- Keith Fischer, Chair, Corporate Affairs Commission

"Stewardship is not a campaign - not a budget - not a percentage.
It is living our faith."

We need to repeat and understand this statement from an earlier stewardship campaign before we again talk about this year's budget. We must be stewards of God's gifts of this beautiful earth and the people, made in God's likeness, who populate it. We must be stewards of the gifts God has given us, including our wealth. In Luke 12:48, Jesus says "Everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required."

Trinity's Session has committed to reducing the church's deficit spending by $25,000 in 2006. A deficit of $75,000 was budgeted in 2005 and we will reduce this to at least $50,000 in 2006. Because of the August departure of Janet Chester, our 2005 budget deficit will not be the projected $75,000, which is good news.

We will accomplish this deficit reduction in part by decreasing our expenses. By reducing the hours of the Church Administrator and by not having a full-time Director of Christian Education, we will reduce personnel expenses by about $22,000. The budgeted salaries include a raise for all personnel of only 2%, which does not even account for inflation. With a successful stewardship campaign, we hope to adjust salary raises. The reduction in salary expense and other savings in insurance for the building, copier contracts, organ maintenance (the organ will be removed and rebuilt in April), and payroll taxes should exceed projected utilities increases and our commitment to Metropolitan Churches United. The proposed budget holds the line on mission giving, maintaining the level of the past year.

Deficit reduction also depends on increasing pledges. For the first time in five years, we are budgeting an increase in pledges - from $295,000 (2005) to $305,000. Other sources of funds - loose offerings and interest on investments are budgeted to decrease. Because of using savings to cover deficits, we have fewer funds each year on which to collect interest. This will also be true in 2006 because $25,000 will be taken from church savings to help pay for organ renovation. Loose offerings depend on you, the members of the congregation; the trend has been down each year for the past three. Can we reverse it?

The budget proposed for next year is an act of faith on the part of the Session - faith in the abundance of God's gifts to God's people; faith in God's stewards here at Trinity Presbyterian Church. When you receive your pledge card in the mail, consider your contributions of time, talents and treasure prayerfully. Please choose the path of generous stewardship which demonstrates our love of God and our love for each other - those eternal circles of our faith.

Various aspects of the church's finances and mission will be highlighted during "stewardship season." On November 6, commitments of pledges will be received and dedicated. If you have questions about the proposed budget, you may contact me or fill out a question card (to be found in the church dining room).

SUNDAYS, OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 20

Ordaining Gays and Lesbians in the Presbyterian Church
10:40 - 11:30 A.M. IN THE WEEMS CHAPEL

Trinity is a member of the Covenant Network, a Presbyterian association that affirms gays and lesbians. Dr. Dan Anderson-Little sits on its 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 gays and lesbians in the Presbyterian Church, specifically in allowing their ordination.

We will have an opportunity to watch the video in an adult education series starting October 30. Diane O'Brien, Jim Person and Tom Peters will lead discussion after each 15-minute segment to help strengthen our church's resolve to be an open and loving church to all God's children. Join us as we watch four different stories about real people trying to discern the role Christ calls those who are Christian and gay or 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

Should gays and lesbians be ordained as deacons/elders? Is there really a difference between gay marriage and civil unions? Does the ratification of Amendment 2 (marriage is only between man/woman) in the state of Missouri with such overwhelming support affect you? Are you aware that Missouri state legislators are drafting legislation for next year's election cycle to ban gays and lesbians from adopting? Should you respond to persons who quote scripture about limiting the roles of gays and lesbians in our faith community? Such questions may inform discussion.

The video is available for purchase on the Covenant Network website (www.covenantnetwork.org) or a copy can be checked out through Trinity.

Significant worship events coming up include:

November 6 - All Saints Day and Pledge Sunday - On this day we will remember the saints who have died in the past year and we will commit ourselves to God's future by presenting our pledges. We will also celebrate the sacrament of communion.

November 20 - Christ the King Sunday - This is the final Sunday of the church year. We acknowledge that Christ is the Lord of our lives and at the same time remember that he comes not to be served but to serve. We will ordain and install new officers and celebrate the sacrament of baptism.

November 27 - The First Sunday of Advent - The new church year begins as a time of expectant waiting. Advent is not only a time of preparation for the Christ child, but a time of acknowledgement of our need and the world's need for him.

- Sandy Norkaitis

- news/2005/11.html#04195238

Sunday, November 20 - 3:00 p.m. - At Trinity

Humans are invited to participate in the blessing of all animals: pets, farm animals, wild animals, endangered species. Please bring your pets! If your favorite animal is too large, too small, too old, or too wild to bring, please bring a picture (photo or drawing) or other representation. Your animal will be blessed in absentia.

- Paul Vasile, Minister of Music

The Organ 'Fun'raiser held September 17 was a great success! We shared a fabulous evening of music and laughs and raised $3,800 towards the repair and improvement of Trinity's Casavant pipe organ. The Organ Fundraising Team would like to extend their thanks to the audience and all of the performers who gave so generously of their time, talent and resources. And for those who weren't able to attend, sound clips of the Funraiser can be found on Trinity's website.

To date, the congregation has raised $190,000 towards our goal of $200,000. For more information on how you can make a gift or pledge in support of this exciting project, please speak with me.

In collaboration with Early Music Saint Louis, Trinity will host a concert of lute song solos and duets on Saturday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, donations welcomed. The program will include works by John Dowland, Thomas Campian, Thomas Morley, as well as selected dances for lutes and recorders. The performers will be Sasha Johnson Manning (soprano and recorder), Holly Marland (alto, lute and recorder), and Jeffrey Noonan (lutes).

Sasha Johnson Manning is an internationally recognized composer and performer, specializing in vocal and choral literature. Holly Marland, who is on the professional staff of the Royal Conservatory in Manchester, England, performs regularly in England and on the continent. The two performers have extensive performing experience with English early music ensembles but only recently began exploring the lute song repertoire. This concert will be their U.S. debut performing this literature. The vocal duo will be joined by local musician Jeffrey Noonan, who performs throughout the region on early plucked instruments.

The Festival Choir will sing on All Saints'/Commitment Sunday, November 6. Rehearsals will be held on Sunday, October 30 at 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. We will sing a setting of the Beatitudes by C. Albert Scholin, a past organist/choir director at Kingshighway Presbyterian Church (one of the churches that merged to become Trinity over 50 years ago) and the father of our very own Ray Scholin!

The Handbell Choir continues to welcome individuals with an interest in ringing bells! Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.; our next rehearsal is on November 2. To find out more about being involved, contact me.

In early 2006, Trinity will host a concert series for the congregation and local community. Concerts will feature a variety of musical styles and talented performers in the St. Louis community. Mark your 2006 calendar: February 4, March 4, and April 1.

Announcing Pre-School Teachers!

Here are the "Winners" who will share their time with our delightful pre-schoolers at Trinity: September - John Merker ; October - Karen and Darrell Mayberry; November - Norma Vavra; December - Rick and Cathy Hasler; January - Christy Thompson; February - Linda Peterson; March - Tom Peters; April - David Nelson; May - Christy Schindler.

Thank you for your commitment! - Norma Vavra

"Katrina Czarina" Lisa stirs a pot
for the Red Beans and Rice Cafe"

Many of you know Lisa Bernhard from the Science and Religion Christian Education class last spring where she led a session with her fellow obstetricians Kim Martin and Diana Gray. Lisa shared information and perspectives about her specialty, genetics and prenatal diagnosis.

Lisa heard of Trinity through Kim Martin, and through Christy and Jeff Thompson. Jeff is another colleague.

Lisa grew up in New Orleans. She went to Vanderbilt University, and then to Louisiana State University Medical School. She met her husband Joe at LSU. Lisa and Joe came to St. Louis for their residencies at Washington University, and they have lived in the area ever since. Joe is an anesthesiologist. Their two daughters, Madeleine and Katie, are 15 and 13 years old. The family now lives in Clayton.

Like many in this congregation, Lisa was raised in the Roman Catholic church. She says that she enjoys the thoughtful atmosphere at Trinity. In her free time, Lisa enjoys biking and gardening.

Beth Martin, with husband Kurt and
children Nate (2 1/2) and Ella (5 months)

Beth Martin is the Engineering and Science Director of the Interdisciplinary Environmental clinic at Washington University. In the clinic, teams of law and science students, working under faculty supervision, provide pro bono legal and technical assistance on environmental and community health problems to individuals and organizations who cannot afford to pay for such services. Beth's hobbies include running and reading. She says she found Trinity when she looked for a church in her neighborhood. She was impressed by the children's program and the warmth and openness of the Trinity community.

- Melissa Kreishman

First, I would like to thank all who have already donated their old, discarded cell phones. I have made one drop-off to RAVEN with 18 cell phones!

For those who may not have seen the first request for your old cell phones, please consider donating them to help RAVEN! Old phones can be placed in a marked collection box that is located in the church Narthex (vestibule). Phones collected will be sent to RAVEN. RAVEN receives a donation from a partner collection agency that recycles and reuses the old cell phones. Every cell phone helps!

RAVEN is a non-violence education center that provides group-based intervention and non-violence education with men who batter. It is one of the many agencies that Trinity supports through local mission giving.

- Lisa Bernhard

Members of Trinity Presbyterian Church have responded quickly, decisively, and lovingly to help those who have suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina. As early as the first week after the hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast, movement was afoot to provide aid and comfort. The earliest effort, spearheaded by Do Kirk, Sally Dunn, and Ann Fischer, was the collection and distribution of hundreds of personal care kits.

Next, Betty Burnett connected with University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, determined their immediate needs, and galvanized the congregation to help meet those needs. People responded enthusiastically, donating trunkloads of diapers, formula, and assorted infant and maternity supplies.

No sooner had that task been accomplished than the call came for cleaning supplies so that refrigerators that had been smoldering for weeks could be "de-grunged." Ever-nimble Betty shifted gears, put out the call for help, and orchestrated the collection and distribution of 1000 cleaning kits. Needless to say, Betty had the help and support of many in the congregation - teams of people who assisted in procurement and donation of items and packaged the items for shipping. Rick Jeter drove the shipment down to Louisiana. Diana Gray arranged to have surgical face masks and infant/maternity goods donated by Barnes Jewish Hospital delivered there. Cases of Clorox paid for by Trinity funds were delivered directly to Louisiana. Needs in this area continue to evolve, and Betty has graciously volunteered to continue to serve as the leader in this role.

On the local scene, several initiatives are underway to assist people who have evacuated from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to the St. Louis area. The first effort was the establishment of the Trinity Red Beans and Rice Café. It took the Red Beans and Rice Café team all of about 30 minutes to decide that the idea was a good one and to set it in motion. Trinity has now held five Café dinners, and we have hosted up to 50 guests from the New Orleans area on a given evening. The Café is held every Monday night from 6 - 8 p.m.; the meal is free; and all are welcome. As with our other hurricane relief efforts, the Café is a team effort, and any and all members of Trinity and extended family are welcome to help or just attend the meal.

A second local effort has been to assist the Williams family in furnishing their four apartments as they transition from motel living to their new homes. This family, originally from New Orleans, lost everything they owned in the hurricane. Members of Trinity responded to the call for help and provided all the items needed to outfit two kitchens, as well as assorted furnishings and clothing. Members of the Trinity Youth Group demonstrated true dedication and compassion by arising very early (8 a.m.!) on a recent SATURDAY morning to assist in the transportation and sorting of donated items.

Through the efforts of Barb Rand, Trinity has also assisted another large family. Just after the hurricane, the extended Harrington family of 40 arrived in University City to stay with a relative in her two-bedroom home. We met most of the family members at the first Café dinner, and Barb has continued to meet with them on a weekly basis to determine their needs. Thus far we have helped this family by donating gas cards and have plans to donate winter coats.

I am coordinating Trinity's hurricane relief efforts. Along with other members of the congregation, I have been meeting with representatives from other St. Louis area relief and charitable organizations so that as we move forward, our relief efforts will dovetail with those of others. Most recently, Ann Fischer, Betty Burnett and I met with others of the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery to discuss a presbytery-wide relief effort proposal. The Presbytery would like to sponsor a volunteer/relief worker camp in the New Orleans area and will soon be asking churches for support.

Please direct any questions or suggestions regarding Trinity's hurricane relief efforts to me (email: bernhardlm@gmail.com; phones: 863-6505 or 495-1368).

- Nancy Wagoner

On a cool and rainy Friday morning in September, I began a 60-mile walk to raise funds for research, education and awareness of breast cancer. The beneficiaries of the walk were the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Philanthropic Fund for Breast Cancer Research. There were 2,410 participants in this 3-Day Walk in Chicago, and we raised over $6,400,000.

It was like nothing I had ever done before. I knew only one person there - our daughter Sarah, who works for the organization that produced the walk. But I only saw her a few times during the day, and for this particular event she was delivering ice and water to the "pit stops." So I was on my own to make friends, and it was amazing how easy that was. We would walk for about three to four miles, then stop for as long or as short a time as we wished, then start up again having refreshed ourselves with food and water. Each leg of the trip gave me an opportunity to make a new friend. And this was true at meals, standing in line for showers or the porta-potties, or around our tents.

The people who came to Chicago from all over all had a single goal - to make a difference in helping to find a cure for breast cancer. Three days of blisters are nothing compared to what those who have breast cancer have to go through. This is a "non-discriminating disease," affecting all ages, genders, and races.

I was so impressed with the 200+ cancer survivors who participated and clapped and cheered for us at the closing ceremonies. When they entered the field, all of us walkers took off a shoe and proudly waved it high, affirming our support and their determination to beat their disease. There was hardly a dry eye there.

All along the route from St. Charles, IL through various suburbs to Chicago's beautiful lakefront, people clapped and cheered, gave us treats and "high-5's" and hope...mostly hope that we could make a difference. It was the Power of One.

And so, to my Trinity family members who helped support me with your pledges, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to achieve a goal that helped me grow physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Your gifts inspired me to complete what I set out to do. Even Sarah was impressed that I did it!

- Kathie Cahoon and Christy Thompson

We discovered among us those who had cherished 8-track tapes and those who'd never even heard of 8-tracks; those who knew how to dance "the Hustle" (ask Dan for a demonstration!) and those who didn't know there was a dance called "the Hustle"; those who were adept at archery, canoeing, tree identification, and woodland lore, and those whose idea of fun in the wilderness involved moving a folding chair into the (very shallow!) river and sitting on it until forced to come out for meals.

We spent Saturday afternoon playing in the river, tie-dying T-shirts, pillowcases, and our hands, and exploring the hiking trails through the area. We gathered around the campfire Saturday night to sing songs and make s'mores. Sunday morning brought us all together for a prayer service in the outdoor chapel just after dawn. All this time, we were learning about each other, making connections with folks we'd never met or had never gotten to know very well, and having a tremendous amount of fun with one another.

After the Sunday service, retreat attendees were asked) to write a haiku about their experiences in the

woods, or something about the area that moved them deeply. These poems were hung on a "poet-tree" so that everyone at Trinity would have a chance to see them. Some of them are printed below, and we will be including more of them each month in Trinity News. The poet-tree is now in the Thicket in the God's Creation area downstairs. Please stop by and read a few (or all) of the haikus and share our experience with us!

Plan to arrive early for extended preludes on November 6 and 13!

On November 6, violinist Shawn Weil will play the opening movement of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major. This gifted, young musician is a member of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. The following week, the Brass Roots Quintet will play a variety of musical selections. This group rehearses at Trinity every Wednesday morning and is affiliated with OASIS, an organization that helps to enrich the lilves of mature adults in our community.