The Trinitarian Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Newton, Kansas December 2014 From the Pastor Do you know your why? It s a question that I have encountered in some diverse settings over the last year. What is your why? It s a way to ask about your (or a group s) fundamental motivation. What is our purpose? For what reason do we exist? What do we most want to do? What is our Why? Getting clear about the why can help align and strengthen everything a person or organization is doing. It was with the hope of clarifying Trinity Heights why, that a small group began meeting over the summer. They did great work! And in September the group presented to Church Council new language for our mission and key values as a church. We had a rich discussion at that September Church Council meeting and the proposal passed with overwhelming support! So what is our why? Embracing all who desire God s love. Is this a fundamental change to our mission? No. But it is a fresh way to articulate who we are and why we exist as a congregation. And how do we do that? By embracing the values of Sanctuary, Community and Renewal. While none of those words, when applied to our community, has a simple definition, here is a start at what we mean when we say Trinity Heights values them: Sanctuary we are a place of refuge and protection, a port in the storm God dwells here and gives all the grace we need. We live here in peace and come with joy to encounter God. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. (Psalm 100:3-4) Community we support and encourage one another, caring for each other as family. We value one another s talents and insights. We reconcile with one another when relationships are damaged. That there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. (1 Cor 12:25-26) Renewal we expect an on-going transformation of our spirits, our attitudes, and our character. We are being renewed in God s own image and we take that renewal out into the world to help renew everything around us. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Cor 5:17) I am thankful for the work of our Strategic Leadership Team and the support of the Church Council. I am excited to begin talking about and living into this new articulation of our why. I will be preaching about our mission and vales in January but before then you will begin to see these words around the church. Let me know what you think! Share with me what resonates with your heart! Tell me how you believe God can use us through this mission and values! As always it is a privilege, to be your pastor.
The Christian Education Important Dates for December December 14- Children s Sunday school Christmas Program December 24 &31- NO WOW Kids Activities December 28- No Sunday School (9 am potluck/ 10 am combined worship) If your children are not already coming on Wednesday evenings, it is never too late to join in the fun! More Halloween fun WOW Kids On October 29 th, Adrianne Wedel put together a fun night for the children with Halloween games and treats. The evening included cookie decorating, slime making, dry ice bubble making, pumpkin decorating, an obstacle course and many fun games for the children to play. On Youth Group For Thanksgiving, the children made turkeys out of pine cones for their families and also some to share with the residents at Asbury Park. The children also enjoyed a Veggie Tales lesson on being Thankful. Last month brought a big change as we said goodbye to Jessica Swisher and thanked her for four years of youth leadership! The search is now on for Trinity Heights next youth director, if you know someone who might be called to work with our great youth, send them the add found elsewhere in this newsletter! A huge thank you to Linda and Mark Lyles who have agreed to continue leading our youth group until a new hire can be made. Parents or youth with any input to give or questions to ask about how things are progressing, contact Pastor Amy (amylippoldt@att.net) December Youth Activities Dec 3 Regular music and Youth Group schedule Dec 10 Regular music rehearsal, Youth Group Christmas Party!!! (last of all for the year) Dec 17-Jan 6 No youth activities Merry Christmas! Jan 7 Regular music and Youth Group schedule resumes
NEWS FROM MISSIONS Holidays are being planned with our families and decorations are being brought out of storage transforming our homes to places of joy and hope. This is the sacred season of giving and reflection. I will be sending you a newsletter about the happenings of Trinity Heights Respite Care. Hopefully, you will be amazed with the growth of Respite Care. With your donations throughout the year I was able to begin new programs and on-line training. Many families will be blessed by your giving. I am sincerely thankful for the generosity of our congregation. Throughout the country Methodist Churches are very supportive of individuals with disabilities. At the UMW Mission-U in Kansas City, the presentations and discussions centered on how the church can encircle and support disabled individuals. Information was presented clarifying how congregations can make adjustments and open the doors wider for the disabled. People with disabilities comprise the highest minority group among all groups in the nation. A disability can happen any time. Is our church assessable for any disability? It surely was an eye opening weekend! Working with and supporting the needs of the disabled is a topic that is very close to my heart. The gifts that you give to Respite Care touch more lives than you will ever know. I see faces of families in need every week. The question I am asked is, Can you help me? I respond with a resounding yes! Then I think carefully and positively planning how I can assist these families. I know where there is a will there is a way! I do hope this Thanksgiving your homes are filled with joy and gratitude. Gods Blessings to all of you. Connie Rickard, Director, Respite Care Attention All Knitters and Crochet-ers The Prayer Shawl Group will resume December 3 at 4:00. We would love to have any help you can offer. Salvation Army Collection The staff at Salvation Army says their needs are about the same as usual for December. They need peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned meats & vegetables. They also have a need for toilet paper and toiletry items (shampoo, soaps, etc). They need the regular size toiletry items, but they will also take the sample items we collect. Update on Sydney Balzer Great Niece of Frank & Sue Meacham Thank God and thank you for all of your prayers. We know many of you have prayed for Sydney and her family diligently over this past year. We want you to know prayers have been answered! She went through her bone marrow transplant and all the treatments that go along with it. This month, on Nov 17th, she had her chemo port removed. She is taking little to no immune suppressant drugs. She started back to school this fall and is playing soccer. God is so good and thank you all so much for your prayer support. Sincerely, Frank & Sue Meacham SHICK Open Enrollment Ends Soon! Harlan Rittgers is available on Tuesday mornings to help you with Medicare Part D plans and Supplemental Health plans. But the deadline for Plan Ds is Dec. 7. So call for an appointment NOW (283-6410)! He is also available on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons at Asbury Park in the Assisted Living Library (new building). Call for an appointment at 283-4770 ext. 1101. See you soon.
ITEMS WE COLLECT We have not had many glasses or sample toiletry items donated lately. The shoe boxes have been moved around a little, but they are always in the general area of where the Salvation Army items are collected. If you have family coming to visit this holiday or even if you are going to see them, let them know of our need of the glasses and samples. We can help them find a good use for these items and clear them some space in their homes. We are putting bigger signs on the boxes to make it clearer for you to see. I hope we have to empty those boxes several times. Congratulations our Bazaar was a success! Thank you to all involved with making, baking, working, donating, and buying. The festive décor presented an awesome atmosphere for this important activity. Many attendees complimented us on the spirit of the bazaar. Here is a close projection of the earnings: $3,000.00. The sharing of our proceeds will be decided this spring. We will be able to give and share our proceeds with some of our non-profit organizations in the Newton area. This month is World Thank Offering for UMW. Spontaneous, additional gifts are given out of gratitude for God s abundance and in celebration of the joys of life. I hope many of you have set aside some spare change throughout the year. One of our UMW members says she puts a few coins in when something happens that she is thankful for in her life. Another member writes down a happy moment and puts it in her box with some change. Next November she reads all the happy moments of the year. This is a great mission for us to decide for ourselves how to be thankful. The money collected will be sent to the UMW National Office to be used for a mission. Trinity Heights UMW has much to be thankful for and to share with others. I am thankful for the kindness and generosity that each individual gives to our unit. Happy Thanksgiving! Two Positions Open at THUMC Lead singer with piano or guitar musical skills needed for a growing contemporary worship service at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church. Selected individual would lead a dynamic praise band during weekly practice and Sunday service. Job duties could also include choosing musical selections for praise band and assisting Pastor with worship duties. A great opportunity to share your musical talents in a meaningful worship setting. Pay commensurate upon experience. Resumes accepted until position filled. Send resumes to: trinityheights@att.net attention "Harvest Worship Service". For more information please contact Trinity Heights at 316-283-6410 Trinity Heights United Methodist Church is accepting applications for the position of Youth Director. The Youth Director would be expected to lead and enhance an existing program. The position requires 10 hours a week including attendance at Sunday morning Worship service. Salary determined by experience and education. Send letters of interest and resume to: Arleta Crane, Office Manager Trinity Heights United Methodist Church 1200 Boyd Street Newton, Kansas 67114 For additional information call 316 283.6410 or send resumes to: trinityheights@att.net attention Youth Director. Friends at THUMC I want to thank you for all the calls and cards I received after my hip replacement. It was such a blessing to be remembered by so many. I am doing better and hope to be back full steam before long. May God Bless each one of you, Eveanna Mosier
December Birthdays Barb Stucky 12/1 MaKayla Reeves 12/2 Mason Crumrine 12/6 Linda Lyles 12/6 Marguerite Perfett 12/6 Whitney Williams 12/6 Naomi Baker 12/7 Aiden Buford 12/7 Lucas Kaufman 12/9 Dan Timmons 12/12 Sherri Rawlins 12/14 Karen DeGrazio 12/15 Jonathan Colvin 12/16 Lindsay Davis 12/16 Laurie Schroeder 12/16 Judy Brenzikofer 12/18 Jennie (Barnard) Skibbe 12/19 Kristen (Webb) Wiens 12/19 Tristan Meyer 12/23 Joanne Kilgore 12/24 Pat Rosing 12/24 Dan Barnard 12/25 Deneise King 12/27 Roslyn Kealy 12/28 Richard Sadowski 12/30 Phyllis Schneider 12/31 Sunset Trees Trinity Heights is once again supporting Sunset elementary children with Sunset Trees just outside of each worship area. Please take an ornament with you and return gift unwrapped with ornament attached by Sunday December 14 th. Thank you on behalf of the Mission s Committee. December Anniversaries Bob & Donna Brenneman 12/1 Jim & Susie Wickiser 12/20 Michael & Julie Sadowski 12/21 William & Judy Hand 12/24 Bob & Donzella Shepler 12/26 Jerry & Donna Friesen 12/27 Bob & Edna Mae Grant 12/28 Willis & Jan Heck 12/28 Frank & Sue Meacham 12/29 THUMC CALENDAR The church calendar can be viewed by going to the Trinity Heights website: trinityheightsumc.org. DEADLINE JANUARY TRINITARIAN MONDAY, DEC. 22 HOW TO REACH US Trinity Heights UMC P.O. Box 232, 1200 Boyd Ave. Newton, KS 67114 (316) 283-6410 Church E-mail: trinityheights@att.net THUMC Website: trinityheightsumc.org