Trinity Presbyterian Church 185 Swaggertown Road Scotia, NY 12302 (518) 399-8782 ScotiaTrinity@aol.com www.scotiatrinity.org Rev. Kathleen Gorman-Coombs Rev. Dr. Timothy Coombs November, 2017 Friends, Back in June Trinity s Pneumatrix team completed its work with consultant Deb Wright. Our task was to discover what God is calling our church to do and be next. To make a long process short, what we came up with is that God no longer, if ever, desires Trinity to be the best kept secret in Glenville. To that end we are exploring a host of opportunities to connect with the community and to let them not only do they have a friend in us, but an advocate as well. In the months to come we will be hosting educational seminars and other events open to the whole community. The first was the screening of Resilience, a movie about preventing child abuse and how to deal with childhood trauma. The event will include a panel discussion with experts in the field who will present practical and helpful steps to take. In November, we will once again hold our Mission Fair, then in December, we will host my storytelling of A Christmas Carol, and host a table in Holiday on the Avenue in the village of Scotia. In the coming year, Mira is planning for a choir concert in the spring and we are working on plans for another forum on the growing opioid crisis in our community. Along with these efforts we are exploring replacing our fixed sign out front, with one that makes clear that we are an open and accepting church for all. This sign along with the banner that communicates in three languages No matter where you are from, we re glad you re our neighbor, will help broadcast that we embrace Jesus sense of welcome and hospitality. What we want to communicate to our neighbors is that we both care about our community in active ways, but more importantly, we want to serve as a guide to whatever God may be calling them to be and do as well. In keeping with the Lewis and Clark theme from the book Canoeing the Mountains many of us read this past year, we want to be our community s Sacagawea to each person s journey of faith. Without Sacagawea s help, Lewis and Clark might never have made it to the Pacific Ocean. Sacagawea knew the terrain and offered a helpful guidance to the Corps of Discovery. Just so, we who have journeyed thus far, are called by God to assist others on their own path. May the Spirit undergird us as we work to be the best guides we can be. Tim
THANK YOU TO Skyler Jessup and all the leaders and members of his Scout Troop who built the new sidewalk leading to downstairs room. The Back Packer teams are very happy! Wendi Brandow for coordinating the Resilience screening, and Stacey Masucci for behind the scenes work in publicizing it. And the Deacons for providing some extra food for coffee hour to sustain us through the discussion! CONFIRMATION 2017 The class is more than halfway through their standard classes on the basics of the Reformed understanding of God. In this coming month, not only will they continue with that good work, but they will be assigned their mentors and begin filling out monthly worship response forms. These forms will be on the back table. All worshippers are invited to fill these forms out and present them to Tim and Kathy as they serve as a great way to get feedback. Thanks for Adrienne Hall for her inclusivity mosaic dove which will soon hang in the sanctuary. Additional thanks to her mother Mary, Pastor Tim, Darren Gundrum, Amy Hutchison, and Matthew Taylor for their assistance. 2018 Stewardship Campaign If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more & running over. Luke 6:38 Pledges are due Sunday, November 19 th. Please review your pledge packet for details about the 2018 asking budget. Contact Finance Co-Chairs Liz Dobson-Davis (kdavis3@nycap.rr.com or Karen Englintine (kjm1515@hotmail.com) with any questions.
YOUTH GROUP In November, the youth group gets out and about. This is the month we do food sorting for the Concerned for the Hungry Thanksgiving meals as well as getting out to do some random acts of kindness just before the holiday. Perhaps we can get people to pay it forward and get a chain reaction started. Of course, on the Sunday after Thanksgiving we have the Great Christmas Tree Hunt. Bring a friend! Sunday, Nov. 5 Where in the World Are We? Saturday, Nov. 11 9:00am Concerned for the Hungry Food Sorting Sunday, Nov. 19 Random Act of Kindness Day Sunday, Nov. 26 1:00 pm, The Great Christmas Tree Hunt and Decorating Sunday, Dec. 3 Help staff Trinity s station on Holiday on the Avenue This is what the Lord asks of you: only this, To act justly, To love tenderly, and To walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Come support our mission programs! One Stop Holiday Shoppe Vendor and Craft Fair Saturday, November 11 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Trinity Presbyterian Church 185 Swaggertown Rd. (Corner of Baldwin) Scotia 20-plus crafters and vendors Thanksgiving Pie Sale Bake Sale Plant Sale Concession Stand **Proceeds benefit the mission work of Trinity Presbyterian**
November Ushers and Counters New Feature at this year s Vendor Fair PIES!! There will be pies available to order from Chef Nicky, Apple, Pumpkin and Fruit of the Forest, $12 each. Order at the Vendor Fair, pick up frozen baked pie at Trinity the weekend before Thanksgiving. USHERS 11/5 Steve and Jennifer Parsons 11/12 Rick and Laraine Longhurst 11/19 Linda Rockinger and Joe Savoie 11/26 Jim and Wendi Brandow COUNTERS 11/5 Wayne and Nancy Virkler 11/12 Wayne and Nancy Virkler 11/19 Nancy Virkler and Karen Eglintine 11/26 Wayne Virkler and Liz Dobson-Davis
Jail Library Ministry Over the past several years Trinity has supported the library at the county jail by making donations of books and magazines and providing volunteers to help keep the program running. The selection of books has grown almost to overflowing, due in part to donations from you all. Having plenty of books is a blessing but the shelves are literary crammed. Even though we circulate over a hundred books each week, nearly an equal number are returned so the shelves stay full. Presently, the greatest need is for magazines. Our former source for them is no longer viable so what we have to offer each week are limited to what we can get elsewhere. So we are asking that no more books be given for the time being and that you focus your donations on magazines. Current sports, entertainment, car, National Geographic, consumer, and women s magazines are the most often requested. You can leave them in the box in the annex and they ll be collected regularly. It helps if you have removed any address labels and take out any of the inserts or blow-ins before you bring them. It saves the library workers the time it takes to remove them. Thanks in advance for your generosity. Whatever you are able to give will be well received and fill an important need. BTW... if you d like to give three hours on an occasional Monday morning and become a librarian contact Don Wheeler.
The Advent Dinner is quickly approaching! Save December 17th at 5 pm for a fabulous potluck dinner, our Christmas Pageant, and a chance to spend time with our Trinity family. Details will follow and hot pans will be provided! Sign up in Church after Thanksgiving. Contact me with questions. Louise Gundrum, Deacon 518-312-8646
Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service Sunday, November 19, 2017 6 PM Sikh Temple 1944 Union Street, Niskayuna corner of St. David s Lane & Route 7 Sponsored by Schenectady Clergy Against Hate As I write this article, I am about to head over to the Unitarian Universalist Society to meet with their new co-pastors, Revs. Lynn Gardner & Wendy Bartel. I am really excited not only that this Interfaith Service is going to happen, but that I get to help plan it... I don t know yet exactly what it will look like, but I imagine we will be including elements of worship from all the different faith traditions that are part of this group: Sikh, Muslim, Several varieties of Christian, Conservative & Reformed Judaism, Unitarian, and maybe others I m not quite aware since I m fairly new to the group. I have been very moved by the diversity and yet unity of this group, as together we are seeking various ways to speak and act against hate of any form, and also seeking a positive message through our work together. I am really hoping that many Trinity folks will join us for this evening of community and worship. If you have questions let me know. Kathy
School Supply Collection THANKS to all who have donated this year! Collection for October includes: Pencils Composition notebooks Spiral notebooks Tissues Lined paper Pencil pouches Pocket folders (laminated preferred, more durable) Questions? Please talk to Linda Rockinger. Weekend Backpack Program! Children here in our community do not have enough food to eat when school breakfasts and lunches are unavailable over the weekend. Each week we join together to collect food at the Regional Food Bank, package it up, and deliver it to students in Sacandaga and Lincoln Elementary Schools in the Scotia-Glenville District. Along with assistance from Concerned for the Hungry of Schenectady County, we are able to serve 30 children in the district. We need new volunteers! Sign-up calendar is posted on the bulletin board across from the kitchen with dates and availability slots. Please consider joining us for this fun and rewarding venture! (More info in Mission news further in newsletter.)
November Birthdays! 3 Amy Spetla 21 Amy Helenek 6 Olivia Brandow 22 Andrew Ekblaw, Kellie (Palmer) Pruett 8 Carolyn Statler 25 Linda Rockinger, Jen Parson 13 Alan Ekblaw 27 Janet Kiddle 14 Frank Quinn 28 Laurie Bishop, Philip Grigsby 29 Lisa Clune NOVEMBER 2017 MINI-NEWS The Home Furnishings Program www.schenectadyhomefurnishings.org NEEDS OF THE MONTH Furniture: small dressers and kitchen table sets, small sofas/love-seats Furnishings: sheets & blankets, especially queens & twins, spatulas, can-openers, large pots & frying pans, 6 & 8 oz. drinking glasses (NO stemware), cereal bowls small appliances: toasters/ovens, coffee-makers, blenders, crock-pots Please note: we will no longer be taking bed donations! Our proposed Habitat for Humanity connection will rule out anything but newly purchased beds.we will continue buying beds with our Bucks for Beds funds. To donate, call Jamie Doriguzzi, Program Director, at 346-2444 or email us at homefurninc@aol.com to arrange for pick-up or warehouse drop-off of useful items. Please, everything must be basic and in immediately useful condition. PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR 50 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! NOVEMBER 4 TH, 5:30 9:00 at the RENAISSANCE RESTAURANT, EASTERN AVENUE Send reservations to 2215 Nott Street, Box 139 $20 in advance or $25 at the door
NEWS from the MISSION Committee The Mission of Trinity Church continues to build and expand as we move forward in faith. We gratefully thank all those who donated to our denominational collection, Peace and Global Witness. Your dollars will multiply and cover a variety of needs locally, nationally and internationally. 25% of the collection will stay here at Trinity to be used for our Mission Projects. The Weekend Backpack Program has begun again for the 2017 18 school year. We are able to provide 30 backpacks full of food for children in Lincoln and Sacandaga Schools in the Scotia-Glenville School District. The project requires a large team of volunteers in order to be successful. We very much appreciate those who pick up the food at the Regional Food Bank in Latham and bring it to Trinity. Skyler Jessup s Eagle Scout project of installing a sidewalk to the downstairs area is proving to be most helpful when the food is brought into the church. We also have a rotating team of packers and drivers of the backpack food to the schools. We pack and deliver the bags, usually on Thursday evenings, beginning at 6:30. We would love to have you join us. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board across from the kitchen, so please feel free to pick a date for you and/or your family to join us! On October 22nd Trinity sponsored a gathering to learn about A.C.E.S. and how we might support children and adults in our community as they build resilience. We learned about the science behind the repercussions of childhood trauma both to children and as adults. We are at the beginning stages of discussing and planning for ways our community might respond in a positive way to overcome challenges our kids experience. Certainly, more information will be forthcoming as we are guided by the Spirit into action. We also thank Wendi Brandow for leading us to and the organization of the event. We are greatly looking forward to our 3rd Annual Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 11th from 10:00 3:00. We have many vendors, a bake sale, raffles, lunch served, and many other exciting activities planned. Bring your families and friends and get a head start on holiday shopping as you enjoy the day s events.
November News from the Haiti Mission School During October, a three-person team [Pastor Tom, JoEllen and Howard Nicols] was sent by the U.S. Board of the Haiti Mission School to review the situation concerning the nationalizing of the school. It was a short trip of one week including two days of travel and a weekend, which meant that we were forced to keep moving at a pretty good rate to accomplish our work. We talked with the committees at Jèrèmie and Labastille, the government inspector for the Education Department in the region, the teachers and students at Labastille and the secondary school students at College Dumas. We also visited with Lindsay Anderson, an American missionary who has been helping us in Haiti. For most of these, the work included two visits: one to gather information and a second to report back to them concerning the recommendations we planned to make to our Board. Howard and JoEllen also visited the Labastille school while Tom waited at Lucienne s house (the church s leaders), since Tom s health did not allow him to make the walk into the school. While at the school, Howard and JoEllen talked with an engineer concerning the proposed building project and saw the work being done on the new latrine. They also spoke with mason Pierre concerning the means to gather water for the cistern until the new building is built (water is collected from the roof). He suggested constructing a berm around the top of the cistern and some small holes drilled in the top to allow the collected rainwater to drain in. These holes could all be sealed when the new roof on the church is completed. [We hired him to do it and the work was completed while we were still in Haiti.] A very bright spot in this visit happened after school when about 85-90 students came to Lucienne s house (about a 40-minute walk) to greet Pastor Tom with many hugs, kisses and to sing to him. They ask about him each time we visit and were happy to be able to see him once again. Howard and JoEllen said that the heat and the terrain made the hike really difficult. We plan to discuss our recommendations with the U.S. Board in the next couple of weeks. Once they have approved or modified them, we will report the results to you. In the meantime, we simply want to thank you for all your support and encouragement over the years, and ask that you continue to pray for the children and the school at Labastille, and pray for us as we make the decisions concerning the families and children of the region.
Discussion Dates Tuesday, Nov. 14 Wednesday, Nov. 29 Both at 7 PM The conversation about "Between the World and Me" was an interesting one, and left us thinking there is much more to learn as we look at the concept of race. The next book we are proposing broadens the territory, so to speak, and in the form of a well written and compelling novel, looks at the differences in how race is understood in the United States and other "western" countries, and in countries in Africa, where of course the majority of people have darker skin. The book is called Americanah! written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; here is the review from "Goodreads": Fearless, gripping, at once darkly funny and tender, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story set in today s globalized world. As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are leaving the country if they can. Ifemelu beautiful, self-assured- departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Years later Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion for their homeland and for each other they will face the toughest decisions of their lives. Please see Kathy G-C, Laraine Longhurst, or Mariellen Boomhower with questions.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5 Worship 10 am 11 Confirmation 1 pm Worship committee 4 pm Yth Grp Harvest for the Pantry 4-7pm 12 Worship 10am 11 Confirmation Mission Committee 19 Worship 10am 2 pm Wash Cty Rehab Service 2-4:30 Girl Scouts 6pm Interfaith Thanksgiving 6 7 7:30 Selah 13 14 7pm Americanah! discussion 7:30 Selah 1 6:30 Special Presbytery mtg- Troy Girl Scouts 8 10:30 Judson Meadows Service 6:30 Backpacks 15 4 pm Presbytery Saratoga 2 6:30 Backpacks 7:30 Choir 9 6pm Trivia Defense! 7:30 Choir 16 12:30 Scotia Clergy Lunch at Our Redeemer 6:30 Backpacks 7:30 Choir 20 21 22 23 Happy Thanksgiving! 3 4 10 11 9am Food Sorting: Youth Vendor Fair 17 18 24 25 26 Worship 10am 1pm Great Christmas Tree Hunt 27 28 7pm Deacons and Session meet together 29 7pm Americanah! discussion 30 6:30 Backpacks 7:30 Choir
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3 Worship 10 am Holiday on the Ave 4 5 7:30 Selah 6 10:30 Judson Meadows Service 7 6:30 Backpacks 7:30 Choir 1 2 4pm Dickens Christmas Carol 8 9 10 Worship 10am 11 12 13 14 15 16 7:30 Selah 6:30 Backpacks 7:30 Choir 17 Worship 10am 5pm Advent Dinner 18 19 20 7pm Session 21 6:30 Backpacks 7:30 Choir 22 23 24 Worship 10 am Evening Worship Time(s) TBA 25 Merry Christmas! 26 27 28 29 30 31 Worship 10 am New Year s Eve!