The dove represents the Holy Spirit that descended as a dove on Jesus at His baptism. Karen Indorf, Pastor GRAPEVINE January 1, 2013 TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 612 Main Street Westbrook, Me 04092 Elsie Reese, Editor Phone (207) 854-5653 Phone (207) 854-5653 Email pastor@trinitywestbrook.com Email office@trinitywestbrook.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PASTOR S REFLECTIONS Happy New Year! Whether you make New Year s resolutions or not, it is a time of year when many do take time to think about their hopes and dreams for the future. As a congregation, we will also be looking ahead at our Annual Meeting on February 3 rd, asking God to lead us and guide us as we minister to one another and to those who live in the communities we serve. But before looking ahead, let us look back and celebrate the many blessings bestowed on us by our God in the past year. I think back to the hundreds of meals we have served every Wednesday night. Monthly Rejoicing Spirits worship, monthly singing in nursing facilities by Paul s Pals, and weekly Ethiopian/Eritrean prayer and fellowship has brought joy to many hearts. A Valentine s Tea lifted our winter spirits. It was our privilege to host the Ecumenical Ash Wednesday worship and the weekly midweek Lenten services. Holy Week and Easter worship was the highlight of our Christian faith. In the spring we collected generous amounts of food for the Food Pantry with a Food Train that stopped at churches along Main Street. In the summer we celebrated our 130 th anniversary at Westbrook Together Days and with free events for the community including an ice cream social, desserts from around the world, and an Ethiopian festival. We dedicated our renovated bell tower and new front steps. We shared fellowship in Breaking Bread with our Friends. We celebrated the lives of six of our beloved members and friends who joined the saints in heaven. We joined our fellow churches in Thanksgiving and Advent worship. Generous donations were made to charities and families in need. We gave a tremendous gift to our community with a live nativity the week before Christmas, and sang carols to our shut-ins. These are just some of the highlights of the many blessings we have been given as a congregation to share with others. These can be multiplied many times over by many individual acts of kindness and caring. Many of these events will be repeated in the new year and others may be forthcoming as God so leads us. To each one of you who has been a part of the life of this congregation, I give you my heart felt thanks, and praise God for your faithfulness. My prayer is that new and old friends would join us as we continue to proclaim and share the love of the newborn baby Jesus. Blessings to you in 2013. Pastor Karen 1
BY THE GRACE OF GOD THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOOD GOING ON AT TRINITY!! OUR ADVENT WORKSHOP was enjoyed by many in the congregation: After Pizza, Ginger Bread Houses were crafted in a very meticulous manner. Christmas Cookies were baked, packed and sent to our college students. Wreaths and Sprays were assembled by some.... OUR LIVE NATIVITY lasted for 10 days. 76 individuals participated taking shifts in 114 slots portraying the ensemble. Three nights we had animals. The Bethlehem Cafe served Cocoa and Cookies to 88 guests to warm them up on a cold night. 2
OUR PARISH CARE FRIENDS WERE VISITED. Goodies and green Christmas arrangements were delivered by the Parish Care Committee. OUR SOCIAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE sums up the bountiful giving by the members of Trinity in the months before Christmas: Thank You for Your Generosity This Christmas season was a great success and wouldn t have been possible if not for the heartfelt generosity of those who participated in the many programs that Trinity helped support. The annual Festival of Trees was yet another delightful year making it Trinity s 10 year participating. The choir was part of the Ecumenical Service on Advent Sunday with Pastor Karen assisting in the service at Westbrook Warren CC. The Parish Care Committee celebrated Breaking Bread with our Friends at the Tips for Charity Luncheon on Friday Dec. 7 th. Friday was also the host day for Trinity. Several volunteers provided their time to greet and host during 3 different shifts on that day. Many thanks to Carla & Hazel, Pastor Karen & Jane, Pricille & Brenda for their time. This year Trinity continued with the Angel Tree Prison Ministry and provided gifts for two families with a combination of 2 caregivers and 3 children. We adopted 2 families at the Saccarappa School with a total of 7 children and we were able to provide gifts to help make their holidays a little brighter. Small items were delivered to the Preble St. Resource Center for the homeless, Long Creek Youth Center and gently used items were donated to Amistad in Portland supporting socially and mentally challenged adults. The Alternative gift-giving program this year took a new approach and provided choices to purchase gifts in the name of loved ones. One idea was for Camp Calumet s Wish List for their summer camping programs. Another choice was the PFN program, Pennies for the Needy, helping orphaned children in Ethiopia alongside our sister church from Boston. There was also the opportunity to buy animals for families in third world countries. Fair trade coffee and craft items were available to purchase to help support the artisans from various countries and earn a fair wage for their products. Trinity should be very proud of their members and friends who prove that Christmas really is about the birth of Christ and providing for those who are less fortunate and those who need some assistance. It is more about GIVING than it is about RECEIVING and the reward of knowing that you have made someone else have a wonderful Christmas is all that most of us need as a gift during the holidays. Respectfully, Social Ministry, -- Brenda, Jane, Deb & Kevin. UPCOMING AT TRINITY EPIPHANY PAGEANT AND LUNCHEON: Sunday, January 6, during Worship time, the Sunday School will present an Epiphany Pageant called Happy Birthday Jesus directed by Mary with musical accompaniment by Betty. A soup and sandwich lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall following Worship Hour sponsored by the Worship Committee. All are invited. LOOKING AHEAD: Trinity s Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, February 3. ANNUAL REPORTS: Annual Reports are due in the office by 12:00pm on Thursday, January 10. 3
ONGOING AT TRINITY ETHIOPIAN AND ERITREAN FELLOWSHIP IN SONG AND PRAYER Our Ethiopian and Eritrean brothers and sisters from Westbrook and greater Portland are meeting weekly at Trinity every Saturday at 3:00pm in the fellowship hall for a Celebration of Prayer and Praise in their native languages. REJOICING SPIRITS Third Sunday in the month at 4:00pm: Casual and user friendly for those with disabilities or mental challenges. We have a sign language interpreter. Families and caregivers, as well as anyone else who would like to attend is invited. A fellowship meal follows. PRAYER GROUP Meets Wednesday at 11:15. Many prayer concerns have been lifted up and many thanksgivings raised. We invite all who cannot attend to consider praying with us at 11:15 on Wednesday from wherever you are at that time. There are prayer request cards and a box to place them in after they are filled out on the table next to the office door. SENIOR SAINTS: Every third Wednesday of the month, Sr. Saints meet at 11:00am at North Deering Congregational Church, and then on to a health care facility at 2:00pm. This month they meet on January 16 and will sing at the Barron Center. PAUL S PALS will be singing at the Maine Veteran s Nursing Home on Sunday, January 13 at 2:00pm COMMUNITY MEAL: Every Wednesday at the Mission Possible Teen Center, from 5:00-6pm, a free meal is served for anyone in the community. It is sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church doing food prep, serving and cleanup, and the Wayside Food Programs providing the ingredients. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS are being offered at the community meal. An R.N. has volunteered her time. Trinity will be expanding this program to help promote healthy life styles. Thank you to all the volunteers who make this Community Meal possible. In November, 583 meals were served, prepared by 60 volunteers in 195 hours. ADULT FORUM: Every Sunday we are meeting in the fellowship hall from 9:15-10:00. We are discussing the gospel lesson assigned for that day, primarily from the gospel of Mark. WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY: meets the first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am. 4
CHOIR: Our choir meets every Thursday evening at 7:00pm to 8:30 pm. All are welcome. KNIT NIGHT PLUS: A group of knitters, hand crafters, etc. meet in the large Sunday School room between 5:30-7:00pm to knit prayer shawls, duduzas, cuddle bears, etc., or work on any art or craft project they find interesting. Beginners welcome. POTPOURRI MEET EVA: Eva was born in Tilsit, East Prussia, which is now Germany, 94 years ago. Eva came to America when she was 18 years old as a nanny for Hans Kramer the son of Dr & Mrs. Kramer. Eva only spoke German so she was introduced to the Hansen family in Westbrook where she met her future Husband Franz. Shortly after arriving in America, World War II began and Eva lost all communication with her parents, brother and two sisters. After the war, Eva married Franz in 1945 at Trinity and has been a member ever since. Eva and Franz lived in Westbrook until her husband retired and they moved to their summer cottage on the Northwest River in Sebago. Eva has a daughter Krista who lives in Standish. Eva loves to make potholders, play dominoes, do crossword puzzles and participates in a lot of activities at the Casco Inn where she resides. Eva loves visitors and enjoys talking about her homeland and reminisce about the good old days. Stop and say Hi to Eva as she is always upbeat and cheery. CATHIE S HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE (Served at the Bethlehem Cafe) 3 pound container Nesquik. (Chocolate powder) 10 qt. powdered dry milk which is 12 cups 2 cups non diary powdered creamer (regular- not flavored) 1 cup powdered confectioners sugar Mix all together well. Use about 1/3 cup mix to 1 cup hot water FROM THE KITCHEN COMMITTEE: If anyone can help out with the coffee hour for the months of February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November, please let the committee know which month you have chosen and write it on the list in the kitchen. Whether it's bringing food or setting/cleaning up, please indicate how you would like to help. It will be much appreciated. Thank you, The Kitchen Committee. VOLUNTEER READING ASSISTANCE: The Congin School, 410 Bridge St., Westbrook, is looking for volunteers who would like to help students with their reading. If interested, please call Georgia Harlowe at 854-0844. 5
6-Week Grief Support Group Starts January 25 th : When: Fridays 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM - January 25 through March 1, 2013. Where: VNA Home Health Hospice, 50 Foden Rd., South Portland, ME 04106. This will be a closed group (same group of people meeting for the 6 sessions) that works best if you are able to attend all sessions. You must speak with Linda to register to attend this group. For more information or to sign up for the group, call Linda Hopkins, Bereavement Coordinator, 400-8714 or e-mail hopkinsl@vnahomehealth.org. MONTHLY GRIEF SUPPORT MEETINGS IN WINDHAM: VNA Home Health Hospice offers monthly grief support meetings in Windham on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:00 7:30 PM at the North Windham Union Church, 723 Roosevelt Trail, Rt. 302, Windham. GORHAM CANCER PRAYER AND SUPPORT GROUP meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 to 7:30 pm. If you re looking for the support during or after your involvement with cancer, please join us. Phone: (207) 839-3111. Website: http://www.cresseyrdumc.org. PRAYER AND SUPPORT GROUP: We meet every 2 nd Tuesday of the month from 6:00-7:30pm at First Lutheran Church on 132 Auburn St., Portland. We support those who have or have had cancer and their caregivers. The Rev. Norman Bumby is the facilitator. To contact Pastor Bumby, you can reach him at (207) 222-4336. THANK YOU TO: THANK YOU All the people who made the live nativity and Bethlehem Cafe possible. Dieter for assembling the Christmas Eve Bulletins. Contributors of Preble Street Items Thank you to all who contributed items for the Preble Street Resource Center Christmas Party. Sweatshirts, gloves, hats, scarves, stockings, towels and personal care items totaling 224 items. Thank you to Jane and Priscille for delivering these items. Contributors of Long Creek Development Center items Thank you to all who contriuted gifts for the Christmas Party at the Long Creek Development Center. Bodywash, shampoo, deodorant, and gifts cards totaling 40 gifts. Thank you to Jane and Priscille for delivering these gifts. Contributors of Winter Clothing: Thank you to the people who contributed winter coats, mittens, hats, scarves, boots, tents, sleeping bags, blankets and many other items for Amistad in Portland, Thank you to Carla, Priscille and Jane for delivering two car loads to help these people stay warm this winter. Contributors of Winter Coats: Thank you to the people who donated coats, hats, mittens and scarves for OUR COMMUNITY MEAL. At the meal we gave 28 coats, and fifty hats, mittens and scarves. 6
12 People who took 15 names from the Angel Tree for the Salvation Army. Thank you to Jane for delivering these. Salvation Army Bell Ringers from Trinity: Shelly, Brenda, Priscille, Carla, Christina and Jane and Fente. Frank for being a reader at the 6:00pm Christmas Eve service. Members of Trinity: To all members, I wish to thank everyone for their generous donation to the Good Samaritan Fund. Funds are used to help people in need of fuel and food. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. Once again thank you! Ann Members of Trinity: Dear members What a generous church! You thank us for bread and desserts while we should be singing your praises to the sky. So we shall sing. This check will help so much with all the shopping. Keep on keeping on. Jeanne, Westbrook Food Pantry. THANK YOU FROM: George I would like to give heartfelt thanks to all those who sent cards, prayers, and well wishes during my recovery from knee surgery. Jenny & Ben - To Trinity Lutheran Family, We just wanted to send along our thanks for the delicious box of goodies that we received in the mail What a tasty surprise! Warmest wishes and blessings to everyone back in Westbrook! Love, Jenny and Ben Hilary - Many thanks for the Finals care package! I truly appreciated your snacks and thoughtfulness which helped sustain me during a busy Finals week. Thanks for thinking of me and see you soon! Sincerely, Hilary. Lucas Thank you for the Box of Cookies and Treats! This was the perfect way to get me in the Christmas Spirit. My friends and I have found every treat to be very delicious. I am extremely grateful for the generosity. Merry Christmass! Lucas. Pastor Tom STILL GRATEFUL FOR YOU - Early in November I spent a week in LA with my sons and their families. The week I was there was the fourth anniversary of my son Luke's slow road back from death's door. He was accepted into Beit T'Shuvah, the Jewish residential rehab center where his life was saved. Since then he has joined their staff as an AA counselor. This past May he and Rachel were married. Now he's gearing up to go back to school for a masters degree in psychology or family and marriage counseling. His wedding was a fabulous event with great happiness on many levels. In all of this I often think of you at Trinity and of my gratitude for all the support you gave me and all the prayers you offered up for Luke back when his life seemingly hung by a thread. Prayer, affection and gratitude; it's what makes us church. Thank you all. Pr. Tom Amistad - All the folks at Amistad (19 names) thank Trinity for the stuff you give us. JUST FOR LAUGHS Lord, make my words tender and sweet, for tomorrow I may have to eat them. 7