Day of Pentecost: Red as the color of fire is used on this day when we remember the tongues of fire descended on the crowd in Jerusalem. In contrast to the color of scarlet, Pentecost’s red is a bright color

Trinity
United
Lutheran
Church

1. Vacation Bible School 2007 SAVE OUR PLANET… an intergenerational press conference Trinity United and Sagrado Corazon “Reduce, reuse, and recycle” were three words repeated regularly during the week of July 30 — August 3, 2007. Sixteen children and several adults learned the fundamentals about recycling through song, crafts, drama, and demonstration. CLICK HERE for more info on VBS including some pictures.
2. Confirmation News
   Confirmation classes are offered to children beginning the 6th grade and older. Typically a child is confirmed as they graduate from 8th grade. Pastors Brad and Caroline of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church have invited Trinity’s pre-teens and teens to join their confirmation class. St. Paul’s uses the confirmation program entitled “Head to Heart”, which focuses on teaching each participant on what’s right and wrong in today’s world, provides a mentor for each child, letting them know there’s an adult that “cares” about their well being, and, teaches the vital scriptures needed to prepare for confirmation. Confirmation orientation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, 2007 with classes to begin on the following Wednesday, September 19, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
   Parents and/or guardians are invited to share a meal with the group on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each meal. The price per meal is $3.00. The 2nd Wednesday of each month will be dedicated to service and fellowship. The 4th Wednesday of each month is dedicated to mentors and guides only. Future confirmands do not attend on the 4th Wednesday of the month…no kids. I will be volunteering as a mentor guide for Trinity members, just so they have a familiar face in this new group. Anyone interested in volunteering to be a mentor for our kids, please let me know.
3. Sunday School News!
   Our Sunday School classes resumed on Sunday, September 9, 2007. Opening celebrations will be in our classroom. We will begin class immediately following the worship service. The posted time is 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. As church does not always end right on the dot at 10:30 a.m., we generally get started about 10:40 a.m.
   We’re asking each one of you to bring a bar of soap that is still in its original wrapper. We are going to make some health kits that will help our WELCA group with their Lutheran World Relief project.
   It’s no secret that we are lacking in numbers for enrollment. As a former member of the Council, I know that there has been much discussion about this. I also know that as a small, inner city church, with a steadily declining congregation, our Sunday School Program is something to brag about! We subscribe to a magazine entitled, Children’s Ministries, which is dedicated to Sunday School programs for churches with a small, diverse group of children. We have been right on the money in doing what is recommended to keep children’s interests and teach Christianity. It would be wonderful to have more children as well as more help with the Sunday School Program! It’s up to everyone to alleviate this problem, not just the Sunday School staff.
   One has to ask, do we need more children or do we need more parents and grandparents to bring the children to Sunday School… which came first, the chicken or the egg?
   Please direct all comments/questions to Liga Minejevs or Debbie Shaffer.
4. Trinity United welcomes Girl Scout Troop #3616! The group meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Sunday School room. Trinity members Vanessa and Niya DeLa Pena are Troop 3616 members
   
   
   Children's Corner
   
   PREACH Snack
   No matter our age, we all have opportunities to “preach” by how we live. And everyone can tell about God and His love. Use this activity to raise money for your church’s mission efforts.
   
   What you need :
   Large Bowl
   Quart or snack size baggies
   Snacks that spell PREACH :
   Suggestions include:
   P - Pretzels
   R - Raisins
   E - Extra (add extra of your favorite snack)
   A - Almonds
   C - Chex cereal
   H - Honey Nut Cheerios
   8.5 x 5,5 paper (1 sheet for each bag made)
   Crayons or markers
   Staples
   Strickers
   
   What you do:
   
   Mix all your “PREACH” ingridients in a bowl
   Fill baggies with snacks.
   Fold your paper in half. On 1 side write the ingredient acrostic and a Bible verse, E.G., “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” Mark 16:15 NIV
   On the other side write a thank you to the snack’spurchaser and mention which activity it’s supporting.
   Staple the paper to the baggie.
   Decorate the baggies with stickers.
   With adult help, price the baggies and decide when and how to sell them. Afterwards deliver the earnings to the appropriate people.
   

Old Children's Corner items moved to Children's Archive

Annual Report of Children and Family
Thus far our team has primarily focused on Sunday School activities for children ages 3 to 12. Our calendar overlaps just as a regular school calendar does. This report is for year end of the 2005-2006 school year and the first half of the 2006-2007 school yea

Classes for the 2005 – 2006 year ended on Memorial Day weekend. We averaged 12 children on any given Sunday, often more. Debbie Shaffer and Liga Minejevs were and still remain the only staff members. The Sunday School hour is from 10:45 a.m. (or when worship ends) until 11:45 a.m. and generally followed by Praise Dance rehearsals as led by Desiree Cole. Due to scheduling conflicts, Vacation Bible School was postponed to coincide with Rally Day.

The current year began during the weekend of September 8, 9. & 10, 2006. This weekend encompassed several church events – Vacation Bible School, Rally Day, a combined church service with Trinity United and Sagrado Corazon, and a combined church picnic. Vacation Bible School kicked off on Friday evening and lasted all day Saturday and into Sunday afternoon. Pastors Kelly and Prudencio were our train conductors for the Gospel Express. A moonwalk was rented for use on Sunday afternoon, however the weather was less than cooperative, as it rained all day long! Despite the rain several of our children jumped in the wet, but bouncy moonwalk. The weekend was very busy and thanks to all the volunteers, a huge success! Special thanks to Judy and Adam Salyer, and Bob Johnson for their gifts of creative art work which greatly enhanced our railway.

We have had a drastic decline in attendance this year only 2 to 3 children come each week. At the close of the previous Sunday School year, I was anxiously planning two separate classes for each Sunday. Several children have moved out of the area. The diversity in ages runs the entire gambit of 4 -11. Our curriculum is eclectic to say the least, but the Good News gets through regardless! We act, read, paint, draw, cut and glue, sing, dance, and, of course eat! We continue to use our children’s Bible to compliment our weekly lessons.

Our Trinity Kids Club continues to meet, but less often than originally intended. We went to Kroll’s Pumpkin farm in October and managed to lose our way in a corn maze! Fortunately, we retraced our steps and found the way out! We then petted and fed farm animals and played with the farm’s orange Tabby cat (who was the hit of the day). Each child was able to pick out a good-sized pumpkin to take home. We ended the trip by having lunch at the Pizza Hut. A special thanks goes to Mrs. Donna Hansen for her generous donation toward the pizza.

Both Trinity United and Sagrado Corazon hosted a Children’s Christmas Fiesta on the evening of Saturday, December 16. 2006. We joined in acting out the Posada (the journey of Mary and Joseph into Bethlehem), ate delicious food as prepared by Sagrado Corazon, and tried to break a very stubborn piñata. Each child received a balloon and a treat bag to take home.

The children participated in Josh’s delightful Christmas program, singing in front of church, and, praise dancing. Desiree Cole just began rehearsing a new praise dance for presentation on January 28, 2006. This dance will be presented in honor of Pastor Kelly’s 16 years of dedicated service with Trinity.

Though finances are always an uncomfortable topic, they are an important element for the success of any program. An anonymous donor funded much of the cost for the VBS activities. Approximately $1,200.00 was donated, which also included food items for the Sunday Picnic. The current budget items for these events need to be scrutinized more closely as items purchased with funds designated for Sunday School belong to other teams and groups. This is no fault of anyone, but needs to be mentioned for future planning purposes.