G R A P E V I N E

JANUARY 2015 TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

612 Main Street Westbrook, ME 04092

Karen Indorf, Pastor Bonnie Wright, Editor Phone – (207) 854-5653 Phone – (207) 854-5653 Email – pastor@trinitywestbrook.com Email – office@trinitywestbrook.com Regular Hours of Worship 10:30 am Sunday School at 9:15 am for all ages

PASTOR’S REFLECTIONS

In thinking about why New Year’s resolutions are so ineffective, I conclude that one reason is because they become obligations. We make a resolution and then feel obligated to exercise more or obligated to quit a bad habit. And who really feels good about obligations? They become burdens that we all too quickly shed. What if instead of resolutions or obligations, we decided to undertake something new out of gratitude and a deep love? What if that love came about as a response to the gifts we have been given by an infinitely loving God? What if we made a special effort to do something kind for a friend or neighbor or stranger, not because we ought to, but because God loves us and asks us to pay it forward? What if we made a special effort to help out at church or one of our favorite charities, not because we ought to, but out of gratitude for God’s generosity and the opportunity to share it with others? Wishing you all a Happy New Year. And challenging you to ditch the resolutions and instead to examine the differences made in your life by the presence of God’s love and generosity – and then to respond in kind. Pastor Karen

“Tips for Charity” – Breaking Bread With Our Friends Thrivent Action Team at Breaking Bread Christmas Marketplace

Live Nativity with Guests Live Nativity with Rejoicing Spirits

Live Nativity-Trivent Action Team Cantata on December 21

“I Heard It Through the Grapevine!”

ANNUAL REPORTS will be available on Sunday, January 18. If you are responsible for submitting one of the reports, the deadline for submission to Bonnie is January 6. ANNUAL MEETING - The congregational Annual Meeting will be held after church on January 25th. Among the usual agenda items and a budget approval, there will be updated information regarding our response to the sale of the land behind the church. Please plan to attend. HOLY COMMUNION CLASS Pastor will be holding a Holy Communion class in January for any of our youth in 3rd grade or older. Please let her know by January 4 if your child will be attending. The time of the class will be arranged at the convenience of the families and Pastor. SUNDAY SCHOOL PAGEANT The annual pageant will be held during worship on Sunday, January 4th. It will incorporate the story of Amahl and the night visitors. END OF LIFE PREPARATIONS Most people do not want to think about preparations for dying. And yet, it happens to all of us, prepared or not. In the case of sudden death, survivors are called upon to make decisions at a time of confusion and grief. Unless you have a will, legalities may prevail when it comes to your estate and final wishes. It is wise to plan ahead, relieving your loved ones of that burden while making known your wishes for that time when life has ended. Pastor Karen will be offering a class on Saturday morning January 17 (snow day is January 24) at 10:30. We will look at many aspects of end of life preparations including Advanced Directives/Living Will, details of a Memorial Service/Funeral including hymn and scripture choices, writing an obituary, saying goodbye to loved ones. Even if you have made some of these preparations already, consider reviewing and perhaps updating them. Please let Pastor know if you plan to attend. PAUL’S PALS AND SENIOR SAINTS Will not be meeting or singing in January and February.

THRIVENT ACTION TEAM If you are a Thrivent Financial member, you can lead a Thrivent Action Team to bring people together for a project to help others. Each member can lead two teams a year. See Jane if you would like to lead an Action Team for 2015.

TWO THRIVENT EVENTS COMING UP 6th Annual Thrivent Day at the Slopes (See bulletin board for more information) The NH Chapter of Thrivent Financial invites Thrivent Financial members and guests for a day of winter fun, including a pizza & soft drink lunch. RSVP IS REQUIRED by Sunday January 10th. Event is Saturday January 24, 2015 - 9am to 4pm - King Pine Ski area East Madison NH. The second 2015 chapter social event is coming up on Saturday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m. Hockey at the Cross Insurance Arena (was the Civic Center). See the Portland Pirates play the Manchester Monarchs, one of our strongest rivals. Last I heard, they were in 1st place in the division and we were in 2nd. Maine chapter has 50 seats reserved in section F. Cost is $7.00 per seat (usually $21.00) Call Abbott Knowles for reservations at 797-0531. E-mail aknowle@maine.rr.com.

MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP The Portland area Lutheran Middle School Youth Group will be meeting at St. Ansgar on Sunday, January 25 at 1:00. Everyone in 5th-8th grade is invited to attend and friends are always welcome.

MONTHLY PRAYER SERVICE Every third Sunday of the month, (January 18 is the next service) after the sharing of the peace, Pastor Karen will be present in the front of the annex for persons who would like individual prayer, for themselves or someone else. Anyone is invited to come and sit in the annex during this time. You may pray silently from your pew and/or come forward to pray with pastor. She will be there as long as someone wants to pray. Tricia Bumby will be playing violin music during this time, soothing background hymns of healing, that will also provide privacy to those who come forward to pray. Contact Pastor Karen if you have any questions.

“BREAKING BREAD WITH OUR FRIENDS” AT THE SOUPER BOWL OF CARING The youth, Parish Care, and Social Ministry are hosting “Breaking Bread with Our Friends” for the entire congregation on February 1st after worship. A soup and bread luncheon will be provided compliments of Thrivent Financial. The funds raised will be for the Preble Street Resource Center in Portland. Please join us for fellowship and fun!

ON-GOING

PARISH CARE will meet on January 6 at 2:00. SOCIAL MINISTRY will meet on January 6 at 7:00.

As our custodian is a volunteer, the Property Committee is requesting all people who use any area of the church, Fellowship Hall or Education building, to please clean up after your group or yourself and put back all chairs, tables, etc. Also, remember to recycle and remove all rubbish if anything was brought into the church. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Women’s Bible Study will meet on the second Tuesday of the month, January 13 at 10:30 am in the large classroom. All are welcome.

KNIT NIGHT will meet on January 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Please join us!

NEWS FOR WORSHIP HELPERS Thank you to all the Assistants, Readers and Acolyte/Crucifers. If you are unable to perform this duty on specified date, please arrange for a substitute. Readers and Assistants please supply your replacement with your prayers or readings that are e-mailed to you.

WORSHIP HELPERS FOR JANUARY – THANK YOU! JANUARY ASSISTANT READER ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER

4 Abera Peggy P Amanuel 11 Sue S Cathy Fente 18 Bill S Bev Eleshadaye 25 Bill O Christine S Jenny

ETHIOPIAN AND ERITREAN FELLOWSHIP IN SONG AND PRAYER – Our Ethiopian and Eritrean brothers and sisters from Westbrook and greater Portland are meeting weekly at Trinity in the fellowship hall for a Celebration of Prayer and Praise in their native languages. Worship will be on Sundays, January 4th, 11th and 25th at 4:00; and on Saturday, January 17th at 2:00.

meet on the third Sunday of each month at 4:00 pm. The worship is casual and user friendly for those with disabilities or mental challenges. We have a sign language interpreter. Families

and caregivers, as well as anyone else who would like to attend are welcome. A Thrivent Action Team sponsored a Christmas party with over 45 guests after our December worship. Every one received a card and gift and we had a delicious ham dinner. A couple of our guests also joined the Live Nativity. The next worship service will be Sunday, January 18. The fellowship meal and Christmas party will be sponsored by the Church Council.

PRAYER GROUP – Meets Wednesday at 11:15. Many prayer concerns have been lifted up and many thanksgivings have been raised. We invite all who cannot attend to consider praying with us at 11:15 on Wednesday from wherever you are at that time. There are prayer request cards and a box to place them in after they are filled out on the table next to the office door.

ALL AROUND THE TOWN

(Nice hat Jane!) COMMUNITY MEAL: Every Wednesday at My Place Teen Center, from 5:00-6:00 pm, a free meal is served for anyone in the community. It is sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church doing food prep, serving and cleanup, with the Wayside Food Programs providing the ingredients. This Outreach Mission is in need of volunteers on Wednesday evenings to serve or clean up. Please contact Jane. There will be no meal served on New Year’s Eve. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS are being offered at the community meal.

THURSDAY NOON COMMUNITY MEALS prepared by and held at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main St., There is a suggested $5 donation but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. The Fellowship Hall will be open in the morning for complimentary coffee and fellowship and the meal will be served at noon. Takeout meals are available. Parking in

the Church St. lot may be a problem so consider carpooling and using the Ash St. parking lot or the spaces behind the library. Meals always have meat, potatoes or rice, a vegetable, dessert, tea and decaf coffee. Meals coming up: January 1 – no meal; 1/8-Meatloaf; 1/15-Smothered beef; 1/22-Baked chicken; 1/29-Ham and mashed potato; 2/5-Roast pork

You all deserve the very best of the world and I hope much joy comes to you. Your friendship is appreciated and I thank you for the kindness you show. Thanks to Jane, Pastor Karen and all the volunteers who make the Community Meal on Wednesday nights a true pleasure! Fran H.

To Parish Care: I want to thank you for your card and gift package of very good treats. Your support throughout the year is great! Elsie & Dieter visited with me and the visit certainly brightened up my day. Merry Christmas to all of you! Steve O. Dear Trinity, God is at work even behind bars. It is a joy to be able to share that light even here and thanks for your help to allow me to do so in this place. Thanks for sharing your light to the Westbrook community. Thanks also for thinking of us here in South Portland. Blessings, Dan (Chaplain) Long Creek Youth Ministry I want to thank you for everything you did for me in 2014. The cards and cookies, everything was so special. Hope your holiday is very special. Love you all. God’s Blessings, Peggy H. To the Members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Thank you so much for the donation you sent to the Westbrook Good Samaritan Fund. It will keep many people warm and fed this winter. Sincerely, Ann Bittner Thank you to Betty McIntyre, the choir, and the Sunday School children for the beautiful Advent Cantata! Dear Trinity, Again, again, we thank your wonderful church for such support. How blessed we are. Jeanne R. To the Ladies of Trinity Lutheran, Thank you very much for the homemade cookies! My roommates at college and I enjoyed them very much. Thank you again! Many thanks, Ocean

Dear Friends, Thank you for your recent gift to the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. We give God all the glory and thank you again for your partnership. May God bless you. Sincerely, Franklin Graham, President, CEO

KID’S KORNER Tongue Twisters

Elephants led the elaborate antics. Knock, Knock Who’s There? Three free throws. Adore Adore, who? Flash message. Adore is between us, open up!

THE LIGHT SIDE On my first day of Confirmation, Pastor asked if anyone knew who Martin Luther was. As per usual, my hand

shot up first, and before I knew it I was spurting out, "A Civil Rights leader." My pastor (and class) laughed hysterically. Megan B., California

A Bit from Bonnie

January The days are short,

The sun a spark, Hung thin between The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps

Track the floor. Milk bottles burst Outside the door.

The river is

A frozen place Held still beneath The trees of lace.

The sky is low.

The wind is gray. The radiator Purrs all day.

--John Updike