An eNote from Rodney

Friday October 16, 2015

Dear Trinity Church Family,

First let me remind you that our organist, Anthony Nolan, will be featured as the “Person of the Week” on WLOS this evening.  WLOS is local channel 13 and the program will come on at 6:00pm.  In case you miss it, Nolan’s interview will be online after it is aired.

On Sunday morning in worship we will start a sermon series called “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.”  This series comes from the work that the Vision Team did and is in conjunction with the vision statement for our congregation.  That statement is: Trinity United Methodist Church…A Place to Belong…A Community to Serve…In God’s Abundant Grace. As a guide for this series we will be using the work of Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase who is the Bishop of the Missouri Conference.  The desire for this sermon series is to look at how faithful Christians have practiced their faith and see what we can learn from them.

The first sermon in the series is titled “Grace-Filled Hospitality” We will think about what it means to be a welcoming congregation.  Although throughout this series there will be references to particular “practices” we have done and new practices we can learn, I hope we can look a little deeper.  I don’t want this to just be a series containing a list of what we ought to do.  Paul sums up the theme of the series in Romans 15:7.  “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” In other words, what can we learn to do as a congregation because we believe in God’s abundant Grace.  One other point about this sermon series.  Please don’t think that I have internalized in thought and action the material I will present.  My prayer is that this series begins to shape me as much as anyone in Christian practices.

There are a ton of apples in the church kitchen and they are being readied to be squashed into cider.  Throughout our congregation chili is being prepared.  The Trinity Strings have been practicing and games and events are being planned.  It’s time for Fall Festival, which will begin at 3:00pm and last until 6 on this Sunday afternoon, October 18.  Come and enjoy the festivities and though there will be seats you might like to bring a camp or folding chair.   

A few music updates; On Friday evening at 7:00pm, our organist Nolan Anthony will play a concert of classical music that has a spooky element to it.  Children are especially invited to attend in costume and receive a treat bag.  The concert should last about 40 minutes and then if you like, you can make your way down Haywood Road to the Isis Theatre where our own Kathryn Bricky will be showcasing her new bluegrass CD with her band. That starts at eight.  If you are a gospel music fan, Karen Ball Wertz, the daughter of member Enoch Ball, will be singing at Cedar Hill Free Will Baptist Church on this Sunday evening, October 18, at 6:00pm.

A now a request, gentle reader, concerning grammar and syntax.  My editor is out shopping for items to make chili so please be kind.  I am looking forward to Sunday and hope that you are also.

Sincerely,

Rodney