June 27, 2010 sermon by Diane O'Brien
Diane is a member of Trinity Church and has been studying at Eden Theological Seminary.
[more]Requests have been pouring in (OK, exactly one request "poured in") for my song from the Restore & Renew celebration dinner June 4th.
Here's the audio (accompanied by Jim Shoemaker, Connie Torretta and George Van Hare):
http://www.trinityucity.org/media/TheElevatorDoneBrokeDown.mp3
...and here are the lyrics:
One sunny Sunday morning I was rising up to church
when the elevator stopped with a lurch.
Pushed the button - I got nuttin'! Doors were shut both fore and aft.
Looking for a lift, I got the shaft.
(refrain):
The elevator done broke down, Lordy.
The elevator done broke down.
Gotta schlep up the stairway to heaven now, 'cause
the elevator done broke down
Well, I hollered for Birdy. I hollered for Liz.
She came to my rescue and she said "Gee Whiz!
Don't worry, I know what to do. Things will be just fine."
She fired up her computer and she printed up a sign. It said:
(refrain)
Along came Dr. Dan, the handsome preacher man
Consulted some consultants and the Session made a plan
We'll restore and renew! Here's a colorful brochure!
A capital campaign so this refrain will not endure:
(refrain)
We're gonna restore and renew, Lordy.
We're gonna restore and renew.
Tri-ni-ty is still the place to be.
We're gonna restore and renew.
This summer, the Evangelism Commission is planning a number of events where we can have fellowship and fun together and talk about growth at Trinity.
Here is the schedule-watch for more details as we come closer to these dates:
July 13: Cycling for Growth
We will meet at Forest Park with our bikes and ride a circuit around the park. An event for all ages.
July 31: Brewing for Growth
Brewmaster Dave Nelson will brew a batch of beer and you can help. This event is in two part: come early if you want to help brew beer; come later if you want to sample a variety of beer. Adults only please.
July 28: Bowling for Growth
Recaputre a bit of Trinity's past when we had championship winning bowling teams! An event for all ages.
August 8: Cardmaking for Growth
Carrie Muegge will provide supplies and guidance as we make greeting cards and note cards. An event for ages 16 & up.
August 13: Zoo for Growth
Lions and tigers and bears-oh my! We will gather at the world-famous St. Louis Zoo and be delighted at God's sense of humor! An event for all ages.
Early morning study and prayer
Want more opportunities to learn about and discuss growth at Trinity. Wednesday mornings, beginning on July 21 and ending on September, we will gather at church at 6 am for Bible study and prayer. We will end our time by 7:15 am. Bagels, coffee and juice will be provided.
June 20, 2010 sermon by Dr. Dan Anderson-Little.
as mentioned in the sermon...
A Resource on High-Risk & Low-Anxiety
A few weeks ago, I (Dan Anderson-Little) saw a Presbyterian church's website that contained this phrase: "We are a high-risk, low-anxiety church because our hope is in Jesus Christ." I asked a lot of friends and colleagues how that thought struck them and here are their responses:
High Risk - Do we believe that what we do matters? If what we are about really matters to us and the world we will do whatever it takes to bring it about.
Low Anxiety - If we fail we fail, but not for lack of willingness or effort.
I'm not sure we are convinced what we do matters.
-Trinity Member
What do I need to be high-risk, low-anxiety?
I need to remember why I take risks-why-
I need to rest profoundly in God's profound love for me-
I need to follow my intuitions about where my gifts might be enlarged through practice and challenging efforts, but not force myself to do things that I think I "should" but which lead to my depletion. High-risk requires high-commitment to a vision of health for myself and the world.
- Presbyterian Pastor in Illinois
I've been very intrigued by this statement ever since you first raised it. At first, it was the "high risk, low anxiety" part that captured my interest. As I've thought about it, that mantra presumes (at least) two preconditions that I've found very intriguing. First, is the corporate commitment - if not enough subscribe, there will be high anxiety. As you know, just a few folks are capable of creating an atmosphere of very high anxiety. Second, "low anxiety" requires freedom to fail. It doesn't mean you try everything, or are random, but that you give yourself and others the ability to be unsuccessful (or even just moderately successful).
After a not insignificant time mulling over how we could create an atmosphere like this at Trinity (and in my family), I finally remembered the second half of the sentence - "because our hope is in Jesus Christ." While that may seem a bit simplistic (and I'm definitely not much beyond simplicity when it comes to theology), Jesus was the King of high risk/low anxiety throughout his ministry. We have example after example of Jesus doing socially and religiously unacceptable things because they were right or just, and doing them with (apparent) calm due to his confidence and faith in God.
-Trinity Member
Tough stuff. Personally, the high-risk component doesn't scare me; it's dealing with the others who are afraid of risk that creates my trepidation. It has so much to do with expectations.
When I was young, I had a lot of expectations about a lot of things. I think I actually believed I could control outcomes (foolish when dealing with people, I know). But after being dealt a lousy hand or two in life, I learned that holding onto those expectations was the very thing that caused my anxiety. And so, in letting go, I am exposed to more risk, but less fear. Yes, I was way outside my usual comfort zone, but it wasn't like twisting in the wind, which is what I had imagined. It was more like when, in the movie, Dorothy opened the door in Munchkin County and her whole world was suddenly in color for the first time. Scary, sure, but also enticing.
The old guard, the folks who almost always say something to the effect, 'Well, that's how it's always been done around here,' are more anxiety-producing to me than any new risk we might accept. With risk, sometimes people fear failure more than anything. For me, I fear apathy. I like change, and am challenged (in a good way) by taking risks. Monotony makes me weary.
After having kids who are on all ends of the cognitive spectrum, I've learned that it's really not the end of the world to stand out and be different. It's actually sort of liberating.
-Trinity Member
It seems to me that we have been well trained by our culture to strive to succeed and to get all that we deserve, mainly in material ways. We are like the rich young ruler, who walked away from Jesus sadly because he simply could not give up his wealth and possessions. This is a hard habit to break. It takes prayer and discernment (there's that word again) to be aware that there is another way, a better way.
Our hope is in Jesus Christ, and our trust is in God. Not because we have to, but because we know that we can believe God's promises and because if we listen and really pay attention, we will be led by Christ in the right direction. This is not easy. It can be frightening. But in order to trust, we must let go of our control of everything, open our minds to new ideas and ways of doing church and other things, and spend time in quiet to be receptive to God's guidance. We must listen to hear the call. Expecting to keep the status quo of our own little world, and the bigger world of the church is an unrealistic expectation.
- Presbyterian Pastor in St. Louis
I guess I see the saying a little differently. I'm not sure about the HIGH risk. I guess that's true in a heaven vs. hell discussion, but being Christian is truly about the journey and not the end result. I think of it more as a Low Risk, High Reward situation. Low risk being "what do you have to lose to be a Christian?". Not a whole lot. But you have an awful lot to gain, and peace and low anxiety is one of those things that can truly be enjoyed by a follower or someone that hasn't grasped the situation.
- Trinity Member
Risk is associated with the possibility of loss. Anxiety is associated with fear about the future. In loving God and believing in God's love for us, risk and anxiety fall away. What prevents growth? Those unquestioned stories about our motivations, our relationships, our faith. What are we risking if we don't understand ourselves? Growth is indeed a choice. Is the high-risk, low-anxiety model the way to Trinity's growth? I want to define and embrace what is real and not what should or could be. I want to develop a close relationship with God. I believe those are genuine steps to growth, individually and as a community of faith.
- Trinity Member
The concept is a twist on the "High Risk, Low Maintenance vs. Low Risk, High Maintenance" description of relationships, houseplants, home repairs, etc. For some, situations of high risk are exciting and invigorating. For others, they are anathema. Thus, it should be expected that the concept of High Risk growth will make some people nervous, while others will enthusiastically embrace it. Conversely, some people are content with low anxiety situations and find them often within their internal comfort zone. High risk and low anxiety seem to be polar opposites or at least opposing forces held in check by the push and pull of each component. Is it possible to have only one - maybe not.
Theologically, high risk could mean losing one's salvation, inspiration, individuality, uniqueness, independence, purpose. High anxiety for some might be anything that increases stress such as uncertainty, loss of control, vulnerability, dependency, etc. In biology, uncontrolled/unchecked growth = tumor. High risk occurs when there is a potentially bad outcome, but there is a potentially good outcome as well. Hopefully, the good outweighs the bad, and in such situations the risk is worth taking. Having low anxiety while trusting in a good outcome from a high risk situation requires faith.
- Trinity Member
My initial response is that it can be easy to articulate this, but far more difficult to live into it. I supposed that it is really about discipleship: if we believe that in life and death we belong not to ourselves but to God, then we can respond faithfully and live freely in culture saturated with anxiety. An example: shortly after 9/11, when the anthrax hysteria was reaching its zenith, I watched as our neighbor opened her mailbox clad in large, dishwashing style rubber gloves. She retrieved her mail with a large pair of barbecue tongs. What a bizarre, tragic scene. It illustrates the way anxiety grips our lives and forces our choices. When anxiety is high, our ability to take risks is pretty low. Anxiety is like kudzu: it grows and grows and grows and finally diminishes the thing it covers, halting its growth.
By then, the anxiety is too widespread to make any effective change short of napalm! But if anxiety is identified managed and identified, it could make it easier to take risks, to be more playful (to use Friedman's language). Maybe some amazing things might happen. Jesus, it seems, didn't spend a lot of time wondering if people were going to like him. He opened himself to others, trusting in the miracle of grace that makes new life possible.
To identify anxiety in a family situation ("how are we really going to get by with three kids in college?" to cite a personal example) or in a congregation ("Where are the new members?") I think are the first steps; reducing that anxiety certainly takes a lot of work. I wonder if any person or group is ever able to fully achieve high risks, low anxiety. I suppose that is where faith enters in. With our lives grounded in faith, we're freed to take risks. I'm not much of a risk taker, but fortunately I'm married to one who pushes me out of my comfort zones! I guess that means we're constantly negotiating where the risks are, and what it means to take them.
- Presbyterian Pastor in St. Louis
What do you need to do for that to be possible?
First, I need to be sure of who I am, and whose I am. If I am confident about that my capacity for risk is much higher, and with the certainty of love that I embrace I find anxiety running low.
What does it feel like when we are high risk and low anxiety?
I feel that I am in tune with something much larger then myself. Risk is really about being able to know who I am. Abraham Lincoln said it for me when I think about my role in leadership when he said: "I desire to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on the earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me."
What doors are opened to us when we are that way?
The doors that are opened are those that uplift personal integrity and personal commitment. I feel surrounded by the love of Jesus Christ when I think of the Celtic prayer: Christ above, Christ beneath me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ beside me, and Christ within me! When I feel surrounded in that way whatever doors are opening, I believe I will see them and embrace them
What doors are closed to us?
The doors of challenge, the doors of risk, and the doors of holiness stay open
The doors that close are the doors to imagination, the doors to possibility, and the doors to God's sacred surprise!
- Presbytery Executive
This is about fear. If we are more afraid of God than our parishioners, life is much less anxious but probably riskier in terms of the world. God loves us more than the world loves us and so I take the leap unafraid. I get anxious when I doubt that God can save me/has saved me.
- Presbyterian Pastor in Virginia
What do you need to do for that to be possible?
High Risk - One has to be aware that we are at risk (high/low) at all times - we control much less than we like to believe we do. I feel that more of us than not have been lulled into a false sense of security and live in that bubble because it feels safe and requires little courage. So, I think "high risk" makes you feel more alive and more aware of opportunities and the connectivity in the world... more aware of how everything works together and is influenced by either negative vs. positive energy (hatred/conceit/shortsightedness and etc. vs. an attitude of respect, acceptance and love)
Low Anxiety - Loving ourselves and believing that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves would seem to be a big part of what makes it possible to get up every morning when we are open to a high risk lifestyle. Hopeful, faithful and loving are the feelings that are associated.
What doors are opened to us when we are that way? - The opportunities are infinite - the challenge is recognizing them and embracing them without fear of losing what we believe we know and have.
What doors are closed to us? We will never know.
Living high risk feels totally counter-intuitive and it is fraught being pulled into the anxiety of your family and friends who think you are "crazy" but "don't get it". Then when a path you take does not work (or appears to not work in the NOW) - it is hard to raise your head and keep on going. So there is a lot of emotional management which I find exhausting. The Low Anxiety is much more difficult to experience than the High Risk - so those who really KNOW "they have a friend in Jesus" are the people I admire. That relationship with Jesus/God seems to be the key...
- Trinity Member
At first glance the phrase "high-risk, low-anxiety" seems an oxymoron to me, until I remember what makes it true and what makes it possible. Without God, high-risk/low-anxiety is completely impossible for me. I am high anxiety even when risk is low. For example, I don't like to make phone calls, especially to strangers or people I don't know well. If I think about it, the risk is really low in such a situation: the worst that might happen is interpersonal conflict with the person on the other end - in a phone call even physical risk is eliminated; and even then, whatever I'm calling about is not usually likely to provoke any kind of conflict. And yet, I have anxiety. But when I turn over the results of my life and remember that only the small daily tasks are the part that I'm really responsible for, I can do even high-risk things like running a 13-mile race, entering a professional competition, buying and maintaining a house, giving time and energy to 5 part-time jobs, and loving others to the best of my ability. When I keep God first in my heart and mind (and this is a discipline, not a platitude) I know that whatever the outcome, it will all be OK. That attitude- I guess we call that faith - annihilates anxiety.
- Trinity Member
I think of risk as a statistical evaluation of the probability of something occurring and anxiety as an emotion. Being able to do things that have a slight probability of happening-high risk-without concern-low anxiety-can be an act of a gambler, egotist, or fool. It seems to me Faith is confidence in things not able to be proven and therefore not related to risk.
- Trinity Member
A high-risk mind-set, it seems to me comes from focusing on the limitless capacity God has given us for creative thought and action. Often people ask: What would you try if you could not fail? My answer: NOTHING! You'd be a bump on a log watching the world go by because not failing means not trying anything. The more pertinent question: What would you try if you believed you could HANDLE the failures that will inevitably come your way? I think that is how you get to high-risk/low anxiety. Try BOLD new things, and be assured that, because God is with us, and within us, we can handle the setbacks. -A Christian in Illinois
I think that we pastors need to encourage, maybe even force more risk taking in the church for two reasons:
- Presbyterian Pastor in Arizona
In our world and in my life in particular, high-risk, low-anxiety sounds like an oxymoron. I can think about high-risk and even embrace the idea but not without a fair amount of anxiety so I guess that's where faith comes into play!
- Presbyterian Elder in Wisconsin
[more]Elder Mary McKown is organizing fellowship opportunities throughout the summer at the Lafayette Park Summer Concert Series. As she says, "It's fun. It's free. You don't need a reservation. You just show up with a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic dinner. The music starts and there is all manner of dancing around. It occurred to me that this fun would be enhanced if we could enjoy it with Trinity friends." Part of how we grow as a congregation is to grow in our connections together.
The plan: To gather at Lafayette Park on each concert date. Invite friends to join you. Nothing formal.....Mary will try to make it to as many concerts as possible and perhaps we'll have a Trinity sign. Look for each other when you arrive, and bring your lawn chair or blanket and picnic dinner. We'll have evenings of fun, dancing, fellowship and growth.
All concerts are on Saturday Night and begin at 6:00 pm:
While at Ghost Ranch, a Presbyterian conference center in Northern New Mexico, Dan will be attending a course entitled "Water & A Baptismal Life." This class is part of a multi-year series of classes whose goal is to construct justice-centered, Earth-honoring Christianities that promote interfaith efforts on common Earth issues. This year's focus is on a water "conversation" between the waters upon which all life depends and the sacramental "waters of life" of religious rites and ceremonies. Participants include experts in water law and climate change, national and international water policy and water issues in communities of the arid Southwest, on the one hand, and teachers of theology, ethics, and liturgy whose work includes a focus on water, on the other.
Thanks to everyone who has generously given what they can toward our capital campaign goal of $527,000. To date, we have received more than 85 pledges totaling $413, 122. We are still accepting pledges so that we can make our building more accessible, safe and welcoming. Construction will begin in late August.
Please join First Congregational Church in Clayton (6501 Wydown Blvd.) on Wednesday, June 23, at 7:00 p.m. for a presentation by the Missouri Foundation for Health. A free dinner will be available to registered participants at 6:00 p.m. with the presentation from 7-8:30p.m. Registration for dinner is required. RSVP by Monday, June 21, to parishnurse@firstcongregational.org or by calling the church office at (314) 721- 5060.
When you finish using Trinity space for evening meetings, please designate someone to turn off/up the air conditioning unit for that room. We have had units stay on all night, causing freezing and flooding. Thanks!
The Pridefest gay pride parade will be held on Sunday, June 27th at noon and 2nd Presbyterian Church has invited us to march with them. Last year a number of us had a fun and moving time marching in support of the gay community and as an illustration of our Statement of Welcome. If you are interested in coordinating details with 2nd Presbyterian Church, please let Liz know in the office as soon as possible. If you want to march, let Liz know as well.
...of household items as you do your spring cleaning! See our posters for needed items and call the office to make drop-off or pick-up arrangements. Individuals moving from homelessness into housing need furniture, linens and kitchen items and appliances to make a house a home.
Don't get me wrong, one of the reasons that I'm pledging to the capital campaign is because I think it's important that we have an elevator. The main reason I agreed to head up the advance gifts portion of the campaign is because my dad needed an elevator to get to church after his stroke. First with a walker and then in a wheelchair, it was a challenge just to get Dad in the car, let alone up to the sanctuary. But Dad never wanted to miss church and it was one of the few things he was able to enjoy up to last few months of his life.
But the other reason that I support the capital campaign is that I see it as an opportunity to renew our commitment being a witness to God's love in U City. Our church isn't perfect and just replacing the elevator, making repairs, and sprucing up the building won't solve all our problems. We have an aging building that will continue to need repairs and, like many mainstream churches, our numbers are slowly dwindling. It's easy to get discouraged and wonder why we are doing this at all, particularly in this economy. But if you look at it from another angle, we are very blessed to have a building that is paid for and in a location that works well not only for our congregation but our food pantry, the community music school and other community groups. We have a vibrant and diverse congregation with many gifts and talents and a strong commitment to being a welcoming faith community. We have a lot to build on and I, for one, believe that Trinity has a promising future.
Comments that I've heard about the campaign range from, "why are we spending so much time and effort on the campaign when the need for an elevator is so obvious?" to, "why do we need an elevator at all?" Obviously, there are lots of different opinions on what Trinity needs and what it most important. And all those diverse ideas and opinions are important. But it is also important that we move forward together as a faith community. Pledging to the capital campaign is one way of affirming our commitment to continuing together as a body of believers and proclaiming God's presence in our lives. I hope you will prayerfully consider joining me in giving generously to this campaign.
[more]As we work to fully embody the part of our welcoming statement that says, "We welcome into membership all who profess faith in Jesus Christ without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, sexual orientation, disability, or any other human condition," we must consider how to make the building, our worship and our activities accessible to the diversity that is God's people.
The small size, code violation and recent breakdown of the elevator that precipitated our current capital campaign has sparked lively conversation about inclusion, welcome and accessibility. The new ADA-compliant elevator, automatic door at the lower Kingsland Ave. entrance and accessible bathroom that will be a part of our capital campaign are the first steps to making the building accessible and welcoming to those with physical disabilities. Some of our older members have been struggling with the stairs while the elevator has been out. A member of the community who wanted to attend our education series on Islam could not attend because of the lack of access. But what else needs to be done to the physical plant? And what about our worship? Our activities together?
Do you have a disability (seen or unseen) that makes it hard to participate in the life of the church? Or do you have ideas for how we can make worship more inclusive of those who have physical, mental, or cognitive challenges? These are the questions we will wrestle with on our Commissions and at staff meetings this year and beyond. As Elder Sharon Christopher passionately said during one of our many Session meeting discussions about actions needed to move Trinity into the future, "Running this capital campaign is going to be the easy part. I fear we could finish the campaign projects and think we've done the 'hard work,' but the real hard work comes after, when we must build on the foundation that the projects create." Please talk with Dan if you would like to be a part of these conversations.
The elevator is our starting point. And it does not escape me that that our Restore & Renew capital campaign ends in the season that also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act (July 26, 2010).
Have you been interested in trying a B&B small group, but not able to commit to a full 12 weeks? Are you missing the deep spiritual thinking, discussion and bonding with caring and interesting people? The Trinity Equipping Team ministry is creating a new, six-week round of B&B's (Bonding and Bridging) small groups that will begin the middle of June.
In a B&B you will meet together weekly, study together, and have time for making new friends and catching up with old friends. You will also serve together in a mission project of your choice during the six-week period. Joining a B&B is a great opportunity for sharing and fellowship, growing in faith together, studying and discussing interesting and meaningful topics, and serving as a group in God's world by serving God's people.
Opportunities to sign up for a B&B small group will begin May 30, but if you have questions please don't hesitate to contact me at juliammc@sbcglobal.net.
High School students' Daniel Anderson-Little, Laura Biggs, and McCoy Edmonds, together with youth from St. Mark Presbyterian Church, will be serving on a summer mission trip, June 4-11. Led by Andrew and Dawn Fleishman and Rev. Susan Hayes, this team will spend the week in Mobile, Alabama, serving in homeless shelters, food and clothing centers, and working on building projects for those in need.
Have you ever considered donating a musical offering to our worship services? If so, we need you NOW! Do you have musical talent or ability that you are "hiding under a bushel"? Don't hide any longer, we need you NOW!
This summer we need to provide music in worship for 13 Sundays between June 13 and September 9 while the Trinity Choir is on their summer break. This is a perfect opportunity for you to dust off your flute (or trombone, or bongos, or viola . . . ), get out that old solo, and get your "chops" back. Or put together a new ensemble!
Ministers of Music (MoMs) Vicki Carmichael and Dr. Bill Wade, CAGO are happy to provide any support or input you need to prepare and present your musical offering. Please contact them for further information or to commit to a Sunday this summer: vcarmichael44@gmail.com or drwewade@gmail.com or call the church office (314) 725-3840. Don't delay! Ask God what you can do to help and contact your MoMs right away.
As the Session drafted the 2010 Operating Budget for Trinity Church, the elders decided to begin a process of using more and more of the annual Endowment Contribution for mission projects. The decision grew out of our congregational discernment process last year when over and over members of this church what mattered most to us was mission. The Session's ultimate goal is not use the Endowment for general operating expenses, but given financial realities, this will be a process that this enacted over a span of a few years. But the Session did decide that in 2010, it would allocate half ($40,000) of the Endowment contribution for mission. The Session has now made two significant allocations.
These are exciting ways that we are expanding our mission. And best of all, we still have another $20,000 to allocate for this year.
-Liz Nelson, Building Manager
Lest you think the handful of projects that make up the Restore & Renew campaign are the only repairs happening at Trinity, here's an update. Over the past year, the Facilities Commission (Reed Evans, chair, Mark O'Bryan, Bob Little, Jim Person, Birty Hodgson, and myself) has studied information from our energy audit of 2008 and the building report prepared by George Sallwasser, Bob Little and Tom Wilhite and has prioritized projects to address for the immediate and long-term functioning of our building. These projects are funded from our Building Repairs and Maintenance budget line and are separate from the projects of the current capital campaign.
While it is impossible to anticipate and budget for all repairs in a given year (witness the $20,000 air handler of a few years ago!), we tend to immediate needs, while addressing those bigger projects that will help us maintain our lovely-but-aging building. Since we have committed as a congregation to stay in this location and grow here as the body of Christ, here are some recent projects that have been completed, as well as some that are underway or about to begin:
Completed:
Current:
Upcoming:
There are many other projects to complete over the years (securing and protecting sanctuary windows, updating our aging air conditioning system, updating our lighting as current parts and technology become obsolete, further tuckpointing) and your yearly pledges give us the budget to work with each year. Reed and the rest of Facilities welcome your questions and even your participation on the Commission.
We get used to seeing buildings and rooms a certain way and can find it hard to imagine them as ever different from the way they currently are (unless you were here for the renovations, of course). Such was the case when I went digging through piles of old Trinity photos and documents to create the Restore & Renew campaign display (in the display case in the corner of the sanctuary by the Narthex).
I was struck by how many renovations the Trinity building has gone through since its dedication in 1927. I felt encouraged to know that Trinity members in earlier times made big decisions to dramatically alter the building for changing needs, future plans, or the need to update: The entire sanctuary was renovated in 1970; the Chapel was changed from traditional rows of white pews to a multi-use space with a flexible seating style in 1995; the Dining Room (and the Chapel above) used to be a 2-story gymnasium, until the merger in 1953 called for a renovation to the 2 levels we have today; and the kitchen was renovated in 2002 despite the question of whether it was being used enough to warrant an upgrade (ask cooks Jim Person or Dave Nelson-or their lonely spouses!-if that gamble paid off). The nursery, front stairs, and God's Creation areas are also examples of renovations over the years.
I had fun gathering pictures of most of these renovations and juxtaposing them with the drawings and details of our anticipated repairs and renovations of this capital campaign. Take a peek at the display case to see our long and rich history of looking forward and sometimes even taking risks to live into God's future for us. Then prayerfully consider how you can help the Restore and Renew campaign on June 6th.
To all the wonderful Presbyterian Women -
Thank you, thank you, thank you, What a marvelous surprise and what a fun filled evening we shared. Great food, great cake, and the gifts were such a pleasure to receive. You are all a treasured blessing and I love everyone of you. God's love to all of you.
- Sue Young
A special note of gratitude to all the communion servers at Trinity. You know who you are! Month after month, you are always generous with your time. Sometimes you are called upon weeks in advance, sometimes at the last minute - regardless, you always serve cheerfully. I hope you all know how significant you are to this ministry as you serve God's people here at Trinity. Thank you all for your dedication and devotion.
- Elaine Pontious
Eighth Graders Carl Sechrist, McCoy Edmonds, Clayton Higginbotham, and Laura Biggs were confirmed May 16. They wrote their own Affirmation of Faith:
We affirm faith in the Trinity; God, three in one.
The Trinity is known and revealed through love.
We are all created in the image of our God, our Creator.
God is neither he nor she - God is all.
God forgives, God protects, God blesses.
God is love.
Jesus is both human and divine.
While on earth, Jesus showed us the way to live life.
We try to live by Jesus' example.
Jesus is love.
The Holy Spirit is God's continual presence with us.
The Holy Spirit is like a rush of wind, lifting us up
when we are down and carrying us on.
The Holy Spirit is love.
Mound Ridge retreat: August 27-29
Church Picnic: Sunday, September 12th , after worship
Memorial Park by the YMCA off Brentwood Blvd.
People are invited to help coordinate both events- talk with Liz in the office for Mound Ridge (725-3840) and Cheryl Evans for the picnic.