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Faith @ Fifth
and Juliana
Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,
I am reminded again about the value of biblical counsel, that is to say counsel that we
find when we take the time to explore Scripture and the foundational wisdom contained therein. Matthew
18:15-18 is one of those guiding places for me.
Let me illustrate by going back a few years. I was serving a large parish with a vital
and active Church School program. As I recall it, there was difficulty perceived in one of our classes and the
decision was made not to continue the teacher in that class for the coming year. The decision was made without
malice and believing it was the best thing for all involved. Before making the decision to seek another
teacher, I did not talk with her. I did not heed the counsel of the passage cited above in Matthew.
The teacher was (is) a person of intense personality — intense in faith and prayer as
well — an intensity that could be intimidating. Correctly she came and expressed her hurt and bewilderment.
She pointed out that she had not been treated in the manner Jesus teaches in Matthew. She was hurt and angry,
and it was appropriate that she be.
I could only listen, pray and learn. It mattered not whether the decision was right or
wrong. What mattered was how a child of God and sister in the faith had been treated. It was a hard lesson to
learn, because. She could have just drifted away in her woundedness and hurt, but I am thankful that she
called us together and made her point. It was grace that she loved her Lord, herself, and us enough to do
that. Later, before she left the parish due to a move, she asked to come and speak with me. It was a holy and
healing time which would have never happened if she hadn’t lived the example of Jesus — speaking to others
face-to-face first.
Just last week I was at a meeting. Some things were said in the course of this large
gathering which troubled me deeply. It was hard to pick up the phone and call a person whom I did not know
well and ask for a meeting. It was hard to say that things said in that gathering offended me and seemed to
belittle others. It was made especially hard because I was sure this person was a faithful seeker of living a
Jesus-led life.
Doing what Jesus teaches us isn’t always easy. Jesus never promised that it would be.
We are fearful, often times, because we don’t know how the person will react. Angry? Defensive? Denial?
Ultimately we have to trust that no matter what the reaction our Shepherd will shepherd us through it.
Whether it is something said at a big public gathering, at the water cooler in the
office, at the dinner table, or in the parish hall, when there is a problem, we are hurt, offended, belittled,
implicated unfairly, we have an obligation to seek out the person and speak. If the person doesn’t listen,
bring a couple of others, etc.
“Thank you, Lord, for hard lessons, sometimes hard learned.”
Blessings & peace,
Scott+ |
 ECW Lasagna Dinner:
The Annual Lasagna Dinner is fast approaching. The Dinner is to be Wednesday, February 9th beginning at 6:00 p.m.
There is a sign-up sheet on the Bulletin Board in Trinity Hall. Please sign-up to bring lasagna, salad or dessert.
Also, help is needed to set-up for the dinner at 10:00 a.m. that morning and for clean-up following the dinner. Make
plans to attend a great evening and to sample lots of different lasagna recipes !!
The evening’s entertainment is the trio “Just Us Friends” (Barbara Full, Su Voycik Meredith & Adele
Watson).
Crusade 2000:
The Billy Graham Organization will be sponsoring a Crusade in Parkersburg on April 6th—8th.
Operation Andrew: Operation Andrew is a plan by which Christians pray
for individuals they know who do not know Christ, cultivate friendships with them and ultimately invite them to the
Crusade. Operation Andrew includes 5 recommended steps:
- Look Around: Take a minute and list the names of seven people you
know who need Jesus Christ.
- Look Up: Set aside time each day to pray for these seven people
and for yourself.
- Look Out: Watch for ways to build friendships with these people.
Spend time together having dinner or attending sporting events, etc. These can help establish opportunities to
open the way to talk about Christ.
- Look Forward: Several weeks before the Crusade, invite each one to
go to the crusade with you. Pray that they’ll come with you and follow through with your invitation.
- Look After: Stay close to those who respond to Christ. They will
need your encouragement more than ever. Continue to pray for them.
Rally Concert for Crusade 2000:
The Mid-Ohio Valley Celebration 2000 and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will be
presenting the Light the Fire Rally Feb. 3rd at 7 pm at the Smoot Theater. The evening is the first public event for
the Crusade 2000 and will feature a free concert by well-known musical artist Mark Christian. The concert is free to
the public.
Also featured will be Jim Mullen, who will speak on the two most important tasks of the crusade
for the lay person: Operation Andrew and the Christian Life and Witness classes, which are designed to help church
members bring their faith to new levels of commitment and to teach them how to share their faith with others.
Also if you are interested in being a part of a prayer group for the Crusade, or starting one of
your own, please contact Eric Lawson at 485-5050.
Be a Good Samaritan
There is a sign up sheet in Trinity Hall for those interested in helping with our ongoing ministry to the doctors
and nurses who serve the Good Samaritan Clinic. This is an opportunity to provide a very simple meal for those
volunteers who come to the clinic directly from their work in offices and hospitals. Sandwiches and a sweet treat,
such as cookies, brownies, or fruit, need to be delivered to the Clinic between 5:00 -5:30 PM one day each month
that is designated for Trinity. Those who have participated in the past will see a slight change in the request for
help. We are asking the person who volunteers each month to provide BOTH sandwiches and the sweets. There are no
other requirements and only one person is needed each month. Won't you please sign up now for the months of February
through July? Dates needed for volunteers are February 10th, March 7th, April 13th, May 11, June 8th and July 13th.
If you can help out please sing-up on the Trinity Hall Bulletin Board.
Card Ministry:
Our “card ministry” is in need of cards — “Thinking of You,” “Get Well,” sympathy cards, and such
— please place your donations to this quiet ministry in the basket in Trinity Hall under the bulletin board.
Thanks!
 Palms Needed:
Please start bringing in any palms you may have from last Palm Sunday. These will be burned by Father Hunter and
the ashes used on Ash Wednesday.
 Congratulations !!!!
Kathleen Kafka won first place in the Math competition out of all of the Wood County 4th grade! She won a nice
trophy. She will now advance to the Regional competition of schools. Congratulations Kathleen and Good Luck in the
Regional Competition !!
Congratulations also to Nicholas Curry who won a Third Place trophy in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby races held
Jan. 25th at Emerson School. Nicholas and lots of other Scouts will be racing again this coming Sat., February 5th
at the Grand Central Mall staring at 10 a.m. Congratulations Nicholas !!
Attention Choir!!
All Choir members will need to be at ALL rehearsals possible in order to learn the “Magnificat” by Dr.
Richard Wetzel, Trinity’s Artist/Composer-in-Residence, and the other music chosen for the Jazz Vespers which is
scheduled for St. Cecilia’s next event on Sunday, February 13th at 5:00 P.M.
"Looking at Our Past, With an Eye to Our Future."
The Standing Committee invites you to attend one or both of two open meetings for the purpose of "Looking at
Our Past, With an Eye to Our Future." These meetings will take place on Saturday, February 5, 2000, at 1:00
p.m. at St. Thomas a Becket, Morgantown, and on Sunday, February 6, 2000 at 3:00 p.m. at St. John's, Charleston. The
Standing Committee hopes that these two venues and times will provide the opportunity for all to participate and
focus to reflect frankly and openly upon our history (recent and distant, helpful and hurtful, positive and
negative) in order to move into the future in as healthy a state as possible.
These gatherings will be an opportunity for the clergy and laity of the Diocese to meet Bishop
Vache and to experience some of the gifts and skills he brings to us during this transition time. It is the Standing
Committee’s hope that they will also foster fellowship and collegiality that will strengthen our diocesan family
as we work together towards the election of the Seventh Bishop of West Virginia.
 SOUPER BOWL of CARING:
This past Sunday, Trinity participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring which collected donations to be given to a
charity to help fight hunger in our own community. Trinity’s youth collected $100.00 this past Sunday and the
money will be forwarded to a charity that the children will choose. Thank-you to everyone who participated !
Welcome the Reverend George Allen.
Next Sunday, February 6th we will welcome guest priest the Rev’d George Allen. Father Allen is the associate
editor of Forward Publications, who print the Forward Day by Day publication. Father Allen lives in
Cincinnati, but is a one time resident of Parkersburg. Father Allen will be here for both services as well as for
Adult Forum at 9:15 a.m.
 Woodworkers Needed:
Godly Play is in need of anyone with woodworking capability to help make some more wooden figures to be used
during the stories. If anyone can help please let DRE Connie Waterman know. You can contact her at the church at
422-3362.
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Connie’s
Corner
This past Sunday Craig Curry told the parable of the Mustard Seed. Each child placed a bird and a nest in
the large mustard plant. They also got a seed of their own to take home, as well as a tree they made
themselves out of newspaper. It took the younger ones most of the time to make their trees. The older kids
discussed different reasons the Kingdom of Heaven could be like a mustard seed. They also talked about why
Jesus called it a tree, when it is actually a shrub (a fact that Mr. Curry found in researching the story).
Attendance was somewhat lower than usual due to the nasty weather.
Stay tuned next week when Paul Miller will tell the story "The Leaven" based on Matthew 13:33.
Peace,
Connie |
Please hold these people, events and circumstances in your daily prayers. Also, we encourage you to always say a
prayer for those unknown persons who have no one to pray for them. By-the-way, please remember to renew prayer
requests weekly.
Tom Patrick, Nellie Taylor, Alex Northrup, Bill Mildren, Sr., Donna Tyo, Mazie & Gene Smith, Maggie Crofton,
Gladys Fitcher, Julia Batten, Mary Glen Rice, Julia & Shirley Davis, Dick Smith, Sarah Jane Yates, Selden Stone,
Gene & Periene Oeland, Ann Johnson, Corinne Aymar, Don Northrup, Marjo Hiehle, Walter Kafka, Lexi Grant-Snider,
Justine Eby, Noah & Levi Larimer, Harriett DeHoff, Fred, Gloria Thacker, Edward Aymar, George Cleary, Red &
Evelyn Wood, David & Jane Couch, William Christian, Mark Brown, Jane Gibbons, Dixie Law, Mike Davis, Betsy
Smith, Sandy McKinley, Charles Pearcy, Walter Sowers, Roger Sellers, Beatrice Fritch, Sherry Evans, Carolyn Tedrow,
Leon Valentine and Carma Guertin.
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Ministers for Sunday, February 6, 2000
| Chalice
Bearers: |
Bill Douglas, Sue Ellen Johnson,
Eric Lawson, Kim Couch |
| Lectors: |
Bill Douglas, Lee Fritch,
Jennifer Currey |
| Ushers: |
Hampden Fitcher, Lee Fritch, Jim
Full, Forbes Hiehle |
| Acolytes: |
No schedule available |
| Coffee Hour: |
Forbes Hiehle |
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Proper for Epiphany V
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2 Kings 4:8-37, Psalm 142, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 |
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Altar Guild for January 31
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No Schedule available at present |
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Outreach Items of the Month
 | Peanut butter |
| Canned Vegetables |
Please place in basket at the
back of the church
| Godly Play Schedule:
Next week’s helpers for Godly Play are :
Storyteller: Paul Miller
Greeter: Sandi Lawson
Aunt: Susie Fitcher
Uncle: Forbes Hiehle
If anyone is interested in helping with Godly Play, please contact Connie Waterman at 422-3362. |
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| Daily Prayers and Staff Meetings:
Daily Prayers continue each week day at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend. Staff
Meetings are being held each Monday morning following Daily Prayers. The phones are not answered at this
time so leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. |
Trinity Note Cards:
Thank you for your continued support of the "Trinity Under a Rainbow" Christmas Card and Note Card
sale. We now have both on sale for $10.00 package (10 to a package). If you would like a package
(or two of three.....) call Betty at the church or Barbara Allman at home (295-7328) and we can get them to
you. |
Adult Forum:
Adult Forum continues on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am. We are now studying Luke Chapter
14. Bring a friend and join us !!
Any information for
the Times needs to be to the editor by noon on Sundays. Notes may be left in the mailbox at the
church or sent by email to bcurry@trinity-church.org. |
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![It is with great joy that Trinity Episcopal Church announces a new music series designed to make the highest caliber and variety of music available and accessible to all in the greater Parkersburg community. Beginning in September [September 26 to be exact] Trinity Church will start the inaugural season of the St. Cecilia Music Series. This series will consist of 4 to 8 offerings each year, and the goals will be to offer great music of varied styles.](../images/stcellink.JPG)
The next St. Cecilia performance
will be Sunday, February 13th. The Event will feature a full Jazz Ensemble and Trinity’s own
choir. The program will include the “Magnificat” by Dr. Richard Wetzel, Trinity’s
Artist/Composer-in-Residence.
There is no sign-up
sheet for this St. Cecilia Event, but help is still needed. If any member or non member of the
church would like to help setup please show up at 3:30 p.m. on the 13th or if that's not
convenient help afterward is also needed.
The society is
open to all in the parish and community making a $25.00 contribution (students $10.00). St.
Cecilia Society members will be listed in each program and will be able to attend receptions to
meet the artist or artists following the event. But remember, you don’t have to be a part of
the St. Cecilia Society or Trinity Church to enjoy these fine musical offerings. Please come out
and support this great Series of musical events. We need your continued support in order to
continue the St. Cecilia Series.
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