* ADVENT AT TRINITY *
As November comes to a close, we approach the season of Advent. Advent is a season of preparation - preparing for the arrival of the Christ child. There are two significant movements to our preparation in Advent: awareness and connection. First, we become aware of the world's brokenness and its need for God's salvation. This year, as in every year, we don't have to look far to be reminded of the world's need for God's peace and love. As I write this, my computer screen flickers with images of bombed synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey and there are tragic reports of another helicopter accident in Iraq. But our awareness of the world's brokenness does not only happen on a global level; our Advent preparation happens on a personal level as well. Advent calls us to examine our own lives, our own brokenness. In Advent we are again reminded of our own need for God's renewal and new life.
The second movement of Advent is connection - connecting with God and connecting with one another. At Trinity, we offer a wide variety of activities and worship experiences for every member to form new relationships and deepen old ones. This Advent, you can discover reconnection during worship, during the hour after worship, and at other times as well. This Advent, I will preach a series of sermons that picks up on our 50th Anniversary theme: The Fabric of Our Faith. Each week we will consider one of the "fabrics" of Advent: John the Baptist's rough camel hair, the fine silk of the wise men, Mary's shawl of devotion, and the swaddling cloth that embraced the Baby Jesus. Each of these fabrics represents a different aspect of our faith. Also during Advent, various members will share brief faith reflections during worship.
The time after worship is also an important part of our Advent preparation. On December 7 we will have an opportunity to prepare the church and have fellowship as we hang the greens. On December 14 we will have an intergenerational time of Christmas caroling. And on December 21, we will enjoy our annual Christmas Coffee. Our preparation during Advent finds its culmination on Christmas Eve. We offer two wonderful services on December 24: our "no-shushing" Family Service at 5:00 pm and our beautiful Lessons & Carols at 11:00 pm.
At Christmas, God gives us God's very best. In Advent, we have to opportunity to prepare ourselves so that we can embrace that gift and be changed by it. Please plan to join us throughout this season!
It began on Pentecost in June. Worship was joyous, the Roman family, Bob and Sue Young and Lester Bruns wove, and Fairchild played during our street fair/picnic. Since then we have worshipped with Steve Eulberg, with the St. Louis Stompers, with members of the St. Louis African Chorus. We were moved by the powerful Shower of Stoles. Dr. David Greenhaw, President of Eden Theological Seminary, Martha Juillerat, National Director of the Shower of Stoles, and Dr. Donald A. Weems, Pastor Emeritus of Trinity, have preached. We laughed uproariously at the melodrama, and were warmed by the fellowship at Homecoming. We have eaten together, prayed together, looked back together, anticipated the future together, served together, and grown together - all as a part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration.
We will cap off our celebration on January 18 during worship and our Annual Congregational Meeting. That will be the last Sunday that the loom will be in the Sanctuary. So, if you have not yet made plans to weave, please do so. We would love to have everyone included in the Fabric of Our Faith. And even after the weaving is complete and our official celebration is over, we still have a big show to look forward to in the Spring. The show is part of the 50th Celebration, but we will not have other 50th Anniversary events between January and the production of the show.
These past six months have been a glorious time of thanksgiving and celebration. While the parties, the special events, and weaving has been meaningful and fun, the greatest celebration of our first fifty years is to live faithfully for the next 50.
Once upon a time there was a woman with three small children. She was unhappy because she was ending her marriage while recovering from major surgery. Upon returning to work, the woman found it difficult to manage on one paycheck.
She asked a social worker for assistance to help pay her gas bill. Instead, the social worker arranged for a donation of food from Trinity's food pantry. Since she wouldn't have to buy groceries, the woman could pay her gas bill. There was one little problem. She couldn't get time off from work to pick up the food. A friend kindly offered to pick it up for her. Later when her friend brought the food, he told her the people at Trinity were very, very nice.
Over the next few years, the woman's financial situation improved and her children grew more independent. Life was getting better, but something was still missing.
She hadn't attended church for more than ten years. She began visiting several churches near her home, but none of them felt right. Then she remembered how the people of Trinity had been so kind to her without even knowing her. She was curious and decided that the next church she visited would be Trinity. The people she met there were warm and friendly just as her friend had described several years before. In a short time, the woman felt like she had finally come home!
By now you've figured out that the woman was me. On Sunday, October 6, 1985 - my birthday - I became a member of Trinity. And here I remain happily ever after!
John Vavra and I joined the Kingshighway church in October 1950. We had been married in June and moved here from Colorado for John's entrance to Washington University's medical School. The church was on Kinghighway between Delmar and Page Avenue.
We lived about three blocks from church. This was important because we had no car, which was not as big a deal as would be true today. Public transportation was a good option. Several nearby bus lines ran frequently. A week's pass was only $1, the cost today of one Metrolink ride. The houses were mostly two-story brick, all having been built as single-family homes.
By 1950 the neighborhood was changing. Many homes had been broken up and converted to apartments as had the building in the 5100 block of Vernon where we had a one-room efficiency for four years. I remember heated relocation discussions in the church's assembly room debating what was the right thing to do. Should we stay and serve a different congregation? Should we move to make our growth more promising? You know what happened.
We joined Kingshighway on the same Sunday as Joe and Ola Dunham, Larry, Ruth, and Janet. Although we had visited other churches within walking distance, we chose this one. The reason may make a good moral for this story. It was at Kingshighway that someone invited us the very first Sunday to join the Young People's Choir. That person was Al Scholin, choir director and organist. So... one person, one greeting, one invitation can make a difference.
There were two choirs, one in the front and one in a loft in the back. An antiphonal organ made possible accompanying either group from the same console. In this young people's choir we met Joy Brooks, now Pipes; Paula Royce's sister, Louise French; Ray Scholin; and Sue Hoppin. One of the soloists in the Senior Choir was Rex Davis, well known KMOX announcer. There were choir parties or picnics once or twice a year. Through them we learned about BBQ pork steaks, neighborhoods new to us, and backyards of more affluent members.
On Wednesday evenings a full dinner prepared by the women of the church in the kitchen was served. Sue Hoppin's mother was one of the cooks. Sometimes we would go to that. As the worshipers left the sanctuary a helper would be by Dr. Frye's side to get names of visitors, make dinner reservations, etc. Did you know that Carol Kramer was Dr. Frye's secretary in the early '50s? Sometimes we would see her at his elbow taking notes as the worshipers left. We always addressed the pastor as Dr. Frye and the choir director as Mr. Scholin. This was the fifties.
Did you know the Kingshighway manse was 6900 Kingsbury (where the Weems live) - closer to United Presbyterian than to Kinghighway. It was meant to be!
I remember writing to our folks in Colorado about our new church. "When the benediction is pronounced, there is a loud buzz in the sanctuary as everyone starts visiting. It is really a friendly church!" So is it still.
Relax. Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring; besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls; they're more democratic." - Crash Davis to Nuke LaLoosh in Bull Durham
I caught myself the other day trying to be a strikeout artist. The leaves in my backyard were piling up and I knew that I had to get out there and rake them up. The kids were inside playing, so I didn't bother to coax them out to help. I thought, "It will be easier to do it myself." (Strike one) So I hauled out my rake and lawn bags and fired up the leaf blower. A while later, the kids came outside to tell me that they were going over to various friends' houses. A few minutes later they returned; no one was available to play. They went back inside. I said nothing, thinking I could accomplish my Herculean task by myself. (Strike two)
Like Sisyphus rolling his stone up the endless hill, I kept on going. A bit later my kids reappeared. "Dad, there's nothing to do."
"Why don't you help me?" I suggested. "Nah, that's boring."
I didn't bother to contradict them. "Yes," I thought, "this is boring, but it's got to be done, and I will do it." (Strike three)
A little later: "Dad?"
"Yes?" "Can we rent a Nintendo game?" Finally, the wisdom of Crash Davis took hold of me: "If you help me rake leaves and we finish in an hour, we can go rent a Nintendo game." Without a moment's hesitation my three kids grabbed yard waste bags, gloves and snow shovels (!) and started filling bags. (Ground ball to the shortstop) In 40 minutes, all of the leaves were picked up. But more importantly, we had fun. (Ground ball to third base) We compared various techniques for putting leaves in bags. (Ground ball to second base)We remarked on our progress and encouraged one another. (6-4-3 double play!)
Trying to always throw strikeouts is a tempting way to operate, as a father and as a pastor. I look at certain jobs and think, "I can do it quicker (or better) myself," forgetting that life and ministry are not so much about results as they are about playing the game. The new trend in ministry is teams - dedicated groups of people who share a passion for a particular ministry, who each bring unique gifts, and who all grow in faith as they work and share together. Can you imagine the spiritual power we can unleash when we work and serve together and stop trying to do everything ourselves?
I learned the lesson of teams again last weekend. Strikeouts are boring, and ground balls get everyone involved. In the coming year, I dedicate myself to being a better team player, not trying to do it all myself, but cherishing the gifts that every member of Trinity brings to our common ministry. There will be times when rather than doing it myself, I will wait until a dedicated team is ready to participate together. And when no team emerges we will ask ourselves how important this is in the first place. Teams are great ways to do ministry; they bring satisfaction and joy. I'll see you out on the playing field.
The Christmas season is a wonderful time to practice simplicity, and dozens of supportive organizations offer suggestions on how to stand strong against the waves of commercialism. The Simple Living Network is a good place to start: http://www.simpleliving.net
The Center for the New American Dream gives encouragement to those who want to commemorate Christmas joyfully and simply: http://www.newdream.org/holiday/index.html
Living simply does not mean suffering. The Sustainable Style Foundation insists "From fashion, food and film to interior design, architecture, travel, music and more," SSF plans to make "sustainability the most exciting and important style innovation of the 21st century. Good ahead...look fabulous, live well, and do good." http://www.sustainablestyle.org/home.html
Earth Ministry in Seattle has compiled a wonderful, dense book on the theological implications of simplicity. Jim Wallis wrote about it, "In a society where 'I shop, therefore I am' results in a deep spiritual poverty, Simpler Living, Compassionate Life provides a gospel-based substitute. http://www.earthministry.org
The Forest Stewardship Council promotes responsible forest management globally by certifying forest products that meet the most rigorous standards in the world. The FSC in the U.S. is backed by 14 major environmental organizations and by major businesses, such as Home Depot, Lowes, and Anderson Windows. FSC standards encourage environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. Look for products with the FSC label - they come from carefully tended sources.
Daniel Haeusser is a graduate student at Washington University in bio-chemistry. He is transferring his membership from Addisville Reformed Church in Richboro, Pennsylvania. He is engaged and his finance is studying law in New York. He grew up in the Philadelphia area and has been on a mission trip to Botswana. He plays the French horn and is already singing bass in the choir.
Kim Martin and her husband, Rick, are both physicians. Kim works at Barnes Jewish hospital and specializes in high risk pregnancies. They have two six year olds, McKenna and Delaney, and a golden retriever. Kim grew up in the United Church of Canada in the Ontario area. She enjoys biking.
Lynn and Evan Reid are both attorneys. Lynn is with Thompson & Coburn, specializing in labor law and Evan is with Lewis & Rice, specializing in white collar criminal defense. Lynn was raised in the Methodist church in Iowa and Evan was raised Presbyterian in the St. Louis area but also spent time in Seattle. They enjoy hiking and camping.
Colette Scott is a retired teacher having taught French and Spanish at the Mary Institute. She was born in France and came to this country in 1947. She is married and her husband, Buzz, carpooled with Milt Rand for many years. They have a second home in the Bahamas where they enjoy spending time.
Diane Young is a nurse specializing in cardiac rehab. She lives in St. Peters and is married to Tom Young, the son of Bob and Sue Young. They have three grown children.
Members of the Trinity family from far and near enjoyed fellowship, reminiscence, and good food during Trinity's Homecoming, November 1-2. Kent and Kathy Bell, John and Eileen Senne, and Ben and Betsy Wade returned from out of town. Joyce and Bill Brackman had to cancel plans to attend at last minute because of the fires near their home in California.
On Sunday, many who have moved out of the immediate Trinity vicinity returned for worship service and brunch. During worship, the new Lectern Bible, donated by Jeanne Bowles and Jo-Ellen Van Oort in memory of their father, Dr. Eldon Clay Frye, long-time pastor of Trinity, was dedicated.
Saturday night, speakers and photo displays brought Trinity's history to life. During Saturday night's festivities, John Senne told of growing up in the old First United Church. Ray Scholin recounted tales from the Kingshighway Church. Michele Devine reflected on growing up in Trinity and then returning in recent years as an adult. Roberta McBride told of the welcome that brought her to a "happily ever after" home. Bob Klostermeier recounted his family's warm welcome. Sarah Schmidt spoke as a new member who has joined since the arrival of Dan Anderson-Little.
Norma Vavra, whose recollections span the eras of both Kingshighway and Trinity, was also to have been a speaker. Her thoughts are shared in this issue, along with those of Roberta McBride.
We would love to hear about other people's experiences and thoughts about what has drawn them to Trinity!
A very special "thank you" to all who helped with the Advent Bags this year. The gifts returned for the bags were especially thoughtful and so pretty in their bright wrapping paper. The project would not be complete if we did not have volunteers to deliver the bags. A "thank you" to the people/families who are taking time before the holidays to make a visit to someone special at Trinity. It truly is a fun project and I know from the letters and notes we receive, very much appreciated.
Thanks also to everyone who so generously brought turkeys to be given to the Winger Food Pantry clients. This year we received more turkeys than ever, I think the number was around 38. Because of your love and support, many families will have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Also, this year the children in the Sunday School grades 1-6, packed the food orders we gave away on November 19. Thanks to them for their help.
As the Presbyterian Church, USA, and other denominations continue to give prayerful consideration to the ordination of gay and lesbian people, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the foundations beneath the disparate viewpoints.
Printed copies of a recent address to the Covenant North West Regional Conference by Jack Rogers entitled "How I Changed My Mind on Homosexuality" are available on the Peacemaking Bulletin Board in the Dining Room. In this talk, Mr. Rogers provides us with his research on Scripture, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Book of Confessions that had an impact on his spiritual journey; perhaps it can contribute to our spiritual journeys as well.
Advent packets will be available starting November 30, the first Sunday in Advent. This is a wonderful way to share your faith, and learn and grow together!
What an amazing outpouring of faith! On Commitment Sunday we received 72 pledges totaling $229,990. We are well on our way. This is 60% of our goal of $348,000. If you have already made a pledge for 2004, thank you. If you have not made a commitment, please prayerfully consider the gift you can give to Trinity for the upcoming year. Remember, every gift is a blessing.