When I was a kid, my family had one of those big, clunky console televisions. People of a certain age will remember them. They weighed as much as a small car. The screen was this big, but the heavy wooden cabinet was this big. Every so often the picture would get fuzzy or the sound would cut out. We’d … More Together for Good
Dear Friends in Christ, I have some good news to share. Last week, congregational council president, Marla Holt and I wrote to you about the water problems in the lower level of our building and the belief that we were facing a major water mitigation project. At that time, the estimated cost was close to … More A Surprise Blessing and an Invitation to Help
Hello friends! First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for being here. Thank you for deeply caring about the life of this congregation. Thank you for your time, your energy , your faithfulness, your generosity, and your commitment to the mission and ministry of this church. Trinity is not just a building; it is … More Pastor Todd’s Annual Report to the Congregation
Have you ever wondered what people really think about you? I mean like, after the meeting is over…after you leave the room…after you run into someone at the grocery store, or at a restaurant. After you walk away, do you wonder what they may be thinking or saying about you, behind your back? Or have you ever … More The Gospel According to Facebook
Thanks to all of you for being here today! I’m so glad to see you. I love these meetings…I love them because they are an opportunity for us to talk together about our mission, and our ministry…and there are very few things that I get more excited about than talking about the work that God has called … More “The State of Trinity” – The Annual Report from Pastor Todd to the Congregation
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is the TV show Shark Tank. Anybody else? (Come on…admit it!). This show has pretty-much no real redeeming value, but, there are occasional moments when in an attempt to avoid my “to-do list,” I’ll watch an episode…or two. For the uninitiated, Shark Tank is a show where budding inventors and entrepreneurs … More Where Does the Time Go?
Laura Jensen has accepted the children’s ministry position that opened after Sheri Berg retired last spring. Laura grew up in Owatonna and graduated from Owatonna High School in 2002. Laura and her husband, Cory, have 2 amazing children, Corrina (age 15) and Porter (age 11), along with 2 dogs and a cat. Laura loves to … More Welcome Laura Jensen to Trinity’s Children’s Ministry Position!
Dear friends, I pray for your joy and excitement as we enter the season of Advent together. We look forward to the gift of Jesus, and the love and hope that he brings. I am writing to invite you to a special congregational meeting to be held at 12pm on Sunday, December 11. Our call committee has been working … More Congregational Meeting to Call New Pastor this Sunday!
On Sunday, Lori and I drove down to Mason City, Iowa to worship at Trinity Lutheran Church. The senior pastor there, Rev. Dan Gerrietts, and his wife, Molly, are good friends of Lori’s and mine. So in addition to worshiping there, we got to spend a little time with them. Trinity Mason City is a … More Worshiping at Trinity: Mason City
On Wednesday of this week, I had the opportunity to spend time and draw wisdom from two different ELCA congregations in the Los Angeles area. Both congregations were suggested to me as sites to visit because they are known for thinking creatively about how these churches connect with their community. Salem Lutheran Church in Glendale … More Meeting the Community Where It’s At
Test Driving Theology 