Trinity Tapestry October Trinity Lutheran Church 107 S. 7th St. Laramie, WY 82070

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1 Trinity Tapestry October 2017 Trinity Lutheran Church 107 S. 7th St. Laramie, WY 82070

2 From Pastor Nate From time to time in my life, it s been a fun exercise to look back into my history and recall what has transpired and remember how God has walked with me. From time to time, it s equally as important to look ahead in my life and wonder, Where am I going? Where is God guiding my life?. The Israelites surely mumbled that question as they wandered through the desert! This is also a question that Jill and I have asked in our relationship. On anniversary date nights we d often wonder together, Where do we want to be in 5 years? Five years ago, we had no idea we d be living in Laramie, but as Jill completed her PhD moving was a likely scenario. My parents considered their future and asked a similar question as they built their grocery store business. I also asked the question when I was a senior in high school wondering about what was next. Together we also have the privilege of wondering about such things as a congregation. Looking into the future is exciting. It s full of hope because when we look into our history we see a God who has never abandoned us. Our future is bright because God says, I am with you, until the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). I know Trinity s future is bright because God is leading us and empowering us to serve our community and world. We often call the act of considering the future Vision. Vision can be defined as a hopeful picture of the impact of your mission on the church and the world in the future (pathwaystovitality.org). Vision is looking and wondering about our future; our goals, our aspirations, our hopes, our hearts and our hands. Behaviorist Barry Schwartz said, People are fundamentally passive and will respond when the environment tempts them with the opportunity to get rewards or avoid punishments. While I agree with this statement, faith in God and the gifts of grace release us from such human boundaries. This freedom allows us to ponder our congregation s response to God s love. Yes, this may seem like a reward, but the reward is simply the joy of living out faith. Faith in Christ allows us to be creative and wonder, Who is Trinity,

3 and what fingerprint do we want to place on people s lives? A few months ago, Trinity s Church Council engaged in a visioning conversation. We focused on visioning at several council meetings and had a retreat to spend an evening visioning together. As a result of this process, Trinity s Church Council unanimously voted at our September meeting to create a Visioning Team to assist Trinity with this important conversation. In closing, I d like to pose a question to ponder and share that I received from a Trinity member. What would the people of Laramie miss if Trinity Lutheran ceased to exist? If we don t have an answer for this we may need to come together as the body of Christ and wonder what God might have us do!! Hopefully it won t take 40 years of wandering through the desert, but it will take a good amount of wondering where God might lead us. In Christ, Pastor Nate

4 At Trinity Lutheran we will be celebrating 500 years of Reformation over five weeks in October and November as together we preach, sing, reflect, and grow through the five Solas of the Reformation. October 22 October 29 November 5 November 12 November 15 November 19 Sola Scriptura Scripture alone Martin Luther will be sharing his story with us. Sola Gratia Grace alone A festival service of Holy Communion to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation Soli Deo Gloria To the glory of God alone A hymn festival, highlighting a number of Reformationera hymns from Martin Luther and his contemporaries Sola Fide Faith alone Katie Luther will be sharing her story with us. From Conflict to Communion Joint worship celebration at St. Paul s Newman Center Solus Christus Christ alone From Conflict to Communion

5 A joint worship service for the Laramie community led by Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church St. Paul s Newman Center Wednesday, November 15, :00 pm Reformation Conversation 7:30 pm Worship Service St. Paul s Newman Center 1800 E. Grand Ave. Laramie, WY 82070

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7 Sunday Servers for October 2017 Date Lector Ushers Greeters Nursery Coffee Flowers October 1 Martin Greller Debbe, Lindsay, and Lily Conyers Maia Anderson Trey Sherwood Marygrace Buckner Moline OPEN October 8 OPEN Buckner Family Mike Smith Barb Rouse Derk Lyford Winter/Noack Leroy and Karen Dockter October 15 Trey Sherwood Al and Bobbie Schimek Zenor Family Kelcey Anderson OPEN OPEN October 22 Laura Buckner Debbe, Lindsay, and Lily Conyers Brenda Winter Carl Noack Kate Jablin OPEN OPEN October 29 Thom Edgar Barb Rouse Mike Smith Debbe, Lindsay, and Lily Conyers Mackenzie Muhsman OPEN Andrea Toven November 5 Andrea Toven Maia Anderson Judi Weatherwax Iris Brunett Sharon Leder Madie Jablin OPEN OPEN Stewards October Kris Oolman Edward Hiller November Mark Lyford Martin Greller Altar Guild October Klaus and Jan Hanson November Mike Nutter

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10 Protestant Reformation: 500 Years and Counting Activities begin on Sunday, October 15 at the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, 3:00 p.m. with "Singing Theologies: Luther and Church Music." Dr. Kristine T. Utterback (Philosophy & Religious Studies) and Dr. Holly Dalrymple (Department of Music) will be assisted by the Laramie Civic Choir and Dr. Klaus D. Hanson (Emeritus and Laramie City Councilman) portraying Martin Luther. Reception to follow. Monday, October 16, activities as follows: 9:00 a.m. - Opening Remarks, American Heritage Center, Stockgrower's Room 9:15 a.m. - First Panel and Initial Address "Returning to Eden: Paracelsus's 'Fortunate Fall' as a Millenarian Response to the Reformation" by Matt Goldish, Samuel M. and Esther Melton of Ohio State University 10:30 a.m. - Reformations and Print Culture Reforming Ideas and Forming Identities: Print Culture and Identity in the English Reformation(s)" presented by Dr. Erin Abraham, Honors Program, University of Wyoming "Protestants on Paper: What Scottish Writers made of the Reformation", presented by Dr. Caroline McCracken-Flesher, English Department, University of Wyoming 11:30 a.m. - "Reformation Influences: Toppan Library Books (16th through 19th Centuries)", presented by Anne Marie Lane, Rare Books Librarian, AHC, University of Wyoming Change of Venue for afternoon program, Berry Center, Room 138 2:10 p.m. - Second Panel (Berry Center, Room 138) "Luther and the Jews", presented by Dr. Seth Ward, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Wyoming "The Armada: When Spanish Catholicism and English Protestantism Clashed on the High Seas, presented by Dr. Susan Frye, Depart ment of English, University of Wyoming "Reformation Kitsch: Reading Protestantism Through Material Culture", Dr. Tammy Rashel Heise, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Wyoming 4:10 p.m. - Keynote Address by Dr. Phillip Cary, of Eastern University, presenting "How Luther Became Protestant," in the Berry Center, Room 138 5:30 p.m. - Reception - Berry Center Foyer

11 We are in need of some treats to go along with the great conversations and coffee following church services. Please kindly consider this act of service to others. The sign up list is in the Gruver room. Please provide 4 dozen treats. Thank you! Office: telcofficemanager@gmail.com (307) Pastor Nate: pastornate3421@gmail.com (307)