Page 1 June-July 2020

Published by Trinity Episcopal Church of Pine Bluff June-July 2020

CLERGY

The Rev. CB Baker Priest

PARISH STAFF

Faron Wilson Organist/Choirmaster

Cindy Williams Parish Administrator Editor, Trinity Tidings

Beverly Wasson Church Secretary

Alyce and Jeff Carraway Sextons

THE VESTRY

Class of 2020

Phil McBee

Peggy McLemore

Sammye Owen, Sr. Warden

Tommy Palmer, Jr. Warden

Class of 2021

Fred Davis

Artie Gwin

Sandra Harmon

Kathy Tynes

Class of 2022

Judy Apel

Jane Bettison

Jay Cromwell

Merry Tom Dorris

John Wellenberger

Parish Treasurer

The SPIRIT of Summer by the Rev. CB Baker

Memorial Day and Pentecost are behind us now and summer looms

ahead. Actually, it has already started as far as I'm concerned. I know the

solstice is June 20, but June 1-August 31 is summer for me. Memorial Day

weekend was a mixed bag for our congregation. Some of us were out and

about while others of us stayed inside. We continued to be unable to worship

together in person, both for that Sunday and Pentecost, the following Sunday,

as well. Even though our worship on Pentecost was virtual the Holy Spirit came

anyway.

Jesus promised the Spirit would come to us so we would not be left alone. That

same Spirit empowers us to serve and love our neighbors, as well as love our-

selves. We need to care both for ourselves and our neighbors this summer,

which will most likely be unlike any previous summer of our lives.

I imagine you are in much the same shape as me as far as summer plans

go. Who knows what will become of our plans. I had planned to drive through

a number of Indian reservations this summer, avoiding interstates as much as

possible and camping out all along the way. I had planned to visit some historic

sites as well, like Wounded Knee, Sand Creek, Little Big Horn (Greasy Grass to

the Lakota), the trip culminating with a Pow Wow at the Pine Ridge Reservation

in South Dakota the first weekend in August My son and I have plans to drive a

herd of horses for four days in the Sierra Nevada range in September. I have no

idea if any of that will be possible.

But here's the thing, I will love the country, the animals, the people I am

around in the power of the Spirit if I am able to follow through with my

plans. If not, I will love the Delta, the animals in the rectory backyard, and the

people with whom I am in contact around here. I will serve as the opportunity

arises where ever I am. I invite you, just as full of the Holy Spirit as I am or any-

body else is, to love and serve this summer no matter what you are able to do

or where you are able to go.

Have a blessed summer! And hopefully, I'll actually see you in church before

the summer is over.

Trinity Tidings Page 2

The vestry met twice in May. A called meeting was

held May 11 with the express purpose of establish-

ing policies to be followed when in-person church

services resume. During this meeting, the vestry

reviewed a document from Bishop Larry Benfield

entitled “Re-gathering the Church” along with a set

of questions and responses from the church staff in

preparation for reopening the church. The vestry

then addressed each of the bishop’s questions. The

vestry’s responses are recorded in the meeting

minutes, which are available by contacting the

office.

The regular monthly meeting of the vestry was held

May 18. Minutes of the April 27 meeting were ap-

proved, including the following information:

Treasurer John Wellenberger reviewed the financial

reports, noting the following:

▪ At the end of March, there was a loss of

$122,949.56 on investments. The year-to-date

change in value reflected a loss of $167,294.79.

▪ Pledge receipts were $2,074 under budget for

March and over budget $4,183 for the year to

date.

▪ Plate offerings for March were over budget by

$19, remarkable considering three of five Sun-

days in March were live-streamed.

▪ Transferred $17,495 from the Lighthouse Lease

Fund to operating.

▪ Expenses were under budget by $2,495 for the

month and $3,782 for the year to date.

▪ Designated gifts totaling $6,005 were received

to cover the unbudgeted Church Secretary posi-

tion for the months of April through December

2020. These donations were placed in the

Reserve Fund to be transferred to operating

income in subsequent months.

▪ Memorial gifts of $810 were received in March.

$1,048 was disbursed to purchase new prayer

books for the church. Also, $385 was disbursed

for mulch in the columbarium garden.

The Rev. CB Baker expressed his gratitude to Tommy

and Drake Palmer for their critical roles in live

streaming Sunday and Wednesday services. Their

technical expertise and dedication are responsible

for the excellent presentation of the services. View-

ership has been remarkable (200-300 watching on

Sundays). Streaming of services will continue even

after in-person church attendance resumes.

In November 2019, CB attended a clergy conference

at Camp Mitchell. A presentation regarding estab-

lishment of a church stewardship program was well-

received. An invitation to join the program has been

accepted and should start in September. More

information will follow in the coming weeks.

CB reported on a meeting of the staff and wardens

held earlier in the day to discuss several questions

posed by the Bishop regarding a plan of action for

when we begin to have ingathering services again

(e.g., social distancing before, during, and after ser-

vices; disinfection of surfaces; restroom manage-

ment; availability of handwashing facilities &/or sani-

tizers; conditions, if any, for conducting baptisms,

weddings, and funerals; etc.). Although purely spec-

ulative, CB anticipated a possible return to meeting

in the church in early to mid-June. Morning Prayer

will continue to be utilized for streaming services.

Sammye Owen, senior warden, reported that due to

restrictions set forth to combat the COVID-19 pan-

demic, the Finance Committee has not been able to

proceed beyond the initial preliminary work on CB’s

contract. However, significant progress and finaliza-

tion is expected soon. Sammye expressed gratitude

to CB, Tommy, Drake, and Faron for their outstand-

ing efforts in producing high-quality live streaming

productions of the Sunday and Wednesday services.

Tommy Palmer, junior warden, reported that a large

hole in the ground in the back of the church has devel-

oped around a grease trap that was installed about 10

years ago. The cause is unknown at this time. He is in

the process of finding someone to ascertain and repair

the problem.

Vestry Meeting Highlights

Page 3 June-July 2020

Trinity Tidings will not be published in July, but will resume with the August edition. If you would like to have an announcement or article included in the newsletter, please send by email to office@trinitychurchpb.org. Hand-written or typed articles are also welcome and may be sent by postal mail. The deadline to submit articles for the August newsletter is July 20. Articles may be edited for length and content.

Congratulations to Marcia Williams on her graduation

with honors from Vilonia High School. Marcia will be

attending Hendrix College in the fall with a Hendrix

Honors Scholarship and a special interest in nonprofit

management. She is grateful for the continued love and

support from her Trinity Church family.

The Trinity family extends deepest sympathy to Billie

Robinson and family in the death of her husband, George

James “Jimmy” Robinson, on May 17.

Wedding — Congratulations to Phil McBee (Captain, US

Air Force, retired) and Susan Habeler (Captain, USAF,

retired) who were married in Texarkana on April 17 and

are at home in Pine Bluff.

While we look forward to the day that we can be together again in person and resume our activities, we

ask that you continue to mail in your pledge or other offerings, as you are able. Your generosity enables us to

continue our ministry as a parish while meeting our obligations. Please mail your checks to the church at: P.O.

Box 8069, Pine Bluff, AR 71611

Due to coronavirus concerns, all public worship services, meetings and other gatherings of any kind are canceled until further notice in the interest of the safety of our parishioners and the wider community. Even though we can’t be together face to face at this time, we still have opportunities to stay connected and to be together in spirit as a congregation. We will continue to stay in touch through e-mail communications and phone calls and by making our services available through on-line access whenever possible. Worship Services — The 10:30 a.m. Sunday and 12:00 noon Wednesday services are live-streamed on the Trinity Facebook group page. These services are available for viewing at any time on the Facebook page. Worship resources — On the Trinity website, www.trinitychurchpb.org you will find links to the Sunday ser-vice sheet, a lectionary page and online access to the Book of Common Prayer. Daily prayer, meditations and Bible study resources are available online at: https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/

Marcia Williams, Vilonia High School Class of 2020

Trinity Tidings Page 4

Trinity Episcopal Church P.O. Box 8069 Pine Bluff, AR 71611 Parish Office: (870) 534-3832 Fax: (870) 535-7136 Email: office@trinitychurchpb.org Web: www.trinitychurchpb.org

Address Service Requested

Celebrations

Birthdays

6/01 Stephen Carey Leslie Hendricks

6/04 Arthur Stuart

6/05 Jimmie Nevener Sarah Warriner Evelyn Hendricks

6/06 Anne Dady

6/07 Bettye Massanelli

6/09 Diana Davis-Blair

6/10 Julie Bridgforth

6/13 Charles Massanelli Nancy Lee McNew

6/14 Todd Davis

6/15 Steve Yeung Jeff Stowe

6/16 Linda Griggs Cindy Williams

6/17 Matthew Warriner Jonathan Coker

6/18 Phil McBee

6/21 Don Moore

6/22 Martin Carty

6/23 Brandy Dady

6/25 Janet Ford

7/01 Drew Stayton Bailey Garner

7/04 Collins Latch Savannah Trice

7/06 Bill Bridgforth Jimmy McFall Cindy Joe Trey Reid, III Tyler Stewart

7/07 Collier Lee, Jr. John Wellenberger, III

7/08 Carmen Ross

7/09 Mary Midgett Nancy Spriggs

7/10 Spencer Edwards

7/12 Elton Joe Charlie Spriggs

7/13 Donna Coker

7/16 Charlie Schmieder

7/17 Rhonda Sizemore

7/19 Harvey Sizemore

7/26 Jeff Carraway

7/27 Charles Mabry Melissa Lampkin

7/30 Chuck Haralson

7/31 Josh Golden

Anniversaries

6/02 Ellen & Chuck Haralson

6/04 Stephanie & Ronald Wauters

6/11 Alyce & Jeff Carraway

6/12 Carol & Jack Davis

6/19 Patti & Michael Jones Beverly & Larry Wasson

6/22 Lisa & Bauer Duke

6/24 Gina & Mike DeMoss

6/28 Joy & Arthur Stuart

7/11 Rebecca & Zach East

7/12 Debbie & George Makris

7/31 Merry Tom & Doug Dorris