Work & Worship - Amazon S3
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Trinity United Methodist Church
North Shore Messenger
Work & Worship
Pastor’s Letter May 2019
Pages 2-3
Spring Sermon Series
Page 4
Confirmation Class of 2019
Page 5
Capital Campaign Update
Page 6
A Message from Our Missionary to Senegal
Page 7
A Just Harvest
Page 8
Wilmette Food Pantry
Page 9
Disciple Bible Study
Page 10
Judicial Council Decision
Page 11
Page 2 Work & Worship From Pastor Brian Smith Dear Trinity Friends, If you know anything about the Medici family, you probably know they supported the arts during the Italian Renaissance. Artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci enjoyed the patronage of the Medici family. The Medicis also commis- sioned Piero del Pollaiuolo and Sandro Botticelli to paint The Seven Virtues, seen in the picture. The seven life-size panels decorated the Mercatanzia high courtroom in Florence, a place where trade disputes and financial matters were settled. The beautiful en- throned women personify faith, hope, and love (theological virtues) and courage, prudence, temperance, and justice (cardinal virtues). The size and placement of the panels indicate the importance of virtue in such “worldly” economic matters as commerce and banking. The figures in The Seven Virtues are wearing clothes that were typical for noble women in fifteenth-century Florence. It is the artists’ way of declaring the importance of virtue in that specific context.
Page 3 Work & Worship Likewise, we need virtues in our context. By practicing them in our daily lives, the virtues become “second-nature,” part of who we are. Just as athletes and musicians practice regularly to be at their best for a game or performance, we must practice Christian virtues consistently so that we are at our best as Christians. When we face moral decisions, such as confronting a dishonest coworker or making an end-of-life decision, we may have access to many resources that can supply infor- mation to us. However, what is crucial is knowing how to make use of that infor- mation in a morally responsible way. What we need to know is what a good person would think of our choices. As Robin Lovin says: “When you think about the kind of person you want to be when everybody else is pulling you in different directions, you are rehearsing themes of virtue that go all the way back to Augustine and Aristotle.”1 Typically, we learn virtues from our relationship with other people. By their exam- ple, parents, teachers, friends, and mentors teach us the virtues that sustain those re- lationships. The question: “What Jesus do?” also comes to mind. As Paul says in Ephesians 4:13: “God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ.” What kind of person do you want to be? Practice what it takes to be that kind of per- son over and over. As virtues become second nature to us, we grow into the fullness of Christ. With God’s help, we become a truly magnificent work of art. Yours in Christ, Rev. Dr. Brian C. Smith 1Robin W. Lovin, An Introduction to Christian Ethics: Goals, Duties, Virtues (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2011), 210.
Page 4 Work & Worship Spring Sermon Series This Spring, Pastor Brian will be leading a new 8-week series called “The Wisdom of Winnie the Pooh.” During the series, we will explore Christian virtues through the adventures of Pooh Bear and his friends. Each week, we will focus on a specific character from the Hundred Acre Wood. Connecting these playful character studies to the message of Scripture can show us something deeper about the Christian life from Pooh’s trusting nature and Piglet’s courage in the face of fear to Eeyore’s realism and Tigger’s joyful exuberance. Just as Pooh loves his honey, the Bible sweetens life for us: “Your word is so pleasing to my taste buds—it’s sweeter than honey in my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, CEB). The underlying wisdom of Winnie the Pooh, according to Bruce Epperly, is a “gentle providence” that connects each moment of life with our “original wholeness.”1 April 28 Pooh Bear Mark 10:23-31 May 5 (Communion/Confirmation)Christopher Robin Matthew 18:1-5 May 12 (Mothers’ Day) Kanga & Roo Hebrews 13:1-3, 5b May 19 Piglet Matthew 14:22-33 May 26 Eeyore 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 16-18 June 2 (Communion) Rabbit Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 June 9 (Pentecost) Tigger Philippians 4:4-9 June 16 (Trinity) Owl James 3:13-18 1 Bruce Epperly, The Gospel According to Winnie the Pooh (Aurora, CO: Noesis Press, 2016), 11.
Page 5 Work & Worship Confirmation Class of 2019 Blessings to our Confirmands! Ty Frank, Preston Lodolce, and Isabelle Bonaguidi (front row left to right) were confirmed on Sun., May 5. We also appreciate the minis- try of the Confirmation leaders — Ray Stone, Mitchell Petersen, and Ellen Gotelli (back row left to right).
Page 6 Work & Worship Capital Campaign Update It’s been one year since Trinity celebrated the end of our Capital Campaign to raise funds for numerous building improvements and renovations. As of April 13, 2019, pledges total $820,465 and Trinity has received $440,690. Below is a summary of the completed, contracted, and planned work. Completed projects: -Replacement of air conditioning for Sanctuary $12,750 -Roof repair $144,315 Including the Memorial Garden east high and low slate roofs; high slate roof north side of Parish House; low slate roof on south side of the Sanctuary; and low slate roof over south organ loft. Contracted work: -Repair of interior east Sanctuary masonry wall – scheduled for June $29,890 -Stairwell Enclosure – scheduled for August $240,011 Total completed/contracted work $426,966 Future Projects: -Parlor Kitchen – Drawings have been completed and have been sent to contractors for pricing. Cabinets, appliances, finishes are being selected. Summer completion date is targeted. -Parsonage Kitchen (1010 Lake Ave.) – Drawings have been started for a complete re- modeling of the original kitchen.
Page 7 Work & Worship A Message from Our Missionary to Senegal Last Fall, our Pumpkin Patch raised money for the agricultural ministry in Senegal, West Africa. Recently, we received a letter from David Makobo, the United Methodist missionary over- seeing the agricultural education initiative. The pumpkins we sell in Wilmette has a global impact! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ from Trinity UMC, Thank you so much for the donation you made to the agriculture pro- ject in 2018. I am so blessed to have you as a donor to this pro- ject. With the help of caring people, such as yourself, wonders are happening among small scale farmers that I am serving here in Sene- gal. Every kind of support you provided (spiritual, moral, financial, etc.) enabled us to achieve all that we have done for the glory of God As you might know, farmers I serve have only agricultural activities as sources of generating some income. Your donation enables me to train them in sustainable agriculture and basic financial stewardship, give them some micro-loans for them to purchase seeds and supplies, and sometimes a specified donation also contributes to my salary. In addition, many of the wives of men in our agriculture program requested training, and we have increased our en- rollment by 50 women from one village alone, which was all we felt we could accommodate. The income their efforts generate has helped them to improve their lives and their health sig- nificantly. We also teach them basic financial skills and health training as well. You are part of the lives of these farmers' families and the success I have been making. I really thank God for that. As the Senegal Mission Initiative transitions to becoming a district in the Cote d'Ivoire An- nual Conference, many changes are required which make my position as Mission Administra- tor more challenging. In the past, there were up to three couples serving as missionaries. Cur- rently, I am the sole commissioned missionary for Senegal. My wife Soulange is not a com- missioned missionary but helps where her skills permit. Your continued support is very much appreciated. May God continue to bless you richly. Yours faithfully, David Makobo
Page 8 Work & Worship A Just Harvest Trinity’s next turn in the kitchen is Friday, May 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. To help serve dinner, contact Diane Roberts (robert_dv@yahoo.com or 513-255-0589) if you have questions or want to carpool. Thanks to those who served dinner at A Just Harvest on Friday, April 19: Tom Board, Denny Roberts, Bob and Marion Wulff from Trinity, and Andrew Duback from Glenview UMC. Thanks also to Laura Cook for shopping and delivering the food on April 18. Visit www.ajustharvest.org for more about feeding hungry people in Rogers Park.
Page 9 Work & Worship Wilmette Food Pantry
Page 10 Work & Worship Disciple Bible Study A group is forming to meet Saturday mornings beginning in June and running until next May. The 34-week DISCIPLE curriculum is a systematic reading of 60% of the Bible with a workbook and videos to assist understanding and interpretation. Group discussion is central to this study - we learn from each other how to find God in the Bible. This study is an excellent "deeper reading" of the texts that shape our Christian faith and heritage. Come and "search the Scriptures" as Jesus taught us! Contact Tom Board (tom@trinitywilmette.org or 847-436-0580) to learn more or to re- serve your seat.
Page 11 Work & Worship
Judicial Council Decision
on the Traditional Plan
The Judicial Council, the top-court of the United Methodist Church, upheld about
half of the Traditional Plan, including the ban on LGBTQ marriage and ordination
and related mandatory penalties.
The leaders of Trinity Church find that
the Traditional Plan sets forth a vision for
the church that is too narrow and puni-
tive. The Trinity Church Council has en-
dorsed a proposal to support the North-
ern Illinois Conference in talks among
centrist and progressive United Method-
ists in the United States to consider op-
tions.
Trinity Church continues to be “a welcoming community of compassion and faith.”
As a reconciling congregation, we welcome people of all sexual orientations and
gender identities and expressions.
1024 Lake Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-251-7333
www.trinitywilmette.org
We are a Reconciling Congregation. Our welcome and compassion extend to all who seek God, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, economic status, education, family
structure, religious background, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.You can also read
