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STAFF

Pastor Nathan Luong Home: 507-794-5641 Cell: 651 274-4529

pastor@trinity sleepyeye.org

Parish Administrative Secretary

Darlene Brummund Home: 507-276-8013

secretary@trinity sleepyeye.org

Financial Secretary Pat Stevermer

Home: 507-794-7112 finance@trinity sleepyeye.org

Music Director Mary Mulry

Home: 507 227-9880 music@trinity sleepyeye.org

Educational Director Julia Coulson

507 227-1593 education@trinity

sleepyeye.org

Youth Director Maren Sellner 507 661-0097 youth@trinity sleepyeye.org

Custodian Alex Lazatin

In This Issue Pastor Nate…. 2-3 Bishop Jon… 4-5 Children, Youth, and Family... 6-7 Notices… 8-10 Stewardship….. 11

“Meals that Matter” are still available downstairs.

The Trinity Tidings Trinity Lutheran Church

217 Brackenridge SW, Sleepy Eye, MN

Web: www.trinitysleepyeye.org

Vol. 52 June 15, 2020 No. 10

Worship Schedule Worship is Online. Watch the website and facebook for updates.

You may call the staff at home at the numbers listed.

Trinity’s Mission Statement We are a community where Jesus is Lord: our mission is to invite, welcome,

nurture, and equip all people to be disciples in His name.

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In the last issue of the Tidings I wrote about the most important pastoral care lesson I have learned: “If you’re going to minister well, you have to seek to live in the reality of the other.” It is a lesson grounded in the acknowledgment that my lived reality is not the same as another person’s. Therefore, I need to do the necessary work of listening so that I can meet them where they are. As I wrote, little did I understand how important that lesson would be in the days that followed.

I want to be very clear with you: I’m going to talk about race. I’m going to talk about my own experience and about the things I have learned. Before I go any further, I ask you to remember the pastoral care lesson. Our experiences are different. I need the space to share mine. I’m going to touch on subjects that will likely make you uncomfortable. However, we have to begin to live into the reality of our world. It does us no good if we are unwilling to even engage in learning and thinking about race in our society. So I ask you to trust me and respect me enough to keep reading with an open mind. When things get difficult or we disagree on something, please keep reading. Know that I’m open to having this honest discussion with you.

Race has been an interesting spot of intersectionality in my life. I am a person of color, and I’ve always identified that way. I have dealt with plenty of racism in my life. From death threats and explosives in my mailbox to the more mundane of derogatory comments and mistrust. But I am aware that since my shade of brown is lighter than most of my brothers and sisters of color, that I’ve also been the beneficiary of a tremendous amount of privilege. While that is at times a blessing, it is also a curse. I often get to see what people say about people of color when they think no one of color is around. It’s appalling.

The term privilege is one that often sends people off the deep end. I want to be clear about what privilege means in terms of race relations. Each person in our world has a set of hurdles they need to clear in life. Meaning we all have our own struggles. In terms of race privilege, it simply means that the color of our skin has not been one of the hurdles that has been placed in our path. It is not to say that life has been easy, that we haven’t had to work hard, that we haven’t struggled or anything of that nature. It simply means that our struggles have been different than our brothers and sisters of color. It’s not something we need to feel guilty about; only realize it and work for change.

I’ve also encountered a lot of people that will say that they aren’t racist, and that this really isn’t their problem to fix. Half of that statement is true. The vast majority of people I know are not racist and would never dream of treating someone differently based on their skin color. That is why the discussion about privilege is important. Even though the individual might not be racist, there are structures and histories in our society that are, and that have benefitted many of us unknowingly. We are interested in learning about our forefathers, and how our country’s history informs our society today. So, we ought to also be willing to learn about how our history has denigrated people, and the ramifications of that continue on to this day. Learning that and combatting it is some of the important anti-racism work that needs to be done.

One of the more popular statements that I’ve seen people make is that they don’t see color, only people. While that is a beautiful sentiment, it’s actually quite problematic. If we don’t notice color, then we blind ourselves to the reasoning that certain things are happening in our world. If you refuse to see color, then you excuse yourself from any stake in the conversation of racism. Instead, we need to see color and embrace the beauty and diversity of it.

A similar argument must be made for the black lives matter vs. all lives matter statements. It is absolutely true that all lives matter. But all lives are not being treated equally right now. Studies show that crime happens at a similar rate across racial lines. Black on black crime happens at the same rate as white on white crime. Interracial crime also happens at the same rate. Yet, people of color are arrested and charged at a higher rate proportionally, and they often receive stiffer punishments for equal crimes. If you are white, ask yourself “Would I honestly switch places with a black person in our society?” Your honest answer is likely no. That’s the point. To draw attention to a disenfranchised and oppressed group is not to diminish any other group. It is simply to say that group needs to matter too. If you truly believe that all lives matter, and you see the reality in our world, then you should have no problem with the idea as a whole. However, please don’t read this as a blanket endorsement of the BLM organization because it is not. This discussion is much more nuanced than that.

I have also seen a false equivalency drawn between black lives and blue lives (police officers). It is true that the lives of police officers matter as well, and that we need to give them our respect for putting their lives on the line and protecting us. They do perform a critical service for us. However, drawing a direct correlation between the two is incorrect. That is because being a police officer is a choice. It is a career. One entered into knowing full well the risks that come with the job. Being black or brown is not a choice. It is a daily reality, and an inseparable part of who they are. Officers get to take

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off the uniform, while people of color don’t get to stop being of color. Perhaps it says something really bad about the state of race relations in our country when a job where one’s life is routinely at risk is placed on equal footing to the color of someone’s skin.

Again, do not misinterpret my statements, or read into them something that is not there. I am not saying in any way that we should disrespect police officers, or that black lives are more important than any others. I am not in support of looting, violence, rioting, or destruction of property. I am simply saying that there is racial disparity in our society. To say differently is to ignore tremendous evidence to the contrary, and deny the experience of an entire group of people. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand. I have lived with racism my entire life. My very life and my worth have been called into question many times. To be perfectly honest, there is a lot of racism around our community. I hear it daily. So, I am calling on each person to think carefully about the way we think and talk about it. If you have been put off by any of these statements, before you type your strongly worded message to me, consider what I’ve actually said that might be incorrect. Ask yourself what in your experience has been triggered by this statement. If you would like to accuse me of partisanship, consider what I’ve said that has anything to do with politics. I’ve only commented on the fact that there is racism in our country and people are dying because of it. You can’t tell me that it’s not present in our society: I experience it all the time. As I’ve said, I’m more than happy to talk about this with you, but I would encourage you to process and think deeply about this all first.

Hopefully, you are asking yourself what you can do at this point to help race relations. There are actually several things each of us can do. The first is simply to open yourself up. We as a society hate to realize that we don’t know everything, and that we may have been wrong on something. So the first step is to open yourself up to learning. To realizing that your reality and lived experience is not the fullness of the story. Our own experience doesn’t capture the complexity of this issue. We have to first be willing to hear a different side of the story.

To do so, the easiest way is to get to know someone of a different ethnic background. Listen carefully about their experience. If you don’t know of anyone or don’t have that opportunity, please consider how that lack of interaction might be swaying your viewpoint. It is easy to dismiss things when it isn’t personal. Things are much different when it’s someone you know. In that case, please find a book. Find written stories of people’s experience. Read it and believe them. It is improper for us to pretend we are the experts on someone else’s experience. Allow them the space to be the expert on their own life and experience.

Once we’ve taken that step, we need to allow marginalized communities the space for their voices to be heard. We need to allow those communities to dictate things that might help them, what they need as part of the solution, and to define what things hold meaning to them. We need to figure out ways that we can become allies and to use our voices and positions to help fix the problem. Communities of color have had to shoulder this load alone for far too long. It is time we take responsibility for being part of the solution. We need to become engaged and informed. We have to stop listening to the sound bites on cable news and start listening to each other. Thirty second clips on the news will never capture the true complexity of the situation. We have to commit ourselves to digging deeper.

Finally, you may be thinking to yourself that this is entirely out of line. But let me be clear. This is a matter of faith and life. My firm belief in the equality of all people is grounded in my belief that God created all people, and loves all people just the same. To believe in the supremacy of one group is a slap in the face of God who created such beautiful diversity in the world. As a person of color, it is also a slap in my face. I have lived my life with racism. It is a near daily calculation for me to ask if it’s worth it for me to speak up at something that has offended me, or if I should just swallow my pride again. It is almost a daily occurrence to hear something that makes me feel like less of a person. I’m tired of it. Plus I know that my experience isn’t half as bad as the experience of people of a darker color. Furthermore, on my wall hangs my letter of call from this congregation. It spells out exactly what is expected of me. This was the document voted on when you called me to become your pastor, and read to me at my installation. In that document, it clearly states that an expectation of me is “to speak for justice on behalf of the poor and oppressed.” It also states in the constitution of the ELCA that “Every ordained minister shall speak publically to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.” I will not stay silent when God, the Church, and even you have called me to speak. I hope you will not stay silent either. The world will not change for the better while good people say nothing.

I leave you with this: A dear friend of mine once told me that while God will forgive us, history will not. We need to make sure we’re on the right side of history. What’s at the core of this is simply to believe that God created and loves all people. As God’s people, we need to work to make sure that all people are treated as such. God’s peace, Pastor Nate

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Now What? Up to 50% Worship Space? June 9, 2020 by SW MN Synod +Bishop Jon V. Anderson

Like you, we were not aware this new position of the State Dept. of Health was coming last week, Friday, June 5th. The meeting on the previous Tuesday where the state shared information in the past did not happen this week after the African American Clergy called for a silent march of Minnesota clergy. Here are some thoughts about the question, “Now what?” We are learning to live with this virus while reducing risks for the sake of our neighbors. Our neighbors with risk factors and our communities will be impacted by our choices. We are called to love and worship God as we have been doing in public worship (online and outside) and through our lives lived out in our many callings. We are also called to love our neighbors. Our care in this work is driven by that love. The defined phases imagined in the original CDC documents have become blurry. Some states are having very different experiences than other states. Some counties are having very different experiences than other counties. We are now seeing leaders balance preventing transmission and supporting the need to open economic activity. Each of your contexts are unique. Outside worship and other gathering continues to seem better than inside worship because of air exchange. Duration matters. Spacing between people matters. Masks, while controversial, seem to reduce the odds of making others ill if we happen to be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic. Staying home if we don’t feel right or have symptoms will be important. Online Worship – First, many congregations will continue to find it best in their situation to continue having worship online alone at this time. For some it will be to buy time to plan for face to face services. For others it will be a mid-term or longer-term strategy as we learn more about how the virus will impact us in the coming weeks as the state relaxes restrictions of many kinds. For others, given the risk factors for the pastors, it will be their ongoing strategy until we have better treatments or a vaccine. Even if worship starts to happen in your congregation face to face or in drive in forms, I encourage people to offer online worship of some kind for those who cannot attend because of risk factors. I would ask that we not leave our neighbors with risk factors behind, but rather find ways to plan so they continue to be part of our worship and congregational life. Simultaneous live streaming is the least energy intense. Hybrid council/committee and faith formation approaches will be important as well. If some people meet face to face, plan to include others online or on conference calls. Drive In Worship – Some have or will move into drive in or outside services. More of our congregations are exploring and appreciating drive in worship. FM Transmitters are used in most places to make this possible. During this summer season, this seems to be the safest option after online worship because we are contained in our cars. Face to Face Outdoor Worship Experiences – Larger Group – Some have gathered to worship with physical distancing between households who bring their own chairs. If I was leading a service like this, I think I would put down distance markers (like white paint lines) to help people stay aware of appropriate physical distance. If the weather is bad with rain or threatened weather issues, it is important to have clarity about what happens then. Having an amplification system will be important if you get larger. Outside, the guidance number stayed at 250 with physical distancing.

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Face to Face Outside or Inside Small Group Experience Strategy – Some are planning to or have begun to have worship outside or inside in smaller groups. I find this attractive. In pole barns there would be cover and room to space out. Garages are also places that can be open and covered. Face to Face Indoor Worship – Some will start having small group worship gatherings inside or already have been. This has been done in the sanctuary with folks spread out in pews, or in front of large sanctuaries where there is a lot of space. It has also been done in fellowship halls because it is easier to physically distance there in their cases. Duration of your service will be important. Shorter services will be wise. Cleaning bathrooms will be important. Physical distancing your sinks is a detail to not forget. Multiple services will require multiple cleanings of the worship space. Process Thoughts – The fact that we can do something does not mean that we must do something. Anyone who is over 65 or carry serious risk factors, please do not attend worship or other gatherings of groups that put you at risk. If your pastor or congregational staff members are at risk, I would ask you to make reasonable accommodations to protect your staff, minister and or pastor. It will help everyone if people know you are working on the next steps for your congregation and sharing the council’s discernment and process forward. There will be less anxiety. We (your synod staff, congregational leaders, your worship team, your COVID-19 Team and pastor) need to reserve the right to listen, learn and change our minds during this. Keep learning and adjusting. When 511 Epidemiologists Expect to Fly, Hug and Do 18 Other Everyday Activities Again, The New York Times. Avoid contact, confinement and crowds. And make realistic choices, StarTribune How to Maintain Social Distance as the U.S. Reopens, The New Yorker COVID-19: Straight Answers from Top Epidemiologist Who Predicted the Pandemic, Blue Zones (Dr. Michael Osterholm interview) If you are surprised by the swiftness of the state’s increasing of possible percentages for inside worship, remember that you can still go slow, steadily, and carefully move forward with care. Some were planning to take the step of moving to 25% in the coming weeks or months. if you have planned for that and want to, do just that. Learn to do that percentage, then step toward higher percentages. Staged layers of greater numbers will give you time to enter this season well. Not all people in congregations nor pastors will all agree. You will not get it perfect. Take your time and move intentionally to increase the odds you reduce the risks for those who lead and participate, while we are living with the virus. Don’t get stuck in the state’s percentages. Go forward at the pace that fits your situation and decisions. We can create our own percentages – This week 10% – then 25% – then 35% etc., evaluating as we move forward. If we are below the state’s guidance and have solid plans, we can amp up the percentages or numbers for inside worship when we think that is appropriate for our community of faith. If we decide to do something new, planning and practice will also help that go more smoothly. Finally, have a conversation about what might cause you to stop having worship face to face. This may be a long and challenging journey. If the virus starts to take off locally or in the state and ICU beds are close to being overwhelmed for everyone’s sake we may have to change back to online or safer forms of worship. We are learning to live with this virus while reducing risks for the sake of our neighbors.

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Director of Youth and Family Ministry: Education Coordinator:

Maren Sellner Julia Coulson youth@trinitysleepyeye.org education@trinitysleepyeye.org

An online book group through our church is being formed as a way to advance our ability to connect with one another as well as grow in our understanding of topics that are related to our spiritual life. Cheryl Neidt has created a group called TLC Sleepy Eye Book Group through Facebook, and the same discussion will also be available through an e-mail group. The first book we will use is Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson. The recent movie of the same name is based on the key story about how a wrongfully accused man sentenced to death is later found not guilty. There will be much to discuss and consider, especially in light of our recent developments and discord attributed to racism. Copies of the book are available through the city library, ordering online, or downloading the book from an App such as Audible. I just purchased 4 copies. Two have been claimed, and there are two more to claim by those interested. We would like to begin reading the book during the last week in June. The format would be that a question or comment would be provided at the beginning of the week, and readers would be able to respond to one another’s ideas or add their own comments during the week for the chapter of focus. The group is open to all church members/age groups (youth through senior citizens).

Facebook users ask to join: TLC Sleepy Eye Book Group Email users send a message to Cheryl to let her know that you want to be a part of that group: cheryl.neidt@gmail.com

Though we are all disappointed that many summer activities have been cancelled, including our Bible Camps at Green Lake and Shores of St. Andrew, there is an exciting opportunity for you to check out! Green Lake Lutheran Ministries has developed a CAMP AT HOME program for FREE! Based on this summer’s theme “We are the Church: Together and Apart,” this program includes daily worships and daily activities. Head to www.gllm.org/we-are-the-church for ways you and your family can join in the fun this summer!

Our junior and senior high youth, however, are still heading to Christikon Bible Camp in the beautiful mountains of southern Montana in mid July. Please contin-ue to pray for these youth and their chaperones as they prepare for these life-changing experiences. If you are interested in donating to this group, please write “Christikon” in the memo line of your check and mail to the church office! For our youth and families attending this trip, please make arrangements to turn in your camp paperwork to Maren ASAP!

Lastly, on June 22 at 7PM, we will be hosting a virtual Youth Board meeting to wish our senior youth board members well as they leave us, and welcome our NEW youth board members to the group! If you or your child is a member of our youth board, please try to join us for fellowship and re-connecting!

Happy birthday this month to… Calvin & Millie Sellner, Levi Johnson, Kelsey Ladd, Nora Coulson, and Jack Shroepfer! (Did we miss you? Let us know – we may not have your most current information!)

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The love and caring of Trinity Lutheran Church and our church family has helped so much at this difficult time. Thank you for the cards, calls, prayer shawl, and Meals that Matter. We are blessed. Rose, Levi, & Declan, the family of Don Wall

Thank you for the gift bags. Such a kind thing to do for the boys. Rose Wall

Dear Trinity Lutheran WELCA, Thank you for your recent charitable gift of $100.00. Your support and generosity enables us to serve individuals in the local area. We are grateful for your kindness and your continued support. Linda Carruthers, Treasurer of the Springfield Area Food Shelf

Members of our Trinity Family, With appreciation for your prayer, kindness and friendship always… Harold, Mark & Kathy, and Donna, the family of Marian Thiessen

Trinity Lutheran Church, Thank you very much for the beautiful blanket and bible! I will put them both to good use next year! Also, thank you for hosting A Baccalaureate and making it special for us senior! Thank you, Alexa Steffl

TLC and WELCA Women, Thank you so much for the Study Bible and the beautiful quilt. They are both very special gifts. Ethan Fischer

WE PRAY FOR ALL WHO GRIEVE THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES...

The family and friends of Darlene Ann Harris, sister of Robert Thulien, who died on May 27th and was laid to rest June 13th in St. James, Minnesota...

May God’s Spirit comfort and assure these families, and all who grieve. We believe in the promise of our Lord to bring us and those we love together in a new heaven and a new earth where crying, pain and death are no more.

Send an email to the church office at secretary@trinitysleepyeye.org and let Darlene know you want your newsletter via email !!

WATCH OUR SERVICES ON TRINITY’S WEBPAGE ANYTIME www.trinitysleepyeye.org

THE TRINITY TIDINGS NEWSLETTER IS NOW ALSO POSTED ON

WWW.SLEEPYEYEONLINE.COM WATCH THIS SITE FOR COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS.

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(Trinity Lutheran (ELCA) Sleepy Eye MN)

Our Services are broadcast on

Channel 8 each Tuesday and

Thursday at 9:00 a.m. or on our

webpage anytime. Share the Good

News until we can Worship together

again in person!

Articles for the July 1st Tidings are

due June 22. Thank you.

Darlene

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On Tuesday, June 23rd volunteers are needed starting at 3:00 p.m. to help with a food distribution project to be held in the parking lot of the Sleepy Eye event center. Sandy Beito, who leads the social ministries weekend backpack food project, was contacted by second harvest heartland to help facilitate a food distribution for Brown county. We anticipate needing about 20 volunteers. The Sleepy Eye food shelf committee, the Sleepy Eye FFA and the Trinity social ministry board will be providing some volunteers but more are needed. Please let Sandy Beito or myself know if you would be able to help. Thanks! Michal Anderson-Lowther

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TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 217 Brackenridge SW Sleepy Eye, MN 56085 Return Service requested

non profit U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 22 Sleepy Eye, MN

56085

SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:00 AM ON LINE

OR ANYTIME ON TRINITYSLEEPYEYE.ORG

All Activities are cancelled for now.

The newsletter will be published on line every two weeks during this difficult time.

See the front cover for contact numbers. The Staff is currently working from home.