On Sunday, August 17, Trinity Presbyterian Church will host folksinger and songwriter Steve Eulberg for an intergenerational concert. This is a great time for young and old to enjoy some toe-tapping, sing-along music together.

Steve Eulberg is an ordained Lutheran pastor who now works as a full-time musician. Steve's music covers a wide range of styles including traditional folk, Celtic, old-time, bluegrass, and multicultural (African-American, Latino, Asian, European). Using a wide range of instruments (acoustic and classical guitar, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, mandolin, percussion, piano, recorders, bowed psaltery, and didgeridoo), he helps the listener experience God's presence and moves the listener to work for peace and justice.

The concert on August 17 will begin at 3:00 p.m. It will be interactive and will appeal to music-lovers of all ages. After the concert we will have an ice cream social. Plan to attend and invite your friends! Steve will also provide much of the music during Sunday worship on the 17th.

In addition to his vast musical experience (which includes many prizes and awards at various folk festivals), Steve and his wife Connie are the Godparents of Daniel, Jacob, and Leah Anderson-Little. Steve and his family live in Fort Collins, Colorado. If you'd like more information about Steve, check out his website at www.owlmntnmusic.com.

- Paul Vasile, Minister of Music

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!

- Liz Nelson

Are you a good listener? Would you like to give back to the community? I coordinate the OASIS Person to Person peer counseling program for older adults And provides training for persons 50 or older who want to listen, encourage and offer support to other older adults who are coping with normal life transitions such as retirement, loss, and loneliness. You will receive ongoing supervision. OASIS also offers training to enable you to help family caregivers assess needs, organize their time and coordinate assistance from family, friends and professionals. (Does not involve providing respite care yourself). The training is 6 sessions, Mondays and Thursdays, August 18-September 8; 1-4 p.m. at the OASIS at the Center of Clayton. Call me, 314-862-7571, ext.1 for more information.

If you are an older adult wishing to be paired with a peer counselor, please call 314-995-8617 and a coordinator will return your call.

- Chuck Attarzadeh

Dan Anderson-Little recently received this email from Chuck Attarzadeh, who is in Dili, East Timor. Chuck was one of several Washington University students who joined us for worship and also worked nearly every Saturday on Trinity's first Habitat for Humanity house.

Dear Doc. Dan,

First of all, how are you doing?

I actually did join the Peace Corps; it wasn't all just an elaborate ploy to make you think I was moving so I could sleep in on Sundays. I am in Dili and will swear into the service of the US in about two days. I have been spending the last three months going to language and technical training so that when I go to my post I will be able to ask, "where is the bathroom / hole," or "if I look like I am about to die from malaria please get help" - you know just the basics.

I was looking at the Trinity web site and seeing all the familiar faces working on another house brought back memories of a summer not too long ago when it was all as easy as pounding in a few 16 penny nails. I thought I was going to be handed a hammer and given some vague direction as to where to build the...you know...stuff. That was all until someone opened their mouth and said the d-word. DEVELOPMENT. Yeah, it makes total sense but it also makes me rethink any and all motives as to what to build, where to build it, what the materials should be, who is being employed, if the proper people/gods were asked permission...etc. Oh well, if it wasn't interesting I would probably be complaining that life is dull.

I have been living in a small village about 15 km up in the hills from Dili with a family of four. The father is only two years older than me, and the mother only a year so it is more like hanging out with a brother than having a father figure. It is rather horrifying to have my boboo (older brother as I call him) recount the destruction he has seen in his lifetime, the death of so many relatives and disappearance of so many friends. Often the stories are told with a straight face or with a smile so when they were told to me the first few nights I was at site I didn't know what the topic was but after I picked up a few words I started to figure it out - oh you ran and hid in the hills from when you were one until age five and your mother died because she didn't have enough food and your brother died because the Indonesians killed him. Funny what our history books leave out or our mainstream media for that matter. Just ask around and see how many Americans even know where Aceh is.

I spend my time...actually it has been rather a blur. I have helped pick coffee in the fields surrounding my village (Kotalau), spun the coffee and helped all the way to the pounding into grind, gone hiking in the surrounding mountains, scraped fresh cinnamon off a cinnamon tree, picked fresh clove, eaten fresh-picked pineapple, and seen a few ritual sacrifices. I am learning all the fun ways bananas can be prepared and eating rice at every meal except breakfast. I don't know if I am painting an accurate picture of my life but I don't think it gets anymore accurate. I have started to wear a sarong, have chewed betel nut a few times, and always seem to entertain the locals with my horrible pronunciations of words or simple confusion of words (kabeen - husband/wife, kabiin - spit; or husu - to ask, hosu - to fart).

I often think about life back in St Louis but I fear that will fade rather quickly because most of my friends are moving on. I vaguely remember why I entered into your church about four years ago but it made St Louis my home an not just the city where I went to college.

Give everyone my best wishes and I will try to keep you updated on my doings and I hope you will keep me updated on yours.

Truly,
Chuck

- George Philips

Following the June 1 presentation at Trinity by the International Institute, steps are being taken to give our members and friends opportunities to provide hands-on help with the refugee settlement program. This will be particularly timely given the Bantu refugee settlement effort that the International Institute will coordinate starting this summer. We are seeking Trinity volunteers to participate in this program. Please contact Harold Glad or me if you are able to help.

- Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

Do you want to grow in your Christian leadership? Do you want a deeper and more satisfying faith experience? Do you simply want to grow in your faith? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then plan to join a new course that Dan Anderson-Little is offering this Fall. The course is entitled "DNA: Disciples 'N' Apostles - A Course for Dynamic Christian Leadership." Over seven weeks we will focus on the twin strands of Christian DNA: discipleship - the inward journey of growing closer to Jesus; and apostleship - the outward journey of being sent into the world to share the good news. This course will be required for all new officers (elders and deacons), but is open to all members and friends of the church. Over seven sessions we will explore our passion for Jesus, our vision for the church, our spiritual gifts, our stewardship, and particular calling to ministry. The course is tentatively set for the second and fourth Tuesdays of September, October, and November. Please watch for details.

- Tom Peters

We are filming a video for Trinity to show prospective new members/attendees. The video will be 7-8 minutes long and include video/photos from Trinity's history as well as testimonials from various Trinity members. We are looking for any photos or video footage that you may have to share. Furthermore, we are soliciting any input about what you may want to see included in the video. (Please realize that to keep our video expenses within our budget that all ideas will be considered, but may not appear in the final copy).

Call me at 862-3437 or email tjpeters2@hotmail.com if you have any further questions. Also, please submit information as soon as possible to allow ample time to process. We will be debuting the video the weekend of September 27-28 during our "Shower of Stoles" exhibit.