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| July 2010 Trinity Observer |
| From Reverend Jim Offrink: Greetings: The heat of summer is upon us and we are now beginning to wonder why we yearned for these hot humid days last February! Rev. Annie and I are making the transition to part time interim. We've tweaked schedules and promised ourselves to stick to them. It all seems right, but we know that when 'stuff happens' we’ll do whatever really needs to be done. Heat and humidity aside we are truly enjoying these moments of summer growth, especially in our new communal garden. Rev. Annie and I were honored at the June session meeting with motions of commendation from the session and then especially honored as those commendations were announced June 27 in worship we were treated to a standing ovation! Thank you one and all. It has been a labor of need and of love that has carried us through the last four years of transition and change. The story began when we started with a letter of vision on February 2, 2006 and by January 2007 our three congregations had voted to join forces and build a new building. July 1, 2007 we incorporated anew, got status as a new church development and began to build a new building. After site preparation was complete the actual building materials were dropped on November 15, 2007. We fully occupied the new building September 1, 2008, and began to develop appropriate programs. That story will be continued by the selection of a new full time pastor, a renewed vision of mission, and a successful transition to a younger congregation that will carry the church far into the future. The ‘traditional’ church leaders will be stepping aside from their positions of power so that the younger adults and their families can take up the mission of the church in this new and different day. By developing a “parallel” congregation both our current blended multi-cultural service style, and a post modern & missional style will eventually minister side by side! The Holy Spirit is with us, and God provides for us, His work will thrive. Rev. Annie and I will tend the summer garden a few more months, and when the Pastor Nominating Committee is ready to present their choice of a new pastor, we’ll celebrate the transition! God’s peace go with you all. Go Well! Yours, Rev. Jim O Vacation Bible School From July 18-22, Trinity UPC will journey to Egypt. We will visit Joseph from prison to palace. This is a trip for all ages from Kindergarten to 100 years old. There will be singing, crafts in the Marketplace, foods, stories, puppet shows and games. Join us each day from 6-8:30pm for intergeneration fun. To make our VBS a special one for everyone, it takes a lot of volunteers. Can’t you find time to spend 5 evenings helping out this year. Call Sharon Auger (635-8735) or Delphine Holland (789-6879) and sign up. There are all kinds of things you could do, such as lead a family, man a craft area, help in the food area, or just assist someone else. I assure you, you will get more out of helping a child to learn about God, than you would just sitting at home. The Stars Are Out The Swartz Creek Center Stage will be held on August 6, 7, and 8th at 8:00pm. Trinity UPC will have two of our members acting in these presentations. Jamie and Noah Kennedy will both be in the cast and it would be great to have as many of us attending as possible. For ticket information: call Katie Thompson at 810-591-4352. Session Announcement Your Session is happy to announce that Interim Covenant Agreements (contracts) were signed by the Rev. James Offrink and Rev. Annie Duncan at our June 21, 2010 session meeting. These contracts will end on Dec. 31, 2010 and represent a 25% reduction in work hours, responsibilities and pay for both Pastors. If we are successful in establishing a new Pastoral relationship before these contracts expire, the Interim relationships would end. While we face decreased Pastoral support over the next months, we are confident that the work of the church at Trinity will continue as ALL of us use our God-given talents to make this year’s transitions as seamless as possible. Thank you. Your Session. Coffee Hour Coffee hour is not something that is only celebrated by Presbyterians, it is a time that is shared after morning service or mass in many faiths/denominations. It is not required, but optional. Some people choose not to participate, but it is fun when you do. Coffee hour can be prepared by one, two, three, or a group and/or a team of people. You have the option to serve when it is convenient for you. You may sign up several months in advance if you wish. The Membership committee has agreed to refund up to $50 for snacks prepared for coffee hour. All you have to do is KEEP YOUR RECEITS and fill out a voucher, get a member from the committee to sign the voucher such as: Jeanne Kidle, Delores Generes, Annie Duncan or Sharon Auger. Turn in your receipt to the Treasurer and get your refund. If you wish to donate your snacks, that will also be appreciated. The food for coffee hour can be VERY SIMPLE SUCH AS: • Cookies, Doughnuts, Bagels/cream cheese • Fruit, Veggies and dip • Chips and dips • Sandwiches, cold cuts, cheese, crackers • Drinks (optional) coffee and hot tea is prepared every Sunday by one of the Elders along with hot tea. Sugar and other sweeteners are also provided. If anyone chooses to celebrate a special day in their life, then they will provide the food for that occasion according to their culture. This is usually personal, except for the Harvest Dinner and Special Meals planned by various church auxiliaries. Our church kitchen is a warming kitchen ONLY. No food can be cooked in the kitchen. Supplies: • The church provides china coffee cups, plates, napkins and plastic ware. If you do not wish to wash coffee cups, then you can purchase and provide the heavy duty paper coffee cups. • If you use the coffee cups or serving utensils, you are responsible for cleaning and returning them to their proper place. • If you are in charge of coffee your, then you are responsible for emptying and cleaning the coffee and tea pots. Cleanup is essential: Debris should be cleaned from the floor and the tables wiped, and the garbage tied up and placed in the dumpster outside of the kitchen door of the church. Please place all the leftover glass and plastic bottles in the recycle box in the kitchen. Lockup is very important. We realize that everyone does not have a key, therefore, if you serve coffee hour and need someone else to lock up, just notify one of the Membership committee members and they will make sure someone is available to lock up before you leave. Loons Baseball The Membership Team is planning a couple of church outing to the Loons baseball games during the summer. The dates are in July and August. These are special Faith Nights at Dow Diamond, with special programs before and after the games. We will reserve blocks of seats so we can all sit together. Friends and family are welcome. Hurry, before the dates expire. Check with Jeanne Kidle (232-3207) or any of the membership committee for information. Walking Club The Walking Club is fun and exercising at the same time. Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water and YOU! Increase your distance a little each week and soon you will be walking more that you think. You can come in the mornings at 10am, or in the evening at 7pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Come join us! Attention: Flower & Garden Workers When you are weeding in the various gardens, please do not put the weeds in the dumpster. The dumpster is for garbage and not lawn waste. The company will not allow yard waste to be put in it. Please use the yard waste bags in the front Maintenance room. Thank you! |
| A multicultural success story |
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