An eNote from Rodney

Friday November 20, 2015

Dear Trinity Church Family,

I took nice little drive yesterday afternoon.  Yesterday morning my family left Alabama heading for a Penn State football weekend in State College, Pennsylvania.  I drove up to Kingsport, TN and met them where I-26 and I-81 intersect and picked up my mother.  So I have my mom with me for about a week and we are excited.  Cheryl and I are looking forward to showing her around Asheville which will include a visit to the Biltmore House.  By Thanksgiving morning three quarters of my family and three quarters of Cheryl’s family will be in Asheville, at our house! That’s six quarters of family.  Looking forward to it.

One evening last week Cheryl and I went to see the new Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg movie “Bridge of Spies.”  The movie takes place during the Cold War when the US exchanges a Soviet spy for shot-down US spy plane pilot Gary Powers. Tom Hanks plays a talented insurance lawyer/negotiator who arranges for the exchange.  The movie really captures the tension of those times and we enjoyed it very much.  I remember being a fourth grader in Florida and getting under my school desk practicing bomb drills in case the Soviets (Russians) dropped an atom bomb on Florida.  

This Sunday will be the last Sunday in the Church Liturgical year.  It is called Christ the King Sunday.  On Christ the King Sunday Pentecost comes to a close and we celebrate the triumph of Jesus. The following Sunday, November 29, will be the first Sunday in Advent and we begin again the life story of Jesus with a new liturgical year.

Most of you will have received in the mail this week a request from the Finance Committee asking you to prayerfully consider making a pledge to Trinity for the 2016 year.  There will be a time in the service on Sunday to bring your pledge forward.  You may also mail in your pledge or make a pledge online.  The online option can be found on our website, www.trinitymethodistasheville.com.  Thank you for your consideration.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving brings a lot of tradition with it.  As we sing the opening hymn you are invited to bring a food item to the front of the Sanctuary; we will donate the items to food charities in the area.  There will also be a basket up front where you can place your financial pledge letter for 2016.  After the worship service we are asking for volunteers to help hang the greens and prepare the sanctuary for Advent/Christmas.  Jill Clark has volunteered to prepare a light lunch for those who are staying to hang the greens and that will be in the fellowship hall.

There is a lot to look forward to.  Starting Sunday the next six weeks are holy days and I look forward to celebrating them with you.

Sincerely,

Rodney