Mark your calendars to stay after worship for our annual meeting which will now be held on Sunday, February 8^th.

Former Chanticleer Member Terry Barber, will present a vocal concert of Baroque vocal masterpieces here on Saturday, February 7^th. The concert will be at 7:30 pm. $15 for adults; discounts for students and seniors.

Susan Kissinger will hold a 1-time introductory class on the basics of T'ai Chi on Tuesday, Feb. 10^th in the Chapel. This will be free for Trinity members; freewill donations will be accepted. Stay tuned for class time.

Do you happen to have any of Trinity's vases that are used for Sunday morning arrangements? Or do you have any large vases at home that you would like to donate to the Trinity collection? Please bring them to the church office. The 2009 flower dedication sheet is hanging across from the elevator. Honor loved ones with a Sunday donation. Speak to a member of the Green Team for more details (Luise Hoffman, Diana Gray, Elaine Pontious, Julie March or Bonnie Roy).

- Vicki Carmichael, Interim Minister of Music - Choir Director

Vicki wrote the following for the 2008 Annual Report.

2008 was an exciting and emotional year for Trinity's music ministry. After seven years of his faithful service, we said goodbye to Minister of Music Paul Vasile. While this was a bittersweet moment, as many of our "sending" moments are, we were excited for Paul to follow the Spirit on the next leg of his musical faith journey. In his annual report for 2007 Paul wrote about an experience he had when he came to worship the Sunday following a trip to the Covenant Network conference in Atlanta. Since he arrived back in town late on Saturday night, many members of the congregation and choir had pitched in to create the worship music for the next morning. He wrote, "For the first time since I have served at Trinity, I had the opportunity to sing in the choir and stand with the congregation to sing hymns. It was a joy to see that the music ministry could function wonderfully without me and that ministry was being done by the people of God in this place."

When I re-read that report this December, I was struck by the loving faithfulness of our God. God absolutely NEVER fails to provide abundantly what we truly need. Paul had that experience many months before God revealed to him that he would be called to leave Trinity. Karen Coletti, Bill Wade and I took leadership roles that day to help out. On Christmas Eve in Trinity's Candelight Service, we found ourselves right where God had not only called us, but also equipped us - I was leading the choir, Bill was at the organ, and Karen Coletti led the choir in a beautiful piece she wrote to a poem of Ann Weems. It is amazing to me that God knows just how insecure and doubtful we humans can be sometimes, and so gave us a chance (several chances, actually) to "practice" the service God would later call us to on a larger scale.

It is truly a wonderful and holy thing that God calls all of the members and friends of this congregation to deep, active service here. As the session moved forward with the congregation into a time of intentional discernment of God's call for us as a faith community, we found ourselves temporarily without two of our most called upon leaders, Dr. Dan and Birtie. Is it possible that God is calling each one of us to a deeper commitment to each other, to this body of faithful people and to finding and implementing God's solutions for the challenges facing our community and our world? Where is God calling you? How has God provided you with exactly the gifts you need to follow that call?

It can be unsettling when we cannot see more than one step ahead on the path our lives take, but it can also be exciting. When I look back and see that God "had us covered" the whole time and was preparing us for opportunities in service and in worship that we could not anticipate, I experience great joy and a profound sense of peace. As the search committee discerns the next step toward new leadership for the music ministry, I invite you to share in this joy and peace. God does and will provide abundantly.

- Margy Brown, Chair, Personnel Commission

A search committee for a new minister of music has not yet been formed. Given concerns about our budget we want to have a clearer understanding of both potential budget restraints and any possible change in direction that might come out of the discernment process before actively seeking candidates for this position. Fortunately both Vickie and Bill are able and willing to extend their interim positions to allow us some extra time in filling the permanent position. We anticipate starting the search in the early spring.

- Dawn Fleishman, Minister of Spiritual Growth

The position of Minister of Spiritual Growth is not only new for me, it also new to all of you in the Trinity congregation. However, I'm certain the practice of growing spiritually is not new to you. Changing the position's title from Christian Education reveals the high value you, the church, place on spiritual growth.

So what does spiritual growth mean for you? Developing your inner life? Tranquility? Connectedness? Here's what our church tradition has to say: "Spiritual Formation is the activity of the Holy Spirit which molds our lives into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This likeness is one of deep intimacy with God and genuine compassion for all of creation. The Spirit works not only in the lives of individuals but also in the church, shaping it into the Body of Christ." (Office of Spiritual Formation, Presbyterian Church [USA])

"To be spiritual is to take seriously our consciousness of God's presence and to live in such a way that the presence of God is central in all that we do. This awareness of God is not automatic, nor can it be brought about by any particular technique. We can, however, open ourselves to the already present God by deliberately cultivating certain disciplines of mind and will." (Howard L. Rice, Reformed Spirituality)

My plan is simple for 2009. I want to walk with you on your spiritual journey. I aim to create and support opportunities to encounter and worship God in new and old ways. I hope to nurture spiritual disciplines for times of solitude, to continue to cultivate the trusting environment of community, and to focus beyond the church walls serving as the hands and feet of Christ. The goal? To know, love, and serve our glorious Lord, both as the church and individually.

If you have fresh (or ancient) ideas or are inspired to get involved in the ministry of spiritual growth at Trinity, please give me a call or send me an e-mail ( 24.dawn@gmail.com). I'd love to hear from you!

1/11/2009 - 1/25/2009: Three Sundays - Mike Holley and Diana Oleskevich, from the St. Louis Chapter of Missourians to Abolish Death Penalty, Dan Anderson Little and Damayanthi Niles: Exploring the Death Penalty - Can we find Unity amongst our Diversity?

For three weeks we will explore the issue of the death penalty. The death penalty is one of the controversial issues that divides not only our larger society, but the church as well. In this three week course, we will learn more about the death penalty and will spend time discussing how this issue can be a time for us express our differences and find common ground at the same time. The series begins on Sunday, January 11, with a presentation by Mike Holley and Diana Oleskevich, members of First Presbyterian Church, Kirkwood, and of the Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty. The next week, Sunday, January 18, Dan Anderson-Little will lead a discussion on how churches can find common ground when discussing topics that are controversial and divisive. The series will conclude with a talk by Dr. Damayanthi Niles, Professor of Theology at Eden Theological Seminary, who will help us think theologically about the death penalty and other contentious social issues. Please join us.

2/1/2009 - 2/8/2009: Two Sundays - Rick Hasler: Modern Expressions of Faith

2/15/2009 - 3/8/2009: Four Sundays - John Bracke, Eden Seminary: Ten Commandments.

3/15/2009 - 4/5/2009: Four Sundays - Dale Kuhn, Care & Counseling: Life Transitions.

4/12/2009 - Easter Sunday - No Adult Ed class

4/19/2009 - 5/10/2009: Four Sundays - Damayanthi Niles: Being Christian in a Pluralistic World

5/17/2009 - Summer break - No Adult Ed class

- Rev. Julie March, Equipping Minister

Have you been thinking about becoming a part of a small group to enrich your spiritual life? Start the New Year by sampling Trinity's newest small group, Wild With Words. Members will meet on Sunday, January 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Trinity chapel. The group is friendly and casual, as we do spontaneous writing and sharing with friends new and old. If you would like more information, please contact me at church or simply come to Wild With Words for an enjoyable evening.

- Bill Wade, Interim Minister of Music - Organist

Happy New Year! I hope this year will bring excitement, joy, and opportunity to you and yours. I no longer make formal New Year's resolutions, but do have a sense of a clean slate and new beginning each January 1^st. Mentally, I make a note about things I would like to change or do differently over the next 12 months. For example, I promise to have my Trinity News article in by the fifteenth of each month! [Awwwww.... Ed.]

The musical opportunities at Trinity are continuing to expand and the new year provides an opportunity to make a time limited investment in the music ministry by participating from now through Easter in one of the ensembles or letting Vicki or me know about something we're not offering that you would like to participate in. The Trinity Choir, handbell choir, and recorder consort will continue. There is still a need for console assistants (bench buddies) and opportunities for instrumentalists to share their talents in worship.

As Vicki and I facilitate the music ministry at Trinity, we are humbled by the dedication and talent this congregation has. If you've considered joining a group and working with others to make a joyful noise, please give us a call and find out how your participation can make a difference at Trinity. We welcome anyone, regardless of experience or training. All we ask is that you have a desire to enjoy working with others and a willingness to share what gifts and talents you have.

- Stacy Shupe and Pat Gibbons

Every time we have had small dinners in people's homes, we have benefited greatly. We haven't done them for a number of years, and we on Session would like to renew this meaningful fellowship time. We plan to have dinners on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Feb. 19, 20, and 21. This is the weekend before Lent begins, so we can combine a Mardi Gras theme with a brief and informal discussion of our discerning process.

We will have individuals and families sign up for dinners later, but WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW NOW how many hosts we can plan for. We will plan for potluck dinners, which are easy on the hosts. Hosts not comfortable with leading a discussion about Trinity's discerning process may request that an elder or other leader come to dinner and lead that discussion. Some of the houses would have child-friendly gatherings and others will be more adult focused. If you can host a small-group dinner, please sign up before January 23 with one of us (s00.sshupe@wittenberg.edu or pcg@wustl.edu). We will be in the Narthex with signup sheets after worship, once we are past the holidays. We're looking forward to sharing a meal with you!

Thank You - Stacy Carman, Food Pantry Co-Coordinator

Thank you,Trinity Presbyterian Church Members!! Thanks to the wonderful generosity of many Trinity members and volunteers, the Winger Food Pantry turkey give-away was a huge success. We handed out over 80 turkeys and 38 sets of non-perishable food items.

We had an overwhelming response to our request for baggers for the month of December - so many that we had to turn people down!! We are in the process of finalizing the calendar for volunteers for 2009. If you are interested in bagging in 09, please contact me (carmans@swbell.net) as soon as possible. I will even arrange a free bagging lesson!

Get Involved! - James Kerr

Recently at Trinity Presbyterian Church I have taken the duty of completing my eagle scout project here by building a mobile cart for our food pantry which does so much for the St Louis community. The experience of making the cart was not only a fascinating one, but an enriching one as well. One of my two major goals when building the cart was to build it so that it would make it easier to store and easier to fill and deliver the paper bags for food pantry days. My second goal was to get more people involved in the food pantry - people who might not participate otherwise due to lifting or carrying the heavy bags. I therefore urge you all who are not participating in the food pantry to go out and donate some of your time.

Throughout Linda Anderson-Little's treatment for cancer, she and Dan maintained a journal at the CaringBridge website. Below is the final entry for that journal that Dan wrote last fall.

For the past couple of weeks, I have contemplated bringing this on-line journal to a conclusion. I have pondered what to write after already writing so much (over the past nine months you have read about our medical conditions, our diet, our schedule, our moods, our digestive tracts, our backyard, our sporting events, etc. etc.). What, I have asked myself, can I say to wrap this whole episode up?

Well, I have decided that that is the wrong question. For what we have been through (and by we, I don't just mean Linda and me, our kids and immediate family -by "we" I mean all of us - all who have accompanied us on this incredible, unexpected, terrifying journey) cannot be summed up once and for all; for in every important sense, this episode will only become clear and take on meaning as we live the rest of our lives. We will now raise our hands when sitting in a group and the leader asks, "Which families here have been touched directly by breast cancer?" Because we have lost an innocence that deadly diseases strike other people, we will occasionally feel the breath of mortality on our necks and will immediately know it for what it is. We will always bear scars-physical, emotional and spiritual -which will serve as reminders both of what we have been through and of what amazing healing we have received. As it turns out, you don't get over cancer - yes, you can be cured of it and healed of it - but you don't ever get over it. It has become a part of our story. And while it doesn't have the power to define us, it has certainly marked us and life will always be different because of it.

So in that sense, this valedictory is just another journal entry - it captures what we feel today and know today and perceive today. And what of today? What do we feel, what do we know, what do we perceive? We feel great relief - relief that the traces of cancer are gone and that the debilitating treatments are over. The scars of surgery have faded. Fingernails and hair that were attacked by the powerful chemotherapy drugs are growing back and growing strong. The skin that burned and blistered from the assault of radiation is soft and new. Linda is still tired, but it is nothing like the tired of the past months, when as one cancer survivor told us, "It is like your very cells are tired." So yes, we are relieved in ways that are hard to describe.

We also feel a deep loss. A loss of innocence, a loss of time, a loss of opportunity. Linda is about to enter her third year of ministry at St. Mark's, but because of her illness, it is really her second. The congregation did such a great job of fulfilling their calling and they had great leadership from Pastor Gary, so they have not been idling waiting for Linda to come back. But there is still loss nonetheless.

This experience with cancer has also helped us to know things that we wouldn't have known otherwise. We know that life is fragile and precious. Of course we have been learning that over and over throughout our lives. The tenuousness of life was already present in our minds when Linda was diagnosed - my mother had died after a long struggle with dementia just six weeks before Linda discovered a small itchy bump on her breast. My mother used to turn the world over every day - she had enormous energy and strength of character. But in the end she was greatly diminished and her great joy of each day was the smiles of friends, loved ones and the great staff at her memory care unit; and dessert! So we knew the precariousness and fragility of life. But this cancer taught us that with new meaning and vigor.

Over the past nine months we have known a despair and fear like we never had before - there were days when I didn't know what would happen, how things would turn out. We both wept because we were scared. So we know that life is fragile; but we also know the gentle steel of faith. These past months have tested our sanity and health, and they have also tested our faith. And many times (more than I can count), OUR faith was found wanting. But not yours. Through surgery, chemo, radiation, trips to the emergency room, days of despair, days of tiredness, you have stood by us, you have given us words of encouragement, you have prayed for us. And this faith, a faith of tender, nearly insignificant strands were woven into a cloth of healing and peace that could not be torn. And we are standing on this side of the experience, still wrapped in that amazing cloth - we now know this.

And what do we perceive? We perceive some big stuff - that healing is possible, that prayer works, that life is good. But I think the deeper perceptions that we have gained in this time involve the small stuff. The birds in our backyard aren't just pretty - they tell a story of seasons and purpose and beauty. The fish in our creek remind us that the miraculous is all around us. Our kids show us that the words of the Apostle Paul are more than mere poetry; they show us that they are actually true: "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." We perceive that the blessing of family is not found in perfection, but in being available. Linda's parents have been there (or here) for us - not just in the

time they spent with us (which is almost incomprehensible), but in being willing to do whatever we needed - when we needed it.

So I close this journal with a deep sense of gratitude and with the knowledge that we don't ever know what will happen - but that we are called to live each day expectantly. We didn't ask for this time, it isn't our fault. It simply is - and the question is, where will we find the grace for the living of this day? We found that grace in cards and letters. We found that grace in goldfinches that went from a dull, greenish gray, to brilliant yellow that made our eyes ache. We found that grace in old Christmas carols sung by new friends. Each day, when our strength and faith failed, you offered us God's amazing grace and we rose again.

We can't thank you enough.

So the journey continues...amid a great cloud of witnesses.

We can't thank God enough.

- Julie March

Trinity's first Fair Trade Market was a great success, with lots of shopping, fun and fellowship for all involved. Special thanks go to Jan Schulte-Glad, Harold Glad, Liz Nelson, Birty Hodgson, Sharon Christopher, Diane O'Brien and Jim Person who offered a number of alternative gift catalogs, and as many other members of our congregation who made the Market a success. We sold many items from Plowsharing Crafts, for a total of almost $2,600! All this goes to help artisans from different countries make a living for themselves and their families. Watch for information about the Trinity Holiday Fair Trade Market, 2009.

Happy Turkey Day (belated)!... Eat til you drop, count your blessings and on and on....

To top off a glorious day, my first Thanksgiving on the Island, my son-in-law, Lance LeLoup cooking, the ocean, the mountains, and the Island, and some of my family - life is good!! Then to my surprise... a large package arrived, My advent gifts from all of you!!

• I'm one of the old ones, "shut ins" that gets the gifts...
• Thank God they remembered me - you know that's what it's really about - remembering
• Laughter and joy, should I open as instructed one by one, or just open them all at once?
• Kimmie is fighting me for the one marked chocolate!

All I can say now is thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

PS Another equipping ministry... caring, doing and sustaining a ministry. I say to the equipper angels - Yea God!!

Much love and peace - Do Kirk

We have realized that with Trinity News being posted on the church's website, it now goes out far beyond the circle of our own congregation. From now on, we will not list individual members' phone numbers. You can always consult your directories or call the church office (725-3840). We will continue to list email addresses unless this becomes a problem.

Commission Chairs:

• Spiritual Growth: Stacy Shupe
• Worship & Music: Cricket Gordon
• Endowment: Henry Edmonds
• Facilities:  Reed Evans
• Deacons: Joanne Roman
• Corporate Affairs: Matt Schindler

The Virtuoso Violin: 17th-century music for solo violin

Sunday, January 25, 3pm, Sanctuary

$10 at the door, with discounts for students and seniors

Featuring Celina Boldrey Casado, baroque violin with continuo support by Gut 'n Roses (Phil Spray, violone & Jeff Noonan, lutes)

More info at 314 598-7630 or jjnoonan@sbcglobal.net

On behalf of Mimi Jeske and myself, we express our sincere gratitude to God, the medical team, and to our family and friends whose ongoing prayers and loving concern brought us successfully through Mimi's abdominal cancer surgery and chemotherapy. She has received a clean bill of health following evaluation tests and will NOT require further treatment.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Tom Wilhite

- Liz Nelson, Church Administrator

Dear Trinity Members,

We will hold a memorial service for Curt at Trinity on Saturday, Jan. 24th at 10:30 am. It is being planned with all ages in mind, as one of Curt's gifts was his ability to connect with people across the generations! Please join us for this short service to celebrate Curt's life. I have attached his obituary below, with memorial donation information.

Julie has mentioned to me how comforting your calls, visits, notes and emails have been to her.

Liz

Rev. Dr. Curtis A. March

The Rev. Dr. Curtis A. March, a Springfield resident for many years, died on Saturday, January 11, at age 81. Curt was born in Slayton, MN in 1927, attended college at Macalester College in Minneapolis, and graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 1952 with a Master of Divinity Degree. While at McCormick he did ministry field work in South Chicago, Streator and Peoria, IL. Rev. March was ordained a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church in 1952, in his home church in Slayton. Following ordination, Rev. March served as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Palestine, Il. He was called as Pastor to the First Presbyterian Church of Seminole, OK in 1956, and became Pastor of The Village Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, OK in 1959. In 1963, Curt was called as Associate Pastor at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield, MO, where he served as Pastor of Evangelism and Pastoral Care for 27 years.

During his time at First & Calvary, he developed strong programs in the fields of membership care, evangelism, mission giving, youth, education and community involvement. He also started the city-wide Ecumenical Men's Prayer Breakfast, the Annual Church Picnic, the first pictorial directory, The Four Score and More Banquet, Care Groups to reach out to all members, the first handicapped accessible elevator, an active God and Country Boy Scout program, and was an active participant in the Civil Rights movement. He retired from the ministry in 1989, and became Pastor Emeritus at First & Calvary.

Curt served as chair of several Presbyteries, Community Committees in each of the areas where he has worked. He was elected Moderator of three Presbyteries and Vice Moderator and Moderator of the Synod of Mid-America. He participated in a pastoral exchange in 1976, serving as Pastor of Mains Parish Church in Dundee, Scotland, and in 1987 The Rev. Curtis March was awarded an honorary Doctor of Ministry Degree by Missouri Valley College.

In retirement, he continued to serve the church as volunteer, supply pastor in other churches, Meals on Wheels volunteer, Homebound Shoppers, worked with Aids patients, and served on the Board of the Ozark Counseling Center. He loved building, gardening, woodworking, repairing, talking and sharing with people, and sports as a participant and/or spectator - especially golf.

Rev. Curtis March married Audrey Jane Nord in 1948, and they had four children: Richard, Susan March, David Curtis and Rebecca. Audrey died in 1969. In 1972 he married Julie Hammon and adopted her two children, Elizabeth and David Keith.

In 2006, Curt and Julie moved to St. Louis, MO, where Julie is Associate Pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Curt took an active part in the live of Trinity Church, making friends quickly and sharing his love and friendship with all. Curt was dearly loved by his family and many, many friends. His ministries touched thousands of lives. We give thanks to God for this dear man.

Curtis was preceded in death by his 4 brothers and 3 sisters; his wife, Audrey; his beloved friend and mother-in-law, Mary Ellen Hammon; and a daughter-in-law, Janet March. He is survived by his loving wife, Julie and his children, Richard A. & Marie March and family, Tabitha (Shane Nichols) and Erica March; Susan C. & Rick Uffmann and family, Amanda and Greg Hazleton, Katie (John Tan), and William Uffmann, Rebecca L. and Steve Kornacki, Elizabeth D. March; and David K. March.

Graveside services for the Rev. Dr. Curtis A. March will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 16 at Maple Park Cemetery. The Service of Witness to the Resurrection will follow at First & Calvary Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Ozarks Counseling Center, The Ozarks Area Council of Churches, or to the First & Calvary Presbyterian Church Foundation.