postscripts - trinity presbyterian church · 2019. 11. 13. · the session dr. stephen b. lindsley,...
TRANSCRIPT
Our Trinity family just enjoyed a month-long endeavor of fun and friendship-building with Supportive Housing Communities (SHC) and our formerly homeless neighbors at McCreesh Place. This series of volunteer events was part of an ongoing Mission and Outreach program we’ve dubbed “Days of Discipleship.” SHC’s Linda Miller kicked off the series on Rally Day by educating us about SHC, McCreesh Place, and the broader problem of homelessness in Charlotte. We worked with Linda to provide a range of events for McCreesh Place. We hosted a homemade breakfast, a fun bingo night with prizes and snacks, and an art class led by Phil Tappy. The events helped us form new friendships and deepen existing ones. We appreciated the warm welcome residents gave us and their enthusiastic participation. We capped it all off at their SHC Family Reunion Event, where we offered an ice cream sundae bar and face painting. We’re thankful for all of you who devoted hours to meeting, planning, publicizing, cooking, supplying, serving, and attending these events. We hope that making new friends and memories have made your faith feel real!
PostScripts November/December 2019
G r o w i n g T o g e t h e r . W e l c o m i n g A l l .
Days of Discipleship: Building Relationships
Inside this Issue:
On the Journey 2
Kathy Izard Gathering 2
College of Elders Dinner 3
ONC Results 3
Weekday School Update 3
Session Highlights 4
What’s Happening 4
Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. - noon
Contact Information: 3115 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28211
trinitypreschurch.org Phone: 704-366-3554
Stewardship Corner
We did it! Thank you for helping Trinity reach its “Simple Goal for 2020!” We are thankful for your faithful support. Happy holidays!
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THE SESSION
Dr. Stephen B. Lindsley, Moderator
Nancy Williams, Clerk
Fran Worthington, Asst. Clerk
Phil Blount, Pres. of the Corp.
Cookie Parnell, Treasurer
CLASS OF 2019
Claire Etheridge Brent Mullis
Laura-Nelle Parnell Hurst
Henry Pickett Kathleen Schneider
Sherese Smith
CLASS OF 2020
Phil Blount Steve Griffie
Sarah Henry Debbie Thompson
Meredith Thompson
CLASS OF 2021
Eric Banks Jeremy Mobley
Mike Campbell Eric McGovern
Fran Worthington
MINISTRY TEAM CHAIRS
Equip Personnel: Phil Blount
Finance: Jeremy Mobley & Louise Sanford
Buildings & Grounds: Dale Sarjeant
Stewardship: Brent Mullis
Grow Christian Formation: Sherese Smith and
Mike Campbell
Youth: Josh Durham
Worship: Sarah Henry and
Fran Worthington
Weekday School: Amy Shook
Serve Mission & Outreach: Meredith
Thompson and Henry Pickett
Congregational Life: Laura-Nelle
Parnell Hurst and Kathleen Schneider
Welcoming: Debbie Thompson
Communications: Cookie Parnell
CHURCH STAFF Dr. Stephen B. Lindsley, Senior Minister
Rev. British Hyrams, Temporary
Associate Pastor
Rev. Jodi Martin, Christian Formation and
Youth Director
Dr. Chris Gilliam, Director of Music
Michael Rowland, Organist
Cheryl Jernigan, Church Administrator
Caroline Dalton, Admin. Coordinator
Sharon Smith, Comm. Coordinator
Rick Neil, Facilities Technician
Jodi Neal, Sunday Assistant
Stephanie Palmer, Weekday School Dir.
Jill Billings, Weekday School Asst. Dir.
Jane B. Arant, Music Minister Emerita
On the Journey: Listen to the Whisper PostScripts
Page 2
In October, Kathy Izard spoke to our Tuesday night book club about her book, The Hundred Story Home: A Memoir of Finding Faith in Ourselves and Something Bigger. It chronicles Kathy's life and amazing work with Urban Ministry Center (UMC) which raised millions of dollars to build Moore Place and combat homelessness in our community. What's notable is that Kathy didn't have any degree or training in fundraising or social work. All she had - and needed - was what she affectionally calls a "whisper" - an idea that pops in your head, keeps you awake at night, and will not let you go. Whispers are inconvenient and seemingly ludicrous. Kathy's life has been one of faithfully leaning into them. I left book club wondering: what if each of us leaned more into the whisper God puts on our hearts? It could be something as obvious as acting on an invitation to serve (we have plenty of them at Trinity!). It could also be seeing something in our community, schools, or neighborhood that's not right, and choosing to do something about it. Frederick Buechner famously said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” I'd love to hear about this intersection of your life. Listen to the whisper and lean into it.
An Evening with Kathy Izard
“Coincidence,” Albert Einstein once postulated, “is God's way of staying anonymous." And the happiest of coincidences found Trinity's Parlor abuzz with enthusiastic church members and friends who gathered for Kathy Izard’s special book presentation. The event was co-hosted by the Mission and Outreach Ministry Team and Trinity Book Group each of which chose, unbeknownst to the other, Izard's memoir as their fall focus. As Izard spoke about her faith and work at UMC, she shared how one question stopped her in her tracks, "Where are the beds?" A simple question led to a multi-year journey, culminating in the creation of Moore Place, Charlotte’s first stable housing community for the homeless. It was a meaningful, faith-filled evening. Meredith Thompson, chair of the Mission and Outreach Ministry Team, presented Izard with a contribution from Trinity to further the work and mission of Moore Place.
The Open House and Art Show in October was a great success. This year the Silent Auction was open Tuesday through Friday and featured new items like a weekend getaway to Asheville, four weeks of Summer Camp at Trinity WDS and a 50/50 raffle. WDS also showed our support for Breast Cancer Awareness month by wearing pink school-wide on October 22.
If you ordered from our annual wreath sale, items can be picked up in the Carson Fellowship Hall on December 2-3.
November/December
Page 3
Elders Reflect on Trinity, Housing Issues
Officer Nominating Committee Results
Our College of Elders gathered for their annual dinner and program on Sunday, September 29. During Steve’s “State of the Church” address, he highlighted staff transitions over the past year and the ministerial staff retreat that he, British, Jodi and Chris attended in October. Attendees also heard about changes to the upcoming Stewardship season, which included setting a pledge goal amount and encouraging members to respond early. Steve then introduced Julie Porter, President of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership. The CMHP is one of many local agencies on the frontlines of Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis. Porter shared grim statistics, but also highlighted how community partners are working diligently to provide housing to low-income families. Porter told the group how a number of faith communities are making their mark known. Steve encouraged our elders to think about what role Trinity might play. This is the fifth year that Trinity has held a College of Elders Dinner – a tradition we are proud to continue!
Happenings at Trinity’s Weekday School
We’ve enjoyed an exciting season for the 2019 Officer Nominating Committee. We had the honor of creating slates of candidates for Session, the ONC, and for an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC), which the congregation approved in October. The newest candidates for Session have begun training with Steve and will be examined by Session in November. They will be ordained and/or installed in January. They bring a variety of gifts and experiences to Session. The class of 2022 includes Andrea Anderson, Betty Anderson, Peter Devlin, Patrice Pickett, and Mike Wellman. Jimmy Click will serve with the class of 2020 as youth elder. The ONC gains the following individuals for the Class of 2021: Kim Nims and Ned Parnell. Session also approved Mike Campbell to serve as its representative and co-chair for the Class of 2021. Many thanks to these individuals. The APNC is already hard at work! The congregation approved the following for service: Warren Henry, Steve Johnson, Katherine Nims, Louise Sanford, Janet Sarjeant, and Matt Smith. Our nominating committee is grateful for this congregation’s prayerful support and for the enthusiasm of all of our candidates.
Save the Dates
Page 4
PostScripts
Baptisms Oct. 6 Elizabeth Wren Benham, daughter of Jim and Hannah Benham Asher Gray Sarjeant, son of Christopher and Whitney Sarjeant New Members Bob and Dianne Christen; Kevin, Akilah, Aman, and Jamal Hyrams; Kendra Moree; Whitney Sarjeant; Don Welch
Session Highlights August
• A motion was made to transfer membership of Nell Coward to Union Presbyterian Church in Gastonia.
September
• Motion was made to form the Organ Task Force, to be comprised of Eric Banks, Jim Glenn, Eric McGovern, Lori O’Keefe, Jerry Parnell and Susanne Reid.
• Motion to call a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, October 13, 2019, to elect a new slate of elders, members of the APNC and members of the ONC was approved.
• Motion from the ONC to approve Cookie Parnell to serve as Treasurer for 2020 was approved.
• Motion to approve Mike Campbell to serve as the Sessional Representative on the ONC in the class of 2021 was approved.
• Motion to approve the baptism of Asher Sarjeant, son of Whitney and Christopher Sarjeant, as well as Elizabeth Benham, daughter of Hannah and Jim Benham, on October 6 was approved.
October
• Motion was approved to accept Bob and Dianne Christen; Kevin, Akilah, Aman, and Jamal Hyrams; Kendra Moree; Whitney Sarjeant; and Don Welch for membership into Trinity Presbyterian Church.
• During the October Congregational Meeting, the following slates were approved: Session, Class of 2022: Andrea Anderson, Betty Anderson, Peter Devlin, Patrice Pickett, Mike Wellman Session, Class of 2020: Jimmy Click Officer Nominating Committee, Class of 2021: Kim Nims, Ned Parnell Associate Pastor Nominating Committee: Warren Henry, Steve Johnson, Katherine Nims, Louise Sanford, Janet Sarjeant, Matt Smith
Financials as of October 31 October YTD Annual Actuals Actuals Budget Receipts: 63,505.69 500,569.58 641,649.00
Unrest. Funds Used: 2.725.33 36,989.53 69,000.00 Boltz Funds Used: 506.75 5,067.50 6,081.00 Endow. Funds Used: 6,066.50 60,665.00 72,798.00
Gilchrist Funds Used: 0 .00 0.00 1,500.00 Sanford Bldg. Maint. Funds Used 219.25 2,192.50 2,631.00 Thomson Funds Used: 0.00 0.00 4,000.00
Expenses: 82,187.00 702,190.41 876,828.00 Surplus/Deficit: (9,163.48) (96,706.30) (79,169.00)
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Nov. 20 Trinity Family Advent Night, 6 p.m.
Nov. 27-29 Weekday School Closed
Nov. 28-29 Church Office Closed
Dec. 2-3 Weekday School Wreath pick-up
Dec. 4 Room in the Inn starts
Dec. 12 Trinity Singles, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 Christmas Pageant, 9:45 a.m.
Caroling, 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 Longest Night Service, 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 Trinity Christmas Party with
McCreesh Place, 5 p.m.
Dec. 20 Weekday School Closed for Holidays
Dec. 22 Lessons and Carols, 11 a.m.
Dec. 24 Office Closes at noon,
Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m.
Dec. 25-26 Church Office Closed
Jan. 1 Church Office Closed
Our Church Family
Montreat Retreat
Supportive Housing Communities Donation