trinity matters · sondra guffey 941-302-8927 [email protected] personnel mark mitchell...

November 2020

TRINITY MATTERS! The Newsletter of the Saints at Trinity Presbyterian Church

Please remember TPC in your estate planning!

“Give from What You Have” Do you remember the story of two country folk talking, and one asked, “Billy Bob, if you had a million dollars, would you give me half of it?” Ole Billy Bob replied, “Lee Roy, you know I would.” So Lee Roy questioned again, “If you had a thousand dollars, would you give me five hundred?” “Lee Roy, we have been friends for over twenty years,” said Billy Bob, “and you know I would give you five hundred dollars if I had a thousand.” Well, Ole Lee Roy scratched his chin and asked, “If you had two hogs, would you give me one?” Billy Bob shouted loudly, “That’s not fair. You know I have two hogs.” Have you ever heard people say something like that? I have heard many people say if God would let them win the lottery, they would give half of it to the church, spend a lot on helping the poor, and live on the rest. We all need to understand that God never requires of us to give what we do not have. His requirement is that we give to him what we do have. When we give time, talent, AND treasure to God, it is blessed. There is in Malachi 3:8-10 a blessing and a curse: “Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me — the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing” (nrsv). The curse is the absence of the blessing. When something is blessed, it simply means it has the capacity to do more than it would normally do. So which would you rather have: Ten dollars blessed of God because you gave your best, or ten dollars without the blessing of God because you did not give the best? The real question is: Can ten dollars blessed do more than ten dollars not blessed? The answer is ten dollars not

blessed can do only what ten dollars can do in our economy. Ten dollars blessed of God can do what GOD CAN DO. C.S. Lewis says in his book, Mere Christianity: “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” I believe when we give money, we are releasing a little more of our egocentric selves and a little more of our false security, because giving frees us to care. It produces an air of expectancy as we anticipate what God will lead us to give. It makes life with God an adventure of discovery. We are being used to help make a difference in the world, and that is worth living for and giving for. I hope you know by now that I am not a name-it-and-claim-it preacher, but I do believe we can claim what God has blessed. So give from what you have and not from what you don’t have, that you may claim God’s blessing. As you prayerfully consider what God has put in your heart to give in 2021, let us “give more than we can spare,” so that God will bless all that we give to be multiplied, in order for it to do only what GOD CAN DO!

Yours in Christ,

From the Pastor’s Heart

Inside: Session Highlights ................. 2 Financial Snapshot ................ 2 Thanksgiving Worship. .......... 3 Transition Team .................... 4 On Stewardship ..................... 5 Why Are You Thankful .......... 6 From Our Deacons ................ 7 Birthdays & Anniversaries ..... 8

TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

4365 Englewood Road Venice, FL 34293

Phone: 941.493.0018 www.TrinityPC.org

TRINITY MATTERS! is published monthly except for June/July and

December/January.

STAFF Rev. Bill Teng Interim Pastor

[email protected]

Juanita Fauser Church Administrator

[email protected]

Linda Trzaskos Finance Manager

[email protected]

Sue Brembs Choir Director

[email protected]

Doug Hamstra Organist

[email protected]

Todd Miller Director of

Community Assistance Ministry [email protected]

Walter Pratt Custodian

Charlie Bartell Facility Maintenance

So give from

what you have

and not what

you don’t

have. Then

you can claim

God’s blessing.

SESSION

Class of 2020 Cookie Baker

Randy Clements John Frazee

Sondra Guffey

Class of 2021 Mike Hague Debbie Kretz

Mark Mitchell Cheryl Szekeres

Class of 2022 Alan Balla

Sally Strayer Bob Ulasewich

Rev. Bill Teng Moderator / Interim Pastor

Sally Strayer Clerk of Session

DIACONATE

Class of 2020 Dot Beeman Kaye Elliott

Joellen Huddy Char Schnieders

Lou Szekeres, Moderator

Class of 2021 Wilson Bartker

Nancy Eells Mary Walters

Class of 2022 Alice Burton Diane Fuchs Dennis Ihde Dave Kretz

TRUSTEES Alan Balla

Randy Clements Terry Featherston

Dave Hubbard Bob Ulasewich

Trinity Matters! Newsletter Editor

Juanita Fauser

Session Highlights

At its stated meeting on October , 2020, Session considered the following items: Authorized payment of lighting upgrades in the sanctuary from Memorial

Funds; Authorized cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 1.3% for 2021 to non-called

staff; Approved the exception to Personnel Policy for all non-called staff

members to defer 50% of unused vacation time as of 12/31/2020 to the year 2021 and not carried over to 2022;

Approved changing Congregational Meeting to December 13, 2020 to comply with Bylaws;

Approved changes in Bylaws to reflect numbers of deacons from 18 to 12 and allow trustees to serve up to two three-year consecutive terms, to be rectified at the December Congregational Meeting; and

Approved inviting Rev. Lyn Olson to preach in Sunday worship on November 15 while Pastor Teng is on vacation.

The next Session meeting is scheduled for November 9. Please see Clerk of Session Elder Sally Strayer or Pastor Teng for any questions.

Financial Snapshot

October 2020 Y-T-D Receipts $21,024 $327,665 Expenses $42,310 367,863 $21,286 $40,198 If you have any questions, please contact Linda Trzaskos at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your faithfulness. You may give to TPC at any time by going to the church’s website (www.TrinityPC.org) and click on the green “GIVE NOW” button. Or, you may simply scan the QR code on the right here with your smart phone. Set up a new account and start e-giving today!

A Congregational Meeting will be held on

Sunday, December 13, 2020 (immediately following worship service)

to

Elect Elders, Deacons, Trustees and

Pastor Nominating Committee

MINISTRY TEAMS

Clerk of Session Sally Strayer 614-561-3276

[email protected]

Buildings & Grounds Randy Clements

703-598-5871 [email protected]

Boomers & More Cookie Baker


Christian Education Bob Ulasewich


Outreach / Membership Cheryl Szekeres


Debbie Kretz


Missions Mike Hague


Sondra Guffey


Personnel Mark Mitchell


Worship / Music Sally Strayer


A Note from the Office If your email address has changed, please notify the church office as soon as possible. Any updated

addresses, phone numbers, birthdays, and anniversaries

are appreciated.

Wednesday, November 27 @ 7:00PM

On November 25 at 7:00 pm, we will have a special worship service to give praise and thanks to God. In these trying times it is indeed good for us to reflect on the constant loving presence of God, the blessings God has given to us, and to be renewed in hope that only God can give. Please seek to join us on site in the sanctuary for this worship experience.

We will sing some of the tradition Thanksgiving hymns and choruses, hear the promises of God’s Word, and visibly give thanks to God through personal sharing and testimonies.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good His steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

Thanksgiving Eve Worship

Honoring Our Veterans

Today...and every day…

we are grateful for all military service personnel,

past and present.

Thank you for your service to our country!

Our Church Office will be

closed on Wednesday,

November 11, in observance

of Veterans Day.

“One Another’s”

Love one another (John 13:35).

Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10).

Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you (Romans 15:7).

Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).

Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Be kind and compassionate, forgiving one another (Ephesians 4:32).

Teach and admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).

Encourage and build up one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

FOR HEALING TPC Members

Terry Featherston Bill Hesterhagen

Bill Ray Willy Wolter

FOR MINISTRY Mission Partners:

Rev. Dan & Elizabeth Turk,

PC(USA) Missionaries to Madagascar

Rev. Miguel Estrada, Misión Peniel

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ

Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

The next step on the road to a called pastor for Trinity is to prepare a Congregational Survey and then a Mission Study. The survey will be used as the basis for several meetings that we’ll have with various

groups in the congregation to help set the direction for the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) in their search for our next called pastor. The Transition Team has been meeting almost weekly since mid August and we have completed the

Congregational Survey that will be used to help us write the Mission Study. The survey will be sent to the congregation in mid November. Over the next few weeks we’ll be contacting everyone in the congregation to make sure we have the correct email or home address to deliver the survey. Once the survey is complete, we’ll schedule several in-person meetings to seek additional input from as many people as we can get together. Be on the lookout for the email from our team and/or a phone call from one of the team members to arrange getting the survey to you. We are targeting early January to hold the in-person meeting, stay tuned for details on them.

Transition Team, Elder Geoff Baker

Where Are We in Transition?

On Stewardship

In our last article as part of this year’s stewardship emphasis, we saw how God is our Source, how all that we have comes from Him, how He empowers and enables us, and how we respond by grace through faith. We also saw that like the Macedonian Christians, we are to first give ourselves to the Lord as good stewards of the grace of God. Sometimes, when stewardship is mentioned, people wrongly conclude that giving money is all that is involved. Not so. Giving does include our financial resources, but it goes far beyond money and actually encompasses three primary resources. These are what might be called “building blocks” in God’s “school of faith” which constitute “lifestyle stewardship” or “total stewardship.” First, there is the matter of our TIME. Time is one resource that is given to everyone equally. All of us have twenty-four hours in every day. No more, no less. How we use our time reflects accurately what is a priority in our lives. Some people have made the TV a priority in their lives. They might not admit it, but by totaling the amount of time they spend in front of the screen, it would be hard to draw any other conclusion. Others have made sports a priority. How can we tell that’s true? Again, by the amount of time they spend pursuing sports. The key question is this: How much of the 168 hours available to each of us every week is spent in pursuit of God or in service to God’s kingdom, especially here in this ministry? Then there is the matter of our TALENT, an area in which all of us have not been gifted equally. Some have been gifted by God to work with their hands, with machines, or with computers. Others excel in their ability to communicate orally or via the printed page. The effective outreach of the Gospel here at Trinity Presbyterian Church is made possible only when God’s people who are part of this fellowship use their combined talents for God’s glory and for the good of this ministry.

Finally, there is the matter of our TREASURE. Don’t be confused. Money cannot buy salvation. Money cannot buy eternal life. Money can’t even buy security which God alone provides. But how we use money is an indication of our priorities. Think about the process: God owns everything. According to Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s.” God has never relinquished His title deed to the world, but God enables us to earn that which rightfully belongs to Him. God then seeks to have us return a portion of what He has entrusted to us through our giving.

Giving is not to help “poor God” pay His bills. Giving is not because God needs anything from us. Giving is God’s way of growing Christians. Every time we give for God’s glory from hearts that have been redeemed by God’s love and grace, we give away a little of our selfishness. Every time we give of our resources, we grow in grace and in our walk with Christ. Writing in “Our Daily Bread,” Anne Cetas described her pastor’s way of illustrating the truths of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. He placed an offering plate on the floor and stepped into it. He then stood there as he talked about the importance of giving our whole selves to the Lord. Anne then suggested, “The next time the offering plate comes around at church, imagine yourself stepping into it. It will help you to excel in the grace of giving.”

As you consider your life during this time of stewardship emphasis, will you — like the Macedonian Christians — excel in the “grace of giving” by first giving yourself to the Lord? Will you then respond by grace through giving your time, your talents, and your treasure to be used by God in this ministry? As you consider your response to these questions, and as you seek the Lord’s direction concerning your giving in the next few months, please remember these simple yet profound words: Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.

“Now as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you — so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking” (2 Corinthians 8:7, NRSV).

Check out Trinity’s page and like us on Facebook — Trinity Presbyterian Church So Venice, FL —

it helps to give Trinity more visibility in the Community. New information is posted on a daily basis.

If you have something you would like posted, please

contact Elder Cheryl Szekeres (Facebook

Administrator) at 708-207-3564 or

[email protected], and if appropriate, it will be

posted on Trinity’s page. It’s a great way to stay

connected.

Join Us on Facebook, Elder Cheryl Szekers

Be a Part of Worship! During this season of “Thanks,” we are grateful for those worshiping

with us in person and online. We’re always looking for ways to engage

and encourage our worshippers. We’ve got two opportunities coming up

soon!

First, for those of you who have/are attending worship service in the

Sanctuary, we plan on shooting very short interviews just outside the

covered church entrance (after worship on November 8 & 15.) Because we are also trying to remain socially

distanced, we’ll ask that those interested walk up to our microphone (some distance from our tripod &

camera) and briefly answer three questions:

#1 – What’s your name;

#2 – Where are you from; and

#3 – What has meant the most to you when it comes to returning to in-person worship?

If you are worshipping online, we’d ask that you email a picture of yourself (preferably worshipping online)

along with an email letting us know your name, where you are from, and what has meant the most to you

when it comes to worshipping with us online.

The deadline to send pictures (or your own video from your cellphone if

you’re handy with that) is November 15. We’ll be including these

responses in our worship services (in person & online) in the future.

After Thanksgiving, Advent begins on November 29. So between now and

then, we’d ask anyone able to send us pictures or email exhibiting the four

common “themes” of Advent: ”Hope,” “Peace.” “Joy,” and “Love.” These

will be used to enhance the special season of Advent. (When you send

these in, please specify which of those four themes your

picture/information pertains to.)

All pictures, video or emails should go to [email protected].

What Are You Thankful For?

Decorate for Advent & Christmas Kaye Elliott, Coordinator

Due to COVID-19 the Christmas

Joy Bags for Misión Peniel children

will look a little different this year. In years past, we were asked to purchase

clothing for the children, this year they have a specific item list in which to

purchase and put in the bags.

We have been designated 60 tags for ages 6-9 they will be available for

pick up following worship between November 22 and December 6. All bags

will need to be returned to the church by Sunday December 13.

You will be hearing more about this in the coming weeks and our

Deacons thank you in advance for your continued support. For more details

contact Kaye Elliot via email at [email protected].

Christmas Joy Bags for Misión Peniel Children Join us for this adapted Christmas sharing with

children from Misión Peniel

From Our Board of Deacons

Join us as we decorate the Sanctuary and facility for the Advent and Christmas Season. We will begin on Monday, November 30th at 10am and anticipate finishing up on Tuesday, December 1st . We will need a couple of men who can do ladder work to hang wreaths and garland. In preparation we are looking for some volunteers to do the fluffing of the wreaths and garland prior to hanging. This will be done the week of November 15th For additional information or details contact Kaye Elliot via email at [email protected] or 941-967-0527.

NOVEMBER

1 Harold Domaratius 2 Joan Armond 4 Patty Otto Clare Schade 5 Larry Strayer 7 James Marschinke 9 Eleanor Woofter 10 Neil Woofter 13 Richard Crossland 14 Ray Banks Marilyn Easterly Willy Wolter 17 Karen Teng 18 Claudia Lundberg 20 Mazie Kreager 21 Barbara Boucher 22 Doris Kerper 23 Pam Foster 23 Tammy Glover 26 Mollie Phillips 27 Larrie Dunn 29 Susan Strickland

NOVEMBER

Todd & Julie Miller 11/02/1988 Mike & Becky Hague 11/07/1988 Randy & Janet Bernsdorf 11/10/1977 Gary & Diane Fuchs 11/11/1984 Jim & Lois Marschinke 11/19/1977 Earl & Martha Ephlin 11/23/1956 Bob & Karen Susa 11/25/1960 Bryan & Beverly Page 11/25/1982 John & Donna Siegner 11/27/1959 Dave & Pat Hubbard 11/28/1964 Gene & Carol Kraus 11/30/1996

If we missed your birthday or anniversary, please email

[email protected] or call 941.493.0018 ext. 224.

NOVEMBER 2020 Year A

4 Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9,12-20; Psalm 19

Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46

11 Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23

Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14

18 Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22

25 Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46

Sunday Lectionary Readings

Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

WEDNESDAYS AT 11AM

Do you miss praying and sharing

with one another? Join Pastor Teng

and others for this 30-minute online

Prayer-n-Share gathering on Zoom

at 11:00 every Wed. morning

“Rejoice in hope; be patient in

suffering; persevere in prayer”

(Romans 12:12).

Articles for our newsletter may be

submitted to [email protected].

Deadline for the December / January issue

of Trinity Matters! is November 26th.

2020

On All Saints’ Day we remembered with love those from the Trinity Church family and friends who entered the presence of Christ this past year (November 1, 2019 – October 31, 2020).

Patricia Erickson 11/21/19 Grace Tucker 1/12/20 James Karl Menzer 3/15/20 Dottie Andersen 4/29/20 Carmen DiMaria 5/05/20 Kenneth Lee Cornell 5/27/20 Vivian Visser 7/20/20 Ilda Deming 8/03/20 Irene Fuller 8/06/20 Hazel Chapin 8/21/20 William Craig Elliott 9/09/20 James R. Lemmert 10/10/20

Christmas Poinsettias Poinsettias will be available

for purchase again this year

to decorate the Worship

Center. Cost will be $8/plant

and may be given in honor

or memory of loved ones.

Save your one gallon milk / water

jugs (washed and no lids please)

and drop them off at the church

office during the week or on

Sunday mornings. They will be

used on Christmas Eve in our

parking lot for luminaries. For additional

information contact [email protected] or

call the church office (941-493-0018 ext 224).

Christmas Luminaria

mailto:[email protected]

trinity matters · sondra guffey 941-302-8927 [email protected] personnel mark mitchell...

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