PAGE
Trinity Lutheran Church
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
2163 Mayhew Lake Rd NE Sauk Rapids, MN 56379-4554
PAID St. Cloud, MN Permit No. 35
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Voter’s Meeting December 16
POP Scrip
Thrivent Action Teams
Advent 2018
December Birthdays
Highlighted this month: Anyuak Ministry
55 Alive AARP Drivers Course
TRINITY TIDINGS Trinity Lutheran Church Our Mission: “Sharing the Caring Christ with all People”
Contact Us Church Contact Information Church Office: 252-3670 Church Fax: 202-1095 E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.trinitysr.org Office Staff Pastor David Hinz Pastor John Bakou
Additional Contact Information Admin. Assistant: Judy Rehwaldt Traditional Music : Daniel Reineke 248-7367 Contemporary Music: Ruth Immerfall 291-9293 Prayer Chain: Delores Volkers 252-2101, Parish Nurse: Jennifer Machula Prince of Peace School Office: 251-1477
D e c e m b e r
Trinity Tidings Pastor’s Pen
D E C E M B E R
2 0 1 8
The Gospel according to John is one Driving home one beautiful fall afof the Bible’s grandest and greatest ternoon a few weeks back, I crossed books of Scripture. The first 18 the bridge on highway 15. And lookverses introduce the coming of the ing up, I saw an eagle, sitting majestiEagle – Jesus Christ. This short incally atop one of the street light poles, troduction contains some of the as if it were surveying its territory and most important words ever – ever. ensuring all was right. We might imThey explode with light and brilagine our Lord God, the Father in liance, truth and grace! They are Heaven sitting on His throne and packed with Advent and Christmas looking upon the heavens and the themes and end with God as earth, surveying His doMan among men. main, and ensuring all was ...Our Lord right. The Gospel according to St.
From his perch, the eagle saw something that caught its interest or concerned it greatly, and it leapt in pursuit. With graceful sweeps of its mighty wings it made for an imposing figure as it descended quickly toward the river and action.
leapt and with mighty strides of His powerful wings he descended upon the earth to become man...
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. From His lofty perch, our Lord leapt and with mighty strides of His powerful wings he descended upon the earth to become man, to act, to ensure all would be made right.
John has been likened to an eagle. The image conveys that John’s words soar to amazing heights of grandeur and glory. The Lord plans this Advent to take us on His wings for an amazing adventure, a flight into our lives, for action, to make things right.
Preparing for this coming, I would ask you to take out those Bibles and read, study, meditate on, and memorize John 1:1-18. We take time to decorate and bake and fill our houses with Christmas, so also let us decorate and fill our insides with the Word of God, so we might be fully prepared. Continued on page 2
PAGE
2
Continued from page 1
gest…” {Emphasis mine} the Word of God. Let your chosen word or phrase Read, Study, Meditate, Memorize, fill your mind and flesh out your thinkand Confirm. Reading is as it ing. Seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidsounds. Daily reread John 1:1-18. ance in pondering the pattern. Certainly read other portions of Scripture too! Reading the Word is Memorize. Internalize the words and good! pattern by heart, so you can recall it. Study. Study John 1:1-18 intensely. Ask questions of the text and see where it leads you. Explore themes, common words or phrases, dig into the richness of the text. Use a study Bible and read the footnotes, look at a commentary or find sermons on it, you may even wish to look it up in different translations. Just take a verse at a time, a word at a time, whatever. Meditate. Focus on one small part, a word or phrase, and fixate on it. Spend a few quiet moments contemplating that nugget and pray on it. At the end of some Divine Services we pray “that we may so read, mark, learn, and inwardly di-
AARP Safe Drivers Update Class Will be held at Trinity on Wednesday, January 23rd from 12:30 to 4:30pm in the Fellowship hall. Taking this refresher gives you a 10% discount on your car insurance. The cost is $17 for AARP members and $22 for non-members. Call the church office to register: 320-252-3670.
TRINITY
TIDINGS
Lastly, confirm your thoughts by sharing it with others, join in the Advent midweek worship, bring it up in Bible Study, ask me, and let us be shaped together for this amazing flight. The Eagle has landed, God dwells with His people in Christ.
Pastor Hinz
Nominating Committee The nominating process for Trinity’s elected officials will remain open until the Voter’s Meeting on 12/16/18. As of now, the nominees for the open positions are as follows: Treasurer – Mark Helgeson; Secretary – Katie Dusing; Vice President – John Alstrup and President – Terry Kurash, Jon Lentz and Jon Copeland. If you wish to nominate other individuals for a position please contact them to verify that they are willing to accept the nomination, then contact one of the members of the Nominating Committee so that the name can be added to the slate. On the Bulletin Board in the Narthex you will find more information about the Nominating Committee and a job description for each of the positions.
The Children’s Christmas Program this year is “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Come See the Baby! Sunday, December 23rd at 6:00pm.
Voter’s Meeting
God continues to bless us in so many ways. Our Amazing Day appeal has been truly amazing. Last week another $14,000 came in from congregations, organizations and individuals. Our final total will be listed as in excess of $60,000! Praise God.
Sunday, December 16th at 11:45am Join us to discuss the 2019 Budget and elect officers.
Advance notice: This year’s Polar Plunge will be something you will want to have your youth attend. Our guest speaker will be Dr. James Lamb from Lutherans for Life on “Chastity, the Choice of Champions”. The Polar Plunge is scheduled for March 1-3. More information will soon be available on our website.
Highlight…
PAGE
7
Anyuak Ministry Our ministry is still going on. Worship is at noon on Sunday’s, Africa time is slightly different that American time! During the winter, the season of holidays, our people often are working on Sunday which causes our attendance to go up and down. Our people are afraid to go out in the cold Minnesota wind. :) Many are still faithfully here each week to praise God.
During November we helped four families with Anyuak funds to settle into the St. Cloud area. This program began when Pastor John’s mother arrived from Kenya. Many stepped up to help at that time and this program continues to help with gift cards to Walmart to help them settle in to their new home. This is still a big need. Working with refugees is not always enjoyable, but with prayer and the support of Trinity Lutheran Church, we pray that we will be allowed to continue to do God’s will here in Sauk Rapids. Thank you for keeping our Anyuak in your prayers. We are thankful for the mother church, Trinity Lutheran, for all their wonderful support over the years. We pray that we will have a special worship here at Trinity on Christmas. Anyuak Christians from around Minnesota will travel here to praise the newborn baby Jesus. Please pray with us that all travel safely and we can worship in truth. One seminarian has received support from us to attend Lutheran Seminary in Kenya. We pray for him to have the support needed to conclude his studies, and we pray for his family as they await his ministry in Pastor John’s home village in Sudan. Pastor John is working to be able to travel to Africa next year to help set up the new ministry in East Pochalla, South Sudan.
PAGE
6
Angel Tree Prison Ministry
Prince of Peace Scrip P.O.P. SCRIP: We will have SCRIP available on Sunday , December 16th. We have a variety of $5 and $10 cards that work great for Christmas gifts. Stock up just in time for Christmas. We will also be available on December 9th in between services to take any pre-orders. These orders will be available for pick up on December 16th. Pre-orders ensure you receive exactly what you want before Christmas.
Looking ahead: National Lutheran School Week will be January 28– February 1. Dine to Donate in January is at Texas Roadhouse on Jan. 28 from 4-10pm.
Memorials, Endowments and Thank Offerings Audrey Fleck in memory of LaVerne Linn
Attention ALL Thrivent Members! Did you know each of you are allowed two $250 action team gift cards EACH YEAR? Strongly consider using yours for Trinity events (God's Grub, an outing, Sunday School, VBS, potluck, service project, etc.). It starts with an idea powered by your passion. Bring it together to make an immediate impact on a cause you care about. We'll help get you started. In His service, Trinity Leadership Team https://www.thrivent.com/making-adifference/living-generously/thriventaction-teams/
Hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. The time of year to reach out and help others through the Angel Tree Program is upon us once again. Our Church is pleased to continue to participate in Angel Tree, a Prison Fellowship program that provides a pathway for incarcerated parents to restore and strengthen relationships with their children. Volunteers like you help make this possible by giving Christmas gifts and the Good News of God’s love to children in the name of mother’s and father’s behind bars. Gifts will need to be returned wrapped and under the tree by Sunday, December 9th. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to deliver gifts please contact me Jennifer Kranz @ 320-290-3498. Thank you for helping make this Christmas special for these children.
Advent Worship: 12/5, 12/12, 12/19 at 6:00pm Christmas Eve Worship (HC): 3:00pm & 5:00pm Christmas Day Worship (HC):
Veteran’s Day
We would like to thank Justin Hackett, any others involved, and the Sunday school teachers for the beautiful recognition of Vets at the 10:30, November 11th service at Trinity. The Sunday school children sang two great songs for the vets and presented them with a red-white-blue thank you posters they made and gave to each of the guys! This was so meaningful to them! The military photos of the men on the overheads were also great to see. Thank you for introducing and calling the men forward to receive the recognition they all deserve in serving our country. There were other names that were called that were not in this picture - we thank them, too. May God bless our faithful warriors! Earl and Linda Kothman, and David and Amy Petersen family.
TRINITY
TIDINGS
9:00am
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY:
PAGE
3
We had another great turn out in November. We are enjoying the book Getting to Know Jesus. We will NOT be meeting in December due to busy schedules. Our next meeting will be Wednesday January 9th at 6:15pm. If you have any questions about this group contact Jenny Sprengeler, 320-309-5952 or
[email protected]
Advent Worship Schedule: Wednesdays: December 5, 12, & 19 Dinner at 5:00pm Worship at 6:00pm Confirmation Classes begin with Worship at 6pm and conclude at 7:30pm. NO God’s Grub in December, but there will be dinners before worship each Wednesday during Advent.. Donated Desserts are appreciated! Sign up on the kitchen door. In recent months our league has welcomed Jan Gratke, Amy Schaefer, Delores Volkers, and Marquerite Wegner as members. The gathering for December 13th will be noon lunch at Jimmy’s Pour House private dining room. Red Stocking collection will be made and designated for Trinity Social Ministry.
LWML
Our next regular meeting date is Thursday, February 14, 2019. Visitor’s Welcome!
Attention Parents of children here at Trinity! We are building our youth! Our goal is to foster an environment in our church where young people grow together in Christ through activities and service. A Horse drawn Hay Ride (complete with jingle bells) is up next! Ride will begin at 1:30pm from the Public Works parking lot, 360 Summit Ave. on Sunday, Dec. 9. We will be singing Christmas carols for residents at Good Shepherd and back to church for hot chocolate, pizza and more. Come! Make memories! Invest! And let the office know of any questions.
PAGE
4
Worship and Music Notes And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Luke 2:13-14 "Angels We Have Heard on High" is a French carol dating from the 1700's, which appeared in several different versions. It was published in English in 1862 with the words saying: Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! An older version had the title, "Harken All! What Holy Singing!" The words translated into English said: Harken all! What holy singing Now is sounding from the sky! 'Tis a hymn with grandeur ringing, Sung by voices clear and high.
D E C E M B E R
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Still another primitive version speaks from the shepherds' vantage point, saying: Shepherds in the field abiding, Tell us when the seraph bright Greeted you with wondrous tiding, What you saw and heard that night. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Hymns are usually authored by human beings like us, but in this case obscure verses by unknown French poets were coupled with a refrain that was literally composed by the angels in heaven: Gloria, in excelsis Deo. That's the Latin wording for the angelic anthem, "Glory to God in the highest!" The Latin word Gloria means Glory, and in excelsis is the phrase for in the highest. Our English words excel and excellent come from the same root, meaning to rise or to ascend. The Latin word Deo means God. This was the song proclaimed by the angels over the shepherds' fields the night Christ was born. The musical score stretches out and emphasizes the words in a way that is uniquely fun to sing and deeply stirring (especially when us Lutherans sing it in four-part harmony!)
We lift our voices to proclaim: Jesus has come! Hope has arrived on earth! A Savior is born! Glory to God on high! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! (Taken from "Then Sings My Soul" Book 2 by Robert J. Morgan)
Ruth Immerfall Contemporary Worship Director
TRINITY
TIDINGS
321.291.9293/
[email protected]
B I R T H D A Y S
Name
Bday
Name
Bday
Ngap Abella
12/13
Braden Knafla
12/23
Sophia Abfalter
12/6
Terry Knapek
12/21
Name
Bday
Kailyn Anderson
12/23
Dale Kuklok
12/21
Noah Ripka
12/23
Korbyn Anderson
12/24
Gail Kuklok
12/26
Pat Sauer
Tanner Andvik
12/17
Lisa Kulow
12/1
Dennis Bacon
12/17
Sue Kulzer
12/2
Chainagubo Balo
12/23
Justin Behrendt
12/12
Patricia Behrendt
12/13
Bruce Benoit
12/13
April Bolter
12/20
Carter Brower
12/6
Alex Cash
12/28
Kurt Clitty
12/31
Cody Collins
12/3
Jill Copeland
12/9
Jennifer Dohrmann
12/24
Joshua DuChene
12/2
Daniel Dusing
12/1
Robert Dusing
12/28
Leroy Elg
12/27
Clara Felchle
12/20
Claire Feuling
12/30
Robert Feuling
12/1
Skyler Figallo
12/4
Darlene Gronau
12/8
David Grose
12/12
Curtis Hadley
12/26
Neal Hanson
12/24
Janice Haus
12/3
Kimberly Haus
12/30
Asher Hinz
12/15
Myrtlene Jehoich
12/25
David Johnson
12/26
Jordon Johnson
12/10
John Kardell
12/12
Zachary Kardell
12/10
Ethan Kutzorik
12/15
Kayla Larsen
12/17
John Linkert
12/4
Donna Lovitz
12/14
William Lovitz
12/17
Judd Machula
12/23
Stacy Machula
12/22
Delores Marsh
12/22
Morgan Maselter
12/7
Banger Medho
12/30
Deborah Meierhofer
12/20
Arlene Mendel
12/9
Andrew Messerich
12/9
Christine Miller
12/2
Glenda Milner
12/10
Dick Mingo
12/30
Jonathon Molitor
12/18
Valerie Nack
12/31
Othow Ochalla
12/11
Nathan Ochan
12/12
Ajiea Ojulu
12/26
Cody Oltz
12/19
Owar Omot
12/9
Kirru Opiew
12/2
Enyimae Otor
12/2
Maggie Philabaum Rowan Ramler
12/19 12/2
Kim Reberg
12/11
Thomas Regouski
12/15
Diann Richards
12/23
PAGE
12/2
Erin Schlichting
12/28
Carol Schlueter
12/16
Danielle Schultz
12/5
Chad Smolnik
12/18
Lynn Smolnik
12/13
John Sprengeler
12/27
Beth Stay
12/31
Miriam Stay
12/31
Shelly Stockinger
12/31
Tyler Strobel
12/16
Paige Sunstrom
12/15
Mark Thompson
12/6
Bradley Trushenski
12/6
Sharon Volkers
12/21
Heidi Wagner
12/23
Jeremy Wainright
12/3
Joanne Walen
12/1
Brian Weappa
12/21
Christa Weide
12/25
Katelyn Weide
12/4
Heidi Weishalla
12/1
Luke Wendt
12/4
Weston Wendt
12/12
Jean Wentworth
12/5
Tara Wiese
12/5
Michael Wilcox
12/9
Tim Wilcox
12/16
Mark Woitalla
12/24
Kaleb Wolbeck
12/22
Dick Wold
12/21
Katelynn Zimmer
12/10
Scott Zwick
12/18
5
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday 5-8pm Festival of Nativities
Saturday 1 9:00am Altar Guild 2-6pm Festival of Nativities
2 8:00am Worship (HC) Z4 9:15am SS, New Member Class & Bible Study 10:30am Worship Z5 12:00pm Anyuak Worship (M,Y) 7:00pm Good News Bible Study 9 Angel Tree Deadline 8:00am Worship Z2 9:15am SS, New Member Class & Bible Study 10:30am Worship (HC) Z3 12:00pm Anyuak Worship 1:15pm Youth Hay Ride & Caroling 4:00pm Creative Crafts 16 Scrip Sunday 8:00am Worship (HC) Z5 9:15am SS New Member Welcome 10:30am Worship Z1 11:45am Voter’s Meeting 12:00pm Anyuak Worship
3 7:00pm Church Prop. Committee Mtg. Pastor’s Member Visits
4 7:00pm Friends in Harmony (W)
5 7:00am Men's Bible Study @ GS 4:00pm FON Wrap-up Mtg. 5:00pm Advent Dinner 6:00pm Advent Worship Z1 Conf. Class until 7:30pm
6 9:00am Sewing and Crafts (F) 6:00pm Finance Team Mtg.
7 9:00am Parish Workers 6:00pm Narc. Anon. (CM)
8 9:00am Altar Guild
10 6:00pm Bev's CC (CM) Pastor’s Member Visits
11 7:00pm Friends in Harmony (W)
12 7:00am Men's Bible Study @ GS 5:00pm Advent Dinner 6:00pm Advent Worship Z4 Conf. Class until 7:30pm 6:30pm Sanctuary Choir 7:30pm Celebration Ringers
13
14 9:00am Parish Workers 4:00pm Private Event 6:00pm Narc. Anon. (CM)
15 9:00am Altar Guild
17
18 6:00pm Boy Scouts 7:00pm Friends in Harmony (W)
20 9:00am Sewing and Crafts (F) 7:00pm POP Christmas Program at Love of Christ
21 9:00am Parish Workers 6:00pm Narc. Anon. (CM)
22 9:00am Altar Guild
23 8:00am Worship Z3 9:15am SS & Bible Study 10:30am Worship (HC) Z4 12:00pm Anyuak Worship 6:00pm Children’s Christmas Program 30 8:00am Worship Z3 9:15am SS & Bible Study 10:30am Worship Z4 12:00pm Anyuak Worship (M,Y) Room Reservation Key O=Overflow Room CDC=Child Development Cntr
24 Christmas Eve 3:00pm Christmas Eve Worship (HC) Z5 5:00pm Christmas Eve Worship (HC) Z1 31
25 Christmas Day 9:00am Christmas Worship (HC) Z2
19 7:00am Men's Bible Study @ GS 5:00pm Advent Dinner 6:00pm Advent Worship Z2 Conf. Class until 7:30pm 6:30pm Sanctuary Choir 7:30pm Celebration Ringers 26 7:00am Men's Bible Study @ GS 9:30am Parish Workers (NL)
28 9:00am Parish Workers 6:00pm Narc. Anon. (CM)
29 9:00am Altar Guild
W=Worship Space F=Fellowship Hall
Scl=Small Class Room Lcl=Large Class Room
LWML 12pm Lunch @Jimmy’s
5:30pm Lay Ministry 6:30pm Leadership Team 6:30pm POP Preschool Christmas Program 6:30pm Worship Team
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
27 6:30pm Worship Team
Notes:
M=Music Room Y=Youth Room
Lcf=Large Conf Room Scf=Small Conf Room
CM=Care Ministry K=Kitchen
Leann Klimek and Toni Kasella CPA’s 1139 Franklin Ave. NE #3 Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 (320) 774-2035
320-253-4859 111 7th Ave. S. PO Box 40 St. Cloud, MN 56302 (320)252-2841 or (888) 950-2265
www.mechenergy.com
Knotty Pine
Kelm & Reuter, P.A.
Liquor Store “Old Fashioned Service
Dennis Pursley
Sauk Rapids & St. Cloud FUNERALS CREMATION PREPLANNING www.williamsdingmann.com
21 Wilson Avenue NE St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-252-5055
Spread the Good News about your business…Research has shown that church-going people are some the most loyal consumers when it comes to making a purchase from a fellow member or supporter of their church. You can make Trinity members aware of your business by placing your message in the Trinity newsletter 11 times each year. Each month the newsletter is delivered to the 350 member households and posted on the Trinity Lutheran website where it is viewed by hundreds more. The cost per insert is just $27 for 1-7/8” x 1 inch ad paid in advance with an 11-issue contract. The cost per insert is just $49 for 1-7/8” x 2 inch ad paid in advance with an 11issue contract. Call 320-2523670 to get started.
“Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good. His mercies endure forever.” Psalm 136
Commercial/Industrial RICK MEHRWERTH 320.252.8072 Cell: 320.980.4575 5123 Shadowwood Dr. NE Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Email:
[email protected]
Now Thank We All Our God!
114 Second Ave. N. Sauk Rapids Open 8-6 Mon – Fri & 8-4 Sat.
253-8683
Duffy Engineering & Associates, Inc. Engineering Civil - Structural Mechanical - Electrical Land Surveying 350 Hwy 10 South, Suite 101
St. Cloud, MN 56304 320-259-6575
ww.duffyeng.com
WESTSIDE LIQUORS Great prices - Great service 7 locations Waite Park, East St. Cloud, Little Falls, Sauk Centre, Albertville. Baxter, Rice
Bob & Linda Feuling www.westsideliquor.com
1287 North 2nd Street, Suite101 251-1423 “The Sauk Rapids Law Firm”
235 Stearns Drive Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 320 –774-6084
2550 Hwy. 10S. P.O. Box 1103 St. Cloud, MN 56302 Office: (320)252-4781 Cell: 250-1063
