Jerry Protextor stopped in my office last week. Jerry is a retired Pastor living in the area. I use the term “retired” a bit loosely.
Despite being retired, Jerry still spends two days per week at Peace Lutheran Church in Moorhead and preaches there twice per month. He is still involved in the local Stewardship committee, is a member here at Trinity Lutheran and loves spending time with his grandchildren.
As he explained this to me, I said to him, “oh, so you are ‘retired,’” using my hands to show the standard gesture for air quotes in a spot-on manner.
He responded by telling me his grandchildren explained it to him that when you are retired you aren’t supposed to work anymore.
He offered this input: “You see, Jared, when you are retired it means you no longer do the things you don’t enjoy. I still spend time at Peace Lutheran and I still spend time on the Stewardship committee. What I don’t do is look at each line of expense reports or deal with angry parents.”
My summary for Jerry is obviously paraphrased and he was more extensive on the things he enjoys and didn’t enjoy, but you get the idea.
It was truly a unique way of looking at retired life and I could tell from his tone how happy and passionate he was about the things he still does.
Trinity Lutheran Senior Pastor Steve Wold mentioned the other day he played golf with some retired friends. He said it was interesting that they no longer where a watch and that it’s a different style of living.
You may be thinking the point of this is that there are just a lot of old people surrounding Trinity, but, as a matter of fact, that is not the point.
The point is taking your free time to participate in something that you enjoy and finding ways to volunteer yourself to help and support others. It’s giving back and giving generously. And spending less time doing the things you don’t enjoy.
Below is a message from the local stewardship that pertains to giving what you can and provides a good message.
Give generously
“We want you to know…about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.” --II Corinthians 8:1-2
Generous giving may be the most basic stewardship value. It is difficult to imagine anyone who is serious about discipleship giving stingily. It is difficult to imagine a tither who isn’t serious about his or her relationship with Jesus. In Luke 12:34, Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Isn’t he saying that generous giving to Jesus has the ability to lead one’s heart to Jesus? A congregation full of generous givers would make an incredible witness to our Lord.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Deployment Story Hits Close to Home
Trinity Lutheran member Anna Wittrock received some recent press in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead for an upcoming deployment to Kosovo for a peace-keeping mission.
She will be gone for a whole year’s time and leaves behind a husband and two kids.
You can read the article in its entirety at: http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/247927/
It’s hard to say whether or not a story like this is good press.
While there is no doubt Wittrock is pleased to be helping keep peace in once war-ridden Kosovo, being forced to be away from her two very young children and husband for an entire year is anything but desirable.
But the article serves as an important reminder that each day there are those living away from their friends and families as they serve their country in different assignments and through different branches of the military.
This has had an effect on every congregation throughout the country. Stories such as Wittrock’s are all too common and it is important to consider those over seas and their families in both your thoughts and prayers.
The list of those from Trinity currently overseas include:
SPC Neil Scott
CPL Matthew Nesting
SPC Alison Suckow
Capt. Jason Bishop
SGT Ryan Baldner
Capt. Michael Aamold
SSG Steven Kreps
Capt. Jeremy Aamold
SGT Dave Pederson
Army Pilot Trace Johnson
SPC Steve Sundberg*
SSGT Joseph Brecht
Capt. Adam Gilbertson
Senior Airman Brendan Balko
Capt. Kristen Shifrin
Capt. Matt Shifrin
LT Col. Lannie Runck
SGT Alisha Gregoire
Capt. Carlton Matson
MSGT Todd Nappe
LT Brett K. Cartwright, Chaplain
SPC Raymond Pizarro
BM3 Roque J. Blais*
SPC Scot Jordan
Capt. Anne Braden
SGT Amy Pinkney
Capt. Anna Wittrock
Chaplain Bruce Krogstad
Randall Griffeth*
PFC Larrie C. Cherrey
1st LT. Amber Balker
David Thomas
SSG Monte Culbertson
SPC Casey Thoemke*
*Stationed in combat zones
She will be gone for a whole year’s time and leaves behind a husband and two kids.
You can read the article in its entirety at: http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/247927/
It’s hard to say whether or not a story like this is good press.
While there is no doubt Wittrock is pleased to be helping keep peace in once war-ridden Kosovo, being forced to be away from her two very young children and husband for an entire year is anything but desirable.
But the article serves as an important reminder that each day there are those living away from their friends and families as they serve their country in different assignments and through different branches of the military.
This has had an effect on every congregation throughout the country. Stories such as Wittrock’s are all too common and it is important to consider those over seas and their families in both your thoughts and prayers.
The list of those from Trinity currently overseas include:
SPC Neil Scott
CPL Matthew Nesting
SPC Alison Suckow
Capt. Jason Bishop
SGT Ryan Baldner
Capt. Michael Aamold
SSG Steven Kreps
Capt. Jeremy Aamold
SGT Dave Pederson
Army Pilot Trace Johnson
SPC Steve Sundberg*
SSGT Joseph Brecht
Capt. Adam Gilbertson
Senior Airman Brendan Balko
Capt. Kristen Shifrin
Capt. Matt Shifrin
LT Col. Lannie Runck
SGT Alisha Gregoire
Capt. Carlton Matson
MSGT Todd Nappe
LT Brett K. Cartwright, Chaplain
SPC Raymond Pizarro
BM3 Roque J. Blais*
SPC Scot Jordan
Capt. Anne Braden
SGT Amy Pinkney
Capt. Anna Wittrock
Chaplain Bruce Krogstad
Randall Griffeth*
PFC Larrie C. Cherrey
1st LT. Amber Balker
David Thomas
SSG Monte Culbertson
SPC Casey Thoemke*
*Stationed in combat zones
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Habitat for Humanity a Relentless Effort
Despite some bad weather, bad conditions and just plain bad luck, the Trinity Lutheran Church and Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity project kicked off over the weekend and will continue through September.
A combination of rain and spring flooding left ground conditions difficult and the scheduled day to start building had to be pushed back two weeks to July 18.
And unfortunately the bad karma didn’t end there. Monday saw a large crew of 40 people show up to help but rain wiped out half a day of work for the volunteers.
However, according to Trinity Pastor Marsha Anderson, it won’t have too much of an affect on when the project is completed. The house should be completed toward the end of September and the new owners will be moving in and receiving junk mail already in October.
Just a short time in to the build things seem to be going very well.
“It already looks like a house,” Pastor Anderson said with a laugh.
As would be assumed in the process of building a house, the initial building work has been on the construction of the frame and exterior.
Trinity has been joined in its efforts by area Lutheran Churches Good Shepherd of Moorhead and St. Mark’s and Olivet in Fargo. The turnout has been positive which includes those individuals that have taken time to deliver food and supplies for the workers.
And everyone seems to keep a very positive and Christian attitude.
“It’s really fun and everyone is excited to be working,” Pastor Anderson said. “And the site leaders have been very patient showing people what to do. It’s really a fun atmosphere.”
A combination of rain and spring flooding left ground conditions difficult and the scheduled day to start building had to be pushed back two weeks to July 18.
And unfortunately the bad karma didn’t end there. Monday saw a large crew of 40 people show up to help but rain wiped out half a day of work for the volunteers.
However, according to Trinity Pastor Marsha Anderson, it won’t have too much of an affect on when the project is completed. The house should be completed toward the end of September and the new owners will be moving in and receiving junk mail already in October.
Just a short time in to the build things seem to be going very well.
“It already looks like a house,” Pastor Anderson said with a laugh.
As would be assumed in the process of building a house, the initial building work has been on the construction of the frame and exterior.
Trinity has been joined in its efforts by area Lutheran Churches Good Shepherd of Moorhead and St. Mark’s and Olivet in Fargo. The turnout has been positive which includes those individuals that have taken time to deliver food and supplies for the workers.
And everyone seems to keep a very positive and Christian attitude.
“It’s really fun and everyone is excited to be working,” Pastor Anderson said. “And the site leaders have been very patient showing people what to do. It’s really a fun atmosphere.”
To become involved, the build site is located at 3504 10th Avenue South in Moorhead, MN. You can also contact Pastor Marsha Anderson or Gretchen Kindseth at Trinity at 236-1333.
Below are some photos from the first week on the job.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A Step Forward...
If you’re not used to it, any attempt to keep up with all the advancements in technology over the past five and ten years can make your head spin. And this is especially true today.
Now days it’s a burning question where you need to go to get an update. Should I “google it”? Should I check the web? Do I need this new thing called Twitter? Is it on facebook? Will a notice be sent to my blackberry? Can I see a video on YouTube? Or will it somehow play on my ipod?
If you didn’t understand all of that have no fear. If you don’t know any better, and especially today, if you aren’t keeping up with the advances you might think you are going backwards in the technology world. It’s a common feeling. Seriously, what ever happened to rotary phones, typewriters and even fax machines?
With this in mind, Trinity Lutheran Church of Moorhead, MN, is taking a step into the 21st century by taking advantage of one extremely popular form of media – blogging.
Once, twice potentially three times per week different activities, happenings, advice or devotions from the wonderful staff at Trinity Lutheran Church will find their way onto this blog site.
Now days it’s a burning question where you need to go to get an update. Should I “google it”? Should I check the web? Do I need this new thing called Twitter? Is it on facebook? Will a notice be sent to my blackberry? Can I see a video on YouTube? Or will it somehow play on my ipod?
If you didn’t understand all of that have no fear. If you don’t know any better, and especially today, if you aren’t keeping up with the advances you might think you are going backwards in the technology world. It’s a common feeling. Seriously, what ever happened to rotary phones, typewriters and even fax machines?
With this in mind, Trinity Lutheran Church of Moorhead, MN, is taking a step into the 21st century by taking advantage of one extremely popular form of media – blogging.
Once, twice potentially three times per week different activities, happenings, advice or devotions from the wonderful staff at Trinity Lutheran Church will find their way onto this blog site.
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