Spotlight on Equipping Churches: This space will feature other churches from around the country that have successfully applied the principles of equipping ministry to their life in Christ. Some of these churches will be like Trinity, others will be very different, but we can learn from their experiences as we continue to develop our emphasis on equipping.

Central is a large congregation located in suburban Baltimore, close to the campus of Towson University. It began its journey to becoming an equipping church with the development and implementation of a spiritual education program that focused on discerning each participant's spiritual gifts, and finding opportunities for them to serve within the Church. As the program grew, Central realized that God was calling them to do even more, and the church committed to becoming an equipping church in 2002.

Equipping is everywhere at Central Presbyterian. Their mission as a church is to move "people toward Christ by being a community of faith which loves, encourages and equips them in Christ, sending them out to serve." Central accomplishes this mission with a comprehensive array of ministries that connect, educate, equip, support and check-in with members throughout their church lives.

Central decided that the primary purpose of its leadership, both staff and lay, is to equip members for ministry, and then give the ministry over to the members to perform. The members of Central are committed to working together as a community, and they provide the energy to accomplish a truly amazing breadth of ministry both inside and outside the church's walls. They operate a preschool, staff extensive care and counseling programs (Stephen ministry, marriage mentoring, grief support), and participate in more than forty small group ministries. Central is also passionate about social justice, and they partner with thirty social action groups in the Baltimore area, including Habitat for Humanity, job placement, food charities, and an extremely low-cost health care clinic.

For more information on Central Presbyterian Church go to www.centralpc.org

The initial Equipping Ministry Team is in place, and we are beginning work on the next steps in our Equipping emphasis. The Team consists of Dan Anderson-Little, Ann Fischer, Do Kirk, David Nelson, Rob Peglar, Tim Rand, Chris Schmidt, and Holly Tasker. Feel free to contact any member of the Team with thoughts or questions you might have.

Currently, the Team is working on four projects. First, we have been working through The Equipping Church Guidebook, one of our primary resources, to target new and existing ministries to equip. We anticipate working in partnership with members of the congregation and Commissions as we pilot and refine our equipping systems.

Second, the Team, through the leadership of Do Kirk, is working to improve communication of the numerous exciting opportunities each of currently has to engage in ministry at Trinity. We have a lot happening at Trinity already, but we can do a better job of letting everyone know so they have the opportunity to get involved. Look for new information to be posted throughout the Church, and to arrive in your real and e-mail boxes.

Third, the Team is working on a pilot project in conjunction with the Evangelism Commission. Members of the Team and a subcommittee of Evangelism will work together to strengthen our welcoming ministry, using equipping principles.

Finally, the Team is working to equip the people who will serve on the search committee to fill our new equipping and Christian education staff. We will be providing input to Session on individuals who might serve, and are preparing materials to assist the searchers. It is a busy and exciting time for your Equipping Ministry Team. We appreciate your prayers, support and input. -David Nelson

The purpose of equipping is to help every member and friend of Trinity to discover their God-given spiritual gifts, to discern their calling, and to find meaningful ways to live their ministry. From time to time we will feature Trinity members who are being equipped for their ministry and who are equipping others.

Every Wednesday, men and women in need come to Trinity Presbyterian Church's Winger Food Pantry to help stretch their food dollar. The Food Pantry thrives on the work and generous contributions of many Trinity members. It also thrives because of the capable equipping leadership provided by Food Pantry Coordinator Sandy Norkaitis.

Equipped for Ministry

Sandy has been equipped for this ministry in a variety of ways. Her equipping began as a young girl when she joined the Girl Scouts. That experience taught her the importance and the blessing of serving others. When Sandy became an adult she continued her work with the Girl Scouts, eventually becoming a member of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis. At every step of the way, Sandy received training to help her be a more effective leader. Ultimately, she was equipped to equip other volunteers.

When Sandy started to work at the Food Pantry over a decade ago, she was given some instructions on how to do her work. She continues to be equipped for this ministry by worshipping regularly at Trinity, by working at the Pantry two Wednesdays a month, by staying in touch with members of the congregation, and by strategizing with the Pastor and with Food Pantry volunteers to ensure that we maintain an effective and faithful ministry.

Equipping Others

The strength of the Food Pantry is the called and equipped volunteers who labor so faithfully. One of the keys to that volunteer core is the equipping leadership the Sandy provides. The equipping begins with Sandy's gift for seeing others' potential and for encouraging people into meaningful service. Sandy does this by watching people over time and through conversation to help others identify their passions. Once people sign up to work in the pantry, Sandy makes sure that they know how to fulfill their duties. The Food Pantry is a highly participatory multi-generational ministry at Trinity-it not unusual to see people in their teens and in their eighties working in the Pantry. They all do different work, but they all share two things in common: they have been equipped for their ministry and they are feeding the world.

David Nelson

Spotlight on Equipping Churches: This space will feature other churches from around the country that have successfully applied the principles of equipping ministry to their life in Christ. Some of these churches will be like Trinity, others will be very different, but we can learn from their experiences as we continue to develop our emphasis on equipping.

Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco is a PC(U.S.A.) congregation of over a thousand members that is a fellow member of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. They began their equipping journey by hiring a member as a half time Director of Equipping Ministry in 1999. Calvary has thoughtfully constructed their equipping systems over the past seven years into lay-lead teams that provide a web of support to all members of and visitors to the Church.

Calvary has a Welcome Team that provides a warm, informative introduction, a New Member Team that takes interested people through the process of joining, a Discovery Team that works with members to discern their gifts and call, a Connections Team that matches people with ministry and mission opportunities, and a Follow-up Team that assures the matches made are good ones. Under the coordination of their Director, Jim Dees, Calvary is continuing to expand and refine their equipping ministry, with new teams in the works, and old ones constantly looking to improve.

As a result of equipping, Calvary experienced a vast increase in both internal and external ministry and mission. In 1999, 20% of members were actively engaged in ministry, now 44% of the growing congregation is involved. In addition, the number of active ministries has more than doubled, with many new ministries being added within the walls of the Church, such as assembling and preparing mailings, fellowship events, and charitable collections, as well as out in the community, such as staffing food pantries, building Habitat houses, and expanding Calvary's homeless ministry.

Jim Dees is excited about what Trinity is undertaking, and has already been providing valuable resources to the Equipping Ministry Team. We expect Calvary to be an wonderful aid to our Church as we move forward.

For more information on Calvary go to http://www.calvarypresbyterian.org

Rev. Dan Anderson-Little

After seven sermons, five adult education classes, five meals at members' homes, a leadership retreat, a staff retreat, and a presentation at our Annual Meeting, our initial introduction to equipping has now come to a conclusion. These past two months have been significant time of learning, asking questions, expressing hopes, and catching a glimpse of God's future for Trinity. I want to thank the members of the Equipping Ministry Team (Ann Fischer, Do Kirk, David Nelson, Rob Peglar, Tim Rand, Chris Schmidt, and Holly Tasker) for all of their hard work. Also, a huge thanks to the Trinity members who hosted the dinners and brunches and all of you who attended and shared your thoughts.

As we move forward with our equipping emphasis, we want to keep you up to date on our progress: We are currently in the process of refining job descriptions and choosing search committees for both the equipping position and the Christian Education position. Once the search committees have been identified, we will let you know who is on them. They will also keep you up to date on their progress.

We will continue to work on our equipping emphasis as we search for new staff members. The Equipping Ministry Team will be meeting with some of the commissions at Trinity to partner with them in pilot equipping projects. We do not want to wait until a staff person is here before realizing the blessings and benefits of being an equipping church. As those efforts get off the ground, we will share stories of what is happening so all of us can see how equipping enhances the ministries that are so important at Trinity.

These are exciting times at Trinity. I ask for your prayers and your ongoing participation in our dialogue about equipping as we move ahead together.

The purpose of equipping is to help every member and friend of Trinity to discover their God-given spiritual gifts, to discern their calling, and to find meaningful ways to live their ministry. From time to time we will feature Trinity members who are being equipped for their ministry and who are equipping others.

Last year, under the leadership of Diane O'Brien, eight adults from Trinity went to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to serve, to grow in faith, and to share their faith. This year, building on the success of last year's trip, Trinity is sending another group of adults to Louisiana to help with Hurricane Katrina clean up. While these mission trips have been team efforts, Diane's leadership has been instrumental in helping this ministry become a reality.

Equipped for Ministry

Diane has been equipped for this ministry in a variety of ways. She has been a regular worshipper in church for many decades. In the early 1990's, Diane took seminary classes in Texas and she is currently taking classes in theology and Bible at Eden Seminary. In 2003, she enrolled in the DNA class at Trinity which gave her new insights to her spiritual gifts and her spiritual passions. She worked with Janet Chester as she prepared to be an advisor on the 2003 Youth Mission Trip. When she returned from that mission trip, Diane worked with the Pastor to refine her vision for an adult mission trip. They met numerous times to see how her dream for an adult mission trip would fit into Trinity's overall mission and where there were resources to make her vision a reality. With the success of the first trip, Diane discerned that God was calling her to expand on this experience. In anticipation of a new effort, Diane and the Pastor discussed her leadership strengths, the areas where she needs to grow as a leader, and how she could improve her leadership.

Equipping Others

As this ministry has grown, Diane has started to equip others to take on leadership for this year's mission trip. She spent time listening to others' passions for mission in the world. She formed a team that could dream and plan for new opportunities. Diane uses her gift of hospitality to create an atmosphere where everyone is included and can contribute to the effort. This year, more people are taking leadership roles with the mission trip. Diane now dreams of a time when each year, Trinity sends multiple mission trip groups locally and globally to be transformed and to transform the world. Because she has been equipped and is equipping others, that dream is becoming a reality.

Trinity's Adult Education Planning Team invites you to...

Faith, Business and the Law
Sundays, March 5 - April 9, 2006
10:40-11:30 a.m. in the Weems Chapel following 9:30 Worship

Explore the intersection of faith, business and the law as experienced and practiced by Trinity members working in these fields and one guest speaker from the PC(USA). The presenters will share how their faith impacts and informs their work in the legal and business fields and how their work experience may have shaped how they view their faith. We hope you will mark your calendars now and invite your friends for this exciting Adult Education Series that promotes learning and faith-sharing.

Sunday, March 5th: "Faith and Civil Litigation" Paul Devine, Attorney, Partner at the firm of Paul, Camazine and Blumenthal.

Sunday, March 12th: "Faith and Criminal Defense" Jasman Lutz, Assistant Public Defender, Missouri Public Defender's Office, Trial Division.

Sunday, March 19th: "Faith, Management and Career Counseling" Barb Rand, Senior Career Management Consultant, Right Management, and Tim Rand, Vice President, Information Systems, HBE Corporation.

Sunday, March 26th: "Faith, Labor History and Worker's Rights" Debbie Henry, Professor of History, University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Sunday, April 2nd: "Faith and Investing" Bill Somplatsky-Jarman, Associate for Mission Responsibility Through Investment and Environmental Justice of the PC(USA), Louisville, KY.

Sunday, April 9th: Panel Discussion with Terry Crow and Tom Nutter from the Law perspective; Cathy Smith and Margy Brown from the Business perspective.

Terry Crow is a Partner at Crow, Takacs & Texier; Tom Nutter is Chairman of the Intellectual Property Department at Gallop, Johnson and Neuman and an adjunct Professor at Webster University; Cathy Smith is Communications Consultant with the Sisters of Mercy Health System, supporting their technology transformation project; Margy Brown is Senior Vice President and Credit Risk Manager and Bank of America.

The Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery, through the Hurricane Recovery Action Team of the Missional Outreach Ministry Team, is supporting the development of a Volunteer Village in Houma, Louisiana in coordination with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

The Presbytery will provide the start up funds and the personnel for set up and initial operation of a volunteer housing area for up to 100 volunteers from churches around the country. Eventually groups will come to the site and stay for 1-2 weeks and work in the bayous nearby helping residents of the area recover from the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

For more information, please visit the Presbytery web site.

The "Big Ugly" wall is on its way to becoming a Creation Wall. Most all the children have claimed a spot and began their art work (all Henri Matisse Apprentices). I know it's scary to let go and not have an exact plan. I guess it's a little like all God's creatures! The wall has already taken on a life of its own. The only rules the children have been given is they cannot infringe on another's work unless they decide together to merge their labors. I know many adults have ideas, but I'm sorry, this creation belongs to the children! Hands Off! Thank you to Harold Glad for framing in the chicken wire (it was a bigger job than planned). Thank you to a variety of men that removed the big extra door (not to worry if you covet old doors, it's in the boiler room). When we're worried of fearful about this world take a moment with the Trinity Children. They are the scripture "the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it!"

Celebrate April Fool's Day in style with the popular The Saint Louis Stompers, who will perform at a free concert on Saturday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 6800 Washington in University City. The concert is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a reception.

The concert is the third in a new series being hosted by Trinity Presbyterian. Titled "Reverberations: Enriching Lives through Engaging Performances in Eclectic Styles," the concert series offerings emphasize diverse musical styles and performances, ranging from classical to contemporary.

The Saint Louis Stompers is one of the Midwest's finest jazz bands, performing energetic renditions of Dixieland, Ragtime and Swing music.

The Adult Mission Trip Team is finalizing plans for the trip to Louisiana at the end of this month. Several people who are not able to go on the trip have asked how they could participate. Here, in addition to prayer, are two ways:

• Donation for tools: The team will need gloves, rakes, shovels, hammers, wheelbarrows, ladders, respirators, etc. The Presbyterian work center staff would like us to purchase these items in Louisiana to help rebuild the local economy and then leave the tools with them to build their inventory. The PDA center may also need a small generator. If you would like to participate in the mission trip in this way, send checks made out to Trinity with a notation "for adult mission trip tools" to the church office.
• Books: The New Orleans Public Library is asking for hardcover and paperback books for people of all ages to restock the shelves after Katrina. Books not suitable for the library's collections will be distributed to destitute families or sold for library fundraising. Bob and Nancy Wagoner will transport the books to New Orleans. Please bring books you would like to donate to church by March 19 in bags or boxes clearly marked "Adult Mission Trip."

We look forward to this opportunity to help our brothers and sisters in very concrete ways. We also look forward to bringing stories, photos and greetings back to you!

Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

The season of Lent occurs at the time of the year when the earth begins to awaken to the strengthening sun. This year at Trinity, we are going to spend the season of Lent rediscovering the ways that God invites us to awaken to God's beauty and God's love in our lives.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. While the mood of Ash Wednesday can be somber, it is also a time that invites us to awaken to God's hope. The ashes on our foreheads remind us of our mortality and also of the promise of the resurrection. The Ash Wednesday service will be held on Wednesday, March 1. We will have a prayer service in the Weems Chapel beginning at 7:30 pm which will include communion and the imposition of ashes. Starting at 8:15 pm, the Chapel will be available for anyone who would like to spend time in quiet meditation. Communion and ashes will be available for people those who only come to the meditation time.

The first four Sundays in Lent will focus on our theme of Awakening. On the fifth Sunday of Lent we will have a guest preacher, and Palm/Passion Sunday (April 9) will feature our bagpipe processional followed by a congregational reading of the passion story.

If you would like to prepare for our worship services in Lent, here are the themes and scriptures that I will be preaching on:

• March 5 - The God Who Remembers - Genesis 7:15-8:12
• March 12 - The Earth is Reborn - Song of Solomon 2:10-13
• March 19 - Christ Within Us - II Corinthians 12:6-10
• March 26 - A Community Bound by Love - Colossians 3:12-17

Wednesday, March 1, Ash Wednesday

• 7:30 p.m. Prayer service in the Chapel with Communion and imposition of ashes.
• 8:15 p.m. Quiet meditation in the Chapel. Communion and ashes will be available.

Sundays in Lent, Awakening to God
The first four Sundays in Lent will focus on the way our spirits awaken to God's presence. Worship begins at 9:30 a.m., education for all ages at 10:40 a.m.

Sunday, April 9, Palm Sunday
Note: The St. Louis Marathon will be run this day; parking in the lot behind Cicero's (north of Delmar) suggested.

• 9:25 a.m. Procession with bagpipers
• 9:30 a.m.Worship Service - A Congregational Reading of the Passion Story
• 10:40 a.m.for all ages
• 11:30 a.m.in the Dining Room

Thursday, April 13, Maundy Thursday
6:00 p.m.Communion in the Dining Room. Reservations requested.

Child care provided

Friday, April 14, Good Friday

• 7:30 p.m.Service in the Sanctuary
  Child care provided

Sunday, April 16, Easter

• 8:45-11:00 Easter breakfast in the Dining Room
• 9:30 a.m.Worship Service in the Sanctuary
• 11:00 a.m.Service in the Sanctuary

Nursery/preschool child care and worship school for younger children available

Sunday, April 23, 2nd Sunday of Easter

• 9:30 a.m. to be held in the Dining Room due to organ renovation
  

Sundays, March 4 - April 9, 2006
10:40-11:30 A.M. in Weems Chapel
Following 9:30 Worship

Explore the intersection of faith, business and the law as experienced and practiced by Trinity members working in these fields.

• ­ The first four Sundays will include presenters sharing how their faith impacts and informs their work in the legal fields of litigation and criminal defense, and the business fields of management, career counseling, labor history and workers rights. We look forward to hearing from Paul Devine, Jasmine Lutz, Tim and Barb Rand and Debbie Henry, respectively.
• ­ On Sunday, April 2nd we will enjoy a guest preacher and speaker from the PC(USA) headquarters in Louisville, Bill Somplatsky Jarman, who will add to our program with information on faith and investing.
• ­ The series will conclude with a Panel Discussion on Palm Sunday, April 9th, with four more Trinity members sharing their insights and experience.

We hope you will mark your calendars now and invite your friends for this exciting Adult Education Series that promotes learning and faith-sharing.

This is a list of Trinity Members who are in need of our prayers.If you would like to be added to the prayer list or know of a member who is in need of prayer, please call the church office, 314-725-3840.

Prayers for Homebound Members

• Helen Bauer
• Myrtle Beckmeyer
• Juanita Bruns
• Eleanor Griffin
• Mabel Howell
• Russell Kramer
• Edna Paul
• Jim Pettus
• Fred Sassmanshausen
• Ethel Scott
• Margaret Smith
• Maxine Story
• Dorothy Strickler

Prayers for members with special needs

• Marcus Elliott
• Kellie Jones - recovering from auto accident
• Kim Merritt
• Andrea Pfeifer-Stephens - recovering from leg surgery
• Charley Royce - Recovering from foot surgery
• Don Weems - Recovering from knee replacement surgery
• Jim White - Recovering from surgery

Tim Rand

In 2005, for the first time in my life, I truly gave up something in Lent and found that I got much more in return. In fasting every Wednesday, I learned a lot about myself and my relationship with God.

I cannot say why I did it. Fasting has always been understood as a necessary spiritual medicine for our souls. But why did I do it? Perhaps to prove something to myself. Perhaps because I really don't have a spiritual discipline and felt that I needed one, if only for a brief time. Perhaps because I was looking for more fulfillment in my church life. I guess I could say that it was mostly because I felt called to do it.

My process was simple. From the time I awoke until sundown, I would only have water. I do need a cup of coffee to get going in the morning, so I allowed myself that. One cup. Then some time after sundown, I would eat a light meal such as a small salad, a bowl of soup or other small dinner.

I found that it's not about the lack of food. Rather, it's about that inside feeling - it is too simplistic to call it hunger - that really made me think about things around me. I became much more aware of my daily actions. An instance the second week last year surprised me. I found myself throwing away the wrapper of a piece of candy I had just eaten...but I didn't remember eating it. I knew I did, the taste was in my mouth and the wrapper was in my hand, but I didn't remember eating it. At first I was mad at myself. Then I realized I would learn from the experience. I'm sure that many of you are like me - you do things every day instinctively. Yet, you might make a different choice if you took a moment to think about it. These Wednesdays during Lent forced me to think about the decisions I make.

I chose to tell a few people about my fasting. One decision I made last year to share my fast story I think touched another. A vendor called to meet with me over lunch on Wednesday. I asked her if we could move the meeting to Thursday because I was fasting the day she requested. I almost didn't tell her why out of embarrassment, but I'm glad I said something. We then had a wonderful opportunity during the lunch to discuss our faith, how we demonstrate it and what Christ means to each of us. Because I would not normally delve into religious discussions in the work situation, we would not have had the conversation had I not been fasting.

All of this comes to my relationship with God. I found I took my lunch hour to be more prayerful. I found I was more conscious of God's work in my life and I saw his guiding hand at work in ways I never have before.

I encourage you to join me on Wednesdays, or whatever day works for you. Don't think of it as giving up food, but rather that you are gaining in spiritual awareness and growth. Remember that the important thing is to take away distractions, to focus instead on the mercy, salvation, and comforting provision of God. Make time and space for God, and God will meet you.

Matthew 6:16-18:

And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Out of Chaos, Hope"

That's the motto of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Volunteer Villages. And we at Trinity have a chance to make that motto a reality by volunteering for an urgent mission in Luling, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans. Who could forget the horrors we saw on television and magazines when Hurricane Katrina struck last August? Immediately afterward Trinity responded to provide assistance as best we could from afar. But now, nearly six months later, while those gruesome images may be fading from memory our help is still needed, desperately.

The work, while not requiring any special skills, is vitally important. Our sisters and brothers on the Gulf Coast need partners to help rebuild their community. Our days will be spent performing the most basic of tasks. Mucking out homes, salvaging furniture, recovering valuables. As hard as it is to imagine, reconstruction is still a long way down the road.

As important as the clean-up work is providing reassurance to those in need that they have been neither forgotten nor abandoned. Before Christmas, Betty Burnett received an email from Lisa Easterling, Pastor of First Union Presbyterian Church in Luling, the church to which Rick Jeter drove a truckload of supplies and the Senior Highs sent gooey butter cakes. Lisa said, in part, "...The need continues and will continue to be great in the Greater New Orleans area. Betty, it is my fear that once the media leave the needs here will be forgotten and so communication within the wider church becomes vital."

We are going on this mission trip so that the people of Luling will know Trinity has not forgotten them. The trip is scheduled for Sunday March 26 - Saturday April 1. Please think it over. You are encouraged to invite friends and family (must be at least 18 years old) to join us. Our arms and hearts as Christians can reach far beyond the doors of our sanctuary.

TO VOLUNTEER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Diane O'Brien, mailto:dobrien@eden.edu or Jim Person, jim.person@aeis.com

Dan Anderson-Little

Located in the high desert northwest of Santa Fe, NM, Ghost Ranch is one of our denomination's national conference centers. (Montreat is the other.) For the past six years, my family has had our world changed by spending time in the stunning world of Ghost Ranch. This year, my family and I want to encourage members of Trinity to join us for a time of renewal and spiritual growth.

Ghost Ranch runs a summer program that begins in mid-June and runs through mid-August. The summer is divided into week-long seminars. Each week a variety of seminars is offered. Seminars can be anything from classes in spirituality, to theological conversation, to creative writing, or to stained glass and a variety of arts. Courses are different every week and are led by excellent facilitators. While adults take seminars in the mornings and evening, children from preschool to high school have day camp. Everyone has the afternoon off. Ghost Ranch has many great hiking trails (some offering awesome vistas of Georgia O'Keeffe's landscape), a well-stocked library, swimming pool, horseback riding, and a variety of other activities. Each morning after breakfast, there is a short devotional service. Most guests at Ghost Ranch stay in cabins and eat their meals in the dining hall. Others bring an RV or tent and stay in the campground. There are accommodations to fit most needs and budgets.

During the week of July 31-August 6, I will be co-leading a course called "A Church for Our Time." Paul Vasile will also participate in this class. I want to issue a special invitation for Trinity members to come to Ghost Ranch during that week, but if that week does not fit your schedule, I would encourage you to attend any week you can.

Ghost Ranch is a magical place - it is a place of amazing beauty, profound spirituality, and deep and restful silence. I have never seen so many stars as I have at Ghost Ranch. It continues to call me and my family back year after year.

Paul Vasile

I have always wondered how the first Christians celebrated the Resurrection. As far as we know, there were no public celebrations, triumphant hymns, or brass and organ to herald the joyous events. But there must have been an intense joy when the disciples gathered in the name of the Risen One - a uniting sense of wonder and awe. Their corporate praise and prayer must have been transformed by this miracle.

After Easter Sunday, Trinity's pipe organ will begin a resurrection of its own. Just hours after the last notes of "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" have faded, Casavant Freres organ builders will dismantle our instrument and ship many of the pipes and the console to their factory. Only two weeks after that, the roof above the organ will be repaired to prevent soot and debris from settling into the instrument. And then, after five months of repairs and improvements, the instrument will slowly but surely return - revoiced, updated with new technology and ready to lead worship with renewed beauty, imagination, and strength. It will be a joyful thing to see and hear, though hardly as dramatic as Christ's three day turnaround.

Because the Sanctuary will become a workshop for much of April and May, services will be held in the Dining Room. This is nothing new for those who have worshipped at Trinity for many years. The congregation experienced a similar change while the Sanctuary was being repainted and after a terrible fire in the early 1980s. This will certainly change the feel of our worship and I am excited about the possibilities it presents. Not only will we have an opportunity to be physically closer to one another but we also have an opportunity to rediscover the communal quality of singing and to live into our calling as the congregational choir whose songs and responses are integral to worship.

Concurrent with the organ repair, a five-week small group opportunity will be offered to those who want to "tune up" their singing voice. Using the book, "The Singing Thing" by John Bell, participants can learn how to sing with more confidence and freedom, and experience how singing nourishes the soul and builds community. Participants will also practice a diverse collection of hymns, responses, chants and songs that will be used in worship services. The first group will convene in late April; additional groups will be held throughout the summer and in the early fall. This is a great way to be equipped for worship and prayer, whether you sing in the choir or in the shower!

With or without the organ, this Eastertide and following months promise to be a time of renewal and celebration. We will give thanks to the One who has overcome death and celebrate the Love that frees to become all that we are intended to be!

When God's redeeming Word took flesh to make salvation sure,
unheeding hearts attuned to strife refused Love's overture.
When God's redeeming Word took flesh to make salvation sure,
unheeding hearts attuned to strife refused Love's overture.
Yet to the end the song went on: a supper's parting hymn,
a psalm intoned on dying lips when sun and hope grew dim.

But silence won no vict'ry there; a rest was all it scored
before glad alleluias rose to greet the Risen Lord.
The Church still keeps that song alive, for death has lost its sting,
And with the gift of life renewed the heart will ever sing.

- Carl Daw, from New Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs

The Organ Fundraising Team is pleased to report that we have received pledges and gifts from the congregation totaling $68,920. This amount includes all lead gifts and one-time gifts and pledges made from the beginning of our campaign until today. Adding this to the Endowment and apartment sale contributions, we have grand total of $193,920. This means we are only $6080 away from our goal of $200,000!

If you have not had an opportunity to support this important endeavor or would like to help put us "over the top" with an additional gift, pledge cards can be found in the Narthex. Checks designated "Organ Fundraising Campaign" can also be placed in the offering plate. Thank you, again, for helping us to be good stewards of the wonderful instrument that we have been given!

Nancy Potter comes to us from the other side of Missouri; she is from the St Joseph area. After graduating from college, she worked for a short time in the field of national politics in Washington, DC. She is now a first year law student at Washington University in St. Louis. She is joining Trinity because everyone has been so warm and friendly to her.

- Daniel Haeusser

Brian Jeter graduated from College of Charleston (SC) with a major in psychology and is currently working at the Judevine Center for Autism. He is looking forward to seeking a masters degree in industrial psychology in the fall. Brian joins Trinity by transfer from Grace Presbyterian Church Ft Mill, South Carolina. His family were charter members of the church. He is most excited by the inviting and inclusive nature of Trinity. Brian likes to bicycle in Forest Park, cooks, and is a fellow left-hander. He lives in the Central West End.   

- Jim Person

Vickie and Rick Jeter moved to St. Louis in 2001 from Fort Mill, SC, a suburb of Charlotte, NC. They have been married for 33 years and lived throughout the south prior to moving to St. Louis.

The Jeters have three sons and a daughter-in-law. Mike teaches elementary school music, composes children's operas and plays in a rock band; his wife Narcie is a campus minister at Emory University. Aaron, a senior at Fontbonne University, is interested in writing and film-making. Brian (above) lives in St. Louis.

While living in Fort Mill, the Jeters were part of a new church development and charter members of Grace Presbyterian Church. Vickie worked with the team planning, directing and developing a pre-school at Grace, later serving as a director/teacher. Her artwork helped create a worship atmosphere for the church's temporary facilities and now is hung in the permanent facility. She has taught preschool and kindergarten Sunday School and has provided office support. Rick was active in developing the Adult Education Program, taught Adult Sunday School, and served as the first Clerk of Session. He represented Grace on two medical mission trips to Honduras and chaperoned one youth trip to Honduras. His woodworking construction skills helped build a stage and a playground. Both Vickie and Rick served as youth chaperones for ski trips.

Rick and Vickie are both pilots, and they enjoy ballroom dancing. Rick works in pharmaceutical and health-care distribution. Vickie is a harpist and manages their home and the special projects the Jeters are involved in.

- Cathy Smith

Meet Rhonda Dunbar and Hanna, Cheryl and Reed Evans in next month's Trinity News.

SAVE THE DATE!

"Up, Up, and Away!" - Thursday, May 4

You are invited to join a "Trinity Table" at the annual Benefit Dinner of C&C, an interfaith pastoral counseling agency long supported by Trinity's mission funds. C&C's sliding scale fee - made possible by this Benefit - makes quality counseling available to persons who might not otherwise receive help. If you would like to join the celebration, or learn more about C&C, please call Ann Fischer (361-5891) or Jane Rand (994-0378).

We would like to extend our most sincere thank you to Ann and Keith Fisher, Do Kirk, Tom Peters and Terry Crow, Harold Glad and Jan Schulte-Glad, and Kim, Megan, and Mark Merritt for opening their homes to host our recent series of equipping dinners and brunches. We also appreciate everyone who took time to attend and participate in one of the meals. It was an excellent time of fellowship, and we received much useful feedback that will help guide the next steps in our equipping emphasis.

- The team working on Equipping Ministry