Trinity Times

February, 2016

In this issue: Annual Meeting TODAY Trinity Connections Event Mission updates

A Family in Christ

Loving and Serving

Our World

A Faithful God I recently completed writing my report for Trinity’s Annual Report, to be shared at the annual meeting. As I reflected on all that God did in our midst, I was struck again by how faithful God has been to us. So many things happened in our midst that could only have come about through God’s work and action. One of the most significant

was the dramatic provision for our financial needs. The best estimates based on past giving patterns projected that we would end 2015 with a deficit of $20,000. In the end, we closed the books with a surplus of about $4,000! What an awesome God we serve! The significance of this goes beyond the obvious boost to our financial situation. It points, rather, to the continued faithfulness of God. I believe this is a clear indication that God is not done with us, and will continue to show himself to be faithful. This is an important reminder as we seek to live out the vision he has set before us. We have experienced lots of change. We will certainly see more as we continue to implement our vision. But in the midst of all that is happening, we have the assurance of God’s faithfulness. I am reminded of Joshua 1:9, where the people of Israel are about to tackle huge challenges in obedience to God’s call. God says to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged. For Yahweh your God will be with you wherever you go.” We serve a faithful God. We can trust in his presence as we step into the challenges that lie before us. He will be with us wherever we go! In Christ, Pastor Peter

Sta - Out and About

Pastor Peter Vogt published a short devotional meditation on Ruth 1:16 in the book, Devotions on the Hebrew Bible: 54 Reflections to Inspire and Instruct. He is also finalizing an essay on Deuteronomy that will be published later this year.

Trinity Talk Notable Birthdays: Birthday greetings to Doris Bauer who will celebrate her 90th birthday on February 17! Happy Birthday, Doris!

Baby news: Congratulations to Mike and April Schellman on the arrival of Helena Eve on December 30, at 4:20 pm. She weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz, and was 21 3/4” long. Wolfee is her proud big brother.

Also, congratulations go to Bonnie Newman on the birth of her first great-granddaughter, Miliana Lee, on January 8.

Boxes arrive in Ukraine: Thank you to all who donated cold weather items for our sister church in Chigirin, Ukraine. Five large boxes were shipped in November and arrived in Ukraine just before Christmas.

Mustard Seed Café now open: The new Café setting is now open! During Trinity’s CoJee Connection time, from 10:00 - 10:30 am, every Sunday, you can now enjoy a intimate setting with comfortable chairs and tables. Coat racks can be found in the east and west hallways or in the Fellowship Room. Thank you to the many volunteers who designed the space and put together the furniture to create this new area.

March newsletter deadline: If you have news concerning upcoming events, please remember that the deadline for information submitted to the Trinity Times newsletter is Noon on Monday, February 15. You may put written notices in Renee Nelson’s mailbox in the oKce or send an email to rnelson@tbcmn.org.

Trinity’s Annual Meeting Is TODAY

Time: 11:45 am

Place: Social Hall

The meeting will begin with a light lunch (no charge) in the Social Hall, followed by the Annual Meeting shortly after lunch is served. Everyone is invited to attend, however only members may vote.

Proposed 2016 Ballot

Board of Stewards (vote for four)

Kip Bloomer Juanita Gustavson Parnell Kingsley Ross Rud

Nominating Committee (vote for two)

Joyce Bjorklund Karen Burton Dick Nelson Kay Skoog

Trinity Connections holds Identity Theft Seminar

Identity theft - it’s a real problem in today’s world of computer hacking and sophisticated scams. Trinity Connections will feature a presentation by Washington County Attorney Peter Orput on Thursday, February 18, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. This seminar is specifically geared to seniors, but all are welcome. So join us in the Fellowship Room for the presentation (about an hour) and then stay for a light lunch with a suggested donation of $3 per person. Watch for a sign-up sheet at the Welcome Center in the foyer. This program will NOT replace the regular Thursday morning “CoJee Connections” time from 9:00 - 10:30 am.

Community Bulletin Board shares news of Trinity

Located on the west wall of the Mustard Seed Café, there is now a place for you to get information about upcoming events at Trinity and our community, as well as current Board of Stewards meeting minutes. Also, if you have something to buy or sell, or a service to oJer, these notices can be placed here. For example: Jack Bussiere is looking for someone to help with part-time housekeeping in exchange for free rent. Check out his post on the board. Please give your 4 x 6 notecard to Renee Nelson in the oKce for approval. Only approved cards and flyers will be allowed; unauthorized notices will be removed. Check the board each week for new items!

What is a “Co ee Connections Thursday?”

Answer: A weekly coJee hour/fellowship time which happens each Thursday morning from 9:00 - 10:30 am, in the Fellowship Room. Who’s invited: Men and women, young and old - anyone looking for a place to chat with friends and take a break. Wear what’s comfortable - this is not an occasion for formal wear. CoJee and small treats will be available. No charge. Questions - contact Dan or Kay Skoog.

A Christmas letter from Pastor Nikolai, Chigirin Church, Ukraine

Christmas has come! It is the holiday of hope. It is time to look back and summarize! To God be the glory for everything! Previous year wasn’t easy at all. The war is going on. We can definitely feel the results of the tension. But the saddest thing is that many people live with the fear of tomorrow. And they have reason to think so. But during these holidays again and again we hear the words that give us hope, Luke 2:10, “Have no fear; for truly I give you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”

Let’s put all our worries on the one who was born and let’s rejoice, because He is not a child anymore. He is Christ the Lord! Merry Christmas! Thank you for your prayers. I pray for you!

With love in Christ, Pastor Nikolai

Lend a hand at Trout Lake Camp

Each summer as many as 500 students visit Trout Lake Camp each week to “meet with God.” The camp, located near Pine River, MN, is looking for people to help clean, build, and repair the camp before the summer camping season begins. All energy and skill levels can be used; anyone age 18 and over is welcome. Service opportunities are April 11-14, April 18-21, April 25-28, and May 2-5. For more information and to register, visit www.troutlakecamps.org or call the camp at 218-543-4565. Questions? Contact Joyce Bjorklund or Brian Klassen (recent ServTeam volunteers).

We want to thank Rod Larson for his visits at St. Joes Hospital and at Southview Nursing Home. A thank you to Lorimer and Jean Berglund for there visits to the Southview Nursing Home. Thank you for all your cards, prayers and best wishes. Betty has finished her therapy at Southview Nursing Home. Betty came home on January 5. She can only put 25% of her weight on the leg so far. The surgeon said she had a bad break. We will see him on January 13, and hopefully will give her an “ok” for 50% of her weight on her leg. Betty will have therapy by Home Health Services at home for a while. It will be some time before she will be able to walk on her leg. God has surely showered us his healing powers by Betty not having much pain. She has felt your love and prayers and looks forward to coming back to Trinity once again soon. Gordon & Betty Anderson We deeply appreciate and have felt your prayers during my mom’s (Jan) decline and now in these diKcult days since her passing. We continue to see many mercies in the details and are grateful for the care of a praying church family and a tender and gracious Savior. God’s peace! Jan and Randy Jessup Thanks to Trinity for the prayer support and visits during Mom's illness and home going. Our family was at peace during this diKcult time. We all will miss her but I know she is at home with her Lord. Thank you for the beautiful flowers at her memorial service. Juanita Gustavson

Wednesday evenings

February

Dinner ~ 5:15 pm Dinner is served at 5:15 pm There is no cost for dinner; however a suggested donation of $5 per adult and $2 per child (under the age of 10) is appreciated. No reservations are necessary.

Menu

February 3 - Pulled Pork Sandwiches February 10 - Chow Mein

February 17 - BBQ drummies, mac and cheese February 24 - Soup & Grilled Cheese

Programs ~ 6:15 - 7:30 pm Children Infants (birth - 24 months) .................................................................... Nursery

AWANA Programs Cubbies: Ages 2, 3 and 4 (by September 1) ................................Room 110 Sparks: Kindergarten - Second Grade ........................................ Room 106 Adventure: Grades 3-4 ........................................................................Room 107 Challenge: Grades 5-6.............................................................................. Room 6 Adults

Adult Bible Study - Reading Judges and Ruth: A Guide for the Perplexed ............................................................................... Fellowship Room (Teacher: Pastor Peter Vogt)

Choir .............................................................................................. Worship Center (Choir Director: Denice Hinrichs)

Trinity’s Missionary of the Month Aree and Pacharin Chuchmanamast

Serving with Campus Crusade (Cru) in Thailand

The Chuchmanamast’s ministry with Thailand’s Cru is focused on training ministry teams to reach Thai students on university campuses throughout Thailand. They also have a vision of multiplying churches. This involves traveling to places where home churches have been planted and helping the new church with a simple building. Currently there are 23 home churches.

Recent Praise/Prayer Requests:

● To be good stewards of Christ in handling his resources. ● To continue to abide in Christ and bear much fruit for his

glory. ● To have wisdom in ministering to others in TCCC and in

the body of Christ.

● Pacharin: recent diagnosis of serious health issue.

● For 2nd and 3rd generation churches.

Praye r Mat te r s

Special Prayer Needs - The families of Elsie Gustavson and Fern Sandberg as they continue to mourn; David Long as he mourns the loss of his mother in late December, Katy Koestler on the death of her sister, Debbie, on January 8, and Jan Jessup and family as they mourn the death of Jan’s mother, Marge Turnquist, on January 10.

For those on active military duty - Marc Jessup (USMC, San Diego)

For those with long-term health concerns - Betty Anderson (recovering at home), Debbi Anderson, Joan Anderson, June Borowski, Janet Coombe, Cornell Erlanson, Vivian Johnson Erwin, Warren Gravink, Irv Gutsche, Wilma Harrington, Gary Hunt, Gerry Kleiter, Bill and Char Lane, Edith Larson, Janell Lewis, Terese McLean, Pearl Naitram, Dorothy Nelson, Ginny Olson, Shirley Otto, Joanna Peterson, Paul and Darlene Ripley, Wes Thompson, Mary Willard, Dorothy Young

Trinity Pastors and StaJ - Accompanist - Charles Erickson, Jane Weigel

Trinity Board member - Kip Bloomer

Trinity Lay Leader(s) - Community Care Room - Wendy Vlasich, Coordinator

For immediate prayer concerns, you may contact Trinity’s email prayer chain at tracylrud@gmail.com, or the phone prayer chain by calling Betty Lundholm, Darlene Ripley or Bonnie Newman.

Upcoming Events

Easter Sunday March 27

Youth attend District Blitz

April 15 - 17

Vacation Bible School June 13 - 17

Youth mission trip to San Diego

July 31 - August 7

Contributions

December Income December Expenses YTD Inc. - Exp. as of 12/31/15

2015 YTD Giving 2015 YTD Budget 2015 Annual Budget

Missions

$ 6,613.00 10,130.19

$ 0

$ 66,915.88 $ 80,000.00 $ 80,000.00

General Fund

$ 104,416.54 46,642.19

$ 3,409.03

$ 513,447.87 $ 535,065.00 $ 535,065.00

By the numbers - December, 2015

Attendance

Worship - Both services total (December average) - 211

December Caregivers’ Purse - $ 530.00 December Food Shelf Items/money given - 78 items + $ 463.00 December Roof Fund Donations - $ 1,257.92 Toys for Tots Donations - $1,985.00

December Financial Updates G

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Welcome to Trinity

Thank you for worshiping with us. If you have any questions a greeter, one of our ushers or the person at the Welcome Center (north side of the foyer) will be happy to assist you. Brochures with detailed information about our ministries and programs are available at the Welcome Center.

Trinity StaJ: Dr. Peter Vogt, Senior Pastor; Ebony Ramquist, Director of Worship and Music; Denice Hinrichs, Interim Choir Director; Koby RadcliJe, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries; Mindy Boe, Director of Children’s Ministries; Christine Carlson, Children’s Ministries Associate and Food Service Coordinator; Renee Nelson, Business Manager; Joe Stodola, Manager of Buildings and Grounds; Charles Erickson, Organist; Jane Weigel, Pianist; David Seward, Tech Intern; Lynette Harris, Caretaker Trinity Board Members: Larry Anderson, Kip Bloomer, Kathy Erickson, Juanita Gustavson, Mike Holmes, Randy Jessup (chair), Bryan Karel, Rod Larson, Toni Mennell, Lynda Rupp, Bill Weigel (vice-chair), David White.

A monthly publication of Trinity Baptist Church 2220 Edgerton Street Maplewood, MN 55117

Phone 651-774-8609 Fax 651-774-0953 Email trinity@tbcmn.org Website www.tbcmn.org

OKce hours Mon-Thurs. 9:00am - 4:00pm Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm

facebook.com/TBCMN @tbcmn2220

Our Vision We are a family from a variety of cultures and

backgrounds seeking to grow in our relationship with Christ, empowered to love and serve our neighborhood and world in the name of Jesus.

A Family in Christ Loving and

Serving Our World