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~1~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019 Pastor Page To Be Missed……. When I die, I'd like to be missed. No big fuss, mind you. But I would like for someone to no- tice I'm no longer around. No, I haven't received a diagnosis of anything terminal other than life. So let me tell you what prompted such a thought. Wolfgang Dircks was dead for five years before anyone knew it. He was divorced, a former toolsmith, disabled. Other residents in his Hamburg neighborhood knew nothing of the re- clusive 43-year-old man. Many had never even seen him. Dircks' landlord went to his apartment last month after the bank account from which his rent and bills were paid ran dry. He was in front of his television set with the lights on his Christ- mas tree flashing beside him. More precisely, his skeleton was in the chair with his TV list- ings open on his lap to the page for December 5, 1993. I don't want to be either presumptuous or critical of the poor man. His lonely, sad life must have been torment for him. Perhaps he was unjustly abandoned by people who should have cared about him. The report of his death, however, said Dircks had once threatened to whip anyone asking about him. Apparently the poor man's isolation was self-imposed by an unpleas- ant, angry disposition. Hurt by life's injustice and misery, he retaliated by becoming an intro- verted loner. He so completely shut himself off from the world that he could die and no one would notice or care. How many solid relationships do you have? Does anyone care about you? If you didn't show up tomorrow, the next day, and the next, would anyone notice? Before anyone offers a Dircks-style defense to the effect that life is unfair and difficult, let me acknowledge that it is for everyone. But to be so embittered by an unpleasant reality that one cuts off all human contact is a greater sin against oneself than those excluded. To withdraw from difficult circumstances and onerous people is to cut off the possibility of connecting with the human race. It cuts off relationships that could be meaningful. It dooms one to a life with- out love. No one is indispensable in your workplace. That is, any task you perform can likely be Done by someone else. But you are indispensable to the role God has in mind for you at your job, among your acquaintances, and in your family. You are there to improve things for someone else. You are in place as Christ's presence to preserve integrity and foster compassion. You are there to be salt and light. Do these things and you'll be missed when gone and valued while here. Think about it, Pastor Jamie

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Page 1: Pastor Page - WordPress.com · Dircks' landlord went to his apartment last month after the bank account from which his rent and bills were paid ran dry. He was in front of his television

~1~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

Pastor Page

To Be Missed…….

When I die, I'd like to be missed. No big fuss, mind you. But I would like for someone to no-

tice I'm no longer around. No, I haven't received a diagnosis of anything terminal other than

life. So let me tell you what prompted such a thought.

Wolfgang Dircks was dead for five years before anyone knew it. He was divorced, a former

toolsmith, disabled. Other residents in his Hamburg neighborhood knew nothing of the re-

clusive 43-year-old man. Many had never even seen him.

Dircks' landlord went to his apartment last month after the bank account from which his rent

and bills were paid ran dry. He was in front of his television set with the lights on his Christ-

mas tree flashing beside him. More precisely, his skeleton was in the chair with his TV list-

ings open on his lap to the page for December 5, 1993.

I don't want to be either presumptuous or critical of the poor man. His lonely, sad life must

have been torment for him. Perhaps he was unjustly abandoned by people who should have

cared about him. The report of his death, however, said Dircks had once threatened to whip

anyone asking about him. Apparently the poor man's isolation was self-imposed by an unpleas-

ant, angry disposition. Hurt by life's injustice and misery, he retaliated by becoming an intro-

verted loner. He so completely shut himself off from the world that he could die and no one

would notice or care.

How many solid relationships do you have? Does anyone care about you? If you didn't show

up tomorrow, the next day, and the next, would anyone notice?

Before anyone offers a Dircks-style defense to the effect that life is unfair and difficult, let me

acknowledge that it is for everyone. But to be so embittered by an unpleasant reality that one

cuts off all human contact is a greater sin against oneself than those excluded. To withdraw

from difficult circumstances and onerous people is to cut off the possibility of connecting with

the human race. It cuts off relationships that could be meaningful. It dooms one to a life with-

out love.

No one is indispensable in your workplace. That is, any task you perform can likely be

Done by someone else. But you are indispensable to the role God has in mind for you at

your job, among your acquaintances, and in your family. You are there to improve things

for someone else. You are in place as Christ's presence to preserve integrity and foster

compassion. You are there to be salt and light.

Do these things and you'll be missed when gone and valued while here.

Think about it,

Pastor Jamie

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~2~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

Please Pray for

Please Pray For

Solarbron The Ter-race Don Heberer Mary Jane Dausman Margaret Vogel Solarbron The Point Lucille Saunders West River Health, The Legacy Charles Huey Mt. Vernon Nsg. & Rehab Mark Healy Walnut Creek Alz-heimers Care Unit Mary Beth Burkett Premier Healthcare, New Harmony Barbara Kleinschmidt

Chad Abbott Pat Ashworth Donna Beauchamp Emily Behrick Charles Behrick David Behrick Family of Anna Pearl Brady Jill Brunton Maddie Broome Jody Call Mildred Clevenger Bill Collins Rick Culiver Katelyn Culley (Military) Helen DeKemper

Roberta Frayser Carroll Funkhouser Jerry Funkhouser Family of Arlene Goldman Bill Gilbert Leroy Grabert Kathy Gunter Janice Heriges Lourana Howard Mark Hudson Bill Jenkins Curt Knight Ed Lacy Guin Pfarner Dorothy Niehaus Judi Powers Pam Robinson Margaret Russell Mike Russell Esther Saltzman Lee Seiler Family of Marion W. Smith Susan Weis Sue Williams Family of Chrissy Willis Belinda Yancey

If we have inadvertently left a name off any list, please contact the church office at 838-3805.

Birthdays this month

January Averages in Attendance and

Offerings

Worship 81

Sunday School 32

Offering $2,627.00

Weekly Need $4,022.42

Feb 3 Dennis Clark Feb 5 Betty Lueder Feb 5 Carolyn Brauser Feb 6 Donald Heberer Feb 8 Richard Green Feb 8 Gordon Vogel Feb 9 Mary Gibson Feb 10 Geralyn Redman

Feb 15 Lucille Saunders Feb 17 Connor King Feb 22 Jaime Medley Feb 25 Don Uhde

The office will be closed Monday, February 18 for President’s day.

2018 Yearly Averages Worship 107 Sunday School 33 Contributions $3,249.00

Coffee Hour February 17

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~3~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

Give a Gift with Lasting Impact

Blankets Plus is a special mission opportunity.

2018 was a tough year for many people

around the world. There were tornadoes, hurricanes,

floods, fires, earthquakes, drought and famine. Many

had to flee their homes and became refugees or

migrants. Through your donations to the Church World

Service Blankets Plus Program: You helped feed

survivors, You provided clean water and tools, You

helped blanket the refugees. The 2019 Church World

Service Blankets Plus Program will begin on Sunday,

February 3 and culminate with dedication of our gifts on

Sunday, February 24.

Trinity members gave $1,285 in 2018. Trinity has generously given $18,783 over the past 22

years. Church World Service responds when disaster strikes, both here in the US and around

the world. They provide shelter, food, blankets, medicines, recovery kits and counseling.

CWS responds to disasters in a wholistic manner, nurturing and treating the entire person.

CWS supports many disaster stricken areas around the world.

Consider a generous donation or a gift in memory or honor of someone. Give a Gift with

Lasting Impact!

Gayle Vogel, Chairperson

February Events

Feb 3-Holy Communion and dedication of the Clarion System during worship with cake and punch after.

Feb 3-Youth Group will meet at Arby’s at 6:00pm.

Feb 10-Boy Scout Sunday.

Feb 12-Christian Education Ministry Team will meet at 6:30pm in the lounge.

Feb13-Spiritual Life Ministry Team Meeting at 1:30pm.

Feb 18-Pastor Jamie preaching at Mt. Vernon Calvary Church of Christ in God at 7:00pm.

Feb 19-Church Council at 7:00pm.

Feb 21-Pence Endowment at 9:00am.

Feb 21-Newsletter deadline

Feb 22-Trinity sweetheart banquet sponsored by the youth group at 6:00pm.

Feb 26-28 Pastor Jamie at Johnson University Homecoming/Preaching Rally.

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~4~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

Thank You Notes

Sarah & The Care Squares, One thing is for sure, the beautiful prayer quilt will be going with me to Indianapolis for my hospital stay. I’ll thinks of your folks each time I use it. This is a beauti-ful ministry that you have and I feel blessed that I became of one of the recipients. Thanks to you all and thanks to TUCC. Bill Gilbert

Thank you all so much for the pretty lap quilt and the prayers being tied to it. It’s a special thing you do for people. I really appreciate it. Please remember me in your prayers. Hope you all have a blessed holiday. Thank you again Jo Harle

Trinity Care Square Members and Trinity Prayer Warriors, Thank you for the quilt tied in prayers for my health. It drapes comfortably across my shoulders to remind me of of the presence of God in those prayers. This Christmas, the quilt is yet another won-derful way to remember the reason for the season. Love came down through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I ap-preciate your love more than words can say. With a happy heart Pam Robinson

Thank you for your support and generosity. Your donation of $85.00 is greatly appreciated.

Susan Herrman Community Emergency Assistance Board.

This was the amount raised from God’s Produce where members donated fresh garden items for sale.

Boy Scout Sunday will be celebrated here at Trinity on

February 10.

Nursery Needs

Girls & Boys clothes (for sizes see Kayley)

Coke bottles

Large towels

Baking soda & Vinegar for experiments

Blankets

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~5~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

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~6~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

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~7~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

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~8~ Trinity United Church of Christ, Mt. Vernon, IN February 2019

TRINITY TRUMPET February 2019 Vol. 21 Issue 2

Trinity United Church of Christ

505 Mulberry Street Mt. Vernon, IN 47620

Tel: 812-838-3805

E mail: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tucc47620

Webpage: www.mytrinityucc.com

Address Services Requested

A Master Calendar is in the hallway next to

the fellowship hall, please check this before

scheduling meetings or activities to help pre-

vent double booking. Please call Jan in the

office to schedule an event.

Inside This Issue

Pastor Page 1

Spiritual Life 2

February Events 3

Thank you Notes 4

Calendar 5

Sweetheart Banquet 6

ETSA Youth Gathering 7

Miscellaneous 8

THURSDAY, February 21, 2019 your

notes, articles, or announcements to

the office on time! Electronic

submissions are especially

appreciated!

[email protected]

Food Pantry

Spaghetti Noodles,

Mac & Cheese,

Hamburger Helper, Rice,

Flavored Rice,

Canned Soup,

Ravioli

www.facebook.com/tucc47620

Visit our web page:

www.mytrinityucc.com