Beyond Religion
[Trinity]
Sun, Oct 30 2005 9:53 AM CST
October 30, 2005 sermon by Dr. D. Preman Niles
[more]
Why I Like Halloween Better Than Pastor Appreciation Day
[Presbyterian Minister's Journal - by Apostle John]
Sat, Oct 29 2005 10:32 AM CDT
[Presbyterian Minister's Journal - by Apostle John] Late in October, there is a frightening creature that comes moaning and groaning out of the shadows. It is the ultra-conservative Christian who feels obligated to come to my office to insist that we do something to stop all this demonic Halloween business.
"It's destroying the children," one might say to me. "It's so evil with all this emphasis on witches." Perhaps even with a tear in her eye she will add, "I'm just thinking of the children. Can't we just have the children dress up as Bible characters?"
[Link] [more]
Stop Torture of Detainees
[PC(USA) Washington Office]
Fri, Oct 28 2005 6:48 PM CDT
[PC(USA) Washington Office] The PC(USA) Washington Office urges you to urge your senators to support the "McCain amendment" to the Defense Appropriations bill. Missouri's Senator Bond was one of the nine who voted against the amendment.
[Link] [more]
Transforming grace
[PC(USA)]
Wed, Oct 26 2005 7:13 PM CDT
[PC(USA)] On Reformation Day, Oct. 30, the
Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden will officially reopen.
Frauenkirche, a monument of Lutheran Baroque constructed between 1726 and 1743, was Germany's largest Protestant church, a landmark in a city known as "Florence on the Elbe."
Less than three months before the end of World War II, on Feb. 13, 1945, Dresden was destroyed by bombers from British Royal Air Force. A huge firestorm virtually demolished the entire city. More than 40.000 people - including large numbers of women, children, wounded people and refugees - were killed.
[Link] [more]
YES Open House
[Trinity]
Tue, Oct 25 2005 8:58 PM CDT
Youth Emergency Service (YES) will host an open house on Sunday, November 13th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are focusing on attracting University City residents to the event and are receiving support from the U City Optimist Club. They would love for University City residents to come by and learn more about what they do.
As you may know, YES is a crisis care shelter for youth ages 11 to 18.
They help families who are homeless, families in crisis who need a time apart, and youth who have no where to go when a parent is in the hospital. They provide individual and family counseling, as well as a two-week stay for the youth at no cost to the family.
The address of Youth Emergency Service is:
6816 Washington Ave.
University City, MO 63130
(314) 222-4851
"We have truly witnessed the love of Christ made real"
[PC(USA)]
Mon, Oct 24 2005 7:46 PM CDT
[PC(USA)] A letter to the denomination
from South Louisiana Presbytery
[Link] [more]
A Circle of Love and Service
[Trinity]
Sun, Oct 23 2005 12:11 PM CDT
October 23, 2005 sermon by Dr. Daniel R. Anderson-Little
[more]
"It's a Matter of Faith"
[PC(USA)]
Fri, Oct 21 2005 8:55 PM CDT
[PC(USA)] The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is stepping up its efforts to combat the worldwide spread of AIDS, launching a new campaign: "It's a Matter of Faith."
[Link] [more]
MCU Listening Campaign Completed
[Trinity]
Fri, Oct 21 2005 7:30 PM CDT
Thanks to all who participated in the Trinity Listening Campaign - the first step as we join
Metropolitan Congregations United. Over 110 Trinity members were interviewed during our campaign. During the conversations many relationships were strengthened, renewed, or started and people's hopes and concerns about the congregation and the community were shared. We will next prepare a summary of the information collected and will be presenting the summary to the congregation at a meeting on Wednesday evening, November 16. Dinner will be provided! Please mark your calendars and come participate to learn more about the information from the listening campaign and about Metropolitan Congregations United. This meeting will provide important direction as Trinity moves ahead with Metropolitan Congregations United. We hope to see you there.
Stop Human Needs Budget Cuts!
[PC(USA) Washington Office]
Mon, Oct 17 2005 7:12 PM CDT
[PC(USA) Washington Office] The FY 2006 Congressional Budget Resolution, which Congress approved earlier this year, instructed the House and Senate committees to design policies to cut $35 billion over five years from programs under their jurisdiction. The House and Senate Budget Committees plan to report their spending reduction packages on October 24 and 26, respectively.
There is concern that funding for the Food Stamp Program, Medicaid, and student loans may face significant reductions through this process. Reductions to these programs would have devastating impacts on those in need of food, health care, and education in our nation.
In light of the increased needs following Hurricane Katrina - and new Census figures that show that poverty is on the rise, now is not the time to cut vital human needs programs.
[Link] [more]
The Stewardship of Values
[Trinity]
Sun, Oct 16 2005 10:21 AM CDT
October 16, 2005 sermon by Dr. Daniel R. Anderson-Little
[more]
Responding to torture, a different way of being church
[PC(USA) Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase]
Sat, Oct 15 2005 10:50 AM CDT
[PC(USA) Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase] There is now clear and compelling evidence that the U.S. government has routinely turned to torture as an appropriate tool in the "War on Terror." As I have traveled this year, I have asked Presbyterians to think carefully about the growing level of violence (torture, militarized borders, security checkpoints, and the War against Iraq) that our government has employed on our behalf in its earnest quest for security in a time of violence. I have insisted, and continue to insist, that this is a deeply theological challenge. As Christians, we know that genuine security is found only in Jesus Christ, whom we discover as we read and re-read scripture while we seek to live Christ's example in the world around us.
[Link] [more]
10th Anniversary of the Shower of Stoles Project
[More Light Presbyterians]
Sat, Oct 15 2005 8:43 AM CDT
[More Light Presbyterians] The National Board of Directors of More Light Presbyterians recognizes and celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Shower of Stoles Project this month. We offer this recognition with mixed emotions because this marks the 10th Anniversary of the birth of the project wherein its founder, Martha Juillerat set aside her ordination as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
[Link] [more]
A letter from Jean Marie in New Orleans
[PC(USA) Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase]
Sat, Oct 15 2005 8:34 AM CDT
[PC(USA) Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase] Many of you have gotten to know my close friend and colleague, Jean Marie Peacock. She is the associate pastor at Lakeview Presbyterian Church in New Orleans, and has served as the Vice-Moderator of the 216th General Assembly since June of last year. Jean Marie sends the following update on her experience of returning to New Orleans.
[Link] [more]
Ordinating Gays/Lesbians in the Presbyterian Church
[Trinity]
Sat, Oct 15 2005 8:28 AM CDT
Sundays, October 30 - November ,
10:40 - 11:30 A.M. in the Weems Chapel
following 9:30 worship
Covenant Network ia a gay/lesbian affirming Presbyterian association. Trinity is a member of the Covenant Network and Dr. Dan Anderson-Little sits on the national board. Recently, the Covenant Network produced a documentary entitled "Turning Points: Stories of Life and Change in the Church" to facilitate tolerance and acceptance of gay/lesbians in the Presbyterian Church, specifically in allowing ordination of gays/lesbians. We will be offering an opportunity to watch the video in an adult education series over four Sundays starting on October 30. Diane O'Brien, Jim Person and Tom Peters will lead a discussion after each 15 segment to help strengthen our church's resolve to be an open and loving church to all God's children. Come join us as we watch 4 different stories about real people trying to discern the role Christ calls those who are Christian and gay/lesbian to take in the Presbyterian Church.
October 30: Called to Serve
November 6: A Mother's Son
November 13: Reunion
November 20: Open Door
The video is available for purchase on the Covenant Network website (www.covenantnetwork.org) or a copy can be checked out through Trinity.
Grace on a Plate
[Presbyterians Today]
Sat, Oct 15 2005 8:08 AM CDT
[Presbyterians Today] Re-connecting food and faith
[Link] [more]
"The Holy Innocents"
[Trinity]
Mon, Oct 10 2005 8:37 PM CDT
This is Lakeview Presbyterian outside of New Orleans. It is a church that our friends at First Union Presbyterian in Luling are concerned with and where the cleaning supplies depot was scheduled to open today: - Betty Burnett
This picture reminded me of this passage that I included in last year's World Communion Service - very poignant and very true: - Dan Anderson-Little
The Holy Innocents
I meet him every moment
Your Son, and our Brother Christ.
Hunger causes physical, mental and moral damage.
When I see the children of my people,
The Silent World,
Wasted away, stomach distended.
Heads enormous and often very empty,
Retarded as if it were missing.
It is Christ that I see.
Mother, we understand each other so well,
That I have no need to explain,
Or ask you anything.
I shall keep your statue
With the deformed Child,
As in life, as in our world,
In which egoism breeds monsters.
Even when the Third World
Gains a head and a voice
The Child will continue to be headless
As a remembrance of the days of sorrow
That will belong forever in this past.
- Archbishop Helder Camara of Brazil
The verses are about a stone statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child. The Child's head has been broken off. People had suggested that a new head should be carved. "No" was the answer.
PDA sends $60,000 to Pakistan for survivors of titanic earthquake
[PC(USA)]
Mon, Oct 10 2005 8:22 PM CDT
[PC(USA)] The money, from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated disaster funds, is being channeled through Church World Service (CWS), PDA said in a situation report issued Monday.
[Link] [more]
PDA sending $50,000 to help Salvadoran victims of Hurricane Stan
[PC(USA)]
Mon, Oct 10 2005 8:21 PM CDT
[PC(USA)] Thousands in Mexico and Central America
killed or left homeless by mudslides and floods
[Link] [more]
Leaders of 134 church and civic groups urge Bush to stop genocide in Darfur
[PC(USA)]
Tue, Oct 4 2005 8:42 PM CDT
[PC(USA)] In a Sept. 21 letter to Bush, six religious leaders - backed by an alliance of 134 religious and secular humanitarian and human rights groups calling itself the "Save Darfur" coalition - expressed "horror and dismay" at the violence in the western Sudanese region and called for more money for an African Union protection force there.
[Link] [more]
Says Who?
[Trinity]
Tue, Oct 4 2005 7:42 PM CDT
September 25, 2005 sermon by Dr. Daniel R. Anderson-Little
[more]