Monthly Monitor
August 2026
Here at Trinity Monitor, the end of August means new beginnings in our school — fresh faces, new lessons, renewed opportunities to share Christ’s love with children and families.Scripture reminds us that seasons of preparation matter. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). As we look toward the start of school, we remember that Christian education is not simply about information but formation — shaping hearts and minds to know Christ, trust His promises, and walk in His ways.In the fields, the corn is quietly preparing for harvest. In our homes and classrooms, we prepare for a different kind of harvest — the growth of faith, wisdom, and character in our children. And in our congregation, we prepare our own hearts for the work God sets before us in the coming year.Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). August reminds us that we are His laborers — parents, teachers, pastors, farmers, neighbors — each called to tend the soil God has placed us in. The heat of summer strengthens the corn. The grace of Christ strengthens us.May the Lord bless the fields around us, the families among us, and the school year ahead of us. And may He continue to grow in us a faith that endures every season.-Pastor Kaiser
Glorifying God
To the church in Corinth the Apostle Paul wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Everything we do is to be to God’s glory. Even ordinary daily tasks like eating or resting should be done to honor, reflect, and bring praise to God. God tells us through Paul that our primary purpose in life is to glorify God in and through whatever we do. We were born by God’s purpose and for His purpose. We are alive because God wanted to create us. In Colossians 1:16, we read, “…all things were created…through Him and for Him.” It is only in God that we find our identity and purpose. It is in God’s Word that we discover our purpose in life. God is glorified when we, through faith, seek to know and to live out His purposes for us. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to live lives that glorify God and point people to Christ.In Scripture, God called people to fulfill different purposes. Adam was to tend the garden. Noah was to build the ark. Abraham was to become a great nation through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed. Joseph helped his people survive a great famine. Joshua led the conquest into the Promised Land. David was the greatest king of Israel. Solomon was to build the temple. Paul was to become a missionary. God called each of these people, and they responded faithfully and obediently. Through faith, we also can respond to God’s leading so we can fulfill the purpose that God has given each of us. God has a purpose for each of us. When we spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word, in prayer, and receiving His body and blood in worship, God will guide us into the work and purpose that He prepares for us.
Through faith, we understand that God is both our source of life and our purpose for living. Our purpose is to give God glory, honor, and service. In his book Beyond Blessed, Rev. Robert Morris wrote, “Deep genuine happiness and fulfillment stem from living our true purpose, not experiencing worldly, carnal pleasure. If you’re fulfilling the purpose for which God created you, you can have nothing
A Stewardship Thought
IOne of the “things” that gets in the way of Christian stewardship is a lack of trust in God. That is a bold, but true, statement.The devil has many schemes to try to lure us away from a life of faithfulness and discipleship. Paul wrote, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11). Sometimes this reference to the “full armor of God” is called the Gospel armor because it includes various “facets” of our salvation.Because Jesus has died to pay the price for all our sins, we live with the assurance that we will spend eternity with Him. Just as we trust in the Lord for our eternal salvation, we can trust that He will also take care of all of our “in-between needs.”If you ask yourself, “Why don’t I tithe?” (Return the first ten percent of income to the Lord) the answer might boil down to this: “I don’t trust God to take care of my needs if I return that much to Him,” or “I want more for myself than I want to return to the Lord for the work that is dearest to His heart.” (i.e., I am more concerned about me than Him. That is idolatry.)Why don’t we wrestle with Paul’s verses in prayer and ask God to help us use His whole armor? Our lives of Christian stewardship will mature.
August 2026
As the final weeks of summer fly by and August arrives, the hallways of Trinity Lutheran School are starting to buzz with anticipation. We are eagerly preparing to welcome our students and staff back for an exciting new school year!Before the first bell rings, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to this entire congregation. Your steady prayers and financial support truly sustain our school ministry. Over these summer months, that support has been hard at work keeping our school & church beautiful and safe. Our team has been busy with everything from small projects—like deep cleaning the building and completing minor repairs—to major, essential building updates, including the replacement of our HVAC units. Because of your ongoing generosity, Trinity remains a comfortable, clean, and vibrant Christ-centered environment where children can thrive.As we look to grow our school family, please remember that enrollment is still open for the upcoming school year! We want to fill every classroom with children who will hear the Gospel daily. If you have family, friends, or neighbors who are looking for a loving, high-quality Christian education, please invite them to check out Trinity. (We also still have a few yard signs available in the school office and church narthex if you'd like to display one for these final weeks of summer!)
We are so excited to see how God blesses our school this year, especially as we dive into our new theme, "Rooted in Christ." It is our prayer that our students will deepen their faith, standing firm and growing strong in the love and truth of Jesus. We also look forward to partnering with the congregation in fresh ways through shared mission projects and community support, keeping the bond between our church and school stronger than ever.Thank you for being such an essential part of our school family. Please keep our teachers, families, and students in your prayers as we gear up for a fantastic year ahead!In Christ,Karen S. FriebePrincipal, Trinity Lutheran School2026-2027Yearly Theme
Announcements
Members of
Trinity Lutheran Church
I am writing to share an exciting opportunity to support the ministry here at Trinity.We are currently planning to replace 7 HVAC units in our school and gym, which are well beyond their expected useful life. The total cost of this essential project will be approximately $100,000.Thanks to the incredible generosity of an anonymous donor, we have been blessed with a matching gift opportunity. Any contribution made toward this project will be doubled, dollar for dollar, up to $40,000! This means that 40% of our total project cost could be covered by this match, directly amplifying the impact of your generosity and helping us reach our goal much faster.To take full advantage of this matching gift, we need to raise these funds by the middle of September.Thank you for your continued partnership in His ministry here at Trinity.WAYS TO DONATE: Online by selecting ‘'Designated Gifts' and then 'HVAC Matching’ as the sub fund or by using a designated gift offering envelope and labeling it ‘HVAC Match’.Blessings,Dave Friebe,Congregational Chair
News from VLHS
PUBLIC SCHOOL CONFIRMATION2026-2027
Valley Lutheran High School is in search of a Food Service Assistant for the 2026-27 school year and potentially beyond. This position offers 20-25 hours (typically 9 am - 2 pm) for 4-5 days per week and includes food preparation, sanitizing and dishwashing, serving, and cash register duties. Experience in food service is helpful, but not required. We will train on-site and also cover the cost of your ServSafe certification. Benefits include retirement through Concordia Plans, life insurance, and disability insurance, and the opportunity to work in a Christ-focused ministry with a dedicated faculty and staff. The position begins August 24th. If you enjoy working with students and are interested in the flexibility of part-time work, please send your resume and cover letter to Karl Seidel (Food Service Coordinator) at kseidel@vlhs.com. We will accept applications until the position is filled
Confirmation Classes for the 7th & 8th grade public school students of Trinity Lutheran Church will begin in September and continue through April. Dates and times will be determined based upon student schedules and availability. If your child will be participating in the confirmation classes, or if you have any questions regarding confirmation, please contact Pastor Kaiser or call the church office at (989)662-6093.
Did you know that Trinity’s Athletic Booster Club serves both the congregation and the school, as well as the community who also uses our facilities?
Any fundraising efforts by the Club gets funneled right back to Trinity Monitor to support our Panther Teams and to maintain the pavilion, grounds, and ballfields.
Most schools in our league make their student athletes “Pay to Play”. From 2022 to 2025, here are some interesting statistics for the Panthers and the costs that were covered by Trinity’s Athletic Booster Club:
Officiating and Fees - $15,033.54
Uniforms, Equipment, and Supplies - $6,986.98
Additionally, from 2022 to 2025, here are the stats for the costs of maintaining the pavilion, grounds, and ballfields for Trinity:
Gas, Fuel, Propane, Pesticides - $4,081.58
Repairs, Maintenance, and Supplies - $42,257.56
This is where the THANK YOU comes in to play. ALL of these dollars all come from fundraising, which cannot be done without YOU!
We appreciate your willingness to serve whenever we put forth the call for help! Our next event is right around the corner and we’ll need your help in Concessions, the Chicken BBQ on Saturday, and the Pig Roast on Sunday:43rd Annual Booster Club WeekendAugust 21-23, 2026Speaking of help, the Club is looking for a new President as Rich has retired from his position on May 1, 2026. If you or someone you know would like to step up in a leadership role, please contact interim President, Brad Feinauer.We are also looking for new members for fresh ideas about future fundraising opportunities. You are always welcome to attend any of our meetings – the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm usually in the pavilion if the weather is nice, otherwise, we meet in the school dining room. Let’s keep our Athletic Boosters going well into the future!
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