Linda Min

Dear computer-savvy folks,

As you might know, the Church has set up a mini-computer lab in the Narthex to allow people to register online for photo directory appointment times Sundays during August. It is VERY easy to do (instructions and all materials provided) and you are receiving this email because you have either already helped out, or because I think you might be computer savvy and possibly around on the 12^th, 19^th or 26^th (which is also the retreat). You would sit at the back table after worship and assist people. At least one laptop (Kim Martin's) will be back there. If you have one of your own to bring, we have the wireless connection to make this happen.

Dave and I will cover one computer on the 12^th (but we are ushers so we need another person willing to help get the area ready while we're finishing up inside), but we are out of town on the 19^th and 26^th.

Anyone willing to bite on these 3 dates? Thanks in advance for considering this. Once we get our Equipping database up and running, I'll know who actually DOES have computer skills!

If interested, please contact Liz in the church office.

Or simply interested in sharing what's happening at Trinity with the public? Vicki Jeter can use some help updating the monthly calendar outside the office. Help make the magnets that convey our building's activities, or simply help arrange the calendar at the end of each month.

Want to do hands-on work for one of the agencies Trinity funds through local mission monies? Beyond Housing is building a playground at the Pagedale Family Support Center. To Pre-Register, please call Ed Barni (ask the church office for Ed's phone number) or send e-mail to ebarni@beyondhousing.org with your name, address, home phone, cell phone and the day(s) that you can help us.

Site Preparation Days: Thursday-Friday, September 6-7th, 8:30 am-2:30 pm.

Build Day: Saturday, September 8th. 8:00 am.

Please contact Bob Wagner with questions: (ask the church office for Bob's phone number).

The August Trinity News is online now!

Read it here, or download in PDF format.

- Rev. Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

The New Schedule

After much input from Trinity members, intensive discussion by the elders, and many fervent prayers, the Session has approved a new Sunday morning schedule which we will implement on September 9, 2007. This new schedule has two significant changes from the one we have used in recent years. The first change is the schedule itself: our morning together will still begin at 9:30 am, but we will now start with Christian Education for all ages. After 50 minutes of Christian Ed, we will have ten minutes to make our way to the Sanctuary for worship which will begin promptly at 10:30 am. Worship will end at 11:30 am followed by a time of fellowship. The second change is that children in kindergarten and up will be in worship for the entire hour.

What We Learned

Throughout this process of discernment and decision, the Session gained important input from the congregation. We learned that our current schedule presents many difficulties for families with children (the morning is too long); for Sunday School teachers (who have to leave worship early and are asked to make a significant time commitment every week); and for anyone for whom the current schedule is too long. The Session also learned that while there are a wide variety of opinions about our worship service, a clear majority of members who expressed an opinion prefer a worship service that consistently lasts one hour. The Session heard a strong affirmation of the value of worshipping intergenerationally. The Session also learned that there is no simple, easy or obvious answer to our Sunday morning schedule. Every option we looked at had advantages and disadvantages. The Session believes that this new schedule strikes the best balance of addressing various needs on Sunday morning.

Blessings & Opportunities

This new schedule provides Trinity with many blessings and opportunities. We will worship together across the generations and our children, from a young age, will learn the patterns and rhythms of worship. We will maintain our strong emphasis on Christian Education for all ages, and we will provide more time and space for fellowship. This new schedule also means that we do not have to cancel Christian Education when we have a fellowship lunch or a congregational meeting. The Session believes that this new schedule will serve both members and visitors well.

Challenges

This new schedule also presents us with some challenges. Worship, while not always being geared to children, will need to account for their presence for the entire hour. This means that our worship style and our music will need to adapt so that children will be enriched by their time in worship. Trinity already has a diverse worship style, so this plays to our strength. Because we know worship can get long for small children and their parents, the worship planners and members of the Christian Education Commission will work hard to help families stayed engaged throughout the worship service. Because choir rehearsal will overlap with CE, Paul Vasile will gladly work with choir members and musicians to help everyone take advantage of CE offerings.

What's Next

This new schedule begins on September 9. We invite all members of Trinity to approach this new schedule with patience and prayer. As we move into this new schedule, we solicit your questions and comments; please speak with a member of the Session or the staff-we would be delighted to receive your feedback.

New Schedule - beginning September 9, 2007

- Kim Martin

Trinity is growing and it is time to update our photo directory! We have arranged to work with a new company, Lifetouch, and the dates for photography are September 12, 13, 17 and 18. The photography is free, everyone photographed will receive an 8 x 10 photograph of their choice, and there is an interesting assortment of poses and packages that can be purchased if you wish (we are under no obligation to buy anything). Ten to fifteen minute appointments can be scheduled by telephone or on-line. The photographer will be present from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. each of the four dates. Watch the bulletins and Trinity News for more details. There are opportunities to help with layouts, scheduling, greeting during the photo shoots and more. We need photographers to take pictures of Trinity family members who can not attend one of the sessions. We need your candid pictures of the Trinity family events. A kick-off planning meeting with our representative from Lifetouch will be held at Trinity July 26^th from 1-3 p.m. and ALL are welcome to attend. For more information contact me at kimcanuck@gmail.com.

- Susan Hayes, Director of Christian Education

Our life together as the people of God will be enhanced this Fall with the introduction of our new curriculum. In fact, the term "curriculum" only begins to describe the broad range of possibilities before us! We will delve deep into the "scripture of the week" in Christian Education, in worship, and hopefully in our fellowship time together. Our new resources will allow us to move through the lectionary year together as the Body of Christ, young and not-so-young, long time members and new friends. We will hear and celebrate together a single theme each week, the sermon and Sunday School lesson will be based on this theme and we, God's people, will share this common faith thread. Plan now to be at church each week...you won't want to miss embarking on this collective journey!

Being in ministry, serving others, finding joy and fulfillment in helping - all these gifts and more come from involvement in a Trinity Ministry Team. And what could be more important than Christian Education?

Our Christian Education program spans pre-school through adult, and it can always use extra ministers. At this time, especially, fill-in ministers are needed for occasional help, those who can fill in for regular teachers who may be ill or out of town, or to help on special occasions such as Easter and Christmas.

To join this important ministry, please call Susan Hayes, Minister of Christian Education. You can reach Susan at Trinity, 725-3840, or email s827hayes@sbcglobal.net.

- Rev. Nancy Wagner, Parish Associate

For those who feel God's call to pursue spiritual guidance, accessing this emerging ministry at Trinity is simple:

1. Phone me to set up an initial meeting time at the church for about an hour. If I'm not home, please leave a message with your phone number. This first meeting allows us the opportunity to explore your questions, hopes, and expectations of spiritual guidance, with no obligation. If it seems mutually agreeable to continue, we set a date for the first session.
2. The first two sessions of spiritual direction are available free of charge. After that time, there will be a $35 fee per session.

Sessions are for 60-90 minutes, and are usually held every 4-6 weeks. The church library has shown itself to be a good meeting space.

- Rev. Julie March, Minister of Equipping

All of us are on a journey in our spiritual lives - as we seek God's guidance, live together as people of faith, and are daily transformed by God's love. Small group ministry is a well-known way to follow in Jesus' footsteps by learning and sharing together. As we study the Word, pray and fellowship together, we are enriched by others' experiences.

A new small group is forming at Trinity, open to all members. This group, called Companions on the Journey, will integrate study and discussion of the Word in the Scriptures with prayer and fellowship. I will lead the group, but all members will participate as we speak of faith, blending our minds, hearts and voices together.

We will begin in September, and the meeting time and place will be determined by group members. If you are interested in becoming a member of Companions on the Journey, please call me (725-3840) or email juliammc@sbcglobal.net.

See pictures from the mission trip here.

Wawokiye (pronounced wah-whoa'- key-yea) is a Lakota word that loosely translates into "helping the people stand."

This year the Senior High Mission team consisted of Dylan Devine, Paul Devine, Rhonda Dunbar, Hanna Evans, Wyndham Ferris, Blair Klostermeier, and Zach Roman. We spent the week at Re-Member, an outreach to the Oglala Lakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Re-Member's mission is to heal the wounds of the Lakota, to "Re-Member," by putting back together that which is broken, and build hope for the future. We thank everyone who made this incredible experience possible! The following reflections were written at the end of each day.

DAY 1 - Wounded Knee

Today we went to the Massacre/Battle of Wounded Knee. Many innocent people died at this site. We heard the story of what took place and then we had communion. After communion, we picked up trash around the mass grave and the rest of the cemetery. The graves looked different from what we were used to. Instead of flowers left by the visitors, there were offerings of toys, cigarettes, and bread. It was explained to us that the Lakotas bring and leave anything that is of importance to them. At first we thought of these items as trash, but we realized what seemed to us as trash was actually offerings and items of importance to others. It was a very spiritual place; however, we couldn't help but feel disheartened and guilty for the actions of our ancestors.

Community Dinner

Tonight was Re-Member's first community dinner of the season. The community dinner is a weekly event on Re-Member's grounds. The purpose of the dinners is to provide a good dinner to the Lakota guests, allow us (the volunteers) to buy crafts, and most importantly to bring the communities together. Before eating we played softball and tag with the Lakota children and partook in the flag raising ceremony. All the volunteers, staff members, and Lakota guests stood around the medicine circle which surrounds the flag pole. The flag was raised while an Indian Elder sang and a volunteer walked around with burning sage. Then a spirit plate was placed at the base of the flag pole. We were told that the spirit plate was the way to recognize those who have passed away be setting aside a little of all the food we were about to eat. Kelly Looking Horse, a Re-Member staff member and Lakota elder, told us if a spirit is bothering you to give it some food. After dinner we talked to our Lakota visitors, looked at the crafts that were for sale, and played with the children. Two Lakota boys decided to follow Zach around. They wrestled with him and used their "spears" of grass to attack him. We enjoyed spending time with the children.

DAY 2 - The seventy volunteers were split into twelve work crews. Three crews worked together each day.

Hanna volunteered to stay back at Re-Member and work in the kitchen.

I washed dishes, swept, cooked lunch, cooked dinner, and helped prepare for some of the upcoming meals. I loved spending the day by myself. The entire place was quiet.

Blair, Wyndham, and Zach spent their Wawokiye day at a family's home.

Today we played with two kids, painted a room, and cleaned up the family's kitchen. We think that we made a positive impact on their house. The family was welcoming and they at lunch with us. Even though we would have liked to stay longer and do more, we feel we made a difference.

Dylan, Paul, and Rhonda spent their Wawokiye day cleaning out an old trailer.

Today was a very difficult day for us. We walked onto a property that looked uninhabitable. We were shown to the trailer. It was filled to the top with garbage. There is no garbage pick up on the reservation so the family was using their old trailer their "dump". We do not know how to describe what we saw and witnessed. Everything that a typical family throws away was in the trailer including dirty diapers. We felt ourselves start to judge the family based on their trash. Tonight we find ourselves in conflict between our sense of charity and self-righteousness. We are concerned that the new trailer that arrives next week through Re-Member will return to the same state. We continue to ask ourselves if we have a right to put limits on our charity.

DAY 3 - Blair, Wyndham, and Zach spent the day placing beds.

Today it was gratifying to go into these homes and see how happy the children were to get a new bed, sheets, blanket, pillow, and book. It was eye-opening to see their living situations. The houses were small, smelled, had many children, and trash was everywhere. Despite this, we were welcomed into their homes. Our last family invited 10 of us to dinner. Our dinner consisted of fried bread, spam, and Kool-Aid. The dinner was sparse, but filling due to their generosity. We are struggling with the question whether or not what we are doing is enough?

Dylan, Hanna, Paul, and Rhonda spent the day at Re-Member.

Today we spent the morning in the workshop at Re-Member sanding and staining bunk bed components. The staining and sanding are completed outside the building in the sanding stations. At times it felt like a never ending job, but it felt good when you finally completed sanding a piece of wood that you know will eventually become a child's bed. After lunch it was raining. We were frustrated that we wouldn't be able to get more done, but the extra time during the day allowed us to spend time getting to know people we hadn't had a chance to before this day. Rhonda and Paul had the opportunity to get to know Susie Looking Horse (A Lakota who runs the kitchen at Re-Member) on a more personal level. Dylan and Hanna had a chance to spend time with the youth from the other groups. Overall, it was not the day we had expected but it was the first time we all felt fully part of this community.

DAY 4 - Tour of Pine Ridge Reservation

Today we all climbed onto the bus for our tour of the reservation. We first drove around and saw the government housing and saw the housing the doctors lived in. The doctor's homes were an extreme contrast from the average Lakota's home. Then we went to the Red Cloud Indian School. This school is a Catholic school. Our tour guide talked about their high graduation rate and continuing education percentages. She also told us about the graduates that are coming back and starting businesses. This gave us hope because we feel it could improve the living conditions if there were more job opportunities. The tuition is held to a minimum; therefore they must raise 10.4 million dollars a year to keep the school running. We then went across the street to the Heritage Museum's juried art show. It was amazing to see the Lakota art. We learned quite a bit from our tour guides about traditional and contemporary art.

Our next stop was dinner at Bette's Kitchen. This is a restaurant out of Bette's home. The scene we saw was amazing as we ate our buffalo burgers, chocolate cake, and fried bread.

After lunch we stopped at Singing Horse Trading Post. We talked to a Lakota man there that broke horses for a living and is training his son to take over the business. After Rosie's we went to the Oglala Lakota College. They had an amazing museum that contained pictures from the time period of Wounded Knee. It was a great experience.

Craft Night

Tonight we made dream catchers with Kelly and Susie Looking Horse and beaded bracelets with John and Lawanda Her Many Horses. We felt it was very spiritual and relaxing once we understood the process. After finishing crafts Blair, Dylan, Wyndham, and Zach danced with the rest of the volunteers while Kelly played drums and sang and Susie explained what to do. Kelly explained how important a hand shake was and that in the Lakota culture a "weaker" hand shake shows respect. At the end of the dancing we all shook hands and in our heads we were thinking about how were shaking hands what it meant.

DAY 5 - Wyndham's opportunity for a special tour with Kelly Looking Horse.

The highlight of today was getting to meet the great-, great-, grandson of Red Cloud. He talked to us and we were able to ask him questions. It was amazing to be able to sit there and listen to his wisdom. After listening to the great-, great-, grandson of Red Cloud we went to a retirement center and met a code talker from World War II.

Blair and Zach spent the day in the workshop at Re-Member.

All morning we sanded the bed components. In the afternoon we started to put the beds together. It was cool to finally be able to put the beds together after sanding all day. We felt like we accomplished something.

Dylan, Paul, and Rhonda spent the day placing beds.

We had a good day being able to set up beds in people's homes. At one home, the room was so small that only a couple of people could work at a time. Dylan felt it was surreal to sit in a Lakota man's home watching "Little House on the Prairie" with him while the group was putting the beds together.

Evening

Tonight we had pizza and sundaes. It was awesome to end the week watching the sun go down with all our new friends. It was an amazing day.

ROSES AND THORNS

Every night we gathered with the other groups in our housing building for "roses and thorns." Roses were the good things that had happened and the thorns were the lows or our worries. Here are some of our roses for the week:

Dylan Devine - Watching "Little House on the Prairie" with the Lakota man while placing beds.

Paul Devine - The entire week was emotionally and spiritually challenging and this experience pushed me.

Rhonda Dunbar - On Monday I was able to talk to Jerome and Tereasa about their lives and views on what is happening on the reservations. This conversation gave me insight into what they are struggling with everyday and gave me an opportunity to know them on a more personal level.

Hanna Evans - I was sick for a majority of the week, but Marcy and Courtney (two of the Re-Member interns) helped take care of me when I didn't feel good.

Wyndham Ferris - Meeting Red Cloud's great-, great-grandson.

Blair Klostermeier - Interacting with the people I met at Re-Member and the Lakotas.

Zach Roman - Eating fried bread with a Lakota family after placing beds in their home.

- Liz Nelson

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!

- Liz Nelson

A huge thank you to Tom Wilhite, George Sallwasser and Bob Little for completing an extensive interior and exterior "physical" of our building. Their valuable findings will guide the Facilities Commission as it creates a master plan for building maintenance and repair. Thank you from Birty to the many people who helped him move items in God's Creation for deep cleaning. Thanks to Wally Klein for continuously updating the community info board in the Dining Room. Thanks to Art Platt for meeting a transportation need. And thanks from Liz for the numerous Office Angels - Genny, Joy, Janet, Catherine, Kathie, Mary Ann...and the list keeps growing! In many ways, these are examples of equipping in action - people offering their passions and skills to allow the work of this Body to flourish.

The whole church was "re-keyed" in July. Members who have keys will need to contact the Church office if they feel they need a replacement key.

..."God sustains the universe so powerfully, we don't have to be productive every minute..." Lynne Baab

The word Sabbath means, "stop, cease, desist, pause, rest" which beautifully captures the focus of our all-church retreat August 24-26 at our little Presbyterian slice of heaven, Mound Ridge Camp. Join our faith community as we gather for fellowship, floating, campfires, playing and resting together...we will worship at the water's edge and witness anew God's amazing grace and presence as we celebrate the sacrament of baptism amid the splendor of the natural created order. Register now, forms are available at church or on our website, fees are minimal and the benefits of this weekend are immeasurable...

"Sabbath is a way of being in time where we remember who we are, remember what we know, and taste the gifts of spirit and eternity." Wayne Muller

Click here for the registration form.

- Paul Vasile, Minister of Music

As we gear up for a new schedule this fall, there are wonderful new possibilities for you to be involved in Trinity's music ministry! As you can see from the offerings below, there are many different commitments of time and talent. All are welcome!!

• The Trinity Choir meets Thursday evenings from 7:15-9:00 p.m. and leads worship regularly from September through June. Music-reading skills are helpful but not required; we welcome all voice parts, especially tenors and basses. First rehearsal is on September 6.
• An Intergenerational Festival Choir will continue to enhance special worship celebrations throughout the year. As a new feature, the choir is open to individuals of all ages who love to sing. Rehearsals will be on the Friday evening before a Sunday that we sing. We will share a light supper together at 6 p.m. and then rehearse from 7 until 8. Families are especially invited to participate; childcare options will be available. First rehearsal is Friday, October 5.We will sing on World Communion Sunday, October 7.
• The Trinity Gospel Choir is a newly-formed adult choir that will present music from the African-American tradition throughout the year. All of the music will be learned by ear, so no music-reading skills are needed. Similar to the Festival Choir, rehearsals will be on a Friday evening or two before a Sunday that we sing. First rehearsal is Friday, September 7. We will sing in worship on Sunday, September 9.

· The Handbell Choir rehearses periodically throughout the year on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and will ring regularly. Music reading skills are helpful but not required; regular attendance is essential. Our first group of rehearsals will begin on September 12.

The Sunday Morning Singers (Grades 3 through 6) will also begin to rehearse again this fall. Children are invited to learn exciting, diverse sacred music and will lead worship throughout the year. There will be a 30-minute rehearsal at 11:30 a.m., immediately after Worship. Our first rehearsal is September 16.

- Diana Gray

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).

Six youth and two adults attended the 2007 Montreat Youth Conference in Montreat, North Carolina July 21-28. This year's participants were Michael Cooper, Hanna Evans, Blair Klostermeier, Brian Min, Zach Roman, Maggie Schoeberlein along with adults Rhonda Dunbar and Dan Tilden. Ask them about this exciting and spiritual experience! If you want to know more about Montreat Youth Conference and all the conferences available check out the website at www.montreat.org.

The National Conference for Community and Justice of Metropolitan St. Louis will sponsor a walkathon to fight bias, bigotry, racism and all forms of oppression in our region on Saturday, August 18, at Forest Park's Langenberg Field. Registration is at 9 a.m. with a ceremony at 10 a.m. and the one-mile walk beginning at 10:30 a.m. Following the Walk there will be refreshments at Eat as One and entertainment featuring Javier Mendoza. Family friendly activities for all ages. For more info go to www.nccjstl.org.