Sorry this posting is a little late!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: this month’s newsletter contains a number of articles which are most definitely worth your time to read, and I urge you to do so and to forward them to others. There are a number of important and edifying topics in this newsletter for us to consider.
The one item of importance from me this month is that confirmation class is resuming; if you have any children or grandchildren which would benefit from catechetical instruction, please let me know—and please keep our youth in your prayers as they study the faith in a world that is increasingly hostile to the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus.
August Every Day Faith
By Kyla RodriguezNavigating the world of
parenting can often feel like running a gauntlet. How to birth your child, feed
your child, and help her sleep; what he should play with and read; the daily
schedule; clothing choices, schooling choices ... the list of opinions and
“best practices” in these areas are daunting and often discouraging.
One of my favorite aspects of God’s Word
is the way that it shapes my parenting. There are many, many challenges of
parenthood that you cannot be prepared for ahead of time, and yet every time I
turn to Scripture, I find hope, encouragement, and insight that guides our
family’s day-to-day life. God’s Word gives me a lens and a foundation as I
navigate parenthood.
Difficult Developmental Seasons
My own children
are currently toddler age, which means our household is in a season when little
people are figuring out how to interact with the world on their own terms. We
are past the newborn and baby days of constant nap- and feeding-schedule
adjustments and are almost past teething, but that has dumped us right into
potty training, time-outs, and big feelings about everything.
As my husband
and I continue to navigate how to best help our children interact with other
people, we return again and again to the framework found in the fruit of the
Spirit (Galatians
5:22–23).
Fruit of the Spirit Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I have yet to face a
situation with my toddlers when we could not discuss a behavior using this set
of vocabulary.
When a toy is grabbed away without asking, we
talk about self-control, patience, and kindness. When the silverware is put
away from the dishwasher, we talk about faithfulness and love. Using the fruit
of the Spirit as ongoing vocabulary that we measure our actions against
also helps me segue
into opportunities to
remind my children (and myself) of their Baptisms.
Reminded of Our Need In times when we are struggling with
patience and gentleness, we are reminded of why we need the Spirit to be at
work. Left to our own sinful tendencies, things would get and stay pretty ugly.
In times when we are celebrating kind or self-controlled actions, we are humbly
reminded that our ability to act in that way comes through the work of the Holy
Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit gives our family a common language and framework to use
as we navigate toddlerhood and
parenthood together. Reminding one another of our Baptisms allows confession
and forgiveness to be spoken more easily.
As you continue to navigate your own season
of parenting, be encouraged by God’s faithfulness. In His Word, you will find
truth and a firm foundation to hold you up as you discern the many choices and
circumstances you face each day.
June 18, 2020 Council
Meeting
Pastor’s Report: Pastor Humphrey reported he purchased a
streaming video camera for use in services and meetings, and the LWML has said
they will subsidize the purchase cost. He reports the parsonage is having some
water leak into the basement storage room, the crabapple tree has lost a few
more branches and may need removed, and the garden shed has wood rot and may
need repairs and painting. He also notes the handrail on the back stairs of the
parsonage is worn out and in need of repair. Pastor reports he has looked
briefly at the rehab grants available through the Village of Morrill and does
not believe that Trinity qualifies. He reports Thursday Morning Bible Study has
resumed, and is planning to resume Sunday Morning Bible Study as well.
Upcoming events include Wyoming District LWML convention on
June 20, 9-1:30; Trinity’s LWML will meet in parish hall. The Men’s Retreat is
June 26-28 at Lion’s Club Camp on Casper Mt. Lander Youth Camp is August 2-6,
youth 10-18 are encouraged to attend, and counselors are needed.
No New business was addressed.
The meeting closed with Lord’s Prayer;
Adjourn: 7:40pm
Levi Bowlin, Elder
July 16, 2020 Voters’ Meeting
Called to Order: 7:02pm
The July Voters' Meeting was
called to order by Elder Don Bowlin.
Pastor Humphrey led an opening devotion from Ruth chapter 1. The minutes
of the May Voters’ meeting were read and approved, with the clarification that
Pastor Humphrey will be on vacation from August 10-17 and Pastor Found will be
covering service on August 16. The
Treasurer’s Report was read by Julie Alkire. A motion was made by Rudy and seconded by
Gerald to approve the Treasurer’s Report. The motion carried.
Trustees Report: Jim reports
Castro roofing has assessed the roof of the church.
Elder’s Report: No
information to report this date per Don Bowlin.
Sunday School Report: Melvina
reports Kylee and Zandee are preparing to resume Sunday School in the near
future, presumably August.
Pastor’s Report: Pastor
Humphrey reports he has gotten the issues of the video streaming worked out. He
reports the parsonage is having some water leak into the basement storage room,
the crabapple tree has lost a few more branches and may need removed, and the
garden shed has wood rot and may need repairs and painting. He also notes the
handrail on the back stairs of the parsonage is worn out and in need of repair.
He reports he has been in contact with 2nd VP Rev. Ted Bourret, who
has said Trinity may appoint a new Chairman with approval of the Voter’s
Assembly, to cover the remainder of the term.
Pastor reports that both
Thursday and Sunday Morning Bible Studies have resumed and encourages all who
can to attend. Pastor reports upcoming events include Lander youth camp August
2-6, youth 10-18 are encouraged to attend. He also notes that the Consortium
for Classical Lutheran Education just wrapped up its annual conference in
Casper at Mount Hope. Videos are available online: CCLE.org.
Old Business: Melvina reports
she found some maps or schematics of wiring and sewage lines for the church,
and would like to have Trinity keep them. It was decided to keep them in the
church safe.
New Business: Virgil Ritz
volunteered to take the vacant Chairman position, and a motion was made by Rudy
and 2nd by Susan to nominate Virgil Ritz as Chairman. The motion
carried. The Chairman asked for volunteers to form a committee to look into a
celebration in 2021 for the 75th anniversary of Trinity. Elmer, Wes
and Virgil volunteered for said committee. The Chairman reports he will be
appointing a nominating committee before the October Voter’s Meeting.
With no further business to
address a motion was made by Don B. and seconded by Rudy to adjourn. The motion
carried. The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Adjourned: 7:35pm
John Bowlin
DATES TO REMEMBER FOR AUGUST
August 1 Bruce
and Debra Schneider Anniversary
August 2 Harlan
Kurtz Baptismal date
August 13 Don
and Barb Bowlin Anniversary
August 17 Karissa Bowlin Birthday
August 19 Gary
and Susan Williams Anniversary
August 19 ZanDee
Hendren Birthday
August 21 Leo
Jayne Birthday
August 24 Amanda
Landreth Birthday
August 24 Rudy
& Patty Landreth Anniversary
August 28 Kenny
and ZanDee Hendren Anniversary
August 28 Ryker Bowlin Birthday
LWML Corner
1. Next meeting is
Sunday, September 13 a 2:00 pm. We will have a guest speaker from Public Health
talking about Covid & other communicable diseases and proper defense. The
congregation is invited to join us.
2. September-Closing Devotions: Sandy Heine.
Hostesses: Nancy Wohl & Sandy Heine.
3. Trinity LWML will be taking on a mission project each
quarter and would like to invite the congregation to assist us in this
undertaking. It is a great way for us to work together to help those less
fortunate than us!
For the current quarter, we will be collecting items to
complete Orphan Grain Train Christmas boxes. The lists will be available on the
table with the list for the school bags. It is imperative that you stick to the
list, as the boxes are usually opened by government officials at their
destination & if they find anything not noted in the customs log they
will confiscate the shipment! We will be doing this project through the
end of September. Bring the items in a bag & we will get the boxes for
shipping.
FYI-for those of you who may not be familiar with Orphan
Grain Train, they are primarily a volunteer organization. That means that over
95% of monies they collect go to the charities they serve & not for
administrative costs which is not true of so many other organizations!
