Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,

Today’s Faith @ 5^th and Juliana represents a sort of potpourri of things: invitations, prayer requests, thanksgivings, and the like. Since Jesus, in prayer, always thanked God the Father, even before anything happened, was requested, or had been done, let me begin there.

Thank you, and God bless you.

Love, Scott+

Group Camp Ministry

A work camp sponsored by "Group," a teen Christian magazine, to be July 12-18, is expected to draw 400 young people to Parkersburg. During this week these young people will repair and rehab 70 homes in the Parkersburg area. They will sleep and eat at Blennerhassett School, and their fees for the week will also pay for the materials they will use in the project.

"Group" provides adult sponsors for the work sites, but additional "troubleshooters" are needed. Adult volunteers are wanted to help the Group sponsors run last minute errands, problem solve unexpected construction questions, and assist the work to run smoothly. If you can volunteer, please call the Church Office or Carol Olson at 422-1094.

Everything is Happening at Once

This is a busy time of year, and Peterkin is no exception! In order to ready the conference center for the summer’s coming campers, there is a long list of things to be done this coming weekend, May 22-24, at the Peterkin Work Weekend. If you can go at the last minute, please call Gary Vincent or Bill Eason. You are needed!

Criticism is easy, achievement is more difficult.

-Winston Churchill in Churchill on Courage

Going Before

"He is not here! He is risen and is going before you"

Jesus, risen from the dead, is going before us into the painful, dying lives of people among whom we live and work. The risen Christ is going before us, giving us an ever increasing art of listening as we sit with someone experiencing brokenness in his or her life, broken relationships, loss of a loved one. Jesus is risen from the dead and is going before us as we live in a world fragmented by prejudice and increasing anger, giving us the ability to live with hope and the new life of resurrection in those encounters, so as to open them to the already present power of the risen Christ to heal and transform them! Always, the risen Christ is there, going before us, setting resurrection life in motion. The risen Christ is not out there in some future promise, but right here in the particulars of every day. Easter is now.

- The Right Reverend John H. Smith, Bishop of West Virginia
as published in The Anglican Digest

Table Prayer During Eastertime

All the 50 days of Eastertime are days of feasting. Every one of these 50 days – from Easter Sunday until Pentecost – is a Lord’s Day, an occasion for spreading our tables with the finest fare, for gracing our meals with spring flowers and candlelight, for welcoming Christ by welcoming a guest to share the joy. In all our meals, inside or out, the risen Christ comes to be known to us in the breaking of bread.

Bits & Pieces & Bits & Pieces & Bits & Pieces

Just so you know:Memorial Day is May 25th, and the Parish Office will be closed at that time.

FOOTNOTE  - Special thanks to Lynette Neilson for the lovely geranium plantings on Juliana Street, and to an anonymous donor for the new shrubbery. We are looking good!

Habitat Ministry - As part of our ongoing relationship with Habitat for Humanity, Trinity has been asked to provide lunches for workers at the building site on June 19, 26 and 27. There are usually six workers, although more may be expected. Meals can be home prepared or purchased and delivered to the site at Lenore Street. Please call me at 422-1094 if you can help.  --Carol Olson

DID YOU SEE... The nice letter to the Editor in last Sunday’s Parkersburg News? It was also published later in the week in the Sentinel, and complimented Trinity on the appropriate access addition to the front of our church. If you missed it you may also see it on the newspaper bulletin board in Trinity Hall.

Book Sale Update: Trinity’s annual used Book Sale will be November 2nd through 5th! Books have already been coming in, and official "marking" is set to start June 23rd and 24th, beginning at 10 a.m. each morning, and continuing as needed. plan now to help!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY

THE CHRISTOPHER MINISTRY -- The name Christopher means, "Christ-bearer."  Just as the beggar who was Christ needed a ride on Christopher's shoulders to cross the river, there are people at Trinity who need a ride to get to worship or other parish events.  There is an need for a "transportation ministry" at Trinity…someone or ones to assist in bringing those to Church on Sundays who are unable to drive themselves, and/or drive at various church events. Please contact Carol Ralsten or the Rector if you can help!

D.R.E. Search -- We believe that the DRE Search is nearing a conclusion.  Please stay tuned for more information over the next week or so.

Two special fellowship occasions are coming up which you won’t want to miss:

SUPPER CLUB at George and Harriet De Hoff’s home, Friday May 22nd at 6:30! Please note the time is 6:30 again, to allow time for parishioners to get home, and for the Rector to arrive back from Charleston, where he will have been at a meeting!

The Eucharist and Spring Luncheon meeting of the Episcopal Churchwomen, to be at the home of Lynn Randall, Saturday May 31st, starting at 10:30 a.m. Invitations are (will be) in the mail, but all women of the church are members of the Episcopal Churchwomen by virtue of such, and should plan to attend. More in next week’s "TIMES."

More, more, morE

Supper Club: Friday May 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the De Hoffs’ home.

Vestry Meeting: Tuesday May 26th at 7 p.m. (due to Memorial Day Holiday).

ECW Spring Luncheon Meeting, with Eucharist, Saturday May 30th at 10:30 a.m. at the home of Lynn Randall.

Pentecost: Sunday May 31st, last day of Church School for the season with a celebration of the Church School.

Trinity Sunday: Our Feast of Title, the celebration of our Name and the ministry of this community of faith. This is a BIG day!

Please note: House-Church meetings continue, as listed on the May calendar.  Please say "yes" to your hosts when they call. If you have a schedule conflict, please call Betty Rodda and every effort will be made to reschedule you with another group at a better time.

The Proper for Easter 7
Acts 16: 16-34 Psalm 47 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 John 17:20-26

The Proper for Pentecost
Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:25-32 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 John 20:19-23

HOW COULD WE HAVE ERRED?

Emily Dowling assisted with the invitation, Charlotte Bee will set the altar, Harriett De Hoff will provide seating set-up, with Carol Ralsten in charge of the luncheon, Linda taking reservations, and Lynn as hostess. Other ECW members will be helping.

Times Schedule

Here is the publication schedule for the Trinity Times for the next two months. Please have items to the editor by noon the Sunday prior for inclusion. Thanks!

May 18 – a two week issue
June 1   – a two week issue
June 15  – a two week issue

• Correspondence was received from Mayor Colombo, commending Trinity Church for showing pride in our property and grounds; also Habitat For Humanity in appreciation for $250 from Trinity to sponsor a "table" at the fund drive and dinner, May 1st, and finally, from a grateful recipient who received help from Trinity for an electric bill!
• Special note was also made to Trinity’s trustees of the testamentary gift of Lucy Hoblitzell in the bequest of her home and a monetary sum.
• The Rector reported an invitation from our Bishop that Trinity host the 2001 Diocesan Convention. The Vestry voted a resounding "yes."
• Discussion was heard on Trinity’s Sunday schedule for 1998-99, with the suggestion that Church School and the Adult Forum start at 9:15. Forum would end at 10:00 and Children’s Church School would continue until 10:15. The choir would rehearse at 10. The principal service would then be at 10:30 a.m., returning it to a long accustomed time for Trinity. Coffee Hour would be available throughout the morning, with increased "Coffee Hour" fellowship available to all following the 10:30 service. The 8 o’clock service would remain unchanged, but the revised plan would offer these parishioners and the choir an opportunity to attend a more substantive Adult Forum(s). Also, Fr. Hunter could have the chance to participate in youth fellowship ministries, which the current schedule makes impossible. It was the Vestry’s recommendation to "go forward" with the plans. Discussion will take place with the Worship Committee and others. The new schedule would begin the first Sunday after Labor Day.
• Father Hunter discussed the times he would be away over the next couple of months for Continuing Education, a camp session at Peterkin and vacation.
• The Rector reported on his concern over a sign recently installed by "My Way Lounge," opposite Trinity’s parking lot, which advertises an Adult Book Store. The Vestry heartily endorsed his proposal to write a note of protest to the Mayor, to be signed by all who wish to participate.
• Junior Warden Craig Curry gave an update on work in progress around the church, and included estimates for the renovation and conversion of our existing bell system. It was noted that the latter would be an excellent evangelism tool and make a great memorial!
• Shirley Lawrence-Berrey submitted Pastoral Care reports for February and March. The numbers include clergy activity, Mustard Seeds, Altar Flowers, Heart ‘n Hand and other. They totaled 96 pastoral contacts, 38 hospital visits, 24 home visits and 8 office visits. Other counseling, spiritual direction, teaching, and administration and planning was noted by the Rector.
• Gary Vincent said that the last day of Church School for the season will be Sunday, May 31st, Pentecost. A special celebration will be planned. Trinity is still searching for a Director of Religious Education.
• The Evangelism Committee reported suggestions for the future including a pictorial directory, signs for the inside and outside of the church (progress is being made on the latter), and plans for a parish picnic. Bread was taken to one newcomer family in March.
• Outreach is going well, said Carol Olson, with Easter baskets being well-received, and St. Anne’s Guild continuing with meals for the Good Samaritan Clinic. She and Kim Lantz are serving on the Steering Committee for Habitat For Humanity’s "Women Raise the Roof" project, and planning is on-going for the Group Work Camp this summer.
• The Rector underlined the need for Vestry and committee heads to submit reports two Sundays before Vestry meetings, so that agendas and packets can be properly prepared, and so that we can be good stewards of time at our meetings.
• Fr. Hunter has been chosen the new Dean of the Ohio River Valley Deanery, subject to confirmation by the 1998 Diocesan Convention. The Deanery includes eight churches.
• Due to the Memorial Day holiday Monday May 25th, the next Vestry meeting will be Tuesday May 26th at 7 p.m.

The meeting was concluded with prayer.

                                                                 Faithfully, Betsy Smith

Please Note: The complete minutes of this meeting will be seen on the Trinity Hall bulletin board.

 IN THE DIOCESE of W.V.

• Ecumenical Scripture Workshop, June 21-25 15-19, Bishop Hodges Pastoral Center, Huttonsville, W.Va.

• A Peterkin Reminder!!!  For campers of all ages, the time has come to begin thinking about summer camp at Peterkin. Listed below are the dates of the various camps and conferences offered by the diocese at Peterkin during the summer of 1998. Additional information is available at the Trinity Hall Bulletin Board.

Webmaster note: Coming soon - online calendar of events. If you would like to see a new topic, link, issue, or any other content on this site, please leave a message with one of the webmasters below, or sign the guestbook above. There is a comment box there.

[Home]         Webmasters Craig Curry and Scott Hunter