TSA Trumpet With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Psalm 98, v6
Ministry Personnel Search Committee Migrant Workers Outreach Used Eyeglasses Help Others
February 2018
February 2018
TSA Trumpet Contents 4 .... From the Pulpit - Ministry Personnel Search Committee 5 .... Point of View 6 .... If You Don't Hear Crying the Church is Dying 7 .... Musical Praise 7 .... Migrant Workers Outreach 7 ... Coffee at Worship 8 ... Used Eyeglasses Help Others 11 ... Audio Visual Upgrades 11 ... Helping Hands 11 ... Annual General Meeting
Cover Photo courtesy of Om Prakash Sethia Unsplash.com TSA Trumpet - February 2018
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FROM THE PULPIT
Ministry Personnel Search Committee The Ministry Personnel Search Committee met for the first time on Tuesday January 30, and will be organizing the first portion of the process (formerly the JNAC process). As part of this process the congregation can expect to be involved in a survey to bring our committee closer to understanding what Trinity-St. Andrew's believes its ministry and mission priorities are. Please feel free to contact any of your committee members: Brian Ostrander (Chair), Helmut Enns (Secretary), Karen Martin, Barry Street, George Workman, Rev. Warren Vollmer (Presbytery rep.), Rev. Bruce Fraser (Interim Presbytery rep.).
Welcome to Trinity-St. Andrew's United Church in Brighton, Ontario. Our active congregation offers meaningful worship with a varied music program, Sunday School, opportunities for faith exploration and discussion, as well as fellowship, more traditional Bible study and educational opportunities for all ages, in a liberal Christian context. With the excellent leadership of Rev. Ken Lewis we are very blessed. Our mission includes elder care, such as friendly visiting, and outreach activities like Friends of Migrant Workers and the Clothing Depot. Come join us in our bright, centrally located and historic space. Trinity-St. Andrew's is an Affirming Congregation and has a policy of full accessibility for those with disabilities.
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TSA Trumpet - February 2018
TSA Trumpet February 2018 TSA Trumpet is the newsletter of Trinity-St Andrew's United Church. Our goal is to inform members and adherents of the activities and upcoming events in our fatih community MANAGING EDITOR Brian Ostrander COPY EDITOR Tammy Ostrander PUBLISHER TSA Public Relations & Publicity Committee Trinity-St Andrew's United Church 58 Prince Edward Street Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0 613-475-1311 www.trinitystandrews.ca ADVERTISING Internal advertising for TSA functions is free of charge External advertising inquire tsatrumpet@gmail.com
POINT-OF-VIEW We have a lot going on in February. It is Black History Month in Canada and the beginning of Lent for our faith. Both give us opportunity to reflect on who we are as Christians in our community and the world. Our church has purposefully committed ourselves to being an all inclusive and safe place. A place where anyone may come to worship our God without fear of judgement or discrimination. Although the face of our church looks very much like any small town Ontario church, our congregants have embraced what we believed Jesus asked us to do.. love, without exception, in thought, word and deed.
Brian Ostrander Trinity-St. Andrew's United Church exists to ensure that all people may grow in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are committed to creating a community where all people are welcome regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, differing abilities, ethnic background or economic circumstances. All people are welcome to take part in every aspect of church life, including membership, leadership, celebrating life passages and marriage.
Advertising in this newsletter does not constitute endorsement by Trinity-St Andrew's United Church, nor guarantee quality, value or effectiveness of any products, services or methods advertised.
TSA Trumpet - February 2018
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IF YOU DON'T HEAR CRYING THE CHURCH IS DYING Submitted by Helmut Enns There you are sitting in worship or Bible study. Your child, or toddler, is restless. Perhaps they’re even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing. You try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing. Eventually, you resort to the last thing you wanted to do: you pick them up, and before a watching audience, you make the march out of the auditorium. All the while, you’re a little embarrassed. Maybe you’re a little frustrated too. You might even think to yourself, “There’s no point in coming to church. I get nothing out of it because I have to constantly care for my kid.” I want you — you mothers and/or fathers — to know just how encouraging you are to so many. The little elderly woman who often feels alone beams with a smile at the sight of you wrestling with your little one. She’s been there before. She knows how hard it can be, but she smiles because to hear that brings back precious memories. To see young parents and their small children brighten her day, and she may have just received bad news this week about her health, but seeing the vitality of young ones removes — if but for a moment — her fears. The older man who always seems to be grouchy notices you too. He’s always talking about how children in this day have no respect or sense of good. But, he sees you — a young family — in church, and you don’t miss any gathering. Like clockwork, he can depend on the sight of you and your young family. You give him hope that maybe the church isn’t doomed after all, because there are still young parents who love God enough to bring their restless children to worship. 6 TSA Trumpet - February 2018
The family who’s unable to have children notice you too. They’d love to be in your shoes, but for whatever reasons, they are unable to bear children. They’ve thought about adopting, but they’re not sure if that’s what they want to do or if they will keep on trying to have children of their own. They’d love to talk to you for a little while about the joys of your children. They need you. Then there’s everybody else. Some people will honestly become frustrated by noisy children in church. They have this warped idea that reverence includes absolute silence. It doesn’t. When parents brought their children to Jesus, the disciples rebuked them (Matt. 19.13-15), but Jesus rebuked His disciples. He said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” The term translated “children” in Matthew and Mark is paidon. The root of the word “pedagogue” is from this word. It defined children of either an infant state, or more particularly, it was with reference to those who were half-grown and could be either males or females. When Luke wrote his account of this narrative, he used the word brephos; which means “infants.” Luke wasn’t contradicting Matthew and Mark’s account, because Luke wrote that they brought the infants “also” (Luke 18.15-17). They would have squirmed, maybe even cried. This was likely why the disciples rebuked the parents; as well as that they might have thought that the children were too young to understand the blessing Christ pronounced over them. Bring your children to church. If you don’t hear crying, the church is dying. As hard as it might be for you as a parent, keep on doing what you’re doing. You are an encouragement, and you’re starting off your children’s lives as you should.
Musical praise
coffee at fellowship
by Suzanne Bruyea
by Wendy Zinck
Bless you choir members and director, for your loyal Sunday morning attendance at Trinity-St. Andrew's United Church. Thank you for 52 weeks of delightful sound of sacred praise and thank you Ken Laird for your continuous contribution.
A new coffee urn has been purchased for Trinity St. Andrew's United Church kitchen and the Hospitality Committee would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Supper's Ready for sharing in the cost of this item.
Migrant workers outreach by Janet Enns Friends with Migrant Workers at Trinity-St. Andrew's in Brighton have had several "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" phone calls from our friends in Jamaica. The workers are already going through the medicals and applications needed to come back to work in the orchards of Brighton in 2018. A few expect to be back here by mid March! We look forward to seeing them again. Unfortunately, several may not be able to transfer here from Niagara this coming fall, and they will be missed. 2017 saw individual friends offering transportation to upwards of 25 medical appointments, as well as a few rainy day shopping trips and scenic tours. We also invited the workers to share 16 dinners (chicken, rice and carrot cake is a favourite menu) in our homes or in the church hall. They are extremely grateful for the hospitality, and for all the donations of suitcases, jackets, tools, toaster ovens, etc. offered by the congregation, and for their shopping events at the TSA Clothing Depot.
A special thank you goes out to: the Community Health Team in Trenton, the emergency department at Northumberland Hills, and Lydia, the Nurse practitioner from Port Hope who holds clinics for migrant workers at the New Canadian's Centre office in Cobourg, and to Dr. Leung, a Colborne dentist, who agreed to treat Leonard and send him home with a big smile and the ability fully enjoy eating again. The Jamaican workers and the Friends with Migrant Workers are all appreciative of the support received from the community. This outreach project has proved to be a blessing to all involved, and brings smiles to all our faces.
TSA Trumpet - February 2018
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Used Eyeglasses Help Others by Harvey Moore For many years now the Lions Club of Brighton has been collecting used eyeglasses along with Lions Clubs around the world for those in underdeveloped countries. They are sorted according to strength and size.They are then taken by a team of ophthalmologists and optometrists who volunteer their time to various countries where need exists and clinics are held. It’s amazing how many people with vision problems are helped with the donations of used eyeglasses. The Lions have a box at the back of the church on the north side. Please bring your used eyeglasses (including prescription and non-prescription sunglasses) no matter how old and deposit in the box. If you prefer there are also collection boxes at our Clothing Depot, Community Care, Coward’s, the Brighton Library, Brighton Community Centre and Rexall Pharmacy. Used hearing aids can also be deposited. These are taken to the Canadian Hearing Society where they are cleaned, repaired and reused.
TSA Trumpet - January 2018
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Helping hands by Kaitlyn Ostrander
Audio visual upgrades by Brian Ostrander Church Council has agreed to move forward with upgrades to our Audio-Visual system. The cost of the full upgrades will be $72,000.00. The AV Committee has received pledges totaling $2,300.00 from the congregation with applications for grants in the works that may total $10,000.00. Please consider making your pledge by sending an email to AV@trinitystandrews.ca or speaking to on of the AV Committee members (Brian Ostrander - Janet Enns - Cindy Clitherow - Rev. Ken Lewis).
A couple of months ago I received a very special Christmas gift from the UCW. I find myself yet again very grateful for the support that I have received from Trinity-St. Andrew's. I am currently completing my applications for my graduate studies and the process has increased my excitement for my future endeavours. Although I have not come to a concrete decision on where I want to go next year I know that wherever I may study that I will always have the support of Trinity-St. Andrew's with me. This journey towards ministry has been one that I could not do alone. Through the help of TrinitySt. Andrew’s, I am constantly finding financial and emotional support from the congregation. I appreciate the UCW for their financial support in my final semester of my undergraduate degree. I am extremely blessed to be surrounded by so many people who are willing to assist in the different burdens of post secondary education. With each semester comes more financial requirements to continue my education. With the funding I was given over Christmas I was able to cover some of my tuition. Through the help of the congregation I am following my dreams each and everyday and working at reaching my goals. I hope that I can continue to make the congregation proud and I am excited to be sharing this journey with you.
Annual general meeting The Annual General Meeting has been set for April 8th. Reports are now due. TSA Trumpet - February 2018
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church Calendar
Couriers Needed Do you like to go for a walk? Once a month, the Trumpet needs you to help deliver between six and ten copies to our congregants who were not able to pick-up their copy. Please email TSAtrumpet@gmail.com
next issue Next Trumpet, March 11th, 2018 Deadline for submissions: March 2nd Church pick-up will be Sunday March 11th Articles may be submitted to the church office or via via e-mail to: TSAtrumpet@gmail.com