The MCU (Metropolitan Congregations United) Mid County Cluster approved a new issue - Responsible Development and Affordable Housing - and invites all who are concerned about these issues in our communities to its first task force meeting on this issue on Tuesday, June 19th, 5:45 PM, at First Congregational UCC, 6501 Wydown (just east of Big Bend). For more information, please contact Bolivar Fraga at (314) 367-3484 or at bfraga@mcustl.org

Custodian Birty's daughter, Ismelda, husband and 4 children (14, 13, 7, 4) have moved out of his house to their own house and are in need of furniture and housewares (dressers, bedframes/beds, curtains, chairs, plates, etc.). If you are able to provide items, please contact Liz in the Church office (725-3840). You will not need to transport large items.

Liz Nelson

On Saturday, June 23^rd from 6-7pm, a group of ethnically and musically diverse St. Louisans will appear on channel 23 (WGN Superstation)'s Singsation International Gospel Humanitarian Awards show. The choir, comprised of African-American, African and Caucasian singers and musicians from Trinity Presbyterian Church, The City-Wide University Chorale, and The Saint Louis African Chorus were invited to perform indigenous songs and portions of African Chorus director Fred Onovwerosuoke's African Highlife Mass for Choir and Highlife Band.

The chorus represents the diversity of St. Louis, both racially and musically, and shows our community the exciting outcome of creative collaboration with people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Click here for pictures and stories from the concert.

- Dr. Daniel Anderson-Little, Pastor

This summer we will have a rich and varied worship life at Trinity. Different musicians and ensembles will offer their gifts in worship. Different preachers will share their faith and perspectives. And each of us has the opportunity to hear God's word to us anew. Here is the schedule as it currently stands (I will let you know as we schedule more guest preachers):

June 3 - The Rev. Julie March preaching on the Trinity; celebration of Holy Communion; recognition of Scholin-Weems Scholarship recipients; commissioning the Senior High Mission Trip Team.

June 10 - Dan Anderson-Little preaching on Luke 7:11-17, the story of the widow of Nain.

June 17 - Susan Hayes preaching on Luke 7:36-8:3, the story of the forgiven woman who washes Jesus' feet with her tears.

June 24 - Dan Anderson-Little preaching on Luke 8:26-39, the story of the Gerasene demoniac; we also celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism.

July 1 - Dan Anderson-Little preaching on Luke 9:51-62, the story of the would-be followers of Jesus; summer choir sings.

July 8 - Dan Anderson-Little preaching on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, the story of the sending and the return of the seventy missionaries.

July 15 - Dan Anderson-Little preaching on Luke 10:25-37, the story of the Good Samaritan.

July 22 - Dan Anderson-Little preaching on Luke 10:38-42, the story of Mary and Martha; summer choir sings.

July 29-August 19 we will have guest preachers. As in the past, we will draw on the talented staff and members of Trinity to provide our preaching. This is a powerful way for members to share their faith and develop their preaching skills. The Trinity congregation is a gracious group that has a gift for encouraging emerging preachers.

Five Senior High youth and two adult leaders will leave on June 9 for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota for the 2007 Mission Trip. The group will be working the Lakota people through the Re-Member Organization. The trip is divided into two parts - a work component and a study component. In the study component, participants will spend time visiting with residents and institutions on the reservation to learn more about the strengths of and the challenges facing that community. We will commission the members of the team (which includes Zach Roman, Wyndham Ferris, Dylan Devine, Hanna Evans, Blair Klostermeier, Paul Devine, and Rhonda Dunbar) on June 3 in worship. If you would like to learn more about Re-Member, check out their website at www.re-member.org. Please send the group with your prayers.

- Julie March, Minister of Equipping

Faces of Trinity. The time has come for a new photo directory for the Trinity congregation, as we grow together in fellowship and serve Christ together in community. Our new directory will include photos of the entire Trinity family, with the addition of candid photos of church activities. If you feel called to participate in this wonderful congregational resource, contact Kim Martin for more information.

Scrapbookers Fellowship. Join other Trinity friends and friends-to-be in this relaxing, creative and simple way to pass a few hours, as you create memories and build fellowship together. This monthly get-together for 2-12 people is for those who want to share their time, talents and faith while creating memory books and posters celebrating the life of Trinity. No experience is necessary and all experience is welcome - if you can read, write and cut paper you can scrapbook! Contact Kim Martin for more information.

CROP Walk. Mark your calendars now! Members and friends of Trinity Presbyterian Church will participate in the annual ecumenical, city-wide CROP WALK, planned for Sunday afternoon, October 14 in Forest Park. We will join with hundreds of others to raise money and awareness about hunger in our world, and support Church World Service in its effort to stamp out poverty. Call me at 314-725-3840, or email juliammc@sbcglobal.net for more information.

- Do Kirk

The Dogwood trees have been planted in the University City High School campus shade garden and on the grounds of Jackson Park Elementary School by U. City in Bloom, and the Mother's Day plants have been delivered to lots and community gardens around the city. The Trinity Green Team will continue to offer "full circle" opportunities to the congregation. These offerings - trees, rose bushes, flowering plants - along with your dedications, will be displayed in the Chancel and then planted in parks and community garden areas. Remember-multiple people can give each Sunday. U. City in Bloom is very excited to be working with us as a part of this ministry. If you are interested in joining this new Green Team, please call Julie March at 725-3840. An off-shoot (pun intended) of the Green Team will be the creation of a small group of Trinity gardeners who would be interested in maintaining the small garden plot or two that we have. A ministry description is being created, but if you like to dig in the dirt and tend to plants, please let Julie know.

- Dan Anderson-Little

The Rev. Nancy Wagner is joining Trinity's staff as a Parish Associate. The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) defines a parish associate as: a minister who serves in some validated ministry other than the local parish, or is a member-at-large, or is retired, but who wishes to maintain a relationship with a particular church or churches in keeping with ordination to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament. Because Nancy is not in another call at this time, she is considered a member-at-large of the presbytery. Nancy is currently working toward certification as a spiritual director through the Shalem Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Because she can be a distance learner with the Shalem Institute, she will continue to live in St. Louis.

Nancy first came to Trinity in 2000 as a seminary intern. After graduating from Eden Theological Seminary, Nancy has served in a variety of interim positions. Last year, she felt a new call to become a spiritual director (a person who meets individually with persons to help them discover and discern God's presence in their life and to help the person to develop a more meaningful spiritual life). Throughout her years of ordained ministry, Nancy has maintained a close relationship with Trinity's staff and members. When she finished her last interim position, Nancy and her husband John started to attend Trinity. In the ensuing months, Nancy and I started talking about how she could add her gifts to Trinity's ministry. Our conversations led us to this Parish Associate relationship.

As Parish Associate, Nancy will serve in two important ways: she will provide spiritual direction for members who are interested in deepening their spiritual lives, and she will provide some pastoral care for homebound members and members in the hospital. She will also help out in worship as needed and will be a member of the staff team at its weekly staff meetings. Next month, Nancy will write a fuller explanation of spiritual direction for the Trinity News. In the meantime, help me in welcoming Nancy and John to Trinity's life and ministry.

- Paul Vasile, Minister of Music

Do you want to enjoy singing with others in a relaxed, affirming context (i.e. no music-reading skills expected)?

Do you want to discover how singing can connect you to God, to others and to your own spirit?

• The Myth of American Idol - Why your voice is good enough, no matter what anyone says!
• Breath - What inspires our singing?
• The Vocal Cords and Resonance - How our voices work and how to develop them
• Singing with Style - Exploring the relationship between text and music
• Singing in the Shower vs. Singing in Church - The joys and challenges of harmonizing with others

Our first gathering will be on Sunday, July 8 at 7 p.m. Regular attendance is an important component of the class; we'll do our best to plan our future meeting times around busy summer schedules so everyone can be in attendance. If you are interested in joining us, speak with me or drop me an email (paul_tpc@swbell.net).

- Paul Vasile, Minister of Music

There are some wonderful opportunities to participate in Trinity's music ministry in the coming months.

• The Summer Choir, which is open to everyone, will sing in worship on July 1, July 22, August 5 and August 19. Simply come to rehearsal at 8:30 a.m. that morning and learn an easy piece.
• We will hold a Handbell Exploration Day for teenagers and adults on Saturday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you are interested in ringing bells but have never had the opportunity, come for a fun, and informal introduction to these unique musical instruments. We'll learn basic ringing techniques, music reading skills and rehearse a simple piece to ring in worship on Sunday, July 29.
• Instrumentalists of all ages and abilities are welcome to share their talents with us this summer! Whether you feel comfortable playing a solo, accompanying a choir or just playing along with a hymn or two, you can make a special contribution to our worship services.

This summer, Trinity will serve as a venue for the annual Baroque Music Festival sponsored by Early Music St. Louis. For the past five years, this festival has presented a range of composers and styles from the period performed by some of the finest local and regional musicians. This year's concerts will be on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 22. Be sure to check next month's Trinity News for specific times and program information.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow! Thank you for the overwhelming support that you continue to show for our music ministry here at Trinity. As of May 23rd, the Psalm 150 Fund has received gifts totaling $6,002. Your gifts will help to provide for guest musicians throughout the year and also give support to creative and meaningful musical endeavors that enrich and strengthen our faith. These financial resources also allow us to continue reaching out, giving witness to a faith that is deeply connected to the community and the world in which we live. If you have not had the opportunity to make a gift at this time, donations are gladly received throughout the year. Thank you!!

- Dan Anderson-Little

June 3, 2007, is Don Weems' 50th Anniversary of his ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. Don was ordained by the Presbytery of Nashville. Don served a number of churches in his ministry, most notably Trinity Presbyterian Church for thirty years. Don is Trinity's Pastor Emeritus. We celebrate this milestone with Don and are grateful to God for his many years of faithful service.

- Stacy Shupe

This past semester, some members of the Festival Choir had a unique opportunity to participate in two distinct but connected singing opportunities with two other St. Louis area choirs - the Citywide University Chorus and the St. Louis African Chorus. We sang An African Highlife Mass, written by Fred Onovwerosuoke (Fred O.), director of the St. Louis African Chorus. The first opportunity consisted of rehearsals with shared meals and culminating concerts of joy at both Trinity and the Missouri Botanical Garden. The second opportunity consisted of two spirited rehearsals and a day-long journey to Chicago by bus to be recorded and to sing on the stage of the Chicago Theatre as part of the 20th Anniversary of the "Singsation" gospel program. It was a surreal experience at times, but one that opened my eyes and my heart to the love that flows freely and effusively from these newfound brothers and sisters in Christ.

It all began with a meal.

We welcomed them, these strangers -

whom we knew only in mind

as our brothers and sisters

in Christ

We sang together in joyful but tentative hope -

us clinging to our music

them crossing borders to join us in our space

us lamenting a new philosophy of time

them wondering if joy would ever loosen our bones

We smiled

We sang

We clapped

We laughed

We conversed

We hugged

We prayed

(And yes, at times we cursed)

We praised

We changed

together

in hope and joy

And just as it happens

when time is spent together

meaningfully

and consistently

Our 'us'es and 'them's

Our 'we's and 'they's

melted into one

We

and We now know in our hearts

our brothers and sisters in Christ.

- Liz Nelson

A wall of sound. A huge mass of bodies moving and clapping with impeccable timing, lifting voices in joy - soaring and swooping sounds, tight harmonies, "Amen"s from the audience....the Anointed Voices of Ford Memorial Temple Choir (75 voices strong) compelled me to jump to my feet, my heart racing, my hands clapping along until they hurt, my voice joining theirs in songs I knew and songs my heart knew even though I'd never heard them before. I looked to my right and saw Ann clapping along. And there was Carissa, also being carried away by this intense expression of faith. And to my left, Christopher Taylor (the conductor of the City-Wide Gospel Chorale that made up a part of our group) sang along-hands raised and eyes closed. So different from my typical Protestant expressions of faith, but welcoming of all who wanted to shamelessly praise God (Is that me? It was in that moment!).

We were there, our merry band of singers christened the "African Chorus Community Partnership Choir" for this television taping, to share our vision of multi-racial, multi-cultural music making, but that wasn't the real reason God brought us to Chicago. Sure, we had our five minutes on stage - it went by like a flash, but I do remember Paul's voice ringing out a glorious-sounding "Gloria, in excelsis deo" to start us off and the encouraging calls from the hundreds of audience members as our motley crew brought them snippets of Fred Onovwerosuoke's West African highlife interpretation of the Mass. But I believe God's plan was for us to experience true community. God took us out of our comfortable routine and exposed us to people and experiences that brought us together.

There were many, many small moments of connecting during the trip - among Trinity members and between us and the others that joined us in our "partnership choir": Ablawa Reine, an African Chorus singer, helping us tie our headwraps appropriately (not a typical item of clothing in the Trinity Choir!), all of us hunting for a meal in the bowels of the Chicago Theater, harmonizing in small clusters in an impromptu rehearsal with Fred and Paul when the planned schedule got off track (we turned out to be a more flexible group that I thought we might be!), and standing on the stage of the great Chicago Theater in our brightly-colored robes, doing a sound-check and looking into TV cameras. Check out the Church website for photos that capture some of the energy we experienced.

In the words of the Namibian song, Tuli Tuli.... ("Things are going well....It's all good").

On Sunday May 13, five eighth-grade members of the Confirmation Class were received into membership in Trinity Presbyterian Church. The congregation extends congratulations and best wishes to them as they continue their journeys of faith. They are introduced below by their Advocates.

Click here to read their Affirmation of Faith.

JB Higginbotham is a fine young man who enjoys sports (especially baseball), music (he plays trombone in the 8th Grade Band) and "staying active." Scouting is a particularly important way that JB stays active, having achieved the rank of First Class. JB is very creative. He is quiet, but has firm opinions. He is very comfortable with his faith and excited about joining Trinity. He appreciates that the Trinity community is supportive and allows one to ask questions of faith without having to pretend to "have all the answers." One of the things he's most excited about is being able to "check the box" as being a member! JB has a younger brother, Clayton. His parents are Mike and Jennifer. JB will be in 9th Grade next year at Pattonville High School.

I have really enjoyed getting to know JB better through the confirmation process. I am looking forward to continuing to share my faith with JB now that he has become a full member of Trinity. Please join me in welcoming JB to membership! - Henry Edmonds

Noah Jones has been a part of our Trinity family since his baptism as a baby. He is the son of Lori Luchtman-Jones and the brother of Kelly Jones, members of Trinity. Noah is an amazing young man who juggles his time in family and church activities and his interests in being a baseball player, creative writing, music, and technology. Noah is a problem solver, a quick thinker, and possesses a great sense of humor. He attracts many friends and is especially good working with younger children and serves as a substitute babysitter here at Trinity. Noah expresses that his Christian faith is constant in his daily life, but he also continues to have questions and to search for answers as he engages in conversation and study on his journey of faith. - Kitty Underwood

Marin Klostermeier is an 8th grader at Wydown Middle School, Clayton School District. She is the daughter of Bob and Catherine Klostermeier and sister of Blair. She is a musician, currently playing the bassoon. She is active on a softball team this spring and is a regular summer camper at Camp Taum Sauk, where she hopes to return as a counselor. She is very interested in cooking and would love to be a professional chef. Marin has grown up at Trinity with her family and has participated in many events through the years. She has enjoyed exploring her faith with the others in Confirmation class. She is filled with questions and looks forward to talking with others about their perspectives and faith beliefs. I was so pleased to be Marin's advocate - she is thoughtful, funny, moral, and concerned about others. I am so excited to welcome her into membership at Trinity. - Joanne Roman

How can I describe Joanna Newberry? Joanna is the daughter of Tina and Larry Newberry and the sister of Isaac. She is 14 years old and is in the eighth grade at Hixon Middle School in Webster Groves. Exuberant and energetic are two words that describe Joanna. As you get to know her, it is evident she loves life, as you are greeted by that always present smile on her face. Just spending time with her lifts your spirits because she is always a happy, caring person. She was an active participant in the confirmation class for the past two years Joanna loves to read, likes to go to movies, she is a dancer, a musician playing the tenor saxophone, was recently in her school play and also an outfielder on the softball team. It has been a pleasure getting to know Joanna and being her sponsor for confirmation. - Sandy Norkaitis

Claire Nutter is an eighth grader at St. Paul's Lutheran School. In the fall she will be a freshman at St. Elizabeth's Academy. Claire is the daughter of Tom and Shawn Nutter and the sister of Tyler and Max. Claire is a young woman full of life and energy. She enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and dancing, especially jazz and hip-hop. She always knows when someone is in need of a hug or some words of encouragement. Claire is a true believer and will be a great addition to Trinity. - Megan Merritt

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

- Sandy Norkaitis

We served 121 people/56 families in April. So far this year, our numbers have increased over last year. Thirty of the people served were over 60. Thirty-six families had income less than $650 during April.

Also during April, we received 2816 personal care items from the Girl Scout April Showers drive. Trinity was a drop-off site, manned by Dayna Early, Meleia Carter, Alec, Lauren, Seth and Lindsay Carter-Early.

Tom and I want to thank our Trinity Family for the "sending out" we received in April and the lovely reception that followed. It has been a privilege to have been an active member of Trinity for the last 41 years and to be a part of this community of faith who puts its faith in action - not only in our congregation but in our neighborhood, our city, our country and our world by working for peace through justice and social action and interaction. We carry with us the memories of many saints - past and present - and we know our lives are richer for it. It is a very bittersweet farewell that we bid Trinity as we prepare to move and begin the next chapter of our lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Shalom, Ruth and Tom Cobb

To Aaron Jeter for videotaping Damayanthi's ordination service. Copies on DVD will be available shortly....To Joy Pipes, Janet Guenther, Genny Richmond, Catherine Klostermeier, Kitty Underwood, Vicki Jeter and all the others who help in the office....To everyone who made the Older Adult celebration a success...To those who helped us eat and have fun at the picnic... To those who greeted and organized concert hospitality...To all those who take on ministries so this church can be the body of Christ!