Trinity First Lutheran Church

Bulletin Announcements

February 18, 2007 through February 24, 2007

Let begins on Wednesday, February 21. Let us begin today to prepare ourselves for spiritual growth during this special time of the church year.
Welcome to worship on this Lord's Day.

Prepare for Worship next Sunday by reading:  Deuteronomy 26:1-11     Romans 10:8b-13     Luke 4:1-13

Today Pastor Jacob is preaching at both worship services at Golden Valley Lutheran. They are the congregations de desiring to partner with us for our "Vintage" Church Plant.

Tibetan New Year (Losar) is Sunday, February 14-21. The celebration of Losar can be traced back to the pre-Buddhist period in Tibet. During the period when Tibetans practiced the Bon religion, every winter a spiritual ceremony was held in which people offered large quantities of incense to appease the local spirits, deities and protectors. Today they talk about channeling positive energy, either way it is spirit appeasement. This is the biggest holiday in the Tibetan calendar and last year during Losar is when Sheila went into hospital to have her left ovary and fallopian tub removed. In the middle of the night Sheila felt a black spirit with a tail visit her in the hospital and ask if she would be willing to give her life for even one Tibetan. Right after that she started to bleed from her operation. She called me and we prayed and the bleeding stopped. We felt as if this was an attack from the enemy - all of last year was full of attacks from the enemy. We are asking you to especially pray for us during this time because we feel that the spirit world is very active. Tibetans even clean their homes out prior to Losar to clean the evil spirits out for the New Year. - Blessings, Bob & Sheila Nikl

Mite Box Sunday - February 25 : The mites are a very important part of the LWML mission , as grants are funded entirely by mites. So bring your mites on Sunday and know that you are helping fund mission projects around the world. Please see Bea if you need a box.

God's Word Does Not Return Empty!  Come to the 11:00 am Bible study on Sunday March 4 and hear about how God's Word is accomplishing His desires and achieving His purposes in Nicaragua. Jonathan & Heidi Breitbarth (Heidi, is our Director of our "Tiger Club" After School Christian Outreach) will share of their recent mission trip to Nicaragua where they spent 15 days encouraging the very young Lutheran church body there and being encouraged by what God is raising up among the nations. On Thursday, March 8th, Heidi will give a more in-depth presentation to the women of the LWML. That presentations begins at 1:30 pm.

Next Elder Meeting will be on March 7.

Buy FoxFaith Movie Tickets and Support Trinity First! Visit www.foxfaithfund.com and enter our church code of 100013 and a credit of one dollar per ticket will be donated to Trinity First at the end of the theatrical release. The first eligible film is The Last Sin Eater, a movie based on the best-selling book by Francine Rivers and directed by Michael Landon, Jr. now out in theaters.

Contact Information for David and Ramona Bond - Knowing that many of you would like to send a note to the Bonds during this difficult time, please contact our church office for their contact information.

Worship Folders for Shut-Ins - We currently mail the worship folder to three of our members each week. If you know of any others who would appreciate receive it, please let Sara Neterer know.

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.

Preaching Schedule for the weeks to come:

A Measure of our Faithfulness Last Week
 + There were 59 in our Sunday Worship Service on February 11
 + There were 65 in our Tuesday Night Worship on February 13
 + Last week's offering: $5,201.00

Hispanic Mission Minute  -  by  Abby Dawkins
As I sat in church a few weeks back, translating the service for a young Latino mother of 5, I saw God at work in a natural way. The pastor's words concerned the story of the disciples following Jesus. He told them that they would no longer catch fish, but people instead. Sandra, who is new to the congregation, leaned over to me and said with excitement, "Like me - I could invite my brother (an atheist) to church to know more about God!" She got the point way quicker and with less hesitation than many of us who have had the Gospel for years! It really challenged me in my life and intentional witness as I interact with those around me. Where is God leading you to fish? Pray: That we would all be fishers of men in our daily lives. Pray for Sandra's faith and witness to her family members.

Intern Somali Love - by Doug Stoeckicht
These past few weeks I have had the opportunity to meet with a youth group out in Redwing. My friend from college is the new youth director at this church and he has asked me to talk to his high school students about the growing Somali population as well as the growth of Islam. Not only that, but there is an opportunity that a number of other youth groups in the area will join one of these sessions. I ask that we pray together for Redwing and their churches, may they grow in the knowledge of God's world and His plan for it. Also pray that as I go to reach that I speak out with the Spirit and provide fruitfulness for their church's future ministry plans. Praise God for Divine appointments.

Please Join Pastor Jacob and Kevin at WMPL's Annual Meeting  tomorrow, February 19th. Friends of the mission gather for fellowship, prayer and a dynamic report of activities around the world. If you're looking for uplifting and missional fellowship, please be our guest at 4:30 pm for worships, 6pm for dinner and 7pm for program. It all happens at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis, MN. There is no cost but reservations are preferred. For further information or to make reservations contact WMPL's front desk at 612-871-6843.

Live Conversations presented by CrossPollination Ministries - March 24, 10am-4pm at the University of MN in the Coffman Memorial Center Room 324.
CrossPolination is a mentoring ministry that helps train you to talk to others about Jesus. We use a simple Law/Gospel method in talking with people about God. Specifically, we inquire of one's knowledge of the 10 Commandments. We help them understand that no one can keep the 10 Commandments as God demands. When people come to this understanding and experience a personal conviction in breaking the Law; we share the saving Gospel of Jesus.
To register, or for more information, call Paul Vavrin at 763-670-5368 or visit www.cpmin.net .

Handbell Concert - Friday April 20 - Come and listen to the first annual Concordia University Handbell Ensemble Concert on April 20 at 7pm in the Graebner Memorial Chapel at Concordia University, St. Paul. It will be a night filled with the dazzling sight of over 60 gleaming bells rung by the ensemble, creating peaceful melodies and energetic rhythms. - a night you won't want to miss! Free will donation will be taken to help refurbish the bells. For more information, please contact Carolynne Mathis, Director at 763-755-3530 x 7812.