A virtual "job jar" of current opportunities to help our congregation, community and world...
Cancer affects all of us in some way-either personally or ones we love. This church certainly has felt its impact these past 6 months. On June 6 & 7, the American Cancer Society will hold its Relay for Life at SLU High School. Is anyone at Trinity interested in coordinating the formation of a walking team? Please contact Liz in the office (725-3840).
New ministry opportunity! An individual or team is needed to organize and operate the church picnic. This is a one-time commitment for a project of short duration. Organizers will have flexibility in setting the date, the location and the content of the picnic. If you enjoy the picnic, get involved so that we have one this year! Please contact Rev. Julie March (725-3840) or Dave Nelson of the Equipping Team if you would like to learn more.
Do you like to shop? Well, then, do we have the opportunity of a lifetime for you! You can shop till you drop for the Winger Food Pantry in May and June. Don't hesitate. Call now for this wonderful opportunity. Contact Stacey Carmen to get all the details.
Shop from Home: If you would rather shop from home for the food pantry, try this on for size! All you need to do is set up an Amazon account through their program called "Subscribe and Save". They will process the order for the food pantry, charge your credit card and ship it directly to us. There is no charge for shipping and there is a 15% discount. You can set it up to automatically order as often as you like. It's that easy. Thanks to Lisa Bernhard for this tip. Contact Stacey Carmen or the office for a list of items we need for the pantry.
Trinity built in 2001 and 2003. Trinity can build again! Two blocks east of Grand Boulevard and two north of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. The build will be sponsored by Trinity, the Washington University Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and others. Will we raise $5,000? $10,000? $15,000? For $5,000 we get two build days for Trinity volunteers; we get more days if we raise more. Building will start with four consecutive days in August and then continue on twelve Saturdays. Get your hammers and brushes ready! We need your checkbooks, too. To contribute, make a check payable to Trinity Presbyterian Church and write Habitat on the memo line. Talk to Pat Gibbons for more info.
Please notice the article on the front page of the Post Dispatch on Friday, March 28 about North St. Louis Youth Build. On March 9, Martha Brunell preached and led worship at Trinity (on Celebration of the Gifts of Women Sunday). For many years she nurtured the dwindling flock at Friedens U.C.C. and spearheaded the conversion of the church's assets to the "Friedens Neighborhood Foundation" which has tackled Youth Build. I am presently on the Foundation Board. Martha has been key in the evolution of this project from "dying little church" to a forward-looking foundation--a perfect example of the Easter Feet Dan preached about last Sunday...it's just the outcome that is uncertain. The loss of federal funding has been devastating. Please keep the individuals whose lives have been changed by this program in your prayers.
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[more]On Saturday April 19 churches and service organizations all over St. Louis will join together, roll up their sleeves and pitch in to help over 100 St. Louis homeowners stay safe and independent in their homes. If you can paint or rake or lay tile or plant flowers, this is your big chance to serve God and neighbor. The session of Trinity Presbyterian Church has agreed to sponsor a house for "rebuilding."
Mark April 19 on your calendar NOW and stay tuned for more information.
The Mission Fair Team - Our latest Mission Fair, Trinity in Action, was a great success, and we are already planning an expanded mission event for 2008. Get on the bandwagon now to help us spread the word about mission in our church and community. Call Dave Nelson or Lisa Bernhard for more information.
A New Habitat for Humanity Building Project - 2008 is the year for Trinity to help build another Habitat House. Do you have building skills? Can you paint? How about sweeping? You are needed to work and/or donate funds to build a house for a family in need of a home. Pat Gibbons can tell you all you need to know.
Invite Your Friends Into Ministry - Do you like to talk to people about their gifts and passions? Would you like to be interviewed? The Ministry Discovery team wants to meet with all our members to discover where they can serve God through the Church. Call Norma Vavra or Julie March to find out more.
Friendship and Fellowship - We have so many good events at Trinity that bring us all together for fellowship, sharing, and working together. Join the new Events Coordination Team to help coordinate these events as we build the Body of Christ together at Trinity. Contact Julie March or Lisa Bernhard to get involved.
The Green Team - Flowers, plants, trees, bushes and gardening, we do it all. The Green Team needs your enthusiasm and time to insure that our beautiful sanctuary is adorned for worship, and your green thumb to create lovely flower gardens outside the church. Luise Hoffman and Diana Gray are in charge of this team. (See below.)
The Equipping Ministry Team connects people to the ministries they love. We hope you will hear God's call to service as we "equip the saints for the work of ministry to build up the Body of Christ," which is all of us, right now, at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
In 2007, the "Three Amigos" (George Sallwasser, Bob Little and Tom Wilhite) spent nine months and multiple visits crawling into nooks and crannies, taking pictures and notes, deciphering ancient architectural drawings and dodging icky stuff (don't ask what's in that bell tower!) to create a professional and comprehensive "state of the building" report on the interior, exterior and bell tower. They have provided the Church with an incredible gift - information about the health of the building so we can be proactive and wise in our prioritization of projects and development of a long-range plan for the care of the building.
Their report can be viewed at http://www.trinityucity.org/RepairRecommendations.html.
If there's a job in the list that you're skilled to help with, please contact the Church Office.
Please contact Linda Min at linmim3@yahoo.comm. 16 ushers are needed a month-that's 192 ushers a year! You can usher on a regular basis or periodically.
Pat Courtney and Bob and Nancy Wagoner are preparing to leave for Antigua, Guatemala for a mission work "build" with the God's Child Project. If you would like to contribute new (or gently used) infants or children's clothing, shoes, underwear, personal health care items, suitcases, or even a cash donation to be converted to local currency (to purchase food, pillows and blankets or toys for the family whose house they will build), please bring items to the church by February 3rd. There will be a basket in the dining room for your donations beginning January 27th, and we will be in the dining room after worship on the third to collect any donations.
States of emergency are in effect across Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, following an immense front that dumped as much as an inch of ice across parts of the Midwest. At least 23 people have died in the storm, and the U.S. Department of Energy estimates more than half a million customers are without electricity in the plains states.
The Habitat for Humanity group rebuilding homes in New Orleans has reserved the last week of October and the first week of November of 2008 for another trip down. We stayed in a home in the uptown New Orleans area (owned by St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church and converted into living quarter for volunteers), so the accommodations, at least for what is typical for relief worker volunteers, is pretty plush. I have been there twice and recommend it highly. Anyone interested in joining me on the trip down in 2008? At this point, it looks like the last week in October is the most likely time. Contact Lisa Bernhard: bernhardlm@gmail.com
The babies of Trinity would love to play with you while their parents are studying or worshipping. If you are called to this ministry of love and are available on the rare fifth Sunday (December, March) please call the church office and we'll let the babies know you're coming!
Six Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team (PDA-NRT) members have been sent to Riverside Presbytery, responding to the tragic Southern California fires.
PDA-NRT members help to represent the presence and care of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and to bring a witness of God's love and comfort to church leaders and communities affected by the disaster.
Team members have been meeting with presbytery staff and local pastors to help in their disaster response plans and activities. Members have also participated in worship services and prayer vigils held for disaster survivors.
PDA anticipates long-term recovery needs from the fires that caused nearly a million people to become temporarily displaced. An appeal for designated funds will be issued early next week to all Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations. One Great Hour of Sharing funds have already been sent to San Diego Presbytery and are available for other presbyteries upon request.
Please continue to pray for the many families that were displaced by the fires, the courageous firefighters and rescue workers, the caregivers and Presbyterian congregations providing ministry to disaster survivors, and all involved in the disaster response.
[more]After many years of faithful and energetic service, Sandy Norkaitis will step down in December as the Coordinator of the Winger Food Pantry. The Food Pantry is the largest mission project of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and provides a vital service to those brothers and sisters around us who do not have enough to eat.
The Food Pantry Coordinator oversees the weekly bagging and shopping volunteers who prepare for Food Pantry visitors each Wednesday afternoon, as well as coordinates the Boy Scout food drive donation, and the Girl Scout April Showers donation of personal care items. The coordinator plans the Matthew 25 fund-raising event for the Food Pantry, thanks those who donate food, prepares statistical reports, and submits an annual report for the Food Pantry.
Sandy will still be an active part of the Food Pantry by working two Wednesdays each month and substituting where needed, as well as being the contact person for the Boy Scout food drive. Sandy will serve as an invaluable instructor to the new Winger Food Pantry Coordinator.
Do you feel called to help feed the hungry? Will you consider becoming a part of this vital ministry, and prayerfully consider being the Winger Food Pantry Coordinator? Do you know others who would be challenged and fulfilled by this important mission outreach? Please call Julie March or Sandy Norkaitis to talk to us about this exciting opportunity to serve God by serving God's children.
We were active members of Trinity from 1988 to 1996 when we moved to North Carolina. Our son Erich, who was shaped at least in part by his involvement with Trinity's youth programs (thank you Do), is raising funds for a Peace Corps project to build a recreation facility in Santa Paula, El Salvador. As a Peace Corps volunteer since 2005, Erich has started several educational and recreational programs.
I am asking your help for a project that is very important to our son, Erich, and the Salvadoran children he serves. With a small donation, you can help ensure that Erich's community-Santa Paula, a poor, rural village situated on the Pan American highway in central eastern El Salvador-builds a recreation facility that it has long sought, but been unable to afford.
As a Peace Corps volunteer since 2005, Erich has started several educational and recreational programs. Working along side the Santa Paula School's dedicated staff, Erich has initiated a scholarship program, English language class, world geography class, community gardening project and girls softball team. The proposed recreation court-located next to the school-will be the capstone of these efforts (see attached photos of children and site on which the facility will be built).
By joining with others, you can ensure that Santa Paula's children have access to the kind of recreation facility that our children take for granted. By raising just $11,500, we will make this vital facility a reality. By next year, these children will only have to step outside their classrooms for physical education classes. The proposed facility will make the children safer, free more time for teaching and provide a suitable area for other youth activities, but it will not be built without your help.
Here is how you can help. Please contribute whatever you can \by mail, web or phone. If you pay by mail, make out the check to "Peace Corps" and note Erich's project number (#519-084) on the memo line, and mail the check to Peace Corps, OPSI Partnership Program, 1111 20th St. NW, Washington, DC 20526. If you pay by web, see the instructions in the post script below. If you pay by phone, or simply want to talk to a Peace Corps staffer, call their direct line at 202-692-2170. Of course, your donation will be tax deductible. If you have any questions, you also can call me at 919-933-5068.
P.S. You can check out Erich's project on the Peace Corps website (www.peacecorps.gov/) with just a few clicks. Click the "Donate Now" tab on the left side of home page. Next, in the middle of the Donors page, click the "Volunteer Projects" tab. Then, scroll down the middle of the "Volunteer Projects" page until you see El Salvador (the projects are listed by country in alphabetical order) and click "Community Recreation Court, E. Melville." You will find a brief summary of the project sponsored by the Peace Corps. If you want to pay by web, scroll a little further down and click "Contribute to this project!" At the top of the new screen, you will see Erich's project and a donation box. Enter your donation amount in the donation box, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the "Continue" tab. Merely follow the instructions from then on to make your electronic contribution.
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Have you considered counseling to help sort out concerns, but aren't sure where to start? Have you been searching for resources to help alleviate a care-giving or elderly housing issue? Have you wondered how on earth to navigate the community resource system in St. Louis to find programs and services to address unmet needs? When I joined Trinity's staff as Church Administrator, I brought with me resource materials from my training and experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Our church community supports its members and one of my joys is being able to share this information with those who have voiced a need. I am happy to provide ideas and resources when asked, as well as connect you with Deacon support or the guidance of Nancy Wagner's spiritual formation, if wished. I am also planning on expanding the small resource center housed in our library. This Body of Christ is full of people of great compassion and knowledge, so please add resource materials to the library collection if you have them!
The Green Team would again like to remind the Trinity congregation that floral or "green/living plant" donations are welcome. Please feel free to sign up on the dry-erase board by the large calendar outside the office for any Sunday that is available. We welcome donations of flowers from your yard or garden and have large vases available if needed. If purchased flowers are desired, we welcome multiple individuals or families to join forces for a given Sunday to defray the cost of ordering flowers from the florist. We are currently using Schnuck's central florist services as they are reasonably-priced, have good stock and have provided user-friendly service. Please inform a member of the Green Team or Liz Nelson of the person or event, if any, you wish to honor with the floral display on a given Sunday. Please contact us for any questions or additional information. Green team members are Julie March, Luise Hoffman, Diana Gray and Do Kirk (for yet a few more weeks/months).