News

From the Minister’s Study – Sept. 17, 2024

From the Minister’s Study – September 17, 2024

“I am a spiritual being of God’s creation
and God’s spirit infuses me with life; and I am comforted.”

Hello everybody,

Summer is giving us one more warm hug before Fall officially arrives this Sunday September 22.  I hear people are still taking advantage of the warmer waters and swimming in the middle of September! I got a kayak in this afternoon before supper.  And yet, as I drove into Trinity on Monday there were colourful signs of our new season all around me- dashes of colour and leaves falling quietly and peacefully to be laid to rest for another year.

This coming Sunday September 22 is our official “Back to Church” Sunday. It’s a time we gather to celebrate the start of a brand new church year.  This will include lots of new music, new banners flying and yes, as an ode to our passing summer- even a hot dog after the service.  A big welcome back to our Trinity choir! Our Light Beamers are reminded to bring their backpacks to church for a blessing as they start a new school year too.  This is a reminder that God always has their backs- and ours too.

As most of you know by now, this week has been a week like no other for me.  I got word that mom had taken a turn and it was time to come home. Mom was my rock. She was always there cheering me on from the sidelines- there for my brothers and sisters too. When anything good or bad happened in my day- I couldn’t wait to get home to phone her and share the news with her.  Mom would celebrate that good stuff and help me through the more challenging times in my life. As Lynda Arnold said- I think it was Lynda- last week is a big blur: “A life well lived… but never easy to say good-bye.” Yes, especially our final good-byes. They have to be the hardest. I read these words on the sign outside Riverside Public School on my way into work: “We can do hard things.”   Indeed, we can.  We can do hard things through Christ who strengthens us.   I repeated these words found in Philippians over and over to myself “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and the words of a good friend “You got this.” throughout the emotional rollercoaster of the week that was. Leading mom’s Celebration of Life service was my parting gift to her. She brought me into the world and I now had the privilege of escorting her into the new mysterious world that awaits us all. Her soul is set free and soaring high!  Mom leaves behind her a trail of love and God’s arms are open wide welcoming her home with a warm and tender embrace. Even though it is hard to turn the page when you know somebody you love is not in the next chapter- the story must go on.  And memories of mom will make for a delightful sidebar.

I want to wrap up this message with a poem called All is Well by Henry Scott Holland

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no force air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect,
without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very nearby.
Just around the corner.
All is well.

###

I wish to thank you all for your kindness shown to me last week through your caring thoughts, text messages and emails I received when I was in Newfoundland and for the sympathy cards that awaited me on my desk and in my mailbox upon my return.  They were all balm for my aching heart. You have demonstrated once again that love is always the light that gets us through our darkest moments. 
Thank you for being my light.

Mark these dates on your Fall calendar:

Book Study- Growing Old Gracefully Tuesday afternoons
in the Arnold Room. 2 pm

“Mug up with the Minister” returns on Thursday October 3rd
with a guest speaker talking about nurturing faith
in our children and grandchildren.

World Communion Sunday- October 6th

Thanksgiving Sunday October 13th and in celebration of our 100th Anniversary our Inspirit Team
is hosting a Fall Speaker series
starting on Thursday October 17th. 
Dessert at 6: 30 pm followed by speaker at 7pm. Details soon.

Hope to see you all Sunday morning- is it possible to fill those pews? Come on out and join us even if you haven’t been here since COVID- it’s time for fresh starts and new beginnings and of course bring along a friend.

Autumn blessings,
With gratitude,
Rev. Diane

###

Community News and Events

Welcome Back!

Sep 11, 2024

Back to Church!
Welcome Back!     Volunteer With Us!

We love our volunteers!  Sunday morning volunteering is a great opportunity to get involved and be part of creating and building community together.

Check out the options below:

Sunday Morning Greeters
How wonderful it is to be greeted on Sunday morning with a smiling face!
As a Greeter, you have the important ministry of welcoming people
to Trinity United Church before the Sunday morning service.
You bring the welcome and we will set up the orientation sessions
to fill in the blanks.
Sign me up!  Contact Suzy at the office.

Scripture Readers
An easy way to get involved on Sunday is to join our roster of scripture readers.
You will be contacted during the week for the upcoming Sunday and asked if you are available to read a specific passage in the service.
You can also sign up in advance for specific dates.
We’ll send a digital copy of the passage to you to practice before Sunday Service. This ministry is open to all ages!  Contact Suzy at the office to sign up.

Sunday Coffee Helpers
This ministry of Hospitality is vital to the life and faith of our Trinity community.
Sharing a cup of tea and a kind word after the service is a wonderful way to make new friends
and reconnect with old ones.
We need two volunteers a week to keep the tea and coffee flowing!
Can you help?  Contact Barb Dalziel or Suzy at the office.

Communion Servers
We celebrate Holy Communion throughout the seasons of the church year.
Servers hold trays of bread and juice as people partake of the
“Bread of life” and the “Cup of blessing.”
This can be a moving spiritual experience for servers
who are offering these gifts.
If this is something you may like to do,
you can speak with Faye McKnight, our Worship Team leader or contact Suzy at the office.

Light Beamer Volunteers
Our Light Beamer program strives to teach our young people
to shine their precious God-given light into the world.
As a volunteer your job is to provide a welcoming and safe space for children to learn more about the spiritual teachings of Jesus.
Lessons will be provided by one of our Light Beamer leaders.
You are also welcome to be a volunteer to help as needed.
If you like the idea of growing young hearts,
give Jeannette McCullough a call or contact Suzy at the office.

Audio and Visual Assistants
Lights, camera, action!
Want to help out our Technology Team on Sunday mornings?
Since COVID our online ministry has now become an essential part
of our outreach into our community and beyond.
The church has left the building!
Come and learn how to become part of this important ministry
in our church community. Training provided.
Contact Alastair Dunlop or Suzy at the office.

Choir Members
Like to sing?!
Trinity’s Choir offers a wide variety of music to present
during our Sunday morning worship!
Practices are Thursdays at 4 in Trinity’s Sanctuary.
If this is something you may like to do, let our Director of Music,
Kyung-A know or contact Suzy at the office.

Drivers for Sunday Service
Our weekly Sunday Worship Service is a wonderful way
to wrap up one week and begin the next.
Unfortunately, not everybody has transportation to get them to our church building.
If you are comfortable picking someone up on your way to church,
we have folks who could use a ride!
Let Suzy know that you can offer this service!

Souper Sandwich Helpers
From September to May on the second Friday of the month,
you can help by donating your time in Trinity’s kitchen,
making sandwiches, soups, desserts,
delivering the take-outs, and/or setting up table
We welcome more volunteers.
Contact Nancy Waxl or Suzy at the office.

Thank you for considering being a volunteer this year
at Trinity United Church.

Desmond Tutu said it best
“do your little bit of good where you are;
it’s those little bits of good put together
that overwhelm the world.”

We can accomplish far more when we work together
because every little bit
that someone has to offer- time, talent
or treasure- matters.

You matter! Together, we’re better!

As followers of Jesus,
we are called to be the heart,
feet and hands of Christ in our church
and in our communities.
Come join our growing ministry team here
at Trinity United Church!

Autumn blessings,
Rev. Diane

###

Fall Book Study Begins in September

Aug 15, 2024

Have you ever noticed that some people are living vital years past the time most people would call them “productive” ones?

What do they have that you may like to have also?

In Sister Joan Chittister’s book called: “The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully”, Chittister writes about life beyond its physical dimension to its spiritual development. In our time together we will discover the mental and spiritual attitudes we bring to the challenges we face as we transition from one decade to another. We must be, in the words of writer Parker Palmer, willing to let go of the life we have planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.

Would you like to dive more deeply into exploring how each stage of life brings with it its own purpose?

Please join me and our Inspirit Team as we unpack this book starting Tuesday September 10th from 2-3 pm in the Arnold Room at Trinity United Church.

This book study will continue weekly until Tuesday October 8th. Please let me or Suzy, in the office, know if you would like to be part of this book group. It may be a good idea to get a jump on your reading while there are still some summer days to do so. This inspirational and illuminating book encourages us to surmount our fears of getting older and find our meaning and joy in aging well.

You can buy this book on Amazon or maybe pick it up at your local bookstore or library. Again, the book is called: “The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully”

Hope you can join us on this spiritual journey of embracing our senior years and all the challenges and gifts they bring to us.

Blessings, Rev. D

Upcoming this summer!

Jun 20, 2024

A day long Summer Spiritual Retreat- July 25th between 10-4 pm.  Details coming but save the date. Limit of 10 people only.  It will be a day of learning and relaxation. Let the office know – first come first serve. If numbers require- we will have a second day retreat. Bring your bathing suits and towels!

In August, back by popular demand, Dock Talk on Thoughtful Thursdays- August 15th, August 22nd and August 29th. This is an informal gathering where we get to know one another a little better and bring one question you would like to share with the rest of the group. 

Our Inspirit team is launching a Book Group on September 10th- October 8th, starting at 2 pm in The Arnold Room.  The book is called How Happiness Happens by Max Lucado.  This is a user-friendly book and a great entry point to our fall study on happiness.