19251 North Tamiami Trail, No. Ft. Myers, FL 33903 Phone: 239-567-2246 THE MESSENGER Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church May 2018, Volume 2018, Issue 5 Website: www.htpc-nfm.com E-mail: admin@htpc-nfm.com Living for Christ through Worship, Discipleship, Service and Fellowship To the Saints of Holy Trinity Presbyterian: Okay we have our interim pastor, and we ve elected the Pastor Nominating Committee. What s next? HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May 1 May 5 May 6 May 9 May 12 May 14 May 19 May 22 May 25 May 26 May 27 May 29 May 31 Beverly Smith John Rissel Donna Headley Gordon Hoeksema Scotty Robertson Fran Cokins Bill Ferrell Martin Rudo Aileen Reese Fran Smith Roger Smith Dick Owens Having a Birthday This Month? Sign up to greet so we can say Happy Birthday! And why not celebrate the many blessing in your life and be a blessing to Holy Trinity, too? Contribute to the birthday fund and reduce our mortgage. ** Suggested donation is $1.00 per year of age. I m glad you asked! Whether you grew up Presbyterian or just recently became one, it is good to be reminded that we are a denomination that highly values the principle, All things are to be done decently and in order. What this means is that there is a specific set of guidelines that has been set out by the Presbytery of Peace River which will lead this congregation and the PNC through your time of transition. Bear with me as I quote from these guidelines While each church transition is unique and requires unique responses to its particularities, there are some important broad concepts to understand about nearly all church transition. Ordinarily transition, those times of leadership change resulting from a pastor leaving because of a new call or retirement, are opportunities for congregations to analyze and assess their ministry and discern where God is calling them to go in the future The first reaction during a time of pastoral transition is Well, we all know what to do get a new pastor. And the sooner, the better! As frustrating as it might seem to our impatient natures, without taking the time to explore to where God might be leading, congregations make decisions emotionally first, and spiritually second Congregations, after a happy pastoral relationship, impulsively seek a clone of the departed beloved pastor. Initially, such might seem to be a logical conclusion which might make many people happy, but the reality is that such a direction shows no real understanding on the changes that have occurred over the time of that successful ministry. Congregational studies have identified five specific focus points during the transition period: Heritage, Mission, Connections, Leadership, Future. Trained interim pastors know many ways to help a congregation handle these tasks. Regardless which transition model is used, when the focus points above are effectively completed, the start-up of a new pastor is enhanced. When the focus points are not completed, the effectiveness of the new ministry is delayed. Along with Rebecca Nicholson, a liaison from the Presbytery s Committee on Ministry, I will be working with your PNC over the next several months to address the five focus points. What can you do? Participate in any meetings and conversations which might be scheduled and, of course, pray! Pray for guidance and blessing on the life and mission of HTPC as you move forward into God s intended future. Joy in Christ, RC Smith Pastor RC & Barbara Smith Support the people and causes you love through your will!
Page 2 May 2018 SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE MONTH May 6 Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17 May 13 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 May 20 Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27;16:4b-15 May 27 Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 Prayer Chain Warriors We have very good warriors on our prayer chain at Holy Trinity. If you have a prayer request, please contact any of the following and the name of the person you want us to pray for will be put on the prayer chain. Nancy Rad 731-1204 Roger Smith 731-6577 Kelly Dickey 785-7659 Ann Sosa 201-8582 Joyce Schmidt 731-2139 Wilma Jenkins 242-0432 Billie Sonderman 567-1045 Nancy Walker 841-0654 Ruth Rickard 610-468-5626 Joy O Dell 281-4309 Need Yard Work or an Odd Job Done? May 6 Ushers & Greeters for May If you cannot serve on the Sunday you are to usher, please call the Usher Captain. 1 st Service: Alice Clarcq 239-822-3959 2 nd Service: Mary Ann Chamberlin 239-247-0178 May 13 May 20 8:30 A.M. Service Joan Ostrander Nancy Rad Andrea Helms Carol Dant Sue Springer Debbie Sanders Luanne Putnam Dan Putnam Judy DeLonge Ralph Jeka Bill Ling Don Brinker May 6 May 13 May 20 10:30 A.M. Service Ed Hall Judy Steele Nancy Rad Bev Smith (Choir Ed Hall Judy steele Sue Buckhout Ed Hall Judy Steele Joanne Weightman Hans Miller, our Maintenance Man, is available to do yard work or miscellaneous jobs Mon. thru Wed. or on a Sat. May 27 Alice Clarcq Rosemarie Prud homme Nancy Rad Bonnie Anderson May 28 Ed Hall Judy Steele Joanne Weightman If you have work that needs to be done at your home Hans would appreciate the additional work. You can contact Hans at 239 233-1432 to arrange a day and price. Buildings and Grounds Volunteers are urgently needed to serve on the Buildings and Grounds Committee. If you have a few hours to spare and can help out, please see John Strickland; or, come to the Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at 3:00 PM. John Strickland, Chairman
Page 3 May 2018 What is Congregational Care? CONGREGATIONAL CARE Congregational Care is a group of Care Angels and Deacons who watch over the congregation. They make a point to see you at church, call you, send you cards, and maybe even invite you to lunch. If you don t want to be bothered by a phone call you just let them know. But when you have a need, you know who to call. Let us know if you need some special prayers or are under the weather and just can t make it to church. The Angels and Deacons help with home visits and memorial services. Special attention is given to our shut-ins and homebound. We also try to plan special get togethers so that we come to know our church family just a little bit better. If you have somehow been left out, please contact me and we ll be sure to correct our oversite. Luanne Putnam, Chair 731-2414 PRESBYTERIAN MEN Presbyterian Men have approved paying for the unbudgeted church expenses of a replacement desktop computer for the sound booth at a cost not to exceed $360. PM was able to do this through the fund raising breakfasts and the luncheon events we have held. We could not have done this, and other unfunded projects without your participation. At our April meeting we had 11 men enjoy a delicious breakfast followed by a short talk by Charles Schnuth about risk management. Thanks to the Presbyterian Women for agreeing to cover the unbudgeted church expenses of a business type phone system for the office and a compact computer desk for the Music Director for room 1, for an estimated cost of $1350.00, Our next men s meeting breakfast will be on May 4 th. Join us by signing the sheet in the church Narthex. Upcoming Events: Breakfast Mtg. Friday, May 4 th 9:00 A.M. Fellowship Hall Breakfast Mtg. Friday, Jun. 1 st 9:00 A.M. Fellowship Hall Please join the Men s Group and get involved. It is only one Friday morning a month. All men in the community are welcome at our meetings. Come and enjoy great food and fellowship! Jerry Strohmenger, Secretary PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Plans for our annual Mother's Day/Father's Day Dinner are in full swing. It will be held Friday evening, May 11 th, at 6 P.M. in Fellowship Hall. This year we are doing something different, we are having outside entertainment, which will be provided by the Calendar Girls. This unique group of women love what they do, and do it for a worthy cause. Since 2006, they have been sponsoring Paws for Patriots guide dogs for veterans through Southeastern Guide Dogs and have sponsored over 20 dogs to date. Presbyterian Women are providing meat and dessert. Those attending are asked to bring either a salad or vegetable according to the first initial of your last name (see invitation). For example, mine is R and I am to bring a vegetable. Due to our limited seating in Fellowship Hall, we are again giving out tickets when you sign up, which will start on April 29th. As they say, "no tickee, no eatee", so sign up early. On Monday, May 14, we will hold our last Council Meeting before a summer hiatus. This meeting will be followed by our Annual Installation Luncheon at Magnolia Landing. UPCOMING EVENTS: Dorcas Circle/Bible Study Wednesday, May 2 th 10 A.M. Mother's Day/Father's Day Dinner Friday, May 11 th 6 P.M. Council and Installation Luncheon Monday, May 14t h 10 A.M Janet Rivero
Page 4 May 2018 Music Department We are making plans for our summer choir which will be for the Sundays in June and July. Singers in the congregation, why not join the summer choir? Practices will be on Thursday s at 6:30 for just an hour, and our first practice will be on Thursday, May 31 st in the sanctuary. To join the summer choir, just come to sanctuary on any Thursday, 6:30, in June. By the way, reading music is not a requirement, and we would love for you to join our summer choir and/or regular choir. Blessings to all! Paul Brewer, Music Director Congratulations to Marley Jo who was confirmed during worship on April 22, 2018. May 13 th An Electronic Giving Option Is Now Available Benefits For You Convenience of Simplified Giving Eliminates writing Checks & Preparing Envelopes Eliminates need to remember to bring cash every Sunday Allows Your Donations to be Scheduled to Match Your Cash Flow Timing May 20 - Day of Pentecost How To Instructions on our Website (www.htpc-nfm.com) & on handouts in the Narthex! Committee Volunteers Needed The following Committees below need volunteers. Please contact the respective Chair of each. The church needs your participation. These committees meet once per month. Buildings & Grounds, 3rd Wed. @ 3:00 Chair, John Strickland, 239-410-1928, t28strickland@aol.com Christian Ed Committee, 1 st Thurs. @ 12:30 Vice Chair, Janet Daly, 239-567-2285, janetdaly@yahoo.com Communications Committee, 1 st Fri. @ 11 Chair, Jerry Strohmenger, 239-543-9828, jstrohme01@gmail.com Evangelism Committee, 1 st Mon. @ 1 Chair, Bev Smith, 239-7316577, blgianni@msn.com Finance Committee, 1 st Thurs. @ 9:30 Chair, Pat Colucci, 239-567-4128, spcolucci@gmail.com
Page 5 May 2018 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION The Christian Education Committee may be offering a three week study on May 6,13 and 20 th. Please join us on Sunday mornings from 9:35am to 10:15am in Room 4. Watch the Bulletin on Sunday morning for an announcement about this class. The Christian Education Committee is looking for new members to join our Committee, and you don t even have to teach a class! We are always open to suggestions for an adult study from anyone in the congregation. Please think about what kind of class or subject would entice you to come to a study on Sunday morning, and let us know. If you would like to join the Christian Education Committee or offer your ideas, please see me or Committee members: Janet Rivero, Jane Robinson or Wilma Jenkins. We meet on the first Thursday of the month at 12:30pm in Room 4. We d love to have you join us. Janet Daly, Vice-Chair Missions Our Mission Committee is happy to invite you to join us for an informative tour and shopping at the Beacon of Hope on Pine Island. The date of our tour is Tuesday, May 1st. Information and a sign-up sheet will be provided. We have found this organization to be highly efficient with the use of volunteers to meet the needs of many residents. In other business items, checks will be sent to Hearts and Homes for veterans and to ECHO, as we continue to support these organizations. Larry Raber, Chair CHURCHES VISITED I recently found three church bulletins in our Churches Visited box. They were all from Ruth & Terry Rickard. The first was dated May 28, 2017 from St. Thomas Church, Bernville, PA. Among other things, they were celebrating Memorial Day and preparing for a Vacation Bible Study for the coming summer. They also attended services at St. Thomas Church on June 4, 2017. On June 25, 2017, they visited Bethel United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. Their vision statement was, Making Christ s love the center of our praise, teaching, fellowship and service. Thank you for thinking of us. Barbara Nase Fellowship Fellowship will be honoring Mothers and Daughters on Sunday, May 13 th. We are considering a Potluck Picnic in the summer. Fellowship welcomes anyone who would like to join our committee. The planning is a lot of fun!! Jane Robinson & Nancy Rad, Co-chairs
Page 6 May 2018 EVANGELISM 67 First Time Visitor Packets were given out as of April 15, 2018. Many visitors have come into our church after viewing our Sign. The final dates for portrait pictures were taken and given to those who had their portraits taken. The next step is to submit the names of all the Members and Non-Members of Holy Trinity to LifeTouch. After the first draft is proof read the final Directory will be delivered to Holy Trinity, and will be ready to distribute to those who had their portraits taken. Membership Matters Class will be offered for three consecutive sessions beginning on April 29, 2018 between the two services at 9:35to 10:15 A.M. Invitation letters have gone out to Non Members in April so that they may sign up to join Holy Trinity. Those interested in becoming a member of Holy Trinity can contact Joyce at the church office, the Evangelism Chairman, or by signing your name on the Sign-Up Sheet provided in the Narthex. A discussion arose at our April meeting about having an event during the summer months that the congregation could attend, and bring their friends and/or neighbors, as a fellowship and an outreach project. Watch for further announcements from the pulpit or by the June Messenger. Beverly Smith, Chair FINANCE Our finances including income and expenses are on target through March. Our income for March was $24,157.18 and our expenses $22,625.65 leaving a surplus for the month of $1,531.53. The small monthly surpluses during season will help us through the summer months meet our expenses and when our attendance is down. HELP, HELP, YOUR CHURCH NEEDS YOU!!! The Finance Committee is tasked with counting and recording Sunday s collections. We have two teams but are finding that we need additional members to become trained. The only requirement is that you have been a member of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church for 6 months. Counting usually occurs on Monday mornings and is completed in several hours. The teams alternate Monday s so no one team counts every week. If you can only be an alternate and count when a team is short that is ok too. Please consider volunteering your time - HELP is needed. Contact me Pat Colucci via e-mail or phone spcolucci@gmail.com or 239-567-4128 or Richard (Mac) MacAllister akmacallister@yahoo.com or 239-731- 6874. Also, planning for the Fall Stewardship Campaign is fast approaching. The Finance Committee is seeking members of Holy Trinity to serve on a sub-committee to develop a plan and all details needed for this campaign. Our work will start in May and go through early November. Please consider serving your church in whatever little way you can. Contact me or any member of the Finance Committee. Again, thank you for your continued support to Holy Trinity. Pat Colucci, Chair
Page 7 May 2018 HOLY TRINITY EVENTS CALENDAR May 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 6 Communion Sunday 7:30 AM Praise Team Rehearsal in Sanctuary 8:30 AM Contemporary SVC 9:35 AM Adult Bible Study in Rm 4 9:35 AM Youth/Child Bible Study CR3 10:30 AM Traditional SVC 7 1:00 PM Evangelism in CR4 1 10:00 AM PNC (Search Committee) CR4 8 1:00 PM Session Meeting Mission Trip to Beacon of Hope 2 10:00 AM Dorcas Circle in CR4 3 9:30 AM Finance 12:30 PM Christian Ed in CR4 9 10 4 9:00 AM Men's Breakfast in FH 11:00 AM Communications - R2 11 6:00 PM Mother's/ Father's Day Dinner in FH 5 12 13 Mother's Day 7:30 AM Praise Team Rehearsal in Sanctuary 8:30 AM Contemporary SVC 9:35 AM Adult Bible Study in Rm 4 9:35 AM Youth/Child Bible Study CR3 10:30 AM Traditional SVC 14 10:00 AM PW Council in CR4, Lunch @ Mag. Landing 15 Messenger Articles Due 16 3:00 PM Bldg & Grnds CR4 17 18 19 20 Pentecost 7:30 AM Praise Team Rehearsal in Sanctuary 8:30 AM Contemporary SVC 9:35 AM Adult Bible Study in Rm 4 9:35 AM Youth/Child Bible Study CR3 10:30 AM Traditional SVC 21 22 1:30 PM Care Angels CR2 2:00 PM Deacons CR4 2:30 PM Congreg. Care CR4 23 1:30 PM Missions 24 3:00 PM Worship in CR4 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Trinity Sunday 7:30 AM Praise Team Rehearsal in Sanctuary 8:30 AM Contemporary SVC 9:35 AM Adult Bible Study in Rm 4 9:35 AM Youth/Child Bible Study CR3 10:30 AM Traditional SVC
Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church 19251 North Tamiami Trail North Fort Myers, FL 33903 Phone: 239-567-2246 E-Mail: admin@htpc-nfm.com Website: www.htpc-nfm.com NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID FORT MYERS, FL PERMIT NO. 67 Living for Christ through Contemporary Service Adult Bible Study Traditional Service Sunday Schedule 8:30 A.M. 9:35-10:15 A.M. 10:30 A.M. May Men s Breakfast - Friday, May 4 th Service of Holy Communion Sunday, May 6 th Mother s & Father s Day Dinner May 11 th @ 6:00 P.M. Mother s Day Sunday, May 13th Messenger Deadline Tuesday, May 15 th Pentecost Sunday May 20th Wear Something Red Trinity Sunday-May 27 th Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church would like to remind everyone of our Church Web Site, www.htpc-nfm.com. You will find most of our Pastor s recent sermons there and also find it interesting to listen to them once again in a quiet and peaceful setting. Also, you are invited to visit us on Facebook.