|
Trinity Trumpet February
, 2019
|
|
In this issue: A Message from the PastorS desk, a Message from Scott Peterson, Call Weekend Schedule, Adult Education, Upcoming Community Events, Memorial Gifts.
|
A Message From The PastorS Desk
We each wanted to share our thoughts and offer our thanks, so please accept these brief letters from "the pastors three" with our blessings.
From Susan:
Our time of "minding the gap" or as the interim's interim is coming to a close. What fun it has been! I know that after I retired from hospice work, I had a desire to sit quietly in the pew and be free of responsibility. That of course was not part of the plan. If God is in the details, then Trinity gave me the opportunity to dive into new details from preaching to Bible study, Trumpet articles, council meetings and getting to know all if you just a little bit more. It was 20 years ago the Trinity gave me the gift of an internship that turned into a friendship. It has been my pleasure of become a member about two years ago and then to step into a more active role in September. We will continue to see each other, I'll be sitting in my usual spot. God will decide what door to open next for me. And after a couple weeks in the sunshine, I'll be ready! Thanks for allowing me to be part of Trinity's transformation.
Peace and grace,
Susan
From Roger:
There are few occasions in life when opportunities of this kind present themselves.
When I handed my letter transferring my church membership to Trinity, I did so without knowing to what circumstances that membership would lead. Moving my membership to Trinity was easy as I had been acquainted with Pastor Susan for some twenty years and it filled my immediate need for a church membership in order to continue my serving as the Disaster Coordinator for the Illinois Conference.
With Pastor Susan's retirement came our need for an interim pastor, and I was most pleased to be considered for that need. I was equally pleased to serve my new church home as part of the transition team.
Then, unexpectedly, Interim Pastor Kent encountered the need for new medical treatment. Susan, Harriet and I were asked to serve Trinity in temporary pastoral service. I have also very much enjoyed being a part of the Pastoral Search Committee.
On a personal basis, this time has been most satisfying to me, and I hope for everyone else. Beyond being satisfying, I consider it a remarkable gift, for which I thank you.
We are indeed a group that is loving and welcoming.
Blessings,
Roger
From Harriet:
Thank you for your generous listening as I shared the pulpit with Susan and Roger during these past four months. I appreciate the support that I have received from Lisa and Evan on staff as well your own lay leadership, which continues to strengthen your church. I'm grateful for the many conversations I had with Scott, Todd, and Jen. It has been a privilege to lead worship and participate in Worship & Program and Council meetings. It was a joy to work with children, teachers, and staff for the Christmas pageant. I am still learning your names and expect to get to know you better in the months ahead as you welcome a new pastor.
After the Congregational Church in Deerfield had its deconsecrating service in March 2016, I needed a place of comfort for grieving the loss of my faith home. Susan's retirement was less than a year in the future. I was not ready to repeat the experience that comes with the transition in settled pastors. I needed a place to invest myself and I needed some time to rest on the edges before diving into the deep end. I also wanted faith community which focused on mission beyond its own walls; a church focused on justice and witness.
Under the leadership of its Transition Team and Rev. Kent Organ, Trinity United Church of Christ-Deerfield has become a different community from the TUCC that I experienced when I lost my own church community nearly three years ago. I have shared with you about my participation in Our Church's Wider Mission and the opportunities for Trinity members to participate in the wider church. My own activities will continue to take me to other houses of worship several Sundays each month:
- monthly pulpit supply at First Congregational Church in Waukegan
- Cluster one meets on the first Thursday each month
- Church and Ministry Team at Association level meets monthly on Thursday
- LEEAP (Local Evangelism Envisioning and Planting) at the Conference level
Blessing to each of you for the journey ahead,
Harriet
|
|
Message From Scott
A new year has begun. Advent marks the beginning of the church year and New Year's Day the beginning of our secular calendar. At Trinity, though, today feels like the eve of a new year. This weekend, we will meet to finalize a major "next step" in the life of our church: consideration of Dale Susan Edmonds as our next settled pastor. Hopefully you have seen the details of what promises to be a full and exciting weekend. It's not too late to participate - even if you haven't let us know your plans, you are welcome to attend.
It seems fitting that our regular Annual Meeting was last weekend. That weekend gave us a terrific opportunity to celebrate the hard work of the past year and to focus on the things that will continue into 2019. The key committees of Trinity prepared and presented reports of recent activities and plans for the coming year. The results produced by our members, as guided by our committees, is impressive! Thanks to all for your contributions of time and talents over the year.
We also reviewed financial results for 2018 and approved our operating budget for 2019. Our financials for 2018 produced a surplus - an excess of income over expenses - of nearly $20,000 for the year. Some of that is due to timing issues: we budgeted a significant amount for expenses related to our Pastor Search in 2018. However, most of those Search expenses will be incurred in 2019 rather than in 2018. Consequently, the actual search expenses were lower than budgeted in 2018. The unspent amounts have been put into the budget for the current year. The result is that our 2019 operating budget projects a deficit of about $6,800. Those search-related expenses are nonrecurring, rather than ongoing, costs. We have ample cash set aside to cover these one-time expenses. Overall, while we need to carefully manage our financial resources, Trinity's finances remain strong.
Thanks to all who made 2018 another successful year at Trinity. We look forward to beginning the next leg of our journey in the weeks and months to come!
Scott Peterson
|
Call Weekend
Please plan to join us on February 2 and 3 for our Call Weekend to consider the nomination of Reverend Dale Susan Edmonds as Trinity's next settled pastor. All members and friends are welcome. Our schedule is as follows:
February 2
10:00 -11:00 Meeting with Sunday School children and parents in the Sunday School room
11:00 - 2:00 Open house and Lunch in Woodvale Hall
6:00 Open house and Dinner in Woodvale Hall
February 3
10:00: Worship with Communion - Led by Pastor Dale
11:00: Congregational meeting. The meeting will begin with time for questions for Pastor Dale. Following that, she will be excused and there will be time for a discussion with members of the Pastor Search Committee. Finally, members of Trinity will be asked to formally vote by secret ballot on calling Rev. Dale Susan Edmonds as our next Pastor.
|
|
Adult Christian Education Continues
Please join us on Thursday mornings, at 10:30 am, in the Gathering Hall, as we view "Sustaining Creation" -- an 8 session series that guides Christians on a journey to a new understanding of our call to live sustainably with all of God's creation. Richly grounded in scripture, this series includes reflections, interviews with faith leaders, taps into the wisdom of noted authors, takes students on location to ponder the climate crisis, and includes discussion time to discern how God is calling us to respond. We look forward to seeing you there!
|
Mental Health First Aid
Kirsten Peachey and
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital will be hosting the Mental Health First Aid Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in its Health and Wellness Center at 3551 Highland Ave in Downers Grove, IL. This workshop comes fromthe effort to energize UCC congregations in support of mentally ill people in their midst. The 2015 General Synod overwhelmingly adopted a resolution to develop a network of churches that are welcoming, inclusive, supportive and engaged (WISE) for mental health. Contact Harriet Dart for more information.
|
2019 Pathways to Justice Conference
Take Action using Restorative Justice and the U.N Charter of Human Rights
Join us for a day of inspiration, fellowship, and activism
Saturday, March 2, 2019
9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Continental Breakfast at 9 am, lunch provided
McCormick Theological Seminary
5460 S. University Avenue, Chicago 60615
Organized by the Justice and Witness Committee
Chicago Metropolitan Association of the United Church of Christ
|
SAVE THE DATE
Did you know that many of our hymns come from the early American tradition of shape note singing?
First Presbyterian Church in Deerfield has invited Anne Heider, a Chicago performer and educator, to lead a Sacred Harp Singing School for the Deerfield community on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The event will be an opportunity for everyone to participate in this robust four part a capella singing.
The plan is to have coffee/tea/pastries/etc. available starting at 9:00am, with the singing school to begin at 9:30am, have a break mid-morning, and end at noon. There is no charge. For more details contact Harriet Dart or check out www.fasola.org.
|
Trinity has received the following memorial gift:
In memory of: Laurie Kidder Maddox Given by: The Kidder Family |
|
