TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

You are here: Home / Archives for Church Announcements

Church Announcements

Organ Repair is Underway

Ray and Charlie from our Organ repair company Dean Christian, Inc. were at Trinity this week to begin dis-assembling the organ console as the first step in our Wicks organ upgrade. They took the two keyboards, pedalboard, drawknob switch banks, combination pistons, pedals, and all of the circuit boards out of the cabinet and back to their workshop in Grayslake where they will replace most of the switch and action components and upgrade the hardware. The console has been “buttoned back up” without all of the guts, so that the organ cabinet still looks normal in the sanctuary. The organ will be out of service for approximately 4 weeks while they make the changes. They will be back in September to install the new components and take out a number of the 4-ft pipes for toe repair at a shop in Ohio. We will be without the organ until everything gets reinstalled, probably about mid-September. In the meanwhile, you’ll enjoy service music from our grand piano.
Click for more photos

Pastor’s Renewal Leave

July 18-August 14)

Recently, I was having trouble with two apps on my laptop. For the life of me, I could NOT figure out how to solve the issue.  I decided to swallow my pride and ask one of our AV/Tech team for help, and he quickly suggested the simplest of solutions: have you tried shutting it down completely?  Ah, well, I stammered…laughing at myself for not considering the obvious!  I also immediately remembered the words of writer Anne Lamott: 

 “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

This is true for ALL of us throughout the rhythm of our days and weeks and the seasons of our lives. Jesus himself practiced taking time away to recharge and center himself, and calls us to do the same:

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28b-30, The Message

Precisely for this reason, our United Methodist Book of Discipline, Paragraph 350.2 states that clergy (pastors and other appointed ministers) are asked to take a month’s renewal leave every four years. 

  A renewal leave is a bit different from a vacation. It is a time for intentional refreshment of body, mind and spirit.  With the full support of Trinity’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee, I’ll be taking a month away this summer, beginning July 18 and returning on August 15.  As I begin my seventh year as your pastor, I consider this wonderful opportunity to pause and drink deeply from the well of God’s grace, for the sake of my own soul, but also for the sake of this congregation and community, and my call to continue to be a spiritually healthy leader.   In addition to simply resting, my  time will be filled with 1.  some summer outings with  beloved family, including celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary, and a few days in Washington D.C. with our oldest child  2.  a week-long spiritual retreat for clergy leaders/pastors  3.  time to “putter at my own pace” and get some house organization done (this may sound like work, but it is good for my soul and something I don’t often have time for!)  

While I’m away from worship, you’ll hear from some of Trinity’s beloved guest preachers:  Rev. Dwight Stewart, Rev. Darneather Murph-Heath, and Rev. Bill Obalil.   In addition, Rev. Stewart and Rev. Murph-Heath will be “on call” for any pastoral care needs.  Our wonderful Trinity Office Administrator, Lise Renne, will be the primary point of contact, along with Staff-Parish Relations Chair Jim McGowan.  

Look for more details before I officially begin my leave.  Meanwhile, I hope and pray that you also can find ways to “unplug” this summer.  I covet your prayers for me, as I pray for you–always.

Every Blessing,
Wendy

Summer Gardening Opportunities

Do you have an extra hour once in a while?  Do you like to garden?  If so, Trinity could use your help to maintain our many flower beds.  Trinity does not hire landscapers and all the gardening is done by volunteers. There are several ways you can help.

  1. Adopt an area (big or small) and take care of it.
  2. Offer to occasionally water plants during dry periods.
  3. If you have a hedge trimmer, help trim a few bushes.
  4. Sign up to help weed and prune plants. 
Lois Spillar
Lois Spillar in our courtyard garden—Lois and Bruce Spillar keep our Trinity grounds as a real labor of love!!!

A couple times a month during the summer an e-mail will go out requesting help. Dates and times will be determined by weather conditions. Come when you are available.  To receive notifications, send your e-mail address to Lois Spillar at Ljs814@aol.com. It is fun to work as a group and socialize at the same time.

Book Discussion on June 29th

Want to understand yourself and others better? During the month of June, as we look at spiritual gifts and how our personalities affect our prayer life, we’ll also introduce a useful tool for self awareness:  The Enneagram.  Many people of faith have found it to be a powerful way to do soul work as well. Join Pastor Wendy for a book discussion at the church, on  The Road Back To You, (order from this link if you’d like) and on Thursday, June 29 at 7 pm. (We’ll also have several copies for purchase in the narthex/church lobby, or you can find it at your library).