December 10 – ‘Candles and Carols’ -- 8:30 and 10:45 worship. ‘Candles & Carols’ was written by Mark Hayes, and features beautiful arrangements of beloved carols including The First Noel, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Love Came Down at Christmas, Silent Night, and many others. Pianist for the services is Mark Frahm with instrumental assistance from Jolene Krussow-violin, Debbie Ankeny-viola, and Bennett Petersen-double bass. Narrators will be Joe and Patti Strukel. Directors for these Trinity choirs are Mike and Sue Ellingsen. Services are open to the public - guests are welcomed.

December 17

8:30 and 10:45 Worship Children’s Christmas

Program This year’s program will be on Sunday, December 17th at both the 8:30 and the 10:45 services for grades 1-6. The Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten will only be signing at the 10:45 service. We

ask that children arrive at 8 a.m.

that morning and head to their

classrooms. N-K can arrive at

9:30.

We are doing something a little different with this year’s program. The setting will take place early Christmas Eve morning. We are asking that the kids wear their pajamas to the program. They can either be Christmas themed pajamas or something they already have. They are also invited to bring a doll or a stuffed animal. If there are any questions about this please feel free to give me a call at 526-3463 Kim Jacobson, Children/Youth and Family Ministries

December 24 Services December 24 at 9:30 a.m. Fourth Sunday in Advent December 24 at 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service with Holy Communion. All are welcome! Sunday, December 31 – worship at 9:30 only. No Sunday School classes.

Trinity Lutheran Church Women will

meet on Thursday, Dec 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place for their year-end business and social meeting. Remember: TLCW will not be meeting in January, February nor March.

Sunday, December 17 at 5:00 p.m.

The holiday season can be tough and very busy. All are welcome to take a break and join us for a quiet service of light and hope. Those experiencing change, stress or loss through the year are especially welcome.

Happy New Year! January 7, 2018

Worship at 9:30 only. No Sunday School

The Trumpet December, 2017 Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA 235 East 7th Street, Blue Earth, MN Mission Statement: As God’s people, we are nurtured by word and sacrament to welcome, empower and serve others.

Catholics and Lutherans:

Celebrating Our Gifts

December 13 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

"Have you ever wondered how

we are the same and how we are

different?" Come to Trinity’s Gathering Place on December 13th at 6:00 p.m. for a night of conversation with Father Peter Klein and Pastor Jeanette Bidne. Their conversation will include information about the symbols, rites, music, and sacraments of our denominations. Open to all who are curious to learn more about Lutherans and Catholics, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

To begin, my deepest thanks to all of you

for your support, your cards,

memorials, gifts and kind words of comfort at the death of my sister, Jennifer Bidne. They have truly supported and sustained my family in this difficult time. Many, many thanks.

“O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.”

The opening lines to the notable Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” speaks of God’s people calling to be set free. It is call from times past and a call still appropriate for the Advent season of 2017. Do you ever feel captive to something?

Worry? Illness? Keeping up with others? A certain reputation? A certain expectation from others? Bad habits? Negative thoughts? A crazy schedule? We are a free people and yet find ourselves captive to so, so many things. In a room full of people, it can make us feel lonely. In the midst of a schedule of parties we can still feel sad. The season of Advent is a time of preparation. The season is an invitation to prepare your heart and your

home for a special guest, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel meaning God with us. The season is

also a time to reflect on what might make it difficult for you to get ready for that special guest to arrive. What crowds your mind or heart space? As believers, we know God is already with us, but just like giving thanks at Thanksgiving this is a time to bring the anticipation of God’s presence to our attention. To interact with it so it pops up more and more so we can see that presence in our lives (think of shopping online and how ads of whatever you just looked at pop up all over every website for the next week, a bit like that but for four weeks of reminders of God coming into the world!). Perhaps this is a time to wonder what makes you feel captive and whether it really needs to pull you in that way? What do you fear? With Christmas, we welcome into the world a God willing to become fully human, to experience what we experience

as human beings on this earth. In doing so, God eventually sets us free so that we could experience what God gives fully and tangibly in this world- love, life, and hope. So we live in the now and not yet. In freedom and not yet quite free until the last. But the refrain of that Advent hymn proclaims for the people of Israel and for us what will and has come to pass “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.” United in Christ, Pastor Jeanette

Trinity Church Council met on Nov 14, 2017. Financial reports indicate that we are in a good position at this time! The Property Committee recommends replacing the 20 year old carpeting in The Gathering Place. The proposed 2018 budget was reviewed. Nominating Committee is being formed. Will remind congregation of our mission support towards $10,000 challenge to Hunger Appeal. Council is asked to bring ideas for long-range planning to the December meeting. Looking at making the Conference Room (former pastor’s office) more multi-purpose. Complete copy of minutes is available on

the display rack outside the office.

Sunday,

January 21

at 9:45 a.m.

in the

Sanctuary – between services! Note location change. Coffee will be served in the sanctuary.

Glad You Asked ! As Christians we have well over

2,000 years of church history that

informs what we say and do. This

new monthly article is to

encourage questions for all those

things we wonder about but are

sometimes too scared to ask…

Why during the weeks before Christmas do we sing Advent songs during worship and not Christmas carols? Christmas goes by so fast and they are such good songs!

If you look in your hymnal you will notice a section of hymns called “Advent” before the section entitled “Christmas”. Advent is a season of hope and of anticipation. This is an important season of the church where we mark time and prepare for Christ’s birth. The anticipation and waiting gives us time to remember why Christ’s coming is so important. In the scriptures read in worship, often from the prophets of Israel, we hear about God’s people longing to be set free from other rulers and powers. We often hear about a coming light to shine in times of shadow or darkness. The anticipation is important. Imagine

coming to a birthday party where

the gifts have been unwrapped and

the candles blown out before the

birthday boy or girl can get to the

table? Sounds weird doesn’t it? Not quite as celebratory. The same is true with Advent. We sing hymns about hope and coming light, light more and more

candles on the Advent wreath with each week, all preparing for God to be among us. We do this for four weeks prior to Christmas Day (the four weeks after Christ the King Sunday and before Christmas Day). We take time to get everyone ready to sing and celebrate a birth that has changed the world. Now I do know

Christmas hymns and songs do

sneak in there, but we still wish

to keep our focus on the feeling

of Advent, of anticipation.

A note about Christmas 2017. This year Sunday morning’s worship on December 24th will be the fourth Sunday of Advent. We will sing Advent hymns that morning. In Jesus time the day began at sundown, hence why many churches celebrate the birth of Jesus with an evening service-- some even late into the night on the 24th of December. We have a later service this year, one to give our musicians time to actually eat supper Christmas Eve and to also give families two distinct choices of time. You are welcome to join us at any of these services to celebrate what we have been preparing for in our time of Advent! United in Christ, Pastor Jeanette

Information from your

Church Council

Have you ever sat down and made a list of what it takes to make a church “run”? I just did this the other day and was

amazed at the number of people it takes! We all know there are multiple groups doing their “thing” at Trinity, but when you actually sit down and start writing, it’s a pretty impressive list. These past weeks when Pastor Jeanette was away with family, our mission didn’t stop. The church is not one person -- and thankfully so – it can be overwhelming for just one person to be responsible for all that is involved in Trinity’s ministry. The church is a community of people - all of us. THANK YOU to all who lend a hand! We are all the church and we all have a role or two, (or more!). What is yours? Here’s my random list, not in any particular order. And I may have missed a few (if so, I am sorry!) Altar Guild Volunteers who assemble the Trumpet and weekly bulletins Those who deliver bulletins and /or visit residents in the St Luke’s complex Release Time Volunteers Quilters Art/Signage creation Funeral preparations and serving Sunday Coffee Hour servers Greeters Ushers Communion assistants Communion bread bakers Sunday school teachers Confirmation mentors Painters TLCW Youth Group Eucharistic ministers Committees – Stewardship, Property, Education, Youth, WAM, Endowment, St. Luke’s, God’s Work.Our Hands Council

Peace to you and Merry Christmas!

Renee Beattie, Council President

December 8:30 Tom Bromeland Darwin Olson Perry Olson Matt Dikken

10:45 Dave Pirsig, Bill Rotterman

Harley Willmert

2018 Intent Cards The Stewardship Committee is still accepting your intent of contribution for the 2018 year. They can be mailed to or dropped off in the church office by Dec 10.

Reminder: Contributions must be postmarked before Dec 31 to be included on your 2017 statement. MITTEN TREE

Dec 1 – 30th New mittens, gloves, hats and/or scarfs to be placed on the tall tree in the foyer. Items are

being collected for Blue Earth elementary children and those at Little Giants. St. Luke’s Ministry of Gentle Service St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center Annual Meeting, is Tuesday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel at St. Luke’s. Delegates from Trinity are welcome to attend this meeting. Trinity is organizing the BINGO at St. Luke’s on Wednesday, December 6 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. We welcome others who can help!

Pastor Jeanette’s mailing address: Pr Jeanette Bidne and Pr Dan Foster P.O. Box 234 Vernon Center, MN 56090

These are birthdays of members listed in the church active data base. If there is an addition or correction, please call the church office (526-3463). Dec 1 – Judy Orvedal, Hudson Stine 2 – Troy Stindtman 3 – Tom Bromeland, Bonnie Gartzke, Todd Hanevik, Peggy Surratt 4 – Ann Ekse 5 – Scott Determan, Bud Schwab 6 – Pam Berndt, Kathy Johnson Deb Olson, Cali Teems 8 – Lane Casey, Ray Hornke, Thomas Lindsey, Paul Peterson 9 – Kendall Surratt 10 – Jenna Hansen, Phoebe Loge, Louise Martig 11 – Katelyn Frahm 12 – Mary Amundson, Kevin Benson, Karli Olsen 13 – Emily Johnson, Barb Rame, 14 – Ray Rhoda, Jennifer Smith, Rhionna Weerts 15 – Donna Anderson, Carole Haugen, Gavin Hledik, Greg Keebaugh 16 – Riley Anderson

17 – Cassandra Hagedorn 18 – David Amundson, Jan Baker, Jan Sohn 19 – Becky Benson, Lauren Schavey, Ella Schmidtke 21 – Sue Cassens, Jerry Sonich 22 – Travis Hagedorn, Hanna Knudtson, Donna Perryman 23 – Matthew Meier 24 – Chandler Kienitz, Stephanie Stine 26 – Jacob Dikken, Rodney Peterson, Ashley Skaden, Harley Willmert 27 – Lulu Frank, Shirley Hannaman, Tasha Walker 28 – Nancy Bohling, Jeff Eckles, Marilyn Olson 29 – Ryan Bromeland, Jared Resutek, Carey Weber 30 – Mark Evans, Craig Hougen,

Maria Lindberg, Clarann Sayre, Les Wiborg, Kyle Zierke

31 – Cristine Schug, Bryce Wirth

Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 – 5:00 507-526-3463

General Church e-mail

Trinity@bevcomm.net Donna Perryman, Office Admin.

Pastor Jeanette Bidne prjbidne.betrinity@gmail.com Kim Jacobson, Kim Jacobson, Kim Jacobson, Kim Jacobson, Children/Children/Children/Children/YouthYouthYouthYouth and Familiesand Familiesand Familiesand Families MinistryMinistryMinistryMinistry KimmyKimmyj@gmail.com

If you would like to receive your Trumpet newsletter electronically, just send Donna an email at trinity@bevcomm.net

The Tradition of the Jesse Tree

Jesse Trees are a very old Christmas Tradition and first started in medieval times. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story.

The name comes from Jesse who was the Father of the great Jewish King David. One prophecy in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, says:

1 A shoot will come up from the

stump of Jesse; from his roots a

Branch will

bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of

the LORD will

rest on him-- the

Spirit of wisdom

and of understanding, the Spirit of

counsel and of power, the Spirit of

knowledge and of the fear of the

LORD--

3 and he will delight in the fear of

the LORD. He will not judge by

what he sees with his eyes, or

decide by what he hears with his

ears;

4 but with righteousness he will

judge the needy, with justice he

will give decisions for the poor of

the earth.

A branch is a sign of new life and new beginnings. Jesus was a descendent of King David and Christians believe that Jesus is this new branch.

The first Jesse trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stained glass windows put in Churches that helped illiterate people (people who can't read or write) to learn about the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. But now Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. You can use a normal Christmas tree or a banner in the shape of a tree.

Each day through advent (or sometimes just on the four Sundays of advent) a special decoration or ornament (similar to a Chrismon), that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the tree.

This year at Trinity, during the Children’s Message on Sundays, the kids will receive a set of Jesse Tree ornaments that they can color for their own tree.

There are many different stories and symbols can be used. 25 common stories and symbols are listed below:

Creation – Genesis 1 – Symbol is the Earth

Adam and Eve/Garden of Eden – Genesis 2:4 – 3:24. Symbol is a tree with fruit or an apple

Noah and the Flood – Genesis 6:9 – 9:17 - a rainbow

God’s promise to Abraham – Genesis 12:1-7 and Genesis 15:1-6 - a Tent

Isaac – Genesis 22:1-18 – a ram

Jacob’s Ladder – Genesis 28:10-19 – a ladder

Joseph’s Coat – Genesis 37 & 50 – a multicolored coat or robe

Moses – Exodus 2:1 – 4:20. Symbol is a burning bush

Israelites and the Passover – Exodus 12:1-42 – a lamb

The 10 Commandments – Exodus 19:1 – 20:20. Symbol is two stone tablets

Joshua and the fall of Jericho – Joshua 6:1-20. Symbol is a ram’s horn trumpet

Ruth – book of Ruth – Symbol is a sheaf of corn

King David – 1 Samuel 16:1-3 - a six pointed ‘Star of David’

Solomon’s Temple – 1 Kings 6 Symbol is the temple

Elijah and Baal’s Priests – 1 Kings 18:16-39 - a bonfire

Isaiah’s ‘Jesse’ Prophecy – Isaiah 11:1-11. Symbol is a tree stump with a single branch growing from it

Jonah and the Whale – book of Jonah. Symbol is a whale

John the Baptist – Matthew 3:13-17. Symbol is a scallop shell

Mary – Luke 1:26-38 – white lily

Elizabeth – Luke 1:39-56 – a mother and child

Zechariah – Luke 1:57-80. Symbol is a pencil and tablet

Joseph – Matthew 1:19-25. Symbol is a carpenter’s hammer

The Shepherds – Luke 2:8-20. Symbol is a fluffy sheep

The Wisemen – Matthew 2:1-12. Symbol can be a gold star or the three gifts or three crowns

Jesus – Luke 2:1-8. – A baby in a manger

Information taken from Christmas Customs and Traditions – whychristmas?com

ke to present one to someone special in your life.

The Children’s Christmas

program will be Sunday,

December 18th, at the 8:30

and 10:45 services

Children’s Christmas Program Sunday, December 17th at 8:30 and 10:45

Twas the night before Christmas, all through your house…we pray you’ll be talking and

thinking about…. not just the presents under a tree…. but the baby who was born to save

you and me. And hope you’ll remember when we drive out of sight to fill up this Christmas

with the Lord, Jesus Christ

December Children/Youth and Family Newsletter

Kimberly Jacobson, Director of Children/Youth and Family Ministries