pastor’s page august 2019 - a place for...
TRANSCRIPT
Tr
init
y L
uth
er
an
Ch
ur
ch
TR
INIT
Y T
IDIN
GS
August 2019
Pastor’s Page Friends in Christ,
I hope that all of you are enjoying the summer season! I know it’s a time that many of us truly enjoy. Between trips to cabins and a break from school, I pray that many of you are finding time to rest and relax with family and friends. It is a tremendous blessing to be able to get out and enjoy this wonderful world we have been given by God!
As most of you know, our current Youth and Family Ministries Director, Mary Johnson, will be leaving us in August. We will be having a farewell Sunday for Mary on August 11th. I hope all of you will join me in thanking her for the wonderful gifts she has given to our youth ministry here at Trinity. I can’t possibly say enough about the blessing she has been to us all. I have witnessed firsthand the kindness and generosity she shares with everyone she encounters. I truly believe our kids have thrived under her leadership and have felt unconditionally loved and supported by her. She will be dearly missed by all of us.
I also want to take a moment to share the wonderful opportunity we all have to participate in God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday this year. On September 8th we will join thousands of ELCA churches across the country in spending a Sunday focusing on sharing the love of Christ with our community. This year we will have multiple projects that you can participate in on that Sunday. These projects will include packing food, filling blessing bags, preparing plastic bags for sleeping mats, and helping to clean up a few parks in North Branch. We plan on having one service at 9:00 and spending an hour or so after the service in service to our community and those in need. This will also be our Rally Day Sunday and the kids will have a project to participate in as well. We will be having a potluck lunch at 11:30 here at church. I look forward to seeing how much we can accomplish in a short period of time!
God Bless, Pastor Jon
What’s happening at worship in August?
Sunday, August 4th: Reminisce (Kelly Rogstad, Sharlyn Good, Aaron Good & Jeff Green) will be leading the worship music and sharing special music. Youth who were on the mission trip will talk about their experiences and will be serving during coffee hour. Sunday, August 11th: We thank Mary Johnson for her ministry among us and welcome Marie Ray to the Youth Ministry leadership position. EDGE youth and Oliver Krosschell will lead worship music and provide special music. During coffee hour and fellowship time following worship, please stay and thank Mary for her ministry and wish her well in her new endeavors. Sunday, August 18th: Pr. Dwight Rudquist will be preaching this Sunday. Momoh Freeman; Barb & Steve Mork, Quinn Johnson & Jeff Johnson will be sharing their musical talents. Trinity’s REAL (Relevant, Excited, Accepted, Loved) Readers Book Club will be serving egg bakes & breads during coffee hour/ fellowship time. Sunday, August 25th: Sweetheart Dinner Band (Kathy Aho, Mjyke Nelson, Eric Ness, Rick Meyer and Jeff Johnson) will be leading the worship music for the day and sharing special music.
For the August Tidings, these two columns are being combined as the two age groups have been combined
frequently over the summer!
Summer in the Son was so much fun this year. We were blessed with 36 children, 18 youth leaders and a total of
8 adults involved in leading stations, driving, chaperoning and mentoring. It was such a gift to see the many
generations come together and learn about God’s wildly wonderful Creation!!
When this “edition” of the Tidings arrives in your email inbox or mailbox, 8 youth and 2 adults will have
returned from a mission trip to Louisville, Kentucky. On Sunday, August 4th, we will share what we learned, how
we served and how we saw God working in our stories as well as in other people’s stories. We are incredibly
grateful to God for His blessings and for the support of the congregation through prayers and financial gifts….
these trips would not be possible without the Trinity family.
Be sure to keep an eye out for Sunday School registrations and EDGE registrations!! They will be showing up on
the Narthex table in early August. Sarah Krosschell and Marie Ray are excited to jump into the new school year
and have soooo many fresh ideas to engage and encourage the younger and youngest members of Trinity!
With that, I will wrap up my final Tidings article. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time God has given me in
serving the children, youth & families here at Trinity. I have shared joys and sorrows, learned abundantly, made
some mistakes (as we all do) and grown immensely in my faith through this ministry position. My biggest hope
and prayer is that I have stewarded my time in a way that honors God and His plans for those I have served and
served with. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, wisdom, trust, and support throughout the years. I look
forward to seeing the beautiful ways in which God continues to minister to Trinity’s children, youth & families
through Sarah Krosschell and Marie Ray!!
In Christ,
Mary Johnson
High school Youth Ministry and Children’s ministry NEWS
Page 2 T RI NI TY LUT HER A N CHU R CH
The heat and humidity may not make it seem like fall is near, but it is time to start ramping up for split services again. That means Senior Choir will be back in the Choir Pit this September!
We are looking for additional singers to lend their voice during worship on Sunday mornings at the 8 am service! Commitment is not strenuous, as we only sing about twice per month and major holidays. Our rehearsals are held on Tuesday nights from 6 pm until 7 pm.
There is no expectation of the level of musicianship nor the “beauty” of your voice! If you like singing
with the radio or in the shower, you are perfect for this group! We have people of all musical levels and variety in this group! We feel like family and are always looking to add to our happy group!
Church music brings so much to our services here at Trinity! It is a wonderful way to be a steward for our congregation! Come give us a try and bring a friend! We have a place for you!
Contact Senior Choir Director Tyler Olson by email at [email protected] or Director of Worship & Arts Deb Aulich at [email protected] if you are interested or with any questions!
A U GU ST 201 9
From your Council Chair
By the time you read this, the single worship services of June and July are over, and we’ve heard the heartfelt
testimonials and songs of the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge Choir. The rummage sale is over. Trinity’s Lunch
Club continues to grow as an outreach program. Trinity’s young adults are back from their Mission Trip to Louisville,
Kentucky and we will hear about the impact of that trip on August 4. On August 11, the church plans to thank Mary
Johnson for her dedicated, quiet and effective work as our Director of Youth and Family Ministries and welcome Marie
Ray into that critical role. We are thankful for all those that contribute to the work of the church.
Oh, and if you are someone who likes to plan ahead, mark September 8 on your calendar. That Sunday, which will be
our last single service before going back to two services, is designated for Gods Work, Our Hands. Stay tuned for how
we can all participate!
We’ve met with Phoenix Academy (PA) a number of times and have worked out the details of their lease. They are
definitely moving forward with their second year. Both Jarrod Hamlin (PA Board Chair) and James Gagner (new
Executive Director / Principal) are very committed to communicating openly with Trinity and working closely with the
Minnesota Department of Education. They also have a very committed group of parents who are directly helping the
school where they can because they believe PA’s programs work better for their children.
Trinity is thankful for the significant number of members who allocate a portion of their giving to help cover the mortgage
payment of our education building. Because of the Phoenix lease, Trinity has been able to make an extra mortgage
payment each month, send additional funds to the St Paul Area Synod, complete some major maintenance items on
both the church and educational buildings, and actually fund an outreach team that is making a difference within the
community. All of those things are exciting! Without Phoenix or another significant renter of our educational building
space, the Council would have had to come to you for the critical items and hold off on the non-critical, but meaningful
ones.
Did you know? Trinity’s membership at the end of 2018 showed 1045 baptized members and 723 confirmed members.
We have 354 households with adult members. We also have visitors and non-members who attend regularly. Our
average weekly attendance for 2018 was 215 parishioners (not including Christmas, which was 771 spread over four
services). We are slightly ahead of the 2018 weekly average attendance for the first six months of 2019. How can we do
better?
Before the summer is over, make it a point to stay for fellowship after church for coffee (and a treat) and sit with
someone you think you know, or better yet, someone you don’t know. Start talking and listening and I’ll bet you will learn
something about a member of your church family you didn’t know!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
See you in church -
Mike Nelson
Page 3
ANNUAL SALAD LUNCHEON
The TWIGS annual Salad Luncheon will be held Thursday August 29 from 11am - 1pm.
Organize a group and come for a delicious array of salads, funeral hot dish, buns, and bars.
Free will offering. The money raised covers the cost of TWIGS activities and programs during the year.
We will need donations of salads, bars, set up, clean up and of course folks to come and eat!
Su
nda
y
Mo
nd
ay
Tue
sd
ay
Wedne
sd
ay
Thu
rsda
y
Frida
y
Sa
turd
ay
1
8:0
0 a
m W
om
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy –
Genesi
s Room
2
7:0
0 a
m M
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy @
Oak Inn
Weddin
g R
ehears
al
3
Weddin
g
4 W
ors
hip
Serv
ice/
In
tincti
on
9:0
0 R
em
inis
ce/
Mis
sion T
rip R
ecap
10:0
0 a
m C
off
ee H
our
5
6
10:0
0 a
m O
utr
each M
tg
7
3:0
0-6
:00 p
m T
rin
ity L
unch
Clu
b:
Trin
ity L
uth
era
n
Churc
h a
nd S
tacy L
ions
Park
8
8:0
0 a
m W
om
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy –
Genesi
s Room
9
7:0
0 a
m M
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy @
Oak Inn
10
11
Wors
hip
Serv
ice/
In
tincti
on
9:0
0 a
m
10:0
0 a
m C
off
ee H
our/
Thank y
ou t
o M
ary
12
9:3
0 a
m Q
uilte
rs
6:3
0 p
m P
ers
onnel M
tg
13
12:0
0 p
m E
xec M
tg
1:0
0-3
:00 p
m s
leepin
g
Mat
Min
istr
y
14
2:0
0-4
:00 p
m F
are
Fo
r A
ll 3:0
0-6
:00 p
m T
rin
ity L
unch
Clu
b:
Trin
ity L
uth
era
n
Churc
h a
nd S
tacy L
ions
Park
15
8:0
0 a
m W
om
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy –
Genesi
s Room
S
epte
mber
Tid
ings A
rtic
les
due
16
7:0
0 a
m M
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy @
Oak Inn
6:4
5 p
m F
ellow
ship
at
the m
ovie
s
17
18
Wors
hip
Serv
ice/
Inti
ncti
on
9:0
0 a
m
Pr
Dw
ight
Rudquis
t 10:0
0 a
m C
off
ee H
our
19
20
7:0
0 p
m C
ouncil
Mtg
21
3:0
0-6
:00 p
m T
rin
ity L
unch
Clu
b:
Trin
ity L
uth
era
n
Churc
h a
nd S
tacy L
ions
Park
22
8:0
0 a
m W
om
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy –
Genesi
s Room
23
7:0
0 a
m M
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy @
Oak Inn
24
11:0
0 a
m W
eddin
g
25
Wors
hip
Serv
ice/
Inti
ncti
on
9:0
0 a
m
Sw
eeth
eart
Din
ner
Band
10:0
0 a
m C
off
ee H
our
26
27
28
3:0
0-6
:00 p
m T
rin
ity L
unch
Clu
b:
Trin
ity L
uth
era
n
Churc
h a
nd S
tacy L
ions
Park
29
8:0
0 a
m W
om
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy –
Genesi
s Room
11:0
0 a
m S
ala
d L
uncheon
30
7:0
0 a
m M
en’s
Bib
le
Stu
dy @
Oak Inn
31
Page 4 T RI NI TY LUT HER A N CHU R CH
Page 5 A U GU ST 201 9
ALTAR GUILD
Serving for the month of August Sharon Ramberg
Pat Fairbanks
Trinity’s Fellowship Team
night at the movies!
All are welcome!
Simply meet at the
North Branch Theater on
August 16 at 6:45 pm,
and we will decide on a
movie. Discussion and
dessert at Dairy Queen
after the movie!
Scripture Readings August 4th Psalm 16, John 6:1-15, John 13:1-17
August 11th Deuteronomy 24:17-22, Revelation 5:1-5, Matthew 5:42-48
August 18th Jeremiah 23:23-29, Psalm 82, Hebrews 11:29-12:2, Luke 12:49-56
August 25th Isaiah 58:9b-14, Psalm 103:1-8, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17
Give electronically using the QR code “Scan to Pay or Give” option. Members can download a QR code reader that allows for immediate one time or recurring giving. Iphone users use the Vanco Give + App
Please email articles for the August Trinity Tidings to
office @trinitynorthbranch.org by August 15. Thank you!
To sponsor altar flowers, please sign up on the calendar near the church office. Please bring an arrangement of fresh flowers prior to 8:45 am
on that Sunday. See Julie or Deb with questions.
Fare For All Express
August 14 2-4 pm
Fare For All Express is a great way to save on groceries. This is open to everyone; the more
that participate, the stronger the buying power of the program.
Each month offers a $10 Produce Pack, $11 Mini Meat
Pack, $20 Combo Pack (produce and mini-meat).
The Hot Buy for August is the Grill Box. The Shoe Bus will also be at Trinity during this
time. See www.fareforall.org or call the church office at
651-674-7047 with questions.
Privacy laws prevent care
facilities from contacting us
regarding your stay. If you
or someone close to you
would like a visit or a call,
please contact the office.
Like Trinity Lutheran Church
on facebook!
We have a collection bin in the Narthex
for bottle caps of all types!
If families would start saving plastic
bottle caps, any color, any size (from
milk/water jugs, soda bottles, olive oil
caps, etc.), I would like to make a
recycled items mural at the school, with
the help of students during the school
year!
Thanks in advance!
Ms. Holly, Phoenix Academy Art Teacher
$525 was
raised at our
spring
recycling
day!
T RI NI TY LUT HER A N CHU R CH Page 6
A U GU ST 201 9 Page 7
Trinity “Shout Out!”
There are so many people who give generously of their time and talent to the ministry of
Trinity Lutheran Church. Each month in the Tidings we will have a Trinity “Shout Out!” naming
and thanking various groups and individuals who give of themselves in a variety of ways. Some
do their work totally “behind the scenes,” while others you see all the time sharing their gifts but
may not know them by name.
The August Shout Out! goes to the youth and adult leaders who served with Summer in the Son
this year. We had 18 youth and 8 adults who played an incredibly important role in creating a space where everyone was
excited to learn about God and God’s Creation! Each leader brought their own unique energy and welcoming spirit and it really
showed in the interactions between leaders and children! We were also blessed with many adults who shared their time,
vehicles and supervision skills during the afternoon recreational excursions.
We are grateful for each and every youth and adult who played a role in Summer in the Son 2019.
Thank You to our adult leaders and afternoon chaperones: Amy, Brenda, Jenn, Jessica G, Jessica W, Marie, Mary and Sarah!
Thank You to our youth leaders: Abbie, Abby, Adam, Alex, Alisha, Becca, Bradey, Derrick, Dylan, Gabe, Hannah, Isabella, Jessica,
Joe, Josie, Julia, Lucas and Will!
Trinity has reserved group tickets for the Chris Tomlin concert at Target Center at
7pm Saturday, October 12. $33 lower level seats. Transportation is on your own.
Sign up in the Narthex!
Trinity Lutheran Church,
Thank you for hosting the Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge Choir in 2019. Fellowship with your church was a highlight of our week. We are grateful for the opportunity to share hope & glorify God through our songs & testimonies. Thank you for the prayers and encouragement! We value your support and generosity.
Blessings, your friends at MnTC
$710 was sent to
Mn Adult & Teen
Challenge from
Trinity Lutheran
Church!
Thank you to everyone who supported our annual rummage sale through donations,
helping out and shopping! $2100 was raised at this year’s sale!
We are looking for a
couple of families or
a group to bring and
serve treats during
Coffee Hour on
Sunday, September 1
and Sunday,
September 29.
Please contact Julie
at 651-674-7047 if
you’d like to help
out!
Gifts Given to the Glory of God Undesignated in memory of Donna Guptill from Karen Nelson & Ann Tanko
To the Audio Project in memory of Cheryl Foley from Lee & Donna Setter
Undesignated in honor of Jackson Joseph Fairbanks’ baptism from Kris & Todd Fairbanks
Did you know Trinity has a Prayer Shawl ministry?
The person making the shawl begins each shawl with prayers and blessings for the
recipients, and intentions are continued through completion of the shawl. If you know of
someone who would like a prayer shawl, or if you would like to knit or crochet prayer
shawls, please email [email protected], or call the office at 651-674-7047.
Books Wanted!
In addition to distributing food to kids through the Trinity Lunch Club this summer, we would like to include books in the bags.
Thanks to some generous donations, we have plenty of books for the younger ones, but are in need of many new & gently used
books for 2nd-8th graders. Books may be placed in the collection bins in the Narthex. Thank you!
T RI NI TY LUT HER A N CHU R CH Page 8
Do you have extra plastic grocery bags? We have a group that will put them to good use by
turning them into sleeping mats for the homeless. We have found that the thinner bags
(Wal Mart, County Market type bags) are best for this project. Thicker bags (Target type
bags) don’t work for crocheting. Drop off any extras in the church office! We meet next on
Tuesday, August 13 from 1:00-3:00 in the Genesis Room. Please join us!
We will have ONE worship
service at 9:00 am, followed by
Fellowship Time through
Sunday, September 8.
(God’s Work Our Hands Sunday)
Trinity has a collection bin in the Narthex for Box Tops for Education. Box Tops are worth
10¢ each, and add up quickly. Find them on General Mills, Paper Mate, Nature Valley,
Ziploc and other products. Box Tops will be given to local schools. Please check the
expiration dates before adding to our bin!
If you know of a family who could use some extra help with food for lunches
this summer but aren’t able to get to our Wednesday afternoon (3-6pm)
Trinity Lunch Club distribution, please pick up a bag for each child when you
are leaving worship on Sunday mornings!
A U GU ST 201 9 Page 9
Stewards of Heaven
Over the past few weeks we have been exploring the question of what it would be like if heaven crashed into earth today. I hope that most of you have found this series to be thought-provoking and encouraging.
When we talk about stewardship, I think it is safe to say that most of us immediately think of giving. Whether this is in terms of money, time, or talents… it seems that stewardship focuses on what we give away to others.
For me, stewardship is much more than discussions on what we should give away. I think the heart of how we understand stewardship is rooted in how we live. It is true that generosity in what we have been given is a key part of our lives of faith. However, it is clear from scripture that it is also about how we live each day in this gift of life we have been given. I believe that we are called to be stewards of heaven in this life. We are called to live in the fullness of God’s love and forgiveness by living out the invitation we see in scripture to be a “light to the world.” The light that we show is the light of God… the redemption we possess. And when we live out our lives it is not simply a test or preparation for the next life in heaven, it is about bringing more and more of heaven here, to this community, to this county, to this state, and to this world. How can we be stewards of bringing joy, love, peace, forgiveness, and mercy in their fullness today? That, for me, is the question and purpose that drives how we live out each day we have been given. Everything is a gift to be shared and lived into. This includes our eternal life with God.
Pastor Jon
Our Trinity Lunch Club has distributed over 470 bags containing lunch items for local children so far this summer! We will continue to bless families with lunches once fall arrives, in a little different way, as described below. Thank you to everyone who has helped with this greatly appreciated project!
It Takes A Village to Raise A Child
“Viking Vittles” Community Food Backpack Program
Approximately 30% of students in North Branch Area Schools and Phoenix Academy are on free or reduced lunch. Many more are low income but do not meet the guidelines to qualify for free or reduced lunches.
Unlike all of the surrounding districts North Branch has not had a food backpack program. Trinity Lutheran Church wants to change that and is leading a weekend food backpack program for any student in need. Working with Family Pathways we will be filling bags every week to send home with students for the weekend. Each bag will contain 2 breakfast items, 2 lunch items and 2 snacks. This will help to fill the food gap when they are not in school.
We are starting with students in Early Childhood, Sunrise River Elementary and Phoenix Academy with hopes of expanding to the middle and high schools after the first of the year.
This program is too big for any one organization and so we are asking the community to join us in this project. All donations are greatly appreciated. Donations should be sent to Family Pathways 6413 Oak St. North Branch, MN 55056. Be sure to include a note indicating that the money is for the Viking Vittles Program. If you already donate please direct it to Viking Vittles. In addition, Family Pathways has agreed to contribute $1 for every pound of food that is donated. So, bring your excess garden produce to the food shelf or hold a food drive and tell them it is for Viking Vittles. You may also make a check payable to Trinity Lutheran Church and note Viking Vittles in the memo line.
If you would like to have someone come and speak to your organization about this program please email [email protected].
38460 Lincoln Trail
PO Box 447
North Branch, MN 55056
Roger Anderson, David Nelson, Kevin Malone
Custodial & Cemetery Staff
Todd Fisk, Church Treasurer
Office Help: Judy Weiss 674-2710
Sharon Fairbanks 674-7311
Missionaries: Dr. Stephen Swanson family – Tanzania
Our Sister Congregation in Tanzania—Pawaga
Church Office: 651-674-7047 Church Fax: 651-674-7048
Church Office Hours: Monday—Thursday 8 am—3 pm
Sunday Worship: 8:00 a.m & 10:00 am through May 19
9:00 a.m. May 26 through September 8
Church email: [email protected]
Church website: www.trinitynorthbranch.org
Pastor Jon Yurk Cell: 612-231-2111 [email protected] ext. 12 Sue Danielzuk, Church Administrator [email protected] ext. 37 Marie Ray, Director of Youth & Family Ministries [email protected] ext. 13 Sarah Krosschell, Sunday School Coordinator [email protected] Deb Aulich, Director of Worship and Arts [email protected] ext. 14 Julie Morgan, Church Office Manager [email protected] ext. 10 Cheryl Immel: Financial Recorder
Tyler Olson: Sr. Choir Director
[email protected] ext. 15
Outreach Committee: [email protected]
Partners in Ministry: The People of Trinity
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
North Branch, MN
Permit 39
Return Service Requested
August 2019
Mailing Label
Are you receiving the Tidings by
e-mail and by regular mail?
To reduce our expenses and receive
only the email version, contact Julie at
Church Council Members:
Mike Nelson, Council Chair
Ann Tanko, Council Vice-Chair
Dennis Aulich, Linda Born, Shari Denny, Kristen Johnson, Steve Mork,
Gary Porath, Vicky Trampe,