05/13/21 Tidings

A Message from Pastor Amy

We’ve removed the ribbons in the sanctuary. This decision is based on the changed CDC guidelines of 3-feet of social distance and our increased worship attendance. Traditionally, our worship attendance is lower in the summer, so our plan is to stay at one service (9 a.m.) on Sundays and Thursdays (6:30 p.m.) until the fall. Of course, all this is subject to change. But we’re used to change by now. In fact, you deserve a merit badge for ‘Going With the Flow.’

We will continue to use masks at worship because we’re indoors and singing. Singing remains a risky activity due to how much we propel our breath when singing. But wearing masks helps us be safe while singing. I anticipate this will change by the fall, too. We’ll keep paying attention to the active cases (Jefferson HS seems to have quite a few per the paper) and recommendations to make our decisions.

The availability of vaccines impacts our mask use, too. I understand not everyone is ready to get vaccinated. When you are ready, I encourage you to do so. For young people, the vaccine is not yet available so they (and their parents) haven’t had the chance to make a decision regarding it. Children may not, in general, get as sick as adults, however, they can still transmit the virus which affects those who’ve decided not to vaccinate and those who have health conditions that don’t allow them to do so. As the age eligibility changes, thank you for continuing to honor the mask requirement here. We’re excited that our youngest can get vaccinated finally! (Anderson is 15 ½.) It is a sigh of relief for him and us.

This summer we’ll have four worship services in Barrie Park and for those four services masks will be optional. Outdoors is a good place to be! We’ll have fellowship following these outdoor services so please plan to stick around for coffee and a visit. Mark you calendars! (6/6, 7/11, 8/8, 9/12) Invite a friend! Bring your chairs or a blanket! I want to see your smiling (FULL) faces!

With thanks,

Pastor Amy

LWR Projects

As a congregation we will be collecting bars of soap for Lutheran World Relief the month of May and June. The bars of soap may be dropped off at drive-thru communion or at the church office. There will be a basket that will be provided for the soap.

We will also be collecting School Kits and Personal Care Kits to send to LWR, too. Our deadline for these projects will be Sept. 12 as these boxed kits need to be in Madison on Sept. 18.

There will be a list of needed items for the School Kits and Personal Care Kits in the Tidings as well as available at the church office and drive-thru communion.

Personal Care Kits

One lightweight bath-size towel (20×40 or 52×27) dark colors
Two bath-size bars of soap equaling 8-9oz in original wrapping
One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging
One sturdy comb, remove packaging
One metal nail clippers, remove packaging

School Kits

Four 70-sheet notebooks of wide or college ruled paper
One 30-cm ruler on one side with inches on the other
One pencil sharpener
One pair of blunt scissors
Five unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers secure with a rubber band
One box of 16 or 24 crayons
One 2 1/2 inch eraser

Hiking/Fellowship Event

Meet and park at Homestead Parking Lot by 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 15 at Lapham Peak State Park. We’ll hike 3-4 miles from the Homestead Lot trailheads. As usual, bring water, snacks, hat, sunglasses, bug spray, etc. Hope to see you there! Any questions, please contact Aurelio at 262-490-4923.

Away from Office

Pastor Amy will be away from the office the week of May 17 – May 23 for continuing education. During this time, Pastor Dan Dibbert will be leading worship for both the Thursday and Sunday services.

Ruth Circle

It has been a year of challenges and changes, trying to find our way back to gathering as people of faith. Ruth Circle would like to invite anyone who would be interested in joining us for Bible Study starting on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. in the Hearth Room.

We will follow the guidelines set by the CDC and Trinity Church. We will also make available the study guide for our Bible Study.

We look forward to gathering again to study and being together.

Hope that you would consider joining us in September. Any questions you may contact Stephanie Beran at sfberan@charter.net or her cell phone 920-723-4867.

It’s back!

The Quarters Can Make a Difference container has returned to grace the Trinity Lutheran decor! It will be out for worship on Thursdays and Sundays, and available to receive donations at drive-thru communion as well.

Your quarters are so important this year. The pandemic has hit Guatemala hard, shutting things down and keeping people from working. Of course, this has impacted the poor people most. As things reopen, scholarships to the UPAVIM K-8 school are more vital than ever. Please donate your loose change or a few extra dollars to the jar every time you visit Trinity.

Thank you for caring.

All Welcome to Serve

As Trinity cautiously moves toward resuming more normal operations, we are in need of volunteers willing to serve as ushers on Thursdays and Sundays for in-person services. The congregation will continue to wear masks at all services. If you are interested in serving, please contact the office.

Worship Update

We have resumed singing in church! All attendees should continue to wear MASKS. Bring your voices and enjoy the beauty of voices joined together praising the Lord.

Hospital Visits

Please call Pastor Amy if you or a loved one is in the hospital. Pastor Amy is sometimes allowed to make hospital visits to members depending on the condition of the member and status of the hospital. You can call the church at (920) 563-4145.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed

June is Trinity Lutheran’s volunteer month for the community Meals on Wheels food program. We still have one spot open for June 28-July 2. If interested, simply reach out to Toni Hrobsky at (920) 728-2383, or contact the church office, to get on the schedule.

Service involves a commitment of approximately an hour a day, for one-week. It works well to have two people work together (one drives, one delivers). Meals are picked up at Fort HealthCare, a map/directions are provided, meals are dropped at individual’s homes between 10:45 a.m. – noon time frame.

This is a great short-term opportunity to help others. Pair up and share this experience with someone you love, doing something that will surely warm your heart.

Recording Vocalists Wanted

Share your talent with Trinity’s congregation! We’re seeking additional vocalists to join the faithful group of vocalists that currently enrich Trinity’s services.

A recording vocalist would perform live at the Thursday evening worship service (6:30 pm) along with the musician. This performance will be recorded and become part of the Sunday on-line worship service.

Interested? Contact the office as to your availability.

Trinity Supports BASE

For part of this school year, Trinity was home to the after-school program BASE. Below is the press release written about Trinity’s support:

“Trinity Lutheran Church is supporting BASE and the kids they serve when they need it most. Amidst a global pandemic, Trinity Lutheran Church opened up their doors back in September to BASE so the organization could run critical virtual learning support programs through December. The all day virtual learning support program helped kids with their online schooling and provided enrichment activities in the afternoon. In addition to providing much needed space for operations, they also recently donated $5,000 to BASE to continue their operations after school and into the summer. “At Trinity, we love our community and want to support the good work BASE does for kids and families,” said Reverend Amy Waelchli.

“We cannot thank Trinity Lutheran Church enough. When we thought we would have to close our programs, they graciously allowed us to utilize their space so we could provide virtual learning support to kids who really needed it. Their additional donation allows us to continue all of our work into our after school & summer programs,” said Alicia Norris, BASE Executive Director.

BASE is accepting new membership applications for after school and summer programs for kids who are 7 years old and attend one of the Fort Atkinson School District’s elementary schools. The organization operates after school from 3-6 p.m. in the four public elementary schools and offers a full day, 10-week summer program. BASE is also open on early release days and select no school days.

BASE relies on donations from the community to keep the program accessible to all youth. For more information about BASE or to donate, visit www.basefortatkinson.org, follow BASE on Facebook and Instagram.”

Prayers Requested For . . .

Sandy Anderson, Terry Badura, Bobby Bauer, Wayne Behselich, Don Clark, Shirley Ebert, Roscoe Harrison, Alice Jacobson, Sara Jones, Bob Kyle, Phyllis Lange, Alan Lindberg, Barb Manwaring, Dan Morrow, Debbie Pierce, Violet Prust, Chris Rattray, JR Rinden, Harold Rumppe, Ruth Smithback, Olaf Stokstad, Mike Wendt, Kathryn Woods, Kay Woods, Keith Woods, Donald Zuehlke.

Do you have a prayer concern? Email the prayer force at prayerforcetlc@gmail.com. People will gladly pray for you or your loved one with their whole hearts!