TRINITY NEWS
Volume XLVIII, Issue 3 ~ March 25, 2025
The Pastor’s Paragraphs…
Do you remember where you were five years ago today?
I was at home in my makeshift office/recording studio, taking a crash course in a new technology called “Zoom”, and calling emergency meetings with the Session and Deacons to determine how to keep functioning as the church in the wake of the governor’s declaration of a public health emergency and order to halt public gatherings. I was frantically learning Facebook Live while fielding panicked phone calls from parishioners alternately terrified of spreading/catching COVID-19 and terrified that closure would destroy church as we know it. I spent most of that first week in shock wondering what would run out first: the toilet paper or my capacity to cope.
What a difference five years makes. To my knowledge, nobody’s church shuttered because of COVID, most of our congregations have solid web presence and worship online, and using Zoom comes as naturally (almost) as playing Sudoku on our phones. Surrounded by the terrors of uncertainty, incendiary headlines, and forced isolation, it was easy to imagine the end of all things. Some things, of course, did end, including many lives. Most things either got back on track after hiatus or evolved to meet new demands and expectations.
I’m not one of those who believes everything happens for a reason. Rather, I believe we are given the gift of hindsight to make sense of events in the context of other events. I understand what the events of March 2020 mean now. We learned that churchgoing is a habit that some were able to sustain during quarantine and others simply weren’t, and we learned that the remnant that returned was a plucky group indeed. We learned that “virtual” church is a faithful expression of worship, not to mention a spiritual and social lifeline for people who can gather with us in real time, but not in person. At the same time, we learned just how much we need to be in the same room together for our own individual good and the good of the body.
Personally, I learned that working from home has its advantages. Living in your pjs is one of them; but effectiveness on the job, for me, was not. I’m thrilled to be here, physically, with you; thrilled to be able to minister to many of you online; thrilled to be with a congregation that continues to learn and adapt and mature in faith and faithfulness. I wonder what we’ll be looking back on five years from now and what accomplishments we’ll be celebrating?
Adult Spiritual Formation
Growing Faith: 6 Biblical Parables on Cultivating Creation Care
Brought to you by Trinity’s Green Team
Are you ready to cultivate a better way of life? Come grow with us!
In this six-week study, we explore six biblical parables’ teachings about our role as stewards of God’s creation. But be warned…just as rising global temperatures and air and water pollution dramatically disrupt lives in our community and around the globe, biblical parables have the potential to disrupt our complacency, our everyday decisions, and ways of thinking about what we really want and need.
The Participant’s Guide will be provided in your preference of print or PDF. Each week’s reading is about six pages long and is best completed before class.
March 9 Divine/Human Partnership
March 16 In God We Trust
March 23 Correcting Course for a Better Future
March 30 Aligning Our Living with God’s Good Will
April 6 The Costs of Living Mindfully
April 13 Staying Awake and Alive
APRIL
BIRTHDAYS
4/3 Jim Dyer
4/3 Marieta Grissom
4/4 Brett Henle
4/5 Beth Meints
4/9 Lexi Shanks
4/10 Ryan McAllister
4/10 Josephine Black
4/10 Sue Sorden
4/12 Anna Lackaff
4/12 Matthew Edgington
4/12 Kerry McKasson
4/14 Jennifer Quick
4/13 Owen Tinder
4/15 John Frerichs
4/17 Becca Hunter
4/17 Nicholas Crain
4/18 Karen Sorensen
4/19 Callen Kleene
4/19 Lois DuBois
4/20 Grace Avitt
4/21 Sandy Denning
4/22 Nancy Michaelson
4/23 Maurine Dalluge
4/23 Kristine Nielsen
4/24 Brenda Dyer
4/25 Rebekah Wilson
4/26 Todd Little
4/30 Cindy Sones
4/30 Riley Pinamonte
IN OUR PRAYERS
John & Bev Anderson for strength and healing.
The family of Owen Duncan for his passing on March 21.
AREA CARE CENTERS
Westview Care Center
John & Bev Anderson
Sandy Newell
CIA SCHEDULE
(CHRISTIANS IN ACTION)
4/2 – Guest Speaker
4/9 – Discussion Night
“In those days Isreal had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges 17:6
4/18 – Discussion Night & Easter Fun
“For the foolishness of god is wiser than human wisdom, and weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:25
4/23 – Guest Speaker
4/27 – Senior Breakfast for high school seniors & families 8 am – Youth Service 9:30 am
4/30 – Outing Night – We’re never too old to have fun like a kid at the park! Van Dams will grill burgers & hotdogs (park TBD)
Upcoming dates:
May 14 – Last evening of the school year
June 21-27 – Mission Trip to Little Rock, AR
June 29 – Mission Trip Sunday Service & Lunch
August 2 – CIA Gathering 3-7 pm
Parents/Guardians, PLEASE help with snacks! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0449A4AA22A7FC1-50610184-ciasnack.
Please call or text Van Dams with any questions at (515)689-2797.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wonder Women Tea – Sunday, March 30 at 3 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Guest Speaker will be Melissa O’Neil, CEO of Central Iowa Shelter & Services. Tickets are $15 – see Chari Kruse, Margaret Blair or Wendy. Hosted by Ana Circle.
The 2025 Synod School catalog is now available in print (from Pastor Macc) and online at www.lakesandprairies.org/synod-school. Synod School, held annually at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA, is a learning and personal enrichment experience for people of all ages seeking an environment of hospitality, healing, joy and hope. Open to laity, clergy, individuals and families of ALL ages (infant and toddler daycare and day-long activities for K-12th fully available and free with registration), Synod School presents a wide variety of weeklong classes, delicious meals (with no cleanup!) and extracurricular activities. Registration begins April 1. Synod scholarships available for first-time attendees. If you’d like to attend and need financial assistance, please speak with Pastor Macc.
Trinity College Scholarships – Each year, two or more college scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors. Scholarship applications may be picked up in the atrium following worship or in the church office. The application form and high school transcripts must be returned to the church office by Monday, April 7, 2025.
Budget Update February 28, 2025
GENERAL OPERATING FUND
Beginning balance $ 50,969.10
Revenue 36,860.98
Expenses (17,548.34)
Ending balance $ 70,281.74
RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE $ 53,984.77
Highlights from the February 26 Session Meeting
- PNC gave an update on their progress and plan to have a Minute for Mission during the March 9 service.
- Discussion of Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate and brainstorming ideas from the book.
- Coldest Night of the Year update – there were 18 walkers on the Trinity team and $7,175 in donations. An update will be given during the March 16 service.
- Scholarship Committee – Barb Yearous from A&F, Stacia Kleene from CE and Margaret Blair.
- Request from TEST to begin collecting donations for the El Salvador delegation. TEST will prepare a list of items needed.
- Recognition of Members – Susan Tinder, Marieta Grissom, Paul Wilson, Juanita Ott, Heather Roush, Ron Albrecht, Mark Koskamp, Renee Little and Betty Dyer for all their extra work for the February 22 Presbytery meeting.
Holy Week Observances
April 13 9:30 am Palm Sunday with Procession of the Palms
April 16 5:00 pm SWAT Lenten Fish Fry
April 17 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday with Washing of Hands
April 20 9:30 am Easter Sunday with Service of Confirmation of Class of 2025
One Great Hour of Sharing
Typically received during the season of Lent, each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing supports efforts to relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, promote development through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People and assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. All three programs work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance and hope. Checks for OGHS can be dropped in the offering plate, mailed to the church (put OGHS on the memo line) or you can also give online https://trinityupc.org/contact/#give. Thank you for your generosity!
HEAL House of Iowa
We recently experienced four housing successes where individuals moved from unhoused to successfully housed. We are especially proud of these individuals because they were facing challenging barriers including health status, recent significant legal issues that interfere with securing housing, early remission with substance use, financial limitations and very low attachment to supportive community services. In spite of all that, these four individuals were able to secure housing because of HEAL House’s strong support of our volunteers. When we review other programs offering similar services, HEAL House’s rate of success multiplies that when compared to others. And, our model includes only one very part-time paid staff and no reliance on local or state tax contribution. So, thanks to the tremendous support from our community, HEAL House is able to continue assisting those in need.
Current Needs: coffee pods, sugar packets for coffee, powdered creamer for coffee, paper bowls, plastic silverware, laundry baskets, 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 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