November 2018 ~ January 2019 Trinity Tidings Trinity Lutheran Church, 1010 Sill St, La Crosse, Wisconsin Inside This Issue: ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Council President s Message Page 2 ~No Wednesday Advent services~ Senior Choir Advent Service December 9th - 8:30am Social Ministry/ Page 4 Children s Christmas Service December 16th - 8:30am th Christmas Eve - Monday, December 24 3:30pm and 5:30pm-Candlelight service ~No service on Christmas Day~ Community Service Page 6 Calendars Pages 7-9 Christmas Hymn Sing Saturday, December 29th - 5:30pm Sunday, December 30th - 8:30am 1
A Message From Your Council President Hello Trinity family, It has been a few months since the last newsletter. Anyone miss my letters? LOL!!! Now that we are going to a quarterly newsletter it is a lot more difficult to write one letter to you. There is so much going on at Trinity in a three month time span! Where do I start? Let s start with what we know is happening. Mondays are still the busiest day of the week here. We have the Children s Clothes Closet, Mondays Meals, From the, and now the Teens Clothes Closet; in conjunction with First Lutheran Church in Onalaska. What a day Mondays are! A fantastic church doing fantastic things with our friends and neighbors. What s next? Funny you should ask. Now once a month the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children) through La Crosse County is having a clinic for their families at Trinity. This is a great way for WIC to connect with their North La Crosse families in a more calm and private atmosphere. Because we have had such good luck with the LAFC (La Crosse Area Family Collaborative) through La Crosse County I guess word gets around about the great things we are doing at Trinity. We are so blessed to have all this activity at Trinity. But wait, there s more!!! And on other days of the week we have activities like Boy Scouts of America Troop 1 meeting here. We also have the Logan Northside Neighborhood Group once a month. Our own Trinity committees and council meet to take care of our Trinity family and church business. The Senior Choir is back to practicing on Wednesday nights, they could always use a few more singers. And Saturdays and Sundays we have worship for those of us who are able to attend church. And for those who cannot attend worship we have Sundays on the radio at 8:30am on WKTY for over 50 years! Wow! When you think of all this and more going on, I wonder how we all can help out. Well, pick an activity or cause that you connect with and join them. IT IS THAT EASY. And if you can t join them, maybe help support that special cause or activity by spreading the good work they do by word of mouth, or make a financial contribution to help them continue to perform their outreach. There are many ways to help spread the word and works of Jesus. I was talking with Joanne Thoftne today and she told me a story that made me think. She was on a bus trip and needed to sit down to eat. There was not a chair by the women she was with, so she sat at a table with one chair left open. She did not know anyone at the table when she sat down. But by the time she was done she found out she knew everyone at the table! From growing up on the 2
Northside, working on the Northside, and going to Trinity on the Northside she knew each person or their family. What a small world we have. Could you do what Joanne did? Sit at a table of strangers and strike up conversations? I probably could, but I would be nervous. But how fun that must have been to learn that she knew the people. And all because she had the courage to sit at a table of strangers. So Trinity, I have a favor to ask you. Between now and the end of January, I want us all to have the courage to step out of our comfort zone, get rid of our three feet of personal space, and meet some strangers. Start helping out at an activity at Trinity, or pop in and just talk with people. I know they would love that. Just ask Pastor Roger. With the holidays coming up in November and December ask someone to join you for worship. Ask someone to join a club or group you are involved with. Say Hi to a stranger next time you are out and about. Open your heart to anyone and everyone like Jesus did. You may be amazed at who you meet. Remember... a stranger is only a friend you have not met yet. Your friend, Todd Olson Special Note Dear Trinity Members, I had the privilege and joy to be part of Holden Village in the state of Washington in August, where Pastor Melinda and her husband Greg now reside. I am writing this to encourage you to venture out there on a leap of faith - you will not be disappointed. Holden Village is the largest and most remote religious retreat center in the United States. All ages are welcomed to this gorgeous setting in the Cascade Mountains. They have very powerful and thought provoking speakers from all over the world to inspire, the arts are promoted, as is hiking and daily worship. Even though my experience is very hard to put into words, I would love to talk to anyone who might be interested. Catch me after church or call 608-783-3019. In Christ, Jane Haskins 3
Love Thy Neighbor Jar? What s that? It s a unique giving basket provided at each weekend worship service with money gathered going to different ministries outside of the church each month! Social Ministry Love Thy Neighbor Jar November: National flood relief (hurricanes Florence and Michael) December: Towards giving to Northside Christmas January: Clothes Closet From the Heart food pantry November: Canned or boxed meals December: Personal care toiletries (shampoo, soaps, toothpaste, etc) January: Paper products NOVEMBER LOVE THY NEIGHBOR JAR/HURRICANES FLORENCE AND MICHAEL RELIEF We will aim for funds to help our distant neighbors in need. We will be donating monies to the ELCA who will in turn use these funds to help meet the needs of the many affected by these disasters. Please give as generously as you can and remember our distant neighbors in your prayers as well. THANK YOU! Love God, Love our neighbors, Serve the World... Bonnie Jeranek Committee Chair bonniejeranek@gmail.com 608-784-2996 Committee Members Bernice Arentz Cathy Butterfield Cheryl & Dick Harnwell Carla Korish Lori Leverence Kathy Myhre Sharon Olson Barbara Saiz Kathi Volden NORTHSIDE CHRISTMAS NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH Over the past years Trinity members have been generous in providing gifts for our Giving Tree to go toward Northside students. This year we are hoping the Giving Tree project will move from just giving gifts to expanding relationships. Beginning Monday, November 26, we will be providing an opportunity for Monday Meals kids and Trinity Kids to partake in music and art activities. They will be sharing their talents with our congregation. We will be asking our Trinity congregation to support this project. Please look for more information on how you can help in the weekly bulletins. We will also be doing a mitten drive between Thanksgiving and Christmas for the Trinity Clothes closet. We appreciate any new or gently used water-proof mittens that you can pin on a tree located in the narthex. 4
Social Ministry...cont d WANTED: Kids, grandkids, neighborhood kids, all kids...to join with the Trinity Senior Choir to sing some Christmas songs at the December 16th 8:30am service. Practices will be Mondays at 6:00pm starting Monday, November 26th. You don t have to be a member to participate, just come join the fun! Call Deb Keller at 608 7692965 for more details and to sign up (you can also just show up on the 26th). Help spread the word!! Love God, Love our neighbors, Serve the World... TRINITY FAMILY FELLOWSHIP Sunday brunches and coffee socials are back! On the first Sundays in the months of November, December and January, please stay after worship and join in a fellowship opportunity at our Coffee Social. Beverages and treats will be served, any contribution of sweet or savory snacks are welcome. Also, on the third Sundays of November, December and January we ll hold a Pot-Luck Sunday brunch downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. Please mark your calendars and take part in this fun fellowship tradition! Check the board in the Narthex for food/beverage contribution suggestions. After church coffee dates: November 4, December 9 and January 6 Potluck dates: November 18, December 16 and January 20 Bonnie Jeranek Committee Chair bonniejeranek@gmail.com 608-784-2996 Committee Members Bernice Arentz Cathy Butterfield Cheryl & Dick Harnwell Carla Korish Lori Leverence Kathy Myhre Sharon Olson Barbara Saiz Kathi Volden Social Ministry/ Committee meetings are held at 5:30p on the second Wednesday of the month in the Library. The next meeting dates are: November 14th December 12th January 9th 5
Love God, Love our neighbors, Serve the World... Community Service FREE FINANCIAL COACHING La Crosse County UW-Extension is sponsoring free financial coaching sessions at Trinity every other Tuesday from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Please contact Susan Taylor, AFC at 608.785.6417 or send an email to her at smtaylor@afsc.com for an appointment. FROM THE HEART FOOD PANTRY We are always looking for regular and reliable volunteers to assist our guests during the hours the pantry is open. Every Monday night from 5:30 to 7:00 PM and the last Saturday of the month from 10 AM to 1 PM, we are open to serve the needs of our guests. This is a fun and rewarding opportunity to give to those in our community who are in need. Please call the church office for more information and to let us know that you are interested! 6 Bonnie Jeranek Committee Chair bonniejeranek@gmail.com 608-784-2996 Committee Members Bernice Arentz Cathy Butterfield Cheryl & Dick Harnwell Carla Korish Lori Leverence Kathy Myhre Sharon Olson Barbara Saiz Kathi Volden WELCOME TEEN CLOTHES CLOSET Trinity extends a warm welcome to Onalaska First Lutheran s Teen Clothes Closet. Three upper rooms in the Sunday School Wing have been painted, shampooed and shelved to make room For the Onalaska First Lutheran Teen Clothes Closet. Over 20 volunteers helped make the move on August 1st. We welcome them and look forward to this partnership of serving others!! The Teen Closet will be partnering with Northside Kids Clothes Closet by providing for the needs of Middle and High School youth. They will be open Mondays 4:00 to 6:00 starting August 20th. They will also be supporting Trinity s Northside Neighborhood Picnic with shoes for the older kids and lots of volunteers. Thanks First Lutheran. We are excited to team with you!! NORTHSIDE KIDS CLOTHES CLOSET The Northside Kid s Clothes Closet is open and ready to service our neighborhood children. The Closet is restocked, reorganized and our inventory is ever-increasing as we continue to be a successful resource for families in need. New winter gear has arrived just in time for the frosty weather! If you know a family who could use some help, spread the word! We re open on Mondays from 4:00-6:00 pm.
November 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 Closet/ Teen Closet 6 OFFICE CLOSED 7 8 9 10 5:30-7:00p From the 11 18 25 12 Closet/ Teen Clost 5:30-7:00p From the 19 Closet/ Teen Closet 5:30-7:00p From the 6p Church Council 13 OFFICE CLOSED 9:30a-12:30p Financial Coaching-Susan Taylor 608.785.6417 14 20 OFFICE CLOSED 21 5:30p Social Ministry meeting 7pChoir practice 15 16 17 MOBILE MEALS DELIVERIES 26 Closet/ Teen Closet 5:30-7:00p From the 27 9:30a-12:30p Financial Coaching-Susan Taylor608.785.6417 6p Logan-North Side Neighborhood Group 28 22OFFICE CLOSED 23OFFICE CLOSED 24 29 30 office closed 10a-1p From the 7
December 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 7p Boy Scouts Troop 1 3 4-6:00p Kids Clothes Closet/Teen Clothes Closet 5:30-7p From the Heart Food Pantry 4 OFFICE CLOSED 5 6 7 8 9 SENOIR CHOIR ADVENT SERVICE 7p Boy Scouts Troop 1 10 4-6:00p Kids Clothes Closet/Teen Clothes Closet 5:30-7p From the Heart Food Pantry 11OFFICE CLOSED 9:30a-12:30p Financial Coaching-Susan Taylor 608.785.6417 12 5:30p Social Ministry/ 13 14 15 16 CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS SERVICE 7p Boy Scouts Troop 1 17 4-6:00p Kids Clothes Closet/Teen Clothes Closet 5:30-7p From the Heart Food Pantry 18OFFICE CLOSED 19 20 21 22 23 8:30 Worship 30 CHRISTMAS HYMN SING 24 CANDLELIGHT WORSHIP 3:30PM & 5:30PM 25OFFICE CLOSED 26 27 6p Church Council meeting - office closed 31OFFICE CLOSED 28 29 10a-1p From the Heart Food Pantry CHRISTMAS HYMN SING 8
January 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 OFFICE CLOSED 2 3 4 5 6 7p Boy Scouts Troop 1 7 Closet/Teen Closet 5-6p Monday Meals 5:30-7:00p From the Heart Food Pantry 8 OFFICE CLOSED 9:30a-12:30p Financial Coaching- Susan Taylor 608.785.6417 9 5:30p Social Ministry Meeting-Library 10 11 12 13 7p Boy Scouts Troop 1 14 Closet/Teen Closet 5-6p Monday Meals 5:30-7:00p From the Heart Food Pantry 15OFFICE CLOSED 16 17 18 19 20 Pot-luck Brunch 7p Boy Scouts Troop 1 21 Closet/ Teen Closet 5-6p Monday Meals 5:30-7:00p From the Heart Food Pantry 22OFFICE CLOSED 9:30a-12:30p Financial Coaching- Susan Taylor 608.785.6417 6p Logan-North Side Neighborhood Group meeting 23 24 6p Church Council meeting 25 26 10a-1p From the 27 7p Boy Scouts Troop 1 28 Closet/Teen Closet 5-6p Monday Meals 5:30-7:00p From the Heart Food Pantry 29OFFICE CLOSED 30 31 9
Trinity Tidings is a monthly newsletter of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1010 Sill Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603. All visitors are welcome to worship with us each Saturday evening at 5:30pm and Sunday morning at 8:30am. Communion is celebrated at every service. The church office telephone number is (608) 782-6200. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 1010 Sill Street La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID LA CROSSE, WI 54603 PERMIT NO. 346 W O R S H I P S C H E D U L E Saturday 5:30pm Sunday 8:30am Radio Service Broadcast at 8:30am on WKTY AM 580 Website: www.trinitylutheranlax.org Church Office: office@trinitylutheranlax.org; 608-782-6200 Facebook: Trinity Lutheran Church ELCA