- Betty Burnett

It has been a busy couple of weeks for those who have taken the call to help in relief efforts associated with the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. While much has already been done, there will be ever changing opportunities for Trinity members to become involved and make a difference by helping our brothers and sisters affected. Highlighted below are examples of the energy and giving spirit which Trinity members have already put forth.

Down South

Betty Burnett has continued her tireless efforts with University Presbyterian in Baton Rouge, LA. For those unfamiliar with UPC, a little background. Immediately in the aftermath of Katrina, UPC opened its' doors to hurricane victims. UPC became a temporary home for new and expectant mothers. Many of these women were the first to be evacuated and were often separated from their families. Betty made contact with UPC days after Katrina struck and shortly thereafter Betty and others purchased and shipped supplies to help meet the needs at the church. Diana Gray coordinated a shipment of infant-maternal supplies with her contacts at Barnes-Jewish. Requests shifted from infant-maternal supplies to kits which would help those heading back home clean out their refrigerators. Within a week members of Trinity managed to put together 1,000 kits to help what will no doubt be a messy job! The kits consisted of the following:

• 2 heavy duty trash bags
• 1 gallon of bleach
• 1 pair of rubber gloves
• 1 scrub brush
• baking soda
• face mask

Additionally Rick Jeter offered to drive the supplies to Baton Rouge on Friday, September 23rd.

Here at Home

Closer to home Trinity members were also hard at work. There is currently a family of forty (that's right 40) from New Orleans living in University City. Trinity members have made contact with this family to see what unmet needs exist (they are also working with various agencies and organizations in town) as they try to establish some normalcy in the midst of all the chaos. There are 25 adults and 15 children in this extended family, who expect to establish homes in the St. Louis area. Trinity will be supplying the family with $500 in pre-paid gas cards. We will also continue to discover other needs to help this family as they establish their new households.

Lisa Bernhard has started the Trinity Red Beans and Rice Café on Monday nights (6 -8 p.m.). Red Beans and Rice is a traditional New Orleans dinner shared with family and friends on Monday nights. The first night over 70 were fed in the Trinity dining room. Approximately 50 members from New Orleans attended the event, with the remainder being Trinity members. Anyone who is willing to help cooking, bussing tables, clean-up, "meeting and greeting, or shopping is asked to contact Lisa at bernhardlm@gmail.com. The meal was so successful that one of the family members from New Orleans said the Red Beans and Rice dish was equal to hers! Kudos to Lisa for such a great idea and the coordination to pull it off!

This Sunday, Mercy Movement in coordination with the United Way of St. Louis will be holding a "One-Stop" Fair for Katrina Survivors at Kiener Plaza from 2 - 6 PM. Volunteers are needed to set-up, man the clothing "store", be runners, help with registration, and help with clean-up. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Cassandra Griffin at the United Way (phone - 539-4292; email - griffinca@stl.unitedway.org). Also needed are volunteers to set-up and man a Trinity Presbyterian Church booth at the fair (so that word of our Red Beans and Rice Café and other relief efforts can be disseminated). If you can help, please contact Lisa Bernhard (cell - 495-1368; home - 863-6505; email - bernhardlm@gmail.com).

There are many additional ways to help with the efforts here in St. Louis. Lisa Bernhard has accepted the role of Hurricane Czarina for Trinity. She has compiled a great deal of information and would be happy to share ways in which your talents can be utilized. Some areas are below:

• Providing computer access for those who need to register with FEMA
• Adopting a family in conjunction with Catholic Charities
• Volunteering in the Gulf Coast for rebuilding and relief efforts

Lastly, please keep those affected by storm in your prayers as they try to bring peace back into their lives as well as those who are volunteering their time and gifts while helping in the relief effort.

- Betty Burnett

• Lynne Beck (who rates a Master Garbageteer badge)
• Stacey, Eleanor, and Maggie Carman (you go, girls!)
• Liz Childs and helpful Anna
• John Klein
• Willie Childs-Klein (what a speed demon!)
• Ruth Cobb
• Karen Elshout (another speedy)
• Ann Fischer
• Judy Grabel
• Melissa Kreishman
• Andrea Pfeifer-Stephens (Whew! Get out of her way!)
• Genny Richmond
• Sarah Schmidt

- Carissa Gigliotti

- Keith Fischer, Chair, Corporate Affairs Commission

- Betty Burnett

1. We have been in contact with University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, LA. They are caring for those directly in their community. They are in need of diapers, infant formula and other maternal care and infant supplies. Ann Fisher and Betty Burnett have already sent one shipment.
2. The Trinity Peacemakers working with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance last week put out a request for a shelter health kit to be sent to those currently living in the various mass shelters. The kit consists of (1) bath towel, (1) hand towel, (1) wash cloth, (1) comb, (1) toothbrush, (1) 4- 7oz tube of toothpaste, (2) bars of bath sized soap, (1) non-aerosol deodorant.
   
   Please bring these to church on Sunday assembled in gallon-sized plastic Ziploc bags.
3. A local coalition of faith based organizations has put together a local response team, St. Louis Respond and Provide. This organization has already sent a truck full of supplies and two buses to bring people to St. Louis. They will be sending another truck on 9/14 with a probable destination of Shreveport, Pascagoula, and Slidell (if passable). Items needed are: pop-top canned food, can openers, other packaged non-perishable food, diapers, wipes and sanitary supplies.

• Housing - A number of national and local organizations are matching volunteers who are willing to offer housing to those in need. Trinity members have already begun to compile much information in this area.
• Education and Tutoring - University City High School already has accepted 6 students who were evacuated from their hometowns and has asked for tutors. I'm sure the needs exist in other districts as well if someone feels called to compile this information.
• Medical - The United Way has solicited medical help, although the need is not yet certain. Information (name, employer, specialty, contact numbers and days available to work) can be faxed to 314-268-7852. If anyone plans to volunteer in this capacity, please report your progress.
• Ongoing food, toiletries, and other necessity support. Trinity could possibly serve as a congregational or community drop-off point to help maintain the support of those who have temporarily located to St. Louis. Their host families may need help with providing food and other necessities to the family members, friends, or complete strangers to whom they have opened their doors.
• Rebuilding - Trinity members have already discussed the possibility of organizing mission trips to help in the long rebuilding process
• Liaison - With United Way, Salvation Army and Goodwill to ensure needs of community are being addressed and communicate this to interested Trinity members.

- Terry Epling, Stated Clerk

- Mary Schroer

- thanks to Ruth Cobb, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, and everyone else spreading this important information...

UPDATE: 9/6/2005 8:24 PM- Brian Schroer: This house is right around the corner from us. Mary called and found that the head of household's name is "Wilma", not "Jan", and there are "only" 30 family members, not 40. There are 3rd and 6th grade girls who will go to Jackson Park school starting tomorrow (the third grader might be in Calvin's class), 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. Wilma said that any clothing would be appreciated (see sizes below) and they'll need warm clothing when it gets colder (living in New Orleans, they've never experienced winter before).

• Maria Chappelle-Nadal 725-7288 (State Representative District 72)
• Or the hosting head-of-household: Wilma Woolridge. 314- 256-1085. Address: 1077 Midland, UCity (south of Olive, near Heman Park)

• girl - child 12 pants/12-14 top (medium) 2 1/2 tennis
• girl-teenage (maternity) 7-8 pants/medium tops 7 1/2 tennis
• girl-teenage 6-7 pants, medium top 5 1/2 tennis
• boy-teenage 2X top/36 pants 8 1/2 men's tennis
• girl-teenage 5-6 pants/medium top 6 tennis
• boy-teenage 2X top/36 pants 9 1/2 tennis
• girl-teenage 14-16 pants/1Xtop 7 tennis
• girl-teenage 1X top/16-18 pants 8 1/2 tennis
• girl-child (8 years old) 6-7 top/pants slim 11 1/2 tennis
• girl-child (8 years old) 10-12 shirt and pants 2 1/2 tennis
• girl-teenage (maternity) 14 women's pants/large tops 7 tennis

- Linda Anderson-Little

- Lisa Bernhard

- Cathy Smith

Here is another opportunity to help that came through my neighborhood's e-group:

Dear Community Supporter;

As you are aware, the devastation from Hurricane Katrina has been unparalleled and has called upon each of us to step up showing our kindness and support. By the end of the day on Tuesday, September 5th, U. City High School will be the new high school for at least 6 hurricane evacuees. We can expect even more new students at UCHS and at other district schools over the next few weeks.

As a caring school community we want to help our new students get acclimated as quickly and successfully as possible. Many agencies and churches are helping with clothing, school supplies, food and rent. But there will still be many voids for these students, and we are asking your support with helping our new students just be teenagers.

Being a teenager means being out and about with friends. These students have little or no spending money as the pinch on their families and sponsoring homes is already quite great. We want our new students to be able to transition as easily as possible, and to be able to go places with classmates without having to worry too much about money. For that reason we are asking parents, businesses and community supporters to help us present each of our new students coming from this devastation with a goody bag so that they can become teenagers again. We need your help for the following items:

• Gift cards to the types of places that teenagers visit, including places like fast food restaurants, Starbucks, movie theaters, bowling, restaurants in the Loop or on Olive, Value City, the Galleria, Target, Best Buy, Old Navy, Walgreens, Sports Authority, or anyplace else that you deem appropriate.
• You can also send a check made out to the "UCHS PTO" and designate it's use for the Katrina Evacuee Emergency $. The PTO will make sure that these funds are used to help evacuee families with children attending any of the U. City public schools.
• Deliver or mail checks and gift cards to UCHS, 7401 Balson Ave., University City, Mo. 63130. If you have questions or have other ideas please call principal Dr. Beth Bender at 290-4102.
• UCHS is also in need of after school tutors to help our newest students.

Thank you very much for considering this emergency request. We will keep you posted about the progress of this project, and other needs as they arise. In the meantime, with the help of our PTO and caring community members and businesses we can make a positive difference right away. THANK YOU!!! Ellen Bern

- Betty Burnett

- Tim Rand

Monday Barb and I spent about 5 hours sorting clothes and other items gifted for Katrina refugees at United Way (910 North Eleventh Street).

This was a real eye opener and I urge everyone to try to perform service such as this. There were about 40 volunteers sorting donations brought in by one or two hundred people.

Shipping and handling of donated goods is a time-consuming logistical problem. As such, many organizations are requesting cash only. Yet, I'm sure, to many of us, giving something tangible seems to be important. If you do give clothing or household goods, please think about whether YOU would find the items usable. If not, please do not donate them. See these Red Cross Guidelines: http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_4498,00.html

A couple of observations about the donation process:

a) Donate only clean, serviceable clothing. A surprising number of people donated shirts or dresses that were badly stained or worn out.

Donate them in a clean condition. That pair of pants that has been hanging in your closet for 3 years probably has a significant line of dust along the hanger line.

b) Separate your donations into specific packages and label them. For example, one bag of men's 44" pants, another of men's medium t-shirts, and another of men's 17" button down shirts. You cannot believe how much volunteer time was spent sorting and separating clothes.

c) When donating shoes, bundle them together in pairs. All shoes should be sturdy and in good condition. Tie or rubber-band them together in pairs. Platform shoes, soccer cleats and high heels aren't very usable.

d) Infant supplies (wipes, diapers, etc) should be in factory sealed packages.

e) It seems obvious, but don't clean out your junk drawer for your donations. We had to trash used makeup kits, various broken home electronics, stubby pencils, broken crayons and other junk.

f) Finally, all toys should be complete and packaged in a meaningful way. It doesn't make sense to donate a card game, for example, if all the cards aren't present. It also doesn't make sense to donate something that has lots of small parts in a flimsy paper bag.

The process of attempting to organize chaos was amazing. Just as you think you are making a dent, more shows up. Your donations of time and energy to help sort and deliver would be well appreciated.

Tim

- Kelly Allen, Pastor, First Presbyterian

St. Louis Family Church in Chesterfield is taking in 300 people and setting up an Emergency Shelter. I have colleagues who are members there. Here are the items they need:

• Towels
• Shampoo
• Combs / Brushes
• Toothbrushes/ Tooth paste
• Bath soap / deodorant
• Detergent (laundry/dish)
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Baby Bottles
• Coloring books / Crayons

The shelter is also looking for volunteers to do everything from shelter management and reception to food service and maintenance. Let me know if you want to volunteer and I'll contact them.

Linda Anderson-Little
Independent Sales Director
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc.
4642 Longspur Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63128
314.487.6303 (h); 314.581.6365 (cell)
email: mklinda@sbcglobal.net
Yahoo Site: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/lipsinc

UPDATE: 9/6/2005 12:11 PM We live about 3 miles from the Family Church in Chesterfield. If you want to donate items, bring them to Trinity on Sunday and we will be the collection point, then drop the items off on our way home, as we pass right by it. Also, I know that we have an overabundance of personal items in the food pantry right now (several boxes of same in the back room) that could be distributed to the Family Church. - Rob Peglar

- Rob Peglar

Trinity's Adult Education Planning Team invites you to:

Christian Mission Local and Global: An Asian Perspective

SUNDAYS, SEPTEMBER 18 - OCTOBER 23,
10:40 - 11:30 A.M. IN THE WEEMS CHAPEL
FOLLOWING 9:30 WORSHIP

Trinity has a profound and faithful tradition of mission, both local and global. Starting September 18, join Dr. D. Preman Niles for a stimulating exploration, Bible Study and discussion of the church's call to mission in the 21st century, both around the corner and around the world.

Dr. Niles served for eleven years as the General Secretary for the Council of World Mission in London. Prior to that, he was the Director for the Program on Justice, Peace and the Integrity of the Creation for the World Council of Churches in Geneva. In the last few years he has been a visiting professor offering his expertise to students and devoted Christians around the world. He has served as a visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Tainan, Taiwan, and Gurukul Lutheran Theological College in Chennai India. He has published nine books and too many articles to name, in addition, he is the father of Trinity's own Damayanthi Niles!

- Betty Burnett

- David Stephens, Church Administrator/Director of Music - First Presbyterian, University City

As many of you know, [First's pastor] Kelly Allen is a member of the General Assembly's Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT), and has been for several years. Yesterday she was contacted by PDAT and sent "on assignment" to the Gulf shores area. She left this morning for Pensacola, Florida where she will be working with several other PDAT members helping area churches from Pensacola to Biloxi, Mississippi set up relief shelters for those who are now homeless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The American Red Cross estimates that of over a million people now homeless only around 80,000 have shelter. This is the task that many relief organizations, such as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, have undertaken...to CREATE shelter for those individuals.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has pledged an immediate $500,000 through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

The current situation and its long-term effects are a crystal clear example of why we as a denomination collect the One Great Hour of Sharing offering every Easter.

PDA has issued an appeal for $10 million to help in this response work and is committed to working in a coordinated effort with other Christians to extend our response as far as possible.

...

Please pray for those who have lost family members and friends.

Please pray for those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Please pray for those who have lost livelihoods.

Please also join us in prayer for those, like Kelly, who are giving of themselves to minister to those in need.

In peace and hope,
David

- Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

• Lots of exciting ministries and opportunities for spiritual growth are planned for this Fall! We are moving ahead with our relationship with Metropolitan Congregations United - by mid-September we will complete the Listening Campaign and be sharing the results with the congregation. The information and priorities that we come up with will be combined with the other churches in the cluster and we will pick some projects to work on together. As these projects emerge, there will be many opportunities to get involved.
• Our Christian Education will have a new look with Karen Coletti, our new Interim Director of Christian Education. Karen will be building on the great work that Janet Chester accomplished over the past seven years. If you have never been a part of the Christian Education ministry and would like to, let Karen know - there are many exciting ways to serve. We are in active conversations with First Presbyterian Church to discover ways to share ministry together - watch for details!
• This Fall look for great Adult Education :

  Sunday morning, September 18 - October 23. Dr. Preman Niles will teach a course called "Christian Mission Local and Global: An Asian Perspective." Dr. Niles has been a church leader in the worldwide ecumenical movement for many years.Sunday morning, October 30 - November 20. We will watch and discuss the video Turning Points: Stories of Life and Change in the Church.The video, which is a documentary about ordination was produced by the Covenant Network (Dan Anderson-Little is a board member of the Network). Tom Peters will lead the discussion.

Sunday morning, September 18 - November 20. Friedman's Fables. Edwin Friedman was a rabbi and psychotherapist who wrote a collection of startling and surprising fables that help us look at ourselves. Each week we will read one of Friedman's short fables and discuss what they tell us about ourselves. Dan Anderson-Little will lead the class.

Tuesday evenings (dates yet to be determined) - DNA: Disciples and Apostles. This is the new officer training class that all members are invited to attend. The class will begin at 7:30 and conclude no later than 9. Please consider joining us for this engaging, multi-media exploration of faith. Dan Anderson-Little leads this class.

• In addition to these educational opportunities, we will continue our rich worship life drawing on many musical and liturgical traditions as we worship God. Highlights this Fall include World Communion Sunday (October 2), Stewardship Kick-off (October 16), Reformation Sunday (October 30), and Commitment Sunday/All Saints Day (November 6).

- Paul Vasile, Minister of Music

We're getting closer to our goal! In the past six months, the Trinity congregation has raised over $60,000 towards the upcoming repairs and restoration of our Casavant pipe organ. We've still got $15,000 to raise, but we thought we'd take a different approach this time around.

You are warmly invited to an Organ Fun-raiser on Saturday, September 17 at 7 p.m. The evening will feature the amazing musical skills of Trinity members and friends including:

• Brian Schroer's inimitable humor
• Fairchild's lead singer, Connie Toretta, in an "unplugged" performance
• Selections by the St. Louis Trombone Quartet (a.k.a. The Boneheads)
• A special "Fun-raiser" chorus singing PDQ Bach and others
• George Gershwin selections played by Paul Vasile
• Well-loved moments from musical theater and opera
• And much, much more.

This promises to be the year's most talked-about musical event! What a great way to celebrate the wealth of musical talent in the congregation and support Trinity's music ministry! Tickets are only $15 for adults; children (12 and under) will be admitted free. All proceeds will go toward the Organ Fundraising Campaign.

Mark your calendar now and invite your family and friends to join us!

- Paul Vasile

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.

• The Trinity Choir meets Thursday evenings from 7:15-9:00 p.m. and leads worship regularly from September through June. Music-reading skills are helpful but not required; we welcome all voice parts. First rehearsal is on September 1.
• The Festival Choir 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 25 and September 30. We will sing on World Communion Sunday, October 2.
• The Handbell Choir rehearses periodically throughout the year 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 group of rehearsals will begin on September 14.

· The Sunday Morning Singers welcome children from grades 3 through 6 to help lead worship throughout the year. Karen Coletti will lead a 30-minute rehearsal at 11:30 a.m., immediately after the Christian Education hour. The first rehearsal is September 18.

- Dan Anderson-Little

For the sixth summer in a row, my family and I spent a week at the Ghost Ranch in the high desert of northern New Mexico. Ghost Ranch is a Presbyterian retreat and conference center that offers a variety of classes in Christian thought, spirituality, science and religion, and the arts. In addition, it is in one of the beautiful spots in the world. (This summer U.S. News & World Report called Ghost Ranch one of the 20 places in the United States to see before you die). Over the space of a week, we take classes (the kids attend a well-run day camp while the adults are in class during the morning and evening), hike, swim, read, and take in the wonder of God's amazing creation. This year, as we did last year, the boys and I hiked Pedernal - the flat top mountain that watches over the Ghost Ranch landscape - a nine-mile hike that takes you up to nearly 10,000 feet.

This year, I took a class called Discerning the Signs of the Times. It featured three speakers who are each accomplished theologians: Susan Thistlethwaite, President of Chicago Theological Seminary (U.C.C.); Larry Rasmussen, a retired professor of Ethics from Union Theological Seminary in NY; and John de Gruchy, one of the leading theologians in South Africa during the struggle against apartheid. Together these three developed themes of public theology, engaged discipleship, and Christian Humanism. I believe that some of what I learned about public theology has great bearing on what we do at Trinity.

The first thing to say is that all of us, all Christians - without exception - are theologians. We may not be formally trained in theology (which means the study of God), we may not feel like a theologian, but all of us, by virtue of our faith in Jesus Christ are theologians. What do I mean by that? I mean that all of us who have had a profound encounter with God through Jesus Christ have something important to say, not only about our own faith experience, but how that faith has an impact in the world. Public theology is the sharing our perspective, our experience and understanding of God with the world.

Many Christians will find two problems with engaging in public theology. Some don't feel they have enough to say or wouldn't know how to say it properly - they feel it is best left to the experts. But public theology is best expressed when members of the public - you and me - share our thoughts and perspectives, sharing what we believe to be right and wrong, what we believe God intends for all people, whether or not our words are elegant or our thoughts are completely coherent. Others may feel that we shouldn't impose our faith views on others. But public theology, when it is done with integrity does not seek to impose its views, but rather to share and express views with others. Jesus never said, "believe this or else"; rather he invited people to consider and live a new way. As individual Christians and as the church, we are called to do no less.

So where do we do public theology? We do it when we operate a food pantry, for a food pantry not only feeds the hungry but communicates that we believe that hunger is not God's intention for the world. We do it when we build Habitat for Humanity homes. We do it when we participate in the Alternative Gift Market. We do it with our Statement of Welcome, which not only welcomes people who have been traditionally excluded from the church but that also describes our understanding of the nature of God - a God who welcomes all of God's children. We do it when we write letters to the editor, when we vote, when we make a purchase; all of these activities communicate our Christian values.

Worship is the other area where we engage in public theology. Intentionally wrestling with difficult social justice issues in preaching, drawing on a variety of cultural expressions in worship, praying for peace are all acts of public theology. My time in Ghost Ranch this summer reminded me how important this activity is especially for churches that have a strong commitment to peacemaking and justice. It also reminded me that we all, every day, have profound ways to live our faith and be public theologians.

An additional note about Ghost Ranch: I am helping to plan a class for next summer at Ghost Ranch called A Church for Our Time. The class will be offered from July 31 to August 6. I would love to have a "Trinity Week" at Ghost Ranch during the week. I want to invite all members and friends of Trinity to consider going to Ghost Ranch during that week next summer, whether you are interested in taking that class or not. If you would like more information speak with me, or check out the Ghost Ranch website at www.ghostranch.org.

- Cricket Gordon

"Sorry!" Anna wails as she pitches a pillow at me. I'm lucky it's just a pillow because her aim is dead on. Her universe is out of order; her head hurts and she doesn't know how to stop it. She has already banged her head against the wall which only makes things worse. Sympathy is not what she wants; she simply wants her head to stop hurting. Her face is red and wet with tears. Her nose is in need of a good blow, but she is so distressed that the offered tissue is thrown across the room midst screams and sobs. She is out of control, she knows it, and she doesn't know what to do about it.

I've been bitten and scratched enough times to know that it isn't wise to try to touch her now. She's already raked my arm with her nails.Distraction sometimes works; however, leaving her alone to collect herself, having quickly removed anything with which she could harm herself or others, seems the method of choice this time. Once the sobs subside, I can offer her a glass of water and an Ibuprofen. The shrieking and wailing goes on for several minutes. I know in my heart of hearts that she never intends to hurt anyone or to be naughty; she simply doesn't have the vocabulary to explain what she wants or needs.

Yet, while I stand there nursing my bleeding arm - a result of getting too close - my own emotions tumble and struggle together. It is hard not to be angry. After all, she hurt me. I realize, though, that my emotion is not so much anger as it is frustration. I can't always head off these outbursts, I don't know how to stop them, and, frankly, now my head hurts too.

For a few moments, I can truly understand why some parents beat their children. The mere thought frightens me to death. I would never intentionally harm my child, but pushed too far, what might I do? "What can I do?" I find myself crying out loud. Is God listening? Is He just letting me muddle through? Am I trying to "do it on my own," and that is why I can't hear His answers?

Anna's sobs are subsiding. I get the medicine and glass of water. As I go past the mirror, I see my own face red and tear-stained. I quietly hand the tablets and glass to Anna. She snuffles and takes them. Sometimes she just throws them at me, but this time she swallows the tablets and water and hands me the empty glass. I go back to the bathroom to find a tissue and a cold, wet wash cloth. She lets me help her blow her nose. I wash her face as gently as I can. She is calmer, but I know from experience that she can erupt again very quickly before the medicine can take hold.

The nose blow seems to have helped tremendously. She starts to get off her bed. "Nuzzle?" she asks. I give her a big hug. "Are you okay?" I ask. "Yah." She answers as she heads for the stairs, "Watch a movie." The crisis is over.

Thank goodness God knows what we want or need whether or not we have the words to express it.

- Becca Courtnery, 721-2191, rlc5924@bjc.org

As we are closing in on the end of the summer, I am preparing the Nursery for the Fall semester. Some of the toys and other items in the Nursery are showing that they have been well-loved and well-used over the years. Here is a list of a few things the Nursery could use, if you find yourself cleaning out like me!

Exersaucer - Rocking chair or glider - Bouncy seat/pumpkin seat - Activity gym (for floor play for infants) - CD player (can have tape player, too) - Board Books

If you, or someone you know, has any of these bigger items, give me a call or drop me an email so I can let you know if we have already received them. Any other items can be left in the Nursery near the changing table.

We are also looking to expand our wonderful staff of volunteers. There are many times our regularly scheduled volunteers need a Sunday morning off, and we could use your help. If you would be interested in learning more about volunteering in the Nursery, call, email, or come on down to the Nursery one Sunday.

Thanks for your help!