HIGHLIGHTS A Newsletter of

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 2 Fifth Street NW at N. Washington Avenue ❖ Pulaski, VA 24301

540/980-3624 ❖ trinitypulaski@gmail.com ❖ www.trinitypulaski.org

May, 2018

Women’s Spring Banquet Sunday, May 6–5:00 pm Foy Aust Fellowship Hall

Sponsored by Trinity Women of the ELCA – all girls and womenare invited!

SEE DETAILS ON THE WOMEN OF THE ELCA PAGE INSIDE.

Specially-Called Congregational Meeting Sunday, May 6, after worship

Regarding 2018 Summer Worship Hour

This meeting is called so that we may discern with a missional mindset the time for worship in June-August, pursuant to a request from some members. We will use a method of discernment during the meeting on our way to a decision as to what is best for the vitality of our congregation and our mission. Please use this time to be in prayer and prayerful conversation! This matter is the only item on the agenda.

Our May Servers

Thank you to our servers this month!

Area of Service May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27

Flowers M/S Conner Campbells B Wingo E Hagar E Gunter

Greeter B Thompson M Barnett M Barnett M Barnett

Ushers N Wert S Wert

N Wert S Wert

A Brockmeyer D Donald

A Brockmeyer D Donald

Acolyte J Haley J Haley B Millirons B Millirons

Crucifer J Haley J Haley E Sealander A Sealander

Reader W Roope W Roope W Brockmeyer W Brockmeyer

Nursery S Conner T Conner J Casteele J Brockmeyer

Communion Bread

E Sealander

K Wohlford

Communion Setup

B Aust B Aust

Communion Presenter

B & M Aust Roopes

Communion Assistant

E L Frazier M Dalton

Tellers D Huff D Huff D Huff D Huff

Our Readings for May Worship

May 6 – Philippians2:1-13 Partnership in the Gospel May 13 –Philippians 3:1-15 The Christ Hymn May 20–Acts 2:1-21; Phil. 4:4-7 Pentecost: Rejoice in the Lord May 27 –Exodus 19:1-6; 20:1-2 Ten Commandments

May 28, 2018 All gave some . . . Some gave all . . .

Calendar for May

May 1-5 Wed 2 12:30 pm Bible Study (Library) 6:30 pm Choir Practice Thur 3 11:00 am National Day of Prayer – Emmanuel bookstore Fri 4 11:00 am Church Women United (1st UMC)

May 6-12 Sun 6 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship- Holy Communion Congregational Meeting after worship 5:30pm WELCA Spring Banquet (Fellowship Hall) Tues 8 7:00 pm Council Meeting (Parlor) Wed 9 12:30 pm Bible Study (Library) 6:30 pm Choir Practice

May 13-19 Sun 13 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Happy Mother’s Day! Tues 15 6:30pm Men in Mission(Fellowship Hall) Wed 16 12:30 pm Bible Study(Library) 6:30 pm Choir Practice

May 20-26 Sun 20 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship – Holy Communion: Pentecost 12:15 pm Youth Group Party in memory Helen Frazier 2:00 pm Youth Gathering Getting Ready #3 meeting Mon 21 10:00 am Piecemakers’ Quilting Group (Fellowship Hall) Wed 23 12:30 pm Bible Study (Library) 6:30 pm Choir Practice

May 27 – June 2 Sun 27 9:45 am Sunday School Closing (we will resume in Sept.) 11:00 am Worship: Holy Trinity Sunday Mon 28 Memorial Day Holiday Wed 30 12:30 pm Bible Study (Library) 6:30 pm Choir Practice

NEWS AROUND THE PARISH

IN OUR PRAYERS for comfort, healing, and safekeeping:Sue Conner, Todd Conner, Lloyd Broadstreet, Emma Gallimore, Al Pearce, Charlie Roope, Patti Sanders, and Carol Wade;Friends/Relatives: Emily Beard, Jackie Bilodeau, Tim Cox, Mike Donley, Stella Farley, Billy & Gale Goins, Virginia Jiles, Martha Moody, Linda Rea; Law Enforcement, Peace Corps and Military: Alvin Blankenship, David Booker, Michael Clayton, Seth Elich, Chris Olesuk, Kevin Olesuk, Tyler Renn, Vicky Sands, Tyler Simpkins, Jack Smith, Justin Smith, Daulton Teaford, Bronson Underwood, James Whitaker, Cody Wright

CONGRATULATIONS are in order!

Laura and Brent Casteele upon the birth of their first child, Camryn Grace Casteele, born on April 17 at Montgomery Regional. Congratulations to her grandparents, Jim & Sherry Casteele and extended family!

Kelli Clayton who will graduate Summa Cum Laude with a Masters in Social Work degree from Radford University this month!

Elissa Fink who will graduate Magna Cum Laude from Christopher Newport University with a B.S. degree in cellular, molecular, and physiological biology. Elissa has been accepted into the Ph.D. program at UC-San Francisco.

Alicia Barnett &Kelli Clayton inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

SYMPATHY of the parish goes to

Rick Christ and family upon the death of his mother, Ingrid Middleton, on April 1. “Rest eternal grant her, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her.”

MAY BIRTHDAYS 4 Bobby Harrell 18 Kathy Faller, Joanne Habrecht 5 Sandy Conner 23 Mary Jayne Hall 7 Mary Lee Campbell 26 Patti Sanders 14 Laura Coffey 29 Kelli Clayton 17 Ned Bane 31 Denise Huff

BAPTISM ANNIVERSARIES 5 Kathy Olesuk 12 Cole Goff 18 Nancy Wade 21 Erin Hagar 26 Elissa Fink, Hannah Wade, Jette Wade

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES 3 Brent & Laura Casteele 11 Frances & Gary Haga 26 Laura & Matt Coffey 27 Barbara & Kenneth Martin 31 Fred & Denise Huff

We LEARN Youth Group News – HELEN FRAZIER MEMORIAL YOUTH PARTY We will have our annual party to remember Garry Frazier’s mother, Helen, on May 20 right after worsh+ip. We will meet in the fellowship hall for lunch, followed by games and fun activities. This youth group party is for ALL children – Pre-K through High School! As always, we appreciate the support that the Fraziers have provided to our youth and family ministry through the years! Kids: feel free to invite a friend or two!

YOUTH GATHERING UPDATE Maggie, Alex, and Ethan are in the “Getting Ready” mode of preparing for the June 27-July 1 Youth Gathering of the ELCA. They will be among 30,000+

other youth and adult leaders from not only the U.S. but from around the world! We are thankful for your

generous financial and prayer support! We still have a few fundraising activities if you wish to donate: Stock Certificates (for a small donation you can purchase “stock” in each of our youth, showing that you are willing to invest in them as they journey with Christ.), possibly a yard sale (details to follow). We are more than half way toward our fund raising goal and plan to finish that by mid June! Our group of youth plus adult leaders, Kathy Selander and Pastor Terrie, will be attending this year’s gathering with 6 other youth from Our Saviour and St. Michael along with Pastor Wanda Childs of Our Saviour. Please be praying for all of our youth: Maggie, Jessie, Abby, Madelyn, Kirsten, Jack, Alex, Bradley, Ethan! BLAST OFF FOR BOOKS Our in-kind offering for the Youth Gathering is books for the Houston school system. We have purchased a number of books which are up for “adoption” with a small donation of $5-10. By adopting these books, we will have funds to purchase another set of books to go with us. We hope to have about 25 books to take. The Gathering’s goal is 100,000 books!

We SERVE, We SHARE

ELCA WORLD HUNGER REPORT:

Thanks to your generosity, we gathered $681.00 for the ELCA

World Hunger Appeal during the 40 days of Lent! What love you have shown for those in the world who suffer from hunger and hunger-related diseases. God bless your sharing! BIKE AND BUILD GROUP COMES TO PULASKI We will team up with First Christian Church on Thursday, June 7, to house (First Methodist) and feed (that’s us) a group of bicyclists who are riding across the U.S. as advocates for affordable housing. Details to follow! SPRING CLEAN THANK YOU A word of thanks is in order to our Women of the ELCA and our Men in Mission groups for helping with Spring cleaning and mulching around the property – especially the educational building! Wonderful, beautiful work! SPECIAL THANKSto Jim Casteele and Kirk Casteele for mowing our lawn in March and April. If you would like to help mow, please speak with Jim Casteele (980-3625). Volunteers are much needed and greatly appreciated. ALICE B. PAULSON – AMOS FAMILY HEALTHCARE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD This year’s recipient of the Paulson-Amos Healthcare Scholarship is awarded to Alicia Barnett, currently a Junior at Radford University. Alicia is working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work and nursing. Her professional goals include emergency care nurse or domestic violence social worker. Alicia is committed to helping others and making the world a better place for all people. Congratulations, Alicia!

FINANCIAL REPORT THROUGH MARCH, 2018 Regular Pledge and Plate Giving $ 32,490.48* Budgeted Expenditures $ 35,988.37 Deficit through March $ 3,487.91

Designated Giving: Jan-Mar $ 2,799.00 *INCLUDES THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS ($178.00)

WE WORSHIP

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise God for his acts of power and for his surpassing greatness.

Praise the LORD with the sound of the trumpet, harp and lyre, Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD. Psalm 150

SUMMER WORSHIP AT TRINITY As you’re probably aware by now, we will be meeting at a specially-called congregational meeting on May 6 immediately following worship. The sole purpose of this meeting is to decide upon summer worship time. This has come up because of a request of the council at the March meeting by some members to consider making 11:00am our summer worship time. (Our current schedule is 10:00 in June and July, 11:00 in August.) The council has deliberated on this question. We’ve studied the history of decisions over the past 30 years, and we are making the following recommendation in light of many factors: Whereas summer worship hour has been debated and voted on an average of once every three years since 1999, and Whereas some members have expressed a preference for one time vs. another while many members have expressed that the hour of 10am vs. 11am makes no real difference, and Whereas we desire to strive to be a congregation of faithful mission and charity and concord, Be it resolved that the members of Trinity commit to a summer worship time of 10:30 am for the months of June, July, and August indefinitely. This recommendation has been arrived at after much prayerful consideration and missional discernment and will be brought to the meeting on May 6 for members’ consideration.

WOMEN’S & MEN’S MINISTRY NEWS SPRING BANQUET – MAY 6, 5:00 PM Join us for our annual Spring Banquet, hosted by the Circle of Ruth (circle members: bring a salad or dessert to share and invite guests!) Paul and Jolene Cox will be sharing about their many missionary journeys to Thailand. VIRGINIA SYNODIAL WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION (VSWO) CONVENTION: Prayerfully consider attending the 2018VSWOConvention to be held August 3&4 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Winchester, VA. We have strong connections with our State Lutheran Ladies: Jody is President and Michelle serves on the Board. Our theme is: "Let Us Encourage." We would love to have a first time attendee be our delegate. Karen Martin was our delegate last year and had a blast. Maybe we can have several first timers join our large delegation! Registration information will be available in the narthex for anyone who wishes to attend. VSWO SERVICE PROJECT:Caddies for walkers/wheelchairs are being made for local use as part of our service mission as Women of the ELCA in the Virginia Synod. Linda Hawks is helping facilitate this project with the help of a Thrivent Action Team grant! If you would like to share in this easy sewing project, please speak with Linda Hawks (980-0852) or Susan Bain (980-1013)

Church Women United’s May Friendship Day Friday, May 4 – 11:00 am – “Reaching for Wholeness – In

Gratitude for God’s Presence” With a light luncheon to follow – bring a dish to share! First Christian Church – Winseset Outreach Building

Offering of the Least Coin will be received WE CELEBRATE THESE TRINITY WOMEN FOR ACADEMIC HONORS! Alicia Barnett (Radford University) and Kelli Clayton (Radford University Graduate program) were recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors (Alicia) are eligible for membership. Graduate students (Kelli) in the top 10% of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify. We celebrate this honor with you both!

APRIL MEETING RECAP We met on April 24 in the upstairs library for supper and fellowship. Jim Casteele was proud to show the group pictures of his new granddaughter, Camryn Grace Casteele (Brent and Laura’s firstborn)! Greg Hagar invited the men’s group to view one of the four episodes from the Smithsonian Channel on “The Lost Years” in the 4-part series, “The Real Jesus of Nazareth.” This episode shows the quest to unlock the mystery of Jesus' life between his youth and adult ministry of which the Gospels say nothing. This video can be seen on the web by going to: https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/the-real-jesus-of-nazareth/the-lost-years/1004510/3437422 OUR MAY MEETINGwill be on Tuesday, May 15, at 6:30 pm for supper and a program. Bring a dish to share and come for great fellowship and a program!

THRIVENT NEWS CHOICE DOLLARS – We wish to take a moment to thank every one of our Thrivent members who designate Trinity to receive Choice Dollars each year. We received a substantial direct deposit this past month which is contributed to our General Fund income. THANK YOU! ACTION TEAM PROJECTS How are your Action Team Projects coming? Most of our members are entitled to two projects/year ($500). So far we have completed, started, or planned:

Youth Gathering BBQ Dinner Fund Raiser - February

Wheelchair/Walker Caddies – Ongoing, Women of the ELCA

Spring Flower Beds/Mulching – March

Dept. of Social Services Visitation Rooms Renovation – April

Memorial Butterfly Garden – Meadowview Apartments - April

DO YOU HAVE A NEW PROJECT TO ADD??? Please keep Barbara Wingo posted with new developments.

APRIL COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

130th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration: we will ask members to help us with planning via a questionnaire this month.We recommend August 12 or 19 as the target Sunday .

Virginia Synod Lay Voting Member: several members’ names were recommended for attending the Virginia Synod Assembly (June 8-10) as our voting member along with Pastor Terrie. (Since the meeting, Denise Huff has agreed to serve as voting member.)

Summer Worship Schedule: we continued from March’s meeting the discussion on how to respond to a request from our members to consider changing summer worship from 10am to 11am. We recognized that this is a subject that has come up many times. At the regular council meeting and a specially-called meeting on April 22, it was agreed that we would bring the subject to the congregation at a specially-called meeting on May 6 after worship with the recommendation to the congregation of 10:30am summer worship schedule. If approved, we recommend that this would remain our designated summer service time indefinitely.

Pulaski High School Baccalaureate Service: Pastor Terrie received an inquiry from Mr. Jeff McCoy, Class of 2018 Sponsor, about Trinity possibly hosting the baccalaureate service this year. He wishes to pursue a Pulaski venue since it’s been held in Dublin the last few years. We agreed that we would like to offer our facility, but due to a conflict on May 20, we deferred but volunteered to host in 2019 or other future time.

Training of Worship Servers: we agreed that each January we will offer training/refresher courses for all of our worship server roles. If any member feels under-equipped or familiar with his/her role, we are always ready and willing to assist with training throughout the year.

Items pending further action/completion:

- Automated prayer concern phone call system

- Forwarding Faith Campaign of the Virginia Synod

Council Members: Betty Bowers, Jessie Brockmeyer, Shirley Brumagin, Jim Casteele (Vice-President), Kirk Casteele, Chris Conner, Maggie Dalton, Debbie Donald (Secretary), Charlie Roope

WORSHIP “Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.”

This is the text of the “Gloria” in the ancient mass of the church. It is what we call our Hymn of Praise. And it gives perfect utterance to our praise and worship of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

As we prepare to decide upon the hour of worship for summer months, I pray that we will meditate on the heart of worship for daily living. Is there anything or anyone that we can bless, adore, glorify and thank that even begins to compare to our incomparable God? And what does it do to our own hearts and minds and wills to worship this God who is “beyond all praising?”

I believe that our worship is the most central aspect of our congregational life. Perhaps we are tempted to wrestle over worship time when we might rather be rejoicing to be worshiping at all – no matter what the hour, for God is the almighty and is most worthy to be praised! Many people in the world do not have the freedom we have. Let’s make the most of it!

Bring your voice, heart, mind, hands to worship on Sundays and let our worship flow through you the rest of the week! I look forward to being with you in our house of praise and prayer each Sunday!