Dear Trinity, I have had a lot of trouble writing my letter this month. It has been hard as the world seems to be filled with uncertainty. There is uncertainty in my family as we prepare to move, on top of the normal issues of everyday life. There is uncertainty as I look to a new appointment but also wish to finish strong. Hovering over all of these issues has been the Special General Conference. As I write this letter, the final worship is happening as the Special General Conference comes to a close. The delegates voted by a small majority (54 votes—or 6% of the vote) to accept an amended version of the Traditional Plan that strengthens the churches stance against homosexuality. But what this vote will amount to is yet to be seen. This is because this plan was deemed unconstitutional by the Judicial Council (the UMC’s Supreme Court) before amendments, and it is unsure whether any of the plan or its changes will stand. No matter what your beliefs or hopes on these i...
Upcoming Dates to Remember June 1—Drop offs begin for annual rummage sale June 8—Meals at Maplecrest (sponsor needed) June 16th-17th Rummage Sale June 18—Baby Bottle Campaign ends
Once upon a time, there was a Trinity Church Sunday School class named “Faith in Action.” Faith in Action reached out time and again to people in need in our community. They took on their first big project in about 1991 in which they organized the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign at Walmart in Kendallville. They raised $5,000, adding that to the $7,500 from United Way and then rolling in their Trinity Love Fund and went to work reaching out into the community. Their actions became so well known that very soon their pastor, Rev. Dr. Dale Mendenhall became inundated with people coming to the church doors for help. Not far away, at First Christian Church, Rev. George Bloomquist was experiencing the same level of needs at his church doors as the result of the “Fish” group in his congregation who were also involved in community outreach. As these two pastors began to compare notes, they realized they were “helping” the same people! In fact, they wer...