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 “I
don’t know much about Lutherans, and that is one reason I’ve told stories about
them over the years, so I could learn.” Garrison Keillor
For anyone who has grown up in
the Lutheran Church – and even for those with little or no knowledge of the
traditions of our church – Garrison Keillor’s reports from Lake Wobegon on his
popular radio program A Prairie Home Companion offer a humorous and at
times very real look into the everyday life of Lutherans in North America. From
his stories of Pastor David Ingqvist and the congregation of Lake Wobegon
Lutheran Church; to stories of countless “hot dish” suppers and lutefisk
dinners; to stories about the National Church Ushers Competition and Ernie &
Irma Lundeen’s Performing Gospel Birds, Keillor offers a keen insight into the
culture of Lutherans, who he describes in his recent book Life Among the
Lutherans as “calm, modest people, haunted by guilt, fearful of looking
ridiculous, so they feel more secure if they are surrounded by people who are
dressed like them and who are doing the same thing they are, and this leads many
Lutherans to consider a career in the orchestra.” (The Young Lutheran’s Guide to
the Orchestra).
Of course, not all Lutherans
will recognize themselves in Keillor’s accounts of life among small-town
Minnesota Lutherans; in her review in The Christian Century, Pastor Nadia
Bolz-Weber states that “it’s not easy having the entirety of one’s religious
tradition known to millions of people only through public-radio monologues about
fictitious people in Minnesota. I couldn’t be more Lutheran. And I couldn’t be
less Pastor Ingqvist.” My own Lutheran childhood in New Jersey was also
quite different from the environment Keillor describes in his fictional church
community; and yet I can still see aspects of my home church and the churches I
have served as pastor in the people of Lake Wobegon, a people gathered together
“to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and carry out God’s mission”
according to the faith and practice of the great Reformer who sought to
bring the Church of Jesus Christ back to its core mission of “proclaiming the
good news of God in Christ in word and deed, and to strive for justice and peace
in all the earth.”
As we begin this new year (it’s
going to take me some time to get used to writing “2010”!), it’s a good time to
consider what it means for us to be Lutheran in our community, as well in our
nation and world. In keeping with the spirit of Garrison Keillor’s observations
about Lutherans in his community, I am inviting you to join me for two evenings
focusing on “Life Among the Lutherans.” On two Tuesday evenings, we will
consider what it means for us to live as Lutherans and among Lutherans in our
context”
- Tuesday, January 26:
Life Among the Lutherans Throughout History
- Tuesday, February 2:
Life Among the Lutherans in Rockville Centre, the ELCA, and the World.
Both of these classes, which
will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Wing of our church building, are open
to all persons interested in learning more about the Holy Trinity and the
Lutheran Church; persons interested in uniting with our congregation; and
long-time Lutherans who would like to share stories of their lives among the
Lutherans. These classes will also prepare us to receive new members into our
congregation on Sunday, February 7 at the 10:00 a.m. worship service.
Even if you’ve never set foot in
Minnesota or heard one of Garrison Keillor’s accounts of “The Sons of Knute
March,” we can all be enriched by sharing stories of life among the Lutherans
and what it means for us to continue to gather together as a Lutheran community
of faith. Join me as we begin another year of living together as Lutheran
Christians here in Holy Trinity.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jeff Laustsen
Our Hunger Committee meets in
the kitchen monthly on the 4th Sunday of the month to prepare meals for soup
kitchens and others in need in our community. Please consider joining them by
donating your time, food, or funds to help in this ministry. To find out how
you can help, please call Jocelyn D'Antonio at 766-3722.
COFFEE HOUR NEEDS YOUR HELP!
We are looking for you to help
only ONE Sunday a year. Helping includes set up, clean up, and obtaining some
supplies for the Sunday you choose (we will reimburse the expense if needed). If
you are able to help, please email Bill Anthony at
Anthony9@optonline.net for scheduling a date that is convenient for you.
The coffee hour committee is
also looking for donations for supplies. If you would like to help, please put
your donation in an envelope marked “Coffee Hour Donation”.
 As
of December 6th, the Evangelism Committee started having greeters at
the front doors on Sunday. Starting in January, we will be including our Level
2 Confirmation students to Sunday greeters along with their parents. We would
also like feedback from the congregation on your feelings toward the new
program. Please send any comments or suggestions to Bill Anthony at
Anthony9@optonline.net
 On
January 31st Holy Trinity Sunday Church School will be participating
in a special Family Worship Event during the 10 a.m. service. Our
children will participate in worship leadership – singing, reading, and sharing
their story – teaching us about “Children’s Prayer.”
We are all Standing in the
Need of Prayer. Come, worship with us.
OPEN MEETING ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
 In
response to the promise we make to our children at Holy Baptism to “teach
them the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, place in their
hands the Holy Scriptures, and nurture them in faith and prayer,” Holy
Trinity offers many educational opportunities for children and adults; these
ministries include our Sunday Church School, Vacation Bible School, Confirmation
Ministry, and Adult Bible Study. In seeking to be effective stewards of this
vital ministry, the Christian Education Committee is hosting an Open Meeting on
Christian Education on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the
Multipurpose Room Wing. All persons interested in any aspect of Christian
Education at Holy Trinity are invited to share their thoughts and dreams for our
learning ministries. Refreshments will be served.
Thank you to everyone who made
the purchase of our new Fair Linens possible. Without your generous donations,
this could not have happened.
Why do we need fair linens?
·
The fair linen is a white cloth that covers the top of the altar.
Why the
color white?
·
White symbolized the purity and righteousness of Christ.
Traditionally, there are 5 crosses that are embroidered in white on the cloth –
one in the center and one near each corner.
Why five crosses?
·
They symbolize the five wounds of Christ.
Anyone who would like to see the
linen, please come over to any Altar Guild member and we would be so proud to
show them to you.
Diana Forman, Altar Guild
Thank you to Penny Longo
for coordinating our Giving Tree project. Through the generosity of our
members, more than 70 individuals had a brighter Christmas this year.
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The support of our BOX TOP$
for EDUCATION keeps growing. More than 1,000 labels and coupons have been
returned to date. We have expanded our collection to include Campbell’s Labels
as well. Pepperidge Farm, Swanson, Prego, Franco American and V-8 are all
participating products. The collection box has been moved to the narthex round
table by the staircase.
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We are happy to report that
Pastor Kuehne is on the mend and was able to spend the holidays at home. Social
Ministry wishes to thank the members who helped out driving Mrs. Kuehne each day
to make it possible for her to be with Pastor while he was in the hospital and
rehab center.
Wendy Wolber, Committee Liaison
 Each
month, a different conference church is designated as the supporter of Lutheran
Social Service’s Food Pantry and January is Holy Trinity’s
turn. Last year, our members donated over 1,500 pounds of food to the LSS
Food Pantry. We thank you for your continued and generous support of this
outreach ministry.
Holy
Trinity Sunday Church School remembers the Baptism of the following children for
the month of January:
Alexandra
Burns Erika Nilsen
 Thanks,
thanks, thanks! Never in the 12 years that I have been involved with the
“Christmas cookies for our shut-ins project” have I seen a response as we
received this year. The variety and amount of cookies was so fabulous, we were
able to make up plates of the excess for the coffee hour. The containers should
put a smile on the face of each recipient. Thanks to each and every baker. You
truly are an example of Christ’s call to “Do Unto Others.” God bless you and a
Merry Christmas! You help make our efforts fruitful.
The Christian Service Group
Alyssa
Szatny Maggie Pahl
Francis
Grogan Veronica Caiazza
Katelyn
Blankoph Lauren Boschert
Samantha
Berkowitz Chip Buehre
Helmut
Altmann Chris Chiaffitelli
Tom
D’Angelo Melanie D’Angelo
Mason
Zorn Kyle McWalters
Timothy Manning
Stephanie Volpe
Rylee Albanese
Ryan McGloin
Daniel
Pfeil Dave Grossnickle
Gabrielle
Jervis Britta Kuehne
Victoria Jervis
Allison McDonough
Lauren McDonough
Caitlin McDonough
Ronald
Petrone Marianne Seitz
Alissa
Petrone Deanna Kowalski
James
Lindner Daniel Schwartz
Kevin
Kronenberg Linda Longo
Susan and Pastor Jeff
Laustsen
Marianne & Karl Seitz
Vilma & Chet Hendel
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