G R A P E V I N E MAY 2015 Mother s Day May 10 TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 612 Main Street Westbrook, ME 04092 Karen Indorf, Pastor Bonnie Wright, Editor Phone (207) 854-5653 Phone (207) 854-5653 Email pastor@trinitywestbrook.com Email office@trinitywestbrook.com Regular Hours of Worship 10:30 am Sunday School at 9:15 am for all ages PASTOR S REFLECTIONS What wonderful worship we had from Palm Sunday, through Holy Week, and on Easter Sunday. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia! As I reflect on this year s holiest time of the church year, I am struck by amazing diversity. The worship services themselves were diverse. On Palm Sunday we started with the joyful procession of palms and ended with the somber passion story echoed by Ethiopian chant. On Maundy Thursday we experienced individual absolution with Holy Communion and stripping of the altar. The Good Friday Tenebrae was led by the reflections of pastor and laity, with deep silences as the sanctuary darkened, startled by the moment of death. At Easter Sunrise on Smiling Hill we shivered around the fire pit and concluded around the cafe tables with the Lord s Supper. Festival Easter worship was filled with God s word, music, joy and the Hallelujah Chorus. There were also other signs of diversity during the week. The next generations of our founding mothers and fathers of Danish descent were there along with many others of European and American heritage. Persons of color included Africans from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, and America. People came in braces, walkers, canes and wheel chairs. There were those with physical and emotional illnesses, the developmentally challenged, people recovering from addictions, along with those blessed with good health. Families, young and old came in their finest Easter clothes or jeans and sweatshirts. Gay and straight worshipped together. We had first time visitors, those who visit occasionally, people whom we seldom see, along with those who faithfully worship every week. My prayer is that our worship touched the hearts and spirits of all who participated and that they each heard the resurrected Jesus calling them by name. May the joy and hope of Easter morning continue to abide in our hearts during these remaining weeks of the Easter season and beyond. Blessings to you. Pastor Karen
Warren celebrates his 94 th birthday with family and friends! Roger singing with Ruth Easter Sunrise Communion-Smiling Hill Farm Easter Sunrise Service-Smiling Hill Farm
I Heard It Through the Grapevine! SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NEED TO BE IN BY APRIL 30th DEADLINE. Applications can be requested from the church office. PENTECOST SUNDAY Pentecost Sunday this year is May 24. You are invited to wear red as we join in festival worship, celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit. There will possibly be a very nice surprise on that day COME AND SEE! SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE Our summer worship schedule begins June 7 th. We will worship at 9:00am during June, July and August. CONFIRMATION Confirmation will be held this year on Sunday, June 7 th at 9:00. Holly Akey and Christine Kusnirak are our two young persons who will affirm their baptism in the order of Confirmation. A special thank you to Paul and Carol who taught them and guided them during their second year of instruction and spiritual formation. Please keep these two young people in your prayers. MONTHLY PRAYER SERVICE Every third Sunday of the month, (May 17 is the next service) after the sharing of the peace, Pastor Karen will be present in the front of the annex for persons who would like individual prayer, for themselves or someone else. Anyone is invited to come and sit in the annex during this time. You may pray silently from your pew and/or come forward to pray with pastor. She will be there as long as someone wants to pray. Tricia Bumby will be playing violin music during this time, soothing background hymns of healing, that will also provide privacy to those who come forward to pray. Contact Pastor Karen if you have any questions. PAUL S PALS will sing at the Baron Center on Sunday, May 10 at 2:00 pm SENIOR SAINTS will meet at IHOP at 11:00 on Wed., May 20 and will sing and entertain folks at Foreside Harbor in Falmouth at 2:00 pm Thrivent Financial representative(s), Sarah, FIC and Hans and Jennifer of Epstein & O'Donovan, LLP in Portland are offering an event on the basics of Estate Planning including Wills and Trusts at First Lutheran Church in Portland on May 3 @ 11:30. They will also offer strategies to ensure your family is provided for and that your church and charities that depend on your support are also part of your legacy. Space is limited. To reserve your place call the church office at 207-797- 2525 or email Jolene admin@firstlutheranportland.org Lunch will be provided. Daycare will be provided.
May 23 Portland Sea Dogs vs Reading Fighting Phillies at 1pm. This is a Double Header (Two Games for the price of one) Reserved seating in Section 212 (between Third base and Home). Cost is $3 per seat for Thrivent members and guests. CONTACT INFORMATION Abbott K Phone: (207) 797-0531 E-Mail: aknowle1@maine.rr.com Mail: 2 Mayflower Road, Westbrook, ME 04092 June 27 Two Hour Portland Harbor Cruise Thrivent members $5 no more than $15 per Family Non member Guests $5 no more than $15 per Family Portland Discovery boat leaves at 11 AM sharp from Long Warf on Commercial St., one pier west of the DiMillo s Floating Restaurant location. Recommended parking on Fisherman s Wharf, just west of Portland Discovery location. Arrive early! Snacks are available on boat, but you can bring your own, if desired, except you cannot bring any alcoholic beverage aboard. They are available on the Boat. Please be ready to board by 10:45. Plan to stay and poke around in the Old Port after the cruise. Mid-afternoon lunch place(s) will be recommended if you request this. CONTACT INFORMATION Julia Faye Scherzer E-Mail: scherzerjulia4@gmail.com Phone: (207) 666-3796 Mail: 26 Pork Point Rd Bowdoinham, ME 04008 ****************************************************************************************** PORTLAND AREA LOCAL YOUTH GROUP will gather together on May 31 st from 2:00 4:00 at Fort Williams Park. See Doug for more details. REPORT FROM SOCIAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE COME CLIMB ABOARD THE FOOD TRAIN The Food Train will roll through the city on the first weekend in May. Friday we ll be collecting the coin jars and on Saturday we ll be set up at Shaw s and near Hannaford at the entrance of Bicentennial Park. Sunday we will finalize the project by collecting from Westbrook-Warren Congregational, First Baptist, Prides Corner Congregational and St. Anthony s delivering the boxes of food to the Community Center where the Food Pantry is located. We hope to surpass last year s total as we anticipate more corporate sponsorships. Thank you to those who helped support the project by donating food, money or your time. We re going to participate this year in the annual Westbrook Together Days. It is being held on Friday, May 29 from 4-9pm and on Saturday 10am-9pm at Riverbank Park. We are going to have a vendor booth in the park and we ll be promoting the Food Train event that was held earlier. We ll be acknowledging the participants and hope to be able to present a check to the director of the Food Pantry Jeanne Rielly, and have information and handouts of the programs that T.L.C. is involved with like the Community meal, Rejoicing Spirits, Paul s P.A.L.S., Senior Saints, Bible studies and Sunday School. We will need some volunteers to help with manning
the booth for different shifts, No experience required. This should be easy and less labor intensive and a chance to solicialize and interact with visitors to the festival. We will have some free handouts and giveaways for all ages. The Together Days parade has not been announced yet and we are not sure if we ll be able to participate in that as well. We will keep you updated. The Pentecost Offering on May 24 has been designated to the Malaria Initiative. In honor of World Malaria Day on April 25, we had chosen to use this offering to support the good work that ELCA and Lutheran World Relief is doing to help control, educate and treat those countries affected by malaria. NURSERY NEWS Spring cleaning has been done for the Nursery and a fresh coat of paint and a new rug are the final items on the list to complete the project. We would like to respectfully request that no food or drinks be brought into the nursery. The change of season also brings with it ants and we would like to avoid the "invitation" for them come and visit. We encourage use of the Nursery and welcome volunteer Nursery attendants during the worship services. During fellowship time we would appreciate that children are not left unsupervised and that the Nursery is returned to its' original condition with toys and books returned to their respective places when done. Your help and/or volunteering would be greatly appreciated. FROM EDUCATION COMMITTEE Sunday School will finalize the season with the last school session on May 17 th and a special celebration at IHOP for breakfast on May 31 st. Sunday School children and confirmation students are welcome. See Doug ON-GOING PARISH CARE will meet on May 5th at 2:00. SOCIAL MINISTRY will meet on May 12 th this month at 7:15. The WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY SHARING OUR FAITH will meet on the second Tuesday of the month, May 12th at 10:30 am in the large classroom. All are welcome. KNIT NIGHT will meet Thursday evenings on meeting the 7 th and 21 st of May, 5:30-7:00 PM. Please join us! NEWS FOR WORSHIP HELPERS Thanks to all the Assistants, Readers and Acolyte/Crucifers. If you are unable to perform this duty on specified date, please arrange for a substitute and let Bonnie know so the correct name may be put in the Sunday bulletin. Readers and Assistants please supply your replacement with your prayers or readings that are e-mailed to you. Thank you.
WORSHIP HELPERS FOR MAY THANK YOU! MAY ASSISTANT READER ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER 3 Doug Amanuel Fente 10 Sue Christina Jenny 17 Abera JoAnn Amanuel 24 Carey Peggy Delia 31 Christina Cathie Eleshadaye 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 in the fellowship hall for a Celebration of Prayer and Praise in their native languages. Worship will be on Sundays, May 3rd, 10th and 24th and 31 st at 4:00; and on Saturday, May 16th at 2:00. REJOICING SPIRITS meet on the third Sunday of each month at 4:00 pm. The worship is 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 are welcome. The next worship service will be Sunday, May 17th. The fellowship meal will be sponsored by the Social Ministry Committee. PRAYER GROUP Meets Wednesday at 11:15. Many prayer concerns have been lifted up and many thanksgivings have been 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. (Nice hat Jane!) ALL AROUND THE TOWN COMMUNITY MEAL The Community Meal continues to take place here at Trinity at least until May while the Teen Center kitchen is being renovated. Every Wednesday from 5:00-6:00 we serve a free hot meal and warm fellowship, with food provided by Wayside Food Services. Total meals served in March 349. Volunteers are needed to cook, serve and clean up. See Jane Sinclair or Ted Deschambeault for more information. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS are being offered at the community meal. THURSDAY NOON COMMUNITY MEALS prepared by and held at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main St. There is a suggested $5 donation but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Meals coming up: 4/30-Smothered beef 5/7-Ham and Mashed Potato; 5/14-Meatloaf May 14 will be the last community meal this season. Meals will continue beginning in September.
Alice says Thanks! to all who helped with April s coffee hour! FROM: On behalf of Directors and staff of Preble Street, we want to thank Trinity Lutheran Church for its gift of $600 to benefit food programs, the proceeds from your Youth, Social Ministry and Parish Care Souper Bowl of Caring event. Your generosity makes it possible for Preble Street to serve 1,200 nutritious meals a day, partner with communities and schools to make sure thousands of kids throughout Maine get healthy meals during the summer months. Our deepest thanks! Sincerely, Swannie Mark R. Swann, MSPA, Executive Director For all you do...thank you. It was such a nice luncheon. I thank you all and I also thank you for the gifts, especially for your friendship. I will miss you all but I will always have you in my heart. I sit in a cabin on Lake Sebago, until to Michigan, I will go. I wonder what this move will bring, when a new adventure I will begin. While living here I ve made many nice Trinity Lutheran friends, And I m sorry my time here is coming to an end. I ll make new friends as I will do, but that doesn t mean I won t miss you. To me, you mean so very much. And I hope we can keep in touch. With love and prayers to all my Trinity Lutheran Family, Dorothy-April 2015 Dear Friends, Your thoughtfulness meant a lot to me. Many thanks for the special Easter greeting and goodies. I enjoyed them so much. What wonderful friends you are! Love and Prayers Mary KID S KORNER Knock, Knock Who s there? A Broken Pencil A Broken Pencil who? Oh, never mind it s pointless!
THE LIGHT SIDE Actual Church Bloopers! Thursday night Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. Don t let worry kill you, let the church help. The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir. A Bit from Bonnie Happy Mother s Day!