Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Monthly Newsletter October, 2018 Head of the Church: Jesus Christ Bishop of the ELCA : Elizabeth Eaton Bishop of the SE Iowa Synod: Michael Burk Ministers: All Members of Trinity Church Trinity Lutheran Church Staff Pastor: Gregory L. Davison (gdavison@tlc-elca.org) Office Manager: Jeannine Grady (trinity.mtown@tlc-elca.org) Pastoral Care: Cheri Nason (nason.cheri@gmail.com) Carla Madsen (madsencarla10@gmail.com) Finance : Colin Adams (cadams@tlc-elca.org) Confirmation & Youth: Kris Davison (krisdavison55@gmail.com) Youth Education: Kyla Boswell (youthed@tlc-elca.org) Music Director: Todd Metge (tmetge@tlc-elca.org) Organist: Carol Conrad Custodian: Jesus Lopez Trinity Lutheran Church 1011 S. 3rd Avenue 641-753-7769 www.tlc-elca.org Office Hours Monday -Thursday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm (Closed 12-1) Closed Friday Worship Schedule Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday 9:00 am Monday 5:30 pm 1
FROM PR. GREGG... FARMERS REMIND ME TO SAY, THANK YOU, GOD! During this time of year as we drive around the countryside we see farmers harvesting their corn and beans. Every time I pass by a farmer working in their field I say, Thank you, God. Harvest time reminds us that we are a very interdependent people. By this, I mean, we depend on each other for our wellbeing. Think of the ways we are dependent upon others! Dependent upon farmers for our food, teachers for our education, police officers for our safety, garbage collectors for the cleanliness of our city, physicians for our health, etc. The list of people we depend on is unlimited. Our Lutheran understanding of stewardship is rooted in Martin Luther s explanation to the first article of the Apostle s Creed. Luther says, I believe that God has created me and all that exists. He has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. He provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day... Therefore I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey him... This is most certainly true. OUR LIVES ARE FILLED WITH A MULTITUDE OF GIFTS FOR WHICH THE WORDS THANK YOU, GOD, SHOULD BE FORMED ON OUR LIPS OFTEN THROUGHOUT EACH DAY! I share with you one of our offertory prayers from the Lutheran liturgy, Gracious God, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. God bless you as you live as a steward of the abundant gift of life that God has provided you. REFLECTIONS ON STEWARDSHIP In Monday Musings throughout October I will be sharing messages of what it means for us to be Stewards of God s Gifts. Toward the end of October you will receive a packet that will allow you to specifically respond as a steward on behalf of Trinity as we carry out our mission to Glorify God; by celebrating God s love, growing in faith, and reaching out with the compassion of Christ. + Your friend in Christ Pr. Gregg 2
SEPTEMBER 2018 LITURGICAL CALENDAR Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9:00 a.m. Sunday Fellowship Time: 8:15 a.m. (before early worship) Monday Mass & Meal 5:30 p.m. MONDAY MASS & MEAL 5:30 p.m. Mass 6:00 p.m. Potluck Meal If you are staying for the meal bring some food to share. CHILDREN S MASS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 9:00 A.M. Let Kyla Boswell or Pr. Gregg know if your children would like to help! HEALING MASS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 6:00 P.M. REFORMATION SUNDAY OCTOBER 27/28 Prayer! Anointing! Communion! We celebrate our Lutheran heritage and renew the gift of our baptism. GLENWOOD EUCHARIST TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 10:30 A.M. Join our Trinity members and other Glenwood residents in a time of Word and Sacrament. EMBERS EUCHARIST WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 10:00 AM Join our Trinity members and other residents in celebrating the body & blood of Christ. This is tentative contingent upon repair of the Embers building 3
OCTOBER MINISTRY EVENTS NO OCTOBER FAITH ON TAP. Because of a very busy calendar we will not meet in October. BLESSING OF PETS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1:00 P.M. It is a long standing tradition that on the Sunday closet to St. Francis Day we bless pets, give thanks for all of God s creatures, and pray for the well-being of the earth and our responsibility to be good stewards. I will conduct a brief prayer service and bless all of the pets who are present. Bring your pets to the south church yard. Invite friends and neighbors to bring their pets. Any pet that can be controlled is welcome. I still remember fondly blessing hermit crabs one year! MONTHLY CHIDLREN S MASS Sunday, October 14, 9:00 a.m. Our elementary and younger children will lead worship. How good it is to have our children at this age involved in worship leadership. Plan to be here to participate and support our children. If your child would like to help on October 14, please contact Pr. Gregg at gdavison@tlc-elca.org. Trades of Hope Party Trinity Lutheran Church Saturday October 20 10:30 a.m. noon Light snacks provided Come see some of the pieces made by artisans from all over the world. Trinity folks join us and invite your friends as well. YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED AND AMAZED AT THE SKILL OF THESE ARTISANS! 4
Can't make it, visit website to place your order. mytradesofhope.com/parties/92494 All hostess credits earned from party purchases will be used to purchase items from Trades of Hope for the church. So many women live in poverty, not because they lack abilities, but because they lack opportunity. We started Trades of Hope to give women that opportunity for a better life. Each woman has a story, and with Trades of Hope's help, their story has changed from pain and struggle to a story of hope! We work with the artisans themselves and organizations that are helping women in difficult circumstances. Some women have been rescued from sex slavery. Others are raising handicapped children alone. Some are in war torn countries and others have HIV/AIDS and leprosy. These women have never had the chances we've had, yet they are just like us in so many ways. They love their families and hope and dream of a better life for them. We are helping by marketing their products through the home party model, so they can put food on their table, a roof over their head, get medical care and an education for their children. We want to tell their stories to the world! We have a heart for ministry and business, and through this we have started separate successful non-profit organizations and businesses. Together, we have a combined 30 years of experience. This has given us the tools and drive we need to help women and make an impact on the world! As mothers and daughters, we also wanted to partner together to help create a beautiful world for the next generation. Check out our bios below to read our personal stories. Elisabeth, Gretchen, Holly, & Chelsie MY STORY TRANSformation: Parenting a TRANSgender Child. Amanda Thill Sunday, October 21, 10:15 a.m. Imagine your child comes to you one day and says they don't feel like a boy or girl... you think WHAT? Then they ask to be called a male name. How do you explain this to people? What will they say? What will they think? These were some of the thoughts as my husband and I processed through this with our daughter (now son). Come listen to My Story about parenting a Transgender Child and the challenges and successes surrounding this transformation as a parent (and our child). MY STORY is a new ministry that we are offering once a month following Sunday morning worship on the third Sunday of the month It is a time for people to tell something of their story of faith and life. Our Parish Fellowship Team will be providing breakfast/refreshments. Thank you, Amanda. Amanda serves as the president of our parish and grew up here at Trinity! 5
BLESSED BY GOD TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS Our gifts bear witness to our love for God and for our neighbor! YOUR OFFERINGS AT WORK Your gifts made these good things possible! Glenwood & Embers. We have a monthly outreach to members & other residents sharing Eucharist & friendship. Thank you for your financial support! Pastoral Care Visitors. Our visitors take communion and friendship to our folks in the nursing home and who are homebound. Thank you for your financial support! Prayer Sponsors. All of our confirmation students are matched with an adult who supports them with prayer & friendship. Thank you for your financial support! DID YOU KNOW...? + My Story. Meets the 3 rd Sunday of the month 10:15 a.m. with somebody sharing something of their life & faith story. Brunch is served. Thank you God, for the story each has to tell? + All Saints. On All Saints Sunday (November 4 this year) we celebrate those of our parish who have died since the previous All Saints and remember in prayer all of our beloved deceased. Thank you God, the promise of eternal life. + Bible Verse of the Month. Each month we have a Bible verse that we begin worship with. We also use it at other gatherings as well. Our October verse is: Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. + 1 Corinthians 10:17 Thank you God, for the Scripture! NOW YOU DO...! FINANCIAL REPORT January 1 August 31, 2018 Income Budget: $170,622.00; Income Actual: $186,103.07 Expense Budget: $191,939.00; Expense Actual $196,860.43 KEEP DESIGNATING THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS TO TRINITY Through June 2018 we received $2,569.00 If you are a Thrivent Financial Member please continue to designate Thrivent profits in 2018 to our parish, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. If you have questions about how to do this contact Pr. Gregg. These dollars are very important to funding our ministry! 6
October Youth Events We Love sharing Faith and Fun With You! Hope you will join in Here is what s happening in October! Trinity Youth! 7 th 12t h Need to contact Kris? 641 485 2422 Text or call krisdavison55@gmail.com Saturday, October 13 th, begin by joining us at the 5:30 worship service, following the service we will gather for food and fun including the flashlight tag game we did not get to play in September! Sunday, October 21 st we will head down to Geisler Farms to conquer the Corn Maze! Gather in Trinity s parking lot at 2:30. Corn Maze fun; Cook out and bonfire; return to Trinity around 7 PM. Cost is $8.00 per person. We need adults to drive and help supervise this event. Sunday, October 28 th, our Junior Class has leadership 9:00 AM Worship: Communion Assistants: Sophie Blubaugh, Ava Petty Present Gifts: Jaiden Hart, Rylee Freese Read Lessons: Rachael McAnulty Usher: Hunter Smith, Jack Gruening, Hunter Youngblood, Peyton Pope 7
October 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7 8:15 am Coffee Fellowship 9:00 am Combined Worship & Sunday School 10:00 am Fellowship Noon-Casa de Oracíon de Jesu Cristo 14 8:15 am Coffee Fellowship 9:00 am Children s Eucharist 10:15 am Fellowship Noon-Casa de Oracíon de Jesu Cristo 21 8:15 am Coffee Fellowship 9:00 am Combined Worship & Sunday School 10:15 am My Story Noon-Casa de Oracíon de 28 8:15 am Coffee Fellowship 9:00 am Combined Worship & Sunday School 10:a5 am Fellowship Noon-Casa de Oracíon de Jesu Cristo MMM = Monday Mass & Meal 1 5:30 pm MMM 8 5:30 pm MMM 15 5:30 pm MMM 22 NO MMM 29 5:30 pm MMM 2 10:30 am Glenwood Eucharist 6:00 pm Quilt Sew-Ciety 6:00 pm Healing Mass 9 5:30 pm Staff Meeting 6:30 pm Parish Council 16 23 30 3 10 10:00 am Embers Eucharist 17 24 31 4 5 6 11 12 13 18 19 20 25 26 27 5:30 Worship 5:30 Worship 5:30 Worship 5:30 Worship 8