MCU wants the following provisions to be included in the MODOT bid specifications for the Highway 40/I-64 reconstruction project:

1. 30% of all hours should be completed by apprentices who are local residents and are eligible to receive an earned income tax credit.
   
   This addresses the issue that "minorities aren't qualified" for construction work by offering them on-the-job training and it specifies that a third of the jobs go to local workers. Using the "earned income tax credit" as a standard eliminates racial issues. This is not an affirmative action proposal that could be challenged in the courts. This is a proposal to train low-income people for higher paying jobs.
2. Utilize 1/2 to 1% of federal highway dollars to support apprentice training and incentives for apprentice utilization.
   
   A precedent for this provision was set during the years of the Great Society. It is present in much current legislation involving federal construction projects but has been ignored for years.

Postcards and petitions addressed to MODOT are in the Narthex. We need your signature. Help create jobs for those who need them!

Trinity will offer two services on Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) and another on Christmas morning (Sunday, December 25).

The services on Christmas Eve include a 5 p.m. "no shushing" abbreviated Lessons and Carols service appropriate for all ages and a traditional Lessons and Carols Candlelight Service beginning at 11 p.m.

The worship service on Christmas morning will begin at 10:30 a.m., and will include communion as well as singing of Christmas carols.

For more information, call the church office at 314-725-3840.

New pictures have been added to our photo album page from:

• The Senior High Youth cookie baking service project
• The Blessing of the Animals
• The Fall All-Church Retreat

Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 6:15 a.m., buses will leave Second Presbyterian Church (4501 Westminster) for Jefferson City. MCU congregants, including Trinity members, have the opportunity to attend the MoDot meeting where the reconstruction of Highway 40/ I-64 will be discussed. MCU is calling for one-third of the jobs to go to local, low-income apprentices and will apply consistent pressure to be sure this is done. Sign-up sheets are at the church or e-mail John Roman, jroman@wustl.edu to let him know you'll be there.

January 8^th 2 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
7200 Delmar Blvd.

The MCU Mid-County cluster will hold an Issues Assembly on Sunday January 8^th at 2 p.m. to decide on the issue that the cluster will work on during the coming year. Each member congregation will present the issue they've determined is the most important. Trinity will present the case for focusing on public education. Other issues to be presented are race and poverty, viable employment, fair access to health care, uncontrolled development, and environmental problems. All congregations are invited to this meeting and each member present will have a vote.

This is why it is important that you are present - the more Trinity members at the meeting, the more likely the issue important to us will be selected. This should be a fun afternoon - the assembly is run like a political convention with all the politics and excitement we can generate. Childcare will be provided for children under ten. Children ten and older may participate and vote.

Look for a sign-up sheet at the church or contact John Roman, Kitty Underwood, Luise Hoffman, or Tom Serfass to let them know you will attend.

- Dan Anderson-Little

I had the chance to see Kellie today. As the earlier email from Karon indicated, she "woke up" last night. She has been able to sit up in a chair and no longer is wearing a collar that they put on her to protect against possible neck injury. This morning, even though she was very sleepy, she was able to answer a variety of questions accurately, e.g. where was she, what is her birthday, how old is she, and was also able to accomplish some memory and counting exercises. So she is getting better and Lori is very encouraged. They were to move her to a private room today and off of ICU. Lori expects that she will be in the hospital for the next 3-7 days. As plans develop, I will let you know.

Thank you for your prayers and your concern. Please pas this email along to anyone who is interested in how Kellie is doing. Again, visitors are most appropriate; phone calls are not the best way to contact Lori. She is spending most of her time in the hospital and not able to respond to messages.

Thanks be to God for Kellie's improving condition!

Dan

- Dr. Daniel R. Anderson-Little

As many of you know Kellie Jones (daughter of Lori Luchtman-Jones and brother of Noah Jones) was in a serious car accident on Friday night. She is currently in Intensive Care at Children's Hospital having suffered a head injury. At this point there is no clear prognosis, but the hope is that she will wake up soon. She does have some moments of consciousness. When I was at the hospital today she was very sleepy when I first got there. Lori said she had a hard morning with a CT scan and a bath. When I left, I prayed with her, Lori, Noah, and a couple of friends in the room. Kellie reached out her hand for the prayer. When Lori and I left, she waved. She also shook her head on a couple of simple yes and no questions. So Lori is hopeful that she is on her way to recovery, but there is no way to predict when, and with what impact.

Here is what I know about the accident: Kellie and some friends were in Webster Groves for a hockey game between Clayton and Ladue. At or near the end of the game, there was a fight at the arena and fans at the game were encouraged to leave as quickly as possible. It was about midnight, and instead of waiting for a parent to pick them up, Kellie and her friends accepted a ride from a friend. Kellie had her seat belt on. While driving (the roads were still slushy and starting to freeze), the boy who was driving misjudged some maneuver and collided with another car. The other car hit where Kellie was sitting (behind the driver). Her car spun around and hit a guard rail and that also hit at the point where Kellie was sitting. Kellie was taken to St. John's and later on Saturday morning was moved to Children's. In addition to the head injury she also had a cut behind her right ear (which was stitched up). She was put on a ventilator for the first 12 hours or so, but is now breathing on her own. She also has a collar on in case of broken bones. She has some bleeding on her brain, but it is not getting worse, so that is a positive sign. Lori is just waiting now.

Here are ways you can help:

1. Pray for Kellie and her family.
2. Lori would welcome visitors to Kellie at the hospital from those who know her. The stimulation is good for her. She is in Intensive Care at Children's.
3. I would encourage you not to call Lori. She is working at the hospital and will be spending nights there. No one will be at home to take calls and when she does get home, it won't be helpful to have lots of messages.
4. Lori says she doesn't need groceries or the like right now. If Kellie continues to be in ICU, new needs may arise. I'll let you know.

I will keep you all informed each day. Lori and Noah greatly appreciate the care and concern of Trinity members.

Thanks for your prayer and concerns. Please pass this on to others who would want to know about Kellie.

Dan

Sunday, January 8 will be a day of journeys. Our journey will begin in worship when we celebrate the journey of Jesus' ministry that began in his baptism. Then, as an entire congregation, we will take an exciting journey of faith to the St. Louis Art Museum where we will ses the exhibit Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur. Ur was the home of Abraham and Sarah, and this field trip will enable us to get a glimpse of their world. We will leave right after worship on January 8. There is a nominal cost of $2 for adults and $1 for children. Please indicate in the fellowship pad if you are planning to go. After our journey to Ur, we will journey back to Trinity for a luncheon and then journey to First Presbyterian Church for an MCU Issues Assembly. The Issues Assembly is the time when member churches of the MCU bring forth their identified community issues so that the entire cluster can pick an issue for all churches to work on together. Each church gets as many votes as members present, so Trinity can help influence the outcome of this Assembly by having a large contingent there. All members are invited to plan to make a day of it as we journey together in faith.

A congregational meeting for the purpose of electing officers will be held immediately following worship in the Sanctuary on Sunday, December 18. Candlelight Christmas Coffee will follow.

Members of the OASIS bands practice at Trinity 5 days a week. OASIS is a nonprofit educational organization designed to enhance the quality of life for older adults. On Monday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m. the OASIS bands will play a recital in Trinity's Sanctuary. All members of Trinity are cordially invited to come to this delightful concert.

December 11, 2005 sermon by Dr. Daniel R. Anderson-Little [more]

- Lisa Bernhard

The City of St. Louis needs your help to volunteer at a very special event. Next Thursday, December 8, the City of St. Louis will conduct its first Project Homeless Connect event to link people who are homeless to community services. Professionals will be offering free medical assessments, health testing, employment and housing assistance, legal services and other social services to our area's homeless. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the 12^th and Park Recreation Center located at 1410 S. Tucker Boulevard downtown. Street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Between 40 and 60 volunteers will be needed to serve as greeters, help serve meals to clients and family members, escort clients to the areas where they can get access to services, making medical appointments and anything they need.

There are several shifts that you can consider volunteering your time to truly make a difference:

Shift One: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.(morning volunteer)

Shift Two: 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.(afternoon volunteer)

Shift Three: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.(all day volunteer)

Several key positions that are available for volunteers include:

• Event Set-up
• Greeter
• Food server (food handling training will be required and will be conducted on-site)
• Client assistance/buddy
• Distribute holiday stockings filled with personal care items as clients exit
• Event clean-up

· Area facilitator (each section or area of the event needs 3-5 volunteers to serve as troubleshooters/offer directions, etc.)

If you are able to help, please send an e-mail to SkinnerR@stl.unitedway.org with the following information:

1. Your name
2. Your e-mail address and daytime contact phone number
3. Your shift availability--either shift 1 (morning), shift 2 (afternoon) or shift 3 (all day)
4. Your preferred volunteer position (please note that we will need to be flexible in scheduling volunteers to ensure coverage in all areas)

Upon receipt of your interest, we will notify you promptly via e-mail to provide you with additional information about next week's event. Thank you again for helping make the City of St. Louis' first Project Homeless Connect event a success.

Sincerely,

Rick Skinner
Director, Volunteer Center

December 4, 2005 sermon by Dr. Daniel R. Anderson-Little [more]

Please plan to attend and help the people at First Presbyterian make food baskets, advent calendars, Xmas ornaments, and gingerbread houses for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. See the calendar of events below.

Saturday, December 3

2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Shop the "Make the Season Matter" Gift Market with "Fair Trade" items from Plowsharing Crafts, baked goods, pottery, artwork, Plan Grande Scholarships from the Latin American Action Team, etc.

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Craft & Service Project

Make Christmas ornaments and put together food baskets for four families made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. David and Liz will lead a carol sing-a-long at 5:30!

6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Chili dinner

6:45 - 7:30 p.m. Help make gingerbread houses for the Katrina families

The Bel Canto Chorus of St. Louis,
Dr. Bruce Vantine, Director

presents...

Choral Music to Warm Your Holiday Joy

featuring...

• "Charpentier's Midnight Mass for Christmas" with flutes and strings
• Plus other Seasonal Choral Selections
• Audience Carol Singing

Friday, December 9 - 7:30 PM
Parkway United Church of Christ
2841 North Ballas Road

Sunday, December 11 - 3:00 PM
Westminster Presbyterian CHurch
Delmar & Union Vlvds. (5300 Delmar)

Reception following concert
Admission - $10.00 Suggested Donation