Gathering in Grace • Growing in Faith • Going Forth to Serve
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Worship at 8:30 & 10:00am
Accommodations throughout the church for those with disabilities.
Wireless hearing assist devices available for worship services.
Closed Captioning available with on-demand playback (not live) of worship services.
Nursery available at both services.
Parent/children's Pray-Ground available in the Sanctuary during worship.

Hospitality & Social Activities from 9-11:30am in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall


Click on the live-stream logo below or visit www.tlcgo.live at
the time of the service to watch it on your media device.
Sunday, January 19, Pastor Danny Givens , a heartfelt activist and orator, is TLC's guest preacher at both the 8:30 and 10:00am service. A Soul Food lunch by Raye’s Catering and a conversation with Pastor Givens will follow at 11:15am. in Fellowship Hall (not live-streamed). Discussion will be on collective liberation and the pitfalls that exist.

Pastor Danny Givens received a life changing gift of forgiveness from an off-duty police officer he shot during a botched robbery in 1996. Propelled by forgiveness, Danny began his journey toward reconciliation and resiliency prior to his release from incarceration in 2008. He later went on to receive his B.A. in Christian Ministry from Bethel University in 2011, accompanied by a three-year residency as an Interfaith Minister at Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, MN in 2016

To attend Pastor Givens conversations and the Soul Food luncheon this Sunday at 11:15am, please RSVP online by [clicking here] .
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Tuesday, January 21: Bloomington congregations join together in a discussion of ELCA Pastor Lenny Duncan’s new book: “Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S.” Atonement Lutheran Church on 98th and Portland Ave S. will host this conversation. 6:30-8:30pm.
The National Lutheran Choir's annual Choral TuneUp is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2020. 

For those of you who have attended in the past, you know that this is a wonderful event for church choirs, directors, and lovers of church choral music to gather and learn new music together alongside the singers of the National Lutheran Choir. This year's clinician is Dr. Michael Culloton (Concordia College, Moorhead). He is a dynamic energetic director. Time spent with him will be exciting!

TLC Singers, don’t miss this great NLC Event!

The registration deadline has been extended to Tuesday, January 21.
[Click here] or below to visit their website and register to attend.
Sunday, January 26, 2020 - 11:00am - TLC Sanctuary
Please plan to attend TLC’s 2019-2020 annual meeting taking place in the sanctuary at 11:00am, Sunday, January 26. All voting members are expected to attend this important event to help celebrate ministry, discern the future and adopt a 2020 budget.
 
Of particular importance this year will be the proposal that would reduce Pastor Ed’s time to 50% (along with 50% of salary and benefits) so that he can further develop the Addiction & Faith Ministry. This scenario was outlined in the Pastoral Leadership Team Proposal under development for the last 1½ years and presented at last year’s annual meeting.
Much of this is explained in both co-pastor reports in the 2019 Annual Report and also in The Pastoral Leadership Team Report inside the annual report.

This Sunday, copies of the 2019 Annual Report along with members of the church council, Pastoral Leadership Team members, and the church treasurer will be in the west side of Fellowship Hall between services to answer questions about this plan as well as questions about the budget as we prepare for our annual meeting. Please come and discuss. If unable to attend, we want to hear from you. Email your questions and comments to Office@tlcmn.com
Meet Your
Church Council Nominees
for 2020
My husband Quyen and I, along with our boys Nate and Nolan, have been members of TLC for about 10 years. We transferred to TLC from another community when our boys were younger because we wanted them to go to church with friends they also went to school with. We felt a warm welcome and the comfort of “home” from that first visit, and the boys have definitely been blessed by the nurturing, supportive youth and Confirmation programs. I am a 3rd grade teacher at Ridgeview Elementary in Bloomington, and I have been very involved with our sons’ sports and activities within the community. I also love nature, reading, running with our Labrador, and nurturing my faith with our small group. I feel honored to serve TLC’s inclusive community and look forward to participating in it and supporting God’s work.

Hello I'm Dan Ekholm, a candidate for church council this year - although I am better known as the “piano player's husband”☺ Phetsamone and I have raised our three children at TLC and have been involved with the congregation over 20 years! Kayla and Noah were both confirmed here and Micah will start next year. We live in Lakeville and are kept busy with running a real estate business and running kids to and from from lacrosse, football and basketball. When spare time can be found, I enjoy fishing and hunting and road trips to Florida and Texas in search of warmth and sun! I look forward helping guide TLC into the future.
My wife Karen and I joined TLC in 1997 when we moved to Bloomington. We felt welcomed from day one and the music talent was and still is amazing. Both of our kids, Emily and Colby, were baptized and confirmed here. Over the years I have been a Sunday school teacher, a Lenten mentor, a member of the personnel committee, and chaperoned two mission trips. I was to be the token male on a third mission trip but came down with pneumonia just before the trip. This church has great people and does great things and I would like to serve on the church council to help us continue to do these things and help find ways to draw more families into our church community.
 
I have been a member of TLC for over 40 years, so in my case, that would be a life-time member. My parents, Don and Margaret Mattson, became members of TLC in 1962. I was baptized, confirmed, and married at Transfiguration. My wife and her family became members about 14 years ago. Our teenage children, Taylor and Drew, went to daycare at the Early Learning Center for most of their school-age years. I have been a part of the Brass Choir, the Renovation Work Group, the Strategic Planning Team, and head chef of the Sunday morning donut crew (does anyone even remember that?). I am excited to join this leadership team and be able to add my voice for the future, while remembering the past.
 
Transfiguration Lutheran Church has been a part of my family’s and my own faith history since 1957, when the church was organized under Pastor Franklin Swanson. I was privileged to be part of the very first Confirmation Class. While my life’s journey has taken me to various other Lutheran churches, when I moved back to Bloomington in 2017, I knew my church home would be TLC. My career has been in Secondary Education and Hospice management. Both those career paths offered opportunity for service and growth in my faith. I currently serve as a Stephen Ministry Leader, lector and communion minister. I would be honored to serve on the church council to not only acknowledge my gratitude for my past association, but also to be part of the present and future growth of the community of believers that is Transfiguration Lutheran Church. 
 
December 2019 Council Meeting Minutes and Financial Report available for viewing or downloading. Click on the images below.
Do you ever need an extra prayer for yourself, a loved one, or a dear friend? TLC has a prayer team that prays often for members, their families and friends of the congregation. Send your prayer requests to merickson@tlcmn.com or on the TLC website here , or write your request on the yellow Life@TLC insert included in the bulletin each Sunday. These prayer needs are sent on to the Prayer Team and kept confidential – just between you, the pray-ers, and God. If you would like to be a member of the prayer team, please sign up on the yellow Life@TLC bulletin insert.
Just Remember the Details!
As we venture into the new year, what would be one good idea? an idea that would carry us easily through the small problems that seem to pop up. After encountering a couple of weird quirks already, I made a small resolution: Pay attention to the details... do not let your mind wander into looking at your phone, watching too much TV, or thinking of having a snack.
 
Last week our thermostat decided to act up... Actually turned on me as I was trying to get the temperature to go down for the night. The setting numbers kept going up or down, refusing to stop. Help!  Well, it was 11:00pm, and time for bed on a Sunday evening after watching the entire uncut version of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Who's going to help? No one. Now if I'd only noticed that the battery icon must have come up earlier, I might have changed the batteries and saved a lot of trouble. We are back to normal, but realizing the reason and changing the batteries at 2:00am? Not fun.
 
I remember last winter when our power suddenly went totally dark as we were finishing our dinner. What to do? I should have had candles, matches to light them, a flashlight or two, and been ready for a long cold evening. We finally settled into just sitting, wearing stocking caps, taking out a couple of throws to cover us as we watched candles burn down, and had to find more. As the temperature fell, we considered turning on the kitchen faucet a bit so the pipes would not freeze if the power stayed off too long. If someone could tell us what made the power go off like that, it would have helped. We still don't know why it went off. Details.
 
With Type 2 Diabetes, details are really important. Test, go to bed, but then wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat with blurry vision. We know what to do, but why does the sugar level go down like that? A scary thing, but easily fixed with a glass or two of juice or a couple of glucose tablets. Would it be easier to have the juice close by, just in case? When wandering down to the kitchen with blurry vision, one could fall, and we all know what can happen... life is never the same again. Small details that could have helped. Plan ahead??
 
Just going out of TLC with a walker needs some planning ahead. Those automatic doors work much better and stay open longer, plus the advantage of no rug to trip a person and their walker. Even if someone is holding a door open for a person with a walker, I've seen them trip on the rug by the middle doors, and fall down. Maybe there should be a sign that says “For people with walkers, please use the automatic doors. Thank you.”   Details... important ones.
 
One more little detail. With Pastor Grace so new to our church, could you please wear a name tag? It's helpful to everyone to know names, and would make her job a bit easier. I know, we are supposed to recognize those we know, but sometimes even that can be hard. Kids grow up and look older, as do we all.  Nice to be able to greet people and not wonder if that's really old “what's her name.” Details… gotta plan ahead.

-Bloomington Bird Lady
Correction: Last week's article regarding the retirement of Sue Brickley and her farewell gathering incorrectly identified the hostess' home as Phetsamone Ekholm's. It was, in fact, the home of Karen and Rod Daniels.
"Snow Prints"
ELC Photographer: Ava

Six-year-old Ava was captivated by the uniqueness of the impressions and the definition of "prints." She named her photo "Snow Prints" because they were footprints in the snow, so they are really snow prints!
COUPONS AVAILABLE AT TLC AT THE WELCOME DESK
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
FOR US?
-a continuing series-
By Pastor Al Dungan
Candlemas,
St. Brigid
and
Groundhog Day

We’re taking a detour this week from talking about Lent which was what I had planned to do. The detour looks at the Festival of Candlemas, an event that I didn’t even know existed until I came across it by accident; but it sounded interesting so here it is.

We’ve looked at the first cycle in the Church Year of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Advent begins with St. Andrew’s Day which usually falls around the end of November, and Epiphany ends this cycle with the day known as Candlemas, which usually falls on February 2. If this strikes a familiar chord wait for the further comments.

As has often been the case in the history of the Church, Christianity took a festival from a pagan background and “baptized” it when it spread into a new region. Remember “The Mass of Christ” and Saturnalia in pagan Rome which became Christmas?

In this case, it took an Irish Celtic practice that celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of Spring called Imbolc, when people lit candles to banish dark spooks, and turned it into the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of Mary following his birth. (see Luke 2:22-40)

Originally, the festival honored the Celtic goddess of fire, poetry and healing who was named Brighed. In order to not offend the Irish who favored this goddess, Brighed (who became Brigit) was canonized (made a saint) and was included in the company of Roman Catholic saints.

The best known tradition in our times related to this is the day we call Groundhog’s Day, February 2 nd , when “Punxsutawney Phil” appears and sees/doesn’t see his shadow, we can expect 6 more weeks of winter, or not.
I think it’s really fascinating to discover how our belief system has developed over the centuries in order to adapt to the cultures in which it found itself. Candlemas is a prime example of this.

Ash Wednesday begins the next cycle which includes Lent, Easter (another borrowed word from pagan Babylonia) and Pentecost. Next time: Why ashes and what does Lent mean for us?
January 22, 2020 - 7:00pm - TLC Conference Room
Coffee and Conversation invites you to a steaming cup of coffee with good friends and conversation. All are welcome. Please come and join us in a discussion on "Salt, light and a whole lot more" from Matthew 5:13-48.
Please note: Oasis services are not live-streamed.
Oasis Wednesday at TLC
January 22

  • Community Meal 5:30-6:00pm. Taco Bar!
$5.00 suggested donation.

  • 6:30-7:00pm Worship Service with Communion.

  • Confirmation at 7:00pm
January 2020 Mission of the Month:
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) was founded in 1987, and is a Christian non-profit that provides nutritionally complete meals, specifically formulated for malnourished children in over 70 countries throughout the world. TLC has supported FMSC efforts over the last several years through benevolence giving and volunteering. Visit their website here.
 
Want to get involved? Come pack with us!  Watch for sign-up dates in the TLC bulletin insert, Life@TLC and listed below. FMSC offers volunteers a one-of-a-kind experience. You’ll hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets and shipped to our incredible partners, working hard to reach the neediest children around the world.  We pack at the Eagan site (990 Lone Oak Rd #136, Eagan, MN 55121) on Tuesday, January 21, noon to 2:00pm and Wednesday, January 29, 9:30 to 11:30am. Meet in TLC’s West Parking lot a half-hour prior to start time if you want to carpool.  Contact Bob Riley for more info patriley50@aol.com. Sign up on the Life@TLC yellow insert.
SEEKING NEW BOARD MEMBERS

The TLC Foundation is looking for people who would be interested in joining the board. 
 
The foundation's mission is to: 
  • Facilitate spiritual growth within the congregation (children, youth and families)
  • Assist with capital improvements and supporting programs at TLC
  • Support community outreach
  • Support missions at home and overseas 
 
The board's responsibilities include reviewing grant requests, managing the foundation's investments, communication, and tracking and acknowledging donations. 
 
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Scott Stevens at smstevens794@gmail.com .

January
New Month
New Year
New Decade
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Back to the Basics
What’s more basic than starting the morning with a good breakfast?
For some families in our community there are other priorities that don’t allow for good and healthy food to start their day. We can help, and it’s so easy. We all grocery shop, and we all can pick up some extra’s and simply bring them to the TLC collection boxes to be taken to our Mission Partner, VEAP. 

Shopping list suggestions:
Hot cereal, cold sugar-free cereal,
pancake or muffin mix, Bisquick,
cocoa, cans or jars of fruit.

Let’s fill the bins in January with food for breakfast!

Back Issues of the TLC Weekly
including this issue (Today!)
[CLICK HERE] to visit the TLC web page where you can choose to read from the past 16 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
Also, there are a limited number of TLC Weekly's in hard copy at the TLC Welcome desk next to the Chapel.


Taco Stew
What you'll need:
Directions:
Blessings!


Coming Soon to your Home or Office USPS Mail Box

Is this a vision test compliments of TLC? Look closely.

The first quarterly issue of Transcripts will be in your mailbox soon. It will also be available online once its mailed.
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!
Picture for illustration purpose only.
ALTAR FLOWERS
ORDER ONLINE
FOR 2020
See the chart online or stop in
at the church office to order.

The TLC website has an online form to order Chancel/Altar Flowers for any Sunday in 2020. 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.

A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
A Culture of Diversity and Inclusion
~~LINKS~~
Visit TLC's website at www.TLCMN.com
Comments and questions: TLCMedia@tlcmn.com