TRANSFIGURATION LUTHERAN CHURCH
11000 France Ave. S. - Bloomington, MN 55431
Office: (952) 884-2364 (Also 24-hour Pastoral Emergency Service)
Office Open Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 4:00pm
Sunday, July 4
In-Person and Live-Stream Worship Services
8:30am & 10:00am
Ice Cream Hospitality After Each Service
Updated COVID Guidelines Effective July 4
All are welcome to come worship and sing in the TLC sanctuary every Sunday!

Communion
Communion elements (fruit juice and wafer) are available in sealed, prepackaged containers in the church Narthex. Please take one when entering the Sanctuary, or... Communion (wine/juice & wafer) will also be distributed by the pastors from the altar area.

Masks
8:30am Worship Service
Masks are optional.

10:00am Worship Service
Masks are recommended and encouraged for all in-person worshippers
out of solidarity and concern for the unvaccinated and those with underlying health conditions. This recommendation is consistent with CDC current policy and will be reevaluated and updated for the month of August.

Socializing Comfort Levels
Please wear a name-tag with a colored sticker that indicates your level of socializing comfort. Name tags & colored stickers are provided in the Narthex.

Green – handshakes and hugs are welcome
Yellow – fist or elbow-bumps only, please
Red – wave or Peace Sign only, please
Rob Reid
Director of Music
Let Freedom Ring
From All Corners of the Earth!

Wear your Red, White and Blue this Sunday, because it will be The 4th of July! At our 8:30am and 10:00am worship services (both are offered Live in the Sanctuary as well as Live-Streamed at TLCGo.Live), we will sing hymns of joy and gratitude as we celebrate the ways in which God has led us to be a country that stands for freedom. Organist Karen Daniels and a vocal quartet of singers (Jill Reid, Nancy Shemanek, Rob Reid and Kevin Erickson) will lead us in “O Beautiful, For Spacious Skies,” “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory,” and “God of the Ages.” For the Gospel Acclamation we will sing a new arrangement, created by our own TLC music staff, that combines the Anglo-originating patriotic hymn “God Bless Our Native Land” with the African-American freedom anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Pastor Arthur’s message will draw on this musical inspiration and focus on the inclusive invitation of the gospel that transcends boundaries of nationalism and race.

Reflecting that message, we will also sing the beautiful hymn by Finnish composer Jan Sibelius “This Is My Song,” that includes the wonderful words “So hear my song, O God of all the nations: a song of peace for their lands and for mine.” And stay tuned through to the end of the service for a couple special instrumental “surprises!”
Wishing you God’s special Peace, this day and always,
UPDATE!
We've started the distribution of funds to the ministries, agencies and charity recipients (Mission Partners) of our Mission Outreach 1+1 fundraising appeal. You, the gracious TLC individuals and families, combined with a matching dollar donation, provided a total of $70,000 and also had the choice to select which Mission Partners you favored to receive the funds.

Here are the details:

  • 90 individuals and families from TLC contributed over $70,000 to the appeal; To date, TLC has received all of these gifts.
  • 17 different mission partners are now receiving checks totaling $70,000 from TLC to further their work.
  • Selected church members are personally delivering these checks to many of the Mission Partners.
  • Photo and video coverage of the fund deliveries detail who we are supporting and where our gifts will be used.
  • TLC is planning a celebration service on August 15 when we will learn about their work and how our contributions will support their programs.

Mission Partner Choices and Fund Distribution (distributed proportionately per donator selections)

Wilderness Canoe Base ....................................... $2,000.00
Sheridan Story/Every Meal ................................... $7,000.00
Tapestry Lutheran ................................................. $2,000.00
Meals on Wheels ................................................... $9,000.00
VEAP ...................................................................... $11,500.00
TLC Early Learning Center ................................... $4,000.00
Beacon Interfaith Housing ................................... $4,000.00
Lutheran Campus Ministries ............................... $1,000.00
Oasis for Youth ...................................................... $7,500.00
Exodus Lending ..................................................... $2,000.00
Lutheran Social Services ..................................... $3,500.00
The Center of Addiction & Faith ........................... $2,500.00
Feed my Starving Children ................................... $5,500.00
Center for Changing Lives – Liberia ................... $3,500.00
Global Heath Ministries ........................................ $3,000.00
Green Lake Bible Camp ........................................ $1,000.00 (congregational write-in)
Lutheran Partners in Global Ministries .............. $1,000.00 (congregational write-in)

TOTAL ALLOCATIONS $70,000.00
TOTAL PLEDGES RECEIVED $70,929.00
FUNDS REMAINING FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES $929.00
Boby & Hal Hill
HERE COME DA' JUDGE!
Highlighted in the circle inset in this photo is Ron Hill, the son of TLC members Hal and Boby Hill. Amongst Ron's prestigious career credentials is the fact that he's an Olympic Certified Judge.

In this photo we find Ron judging USA Olympic Gymnast, Shane Wiskus, in the recent Olympic trials held in St. Louis, Missouri. Shane's hopes are high in achieving his goals for the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics.

"Judge" Ron Hill is a Bloomington Jefferson graduate, then coached in gymnastics by our own Rod Daniels, husband of TLC organist, Karen Daniels.
-By Pete Erickson, TLC Interim Youth and Family Minister

TLC “Seniors and Care Ministry” Imagination Event – July 11 from 1-4PM at TLC – YOU ARE INVITED!
 
On July 11 from 1-4PM, you are invited to an Imagination Event to engage the congregation to articulate their values, hopes, and expectations about the future of Seniors and Care Ministry as an expression of TLC’s mission. Pastor Eva Jensen will facilitate this visioning event. 
 
Here are the details:
-          If you are vaccinated we encourage you to attend in person. If you are not, please join us by Zoom (see link below)
-          Snacks and beverages will be provided
-          Childcare for elementary-age students will be provided (please let Pete Erickson know if you will be bringing your child)
 
Here’s a link to the event: 
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 885 0554 6383
Passcode: 850633
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,88505546383# US (New York)
+13017158592,,88505546383# US (Washington DC)
 
 
TLC Summer Ministry Opportunities – Get connected to what’s happening this SUMMER!
Are you looking for a faithfully fun way to connect with your TLC friends this summer? Here are the dates for summer ministry opportunities this summer. As always – feel free to bring friends! Here’s what’s happening:
 
July 12      Second Harvest Service Event (3:30PM) NOTE DATE CHANGE!!
July 27     Pool Party (Sandy Stooke’s) (5:30PM) (Cost: $5 for pizza)
August 3  Valley Fair (9AM-5PM) (Cost: $30 plus food money)
August 17 Pool Party (Sandy Stooke’s) (5:30PM) (Cost: $5 for pizza)
 
You MUST register to participate – Here is a sign up for the summer fun! Look forward to seeing you IN-PERSON this summer! PLEASE NOTE: we will be adhering to the current policies of the organizations we will be using for summer ministry when it comes to masks. Stay tuned for more info as we get closer to the dates.
 
TLC/ELC Community Events – July 21, dinner and activities, 5:00-7:00PM and August 8, Sunday Worship Service 10AM – Blessing of the Animals
 
Transfiguration Lutheran Church and the Early Learning Center are partnering together on community events this summer designed to connect in community, celebrate our resiliency over the last year, and imagine a new, exciting day for our community of faith. 
 
We invite the whole ELC/TLC community to come for dinner, games, stories, music, and to meet your neighbors and our community partners at TLC. Here are the details:
 
  • July 21 (5:00-7:00PM) – in the TLC Parking Lot
  • August 8 (10AM) – In the TLC Parking Lot – this will be a worship that includes a blessing of the animals!
 
The planning team is looking for help to make these events happen. Here are some areas we’d love your partnership:
  • Set Up/Clean Up
  • Leading games
  • Food support
  • Engaging/inviting our neighbors to attend
 
Click on this link to sign up to help or contact Pete Erickson (perickson@tlcmn.com) or Pastor Melanie Heuiser Hill (mheuiserhill@tlcmn.com) if you would like to share your gifts!
 
Calling ALL TLC paddlers! BWCA Trips are Coming Up!
There is still space for the following TLC BWCA trip this summer:
 
·        August 28-31 – Family Mission Camp at Wilderness Canoe Base. Approx. cost $100 per person. Open to: All ages and abilities.
 
Please contact Pete Erickson or Pastor Arthur for more information or to hold your spot for any of the trips.
TLC Interim Process
Transition Update
There are five Imagination Events remaining. All are Sundays, 1-4pm. Every TLC member is asked to make this process a priority and attend at least one of these events along with the final Congregational Full-Day Event on October 9. Please save the dates that work for you and prioritize the ministry areas that speak to your heart!

Schedule is:

  • May 23 – Children, Youth and Family (completed)
  • June 27 – Building and Property (completed)
  • July 11 – Seniors and Care Ministry
  • July 18 – Diversity and Neighbor Engagement
  • Aug 15 – Mission and Outreach
  • Aug 22 – Financial Sustainability

Child care will be provided for all sessions. In-person attendance is preferred. All events will also be accessible by Zoom.
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.
Dave Merrill
Jane Kinyon
Joel Wigstadt
Barb Halverson
Kevin Erickson
Jerry Hanson
Jean Nyberg
Walt Thomsen
Irene Amon
Dunwiddie Family
Don Jacobson
Judy Hanson
Ron Schultz
Ron Schroeder
Stephen Nushann
Dave Dickson
Gail Kleven
Sympathy to Norma Macdonald-Ockwig on the death of her cousin, Amy Winsor.
Live-Stream Viewers
In-Person Attendance
Sunday, June 27, 2021
8:30am Service
Live-Stream: 57
In-Person: 45

10:00am Service
Live-Stream: 148
In-Person: 41
The More We Get Together
When I was a kid, we could never go swimming until after the Fourth of July, and even then, two hours after eating. This year, the Fourth of July seems to have sneaked up so fast, and the only thing reminding us was all those firecrackers that someone just could not wait to set off.  Guess someone had gone to another state to buy fireworks!
I loved having "sparklers" to hold, and maybe still would... Why does the Fourth of July have to be noisy?

This year seems so far removed from what I remember as a youngster. When the condo in Florida collapsed and with special crews of people to dig through the remains of the building, still carefully looking for any signs of life; what a sad situation! Prayers continued that some lives can still be saved.
In my little home town of Milaca, Minnesota, there was no special event to set off fireworks.  We would sit on my grandma's front lawn, watching the cars go by on their way to Mille Lacs Lake, or maybe St. Cloud. Our street had a huge intersection and the North-South Highway 169 was always crowded with fisher-people going to the cabin, or coming home.  Invariably, my grandma would always say, "When I was your age, all these car lights would have been enough fireworks!"  Having just been up to Milaca a couple of weeks ago, it has changed so much, and I think the bulk of traffic does not go through town any more. Even my old home church, Zion Evangelical Lutheran, has completely re-done the entire front of their building and I would not have recognized it at all.

Let's hope for a good Fourth of July. The condo collapse rescue team continues in finding missing people so relatives can at least know where they are.  

Because the Fourth falls on Sunday, let's try to get ourselves out of the PJs and into our church this week. The livestream is always so beautifully done, but it doesn't get us out of the door and into the newly opened sanctuary, does it?

I thought of a song to spur us on. You've heard it too many times on TV lately, "The More We Get Together." [Click here to listen to the song] Used to sing that at the nursing home years ago, and it's so easy to sing.  Notice that it ends: "The Happier We'll Be!"  I don't like to count people at the 10 O'Clock Service, but when I only got 17 two weeks ago, and not a whole lot more this past Sunday, I would be ready to count a lot more people being happy.

-Bloomington Bird Lady

Thoughts by Pastor Al Dungan
~ ~ ~
Who Wrote the Bible?
The Rape of Dinah

-A Continuing Series-

Rape is not an easy issue to address and it’s definitely not something that we would teach in traditional Sunday school.

But like with all the other issues that the Bible deals with that are often uncomfortable and difficult to talk about, it deals very straightforwardly with the topic of the rape of Dinah, the daughter of Leah and the manner in which vengeance is taken by Dinah’s brothers.

Read Genesis 34 for the whole story.

It’s not a pretty account, in fact, it’s quite violent on several levels, but one that those who drew the oral traditions of the Hebrews together didn’t try to evade either.

In our culture, we have tended to be much more circumspect, especially when it comes to the topic of rape, and we have far too often blamed the female and let the male off without any serious repercussions.

Many justifications have been given for rape over the centuries, but the truth is this: rape is wrong because it violates the sanctity of both the body and the soul of those involved, female and male.

Briefly, the story is this: Dinah is visiting with women in a Canaanite city near where she lived with her family when she is raped by the son of a highly placed official of that city. The son, trying to “make things right” asks his father to approach Dinah’s father, Jacob, with an offer of marriage. Jacob doesn’t give an immediate answer and when Dinah’s brothers learn of this they are enraged.

Then they plot vengeance by convincing the official that they will overlook the action of his son if all of the men of that city agree to become circumcised. While the men of the city are recovering from this minor, but very painful surgery, Dinah’s brothers Levi and Simeon fall upon them and execute them. After this, the rest of Jacob’s sons plundered the city, enslaving the families of those who had been slaughtered, as well as all their property.

This is, the biblical notes tell us, the first time that there was animosity between the Canaanites and the family of Jacob (Israel). It continues, unfortunately, to the present day.

Like so many other events from the chronicles of Israel that are honestly recorded, the editors of Genesis and the remainder of the Hebrew scriptures, look at their history, warts and all, as they tell this particular story of the People of God.

Next time: the story of Joseph, Part 1.
Property & Building
The Second Imagination Event of the Transition Process was held last Sunday, June 27. Many thanks to the 30 TLC members, council and staff who participated. Copies of reports on the mortgage, building and grounds and ELC building use will be available in next week's TLC Weekly.

The next two Imagination Events are July 11 (Seniors and Care Ministry) and July 18 (Diversity and Neighbor Engagement). Please plan to take part.

All events are Sundays 1-4pm.
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.
If you are new to recovery or are just interested in finding out what AA or NA meetings are all about, and would like for someone to attend a meeting with you for the first time, please contact our group. We are here to support and guide you!
Please visit our page on TLC's website here or reach out to one of us directly or send a confidential email to: addictionawareness@TLCmn.com
 
  • Chris Campo
  • Dave Dickson
  • Al Dungan
  • Mary George
  • Griffin Myslivecek
  • Louise Olson
  • Beth Rahn
  • Rick Zeidler
The Mission of Exodus Lending is dedicated solely to providing trapped Minnesotan borrowers a just pathway out of payday loan debt and toward financial stability.

On behalf of enrolled Minnesotans, Exodus Lending pays off up to $1500 of payday, title, or online installment loan debt carrying more than 36% interest. Participants then repay over at least 12 months, with no interest on their loan with us.

Program Updates

Exodus Lending strives to provide a holistic, participant-centered program that helps break the cycle of predatory debt and provides resources for people to avoid the debt trap in the first place. We are building off our success over our first six years of lending by moving forward with a secondary loan product: a zero-interest, $200-$1,000 personal loan. In early 2020, we first piloted this program and distributed ten such loans with 12-month repayment terms. After analyzing the results, we are scaling up this pilot program and plan to offer a limited number of personal loans to persons referred to us through our partner agencies, by the end of 2021. Additionally, we are excited to expand our partnership with Prepare + Prosper. As a result, we are now able to enroll interested individuals in their FAIR Financial Solutions program, which offers checking, savings, and credit builder products for low-income, low-wealth households.

The Exodus Lending annual fundraiser is coming up on July 29th and tickets are only $5.00! We would love to see you and celebrate being together once again. If you'd like to learn more you can visit our website: exoduslending.org.

This is the fourth year that TLC has been a contributor to Exodus Lending. Due to a high rate of pay-back for the loans the money is then loaned again to another borrower. Through the 1+1 Fund program, TLC gave a gift of $2,000.
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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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