Trinity Topics The Newsletter of Trinity Lutheran Church, Riverside CA

Sharing God’s love, hope and forgiveness

Trinity Lutheran Church

Since 1893

Kent Tuohino, Pastor Volume 23, Issue 1, January, 2020

Christmas Cantata Sunday, December 15, at 9:30 am

January Worship Schedule On Sunday, January 5, we will celebrate Epiphany and return to our regular Sunday schedule of two services at 9:00 and 10:45 am. Our monthly Saturday communion service will be on January 4 at 6:00 pm In Poat Parlor.

Buy Scrip Cards Online & Help Support Our Church

You can place a scrip order with me on Sunday mornings, but did you know that can also order scrip gift cards directly from your home computer? To order online, go to shopwithscrip.com and set up a personal account. You can pay with a credit card or have the amount deducted directly from your bank account. Ordering online will enable you receive your orders faster and Trinity will still get the rebate. When you set up your account, you will need to use our enrollment code, which is 25E2L86L22L65.

Great Lakes Scrip has over 750 participating re-tailers! To make your shopping easier, I’ve made copies of a list which includes only the local and national retailers available in our area. However, if you can’t find what your looking for on this list, you can see the complete list of retailers on the shopwithscrip.com website. — Willy Miller

Annual Meeting on January 26

Our annual congregational meeting will take place following the 10:45 am service on Sunday, January 26. We’ll start with a baked potato lunch, then move on to the business of reviewing the past year of min-istry, approving our budget for this year, and electing new council members and other leaders. Please plan to attend this important meeting!

There will be question and answer sessions on the proposed budget after both worship services on Sunday, January 19. Committee reports also need to be submitted by that date for our printed annual report.

We are looking for people to serve on our church council and other committees in the coming year. If you are inter-ested in serving, or would like to nominate someone, please notify the church office or speak with Dana Reupert, Pastor Kent, or another member of the church council.

Missionary Support Help support our missionaries, the Revs. Eric and Wendolyn Trozzo and their two boys. They have recently moved back to the U.S., but continue to need our support for the first few months of this year. Then we will choose a new missionary to support. There is a sign-up sheet in Heinecken Hall where you can pledge a donation of $20 per Sunday for one or more Sundays. Our goal is to raise $1,040 in support for the year ($20/week x 52 weeks). When you make your donation to Trinity, please write “Missionary Support” on the memo line of your check or offering envelope.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

LSS Advisory Committee Tuesday, January 28, at 6:00 pm

in Cooper-Burkhart House at Trinity Lutheran Church

You are invited to attend this inaugural meeting of an advisory committee for the Lutheran Social Services office serving Riverside. Join members of several Lutheran congregations as we discuss ways to support and strengthen the work of LSS.

– Deniece Marshall, Riverside Area Director Lutheran Social Services of SoCal

Tree of Giving Report Thank you for all of your donations! We collected more than 90 toys, which were taken to Lutheran Social Services to give to families who needed help with providing gifts for their children.

Thanks to you, more than 90 children woke up on Christmas morning and found a special gift meant just for them!

TRINITY’S GIVING REPORT (1/1/19 through 12/31/19)

Goal for regular offerings in 2019: $ 215,000.00 Regular offerings received in 2019: $ 209,777.98 Difference: - $ 5,222.02

Thank you for your faithful giving in 2019!

Scrip income received in 2019: $ 881.04 Century Club donations received in 2019: $ 3,620.00 Anniversary Fund donations received in 2019: $ 785.00

The beginning of a new year is a time when we are en-couraged to put the past behind us and resolve to im-prove ourselves in some way.

New Year’s resolutions often focus on taking better care of our physical bodies by losing weight, eating better and exercising more. But how about your spiritual health? If you are like me, there’s probably room for im-provement in that part of your life, too!

If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are a few sug-gestions to help you get started:

• Take time each day for prayer and Bible reading. • Consider participating in a Bible study or other small

group. • Make weekly worship attendance a habit. • Volunteer to help others, either through our church

or another community organization. • When trying to make an important decision, pray for

guidance and ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” • Make a list of things you are thankful for, and then

use that list to say a prayer of thanksgiving to God. • Make a list of people you need to forgive (including

yourself!) and then pray for God to help you forgive them. If possible, try to reconcile with the people on your list.

When you fail at doing any of these, instead of feeling guilty or giving up, claim God’s promise of forgiveness and make a fresh start.

Although we are already a few days into the new year, it’s not too late to make a resolution to do one or more of these things. In fact, the Bible tells us that, by God’s grace, each day can be a new beginning. So, make a resolution today to improve your spiritual health as well as your physical well-being this year!

See you in church! – Pastor Kent

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is God’s faithfulness!

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore, I will hope in him.”

– Lamentations 3:22-24

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Pastor’s Paragraphs

Blessing Bags As always, the need is great for donations to fill our Blessing Bags for people in need. Your considera-tion to help with donations of any of the following supplies will be much appreciated!

• Ravioli or Spaghettios (in pop-top containers) • Vienna Sausages (in pop-top containers) • Fruit or Applesauce (in easy-open containers) • Crackers w/Peanut Butter or Cheese • Snack-size bags of cookies • Fruit Snacks • Granola Bars • Bottled water

Foster Care Holiday Party The Young Adult Foster Care Holiday Party was held on Tuesday, December 10, at La Sierra Uni-versity. The event was a great success for the young adults, and we had some fun too! Trinity supported two booths – the ornament booth and the greeting cards for the military booth.

We had 10 volunteers who worked at the event. We provided 25 gift cards and 20 gift bags for the gift booth, and 33 greeting cards were completed. Thank you to all who supported the event through your donations and time! – Brenda S. Lussier

Social Concerns News

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This Month’s Worship Volunteers

Ushers @ 9:00 Lay Minister @ 9:00 Communion Assistants @ 10:45

Jan. 05: The Guillow Family Bill Cole Bill Cole

Jan. 12: Loren & Sarah Boese April Powers Zack Anderson

Jan. 19: Wes & Kelly Krashin John Collins

Jan. 26: TBD Zack Anderson

Ushers @ 10:45 Lay Minister @ 10:45 Communion Assistants @ 10:45

Jan. 05: Bob Knapik Tom Allert Dorothy Evans

Jan. 12: Bob Knapik Pat Sherman Mary Kantola

Jan. 19: John Collins & Sue Rainey John Collins

Jan. 26: Bob Knapik

COFFEE HOSTS

Jan. 05: Caroline Rowe Jan. 19: Theresa Husted

Jan. 12: Pat Sherman Jan. 26: TBD

Altar Flowers The 2020 flower chart is posted on the bulletin board next to the church office. If you would like to donate the altar flowers for our worship services, please sign up on the chart for your preferred Sunday.

The price is $54.00 for both bouquets or $27.00 for one.

Flowers may be given in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Please specify your intention when you sign up on the flower chart.

Upcoming Flower Donors

Jan. 05: Bob Knapik

Jan. 12: Jim & Willy Miller

Jan. 19: Available

Jan. 26: Sue Rainey

Sunday Bible Readings

January 5: Epiphany Sunday Isaiah 60:1-6

Matthew 2:1-12

January 12: Baptism of Our Lord Isaiah 42:1-9

Matthew 3:13-17

January 19: 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Isaiah 49:1-7 John 1:29-42

January 26: 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Isaiah 9:1-4

Matthew 4:12-23

February 2: 4th Sunday after Epiphany 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:13-20

Prepare for worship by reading the Sunday lessons in advance. The quarterly booklet Christ in Our Home uses the Sunday readings as the basis for daily devotions written by a variety of authors. Free copies are available at church to use for your daily devotions.

Taizé Services 5 Riverside churches take turns hosting a Taizé ser-vice of prayer on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. It’s a contemplative style of worship featur-ing simple but beautiful songs, scripture readings and silence. Here are the upcoming dates and locations:

January 13: First Congregational Church 3504 Mission Inn Avenue

February 10: First Christian Church 4055 Jurupa Avenue

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Lea Arenas, Cancer, chemotherapy T Barb Belding, Cancer, hospice Angela Benson, Mass behind eye Bill Benson, Heart & liver problems, needs blood transfu-

sions weekly Camden N. Boyd, (4 yrs) in leg casts after a sledding

accident Kunane Burns, Brain surgery recovery Randy Byler, Cancer. diabetes Susan Callaway, Recovering from heart surgery Robbie Clarke, Leaving for school in Texas in Jan. Sharon Daniels, Recovery from hospitalization Mary Diefenback, Stage 4 lung cancer Kris Dubois, Surgery recovery Sheryel Eberwein, Surgery recovery Jim Elton, Congestive heart failure, hospice Bev Erck, Treating blood clots in heart T Barbara Funk, Cancer, chemo & physical therapy Dakota Garske, Tumor shrinking, on 4th round of chemo Larry Graham, Motorcycle accident recovery Jim Guillow, Checking cancer status every 4 mos. T Michael Halderman, Continuing knee problems Doug Himebaugh, Cancer maintenance Peg Himebaugh, Alzheimer’s Jayson Hunter, Surgery recovery Jennifer, Auto accident Paul Jensen, Stroke recovery Annette Jimenez, Breast cancer Daniel Jimenez, Pancreatic cancer, surgery/chemo Josiah,1 mo. old w/sepsis in PICU; kidneys failing

Joey, Addiction, mental health issues, homeless Anne Johnson, Heart problem Julianna & Mike, Caring for young son Jack Kantola, Starting chemotherapy T Jean Lambert, Breast cancer Larry, Recovery from accident Pete Letourneau, Cancer surgery recovery Stephanie Letourneau, Awaiting kidney transplant Dorothy Lueking, Diabetes, on dialysis Susan Marshall, Severe anxiety & depression Barbara May, COPD, Diabetes onset Melva Michaels, Cancer Xander Minnich, Diabetes, FPIES Pat Myers, Moving into assisted living Jayson N., Combat PTSD, alcoholism treatment Lester Nettles, Treatments for esophageal cancer T Bonnie Owen, Lymphoma, on chemotherapy

Jim Pitts, Prostate Cancer Steve Quirk, Leukemia Cheryl Rake, Knee replacement surgery recovery Amanda Riley, Recurrence of Hodgkin’s lymphoma Karyl Robinson, Infection in bone of one toe T Jennifer Saunders, Cancer Kathy Schaffer, Diabetes, neuropathy Cindy Scroggins, Knee surgery recovery Jayce Shaw (6 yrs), Needs a kidney transplant Josephine Smith, Multiple sclerosis John Stephenson, Neurological recovery Nathan Stokes, Recovery, needs prayers Mary Stuart, Dystonia Deena Tabert, 4th leg surgery in 7 months, healing Cheryl Taylor, Melanoma, for successful treatment Ron Teig, ALS, in nursing home Juan Tejeda, Continued recovery from infection Joseph, Strength, comfort & mercy Steven Wagner, US Army helicopter pilot training Jim Waldron, Cancer, on 2nd round of chemo Larry Watson, Addiction Don Welton, Living with brain cancer Allison Wesche, Cancer Pam Wheeler, Cancer treatment Katie Wickoff Back injury Jane Whelan, Losing eyesight due to diabetes Lou Williams, Home from hospital, chemo ahead Cathy Wilson, Healing from heart issues Nick Winkleblack, Muscular dystrophy Continuing Concerns Cancer: Mary Dedra Aguilera, Jamie Balmara, Joe Caldera,

David Deuth, Delana Johnson, Elizabeth Posner Parkinson’s: David Kantola, Tyrell Lawyer Other Continuing Concerns Bill Acton, Leg sores Allen Adams, Awaiting parole Winona Adams-Gallaher, Healing of broken hip Mary Allbeck, Brain tumor Avery, Life struggles, large hurdles coming up Anthony Baroldi, (16+ yrs.) Diabetes T Sofia Baroldi, (13+ yrs.) Diabetes T Marilyn Bascom, Heart issues Lorraine Bobby, Recovering from cancer surgery T Loren Boese, Back surgery recovery T Bruce, Cancer

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PRAYER LIST The changes to the prayer list are read each Sunday during the Prayers of the Church. In order that the list be timely, we ask you to update any name(s) you have submitted on a monthly basis.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

Lily Stager (4), Darren McMichael (4), Dorothy Evans (10), Kelly Krashin (12), Daniel Krashin (15), Pastor Kent (16), Jerri Mendivel (17), Elizabeth Nicoletti (19), Kathryn Powell (21), Amanda Dingwall (26), Michael Myers (29), Karyl Robinson (31).

If we missed your birthday, please let us know so that we can add you to our list!

A big thanks to everyone who contributed Christmas goodies for the Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 22. A good time was had by all! – Sarah Boese

Vera Hamner entered eternal life on December 5, 2019. She was 99 years old, making her our oldest member. A private funeral service was held at Crestlawn Cemetery on Dec. 12.

Vera’s family sent us this message after her death:

Many thanks to all of you who prayer for, visited and made cards for Vera Hamner. She so appreciated the prayer shawl, Pastor Kent's visits and receiving communion. — The Hamner Family

Community Blood Bank If you are healthy and able to give blood, consider donating blood for the Trinity Donor Club. We thank those who have donated recently. Please let the church office know that you have donated so that we may recognize you. For more info, visit www.LStream.org or call the church office.

Jäger Aurelio McAllister was born on December 13. He is the first 5th generation grandson for Lois Allbeck. His great aunts are Sarah Boese and Martha Mott.

Out of respect for privacy, the names on our prayer list have been omitted from this

online edition of our newsletter.

January 2020

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Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. – Isaiah 60:1

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

29 9:30 Worship (one service) 10:00 Sunday School 4:15 Yoga Class 6:00 Al-Anon Mtg

30 10:00 ACA mtg. 5:30 BAT Dinner 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:30 Women’s AA

31 6-8 Dojo Classes 7:30 AA Meeting

1 Happy New Year!

(Office Closed)

2 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:30 AA Meeting

3 7:00 ACA mtg

4 8:00 Breakfast at Trinity 9:00 Quilting Bee 10:00 Whiteside Family Therapy 6:00 Worship Service

5 9:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 4:15 Yoga Class 6:00 Al-Anon Mtg

6 Epiphany 10:00 ACA mtg. 12-8 Music Lessons 5:30 BAT Dinner 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:00 Threshold Choir 7:30 Women’s AA

7 6-8 Dojo Classes 7:00 Council Meeting 7:30 AA Meeting

8 11:00 WOW 7:00 Choir Practice

9 3:30 Confirmation 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:00 Bible Study 7:30 AA Meeting

10 3:30 Girl Scouts 5:30 Gaming Group 7:00 ACA mtg.

11 8:00 Breakfast at Trinity 10:00 Whiteside Family Therapy

12 9:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 4:15 Yoga Class 5:00 RRR Chorus 6:00 Al-Anon Mtg

13 10:00 ACA mtg. 12-8 Music Lessons 5:30 BAT Dinner 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:00 Shawl Ministry 7:30 Women’s AA

14 6:00 Social Concerns Mtg 6-8 Dojo Classes 7:30 AA Meeting

15 10:00 Game Fellowship 7:00 Choir Practice

16 3:30 Confirmation 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:00 Bible Study 7:30 AA Meeting

17 7:00 ACA mtg.

18 8:00 Breakfast at Trinity

19 9:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 4:15 Yoga Class 6:00 Al-Anon Mtg 6:00 Serve Dinner at CCLM

20 10:00 ACA mtg. 12-8 Music Lessons 5:30 BAT Dinner 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:00 Threshold Choir 7:30 Women’s AA

21 6-8 Dojo Classes 7:00 Council Meeting 7:30 AA Meeting

22 11:00 WOW 7:00 Choir Practice

23 3:30 Confirmation 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:00 Bible Study 7:30 AA Meeting

24 3:30 Girl Scouts 5:30 Gaming Group 7:00 ACA mtg.

25 8:00 Breakfast at Trinity

26 9:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 12:00 Lunch & Congregational Meeting 4:15 Yoga Class 6:00 Al-Anon Mtg

27 10:00 ACA mtg. 12-8 Music Lessons 5:30 BAT Dinner 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:30 Women’s AA

28 6:00 LSS Advisory Committee 6-8 Dojo Classes 7:30 AA Meeting

29 6:00 Grand Neighborhood Alliance 7:00 Choir Practice

30 3:30 Confirmation 6-9 Dojo Classes 7:00 Bible Study 7:30 AA Meeting

31 7:00 ACA mtg.

February 1 8:00 Breakfast at Trinity 9:00 Quilting Bee 10:00 Whiteside Family Therapy 6:00 Worship Service

Opportunities for Learning, Service & Fellowship WOW: The “Women on Wednesday” Bible study for women meets in Poat Parlor normally on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Pastor Kent leads this study. They are studying the stories of women in the Bible.

THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY: This study group meets at 7:00 pm in Cooper-Burkhart House. This month they are studying the book of Isaiah.

GAME GROUP: This monthly fellowship group for adults meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10 am in Cooper-Burkhart House. All are welcome! For more info, contact Lois Allbeck at 689-0471.

QUILTING BEE: Meets on the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 am in Cooper-Burkhart House to make shawls for Lutheran World Relief. For more information, contact Kelly Krashin.

SHAWL MINISTRY: Meets on the 2nd Monday at 7:00 pm in Cooper-Burkhart House. The shawls go to people in need of comfort and prayer. For more info, contact Pat Sherman.

MUSIC LESSONS: Guitar and ukulele lessons are offered on Monday afternoons and evenings. Mike Finn, lead guitarist for Southbound and for our own praise band, teaches lessons for children, youth and adults. For more info, call Mike at (909) 556-8572.

Here is some information about other groups that meet at Trinity:

ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS: Two ACA groups meet at Trinity — one on Mondays at 10:00 am and another on Fridays at 7:00 pm. Both groups meet in Poat Parlor.

AL-ANON: For those with a family member who is an alcoholic. Meets Sundays at 6:00 pm in our fellowship hall.

GENTLE YOGA: Linda McLane teaches a yoga class with a Christian focus on Sundays from 4:15 to 5:15 pm in Heinecken Hall. This class is for women only. For more information, call Linda at (951) 907-8610.

SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES: Golden West Dojo offers self-defense classes on Monday, Tuesday and Thurs-day evenings. Students practice judo and jujitsu techniques. Contact Dale Evola at (951) 224-9777 or dale-vo@yahoo.com for more information, or go to the website goldenwestdojo.com.

THRESHOLD CHOIR: This group for women sings to terminally-ill people and others who are dealing with serious illness. Rehearsals are normally on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7:00 pm.

WOMEN STRENGTHENING WOMEN (wswomen.org): This group meets most Thursdays at 6:30 pm in Poat Parlor. It’s for women with a loved one who is incarcerated, or any woman dealing with a personal crisis.

Son Seekers Sunday School January 5-26, 2020

Sermon on the Mount/The Beatitudes The word “beatitude” is Latin and translates as “blessed are...” Scholars believe that the core of the Beati-tudes is directly traceable to Jesus, but that Matthew and Luke interpreted them for their communities by ex-panding upon the original sayings. Essentially, these bits of wisdom are meant to communicate God ’s prom-ise to God’s people.

Objectives: By the end of this rotation, children will: • Know that the Beatitudes are part of the Sermon on the Mount. • Understand the meaning of the Beatitudes. • See that the teachings of Jesus have a definite purpose, both then

and now. • Realize that living a life of faith will help them better understand

those teachings. • Recognize the depth and meaning of being a disciple.

Memory Verse: “God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the Kingdom of heaven .” — Matthew 5:10 (CEV)

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Saturday Night Service January 4th @ 6:00 p.m.

Serve Dinner at CCLM January 19th @ 6:00 p.m.

Congregational Lunch & Meeting January 26th @ 12:00 p.m.

LSS Advisory Committee Meeting January 28th @ 6:00 p.m.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 5969 BROCKTON AVENUE RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA 92506 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID RIVERSIDE, CA PERMIT # 380

TRINITY TOPICS is published monthly by:

Trinity Lutheran Church, 5969 Brockton Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506

Ministry Staff Kent Tuohino, Pastor Dana Reupert, Congregational President Willy Miller, Office Manager Jerri Mendivel, Director of Music Ministries Michael Myers, Admin. Assistant Christina Reza, Director of Youth Ministries

Eric & Wendolyn Trozzo, ELCA Missionaries

Vision & Mission Statements The vision of Trinity Lutheran Church is to provide a community of faith where all people are challenged to reach their full potential in Christ.

Our mission is to represent our Lord Jesus Christ in this time and place. We will do so by: • INVITING people to know God and His message of grace, love, hope and forgiveness. • ASSISTING people to grow in their relationship with God. • EQUIPPING people to serve Christ’s church. • ENABLING people to share their faith through what they say and do.

KNOW, GROW, SERVE AND SHARE

Worship Schedule: 1st Saturday of the month at 6:00 pm Sundays at 9:00 am — Contemporary Service 9:30 am — Sunday School 10:45 am — Traditional Service

Church Office Hours: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Monday-Friday Phone: (951) 682-1350 • Email: office@trinityriverside.org