February 2020
Faith
Is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Quarterly publication of Trinity Ecumenical Parish
40 Lakemount Drive 540-721-4330 - [email protected] Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia www.trinityecumenical.org 2
June 2019
Together in Christ
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Trinity Ecumenical Parish We are Loving, Serving, Learning, and What’s in a name? Growing Together in Christ! Trinity Loving There is one God; three persons - Father, Son and Holy I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just Spirit. as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this We are one church; three expressions, Episcopal, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love Lutheran, and Presbyterian. for one another." John 13:34-35 One God + One church = One joyous life together! Serving Ecumenical Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one Promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian another with whatever gift each of you has received. churches. 1 Peter 4:10 We are what our name implies; a church that seeks Learning unity among various traditions – not division. "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy Parish burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and Denotes a church that serves a large area. learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you People drive to Trinity from all over the region; some will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 from over an hour away, all who desire to worship Growing and serve together in this unique Christian setting. We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1: 2-3
3 Pray Daily
By Pastor Philip Bouknight
In 2020 we are committing to the following disciplines Section One of faith: Our Father in heaven, 1. Pray Daily Hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, 2. Worship Weekly Your will be done, 3. Read the Bible and engage in study on earth as in heaven. 4. Develop faith filled relationships Section Two Give us today our daily bread, 5. Serve within and outside the church Forgive us our sins as we forgive 6. Support the mission of the church through those who sin against us. spiritual and financial gifts Save us from the time of trial, And deliver us from evil. Michael Foss, Senior Pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minnesota Our Father in Heaven If we study the Lord’s Prayer as a model for our prayer Pray Daily life, then its introduction becomes incredibly important. the First Discipline Not only is the Lord’s Prayer a guide for developing our own private prayers, it was intended to be spoken The first discipline in our 2020 focus on faith is to pray communally. Jesus does not begin by saying my Father. daily. We hope that this article on the Lord’s Prayer helps you as you develop this discipline. The Our Father (commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer”) has its roots in two separate gospel accounts. The fullest account of the prayer is presented in Matthew 6:9-13. The larger context of the prayer for Matthew is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer appears in chapter eleven and is the direct response to a disciple’s request. The disciples had observed Jesus praying. It was the custom for great teachers to summarize their entire ministry in a pedagogical way through prayer. The prayer served as a primer and provided an easy way for followers to remember the teacher’s entire message. The disciples wanted such a prayer from Jesus. The Lord’s Prayer contains two sections. The first is dedicated solely to God. The second deals with God’s provision for us and by extension, all that he has made.
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He says our Father. Though a personal relationship is its roots in Old English and means to set aside as holy. important, one may never separate oneself from the Within the context of the Lord’s Prayer, it means “May community that gathers to worship. We share a common your Name be kept holy.” To hallow God’s name is to heritage and our inheritance is shared as well. We stand recognize God’s sovereignty. His is the name which is together with one voice irregardless of human above every name and before Him every knee shall bow. distinctions made for personal identity. This is our Father, (Philippians 2:9, Romans 14:11) There are many names whether we be man, woman or child. This is our Father of God within the scriptures. Jesus now gives us a new irrespective of the color of our skin. This is our Father, one, Father. Therefore, hallowing the Name is uniquely irrespective of the language we speak, the money we tied to celebrating our relationship with God as Father. make, or the position we hold. He is ours and we are It is a term of respect and honor and when we hallow His. God’s name, we are cherishing our relationship with The word father can carry with it a number of God through Christ. connotations. Every person has had their own unique experience with a father. Some of those experiences are Your kingdom come wonderful and loving, filled with mutual respect. Some The disciples lived in a time and a place where king and are harmful and abusive, fraught with power and kingdom imagery made sense. They were familiar with domination. Some are nonexistent. Often, a negative these power structures and the struggles that were often experience with our earthly father hinders us in seen between kingdoms. As we study Jesus’ prayer, it is approaching God as Father. At best, our earthly helpful to remember that God did not desire the relationships as parent and child should resemble the presence of kings, His people did. When we remember love, mercy, and compassion shown to us by our Father Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on what we in heaven. Since we are all sinful creatures, we fall short, celebrate as Palm Sunday, we see a crowd looking for for only our Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) another earthly king. The disciples themselves looked Nevertheless, our relationship with our heavenly Father for a similar form of rule. Jesus finds himself before is one of grace, mercy, and love. Positive earthly Pilate answering questions of authority and rule. Read examples only illumine God’s love, enabling us to John 18:33-38. Only on the other side of the cross, does glimpse the reality that is ours in Christ. the establishment of a new kind of kingdom make Addressing God as the Father in heaven can conjure up sense. Now we must not assume that the kingdom of ideas of distance and complacency. In this prayer we God rests on our request. God’s kingdom will come struggle with one of the many scandalous ideas of whether we ask for it or not. What we are asking when salvation. God is simultaneously near and far. The God we say “Your kingdom come” is that God’s kingdom who is written upon our hearts and whose Spirit dwells would come into our lives. We are asking for assistance within us, the God who is with us always, even until the so that we might desire His rule and authority over our end of the age is the same God who sits enthroned in own need for power. We are very busy building our own heaven. To address God as the God in heaven is to kingdoms. We fence in our yards, mark our territory, and recognize His sovereignty. It immediately calls us to claim land and property as our own. In reality, we own remember that the circumstances of life on earth are nothing. No property is ours. Neither is the money used vastly different than that of heaven. It carries us through to purchase it. Everything belongs to God. We are the circumstances of this life, pointing us to that which merely stewards of His creation. Praying for God’s is yet to come. Each person has their own “picture” of kingdom invites us to relinquish our selfish pursuits so heaven. Whatever heaven is, it is where God sits that we might see the in-breaking of the Kingdom of enthroned. It is the place where His rule and His God here and now. authority govern every aspect of life and all is in concord with Him. At best, we may point to the life and Your will be done ministry of Christ and describe what heaven is like. By Praying for God’s will is the same as praying for His contrast, we can look at a world of suffering and death kingdom. God’s will will be done whether we pray for it and state what heaven is not. or not. We may not glimpse the intricacies of His will in everyday events, but ultimately there will be an end to Hallowed be Your name disease, death, poverty, and selfishness. If we want to Often the Church uses language that is foreign to our glimpse God’s will, we need look no further than the culture. Such is the case with the verb to hallow. It has cross. God was willing to come as we are, suffer, die,
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and be raised so that His kingdom would come into our sustain life. Jesus teaches us at this point to focus on our lives. Often our will gets in the way because we turn our needs. Not only does he narrow our focus in this way, eyes from His kingdom to our own. Praying for God’s he connects it to a request for daily sustenance. There is will to be done means that we ask ourselves how each no need to be concerned about tomorrow. For more on action brings the kingdom of God to the world we this, read Luke 12:22-31. serve. If it does not promote His kingdom, then it is Again, as in the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer, we are most likely our will instead of His. directed to think communally. Jesus did not say “Give me today my daily bread.” He said, “Give us today our On earth as in heaven daily bread.” We pray for the community of which we God’s will is performed and His kingdom reigns fully in are a part. Consequently, when we focus on our desires; heaven. Again, we pray for His will and His kingdom to when we take more bread than we need for today, come into our lives now as it already is in heaven. Each someone somewhere else in the world goes without day gives us an opportunity to take on more of God’s bread. Our actions have consequences. Selfishness nature than our own. Each move toward His will and destroys community and it also destroys God’s order for His kingdom brings us closer to what we will receive in the world. Furthermore, if we have been given more eternal life. bread than we need, then it is not our right but our duty to share it with the world. Give us today our daily bread Forgive us our sins as we forgive At this point in the prayer, we move from a focus on praising God to petitions for our needs. It is necessary those who sin against us at this point to distinguish between needs and wants. At this point in the prayer we have disagreement Often, we blur the line between the two. Our desires are between faith communities concerning the word sin. spoken of as needs. How many times have I been in the Some traditions pray “Forgive us our debts as we grocery store and watched as a child reached over to forgive our debtors.” Others pray “Forgive us our grab toys or candy (conveniently placed at their level) trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” exclaiming “but mommy, I need it!” The child is merely Notice that in every instance, it is still “us” that we are expressing the adult trait of desire. praying for instead of “me”. We have a communal right Unfortunately, our petitions of God are overcome by to guide and keep one another from sin. No one person statements of desire rather than fulfillment of needs. is alone in their walk. We bear one another’s burdens. What are our needs: food, water, clothing, shelter, and (Galatians 6:2) No sin affects the individual alone. warmth? Needs are those things which are necessary to Rather, each act of selfishness impacts the life of (Continued on page 6)
6 others. Matthew uses the word debts but then Kingdom He brings. The uncomfortable side of this immediately switches to the word trespass after the end coin is that all sin and selfishness is understood as a of the Lord’s Prayer. Luke speaks of sin and then in the form of evil. As we pray that we would not be subject to same breath equates it to indebtedness. Sin is an the result of another’s sin, we should also pray that God overarching term that encompasses the meaning of all would deliver us from those places in our lives where we other translations of the word. Christ came to conquer have turned from Him. Our selfishness inflicts others. everything that exists apart from His kingdom and His God has already delivered us from the evil one. Through will. The new life given to us through Christ’s death and Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan no longer has any resurrection includes deliverance from our debt and our power over us. We belong to Christ and nothing can trespasses. separate us from His love. (Romans 8:38-39) As we are Jesus told a parable about one who desired forgiveness praying that God would deliver us from the evil one, we yet was not willing to grant it. Read Matthew 18:21-35. should also pray that God would keep our eyes turned toward Him and His kingdom rather than Satan and the This passage comes immediately after Jesus informs the disciples that he has granted them the power to bind or ways of the world. loose sins in His name. It is a very serious matter to refuse forgiveness. To that end, the Church has defined For thine is the kingdom and the repentance as an act where one is truly sorry, desires power and the glory forever never to repeat the infraction, and desires to turn away The Doxology is included in the protestant and non- from the lifestyle that caused the sin in the first place. Catholic traditions when saying the Lord’s prayer. We When such an effort is made, absolution should be have found inclusion of the Doxology in the Greek granted. After all, that is what we desire God to do for textus receptus and four Latin manuscripts of the us. The sharing of the peace was instituted within the scriptures but is not present in the vulgate, the service so that members of the worshiping community normative Latin text used by the Roman Church. could approach their brother or sister, whom they have Therefore, it was omitted from the Roman rite until hurt, and ask for forgiveness before they approach the Vatican II (1962-1965). Even then, it was not said as throne receiving forgiveness through the sacrament of part of the Lord’s Prayer but rather became the the altar — Holy Communion. concluding statement of the priest’s prayer following the Lord’s Prayer. The doxology was also included in the Save us from the time of trial and Didache, a catechism of the early church dating back to deliver us from evil the second century. Translation errors in this phrase have led to unneeded With the inclusion of the Doxology, the Lord’s Prayer angst over why God would lead someone into ends as it begins, with a statement of honor and praise. temptation. Correctly translated, what Jesus is asking is In our prayers, we may never forget that we are to desire that we would not be tested. This may seem like a minor God’s kingdom, God’s power, and God’s glory. Often distinction on the surface but testing one’s allegiance is our prayers include requests for our own kingdom, for altogether different than leading someone into a extensions to our own power and even that we might situation where they may be lost. receive the glory. It is our sin that makes us seek our At this point, it is helpful to make a distinction between own self aggrandizement. With this phrase, we yield not experiences that are trials and those which are not. to our selfish will but to the selfless will of God. His kingdom, His power, and His glory are eternal. Desiring Disease and death, though difficult, are not given as a test. No amount of faith will keep us from them. what is of God will always bring us what is best for ourselves. Neither is their presence a sign of the absence of God. This phrase of the Lord’s Prayer may be translated So, in conclusion, pray the Lord’s Prayer at home and in “Deliver us from the evil one” or “Deliver us from evil” worship, but use the Lord’s Prayer as a guide to shape with the latter referring to evil things. In respect to evil how you pray to God. You will find that this discipline things, requesting deliverance implies protection from turns you away from yourself and turns you toward the harmful acts of others. We hear reports every day of others and to God our Father who loves us so much such actions: murder, abuse, neglect, hatred, racism, etc. that he would give everything to claim us as his own. The list goes on and on and on. Evil can be defined as anything that has turned away from Christ and the
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One of the earliest records we have for what worship The prayer is printed here. looked like for the early Church was from Justin Martyr Eternal Spirit, in 150 CE. In the document entitled First Apology, Justin Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver, Martyr describes core elements of Christian worship: Source of all that is and that shall be, prayer, passing of the peace (they shared a “holy kiss”), Father and Mother of us all, the Eucharist/Communion, an offering for the needy, Loving God, in whom is heaven: and a discussion of scripture. In looking at our worship at Trinity, we see these elements still at the core of our The hallowing of your name echo through the universe; worship life. The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world;
nd Your heavenly will be done by all created beings; Of course, since the 2 century, how those elements Your commonwealth of peace and freedom have been presented has evolved in a myriad of ways. At sustain our hope and come on earth. Trinity, we are blessed to be able to experience the worship traditions of three denominations. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. During the month of March, I am being given some In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. flexibility when it comes to planning worship. I am From trial too great to endure, spare us. taking this opportunity to help us explore other From the grip of all that is evil, free us. iterations of worship elements than we might be used For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, to. now and forever. Amen. One of the elements that we’ll be participating in is If this version resonates with you, I invite you to “Thanksgiving of Baptism.” We will be doing this in implement it into your regular spiritual practices. the place of “Confession and Forgiveness.” The option for Thanksgiving for Baptism arose out of the There will be other elements, like new liturgical music or ecumenical recovery of baptismal practice and the hymns, that might be different to you. I would classic Lutheran understanding of confession as a appreciate your feedback on how you experienced the subspecies of baptismal renewal. Martin Luther framed new or different elements of worship. You’re welcome confession and forgiveness as a baptismal practice: to give me feedback either in person or via email. “Repentance, therefore, is nothing else than a return and Thank you in advance for being flexible in exploring approach to baptism” (LC, 4.79). what worship looks like for us as a community! We will also be using a different version of the Lord’s Prayer than the one to which we are familiar. An alternate version of the Lord’s Prayer is included within The New Zealand Book of Prayer (1989), which combines the traditions of the Anglican Church and the rich earth -based spirituality of the Maori and other Pacific Island cultures.
8 Global Partners
Update from Tanzania by Pidge Morgan
Dear Trinity Family, polygamous marriages, the HIV/Aids pandemic, and I would like to thank you, on behalf of our brothers and female genital mutilation. Many girls seek to be chosen sisters, for your contributions to The Alternative to live at Door of Hope, but space is limited such that Christmas Tree and Equal Exchange Coffee Project. we can only house 15 girls at one time. When girls come Your generosity allows us to continue to support our to Door of Hope they leave their families with the mission partners in Tanzania. In 2005 Parish Council understanding that they will not return home until they approved the request of the Global Partners Team to be complete their education. Parents who wish to see their in financial and spiritual partnership with Door of Hope daughters make arrangements to meet in Moshi Town, as Door of Hope is in an undisclosed location. All the Maasai Ministry and Hai Institute of Technology. In the 14 years of this partnership we have been able to send girls attend school either near the compound or at a well over $100,000.00 to these partnerships. boarding school once they reach the secondary level. Asante sana tena. (Thank you greatly, again). In the last several years there have been challenges at Door of Hope. Two devastating floods damaged the Hai Institute continues to grow and accept new students in the programs of auto mechanics, drafting, masonry, electrical installation, and basic computer technology. A grant was obtained from Environmental Resource Management to purchase and install solar panels for the boys’ and girls’ dormitories. Through creative management of solar energy, Hai is very close to being self-sufficient in its electrical needs. With no significant electric bill, Hai has been able to lower its tuition and accept more students. Peniel Shali, the founder of Hai, sends his thanks along with that of students who benefit from your generosity.
In 2005 I started a home for Maasai girls with Rev. Johnson Lyimo. Door of Hope is a gated compound Students from Machengo Secondary School with that creates a safe Christian environment for young girls Rev. Johnson Lyimo from the Maasai tribe to get them away from (Continued on page 9)
9 walls surrounding the compound and recently one of the areas of the wall that did not originally show damage is beginning to crumble. The chimney that vents the mama stove in the kitchen was damaged and had to be completely replaced. The roof of the cattle shelter began leaking and the once dry area became muddy and unsafe for the cows. The roof has been repaired and the floor cemented. In September Door of Hope was broken into and all the food was stolen. Thankfully no one was hurt. The thieves came in over the wall and broke into the storage area by using bolt cutters to cut the lock. The wall (except where the repair is taking place) is now 18 inches higher with spikes at the top as an additional safety precaution. In December another problem arose when the matron who cared for the girls went home for Christmas and did not return. Fortunately, the older girls were on their Pidge and the newest girls from Door of Hope holiday and were able to cook and care for the new little girls that arrived at Door of Hope in October. At this daughters. I will also spend time with Johnson and plan time Johnson has found a young couple with the desire the way forward for Door of Hope in the next decade. and ability to care for the girls and the cows. The There will be some special visitors to Door of Hope in husband will assume the position of night watchman 2020 and the rooms in the main house will be finished and do general maintenance of the compound. to accommodate them. I will be travelling to Tanzania on February 9 to address It is no secret that Tanzania has my heart. It is hard to some of the issues and make sure that work is being accomplish things from 8000 miles away and am done properly. I am not a construction engineer, but I thankful I can travel to Tanzania several times a year. I have been around long enough and have seen things am also blessed by your prayers when I travel and will done in Tanzania that are not cost effective. Johnson continue to do my job representing you in our mission understands that I represent this congregation and am in Tanzania. responsible for making sure your donations are spent Asante sana na Mungu awabariki sana, Thank you and wisely. These girls are my responsibility and their safety may God bless you greatly. and well being are very important. They are all my Pidge
Milestones in our Parish—November 2019 through January 2020
Births Ilmar Heinaru Barb Abell father of Linda Strup 23531 Myrtle Point Road Carter Colenda Lea California, Maryland 20619 granddaughter of Frank Lea Roland Schmitz brother of Ursula Grinde Barrett John Snyder Winn & Nancy Tennies Great-grandson of Ron & Nancy Agnes Carson 950 Willow Valley Lakes Snyder mother of Linda Leap Willow Street, Pennsylvania 17584 Deaths Mary Wiseman Parishioners who have 1633 Aquinas Court Morris Elliott moved Burlington, North Carolina 27215 father-in-law of Judy Elliott Frank Steckline Patricia Lenahan 200 The Glebe Sandee & Dick Burt parishioner Daleville, Virginia 24083 3201 Crescent Knoll Drive Matthews, North Carolina 28105 Wendy Charman sister-in-law of Anne Motley 10
A Simple Gesture Simply Put SML By Linda Strup
Sometimes a simple gesture on the part of one person can significantly affect the life of another person.
The concept is simple · Donors register and receive a reusable tote bag. · Once per quarter, donors fill their bag with non- perishable items from LCM’s Wish List. · On designated days, donors place their filled bags on their porch or deliver them to Trinity or another designated site. · Volunteer drivers pick up the bags, leaving a new bag and Wish List, and deliver the bags to LCM. · Students and other volunteers sort, weigh, and stock LCM’s pantry. · LCM distributes the food and pantry supplies to neighbors in need, sharing with other pantries if needed. In just over one year, A Simple Gesture SML has collected over 10,000 pounds of pantry products from 200+ donors! Jane Winters, Executive Director of LCM, says, “The provisions we receive from A Simple Gesture, especially toiletries and cleaning supplies, which are expensive to purchase, has saved LCM a considerable amount of money and enabled us to better serve our Neighbors in need.”
Most people have good intentions and want to help others but competing commitments, logistics, and forgetfulness often hinder completion. Because of these two truths, listed in the masthead and above, A Simple Gesture SML was launched in 2018 as a program of Lake Christian Ministries (LCM) to help neighbors in need. Similar grassroots, all-volunteer programs exist in over 80 communities around the country, but each is customized to serve local needs. In Trinity member, Richard Millar (center), assists with the addition to collecting necessary and often-requested pickup of donations. items, the programs also raise awareness of needs and promote community engagement. (Continued on page 11)
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Stewards of the Earth post “A challenger for Lent”
For example: course, items to sell at Trinity Treasures. When shopping groceries, bring a Will you accept this reusable tote or ask Franklin County no longer recycles challenge? for paper bags. plastic (or glass) as there is no Some Ways to Use Less Plastic* market for plastics at this time. Switch to a refillable water bottle Bedford residents are still able to instead of buying water in · Reuse and repurpose your recycle certain plastics items and individual plastic bottles. plastics. glass. Buy orange juice and other drinks · When offered a choice, select Plastics are filling our landfills and in a carton rather than a plastic paper, glass, or metal packaging. polluting our waterways and oceans. bottle. · Carry a travel mug. We must all do our share in Bring used egg cartons to church · Stop using plastic straws. preventing this! for reuse by LCM. Any cartons · Buy powdered detergent The Stewards of the Earth are LCM doesn’t need are given to local asking the congregation to farmers. Buy eggs in molded pulp (boxed). challenge ourselves in some small cartons rather than Styrofoam. way to use less plastic during Lent A big thank you to all who bring *Excerpted from “20 Ways to Use and to reuse or recycle where we your pill bottles for reuse by Less Plastic,” Sierra Club, with can. veterinarian Dr. Luke, who permission. Could you, in the 40 days of Lent, appreciates your help. We also select one or two ways to use less thank those who bring in eyeglasses, plastic? aluminum cans, pop-tops, and of
Local Statistics Pickup Schedule and Wish Lists for 2020 According to Feeding America statistics (2017), 10.1% Friday, March 6: canned applesauce, peaches, of Franklin County residents, 8.2% of Bedford County pears, and mandarin oranges residents, and 12.4% of Pittsylvania County residents Friday, June 12: shampoo, soap, deodorant, suffer from food insecurity. Sadly, the poverty rate toothpaste, and toothbrushes (defined as having an annual income at or below $28,290 for a family of four) for all three counties has Friday, August 7: canned green beans, corn, and risen over the past decade. carrots Trinity has supported A Simple Gesture since its Friday, October 6: laundry detergent (40 oz. or inception. To register, please pick up a registration less) and dishwashing liquid card on the information wall or email Linda Strup, Program Coordinator, at [email protected].
12 Trinity Parish Library
By The Adult Christian Education Team
Are you aware of the wealth of information we have in our three libraries? There are over 1,800 books and DVDs available for you to check out, and we have an online search tool to assist in finding the right book. The books are arranged by Dewey Decimal Number, and major subject/section headings are on the shelves. While there is a large selection, the libraries are small enough to just come in and browse for something that interests you. We are continuously adding new books and DVDs and are happy to receive book donations and suggestions. Come and see! The Adult Christian Ed. Team
The Main Library is off the Fellowship Hall. It contains one copy of most books and DVDs tagged "Member". The classroom "Adult B" library, in the main hallway, contains additional copies of books which might be used for a small book discussion group. The parish office library contains books and DVDs purchased by Adult Christian Ed Committee for those interested in leading a class. Please fill in a checkout card when taking a book, and try to return the book within one month.
The library catalog is available online via TinyCat. Using your computer, tablet or cellphone, navigate to www.librarycat.org/lib/TEPResources (add to favorites for easy future access). A link to the search site is also listed on the parish website. Enter a topic, author, title, etc. into the search bar. From the results, select an item to get book summary, reviews, and the Dewey Decimal number needed to find the book on the shelves. We do not have e-books at this time. Screen shot from search website.
13 Trinity Endowment Challenge By Rich Cairns
The Endowment Fund Trinity as a partial or total beneficiary of an IRA, insurance policy, mutual fund or CD (payable on death). Trinity’s Endowment Fund was established twenty years ago to receive donations, gifts, grants and bequests into Regardless of how Endowment contributions are made, a permanent fund to support the ministry of the parish, these gifts are a win-win for ministry because as the including such things as: fund grows, it generates greater income that is available to support ministry; and even after expenditures, the à Capital expenditures such as major building principal is preserved in order to generate more income renovations, additions or repairs, parking lot for ministry in the future. Gifts to the Endowment are improvements/maintenance, or purchases of truly living legacies. furniture, equipment or vehicles; Take the Trinity Endowment Challenge à Establishment/improvement of church programs at Trinity; If every member of Trinity were to bequeath a percentage of their estates to the Endowment Fund or à Support of Trinity’s outreach and missionary programs. name Trinity as a partial beneficiary of an IRA, insurance policy, mutual fund or CD, think of how our A key feature of the Endowment is that it is a perpetual collective gifts would be multiplied year-after-year in fund designed to enhance Trinity’s ministry. It is not furtherance of God’s kingdom here at Trinity, the intended or authorized to support the regular operating community and beyond. Let your legacy live on here at budget. Instead, the fund is designed to live on as long Trinity. as Trinity exists, and the principal is to be preserved so that the fund will continue to grow. The principal If you would like to talk about how to support our cannot be spent--only income or net asset appreciation Endowment, feel free to contact one of the trustees are available to support ministry. listed above or one of the receiving treasurers--Rich Cairns, Joe Vipperman or Tom Strup. If you want to The Endowment Fund is managed by three trustees-- give to the Endowment, it is an easy process to make Dave Bowen, Bo King and Carl Oosterman—each simple and inexpensive changes to your will/trust or to appointed for 5-year terms by the parish council and change the beneficiary designation of an IRA, insurance each representing one of the three congregations. policy, mutual fund or CD. You’re encouraged to Currently, the assets of the Endowment Fund are consult your lawyer or financial advisor while it is on invested in a conservative balanced mutual fund valued your mind. Even though it is easy to put off such at $170,000. matters, think of the legacy your participation in this Over the years, Trinity members have bequeathed Endowment challenge will bestow in the future. money, stocks or assets from their estates to the PS: Please inform your trustees or treasurers if you Endowment Fund, thus ensuring their gifts will have included the Endowment in your will, trust, continue to grow and serve our Lord through the insurance policy, mutual fund or CD so we can add your ministry of the church for years to come. Additionally, name to the growing confidential list of legacy-makers, some parishioners give special contributions to the thus ensuring your gift will be received into the Endowment Fund in memory of loved ones, and still Endowment Fund. others may make distributions from trusts or name
14 Is It a Heart Attack? By Tami Akin
Signs and Symptoms you should not ignore! related. Other symptoms a person may experience include feeling short of breath, looking gray in color, or A heart attack, also known as an acute myocardial have a sense of impending doom. It is better to err on infarction, occurs when there is a disruption of the the side of caution, so, if experiencing any of these blood supply to the heart, where it is so severely symptoms or having a very bad case of indigestion, do compromised or cut off that it causes that area of the not hesitate to call 911, even if your family member heart muscle to die. “This happens because coronary refuses. arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood flow can become narrowed from a buildup of fat, cholesterol, Women and Heart Attacks and other substances that together are called plaque. Women’s symptoms of a heart attack may differ from This slow process is known those experienced by men. “In a survey of more than as atherosclerosis” (American Heart Association, 2016). 500 women who survived heart attacks, 95% of them If the plaque should break off, a blood clot will form said they noticed that something wasn't right in the that can completely obstruct a coronary (heart) vessel, month or so before their heart attacks. Two most thus causing an acute myocardial infarction a.k.a “Heart common early warning signs were fatigue and disturbed Attack”. Sometimes people can survive a heart attack, sleep. Some women, for example, said they were so tired because they have built up a collateral circulation that they couldn't make a bed without resting” (Harvard continues the blood flow to the injured area. Medical Health, 2019). While men are more likely to Due to the lack of blood supply, someone experiencing experience chest pain, for women that symptom is a heart attack may have chest tightness, chest pain, or further down the list. Those who did have it tended to pressure in their chest. The pain may radiate down both describe it as pressure, aching, or tightness in the chest, arms, but more likely the left arm. The pain may come not pain. (Harvard Medical Health, 2019). “Even when and go, but usually lasts for more than a few minutes. It their heart attacks were under way, only about one-third is also important to note that a heart attack is not always of the women in this study experienced the “classic” all about chest pain. When my husband had his fatal symptom of chest pain. Instead, shortness of breath, heart attack, he had no chest pain; his biggest complaint weakness and fatigue, a clammy sweat, dizziness, and was bad indigestion and back pain. He attributed his nausea topped the list” (Harvard University, back pain to building bookshelves and the overhead 2019). “One take-home message is that some women lifting he had done in the previous few days. Also, it was may get an early warning of an impending heart attack not unusual for him to get indigestion on occasion, in the form of excessive tiredness, disturbed sleep, or especially since we had cabbage balls for dinner that shortness of breath” (Harvard University, 2019). Men’s night. Since, his indigestion was worse than usual, I told warning sign may be chest pain. Please do not ignore him I was going to call 911. He refused and would not these symptoms; call 911 and have them checked out! allow me to drive him to the hospital. (It is not unusual for people to deny they are having a heart attack). I was Silent Heart Attacks not thinking he was having a heart attack, as he claimed One additional note is that some people have what is to have no chest pain, no dizziness, or pain in his jaw, called a “Silent Heart Attack”, where they have no or neck, teeth, or arms, which some people experience less noticeable symptoms, and find out later through when suffering a heart attack. He did have some nausea and broke out into a sweat, which could have been pain (Continued on page 15)
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Wednesday Soup Suppers and Lenten Worship As in the past two years, volunteers will be asked to sign up to provide soups, bread, and to assist with clean up tasks. Sign up sheets will be in the Fellowship Hall starting on February 23. Dinners will begin at 6:00 p.m.
Worship Service
Each worship service in this series will be lead by a different lay volunteer. Hymn texts will fit the topic and are sung to familiar hymn tunes. Worship will start at approximately 6:45 p.m.
(Heart Attack—continued from page 14) References test/EKG that they have had a heart attack. Silent About Heart Attacks, (2016, July 31). American Heart myocardial infarctions “account for 45% of heart Association. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 attacks and strike men more than women”. If from: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart- undetected, it increases the risk of a more serious/lethal attack/about-heart-attacks heart attack and results in “three times greater risk of Danger of “Silent heat Attacks” (2019, October dying from coronary artery disease” (Harvard 22). Harvard University. Retrieved on January 15, 2020 University, 2019). If having chest pain with shortness of from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the breath and some of the above symptoms, be sure to see -danger-of-silent-heart-attacks your doctor. Heart Attacks in Women. (2019, December 16). Harvard University. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 from https:// www.health.harvard.edu/heart-disease-overview/heart- attacks-in-women.
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Tidbits
There is a lot for you to be proud of about your preschool! Thanks to the donations from the kind members of Trinity Ecumenical Parish, the longed-for flooring has been installed in the preschool. The new flooring The preschool is thankful for many parish members replaces the linoleum in the bathrooms and the carpeted who have shared their talents with the children. In areas of the classrooms, where the messy art work and addition to Jerry Hale, who played his banjo and led the snack take place. Everyone is happy and pleased with the children in singing, Elaine Mattson came to share her work done by The Floor Source at Westlake. story-telling skills, Santa Clause (Mark Watkins) thrilled the children with his visits, Vicar Christopher and his guitar led the children in Christmas songs, and Dough Trinity Preschool has taken part in The Preschool Pafford shared his didgeridoo with the Pre-K class Development Grant, through the University of Virginia, during their unit on Australia. We are blessed and we to see where preschool programs can be expanded and invite anyone to share a special talent or experience with improved. All three of our classes were observed in the Trinity children. December by experienced Virginia Quality Rating and Improvement System raters from Smart Beginnings of Greater Roanoke. All three classes received high marks! If you have any buttons you would like to get rid of, the One of the raters said that where she needed to put preschool will happily take them! There is also a need weaknesses, she could only say “Continue doing what for small, smooth pieces of wood. There is a saying: you are doing!” The preschool received $500 for “One person’s trash is a preschool teacher’s treasure!” participating in the program. Enrollment has opened for current Trinity families, and will open to the public beginning in February. If you Trinity Pre-K children have done it know of any families with young again! The results from the fall children, send them our way! Phonetic Awareness of Literacy Screening, which measures seven If you haven’t already done so, please areas of reading readiness skills remember to register your Kroger among 4-year olds, show the Trinity Plus card, with Trinity Preschool as children scored higher that the other the recipient of your Community children in the Greater Roanoke area, Rewards points. It costs absolutely and the larger Piedmont region! nothing but a few minutes to register. Results are for the spring 2020 Contact Bonita DeLooper at 703-623 benchmarks. The screening will be -0676 or preschool@trinity done again in the spring. ecumenical.org.