This being my first Mission Trip, the experience was completely new to me. I developed some of the greatest friendships possible while I also enriched my faith and discovered my own path of spirituality and life.
Rarely in life do you find friends that constantly support you and make you laugh, but in this last week I have found five which I thank God for dearly. Many of us made the jump from classmates once a week to a 24/7 friendship. Between the 6 of us youth members we established a bond that is bound together by inside jokes, nicknames, and similar spiritual beliefs.
Through our discussions that followed our trip topic, Going the Distance, I realized many new things about my own journey of life. The twists, turns, bends, and intersections of my path of memories became clearly defined and I now look ahead to the horizon of my path knowing God is present always in my knapsack of faith and necessities. This trip was one of the most enlightening times of my life.
This was my first mission trip. I learned a lot about hard work and my faith. I made new friends and explored my relationship with God. I wouldn't trade this trip for anything. Working at Crisis Ministries was one of the most influential experiences of my life. It made me realize that while someone may be homeless they are still a person. The hands on experience of working there gave me a better realization of that. Working with Habitat for Humanity was equally beneficial, I got to help out someone and I got to use power tools which is always a plus.
Overall this trip was great and not only improved my relationship with the other mission trippers, but also with God.
Friday night June 20th, our last night together on the 2003 mission trip to Charleston, SC was another "mountain-top" experience for me. Mark and I were each given a wonderful gift- a framed, personalized collage of pictures from our past mission trips spanning 5 and 4 years respectively. I choked at the thought of receiving a "thank you" gift for "sacrificing" my vacation time or time away from consulting and jewelry design. This trip like my previous 3 was a gift not a sacrifice! Being in the presence 24/7 with Trinity's Sr. High Youth reinforced my faith in the future.
We explored our individual and collective faith journeys and how wisdom, strength, and courage carry us forward. Working together at Crisis Ministries and Habitat for Humanity let me experience the values, team work, enthusiasm, energy, focus, humor, faith, humanity and contagious love for life and God embodied in Porter, Sarah, Kirsten, Griffin, Kate, and Claire. We are in good hands! Our youth are fantabulous!
"Simply Amazing"
These two words sum up the entire mission trip. "simple" words "amazing" group. These young adults are truly amazing, and an inspiration.
Hard work and lots of fun were constant throughout the entire week, which related perfectly with this years theme "Going the Distance".
Traveling our faith journey is a life long experience often times, the journey is difficult with many ups and downs. Going the Distance requires strength, courage, and wisdom also part of this year's mission trip theme. This week our youth learned the value of hard work and that it requires that to be successful on your journey, youth need to be both mentally and physically strong. Secondly, it takes courage to act on your faith. It takes courage to publicly say yes to God and to commit yourself to being a Christian, serving others, and living God's word. Finally, it requires wisdom to interpret the scriptures and the real meaning of life.
These youth have realized that the journey can be long and difficult, but is much easier with the support of each other, support from our family and friends, support from our church and most of all God. Through faith we have everlasting support and love from God.
This group can't wait for our next opportunity to get together. They truly love being with one another from sun up till often times past midnight, they worked hard, played, cried, prayed, sang, and cared for one another. I too, can't wait for our next opportunity to get together.
Thank you to Porter, Claire, Kate, Sarah, Griffin, and Kirsten. Thanks to David, Katie, and Lindsay, who had prior engagements and couldn't attend this years mission trip. Looking forward to welcoming Maggie, Tyler, and Kari to next year's group.
Special thanks to Janet and Barb for their love and leadership. Thanks to our entire Trinity family who make this trip possible. "Simply Amazing"
Wow! My first Mission Trip! I didn't really know what to expect but I don't think I could've expected any better! (Well, maybe if we were going to Honolulu...) Charleston is gorgeous and I'm so glad we were able to work there. Our first day we worked with Crisis Ministries. I was so glad we were able to help people face to face and actually see the results of what our work did to people. Even though it was just giving them a meal because they may not know when their next one would be.Now I'm aware of the preparation that goes into feeding 200 people.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we hung doors and put in base boards with Habitat. We were blessed to work at the same worksite and view our progress: over the 3 days we hung 15 doors!It's a very time-consuming process! *wink* And now I know how to hang a door!!!
I'm so glad that I came on this trip. Not only for a chance to help others or an afternoon at the beach, but for the opportunity to grow closer to God and my Youth Group.
The mission trip to Charleston, SC was amazing. I was nervous about going this year because our group was so small and most mission trippers from last year weren't coming. Now I can say without a doubt that I love this group. The soup kitchen (Crisis Ministries) was the most meaningful experience for me. We were right there serving food face to face with those we were helping. I was the second to last server and would tell them to have a nice day. It felt so good if it even made one person smile. Some even told me, and I quote, "have a nice day to you too baby girl." That was the best feeling. Habitat for Humanity was also very significant. I hung doors for three days. I didn't know how complicated it is to hang a door.
I will never forget the experiences I had and the friendships made!
I went into this year's mission trip with a bit of hesitation, not quite sure what to expect from the members of our mission trip team. It had been a very rough year for attendance. I think that all nine of us had been in the same room together only once before we left on the trip.
By now you would think I'd have learned to never doubt how God works in and through our youth. They are absolutely amazing! I have never before seen a group bond so quickly. They did everything together - work, play, laugh, sing, cook, clean, and even talk into the wee hours of the night together!
It was fun to watch them grow individually in their faith and also corporately as a group. I hope the relationships they developed that week on the mission trip, with each other and with God, will help sustain them through the ups, downs, twists & turns of their life journeys.
Following the morning's Pentecost worship service and the first weavings into our "Fabric of Faith" by the Roman family, Bob and Sue Young, and Lester Bruns, the church's front steps were transformed into a stage. Famed St. Louis group Fairchild, with Trinity member Connie Toretta as its lead singer, graced us with their music.
Our thanks to all who worked together to bring us a lovely start to the year-long anniversary celebration, and to the Endowment Fund, which underwrote the costs of the event.
See pictures of the festivities in our online photo album.
As most of you are aware, my family is in the process of moving to South St. Louis County. This does not mean a change for my work at Trinity, just a change of address for the five of us. A couple of weeks ago, we had contracts both on our house and on a new house (just south of Crestwood). But the contract on our house fell through and so we had to give up the new house. We are now putting our house on the market (why do we wait until we are moving to do all those jobs we always promised ourselves?) and are looking for a new house again.
The journey that Linda and I have been on which has resulted in our moving has been an important one for us, and I want to share some of our insights with you. This past year, our family life has been extremely stressful with three children in three different school programs. (Daniel is in a program in the Lindbergh District, Jacob is in University City schools and Leah is in a private preschool). Over the course of 9 months (and over 6,000 miles of driving), we realized that we had to do something different. The one option that we did not want to discuss was moving - it is an enormous disruption, we love our house, and we love living in U. City.
As we talked about what we should do, we finally got to the point where we first defined our values - what is most important to us as individuals and as a family? We concluded that a cohesive family life is of paramount importance. Where we lived, and what house we lived in, while important, was not as important. At the same time, we realized that we are house poor. We can afford to live in our house, but only if we give up other values, including tithing (giving 10% of our income to the God who gives us everything). For the first twelve years of our marriage we tithed and we have been greatly blessed, and have always felt rich. When we stopped tithing (because we were living beyond our means), we were frustrated and felt impoverished. And so we concluded, by moving to a house that we can truly afford and into a school district that all our children can attend, we can fulfill our two highest values: family cohesiveness and financial integrity.
When the contract on our house fell through we were greatly disappointed. The contract on our house meant that we didn't have to put our house on the market and we loved the house we were going to buy. It seemed like it was meant to be. After a couple of days of feeling sorry for ourselves, we regained energy to move forward as we again focused on the values that got us here in the first place. We know we will eventually sell our house, and even though we loved the house we thought we were going to buy, we realized that this move is not about any specific house or any single outcome, but about moving toward greater faithfulness. We appreciate your continued prayers and support as we seek to be a healthier family and to grow closer to God.
When there is crisis or a joyful occasion within our own families, our natural response is to come forward with hugs and kind words and food. Within our church family there is just the same feeling. When a new baby comes home, or a loved one is in the hospital or has just come home, a meal brought in can be very helpful, so that the most important task of tending the baby or patient can be done without worrying about preparing a meal.
Seeing this as a way to keep in contact with our church family, the deacons have already taken meals to several of our members in those kinds of circumstances. Three to four meals are kept ready in the church freezer with directions on how to reheat and a list of ingredients on each dish. These meals usually consist of a casserole, a vegetable, and dessert and/or bread or rolls. The food is packaged in disposable dishes so that the recipient needn't worry about returning them.
If you know of anyone who could use a meal, contact Charlotte Landrum at imcharley@sbcglobal.net or the Trinity office (725-3840). If you'd like to provide a meal, contact Jean Merson at: jmerson@pop.networkusa.net or the office.
This is another way to show our love as members of Trinity's family.
"Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart." The Lord has called us to build a home, and its walls and roof are already up.
As a partner in Interfaith Builders, Trinity members are building a Habitat for Humanity home in Hillsdale. We are building for and with Harriet Carter, her 12-year-old son Earl, and her friend Tree. Workers from all four churches are there every Saturday. The next big item to build is the stairway to the side entrance and cellar, and we will begin installing siding on June 14.
Volunteers can sign up in the dining room every Sunday to work. The new Interfaith Builders tee shirts are available for just $5.00. We need Builders, of course. We also need Photographers, helping to record build events for the Carters and for the four churches, Volunteer Coordinators who send reminder postcards and call Substitute Builders from a list. We especially need Volunteer Coordinators to work July 6 - July 19. We also need Crew Leaders who can direct small groups of volunteers. Good leadership skills are more important than building experience, which can be provided by the house leaders.
Your contributions have paid Trinity's share of the sponsor fee. We needed to raise at least $7,500 of new money from our congregation and friends. At this writing we have $8,093, plus an object to be appraised and sold. Thanks to all who gave so generously.
Trinity prepared lunch for all the workers on May 31. Ours was the best so far! Thanks to the Schoberleins and the Sallwassers for their outstanding work.
In worship on June 1st, 2003 recipients of the Scholin/Weems Scholarships were announced. This Fund was begun in 1977 by Ray and Ginny Scholin after the tragic death of their son Jimmy. After Todd was killed, Ann and Don Weems requested memorials to the fund, renamed the Scholin/Weems Scholarship Fund, honoring two beloved members who shared so much of their youth within this community.
As of June, 300 awards have been given totaling about $296,000.00! The gifts are given with no strings attached and are deeply appreciated. While the recipients may not have known Jimmy and Todd, they know that Trinity Church cares for them.This fund is a stunning example of the power of love and an enduring tribute to Jimmy and Todd.
This year's recipients and their colleges are: David Rand, St. Olaf College; Kristen Grant, Dartmouth College; Shanthi Philips, University of Richmond; Shobha Philips, University of Minnesota; Franklin Kelton, Washington University; Megan Merritt, Monmouth College; Julianne Campbell, Texas Christian University; Justin Thompson, Grinnell College; Meena Philips, University of Missouri at Rolla; Jeff Roman, Vassar College; Elizabeth Norgard, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Rebecca Santoro, Brown University.
A memorial service for long-time Trinity member Virginia Storer (1913 - 2003) was held on March 29. So many of Virginia's former students and their parents have paid tribute to her special influences. During the service, her niece read the letter below, which Virginia had written to the superintendent of the Ladue school district.
Why Am I Teaching Third Grade When I Have a Masters Degree in French From Columbia University?
This question has been asked and, as briefly as possible, I shall try to answer... When my class graduated from Washington University there were few jobs open, especially for teachers; therefore I was glad to take a position in a private school (Community School) as an assistant in kindergarten and as a teacher of first year French to the fifth graders. I was proud to be earning all of fifty dollars a month the first and sixty dollars a month the second year.
After two years there, I had the opportunity to go to Ritenour District as a permanent substitute for a teacher who was ill. I had fifty-four first graders, none of whom had had kindergarten. Discipline was easy, however, for these youngsters were so happy to be in school and so respectful of a teacher.
At the middle of the year, I went to Ferguson where I taught first grade and where later I was asked to set up a "Coaching Room" for Remedial Reading. This was a most interesting experience. One interesting case was a bright child who was having reading problems because, as we discovered, he was reading from right to left. Another very large boy in sixth grade was unable to read even in primers. He was in an orphanage and had many early morning chores to do. By Christmas, he was reading in a 3rd grade textbook -- but then a relative from another state came and took him away. There were many such cases which I wish I could have followed through their later school life.
One day a Dr. Millard Bell came to interview me. Ladue was building a second school which was to be ready in the fall. So in September 1939 I came to Ladue School (now Reed School) as a third grade teacher. Because the Ladue District seemed to want teachers with Master's Degrees and was bringing in several teachers who had Master's from Columbia University, I decided to go there to get my graduate degree. I chose to get it in French, which I loved, and which I felt should be started with children as early as possible. Along with the French, I took some Education courses, even Grade School Music Teaching, and - of all things and just for fun - a course in Interior Decorating (which incidentally was an eye-opener as to the strange ways of some creative artists in the field).
One of my earliest and probably one of my most interesting experiences in Ladue was when Royal Portable Typewriters were brought in - one for each child - and I was to teach typing to third graders. I who had always typed with my own fingering method was now to teach the correct fingering! It was challenging and very interesting. By using the aids which the company supplied, we went to work. It was quite a success, the children learned very readily, and creative writing improved by leaps and bounds. Upper grades then used the machines, things happened, and in a year or so we had few typewriters left.
Here I still am in third grade. When the high school opened, I had the opportunity to teach high school French, for which I was qualified However, by this time I had come to feel that third grade is a very important level and that I so thoroughly enjoyed these children that I decided to stay here. I do feel very strongly that now, if ever, these children should be helped to develop self-confidence, self-reliance, faith in their own decisions, a good attitude toward themselves and a real sense of responsibility to others in a group or a society. All this, as well as academic achievement, is of utmost importance. In fact without the first, the academic achievement loses real meaning.
Maybe I haven't been too ambitious, but I have been happy in my work and have felt I was contributing something of real worth in this world.
The Summer Choir sings on July 6 and August 3. Anyone who would like to sing is welcome to join us! We will rehearse an easy anthem at 8:30 a.m. and sing in worship later that morning.
If you've not met Anna, she is my beautiful 21-year-old daughter who has withstood many surgeries - two brain surgeries before she was 16 days old - and who despite dire predictions can walk and talk, but functions on about a three-year-old level.
There were ten people due at our door momentarily for a Saturday night dinner when Anna decided it was an appropriate time for her to "throw herself away". She was mad at the world, and since I was the closest person in that world, I must be the cause of her frustration.
I admit I was trying to hurry her a bit - something nobody in his right mind does (but there were ten people coming and I thought it wouldn't be too much to ask for her to put on a clean shirt. I also admit I was getting a bit impatient. I did have potatoes to whip. (They were boiling frantically on the stove downstairs.) The table wasn't completely set and I couldn't remember if I had turned on the coffee maker.
She was not going to put on a clean shirt; in fact, she was going to take off all of her clothes. First, she was going to throw all of her pillows at me. As I ducked them, I heard myself say, "Very well, when you are ready to have some help, I will return." I amazed myself at my calm. I went downstairs amidst her screams of protest and flying clothes.
I quickly got the potatoes drained and into the mixing bowl about the time the first guest arrived. The shrieking upstairs had to be explained, of course. "I'm sorry," I said, "Anna is having a twit. She is stomping around upstairs stark naked. If we ignore her, she will calm herself down." Again, I couldn't believe those words came out of my mouth so calmly.
As the guests continued to arrive, the shrieking and stomping diminished. I prayed quietly that she would actually stay upstairs until I could get some clothes on her. When Brian arrived, laden with books, papers, and a few last-minute groceries, I slipped upstairs to see in what state Anna would now be found.
She was sitting on the edge of her bed, sniffling, while her underwear whirled triumphantly on the blades of the ceiling fan. Her socks were draped over the books on the top shelf of her bookcase, her shirt lounged over her teddy bear's ears, her trousers hung limply over the footboard of her bed. I had all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. She was such a pathetic little creature at that moment! I quickly went into the bathroom to get a cool washcloth to wash her tear-stained face and to give me time to compose myself. She had exhausted her anger and was almost docile about getting her face washed. As I helped her into her clothes, she meekly helped and than gave me a huge hug as I smoothed down her tee-shirt.
The twit was over; she was ready to greet our guests. I gathered my shattered nerves and said a prayer of thanks for the gift of calm I had been given. I dared not think what might have happened otherwise.
The gift of calm is perhaps one of the most treasured gifts we are given whether we are mothers, professors, or presidents of large corporations. It is most treasured when it is given at unexpected moments. When someone is dealing with the unpredictable, as I was then, being calm is the only way the story could have a reasonably happy ending. When children or workers are unreasonable it is easy to get caught up in the frenzy of emotions and consequently end up with everyone out of control. Instead of clothes flying, unintended words fly.
Thank you, God, for guiding our hands, hearts, and minds through the "twits" of life. Keep our hearts open to your grace. Amen.
Occasionally the Deacons get requests for rides to church on Sundays or to other church activities. Perhaps a long-time member no longer drives or no longer drives at night. Perhaps a temporary injury or an incapacitated car is a problem. Keith and I have discovered that sharing rides to church is a wonderful way to get acquainted with another church member we might not have known otherwise, and we are much the richer.
If you are willing to provide rides, either on an episodic or regular basis, please call Karen Mayberry at 721-0454.
If you are interested in ringing handbells but have never had the opportunity, come for a fun, informal introduction to these unique musical instruments on Saturday, August 9. The workshop is open to teenagers (Grade 6 and up) and adults. No previous experience is needed! You'll learn all the basics - from note-reading to how to hold a bell. The workshop will begin at 10:30 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. We'll work on a short, easy piece and share it with the congregation on the following Sunday morning, August 10.
If you would like to attend or have any questions, please contact me at the church or send an e-mail to paul_tpc@swbell.net. This promises to be a fun and exciting time. I hope that many of you will join us!
I would like to express my deepest thanks to the members and friends of Trinity for your continued support of our music ministry. For the second year in a row, the Psalm 150 offering has exceeded $4,000, and donations are still trickling in. This fund will support exciting and diverse musical activities in the coming year; it is also a wonderful resource that we will use to bless others in our community and our world. Thank you, again, for your overwhelming generosity.