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Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church & School Trinity Tidings Volume 14, Issue 3 September 2017 How Important Is Going to Church Really? Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian”? I believe that phrase is one of Satan’s most effective and destructive deceptions. It makes me sad. We could just as easily say, “I don’t have to talk to my wife to be a husband” or “I don’t have to spend time with my children to be a parent.” Both are technically true, but they’re descriptions of unhealthy relationships. Any relationship like that will soon grow apart. The relationship will grow weaker and weaker and will eventually fail. We know it. We recognize that the desire to stay away from someone is a strong indication that something is seriously wrong and needs to be fixed. In a healthy, growing relationship, we want to spend time together. We make plans to see each other. We move things around to make it happen. We look forward to it! We just want to be together. We talk. We connect. We share our lives. Sometimes we plan for big exciting adventures. We look forward to them, but they are not the foundation of our relationship. They celebrate a relationship that is growing every day. It’s the little things that provide the strength and the satisfaction of a loving relationship. Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 2

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Trinity Evangelical LutheranChurch & School

Trinity TidingsVolume 14, Issue 3

September 2017

How Important Is Going to Church Really?

Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t have to go to church to

be a Christian”? I believe that phrase is one of Satan’s most effective

and destructive deceptions. It makes me sad. We could just as easily say,

“I don’t have to talk to my wife to be a husband” or “I don’t have to

spend time with my children to be a parent.” Both are technically true,

but they’re descriptions of unhealthy relationships. Any relationship like

that will soon grow apart. The relationship will grow weaker and weaker

and will eventually fail. We know it. We recognize that the desire to stay

away from someone is a strong indication that something is seriously

wrong and needs to be fixed.

In a healthy, growing relationship, we want to spend time together.

We make plans to see each other. We move things around to make it

happen. We look forward to it! We just want to be together. We talk.

We connect. We share our lives.

Sometimes we plan for big exciting adventures. We look forward to

them, but they are not the foundation of our relationship. They

celebrate a relationship that is growing every day. It’s the little things

that provide the strength and the satisfaction of a loving relationship.

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 2

It’s a phone call just to hear your voice. It’s sitting together to do little

things. It’s eating together and working together. It’s laughing together

and crying together. It’s time, time we happily spend simply because

there’s no place we’d rather be that in the presence of someone we

love and someone who loves us back.

It’s the same in our relationship with our Savior and with our church

family. If we have a desire to stay away, there is something wrong. Love

doesn’t lead us to avoid God’s house. Love makes us want to be with

him. We want to hear his voice. We want to talk with him, eat with him,

and connect. It’s fun to have big, exciting events, but that’s not the

foundation of our relationship. It’s the everyday things. Hearing his

word. Celebrating his sacraments. Singing and praying. Just spending

time in his presence.

Hebrews 10:19–25 provides a beautiful list of reasons to spend time

in the Lord’s house. Verses 19-22 show us the privilege we have in

coming to God’s house. Imagine the pain and longing of two people in

love who are separated. Maybe their families keep them apart. Maybe

one moved far away. They dream of the time they could have together,

but instead feel that pain of separation. They would move mountains

just to be together again.

We were separated from our loving God. We sinned. We ran away.

We were lost and powerless to come back home. But Jesus came and

opened a way to bring us back home. It’s a living way. Jesus is the way.

The cost was terrible, but he paid it. Now we can draw near to God

through his Word and sacrament. We have the privilege of coming

home to spend time in God’s presence.

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to

enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has

opened for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is,

through his body)—21 and since we have a great high priest over

the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full

assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil

conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Not everyone has the privilege of coming into God’s presence. But

we do. Jesus opened the way. Jesus loves us and we love him. We want

to spend time together, talking, connecting, and sharing our lives. We

do that together in God’s house.

Verse 23 tells us to hold on to what we have. Remember how much

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 3

you knew about God and his word during your confirmation years? How

much of that is lost now? God’s word is the source of our strength. It’s

how we grow. How many places can you go to hear God’s word, receive

his sacraments, and grow closer to the Lord, your God? Let’s hang on to

God’s Word. Let’s get stronger together.

23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering,

since he who promised is faithful.

So we come to church, one of the few places in all the earth where

God’s people can gather around word and sacrament to confess

together, grow together, and hold on to the truth of God’s Word.

Verse 24 tells us that church is healthy. Church is where we can

watch out for each other. Where we can urge each other to put God

first. Where we can motivate each other to sacrifice for the kingdom

together. To put down our phones, turn off our TV and computer

screens, and work together to glorify God and save souls.

24 And let us watch out for one another to spur on love and good

works.

So we come to church. Church is not a building or an activity. Church

is God’s people doing God’s work together. Church is God’s people

showing God’s love for him and for each other.

Finally, verse 25 tells us how to keep our faith and our love growing.

It’s easy to neglect the important things in life. It’s easier to pursue a

hobby or watch something than it is to work on a relationship. It’s easier

to stay at home than it is to get up and do something important. We can

always find excuses not to worship, not to serve, not to put God first.

But they are just excuses. They are the whispers of Satan spreading

poison into our souls.

25 Let us not neglect to gather together, as some are in the habit

of doing, but encourage each other, and all the more as you see

the day approaching.

Let’s stay close to God. Let’s encourage each other in our faith. Let’s

pray together, worship together, work together. Let’s spend time

together in God’s house. Let’s prepare together for eternity.

There aren’t many places where you can do that. Trinity Evangelical

Lutheran Church is one of them. God tells us it’s vital for our souls. Let’s

love God enough and love each other

enough to gather together in God’s

house.

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 4

TLC Food Pantry

“TLC” FOOD PANTRY

“TLC” Food Pantry Hours:

Tue & Thu

10 am – 12 pm

KUDOS: “BECAUSE OF YOU”

Our “TLC” Food Pantry continues to share God’s Grace:

2017 – “39” families (Jan - July)

2016 – “102” families

2015 – “55” families

2014 – “22” families

2013 – “21” families (Sept – Dec)

“Popular food pantry items are:” Boxed dinners, Spaghetti,

Canned meats, Soups, Peanut Butter/Jelly, Cold & Hot cereals, Pancake mix,

OR monetary donations also can be given anytime to Birgit Yunke or

Mary Beyer for Items to be purchased.

“THANK YOU” for your continued outstanding support!

Looking for Thrivent sponsers for the food pantry!

Contact Birgit Yunke or Mary Beyer if you are interested.

God’s Blessings!

Mary Beyer(cell #: 715-923-7951)

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 5

Board of Education

Serving on the Board:

Tim Baneck (chairman), John Maedke (vice-chairman), Kris Charapata

(treasurer), Dustin Lorenz (secretary), Jeremy Vieth

Enrollment as of September 5:

First day of school for grades K-8 was August 28 and September 5 for

preschool.

Overall Preschool-Grade 8 Enrollment is 3 students less than 2016-17.

K -Grade 8: 39 (down 7); 4 year-old preschool: 16 (up 4);

3 year-old preschool: 7(same)

Welcome to New Staff:

Beth Kamps: Grade 5-8 teacher from 8:00-1:15

Pastor Tesch: Grade 5-8 teacher from 1:15-2:45

Rachel Cotton: School Secretary from 7:30-9:30

Thank You to our Classroom Volunteers:

Kathy Salewsky, Suzanne & Will Bolyard, Kelly Fuez, Boyana Mercer,

and Kim Peterson

Students per Classroom:

Teacher Grades Students

Barb Tesch/Julie Desotell K 10

Jessie Kempky: 1-2 12

Nathan Deering: 3-4 7

Beth Kamps/Pastor Tesch: 5-8 10

Tuition:

Total 2017-18 Tuition owed = $106,200.00

Amount collected as of 8/31/17 = $27,349.50

Scholarship Awards as of 8/31/17 = $9,000.00

Highlights:

• New implementation of the Child Protection Policy that applies to

the school and church youth programming - requires background

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 1

checks for employees and volunteers who will be working with

children.

• Examination of the synod's accreditation program to identify

strengths and areas of improvement for the school.

• Examining entry into the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program for

2018-19, impacting economically qualified families for grades 4K,

5K and grade 1.

Congregational Invitation to Hear School Choice Experts on

October 6 @ 1:00-2:30 or 3:30-5:00:

Tom Plitzuweit (WELS Ex. Director, Commission of Lutheran Schools)

and Terry Brown (Vice President of School Choice Wisconsin) will speak

to the Board of Education and school staff. Congregation members are

encouraged to attend this special presentation at our school. Contact Rae

Cotton (715-732-2956) to indicate your intent to attend so we can

properly plan.

Upcoming Events Open to any Congregational Member:

September 26 Parent Financial Literacy Presentation @ 6:00

October 6 Presentation by School Choice Experts @ 1:00-2:30

or 3:30-5:00

Visit our School Calendar on the Web:

https://trinitymarinette.com/school/school-calendar/

Discipleship Coordinator

Hello Trinity,

So far I've been looking for people to help out as teachers and

helpers in the Footsteps program. We did find some but we would

love to have a couple more teachers and helpers. Even if you can't

come every Sunday we'd love to have you help out when you could.

I've also been letting people know about youth group events coming

up and Pioneers. Youth Group will have some meetings with other

young adults in Marinette and Menominee, but they will also get

together with young adults from Crivitz, Peshtigo, Coleman, and

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 2

Grover. It's a great opportunity to meet other's their age who are

also looking to grow in their faith. For the first pioneer's meeting we

will be working on knots here at the school. Please let me know if any

members of the congregation that are in K-8 are interested in joining

us.

We will have some fellowship events coming up. Either September 29

or 30 we will be having a Game night for church members and their

families as well as our school families. Bring your favorite board game

or come learn how to play someone else's. We'll also have a lot of

decks of cards to play sheep's head or cribbage or learn some new

card games. Then in November we will be holding a Talent show!

Please let me know if you are interested in performing/presenting

something otherwise we hope you can come and enjoy seeing some

different acts.

God's Blessings,

Jessica Rohde [email protected]

Board of Elders

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual

blessing in Christ.

Another newsletter and another School year are upon us. We

would like to urge strongly all parents of our school children, to

attend church with your child or children. By doing so you are setting

an example for them. Remember Children learn by following parent’s

examples. Jesus sure loves it when he sees his lambs in worship.

Our discipleship co-ordinater has started her job. We pray

that we all help and support her in her endeavors. We all need to

work together for our church.

The Board has excepted three new member to our family.

Boyanna Mercer and her three children, Amber McMahon and three

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 3

children and Ashleigh Mercier and two children.

There are at this time seven prospects for Membership to

Trinity.

There are a lot of empty pews for Sunday and Monday

services. The Board would like to put out a challenge for them to

filled. There are many good reasons to attend and to many bad

excuses why not. In Christ Board of Elders

TLS Stewardship Committee

(Dave Schacht, George Dumke, Wayne Conner)

Winston Churchill reportedly said that "we make a living by what we

get, but we make a life by what we give." According to Churchill then,

our lives are defined less by what we have gotten, and more by what

we give away.

Our Lord's life is defined in this way. He gave completely of Himself

for us. He became man for us. He taught the truth of God's Word. He

healed those with many and various diseases. He died the death that

we deserve because of sin. He gave of Himself in order to save us

from sin, death, and hell. And so, it is that by giving completely of

Himself, He got for Him-self us, making us citizens of His eternal

kingdom by grace.

As it was for Jesus, so it is also for us. We get more from giving than

we do from simply getting. For giving softens our hearts and frees us

from the grip which the worries of this world and making a living has

on us. For when we are singularly focused on making a living, we are

singularly focused on what we get. That mindset begins to bleed into

all areas of our lives-our relationships with friends and family, with

neighbors and coworkers, and with the Lord. It shifts our focus from

asking the question-How can I be a friend, family member, neighbor,

and servant to others-to asking the question-what have they done for

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 4

me lately. We become more selfish instead of selfless.

But when we give, we do not have less, we have more because when

we give we join in the bond of friendship and family, the bond of

service to those around us out of love for them. And love is the

fulfillment of the Law. It is the nature of God Himself, for God is Love.

Thus we are reflecting the divine nature. As Jesus said "It is more

blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

Serving and Playing Together

Have you seen the list of upcoming events at Trinity?

Praise Team Tuesdays 6:00pm

Choir Wednesdays 6:30pm

Pioneers September 24 2:00pm

Games & Cards September 30 2:00pm

Reformation Movie October 4 &11 6:00pm

New Member Class October 5,12,19,26 6:30pm

Grill & Chill October 14 12:00n

Youth Group Hike October 21 1:00pm

Trunk or Treat October 31 4:00pm

Talent Show November 11 2:00pm

Between faithful members at Trinity and our new Discipleship

Coordinator, there are more opportunities to serve together, connect

together, reach out together, and grow together than there has been

in a long time.

This past July, we called a Discipleship Coordinator to serve us

half time. Jessica Rohde serves God as our new D.C. She has been

hard at work organizing and encouraging new ways for us to grow

together as disciples of Christ. Maybe she’s already contacted you.

Maybe you’ve already been blessed by her work. Regardless, there

are more ways for us to encourage each other now than every

before. And there are more to come.

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 5

One of Jessica’s big challenges is reaching our Trinity

members. She doesn’t know us all yet. Sometimes we don’t return

her communications. I encourage you to return her calls. Work with

her. Pray for her. Together, by God’s grace, we can make Trinity can

grow. We can become stronger, closer, and more effective. We can

encourage each other, support each other, and help each other

grow.

It’s an exciting time to be at Trinity. Let’s work together for

the glory of God!

Hurricane Relief

GET INVOLVED TODAYJoin other Thrivent members by supporting disaster relief efforts.

HURRICANES HARVEY AND IRMA

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have left a trail of destruction across the southern

United States. Harvey uprooted the lives and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of

people in Texas and western Louisiana. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Irma

caused chaos and devastation in Florida as well as in Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Virgin Islands. It's anticipated Irma will impact multiple other states, including

Georgia and the Carolinas, too.

Personal donations

You can make a personal donation on

Thrivent.com to provide assistance to hurricane

victims. When you do, Thrivent will double the

impact – up to $3 million.

This opportunity will run until the $3 million match is met or until December 31, 2017,

whichever comes first.

The organizations listed below have been selected to receive matching dollars. To

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 6

donate, simply click the name of the organization to which you wish to personally

donate. Thrivent Financial will pay the processing fees associated with the personal

donations.1

As a Thrivent member, you have additional ways to help those affected:

Local support

Spearhead a grassroots effort in your community by leading a Thrivent Action

Team to raise funds to help those affected by the hurricanes. Use promo code

"2017 Hurricanes", and you'll receive a Thrivent Action Kit containing team T-

shirts, $250 in seed money to launch your efforts and promotional materials – 5

to 7 business days after your event or project is approved.

Visit Thrivent.com/actionteam to get started.

Direct Choice Dollars®

If you're an eligible Thrivent member with available Choice Dollars, you can

direct them to the following organizations to help support those affected by

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Please note you will be prompted to log in.

National

• Convoy of Hope, Springfield, MO

• Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta, GA

• LCMS Disaster Response, St. Louis, MO

• Lutheran Disaster Response (ELCA), Chicago, IL

• Orphan Grain Train Inc., Norfolk, NE

• Samaritan's Purse, Boone, NC

• WELS Christian Aid and Relief, Waukesha, WI

Regional

• American Red Cross of Central Texas, Austin, TX

• American Red Cross Palm Beach and Martin County Florida,

West Palm Beach, FL

1 Thrivent will pay the processing fees for personal donationsmade through InFaith Community Foundation up to $1 millionor 12/31/17, whichever comes first.

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 7

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 8 Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 9

Trunk or Treat

Are you interested in a simple, wholesome way to

celebrate Halloween

and have community

outreach at the same

time? If so, do we

ever have the answer

for you!

Trunk or Treat!

We will be hosting our

Second Trunk or Treat

on Oct.31st from 4-6 p.m.

The concept is simple. Join us in the School parking lot.

Park your car and bring a few simple or as elaborate

decorations as you want to decorate your trunk with. You

can have a theme (Disney, jungle, fall harvest etc.) We

want to make this very family friendly so please no super

scary trunks. If you want to join us, but don't want to

decorate your trunk, just think of your car as your front

porch; the only requirement is some treats to pass out

and a friendly smile. (you may want to bring a lawn chair)

Please be in the parking lot at 3:30p.m. to set up your

trunk or tailgate. For the safety of the children, we will

close the lot from 4-6. Instead of going house to house,

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 10

kids will go car to car; providing a safe, secure

alternative to trick or treating.

It would be nice to have some games for children to play

and a concession stand to hand out free coffee & juice

(possibly popcorn) to families. The whole point being for

us to use this opportunity to make the community feel

welcome and comfortable. This is a GREAT outreach tool!

It's also a fabulous way to get to know your church

family. Please invite family, friends, neighbors to join us

either with decorated trunks or to trick or treat.

We are looking for volunteers to help with general set-up

and take-down of the event, host trunks, run games, be

at concession stand, welcome public. Also to donate

candy, juice or Christian trinkets for handouts (can be

bought through Oriental Trading Company or Hobby

Lobby). If you have a cool yard game or idea for a fun

Halloween-type game you'd like to run for the kids, we'd

love to have your help!

There are sign-up sheets in the basement for

volunteering to participate and also donate goods &/or

your time. You can also text Heather Peterson at 715-

923-0802 or call her home number at 906-864-3597.

You can also email her at [email protected]. She

will be happy to answer any questions. Please let us know

how many cars we can expect.

Come, join the fun, and let your light shine for His glory.

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 11

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 12

On the lighter Side

A kindergarten teacher was walking around observing her

classroom of children while they were drawing pictures. As she

got to one girl who was working diligently, she asked what the

drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God

looks like."

Without looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They

will in a minute."

It was Palm Sunday but because of a sore throat, 5-year-old

Johnny stayed home from church with a sitter. When the family

returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Johnny

asked them what they were for.

"People held them over Jesus' head as he walked by," his

father told him.

"Wouldn't you know it," Johnny fumed, "the one Sunday I

don't go and he shows up."

A teacher was testing the children in her Sunday school class to

see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.

She asked them, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big

garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 13

get me into Heaven?"

"NO!" the children answered.

"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept

everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?"

Again, the answer was, "NO!"

Now she was smiling. Hey, they're getting it, she thought!

"Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the

children, and loved my husband, would that get me into

Heaven?" she asked.

Again, they all answered, "NO!"

She was just bursting with pride for them. "Well," she

continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"

A five-year-old boy shouted out, "YOU GOTTA BE DEAD."

Trinity Tidings - September, 2017 Page 14