Trinity Lutheran Church

Outreach – LWR Ingathering

Katie Brantner — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:00:48 +0000

It is that time of the year again for the Lutheran World Relief Ingathering appeal. Lutheran World Relief strives to bring relief, peace, and hope to people all over the world. Our Synod is hosting an ingathering appeal for around the Synod. They are asking for every congregation to take a collection of the kits LWR needs to provide care and support to people around the world. If you would like to help LWR with their ingathering appeal this October, please consider filling either a health kit or school kit, or both! If you are unable to fill a kit, please consider donating money to help ship out the kits from around the Synod. If you would like to donate money, please mark your offering “LWR Ingathering.” Kits can be returned to the white bin in the back of the sanctuary marked, “LWR Kits” by October 3rd.
Health Kits (Please make exactly as described)
1 hand towel, 1 washcloth, 1 bath seize bar in original wrapping, 1 wide tooth comb, 1 adult-sized toothbrush, 1 metal nail file, 6 Band-Aids, preferably ½’ to 3/4′’ – Please put everything into a large Ziploc type bag.
School Kits (please make exactly as described)
Notebooks of wide or college-ruled paper (totally 150-200 pages), one blunt scissors, 1 30 centimeter ruler, 1 pencil sharpener, 6 new unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers, 1 eraser approximately 2 ½’ long, 12 sheets of construction paper in assorted colors, 1 box of 16 or 24 crayons, sturdy cloth bag approximately 12” x 14” with cloth handles or drawstring closure- Please put everything into the cloth bag.
Thank-you for your participation.

Whooping Cough

Judith Cosgriff — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:24 +0000

“After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.” (1Kings17:17, NRSV)
If you have ever heard an infant suffering from whooping cough (pertussis), it can be an extremely frightening experience (check out http://www.babycenter.com/2_sounds-of-whooping-cough_10316927.bc)! Inflammation from this bacterial infection leads to a cough so sever that the child cannot catch his breath. Between coughs, he gasps for air, leading to the distinctive “whooping” sound of the illness. Whooping cough is not just a childhood disease, and the number of active cases here in the US is climbing – in California alone, the number of cases has quadrupled over that of last year – enough for it to be labeled an ‘epidemic”. Cases have also increased in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Oregon and South Carolina, and it is believe the numbers will further increase when children return to school.
Why the sharp increase? It is not due to parents failing or refusing to immunize their children, nor is it due to an increase in immigration, as one might suspect. Instead, because immunity to the disease decreases over time, adolescents and adults are increasingly vulnerable to the bacteria as they age. They may even be unknowing carriers of the disease. In addition, re-emergence of the disease appears to be cyclical, occurring every 3 to 5 years. That is why the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-dtap.pdf) recommend that children, adolescents, and adults receive regular immunization. This is especially important if they live with, or are caregivers of, infants under the age of three months.
Children should receive immunization against pertussis at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months-of-age, with booster shots administered between 15-18 months, and again at ages 4-5 years. Different formulations are used in children over the age of 7, adolescents, and adults, and should be determined by the prescribing physician. Adults should be re-vaccinated every 10 years.
Like many other respiratory infections, pertussis is spread by droplet via unprotected coughs. The time required for the bacteria to grow can vary from 6 – 21 days after exposure. Initial symptoms mimic those of an ordinary cold, with runny nose, congestion, sneezing, low-grade fever, and a cough. However, instead of the cough subsiding in a week or two, the pertussis cough typically intensifies. The most vulnerable is the unimmunized infant, in which a classic case of whooping cough can rapidly worsen. Uninterrupted coughing leads to the gasping for air; blueness of the fingers, toes and skin around the mouth; drooling; and vomiting. Eating and drinking become increasingly difficult, rapidly leading to exhaustion, dehydration, and in the most sever cases, seizures, pneumonia, even death.
Currently, there is no treatment for the cough, which can linger for months, and can return with subsequent respiratory infections – earning it the name the “100 day cough”. A cool mist vaporizer may provide some relief. However, the best protection against pertussis remains immunization. In the coming months, the CDC hopes to raise public awareness of the disease, particularly in physicians and other health care providers, who may unwittingly be passing on the disease to the very patients they are trying to protect.
If you are not sure when you last received an immunization against whooping cough, please speak to your primary care provider. If you have an infant, try to limit your child’s exposure to adults and adolescents who may not have been immunized. And finally, as with any respiratory infection, practice good cough and cold etiquette; remember to cover your cough, and practice good hand washing techniques!
September blessings!
Judi Cosgriff RN, Parish Nurse

Cleaning For a Reason – Help for Chemo Patients

Judith Cosgriff — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:47 +0000

If you know any woman currently undergoing chemo, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning – 1 time per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment.
Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. It’s our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there that care.
If you know someone who might need this service, pass the information on for her to explore: www.cleaningforareason.org.

Mom’s Group Begins Sessions This Month

Katie Brantner — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:00:36 +0000

Moms’ Group will begin to meet on Friday, September 10th from 9:30-11:00 a.m. The group will be studying what it means to relax and how we all can find a moments of relaxation in our own lives. The group this year is also working on a service project that will require empty shoe boxes. If you have any extra shoe boxes you can share, please drop them off to Pastor Katie’s office. If you have any questions about how you can be involved in the Moms’ Group, please contact Julie Houck at 492-9470.

Young Adults to Meet Wednesday Nights

Katie Brantner — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:00:16 +0000

This fall our Young Adults group will gather the first Wednesday of every month for Dinner and Bible Study. We will meet at 5:30 in the Small Group Room located on the second floor of the educational wing. Everyone is asked to bring his or her own dinner. This fall we will study; Ruth, Samuel, David, and Elijah using the “People of Faith” Bible study. We will also discuss their stories and how they relate to our own lives.
If you are a Young Adult who will be away from home during the school year, but would like to be a part of the Bible Study, please send Pastor Katie an email at PastorKatie@trinitymountjoy.org. She will add you to a monthly email list to keep you informed and up to date about Young Adult happenings around Trinity.
Lastly, if you have not given your college contact information to Pastor Katie, please add it to the list on her door. We will need your address to send you a care package in the winter.

Trin-Olympics “Minute To Win It!” Wednesday, September 15th

Michelle Shirk — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:00:03 +0000

Wednesday night fun with friends will be starting again with Trin-Olympics! Try your hand at “Minute to Win It” games from the NBC game show. Our kick-off will be held at Trinity on September 15th from 6:30 to 7:45 pm. Children and youth ages three through grade 12 and their families are invited to join us for this opening night of great games.
Once again this year, BOLD will be held on Wednesday nights and will offer age-specific programming written by our youth ministry team. Preschoolers (age 3 and up) will meet in the first floor Sunday school wing beginning at 6:00 each night. Children can be dropped off anytime after 6:00. The program consists of stories, games, crafts, and music time with Mark Herr and ends at 7:45 pm.
Children in grades Kindergarten through third grade begin in room 102 off the fellowship hall. Their programming will consist of skits, storytelling, object lessons, games, snacks and journal writing. Their session ends at 7:45 in the fellowship hall.
Tweens, grades 4 and 5, meet in the Old Fellowship Hall. Their program is new this year and written specifically for them! It will include tv/movie clips, exciting games, fun snacks, and interactive storytelling. Their programming ends in the Old Fellowship Hall at 7:45 pm.
Jr. High Youth will begin again this year in the Fellowship Hall for games and fun. After the first 20 minutes, they will head over to the second floor of Trinity Place for discussions about issues they face in life, and how Christ asks us to respond. Jr. High youth end at 8:00 pm.
Sr. High begins and ends on the first floor of Trinity Place and the group will discuss issues they face in their lives, and how the Bible calls us to act. This program ends at 8:00 pm.
Music ministries and Pastor Mike’s Book Study continue to meet as in years past.
Please join us for Bold at Trinity, and invite a friend to join you!

Children’s Choir Camp

Mark Herr — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:00:12 +0000

Children’s Choir Camp is a week long day camp which features singing, dancing, and speaking the lines of a musical that is performed twice as a part of worship. Games, craft projects and costuming round out the fun! That, in a nutshell, is the musical event that took place in August.   Twenty children from Kindergarten through fifth grade came together each morning to learn about Moses and his call to lead the children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage to freedom.
Each morning we began with prayer, warm ups and the singing of the music from “Moses and the Freedom Fanatics”. Following that, we watched part of the movie “The Prince of Egypt.” From there we sang, practiced lines, learned dance steps, and searched for costumes.   By Friday morning, we were ready for three complete “dress rehearsals” for our final performances, which took place on Sunday morning, August 8th at 8:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
The able and willing assistance of Renee Weaver, who helped with the songs and the crafts, designed our great frog hats, ran for craft supplies and the needed musical instruments…the kazoos, made the week a breeze!
The choreography of Kayla Martine, assisted by Jess Garber (who found costumes for the singers) was incredible. So much to learn, in such a short time…and the kids really learn their lines so much better when movement is utilized.   Motions always help with the learning of music, because music is not just notes and words and sounds, but involves the whole body!
Eric Martine and Ben Mowrer were essential to each day as they led the game time activities, helped with crafts and served as “prop boys” on stage. It would have been chaos without them handing out items at the right times.
Abby Bowman, who just moved from being a day camper/singer to a helper this year, kept our Powerpoint script on track so that the children could have a visual prompter. She also helped with costuming, crafts and running for “stuff.” She was another essential to the week with her happy and helpful spirit. Monica, her mother, also helped out on a day when I had to finish my college semester class final with my students.
College student, member of the Chancel Choir, soloist and part of the Wednesday Bold Band, Josh Harner was able to be present for most of the rehearsals so that he was able to add needed musical “touches” to the presentation with the trumpet and percussion parts. His participation was the musical dash of “spice” to the songs that the children sang throughout the musical drama.
And last, not to be forgotten were the folks, led by Jean Nelson and Joanna Shirk, who helped with the Friday “mystery meal” that was beautifully presented and lovingly served.
The kids, the staff, and I all had a most enjoyable week. And…I want to thank all who participated and the parents for seeing that their children could be a part of this summer program. Each year we have some “repeaters” and some new children. We have children who regularly sing in the Children’s Choir as well as some who cannot come to a Wednesday practice. We also gain new children for the choir through this event. It’s a wonderful annual (this was our fourth year) event that is scheduled for the first week of August, 2011. Our theme/story for next year may be David and Goliath…or something else. We will know by the end of the year…so parents, mark your calendars now!

Pastor Mike’s Message

Michael Martine — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:43 +0000

What I Did On My Summer Vacation…
One of my favorite Saturday Night Live “films,” from long, long ago, was, “What I Did On My Summer Vacation.”
It was the old gang…the REALLY old gang…Chevy, John B., Gilda, Jane, Dan…
And it was really, really funny.
And this year? I, personally, got to feel that “old feeling.” What it’s like to have a “summer vacation.”
And I’ll tell you—it was awesome. Great. Great beyond belief.
Oh, I know…everyone says the same thing to me: “But you never left!”
“You were here every Sunday!”
“You did Bible School!”
“You went on the shore trip!”
And so on…
But what you didn’t see was this. What I didn’t do….
I didn’t come into the office…I didn’t do the “day to day”…I didn’t carry the weight of the world on my shoulders…
What I did, instead, was stuff I love to do, but otherwise don’t have time to do.
I wrote a book…about three hundred pages, for my son. It’s about a boy (a lot like him), who gets a pig and hides it from the family…in his garage.
I wrote a play (with music—a lot of my “old stuff” that usually just sits in a drawer), for my daughter and for Jordyn McCrady and Shannon Monaghan…and by the time you read this it will have been presented at the Susquehanna Stage Company.
And I…
Well, I restored my vegetable garden, I lost some weight, I didn’t shave unless my wife started to complain, and I meditated a lot and felt the Lord’s presence.
In other words, these past 12 weeks have been wonderful, fulfilling, and have brought me to a sense of wholeness that, I hope, will carry me through the next seven years…when I would get to do it again!
Thank you, Trinity, for giving me this opportunity. It was needed, and wonderful, and life-restoring. I hope that you will be getting back, in return for your sacrifice, a better pastor.
Now (please?), let’s all get back into the swing of things with the fall, get back to church, and get back to celebrating what we share together, and with God, as members of this congregation.
God’s blessings to you. It’s good to be home!

September 2010 Newsletter

Michelle Shirk — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0000

September 2010 newsletter.

Alive Alive is Almost Here!

Michelle Shirk — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:00:18 +0000

Youth and leaders from Trinity will be traveling to Arendtsville September 17-19 for Alive, Alive. This outstanding event at Camp Nawakwa is for youth in grades 6 through 8 from all around our synod.
This year’s retreat will challenge youth to be less judgmental of both peers and those from different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds.
The event combines time for faith formation with fun and fellowship. Youth will have an opportunity to hear from speakers and live bands in large group, and talk with peers under the guidance of trained small group leaders in small groups. Events such as a dance, games, campfires, and other fun activities round out the weekend.
Youth should pack a dinner to be eaten on the way and be at Trinity by 4:15 pm on Friday, September 17th. We’ll return Sunday afternoon around 2:00 pm.