TRINITY

TOWER Reflections on the Power of Trinity Women

What a sweet year for our young Trinity Women ministry! Thanks to all of you crazy, awesome, selfless, unique women of all ages, there is so much we were able to offer one another, and my life is better for having met you! To me, Trinity Women is feeling more and more like a giant extended family – a group of people you can turn to, break down with, pray along side of, and ultimately celebrate with. We can be real with one another and not fear being shut out – making authentic connections and truly caring about the well being of one another. Sometimes we may not like each other, but we sure can LOVE one another just as Jesus called us to do.

This ministry has the ability to enhance our lives spiritually, emotionally and even physically. I’ve been brought to tears (happy and sad) on more than one occasion, and I feel safe doing so. I don’t feel I have to apologize for wearing my heart on my sleeve; I don’t think any of us should ever feel that way. We are sisters in Christ, what could be more powerful than that?! Together we can do amazing things, but more importantly, little things. Knowing you can do something out of your box with the love and support of friendly faces feels like a triumph, no matter how small.

It’s particularly beautiful that most of the Trinity Women events are lay-led; it’s coming directly from YOUR hearts, resulting in wonderfully unique experiences. Ask any of the 2017-18 Planning Team members, and you’ll find they all connected with other women they otherwise may not have, poured their hearts into the planning and found it very rewarding in the end. Please consider giving some of your time to our third year in the ministry; maybe it’s uncomfortable for you, but what an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and grow! Sign up online or at the Sign Up Center. The first meeting will be in August.

In addition, if you have event or speaker ideas, or would like to lead an Out-of-the-Box or Trinity Women Serve event, please contact me.

–Cari Bullemer, Women’s Ministry Coordinator

Summer Worship Sundays 9:00 a.m.

Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.

July 1 Mark 5:21-43 Holy Communion

July 8 Mark 6:1-13 Holy Communion

July 11 Cornerstone Liturgy Holy Communion

July 15 Mark 6:14-29 Holy Communion

Middle School Camp Blessing

July 18 Cornerstone Liturgy Holy Communion

July 22 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Holy Communion

El Salvador Sharing

July 25 Worship in the Park Nelson Lakeside Park, Long Lake

Potluck dinner, 5:30 p.m. Worship, 6:30 p.m.

July 29 John 6:1-21 Holy Communion

Sanctuary Choir High School Trip Sharing

July 2018 Volume 26, Issue 7

Special thanks to the wonderful volunteers who planned and led

Trinity Women’s 2017-2018 events : Barb Whitney, Phoebe Stavig, Mary Soderstrom, Rebecca Furnival, Eleana Bann, Rachel Dodge,

Jennie Eastman, Kari Newell, Pam Palm, Joyce Trio, Julie Wiens, Vicki Brink, Amy Dyvik,

Jenny Aleckson, Julie Vagle, Boo Hanning, Wendy Wile & Carrie Scheller.

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Summer Family Camp August 3-5 at Camp Onomia Trinity is going to Family Camp for the first time! Join us at Camp Onomia in Onamia, MN for a weekend of fun. Camp will begin Friday, August 3 at 7 p.m. and end Sunday, August 5 at noon. Families will enjoy time at the beach, sing around the campfire, play games and more! Each family will have a private room with a bathroom in the retreat center. Cost is $107 for adults; $87 for kids ages 4-17;

and free for children 3 & under. Deadline to sign up is July 15.

Learn more and sign up your family: www.trinitylonglake.org/Family-Camp

Questions? Contact Julie Vagle at juliev@trinitylonglake.org.

We had 218 kids and over 100 youth (middle and high school) and adult volunteers sharing God’s love throughout the week. Children sang their favorite songs, played games, made friends and listened to Bible stories – all while learning that Jesus rescues!

The week wouldn’t have been possible without dedicated volunteers! Thank you to MS and HS youth who helped as crew leaders and to parents, grandparents and other adults who helped with crafts, drama, decorations, music and more!

Throughout the week, we collected donations for youth participating in Orono Community Education programs whose families have a financial need. Thank you to everyone who brought in food items or financial donations to support those in our community!

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Congregational Life Together at Trinity

Membership If you are interested in membership, please talk with a pastor or complete

the form found on the website.

Weddings

Brianna Berg & Joshua Hammer

Funerals

Annabelle Dale

Financial update through May – Thank you for your faithful giving! May giving was just ($750) under budget, and for the first 5 months of the year, we’re just (0.5%), or ($3,300), under budget.

As many families head to the cabin or on vacation this summer, an easy way to stay current on giving is electronic giving. Contact the church office, or visit www.trinitylonglake.org/giving, then click “Set Up or Manage Electronic Transfers” on the right. The process is easy to setup and maintain! Those using electronic giving can pick up an “I Give Electronically” laminated card at the usher stand on Sundays and place it in the offering plate to show participation.

Trinity also accepts stock gifts, and if you’re 70½ or older, an IRA Charitable Rollover may be right for you. Contact Rindee Erdmann, Financial Manager, at 952-473-8577 x136 or rindee@trinitylonglake.org.

The Grief Coalition meets Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. This summer, the group is meeting at the Church of St. Therese, 18323 Minnetonka Blvd, Deephaven, MN 55391. All are welcome.

The Call Committee has started meeting its first round of qualified candidates. They have been impressed and excited with the candidates and their conversations. They are looking forward to meeting with more candidates over the next few weeks. The committee anticipates continued discussion surrounding Trinity's strategic plan and how the new associate pastor will help us achieve those goals. Please continue to pray for the committee through this process.

This month’s Community Meal is Thursday, July 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Calvin Presbyterian Church. All are welcome!

Summer Special Music – Musicians are needed to share their gifts during summer worship. See the schedule on the Music Room door for a time that works for you. Mark Hemingway is available to assist with music selection, rehearsal and accompaniment.

Trinitarians are having a Potluck Dinner on Thursday, July 26, 4-7 p.m. at Pat and Dick Wulff’s home in Maple Plain. Please contact Ron Schulte at ronaldasch@msn.com or 763-473-9633 if you wish to attend.

Please keep in your prayers all youth and adults traveling in July. Groups traveling this month include: 5 HS youth attending the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX, June 26-July 2; 9 adults visiting Seeds of Hope students in El Salvador, July 7-16; 50 HS youth headed to Appalachia (Wheeling, WV) for mission work, July 14-20; and 30 MS youth going to Camp Hiawatha, July 15-20. Follow our high school and El Salvador travelers on Trinity’s mission trip blog (www.tlctravelblog.wordpress.com) and on Facebook.

Thank you to volunteers who help keep Trinity’s grounds looking good, including these great helpers who have done tree work, plumbing, door fixing and gardening: Ken Anderson, Brian Droen, Susan Gadbois, Buzz Hanning, Jim Henninger, Judy Lane and Dave Lohmann.

Strategic Plan Update

Recently, Trinity staff and Council

created a long- and short-term road

map for implementing our Strategic

Plan. Over the last several months,

feedback sessions with staff, Coun-

cil and church members have

helped us pinpoint 5 key strategic

goals, with several projects and

focuses. They are:

1. Expand our Worship Experience

2. Increase Engagement within our

Congregation

3. Deepen Faith Across all Ages

4. Optimize our Church

Administration and Operations

5. Advance Church Communication

and Technology

Each goal has an initial step and deadline associated with it, along with a key stakeholder who will help keep the goal in process. We couldn’t be more excited about our plan and what’s possible for Trinity! Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Drop In Gardening, July 5

Bring your green thumb and help keep Trinity’s landscape looking its finest. Meet outside on Thursday, July 5, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Come the entire time or pop in when you can!

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Volunteer Opportunities Simpson Shelter Breakfast, July 7 & Aug. 4, 5:30-

8:30 a.m. 10-12 volunteers (any age) needed.

Crisis Nursery Breakfast, July 14 & Aug. 11, 6:30- 9:30 a.m. 4-6 volunteers (12 & older) needed.

Wednesday Interfaith Outreach Night, July 11 (ReSale store) & Aug. 8 (Food Shelf), 5:30-8 p.m. 8-10 volunteers (12 & older) are needed.

Bingo at Long Lake Buckhorn Days, July 21, 12:30-2:30 or 2:30-4:30 p.m. Help lead bingo with Calvin and St. George, at Nelson Lakeside Park.

Summer Worship Assistants. Help is needed each Sunday morning and Wednesday night for summer worship. Email Linda at LindaK@trinitylonglake.org

Sign up for these opportunities in the Narthex or online at www.trinitylonglake.org/signups-media

Thank you for the many ways you volunteer at Trinity and

in the community!

We are grateful to the many people who volunteer at Trinity or at an opportunity provided through church, whether helping at worship, serving on a committee, or participating

in a service project. We know many of you volunteer other places you are passionate about through school, sports or other nonprofit organizations. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with others!

Here are some facts about the effects of volunteering:

Volunteering can improve mental health and help people live longer.

Volunteers reported lower levels of depression, increased life satisfaction and enhanced wellbeing.

Volunteering helps the community by enabling nonprofit organizations to provide food, shelter and services to the less fortunate. Organizations are able to cut costs when volunteers complete tasks that reduce the need for paid personnel.

Look what we are collecting — Can you help?

Items for a new section at the AGAPE Market: Gently used books (hard and soft cover, hobby fiction, nonfiction, etc.); DVDs and CDs; magazines (hobby, quilting, gardening, décor, etc.); board games and puzzles. NOTE: We are NOT accepting VHS or home décor/vintage items this year.

Ongoing Donations: Used cell phones/batteries; travel-size shampoo, soap, cream rinse; grocery/coupon books (expired no more than 30 days); paper bags; diapers (any size and quantity); socks (men’s & women’s); reusable bags; women’s bras (any size, new) and feminine hygiene products.

AGAPE Market Vendor Applications

Applications for groups/vendors to reserve a spot at the November market are available on Trinity’s website or at the Sign Up Center. Applications are now open to outside groups, so please share with friends and family who may be interested.

Summer Groceries for Interfaith Outreach

One of the most common needs that brings families to Interfaith Outreach is groceries. Receiving support from the food shelf helps families stretch their dollars further to cover other expenses, like rent, utility costs and transportation. Please consider a one-time $35 donation to support the food shelf this summer. $35 is enough to provide food to a family of four for an entire week. To contribute, please indicate “Interfaith Outreach – Food Shelf” on check.

Twin Cities Thrivent Builds/Habitat Local Build Day, August 10, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Each year, Trinity volunteers have an opportunity to help on a local Habitat for Humanity project in the Twin Cities. This year’s build day is Friday, Aug. 10. The group will meet at Trinity and carpool to the site. Tools and lunch will be provided. Safety boots are recommended, sneakers are ok; no sandals or open-toed shoes. Volunteers must be 16 years old & up. Visit Trinity’s website or the Sign Up Center to sign up to help.

Thrivent Builds/Habitat for Humanity El Salvador Trip – January 5-13, 2019

Early January is a great time to travel to El Salvador! The weather is ideal (less humid and hot), some colleges have a longer Christmas break and many youth are still home. This January trip is geared toward adults and young adults. Start thinking about this trip now, and please let us know if you’re interested. Contact Jill Cornell, Jerry Paulson or Melanie DeLuca, or sign up on the interest sheet at the Sign Up Center.

Give & Grow Thank You

Through your incredible support of the Oteen Bros Give & Grow program, $1,025 was raised for Seeds of Hope students in El Salvador. This amount is equivalent to paying 2/3 of one year’s costs for a university student. Muchas Gracias!

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Janet Allyn, in memory o f Mom and Dad, Alwin & Alice Glover

Diane Brickley, in memory o f Kay, Ray & Muriel Anderson

Alan & Arla Engleman, in honor o f Jean Perry Marcia & Mke Dale, in memory o f Annabelle Dale

Connie Francis Cliff & Peggy Koltes Tim & Betty Mueller

Dick & Pat Wulff

Your contributions will help complete the water features in the Memorial Garden. Donations are still being accepted for those who wish to contribute. You can also help by purchasing a Wall Plaque in memory of someone and/or a Niche for your end of life plans. Contact Jeri Lowe for more information.

Beginning September 9, Trinity’s Sunday worship times will switch to 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. With this change, we will be adding fellowship and education time in between services, called Better Together. If we know one thing about the people at Trinity, it’s that we love spending time together. During the Better Together time, 9:40-10:20 a.m., people are invited to savor the chance to learn more, connect with each other and make a difference in our community. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting change!

Tickets are $32/person and bus transportation from Trinity is available for an extra $10. Visit Trinity’s website or the Sign Up Center at church to sign up.

How many times a day do you fill up a water bottle or turn on the tap and drink clean, safe water? Imagine not having that luxury. Roughly 663 million people lack access to improved drinking water, and 1.8 billion people drink unsafe water every day. The Walk for Water supports Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds and implements safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.

During these summer months, help us fill a large water jug by the Welcome Desk with change to support Water Mission. And mark your calendar for the Walk for Water in St. Paul on Sept. 15. Last year we filled one bus—this year we want to fill TWO BUSES!

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Trinity’s Graduates on Grad Sunday

Trinity Women Wine Tasting

Interfaith Outreach Volunteer Night

Simpson Shelter

Farewell Blessing for Pastor Gretchen

HS Trip to ELCA Youth Gathering

MS Canoe Trip to the BWCA

Middle School VBS Pizza Party

Celebrating Trinity Grads