THE MESSENGER. Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Living for Christ through Worship, Discipleship, Service and Fellowship

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1 19251 North Tamiami Trail, No. Ft. Myers, FL Phone: THE MESSENGER Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church August 2017, Volume 2017, Issue 9 Website: htpcsecretary@gmail.com Living for Christ through Worship, Discipleship, Service and Fellowship HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Aug 2 Ann Adams Aug 2 Ed Frantz Aug 10 Laura Babcock Aug 10 Cheryl Gabe Aug 13 Ruth Sommer Aug 15 Karen Daley Aug 15 Bud Berger Aug 16 Kinga Cook Aug 16 Fred Roessler Aug 17 Mary Ann Chamberlin Aug 18 Trudy Vanderhout Aug 20 Lura Judd Aug 22 Lois Berger Aug 23 Leona Jennings Aug 23 Arthur Sommer Dear Saints, Thanks for the great support and effort shown by the Holy Trinity Family in trying out our grand experiment and we will conclude the Summer Hours at the end of August. We have learned a lot from trying the 9:30/11:00 hours. Mainly we discovered that the Holy Trinity family is open to trying something new. We also learned that thirty minutes between worship services can work, but it makes all of us From Pastor Val hustle when we do not need to. The parking lot is very busy between the two services, Christian Education has to double up on teachers and classes to provide learning opportunities for each service, and the Music Ministry really has to be on their toes in short order. So Session has voted to return to 8:30 Contemporary worship service and 10:30 Traditional worship service starting Sunday, September 3. We will stay with 8:30/10:30 times until January. If there is a need for a third service, we all may need to make the necessary adjustments. But we will let you know far in advance if we have the good problem of needing to provide more space by having three services. Thanks again for your cooperation and participation in the grand experiment of Summer Worship Hours! Congregational Care, the Deacons and the Care Angels have been doing a terrific job of hosting the potlucks for various flocks within Holy Trinity. Those that have been a part of one of the dinners so far have sure enjoyed the good food and fellowship. There are still dinners to come, so watch your mailbox for your personal invitation to attend the potluck dinner hosted by your own deacon or care angel. What a great way to spend a summer evening getting to know each other better! Many thanks to all those involved in making the meals a great success! Starting on Sunday, September 17, Rally Day, we will be able to have Adult Bible Fellowship and Youth/Children s Sunday School at 9:35 to 10:20. Everyone will be able to attend no matter what worship service one attends because all the classes will be offered between the two services! Just a little hint of something special coming in October through mid- November, the entire Holy Trinity family and friends will be invited to be on the same page for forty days. Can you imagine what it would be like if everyone who calls Holy Trinity home were to be reading the same devotional book? What sort of conversations would we have with each other, if we have studied the same lesson material for each week? Do you think it could strengthen our church, our relationships with each other and make us stronger, more mature Christians? Stay tuned as we prepare for a church-wide experience that will help us all deepen our faith and grow closer to God. Blessings, Pastor Val

2 Page 2 August 2017 LECTIONARY READINGS FOR August August 6 Genesis 32:22-31 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21 August 13 Genesis 37:1-4, Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33 August 20 Genesis 45:1-15 Romans 11:1-2a,29-32 Matthew 15:(10-20),21-28 August 27 Exodus 1:8-2:10 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 Prayer Chain Warriors 2017 We have very good warriors on our prayer chain at Holy Trinity. If you have a prayer request, please contact any of the following and the name of the person you want us to pray for will be put on the prayer chain. Audrey Bihary Roger Smith Kelly Dickey Ann Sosa Joyce Schmidt Wilma Jenkins Billie Sonderman Nancy Walker Ruth Rickard Joy O'Dell Audrey Bihary Heavenly Father, in our present need, help us to believe that You are aware of our anxiety and will do what is best for us. Give us the strength to trust You and put the present and the future in Your hands. God is still on the throne and available and willing to listen to our prayers for help. Ask for help and then be still and know that He is God and will act in His time. Audrey Bihary Ushers and Greeters for August If you cannot serve on the Sunday you are to usher, please call the Usher Captain 1 st Service: Alice Clarcq nd Service: Susan Barger, :30 A.M. Service 11:00 A.M. Service August 6 Communion Sunday August 6 August 6 Susan Barger (Greet only} Joan Ostrander Joan Hall* Andrea Helms Paul Conkle Nancy Rad Ed Hall Carol Dant Judy Steele Karen Daley August 13 August 13 Carol Barnisa Wilma Jenkins* Bill Ling Margaret Lloyd* Lala Slusser Susan Barger Ann Adams Karen Daley August 20 August 20 Carol Barnisa Susan Barger* Larry Trotter Joanne Weightman* Nancy Rad Paul Conkle Rose Marie Prud homme Janice Voss *Denotes Greeter August 27 August 27 Ellen Halleran Ann Bowling* Luanne Putnam Wayne Bowling* Dan Putnam Fred Roessler Rose Marie Prud homme Louise Roessler

3 Page 3 August 2017 Hallway of Beverages & Bites Hebrews 10:19-25 The Christian Life is meant to be lived in the Company of Others, Spurring One Another to Good Deeds, Love, Meeting Together. Munch and mingle at the Hallway of Bites and Beverages between services! Our August hosts are Wilma Jenkins and Janet Rivero with Jane Robinson from Fellowship Committee. Sign up if you would like to help. Fellowship Committee will meet August 7 at 10:00 to begin planning fall activities. Join us if you would like to contribute your ideas. Jane Robinson and Ann Bowling, chairs GPS is on the Move (God s Placement Service) GPS continues to seek new members for church committees to begin in January. Please contact us so we can place you on one of your choosing. Serving God through the Church is rewarding as well as an outward sign of your faith. Prayer Teams continue through September First Service: Nancy Rad, Sally Beyer, Louanne Putnam, Al Beyer Second Service: Wilma Jenkins, Judy Steele, Margaret Lloyd, Polly Timberlake Jane Robinson, 5th Sunday and substitute. Serving as a Prayer Team member is a valuable, caring contribution, please consider volunteering. Susan Barger, Aileen Reese, Jane Robinson The Finance Committee It is hard to believe that 2017 is half over. We are pleased to note that as of July 1st our budget has been met and we are, just a little, on the plus side. For that you are to be congratulated. We are about ready to put the e-offering program into full operation. It has proven itself to be a benefit to the members and to the church. Complete information will be forthcoming shortly. A quick reminder about our Birthday Box. When you drop a check into the box, that money is applied directly against the principal of our mortgage. Thanks to your generosity, approximately 70% of that loan has been paid in just 3 1/2 years. Finally, we ask once more for your help on the Finance Committee. We need you...your commitment would be for only three hours a month on a Thursday morning. Thank you for your consideration. May the Lord bless and keep you. ED HALL FINANCE CO-CHAIR Support the people and causes you love through your will!

4 Page 4 July 2017 MUSIC NOTES An August Message from the Music Department I want to thank the summer choir for their devotion for doing great anthems the last two months. What wonderful folks they are to work with; great singing, tons of enthusiasm, and a wonderful love for Jesus. Way to go choir! Our praise band goes year around. What a joy to sing and play instruments with all these folks, and you the congregation, praising the Lord Jesus Christ! This summer we have been averaging about 140 folks each Sunday. I can remember 3 years ago we were just trying to have at least 100 folks for a Sunday in the summer. We could say about a 40% increase in attendance over the last three years in the summer months. Yea! Paul Brewer Mission Committee Although the Mission Committee did not meet in July, the members have discussed and prepared a financial agenda for the year. During the month of July, we donated, on behalf of Holy Trinity members, $1, to the Beacon of Hope organization which serves the needs of the residents of Pine Island. In addition, $ will be given to the Academy of the Arts, North Fort Myers to help them prepare for the critical needs of the students as they prepare for the opening of school. Another effort is being made to shop for clothing for the students at J. Colin English. Thanks to your giving, we are able to reach out and touch those in need. Larry Raber, Chairman The third potluck was on Wednesday, July 26 th at 4:30 in Fellowship Hall. We always have a good time with these dinners and getting to know some of our Holy Trinity Family a little better. Watch for your invitation in the mail and the next event which will be this month (August). The event in August will have a little twist. So keep tuned! Don t worry. if you have missed a dinner, they will continue since they have been well received. Luanne Putnam, Congregational Care It Hurts To Lose Someone! Find help at GriefShare GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experiences. You don't have to go it alone. GriefShare is held on Mondays at 11:30 AM in Fellowship Hall. A lite lunch is provided. If you or someone you know would benefit from the support of GriefShare please call the church to register or talk with Carol Dant, Nancy Rad or Luanne Putnam.

5 Page 5 August 2017 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES August is fast approaching. This means Presbyterian Women will be putting together backpacks for the new school year for the children of the migrant workers at Mision Peniel in Immokalee and also J. Colin English here in North Fort Myers. We will be putting them together on Monday, August 14th at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall. The more help we have, the faster the job goes. Bev Smith has been working very hard and we already have all the backpacks we need. Now all we have to do is get enough supplies to fill them. These items include large pencil cases, crayons, notebooks, large erasers, pencil sharpeners, scissors and pencils. Bev has been listing these items in the church bulletin each week. There is a basket in the Narthex to place them when you come to church on Sunday morning. As always, Presbyterian Women are very grateful for the support this congregation gives us both financially with their purchase of items or donations of money and also with their physical help, i.e. putting the backpacks together on the 14th. We have a good system for doing this and it goes very smoothly. I should add men are welcome as well as women. Hope to see you there. UPCOMING EVENTS: Dorcas Circle/Bible Study Wed. August 2 10:00 am Rachel Circle4 (fill backpacks) Mon. August 14 10:00 am No PW Council No Lydia Circle Janet Rivero THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Here are some of the projects the Committee is working on: Electronic Sign Wrap Up In June the fiber optic connection was repaired and the converter was replaced. All is functioning well. Completed all training for our New Administrative Assistant & myself in July. Development Sign Use Policy - As the sign is used the need for including additional policy points becomes obvious, so it may take another month or two to have a completed policy. Surveillance System Project for Church Exterior - Target Date is Late Fall. Purchase Software to Convert Church Service Streaming File to MP4 File for Website Page so Church Service Recordings Can Be Viewed by Those Not Able to Attend. Purchase Software so Sound Booth Can Remotely Control Screen Projector Slide Files. Provide the Music Director a Computer and Purchase a Compact Desk for both the Computer and a Printer in Classroom 1 - Scheduled for August. Participate in House of Worship Personal Safety Evaluation - Scheduled for this Fall. A Wi-Fi Camera Doorbell has been purchase to allow Joyce & Pastor Val to answer the Church front door from their desks via their computer monitors. Installation to occur by the end of July Reminder, I still need to be ed on Church Event Calendar Changes and Messenger Articles. Send Joyce an at htpcsecretary@gmail.com and copy me at jstrohme01@gmail.com Submitted by Jerry Strohmenger

6 Page 6 August 2017 EVANGELISM We have given out 105 First Time Visitor Packets so far in Some have come into a Holy Trinity service because they saw our new sign. A great evangelistic project. Hopefully they will come back and eventually become a member of Holy Trinity. Be aware of all the "First Time People" and give them a warm welcome. Remember it is what we do! SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. At our July meeting, Special Guest, Tony Kerns, presented the new programs for LifeTouch Publishers, who will publish our new Pictorial Directory in He explained the procedure and answered questions from the group. Proposed dates for pictures will be November 2017 and February Stay tuned for more information and the exact dates. Get ready to "look pretty" and join your fellow members and friends for your new updated Pictorial Directory of Membership Matters classes were held on July 16th and 23rd. A light lunch was served prior to each class by the Evangelism Committee. Our class of five joined the family of Holy Trinity and were presented to the congregation on July 30th. The women received a flower, and the men received a bookmark and a pen. All received individual name badges. A warm welcome to all of you. You are all a gift to Holy Trinity. Fran Smith and Betty Robertson are busy planning your first "Day Outing" for a date sometime in August. Watch for more information in the Sunday Bulletins or special announcements from the pulpit. We will car pool for this first one. For other future outings we will provide group transportation. In addition to enjoying these trips, these outings will give those who cannot drive the ability to enjoy the fellowship with other Christians and help to grow Holy Trinity in God's love. Evangelism has purchased an ad to be placed alongside a map of North Fort Myers that will be placed in various buildings throughout Lee County and other public places to promote the development and beautification of North Fort Myers. This is under the sponsorship of the North Fort Myers Civic Association. The Evangelism Chairman recently attended a meeting of the newly formed Lee County Art Center, based in North Fort Myers. They have filed Articles of Incorporation, applied for a Federal Tax ID, created a website, and will, in the future, become a 501(3)c entity so that donations can be tax deductible. They are looking for a building in North Fort Myers for use as an Art Center and planning for their first Art event sometime in January of Beverly Smith, Chairperson

7 Page 7 August 2017 Holy Trinity Events Calendar AUGUST 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 6 Communion Sunday 8:30 AM Praise Team Practice 9:30 AM Bible Study in CR4 9:30 AM Contemporary SVC 10:30 AM Choir Warm Up in CR#1 10:45 AM Bible Study in CR 4 11:00 AM Traditional SVC 13 8:30 AM Praise Team Practice 9:30 AM Bible Study in CR4 9:30 AM Contemporary SVC 10:30 AM Choir Warm Up in CR#1 10:45 AM Bible Study in CR 4 11:00 AM Traditional SVC 7 10:00 AM Fellowship Committee Mtg. in FH 11:30 AM GriefShare Fellowship Hall 2:00 PM Evangelism Committee Meeting in CR# :00 AM Club House Lake Fairways/Pine Lakes and Tara Woods 8 10:00 AM Club House Lake Fairways/Pine Lakes and Tara Woods 3:00 PM Session Meeting 15 Messenger Articles 10:00 AM Rachel Due Circle in FH - Assemble School Kits House 10:00 AM Club 11:30 AM GriefShare Lake Fairways/Pine Fellowship Hall Lakes and Tara 2 10:00 AM Dorcas Circle in CR#4 3 9:30 AM Finance Committee Meeting, CR#2 12:30 PM Christian Ed in CR #2 1:30 PM Disciple Bible Study CR#4 3:00 PM Worship Committee Meeting in CR#4 5:30 PM Praise Team Practice 6:30 PM Choir Practice in CR# :30 PM Disciple Bible Study CR#4 5:30 PM Praise Team Practice 6:30 PM Choir Practice in CR#1 16 3:00 AM Bldg. & Grounds. CR#4 17 1:00 PM Communications Committee Meeting - CR #2 1:30 PM Disciple Bible Study CR#4 5:30 PM Praise Team Practice 6:30 PM Choir Practice in CR# :30 AM Praise Team Practice 9:30 AM Bible Study in CR4 9:30 AM Contemporary SVC 10:30 AM Choir Warm Up in CR#1 10:45 AM Bible Study in CR 4 11:00 AM Traditional SVC 21 10:00 AM PW Council in CR#4 11:30 AM GriefShare Fellowship Hall 22 10:00 AM Club House Lake Fairways/Pine Lakes and Tara Woods 1:30 PM Care Angels Mtg. CR#2 2:00 PM Deacons Meeting CR4 2:30 PM Congrega- 23 1:30 PM Mission Committee in CR#3 24 1:30 PM Disciple Bible Study CR#4 5:30 PM Praise Team Practice 6:30 PM Choir Practice in CR# :30 AM Praise Team Practice 9:30 AM Bible Study in CR4 9:30 AM Contemporary SVC 10:30 AM Choir Warm Up in CR#1 10:45 AM Bible Study in CR 4 11:00 AM Traditional SVC 28 11:30 AM GriefShare Fellowship Hall 29 10:00 AM Club House Lake Fairways/Pine Lakes and Tara Woods :30 PM Disciple Bible Study CR#4 5:30 PM Praise Team Practice 6:30 PM Choir Practice in CR#1

8 Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church North Tamiami Trail North Fort Myers, FL Phone: Website: NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID FORT MYERS, FL PERMIT NO. 67 Living for Christ through Summertime Schedule (June, July, August): Sundays: Contemporary Service 9:30 A.M. Intergenerational Sunday School 9:45 A.M. Intergenerational Sunday School 10:45 A.M. Traditional Service 11:00 A.M. Hallway of Beverages and Bites 9:30-10:45 A.M. Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church would like to remind everyone of our Church Web Site, You will find most of Pastor Val s Sermons there and also find it interesting to listen to them once again in a quiet and peaceful setting Also, you are invited to visit us on Facebook

9 Worship Committee August 2017 The Worship Committee recommended to Session that starting in September, the hours of the worship services will be 8:30 Contemporary Worship service and 10:30 Traditional Worship service. These hours of worship will be maintained until worship attendance creates the need for more room. At that time, the Worship Committee and Session will review the situation and adjust the hours of worship as necessary. No consideration of a change is anticipated from September through December. The Worship Committee is very grateful for the willingness of the congregation to have participated in our Summer Worship hours experiment. We always learn when we try something new. Thanks for helping us try a new approach and see if it would enhance our attendance in our summer worship services. Many thanks to Paul Brewer, our Music Director and the choir for their hard work and dedication! For a church of our size, we are blessed with strong talent and dedication with our leadership of Paul and the willingness and sharing of their gifts from the choir. We have all enjoyed the blessings of such a strong combination. Good sacred music can bring us all closer to God. By the way, the Praise Band is a blessing too. They keep us on our toes and help us leave the service uplifted from their lively and jazzy upbeat songs and sounds. To be fair, we have a terrific and very special gift of music at Holy Trinity. Christian Education We are busy preparing for Rally Day which will be Sunday, September 17. Get ready for a special invitation coming from the Session and in particular the Christian Education and Congregational Care Committees. On Rally Day, our whole congregation will be encouraged to head over to Fellowship Hall for snacks and the opportunity to review and register for all the Christian Education classes that will be offered in the fall. In addition to our Clubhouse Bible Studies, Presbyterian Women Bible Study, our Adult Bible Studies and our Children and Youth Sunday School classes, we will be providing information for a church-wide study: Treasures of the Transformed Life: Satisfying Your Soul s Thirst for More. It is a refreshing, deep and powerful 6 week study that encourages us to dive into all God has for us and to live lives that are truly satisfying. The Transformed Life study will begin in October through mid-november. You will not want to miss the preview of what Holy Trinity will have to offer in the fall on Rally Day.

10 CHURCHES VISITED: The Shiloh Baptist Church of King George, VA was visited on May 28th by Betty & Scotty Robertson. She stated that Dennis, our Sound Tech, was baptized in this church. This is the church Betty was a member before moving to Florida 24 years ago. Betty & Scotty also visited the Church of the Nazarene, Rutland, Vt on June 11, This Church also has Services on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Nancy Rad attended a funeral service at The Voice, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Myers, FL on the 5th of July, She brought us their 17 page Church Bulletin that included the months of June, July, August. I noticed that they had many local advertisements in it. On the 9th of July, Bob Johnson attended service at Friedens United Church of Christ. He stated that this was his Church before moving to North Fort Myers in As no address was listed I read where Individual, Couple and Family Counseling was provided for Friedens members, family and friends and the address listed was in Greenwood, IN. Another Church Bulletin was found in the Church s Visited Box from Bland Chapel United Methodist Church in Rogers, AR dated July 9, 2017 with a note stating, Polly Timberlake (my mom) & I went to this Chapel. It was like being at Holy T. (Rev. Valerie Bell) Thank you all for sharing. Barbara Nase A FRIENDLY REMINDER August 15th is the deadline to submit articles for the September Newsletter! Please remember to copy Jerry Strohmenger on your news articles. This will allow Jerry time to update your information to our website.