April 2016 Trinity Topics
Transcription
April 2016 Trinity Topics
Trinity Topics April 2016 A Place to Worship. A Place to Belong! Trinity Lutheran Church 600 South Water Street Kent, Ohio 44240 330-673-5445 • www.TrinityKent.org Worship Sunday School Thursdays 7:00 P.M. Sundays 8:15 A.M. & 10:45 A.M. Christian Education for all ages Sundays 9:30 A.M. — 10:30 A.M. Reverend Douglas E. Fidler From the Pastor Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! What a grand and glorious day is Easter. We gather around the cross, the font, the meal rejoicing in the new life we have in Christ Jesus our risen Lord and Savior. If you practiced any form of Lenten discipline (giving something up, or adding something) to deepen your Christian walk then Easter is an awakening of the soul. Christian mystics and spiritual leaders have for centuries written about the “dark night of the soul” of a ‘winter to spring’ revival at Easter. But Easter is more than a spring festival, which in our culture is how it is often portrayed by retailers, civic organizations and others who either do not know or avoid faith practices. If I type in “Easter” for a graphic all I get is colored eggs and bunnies. I’m sorry but that’s not Easter! The real questions is how do we grow in faith, how do we maintain a life of faith with a God we cannot see? We catch a glimpse of God in something or someone and think, Yes, this is it. We draw close, but it doesn’t last. We lose interest until something again piques our desire. This was the struggle of the early Church. This was the question Thomas had, “Unless I see… Unless I touch… I will not believe.” Here is where I think the empty tomb really speaks to us, at least it speaks to me in this way; I feel that my spiritual life is more empty than full. I don’t mean a lack of faith but a searching, a questioning, a struggling, a sorting out, a loneliness in faith is more of the day to day journey for me than it is the ‘I’m on the mountain top’, emotional high sort of experience. This loneliness is necessary and it is this that draws me forward. The empty tomb leads us forward in the journey. That is what the angels told the women at the end of Matthew’s Gospel. “indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” Or in Luke’s Gospel account the resurrection story is told as the two disciples slowly trod from Jerusalem to Emmaus forlorn and lost in faith and there they encounter Jesus along the way. The problem is that we don’t like the loneliness. We don’t want to walk the Emmaus road without Jesus. We’re not at home with loneliness. We find it easier to create anything that will fill the holes, add to the excitement, the energy, to be entertained. We fill the hole with moralism, practices that we think will entice God to return to us, things that will make us feel good. We find means of artificial stimulation – we can think “spring” and have the flood of chocolate and new clothes and fresh flowers. But the emptiness, the loneliness is still remains. St. John of the Cross, a 16th century Spanish priest once said (loosely translated) God just waits for vacuums that God can fill. Offer God that vacuum, and refuse to fill it yourself. So much in the Gospels and Paul we hear things like; when I am weak then I am strong, when I’m low - I’m lifted up, when poor- I’m rich, when dead- Alive. This is what God graciously does for us in the vacuums, the loneliness, the emptiness of our lives. As we journey into this Easter season every Sunday is not going to be occupied with mass choirs, grand preaching and filled pews. Most likely we will find ourselves with Thomas more often than not. [Hopefully not absent from the rest of the gathered community – but in struggling with doubt and issues of faith.] I think about that emptiness and loneliness here at Trinity. We’ve been very deliberate in our sorting out of our vision and our staffing needs. We’ve had lots of discussions and we’re beginning to finalize that process. Yes, we still need your voice to be a part of this so be sure to attend one of the cottage meetings! Some have said we just need to hire a secretary and an associate pastor. Nothing would make me happier – but we must respect the process, experience the vacuum, the absence, the loneliness. In this time many of you have stepped up in various roles within the congregational life. Many more have been engaged in the discussion process. We’re narrowing down exactly what it is that we want as a congregation and taking this time of emptiness has allowed us also to listen to the direction of God. Trinity has a wonderful ministry and it is filled throughout the week and on Sundays with wonderful people of faith. This season of Easter as we journey to the empty tomb and discover the hole in our lives that only the Risen Lord can fill, let us also be open to the emptiness of our ministry together and be open, with prayer and meditation to allow God to fill the needs that are before us. Pastor Fidler 2 AA 5:30pm Worship 8:15am Sunday School 9:30 Worship 10:45am 24 AA 5:30pm Worship 8:15am Sunday School 9:30 Worship 10:45am 17 Worship 8:15am Sunday School 9:30 Worship 10:45am Coffee Hour Cottage Mtng 3p AA 5:30pm 10 Yoga 6:30pm 25 Yoga 6:30pm Finance Co 7pm 18 Yoga 6:30pm Cottage Mtng 6;30p 11 Yoga 6:30pm COUNCIL 6:30 pm Worship 8:15am Sunday School 9:30 Worship 10:45am AA 5:30pm 4 Easter Monday 3 AA 5:30pm Easter Day Worship 8:30am Worship 10:30am ESL Class12:30pm Lutheran Campus Ministry Board 6:30pm 26 ESL Class12:30pm 19 ESL Class12:30pm 12 ESL Class12:30pm 5 ESL Class12:30pm Bible Study 11am Confirmation 5:30pm Kid’s Choir 5:30pm Bells 6:00p Worship 7:00pm GH Chancel 7:30pm 27 Confirmation 5:30pm Kid’s Choir 5:30pm Bells 6:00pm Kid’s Club 6:00 pm Chancel 7:30pm Bible Study 11am Confirmation 5:30pm Kid’s Choir 5:30pm Bells 6:00p Chancel 7:30pm 28 Bible Study 11am ESL Class12:30pm The Table 6:00pm Worship 7:00 pm Book Club at KSU 8pm The Table 6:00pm Worship 7:00 pm ESL Class12:30pm 21 The Table 6:00pm Worship 7:00 pm Cottage Mtng 7p ESL Class12:30pm Bible Study 11am 14 Kent Hot Meals 11:30a & 3:45p The Table 6:00p Worship 7:00 pm 20 Confirmation 5:30pm Kid’s Choir 5:30pm Bells 6:00p Chancel 7:30pm 13 Bible Study 11am Confirmation 5:30pm Kid’s Choir 5:30pm Bells 6:00p Cottage Mtng 7p Chancel 7:30pm ESL Class12:30pm 7 6 The Table 6:00p Worship 7:00 pm ESL Class12:30pm 31 AA 7:30pm 29 AA 7:30pm 22 Cottage Mtng 2:30p Spaghetti Dinner 4:30-7:00pm AA 7:30pm 15 AA 7:30pm Trinitarian’s 6:00p 8 AA 7:30pm 1 28 30 27 330-673-5445 29 April 2016 www.trinitykent.org Cottage Meetings: 6th @ 7:00p 9th @ 3:00p 10th @ 3:00p 11th @ 6:30p 14th @ 7:00p 15th @ 2:30p 30 Bible Study 7:30am Akron Food Bank 9-12 Lord’s Lunch 11:30am Lord’s Lunch 11:30am Bible Study 7:30am 23 Bible Study 7:30am Lord’s Lunch 11:30am 16 Bible Study 7:30am Lord’s Lunch 11:30am Cottage Mtng 3p 9 Lord’s Lunch 11:30am Bible Study 7:30am 2 Congregational Small Group “Cottage” Meetings April 6: Wednesday - 7:00pm Mike Schock 1423 Congress Lake Rd Mogadore April 9: Saturday - 3:00pm Dave and Jackie Lann 3155 Sandy Lake Rd., Ravenna April 10: Sunday - 3:00pm Church 600 S. Water St., Kent April 11: Monday - 6:30pm Emily Myers 2005 Skyview Ln., Brimfield April 14: Thursday - 7:00pm Debbie Schinker 3017 Saybrooke Blvd, Stow April 15: Friday - 2:30pm Almuth Koby 637 Park Ave, Kent The purpose of these small group gatherings is to develop a Vision for ministry here at Trinity. The Staffing Committee has been working to fill the office administrator position but beyond that we need to know exactly what it is we are about as a congregation, what defines us, what do we do well, what are the resources we have to accomplish the mission. We are many members with different gifts and talents, we are the church. As in the past, we need to call on our talents and abilities as we move forward. Having defined our assets and vision, the Council can then determine the scope of additional staffing. Plan to attend one of the small group meetings. If more are needed we will add additional times and locations. The intent is to limit the time to 90 minutes but lively discussion can certainly continue longer if desired. Also the number at each gathering should be no more than 12 person so that discussion can easily be shared as a group rather than multiple sub-groups. We hope that more individuals will be willing to share their thoughts in the smaller groups. No idea is to small to share. We are open to every idea on the direction the congregation should head. Share your thoughts at a cottage meeting - or share your thoughts in the suggestion box in the church. Share your ideas with Pastor Fidler, or share with Dave Lann (Council President) - Just be sure to share! There is a sign-up sheet on the usher’s table in the narthex OR call the church office to register for a specific location. Growing from Christian Education, Worship, Music and Social Ministry we have identified areas of growth with Youth (elementary, high school, campus), Leadership (both volunteer within the congregation and staffing) as well as with Stewardship (proportional giving financially to the ministry and stewardship of the resources and facilities we have). Thinking in broad terms how do you see this growth developing? What is needed to make it happen? Hope to hear from you at a Cottage Meeting! Pastor Fidler Dave Lann, Council President 4 Congregational Forum No. 2, March 6, 2016 This forum had three parts: Report of Staffing Committee Report of Visioning Committee Pastor Biermann from the NE Ohio Synod, and Questions and Answers Staffing Committee: Members: Larry and Sharon Emling, Ted and Kelly Linden, Dirk and Nancy Falther Sharon Emling reported: The committee wrote a job description for the position of Administrative Secretary, with the input of Pastor Fidler and Cindy Howard. An ad has been placed in various places (newspaper, online), and so far, 24 applications have been received. An interview committee of 4 will start interviewing in the near future, and make the decision on whom to hire. Question was asked as to whether it is the committee, the council, or the pastor who has the authority to hire new staff, according to our congregation’s constitution/by-laws. Answer: Probably the council will make the final decision, but committee was authorized by congregation at last forum. Visioning Committee: Members: Emily Myers, chair; Matt Breen, Nancy Falther, Rolan Harvey, Debbie Schinker, Mike Schock Debbie Schinker reported: Committee chose “Appreciative Inquiry” as form to interview 30 people from the congregation, across all diversity lines. Seven main categories were identified, and will be looked into and defined further in the near future. They are Education, Leadership (both lay and staff), Music, Stewardship (both of finances and of property), Social Ministry (both inside and outside of our congregation), Worship, and Youth. The committee prepared a handout which illustrates and explains this more fully. The Question and Answer part for this committee brought out that we will have small-group gatherings (“Cottage Meetings”), starting in the next few weeks and mostly in April; those will report back to Council at the May meeting. Another concern brought up was whether we have a deadline by which this discussion will be ended, or whether it will drag on forever: The answer from Pastor Fidler was that we are moving along very well, and are exactly where we are supposed to be. This process will take time, but will not go on forever. Another thought brought in was that this is a great time to come to a plan that moves us along, but stay open for changes, so we don’t box ourselves in. Pastor Biermann: Pastor Biermann introduced himself as a “matchmaker” between congregations and their needs for pastors or other associates in ministry on one side, and the people that the Synod knows are available, and whose strengths they know about. He loves visiting the congregations of the Synod, each of which is different, and getting to know them more deeply. He explained that only half of his work is matching a congregation with an available pastor, and that the other half of his time is spent facilitating cooperative ministries between congregations: Not so much that they share a person, but rather share a ministry, and hire a person for that together. Bishop Allende sees the connection of our congregation to the KSU campus as vital and important, and it is much valued. Q: What is the difference between pastors and other people we could call? A: He explained a bit about pastors who are ordained, versus candidates who went through four years of seminary, but did not get ordained; as well as deacons and deaconesses, who are in “word and service” ministry, and usually connect church and community. Q: Are there candidates looking for part-time positions? A: Not often. There might be willingness to split time between two calls, however. Q: Are there women candidates available? A: More than half of seminarians are women. Also, there is a wide variety: Black and white, older and younger, people in committed same-sex relationship, etc. Pastor Biermann stressed that the young, white, male seminarian with wife and two children is rather rare these days! Q: Are there congregations nearby who are currently looking to share a pastor? A: It is up to the congregations to make those contacts and have those discussions with neighboring congregations, and no, he does not know of any. Respectfully submitted, Almuth Koby, Council Secretary 5 Christian Education Bible Study: Thursday Morning 11:00 am The Gospel of Luke Men’s Saturday morning 7:30 am Luther’s “Bondage of the Will” Sunday School: Sunday mornings 9:30 am Pre K- Kindergarten: Jason and Rebecca Hohenberger Whirl Winter series 1st – 3rd Grade class: Emily Schmidlin Whirl Winter series th th 4 -6 Grade class: Gail Neubert & Mindy Uhrig Bible games th th 7 -12 Grade class: PFid Biblical Ancestors th th 6 -12 Hosanna Choir class: Cindy Howard Liturgy Adult class: Pastor George Gaiser & Radd Ehrman The Bible Adult class: Almuth Koby The Times of Martin Luther: Culture, Society, Art, Family Life, and More" Confirmation Classes: Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm First Year students (7th/8th grade) meet with Sharon Emling in the library for a Bible survey. Second Year students (9th grade) are assigned to mentors. Confirmation is scheduled for Sunday, May 15th 8:15 & 10:45 services Please keep our confirmands and mentors in prayer James Elmore with Michael Schock Finn Kaine with John Sargent Miriam Koby with Judy Gaiser Benny Neubert with Kelly Linden Corey Neubert with Tim Culver Megan Schinker with Cindy Howard PARENTS: Make sure your children are in class and ready by 5:30p.m. Review with them after class what they learned. 6 A Sign from God… Trinity has a lot of visibility on Rt. 43 and our sign is an eye catcher. NEEDED: Sign changers, someone or group who is willing to change the sign once a week. Sign up for a month or a season. Kent State Theatre opportunity! Bus Stop April 21, 8 pm Out book club, Endless Readers, wants to invite anyone interested in attending a play at KSU on April 21st at 8p.m. . The play is Bus Stop, about a group of people on a bus being stranded by a blizzard overnight at a diner outside Kansas City. The cost is $10 per person if we can get 10 people to commit. Deadline for reservations will be April 10th. Money must be paid with reservation. Contact Emily Myers for further info or sign up on a sheet in the Narthax. You may contact Emily at [email protected] or 330-606-4445. Reserving Social Space If you have any special dates that need to be marked off on our church calendar for the Great Hall or the Gathering Room, please supply your dates to the church office or Sarah Royka at [email protected]. This will secure your spot! 7 Coffee Hour 2016 Fellowship and Food Immediately following the 8:15 and 10:45 services Date Group Chairperson April 10 May 15 June 12 Congregation WELCA Sarah Circle July 10 Tabitha Circle Congregation Congregation Trinitarians Mary Martha Circle Rebecca Circle Congregation Fae Darrow Emily Myers Kathy Fieger Jo Lofland Michelle Smith Fae Darrow Fae Darrow Don Poyer Dee Bowen Nancy Myers Fae Darrow August 14 September 11 October 9 November 13 December 11 Spaghetti Dinners April 15, proceeds benefiting Freedom House May 20, proceeds benefiting Freedom House The Trinitarians Pot Luck Dinner Friday, April 8, 6pm Meet in the Gathering Room for a pot luck dinner and a travelogue. Pete Dahl will show pictures of his European river cruise. Bring your table service and a dish to share. 8 9 Matt Breen 10:45am Lori Foldessy 10:45am Ron Craig & Karen Burkey Trish Saylor & Gail Neubert Gayle Simone Radd Ehrman 8:15am 10:45am Deb Scharlotte & Marilyn Zeman Jim Stroble & Michelle Smith April 24, 2016 Tere Hummel Sunday Radd Ehrman & Sue Taylor Dawn & Jeff Blake April 17, 2016 Bill Hildebrand Joe Kocian 8:15am Sunday 10:45am 8:15am Steve Shanafelt & Matt Johnson Lori Foldessy & Ted Linden April 10, 2016 Deb Scharlotte Sunday COMMUNION ASSISTANTS April 3, 2016 8:15am Sunday LAY READER Debbie Schinker Matt Johnson Sarah Royka Kaine family Steve & Debbe Webster Ted Linden & Dawn Begin Deb Scharlotte Kelly Linden Kim Lemmon Radd Ehrman Sharon Emling ASST MINISTER Roger & Sue Martanovic Michelle Faulstick & Lynn Tausch Sarah Royka & Lori Foldessy Dave Hall & Fae Darrow Ron Paskey & Michelle Smith USHERS April 2016 Tom Culver Jesse Elmore ---- Sam Culver Melaina Uhrig ---- Mason Casto Gideon Kaine ---- Mathias Broyles Jesse Elmore ---- ACOLYTE Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Trinity serves as a distribution point for the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. For more information, please contact Gayle Simone. Feb 2016 Number of Households 37 Number of Seniors (60+) 26 Number of Adults (18-59) 42 Number of Children (birth-17) 22 TOTAL SERVED 90 Our pantry was awarded $25.00 for receiving a score of 100 % on our “E” signature audit. Thanks Gayle for your outstanding record keeping! Kent Hot Meals Trinity is serving the Kent Hot Meals on Thursdays—April 7, June 2, July 28 and September 22 this year. We arrive at Kent Social Services by 3:45 to serve the meal and clean up. We're done by 6pm. 4-5 people are needed each time. See Pastor Fidler to be involved! The Lord’s Lunches continue to grow and reach many. The Saturday lunch time is becoming a place where people gather for fellowship and know that they are cared for, receive a nutritious meal and are blessed to be here. We are continuing to look for additional Church groups and other organizations who would be willing to come and serve a Saturday meal. What is involved? Each group chooses a menu able to serve about 40—45 people. (We offer take-home meals and seconds as long as there is food available.) Preparation of the food can take place in Trinity’s kitchen, or come ready to serve. Set-up of the place settings, serving the food and then clean-up of the dining area and dishes is also requested. A Trinity member is always present to assist with the operation. If you have friends in other congregations or are involved in organizations that might be interested in serving, please pass the word about the “Lord’s Lunches” here at Trinity every Saturday. We serve from 11:30 a.m. until about 12:15 p.m. It is always a blessing for both those working the meal and those who come to eat. See Margaret Meagher or Pastor Fidler for more information about the meals and how you can be involved! 10 U th Page Are you receiving the Weekly Youth News by Email or Facebook? If not sign up today! Send a request to [email protected] and keep up on all the Uth activities. Friend us on Facebook at Trinity Youth Kent Follow PFid on Twitter @HeyPFid Please sign up for events 2 weeks prior so preparations can be made. Please pay any costs involved 1 week prior unless otherwise noted. Lutheran Campus Ministry: The Table—-Thursdays at Trinity 6-8 pm Join us at the Table for food and fellowship – no rsvp needed, no dress code – just come. Help prepare food or plan out next week’s meal. Join us at the Table for games, conversation, fellowship, study or whatever –no agenda, just time to be with others Join us at the Table for worship. Campus folk gather for scripture, prayer, discussion, song, and communion – together we determine the makeup of our time together Friday evenings at Luther House 6:30pm- whenever Chat and Chow. Come help prepare a meal and join in lively discussions, meet new friends. Luther house is on Luther Ave across from White Hall and behind Faith Lutheran Church. Also with Lutheran Campus Ministries there will be Bible Studies, service events, fun outings. Make sure you’re on the email list at Trinity. Friend “Lutheran Student Fellowship” on Facebook for updates on events. Come and get a free pen! 11 GOD’S WORK OUR HANDS Thank you to: all who provided soup and salad and sandwiches for our Wednesday Lenten meals all who helped with the spring cleaning [awesome!!]Sue Hardwick, Ron Craig, Cindy Howard, Benny Neubert, Corey Neubert, Spencer Neubert, Gail Neubert, Russ Neubert, Dee Paskey, Pastor Fidler, Finn Kaine, Sandy Wittenauer, Tracy Elmore, Deb Scharlotte our staffing committee sorting through the applications for office administrator and to the interview committee for their ongoing work Cindy Howard and our choirs for the wonderful Holy Week and Easter music; Musicians: Tom and Jennifer Culver, Gail Neubert, Jackie Lann, all our amazing choirs, Miriam Koby and Matt Johnson. Actors/ Readers for our Maundy Thursday tableaux: Ron Craig, Beth Dawson, Dee Paskey, Deb Scharlotte, Julianne Dezort, George Gaiser, Miriam Koby, Matt Johnson, Mindy Uhrig, Geoff Koby, Pete Dahl, Jackie Lann, Jo Lofland, Joy Washburn. The crafty folk who made the “Alleluia” pennants and banners for Easter out of the old assisting minister and acolyte robes; Deb Scharlotte, Sue Hardwick, Gretchen Kaine, Julianne Dezort, Kay Downey, Beth Dawson, Bridget Anthony, Mindy Uhrig for putting together an awesome luncheon for the NE Ohio Synod and her crew in the kitchen; Lori Foldessy, Sue Hardwick, Jimmy and Sandy Wittenauer, and to Cheryl Seymour and George Gaiser for serving as ushers and greeters for the NEO Synod worship Brahce family for the new sound system And thanks to Julianne Dezort, Gail Neubert and the Mardi Gras crew— Mardi Gras 2016 is just a memory and there were so many things that night to make memories. Our emcee, Steve Shanafelt, welcomed all to the evening festivities by dressing as the State Farm Agent in Khahis. The royalty {randomly selected} were King Geoff Koby, Queen Jessica McRitchie, Prince Hendrix Gregory, Princess Keira Schock and Jester John Haren. New members of 2015 were reintroduced and welcomed. The Scout Troop #3266 from Longcoy School was also recognized. After a good meal {Lutherans are good cooks}, we paraded around the "French Quarter" with our royalty leading the way. Needless to say we were singing"When the Saints Go Marching In". Outback Ray entertained the children and the adults with the animals he brought. The kids will probably always remember Sponge Bob the Boa Constrictor and the chinchilla perched on top of Greta's head! The evening concluded with Pastor Fidler offering prayers and songs to enter the Lenten season. My thanks for helping make this evening so much fun go to-- Emcee Steve, Greeter- Jo Lofland, cake bakers- Gretchen Kaine, Kelly Linden, Mindy Uhrig, Ellen Baggett and Debbie Schinker, cake cutters Dee Paskey and Jo Lofland. If you received a baby in your piece of cake, may you have an entire year of good luck and make sure the baby gets back to the festivities next year either in a cake or given back to me. Needless to say there is much that goes into setting up and taking down of the decorations. Thanks to Mike Uzl for setting up all the tables. Thanks to all those who helped make the Great Hall look so good!.. A new addition to the crew was Gail Neubert. She helped me with the planning and implementation for this great party. What a help she was. Thanks to Pastor Fidler. The donation money received went to help defray the cost of entertainment and some aside for next year's needs. Mark the date for next year----February 28th. You will want to be a part of it!!! 12 April Birthdays at Trinity 1 Sheila Uzl 3 Ethan Marxen Phoebe Hohenberger 9 Michelle Parrish AnJean Poyer Teresa Orr Gideon Kaine Brian Falther 4 Laura Hardwick Ryan Parrish 21 14 Benjamin Elmore 5 13 Roger Martanovic Bruce Traycoff 17 Mary Anne Kapper Claudia Reisinger 10 Sandra Woolf Finnegan Kaine 28 Don Johnson Nicole Wright 18 11 Mark Makosky 16 Sara Falther Michelle Smith Brian Orr Adam Porto 23 29 Nancy Falther Ryan Webster 30 Joseph Criag Tobias Brunner 19 If your birthdate is not listed here please call the church office so that we can make the correction. 20 Ted Linden Treva Plank I want to thank everyone for the get well wishes and cards during my surgery and recovery. Thank you! Shelia Uzl 13 Trinity Lutheran Church 600 South Water Street Kent, OH 44240 Trinity Topics