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The Mustard Seed

Trinity Presbyterian Church USA2061 Glenns Bay Road, Surfside Beach, SC 29575 843-650-0313 (Office)P. O. Box 14758, Surfside Beach, SC 29587 843-650-8529 (Fax)TrinityPresbyChurch.com [email protected] 20, 2019

There is a Collect (a brief prayer) that comes from The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. It is connected in that book to the 2nd of Advent, but you will find it used in all seasons as a prayer used to prepare people to read and hear the Scriptures. It reads: “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the

blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ.”

As we enter into the season of Advent this year I am reminded of John of Damascus’ interpretation of how Christian are made. His model is Mary, the mother of Jesus, and he asks what was the organ by which the Son of God was conceived in her? He argues most people will say, “the womb.” But, John of Damascus, the last great theologian of the Orthodox Church before Islam blanketed the eastern Mediterranean, taught that it was her ear. He thought that Christ is conceived in us, that Christmas comes to us in the same way that it came to Mary. The word of the Lord is spoken to Mary and Mary hears it and responds, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). The word is conveyed to Mary’s ear by the Holy Spirit and takes root in her heart, and so she becomes pregnant with Jesus.

Which is what happens to us. The Word comes to us, and we hear it by the power of the Holy Spirit, and it takes root in our heart, and the miracle happens. Jesus is born in our lives.

Advent means coming. Christ comes as he always promises to do, interrupting the serious business of my life and yours, making a nest for himself within us. And when he comes, there really is Christmas wonder. I suppose, Advent is a bit like getting pregnant. Clearly, I have no experience with that phenomenon. But, Advent does make me emotional – sometimes hopeful, tearful, nostalgic; other times grouchy, irritable, and gloomy. I also tend to eat too much during Advent. But then, the child kicks; that is, the Holy Spirit seize my ear and bears the word to my heart – I hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Word – and Christ is born, kicking and screaming, to my astonishment and wonder and baffled joy!

Peace, Pastor Tony

December 2019

Mustard Seed December 2019 page 2

Trinity Book Club – December 2019 and January 2020The Trinity Book Club is an invitation to read a book each month that has captured your Pastor’s attention long enough to finish it. Pastor Tony welcomes those who read the book and loved it (or hated), started the book and didn’t quite finish it, or even just put it in their Amazon shopping cart to come enjoy a conversation with him and others from the Trinity about each month’s book.

Our final book of 2019 is The World That We Knew by bestselling author Alice Hoffman. The New York Times review of this novel called in a, “hymn to the power of resistance, perseverance, and enduring love in dark times.” It is primarily the story of Lea Kohn, a 12-year-old Jewish girl, who manages to flee Berlin on a train bound for France in the springs of 1941. Everyone is desperate. In Berlin, the newspapers print photographs of Jewish

businessmen, lawyers, and professors with captions calling them animals. “That was how evil spoke. It made its own corrupt sense; it swore that the good were evil, and that evil had come to save mankind. It brought up ancient fears and scattered them on the street like pearls. To fight what was wicked, magic and faith were needed. This is what one must turn to when there was no other option.” The novel is a mix of historical fiction, mixing the brutal realities of Europe in the 1940’s with a magical realism.

We will meet to discuss our reaction and responses to the novel on Thursday, December 5 at 11am. If you have friends that enjoy good books and engaging conversation, please invite them.

Our first book of 2020 will be The Other Americans by Laila Lalami. We will meet to discuss this novel on Thursday, January 23 at 11am.

All are welcome. Happy Reading!

The last Arts @ the Church concert for 2019 will be held on December 15th at 3 PM. The Pawleys Island Concert Band will perform a holiday concert. This is definitely an event not to be missed.


2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Regularly Scheduled Weekly ActivitiesSunday

Worship 8:00 AMFellowship 10:00 AM Worship 10:30 AM

Tuesday

Bell Choir5:45 PM

Wednesday

Chancel Choir6:00 PM

Thursday AA Meetings are held at

various times all week long – refer to listing

at church

Monthly ActivitiesDeacon of the Month: To be announced

1 2 3Margaret Circle 10 AMWorship & Music 11:30 AM

4Mission 10 AM

Card making 10:30 AM

5Crochet 10 AM Y2K+ Finance 10 AMBook Club 11 AM

6Card Making 10:30

Parents’ Night Out—Y2K begins at 6:30

7Presbyterian Women’s Lunch noon

8Christmas Cantata.ONE service at 10:30 AM

9Deacons 10 AMAdmin 10 AMCommunication 11:15 AM Building and Grounds 2:30 PM

10Finance 9 AM

PW Council 10:30 AM

11Christian ED 10 AM

Ruth Circle 1 PM

12Mission Sewing9:30 AM

13Y2K Parents’ night out: begins at 6:30

14Carolina Forest Christmas Show 3 PMCarpool meet before 2:30.

15Arts @ the Church 3 PMPawley’s Island Concert Band

16Session 6:30 PM

17Y2K Carol SingPresbyterian

Men’s dinner 6:30 PM

18 19Crochet Club 10 AM

20Red Cross Blood Mobile blood driveY2K Parent’s night out begins at 6:30 PM

21

22 23 243 PM Service7 PM Service

25 26 27 28

29One Worship Service 10:30

30 31

2 0 2 0Y2K will be closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Christmas and New Year’s weeks. The Trinity church office will be closed at noon December 24th and December 31st.


December’s Special OfferingCHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

The offering is distributed equally: To the assistance program of the board of pensions (PCUSA) which provides critical financial support and comfort to church leaders and their families.

AND

Presbyterian related schools and colleges that provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage.

This has been a Presbyterian commitment for nearly 140 years.

By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you honor God’s gift of Jesus by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need. While developing our future leaders and Presbyterian related schools and colleges equip our community of color.

When we all do a littleit adds up to a lot.

For those supported through the Christmas Joy Offering, this help is truly a gift from above. May our gifts, and the leaders who receive them, point us always to

the truth of the one whose birth we celebrate, Jesus Christ — the truly perfect gift.

December 1 - 2 services--communion by intinction at both services December 8 - 10:30 only - Cantata with choir and musicians December 15 - 2 services December 22 - 2 services December 24 - 3PM with communion

7PM with candlelight December 29 - 10:30 only.


Bonnie Griffith 12/01Eileen Hileman 12/01 Karen Watts 12/06Jim Vitale 12/07 Jannette Forman 12/09 Judy Junga 12/12 Nicholas Liger 12/12 Donald Streiffert 12/13 Michelle Smith 12/14 Ray Spitz 12/14 Terrie Allen 12/15Faith Parker 12/15Alice Downey 12/16Marshall Parker 12/16Molly Frazier 12/17Lynn Majersky 12/17 John Collins 12/18Carol Jones 12/19 Valarie Brown 12/21 Randy Kidd 12/22Billy Frazier 12/23 Gerald Gulledge 12/23Jeannette Walker 12/24 Kyle Beale 12/25 Tony Larson 12/28Allene Roush 12/29 Bill Bentley 12/30 Brown Phillips 12/30 Debbie Gulledge 12/31 Margaret Hill 12/31

HappyDecemberBirthdays

AnniversariesMarian and Michael Shelton

12/19Serena and John Bradford

12/20Nancy and Bill Rosenberger

12/21Karen and Dennis Watts

12/24Ann and H.D Davis

12/29

Message from Diana.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to the loyal choir members and bell ringers who have given up their time and talents during the year. I can't thank you all enough, and I love every one of you.

A special thanks to the singers who have come to the cantata practice. We had to bring in extra chairs into the choir room to have enough for all the singers. Many thanks.


Pasta Dinner Update 2019 Update & Thank You

Trinity Presbyterian Church’s 3rd Annual Pasta Dinner sponsored by the Men’s Fellowship, was held on Friday, October 25th 2019. One Hundred Forty dinners were served of which forty were take-out meals. Based on comments from our guests the food and fellowship were memorable. I would like to thank all who attended and hope that each and every one of you had an enjoyable

evening. A Pasta Dinner of this magnitude can only be accomplished with the help of many talented volunteers working together.

I would like to thank the following people for their valued service in making the pasta dinner a success: Harry Walker, Debbie Walker, Art Junga, Bill Forman, Jannette Forman, Bob Jones, Dennis Watts, Karen Watts, Richard Phenegar, Bill Bentley, Carolyn Bentley, Ray Spitz, Brad Thompson, Ben Hartman, Alice Hartman, Cheryl Naumann, Shelly Johnson, Ann Bradford, Brian Flint, Al Sweigert, Debbie Humason, Larry Humason, Diana Scroggins, Jim Montgomery, Liz Montgomery, Stan Bittner, John Bacot, Barbara Bonnett, and Judy Oskandy. I would also like to thank Chris Diwby and Kathleen Fair for handling announcements and Sandy Eaton and the Y2K program for allowing us early access to the gym area for set up and dinner preparation. Thank you all again and hope to see you all at our next event.

Ed Oskandy

Many, many thanks to all the church participants in the Festival of Arts and Crafts. This includes the vendors, the cooks, setter uppers, the rafflers, and most of all the helpers. You all made the day a wonderful experience. Here is the breakdown of money made for the debt reduction: cards = $261; raffle = $500; food = $590; lanyards =$112.50; vendor spaces = $820.00 donations = $120.00 for a

grand total of $2,068.50. That's great. THANK YOU.Diana

Dear Pastor Tony, Deacons, and Members of Trinity:

Kudos to Diana and all her committee members who made this event such an outstanding success.


During the course of the last three years you have prayed for my brother Ron Ward who was battling head and neck cancer. Because of all the prayers, he has been in remission for this particular cancer for several months.

I wanted to share with you an event that took place on November 1, 2019 at the Medical University of South Carolina Head and Neck Tumor Center. Ron was chosen Survivor of the Year by his outstanding surgeons and was

presented with a certificate and a check for $250.

I truly believe that this would not have been possible without your prayers. I ask you to continue to pray for Ron as he battles lung, spine, and prostate cancer.

Sincerely,

Diane Vogel

January 26, 2020 Please mark January 26 for a special Sunday at Trinity. First there are 2 services, then lunch, followed by a program given by the musicians who so willingly grace this church with piano, guitar, violin, cello, organ, and voice. More details will be forthcoming about this special concert in the January Mustard Seed.

Don’t forget the Christmas Concert (Holiday Spectacular) at Carolina Forest High School on Saturday, December 14th at 3 PM.

People interested in carpooling should be at the church before 2:30 PM.

The show is sure to put you in a holiday mood.

Carolina Forest High School700 Gardner Lacy Road


At the end of the year, I will be finishing my second term on Session and thus, will be rotating off. Before I leave Session, however, I would like to give special thanks to the members of the Worship Committee who have served with me for the past six years:Judi Bittner, flowers; Elaine Heavener, fellowship; Karen Watts, Secretary; Janet Hoffert, worship hosts; Susy Howard, liturgists; Pat Mitchell, communion; and also, Jane Russell; Roberta Cox, Julia Todd Edwards, Barbara Watson, and in memory of Margaret Leininger and Judy Martin. It is this committee that keeps the service and all that is involved with the service running smoothly. Thanks to you all. Diana

Motown is coming to Trinity!At 2 PM on January 19th, there will be a special Motown Concert at the church. Watch for further details in the January Mustard Seed. Accompanied by a bake sale, all proceeds from this event go to debt reduction.

MOBILE MEALSI would like to apologize for omitting Marge Hawkins from last month’s list of volunteers – thanks Marge for helping to deliver meals in October. Thanks to Marge Hill, Sharon Rousseau (x2), Jan Christensen, Ray Spitz, Karen Watts, Penny Beauchesne, Pat Mitchell and Larry & Debbie Davis for delivering Mobile Meals in the month of November. If you would like to help deliver meals, please let me know. Next meal delivery will be the week of December 30, 2019 – January 3, 2020. Jim Montgomery, Coordinator724-989-5580

WE LOVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM, BUT……..Please do not bring in any yard sale donations until after the first of the year—preferably after mid-January. Give your hard-working yard sale pricers a little time off. They have no place right now to store the items that


LADIES, COME ONE; COME ALL

PW Christmas LuncheonOn Saturday, December 7, at 12 noon, come to Damon’s Restaurant on South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach to enjoy our annual Christmas celebration. We will order from the menu so that you will determine the cost. We will also have an optional opportunity to participate in a special offering to buy space heaters for Help 4 Kids.

Besides enjoying a good meal, we will enjoy hearing Kathleen Fair speak on a spicy topic. We will participate in other fellowship and fun activities. We hope everyone can attend!

YARD SALE HISTORY AND BUDGET

The Circles and Trinity Presbyterian Women wanted to have funds available to do special projects and to donate to charities. Thus the yard sale was begun. We gladly donated $3000 each year to help Trinity meet its budget. We also set aside funds for special church needs that arose during the year. Each year those two items usually amounted to about one-third of the money raised. In the past few years, we were asked to increase our donations to $5000 to help Trinity meet its budget and were able because our yard sale profits had increased still setting aside (and using) $3500 for emergency church needs (tables, air handlers, etc.) This year we turned over 50 per cent of the money we earned to help Trinity meet its 2019 budget. In addition, we spent a little over $2000 on church activities such as receptions, VBS, gifts. That equaled 2/3 of the yard sale income. The rest was distributed among charitable organizations. fleece blankets, 2 cotton blankets, all for Help 4 Kids.

For Grand Strand Nursing Home, they made 2 walker bags and 5 adult bibs; for Azalea Lakes, 3 walker bags and 6 adult bibs. All of Trinity’s stitchers have been really dedicated. Great work, Ladies!

CROCHETERS NEEDED

Our crocheting crew has been working, too, but we would love to have more workers. We make baby caps and blankets, prayer shawls and lap robes, afghans, and scarves for kids of all ages. These items are distributed to appropriate groups: Grand Strand Natal Unit, Thornwell, H4K, and those who need comfort during challenging periods. Our most recent donation was to H4K when they requested scarves and mittens.

RECYCLING PROJECT TO BEGIN IN JANUARY!


Christmas Note: Florence Communities has restructured its Christmas gift program and no longer wants donations.

Presbyterian Women will shift their collections to warm items for Help 4 Kids. H4K has requested blankets, scarves and mittens, and space heaters and other items for the cold weather including sweaters, coats and hats. Sizes from infants to teenagers are needed. A bin will be placed across from the office.

Thank you for any help you can provide to keep children warm this winter

Our 2020 budget designates over two-thirds of yard sale income to Trinity in some form ($5000 for Trinity’s budget alone) leaving us with around $5000 to donate to local, state, and national charities.

We will post a copy of the budget details on the bulletin board.

We appreciate all the hard work that our members do to help us raise funds each year. If you have questions about the budget or the charities, please ask.

BUSY HANDS BRING WARMTH TO HEARTS AND BODIES

Mission Sewing has had a tremendously productive year making and donating 23 quilts to Help 4 Kids, 3 quilts to sick or shut-ins. Besides quilts, the ladies made 14 headbands, a child’s dress, 6 afghans, 6

fleece blankets, 2 cotton blankets, all for Help 4 Kids.

Trinity Presbyterian ChurchFinancial Report

Don’t forget to add your Christmas card to the congregation on the bulletin board near the office!


Youth 2000, now known as Y2K, was established almost twenty years ago to provide a safe haven for children whose parents needed to work. The program has become a childcare center for infants to three-year-olds as well as providing afterschool care, programs during school vacation days, and summer camp for school aged children up to the seventh grade. Originally a free service staffed solely by volunteers, Y2K evolved into a fee based day care where parents were charged. The fees paid cover program expenses making it self-sufficient. A non-profit, Y2K annually contributes to the budget of Trinity and has often helped financially when the church

has needed extra money.

The values of the church underpin the program. Even in the nursery with the youngest children, grace is said or sung before eating. This fall members of the Christian Education Committee have been working with Y2K and have provided chapel services. On December 17th, chapel will be a hymn sing focusing on the Christmas season. Chapel is generally accompanied by some type of craft. We invite you to come and sing with the children.

Each year the Y2K program undertakes a service project in December. In the past, they have raised money for projects such as Savannah’s Playground in Market Common. This year they are working with the Youth Advocate Program of South Carolina to provide a “Christmas” for several foster children in need in this community. Y2K and its staff believe it is never too early to encourage children to think about the needs of others.

On November 1st, Y2K hosted a lock-in which included 27 children! The children were from our after-school program as well as some summer campers. We had played games (i.e. mummy wrap, chubby bunny, hide and go seek), spent time with old friends from summer camp, slept in the hallway (or didn’t sleep), and ate Mr. Dan’s famous chocolate chip pancakes!

The staff of Y2K will be holding three Parents’ Night Out in December. Parents can leave their child at the PNO from 6 to 10 PM to do what they need to do to get ready for a busy holiday season. Shopping, house-cleaning or just doing some adult celebrating can be done while the children are in a


safe environment. Y2K provides dinner (maybe pizza or grilled cheese or chicken nuggets), crafts and a movie—and guarantees a fun evening for the participants.

Y2K is a mission of the church reaching out to the community, but which, also through its contributions to the budget, gives back to Trinity.


Service of Thanksgiving

If you missed the special Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 17 th, you missed an amazing experience. The joint choirs and the musicians who accompanied them ‘rocked’ the sanctuary. It was a wonderful collaboration between Trinity and the Celebration Presbyterian Church in Carolina Forest

Christmas Cantata 2019 Make sure you attend the Christmas Cantata at Trinity on Sunday, December 8, 2019. Thirty-one singers will fill the choir loft as they share in words and music the story of Christmas through the eyes of Mary. There will only be one service at 10:30 on that Sunday.

The complete schedule of services for the Advent and Christmas season is on page 4 of this Mustard Seed and on the calendar.

Disciple: Becoming Disciples through Bible StudyOur first group of Disciple Bible Study will begin the journey on Friday, January 10 from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. The group will meet regularly on Friday mornings as we read and discuss 80% of the Bible. We have a group of 10 participants with Michael Shelton and Pastor Tony serving as discussion facilitators. There is still space for a few more people to participate, but materials will be ordered in mid-December. If you are interested in being a part of this Bible Study journey, please let Pastor Tony know.

A survey of both Old and New Testament books–34 weeks.

Disciple Bible Study is founded on the belief that people are hungry for the word of God, for fellowship in prayer and study, and for a sense of the disciple to which Christ is calling them as committed Christians. Disciple gives Old and New Testaments equal time, emphasizing the wholeness of the Bible as the revelation of God. Disciple invites persons to bring their experiences and struggles to Scripture, uses biblical language and biblical images, and draws

upon the work of scholars to aid understanding of the Bible. It is also dependent upon group discussion of Scripture made possible through a commitment to weekly study and preparation.


Session Digest for October 2019

Commissioner Marian Shelton gave a report of the October Presbytery meeting at Melina Presbyterian Church in Gable, SC

Marian Shelton and June Metts are working with Rev. Larson on plans to get the Vital Congregations Initiative started at Trinity. There will be more information in the January “Mustard Seed”. The Bible Study beginning in January is part of this initiative.

Changes is the Church Rolls were approved by Session John and Phyllis Collins were added as Affiliate Members Session approved to have a joint Thanksgiving Service with Celebration Presbyterian Church

on Sunday, November 17th at 4 PM. The choirs will present the anthem. The offering will go to support a young adult volunteer for the Presbyterian Church USA.

Session approved to have one service on December 8th and December 29th. Session approved to have two Christmas Eve Services. Communion will be served by

intinction at the 3PM service and there will be candles at the 7PM service. Session approved having communion by intinction at the 10:30 service on alternate months. Rev. Gavin Meek will again have a training session for new officers. This year the Grand

Strand session will be held at Murrells Inlet Presbyterian Church on January 11th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

The next session meeting will be December 16th at 6:30 PM

True loves will find all is calm when putting the gifts under the tree this holiday shopping season. To purchase the gifts included in the classic holiday song "The 12 Days of Christmas," it will cost just 0.2% more than it did in 2018.

In total, the items will cost $38,993.59, up just $67.56 or 0.2%, according to PNC’s annual Christmas Price Index. For those who prefer the convenience of online

shopping, the cost is $42,258.91, a 0.1% increase. The higher price is largely due to shipping costs, PNC said.

And for those looking to purchase the gift for each repetition of the song, a true love can expect to spend $170,298.03.

Doves Dive: The price for Turtle Doves was down a dramatic 20%, the first drop in price since 2004.

Rings Are Golden: After falling in 2018 due to less demand and fluctuations in gold prices, Gold Rings rebounded with a 10% increase in 2019.

Geese Gain Again: For the second year in a row, geese saw a substantial rise in price, gaining 7.7% in 2019 largely due to an increase of interest in backyard farming.

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