Trinity Lutheran Church Contact February 2016

Transcription

1 Trinity Lutheran Church Contact February 2016 The Monthly Newsletter of Trinity Lutheran Church A visible sign of God s love in New Richland Transforming Lives and Building Community by Loving God and Serving Others Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Find us on Facebook: Trinity Lutheran Church New Richland Church mailboxes have been reorganized and updated. PASTOR S ANNUAL REPORT 2015 I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6. I am thankful for the staff and church members here at Trinity. Thanks to our church council who give so much of their time and efforts. Thanks to Mary Berg who is our treasurer. Thanks to Rhonda who blesses us with her gift of music. Thank you to David who keeps our building clean. Your dedication, grace and wisdom are a blessing to Trinity. We are blessed with talent, commitment, and faithfulness. Lots of it gets expressed outside of our church building, as well it should! Thank you for those faithfully involved in ministries in the community. We said goodbye this summer to Julie Light who served us well as our church secretary for 10 years. She gave beyond the limits of her job description and we are grateful for that. We have been blessed to have Connie Enestvedt come back as our church secretary. We serve together. So thank you for your support of the ministries and staff. Please continue to keep all those who serve in your prayers. One of the highlights of the year for me has been continuing education. This year I attended: Leading Through Coaching: Appreciating Each Person and their Contribution. April A retreat for Small Church Leaders at the Mount Olivet Retreat Center, Farmington, Minnesota. Speaking the Word Freely, May 5-7, at Luther Seminary, St Paul, MN. New Visions for the Long Pastorate, July 13-15, at Luther Seminary, St Paul, MN. I was inspired by powerful preachers, teachers and worship services. It was also great to visit with some old friends. Thank you for your support for my continuing education. We are journeying people. From the time we enter into the world until the moment we take our final breath we make our way as life develops before us. So it is with faith. It is a lifelong journey. Along the way we meet others, and at these crossing points we meet the living God This is from the book, ~ Crossings: God s Journey With Us that I use in the confirmation class. What a joy it is to think about the journey we took this past year together as we encountered our living God in new and unexpected places. We encountered the living God: as the council took care of our church building and finances as we determined how God calls us to serve Trinity Lutheran Church when we distributed prayer shawls through our phone calls, s, texts, and visits with neighbors and friends through the words of the children during the children message when we shared our joys and concerns with those in our church family in the singing of Silent Night by candlelight through faithfully hearing and responding to the call for donations of our time, talents and treasures in the connecting of faith in Confirmation classes in the laughter of more than 30 children during Day Camp when Sunday School teachers shared their gift of time and resourcefulness I have been humbled and blessed by the courage, strength and grace of our congregation. May God lead and guide us, Christ walk with us, and the Spirit hold us as we continue our journey in Sunday Worship Schedule 9:00 am Sunday morning Sunday school during the worship hour Pastor Paul Andree New Lent Wednesday Worship Schedule We will hold two Lenten Wednesday worship services at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

2 Lent begins on February 10th. Wednesday Evening Lenten Worship Services Ash Wednesday, February 10th, 6:30pm. Lent begins with a solemn call to fasting and repentance as we begin our journey to the baptismal waters of Easter. The beginning of Lent gives us the occasion to admit that we will die and that we are sinners. On Ash Wednesday we are marked with ashes a sign of our death and of our sorrow for sin but the ashes trace a cross on our forehead, where the baptismal water first marked us with God s grace. Sundays and Seasons v Copyright 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. We will be showing the video, The Grave Robber - How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible By Mark Batterson Description: Do we believe that God still does miracles? Do we expect him to move in miraculous ways in our day-in, day-out lives? Maybe we'd like to see miracles, but it's hard to see past our problems. All that is about to change, like water into wine. "There are miracles all around us all the time," says Mark Batterson, "but you won't see them if you don't know how to look for them." Now the bestselling author of The Circle Maker reveals the incredible power of the seven miraculous signs of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. Batterson shows how they were not simply something Jesus did in the past, but something he wants to do now, in the present. He shares true stories of people today who are experiencing miracles in their lives. And he brings to light countless miracles, big and small, that we take for granted every day that point us toward the One who healed the sick, calmed the storm, and yes, even raised the dead. But this is more than a book about miracles. It's a book about the only One who can perform them. Batterson cautions readers, "Don't just seek miracles. Seek Jesus. And if you seek Jesus, miracles will find you." Nothing has changed since Jesus called Lazarus out of his tomb four days after his funeral. Our impossible situations still double as God's greatest opportunity to reveal his glory. No matter how big the problem is, God is bigger still. Anyone who longs to see God work in miraculous ways today will love Batterson's faithbuilding, life-giving message. Sessions Include: 1. The First Sign - Water into Wine... February The Second Sign - Supernatural Synchronicity... February The Third Sign - Very Superstitious... February The Fourth Sign - Two Fish... March 9 5. The Fifth Sign - Walking on Water... March 9 6. The Sixth Sign - Never Say Never... March The Seventh Sign - One Little Yes... March 23 Lent: Taking up faith practices This Lent, as you begin your journey toward the baptismal waters of Easter, we invite you to take up faith practices as a spiritual discipline. Each week leading up to Easter, you ll find new educational content on the ELCA s Facebook page that offers insight into how you can integrate faith practices into your daily life. To receive these updates, visit the ELCA s Facebook page and like the page. Already liked our page? Make sure you ve turned on notifications to receive ELCA posts in your newsfeed. Even if you re not on Facebook, you can view the posts by visiting the ELCA s Facebook page. You can also learn more about the ELCA s faith practices by downloading the guide Faith Practices in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Living Lutheran, Lively Engagement in Faith & Life, Lent: Taking up faith practices, Blogs, 02/19/2015 You might also want to read: Lutherans and the spirituality of Lent, Our spiritual pilgrimage - See more at: Lutheran/Blogs/2015/02/ Lent-Taking-upfaith-practices#sthash.dWhQbaIz.dpuf Copyright & Trademark 2015 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. All Rights Reserved. COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES Our College Students Need Our Love! Our church will be collecting items for College Care Packages. Suggestions for items for care packages will be ed to you. Please bring individually to the Dining Hall on February 7th. Donations to help cover postage (about $10/box) will also be accepted. Students love to receive anything in the mail, but especially a care package that was put together to show how much that student is loved and missed by their church. BASKETS OF PROMISE For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 This Lenten season ( February 10- March 27) we are joining Lutheran World Relief s Baskets of Promise campaign. We are going to assemble in April Personal 2

3 Care Kits that give people around the world tools to stay healthy in life s most challenging situations. Our goal is to assembly 100 LWR Personal Care Kits during Lent. All we need are 200 bars of Soap (4-5 oz., any brand, in original wrapping). We have the other items: combs, bath towels, nail clippers, and toothbrushes. We will accept cash donations. In the month of May we will take them to First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea to be shipped overseas. There is a basket under the ledge at the top of the stairs for the items. When LWR distributes Personal Care Kits, it s often to people who have lost everything. In the wake of an earthquake, or having fled from violence as their homes were overtaken, they clasp a towel from a faraway place, with a bar of soap, a toothbrush and washing up, they know that they have not been forsaken by the world. The very simple gesture of giving a Personal Care Kit can give someone the encouragement to start anew, starting with a bath. You can share God s grace and love by providing that simple comfort. What to Include One light-weight bath-size towel (between 20" 40" & 52" 27"), dark color recommended One adult-size toothbrush, in its original packaging One metal nail clippers (attached file optional), remove packaging One sturdy comb, remove packaging Two bath-size bars (4 to 5oz.) of soap, any brand, in original wrapping Guidelines Please give new items only, except where otherwise noted. Please do not donate items with any religious symbols, messages or your congregation s name. Please do not donate any items decorated with a U.S. flag, patriotic or military symbols, or references to the armed forces, including camouflage. Check the bulletin each week for the collection schedule. If you have any questions, please contact [NAME/PHONE NUMBER or ]. Groove 4 Food, February 28, starting at 1:30 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church. This is a live music benefit for the Area Food Shelf of New Richland. Admission is free will or non-perishable food item. MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Give each other the best Valentine s gift possible! Weekends are held at Mt. Olivet Conference and Retreat Center, th Street West, Farmington, MN Please contact Marriage Encounter by or with questions. Or visit Upcoming weekends: February 13-14, 2016 April 23-24, 2016 June 18-19, 2016 MEN S BREAKFAST Saturday, February 13th. Men's Fellowship meets the 2nd Saturday of the month at TLC. We start with breakfast at 7:30am. After breakfast we study a topic. No preparation is required and we always get a lively discussion going. It's a great way to start your Saturday and get to know men of the congregation. Please let pastor Paul know if you plan to come so he can have enough food. Daily prayer should be central to what we do as Christians. Yet it is so easy for the pressures and stresses of daily life to crowd out the time for meaningful prayer. Pray as you Go on the App Store on itunes Apple Our aim is to help you to: * become more aware of God's presence in your life *listen to and reflect on God's word *grow in your relationship with God PrayNow (App) Pray Now is the daily prayer app that places the Scriptures at the center of daily meditation and prayer. Martin Luther Devotional on the App Store on itunes - Apple Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional By Martin Luther, edited by James C. Galvin Freshly translated from the original German into today s English, this book contains a treasury of devotionals taken from Luther s writings and sermons (1513 to 1546), conveniently divided into daily readings to point readers to the Bible and a deeper understanding of faith. Trinity Lutheran Quilters The quilters meet on Mondays at 9:00 am. Talk to Peggy Borchard or Barb Solberg about this ministry. 3

4 YOUTH NEWS FISH (fun in serving Him) Youth in grades 3-6 meet every Wednesday, after school, for one hour, at the church. Good Earth Village Bible Camp. Students who have completed grades 1-8 are invited to attend Good Earth Village Bible Camp, Spring Valley Mn. Pastor Paul has camp brochures or go to goodearthvillage.org to learn more. Friends are welcome to come with your child. 1-3 graders go for an one-night adventure at camp. 2-4 graders go for three days and two nights at camp. 3-8 graders can go for the whole week. Summer Day Camp! Good Earth Village (Spring Valley, MN) is bringing Summer Camp to Trinity Lutheran Church for a second year in a row for children currently in Kindergarten through 5th Grades (non members welcome.) Join us June 19-23, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church for a fun-filled week of our On the Road All Day Summer Camp! We need 25 children for this program to happen. A child does not need to be from Trinity to come. Good Earth Village On the Road (OTR) is a summer day camp program for children currently in Kindergarten through 5th Grades. Sunday the program is from 6-7 pm. Our program runs 9:00am 4:00pm (Mon-Thurs) with optional early drop off at 8:00am and optional late pick up at 5:00pm. OTR brings all the excitement and fun of summer camp right to your own community. This Christ-centered week is filled with games, upbeat worship, skits, crafts, Bible study, and singing all centered on a daily theme and special afternoon activity. Programs are led by our highly trained, caring staff. Good Earth Village is accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA) and is affiliated with the ELCA. See Pastor Paul for a registration form. This will take the place of Vacation Bible School for this year. We need 20 children for this program to happen. A child does not need to be from Trinity to come. First Communion Class At Trinity Lutheran Church children usually partake in the Sacrament of Holy Communion during their 4th grade year. We typically offer First Communion classes during Lent. The classes are usually held for 3 times after school or after church. Children who have been baptized and would like to grow in their understanding of Holy Communion are invited to participate. The class includes learning about the meaning of the sacrament of Holy Communion. Children participating typically receive their First Communion at the Maundy Thursday service of Holy Week. Please contact Pastor Paul if you would like your child to attend. Senior high youth trip We will be making plans for a summer trip Pray without ceasing Let us pray for each other.. We pray for those in our church, members & nonmembers that are or have been sick, hospitalized, having surgeries, or are now home recovering. Please keep Pastor Paul informed when you or a family member are hospitalized or in need of pastoral care. To have a name listed in the Contact or bulletin, please call Pastor Paul. Please pray for Iambi Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania, our mission partner. Also pray for Karen L Anderson, who serve in Chile, the missionary we partially sport. Please keep the following friends & members of our community of faith in your prayers of thanksgiving or for comfort, peace and healing: (list) News of the Trinity Family: Bernice Himmerich is a resident at the New Richland Care Center. Ervin Himmerich is a resident at Colony Court. Thank you for your support of Trinity Lutheran Church. Please continue to pray for Trinity Lutheran Church as we reach out to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to our community and world. Sincerely, Pastor Paul Andree The Financial Statements will be in your mailbox on February 8th. NEED OFFERING ENVELOPES? Please contact the church secretary, Connie Enestvedt, when you need more envelopes. If you have any questions about your contributions, please feel free to call Mary Berg, Financial Secretary. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND Here is your chance to make a significant gift to Trinity and also protect your estate for your family, loved ones and other organizations. Contact Dawn to receive more information about giving to Trinity. Your Action Is Needed! Some Thrivent Members have Thrivent Choice dollars available to donate. This money is donated by Thrivent Financial by you directing where you want the money to be sent. We appreciate all those who have designated TLC as their recipient of Choice Dollars. Please check to see whether Choice Dollars have 4

5 accumulated in your personal Thrivent account during 2016, and direct them before March 31 to Trinity Lutheran Church, 204 1st ST. NW., PO Box 186, New Richland, MN Thank you for taking advantage of this program which costs you nothing extra. Thank you, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, for providing this significant monetary support! Direct your Thrivent Choice Dollars by phone: Say "Thrivent Choice"; or log in to your account online: For questions please contact Dawn Halgren February 2016 Stewardship Newsletter Article We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves us is never alone. That is because faith is a living, busy, and active thing. It inhales all of God s riches in Christ and exhales this in love and service to the neighbor. But who is my neighbor? God in His mercy has placed us into three distinct communities: society, family, and the church. That means we have a duty to those around us in each of these communities. We pray for the people in these three communities daily. We rejoice with them in times of joy and suffer with them in times of sadness. And we give to them from the income that God provides as we are able and as they have need. So we pay taxes to our governments so that they may do the work that is needed for our neighbors in society. We give to our families so that they have food and clothing, house and home, even educations. And we give to our church our local congregations so that the gospel may be preached and the sacraments administered for us and others. The beauty of this is that God smiles upon all that giving. When you pay your taxes, God is pleased that you have served your neighbor who needs what the government provides. When you provide for your family, God is pleased. That you have helped your neighbor with the necessities of life by sharing with them what He has given to you, God is pleased. And when you give to your local congregation to support the ongoing preaching of the gospel, God is pleased. To all this giving, He says to you, Well done, my good and faithful servant. Looking at giving in this light makes it a joy to give. The joy is multiplied. There is joy in you because you have served your neighbor in his need. There is joy in your neighbor for God has answered their prayers through you. And God rejoices and is pleased with it all. It might just make the humdrum of grocery 5 shopping and mortgage payments a bit more joyous. It might even make April 15 tolerable (St. Paul had to have this pep talk with the Romans, also, This is why you pay taxes. Rom. 13:6). And it surely will make the envelope placed into the offering plate a joyful thing. Indeed God is pleased with you. You are saved by faith alone because of Jesus Christ. And that saving faith is never alone. It is busy and active. It serves the neighbor in society, family, and church with free and cheerful giving The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. All Rights Reserved. MINNESOTA RIVER CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY When: Sun, February 14, 2pm 3pm Where: Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Ellendale Registration and fellowship starting at 1:30pm Trinity can send 2 delegates. If you are interested in hearing about the larger work of our wider church body, please talk to Pastor Paul. COUNCILS AS LEADERS 2016 What are the questions of congregational leaders in the 21st century church? Councils as Leaders Sunday, February 28, pm Trinity Lutheran Church, Owatonna, MN Cost: Free Registration deadline: February 17, January Minutes of Trinity Lutheran Church Council Wednesday, January 13, :00 PM, Trinity Lutheran Church Dining Hall Present: Troy Buendorf, Eric Hendrickson, Brian Solberg, Becca Solberg, Barb Finseth, Adryn Peterson, Curt Krause, Kathy Meyer, Vanessa Ziemke, Jenny Thompson, Carol Raimann and Pastor Paul Andree Meeting is called to order by President Curt Krause in the name of The Father, Son and Holy Ghost Reports December 2015 Minutes Motion to approve Vanessa Ziemke, 2nd Barb Finseth. Motion accepted December 2015 Financial Activities Motion to move $9,000 from Dining Hall Upkeep dedicated fund to the general fund made by Adryn Peterson, 2nd by Eric Hendrickson. Motion accepted

6 Education and Youth Report Council discussed presenting a program similar to the Sunday School Christmas program during the Palm Sunday Service. Kathy Meyer will head a committee to assemble care packages for college youth and those serving in the military. Stewardship Committee Offering counters established Worship and Evangelism Committee Council received favorable compliments regarding the Christmas worship service. Trinity Lutheran will hold our own Lenten services. Video s similar to last year will be shown in the Dining Hall beginning Ash Wednesday, February 10 at 6:30 PM. Property and Management Committee Discussed Cemetery mowing and roofing project. The council prepared a budget to present to the congregation at the annual meeting on January 24, Motion made to approve budget as prepared by Adryn Peterson, 2nd Brian Solberg. Motion accepted. Pastor s Report Lead Worship services at Country Neighbor, Royal Villa and the New Richland Care Center Dec 10. Lead Worship services at Whispering Oaks, Ellendale on Dec 18. Had Communion services at Country Neighbor, Royal Villa and the New Richland Care Center on Jan 5. Thank you to all council members whose term has ended. Motion to adjourn by Becca Solberg, 2nd Carol Raimann Minutes of the 2015 Annual Meeting Trinity Lutheran Church January 24, 2016 President Curt Krause called the meeting to order in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost at 10:15 a.m. Motion to approve agenda was made by Dean Buendorf, second by Terry Hansen. Motion carried. Pastor Paul Andree shared his Pastoral Acts conducted during Congregation was asked to review reports as printed. A discrepancy in The Avenue of the Flags was noted by Leann Buendorf. Total receipts should reflect $ and not $ Also, noted by Barb Finseth the balance date reflected in the WELCA report should read 12/31/15 and not 12/31/14. Also, the Cemetery Report 6 was submitted by Mary Berg which was not reflected. Alter Guild balance on hand date should read Jan 1, 2016 and not Jan 1, No discrepancies reported in the audit. Mary Berg was recognized for doing a great job. Treasurer s Report was given. Balance at the time of this meeting was -$13, Motion to approve Treasurer s report made by Adryn Peterson, second by Dean Buendorf. Motion carried. Nominating Committee Report was given by Curt Krause. He announced Dave Sandry, Brenda Dobberstein and Tom Pautsch as nominees for TLC council members. Unanimous vote welcomed these new council members. Endowment Fund Report was given. Terry Hansen presented information to the congregation regarding the balances and suggested that if monies are withdrawn for various projects the council should seek advice from a financial advisor before doing so. This would allow withdrawals which would be most advantageous. No old business discussed. New business discussed included repairs to the flat roof above the lounge, entry way and Church offices. Also discussed was tuck pointing needed to brick. Estimates have not been received to date, but it is estimated these projects will be upwards to $100, Please note that it is critical these repairs be made during Motion was made by Vince Peterson and second by Leann Buendorf to authorize council to accept bids and hold another congregational meeting once these bids are received. At that time it will be decided which funds will be utilized to appropriate costs. Motion carried. Other new business discussed was recovering the Church pews. $ has been delegated by WELCA to offset cost. Motion to adjourn made by Barb Finseth, second by Arlys Edwards. Motion carried. Meeting closed with The Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Becca Solberg

7 February 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7 9:00 AM Worship with communion 10:00 AM Coffee fellowship 14 9:00 AM Worship with communion 10:00 AM Coffee fellowship 21 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Coffee Fellowship 4H 28 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Coffee Fellowship 1:30 PM Groove 4 Food President s Day :30-6:30 PM AFSNR open 3 3:30 PM F.I.S.H. 6:30 PM Confirmation 9 10 Lent 2:00 PM Lenten worship 3:30 PM F.I.S.H. 6:30 PM Lenten worship 7:30 PM Church Council 16 4:30-6:30 PM AFSNR open 17 Lent 2:00 PM Lenten worship 3:30 PM F.I.S.H. 6:30 PM Lenten worship Lent 2:00 PM Lenten worship 3:30 PM F.I.S.H. 6:30 PM Lenten worship :30 am Men s Breakfast Altar Guild Carol Bayerkohler Carol Raimann Becca Solberg Ushers Luke Dobberstein Al Shultz Bud Shurson Mike Thompson 7

8 Address: 204 First St. NW Phone Fax: Website: Pastor: Paul Andree Pastor cell phone: Facebook page: Trinity Lutheran Church New Richland Custodian: David Purdie (cell) Secretary: Connie Enestvedt President: Curt Krause Vice President: Adryn Peterson Secretary: Becca Solberg Education and Youth Becca Solberg, Jenny Thompson & Vanessa Ziemke Property and Management Troy Buendorf, Eric Hendrickson, Adryn Peterson & Brian Solberg Worship and Evangelism Barb Finseth, Curt Krause & Kathy Meyer 8 Stewardship Carol Raimann & Jenny Thompson Treasurer/Financial Secretary Mary Berg Altar Guild Chairperson Diane Matthies St. Olaf Cemetery Chairperson Eric Hendrickson Endowment Fund Chairperson Dawn Halgren Thrivent Representative Dawn Halgren