Poinsettias. Facebook: Matt s Website: trinitymilaca.org

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trinitymilaca.org E-Mail: trinitymilaca@frontiernet.net Facebook: www.facebook.com/trinitymilaca Pastor Bauer s Cell: 320-362-0301 Pastor Bauer's E-Mail: pastorbauer@frontiernet.

109 The TLC Connection TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA 735 2nd St.

Program December 21st - 9:30 AM Worship December 24th - 4:30 PM and 9:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship December 28th - 9:30 AM A Festival of Lessons, Carols and Stories Poinsettias Trinity members and

1 Newsletter Trinity Lutheran Church P.O. Box 249 Milaca, MN ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Sunday Worship December 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 9:30 AM December 24 at 4:30 PM & 9:00 PM Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Phone: Website: trinitymilaca.org trinitymilaca@frontiernet.net Facebook: Pastor Bauer s Cell: Pastor Bauer's pastorbauer@frontiernet.net Youth Director - Matt Schwind Cell: Matt s matt.schwind@gmail.com NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Postage Paid Milaca, MN U.S. Permit No. 109 The TLC Connection TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA 735 2nd St. SE MILACA, MN Volume 19, Issue 12 December 2014 December Worship Schedule December 7th - 9:30 AM Christmas Cantata with Bell Choir December 14th - 9:30 AM Sunday School Christmas Program December 21st - 9:30 AM Worship December 24th - 4:30 PM and 9:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship December 28th - 9:30 AM A Festival of Lessons, Carols and Stories Poinsettias Trinity members and friends are invited to contribute a Poinsettia for our Altar during the Sundays of Advent and Christmas. Please leave a message in the office if you will be giving a poinsettia and include any information as to memorial, etc. Blue Christmas: Sunday, December 21st Service Schedule: Office Hours: Communications: Christmas is not always the most wonderful time of the year. Sunday, December 21st at 3:00 PM at Zion Lutheran Church we are joining with Zion and the United Methodist Church to remember, pray, and seek comfort together. We will witness the light that shines in the darkness that the darkness cannot overcome. This service is for anyone for whom there is a note of sadness, depression, loss, or for whom the darkness is a real feeling. For more information, speak with Pastor Bauer.

Pastor Bauer, servant of Jesus Christ at Trinity Lutheran Church; grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the end of October we had a negative checking account balance of $1451.27. We still do have $3980.97 in a Roof Fund and $4825.15 in a Mission Savings account.

We have done good things this year including completing our loan on the piano for the sanctuary, receiving the Matthew 25 Grant of $5000 to share the love of God with the community and the world, and

2 Pastor Bauer, servant of Jesus Christ at Trinity Lutheran Church; grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In ten years of serving together we have not had to seriously have this conversation, but the financial situation of the congregation makes it necessary now. At the end of October we had a negative checking account balance of $ We still do have $ in a Roof Fund and $ in a Mission Savings account. We are behind in our commitment to the NE MN Synod and were at that time more than $14,000 behind on expected income according to the budget. Those are the numbers. We have done good things this year including completing our loan on the piano for the sanctuary, receiving the Matthew 25 Grant of $5000 to share the love of God with the community and the world, and sharing through our partners organizations within the congregation to many organizations in the community that serve those in need. This situation is not unusual for congregations. It is a story that has been lived at every expression of the church and by many non-profits. It is unusual for us. As a council, treasurer, financial secretary we are uncertain about just what has changed this year. Though we have considered some factors, including the exceptionally cold winter and the piano effort, we are still faced with the reality that financially this year is not going as expected or hoped. There are not a lot of things we can do except to ask ourselves to consider what we can offer through the rest of the year. Traditionally December is a month when people turn generous to those in need through efforts of the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, Holiday Helping Hands and donations to the hunger programs. Churches have also traditionally benefited from year end giving, though nothing is ever certain. The traditional wisdom also says that when finances are tight churches should not reduce the number of Sunday services because if attendance goes down so does offering. But that is just what we are doing to accommodate musical celebrations of the season and the reality of the last two Sunday s of December falling during the Christmas school break. That being so, come and worship, remember the ongoing ministry of the congregation that allows us to do the extra things for ourselves and others. Keep the faith. Say your prayers. Love like Jesus. Pastor Tim Bauer News & Notes Bell Choir will meet on December 3rd at 6:00 PM. (No other practices will be held until further notice.) Thanks! Quilters are trying quilting twice a month on the first and second Thursday of each month. We meet from 9:00 AM until?? But come and go as needed. We are hoping for some new members this winter. Trinity Day at the Dining Site at the Hi Rise is December 18th. Serving begins at 11:30 AM and the cost of the meal is $4.00 for persons 60 or older. Friendship Coffee will meet December 18th at 2:00 PM at church. Join us for a short devotion and conversation. Coffee will be on and bring a couple of cookies to share offering envelopes may be picked up in narthex the beginning of December. Annual Ministry reports are due January 12, Community Events Pease Christian Reformed Church is selling apple pies for their Guatemala fundraiser. They are $10 each and can be purchased at Country Sales Furniture, Foreston Co-op, Kiel s Appliance and Milaca Depot. Cookie Walk and Craft Fair at Milaca United Methodist Church on December 6th from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Let us do your Christmas baking! This Side of Heaven will have its next country gospel sing-along December 7th at 2:00 PM at the Milaca Alliance Church. Everyone is welcome! Holiday Open House Multi-Vendor Shopping Extravaganza! Join us December 7th from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM here at Trinity. Vendors include: Premier Designs, Young Living, Scensty, Tastefully Simple, Thirty-One Gifts, and more. Buy from a home party specialist this holiday season! If you would like to be a vendor please contact Lisa Greninger at Rum River Community Foundation Presents: Holiday Sounds on December 7th at 4:00 PM here at Trinity. Music by Megan Vetter & Laura Odden, John Packard & Jennie Warner, MHS Jazz Band, MHS Chamber Choir and united. Admission is free. Free will offering will benefit the RRCF Endowment Fund. Pie social following the concert.

Trinity Lutheran Church Women As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith,

3 Trinity Lutheran Church Women As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our calling, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in our church, society, and the world. Teals Grocery receipts - Please save your receipts for groceries from Teals and place them in the envelope on the bulletin board in the narthex. The money that will be received for them will be given to the TLCW through December. From January on, the money will be given to the youth at Trinity for their summer convention trip. The TLCW Funeral Committee will meet early this month to review the meals that we serve and the groups of women and men who serve the meals. Trinity has three groups of women who plan, buy, and prepare the meals; each woman is part of one of the three groups and may be asked to either provide a cake or serve the meal. If for some reason you are overlooked in helping with a funeral, please call Christine in the office and she will direct you to the leader of your group. We are unable to provide this service without the assistance of each of you who so freely provide your resources and time. Family members whom we serve are indeed appreciative of our efforts. Thank you for your part in our funeral ministry. A successful Bake Sale, November 1st - Thank you to each of you who contributed an item for the Bake Sale that was held prior to the Lutefisk Dinner. TLCW received $1300+ in donations from your efforts. This money has been added to our treasury and used for our Christmas donations. Just so you are aware, at each December TLCW meeting, funds that have been collected throughout the year from activities such as the Bake Sale, are distributed to various charitable organizations and activities. A complete list of the recipients will be printed in the January newsletter. An early gift of $1,000 was given in November to the Phebe Hospital Project in Liberia. This project is striving to provide adequate electrical energy for the local hospital by installing solar panels that are manufactured by a company in Brainerd. This project is being promoted by the Heartland Conference of Lutheran Women Organizations such as Trinity s TLCW. Again, thank you for your donation to our Bake Sale! Stewardship/Generosity/Our life of Sharing Together Amazon is a new way to make a donation to Trinity Lutheran Church. Do you place orders from Amazon.com? Now you can have.5% of your purchase donated to Trinity. How? When you place an order go to smile.amazon.com. You will be directed to choose a cause to support. Search for Trinity Lutheran Church Milaca, and designate us as the charity you support. This does not increase the price of your order. It is simply Amazon s way of giving back like other corporations and businesses do. If you have any questions about this program or accessing it, ask Pastor Bauer. Matthew 25: Neighbors in Need Grant Report So far we have distributed funds to the community through the Salvation Army $625, the Milaca Area Pantry $625, and to Holiday Helping Hands $625. In November the ELCA Malaria project of the WE Day Youth received $315 to which we will add another $150 from the grant. We are going to give $500 to the Rise Up! ELCA Detroit Youth Gathering participants and they have committed themselves to raise $1000 to bring as an offering, of which they have already raised $445. Every week people have raised ideas for future projects, opportunities to engage in mission and gifts in response to the grant entrusted to us. Such things as a summer youth concert, working with Special Olympics, and utilizing the Action Teams available to us as members of Thrivent are being suggested. I do believe that this grant has inspired creativity. My prayer is that it will also engage our planning and labors. Adult Faith Study Beginning in January the Adult Faith Study between services will meet around the theme of Our Neighbors Faith. We have seen Amish families new to our community and are aware of the religions of the world around us. What can we learn about them, from them, so that they are not strangers but neighbors? A few resources Pastor will be reading to prepare include: What Christians Can Learn from Other Religions by J. Philip Wogaman, and When Faiths Collide by Martin Marty. Two other helpful resources include: The World s Religions by Huston Smith, and Introduction to World Religions by Christopher Partridge. Winners of the quilts: Large Quilt - Nancy J. Johnson; Baby Quilt - Todd Hendrickson. As we enter this Advent season may your lives be rich and joyful as we celebrate our Savior s birth.

Council President s Corner Greetings to you as we enter Advent and the winter season.

The faithful support you provide to your congregation (Trinity Lutheran Milaca) has allowed us to sustain a quality worship experience, support others in need locally and reach out to our region and

As we explore and plan for our wants and needs for the coming year, can you find any additional financial support for your church family so we can finish the year close to our operating budget?

4 Council President s Corner Greetings to you as we enter Advent and the winter season. It was a sincere pleasure to see so many helping hands at the Lutefisk Supper and to see the piano paid for during the past month. The faithful support you provide to your congregation (Trinity Lutheran Milaca) has allowed us to sustain a quality worship experience, support others in need locally and reach out to our region and world through our Synod giving. We do much for our church family and for our local community with Christ filled hearts that many are so thankful for. As we explore and plan for our wants and needs for the coming year, can you find any additional financial support for your church family so we can finish the year close to our operating budget? We are so fortunate to be part of a strong congregation, with so many dedicated Christ centered families. I have observed time and again that we are blessed when we take the opportunity to give joyfully of our time, talent and treasure. I wish to also take this opportunity to wish you all a most joyous and peaceful Christmas and New Year. Mike Norberg, Trinity Council President Mission Trip to Guatemala 2016 It has been sometime since we have talked about our Guatemala Mission. Since our last mission trip, the schools we have been working with have continued to grow in student numbers. We would like to initiate an exploratory meeting for a 2016 mission trip, most likely in the summer of You are invited to attend this initial meeting, after the Sunday School Christmas service December 14th at 11:00 AM in the Trinity Fellowship Hall (after coffee). We are looking to coordinate an initial fund raiser activity in February 2015 to help defray individual travel costs. All are welcome if you wish to make the trip or want to support the efforts of the traveling team. We look forward to seeing you there. Please feel free to contact Mike or Silvia Norberg if you have any questions. Church Bell Music Did you know the church has an electronic carillon? It is an old computer running a carillon application. The speaker output is connected to an amplifier and the speakers are in the tower on the west side of the church. It plays bells on the hour and can be programmed to play hymns and other digital recordings. The ten year old computer that was being used failed earlier this fall. Thank you to Bailey Pedersen for his work preparing the old office computer to run the carillon. Computer set up usually takes considerable time and expertise. Bailey's help in getting the carillon going again is greatly appreciated. If you are near the church, stop to listen to the beautiful bell music. Altar Flower Sign Up 2015 The chart for signing up to provide Altar Flowers during the coming year is on the table in the narthex. Flowers or plants may be purchased or brought from home. A notice will be sent prior to the Sunday designated. Sunday Morning Worship Tasks Each family is assigned a month to help with Sunday morning worship tasks (ushering, greeting, reading lessons, etc). The January worship sheet is posted on the worship board in the narthex. PLEASE sign up! January People Amy Beck, Craig & Sherie Billings, Ben & Carla Biniek, Larry & Barb Hanenburg, Don & Sandy Herr, Bonnie Hogan, Amanda Kaas, Andy & Kristie Larson, Troy & Shannon Lepper. Terry & Jean Newgard, Dave & Connie Oistad, Jerry & Michelle Peterson, Craig & Lana Talberg, Roger & Nancy Wagner, Samantha Welte & Bobby Laughery and Jojean Ziegler. New Member Orientation: February 1st February 1st at noon people wishing to join us in the worship of God, the ministry of Jesus and the mission of the Holy Spirit will gather in the Trinity Room. Now is the time to invite, encourage, and welcome those who have been worshipping with us. At this time we are aware of three potential new families. If you would be willing to shepherd a family, befriend, carry in prayer, to assist with the orientation, please speak with Pastor Bauer. Readers Forum: Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Life Together is the most popular of Bonhoeffer s writings. After a brief introduction the chapters are: 1. Community. 2. The Day with Others. 3. The Day Alone. 4. Ministry. 5. Confession and Community. The book is only 128 pages and is available for $10. Pastor will order 5 copies. Tentatively plan to share in the discussion early in February.

church 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM *Pre-school and Kindergarteners do not arrive until 10:00 AM *We will spend the morning practicing for the program, having a Christmas celebration and eating lunch Sunday,

School Sunday, January 4th *8:30 & 10:45 AM Worship *Sunday School will resume again at 9:30 AM! As you can see, our practice time for the program is limited!

If your child has a speaking part in the program, we have sent those parts home so that he/she can practice. Thank you all so very much for your help!

5 Sunday School News Happy Winter to all of our Sunday School Families! December has a few changes since the November newsletter came out, so we wanted to point out some upcoming dates. Sunday, December 7th *9:30 AM Worship - Christmas Cantata with Bell Choir *Sunday School will practice for program downstairs during church Saturday, December 13th *Sunday School Program practice at church 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM *Pre-school and Kindergarteners do not arrive until 10:00 AM *We will spend the morning practicing for the program, having a Christmas celebration and eating lunch Sunday, December 14th *9:30 AM Worship - Sunday School Christmas Program *Please have your children to church by 8:30 AM this morning Sunday, December 21st *no Sunday School Sunday, December 28th *no Sunday School Sunday, January 4th *8:30 & 10:45 AM Worship *Sunday School will resume again at 9:30 AM! As you can see, our practice time for the program is limited! Please make every effort to have your child in Sunday School over the next few weeks. If you know that your child will not be with us during the program, please let us know. If your child has a speaking part in the program, we have sent those parts home so that he/she can practice. Thank you all so very much for your help! Each year our Sunday School program is a great reminder of the miracle and blessing of Christmas. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Servants of God Opportunities to serve our neighbors in Milaca this month: 1. Salvation Army Bell Ringing December 13th at Teals Market 2. Milaca Area Food Pantry Thursdays in December 3. Meals on Wheels in December 4. Holiday Helping Hands Gift Tree 5. Mitten Tree 6. Volunteer to help the Salvation Army with Bell Ringing on December 13th at Teals Market. Times still open are: 9:00-10:30 AM, 12:00-1:30 PM and 3:00-4:30 PM. Please sign up in narthex. Volunteer to help at the Milaca Food Pantry. We have December 4th, 11th and 18th from 10:00 AM to Noon open and December 23rd 10:00 AM to Noon and 4:00 to 6:00 PM open. Please sign up in narthex. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels Delivery. This is an important ministry to those that are housebound due to age or disability. Pick up meals at Nutrition Center at 11:30 AM. We have December still open. Please sign up in narthex. Smile, as you pick the tags from the Holiday Helping Hands Gift Tree in the narthex and imagine how the child recipient will feel when they find out they haven t been forgotten, or Mom and Dad just couldn t see Santa in time. The gifts need to be back by December 12th. No wrapping is necessary, but DO make sure your tag is stapled or taped to your bag(s). We truly appreciate all that you do to help this ministry, and hope that your holiday season is as blessed as those you bless with your gifts. Our Christmas Mitten Tree is in the Fellowship Hall and is ready to be decorated with your donations of caps, mittens and scarves. Sizes needed: infant to adult. Help fill our tree with gifts of love for some needy young people. Deadline is December 12th. Help Build Our Mitten Tree Stay Warm! Geri Wild Michelle Anderson

Facebook: Website: trinitymilaca.org. Pastor French s Cell:

Facebook: Website: trinitymilaca.org. Pastor French s Cell: Newsletter Trinity Lutheran Church P.O. Box 249 Milaca, MN 56353 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Sunday Worship June 1, 15, 22, 29 at 9:30 AM June 8 at 10:30 AM - Rec. Park Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM