Pastor’s Perspective · Trinity United Methodist Church 237 N Water Ave. Idaho Falls, ID 83402...

Trinity United Methodist Church

237 N Water Ave.

Idaho Falls, ID 83402

Phone 208-522-7921

[email protected]

Return Service Requested

Looking Ahead:

February 14th—Valentine's Day February 25th—Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner and Races February 25th—Cooking for Wesley House, Pocatello February 26th—Ash Wednesday March 18th—20th—Northwestern Leadership Institute (NLI) in Boise March 27th—11:30—Trinity Hosts Lenten Lunch April 3rd—11:30—Rev Ruth preaches for Lenten Lunch April 9th—Maundy Thursday April 10th—Good Friday April 12th—Easter May 17th—Spring Handbell Concert

9:00 am Sunday School for all Ages

10:15 am Worship for Everyone & Kids’ Church

11:30 am Soup, Brunch, or Potluck

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“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”

February 2020

Pastor’s Perspective

But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy. And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

(James 3:17-18 Good News Translation)

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Lent is coming! February the 24th is Shrove Tuesday, the day that Christians tradition-ally party by making and eating pancakes to clear the house of fat, sugar and other ingredients that can be turned into yummy treats. On that evening, at 6:30, Trinity will have a pancake dinner followed by pancake races. The next day, February 25th is Ash Wednesday, the day that Christians tradi-tionally begin the season of Lent by accept-ing the mark of an ash cross on their fore-head to represent that we are mortals who mess up (sin) and that God is always ready to shower us with love and forgiveness never-the-less. Lent is a time when Chris-tians prepare for the joy of Easter when we celebrate Christ’s victory over death by ris-ing from the grave on the third day.

It can be very helpful to enter into some kind of spiritual discipline to help reflect on your Lenten journey. This year I will be coloring my way through Lent, and I invite you to join me in this practice. Included in this edition of Trinity Times are two color-ing templates.

Using a calendar template is a simple, daily prayer practice for making the journey through Lent. Each day choose a word to ponder or a person to pray for. Write the word or name in the allotted space with a pen and draw or doodle around it. Add color with colored pencils or markers. Let the word or name speak to you. If words come to you as you draw, pray them. If not, just continue to draw, stay quiet, and let the word or name burrow into your mind and heart. Returning to the calendar each day establishes a hallowed time and a place to be present to God and listen.

Think of each mark of the pen or stroke of a colored marker/pencil as a small non-verbal prayer. The goal of the doodling and drawing is not to make a beautiful work of art, but to create a visual prayer. Draw-ing/doodling invites the body into the prayer, gives the eyes and hand something to do, and helps to focus attention on the word or person.

Praying on the calendar is a visual and kin-esthetic Lenten discipline. The accumula-tion of words or peoples’ names on the cal-endar creates an emerging tapestry of your spiritual journey through the forty-plus days of Lent.

Additional Ways to Use the Calendars:

1) Pray for a person each day of Lent.

2) Use a daily book of Lenten meditations. Read the meditation for the day and select a

word that jumps out at you. Meditate on the word as you draw and color around it. Let it enter your heart and mind. Ask God what you need to hear from the word.

3) Follow a daily lectionary and choose a word from one of the Scripture readings.

4) Read the same Psalm each day and choose a daily word. Psalm 51, for example, is a peni-tential Psalm with lots of juicy (sometimes de-pressing) words in it.

5) Read a different Psalm each day and choose a word.

6) Use nouns or adjectives that describe the na-ture and character of Jesus: savior, redeemer, healer, radical, obedient, forgiving,…

7) Since Lent is a time for reflection and self-examination, scatter your confessions, charac-ter defects, regrets, worries, fears, and sorrows on the template. Ask the Holy Spirit to be pre-sent as you reflect on these. This is not meant to be an exercise in self-flagellation, but a way to be honest with yourself and draw closer to God and God’s unconditional love. Mix in some dreams, hopes, and thanksgivings.

8) Create a visual gratitude list. Each day add a word or an image. The items on your grati-tude list can be important and profound or simple and fleeting: a cup of coffee, a walk around the block, a smile from a child….

This is not my own idea, it comes from a web-site by Sybil Macbeth called “Praying In Col-or.” These are some of the reasons that Sybil

offers for adopting this discipline.

Why Pray in Color?

1. You want to pray but words escape you. 2. Sitting still and staying focused in prayer

are a challenge. 3. Your body wants to be part of your prayer. 4. You want to just hang out with God but

don’t know how. 5. Listening to God feels like an impossible

task . 6. Your mind wanders and your body com-

plains. 7. You want a visual, concrete way to pray. 8. You need a new way to pray.

The template included in this newsletter may be smaller than you are comfortable working on, so you are welcome to drop by the church office to pick up an 11x17 template if you don’t have a way to print out one in that larger size.

Blessings,

Reverend Ruth

P.S. The “Adults and Others” Sun-day School class will be reading “The Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy with the Spiritual Disciplines” by Nathan Foster.

UMW Sunrise Circle

The new UMW Sunrise Circle held it first meeting on 1/23/20. The circle will meet on the forth Thursday at 1pm in the parlor.

Page 4

We like to make our superheroes wear their underwear on the outside of their clothes. Our movie hero is typically the “chosen” one who is born like an unnamed extra but by fate has a destiny with greatness. Our Sunday school lessons typically dwell on great leaders and prophets that were chosen by God and en-dowed with superhuman strength, wisdom, power, age, and additional portions of the Spirit. What about Micaiah [1King22], Ananias [Acts 9], and Tychicus [Eph 6.21]?

As a general observation, most people that do something brave don’t really consider them-selves to be brave people. They typically claim that they were just doing their job, or reacting to the situation, or had a lapse of judgement that ultimately yielded brave behavior.

I’ve seen this behavior in scouts before. A kid reporting bullying at their school. “Really” at-tempting the BSA swim test. Ziplining off a four-story tower after three previous attempts ending in a chicken-out. Climbing a 20-foot wall after crying it out. Speaking before a large group. Helping a strange old man with yard work. It is an honor to work with such fine in-

dividuals despite their lack of age. How many of us adults can be counted amongst the brave?

This month, Pack 6 went to the IF Aquatic Cen-ter to learn water safety and rescue, made rockets out of Lego’s, used red cabbage to de-termine pH of a solution, and interviewed IFPD Chief Bryce Johnson about Rule of Law, Leadership, and what it’s like to be a police of-ficer. We also held our annual Pinewood Car Derby. Sam Bays 208-520-8883.

Cub Scout Pack 6 - Sam Bays

This month we will be spotlighting one area where FISH helps.

Many years ago the state of Idaho passed legis-lation requiring a new, safety approved car seat for newborns leaving the hospital. This mandate was accompanied by funds for the purchase of the car seats. They were distribut-ed through District VII Health as part of the prenatal care provided to low income families.

The mandate remains, but the accompanying funds were eliminated and we now have new mothers unable to leave the hospital.

Working through the discharge social worker, and after exhausting any other resources the mother may have, we deliver a car seat to the hospital enabling mother and baby to begin their new life together.

F.I.S.H. Report—Bev Kemp

Trustees Corner - Don Rohde

The life of a trustee is all about maintaining and improving our building. In December & January we:

Replaced the automatic door closers on the front door.

Got the boiler it’s annual safety inspection. Installed the video screen in the back of the

sanctuary. (Robin) Replaced the water softener. Replaced the spotlight bulb over the piano

in the Sanctuary. (Rob) Formed an agreement to allow a home

school group of 50 children to use the church each Wednesday.

Started the electrical demand charge cost reduction project.

Recovered from a frozen downspout that leaked water into the boiler room hall. (Rob)

Received a $5,000 matching grant from the Idaho Heritage Trust to restore the Blue & White stained glass window (Thanks to Nancy Smith, Nancy Stewart & Lynn Sey-mour!)

Started on the video security system by purchasing 2 cameras and a recording unit. We have yet to install the system. (Robin)

Fixed a leak in the sanctuary by un-freezing 2 roof drains and 2 scuppers.

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We Do Meals!!

• February 2nd & 9th are Soup Sundays: February’s Soup Sundays are the 2nd and the 9th. Please sign up to bring a crock pot of soup or stew to feed the crowd; sign the list at the back of the sanctuary, or call the office at 208-522-7921.

• February 16th is Dutch Oven Scout Brunch: The Scouts will do their annual Dutch oven cooking demonstration and provide brunch for us. Donations to this worthy cause help to support scout activities. (See the month-ly newsletter to find out what they have been working on.)

• February 23rd—4th Sunday Pot Luck Lunch: Everyone shares bringing and eat-ing at the pot luck on the 23th of February. One never knows what deliciousness awaits in the kitchen on these special Sun-days!

Membership Note:

We welcome Robert Nesler as a member of the congregation. He has come to the area from Califor-nia.

Around the Church

Our February highlight is a Lock-in!

• Trinity Youth Group Lock-in - Members and Friends 6th -12th grades

• Games, Karaoke, Scavenger hunt, Dinner, Treats, Movie and Breakfast

• Friday, February 21, 7 PM to 9 AM Satur-day

• Enjoy Trinity's entire building together.

• Fun and Fellowship

• RSVP needed for Youth; Adults are plan-ning, facilitating, and chaperoning throughout the event

Every Sunday Trinity Youth Group meets from 4 to 5:30.

Trinity Youth Group - Nancy Stewart

Sun Mon Tue Wed

2 9:00 Sunday School

10:15 Worship/Kids Church

11:30 Soup on Sunday

12:00 Reconciling Group

7:30 Narcotics Anonymous

3

6:00 Beginning Bronze

7:00 Wesley Handbells

7:00 Theology On Tap at Snow Eagle Brewing


4

6:30 Girl Scout Troop 112

7:00 Trustees Meeting

7:00 Cub Scout Den Meeting

7:00 PEO (BG)

7:00 NA Men’s Meeting

5

9:00 Breakfast - O’Brady’s

11:00 Tech Trep Homeschool

11:00 Upper Room meeting

7:30 Boy Scout Troop 6

9 9:00 Sunday School


11:30 Soup on Sunday

4:00 Youth Group


10 10:00 F.I.S.H.


6:30 Girl Scout Leaders Gp


7:00 Theology On Tap at church


11


7:00 Pack 6 Den Meeting


12 9:00 Breakfast-O’Brady’s



6:30 Finance Committee

7:00 Pack Committee Mtg.


16 Scout Sunday 9:00 Sunday School


11:30 Scout Serve Dutch Oven Brunch

4:00 Youth Group


17 President's Day Office Closed

11:00 Soup Kitchen Mission





18


7:00 Pack 6 Den Meeting

7:00 Church Ad Council


19 9:00 Breakfast - O’Brady’s




23 Transfiguration

& Bible Sunday 9:00 Sunday School


11:30 Potluck Sunday

4:00 Youth Group


24





7:30 Troop 6 Committee Mtg

25 Shrove Tuesday

3:30 Wesley House Meal


6:30 Pancake Dinner & Races


26 Ash Wednesday

9:00 Breakfast - O’Brady’s



12:00 Ashes to Go at the Broadway bridge

3:00 - 6:00 Ashes at Church


Ruth Out of Office

Page 8

Thu Fri Sat

1

7:00 Alcoholics Anonymous


6 9:30 UMW Executive

Committee Meeting

6:30 GS Troops 713

6:30 Chancel Choir

7:15 Praise Band

8:00 Serenity Seekers

7 Church Office Closed

9:00 Community Partners


8

6:00 Women in Recovery



13 1:00 UMW Unit Meeting

6:30 GS Troops 713

6:30 Chancel Choir

7:15 Praise Band



Valentine's Day


15 Newsletter Articles Due



20


6:30 Chancel Choir

7:15 Praise Band



7:00 Youth Group Lock-in


22

Noon - Deal or no Deal (NA)



27

1:00 Sunshine Circle


6:30 Chancel Choir

7:15 Praise Band


28

Church Office Closed


29 Leap Day



Febr

ua

ry

Please have your arti-cles for the March newsletter submitted to: [email protected] no later than Saturday, February15th, so we can get the March newsletter out in a timely manner. Thank you! Don Rohde-Editor [email protected]

Gary Rose 2/2 Trudy Esparza 2/3 Steve Holaday 2/8 Diane Croson 2/11 Roger Haga 2/13 Savannah Jensen 2/14 Kristy Campbell 2/15

Ruth Byron 2/16 Leroy Meyer 2/17 Nancy O'Brien 2/21 Ruth Oar 2/22 Tim French 2/23 Josh Borland 2/25 Kathy Borland 2/28

For additions to or corrections on birthdays please contact Pam in the church office 208-522-7921.

February Birthdays & Anniversaries

Girl Scout Troop 713 News - Nancy Stewart

Happy 2020 to you all!!!

We’re starting the new year with a new cir-cle. The Sunshine Circle had it’s first meeting at 1:00 on January 23rd in the parlor .

Looking ahead in February:

• The unit meeting will be February 13th in the parlor at 1:00. We will be welcoming our new UMW members and have a fun program given by Marilyn Taylor.

• February 27th will be the second Sunshine Circle in the Parlor at 1:00.

Please plan to attend both circle and unit meetings.

The new year-books will be available to pick up.

United Methodist Women - Mary Nagel

Troop 713 presented the annual Cookie Rally on January 16 at the University Place TAB audi-torium and the girls did a great job! All of the area Girl Scouts were invited for a fun event

complete with a MC, Motivational Speaker, Door Prizes, Skits, Safety Video, Cheers and Cookie Tasting. Troops will be selling cookies throughout the next two months. Pre-orders have started and cookies will arrive in Idaho Falls on February 22. Booth sales start in late February and end March 22.

February plans include badge work (we've been so busy having fun we haven't complet-ed any yet) led by the girls.

February 13 the Ambassadors are hosting a dinner party (using our new Parlor kitchen) and we are presenting the Cadette Silver award to one of our girls who recently earned this prestigious award.

February 20th is World Thinking Day where we consider the world organization of Girl Scouts and learn about people in other coun-tries.

Troop 713 is for girls in grades 6—12 and has room for new members. We meet from 6:30 to 8 PM in the Mary Dawson Hall on Thurs-day nights.

Page 10

Scouting Troop 6 News - Robin Stewart

Merit Badge Scramble

The troop has started the annual Dis-trict Merit Badge Scramble hosted by St. Paul’s. The troops provide coun-selors and scouts to pursue the merit badges required for the uppers ranks

of Star, Life and Eagle. In addition to the Eagle required merit badges, there are lots of fun badges such as leatherwork, trains, auto me-chanics, and fire prevention, lots of things that scouts are interested in, hopefully having fun while they are at it.

Camping at Granite Hot Springs

The scouts traveled to Granite Hot Springs in Wyoming for the December outing, skiing into the campground, and soaking for a few hours in the hot pool. The temperature of the pool has dropped, making it just a very warm pool, but it still felt great. The scouts did well with the ski in, making it most of the way to the campsite (9 miles) before being shuttled into the camp to set up and head for the hot springs. After all that work and hot water, the boys headed to bed at 5:30pm, leaving the adults to wait around a small campfire before heading to bed at 9pm. (Staying in a tent for 12-13 hours is just too long!!!) We headed out early the next day, since we had a funeral of a past scout leader to attend, making it to ice cream and Idaho Falls before 2pm, a great trip we'll repeat in the future.

A somewhat sad note - The super red Excur-sion that hosted lots of outings, carrying lots of scouts and equipment, succumbed to a dead cylinder during this trip and was scrapped. We'll miss it and its awesome people hauling ability, but it’s a reminder that nothing last for-ever.

Winteree

The scouts have been preparing for the annual District Winteree for several months, building fires, learning first aid, tying lots of knots, and

working on the two man log saw. Planning for our meal (Saturday Lunch - Chili dogs - a scout favorite), and getting our winter camping skills up to speed has kept the troop busy. The troop plans on working with the AOL and Webelos of Pack 6 on Saturday, letting them get a taste of what’s to come when they bridge over to the Scouting USA Troop 6 later this year.

The scouts also built a new sled for the derby, a nifty metal folding sled that fits into our new, smaller scout trailer. They had fun learning how to weld, grind and design using metal versus wood. The result is a fast sled that weighs much less than the sleds we'll be retir-ing. Thanks to CBI and Jesse's dad for inviting us to use their fab shop and teaching the scouts a quick lesson in metal work. Lots of fun. I'm sure they will be improving the sled as time goes on using their new skills.

Escalante

Some planning for the March adventure to southern Utah, the Hole-in-the-Rock road and the Devil’s Garden area has been taking place. We have the required adults committed to go, and we'll get our permits for hiking and camp-ing the Coyote Gulch, where we'll be looking for the Black Lagoon swimming hole, several arches and the infamous crack in the wall that will allow us to exit the canyon.

We'll be on the look-out for HooDoos, lots of desert critters and the history of the road itself... Hopefully the school districts will contin-ue to coordinate their spring breaks so we can create a tradition of having an adventure in March. Super Excited!

http://www.stpaulboca.com/images/uploads/girlscouts.jpg

Trinity Methodist Church of Idaho Falls

Balance Sheet As of December 31, 2019

Total Total

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Compassionate Care Fund $ 2,202.36

Liabilities Dinner Group Donations $ 165.03

Current Liabilities Farnum Fund $ 9,000.00

Accounts Payable FISH (EXT) $ 7.55

Accounts Payable $ 1,178.52 Floral Tributes $ 117.16

Total Accounts Payable $ 1,178.52 Jack Wallace Estate Gift $ 39,285.01

Other Current Liabilities Memorials $ 4,166.37

Payroll Liabilities $ - Mission Produce (EXT) $ 39.00

FWT $ 1,102.90 Mission Trip Senior High $ 327.26

SWT $ 96.00 Organ/Piano Tuning & Repair $ 139.00

UMPIP - General Brd of Pension $ 875.00 Pastor's Moving Fund $ 2,799.84

Total Payroll Liabilities $ 2,073.90 Reconciling Group (EXT) $ 3.60

Total Other Current Liabilities $ 2,073.90 Scouts Scholarship (EXT) $ 390.30

Total Current Liabilities $ 3,252.42 Stephen Ministry (EXT) $ 718.79

Long-Term Liabilities United Methodist Men $ 1,136.50

Extension Society Loan #2 $ 4,636.65 Vacation Bible School $ 81.02

Total Long-Term Liabilities $ 4,636.65 Video System $ 581.63

Total Liabilities $ 7,889.07 VIM - Honduras (EXT) $ 3,287.00

Equity Youth Ministries $ 920.44

Designated Funds $ - Youth Ministries - Children $ 332.44

Bell Choir $ 6,205.34 Youth Ministries - Junior High $ 294.98

Bereavement Committee $ 740.74 Youth Ministries - Senior High $ 407.11

Brick Purchase Fund $ 850.59 Total Youth Ministries $ 1,954.97

Camp Scholarships $ 1,537.00 Total Designated Funds $ 102,105.65

Capital Reserves $ 24,292.01 Endowment Fund Equity $ 247,257.91

Parking Lot Sign $ 29.78 Retained Earnings $ 4,444.73

Security System $ 750.00 Schaumleffel Foundation Annual $ 3,166.68

Stained Glass Repair $ 567.06 Trinity Restoration Fund $ (4,510.22)

Total Capital Reserves $ 25,638.85 Net Income $ -

Chancel Choir $ 706.16 Total Equity $ 352,464.75

Christian Education $ 10.11 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 360,353.82

Christmas Fund $ 14.47

Page 12

Trinity Methodist Church of Idaho Falls Profit and Loss

January - December 2019

Total Total

Income 8000 BUILDING & PROPERTY

4000 Pledges & Regular Giving 152,424.26 8010 Custodial Supplies 625.29

4002 Loose Plate Giving 4,077.62 8020 Church Maint. & Repair 12,760.28

4003 Sunday School Contributions 57.56 8030 Utilities 5,829.49

4005 Rent - Facility - Room Use 1,520.00 8031 Recycling 110.00

4005-1 Weddings 400.00 8040 Natural Gas 4,900.18

Total 4005 Rent - Facility - Room Use $ 1,920.00 8050 Property Insur. & Workmen's 9,361.00

4006 Schaumleffel Foundation 9,800.00 8070 Repairs - Parsonage Maint. 2,023.72

4008 Other Income 1,609.00 Total 8000 BUILDING & PROPERTY $ 35,609.96

4009 Pass Through Deposits 4,500.00 9000 ADMINISTRATIVE OPS

Total Income $174,388.44 9002 Wages - Staff Payroll 47,283.83

Gross Profit $174,388.44 9010 Employer Payroll Taxes 3,617.21

Expenses 9030 Office Supplies 67.44

5000 WORSHIP 9060 Permit & Bulk Postage 355.00

5040 Worship Supplies 192.14 9070 Postage 500.00

5060 Copyright Licensing 420.00 9080 Copier Expense 1,485.06

5120 Honoraria 200.00 9090 Paper 213.25

5150 Senior Pastor 9110 Telephone and Internet 2,034.74

5151 Senior Pastor Salary 38,749.92 9121 Accounting 5,400.00

5152 Parsonage Utility Allowance 5,500.08 9130 Publicity & Advertising 250.00

5153 Senior Pastor Medical Insur. 15,528.00 9191 Conference & Continuing Ed 79.00

5154 Sr Pastor Pension 8,850.00 9200 Conference Apportionments 3,708.57

5158 Sr Pastor - Professional Exp 720.00 Bank Charges 119.40

5160 Pastors Moving Expense 600.00 Paypal Fees 22.40

Total 5150 Senior Pastor $ 69,948.00 Square Fees 0.32

Total 5000 WORSHIP $ 70,760.14 Vanco Fees 49.20

6000 PROGRAM & FELLOWSHIP Total Bank Charges $ 191.32

6030 Devotional Materials 302.50 Total 9000 ADMINISTRATIVE OPS $ 65,185.42

6040 Sunday School Supplies 1,014.50 Total Expenses $174,388.44

6050 Vacation Bible School 275.78 Net Operating Income $ 0.00

6130 Church Picnic 772.89 Other Income

6150 Coffee Hour Supplies 467.25 4001 Designated Giving-Internal 104,035.39

Total 6000 PROGRAM & FELLOW. $ 2,832.92 4012 Designated Giving - Pass Thru 2,149.55

Total Other Income $106,184.94

Other Expenses

9700 Pass Through - Internal 104,035.39

9701 Pass Through - External 2,149.55

Total Other Expenses $106,184.94

Net Other Income $ 0.00

Net Income $ 0.00

Pastor’s Perspective · Trinity United Methodist Church 237 N Water Ave. Idaho Falls, ID 83402...

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