May09 Pathways

Pathways M ay 2 0 0 9 TR IN I TY PRE S BY TER IA N C HURC H

THANK YOU SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS! TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN STAFF

There are few things in life that are rewarded heavily, and being a Sunday School teacher is certainly not one of them. We would like to honor our teachers with an appreciation ceremony held during worship service on May 17, 2009.

Pastor Gary Hanson These teachers not only teach on Sundays, but also prepare their lesHome: (651) 501-1820 sons ahead of time, bringing their own materials in from home to use Cell: (651) 373-1821 [email protected] for class. If you were to walk the halls of the Christian Education wing

of our church during Sunday School, you can bet on seeing bright and smiling faces of children that are having fun and learning about their Administrator/Pastoral faith. Care Coordinator Dee Lindblom Mon-Fri 8:30am-2:00pm [email protected] Cell:(651) 353-6724 Christian Education Director Carmen Speich

Most of our teachers teach in a team, sharing the duties between families. But one family that has taken on the entire Sunday School class on their own is Curtis and Kris Crouse teaching their second year in a row. The Crouses taught the 2-3 grade classes and have only missed one Sunday during the entire year!

Another family team is Amy and Brian Fisher who team up to teach the 4-6 grade classes. The other team for the 4-6 grade class is led [email protected] by Pat Kimbrough. Cell: (715) 310-7006 Church Musician Joyce Piper Choir Director Neal Strand Seminary Intern Joa Sevlie Cell: (952) 303-2679

Teaching the Kindergarden and First Grade classes are Karen Werden and Carmen Speich. And back for their second year in a row teaching the pre-school class is Sara Finn and Lori Anderson. We thank our Sunday School teachers for their hard work, dedication and compassion for every child. We are sincerely grateful for all of our dedicated teachers for all they do for the children of our congregation. Please join us on May 17, 2009 to honor these caring Sunday School instructors during worship.

Child Care Providers Ali Peterson Nicole Rucker

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY 2125 Tower Drive Woodbury MN 55125 Phone & Fax: (651) 738-0045

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 (ESV)

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MUSINGS AND AMUSINGS FROM THE PASTOR… Pastor Hanson is on sabbatical leave until mid-July 2009.

PASTORAL CARE MESSAGE Each Day is a Gift “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” - Psalm 118:24

Recently, while at the Augusta Health Care Center in Hastings, I saw stenciled on a wall the phrase “Each day is a gift.” These five little words really touched me, and I thought how very true they are. Each day truly is a gift from God; therefore, how we spend each one is important. Each day is one more chance to let our loved ones know just how special they are. Each one allows us time to try something new, to expand our horizons. A brand new day is an opportunity to do something for someone else, to make a difference, to help create a better world. Everyday is a precious endowment, and each morning we should be thankful for the gift of another day of life. We should never a single day for granted. Instead, gratefully spend precious time with your family. Take notice of the trees bursting with buds and “smell the roses.” Savor the splendor of a magnificent sunrise or sunset, and maybe even walk in the rain. Each day holds the promise of a fresh new start. Make each one count. Ask yourself, what can I learn today? What can I do for someone else? How can I make even a small difference in the world? In the midst of unemployment and economic woes, how can I lift someone’s spirits or put a smile on another’s face? This is the day the Lord has made! We don’t know how many tomorrows we will be blessed with, so let’s look upon each new day as something special, and treat each other as though it were our last day on earth. Blessings, Dee Lindblom From June 5 through August 21, the Friday Women’s • Mothers, Daughters and Wives in Israel Study Group will be reading Sketches of Jewish Social • Synagogues: Their Origin and Structure Life by Alfred Edersheim. As is usually the case during the summer months, each week will be a “stand The following has been written about the book: alone” study to accommodate the summer schedules “Edersheim’s notes remain indispensable for unlocking of individuals. Examples of chapters include: the mysteries of the ancient world. Always sensitive to the priority of God’s Word, he takes the reader • Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago back to the Bible time and again to show the author• Galilee at the Time of our Lord ity behind his writing.”

• Jewish Homes • The Upbringing of Jewish Children • Jewish Views on Trade, Tradesmen and Guilds

The book is a wonderful hardcover version and includes many maps and drawings. They are available for $10.50. Please call Beth R. Hanson if you’re interested (651) 501-1820. New women always welcome.

Attend our second International Dinner at Ewan and Joann Ha’s. The theme is Korean Bul-goghee (barbecue). Recipes will include various beef and pork barbecues. Please plan to attend this Korean barbecue dinner on the June 20, 2009 at 6 pm. Let’s enjoy fellowship together along with Korean cuisine! If you have any questions, please contact Ewan and Joann anytime: 651-393-2842; Address: 3546 Sunbury Drive, Woodbury.

MAY 2009

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Committees Adult Education Marnelle Anderson 7353287 Building & Grounds Greg VanderVeer 739-3032 Christian Education Kirk Breen 436-4212 Clerk of Session Pat Kimbrough 714-0704 Communications Susan Jamison 578-7100 Long Range Planning Darryl Willison 739-2674 Mental Health Group Dee Lindblom 738-0045 or 353-6724 [email protected] Mission & Action Pat Channer 735-7741 Moderator of Deacons Cheri McCreary 735-9094 Newsletter Mark Allen 204-3188 [email protected] Nominating Stacie Anderson 612-483-2630 Nursery Coordinator Tina Hacker 714-9671 Pastoral Care Gary Hanson 738-0045 Personnel Steve Theiss 578-9348 Prayer Chain Dee Lindblom 738-0045 or 353-6724 [email protected] Shared Ministry Wilson Ekinde 501-3661 Special Events Barb Freeman 731-1220 Stewardship & Finance Jay Wilkinson 731-7607 Worship Ruth Bloom 739-0715

By Carmen Speich, CE Director Easter Breakfast Raises $400 A big thank you to the Trinity congregation for attending the Easter Breakfast to support the Youth Mission fund. Thank you also to Sue Bergeron, Dave Behler and Lori Anderson for their help. 30 Hour Famine On March 27 and 28, six members from the Trinity Youth Group joined me in participating in the 30 Hour Famine, which is sponsored by the non-profit organization World Vision. Beginning at noon on Friday, the students ate no food until Sunday evening. We broke the fast with pancakes and a porridge that is fed to malnourished children throughout the world.

some games that involved quite a high level of competition. Our students rose to the challenge, and could be seen fighting for their team to the bitter end. The several games that we played put team “Columbia” in the lead, but team “Ecuador” proved their worth the next morning as we went to seek out donations. Going door to door in Woodbury communities, the 4 person team of To keep our minds off of our “Peru” gathered over $200 in dogrumbling tummies, we kept busy nations for World Vision. Their with many activities. We broke up competition was close behind with into 2 teams and simulated some over $150. We were pleased with real-life situations by playing the generosity of many residents and enjoyed talking to them about the cause. Later in the day, our group went to spend some time in the Christian Cupboard, the nearby food shelf located in Woodbury Lutheran Church. There we were in charge of unpacking boxes of canned foods and sorting them into the stacks of shelves that lined the food closet. Although we were fading from hunger, we worked hard and well together, and Barbara, our liaison from the Cupboard said that we were “the best and hardest working group” that she has ever worked with. That sat well with us too! (Continued on page 4)

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MISSION AND ACTION NEWS Sixteen Thousand Baptized!? At one point, “graveyard of mission” was the derogatory term given to the state of Bihar in northern India. These days, people are beginning to refer to it as the “vineyard of mission.” Presbyterians (through Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship) are coming alongside the Bihar Outreach Network (BORN) to join in what God is doing there. BORN is an umbrella organization for a number of local mission groups. In 2000, BORN saw 1,250 people baptized. In 2005, there were 8,130 and in 2007, there were 16,125! How is this coming about? For one thing, women are coming to faith and influencing their families. A female evangelist was visiting a woman in her village whose son was about to die. Her husband was in the city working. The boy’s mother had done everything she knew to do, which meant making offerings and sacrifices to many different gods. The evangelist prayed for healing in Jesus’ name. When she returned later, the boy had been healed. The boy’s mother threw away the idols and began to follow Jesus. When her husband came home, he found his son healed. Then he asked what had happened to the idols. His wife told him that Jesus, not the idols, had healed their son, so she had thrown away the idols. What did her husband do? He became a follower as well! Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the work you are doing in the lives of people in Bihar. Thank you for the many who are now following you and are seeing their lives transformed. Deepen and continue your work there. Bless the efforts of the BORN workers and of Presbyterians who are coming alongside them. Deepen your work in our own lives as well. We pray in your name. Amen. - From the 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study it seemed so much more personal, like they were rejecting us. And when they gave We found that the hardest part of not eating for us donations, there was a joy because we knew a small bit of what the children in those impov30 hours came when we had to cook the food for our dinner. The aroma and food in front of erished countries were going through. This experience has given me a new appreciation our eyes proved to be the most challenging. Overall, I was extremely impressed by our stu- for the people we fundraise for so often.” dents that took part in the famine: Jana How“I was starving at the end. I would do this ell, Kate Radzwill, Laura Behler, Nick again. During this I could hear God talking Behler, Josh Anderson and Stephanie to me and pushing me to not quit. It was a Schenck. (My fiancé Mark also joined us for great experience.” the famine and was a help to the “Ecuador” “The 30 Hour Famine was supposed to teach us team!) about what it was like in impoverished counReflections from students tries facing hunger. While I did feel hungry, I didn’t feel like it was a fair representation of “…The thing that affected me the most was what they face in those countries like Ecuador how when we were going door to door asking for donations, every time we were rejected (Continued on page 6) (Continued from page 3)

MAY 2009

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STEWARDSHIP CORNER I recently read a book entitled “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” by Robert Schnase, a United Methodist minister. Many of us have come to think of stewardship as a one-time-per-year drive to raise funds for the budget. I think this book deals with the topic of Stewardship in its broader interpretation. The five practices are: 1. Radical Hospitality, 2. Passionate Worship, 3. Intentional Faith Development, 4. Risk Taking Mission and Service, 5. Extravagant Generosity. The following is a short synopsis of the first practice. I plan to cover others in future months of this column. Radical Hospitality Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. It describes a genuine love for others who are not yet a part of the faith community; an outward focus, a reaching out to those not yet known, a love that motivates church members to openness and adaptability, willingness to change behaviors in order to accommodate the needs and receive the talents of newcomers. Beyond intention, hospitality practices the gracious love of Christ, respects the dignity of others, and expresses God's invitation to others, not our own. Radical means "drastically different from the ordinary practice, outside the normal," and so it provokes practices that exceed expectations, that go the second mile, that take welcoming the stranger to the max. It means people offering the absolute utmost of themselves, their creativity, their abilities, and their energy to offer the gracious invitation and reception of Christ to others. Jay Wilkinson, Stewardship and Finance Committee Chair “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” - 1 John 3:17

Financials Mar 2009

Month Actual

YTD Actual

Year Budget

Total Program Donations

$22,372.91

$58,442.03

$259,562.45

Total Program Expenditures

$20,982.11

$61,139.72

$259,520.38

Donations Less Expenses

$1,390.80

($2,697.69)

$42

Bldg Expansion Donations

$5,464.25

$13,916.66

Bldg Expansion Expenses

$7,053.00

$21,159.00

Mortgage Balance

$801,214.35

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PARISH PERSONALS


The Sacrament of Baptism was administered to Ella Rose Markovitz on April 12.




Memorial services will be held on May 16, 2009 at 11 am, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2125 Tower Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125 for Bob Craft. Lunch will be served following the service.




DID YOU NOTICE THE NEWLY PAINTED GUEST SIGN-IN REGISTER? Our thanks to the very talented Evie Ryden for giving it a fresh, more welcoming look.

MAY BIRTHDAYS 1

Jeff Brown

12

Aleena Stevens

Leslie VanderVeer Alex Espe

5

Madison Knott

13

Bob Channer

Brianne McKenna

Gretchen White

Ateh Ekinde

Deanna Behler

Barb Freeman

Cheyanne Williams

Ethan Bensen

Sue Schenck

Mary Neal

24

Alan Klink

Ruth Bloom

25

Eyana Mosisa

9

Cheri McCreary

26

Karen Werden

10

Brenda Medd

28

Laurissa Stevens

11

Brendan Finn

(Continued from page 4)

and Columbia. We did see the startling effects of lack of food… being easily irritated or laughing too easily. It did raise awareness. But I don’t think that the time was long enough. What surprised me most was what a big role food played in our lives. Going to the food shelf was good too. But there’s so much less to do when there isn’t food to eat. It did teach me and raised awareness and it was a good experience. I’m glad we did it.” “For me, the challenge was imagining that these children face this famine every sin-

gle day. After the 30 Hours, I was able to stuff my face. But for these children, they don’t know when their next meal will be. I can’t even imagine.” “It was really fun as well because everyone was willing to participate and after awhile without food people got a little crazy. I personally wasn’t all that hungry. However, I don’t feel like I truly experienced what it was like to be starving or what many poor families feel. I think we should make it longer. I’m very glad I had the opportunity to appreciate all that I have and how fortunate I am.”

MAY 2009

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HEALTHY MIND MATTERS DID YOU KNOW? Stigma can result in inadequate health insurance coverage for mental health services. Stigma can lead to discrimination in employment and housing.

“Normal’s Overrated” An Anti-Stigma Campaign against Mental Illness Fans of the TV drama HOUSE may recognize the slogans “Normal’s Overrated” and “Everybody Lies” as “House-isms.” According to HOUSE executive producer Katie Jacobs, both phrases are also messages about the stigma that surrounds mental illness. “Mental illness is stigmatized and misunderstood in our society,” she said, “and we’re trying to do something about that.”

There will be no Mental Health & Wellness event in May. Plan to attend the presentation on PSTD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in Childhood on Monday, June 22, at 6:30 pm.

When referring to someone who has a mental illness, “stigma” is commonly defined as the use of stereotypes and labels when describing that person, but stigma is not just the misuse of words and information. Stigma is about disrespect and the use of negative labels to identify such a person. Stigma builds barriers. Fear of stigma and the resulting discrimination often discourages individuals and their families from getting the help they need. The Department of Health and Human Services estimate that 22 to 23 percent of the U.S. population experience a mental disorder in any given year, but almost half of them do not seek treatment. In fact, many people would rather tell employers they committed a petty crime and served time in jail, than admit to being in a psychiatric hospital. This stigma obviously makes recovery more difficult, and it is also a great social injustice. Stigma can lead to fear, mistrust, and violence against people living with mental illness.

Recently, celebrities and public figures have more openly discussed their personal experiences with depression, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. The stories of well-known people like Mike Wallace, Glenn Close, Larry King, and Patty Duke are significant in fighting stigma and portraying a clearer picture of mental illness. Hugh Laurie, who stars as Dr. Gregory House in the TV series HOUSE, has also spoken out about his own battle with depression. The cast and producers of HOUSE have taken things a step further, and last year launched a promotion to fight the stigma associated with mental illness while also benefitting the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Last year, T-shirts that said “Everybody Lies” on the front were sold, and the proceeds were donated to NAMI to fund its work in education, support, and advocacy. The 2009 T-shirt, with "Normal Is Overrated" across the front, is now available. Go to www.nami.org if you would like to purchase a T-shirt and help the cause of promoting a positive image of people with mental illness. On Sunday, May 31st, after church we will head to Lake Elmo Park Reserve for a picnic. Bring the whole family, picnic food to share and chairs or blankets to sit on. Lake Elmo Park Reserve is located at 1515 Keats Avenue. There is a huge playground near a small shelter. Are you willing to go out to the park early, to enjoy the morning, while being our “first come first serve” at the shelter? If you are interested, please call Barb Freeman (731-1220). If it is a warm day there is also a swimming pond near the playground. The fee for the park is $5 for the day or a $25 annual fee per car. Signup in the welcome area to let us know you are coming. In case of rain we will have our picnic at the church in the fellowship hall.

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The newsletter is also available on the church website: http://www.trinitywoodbury.org

Trinity Presbyterian Church 2125 Tower Dr Woodbury MN 55125 651-731-0038 [email protected]

Next Newsletter Deadline: May 15, 2009

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Pastoral Care Christian Education Mission & Action News Stewardship Corner

ACTIVITIES AT TRINITY 2 3 4

Sunday Schedule Education Hour 9:00 am Worship 10:00 am

Fellowship and Coffee 5 11:00 am

Birthdays and Events

Jr/Sr High 6 Education 11:00 am

Healthy Mind Matters

7

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May Schedule May 3 Communion

Upcoming Events May 1-2 Trinity Rummage Sale

May 10 Mother’s Day

May 10 Spirituals Music Service

May 17 Sunday School Teachers’ Appreciation

May 31 All Church Picnic at Lake Elmo Park following Worship

May 24 May 31

Child care is available during worship service

Additional parking is available in New Horizon’s parking lot directly across from Trinity and by parking along one side of the driveway.