ALL SAINTS DAY

NOVEMBER 5, 2017

We will celebrate “the communion of saints” on Nov. 5. Remembering those in our Trinity family who have been baptized or have died since November 1, 2016, their name will be printed in the bulletin and be recognized at both worship services (8:30 & 10:45) with the lighting of candles. You can also light a candle during worship in memory of or in honor of someone special to you. Daylight Savings Time ENDS on Nov. 4th. Remember to ‘fall back’.

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP SERVICE WEDNESDAY, NOV 22 at 6:30 P.M. (No Sunday School on November 26th)

Nov 2 1:30 p.m. Thank Offering

The Trinity Lutheran Church Women will meet on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place for their annual Thank Offering program.

business meeting.

Lefse making in November

Trinity folk will be making lefse for the United Hospital District Bake and Craft Sale which is held on November 18th. Anyone interested in rolling lefse is invited to come to the Kitchen at 9:00 a.m. on November 2, 3 and 7. If you have any questions about this project, contact Ruthy Johnson at 526-5937, or just show up!

Trinity Junior and Senior High Youth will be attending a Lock-In at Prairie River Camp. The event will be Sunday, 2:30 p.m. to Monday at 8:00 a.m. (no school on Monday!) Adult chaperones are needed. Contact Kim Jacobson, Director of Children/Youth & Family Ministries at 507-525-0747 or Kimmykimmyj@gmail.com

ACCOMPANYING GLOBAL

PARTNERS

On Sunday, November 19 during 8:30 and 10:45 worship services, we will welcome leaders from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Lives are being transformed in South Sudan through the

generosity of people in our synod! Come and learn more about The Lutheran Center and Clinic in Juba, South Sudan as well as Rev. Wal Reat’s ministry in the refugee camps. Come participate in the movement of God’s Spirit! For Your December Calendar:

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Trinity’s Senior Choir and Handbell Choir will be presenting their musical gifts on Sunday, December 10 during both the 8:30 and 10:45 worship services. All are welcome to attend!

Sunday,

December

17, 2017

Children’s Christmas Program during 8:30

and 10:45 Worship. Nursery through Kindergarten kids will sing during 10:45 worship. Come and share in this Nativity program.

Dec 17 at 5:00 pm

The Christmas Season can be

tough. All are welcome to come, reflect and hear a message of hope in this quiet service. Those experiencing any type of loss are especially welcome.

The Trumpet November, 2017 Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA 235 East 7th Street, Blue Earth, MN

“As God’s people, we are nurtured by word and sacrament to

welcome, empower and serve others.”

Catholics and Lutherans:

Celebrating Our Gifts

December 13 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

"Have you ever wondered how we are the same and how we are

different?" Come to Trinity’s Gathering Place on December 13th at 6:00 p.m. for a night of conversation with Father Peter Klein and Pastor Jeanette Bidne. Their conversation will include information about the symbols, rites, music, and sacraments of our denominations. Open to all who are curious to learn more about Lutherans and Catholics, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Winter Weather or Not

If school closes early, the following activities will automatically be cancelled: Release Time (Wednesday after school program), SALSA (Junior High) or SWAP (Senior High) Youth Groups. Handbells and Senior Choir will follow the same rule. For Sunday School classes or 7Up (Grades 7-12 youth): listen to KBEW or KJLY radio for announcement. Kim will also post closures on Facebook.

CHRISTMAS EVE, DEC 24 is on a Sunday The worship schedule will be: 4th Sunday in Advent at 9:30, then Christmas Eve Worship at 4:00 and 9:00 p.m. Note that these times are different from previous years. Holy Communion will be served at all three of these worship services. No Sunday School classes on Dec. 24th.

**For those attending the 4:00 service, please be respectful of

parking spaces for members of

Frist Presbyterian Church.

Their Christmas Eve worship

begins at 5:00 p.m.

HUNGER CHALLENGE

Former Interim Pastor Paul Meierding challenged Trinity members to increase their giving to hunger issues The Trinity Council set a goal of $10,000 for 2017. THANK YOU to everyone who accepted that challenge and have increased our charitable giving, especially to the Faribault County Food Shelf in Blue Earth. Update on Hunger Offerings received January-September 30. World Hunger $2579.00 Food Shelf 2514.88 Bread for the World 335.00 $6461.88

Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response will be used entirely (100%) for direct response. Donations can be given through Trinity Lutheran Church. Mark ‘hurricane relief’ on your check. Thrivent Financial members can also give online to hurricane relief.

Trinity’s Council met on October 10. This was our last discussion on Almost Christian as we had completed our study. Financial reports were presented. Offering received on Oct 8 when 21 youth were Confirmed = $7777.33. Thank you! Building Fund Savings account is at $12,900.79. Expenses for new signage (have you noticed the new directional

signs in the hallways?) and a new carpet cleaner will come from these funds. Committee reports were reviewed. The Trinity Stand at the Fairgrounds has been winterized. All Sunday School classes have teachers. Looking for another adult to split a Release Time class that has 27 students. Still need one more Confirmation mentor/small group leader. Worship/Art/Music Committee is working on ideas for Reformation Sunday, Oct 29. Budget committee has begun their work for the 2018 budget. Will be contacting a member to help with tech upgrade, especially to our current website. 3rd Sunday Noisy offering was again designated to Lutheran Disaster Response for hurricane relief. Complete copy of minutes is available on

the display rack outside the office.

Glad You Asked ! As Christians we have well over

2,000 years of church history that

informs what we say and do. This

new monthly article is to

encourage questions for all those

things we wonder about but are

sometimes too scared to ask…

Why do we use a pall and move the large candle to a different place when there is a funeral at Trinity? If you have been to a funeral at Trinity where a casket has been present you have seen a beautiful, quilted, white cloth placed over the casket either by family or funeral directors. The white cloth placed over the casket at the beginning of a funeral service is called a pall and it has a long history. The pall is one of the most powerful symbols we have at a funeral. This cloth reminds all those present that in baptism we were clothed in the righteousness of Christ, loved and forgiven, enfolded by our God. The cloth also reminds us that the eternal life we receive from God begins at baptism (this is why infants often are dressed in white at baptism and we give them a baptismal cloth embroidered with a cross). In the beginning and at the end of our life we are clothed with the symbols of baptism and resurrection knowing that we will share in Christ’s resurrection. On a personal note, the pall can be an excellent way to start a conversation with children if a loved one has died, reassuring them that all that is dark in this world (sickness, pain, death) is now gone for someone who has lived and died as part of God’s family. God’s love surrounds

them. In a world where so many things divide us, the pall also allows all coffins to come before the altar equally no matter what the financial circumstances of a family. Trinity has had this particular pall for over twenty years. Maria Lindberg and Sheryl Holland were instrumental in its creation which was supported financially through the Schaefer family. The garment includes a cross, butterflies in various stages of life and the following verse: “I am the resurrection and the

life. Those who believe in me,

even though they die, will

live, and everyone who lives and

believes in me will never die. –

John 11:25

Palls are also made to be used for urns, however Trinity does not own one at this time. Since we are discussing funerals, I have had several conversations lately about flags on caskets for those who have served our country. At Trinity, we honor someone’s service in several ways. The flag may be draped on a casket prior to the service (often during the visitation) and at the conclusion of a funeral service so that the flag may accompany the deceased to the cemetery where it is often folded by an honor guard. Folded flags are able to be displayed before, during and after services and may be displayed up front with the flowers, often in front of an honor guard who represents a veteran’s service. During the service, the pall reminds us that this person was first a child of God, with gifts to serve given by God.

You also may notice that we move the large candle in our sanctuary when there is a funeral. This is called the paschal candle and represents Easter and resurrection. This candle is also lit for any baptism at Trinity. All the promises that God made in baptism are fulfilled when we die and so we connect the beginning of a life of faith (baptism) to its fulfillment (when we commend someone to God at a funeral), with Christ’s light represented in this candle. Fun fact, historically a pascal candle could weigh as much as three hundred pounds. Some stands were noted to be over ten feet tall! Ours is much smaller!

-Information drawn from the “Altar Guild and Sacristy Handbook”

by S. Anita Stauffer

If you have questions you’d like to

ask, please contact Pastor

Jeanette or the church office. We

are keeping a list and will be glad

you asked…

Stewardship for All Seasons Watch your mail the week of November 6 for your 3rd quarter statement, along with important information regarding the Fall Stewardship Drive – Rooted in Christ. You will be asked to prayerfully consider increasing your gifts to Trinity to support our missions. Stewardship Sunday is on November 12.

Did you know? That the word gossip comes from the words “God” and “speak”? While reading for my doctoral work I came across the following “The word ‘gossip’ is a combination of ‘god’ and ‘sib’ and originally comes from the kinds of conversations occurring at extended family gatherings like religious ceremonies, weddings, and funerals” writes Tex Sample in his book, Ministry in an Oral

Culture: Living with Will Rodgers,

Uncle Remus, and Minnie Pearl. In my reading about how groups of people communicate the idea of gossip as “God talk” struck me. So what do you think of when you think of the word gossip? Do you think of holy talk? Or does the word make you cringe as you remember a time when someone spoke about you without you present? I have seen both in my life and I’m sure you have too. Ever have someone give you a heads up that helps you avoid an awkward situation? Or a kind word that helps us to understand someone before you strike up a conversation? Those words about and with one another, can certainly be God talk and have the power to comfort. We all know that words have the power to be destructive as well. As we lean into the end of fall and look towards the beginning of Advent and Christmas preparations I invite you to think about your conversations. Those you have had. Those you will have. Can our concerns, our questions, our wonderings be seen as God talk? Would they be seen as God talk if they were recorded

and played for all to hear? Can we at Trinity, as a faith community, continue to let our words in worship and in the work week be God talk, not only sharing what God has done for all but also showing the love of God in how we speak, even in our gossip? Would that make gossip Good News? Perhaps. That would be worth spreading around town. United in Christ, Pastor Jeanette

BIRTHDAYS Listed below are birthdays of members in the church data base.

If there is an addition or correction, please call the church office (526-3463). November 1 – Lane Anderson, Olivia Dutton 2 – Mataya Weber 3 – Julienne Teigland 4 – Merle Olson 5 – Chuck Hunt, Merrill Smith 6 – Mateja Lane, Sara Wirth 7 – Carson Meyers 8 – Reyes Frank, Caleb Hagedorn, John Sabin 9 – McKenna Dutton 10 – Kim Hagedorn, Brenda Smith 11 – Tracy Blagg, Gary Holmseth, Alyssa Imbery, Jean Spencer 12 – Reegan Howard, Lori Nauman, Jane Resutek 13 – Hannah Cartwright, Peyton O’Hara 14 – Brady Bromeland, Mary Erichsrud, Hadley Teems 15 – Harper Bromeland, Joann Jacobson, Bradley Omland, Gail Pearson 16 – Renee Beattie, Kohl Jacobsen, Sonja Willmert

17 – Anthony Dobbs, Braden Gudahl 18 – Wanda Helland 19 – Don Adams 20 – Damon Barnick, Addisyn Hansen, Jan Rauenhorst, Kelly Skaden, Tom Sohn 21 – Bekki Howard 22 – Gunnar Fering, Bill Olson Nick Skaden 24 – Tanner Wickersham 25 – Eli Blagg, Deb LaMont, LaDonna Nelson, Nick Schonrock 26 – Irene Hodgdon, Elloyce Queensland, Ron Runge 27 – Missy Huber, Jean Wagner 30 – Bill Backstrom, Makayla Grant, Melissa Hagedorn, Jerry Thoreson Sunday at 8:30 Ray Rhoda Mark Rauenhorst Ryan Northwick Don Adams Sunday at 10:45 a.m. Bill Sayre, Jack Heinitz Todd Schmidtke

Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 – 12:00 1:00 – 5:00

General Church e-mail Trinity@bevcomm.net Donna Perryman, Office Admin. (507) 526-3463 Pastor Jeanette Bidne Prjbidne.betrinity@gmail.com Kim Jacobson, Youth Director kimmykimmyj@gmail.com If you would like to receive your Trumpet newsletter electronically, send an email to Donna at trinity@bevcomm.net

Interesting in joining Trinity? Several people have expressed an interest in joining Trinity Lutheran Church,

Blue Earth. Please contact Pastor Jeanette at 526-3463 or Prjbidne.betrinity@gmail.com with your phone number and/or mailing address information. This will ensure that you will be invited to join the next membership class to be held in the Spring.

Pew Roster replaces Communion Card

Have you noticed the ‘pew roster’ pad at the end of the aisle when you come to worship? The Worship/Art/Music committee suggested this as a method of recording those who receive Holy Communion – and for you to get to know those who are seated around you! Why do we need to know that you have taken communion? According to Trinity’s constitution, a Voting member is a confirmed member. ‘Such confirmed members, during the current or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this congregation and shall have made a contribution of record to this congregation. Members of this congregation who have satisfied these basic standards shall have the privilege of voice and vote at every regular and special meeting of the congregation’.

ENDOWMENT FUND

Trinity’s Endowment Fund was established in 2005. It is a separate account managed by the ELCA Mission Investment Fund. Each year, the interest is distributed under these guidelines: 20% to outreach in the community or synod, 20% to ELCA missions, 20% capital improvement or a building program of Trinity, and up to 40% for spiritual and/or economic needs to enhance the outreach of Trinity. The 2016 distribution was $1405. Since 2005, we have distributed over $18,000! Please consider being a part of this important work the Endowment Fund is doing for the church and our community. If you have questions about this investment fund, please contact Jack Heinitz at 526-7369. More history in connection with the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation,

Katrina von Bora – Martin Luther’s wife

The first record bearing her name is found in 1504 when her noble but poor father took her to the convent school of the Benedict order at the tender age of three. In 1508 she entered the convent in Nimbschen and took her vows as a teenager in 1515. However, she was unhappy with the monastic life and became interested in the Church reform movement. With the help of ‘strategic planning’ by Martin Luther, in 1523 Katharina and ten other nuns escaped the convent. That was a risky plan for Martin as it was a violation of Roman Catholic canon law to ‘aid and abet’ a runaway nun.

A captured runaway nun was also subject to torture and life-time imprisonment. Martin Luther was successful in ‘resettling’ and finding husbands for ten of the nuns. In today’s language, we might refer to Katharina as ‘strong-willed’. None of the potential husbands that Martin suggested were suitable to her. Finally, in 1525, Martin agreed to marry Katharina. He decided that “his marriage would please his father, rile the pope, cause the angels to laugh, and the devils to weep.” He was a 42-year-old former monk and she a 26-year-old former nun. Six children were born into their home: Johannes, Elisabeth (died after 8 months), Magdalena (died at age 13), Martin, Paul and Margarethe. They also adopted four children. The Luther home was a former Augustinian monastery called the Black Cloister. Katharina took over the management of their household, raising ten children and serving up to 30 guests on a daily basis. She was a businesswoman, gardener, cattle and pig farmer, entrepreneur, brew master of their own beer and a dutiful Christian housewife. After Martin died in 1546, Katie was emotionally devastated. Without his salary for operating the Black Cloister, she struggled financially. By 1552, the crops had failed and there was an outbreak of the Black Plague in Wittenberg. As Katie and her children (Paul and Margarethe) fled to Torgau, Katie was injured when her horses spooked and she fell from the carriage. She lingered for three months and was 53 years old at the time of her death. Resource: https://lutheranreformation.org

Giving Thanks when it’s haGiving Thanks when it’s haGiving Thanks when it’s haGiving Thanks when it’s hard….rd….rd….rd…. As Thanksgiving approaches I think a lot of people spend time thinking, talking and praying about things they are most thankful for. But how do we give thanks when it’s hard? Are there times in your life where you have to search to think of things in which to be thankful for? You know… when you’re in a rut and it’s hard to see the good in anything? I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I don’t welcome the struggle or wish for more of it, but I do know when looking back, those have been times that I have really grown and learned to trust Him more and even given thanks for the struggle. Quite ironic isn’t it? His word is so refreshing to a weary soul and there are times when THAT TRUTH is ALL we HAVE to HOLD on TO. Now that is something to really be thankful for !!!!!

November 1st, 8th,& 15th: SALSA ( Jr. High) 4:00 p.m.; SWAP ( Sr. High) 7:30 p.m.

November 19th: Junior and Senior High will be serving coffee hour

November 22nd: NO RELEASE TIME, CONFIRMATION OR YOUTH GROUPS

DUE TO THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 26th : NO SUNDAY SCHOOL DUE TO THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 29th: GIVING TREE shopping with both Junior and Senior High youth

Looking ahead: The Children’s Christmas program will be on December

17th @ the 8:30 and 10:45 services. Nursery through Kindergarten will share in the Christmas story during the 10:45 service.

November ChildrenNovember ChildrenNovember ChildrenNovember Children / Youth and Family / Youth and Family / Youth and Family / Youth and Family

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Kimberly Jacobson 507-525-0747 Kimmykimmyj@gmail.com