Serving God and Others through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

AUGUST2018

1409 South Eighth Avenue, East Newton, IA 50208 Church Phone: (641) 792-1683 www.htlchurch.com Kenneth H. Ahntholz, D.Min., BCC, Pastor Pastor’s Phone: (515) 720-0172, pastor@htlchurch.com ken@ahntholz.com

P. O. Box 242, 8290 Hwy. F-62, East Sully, IA 50251 Church Phone: (641) 798-4651 www.standluth.com Kenneth H. Ahntholz, D.Min., BCC, Pastor Pastor’s Phone: (515) 720-0172, pastor@htlchurch.com ken@ahntholz.com

Approximately 80RAGBRAI (Register’sAnnual Great Bike

Ride Across Iowa) riders and support team appreciated

HolyTrinity’shospitalityJuly25.

Overnight accommodations were provided inside and

outside the building for three teams representing 15

states:Washington toMaine,NorthDakotatoTexas,and

states in between. TwoCanadianprovinces,Albertaand

Manitobawerealsorepresented.

One team organized out of Eastern Iowa identified

themselvesasthe“BarkingSpiders.”Ateamrepresenting

the ELCA’s Lutheran Men in Mission, was organized by

menfromWesternIowa.Theyincludedmenandwomen

from all over the U.S. including Doug Hansen, National

Directoroftheorganization. Theorganizationforthethirdteam, known as the Yellow Flag Team, was Graceland

University,Lamoni,IA,aCommunityofChristcollege.

Inaddition to providing general access to facilities,Holy

Trinityalsooffered“HoldenEveningPrayer”at8:30p.m.

andcookiesandlemonadefollowingtheworship.

(Continuedonnextpage.)

WeareChrist'schurch.Thereisaplaceforyouhere.

We are the church that shares a living, daring

confidenceinGod'sgrace.Liberatedbyourfaith,we

embrace you as a whole person--questions, com-

plexitiesandall.

JoinusaswedoGod'sworkinChrist'snameforthe

lifeoftheworld.

2

BIKERS APPRECIATE HOLY TRINITY’S HOSPITALITY

1

B

RAGBRAI(Continuedfrompage1)The Congregation Council had designated any donations

given during the riders’ stay at Holy Trinity through the

“Donation”boxforELCAglobalcleanwaterprojects.Since

the Lutheran Men in Mission have a challenge to raise

$60,000, the $325 placed in the donation box will be

channeledtowardtheirproject.

Groups greatly appreciated the wonderful hospitality

shownthembyHolyTrinity. Theyalsocomplimentedthe

cleanlinessofthechurch.Thankyoutoallthepeoplefrom

Holy Trinity who provided “meet-and-greet”, worshiped,

listened to guests’ stories, and donated and served

refreshments. Thanks also to the cleaning/property staff

who had the building and property looking great (and

cleanedupafterward).

Several guests noted thehospitality offered through Holy

Trinity had so far been their best experience on the trip.

HolyTrinity’sdesiretobeanopenandwelcomingconger-

gationwas visibly lived out and appreciated by themore

than80RAGBRAIgueststhispastweek.

Theeventprovidedopportunitytomeetpeoplemembers

ofHolyTrinitywouldn’thavehadtheopportunitytomeet.

Through the experience, not onlywere the riders blessed

by Holy Trinity’s hospitality, but members of Holy Trinity

werealsoblessed.

MembersofHolyTrinitywhoparticipatedintheevening.

August Study is Last in Summer Series on Prayer

DiscussionatAugust’sstudyfromGathermagazinewill

look at the reasons for praying and the results of

prayer.Thisisthefinallessononprayer.

TheJunelessonwasonthe“ParadoxesofPrayer.”The

Julylessonwasonthe“PracticesofPrayer”fromPsalm

19.Thefinalonewillbe“TheExpressionsofPrayer.”

Thefocustextis:

“LikewisetheSpirithelpsusinourweakness; forwe

donotknowhowtoprayasweought,butthatvery

Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words..”

(Romans8:26)

All Christians pray. The effects may be personally,

communallyorontheChurch’smission.Prayercanbe

quiet, monastic or more expressive, like the

Pentecostal Christians. Some findprayer to be about

re-centering, while others find it to be about re-

connecting.Reasonsforprayingvary.Sometrustthat

the more one prays, the better chance that God will

hear and attend to the concern. Others believe that

prayeris lessaboutchangingGodandmoreaboutthe

onewhoprays.

JointhediscussionAugust9,10a.m.,atHolyTrinity.All

learningopportunitieshelpusgrowinourfaith Study

materialswillbe available. Come, even if youmissed

thefirsttwostudies.Ifyouneedaride,callthechurch

office.

WORSHIPATTENDANCEFORJULY

HTLCST.ANDREW’S

JULY13226

83531

153931

223926

2548(RAGBRAIworship)

“Worshipisnotthechurch’sproduct,tobeofferedinevery

colorand style imaginable so thatmore peoplewill buy it.

It’snotourjobtogivepeoplewhattheywant,butwhatGod

saysweneed. Worship isn’t about taste, and worship

gatheringsareideallynottheentrypointintoGod’schurch.

. . Worship is about coming together as God’s covenant

people in the presence of God and thosewho have come

before.It’straditional,it’scontemporary,andit’slookingto

the future. And those centuries that separate us seem to

foldtogetherandcollapse.Andwefindourselveshiddenin

theOnewhodied,wasraised,andwillkeepustotheend.”

“5ReasonsWeMustStopDoingTraditionalWorship”

byJonathanAigner,PonderAnew,16May2017

DuringtheweekofJuly16-20about60youngsters,3-10

years old, learned what team spirit is and how to be

greatteammates.TheylearnedthatevenJesusneeded

ateamtoshowuswhatteamspiritis.

Oneofthefirstlessonstaughtthateveryoneneedstobe

respected. Another day the kids learned that all of us

make mistakes. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to

forgive our sins. One of the learning experiences

involved thekidscarrying theweight ofguiltandsin in

their backpacks. They discovered the load was easier

whentheirguiltandsinweregiventoGod.

The kids learned that attitudes and actions matter. We

can’tchangewhathappenstous,butweare inchargeof

ourattitudesandactions. In theBible story theylearned

that Jesus maintained a positive attitude, even though

peopledidawfulthingstohim.

The final day the kids were challenged to spread God’s

Word,and,indoingso,God’steamwouldkeepgrowing.

Music, Bible stories, activities, and crafts reinforced each

day’stheme. Eachdaythechildrenreceivedasnack. On

the finalday theycelebratedwith icecreamsundaesand

worship. The daily offerings for the Special Olympics

totaled$650.

Thank you to Melanie Sharp and all of the people who

helped in someway tomake theweek a success for the

kids, including teachers,helpers,andcraft-helpers. Also,

thankyoutothosewhohelpedwithgames,preparedfood

and/or served food, and to the parentswho allowed the

staff from St. Andrew’s to teach your children what it

meanstobepartofJesus’team.

Kids Learn About Team Spirit, As Another Successful Bible School Ends

AUGUSTBIRTHDAYSAND

WEDDINGANNIVERSARIES

HappyBirthdayto:

Aug.5KeithLine(H)

9BonnieSudbrink(H)

10DavidFifer(H)

13NancyWright(S)

26PaytonBowlin(S)

WeddingAnniversaries:

Aug.6BillandLindaBennett(H)

8PastorKenandLois

10BradandTeriBowlin(S)

12RossandDebFord(H)

15MarkandAmyCollum(S)

20JohnandBarbFreeborn(S)

29DavidandSherryFIfer(H)

HolyTrinity(H),St.Andrew’s(S)

TEAMFROMHOLYTRINITYAND

ST.ANDREW’SHELPSWITH

TAKEAWAYHUNGEREFFORT

AnotherTakeAwayHungerpackagingeventishistory.In

the July7effortatSt. Luke'sUnitedMethodistchurcha

team representing both congregations packaged 1,728

meals. Representatives from St. Stephen's, St. Luke's

UMC,FirstPresbyterian,andFirstUMCmadeuptherest

oftheworkers.

Four teamsof 10-12persons, eachworking for anhour,

packaged a total of 6,912meals that day. The planwas

the meals will be part of a 220,000-meal shipment to

Texas to feed people in need. However, Sandee Fields

reported on facebook late this week that 4,320 black

bean meals will be distributed to the people in

Marshalltown who lost everything in the tornado. Don

FieldswilltakemealsnextweektoPella.

ThankstoJulieMalone;HazelCooper;CarolNaeseth;Ian,

Charlie,VickyandBillBennett,Jr.;LindaandBillBennett,

Sr.;andPastorKenandLoisAhntholzfortheirwork.

The cost of the food used in this packaging event was

coveredthroughdonationstoTakeAwayHungeratHoly

Trinity.Donationsarealwayswelcome.

ThenexteventwillbeOctober13,2018,atHolyTrinity.

Sealingthepackagesaftereachoneisweighedtomakesure

thereisthecorrectamountofproductinside.

Plasticbags

arefilledwith

soy,beans,

vitamins,

vegetables

andrice.Each

bagholdsix

meals.

CHURCHSAFETYMEASURESBEINGTAKEN

Churchesofeverydenominationaroundthecountryare

awarehoweasilytheycanbecomeatargetforaperson

whowantstohurtorkillsomeone.

Afterdiscussingthesubjectofhowtokeeppeoplesafe

whiletheyareatthechurch,theWorshipTeamatHoly

Trinity recommended some ideas to the Congregation

Council.AttheirmeetinginJulytheCouncildecidedon

a strategy they hope will help protect people without

toomuchdisruptiontothenormallifeflow.

First, the building should be locked by peopleworking

aloneinthebuilding. Therehavebeenacoupleofun-

comfortable situations with strangers who came in

whenthedoorswereunlocked.

Second, the exit doors will be locked during worship.Ushers are assigned the task of locking the exterior

doors.ThedoubleSanctuarydoorswillbeopenedafter

the bell is rung, so ushers may observe and exercise

appropriateactionwhenpeopleapproachthedoors.

Thissubjectisdifficulttodiscuss,butthesubjectisvery

real in today’s world. Somemay remember also that

severalyearsagoadozenpaddedchairswereremoved

fromthefellowshiphallduringworshipatHolyTrinity.

It will take awhile to adjust to these changes, but it is

better to add some safety measures, rather than say

later, “We should have done something before this

happened.”

AUGUSTMISSIONFUNDS

FORWARTBURGSEMINARY

Wartburg Seminary, a seminary of the Evangelical

Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), located in

Dubuque, IA, will receive the mission funds from

bothSt.Andrew’sandHolyTrinityduringthemonth

ofAugust. Wartburg is oneof eight seminaries of

theELCAandistheonlyonelocatedinIowa.

Wartburg forms servant leaders for the church. It

offersthreegraduate-leveldegrees:MasterofArts,

Master ofArtsDiaconalMinistry and theMaster of

Divinity. Graduates are committed to the role of

servingChrist’schurchforthesakeoftheworld.

Wartburg Seminary forms leaders who havean

expansive view for God’s mission in the

world. Through the rich experience of learning,living,andworshippingtogetherleadersareformed

incommunityatWartburgSeminary.Asleadersare

sent out for God’smission, they have been shaped

by God’s Word, by the church’s traditions, by the

faith of other believers, and they are equipped to

leadcommunitiesoffaithinthechurchandworld.

Wartburg Seminary is the only ELCA seminary that

requires students to take a course in rural/small

townministry.Theyalsoofferacertificateprogram

inRuralMinistry.

Wartburg Seminary has an average student

population of 180 students in all degrees and

programs.Theaveragestudentageis37yearsold.

MembersofbothSt.Andrew’sandHolyTrinitymay

donate to Wartburg Seminary through regular or

special offering envelopes. Write “Wartburg” on

your check or envelope. Holy Trinity’s $300

budgetedmissionmoney forAugustwill be sent to

WartburgSeminaryaswell.

MANYENJOYFOURTHOFJULY

WORSHIPINPARK

Strainsof“GodofourFathers”,“BattleHymnoftheRepublic”,

AmericatheBeautiful”,and“MyCountry‘TisofThee”aswell

as other patriotic songs, could be heard coming from Sully’s

Central Park Sunday evening, July 1. The weather was

gorgeous, as about 150 worshipers gathered in their lawn

chairs in the park to celebrate our nation’s heritage. The

annualeventwasthestartofSully’s4thofJulycelebration.

The annual worship, sponsored by the Lynnville, Sully and

KilduffministerialgroupwashostedthisyearbySt.Andrew’s

LutheranChurch, ruralSully. TheRev.Dr.KennethAhntholz,

PastorofSt. Andrew’s, led the singingof traditional patriotic

songsanddelivered themessage focusingonthecelebration

of freedom. The Rev. Dr. Wayne Sneller, First Reformed

Church, Sully, assisted with the service, and Myrna Goodyk

accompaniedthesinging.

PastorAhntholzleadsthe

serviceforthecrowd

gathered.(above)

PastorSnelleroffers

scriptureattheservice

(right)

After expenses, the offering of $435will be used to support

communitymissionprojects.

Theevening

concludedwith

cookiesand

lemonadeserved

bymembersof

St.Andrew’s.

PastorAhntholzleads

theworshipforthe

crowdgathered

(above).PastorSneller

offersscriptureatthe

service(right).

REMEMBER HOLY TRINITY OR ST. ANDREW’S IN YOUR WILL

Shareyoublessingswithgenerationstocome!

WisdomLiteratureTopicofSunday

MorningOldTestamentStudy

Thewisdombooks of the Old Testament are someof

themostpopularwritingsinallofScripture.Combining

wisdom and poetry this genre includes the Psalms,

Proverbs,Ecclesiastes,JobandtheSongofSolomon.

ThePsalmshasbeenaconstant sourceofcomfort for

the saints during times of trial, suffering and danger.

Serving as the Israelites’ prayer book, the Psalms is a

collectionof150prayers,songsandpoems,expressing

in beautiful form from the dramatic experiences of a

godlylife.

PaulE.KoptakwritesoftheProverbs:

“...theChristianwhoreadsProverbscandevelopanew appreciation for the significant contribution ofthe book to the New Testament view of Jesus andwhat itmeans to follow thismanwhoboth taughtwisdom and embodied wisdom in his person.WisdomisnottobecometheforgottenvoiceoftheOld Testament, nor is it only to be treated in Biblestudies and sermons from the Gospels. NewTestament letterscandomuch torestore this long-neglected subject ofwisdom to the life of Christiancommunities.

EcclesiastesisoneofthemostdifficultbooksintheOld

Testamentto interpret. Itexplorestheimplicationsof

livinginaworldapartfromtheeternal.Itisaneternal

Godwhogivesmeaningtoourtemporalandotherwise

meaninglessexistence

As Christians there’s always more to learn about

ourselves through Scripture. Studying the Old

TestamenthelpsChristiansbetterunderstandtheNew

Testament. It’s never too late to join the discussion

Sundays at 9 a.m. at Holy Trinity. Bibles and study

materialsarefurnished.

HOLYTRINITY’S

byBillBennett,Jr.,Treasurer

In JulymembersofHolyTrinity gave$783 inbenevolence

to ELCA Mission Support, representing 10 percent of the

non-designatedgeneralfunds.Sofar, individualdonations

of $380were given to the Lutheran Services in Iowa and

$350toELCAWorldHunger. OneSundayremains in July

toreceivedonationsforLutheranServicesinIowa.

Christian Education Plans Discussed at St. Andrew’s A group of parents, council members and several others

met July 23 to plan for the upcoming Christian education

program at St. Andrew. Present were Todd Sharp,

facilitator; Mark Bell, Amy Collum, Beth Fenner, Norene

Paulson,JillPhilby,BarbFreeborn,andPastorAhntholz.

It was decided that Pastor Ahntholz will work with an

ongoing youth Confirmation class Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m.

beginningSeptember5. Fornow,SundaySchoolwillNOT

meetduringtheworshipservice.Thechildren’smessagein

theworshipservicenowwillfollowtheScripturereadings.

Christianeducationforbothyouthandadultsfollowingthe

9a.m.worshiphourispartofthevision,butnoexactplans

havebeenmade.

Plansforanongoing“YouthGroup”,whichwillbeopento

all St. Andrew’s youth and their friendswill be scheduled

onSundayafternoons/evenings.Plansareforadevotional

time and fun and fellowship activities for the youngsters.

ToddSharpisspearheadingthedevelopmentofthisgroup.

Also discussed was the need to encourage more adult

involvement in Christian learning, but no definite ideas

wereformulated.

St.Andrew’shassponsoredaverysuccessfulVacationBible

Schoolthepastfewyears.Eventhoughitattractedalarge

number of kids, it also required a lot of energy and

commitmentonthepartofmanymembersofSt.Andrew’s.

InordertosustainaVacationBibleSchool,itwillbeimport-

anttomakesomeadjustments.Itwasdecidedtocontinue

thediscussionatafuturemeeting.

The visioning/planning meeting was productive and

important for St. Andrew’s ongoing growth through

Christian education. Another planning meeting will be

scheduledinthenearfuture.

Sunday,August26

8:45a.m.

KilduffPark

(No9a.m.worshipatSt.Andrew’s)

SponsoredbyKilduff

UnitedMethodistChurch

Watchformoredetails.

WEEKLYWORSHIP:Sunday9a.m.Worshipw/HolyCommunion(St.Andrew’s)10:30a.m.Worshipw/HolyCommunion(HTLC)ADULTFORUM/STUDY:Sunday9a.m.(HTLC)“DusttoGlory:AnOverviewoftheOldTestamentbyR.C.Sproul”SecondThurs.,10a.m.StudiesfromGathermagazineYOUTHDISCIPLESHIPEDUCATIONSunday9a.m.DuringWorship(St.Andrew’s)Wednesday5:45-7p.m.(HTLC)(RecessedforSummerMonths)5-6p.m.ConfirmationClass(St.Andrew’s)(BeginningSeptember5)

HolyTrinityLutheranChurch(EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica)1409SouthEighthAvenue,East

Newton,IA50208

REMEMBERINPRAYER

PersonsStrugglingWithIllness:GeorgeStevens,TomNetzel,Joan

Mason,DavidMason,DebLine,RegFarland,PastorAhntholz, Joyce

Sabel, Billie Farland, Blake Sevenbergen, Ruth Sharp, Doug Bell,

Mollie Tibbetts (friend of Mark and Amy Collum), Steve Squires

(friend of Todd and Melanie Sharp), and Cash Dickerson (Marcia

Goodrich’s grandnephew). Nathan Chance (Alice Ladd’s grandson),

Robert Hechinger (Wes Ranard’s supervisor), Florence Hunt (Sue

Ranard’s mother), Derald Spicer (Bill Bennett, Sr.’s sister-in-law’s

father),PalmerBoettcher (Darrell and LindaBoettcher’s grandson),

Myrtle Jentz (Lois Ahntholz’s sister), Joan Kinrade (Peg Troyke’s

friend), Alice Murray (Judy Humes’ daughter), Richard VanderKeif

(MidgeWilson’sbrother),SteveMatsen,Dr.RichardVermillion(Jim

Vermillion’s brother) and Jamie Anderson (Kathy Sevenbergen’s

niece).

SympathyExtendedto:KeithandDebLineonthedeathofhermother,MaryJoGreveJuly27

atParkCentre.Herfuneralispending.

CollegeStudent:DevonWolf,(DMACC),Newtoncampus

MilitaryFamilies:--MaryGorball’sgrandson,MichaelGorball,U.S.Marinesin

Kearney,NE(wife:Kerry;tripletsons:Luke,JacobandIsaac)

--PastorKenandLois’granddaughter,NatashaMartinez,

stationedwiththeU.S.ArmyatFt.Meade,MD

PRAYERCHAINREQUESTSmaybegivenorcalledto:AliceLadd,

792.7162(HTLC),MarleneSharp798.4478(St.Andrew’s)orPastor

Ken,515.720.0172

WORSHIP

ACCOMPANISTS

NEEDEDFORBOTH

CONGREGATIONS

Accompanists are still needed for both churches.

PrefercandidatesatHolyTrinityskilledinbothorgan

and piano, and in piano at St. Andrew’s. Applicants

needtobeableto leadthecongregationalsingingof

bothliturgy,andhymns.Abilitytosight-readmusicis

aplus. Primaryresponsibility isSundayworship,but

availabilityforfuneralsandLentenserviceswouldbe

appreciated.Ideallymorethanonepersonwillfillthe

position at each church. Compensation will be

negotiated,basedon theperson’sability to lead the

singing of hymns and liturgy that is part of the

worshipservices.

Contact Norene Paulson paulson@netins.net, Pastor

Ahntholzken@ahntholz.com515.720.0172orDianne

Clemon,dnnclemon@gmail.com,HTLCWorshipTeam

CouncilLiason.

Thepictorialdirectoriesare

readyforpickup.Members

ofHTLCmayfindtheircopy

intheirchurchmailbox.