Transfiguration Lutheran Church
11000 France Ave. S. - Bloomington, MN 55431
Office: (952) 884-2364 (Also 24 hr Pastoral Emergency Service)
Office Open Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 4:00pm
Appointments Appreciated
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8:30am Sunday Morning - Online Only |
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9:55am Sunday Morning - Online Only |
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Upcoming Services:
Two this Sunday & Drive-In on May 2
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Rob Reid,
Director of Music
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You have LOTS of wonderful worship to look forward to in the upcoming weeks, so tune in this Sunday, and come on over to the church on May 2 as we gather together in community.
This Sunday, April 25, we will Stream two services for you, both of which will also be available in the "On Demand" portion of our website for future (or repeat) viewing.
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At 8:30am, the ELCA Group "Lutherans Restoring Creation" has created a virtual service to honor and celebrate Earth Day (which was April 22). The hymns "Earth and All Stars" and "God of the Sparrow" will be sung, meaningful prayers will be prayed, and Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will preach.
At 10:00am, we will hear about TLC's Earth-Keeping efforts from Pastor Eva, enjoy a beautiful violin-piano duet from Isabel Carter and Karen Daniels ("This Is My Father'sWorld"), and we will sing the opening and closing hymns to honor Earth Day: "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "Let All Things Now Living." In between we will observe the 4th Sunday of Easter, often known as "Good Shepherd" Sunday, since we will read Psalm 23 ("The Lord Is My Shepherd") and hear Jesus' words "I Am the Good Shepherd" in the Gospel reading from John. We will also sing several of the beloved Shepherd hymns in our hymnal, led by the Socially Distanced Singers: Kevin Erickson, Rob and Jill Reid, and Mary George, with Mary playing piano this week as well.
The following Sunday, May 2, we will worship together outside, as we celebrate the Rite of Confirmation at our Drive-In Service at 10:00am. This will be a full worship service, open to all, including preaching, prayers and communion led by Pastor Arthur, and hymns and songs led by the Praise and Worship Team and by some of our Oasis Music Team musicians: these youth in pre-Covid Times led the Wednesday evening worship preceding Confirmation.
Hope you can worship and be refreshed in Spirit at all three of these upcoming services!
Be Well,
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Live-Stream Viewer Data
Sunday, April 18, 2021
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328+ viewers of the 10:00am service
Percent watching on specified device:
- Computer 41.2%
- Smart TV 35.3%
- Mobile phone 20.5%
- Tablet 3.0%
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If you are in need of prayer or have the name of someone you would like to add, please ask permission from that person first. Then, contact Marilyn Erickson, Care Ministry at 952-884-2364 ext. 10, or merickson@tlcmn.com.
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Dave Merrill
Jane Kinyon
Joel Wigstadt
Larry Granger
Barb Halverson
Irene Johnson
Kevin Erickson
Jerry Hanson
Jean Nyberg
Ron Schroeder
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Walt Thomsen
Irene Amon
Dunwiddie Family
Don Jacobson
Carol Robbins
Judy Hanson
Laurel Riippa
Ron Schultz
Mary Kelly
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Prayers of Sympathy to:
Dick Johnson and family on the death of wife, Barbara.
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Helpers Needed for Care
of TLC Gardens!
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TLC West side gardens were rejuvenated last year with the addition of new perennials and colorful annuals. Even though the church was not open, the flowers helped send a welcoming message that TLC was still here for everyone. Plans continue to maintain these gardens, but we need your help! If you are interested in helping with spring and fall cleanup, planting, upkeep, and occasional extra watering during hot dry days, please contact Karen Daniels at 612-462-2397. |
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ELC Kids Celebrate Earth Day |
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The Chipmunks (older toddlers & 2-year-olds turning 3) celebrated Earth Day by making Earth necklaces, proudly worn in the photo above.
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The Aardvarks (younger preschoolers & 3-year-olds turning 4) celebrated Earth Day by going on a walk around the center and picking up some trash. They loved making their community beautiful! |
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COVID Response Team Update
April 23, 2021
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Latest update from the COVID-19 Response Team
We continue in Phase 2 due to large increase in case counts per 10,000 in Hennepin County.
Here’s the latest from the team on how Covid-19 is impacting TLC ministries:
-4/15/21 Current Hennepin County Case Count/10,000 people: 47.9 (Was: 43.9)
-4/12/21 City of Bloomington Case Count: 55.3/10,000
-4/18/21 City of Bloomington COVID Cases: 8,492 Deaths: 141
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The cases/10,000 people in Hennepin County have spiked from 43.9 to 47.9 which means we are in Phase 2 of our Covid Re-entry Plan (See plan here)
-In-person, Indoor worship is pushed out to May 16
-All in person Confirmation programming will happen in hybrid mode
-All building use for internal and external groups is on hold for now until the numbers are consistently lower.
Note: Phase 5 is the best case scenario, with Phase 1 being very restrictive in daily operations at TLC.
View the daily case count at the following:
(it takes several seconds to display all the data)
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COVID Response Team:
Re-Opening the Church
RESULTS OF THE APRIL 2021 SURVEY
(Open for input Wednesday, April 14 thru Sunday, April 18, 2021)
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Survey Overview
There were 150 people who completed the survey (Compared with 110 people who completed the August 2020 survey).
Demographics:
- 85% (+) of the 150 respondents are ages 55-75+
- 70% of respondents are from 1 or 2 person households
Worship:
- 77% of respondents currently worship 2-4 times a month
Re-Opening to In-person Worship:
- 75% are inclined to either stay the current course of worship (monthly outdoor, limited in-person with social distancing with masks, live stream recorded) and/or wait for numbers to be consistently low and for most people in the congregation to be vaccinated.
- 25% desire a return to regular, weekly, in-person worship (with masks and social distancing) with confidence that TLC and its members can manage the risks.
Vaccine Status:
- 95% of respondents are either partially or full vaccinated with the fully vaccinated percentage being 79%.
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Remember how beautiful it was last Saturday? Our nice neighbor, whom we've known so many years now, had all her kids and grandkids (that were old enough) come over and work on her lawn. The lawn service is not quite as fussy about cleaning up what winter left, so we watched while they scurried back and forth, clearing up perennials, adding fertilizer to the garden; and it was so sweet to see them all "helping grandma." There were coolers taken out of their cars for what would be a picnic lunch later. Everyone was really having a good time scooting around... fun to see them enjoying each other and getting a lot accomplished. |
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Grandpa Harry was a police officer for years, and his "beat" was Seventh and Nicollet in downtown in Minneapolis. We looked forward to driving into the city to shop, and then waving to "Harry" as he directed traffic, or saw that things went smoothly on that corner. It was a popular place to shop before the malls opened in the suburbs.... Right by Dayton's! Standing like that took its toll, and we all felt bad when he retired. Right now all the talk is about the "TRIAL", and I wonder what Harry would have done... probably not shoot anyone just for a minor arrest. I even wonder if he did arrest people. His voice could stop the noise on New Year's Day, just by saying, "Okay, that's enough," when it was too early to get up. |
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Funny things happen through the years, and one summer we had quite a few rabbits... always making "more" rabbits, unfortunately. One time I told Harry that I could see bunnies looking up at me from our flower beds and garden... not a good thing. (bunnies are lucky they are so cute at least.) Well, right away, Harry came over carrying what must have been a shotgun. I'd thought maybe a hand gun would have been enough. He fired a couple of times and said we wouldn't be troubled by bunnies anymore. This sad little tale had a comical ending. The next time we used our hose, suddenly water squirted up and we realized that Harry had "helped" us just a bit too much. All over the hose were tiny holes....not even big enough to notice. Guess that's what shot guns do... We thanked him for helping with our rabbit stituation, and I never did tell him about all the holes in the hose...(Unless he reads this, of course.)
-Bloomington Bird Lady
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The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians has produced a wonderful multi-user Zoom production of Jesus Christ is Risen Today. The above photo isn't even a quarter of the amount of musicians you'll see performing throughout the hymn. Lyrics are provided on-screen to encourage you to sing-along. |
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Am I My
Brother's Keeper?
Thoughts by Pastor Al Dungan
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Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go into the open country.” While they were there, Cain attacked his brother Abel and murdered him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain answered, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Hark! Your brother’s blood that has been shed is crying out to me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:8-10a)
We might also ask the question not just “Where is my brother” but also, “Who is my brother?”
People around the world, as well as in our country, seem to have difficulty with this question. If they don’t look like us, think like us, worship like us and all the other “like us” categories, they become “The Other.” And, of course, then, we are not responsible for them or how they are treated because by being “The Other” they don’t count. They are not my brother.
In the very beginning of the origin stories of the Hebrew people, they were confronted by the God they worshipped with the question, “Where is your brother….?” And the answer given is supposed to free the man of his responsibility of caring for “his brother” who answers, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” But just as God didn’t let Cain off the hook for murdering his brother Abel, God doesn’t let the rest of us off the hook either.
It is so easy to overlook, ignore and disregard the status of those we either consider “the stranger” or the “minority.” We are more important than they are. We have more rights than they do. We are not responsible for their well-being.
And when they rise up to protest, we declare (as strong supporters of law and order) that their protests are unlawful assemblies, tear gas them, pepper spray them, shoot them with rubber bullets and haul them off to jail.
Who is my brother?
My brother and sister are those who are part of the human family, who share this world with me.
Those of us who share White Privilege must, yes must, break out of our invisible-to-us, shell of Privilege and recognize that everyone deserves the same chance at life as we do. And we need to do that without any partiality or intolerance on our part.
That’s hard for any of us to do because we have been so well-schooled to believe that we deserve what we have. After all, we’ve worked hard to get to where we are. They should be able to do the same, shouldn’t they?
Yes, if they have been given the same opportunities that we have. But they haven’t. And if we are honest with ourselves, we will have to acknowledge that they haven’t.
So…Who is my brother? Who is my sister? That is the question that we’ll have to answer—each for ourselves.
Am I my brother’s keeper?
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[Editor's note: please direct your comments, concerns and rebuttals to office@tlcmn.com]
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Transfiguration Lutheran Church
Addiction Awareness
Team
-Our Mission-
This ministry exists to provide a safe environment for those seeking hope and restoration from addiction and codependency.
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Resentment and Forgiveness
A quote from Saint Augustine says it well, “resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” There is so much truth in that statement. Lingering resentments can only do us harm. They cause physical and emotional problems, cause us stress or sleepless nights, make us anxious and unable to focus on anything else, and eventually make it impossible for a healthy relationship to survive. Resentments takes up space in our head and our heart while serving no purpose. All the while, the person we are holding a grudge against oftentimes has no idea how we feel or that something they said or did has had a lasting negative effect on us. One thing you can count on - if you don’t try to address the resentment you harbor, it won’t go away by itself.
How do we rid ourselves of resentments? Forgive the other person when you can, and practice willful and deliberate forgetfulness when you cannot, keeping in mind that these acts are gifts to yourself, not to the person you resent. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous identifies the “greatest enemies” of alcoholics and addicts as “resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration and fear.” Of these, “resentment is the number one offender…it destroys more alcoholics than anything else.” Our resentments turn our focus inward, allowing us to become selfish and spiritually sick. Instead, the Big Book recommends we turn outward from ourself and pray for the person we resent: “Dear God, I have a resentment toward a person that I want to be free of. So, I am asking you to give this person everything I want for myself. Help me to feel compassionate understanding and love for this person. I pray that they will receive everything they need. Thank you God for your help and strength with this resentment.” It is through forgiveness that we can let go of our resentments and find serenity.
Beth Rahn
Team Member
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- Chris Campo
- Dave Dickson
- Al Dungan
- Mary George
- Griffin Myslivecek
- Louise Olson
- Beth Rahn
- Rick Zeidler
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Discover a place where your
children know they are home.
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NOW ENROLLING
FOR THE
FALL
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TLC Early Learning Center (TLC-ELC) has been a ministry of Transfiguration Lutheran Church since 1985. Their goal 36 years ago was to minister to a need in the community. They are still going strong today. TLC-ELC is the only Christian based non-profit NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) 4-Star child care center in Bloomington.
This past year has been a difficult year for everyone, and that includes TLC-ELC. Due to COVID-19, attendance has dropped about 23%. But, due to the PPP Loan, the ELC has been able to keep their full staff working, and they’ve done a fantastic job in providing a consistent schedule for the children. During the ever-changing months when schools were doing distance learning, ELC staff provided the support and follow through that was needed for the children to be successful in their school work. During this emotionally draining time, staff has been working very hard maintaining CDC guidelines while providing quality care for each child and meeting their individual needs.
Thank you to all Transfiguration members who continue to support the ELC through prayers and financial support. There are also some very specific ways to support the ELC:
- Tell your friends, families and neighbors about TLC-ELC; we especially need children who are 3 – 5 years old to fill our classrooms.
- Like our FaceBook page (@TLCELCBloomingtonMN); make comments and pass it on to others.
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Visit our newly designed and remodeled website: tlcelc.com
- Pray for us, that we continue to be a ministry of Transfiguration to our community.
Looking forward, we have important goals, such as updating the playground, filling vacancies in our classrooms, and being financially stable.
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Calling ALL TLC paddlers! BWCA Trips are Coming Up! |
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Good news! It’s getting to be that time of year again! We are hoping for three BWCA trips as usual this summer.
- June 16-20 –Our annual TLC guided trip out of Ely, Minnesota. Suggested contribution is $200 per paddler. Open to youth finished 6th grade and up; Adults; Younger kids with a parent accompanying.
- Early August – dates TBD. Middle and High School trip through Wilderness Canoe Base. Suggested contribution is $300 per paddler. Open to youth finished 7th grade and up; Adults.
- August 28-31 – Family Mission Camp at Wilderness Canoe Base. Approx. cost $100 per person. Open to all ages and abilities.
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TLC Memorial Garden
A place of peace and reflection, honoring and remembering those close to our hearts. Please click here to visit our website dedicated to those who have passed on -- from 2012 to the present. Each person -Saint- has a page with their obituary, video photo collage, the funeral service bulletin, homily, photo album, and in more recent years, a video of the entire funeral service that was held at TLC. |
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Free Subscriptions, sign up to be a volunteer,
request care ministry and more!
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Subscribe a friend to this newsletter, TLC Weekly. 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.
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A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
A Culture of Diversity and Inclusion
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If you've scrolled along and are reading this, thank you for browsing through the entire TLC Weekly.
Now, go back and find the Robin. It's hiding somewhere within the articles, pictures and stories in this issue of the TLC Weekly. When you find it, email us, telling where the Robin was located. In next week's TLC Weekly we'll post the top names of those who contacted us first.
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Several went searching for the Robin in last week's issue. Pictured on the left, they found the Robin in the BWCA Summer Trip promotion.
The first three to find the Robin in order of email timestamp:
- Becky Woll
- Barb Wigstadt
- Louise Olson
Others spotters, in alphabetical order:
Anderson, Connie
Bjerke, Irene
Erickson, Carla
Head, Florence
Jefferson, Renee
Macdonald-Ockwig, Norma
Meyer, Linda
Millford, Janice
Mullen, Sandy
Pao, Anita
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