Tattoo This by Pastor Mary Graves

Some people thought I would come back from my July vacation with a tattoo, since three of my friends did, including your former pastor, Heidi Husted Armstrong. But I didn’t have anything I wanted inscribed on my body that badly.

Heidi had been thinking about getting Solvitur Ambulando tattooed to the inside of her arm for years, so she finally bit the bullet for her 60th birthday and did it. Why those two Latin words? They translate, “it is solved by walking,” and she has discovered that if you keep walking with God then things eventually get worked out in a good way, no matter how hopeless and hard they are right now.

Solvitur ambulando – it is solved by walking. Notice that this walking is not just any kind of walking. It is walking with purpose and focus, like the disciples, with their eyes fixed on Jesus.

We are all walking and going somewhere; the question is where. In the church we have a purpose and a focus, and it all flows from Jesus Christ calling us by name, saying “Follow me.” Once they heard this call, his disciples got up and went everywhere Jesus did. Where was he taking them? Closer and closer to God’s heart of love by drawing near to him, and, slowly but surely, becoming more and more like him.

 

  Upcoming Events September 13

Blessing of Children & Youth

September 17 Tacos & Piñata Night

September 27

Worship in the Park

October 1 Joyful Noise! begins

October 4

Peacemaker Offering Guest Speaker - Kamal Hassan

October 23-25 Women’s Retreat

November 1

All Saint’s Day Service New Member’s Class

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2015

Continues on Pg 2

That is the path we are on at Trinity. It isn’t a quick path that takes you directly there; it is a life-long journey of going sideways, backwards, and forward. We don’t get there by just walking, do we? We have to be tutored in four essential arenas that we will introduce you to this fall.

September – “God’s Love”

God’s love constantly initiates with grace and creates a whole-hearted response

October – “Follow Me”

Jesus calls each one of us to hear his voice and follow where God is leading

November – “Come Home”

We know and respond to God’s love in and through community

December – “Show & Tell”

We proclaim God’s love to the world in word and deed

Pastor Kurt and I have already begun learning circles for the first two of these essential arenas, and we will offer sign-ups for future learning circles as we move through this new curriculum this fall and into 2016. Our top priority is for the whole congregation to become familiar with the goal of the spiritual path we are on with God and the learning it takes to get us there.

The one tattoo I thought about getting was a small labyrinth, maybe on the inside of my ankle, reminding me of the winding path we are on with Jesus toward “knowing him so intimately that we become like him.” But I decided I don’t have to have it on my body as long as it is in my heart.

 

Guest Speaker Kamal Hassan Preaching October 5

World Communion Peacemaking Sunday “Black Lives Matter”

Kamal Hassan is a spiritual leader, educator, and community servant. He currently serves as Pastor/Teaching Elder at the Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond, California. Before this call

Reverend Hassan spent more than three decades as both a public and private school educator, community organizer and religious worker. He holds an AA degree in Radio Broadcasting from Los Angeles City College, a BA in History from California State University Los Angeles, and a Master of Divinity degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. In 2014, he served as Moderator of the Presbytery of San Francisco in the Presbyterian Church USA and taught on racism.

Seminar Topic: “Which Faith Is Yours? God's Challenge to the Church Through #blacklivesmatter”

What questions do the intersections of race and theology raise for those seeking to follow Jesus into the 21st century?

How can the work of mission include racial justice in America?

Advent & Missions Roundtable September 20

Those of you who have a passion for our wonderful mission partnerships as well as the arts and would love to participate in bringing all that together for our celebration of Advent this year, you are invited to a Round Table brainstorming session over a light meal on Sunday, September 20, 11:30 to 1:30 pm.

Please RSVP to the office if you are interested.

Home & Hope by Karen Molinari

Women’s Connection Bible Study The Women’s Connection Bible Study is for all women of all ages and stages of life to gather together for a time of connecting, sharing, Bible study, and prayer.

We meet together on Thursday mornings from 9:15 to 10:30 am in the Fireside Room, and will begin again on September 17.

In keeping with our church spiritual goal for this fall, “Knowing Jesus so intimately that we become like him”, we will be studying the book by John Stott, “Jesus Christ: Teacher, Servant. Savior”. There are no requirements for pre-work or attendance, only an opportunity for connecting and providing spiritual growth.

For any further information please feel free to call or email Veralyn Davids at veralynd@comcast.net, 650-703-4828.

Follow Me by Pastor Kurt As Pastor Mary mentions in her opening article to this newsletter, she and I began leading short term pilot group studies focused on the different learning circles in the Common Language curriculum. My small group consisted of Bill Howland, Becca Schulz, Bradley Schulz, Katie Heineman, Jason Murphy, and Tanya Fouts. The substance of our time was a mix of contemporary readings, bible study, and experiential activities that would help us learn about what it means to follow Jesus. One week we read about three different ways to pray and then together we went to the Sanctuary and practiced those prayers. One homework assignment was to read the whole gospel of Matthew in just a week, we had a rich conversation about what it means to immerse ourselves into the biblical story after that intense homework assignment. I am excited to see the many ways that God and this curriculum will help us all mature in our Christian faith in the upcoming year.

 

Can you imagine starting a new school year without a place to call home? A place where you return after a full day of classes, where you can play with neighborhood friends, do your homework, or just hang out. While we have been preparing for the new school year at our house, three families with school age children have been living in canvas tents in Fellowship Hall at Trinity for a week in August. Home & Hope is an amazing organization that collaborates with the faith community to help homeless families within San Mateo County by coordinating temporary housing and much more, in churches, synagogues, etc. In spending time with the families we notice our similarities…we all lament the recent heat wave, talk about our favorite movies, share funny stories about our pets,

siblings, teachers and bosses, play hide and seek, build Legos, and be silly. “It is FUN,” say my kids whose eyes are opened by seeing the church put to “use” in this fashion…as an extension of our home, Christ’s home being shared with our guests. Where we prepare a meal with friends, share it and a few laughs along with God’s grace, around the dinner table. We always leave wishing we could spend more time with these families and feeling more connected to our Trinity Family.

Growth Spurt in Children’s Ministry by Kristan Verveniotis EXCITING NEWS! We have so many K/1 children that we're adding a class SCARY NEWS! Adding a class means we have more servants to find! We need 10 teachers a week; about 50 teachers and subs for the year!

Here's what we're offering as we partner with parents to nurture their child's faith - do you notice a theme? • Nursery - Birth to 2.5 years Where our children and new parents learn they are loved by God and this church where he has

provided rich soil in which to grow • Seeds - preschool - formerly Early Disciples Where seeds of faith are planted through a (new) curriculum of monthly

Bible stories with lots of fun options for teachers to choose from • Sprouts – Kindergarten and 1st grade (children start in worship) Where faith begins to grow and mature as children start

in worship and then come down to enjoy Bible stories with active learning opportunities • Vine – 2nd through 4th grades (children start in worship) Where a child becomes more connected to the Vine (John 15:5)

and starts to apply faith to real life situations • Phish Phood – 5th through 8th grades (children start in worship) Where kids Grapple with tough questions and learn how

the fruits of their faith can feed their daily life • Round Table – 9th through 12th grades meet on 2nd and 3rd Sunday, we will focus on the

Common Language curriculum for 2015-2016.

We'd love to have you as part of the team this year! Only 1 week per month through June - choose your week and switching/subs are available when

needed. You can partner with a friend - it's a great way to build your relationship at the same time! We provide all materials and support for stress free prep

We'd love to hear from you soon...Nursery and Seed classes start in September!! Sprouts, Vine and Phish Phood start in October.

Sticky Adventures: Fun, Food, Faith. The Sticky Faith Team did some big work in the past year. The team met monthly and steeped itself into the sticky faith youth ministry model. After much prayer they are excited about building new programs for the youth ministry at Trinity. After all that prayer what the team really wants to accomplish in 2015-2016 is to help empower parents to be a spiritual resource for the faith formation of their teens and also to create a gathering focused on Bible study that youth could invite their friends to that would be welcoming and hospitable.

This fall the Sticky Faith team is excited to introduce their fall program called “Sticky Adventures: Fun, Food, Faith.” The idea is that the Sticky Faith team will provide local mission service opportunities for high school youth and their families from October 12 through October 24 (That’s the "Adventure" Part). The mission opportunities are still taking shape but they may include Street Church, working at Hope House, serving at Second Harvest, SOS, etc. But to make sure we are preparing ourselves for these mission opportunities the Sticky Faith team is planning two gatherings to help us prepare for the mission work on October 4 and the 11 and then one gathering to debrief the work on October 25 (That’s the Fun, Food, Faith part). These gatherings will begin at 5:00 pm and will include a delicious meal, a time for fun relationship building, and also content to help us prepare and debrief our local mission work. Send Pastor Kurt (kheineman@trinity-pres.org) an email for more info.

Tacos and Piñata Night Thursday, September 17

6-8 pm

Parents of babies and toddlers, join us in the nursery after worship for a time of fellowship, encouragement and connection. Second Sunday of each month beginning on October 11. Contact Susan Matsushima at susaneever@gmail.com

GIVING AT TRINITY 2015 is a big year for Trinity! We have stretched our annual budget by $35,000 to provide the staffing needed to make progress on our spiritual growth, youth ministry, and our connections as a church. The good news is that giving is ahead of the previous year. But the real question is whether we are giving in a way that reflects Jesus’ claim upon our hearts and the importance of the church in our lives and in the world.

In November you will be asked to make a financial pledge to Trinity for 2016, one that supports the expanding ministries God is calling us to develop as well as expanding our trust in God. Please review your giving to Trinity for 2015 and see if that reflects your commitments.

Check with your employer for their policy on matching funds for donations to non-profits. Your gift to Trinity could be matched dollar for dollar by your employer!

Have you thought about including Trinity in your estate planning? Our Support & Endowment Fund is changing lives (see below) and supporting Pastor Kurt and Katie in buying a house.

Your giving makes a difference at Trinity and is changing us to become more and more like Jesus every day!

Sequoia Village: It’s not a place, it’s a mission!

The Support & Endowment Team searches for meaningful and life-changing opportunities to use our “Support” funds. In March of 2015 the team received a request for seed money to start a local non-profit called Sequoia Village. The team decided that the mission of Sequoia Village and the proposed spending fit very well with the purpose of Support funds, and $3,000 was awarded.

On July 1, Sequoia Village was launched with an initial enrollment of over 50 members, and it has grown to 90 members as of August 15. The mission of Sequoia Village is to enable its members to continue living in their homes and communities as they age by providing access to support services. Thanks to Trinity Presbyterian Church and other supporters, Sequoia Village is already fulfilling this mission through a group of dedicated volunteers who provide transportation, minor home repairs, and other services to give our local seniors confidence to continue living in their own homes.

It truly is a wonderful demonstration of “neighbors helping neighbors.” And it’s not just the mechanics of performing a task; it’s the interaction that happens when a volunteer and a Sequoia Village member meet for the first time and tell each other their stories about how they came to live in this area, what they do, and what is important to them. One of the volunteer drivers (also a Trinity member) described the joy of interacting with his first member-passenger, a 98 year old lady who needed a ride to her weekly volunteer service at a local thrift shop! Another Sequoia Village member has expressed the great relief she feels, knowing that she will still have transportation when she gives up her driver’s license this year.

On July 10 Sequoia Village celebrated with a “Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony” at the Laurel Street Downtown Park (see photo). It was attended by State Senator Jerry Hill, and mayoral representatives of the three cities being served: Belmont, San Carlos, and Redwood City. Judging by the energy at this event, and the support demonstrated by local leaders, Sequoia Village will be an important and lasting part of our local community. Many thanks to Trinity for helping Sequoia Village get off to this great start!

Support & Endowment By Scott McMullin

Left to right: State Senator Jerry Hill, Mayor Ron Collins, Belmont Mayor David Braunstein, Redwood City Councilman John Seybert

2015 2014 $ Change 2013

Income $485,739 $441,272 $44,678 $348,726

Expenses $459,998 $441,450 $18,528 $466,519

Net Income (Expenses) $23,686 $178 $23,864 -$117,793

Come and Sing! Chancel Choir regular rehearsals begin on August 27, on Thursday nights from 7-9 pm with co-director Bill O'Neill and Craig Morey. All are welcome to come and sing! No prior experience necessary. We're also adding a drop-in Family Choir on the last Sunday of each month. Show up at 8:30 am before worship to learn a song to sing that day. Music will be fun and accessible. All ages and experience levels are welcome.

Choir Director Update We relaunched our Music Director search in June and the job announcement has been posted at about two dozen universities, music schools, choral and church networks. The committee of seven has been reviewing resumes and conducting interviews. We are working closely with Personnel Ministry Team as we enter conversations with potential candidates and hope to have more news in the coming months. Until then, we are grateful to Bill O’Neill and Craig Morey for graciously sharing leadership as choir director. Please be in prayer for our process and for the person that God is calling to this place.

Sandwiches on Sunday (or SOS) is a cooperative effort with four churches in the area to provide a meal each Sunday. The local soup kitchen (St. Anthony’s) is closed on Sunday, and our coalition of churches steps in to provide a meal. At Trinity, SOS has been headed by Debby Brown for many years. Our Sunday is the second Sunday of each month. We meet at the Trinity Kitchen at 9 am and prepare 100 peanut butter and jelly, 90 ham and cheese sandwiches. We also make chili, coffee and lemonade. The ladies of Hope House also join us and help to pack the lunches and distribute the food at the Fair Oaks community center in Redwood City.

It’s a great way to serve our community, and work alongside of our Trinity members. If you’d like to volunteer contact Debby Brown at DebbyBrown@comcast.net.

Community Outreach - S.O.S.

Joyful Noise!

Children’s Choir for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade Begins Thursday, October 1 from 3:30 to 4:15 pm and runs through December 10. Contact: Grace Schulz (650-637-1831) or Kristan Verveniotis (650-593-8226)

Family Choir

Show up at 8:30 am before worship on the last Sunday of each month to learn a song to sing that day. Music will be fun and accessible. All ages and experience levels are welcome.

Non-Profit

Postage Paid

Permit #54

 

1106 Alameda de las Pulgas San Carlos, CA 94070

www.trinity-pres.org

Women’s Retreat October 23-25 Register before prices go up on September 28. Nancy Harrington will be speaking on “Celebrating the Seasons of Life” during this annual weekend getaway at Mt. Hermon Conference Center in the Santa Cruz mountains. Moms with newborns are welcome and scholarships are available. You can sign up in Fellowship Hall or on our web site.