Trinity Times

December, 2015

In this issue: Trinity Connections’ New Year’s Eve Brunch Christmas Hope Toys for Tots Event Upcoming December Events

A Family in Christ

Loving and Serving

Our World

Celebrating the Incarnation

It is now Advent, when we prepare for what is one of the most momentous events to ever happen in human history (the others being the crucifixion and the resurrection). The incarnation is so amazing in its depth and significance that it is hard to even begin to

grasp its importance. In the incarnation, the “Word became flesh,” as John 1 reminds us. God himself, in the person of Jesus, gave up the glories of heaven to become a man. And not just a man. He became the son of a carpenter. He wasn’t born in a palace to a royal family. No (human) royal decree went out announcing his birth. Why did he do this? He did this for us. He became a man in order to be able to die for us, to pay for our sin. As we celebrate Christmas this year, let’s commit ourselves to the same kind of “incarnational ministry” that Jesus engaged in. As his followers, we are called to be his hands and feet in this world. That will mean getting involved with people who desperately need a savior. The Neighborhood Engagement Team is working hard putting together our Toys for Tots distribution event, Christmas Hope. Pray about how God might want you involved in loving and serving those in need. We can best honor the birth of the incarnate Lord by following his example of service to others! In Christ, Pastor Peter

Sta� - Out and About

Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Koby Radcli:e, took several youth group members to a MegaRally at Bethel University last month. Students were encouraged to grow deeper in their faith through the ministry of the Skit Guys and others. Sta: are also helping facilitate the work of the Neighborhood Engagement Team in preparing for the Christmas Hope Toys for Tots distribution event.

Trinity Talk Notable Birthdays and Anniversaries: Happy Birthday to Gordon Anderson (85) and Warren Gravink (95) who both celebrate on December 11; and congratulations to Dick and Geraldine LeClaire (60 years) and Art and Eldora Scherer (50 years) as they celebrate

significant anniversaries on December 31.

The halls are decorated! Thank you to the Kingdom Builders Class who spent Tuesday evening, November 24, decorating the Worship Center and foyer for Advent.

When it snows: When an event at Trinity is cancelled because of inclement weather or cold, you may get the information in the following ways: Call Trinity (651-774-8609, then press 0) and listen to the message, or check Facebook or our website (tbcmn.org).

Deadline for 2015 contributions: Contributions for 2015 need to be postmarked by December 31, or in the church oHce by 4:00 p.m., Thursday, December 31. Any contributions received after December 31 will be credited for 2016.

January 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 Tuesday, December 15. You may put written notices in Renee Nelson’s mailbox in the oHce or send an email to rnelson@tbcmn.org.

Missed an issue of this publication? All weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters are posted on our website. Just go to www.tbcmn.org, click on “About Us”, and then “What’s Going On.” This is just one more way you can have access to information about Trinity’s ministries, events and people.

Nominations now open for Nominating Committee and Board of Stewards

Every year Trinity elects new members to our Board of Stewards and Nominating Committee. Please take the opportunity to nominate a candidate, or candidates, for the Nominating Committee (two vacancies) and the Board of Stewards (four vacancies). If you wish to nominate a Trinity member, please get that person’s approval and then give the name or names to a Nominating committee member (Dan Carlson, Gwen Larson, Marilyn Lindman, Debbie Matthews, BOS Rep Bill Weigel,, and ex-oHcio member Pastor Peter Vogt). Nominations close Sunday, December 6, and voting will take place during the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 31, 2015.

Julie Klassen releases yet another new book

On Tuesday, December 1, Trinity author Julie Klassen will host a book signing for her newest release, The Painter’s Daughter. The release party will take place at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Har Mar Mall at 7:00 p.m. The Painter’s Daughter is Julie Klassen’s tenth historical novel and first “marriage of convenience” story about a young artist caught between her first love and his brooding brother. Library Journal says, “In this gorgeous story of love and redemption, Klassen spins a tale of secrets and deception, coupled with unexpected plot twists and a swoon-worthy ending.”

New prayer warriors welcome! Trinity’s telephone and email prayer chains are always looking for individuals who wish to be a part of the ministry. If you feel called to be a “prayer warrior” and are willing to be contacted by phone with a prayer request, please call Betty Lundholm at 651.777.4892; if you wish to be included in the weekly email prayer letter, contact Tracy Rud at tracylrud@gmail.com.

The Novel Bunch Book Club to meet on December 10

The next meeting of Trinity’s Women’s Book Club will be Thursday, December 10, at Caribou Co:ee (3100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood), at 7:00 pm. The featured book is going to be Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh. For all interested, there will be a Christmas grab bag - book exchange. Wrap up a favorite book from your closet for an opportunity to swap for someone else’s favorite. For more information contact Vicki Jones at vljones@aol.com, or 612.239.7208.

Ring in the New Year with Trinity Connections!

Join us on Thursday, December 31, for a festive New Year’s Eve brunch at 10:30 am, in the Fellowship Room. Start your celebrations early as we

share a great meal (egg bake, fruit, muHns and other holiday treats) along with warm conversation. The brunch will replace our regular Thursday co:ee time that morning - usually from 9:00 - 10:30 am. So mark the date on your calendar and watch for more information. There will be opportunity to sign up at the Welcome Center in the foyer starting Sunday, December 6.

Toys for Tots gives Christmas Hope

Wednesday, December 16

Help Trinity spread the hope of Christmas as we serve our community through this exciting event! While serving as a distribution agency for Toys for Tots, we will also strive to bless our community by providing food, music, childcare, books, Bibles and personal care items. You can be involved by:

Donating items! We still need hats and socks; mittens are

covered! Thank you! We also need bars of soap (regular size) and bottles of shampoo (12-20 oz.) We are looking to provide one of each item for 1,000 children.

Donating money to help cover the costs of the meal and

donation items. Checks can be made out to Trinity, write “Toys for Tots” in the memo line, and place them in the

o:ering.

Signing up to volunteer!

If you wish to volunteer, please sign up at the Welcome Center on Sunday morning, or contact Volunteer Coordinator Ross Rud at rossarud@gmail.com or 763.238.4262. Donation items may be placed in the labeled box in the church oHce. Questions? Contact Kathy Erickson, Ross Rud, Wendy Vlasich, Cami Vogt or Amy Weigel.

December Events

Saturday, December 5 Women’s Ministries Christmas Brunch

9:30 - 11:30 am - Social Hall (ticket purchase required)

Wednesday, December 9

Final Wednesday evening dinner & activities until January 6, 2016

December 12 - 13

Minnesota Thai Church Christmas Celebration Social Hall

December 16 - 17

Toys For Tots Event

Sunday, December 20 9:30 am - Co:ee Connections

10:00 am - Christmas Choir Concert & Worship

Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

4:00 pm - Worship Center

Sunday, December 27 9:00 am - Classic Worship (No Sunday classes)

10:00 am - Co:ee Connections 10:30 am - Contemporary Worship (No Sunday classes)

Trinity KaRen Baptist Church Christmas Celebration 1:00 pm - Social Hall

Thursday, December 31

10:30 am - Trinity Connections’ Brunch

Final opportunity to submit financial contributions for 2015

November Food Shelf Update

Trinity did much to help restock the shelves at the Eastside Salvation Army Food Shelf during the special campaign this month (November 8

& 15). What an awesome feeling to find 98 items on the food carts on November 8, followed by 71 the next Sunday! The financial giving amounted to $240. Both totals are smaller than 2014’s (285 items and $615), but because the demand is so great and growing still, any show of Christian love in the form of generosity is truly appreciated. Trinity helps to fulfill the Salvation Army’s mission, which is to meet physical, spiritual and emotional needs while preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have partnered with this food shelf since 1988, helping to get the program started and providing for it ever since. This ministry is vital to the health of Trinity’s community outreach. Please pray that we can continue in this role for the years to come.! A word of gratitude to all of you who made the special e:ort to contribute something November 8 and 15. Thank you! Maudella Albright, Food Shelf Ministry Chair

O�ering envelopes available soon for 2016

You may pick up your o:ering envelopes for 2016 in the foyer beginning Sunday, December 6. If you give online or through an online bank payment, you no longer need o:ering envelopes. For 2016, the envelope numbering system has changed, so please dispose of ALL 2015 envelopes after December 31. If you would like envelopes but do not find yours in those already printed, please call the church oHce or send an email to Renee Nelson at rnelson@tbcmn.org.

Thank you to my church family for prayer on my behalf during the past few months. Towards the latter part of August I found out that I had a basal cell carcinoma as well as a stage three melanoma. Both have been treated surgically and no further treatment is needed at present. Thank God with me. Chuck Erickson To our friends at Trinity - Thank you for the beautiful, pink Kalanchoe plant you sent in sympathy for the loss of our mother, Ruth Carroll. We miss her joyful hand clapping and exclaiming, “I’m so happy, I’m so happy,” but also are relieved that, a month before her 104th birthday, she is safely Home. Les and Janet Swanson Thank you to Walt McCoy and the “kickplate team” for completing a major project of preserving the pews in the Worship Center. Walt McCoy, Dave Karel, and Lloyd Johnson manufactured by hand and then installed 453 plates on the bases of each pew. This painstaking process took about three years to complete and required meticulous measurements and attention to detail. All kickplates were installed as of November 2, 2015. Thanks to the team for their faithfulness to this project and example of stewardship of all God has given us!

Wednesday evenings

December

Dinner ~ 5:15 p.m. Dinner is served at 5:15 p.m. 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

December 2 - Tater tot hot dish December 9 - Hotdogs & chili

December 16, 23, 30 - No dinner or activities. Regular schedule resumes on January 6, 2016

Programs ~ 6:15 - 7:30 p.m. 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 - The Book of Acts ....................... Fellowship Room (Teacher: Michael Baker)

Spanish Speaking Bible Study ..........................................Historical Room (Teacher: Neil Witzig)

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

Trinity’s Missionary of the Month

Je� and Barb Chapman Serving with Converge Worldwide in Japan

Recent Praise/Prayer Requests:

We are planting the first cell church in the Japan Baptist Church Association Rengo, in the town of Ikoma, just outside Osaka, Japan's third largest city. It is called Christ Community Church and currently meets in a house. We are responding to the desire of Japanese to learn English and are starting new English classes. The church is in need of a place to meet and recently has been o:ered the use of one for very low rent. Please pray for confirmation of this being God's will and for details to be worked out in an amicable manner. Pray for hearts to be open to the Gospel as God reveals to people their need for Him.

P raye r M at te r s

Special Prayer Needs - The families of Ruth Carroll, Esther Korlu Kimba and Alice Pearson as they mourn the loss of their loved ones

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

For those with long-term health concerns - Debbi Anderson, Joan Anderson, June Borowski, Janet Coombe, Cornell Erlanson, Vivian Johnson Erwin, Warren Gravink, Elsie Gustavson, 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 and Fern Thompson, Mary Willard, Dorothy Young

Trinity Pastors and Sta: - Christine Carlson, Children’s Ministries Assoc. & Food Coordinator

Trinity Board member - Bill Weigel

Trinity Lay Leader(s) - Boy Scouts - Brad Johnson, Scoutmaster

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.

Trinity extends its deepest sympathy to the families of those listed below: Long-time Trinity member, Ruth Carroll. Ruth went home to be with her Lord and Savior on October 22, at the age of 103. Ruth’s husband, J. Leonard, served as Trinity’s pastor from 1955 - 1974. A private

service was held. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice or to Presbyterian Homes of Johanna Shores.

Esther Korlu-Kimba passed away suddenly on October 27. A funeral was held at Trinity on November 6.

Alice Pearson died on November 17 with her family by her side. She was 93 years old. A memorial service was held on November 25.

Contributions

October Income October Expenses YTD Inc. - Exp. as of 10/31/15

2015 YTD Giving 2015 YTD Budget 2015 Annual Budget

Missions

$ 6,521.00 5,065.09

$ 3,274.28

$ 54,994.88 $ 66,666.68

$ 80,000.00

General Fund

$ 34,127.02 42,401.38

( $49,527.00)

$ 383,932.42 $ 445,887.50 $ 535,065.00

By the numbers - October, 2015

Attendance

Worship - Both services total (October average) - 191

October Caregivers’ Purse - $465.00 October Food Shelf Items/money given - 13 items + $ 305.00 October Roof Fund Donations - $ 642.00

October 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 Sta:: Dr. Peter Vogt, Senior Pastor; Ebony Ramquist, Director of Worship and Music; Denice Hinrichs, Interim Choir Director; Koby Radcli:e, 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; 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

OHce 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