04/2/20 Tidings

To the Trinity faithful and beyond,

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we’ve been given this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also name our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

~Romans 5: 1-5

This passage comes to me often these days; at night when I cannot sleep; on walks with the dogs when I see new shoots of crocus and daffodil; when I hang up the phone from speaking with one of you; and, other times too numerous to name. This passage is a gift to me from the Holy Spirit who keeps it ever in my mind where it takes root in a new way.

You see, before our mutual quarantine, I recoiled from the word ‘suffering’ used here. I live such a peaceful life and, truly, even now I am not suffering in any physical sense. But the way the Spirit works on me is that She keeps speaking until I open my eyes and now, friends, I see. This section of Paul’s letter to the Romans is not singular, it’s not a first-person mantra, it’s not about the Apostle Paul or Pastor Amy. The passage is about us, the community.

This is our suffering and I identify with that. After all, we suffer for and with one another all the time. We ache for those separated from family and pray whole heartedly that this virus will end soon. We’re in awe of doctors, nurses, aides, janitors, security, everyone working at hospitals right now and wonder if we would have the same determination. We’re pasting hearts in our front windows so those walking by can feel the love and we hope they know we really mean it. We make phone calls, write cards, reach out in all the ways we can think of because we want to end the loneliness. We suffer with others in great need, our hearts break, the tears flow.

To help, we keep doing the one thing that produces results: we stay in quarantine and we wait. We wait. We wait for the virus to pass. We wait to see one another. We wait to celebrate communion. We wait pass the peace. We wait to lift our voices to God in song.

Our separation, our isolation from each other is challenging, especially as we approach Holy Week. We love worshiping together during the Great Three Days: the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday; the memorial service for Jesus that is Good Friday; the vigil of waiting on Saturday. Our separation from each other is an extended Easter Vigil in which we wait.

Our waiting brings endurance and although we don’t like the separation we wait anyway. We do so with hope because we know how this will end. After all, we’re Easter people. We observe Lent every year, but we celebrate Easter. We settle into this subdued rhythm of Lent that is 40 days without ‘Alleluia,’ taking on service projects, increasing our time in prayer, etc. We do this because we know how the story goes. We know Easter is coming. We know Jesus will rise. We know we’re saved by grace through faith.

Friends, Easter will come and Easter does not disappoint.

I’m so thankful the Spirit opened my heart to the truth of this passage, once again revealing to me the gift that is the living community of Christ which I have the privilege to serve.

With hope,

Pastor Amy

Easter Videos Wanted

Film yourself giving the traditional Easter greeting, “Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!” Then email it to cartermw@gmail.com. We’ll use these throughout the Easter season if we get enough.

Join Pastor Amy & her family in the Heart Project!

Homes everywhere are pasting hearts into their windows to show love for people out for walks. We’re going to do a heart project too! In the Waelchli House, we’re making a heart garland and adding one heart everyday until we meet again for worship. We’ll combine them at worship. Are you in?
You’ll Need: Paper (cardstock works best but anything will do), Scissors, Stapler or Tape

Step One: Cut two strips of paper equal in size.

Step 2: Staple two ends together.

Step Three: Separate the ends and bring them together in the other direction. Staple.

Step 4: A heart born!

Easter Scavenger Hunt – Quarantine 2020

Find items in your house and yard with special Easter connections!

After you locate these items (or as many as you can find), have someone take a photo of you with your filled basket and email it to officetlc314@gmail.com
You’ll get a prize when we come back to church!

1. Find an Easter basket or any kind of bag for hunting.
2. Go outside, find and collect:

• A sign of new life (a bloom or a bud or a sprout), which reminds of us of Christ’s resurrection!
• A branch of an “evergreen” – a shrub or tree that stays green all year long. God’s love for us never falls away!
• A rock or pebble. This reminds us of the stone that was rolled away on Easter morning!
• A twig. Jesus came back to life after dying on a cross made of wood.

3. Now go back inside to find, collect, or do these things:

• A white napkin, or paper towel. The cloth that had wrapped the body of Jesus was found in the open tomb.
• A pencil and a small piece of paper. Thank goodness Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote down this amazing true story for us!
• Three of the same kind of thing. Jesus came back to life after three days!
• A container of spice from your kitchen cabinet. The women discovered Jesus had risen when they were bringing spices to his tomb.
• With the paper and pencil already in your basket, write the word “peace”. When Jesus appeared to his disciples in the evening of the day he rose, the first thing he told them was “Peace be with you.”
• Find something that’s empty. The rock of the tomb had been rolled away – and Jesus was not there. Shout, “Christ has Risen”

Trinity Lutheran church
Fort Atkinson

Holy Week online worship

4/5 Palm Sunday (8:00 a.m.)

4/9 Maundy Thursday (6:30 p.m.)

4/10 good Friday (noon)

Find our streaming information at trinityfort.org

Online giving

Give your offerings online by going to

https://tithe.ly/give?c=1288914

or you can text the word give to 855-982-2124

If you would like help or have questions. Please contact Beatrice as she is working remotely at officetlc314@gmail.com or 630-461-5995.

Thank you!!

Sunday school/Christian Education

How-to pick-up Portals of Prayer and The Word In Season devotionals on Monday, April 6.
Trinity members have been seeking a way to pick up their favorite devotionals. On Monday, April 6, a table will be set up just inside the east side (Adams St.) doors. Current copies of Portals of Prayer and The Word In Season will be stacked on the table. The east side doors will be unlocked from 10:30-1:30. There will be hand sanitizer set up just outside the doors. Please use the sanitizer before touching the door handle. Use social distancing guidelines while picking up your devotional. Please do not go further into the church unless you have made prior arrangements with one of the church staff.

Thank you!

Julie Vurva

920-563-4145 ex.4; feel free to leave me a message. Trinity staff members are set up to check messages remotely.

Prayer Force

All prayers requests should be emailed to prayerforcetlc@gmail.com
All prayers will be prayed for faithfully and confidentially
(unless requested otherwise).

TRINITY
Youth, Families and Ministry Team News
the week of April 2nd, 2020

Ministry Teams—
We are keeping in touch with folks through phone calls. We have started to establish a network of people checking in and giving us new names to check on. Melissa Gibbs works at 3 Pillars nursing home in Dousman and would like anyone able to send cards to her nursing home or any home. Residents are not able to see their families and any bit of sunshine helps. It’s not like we have anything else to do! Ha!

Families—I am still looking for kids to send cards to some of our elderly folks. If you haven’t signed up yet, please contact Kitty.

WOW had our first video chat. It was really good to see everyones faces and talk about their experiences as we go along.

LIFT and Church Chicks will be having virtual meetings this week too.

Daily Trinity Trivia is posted on Facebook each day. See if you can answer our Trinity Trivia questions!

Update from Karen Albrecht, “The butterfly lady,” for members who attended the All Ages Sunday School milkweed planting session.

Greetings on this most unusual Sunday! I would like to spread a Ray of Light on January’s huge milkweed planting project! Watch for sunny spots to appear this coming week as breaks in the weather are forecast. No April Fools! Get ready to pop open those milk jug greenhouse planters that have been protecting and hardening our harvested milkweed seeds. April is our month to introduce them to the sun and the new growing season. Be
patient. Sprouts usually pop up at the end of May or when the migrating monarchs begin to appear in early June. Remember, they will be tiny during their first year. However, the female may lay eggs on more than one tender leaf! While our spirits are full of such promise, add a prayer or two or more. I thank God in His son’s Holy name for this most unusual way to
connect with you as Stewards of The Earth as we have been called to honor and care for His creation. Let us spread the JOY
of Jesus!

With love, thanks and prayers,

Karen Albrecht – The Butterfly Lady

TRUDY’S ROOM

OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
LEAVE MESSAGE ON TRUDY’S ROOM
FACEBOOK PAGE –- WE WILL RESPOND

APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE DURING
NORMAL HOURS (TUE: 1-3, WED: 5-7, FRI: 10-12)
Thank you & Stay Safe

Holy Week Daily Mat and Activities

1. Get a cereal box or other piece of cardboard from your recycling bin.
2. Trace around the bottom of votive cup or small glass onto the cardboard and cut out the circle to create a template.
3. Using the template, trace the circle onto felt, paper or other craft materials:
One in your happiest color for Palm Sunday
Three in a celebratory color for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday
One in a color that reminds you of water for Wednesday
One in a color that reminds you of your favorite meal on Maundy Thursday
Two in the saddest color (or traditional black) for Friday and Saturday
4. Cut out a cross from your cardboard box or other craft material.
5. Make a representation of Jesus as a votive candle (light of Christ)
6. Assemble your Holy Week Table mat.
a) Use a paper, full sheet of felt or other material for the base
b) Place the cross in the center of the mat base
c) Place the circles around the cross in the order listed in #3.
d) Place your Jesus candle near the mat.
7. Use the mat each day in Holy Week starting on Palm Sunday, using the story sheet if desired.

Holy Week Story Sheet at home

Start each session with each family member sharing highs and lows of the day.
End each session by making the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead or hand, saying, “You are a beloved Child of God.” Also end by saying the Lord’s Prayer together.

Palm Sunday – Place Jesus on the happiest-colored circle

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Activity: Put a branch from your yard on your front porch to show you are part of the “parade”

Take a long piece of paper, pretend it is a palm and make a cross out of it using the instructions below

Talk: What is one of your favorite parades you have been to? How have you paraded love around this past week?

Monday- Place Jesus on the first celebratory-colored circle

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 At the Home of Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Activity: Drive around to find Easter eggs in the community according to the list sent yesterday on Constant Contact. Eggs represent new life and can remind us of new life given to us at baptism. Say a prayer of thanks for the people in the house. Write down the words you find on the eggs and see if you recognize how they fit together.

Talk: Tell of a time when you were included in something important and of a memorable baptism.

Tuesday- Place Jesus on the second celebratory-colored circle

Scripture: John 12:1-8 Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

Activity: Wear some scented lotion or perfume today and remember you are a anointed child of God because of the oil placed on your head at baptism while the pastor shared: Child of God, you have been sealed by the holy spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.
Look at the sheet below. Just as faith is not always easy to have, neither is it always easy to figure out what these images are. See if you can figure out what item in the church is represented by each picture.

Talk: Tell of a time when you felt special and of a time when you something turned out better than expected.

Wednesday – Place Jesus on the third celebratory-colored circle

Scripture: John 13:1-20 Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[d] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Activity: Share how many times water has been washed over you today. Count the number of places water comes out of a faucet in your house.

Wash each other’s feet.

Talk: What does it mean to be forgiven? What does it mean to wash one another clean? When is a time you felt cleaner than clean?

Thursday- Place Jesus on the favorite meal-colored circle

Scripture: Mark 14:22-25 The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them,

“This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Activity: Set the fanciest table you ever have, use a table cloth if you have it, china if you have it. Set a place for those who are no longer with you. As a household create a meal of comfort and joy. Enjoy your meal by breaking bread and remember Jesus, enjoy your favorite drink and remember Jesus. The earliest worship services were with bread, wine and a potluck around someone’s kitchen table. Post a picture of your meal.

Talk: about Jesus’ mandate (hence Maundy Thursday) to love one another as Christ loves us. When have you felt loved? How does sharing a meal together convey love? How does this meal represent forgiveness, being part of a family and joining with the saints that have gone before us?

Friday – Place Jesus on the first saddest-colored circle (or traditional black)

Scripture: Mark 15:21-39 edited The Crucifixion of Jesus

21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 Then they brought Jesus[a] to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land[e] until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[f] 37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he[g] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”[h]

Activity: Pound nails into a piece of wood and talk about ways we hurt others even when we don’t mean to.

Talk: What makes you feel sad? What helps you when you feel sad?

Saturday -Place Jesus on the second saddest-colored circle

Scripture: John 19:38-42 The Burial of Jesus

38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Activity: Go find as many rocks as you can and decorate one of them with an image of hope to put on your front porch to represent burying Jesus in a new tomb.

Talk: When is a time you have had to wait for something to happen and didn’t know if it would be good or bad? What gives you hope?

Easter Sunday – Take Jesus off the mat and put him in the center of the
table as you light the candle

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection of Jesus

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Activity: Make resurrection rolls. Buy enough crescent rolls for 2 per person. Buy the large marshmallows and have melted butter or oil and cinnamon and sugar. Take “Jesus” as the marshmallow and roll him in oil and spices (how they prepared a body for burial in ancient times). Then wrap “Jesus” in the tomb of a crescent roll. Line a baking sheet with foil (I’ve learned the hard way). Put your “Jesus tombs” on the baking sheet and bake as directed. When they come out of the oven, let them cool and eat. You will notice that the marshmallow melts away and you have a delicious “empty tomb.”

Talk: What does it mean for us that Jesus was raised from the dead? Where do you see life around us?

Thank you to Pastor Holly Slater of St Paul’s Liberty, ELCA in Deerfield for the above document.

PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR…..Judy Almquist, Marsha Anderson, Sandy Anderson, Nick Bee, Doris Carmichael, Linda Doerr, Kim Hannan, Renee Jensen, Ben Jung, Ron Kemmerling, Bob Kyle, Phyllis Lang, Dan Morrow, Pam Nicholas, Debbie Pierce, Tom Pomraning, Larry Schumacher, Denny Stark,
Shelley Scheurm, Ruth Smithback, Karen Weber, Donna Weeks, Donald Zuehlke and those we name silently in our hearts.