SEPTEMBER Monthly Newsletter
Always Learning
From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15).
When I was a kid, there was a fellow I knew who was a retired postal worker. He had not gone to college. Now that he was retired, he thought that it would be a good time for him to go back to school. He enrolled in a nearby community college. The truth is that you never stop learning. High school graduation means that you possess only the most basic knowledge that you will need in life. The further you go in life, the more you realize that there is so much more that you do not know.
While Paul’s words from 2 Timothy were written to a young pastor, Paul would have confessed that they applied to him as well. He always wanted to learn more about the God who forgave his sin for the sake of His Son, Jesus. Paul was near the end of his life. He knew that his trial in Rome would likely end with him being martyred. It was what he believed about Jesus that gave him comfort at that time: “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12)
Students have already started (or soon will be heading) back to school. There is more that they need to learn. Catechism class will begin on the 21st. They will learn the basic teachings of Christianity. We pray that what they learn at this stage of their lives will stay with them as they face the last days of their lives.
What about you? Are you still learning about your Savior? Jesus is the most important person you will ever know, and there is always more to learn about Him. Why wouldn’t you want to learn more? He has the words of eternal life.
In Christ,
Pastor Klein
A Day To Be Remembered!
What has been the most IMPORTANT event in your life---a day to be remembered and treasured??? Most of us don’t even remember this day; the day we became a member of God’s Kingdom, THE DAY OF OUR BAPTISM!!
In an effort to help Trinity members reflect and “remember,” Trinity is honoring the baptismal anniversaries of our members. On the last Sunday of each month, members, young and old, who were baptized during that month are invited to sit together and enjoy a special treat during the fellowship hour.
We do have the dates of baptism for most of our members; but, if we missed yours, please let us know so we don’t miss it again. Any questions and/or dates, please contact the church office: 645-4438.
Arise and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Acts 2:16
Baptism doth also now save us. I Peter 3:21
September Baptisms Anniversaries
Kurt Anderson Mindy Aurich
David Downhour Jim Grieser
Noah Klein Jim Koch
Ashlie Maurer Mary Ozmun
June Rado Maren Schwaab
Olivia Voigt Ruthie Wagner
Norm Webber Jerry West
FROM THE TREASURER
July Home Fund Budget Status Report
Home Fund Balance on July 1, 2025 $69,606.54
July Home Fund Contributions $13,062.95
Designated Giving* $12,150.00
Loose Plate Giving** $799.26
Rental Property Fund $113.69
July Home Fund Expenses $23,782.41
Home Fund Balance on July 31, 2025 $58,887.08
* Includes giving by people who use offering envelopes and e-giving
**Includes giving by people without offering envelopes
Trinity Fund Report
In July of 2025, Trinity spent $2,232.81 for Vacation Bible School using Trinity Fund money given in memory of Bev Gorr; spent $3,449.99 for technology and sanctuary sound system improvements using money given in memory of Elaine Zobel, Darlene Witt, Joanne Dohrman, Ella Halverson, Darlene Finch, Robert Quam, and Gloria Dohrman, and an anonymous donation; and spent $307.53 for a chartered bus to a St. Paul Saints game congregational event using money given in memory of Gloria Dohrman.
What Is Stewardship?
“What is a steward? Most people, when asked this question, will reply: “A manager.” That is correct, but it is only half right. A steward is indeed a manager, but he is a manager of what does not belong to him. Someone else is the owner, and the steward manages the owner’s property on the owner’s behalf.
We are God’s stewards. Our stewardship is that God has made us managers of what belongs to Him. For we have brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it (1 Tim. 6:7). Everything that we have and everything that we are comes from God’s fatherly Divine goodness and mercy. God is the owner. Not only because, as the Creator, He created all things. But also, as the Redeemer, He has redeemed, that is, purchased and won all things. It all, therefore, belongs to Him.
We are simply managers of everything in this world. Like Joseph in Egypt, we are put in charge of managing what belongs to God. What a privilege. Think about that for a minute. The all-knowing, all-powerful, all-wise God has asked us to manage His possessions on His behalf here on earth. And by doing this, He invites us to take part in the allocation of His good gifts. He wants us to give our input and advise Him in where His gifts are to be used. What a privilege indeed.
What a responsibility. For to whom much is given, much shall be required (Luke 12:48). We are not the owners. And while He puts us as managers, we are still to do with His property what He wants done with it. That means we need to know what His desire and will for His property is.
How do we know this? How can we know the will and mind of God? We find the will of God in the Bible. There God tells us what His will for all His gifts are to be used. He tells us how we are to spend our time and use our talents and treasures. He instructs us in the use of our minds, bodies, and souls.
There is nothing that we have that doesn’t belong to Him. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:19–20). He informs us of the big picture, the overarching policy, of how we as His stewards – His managers and custodians – of His property are to do the managing.
And that is what stewardship is. It is simply doing what God wants us to do with what He has given us. As St. Paul said: “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness” (Rom. 6:13). So, let’s dive into the God’s Word and listen to what the owner desires from His stewards.
– LCMS Stewardship Ministry: lcms.org/stewardship
Trinity Lutheran Church
Council Minutes
August 7, 2025
Call to Order – President, John Greenfield
In Attendance: John Greenfield, Deaconess Lydia Maes, Barb Andersen, Bobbi Schmitke, David Ohmann, Jim Koch, Jason Kukacka, Ruthie Wagner, Jordan Lahti, Sara Lahti
Opening Prayer – Deaconess Lydia Maes
Review of Minutes
Financial Statement
Thrivent Choice money used for Saints tickets; much of it will be reimbursed by attendees.
The church has already benefited from the interest on recent account transfers.
Stewardship will be sending worksheets to help everyone write 2026 budgets.
Motion to approve Financial Statement. Jim makes a motion, David seconds. Motion carries.
Old Business
The carpet in the rental house has been replaced.
Women’s bathroom lighting cost $240 from Capital Fund. Labor time was donated.
New Business
The upstairs toilet in the nursery needs to be fixed.
The women’s bathroom lighting update has led to interest in updating the women’s restroom.
Room for “Trinity Missions” - Ruthie Wagner would like office space at Trinity. The Sunday School will move back to the larger corner room with the Garden of Eden mural. The small room can be designated for Trinity Missions. Jim makes a motion, Jason seconds. Motion carries.
Discussed the need to publicize and fundraise more for the parking lot replacement fund.
Thrivent Requests
None
Reports
Pastor Klein - No report, on vacation
Pastor Boehme - No report
Deaconess Lydia Maes
Community Outreach Project summary - Lydia has gathered local statistics and is planning to take the next step: Community Listening and Asset Mapping. She needs help to gather participants and would appreciate prayer! This project connects well with the Re:Vitality program and meets our congregation’s current needs, so the whole congregation is encouraged to be involved.
“What is a deaconess?” bulletin board is in the making.
Elders
Elders met July 31 (early) and minutes.
Discussed the survey and narrowed the recommendations down to a couple of modules.
Discussed the “Accommodation of the Dying” pamphlet and the Aging in Place course.
Education
VBS was a success with more campers (43!) and volunteers than anticipated! Financial needs were all met, and the two Thrivent funds were not needed for VBS after all.
Sunday school curriculum for 2026 is being purchased, and teachers are being recruited.
Rally Sunday will be a shorter event on Sunday, September 7, due to DJJD Parade traffic.
Rooms upstairs are being rearranged and designated.
Tech Committee
Helpers for the sound system are needed.
Fellowship Committee
Softball picnic on Sunday, July 20 was a success!
Sunday, September 14 will be Apple Sunday.
Monday, October 13 will be a luncheon.
Sunday, November 26, Thanksgiving Eve event.
Sunday, December 13, Men’s brunch.
Trustees
Discussion about getting programmable thermostats that will save money on heating and cooling. Three thermostats would be used in place of the current 13 thermostats.
There’s work needed to fix the shingles.
A day for weed removal along the retaining wall is needed.
Missions
$250 to Trinity First
$100 to Operation Backpack
Stewardship
No report
Meeting adjournment, Motion by Jim. Motion Carried.
Next Month’s meeting is on September 4, 2025.
TRINITY NEWS
APPLE SUNDAY
September is the month for fresh apples and delicious apple desserts! On September 14th, the Fellowship Committee invites you to stay after church for homemade apple treats and coffee in the Fellowship Hall. You are also invited to bring your favorite apple dessert to share with your Trinity friends. Perhaps you have a special recipe from your mother or grandmother, or a new recipe you want to try. There is no sign up sheet and no need to bring your dessert ahead of time. Please talk to a Fellowship Committee member if you have any questions: Barb Anderson, Colleen Gottsch, Rob Gottsch, Kay Koch, Darlene Larson, Linda Munson, and Bobbi Schmidtke.
TRINITY BOOK CLUB
Book Club meets the first Monday of each month at Kildahl – 888 Cannon Valley Drive. The following is a list of books that are scheduled for discussion.
September 8 - Firefly Lane - Kristen Hannah
October 6 - The Echo of Old Books – Barbara Davis
November 3 - The Evolution of Anabel Craig – Lisa Grunwold
December 1 - The Forgotten Names – Marie Escobor
Please join us, we have a good time discussing the books.
MIDWEEK MEALS
With the start of confirmation classes and music practices this fall, there will again be Wednesday dinners twice a month in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone at Trinity is welcome to come for a home-cooked dinner at 6:00 p.m. There is a free will offering basket to help cover food costs, but all are welcome to eat regardless of their ability to contribute. This is a wonderful opportunity to eat with Trinity friends, old and new, and to take a night off from cooking.
There will be dinners during the fall on September 3rd and 17th, October 1st and 15th, and November 5th and 19th. Please talk to Kurt or Barb Anderson if you have questions about the dinners and any dietary requirements, or if you would like to be a guest chef. We hope to see you on September 3rd!
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP GROUP
Our Deaconess Intern, Lydia, is starting a women’s group. Women of all ages are welcome. We will be gathering monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm starting on September 16th here at Trinity. If you have questions, please reach out to Lydia!
CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS
Contribution statements from January through August should be available in the Fellowship Hall beginning September 7. Please pick yours up and check everything carefully. It is much easier to fix any inadvertent errors before more months pass. Thank you.
See Judy Boehme if you have concerns/questions. You may also call the church office and Judy will be notified of your concern. Thank you. God’s blessings to all of our cheerful Trinity givers!
CORNERSTONE ACADEMY
Cornerstone Academy officially begins their school year on Tuesday, September 2 here at Trinity. Cornerstone is currently working with Canvas Church to build space for their long-term home. While waiting for work to be completed, Trinity and Cornerstone have been working together, along with city officials, to obtain a Temporary Use Permit to make Trinity their temporary fall home. The school day will begin at 8:30 am and end at 3:30 pm.
MN SOUTH YOUTH DAY
The Minnesota South District is hosting a youth day on Saturday, October 11th for grades 6-12. It would be fun to get a group together to go so if you would be interested in attending, please let Deaconess Intern Lydia know!
Deaconess Intern - Lydia’s Pages
I’ve had several people ask me during my studies “what even is a deaconess?” So I thought I’d share with you all a little bit more about my role, the history of deaconesses in the church, and what I’m doing at Trinity this year.
Lutheran deaconesses are professional church workers, trained to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through works of mercy, spiritual care, and teaching the faith. If that sounds broad to you that’s because it is a broad role! Most deaconesses (like me) get Master’s degrees in Spiritual Care and certification in the LCMS, but we can serve in a wide variety of ways - all with the focus on serving the people of Christ.
Where do deaconesses work?
Deaconesses work in churches, pregnancy crisis centers, Lutheran schools, women’s ministries, outdoors ministries, international and national missions, hospitals and other care facilities, and MORE! They might be involved in chaplaincy, visitation, publishing, women’s ministry, music ministry, organization administration, or teaching.
What is the history of deaconesses?
Diaconal ministry dates back to the early Christian church. Paul commends Phoebe, who is named a deaconess to the church in Rome in Romans 16:1-2. Women were actively involved in teaching, prophesying, prayer ministry, ministry to women, and administrative aspects of church work, while the public roles of teaching, preaching, and the administration of sacraments that a pastor does are set aside for men.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod called its first deaconess from Germany to America in 1922. The early American deaconesses were most often nurses, serving the physical and spiritual needs of folks in hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities for people with disabilities.
In 1980, the LCMS offered a deaconess program at the undergraduate and graduate level at Concordia University, Chicago. Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis began offering a deaconess program in 2002 and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne followed suit in 2003. There are currently hundreds of deaconesses serving the LCMS church across the nation and the world!
What is our deaconess intern doing?
This year I will be serving Trinity in a variety of ways: I’ll be assisting with the youth program, teaching Bible studies, doing visitation, and outreach work in the community.
I’m most passionate about mental health and trained to provide spiritual and emotional care. If you are struggling with something and need care, please reach out. I am trained as a Stephen Minister and Stephen Leader and through my deaconess studies as a non-judgmental listener and providing spiritual and emotional care is dear to my heart.
I can’t wait to serve you!
In Christ, Lydia Maes
TRINITY YOUTH
Youth can now find this page added to the monthly newsletters and it will include updates on what youth have planned for the upcoming month!
A reminder that youth will meet on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at 1:00 pm here at Trinity (unless otherwise noted). All junior and senior high students (Grades 6 thru 12) are welcome. Friends are always welcome!
September Events
Sept 7 - We will meet at Trinity at 1:00 pm for awhile then will go as a
group to watch the Defeat of Jesse James Days parade!
Sept 21 - We will meet for Youth group at Trinity at 1:00 pm for some
fun activities.
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS
September 7 Tony Schmidtke
September 14 Barbara Greenfield
September 21 Kurt Anderson
September 28 Craig Schuster
If a substitute is needed for your scheduled date please make sure to let the church secretary know ahead of time so the readings can be sent to the correct person. Thank you!
LAWN MOWING
August 31 thru Sept 6 Josh Wagner
September 7 thru 13 Tony Schmidtke
September 14 thru 20 Brent Casmey
September 21 thru 27 Jason Kukacka
September 28 thru Oct 4 Larry Pralle
October 5 thru 11 Dan Wett
October 12 thru 18 Buzz Cummins
October 19 thru 25 David Nybakke
VACUUMING
August 31 thru Sept 6 Jim & Kay Koch
September 7 thru 13 John Greenfield
September 14 thru 20 Tony & Bobbi Schmidtke
September 21 thru 27 Brent Casmey
September 28 thru Oct 4 Rob & Colleen Gottsch
October 5 thru 11 Linda Munson
October 12 thru 18 John Pfeiffer
October 19 thru 25 Jim & Kay Koch
October 26 thru Nov. 1 John Greenfield
COUNTING TEAMS
September - Thomforde & Niebuhr
October - Rasmussen & Downhour
November - Pralle & Childers
December - Schmidtke & Anderson
ALTAR GUILD
September - Becky Grieser, June Rado, Marcia Huber
October - Barb Greenfield, Becky DeMann, Brenda Niebuhr
November - Colleen Vivant, Mary Vogt, Linda Munson
December - Mary Ozmun, Darlene Larson, Brenda Niebuhr
USHER SCHEDULE
September 7 - Group G October 5 - Group C
September 14 - Group H October 12 - Group D
September 21 - Group A October 19 - Group E
September 28 - Group B October 26 - Group F
Group A - Ray Larson, Dave Downhour, Ray Ozmun, Larry Pralle
Group B - Tom Pumper, Jeff and Holly Ciffra, Jackie Ohmann
Group C - Kurt Anderson, Brent Casmey, Russell Kraft, Jim Koch
Group D - John Greenfield, Josh Wagner, Kevin Mortensen,
Sheldon Volkert, Karl Thomforde
Group E - David, Erin, and Jared Nybakke, Jonathan Ohmann,
Martin Ohmann, David Ohmann
Group F - Tony and Bobbi Schmidtke, John Pfeiffer
Group G - Craig and Kathy Schuster, Jim Grieser
Group H - Dan Wett, Rudy, Myleen, and Ashlie Maurer, Rob Gottsch,
Jim Frederick
SEPTEMBER READINGS
September 7 - Rally Sunday
Deuteronomy 6:4-15
Acts 2:37-42
Luke 18:15-17
September 14 - First Stewardship Sunday
2 Kings 5:1-15a
Acts 3:1-10
Luke 19:11-27
September 21 - Second Stewardship Sunday
Exodus 35:20-29
1 Corinthians 12:1-14
Luke 19:1-10
September 28 - The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Amos 6:1-7
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Luke 16:19-31
SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE
PLEASE NOTE: If these times do not work for you, please remember that it is your responsibility to find a replacement or someone to switch with. (Special services are in bold, italics.)
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS USHERS
September 7 Tony Schmidtke Group G
September 14 Pastor Boehme Group H
September 21 Kurt Anderson Group A
September 28 Craig Schuster Group B
GREETERS
No list available
VACUUMING AND LAWN MOWING
Jim & Kay Koch Aug 31 to Sept 6 Josh Wagner
John Greenfield Sept 7 to 13 Tony Schmidtke
Tony & Bobbi Schmidtke Sept 14 to 20 Brent Casmey
Brent Casmey Sept 21 to 27 Jason Kukacka
Rob & Colleen Gottsch Sept 28 to Oct 4 Larry Pralle
