- Liz Nelson, Church Administrator

It is time once again for COCA to hold it's big fundraiser, which means they have converted our shared parking lot into a tented event area. It will remain that way this Sunday, limiting our parking. I am working with their new staff to inform us in a more timely manner next year, but in the meantime, please allow yourselves a bit more time to make it to worship. There is usually some parking on the street, as well as the lot by the post office, the lot behind Cicero's and, if you dare, the Music Building lot across from COCA.

Don't let inconvenience stop you from experiencing fellowship and a special worship service this Sunday. I hear God will be there!

Have a great week.
Liz

April 19, 2009 sermon by Dr. Dan Anderson-Little and Larry Pontious

Stewardship 101: Tithing

This morning's sermon is part of two different series. The first series is the Radical Implications of Easter. Over the next six weeks we will explore the ways that we are invited to live out the life-changing and world-changing message of Easter. This is also the first Sunday sponsored by the newly formed Stewardship Team. Every couple of months, the Stewardship Team will help us focus on what our Book of Order calls "the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship of money and time and talents." This morning Team member Larry Pontious will share in the sermon by giving his testimony.

- Liz Nelson, Church Administrator

Trinity's new worship service called The Commons@The Loop will hold its inaugural service on May 9^th at 5 pm. This service is designed to connect with folks who embrace Trinity's values of justice, diversity and hospitality, who do not connect with our Sunday morning worship service. This will be a multi-media service, with a wide variety of music. The style is informal. Trinity members are welcome to attend and are encouraged to invite their friends who do not currently have a church home to check it out.

... sponsored by Interfaith Partnership are held in west county, Ladue, Kirkwood and the Central West End. More information will be in your May Trinity News.

Mark your calendars: We will gather for our second potluck lunch and conversation about the April discerning questions after worship. For lunch, Last names A-G: please bring dessert or bread., Last names H-P: a salad or side to share, Last names Q-Z: main dish. No need to RSVP, but if you have questions or can help set up and/or clean up, please contact Elders Dave Nelson or Sharon Christopher: If you are unable to attend, you can write your thoughts on your insert during this month and place them in the basket in the Narthex or email the church.

- Liz Nelson, Church Administrator

- Stacy Shupe, Trinity Elder

At Trinity, we have entered a time of discerning God's will for our future together. During this time, we encourage members and friends of Trinity to pray, discuss, and listen carefully to the still small voice that speaks in so many ways. In March, we asked members to pray about and reflect on the following questions:

• I love it when we as a church ...
• Even though it does not appeal to me, I know there are members of Trinity who love it when we...
• God loves it when we as a church...

On March 29^th, members and friends of our Trinity family gathered for a potluck lunch and small group discussions of these questions. Being an elder, I attended this lunch and the follow-up discussion we had at our Session meeting the week after.

During the lunch on Sunday March 29, I felt a sense of deep fellowship with the others at my table. A couple of us had been at Trinity for a while, but the others were newer - some have only been attending for a few months. As we discussed what we loved about Trinity and what does not appeal to us, we spoke honestly and learned about each others' spiritual lives. The desire for more fellowship opportunities was something we all agreed with as we enjoyed our time together.

A few days later, the Session met. During our discussion, we noticed some distinct patterns in the responses from the dinner. Dan typed up every single response that was given on Sunday as well as those e-mailed in, dividing them roughly by topic. The comments about what we loved centered most heavily on worship & music and fellowship, but we also expressed a strong love of our outreach, spiritual growth, and commitment to diversity. For us as a Session this made sense. We know that worship & music, fellowship, outreach, spiritual growth, and diversity are aspects that Trinity members and friends care deeply about and love about our church. Comments about what does not appeal to certain individuals but does appeal to others focused on worship & music with some comments about fellowship and spiritual growth. This also made sense to us, since most of the "opposing" viewpoints people at Trinity have center around worship & music. Worship, music and fellowship are largely a matter of preference and taste, so it is expected that these areas will show the most disagreement. However, when we looked at the comments for what God loves, we noticed a different emphasis. A commitment to outreach, diversity, and spiritual growth received the overwhelming majority of responses with some unified comments about the importance of worshipping God together and having times of strong fellowship.

We as a Session found this to be something we should really reflect on together as a church. How are we using our resources of time and money? Are we being faithful stewards of what God has given us? How can we best focus our efforts on what we feel God is calling us to do? If we know God loves our commitment to outreach, diversity, and spiritual growth, how can we - individually, and as a church - live this out?

Eco-palms are harvested in a more sustainable way-harvesters are paid for quality rather than the quantity and use harvesting practices that minimize the impact on the natural forest. Harvesters and community members sell their palms directly rather than relying on middlemen, improving the local community's standard of living and ensuring that the money paid benefits the laborers. As we raise our branches in celebration on Palm Sunday, we play a role in protecting forests, local jobs, and sustainable livelihoods in harvesting communities.

Start bringing donations Sundays and Mon.-Thurs. 8:30-4pm (make other arrangements with Liz). We will hold a Trinity member preview night on Friday the 17^th, 6-8:30pm for early shopping. Contact Cheryl Evans or Liz if you want to help, or sign up in the Narthex - we still need more helpers Friday the 17^th and sale day (Saturday, April 18^th).

The 49^th chapter of Isaiah was written at a time of crisis for God's people. They were living in exile in Babylon, away from everything that was comfortable and familiar. The future seemed bleak and they didn't know how best to move forward. Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke words of hope to the people. Below is a short portion of Isaiah's prophecy spoken in that time of crisis.

Isaiah 49:5-6

And now the LORD says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength-he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

1. This passage recalls that God is the source of our strength and identity. In what ways have you seen God's faithfulness in the life of Trinity?

2. This passage is surprising because it doesn't imagine a future that is a restoration of the past; rather it imagines a future that is more profound than what has already happened. What greater ministry, what greater witness do you hear God calling Trinity to at this time?

Guidance for Prayer

Some Christians have a natural gift for praying-prayer comes easily and naturally. But for many of us, prayer is struggle. Each month we will offer some guidance on different ways to pray. This month, you can find guidance for a variety of styles of prayer in the Lenten Spirituality Center in God's Creation.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina is the ancient practice of "holy reading." Lectio Divina is a way of hearing God through the reading and praying of scripture. Lectio Divina usually begins with a short passage (you can use the one above if you like). You will read the passage three times. The first time read the whole passage through (you can do this silently or aloud) so you hear the whole passage. Pause. The second time you read the passage, listen for the word or phrase that "shimmers" or calls you to pay attention to it. Pause. Read the passage a third time paying close attention to the passage that "shimmered." When you are done with your third reading, pray or breath the word or phrase that presented itself to you. Allow that word or phrase to speak to you, to guide your thinking or your meditation. After a time of prayer, thank God for God's word to you.

- Liz Nelson, Church Administrator

I love it when we as a church...

Outreach (11)

• Engage in outreach through Habitat, Food Pantry, Spirituality Center, Adult Education, etc.
• We talk about social justice issues
• Do mission together
• Live outside ourselves
• Engage in works that promote social justice - mission outreach
• Allow others to use our facility
• Get involved in new things to help other people
• Help people in need
• Do things together as a group/community to serve others (New Orleans, MCU)
• Promote the food pantry and everything that does into it
• Join together publicly to support the marginalized, those who cannot speak up for themselves, and the powerless

Diversity (4)

• Embrace different faiths/diversity
• Practice inclusiveness
• Live up to our statement of welcome
• Practice openness and diversity

Worship & Music (22)

• Involve children in worship, fundraising, etc.
• Hold Palm Sunday parade
• Sing together
• Listen to the Bell Choir
• Receive communion by intinction
• Show musical creativity
• Continue old traditions
• Sing as a congregation
• Have children in church
• Include the children
• Children participate in worship
• Have music that has variety and talent
• Have worship services and have good sermons
• Have multicultural music in worship
• Use many different expressions of faith in worship - music; prayer styles
• Have outside music activities
• Are all respectful of our time of prayer
• Are led in our singing by section leaders whom we hear above the rest
• Receive the benediction at the end of the service and then mingle and leave
• Sing new music that is uplifting (not dreary) and not overly difficult for us challenged singers
• Keep old traditions, like the Jesse Tree
• Bring in interesting instruments - brings everyone together - gives goose bumps - want to keep singing

Fellowship (22)

• Practice regular fellowship (like this event)
• Trivia nights
• Eat together
• Have dinners in homes
• Have small groups in homes to get to know those you wouldn't otherwise
• Hold small groups
• Greet each other coming in and leaving
• Have pot lucks
• Feel the warmth of members - outreach to new visitors
• Go to Mound Ridge - tie-dye shirts, roast marshmallows, doing thing with friends from church outside of church
• Do things as a community - Maundy Thursday, Easter breakfast, other times of fellowship
• Do things to build our community - Mound Ridge, Maundy Thursday, interactive concerts, Boys Choir of Kenya; kid-inclusive activities
• Have intergenerational activities - I want to get to know people's children; get to know people more than for the 5 minutes after church or passing the peace.
• Go to Mound Ridge
• Have lunch
• Have social gatherings
• Have coffee hour downstairs with many attending
• Play
• Pursue internal ministry - address needs of our own members (mentioning members in the bulletin)
• Welcome new members; sing the welcome song
• Do things with children and young adults
• Do things together like Mound Ridge, joint meals, Habitat for Humanity and small groups

Spiritual Growth (9)

• Listen to God
• Using our whole range of gifts that span age differences
• Celebrate what other people are doing
• Bring in outside "pros" for adult ed
• Pray
• Go to Sunday School
• Are challenged to think about God, Jesus, faith and spirituality as we do from many of the spiritual education sessions
• Taught different ways to pray and find peace such as with Dawn's prayer stations.
• Have members who participate without being asked

Even though it does not appeal to me, I know there are members of Trinity who love it when we...

Outreach (1)

• Use so little of our budget to support mission, ministry and outreach

Diversity (0)

Worship & Music (22)

• Have professional-quality musicians perform in worship
• Have "elaborate" events are held for members of the church
• Small children flop around in the front of the church during the worship service.
• At the end of worship we sit and wait for a short piece of music to be played.
• Have the organ played and sing "stuffy" hymns
• Take communion by intinction
• Are served communion in our seats
• March outside to music
• Sing slow hymns
• Have lots of organ music
• Have the choir up in the choir loft
• Have bagpipes
• Have children present in worship even if it may interfere with others' experience
• Have sounds of children: some people are bothered during worship
• Have modern lyrics (post-1970) to old hymns
• Have bagpipes
• Have traditional church music
• Have a regularly structured church service
• Sing old gospel music
• Change tradition
• Applaud during service
• Have the choir typically in the choir loft

Fellowship (5)

• Have a church picnic
• Have retreats
• Do committee work
• Have Presbytery meetings
• Attend retreats

Spiritual Growth (4)

• Do arts & crafts
• Have adult ed in lecture style instead of interactive
• Have the Spirituality Center (not my cup of tea)
• Offer Bible study opportunities

Building (2)

• Paint doors new colors
• Continue to finance/stay in our building

God loves it when we as a church...

Outreach (15)

• Share our creativity and talents with each other and the wider community we are in.
• Give back to the community
• Serve our community
• Help people in need
• Use our gifts to help other as much as we can
• Reach out to the community
• Go outside of ourselves
• Engage in mission outreach
• Are more recognized in the community for good works
• Pray for peace
• Do outreach in the world
• Show concern for others
• Act for the good of others/volunteer
• Offer mission trips (Guatemala, New Orleans, etc.)
• Extend service to other countries

Diversity (13)

• Can come as we are
• Accept all peoples
• Actively live out our welcome statement and look for new ways to embrace it
• Help other and are open to all
• Repeat and embrace ours statement of welcome
• Live up to our statement of welcome
• Welcome everyone even those who are not like us
• Treat the poor as part of our community
• Minister to children
• Include children
• Open our arms, inclusiveness
• Love and respect all people
• Embrace diversity/inclusiveness

Music & Worship (5)

• Come to the worship service and not just spiritual education or events.
• Pray and worship
• Are joyous and spontaneous in worship
• Have Peter and other children in worship
• Worship together

Fellowship (4)

• Build community and get to know one another.
• Care for each other (the sick, the grieving, the lonely, those in financial straits, those in emotional straits)
• Serve others, reach in to show care for our own flock
• Connect/get to know each other/show concerns and joys for one another

Spiritual Growth (13)

• Seek earnestly to become more Christ-like individually and as a community
• Enhance the spirituality and faith of our children.
• Get excited about our faith
• Pray together
• Know there is a God
• Spread God's word
• Listen
• Listen to each other sincerely
• More from "right thinking" to "right living"
• Teach and learn
• Are informal, comfortable
• Do our part
• Are open-minded

- David Nelson, Elder

On Sunday February 21, I was honored to be Trinity's Elder-Commissioner as our Presbytery met to consider the amendments to our Constitution recommended by the last General Assembly, including 08-B. 08-B is new language regarding qualification for all ordained positions, which include Elder, Deacon and Minister of Word and Sacrament. 08-B is inclusive and speaks to obedience to Jesus Christ, scripture and our denomination's confessions as the guiding forces to those who are ordained, rather than the current language that excludes people based upon their sexual orientation.

The meeting was well-attended, and tension was palpable throughout the morning and lunch. Those in favor of the amendment, including Dan, were well-organized, had their remarks planned, and had worked to get out the "Yes" vote, while those opposed spoke haphazardly and resorted to offensive stereotypes and misconceptions. The voting was done by secret ballot, and the final tally was 125-53-1. Many thanks to fellow Trinity member Rev. Damayanthi Niles who also attended and voted, which allowed Trinity to contribute three "yes" votes on this important measure.

In further good news, 19 presbyteries that voted for the divisive and exclusive language that now mars our Book of Order have voted in favor of 08-B, and the overall trend has been strongly in favor of 08-B, with votes much closer this time around in many presbyteries. 87 presbyteries need to approve 08-B for it to become effective. With 120 presbyteries having voted, the current tally is 46-74 (with two of the "losses" being ties . . . Argh!). At this stage, it is unlikely that 08-B will pass in the majority of presbyteries, but you can feel that change is definitely on the way, and the next time this issue comes up it should be resolved in favor of inclusion. If you would like to keep up on the status of 08-B (prayers are more than welcome too), the Covenant Network's website is regularly updated with the results, and you can sign up for their e-mail newsletter to get almost instantaneous news of Presbytery votes: http://www.covenantnetwork.org.

- Nancy Wagoner

When I was a child I wanted to be Catholic. I wanted to be Catholic like my friend Mary Ellen who lived across the street from me. I envied her large family, her school uniform, her rosary and prayer book filled with holy cards, and her First Communion Dress, which was like a mini-bridal gown. How holy she was! I wanted to kneel in church and make the sign of the cross...surely that would make me feel holy. My sister Beth and I always wanted to be part of the "block rosary" when all the Catholics on the street gathered for a joint rosary once a month. Mary Ellen's brothers would go up and down the street yelling "BLOCK ROSARY" summoning all the faithful to kneel together and pray. (I'm sure there was a pre-set time and place, but this is how I remembered it!) Beth and I would stare in the windows as our friends and neighbors would recite as a mantra, "Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death, Amen." I knew that as well as I knew my name and address!

When I went to Hanley Jr. High School I was able to walk with Mary Ellen on the way to school. We would pass Christ the King where she and all the others in their uniforms would line up on the playground in perfect order. I liked wearing my navy blue skirt then, so I would look like one of the Catholic girls as we would walk down Midland. Of course, after 8^th grade that was all over, as Mary Ellen went to Visitation Academy, nowhere near Hanley Jr. High School. Still we saw each other on an almost daily basis even after we went to different high schools.

After high school, however, our paths took a more dramatic turn when she entered the convent at Visitation and became a nun. Now our friendship, which was a constant as we grew up together, would be changed forever. I could still see her...but only on the third Sunday of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. along with her family, and behind a grate. I wept the day she and her family drove away to the convent, her parents fiercely proud of their daughter, and me completely lost without my best friend.

I never felt that I was as wedded to my religion as she was. I had a strong faith and knew from Sunday School that Jesus was the Son of God, but I didn't feel it the way she did. Christmas Eve and Easter were always holidays that I loved because of what they meant...the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And Maundy Thursday with a shared meal and a Communion service commemorating Jesus' last supper with his beloved friends was always quite moving. But it wasn't until I experienced my first Good Friday Tenebrae Service that I truly felt that Jesus was a real person who walked this earth and actually was crucified and died a horrible death...and it was for me. The anthems and readings at that service and the slow extinguishing of candles, the last one being the Christ Candle we lit so joyfully at the Christmas Eve Service, and the crashing cymbal...they all affected me profoundly that evening. I finally knew what it was to be a faithful follower of this man, Jesus Christ, and I mourned his death with a new-found meaning. And while I look forward to Easter with all its Alleluias and lilies which look like the trumpets I love to hear on that day, and all the sights and sounds that re-echo new life, I also look forward to observing the Last Supper of our Lord and the Good Friday Service, both of which make Easter possible and all the sweeter.

I no longer have that desire to be Catholic that I had as a child. I don't like being told how to think and how to act and how to vote. And my friend Mary Ellen...she left the convent, is happily married with two sons, has difficulties with some of the rules of her Church, and we see each other lots, laughing over wonderful childhood memories.

Spirituality Center: This beautiful and contemplative center in the God's Creation area of the basement and is open on Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. (kids can come as early as 6:45 p.m. with parents for a tour of the stations) and on Sunday mornings through April 5th. You will find a number of stations that help you use your different senses to connect with God during this Lenten season.

April 5, Palm Sunday: A band made up of members will march from the corner of Delmar and Kingsland to the church to begin this service of a congregational reading of St. Mark's passion story. Part of the narrative is the Last Supper at which time there will be communion by intinction. One Great Hour of Sharing to be received.

April 9, Maundy Thursday: Share a simple meal and communion together at 6 p.m. in the Dining Room. There will be food and an activity for children as well.

April 10, Good Friday: We will have the Tennabrae service at 7:30 p.m., with readings and singing by the Trinity Choir.

April 12, Easter Sunday: Services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., with choir and brass. Easter text will be Mark 16:1-8. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

- Rev. Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

Trinity Church continues in a season of discerning as we seek God's will for our future. Building on our February small group dinners and March potluck discussion, we continue this congregational conversation with a new round of questions. We will have a church potluck lunch on April 26 to discuss our insights into these questions.

The 49th chapter of Isaiah was written at a time of crisis for God's people. They were living in exile in Babylon, away from everything that was comfortable and familiar. The future seemed bleak and they didn't know how best to move forward. Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke words of hope to the people (Isaiah 49:5-6):

And now the LORD says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength - he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

1. This passage recalls that God is the source of our strength and identity. In what ways have you seen God's faithfulness in the life of Trinity?

2. This passage is surprising because it doesn't imagine a future that is a restoration of the past; rather it imagines a future that is more profound than what has already happened. What greater ministry, what greater witness do you hear God calling Trinity to at this time?

If you cannot attend the lunch, you are encouraged to write down your responses and drop them off at church, mail them, or send them via email. Your input will help the Session as it leads the congregation into the future. Your bulletin inserts will also continue to offer guidance for different types of prayer to help with your discerning.

- Rev. Julie March, Minister of Equipping

Trinity members have a long-time and a long-term connection with One Great Hour of Sharing. Sixty years ago, moved by the world's suffering after World War II, a group of our nation's faith leaders gathered to seek a common response. One Saturday they broadcast an appeal inviting Americans to give generously in their houses of worship to help heal some of the world's grievous wounds.

Our world today calls for a renewed commitment to help meet both the increased physical needs of the world's poorest people and our own spiritual need to refocus on our real treasure. We are directly involved with One Great Hour of Sharing through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which responds to immediate emergencies, Self-Development of People, and the Presbyterian Hunger Program. In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that what we treasure is where we center our hearts. This offering will be received at Trinity on Palm Sunday, April 5. Let us respond with joy and generosity in giving to the One Great Hour of Sharing.

- Dan Anderson-Little

A challenge that every congregation faces in the 21^st Century is how to reach out so we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ with more people. In recent years, our worship attendance has either remained flat or has declined. One of the things this tells us is that our current worship service, while meaningful and valuable to our members, is not connecting in significant ways to people who are not part of our congregation. One of the ways to expand the impact of our ministry in our community and in the world is to create more access points for people who are not currently part of any congregation. Worship is one of the main access points that churches can create to connect with more people.

A team at Trinity has come together to plan and implement a new service that we hope will draw in folks who would not otherwise connect with our current Sunday worship service.

When will this service be held? We are presently planning a weekly service to be held on Saturdays at 5 p.m.

Where will it be held? The Dining Room. This space will enable us to have flexible set-ups and will make for a more informal atmosphere. (With both the time and the place, we will be open to change if another time or place proves to be more convenient for the groups of folks we are seeking to connect with.)

Who is the target audience? The under-churched (those who grew up in the church but never really connected), the over-churched (those who, in the past, had a strong, even over-involved relationship with a church and burned out), and the de-churched (those who left the church after a painful experience in the church). While these groups all have different experiences of church, they all share a background in the church.

Can current Trinity members attend this service? Yes, Trinity members are most welcome at this service, but it is important to remember that this new service is not being designed primarily for current members. Some Trinity members may discover that they prefer this service, but this service's primary purpose is to connect with folks who currently have no church connection.

Why a target audience? Why not just create a service that appeals to everyone? One of the things we have learned from our current Sunday morning service is that no one service appeals to everyone. Different demographic groups have different preferences and needs in worship. This new service identifies a group that we know exists in our area and seeks to address their preferences and needs. As we continue to connect with other groups in our community, we will need to consider designing additional worship experiences.

What will this service be like? At this point, we do not have a final design for the service, but we know some things about it. This new service will be informal and it will use a wide variety of musical styles (jazz, folk, gospel, rock, bluegrass, world music). While typically following a basic structure for worship, it will have the freedom to experiment with a variety of forms and it will rely on multimedia (movie clips, PowerPoint, visual arts, etc.). We imagine that the service will not use paper bulletins, but will "go digital" by using a projector. The service will seek to be highly experiential, participatory, image-driven, and communal.

When will this new service begin? At this point we are committed to launching the new service in mid-May.

How will this new service be publicized? We are still developing a marketing strategy, but it will use a combination of methods including web-based marketing.

Trinity is going through a time of financial challenge? Won't this be expensive? While there will be some costs associated with the new service (we will need to rent a sound system and a projection system), we can start this service with little money. We will use musicians who are already connected to Trinity, it will be led by current members and staff, and we will use other equipment that we already have on hand. As new people get connected to this service, we anticipate that they will contribute to Trinity so the service should, in time, have a positive impact on church finances.

Who is working on this new service? The service team already consists of a core of committed members and staff: Dan Anderson-Little, Lisa Bernhard, Paul Devine, Diane O'Brien, Kate Shoemaker, Daniel Anderson-Little, Connie Torretta, Vicki Carmichael, Bill Wade, Dawn Fleishman, Rick Jeter, Vickie Jeter and Karen Coletti. We still need many people to add their gifts and talents to this effort. If you would like to participate in this new service (we need people working on music, worship planning and leadership, logistics, tech, hospitality, and public relations) please contact Dan Anderson-Little or Lisa Bernhard.

- Cheryl Evans and Liz Nelson

Spring is in the air. It's time to start spring cleaning. Or perhaps you have been wanting to simplify and plan to downsize your belongings.Save your Stuff for our rummage sale on Saturday, April 18th, with proceeds helping to cover choir section leader costs so we can keep them past May. Bring items on Sundays and any Monday-Thursday 8:30-4:30 (with other arrangements as needed). The sale will be Saturday, April 18th from 8a.m.-1p.m. Tell friends and neighbors to mark their calendars to bargain shop and ask them if they also want to make donations. Contact Cheryl Evans or Liz Nelson (725-3840) if you want to help - we'll need many hands to make this work! Also, we will hold a "Trinity Member Preview Night" for shopping Friday, April 17th from 6pm-8:30pm.

- Bill Wade, CAGO, Interim Minister of Music - Organist

The two busiest seasons for church musicians in the Christian church are Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. This year is no exception. Vicki and I have worked closely with Dan and Julie to ensure that there is a continuity of message and focus as we plan music for this Lent and Easter. We have been able to use the exceptional talents of many of the members of Trinity Presbyterian Church as guest musicians and soloists. We have also been fortunate to have the presence of dedicated choir members, section leaders, and handbell ringers. Each person's sacrifice of time and talent has an additive effect and creates a music program that is greater than any of its parts. Someone asked how many notes will be sung or played this season? Thousands upon thousands, I'm sure. But what if some of them went missing?

Have you ever stopped to think that there are only twelve notes in an octave and that those twelve notes are repeated up and down the piano? How is it that so many different songs, anthems, symphonies, hymns, and refrains can be written using only twelve basic notes (ignoring octaves)? Daniel Levitin explains in his book This is Your Brain on Music that it is because, like the neurons in our brain, each note can be connected to those other notes in an exponential number of ways, octaves, rhythms, dynamics, tempos, and harmonic conventions. These variables make the few building blocks of just twelve notes virtually infinite in the possibilities we ultimately recognize as music. It would be impossible to decide to eliminate some of the notes on the piano, or decide not to have rhythm, or note values and still expect the same music. Likewise, every person that contributes to the music program is essential and we are grateful to every person, every note, and every effort made to bring a dynamic and responsive music ministry to fruition.

Finally, as I think of the impact just twelve notes can make in music, I am struck by the importance of Christ's twelve disciples and their impact through the ages, the 12 tribes of Israel, the structural importance of the 12 thoracic vertebrae in the spinal column, the 12 months in a year, 12 inches to a foot, 12 x 2 hours in a day, 12 x 5 minutes in an hour, 12 x 30 degrees in a circle, etc., etc.

Throughout this season of discernment and reflection, let us be mindful that everything we value depends on the important relationships of many diverse but essential components. What would happen if any were lost?

- Julie March

We know that friendship is vital to human beings. We were created to be in relationship with God and one another. In April the Equipping Ministry Team will propose a plan for Trinity members to become part of small groups that meet regularly, study and fellowship together, pray for one another and engage together in service both in and outside of the church. Watch for more information!

Yes, you read the title correctly - it says "stewardship." In April? Isn't that a word for later in the year, sometime after All Saints Day and before the Christmas candlelight coffee? It is not a typo or chronological mistake, but rather the start of the Stewardship Committee's effort to make generous giving a year round emphasis in the life of Trinity. God doesn't compartmentalize His grace towards us into a few months, and we shouldn't compartmentalize our response to that grace into a single end-of-the-year campaign.

Stewardship to our church is a duty. Our congregation is called to open our doors, to let our Trinity family in and to let God and our missions out into the community. But more than a duty, stewardship is a privilege. We have been blessed beyond measure in our lives, and our gifts to the church are just one of the many ways to share our joy and thankfulness. Stewardship is an important way that we can grow into our call to discipleship. Using our time, talents, and treasure in God's service deepens our connection with Christ and each other.

The annual meeting was a clear and pressing call to action. In what direction is our church being called, and how will we support that mission? The Stewardship Committee heard that call and strives to engage the congregation this year in a conversation about sharing our first fruits with God. But we need your help! Reach out to a member of the committee and let us know what you think about stewardship at Trinity. Join us in upcoming conversations and education series as we discuss where stewardship is heading in the future and think together about ways to help Trinity grow. Reflect on the stewardship testimonials you will hear during worship or read in this space each month, or answer the call and submit your own! We are looking forward to your input and good ideas, and we have no doubt that together we will answer God's call to faithful stewardship. - The 2009 Stewardship Committee: Jenn Clodi, Sarah Hotaling, Brian Muegge, Rob Peglar, Larry Pontious, Evan Reid

Do you like the refreshing beauty of flowers and plants? Do you love to garden? If so, you are invited to join The Green Team here at Trinity Presbyterian Church. This team chooses and orders flowers to beautify our sanctuary for worship, and helps to maintain two small flower gardens on the east side of the church building. Would you like to know more? Please call Luise Hoffmann or Julie March to become a part of this team.