TRINITY NEWS
Volume XLVII, Issue 10 ~ October 22, 2024
The Pastor’s Paragraphs…
If you want to significantly deepen your experience of Christian faith:
- Learn to sit quietly with your own thoughts for 20 minutes a day
- Read the Bible cover to cover at least once
- Worship with congregations other than your own
The first takes months, if not years, to learn unless you are some kind of savant. If you are, please schedule an appointment to see me: we need you to lead a class.
You can do the second in 12-16 months with a buddy or, if you are a religious wonk, on your own. If your buddy is a religious wonk, you are almost guaranteed to succeed. Religious wonkery is one of my spiritual gifts. I will gladly be your buddy if you want to take the Bible on.
You can do the last thing any time you want to. No, you will not burst into flames; spontaneous combustion is strictly prohibited by the Book of Order. No, you will not offend people by not understanding their order of worship or knowing their songs; just use your manners and make your mother proud. No, you probably won’t suddenly decide that you’ve wasted years of your life at Trinity and need to join another church, not on the first visit anyway. If you fall in love with another church at first sight, my guess is that God has been leading you in that direction for a while.
When we worship with congregations besides our own, we practice the neglected art of receiving hospitality. We learn we can survive being a stranger. We sometimes receive inspiration in unexpected ways. Years ago, I attended a Methodist church with many Tongan members. The memory of “Amazing Grace” sung in a foreign language and style will never leave me.
We also bring the gift of ourselves to other congregations that may very much need our presence. This is nowhere truer than with congregations in institutions like assisted living facilities.
This November 24 is Christ the King Sunday, the New Year’s Eve of our liturgical calendar. It is also the Sunday before Thanksgiving and the day of the Indianola Ministerial Association’s annual ecumenical service. This year, The Village is hosting the service.
I lead worship at The Village once a month with a lovely, lively group of folks. They gather every Sunday at 3:00 p.m. to worship God, not as Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, but as friends and neighbors. Denominational loyalties don’t unite them. Christ does. It is a uniquely generous, joyful way to show up for people and I encourage you to make plans to attend. After worship at The Village, we’ll come on back to Trinity for Thanksgiving dinner and nourish our own family of faith. Your ministry of presence matters! Please be generous.
ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
INFORMING CHRISTIAN ETHICS: EARTH CARE CONVERSATIONS – October 27 and November 3
10/27 “God’s Creations” Join Al Farris for a retrospective view and discussion of our national parks and monuments and the North American conservation movement.
11/3 “Christians as Environmentally Conscious Citizens” Writers of both Testaments consistently connected a society’s care (or neglect) of the land and care (or neglect) of people. Pastor Macc will lead reflection upon texts from Genesis, Exodus, Ezekiel, and Jesus’ parables, and facilitate discussion of an “ecologically integrated” life of faith.
DIGGING INTO OUR DNA: 1965 MISSION TRIP TO INDIANOLA, MISSISSIPPI – November 10
DeVern Dixon shares the story of Trinity’s venture into the deep South to assist an African American congregation displaced by racially motivated arson. Recall the Trinity members who took the risky trip and learn about the bartender who provided meeting space for church services when white congregations turned their backs. Justice, presence, and mission come together in a piece of Trinity history we all can be proud of.
INFORMING CHRISTIAN ETHICS: PARTNERING TO HELP THE HOMELESS – November 17
Eagle scout candidate, Patrick O’Neil, reports on his Trinity-supported Eagle Project, which combined help for the homeless, earth care, workplace safety, and a little engineering ingenuity!
NOVEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
11/1 Jim Carson
11/1 Robert Brown
11/2 Wyatt Grissom
11/3 Jenny Darland
11/7 Julia Thorius
11/8 Patty DeHeer
11/10 Jodi Anderson
11/13 Sally Johnson
11/13 Barbara Overton
11/14 Stacia Kleene
11/15 Joan Claerhout
11/17 Ron Albrecht
11/17 Katie New
11/17 Chelsea Sunken
11/18 Lochlan Lanning
11/18 Nicole Coghlan
11/19 Heather Roush
11/19 Shari Shaw
11/20 Jaiden Wallander
11/21 Abby Anderson
11/22 Katie Black
11/23 Sarah Kruse
11/24 Dale Crain
11/24 Marilyn Kroll
11/27 Kylie Hervey
11/28 Arlette Kuehl
11/29 Laird Jack
IN OUR PRAYERS
Dawn Dixon for energy and strength.
John & Bev Anderson for strength and healing.
AREA CARE CENTERS
Westview Care Center
John & Bev Anderson
Sandy Newell
The Village Care Center
Dawn Dixon
Thank you all for the cards and phone calls. I’m doing much better and hope to back at church soon.
Dru McLuen
CIA SCHEDULE
(CHRISTIANS IN ACTION)
11/6 – Outing Night (more info to come)
11/13 – Discussion Night
11/14 – CIA Study Time 5:30-7 pm
11/17 – Pancakes with Van Dam 8-9:30 am in Fellowship Hall kitchen
11/20 – Guest Speaker
11/27 – No Youth – Happy Thanksgiving!
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.” 1 Peter 5:6
Parents/Guardians, please help with snacks/drinks! Sign up using the link below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0449A4AA22A7FC1-50610184-ciasnack
Questions/concerns – text/call Van Dams (515)689-2797
ANNOUNCEMENTS
100 Years Worth Celebrating – The family of Jenny Darland invites you to celebrate her 100th birthday! An open house will be held on Saturday, November 2 from 12-3 pm in the great room at Cedarbrooke Place (2503 Cedar St in Norwalk). If you would like to send a card, her address is 921 Sunset Dr in Norwalk.
Daylight saving time ends November 3. Remember to turn your clocks back one hour.
All Saints’ Day – Please plan to attend this special day of remembrance on Sunday, November 3. During this service, we dedicate memorial gifts that were purchased, and remember members and friends of Trinity who have died since the preceding All Saints’ Day. Invite your family and friends.
Martha Morning Circle will meet November 13 at 9:15 am in the Fellowship Hall. The hostess and the lesson leader for the day will be Susan Tinder. We will be studying Lesson 3, “Food Justice. ” Please join us for fellowship and study. All are welcome.
Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving led by The Indianola Ministerial Association on Sunday, November 24 at 3 pm at The Village Senior Community featuring Village Chime Choir directed by Chari Kruse.
Trinity’s 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner will take place on Sunday, November 24 at 4:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please RSVP to the church office by November 15. Expect a Perfect Potluck in your emails for side dishes and pies. We hope to see you all there!
Annual Report Deadline – To allow time for the preparation of the Annual Report for Trinity’s Annual Congregational Meeting, please plan on emailing all reports to the church office by Friday, December 6. If you have any questions, please call or email Wendy.
Directory Update:
Randy Owen
3013 6th Ave. SW
Altoona, IA 50009
515-443-4948
BUDGET UPDATE – September 30, 2024
GENERAL OPERATING FUND
Beginning balance $90,612.72
Revenue 17,838.48
Expenses (22,756.33)
Transfers (13,801.25)
Ending balance $71,893.62
RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE $59,599.42
Highlights from the September 25 Session Meeting
- Tom Westbrook attended the meeting to give an update from the PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee).
- Trinity received $100 from Corning First Presbyterian Church as a thank you for the meals provided while they were recovering from storm damage. Approval for the money to go toward Mission for a project of their choice.
- Approval for Property to hire Indianola Mechanical to replace the north side HVAC system of PATH.
- Discussion and selection of 2024-25 Ministry Team Assignments.
- Congregational Thanksgiving Dinner set for November 24. Hospitality will determine the time.
- Ministry team budget requests are due to A&F by October 15.
- Annual reports are due in the church office by December 6.
- The livestream issues have been resolved.
- Approval for a special collection of non-perishable food items for the Warren County Food Pantry on October 6.
- Recognition of Members – Greg Avitt for helping resolve the livestream issues. Betty Dyer for her perseverance to find the church’s Facebook credentials. Marieta Grissom for her time spent on the livestream problems and for preparing the historical timeline.
Join us for BINGO to help raise funds for the Our Sister Parish 2025 Medical Delegation!
Sunday, November 3 from 3- 5 pm at Heartland Presbyterian Church (14300 Hickman Rd in Clive). Our own Dr. Laura Avitt has been a part of this OSP delegation twice and hopes to join it again. Funds need to be raised to purchase supplies for the delegation of nurses and doctors who choose to go. $10 includes bingo cards, dauber, 2 raffle tickets and snacks ($25 for a family). Round up your friends and neighbors – everyone is welcome! Let’s have a great group from Trinity to help support this OSP 2025 Medical Delegation!
Pause for PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee)
The video is finished! We will share the video with the congregation soon. Thanks to all who participated in its production. We are now analyzing the results of our time spent with you on discerning the needs of the church and the skills, talents and gifts we want in our new pastor. We are scheduled to review the results at a service in November. PNC continues to make good progress on our efforts to call our new pastor to Trinity.
Laura Avitt 515-460-1253 lavittdc@gmail.com
Maurice Dyer 515-971-4568 madyer52@gmail.com
Ranae Fagan 641-751-2092 jmrrfagan@gmail.com.
Sue Kimball 515-961-2493 kimballsusan53@yahoo.com
Mark Koskamp 515-339-4222 mark.koskamp@gmail.com
Heather Roush 515-865-5565 heatherroush19@gmail.com
Tom Westbrook 515-778-0295 Thomas.Westbrook@drake.edu
Mark Wilson 515-314-1279 mark.a.wilson2593@gmail.com
TRINITY STAFF
Transitional Pastor – Rev. Erica MacCreaigh
Office Administrator – Wendy Dowell
Children and Youth Director – Amy Fredricks
High School Youth Directors – Nick & Becca VanDam
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