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Trinity TidingsAn Inviting Community Following Christ For LifeVolume 52, Issue 1January 2018Preparing the FutureFor which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, tosee whether he has enough to complete it?Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation andis not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began tobuild and was not able to finish.’- Luke 14:28-30When I drove up to the home, they were both standing outside the house. I pulled into thedriveway and the man and woman turn toward me and smiled. It had become a long yearand I was coming again to check on the health of their loved one. Out of the car, I said:“You didn’t need to come outside to meet me.” The man said, “oh don’t worry; wedidn’t.” Then his wife was quick to pipe up: “We’ve been taking a walk around the houseto figure out what needs to get done around here next year.”Organizational experts and those who write about achieving excellence in the businessworld, tell us that evaluating the present and planning for the future are key to everyeffective organization’s health. That’s no less true for the church and perhaps forcongregational life it could even be said to be essential. Jesus had no problem telling hislisteners that to be disciples—committed followers—evaluating the costs was key.Last month, we elected our 61st class of Elders to serve as the Session for our churchfamily. Our Presbyterian form of government (how we are organized) is built on thespiritual ministry of the Elders—the word for Elder in Greek is presbuteros. This monthas we ordain and install our church officers, both Elders and Deacons will take theirrespective places in leading our many ministries. While the Deacons led us in ministriesof fellowship, care and compassion, the Elders are charged with guiding us into the futureChrist Jesus has for us. For that guidance to be wise and faithful, the Session will continueits work of strategic planning. We’ll be, metaphorically speaking, “taking a walk aroundthe house to figure out what needs to get done around here.”We have seen the Holy Spirit doing amazing things among us here at Trinity. I believethat the work of the Elders in spending time contemplating our present and prayerfullyplanning our future has been used by the Lord to help us grow in vitality. As we all begina new year, pray for our Elders and our Deacons. As the Session prays and discusseswhat we believe God’s plan for our future might be, pray for us and for our congregation.Help us all “count the cost” so that each one of us might be part of helping to build God’sKingdom in our corner of the world.If you will so pray and serve, then we can all have great reasons to be .Hoping Big,GregoryStaffPastor/Head of StaffThe Rev. Dr. GregoryC. FaulknerAssociate PastorThe Rev. Ms. SarahCravenParish AssociateThe Rev. Mr. BarryGruverDirector ofMusicLisa MarcelliInterim MusicAssociateBrain KainChurch TreasurerDebby TalbottOffice ManagerSue NorkMedia AssociateAlysia Sieh BadskeyMembershipAssociatePam DoughertyProperty MangerLarry HallDirector ofNursery SchoolMarina Pappas

Trinity’s Music NewsAdult Choir RehearsalWednesdays at 7:30 pmAdult Bell RehearsalWednesdays at 6:30 pmChildren’s RehearsalsCherub Choir – Pre-K and Kindergarten;Thursday 4:30-5:00pmCarol Choir – 1st and 2nd grade;Thursday 5:00-5:40pmrdTeam Choir – 3 , 4th, and 5th grade; Thursday 5:40-6:20pmTeam Bells – 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade; Thursday 6:20-6:50pmYouth RehearsalsYouth Choir – 6th -12th grade; Sundays 10:50am-11:30amYouth Bell Ensemble 6th -12th grade; Sundays 11:30-noonYouth Instrumental Ensemble 6th -12th grade;Rehearsal Dates to be AnnouncedTrinity Band andMahalo Ukulele BandRehearsal Dates to be AnnouncedYOU CAN MAKE MUSIC AT TRINITY!Please call the church office at 428-2050 or e-mail Lisa Marcelli,Director of Music, at lisa.marcelli@trinpres.org for more information.2

Trinity News and NotesWe extend our sympathies to Marti and Charlie Crothers on thedeath of Marti’s sister, Maureen.Session Update:At its stated meeting December 4, 2017, the Session: Continued a discussion of the Great Ends of the Church to informstrategic planning. Approved the monthly membership count of 706. Heard a Presbytery meeting report. Approved a baptism. Discussed ways to recognize and thank Becky Sayer Kain for heralmost 6 years of service. Received an update about solar panel installation. Learned that pledge and plate income continued to be belowbudgeted amounts but that careful spending will likely ensure abalanced budget. Discussed an event sponsorship request from Trinity Out andAbout. Prayed for members and friends.Margery N. Sly- Clerk of SessionSession of EldersClerk of SessionMargery SlyAdult MinistriesBarbara DeSantoChildren’s MinistriesNancy RobertsFinance & StewardshipBill KainMembershipSteve SkillMission & OutreachJulie BlairPersonnelBrian DoughertyProperty & BuildingsTony CenevivaWorship & MusicLinda FlanaryYouth MinistriesDonna AllenStrategy CommitteeMargery SlyTechnology CommitteeTom EarpChildren and Youth MinistriesA big thank you for all that helped us duringthe Advent Festival: Linda Craven, SarahCraven, Michelle Yeary, Emily Yeary, AnnSmolsky, and Marti Warren.We hope the children had a great time withthe craft and snacks.3DeaconsModerator of DeaconsJen DukelowCommittee ChairsAssistanceMartha StemFellowshipPaul Guelich &Carolyn KramerServiceAlison SchwarzVisitationMichael McBride

Who: Trinity’s Teens and Tweens (6th-12th grades)When: Once a monthWhere: Trinity and the communityWatching Elf at the Marcelli’s HomeNext Mixers:1/21/18- Noon- Lunch followed by making sandwiches forCathedral Kitchen2/11/18 – TBD4/15/18- Noon- Lunch followed by Trinity scavenger hunt4

WE ARE PILGRIMS!Join Dr. Faulkner for a Holy Land PilgrimageThe sermon I gave the Sunday before leaving for my sabbatical, made theclaim that as baptized followers of Jesus Christ, we are all pilgrims. Apilgrim is one who goes on a journey to visit places of religious andspiritual significance. Christians have been making pilgrimages to theHoly Land for well over 18 centuries; such a journey is emblematic thatwe are traveling through this world toward our true Home, which is God.On Sunday, February 4 at 10:30 you are invited to join Dr. Faulkner atthe senior high breakfast, which will be held in the Community Room.Following breakfast there will be an informational meeting for all thoseinterested in making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in June, 2019. It istrue: we are all spiritually pilgrims. If you would like to also be pilgrimswho get dusty on the ancient roads of Israel/Palestine, come find out morein February 4th.Deacons' Coat DriveThank you Trinity for your generous support of the Deacons' Coat Drive. Wehave been able to donate 45 children's coats the the Little Hands/Little Feetprogram at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, as well as assorted hats andmittens. Over 50 adult's coats were distributed to the Interfaith Homeless OutreachCouncil (IHOC), R&M Boarding House, and Cathedral Kitchen. Thank you foryour generosity in reaching out to those that need warm coats this winter.Mission and Outreach is Still Recruiting!We want to encourage Trinity members to check out opportunities toserve our wider community - including Cherry Hill and Camden.You can be involved with very rewarding (to servers as well asrecipients) community outreach. Our projects include CathedralKitchen in Camden where we send volunteers to serve meals on the4th Thursday of every month. If you have never tried this service or ifit has been some time since you did, we enthusiastically welcomeone and all to join us – new members, old members, curiousmembers – find where you can make a difference! Anyone interested or wanting more information pleasecontact Julie Blair at stanblair@aol.com or 609-654-9172.5

two students who enrolled in lawschool hoping to change the worldCare 'n Share had a busy Fallbut discover in their third year thatwith brisk sales of Winterthey have been duped. They’veclothing, Halloween,borrowed money to attend a schoolThanksgiving & ChristmasCare n’ Share where the students rarely pass the bardecor! Thanks for your greatexam or find a job upon graduating.donations.They discover that their school is partof a chain owned by a shady hedgeWe will resume our normal schedule on Tuesday,fund operator who also just happens to own a bankJanuary 2, 10 am to 1 pm: Tuesdays, Thursdays & that specializes in student loans. Is there anythingthe first Saturday of month. (Jan. 6)they can do about this?Care n’ ShareItems can be dropped off during our regular hours, aswell as Sunday mornings following the 9:30 worshipservice. All items must be clean & serviceable.The Wisdom of SundaysLife Changing Insights fromSuper Soul ConversationsBy Oprah WinfreyPlease read our financial report in Trinity's AnnualReport. 19,000 has been donated to local missionsin 2017!You don’t have to be an Oprahfollower to find insights in this book. The Wisdom ofSundays is a uniquely structured book based onmoments of inspiration the author experienced duringher interviews on her Emmy-winning show, SuperSoul Sunday. The book is organized into ten chapters,each centered on themes like mindfulness, ego,forgiveness, grace and gratitude. They containsummaries from interviews with well-knowncelebrities, authors and teachers. There are also morethan 100 serenely beautiful photographs toaccompany the themes.Library CornerTo give you something interesting to read on snowydays in January, the Trinity Library has four newbooks that are currently on the best-seller list.Uncommon TypeSome StoriesBy Tom HanksWhat Unites UsReflections on PatriotismBy Dan Rather and ElliottKirshnerWho knew that Tom Hankscould write as well as act? Thecollection of short stories in hisbook are well written,interesting and often nostalgic. Most of them standalone, but four are narrated by a small townnewspaper columnist with old fashioned views of themodern world. All the stories are linked by areference to a typewriter (a symbol of something lostin the modern world). Sometimes the typewriter isonly a passing reference; sometimes it plays a centralrole as with the columnist who remembers the dayswhen he still used one.“With a fundamental sense ofhope, What Unites Us is abook to inspire conversation and listening and toremind us all how we are, finally, one.” In a timewhen there seems to be deep and growing divisions inour country, Dan Rather draws on his years ofjournalistic experience to define what patriotismmeans and how it can bring us all together. The bookconsists of essays organized under the themes offreedom, community, exploration, responsibility andcharacter.The Rooster BarBy John GrishamIf you would like us to purchase a particular book forthe Trinity Library, stop by on Sunday or contactDottie Dunfee (dunfeet@aol.com).What’s better for a snowy day than a page-turninglegal thriller? John Grisham’s newest book concerns6