Friday November 18, 2016

An eNote from Rodney

Dear Trinity Church Family,

This Sunday will be the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Jennie Lynn Krichbaum has already decorated the altar table and it is beautiful. We will make it more beautiful with our gifts. This Sunday will also be the final Sunday of our Stewardship Campaign. During the singing of our first hymn, you are invited to bring forward your pledge letters for 2017 and also food items for the Family Resource Center at Emma Elementary. There will be a basket in front of the sanctuary for your pledge, and food items can be placed on the kneeling pads. You are always so generous this time of year and it is greatly appreciated. Here is a list of the most needed items that will make up Christmas Gift Boxes (for Emma Elementary?): Cereal, Dry Beans, Rice, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Tuna, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Macaroni and Cheese, Cooking Oil, Sugar, Self-Rising Flour, Corn Meal, Laundry Soap, Dish Detergent (not for dishwashers), Shampoo/Conditioner, Deodorant, and Diapers.

Save the Date: Sunday December 11, Sunday School Hour. Sharon Blythe is the director of a ministry in Asheville called “Room In The Inn.” RITI houses women who are getting their lives together and transitioning from homelessness to being housed. Area churches allow the women to spend the night in their fellowship halls. The church provides some supervision, supper and a light breakfast and a bag lunch to go. RITI is very successful and Sharon has been wanting to tell our congregation about her ministry. We have set a date for Sunday morning December 11 during the Sunday School hour. We will meet in the fellowship hall and hear from Sharon and one of her clients about their program. We will be there to listen and see if her witness speaks to our hearts. That evening will also be the night of our Christmas dinner and Pageant. After last year I am excited to see what Andrew and the youth are up to.

I have made a friend down at Fruitland who is the music director at Bat Cave Baptist Church. He showed me a picture of his church building. On a mountain just above his sanctuary is one of the fires. He has had members of his congregation evacuated from their homes. As of Tuesday night it was 15% contained and they are hopeful everything will be okay, as there is a road acting as a firebreak between the church and the fire. Let us keep these folks and the firefighters in our prayers.

Hanging of the Greens:  After worship on Sunday morning we are going to prepare the sanctuary for the Advent/Christmas season. There will be a light lunch for the decorators in the fellowship hall.  This is a great time and everyone is invited. We look forward to having you there.

Have you seen Trinity’s billboard announcing our Christmas season? It was made possible by several generous benefactors and we thank them. As you drive into town on Patton Avenue it is on the right just before Anders Funeral Home. It sits up on a hill and is very visible. We also thank the folks who made the purchase of a third octave of bells possible last week.

The folks over at Azalea Mountain School are having a fundraiser selling locally made Christmas wreaths

Personal note:  My cell phone has blown a transistor or something and is feeling puny. The best way to contact me is email or church phone number. I hope to get this fixed by the first of next week. 828-253-5471 ext.104

I am looking forward to worship on Sunday and to seeing you.

Sincerely,

Rodney