Want to get involved at Trinity? Want a great way to meet/know members and visitors? And best of all, you don't want to go to any meetings? If so, please consider being an usher. The job's not hard - smile, answer questions, hand out bulletins, take the offering and collect the fellowship sheets at the end of the service. This opportunity is open to everyone; you don't have to be a member of Trinity. So, if you would be interested in ushering one Sunday a month during 2003, please call the Church office and leave your name with Karon.
From huddling in the offices of U.S. Congressmen to taking part in 1960s-style "teach-ins," U.S. Presbyterians are responding to the threat of military action against Iraq.
As war drums beat louder, members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are serving as the voice of the denomination in intensifying national debate on the proposed U.S. attack.
While Presbyterians say they have no illusions about the threat posed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, many say they believe President George W. Bush hasnt made the case for a strike against the oil-rich Gulf nation.
Many Presbyterians are expressing grave concern about possible casualties, American and Iraqi, military and civilian.
Last summer, the Assembly urged caution, and last month the GAC did the same in a "call to prayer and action" in which it said United Nations weapons inspections should resume and be allowed to run their course. It said the United States should avoid acting alone or in a way that perpetuates the perception that "might makes right."
At the councils urging, the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly and the Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel, the current General Assembly moderator, wrote letters to President Bush and other government leaders, urging restraint.
Presbyterians have strongly favored the GACs statement. Some middle governing bodies, such as the Presbytery of West Jersey, have endorsed it and encouraged church sessions to do the same. Some presbyteries have drafted their own anti-war resolutions.
Officials at PC(USA) headquarters in Louisville have compiled a host of Iraq-related worship and educational resources. Theyre available at a special Web site: www.pcusa.org/iraq.
The Washington Office has added information on "Confronting Iraq" to its own Web site - www.pcusa.org/washington. An online "meeting" called "Iraq and Churches" was created last month on the PC(USA)s computer conferencing and information system, PresbyNet - www.pcusa.org/presbynet.
For more information,
The sympathy of the congregation is extended to Walter & Jody Robbins on the death of his sister, Mary Worheide in Des Moines, Iowa on October 9th. Burial was in St. Louis at Resurrection Cemetery on October 12.
The sympathy of the congregation is extended to Ric & Sheillah Rogers on the death of her father, James Palmer in Moberly, Missouri on Thursday, November 14.
We have been called by God to spread the Word and to minister to those in need. This what the stewardship season is about - ministry. Ministry within our congregation and ministry outside our congregation. It is about prayerfully considering what we are able to give of our time, talent, and treasure in the coming year, in order to achieve the fifty years of promise that lie ahead. Just as the generations previous saw the promise of the fifty years, 1953-2002, we too see the promise and the need to be ever-mindful stewards of that promise, for our children and our children's children.
The year 2002 at Trinity has been phenomenal! We have been blessed with a Pastor, a Minister of Music, and a Director of Christian Education. We have enjoyed weekly spiritual education for children as well as adults. Our youth have strengthened their faith through fellowship, service, Vacation Bible School, the mission trip, and a conference at Montreat. We have joyfully completed a Habitat for Humanity house, and dedicated a re-emerged food pantry.
Last year at this time we made new beginnings, and planted seeds. Now is the time to follow through and insure that those seeds can grow for the next fifty years! We are listening to the Spirit as we progress and grow into new realms of Presbyterian worship, facility renovation and improvements, programs in music, and becoming even more visitor-friendly. We are increasing our emphasis on evangelism, in both nurturing small groups within our congregation and in particular, reaching out into the community to share Christ's love with others.
As always, we are a work in progress. Let us pray for guidance as we strive to ascertain God's will for us in the year 2003. Are you ready to work towards the promise? Are you ready to lay the foundation for the next fifty years?
On Sunday November 3, we will begin our second term of adult education classes. This term will follow the first in which we offer two classes.
The first class will seek to spice up your life as we learn to dance the "SoulSalsa". SoulSalsa is a book by church futurist Leonard Sweet, who offers a variety of ways to help us live lives more connected to God; or as Sweet suggests: "to show you the ins and outs of living an old-fashioned faith in these newfangled times." Some of the ways that Sweet suggests to infuse our lives with God's presence are: Mezuzah your universe; Bounce your last check; Never graduate; Build a compost heap; Brush your tongue. This class will be participatory, practical and fun! If you want to learn how to dance the SoulSalsa, plan to attend.
The second class is entitled "Reading the Bible Faithfully in a Time of Conflict." At the beginning of the twenty-first century, there are many biblical issues that divide the church. Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA) is deeply divided over the issue of ordination of gay and lesbian persons. And much of the divide has to do with the way we read and interpret scripture. In this class we will explore the ways that we read scripture especially in light of controversial issues. We will also discuss what authority scripture has for our lives. Dr. Dan Anderson-Little will lead this class
Preschool: Abraham and Sarah (during October), Isaac and Rebekah (during November). Ask them about family and God's promises.
God's Creation: Christmas Around the World! Each week they "travel" to a different country, learn the Christmas traditions of that country as well as the story of the birth of Christ. Ask them about their journey.
5th & 6th: Ask them to show you their bible time line, the differences in the creation stories, or about their weekend retreat or trip to the zoo as a group.
Confirmation Class: Ask them about liturgical seasons and parts of worship as well as what turtles have to do with our faith.
Senior High Class: Unit on alcohol (during October), prayer, life of Christ. Ask them about the new colorful entry to the youth lounge or their evening at Genesis House with the youth group from First Presbyterian church of Belleville.
Vermiculture, the process of recycling organic waste matter into nutrient-rich compost using worms, is an ecological wonder. Powerful little creatures, an inch long, rummage through waste materials such as kitchen scraps, wood chips, cow dung, straw, leaves, and dirt. They aerate the waste pile and help it breathe as well as lay down their castings, creating new soil that becomes richer and richer. The result is excellent organic fertilizers. When spread upon the earth, wastelands can bloom again.
Lutheran World Relief is developing vermiculture in Andra Pradesh province in India. The harvest after vermiculture has increased by at least fifty percent.
These miraculous worms are available only at Trinity's Alternate Christmas Gift Market on Sunday, November 10. Be the first on your block to underwrite a bed of these valuable creatures - only $23 and no tax, wrapping, or shipping costs.
Many other miracles will also be for sale. Stay for lunch, too!
I am often amazed at the amount of work that goes into our weekly worship services. Organ practice, rehearsing the choirs and planning all take considerable time and creative energy. But now add to these duties the responsibility of composing and rehearsing an extended composition for choir and instruments every week.
It sounds overwhelming to me, but that is exactly what Johann Sebastian Bach did! We know from historical documents that he was not simply a composer-in-residence for his church in Leipzig. He rehearsed and trained choirs of adults and children; he composed voluminous amounts of music for the organ, voice, instrumental ensembles and choirs; he shrewdly managed the music budget of the church; he was considered one of the finest organ virtuosos of his day; and, to top it off, he was married with children!
Bach wrote hundreds of cantatas during his life, though only about 200 survive. They incorporated scripture lessons appropriate to the liturgical year, sacred poetry, and settings of musical tunes called chorales (hymns).
In Lutheran worship of his time, the cantata was quite literally a "sermon before the sermon" - proclaiming God's word and fleshing out themes that the pastor would later expound on. Bach's pieces are an amazing synthesis of text and music, distinguished by their theological depth, stylistic richness and balance. He used contemporary musical devices (from secular Italian opera) to heighten the music's emotion and drama but also incorporated more traditional musical styles; he selected his texts from collections of well-known Lutheran hymns, but also used newly-written poetry with deeply personal (even sensual) language. We find rich symbolism and allegory in many of the works, all intended to draw listeners and performers into deeper devotion. The cantatas testify to Bach's deep faith, his keen understanding of Scripture and, I believe, a deep desire to make God's Word "come to life".
I hope that you will joins on November 10 as the Trinity Choir and soloists sing one of Bach's well-loved cantatas, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers wake, a voice astounds us". The piece, based on Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish virgins, urges us to be prepared for the Second Coming of Christ. The music is expectant and joyful, featuring a grand opening chorus, intimate love duets between Jesus and the Christian Soul, and an inspiring conclusion. Special commentary will be woven through the service in order to help us appreciate the music and, more importantly, to find spiritual nourishment and challenge in it.
Don't miss this very special worship opportunity!
On September 10, 2001, I slept at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in Manhattan. This 44-story hotel was on Church Street, directly across from the World Trade Center (WTC) South tower.
I woke up at about 7 a.m. the morning of 9/11 to find an astoundingly clear and pleasant day. The sun was brilliant; the New York skyline had never looked so beautiful. The air was crisp and clean. I ate breakfast and checked my e-mail. Doing so, I discovered that our meeting that morning in the annex to the WTC North had been moved to a midtown location, 53rd and Lexington. Well, I thought, I'll have to get a taxi. So, at about 8:30 a.m. I was standing out side the Millennium, waiting for a taxi. It came, and I got in.
We drove north on the parkway that runs along the eastern shore of Manhattan. The taxi driver had the radio on. As we drove past 34th Street, I heard the radio announcer interrupt the show with a bulletin that a plane had crashed into WTC North.
I was astounded, but I realized it was possible; after all, a plane, years ago, had crashed into the Empire Sate Building. When I turned around to look out the rear window of the taxi, I was stunned by what I saw. Sure enough, WTC North was spewing great loads of very black smoke and fire. It looked like at least eight entire floors were fully engulfed in flames.
How horrible, I thought. There will be people on the upper floors who will probably be trapped, and never make it. Then I instantly remembered the old movie, "The Towering Inferno." Right before my eyes, out that taxi window, I saw the movie in stark reality. There is no way they will put the fire out, I thought. It's too high and risky. They will have to contain the damage at best.
The taxi continued on towards 53rd Street. When I got out, I looked down Lexington Avenue, and saw the North tower. The view from their was quite clear, and you could see nearly 3/4ths of the tower, and it was burning. The smoke and ash could were now pervasive in the sky, a great plume of destruction. I shook my head as if it really could not be happening, but there it was. Many people on the street had their cell phones out.
I entered my meeting about 9:00, but my six colleagues were not discussing business, they were looking out the window (we met in a suite on the 31st floor) and watching CNN. We could not believe what had happened. The worst skyscraper tragedy of all time had just occurred, and we were in New York just 40 blocks away.
Then, the impossible happened. In horror, we watched as the second plane hit the South Tower.
It is difficult to describe my thoughts at this point. I thought "We are actually under attack her in New York City." Immediately, I thought of my father who served in the Pacific theater in W.W.II. This is Pearl Harbor all over, I thought. They are attacking us with airplanes. An act of war is literally being consummated in front of us.
We quickly decided it was not safe to be on the 31st floor of this building or any other building. We piled into the elevator, zipped down to the lobby and went outside. Once again, I looked down Lexington Avenue. Now, both towers were aflame and spewing acrid, black smoke. It was difficult to tell which tower was worse off. The sight of not one, but both towers burning was surreal. It could not be happening. One tower, I thought, maybe, but both towers? BOTH? This was beyond reality.
The scene on Lexington Avenue was incredible. People were crying, shouting, screaming into their cell phones, literally staring down the street, transfixed in horror. Sirens were sounding everywhere. Many people were hugging each other, trying to salvage some comfort from a most unreal situation. Everyone knew that right in front of their eyes, people were dying 40 blocks south, and thousands would never make it.
Fortunately, I was able to get a cell phone circuit and call Robyn, my wife. I told her that we were safe, but the situation was not stable, and we did not know what we were going to do, where we were going to stay, or what would happen next.
Then, as we were standing around on Lexington Avenue, the South Tower fell.
At first, it was difficult to tell what was happening. The ash and debris cloud was literally blocking the entire skyline, below 20th Street. We could not tell what was going on. In a few minutes, as the cloud dissipated, we realized the unrealizable. The tower was no longer there. All we saw was sky, with the North tower still burning.
I cannot begin to describe how surreal it was to see sky. There was no longer a building where there was one, minutes before. One of the most massive, tallest, and largest volume buildings in the world was no longer there. It was gone. The surreal nature of the scene had just redoubled. Now, the complete horror of the situation descended on us. There was no doubt that in those few minutes, thousands had perished, and we were not watching it - or, rather, the absence of it. There was only sky.
At that point, we decided we were going to try to get off the island. Of course, as we checked the alternatives, there was no possible way. The authorities had closed all bridges and tunnels. We could walk around, but we were trapped on Manhattan for the time being. Everyone else, of course, was in the same predicament. It was very strange to feel so trapped in the middle of the largest and most vibrant city in the world.
Time seemed to pass very quickly at that point. The confusion and surrealism of the street scene had multiplied. We went back into the hotel briefly, but we were not allowed to go back up to the suite. We asked if, since we had the suite booked, we could stay there that night. The hotel people were gracious and agreed, a great comfort to us, as it relieved one little uncertainty in an aura of complete uncertainty.
We went back outside. As we did, and the minutes passed, the North Tower fell.
This is beyond imagination, I thought, I felt a wave of guilt and foolishness as I remembered how I recalled "The Towering Inferno" just two hours before. In that time, the scene went from reality, to imaginary (no more reality; all seemed surreal) to beyond imaginary. No one, I thought, absolutely no one would believe you if you had told them. No one could have ever imagined that on this particular September 11th, a Tuesday, an ordinary day in New York, a day of clear skies and brilliant sunshine, the most violent attack since Pearl Harbor could have been perpetrated, and that the result would be both of the Twin Towers would be destroyed.
The afternoon seemed to be a blur. We finally gave in to hunger and ate lunch, though I had little appetite. Everyone, of course, was glued to CNN and watching as the heroism of the firefighters, police and Port Authority workers unfolded 40 blocks to our south. Several of us spent time on our cell phones. The cell phone proved to be our lifeline outside, as most of the wired phones were not functioning in Manhattan.
My good friend Joe, who lived in Easton PA, and I decided to try to leave the island. Even if they stopped us, we could turn around, go back to the hotel and stay. It was actually a bold gamble; as we drove west from Lexington, the radio announcer said that the Lincoln Tunnel was open, but for only 30 minutes. We quickly drove to the tunnel entrance, and were waved through. The police were searching all vans and trucks, but allowing passenger cars through.
I never thought I'd see the day where New Jersey looked like heaven. That day, it did.
The rest of the story is anticlimactic, in comparison. I rented a car the next day in Allentown PA, and headed home. No flights, no trains, no public transportation was running. I made it to Indianapolis that day, 700 miles, and spent the night. I rose at 5 a.m. the next morning, and drove the rest of the way, about 250 miles, home at last. During my long drive, I alternated between listening to the radio and shutting it off to ponder, reflect, and pray.
I had been witness to an event beyond imagination. When I was safe at home, telling my story to my wife and daughters, I reflected on how close it was. If the meeting hadn't been moved to midtown, if the taxi had been late and came at 8:46 (the time of the North Tower strike), if I had taken the subway later on instead of a cab (the subway infrastructure around the Towers was completely destroyed), if, if, if. There was no explaining why I was saved and thousands of others, just across the street from me at 8:30, were dead and buried under 1.25 million tons of rubble.
I will never be quite the same again.
Small groups have always been a part of Trinity's life. Recently, the church has begun to develop the more intentional small group ministry you have read about in Trinity News. This autumn, David Hotaling and Jim Person have organized a first, "pilot" group.
David Hotaling writes: "We meet every other Sunday evening from 7 to 8:30 at Jim Person's house. It's still emerging but the general idea is that we will do some worship, study, prayer, mutual support, exploring spiritual issues as they relate to our lives and get some sense of what it means to be involved in small group ministry as well as potentially cultivate leaders for future small groups. Do Kirk has also been coordinating some small group efforts of a more action-oriented nature."
Stay tuned for future news of this ministry!
Advent bags are once again being assembled for 20 special people in the Trinity Family. An Advent bag contains 25 small wrapped gifts, one to be opened each day in December leading up to Christmas. There is also a devotional reading for each day.
Many people have already signed up to deliver bags and/or donate items to be put into the bags. We still need four people to deliver one bag each and several of the small gifts are still needed. There are two lists in the dining room. If you would like to help with this project, please sign one or both of the lists or call me at 863-7699 with any questions.
The small gifts need to be donated by November 10 and they can come wrapped or unwrapped to church by that date. The Advent bags will be available for delivery on November 17 and should be delivered by December 1.
This is a wonderful activity for families or friends to start the Advent Season. Thank you from the Deacons.
| Elders - Class of 2005 | Deacons - Class of 2005 |
| Beth David | Darrell Mayberry |
| Keith Fischer | Karen Mayberry |
| Melissa Kreishman | Amy Rahm |
| John Roman | Spirit Sorensen |
| Norma Vavra |
| Nominating Committee - Class of 2005 |
| Tom Peters |
| George Philips |
| Cathy Smith |