Hanging of the Greens Intergenerational Gathering

Saturday, December 11, 2004

• Hanging of the Greens at 4pm
• Light chili supper at 5:30pm
• Holiday concert at 6:30pm

Come help prepare the building for the holiday season and enjoy a time of fellowship:

• Moment for worship
• Greens to be hung
• Crafts for ids
• Light refreshments
• Stories for little ones
• Music with Paul
• Light chili meal
• Holiday concert by male and female quartets

Come for the decorating... stay for the supper and concert!

We will be collecting kids' school supplies, personal care items and infant/toddler items (diapers and new or gently-used bibs, bottles, and sippy cups) for Charities for Children...please consider bringing items to place under the trees in the sanctuary.

Please call Liz Nelson at 862-7466 with any questions.

Beginning on November 28, Paul Vasile will teach a unique Adult Education class that explores themes of the Advent and Christmas season through organ music. The class will include singing, questions and discussion, and participants are invited to sit in the organ loft each week, offering a more intimate experience of the instrument. The class will cover the following topics.

November 28 - Preparation Scripture and Christian tradition suggest many ways of preparing for Christ's birth. We will use organ music to explore Advent as a time of repentance, of anxious anticipation, of awe and reverence, as well as joyful expectation. You will hear two well-known Advent choral preludes by Johann Sebastian Bach as well as pieces by Gerald Near and African-American composer, Adolphus Hailstorck.

December 5 - Annunciation Our second class will focus on the important role of angels in our Advent and Christmas observance. We'll hear musical evocations of cherubim and seraphim around the throne of God, Gabriel's salutation to the Virgin Mary, and the raucous singing of the angelic host who appeared to shepherds on a hillside. You won't want to miss a new piece for French horn and organ by Daniel Pinkham, a jazzy spiritual setting by Dan Locklair as well as a work by English organist and composer, Simon Preston.

December 12 - Incarnation We conclude with organ works that attempt to capture the mystery, joy and power of the Incarnation. Hear Dieu parmi nous (God with us) by mystical French composer, Oliver Messiaen, settings of Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and an improvisation by Paul Vasile

• The session concluded their discussion of The Present Future by Reggie McNeal and will continue to work on defining Trinity's ministry.
• Session members shared responses to the question "What is it about your relationship with Jesus Christ that the world cannot live without?"
• The FEAST group is planning for the Hanging of the Greens on December 13. Details to follow.
• The Session reviewed the third quarter financial report.
• Great enthusiasm for the concert by the Kenyan Boy's choir was expressed.

Poinsettias will beautify the Chancel area again this Christmas. They will be in the Sanctuary for services on 12/19 and 12/24, and may then be taken home by donors following the Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve.

Red & White poinsettias (5-6 blooms in 6" pots) are available for order this year. Orders must be received by Sunday, November 28. You may order your poinsettias by filling out the order form below and sending it along with your check to the church office. Order forms are also available in the Sanctuary Pew Books. (Or click here for a printable form.)

Two of our long-time members passed away and their funeral services will be held next week.

• Virginia Kremer died on October 31. Funeral services will be held at Alexander Funeral Home, 11101 St. Charles Rock Road on Saturday November 20 at 2 p.m. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m.
• Virginia Cockerham passed away on Wednesday November 10. Funeral services for Virginia Cockerham will be held at Shepard Funeral Home, 9255 Natural Bridge on Tuesday, November 16 at 10 a.m. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, November 15.

Dr. Anderson-Little will officiate at both services.

Dear Rev. Anderson-Little, Elder Roman and the Session of Trinity;

On behalf of the Steering Committee for Presbyterian Welcome, thank you for your financial support of this shared ministry working towards denominational renewal, integrity, and honesty, challenging our Church to be a welcoming community - a Church as inclusive as God's grace.

I have been so proud to talk about Trinity in my journey - the church that has helped me become all of who God has created and is creating me to be. Your witness to the larger church and world has been critical in my development. It means the world to me that you support Presbyterian Welcome and that you are also working so hard to make our denomination a place where all people's gifts can be expressed for the glory of God.

As we come closer to achieving our goal of deleting G-6.0106b from the Book of Order, we understand there is still more work ahead of us to make the Church a truly inclusive and welcoming place. Your tax-free contribution of $500.00 allows us to continue our work throughout the Synod of the Northeast and through our entire denomination, and to take a leadership role in discerning the future of this movement.

Again, thank you for your support of me, my present ministry, and your work within this denomination. Please let me know if I can be helpful to you in your ministry.

Faithfully Yours,
Rev. Mieke Vandersall
Minister Director - Presbyterian Welcome

- John Merker, Chair, 2005 Budget Committee

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed', but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accomplished by action, is dead." James 2: 15-16

This year's stewardship theme - "The Top Line is the Bottom Line" - focuses on Trinity's General Mission giving and its financial support of various service providers in the community. Over the past couple of months, the Corporate Affairs Commission has worked with the Session to craft a 2005 budget that is outward reaching but which also demonstrates fiscal responsibility and restraint.

The good news for next year is that the budget reflects the Church's charitable commitment and our continuing financial assistance to local organizations. At the same time, the allocation to General Mission is projected to decline from $65,700 to $62,500, or a reduction of around 5 per cent. In addition to General Mission, the individual budgets for many of our other programs will also be reduced, mostly from line items that are discretionary or deferrable. These include: Worship & Music: -3.4 %; Evangelism: - 9.5 %; Christian Education: -3.9 %; Parish Life: - 3.8 % and Facilities: - 15%. And while some of our general operating expenses (e.g., overtime, church security, the per capita assessment paid to the Presbytery) are expected to be higher in 2005, the overall budget is projected to decrease by around 2.5 per cent.

Trinity has been truly blessed and fortunate in supplementing its annual pledge income with funds from other sources (annual contribution from the Endowment Fund, loose offerings and non pledge gifts, interest from investments, etc). However, our annual pledge commitments account for nearly 60 per cent of the budgetand are our most meaningful financial resource. They not only move us toward fiscal independence by reducing our reliance on other sources but more importantly, because they demonstrate our commitment to doing God's work through His Word.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

As we pause to think about our pledges for 2005, we should remember our long-standing tradition of mission giving and helping those in need. In the coming weeks, we will hear from those organizations that we support and to learn first hand about the good work that they are doing in the community. This is such an important part of the Church's ministry and it's important that we continue to reach out to those in need.

The top line - the Mission line item in our budget - IS the bottom line and we can and do make a difference through our generosity. As we approach Commitment Sunday on November 11, please give prayerful thought to this rich legacy and consider increasing your pledge for the coming year.

The season of Advent - a four Sunday period that calls us to prepare for the coming of the Christ child - begins on Sunday, November 28. Advent preparations at Trinity have a long and rich tradition and this year will be no exception.

This year the FEAST young adult small group is overseeing church decorations. The Sanctuary and the rest of the church will be prepared over the course of four weeks, beginning on November 28. FEAST is planning a special Hanging of the Greens event for Saturday, December 11, beginning at 4:00 p.m.

This Advent, you are invited to a musical Adult Education course led by Paul Vasile, Minister of Music, and focused on themes of the season: Preparation, Annunciation, and Incarnation. Beginning on November 28, we will embark on a three-week exploration of Advent and Christmas music for organ and piano, especially focusing on music's ability to provide new ways of understanding familiar faith stories and abstract theological concepts. Look for more information in November's mid-month Trinity News.

- Paul Vasile, Minister of Music

Small groups at Trinity have incorporated a variety of styles and formats: traditional Bible study, fellowship around meals or writing a spiritual autobiography. This October, a new small group formed and is using sacred music as a starting point for conversation, reflection and faith sharing. Inspired by a book called Songs of Renewal we sing together, read scripture, and then support and pray for each other as well as ask the Spirit to guide and direct Trinity's music ministry.

The group's next meeting is Sunday, November 7 at 7 p.m. in the Weems Chapel. If you have any questions or would like to join us, please contact me at paul_tpc@swbell.net.

- Sandy Norkaitis

The Winger Food Pantry would like to giveaway frozen turkeys or chickens to our food pantry clients for their Thanksgiving dinner. We will give them to the clients on November 17. Many of our families are small and are "older adults" so turkey breasts, chickens, or turkeys no larger than 12 pounds work best. Last year the congregation donated 60 turkeys/chickens. There will be a sign up sheet in the Narthex and dining room during the next couple of weeks. You do not need to sign up to bring a turkey. The turkeys must be at Trinity by November 16. If you bring your turkey on November 14, Harold Glad and Mary Nielsen will be in the kitchen at 9:00 a.m. prior to church.

Thank you so much for all your pledged support of gifts for the advent bags. All of the gifts for the bags need to be at church by November 9, wrapped if possible, so that they can be dedicated during the church service on November 14. The bags will be available for delivery starting right after the service on November 14 - November 30.

If you have any questions, about either of these projects, please call me at 863-7699.

- Diane O'Brien

Andele! (Hurry!) - Mark Your Calendars

Estas listas? (Are you ready?) Planning for a Spring Mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, April 16-23, 2005, is now in progress. We'll be working the Presbyterian Border Ministry project Pasos de Fe (Steps of Faith). Pasos de Fe is open to many types of mission teams: construction, educational/service, study and/or exploratory. This is the perfect time to join our team and enjoy significant input on how this cross-cultural exchange shapes up. You don't need to speak or understand Spanish, but you're sure to pick up a phrase or two before we're through! To participate, contact me as soon as possible at (314) 993-0396 or via email at ddobrien@magellanhealth.com. The estimated cost will be approximately $700 per person (group fundraising may be an option).

- Ruth Cobb

Volunteers are needed to help with several areas of our communion Sundays.

• BAKING BREAD: Volunteers bake our communion bread. A simple, no-yeast recipe is provided, so no special culinary skills are needed.
• PREPARING COMMUNION ELEMENTS: Two dedicated teams have performed this service on the five or six Sundays during the year when communion is served by our elders. They come to church between 8:45 and 9:00 a.m. to prepare the bread and juice. Carol and Cathy Kramer and Jean and George Sallwasser have been faithfully fulfilling this service for us and one of these teams would like to be relieved.

If you feel called to serve in any of the above capacities, please call me at 314-863-2144 to volunteer. Meanwhile, next time you see Carol or Cathy Kramer or Jean or George Sallwasser, take a moment to express your gratitude to them for their service.