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TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019
Transcripts March/April 2019 Transfiguration Lutheran Church
TRANSFIGURATION LUTHERAN CHURCH A Reconciling In Christ Congregation
11000 France Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
952.884.2364
www.tlcmn.com
Early Learning Center
www.tlcelc.com
952.884.7955
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN
Permit Number 90037
Scan this with
your smart phone
to jump to TLC’s
website.
As disciples of Jesus
we gather in grace,
grow in faith,
and go forth to serve
Rev. Dr. Ed Treat, Senior Pastor, ext 18 ....................... [email protected]
Rev. Arthur Murray, Associate Pastor, ext 13 ................ [email protected]
+Financial Development Team
Deacon Renee Jefferson, Dir. of Education, ext 14 ........... [email protected]
+Leadership Development Team
Dr. Rob Reid, Director of Music, ext 19 ........................ [email protected]
Ben Cherland, Youth and Family Minister, ext 12 .............. [email protected]
Marilyn Erickson, Care Ministr, ext. 10 ......................... [email protected]
+Mission and Outreach Team
Michelle Reber, Church Administrator, ext 15 ................ [email protected]
Barb Wigstadt, ELC Director ....................................... [email protected]
Stephen MinistryStephen ........................................... [email protected]
Brad Nolte, TLC Media ............................................... [email protected]
The Strategic Planning Team—Jeanine Brown .................... [email protected]
Membership Team—Bob Hettlinger .................................... [email protected]
Welcoming Diversity Team—Sandy Mullen ......................... [email protected]
Communication Team—Brian Harrell .................................. [email protected]
Pat McMullen, Volunteer Parish Nurse
Karen Daniels, Organist
Carmen Englert, Organist
Phetsamone Ekholm, Pianist
Mary George, Vocalist, Choir Assistant
Meghan Krieger, Nursery Coordinator
021919bdn
TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019
March has been our flower sale month for about the past 28 years. It is a very important part of our fundraising plan and has helped raise money for our buses and improvements such as the playground. Transfiguration members have supported us through the purchasing of flowers and helping on the delivery day. Due to the death of the owner of Gardenview Greenhouse, our flower provider for the past 25 years, and
the closure of their business, we are looking for a nursery. We want to continue to offer a similar selection of flowers, price point and delivery schedule if at all possible. More information will be coming about this in the near future.
In April, we will be celebrating the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) April 7 through April 13. We’re
kicking off the week by going to a Timberwolves game. We will be attending the Sunday, April 7th game when the Timberwolves play the Oklahoma City Thunders at Target Center. The game begins at 2:30pm. Tickets are $25. This will be a fun way to spend some time together. Please call the ELC office if you would like to purchase some tickets.
ELC will continue the Week of the Young Child with a lot of special activities, including a family breakfast and full-center parade.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Kathy Scotting’s teaching at TLC-ELC. We celebrate Kathy and all she brings to TLC-ELC and the children.
The Early Learning Center has openings for 3 and 4 year-olds. If you know of any new families to the area, or families who are looking for a center for their children, please give them our information.
Thank you for your support!
-2- -15-
Transfiguration
Lutheran Church
11000 France Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
Ph. 952.884.2364
Fax. 952.884.2151
Email: [email protected]
www.TLCMN.com
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday:
8:30am—4:30pm
Friday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Sunday Worship
8:15, 9:30 & 11:00am
Wednesday Worship
6:15pm
Nursery
Available at all Sunday worship
services
Early Learning Center
(Daycare)
952.884.7955
Director: Barb Wigstadt
www.TLCELC.com
Media
As disciples of Jesus
we gather in grace,
grow in faith,
and go forth to serve.
Watch TLC worship services and events live-stream or
later On-Demand at www.tlcmn.com/live
Sympathy to:
The family of Gina Ford, who passed away this past December. Her son Max attends the ELC KinderPlus program and her 8 year-old daughter, Norah, is in the before-school program.
Paul & Gwen Frosig on the death of Paul’s brother, David, on Christmas Day.
Gloria Boenigk and family on the death of *Walt Boenigk on December 29. Walt’s memorial service was January 12.
Marge Hilleren and family and Jerry & Diane Nettifee Hilleren on the death of *John Hilleren on January 2.
Lynn Krzmarzick and family on the death of Lynn’s husband, Tom.
Elizabeth & Jake Burman on the death of Elizabeth’s father, Mark Eide.
Garrett & Erin Pommeranz on the death of Garrett’s grandfather, Larry Meskan
Gwen & Paul Frosig on the death of Gwen’s brother, Wayne Nelson
*Honored with a tribute page on www.tlcmemorial.com
Barb Wigstadt
ELC Director
4 year-old reading
4 year-olds working together exploring numbers
5 year-olds in science, learning about fish
2 year-old with Mr. Potato Head Unicorn Day
ALTAR FLOWERS
ONLINE ORDERING
The TLC website has a new and easier online
form to order Chancel/Altar Flowers for any
Sunday in 2019. Visit www.tlcmn.com and look
for the "Purchase Altar Flowers" button at the
bottom of any page.
TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 -14- -3-
Like it or not, our culture is
changing. Changing in fact,
faster than at any other time in
human history. Never has so
much changed this fast or this
dramatically. Alarmingly, that
rate of change is expected to
increase with each day and it’s
anyone’s guess as to where it
will lead.
The last time the world went through anything close to
what we are seeing today was the Great Reformation
400 years ago, when the
printing press and Martin Luther
brought about the greatest
transformation of the world up
until then. Today’s digital and
technical reformation is
transforming things even more
profoundly; and since we are still in the middle of it,
it’s anyone’s guess as to where it will take us.
The thing about change is it’s scary. We like things to
be consistent and reliable. We like to know what we
can count on. But because change is unpredictable and
unmanageable, it leaves us vulnerable and feeling
powerless, at the mercy of forces beyond our control.
Our knee jerk reaction to fear is to gain control as fast
as possible, to hang on and keep things from changing
as much as we are able.
The life of faith, of following Jesus, however, is not
hanging on, but letting go. Faith is to trust God in
every season and change of life. God’s word in the
Bible to everyone and in every circumstance when
great change was about to happen is, “Don’t be afraid.”
When Moses and the Israelites were going through the
terrifying transition from slaves to free people, they
faced many fearful moments of change. Each time God
would remind them, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. I
will fight for you.”
When Mary was told she was pregnant, a pregnancy
that would throw her whole life— any hope for a
normal life and normal future went out the window—
she was told, “Do not be afraid.”
One thing that will never change, the only thing we can
hang onto, is the fact that God is with us in all things.
That is the Good News and the Easter promise we
celebrate each year. The life, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ is God’s clear assurance and sure promise
that no matter how things might appear at any given
moment, we can set aside our fear and trust God. God
will bring us through every storm and trouble, and God
will bring us to green pastures and calm waters. We
can really trust that.
Congregations across the
nation are going through the
same challenges we are, and
we have two choices: We can
react in fear, holding onto
everything, and work towards
stopping change. Or we can, like Peter, listen to Jesus,
put out into a little deeper water and drop our nets.
There is, and always will be, much work we can do for
God if we are open to adapting to a changing world and
trust God’s spirit to lead us.
TLC is a very flexible and adaptable congregation, and
this bodes well for us. Being flexible and adaptable
means we have the ability to listen and learn and
change as needed. Let us do that together, as one
body, led by one spirit—because this is God’s will for
us.
Following Jesus is both scary and exciting. With this
combination we can move forward with a spirit of joy
rather than fear.
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” —Romans
8:31
Happy Lent and Easter Everyone!
Pastor Ed Treat
Following Jesus is both scary and exciting. With this combination
we can move forward with a spirit of joy rather than fear. TLC Financial Update
November 2018 Report TLC Health & Wellness
By Pat McMullen, Parish Nurse
Since March is designated as National Nutrition
Month, it is timely to share some wisdom about
nutrition.
Good nutrition begins with the choices we make
at the supermarket. Nutrition-conscious
shoppers follow a few simple strategies to make
sure they bring home healthy foods. Smart
shoppers arrive at the store well-fed to avoid
buying junk food because of hunger rather than
common sense. They shop around the perimeter
or outer aisles of the store where the fresh
produce and dairy products are usually located.
With a full cart, they are also more likely to skip
the processed and packaged food in the inner
aisles. Because they stick to a shopping list, they
are less tempted by “bargains” that don’t really
fit their needs.
Smart shoppers check food labels and skip
products with empty calories in the ingredients
such as foods high in fat and refined sugar.
Further shopping tips for sound nutrition are to:
avoid heavily processed or instant foods and
packed mixes, choose whole-grain breads and
pastas, check expiration dates on perishable
items, shop for fresh produce twice a week so
the nutrients are not lost during a long storage
period.
Good nutrition at the supermarket is not really
complicated. Once you know the basics, it
becomes second nature to look at food from a
nutritional standpoint. And remember to eat at
least five servings of vegetables and fruits each
day, especially those with the most color.
Have a Happy Spring!
The thing about change is
it’s scary. We like things to
be consistent and reliable.
TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 -4- -13-
Music at TLC
Rob Reid
Director of Music
March and April
Worship Highlights
Wednesday, March 6 – Ash Wednesday
Noon – Communion and Imposition of Ashes
6:15pm – Chancel Choir; Communion and Imposition
of Ashes
Noon – Lenten Worship and Communion
6:15pm – Holden Evening Prayer and Communion
Sunday, March 31 – Lenten Hymn Festival
11:00am – Praise and Worship Team
Sunday, April 14 – Palm Sunday!
8:15 and 9:30am – Chancel Choir
11:00am – Praise and Worship Team
Maundy Thursday, April 18
Noon – Worship and Communion
7:00pm – Chancel Choir and TLC Handbells
Good Friday, April 19
10:00am – Children’s Worship and Activities
7:00pm – Tenebrae Service led by the Chancel Choir
and Low Brass Choir
Easter Sunday, April 21
Celebration Worship Services at
8:15, 9:30 and 11:00am featuring the
Chancel Choir, TLC Brass Choir and TLC Handbells
The general operating financial data for January of 2019 is provided below and shows a
decrease in both receipts and expenditures compared to December of 2018. Comparison
with January of 2018 also shows a decline in receipts and disbursements.
The year-end receipts for 2018 enabled TLC to finish the year with an operating surplus
that matched the budget approved last January at the annual meeting. The approved
budget for 2019 reflects a realistic expectation for revenue based on the fall pledge drive
and a realistic expectation for expenses based on adjustments made by the stewardship,
finance and mission teams working together.
Beginning the year with an operating deficit is not good news. The budget for expenses
has no room for savings and will track the budget closely throughout the year. It is
necessary for the giving side to pick up to match the budget if we are to finish the year
in the black.
Receipts and expenditures for the Journey with Jesus capital campaign for December or 2018 and January are
2019 are shown below. The December results enabled a surplus of 48K for the year in comparison to the 2018
budget.
This budget for 2019 remains the same; provides for additional monthly payments against the principal of the
church's mortgage of $5830 per month. The contributions in January were light but for the two month period
of December/January there was a nice surplus. The capital campaign committee continues to work toward
fulfilling the original campaign goals through new pledges and estate giving
2018 Jan 2019 Jan 2018 Dec 2018 YTD 2019 Budget
A: General Fund Receipts 77,052 62,767 105,708 919,537 828,550
B: Total Disbursements 77,837 71,421 85,201 892,053 828,550
Net Income A - B (785) (8,654) 20,467 27,484 0
Jan.2019 Dec.2018 2018 YTD 2019 Budget C. Capital Campaign Receipts 13,873 64,617 318,483 270,034
D. 21,670 21,365 274,373 270,034
Net Capital Campaign Income C - D (7,797) 43,252 43,749 0
TLC Financial Update January Report
Jerry Olson
TLC Treasurer
January 6, 2019
Mason Michael Hayner
All financial reports from 2016 to 2019 are available online at www.tlcmn.com
TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 -12- -5-
Taking the Temperature of the Congregation
Dear Friends in Christ,
Last fall about 230 TLC members
took a standard survey which
was recommended to us by our
Synod. This particular survey is
des i gned t o “ t ake the
temperature” of a congregation
and measures things like overall
energy and satisfaction, as well
as helping us understand what
our “best guesses” are as to how
God is calling TLC.
There was a lot of helpful
data generated by the survey
which will continue to be
unpacked over time by staff,
Council and particularly by
the Strategic Planning teams.
Some of the big takeaways were very encouraging and
helpful:
1. There is a strong commitment to continue to being
a nurturing place for families of all kinds to raise
children. We see ourselves as being a diverse
village for the sake of the next generation. This
ties in well with our 2019 budget which prioritizes
our ongoing relationship with the Early Learning
Center.
2. There is a clear desire to reach out to new folks in
our neighborhood and be a welcoming place for all.
This connects well with the great work being done
by our Membership and our Welcoming Diversity
Teams.
3. There is energy and interest around having strong
programs for all ages in education and faith
formation. Yet we also know given the hectic pace
of life in the 21st century that old models of
programming no longer work for many folks. What
will faith formation look like at TLC over the
coming years? I invite your input and involvement
as we discern the way forward.
One item in the survey, that I initially found
discouraging, was the indication that our congregation
is essentially tired – the language of our survey was
“low energy.” Upon further reflection, I actually feel
this presents us with a great opportunity. This was
articulated clearly by LaVern Nornes at the annual
meeting, one of the faithful members of our Thursday
Men’s Work Group, who made a heart-felt appeal to the
younger generation to get
involved.
T h e s u r v e y w a s
overwhelmingly filled out
by the older generation. To
hear that many of them are
tired is no surprise. They have been serving, giving,
volunteering and carrying this church for a generation.
We would not be who we are, or have the strong
foundation that we have without them. But let us not
condemn them, or ourselves, for this tiredness. Rather,
let us see it as a compelling invitation to the next
generation, to my generation. “This is your church
now” they are saying, “we need you to step up and
take this mantle.”
I have a feeling that those of us in my generation who
respond to this invitation will receive in return every bit
as much blessing as have those who have carried this
church before us. We will find that our church becomes
more meaningful in our lives, that Christ becomes more
present in our homes; that we too will begin to taste
more fully the abundance that comes from life lived
together in Christian community. I intend to take this
invitation seriously. Will you?
Pastor
Arthur Murray
Pastor Arthur
Church Council President
My name is Evan Collins and I
will be serving as the Church
Council President over the next
two years. I have been a member
at Transfiguration Lutheran Church
since 2008 when my parents and I
j o i n e d .
Since then,
we have
been active
members in
the music
ministries (Choir, Brass, Youth
Band, Sound), the Youth Ministries, and the Church
Council as well. My dad served as the Church Council
President in 2016/17. At that time, I had answered a
call to serve in Young Adults in Global Missions
(Y.A.G.M.) Southern Africa program and was placed in
Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
My experience in the Y.A.G.M. program inspired me to
come back to the States and get involved in my church
even more than before. I became a large group teacher
for confirmation, worked with the Peer Ministry group,
started doing the Liturgy on Sunday mornings, became
a guest preacher on occasion, and eventually joined
the Church Council in January of 2018. Becoming
involved in the congregation has been a journey full of
learning moments, grace, and joy; these journeys
teach us who we are and who we want to become.
From these different opportunities, I felt called to step
up and serve in whatever capacity I was called into,
and this year is to serve as the Council President. In
this position, my hope is to
serve people to the best of my
abilities, to listen to the
concerns of the church, the
world, and those most in need,
and to learn more about who I
am and what it means to be a child of God.
My goals are always rooted in the three most important
things in my life: getting to the heart of the matter,
empowering others, and bringing joy. One of my
biggest hopes in this position is to encourage young
adults in the church to become more involved in the
church itself. There is a place for everyone here,
especially young adults. There is no such thing as too
young or too inexperienced for church. God works
through all people, no matter their background in life.
If I can do these things, so can you. Thank you all for
this opportunity, and I look forward to serving the
congregation at TLC.
Evan Collins
Council President
They have been serving, giving,
volunteering and carrying this
church for a generation.
The Joys & Challenges of Parenting
TLC Online Parents’ Support Group
TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 -6- -11-
Liberia, West Africa 2019
Mission Trip to Liberia
TLC’s mission trip in 2019 is taking a very different form than it usually does. We are
going to Liberia in West Africa with plans to depart shortly after Christmas. We are inviting
college students, seniors, parents and others to join youth, 13 year-olds and up. We are
opening the trip to partner congregations sharing the work of supporting The Center For
Changing Lives, Liberia – the ministry of Philip Nushann, one of TLC’s overseas
missionaries. [visit tlcmn.com/liberia for more details]
Those interested in participating or just getting more information should join us at our monthly meeting on the
4th Wednesday and Sunday of each month starting Wednesday, March 27. This is an incredibly exciting
opportunity for TLC and all those who go to deepen our connections with and support towards the work
happening in Liberia. Educational opportunities next fall will be a big part of our preparation for the trip and we
hope you’ll join us. Peace, Ben
Confirmation Corner
MARCH
Mar 6 .......... Ash Wednesday—Mentor Meet & Greet | Small Catechism: 10 Commandments
Mar 13 ........ God Commandments | 1-3
Mar 20 ........ Neighbor Commandments | 8-10 | VEAP Food Drive Night (see below)
Mar 24 ........ VEAP Food Drive (see below)
Mar 27 ........ SPRING BREAK—No Confirmation
APRIL
Apr 3 .......... You Commandments | 4-7
Apr 10 ......... 10 Commandments | Recap and final comments
Apr 17 ......... Wednesday of HOLY WEEK
7th & 8th Graders—No Confirmation
9th Graders—Small Groups | In Home Night (Faith Statements *Due*)
Apr 23 ......... (Tuesday) Faith Statement Interviews
Apr 24 ......... Saul’s Conversion and Ministry—Growing the church with an outsider
VEAP Food Drive Night
VEAP is our Mission of the Month for March, so we’re doing a food drive!
Wednesday Night, March 20: Confirmation hanging door hangers throughout the neighborhood.
Sunday, March 24: We’ll be collecting bags of shelf-stable food donations left in front of participating households.
So mark your calendars! This is going to be fun and it will benefit the work of VEAP in our neighborhood.
Ben Cherland
Youth & Family
Minister
10 TLC Stephen Ministers to
be Commissioned May 2019
We are happy to announce that TLC is in the process of training 10 Stephen Ministers and will be commissioned in May to begin their work! The Stephen Ministers have spent 50 hours of training that involves equipping the ministers with essential caring and relating skills. Participants have learned how to listen to, care for, and walk with those going through difficult times in life. After the Stephen Ministers are commissioned they will then be assigned to a care receiver. Care receivers are people, congregation members and others in the community, who are struggling through a difficult time in life. This can be due to experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some other life crisis. We are thankful for the support of members who generously donated to the Capital Campaign to make this
ministry possible. We are also grateful for the Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers who have given their
time and hearts (and many Saturday mornings) to this ministry.
Standing background L-R: Pat McMullen, Marilyn Erickson, Nadine Grabanski, Cynthia Williamson,
Stephen Ministry Leader Erin Pommeranz, Dick Haugen, Stephen Ministry Leader Becky Woll, Al
Dungan, Louise Olson.
Kneeling foreground L-R: Stephen Ministry Leader Bob Riley, Ben Cherland, Sandy Mullen, Patricia
Weichselbaum.
TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 -10- -7-
Education News
We are going to be visiting
the Sermon on the Mount during
Lent this year. I challenge you
to read the sermon in Matthew
(chapters 5-7) at least once
straight through during Lent.
Then, grasp one of the ideas,
word(s), phrase(s) that speak to
you and let it be a call to you
during Lent. Maybe even share
part of your experience with
someone else! The etymology of the word Lent
points to springtime.
Deacon
Renee Jefferson
Children’s Ministry
9:30 Sunday School: March/April stories for...
Age 3 – Zacchaeus, Lost sheep, Journey to
Jerusalem, Holy Week/Easter
Ages 4 – K – Peter & Tabitha, Holy Week, Easter,
forgiveness of Peter
Grades 1-6 – Children, Zacchaeus, Prodigal Son,
Holy Week, Easter
No Sunday school April 21 – Easter Sunday
Milestones: Parents and children together at 9:30
in the Adult Education room
March 3 – 4 year olds – Forgiveness
March 17 & April 7 – 5th Grade – Communion
April 18 – 5:45 pm – Communion banquet for 5th
graders
Vacation Bible School – June 17-21.
Our theme this year is The Incredible Race. Fill
out an online registration at our website, tlcmn.com
Adult Education Small group opportunities – A new small group booklet
is available and includes a brief description of groups
and contact persons. Copies available in the Narthex or
online at the TLC website.
Lenten Extras 10:45am on Wednesdays in Lent – Sermon on the
Mount study (immediately before the noon worship)
Fellowship Luncheons during Lent – after the
Wednesday noon worship, join at least one of the TLC
staff as we eat together at the following locations:
March 6, Ash Wednesday – Grand Szechuan,
March 13 – Dairy Queen
March 20 – Willy McCoy’s
March 27 – Zeke’s Place
April 3 – Baker’s Square
April 10 – North Star Tavern
We Care
LET’S DONATE & DO
As you may know, TLC is not able to financially support VEAP and many
other Mission Partners in the 2019 budget. But… we have options. We can step up the pace of our food, diapers, personal items, and paper supplies donations. We can write personal checks to TLC and indicate VEAP in the memo line, and/or we can donate our valuable TIME. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 28 from 2:30-to 5:00pm, we are looking for up
to 20 volunteers to help in the VEAP warehouse, sorting produce and other items to be put on the pantry shelves. What better time to do this than during Minnesota Food Share Month!
Please call church or call/email me if you are willing and able. Joanne Haugen 952.894.9023
Oasis for Youth is a vital community asset empowering all youth at risk of
homelessness to believe in bright futures filled with hope, stability and self-
fulfillment.
Oasis is celebrating 7 years of providing tools for stability and opportunities to
thrive through individualized case management, onsite supportive services
and connections to housing and community resources.
Oasis is built on values that are the core of the organization’s culture.
They are:
• Innovation-oriented creative responses to address barriers to healthy development.
• Bridge builders extend their reach through partnerships and collaborations.
• Community leaders being advocates for youth in our communities.
• Youth-focused each youth is an individual with unique strengths, challenges, life
experiences, and desires for the future.
• Youth development uses youth development best practices in all its work.
• Evidence-based embrace high standards for quality and excellence based upon national
research, academic studies and its own metrics achieved through solid evaluation.
OASIS FOR YOUTH: 952-512-2061
OasisForYouth.org
TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 TLC Transcripts ▪ March/April 2019 -8- -9-
Have you ever checked out the
lower level of TLC?
Step down the wide staircase on
the east end of the building (or
take the elevator on the west end).
As you get close to the lower floor
you can hear the characteristic
clack of breaking billiard balls, a
ping pong ball thwacked by a
paddle, then bouncing on a hard
tabletop, or the loud, distinctive
crack of a plastic disc being
hammered across a blanket of air.
How about one or more voices
singing along with drums and
piano?
Sometimes you might hear nothing
but soft voices.
The sign outside the door says,
"Youth Room," and if you peek
inside, it quickly becomes obvious
that this isn't like any
other room found at
TLC. Here, TLC youth
and their friends can
hang out and let go of
daily pressures. It’s an
atmosphere of activities
that include ping-pong,
pool tables, air hockey,
foosball, video games,
and a band stage.
And, it's not always about the
games. The overall look, the wall
murals and graffiti, the layout of
cozy furnishings were created or
inspired by recent generations of
TLC youth. The room helps define
them, embracing their unique
contributions and existence in the
world. The look, feel and function
of the youth room supports an
environment of grace and
hospitality -- a place to explore
faith with friends.
Ben Cherland, TLC's Youth and
Family Minister and a key
contributor in the design explains,
"It's a great place for some of the
older kids to hangout on Sunday
mornings and Wednesday nights.
Cherland was pleased to report that
the “Wish List” on the youth page
of TLC’s website still needs
fulfillment, but was answered in the
past month with a donation of
several strings of white Christmas
lights, ping-pong nets and paddles
and, Cherland said, “a fancy pool
table; really beautiful, with brand
new felt,” gratefully adding, “A big
thank you to TLC members, Lee
and Nicole Larson for their
contribution of the pool table.
Finally, if you come down the stairs
and hear nothing at all, it may be
the TLC youth and friends involved
in thought about this passage from
1 Timothy 4:12, "Don't let anyone
look down on you because you are
young, but set an example for the
believers in speech, in conduct, in
love, in faith and in purity."
WHAT’S THAT NOISE?
Clack—Thwack—Crack!
Youth Leader, Karen Wenge and Kayla watch their knuckles in Air
Hockey. Behind them Megan and Youth Leader, Molly Schuh play
ping-pong.
Design and ambience created by TLC Youth
“11 ball in the corner pocket.”
Curb Appeal is defined as the
attractiveness of the exterior of a
property, as viewed from the
street.
What about “Church Appeal”?
TLC certainly has many members
welcoming visitors or telling friends
and even strangers about the
church. People driving by see the
ELC children on the playground;
the cars in the parking; a flower
sale on the lawn in the spring, even
a few outdoor services.
However, one particular constant,
yet ever-changing “church appeal”
offered to passersby at the corner
of 110th and France avenue is TLC’s
large illuminated sign.
Jim Sorum –the sign’s imaginative
wordsmith– attached his last character this past December. He’d been at
it for 15 years with a tote box of plastic letters and numbers, and
sometimes with a mischievous attitude.
“Yes, I intentionally misspelled a few words once in a while,” said Sorum,
“to see if somebody driving by would stop into the office – and they did!”
Spelling hi-jinks aside, the messages themselves are mostly crafted by
Sorum.
“Most of the sayings are my originals. I’ve picked some from
various magazines, tweaked them and used them. Others
come from listening to sermons and hearing a phrase that
would be good on the sign.”
Sorum has saved a list of all the messages, keeping them in a
folder for future sign makers. Now it is being turned over to
Ben Cherland, Youth and Family minister, who was there
Tuesday for training. He plans to have the sign's message
compositions and assembly as part of the confirmation
program, saying it’s a great ministry of the church.
Sorum had a closing thought about his sign-making tenure. “I
loved being able to create and come up with sayings – and
once in a while having people comment about what they saw,
‘That message was really significant,’ or, ‘That message was
really upbeat.’ But then there comes a time when you just
have to retire from a lot of different things. This was one of
them. It can now be passed on to the next generation.”
Stories from Transmissions TLC’s Weekly Email Newsletter - Subscribe at tlcmn.com
SIGNING OFF! 15 Years of Church Appeal
Carefully opening the frozen acrylic
cover.
Jim Sorum (foreground) gave Ben
Cherland a quick lesson in attaching
the plastic characters.
In 2002, Frances Simonson donated funds to build
TLC’s corner sign in memory of her late husband,
Dale Simonson.
