FEBRUARY 2018 GRAPEVINE TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 612 Main Street Westbrook, ME 04092 Karen Indorf, Pastor Cell Phone (207) 752-0110 Email pastor@trinitywestbrook.com Bonnie Wright, Editor Phone (207) 854-5653 Email office@trinitywestbrook.com PASTOR S REFLECTIONS As Jesus began his ministry, he called disciples to help him share his good news, ordinary people, not ordained clergy. He continues to call all of us to be those disciples who gather at weekly worship and then scatter wherever we happen to go, witnesses of our faith. First we gather every Sunday morning to worship, to hear God s word, and to partake of his body and blood. As gathered people we are nourished by God s word and through one another. When you are not at worship, not only does it affect you, it matters to others who gather and are missing your presence and are discouraged that you are not among us. The next time you skip worship, think not just about yourself, but also about those who value your fellowship and partnership in our ministry. When you are not present, you are indeed truly missed. Then we scatter to those many places we go to every week work, school, neighborhood, community, family, friends. It is here that we demonstrate the importance of Jesus in our lives. Others see Jesus in us all the time or not. What do you reflect to the scattered world? Remember how we conclude our worship. Go in peace and serve the Lord, by sharing the good news. Gather with us each week, and scatter with good news so others might see Jesus. To this you have been called. Pastor Karen
Bill Dyhrberg s Birthday Party Shoebox Packers
I Heard it through the Grapevine MESSAGE FROM NORM ROWLEY: As most of you know, Senior Saints will not be singing in January or February but will resume in March. To date, our schedule is as follows: Paul's Pals - Sunday, February 11, Pine Point Ctr., Scarborough; Sunday, March 11, Wardwell Gardens, Saco - Senior Saints Wednesday, March 21 @ Park Danforth, Portland LET S GET OFF OUR DONKEYS AND TAKE A FUN TRIP TOGETHER ON A BUS! For 40 years, Sight & Sound Theatres has brought Bible stories to life on stage in jaw-dropping scale. With 2,000+ seat theaters in Lancaster, Pa., and Branson, Mo., more than a million people come each year to experience these original, live portrayals of faith, courage, hope and redemption. SIGHT AND SOUND is an exciting musical theater production held every year in Lancaster, PA, featuring a Biblical character. This year's feature is "Jesus." Some people from Trinity and from Westbrook Warren have been exploring a bus trip August 2-4 from Westbrook to Lancaster. In addition to tickets to the show, there is included two nights in a motel (double occupancy), meals, and some local sight-seeing along with transportation by charter bus. The total cost is $364 per person. If you are possibly interested in going, please contact Jane Sinclair as soon as possible. Also, Doug and Joleen have been and can tell you how wonderful it is! There is also opportunity to purchase insurance for unforeseen cancelations. CAMPERSHIP APPLICATIONS NEED TO BE IN BY MARCH 31 DEADLINE-Applications can be requested from the church office. Guidelines for granting Camperships are: (1) The recipient must be active in Sunday School, youth group, and/or church. (2) Camperships must be for a Christian camp. (3) A completed form requesting a campership by the applicant must be made in a timely fashion with the deadline set forth by the Church Council on an annual basis. (4) The amount to be granted for each campership will be the amount set in the annual budget and any additional funds received prior to the decisionmaking deadline, divided by the number of recipients. (5) The recipients must be present to receive their camperships at a worship service. ****************************************************************************************** SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NEED TO BE IN BY APRIL 30 DEADLINE Applications can be requested from the church office. Guidelines for granting Education Scholarships are: (1) The recipient must be an active attending member of Trinity Lutheran Church. (2) A completed form requesting a scholarship must be made in a timely fashion with the deadline set forth by the Church Council on an annual basis. (3) The applicant must be accepted for the first time to an institution of higher learning. (4) The amount to be granted to each recipient will be recommended by the Finance/Stewardship Committee and approved by the Council as part of the budget. (5) The recipients must be present to receive their scholarships at a worship service. PARISH CARE COMMITTEE MEETING FEBRUARY 6 @ 2:00 PM SOCIAL MINISTRY MEETING FOR - FEBRUARY 6 @ 6:00 PM BREAKING BREAD AT THE SOUPER BOWL OF CARING Join us on February 4 th after worship for a soup luncheon. Seven different soups will be available for your delight. Our children and youth will visit your table clanging soup pots and ladles. All donations will go to Wayside Food Services, the local organization that provides the food for our Community Meal.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be held in the fellowship hall as we finish our desserts at the Souper Bowl of Caring on February 4 th. Committee Reports and Financial Records will be reviewed. A budget for 2018 will be voted on. New members of council will be elected along with two delegates to the New England Synod Assembly in June. Written Annual Reports are available from the ushers. All are welcome to attend the meeting. Only members can vote. We hope you will join us for this important annual event. ANNUAL CLIMB ABOARD THE FOOD TRAIN Preliminary plans will soon be underway for this annual fund raising drive for the Westbrook Food Pantry. In addition to our signature money jars, this year we hope to be more successful in getting corporate donations from local businesses. We need your help in this regard. If any of you are willing to make phone calls to follow-up on corporate letters, please contact Brenda Orach, Deb Knight, or Jane Sinclair. This is a Thrivent Event led by Jane Sinclair. FAMILY PROMISE TRAINING NEW DATE FOR THOSE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVEN T RECEIVED TRAINING February 10th, 9:00am-12:00pm at Hope Gateway, 509 Forest Ave PARISH CARE will sponsor the annual Valentine s Tea for our seniors, this year in Remembrance of our Dear Friend Carla Mitchell, on 12:00 noon on Monday, February 12 with a back-up date of Tuesday, February 13 at noon. Please RSVP to Alice Deschambeault by February 3 by calling 839-5333 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM Pastor Karen has been collecting anniversaries of baptisms, either from our church records or by persons submitting their date. Every month we will print the dates that we have - month and day only, not the year. Include a prayer of thanksgiving for our members and friends on the anniversary of their baptisms. Please submit your date to the pastor if you would like to be included. FEBRUARY Sidney Bartlett 02/07; Jarret Knight 02/08; Oliver Connolly; 02/15 Apollo Bartlett 02/23 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ***WORSHIP COMMITTEE MEETS FEBRUARY 11 AFTER WORSHIP*** SHROVE SUNDAY On February 11, the last Sunday before Lent, strawberry crepes will be served during our fellowship time after worship. ASH WEDNESDAY Trinity will once again be hosting the ecumenical Ash Wednesday Service on February 14 at 7:00. A joint choir and members of the Westbrook Clergy Association will lead our worship, including imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. There will also be a brief service of Corporate Confession and Forgiveness, along with imposition of ashes, in the sanctuary at noon. LENTEN SERVICES The Portland area midweek Lenten services will be held this year at First Lutheran Church, 132 Auburn Street in Portland. From February 21 March 21, a soup supper will be served beginning at 6:00 with a pickup choir rehearsal at 6:30. Services begin at 7:00, led by Portland area clergy, with Holden Evening Prayer as our liturgy. DESIGNATED OFFERINGS ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENT Ash Wednesday-February 14 - My Place Teen Center, Westbrook. Please use purple coded envelope as designated in front of your envelope packet. Our Lenten offering will be designated to Global Youth Ministry. Please use red coded envelope as in front of your envelope packet.
BECOME A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE Volunteers are needed most to help hospice patients in York and Cumberland counties. Healthcare experience is not required and you will receive the necessary training and support needed to help you enjoy a positive and rewarding volunteer experience. Call today to learn more about this opportunity and sign up for our next training. Beth Simmons, LSW, VNA Home Health Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, 207-400-8852 Spring Education Schedule Wednesdays, April 25 through May 23 from 1-tpm-50 Foden Road, South Portland ON-GOING 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 in the fellowship hall for a Celebration of Prayer and Praise in their native languages. Worship is held at Trinity on Sundays @ 4:00 pm. PRAYER GROUP Meets Wednesdays 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 Secretary s office door. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + WAYSIDE FOOD PROGRAM-WESTBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER MEALS Every Wednesday from 5:00-6:00, the Community Meal is held at the Westbrook Community Center, 426 Bridge Street. You can enter the center through the front door or directly to the meal site from the right side entrance. The Community Center space is large, with on-site parking. Wayside Food Services is our wonderful partner in sponsoring this weekly free meal for anyone who wants to come. We can always use help. If you would like to volunteer, contact Jane or Ted. WESTBROOK-WARREN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-THURSDAY NOON COMMUNITY MEALS Suggested donation of $5 February 01 Baked Chicken February 08 Meat Loaf February 15 Smothered Beef February 22 Shepherd s Pie FEBRUARY WORSHIP HELPERS If you are unable to perform this duty on specified date, please arrange for a substitute or swap with someone. Assistants and Readers please supply your replacement with your prayers or readings that are emailed to you or notify the office to resend to your replacement. In order for participants to be printed in the bulletin on Sunday, please put notice of change in Secretary s mail box or tape to door. Thank you. February Assistants Readers Acolyte/Crucifer Ushers Greeters Altar Care 4 Carey Joleen Bev Bob & Diana Hazel Joleen 11 Bill Million Delia George/Sue Peggy Joleen 18 Beth Peggy Fente George/Joleen Brenda Joleen 25 Christina JoAnn Tamagne George/Dennis Tiruneh Joleen ASSISTANTS PLEASE WEAR ROBES
WANTED CONFIRMATION PHOTOS OF TRINITY MEMBERS PLEASE GIVE TO JANE Dear Friends, Thank you for your gifts to ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response this year. Thanks to you, together we re working for justice and peace in the United States and more than 60 countries around the world. May God Bless you even as you and your generosity are a blessing to others. With gratitude, The Rev. Daniel Rift, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal Dear Trinity Lutheran, Thank you for your gift to the Food Pantry, and beyond that, for all your support. A happy, happy New Year to all. Jeanne Rielly Dear Parish Care, You re the best! Have a Blessed New Year. Love and Prayers, Mary Peters Thank you to all of our friends at Trinity Lutheran Church. We appreciate all of your kindness and support throughout the year! Hub, Friendship House Dear Trinity, Thank you for your gift of $1844. to Lutheran Disaster Response. Thank you for joining with the whole church in this season of unprecedented generosity as, together, we support communities hard-hit by hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires. In the light and life of Christ, Rev. Daniel Rift, Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal To all of the Fun and Caring Volunteers - God Bless you for taking such good care of all of us every Wednesday. Our one regret is we missed so many suppers and the Barn Christmas Celebration due to health problems. We look forward to great meals and making new friends. The Berrys Thank you to the following who volunteered at the Westbrook-Warren Church during Family Promise week in January. For the diner hour: Tiruneh, Brenda, Hazel, Bev, Pastor K., Peggy P and Christina. For Fellowship: Tiruneh, Abera, Brenda, Josh, Bev, Pastor Karen, Jane, Peggy and Christina. For the overnights: Josh, Jane, Beth and Cary. For breakfast: Jane, Beth and Carey. Dear Members of Trinity, Thank you for your generosity! I m so grateful that you have contributed your gift to the 2017 Bishop s Appeal: Get Off Your Donkey, in the amount of $500 for the ministry of the New England Synod of the ELCA. I am encouraged by this great act of generosity to the ministries of the New England Synod, which gives witness to your calling by Jesus to boldly live out the gospel. Sincerely in Christ, The Rev. James Hazelwood, Bishop, New England Synod Dear Parish Care, Thank you so much for all the thoughtful and wonderful Happy New Year messages left on my desk from many Trinity friends. It certainly made my day! Love and Peace to all in this new year. Bonnie To All Trinity Volunteers Thank you all for your continued hard work and dedication. We appreciate all that you do for the folks at the Westbrook Community meal! All of us at Wayside Dear Friends at Trinity Lutheran, On behalf of Operation Christmas Child Maine West Team, I want to thank you for your donation of 66 shoebox gifts. That represents 66 children who will hear the Gospel message and feel the love of Jesus through the power of a simple shoebox! We praise God our area team collected a total of 10,454 boxes! Thank you or your support of this vital ministry that spreads the Good News to children in need throughout the world! Blessings to you in 2018. Lauren LaPlante, Operation Christmas Child-Maine-West Volunteer
KID S KORNER Find the following words: Heart Sweet Kiss Valentine Hug Love Be Mine Gift Candy Flowers Q. What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus? A. Can I hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand? A Bit from Bonnie