TRINITY NEWS
Volume XLVIII, Issue 4 ~ April 22, 2025
The Pastor’s Paragraphs…
Fr. Richard Rohr, Franciscan priest and one of the most important theological minds of the last 50 years, notes that Western culture has largely watered down or done away with rites of passage. Rites of passage are significant ritual expressions during times of transition and we do still retain a few. Graduations mark the line between training and mastery. Weddings mark the blending of two lives and families. Baby showers mark a woman’s (sometimes also a man’s) transition into parenthood. Funerals (which are becoming rarer) mark the adjustment between life with someone and life without them.
By the time you read this, Trinity will have confirmed eight teenagers into church membership. Confirmation is the only rite of passage Presbyterians have to mark the shift between childhood and adulthood. You could see the shift playing out in real time during our most recent confirmation classes. One minute the students would be digging deeply into meaningful conversation, the next they’d be horsing around and cracking each other up. One minute they’d be caught up in the mentality of “the herd,” the next they’d be speaking truth as they understood it and, even more maturely, listening carefully to each other. They jokingly analyzed the personalities and styles of their teachers at school over dinner, wrote thoughtful notes of appreciation to each other, and marked their progress on “journey strings,” an exercise that appealed to their inner child’s need for color, texture, and play, and their emerging adult need for beauty and accomplishment.
With friendly guidance by ten adults (who outnumbered the confirmands), these young teenagers considered the meaning of our Christian faith as we actually live it. They challenged assumptions about what it means to be Christian and, I hope, learned to see themselves more clearly as God’s own. They also made new friends and learned to see old friends with different eyes. Those friendships will carry them all in the years ahead.
Adult Christian Formation ~ Sundays After Worship in the West Fellowship Hall
Happiness is…
People who are happy tend to be optimistic, grateful, and have a positive outlook on life. They are often more tolerant, less judgmental, more trusting of others, and even healthier than those who report low levels of happiness. So where can I buy some happiness? In this four-part course, Tom Westbrook will explore the topic of happiness – what it is and what it is not. We will examine the sources of happiness and how to elevate one’s happiness even during difficult times. We will also discuss how faith plays a part in one’s overall happiness. Let’s make plans for how you can elevate your happiness at home, at work, and within the church. Numerous tactics are covered in this interactive course.
April 27. Happiness is: We will start our happiness journey by examining what happiness is and is not. We will examine the components of happiness that contribute to our well-being and discuss the myths and benefits of happiness. We will also examine how our faith contributes to our overall happiness. We will end our session with action planning that you can incorporate into your daily life. Are you ready to smile?
May 4. PERK: Let’s PERK-UP your happiness by examining the four foundational components that define one’s happiness – Passion, Engagement, Resilience, and Kindness. This week we start with Passion. What are you passionate about and how does this connect to your core life values? What can you do to find and maintain passion in your life and with others?
May 18. Engagement: We will examine how one’s Engagement with others is a key factor in defining happiness and how you can elevate this component in your life. We will review the lessons-learned from the famed Harvard study (2024) on happiness that followed the lives of individuals for 80 years. Let’s end with one or two take-aways you can practice at home.
May 25. Resilience and Kindness: How do we build resilience especially in difficult times? How does Kindness to others aid our happiness? Be prepared for some interesting findings and personal action planning that will make you smile.
Instructor: Tom Westbrook
Tom taught a special topics class on Happiness at Drake University and has presented at numerous corporations on the topic of Happiness at Work.
MAY
BIRTHDAYS
5/1 Jason Kruse
5/1 Sarah Blakely
5/2 Charles Long
5/2 Emma Young
5/3 Heather Pinamonte
5/5 Sandra Newell
5/6 Kaylee Shanks
5/6 Jim Fagan
5/6 Beverly Anderson
5/7 David Penly
5/8 Meghan Sorensen
5/8 Mackenzie Sorensen
5/9 Josh Griffith
5/11 Robert Britton
5/11 Paul Endriss
5/12 Ben Avitt
5/13 Colter Loew
5/14 Jim Wilson
5/17 Blair Lawson
5/17 Leighia Van Dam
5/19 Cassandra Goble
5/21 Sandie Cate
5/22 Sondra Dyer
5/22 Margaret Vernon
5/23 Sharon McCullough
5/23 Adam Kruse
5/23 Emily McAllister
5/24 Derek Overton
5/25 Megan Cross
5/27 Amy Fredricks
5/27 Matthew Wilson
5/28 Scarlett Grissom
5/29 Kyle McKasson
5/29 Laura Penly
5/30 Aaron New
IN OUR PRAYERS
John & Bev Anderson for strength and healing.
AREA CARE CENTERS
Westview Care Center
John & Bev Anderson
Sandy Newell
Congratulations to Paul & Rachael Wilson for the birth of their son, Kayce Harold Wilson, on April 14, 2025.
CIA SCHEDULE
(CHRISTIANS IN ACTION)
May 7 – Senior Send off/Baby Shower
May 14 – Last Day – Water Games!
June 21-27 – Mission Trip to Little Rock, AR
June 29 – Mission Trip Sunday
August 2 – CIA Gathering (location TBD)
Please call or text Van Dams with any questions at (515)689-2797.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Martha Morning PW Circle will meet at 9:15 am on May 14 in the Fellowship Hall. Sue Kimball will be our hostess and Juanita Ott will lead us in Lesson 9, “Sustaining Creation’s Health For All.” Plan to join us for fellowship, treats, study and a short business meeting. All are welcome.
Pastor Macc will be out of the office May 1 – 14. In case of pastoral emergency, please call your deacon and/or the Rev. Kip Harris at 515-318-3465.
HEAL House of Iowa – Current needs are: coffee pods, sugar packets for coffee, powdered creamer for coffee, paper bowls, plastic silverware, laundry baskets, liquid laundry detergent, dryer sheets, Lysol disinfectant spray, gift cards (grocery store, Wal- Mart, gas station, etc.). These items can be dropped off at HEAL House Monday – Friday from 9 am – noon and 1 pm – 4 pm. Or contact Jo Byers at 515-975-3572 to deliver at church. Monetary donations are always welcome!
Trinity’s El Salvador Team invites you to help with the next delegation by donating items to take with them. They will be visiting the Our Sister Parish El Salvador Mission in Berlín, Usulután, El Salvador July 10-17, to visit our families in our sister communities of Casa de Zinc and Casa de Zacate. A collection box and list of items needed can be found in the atrium. All items need to be collected before June 20. Thank you so much for your help with this! Your prayers will be greatly appreciated as they plan for and travel on this trip!
Directory Update:
Theresa Dyer
1640 NW Ivy Rd
Waukee, IA 50263
Highlights from the March 26 Session Meeting
- Examination of Confirmands: Callen Kleene, Campbell Lanning, Patrick O’Neil, Isabella Patton, Riley Pinamonte, Blane Sturtz, Brett Van Dam, Hadley Van Dam.
- Removal of members per request: Linda Beatty, Deanne Herr , Joel Herr.
- Request for new members: Martha Bivens, Christine Neumeier. A Called Session Meeting has been scheduled for April 6 at 11 am for examination and vote.
- Approval for pledge thank you letters to be mailed.
- Due to the loss of Owen Duncan, Barb Yearous offered to join I&S and will resign from Hospitality. This change is effective immediately.
- Recognition of Members – Keith Davies, Dave Grissom, Matt Kruse and Rodney Prickett for their work on the sanctuary stained glass window lighting. PNC for their dedication. Greg & Laura Avitt for stepping up to lead the technical team.
Congratulations to our 2025 Confirmation Class!
Callen Kleene is in 7th grade at Indianola Middle School. His parents are Stacia & Michael Kleene. He is in show choir, jazz band, soccer, opera, drama and cross country. He enjoys Legos, his Golden Retriever Tallie, family and friends. Callen also participates in Boy Scouts, honor choir, honor band, band and chorus.
Campbell Lanning is in 7th grade at Indianola Middle School. Her parents are David & Bailey Lanning. She participates in band, track, soccer, volleyball and likes her cat a lot!
Patrick O’Neil is in 8th grade at Indianola Middle School. His parents are Melissa O’Neil and Jeremy O’Neil. He plays football, golf and works out. His favorite verse is Mark 9:42-50. Patrick has one pet named Aspen. He participates in 8th grade rocketry and 8th grade boys group.
Isabella Patton is in 7th grade at Indianola Middle School. Her parents are Lora Patton and James Patton. She enjoys running, volleyball and band.
Riley Pinamonte is in 7th grade at Indianola Middle School. Her parents are Travis & Heather Pinamonte. She participates in band, choir, track, volleyball and basketball.
Blane Sturtz is in 7th grade at Indianola Middle School. His parents are Brad & Sara Sturtz. He likes acting and video games.
Brett Van Dam is in 7th grade at Indianola Middle School. His parents are Nick & Becca Van Dam. He likes camping, sketching, spending time with friends and family, road trips, skateboarding, riding his bike, riding the 4-wheeler and riding his motorcycle.
Hadley Van Dam is in 7th grade at Indianola Middle School. Her parents are Nick & Becca Van Dam. She enjoys bowling, middle school youth group and Girl Scouts. Her hobbies are painting, camping, fishing, biking, walking and riding the 4-wheeler.
Thank you to their mentors: Alan & Denise Core, Jim & Ranae Fagan, Tom & Jo Westbrook, and class facilitators Nick & Becca Van Dam.
How to Be a Friend of the Earth
Trinity Green Team offers many options for confronting climate change and its dangerous impact on the Earth. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, learning more about what is going on is imperative. Here is a short list of books recommended by the team to begin to learn about why we need to care for the Earth.
- A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold – Considered the first book on conservation, it is a must read.
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson – Carson’s book is also a landmark in environmental reading. She takes on the pesticide companies for their impact on the earth.
- Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life by Edward O. Wilson – Although Wilson documents man’s effects on multiple extinctions, he also says we have time to save the earth.
- What If We Get It Right? by Ayana Johnson – Johnson guides us through solutions for each of us to take as we work on climate change and its impact on our lives.
- The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan – Tan shares beautiful pictures as she explores birding, nature and their beauty.
- Listening Point by Sigurd Olson – About the human connection to the environment.
- Where the Sky Began: Land of the Tall Grass Prairie by John Madson – Discussion of how the prairies formed and the effect of man on them.
- The Wise Hours: A Journey in the Wild and Secret World of Owls by Marian Darlington.
- How to Prepare for Climate Change by David Poque.
- The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown – A children’s book about the seasons.
- Exploring Nature: Activity Book for Kids by Kim Andrews.
TRINITY STAFF
Transitional Pastor – Rev. Erica MacCreaigh
Office Administrator – Wendy Dowell
Children and Youth Director – Amy Fredricks
High School Youth Directors – Nick & Becca Van Dam
Middle School Youth Directors – Paul & Rachael Wilson
Minister of Music – Mark Koskamp
Chancel Bells & Calvin Choristers Director – Chari Kruse
Chancel Choir Accompanist – Anna Lackaff
Calvin Choristers Accompanist – Gary Richardson
Custodian – Kerry McKasson
Sunday Childcare Attendant – Glenda Richards
Financial Secretary – Betty Dyer