Gather in Grace • Grow in Faith • Go Forth to Serve
|
|
Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost
September 15, 2019
~~~
8:30am & 10:00am Worship at TLC
~~~
Nursery available at both services.
Parent/children's Pray-Ground available in the Sanctuary
Hospitality from 9-11:30am in Fellowship Hall
|
|
|
Click on the above to view or download the service bulletin for Sunday, Sep 15, 2019.
Click on the live-stream logo below at the time of the service to watch it on your media device.
|
|
Altar flowers this Sunday are given by
Priscilla Tonkinson in celebration of their wedding anniversary
and by
the Evans family in memory of Carroll Evans.
|
|
1
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.
2
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3
Then Jesus told them this parable:
4
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6
and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
7
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
9
And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
10
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
NIV Luke 15:1-10
|
|
You and your family are invited to come, dine, and get acquainted with the people in our music groups, and it's also a great time to get to know some of the people in the other groups that you might not have had time to meet before!
Pulled Pork and Buns will be provided, so just bring an appetizer, salad or dessert to share, and a beverage of your choice (yes, Beer and Wine go well with Pulled Pork!). The ELC Buses will help folks get to Carmen's for those who would like.
There was some momentary hesitation about the date we chose, since that is the day of the
Vikings
-
Packers
game at Lambeau, but then it started to feel like a fun way to enjoy the game together! So do wear your colors and cheer your team on - Carmen's is a split household (one bleeds purple and two wear green) so be Loud and Proud! Several watching areas will be available around the house and yard!
Please RSVP - click on the button below.
|
|
The TLC Music Staff chose to use our gathering not only as a time to have fun together and to kick off the 2019-2020 TLC Music Program Season, but also to help support a worthy community program, Oasis for Youth in Bloomington. Read on for details. If you are able to donate a monetary gift or something from the list in the link below, please do so. Most important, please plan to attend the picnic!
Do consider supporting the fundraiser through prayer or donations.
Your donation helps provide a pathway for all youth at risk of homelessness to believe in bright futures filled with hope, stability, and self-fulfillment. You can check out our fundraiser page here:
|
|
|
|
Installation of
Grace Pardun Alworth
The installation of TLC's new intern, Grace Pardun Alworth will take place this Sunday at both the 8:30 and 10:00 services. Please give her a warm TLC blessing and welcome!
|
|
|
-TAKING FAITH HOME-
Week of September 15, 2019
Use this friendly tool to enrich your family times with conversation, rituals, prayer, blessings, and service ideas.
[Click Here]
for this week's edition.
|
|
In Memory of
Russell 'Bud' Weber
|
Longtime TLC member, Russell 'Bud' Weber, passed away August 22, 2019 at age 90. A memorial service was held this past Saturday, September 7 at TLC. Please take a moment to visit Bud's memorial tribute on TLC's Memorial Garden website by
[Clicking Here]
. You will find his obituary, video photo memorial, the live-stream archive of his memorial service, bulletin, homily and family photos.
|
|
|
Do you remember those three Hebrew words Pastor Dungan used in his sermon on the first of September? No, we don't have to get the pronunciation exact, as they are a bit tricky, and who would use Hebrew to converse anyway? The three words Pastor Al used were: “Mishpot” “Tsedeq” and “Zana lecheth.”
|
|
Meeting Rob Reid for the first time a number of years ago.
|
|
These three words are the important part of a round that the choir knows well. The first time we ever met Rob Reid, way before he became our wonderful music director, he had those of us who had come to “check him out” sing a round together. No, not “Row row, row your boat!” It was “What Does the Lord Require of You?”
We had sung this one before..... maybe with LaRee Grimm, so it was not unfamiliar. The text goes: What does the Lord require of you? Followed by the answer: To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.”
|
|
|
You've maybe sung it as a round for the congregation not long ago. I bet we'll do it again too!
Well.... those three difficult to say words in Hebrew are exactly the same as the answer in the round! Not only are the words difficult, but being required to also do what we are supposed to do! My tweet for today: Do the right thing!
Doing the right thing? Do we even know what the right thing is? I know one thing for sure, that when driving, one must always stop for a red light, and probably should stop for a yellow one too. When it rains or is foggy, turn on your car headlights... please! This was brought home to me a couple of weeks ago as we drove along the North Shore from Tofte to Grand Marais. It had been raining, thick fog was rolling in, and we met maybe 20 cars who chose NOT to have their lights on. What were they thinking, if at all?
Last week I tweeted about stopping for school buses who are letting kids off or on and have their stop signs out. Such a small thing to do...we should be able to see the logic in that law. Another thing to always do: If you are carrying a small child in a car seat and you get out to shop... For Pete's sake don't leave that poor child sitting there even if you rolled the windows down a bit! How many deaths from a too hot car this summer? Forget you had the kid in the back seat? That's what they all say. Put your purse or your briefcase back there, and you'll never forget to do the right thing.
One sure thing...I will tweet a few more times. Thanks for reading.
End of tweet from Bloomington Bird Lady!
|
|
Why Do We Worship?
Part 2
|
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?
By Pastor Al Dungan
|
|
|
Flannery O’Conner in her book
The Habit of Being
says, “A faith that
just
accepts
(italics mine) is a child’s faith and is all right for children, but eventually you have to grow religiously as in every other way.” (P. 353-4) In other words, unless we find ways to grow beyond the child’s faith, we will remain
childish
in our belief system.
Coming to faith doesn’t just happen. You can’t
think
your way to faith. This is WHY we worship. It’s an active engagement with that One of whom St. Augustine speaks when he says, “You have made us for yourself, O God; and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.” If/when we accept ourselves as spiritual beings then it follows that we will engage with God. And that engagement is what we call worship.
Some will say, “I can ‘worship’ God just as well in a quiet glade in the forest surrounded by the beauty of nature as I can in a ‘church’.
But that’s not how Christians understand worship. For Christians, worship is not an individualistic thing. Worship is gathering together for mutual strengthening and support so that we can grow stronger and more dynamic in our faith lives. Worship is taking time, on a regular basis, to “kiss the ground” before the God who we believe made us, saves us and fills us with the Spirit of daily new life.
Worship, for the Christian, is not a “hit and miss” kind of thing. It’s a commitment to gather in grace with other like-minded people, grow in our faith and then share the good news of how Jesus Christ, through his life, death and resurrection has changed us. We can’t be self-centered if we call ourselves Christians. This is not just a “you and me, Jesus” kind of thing. To be Christian is to be “other centered”. It is to look at our world and say, “What can I do to show the love of Christ for others?” And the ways are countless. When I do this, when
we
do this together, the world is made a better place. If it’s nothing more than giving a cup of cold water to drink to a thirsty child, then we are “at worship”. We take what we have learned and give it out freely to others,
all
others.
Why do we worship? This is why.
|
|
"X's Win T T T"
ELC Photographer: Jakob
|
|
Jakob, 8 years old and now in his second year with the ELC Photo Club, took this picture of a downed tree near 9 Mile Creek. He calls it "X's Win TTT" (with the T's representing Tic Tac Toe. Jakob said the tree looked like the 'X' you use in playing Tic Tac Toe.
|
|
|
|
Worship service with communion every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm.
Note the new times:
5:30pm - Community Meal. This week's meal (Sep 18):Taco Bar, coffee & water. There is a $5.00 suggested donation.
6:30pm - Worship with communion (30-min. service.)
|
|
|
Coffee and Conversation begins a new season mixing a steaming cup of brew with good friends and conversation. The first session is this coming Wednesday, September 18. The topic: Joshua
|
|
The Addiction and Faith Conference happens later this month and is now offering two new ways to attend. If you can’t attend the full conference you can now attend Friday night only, or Saturday only. Each day offers the value of internationally known speakers, an array of powerful workshops, great food, fellowship and worship. We are in the midst of the worst health crisis ever faced by this country. It is our Christian duty to understand it and respond.
|
|
|
|
Happy fall! The leaves are turning and it is time to return to our yoga practice to keep us balanced as we move through autumn.
A 4-week session of Lila Yoga will run on Mondays 7:00-8:30pm from October 7 thru October 28. The full series will cost $56 and we need a minimum of 6 students to sign up for the full session. Drop-ins are $18 (sliding scale is available).
Wear comfortable exercise clothes in layers, and bring a blanket and a yoga mat if you have one, or you may also borrow one.
|
|
|
Get your tickets, on sale next Sunday, September 22, to enter the drawing for this beautiful quilt to help fund the December 2019 Liberia Mission Trip.
This is a 82” x 104” Kaleidoscope Pinwheel Stack and Whack quilt, with each pinwheel having its own unique pattern. It was pieced by Irene Bjerke and machine-quilted by Eileen Olson. It has been designed with a placket if chosen to use as a wall hanging.
Tickets are $2.50 each or five for $10.00 and will be on-sale in the Narthex Sunday, September 22, and in the church office throughout the week.
|
|
For assistance, please contact
Erin Pommeranz, Bob Riley, Becky Woll, or email:
|
|
How Would You Like Some Company? A very special kind of company to be exact.
Not the kind you need to cook, clean or straighten up for either! This kind would be visiting to accompany you.
We are all on journeys through this life and sometimes the journey is difficult. Our tough journeys can be caused by serious illness, grief, death, divorce, addiction issues, jobs or relocation.
A Stephen Minister can be an excellent companion (company!) on these journeys.
|
|
|
WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are needed for communion, ushers, greeters, pew crew and hospitality.
We especially need ushers and pew crew.
Commitment is flexible and tailored to your requests.
|
|
|
|
|
Communion Ministry
Share communion with shut-in's who are unable to attend TLC worship services, or those in long-term rehab. Watch for more information as the group reorganizes this fall. If interested, please contact Marilyn Erickson at
merickson@tlcmn.com
.
|
|
|
In 1865, Swedish Lutheran Pastor Eric Norelius of Vasa Lutheran Church, near Red Wing, heard about four orphaned, immigrant children in need of care with no one to provide it. Pastor Norelius drove a wagon to St. Paul, brought them to his home and thus began something that has spread throughout every corner of Minnesota, known today as Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota.
LSS has an annual budget of more than $98 million, received from individuals, congregations across the state and funding by the State of Minnesota. A total of 25 different programs reach out in the name of Christ, to provide loving care and concern for people in all kinds of situations.
September 15, Margaret Yapp, Circle of Welcome Coordinator from the Refugee Services office of LSS will bring a temple talk to TLC both the 8:30am and 10:00am Sunday services regarding the programs of LSS..
Terry Bonertz is TLC’s Ambassador for LSS.
|
|
Be in the Parade
Saturday, September 21
|
|
Bloomington Heritage Day Parade, Saturday, Sept. 21, 9:30am. Families of all ages welcome. Gather, Grow and Go with our team representing TLC/ELC in the parade. Get your waving perfected! Contact ELC’s Barb Wigstadt to join the parade.
|
|
Look for the sign-up easel in the Narthex this Sunday!
|
|
TLC's
College Ministry Team
Cares!
Seeking Donations: The College Ministry Team is seeking donations to assemble care packages to be sent to students attending college and technical schools, as well as our young people in the military. Please stop by the bulletin board in the Narthex to pick up 1 or 2 donation tags, purchase the items identified on the tag, and return the items to the designated bin
no later than October 20th
. Please join us in reminding our young adults that we continue to support and care for them while they are away from TLC!
|
|
|
|
|
For adults, youth and children. Test your knowledge of the Bible in each issue of TLC Weekly.
Answers can be found on the last section of this issue.
|
|
|
The Lost Sheep & Coin
Luke 15:1-10
|
|
Some religious leaders had been criticizing Jesus because he was friendly with people they considered to be "sinners." But Jesus told several parables in response. Fill in the blanks:
1) In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus says, "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, _______" (NRSV)
- does not feel sadness for the one which is lost?
- does not ask each of his neighbors to search for the one which is lost?
- does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
- does not care for the ninety-nine instead of leaving the flock to search for the one?
2) "Just so, I tell you, there will be more _______ over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (NRSV)
- sadness in heaven
- joy in heaven
- weeping among the angels
- joy in the kingdom of God
3) In His Parable of the Lost Coin, Jesus said, "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not _______, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?" (NRSV)
- get on her knees
- put on her glasses
- leave her chores
- light a lamp
4) Which is
NOT
one of the meanings of these two parables?
- It is never too late to turn away from sin.
- Sinners will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- God does not want to lose even one of His children to sin.
- It is sinners who most need Jesus.
Quiz answers can be found near the end/bottom of this newsletter.
|
|
|
|
Contribute to the
TLC Weekly
TLC Weekly staff are looking for both youth and adult "reporters" that would like to tell a story about life, an event or an anecdote inside or outside of TLC. Photos also welcomed. Submit your *story (and *pics) to:
TLCMedia@tlcmn.com
*Subject to editor approval
|
|
|
Back Issues of the TLC Weekly
|
|
[CLICK HERE]
to visit the TLC web page where you can choose to read from the past nine months of weekly E-newsletters from Transfiguration Lutheran Church. This is also a great way to share TLC Weekly with those that don't receive it in email. Tell them to visit
tlcmn.com/tlcweekly
|
|
ELECTRONIC GIVING HELPS SUPPORT TLC
It’s important to know that we can depend on financial support from TLC members. Electronic giving is fast, secure, and reduces administrative costs, allowing more of every dollar to support the important work we are called to do. You can give anytime, anywhere to specific funds with our GivePlus Mobile app (free from the app store). You can also schedule and manage recurring donations by visiting our website and clicking on TLC ONLINE GIVING icon at the bottom of any page, or
[Click Here] to start the process, or contact the church office.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
|
|
|
|
ALTAR FLOWERS
ONLINE ORDERING
There are still spots available
through December.
See the chart online.
The TLC website has a new and easier online form to order Chancel/Altar Flowers for any Sunday in 2019.
[Click Here] to access the form now, or visit
www.tlcmn.com later and look for the "Purchase Altar Flowers" button at the bottom of any page.
|
|
|
|
Free Subscriptions, sign up to be a volunteer, request care ministry and more!
|
Subscribe a friend to this newsletter, TLC Weekly, or subscribe yourself and others to the TLC publication, Transcripts. Interested in TLC membership? Sunday school? Our renowned TLC music program, volunteering and more are choices on this easy online TLC Request Form. Just
[Click Here]
or the "Sign Me Up" button on the left.
|
|
|
ANSWERS FROM QUIZ EARLIER IN THIS ISSUE
Reference Luke 15:1-10
1) In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus says, "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, _______" (NRSV)
Answer #3: does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
Luke 15:1-7. The religious leaders of the time looked down on those they considered "sinners" and snubbed them. But Jesus did his work among those people because they were the ones who most needed His help.
2) "Just so, I tell you, there will be more _______ over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (NRSV)
Answer #2: joy in heaven
Luke 15:7. Each of us is of great value to God, and He does not want to lose any of us to sin. He will seek us out and try to bring us back into harmony with Him. People who are spiritually lost will be found if they put their trust in God.
3) In His Parable of the Lost Coin, Jesus said, "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not _______, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?" (NRSV)
Answer #4: light a lamp
Luke 15:8-10. As in the Parable of the Lost Sheep, God is actively seeking all his "lost" children.
4) Which is
NOT
one of the meanings of these two parables?
Answer #2: Sinners will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Despite our best efforts, we are only human and will fail again and again to live up to the ideals set forth by Jesus. Fortunately, God is always willing to forgive our sins and failures as long as we repent (change our ways) and are willing to also forgive those who sin against us. (Matthew 6:14-15)
|
|
|
|
AUG-SEP-OCT 2019
TRANSCRIPTS
Now Available Online
download the pdf
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
