Test Driving Theology

Dear Trinity friends,

We have made the difficult decision to cancel, postpone or reshape all programming at Trinity through Friday, March 27.  This is a bold act of love that aligns us with the best efforts of our larger community, state and nation to ensure the health of all who live here.  Here’s what that means:

• There will be no meetings or gatherings between today (March 16) and Friday, March 27. No committees, ministry teams or outside groups will meet during that time.
• Wednesday evening programming, including meals, will be cancelled on March 18 and March 25.
• We will livestream our Wednesday evening Lenten service on both of these evenings, at 6:00pm.
• Weekend worship on March 21 & 22 will not be held face-to-face. Instead, we will livestream our worship service on Sunday, March 22 at 9:30am.
• Trinity Nursery School will follow the direction of the Governor. Classes will be in session Monday and Tuesday, and then will be closed the March 18 – 27.
• Meals of Hope, and the Wildcat and Husky Pantry programs will continue, but on a “pick up your meals and take them with you” format.

This is a rapidly changing situation, and so we are making decisions week by week.  Early next week, we will make a determination as to what we will be doing after Friday, March 27.

We are always concerned about those in our community who are vulnerable.  If you are in need of assistance, or aware of someone in our community who needs help during this health crisis, please contact us.  It is critical that as a community we continue to care for each other, especially the vulnerable.

Over the next two weeks, the Trinity staff and some volunteers will be calling every family in the congregation to check in, to ask if there are prayer requests, and to see if there is some way that we can be of assistance during stressful times.  If you are interested in being a part of our “Calling Team” to check in with people, please contact the church office (507.451.4520) or email us at Trinity@tlcowatonna.org.

Communications through the end of April will focus on our weekly eNewsletter, updates through social media, the Trinity website and my blog.  Because things are changing so quickly with our schedule, we will not be sending out the April Messenger.  Instead we will rely on these quicker forms of communication.

We are so grateful to all of you for continuing to support the church and its ministries through your regular financial giving.  Your generosity is so important for continuing the congregation’s many commitments and for sustaining Trinity’s operations.  It is especially important during this health crisis that we stay on top of our budget, both to pay our expenses and to support our partner ministries who are doing important work caring for those in need.

We have options for people continuing to give during this time when we will not be gathering at the Trinity building:

• Checks can be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Lincoln Ave., Owatonna, MN 55060
• Options to give electronically as a one-time online gift, through “text-to-give” and through Simply Giving can be found at www.tlcowatonna.org/give.

These are anxious days.  In my sermon this weekend, I said: “In these moments…in these chaotic days, Jesus shows up.  Just like with the woman at the well, Jesus sneaks up on us with his love, and his grace, and his willingness to slog through the craziness right here alongside us.  Jesus breaks through the barrier between heaven and earth, between life and death…for you.”

As people of faith, we know and trust that God is with us.  And these are days when we rely on those promises.

God is with you.
In Christ,

Pastor Todd
Senior Pastor

Kathy Chatelaine
President – Congregational Council