June 2014

Trinity Presbyterian Church 4365 State Road 776 Venice Florida 34293

Phone: 941.493.0018 Fax: 941.493.4661 www.Trinitypc.org Worship 9 & 10:30 a.m.

Ascension Sunday

is June 1st

Among my favorite days on the Christian calendar is Ascension Day. Far from a flannel graph Jesus taking a ‘balloon ride’, the New Testament describes his ascension as a kind of cosmic “coronation event” in which Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

This Sunday we will mark this reign of King Jesus in several ways.

First, at the 9 & 10:30 AM services we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. How privileged we are to dine with our King at his royal table. We will receive the Bread & Cup…”the gifts of God for the people of God.”

Second, that same afternoon we will resume—on a quarterly basis—our Service of Wholeness & Healing. It is a reflective,

God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand….far above every rule and

authority and power and dominion, not only in this age but also in the age to come.

Ephesians 1:20,21

meditative time of quiet hymns, and Scripture readings. There will be an opportunity to have an elder or pastor pray with you; and for those who desire to be anointed with oil.

Marvelous things have happened at this service. Check out Skip Russell’s testimony at right. It takes place at 4pm in the chapel.

Won’t you join us we celebrate the majesty of our King’s ascension? Pastor Chuck

It was at Trinity Church where I was welcomed. I felt accepted. I found my faith again. But something still just didn’t feel quite right. That’s where the Service of Wholeness and Healing came in.

What is a Service of Wholeness and Healing? Each person’s experience will be different. But at the time I had no clue what the service would be like.

Quite frankly, I had been struggling, like many do, with things going on in my life. As I walked into the Chapel, the lights were dim, and soft music was being played. There were only maybe a dozen people, who were attending the service. After a time of quiet reflection, Pastor Chuck read some scripture, and prayed with us.

After a short pause, we were invited to meet individually with the pastor or one of the elders present. The time together was quiet and intimate. We each took our turn sharing our thoughts and needs one on one. No one knew what others were sharing or praying about.

When my turn came, I was blessed to speak with Elder Jim Menzer who is also a Stephen minister. Jim made me feel comfortable and prayed for me…for healing

Out of the Church for

MORE than 40 Years?

By Skip Russell

Continued on page 2

Page 2 TriLites—June 2014

Skip Russell, continued Out of The Church for 40 Years and wholeness. I could feel God touch my heart. I was not alone. I didn’t have to carry this burden by myself. It was the most transforming moment in my life! As an elder anointed me with oil, I felt a load being lifted from my heart, and I’m not ashamed to say that the tears flowed. I had never experienced anything like that before. It was a very precious moment in my life. And it might be exactly whatever you might need it to be in your life as well.

The above is excerpted from a testimony given by Skip Russell at the morning worship services at Trinity on May 25th. Skip serves as a Deacon. He and his wife Judy originally hail from Central Pennsylvania.

NEXT SUNDAY—JUNE 8

Next Sunday Trinity Church will celebrate the "birthday of the church" also known as Pentecost. Just as significant was that on the fiftieth day after Jesus' resurrection, the promised Holy Spirit would descend in power as earthquake, wind and fire! And you know proper decorum means on Pentecost Sunday for Trinity members: WEAR RED!

FROM PASTOR CHUCK:

Hawaiian Shirts? —

Bring It On!

The second Sunday of June is an annual event NOT widely observed on the Christian calendar. However, it is at Trinity.

That Sunday, Pastor Chuck sheds his "preacher clothes" of wearing a business suit in the pulpit and wears....tada...a Hawaiian shirt and khakis. That attire is de rigeur until October!

Over the past seven years there has been only one negative comment about the Hawaiian attire. One parishioner approached Pastor Chuck and said: "You need to REPENT after wearing a scary shirt like that!"

Anyway...summer worship is on its way. Enjoy it.

Trinity Church Family I wish to thank all who participated in my donation drive for SPARCC. Together with your help, we raised:

$627 dollars worth of monetary & gift card donations

3 infant onesies

2 packs of paper plates/items

12 towels

18 bed sheets

5 pillow cases

10 blankets/comforters

40 rolls of paper towel

82 rolls of toilet paper

2 packs of napkins

8 tissue boxes

2 packs of diapers and 1 baby bib

52 pairs of underwear

22 pairs of socks

2 packs of feminine items

13 items of women's clothing

38 non perishable food items

21 used cellphones

Stationary

2 planners

6 calendars

1 bottle of cleaning supplies

And 90 toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.)

Thank you all so much. I am very grateful and the women and children of SPARCC also appreciate your aid. God Bless, Grace Wickerson

The Sending Benediction by Richard C. Halverson Chaplain U.S. Senate, 1981-1994

Wherever you go--God is sending you. Wherever you are--God has put you there: He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who indwells you has something he wants to do THROUGH you-- where you are--so believe this! Then go in his grace and love and power.

Blessed to be a blessing! Isn’t that a great attitude to embrace? Ministries here at Trinity continue to bless those that stay during the hot, humid months of summer. We hope and pray that you too will be blessed as you share in the financial responsibilities we have to be continue our work here in south Florida. Just a reminder that we have made available for our family and friends, especially those that travel or go north for the summer, a great way for you to help financially support our ministry here on a regular basis. Call or contact the church office for the form to begin automatic payments from your checking or savings account as well as credit card donations. —Linda Singleton Finance Coordinator

SUMMER CHOIR is underway—with our “one” monthly 1st-Wednesday-of-the-month-rehearsal from 6-7:30 p.m.

But don’t worry...if you can’t make the Wednesday rehearsal, we have music and a CD so you can practice at home on your own. We can even e-mail the music and CD to you so you are ready to sing on Sunday morning.

Then, join us at 10 a.m. Sundays in the Music Suite for a quick rehearsal before the 10:30 traditional service.

SUMMER PRAISE TEAM is also waiting for you every Sunday morning at 7:45 a.m. Then hang around to help the congregation warm-up at about 8:55, then help us lead contemporary worship at 9 a.m.

Simple Summer Sounds.

Call Sharon Sutherland at 661-1616 for more information!

No choir robes. No commitment. No weekly rehearsals. Just singing on Sundays!

Page 3 TriLites—June 2014

What’s Session Up to These Days?

SAVORED an awesome meal of

homemade breakfast burritos and seasoned tomatoes courtesy of Mark and Julie Lamb. (Mark brought the coffee).

ENGAGED in Bible Study on 1

Corinthians 4:1-20 and discussed the challenge of how elders exercise authority in difficult situations.

RECEIVED from the Christian Ed

Committee a first reading of the new church school curriculum for children put out by the Presbyterian Church (USA) entitled WE BELIEVE.

HEARD A REPORT from

Personnel on the declining attendance at the Contemporary Service (-16% YTD). The Personnel Committee, Worship Ministry Team, and Staff are working to reverse this trend.

REVIVED the Service of

Wholeness & Healing to be on June 1 at 4pm and thereafter on a quarterly basis.

LEARNED from Small Groups

Ministry Team of their goal to have an additional two NEW small groups in place before the end of the year. Currently, there are five.

WERE CAUTIONED by

Trustee President Pat Brown that even though our Jan-May finances show us to be $29,821 in the black, the summer financial “drought” is coming. Members are encouraged to keep their pledges current.

APPROVED a request from

Ken Rule that the Sarasota County Supervisor of Election has a (nonpartisan) display table at Trinity on Sunday, October 12, 2014. Also was suggested that a mid-week display be put up for our CAM clients that month.

MULLED OVER the possibility

of purchasing an electronic, digital sign for the church. More to come.

ADJOURNED WITH

PRAYER by our Moderator at

12:10pm.

Session is the local governing body of Trinity Church. It consists of 17 ruling elders with Pastor Chuck (a teaching elder) as moderator. At their stated meeting on May 17, 2014 the members of Session:

Lamentations 3:23

Page 4 TriLites—June 2014

Retired Old Men Eating Out

The ROMEO’s group gather each 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 12 noon for a time of fellowship at a local restaurant. Contact Ray Sutherland (941.661.1617) or by email craysuther@aol.com, to make a reservation no later than the Friday prior to the luncheon.

Every second Saturday of the month, the men gather at 8:30am for one hour and break bread together for a time of fellowship and getting to know one another. Each month one of the men share with the group their faith and life experiences. No reservation is needed. Contact Wilson Barker (941.493.1439) for more info.

This monthly support group for

grandparents raising grandchildren

meets on the first Tuesday of each

month from 10-11:30am. In the

Stephen Ministry lounge at Trinity

Church. All are welcome!. For

additional information contact

Norma at 941-258-2016.

GRAND GROUP

Trinity Church is going to be quite the exciting place this summer. Pastor Chuck will “swap pulpits” with a Scottish counterpart.

From July 15th to August 15th the Trinity pulpit will be filled by the Reverend Calum Stark, pastor of the MacDuff Parish Congregation in the NE corner of Scotland Calum is a “young” fortysomething preacher, who will be coming with, Liz, his wife and their sons Douglas and Fergus, ages 8 and 4.

What’s involved in the swap? Pastor Chuck and his wife Kathi will be “moving” to MacDuff for the month, while Calum and Liz move to SW Florida.

Did we mention Douglas and Fergus can’t wait to get into the Wiggins’ swimming pool? Also, Calum likes a good game of Squash!

Plan now to be here for the Starks first Sunday with us: July 20th. There will be ONE service @ 10 am that day followed by an all-church ALL AMERICAN BARBECUE to welcome our new friends.

Pulpit Exchange

with Scottish Pastor

June 15, 2014

All are welcome to attend a Bible Study on the book “Follow the Light: How God Reveals Himself Through the Light". Earlene Joslin and Ed Slusser will lead the lessons and discussion on this insightful book written by her daughter, Julie Garro.

Additional study materials and questions will be prepared especially for our group by the author. Please sign up before or after worship in June at the table outside the sanctuary or call the church office. Books will be preordered from Amazon.com at $12.00 per book.

July 10—August 28 — 1:00PM

Talk Story is a new small group. It meets every Sunday after the 9:00AM Contemporary service in the CLC. No curriculum, DVD's or lessons. We just meet, talk, pray and have fellowship with each other.

We invite you to grab a cup of coffee and join us as we fellowship together with our Lord. We open in prayer and we promise confidentiality to each person for any story these wish to shared. We close in prayer. We know the Lord comes to us just as He promised.

“For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them." Matthew 18:20.

—Bob Lamberty

Follow The Light

Page 5 TriLites—June 2014

Welcome Our

Newest

Members

The following folks joined the Trinity family in membership on Sunday, May 14th. Please be sure to take time to welcome them

and introduce yourselves when you see them.

Ron & Mary Foster

Ron & Mary come to us by Reaffirmation of Faith. They live in Venice and are originally from Marengo, IL.

Both Mary and Ron have served in their previous church in Marengo, he served as an Elder and Mary as a Deacon. We look forward to helping them find their special place at Trinity.

Jim Korman

Jim retired in 2005 from the Agricultural Finance industry and comes to us from Pennsylvania. He comes to Trinity by Reaffirmation of Faith.

On June 9th, Jim will be marrying Nanci Cuddihy who is a long time member of Trinity. Enjoying his retirement, Jim loves to travel, golf and hunting big game. We wish he and Nanci a very blessed future together and welcome him into our church family.

Gretchen Beckhelm

Gretchen is originally from Iowa, and before retiring worked in Pharmaceutical Research in Indianapolis.

She lives at Jacaranda Trace and is involved with several hobbies such as bridge, pool volleyball and travel.

Gretchen has come to Trinity by Letter of Transfer and has begun to serve our church with her volunteer efforts in the Community Assistance Ministry.

Ross Cofer

Ross has been attending Trinity Presbyterian Church since he was in the second grade. He will be a

junior at Venice High School this coming Fall.

Ross enjoys sports and is on the football team at Venice High—Go Indians!

At Trinity Ross has volunteered with our Vacation Bible School, Boy Scouts, and other children / youth events.

Ralph & Ruth

Martin

Ralph & Ruth live in Englewood and have been Florida residents for many years. They come to Trinity by Reaffirmation of Faith.

Before retiring, Ruth spent most of her time in the Real Estate business. We look forward to having her become involved in short term projects at the church.

Larry & Jennie

Swift

Jennie and Larry live in Englewood. Originally from Indiana, they come to Trinity via a Letter of Transfer.

Jennie and Larry are both retired teachers. Jennie has already begun to sing on the Praise Team and in the Choir. Larry has also become involved on the Coffee Team for Sunday morning worship and both have joined a small group.

Trinity Presbyterian Church

4365 State Road 776

Venice, Florida 34293

THE MISSION of Trinity Church is to: INTRODUCE people to Jesus Christ, DEEPEN faith and make disciples,

ENCOURAGE community, and PROVIDE opportunities to use our spiritual gifts both locally and throughout the world.

CAM CORNER I Once Was Blind

But Now I See….!

With funding provided by the Venice Lions Club, and in partnership with a local optometrist, the homeless in our area now

have the opportunity to see CLEARLY.

At no cost to them, 21 homeless men and women were provided with vouchers for an eye exam and two pair of single vision or lined bifocal lenses, complete with UV coating, scratch resistance, and tinting. Many of the homeless served by this program had never had an eye exam before or hadn’t had their prescriptions updated for years.

So the saying above is true – I once was blind but now I see...Thank you Venice Lions Club!

Raymond Favreau

Ann Favreau

Those that made this happen from the Venice Lions Club are, Raymond Favreau, Ann Favreau, Annette Goodsen (not pictured).

To learn about the services provided by the Venice Lions Club or to donate please call 941-486-6065. Don’t forget to drop your old readers, prescription glasses, or sunglasses in the Lions Club Box in the Narthex.

What we cannot do alone, we can and will do together.

—Karin Barbito