Our HTLS 7-8 graders enjoyed the “Beat the Tide” hike at the coast in September: The Lutheran Women's Mission Society (LWMS) Evergreen Circuit had its fall rally on September 26. We enjoyed chatting over breakfast with LWMS President Karen Fischer, who flew out from Wisconsin to speak to attendees. Thank you to the women who spent their morn- ing representing our church, because we got to take home the attendance banner! LWMS supports 58 projects in 27 different countries. Please keep the work of the missionaries in your prayers. If you would like more information about the missionaries, Holy Trinity and the LWMS Ev- ergreen Circuit sponsors, please contact Chrislyn Johnson at 253-381-1444 or email [email protected]. LWMS news: Volleyball girls play tough, and take 4th Place at the Peace Tourney HTLS Cross Country runners lead the way CROSSTALK November HIGHLIGHTS Thursdays at 7:00 pm Open volleyball in the gym! November 1 4:00 pm Reformaon Service @ ELHS November 12 6:30 pm Paint & Palate November 14 8:00 am Men’s Breakfast Bible Study 9:30 am GRACE Circle Meeng November 21 ELHS Aucon—Black & White Gala November 22 9:00 am Main Dish Bake Sale November 2015 - Volume 21 No. 10 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church & School Sunday, Oct. 4—HTLC Planning Day On Sunday, Oct. 4, a special schedule was held as a Planning Day hosted by our church’s Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC). After one joint worship service at 10 am, short presentations were given in the sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall where our boards and committees revealed their goals for the year. Goals are based on our church new Vision Statement: “Building Up the Family of Believers: In our homes, in our church, in our community.” A three-week sermon series in October highlighted the three parts of the Vision Statement, encouraging all of our members to support and carry out our vision together. May God bless our church and school as we build up the family of believers!. Thanksgiving Worship Once again, Thanksgiving worship services will be offered on Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm and Thanksgiving morning at 9:00 am. The same service will be held at those times. Come to God’s INSIDE: From the Pastor’s Desk (p. 2) A former Mormon finds peace (p. 3) Pictures around HTLC (p. 12) Holy Trinity’s flag football team enjoyed an undefeated season this year. Also, congratulations to our participants in volleyball, cross country, and soccer! Turn Back Your
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Our HTLS 7-8 graders enjoyed the “Beat the Tide”
hike at the coast in September:
The Lutheran Women's Mission Society (LWMS) Evergreen Circuit had its fall rally on September 26. We enjoyed chatting over breakfast with
LWMS President Karen Fischer, who flew out from Wisconsin to speak to attendees. Thank you to the women who spent their morn-
ing representing our church, because we got to take home the attendance banner! LWMS supports 58 projects in 27 different countries. Please
keep the work of the missionaries in your prayers. If you would like more information about the missionaries, Holy Trinity and the LWMS Ev-
ergreen Circuit sponsors, please contact Chrislyn Johnson at 253-381-1444 or email [email protected].
LWMS news:
Volleyball
girls play
tough, and
take 4th Place
at the Peace
Tourney
HTLS Cross Country
runners lead the way
CROSSTALK November
HIGHLIGHTS
Thursdays at 7:00 pm
Open volleyball in the gym!
November 1
4:00 pm Reformation Service @ ELHS
November 12
6:30 pm Paint & Palate
November 14
8:00 am Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
9:30 am GRACE Circle Meeting
November 21
ELHS Auction—Black & White Gala
November 22
9:00 am Main Dish Bake Sale
November 2015 - Volume 21 No. 10
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church & School
Sunday, Oct. 4—HTLC Planning Day
On Sunday, Oct. 4, a special schedule was held as a Planning Day
hosted by our church’s Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC).
After one joint worship service at 10 am, short presentations were
given in the sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall where our boards and
committees revealed their goals for the year.
Goals are based on our church new Vision Statement: “Building Up
the Family of Believers: In our homes, in our church, in our
community.”
A three-week sermon series in October highlighted the three parts
of the Vision Statement, encouraging all of our members to support
and carry out our vision together.
May God bless our church and school as we build up the family of
believers!.
Thanksgiving Worship
Once again, Thanksgiving worship services will be offered on
Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm and Thanksgiving morning at 9:00
am. The same service will be held at those times. Come to God’s
INSIDE:
From the Pastor’s Desk (p. 2)
A former Mormon finds peace (p.
3)
Pictures around HTLC (p. 12)
Holy Trinity’s flag football team enjoyed an undefeated season this year.
Also, congratulations to our participants in volleyball, cross country, and
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 2021 S. 260th Street Des Moines, WA 98198
Pastor Mark H. Schewe 253-486-3531 (cell) Pastor Thomas M. Voss 253-740-7540 (cell) Principal Jason W. Kelley 253-839-6516 (school) Secretaries: Kari Thom & Connie Fisher 253-839-0731 (church) e-mail: [email protected] www.htlc-wa.org www.htls-wa.org CrossTalk is published monthly by the members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Please send all address corrections, inquiries and material for publication to: [email protected]
Material submitted for publication may be edited for content and clarity and may be printed as space permits. Deadline for publication is the Monday following the general board meetings unless otherwise posted in the church calendar.
Dear partners at Holy Trinity,
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Pastor Voss
Books of the Month
Devotional Thoughts
On My Son My Savior
By Pamela Holz
Learn from Mary’s humility and
faith and renew your trust in your
Savior through these seven
inspiring devotions.
28 pages, paperback, LU0600750
Available from NPH for $2.99. ***
The Mom God Chose Mothering Like Mary
By Sarah Habben
Discover Mary’s unique point of view on motherhood and learn
timeless truths to apply as a parent yourself.
168 pages, paperback, LU1201795
Available from NPH for $13.99
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2016 Save-the-Date!
April 15-17, 2016
Please let Kari Thom or Anna Barton know
if you would like to assist with planning or
help in any way with this fun event.
omen’s etreat
Ladies ~ Save-the-Date!
Saturday, December 5 7:00 pm
A special night for ladies to focus
on preparing for Christmas.
Ladies, plan to join us in the Fellowship Hall for candlelight, music, meditation on the reason for
the season and appetizers & dessert!
Would you like to “Host” a table by decorating and inviting friends, family and non-church members?
Been thinking about hosting a table this year? Would you like to attend?
Come, share a great evening of fellowship with the ladies!
Would you like to help with the event in any way?
If you can help, please contact Vicki Schewe 253-486-3530.
by Candlelight
“A Mother Remembers”
“Main Dish” Bake Sale
Our Main Dish Bake Sale is back! Again, it could be the answer to a crazy holiday schedule—pick up a meal pre-made for you!
We are looking for bakers and buyers!
Bakers: if you could “register” your dish on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board, then we would know what and how many dishes to anticipate! Your Main Dish can be (refrigerated or frozen) pre-baked or unbaked with heating/baking instructions.
Name of Dish: Heating/Baking Instructions: Serves _______ We will have some tags ready for you to use and attach to your dish.
Please deliver your items to the church prior to the Bake Sale if possible, and don’t forget to label them! If you have any questions, please contact Kari Thom or Anna Barton.
Christmas for Kids Save-the-Date & Volunteers Needed! We are hosting our 2nd Annual Christmas for Kids Event on Saturday, December 12 from 9:00-Noon! Bring your children or grandchildren and invite your neighborhood kids (ages 3-10) to an event filled with crafts, songs, food and a live nativity to hear "Angelic Announcements" about the birth of our Savior! This is an outreach event and an opportunity to share the real meaning of Christmas with our community so spread the word! Volunteer sign-up sheets and in-vites for you to pass out will be available in the church lobby. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact: Chrislyn Johnson 253-381-1444 [email protected]
PAINTING PARTY You’re invited to a
Mother-Daughter Painting Party
All women and girls, age 8 and above, are welcome to
join at noon on Sunday, November 22,
in the HTLC Fellowship Hall.
We will enjoy lunch and then create beautiful works of art
with an instructor lead class.
Please bring $5 per person to defray
the cost of supplies.
We hope to see you all there!
Please RSVP by Sunday, November 15… we want to be sure to have enough supplies…
Please bring $5 to cover materials. Feel free to bring an appetizer or
dessert. Bubbly beverages will be provided.
Spaces are limited, see the sign up on the Secret Sisters table for more details and a
sample of our project. You can also sign up online using the link in our weekly email.
Paint & Palate
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Devotional thought for the month… At the Pentecostal church, members were expected to be in church and Sunday school for approximately three and a half hours on Sunday and then back again in the evening for another two hours. Members were also expected to say yes when asked to serve. During this time I began leading adult Sunday school classes in addition to becoming involved in a well-known evangelistic men’s organization. Over the years I spoke in numerous Protestant churches on behalf of this or-ganization.
After a major job loss in the mid-seventies, I left the church entirely for a short period of time. In 1980 I be-gan attending a small Wesleyan church that I eventual-ly joined. I was active in that church as a board mem-ber, lay preacher, and Sunday school teacher.
From the mid-eighties to the mid-nineties I relocated five times due to job transfers. Each time I would be-come involved in a local church, and I made many friends along the way as a result. I also continued in both of my roles as a speaker and a Sunday school teacher.
A TIME OF DISCOVERY
It was about this time that I began to feel frustrated with many of the churches that I attended. The beauty of Christian worship somehow changed, and, from my
point of view, church for many was simply another place to have a good time and to be with nice people. I particularly recall a ser-vice that I attended one morning where the pastor stated: “We don’t have to be formal here.” This led to the entire congregation marching around the church bunny-hop style in a simulation of Joshua marching around Jericho. On other occasions at other churches, I had to wonder if indeed I was in a church or if I was listening to a late-night
talk show host. Humor has its place in our lives, how-ever, when I am in church, I want to see Christ and Christ alone.
Due to this ongoing frustration, I quit attending church. My heart was still tender towards the Word of God, and I knew that somewhere there must be a place where I could find meaningful Christian fellowship and worship. As a result of this frustration, I sought profes-sional counseling. I felt drawn to the beauty of the Lu-theran church but knew very little about the Lutheran world. I shared these feelings with a counselor, who was a member and a leader in a large evangelical church. I was surprised by the advice that he offered. He stated, “You need to be a Lutheran. You are a per-son who wants to go to church, yet for you attending
I was raised, baptized, and confirmed in the Evangelical Covenant Church. My parents made sure that church and Sunday school attendance were a part of my life growing up. At the age of 15, I began listening regularly to two well-known evangelists. I also began reading the Bible on a regular basis and came to understand the God of the Bi-ble. I was searching for answers and wanted to know more.
A TIME OF SEARCHING
About this time two Mormon missionaries paid a visit to our home. They appeared to have the answers that I was seeking, and this meeting with the Mormons had a pro-found effect on my life for many years to come. Of course, they wanted to add the Book of Mormon to my reading.
At the age of 20, I left the Covenant church and began attending a Pentecostal church. This church, like the Mormon church, appeared to have the answers: answers about heaven, answers about hell, and answers about eternal life. Like the Mormons, this church said that the Bible was okay, except it claimed to have something extra to offer.
So disregarding the book of Revelation’s warning not to add onto what is written, I joined this church against the will of my par-ents and was re-baptized by immersion. The church was against infant baptism, and I was told that being baptized was necessary. The church claimed it was a public proclamation of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. Baptism in the Holy Spirit, demon-strated by speaking in tongues, was heavily emphasized, along with tithing and regular church attendance. A typi-cal service would have the potential of up to three persons uttering in tongues along with an accompanying interpre-tation, usually by the pastor. I was never entirely comfort-able with this practice. I would always wonder if the voic-es that I was hearing were indeed from God. A 20-minute altar call, at which time new believers were invited to re-ceive Christ and where more mature believers were chal-lenged regarding their relationship with God, followed each service. Was I doing enough? Was God displeased with my life? Was he angry with me? This works-based theology resulted in constant insecurity in my Christian walk.
After years of searching, a
man discovers the beauty of salvation by grace alone.
Holy Trinity Lutheran School Jason Kelley, Principal, 253-839-6516
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GRACE Circle Kari Thom, President, 253-569-5753
Ladies, our next GRACE Circle meeting is Saturday, Nov. 14 at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Please plan to come and you can bring a brunch item if you would like.
We have some exciting events lined up - come, get involved—whether planning, attending or both—and have fun with your sisters (and brothers)!
Here are some upcoming events:
Main Dish Bake Sale - November 22 9:00-10:30 am
A Note from the President Eric Rodmyre, HTLC President, 253-859-4366
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Ben & Shannon Johnson 11/3 Mark & Rebecca Rodmyre 11/11 Thomas & Delia Hicks 11/18 Nate & Anna Holter 11/24 Jack & Caty Parker 11/26
Let the church office know if we do not have you listed for a November anniversary, as it may not be in our database.
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
Holy Trinity Adult Choir and our brass members started the
choir season strong on October 4 with “Let Us Joyfully Praise
Our God” and led the congregation in the communion hymn
“Draw Near.”
Reformation will be celebrated on November 1. The Adult
Choir will sing “The Journey of Faith,” with brass, in the
regular morning Sunday services at Holy Trinity and at the
afternoon Reformation Service at 4:00 pm held at Evergreen
Lutheran High School in Tacoma. We will also join in with the
Mass Choir on “One Faith, One Hope, One Lord” and the brass
will also participate. Please come and celebrate Reformation
with members of area WELS and ELS congregations.
By Scripture Alone, By Faith Alone, By Grace Alone
The choir will begin working on music for Thanksgiving,
Advent and Christmas. If you are interested in singing with the
choir during the holidays, please come to choir. We rehearse
every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. For further information
or to let us know of your interest, please contact:
Coffee Fellowship Volunteer We need a lead volunteer to cover the month of November for future Coffee Fellowships. This en-tails calling a list of women (provided) to seek goodies from them to bring, setting up for and cleaning up after the coffee hour with other volun-teers. Further information, contact Kendalyn Voss at 253-740-8331.
Meditations - Thank You Thank you for donating your old Meditations. We were able to send off 71 of them in October to benefit the WELS Prison Ministry!
Do you have an extra bed? We have some members looking for 2-3 beds of any size. If you can help, please call the church office.
Upcoming Events 11/01 Reformation Service 11/09 WLC Recruiter on Campus 11/10 Veteran’s Breakfast & Service 11/11 No School - Veteran’s Day 11/13-15 WELS Choral Festival 11/16 Winter Sports’ Practices Begin 11/21 Black & White Gala Auction Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to keep current on events, scores and more. Email your name, address and phone number with your request to “Weekly Update” at: [email protected].
Evergreen Auction The Auction is coming up on Nov. 21 at Evergreen Lutheran High School. We are in need of volunteers to help set up tables and items the night before (20th) and donations for this event. Please see the lobby display for information and auction slips for your donated items. If you have questions or are submitting slips, Cindy Smith is our congregational contact! She can be reached at 253-569-1692.
Magical Night of Giving The ELHS junior class is selling tickets to the Magical Night of Giving at the Outlet Collection in Auburn (formerly Supermall), on Sunday, Nov. 8. Tickets are $5.00 and allow entry to an evening of special sales, entertainment, and door prizes. All proceeds go to the ELHS junior class. You may purchase tick-ets from Caleb Brown, Caleb Eliason, or Eli Weimer. Thanks for your support!
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Advent by Candlelight - December 5 7:00 pm Wine & Cheese Mingle - January xxxxxxxxxxx Women’s Retreat 2016 - April 15-17
If you would like to get involved in any way, but can’t make the meeting, please contact me; I would love to hear from you!
Redesigned Website Check out www.htlc-wa.org to see our redesigned web-site. For prospects checking us out for the first time or members looking for info and resources, the website has been given a fresh look and will be updated often. Check it out, let us know if you have any suggestions, and visit often.
Area Reformation Service - Nov. 1 at ELHS
The annual Puget Sound Area Refor-mation Service will take place on Sun-day, Nov. 1 at 4:00 pm in the ELHS gym-nasium. All are invited to this Refor-mation celebration! Area choirs will once again beautify this service with
their musical selections.
Join Us for Coffee Hour We will have Coffee Hour between services at 9:00 am on Sunday, Nov. 8. Please join us for coffee, goodies and conversation!
Advent Meals Would you like to provide an Advent meal? Can you help with an Advent meal? We are looking ahead to get plans underway for our upcoming Advent meals. The first meal will be Dec. 2. Grab a friend and volunteer! Please con-tact the church office if you can help.
Please remember in your prayers our military, our
government officials, and anyone you know who may be
ill or un-churched, or unemployed.
Brothers and sisters in Christ who need your prayers:
Pastor Schewe and Family, who consider a call to
serve in Clovis, CA
Aaron, Laine & Aimee Wrinkle, as they move to
and get settled in Texas
Amelia Park, whose mother’s health is failing
Judi Woods, who is recovering from major surgery
Erin Wilkinson Gonzales, who was recently
hospitalized
Imogene Lawson, who was recently hospitalized
Trudy Julien, who suffered a stroke
Merri Kriewall and family, who morn the passing
of her father
Caleb Eliason, who is recovering from ACL surgery
with a long rehab ahead
Jane Winterfeld, who is home, but enduring much
pain from cancer
Bob and Bernice Winterfeld, he is recuperating
from a broken hip and another hip surgery—Many
changes in their lives
Tim Barnes, who is recovering from serious surgery
Don Grassell, who is recovering from cancer
treatment
Luther Tucker, who has health issues
Katherine Wicker, who has health issues
Pray for our shut-ins:
Fern Einfeldt Doris Ewald
Mary Fox Jackie Thurston
Irene Goldsmith Bernice Winterfeld
Lora Harvey Bob Winterfeld
Elsie Hansen
Please pray for our members in the military:
Jeff Bessler, US Navy
Noah Eliason, US Marine Reserve
Amanda Smith, US Navy Reserve
Cody Stolz, US Marine Reserve
Neal White, San Diego
Timothy Walton, US Army
Aaron Wrinkle, US Army
Lifelines is printed to help you remember our fellow
Christians in your prayers. If you are aware of a brother or
sister in Christ who has experienced one of life’s
church is similar to doing the laundry. It’s something you really don’t enjoy or care to do.”
Shortly thereafter, a friend and a life-long WELS mem-ber invited me to attend his church. After the first ser-vice I somehow knew that this was what I had been seeking and that this was where I wanted to be. I en-rolled in the Bible information class and was especially enlightened and blessed by these classes. It was a time that I will never forget. I was equally impressed with my pastor’s knowledge of Scripture and his patience in answering the myriad of questions that I raised. I joined the church because I found the gospel that was so often missing in other places.
It took a while for me to fully understand the closed sacrament. As my pastor once stated, “The closed sac-rament knocks out of my mind the illusion that it doesn’t matter what I believe.” His comment has made the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper a real and mean-ingful event in my life and not just another ritual. I sense God’s Holy Spirit working in my life through his Word—in the liturgy, readings, hymns, sermon—and through the Lord’s Supper.
(continued from page 3 - Confessions of FAITH)
Without exception, all WELS pastors that I have known have lived lives worthy of their high calling. Their godly counsel and their sermons based on the truth of God’s Word are a real inspiration to their followers. It’s not always popular to preach what the Bible says; it’s not what many wish that it would say. The Bible studies that I have attended are also wonderful—always well organized and enlightening. I learn something new eve-ry time.
I once heard someone describe WELS as “the greatest secret in Christianity.” After being a member for nearly ten years, I would heartily agree with this remark. I would highly recommend my church and other WELS congregations like mine to any person who might be seeking a church where Bible truth is both taught and practiced.
Jim Albright is a member at Good Shepherd, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
October 18, 2015 Dear members of Holy Trinity, After much prayerful consideration and looking to the future, this is the official announcement of my retirement at the end of the 2015-16 school year. My retirement will begin on July 1, 2016. Holy Trinity has been such a big part of my life for the last 25 years that it is a bittersweet decision. Holy Trinity will always hold a special place in my heart. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your third and fourth grade teacher. May God continue to bless our church and school. In His service, Carol Cole
Retirement Notification We knew it was coming...Carol Cole has submitted her official retirement notification that will be effective at the end of this school year. Our BOCE and leaders will be talking about filling this teaching need.
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Directory Notes & Updates
Please note the following additions and/or changes in your church directory:
Sheila Dozier - [email protected] Bart Henning - 206-295-7469 Randy Lawson 1411 128th St E, Tacoma, WA 98445 253-797-2856 Lauren Thomas 29644 66th Ave S, Auburn, WA 98001
Looking Ahead to Fun & Fellowship
- Get involved, get connected! -
Nov. 1 Reformation Service @ ELHS, 4:00 pm Nov. 3 Financial Peace University (FPU) 8th of 9 sessions Nov. 8 Coffee Hour Nov. 10 Financial Peace University (FPU) 9th of 9 sessions Nov. 12 Paint & Palate, 6:30 pm Nov. 14 Men’s Breakfast Bible Study, 8:00 am GRACE Circle Meeting, 9:30 am Nov. 21 ELHS Auction - Black & White Gala Nov. 22 “Main Dish” Bake Sale Mother/Daughter Painting Party and Lunch, noon Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Eve Service, 6:30 pm Nov. 26 Thanksgiving Day Service, 9:00 am Nov. 28 Church Decorating Dec. 2 Advent Meal & Service Dec. 5 Advent by Candlelight, 7:00 pm Dec. 9 Advent Meal & Service Dec. 12 Christmas for Kids, 9:00-noon Dec. 13 Coffee Hour, 9:00 am Christmas Bake Sale Voters Meeting, 11:45 am
