TRINITY. Pastor s Column Jerome Evavold The Seasons of the Church. Volume 74, Number 4 Duluth, Minnesota June /July/August 2018.

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1 TRINITY Volume 74, Number 4 Duluth, Minnesota June /July/August 2018 Pastor s Column Jerome Evavold The Seasons of the Church In his letter to the church in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote, You are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you..if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. Like many people, I love living in an area where we have 4 seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. As we all know it feels so good to experience the days when after cloudy weather, the sun comes out. It feels like life starts all over again. Fall weather can also feel good and winter, if you like snow, who wants to celebrate Christmas without snow? In the church, we also go through seasons on the church calendar. From Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter Pentecost and back to Advent again. There is a different emphasis in each of those seasons of the church year. Those seasons can help us to focus on how God works in our lives sometimes in different ways throughout the year. We have now moved from the Easter Season into Pentecost. Just as Jesus promised the Spirit has come to dwell in us. As Jesus prepared for his ascension, he reminded his followers that he would send the comforter, the Holy Spirit to continue the work he had begun. That we would never be separated from God. The Spirit would come to dwell among us and to live in us. As Paul says, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Like the comfort we feel when the warmth and the light of the sun comes out after a long time, may we feel the comfort knowing that as we live each day, we are not living apart from God, for God has come to dwell in us through the Spirit of Pentecost and we will never be separated from God in any way. May God bless each of you and our whole church as we continue God s work led by the Spirit. 1 Jerome

2 Minister of Congregational Life-Shivon Miller Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46:10 Just recently I read an article titled The Disease of Being Busy. It happened to be on a day that I had attended a Synod planning meeting, raced off to a CHUM meeting, slid into home to help with homework, get clothes ready for a school program, submit forms for both dance and baseball registrations, before settling in to attempt to write this church ECHO full of the activities and plans for summer. Needless to say I had no problem diagnosing myself. But I am struck that this disease is not specific to any age or life phase. The world as a whole seems to be struggling with this illness. And unlike other diseases in which we seek out medications, treatments and life change, often we carry around this disease as a badge of honor. The author of the article, Omid Safi, asks When did we forget that we are human beings, not human doings? It is amidst this culture of being busy that our youth are being taught the practice of Lectio Divina. Chelsea Froemke, the youth director at Gloria Dei and a member of the Worship Planning Team that I have been working with this past year put together a resource for youth attending the Youth Gathering in Texas. This resource is being shared with youth and congregations across the Synod and they are being invited to join in this practice the week of June 23. I encourage you to read through the description of the practice below and join us in Lectio Divina in June and July. May we take a minute to heal from the busy that has overtaken us. May we be still. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian. In his book Life Together he wrote We are silent after hearing the Word because the Word is still speaking and living and dwelling within us. We are silent early in the morning because God should have the first word, and we are silent before going to bed because the last word also belongs to God. Throughout our Journey we will practice Bonhoeffer s idea of first and last word. This will be a time for us to start and end each day hearing the Word and contemplating how the Word is living and dwelling within each of us. In the morning we will use the practice of Lectio Divina (Latin for Divine Reading ) to hear the Word. This is a practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer. The intention is to promote communion with God and the hope is that Scripture is not treated as texts to be studied, but as the living Word. We will hear an excerpt of the story that we will be focusing on that day. The verse or verses will be read three times with a few minutes of silence between each reading. After hearing the text the first time, reflect on a word, phrase, or image that stands out to you (read text the first time). After hearing the text a second time, ask God why that word, phrase, or image stands out to you (read the text a second time). Finally, after hearing the text a third time, ask God how this word, phrase, or image can guide you throughout the day(read the text a third time). We will end each day with a contemporary voice of faith. Again take time to read it three times. The first time ask What stands out to me? The second time ask Why did this stand out? The third time ask God How can this word of phrase guide me? 2

3 Minister of Congregational Life-Shivon Miller Saturday, June 23: God s CALL changes everything. (Moses story) First word: Here I am. Then he said Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. Exodus 3: 4-5 Last Word: Where your greatest source of joy intersects with the needs of the world, go and find that place and hear your calling at the crossroads. Bryan Sirchio Sunday, June 24: God s LOVE changes everything. (Woman at the Well) First Word: The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life -John 4: 14 Last Word: Do small things with great love. -Mother Theresa Monday, June 25: God s GRACE changes everything. (Philip and the Eunuch) First word: As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. -Acts 8:36-38 Last Word: I do not understand the mystery of grace only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us. -Anne Lamott Tuesday, June 26: God s HOPE changes everything. (Road to Emmaus) First Word: They asked each other, Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? -Luke 24:32 Last Word: Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness -Desmond Tutu Wednesday, June 27: JESUS changes everything. (Hemorrhaging woman/resurrected child) First Word: Jesus said Do not fear, only believe. -Mark 5: 36 Last Word: Our deepest joy comes from Christ: remaining with him, walking with him, being his disciples. -Pope Francis 3

4 Minister of Congregational Life-Shivon Miller Thursday, June 28: ELCA Youth Gathering Programming First Word: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. -Ephesians 2:8 & 9 Last Word: God's grace is not defined as God being forgiving to us even though we sin. Grace is when God is a source of wholeness, which makes up for my failings. - Nadia Boltz Weber Friday, June 29: ELCA Youth Gathering Programming First Word: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. - Mark 12:30-31 Last Word: I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least. -Dorothy Day Saturday, June 30: ELCA Youth Gathering Programming First Word: But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - Ephesians 2:4&5 Last Word: Our real journey in life is interior; It is a matter of growth, deepening, and of an ever greater surrender to the creative action of love and grace in our hearts. Never was it more necessary to respond to that action. -Thomas Merton Sunday, July 1: ELCA Youth Gathering Programming First Word: For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. -Ephesians 2:10 Last Word: The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it -Henri Nouwen 4

5 Schedule of Activities Worship Schedule June 3 Endowment Sunday As part of announcements this Sunday, our Endowment committee will announce the recipients of the endowment funding requests. Come celebrate the ministry and outreach supported by our Endowment fund. Celebration of Graduation during Prayer Time Please let us know if there are any High School graduates that would like to take part in this Milestone Sunday. We will include college graduates during our prayer time. Please let us know if you know any college grads that would like to be included in the prayers this day. Trinity s Indoor Marathon: Running to Keep Trinity Running As part of the annual Grandma s Marathon weekend, Trinity will once again hold its own marathon fund drive. This year we will be having a Trinity Indoor Marathon in which one little runner will be Running down our center aisle to Keep Trinity Running. Beginning the end of May, any donations given to the Trinity Marathon will go towards moving our runner down the main aisle. For every $50 given our runner will sprint one of forty steps necessary to reach the front of the sanctuary. This year Jerome celebrates his 40 th half marathon. Can this runner make it 40 marathon steps and match Jerome? All proceeds go to keeping Trinity s ministry running. The marathon ends Sunday, June 17 following worship service. June 10 Blessing the Zak Family Kevin, Jamie and Mikah Zak will be moving mid-june. Join us in worship this Sunday as we pray for God s presence with them in this time of transition and pray a sending blessing over them for the journey ahead. Bill, Melissa and Ephraim Mokrey made a sudden move to Wyoming late May for a new job opportunity. Please hold them in prayer as well as they begin a new journey as a family. June 17 June 24 July 15 Father s Day This Changing Everything Worship On this Sunday, 500 youth and adults from the NE MN Synod will arrive in Texas for the week long Synod Journey to the ELCA Youth Gathering where they will join around 35,000 other ELCA youth. Shivon took part in writing curriculum and worships for this experience and our youth will be using the materials here in Duluth. Join us in worship to experience pieces of the Synod Journey Worships that will be used in Texas. Outdoor Worship and Potluck at Lester Park Pavilion Bring your lawn chair and a food item to share and join us under the shelter at Lester Park for Outdoor Worship. In case of rain, the service and potluck will move to the church. Watch the Facebook page or call the church office for weather updates. 5

6 Schedule of Activities July 22 July 29 August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26 After Worship Thrivent Shares: Tax Reform You are invited to join our Thrivent representative in the Lounge following worship to learn about Tax Reform and how it will affect you and church. Vacation Bible School Shares Vacation Bible School children and youth will share their stories and songs from our Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus theme week. Come sing along and celebrate that we are rescued by Jesus. Shivon preaching After worship Thrivent Shares: Estate Planning Doug Paulson preaching Polka Worship Join us in the downstairs fellowship hall for Polka praise! Silver Sunday This annual Sunday celebrates our members and friends who are 80 years old and older. If you are over 80 and plan to attend this worship service, please RSVP to the church office. Youth Events: June 23-June 27 Youth in Duluth Open to those entering 9 th -12 th grade Fall 2018 The week of June 23rd many ELCA youth from across the country will attend a National Youth Gathering in Texas. While Trinity youth are not traveling for this year's Gathering, we intend to have our own "youth gathering" event here at home using the theme and curriculum written for the National Youth Event. Throughout the week, there will be times for service projects (Rhubarb Festival volunteers, Walk for Water, etc.), worship and fun activities (including a beach party, mystery dinner, on the Road Scavenger Hunt, etc.). Youth must register by June 1 to attend. Saturday and Sunday will start early morning and end late afternoon, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be evening events. The cost is $50 for the week and must be turned into Shivon to register. Youth are welcome to register for the whole week or the days they are able to attend. July July 18 St. Scholastica Youth Theology Camp Sam Hindertliter, one of this year s recent confirmands, will be attending the Youth Theology Camp at St. Scholastica as a Trinity representative. Sam s tuition was partially funded through our Trinity Youth in Leadership funds. After this week in July, take time to ask Sam about his experience. VBS Leader Training Youth volunteering to help at Vacation Bible School should plan to attend this training. We will meet in the upstairs meeting room at 6pm. 6

7 Schedule of Activities July August 1-2 Vacation Bible School Week Sign up to be a Teen Leader. Teen leaders need to be at the church by 8:30am every morning and should plan to remain at the church until 12:30pm. Feed My Starving Children Locally and Globally Open to 9 th -12 th grade Youth from four area congregations will spend the first day serving at the local food shelves in Duluth and participating in Bible Study, group builders and activities here in the area. Then on Thursday we will load the bus and travel to Coon Rapids to work at "Feed My Starving Children". We will end our time together with a special activity in the Cities. Registration forms are available from Shivon. Youth Summer Second Wednesdays (June 13, July 11, August 8) Open to 6 th -12 th graders Once a month youth going into Middle School and High School are invited come to the church for an evening together. Vacation Bible School: Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus July Preschool through 6 th graders are invited to venture onto an uncharted island where kids survive and thrive. The week will anchor kids in the truth that Jesus carries them through life s storms. Our mornings start at 9am and end at Noon. Children will move through 7 stations: Castaway Sing and Play, Bible Discovery, Imagination Station, Ship Rec Games, Tropical Treats, KidVid Cinema, and Sail Away Sendoff. The cost is $25 per child for the week. Call the Trinity office or Shivon (shivon.miller@gmail.com) to register. June July 18 VBS Donation Requests posted Vacation Bible School is made possible through generous monetary and supply donations. If you are able to help, needed supplies will be posted in the church entry way. Take the slip with the supply you are willing to provide and return it to church prior to July 22. Monetary donations can be written to Trinity Lutheran with VBS in the memo. VBS Leader Training July 15 immediately after worship in the library for Adult Leaders We are also still looking for Adults willing to help lead the games, crafts, and Bible learning stations or volunteer at the sign in and sign out tables. Please call Shivon if you are interested. July 18-6pm for Teen Leaders July 22 July July 27 July 29 VBS Decorating Day Immediately after worship on July 22, Trinity members and friends are invited to stay and help set up and decorate for VBS Week. There are jobs for all ages and abilities. VBS Week VBS Clean Up VBS Shares in Worship 7

8 Rhubarb Festival Basket Donations Trinity is once again serving as the drop off site for the CHUM Basket Raffle at the Rhubarb Festival. In addition we are helping CHUM to reach their goal of 50 themed baskets for the raffle. Congregation members are welcome to donate a $50-$75 themed basket for the raffle, provide cash donations to purchase items for a basket, and/or bring in baby items for our Child of God basket or fruit jams/fruit themed items for our Fruits of the Spirit basket. Join us at the Rhubarb Festival on June 23. All proceeds from the Rhubarb Festival make CHUM ministries possible. On Tuesday, June 12th at 9 am, the ladies from Trinity and Gloria Dei will be making rhubarb pies downstairs at Trinity. You are invited come help with this project. Also, if you have rhubarb to share, they can always use it. Please clean and cut it up into small chunks. There will be further information in the bulletins. Welcome Cooper William Hilleren was baptized on April 29, His parents are Mark and Brittany Hilleren. Sponsors are John Hilleren and Katie Jarvi. We welcome you into the Lord s family here at Trinity. We are blessed to have you with us. From: Naydean Ringdahl SPRING CLEANING AT TRINITY Last week we began an ongoing project of going beyond the weekly vacuuming and cleaning by targeting specific areas to dig a little deeper. The Lounge, Chapel, and Avenue Entrance area now shine a little brighter. Many tasks were completed leaving only a few remaining to be checked off that list. The process is this: a work list of jobs is presented; participants choose their preference and then check that task off the list when completed. The next focus will be the stairway area leading from the Chapel to the Narthex as well as the Narthex, Coat Area, and Sunday School Entrance. Information and lists will be displayed on the coffee/water table on Sunday mornings. Check it out and consider how you may be able to participate. Jobs can be completed independently or you can come when the next designated group time is determined. Watch for announcements or call Naydean at

9 Witness Within Summer Reading! Thanks to an Endowment Fund award last year, Trinity was able to purchase some books in the hopes of them being helpful resources. Books on the topics of marriage, parenting, teenagers, mental health, depression, grief, and Alzheimer s are now available. They will be located on tables in the narthex for the first two weeks in June and then moved to bookcases near the doorway into the Sunday School/ office addition. Here is the list of books that were purchased: Magic: 3-Step Discipline for Calm, Effective, and Happy Parenting by Thomas Phelan The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child by Daniel J Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson Parenting Teens With Love And Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood by Foster Cline and Jim Fay Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J Siegel Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers (Youth, Family, and Culture) Clark, Chap Parenting Is Your Highest Calling: And Eight Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt Fields, Leslie Leyland The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family: Over 100 Practical and Tested Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Kids Powell, Kara E. Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Second Edition (Resources for Changing Lives) Paul David Tripp When Your Child Loses a Loved One (Hope & Healing Series) Huntley, Theresa Queen Bees and Wannabes, 3rd Edition: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boys, and the New Realities of Girl World Wiseman, Rosalind 9

10 Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood Damour, Lisa Barna Trends 2018: What's New and What's Next at the Intersection of Faith and Culture Barna Group The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir Kenison, Katrina Buy it again Hope and Healing for Kids Who Cut: Learning to Understand and Help Those Who Self-Injure (Youth Specialties (Paperback)) Penner, Marv The Space Between: A Parent's Guide to Teenage Development (Youth Specialties (Paperback)) Mueller, Walt Right Click: Parenting Your Teenager In A Digital Media World [Sticky Faith] Bamford, Art Out of My Mind Draper, Sharon M. And Baby Makes Three: The Six-Step Plan for Preserving Marital Intimacy and Rekindling Romance After Baby Arrives Gottman PhD, John The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children Greene PhD, Ross W. 10

11 The Solution Focused Marriage: 5 Simple Habits That Will Bring Out the Best in Your Relationship Connie, Elliott Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow and A. J. Gregory Surviving Alzheimer's: Practical Tips and Soul-saving Wisdom for Caregivers by Paula Spencer Scott Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer's Journey: A Guide for Families and Caregivers by Jolene Brackey Mental Health and the Church: A Ministry Handbook for Including Children and Adults with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Other Common Mental Health Conditions by Stephen Grcevich Journeying Through Grief (4-Book Set): Book 1: A Time to Grieve Book 2: Experiencing Grief Book 3: Finding Hope and Healing Book 4: Rebuilding and Remembering by Kenneth C. Haugk Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse by Susan J. Zonnebelt- Smeenge and Robert C. De Vries Healing From Depression: How to Wait on God in the Midst of the Storm by Robyn Patrick Finding God: Praying the Psalms in Times of Depression by Thomas Lewis Dealing With Depression: Trusting God through the Dark Times by Sarah Collins and Jayne Haynes Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado Less Fret, More Faith: An 11-Week Action Plan to Overcome Anxiety by Max Lucado Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist Helping Others Overcome Addictions: How God's Grace Brings Lasting Freedom by Steve McVey and Mike Quarles 11

12 Witness Beyond By Mallory Thorne In April, we concluded our reading of The New Jim Crow by holding a movie screening of 13th. I am sure I speak for the group when I say that it was a very difficult, but necessary watch. For folks who are interested, it is on Netflix. We hope to hold another book club/movie screening in the beginning of 2019, and to make this an annual series so that we as a church can grow in our understanding of social justice issues facing our fellow community members. Witness Beyond does not have much in the works for this summer here at Trinity, however there are plenty of opportunities to reach out into the community and be engaged - please keep an eye out for updated listing in the ECHO Lite! CHUM- May 24th the Spring Assembly was held. Five of us from Trinity attended and learned about what we can do to support the work CHUM is doing in the community. We also had an opportunity to write our legislators about important issues facing low income residents of St. Louis County. The Rhubarb Festival is coming up on June 23! They are always looking for volunteers, donations, or just folks to come and enjoy the event! Some of the generous members of Witness Beyond will again be donating a basket to the raffle! National Night Out August at CHUM LSS- Nine of us from Trinity attended the annual Benefit for Youth. Once again, we had the opportunity to learn about the impact Lutheran Social Services continues to have on the lives of youth in our community. I am continuously blown away at the programs they offer and the stability the create. EVENTS: June 7 5-7PM- Moving your Voice Forward- Be a part of this dynamic event and share your solutions for improved transportation in Duluth. There will be discussions on equity, education and involvement. Dinner included. Community Action Duluth June 12 5PM- AICHO 2031 Mural dedication. Please join us for a celebration to dedicate AICHO's newest mural that will be installed at their 2301 W. Superior Street business building. We will have the dedication ceremony with a short program with the key people involved in this beautiful mural. Juneteeth is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, abolition of slavery. This celebration is a both an opportunity to acknowledge the history of slavery and its impacts today, as well as a chance for all of us to live in a community of freedom. (Taken from the Facebook Event Page of the Duluth Juneteenth celebration). Each of these events is a powerful thing to attend and I encourage everyone to find time to go to one. You can come and go as you please, they are very open events with lots of stuff for kiddos! Duluth- June 16th Noon - 6pm - in the open space of the Central Hillside Community Center (behind One Roof Housing off of Lake Ave. and 4th St.) Superior- June 17th 2-7pm - Kelly Park Events will be updated as the months come! Always plenty of opportunities and motivation for Trinity members to get involved in the broader community and make a difference. I hope everyone has a fabulous summer! 12

13 Property Most of you have heard the screeching taking place during the services on Sunday morning. In order to minimize this, we went in to help Pastor Evavold adjust the microphones that are used by him and Shivon, as well as the mics used by the Contemporary Band. The result is that the sound is more even and better, and as long as these adjustments are maintained, we should all be able to hear the sound better. The Endowment Fund gave us several gifts this year. One such gift is the replacement of two windows on either side of the Altar. These windows are the last to be changed out for the new energy efficient ones in the main part of the Church. There are just a couple more down in the Lyngdal Lounge to be replaced. Another gift is for the replacement of three windows in the Parsonage. You may remember a letter that was sent out last September asking for donations to replace these windows, since there has been little or no attention paid to that plea, we decided to ask the Endowment Fund to help us out. The windows in that building are in VERY poor condition. In fact, we had to bolt one of them together last summer so that it wouldn t fall apart. The gift is to replace three of the very worst ones. Another gift is for the replacement of the flooring in the basement. The hallway outside of the gym will be recovered, as well as the flooring outside the pre-school. The last gift was the final money needed to finally replace the shingles on the garage. The shingles are in very bad condition, and getting a new roof will allow for the garage to be leak free for many years to come. Over the past 3 months, we have been struggling to keep up with plugged drains in the Parsonage. When we have not been able to clear the pluggage, we have called in a drain specialist to help us out. You may have noticed a few threads coming loose on the carpet in the Chapel downstairs. We have called the installer, and when he comes out to do the tile replacement in the hallways, he will trim the loose threads. We have been working with Johnson Controls to figure out the issues with the boiler. We have narrowed it down, but as of yet, no resolution. Please stay tuned for more on this. I am sure there have been more projects on the list, but these are the ones that come to mind. Thanks to all who have given of their hard earned money or elbow grease to help us out, Without your help, nothing could get done. Respectfully submitted, Eric Skadsberg Property Chair 13

14 2018 NE MN Synod Assembly Report Page 1 Tim and Val Bushnell Once again, we enjoyed a beautiful spring weekend at Cragun s Resort in the Brainerd Lakes area, May 4 th through 6 th, as Trinity s delegates to the Synod Assembly. Thank you for the opportunity! There were a total of 344 participants from throughout our Synod who checked in before the opening session. We gathered for beginning worship and agenda meetings on Friday evening. Worship was led by Bishop Thomas Aitken and others from around the Synod; worship music was led by Pastor Peter Kowitz, his wife Sarah Kowitz, and some other Synod pastors/musicians. (A lot of the music was unfamiliar to us, which was interesting, although it seemed a little more traditional than what we are used to; still, it was nicely done.) The theme this year was Living in God s Kingdom Changes Everything. The keynote speaker was Rev. Mark Tranvik, from Augsburg University, who was proud to talk about his history (confirmation, ordination, etc.) at our own Trinity Lutheran in Duluth. His teaching was based on the first three articles of the Lord s Prayer, and we all received a copy of Luther s Small Catechism, 500 Years of Reformation (pocket edition), for reference. He gave 4 FED talks throughout the day on Saturday. A few highlights of the FED talks: 1) Pay attention to the interruptions in life; they may help us discern God s will. Luther was interrupted by a storm while walking in the woods at age 22 and it changed his career path forever. 2) God doesn t need our good works; good works are not for God, but for our neighbor. We are not required to earn grace by works. We are called to work for the sake of the common good. 3) God is active, present and alive, in, with, and under all of creation. 4) Prayer is not an option, we are commanded by Jesus to pray; prayer is not about what WE want but about God bending our wills to His. 5) Our Father states that we are included in God s family, it is not a possessive our, and the family is bigger than we think. 6) God s kingdom is personal, but not private, therefore, prayer is not simply private. 7) Thy Kingdom Come invites an INVASION of God s kingdom in this world. Also present and speaking at the Assembly were: Rev Kevin Strickland, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop (Rev. Elizabeth Eaton); Mr. Paul Jacobson from Luther Seminary; Ms. Prairie Rose Seminole from American Indian Alaska Native Ministries of the ELCA; a speaker from Lutheran Advocacy of Minnesota, and a number of others who gave reports from various ministries of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod. We learned about the ongoing shortage of new pastors available for call; it was announced that a plan is in place for candidates to be able to attend seminary TUITION FREE! We learned about the vibrant ministry of the camps run by Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry, which served 20,000 campers last year. We learned about the activities in our companion synods in Russia, India, and Honduras; did you know that there are 4 million Lutherans in India (about the same membership as the ELCA in America) who are living in a country that is 80% Hindu and 15% Islam? We learned about the atrocities committed against Native American women, the challenges of violence and sex trafficking they face in today s world, and that the ELCA is present and trying to attend to their needs as well. (We will be hearing more about this in future months from the Synod.) We learned about the completion of the PV for Phebe project (which funded a solar energy system for the hospital in Phebe in Liberia). A new project has begun, nicknamed Current for Curran, which takes on a similar effort for a hospital in Curran (also in Liberia); this 125 bed hospital was founded by Lutheran churches in 1924 and offers inpatient and outpatient services, has a nursing school, and supervises 23 community health centers and clinics. The new project will cost more than 14

15 2018 NE MN Synod Assembly Report Page 2 Tim and Val Bushnell Phebe s due to the need for battery storage in addition to solar collection panels. Our ELCA Synod is also part of collecting Dollars for Disaster for Lutheran Disaster Response due to the large number of recent natural disasters throughout the world. During the agenda sessions, two resolutions were presented and approved. The first was in support of peaceful resolution of the human rights situation in Palestine, encouraging congregations to learn about the realities of life for our Lutheran brothers and sisters and other Palestinians in the Holy Land in order to speak and act with understanding regarding the conflict between Palestine and Israel. The second was to encourage recognition and celebration of the upcoming 50 th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Lutheran church and to focus on researching gender inequities that may be present in the church to establish goals and strategies to address these issues. This year, Trinity members donated a total of 19 quilts and other items for the silent auction at the assembly. An hour before the bidding ended, we had bids raising almost $500 for World Hunger (the final total is not known). Last year, the gathering resulted in a total of $28,144 being raised for World Hunger; $13,027 from Dollars for Disaster, $11,905 from the Quilt Auction, and $3,212 from the Marketplace. The work of the ELCA in the world continues. The assembly gatherings in 2019 and 2020 will be held at the DECC here in Duluth, in preparation for the election of a new Bishop in This would be a great time for new delegates to attend the assembly, conveniently close to home, and be a part of the work of the community of the ELCA. Please talk to Pastor Jerome or Shivon if you would like to check it out next year! Note: Our notes and other conference materials are available for review if anyone has questions or wants more information; please let me know if you d like to take a look. I will leave a copy of the Current for Curran brochure in the church library. TRINITY NEEDS: VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL DONATION COUPONS Want to help make VBS possible? All the supplies we need for Vacation Bible School are listed on coupons in the church entry. Read through the coupons and select the items you are willing to donate. Purchase the items and return them to church no later than July

16 SUPPORTING TRINITY S MINISTRY Your financial support makes possible the work of the church and God s work in our community and world. In addition to traditional offering plate giving, you can give online and through electronic funds transfers. Importantly, you can choose to give a gift in honor or memory of a loved one. You can also enable the continued work of Christ s church by naming Trinity in your Will. Along with monetary gifts, we encourage you to review our wish list of currently needed items. ONLINE GIVING You can give a gift to Trinity Lutheran Church online. To give: Go to Click on Online Giving Click on Create your online profile and complete the steps to setting up your profile. Log in anytime from your computer or smart device and submit your gift online. HONORARIUM AND MEMORIAL GIVING A memorial or honorarium gift is a meaningful way to remember a life, recognize a special occasion, or celebrate a loved one. The honored individual, or the family of the one you have remembered, will be notified of the contribution. Your name, and those you honor, are also listed in the Trinity ECHO. Please see second page. SIMPLY GIVING You can register for Simply Giving to set up electronic funds transfer from your checking account to Trinity Lutheran Church. Transfers can be programmed for withdrawals for any amount, on defined dates and time intervals. Contact the financial secretary at for a registration form. TO REQUEST MEMORIAL GIFTS BE GIVEN TO TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH Instruct the funeral director to insert the following in the obituary notice: The family encourages memorial gifts be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church 1108 East 8 th Street, Duluth, MN HONORARIUM AND MEMORIAL GIFTS Amount Giving: $ Given by Address of Giver In Memory /Honor (circle one) of Send acknowledgement card to: Name Address *************************************************************************************************** LEAVE A LEGACY By naming Trinity Lutheran Church in your Will, you are enabling the continued work of Christ s church here on earth and helping ensure the passing on of faith to future generations. Consider discussing with an attorney or financial advisor, the inclusion of legacy language in your Will. The below are samples only: FIXED AMOUNT: (I give, devise, and bequeath the sum of $ to Trinity Lutheran Church.) SPECIFIC PROPERTY: (My, I give and devise to Trinity Lutheran Church.) PERCENTAGE OF RESIDUE: ( % of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, I devise and bequeath to Trinity Lutheran Church.) CONTINGENCY: (In the event does not survive me, I give to Trinity Lutheran Church.) Trinity Lutheran Church is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit charitable organization. Gifts are tax deductible. 16

17 Finance - Memorials through May 2018 MEMORIALS and HONORARIUMS Gifts in memory of JOHN BERGSON to the Ministries of Trinity from: Gene and Sandy Keyser Fritz and Faye Kerttula Nancy Bergson Darlene Morris Joanne Morris Fred and Amy Sowl Joanne Robson Claudine Hansen Dick and Gloria Walkowiak Jerome and Mary Evavold Mae Klawitter The Bergson Family Patty Christiansen Kathy Johanson To the Property Board from Glenn and Peg Evavold Gifts in memory of DAVID MOELLER, son of Beverly McIntosh: To the Quilters from Alyce Coker and Ray Aiken To the Sunday School from Bea Wenck To the Ministries of Trinity from:: Ruth Anderson Claudine Hansen Jerry Ewer Bret an d Heidi Johnson Greg and JoAnn Drickhamer Bev and Jim McIntosh Faye and Fritz Kerttula Gifts in memory of past member HARLAND NELSON, to the Ministries of Trinity from: Claudine Hansen, and the Nelson family; Arlene, Nancy and Tim We received a new carpet power washer in memory of GAIL HOSKING from her mother, Bea Wenck. A gift to Camp Vermilion in memory of JULIA E. JOHNSON, from her daughter Norma Johnson. A gift to the Trinity Ministries from Greg and JoAnn Drickhamer in memory of DAVE VIETHS and in honor of DAVE and CONNIE'S years together. A gift from Claudine Hansen in memory of Fred Sowls's brother MARCUS SOWL, to go toward the Trinity Ministries. A gift to the Trinity Ministries from Claudine Hansen, in memory of Larry's sister MARGART IBACK who passed away at age 90 in White Bear Lake. Gifts to the Trinity Ministries in memory of Jim McIntosh's brother JOHN MCINTOSH from: Gene and Sandy Keyser Ruth Anderson and Sam Talarico Joanne Robson Claudine Hansen And to the Quilters from Alyce Coker 17

18 Endowment Fund 2018 Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund 2018 Distribution of Funds 1. Witness Beyond-Community Book Read & Movie Screening Stewardship Development & Training Within Within-Imagination Station VBS Replace Sacristy Window Replace window in room west of altar Replace flooring outside Pre-School Replace flooring outside of gym Replace Parsonage windows 1, Purchase supplies to replace shingles & facia boards Expanded WiFi 1, Replace gas regulator & solenoid on boiler 1, Carpet sweeper Upgrade sound system 1, UMD Campus Ministry Witness Beyond-Juneteenth Celebration Welcome-Fleece material for baptismal quilts Welcome-Devotionals and gifts for new members Welcome-Silver Sunday gifts God s Work - Our Hands Sunday VBS-Operation Kid to Kid Service Project Youth-Feed My Starving Children Project-Duluth/Superior In Stitches - Quilting Materials & Supplies Tuesday Morning Quilters - Material & Supplies Trinity Youth-Fund for Givin Program 1, Total Disbursements $13, Community News REMEMBER TO KEEP SAVING YOUR PENNIES FOR THE JAR IN THE CHURCH ENTRY WAY. 18

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20 WORSHIP ASSISTANTS - JUNE 2018 June 3, 2018 Greeters: Susan Strom Ushers: Jack and JoAnn Salmela Reader: JoAnn Salmela Communion Assistants: Nancy Bergson, Jan Culliton Communion Basket Coffee Host: Greeters: Ushers: Reader: Coffee Host: Serena and Brayden Miller Faye and Fritz Kerttula June 10, 2018 Gene and Sandy Keyser Dick and Elaine Carlson Sandy Keyser Brenda Bonnema and Ann Clark June 17, 2018 Greeters: Heidi and Nissa Johnson Ushers: Christine and Jordan Kimpling Reader: Bret Johnson Communion Assistants: Heather Sweetland, Kathy Gilbertson Communion Basket Coffee Host: Greeters: Ushers: Reader: Coffee Host: Altar Committee: Darlene Morris Nancy Bergson Cameron and Carter Pietrusa Beverly and Jim McIntosh June 24, 2018 Alyce Payment Griffin and Mallory Thorne Kathy Myers Molly and Clark Anderson 20

21 Birthdays June Birthdays Nancy Bergson June 1 Marilyn Mitchell June 1 Jamie Zak June 1 Bret Johnson June 2 Lorraina Maki June 3 Hillarie Madden June 6 Nissa Johnson June 7 Taire Suliin June 7 Richard Walkowiak June 7 Charles Hartley June 9 Ellie Gebhardt June 12 Clarice Plachecki June 12 Kathy Myers June 13 Martin Schmidt June 13 Gus Kohlts June 14 June Kirby June 15 Karin Von Sien June 15 Andrew Fleisch June 16 Janice Marciniak June 17 Pat Ario June 19 Trygve DeRosier June 19 Hadley Kregness June 20 Linda Ostrofsky June 20 Finnigan Tuve June 21 Irene Lueck June 22 Julie Hoag June 23 Brenda Madden June 25 Ivy Grochowski June 26 Joyce Peterson June 26 Don Stellmaker June 26 Kristoffer Laman June 27 Shaun Erickson June 28 Per Johnson June 28 Megan Vieths June 29 Birthdays July Birthdays Jan Culliton July 1 Thomas Goar July 1 Bradley Lewis July 1 Cameron Pietrusa July 1 Annelise Salmela July 1 Ann Clark July 2 Brittany Oestrich July 2 Blake Schroeder July 3 Michael Kregness July 5 Diane Hartley July 6 Kenneth Sunnarborg July 6 Ily Anderson July 7 Natalee Becker July 8 Adam Skadsberg July 8 Edysen Tomaich July 11 Jeffrey Hanson July 14 Stella Rae Hardin July 18 Luca Erickson July 20 Keaton Christiansen July 21 Kim Overlie July 22 Doris Thorsen July 23 Gene Keyser July 25 Lianna Bushnell July 25 Nancy DeRosier July 28 Makenzie Mercer July 30 Carol Pearson July 30 Quinn Anding July 31 Robert Pietrusa July 31 Sarma Stumbris July 31 21

22 Birthdays August Birthdays Chad DeRosier Aug 1 Ray Aiken Aug 2 Avery Overlie Aug 5 Barb Lewis Aug 6 Adriana McFarland Aug 6 Joann Narhi Aug 7 Kathy Gilbertson Aug 8 Logan Christiansen Aug 11 Sandy Keyser Aug 12 Eileen Nelson Aug 12 Amy Sowl Aug 12 Courtney Erickson Aug 15 Jim Thorsen Aug 16 Alyce Coker Aug 15 Joy Head Aug 17 Cooper Hilleren Aug 19 Phoenix Thayer Aug 19 Nola Motschenbacher Aug 20 Marilyn Toscano Aug 24 Karley Wentworth Aug 24 Richard Carlson Aug 25 Seth Robertson Aug 27 Gail Kohlts Aug 27 Spencer Carr Aug 28 Jim Jensen Aug 28 Bill Ulvi Aug 29 Trinity Staff Pastor Jerome Evavold jevavold@tlcduluth.org Minister of Congregational Life Shivon Miller shivon.miller@gmail.com Organist Judy Arnold Treasurer/Financial Secretary Kathy Gilbertson kathy.trinity@gmail.com Secretary Aine Merrill trinity@tlcduluth.org Live-in Caretaker & Custodian Andrew Fleisch Building Use/Wedding Coordinator Naydean Ringdahl naydeanringdahl@yahoo.com Publisher Eileen Nelson 22

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24 TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 1108 East Eighth Street Duluth, Minnesota Return Service Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Duluth, MN Permit No. 889 Sunday Worship Schedule ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 AM Communion is served on the first and third Sundays. Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Website: Phone: (218)