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trinity tidings trinity lutheran church 1010 sill street la crosse wisconsin february 2012 from the pastor s desk 44 the dead man came out his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth jesus said to them unbind him and let him go john 11:44 jesus speaks these words to his friend lazarus after raising him from the dead four days in the tomb where in jewish belief the soul has already passed on one is truly dead in body mind and spirit there is no hope for lazarus even his sister martha doubts jesus can bring life back into her departed brother though jesus has declared he will rise again pastor laurie weis with jesus there is always hope for new life opportunity to live freely in the good news of what god is calling us to be and do we all could share stories of how we are bound to certain things and what takes life from us as well as stories of freedom and release new ways of living and being that have provided hope and healing for us too trinity s focus during lent will be woven through this process of binding and unbinding dying to old ways and habits and raised to life in new ways during wednesday midweeks 11:00 a.m 7:00 p.m we ll hear stories shared by trinity folks some who will testify to their experiences in haiti as well as others who will share the impact of what it means to allow god to work in and through them having been freed from what could not have otherwise been released were it not for god our lenten lunches provide a time for conversation and fellowship where who knows we might feel called to offer some testimony of our own they re held following the 11:00 service a healing service will be offered and we ll share more about that in next month s newsletter sunday adult bible study continues in fellowship hall during the education hour and will draw from book of faith lenten journey marks of the christian the devotionals are available from the church office or pastors having the book would be a plus but certainly not a requirement nor is it necessary to have read from it prior to attending we ll use its scripture and discussion questions as part of class just come and join the conversation and faith sharing part of what happens naturally when we delve into the word together marks of the christian also serves as an excellent resource for your daily devotional time untying the knots whatever they might be that keep us bound from experiencing energized free lives offerd to us in jesus is god s good desire for us all and the results can be amazing and beneficial for the kingdom where we are let go to make a difference for others for the world and yes even for ourselves jesus continues to extend the invitation to be unbound and let go in order to serve him and others in a resurrected life join us on this lenten journey won t you peace pastor laurie

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new phone system in the works for everything there is a season and it appears the season is upon us to consider a new phone system for our church home our current system is over a decade old now and the voicemail functions have ceased working its age and subsequent advancement in technology make repair unfeasible we depend on our phone system daily and its demise forces us to move quickly we have solicited four quotes for a new system and one has been identified as acceptable by your church council total cost for the new system comes in at $3621.00 your endowment board has earmarked $2000.00 of 2011 earnings to go toward defraying the cost what a gift our endowment is would you please consider a special gift toward this most important tool in our day-to-day ministry every gift of any amount will help in getting this done simply earmark your gift towards phone fund and drop it by the church office or drop it in the plate next time you re in worship we can knock this out quickly thanks for all the ways you support our work together first communion classes for fifth graders and their parents the time is quickly approaching for us to gather our fifth-grade students together here at trinity for a time of orientation around the sacrament of holy communion getting our kids prepared to join us at the lord s table is a sacred responsibility we d like to invite all current fifth graders and their parents to a brief series of three meetings this february sunday afternoon february 18th 1:00 ­ 2:00 p.m sunday afternoon february 26th 1:00 ­ 2:00 p.m tuesday evening february 28th 6:30 ­ 7:30 p.m both of the sunday meetings will convene in the church sanctuary the tuesday meeting will be downstairs in the fellowship hall and kitchen where we ll be baking the bread we ll use for their first communion at sunday morning worship march 4th we want at least one parent or guardian to be at the classes with each student so we can learn and converse together it s also a good opportunity to brush up on your own understanding of the lord s supper if a parent cannot make a particular class please make plans to have another mentoring adult come with your child such as a grandparent aunt uncle or baptismal sponsor any questions just give us a call i look forward to seeing you in class!

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parish nurse corner st luke s blood drive the january 11 2012 blood drive at st luke s was another success for our northside churches there were 37 donors who together provided 40 units of blood to be shared with those in need thank you trinity members and friends for making that achievement possible you are the backbone of our ministry and we are so grateful for your participation god s blessings we ll be back for a final 2012 drive at st luke s in march and will provide you with dates and times before then again our thanks february spotlight this month our february spotlight shines not on donors but on two faithful trinity members who have staffed trinity s canteen since its blood drive program began in january of 2007 those faithful members are pat blanchard and mara schellpfeffer both retired rn s who watch over and nourish blood donors whose donation has been completed and are now in need of bbqs chips cookies and fruit juices to return their blood counts to normal pat grew up on the south side of la crosse where she met her husband wayne way back in junior high school he was the tallest guy to dance with at the sock hop and was good looking besides after wayne finished military service they married at st paul s lutheran church in la crosse on december 15 1951 later moving to the north side and joining trinity together pat and wayne raised four children nancy jeff david and steven all of whom were confirmed at trinity by pastor nelson they ve been additionally blessed with eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren while pat served as a nurse at lutheran hospital wayne was busy serving as a member of the la crosse police force pat in addition to staffing trinity s blood drive canteen is also an avid rsvp volunteer knitting for them and helping in their sewing room wayne s been a steady trinity volunteer for many years coming to church every monday to help with the counting of monies donated over the weekend while pat s been an international traveler she s busy now caring for zen the family cat who was rescued at the humane society and now enjoys the good life with pat and wayne thank you pat for your many years of exceptional service to trinity and our community mara schellpfeffer spent her rn training in madison wi where rodney her future husband was busy studying economics at uw-madison they met through mutual friends and were married in madison on september 10 1960 their first daughter jody was born in madison their second daughter jackie was born in portage and they later settled in lacrosse where their two girls were raised mara spent her working years as a nurse at madison general gundersen-lutheran and later lakeview health center rod meanwhile was busy as a supervisor-claims adjustor for sentry insurance the schellpfeffers have three grandchildren one girl and two boys a shelter rescue dog named bogart a first-rate black lab and a houseboat named peregrine mara and rod enjoy cruising on peregrine or just sitting on the shoreline basking in the sun mara also enjoys reading and bridge would like to visit england sometime maybe take another long u.s train trip and is thinking about maybe doing some horseback riding again while she s busy with all of that rod will be at trinity every monday morning helping wayne with the counting of monies received on saturdays sundays and in between what amazing people these are constantly serving our church and community we are forever grateful for them thanks mara for the professional service and nurturing you continue to provide you and pat are gems in trinity s crown dear trinity pastors and congregation i would like to thank all of you for your prayers for the many health problems i ve had in the last few years this last one having surgery on september 26th and infections that followed love your neighbor jar monies collected in december were designated for elly mchan our missionary in the holy land and totaled $580.78 donations given in january will be passed along to the salvation army thanks to all of you for your continued generosity the love your neighbor jar focus for february is causeway.

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greetings mary lathrop elca mission interpreter being without a warm place to stay on a cold night in wisconsin can be deadly as i write this article it is -2 degrees outside with a forecast of 8 below tonight i am happy to be in my warm comfortable home but what about that someone who has no home or place to go for shelter how will they survive homelessness is often triggered by a crisis in a person s life this crisis might be related to the changing availability of affordable housing and rental patterns or to job loss maybe it is connected with poor health mental illness addiction domestic violence or a break-up of a relationship evangelical lutheran church in america has called attention to the plight of homeless people following is an excerpt from an article i found on the elca web-site elca message on homelessness a renewal of commitment in our country today homelessness persists hundreds of thousands of people continue to live without housing within a society of abundance the number of elderly people women and children among the homeless is increasing families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population homelessness is a reality in urban suburban and rural communities millions of people exist on the precarious edge of homelessness without major changes in our society homelessness will be more pervasive in the 1990s than it was in the 1980s for some time congregations individuals social agencies and synods of the evangelical lutheran church in america have called attention to the plight of homeless people many members have worked with other churches and groups to provide food shelter and care to study the social causes of homelessness and to advocate policies that respond to the housing crisis people in our congregations who are homeless and potentially homeless remind us of the urgency of the situation it is time to acknowledge with gratitude what people are doing to confess that we have too often neglected homelessness and to renew our commitment to act with justice and compassion the church council of the evangelical lutheran church in america gives thanks to god for what is being done and urges members of our church to take on renewed responsibility for the troubling deeply-rooted reality of homelessness being homeless is being without without shelter without resources without support without recognition without power to influence society being houseless is lacking a permanent place to stay dry and warm a place to feel secure a private space simple survival becomes a fulltime humiliating task people who are homeless often lose their sense of self-worth and their hope for the future they feel cut-off and alienated from the rest of society please help homelessness is real how can we help the la crosse warming center opened its doors november 1 2011 and has been full almost every night it averages 13.5 stays per night homelessness concerns people human beings created in god s image for a life of dignity in justice the story of each homeless person is unique the name the circumstances the decisions the faith the joys and sorrows of each belong to precious individuals the warming house is a welcome place for these homeless individuals to stay on a cold blustery winter night but volunteers are needed to monitor the center located at first baptist church 1209 w main st can you help if you are interested in learning how please phone 608-782-0710 ext 202 amos core team meeting the amos core team will meet tuesday february 21st at 6:00 pm in the library if you have questions or would like to attend our meeting please contact pastor laurie or one of the amos core team members mark mitchell bill schilla deb keller janet loy-minor sharon olson thanks!

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healing through grief group winter 2012 series a free and confidential healing through grief group series is offered mondays from 5:30 pm ­ 6:30 pm in the rose conference room located on the second floor of the la crosse campus hospital st francis building you are invited to attend any part of the series at any time each session includes an educational topic and a time to share with others also experiencing grief please call 608-785-0940 ext 22218 for additional information one-on-one free and confidential support is also available from a franciscan healthcare chaplain with specialized training in grief february 13 creative memory-making ideas february 27 creative expression through art annual giving statements for 2011 annual giving statements for tax purposes will be available in the narthex beginning the weekend of january 14/15 through april 15 if you need to have your statement mailed to you please contact the church office.

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february 2012 trinity s women s bible study will meet monday february 6 th 20th at 7:00 p.m in the library if you have questions about the study please call pastor laurie monday women s bible study meets in february sunday morning adult bible study february 5th 12th 19th the seven deadly sins their corresponding virtures have you ever heard of the seven deadly sins found in the bible whether it s to refresh your memory or share new information with you they are lust gluttony greed sloth wrath envy and pride there is no official list but they are the ones most commonly grouped together that illustrates our natural tendency to sin and their scriptural basis can be found primarily in the book of proverbs and galatians their seven corresponding virtues are chastity temperance generosity caring patience love and humility on these three sundays we ll discuss the first three and then complete the remaining four after lent february 26th this is our first sunday in lent and we begin our study around the lenten devotional marks of the christian based on romans 12 where paul calls us to new life in christ this study will continue through march we ll meet in fellowship hall from 9:40-10:30 just look for the rose-colored divider and signs bring a bible and a friend or two tuesday evening adult bible study join the tuesday evening adult bible study group on february 7th 14th at 7:00 p.m in the library if you have questions please call bill or bev schilla 784-0416 fictional characters book club fictional characters book club will meet on saturday february 18 at 9:00 am in the pederson library our literary selection for discussion this month is the warmth of other suns by isabelle wilkerson please note our book club now meets on saturday mornings

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youth news festival foods receipts the youth will be collecting festival foods receipts quarterly the months for this quarter are january february and march all proceeds will go toward the youth general account keep the receipts coming they really add up kwik trip gas/gift cards available at trinity when shopping for gift cards or your weekly trip to kwik trip to fill up your gas tank consider purchasing a kwik trip gift card everyone needs gas and trinity will make 10 towards youth fundraising efforts every time you purchase a card kwik trip cards are available for purchase in the narthex and in the main office for $10 and $25 each there is also a sign-up sheet in the narthex for orders of any dollar amount needed orders will be placed weekly thank you for supporting our youth programs new youth instrumental group at trinity a new youth instrumental group has started at trinity this group is meeting in the balcony the second and fourth wednesdays of the month from 5:45 ­ 6:15 pm our next meetings will be february 8 22 we plan hopefully to play in church once a month so far there is a nice core group but we would like to include as many youth as possible all are welcome solveig kleppe is leading this group and can be contacted at solveigkleppe@hotmail.com if you have questions souper bowl sunday bring a can of soup or a monetary donation please join us in a nationwide effort to the wafer program on sunday february 5th we will be taking monetary donations or cans of soup to help out the la crosse wafer program a table will be set up in the narthex for your donations children s clothes closet update thank you to everyone for your continued support please keep it up we are helping a lot of people as the new year begins we are in the process of expanding our outreach to two more schools summit northwoods they both have students who are bused from the north side we are also contacting are churches to see if they would like to be involved also the confirmation students are organizing a clothing drive in their neighborhoods from feb 8th through the 15th it is great to have their help if you have time they are collecting the clothes on feb 15th and could use your help as always we can use any help you can give whether it is time or donations we have a group of about 20 volunteers but would love to have more maybe if your employer is willing you could put out a donation box at work please keep the clothes coming elementary age your response so far has been outstanding please call kim mitchell with any questions or if you can help 781-1593 or contact any committee member wee wonders meets sunday february 12th wee wonders a monthly sunday school class for parents and children ages 0-3 meets again from 9:40 -10:30 a.m on sunday february 12th in the nursery kim magnusson is the class facilitator along with jaymee helfrich who serves as classroom helper the class consists of play songs and prayer for adults and little ones as well as conversation around the joys and challenges of being parents of little ones grandparents guardians and foster parents are welcome too we re asking an adult be present with children when attending this class if you are not receiving our cradle roll newsletter splash please let the church office know as 0-3 years is our target age if you have questions please call kim magnusson 792-5153 we hope to see you january 8th!

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family movie night mark your calendar for a night of fun on friday february 17 from 6 9 pm in the youth room for tacos games and movies bring a flashlight with you just in case you re afraid of the dark you may need it during game time the holyword studio will be featuring simon birch and the cinema on the mount will be the land before time please sign up on the youth board sugar creek dates activities it s that time again to mark your calendar for this year s up-coming sugar creek activities trinity s week has been set for june 17-22nd please send your registration form and deposit early to sugar creek to ensure your spot with trinity s youth registration forms will be available in the narthex and sunday school office explorer day camp for k-5th grade has been set for wednesday june 20th you may sign up anytime with reggie consent forms and a $15 camp fee are required if these dates are inconvenient for you please feel free to schedule a time that is convenient through sugar creek please see reggie for more details scholarships are available for everyone attending sugar creek sugar creek information weekend sugar creek s program director jake sorenson will be here march 3/4 to preach and give information about the camps offered at the beautiful and growing sugar creek bible camp he will also be spending time with the sunday school students during the sunday school hour in the nelson faith center parents are welcome to attend and hear about all the exciting ways sugar creek can influence your child s spiritual growth camp brochures activity schedules and scholarship forms will also be available in the nelson faith center narthex and sunday school office living word high school retreat at sugar creek every wonder where the bible came from who wrote it and why it is so important to our faith many people wrestle with these questions and have questions about certain bible passages come and explore your faith and have your questions answered march 16-18 you will have a great time with the sugar creek staff and weekend activities the cost is $60 and trinity will subsidize $15 for each camper please register at www.sugarcreekbiblecamp.org sky ranch colorado high school youth trip there is still room for all presently in 8th grade through high school students to sign up for this summer s high school trip do not miss out on this exciting opportunity to explore sky ranch lutheran camp in the rocky mountains of colorado july 21-28 fun activities will include a high ropes course hiking white water rafting and servant learning opportunities the cost is approximately $600 please sign up with reggie or pastor sandness asap.

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trinity tidings is a monthly newsletter of trinity lutheran church 1010 sill street la crosse wisconsin 54603 all visitors are welcome to worship with us each saturday at 5:30 p.m and sunday s at 8:30 a.m and 10:45 a.m saturday night school is at 4:30 p.m and sunday school is at 9:35 a.m communion is on the first and third sundays of the month at both worship services summer worship june august services are at 8:30 a.m and 10:00 a.m stephan sandness is the pastor laurie weis is the associate pastor and reggie lezpona is the youth director the church office telephone number is 608 782-6200 trinity lutheran church 1010 sill street la crosse wisconsin 54603 return service requested non profit organization u.s postage paid la crosse wi 54603 permit no 346 wafer food of the month february spaghetti and spaghetti sauce rice potato stuffing of helper mixes please keep in mind there is an on-going need for items such as soups paper products and personal hygiene items important reminder for trinity members due to the new privacy regulations when you are hospitalized it is important to indicate on your medical record that you not only are a member of trinity lutheran church la crosse there are several trinity churches in the area but also that you would like the church notified when you are hospitalized pastor sandness or pastor laurie will make hospital visits on monday wednesday and friday each week in the event that someone is admitted through the emergency ward it is important that a family member or friend contact the church february ushers saturday 5:30 p.m dick cheryl harnwell sunday 8:30 a.m butterfield family sunday 10:10 a.m fall/winter/spring worship schedule september brings the return of our regular worship schedule there will be no saturday school this year as all children are encouraged to attend sunday school on sunday mornings from 9:35 to 10:30 a.m we look forward to seeing their excited faces as they return to sunday school worship services will be saturday at 5:30 pm sunday mornings at 8:30 am our radio broadcast service over wkty 580 am and 10:45 am.

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