Newsletter

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry….Isaiah 58:6-7a.

Dear friends and members of Trinity,

While summer does slow down in many ways here at Trinity, there still are a number of opportunities to serve in this place. From June 15-19^th we will be celebrating Vacation Bible School under the theme “GADGETS”, God Always Doing Great, Exciting Things through Jesus, Our Savior. I truly believe that VBS is one of the best things God allows us to do at Trinity. Please contact Connie Crocker at 594-7916 if you feel called to help.

Another activity is the summer service in the Park. On Sunday, June 14^th at 10pm Dr. Glenn Nielsen will be our guest preacher. This service provides a great opportunity for members to invite friends and family to worship.

Finally, a new event, “Christ cares, Trinity Shares”. Throughout the month of June we will be collecting a variety of food for a July 11^th food delivery. Our goal is to assemble 50 food baskets. A list of foods is noted in another portion of this newsletter. Please be generous, and if you want to make a check to help cover certain food items like “ham” please make your check out to “The Benevolent Fund of Trinity Lutheran Church”.

Blessings on your summer,

Pastor Krenz

The May 11, 2009 Church Council Meeting was called to order by Acting President Dennis Nottmeyer with 9 members present. Pastor Krenz opened with devotions, prayer and hymn 475 verses 1 and 2. Dennis asked for any additions to the agenda. The minutes from April 13, 2009 were reviewed and passed with a motion for approval by Howard Hohman and seconded by Erna Boehne. The minutes were approved and accepted as distributed.

Bill Lueking spoke to the council regarding the Capital Development meeting that was held. The ideas discussed for the church was handicap restrooms, a larger meeting room with a small kitchenette also to be used for cleaning Communion utensils. Another suggestion for the church was flooring in the foyer and meeting room. The ideas discussed for the school was restrooms and storage area off of the gym and a larger pantry area. The committee members are: Bill Lueking, Donna Hemminghaus, Howard Hohman, Doyle Twenhafel and Wayne Watkins.

Karen Belli spoke to the council regarding Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School having an organization called Gift Planning Services conduct seminars for the congregations to explain estate planning. CORLHS has applied for a grant through Thrivent to pay for Gift Planning Services.

Pastor’s Report: On 5-3-09 the following were confirmed: Zachary Atchison, Darren Fritsche, Michael Kleiboeker, Cody Jackson, Kyle Jackson, Austin Nottmeyer, Ellie Rueter, Shaelyn Tate and Logan Zimmermann. Our speaker for the service in the park on 6-14-09 is Pastor Nielsen. On 6-27-09 and 6-28-09 we will have Seminary student Marcus Baike. Ascension Day service is on 5-21-09 at Hoffman with 9 churches involved.

A motion was made by Jodene Carpenter and seconded by Erna Boehne to accept the financial report. Motion passed.

Trustee Report: Stanley Stein reported that the property located at 2710 Lake Road Centralia will be listed with Hudson Realty. Will be starting work 5-12-09 on the A/C units in the 2 meeting rooms and 2 offices in the church. The oven hood and fire suppression system in the school kitchen needs to be changed according to the state fire marshal. We have a dry system and now we have to install a wet system. The deadline for this is 1-10-10. A recommendation was made by Erna Boehne and seconded by Stanley Stein that the School Custodian salary would be at least $13,500.00 per year. Recommendation passed. This is based on 25 hours per week with no benefits. This will be in the bulletin within the next few weeks.

Elders Report: The Elders finalized the Emergency Plan and it was distributed and reviewed. A motion was made by Kelly Isaak and seconded by Howard Hohman to approve the plan. Motion passed. Issues related to the flu have been addressed by the Elders. It has been decided that the Saturday night service will start at 6:00 p.m. beginning 7-4-09. This will be year around.

Board of Education: The tuition assistance program has been made into policy. It is called FACTS Program. There is no cost to the school. There is a $20.00 fee to the family. Everything is completed on line and any paperwork can be faxed or mailed to the company by the family. The cooks salaries will be increasing due to the minimum wage increase. Graduation speaker is James Tyberendt and will be held on 5-24-09. The Scholar Bowl team finished 7 and 0. We have 5 students attending the State Track Meet in Chicago.

Board of Parish Education: Starting in September and every other month there will be a speaker regarding parenting issues. Opposite months will get together for fellowship. Summer Sunday School will be 7-12-09 through 8-16-09.

Benevolent Fund: Food drive will be held in July and is entitled “Christ Cares Trinity Shares”. Sandy Toon is coordinating this. Will collect non-perishable items for 50 baskets.

Old Business: Sanctuary Lighting Committee met with a representative from a lighting company. They will meet again when the rep has compiled a design and suggestions.

Planned/organized a farewell potluck for Eileen Kleiboeker and Mark Belli on 6-7-09.

New Business: Received a thank you from the Habitat for Humanity for the donation. Pam Twenhafel’s term on the CORLHS Association Board of Directors expires in June. Will need someone to fill that vacancy. Received a letter from CORLHS thanking our congregation for being a member of the association and for paying our association assessment. Discussed moving expenses for the new principal. The Board of Education may have funds to use for this from Thrivent monies.

A motion was made by Bob Zimmermann and seconded by Howard Hohman to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. Closed with prayer.

A Book Club has been set up for the Summer. The first book to be read is “Skeleton in God’s Closet” by Paul Maier. You may get it from your local library or you may purchase it from the Resource center located in the church’s narthex, the cost is $15.00. Next meeting is June 23^rd (temporarily set for 7:00pm in the library) watch the bulletin for exact location and time. If you have a book you would like to read and discuss let the church office know either by phone- 495-2545 or e-mail trinityhof@frontiernet.net

VBS- June 15-19^th. “GAGETS” Garage! If you are willing to lead a VBS activities please let us know. CPH provides Leader Guides for Bible Lessons, Preschool, Music, Snacks and Games which make it very fun and easy to be a Leader on a rotation site. A big Thank You to all who have already signed up to help . If you are able to volunteer part time, we would love to have you join us. If your child will be attending VBS please send a blank white or color t-shirt with them on Monday, June 15^th. Keep those registration forms coming. It helps us with planning. Encourage your children to invite a friend. To register by phone, please call Connie at 594-7916

VBS Helper Mtg. If you are planning to help with VBS please mark your calendars and plan to attend an information meeting in the library on Thursday, June 11^th at 6:30pm.

Summer Sunday School/Adult Education opportunity: Summer Sunday school begins on July 12 and goes until August 16^th. The children’s topic will be “Where God’s Love Leads”, who is my Neighbor? The Adult topic is yet to be decided.

Custodian Needed: The congregation is seeking someone within the congregation to assume the position of school custodian after May 31, 2009. If anyone is interested, pick up an envelope identified as CUSTODIAN POSITION from the table in the rear of the narthex. The application contained in the envelope should be completed and returned not later than June 4^th. This position is responsible for the school custodial tasks only.

Appreciation Potluck: June 7^th after the Sunday service will be an appreciation Potluck dinner to thank Mr. Belli for his dedicated service here for the past 5 years and wish him well on his new position as 6^th grade teacher at Unity Lutheran School in East St. Louis. Also to thank Eileen Kleiboeker for her many years of Custodian work at the school. God’s Blessings to both of them. Meat is being provided by the PTL and everyone is asked to bring a side dish. Come wish them well and say thank you to them both.

Service in the Park: This year our special speaker for the 9:00AM Sunday June 14^th Service in the Park is Rev. Glenn Nielsen from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. This service provides a great opportunity for you to invite friends and neighbors to become better acquainted with our church and God’s Word.

Presenters were: Steve Roetemeyer, Brooke Taylor, Donna Scott, Tom Walsh, Robert Gerstenecker, Pastor Stephen Krenz, Brian Jones, Phyllis Bango, Kit Milano, Beth Watkins, William Guile, Jill Beckmann, Amanda Monken, Steve Grawe, Scott Grote, Bob Grote, Robert Zimmermann, Judith Kleine, Olga McCoy, Beth Monken, Bonnie Kohrmann, Lori Kohrmann, Jodene Carpenter, Marsha Milano, King Phoenix, Mike Luebbers, Richard Tucker, Roy Defend, Shirlene Luebbers, Eileen Kleiboeker, Ben Scharlemann, Andrew Wessel, Roger Hugo, Monica Weemer, Doris Simpson, Caroline Tate, Chris Tyberendt, Denise Lueking.

First time donors were Steve Roetemeyer and Beth Watkins. Pins were awarded as follows: Denise Lueking 12 gallon, Marsha Milano 7 gallon, Kit Milano 5 gallon, Doris Simpson and Caroline Tate 3 gallon.

Special thanks to Maschhoff Pork Farms, the Village of Hoffman, Donna Scott, Shirley Paulsmeyer, Beth Monken and Kendra Phoenix.

Next Blood Drive is August 17, 2009. Please mark your calendar. Thanks, Olga McCoy

HOFFMAN BRANCH LIBRARY; The Summer Reading program will have their kick off program on June 8^th at 1:30pm.with a day of crafts. June 15^th will be a day of games and prizes, June 22 will be “Build Mojo, the monkey” day with Mojo coming to visit us and presenting a program. Each child will be making his/her own Mojo. June 29^th will be a day of surprises. These programs will be held at the Hoffman Park Building. Come join us for “Read on the Wild Side. Library card is not necessary to attend. Adults to help support these programs become a “Book Pal”. The cost is $5.00. To join, stop by the library or call 495-2684 to find out the details.

Christ Cares Trinity Shares Food Drive: This congregation is sponsoring a summer food drive for the Hoffman community. We will be collecting various canned goods in June and collecting monetary donations. The goal is to collect 50 boxes for the Hoffman and surrounding community. If you know of someone who could use such a donation please contact the church. The items will be collected and placed in the confirmation room in the month of June. Food donations can include boxes of cereal, instant potatoes, crackers, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, canned corn, green beans, peas along with canned peaches, fruit cocktail and pears. Watch the bulletin for further updates.

Authorization Agreement for Direct Deposit to Trinity Lutheran Church – Hoffman, IL and Trinity Lutheran School – Hoffman, IL - forms are in the narthex of the church.

Thrivent forms for giving are available in the narthex or the church or school office. Remember every time you make a check out to the school it will be matched 50% by Thrivent up to $600, per Thrivent member. What a way to give and it doesn’t have to be given all at one time. Thanks for your support.

Chapel Offerings: This year the children gave for many good reasons. It was their way of giving back to God what He has so richly given to them. Because of this . . . A family in the Philippines will be blessed with the gift of a water buffalo because of our chapel offerings in May. A water buffalo will provide this family with power for planting rice and potatoes, give them milk for protein, and give them manure for fertilizer and fuel. A farmer can plant four times more rice with a buffalo than by hand. The sale of extra milk, rice and potatoes will give this family income for clothing, medicine and school. Renting out the buffalo can earn money for the family to make improvements on their house. An important part of receiving an animal is to pass on the gift possibly through an offspring. And this all happens because of Heifer International where our chapel offerings went this last month of school. Through our offerings, we try to help people in our community. We also reach out to people in our state, country, and throughout the world. Our offerings in May were so blessed that we not only were able to buy a water buffalo, we also bought a trio of rabbits and honeybees. So we have helped three families who in turn will help more families.

SCHOOL NEWS: We are happy to report that the children scores in the ITBS were great. In Reading 70% of our students scored at or above the median +2%- In Language 75% of our students scored at or above the median +12%, in Math 75% of our students score at or above the median +19%, I Science 85% of our students scored at or above the median +9%, in Social St. 80%of our students scored at or above the median +4%. Our composite 85% of our students scored at or above the median +14%. Great job students and teachers!!!! We have a lot to thank God for at Trinity.

(1)Becky Wessel, Sheila Lueking, James Krumrey, Kristy Stein; (2)Leota Borgelt; (3) Victoria McDowell; (4)Christine Knolhoff; (5) Rachel Hanke, Joy Michael (6)Jean Bassen, Dawn Wright, Samantha Hohman; (7) Blake Nottmeyer, Karly Nottmeyer; (9) Nicole Richard, Colin Fruend, Ian Fruend, Braeden Fruend (10) Shawn Watts, (11) Zachary Atchison, Amanda Smith, Jaclyn Smith (13)Dean Paulsmeyer; (15) Clifford Nehrt; (16 Becky Tyberendt, (17) Ralph Twenhafel, Jan Robert; (18) Glenn Lueking, Corrine Rohlfing, Austin Michael (19)Bonnie Kohrmann (20) Jianna Palm; (21) Matthew Steinkamp, Pam Twenhafel; (22) Shirlene Luebbers (23) Doug Hugo, Sara Simpson; (25)Seth Crocker, Kyle Hohman, Elise Johnston, Haydn, Johnston, Logan Johnston, Daryl Ramsour; (26) Marvin Boehne (27)Phillip Barczewski (28) Marie Hanke (29) Steve Grawe (30) Gina Monken

(1)Mr. and Mrs. David Brinkmann; (2) Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Rinne 25^th ; (3) Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hohman, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Siegrist; (7)Mr. and Mrs. James Tyberendt, Mr. and Mrs. James McVey, (10) Mr. and Mrs. Bill Lueking, (11) Mr. and Mrs. Roy Michael Mr. and Mrs. Stan Robert, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Robert (12) Mr. and Mrs. Tom Anderson (13) Mr. and Mrs. Ron Carpenter (14) Mr. and Mrs. Joel Wessel, Mr. and Mrs. James Mensing (15) Mr. and Mrs. Allen Siegrist ,Mr. and Mrs. Greg Kuder (18) Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meier (19) Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hanke, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Richert (20) Mr. and Mrs. John McCoy, Mr. and Mrs. Hallie Barnes (24) Mr. and Mrs. Brian Dieckmann, (27) Mr. and Mrs. Doug Palm. (30) Mr. and Mrs. Todd Simpson.

(1)Jamie Boatright, Harlen Lange, Denise Robinson, Julie Rueter, (2)Carly Foster , Hope Nottmeyer (3) Tom Anderson, Sheila Holston, David Ramsour; (5)Kelly Isaak, (6)Peyton Benhoff, Abigail Kleiboeker, Philip Rueter; (10)Kim Deiters, (11)Donald Lueking, Jacob Twenhafel ; (12) Sara Hitpas, Brittany Hohman, Jamie Knuf, Bradley Wolter (13), Corinne Foster, Darren Fritsche, Merle Moehle Brandon Palm, (14) Jodi Palm, Zachary Twenhafel; (15) Curtis Boehne ,Caleb Knolhoff, Joel Wessel, (16) Lyle Twenhafel (18) Betty Draves; (20)Dwain Gherardini (21) Dennis Nottmeyer, James Mensing, Crystal Zimmermann (22) Kerri Beal, Raymond Carmickle, Gary Wessel ; (25) Ruth Belli, Madeline Haake, Amalia Rueter; (26) Tammy Brink, Elisha Brinkman, Dale Edler, Joshua Garland, Dale Knolhoff; (27) Elizabeth Boehne, Taylor Robert, (28) Esther Belli (29) Wilma Terry, Clyde Bassen, Rachel Carmickle (30) Michele Hill, Lyle Michael; (31) Lisa Garland, Shirley Hawes

(1)Pastor and Mrs. Stephen Krenz; (6) Mr. and Mrs. Noel Michael, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Phillips (8) Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Twenhafel, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Belli (11) Mr. and Mrs. Tim Snyder 20^th (12) Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Twenhafel ; (15) Mr. and Mrs. Willard Ahrens (17) Mr. and Mrs. Les Boatright, (20) Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Edler, Mr. and Mrs. Chad Foster, Mr. and Mrs. Seth Crocker ( 21) Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Boehne 25^th , Mr. and Mrs. Ethon Jansen, (23) Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Wright(25) Mr. and Mrs. Randy Cole, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Maschhoff 55^th .