Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Monthly Newsletter February, 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 a.m. 1
FROM PR. GREGG... TRINITY OPENS DOORS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER We have had some brutally cold weather. We had an especially bad cold snap that began the end of December and continued for many days. With the House of Compassion still closed for shelter we opened our church to be a warm & safe place for folks, we also provided good meals, showers, clothing, haircuts, It was the right thing to do as there was no place else in the community to go. We provided shelter to 10 different folks and 3 dogs. We closed our emergency shelter on January 7 at this time we had made sure that 7 of the folks were re -connected to family or had identified a place to stay. We continue to work with three folks to try and get them to a better place. We have helped them get photo ID s, re-establish their health insurance, taken them to appointments at Center Associates, gotten them physicals at Primary Health, assisted them in job applications, gotten them back on their medications, and continue to offer hospitality as they worship and participate in the life of our parish. So many folks fall through the cracks what we are doing can seem to be a drop in the bucket, but it is a drop that may make a difference to these folks we hope and pray! We will try to keep you informed as how things are developing. We are especially grateful to a Trinity member who gave us an extremely generous financial donation that helps us to temporarily shelter these three folks as we continue to assist them in moving to a better place. God s Work, Our Hands this is our motto. This motto was made flesh by the many folks of Trinity and our community who helped us pull off this emergency shelter. Along with Trinity folks we had others from the community who stepped forward to monitor and provide meals. I tried to keep count of how many folks were directly involved in this ministry effort my record is 67 folks that is a lot of hands doing God s work! TRINITY OPENS DOORS FOR CASA DE ORACION DE JESU CHRISTO HOUSE OF PRAYER OF JESUS CHRIST I am sure many of you remember the news about a group of people being overcome by carbon monoxide at the abandoned church across the way from Trinity on South Street the former Church of God. This small group of worshippers were looking to acquire this building for their home with no utilities in the building they were using gas generators inside the building and were overcome many were hospitalized and some transported by helicopter to other hospitals. Thank God all recovered. Subsequently, Chris Vaughn, a member of our parish contacted Police Chief Michael Tupper as to how we might reach out to these folks. Long story, short, Chief Tupper gave them our contact information. Our Parish Council appointed a team (Pr. Gregg, Steve Gile, & Kent Loney) to meet with the folks from Casa de Oracion de Jesu Christo to see if there was a way we could carry out Jesus command to Love our neighbor. What has ensued is that our Parish Council has agreed to provide Trinity as a good and safe place for them to worship. We assisted them in acquiring the necessary insurance in fact we assisted them in securing insurance from the same carrier as we have. We drew up a lease agreement with the help of attorney Bethany Currie (Trinity member) that is valid for 90 days and can be renewed per the agreement of our Parish Council. Casa de Oracion de Jesu Christo worships at Trinity on Sundays at 12 Noon. They have been a wonderful group to work with and they are deeply appreciative of the Christian hospitality we have extended. They are a small group with a vibrant and enthusiastic faith and style of worship. Their long term goal is to rehab the facility across the street from us and move into it as their permanent home. I hope that in the near future we can have a fellowship event for Trinity folks to meet and mingle with the folks from Casa de Oracion. They share the same identity as we, together we are the beloved and precious children of God. On the surface it may appear that we are very different but you don t have to scratch the surface much to find that we are the same people who long to be loved, people in need of forgiving grace, people who want to honor the Lord, and people who desire to lift up Jesus and serve him. Welcome to Trinity, Casa de Oracion. 2
(Continued from page 2) So, Trinity folks, keep your hearts and minds open to the ways that God is inviting and calling us to be Jesus in our community. If you have an idea SPEAK UP & SHARE IT! SERIOUSLY, SPEAK & SHARE! OUR COUNCIL IS OPEN TO HEAR FROM YOU! + PG PLEASE NOTE THE LENTEN PAGE IN THIS NEWSLETTER!!! FEBRUARY 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. PREPARE FOR WORSHIP! READ THE LESSONS IN ADVANCE. February 4: Isaiah 40:21-31; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 February 11: 2 Kings 2:1-12; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9 February 18: Genesis 9:8-17; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15 February 25: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38 GLENWOOD EUCHARIST FEBRUARY 7, 10:30 AM Join our Trinity members and other Glenwood residents in a time of Word and Sacrament. EMBERS EUCHARIST FEBRUARY 14 10:00 a.m. Join our Trinity members and other residents in celebrating the body & blood of Christ. BLESSING FOR LENT May God who has called us forth from the dust of the earth, and claimed us as beloved children, strengthen us on our journey as we love others as we have been loved. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 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. DISMISSAL FOR LENT Marked with the cross of Christ, go forth to love and serve the Lord in your neighbor. Thanks be to God. LENTEN SCHEDULE! See the Lenten page in this newsletter. HEALING MASS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 6:00 p.m. Prayer! Anointing! Communion! 3
FEBRUARY FAITH ON TAP Friday, February 2, 6:30 p.m. Meeting at the home of Pr. Gregg & Kris: 505 Friendly Drive At Faith on Tap Pr. Gregg leads a brief lesson and facilitates a guided conversation. We also share good fellowship that builds relationships. The focus on February 2 will be the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Everybody brings what they want to drink and a snack to share. Hope you can join us. MONTHLY CHIDLREN S MASS Sunday, February 11, 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 February 11, please contact Pr. Gregg at gdavison@tlc-elca.org. SEX TRAFFICKING PROGRAM & BREAKFAST SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 10:15 A.M. On Sunday, February 11, 10:15 a.m. an important program for all 7 th 12 th grade youth, parents, grandparents, and all interested adults. This has become a disturbing problem in Iowa and throughout the country and the world. And it isn t just about girls, boys are also victims. Be informed! Protect our children! Mark your calendar to join us. This is a collaborative effort of our Youth Ministry & Pastoral Care Ministry. ANIMATE LENT: WAY OF LIFE ANIMATE is a program of adult spiritual formation. Animate meets Mondays 10:00 a.m. & 6:45 p.m. if there is enough interest. Register by email and indicate 10:00 a.m. or 6:45 p.m. Register to gdavison@tlc-elca.org. The study Way of Life will help groups approach and engage the spiritual, theological, and missional proposals in Brian McLaren's book The Great Spiritual Migration. In The Great Spiritual Migration, Brian McLaren argues that in order to survive, Christianity must shift away from an outdated system of beliefs to a way of life based on love. In order to achieve this, McLaren outlines three migrations: spiritually, Christians focus less on doctrine and more on the abiding life of love made manifest in Jesus; theologically, a new way of reading Scripture shifts away from literalism and toward a more generous, literary approach; and missionally, the new way of life leads to "organizing religion" rather than organized religion, in which spiritual activists are committed to ecological, economic, and interfaith concerns. 4
FIRST COMMUNION MINI-RETREAT SUNDAY, MARCH 4; 3:00 6:00 PM Our First Communion preparation for first and second graders and older will be Sunday, March 4, 3:00 6:00 p.m. Please note that parents stay for a brief opening at 3:00 p.m. and then return at 5:15 p.m. for a review of the First Communion celebration. At 5:30 p.m. we will have a meal together and we hope parents, siblings, and interested grandparents will join us. So, here is what we ask of you at this time: RSVP that your child will be participating in First Communion by Wednesday, February 21. RSVP to Kyla Boswell at: kyla1105@hotmail.com or Pr. Gregg at: gdavison@tlc-elca.org. After we know who is participating we will follow up with further details about the retreat and the First Communion celebration which will be Palm Sunday weekend, Saturday, March 24, 5:30 p.m. We are always excited to prepare our children to receive this wonderful gift of love that is given to us in the body and blood of Jesus. WOMEN S APPRECIATION NIGHT A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR SPECIAL LADIES SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 4:00 P.M. Dear Trinity ladies, the men of Trinity invite you to a special evening honoring you for all you do! Sunday, March 25, 4:00 p.m. at St. Henry s Parish Hall (due to space need) 221 W. Olive St. On behalf of Trinity men we invite you to this evening featuring a delectable meal, enlightening discussion, and entertainment. You should have receive and invitation in the meal with an RSVP. If you did not receive it, please contact the parish office as we are always trying to keep our contact list up to date. WELCOME PARTNERS IN MISSION On December 10 we had a brunch to introduce and welcome new partners in our mission at Trinity. That s what we like to call our new members, Partners in Mission. Trinity is all about mission loving God, loving each other, and loving our neighbor! AJ & Amanda Accola; Gavin & Perry Jordan Augsburger & Sierra Gage Dale & Norma Wallace Joni Wallace Mary Ann Wallace Paulla Hartman Paul & Tonia Brott; Elise & Rayelle Brott, Ryan & Brendan Bates Warren & Shirley Davison Kenneth & Lindi Gerard; Cameron, Lillian, Grayson Check out the bulletin board outside the parish office to see the new member picture board. We thank God for these folks that have joined us in mission! 5
LENT AT TRINITY 2018 PRAYING, GROWING, SERVING In Lent we come together to pray, listen, serve, give, eat, share fellowship, and celebrate Christ s love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and his promise to strengthen us for our journey of life and faith. ASH WEDNESDAY: FEBRUARY 14 We begin our Lenten observance with many opportunities to pray and worship, some in our sanctuary and some beyond. We will be taking ashes blessed at Trinity out into the community inviting people to receive & remember Christ s love for them. The schedule for Trinity is as follows: (community schedule may vary from what is listed): Embers Chapel 10:00 a.m. House of Compassion 11:00 a.m. Trinity 12:10 p.m. Downtown 1:00 p.m. Trinity Parking Lot & South 3 rd Avenue 2:00 p.m. Soup Supper at Trinity 5:30 p.m. Trinity 6:30 p.m. ST. PATRICK S CELEBRATION Our annual St. Patrick s fun will be part of our Lenten Wednesday on March 14! Soup Supper 5:30 p.m. (sign up to win the St. Patrick statue) Evening Prayer 6:30 p.m. (followed by the drawing for St. Patrick) LENTEN WEDNESDAYS: FEBRUARY 21 MARCH 21 The Wednesday schedule is as follows: Stations of the Cross 5:00 p.m. Soup Supper 5:30 p.m. Homemade soups, bread, and dessert Evening Prayer 6:30 6:55 p.m. PASTOR S DAY OF PRAYER THURSDAY, MARCH 15 Pr. Gregg has set aside this day to pray for all of our parish families. If you have specific things you want pastor to pray about there will be a prayer request book available in the front of the sanctuary at the beginning of Lent or you can email confidentially to pastor at gdavison@tlc-elca.org. 6
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! Stork s Nest. Your gift of diapers supported families with little ones seeking to improve their lives. Thank you for your financial support! Hunger Brunch. Your donations at the youth sponsored brunch supported Emergency Food Box & Lutheran World Hunger/Relief. Thank you for your financial support! Emergency Shelter. We opened our facility during the bitter cold to provide shelter to those who were on the streets. See Pastor s article. Thank you for your financial support! DID YOU KNOW...? + Lent Begins. Ash Wednesday is February 14 and Lent continues for 40 days. Join in the many opportunities for prayer, learning, and service. Thank you God, for Lent! + Glenwood Eucharist. We have extended our pastoral care outreach to celebrate Eucharist with Glenwood residents on the first Wednesday of the month. Thank you God, for the body and blood of Jesus! + 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 February verse is: And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. + 1 Corinthians 13:13. Thank you God, for the Scripture! NOW YOU DO...! FINANCIAL REPORT January 1 December 31, 2017 Income Budget: $280,000.00; Income Actual: $276,583.74 Deficit: $3,416.26 KEEP DESIGNATING THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS TO TRINITY Through December 2017 we received $4,387.00 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! 7
February 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 8:00 am Choir 9:00 Combined Worship & Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Youth Breakfast & Class Noon: Casa de Oracion de Jesu Cristo 11 9:00 Children s Liturgy 10:15 am Breakfast & Sex Trafficking Program 4:15 HoC Soup Kitchen Noon: Casa de Oracion de Jesu Cristo Emergency Food Box 18 8:00 am Choir 9:00 Combined Worship & Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Youth Breakfast & Class Noon: Casa de Oracion de Jesu Cristo 25 9:00 Combined Worship & Sunday School 10:15 am Youth Breakfast & Class Noon: Casa de Oracion de 5 5:30 MMM 6:00 pm Bell Choir 12 5:30 MMM 6:00 pm Bell Choir 19 5:30 MMM 6:00 pm Bell Choir 26 5:30 MMM 6:00 pm Bell Choir 6 6:00 Quilt Sew-Ciety 6:00 Healing Eucharist 7:00 Ala-Teen 13 5:30 Staff Meeting 6:30 Parish Council 7:00 Ala-Teen 20 7:00 Ala-Teen 27 7:00 Ala-Teen 7 5:30 pm Laugh Club 6:15 Confirmation 14 Ash Wednesday 10:00 Embers Eucharist Noon-Worship/Ashes 5:30 pm Laugh Club 5:30 Soup Supper 6:30 Lenten Worship 21 5:00 Stations 5:30 pm Laugh Club 5:30 Soup Supper 6:30 Lenten Worship 28 5:00 Stations 5:30 pm Laugh Club 5:30 Soup Supper 6:30 Lenten Worship 1 2 6:30 Faith on Tap 3 5:30 pm Worship 8 9 10 5:30 pm Worship Emergency Food Box 15 16 17 22 23 24 8:30 Stampin Up 5:30 pm Worship 5:30 pm Worship 8