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Trinity Trumpet July
2020
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In this issue: Worship Series: Beguiled By Beauty, Virtual Worship and Adult Ed, Messages about Mission and Continued Support of Trinity,
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New Worship Series:
Beguiled by Beauty
Contemplating Creation and Cultivating Compassion
For weeks, now, our eyes have been transfixed by so much ugliness in the world. Even in the much needed struggle to heal and transform, it is vital to readjust our gaze, to re-energize our spirits and renew our sense of connection to the earth which bind us to God and to one another. This worship series provides the opportunity to slow down, to look around and reconnect with the Source of our power and our love.
Photo by: Barbara Struthers
Series Inspired by: Dr. Marcia McFee, Worship Design Studio
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Week 1 - June 28 Contemplating Creation and Cultivating Home
Week 2 - July 5 Contemplating Creation and Cultivating Joy
[have a glass of water on hand]
Week 3 - July 12 Contemplating Creation and Cultivating Justice
Week 4 - July 19 Contemplating Creation and Cultivating Change
Week 5 - July 26 Contemplating Creation and Cultivating Compassion
Week 6 - Aug 2 Contemplating Creation and Cultivating Gratefulness
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Virtual Worship Login Information
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
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Dear Trinity - What a strange season we are living in. And yet, we are able to discern gifts even in the midst of it.
There is a committee named by the Council that is studying options and creating a plan to present for re-opening in person worship in the not too distant future.
This is not as easy as it sounds. We are gathering best practices and medical recommendations from the CDC and other Conferences and congregations. We are attending webinars presented by the national UCC. We are attempting to balance safety with what it takes to preserve the integrity of worship. Many are eager to return to our space and yet we do not want to leave our expanded virtual worshipers behind.
As the twists and turns of life with this virus continue to confound us, we are seeking a way forward that is responsible to ALL whom are in our care. We also have an eye to what other denominations around us are doing. The Unitarians in Illinois have decided they are not discussing opening for in-person worship until 2021. McCormick Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) in Chicago has just announced that its entire fall semester will be online only.
I share this prayer offered by McCormick's President in his announcement:
"O God, who hast bound us together in this bundle of life, give us grace to understand how our lives depend upon the courage, industry, honesty and integrity of our fellow humans that we may be faithful in our responsibilities to them." -
Reinhold Niebuhr
God's Peace, Pastor Dale
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Thursday A.M. Bible Study Will Continue
The group voted to forego our normal "summer hiatus" for the time being. Join us on Thursdays at 10 AM.
Here is the Bible Study Link:
OR Phone 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 420 990 480
Password: 760760
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Shared in Worship June 28: From Barbara Struthers - Wildcat Lake, Presque Isle, WI
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"Seek wonder in the ordinary and miracles will happen that you cannot explain." -
Sarah N. Rand
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For your Musical Reflection
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The Illinois Conference Welcomes The Reverend Molly Carlson
as our New Conference Minister!
A graduate of The College of Wooster with a BA in mathematics and Pacific School of Religion with a Masters of Divinity, Rev. Carlson brings a wide range of experience to the position of Conference Minister. She has been ordained within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for 19 years and has held Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing with the United Church of Christ for the last 8. Molly's service in a variety of contexts,including local, regional, and national settings of the church, has taken her to Indiana, California, South Dakota, Oregon, and Tennessee. She has served as an interim minister, church planter, solo pastor, head of staff, and church consultant.
Currently, Rev. Carlson is serving as Intentional Interim Minister at Eastwood Christian Church in Nashville, TN, after completing her term as Designated Term Conference Minister for the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ. Molly's commitment to lifelong learning is evidenced by her recent training as a professional coach, as well as with The Art of Hosting. She also completed all the requirements toward her DMin at Lexington Theological Seminary, including a final project titled "Creating Church in a Postmodern Context."
The following statement from Rev. Carlson's ministerial profile speaks to the passion she brings to her work:
I have a passion for middle-judicatory ministry. It is the big picture and the details. It is leadership and community building. It is networking and recruiting. It is conflict management and corporate celebration. It is administration and proclamation. It is fundraising and event planning. It is being a pastor to pastors and their families. It is supporting congregations in transition. It is equipping congregations to do more together than they can do alone. It is building a community of faith that celebrates, grieves, supports, encourages, and learns from one another. [...] I believe there is an urgent need for the progressive church and the good news of Jesus Christ for this time and place - in every church, in every community, in each and every one of our neighbors.
Molly grew up as a preacher's kid in Northwest Indiana. She stayed in the Great Lakes Region for college, followed by a management role with Ameritech (now AT&T). She and Michael have been married for 23 years and are proud parents to teenagers Sierra and Adam. They have three dogs, a whole lot of books, and are looking forward to making a home once again near the Great Lakes.
Rev. Carlson was recommended to the Illinois Conference Personnel Committee and then the Conference Council by the Conference Minister Search Committee after a nationwide search that included a pool of several exceptional candidates. Molly's election by the delegates of the Illinois Conference at the Annual Meeting (held virtually via YouTube, Zoom, and SurveyMonkey), was culminated today, Saturday, June 27
th
, with a 99% affirmative vote. We are excited that Molly will be able to start her ministry in the Illinois Conference on August 1
st
, and we look forward to partnering with her as we move forward together as the Illinois Conference!
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A Message from Roger Dart on Mission
What do you mean it's almost July!
Despite our rather short leash, your Mission Core teams are not sitting still. If you have the opportunity, drive through the church campus and see the new pollinator garden that has been planted in the yard where the big pine tree was removed.
The Love of Creation team shouts out a big "Thank you!" to Val Lemme for her landscaping design skills, as well as her 'green thumb'! As a result of her work we will soon provide a place for the vitally-needed populations of bees and butterflies to grab some pollen-rich lunch. You, in turn, will benefit by enjoying not only the new flowers, but some delicious honey made by those very busy bees.
Just as the bees need flowers, our Deerfield Pantry staff expressed their great delight when I called and told them our our plan to concentrate our donations in the form of basic household paper products. Our Love of Neighbor team asks that instead of collecting our donations at the church, we drop them off directly at the Pantry. That can be done most weekdays between 9 AM and Noon, or 1:30 and 4 PM.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on one of our outreach activities, in particular, The Deerfield Farmer's Market and the Gleanings Project of Religious Leaders United (RLU), the ecumenical clergy group in which Trinity participates.
The market has been relocated and reconfigured to allow it to function within the guidelines set by our governmental health agencies. Reacting to the significant risks of exposure to the virus, One Deerfield Place has asked that we not bring any of the market produce to their facility. Therefore, the RLU Gleanings team has chosen to
keep the project alive, but limit our efforts to serving only those who can come to our booth at the market. We need one or two people to help out on two or three Saturdays from 11:30 to 1:15. The calendar is open, so pick a date that fits your schedule. Please contact me at [email protected] or 847-274-2626.
Our Love of Children team is considering how best to present the curriculum to our young people based on whether we will reopen our buildings or remain in 'virtual' status.
Despite all of the obstacles that our world has tossed in their way, Pastor Dale has kept our confirmands busy! Thank you Pastor Dale, and thank you, students!
Roger Dart
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Continuing to support Trinity in this time of social distancing
Though we are not able to gather as a congregation, the important work of Trinity continues. Since we are not gathering for worship in-person (for the time being), we are missing the opportunity to share our gifts to support our church during worship. Yet the costs of operating the church and supporting our mission continue. We hope that members will continue their planned giving as they are able.
Gifts in the form of paper checks can be mailed directly to the church. As a reminder, our address is:
Trinity United Church of Christ
760 North Avenue
Deerfield, IL 60015
Alternatively, members who use electronic banking services from their banks may want to consider using those services for gifts to Trinity. The same information shown above can be used to set up Trinity as a "Payee" in those banking services. Some banks require that an "Account ID" be provided when establishing a Payee. If that's the case, either an envelope number or member's last name will generally serve that purpose. Regardless of whether a payment comes with an Account ID or not, we will credit the contribution based on the name of the account holder.
The features of electronic banking vary somewhat across institution. Some services allow customers to schedule regular payments, avoiding the need to make an entry into the system for each contribution. Scheduled payments can generally be changed or halted at any time.
Thanks to the members who provided financial support to Trinity during these strange times. Though contributions received have been less than our budgeted amount for this time of year, many people continued giving using methods like the ones outlined here. Your ongoing gifts are helping us carry on!
Scott Peterson
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Please note that the church office is closed, but Lisa is working from home, and regularly checking Trinity's email: [email protected]
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