M.A.S.S., Women’s Bible Study, WINGS, Quilters

2

TLC SS/Youth News 3

TLC Family Photo Gallery 4

Farm Tour Pics 5

LWML Luncheon Meeting 6

Lutheran Practices 7

Rev Paul Miller Retirement 8

MASS News 9

Those Who Serve 10

Momma’s House Pics 11

Birthdays/Anniversaries 12

Stewardship 13

Jr DYG Pics 14

Lenten Schedule 15

Choir Party Pics 16

Note from Treasurer 17

Calendar of Events 18

Lenten Suppers 19

The Desert Voice Dear Members and Friends:

What could be the worst thing

about being a Christian? That’s a

strange question, isn’t it? There is,

however, something to consider

here. St. Paul addressed a poten-

tial worst thing for us Christians

we he declared, “If Christ has not

been raised, then our preaching is

in vain and your faith is in

vain” (1Corinthians 15:14). The

most awful thing about being a

Christian would be the absence of

the bodily resurrection of our Lord

Jesus Christ. What a hoax all the

sayings and promises of Jesus

would be!

However, Paul not only af-

firmed the actual bodily resurrec-

tion of Jesus Christ, but taught it as

the indispensable truth we hang

onto as God’s people. “For I deliv-

ered to you as of first importance

what I also received: that Christ

died for our sins in accordance

with the Scriptures, that he was

buried, that he was raised on the

third day in accordance with the

Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-

4)

We affirm this truth in the Ni-

cene Creed, “And the third day

He (Jesus) rose again according

to the Scriptures.” We further

declare, “I look for the resur-

rection of the dead and the life

of the world to come.” Just as

Jesus gloriously rose bodily

from the tomb, so also we look

forward to rising from our

graves with a glorious body.

Even now, come what may, we

acknowledge and rejoice in an-

ticipation of everlasting life in

joy and peace with our risen

and gracious Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ.

Pastor Smith

Inside this issue:

Trinity Lutheran Church April 2017

Men (and Women)

Assisting

Seminary Students M.A.S.S. meets on the second

Tuesday, April 11th, at 6:00 pm

at Sloan’s Restaurant in Indio, corner of

Highway 111 and Clinton Streets. Men and

women, please come and join us for a good meal and devotions and enjoy being with friends. Remember, to donate regularly to our MASS fund which helps Seminary stu-

dents become Pastors in the LCMS. You can

donate on Sunday by placing a check in the

offering plate noted for MASS. Anyone, any

age, can help. God bless you and God bless

our work for MASS here at Trinity. Call

church office with questions 760-347-3971.

Russ Campbell, Chairman

P.S. We love our MASS men and women

members for their hard work! Thanks!

MEN’S M.A.S.S. MEETING

Page 2 The Desert Voice April 2017

WINGS (ladies night

out group) will be going to

The Olive Garden in Palm

Desert , corner of Hwy. 111 & Fred Waring Drive.

On April 20th 2017. Meeting time; 6:30 pm. Come

along and give us a try! April 20th at 6:30 pm;

We’d love to have you.! See Bobbi or Emily if you

plan on attending!

Women’s Bible Study Our Women’s Bible Study meets on Thursdays at 5pm. Our Teacher is Mary Helen Kelly. You will learn a lot about the Bible.

TLC QUILTERS . Trinity Quilters meeting times in March

April 19 & 23rd at 11:15 am. Newcomers

welcome.! Come and learn about quilting. Ques-

tions? call Marilyn Mohr 760 –775-4301.

Answer to last month’s

quiz was Timothy.

This month’s question.

Who Am I? Once before a

tomb I wept, A friend was

charged to see me kept. This was before

the glorious day, My Savior rose to go His

way.. Who am I? Call Ruth with your

answer at 760-574-3787.

NEW FLOWER CHART

For 2017 is here. All we

need to do is fill it. Please

put your name and spe-

cial occasion on your

special date. Cost is

$35.00 or whatever you

want to give. See Mary

Helen Kelly with any

questions.

Sunday School News

Page 3 Www.TrinitIndio.org * Thedesertvoice@verizon.net

TLC Sunday School/ Youth Fellowship

The TLC Youth Fellowship and Sunday School began a new quarter of lessons fo-

cusing on Jesus death and resurrection to save us from an eternal life in hell. We

began with Jesus and Zacchaeus and will lead the children thru holy week, ulti-

mately to John’s vision of heaven. There will be no regular classes held on

Easter Sunday and will resume the following Sunday, April 23rd.

Easter Sunday Prep! Saturday, April 15 @ 9:00 am

Yep! It’s that time of year! Easter is just around the corner and we will need help getting the big day

ready. Our annual Easter activities are always a big hit. The crafts for the children will need to be gath-

ered and organized and the eggs filled for the egg hunt. If you are available to help the Saturday before

Easter, April 15 @ 9am I will greatly appreciate it!

Also, we will need donations of jelly beans to fill the eggs for the egg hunt. Please bring the

candy to church any Sunday this month. Our Sunday School has grown and we always have a

good number of visiting children on Easter. The candy donations are very important.

Also, still looking for volunteers to help hide the eggs for the egg hunt, Easter morning during

the 8:30am service

Thank you for always remembering the TLC Family Events!

THANK YOU!!!! Yep that’s right. Thanks for the willingness to

serve as counselors, 3 TLC members, Richard & Tara Robin-

son and Ali Young, accompanied all 11 of our youth to the Jr.

District Youth Gathering held at Concordia University Irvine.

The youth gathered in the CUI chapel with all the other youth

attending and participated in games and break out sessions.

What a wonderful time to grow in their faith, bond with fellow

TLC youth and make new friends from the Pacific Southwest

District. So THANK YOU, Richard, Tara and Ali.

A big THANK YOU, also goes out to the TLC congregation for making this all possible by continuing to

keep their youth in prayer and including them in the annual budget. The Lord is truly good!

CUI

Page 4 The Desert Voice April 2017

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Page 6

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

Trinity Lutheran Church, Indio

April Luncheon Meeting

Wednesday, April 19, 2017 11:30 A.M.

THEME: Today

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for

yourselves ….whom you will serve …., but as for me and my household,

we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24, Sections of verse 15

PROGRAM: By laws Surprise?

MISSION GRANT: POBLO

SERVICE PROJECT: Cards to M.A.S.S. students

HOSTESSES: Ladies from Peace Lutheran Church

The Desert Voice April 2017

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The Desert Voice April 2017 Page 8

Together Let’s Honor and Celebrate the Retirement of our Beloved Father,

Paul Miller Sunday, April 30, 2017

Christ Lutheran Church 64565 Pierson Blvd.

Desert Hot Springs, Ca 92240

CELEBRATION SERVICE 3:00pm

FAREWELL DINNER RECEPTION Follows the celebration service

R.S.V.P. Requested Christ Lutheran 760 329-9292

Bobbi Smith 760 485-7770 Email: Bobbi322@verizon.net

Page 9

MASS NEWS FOR APRIL 2017

We are in April and next month we will have two men getting the assignments for their vicarage year

And is seems like the year has just started.

I provided the first service some information that Pastor Chris Howell who graduated last year and was as-

signed a church in Nebraska. He was installed in June of 2016 and he now has 35 children in a Wednesday

night bible class, and he told me he should be up to 45 very soon. Not bad for such a short time.

We received a very nice note from Krista Weeks for the Valentines card and $50 gift certificate MASS sent

her. Krista will be going out with her husband on a vicarage assignment also. Her thank you was very touch-

ing as she not only thanks Trinity for the gift card, but thanks us again for the support you provide them each

month.

Kyle weeks provided me with a letter in very small type and filled the letter with information but I will not

do the same. He is enjoying his course work and looks forward to each new class. On another note Kyle will

be setting up a blog and provided us with the address. So if anyone would like to sign up you will have an up

to date on what he and Krista are doing. KTWeeks2015@gmail.com

Kyle also thanks us for our continued support during their time at the Seminary. It gives them much needed

encouragement and the means to continue toward the goal of pastoral ministry.

We did receive another check for $1,000 which we greatly appreciate, and we thank the anonymous donor.

Tanner Wade and his bride wish the congregation a blessed Easter. He has just about completed his spring

courses which he enjoys very much. He keeps getting A’s except for one course. Sounds good to me. He is

also very busy with a youth program at St Paul’s Lutheran in Des Peres, MO. He relates that when he was

just about to start the children’s message during the service one little girl stood up and announced that her

sister was sitting too close to her and she wasn’t sitting where she should. Life seems to be the same all over

the world, at least with children.

Until next month I also thank you for your help and encouragement in our mission together.

In his service,

Russ Campbell

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Page 10

Duties

April 9

11:00 am

Communion

April 16

8:30 am

Communion

EASTER

April 23

11:00 am

Communion

April 30

April 2

8:30 am

Communion

Duty Elder

8:30am

11am

Roy Culley

Richard Robinson

Roy Culley

Gary Wiedle

Webb Sprague

Gary Wiedle

Webb Sprague

Gary Wiedle

Gary Wiedle

Richard Robinson

Readers

8:30am

11am

Roy Culley

Richard Robinson

Roy Culley

Gary Wiedle

Webb Sprague

Gary Wiedle

Webb Sprague

Gary Wiedle

Gary Wiedle

Richard Robinson

Ushers

8:30am

11am

Russ Campbell

& Jim Lorimer

Jim Ducatte &

Andy Schlange

Jim Lorimer

& Terry Lahn

Jim Ducatte &

Bob Wirtenberger

Larry Piunti &

Russ Campbell

Richard Robinson

&

Bob Wirtenberger

Larry Piunti

& Terry Lahn

Jim Ducatte &

Bob Wirtenberger

Russ Campbell &

Terry Lahn

Jim Ducatte &

Bob Wirtenberger

Acolytes

8:30 am

11:00 am

Elder

Elder

Elyssa & Erin

Ashbaugh

Baron

Chamberlain

Ethan &

AnnaMarie Frese

Erin Ashbaugh

& Samantha

Schuessler

Ethan & AnnaMarie

Frese

Emma Ashbaugh

& Lily Tobin

Ethan &

AnnaMarie Frese

Emma & Logan

Ashbaugh

Greeters

8:30am

11am

Raejean &

Bruce Kuhnau

Bob & Irene

Wirtenberger

Raejean &

Bruce Kuhnau

Joan Mandell &

Beverly Ducatte

Raejean &

Bruce Kuhnau

Bob & Irene

Wirtenberger

Raejean &

Bruce Kuhnau

Bob & Irene

Wirtenberger

Raejean &

Bruce Kuhnau

Bob & Irene

Wirtenberger

Flowers

Raejean & Bruce

Kuhnau

Don & Wanda

Lahn

Those Who Serve in April 2017

The Desert Voice April 2017

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The Desert Voice April 2017

April 2017 Birthdays

Page 12

12 Mark & Elsa Smith

14 John & Luretta Eide

15 Webb & Francisca Sprague

20 Luke & Marilyn Mohr

20 Alex & Maggie Negron

3 Luke Mohr

9 Emily Bonette

13 Blake Carlson

14 Doris Spiker

20 Ruth Farquhar

21 George Intemann

21 Denny York

22 Bill Bonette

26 Joan Mandel

29 Nolan Ducatte

29 Laura Thomason

1 Bryan Lorimer

4 Dani Ducatte

9 Joey White

9 Renee’ Young

16 Bobbi Smith

19 Kaden Onak

21 Kacie Onak

22 Donna Heinzeroth

April Anniversaries 2017

18 Shad & Jill Schuessler

May 2017 Birthdays

May Anniversaries 2017

Page 13

Easter is a moveable feast. Easter isn't on the same calendar date every year in the way that

Christmas is always celebrated on December 25. The date for Easter each year always falls on

the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox. And once you find the date of

Easter, everything else finds its place—Good Friday and Maundy Thursday, Ash Wednesday

and the Transfiguration, the Ascension of our Lord and Pentecost.

All this is a long way of saying that Easter determines everything. Easter defines everything. It

orders not only the entire church year, but it orders our very lives. It defines and gives meaning

to our lives, as well to the things that happen in them. And since Easter defines everything, that

means it changes everything too. It redefines who we are and where we stand with God and with

one another. Easter makes all things new.

Without Easter, Jesus would not be raised from the dead. Without Easter death would still reign,

we would still be in our trespasses and sins, and our faith and hope would be in vain. But Jesus is

raised from the dead. Easter changes everything. It makes all things new. Therefore, darkness is

overcome with light, wrath with peace, fear with hope, angst with rest, sadness with joy, hatred

with love, sin with righteousness, and death with life. Easter changes everything, redefines eve-

rything, determines everything. Easter makes all things new.

Thus, Easter also changes our attitude about giving. For if God gave us His own Son into death so

that we will live, how will He not give us everything else we need? He will, and He does. He pro-

vides for us. He even gives us the gifts that we give back to Him for service in the church. Easter

demonstrates that we have a God who loves us, a God who provides for us, a God who presses

us into His service, a God who has made us new in the death and resurrection of His Son.

For when you give to the church, you pass along those things that God alone has given to you.

You pass along the message to others that Easter changes everything and makes all things new,

even as it has done this for you. This is not a burden, but pure joy. For God has given you a part

in the administration of His kingdom. He provides for the needy through your hands. He ensures

that the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are given out through the work of your hands

and in the gifts that you give. And He honors and blesses this work and generosity as it redounds

to those around you.

So when you sit down on the first day of the week to make your offering to the place where

Easter is proclaimed and where the gifts of Easter are given out, remember: Easter changes eve-

rything. It makes all things new. More than that: Easter has changed you and made you new. Be-

cause Jesus who was crucified for our transgressions is raised for our justification.

Cindy Hilger, Chairman

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As a Lenten lead-in to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the Standing at the

Cross series will focus on portions of sermons Martin Luther actually preached during

Lent, Holy Week and Easter in the parishes where he served. As we stand with Luther

at the foot of the cross each week, we contemplate the ways in which we stand firm in

the faith as followers of Christ during this holy season.

Wednesday, April 5 @ 7pm: Standing in Truth

Maundy Thursday, April 13 @ 7pm: Standing in Faith

Good Friday, April 14 @ 7pm: Standing in Forgiveness

Easter, April 16 @ 8:30am & 11am: Standing in Victory

=================================================

It is Time Again to Decorate Our Sanctuary for Easter. Please help by do-

nating $8.00 for a Lily. Fill out the coupon in the Bulletin and give to

Wanda Lahn. Also, Donations are needed for the Easter Brunch.

Mary Helen Kelly, Chairman LWML

Standing at the

Cross

Page 16 The Desert Voice April 2017

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A NOTE FROM YOUR TREASURER

PLEASE READ! VERY IMPORTANT!

As a congregation Trinity is blessed with faithful and generous members who love the Lord

and daily demonstrate that love in their service and giving. Each one of us is blessed to overflowing by being part of Christ’s Body (The Church) here at Trinity Lutheran Church in Indio.

We are especially blessed with a Pastor who is faithful to his calling and preaches the Law

and Gospel of God’s Holy Word in truth and purity; and leads us in the study of God’s Word through which the Holy Spirit works to keep our faith alive, reflecting Christ’s light to all

around us.

Let us each ask our self, “Am I giving to support Trinity’s ministry as I have been blessed?” Through the summer, operating expenses continue. When you look at our Financial State-

ments, the total bottom line has been looking great! But, that includes all of our restricted gifts for specific projects and when our two parking lots are completed, most of those funds

will be gone.

We must look at our General Operating Fund Reserve and see what we will need to carry us through the summer months. Because we are in a recreation/winter visitor area, most of our income is received in the winter months. Monthly expenses will remain about

the same (or depending on air-conditioning needs might be higher) at 39,877, with antici-pated monthly income – 24,416. This means we will have a monthly loss of about

15,461. Currently, our reserve will only cover this for two months, not until October when our income usually increases.

Trinity is operating on a combined financial accounting for the congregation and the Child

Development Center. Last year both operated at a loss in several of the summer months which depleted our Reserve Fund

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? We ALL must INCREASE our GIFTS OF LOVE FOR BLESS-

INGS RECEIVED to match our expenses AND NOT JUST DEPEND ON A FEW TO COVER THEM FOR US! I just paid our District Convention Assessment for 171 Communicant mem-

bers. If this number is correct, many are not giving anything. If everyone gives something, as the widow gave, WE CAN MAKE IT!

If you remember, a letter was sent by the Chair of the Stewardship Board asking each member to pray about considering increasing their giving. This note is a follow up to that

letter. Let us all again take it to the Lord in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us.

In Christ’s love,

Mary Helen Kelly

Robert E. Smith, Pastor

Cell Phone: 760-485-5171

Emily Bonette, Church Secretary

Church Office Phone: 760-347-3971

Eloise Freeman, Preschool Director

Preschool Phone: 760-347-3838

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Pacific Southwest District

Stamp

Sunday Worship

8:30am & 11am

Sunday School/

Bible Class

10:00am

Holy Communion

8:30am—1st & 3rd Sundays

11am—2nd & 4th Sundays

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LENTEN POTLUCK SUPPERS

5:45 p.m. March 29, 2017 The annual Lenten potluck suppers preceding

Lenten services each Wednesday until Holy Week

have begun. We ask that you please bring a main

dish, a salad or dessert to share. We have a great

time visiting with one another and sharing fellow-

ship . We all help with cleanup.

Remember the time: 5:45 pm followed by the Lenten

service and Choir practice.

Serving for Special Services @ 7pm

March 29th Elder: Roy Culley Ushers: Terry Lahn & Larry Piunti

Wed. April 5th Elder: Roy Culley

Maundy Thursday April 13th Gary Wiedle (C)

Good Friday April 14th Richard Robinson C)

Easter April 16th 6:30 am Richard Robinson