TRINITY NEWS
Volume XLVIII, Issue 7 ~ July 22, 2025
The Pastor’s Paragraphs…
The middle school youth group recently visited Blank Park Zoo which is hosting a temporary exhibit on dinosaurs. I’ve loved dinosaurs since I was a kid and still have a couple of woefully out-of-date children’s books, Dinosaur Time and Bronto the Brontosaurus on my bookshelf.
One of the most interesting theological questions I’ve heard came from a nine-year-old learning about dinosaurs in school. She wanted to know if there are dinosaurs in the Bible. Having come from a tradition that held that humans and dinosaurs walked the earth together 6000 years ago and the dinosaurs all died in Noah’s flood, I relish the opportunity to set the record straight, especially with children.
My young friend and I sat down first with Genesis 1 and the repeated assurances of God that all creation is good, even very good! This is an important point to remember on a planet where 99% of all species that have ever lived have gone extinct, most long before the dinosaurs did. We can appreciate the need for species to rise, then decline in order to make room for new species – like ours – all while being cherished by their Creator every step of the way.
Next, we looked at two mysterious critters in the Old Testament: Leviathan and Behemoth. There’s some compelling textual evidence that the writers might have been talking about crocodiles and hippos, but I like the idea of ancient peoples pondering fossilized remains of dinosaurs and imagining the fantastic, powerful creatures they must have been in life.
In chapters 40 and 41 of Job, Leviathan and Behemoth exist to the glory of God. Their mystery and their might oppose our human need for certainty and control. God’s own voice describes them in their wildness and weirdness and demands to know why merely mortal Job thinks he has the wherewithal to capture and contain them.
Psalm 104, a delightful creation psalm, describes all kinds of animals depending upon God for their sustenance, including Leviathan, who plays in the sea amid human ships. Psalm 74, a lament for national deliverance, shows mighty Leviathan at the service of the God who gave it life, now feeding its flesh to people lost in the wilderness. Of Behemoth, Leviathan’s land-locked counterpart, Job 40:19 calls it the first of God’s great creations, and only God commands its life and death.
My favorite is Psalm 148:7 where, along with all living things, the sea monsters are invited to give praise to their loving Creator. I like to think of ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs, ages before humans came on the scene, living their lives to the glory of God.
So, are there dinosaurs in the Bible? Probably not as we understand them. But there’s no doubt that all creation blesses and is blessed by God as it rises, as it declines, and as new life rises again.
Go see the dinosaurs at Blank Park Zoo. And remember the delight of your Creator in you, too!
Pastor Macc
Adult Christian Formation ~ Sundays After Worship in the West Fellowship Hall
Building Theological Literacy: Grace and Gratitude – July 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
In this study, theologian Charles Wiley explores two important theological terms of Presbyterian identity and conviction: “Grace and Gratitude.” Per Wiley, the terms together are “our gift to the wider church.” Explore the rich meanings of “Grace and Gratitude” and let the depth and power of this image shape your identity as a Presbyterian Christian every day! Participant books are provided via the Adult Christian Education ministry budget and can be picked up in the PATH mailroom after July 20.
AUGUST
BIRTHDAYS
8/2 Michael Kleene
8/2 Keith Davies
8/2 Laura Avitt
8/6 Harper Johnson
8/6 Margaret Blair
8/6 Anja Waugh
8/7 John Hansen
8/7 John Overton
8/8 Alan Core
8/8 Christina Shanks
8/9 Jerry Sones
8/9 Betty Crawford
8/10 Joe Scheurenbrand
8/13 Kevin McCombs
8/13 Bailey Lanning
8/14 Adam Scheurenbrand
8/14 Susan Wilson
8/16 Patrick O’Neil
8/16 Juanita Ott
8/16 Tom Westbrook
8/19 Kylie Tinder
8/20 Bergen Kleene
8/23 James Bowers
8/23 Jim McClymond
8/23 Scott Moline
8/24 Geri Bartlett
8/25 Christine Neumeier
8/27 Al Farris
8/28 Sue Kimball
8/28 Sinikka Waugh
IN OUR PRAYERS
John & Bev Anderson for strength and healing.
Lillian Williams for strength and healing.
AREA CARE CENTERS
The Village Care Center
Betty Labertew, Lillian Williams
Westview Care Center
John & Bev Anderson, Sandy Newell
CIA AUGUST SCHEDULE
(CHRISTIANS IN ACTION)
8/3 (SUNDAY) – CIA Gathering 3-7 pm – Possibly at Easter Lake beach area (more information to come).
8/27 – CIA Kick-off 6:30-8 pm – Come ready for some fun and messy games!
Questions – text/call Van Dams 515-689-2797.
“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Notice of Congregational Meeting, August 3 after worship for the purpose of voting on the 2025 Nominating Committee’s slate of nominees for positions on Session, Board of Deacons, Personnel Committee, Memorial Committee, Endowment Committee and the 2026 Nominating Committee.
Congratulations! Abbi Henle & Garrett Daocum welcomed their son Ryder to the world on July 9, 2025. He weighed 6 lb 2 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long.
Pastor Macc is out of the office July 17-25 for Synod School. As this is a working trip, free to call or text her while she’s away. She will have limited access to email.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is marshaling resources to give aid to communities affected by catastrophic flooding in Texas and elsewhere in the U.S. If you feel moved to donate funds, visit https://pcusa.org/donate/dr000191-disaster-relief-us-flooding.
Wendy will be out of the office August 11-15. Office hours will vary during this time.
The next Trinity News deadline is Wednesday, August 20. Articles must be turned into the church office by 10:00 am. Please e-mail submissions to trinityupc@dwx.com. If you have any questions, please call Wendy at 515-961-6231.
Share Table – It’s that time of year when you may have extra fruit or vegetables from your garden that you would like to share. If so, please place them on the share table in the atrium. If you see something you can use on the table, please take it. Thanks for sharing your abundance with others.
HEAL House Of Iowa – Current Needs: powdered creamer for coffee, sugar packets for coffee, toilet paper, plastic silverware, liquid laundry detergent, dryer sheets. Please contact Jo Byers at 515-975-3572 or drop off at HEAL House Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 am – noon & 1 – 4 pm, Wednesday 1 pm – 4 pm or Friday 9 am – noon. Monetary donations are always welcome! https://www.healhouseofiowa.org/donate/
Highlights from the June 25 Session Meeting
- Stewardship Task Force – SNOW assessment Part 2 (Strengths, Needs, Opportunities and Weaknesses). Stations were set up for elders to consider changes/options proposed by the task force and to list pros and cons of each.
- Update from I&S and Stewardship Task Force – They will begin contacting the top 16 giving units on June 24 and are asking Session members to consider increasing their pledge now as a leadership example. Pledge cards were handed out. There will not be a mailed stewardship campaign this fall.
- Session approval for Worship Team to purchase up to 150 Glory to God hymnals. The new hymnals have many of the contemporary songs that have been introduced in worship.
- Session approval for Worship to begin a hymnal fundraising campaign for members and friends to purchase a copy of the Glory to God hymnal in memorial to someone for $30. Those copies would have a plaque added inside the cover.
- Session approval to move the July Session meeting to Tuesday, July 29 due to Pastor Macc being out of town.
- Recognition of members – Rod Prickett for coordinating with the city to repair the church parking lot. Laura Avitt and Heather Roush for all the time they spend creating slides for worship. Amy Fredricks for planning and leading VBS. Allen Perriello for coordinating opera singers and musicians for worship services and special events this summer.
Don’t miss the last Trinity Tunes & Treats of summer ’25 on Sunday, August 17!
4:30 pm – Ice cream sundaes served by our middle school youth with funds going toward their youth trip.
5:00 pm – Free outside concert by Greater Des Moines Community Band.
Bring your friends and neighbors! Everyone is welcome!
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
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