Vol. 35 No. 9

September 2009

Family Page News

Trinity Lutheran Church

14 East 38^th Street, Erie, PA 16504-1558

e-mail address: tlcerie@verizon.net

web site: www.lutheranerie.com

Rev. Fred Poeppel, Vacancy / Interim Pastor

e-mail: pfpoeppel@yahoo.com

Trinity Office and Fax Number: 456-1703

Pastor’s Cell Phone: 323-1679

Pastor’s Office: 452-4888

The mission of Trinity Lutheran Church is to share the
Good News of Jesus Christ by inviting others into God’s family,
encouraging spiritual growth through God’s Word and Sacraments, and
caring for one another in the love of Christ.

“Celebrating with Thanks, Ablaze with Hope”

128 Years of Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church – 1881 - 2009

WORSHIP SERVICES

September

6 11:15 AM - Traditional Worship Service with Communion

6:00 PM - Today’s Praise Worship Service with Communion

13 11:15 AM - Traditional Worship Service

6:00 PM - Today’s Praise Worship Service

20 11:15 AM - Traditional Worship Service with Communion

6:00 PM - Today’s Praise Worship Service

27 11:15 AM - Traditional Worship Service

6:00 PM - Today’s Praise Worship Service

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FROM THE PASTOR

The world in which we live has certainly changed a lot in the last generation or two, especially in the United States. When we Baby-boomers and our parents were growing up, church was the center of our lives and our communities. Almost everyone we knew was a Christian of one denomination or another. Even people who didn’t go to church much had heard about Jesus and would still acknowledge that churches were a good thing.

That’s not the way things are anymore. There are many people in our country with a wide variety of different religious beliefs. There are also many people who have never been inside a church, who have little or no accurate knowledge about Jesus, or are even hostile to the Christian faith or any kind of “organized religion.” It’s okay to be “spiritual” these days (however anyone wants to define that) but “religion” is seen in a very negative light.

So how can our church (and we as individual Christians) carry out our mission in this culture that seems so foreign to us? It may be hard to believe, but the Bible actually is very timely, particularly the book of Acts. If we want to know how to reach our world or our neighborhood, we need to learn from the Acts of the Apostles. The world that they were sent into was fairly similar in many ways to our culture. Except for Jerusalem and Galilee, hardly anyone had heard of Jesus, and most of those people were hostile to the early believers. The Roman Empire was filled with many different religious beliefs, not unlike the United States today.

The Today’s Light devotion for August 1 reminds us: “Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His followers both a vision and a specific assignment. Acts 1:8 records both: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ Filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, wave after wave of Christ’s followers would invade every corner of the earth with the Good News that streams from Christ’s cross and open tomb.

Whether you know it or not, you belong to that mighty army of witnesses. Believe it or not, the same Spirit who empowered Peter, John, and the rest now empowers you. Act on it or not, the mandate they received from Jesus has been passed on to you.

Ask your Lord to make His vision for His people your vision. Ask Him to forgive any apathy or neglect that has clouded that vision in the past. Then look for ways to act on the mission vision Christ gives His church. Your Lord will, without doubt, provide opportunities every day.”

I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Invite someone to church with you or to our next special event. See you in church! Bring a friend!

Pastor Fred

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SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY

The Adult Bible Study will resume their reading of the “Law and Gospel” study series on Sunday, September 13.

All are welcome to begin their day of worship in this study, meeting at 10:15 am. Led by Millis Parshall.

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TRINITY SENIORS

Trinity Seniors will meet on Wednesday, September 9, at 12:00 pm at church. We will have a guest speaker from the Erie Center on Health and Aging.

Committee #2 – Jerry and Edie Neidinger and Lois Gressley – will be in charge of the dining room. This will be a catered meal and tickets are $7.00 each. Reservations are required. Deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday, September 6.

Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy lunch and fellowship with us any time. Please make a special effort to join us!

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MEMBERS IN HOMES

Please remember our elderly and others who do not get out much with notes, cards, visits in person or telephone calls, as well as remembering them in your prayers.

At Independence Court: Ted Steinbarth

At Manchester Presbyterian: George Hill

At Presbyterian Lodge (on Elmwood): Hilda Papesch

At St. Mary’s (Asbury): Betty Peterson

At Sarah Reed: Amy Mares

At Sunrise on the Bay: Mary Lynch

At Village at Luther Square: Bill Guerdon

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UPDATES TO YOUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS DIRECTORY

Please make the following updates to your copy of our “Members and Friends Directory.”

Correction: Briana Carner’s address is: 1028 East 32^nd Street.

Change: Mary Kreusch is now living with her daughter;
c/o Georgia Henry, 4873 Miller Road, Ripley, NY 14775.

Change: Maggie Schleicher now lives at: 2651 Hershey Road, Erie, PA 16509.

If there are other corrections, additions or changes that should be made, please contact Louise at 814-456-1703 or via e-mail at tlcerie@verizon.net. Thanks!

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LADIES AID SOCIETY

Well, we hope all have had a wonderful summer! God has certainly blessed us with great weather lately.

Change is afoot in the Ladies Aid. There are those who wish to not drive in the evenings anymore, so some of our meeting times are changing!

Meetings held in:
May through September will still be held in the evenings, but meetings in
March, April, October, November and December will be held at 12:15 pm.

Unless the meeting is otherwise announced, i.e. at a restaurant, please bring your bag lunch to the noontime meetings and the hostess will provide dessert.

Thursday, September 10, 2009 our meeting time is moved up to 6:15 pm (Board meeting is at 6:00 pm). The activity for the evening is playing the dice game, Bunco. Please bring along an inexpensive wrapped prize to add to the fun! Our devotion and hosting will be done by Neva Cunningham.

Looking ahead …

Ladies Aid will meet on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 12:15 pm with an activity to be announced later.

Sunday, October 11 will see the ladies hosting a Trinity Lutheran Anniversary party at 12:30 pm! A caterer is being set up and the cost will likely be less than a usual value meal at McDonalds per person. This is an opportunity to socialize with everyone who attends Trinity … early or late! So please mark your calendar today and plan to join us!

In addition, we also have the following coming up:

Election Day Bake Sale on November 3,

Election of Ladies Aid Officers on November 12, and

Christmas Party on December 10.

And don’t forget, the Ladies Aid is still collecting small to medium sized boxes that bracelets, earrings etc. sometimes come in. We are unable to use cardboard boxes, but rather the boxes that are usually hinged, and are fabric (velveteen) covered. A collection box with a display of the types of boxes we need is on a table in the narthex. Thank you for your assistance.

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DORCAS

Dorcas will resume meetings on Tuesday, September 29 at 9:30 am to trim stamps for missions and will meet weekly thereafter each Tuesday morning.

Please remember to save your stamps!!

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ALTAR FLOWERS

Special thanks to those who contributed altar flowers in church for September:

September 6 – Dick and Dot Smith in memory of David

September 13 – Tim and Laurie Hinds and family in memory of Pastor Mark Sallach and other loved ones

September 20 – Carolyn Warren in memory of her husband, Winston

September 27 – Joann Kaufer in memory of her parents

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CHOIR

Choir rehearsals will be starting up again on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30 pm.

We're always looking for people that enjoy singing and would be willing to share their talent. So please join us … we meet in the balcony for rehearsals.

The choir sings during the 11:15 am service as well as during any seasonal services.

If you have any questions, please contact our Organist / Choir Director, Linda Federici.

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CHURCH COUNCIL AND VOTERS

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of the following Council Members:

President – Mark May 725-2560

Elders – Tyco Swick 868-9393

John Anderson 881-1335

Terry Lawrence 602-3185

Carl Marzolf 734-1231

Richard Wenger 476-1549

Trustees – Sam Steiner 833-8704

Art Anderson 456-1319

Sean Bartlett 881-6910

Tim Hinds 864-5284

Millis Parshall 864-1370

Congregational Secretary – Jeannette Copley 825-6842

Financial Secretary – Doris Swan 864-5217

Treasurer – Marina George 881-4331

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TRINITY LUTHERAN’S 128^th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for our 128^th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, October 11 at 12:30 pm!

Dinners like this are wonderful opportunities for us to socialize with everyone attending Trinity – from the morning service as well as the evening service … so please make a special effort to attend and watch upcoming bulletins and next month’s newsletter for more details!

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SPECIAL GIFT

A file cabinet has been purchased by Trinity Seniors in memory of Pastor Mark. This file cabinet will be used by the evening service for storing copies of the music used in the service. Pastor Mark was very involved in the music portion of the evening service. In fact, music was an important part of Pastor Mark’s life.

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LWML – Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

We will have six ladies of our church attend the LWML Fall Retreat at Camp Pioneer on Saturday, September 19 to hear Jan Struck speak. This year’s theme is: “Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord.”

LWML Sunday will be celebrated in the morning service on October 4 at Trinity. Our ladies will host a coffee hour following the morning service and will also have a bake sale for missions that day. This year’s theme is “Look to the Hills – God Reigns.”

Our next Trinity LWML meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15 at 12:00 noon at the church.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League asks you to pray for missions every Monday at noon. No matter where you are, please take a moment to pray for missions work around the world, for missionary families, for financial support of outreach through our church body and any other work of the LWML. Remember to pray especially for our missionaries, the Esala’s. Thank you.

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TRINITY PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY GROUP

The next dedication of shawls will be held on Sunday, September 27 during the morning worship service. Please have all of your completed shawls in the Shawl Ministry room at church by the Saturday before, September 26. Thank you.

The next Shawl Ministry meeting will be held on Saturday, October 24 at 11:00 am at the church. Anyone interested is invited to come and join us in this special project.

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BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Please keep in mind that the church office only has the information that you have provided. Please update us as to any mistakes or omissions. Thank you.

Celebrating their birthday this month are:

7	Terri Hesse	19	Emma Rapp
15	Karen Marovich	20	Cindy Sallach
16	Sidney Saxton	23	Paul Sallach

Celebrating their anniversary this month are:

9/11/99	Terry & Brenda Lawrence
9/15/62	Richard & Beverly Irish
9/15/07	Sean & Heather Bartlett
9/16/06	Tim & Laurie Hinds
9/22/79	Millis & Juliann Parshall

Congratulations on your special day!

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SEPTEMBER TO-DO LIST

COUNTERS 11:15 am

September 6 Art Anderson, Vince & Neva Cunningham

September 13 John & Brenda Johnson, Tyco & Sharon Swick

September 20 Ben Anthony, Sam Steiner, Millis Parshall

September 27 Mark & Luanne May, Dick & Dot Smith

If you are unable to serve a scheduled date, please make a substitution or call
Art Anderson at 456-1319.

ELDERS 11:15 am 6:00 pm

September 6 Tyco Swick Terry Lawrence

September 13 Dick Wenger John Anderson

September 20 Carl Marzolf Terry Lawrence

September 27 Tyco Swick John Anderson

If you are unable to serve a scheduled date, please make a substitution or call
Tyco Swick at 868-9393.

LOCK-UP DUTY 11:15 am 6:00 pm

September 6 Mark May Sean Bartlett

September 13 Sam Steiner Art Anderson

September 20 Millis Parshall Tim Hinds

September 27 Mark May Sean Bartlett

If you are unable to serve a scheduled date, please make a substitution or call
Sam Steiner at 833-8704.

USHERS 11:15 am

September 6 Vince Cunningham, John Johnson, Millis Parshall, Dick Yeager

September 13 Mark May, Millis Parshall, Dick Smith, Dick Yeager

September 20 Vince Cunningham, John Johnson, Mark May, Dick Smith

September 27 Vince Cunningham, John Johnson, Millis Parshall, Dick Yeager

If you are unable to serve a scheduled date, please make a substitution or call
Terry Lawrence at 602-3185.

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DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE AN ARTIST IN OUR MIDST?

From June 17 to 26 of this year, the Lakewood Memorial Library in Jamestown, NY featured artwork from our very own Ruth Steiner in their new Heritage Room!! Much of her featured artwork consisted of paintings of various mediums as well as a collection of Christmas cards she created over the years.

According to the newspaper article, Ruth’s “interests include nature study and working with different materials such as clay and paper. She also enjoys growing plants, flowers and bonsai trees. Her works most often capture images, which display her interest in observing nature and impressions of places she has visited in her 96 years, especially Presque Isle on Lake Erie.”

The article goes on to say, “While raising her six children, Steiner volunteered at schools and church, and taught adults and children to read with the “each one, teach one” Laubach method. Ruth also volunteered for over 30 years as an art teacher at the Salvation Army Senior Center in Erie and served on the Millcreek Art Show Committee at Asbury Woods for 30 years.”

Ruth is currently the oldest member of our congregation and has been an active member of Trinity for many, many years.

Her son Sam, his wife Claire, and Ruth’s grandchildren, Sharon and Ben, are also active members of Trinity.

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ABLAZE … The Lutheran Church sharing the Gospel

Let’s be Ablaze for Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ! That’s the theme for many of our church body’s efforts this decade. Many people need to know the love and care of our Lord Jesus Christ! We all respond to the Gospel in a variety of ways. Our responses can be in any of the identified ways, as on our banner at church - LEARN, PRAY, GIVE, TELL, SEND, GO, and CELEBRATE.

Consider being involved in some manner with sharing the Gospel with another person. We are keeping a tally to join in with our national and international partners. You can add your witness events to the total by filling out the orange cards available and submitting them to the box in the church – signed or unsigned.

ABLAZE UPDATE:

International Goal - 100,000,000 Latest tally - 10,475,442 (as of 8/28/2009)

Trinity’s Goal - 4,400 Latest tally - 190 (as of 6/26/2009)

For information about the movement, go to our church body’s website – www.lcms.org

Here is a recent story from the website:

Sharing the Gospel at a Music and Arts Festival in Athens, Ga.

A member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, Ga., shared the Gospel at their congregation's booth at a music and arts festival. 8/9/2009

Trinity Lutheran has had a booth at a local music and arts festival for the past three years. It is a good opportunity to reach out to the community. I was able to talk to a couple of people about the Lord. One man from Arizona noticed that we were a Lutheran Church. He had not seen too many Lutherans in Georgia and was curious. He was raised Baptist, but no longer attended church. I was able to talk to him about some of the Lutheran Church's beliefs and he took a Small Catechism in tract form. A woman who lived in Athens took a tract that I was giving out called "First the Bad News, then the Good News". She asked what the bad news was and I explained that we all stand condemned before God because we have sinned by violating His Law. I then was able to tell her the good news about Christ dying and rising again for the forgiveness of sins.

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September 2009 Trinity Lutheran Church Calendar of Events
SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
		1	2	3	4	5
6 11:15 am Traditional Service with Communion 6:00 pm Today’s Praise with Communion Last day to purchase tickets for Seniors luncheon on Wednesday!	7 Labor Day	8	9 12:00 pm Trinity Seniors Luncheon 7:30 pm Choir Practice	10 6:00 pm Ladies Aid Meeting	11	12
13 10:15 am Adult Bible Study 11:15 am Traditional Service 6:00 pm Today’s Praise	14 7:00 pm Church Board and Council Meetings	15 <--------------------	16 7:30 pm Choir Practice Holy Trinity Lutheran Church	17 “French Fry Stand” at Albion	18 Fair from Noon to 10:00 pm	19 LWML Fall Retreat at Camp Pioneer ----------------------->
20 10:15 am Adult Bible Study 11:15 am Traditional Service with Communion 6:00 pm Today’s Praise	21	22 First day of Autumn	23 7:30 pm Choir Practice	24 Deadline for October Newsletter Articles!	25	26 Last day to drop off completed Shawls for tomorrow’s dedication!
27 10:15 am Adult Bible Study 11:15 am Traditional Service with Shawl Dedication 6:00 pm Today’s Praise	28	29 9:30 am Dorcas	30 7:30 pm Choir Practice