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March April 2015
The monthly newsletter of Transfiguration Lutheran Church offering
inspiration and information.
From Ashes
To Life
A Lenten Journey
T RANSFIGURATION L UTHERAN C HURCH
11000 FRANCE AVENUE SOUTH, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55431
TLCMN.COM
Transfiguration
Lutheran Church
11000 France Avenue South,
Bloomington, MN 55431
Ph. 952.884.2364
Fax. 952.884.2151
Email: [email protected]
www.tlcmn.com
State of Transfiguration
By Pastor Ed Treat
A
After the TLC annual meeting in January,
several people encouraged me to share
my words with the greater congregation.
Here is a synopsis of what I said. For the
full version you can go to the TLC website (www.tlcmn.com) and click on the link
on the homepage.
FINANCIAL
Office hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8:30-4:30
Friday: 8:30-3:00
Sunday Worship
8:15, 9:30, 10:45 a.m.
Nursery
Available at all
Sunday worship services
Early Learning Center
(Daycare)
952.884.7955
Director: Barb Wigstadt
As disciples of Jesus
we gather in grace,
grow in faith,
This last year we lost some of our biggest givers to the church either to death
or relocation or the Marriage Equality
conversation; losses amounted to
$63,000. Along with the $47,000 deficit
budget that was not being met, it was
looking like the perfect storm. I was sure
we would be coming to the annual meeting with a significant financial crisis on
our hands. So I am very happy to report
that we finished 2014 in the black. We
didn’t realize all our income,
but we kept expenses down.
We will carry no operating
debt forward. Praise God!
MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Page 2
While transitions present a challenge,
they also present opportunity. Through a
special donation from a generous member who sees the opportunity before us
and agrees with the wisdom of it, we
have been blessed with an organization-
We host funerals and weddings; we
teach confirmation and Sunday
School, we make quilts, support an
early learning center, provide for a
On Sunday, February 22, as
a culmination of our lengthy
discussion on marriage equality we will celebrate a new
affiliation with ReconcilingWorks, a Lutheran ministry to the LGBT community.
We celebrate the fact that God’s greatest desire is that all God’s children in all
their created diversity are loved and
welcomed in the church.
This has been a challenging and difficult
process and I believe we did it as well
as it can be done. There are people who
are unhappy and withholding their giving to the church. I wish it didn’t have to
be this way. A significant majority of the
congregation expressed in support, the
council was unanimous, the ELCA as a
whole is supportive, and both pastors
agreed. This is where we stand.
STAFFING
and go forth to serve.
For the church to
survive and
thrive in today’s
world, we need
to be able to
adapt to a rapidly changing world. That means we
need to evaluate ourselves and all that
we do so that we can serve God in the
best ways possible. These transitions,
however, have been a setback from realizing our dreams. We just get moving
in a direction and suddenly we are filling gaps. It’s very frustrating.
With all the transition, the loss of Pastor
Stephanie, Sue Brickley and a youth minister we have to wonder, “What now?”
al development expert who will assist us
in organizational development. Tim
Krieg, of Focal Point Coaching, has been
enlisted to work with your staff and
council leadership to review the staffing
and leadership situation at TLC to help
make whatever adjustments needed to
keep our church moving forward with
vigor. I am so excited and grateful to
have Tim Krieg working with TLC.
GIVING THANKS
Despite our challenges last year, we still
have much to celebrate:
•
•
We finished the year in the black;
We have four new staff members,
Pastor Mark, Pastor Arthur, Sarah
Lanier, and Molly Schuh who are
exceptional and helping tremendously;
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stewardship giving increased
enough so that the loss of 8 families
will not cripple us moving forward;
We upgraded computers and other
technology including building wide
WIFI capability;
We sent 22 youth and six adults on
a mission trip to Queens, New York;
We spent $5,000 and lots of physical labor fixing up one of our precious Lutheran Bible Camps;
We replaced high energy lights
with energy saving lights throughout
the entryways and narthex;
We paid for and installed a state
of the art sound system in the sanctuary along with video visibility for
every seat in the sanctuary thanks
to some extra gifts from generous
members;
We installed state of the art front
door security thanks to extra gifts
from generous members.
•
•
•
Our intern Pastor Arthur Murray is
developing recovery ministries at
TLC.
Our intergenerational camp at
Luther Dell was a hit and will
return June 22 to 28.
This summer I will take senior high
youth to the ELCA National Youth
Gathering in Detroit.
Every week we gather in this place to
proclaim God’s grace, sing God’s praise,
baptize babies, have our sins forgiven,
and share in the Lord’s Supper. We do
this every week, 52 weeks per year and
sometimes twice a week. We host funerals
and weddings; we teach confirmation and
Sunday School, we make quilts, support
an early learning center, provide for a
nursery, teach Sunday School, celebrate
Milestones, offer Vacation Bible School,
teach first Communion, hold Fellowship
Events, give out Bibles, teach and perform
music with the organ, piano, bells, choir,
woodwinds and brass, teach music to chil-
To read Transfiguration Lutheran Church’s
2014 Annual Report in its entirety, visit
our website at www.tlcmn.com and click
on the above image on the homepage.
nursery, teach Sunday School, celebrate Milestones, offer Vacation Bible School,
teach first Communion, hold Fellowship Events, give out Bibles, teach and perform
music with the organ, piano, bells, choir, woodwinds and brass, teach music to
children, offer Retreats, support worldwide and local mission and ministries…
LOOKING AHEAD
We have much to look forward to:
•
•
•
•
Continue to realize the vision and
work toward the dream of our strategic plan.
Selecting and calling a new associate pastor.
Find a youth minister and keep our
youth ministry strong.
The TLC Foundation who gave us
the building-wide Wi-Fi are right
now in the process of creating a
first of its kind internet project
called a virtual memorial Garden.
dren, offer Retreats, support worldwide
and local mission and ministries, summer
camps, lead service projects, provide
space for the community such as scouts
and elections, we visit and pray for the
sick, raise awareness about addiction and
mental health, support the grieving, counsel people, golf and play baseball together, host Bible studies, give away a lot
of money to great causes.
Together we do a lot of good. I am very
privileged to be a part of this wonderful
and amazing church and I look forward to
all that we continue to do together.
Page 3
For The Future
Pay down debt
Maintain our property and facility
A growing number of adults and young people in worship and the
life of the church
A new generation of church leaders
A clear vision for missions with local, national and global communities
Inspired, engaged stewards
Enhanced communications
A church utilizing cutting-edge, practical, optimized technologies throughout the administration, communications and ministries of the church
2014
2013
2012
→ Three-year Capital Campaign
→ Future Directions Planning Retreat utilizing
data from the congregational survey,
culminating in the five-year strategic plan
titled “Be The Church.”
→ Congregational Survey
Page 4
titled “Realizing The Vision”
begins, to both continue paying
down our debt/maintain our
property and to fund capital and
non-capital expenses related to
our strategic plan.
2015
Strategic Plan Halftime Report
By Jim Stooke, Strategic Plan Chair
It’s hard to believe that two-and-a-half years of our five-year
TLC Strategic Plan is already history! At the beginning of
2013 (when it launched), 2017 seemed like a long way off. It
isn’t! The plan is aptly named “Be The Church” because it inherently challenges each of us to get involved in a more significant way than ever before. The work of Christ never takes a
break; nor should we when it comes to finding our unique niche of service
and support within TLC.
Just some of the ways lay-led
Strategic Plan Teams are working
towards our vision for the future of
Transfiguration Lutheran Church:
• Welcome bags for visitors generated
• Communication kiosks in the Narthex
purchased
• replaced high energy lights with energy
saving lights throughout the entryways
and Narthex;
• The worship and the communication
teams partnered to improve the quality
of the worship space, interviewing a
number of consultants to analyze the
space and provide recommendations.
Based upon said recommendations, a
state of the art sound system was installed in the sanctuary thanks to extra
gifts from generous members;
• For the Music Team’s “Be the Church”
Strategic Initiative Number One: “By
design, children are involved and celebrated at every Sunday morning worship service,” we revised our 9:30 and
10:45 services beginning in September.
• installed state-of-the-art front door
security thanks to extra gifts from
generous members.
• upgraded office computers and other
technology including building-wide
WiFi capability…
There are so many ways to keep this
church vital and thriving into the future,
and we are all called to “Be The
Church!” Contact the church office to
share ideas and/or get involved in this
exciting time at Transfiguration!
Since it is half-time, a brief recap of the Plan seems in order. Let me
give you a few first-half highlights: First of all it took 14 months to develop the document that we have today. After an online congregational
survey with 376 respondents, historic and current data retrieval and
analysis, six ministry goals were proposed and agreed upon. Together,
they provided the “north star” toward which TLC would be traveling
over the 5-year period. Each goal included a set of statements
(“expected outcomes”) that describe our church’s landscape at the end
of 2017, if we successfully achieve the goals.
As we continue the first-half recap, here’s one big play worth noting: In
the congregational survey in 2012, you clearly identified the five
most important tasks that TLC should be about:
(1) offering worship that provides a meaningful experience of God
and the Christian tradition [worship ministry];
(2) providing Christian education of our children and youth [youth
and family ministry]:
(3) providing a caring ministry for the sick, shut-ins and bereaved
[pastoral care];
(4) engaging in acts of charity and service to persons in need
[missions ministry];
(5) providing pastoral counseling to help members deal with personal problems [pastoral care].
I encourage you to again review the 2014 Annual Report (on our website
and copies in the Narthex) and see how we are doing in each of these priority areas.
A major challenge in the first-half implementation of our Strategic Plan
was the initiation of Staff/Lay Partnerships in all the ministry areas. Historically, churches (TLC included) have been staff-driven. Our church’s
leadership in its Future Directions Retreat, expressed a strong desire for
more up-stream involvement … be a part of the planning … and not
simply a program volunteer. Consequently, the Plan calls for the assigned staff to identify a ministry chairperson and “partner with them” in
leadership of the team. This represents a major paradigm-shift which
usually takes 3-4 years to fully complete. It’s a difficult thing to change
and a real challenge. However, it is critical that we do so. I’ll get more
into the “why” in my next report.
I’m proud to say the TLC Strategic Plan, Be The Church, is moving toward
2017 in a very positive way. It has provided a stimulus for many new programs, positive refinements of old ones, and burial with dignity of some
that needed to pass on. It has brought an acute focus on the work required to successfully achieve each of the goals. Some will be surpassed,
others may fall a little short. Regardless, our congregation can be assured
that the planning and implementation has been both beneficial to TLC’s
church life and exciting to those making it happen. Count this as your personal invitation to get involved and in so doing, Become The Church.
Page 5
From Ashes
To
Life
A L e n t e n Jo u r n ey
“Gracious God, out of your love and mercy you breathed into dust the breath of
life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of
kindness, and strengthen us to face our mortality with confidence in the mercy of
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.” ( ELW p.26)
Sunday, March 15—Lenten Hymn Festival
8:15 and 9:30 – Lenten Hymn Festival led by TLC Woodwinds and
the Chancel Choir.
A Hymn Festival is a service designed to bring a fresh look at hymns
both old and new. We will sing and hear new arrangements of
Come, Join the Dance, My Song Is Love Unknown, Be Unto Your
Name, Shepherd Me, O God, and Lord of Glory. Come with your
voice, and listen for a message in the music!
Maundy Thursday, April 1
Noon – Service of Holy Communion
7:00 p.m. – Service of Holy Communion led by the Chancel Choir and
TLC Handbells
Good Friday, April 2
7:00 p.m. – Tenebrae Service of Darkness led by the Low Brass Choir
and the Chancel Choir
Easter Sunday, April 5 – Resurrection Services
Communion at all three services
Note time changes: 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 a.m.
Chancel Choir, Brass Choir, and TLC Handbells presenting
pieces from Handel’s “Messiah” and other Easter arrangements.
11:00 a.m. Children’s Choir will also sing
Sunday, April 26 – Eastertide Celebration
8:15, 9:30, and 10:45 services led by the Praise and Worship Team.
Uplifting music to help you carry the Easter Spirit with you wherever
you go!
Looking Ahead:
Sunday, May 3 – Rite of Confirmation Services
Sunday, May 10 – Children’s Choir will sing
Page 6
Lent Weekly Themes
During Lent, we will visit people and events from Holy Week
as we explore brokenness and repair.
Feb 25 – Broken Vessel
Mar 4 – Broken Trust
Mar 11 – Broken Bread
Mar 18 – Broken Promises
Mar 25 – Broken Justice
Lent Soup Suppers
Join friends and family for hot soup and tasty breads
Wednesdays through Lent, at 5:45pm in the Fellowship Hall.
$3.50 per person; family max: $20
Sunday, March 8—
Visiting College Choir
8:15 and 9:30 – Monmouth College
Choir of Illinois singing for worship.
Exciting, joyful, and moving anthems
by composers both ancient and
modern.
Keeping Faith In the Midst of
Suffering
A Four Week Study of the Book of Job
Led by Arthur Murray and Renee Jefferson
Sundays and Wednesdays in March at 10:45 a.m.
Of all the books of the Bible, Job engages with
the question of human suffering more powerfully than any other.
In this study, we will put the challenges of life in today’s world
in conversation with this ancient story.
Week 1: Job 1-2:
Week 2: Job 3, 10-12:
Week 3: Job 40-41:
Week 4: Job 1-2, 42:
How do we care for someone
whose life is falling apart?
Is it OK to get mad at God?
The Anti-Genesis? The story of
Creation according to Job.
“I just don’t feel like I have anything to offer.” – Isolation or
Community?
“
Suffering is
unbearable if
you aren’t certain
that God is for you
and with you.
”
—Tim Keller
Walking with God Through
Pain and Suffering
Page 7
Birth Announcement
f
f
u
t
S
s
d
Ki
Amanda Maas, TLC’s Nursery coordinator, has
given birth! Arlen Jay Maas was born Jan. 28,
weighing in at 7lbs 3oz, and 20 inches in length.
Brandon, Amanda and Arlen are healthy and
happy. While Amanda is taking some time
off to be with her baby, Kaitlyn Majewski
(current ELC staff) will supervise the nursery.
Congratulations, Amanda and Brandon!
5th Grade Milestone with parents – (9:45–March 15 &
22) in Adult Ed room following children’s sermons at the 9:30 worship time.
5th grade Communion Banquet – Thursday, April 2 at
5:30 followed by Maundy Thursday worship.
13th Annual Kids’
Stuff Sale
Saturday, April 25,
8:00a-2:00p
St. Stephen Lutheran Church,
8400 France Avenue South
If you would like to sell kids’ clothes,
toys, books, DVDs, videos, baby items,
children’s furniture, bicycles, etc.
(anything kid-related, except car
seats and breast pumps), participate
in the Kids’ Stuff Sale at St. Stephen.
A packet with detailed information,
pricing suggestions, etc., will be sent
to those who sign up. Those interested
in simply donating can bring items to
church and place them in the box by
the choir room. Please label them
KSS.
Questions? Call Karen Wenge at
952.884.7955.
Page 8
4 year old’s milestone – Forgiveness – April 19 at 9:45
following the children’s sermon at 9:30 worship.
Funday Sundays –
March 1 – children will discover many ways to worship and pray.
Families are invited to attend together after the children’s message
at both the 9:30 and 10:45 worship services.
April 26 – Service Sunday. This is a God’s Work, Our Hands
day. Some classes may organize to do an activity together.
Watch for more details.
Vacation Bible School –
June 15-19.
Sign-ups available soon.
Welcome to New Youth and Family Intern
Benjamin Gieseke
We are excited to announce the hiring of a
youth and family intern at Transfiguration.
Welcome to Benjamin Gieseke, a Master of
Divinity student at Luther Seminary preparing
for ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America. Ben is skilled in a variety of
ministry areas, including Children, Youth, and Family Ministry, Worship, and
Audio/Visual Technical support. He graduated with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies.
Ben's internship with us is part-time, and will be 18 months in length. This is
part of his Children, Youth, and Family internship through Luther Seminary
in St. Paul. Ben will begin with involvement in the youth worship, confirmation program, peer and high school ministry and summer programs
TLC Teens
Super Sunday Study
ELCA National
Youth Gathering
July 15-19, Detroit, MI
Senior High Youth and Parents
(including current 8th graders going into 9th grade next year)
Every three years the ELCA holds
a national youth gathering for senior high Lutheran Youth.
As many as 35,000 to 40,000 youth and youth leaders
converge upon a large U.S. city for fellowship, fun, mission
projects and learning. There are nationally known speakers and awesome bands. It is a powerful time for youth
groups to bond, but also to realize their connection to the
larger church and to see the very many good things this
larger church does nationally and internationally. Pastor
Ed has been to two of these gatherings and is excited to
be going back.
This year the gathering will be held in Detroit, Michigan.
Pastor Ed is going and will be taking son, Charlie, with
him. He has room for four more students to go in his vehicle. Anyone beyond that will go on a waiting list. If we
get another group of five youth and one more adult then
we can take another vehicle and so on. We’ll try to take
as many as we can.
If you are interested in attending this event, contact Pastor
Ed immediately. You will be fully responsible for the cost,
but the families involved will have the opportunity to do
some fundraising through the church if they so desire.
The first to contact Pastor Ed and pay the registration fee
will have first priority. Registration is $375 for the event.
Total cost will be somewhere between $900 to $1000 for
registration, transportation, food, and lodging.
The event is July 15 to 19. We will leave on July 14 and
return on the 20th. More information about the event can
be found at http://www.elca.org/YouthGathering
Contact Pastor Ed Treat to get your name on the list
a.s.a.p. [email protected]
Sunday, March 1, 11:45-4:00p
Grades 9-12
Finals are just around the corner. Come to TLC’s Super Sunday Study. Come for a short time or stay the
entire time.
• Teachers available to help you.
• Bring all of your study supplies and a snack to
share (books, notes, laptop/tablet, calculator,
brain…)
• Interested in lunch? Bring $5/person (pizza order
at noon)
• TLC Youth Room
Hosted by Lisa Stenbeck and her fellow teachers:
Evens (Health); Stenny (Science); Haaland (Math);
Morgan (Calc).
Do Justice Retreat
March 7-8, 2015
(Leave TLC Sat @ 10am. Return to TLC Sun @ 2pm.)
Grades 9-12 and Young Adults, $25
Hosted by Center For Changing Lives
2400 Park Ave S Minneapolis, MN, 55404
“Do Justice” is a retreat for Twin Cities churches designed to accompany high school youth and young
adults in a journey of discovery, awareness and action around the realities and issues of Social Justice
which contribute to hunger, poverty and violence.
If you attend you can look forward to visiting local
sites working for social change, advocacy education,
inspiring true stories, ice skating/sledding, hot cocoa,
and more! Let’s start on our journey together to Do
Justice!
To register contact Intern Pastor Arthur:
[email protected]
Chaperones/drivers needed as well.
Sat, Mar 7, 2015 11:00am - Sun, Mar 8, 2015
1:00pm
Page 9
Food for Thought from
the TLC Health Cabinet
Children Can Become Ill from
Using Hand Sanitizers
March is NATIONAL POISON
PREVENTION MONTH, and
March 15-21, 2015 is National
Poison Prevention Week.
During this heightened awareness
of the flu and cold season, and the
use of hand cleanliness and
hand sanitizers, be aware!
To prevent the spread of germs,
many of us have hand sanitizers in our
homes, schools, work places, and even
at church. The use of these has become a way to wash our hands if we
do not have access to soap and water. It has been found that children
can get very sick with high blood alcohol levels if they use hand sanitizers
and lick it off their hands or ingest it.
The hand sanitizers can have 62%
alcohol (more than most hard liquors).
The Minnesota Poison Control Center
warns that the high alcohol content of
hand sanitizers and other common
household products such as mouthwash and perfumes can pose a serious health threat to small children and
should be kept out of their reach except under parental supervision. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and
caregivers—be alert to when children
use these hand sanitizers.
2015 TLC Men's Golf League
Calling all male golfers, beginner or veteran! Consider joining the TLC Men’s Golf
League to renew old golfing friendships
and develop some new ones. League play
is on Tuesday evenings at Hyland Greens
Golf Course, 102nd Street and Normandale, May through August, beginning Tuesday, May 5. Look for application sign-up
sheets on the bulletin board in the west hallway by the choir room. Use the “Life at TLC” envelope (in the pew racks),
mark “Men’s Golf,” and place in the offering plate on Sunday mornings
or turn into the office. Applications due Monday, April 14. Questions?
Contact Rod Daniels, 952.948.1679.
TLC Men's Softball Teams
All men 18years and older are welcome.We
play on Tuesday nights at Dred Scott, late
April through July. Voluntary practices will be
held at 6:15 PM on Tuesdays and 10:30 AM
on Saturdays in April (weather permitting).
Please contact Brad Bergstreser at 952-8885069 or [email protected] if you are interested or have questions.
Spring Blood Drive
Monday, April 20, 3:00-6:30 p.m.
Fact: Four million lives are saved each year thanks
to lifesaving blood transfusions.
Source: America’s Blood Centers
Give the gift of life by giving blood.
To schedule an appointment, sign up in
Life at TLC on Sundays, or call the church
office at 952.884.2364.
Spring Yoga at TLC
Escape the winter doldrums with a session of Yoga at TLC this March! We will especially focus on
sequences to lift the mood and prepare for
spring as we move through the end of winter.
Classes are Mondays, 7:00-8:30pm in Room 1, from March 2-March 30.
A five-class punchcard is $65, or drop-ins are $15. All levels are welcome; sliding scale is available (talk with instructor). Please wear comfortable layers, bring a blanket and a yoga mat if you have one (you
may also borrow one in class). Plan to not eat a meal for two hours before class. Questions? Contact teacher: Kathryn Sharpe at
[email protected] or 612.220.0899.
Page 10
An Update from TLC Global Health Ministries Volunteers
We are currently going to GHM on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. We sort, box and
prepare donated items for shipment to Lutheran hospitals and clinics around the world. We
have laughed, lunched and visited with other volunteers from around the Twin Cities. I think everyone that has gone has been surprised at how much fun we have.
We leave from the church parking lot at 9:15 and car pool to the warehouse in Fridley on the
2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. We “work” from 10-2. Call or e-mail Mary Mahre or Intern
Pastor Arthur Murray if you want more information and/or would like to join us.
As part of a Bloomington-wide ELCA project that was initiated by TLC, over $7,000 has been
collected to fund a freight car-size shipment of Ebola prevention and
other supplies to medical clinics in West Africa. The total cost is
$12,000 per shipment, so we are over half way there. If you would
like to contribute, put your check in one of the yellow pew envelopes
or give it directly to Pastor Arthur Murray. Mark it for “GHM shipping fund.”
The Ebola crisis in West Africa continues to impact the work at GHM. Minnesota is home to
more that 30,000 people of Liberian descent; many have lost family members in Africa to Ebola. Rev. Seyenkulo, Bishop for the Lutheran Church in Liberia, has recently given us encouraging
news. He tells us Ebola Treatment Units have increased significantly and that there are fewer
outbreaks every day. However, due to fear, lack of resources (staff and supplies), the health
care situation will continue to be challenging after the epidemic is contained and they will continue to need our assistance and our prayers.
Bloomington Richfield Grief Support Coalition
Churches in the Bloomington-Richfield area work together to provide support and education for
adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. Transfiguration will host the meetings for 8
weeks from April 9 through May 28. The group meetings are held from 4:30-6:00 p.m. every
Thursday in those 8 weeks. The sessions include an education presentation from 4:30-5:00 and
small support groups that are formed for participants to share concerns and experiences from
5:00-6:00. The educational presentations cover a wide range of topics that are unique to those
who are grieving. The support sessions are led by specially trained facilitators. If you or someone you know who is grieving the death of a loved one, please consider attending. Brochures
that list the educational speakers and topics can be found in one of the kiosks in the narthex. If
you have further questions, please contact Marilyn Erickson at 952.884.2364 X19 or [email protected].
Mental Health Sunday
April 26 is designated as Mental Health Sunday at TLC. Members of the Health Cabinet/Care
Ministry Team will participate in the worship services. TLC tenth grader, Alex Hoppe, will share
her story of experiencing depression and worthlessness, bullying, and sexual abuse.
Page 11
VEAP
Meeting Basic Needs.
Building Stronger Communities.
Neighbors Serving Neighbors.
Life Line Screening
Transfiguration Lutheran is again a
site for a preventive health event.
Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive screening, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless
health screenings at TLC on March
20, 2015. Five screenings will be
offered that scan for potential
health problems related to:
• blocked arteries which is a
leading cause of stroke;
• abdominal aortic aneurysms
which can lead to a ruptured
aorta;
• hardening of the arteries in
the legs which is a strong
predictor of heart disease;
• atrial fibrillation or irregular
heart beat which is closely
tied to stroke risk; and
• a bone density screening, for
men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis.
Register for a Wellness Package
which includes 4 vascular tests and
osteoporosis screening from $149
($139 with our member discount).
All five screenings take 60-90
minutes to complete. In order to
register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any
package priced above $129,
please call 1-888-653-6441 or
visit www.lifelinescreening.com/
community-partners.
Susan Russell Freeman, Executive
Director, has announced her retirement after 39 years at VEAP.
Today, VEAP boasts an outstanding Board of Directors, strong
staff and over 1400 volunteers as a result of her dedicated service
and leadership. Thank you, Susan, for your monumental and enduring legacy that is VEAP!
March is Minnesota Food Share month
and VEAP's goal is to
collect 115,000 lbs. or
dollars. Last year TLC
donated a record 1190 lbs.
of food thanks to the Confirmation classes going door to
door in the neighborhood.
This year we will drop off
flyers on April 22 and collecting during 'God's Work
Our Hands' Sunday, April 26.
(see article at right).
March 'Dinner in a Bag' suggestions are: canned chili,
canned beef stew, canned chow mein, canned spaghetti, pasta, rice,
parmesan cheese, canned fruit, salad dressings, dinner roll mixes
and puddings.
April collections will be for personal items such as: toothpaste/brushes, floss, hand/bath soap, deodorant, shampoo/
conditioner, razors and razor blades.
When we all do a little, it adds up to a lot!
Reminder
Daylight Saving Begins March 8
Set clocks AHEAD one hour
Page 12
Mission Camp 2015
We had so much fun last year at Camp Luther Dell we are going again. Dave Peet, Luther
Dell Camp director, can’t stop gushing about what a meaningful experience it was to have
TLC there to help fix up Luther Dell Bible Camp last Summer. We re-roofed and re-floored
the staff cabin, saving it from destruction and making it an oasis in the midst of wild children;
we replaced 12 broken windows in the main dining hall; we weeded and mowed and
washed windows and trimmed and fixed things and painted things. The place looked great
after nine days of good hard work.
This is an inter-generational camp experience. We had members of all ages working hard
together, praying and playing. It was a meaningful week that we look forward to again this
year.
Camp Luther Dell has again reserved a week in June for TLC members to come and serve.
We will be there from Monday, June 22 to Sunday, June 28. You can stay in a cabin, camp
on the grounds, or even bring your own camper. There is only a minimal cost for meals. This is
a great experience for people of all ages, even for those with small children--trained camp
staff will watch and entertain your children while you work. There is
plenty of work for older members as well. Projects this year will includ
renovating the swimming beach, clean up and repairs to the main
lodge building, landscaping, laying paver tiles, finishing work on two
cabins, power washing, painting, window washing and weeding.
Come for the whole time or come for just as many days as you can.
Bring a friend. Experience the joy of camping, being with family and friends, doing meaningful
work, playing games, eating good food, worshipping God and getting away for a time. All of
this in one place at one time. All of this in service to God. Work never felt this good.
Sign up through the “Life of TLC” Sunday bulletin insert or contact Pastor Ed with questions.
The next GWOH Sunday is April 26. Some of the projects will take place
here at TLC and some will reach out into the community. April 26 is also a Funday Sunday and “Service” is the theme for that day of SCS. There will be activities for all ages.
If you have suggestions for projects please contact, Arthur Murray, Renee Jefferson, or
Marilyn Erickson. Watch Life@TLC and E-Transmissions for more information.
Page 13
2015 Annual Meeting - Ballot
101 Total Ballots were cast
Council Member to fulfill mid-term position - Select one for one year term
Laurel Rippa = 97
Ray Lamovec = 101
No write-in candidates
Council Members - Select four for two
year term
Jo Benson = 100
David Collins = 100
Anne Johnson = 100
Brian Toms = 100
No write-in candidates
Synod Representatives - Select six for one year term
Marilyn Erickson = 100
Lee Larson = 98
Arthur Murray = 98
Marilynn Rundberg = 99
Jim Sorum = 97
Karen Treat = 88
Louise Olson = 18 was not elected (write-in)
Synod Alternates - Select one for one year term
Jenn Herron - 86 (write-in)
Synod Youth Representative - Select one for one year
term
Nick Erickson - 87 (write-in)
Synod Youth Alternate - Select one for one year term
No candidates on ballot
No write-in candidates
Nominating Committee - Select six for one year term
David Burton = 101
Chelle Deering = 101
Dianne Erickson = 101
Mike Klevin = 101
Beth Rahn = 101
Marilyn Rundberg = 101
No write-in candidates
Financial Review Team - Select two for two year term
Renee Burton asked to be removed from the ballot
Carla Erikson = 97
Mark Loken = 97
No write-in candidates
Page 14
Thank you so much to the TLC staff and members for your
support of the premier performances of "The Flourishing
Promise of Water's Grace," by Chain Reaction Theatre
Project on October 19. Diseases from unsafe water and
lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than
all forms of violence, including war. Your generous donations, totaling $970, will help to change that!
In an effort to continue to bring clean water to more people, we have since performed the play at the University of
St. Thomas, and we will be performing it at Unitarian
Universalist Church in Bloomington on April 19; all are
welcome! And please let me know of another organization that might be interested in having us perform: [email protected].
Thank you so much!
Shelley Smith
Artistic Director, Chain Reaction Theatre Project; TLC Member
RAKE THE
LEAVES: Spring
Yard Clean-Up
Leaf it to spring. Improve
your health while helping a
senior citizen remain independent in their home! You choose
the date and time to rake and clean up the yard. Perfect
for individuals, groups, and families. Seasonal: starting midApril (depending upon the weather). This is a one-time unpaid fun, flexible activity on weekdays or weekends. Feel
free to sign up multiple times!
Exact location TBD in Minneapolis or Suburban Hennepin
County, depends upon where the senior citizen resides. Ongoing unpaid volunteer opportunities are also available.
Please contact Jeanne the SCS HOME Program Volunteer
Coordinator at [email protected] or call
952.767.7894 for more information.
Senior Community Services is a nonprofit organization with
five programs serving seniors and caregivers in Hennepin
County. For more information please visit
www.seniorcommunity.org or call 952.541.1019. HOME
Program number is 952.746.4046. Seniors outside of
Hennepin County should contact the Senior Linkage Line
at 1.800.333.2433 for information about services in their
area. Thank you!
Sympathy
Flower Power!
Annual Early Learning Center
2015 Flower Sale Fundraiser
March 2-23
Add beauty to your garden and support TLC’s Early Learning Center
through the ELC annual flower sale fundraiser in March. Watch for a
downloadable order form on the TLC website, check bulletin inserts in
March and watch for a table in the Fellowship Hall Sundays as well. Payment is due the day of delivery—in May, date yet to be determined.
Help pass on faith to children—through flowers!
To Kyle Uphoff and family, on
the death of Kyle’s father, Don.
To Bruce and Carol Nicholson
and family, on the death of
Bruce’s mother, Dorothy.
To Deloris Kaphings and family,
on the death of daughter and
sister, Pamela Kaphings.
To Lois Manning, on the death of
her mother, Mary Manning.
To Deborah Spindler & family, on
the death of her uncle, Wally
Mener.
To Nile Plapp and family, on the
death of wife and mother, Cathy
Plapp.
To Kris Augdahl and family, on
the death of her cousin, Brad
Becker.
To Margie Banik and family, on
the death of husband and father,
Ken Banik.
Nine-Part Lecture Series at Transfiguration Lutheran Church
Based on the new book “Being Sober and Becoming Happy”
To Juliet & Logan White, on the
death of their grandmother, Nora
“Nana” White.
To family and friends of Arlene
Kromminga, upon her death.
To family and friends of Joan
Schnitzler, upon her death.
2015 Lecture
Dates:
To John Hilleren and family, on
the death of his brother, Dick
Hilleren.
Second Thursday of
each month January
through September
6:30 p.m.
Free
• All are welcome
• Refreshments and
optional discussion
groups follow
Rev. Dr. John MacDougall, one of the most respected
voices in the field of addiction and recovery, presents a
series of nine lectures beginning on January 8, 2015.
These talks make the wisdom of the 12 Steps of
Alcoholics Anonymous accessible to all people.
2015 Lecture Themes: March 12 Surrender and Trust; April 9 Practice What Principles?; May 14 Spiritual Recovery
from Trauma and Abuse; June 18 (third Thursday), Love and Romance; July 9 Hope; August 13 Finding Joy In Life;
September 10 Becoming Happy
Page 15
TRANSFIGURATION LUTHERAN CHURCH
A Reconciling In Christ Congregation
11000 France Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
Telephone: 952.884.2364
www.tlcmn.com
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN
Permit Number 90037
Early Learning Center 952.884.7955
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Help us be good stewards. If you no longer attend TLC or don’t wish to receive this bi-monthly newsletter, please email us at [email protected].
TLC Staff & Council
Rev. Ed Treat, Pastor-ext. 16……………...…..………………...……………[email protected]
Interim Pastor Mark Hallonquist-ext. 13…………...………………………[email protected]
Intern Pastor Arthur Murray-ext. 21…..………………...………………………[email protected]
Connie Anderson, Director of Volunteer Ministries, ext. 27…………….……[email protected]
Karen Daniels, Organist
Carmen Englert, Organist
Marilyn Erickson, Christian Care Coordinator, ext. 19…………………………...…[email protected]
Mary George, Choir Assistant
Benjamin Gieseke, Youth and Family Intern, ext. 12…[email protected]
Renee Jefferson, Director of Education/Small Group Coordinator, ext. 14…[email protected]
Sarah Lanier, Office Administrator...………………………[email protected]
Austin Rahn, Video Assistant
Rob Reid, Director of Music, ext. 22…………………………………………..….…[email protected]
Barb Wigstadt, Early Learning Center Director, 952.884.7955……..……[email protected]
Jane Weiers, Director of Communications, ext. 18……………………….….....…[email protected]
Transcripts is printed on recycled paper. Please read and recycle.
Church Council 2015
David Collins - President
Ann Johnson - Treasurer
Jo Benson - Secretary
Brian Toms
Laurel Riippa
Sandy Mullen
Ray Lamovec
Angela Rosenow
Rosanne Stoltz
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