Our Trinity family just enjoyed a month-long endeavor of fun and friendship-building with Supportive Housing Communities (SHC) and our formerly homeless neighbors at McCreesh Place. This series of volunteer events was part of an ongoing Mission and Outreach program we’ve dubbed “Days of Discipleship.” SHC’s Linda Miller kicked off the series on Rally Day by educating us about SHC, McCreesh Place, and the broader problem of homelessness in Charlotte. We worked with Linda to provide a range of events for McCreesh Place. We hosted a homemade breakfast, a fun bingo night with prizes and snacks, and an art class led by Phil Tappy. The events helped us form new friendships and deepen existing ones. We appreciated the warm welcome residents gave us and their enthusiastic participation. We capped it all off at their SHC Family Reunion Event, where we offered an ice cream sundae bar and face painting. We’re thankful for all of you who devoted hours to meeting, planning, publicizing, cooking, supplying, serving, and attending these events. We hope that making new friends and memories have made your faith feel real!

PostScripts November/December 2019

G r o w i n g T o g e t h e r . W e l c o m i n g A l l .

Days of Discipleship: Building Relationships

Inside this Issue:

On the Journey 2

Kathy Izard Gathering 2

College of Elders Dinner 3

ONC Results 3

Weekday School Update 3

Session Highlights 4

What’s Happening 4

Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday:

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. - noon

Contact Information: 3115 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28211

trinitypreschurch.org Phone: 704-366-3554

info@trinitypreschurch.org

Stewardship Corner

We did it! Thank you for helping Trinity reach its “Simple Goal for 2020!” We are thankful for your faithful support. Happy holidays!

Use the church

website or Church Life Mobile App to

give anytime.

THE SESSION

Dr. Stephen B. Lindsley, Moderator

Nancy Williams, Clerk

Fran Worthington, Asst. Clerk

Phil Blount, Pres. of the Corp.

Cookie Parnell, Treasurer

CLASS OF 2019

Claire Etheridge Brent Mullis

Laura-Nelle Parnell Hurst

Henry Pickett Kathleen Schneider

Sherese Smith

CLASS OF 2020

Phil Blount Steve Griffie

Sarah Henry Debbie Thompson

Meredith Thompson

CLASS OF 2021

Eric Banks Jeremy Mobley

Mike Campbell Eric McGovern

Fran Worthington

MINISTRY TEAM CHAIRS

Equip Personnel: Phil Blount

Finance: Jeremy Mobley & Louise Sanford

Buildings & Grounds: Dale Sarjeant

Stewardship: Brent Mullis

Grow Christian Formation: Sherese Smith and

Mike Campbell

Youth: Josh Durham

Worship: Sarah Henry and

Fran Worthington

Weekday School: Amy Shook

Serve Mission & Outreach: Meredith

Thompson and Henry Pickett

Congregational Life: Laura-Nelle

Parnell Hurst and Kathleen Schneider

Welcoming: Debbie Thompson

Communications: Cookie Parnell

CHURCH STAFF Dr. Stephen B. Lindsley, Senior Minister

Rev. British Hyrams, Temporary

Associate Pastor

Rev. Jodi Martin, Christian Formation and

Youth Director

Dr. Chris Gilliam, Director of Music

Michael Rowland, Organist

Cheryl Jernigan, Church Administrator

Caroline Dalton, Admin. Coordinator

Sharon Smith, Comm. Coordinator

Rick Neil, Facilities Technician

Jodi Neal, Sunday Assistant

Stephanie Palmer, Weekday School Dir.

Jill Billings, Weekday School Asst. Dir.

Jane B. Arant, Music Minister Emerita

On the Journey: Listen to the Whisper PostScripts

Page 2

In October, Kathy Izard spoke to our Tuesday night book club about her book, The Hundred Story Home: A Memoir of Finding Faith in Ourselves and Something Bigger. It chronicles Kathy's life and amazing work with Urban Ministry Center (UMC) which raised millions of dollars to build Moore Place and combat homelessness in our community. What's notable is that Kathy didn't have any degree or training in fundraising or social work. All she had - and needed - was what she affectionally calls a "whisper" - an idea that pops in your head, keeps you awake at night, and will not let you go. Whispers are inconvenient and seemingly ludicrous. Kathy's life has been one of faithfully leaning into them. I left book club wondering: what if each of us leaned more into the whisper God puts on our hearts? It could be something as obvious as acting on an invitation to serve (we have plenty of them at Trinity!). It could also be seeing something in our community, schools, or neighborhood that's not right, and choosing to do something about it. Frederick Buechner famously said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” I'd love to hear about this intersection of your life. Listen to the whisper and lean into it.

An Evening with Kathy Izard

“Coincidence,” Albert Einstein once postulated, “is God's way of staying anonymous." And the happiest of coincidences found Trinity's Parlor abuzz with enthusiastic church members and friends who gathered for Kathy Izard’s special book presentation. The event was co-hosted by the Mission and Outreach Ministry Team and Trinity Book Group each of which chose, unbeknownst to the other, Izard's memoir as their fall focus. As Izard spoke about her faith and work at UMC, she shared how one question stopped her in her tracks, "Where are the beds?" A simple question led to a multi-year journey, culminating in the creation of Moore Place, Charlotte’s first stable housing community for the homeless. It was a meaningful, faith-filled evening. Meredith Thompson, chair of the Mission and Outreach Ministry Team, presented Izard with a contribution from Trinity to further the work and mission of Moore Place.

The Open House and Art Show in October was a great success. This year the Silent Auction was open Tuesday through Friday and featured new items like a weekend getaway to Asheville, four weeks of Summer Camp at Trinity WDS and a 50/50 raffle. WDS also showed our support for Breast Cancer Awareness month by wearing pink school-wide on October 22.

If you ordered from our annual wreath sale, items can be picked up in the Carson Fellowship Hall on December 2-3.

November/December

Page 3

Elders Reflect on Trinity, Housing Issues

Officer Nominating Committee Results

Our College of Elders gathered for their annual dinner and program on Sunday, September 29. During Steve’s “State of the Church” address, he highlighted staff transitions over the past year and the ministerial staff retreat that he, British, Jodi and Chris attended in October. Attendees also heard about changes to the upcoming Stewardship season, which included setting a pledge goal amount and encouraging members to respond early. Steve then introduced Julie Porter, President of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership. The CMHP is one of many local agencies on the frontlines of Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis. Porter shared grim statistics, but also highlighted how community partners are working diligently to provide housing to low-income families. Porter told the group how a number of faith communities are making their mark known. Steve encouraged our elders to think about what role Trinity might play. This is the fifth year that Trinity has held a College of Elders Dinner – a tradition we are proud to continue!

Happenings at Trinity’s Weekday School

We’ve enjoyed an exciting season for the 2019 Officer Nominating Committee. We had the honor of creating slates of candidates for Session, the ONC, and for an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC), which the congregation approved in October. The newest candidates for Session have begun training with Steve and will be examined by Session in November. They will be ordained and/or installed in January. They bring a variety of gifts and experiences to Session. The class of 2022 includes Andrea Anderson, Betty Anderson, Peter Devlin, Patrice Pickett, and Mike Wellman. Jimmy Click will serve with the class of 2020 as youth elder. The ONC gains the following individuals for the Class of 2021: Kim Nims and Ned Parnell. Session also approved Mike Campbell to serve as its representative and co-chair for the Class of 2021. Many thanks to these individuals. The APNC is already hard at work! The congregation approved the following for service: Warren Henry, Steve Johnson, Katherine Nims, Louise Sanford, Janet Sarjeant, and Matt Smith. Our nominating committee is grateful for this congregation’s prayerful support and for the enthusiasm of all of our candidates.

Save the Dates

Page 4

PostScripts

Baptisms Oct. 6 Elizabeth Wren Benham, daughter of Jim and Hannah Benham Asher Gray Sarjeant, son of Christopher and Whitney Sarjeant New Members Bob and Dianne Christen; Kevin, Akilah, Aman, and Jamal Hyrams; Kendra Moree; Whitney Sarjeant; Don Welch

Session Highlights August

• A motion was made to transfer membership of Nell Coward to Union Presbyterian Church in Gastonia.

September

• Motion was made to form the Organ Task Force, to be comprised of Eric Banks, Jim Glenn, Eric McGovern, Lori O’Keefe, Jerry Parnell and Susanne Reid.

• Motion to call a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, October 13, 2019, to elect a new slate of elders, members of the APNC and members of the ONC was approved.

• Motion from the ONC to approve Cookie Parnell to serve as Treasurer for 2020 was approved.

• Motion to approve Mike Campbell to serve as the Sessional Representative on the ONC in the class of 2021 was approved.

• Motion to approve the baptism of Asher Sarjeant, son of Whitney and Christopher Sarjeant, as well as Elizabeth Benham, daughter of Hannah and Jim Benham, on October 6 was approved.

October

• Motion was approved to accept Bob and Dianne Christen; Kevin, Akilah, Aman, and Jamal Hyrams; Kendra Moree; Whitney Sarjeant; and Don Welch for membership into Trinity Presbyterian Church.

• During the October Congregational Meeting, the following slates were approved: Session, Class of 2022: Andrea Anderson, Betty Anderson, Peter Devlin, Patrice Pickett, Mike Wellman Session, Class of 2020: Jimmy Click Officer Nominating Committee, Class of 2021: Kim Nims, Ned Parnell Associate Pastor Nominating Committee: Warren Henry, Steve Johnson, Katherine Nims, Louise Sanford, Janet Sarjeant, Matt Smith

Financials as of October 31 October YTD Annual Actuals Actuals Budget Receipts: 63,505.69 500,569.58 641,649.00

Unrest. Funds Used: 2.725.33 36,989.53 69,000.00 Boltz Funds Used: 506.75 5,067.50 6,081.00 Endow. Funds Used: 6,066.50 60,665.00 72,798.00

Gilchrist Funds Used: 0 .00 0.00 1,500.00 Sanford Bldg. Maint. Funds Used 219.25 2,192.50 2,631.00 Thomson Funds Used: 0.00 0.00 4,000.00

Expenses: 82,187.00 702,190.41 876,828.00 Surplus/Deficit: (9,163.48) (96,706.30) (79,169.00)

trinitypreschurch.org | Twitter @TrinityPresCh | Facebook.com/trinityprescharlotte Instagram @trinityprescharlotte | Vimeo.com/trinityprescharlotte

Nov. 20 Trinity Family Advent Night, 6 p.m.

Nov. 27-29 Weekday School Closed

Nov. 28-29 Church Office Closed

Dec. 2-3 Weekday School Wreath pick-up

Dec. 4 Room in the Inn starts

Dec. 12 Trinity Singles, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 Christmas Pageant, 9:45 a.m.

Caroling, 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 Longest Night Service, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19 Trinity Christmas Party with

McCreesh Place, 5 p.m.

Dec. 20 Weekday School Closed for Holidays

Dec. 22 Lessons and Carols, 11 a.m.

Dec. 24 Office Closes at noon,

Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m.

Dec. 25-26 Church Office Closed

Jan. 1 Church Office Closed

Our Church Family

Montreat Retreat

Supportive Housing Communities Donation