www.auroratrinitylutheran.

org

May 2013 Newsletter Worship Services:

Worship Time Change: (A): Worship- 9 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. (T): Worship 10:45 a.m. (Note: 10:45 time change for the month of May only. Please refer to Joint Council Minutes for details.) Special Services:
Aurora Confirmation- Sun., May 5th; 9 a.m. Aurora S.S. Sings Sun., May 12th; 9 a.m. (Mothers Day & Last Day of Sunday School)
Joint Council Meeting: The next Joint Council Meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 15th at 6:30 p.m. Summer Service Surveys are due at this time.

Food Shelf Sunday

The next food shelf Sunday at Aurora is Sunday, May 5th! Please give to this worth cause as we Feed Bodies with the Love of Jesus!

Attention Aurora Members: It has been noted that food wrappers and beverage containers have been left in pews. To keep our sanctuary clean, we ask that no food or beverages be brought in. We do understand that very young children need small snacks, such as cereal or crackers and we ask that these snacks be limited. Thank you for understanding and helping us keep our sanctuary clean .

GIVE AWAY - Old Pew Cushions

Communion Worship Services:

Sunday, May 5th & 19th

After installing the new pew cushions, the old pew cushions are in need of a home. Anyone interesting in the old pew cushions can do so, free of charge. They must be removed prior to June 1st. The cushions are located upstairs on the second floor. Help yourself.

Newsletter Information Deadline

Please have all information for the June newsletter and calendar to Lisa by

Monday, May 22nd. Send your information to: auroratrinityoffice@gmail.com or you can call 507456-0740.

Graduation Celebration:
There will be a graduation open house for Matthew Spinler, son of Mike & Julie Spinler on May 18th at his home from 4-8 pm. Please join us for this celebration. Aurora Nursery
Bonnie Johnson is willing to staff a nursery for babies through 4 years old every second Sunday of the month. Bonnie will be available in the preschool/kindergarten room.

Pop Can Collection

Are you a pop consumer? Bring your empty cans to Aurora. The Prestegard family will be collecting the cans and donating the profits to the new playground equipment. Please be sure to bag the cans to prevent messes and pass them along to April or Alycin Prestegard. Thanks so much to the Prestegard family for your investment in our kids!!

Lenten Folder for Hospitality House

One of our mission goals for 2013 is to get to know the ministries in Owatonna for people who are in need of shelter. As a way of attending to this, we designated our Lenten folder offering to the Hospitality House of Owatonna. Hospitality House is a home that provides emergency shelter and shortterm transitional housing to single men, as well as assistance in meeting basic needs and accessing area social service agencies, community organizations and programs. It costs $13 a night per person at the Hospitality House. Through our Lenten offerings, we were able to provide over 50 nights of shelter for one of our brothers in Christ! Many thanks to all of you for helping to feed bodies with the love of Jesus with a warm home to go to each night.

As many of you know, the first week after a child is born is exhausting. Rest is crucial for all of the members in the family. In last year, members of Aurora and Trinity Lutheran have provided 5days worth of meals for those who have welcomed a child into their family. We would like to continue this ministry, especially as it fits into our mission for the year Feeding Body with the Love of Jesus. Roberta Jensen has graciously been organizing this ministry and she is looking for volunteers who would be willing to be on her list of people to provide a meal. Volunteers are asked to provide one meal for the family. It is does not need to be a homemade meal; it can something purchased, like a frozen pizza and salad. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact Roberta at 507475-3486 or rmjensen@gofast.am to have your name added to her list.

Meals for New Parents

Special Thanks:
I would like to thank EVERYONE who helped with the Aurora soup suppers this year. Special thanks to Roberta and Alycin for covering the night I had to leave and to Bob for making the chili. I am pleased to report that we raised $598 for the playground equipment and as of today, I have no receipts for any expenses. I would like feedback on how the congregation felt about supplying the items needed for each soup versus

me picking up the groceries and having that expense. Thanks again, Jodi Keck

The Election of a New Bishop

and the Voice of Congregations
As some of you may know, this is an exciting year for the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Rome has elected a new Pope, and we get to elect a new bishop! In 2001, Harold Usgaard was elected as our bishop. Six years later, he was reelected for a second term. Because a synod bishop is only allowed two terms, Bishop Usgaard will be retiring from his work at the synod as of this September. In light of this, we are asked to discern whom God is calling to lead us in the years ahead. In the last few months, congregations have been lifting up names of the individuals they feel are being called to the Office of Bishop. As a result, 8 individuals have been named as candidates. In May, these candidates will attend three forums, where congregational members within our synod will have the opportunity to get to know each candidate and ask them questions regarding how they would lead our synod in the years ahead. All (including you) are invited to attend any of these forums: May 21st 7:00pm, St. Paul Lutheran, Pine Island May 22nd 7:00pm, Chatfield Lutheran, Chatfield May 23rd 7:00pm, Grace Lutheran, Waseca

Following this, the election of bishop will happen at our annual synod assembly in June. What I want you to know is this: our congregations have a vote! Both Aurora and Trinity can each send 2 voting members to our synod assembly. They will then have a say in who is elected as our next bishop. Over the past couple of years, some of you have wondered if you have a voice when it comes to the direction of our synod or the ELCA. Here is your chance. You have a voice and you have a vote. Now we need 2 members from each congregation to step forward who are interested in attending the Synod Assembly and voting for the next elected bishop. The information for the Synod Assembly is as follows: Southeastern MN Synod Assembly Friday, June 7th- Saturday, June 8th Mayo Civic Center, Rochester MN I would request that any voting member strive to attend one of the Bishop Forums in May (listed above). Are you interested in representing our congregations at our annual Synod Assembly and having a voice in who is called to be our next bishop? Or can you think of someone whom you think would be good to represent us? If so, please contact me, Jeanne Pichner, or Rich Paulsen. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please dont hesitate to ask. This is an exciting time for our synod! Gods peace to you all, Pastor Jon

Aurora and Trinity Church Joint Council Meeting Wednesday, April 17, 2013 The joint council meeting of the Aurora and Trinity churches was held on Wed. April 17, 2013, at Trinity, at 6:30pm. President Rich Paulson presided. Secretarys report was read and approved. Pastor Jon led devotions from Revelations 7:9-17. MISSION GOALS: 2013 is feeding the body. Proceeds from the Lenten folders were donated to the Hospitality House in Owatonna. Aurora gave $524.00, Trinity was unavailable. A mission committee is being formed. 3 people have stepped up so far. Pastor Jon would like a few more. We are looking for more ways/areas in the community to help out. Aurora puts together meals for families with new babies. This may be expanded to others with illness and/or injury. Discussion was made on how not to be overwhelming, and have better explanation and guidelines. This may help more people feel comfortable with volunteering. WORSHIP TIMES: Sunday May 5, 2013 is the time change. Aurora will have worship at 9:00, with Trinity following at 10:45. This will allow Pastor Jon extra time between services. Suggestions were made for having different services for the summer. This would include June, July, and August. After much discussion it was decided to have the members of each church fill out a survey that has three options on it. #1: have just one Sunday service at 9:00, rotating between Aurora and Trinity every other Sunday. Aurora will continue the Monday night service. #2: having Sunday service only at Trinity at 9:00 with Monday night service at Aurora at 6:30. #3: leaving things the same with Sunday services at both churches, and Monday night service at Aurora. The council is asking everyone to fill out the survey and to please give comments and suggestions both for and against the options. The surveys are due Wed. May 15, 2013. There will then be a joint council meeting on Wed. May 15, 2013 at Aurora at 6:30 to go over the results, and come to a decision. JOINT PICNIC: The picnic is set for Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 10:30 at the B.P Gun Club. Last year went very well with having games, water balloons, etc. to make it a more enjoyable time for everyone. We will continue these activities this year. If you have any ideas or requests, please come forward . JOINT BUDGET MEETING: This has normally been done at the beginning of December. Jeanne has been going over the Aurora constitution and would like this to be changed, based on the proper guidelines. The joint budget meeting involves Pres., Treas., and all Trustees from Aurora and Trinity. After this meeting each church needs to have a regular council meeting. This way it is ready to be brought to the annual meetings of each church in January. This was approved by all. SYNOD ASSEMBLY: On June 7-8, 2013 each church can send 2 voting members to the assembly held in Rochester. There will be forums at several locations held in May for getting to know the candidates. DATES TO REMEMBER: May 5, 2013: Time change, 9:00 service at Aurora and 10:45 at Trinity. May 15, 2013: Surveys on summer hours are due. May 15, 2013: Joint council meeting at Aurora at 6:30 to go over surveys and discuss summer hours. June 7-8, 2013: Synod Assembly for voting on new Bishop. July 14, 2013: Joint picnic at 10:30 at the B.P. Gun Club. October 16, 2013: Joint council meeting at Aurora at 6:30. October 30, 2013: Joint budget meeting for Pres., Treas., and Trustees of both churches at Trinity at 6:30. November 17, 2013: Trinity council/member meeting following the service. November 20, 2013: Aurora council meeting at 6:30. There being no further discussion, a motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Respectfully submitted, Shari Manges, Trinity Secretary

Aurora Lutheran Church Council Meeting April 17, 2013 The regular monthly meeting of the Aurora Lutheran Church Council was held on April 17, 2013. The members present were Jeanne Pichner, Mark Prestegard, Michelle Willams, Jodi Keck, Brett Paape, Roberta Jensen, Ryan Schrom, Sara Pichner, Paul Korbel, Pastor Jon Davis and Nathele Beadell. The meeting was called to order after the joint council meeting by President Jeanne Pichner. Secretarys report: The minutes from the March 19, 2013 meeting were approved as read. Treasures report: New reports were presented to the council. Discussion followed to address information the council would like included in these reports. The audit of the 2012 financials should be completed soon. It is noted the financials are as stated as of March 31 2013. General Fund $4,654.69 Building Fund $5,004.60 Memorial Fund $2,213.21 Parsonage Fund $1,462.75 Cemetery Fund $10,358.44

Pastors report: Pastor Jon reported there were 3 people that attended the Anti-bullying conference in Kasson. Kim Wilder has been getting information on The Backpack Initiative. This program provides kids in need with food for the weekend. Each pack back if filled with food and given to a child in need so they have food for the weekend. The pack back is returned each week to be refilled and redistributed. Is this a program Aurora would like to be a part of? It was decided we need more information but it may be a good program to go with our goal of feeding the body. Thrivent financial would like to have the use of the church basement to have a workshop for parents of 7th 9th grades youth. This workshop is to help parents plan for college funds. A motion was made by Jodi and seconded by Mark to allow Thrivent to use the church basement for the meeting. The motion passed.

Old Business:

Jeanne reported the county does not have regulations regarding playground equipment. The insurance company has recommendations that the Sunday School with reference when ordering. The playground fund is $2,614.51. A motion was made, have the Sunday School order the new playground equipment and if funds are still needed after they sell the old equipment Aurora will help cover the cost, by Ryan and seconded by Sara. The motions passed. The location of the new playground will be decided after consulting with the cemetery committee. The windows for the parsonage are $9,950 the windows for the parish are $1,320. A motion was made, use $2,500 from the Clinton Erickson fund and the Bjoraker farm land rent fund to help cover the cost, by Sara and seconded by Michelle. The motion passed. WELCA will be paying the remaining balance.

New Business: The council will be reviewing the insurance policy. This is to be done yearly per the constitution. The duties and responsibilities of all the committees need to be review and /or defined. Lighting for the parking lot and side lot need to be checked to make sure the areas are properly lit. If changes need to be made suggestion will come back to the council.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45p.m. The next council meeting is a joint meeting and will be held on May 15 th, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nathele Beadell

Service Survey:
In order to unify our congregations we are considering having Joint worship services during the summer months of June, July & August. To help us make a decision, we are asking for your input by completing this survey. From the following three options, please select which one you would prefer during the Summer months only: _____ #1- Hold a combined service beginning at 9:00am each Sunday. The service location would alternate between churches (one Sunday at Trinity and the next at Aurora every other Sunday). Monday night services would continue at Aurora at 6:30pm Both congregations invited to either services. _____ #2- Hold Sunday service at Trinity beginning at 9:00am and Monday night service at Aurora at 6:30pm. Both congregations invited to either services. _____ #3 - Services should continue the same as always. Comments (give us a reason why you selected the option above): ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Name: __________________________________ Please complete by May 15th and give to one of the council members, Pastor or put into the Suggestion Box. Thank you!!!

Service Survey:
In order to unify our congregations we are considering having Joint worship services during the summer months of June, July & August. To help us make a decision, we are asking for your

input by completing this survey. From the following three options, please select which one you would prefer during the Summer months only: _____ #1- Hold a combined service beginning at 9:00am each Sunday. The service location would alternate between churches (one Sunday at Trinity and the next at Aurora every other Sunday). Monday night services would continue at Aurora at 6:30pm Both congregations invited to either services. _____ #2- Hold Sunday service at Trinity beginning at 9:00am and Monday night service at Aurora at 6:30pm. Both congregations invited to either services. _____ #3 - Services should continue the same as always. Comments (give us a reason why you selected the option above): ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Name: __________________________________ Please complete by May 15th and give to one of the council members, Pastor or put into the Suggestion Box. Thank you!!!