TRINITY

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by Pastor Chris Singer “Are You Afraid To Grow Up?”

Many of us are familiar with the story of Peter Pan and his absolute resistance to growing up! He calls the lost boys over and sings,

“I’ll never grow up…cause growing up is awfuller than all the awful things that ever were …”(from Peter Pan, “I Won’t Grow Up.”)

Peter’s point resonates with me as lately I get older. Not just new aches that happen over time, or gray hair that begins to go white, but also seeing two children go off to college while now having three in high school! I started saying, “You sing it Peter Pan!”

Turns out there is an actual medically diagnosed condition called gerascophobia - the fear of growing up. In one case, a 14-year-old boy refused to eat foods with nutrients needed for physical development, stooped to hide his height, used a higher voice pitch than usual, and would become extremely upset if anyone told him he was taller and getting older. Sadly, this condition has him in the 25th percentile of his age group for physical development and is seriously under nourished.

I wonder if sometimes we Christians get afraid to grow up. Might seem a funny thought, but I believe it can be a serious spiritual condition that must be addressed.God tells us, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to

GROW UP in every way more and more like Christ … so that each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16 paraphrased)

Who doesn’t want to be healthy? Who wouldn’t want to grow strong? Well many times our refusal to take on the responsibilities and duties of discipleship become like that Peter Pan song we sing when the Holy Spirit moves to work in our hearts and lives. We sing, “No, we don’t want to GROW UP!”

We begin to weaken and become spiritually frail as we refuse to be faithful in Worship. We skip our physicals when we refuse to Grow together in God’s Word. We get more seriously ill when we refuse to BE SERVED by the body of Christ. We atrophy in our faith when we don’t SERVE as Christ has served us. We stoop and hide our real height when we refuse to GO and share the Gospel in words and deeds with the world He came to save.

How thankful are we that Jesus, the great physician and healer, continually comes to us each morning to bring to us His life-giving forgiveness? Jesus sees our condition as well as our fears and any reasons we may use to insist, “I will never grow up,” and He pulls them from our grasp and takes them into His own on the cross. Now as a part of His body we receive His life blood as it flows into our hearts and lives. His Word forgives, strengthens, and grows us in the faith! Each and every day we grow up a little more!

Trinity Lutheran School ... YOUR SchoolWith the arrival of September, school is in full swing. Sports and extracurricular classes are underway, and everyone is once again very busy. If you have a chance, join our students for some of the after school sports events that are going on right now: football, soccer, cross-country, and volleyball. Join our cheer squad to encourage an Eagle victory!

Our first Chick-Fil-A fundraiser breakfast will be held Friday, September 18, 7:30 – 8:00 in the TLS gym. Seventh grade will be organizing and hosting this event. All funds raised each month support selected charities and individuals. Join us in helping others - - and have a fun and yummy breakfast!

If you have a family member or friend that you think would be a good fit in any of our Christian education programs, please have them give us a call to arrange a tour. Most of our classes do have a few empty chairs.

Brenda BurdickDirector of Curriculum and Admissions281-376-5810burdickb@trinityklein.org

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MEET GOD Worship@ Let the Ringing and

the Singing Begin!

For those of you who have always wanted to sing in a choir or ring a handbell, this is your chance! As we are just getting underway this season, this is great time to join one of our music groups at Trinity and become a part of

our Music Ministry family. The Lutheran Church is synonymous with great music, and Trinity, through

God’s grace, is no exception.

We offer two different choirs:

Sanctuary Choir (Thursdays at 7:30 – 8:45 p.m.) This is our large SATB mixed choir.

Trinity Men’s Choir (Thursdays at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.) 4 part Men’s Choir

Both of these choirs perform an average of twice a month for the 8:30 am Sunday Traditional service as well as Christmas

Eve, Easter Sunday and some of the Wednesday services during Advent and Lent.

Maybe Handbell Choir is your thing:

Exalt Ringers (Wednesday at 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.) This is a 3-5 octave bell choir for all of those who are new to bell ringing

as well as seasoned players. This group generally plays at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Contemporary services and also in

the lobby on special occasions.

Jubilate Deo Ringers (Wednesdays at 7:30 – 8:45 p.m.) This is our premiere 7 octave handbell choir directed by Ben Harris. This ensemble performs for the 8:30 a.m.

Sunday Traditional service, the German Christmas Eve service and occasionally on Wednesday evenings during

Advent and Lent. There are immediate openings. Previous handbell experience is not necessary, but the ability to read

music is essential.

No auditions are required for any of our groups – just a love for music and a willingness to share your talent.

If you have any question please contact Dr. Bill Brusick at 281-376-5773 ext. 313 or email at

brusickb@trinityklein.org, or better yet, just show up at a rehearsal. Come join us as we make a joyful noise to the

Lord this season.

September Nursery HoursSundays: 8:20 a.m. to end of 11:00 a.m. service

(Ages 2 months-PreK)

Mondays: 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. MOPS starts Sept. 14 (pre-registration through

MOPS required.)

Tuesdays: 8:15 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Precepts/MOPS Bible Study/GriefShare

Tuesdays/Thursdays 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. ESL Classes (classes run 9/1-11/19)

Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. LBS/GriefShare

6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Kids/Youth Grow Groups/Church

Nursery is offered for other Ministry Programs as they specify in their advertising.

We appreciate donations of Goldfish, animal crackers, Cheerios, pretzels, Kleenex, baby wipes, Clorox wipes

Nursery questions or interested in serving in our nursery, contact Stephanie Warner at

warners@trinityklein.org or 281-290-4961.

Look at those smiles! Miss Cathreen and Cate having lots of fun.

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Grow to Know God

Precept Study on Acts

• Starting September 22 • Meets Tuesdays at 8:15 • Childcare Offered • Must Reserve Workbook • Contact Rosemary Alyea at alyear@trinityklein.org

Pastor’s Class • Sept. 13 - Oct. 18 • Only one one adult Sunday Bible Class • Taught by Pastor Chris and Pastor John • FLC Gym

NEWStudies

Grow Groups and the I Am Trinity Klein series launches September 13!

Be on the look out for information from your

host leaders. It’s going to be an exciting six weeks!

We all have busy lives, but we want to connect with other Godly women in our congregation. Our dates have been set, so mark your calendar! If you would like to

receive an E-vite or be added to the Facebook calendar, send an email to

corri@bearsplumbing.net

2015 Dates:Monday September 28, 2015

Monday October 19, 2015Monday November 30, 2015Monday December 14 2015

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Serve and Love GodWe want to express our sincere thanks for the many prayers, visits, kind expressions of caring by al l our Trinity Family. Thanks to

Pastors Stavig, Singer and C ordrey for the many visits to her at her home at Southern

Knights. Thank you to the ladies who prepared and served the delicious luncheon

after her service. The luncheon was very much appreciated by our family and friends.

- Velma Frank Klenk Family

Hamburger Day

Fellowship Club

50+ Trip

will meet Sept. 3, at 10:30 a.m. in the FLC. Come and meet our new Serve Pastor, Gene Johnson.

Thanks to Jim Brown, flu shots will be available 9:30–11:30 a.m. Pat Hilburn

needs volunteers to help her in the kitchen and two more people to bake

cakes. Please contact her at 832-422-3225 if you can help serve.

will meet Sept. 9, at 10:30 a.m. for a pot luck meal, table games and fellowship.

The group meets in room 116 in the FLC.

Wednesday, Sept. 23, the county bus is leaving at 6:30 a.m. from the FLC parking lot to 8:00 a.m. at our

destination. Put a smile on your face and plan to be a part of the audience for

the Great Day Houston Show, KHOU Channel 11. Debra Duncan is the show host and always has interesting guests.

RSVP to Jean Smith in the Church Office to reserve your free show ticket. Guests

to this show and more details will be announced at a later date.

Men’s STARS Retreat is Sept. 17 – 20. Are you ready to

grow in your faith? If your answer is “yes,” this spiritual renewal is for you.

Contact Ronny Kiel at ronnykiel@gmail.com. for more information. Registration is at

www.trinityklein.org

Join the Trinity Klein Prayer Team! Contact the

Team Leader, Sheryl Albers, to join the team or send

prayer requests totrinityprayerteam2@gmail.com

Blessing of the Prayer Shawls will be on Sunday, Sept. 13, in the 8:30 a.m. worship service. These shawls are given to those in need of comfort and prayers due to illness, bereavement, loneliness or whatever reason when an extra measure of concern, comfort, love and prayer is needed. This Ministry is a rewarding experience to those who knit or crochet these shawls. Our inventory is low at this time, and with the fall and winter weather approaching us, it’s a good time to pick up the needles and knit a shawl or two. If you are interested in joining this ministry, please contact Jean Smith at smithj@trinityklein.org.

GriefShare and DivorceCare for adults and children have resumed meeting. You are welcome to begin attending at any point. Each session is “self-contained,” so you do not have to attend in sequence. You will be able to pick up any sessions you missed in our next 13-week cycle in the spring session. Register at trinityklein.org.

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Go & Share God I was extremely blessed this summer with an opportunity to go on the Kenya Mission Trip with Trinity. If I could say anything about the trip I would describe it as an illuminating experience. I entered the trip seeing myself as a thankful person and understanding of my many blessings, but came away served by the very people I thought had nothing to offer. The clinic I was privileged to be a part of served around seven hundred people in a week’s time. In that week I have never seen so many people so content and happy with their quality of life. If anything my trip to Kenya completely changed my viewpoint of people in third world countries. We shouldn’t look at these people and pity them simply because of their geographical location but understand that we are all God’s people and we both have something to offer each other. I returned to America and my Papa refreshed me on the meaning of the French phrase “Noblesse Oblige.” He reminded me that it is our obligation as God’s children to use any blessings we have to bless others. I was able to serve in Kenya while also unknowingly being served and enriched by people I thought had nothing to give. I couldn’t be happier with my experience and I highly recommend it to any age. Thank you Trinity for this opportunity!

In Christ,Garrett Herzik

Trinity Ablaze in Kenya

One of Garrett’s pictures from the safari in Nairobi, Kenya.

The new Trinity Furniture Ministry is ready to start helping families in our community who are in need of furniture. We will be collecting donated furniture and giving to needy families through our Benevolence Ministry. We will only be collecting the following items: beds, dressers, nightstands, small table & chairs, couches and love seats. Drop offs are preferred, but we can pick up furniture if needed. Pleasecall 281-376-5773 or email Jennifer Kiel at kielj@trinityklein.org for more information.

SISTERS GIVING SISTERS LARGE PRINT

NEW TESTAMENTS

When the Tuesday morning Large Print group met in July, two of the members took copies of Large Print New Testament pages to their sisters to see if they would be

able to read them. Very quickly they found out that they could read them! So on August 2, after 8:30 a.m. service, the Tuesday morning group gathered to help present the

New Testaments to their sisters in Christ.

What a blessing to be able to give these two ladies the opportunity to once again read the Good News of Jesus

Christ!

The Large Print ministry would like to thank the Wednesday morning Seniors Bible Study group for their

generous donation.

For more information about this ministry please contact Jean Webber, Work Center #93 leader, at 281-923-6486.

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Sweet Isabelle is the granddaughter of our former TLS English teacher, Michelle Callahan. Isabelle had surgery to remove a large brain tumor surrounding the optic nerve on July 28. It was an eleven-hour surgery and she was put into a medical coma afterwards to allow her body to recover. There has been some improvement, but she is not responding/waking up as fast as the doctors would like. There are many unknowns at this point. We are praying for the Lord Jesus to hold this child in His Healing, Loving Arms. Please join us in praying for her complete recovery. Our school is stepping up to support Isabelle and her family not only in prayer but other supporting ways. They dedicated their first chapel offering on August 19 to Isabelle and gave proceeds from a Chick-Fil-A breakfast fundraiser to this cause. The seventh grade is collecting pre-paid Visa, MasterCard, or American Express gift cards to help pay for travel expenses to and from the medical center. Gas and parking can add up very quickly. Please turn cards in to Tracy King at the school. You may also visit http://www.gofundme.com/2jd5zx5sw for any additional way to help financially. If you have any questions contact Tracy King at kingtr@trinityklein.org

As you go about your work for the Lord of Life, use Jesus as your example. He proclaimed truth but had compassion on the sinners who surrounded Him and so should we. Let the light of your compassion shine through

in all that you do and say. It will make a difference.” - Diane Schroeder, former president of Lutherans For Life

Trinity’s Springing Hope 1:27 is offering Empowered To Connect

Adoptive and Foster Parent Training that will begin on Sept. 13, and you are invited to participate. This nine- week training course will meet on Sunday afternoons, 3:00-5:00 p.m., at Trinity Klein Lutheran Church.

You will find a complete description of the ETC Parent Training at http://empoweredtoconnect.org/training/.

Contact MaryAnn Day at 832-585-2931 or

springdays@outlook.com for more information or to sign up.

Space is limited.

Trinity Contact Information5201 Spring Cypress Rd.

Spring, TX 77379Church Phone: 281-376-5773

Church Fax: 281-251-7021Emergency Phone Number: 281-290-4933