1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Trinity Times Newsletter
NOVEMBER
Published by Trinity Lutheran Church, Saint Peter, Minnesota, a congregation of the ELCA
Gather as God’s People...
Grow in Faith, Family, & Service...
Go into the World as Disciples for Christ...
God’s Promises, Tried and True
Thankoffering Sunday, November 9 th
Each day we make promises. We promise to be home at a
certain time. We promise to get a project done at home,
school or work. We promise to take that dream vacation.
We promise to eat more fruits and vegetables and drink
more water. We make all sorts of promises. We keep
some of those promises while others are broken for one
reason or another.
Our God, however, always keeps his promises! His promises are tried and true. Genesis through Revelation record
those promises for us. And while there are so many, the
greatest is His promise of eternal life. Our God, to be sure,
is a promise making and promise keeping God.
The theme for this fall’s stewardship emphasis is GOD’S
PROMISES, TRIED AND TRUE. As people of God, it is
good and right for us to
respond to His gracious promises. Out of
gratefulness for all God
has done and continues to do for us, we
offer our time, abilities
and money to the mission of the church.
With Stewardship Sunday coming up November 23rd, we
want you to know that you won't be getting a pledge card
this year, but rather a "promise" card. We ask you to give
thought again to God’s gracious promises. Please pray for
God to lead you in your response to those promises, then
complete your promise card and return it to worship November 23rd. We hope you will make every effort to be at worship that day. If you are unable to attend, please return the
card in person or by mail.
Your promise card will not be seen by us or anyone else.
Leaders at Trinity have always said that our budget is not
predicated on what people pledge, but rather on faith and
the needs of the congregation. The idea is that what you
promise to give is a promise between you and God. Near
the end of 2015 the card will be returned to you so you can
be reminded of what you promised God and Trinity Lutheran Church.
We give thanks to God for all of His promises, tried and
true – and we give thanks to God for you!
The Trinity Lutheran Stewardship Team
Mike Kolek, Jen Hubrig, Judy Schultz & Pastor Joy Ekstedt
November 2014
Sunday, November 9th is the chosen date for the Thankoffering Service at Trinity this year. Christians have gathered in
the setting of Thankoffering worship since the early 1900’s.
The service expresses our gratitude in a community of Christians, gathering together to joyfully give
thanks and praise for what God has
given to us.
When you give to Thankofferings, your
dollars support Women of the ELCA
ministries that reach thousands of communities. Thankofferings help Women
of the ELCA to thrive as a responsive
and mission-oriented organization. To date, Women of the
ELCA have delivered more than $3.1 million in grants to domestic and international organizations, and more than
$630,000 in scholarships to Lutheran women. Your support
mobilizes women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.
Together, we do more than we could ever do apart. Thankoffering envelopes are available on the Welcome Table in the
Narthex.
Next 4th Sunday Brunch, November 23rd
Please join the Children & Families Committee on November
23rd for another great brunch. Our menu will include, scrambled eggs, sausage and French toast as well as a few other
yummy things. Look for a sign-up sheet
to come around with the needed ingredients.
Your help is as always appreciated.
Any money raised from the free will offering will be used for VBS expenses.
Trinity Hosting Ecumenical Service
On Wednesday, November 26th at 7:00 pm, Trinity will host
the Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Service. Please
join us and bring your friends and neighbors! All are welcome!
Trinity Women Advent Event
Attention Ladies! We have planned a very special event for
Saturday, December 13th beginning with an 11 o’clock lunch
in the Gustafson Room followed by a short program. We
have purchased 24 tickets to a play entitled “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at the Lincoln Center in
Mankato for the 2:00 pm performance. The
ticket price is $12.00 payable to Leona Miller
or Kay Mowbray. We will carpool from Trinity. A sign-up sheet is on the board next to
the women’s bathroom. Get your name on
the list before the tickets are gone.
Page 1
www.trinitystpeter.org
Newsletter
PASTOR’S COLUMN
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Why do we have what we have?” The words from Our
Stewardship Managing our Assets, (pg. 17) jumped off the
page at me. As the author of the book wrote, it is among
the questions that “press hard on the Christian faith.”
Over the years, I’ve taken courses that have to do with
stewardship. I’ve read and studied the topic on my own as
well. I’ve led Bible studies and written more than a few sermons on Christian stewardship, too. But in and through all
of these times, I can’t remember when a question having to
do with stewardship has captured me as does this question,
“Why do we have what we have?”
As people of God we can answer that question of “Why?” a
couple of different ways. The first way is to say that all we
have and life itself are signs of God’s gracious love. Now,
ponder that for a few moments (at least!). Family, friends, a
place to call home, food on the table and in the cupboards,
clothes for hot weather, cold weather and every temperature
in between, good health and healthcare workers, medicine
and hospitals when our health isn’t so good, time, energy,
talents and abilities. That’s just the short list, of course.
Because it is easy to forget, I’ll say it again. All we have
and life itself are signs of God’s gracious love.
To be sure, there isn’t any shortage when it comes to God’s
love for you and me. In fact, our Creator loves us so deeply
that he gave his only Son for us. That’s amazing, incredible, unending love!
Here’s another way for us, as people of God, to answer this
question of “Why?” as in “Why do we have what we have?”
We have what we have in order to carry out our calling as
God’s people. All that we have equips us to serve God’s
people and all of creation.
It has been a delight for me to see servants of Trinity in action. Just a few weeks ago, Trinity folks gathered to create
care packages for kids of the community who don’t have
enough food for a weekend; other care packages were put
together for teenagers who don’t have a place to call home
or have other needs. Still others from the congregation offered a bit of elbow grease at the local dog park. Through
Contact the Pastors
 Lead Pastor Joy G. Ekstedt
Phone: 507-519-1004
Email: [email protected]
 Intern Pastor Trish Reedstrom
Phone: 507-380-8036
Email: [email protected]
November 2014
those acts of servanthood God’s amazing, incredible, unending love was shared.
Life and all that we have are signs of God’s gracious love.
All of it is a pure gift meant to be shared with others. Thank
you for serving and sharing!
In Christ,
Pastor Joy Ekstedt
The Gift
If I see the gift as mine alone to give, I might give hesitantly,
even grudgingly, considering my options, then giving from a
sense of ought.
If I see the gift as God's who allows me to use it for a time,
then the gift can flow more freely, as I join with others to be a
channel for God's love and mercy. (unknown)
Amazing Things Accomplished
THANK YOU, to everyone at Trinity who helped support,
“God’s Work, Our Hand’s” Sunday.
We especially give thanks for all the donations made for our
projects, especially the 90
toothbrushes and toothpastes from Saint Peter
Dental. We also thank
Thrivent Financial for their
financial contribution to
the project and for the
delicious pies and ice cream for our volunteers.
We had over 67 Trinity members volunteer their time to pack
food for The Children’s Weekend Food Program, pack care
packages for The Reach and we had several members help
install a walkway of donation stones at the dog park.
If you would like to be part of planning for GWOH 2015,
please feel free to contact Judy Schultz, [email protected]
or Meredith Young at [email protected].
3rd Annual Clothing Collection
The Southwestern Minnesota Synod is partnered with the
Southeastern Diocese of South Africa to walk together in
ministry. Our Minnesota Valley Conference is paired with
the Vryheid Circuit.
We are working on
four mission categories; HIV/AIDS, agricultural projects, education and leadership
support. Funds collected from the clothing drive will pay for the packaging and
sending of meals. Improved nutrition helps in the fight
against HIV/AIDS.
Start saving your clothes, coats, purses, hats and shoes,
place in small garbage bags with tie closures and drop off at
Trinity. Donations can be dropped off in the Conference
Room 7A next to the women’s restroom through the month
of November!
Page 2
www.trinitystpeter.org
The November Selections
If you haven’t chosen your fall books yet,
please remember to stop in your Trinity library
to browse the selections. Some great reads
for November are:
Shepherding A Child’s Heart, by Tedd Trip,
is about how to speak to the heart of your
child and gain inspiration for you to become a
different kind of parent…it is remarkably clear,
biblical and practical.
Lessons In Buoyancy, by Kathy Vick…YOU
WILL FLOAT. You will explore the Proverbs
31 women and discover that a woman’s life is one gigantic
act of buoyancy that requires a core of faith and… it means
believing that the same promise God made to Noah is offered
to you.
Take Off 10 Years In 10 Weeks, by Judith Wills. You will
find something in here to change-your-life for the outer you,
the vital you and inner you!
Here If You Need Me, by Kate Braestrup. This is a true story
and a national bestseller of a journey from grief to faith to
happiness. Kate is one of the first chaplains ever appointed
to the Maine Warden Service.
The Preacher Had 10 Kids, by Frances Bradsher. A heartwarming story from an old-fashioned parsonage where love,
humor, courage and faith never go out of style.
Newsletter
TRINITY NEWS
live in the area. It’s hard to believe but it’s already been 12
years since my dad, Cliff, passed away. It also doesn’t seem
possible that I marked my 18th anniversary of ordination a few weeks ago. My
first three years in ministry were at Hawk
Creek Lutheran Church, Sacred Heart.
Then I served 15 years at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls. I am
now delighted to be at Trinity, making my home in St. Peter
with two feline family members.
There will be other opportunities for me to share with you
even more from these Body Building conversations. For
now, I’ll end by saying I’m excited about the great opportunities before us serving together, growing together as the body
of Christ. Please know my door is open any time for visits
about our mission and ministry!
Pastor Joy Ekstedt
Lay Reader Lists Being Updated
The important ministry of Lay Readers will be updated in the
next few weeks. If you are an existing Lay Reader and wish
to change the service you are
assigned to or the time of year
you have been reading, please
Body Building Progress Report
contact Leona Miller at 931-3639
I am delighted to say Trinity Lutheran Church is showing
or [email protected]. We
great signs of growth, strength and health! During our Body
would like to update the Substibuilding sessions, I heard many times over about the friendlitute List at this time also. If you
ness of Trinity and the ways you welcome others into this
have not been a Lay Reader and wish to become one, confamily of faith. Again and again, I heard about the ways this
tact Leona. The 2014 Lay Reader List is on the Women’s
congregation opens its doors to the community. People exBoard in the hallway by the office for you to check your prepressed great appreciation for the musical gifts that are
sent assignments. Thank you for your important ministry at
shared which enrich worship services. There is also a variety Trinity.
of styles of worship from traditional to contemporary, and that,
too, is valued. And, you sure love your kids at Trinity! You
take delight in seeing them in worship, and you support them
in so many ways! These are fabulous things to build on and
strengthen!
These body building sessions also provided the opportunity
for me to hear about your hopes and dreams, like involving
even more people in Trinity’s mission, growing the youth program and creating fellowship opportunities that unite people
from all three services.
During these sessions, I sprinkled the conversation with some
of my life story and experiences. Just in case you didn’t get
in on any of these conversations, I’ll just mention a few things
here. Southern Minnesota has been “home” all my life. My
mom, Gloria, and my brother, Paul as well as other family
for the December edition is Saturday, November 15th. Any committees or individuals that have information for the December newsletter need to have it turned in no
later than Saturday, November 15th. Thank you so much!
November 2014
Page 3
www.trinitystpeter.org
Newsletter
TRINITY NEWS
Church Council Meeting Minutes
From October 14, 2014
Members Present: Tom Peterson, Jim Christenson, Ann
Bruggeman, Mark Oberlander, Meredith Young, Judy
Schultz, Patti Kelly, Pastor Joy, and Trish Reedstrom.
Guest: Jen Hubrig
Members Absent: Grey Lusty, Jim Vavreck, Rita Gibbs
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm by Patti.
1. The October meeting agenda was approved with the
addition of endowments and church website update.
2. The September minutes were reviewed and approved.
3. Pastor’s Report:
From Trish: In addition to the information in the Executive Meeting minutes, the subject of Time and Talent
sheets and when and how to distribute/collect them
was added.
5.
6.
7.
From Pastor Joy: In addition to the information Pastor
Joy provided for the Executive Committee meeting, she
also stated that she has completed her move to Saint
Peter.
8.
 Nominating committee—In lieu of not having any
one currently on the nominating committee, my
plan is to gather former presidents to fill that role of
creating the ballot for the annual meeting in January 2015.
 The same procedure might also be applied to the
Personnel Committee where past presidents could
also carry out this role for any end of the year work
that may need to be done.
 Body building conversations have been very useful
and helpful to better understand the people
throughout the church.
4. Finance Committee:
a. Requesting the Endowment Committee revise the
disbursement policy of spendable endowment
amounts. From the last Finance Committee meeting minutes: Given the lateness of the 2014 Endowment Spendable Endowment withdrawals and
the absence of the 2015 Spendable Endowment
withdrawals to date, a motion was made to recommend to the Church Council that the Endowment
committee revise their current disbursement policy
to allow for all of the spendable endowment
amounts for the year in which they are spendable
to be withdrawn from TIAA-CREFF and deposited
into Trinity bank accounts no later than January
15th of said year.
November 2014
Page 4
b. The motion to approve the request brought forth by
the finance committee to revise the current disbursement policy to allow for all of the spendable endowment amounts for the year in which they are spendable to be withdrawn from TIAA-CREFF and deposited
into Trinity bank accounts no later than January 15th
of said year, seconded, and approved.
c. Further discussion also involved a desire to reeducate the council regarding scholarships, etc. so to
better help congregation members with questions in
these areas.
Church Website:
The church website must be updated with the latest
changes in personnel and other pertinent information.
This will be passed to Bonnie who is the responsible person for this area.
A memorial fund team should be formed to determine
where the memorials which have been given to the
church should be used. Also included should be a method of recognition or thanking those who have given memorials to the church. This topic will be addressed at the
next executive committee meeting.
A request for a motion to reduce the number of services
for Dec 28 and Jan 4. The motion to reduce the number
of services on Dec 28th to one and one on Jan 4th with
coffee and cookies before and after the service was seconded and passed.
Review:
a. Pastor Joy’s current vision on Staffing—Regarding
the youth director, there is a strong candidate for
providing part-time assistance in this area. The job
description and summary should include a suggested
hourly compensation range and the expected weekly
hour expectation. The position request will also be
distributed at GAC for any possible interested individual. A motion to require 12 to 15, with up to 20 hours
per week, with a compensation range of $13 to $16
per hour with a requirement to be present for
Wednesday afternoon and evening and Sunday
morning, afternoon, and special programming for a
part-time Youth Director passed.
b. Next step in personnel and staffing—some concern
among the congregation regarding a possible call
process for the position Pastor Trish is now filling. It
may be in everyone’s best interest to delay a call process from commencing until after the holiday season.
This topic has been raised more-so by the synod,
than by Trinity itself. Time is still required to allow the
current pastoral team to get a better understanding of
Trinity’s needs and strengths.
c. Gods Work, Our Hands—The result was outstanding.
This will make a good “Trinity Story” for the future.
There should be continued positive fall out from this
program—especially since the project was kept local
this year. Continued on page 5 ———————
www.trinitystpeter.org
Lead From God’s Pencil
Newsletter
TRINITY WOMEN
By the Church Secretary
Growing up on the “home place,” meant Christmas Eve
was at our house most of the years that Grandpa and
Grandma Bjorklund were alive.
We always had a fresh-cut tree and Ma always asked
me to decorate it. My sister and brother would help, but
it wasn’t long before they would lose interest in it all. I
liked decorating the tree and putting out the other decorations. In the big bay window that faced Highway 22,
we’d tape colored lights to the window in the shape of a bell. While
driving by on the highway you could see our bell. We always had
an Advent wreath on the dining room table but the one piece that I
really enjoyed was a Swedish candle chime. It was made of tin and
painted gold. It had four candles, and when lit, the heat would
make the three trumpeting angels turn and their stems would hit the
bells below them. It was always rewarding to hang the angels the
right way the first time, if you didn’t they’d be flying backwards! It
made this pretty tingling sound that would get on your nerves after
awhile and then we’d have to blow out the candles.
I found it to be hard, waiting for Christmas Eve to roll a round. I just
knew that all my aunts and uncles and cousins would be coming for
the traditional Lutefisk supper and it was going to be so much fun.
My Dad’s side of the family has some pranksters amongst them
and you never knew if there would be a gag gift given, or if Elias'
old hat would show up, and be found hanging on a hook out on the
porch the next day (Elias is a fictitious, long lost, old relative that
nobody had ever seen or met). One time when I was really little,
Santa Claus looked in the window at me. I let out a blood curdling
scream that would peel paint and dove under the dining room table.
I was so scared and crying so hard, Ma could hardly coax me out
from under the table—and of course no one else had seen Santa
that night in the window. I remember my little brother joining me
under the table and not having a clue as to why we were under
there. And I’m still not sure which uncle was behind that mask!
One Christmas all the men got matching “fish wackers,” and did
they all laugh at that gag gift. And like usual, no one ever owned up
to giving the gag gifts. One year my uncle Harold Rodning got a
snose can that was rigged with a rubber band, a popsicle stick and
flour, so when he opened it the popsicle paddle started unwinding
and scooping out the flour in the process. Flour was flying every
where and Uncle Harold got white flour all over his black suit. We
laughed so hard we could hardly breath after that one. Plus he
ended up going to church that night looking like that.
One tradition that has been passed down through the years is putting an almond in the Swedish rice. Whoever would get the almond
would have good luck for the whole year. Ma usually was the one
who made the rice and when it was dessert time, you could dig
anywhere in the that bowl of rice if you thought you knew where the
almond might be. I’ve never been lucky enough to ever get that
infamous almond. We’d also have lingonberries as topping for our
rice along with an assortment of Christmas cookies. My favorite
cookie was the Mounds Balls that Ma would make. They were
made with coconut, mashed potatoes, flour and powdered sugar
and then dipped in dark chocolate with a toothpick. Dad always like
his Pecan Sandies and the longer you chewed on them the better
they tasted. When 11 o’clock rolled around the whole family ended
the night by going to the candlelight Service at church. It always
felt warm and cozy singing Silent Night by candle light. To me,
Christmas is a warm and cozy time of the year. May yours be
warm and cozy this year, too.
Until next month, God’s Peace, Love, and Joy!
Bonnie
November 2014
Bible Study Opportunities At Trinity
Trinity offers a variety of choices for Bible Studies. Following is a list of active study groups:
Men’s Bible Study – 7:00 am Wednesday’s at Trinity - All
men are welcome!
Women’s Bible Study using Gather Magazine study:
 Rebecca Circle – 9:30 am on 3rd Monday of the month
at Central Sq. Apts. – Contact: Leona Miller 931-3639
 Hope Circle – 1:30 pm on 3rd Monday of the month at
Realife – Contact: Kay Mowbray at 934-3170
 Martha Circle – 1:30 pm on 1st Friday of the month –
Contact: Kay Mowbray at 934-3170
If others wish to participate in a Bible Study at another time
of day or day of week, contact Kay or
put your name on the sign-up sheet on
the board in the hallway and a meeting
will be set-up to organize any type of
study or group interested.
An example would be Café. Café is a
free, monthly, and online magazine for young adult women.
It explores topics that are relevant to women and how faith
relates to those issues and can be found at
www.boldcafe.org. It is easy to use and can be done individually, but would be more meaningful if discussion among
other young women. The possibilities are endless.
Continued from page 4 —————————–—–———
d. A motion to set the Holiday Vouchers for the Saint
Peter food shelf with a goal of $2014, was seconded and passed.
e. A request will be made to Bonnie and Rita to send
updates of the calendar to council members.
f. Some concerns regarding the decoration of the
church should be passed to the team regarding
certain areas which can create minor issues unless
they are addressed prior to the decoration is completed.
9. Planning Dates:
30 Days – Youth Gathering registration. A plan for
fundraising for the Confirmation retreat.
60 Days – Thanksgiving November 27th, Advent begins
December 3rd, Christmas Program is scheduled for December 14th.
90 Days – Blood Bank February 20th.
10. Meeting adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully Submitted, Tom Peterson
Page 5
www.trinitystpeter.org
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
8:30 am
All Saints Sunday
2
YoCo Live-In Week at Church Begins
2:00 am Daylight Savings Time Ends—Fall back 1 hr
8:00 am Communion Worship Service
8:45 am JOY! Choir Rehearsal
9:00 am Coffee Fellowship Hour
9:30 am Communion Worship Service w/Baptism of
Nicholas Douglas Fenske
Sunday School
Celebration Singers Rehearsal
Public Access TV Broadcast
10:45 am Contemporary Communion Worship Service
12:00 pm 7th & 8th Grade Retreat Begins
7:00 pm AA (Closed)
“Thank Offering” Sunday
8:00 am
8:45 am
9:00 am
9:30 am
10:45 am
11:45 am
12:00 pm
7:00 pm
9
Worship Service led by Trinity Women
JOY! Choir Rehearsal
Coffee Fellowship Hour
Worship Service led by Trinity Women
Sunday School
Celebration Singers Rehearsal
Public Access TV Broadcast
Contemporary Worship Service led by Trinity
Women w/PraiseBAND playing
PraiseBAND Rehearsal
Executive Council Meeting
AA (Closed)
8:00 am
8:45 am
9:00 am
9:30 am
16
Communion Worship Service
JOY! Choir Rehearsal
Coffee Fellowship Hour
Communion Worship Service
Sunday School
Celebration Singers Rehearsal
Public Access TV Broadcast
10:45 am Contemporary Communion Worship Service
7:00 pm AA (Closed)
Christ the King Sunday
23
Jr High Youth Gathering at Willmar
8:00 am Worship Service
8:45 am JOY! Choir Rehearsal
9:00 am Coffee Fellowship Hour
9:00 am to 11:30 am 4th Sunday Brunch Served
9:30 am Worship Service
Sunday School
Celebration Singers Rehearsal
Public Access TV Broadcast
10:45 am Contemporary Worship Service w/PraiseBAND playing
11:45 am PraiseBAND Rehearsal
7:00 pm AA (Closed)
First Sunday in Advent
5:00 pm
5:30 pm
7:00 pm
10
Public Access TV Broadcast
“The Kitchen” Meal Served
Book Study (week 6)
St Peter Choral Rehearsal
Election Day 4
YoCo Live-In Week at Church
9:00 am Mission Quilters w/potluck
11:00 am Public Access TV Broadcast
Veterans Day 11
11:00 am Public Access TV Broadcast
1:30 pm Amazing Greys
6:30 pm Church Council Meeting
5
YoCo Live-In Week at Church
7:00 am Men’s Bible Study
1:00 pm Staff & Music Meeting
2:00 pm AA (Open)
6:30 pm Confirmation Classes
PraiseBELLS Rehearsal
Trinity Women Board Meeting
7:00 pm Men’s Ensemble Rehearsal
8:00 pm O2 Senior High Youth
7:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
8:00 pm
9:30 am
1:30 pm
17
5:00 pm
5:30 pm
7:00 pm
Rebecca Circle Bible Study
Hope Circle Bible Study at
Realife
Public Access TV Broadcast
“The Kitchen” Meal Served
St Peter Choral Rehearsal
5:00 pm
5:30 pm
7:00 pm
Public Access TV Broadcast
“The Kitchen” Meal Served
St Peter Choral Rehearsal
24
18
9:00 am Mission Quilters w/potluck
11:00 am Public Access TV Broadcast
7:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
6:30 pm
8:00 pm
25
11:00 am Public Access TV Broadcast
7:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
???? pm
8:00 pm
YoCo Live-In Week at Church
2:00 pm
Pastor’s Text Study
5:00 pm
Al-Anon
5:30 pm
Finance Committee Meeting
7:00 pm
AA (Open)
12
2:00 pm
Men’s Bible Study
5:00 pm
Staff & Music Meeting
7:00 pm
AA (Open)
Servant Night for Confirmands
PraiseBELLS Rehearsal
Men’s Ensemble Rehearsal
O2 Senior High Youth
19
Men’s Bible Study
Staff & Music Meeting
AA (Open)
Confirmation Classes
PraiseBELLS Rehearsal
O2 Senior High Youth
26
Men’s Bible Study
Staff & Music Meeting
AA (Open)
Community Choir Rehearsal
NO Confirmation Classes
Ecumenical Worship Service
Praise Bells Rehearsal
WorshipBAND Rehearsal
NO O2 Senior High Youth
2:00 pm
5:00 pm
7:00 pm
Pastor’s Text Study
Al-Anon
AA (Open)
Pastor’s Text Study
Al-Anon
AA (Open)
Thanksgiving Day
Holiday—Offices Closed
2:00 pm
Pastor’s Text Study
5:00 pm
Al-Anon
7:00 pm
AA (Open)
6
7
8
YoCo Live-In Week at Church
YoCo Live-In Week at Church Ends
1:30 pm Martha Circle Bible Study at
9:00 am AA (Closed)
Realife, Hostess: Ann Maland
13
14 Newsletter Deadline 15
(for December newsletter)
9:00 am
20
27
21
Holiday—Offices Closed
28
AA (Closed)
22
Jr High Youth Gathering at Willmar
9:00 am AA (Closed)
9:00 am
AA (Closed)
29
30
Last Day to Donate Used Clothing
8:00 am Worship Service
8:45 am NO JOY! Choir Rehearsal
9:00 am Coffee Fellowship Hour
9:30 am Worship Service w/Baptism of Mia Patricia Eisel
NO Sunday School
Celebration Singers Rehearsal
Public Access TV Broadcast
10:45 am NO Contemporary Worship Service
7:00 pm AA (Closed)
November 2014
3
YoCo Live-In Week at Church
12:00 pm 7th & 8th Grade Retreat Ends
5:00 pm Public Access TV Broadcast
5:30 pm “The Kitchen” Meal Served
7:00 pm Book Study (week 5)
St Peter Choral Rehearsal
1
Fall Clean-up at Church
Stewardship Snippet
For it is in giving that we receive.
Page 6
www.trinitystpeter.org
Francis of Assisi
www.trinitystpeter.org
Newsletter
NOVEMBER CALENDAR
Page 7
November 2014
Newsletter
CHILDREN & YOUTH
God’s Work.
Please Note The Following . . .




If your child has signed up for a speaking role in the
Christmas Play, watch for announcements regarding
practices. Our Christmas program is scheduled on December 14th at the 10:45 am service. Our Play is called
“Broadcasting Christmas” and is sure to be a hit!! We
will also be looking for musical talent from families and
children in Preschool – 6th Grade for the beginning of the
program!
Sunday School Rotation will be on The Sower Parable
from October 26th- November 9th Where kids will learn
that “God’s Word starts as a seed and grows in me.”
There will be a special presentation in the Gustafson
Room by Meredith Young on November 16th where K-6th
grade will all get together and learn about giving thanks
and giving.
We will then start a new rotation on November 23rd with
Baby Moses!
Does your child have a Musical Talent?
Let us showcase them at the start of the Christmas program.
Sign-up in the Narthex or with their Sunday School Teacher!
Sunday, December 14th ~ 10:45 am
The children will need to be in the sacristy at 10:30 am with
their music. They’ll join their parents in the pews or go directly to their place in the program after they play.
“Little Free Library” On Fifth Street
Hello Trinity Members,
Last Spring I presented my Eagle Scout Project to Pastor
Bob who enthusiastically said, “yes” to having me build and
install a “Little Free Library” near the 5th Street entrance of
the church. I am excited to say that it is near
completion and will be in the ground before the
snow flies.
What is a Little Free Library?
It is a “take a book, return a book” gathering
place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little
Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two)
and bring back another book to share.
My hope is that Trinity members and the community will embrace the idea and together make sure that we have books
to go around.
Thank you, Carl-Erick Young
When all you have is God, you have all you need.
November 2014
Page 8
www.trinitystpeter.org
Newsletter
TRINITY NEWS
Our Hands.
November 2014
Page 9
www.trinitystpeter.org
Newsletter
IN HIS SERVICE
Ushers
November 2014
Sunday, November 2nd
8:00 am Willie Lindquist, Tom Frey and
Duane & Louise Sunderman
9:30 am Darin Ogren and Bob & Sally
Lambert
10:45 am Sam & Julie Gault Family
Altar Care
November 2nd Nancy Krueger & Marlene Tolzman
November 16th Mary Jo & Dennis Erickson
November 23rd Helen Christianson & Dee Hahn
Council Assistants
8:00 am
9:30 am
10:45 am
Lay Readers
November 2nd
8:00 am Willie Lindquist, Tom Frey and
Duane & Louise Sunderman
9:30 am Darin Ogren and Bob & Sally
Lambert
10:45 am Sam & Julie Gault Family
Sunday, November 16th
8:00 am
9:30 am
10:45 am
Al & Linda Hewitt, Ann Bruggeman
and Ann Maland
Bob & Sandi Broeder and
Bruce & Lynn Davey
The Rick Graft Family
9:30 am
10:45 am
Tom Peterson
Lynn Davey
8:00 am
9:30 am
Val Youngblom
Judy Schultz
8:00 am
9:30 am
Leona Miller
Tammy Poppen
8:00 am
9:30 am
John Lammert
Kris Kelly
8:00 am
9:30 am
Jan Swanson
Emily Kracht
8:00 am
9:30 am
Isaac Sawyer and Callie Garcia
Reese Portugue and
Nick Rustman
Payton Portugue and
Xandra Zachman
November 16th
November 23rd
November 30th
Acolytes
Sunday, November 23rd
8:00 am
8:00 am
9:30 am
November 9th
Sunday, November 9th
Al & Linda Hewitt, Ann Bruggeman
and Ann Maland
Bob & Sandi Broeder and
Bruce & Lynn Davey
The Rick Graft Family
Tom Peterson
Rita Gibbs
Jim Vavreck
10:45 am
Sunday, November 30th
8:00 am
9:30 am
10:45 am
Val Youngblom and Tom & Debbie
Peterson
Kathy & Harvey Schultz
The Chris Gurrola Family
Coffee Fellowship Hosts
November 2nd
November 9th
November 16th
November 23rd
November 30th
Al & Linda Hewitt
Tom & Debbie Peterson
Tom & Debbie Peterson
Sandra Buendorf
Audrey & Nancy Hanson
Video Camera
November 2nd
November 9th
November 16th
November 23rd
November 30th
November 2014
Steve Pettis
Pat Klubben
Pat Klubben
Tom Frey
Tom Frey
Page 10
www.trinitystpeter.org
Newsletter
SERVICE LISTS
All Trinity members share in food preparation and serving
duties for funerals and other church events throughout the
year. The membership has been divided into 13 groups
with designated coordinators for each month. This allows
one group to have a month off each year. Groups move up
one month each year as well, so that you are not serving in
the same month each year. When your assistance is needed, a coordinator will contact you.
December 2014
Food Coordinators:
Kristi Portugue
934-5095 or 327-0951
Judy Schultz
612-665-3966
Name:
Brenke, Roger & Corrine
Bruggeman, Ann
Campisi, Kevin & Jessica
Coffey, Mary
Conlon, Jerry & Shelly
Cross, John & Nancy
Dobler, Carolyn
Fay, Shannon
Gilbertson, John & Cheryl
Hanson, Mark & Jessica
Kelly, Kris & Patti
Kolek, Michael & Marlae
Kubela, Steve & Hentges, Deb
Lammert, John & Jennifer
Larson, Bob & Nancy
Lyle, Joy
Nelsen, Sara
Nygard, Lynda
Oeltjenbruns, Keith & Kimberly
Portugue, Jeff & Kristi
Schultz, Judy
Schultz, Scott & Dana
Tollefson, Michael & Heather
Tolzman, Craig & Marlene
Vavreck, Jim & Lyn
Volk, Bob & Carol
Warner, Jesse & Kaylee
Wick, Donna
Wilking, Chet & Sabrina
Wilmes, Shane & Todd
Winsell, Thomas & Kristina
Yeager, Trent & Traci
November 2014
Food Coordinators:
Deb Fichtner
Debbie Peterson
Name:
Bartlett, Marvin & Shelly
Buendorf, Dan & Sandra
Chalin, Stephen & Michelle
Clark, Dana
Davis, Gary & LeAnne
Dauer, Karen
Fichtner, Scott & Deb
Grabow, Tim & Becky
Gish, Katie
Hanson, Audrey
Hanson, Brent & Lori
Hanson, Stu & Mary Ann
Hauth, Michael & Dawn
Hewitt, Al & Linda
Johnson, Gary & Joan
Just, Chris & Holly
Kaduce, Larry & Megan
Kruger, Jim & Nancy
Leonard, Jeff & Natalie
Lynn, Wayne & Dona
Maland, Ann
Mensing, Patty
Myers, Don & Joni
Myhra, Richard & Julie
Myhra, Ryan & Mariah
Penkert, Erica
Peterson, Tom & Debbie
Sargent, Michael & Lathea
Seibert, Donald & Kyong
Volk, Steve & Mary
Youngblom, Val
Calling All Men!
934-2257
550-4066
Come participate in Trinity’s Men’s Ensemble! Any men
who enjoy singing are invited to join us to prepare an all
men’s anthem for the 8:00 and 9:30
services on Sunday, November 16th.
There will be only two Wednesday
rehearsals to prepare the song, so it
is definitely a short term commitment! Rehearsals will be in
the church sanctuary on November 5th and 12th at 7:00 pm.
Take advantage of this opportunity and come join us for
great fun and fellowship! All men are welcome!
November 2014
2014 Holiday Food Vouchers!
The St Peter Area Foodshelf and the St Peter Area Ministerial Association will again be providing groceries to needy
families in our community over the holiday season. Last
year, vouchers were provided for over 1,332 adults and children. Recipients are identified by churches and public
agencies. We hope to raise $2,014 at Trinity to put toward
people in need. Please make checks payable to Trinity with
“Holiday Voucher” written in the memo line and leave it in
the offering plate or use the Holiday Voucher Envelopes
found in the pews and on the Welcome Table. Thank you.
Page 11
www.trinitystpeter.org
Newsletter
Stamp
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
511 South Fifth Street
Saint Peter MN 56082
Address Label Here
Trinity Staff
Lead Pastor:
Joy G. Ekstedt
Custodian:
Barry Wood
Intern Pastor:
Trish Reedstrom
Organist / Pianist:
Judy Maharry
PraiseBAND:
Roy & Larissa Nieves
Youth Ministry:
Christian Education
Coordinator:
Erica Penkert
Celebration Singers
Director:
Annette Meeks
Office Coordinator/
Publicist:
Bonnie L. Rieger
PraiseBELLS Director:
Ian Decker
Financial Secretary:
Jennifer Hubrig
JOY! Choir Director:
Nancy Sizer
Contact Information:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Website:
Facebook:
Office Hours:
507 - 934 - 4786
507 - 934 - 4562
[email protected]
www.trinitystpeter.org
Trinity Lutheran (St Peter, MN)
Monday - Thursday:
Friday:
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
November Newsletter
November 2014
Page 12
www.trinitystpeter.org