Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will. Jonathan Edwards

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1 Trinity Lutheran Church Lake Norden, SD Member NALC Pastor David Patterson Trinity Office: Secretary: Brittany Larson H: (605) C: (605) Website: H: (605) C: (605) Like us on Facebook! Pg 1 Upcoming Events Pg 2 Pastor s Pen Pg 3 Council Minutes Pg 4 Prayer Program Birthdays Pg 5 Kids Page Pg 6 Schedule Changes Pg 7 Evangelism Minutes Pg 8-9 NALC Article Pg 9 WNALC Article Pg 10 Evangelism Corner Pg 11 Calendar Pg 12 Address Page Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will. Jonathan Edwards If you have a prayer concern that you would like to have passed along to our prayer chain, please contact the church office or Renae Please specify if you want the concern to be included in the Sunday morning prayers and/or just on the prayer chain. Thank you! PLEASE NOTE! There is a new prayer chain booklet please stop in the narthex to pick yours up! 1

2 Epiphany 2017 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:11-14). Epiphany: 1. The visible manifestation of the invisible deity. 2. A moment of sudden revelation or insight. In January, we enter the season of Epiphany. Though most don t give it much attention, Epiphany is one of the five great seasons of the Church (Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost). Each season of the Church represents a primary facet of Jesus Christ s ministry, and Epiphany is no different. While most people think of the three wise men when they think of Epiphany, Epiphany is not just the commemoration of the Adoration of the Magi. Rather, Epiphany is the season of Jesus Christ s manifestation on earth and God s revelation that Jesus is God the Son made flesh. The specific events in the Gospels that we commemorate in Epiphany include: The Nativity The Epiphany of Christ in the Manger to the Shepherds; The Adoration of the Magi The Epiphany of Christ to the Gentiles; The Baptism of our Lord The Epiphany of Christ by the Father and the Holy Spirit; and The Wedding Feast of Cana The Epiphany of Christ through His own power. But more than commemorating specific events that demonstrate the manifestation of God the Son in Jesus Christ, Epiphany is the season of the revelation of the Word of God made flesh. Jesus did reveal Himself in power (just as the angels proclaimed His coming, and the star proclaimed His coming, and God the Father and the Holy Spirit proclaimed His coming), but more importantly, Jesus revealed Himself in what He said and taught. Even more importantly, Jesus revealed Himself to us through what He did for us all on the cross. While we commemorate the visible manifestation of God in Jesus Christ, Jesus did not just come to be seen to be God. No, Jesus came for a purpose. He came to teach us, and to lead us, and to suffer and die for us, saving us from the power of sin and death. It is through His Word and through Christ s death and resurrection, that God is revealed to us. This is the true Epiphany God revealed to our heart by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. And this is an Epiphany that continues today. Each day, God is revealed to us in His Word. And that Word directs us to become the visible manifestation of the invisible God in this world. When we bring the love of Jesus Christ to our neighbor, it is an Epiphany. When we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to our neighbor, it is an Epiphany. When we struggle, and suffer for Christ s sake and the sake of the Gospel, it is an Epiphany. In our community, to our neighbors, we as the Body of Christ are God s Epiphany today. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 18-10). Pastor Dave 2

3 Council Minutes Trinity Lutheran Church 8 December 2016 Meeting was called to order by President Larry Jensen Friday December 8, :00 pm Present: Charles Anderson, Roger Anderson, Bob Hauschildt, Aaron Swanson, Lee Swanson, Larry Jensen, Brittany Larson, and Pastor Patterson. Absent: Bud Larrabee and Gerry Koisti Devotions: Pastor had devotions Secretary s Report: Brittany made a motion to approve the minutes. Seconded by Roger. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report: Charles made a motion to approve the Treasurer s report. Seconded by Bob. Motion carried. Committee Reports: Christian Ed: Brittany reported Christmas program would be during church service December 18. Lunch to follow. Evangelism: There will be Christmas Caroling Dec. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. No hayride due to weather. Property: Discussed a railing near pulpit for people having problems getting up the steps to take communion. There are a couple solutions in the works and details will follow. There was an issue with the plumbing under the kitchen sink leaking. Dan fixed this. Old Business: Nominating Committee is Rusty Antonen, Dan Koistinen, and Scott Steffensen. Council Terms Up: o Larry Jensen 1 st Term Began 2014 o Gerald Koisti 2 nd Term Began 2014 o Lee Swanson 1 st Term Began 2014 Committee Reports are due January 2, 2017 Annual meeting is Jan 15, Badger s is the following week (January 22, 2017) and Trinity will have a 09:00 worship service that Sunday. New Business: Christmas offering designation: o Envelope offering will be put in General Fund. o Loose offering will be given to the Food for the Poor. o Brittany made a motion for the aforementioned designations. Seconded by Lee. There have been comments about the sermons online have some quality issues. Pastor is getting his lapel microphone fixed, Lee will look into settings on the digital recorder, and if that doesn t fix the problem, we ll look at some software to clean up the background noise. Larry and Aaron will work on budget. Next meeting will be Thursday January 12, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Charles will have devotions. Charles made a motion to adjourn and seconded by Brittany. Motion carried. Submitted by: Lee Swanson 3

4 January 1 st : Dorene & Barry Lemme; James & Cynthia Juntunen; Elwood & Gayle Andrews January 8 th : Ray & Joan Arneson; Abby, Emma, & Evan Schultz; Mark Anderson; Rhonda Paso January 15 th : Gerald & Doris Koisti; Chance Niemann; June Hakeman; Charles Anderson January 23 rd : Jessica Koistinen; Lila Grape; Danielle Schaefer; Seth Swanson; Jamie Jager- Jorgenson January 29 th : Kristie Roed; Leona, Sam, Bella & Kayla Kretzschmar; Darin Riter 2 nd Raquel (Jager) Gorder 2 nd Mike Jager 2 nd Darian Riter 3 rd Doug Hakeman 8 th Jeanne (Steffensen) Olney 8 th Jenna Johnson 10 th Danielle Schaefer 13 th Lana Niemann 17 th Jason Arneson 21 st Delbert Riter 21 st Morrell Spencer 21 st Ethan Swanson 22 nd Abby Antonen 22 nd Ronald Koistinen 26 th Carmen Antonen The above list is people that are in need of prayers this month. Each month we have different members of the church that we pray for each week. An additional list can be published for those that are needing extra prayers, whether due to health concerns general or specific illness, or some other things that may be going on in your life. CoMmUnIcAtIoNs Due to privacy laws, it is recommended that a family member or a friend notify either Brittany or Pastor Patterson directly with any hospitalizations, nursing homes admits, or if any pastoral care is needed. We don t want anyone to be left hanging during times of need. We want to hear from you not only in times of need, but also in your times of joy! Let the office know what is happening in your lives we love to hear from you! 4

5 In Matthew 13, to what does Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven? A. A farmer sowing seed B. A mustard seed C. Yeast D. Hidden treasure E. A merchant who finds a pearl F. A fishing net G. All of the above Answer: G (See Matthew 13:24-51.) 5

6 2017 Acolyte List January 1 st Colton Muller January 8 th Emma Schultz January 15 th Faith Steffensen January 22 nd Jaden Bos January 29 th Jocelyn Steffensen Please note the following Sunday School Schedule for the month of January. Also note that there is no Lutheranism 101 class or Bible Study the first week of January due to the New Year Holiday. February 5 th February 12 th February 19 th February 26 th March 5 th March 12 th March 19 th March 26 th April 2 nd April 9 th April 16 th April 23 rd April 30 th May 7 th May 14 th May 21 st May 28 th Kayla Kretzschmar Macy Muller Samantha Kretzschmar Shaylyn Sowers Bella Kretzschmar Colton Muller Emma Schultz Faith Steffensen Jaden Bus Jocelyn Steffensen None Easter Sunday Kayla Kretzschmar Macy Muller Shaylyn Sowers Bella Kretzschmar Colton Muller Emma Schultz January 1 st Sunday School cancelled January 8 th Sunday School at 9:30 am January 15 th Sunday School at 9:30 am January 22 nd Sunday School at 10:30 am January 29 th Sunday School at 9:30 am Lessons from a Snowman It s okay to wear white well after Labor Day. Simply hanging out in your front yard can be fun. Accessories don t have to be fancy or expensive. We re all made mostly of water. You know you ve arrived when a song is written about you. So what if you re a little bottom-heavy? Don t get too much sun. Sweating too much can be disastrous! 6

7 Trinity Lutheran Evangelism Minutes December 8 th, 2016 PRESENT: Pastor Dave, Robert Hauschildt, Theresa Hauschildt, and Brittany Larson. Meeting opened in prayer by Pastor Dave. PREVIOUS MINUTES: Minutes reviewed and approved. OLD BUSINESS Christmas Caroling o Set for December 17 th o Pastor has songs picked out and booklet started o Due to cold weather predictions no hayride will be done, will use Pastor s Navigator and parents van. o Meet at parsonage at 6:30 pm. o Brittany will contact the nursing home, homestead, and Sherry regarding stopping by that night o Christmas goodies will be served at the parsonage following the caroling Treasurer Position o Theresa hasn t spoken with Terry about if an existing account is available Spring Service Project o Pastor has a friend from SDSU that will come and meet with us about the possibility of a Community Garden NEW BUSINESS: Nothing brought to the table Next meeting we will discuss further on the community garden Pastor will get into contact with the city office about any zoning issues that we might have. Need ideas for Spring/Summer activities i.e. ice-cream social. Next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 12 th at 6:30 pm. Meeting adjourned with the Lord s Prayer. Submitted by Brittany Larson 7

8 A testimony from a None In Pursuit of the Great Commission by Pastor Don Brandt A reader-contributed column in the Sept. 23, 2016, issue of Time magazine was subtitled My life as a None and other tales from the ranks of the unaffiliated and the agnostic. The writer, Susanna Schrobsdorff, offered a candid, well-written description of her life as a none a person with no religious affiliation. She begins with a description of a yoga retreat she attended in Upstate New York. This particular retreat was not a secular version of Yoga. A statue of the Hindu god Ganesh was displayed. We, a room full of well-meaning, spandex-wearing, mostly aging and somewhat tattooed women were chanting Ganesh mantras in Sanskrit, Schrobsdorff wrote. Since then, I ve questioned my casual pursuit of spirituality And, like a lot of people, I have become an acolyte of the church of self-improvement, choosing appealing bits of other faiths to better my lot. I m just the kind of person that author and pastor Lilliah Daniel has aptly mocked, writing, You are now comfortably in the norm for self-centered American culture, right smack in the bland majority of people who find ancient religions dull but find themselves uniquely fascinating, she wrote. As she concluded her column, Schrobsdorff reflected on the recent death of her mother a lapsed Catholic, but a woman of faith. I know that my mother had the certainty that she would go home, as she called it, where her long-gone parents and my sister were. It was a comfort I envied as I watched her slip away. Then, as now, I longed for faith. Imagine all the people in our culture who share a similar view living in the tension between agnosticism and a vague desire to live and experience a more spiritual life. And, like Schrobsdorff, envying those who, because of their faith, seem to be better equipped to face their mortality. Of course the reality is that there are members in your congregation who, in a moment of honesty, would admit that faith is a struggle for them as well. Not surprising, given how outspoken many of the nones have become in our society. Whether it be in private conversation or through online media, atheists have become both more ubiquitous and militant. This has undoubtedly taken a toll when it comes to the spiritual health of some of our members. When our culture was more accommodating of organized religion, our people were less likely to have their faith challenged. But now Christians, more than in the recent past, need to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. The text goes on to say, But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:15-16). An intentional discipling ministry is one way to help your members both grow in their faith commitment and equip them to be more effective as witnesses for Jesus Christ. In case you haven t heard, there are many NALC congregations currently engaged in a pragmatic and comprehensive discipling process where the goal is nothing less than congregational renewal. My congregation is already one year into this three year process. Contact me, or the NALC office, if you would like to know more about this ministry initiative. We can no longer afford to pursue congregational ministry as if we were living in a predominately Christian culture. The secular challenges we face as the Body of Christ are only growing more daunting. It s time to mobilize! Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of 8

9 teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 Pastor Don Brandt serves Our Savior s Lutheran Church in Salem, Ore. You may contact him at donb@oursaviorssalem.org. WNALC Chair s Corner Dear sisters in Christ, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I don t know about you but these last couple of months have been very stressful for me with the riots, police killings, elections, and etc. Everywhere I turned there seemed to be another incident that would sadden my heart with the inhumanity and deep disrespect people have for one another. I wonder how, in the world, we ever sank this low. This didn t happen overnight; it has happened slowly, over decades, without some of us even realizing that it was happening. However, I believe that by the grace of our Lord, things are about to change. When pastors return to teaching the Scriptures and preaching the truth in love, we will see an awakening and a hunger within our nation. Sometimes we forget that we are really not in control. God is and always will be. That is why I am internally grateful to be a part of the North American Lutheran Church. Did you know that we are one of the fastest growing Lutheran churches? I believe that it is our core values (Christ-Centered, Mission-Driven, Traditionally-Grounded and Congregationally-Focused) that draw new members to our churches. As the Women of the NALC (WNALC) we have a unique ministry within the NALC. The ministry that we have within our congregations is never trivial. It takes many hands to fulfill the work the church is called to do. God works through those who have a willing and loving spirit. On behalf of the Women s Council, I would like to thank each and every woman within our NALC congregations for her service within her congregation and community. You are an example for others to follow. At the beginning of November the Women s Council had their fall retreat to set goals and gathering for next year. We were blessed to be able to meet at the St. Peter s Lutheran Church of Lexington County, SC for our two day session. Southern hospitality was abundant at St. Peter s and the fellowship we shared with the Women s groups was deeply appreciated. And, oh my, the meals were so delicious that I and several others requested family recipes. (My husband is originally from South Georgia, so I got a creamed corn recipe and, as a present from our host, Clyde Sanders, a bag of grits. My husband is a happy camper to say the least.) It was wonderful to share ideas for fundraisers, missions, and congregational activities. I encourage you, if you have the opportunity, to check out what s going on in other congregations. Who knows, we might be inspired by a new idea. We are looking forward to the great things happening within your congregation. Remember: everything we do in the name of Christ is important. So please send these articles to our newsletter editor, Lane Magera, at wnalcnews@yahoo.com. Also, be sure to include any events or dedications that your women s groups or your congregation will be doing. Send the article with photos if possible. Remember that the newsletter is sent out every other month. To access our newsletters and other pertinent information about the WNALC, visit our webpage at In Christ, Jessie Phillips, WNALC Chair 9

10 Jesus Calling by Sarah Young God s Promised Spring Like winter, some seasons of our faith journey feel cold, barren, devoid of life. Will renewal ever come? Will spring flourish again in our heart? Yet the world bears witness to God s power to bring new life where all seems lost. In the early 1990s, the St. Louis neighborhood of South City deteriorated sharply due to a stagnant economy, population decline and crime. Then Bosnian refugees started businesses and brought skilled labor back to the neighborhood. As the area returned to life, the refugees experienced renewal, too hope in place of discouragement, opportunities where none had existed, peace instead of war, life replacing death. When our faith is challenged by despair, lost dreams or an uncertain future when God s promises feel as dead as winter real-life renewal stories are signs of spring. They testify to the resurrection God has in store for us. But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God s unfailing love forever and ever. Psalm 52:8 STRIVE TO TRUST ME in more and more areas of your life. Anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them, eager to gain all the blessings I have hidden in the difficulties. If you believe that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life, it is possible to trust Me in all situations. Don t waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moment accepting things exactly as they are and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances. Trust is like a staff you can lean on, as your journey uphill with Me. If you are trusting in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1John 5:14 10

11 Secretary: Brittany Larson C: H: Office Hours Tues-Thurs 8 am 11 am Phone: Website: Pastor Dave Patterson: H: (605) C: (605) pastor@trinityln.org Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 1 st Sunday after Christmas No Sunday School 10:45 am Worship 12:30-3 Food Pantry 7 pm TLCW Meeting 8 Baptism of Our Lord :30 pm Evangelism 5:30 pm Confirmation 9:30 am Sunday School 12:30-3 Food 7:30 pm Meeting (Badger) 10:45 am Worship Pantry Lutheranism pm Council 7:30 Bible Badger Meeting 15 2 nd Sunday after Epiphany :30 am Sunday School 10:45 am Worship Trinity s Annual Meeting 12:30-3 Food Pantry 7:30 pm Lutheranism 101 5:30 pm Confirmation (Badger) 7:30 Bible Badger Print Newsletter 8:45 am Fold Newsletter 22 3 rd Sunday after Epiphany pm Quilting 9:30 Worship 12:30-3 Food 7:30 pm 5:30 pm Confirmation 10:30 Sunday School Pantry Lutheranism 101 (Badger) Badger s Annual Meeting 7:30 Bible Badger 29 4 th Sunday after Epiphany :30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship USHERS Gerald & Brittany Larson 12:30-3 Food Pantry Acolytes: 1/1 Colton Muller 1/8 Emma Schultz 1/15 Faith Steffensen 1/22 Jaden Bos 1/29 Jocelyn Steffensen 1:30 pm Mending at Nursing Home 7:30 pm Lutheranism 101 Scripture Reader: 1/1 1/8 Kayla Kretzschmar 1/15 Terry Kasten 1/22 Brittany Larson 1/ Communion is held on the 2 nd & 4 th Sundays of the month 11

12 RETURN SERVICE REQUIRED Return to: TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH RD AVE N P.O. BOX 230 LAKE NORDEN, SD