Trinity Church Newsletter

Dear Trinity, Last month I began my letter by discussing transitions. I think this is why for the last few days my attention has been drawn to the weather and seasons. I sit here writing this letter on what is the first day of spring although it does not feel like it. I know that it is perspective (because I think like the rest of us I am ready for spring) but it kind of feels like winter will never end. But as I write this we have robins playing in the yard and the bright green shoots of daffodils peeking out of the ground. It is interesting to think about this as we begin a time of transition as the church. This time of transition where the leadership team and I make preparations for a new pastor to walk with you on this journey of faith. And personally as I work to not be a lame duck and finish strong so that the ministry of Jesus Christ may continue to flourish here in Kendallville as well as make the necessary preparations for my family to transition to a new church and commun

Last month, I asked you to reflect on three questions during Lent: What will you do…learn…or become in the liminal space between now and July?   What will you let go of so that your hands are free to embrace something new? What can we do together that will make us even stronger when our new pastor arrives? It has been a challenging month for many of us personally, professionally and as a church family coming to terms with Chris moving and a new pastor coming…and then NOT coming.   The word “mulligan” just might be our buzz word for a little while!   I’m not generally a Wikipedia fan, but I looked up the word mulligan and this is what it said, “A mulligan is a second chance to perform an action, usually after the first chance went wrong through bad luck or a blunder. Its best-known meaning is in golf, whereby a player is informally allowed to replay a stroke, even though this is against the formal rules of golf.” When I think of mulligan, I remember the story of mull

What’s Going On? By Pastor Chris Today I am going to do one of my favorite things. Answer questions that nobody asked. You may have seen that our special Easter offering is going to the Matsiko world orphan choir. My worry is that we may not have painted the full picture of who this group is and their ministry. (Especially since I put the wrong date of their performance in previous communications). So in an effort to communicate more clearly here are a few unasked answered questions (would that be a UAQ rather than a FAQ (Frequently asked questions))? What is the Matsiko World Orphan Choir? Currently made up of some of the poorest orphaned and at-risk children from Peru, India, Liberia and Nepal, the Matsiko World Orphan Choir (the flagship vehicle of International Children’s Network – ICN) captures the hearts of all who hear their hope-filled message. The kids sing with such passion and meaning that their hope of overcoming tragedy and the life-changing effects of an education

We are excited to announce that we will be partnering with other youth groups and putting on a “Night Of Hope” for the youth of Kendallville.  Miss Fort Wayne will be here on May 19th to host the event.  Keep on the lookout for more information. 

April 13—Kid’s Easter Party at Pastor Chris’ house—10:30am 18—Men’s Lunch Bunch—11:30am 19—Good Friday noon service at Faith UM 19—Windshield Tour TCUM sanctuary—6:00pm 21—Easter Sunday— 8:25 traditional service in sanctuary 10:45 celebration service in Gathering Hall 23—Sewing for Missions—9am-2pm 28-29—Men’s Lunch Bunch—US Airforce Museum, Dayton

Summer Camp Information It’s time to start making plans and reservations for summer camps.   Here are the links to United Methodist Church camps. Early bird registration is due by May15th.  Trinity is graciously covering 75%.  See Debbie M. for questions and registration codes.   debbiem@trinitychurchum.org Impact information about the camps— https://impact2818.org/about/ Pastor Angie has also informed us that Common Grace, through The Salvation Army, wants to send kids from Noble County to Camp Hidden Falls this summer.   The only cost to you is a $25 registration fee and the commitment to have a great time.  Here is the web site info please check it out and let Debbie or Angie know if you are interested. http://www.hiddenfallscamp.org/camp/

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 issues, wh

There is a word from my early study of spiritual formation that has been on my mind lately, first for Ash Wednesday and then much to our surprise, for the coming months as we prepare for a new chapter in Trinity’s history.   The word is liminal. The definition of a liminal space is “the time between the 'what was' and the 'next.' It is a place of transition, waiting, and not knowing.  Liminal space  is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let it form us.”   Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar who was ordained in 1970 in the Roman Catholic Church, is an author and theologian I enjoy.   He refers to liminal space as being “betwixt and between the familiar and the completely unknown.”   He writes about the importance of the liminal space as a place where new things begin to happen. Rohr refers to the liminal space as “the sacred space where the old world is able to fall apart, and a bigger world is revealed. The threshold is God’s wait

What’s Going On? By Pastor Chris Many times in the church (universal,I am not naming names) we have made the mistake of working with a ministry for a time and moving on as if a relationship never existed. One of the things we are working on at our church is to continue the connection that we have built with the ministry of Quechua Benefit in Peru. It seems like a lifetime ago our Peru Team began meeting to steer us to build relationships with the people of Peru.   We are continuing to work with Quechua Benefit as we sent over $1500 from our Operation Christmas Transformation to continue the relationships we built there. and we sent the first batch of birthday letters to the children of Casa Chapi. We have been in communication with our team, our district of the UMC, and the head of Quechua Benefit as we continue to see how we can be praying for and working with as we equip and encourage their teachers, staff, and volunteers to continue to help the people of the Colca Valley.

Summer Camp Information It’s time to start making plans and reservations for summer camps.   Here are the links to United Methodist Church camps. Impact information about the camps— https://impact2818.org/about/ Schedule for Impact— https://drive.google.com/file/d/1doaGHONqWOWuGN9pJR_B1gzofEm99WP1/view Pastor Angie has also informed us that Common Grace, through The Salvation Army, wants to send kids from Noble County to Camp Hidden Falls this summer.   The only cost to you is a $25 registration fee and the commitment to have a great time.  Here is the web site info.   Please check it out and let Debbie or Angie know if you are interested. http://www.hiddenfallscamp.org/camp/

Dear Trinity, This last couple of weeks have been very difficult for my family and me. As you may know, it was announced on Sunday, January 27 th that Bishop Trimble, the bishop of the Indiana United Methodist Church, has appointed me to another church as of July 1 st of this year. I want to tell you personally that this came as a shock to our family. I did not request a move and the church did not request a move. However, a part of my call to ministry involves the itinerant (moving of pastors) system. Our Conference Superintendent Dave Neckers and Bishop Julius Trimble know my talents and gifts very well and upon much prayer and discernment felt that another church needed our family at this time. I will miss you all very much. You have become family and I have enjoyed my time walking with you for this part of our journey of faith. Although I am sad to leave, I must state I have not left yet. I am your pastor until June 30 th . I will not be a lame-duck but will continue my m

Last month, I shared 3 questions from one of my devotionals.   One of those questions, was, “In what ways am I being invited to grow?”   As the new year begins, I can’t help but wonder how I will be invited to grow.   Sometimes I fall into the trap of spending too much time on the “what ifs” instead of attending to “what IS.”   I have a devotional that is titled, Jesus Always: Embracing Joy in His Presence by Sarah Young. (Thanks, Dian) It’s worded as if Jesus is speaking directly to the reader.   Just when I felt 2019 was going to be a mountain to climb, these are the words I read from two different passages a couple of days apart: I AM YOUR STRENGTH! When you begin a day feeling weak and weary, it’s all right.   Your weakness can be a reminder of your need for Me.   Remember that I am with you continually—ready to help you as you go along your way.   Take My hand in joyful trust, letting Me guide you and strengthen you.   I delight in helping you, My child. … I will give y

What’s Going On? By Pastor Chris Today I am going to do one of my favorite things for this section. I am going to answer questions that no one has asked me. These are questions that have come to other people and I want to address them in case you were wondering. (If you weren’t wondering, I’m sorry.) The questions I want to answer revolve around our upcoming pastoral transition. Is Pastor Chris moving because he is tired of us? Absolutely not. I was as shocked as you were hearing the news that we were leaving. If I looked like I was not upset about this it was only because I had an extra week to process the grief of leaving. Where is Pastor Chris going? I have been appointed by the Bishop to Greensburg UMC. It is halfway between Indianapolis and Cincinnati on I-74. It is straight south of Kendallville on IN-3. Is Pastor Angie going to take over as the Lead Pastor? No. Pastor Angie is a deacon and while I know that she could take over as lead pastor this is not where her hea

Dear Trinity, Wow! It seems like 2018 has just flown by but as we drift into 2019 my mind is drawn to what this New Year will bring for me, my family, and the church. As I do this I re-flect on all that has happened this last year, the good and the bad, and look forward to the possibilities that God has for all of this next year. As I do this mental practice, I remember our denominational tradition that in the years past has slipped our memory. In the early Methodist societies, especially those in London, they participated in a Covenant Renewal Service. This service was usually celebrated on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. This service revolves around the understanding that our membership or discipleship revolves around a covenant we have made with God. This covenant is seen in the words of our baptism, rehearsed in the celebration of communion, and sits at the heart of all of the ministry of the church. I know sometimes we have trouble with this word covenant as it is not common l

Happy New Year!   Ah the time of resolutions for so many.   Truth be known, I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions.   I find it hard to keep up with them and then feel bad because I didn’t.   I DO, however, make it an annual practice of re-evaluating my spiritual practices. Pastor Chris gave us a new perspective about the Magi and helped us understand the meaning of Epiphany.   In case you weren’t there, Epiphany is the revealing of Christ to the Gentiles through the visitation of the Magi or the Three Wise Men. Epiphany also means to have an insight or a realization.   When we put those things together and consider them for our spiritual journey we may be led to ask three questions that popped up in my “Sacred in the Ordinary” journal.   ·        “How am I noticing the revelation of God in my life?” ·        “What gifts to I have to offer Jesus?” ·        “In what ways am I being invited to grow?” Asking yourself questions like these on a regular basis can be a great to

What’s Going On? By Pastor Chris In the first newsletter of the year I like to take this space to recap the ways we have helped our community and the world through the giving of our time and finances. This last year we: Worked with twelve local churches to give back to our community by praying, planting, painting, and many other ways around the community. Joined with other Christians to pray over our brand new Middle School. Gave $9,800 to Life and Family Services to help Mother’s and Father’s in our community. Gave $2,500 (collected through our Rummage Sale) to Noble House Ministries. Purchased two AED’s for local city and county vehicles to save lives in our community ($2600) We received $2500 in donations for our ministry partner in Peru, Quechua Benefit (part of that raised through Operation Christmas Transformation). We raised $1000 for Common Grace Ministries. We raised $1400 for the United Methodist Committee on relief. We did all of these things and many more! I a