February 2017

Volume 24 No. 6

A ministry of the Reformed

Church in America

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Bible Study dates 5

Birthdays & Anniversaries 6

Breakfast Schedule 6

Calendar 7

Cancer Walks 6

Christian Book Review 5

Consistory 2&3

Lectionary Readings 5

Missionaries 4

Pastor’s Message 2

TRWM 6

Valentine puzzle 4

Deadline for March

Issue: February 15

Jana DiPiazza, Secretary:

trcsecretary5330@gmail.com

Carl Warn, Editor

cwarn18@rochester.rr.com

The Commitment Newsletter of TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH Seeking HIS Light… Reflecting HIS Love

To put loved ones and other prayer

concerns on the TRC prayer chain, both phone

and email, please call Gail DeWolf at 377-4629.

“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football

game, help us be mindful of those who are without a

bowl of soup to eat.” This simple prayer made by one

youth group in 1990 in South Carolina, has inspired a

movement to help hungry people around the world.

This year’s Super Bowl takes place on February 5th,

2017. Sadly, the Bills didn’t make it again, but it will

be Trinity’s first Souper Bowl of Caring Luncheon.

Look for a sign-up sheet to bring your favorite

homemade soup in a crockpot. Or sign up to bring a salad, bread or soup

crackers. Or just bring yourself! Come to enjoy a bowl or two of delicious

soup with each other. By the way, you will be home in plenty of time to

watch the Big Game!

…And don’t forget….bring a canned item with $1.00 wrapped around it to

donate to our community food cupboard.

Barb Schild

2

This is my commandment,

that you love one another as

I have loved you. No one

has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for

one’s friends. You are my

friends if you do what I

command you. I do not call

you servants any longer,

because the servant does

not know what the master is

doing; but I have called you

friends, because I have

made known to you

everything that I have heard

from my Father (John

15:12–15).

Peace to you. The friends

send you their greetings.

Greet the friends there, each

by name (3 John 15).

This is a friendly church. We enjoy

each other. We love each other. We

welcome into that enjoyment and

love all who come through our

doors. Of course, we’re not perfect

in our friendliness. We sometimes

fall short in how we demonstrate

our friendship with and for each

other. Even so, a big part of who

we are is seen in the friendship we

place near the center of our life

together.

I think there are good, biblical

reasons for all this.

Jesus told his disciples that they

were no longer merely servants.

They were his friends. Servants

merely obeyed commands. Friends,

however, expressed love. The

Greek word for “friend” is closely

related to words for affection and

love. So when Jesus called the

disciples “friends” and no longer

servants, he was deepening his

relationship to them by making it

one of fondness and love. So fond

of them was he that he would

welcome them into his confidence.

From the very start, it seem, the

Christian community came to

understand themselves as friends to

each other.

It was not the only way they came

to describe their relationship. They

drew, as well, on images from the

family: “brothers and sisters”.

They spoke in terms of the the

body: “parts,” “members,” “ears”

and “eyes” and “feet” and “hand”

with Christ himself as the “head.”

Some images came from the farm:

“sheep” and “lambs” dependent

upon the “Good Shepherd.”

The image of friendship is another

such image. Really, it appears to be

a minor one in the Bible. Yet it is

there, exercising some small yet

important influence over the ways

in which Christians understand

themselves and treat each other.

Maybe, hopefully, even Christians

like us.

Let us celebrate this image of

“friend” and learn from it. Inspired

by it, let us choose to show

Christlike fondness and

responsibility for each other. And

let us acknowledge that we are

friends with each other first of all

because Jesus chose to be friends

with us.

Christ’s peace,

Pastor Dan

dgriswol@rochester.rr.com

.2017 Consistory

Minister of Word & Sacrament:

The Rev. Dr. Dan Griswold

Elders: Ed Allatt, VP

Evelyn Ghyzel

Yi-Fen Lee

Pat Peters

John Stratton

Deacons:

Kelly Bradshaw, Clerk

Jeannetta Kinmond

Bonnie Magin

Mary Robinson

Larry Scheerens

~ ~ ~

Treasurer: Marge Magans

Benevolence Secr’y: Steve Letter

Financial Secr’y: Greg Halsey

Consistory Member

for the Week of

February 5 tbd

February 12 Ed Allatt

February 19 Pati Peters

February 26 tbd

3

Consistory welcomed the new members at

their meeting on January 17th. The

following offices and committee liaisons

were elected / appointed:

~ Consistory Clerk, Kelly Bradshaw

~ Vice President, Ed Allatt

~ Treasurer, Marge Magans

~ Asst. Treasurer, Kelly Bradshaw

~ Benevolence Treasurer, Steve Letter

~ Finance Secretary, Greg Halsey

~ Classis Elder Delegate, Larry

Sheerens

~ Alternate, Pat Peters

Committee Liaisons:

~ Building and Grounds, Bonnie Magin

~ Education, Pat Peters

~ Personnel, Ed Allatt

~ Outreach, Pat Peters

~ Fellowship, Jeannetta Kinmond

~ Worship and Music, Ed Allatt

~ TRWM, Mary Robinson

~ Mission, Larry Sheerens

~ TRC Cares, Bonnie Magin

Appreciation was expressed to the choir for

their wonderful contribution to worship. It

was noted that Christmas Eve music was

beautiful, their hard work shows!

Appreciation was also expressed to Marge

Magans for her tireless service as

Treasurer. That is a big job and we

appreciate her continuing in that position.

We are looking forward to serving the

church and making this a year of

meaningful worship, friendship, and

spiritual growth!

Kelly Bradshaw, Clerk

Brighton Churches for Habitat Coalition

Easter Candy Sale Once again, we will be selling Easter candy

to support our next Habitat build. We will

be taking orders beginning February 5

through February 19 in the Fellowship

Hall. Payment can be made by cash or check when the order is

placed. Orders will be ready for pick-up at Trinity in early April.

Please support this mission to help provide a home for a deserving

Rochester family as Brighton Churches work together with Flower

City Habitat and future homeowners to transform neighborhoods,

one street at a time.

It is not too early to think about the

Summer season at Camp Fowler. A

session of camping at our Synod of

Albany’s Camp Fowler can be a

wonderful time of fun and spiritual

growth. Registrations are now open and

being accepted for 2017.

Consult the web site

(www.campfowler.org) for information

regarding registration, the various

sessions offered, or perhaps to consider volunteering. [Jana

DiPiazza is also a good resource if you have questions about those

opportunities.]

Church World Service In the face of natural disasters, violence, or

grinding poverty, Hygiene Kits can mean the

difference between sickness and health for

struggling families.

Again, this year we ask for the following items

to assemble each Hygiene Kit:

One wide-tooth comb

One finger or toe nail clipper

One bar of soap (BATH size in wrapper)

One toothbrush (in original packaging)

Standard size Band-Aids® (10 go in each kit)

No hand towels or washcloths are needed this year due to last

year's generosity. They will be accepted if you would like to

donate for next year.

4

Missionary Friends Wayne & Miho Jansen

Tokyo Union Theological

Seminary (TUTS) trains

pastors for congregations

of the United Church of

Christ in Japan (Kyodan).

As a homeroom teacher

for the freshman class,

Wayne Jansen gets to

know newcomers to the

seminary and provides

pastoral care for them through their time at TUTS. He

also works with the seminary’s Clinical Pastoral

Education program. Miho Jansen has a degree in

linguistics and has taught English in Japan and Japanese

at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Miho teaches

English part-time at a Christian high school, helps the

faculty and staff translate articles and documents, and

often entertains students and church members at home.

Miho and Wayne met at a worship service at Yokohama

Union Church in 1986. They have twin sons, Manato

Thomas and Megumu David.

Wayne serves in partnership with the United Church of

Christ in Japan.

JJ & Tim Tenclay The TenClays work in the

region of Palermo, Sicily.

JJ is a social action

worker, developing

partnerships with medical,

mental health, substance

abuse recovery,

governmental, and social

service entities as well as

ministries focused on

meeting the physical, spiritual, and socioeconomic

needs of the more than 500,000 migrants in the area,

most of whom are from Africa and the Middle East.

Tim hosts visiting RCA groups and individuals,

connecting them with the Waldensian Church. He also

interprets for refugee resource ministries.

The TenClays serve in partnership with the Waldensian

Church in Italy.

5

CHRISTIAN BOOK REVIEW

by Marion Crump Spencer

Twelve Ordinary Men, by Bible teacher and

author, John MacArthur, offers amazing insights

into the personalities of the select men who

walked with Jesus. The subtitle, How the Master

Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He

Wants to Do with You certainly piqued my

curiosity even more. MacArthur shared that the

book was born from a series he taught called, The

Master’s Men. It seemed that many seekers were intrigued by the motley

crew who followed Jesus and established the church.

The thing which is mostly intriguing is that these men are like us. The

Bible shares their failures, triumphs, and endearing features to further

expose their commonality with us. Considered to be outsiders by the

religious establishment, they spanned the political spectrum from

Zealots, radicals who were determined to overthrow Roman rule, a tax

collector, who was a traitor to the Jewish nation, childhood friends and

fishermen from Capernaum, and tradesmen. They established their home

base in Galilee rather than Jerusalem or Judea which were political

capitals of the region. This book explores what personality trait each of

these men had which made him suited for his role in spreading the

gospel.

Reading this book may correct many misgivings about these men.

MacArthur clearly outlines the selection process Jesus must have

utilized. These twelve men were a few of the multitude of disciples who

followed Jesus and listened to His teachings. They did not do this full

time initially, but listened to Him when time allowed in their schedules.

Next, Jesus called them to leave everything and follow Him as recorded

in Luke 6 and Matthew 10. Then Jesus selected twelve men out that

group of full time disciples identifying them as His apostles. Then Jesus

began His focus on personal instruction and gave them “authority and

miracle power”. Finally, He sent them out on short-term mission

assignments. They came back and reported on their successes and

failures. After Jesus arose and ascended, they went out on their own for

good. As they graduated from disciple to apostle, their assignment

became to take the message to the world.

A particularly profound statement MacArthur makes is, “…the task they

were called to, and not anything about the men per se, is what makes

them so important.” Then he proceeded to share the character traits of

most of the apostles and which traits Jesus used and molded to shape the

apostle for his task in building the kingdom. He even addresses Judas’

role in an illuminating discussion of free will.

This was truly fascinating and life altering reading. Twelve Ordinary

Men offers hope to us all that we can be used to build the kingdom

through the power of the Holy Spirit. Read it and be assured that your

personality traits are vital to building God’s kingdom.

“..Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit…” Zechariah 4: 6

Readings from the Revised Common

Lectionary - YEAR A

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany February 5, 2017:

Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12);

Psalm 112:1-9 (10);

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16);

Matthew 5:13-20

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany February 12, 2017:

Deuteronomy 30:15-20;

Psalm 119:1-8;

1 Corinthians 3:1-9;

Matthew 5:21-37

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany February 19, 2017:

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18;

Psalm 119:33-40;

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23;

Matthew 5:38-48

Transfiguration Sunday February 26, 2017:

(Last Sunday before Lent)

Exodus 24:12-18;

Psalm 2 or Psalm 99;

2 Peter 1:16-21;

Matthew 17:1-9

February 3 & 17

6

2/7 Phil Peters

2/8 Norma Koper

2/9 Mary Robinson

2/13 Kayla Short

2/13 Gary Bricault

2/15 Sam Manuele

2/18 Cathy Almekinder

2/19 Ed Howe

2/19 Curtis Cardoza

2/22 Barb Stoops

2/24 Joseph Kuo

2/24 Janette Howe

2/26 Gail DeWolf

2/28 Margaret DeLeeuw

2/14 Gary & Melody Bricault

– 1979

2/17 Sam & Betty Cooper – 1945

2/22 Sarah Berry & Don Burns – 2008

2/27 John & Marilyn DeVisser – 1971

TRWM shall meet on Friday,

February 3rd in the Lounge at

1:00 PM.

This is a week early due to the fact

that we shall be preparing Valentines

for our special friends both far and

near. Linda King shall have the

supplies we need and shall be our

leader. This is always a fun meeting.

To help the cost of postage, each lady

is asked to bring 3 stamps to the

meeting.

Refreshments of Valentine cookies

will be served by Mary Robinson,

Shirley McCormick and Joan

Bernhard.

All ladies are cordially invited to join

with us.

Liz Dalton

Breast Cancer Appeal

If you want to start 2017

with a donation to a great cause,

please consider this. I, along with

my daughter Kristin, will be walking

in the Avon 39 Walk to End Breast

Cancer, in Chicago on June 3-4.

Yes, the walk is 39 miles over 2

days! It will be a huge challenge and

there will be pain, but I know it will

be nothing compared to what a

person with breast cancer

experiences. To donate, go to

avon39.org and click on DONATE,

then type in my name as participant

or see me personally. Thank you in

advance for your support.

Barbara Stoops

Wednesdays at 8

AM, usually

done by 9 AM or

so.

Feb 2017:

1 – Morningstar

8 - Nutcracker

15- Uncle Danny’s

22- Browncroft

March 2017:

1 – Golden Fox (Ash Wed.)

Submitted by John Stratton

[Editor’s trivia: Who remembers

listening to the daily morning radio

show, Don McNeill’s Breakfast

Club?]

Cancer Walk Thanks

The seventh annual "Step

It Up! To Cure Pancreatic

Cancer” 5K Walk was a

huge success. The Walk

was held on Saturday,

November 19, 2016, at the RIT

Gordon Field House. We raised

$88,279 for pancreatic cancer

research. Proceeds from this event

will help support the development

of a Rochester Pancreatic Cancer

Center of Excellence at the Wilmot

Cancer Institute. This initiative

will provide a comprehensive

approach to fighting pancreatic

cancer from research to diagnosis

to treatment and care. You are part

of making that a reality!

Thank you for your support.

Patricia Van Dussen

News of the Trinity Church Family