The Trinitarian. Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Newton, Kansas November 2014

Transcription

1 The Trinitarian Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Newton, Kansas November 2014 From the Pastor Over and over again one of the things you tell me you value the most about Trinity Heights is the sense of family and community here. In fact the way we care for one another is so important to our identity as a church that it was lifted up as a core value by the Strategic Leadership Team. But more on that another day. I believe you when you say mutual support and love are important at THUMC because I have seen it over and over again as your pastor. You keep track of each other s lives, you call, you visit, you cook, you talk with one another in hard times. You are a church that cares about one another. Which is why I have great confidence that we can launch a fruitful and rich volunteer ministry of caring for our shut-ins and the ill. With Lurena Dunn finishing her time as our Pastoral Visitor, I recommended to Staff Parish that we make a slight change to the model of care giving we use at Trinity Heights. I am looking for a half dozen individuals who would be willing to make monthly visits to our members who cannot get out regularly to church, those who are recovering from illness and those who are grieving a death of a loved one. Reaching out with the love and support of the congregation in such difficult times is holy work, and I know that those who do it will be blessed as much as the ones who receive the caring visits. No special skills are required for this work, just a willingness to visit, be present, listen well and perhaps pray. We will have a few sessions of training to talk about what is good care giving (and what isn t!) Then we will meet every few months to check in with one another about the visits you have made. Are you a good listener? Do you have a heart for our oldest members? Do your friends call you compassionate? Then I hope you will pray about being a part of the new Lay Visitation team. And if you want more information or would like to sign up, please let me know! When we can embody the love of Christ to one another, especially those who are suffering, we grow in our faith and we bless those around us. I m excited for this new ministry venture and can t wait to see what holy relationships develop! For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:14

2 The Christian Education Important Dates: Angel Choir sings on October 26 in both services. WOW Kids Halloween Spooktacular Wednesday, October 29, 2014 All kids, ages 3 through 4th grade, are invited to join us for an evening of games, snacks, and pumpkin decorating. Everything will be Halloween themed from pumpkin bowling and a Halloween obstacle course to Frankenstein pudding snacks and slime making. Wear your Halloween costume, bring a bucket and invite a friend to join you. The fun will start at 6 pm and last until 7 pm. Children s Sunday School Christmas Program Please join us December 14th, during the Sunday school hour, for the children s Christmas program called Sing a Song of Christmas. The program will feature the preschool and elementary classes as well as the middle school class. We will also have a few children perform Christmas songs on the piano. Practices for the program will take place during part of the Sunday school time during the month of November. Please try to have your children in Sunday school as much as possible so they can learn the music for the program. Equipment Relocated Trustees have relocated the large cart which contains a TV, VCR, etc. The cart and equipment are now kept in the storage room located in the NW corner of the building (past the children s classrooms). Nedra Starkey s Son Be sure to see the newest bulletin board article which features Marius Starkey, artist and son of Nedra and his beautiful painting donated to Asbury Park. On Youth Group It doesn t seem possible that October is almost over and we are moving on to November! Early in the month we received a letter from Presbyterian Manor stating that due to new healthcare regulations, their program for having youth push wheelchairs to worship was being discontinued. We are in search of a new service opportunity. Jessica is checking out the possibilities and will be discussing with the youth where they might like to serve on an ongoing basis. On Sunday, October 19 th 13 teens plus 6 adults and our youth group mascot* made the trip to the Kansas maze at Gaeddert Farms. A fun time was had by all. October youth groups have focused on Funky Families how to live for Jesus in your family, no matter what s going on. There will be no youth group on November 26 th due to Thanksgiving. Upcoming events: Friday, October 31 Trunk & Treat help Jessica pass out candy Saturday, November 1 Fundraiser serve lunch at the UMW Bazaar Wednesday Youth Activities: Youth Choir: 5 th 12 th grade 6:00-6:25 Youth Group: 7 th -12 th grade 6:25-7:15 Youth Handbells: 5 th -12 th grade 7:15-7:45 * Just to see how many people read this article, I m concealing the identity of the mascot. The first person to correctly guess the mascot s identity to Jessica in person will receive a prize. Parking Courtesy Please be courtesy of our church s neighbors when utilizing street parking on Sunday morning. Our neighbors need to be able to use their driveways while we are in church. Please make sure your vehicle doesn t partially or completely block a neighbor s drive.

3 I hope you were able to attend the United Way Chili-Cook-Off. Respite Care partnered with Salvation Army at the cook-off. Our chili was voted 2 nd Best! I sincerely thank Janet Bean for designing the booth decorations. Respite Care receives $ a month from Harvey County United Way. A grant is written each year to HCUW to receive funds. It would be difficult to meet our financial goals without this grant. Please support our HCUW. All funds given to our HCUW stay in Harvey County. One of the most exciting days I have had working at Trinity Heights Respite Care occurred a couple of weeks ago. I had the opportunity to help measure special needs children in our Newton area for bikes. These children will be receiving a free bike. AM- BUCS organization has been able to obtain a grant to purchase these bikes. Do you remember how excited you were when you were given your first bike? These children did not know if they would ever be able to have a bike they could ride. What a great day that was! Thanks to Curtis Stubbs for making this possible. The first Down s Syndrome Support Group met Saturday, October 18, at Trinity Heights. Three families attended this initial meeting. The parents shared their experiences with one another. We had a great meeting. Our next meeting will be December 6, at Trinity Heights. This second meeting will be held on a Respite Care Parent s Day Out. Also Santa has made arrangements to attend PDO on December 6 so it should be a fun day for the kids. Thank you for your support of Trinity Heights Respite Care. This is an awesome ministry that is supported by our church. Many families in our community say THANK YOU. Connie Rickard Director of Trinity Heights Respite Care NEWS FROM MISSIONS Thanks to all who volunteered to spend their Saturday September 27 th at Camp Horizon to make the world a little better that day. The Magnificent Seven as I affectionately call us were Jean Hicks, Nedra Starkey, Delores and Larry Morgan, Joe Hamm, Curtis Stubbs, and me. We worked pulling weeds in planters, washed windows, helped serve lunch, cleared brush at the low ropes course, cleaned box fans, painted storm shelter doors, fixed a flat roof leak (we hope), and ate lunch. The Lord provided a beautiful day for us to work together and to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Thank you on behalf of the Missions committee for sharing your time and energy. Tom Williams Salvation Army Collection The Salvation Army office said the needs for next month, November, are the usual peanut butter and jelly, Raman noodles, and any kind of canned vegetable. These items are what they run out of the most. Help feed those who are hungry in our local area. Bring your food donations to the church and place them in the cart just outside the sanctuary or on the hallway table located behind Fellowship Hall.

4 Six UMW members attended the Hutchinson District Conference on September 20, The guest speaker was Judy Akers from the Della Lamb Community Services in Kansas City. Della Lamb is sponsored by the United Methodist Women, National Office, as a National Mission Institution of the United Methodist Church, and is among the top-10 largest of 101 NMI s throughout the U.S. 2,000+ Low-Income Families are Served Daily through Della Lamb services. For more information go to Three UMW members are going to attend the Mini Mission in Kansas City. The attendees have been asked to bring Christmas gifts for the children being served at DLCS. If you would like to send a gift to Della Lamb, please contact Connie Rickard. At the Hutchinson UMW District Conference there were suggestions of how our units could become involved in other missions. Our Elizabeth Circle organized an evening to make 30 birthing kits that the UMW National Office will send overseas to areas of need. Thanks Ladies. This is a busy time for our Trinity Heights UMW. Many members have been sewing, making crafts, baking, and making candy for the Christmas Bazaar. The bazaar is NOVEMBER 1. You do not want to miss this event! There will be over 25 vendors and more than 60 lbs. of chocolate are being transformed into scrumptious pieces of candy. Help is needed in many areas to make this bazaar successful. Anyone may help. Thursday morning, October 30, decorating will begin in Fellowship Hall and Sunday School rooms. Friday, October 31, all candy and cookies need to be at the church by 9:00 A.M. to begin arranging the cookies and candy on trays. This is a busy time in the life of the church. UMW ladies really need your help. Contact Connie Rickard, President of UMW, to sign-up to help. Baby Shower November 9th Everyone is invited to a baby shower for the expected baby boy of Roxie and Sean Tomlinson. The shower will be in the Bridge Builders classroom (Room 103) from 2:00-3:00 pm on Sunday, November 9. For questions, please contact Donna Kepley. IT S NOT TOO LATE!! NOW IS THE TIME!! TUESDAY morning and evening Harlan Rittgers is available to help compare Medicare Part D prescription plans with you. If your premium is going up in 2015, you may want to consider other possibilities. If you need help with Medicare Supplemental plans, he can help also. IF you are new to Medicare or are turning 65 in the near future, he can also help you. Just call Arleta at the church ( ) for an appointment. Harlan is also available at Asbury Park on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Just call the front desk ( ext 1101) for an appointment. You do not have to be a member of the church or a resident at Asbury Park or even a Newton resident to have help. JUST CALL NOW before it s too late. Open enrollment ends December 7!! ~~~~~~ Foam Pads Available The bell choir has some covered foam pads to give away. There are 2 sizes 3 x6 and 3 x4. If you are interested please contact Karen Monroe. My family and I give all of you our sincere thanks for the outpouring of love and sympathy you extended to us, during out recent loss. Knowing you were uplifting us, got us through that most difficult period. Knowing we are continuing to be in your prayers, keeps us moving forward. We praise God for taking Bill without the pain and suffering so many of you and your loved ones, have gone though. We have truly been blessed, here and above. Bill Rosing s family

5 November Birthdays Lola Shuman 11/1 Nicki van der Weg 11/1 Maxine Bontrager 11/4 Gaylord Sanneman 11/4 Shaun Buchanan 11/5 Joel Dunlavy 11/5 Edna Mae Rymph 11/5 Dana Barnard 11/6 Joseph McConnell 11/6 Clorene Smith 11/6 Ashleigh Timmons 11/6 Scott Seirer 11/7 Stuart McConnell 11/8 Max Brenneman 11/9 Christopher Gadd 11/9 A. J. Rymph 11/9 Jill Gatz 11/10 Betty Mustoe 11/11 Michael Pauley 11/11 Judy Rittgers 11/11 Tom Schneider 11/11 Tom Williams 11/13 Louise Stein 11/15 Thelma Davis 11/16 Jim Wickiser 11/16 Don Reinert 11/17 Betty Melcher 11/18 Adrienne Thompson 11/18 Lauren Anton 11/19 Blake Lujano 11/20 Jaden Anton 11/22 Nedra Starkey 11/23 Marge Graham 11/24 Brylen Thurston 11/24 Allen Wedel 11/24 James Wiens 11/24 Jan Hoberecht 11/25 Alexis Colvin 11/27 Rob Koehn 11/27 There s more... Joan Petersen 11/27 Matthew Seirer 11/27 Kelly Wharton 11/27 Brenda Erwin 11/29 Steve Hensiek 11/29 Dennis Lammers 11/29 November Anniversaries Edd & Marilyn Wallace 11/1 Dennis & Anita Houdek 11/4 Jeff & Kelly Wharton 11/10 Rob & JoAnne Wharton 11/13 Ed & Alice Stahl 11/18 Max & Jill Gatz 11/20 Ron & Sue Walker 11/20 Vere & Bev English 11/21 Jim & Myrna Iwig 11/21 Eugene & Christy Rossiter 11/22 Doug & Sara Crumrine 11/30 THUMC CALENDAR The church calendar can be viewed by going to the Trinity Heights website: trinityheightsumc.org. DEADLINE DECEMBER TRINITARIAN MONDAY, NOV 24 th HOW TO REACH US Trinity Heights UMC P.O. Box 232, 1200 Boyd Ave. Newton, KS (316) Church trinityheights@att.net THUMC Website: trinityheightsumc.org