Trinity First Lutheran Church

Bulletin Announcements

December 31, 2006 through January 6, 2007

"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens' praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His host!" (Psalm 148:1-2, NRSV).
Rejoice in the Lord. Greet one another with joy. Welcome, friends!

Many Thanks to Louise Borak serving as guest organist today.

At Our Annual Voters Meeting on December 10th, the voters elected to sign a Covenant of Cooperation with Church Development Partners. A copy of the Covenant, FAQs and other documentation is posted outside of Pastor Jake's office and in the 19th Street entrance. Above all, please be in prayer that Trinity First would receive a clear vision of how she should develop her most under-utilized asset - property and equity - to further the kingdom of God! Thank you to all who have worked to get us to this point. Please also pray for endurance for the long - but fulfilling - journey which lies ahead.

Christmas Break for the TFL School children begins at noon on Wednesday, December 20th. School resumes on Thursday, January 4th. The office will be closed from Saturday, December 23 until Tuesday, January 2nd. Deep cleaning will happen over this Christmas break and access to certain areas will be limited as tables, desks and chairs are moved around to enable shampooing and waxing.

Council Meeting - Saturday, January 20, 9am

Elder's Meeting - Wednesday, January 31, 7pm

Congregation's Annual Meeting - Sunday, February 11, 11am

Live Conversations - January 6, 10am-3pm at Trinity First- We want to help you start 2007 with a New Year's resolution: "I will let God use me to reach unbelievers." 10-noon: worship and training; 12-1 lunch; 1-3 application (watch others or participate in live conversations with a mentor). To register or for more information , please call Paul Vavrin at 763-670-5368. Presented by Cross Pollination Ministries

Hospitalizations, Births and Funerals ... Please phone the church office if you or someone you know is hospitalized, has given birth, or is in need of funeral arrangements. Due to privacy laws and lack of staff, hospitals and nursing homes seldom (if ever) phone the congregation or pastor when you enter the hospital.

Please Pray!
+ For Harold Fry III, great-grandson of Jeanne Huff, who is in the hospital with breathing problems
+ Laura Kane who had surgery to remove cancer from her nose, on December 13
+ Gloria Groenke who is recovering from 3 surgeries
+  Norm Gallup as he receives treatment for a tumor in his abdomen
+ Healing for brothers Milt and Donald, Delores, Brad Peterson (cancer), Brian (stage 4 lymphoma), Henry, Shirley, David, Ray, Alice, Sharon Kirts (radiation), Pastor Dennis Ahl, Leo (feet), Pastor Rich Latterner and family
+  For those who mourn ...
+ Volunteers and funds for Global Health Ministries
+ For serenity & spiritual discernment in the midst of hectic holiday schedules
+ For all who travel this holiday season. May their road trips be an opportunity to clear their heads and re-connect with the babe in the manger
+ For those who struggle with spending addictions - especially in this season of consumerism
+ For peace in Venture Village neighborhood
+  For those suffering from mental illness
+  For those caught in the tentacles of drug addiction
+ Please pray against the spiritual forces of darkness that seek to hold our neighborhood hostage indefinitely by passing sin on from one generation to the next to the next ...
+ Blessing upon God's union of Denae Thormodson and Alex Antuna in Holy Matrimony!
+ Praise for Pastor Francis Stephanos Beko and Addis Hewot Ministries as it is more closely aligned with TFL!
+ Praise for healing for Gert, Petirna
+  Praise for the valiant prayer warriors of the Wednesday morning bible class
+  Praise for increased attendance in all worship services on our campus
+ That the Lord would honor the solemn stewardship pledges that we've made for the year ahead.
+  Praise for the Lord's financial provision on a week-by-week basis for our thriving urban mission center

Preaching Schedule for the weeks to come:

A Measure of our Faithfulness Last Week
 + There were 30 in our Sunday Worship Service on December 24

Hispanic Mission Minute  -  (written by  Abby Dawkins)  Come! Ven!
I slowly lowered the blinds to peek out the window hoping to find a hint of white blanket for which I had waited so long ... and was disappointed. There was not a flake to be found on the ground and Christmas was only three days away! After living "snowless" in Peru for two years, I had been so anxious for a few flakes to fall and yet I was left to continue hoping and waiting. I just wanted tit to come! I stopped to think of those long ago who had longed and waited for their Savior to arrive and free them from their oppression. They must have pleaded, "Come! Free us! Save us!" And they were not disappointed. He came by way of a humble birth and freed us by way of a humble death. He promised His presence in the midst of the trials, frustration, and slavery caused by sin in this world. So we cry, "Come! Lord, Jesus, Come!" and wait for His liberating and comforting presence in our lives and the lives of our Hispanic neighbors and friends.