projections of the national office in
Chicago predict that the ELCA will
cease to exist by the end of the century if
nothing happens.
Faith Is Not A Spectator Sport
by Rev. Olaf Baumann
Regular church attendance used to be in
the DNA of Americans. Especially in the
prosperous years after World War II,
religious participation was a given for
many families. The expectation was that
children followed their parents and
grandparents to church and that in time
they would bring their own children so
that the church would always be filled
with many generations of faithful
people.
This is another great opportunity to once
again remind you of the one statement
the bible repeats more than anything
else: DO NOT BE AFRAID! Fear,
anxiety and frustration are understandable in this situation, but they are not
helpful. Reinventing our ministry is not
a tedious and hopeless task that we
would rather have taken off our plates.
On the contrary! Reinventing our
ministry is the most rewarding and
exciting call that God has issued to any
generation of Lutherans since the
reformation was fresh. We get to walk in
the shoes of the reformers as they
reinvented the ministry of the church,
which had failed to spiritually sustain
their communities.
Especially Lutherans were used to this
generational automatism that abundantly
filled the pews with the grandchildren of
those who joined the blessed saints in
Christ. Recruiting new members was not
really necessary and so the outreach
aspect of church life did not receive
prime attention.
Lutherans were treated to a rather rude
awakening when they realized that their
congregational demographics tilted to
the “old” side and their sanctuaries were
increasingly empty. At the moment, the
ELCA experiences church closings on
an unprecedented scale.
Reformation means nothing else than
reinventing ministry.
God’s voice that comes to us in the
scriptures has never fallen silent since
the earliest stories of the relationship
between the human and the divine were
told around nomad campfires under
ancient desert skies. But we have to
retell the ancient story of God’s
abundant grace to a generation of people
who have only marginal church
According to the parochial reports Holy
Trinity saw a 60% decline in worship
attendance and a 65.2 % decline in
membership from 2000 to 2014. This led
and continues to lead to a significant
amount of anxiety. Especially as
1
experience and who profoundly distrust
authority and institutions.
This requires us to spread our joyful
message in constant repetition and
without the expectation of immediate
return. It requires patience, diligence,
and selfless courage, as we have to put
our needs and desires on hold for the
sake of someone else experiencing the
freeing presence of Christ in their lives.
It requires us to leave our comfort zones
and serve the needs of others so that in
turn they can leave their comfort zones
to serve someone else.
This profound skepticism is a healthy
reaction to a society that surrounds all
people with a dense web of lies. Never
before was information so ready
available, but never before was
information so biased. Old school
objective journalism is exceedingly rare.
Media outlets of all persuasions do not
report facts, but spin information
droplets. Corporate communication
infotains to obscure, disguise and
mislead. On- and off line, on radio and
TV, in papers, publications and newsletters, honesty is in rare supply and
every bit of information needs to be
scrutinized, questioned and challenged.
“In my Father’s house there are many
dwelling places.” (John 14.2) Accordingly there is a lot of room under a
Lutheran roof. People are welcome to
bring their passion, their intellect and
their hunger for spiritual and intellectual
fulfillment; their certainty and their
doubt; their faith and their unbelief; their
questions and their answers. This church
is called to be a place where all can be
free to think and where all voices can be
heard. This church is called to be a place
where the bitter divisions of daily live
take a backseat to the unity that connects
us as fellow human beings. This church
is called to be a place where lives are
made new as we gather in a community
of love. This church is called to be a
place where you are proud to bring your
friends and family and where they are
safe, even if they look, live or believe
differently.
In this climate we make the case for our
faith. We reach out to people so that they
experience God’s loving grace as a
counterpoint to merciless selfishness that
dominates the reality of our secular
lives. God loves people not to be revered
in return, to fill the church, or to promote
a set of divine rules, but simply because
people need the experience of love. Only
when people feel loved are they able to
love others. Only when people feel
God’s grace are they able to pour grace
out into the world again. All we do,
believe and teach is not done in fear of
judgment, but in response to the
experience of divine love.
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We all are called to actively participate
to make this church the best it can be.
All of us are called to answer one
question: If I don’t spread God’s word,
who will?
Sunday School at 10:45 AM
Students K – High school begins in the
Chapel for a short opening.
Sunday School presentation in the
sanctuary on Sunday, January 3rd.
Please remember to have a family
member or friend contact the church
office during business hours or Pastor
Kristin Luana at (360) 912-1245 or
Pastor Olaf at (360) 912-1830
if you are hospitalized or need pastoral
care. The hospital does not inform
us if you are admitted.
e-mail: pastorolaf@gmail.com
kristinluana@gmail.com
2, 3 & 4 year olds
Room #302 (upstairs)
Grades K – 3, Room #5
Grades 4 – 6, Room #3
Grades 7 – 12, Youth Room
Children’s Choir
Wednesdays at 4:45 PM in the Choir
Room downstairs. If you have questions,
contact Joy in the church office!
Sunday Morning Worship with
Holy Communion is at 9:30 AM
Mission Statement
Called by God’s grace
to share the good News,
We are the hands of Christ:
opened by love,
extended in welcome,
joined in worship,
offered in service,
reaching for justice.
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Adult Education at 10:45 AM
Congregational Life
Bible Study – Tuesdays, 9:30 – 11:00
AM in the Fireside Room. Read the
New Testament in its Chronological
Order! All are invited!
January 3 – All are welcome to the
Sunday School presentation in the
Sanctuary.
January 10 – Book of Faith – Fireside
Room. People interpret the bible in so
many vastly different ways that we can
only wonder how all these opinions and
supposed biblical truths and rules can
derive from the same Holy Book. We are
blessed as Lutherans to have clear and
inspiring confessional guidelines as to
How to Read the Bible. Learn how
Martin Luther approaches this topic.
Fireside Room.
The Saturday Men’s Breakfast group
in the Fellowship Hall is open to all
men. They start with breakfast at 7:30
AM and conclude around 9:00 AM. All
are welcome!
The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on
the second Monday of each month at 1
PM in the chapel. They will not meet
in January. If you like to knit or
crochet consider sitting in prayerful
knitting with the Prayer Shawl team.
Questions, contact Karen Epler at 5820495 for more information.
January 17 – Mission PartnerSerenity House (see article on page 10)
January 24 - Faith & Society: PBS’
Religion & Ethics program: a
discussion group that views a current
event video that sparks lively
conversation, in Room #301 upstairs.
The Lutheran World Relief Quilters
meet on the 2nd & 4th
Tuesdays at 10 AM in the
quilting room downstairs.
They will meet on
January 12 & 26. If you
would like to sew quilt tops at home,
squares will be provided. Contact
Charlotte Sellin at 452-2788 or
Marianne Ude at 452-3932.
January 31 - 5 Days of Peace,
Reclaiming the Heart of Humanity
presented by Marilyn Eash. (See the
article on page 6 for more information.)
The Radio Broadcasts
All are invited to join others for a
Friday Night Movie in the Youth Room
at 7:00 PM. Popcorn is provided.
Children must be accompanied by an
adult.
Our worship services are broadcast on
KONP 1450 AM at 11:00 AM
4
Holy KOW
Youth Group for
7-12 Graders
Kids on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM
A fun event for families with children
grade 6 and under.
We are excited to announce that HTLC
will start a new Youth Group, beginning
Sunday, January 10 at 7:00 pm in the
Youth Room. Please come if you are in
grades 7-12, and bring a friend or two!
Come for dinner and an activity. The
church provides the main course and
beverage. Families bring side dishes to
share. Questions? Contact Katie Sirguy
at 683-8275
Holy Bookers – Meets on January 6th
at 5:00 PM in our church library. (1st
Wednesday of each month) For more
information call Elizabeth Christian at
457-6121. The following is a list of the
books:
 Jan. - Hearts of Horses by Molly
Glass. Leader: Mary Robson
 Feb. - Blue Shoe by Anne
LaMott. Leader: Rosemary
Peterson
 March - A Man Called Ove
Leader: Ann Marie Rahfeldt
Check out the Holy KOW link on our
web page www.htlcpa.com to check out
the menu and to see how you can
participate.
HTLC Job Openings
Caretaker - The job description and
application is now available in the
church office. If you or someone you
know might be interested in the position,
please pick up an application. Deadline
for applications is January 15, 2016.
“Sunday Evenings Together” at 5:30
PM in the Fireside Room. This informal
group studies the readings that we will
hear the next Sunday in church. We
begin with a simple supper (people take
turns signing up to bring food) and
conclude about 7 PM. This is a great
place for newer members to plug in,
learn, and get to know folks. Everyone
is welcome! Although pastors often
attend, the leadership is flexible and
sometimes the group simply starts
reading the lessons and talking. Bring a
Bible or borrow one from the bookshelf
in the fireside room.
Custodian - We looking for a person
who will be responsible for the cleanliness, appearance, and condition of our
building. Work includes but is not
limited to vacuuming, mopping floors,
gather and disposing trash & recycling,
dusting, and some minor repairs as
needed. This is a part-time job, about
15 hours a week. A job description and
application is available in the church
office.
5
you. Those of you who we have not seen
yet – please do give us a call or shoot us
an email, so that we can set up a meeting
or a visit.
A housekeeping note from the
pastors:
Our first three months here at Holy
Trinity have passed by so fast with many
interesting things to do and enjoyable
people to visit! We are very grateful to
be able to do ministry here with all of
you.
And if there is anything you would like
to talk about, ask about or suggest,
please feel free to come by and do so!
Ministry is team work, and all of us are
part of it.
We are now settling into a routine:
Epiphany Blessings!
Friday is our day off.
Pastors Kristin Luana and Olaf Baumann
Pr. Olaf will take main responsibility for
most of the pastor led adult education
events (Tuesday morning Bible Study;
Sunday Evenings Together).
5 Days of Peace, Reclaiming
the Heart of Humanity
10:45 AM on Sunday
January 31st
Pr. Kristin Luana will take main
responsibility for most pastor led
children and youth education events
(Holy KOW Pastor’s Time; Sunday
Night Youth Group and Confirmation).
In order to work towards Peace, we need
to have a vision of what Peace would
look like, and how it would feel. In
Oct. 2015, at The Parliament for World
Religions, 9500 people of faith from
50 religions and 80 countries joined
together to pray, worship, sing, and
collaborate on creating solutions for
community and global problems. The
feeling of love and respect for all
humanity was palpable.
We will visit our homebound
parishioners every three months
(December, March, June, September).
Some homebound people are visited in
between by members of the Eucharistic
Visiting Team. However, that team does
not have enough members to visit all
homebound people. Please prayerfully
consider if visitation ministry could
become part of your calling as a
Christian. If so, let us know, so that we
can train you.
Marilyn Eash attended the Parliament
and will share stories, insights, and lead
a group discussion on how we can bring
respectful interfaith dialogue and
understanding into our own community.
We want to thank all of you who have
invited us into your houses so far! It is
such a blessing to get known to all of
6
We wish for all of you the peace and
Preschool
joy that the miracle of Christ’s birth
December was a fun and busy month
at preschool. During Jesus time we
learned about the amazing Christmas
story. Mary, Joseph, angels including
Gabriel and the shepherds were all
brings this season and always.
Mrs. Kathy and Mrs. Brenda
Preschool Enrollment
part of our discussions.
Contact the church office at 452-2323 or
pick up an enrollment pack on the table
in the narthex/lobby for more
information.
Red and green were the featured
colors this month and the shape was a
star. The students made decorations
Our three-day class in full. 
The two-day class has four openings!
for our class Christmas tree and also
made gifts and cards for their
parents. In their cards, the students
told what they would like to get for
Christmas and also what they thought
that other members of their family
Fair Trade Ministry
While we always have the fantastic usual
selection of Equal Exchange coffees,
chocolate bars (we carry 9 flavors!), cocoa
and baking cocoa available, did you know
that right now we have:
would like to receive. We would be
interested in knowing whether or not
one dad was given a ninja t-shirt or if
a mother got the gum that she really
 Limited number of special coffee
blends (such as Organic Proud
Mama $8.75)
 Hot cocoas -milk, dark, and spicy
each just $6.00
wanted!
Our classes decorated gingerbread
cookies for a special Christmas party
snack that we shared with the
Get them while they last!!! The church
office is open Monday through Thursday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Sunday if you can
catch a staff member!)
families and the children. The
students enthusiastically rang bells as
they performed songs that we have
been working on throughout advent.
7
Pianist Lisa Lanza brings to the Olympic
Peninsula several decades of experience
both as soloist and collaborator. A student
of Dr. Loran Olsen in recent years, she
holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano
Performance and Accompanying from
The University of Redlands and has
studied with inter-nationally renowned
pianists Maria Joao Pires at Belgais in
Portugal and Paul Roberts at The
Guildhall School of Theater and Arts in
London. She has worked with opera
companies and musical theaters such as
Eugene Opera, Orange County Opera,
San Bernardino Civic Light Opera, Seattle
Civic Light Opera, Seattle Opera,
Issaquah’s Village Theater, and Key City
Players in Port Townsend. As a guest
artist, she has performed in the Music at
St. Leonard’s concert series, Hythe,
England, and the Sierra Opera Institute’s
chamber music series, Mammoth, CA, and
at the Young Artists Competition, Weill
Hall, NY, the Olympic Music Festival,
Quilcene, WA, and the Bloedel Reserve,
Bainbridge Island, WA. She holds first
and second prize medals from the Greater
Spokane Music & Allied Arts Festival for
her interpretations of Beethoven and
Chopin. As a performing member of the
Ladies Musical Club in Seattle, Ms. Lanza
performs regularly at the Seattle Art
Museum, the Frye Museum, and the
Seattle Public Library. Currently, Ms.
Lanza is pianist for Rainshadow Chorale,
Port Townsend Community Chorus, and
Grace Lutheran Church in Port
Townsend.
Lisa Lanza, Pianist
Friday, January 8, 2016
at 7:oo PM
Suggested Donation:
$10 for Adults, $5 for Children
(through High School)
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
A program full of music by well-known
composers for piano, including Ravel,
Chopin, and Debussy, as few as some
lesser known gems by Mompou and
Mores.
A special treat, the Sonata in B minor by
Franz Liszt will be featured for the second
half of the program.
8
Custodian, Terry Smith resigns
his position as part-time
custodian January 15th
We would like to purchase a color inkjet
printer for office use that would
primarily be used to produce posters to
announce coming events. This item is
outside our current budget planning, so
we are hoping for contributions that
would help make this purchase.
Terry has decided to seek less physical
employment. We will miss is everyday
presence in care for our building, but he
will be around at worship and helping
occasionally in the church office. Thank
you Terry for your care for us and our
building.
Brother MFCJ5720DW All-in-One
$214.49 (amazon.com)
Mission Partners for 2015-2016
Friday Food Bags for School
Children
MANNA – Ministers Assisting
Neighbors in Need with Agape
VIMO – Volunteers in Medicine
of the Olympics
First Step Family Support Center
TAFY – The Answer for Youth
Healthy Families of Clallam County
Serenity House
Lutheran Community Services NW
Port Angeles Food Bank
Southwestern Washington Synod
The Port Angeles Food Bank provides
Friday Food Bags for many children at
the various elementary school in the Port
Angeles School District. HTLC has
been contributing to this program with
food donations for the past four years.
Jessica Hernandez, Executive Director
of the Food Bank sent a message that "...
Granola Bars and Mac and Cheese are
the two items we could use the most help
in replenishing". So please bring your
donations to the church and place them
in the specially marked box in the
Narthex. These will periodically be
delivered to the Food Bank or they will
pick them up. Thank you so much for
your help with this project to help
provide weekend meals for those
children in need.
On the third Sunday of each month at
10:45 AM each mission partner will
share about their program.
January 17th we will hear about
Serenity House.
Your general fund gifts will provide a
$250 donation to each of the eight local
mission partners. Additional donations
will also be accepted.
Serenity House
Office New Year Wish
9
Serenity House of Clallam County is a
501(c)3 private non-profit agency that
has provided emergency shelter,
transitional housing, and supportive
services to homeless individuals and
families in Clallam County, Washington
since 1982.
Sunday Morning Coffee
Ministry Needs New Volunteers
Zorba is making plans to
camp a little more with Hank
in their trailer. She would
like to start working with
some new volunteers to fill
this ministry.
Serenity House's mission is to eliminate
homelessness in our community. The
Agency does this by providing safe,
decent, and affordable housing,
including emergency shelter with
appropriate services, to homeless
families and individuals in Clallam
County.
If you think Sunday morning coffee is
important – and you would like to
volunteer, talk to Zorba on Sunday
morning or call her at 477-2672.
Point-in-time counts of the homeless,
which are conducted annually in
January, give evidence that Serenity
House’s efforts are helping. The 2015
count documented 176 homeless people
in the county, compared to the 2006
count of 1,055 homeless people in
Clallam County.
We are Thankful
Thanks to all who shared their time and
crafts at the Advent Crafts Fair on
November. 29th.
Thank you Don and Vicki Corson for the
beautiful poinsettia hanging baskets in
the narthex.
Enduring Gifts
Thanks to all who donated poinsettias
for Christmas décor. Thanks to those
who put up the Christmas Tree.
Consider remembering the church in
your will. Leave a lasting legacy to our
Enduring Gifts Fund.
Thank you Anita Bonham and Charlotte
Sellin for coordinating the Thanksgiving
Basket shopping.
Committee: Mary Lange, Deb Reed,
Sylvia Peters, Gary Sirguy, Jill Snyder,
Gene Unger and David Christian.
Thank you Dean Johnson, for all you do
to keep our building and grounds
beautiful.
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
“Moving Forward Together”
A Time of Transition
As 2015 comes to a close, we are
grateful for the many blessings that we
as a church family have received,
mindful always that our great God is
guiding us and providing what we need
in this time and place.


Building transition with passing
of Winddancing, renovating
apartment, looking for new
caretaker
Created building security plan in
the interim time
Bonuses provided for nonrostered staff
These are just a few. The new year
brings a list of projects we still will work
on:
 Floor covering in the narthex
 Completion of financial audit
 Start of youth group
 Creating a building assessment
list that includes short and long
term projects/wishes as well as
proposed uses
 Hiring a caretaker and a
custodian – may be separate or
combined
 Fencing for playground
 Continue Bulk Food Packaging
project under new leadership
 Review and update By-Laws
Since this is a time when we reflect, here
are few highlights of 2015:
 Transition and Call committees
doing great work
 Energizing interim time with
Pastor Beth Orling
 Selection and call of Pastors
Baumann
 Mutual Ministry committee
formed
 Road to financial health begins
with positive outcomes in place
 Short-term pledge drive covers
some financial gaps and
encourages giving
 Purchase of new sound board for
sound system
 New lights installed in choir area
of nave
 Playground is completed except
for fencing
 Membership transitions include
students confirmed, folks
baptized, new members
welcomed, and the passing of
saints
God is great and good and the energy at
Holy Trinity is abundant. So many areas
of service and community are happening
weekly. Our hope for each of you is that
you find a place to connect, that you are
fed and blessed, and that you shine
God’s light to others.
Grace and peace,
Vicki Corson, Council president
11
Library Notes
Eleven new books added to the library
to start the year of right… reading! Also
the four current periodicals provide
interesting reading while in the
library.
BOOKS FOR ADULTS
The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah
(2015). When Vianne Mauriac says goodbye
to her husband, neither of them expects the
separation to be lengthy. Vianne’s younger
sister Isabelle, becomes involved with the
underground as she defies the German
soldiers' abuse of women in the overtaking of
homes and destroying lives. Vianne tries to
keep her home together for her daughter and
the hoped-for return of her husband, while
Isabelle works to stay alive while working
with the underground. The novel runs the
gamut of emotions: excitement, fear, hope,
sadness, relief, love, disbelief in the
inhumanity of man to one another, and then
a conclusion that fulfills the reader.
By Rosemary Petersen
Not In God’s Name: Confronting
Religious Violence by Rabbi Jonathan
Sacks (2015). A timely book in light of
current events, well written, hard to put
down. Sacks offers that the misreading of
biblical texts over time has been a source of
religious violence, but to justify violence
against the innocent in God’s name is
“…not an act of sanctity but of sacrilege.”
His perspective/interpretation of the sibling
rivalries in Genesis was eye-opening to me.
“Today God is calling us, Jew, Christian,
and Muslim, to let go of hate and the
preaching of hate, and live at last as
brothers and sisters, true to our faith and a
blessing to others…”
By Merry Van Deusen
Pastor Olaf Baumann suggested the
following additions and updates to your
library. We will be adding additional texts
he has suggested in the months ahead to
enrich the library.
Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism, by
Eric W. Gritsch (1994). “A helpful and
accessible guide to Lutheranism’s history
and central tenents, with numerous photos
and illustrations. Small wonder that many
are confused about Lutheranism’s historical
origins, doctrinal affirmation, and ethical
directives. Even Lutherans themselves—
maintains, Eric Gritsch, a leading authority
on the Lutheran tradition…” Notes from
the Augsburg Fortress Publication site.
The Book of Concord (New Translation):
The Confessions of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, by Robert Kolb
(editor); Timothy J. Wengert (Editor)
(2000). “Benefits of this new translation:
expanded introductions and annotations
offer richer historical context, new
translation aims at accessible but accurate
translation, format is easier to read and use,
and leading American scholars have been
involved or consulted. Commissioned in
1993, this translation … brings a new
generation of scholarship and sensitivities
to bear on the foundational texts of
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Lutheran identity. “Notes from the
Augsburg Fortress Publication site.
What is Christianity?: An Introduction to
the Christian Religion, by Gail Ramshaw
(2013). “Gail Ramshaw frames this new
introduction to Christianity around the
basic questions that students ask.
Investigating Christianity as a lived
experience, she opens each chapter with a
voice from the field of religious studies and
then presents answers to each chapter’s
question by surveying the history, doctrine,
practices, and convictions of Christian
churches.” Notes from the Augsburg
Fortress Publication site.
BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Lives of the Scientists : Experiments,
Explosions,( and What the Neighbors
Thought) by Kathleen Krull,illustrated
by Kathryn Hewitt. That God uses flawed
human beings to do the work of creation is
never more evident than in this book about
the fascinating people whose curiosity has
transformed our understanding of our
world. Spanning the centuries, the book
begins with a story about Zhang Heng of
China who studied the stars until his death
in 139, and ends with Jane Goodall. In
between readers learn about the work of
such people as Galileo; Isaac Newton;
William and Caroline Herschel; Marie
Curie and many more. Perhaps young
readers will be inspired to study science
and join the list of people who have added
to the knowledge we have today with a
contribution yet unknown! By Viola Nixon
Courage by Bernard Waber. There are
all kinds of courage: awesome kinds
(swinging high on a trapeze): everyday
kinds (standing on the diving board,
wondering whether to jump in). Delightful cartoonlike drawings accompany
Bernard Waber’s simple text about
moments in a child’s life that require
COURAGE! Things such as sending a
valentine to someone you secretly admire
and signing your name! Or being the first
to make up after a fight! Reading this book
with a child will give adults a glimpse into
things that are scary and for which the child
needs reassurance. The final thought is: “
Courage is what we give to each other.”
By Viola Nixon
A trio of Madelines by Ludwig
Bemelmans… Madeline in America,
Madeline and the Bad Hat and Madeline’s
Rescue. Childhood classics are wonderful
to read or have read to you!
Racing in the Rain, My Life as a Dog by
Garth Stein, is the young/middle reader’s
edition of the wonderful story told by Enzo,
the dog who loves race cars, his master
Denny (who races cars), and Denny’s
daughter Zoe. Applying the rules of racing,
Enzo helps solve his family’s problems.
Read our adult copy with your child and
have lots to talk about. Final two sets of
reviews by Pam Bundy
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Library Board meets on the 3rd Thursday
monthly except for June and July.
Current board members are: Pam and
Emily Bundy, Dennis Duncan, Helen
Harvey, Lois Larsen, Viola Nixon,
Rosemary Petersen, Ann Marie Rahfeldt,
Caralee Rupprecht, Zorba Stricker, and
Merry Van Deusen, chair.
Prayer Ministry
The Prayer Team at Holy Trinity invites
everyone to participate in our Prayer
Ministry!
There are several ways you can
participate:
 Pray at home
 Phone Prayer Chain - contact
Esther Swenson at 457-4646 or
Lois Larsen at 457-9706
 E-mail Prayer List - To receive
the e-mail prayer list weekly or
to add, delete or update a prayer
request, call the church office.
Women of the ELCA Spring
Retreat May 13-15
“Hope for a New Day”
Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way
Registration for the full weekend (which
includes housing and four meals) is
$195. Register before January 31, the
price is discounted to $180. Saturday
only is $130.
The HTLC Prayer Team is available to
pray with you by request, in person or on
the phone, and every given Sunday
during communion. All information
shared will be kept strictly confidential.
Check out the poster and registration
forms on the bulletin board in the
lobby/narthex.
Ann Kennedy at 457-6177
Dennis Duncan at 457-8835
Gary and Martha Sirguy at 452-9432
Dave Shargel at 457-2006
If you need access to the church, please
coordinate with the office, as we are
locking up now after the last scheduled
events each day.
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The event was very well organized with
envelopes containing the cash and coupons
and plenty of hot coffee to sustain the
shoppers! At checkout time, even the
cashiers appeared to be enjoying the event
and were so helpful and patient. When the
value of this ministry really hit home,
though, was when the family for whom I
shopped came to the church to pick up their
groceries. The father of 4 arrived with one
of his children in a vehicle he borrowed
from his father-in-law. It was apparent that
something horrific had happened to him as
he had difficulty with walking and had deep
scarring on his head. In the course of
conversation, he said that he had been
working when a piece of heavy equipment
fell on him. The visible scars bore witness
to the severity of his injuries. He has been
unable to work since and is now having
cognitive issues. He was going back to
Seattle following Thanksgiving for more
tests, but the preliminary diagnosis is early
onset Alzheimer’s. He just turned 40. I
think of this family often, pray for them,
and am so thankful that I am part of a
community of faith that cares for families in
need. Thank you to all who donated and
shopped and supported this ministry!
Thanksgiving Basket Shopping
The Getzin Family
Last month I had the privilege of
participating in the Thanksgiving basket
shopping for those in need. What a
wonderful (and sobering) experience it was!
When I shop for myself, I am often rather a
‘lazy’ shopper. I don’t always compare
prices and I will purchase convenience items
(bagged salad mix) instead of buying the
individual heads of lettuce and I don’t
always stay within a budget. When I was
shopping for some else’s family, I was very
conscious of trying to get the most amount
of healthy food for the budget I was given. I
felt a responsibility to the family to
maximize the money I had been allotted to
ensure they received not only enough for
Thanksgiving, but food for the days
following. And, from watching my fellow
basket shoppers, it was apparent they had
similar feelings about that responsibility. It
was so much fun to see families shopping
together and the children actively
participating in the selection of food and
tracking the budget! And, it was apparent,
that everyone was enjoying the experience.
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Deb Reed
The Due Family
A Great Big Thank You with an
Affirmation
The last couple of months have been a
trying experience for me. I have always
had a job with a suitable income – but
lately, not so much. I was starting to
feel like Job in the Old Testament. But
then, I sat down and prayed. I told Jesus
his shoulders were bigger than mine and
I was turning my problems over to him.
This is unusual for me as I have always
been the “take charge” type of person.
Since I had faith and gave my problems
up to my Lord Jesus, a church member
had my computer repaired, I received a
grant to assist with some of my medical
issues, and with advice and financial
assistance from different sources my
auto issues have resolved. Praise the
Lord!
In addition to medical issues, computer
issues, and financial issues, I also
incurred auto issues. Never being one to
ask for assistance, it was most difficult
to ask for assistance. Then a church
member told me that by not asking for
help, I was denying someone the
opportunity of feeling good about being
able to help someone else. That
reminded me of an incident that
happened many years before. I had an
employee who was a sole provider of
herself and handicapped son. As a
Christmas present to me, she gave me a
very expensive gift I knew she really
could not afford and I told her I could
not accept the gift. She raised herself up
to all 5’1” of her stature, looked me in
the eye and said, “Don’t you dare spoil
my joy in giving because you don’t
know how to receive!” Wow.
As a child I had a serious medical
condition that required monthly testing
and medication. My physician
instructed me ‘to leave my modesty at
the door and pick it up on my way out’.
I have now learned to ‘leave my
problems at the foot of the cross’ and
trust my Lord and Savior to give me the
strength, courage and fortitude to “Be
still and know that I am God”.
I really want to extend my most sincere
gratitude to all the members of this
wonderful congregation who have been
there for me during this most trying
time. I thank you from the bottom of my
heart. God bless you all. You have
really brought home to me the “Spirit of
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Christ”. You all make me proud to be a
member of Holy Trinity Lutheran
Church of Port Angeles!
The more people participate in the
exhibition project, the better! Sunday
School, Pastors and AIM have chosen
their projects already, but it is not to
late! Project boards are available in the
church office, as are some books about
Black Saints from our church library.
Many more books and information can
be obtained in our Port Angeles Library
and online. All groups, families, and
individual church members are invited to
choose a black saint, and present them to
the larger church community in our
exhibition.
A most humble and thankful believer.
Pamela Wise
Black History Month at HTLC
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is
observing Black History Month
February 2016!
You can give some biographical
background information, important
quotes, maybe pictures. You can also
present artistic work; drawings; poems;
and prayers to which your saint has
inspired you. It does not have to be
overly detailed, just so that you give
people a first impression about your
chosen saint.
Exhibition in Narthex: “Undertold
Stories of Black Saints”.
Many people of color have been
important throughout the history of the
church. Starting with biblical characters
like the Ethiopian Court Official who
gets baptized in Acts, chapter 8; and
moving on to famous North African
church fathers like St. Augustine; to
defenders of the faith like 17th century
Our Mother Wallata Petros from
Ethiopia, there is a wealth of information
to be found about Black Saints. Let us
learn about inspired musicians like the
Jubilee singers who started their lives as
slaves in America; and learned
theologians like Howard Thurman, who
was very influential for the leaders of the
Civil Rights movement.
Please do participate! If you have any
questions or comments, contact Pastor
Kristin Luana.
Simply Giving
You may sign up to have your offering
electronically sent to HTLC from your
checking or savings account or credit
card through the church office. It is very
easy to start, stop or change. There are
slips in the pews for you to put in the
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comes to scrubbing and painting. We
will keep you posted.
offering plate on Sundays mornings,
stating that you give electronically.
Questions – contact Peggy or Paula in
the church office.
The Council sees this as an important
project to attract a quality individual for
our caretaker and to carefully steward
our facility.
Peace,
Vicki Corson, President
HTLC Apartment Renovation
To Begin
Facilities Things to do:
The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church sign
on Chase Street is really dirty! We are
praying for somebody and/or a family to
get a ladder, bucket of sudsy wash water,
a scrubber and get it shiny!!! Just let
Peggy or Paula in the office know if you
are up for this job and we will make sure
you have the tool to get into the sign.
Thank you!
In anticipation of selecting a new
caretaker for Holy Trinity, the church
council has begun plans to upgrade the
apartment on our lower level. It has
been years since we have had a vacancy
and it is the opportune time to fix it up.
The Executive Committee met with Don
Schuba, HTLC member and architect
who drew up some design scenarios and
with Greg Bondy, Minister of Facilities
and a building contractor. From that
discussion, we are getting some cost
estimates for work to be done and
appliances and cabinets. Please watch
for further information to come as we
fine tune this plan. Of course, there are
costs to be considered and money to be
raised—somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000. This is outside our
budget, so we hope that you will
consider an extra gift toward the
apartment project. There will be
opportunities for volunteer help when it
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Financial Summary
November 2015
Income: $37,593
Expenses: $35,422
Monthly Balance: -$2,171
YTD Income: $183,356
YTD Expenses: $170,382
YTD Balance: $12,974
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Church Council meeting minutes and
financial reports are available in the
church office.
for local projects. Please identify
yourself to Peggy in the church office or
Gary Sirguy at 452-9432 for more
information! Thanks!!
Check out our website at
www.htlcpa.com
Pastor Olaf & Pastor Kristin Luana
sermons can be listened to online at
www.peccator.com
Southwestern Washington
Synod News
You can follow us on Facebook. Look
for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Port Angeles and “like” the page.
Synod Educational Gatherings
Since the Synod Assembly voting
members decided a few years ago that
we didn’t have to have an annual Synod
Assembly, that leaves us with 2016 with
a spring open to provide educational
opportunities for all of our membersrostered leaders, lay leaders,
congregational members and friends!
Snow Removal - Looking
ahead toward winter….
When the raindrops turn to
snowflakes, we will need
volunteer help shoveling
the sidewalks and
entryways at church, especially on
Sunday mornings, but also during the
week. We will stash the snow shovels
and ice remover in the upstairs
custodial room…or you can bring your
own shovel.
Topics came from top synod-wide survey
responses earlier this year. Lunch and
worship will be included in each
gathering. Most workshops presented at
all locations:
Congregational Leadership Workshops
• Becoming Social Media Savvy
• Conceptualizing Lutheran Worship
• Retooling Stewardship and Fundraising
• Strengthening Council Roles
(including internal governance)
Thrivent Action Team Grants
If you own Thrivent insurance or
investment products, you are a
“Thrivent Member.” Thrivent Action
Team Grants can be used to raise money
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• Treasurer and Financial Office
Training and Resources
• Working with LGBT Rostered Leader
Congregational Mission Workshops
• Congregational Vitality and
Sustainability Next Steps
• Broadening Congregational Education
Ministry/Faith Formation
• Building Strong Youth and Young
Adult Ministry
• Welcoming the LGBT Congregational
Members
• Racism, Privilege and Partnership
• Who Really Are our Neighbors?
• Being Lutheran in 2016
Saturday, April 30th at Trinity Lutheran,
Vancouver WA
Saturday, May 14th at Gloria Dei
Lutheran, Olympia
Saturday, May 21st at Silverdale
Lutheran, Silverdale
Southwestern Washington
Synod
Registration information coming soon!
Camp Berachah in Auburn, WA
Contact the church office if you
interested in attending.
In honor of the 2016 Summer Olympics,
the theme is "Go for the Gold"
Youth Gathering/Retreat
March 4-6, 2016
6th-12th Graders
We will have a choice to stay both
Friday and Saturday nights or to come
on Saturday morning (for a reduced
price). Price will be $130 for the entire
weekend or $100 for one night.
Save money by registering early! Early
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Bird registration is $125 per person
before February 1, 2016
Contact Pastor Kristin Luana if you
would like to attend.
Submission for the monthly newsletter: Send
to the office by the 16th of the month. Copies
can be sent via e-mail, regular mail or in
person. Items are subject to editorial review
by the staff.
USPS Identification Statement:
The Trumpet Newsletter is published
monthly by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,
301 E. Lopez Ave., Port Angeles, WA
98362
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