I hope you and your family and friends are well, as summer draws to a close and fall activities are fast approaching. We will have a church workday on Saturday, August 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to spruce up our grounds, and I hope you will be able to help us get God’s house in order for Rally Day, September 8th. The men’s group will cook a delicious pancake breakfast, serving at 9:00 a.m. on Rally Day to send us off to our new Sunday School classes. We are adding a new class this year for 6th - 12th graders for applying Biblical wisdom to their everyday world at home and school. Breakfast is part of the class as well. The Adult Disciple Class will study the Gospel of John this fall.
I have always believed that the heart and soul of the Christian faith and life is the small group. Small groups that meet with regularity create a safe place for friendships and trust to form, which enables us to discuss things that matter to us in a very helpful way. We have a lot of those at Trinity: three choirs, women’s circles, Sunday School classes, youth groups, Presbyterian Kids, the men’s group, the ACTS seniors group, and even ministry and mission teams. If you are not an active member of one or more of our small groups, I invite you to join one this fall. I promise that this will deepen your faith and strengthen your life. One of the highlights of my week is my participation in the chancel choir and the adult Sunday School class. I also enjoy the seniors’ monthly field trips.
I hope you will join us for worship on Sunday if you are in town. I will share some of the wisdom I gleaned from the life of Benjamin Franklin and Richard Rohr this summer. We need another Ben Franklin right now in America. His ability to forge a healthy compromise between the warring factions at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 could teach our deadlocked congress and state legislatures an important lesson about governing. And Richard Rohr’s understanding of God as merciful and gracious to all people is a breath of fresh air in our current culture wars. We will also celebrate the Sacrament of Communion. We will save you seat at the table. And if you are not there, please know that you will be missed.
Upcoming Communion dates: Sunday, August 25th, Sunday, October 6th
We asked for items for the students of Wilburn, and you delivered! Thank you so much for the socks, underwear, markers, composition books, paper, tissues, wipes, and more, more, more! We are delighted by your response, and we know that the boys and girls will be happy as well. Thank you!
A Brief Preview of Fall Classes and Rally Day Events
Children: A nursery will be provided during the 11:00 a.m. service for infants to Kindergarteners. Muriel Pepe is our nursery coordinator.
Children K-5 will meet for Sunday School during the worship hour in Fellowship Hall, after the Children’s Time.
Youth: We’re introducing a new youth Sunday School class! Meeting at 9:30 a.m., it will be a mini-youth group for middle and high schoolers, exploring topics which our youth are exposed to in everyday life. Extra-incentive: breakfast will be included!
Adults: The Disciple Sunday School class for adults on the Gospel of John will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Parlor. Everyone is welcome, whether you attended last year’s Disciple’s Class or not. This study will be taught by David Huffman and Shelley Clayton, our Faith Development elder. Childcare will be provided for younger children.
Sunday, September 8th is Rally Day!
Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. - Get ready for some flapjacks from our Men’s Group! Meet in the Fellowship Hall.
Information Session at 9:15 a.m. – Following breakfast, Shelley Clayton will lead an introduction of the classes. After the introduction, everyone will be dismissed to their classes.
Worship at 11:00 a.m. – We’ll celebrate the beginning of the church year together. And our Chancel Choir is back and ready to sing!
Churchwide Picnic at 5:30p.m – Join us on the lawn (inside the Fellowship Hall in case of rain) for a fun picnic.
Following supper, we’re asking all PK and youth parents to stay for an important meeting at 6:15 p.m. Our youth advocates will cover upcoming events, calendar items, and expectations.
PK and Youth Group – The PK group and MS/HS youth groups will meet after supper for their first gathering of the year.
