5/21/20 Tidings

Dear Trinity,

I came across this Blessing for Empathy, written by Meta Herrick Carlson. It speaks such an important word right now when people are fighting over lives and livelihoods as if only one can matter. Thankfully, as Lutherans, we’re accustomed to holding two important values together, seeing the relationship between them, and lifting it all to God. For example, I can and do want both the wellbeing of people and the economy to be healthy. Since we were created by God to be creative, I’m confident this is possible so long as we can hold both values together.

Let us pray the blessing for empathy, that we may understand the feelings of another, and may empathy start in our own hearts, minds, and words and spread to others!

For Empathy
The world is not lacking
opinions simplified by hindsight,
advice for the weary,
subscriptions to the standardized.

But we are starving
for love that resists these defenses,
that can stand in the midst of suffering
without getting to awkward
or filling the silence with trite proverbs,
wanting to earn its place by fixing
what doesn’t need fixing at all.

If only the instinct was to abide
before we explain and decide!

Listen for the Spirit
who guides us into showing up,
who shows us how to feel on behalf of another,
who urges our quiet bodies alongside
the ones who are not broken but lonely,
the ones God loves already and always.

Join us for worship this Sunday when 14 youth and adults lead us in worship!

Consider this

Perhaps you all have been getting more requests for charitable donations lately. We sure have. One you may want to consider is for UPAVIM, the Guatemalan women’s co-op we help every year via its scholarship program.

Everything but pharmacies and food stores are closed in Guatemala. The women can’t go to work at the co-op, and are worried about feeding their families. The UPAVIM Community Development Foundation that oversees operations voted to pay the women for April, but hasn’t enough funds to help them this month. If you want to help, you can mail checks to Trinity with the notation they’re for UPAVIM, or send one directly to UCDF, c/o Janessa Landeck, 1700 Sheely Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80526. You can donate online at: http://upavim.org/support.

Prayers for the Upavimas and their families are also appreciated. And don’t forget to collect your quarters in a jar as you praise God for your blessings. The Quarters Can Make a Difference container will be out as soon as we can gather for worship again.

Thanks for you consideration and prayers.

Kay Falk

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PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR…..Judy Almquist, Marsha Anderson, Sandy Anderson, Nick Bee, Linda Doerr, Kim Hannan, Renee Jensen, Ron Kemmerling, Bob Kyle, Phyllis Lang, Steffani Liebel, Rick Liebel, Dan Morrow, Pam Nicholas, Debbie Pierce, Tom Pomraning, Violet Prust, Tim Sawyer, Denny Stark, Shelley Scheurm, Ruth Smithback, Karen Weber, Donna Weeks, Aryzone Zick, Donald Zuehlke and those we name silently in our hearts.

Please join us in celebrating our 2020 Seniors here at Trinity. Please contact Beatrice at officetlc314@gmail.com to provide students addresses so you can send them notes or cards of Congratulations.

Fort Atkinson High School Seniors

Seeger Bos
Seeger plans to join the workforce after high school and pursue his love of farming.

Lexi Dudzek
Lexi will be attending UW-Madison majoring in Biology on a Pre-Med track.

Timothy Hoffman
Timothy plans on attending UW Whitewater majoring in Media Arts and Gaming with a minor in Leadeship. He will doing this through the ROTC program at UW Whitewater and the WI Army National Guard.

Jenna Lovejoy
Jenna will be attending UW-LaCrosse majoring in Health and Physical Education.
Jenna will also be running cross country and track for them next year.

Nolan Volquardsen
Nolan will continue working as an auto mechanic after he graduates.

Maddi Besch
Maddi will be attending UW-Platteville for mechanical engineering.

Jordan. Strese
Jordan is working and plans to continue working until he decides what he wants to study. This will be a gap year.

Brooke Hartwig
Brooke is attending UW-Madison with a major in Neurobiology.

Cody Zahn
Cody will attend Cornell college in Mount Vernon Iowa. Cody will be studying computers and computer engineering. Cody also gained a spot on their baseball roster as a catcher.

Seth Draeger
Seth will be attending Western Technical College in LaCrosse for business. He also is a member of their Cavaliers Baseball team.

Jefferson High School Seniors

Jordan Wiesen
Jordan plans to attend Wisconsin Lutheran in the fall to study biology and run track.

Patrick Veenhius
Patrick is not sure of his plans. Patrick wants to try working first for a trade opportunity.