News
EMPTY BOWLS MEAL
EMPTY BOWLS MEAL | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Prepare your bellies for delicious homemade soups and breads on Sunday, November 2 at the Outreach Team’s Empty Bowls meal fundraiser. The meal will begin following worship and will wrap up about 12:30 p.m. Cost is freewill donation with proceeds going to Trinity’s Little Free Pantry and the Houston County Food Shelf.
Would you like to volunteer to make a favorite soup or bread? Please contact Jan Kraabel, kraabelcj@outlook.com or 507-498-5687 or Pat Oakes, jpoakes1@hotmail.com or 507-429-4929.
Trunk-or-Treat
TRUNK-OR-TREAT | OCTOBER 31 | 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
What is Trunk-or-Treat? Think of it as a tailgate party meets meets trick-or-treating. It’s far less about spooky scares and more about community, creativity, and connection. It’s a Halloween outreach event that feels fun and non-threatening, without dark or frightening elements making it a perfect option for families to enjoy Halloween together and a way to welcome families who may not step through church doors otherwise. It is open to the entire community.
It’s a great way to share God’s love with the wider community!
We will host this event in our parking lot on Halloween and all families are invited. However, WE NEED YOU to decorate your trunk and share treats! Do you live rurally and never get trick-or-treaters? Here’s your chance to have some! ANYONE is invited to have a trunk of treats. Need inspiration of how to decorate your trunk? Check out the images below.
Questions? Contact Worship Team Lead, Lori Wilhelmson, 507-429-3592 or lori.wilhelmson@gmail.com.
IDEAS AND INSPIRATION……
Let's introduce ourselves!
Let’s help Pastor Mark get to know his Trinity Family!
Print this form, fill it out and drop it off at the office or in the offering plate on a Sunday.
Or copy and paste the questions below into an email, answer them, and send them on their way!
It would be great if you could attach a photo (even one printed from your computer) so he can put names to all the beautiful faces! Don’t have a printer? Email us (trinityspringgrove@gmail.com) the photo and we can print and attach it.
Here are the questions you can copy and paste into an email:
My name is:
My family members are (names and ages):
Our family pets are (type, names):
Some of our favorite things to do as a family are:
If you came to our house for a get together, you would likely be served:
And you would most likely hear this type of music:
For a living, I do this:
I have no schedule, I’m retired!! But before that, I did this:
I’ve been a member at Trinity for:
Here’s how I like to be involved at Trinity:
One of my favorite hymns is:
I grew up in:
A little known or fun fact about me or my family is:
Welcome Pr. Mark Abelsen
WELCOME TO OUR NEW PASTOR, MARK ABELSEN!
We asked Pastor Mark some light-hearted questions to begin to get to know him.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Duluth, MN
Q: Where did you go to college and seminary?
A: Augsburg College and Luther Seminary
Q: Do you play any instruments?
A: I’ve played piano since I was six years old and it was my major in college.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have a dog named Hector. He is a Great Dane mix and looks a lot like Scooby-Doo!
Q: What is a favorite food?
A: I love soup!
Q: Do you have a favorite movie?
A: My Favorite movie is “West Side Story” – the original, but I also love the remake. Also, “White Christmas” and I love Hitchcock films and James Bond.
Q: On a warm summer day that you aren't working, what would we find you doing?
A: Golfing, Biking, Hiking (and a nap)
Q: On a cold winter day that you aren't working, what would we find you doing?
A: Movies and reading a book! (and a nap)
Q: Any other favorite pastimes?
A: I love to cook and bake. I love to travel and experience other cultures. I love musical theatre.
Q: Are you familiar with Norwegian food?
A: I am very familiar – I am 50% Norwegian on my father’s side. My grandmother made all the traditional cookies at Christmas time (which I will not try to spell). My grandpa would eat lutefisk every Christmas
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have three AMAZING kids – James (25), Sam (18), Eleanor (14)
Q: Have you spent much time in Southeast Minnesota? If not, is there something/ somewhere that you are interested in exploring?
A: I am completely new to the area other than participating in the Dorian Festival at Luther when I was in high school. I hear there is a lot of wonderful biking and hiking in the area, which I love to do. I’ve also heard that fly fishing is big and would love to do that some time. And I hope to find a golf course.
Q: Do you have a favorite travel destination?
A: I have a bucket list of places overseas I would love to go, but closer to home, I love the North Shore (Grand Marais) and visiting State Parks.
Scholarship Deadline
Post-secondary scholarship deadline: May 30
Through the Scholarship Endowment fund which was established in 1995, Trinity members may apply for up to four years of funding for post-secondary education. Applicants can receive a form by contacting the church office or by using the printable application form (click here for form). Applications are due at the church office no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 30, 2025.
Community Baccalaureate Service
Jubilee Worship
Come and worship at Trinity
at our new Jubilee Worship service!
What is our Jubilee Worship Service? Our youth will be sharing songs, reading scripture, helping with communion, and more! Families, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends….everyone is invited to come explore this new service with us. We’re excited!
When? The second Sunday of each month at 9:15 a.m.
After worship, stay for treats in the Fellowship Hall and youth (ages preK-5th grade) can attend Sunday School.
See you soon!
All Saints Day
On All Saints Sunday we remember all those who have gone on before us. We remember and give thanks for these saints who are now in God’s eternal, loving care. We praise God for their significance in our lives — their influence, example and faith.
Join us Sunday, November 3 at 9:15 a.m. for a special worship where we will light candles in remembrance of these saints as well as in celebration of the newly baptized.
A video in remembrance of all those who have passed this last year. Blessings on all of their families and friends.
Click here to view the video.
Season of Self Study
The Transition Team invites you to participate in the process of selecting our next pastor! We are in the Season of Self Study and your input is important to us!!
Join us on Sundays, Oct. 13, Oct. 20, Nov. 10, Nov. 17, and Nov. 24 during worship to complete the Self Study worksheets. This will be done as part of the service so our Facebook and radio listeners can follow along. These worksheets will also be available on the church website.
Please watch for weekly updates from the Transition Team in the bulletin, on Facebook, through emails, and the monthly newsletter as the Self Study process continues and other events are added.
You can also reach out to any of the Transition Team Members at any time.
Transition Team - Dan Alstad, Carolyn Olson, Chelsey Sherburne, Hope Turner, Mark Udstuen, Jan Lochner (alternate)
Thank you for being a part of planning for our future at Trinity!
Week 2 Worksheet — October 20
Click here for a link to the Google form.
Click here to download a pdf of the worksheet to print and fill out.
Week 3 Worksheet — November 10
Click here for a link to the Google form.
Click here to download a pdf of the worksheet to print and fill out.
Week 4 Worksheet — November 17 — Community Audit
There is no questionnaire this week.
Click here to download a pdf of the Community Audit Report
Week 5 Worksheet — November 24
Click here for a link to the Google form.
Click here to download a pdf of the worksheet to print and fill out.
God's Work: Our Hands
Rally Sunday & Ministry Fair
Sunday, September 15 is Rally Sunday! ALL are invited to join us for fun outdoor activities! There will be games like a fishing boat where kids can fish for a surprise! and Gaga Ball and 9-square and more. There will even be treats outdoors! ALL AGES WELCOME!!!
Worship is at 9:15 and then the outdoor activities begin at 10:15.
Families with kids preschool age through 5th grade can sign up for Sunday School. You'll also learn more about the upcoming year!
Make sure to stop by the MINISTRY FAIR and sign up a time (or two!!) where you can volunteer at Trinity. Everyone has talents -- where can you share yours? Want to try a new volunteer position? SUPER!! Now's the time to try out anything you want! We LOVE our volunteers!
And grab some yummy treats while you are there! We look forward to seeing you and all the kiddos!
Blessing of Backpacks & Workbags
Blessing of the Animals
Become a mentor
A mentor is usually someone who is older, more experienced, patient, understanding, etc. than the person they are mentoring. Trinity has used mentors in our confirmation program for many years. They are people who come and sit with the students through confirmation class and then talk about the lessons with the students in their group.
Mentors don’t need to know the answers or be Biblical scholars. We will have mentor huddles to discuss ways to be more effective, any issues or problems, as well as ways to teach confirmation more effectively.
We have two mentor slots to fill for confirmation this fall. We also need people to step forward to help teach Sunday School or Wednesday School. All that is needed is a desire to help fulfill the commitment Trinity makes to young people. We commit to teach faith and the Bible to our young people in their Baptism. Please consider doing this valuable work and become a mentor or teacher.
If you’re interested or have questions, please contact Pastor Lane, cyf.trinitysg@gmail.com, or 507-498-5291.
Special Sundays in August
During worship on Sundays in August we will have some special blessings.
August 11
Blessing of the Animals (especially those going to the fair)
Bring your pets or fair animals to outdoor worship and they will receive a special blessing! Please make sure the animals are safely contained as needed.
August 18
Blessing of School Sports
Bring your sports uniforms or workout clothes/shoes from any sport to worship for a special blessing.
August 25
Blessing of Backpacks & Workbags
Everyone is invited to bring their backpack or workbag to receive a special blessing for the year ahead. Plus you can get a backpack/workbag tag to remind you of this special day!
Info for 6th-8th grade youth & families
Sixth and Seventh Grade Youth & Parents
Plan on attending acolyte training on Wednesday, August 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the church. This session will prepare your confirmand for his/her special role in Sunday worship. Pastor Lane will also hand out the acolyte schedule for the school year. If you cannot attend on this evening, contact Pastor Lane at 507-273-3385 or cyf.trinitysg@gmail.com
Confirmation Mentor Huddle / Training: Mentors of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are invited to attend a meeting at Trinity Church on Wednesday, September 4, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss their role in their confirmands’ faith life over the school year. This will be an opportunity to review the upcoming schedule, lesson plans, and expectations. Contact Pastor Lane if you are unable to attend.
SAVE THE DATE! Confirmation Kick Off and Orientation
Parents and their confirmation youth in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades will kick off the confirmation year on Wednesday, September 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Center. The expectations, schedule, and confirmand covenant will be reviewed plus a Q&A session. Your child’s mentors will also be on hand for a meet and greet. Ice cream floats will be served. Any parent that cannot attend should contact Pastor Lane at 507-273-3385.
Survey on Wednesday Education & Worship
Resurrection….. of youth education at Trinity
Resurrection is an important part of our Lutheran faith and represents the gift of rebirth from sin into the salvation of Jesus and our opportunity to be saved and see our journey end with an eternity in Heaven.
As lead of the Education Team at Trinity, I’ve been honored to work with a group of dedicated individuals along with Pastor Lane intent on “resurrecting” our youth education program – to breathe new life into Confirmation, Sunday School, and Release Time.
We know that we cannot do this alone and need valuable feedback from parents, youth, and the congregation to help guide us in carrying out the important mission of educating our youth and setting them up with a lifetime of faith.
Because we do not have a youth director, Trinity will need to return to its roots – parents and the congregation will need to work with our pastors to fill the role of educating our youth, providing leadership, and celebrating the great message of faith given to us through the Bible. We know that we can do this as we did it for 93 years before we had a youth director!
Before we have you embark on the following questionnaire, some background is important:
1) Trinity’s confirmation program is returning to a three-year program this year. It will be for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students with confirmation in the fall of their ninth-grade year. We are seeking mentors for sixth and seventh grades. Look in this newsletter for information on what a mentor’s role and responsibilities are. Sixth-grade students will have a three-year program. Seventh graders will embark on a two-year program Eighth graders will complete the second year of their two-year program. There will be a resumption of a traditional program doing away with TrinityU, the point system, and other individualized learning programs.
2) Sunday School attendance has declined significantly at Trinity. Last year, we averaged 3 to 5 children ages 3 to sixth grade per Sunday. We have heard many reasons why, and some of these numbers reflect the lower number of children in our school district. We want to “resurrect” these numbers! We want to build excitement into our programming and invite families back to Trinity Lutheran Church. We will need teachers to instruct our youth and lead singing. Even though formal confirmation starts in 6th grade, Sunday School or Wednesday Night School is needed to prepare youth for confirmation. For example, this year the first few confirmation classes will be teaching youth how to find passages in their Bibles.
3) Release Time is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024! Think of it, for a full century, Trinity Lutheran Church has been educating thousands of young people. In 1924, Rev. Johnson appointed a temporary parochial school committee to organize the school, rent a room, and hire a teacher. Dues were 15 cents per week for one child with a maximum charge of 50 cents per family. No child was barred from religious instruction through 14 elementary students were celebrated. Students came from Trinity, Black Hammer, Riceford, Waterloo Ridge, Wilmington, and Highland congregations.
Can Trinity continue the program? Last fall 125 students from Kindergarten through sixth grade were enrolled. The program provided 35 minutes of non-denominational instruction each week led by Pastor Len Liptack of Black Hammer Lutheran Church and Pastor Lane Zaffke. The program returned to the Trinity Center. The students rotated allowing each grade level 35 minutes of instruction per month.
Many in the congregation have expressed strong sentiment to keep the program and expand it to every grade K-6 receiving class time every week. While that is a great goal, it would take four people teaching three hours each week September through April to provide that level of instruction. Are you willing to volunteer? There is funding available to pay teachers if we can find those willing to commit to weekly teaching.
Obviously, our church will experience a lot of change over the next 12 to 18 months as we begin the process of calling a pastor and work on self-reflection and study with our interim pastor. But this time is a great time to try new things and prepare for our new pastor.
In that light, we want you to think and pray about a Wednesday Night Fellowship. It’s an alternative that larger churches in metro areas have tried with some success. Is it time for a small rural church to try it? Many congregations have found it as a time for families to squeeze in worship and education and still participate in their school and sport activities. The larger churches are holding these services during the school year (September through April).
This survey will allow you to contemplate the concept and indicate if you would be interested in participating with your children. A tentative outline for consideration and discussion:
6:30-6:40 p.m.— Gather at Trinity Center, start with singing, prayer of the day, a Bible reading
6:40-7:00 p.m.— Lesson/message by Pastor followed by prayers of the church
7:00-7:30 p.m.— Confirmation with mentors, classroom instruction (ages 3 to 5th grade) aka Sunday School, and Adult Bible Study, Adult Lesson or parent group discussions
7:30 p.m. — Come back together for Benediction and Send Off
Now we need to hear from you! Please complete the survey. Please have it completed and turned in by Friday, August 16. Thank you!
There are several ways to access the survey:
- click here for an online version
- find it in the August newsletter
- click here for a pdf of the survey to print
- pick up a copy in the office or at the sanctuary entrances..
If you are called to help in any of the areas listed above, please contact Heather Gray at 507-459-1948 or 4grays.sg@gmail.com or Pastor Lane at 507-273-3385 or cyf.trinitysg@gmail.com.
Thank you for prayerfully considering how we can resurrect our youth education programming and filling out the survey.
Your Education Team: Heather Gray (lead), Deanna Solum, Hope Turner, Bonnie Solberg, Bev Nelson, Tammy Petersen, Jessica Sherburne and Jessica Kraus.
Hiring — Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry
Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry
We are looking for a Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry. This is an active and fun position developing and leading programs and activities for children and families. Candidates should have strong communication and organizational skills and an understanding of ELCA Lutheran beliefs. Prior experience working with youth programs is preferred. This is a paid position with benefits. Flexible hours. Some evenings and weekends dependent on activities and events. Want to learn more? Check out the job description here.
Questions can be directed to the following:
Betty Dokken: bettydokken8@gmail.com
Nancy Gulbranson: nancygulbranson01@gmail.com
Helping Hands Backpack Giveaway
Helping Hands Backpack Giveaway
Trinity has participated in the Helping Hands Backpack Giveaway for several years. We have collected items and volunteered at set-up. The Giveaway is held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Caledonia on Fri., August 2, 12 p.m. -6 p.m. and Sat., August 3, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is open to all Houston County families. Parents are asked to bring their child(ren) along or proof that they have school-aged children (student ID, report card).
Monetary support is always welcomed. Checks can be made out to Helping Hands Backpack Giveaway. There is an account with that name at Merchant's Bank. This event is supported by area churches.
Would you like to volunteer for the event? Contact Tricia Babinski (from Immanuel Lutheran and also owner of our local Heart Rock Coffee Roaster), tricia@jtbabinski.us.
Volunteers needed:
Thu., August 1: 4pm until done (during set-up elementary through high school youth are welcome to help)
Fri., August 2: 12-3pm or 3-6pm for distribution of backpacks and supplies
Sat., August 3: 8am-12pm for distribution of backpacks and supplies
More Questions? Contact Barb Gulbranson, 498-3436 or barbiej3334@gmail.com or Mary Zaffke, 498-5823 or zaffkemary@gmail.com.