1. Art and Diseño

The Tower
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vol. 15, No. 1
Trinity United Methodist Church, Iron Mountain, Michigan
Pastor’s Ponderings—State of the Union
I am writing this article early in the third week of
January. Yes, the same week in which the President
gives the State of the Union Address. The same
week in which the governor of Michigan gives the
State of the State Address. Did you know there are
even mayors in many cities in the US who give State
of the City Addresses? Maybe I should give a State
of the Church Address...what do you think?
This is a good week for doing just that, as the
contractors finished putting in the new stove in our
kitchen. This is not just any stove, either...it’s a stove
that was prayed for from within our church, and then
supported and paid for by this community through
the 100+ Women Who Care. It’s a stove that will be
used for funerals and family parties and for our
weekly community meal. Hallelujah! The inspector
who came to check on the installation was impressed.
He said that even our old stove—with all of its quirks
and problems—was a gem and NOT to just give it
away, because there were plenty of people who
would want a stove like the one that we don’t have to
use any more. That’s a good position to be in...even
something we’re done with has value! God is
good....
This is a good week for looking ahead, because
for the first time since I’ve been here, someone
indicated on the Who’s Who pad that they want to
become a member of our church! How cool is that?
This is someone who has been coming for just a little
while, but long enough to have been greeted and
welcomed and made to feel at home at our worship
services. Someone who likes the cheerful and
encouraging spirit in which we greet each other and
ask God to be present to us. Wow...what an honor to
have shared Jesus with someone who was new to our
time together and now wants to become a part of our
community of faith. Praise be to God!**
This is a good week to take stock as people come
and talk to me about their baptisms. Yes, on January
11 we celebrated the Baptism of our Lord, and I
invited people to Remember your baptism and be
thankful! We all have a baptism story, and it gives
me great joy to hear them from you. Did you know
that we have someone in our congregation who had
www.imtrinity.org
February 2015
to ride in a horse and buggy for 10 miles out of town
in order to get to where she was baptized? Someone
else remembers going down by the river in
Niagara...someone else wasn’t expected to survive as
a baby, and it was his mother and the nurse who
baptized him, and he’s still with us today! I
sometimes think I have the best job in the world as
people tell me how God works in their lives....
This is also the week that I am looking at the
annual report that goes to the Detroit Annual
Conference treasurer to be passed on to The United
Methodist math-heads. Yes, we Methodists like to
count and keep track of stuff. Stuff like the number
of members, how many kids in Sunday school, how
much money was received for this and spent on that
and given away for the other, and how many people
in the community have been served by the ministries
of our church. Did you know that between the
Brother’s Keeper Fund, the community meal, the
Feeding America truck, and the four Christmas
families that we served...there are 7,003 people in
this community who have experienced the heart and
love of Jesus through the work of this church and you
people who do God’s work in the world? Wow.....
So what’s the state of the church? I say that we
are alive and well and gearing up. Gearing up for
another mission trip to North Dakota. Preparing
young people to confirm their baptisms. Making
new friends with our visitors. Getting ready at the
next Council meeting to talk about what God wants
of Trinity UMC and how we are going to set us some
goals and make some action plans to move in that
direction. The Church is doing what churches are
called to do...following Jesus, embracing the Spirit,
and sharing the Good News that all things are
possible through God.
I predict: It’s going to be a great year! In the
Name of Jesus who makes all things new....
--Pastor Geri
**By the way...I will do a class for new members in
April or May...after the Confirmation Sunday. So let
me know if you are curious or know someone who
might be ready for that commitment...
…actively invite…
Pizza & Presentation Event:
All-Church Birthday Party
Sunday, February 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Join us again this year as we celebrate our 2015
birthdays! Last year, everyone had a wonderful
time.
We will serve pizza and salad for dinner, and
cake for dessert.
Volunteers will be needed to bake and decorate
cakes, and provide table decorations and
entertainment! Look for the sign-up sheet in the
Gathering Room or call Lea Varda, 774-9569
United Methodist Women’s Update
By Lucy Shampo, President
Circles continue to meet and have fellowship.
The next general meeting will be March 5 at
1:00 p.m. Lydia Circle will lead the program on
Prayer and Self-Denial.
This is a good time of the year to do a selfassessment and look at ways we can reach out to
others. Winter is a good time to examine our faithlife and have a “faith-lift.” The Upper Room and
other devotionals are available at church. Prayer
studies and Bible studies are also offered.
Thank you to Mike Richards for donating slides
from when the church was built in 1952 and an
Airequipt slide projector.
You’ve seen the graphic on the screen, “Happiness
is singing in the choir,” but some of our sections
need some help. We’re especially looking for
sopranos & basses, but anyone who loves to sing
would be welcome. Practice is Wednesdays at
6:30 p.m. Come & join us! You can call Greg,
563-5278, or Emily, 282-2776, with questions.
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser—On Saturday,
February 7, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., UMM
(United Men in Ministry) will host a spaghetti
dinner here at Trinity to raise funds for the Spring
Car Care Clinic. Everyone is welcome.
Cornerstone Church hosts No Regrets
Conference: Live Free on Saturday, February 7,
from 8:30-4:00. Cost is $25 per ticket and includes
lunch. Register at [email protected] or
call 779-9055.
Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting,
January 21, 2015
The meeting was called to order at 5:07 p.m. by
new committee chair Terry Barnes.
In attendance were Terry Barnes, Pastor
Hamlen, Nathan Ruble, Jack Noyce, Carol
Trevillian, Tom Slagle, Larry Bonicatto, and Frank
Trumbell.
The Chair requested that someone volunteer to
take minutes of the meeting. Frank volunteered.
After giving members the opportunity to read
over the minutes of the December 17, 2014
Finance Committee meeting, Frank moved to
accept the minutes of the December 17, 2014
Finance Committee meeting. Jack seconded the
motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
The Chair requested that members read over
the agenda for the meeting and indicated that
changes to the agenda would be considered. Pastor
asked that a discussion of items in the list of
Mission of the Month giving for 2015 be added to
the agenda. The consensus was that this item be
added to the agenda under Old Business. Pastor
also asked that a discussion of the day of the month
of the Finance Committee meeting and a discussion
of communicating the church’s year-end financial
situation to church members be added to the
agenda. The consensus was that these two items be
added to the agenda under New Business.
Pastor offered a prayer to open the business of
the committee.
Frank offered and discussed the Treasurer’s
Report for December 2014. The report indicated a
General Fund balance of $476.35 to start 2015. In
an accompanying report titled TUMC Account
Balances, Frank indicated that the General Fund
balance as of today (1/21/15) is -$919.54. After a
discussion of the balance of the Poinsettia
designated fund of -$50, Carol moved that $50 be
transferred from the Christmas designated account
to the Poinsettia designated account. The motion
was seconded by Jack and passed unanimously.
Old Business
Item a, year-end general account balance,
had been discussed in Frank’s Treasurer’s
Report. It was $476.35.
(Continued on page 7)
Serving in Worship in February
February
February 1
February 8
February 15
February 22
Liturgists:
February 1
Offering Counters:
Tami Slagle & Joyce Trevillian
Marsha Bonicatto & Grace Laydon
Maria Hyrkas & Janis Nord
Suzanne Harry & Sue Paternoster
Junior Worship Leader:
Jade Driscoll
Jade Driscoll
Jade Driscoll
Jade Driscoll
8:00 a.m. opportunity to serve
10:30 a.m. opportunity to serve
Projection System Operators:
Dean Laitinen
Cameron Mulka
February 8
8:00 a.m. opportunity to serve
10:30 a.m. opportunity to serve
Adrianne Laurila
Casey Hansley
February 15
8:00 a.m. opportunity to serve
10:30 a.m. opportunity to serve
Kyle Cord
Maddie Ryan
February 22
8:00 a.m. opportunity to serve
10:30 a.m. opportunity to serve
Dean Laitinen
Greg Hunt
Ushers: Ruth Ann Badini & Ron Tass
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
....exploring the lifelife-changing
message of Jesus.....
Preacher’s Corner
The first couple weeks of February will bring
the Season of Epiphany to a close. We will finalize
our Sermon Series on Identity Plus with
Transfiguration Sunday...a wonderful celebration
of Christ’s identity as both fully human and fully
divine. With a good handle on who we are as
Followers of Jesus, we will be ready for the Season
of Lent that begins with Ash Wednesday on
February 18.
Lent is the six Sundays before Easter, starting
with Ash Wednesday. It’s a special time in the
Church year when we pause to reflect on our
relationship with Jesus. Not only do we follow
him, but we are also called to be friends with him.
Like so many of our friendships, the more time we
spend with Jesus, the closer our relationship
becomes. During Lent, the closeness, the trust, the
love between Jesus and each of us gives us the
luxury of self-examination and even confession for
the ways in which we have fallen short. Jesus is
there to hear us as we think and put into words and
pray to him for forgiveness and the strength to live
more faithfully.
The preaching during Lent will focus on the
theme of ‘Watch and Pray.’ Our guiding scripture
is: “Keep awake and pray that you may not come
into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.”—Mark 14:38. Do come to
worship and be blessed by the Words of God for
the People of God. Thanks be to God.
On Our Knees, Ash Wednesday, February 18:
“But whenever you pray, go into your room and
shut the door and pray to your Father who is in
secret; and your Father who sees in secret will
reward you…” Matt 6:1-6, 16-21
Watch and Pray, Sunday, February 22: “They
went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said
to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’”
—Mark 14: 32
Teach Us To Pray, Sunday, March 1: Guest
preacher. NO COMMUNION. “One day Jesus
was praying in a certain place. When he finished,
one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to
pray, just as John taught his disciples.’…”
—Luke 11:1-4
…connect with others…
February Birthdays and Anniversaries
Please pray for them on their special day.
Feb. 3 Dick Allen, Marie Uren
5 Kim Thiry
6 Moira Cowling, Brynn Santoni
9 Drew Champagne, Bryan Rietveld
10 Jon Harry
11 Bethany Hunt, Kelly Lutey
Haley Underwood
Rick & Linda Stanchina
Ward & Joyce Trevillian
12 Emma Allen, Sue Saxon
13 Georgia Mundy
14 Chase Champagne, Courtney Edlebeck
15 Joanne Barnes, Thomas Sandberg
Kirk & Laura Fortner
16 Matthew Mashak
17 Ben Hodgins, Marilyn Phillips
18 Gary Davidson, Phyllis Noordhoff
19 Brandon Aman, James Blignaut
20 Dacia Rose, Devon Rose, Don Rowell
22 Nannette Harris
25 Adrianne Laurila
27 Mason Mundy, Myles Mundy
Barbara Sandberg
28 Lee Hyrkas
29 Brian & Debi Tirschel
Hospitalized since our last issue: Mary Rowell
and Eann Wahlstrom
Our condolences to Carol Henry of Fort Myers,
Florida, whose husband Charles died January 13.
Congratulations to Barbara Alquist who has a
new great-granddaughter. Katy Hannah Freeman
was born November 11 to Bryon and Erika
Freeman of Warrensburg, Missouri.
Congratulations, also, to grandmother Roxanne
Freeman.
Weston Sky Trevillian was baptized on December
28. Weston was born June 30, 2014 to Scott and
Cindie Trevillian. Grandparents are Ward and
Joyce Trevillian.
February 1 Super Bowl Sunday Cinnamon Roll
Sale to Benefit the North Dakota Mission Team
By Diana Hunt
What could be better than warm cinnamon rolls
on a cold, winter Sunday morning? You can almost
taste those warm, wonderful….ah wait, we got
distracted.
The North Dakota mission team will be selling
these wonderful cinnamon rolls (baked from the
Ryan family’s secret recipe) on Sunday, February 1
between the 8:00 and 10:30 services and following
the 10:30 service (if there are any left!). So you
don’t face the possibility of missing out on some of
these amazing, delicious cinnamon rolls, order
ahead through the church office or sign up on the
clipboard in the sanctuary. Prices are $2 each, $12
for six, and $24 for 12. ALL proceeds go to the
2015 North Dakota mission trip. Don’t delay, order
today!
Dear Trinity Family: Thank you so much for the
care packages that you sent before Halloween and
Christmas. It is so nice to get a package from
home, especially right before finals! I really
appreciate you remembering me while I am at
school. Happy New Year and God bless! Thanks,
again.—Cole Grenier
College student outreach: Please contact Jen
Gauthier at 221-2840 or Moira Cowling at 7745230 with addresses of college students in our
congregation. We want to send messages and
packages of goodies throughout the year. We will
put a list in the bulletin of items we are collecting.
It’s a good opportunity to touch base with
these kids and let them know that their church
family cares about them.
Times we would like to send out packages
would be around Halloween, in December before
Christmas, for Valentine’s Day, and for Easter.
We will be putting the kids’ birthdays in the
bulletin so anyone can send a card or a note and
wish them a happy birthday. I know this can be a
very lonely time for the kids being away from
home. A simple little note telling them that you are
thinking about them or that you are praying for
them could brighten their day. Many kids have a
hard time finding a church at college. We want to
keep them close & make them feel loved.
–Jen Gauthier
...mature as disciples....
Lenten Opportunities for Faith Development
During this upcoming Lenten Season, there
will be many opportunities for us at Trinity United
Methodist Church to grow in our faith and to
continue to mature as disciples of Jesus Christ. A
Lenten Devotional, From Death to Life, by Dr.
Rich Bimler, will be available to all the families of
the church. It will be handed out starting at the
Ash Wednesday worship service and will continue
to be available to families on Sunday mornings.
The brief readings include a verse of Scripture, a
one-sentence prayer, a Good Friday murmur, and
an Easter moment. It will be good for all of us to
be reading the same devotional each day and
hopefully, making time to talk with each other
about how God is speaking to us in this spiritual
practice.
For some people, Lent is the time to give up,
discontinue with something that represents a
sacrifice on their part. That practice is intended to
give us even a small taste of the great sacrifice that
Jesus made in giving up his life on earth on our
behalf. Other people use Lent as a time to take on
a new activity or spiritual practice that is intended
to bring them closer to God. Either way...in the
giving up or the taking on—we need to ask God to
help us, and prayer is a way that we can access
God’s love and power and strength for this Lenten
journey. The preaching during Lent will center on
prayer, to help us get closer to God through Jesus.
In addition, there are special worship events
that heighten our experience of God in and through
the music, prayers, and gathering of God’s people.
Please try to make time for as many of these
special gatherings as possible...you will be blessed
in the praise and worship of our Savior as we
prepare for remembering his death and celebrating
his resurrection.
Lenten Special Worship Opportunities:
Wednesday, February 18, 7:00 p.m. Ash
Wednesday worship. Ashes will be administered
for those who come forward to receive them.
Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 p.m. Community
worship with other United Methodist
Congregations? More details will follow as the
time gets closer.
Sunday, March 29, 10:30 a.m. Palm Sunday
worship with Confirmation ceremony for the
youth.
Tuesday, March 31, 7:00 p.m. Holy Tuesday
community worship at St. Mary & Joseph Catholic
Church , followed by a time of Fellowship.
Thursday, April 2, 6:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday
worship with Communion. Possibly combined
with other United Methodist congregations. More
details as the time gets closer.
Friday, April 3, Noon, Community Good Friday
worship at First Presbyterian Church, 395
Hamilton Ave., Kingsford.
Sunday, April 5,
8:00 a.m. Easter worship with the choir.
8:45–10:15 a.m. Potluck breakfast in the
Fellowship Hall...organized by the choir.
10:30 a.m. Easter worship.
Confirmation Classes
Seventh and eighth graders have been invited
to join together for Confirmation classes starting
Wednesday, February 4.
The class will start at 4:00 p.m. down in the
High School Sunday school room. At 5:15, the
young people will gather for the community meal
and stay to help with cleaning up. This will be a
great opportunity for any of them and their parents
who may want to sing in the choir...which meets at
6:30 that night.
There’s a lot of work that goes into making
Confirmation valuable and meaningful for the
youth. There could be as many as 10 or 12 young
people for this important teaching time.
Confirmation is a congregational
responsibility...it’s a community project! If you
feel moved to be of assistance, there are several
ways you could help:
1. Sign up to bring in snacks for when the kids
first get to church. It’s after school and they
are often hungry!
2. Sign up to be another adult in the room as
Pastor Geri teaches the lesson.
3. Stick around and sit at the dinner table with the
kids…it’s good for there to be an adult at each
table.
4. Talk to Pastor Geri or the family about
sponsoring/mentoring one of the young people.
…transform our community…
The Mission of the Month
By Nathan Ruble
The Mission of the Month for February is Bay
Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, Michigan. Bay
Cliff is a world for special children between the
ages of three and 18. There you will find children
playing and laughing, while facing life with
wheelchairs, leg braces, and hearing aids. You’ll
find children with cardiac problems, diabetes,
speech and hearing deficiencies, and other
handicaps.
Since its beginning in 1933, Bay Cliff Health
Camp has promoted the health, welfare, happiness,
and development of the children of the Upper
Peninsula.
All children receive daily therapy while
participating in a variety of outdoor activities.
Their special needs are met through programs
approved by their doctors. These include reading;
swimming; and speech, physical, and
occupational therapy. College students from
throughout the nation, as well as other countries,
seek employment at the camp to find practical
application for the things they have learned in the
classroom. And now Bay Cliff has expanded its
capabilities for year-round use.
People of the Upper Peninsula continue to
make certain that the Bay Cliff tradition lives on.
Funding efforts continue throughout the year, from
the annual 4th of July Polka Fest in Ontonagon to
the Business and Professional Women’s Club
auction at Sault Ste. Marie. The Menominee
Kiwanis Club holds a “Run for Bay Cliff.” Other
communities hold dances, bake sales, and fairs.
Donations come from corporations, trade unions,
college fraternities, and private citizens.
Again this year, Trinity United Methodist
Church would like to join in with all of these other
organizations. Please give as you are able. Thank
you for your support.
The Men of Prayer group will meet Monday,
February 23 at 7:00 p.m. here at Trinity. They are
partnering with the other United Methodist
Churches in the area. They’ll compare notes on
life & where God is working things out. Prayer
time will then be followed by Holy Communion.
For more information, please call Scott Ritsema,
(906)282-4549.
Mission Opportunity – Sign Up NOW!
Help the Team Get to North Dakota!
By Diana Hunt
Plans are in full swing for the 11th mission team
experience to Spirit Lake Nation Reservation in
Fort Totten, North Dakota. The team will be
leaving Sunday, June 7 and will return Friday, June
12, 2015. The work done will be varied—anything
from light construction, painting, maintenance,
and, of course, Sidewalk Sunday School with the
children.
I am encouraging anyone interested in joining
this year’s team to fill out the registration forms
(found in the church office), and turn them in to
either Sally or myself as soon as possible. This is
important to do, so we can move forward in getting
insurance lined up, planning for vehicles, etc.
Having all the registrations in will allow us to
know how much money we will have to raise.
Fundraisers begin with a warm cinnamon roll
sale on Sunday, February 1. Then we will focus on
a lasagna dinner and silent auction on March 22,
and finally, the Easter Basket distribution on
March 28. All funds raised will help pay for a
portion of each youth going on the mission and
travel for the team. All team members are asked to
assist with the scheduled fundraisers. As always,
we focus the money from our fundraisers to help
the youth who attend to afford the trip, and also to
pay travel expenses to and from the mission center.
Each youth participant pays the initial $50
registration fee to reserve his or her spot and
commit to the mission experience.
At this point, we are looking at taking one of
the largest teams ever to North Dakota. If you’ve
supported the mission trip in the past, we thank you
so much. If you’d like to support the team this
year, please participate in the upcoming
fundraisers, or consider a donation directly to the
team. We thank our Trinity family for their longstanding and faithful support of this life-changing
experience!
Thanks, and God’s blessings.
Minutes of the Trustees Meeting,
January 12, 2015
In attendance were Marsha Bonicatto, Blair
Daugherty, Pastor Geri Hamlen, Brad Harry, Jack
Noyce, Rick Thompson, Betsy Trumbell, and Bill
Uren.
Officers elected for 2015 are Blair Daugherty,
chairperson; Rick Thompson, vice-chairperson;
and Betsy Trumbell, secretary. Marsha Bonicatto
will act as secretary when Betsy is absent. Jack
Noyce will be the Trustees’ representative to the
Finance Committee.
Brooks Electric will be doing the conversion of
some of the two-pronged outlets to grounded
outlets at both the parsonage and the church. They
will also replace some of the light bulbs in the
Sanctuary.
Brad Harry will laminate instructions for the
cleaning process of the spigots on the Norway
Springs water dispensers and ask that Larry Marlett
do this task.
The new stove will be delivered and installed
on Thursday, January 15. Brooks Electric will do
the wiring, a representative from Aladdin Fire
Protection will be present, and Sikora will run the
gas line. Carey Contracting removed three drawers
to the left of the stove and shortened the counter,
Frank Trumbell adapted the drawer unit into a
smaller cupboard for large sheet pans, and Curt
Meissner made and installed a two-drawer
cupboard where the desk space used to be. Most
all of the cost of this work was paid for with the
grant from the 100+ Women Who Care.
The monitor in the sanctuary next to the pulpit
is working out well, and Pastor, liturgists, and choir
members use this new item.
The noisy heaters in the back of the Sanctuary
and Gathering Room were discussed and may need
new parts.
The #1 boiler went off several weeks ago.
Bjorn Johnson was called. The #2 boiler also had
problems, and Trustees decided that we should
have spare pumps available at the church to avoid
days of waiting for these parts. Repairs were
made, and it is hoped this is still under warranty.
The overheating of the Upper Room was
discussed, and since it would be necessary to shut
down the entire heating system to repair the valve,
we will have to wait until warmer weather.
Pastor Geri gave the Trustees a parsonage
report, and discussion was held concerning security
in the church building.
Becky Person, the Education Coordinator, has
her office in an unused Sunday school room, and
the Christmas decorations have been stored in the
adjoining unused room. Both rooms are locked for
security.
The Trustees invite input from the
congregation, and this can be done in writing or
verbally to individual Trustee members.
Finance Committee Minutes
(Continued from page 2)
Item b, Gathering Room debt. It was
determined that this item is really what is
now referred to as the Building Loan. At
the end of 2014 the balance of the Building
Loan was $30,823.10. A discussion of Mike
Laydon’s plan to pay off the Building Loan
by the date of the Church Charge
Conference in the fall was tabled until the
next Finance Committee meeting in
February.
Item c, Donna Lindberg. Larry reported that
the Endowment Committee had accepted
Rev. Lindberg’s gift on paper and that she
would be attending services sometime in
the spring to accept Trinity’s thanks and to
discuss opportunities for church members
to also provide Trinity with endowments.
Item d, Mission of the Month. Pastor led a
discussion about the monthly Mission of
the Month (MOM) giving. She indicated
that, in the past, the categories for MOM
alternated between local items (such as the
church’s meal program and non-local items
(such as Imagine No Malaria). Nathan
Ruble had been invited to the meeting
because he has been in charge of
determining the monthly MOM. He
indicated that, although there are MOM
items that are chosen every year, often
other MOM items are requests made to him
and he assigns the request to a month. Since
there was no consensus on how to proceed
with MOM, it was decided that Pastor and
Nathan would work together on a schedule
for MOM.
(Continued on page 8)
Finance Committee (Continued from page 7)
New Business
Item a, day of the month of Finance Committee
meetings. Pastor requested that the committee’s
meeting day of the third Wednesday of the month
be changed so that minutes of the meeting could
make into the Tower in a more timely manner, and
suggested the day be changed to the first or second
Wednesday of the month. Frank suggested that the
second Wednesday would be best for receiving his
reports for the previous month. Jack moved that
meetings of the Finance Committee be moved to
the second Wednesday of each month. Carol
seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Item b, communicating year-end financial status.
Pastor led a discussion about how to communicate
the status of Trinity’s year-end finances and how to
thank church members for their gifts. The
consensus was that the Chair should prepare a
“thank you note” to be included with the
statements mailed to church members in January.
The note would include an update on the status of
the church’s financial situation at the end of 2014.
Pastor’s Time
Pastor questioned how best to use the folders
being kept by Sally that contain information
regarding budget amounts. There is a folder for
each of the various committee chairs so that they
can keep track of their respective budgets. Past
practice has been that Sally would pass invoices
and bills along to committee chairs for them to
okay and return to her. Pastor suggested that those
invoices and bills should be attached to the folder
and the folder be given to the chairman, and the
folder be returned to Sally along with the approved
invoice or bill. The consensus was that that was a
good idea.
Pastor reminded committee members that the
next Church Council meeting would be on
Monday, January 26th at 6:00 p.m. The only item
on the agenda is goal-setting for Trinity United
Methodist Church.
Pastor closed the meeting with a prayer.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Frank Trumbell
Motions from the Church Council Meeting,
December 29, 2014
Chris Langer moved to accept the minutes of
the November 24 meeting. Bonnie Fortier
seconded. Motion carried.
Tom Slagle moved that money from the
Marie Bleecker Fund be used to fund the Bibles for
the children in the church. Chris Langer seconded.
Motion carried.
Tom Slagle moved that $2,728 of
Thanksgiving and Christmas designated funds be
applied to the General Fund deficit. Ruth Carlson
seconded. Motion carried.
Chris Langer moved to take money out of the
2014 Marie Bleecker Fund to purchase 250 Lenten
devotionals at 66 cents each. Ruth Carlson
seconded. Motion carried.
Spiritual Winter Emergency Kit
Submitted by Dawn Riutta
1. Non-perishable food—Scripture
Have some things on hand to sustain you through.
Memorized scriptures can help more than anything.
Just a phrase of scripture to grasp in the dead of our
“winter” can be a great comfort.
2. Extra blankets and warm clothing—Fellowship
During a “winter,” some people forget about attending
church and being in fellowship with other Christians.
How much more is needed when trials come into our
lives? Having fellowship with other believers
strengthens us. We need their love, support, and
prayers. It becomes a real warmth to us.
3. Drinking water—Christ, the Living Water
Boiled water in a winter emergency kit is a must. We
need it to survive just like we need the Living Water.
We need Christ and his Word to live. Relying on him
will keep us from a parched existence. Drink in his
love, his promises, his blessings, and his strength.
Looking to him in the face of our trials and
circumstances will help see us through our “winter.”
4. Emergency candles or flashlights—God’s Guidance
The electricity may go out because of the weight of the
snow and ice on the power lines, so we need a light
source to have on hand. God’s guidance is our light
source. We can’t get through our daily lives, let alone
our “winters,” without following God’s direction and
leading. Staying sensitive to God’s leading will keep us
going in the right direction and help us to see a little
more clearly.
Conclusion
We will all have “winters” in our lives, but choosing
how we deal and prepare for them can make all the
difference in the world. So are you “winterized”?
United Methodist News from
Around the World
Young People Build Bridges of Faith
UM News Service 1/20/15 Linda Bloom
The month before the deadly attacks on a Paris
magazine office and a Jewish market, a small group
of United Methodist and Muslim young adults in
Norway discovered they had more in common than
they realized. Interaction with representatives of the
Tauheed Mosque in Oslo was a key part of the first
United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious
Training event in Europe. Sheikh Mahmoud, the
mosque’s leader, and United Methodist Bishop
Christian Alsted of the Baltic and Nordic Area began
by stressing the need for interreligious dialogue, for a
peaceful society and respect for all.
Then, two young leaders from both faith
traditions — Shaheer Ghulam Nabi and the Rev.
Frøydis Grinna — spoke about their experience of
being a religious minority in a society where
secularism is on the rise. Eventually, all participants
had a chance to talk together.
The Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., who helped
organize the training and lectured at the event, noted
later that some of the young people had more in
common with their Muslim counterparts than with
secular friends when it came to faith issues. Sidorak ,
top executive for the Office of Christian Unity and
Interreligious Relations of the United Methodist
Council of Bishops, said he was heartened by “the
feeling there’s hope for a younger generation to get
together interreligiously.” Building interreligious
relations, he added, is one of the main ingredients for
a healthy society.
The dialogue started in Norway is expected to
continue. Karl Anders Ellingsen, a communicator
and editor for The United Methodist Church in
Norway, said in an email that he had spoken with
several participants from the December training after
the attacks in Paris. “We all agree that this only
strengthens our resolve to carry on this path of
dialogue and meetings that we have taken the first
steps on,” he wrote. “For us, it deepens our
understanding of Muslims and their life in our
society, making it easier to interact in a positive and
respectful way.”
Ellingsen noted that Mahmoud, the mosque
leader, “took a firm position” in the local media
condemning the attacks and killings in the name of
Islam in Paris. But Mahmoud also pointed out that
cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed are painful and
offensive to all Muslims.
The past history of discrimination against
Norwegian Methodists in a dominant Lutheran
society helps the church relate to the lack of voice for
Muslims in Norway’s society today, Ellingsen said.
“It is a good base for understanding and mutual
respect.”
Liberia's Schools to Reopen After Six-Month
Ebola Closure Julu Swen United Methodist
News Service
Liberian students will return to their classrooms
in February, a positive sign that the Ebola outbreak is
coming under control in this West African country
that at one point was reporting 300 new cases each
week. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
ordered all schools closed on July 30 in an attempt to
contain the deadly epidemic. The World Health
Organization reports just 48 new cases there in the
past three weeks, bringing the total number of Ebola
cases involving Liberians to 8,331, with 3,538 deaths
since the start of the epidemic.
The government has said schools will reopen by
February 2. The United Methodist school system has
endorsed the Liberian government’s plan, but will not
be able to reopen all the denomination’s schools by
that date, said the Rev. Sampson Nyanti, associate
director of the Department of General Education and
Ministries of the United Methodist Liberia
Conference. There are 60 United Methodist schools
and one United Methodist university in Liberia.
Concern has been expressed that the deadline doesn’t
give schools enough time to make sure all the
procedures are in place for a safe environment. That
includes having chlorine water and soap,
thermometers to monitor temperatures, and someone
to oversee that all children, teachers and any visitors
wash their hands before entering classrooms.
Another concern is that parents will need more
time to pay school fees since many were out of work
or under quarantine for the past six months. The
Liberia Conference’s education department is
allowing each principal to come up with how to
relieve financial pressure on parents.
United Methodist University has set February16
as the date for students to return to school. The
university is holding meetings on Ebola training for
their response teams for the various satellite
campuses around the country. According to the Rev.
George K. Weagba, university vice president for
institutional research and development, students are
excited about resuming their studies. (Excerpts from
detroitconference.org/news)
Trinity United Methodist Church
808 Carpenter Ave.
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
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Permit No. 81
February 2015
Worship: February 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Trinity United Methodist Church
808 Carpenter Ave.
Iron Mountain, MI 49801-4704
Vol. 15, No. 1—February 2015
THE TOWER is published 11 times a year by
Trinity United Methodist Church for distribution to
its members and friends.
Pastor…………………………...Rev. Geri Hamlen
Choir Directors……...Greg Hunt & Emily Ritsema
Organist…………………………………Sue Saxon
Pianist……………………………… Grace Laydon
Custodian……………………………Larry Marlett
Nursery Attendants………………………………...
Sally Verley, Barbie Jo Slagle, & Ian Driscoll
Secretary……………………………..Sally Verley
Sunday Worship………………..8:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Sunday School …………………………..9:15 a.m.
Nursery Available Each Sunday
Office Hours……Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m.-noon
Website…………….…………. www.imtrinity.org
Phone 774-2545…………………….Fax 774-3123
Email………..…………[email protected]
____________________________________
Our Vision Statement
Trinity United Methodist Church
actively invites people to
explore the life-changing message of Jesus,
connect with others, mature as disciples,
and be sent to transform our community.