Gather in Grace • Grow in Faith • Go Forth to Serve
Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost
September 22, 2019
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8:30am & 10:00am Worship at TLC
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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 22, 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
Al and Hildred Dungan
in honor of their family.
Meeting God here, together.
Pastor Grace
Dear Community,
           I sat down, slid my chair up to my desk and excitedly opened up my bible to Luke chapter 16. I couldn’t wait to see what my very first preaching text would be. You don’t know me yet and I don’t know you yet. This text would be the very first text that you’d hear me preach on. What was it going to be? What will your first impression of me, your intern, be? 
          Jesus words spilled out from the page. “There was a rich man who heard that his manager was squandering his estate.” Um… “Give me a report of your work…” Aah…
           Being a pastor is a vulnerable gig. We get up in front of a sea of expectant faces and we try our hardest to be at least somewhat worthy of the call to which we have been called. But every week, we risk falling short. On top of that pressure, I am an intern. A new pastor. Someone still learning. Some of you will be on my internship committee, responsible for offering me feedback and learning opportunities. This is a vulnerable gig, one with a whole lot of scrutiny. 
           But here’s the thing. This awfully hard gospel text has an empowering message. That manager might not have met expectations. And his response wasn’t that orthodox. But what do we learn from his actions? God asks us to take risks daily in pursuit of God’s calling. Let’s see what will happen when we take a risk together. Chances are, the gospel will be preached and the bread and wine will be served. We will meet God here, together.
 
           Sincerely,
                       Pr. Grace

-TAKING FAITH HOME-
Week of September 22, 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.
Flower Pots at Church Entrance Reflect Fall Season
-By Karen Daniels
The TLC Church Pots by the west doors were recently replanted for the fall season. The Delphiniums and the summer grasses were still looking good, so they were trimmed and left to be joined by some new fall plants. 
 
"Mums are the Word” for fall, so three different colored ones were added in the front of the pots. On the sides are a Kale and purple Aster. Interestingly, this arranger had to look long and hard for the last two plants as several garden centers were already sold out of them. I like to keep the summer plants going as long as they look okay, so wasn’t out shopping early enough, I guess.
As you will discover, the orange leaves and berries are faux … nothing wrong with that!
As I always tell people, "I am certainly no expert ... just love mixing plants of many colors, never knowing how they will turn out. If a plant doesn’t enjoy being with the others, it will be replaced.” 
 
Such fun! I hope the flowers brighten your walk into TLC.
What's this all about?
Find out this Sunday at both services - in person or live-stream.
Beautiful Spot to View, and So Close!
We had not been over to see the Japanese Gardens at Normandale College since they were first put in place in 1976. What a difference those years made. All the ponds full of koi in various colors, the pagodas, trees trimmed so well as they grew, and now so many look like umbrella shapes! Even reading the thank-yous from the Japanese community was nice...metal plaques fastened to large rocks, and easy to read.
Photo courtesy Normandale Community College
Visit their 6th Annual Japanese Garden Festival this Saturday, September 21, 11am-4:30pm, 98th and France Ave, Bloomington. Click Here for info
Since we were there on a Monday, plenty of students were taking breaks from their classes along the various paths and streams....so relaxing..and no one was smoking either.

Since Normandale began and our daughter enrolled there for two years, so much building has been done...Lots of glass overlooking the gardens made classrooms with a view. No wonder there is a “sea” of cars parked out front and the place is humming with activity.

This is the college where our daughter was bitten by the “theater bug” and got into being a stage manager for many productions. She'd wear black and be moving the set around between acts. She also was in theater at Jefferson before that, so we were used to seeing some of our household items actually appear on stage, much to our surprise! I can remember laughing as one of my slips, made in the stretch and sew era, and bright red, walk across the set, and a briefcase be used by another cast member during a play.

When the Guthrie Theater asked her to join the staff as a shopper...more college was put on hold. Now she's home from LA for a visit, and so it was fun to go back to Normandale again. Lots more cars, buildings, and not too many things she remembers any more. Life as a free-lance designer is not easy, but with cell phones helping a lot, there is work to be had. Her specialty now is often Disney openings' events, and also reproductions of costumes that people love to have for museums or even for Halloween.

Theater bug or not...if you have time, drive over to Normandale and relax in a lovely and well-thought-out setting. Our Japanese community has given us a real gem! A great way to end summer and let fall take over.

-Bloomington Bird Lady.
Click Here to discover more about TLC's Early Learning Center.
"Chiming Tree"
ELC Photographer: Lyla
This picture was taken by 7 year-old Lyla, in her first year in the ELC Photo Club. Lyla takes her photography seriously and always plans her shots. This picture, "The Chiming Tree," was at the Walker Sculpture Gardens in Minneapolis. 

"They sounded beautiful," said Lyla, "as the wind made the tree sing."
God is a
4-Letter Word
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?
By Pastor Al Dungan
Who Do We Worship?

Did you know that the name for God is a 4-letter word? Ha! Gotcha! More on this later—but first, some background.

The Hebrews, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were a Monotheistic people which made them a definite oddity among the nations around them. That is, they worshipped one God. The other nations had a god/goddess for everything. It was their way of trying to understand and explain the supernatural and natural forces that they believed surrounded them.
The Canaanites, Israel’s nearest neighbors, for instance, worshipped, among many others, Ba’al, who was their chief deity (see 1 Kings 18.20-40 and how Elijah showed how powerless Ba’al was compared to YHWH), and Astarte who was their goddess of the fertility of women and nature. During the planting season, temple prostitutes, who were the servants of Astarte, helped their gods/goddesses “get the idea” that through the act of sexual intercourse, they were to make the ground fertile and produce crops. It’s called “sympathetic magic”. This, of course, made the worship of Astarte very popular with men and women and was a constant source of conflict between the God of the Hebrews and the gods/goddesses of the Canaanites.

The God of the Hebrews, who had many names , was different from those deities in that all the spiritual and natural powers were ascribed to One Being. This made their God more powerful than all the rest put together. And there was a rigorous effort put forth to focus on that one God. For example, the First Commandment told them: I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods. (Italics mine.)

Some of the ancient Hebrew names for God were: Elohim (this is the name of God in Genesis 1), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Adonai (Lord: a euphemism used to avoid saying the very special Name of God), El Olam (eternal God) and, of course, that 4-letter Very Special Name for God, YHWH which has been translated by Biblical scholars as Jehovah or YAHWEH.

The Hebrew language originally had no vowels, only consonants, therefore, YHWH. When vowels were added later the name became Yahweh which was such a sacred name that the euphemisms Ha Shame (the name) or Adonai (Lord) were used. It was believed that if the name YHWH was used by anyone other than a priest they would be struck down by “the fire of YHWH” or lightning. Now that’s a powerful name!

Next time: More on YHWH and what that means for us today.
Wednesday Evening Oasis for All

5:30pm - Community Meal. This week's meal (Sep 25): Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, corn, coffee and water. There is a $5.00 suggested donation.

6:30pm - Worship service with communion (30-minute service).
Coffee and Conversation invites you to a steaming cup of coffee with good friends and conversation. The session this coming Wednesday, September 25, will encourage a discussion on Gideon, from the book of Judges.
TLC Sanctuary
Tuesday, October 29 - 6:30 to 8:30pm
We are thrilled to let you know not only that the promised Co-Pastor Panel Discussion has been scheduled, but especially that everyone we had hoped would take part enthusiastically agreed.
 

Moderator:
Craig Pederson, Assistant to the Bishop, Minneapolis Area Synod
  
Panelists:
Jeff Sartain, Co-Pastor, Edina Community Lutheran Church
Mary Halvorson, Co-Pastor, Grace University Lutheran Church
Mary Pechauer, Co-Pastor, Bethlehem Lutheran Church
 
This event will be promoted by the Minneapolis Area Synod and may well attract interested clergy and lay leaders from beyond TLC.
 
We hope you will be able to be present for what promises to be a stimulating and informative evening.
 
Blessings,
Pastors Arthur and Ed
National Lutheran Choir 
2019-2020 Concert Season
 
Tickets and Season Passes  on sale now  at NLCA.com .
Save over 18% on tickets with a Season Pass. 
3- and 4-concert subscriptions available to fit your schedule!
Brochures, with sign-up information, are in the TLC Narthex.
 
***Sign up to win two free NLC Season Passes! Look for the black box in the TLC Narthex, fill out an entry blank, & put it in the box. The winner will be drawn on Sunday, October 27. 
 
Look in the NLC Brochure for more info on the first concert of the season, "All Saints Mozart Requiem" on November 2nd & 3rd. What an exciting event this will be!
 
The TLC Weekly will continue to update info on this, too.
Questions: Contact Karen Daniels, TLC Organist
RSVP to Erin at epommeranz@hotmail.com
Sharing Our Bounty
2019 Stewardship Campaign
As we kick off our 2019 Stewardship Campaign "Sharing our Bounty", we are happy to announce TLC's first "Stewardship Fest".
 
This grand event will take place on Friday, October 26, in Fellowship Hall from 5:30 to 7:30pm. A short stewardship presentation will be made, and TLC's small groups will have tables you can visit to learn more about fellowship opportunities welcoming your participation. There will also be a craft activity for the kids!
TLC's own maestro, John Rosenow, will be "tickling the ivories" of his accordion with an uplifting, festive music program during this event. Brats and sauerkraut, hotdogs with all the fixings, chips and cookies will be served. Root beer, water, and non-alcoholic adult beer will be available for refreshments. And the best part...it's all FREE!!! 
Mark your calendars for the October 25 TLC "Stewardship Fest", as we Gather in Grace, Grow in Faith, and Go Forth to Serve. All are welcome!
 
Blessings,  
TLC Stewardship Committee
 
Hildren Dungan, Bob Riley, Chip Smith, Pastor Arthur Murray, and Norma Macdonald-Ockwig
"Stewardship Fest" Volunteers Needed!
 
The 2019 Stewardship Committee is in need of volunteers to help set up, serve food, etc...at our "StewardshipFest" being held on Friday, October 25, from 5:30 to 7:30pm at TLC. If you are available to assist us with this event, please contact Norma Macdonald-Ockwig at weeyin57@aol.com or 952-237-2919. We thank you in advance for your consideration.
Starts October 7
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. 

As always, beginners are welcome! Any questions, please contact Kathryn at kathrynsharpe19@yahoo.com .
Quilt Raffle
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. 

Please contact Michelle, 952-884-2364, ext. 15 or email at mreber@tlcmn.com   
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.
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!

Mini Chicken (or Turkey) Pot Pies
Preheat Oven to 375

You'll Need:
Directions:
Blessings! 
If you have a favorite tried and true recipe that you're willing to share, please forward it to Norma Macdonald-Ockwig at  weeyin57@aol.com  to be included in a future weekly "Quick Fixin's" article.
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 Dishonest Manager
Luke 16:1-13
Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg.'"


1) What did the dishonest manager decide to do to make the best of a bad situation?
  1. He decided to reduce the debts of everyone who owed his master.
  2. He destroyed all the masters records to cover up his crimes.
  3. He promised the master he would pay back all he had stolen.
  4. He took as much of the master's possessions as he could and fled to a foreign land.



2) What did the dishonest manager hope to accomplish?
  1. He hoped the master would relent and let him keep his job.
  2. He hoped to retire and live a life of ease.
  3. He hoped to make friends who would help him after he was fired by his master.
  4. He hoped he would not be sent to prison.



3) What did the master do then?
  1. He told the manager he would be thrown in prison until he "paid the last penny."
  2. He rewarded the manager's belated honesty and let him keep his job.
  3. He warned all his neighbors not to hire his dishonest manager.
  4. He commended the manager for his shrewdness.



4) What is the lesson of this parable?
  1. Robbers and thieves cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
  2. We should take advantage of every opportunity to increase our wealth.
  3. We should use the earthly wealth we have been given wisely to show we can be trusted with more important spiritual responsibilities.
  4. We should be shrewd in worldly things to show we can be clever in doing God's work.



Quiz answers can be found near the end/bottom of this newsletter.
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ELECTRONIC GIVING HELPS SUPPORT TLC
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
ALTAR FLOWERS
ONLINE ORDERING
There are still spots available
through December.
See the chart online or stop in
at the church office to order.

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.
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ANSWERS FROM QUIZ EARLIER IN THIS ISSUE
Reference Luke 16:1-13


1) What did the dishonest manager decide to do to make the best of a bad situation?
Answer #1: He decided to reduce the debts of everyone who owed his master.


2) What did the dishonest manager hope to accomplish?
Answer #3: He hoped to make friends who would help him after he was fired by his master.


3) What did the master do then?
Answer #4: He commended the manager for his shrewdness.


4) What is the lesson of this parable?
Answer #3: We should use the earthly wealth we have been given wisely to show we can be trusted with more important spiritual responsibilities.


AUG-SEP-OCT 2019
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