This Interfaith Partnership/ Faith Beyond Walls free educational forum will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2008 from 7:00-9:00pm at Lane Tabernacle CME Church (910 N. Newstead Ave. St. Louis, MO 63108 - One Block North of Delmar. Secure Free Parking on Site).

The keynote speaker is Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr., Candler School of Theology, Emory University, who will address the prophetic traditions in the black church. After the discussion, distinguished panelists answer questions. Refreshments offered and a freewill offering will be accepted.

On June 5th, Trinity held its first of a 4-part series of events designed to prepare and inspire its members for deeper interfaith partnerships. The conversation focused on the concept of belief. The next event in this series will occur on Monday, July 7th at 7:00 PM in the Chapel. The theme for this exploration begin with victuals and libations. Please mark your calendars, plan to attend, and bring a friend!

Our Sister in Christ and our former Interim Minister of Christian Education, Susan Hayes, will be ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament and installed as Associate Pastor of St. Mark Presbyterian Church on Sunday, June 29^th at 3:00 pm. Address: 601 Claymont Dr., Ballwin, MO 63011. A reception for Rev. Hayes will follow the service.

- Rev. Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

Trinity Church has hired two people to share the leadership of the ministry of music in this interim time.

Vicki Carmichael has been a part of the Trinity music ministry for many years. In the mid-1990's she was our paid soprano soloist. She left that position when she moved out of town. Upon her return she rejoined the choir and since joined the church. She is an elder on the Session and has served as the chair of the Worship and Music Commission for the past two years. Over the past two decades, Vicki has directed a variety of church choirs and secular choirs; on a couple of occasions she has led the Trinity Choir. Vicki sings locally in a variety of settings and is a voice teacher. She is excited to grow in her capacity as director of the Trinity Choir. In addition to directing the Trinity Choir, Vicki will help to coordinate other choirs and musical offerings in worship.

Bill Wade grew up in Texas, studied organ throughout his teenage years and was chapel organist at Oral Roberts University where he earned his BS. He earned a DO degree from Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. Prior to entering corporate and academic medicine, Bill was in private practice in family medicine and counseling in Topeka, Kansas from 1980 to 1992. He was a founding member of the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, and specialized in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. He then earned a Master of Public Health degree from SLU. He is currently enrolled at Webster University and is pursuing a certificate in web services and advanced studies in music. While living in Topeka, Bill served as organist in a Methodist church for ten years and in a Lutheran church for two years. Bill and his partner of 21 years Mike Kaberline, who also sings in the Trinity Choir, make their home in Overland.

Both Bill and VIcki started their employment at Trinity on May 12. At this point, we anticipate that Bill will conduct the Handbell Choir in the Fall; we are working on plans for the Festival Choir, the Gospel Choir, and a children's music program.

We are not sure how long this interim period will last. The first step in securing a permanent Minister of Music is conducting a Music Ministry Needs Assessment. The team that will lead that effort is being formed now. Once they are done with their work, the Session will form a search committee. Past experience tells us that this process can take nine months or more. Trinity has a long and significant musical tradition. Vicki and Bill will help us to continue that great tradition as together we sing our praises to Almighty God. Please join me in welcoming them to these new positions.

As the winner of a voice competition, Vicki will be performing her Artist Presentation Society recital that was cancelled a few months ago. Join her on Sunday, June 8^th at 3pm as she performs, with pianist Nancy Mayo, works by Handel, Canteloube, Chabrier, Mozart, Strauss, Schoenberg, Barab, and Bernstein. The location is Unity Christ Church, 33 North Skinker at Forsyth, St. Louis, Missouri 63105. Tickets at the door: $10 general, $5 seniors, free for students with ID. For more information about the Artist Presentation Society go to www.apsmusic.org.

- Rev. Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

Throughout Linda's courageous battle with breast cancer, I have maintained a website to let others know how Linda is doing. CaringBridge was set up for just this reason - so that families who are experiencing a serious illness can keep lots of people up to date all at once via the Internet. This has been a great vehicle for our family as it allows me to widely share what is going on with Linda without having to make lots of extra phone calls or send extra emails. A couple of weeks ago, on Linda's CaringBridge site, I was reflecting on the concern we also have for my Dad who is dealing with a very aggressive form of brain cancer. (My siblings and I also maintain a CaringBridge site for my Dad. Someone said to me "No one should have to keep up TWO CaringBridge sites at the same time!" Truer words have never been spoken.)

Never in my life have I felt pulled in so many directions. There are days where it seems that I forget to come up for air and breathe. While Linda's prognosis is very good, her chemotherapy has been debilitating. She has been on disability since January and expects to go back to work sometime in the mid to late summer. And my Dad's diagnosis was unexpected and is very sad for all of us. I find that it is very easy to become fretful and full of self-pity - blessings seem few and far between. And yet, I unexpectedly find myself lifted and blessed through this experience as well. On a day when Linda had another round of chemotherapy and my Dad's future seemed so uncertain, I wrote on Linda's CaringBridge site: "This has been an incredibly difficult year - and yet we have learned so much and gained so much - we know ourselves to be rich beyond measure - rich in friends, rich in hope, rich in love." I am not sure where that came from. Certainly it is not how I feel much of the time. And yet, God's blessings continue to push into my heart and my mind. Here is a sampling of things that have reminded me that God is good, all the time:

• A wonderful and rich celebration of Paul Vasile's ministry at Trinity - again being reminded how blessed we have been to have journeyed with Paul for seven years and how blessed we are by the great musical gifts that Trinity has known for decades.
• People who ask me, "What can I do for you?" And when I say, "Pray," they respond with "Every day."
• Three snowy egrets who just flew along our creek in the early morning - a gift of rare and magnificent beauty.
• Children (both mine and those at Trinity) who amaze me with their eager energy and their open questions.
• Doctors, nurse, technicians and social workers who are not only skilled at what they, but are willing to join us in the messiness of life.
• The connectedness of the church - between Linda's and my Dad's CaringBridge sites, we have heard from thousands of people and have learned that more churches than we can count are praying for us on a regular basis.

An attitude of gratitude. It is often hard to adopt, but when we do, our spirits are lifted and we see God's blessings all around us.

- Bill Wade, Interim Minister of Music - Organist

There is great excitement about the music opportunities for the Summer and Fall. It is my goal not only to work with Vicki to grow the choirs and musical groups at Trinity, but also to involve many of our talented youth and adults in musical participation during worship!

If you are interested in seeing or touching or learning more about the wonderful Casavant pipe organ, please come up to the organ loft at the conclusion of any service and watch and listen while the postlude is played then feel free to ask questions (when its over). I welcome boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen of all ages to get up close to the instruments and people who make the music happen during worship.

Music opportunities at Trinity will not stop during the Summer. If you have ever wanted to learn to play the recorder, or if you are a pro at it, we invite you to join a small group of recorder enthusiasts that will probably get together every two weeks during the Summer to learn to play some music together. Please call the church office and leave a message if you're interested in the Recorder Consortium. Beginners are welcome!

If you have ever sung in a choir of any kind, or you're interested in just checking it out, getting together with a fun group of people who enjoy making music, please let either Vicki Carmichael or me know. You do NOT have to be a trained singer, ringer, or musician to be welcomed and included in the music program at Trinity. We are interested in providing a space to learn new skills and grow together to continue the diverse and inclusive musical program. Even though the Trinity Choir does not officially meet during the Summer, if you are interested in participating in a group that will probably sing once a month during the Summer, let us know!

Instrumentalists are welcome to let me know if you are interested in working with me on an organ and instrument or piano and instrument selection for participation in worship. Traditional as well as non-traditional instruments are welcome!

Finally, I am interested in hearing or reading your musical requests, constructive criticisms, suggestions and personal favorites that will help increase your worship experience. If you've ever had an opinion about music and worship (and who hasn't) now's your chance to let it be known. St. Augustine said "When you sing, you pray twice." Let's all sing and pray together through music and word. Email me at drwewade@gmail.com or call the church at 314-725-3840 and leave a message. I look forward to talking to you.

Are you interested in deepening your involvement in interfaith dialogue and relationships? One of the prerequisites for authentic and enriching interfaith dialogue is being well-grounded in our own faith tradition. To help Trinity members gain that grounding, this summer we will hold four exploration events to grow in our faith as we prepare ourselves for more meaningful interfaith relationships. These exploration events will be lively, interactive, multi-media gatherings where we discuss and grow in our understanding of these topics: What does it mean to believe? What do we mean by truth? What role does the Bible play in our faith? Who is Jesus for us?

The first exploration will be held on Thursday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m.  Dates for the other explorations will be announced soon.  These open-ended, interactive explorations are great opportunities to invite friends to learn more about how we approach and live the Christian faith at Trinity.  If you would like to participate in these events, sign up in the pew pads on Sunday mornings or contact the church office (725-3840).

Click here for a printable .PDF format flyer

-Rev. Julie March, Minister of Equipping

Do you like to dig? How about making a beautiful garden? Join the Trinity Green Team, a part of Trinity's Equipping Ministry, as we beautify our east lawn and gardens, cleaning them up and replanting so that we will present a welcoming and peaceful face to our neighborhood. Call Julie March or Diana Gray for more information.

A new team is forming, and you are invited to join! Trinity has been committed to Peacemaking for many years, and the new Peace Prayer Team will continue this tradition with weekly peace prayers in worship. To join this team, get in touch with Julie or team members Jane Rand, Anna Gardner-Andrews, Luise Hoffman, Jan Schulte-Glad or Stacy Shupe.

Join Equipping Ministry as we learn more about spiritual growth, discipleship and faith, and where each member of the Body of Christ at Trinity Presbyterian Church becomes Christ's disciple in the world.

It gives us great pleasure to introduce Don and Patti Twellman to Trinity. Don and Patti have lived in the St. Louis area for the last 45 years. They have two grown children and five grandchildren. Their greatest joy is being with their family. Don and Patti are both beyond retirement age but are still happily working. Don is a car salesman for Paul Cerame and Patti works part time for Work Safe Products. Both are huge Cardinal fans. Patti also enjoys needlepoint and belongs to a Monday evening needlepoint circle. They visited Trinity last Christmas Eve for the "no shushing" service and have been attending ever since. Please join me in welcoming two people who are very special to us to our Trinity family. - Cheryl and Reed Evans

Richard Hatch was born in Piedmont, MO, the son of a railroad man. He grew up in University City near Pagedale and entered the Seebees during WWII. He served in the St. Thomas, Virgin Islands as a Sergeant in the Seebees, loading and unloading war cargo. He graduated from SW Missouri State in Springfield, MO, studying speech, history and art. But instead of a planned teaching career, he ended up selling, tuning and repairing pianos. For the past 35 years, he has operated a piano business from his small office and plant by his house in U. City. He has a few spinets he'd love to sell! He enjoys swimming three times a week at the YMCA. - Art Platt

Jack Biggs is an eighth grader at John Burroughs School. At school he enjoys chemistry and his summer plans include some time at a horse ranch where he will work on a "Methane Digester." (Ask him about it.) He also follows politics and is concerned about the environment. Musically, he enjoys U2, Led Zeppelin, and Green Day. Here at Trinity, Jack plays an important role during our worship - controlling the sound system and therefore the volume of the voice of God. - Matt Schindler

Eleanor Rae Carman is an eighth grader at Mary Institute Country Day School. Eleanor is passionate about sports and plays field hockey and soccer year-round. For relaxation, she enjoys restful weekends on her family's farms near Paris, Missouri. Eleanor is thankful for the love and support of her parents, Stacey and Chris, and her sister, Maggie. She is also grateful for the support of the church community. Eleanor has served as a liturgist and is looking forward to having more opportunities to serve this congregation and the broader community. The past two years in confirmation class have greatly deepened her faith, and she would like to extend a warm thank you to her confirmation class teachers and fellow confirmands. - Lynn Reid

I am so happy to be introducing you to Claire Pfeifer. Though her family came to Trinity church a few years prior to my knowing her, I have had the pleasure of working with Claire as a voice student in my studio for the last year and a half. She is a delightful, intelligent, beautiful person who has a passion for drama, music, art and children. She loves to travel and is a student at John Burroughs School. She has a wonderful trust in God that has come through in my conversations with her about prayer and intuition. Claire seeks to truly know where God is leading her and asks for direction on a daily basis. Even though she doesn't understand the pain she sees in the world, she finds comfort in her faith and still trusts that somehow God is taking care of her and of all of us. She is talented in so many ways and I look forward to seeing that talent grow as Claire opens herself to God's plans for her life. - Vicki Carmichael

- Confirmation Class, 2008

Our confirmation analogy for God is water. God in His three forms is like water in its three forms.

God is like ice, firm and unyielding. He can be cold but is a foundation for our lives. He loves us so much that He is willing also to be a more soothing form as Jesus.

Jesus is like water, the link between God in heaven and the Holy Spirit around us on Earth.

The Holy Spirit is like water vapor. He is all around us, but only sometimes is visible.

1. Who is God?

God is everything from life to death. He helps us write our story.

2. Who is Jesus?

Jesus is God's son, who was sent to help us understand God's ways. Jesus died for our sins. He is fully human, fully God.

3. Who is the Holy Spirit?

He is everything from rustling grass to waves on a beach. He lives in you and me. And even though you can't see Him, He works small miracles, and is God in all His glory. He helps us understand one another. The Holy Spirit comes from God, and is God.

4. What is scripture?

God is scripture. God is given to us through scripture. It is the way God teaches us His will.

5. What is the Church?

Together we are the Church. The Church is God's house. The place to open yourself to God and focus on God. A place where anyone is welcome to God.

6. What is the Church called to do?

The Church is called by God to be holy and correct. The Church is called to live the 10 Commandments, to show fellowship to everyone, to love everyone, and to spread God's word.

7. What are we called to do?

We are called to live under God's rule. Although God's will for us individually may be foggy sometimes, we are called to love God and everyone.

- Liz Nelson, Church Administrator

Periodically, we get to interact with those who use our food pantry on a more ongoing basis. Such is the case with Angela, a slight woman in her late 40's whom I first remember meeting a year or two ago. She stopped by the office (or maybe asked for guidance from food pantry volunteers first), needing help with transportation and paying for medication. She had lost a ton of weight from cancer and was struggling to stay healthy for her teenage girls as she worked to avoid an abusive partner. She accepted a bit of money from the Pastor's Discretionary Fund and was on her way, promising us she was going to fight her cancer and regain custody of her kids. I didn't expect to see her again, but she appeared earlier this year. She proudly showed me the weight she gained from her cancer meds and updated us on her successful steps towards independence and health. Unfortunately, she returned last month with paperwork showing her cancer had returned and is terminal. We helped her with food, a bit more money again and provided her daughters with backpacks from Charlotte and Spirit's charity. As she headed off to California to receive palliative care and stay with extended family, she wrote us this letter:

"I know you guys have truly been my Guardian Angels. You have done more for me than my own family. And they have know (sic) me all my life and you have only known me such a short time. Even though my days may be numbered, that's not a worry to be troubled with. Because I feel when God's ready I am ready. So I just enjoy the day. I just want you to know I will always know where my love come from - you and your church family. - Love, Angela and family"

-Bill Wade, DO, MPH

It has been about a year since Paul Vasile and I shared in the untimely death of a mutual friend. Through that emotionally exhaustive experience we became close friends. After discovering that I had worked as a church organist for more than 20 years, Paul encouraged me to become involved in the numerous musical programs at Trinity and to become active in the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Due to the musical outreach at Trinity, my life has undergone some extraordinary changes and personal fulfillment. It has been a great pleasure to get to know the clergy and friendly people at Trinity.

My partner and I have been welcomed into the choir and I have had several opportunities to participate in worship by playing the organ. Some parishioners have wondered who was playing the organ when Paul was at the front of the church with the bells or at the piano. It is I who has been in the choir loft as the occasional phantom organist. I originally entered university as an organ major on scholarship at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. Among my scholarship requirements, I played for two weekly chapel services and the Oral Roberts Partner Crusades. After two years as an organ major at ORU, I decided to switch majors to pre-med. It is not uncommon for people with a strong aptitude in mathematics, chemistry, and medicine to be avid musicians. The combination of music and healthcare works well as a method to stay personally balanced and focused. During most of the time I've practiced medicine, I have also continued my organ studies and held organist positions in Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist churches.

I have certainly appreciated the opportunities Paul has graciously provided for me to assist in the music ministry at Trinity and have enjoyed returning to the organ console to share in worship. Thank you to Paul, Dan, the Trinity choir, and Trinity Presbyterian church for being a place where all are welcome and each person's gifts and talents are nurtured.

- Keith Fischer

I would like to express my great appreciation to everyone who thought of me following the recent death of my father, Emil Fischer. Thank you for your cards, phone calls, prayers, and good wishes. Since my father lived near Phoenix Arizona, not many of you knew him. But your expressions of friendship and sympathy as my St. Louis family meant so much to me.

Have a favorite meal you like to share? Enjoy helping others with short-term special needs? Part of the ministry of Trinity's Deacons is to offer a meal for individuals or families during times of special need, such as illnesses or births. We'd welcome assistance from anyone in the congregation! Help can be provided in one of two forms: 1) Preparing a main course that can be frozen and kept at Trinity to help fulfill emergency needs, or 2) Offering to be contacted when an opportunity arises to prepare a meal and deliver it to a family in your area. Darrell and Karen Mayberry serve as meal coordinators for the Deacons. Please contact them for more details at karen.mayberry@usa.net if you'd like to help in either of these ways.

- Liz Nelson

I swear I saw a dove fly by me in the God's Creation area last week, an olive branch in its beak. We are back on dry land again after the flood of mid-April. When all is said and done, the flood will cost between $30,000 and $40,000. Insurance has covered just about everything and we are well on our way to replacing the toys and furniture that were ruined by the waste water. As you might imagine, with depreciation, we will not get the full value of each item to replace it, so if you think you have items that would fit well in the nursery or pre-school, please give me a call in the office (725-3840) or send an email (tpcucity@swbell.net).

The "Dream Team" for our open position(s) for our Music Ministry is forming and will meet by the first week in June to begin prayerful dreaming, wishing, visioning and discerning what God would have us seek in a new Minister of Music at Trinity. If you are interested in providing input for this team, please contact Margy Brown (Margy4@juno.com) or Vicki Carmichael (Vcarmichael44@gmail.com).

The Spiritual Growth (Christian Education) Commission will also begin a search for a new Director of Spiritual Growth soon. Contact Stacy Shupe (s00.ssupe@wittenberg.edu) if you would like to be involved..

- Genny Richmond

Thank you again to my Trinity Family for all the love, cards, hugs, flowers, fruit and that great party. I especially want to thank little Mia for the beautiful card and picture. I love you all.

Trinity's senior high members will be going to Urban Mission Camps with Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Alabama June 7 through 13th. Pray for our youth as they engage in mission work and look for a reflection from the youth in the Trinity News next month.