Friday July 1, 2016
An eNote from Rodney
Dear Trinity Congregation,
Our parking lot was full Wednesday morning as Jessica Trip, Andrew’s wife, led a group of mostly youth with adult chaperones on a mission experience to the Dominican Republic. A large number of the youth were from the ministry Jessica conducts called “Heart of the Cross Ministries”. Their goal is to “equip young people to become world changing servant leaders.” Amy and Philip Dexter and Andrew and Liam Tripp are on the mission from Trinity. They drove to the Charlotte airport on Wednesday morning and arrived in the DR that evening. We wish them a fruitful and safe time. They will return on July 7.
We have done a lot of promoting for the Independence Day Big Band Jazz concert on Sunday afternoon, July 3rd, at 3:00 here at Trinity. David Wilken told me the band will play “American Patrol,” which is one of Cheryl’s favorites. They will also be playing “Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)”. I found a video this morning of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to the tune. Bob Thaves said about Ginger Rogers dancing with Fred Astaire, “she did everything he did except backwards and in high heels.” Yowza!!! Wendy Jones will sing several numbers. You may remember her from the Christmas show; she is very good. “The Armed Service Medley” will also be one of their selections. Come and bring a friend, let your hair down and have a good time. Weather permitting, lemonade and cookies will be served under the trees after the show. The concert is free and we will take up a collection during the concert. It will be split between the Asheville Jazz Council and Asheville Buncombe Christian Community Ministries work with veterans.
I have been reading Sydney Ahlstrom’s “A Religious History of the American People.” A classic, (over 1,000 pages), it reminds me how much I enjoy the way America understands religion and especially Christian faith. I am hoping to do some sermons in July about the faith that came from the old world to the new. Those Puritans looked up and saw a “city on a hill”, “God’s new Israel” and “A New England Zion”. What they believed shapes us today. The writers of the Constitution were wise to separate church from state, but the founders were deeply immersed in the world of the Old and New Testament.
I hope you have a good Fourth. Cheryl and I are expecting children and grandchildren. I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Sincerely,
Rodney