TRINITY NEWS
Volume XLVIII, Issue 12 ~ December 23, 2025
The Pastor’s Paragraphs…
I’ve reflected a lot in the last couple of months about what a long, strange trip it’s been since Covid upended so many things for so many people. This time five years ago, my Sioux City congregation held a short Christmas Eve service little resembling the lavish production we generally enjoyed. I preached behind a Plexiglas panel under low lights that set the atmosphere to soft carols. After nine grueling months of adapting worship and pastoral care to the demands of Covid, I looked like this:
Fast forward to Christmas Eve 2024. Trinity celebrated what I thought would be our last Christmas Eve service together. The PNC was days away from posting the job description for your next pastor and I found myself rather dreading the day it would go live. Still, we’d all done good transitional work and I felt confident God was leading Trinity in a good direction. I wasn’t as sure about what God was doing with me.
Here we find ourselves again, friends, at Christmas, still together and clearly not by accident. Being your pastor for the last two years has brought me exceptional joy and I know many of you share my confidence and excitement about stepping into the months and years ahead of us. What’s waiting for us? As Minnie Louise Haskins famously wrote, “God Knows”:
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”.
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
Merry Christmas, dear ones, and God’s blessings upon the coming new year!
~ Pastor Macc
Adult Christian Formation ~ Sundays After Worship in the West Fellowship Hall
There will be no Sunday after-worship classes in January. Stay tuned for new offerings in February!
JANUARY
BIRTHDAYS
1/2 Jessica Ackerson
1/3 Rhonda Sayler
1/5 Carla Brown
1/6 Paul Wilson
1/7 Avery New
1/7 Jackson Overton
1/7 Jim Thorius
1/8 Dane Sorensen
1/9 Lillian Williams
1/11 Mark Van Dam
1/11 Jeanenne Glascock
1/12 Autumn Campbell
1/13 Felicia Kruse
1/18 Jessi Henle
1/18 Jori Coghlan
1/18 Rebecca Swainey
1/19 Jon Riebhoff
1/22 Randall Grissom
1/22 Michael Lathrop
1/23 Greg Avitt
1/27 Teegan Sauter
1/28 Allison Coffey
1/29 David Tracy
1/30 Kathy Betterton
1/30 Mark Wilson
1/31 David Lanning
IN OUR PRAYERS
Kris Nielsen who will have surgery on December 24 for a broken arm.
The family of Sue Kimball who passed away on December 7.
The family of Kirk Waggie who passed away on December 8.
John & Bev Anderson for strength and healing.
Lillian Williams for strength and healing.
AREA CARE CENTERS
The Village Care Center
Everett Brown, Betty Labertew
Westview Care Center
John & Bev Anderson, Sandy Newell
CIA SCHEDULE
(CHRISTIANS IN ACTION)
12/24 – No Youth – Merry Christmas!
12/31 – No Youth – Happy New Year!
Looking ahead:
1/25 – Worktrip Fundraiser – Congregational Meeting 9-11:30 am
2/13 – Worktrip Fundraiser – Sweethearts Dinner set-up 6-9 pm
2/14 – Worktrip Fundraiser – Sweethearts Dinner set-up 10 am-5 pm and serve & clean-up 5-10pm
Questions or concerns – text or call Van Dams at 515-689-2797.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The church office will be closed on December 24, 25, 26 and January 1 & 2. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
The next Trinity News deadline is Wednesday, January 21. Articles must be turned into the church office by 10 am. Please e-mail submissions to trinityupc@dwx.com. If you have any questions, please call Wendy at 515-961-6231.
Pastor Macc will be out of the office December 25 – January 5. If you need pastoral care during this time, please contact your deacon.
Christmas Eve worship service, 7 pm on Wednesday, December 24. A traditional service of carols and candlelight presents the story of Christ’s birth. Kick off your celebrations with joyous proclamation of the Good News: For unto us is born a Savior, Christ the Lord!
Keep in mind the final deposit for 2025 will be made on Monday, December 29 at 9 am. Please plan accordingly.
Annual Congregational Meeting – Are you curious about what is really happening at Trinity? One of the best ways to find out is to attend Trinity’s Annual Congregational Meeting. Join us on Sunday, January 25 following worship. Breakfast, provided by Session, will be served during the meeting with proceeds going to the high school youth group (CIA).
Highlights from the November 25 Session Meeting
- Approval of 2026 proposed budget.
- Approval to remove members we have lost due to death this year.
- Approval to reclassify 15 members from active to inactive.
- Approval to remove 17 members from the active roll.
- Approval to define “active membership” at Trinity as confirmed physical or online participation in the life of the church in the last year and/or financial support of the church’s ministries equal to at least the cost of annual per capita in the past two years.
- Approval to set a three-year limit of inactivity as criterion for removal from the rolls.
- Approval to ratify 11/11/25 email vote regarding the sale of items from Bethlehem.
- Approval to ratify 10/24/25 email vote to take an offering for Operation Christmas.
- Approval for the 2025 Christmas Joy Offering.
- Approval for Annual Congregational Meeting to take place on January 25, 2026 with brunch to follow.
- Approval to request ministry teams and committees to update their descriptions by the February Session meeting.
- Approval for TEST to begin fundraising in December.
- Approval for TEST to sell craft items from El Salvador following services on December 7, 14 and 21.
- Recognition of Members – Reed Robbins and Allen Perriello for accompaniment with the Chancel Bells on November 23. Robert Endriss for his knowledge and help with Trinity budgeting.
We are so grateful for your support in making this Christmas special for a family in need. Your willingness to give means the world!
If you’re interested in making a financial donation to WeLIFT, you can mail a check to:
WeLIFT Job Search Center
106 East Second Ave.
Indianola, IA 50125
You may also donate online by going to www.weliftjobsearchcenter.org
TRINITY STAFF
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
Financial Secretary – Betty Dyer
Nursery Attendant – Juliana Van Dam