Contents Cross Or Crucifix?

THE January 2017

The monthly newsletter of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Fergus Falls, MN

Cross Or Crucifix? A Lutheran Perspective Contents What do you suppose is the greatest, most recognizable, symbol of Christianity? Some would From the Pastor’s Desk 1-2 suggest that it is the fish <><. One does, after all, see them on Christian’s cars all over the Lutheran Identity 2 place. True, but I’ve never seen a fish on the top of a steeple. Not that many people wear them Why Do the Pastors Chant? 2 Trinity Events as jewelry. In our church we have banners, paraments, and stained glass windows depicting Epiphany Service 3 Christian symbols, but none of them has a fish. But we do have crosses all over the place, so I Thank You! 3 would contend that of all the symbols of Christianity none stands out above the cross. We Can Teach You! 3 We have crosses on our banners, paraments, stained glass windows, pews and altar. We Historian Asst. Needed 3 have a processional cross. We have two crosses that we use behind the altar, one plain and one Missionary Moment 3 crucifix. We make the sign of the holy cross at Baptisms, during Divine Service, in the morning Ladies’ Bible Study 4 when we arise, before devotions, after receiving the Sacrament and other times. The pastors LWML in January 4 wear pectoral crosses in Divine Service and many of you wear one on a necklace or chain, too. Trinity Men’s NetWork 4 So Lutherans clearly use and love the cross as a symbol of their faith. It reminds us of Jesus Ex Libris Theologicis 4 love for us. It reminds us of the price Jesus paid for our salvation. It is the standard Christian Sanctity of Life Sunday 4 symbol. Preschool News & Pics 4 On Ash Wednesday, we will be dedicating a new large crucifix that will hang on the wall in Faces of the Reformation 5 the sanctuary and there will be some who wonder if we should have it. Member Life So let’s take a closer look at the use of the main Christian symbol, the cross, and through Pray for… 6 questions and answers determine whether or not as a Christian symbol the cross should be Thank You 6 “empty” or if it is okay to use a crucifix. Church & School Info 7 Question: Is the use of crucifixes an exclusively Roman Catholic practice? January Calendar 8 Answer: Not at all. Episcopalians, Anglicans and Orthodox churches use crucifixes and Daily Readings 9 history tells us that the crucifix was a regular feature of Lutheran worship during Luther’s lifetime and for hundreds of years afterward. The founders of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS) continued Luther’s teaching and worship practice when they arrived in the United States. There are crucifixes in the chapels of both of the LCMS seminaries and you can’t get more “Lutheran” than our seminaries can you? Lutherans consider the crucifix to be a powerful reminder of the sacrifice of Christ for our salvation. The Apostle Paul says in 1st Corinthians, chapter 1: “We preach Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Cor. 1:23). Dr. Luther also commented, “The custom of holding a crucifix before a dying person has kept many in the Christian faith and has enabled them to die with a confident faith in the crucified Christ.” (AE 22,147) Question: What happened in Lutheran history that makes the crucifix somewhat controversial today? Answer: Mainly two things: A movement within the Lutheran Church called “Pietism”. Pietism rejected much of Lutheran doctrine and, consequently, many Lutheran worship practices. Pietists believed that feelings and experience trumped Biblical doctrine. Also, American Lutherans have felt pressure to “fit in” with Reformed Christianity, which became the most common form of Christianity in America during the 20th century. Sadly, and Philosophy of Ministry to our detriment, this meant doing away with crucifixes, vestments, chalices, making the sign of Our primary goal is to the cross, and liturgical orders of worship. bring lost souls into a Question: Isn’t it better to focus on Christ’s Resurrection? Isn’t this why we should use a bare personal relationship with cross, to symbolize the Resurrection? Christ and strengthen the Answer: Some will reject the crucifix, saying that they worship a resurrected Jesus, not a dead faithful in their relationship Jesus. But this reasoning misses the mark. The biblical truth is that we worship Christ who was with Christ. We achieve both crucified and resurrected. We must be careful not to downplay the Crucifixion, because it this by education of all won forgiveness and salvation for us and the Resurrection won for us eternal life. Both are true, members in the true Word and both are necessary. of God through worship, Christ was resurrected from the tomb, not the cross. Therefore, a bare cross cannot be a Christian education and symbol of the Resurrection. If you want to symbolize the Resurrection then you’d better figure day school. We believe that out a way to symbolize an empty tomb, for that is where Christ arose. through education, The point is that both a bare cross and a crucifix symbolize the same thing: Christ’s spiritual growth will occur Crucifixion for the salvation of the world and thus both can rightly be used. and membership in the Question: Isn’t the crucifix a “graven image” that Holy Scripture warns us not to use? kingdom will increase. Answer: Those who claim this usually cite Exodus 20:4: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth

Continued on page 2...

Continued from page 1... beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” In truth, this Word of God does allow for images – just not the worship of them. In fact, the Lord, Himself, commanded the construction of images, for example in Exodus 25:18-22, when He ordered that two cherubim be carved and placed on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. Any of God’s good gifts can be used wrongly, because of our sinfulness. But this is the sin of the worshipper, not the object. Even the Altar or the Baptismal Font can be abused, yet we wouldn’t cease to use these things. Rather, Lutherans are to correct false teaching, and forgive the abuse. Besides, how many of you have a crèche with a little baby Jesus in it? Is Jesus still a little baby? Do you worship the carving of the baby Jesus? Indeed, wouldn’t it seem strange to have a nativity scene and then intentionally omit Jesus, lest we make a “graven image”? Question: Wouldn’t it be better, in order to avoid misunderstanding, to simply not have a crucifix? Answer: Lutherans have never believed banning something was the solution to misusing it. Rather, we believe that proper and continual teaching is the best way to avoid misunderstanding. This keeps the good things in use to the Glory of God. Question: In conclusion, are crucifixes good and right according to the Holy Scriptures? Answer: This is the most important point of all: There is nothing contrary to God’s Word, or our Lutheran Confessions, about the proper use of a crucifix. There is nothing wrong with the proper use of either a bare cross or a crucifix, or any other church symbol by which we are reminded of all that Christ has done for our forgiveness and salvation. In an age in which so many things in our society are being “dumbed-down” and changed simply for the sake of change, we should guard against dismissing practices that are historic in the Church, that is, they have roots and teaching that goes back to biblical times. Before rejecting these things, we should learn more about them, and in so doing, have our worship and life enriched and blessed. The crucifix is a visual reminder of the graphic nature of what Christ did for us. This is Christ and Him crucified for us!

+ Pr. Christensen

The Divine Service— A Lutheran Identity: What is Your Story?

Dr. Arthur Just begins his book, “Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service,” by asking the question, “What is your story?” If you asked your grandparents about their life and story, it would likely be intimately interwoven with the Church. If they lost their story, they’d lose their identity, their faith. There was never an identity crisis for the generations of Lutherans living a century ago. Why? Because they always knew that Jesus was present for them in the Liturgy of the Divine Service and they went as frequently as they were able. Jesus was at the center of their identity in the world, because He is at the center of the Divine Service. Dr. Just also wrote, “Perhaps there is confusion about our identity in Christ because we no longer know where it is that we see Jesus.” Rather, culture would have you to believe the only place to find Jesus is in your heart, in your feelings and emotions. While Jesus does dwell in our hearts, He does so through concrete means of His Word, in Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. The age of creative and disposable liturgies has aided the Church in losing its identity. Christ is no longer at the center of our story; rather worship has become more about feelings and emotions. The liturgy of the Divine Service used today by the Lutheran Church may seem out of place with a world that feasts on change and uncertainty, but the liturgy of the Divine Service keeps Christ at its center. Over the next couple months, I will expand on explaining the gifts of the liturgy of the Divine Service and the story each of us receives in and through it. Two of the items we will reflect on is how salvation’s story is told each and every time we gather for the Divine Service. Secondly, we will reflect on how the Divine Service is solely based upon God’s Word, a Word that will not fail you or depart from you as you continue on this pilgrimage on earth. In addition to writing on this topic in upcoming newsletter articles, we will be sharing articles on the Divine Service via Trinity’s Facebook as well. It’s my prayer these writings will aid and remind you of the precious identity you have in Christ and how in the Divine Service Christ sustains you and your family in a world of so many unknowns. In Christ, Pastor Rogness

1 Arthur A. Just, Heaven on Earth : The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, 2008. 9. 2 Ibid, 10.

Why Do the Pastors Chant?

At the time of the Reformation, Martin Luther reintroduced the use of chanting in the Divine Service. In fact, he believed two parts of the Divine Service should be chanted: The Lord’s Prayer and the Words of Institution. Why? Because at the time, the priests were mumbling the words quietly so no one could hear them. Luther wrote that because these sacred words are words of Gospel, they should be understandable and heard. Given that historical context, there are additional benefits to chanting today. Chanting can aid to slow the congregation down as the Psalms (Introit) are prayed and bring many voices into unity. Chanting makes words more distinct and easier to hear. The custom of chanting brings the words to the hearer’s ears without added interpretation and sets the sacred words of the Divine Service apart from our everyday world. Additionally, chanting can be easier on a pastor’s voice and easier for him to project his voice in large spaces. Lastly, when things are set to music, they become easier to commit to memory and easier to recall throughout life’s ups and downs.

Epiphany Evening Prayer Thank you from Pastor & Diane Christensen January 6th @ 7:00 pm Diane and I thank all of you who shared your Christmas Contrary to popular belief, Christmas doesn’t end when greeting and gifts with us. We appreciated your thoughtful- the last gift is unwrapped on Christmas Day. Rather ness and pray God’s continued blessing upon you and yours Christmas continues and culminates with Epiphany on in the New Year. January 6. Epiphany and Christmas are intertwined as sea- In Christ, sons of light as Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, comes to Pastor & Diane us. Epiphany is the older of the two feast days and equally important as Christmas. Epiphany reveals Jesus to the entire world, beginning with the visit of Wise Men. Come Thank you from Pastor & Becky Rogness and join us for this service as we continue to worship the Newborn King! Dear members of Trinity,

My family and I would like to extend our appreciation for the many cards and gifts you have given us this Christmas season. We are indebted to you for the kindness you have Knitter & Crocheters shown us these first few months and look forward to the We can teach you! many opportunities to serve you in the year ahead. In Christ, Do you knit or crochet or would like to learn to knit? Come Pastor Rogness and family join the group that is making stocking caps, scarves, mittens, etc. to give to LAMP, Salvation Army, Orphan Grain Train, and others a need a need for warm winter wear is brought to our attention. The group will be meeting on January 19 at Thank you from Laura & Family 1:30 at church. Come if you are interested in what is being done or would like to help. You do not need to know how to Thank to my friends and family from Trinity Lutheran knit of crochet. It is easy to learn to loom knit and we have Church for your Christmas blessings you shared with me and looms and yarn available. If you have any questions call my family this Christmas season. I am overwhelmed by the Donna Christopher – 998-4273 or Nadine Drevlow – 770- Christian kindness you have shown to me over the last years 3679. as your church secretary. It is a pleasure serving you and with you at Trinity. May God bless you all now and through the New Year. - Laura Dewey & family Historian Assistants Needed

Trinity’s 150th Anniversary is just a few years away. We Time to Subscribe to the Lutheran Witness would like to compile the church’s history– photos, newspa- per clippings, etc. The church is looking for someone to work It’s time to subscribe or renew your subscription to the with another member of the congregation in this effort. Lutheran Witness. The Lutheran Witness is a monthly publi- Some computer skills would be beneficial as we work to dig- cation that offers synodical news, reports from Lutherans itize some these items. Please call the church office if you around the world, features, columns, Q&As, a Bible study, are interested in helping with this project. Thank you! and much more. There is no better way to keep up on all the latest LCMS news. Look for sign-up sheets in the Narthex on Sundays January 15, 22 and 29.

Monthly Missionary Moment Rev. Matthew and Heather Ruesch—Church Planter

Rev. Matthew and Heather Ruesch serve the Lord as career missionaries of The Luther- an Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Puerto Rico. Matthew serves as the pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, an existing LCMS church plant. He provides Word and Sacrament ministry to the congregation and directs evange- lism and mercy efforts in the Mayagüez community. Matthew was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan. He received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Before becoming a career missionary, he served as a pastor in Garrison, Minnesota, and in Bear Creek, Wisconsin. Heather grew up in Florence, Wisconsin. She travels around the country speaking publicly on life issues and abstinence and is also a singer and songwriter. Matthew and Heather have three children—Isabella, Paul and Sofia — who join them on the mission field. Pray for the Rueschs as they serve in Puerto Rico. Pray God gives them strength and peace as they transition to life in Puerto Rico, learning the culture and the language so they may effectively communicate the Gospel. Pray specifically for the Ruesch children as they adjust to their new school, meet new friends and learn about the Puerto Rican culture. Pray that the Lord would continue to provide support for this mission. Pray that the Holy Spirit would grant growth of the Mayagüez congregation and provide opportunities for new church plants throughout Puerto Rico. 3

Ladies’ Bible Study LWML in January 2017

The January meeting of the Saturday morning Ladies’ Bible On Thursday, January 19th, at 2:30 pm (note the time Study will be on January 21st at 9:30 am at the Village Co-op change), all the LWML members and guests will Great Room. Diane Christensen will continue to lead the meet to study the Bible as it relates to our lives, to carry on study of Ecclesiastes. All women are welcome. any Trinity LWML objectives, and to allocate the offerings we Call Nadine at 218-770-3679 if you need directions to the have gathered throughout 2016 to various church related en- Village Co-op. deavors. Please come and bring a friend. The topic will be “Celebrating Pastors’ Wives,” please read your LWML Winter Quarterly beforehand. We will study the Thank You articles (not the printed Bible studies). You may find answers to things you’ve been wondering. Make note of things you’d A sincere thank you to everyone who attended the presenta- like to ask. You may also read the last few verses of Proverbs, tion given by Delano and Linda Meyer on December 4 and for as some discussion will apply to all wives. Our pastors’ wives your financial support of their agricultural mission scheduled are invited, so we can ask them some questions. This Quar- for early 2017 in Africa. Please keep the Meyers and others terly also has information on this summer’s LWML conven- involved in this project in your prayers, that God would use tion in Albuquerque. We are invited to join the two buses go- their talents in a mighty way for His purposes. ing from SD. More on that later. See you on January 19th at 2:30 pm for an interesting discussion.

Trinity Men’s NetWork Ex Libris Theologicis Trinity Men are invited to gather for a hot breakfast served Starting a New Book– Sign Up in Kiosk by Wayne and Joe on Saturday, January 21 at 8:00 am at the church. Following breakfast we will continue with our study “The FUN Study with the Intimidating Name”— Join on Islam (Part Two): Lesson 3— “God has no children.” us beginning MONDAY, JANUARY 9 at 7:00 pm as we begin reading and discussing “The Case for Christ.” A sample copy of this book and a sign up sheet are available in the kiosk. Author Lee Strobel’s tough questions make this book read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it's not fiction. It's a riveting quest for the truth about history's most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?

Sanctity of Life Sunday Sunday, January 22, 2017

One white rose will be placed on the altar on this special Sunday. The theme for the day will be “Here We Stand” based on Ephesians 6:13. A special Lutherans for Life dona- tion envelope will be placed in the bulletin. Please join us for fellowship treats served by the Human Care Board following the regular 9:00 am Divine Service that Sunday. Fellowship will be followed by a special Bible study from Lutheran for Life. Becky Weers will also join us to give us an update on the Welcome House maternity home project in Fergus Falls, MN.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:13

Preschool at Trinity News & Program Photos

Preschool at Trinity had a wonderful December as we prepared and presented our Christmas program for our families and friends. We learned and recited the Christmas story, Bible verses, and also sang many Christmas songs. We received many com- pliments on the program because the children did such a great job. We also enjoyed a Christmas party with our parents, collect- ing Chapel offering ($137.00) for Lutheran Hour Ministries, and donating food to the Fergus Falls Food Shelf. Visit our Pre- school at Trinity website (www.preschoolattrinity.org) and our Trinity Church website (www.trinityff.org) to view more photos and short videos from our Christmas program. In the classroom we enjoyed counting, number recognition, sorting and working on preposition words, like on, before, after, and in between. The children are soaking up so much knowledge as the days and weeks pass by! Our annual Snowflake Factory Fun Night is coming up on Friday, February 3rd. Can you help? We will be recruiting soon. Thank you in advance!

Luther’s Faithful Friend and Defender

Born to a noble Saxon family, Nikolaus von Amsdorf first studied theology in Leipzig and then was one of the first students at the newly founded University of Wittenberg. There, he obtained his master’s de- gree and a position as a professor. He also often served as rector. He was trained in and taught scholastic theology until he was won for the Reformation by his colleague Martin Luther, whom he accompanied to the Leipzig Debate and the Diet of Worms. His friendship with Luther would be the most definitive aspect of Amsdorf’s theological activity.

After visiting Magdeburg with Luther in 1524, Amsdorf was encouraged by Luther to take a call there, where he served for nearly two decades. In Magdeburg, he battled radicals and Papists through his sermons and simply worded pamphlets, and he was instrumental in turning the city and surrounding areas into a bastion for Lutheranism.

At the behest of his prince, John Frederick, and against the wishes of the emperor, Amsdorf was made bishop of Naumberg-Zeitz in 1542. Due to the opposition of the clergy in his bishopric, he met with little success and was frustrated in his work. After the Smalcald War broke out in 1546, Amsdorf was driven from his position. Following John Frederick’s capture by imperial forces at the battle of Mühlberg, Amsdorf served for a short time as counselor to his prince’s sons in Weimar. Thereafter, Amsdorf retired to Magdeburg, where he was a NIKOLAUS VON AMSDORF leading voice against the compromises made by Melanchthon and his Born: Dec. 3, 1483 followers to the Augsburg Interim imposed upon Saxony by Emperor Torgau, Germany Charles V. Died: May 14, 1565 Eisenach, Germany From 1552 on, Amsdorf lived in Eisenach, where, though retired, he was engaged in matters of church and academia, including the founding of the University of Jena. Until his death in 1565, he was involved in a number of theological controversies and prodigiously published polemi- cal works. Among the most famous of these controversies was his dis- pute with Georg Major, who argued that “good works were necessary for salvation.” Amsdorf pushed for the other extreme and claimed that “good works” were detrimental to salvation, by which he meant those “good works” that are seen as contributing to salvation. Amsdorf’s writing, though it seeks to reproduce Luther’s legacy, is simple, unoriginal and lacks the depth and intensity of Luther’s work. In some cases, Amsdorf missed the subtlety of Luther’s theology, as can be seen in Amsdorf’s systematic treatment of predestination, which is similar to the views of Calvin’s followers. Nevertheless, Amsdorf’s almost singular focus on the exclusive action of God in Christ for our salvation and the prestige he enjoyed as a close friend of Luther’s kept the Lutheran movement from drowning in a sea of compromise in the tumultuous years that followed Luther’s death.

LutheranReformation.org

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD ConcordiaHistoricalInstitute.org 5

First Nation Children we prayed for over the past month ...

Norway House #1: Huntington, age 6; Ianna, age 8; Jacob, age 10; Hailey, age 10; Hannah, age 10; Hannah, age 11; Georgia, age 17; Gizelle, age 6; Glenda, age 11; Evander, age 11; Farrah, age 8; Fred, age 7;

Norway House #2: Kaydence, age 11; Kingsley, age 6; Nelson, age 11; McCalvary, age 7;

Norway House #3: Charles, age 8; Isaac, age 9; Tristan, age 10; Carly, age 5;

Shamattawa: Martin, age 10; Brianna, age 10; Beandre, age 10; Tannia, age 12; Demario, age 5; Electria, age 10; Riley, age 6; Eva, age 6; Briannan, age 12; Bentley, age 4; Cayley, age 7; Miley, age 5

Pray For… All those prayed for over the past month …

Those who have fallen asleep in Christ: - Richard Quam’s family and friends who mourn his death and celebrate his eternal life with Christ. - Gladys Kenyon’s family and friends who mourn her death and celebrate her eternal life with Christ.

Ill: Dawn Koennicke (Al & Marcie Koennicke’s daughter), Todd Hughes (Shari Sorkness’s brother)

Recovering: Angie Streeter

Ongoing concern: Georgene Ferber, Elaine Culp, Berniece Dalluge, Bob Boldt, Arlan Scramstad, Rhoda Wellbrock, Jeremy Elshaug, Aggie Froehlich, Dick Jochim (DonnaUmlauf’s brother-in-law), Dylan Maack (Bob & Janet Maack’s grandson), Robin Roberts (Austin & Elaine Culp’s daughter), Charles Krause (Margo Nepper’s brother)

Call our prayer chain (Florence) at 218-736-6470 with special requests you might have during the week. If you would like to be included in Sunday prayers, please fill out the prayer request form in the mailbox by the church office.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

Thank you to all those who made and so beautifully boxed the delicious cookies we delivered to our dear Trinity homebound members. Thank you to our delivery drivers and all those who went out to deliver these treats and sing Christmas hymns and carols. Those whom we visited were very appreciative of the blessings they received and wish to thank everyone involved. Happy New Year! May we continue to witness our faith in our Lord and Savior to all who touch our lives into the New Year. - Trinity’s Local Outreach Board

Church & Preschool Contact Information On-Call Pastor (218) 321-0993 Rev. John M. Christensen, Senior Pastor (cell) (307) 286-1446 (email) [email protected] Rev. Noah J. Rogness, Associate Pastor (cell) (612) 385-1183 (email) [email protected] Church Office/Laura, Secretary (work) (218) 736-4869 (email) [email protected] Preschool at Trinity (218) 736-5847 Diane Christensen, Director (email) [email protected] Church Office Hours Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday, 8:00 pm - 3:30 pm Tuesday via Church Office Telephone Number, 8:00 am—3:00 pm Church Office E-mail [email protected] Preschool at Trinity E-mail [email protected]

Media Information Worship Schedule Television Sundays Trinity worship 10:00 am Sun Channel 8 (local) 9:00 am—Divine Service Followed by 6:30 am Tues Channel 8 (local) 1:00 pm— Divine Service on the Worship for Shut-ins 6:30 pm TuesChannel 8 (local) 1st Sunday of each month

Radio 10:30 am— Adult & Teen Bible Class Trinity worship 10:00 am Sun KJJK 1020 AM 10:30 am— Sunday School (Sept. through May) The Bible Study 10:00 am Thur* www.kfuoam.org Lutheran Hour 7:30 am Sun KFGO 790 AM 9:00 am Sun CSN 88.7 FM 10:35 am Sun KBRF 1250 AM 4:30 pm Sun KFNW 1200 AM Issues Etc. 6:00 pm Sun KKOK 95.7 FM 24/7 broadcasting at issuesetc.org

Websites Trinity www.trinityff.org Preschool www.preschoolattrinity.org LCMS www.lcms.org LCMS Radio www.kfuoam.org

*Only first Thursday of the month.

Church Leaders President Jon Schoening Board of Fellowship Vacant Vice President Vacant Board of Global Outreach Dave Schneeberger Treasurer Cindy Schmidt Board of Human Care Jan Prause Special Funds Treasurer Margie Rasmussen Board of Local Outreach Phyllis Jastram Financial Secretary Sandy King Board of Stewardship Larry Stein Secretary Cheri Anderson Board of Trustees Chuck Dale Board of Cemetery Cal Johansen Board of Youth Ministry Wayne Goerdt Board of Christian Education Esther Schlicker Constitution/By-Laws Vacant Board for Day School David Schlicker Board of Elders Rick Drevlow, chair Rodney Schmidt, vice chair Wayne Schoening, secretary Gary Schmidt David Hauser Wayne Goerdt Marvin Otto Jerry Pribbernow Ron Fitzner Dan Beske John Hansen

–

11 18 25

15 22

10 17 24

2 9

16 23

1 8

15 22

14 21 28

NetWork Study

February 2017 February

Saturday

13 20 27

AndesTower Hills

12 19 26

9:30am Ladies Bible 8:00am Trinity Men’s 11:00am Youth Event

6 3

10 17 24 31

2 9

16 23 30

1 8

15 22 29

14 21 28

13 20 27

Friday

December 2016 December

12 19 26

WorshipService S

11 18 25

Epiphanyof our Lord 7:00pm Epiphany

ALL

: :

0993

321

Meeting

Bev Hess’ Bev ASTOR

O Preschool O

Thursday

Crocheters

Christmas Break Christmas

218

atJoyce Hitchock’s StudyMeeting & Pastoral Visitations Pastoral

Shirley Shirley Pribbernow’s

MERGENCY

(Classes resume Jan. 2) Jan. resume (Classes

1:30pm 2 Circle 7:00pm Trustees 7:00pm Elders 7:00pm 3 Circles at 4 &

7:00pm Trustees

9:00am Circuit Pastors 1:00pm Quilters 7:00pm Church Council

2:30pm LWML Bible 1:30pm 2 Circle @ 7:00pm Elders 7:00pm 3 Circles 4 & 1:30pm Knitters &

Please check the Pleaseonline the check calendar throughoutthe month changes. for any

4869

736

Choir

Choir Choir

Choir

218

Fergus Falls, MN Falls, Fergus

Wednesday

Bible HistoryClasses Bible History

Bible HistoryClass

Bible History Bible

January January 2017

9:00am Staff Meeting 12:00pm Crafters 3:45pm Catechesis & 5:15pm Bell Choir 7:00pm Praise New

8:45am Chapel 9:15am Staff Meeting 3:45pm Catechesis & 5:15pm Bell Choir 7:00pm Praise New 8:45am Chapel 9:15am Staff Meeting 3:45pm Catechesis & 7:00pm Praise New

9:00am Staff Meeting 3:45pm Catechesis & 7:00pm Praise New

10 17

www.trinityff.org/calendar

Tuesday

Study @ LRHC StudyLRHC @

Group

Study @ LRHC StudyLRHC @

Pastoral Visitations Pastoral

Study LRHC @

6:30 am Men’s Bible Men’s am Bible 6:30 pm Local Outreach 7:00

6:30am Men’s Bible 8:45am Chapel

1:00 pm Caregiver Support pm Caregiver 1:00 6:30 am Men’s Bible Men’s am Bible 6:30

6:30am Men’s Bible

6:30 am Men’s Bible Men’s am Bible 6:30 am Chapel 8:45 pm Stewardship 7:00 pm Human Care 7:00 pm Global Outreach 7:00

16 23

22 30

date calendar available is at

Monday

River Bend River Apts

NO Preschool NO

atBend River Apartments

River Bend River Apartments

ChurchOffice Closed

6:30pm Study Bible 7:00pm Libris Ex NEWSLETTER ITEMS DUE ITEMS NEWSLETTER

6:30pm Bible Studyat 7:00pm Libris Ex 6:30pm Bible Studyat 7:00pm Libris Ex

6:30pm Bible at Study 7:00pm Libris Ex

A live, up A

15 29

BibleStudy

Bible Study Bible

BibleStudy

Sunday

Bible Study Bible

Baptism of Our Lord Our of Baptism

1st Sunday of Christmas of 1stSunday

9:00am Divine Service Adult NO Teen & Sunday NO School 11:30am School Board 1:00pm Divine Service

9:00 am Serviceam Divine 9:00 Teen & Adult am 10:30 Sunday am 10:30 School Ed Board am of 11:30 4th Sunday after the Epiphany the after Sunday 4th

9:00am Divine Service 10:30am Adult Teen & 10:30am Sunday School

3rd Sunday after the Epiphany the after 3rdSunday

9:00am Divine Service 10:30am Adult Teen & 10:30am Sunday School 10:30 am Adult & Teen Teen & Adult am 10:30 9:00 am Serviceam Divine 9:00 Sunday am 10:30 School Bible pm Study Parent 4:30 2nd Sunday after Epiphany after Sunday 2nd 8

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit # 265 Fergus Falls, MN 1150 W. Cavour Ave. Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Return Service Requested

The Trinity Tribune is published monthly by Trinity Lutheran Church & School 1150 W. Cavour Ave. Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Rev. John Christensen Sr. Pastor

Rev. Noah Rogness Assoc. Pastor

Article deadline: 15th of each month

Laura Dewey: Secretary/Layout

Pastor Christensen: Editor

14 5 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 1

Daily readings Daily for January, 2017

— — — — — — — — —

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

PsalmMark / 33 6 PsalmMark / 37 10 PsalmMark / 36 9 PsalmMark / 35 8 PsalmMark / 34 7 PsalmMark / 32 5 PsalmMark / 31 4 PsalmMark / 30 3 Luke 1:68

PsalmMark / 42 15 Luke 1:68 Luke PsalmGenesis / 58 46 PsalmGenesis / 57 43 PsalmGenesis / 56 40 PsalmGenesis / 55 37 PsalmGenesis / 54 34 PsalmGenesis / 53 31 PsalmGenesis / 52 28 PsalmGenesis / 51 25 PsalmGenesis / 50 22 PsalmGenesis / 49 19 PsalmGenesis / 48 16 PsalmGenesis / 47 13 PsalmGenesis / 46 10 PsalmGenesis / 45 7 PsalmGenesis / 44 4 PsalmGenesis / 43 1 PsalmMark / 41 14 PsalmMark / 40 13 PsalmMark / 39 12 PsalmMark / 38 11

79 79 Mark / 2

79 / Genesis49

- - -

9 9 6 3

------

48 45 42 39 36 33 30 27 24 21 18 15 12