|
Trinity Trumpet October 2020
|
|
In this issue: Fall Worship Series, Virtual Worship login info, Thursday morning and Wednesday evening (new) Adult Ed info, For Your Prayerful Reflection, Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition Charity Walk info, For Your Faithful Civic Reflection, Mission Core Report, For Your Musical Reflection.
|
|
FALL WORSHIP SERIES: GOD IS HOLDING YOUR LIFE
In this series, we find relief from the worry, anxiety and distress that life can bring and let Holy Assurance hold us fast.
September 13 Being Held by Forgiveness (Communion Service)
September 20 Being Held by Generosity
September 27 Being Held by Humility
October 4 Being Held by "Rightness"(World Communion Sunday) Please have a communion cloth, bread, object, picture or wear something that represents another country.
October 11 Being Held by Peace
October 18 Being Held by Presence
|
|
Virtual Worship Login Information
Sunday, 10:00 AM
To Dial In by Phone Only 1 (312) 626-6799 ID 534-284-7861
Participant ID (Not required. None provided)
"Otherwise just press #"
Meeting Password [new requirement] 760760
|
Join us for Bible Study on Thursday mornings at 10 A.M.
We are reading Exodus.
(Don't worry if you can't find your Bible - we'll share the readings online!)
Here is the Bible Study Link: OR Phone 1-312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 420 990 480 Password: 760760
|
|
FOR YOUR PRAYERFUL REFLECTION
Last week while on Facebook, I saw this Post from a woman who was my high school debate partner in Oshkosh, WI. Deb is now a nurse, and this was from a colleague of hers:
Posted by Karen Hartz:
I am an ICU nurse at one of our hospitals in Oshkosh.The past 2 weeks we have seen a huge increase of admissions due to Covid! These are not just your 80 plus year olds with known health issues. I have seen 45-60 year olds coming in extremely ill, requiring the maximum amount of oxygen we can give them and still gasping for air. As recently as today we had 2 very ill patients flown in from smaller hospitals because they cannot help them. Between ICU units in Appleton, Neenah and Oshkosh we are almost reaching our capacity to care for these patients. Believe me this not a hoax or an overreaction to this virus. As someone who has been an ICU nurse for 40 plus years, this is the first time I am truly frightened about how the hospitals will be able to handle this crisis! Please follow the CDC guidelines.
As we have now passed the 6th month milestone, we have also passed 1,000,000 deaths from this pandemic worldwide. The end is not in sight. Our strength and endurance must persist. But we must pause, even in our weary disorientation, to grieve. I share this word from Rev. Maren Tirabassi -
"I am sorry for your loss"
(On the occasion of one million deaths from COVID-19)
These are the words that are never enough
and do not pretend to understand -
a verbal fingertip of tenderness
today offered to the world.
World, we are sorry for your loss
of a million smiles,
and a million memories,
and a million hopes for the future.
We are sorry for your loss
of stories that will never be told,
flowers never planted,
friends never made,
extraordinary gifts and simple kindnesses
that will not be received,
meals not shared; hugs not held.
We are sorry for our own loss
of a million people
whom we will never meet,
with whom we will not
laugh or cry, work or play,
argue or kiss,
and so many families and friends
to whom we will never be able
to offer our awkward words
and our inadequate but holy love.
God's Peace,
Pastor Dale
|
FROM SUSAN MARTERSDECK IN SUPPORT OF THE GREATER ILLINOIS PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE COALITION
(Susan's involvement was inspired by her infant daughter Laura and her 10 month struggle with cancer. She would have been 36 this year... Pastor Dale)
Hi my Trinity friends!
You may have seen my post on Facebook for the 2020 virtual Butterfly Run, Walk and Flutter. While the race itself is virtual, each team is encouraged to meet and celebrate, walk, talk and get together in their small groups. In the past there have been many, many teams each supporting a child, a family and a community joining together for one big race.
2020 asks us to gather in small groups and post videos and photos in support of the Greater Illinois Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition or GIPPCC
When: Saturday October 3 10:00am
Where: We will meet in the back courtyard of Trinity United Church of Christ at 760 North Ave Deerfield
Lots of parking and easy to stay a comfortable distance as we gather. I'll kick us off with a few words and my new bubble machine :) Wear a mask!
Our route is from the church to Prairie Wolf Slough which ends at Route 22 Half Day Road It is about 45 minutes each way. Good bird watching, mostly paved ( a little is gravel) We will take a path behind the high school and away from any traffic. About 4 miles round trip. You are welcome to walk as much or as little as you like. There will be a marker showing the half way point in case you want a shorter walk.
It is important to see the work that is being done and where the support is so dearly needed. If you'd like a copy of the report, please just let me know.
Let me know if you have questions or have any trouble with the website. I hope to see you on October 3! If you can't make it please consider a donation. And please feel free to share this note and invitation with anyone you think would be interested.
All my best,
Susan
Lara would be 36 on October 6th. She has certainly lead my life down a different path than I ever expected. All filled with love.
Just click on the link below and hit join team
|
|
New Wednesday Evening Adult Discussion
Weds. October 21 - November 11 7-8:15 PM
We will be discussing the book Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson.
I referred to this book in a sermon a few weeks ago and got affirmative responses for the desire to discuss it together. Please join us, and invite a friend. Contact me to register so that I can forward you the the Zoom link before the first meeting.
Plenty of time to order a copy and dig in!
Pastor Dale
|
|
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Later this month, Karen Kerschke will be mailing Giving Reports to every household that has donated financially to Trinity this year. Now that we are entering the 3rd quarter of this most unusual year, the Council thought it would be helpful for people to have an accounting of their giving to date. If there is an obvious discrepancy, please be in touch with Karen.
And as we have mentioned in prior communications, we are inviting any members that are able for an additional monthly gift, now through January, to help offset the impact of the Montessori school rent reduction as they are grappling with the reduced enrollment due to COVID-19. (For a more detailed discussion of the Montessori revised agreement, please see Scott Peterson's article in the September e-blast.) A gift of an additional $50 - $100 per household from just a few of us would erase the difference.
|
|
FOR YOUR FAITHFUL, CIVIC REFLECTION
SUPPRESSED (a documentary recommended by Barbara Struthers and Dixie Inman, from the UCC webinar series)
Over the years it has taken many forms, but voter suppression has existed since the nation's founding. The landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act was a significant step forward in addressing voter suppression and protecting the right to vote for all Americans.
In a 2013 Supreme Court decision, key provisions of the Voting Rights Act were gutted. Within hours of the decision, many states imposed severe restrictions on voting rights. "Suppressed: The Fight to Vote" is a documentary by Robert Greenwald that weaves together personal stories from voters across the state of Georgia to reveal the widespread voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election.
Join with Director of the UCC Washington DC Office, Sandy Sorensen and UCC International Policy Advocate, Katie Adams for this screening of Suppressed. The screening will conclude with an action plan for viewers to protect voting rights in the 2020 elections.
"Tuesdays for Nurture" is a Tuesday webinars series in which we faithfully focus on education for the people of God. Topics from faith-filled politics, to interviews of key leaders, to "how to's" in congregational life, to the impacts of current realities on the life of the church will be featured. Each webinar will include clear suggestions on what YOU can do to change the church, and the world, towards the world God imagines for us.
"Tuesdays for Nurture" and "Thursdays for the Soul" are offered by Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation and Justice and Local Church Ministries of the National Setting, United Church of Christ. |
|
(There are less than 40 days, but you can still act and pray...dse)
Forty Days
Pray. Act. Think of this as Lent.
There are 40 days to the election.
I invite you to consider this election season to be like Lent, a time of prayer and practice.
1) Pray daily for some specific issue or candidate.
Prayer takes many forms - I often think of Anne Lamott's triad: help, thanks, wow. This is a time for all three sorts of prayers.
Ask God for help if you are angry, afraid, despairing. Ask for help on behalf of others, intercede for specific issues and candidates. Honestly, the nation and the world are in a desperate state right now - don't hesitate to pray "help, help, help" on behalf of yourself, for all those who are fearful and suffering, and for the healing of the planet.
Find gratitude in the midst of it all - for truth tellers, activists, courageous voters, politicians who care about the common good, for those willing to take risks. For exhausted campaign workers, brave preachers, overworked parents. Say thank you to God, to the universe, to your friends and neighbors. Remember these words of Maya Angelou: "Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good."
Open yourself to awe - you're going to need the "wow" of birdsong and blue skies, of starry nights or laughing on zoom. Even now, especially now, praise is possible, and it is the song of life. Give yourself moments of wonder.
2) Take action every day.
Donate money, make calls, vote early, write postcards, encourage others, go to a Zoom rally, distribute signs. Light candles. Join a protest or vigil (safely, of course). Help others understand new voting procedures. Volunteer if you are to assist at the polls. Post smart, reliable information and important news stories on social media. Correct rumors and gossip. Be loud.
|
3) Pray. Act. Every day for forty days.
Your prayers needn't be dissertations or polished liturgies. Your actions needn't be earth-shattering. Heartfelt, even wordless, prayers speak magic into the universe. Small actions add up, daily acts compound goodness. Invite others to join you in these 40 days. |
|
Congregation Newsletter-November Election (From Harriet Dart)
Tuesday November 3, 2020, is the General Election.
You may cast your ballot in one of three ways:
1. In person on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020, a State Holiday in Illinois OR
2. In person through Early Voting at various places OR
3. By mail
You will find answers to many questions at the Illinois Board of Elections website:
From the toolbar across the top, in the upper left, open "Information for Voters"
There you can find things like locations drop boxes for mail-in votes if you don't want to use the USPS. If you select "Voting by Mail" and then "Who can vote a 'Vote by Mail' ballot?", you will find a document that includes information on how someone else can turn in a vote by mail ballot for someone else, for
example.
|
|
MISSION CORE REPORT
Reflecting our travel across the "Wilderness of COVID", the only small bright spot we can highlight for this month is the very nice gift of some Buttonbush plants to our landscape by the "Friends of the Chicago River".
Here's a condensed look at this plant from the Morton Arboretum.
Buttonbush is great shrub for naturalizing in wet areas. The glossy green leaves and fragrant, round flower clusters during mid-summer attract butterflies. Round, persistent fruits add to winter interest. Native to Chicago area and eastern U.S.
Botanical name:
Cephalanthus occidentalis
All common names:
Buttonbush
As you can see, it likes wet places for its' home, so we've got several spots where it will be most welcome, including (I think) as part of our butterfly garden. I tried to enlarge the picture, but was not successful, as the image is actually a link to the Arboretum's
web page.
All of which, despite our getting a bit tired of our "wilderness wandering", there are hopeful signs around us.
Roger Dart
|
|
FOR YOUR MUSICAL REFLECTION
|
|
Please note that the church office is closed, but Lisa is working from home, and regularly checking Trinity's email: [email protected]
|
|
