trinity Church Council Almost every month of the year on the third Tuesday of the month, a group of dedicated Trinity members meet to go over the highs and lows of the world of Trinity Lutheran Church. They are leaders of the teams which serve God, the congregation and the community (worship & music, property, stewardship, mutual ministry, evangelism, etc.). They have maintained a positive attitude and outlook about Trinity s future during some anxious times these past few years. The group is a mixture of many backgrounds, talents, and opinions, but they all focus on what s best for Trinity. Many good things have been accomplished because of the big picture focus that Pastor Brian has brought to the table. The positives keep going --- building community, a growing relationship with Loaves & Fishes and other non-profit organizations, a consistent worship attendance, a focus on serving others --- because of the leadership and enthusiasm of the Church Council. As the Council looks forward toward Trinity s future direction as a congregation, please consider joining the group. It s not the building or the steeple, but the fellowship of people that make Trinity the wonderful congregation it is. THANK YOU to Trinity s current dedicated and talented Church Council!! Pastor Brian Bankert Jeanne Beckley President Chris Anderson Kroiss Treasurer Wanda Fischer Judy Natz Sue Ruppel Ken Schucknecht Chris VanderWielen Mary Lindsley Vice President Leanne Meidam-Wincentsen Secretary Dena Krueger Mary Robertson Kay Schroeder Steve Schulze Kerrie Jo Wagner Christmas for Trinity Homebound Members Over the last few years, the Help, Healing and Health team organized an opportunity for you to deliver a yummy Christmas gift to our homebound members. Our members have let us know that they truly enjoyed the treats and especially appreciate the visit when the gift is delivered. You can help the effort by: Making some Christmas cookies or candies and bringing them to Trinity before church on Sunday, December 13 th Delivering a package to one of our members. The package of cookies/candies will be put together on Sunday, December 13 th and will be ready after church for delivery. If you can help, please complete the information below and drop it in the offering plate, or call the church office at I will bring some cookies/candies : Name Phone/ I can deliver a package: Name Phone/ 8

9 Bible Study Opportunities In November Opportunities at Trinity to Study God s Message for You Please consider joining a study of God s message with others at Trinity. It is a fun experience, with lots of good discussion. Here is a summary of the upcoming opportunities in November. Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room Readings and conversations focus on the readings for Sunday and: Are cheerfully open door so you are welcome at any time. Last about an hour, depending on the desire of the group. Readings for Wednesdays in November include: Nov. 4-1 Kings 18:20-39 Nov Hosea 11:1-9 Nov Isaiah 5:1-7; 11:1-5 Nov Kings 22:1-10, [14-20]; 23:1-3 You are Welcome to Keep in Touch with God and with one another! Refreshments provided! First Monday of the Month!!! Monday, November 2 Are you interested in making your prayer life come alive? Want to discover the power and peace that comes with a real connection to God? Come and join us on the first Monday of each month for a Bible Study based on Max Lucado's book, BEFORE AMEN. We meet at 7pm and complete the study, have a snack or treat, and share a few jokes. We would love to have you join us! Study dates for the rest of 2015 are November 2 & December 7. Please contact Mary Robertson with questions or suggestions for study at or ROBERTSON190@aol.com. Noonhour Philosophers Wednesdays in the Upper Auditorium from Noon - 1:00 p.m. Wed. Nov. 4 APPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Abe Weber, Airport Director Wed. Nov. 11 THE FUTURE OF THE BRAIN Amy Oberg, Futurist Wed. Nov. 18 Q & A WITH CHEF JEFF Jeff Igel, Dept. Chair, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Fox Valley Technical College Wed. Nov. 25 THE CHANGING FACE OF DIVERSITY Kathy Flores, City of Appleton, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator 9

10 Is Your Church Driven by a Shadow Mission? By Robert Schnase (United Methodist bishop assigned to the Missouri Conference) This article is excerpted from his most recent book, Just Say Yes! Unleashing People for Ministry (Abingdon Press, 2015) Some congregations adopt purpose statements that are widely known and frequently repeated, such as Connected with God, Growing in Faith, Serving with Love, or Honoring God through Worship, Witness, and Service. A mission statement, an expression of common practices, or a logo can communicate priorities, reinforce identity, and provide focus. Mission statements give direction to staff and volunteers about what matters most. However, many congregations operate with unspoken shadow missions that actually drive behaviors or limit alternatives more than the stated mission and adopted values. The logo uses missional language to motivate, but leaders use maintenance language to make decisions. For instance, everyone may agree that the congregation s purpose is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In actual practice, one or more of the following shadow missions may guide decisions, operating as a subscript to every conversation. In effect, an unspoken shadow mission says that our purpose and priority is to fulfill the following: Preserve the building. Keep everyone happy. Maintain the organ. Protect the pastor. Get rid of the pastor. Never upset the secretary. Don t offend the choir. Most of these shadow missions are driven by fear - fear of conflict, of upsetting someone, of financial catastrophe, of losing a facility, of changing a way of life. Under the threat of conflict, division, or financial stress, all energies are redirected to security and survival, leaving little space for creativity or initiative. In one city, three mainline congregations were built on Main Street more than a hundred years ago. Like most downtown congregations, they all experienced decline over a fifty-year period. Fifteen years ago, one of the congregations developed a second site to offer a different worship style. It has attracted young families and thrived. Another of the congregations sold their downtown property and relocated to where the population was growing. This congregation expanded is outreach, grew exponentially, and became a multicultural congregation known for its outward focus and mission. The third congregation struggled to maintain their facility and saw their average age increase while attendance slowly declined. A consultant met with leader to discuss the church s future and helped leaders to distinguish their stated mission from their shadow mission. Members realized that for three generations, the unspoken dual shadow mission was preserve the building at any cost and maintain traditional worship with no changes. The shallow mission had caused them to reject any serious attempts to consider additional worship services or alternative sites even when newcomers and younger members requested them. If the energies of the church are poured into projects so that something other than the mission statement of the church is fulfilled, then the congregation may be driven by a shadow mission. Never ask for money. Protect the endowment. Maintain a family feel. Never increase the budget. Avoid disagreement. Focus on current members. Survive at all cost. 10

11 FVLH - NOVEMBER 2015 NEWS THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Our Pie and Ice Cream Social and Silent Auction were a huge success and we owe many of you a big thank you for helping us make it great! Thank you for your pies, for your silent auction donations, for your attendance at the Pie and Ice Cream Social, and for bidding upon the Silent Auction items. Without all of you, we couldn t make this such a success. Thank you again for being the supporting bodies that help us help seniors in the Fox Valley area. We are launching a new program here at Fox Valley Lutheran Homes, or really just resurrecting an old program. (Lutherans really like resurrection, right?) Our new program is called Connections because we want more Connections with YOU, the congregations in the Appleton Conference. There are two parts to this program: (1) a spokesperson in each congregation who will announce the news of Fox Valley Lutheran Homes during announcement time, and (2) adopting an apartment getting to know the tenants, building a relationship, making Connections. Call Becky or Pastor Jennie at for more information or to get started, or we ll be calling you! Mark your calendars for December 6! This will be an entirely new fund raiser for us our first Christmas Tour of Homes. You will be able to tour inside five (hopefully six) homes totally decked out for Christmas and see their arrays! It is scheduled for Sunday, December 6, from 1 to 6 P.M. (No Packer game that day!) Tickets will be for sale at each home so you can start the tour at any of the homes. We suggest you end the tour at Fox Valley Lutheran Homes, with the last home, an apartment there which is on the tour and enjoy the refreshments which will be available there in our Commons. Admission is $10. We are still looking for a sixth home, preferably in the Neenah Menasha area. Contact Becky if you d consider adding your home to our tour. We hope to have live music in each home; mine will have John Harmon! Becky Luett, AIM, Executive Director November Offerings from Fox Valley Lutheran Homes Resources at the Library November will feature two educational events at our facility at 425 S. Linwood in Appleton. Members any of our Churches in the Fox Valley are welcomed to attend our free programs. Monday, November 9 th at 10:30 am Elizabeth, a Reference Librarian at Appleton Library will discuss resources available at the Appleton Library. Many other libraries in the valley also have similar services to offer, so, this would be helpful for folks outside of the Appleton Library system. Please call Ruth at and leave a message of your intention to come, this assists in assuring enough handouts are available. The meeting will take place in the Linwood Commons. Office for the Visually Impaired and Blind Monday, November 16 th at 10:30 am Jean Keneman, a representative from the Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired, will demonstrate a number of visual aids. This is an excellent opportunity to learn and view devices to assist vision. Not only is this an excellent hands on opportunity for persons with vision problems but also for family members to familiarize themselves with aids for their loved ones and assist in living an independent and more rewarding life. Again, please call Ruth at if you or a family would like to attend so we have sufficient number of handouts available. 11

12 Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church 209 S. Allen St. Appleton, WI An ELCA congregation Congregation Council President... Jeanne Beckley Vice Pres... Mary Lindsley Secretary... Leanne Meidam Wincentsen Treasurer... Chris Anderson-Kroiss Wanda Fischer Dena Krueger Kay Schroeder Judy Natz Mary Robertson Sue Ruppel Ken Schucknecht Steve Schulze Chris Vander Wielen Kerrie Jo Wagner Staff Pastor Brian Bankert Office Manager Sarah Bultman Organist Jon Peterson Praise Team Leader Cassie Schroeder Custodian Moore Clean Pastoral Care: Please contact the church office at In case of emergency, you may contact Pastor Brian on his phone via voice or text Feel free to contact any of these individuals with your thoughts, needs or concerns for Trinity. Wednesday Evening Worship in the chapel at Trinity 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays Holden Evening Prayer