News

Stained Glass Window project

January 10-11 — The windows are carefully and gently removed and transported to La Crosse.

January 26 — The restoration process has begun! The round window frame has been fixed and all the stained glass has been taken out. A new table had to be built to accommodate the big panels and currently they are taking one apart and cleaning every piece, one-by-one.

February 3 — Work was done on the frames today. When the restoration is complete, the existing "bars" will be removed so that nothing obstructs the view of our beautiful windows..

March 10 — progress continues. Everything is looking good for the Easter deadline!

March 29 — the reinstallation has begun!

April 5 — getting closer to being complete!

June 7 — storm windows nearly complete including painted trim

Annual Meeting & Annual Report

Trinity’s Annual Meeting
Sunday, February 5

Stewardship Brunch served at 10:30 a.m.
Annual Meeting follows brunch

The Trinity Center has served Trinity Lutheran Church for more than 50 years. From Sunday School to Confirmation to Release Time to the Beary Patch Preschool, this building has served the congregation well.

In the past year, however, many things have changed regarding our use of this building. The school now offers a 4K program that has been well received and is very successful. We give thanks to Bethany Bergsgaard and the Beary Patch Board of Directors for seeing the preschool through this transition.

During the past year, a youth room was created at the church, which also has been very well received by our youth of all ages. In addition, the Wednesday afternoon Bible School program is now at church. It’s great to see and hear our youth enjoying this space!

Our Release Time program is now at Giants of the Earth Heritage Center. We give thanks for the generous use of this space.

Finally, the boiler at Trinity Center failed late last winter. To repair the existing boiler will cost thousands of dollars. A new boiler will cost more than $25,000.

At the 2019 Trinity Annual Meeting, a motion was made to sell the Trinity Center and the associated storage facility. The motion was tabled. The Congregation Council voted unanimously at the December 2022 meeting to offer the Trinity Center and storage facility properties to the school for $30,000 with the caveat that future Release Time program activities would again be held on the property.

The motion to sell Trinity Center will be un-tabled at the 2022 annual meeting to be held on February 5, 2023.

During the next month, please consider what is the best use of our stewardship resources, what is the best for the school and the community, and what is best for our youth. Please, thoughtfully and prayerfully consider this opportunity.

If you have questions about Trinity Center, please talk to Congregation Council President, Saundra Solum, or Pastor Elizabeth.

Annual Report for 2022

To download the report, click here.
Paper copies are also available in the office and sanctuary.

The Annual Meeting can also be attended via Zoom.
Below are instructions for attending that way.

To join the meeting via Zoom:
You can CALL in to the meeting or join via the ZOOM APP. (It is a free app, download it in your device’s app store or visit www.zoom.us/download.)

To call:
- call (312) 626-6799.
- when prompted, enter meeting ID: 854 3677 8921

Via Zoom app:
- type in this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85436778921
- you will be let into the meeting, please be patient as many may be trying to join at the same time.

To vote:
- on your device you will need to have your video turned on, then you will raise your hand to vote yes or keep your hand down to vote no.

- if you called into the meeting via phone, you will need to say yes or no followed by your name, you will be asked for your answer so that people are not talking over each other.

Thrivent Choice Dollars

Thrivent Choice is a charitable grant program that gives eligible Thrivent clients with membership the opportunity to influence where Thrivent distributes some of its charitable funds each year. Clients are invited to direct Choice Dollars® among thousands of enrolled nonprofit organizations, including churches, camps, schools, seminaries, campus ministries and more. More than $490 million in Choice Dollars grant funds were distributed to churches and other nonprofit organizations since the program was introduced in 2010. More than 40,000 churches and organizations are enrolled in Thrivent Choice.

Trinity is one of the eligible organizations to which Choice Dollars® can be designated. Not sure how to do that? Contact your Thrivent representative or the Trinity office and we can help.

The deadline to designate your Choice Dollars® is March 31.

Cookbooks

Did you know that the 2007 Homecoming Edition of our cookbook is still available to purchase?!
Have you worn yours out or want to give a copy as a gift?

The cookbooks are $15 and available to pick up in the office.

We are called to bear one another's burdens

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S., and suicide rates have increased in almost every state since 1999 (some by more than 30%), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide occurs among all demographics and all religious groups. And behind the statistics are individuals–people who live in our families, communities and congregations and whose stories and relationships are unique and important.

Mindful of the lives affected, the ELCA adopted “Suicide Prevention,” a message that calls on members, congregations and leaders to learn more about suicide prevention and what they can do to help. The message calls us to this work as people of faith saying, “We who lean on God’s love to live are called to ‘bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ’ (Gal. 6:2). Our efforts to prevent suicide grow out of our obligation to protect and promote life, our hope in God amid suffering and adversity, and our love for our troubled neighbor.”

At the 2016 Churchwide Assembly, a social policy resolution advocating for suicide prevention research was adopted. Below is a list of resources members, congregations and faith leaders can use to learn more about suicide and how to prevent it.

Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry (suicidepreventionmninistry.org): With an inclusive and interfaith mission, the Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry’s goal is zero suicides for all people, regardless of beliefs. The website includes resources for congregations, clergy and leaders, including lists of trusted faith-based mental health organizations.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org): The Lifeline provides free, 24/7, confidential support for people in distress and advice for professionals. (800-273-8255)

National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org): The nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization provides information on warning signs and risk factors for suicide and resources for helping people with mental illnesses.

ELCA video message on suicide prevention (youtube.com/watch?v=JSjnigq S7sI): Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shares a message of hope, saying, “Suicide can be prevented. We are never beyond God’s mercy and compassion.”

National Suicide Prevention Organizations

American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
Phone 202-237-2280
Website www.suicidology.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Phone 888-333-2377
Website www.afsp.org

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Phone 800-826-3632
Website www.dbsalliance.org

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Phone 301-443-4513
Website www.nimh.nih.gov

Additional Resources for Dealing With Grief

“Transforming Traumatic Grief: Six Steps to Move from Grief to Peace After the Sudden or Violent Death of a Loved One” by Courtney Armstrong (Artemecia Press, 2011).

“Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body” by Peter A. Levine (Sounds True, 2008).

“The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel van der Kolk (Viking, 2014).

Maple Syrup Project Help Needed

Everywhere a person goes these days they see a sign that says “Help Wanted” or “Now Hiring”. We aren’t looking to hire anyone to help with the Maple Syrup Project, but we are looking for volunteers! It is great because you don’t have to list it on your taxes. We are planning a wood cutting bee September 30 beginning at 9:00 a.m. for anyone who can make it. We will be completely out of wood after next season if we don’t get any put up. If you want to bring a chainsaw, great. If you want to split wood, great! If you want to stack wood, great! Lunch will be provided. Hope you can make it. Questions? Give me a call, 498-5823. ~Pastor Lane

Little Free Pantry

Did you know that Trinity has a Little Free Pantry?

It has just been moved to a new location — the southwest entrance (the entrance farthest from the parking lot) off of Main Street. Look for a sign on the door.

ALL are welcome to use the pantry as needed. Know someone that could use a little help with food or toiletries? Please direct them to our Little Free Pantry. It is open 24-7. There are also new socks and hats

Take what you need, give when you can.

Friday Email using Mailchimp

Every Friday we send out an email with information about what is going on at Trinity that weekend and the following week and beyond. The email also includes a link to that Sunday’s bulletin…..an easy way to access it for using when watching worship online.

If you’d like to be added to our Friday Email list click here to send us an email or give us a call, 498-5291.

If you’re already receiving the email, but can’t figure out why it’s not showing up in your inbox? Here are a couple things to try….

Add our email address (trinityspringgrove@gmail.com) to our contacts
For Gmail users — Move our emails to your Primary tab
You can teach Gmail where to deliver your messages. When you move one of our emails from the Promotions tab to the Primary tab, Gmail asks whether it should always deliver our emails there…..if you answer yes, it will then teach Gmail where to deliver emails from Trinity.

Listen. Respect. Pray. Pledge.

Listen. Respect. Pray.

The ELCA is providing links to numerous resources for us to learn more about the history of racism and inequality in the U.S. But the best things we can do are to listen to our neighbors, be respectful of their experiences, and pray for guidance.

Click here for a link to a list of books, movies, TV series, and podcasts.

ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
~ Colossians 3:17

In 2019, at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, voting members adopted a resolution designating June 17 as a commemoration of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9—the nine people shot and killed on June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Congregations of the ELCA are encouraged to mark this day of penitence with study and prayer. As church we are called to confess the sin of racism, condemn the ideology of white supremacy, and strive for racial justice and peace. Beyond statements and prayers, we are called to also act and respond to injustices. We invite you click here to visit this page where you can learn more about committing to doing actions to help stop racism.

How to -- YouTube & Facebook

Trying to watch videos on our YouTube channel or find us on Facebook? We hope the following steps will help make that easier!

Click here to go to our YouTube channel.

Click here to go to our Facebook page.

Lend your voice to the choir!

Our choir sings an anthem each Sunday morning September through May. They also present a concert in December. We would love to have you join us! Practices are Wednesday evenings at 8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. All ages from 7th grade through adult are invited to come and be a part of this vocal group. Don’t worry if you can’t commit to every single Sunday; we’d love to have your voice when you can be here!

Questions about Choir? Contact Scott Solberg, 498-5472, or sjsol@springgrove.coop.

Trinity Boutique

Trinity boutique gift shop is back! Are you looking for a baby gift? Or bridal shower gift? Or a birthday gift? Trinity Boutique is a great place to shop! The items are hand-made and one-of-a-kind — they make wonderful gifts! The Boutique is in the Fellowship Hall and has a variety of homemade articles and gifts to purchase during the upcoming year. With many members having special talents to make unique items, WELCA decided to offer these items for sale year-round. Anyone who makes an item may drop it off at the church office. Please price items when dropping them off. Anyone can purchase these treasures, simply put the tag and the money in the cash box by the items. Questions? Contact Boutique coordinators, Yvonne Krogstad, krogstad@springgrove.coop, or Jacque Wennes, jacquewen@aol.com.

ELCA Sanctuary denomination

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40

On August 7 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), through its Churchwide Assembly, voted to become a sanctuary body.

The ELCA has a long history of advocating for immigrants and working to welcome and resettle refugees. In fact, several congregations in our synod sponsored refugees in the years after World War II and again after the Vietnam War. In line with our historic understanding and action responding to the needs of immigrants and those seeking asylum within our nation’s borders, the ELCA has declared itself to be a sanctuary body.

This is a declaration of our continued commitment to “welcome the stranger.” As a sanctuary church, the ELCA is committed to serving and supporting migrant children and families in communities across the country (https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8000).

How each congregation lives into this commitment will vary. Some members will volunteer or donate to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), others may wish to host our synod’s AMMPARO team to learn more about immigration (more information can be found at http://semnsynod.org/ammparo/), still others may find ways to support immigrant families in their own communities.

As a denomination, we are still living into what this designation means. Part of the action the Churchwide Assembly took was to direct the ELCA Church Council to provide guidance and resources related to the question what does it mean to be a sanctuary body?.

To be clear, this action does not require congregations or individual members to engage in any particular activity and nothing in this action binds synods or congregations.

It is our hope that as individuals and congregations you will thoughtfully engage in prayer, discernment and conversation in light of this declaration. As you do so, a centering question might be: how can we best live into our identity as the people of God in this place?

May peace and courage be yours,
Bishop Steven H. Delzer and Bishop-Elect Regina Hassanally

Links to more information about what this means:

Talking points from the ELCA
Letter from Bishop Suarez of the Florida-Bahamas Synod
Biblical texts on being a sanctuary church

MN Farm & Rural Helpline

New and Updated Policies

Various Teams at Trinity and the Council have been working on updating policies for the church. Below are links to these policies. Click on the name to view that policy.

Safe Church policy

Family / Medical Leave policy

Definition of Offerings

Winter Weather Policy

Services will be held at 9:15 a.m. each Sunday unless conditions are so severe around Spring Grove that travel is unsafe.

Announcements about the Sunday service will be made by 7:30 a.m., and broadcast on KVIK-FM 104.7 FM, KQYB 98.3 FM, as well as KTTC-TV Channel 10, and WXOW TV-19. We will also post updates on our Facebook page, Instagram, and website.

Decisions about the Saturday service will be made by 3:30 p.m. that day and broadcast in the same places.

Remember our Sunday service is audio-streamed on KVIK 104.7FM. Please stay safe when considering traveling in bad weather.

Convenience of Electronic Giving

We want to remind you that Trinity offers electronic giving as a way to automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic giving offers convenience for individual congregation members and provides much-needed donation consistency for our congregation.

Direct Debit Giving is used to automatically transfer funds from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account.
Credit & Debit Card Giving lets you make offerings automatically on a predetermined schedule using a credit or debit card.

Online Giving lets you go to www.trinitysg.org at any time to set up an automatic donation plan, change your donation plan, make a one-time donation or view your online donation history. As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving.

Simply follow these easy steps:
1. Visit the church website at www.trinitysg.org
2. Click on the [Contribute] button, then [Contribute Online] button
3. Click on the [Create Profile] button, then
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring contributions or give a one-time gift.
5. Please note that you can change your schedule at any time.

Hearing Loop System Installed

We’re in the Loop!
Our new hearing loop system was installed in the sanctuary on April 28. Anyone with a hearing loss will be able to clearly hear the spoken word during church services. If you have a T-coil in your hearing aid, switch it on during services. If you do not have a T-coil but need some hearing assistance, we have T-coil loop receivers (headsets and receivers) available when you pick up your Sunday bulletin. Either way you will receive a direct signal straight from the microphone directly to your ear, free from reverberation and ambient noise interference. We will be sharing more information about the loop system in May.

Bread and Soup Recipes from Trinity's Empty Bowl Events

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger and was created by The Imagine Render Group. Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to organizations working to end hunger and food insecurity. The money we raised at Trinity went to the Houston County Food Shelf and to ELCA World Hunger.

At our annual event, we serve homemade breads and soups. Theyare delicious! Thank you to our bakers and soup makers! We have asked our chefs to share their recipes, which they did, and they are compiled here. Thank you to all who make these events successful, the donations for the meal were very generous.

Click here for recipes