volume 49 issue 5 may 2021 - wordpress.com
TRANSCRIPT
In This Issue
Worship Schedule
page 2
Food Donations
page 3
Bridging the Gap
page 3
Council update
page 5
Word search page 6
132 E. Main St. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-2662 [email protected]
Volume 49 Issue 5 May 2021
It is good
to give thanks to
the Lord, to sing praises
to your name,
O Most High;
to declare your steadfast
love in the morning,
and your faithfulness
by night,
Psalm 92:1-2 NRSV
It is easy, sometimes, to get caught up in the challenges of life and forget to pause, to look and see. God gives us something precious and beautiful to notice in each new day. It could be the beauty of nature bursting with life or the morning sun shining in your win-dow. It could be the sound of rain reminding you that God’s continual presence waters your life. It could be a beautiful sunset, a colorful reminder that God has been with you no matter what the day has brought. It could be the gift of family or friends who walk be-side us through life. It could be the beauty of people who hold our hands when we are sorrowful, and laugh with us when we are joyful. Sometimes, it could merely be the gift of one more day of life.
I find hope-filled gratitude expressed in the words of e. e. cummings’ poem, “I thank you god for most this amazing day.” The poem is filled with thankfulness to God for the res-urrection renewal reflected in the beauty of nature. After a winter of death, creation comes to life each spring and points toward the newness that can break through the darkness in our lives. Most profoundly, it is the resurrection of Jesus that gives us confi-dence in the God who brings life from death – new life in small ways throughout our days, and ultimately at the end of our lives.
Some years ago, I was blessed to be able to sing a choral rendition of this poem. When-ever I hear the recording, i am grateful for the joy of its message and the joyfulness of the music. You can find the song on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv24WBLG3ig. Take some time to listen and be grateful to the God who showers your days with resurrection beauty.
i thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any–lifted from the no of all nothing–human merely being doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
God’s blessings and peace to you,
Pastor Karen
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Pastor Karen is looking for several people to fill some important roles at Trinity in the coming year. Is God leading you to step forward?
New Prayer Ministry The most critical resource for the revitalization of churches in a post-pandemic time is intentional prayer. Pastor Durbin is seek-ing God’s leading to bring together a group of people who will commit to praying for our church regularly. This could be a sim-ple as five minutes each day, a longer period of time several times a week, or gathering together for prayer after Sunday worship.
This prayer group will not replace our prayer team who offer intercessory prayers for individuals during the week. If you sense that God is calling you into this vital ministry, please contact Pastor Durbin for more information through the church office at 717-766-2662 or by email, [email protected]
Bridging the Gap Ministry Team We are looking for several people to join our Bridging the Gap Ministry Leadership Team. This group meets monthly for Bible study, prayer, and to plan for upcoming projects. Is God leading you to help give leadership to this important ministry?
Helpers We are compiling a list of people who would like to be a helper for Bridging the Gap Ministries or Social Ministries from time to time. This might be to help stock the Blessing Box, to sort clothing or serve at our monthly Trinity’s Closet on Main, to help assemble health kits or tie blankets for Lutheran World Relief, or to assist with occasional transportation needs for our members or neighbors. If you are interested in being on our list, please contact Pastor Durbin or Vanessa Storlie.
Church Council continues to monitor the Covid numbers in Cumberland County. Since the positivity rate has stabilized and many of you have already been vaccinated, we have be-gun to gradually adjust the safety protocols set in place last spring. This month, you can expect several adjustments when you come for in-person worship, including the following:
• Holy Communion will now include bread and individual cups of grape juice and wine served at the front of the sanctuary. Pastor will use hand sanitizer and remain masked as she pre-sides at the altar. We ask that you remain masked until you receive your bread and wine, and then replace your mask as you return to your pew.
• Congregational Singing: You are invited to sing the sending hymn. Please remain masked as you sing.
Watch for pastor’s Friday emails for updated information.
Please remember that not everyone who comes for in-person worship has been vaccinated. Thank you for respecting the personal space of others by continuing to observing physical distancing and keeping your mask in place over your nose and mouth.
We expect to continue to offer online YouTube worship videos most Sunday’s this summer. Let us know you are worshiping with us, and take the opportunity to witness to the gospel by “liking” the video each week on Facebook, “sharing” it on your personal Facebook page, and emailing this resource to a friend or family members.
Additional Worship Resources Are you looking for additional resources for worship? Visit the ELCA Worship blog where you can find a full liturgy for each week at https://blogs.elca.org/worship/
Becoming a New Member If you would like to explore membership at Trinity on Main, please contact the pastor at [email protected] to schedule a conversation and learn more.
Are ready for Confirmation? If you are a teen in grade 7 or older and are interested in begin-ning confirmation this fall, please let the pastor know by email-ing her at [email protected].
Join Pastor Durbin and Trinity staff in prayer for our congrega-tion! Each week, a different group of people will be a focus for prayer. You will receive a postcard in the mail on the week we are praying for you and your name will be included on Pastor’s Friday email. If you have specific requests the week you re-ceive your postcard, please email Pastor Durbin at [email protected], or call the church office.
Looking for an insightful book about revived churches? Join Church Council this spring in reading “Anatomy of a Revived Church: Seven Findings of How Congregations Avoided Death.”
On May 15, Church Council will be meeting to-gether for a retreat day to consider this book to-gether and how it can help us be intentional disci-ples in a post-pandemic age. If you would like to read this book with us, it is available at Ama-zon.com in paperback or on Kindle.
And let Pastor Durbin know that you are reading this book with us and/or if you would like to be part of a book discussion group this summer. [email protected].
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– Saturday, May 8 from 9-11 am YOU can help Trinity’s Closet on Main continue to make a positive impact in our community in the following ways:
1. You can help with the clothing closet in these ways: Set up on Friday, May 7 beginning at 4:30 pm; done
by 6:30 pm. Operation of clothing closet on Saturday, May 8 from
9-11 AM (arrive by 8:30 and done by 11:30). 2. You can donate clothing! As the weather starts to warm up,
please consider donating spring and summer clothing to the clothing closet. Donations can be dropped off on the first Wednesday of the month – May 5, 2021 from 10 AM-
12 PM – or by arranging a separate time with Vanessa ([email protected]).
3. You can like and share our posts on Facebook – like our “Bridging the Gap Ministry Team” page on Facebook to stay up to date with what we have planned!
In April, we welcomed 21 neighbors and distributed 150 items of clothing. Individuals also requested the following items:
Men’s Size 11 sandals
Men’s shorts – all sizes
Boxers and boxer briefs – all sizes
Plain t-shirts
Baseball cap
Gym bag If you can donate any of these items, please let Vanessa know.
We will once again be offering free, grab n go lunches on Wednes-days during the month of May in collaboration with First United Methodist Church. Lunch will include a sandwich, fruit, chips/crackers, and water. Please stop by and get lunch or share this opportunity with someone you may know! All are welcome! Thank you to Julie Jones for applying for and receiving a Thrivent Action Team Grant to help purchase lunch supplies.
Thank you to everyone who has continued to donate food and personal care items for the blessing box! Needed items include: canned vegetables, soup, ramen noodles, cereal, pasta, spaghetti sauce (in plastic or metal containers), Chef Boyardee, single serve beverages (milk and juice), and dessert items such as pudding cups, brownie and cake mix, or cookies. Donations may be placed in the bushel baskets near the entrances on Sunday morning, dropped off on Wednesday, May 5 from 10 am – 12 pm in the parking lot, or be placed directly in the blessing box.
Food Donations through
April 19 1715
The summer staff interviews are happening at the outdoor ministry sites of Kirchenwald and Nawakwa. Zach Weiss and Mike Youse would appreciate hearing from you if you know of youth or young adults looking for a great summer employment opportunity! The best part about being a sum-mer camp staffer is the relationships that are formed in the wonderful natural settings at camp… however, one can also get room and meals covered for the summer, so a person can bank most of the pay for the fall and winter months! To apply or learn more, check out https://www.lutherancamping.org/employment/.
– Thursday, May 16, 2021 On Sunday, May 16, from 1-4 pm, Bridging the Gap – in partnership with The Mane Difference – will be offering free haircuts for our neighbors. We will also be providing a snack/light lunch for those attending. If you are inter-ested in helping – either with preparing snack/lunch (please save receipts and you will be reimbursed), wash-ing hair, or just being a friendly face, please let Vanessa know. Many thanks to Bonnie Williamson and her staff for making this opportunity a reality.
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from Molly Helmstetter
Meet Belynda, a married mom of two children who visited New Hope's food pantry for help. Unexpected medical circumstances kept her as a stay-at-home mom for a while, but it soon became time for her to re-enter the workforce to help support her family. While shopping in our food pantry one day, she learned about our partnership with the United Way of the Capi-tal Region's Road to Success program. With the help of our staff and volunteers, Belynda began to search and apply for jobs. She was terrified to get back into the workforce after be-ing away for four years, but the support she received through this program gave her the con-fidence to try!
Belynda landed an interview but did not have professional clothing to make a good impres-sion. That's when our friends at Dress for Success stepped in and provided her with a lovely outfit for the interview process! She made such a great impression with one employer that they called her back in for a peer review. Originally, Belynda thought she would wear the same outfit again, but Dress for Suc-cess suggested she wear a different outfit. They shopped with her and found a beautiful bright blue blazer with black slacks that made her feel confident and prepared.
"I felt like a million bucks walking out of there!" The peer review went great and they even commented about how professional Belynda looked. She has since received a verbal commitment for the job, and is looking forward to wearing that blue blazer again! Because of you, people just like Belynda experience the confidence and motivation to get back into the workforce. Thank you!
Do you know someone who needs help because of COVID19? Maybe someone who cannot find a job, is having a hard time keeping up with their expenses like rent or utility payments, or has been impacted in other ways from the health crisis? If they live in our service area, please let them know that New Hope is here to help! Share our contact infor-mation with them today - thank you! www.nhm-pa.org Mechanicsburg Center: 5228 E. Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 (717) 766-7333 .
Bethesda Mission is participating in the “Walk” again this year! This event helps around 50 local nonprofits raise funds. Highmark underwrites the costs of this event so that all funds raised go directly to our organization’s mission, and not toward overhead. Please join us to support the life-changing programs for men, women, and children in Harrisburg! Consider participating in this event! It is going to be a virtual walk, which is a real walk, but it’s on your terms! Anytime before July 15th, you choose how and when you walk (treadmill, park or trail, or around the neighborhood) – it’s your choice! You also pick the time of when you start and stop!Registration is open now. More information and registration: https://www.bethesdamission.org/event/highmark-walk-healthy-community/
May Lessons
May 2 Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22:25-31 1 John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8
May 9 Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17
May 16 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19
May 23 -Pentecost Acts 2:1-21 Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Alternate) Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 Acts 2:1-21 (Alternate) John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
May 30 -Holy Trinity Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 29 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17
Covid Distancing Viewed by Wendy While in the office I looked up into the security cameras because I noticed a lot of movement in the parking lot. I watched as three ladies took chairs, blankets, and their lunch out of their cars. They set themselves up safely and seemed to enjoy the cool, but sunny day and the company of one another. Now that is thinking outside of the box!
120 West Harrisburg Street, Dillsburg Hosted by Thrivent South Central PA Group and partnered with New Hope Ministries.
Bring your personal and business documents, confidential papers, and anything you need shredded profession-ally and securely! All shredding will be done on site. Light refreshments will be served. This a partnership between Thrivent and New Hope Ministries, so they are asking everyone to please bring canned goods and/or non perisha-bles to support this non-profit.
Please RSVP by May 6, 2021 by calling 717-502-1100 or emailing [email protected]. And if you have any questions, reach out any time.
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Contact Us Business Hours Mon.– Thurs. 9 am—1 pm
717-766-2662 [email protected] www.facebook.com/TLCMech https://trinity-on-main.org/ Business Hours for Pastor Karen Durbin
Tues.-Thurs, 9 am– 1 pm Weekends as needed.
For emergencies call 717-766-2662 For meetings or appointments call the office during business hours or email
Vanessa Storlie [email protected]
Julie Jones
Homebound Members
Dorothy Dellinger 202 E. Locust St. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Lena Stine 1001 Nanroc Drive #20 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Ruth Taylor Homeland Center 1901 N. 5th Street Harrisburg, PA 17102
Orville Wise 700 Walnut Bottom Rd. #55 Carlisle, PA 17013
Bridging the Gap is offering a free haircut event for neighbors in need on May 16, 2021. Individually distributed communion at the front of the church will return on April 11, 2021. Some hymn singing, while masked, will return on April 18, 2021.
Enabled by the Holy Spirit, we boldly proclaim
the Good News of Christ, Sharing God’s love
with all through worship, education,
and service
The Lower Susquehanna Synod has an on-line newslet-ter that provides information about what is going on around the SYNOD! Just go to the LSS website: http://www.lss-elca.org/
Dear Member(s), to be good stewards of our resources, please contact the church office with any household: information changes, membership updates/transfers, email addresses, cell phone numbers, etc.
Let’s get the conversation going! If you are on Facebook you can help by inviting others to join with us at Trinity. Once a week, we’ll post an event or invitation. When you go to our page, add a positive comment and hit the "like" button. Also, If you "share" events or posts on your own Facebook page, that action helps us get the word out about the good things hap-pening at Trinity, and extends our reach to all of your friends too. Do you have any fun photos to share of Trinity activities? Share immediately with one another, the good news, worship opportunities & prayer concerns. This is a great forum for us to keep in touch. Won’t you join us on Facebook? Like us! And Share us! https://www.facebook.com/TLCMech Don’t forget to visit Trinity-On-Main’s webpage for the weekly service. https://trinity-on-main.org/
We want to know when you or someone close to you needs pastoral care. Please contact the church office by phone (717-766-2662) or email ([email protected]) in the event of a newly diag-nosed disease, hospitalization, or rehabilitation. Due to HIPAA regulations, this is the only method we have to know of your need. You may also contact Pastor Karen by email [email protected] if you are in the midst of a life transition: a birth, a death, a move, a job loss/change, an empty nest, retirement, etc. or are experiencing a spiritual, physical, emotional, or financial crisis.
Grab your directory, use one of those stamps you have in a drawer and write a letter to one of the above, or other friends that you miss. A great way to stay in touch in a much more personal way.
Marissa & Viking Dietrich, Flottwellstrasse 3a, 10785 Berlin, Germany
02 Jane Stine
02 Stella Stine
05 Ernie Ober
11 Rachel Moats
18 Lynn Lemanski
24 Tracy Sechrist
25 Leslie Hocker
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Today we are searching for May words. If you have word search ideas for future Tidings, send Wendy an email or call the office and leave a message for her.
Answers from April Tidings
ALIVE
ANGELS
APOSTLES
BARABBAS
BASKET
BODY
BONNET
BUNNY
CANDY
CHICKS
CHOCOLATE
COTTONTAIL
CRUCIFIXION
DAFFODIL
DECORATE
DUCKS
DYE
EASTER
EGG
EMPTY
FAMILY
FLOWERS
GOLGOTHA
GOSPEL
GRASS
HAM
HAPPY
HUNT
JELLYBEANS
JESUS
JOY
JUDAS
KING
LAMB
LILY
MARY
MORNING
NAILS
PARADE
PEEPS
RABBIT
RESURRECTION
RISEN
SALVATION
SAVIOR
SILVER
SIN
SOLDIERS
SPEAR
SPICES
SPRING
STONE
SUNDAY
SUNRISE
TOMB
TRADITION
TULIPS
WOMEN
WORSHIP
BASKET
BLOSSOMS
BUDS
CATERPILLAR
CHIRPING
CINCODEMAYO
DANDELION
DOGWOODS
EMERALD
FISHING
FLOWERS
GARDENING
GRASS
HONEYSUCKLE
IRIS
LILACS
LILYOFTHEVALLEY
MARIGOLD
MAYDAY
MAYPOLE
MEMORIALDAY
MOTHERSDAY
PLANTS
ROBIN
ROSE
SEEDS
SPROUTS