M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5

Steeple TalkTrinity Presbyterian Church Santa Cruz

From the Pastor 1

Session 2

Church News 3

Things That Make Us Happy 4

Non-Prophet Corner 5

Holy Week 6

Three C’s 7

Under the Tent of Abraham 8

Meetings in Fireside Room:Deacons Meeting,

March 10 & April 14, 1:00 p.m.Fellowship Meeting,

March 11 & April 8, 6:00 p.m.Worship & Christian Education

Meeting, March 17, 10:30 a.m.Outreach Meeting, March 17, 1:00 p.m.Session Meeting,

March 25, 5:30 p.m.Mission Meeting,

March 25, 4:00 p.m.Administration Meeting,

March 19 & April 16, 4:00 p.m.Dates to Remember:

Bible StudyMarch 5, 1:00 p.m.,

Fireside RoomBook Club

March 30 & April 27, 7:00 p.m., Joanne Clever’s homeFourth Tuesday Lunch

April 28, 12:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall

BoutiqueMarch 3 & 17 and April 7 & 21,

9:30 a.m., Youth RoomSweet Pea

March 14 & 28 and April 11 & 259:00 a.m., Youth Room

Committee Structure 9

March Calendar 10

April Calendar 11

Sunday Saints 12

Rest AreasI love driving vacations. I know I come by this honestly. Throughout my childhood my parents made a regular habit of piling my brother, my sister and me into our car and setting out. Our favorite destination by far was Yosemite National Park. We always enjoyed the biannual trips to visit the grandparents down in Southern California. And then there were a few epic trips that I will never forget. Like the year we took a month long tour of the U.S. complete with a car break down in New York and bugs that seemed to be the size of my fist in rural Texas. The things children remember...

One can not be this kind of a road warrior without being familiar with rest areas. They were our family’s salvation more times than I remember. Ah to stretch our legs, visit the restroom and get a bit of space between quarreling siblings!

It was my fond memories of these trips that came to mind as I read the poem below. Author, J. Barrie Shepherd hooked me with his image of the fast lane (my father was a notorious ‘fast lane’ driver) and rest areas. What an interesting way to consider this season of Lent.

How easy it is for us to get caught in the ‘fast lanes’ of life. And zoom right by the rest areas that are there for us, available to give us the renewal and peace we need to continue on our journeys.

Maybe this Lenten season we can encourage one another to see the rest areas and take them; times of study and prayer, times of worship and fellowship, times of connecting with God and with one another is ways that nourish us and bring renewed energy and peace for the journeys to which God is calling us.

In the fast lane

Slowing down, this holy season,may be the way to go.Letting go, at least an hourhere and there,of that wheel with which you drive,and which drives you.Pulling over, kicking back,searching for a rest area.Shutting downthose surround sounds of musicand the breaking newsthat keep you wide awake.And turning out and in again to all those hungers never met in daily destinations.*

I look forward to sharing rest areas and fast lanes with you as we journey together this Lenten season. Evie

*(In the fast lane, by J. Barrie Shepherd, printed in Weavings, Vol. 30, number 2, published by Upper Room Press, Mar/Feb/Apr 2015, printed with permission)

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Trinity Presbyterian ChurchSession ReportIn February the Session met with the Board of Deacons for the annual combined Session/Deacon meeting. The boards met for dinner at the home of Gwen and Charlie May, welcoming new board members and saying ‘thank you’ to members who terms of service were ending. Following dinner the meeting was opened with prayer by moderator, Evie Macway. Announcements and concerns were shared. Following this the two boards met separately to attend to their board business.The Session work included the following:• Juanita and Evie reported from the January presbytery meeting that Trinity will now have 2

commissioners to each presbytery meeting. Juanita will be one of Trinity’s commissioners. Session members decided to take turns filling the other seat at the meetings.

• Frank Miller reported that repairs are under way to return the Poplar cottage to its original use as a private residence. It had been rented by the local Waldorf School until the school decided to no longer use the space last fall.

• Charlie May reported that several members of the church are preparing to work as tutors at Branciforte Middle School. Also there will be a pupusa luncheon following worship on March 8 to benefit the Al Salvadore project. A film will be shown on the work being done in El Salvador to provide clean drinking water.

• The Worship and Christian Education Committee reported on upcoming Lent and Holy Week activities at Trinity.

• Clerk Juanita Stock reported that the PCUSA no longer maintains the status of ‘inactive member’. The Session will begin the process of contacting former members and making the necessary changes to the church rolls.

The meeting was concluded with prayer.

Financial Report January 2015

Income $50,858 Expense $ 25,952 Net $24,906

Office ClosedThe office will be closed Thursday, March 26 as well as Thursday, April 23, and Tuesday-Thursday, April 28-30. Normal office hours will resume Tuesday, May 5.

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Trinity Vacation Bible Camp 2015Mark your calendars for TrinityVacation Bible Camp 2015! Thedates this year will be July 6-10.Camp is open to all children ages 4through rising 5th graders. The themethis year is G-Force: God’s Love in Action. Registration forms will be available soon.

Easter Sunrise ServiceWe will gather at the home of Harry and MaryBlanchard for an informal communion service in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The service begins at 7:30 a.m. and

will be followed by a light brunch. Call the church office or speak with Harry or Mary for directions to their home.

Easter Egg Hunt - Eggs NeededTrinity will host an Easter egg hunt for the children of the church following worship on Easter Sunday in the courtyard. If you can provide plastic eggs and/or candies, coins, or other small treats to fill the eggs,please bring them to the church office sometime before Palm Sunday, March 29.

Calling All GraduatesIf you or someone in your family is graduating from middle school, high school, or college this spring please contact the church office and let us know. We will list all graduates in an upcoming newsletter and share the good news!

Book ClubBook Club almost always meets on the 4th Monday of the month. However, in March we will be meeting on the FIFTH Monday - March 30th. We will be discussing “Reimagining God” by Lloyd Geering.

On April 27th we will meet to discuss “Outliers - The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell.

Meetings are always at Joanne Clever’s home at 7:00 p.m. New faces are always welcome! And don’t forget to shop for your reading pleasure at the book sale during coffee hour every Sunday. Books are all $1.00 or what you care to donate. Funds raised selling books go to Youth programs.

Upcoming Music

Palm Sunday worship will feature baritone Martin Rojas-Dietrich, singing “Gethsemane” from “Jesus Christ Superstar.”Easter Sunday service will feature guest instrumentalists!

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March Birthdays5 Audrey Beach6 Russ Hobbs7 Kent Imai, Louise Pollard13 Maggie Barnes17 Patti Lawton19 Barbara Morris22 Kate Collins, Sunshine Duffus23 Evie Macway26 Beth Hooley29 Michael Christie

March Anniversaries3 Hal & Barbara Morris

April Birthdays7 Sally Walters12 Peggy Minier14 Diana Dean15 Frank Miller19 Laura Brothers24 Loren Edwards30 Barbara Christie

April Anniversaries19 Kent and Marie Imai

If  you  don’t  see  your  special  date  listed,  please  call  the  church  of5ice,  

831-­‐423-­‐8995  and  let  us  know!

Things That Make Us Happy…• Florence Nuss has knitted at 14+ premie

hats.• To hear that Kathleen Eschen-Pipes is the

voice of Morning Edition at KUSP Public Radio for the next three months. Tune in and listen if you get a chance.

• Juanita Stock finished her first quilt for the Rebele center. The quilt is currently hanging in the church narthex.

• To see the new “free library” outside the church office door. Thank you Pete Halper for building it.

• To see the results of the church work day last month. Thanks to all who participated.

Trinity Retreat at Mission Springs – October 9-11, 2015The date is set for the annual All Church Retreat. We will once again be returning to Mission Springs Conference Center in Scotts Valley. Mission Springs is located just outside of Scotts Valley so can accommodate both overnight “campers” as well as members and friends who want to join us just for the day. We will have time for some study and worship as well as plenty of time for recreation, games, and just “hanging out” together.Contact Dave Macway (dave@macwayuhl.com) for details with regard to the cost and scholarship money is available.

Parish Brunch Join us after church on March 22 for a parish brunch sponsored by the Deacons and the Fellowship Committee. Come enjoy egg casseroles, muffins, and fruit. Following worship in the Fellowship Hall.

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The Non-Prophet CornerDarrell  W.  Yeaney,  Parish  Associate

“Sanctifying  Injustice”

  Most  of  us  are  familiar  with  or  at  least  know  of  the  ”Letter  from  Birmingham  Jail,”  written  be  Dr.  Martin  Luther  King  Jr.    However,  we  may  not  be  aware  that  this  prophetic  letter  was  written  to  a  group  of  white  Protestant  pastors  who  had  signed  a  letter  published  in  the  Birmingham  newspaper,  rejecting  King’s  efforts  to  end  public  segregation  by  means  of  non-­‐violent  demonstrations.    These  pastors  of  all  while  churches  warned  King  that  he  was  just  causing  trouble  and  stirring  white  people  to  greater  opposition  to  a  racially  integrated  society.  They  were,  in  effect,  giving  religious  (Christian)  sanction  to  injustice.   King’s  famous  reply  to  these  Christian  leaders  was:  “Justice  too  long  delayed  is  justice  denied.”   The  southern  white  churches  at  that  time,  were  part  of  the  southern  social  and  political  establishment.  Many  church  leaders  also  served  on  the  White  Citizens  Councils  that  were  set  up  for  the  speci5ic  purpose  of  5inding  ways  to  resist  racial  integration  and  preserve  the  white  dominance  of  political  power.  Most  

pastors  and  lay  leaders  assisted  this  effort  by  5inding  ways  to  interpret  scripture  that  sancti5ied  this  pattern  of  racial  inequality.     The  church  always  stands  in  danger  of  this  kind  of  spiritual  and  ethical  corruption:    giving  sanction  to  social  injustice  by  identifying  with  the  mores  of  the  social  and  political  elite.   Jesus  was  himself  in  frequent  con5lict  with  the  ”powers  that  be”  of  his  day  because  of  his  exposure  of  and  resistant  to  the  unjust  conventional  wisdom  of  those  in  power.  “You  have  heard  it  said,  but  I  say  unto  you,”  was  a  phrase  frequently  spoken  by  Jesus  to  those  in  power.   The  prophetic  voice  is  at  the  heart  of  what  it  means  to  be  a  Christian  –  a  follower  of  Jesus.  Consequently,  the  question  we  must  continually  ask  ourselves  as  Christians  is;  “Am  I  aware  of  the  call  of  Jesus  today  to  expose  and  oppose  injustice  and  speak  truth  to  power?  Or  have  I  been  seduced  into  sanctifying  injustice?

Pupusa Lunch and El Salvador TV documentary to Benefit El Pilar Well ProjectPlan to stay after church on March 8 and invite those interested in El Salvador to see the 55-minute documentary which is an update on improvements following Salvadorian Civil War, Peace Accords, and FMLN leadership shifting resources from military to much needed advances in Health Care, Education, and Infrastructure. There will be pictures of El Pilar to show the poverty area where the well will be built.

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Mark Your Calendars for these Special Services in the Life of the Church.March 29 Palm Sunday Service

10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary.April 2 Maundy Thursday Service

6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.April 5 Easter Sunrise Service

7:30 a.m. at the home of Harry and Mary Blanchard,2-2780 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

April 5 Easter Sunday Service10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received.

Easter Egg Hunt Trinity will host an Easter egg hunt for the children of the church

following worship on Easter Sunday in the courtyard.

New Member Spotlight

  Kathy Willott was born and raised in Southern California.

She moved north to “get out of the smog”, and has lived in

Boulder Creek for 37 years. She shares her home in the woods

with her daughter Alicia, and grandchildren Sean and Christopher.

Her eldest daughter Christina lives in Seattle with her husband and

nine-year old daughter Caitlyn.

Before she had children, Kathy was a science teacher for

4th, 7th, and 9th graders. When her kids were growing up, she spent

time volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and in Sunday school.

After this, she was a tutor at the Cabrillo Math Learning Center.

Kathy is enjoying her retirement and has served as a docent

at Big Basin for the last three years. She loves the time outdoors

interacting with and teaching visitors about the park. She’s been a

member of the Cabrillo Symphonic Choir for nearly 12 years and

travelled to Italy to perform at the Vatican a few years ago. She

enjoys singing in the choir at Trinity and also enjoys all the nice

people she’s met here. Welcome Kathy!

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Compassion, Community and ConversationThe other day the Religious News Service reported:

In a powerful sermon that signaled his desire to push ahead with historic reforms, Pope Francis on Sunday (February 15) said the Roman Catholic Church must be open and welcoming, whatever the costs.

He also warned the hierarchy not to be “a closed caste” but to lead in reaching out to all who are rejected by society and the church.

“There are two ways of thinking and of having faith: we can fear to lose the saved and we can want to save the lost,” Francis told hundreds of cardinals and bishops arrayed before him in St. Peter’s Basilica at a Mass centered on the story of Jesus healing a leper rather than rejecting him. …

“Jesus responds immediately to the leper’s plea, without waiting to study the situation and all its possible consequences,” Francis declared. “For Jesus, what matters above all is reaching out to save those far off, healing the wounds of the sick, restoring everyone to God’s family. And this is scandalous to some people!”

We at Trinity would say “amen” to that, for sure, though like everyone else we have a long way to go to keep up with the ideal. The Pope’s sermon also illustrates two of the three C’s of the alliterative title to this article. But what about the third C, “Conversation?

As it happens, several of us were considering that same text about Jesus and the leper on that same Sunday morning as part of our ongoing Lectionary Bible Study. We meet at 9:00 in the Fireside Room to discuss the readings for that Sunday. Those same texts are being read and preached about in churches all over the world. So in a sense we are in conversation with Christians everywhere when we ponder them.

In this particular case the message is all about compassion and inclusion into community of the outcasts. The commentary that we used as our discussion guide refers to the Jewish concept of uncleanness or pollution that would result from touching the leper. Jesus, by doing so, became ritually unclean. But he does so anyway.

The Pope’s message to his cardinals and bishops makes a similar point, does it not? What a great privilege it is to join with Christians here at Trinity and around the world in such a conversation!

Paul Seever

Visit us on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trinity-Presbyterian-Church/135556766517

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Under the Tent of Abraham

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T R I N I T Y P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

Committee Structure Session: 2015 – Ellen Bauerle, Jennie Edwards, Charlie May

2016 - Frank Miller, Reed Duffus

2017- Jeff Lawton, Bob Scott

Clerk of Session – Juanita Stock

Pastor (Moderator)

Committees of the Session:Administration:The Administration Committee oversees the following functions of the church, along with the contact person(s): Buildings - Harry Blanchard and Sally Walters; Renovations and Session Representative- Frank Miller; Endowment and Insurance – Russ Hobbs; Finances - Chad Bell, John Collins and Bob Scott; Grounds - Charlie May and Beth Hooley, chairperson for 2015 - Emily Duffus. Stewardship is a subcommittee of Administration. The Stewardship committee is made up of representatives from all the other committees. Jennie Edwards will chair the Stewardship Committee.

Personnel:This committee works with and supports the paid staff of the church. The committee is made up of at least one deacon, one session member. This committee is normally made up of three members.

Reed Duffus (chairperson), Michael Christie, Kate Miller

Nominating:This committee is elected by the congregation and is charged with nominating members of the congregation to serve as officers in the church. The officers are elected each year by the congregation to fill the classes for 3 year terms.

2015 nominating committee members: George Bunch (chairperson)(2015), Ellen Bauerle(2015), Chad Bell(2017), Joanne Clever(2017), Jane DeVette(2016), Gwen May(2016) Worship and Christian Education:This committee is responsible for the Christian education and worship of the church.

Committee Members are:Ellen Bauerle (chairperson), Michael Christie, Diana Dean, Nicki Kerns, Paul Seever, and Darrell Yeaney.

Mission:This committee oversees mission funding and explores and promotes opportunities in which Trinity’s members can actively engage in mission work.

Committee members are:Charlie May, Lee Duffus, George Bunch, Kate Miller, Alex Khoury, Paul Seever, Juanita Stock, and Evie Macway.

Outreach:This committee is responsible for “evangelism” and, in that capacity we provide oversight for the church website and advertising. We also write notes to all visitors and look for opportunities to welcome new people into the life of the church.

Committee members are:George Bunch (chairperson), Amanda Bell, Elizabeth Bunch and Lee Duffus.

Deacons:2015 – Jean Bowerman, Kate Miller, Karen Wichelmann

2016 - Carolyn Brothers, Elizabeth Bunch, Gwen May

2017- Dale Bradshaw, Sunshine Duffus, Lenore Spalaris

Joanne Clever, Recording Secretary Pete Halper, Treasurer

Committee of Deacons:

Fellowship: Plans regular activities including lunches and dinners, hikes or walks, special celebrations that promote the community and fellowship of the congregation. Committee members are: Ann Collins, Mary Ann Hobbs, Karen Wichelmann, Diana Dean, Kate Miller, Joanne Clever, Barbara Christie, Sue Yeaney, Ann Carle, Betty Gangware (chairperson).

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T R I N I T Y P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

2Office Closed

3Boutique, 9:30 a.m., Youth Room

Lenten Study, 5:30 p.m., Bob Scott’s Residence

4

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m, FH

5Bible Study, 1:00 p.m., FS

6Office Closed

7

8Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., SanctuaryWorship Service, 10:30 a.m., Sanctuary Pupusa Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., FH

9Office Closed

AA, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., Youth Room

10

Deacons Meeting, 1:00 p.m., FS

Lenten Study, 5:30 p.m., Duffus’ Residence

11

Fellowship Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Fireside Room

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m, FH

12 13Office Closed

14Sweet Pea, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Youth Room

15Bible Study, 9 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

16

Office Closed

AA, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., Youth Room

17Boutique, 9:30 a.m., Youth RoomW.C.E. Meeting, 10:30 a.m., FSOutreach Meeting, 1:00 p.m., FSLenten Study, 5:30 p.m., Ann Carle’s Residence

18

Rotating Shelter5:30 p.m., FH

19

Administration Meeting, 4:00 p.m., Fireside Room

20Office Closed

21

22Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., SanctuaryWorship Service, 10:30 a.m.Parish Brunch, 11:30 a.m., FH

23 24

Lenten Study, 5:30 p.m., Lawton’s Residence

25Ombudsmen, 10:00 a.m., FS

Mission Meeting, 4:00 p.m., FS

Session Meeting, 5:30 p.m., FS

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m., FH

26

Office Closed

27Office Closed

28Sweet Pea, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Youth Room

29Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., SanctuaryPalm Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

30Office Closed

Book Club, 7:00 p.m., Joanne Clever’s home

31 Office Hours:Tues. - Thurs.10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

March 2015

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Office Hours:Tues. - Thurs.10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

1

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m, FH

2

Maundy Thursday Service, 6:30 p.m., Sanctuary

3Office Closed

4

5Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Easter Sunrise Service, 7:30 a.m., The Blanchard ResidenceEaster Sunday Worship Service, 10:30 a.m., Sanctuary Easter Egg Hunt

6Office Closed

7

Boutique, 9:30 a.m., Youth Room

Newsletters Articles Due

8Fellowship Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Fireside Room

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m, FH

9 10Office Closed

11Sweet Pea, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Youth Room

12Bible Study, 9 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

13

Office Closed

14

Deacons Meeting, 1:00 p.m., FS

15

Rotating Shelter5:30 p.m., FH

16

Administration Meeting, 4:00 p.m., Fireside Room

17Office Closed

18

19Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., SanctuaryWorship Service, 10:30 a.m.

20

Office Closed

21Boutique, 9:30 a.m., Youth Room

22

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m., FH

23

Office Closed

24Office Closed

25Sweet Pea, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Youth Room

26Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside Room

Service Worship Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

27Book Club, 7:00 p.m., Joanne Clever’s home

Office Closed

28Office Closed

Fourth Tuesday Lunch, 12:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall

29

Office Closed

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m., FH

30

Office Closed

Office Hours:Tues. - Thurs.10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

April 2015T R I N I T Y P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

Trinity Presbyterian Church420 Melrose Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Phone: 831-423-8995Email: trinitysc@sbcglobal.netWeb: www. trinitypressc.org

April 2 Communion ServersPete Halper, Kate Miller, Karen Wichelmann

March 1! George Bunch! ! Reed, Sunshine & Mia Duffus! Alex Khoury and Frank Miller ! Leon Wong

March 8! Bookie Nichols! ! Pupusa Luncheon! ! Pete Halper! Reed, Sunshine & Mia Duffus

March 15 Nancy Cheney & Pat Parshall! Sally Walters! ! David Gomez! ! ! Carolyn Brothers

March 22 Darrell & Sue Yeaney ! Parish Brunch! ! Bob Scott and Harry & Mary Blanchard !! Janice Peek

March 29 ! Glenn Joy! ! Jean Bowerman!! ! Charlie & Gwen May! ! Karen Wichelmann

March 1 Communion ServersGeorge Bunch, Russ Hobbs, Dave Macway,

Lenore Spalaris

If  you  would  like  to  receive  this  newsletter  via  email,  or  if  you  no  longer  wish  to  receive  this  newsletter,  please  send  us  an  email  or  give  us  a  call.  Thank  you!

Sunday Saints Greeter Coffee Usher Flowers

April 5 Communion Servers (Sunrise Service)George Bunch, Russ Hobbs