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February 2010 Trinity Observer

From Reverend Jim Offrink:

Greetings,
    
Snow! Wind! Ice! You’d think this was Winter in Michigan!!  Why do you suppose we love to be in a cozy
home in the winter?  Why do we like a fire in the woodstove or a toasty little heater in the evening?  Seems
like a silly question doesn’t it?  Yet, trying to describe how a cozy home or a fire makes us feel seems to be
harder to explain than one might think.  Calming?  Satisfying?  Safe?  
    
In our religious life we often have a hard time describing why certain things are important.  Why do we feel
a particular way, say… after praying?  With the blizzards of life rattling our spiritual windows a period of
scripture reading, like the crackle of a warm fire, or the hiss of snowy wood in a stove, can calm us and
make us know, we are safe!  The nature of humanity is to innately understand that there is a necessity to
feed our souls.  There are millions of different opinions what, when, where, and how, but our own souls
know they need to be nurtured.
   
Like a child who has fallen and skinned a knee, we run home to a safe figure to have the knee seen, treated, kissed, and then it
is of no further consequence.  As the hurts and doubts of the day mount up, certainly the scriptures we read, the prayers we
share with God, all make us know we are valued and are safe in the arms of the Lord.  While a blizzard may make it easy to get
lost in the forest, the blizzard in our lives may make things equally dangerous and difficult for our spiritual life.  The church is the
family life line that keeps us from getting lost along the way and draws us back to safety.
    
This helps me to contemplate for me at least, an even tougher question.  After such a horrible earthquake event, how can the
people of Haiti come out on a Sunday morning and joyfully worship, in front of their destroyed church, in the rubble strewn
street?  Some injured, most hungry, all having lost so much, how do they do it?  Would We?  While we may not understand the
psychological aftershocks of a disaster, the religious response is a for sure, God is sovereign over life.  We naturally respond to
life, rejoicing that we are alive, and that God is with us.  No, we don’t understand.  No, we can’t always explain to the
satisfaction of others, but much as the cozy fire calms us, so our relationship to God satisfies us in the worst of times.
   
Being stranded in the wilderness (by their own doing) was both the best of times and the worst of times for the Hebrews.  Being
a survivor of a disaster is again both the best and the worst of times.  The loss is horrendous but the faithfulness of God is
amazing.  With heavy hearts the dead are mourned but the fact that some survive make the heart rejoice.
   
God is our Creator, Christ is our Savior, by the Grace of God we are saved, how simple it is when there is nothing else left!  We
are alive, praise be to God.  

Yours,
Jim O


To Rent Our Building

The policy for renting our church is now in place with prices and conditions.  If you are interested in renting any part of it, please
check with the office, 720-5152.


Per Capita Is the responsibility Of every member

    Did you know that the per capita amount is assessed  to every member of the Presbyterian Church?  This year it is $21.83.
With a membership at Trinity being  about 180 people, that would amount to a total of $3,929.40.  This is about the same as
last year.  Out of the almost $4,000.00 that was owed to the Presbyterian Church Org., our church members only paid
$1,270.39.  That means that only about 58 members paid their share.  The remainder of the money came out of our General
Fund.  This is the fund that pays salaries, and other bills for maintaining our building.  Without every member doing their fair
share, some of our bills do not get paid.  If you want this church to survive, everyone has to do their part.  Are you doing your
share???


House for Sale

A home on Kentucky Avenue that the church owns is for sale.  Contact the church @ 810-721-5152. Waldo Bronson and
Sharron Alexander is handling it and leaves a number where you can be reached, if interested.


The Significance Of Lent

Lent is the fourth season of the Christian year.  Its length is the 40 days preceding Easter Day, not counting Sundays.  This
means Lent always begins on a Wednesday, known as Ash Wednesday.

Lent commemorates Jesus’ fast and temptation in the wilderness of Judea Province, which, according to the Gospel, lasted 40
days.  Just as Jesus confronted his temptations during these 40 days, Lent helps Christians focus on our most basic need as
sinners:  Forgiveness.

The only way our Lord’s forgiving power can become effective in our lives is by our taking the initiative to confront our sins,
confess them and repent of them.  In short, Lent is a season of penitence.


Support Our Military!

Our young men and women have chosen to serve their country by joining the Military.  They are deployed around the world,
some in harm's way more than others, but still they serve.  We have a chance to make their service just a little more bearable.  
We can do this by donating a few of the items that are on our list.  These items are jsut little things but mean so much to our
service men and women.  Pat Sparks is the point person with the Burton VFW.  She will see that your gifts are taken to the hall
for packaging and shipment to our troops.  Please do your part!


VG's Coupons

Shop 'til you drop!  The drop in this case means until you drop your VG's coupon points at the church.  This program is very
simple and an easy way for your Deacons to collect some extra funds for some of their programs.  If and when you shop at VG's
just make sure you get your receipt, clip off the bottom where it says "Coupon Points" and give it to the church.  These points
are redeemed by VG's for cash for the Deacons.  A box is located in the Multi-Purpose room for your donations.


Deacon's News

Our WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE is still in effect.  There is a need for all types of Winter Clothing, new and/or slightly used, but
special attention to Boys and Girls sizes 5 through 12 underwear, socks and sweatpants.  We would like to ask the
congregation's help with this great local cause.  A box is located in the Multi-Purpose room for your donations.
A multicultural
success story