-Notice-
The TLC office will be closed Monday, January 18 in honor of the
Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Altar flowers this Sunday are given by Marilyn Erickson in loving memory of husband, Keith Erickson.
Rob Reid
Director of Music
Racial Justice Sunday
Third Sunday of Epiphany

Join us on Sunday, January 17 at 10:00am as we worship together and help “The LIGHT REVEAL the dark corners where racial inequities hide.” God calls us to Love one another as we Love ourselves, and we pray that the songs and stories in this Sunday’s service will help you grow that Love for your Neighbor.

The hymns and spirituals are led by singers Shelley Smith, Mary George, Rob Reid and Jill Reid, pianist Phetsamone Ekholm, and John Rosenow, who plays guitar, drums and sings bass vocals. Please join us in singing some of your favorites like Peace Like A River and This Little Light of Mine. We will also be singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, a song near and dear to the African-American Community.

We will hear two special solos from Agnes Nushann and a Spoken Word by Stephen Nushann. Pastor Janice Gonoe from Liberia will preach and will share leadership of the service with Pastor Arthur.

Peace,
Special Online Worship Service
This Sunday, 8:25am at TLCGo.live
This Sunday after
the TLC Service
11:10am on Zoom
Book Discussion & Meet Pastor Eva
Zoom ID: 992 161 5891
Passcode: 123
The church office has copies of the book available for $15.00 while the supply lasts.
Meet and chat with TLC's new Interim Co-Pastor, Eva Jensen. She'll be online in Zoom with us during and after the book discussion.
Bio Excerpt: I am a beloved child of God, living by grace and growing in faith and relationships with God, self, and neighbors. I study scripture and pay attention to socio-economic, cultural, environmental and political dynamics of our contexts and time. I seek to discern meaningful connections between God's passion, healing, and care for all that God has made and the brokenness, suffering and inequity that mark our lives.
The TLC Annual Report for 2020 Now Available
Printed copies are being mailed (USPS) to members known to not have internet.
Printed copies are also available at TLC outside the church office
during the COVID reduced hours of operation.
Sunday • January 31 • 11:00am
Meeting ID: 890 2827 7369
Passcode: 123
Are you wondering how TLC has been doing throughout 2020 and what plans are in the works for 2021? If you are a TLC member, please mark your calendar and plan to join us on January 31st at 11:00am on Zoom for the 2020-2021 Annual Meeting. There will be an option to phone in to the meeting for those who do not have online capabilities.
Watch the announcements in coming weeks for important details on voting and phoning in to the meeting if unable to go online. Readers! Please contact any TLC members that do not have Internet capabilities.

You are needed. Please plan to attend as together we seek to put our faith in action through Christ’s church.
The Month of January
Join your community at TLC during the season of Epiphany to experience the transforming love that is REVEALED in the light and life of Jesus.
 
The LIGHT REVEALS the promise of God in the most unlikely places. 
The LIGHT REVEALS a world in need of people living in response to God’s promise. 
The LIGHT REVEALS the dark corners where inequity is hidden.
The LIGHT REVEALS the divine nature of Christ born within us.
Here are many opportunities to live in the light in the new year:
 
Worship Highlights: 
  
Sunday, January 17
Racial Justice Sunday and Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance: The LIGHT REVEALS the dark corners where racial inequity hides. We will hear a special solo by Agnes Nushann and a Spoken Word by Stephen Nushann. Pastor Janice Gonoe from Liberia will share the message.
 
Sunday, January 24
Welcome Pastor Eva Sunday: The LIGHT REVEALS the promise of God in the most unlikely of places. Our Interim Co-Pastor, Eva Jensen, will preach the word for us for the first time. 
 
Sunday, January 31 
Annual Meeting Sunday: The LIGHT REVEALS a world in need of people living in response to God’s promise. Co-Pastor Arthur will preach and preside at this service that precedes our TLC Annual Meeting at 11:00am on Zoom.
Live-Stream Viewer Data
Last Sunday, January 10, 2021
384+ viewers of the worship service.
TLC COVID Response Team
January 2021 Update
QUESTION:
When is TLC opening for program activities?
 
ANSWER:
Here is the latest recommendation from the team to the Church Council about in-person programming. The COVID Response Team recommends starting the clock on observing case trends over the next two weeks. If the number stays below 50 over the next two weeks, the team recommends opening for hybrid ministry for confirmation and peer ministers. The current number for cases/10,000 people in Hennepin County is 39. Here’s how this recommendation impacts planning at church.
 
This would entail small groups meeting in four designated spaces at church, with social distancing, masks, and procedures for building/space use. Small group leaders would be trained in processes before moving to the hybrid model. This model would be inclusive of students who decide to stay in a distance model. NOTE: The case/10,000 people number must remain below 50 in order to make this change. If the number jumps to 50 or above, we would wait until the number sits below 50 in order to restart the clock. The numbers and science will guide us. The team will also implement a short survey for families to get more updated feedback about this potential shift in programming.
Monday, January 18, 2021
9:00am - 12:00noon
Bloomington Area MLK Day
Virtual Scavenger Hunt
What: Hybrid Virtual/Live Martin Luther King Day, Jr. Event

Date: Monday, January 18, 2021

Where: Around Bloomington

What: Families, Individuals, and small groups are invited to participate in a virtual scavenger hunt around the city of Bloomington to learn about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to learn how they can continue his legacy by engaging in social justice and peacemaking work. Groups will use a mobile app to engage in the scavenger hunt, and will be sent to locations, both indoor and out, where they will find clues, solve puzzles, and learn together, as well as receive the occasional warm drink and bathroom break!
Be Glad for the Light
We used to say, "Wake up and smell the coffee" if we thought someone might need to pay attention better. Maybe we should all wake up just a bit more, as I know more mayhem is brewing.  The Facebook and e-mail messages I have gotten since last week's storming of the United States Capitol all said similar things...It made them sick to their stomachs.

Where did all those rabid people come from? The guy holding Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's podium and grinning as he carried it away from the building was shown so many times on CNN. I watched while some windows got broken, and not easily either. Then people climbed over the sill and were inside the building. Pictures taken that day are being matched with names and faces so that these idiots can be prosecuted finally.

Who would even want to be a part of this mob? Would you? I didn't think so. Then, at the end of the day's "fun" our current president came out, told them he loved them and then that they should now go home. What will happen next, we wonder. If Biden gets his inauguration accomplished maybe things will calm down.

I am also so ready for the virus, with all it's consequences of closings, no one in church, mask wearing and diligent hand washing to just "round the bend" as Trump said it would.  He didn't know how bad it would be evidently, and when Dr. Fauci told him what must be done, the good doctor was removed. Cheer up though, because Joe Biden has put Fauci on his staff.

I used to love taking the light rail to downtown Minneapolis ---We'd have lunch at the Loon Cafe, and then go home using the same ticket. With all the stress of an election which was not really stolen at all, the storming of the capitol, and the way people disrespect older folks even on the light rail, we are actually afraid to ride
on it these days.  The NRA declares that they will not allow guns to be taken away... Hunting with assault rifles is not necessary, is it?  So why do people need to carry a gun?  

I hope this Weekly message is not too negative. There's a lot going on, we need to be thankful if we are staying well in this time of a spiked virus. When hospital beds are rationed, it's not easy to care for those who are sick.

Stay well, pray often, check on your neighbors, and keep smiling.

-Bloomington Bird Lady
During this Past Week
By Pastor Al Dungan
During this past week, with all the turmoil that’s been occurring in our country, I was really torn about what I was going to say in this week’s TLC Weekly. Should I continue with my series on Why the Bible was written or should I write a much more contemporary article which addresses what has been happening in our country that has caused so much turmoil and fear? I decided to address the second part of that question.

How could what happened last Wednesday have happened? Ironically it was the Festival day of The Epiphany of our Lord—a day when the Christian Church celebrates the giving of the Gospel to the Gentile world. A riotous mob attacked our nation’s capitol with, as we have learned, the expressed intention of overthrowing our government, kidnapping and executing our members of congress as traitors to the nation and goaded on by our President.

And so I ask each of you who reads this article to search within themselves and ask this question—are we as Christians committed to proclaiming God’s healing love through Jesus Christ or, are we committed to the violent overthrow of our country through the hate of our neighbor whose political views may differ from ours?

In our devotions this morning, the reading was from Isaiah 41 where we were reminded that no matter what is happening in our lives and in our world God is there with us. We don’t need to be afraid no matter how grim our world looks and no matter how powerful the forces of evil may appear.

Isaiah writes to an Israel that had been destroyed by the Babylonians and whose people had been forced into exile for many too many years. They felt forgotten by God, abandoned by God. They felt hopeless and too much the pawn of larger more powerful countries. And yet their God was saying to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. You will be restored and those nations who have treated you so badly will disappear like dust in the wind.”

And so, to each of you who read this, I want to echo Isaiah’s words in our time of turmoil and trouble, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. I will protect you and will bring you through these terrible, fearful times. You have not been abandoned. You are my beloved people.”

The Church over the years has experienced many fearful and tumultuous times and has not only survived but flourished.

I firmly believe that these times are no different.

“Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Hope Lives!
TLC's
Addiction Awareness Team
Update
Mission: “This ministry exists to provide a safe environment for those seeking hope and restoration from addiction and codependency.”
Mayflower United Church of Christ in Minneapolis has provided a Recovery Sunday service in January for several years and they will continue this tradition by providing their program virtually this year. This Recovery Sunday service is dedicated to the disease of addiction and the role of faith in recovery. Several members of TLC have attended this service at Mayflower over the years and found it to contain a valuable and uplifting message presented in a nonjudgmental and caring manner. Check it out!
 
The 11am service can be watched through Mayflower’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYgOxeF0xK3iq-GCOwEd_jw and will feature Eli’jah Carroll, director of Faith Formation at Mayflower. Eli’jah is excited to share his recovery story of experience, strength and hope which began fourteen and a half years ago in Rochester, NY. He is grateful every day for the miracle of sobriety.
 
In addition, Mayflower will hold an Education Hour from 9:45-10:45am on Jan 31st via Zoom when Pat McKone, Senior Director – Health Promotions and Public Policy at the American Lung Association will speak about “Vaping, Mods and other Nicotine Delivery Systems: A New Generation of Nicotine Addiction.” Ms. McKone has worked with lung health programming in Minnesota for over forty years and her work has included tobacco cessation programs for adults and youth including raising awareness of the impact of tobacco in those with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. She has worked as an advocate regarding limited exposure to secondhand smoke, smoke-free housing, point of sale, and e-cigarettes. Please contact Lisa Dewaay (LDewaay@gmail.com) to receive the Zoom link to participate in this adult ed presentation. 
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To learn more about this ministry, or if you or someone you care about is in need of support, please reach out to one of us.

Minnesota Seniors is an amazing, FREE resource service for seniors as well as family caregivers who have questions and need answers. There is a wealth of information and help -- too numerous to list. [Click Here] and see for yourself.
It's something to do and you don't need to wear a mask while browsing.
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. 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.
 
Want to get involved? Come pack with us! Watch for sign-up dates in the TLC bulletin insert, Life@TLC and the website, www.tlcmn.com in 2021 as COVID allows us to again do group packing.
 
While packing is possible, it should only be done as a family group due to the close proximity of the packers. Click here to contact the FMSC and schedule your family.
 
We pack at the Eagan site (990 Lone Oak Rd #136, Eagan, MN 55121).
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
A great gift Pastor Grace shared with TLC was her “Hope for the Day” devotional. I for one found it very enlightening and healing during this Pandemic. I found myself looking forward to receiving and reading it daily. I so enjoyed the different writings penned by different TLC family members!
I have been asked by Pastor Arthur to keep a form of this devotional going. We have agreed to make it a weekly [e-mailed] publication called “Hope for the Week”, which is sent to your email every Tuesday at 6:30am.

If you would be willing to share an inspired devotional(s) going forward with your TLC family, please contact me at weeyin57@aol.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Blessings,

Norma R. Macdonald-Ockwig
Hello fellow TLC members! Allow me to introduce “Pathways to Justice,” a new weekly short article e-mailed every Thursday morning. Pastor Arthur has asked me to take the lead with members from the Racial Justice and RIC teams assisting with writing. We will tackle and explore -in small chunks- ideas that may be new to some of us. In doing so, we will be allowed opportunities to ask ourselves and each other how we really actively can, as Micah 6:8 states, “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.” Please feel free to let me know if there are any topics that you would like addressed and please do consider contributing your own thoughts on what it means to be on a Pathway to Justice. I look forward to hearing from you!

Shelley Smith
The Church office is staffed with Marilyn Erickson and Michelle Reber available Monday through Thursday, 9:00am - 4:00pm. You need to call ahead for an appointment, wear masks, use hand sanitizer (available at the entrance to the office) and practice social distancing during your visit.
Please call: (952) 884-2364
Committees - Ministries - Small Groups
WRITE YOUR OWN ARTICLE
FOR THE TLC WEEKLY
Thanks to the Faith, Fact and Fiction Book Club, the K3P3 group, Stephen Ministry, Welcome Diversity Team, Global Health Ministry, Coffee and Conversation, and the Nutty Knotters (TLC Quilters) for submitting photos and stories to the TLC Weekly.
Other committees, groups and ministries, we want to hear from you! Share your stories with the TLC community.

Are you meeting?
How have you adapted your meetings to keep everyone safe?
What projects are you working on?
Send a story and some photos to tlcmedia@tlcmn.com and we will share your news in the TLC Weekly. Be sure to provide names of people in your photos.
Do you ever need an extra prayer for yourself, a loved one, a world situation or a dear friend? TLC has a prayer team that is waiting to pray with and for you. Your prayer needs are sent on to the Prayer Team and kept confidential – just between you, the pray-ers, and God. If you have a prayer request, or if you would like to join the prayer team, please contact Marilyn Erickson at merickson@tlcmn.com or on the TLC website here.
ONLINE GIVING HELPS SUPPORT TLC
It’s important to know that we can depend on financial support from TLC members. Online 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 top of any page, or [Click Here] to start the process, or contact the church office.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
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A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
A Culture of Diversity and Inclusion
~~LINKS~~
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Comments and questions: TLCMedia@tlcmn.com