February

2014

Overcoming

Fear

Approximately 3.2 million Americans suffer from agoraphobia. That word comes from two Greek words. The agora was the city gathering place, often serving as a public market. Phobia is the Greek word for fear. So there is a large percentage of Americans who are afraid of being in crowds.

It is a phobia probably many of us can relate to. You might not understand why someone is so afraid of a little spider, but you can understand why people might feel uncomfortable in a crowd. The thought of trying to “break into” a strange group of people perhaps makes you at least a little nervous, if not actually afraid. Understand then that it is an act of courage for someone to visit your church.

A visitor drives onto your property, and he might not know anyone. He maybe isn’t sure where he is supposed to go. When he gets there and sits down for worship, there is a procedure that is entirely foreign to him. Music starts playing and, without any encouragement, people start to sing. Sometimes the people stand, though no one has asked them to! This is all new to this visitor, and he is not certain he is doing things right. He wonders if it is painfully obvious to everyone that he is an outsider … wonders if he is attracting attention.

Put yourself into the mind of the worship visitor. Imagine you were the one walking into a new church. You know no one. What types of things might you be nervous about? What would you like to know? Trying to empathize with your worship visitors will make you much better at welcoming them.

Now, that thought might make you a bit nervous. Going up to a complete stranger and starting a conversation is not something most of us do on a regular basis. That is why on Sunday morning you will have a conversation with people you know, but those you don’t know will only get a quick “hello” or “good morning.”

Visiting with people we don’t know requires us to step

outside our comfort zone. It takes effort and time. It may very well require us to overcome some fear. But if we refuse to do so, understand that the likelihood of guests being pulled into our church is greatly diminished. Some experts on outreach will tell you that many visitors decide within the first seven seconds whether they are going to attend a church again. What has to happen in those first seven seconds? Someone needs to talk to them. Otherwise, that visitor just feels unwelcome.

There is a percentage of you who might be scratching your heads and thinking, “Why would talking to a stranger make someone nervous? It is not that big a deal!” If you are thinking that, then you belong to the 11.2% of the population that are extroverts. If you are such a person—outgoing, highly social, easy-to-talk-to—do you understand what a valuable gift you have to offer your church? You need to be taking the lead in welcoming worship visitors, precisely because it comes naturally to you. Set the example! Show others that it really is not hard or scary to talk to strangers. Make that your unofficial “job” at church. On Sundays, your eyes are wide open, looking for visitors.

For the other 89 percent of you, how do you overcome your nervousness about talking to strangers? You believe Jesus when he says, “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). As you approach that worship visitor, remember that Christ is right there with you, using you to share his love with someone who so desperately needs it. And also remember, they are probably more nervous than you are. (Printed by permission of the WELS Congregation and Ministry Support Group)

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Treasurer’s Report

Every week we receive in offerings

from our members gifts that are

earmarked to Our “Church Ministry”.

It is from these offerings that I pay

the bills that are related to budgeted

items such as salaries, health care, natural gas,

electricity, telephone, synod commitments, and

many more. Altogether there are about 50 catego-

ries of expenses that are paid from the offerings

received to “Our Church Ministry”.

Over the years our expenses had outweighed our

income, so that by the end of November our deficit

was at $13,148. December was a wonderful month

as we were able to reduce the deficit to $6,303.

We are so blessed by the Lord as a church to be

able to reduce our deficit by 52% in just one month.

Keep in mind that we were able to do this and at

the same time church continue to close in on the

final phase of funding for carpeting for the church.

We have been blessed. Thank you for sharing your

financial blessings with Trinity.

Please continue to be aware of our operating

budget deficit and I will include updates in coming

newsletters.

Respectfully,

Ron Jasperson, Treasurer

Come, let us worship the Lord!

God’s love for us in Christ leads us to value weekly

worship—the highlight of our week is to come into the

Father’s house, receive his saving Word and praise his

holy name.

Worship Schedule:

Sunday Service, 9 a.m.

Wednesday 7 p.m. Chapel/Bible Class

The Lesson for February is the Study of the

Book of Jonah. It is more than a story of man

swallowed by a large fish but the Word of our

Lord on answering the call to share the gospel

with the spiritually lost.

If you are unable to attend Trinity’s Wednesday or

Sunday services, note the following opportunity:

Thursday worship, 4:30 p.m. at Zion, East Farmington.

Two services to highlight for February:

February 9 is “Walking Together” Sunday, as we

thank God for the blessings of our fellowship in the

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and pray for

his renewing to give our all to sharing the gospel of

Christ.

February 16 is Evangelism Sunday. You, not

programs or events, but you are the key to bringing

the Word of Christ to others. The young generations

of today have no connection with church and

worship, but they will listen to a believer who lives

with integrity.

The Adult Choir meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Add your

heart and voice to the choir—your faith and love for

Jesus qualifies you. Choir is fun because you’re

praising your Savior

Once again we will be having Lenten Soup Suppers

before our midweek Lenten services. Join us on

Wednesday evenings 5:30-6:30 p.m. starting on

March 5th continuing through April 9th. We are in

need for someone to be in charge for the Soup

Suppers on Wednesdays, March 19, March 26,

April 2, and April 9th. If you can help, please contact

Wayne Riba.

February Worship Highlights

Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ

You are the only Bible that many people

read. Be filled with the Holy Spirit so that your

conversation and conduct is always a

testimony to the greatness of the Lord.

Bible Information Class

Pastor Kock continues teaching a Bible

Information Class, on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., “I

Have Good News for You!” It leads the student

into the Bible and the heart of God’s love for

the world through his Son Jesus. Over the span

of 15 lessons the essential teachings of our

Lord- Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s

Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the

Apostles Creed—are taught. Your mission, if

you choose to accept, is to tell a friend or fam-

ily member without a church home about this

Page 2 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Ash Wednesday and the

Season of Lent Begins March 5

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Income and expenditure information for December

and for the fiscal year.

Here are some opportunities to serve the Lord and

his church, at Trinity.

Help our church’s efforts to save lives and souls

through participation in Christian Life Ministries

(CLM). This ministry is headquartered in Little

Canada, MN, where it offers counseling to

pregnant mothers, directing them to God’s call to

save their baby and live in the light of God’s

grace. CLM also provides children’s clothes and

other assistance to families in need.

Trinity needs a contact person who will keep us

informed of CLM activities and promote this

ministry in our midst. Please speak to Pastor

Kock of your interest to serve.

Serving Jesus with our Gifts & Talents

Sunday Adult Bible Class, 10:15 a.m.

Topic: “Love Speaks.”

Christ has called us to saving faith and

along with that calling is the role of

speaking the truth in love to all people, the

truth of Scripture, of salvation, and of the

holy will of our God for Christian living.

Sunday School for children Pre-K through 8th

grade, 10:15 a.m., studying Bible History and

learning to trust in Jesus Christ.

High School Youth “Inner Court,” Sunday,

10:15 a.m.

Women’s Bible Study, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Topic: Six sessions of an overview of the

Bible.

Wednesday’s Children’s Bible Hour,

3:45-5 p.m., for PreK-6th grade children.

Catechism Class for 7th/8th Graders

Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday Chapel/Bible Class, 7 p.m.

“The Book of Jonah”

Holy Cross Lutheran School, 850 US Highway 8,

St. Croix Falls. “To provide sound academic

instruction in an environment where the Word

of God reigns supreme”

Affiliated with the WELS. For more information

on the school, call 715-294-0086. DVDs from

the Holy Cross Christmas program are available.

Get your free DVD by email:

Eugene.mark.devries@gmail.com or call:

715-338-5913.

BUDGET UPDATE

Last Month Year to Date

Income $21,564 $89,435

Expenses $14,719 $91,417

Page 3 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Grow in the Knowledge of God’s Word

Christian Education:

in the Service: William Pool

Pray and Support our Member

“Serving the developmental disabled population with

the Word of God.” This program exists to bring the

saving, loving message of our Lord and Savior to

children and adults with special needs, and their

families, through Christian support, education,

worship, fellowship, and evangelism. Our programs

warmly reach out to welcome and share the Gospel

with everyone. God has blessed our congregation. He

has shown us where we have a need, we’re able to

meet the need, and with the Lord’s help, it will

continue to grow. Next Events:

Saturday, February 10, 10:00 a.m. “Worship at

the Cross,” at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Membership Changes from Annual Voters Meeting

in January

Steve and Miranda Cooper and family

transferred to Mt. Olive in Appleton, WI.

John and Debbie Schannach received from

New Prague, MN

Tracy Adamson and Nicholas received from

New Prague, MN

Lindsey Spengler released

Danielle Spengler released

Mark Dobberpuhl and family released

John Schannach Feb. 1

Joshua Hoverman Feb. 2

Brett Bader Feb. 2

Joanne Johnson Feb. 4

Jordan Hubred Feb. 5

Carol Jensen Feb. 6

Brianna Munthe Feb. 7

Travis Hubred Feb. 9

Dick Durand Feb.11

Chris Riba Feb.11

Victoria Richter Feb.13

Doris Martinson Feb.14

Elaine Skinner Feb.17

Julie Steffen Feb.17

Donna Johnston Feb.18

Hunter Hubred Feb.19

Melinda Brown Feb.22

Page 4

Key People for February Birthdays for February

Anniversaries in February

Fellowship:

Feb. 2—Harold & Jean Brown

Feb. 9—Randy & Trudy Getschel

Feb, 16—Ron & Jo Jasperson

Feb. 23—Colin & Kathy Hendricks

Fellowship Coordinator—Kevin Rogers 294-2068

Greeters:

Feb. 2—Barb Hoverman & family

Feb. 9—Dick & Mary Lou Durand

Feb. 16—Lester & Pat Mortenson

Feb. 23—Lyle & Marsha Guggisberg

Ushers: Team #4

*Jake Hoverman Colin Hendricks

Josh Hoverman Lyle Guggisberg

JP Hoverman Dick Durand

*Lead Usher

Communion:

February 2—Peggy Rydeen

February 16—Harold & Jean Brown

February Counters:

Mike & Leanne Johnson & Wayne Riba

Cleaning: Feb. 23-March 1st

Check out our website, www.trinityosceola.com

Check us out at www.Facebook.com/trinitylutheran.osceola

Please Note: If we have missed your name

for a birthday or anniversary, we apologize.

Please call the church office at

715-294-2828 and we will make the

correction. Thank you!

Chuck & Doris Martinson Feb. 7

Pastor Mark & Ruth Kock Feb. 9

People News

Everyone Invited!

Sunday, February 16th

11:00 a.m.

Brunch

Fellowship

Games Following