kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Transcription

1 JUNE 2015 Mini Series on Galatians 5 The FRUIT of the SPIRIT LOVE TRIADS OF THE SPIRIT Seeks the highest good in others. JOY Gladness that is not based on circumstances. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace Galatians 5:22 We celebrate Pentecost each year pointing to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We wear red. And we do it with a flourish! Yet, remarkably, the Sundays following Pentecost are noted on the Christian Calendar as ORDINARY TIME right up to December and the beginning of Advent. I wish that wasn t so. There is nothing ordinary about the Holy Spirit. Think about it: The Holy Spirit is so crucial in each of our lives as believers, and collectively, as the church. I m going to be preaching a miniseries on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit from Galatians 5. There are nine of them: Come on, try it out with me: Love, joy, PEACE Contentment, unity between people. PATIENCE Slow to speak and slow to anger. kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. One thoughtful commentator has referred to the fruit of the Spirit as the biblical term that best sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. I m taking three of the nine each week. Thus, the series title TRIADS OF THE SPIRIT. KINDNESS Merciful, sweet, and tender. GOODNESS Generous and open hearted. FAITHFULNESS Dependable, loyal, and full of trust. GENTLENESS Humble, calm, non-threatening. SELF-CONTROL Behaving well. If you are in town this summer, I look forward exploring these nine character traits during well, let s just call it during this season of Pentecost at here at Trinity Church. peace, patience, Trinity Presbyterian Church 4365 State Road 776 Venice Florida Phone: Fax: Worship 9 & 10:30 a.m.

2 Page 2 An Incredible Gift to Trinity Church MEET SUSAN BREMBS Susan Brembs is truly a gift to Trinity Church. She took up responsibilities as the Chancel Choir Director on the first Sunday of May. Asked about her first month at our church, Susan replied: We have felt so welcome here at Trinity from the very first day. Walter and I have just felt so at home by the congregation and by members of the choir. Newcomers to Southwest Florida, they live in the Plantation in South Venice. What brought them here? Their son John moved from Virginia to become Vice President of Marketing for Ringing Brothers (yes, as in the circus) in Sarasota. Naturally, they followed suite. Susan comes to us with a wealth of experience. Raised in the church and never remembers a time she didn t love Jesus she tells us, I have been singing in church choirs since I was 12 years old. A native of the Hyde Park/ Poughkeepsie area of what she refers to generically upstate New York, Susan taught in Hyde Park school system (grades K-12) for twenty five years. Part of that stint was Music Coordinator for the entire district. Ask her about her experience in music ministry at congregations in Frederick, Virginia and New Bern, North Carolina. It is a refreshing testimony of God s calling and working in her life. Susan s last position was one in which she served for zero pay at the smallish 30-in-attendance Vamo United Methodist Church in Sarasota. They had no choir but she immediately got to work and had a dozen members in the newly formed choir. We actually had 14 with the snowbirds there she winks with a smile. (The Church has since been forced to close). Trinity will be hosting a special WELCOME COFFEE TIME following the traditional service on June 21. Fair notice: Susan will also be actively seeking recruits for our Summer Choir which debuts on the following Sunday. Sunday, June 7 Holy Communion The Trinity Church Family will be observing the Lord s Supper on Sunday, June 7th at both services. Join us as we come to the Lord s Table, Contemporary Worship at 9AM and Traditional at 10:30AM. Dear Pastor Chuck and our Trinity Family, Words can hardly express our feelings at this time. Ray and I and our family are overcome with grief over the loss of our Laura Rae Deming. We have been so very blessed in the faith and knowledge that Laura has met her Savior in heaven and is at peace. We thank you for every card and prayer given for us and our family. I am sure we could not survive without the love of our Christian brothers and sisters. God Bless, Ray & Ilda Deming.

3 Page 3 Sing A New Song to the Lord As the new choir director at Trinity Church, I would like to invite anyone who would like to praise the Lord in song to become a member of our Summer Choir. The summer choir will be singing every Sunday at the Traditional Service, starting on Sunday, June 28th, and ending on Sunday, September 27th. We will meet each Sunday morning at 9:30am in the music room for a rehearsal prior to the Service at 10:30. We will also have three Wednesday evenings rehearsals during this time. The first Wednesday evening rehearsal will be on June 24th at 6:30pm. At this rehearsal we will get acquainted with new members and take a look at the anthems we will be singing on the 27th of June and those for the month of July. The Second Wed. evening rehearsal will be on July 29th and the last on Wednesday, August 26th. I sincerely hope that the Summer Choir will provide a rewarding musical experience as well as a relaxing and fun time with your fellow singers. Here s hoping you will come and test the musical matters! If you are planning on joining us, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can prepare a musical folder for you. Susan Brembs, Choir Director Phone: singersue1@hotmail.com SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY In May, Charlie Denton, Vice President of Family Promise South Sarasota County, came to Trinity Church to give an overview of this national program which helps homeless families with children. Over 30 interested persons showed up to hear how thousands have been helped. For those who missed the first presentation, you have a second chance Sunday June 14, at 10:00AM in classroom 1. George LaVigne, the volunteer coordinator for Pine Shores Presbyterian Church in Sarasota one of the host congregations in North County will share his experience as a coordinator, the responsibilities, time commitment, but most importantly how he has been blessed by serving. Along with George, you will hear from Nika a single mom of 3 who is a graduate of Family Promise. She will share how this program has helped her to achieve lasting independence and how the volunteers, churches, and donors have ministered to her in such a way that her life is changed forever. You don t want to miss the testimonies of these two. I hope to see the original 30 who expressed interest plus another 30. Help us at Trinity become a host site in South County to serve homeless families in need. What we cannot do alone, we can and will do together In Christ Abundant, Never Failing Love. Karin Barbito, Director CAM FOUR HOT POTATOES with no easy answers Two more weeks: June 3: muslims, islam & islamic terrorism June 10: Jesus is the way, truth, and life me=a bigot? Wednesdays at 6:30pm. Join Us!

4 Page 4 What kind of a man would receive the care of a Stephen Minister? A man like Adam who was cut off from all that gave meaning to life and needed someone to remind him of God s promise. A man like Noah who witnessed the destruction of everything around him and needed someone to wait with him for a new day. A man like Abraham who had to leave everything he knew and loved behind him and needed someone to journey with him to a new life. A man like Moses who faced great opposition and needed a companion to support him an speak on his behalf. A man like David who grieved the death of a wayward child and needed a shepherd s care. A man like Isaiah who thought he was alone and needed a still small voice to encourage him. A man like Job- who lost everything and needed someone to silently endure his pain with him. A man like Peter who found himself in over his head and needed the strong hand of a faithful friend; whose pride lead him to initially resist having his feet washed by the Lord when the Lord came in the form of a humble servant but willingly received this ministry when he honestly confronted his need. A man like Paul who knew the unending distress cause by a thorn in the flesh and needed someone to rejoice with him when he rejoiced and to weep with him when he wept. A man like Jesus who knew disappointment, sorrow, grief, rejection, loneliness so intense that He sweat blood and needed an angle of God to minister to Him. A man like you. This & That CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP This ministry meets on the third Friday of each month at 1:00 pm in the church lounge. Anyone who is a caregiver to someone with dementia or Alzheimer s is most welcome. If you have any questions, please phone or see Barbara Winsmore or Roberta French GRAND GROUP: This ministry is a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the Stephen Ministry lounge from 10-11:30am. For more information or questions, contact Norma Brown at FAMILY PROMISE FOLLOW UP Those who missed the presentation by Charlie Denton last month, there will be a follow up presentation on Sunday, June 14 th in classroom 1 at 10am. The group will also hear from a single mom of 3 who is a graduate of the Family Promise program. She will share how this program has helped her and changed her life forever. See article on page 3. If you would like to know more about how a Stephen Minister could care for you, please call Wilson Barker ( ), Barb Middelthon ( ), or Paul Mrha ( ) Paul Mrha Stephen Leader Lamentations 3:23

5 Page 5 There are many ministry areas you can where you can serve your church and community. Here are a few of those ministries: PAUSE AND REFLECT (P.A.R.) Pause And Reflect Worship is held each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:45 10:30am. We have a few slots open for Monday and Tuesday morning in June and July. Come lead a devotion or give a testimony. Music is always welcomed. Contact the church office ( ) to sign up. PRAYER GROUP: Do you pray for others and circumstances? How about yourself and family? Perhaps you have a caring heart for others and what is happening around the world? If you answered yes to any of the above, you ll love our Prayer Ministry. We meet each Wednesday morning at 9:30am in the Library/Media Center at the church. We pray for the church, community, ministries, world issues, as well as personal needs. For more information, contact Barb Winsmore ( ). GARDENS OF VENICE WORSHIP : This ministry takes the Word of God to our brothers and sisters at the Assisted Living Facility just around the corner from us. We meet each Sunday afternoon at 1pm, share a brief message, sing some of the old favorite hymns, and fellowship with the residents. We are in need of additional folks to help lead a devotion from time to time. The residents are blessed by our presence and we are blessed by getting to know them. For more information, contact Bob Lamberty ( ) or the church office ( ) USHERS & GREETERS: There is always a need for folks to lend a hand on Sunday mornings with greeting folks as they arrive for worship as well as serving as an usher. Both are relatively simple jobs, only requirement ability to smile, give a firm handshake, assist with seating, and make folks feel welcome. Contact Sandi McQuiston ( ). SUMMER CHOIR: Do you enjoy singing praises to the Lord? Why not join the Summer Choir? We will officially begin on July 1st. and sing through the end of September. No commitment to sing every week we will meet each Sunday morning at 9:30am in the Choir Room to rehearse prior to the traditional service at 10:30. We will hold three special Wednesday rehearsals as well. See Susan s article on page 3. Look at it this way I don t HAVE to serve. I GET to serve. My Dad When I was just a tiny kid, Do you remember when, The time you kissed my bruises, Or cleaned by soiled chin? You scrambled for the balls I hit, (Short-winded more than not,) Yet, every time we'd play a game, You praised the "outs" I caught. It seems like only yesterday, You wiped away my tears, And late at night I called your name, To chase away my fears. Though time has changed your handsome grip, Your hair is snowy white, You gait's a little slower now, Thick glasses help your sight. Oh, do I thirst for years gone by, To be that growing lad, Re-living all of the memories, Of growing with my dad. Author Unknown Serve The Lord With Gladness. Psalm 100:2

6 STAFF PHOTO/Christi Womack Sarasota Herald Tribune Trinity Presbyterian Church 4365 State Road 776 Venice, Florida TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN FIRST CHURCH TO EVER WIN NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR placement, utility and rental assistance, and legal aid, to name just a few. There is something different about this organization: is what people say when they visit; some of the volunteers have been there in their shoes which helps them to relate to the guests. Their goal is to engage, teach, equip, and empower people to self-sufficiency so they do not need charitable assistance from agencies. Trinity Presbyterian Church: Community Assistance Ministry Named Best Non-Profit Business of The Year! Excerpts from Herald Tribune Article May 28, 2015 Trinity Presbyterian Church Community Assistance Program. Since the opening of its doors, Trinity Presbyterian Church Community Assistance Program has met the urgent needs of the citizens of Venice and Nokomis, including the homeless, with dignity and respect. This organization is one of the largest distributors of food in all of Sarasota County and they serve hundreds of guests each week. It is an ideal location for other agencies to send representatives to their facility to offer their services such as health screening, job The winner of the non-profit award is not well-known, said Jon Thaxton of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, but its 150 volunteers make sure the hungry eat, those without transportation get to their jobs, children have clean clothing and diapers, and the homeless get a place to live. The important gift this organization is giving is hope, Thaxton said in his introduction of Karin Barbito. Traci Hamill, of Toastmasters, chairwoman of the judging committee in the nonprofit category said, After our interview with Barbito, she gave all of us goosebumps. Why? Because Barbito serves by experience. She once was in the same situation as many of her clients. A beaming Barbito encourages people to stop by for a visit. I definitely share this with everyone who volunteers with us and, especially, share this with our clients, she said. THE MISSION of Trinity Church is to: INTRODUCE people to Jesus Christ, DEEPEN faith and make disciples, ENCOURAGE community, and PROVIDE opportunities to use our spiritual gifts both locally and throughout the world.