TRINITY TOWER April 2018 Volume 26, Issue 4 Feed My Starving Children MobilePack is April 13-15 Have you signed up for a shift yet? We begin the month of April by celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Through Mark s gospel telling of the Resurrection and the women at the tomb, we learn that even in times of uncertainty and fear, there is hope. This is a hope that we pray the children who will receive the nutritious meals from Feed My Starving Children will also feel. Sandra, a FMSC food partner, shared about eight-month-old Judeson (pictured right), I looked at the child and saw death in his face. Judeson weighed only four pounds. He was rushed to the hospital and doctors said he had just hours to live. Through the care of doctors and FMSC potato-w meals, Judeson grew stronger each day by gaining weight, and after six months, he was walking! On April 13-15, help us provide hope to the thousands of children who will receive Trinity s 450,000 meals. We have 2,000 volunteer spots to fill for packing the meals, and we are over halfway there! Thank you for your support so far! If you have not signed up yet, please do so today. Consider packing for a shift or two during the weekend. Everyone over the age of five is encouraged to help. Training is provided for each shift. Visit www.trinitylonglake.org/fmsc to sign up, or stop by the FMSC table in the Narthex. For childcare needs, or to register a group of 25 or more, please contact Beth Arends at barends175@gmail.com. April 1 Sunday Worship 8:45 & 10:15 a.m. Easter Sunday 8:00 a.m. Festival Worship Holy Communion Sanctuary Choir & Brass 9:15 a.m. Festival Worship Sanctuary Choir & Brass 10:45 a.m. New Life Worship Worship Band & Brass April 8 Second Sunday of Easter John 20:19-31 Holy Communion First Communion Celebration Baptism (10:15) Youth Choir, Chancel Bells April 15 April 22 April 29 Third Sunday of Easter Luke 24:36b-48 Holy Communion Sanctuary Choir Fourth Sunday of Easter John 10:11-18 10 a.m. Altar Communion Sanctuary Choir Fifth Sunday of Easter John 15:1-8 10 a.m. Altar Communion Sanctuary Choir Packing Shift Schedule Please consider signing up for more than one shift! Sign up as an individual, as a family or with a group/team you are a part of. Sign up online at www.trinitylonglake.org/fmsc or at church. Friday, April 13 10:00 a.m.- noon Set Up 1:30-3:30 p.m. Packing Shift 1 4:00-6:00 p.m. Packing Shift 2 Saturday, April 14 9:00-11:00 a.m. Packing Shift 3 (childcare provided) 11:30-1:30 p.m. Packing Shift 4 2:30-4:30 p.m. Packing Shift 5 5:00-7:00 p.m. Packing Shift 6 7:30-9:30 p.m. Packing Shift 7 (geared to HS youth) Sunday, April 15 11:30-1:30 p.m. Packing Shift 8 2:00-4:00 p.m. Packing Shift 9 4:00-6:00 p.m. Clean Up
Digital Citizenship & Online Safety April 16, 7:00-9:00 p.m. On Monday, April 16, we will welcome Matt Meyers, a family counselor with over 15 years experience working with teens and families, to speak about Digital Citizenship & Online Safety. The internet, social media & modern technology are great tools, but how do we use them for good? Each year, the Trinity Foundation offers scholarships to support Trinity s young leaders. Current high school seniors and college students are encouraged to apply. New this year: Young adults taking a gap year or semester off for mission work and/or leadership development programs are also welcome to apply. The talk begins at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Refreshments and childcare will be provided. To help us plan accordingly for the night, please RSVP online at www.trinitylonglake.org/fed 2
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February giving was slightly below budget ($1,480). We are now ($2,200) or (0.5%) below budget after the first two months of the year. Thank you to the 80+ families who contribute to Trinity via electronic contribution from their bank account. To sign up, please contact the church office for a form, or access the link on the giving page of our website: www.trinitylonglake.org/giving. Click Set Up or Manage Electronic Giving on the right side. The process is easy to setup and maintain! Trinity also accepts stock gifts, and if you re 70½ or older, an IRA Charitable Rollover is an option. Contact Rindee at rindee@trinitylonglake.org or by phone at 952-473-8577 x136 for more information. 4 Visit the Little Seeds Library The Little Seeds Library continues to grow with new books and movies for all ages! Stop by the Fireside Room and check out some of our new additions: Rob Bell s Nooma video series. Did you enjoy the videos during Wednesday Lenten worship? We have the entire Nooma series in the library, as well as other works by Bell. Romero is a compelling and deeply moving film about the life and martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. Bishop Ann Svennungsen of the Minneapolis Area Synod referenced Romero while guest preaching at Trinity on March 18. To learn more, check out the movie in the library! Tattoos on the Heart by Father Gregory Boyle. For 20 years, Father Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles also known as the gang capital of the world. This book instills his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith. The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers. This unexpected and redemptive love story reminds us that mercy can shape the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpiece. The Star is a children s movie about a donkey named Bo who leaves home for the adventure of a lifetime and meets new friends along the way. Financial update through February On the Reformation Road Martin Luther, the German Reformer, spent most of his time in an area located southwest of Berlin, between Dresden and the Harz Mountains. This is the heartland of the Lutheran Church. In Luther s time, this was a landscape of duchies and kingdoms, most importantly Saxony, with forests, farmlands, castles, monasteries, churches, and cobblestone streets. (From Martin Luther s Travel Guide 500 Years of the 95 Theses: On the Trail of the Reformation in Germany, by Cornelia Domer.) From April 17-28, twenty-eight people connected to Trinity will journey to the crucible of the Protestant Reformation. Celebrating the 500th anniversary of the initial events of the Reformation, this group will venture into the places where it all began. Pastor Brian and Kim Fragodt will be leading them through landmarks of Martin Luther s life, from his birthplace, Eisleben; and Mansfeld, where he grew up; to Eisenach and Erfurt, where he received his education; and Wittenberg, where most of his teaching and writing happened. The group will also visit Vienna, Austria (taking in some of the Old World music), and Prague, Czech Republic, where Jan Hus was burned at the stake for his reforming ideas nearly a century before Luther. Please pray for this group as it explores the people and places that transformed political and religious alliances for centuries to come. Thrivent Workshops at Trinity Thrivent Financial is leading four workshops at Trinity in April. If you would like to attend one of the following workshops, please visit the Sign Up Center at church or contact Julie Sherman or Lynne Lien. All workshops will be in the Media Room on Trinity s lower level. Retire Wisely, April 5, 6:30 p.m. Learn to manage the main risks all retirees face, and turn your retirement concerns into confidence. College Prep, April 12, 6:30 pm. While a college degree gives graduates a competitive edge in the job market, it comes with a hefty price tag. Is your family prepared for it? Women and Money, April 17, 6:30 p.m. More and more women are becoming responsible for their family s financial well-being. Learn how to handle the unique financial challenges facing women. From Me to We, April 24, 6:30 p.m. Learn how to build a strong financial foundation as a couple.
Congregational Life Membership If you are interested in membership, please talk with a pastor or complete the form found on the website. A New Member Orientation will be held May 20 at 11:30 a.m. Everyone interested in becoming members, as well as current members interested in a refresher course on Trinity s offerings, are welcome to attend. Please RSVP in the Sign Up Center. Baptisms Zachary Berg Funerals Todd Bergerson Jill Loomis Mark Solsback Earl Swanson Call Process Update for a New Associate Pastor The Call Committee met March 22 to begin work on the Ministry Site Profile (MSP). They will be meeting with the Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Craig Pederson on Thursday, April 5 for an orientation session on the call process. Please pray for God's guidance throughout this important process! Stay tuned for future updates in the E-News, Sunday bulletin and Tower. Members of the Call Committee are: Terrie Allen (committee chair), Kari Newell, Ted Radintz, Chuck Ritchie, Stacey Royal, Steve Vanderboom and Pastor Brian Fragodt. Go paperless! Sign up to get the Tower electronically. Help us save paper by switching to the Tower email list. You ll get the newsletter at the beginning of the month via email. Call the Trinity office at 952-473-8577 to make the switch. Thank you in advance. Together at Trinity Pub Theology is Tuesday, April 3 at McGarry s in Maple Plain. This month s topic is Atheism. Come for dinner and discussion 7-9 p.m. in the Hibernia Room at McGarry s. All are welcome. Why Lutheran? theology series continues Sunday, April 8. We will discuss session 6, From Scholar to Father. Join us in the Fireside Room at 10 a.m. to learn more about our Reformation roots! This month s Community Meal is Thursday, April 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Trinity is hosting! Volunteers are needed to serve food, greet visitors and bring dessert. See the Sign Up Center at church if you can help. All are welcome bring the kids, too! New study with Pastor Gretchen: Christ in Our Recovery Intro session will be Sunday, April 15, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Pastor Gretchen will be leading a 12-step study using The Life Recovery Bible and its associated workbook, A Biblical Guide through the 12 Steps. We re all struggling with something, whether it s an addiction, health issue, stress or family trauma, and we can all find a path to recovery through Christ. If interested in the study, please come to this introductory session on April 15 or talk to Pastor Gretchen. New adult Bell Choir for seniors (55+). No experience is needed. Mark Hemingway will teach all the concepts needed to participate and enjoy bell ringing. The group will rehearse one weekday morning each week. This new choir is open to all Trinity members and non-members, so bring a friend! Bell ringing is a wonderful exercise in keeping the mind sharp and exploring a new activity. Contact Mark if interested. The Trinitarians are going to the musical, Guys and Dolls, at the Old Log Theater on Thursday, April 19. The show starts at 1:30 p.m., and people will gather for lunch at Maynard s at 11:30 a.m. A carpool will be available from Trinity at 11 a.m. Cost is $27/person. To sign up, please contact Ron or Barb Schulte at 763-473-9633, or visit the Sign Up Center at church. Sign up deadline is Wednesday, April 4. The Dorcas Circle is hosting a diaper drive in April for Life Haven. All sizes of disposable diapers are being collected. Baby wipes as well as new and gently used baby or toddler clothing will be accepted, too. Please bring items to the bin near the Sign Up Center in the Narthex. Bless the Years will be Sunday, May 6. We will recognize members who will be 80 or older this calendar year. In 1998, the first year of this celebration, 25 members were honored, and this year, we have 74. The members will be acknowledged during worship and a reception between services. Please join us for this wonderful Trinity tradition! The Grief Coalition meets Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. From March through May, the group is meeting at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Plymouth, located at 12235 Old Rockford Rd, Plymouth, MN 55441. All are welcome. For questions, call 763-559-2775. 5
Thank you for the many ways you serve! For the 70+ volunteers who helped during our Families Moving Forward hosting week. For worship assistants who helped with Wednesday Lenten services and during Holy Week and Easter. For our faithful volunteers who volunteer at Simpson Shelter, St. Stephen s Shelter, Mpls Crisis Nursery and Interfaith Outreach each month. For our prayer shawl and quilting groups who create beautiful blankets to comfort others. For the continuous supply of donations to support local organizations, including food shelves! 6 Volunteer Opportunities Food for FMSC staff & team, April 13-15. Our team will be at Trinity the entire weekend helping to assure the event runs smoothly. Please consider signing up to bring them fruit, desserts, etc. Wednesday Interfaith Outreach Night, April 11 (Food Shelf) & May 9 (ReSale store), 5:30-8 p.m. 8-10 volunteers (12 & older) are needed. Crisis Nursery Breakfast, April 14 & May 12, 6:30-9:30 a.m. 4-6 volunteers (12 & older) needed. Simpson Shelter Breakfast, May 3 & June 2, 5:30-8:30 a.m. 10-12 volunteers (any age) needed. Sign up for these opportunities in the Narthex or online at www.trinitylonglake.org/signups-media El Salvador Summer Trip, July 7-16 This multi-generational trip will spend time with our Seeds of Hope students and our sister church. Spaces are still available! Deadline is April 15. Forms are available at the Welcome Desk and online. See Jill Cornell or Kassy Heinrich for questions. NOTE: 50% of the trip cost is covered by a donor for Trinity members. Scholarships are also available. Look what we are collecting Can you help? Food shelf needs for April: Cans of cream of chicken soup. The food shelf at Interfaith Outreach doesn t have any, and they can t order it. Ongoing Donations: Used cell phones/batteries; travel-size shampoo, soap, cream rinse; grocery/ coupon books (expired no more than 30 days); paper bags; diapers (any size and quantity); socks (men s & women s); reusable bags; women s bras (any size, new) and feminine hygiene products. Our AGAPE Team is busy planning the November market, and there are already a few ways to help: Vendor Participants. Are you interested in having a booth at the market on November 10-11? Vendor applications are available at church or online under the Ministries/Outreach & Service tab. Trinity members may apply now, and outside vendors may apply beginning July 1. Gently used donations for a new section at the market. We are collecting books (hard and soft cover, hobby books, fiction, nonfiction, etc.); DVDs and CDs; Magazines (hobby, quilting, gardening, décor, etc.); board games and puzzles. Note: VHS will not be accepted, and we are NOT collecting vintage/home décor items this year. Items to repurpose. We are collecting pillow forms, spiritwear sweatshirts, glass beads, cotton string (or embroidery floss, button thread), vintage wooden ladders, wooden picture frames, qt-sized jars, bright-colored fleece, pinecones, Altoid tins, buttons, old jewelry (can be broken), authentic wine corks and wooden kitchen cabinet doors (contact Jill Cornell before brining in). Items needed for working on projects. The team is looking for a power drill/screwdriver, small paint brushes, wrenches, screw/nail containers, Xacto knives, a 6 level and pencil sharpener. All items may be placed in the bin by the Sign Up Center. Thank you for your help! Here s an awesome way the proceeds from the 2016 AGAPE Market have benefited others A third of the total proceeds ($4,122) from the 2016 market were donated to the organization, Charity:Water. On March 20, 2018, we learned these funds were pooled together with some other donations to drill a well for a community in the northern region of Uganda for accessing clean water, with a total project cost of $14,455. This small community of 305 people now has clean water and can access it through a hand pump! In this region of Uganda, only 23% of the population has access to clean water. Thank you for your past and future support of the AGAPE Gift Market, which will continue to keep supporting and helping others locally and globally.
Youth Fundraiser Gala We raised over $25,000 on February 25! Participating youth are able to earn up to 50% of their trip costs by working the fundraiser. 46 HS youth participated and were able to raise an average of 68% of their goal, while 23 MS youth were able to raise an average of 95% of their goal. (Note the MS trips are half the cost of the HS trips.) 68% This event would never be possible if it was not for Trinity s dedicated staff, friends and families. We are so blessed to be a part of a community that is so supportive of youth ministry!! Because of all of you, 90 Middle School and High School youth will attend life-changing trips this summer to West Virginia, the ELCA Youth Gathering, Camp Hiawatha and the Boundary Waters. THANK YOU!!!!! 95% A special thanks to our business supporters: 3rd Lair Skatepark, Albers Jewelry, Ambient Photos, Authentic Creative, Breadsmith, Bunker Beach Water Park, Carlson Chiropractic Wellness Center, Christopher J Salon, Coalition, Coborn's Superstore, Cross Country Soaring, Cub Foods, Custom Comfort Beds, Dale Studios, Dave's Town Club, Detour 19, Edina Grill, Escape Frenzy, FitHaus, Gallery Navarre, General Store of Minnetonka, Inspire Dance Studio, JMcLaughlin, Jon Charles Salon, Judd Frost Clothiers, Justice Brothers Care Care Products, Kennedy Transmission, Lakeside Wine & Spirits, Letterman Sports, Liquor Barn, Little Feet Childrens Shoes, Long Lake Dental, Long Lake True Value, Luggage Pros, McGarry's, Medina Entertainment Center, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Mission Momentum LLC, North Shore Gymnastics Association, Northern Brewer, Orono Dental Care, Otten Brothers, Pearle Vision, Picture This Framed, Pilgrim Dry Cleaners, Pioneer Creek Golf Course, Premier Jewelry, Red Cow Restaurant, Rockvam Boat Yards Inc., Scotty B's Restaurant, Seaglass Fine Art Photograpy, Sequin L.L.C., Seven Stone Jewelry, Sparrow December, St. Paul Saints, Tamarack Vending Co., The Foursome, The Low Brow, Three Rivers Park District, Tonka Marine and Auto, UFC Farm Supply, Van Buren Landscaping, Village Riding, Vinaigrette, Wise Acre and so many other Trinity groups, individuals and families! Every year, Trinity members enjoying the winter months near Naples, FL have a Trinity South gathering. This year s event had the theme, Count Your Blessings, to remind us of the good stuff in life. Here are some of the group s blessings: The people of Trinity who laid the foundation and continue to lead the way Support received in good & bad times A church that reaches out to so many different areas of need Trinity feeling like home The variety of ministries, programs and fellowship opportunities offered at Trinity Support, love, happiness and care from friends and community 7
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 4 Long Lake, MN ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL Mpls Crisis Nursery Simpson Shelter Breakfast Lenten Cross Crafts Lenten Cross Crafts HS trip to the Roller Garden Boy Scouts helped get ready for our Families Moving Forward hosting week 8