Sunday mornings at Trinity begin with worship at 9:30 a.m. Trinity Church welcomes all children and youth in its worship services. For children who do not wish to stay in worship, we have a variety of opportunities:

• Newborns to 4^1/2 year olds may go downstairs before the service.
• Pre-K to 2^nd graders begin the morning in worship and may go downstairs before the Sermon.
• 3rd graders and older are invited to attend the entire worship service.

After worship, there is Christian Education for all children:

• Nursery care continues through the education hour for children birth through 2 years. Becca Courtney is our regular childcare worker; a volunteer assists her.
• Preschool care also continues through the education hour for children age 2-1/2 through 4-1/2 years.
• PreK - 4th grade - Participate in God's Creation . All children PreK - 4th grade are invited to gather in the Thicket in the Creation Center. This year, we will regularly include music in Thicket time. These children will engage in a variety of exciting activities throughout the morning.
• 5th - 12th grades - Classes for 5th & 6th graders (Bible Survey), 7th & 8th graders (Confirmation), and Senior High youth are located in different rooms in the downstairs of the church building.

- Norma Vavra, Chair, Christian Education Commission

As we reflect about why we joined Trinity, the reasons (besides the pastor) often involve the robust outreach ministry - Food Pantry , Habitat, community involvement - and the all-encompassing services for youth - Nursery, God's Creation, confirmation class, mission trips. As I think about these positive parts of our program, my mind goes on to still other activities we do - ushering, preparing all-church meals, baking communion bread, being liturgist, or singing in the choir. The phrase that comes to mind is "labor intensive!". It takes a lot of bodies to keep our programs going.

For a congregation our size to keep the programs we love happening, it means all of us who are able need to join the team. With our new program year soon to begin, I urge you to prayerfully consider what your ministry within Trinity will be. You are needed.

I hope for many of you it will be with our children. We can find an age group and an activity to fit your talents. Call Janet Chester and discuss with her what you have felt called to do. Or perhaps you want to work in the Food Pantry or usher or serve on a Board. We all joined Trinity because we liked the programs we saw in place. What/who is Trinity? To paraphrase Pogo, "I have met Trinity, and it is US!"

You are needed. Come take part in the ministry.

- Paul Vasile - Minister of Music

Come rejoice with us! This year promises many opportunities to celebrate faith through music:

• Our children's music ministry is growing and adapting! Beginning on Rally Day, a team of energetic adults will lead the gathering time of Sunday School, sharing exciting songs of faith and leading the children in a "mini" worship experience. This will allow more children to experience sacred music more often. In addition, a more formal children's choir will be formed for Christmas, Easter and other special times in the year. If you have a passion for sharing music with children, you are welcome to join the Children's Music Ministry Team!
• This year's World Communion celebration on Sunday, October 3 will feature music from Mexico and Latin America. Join us as we celebrate our unity with Christians around the globe! You can also join a Worship Enrichment Team that will make a special contribution to the worship service. See the Adult Education article for more details.
• Building on the energy and creativity of our Pentecost service, we'll have an intergenerational Reformation Sunday service on Sunday, October 31. As an added treat, pipers and drummers will help us celebrate the Presbyterian Church's Scottish roots.
• On October 31 you will have the rare opportunity to hear the acclaimed Boy's Choir of Kenya perform at Trinity at 4 p.m. This concert is being given through special arrangement with the St. Louis African Chorus; Trinity members will have an opportunity to host the boys that weekend. Keep your eyes posted for more information in the weeks to come!
• On Sunday, November 14, The Trinity Choir will be joined by chamber orchestra and offer several choral works by Henry Purcell, including the cantata "Sing Unto the Lord" and the joyful anthem "Rejoice in the Lord Alway".
• To conclude the liturgical year, we'll have a rockin' Gospel celebration on Christ the King Sunday, November 21. Guest musicians and soloists will join us!

Sing or ring in a choir at Trinity this Fall! Whether you're young or old, read music or learn by ear, have lots of time or just a few hours, there is an ensemble for you.

• Trinity Choir - This group meets Thursday evenings from 7:15-9:00 p.m. and sings during worship from September through June. Music-reading skills are helpful but not required; regular attendance is essential. First rehearsal is on September 2.
• Festival Choir - This exciting ensemble will continue to enhance special worship celebrations throughout the year! Open to everyone who loves to sing, we will rehearse on Sunday mornings after Christian Education and on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. First rehearsals are on September 26 and September 29.
• Handbell Choir - This unique-sounding ensemble rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 and will ring during worship once a month. Music reading skills are helpful but not required; regular attendance is essential. Our first rehearsal is on September 15.

- Sandy Norkaitis

Each year the Winger Food Pantry provides Thanksgiving turkeys for some of our clients. The turkeys are donated by members of the congregation and their friends. Each year the donations have grown and last year the congregation donated 60 turkeys to support this effort.

We are planning to give out turkeys again this year and the date for the "Big Turkey Give Away" will be Nov. 17. We are looking for a volunteer or volunteers to assist with this ministry. The dates the volunteer or volunteers are needed are on Sunday, November 14, and off and on the week prior to the give away. If you would be able to help, please call me at 863-7699 for the additional details.

It is my pleasure to introduce Brad Bradbury to the congregation. Quite frankly, it is clear to me why God sent Brad to us: this charming gentleman has it in his head to compete in an Iron Man triathlon, an event which consists of a 2.4 mile swim that transitions into a 112-mile bike race and culminates in a 26-mile run. So I think it is quite obvious that, as Christians full of the accepting love of Jesus Christ, it is our sworn duty to talk him out of this. Of course, I also bring this up as a warning to the congregation - if Brad asks you to work out with him, consider seriously what that might mean.

All kidding aside, there is more to Brad then the fact that he's in great shape. Brad is an orthopedic surgeon with a truly impressive amount of schooling and experience. Though from St. Louis originally, he did undergraduate work at the University of Chicago; went to Medical School at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; did his residency in Tucson, Arizona; and spent time in Japan as a doctor with the Navy. Currently, he works in private practice here, and has assured me that any member of this congregation is welcome to come to him with medical questions at any time, day or night. He also enjoys music, and has already favored this congregation with his violin talents. In terms of his faith history, Brad has some interesting stories to tell, mostly a result of his variety of church experiences. For instance, he has spent time in both First Presbyterian and Central Presbyterian. He has been part of a Methodist church in which they rarely mentioned God (and apologized for doing so) as well as a small Polish Catholic congregation. I'm not sure quite where Trinity will fit into his experiences - we may have work at being quirky enough to stand out.

- Christopher Lutz

The Dietz family moved to St. Louis from Cleveland a year and a half ago. Will (8 months) joined big sister Audrey (4) this past January. Petey and Lila rule the canine roost. Jill is a breast surgeon and Dave a colorectal surgeon, both at Washington University Medical Center. Jill grew up in Pittsburgh, Dave in York, Pa. They met at Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia and spent the last nine years in Cleveland for specialty training. Whew! Jill says they love to pack everybody up and spend time outdoors hiking and camping; they also enjoy places like Grant's Farm and the Zoo because they like animals. In fact they especially enjoy St. Louis because there is so much to do with kids. Dave also spends time splashing in swimming pools as a member of the Clayton water polo team. Residents of University City, the Dietzes found Trinity after visiting several churches that didn't feel as "homey" as Trinity. They particularly like our music program. They have felt welcomed and look forward to becoming more involved.

Bill Petty and Jim Atchison may be contenders for a long-distance star - each Sunday they drive from Wildwood to Trinity, which they found through our website. Bill is manager of software development at Citigroup, and Jim is retired. Both have parents and siblings in the area. Jim, originally from Eminence MO, also has children and grandchildren who live in Troy and in St. Louis. Bill says a recent outing to Six Flags is the kind of fun the grandchildren offer. In his spare time Bill likes to garden and Jim reads; they both like going out to eat. Some years ago Jim had a liver transplant and is doing very well. Their cat Tai is the latest of a long succession of cats that Bill has had all his life. Welcome Bill and Jim!

- Cathy Smith

For the past few months, I have been privileged to be on a journey with nine very special women who agreed to come together every other Sunday evening to work through a 10-chapter study guide, Remembering Your Story: Creating Your Own Spiritual Autobiography by Richard L. Morgan. The quote above was excerpted from the preface to that guide, and aptly describes something of my experience in helping facilitate our Small Group.

We shared stories, prayed for and cared about one another, and laughed a lot. Some of us wrote, some of us didn't. We learned a bit more about each other, and built or strengthened bonds, which I believe will live long past this experience. We like each other so much that we're going to get together again for a potluck dinner and still are considering next steps beyond that.

Mostly, I'm writing this to encourage others who want to build relationships at Trinity to take the step of starting or finding a Small Group. Recruit a buddy (I had the twin gifts of Ann Fischer and Stacy Shupe), find a topic or guide that touches or energizes you, and invite others to share. If you want to know more about getting started, contact Small Group Coordinator David Hotaling or give me a call. It's a ministry that can touch your heart and strengthen your soul!

- Janet Chester, Director of Christian Education

2004 Presbyterian Youth Triennium

Presbyterian Youth Triennium, a national conference held every three years at Purdue University, took place July 20-25. About 6,000 Presbyterian youth from all over the USA, Canada, and the world took part in this amazing event. Each presbytery can send a certain number of delegates to the event. Our presbytery sent 41 youth and 5 adults. I was privileged to be one of the adults, as well as our presbytery's registrar. Maggie Schoeberlein and Zach Roman attended as delegates from Trinity. The theme of the conference was "No Longer Strangers - Members of the Household of God" from Ephesians. Later in the Fall, we will share pictures and personal stories of our experiences. In the meantime, ask Maggie and Zach about the experience of worshipping, singing, playing, and growing in faith together amongst a community of 6,000 others.

Montreat Youth Conference

From August 1-7, two adults and six Sr. High youth from Trinity spent time in Montreat, N.C. with about 1100 other people. The theme of the week was "Lost & Found".

Here's what some of our group thought of their time in the North Carolina mountains... "The energy of the welcoming crowds of teenagers and adults together, singing, laughing, and praising, warms your heart.""The way people felt they could laugh and cry and praise and share together gave me a sense of spirituality that is not easy to achieve anywhere else in the world." "I came away with a new understanding of how intertwined 'lostness' and 'foundness' often are and that the only place we are absolutely found is in God's love.""I was moved by so many of the stories told in keynote and in worship." "I've learned that there is so much more to God and the Bible than I have ever known before.""Montreat is one of the best experiences of my life because of the atmosphere and the people I came with and the people I met."

There will be an expanded Trinity News with pictures and full articles later, but take a look at the pictures on our Church website until then.

- Colleen Potratz

Mieke at her ordination with her parents,
Max and Myra Vandersall and brother John
Click here for more pictures...

Mieke Vandersall was ordained at The First Presbyterian Church in New York City on Saturday, July 17. She is serving as Coordinator/Evangelist of Presbyterian Welcome, a network of churches in the New York City Area whose mission is to remove Amendment B from the Book of Order.

Mieke is a daughter of Trinity who spent her early years in church school as many children do. Mieke became a member of Trinity by confirmation and began to spend much time with Trinity Associate Pastor Bill Smutz, asking questions and discussing answers. Her involvement with the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Youth Council in high school led Mieke to Trinity's hosting a youth conference. (I don't remember the number of young people, but I do remember they were in every nook and cranny, and all segments of the conference were well organized and thought out.)

When Mieke went to the College of Wooster, she joined the college church where she was ordained an Elder on that church's session. The Reverend Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, a friend of Mieke's from Wooster and now the Pastor of First Presbyterian of Lowville, New York, gave Mieke a set of Eucharistic vessels to use in her ministry and remembered the times when Mieke has made Christ present as they served on Session together, when they were students together, when they served on committees together, and when Mieke affirmed Sarah's call to ministry.

Along the way Mieke has worked with social justice groups such as The National Network of Presbyterian College Women, The National Labor Committee, Voices of Sophia, and That All May Freely Serve, some of which have taken her out of the country to the Dominican Republic. Pursuing a life-long dream of ordained ministry, Mieke chose to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She graduated in 2003 and has served Presbyterian Welcome since, the position to which she is ordained.

How did it happen that I shared in Mieke's ordination along with a host of clergy, peers, friends and her family? Have you heard of Confirmation Advocates? I had the privilege of being that advocate for Mieke and introducing her to Session. During the joyous ordination service I thought of Trinity and wished for everyone to be present to share in this joyous occasion.

The music - from Faure, Down to the River to Pray, musical adaptation of Psalm 139 (written by Alicia Mathewson), Blessed Assurance, and more - an electrifying and scintillating saxophone which accompanied guitar and vocalists, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, to the a cappella childhood version of "I will dance I will sing / To be mad for my King / Nothing Lord is hindering / The passion in my soul." delivered by The Reverend Anna Sweringen in her Charge to the Congregation - what a musical menu and inspiration. Anna challenged us to watch Mieke's back, to be angels hovering around her. As The Reverend Dr. Eugene Callendar presented a stole to newly ordained Mieke, he listed the history of New York Presbytery being on the forefront of pushing against discrimination in various aspects within the church and ended with saying "you are something honey." The congregation spontaneously rose and with sustained applause welcomed Mieke and indicated their support.

These facts in no way describe the heart. I hope that you will have an opportunity to meet Mieke, to share her goals, to hear her stories, and to share your journeys with her. And most of all pray for Mieke as she responds to God's will. (An Order of Worship for the ordination service is in the Trinity Church Office.)

- Bob Wagoner

Please continue to keep your information coming, so that we can all have a sense that we know what is happening at Trinity. The deadline for the mid-month TN is the 8th of each month; send articles and data for this edition to Karon Bilbrey in the church office. The deadline for the "big" TN is the 15th of each month; send items to Ann Fischer at afischer5@sbcglobal.netor leave them in the church office in the Trinity News mail slot.

- Ann, John, Grace and Charlie Turner

- Karon Bilbrey, Church Administrator