Let`s Talk Stewardship - Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church

The
October 2012
Volume
1, Issue
Newsletter
Date1
Let’s Talk Stewardship
The Holy Trinity Program Plan for 2013
At the August Retreat, the Session identified five specific goals for 2013. The most immediate of those
goals is Financial Stewardship Growth.
At Holy Trinity the Annual Stewardship Campaign is conducted in October. This year, the Stewardship
Committee applied the guidance of Session to set as its goal a 10% increase in the number of member
household pledges. Last year, 117 of our member households committed to the ongoing ministry of Holy
Trinity by pledging to share their resources; to reach our goal for 2013, all 117 member households must
continue their pledges and be joined by 12 additional pledging households. With your support, we will
surpass this goal!
Why do we pledge? Like your household, Holy Trinity must meet its financial obligations. Therefore, our
Session can develop a much more accurate Program Plan when it is aware you are committed, by your
pledge to support its work. The Session operates totally on faith giving, but uses the pledges of our member households as the guidelines to plan its programs. By approving the annual budget at the Annual
Congregational Meeting in January, we, as a congregation pledge to meet the obligations of the ongoing
programs of our church.
For what purposes are our pledges used? Some of our obligations are very visible and we are aware of
them on a regular basis.
Administration Ministry Area: Includes Church staff salaries, the Church building upkeep, utilities, the
cleaning crew, etc.
Evangelism Ministry Area: Provides In reach/Outreach opportunities to members and prospective members. Meet and Greet on the third Sunday morning is a small part of this ministry area. Caregivers are
included in this area.
Worship and Music Ministry Area: Coordinates with the pastors to provide regular (weekly) and special
worship and music activities for member households and visitors.
Day School Ministry Area: Provides Christian education programs, Monday through Friday, each week for
young children. This is a Community Outreach Program of Holy Trinity.
Christian Education Area Ministry: Offers Christian Education opportunities for members of all ages.
Fellowship Area Ministry: This ministry area sponsors many opportunities for members to join together in
fellowship activities, usually with food. Presbyterians love to eat!
(Article continues on Birthday Page)
Tools for Development
This year has been a year of youth/children focused activities for our Mexico mission Tools for Development.
Even though there are forces beyond our control that limit us, such as the insecure situation in Mexico, the Lord
knows our heart is with the villagers as we continue to make headway there.
Rather than distributing donations as in the past, we are now focusing on encouraging the youth to continue
their education beyond the 9th grade by offering high school and college scholarships. 9th grade is the highest
grade offered at the village. At the moment, six young ladies (4 from Agua Puerca and two from surrounding villages) and one young man benefit from our scholarship program. These scholarships are a blessing to the families. All recipients are monitored by our sister non-profit in Mexico to make sure the students are attending
classes at their respective schools.
We have seen the fruits of the scholarships we offered over the years. Flor Maria Hernandez is a good example.
She received a scholarship in 2002. She had a gift for math but lived in absolute poverty with a minimal opportunity for an education. Her widowed mother received the gift of a sewing machine through the generosity of Flor
Maria’s sponsor. This allowed her to support her two young children after her husband passed away. Flor Maria
proved to be a dedicated student and graduated from high school with honors. She went on to teacher’s college
and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in math. She’s now a high school math teacher in her native village.
This is an example of a family’s life changed through the generous support of God’s people.
The scholarship program has sponsored 21 youth since its inception. At the moment seven youth are receiving
scholarships. Two are high school students and five are college students. All receive the equivalent of $50.00
Dollars per month which helps them cover their tuition. Additionally the school supplies that you so generously
donate are available to them, thus ensuring that they have the basic items needed to succeed.
The elementary schools continue to receive school supplies which they provide to the students. This gives the
children pride in being able to bring their own crayons, writing tablets, pencils, etc. to the classroom. During the
summer, the children receive extra math and Spanish classes from the scholarship students. This reinforces the
subject and gives them confidence when they go on to the next grade.
Other ongoing activities include worship gatherings every Sunday at the community center funded by Tools for
Development. Two services are held with plenty of activities for the children, youth, and adults. We encourage
the villagers to attend and their faith in the Lord is growing. We’re thankful to the Emmanuel Presbyterian church
of Monterrey, which continues to bring much needed help and hope to the region, thus strengthening the villagers’ faith.
The need for clean water continues, although this year the communities have been blessed with plenty of rain.
Even though we have spent over $19,000.00 Dollars drilling a deep water well, we have not yet struck water.
We ask for your prayers as we search for a solution and apologize for this failure to get results up to this point.
We thank all of you for your donations, prayers and support of this mission effort.
To God be the glory.
- Steve and Maria Lewis
RACAP Holiday Meal Basket Program
Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program (RACAP) provides food
to many area families who would otherwise not be able to prepare a holiday meal. The organization has
already begun accepting applications for this year's meal basket program from clients who qualify for its
regular services. If you know of those in our community who may need this type of help during the holidays, please let them know RACAP will accept applications for the program until October 31, 2012.
We at HTPC can assist by giving food, by donating money and gift cards to buy turkeys and other perishable items, and, as individuals or organizations, by sponsoring one or more families. Sponsorship of a family for Thanksgiving or Christmas involves providing all of the meal basket contents and, at Christmas, gifts
for the family's children.
Checks with "Holiday Program" on the memo line and gift cards can be mailed to RACAP, 307 Pfeil Street,
Schertz, TX 78154.
Food for the Holiday Meal Basket Program can be left below the Mission and Outreach bulletin board in the
church's family room. Holiday Program food, as well as supplies for RACAP's food pantry can also be taken
to RACAP at the address above between 1:00 and 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. Sponsorship application forms are available in the church office and in the family room and need to be returned to RACAP by
October 26, 2012. RACAP will contact sponsors about their adopted Thanksgiving families by November
12 and their adopted Christmas families by December 1.
Items needed for RACAP's Holiday Meal Basket Program
Chicken Broth
Flour
Granulated sugar (four-pound bag)
Brown sugar (one pound)
Canned green beans and corn
Evaporated milk
Stuffing mix
Canned pumpkin
Canned yams
Fruit cocktail
Cranberry sauce
RACAP asks that those sponsoring a family also include a turkey, eggs, margarine or butter, pie
shells and rolls or bread in the basket.
Canned meats
Canned pasta with meat (ravioli, lasagna, etc.)
Canned fruits
Current RACAP Food Pantry Needs
Canned sweet peas
Canned tomato products (diced, sauce and paste)
Dried beans
Rice
Cereal
Soups (no cream soups)
Hamburger and tuna helper
Snacks
Jell-O
Muffin mixes
Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program
307 Pfeil St, Schertz TX 78154
(210) 658-1613
2012 Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday Program
Sponsor Application
Would you like to participate in a single holiday program or both? Please check:
____ Both holidays
____ Thanksgiving only
____ Christmas only
Name of sponsoring organization or individual: __________________________________
Name of contact person: ___________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Phone Number ______________________ Alternate phone number __________________
How many families do you wish to sponsor? ___________
What is the maximum size family you can sponsor? (number of family members)
__________
Would you prefer to sponsor a senior citizen (single or couple) or a family with children?
(please check)
____ Seniors only
____ Family/Families -- Will you be able to supply toys for children at Christmas? Yes / No
____ Does not matter
If you can only assist those living in a specific area, please specify the zip code(s:
__________________________________________________________________________
Other specific requests: ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your support of this valuable and necessary program. Please return this
sponsorship form to RACAP by October 26, 2012. You will contacted by November 12 with
information on your adopted Thanksgiving family and by December 1 with information on
your adopted Christmas family.
Keenagers
WHO:
Keenagers (age 55 and older)
WHAT:
Monthly Luncheon
WHEN:
Thursday, October 25th at 11:30am
WHERE:
Chuy’s
14855 IH35, Selma
Phone: 210-657-2489
Book Divas
(formerly Lunch with Pastor Caryn)
WHO:
HTPC Ladies and Guests
WHAT:
Monthly Luncheon
WHEN:
Wed., October 3rd at 11:30am
WHERE:
Caparelli’s Italian Restaurant
FM2696, SA
(210-651-4817)
Adventure Girls
(formerly HTPW Book Group)
WHAT:
Monthly Meeting and book discussion
WHEN:
Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7pm
WHERE:
Westminster Room in Sanctuary
THE BOOK:
“Sullivan’s Island” by Dorthea Benton
Frank
ALSO:
Let’s Have Lunch!
Please bring a small snack for 8 people.
Help us plan the reading list for this
year by bringing suggestions.
Contact Sheila Clark if you have ques
tions or need childcare.
WHO:
HTPC Ladies and friends with the
sparkle of adventure in their eyes
WHAT:
Honey Creek Nature Reserve Tour
WHEN:
Saturday, Oct. 27th at 8:00am
WHERE:
Meet at church to carpool
ALSO:
Walk is not strenuous. The tour is
at 9am at Guadalupe State park. Please arrive at
8:30am. The tour is led by an interpreter and lasts
approx. 2 hours. Park admission is required and a
voluntary donation to Honey Creak is appreciated.
Lunch following will be determined.
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Hello, Girlfriends!
Wishing you could sneak away for a relaxing time in the mountains? We’ve got the perfect plan!
Cozy Mountain Lodge is a relaxing mountain lodge themed retreat the women of our church
are doing together. It includes worship, Bible study, and time for laughter as well as time for
quiet reflection.
We’ll begin with dinner on the evening of Friday, November 2, 2012 and will finish by 3:00
p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, November 3, 2012. Our retreat will be held at Slumber
Falls in New Braunfels, and the cost is only $50.00 per person! This covers three
delicious meals, fun and refreshing activities, and comfortable lodging.
Call Katherine Mehaffey at (210) 314-4997 for more information, or stop by
our table at the church this Sunday to learn more and register.
Happy
Anniversary
1st
1st
2nd
2nd
3rd
4th
4th
4th
6th
6th
7th
8th
8th
9th
10th
10th
11th
12th
12th
13th
13th
13th
13th
13th
13th
13th
14th
14th
15th
16th
18th
18th
21st
21st
21st
22nd
23rd
23rd
24th
25th
26th
26th
27th
28th
28th
28th
29th
29th
29th
29th
30th
31st
Ed Bructsch
2nd
Danielle & Larry Yano
19
Dr. Richard E. Kreutzer
Joan Smith
3rd
Leslie
&
Carla
Moynahan
20
Ed DeValle
Senior Pastor
5th
Valerie Carter-Cole & Don
15
Nancy Smith
Cole
Kurt Schuster
Rev. Richard Lavender
8th
Donna & Robert Stein
24
Jack Hafer
9th
Barbara & Ken Bailey
13
Parish Associate
Landon Hockley
12th
Diana & Charles Mascilli
27
Galen Lewis
13th
Nancy & Scott Erickson
44
Randy Hoff
14th
Angie & Eric Puder
12
Rev. John Shute
15th
Claudia & Vince Betro
35
L. J. Miller
20th
Jean & Jerry Zellers
28
Parish Associate
Lorayne Cockran
22nd
Betty & Dick Kreutzer
35
Sabrina Jefferies
24th
Deanna & Scott Platt
4
Sarah Schavrien
25th
Rosemarie & Philip Fetler
21
Dave Bird
Karen Ball
Ryan Mehaffey
George Gwanltney
Emma Fuller
Valerie E. Carter-Cole
Eva Ree Jordan
Brian Boles
valerieecc@holytrinitypres.org
Rex Brinkman
Courtland Equere
Art Luensmann
Becky Marvin
Deanie Nunns
Dear Fellow members of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church
Monika Thompson
Harry Dinwiddie
Thank you for the flowers and prayers during my recovery from foot
Betty Thomas
surgery.
DiAnn Arnold
Please know that I am healing well and anticipating my return to serJamie Meriwether
vices next Sunday.
Fred Hutchinson
Caryl Swann
In His Love
Beth Davis
Kolodzie Harper
Lenore Vallery
Pam Miller
Tony DeWendt
Susan Connally
Volume
1, Issue
Ethan Mueller
Newsletter
Date1
Ellie Juarez
Jake Thompson, Sr.
Sharon Boles
Mission and Outreach Area Ministry: A less visible ministry which,
Len Gray
through our pledge to be a tithing church, reaches into the local,
Kay Delpero
national, and international communities to support mission work
Luisa Paulino
Megan Puder
As Session Members begin to develop The Holy Trinity Plan for
Bill Warren
2013, we encourage each member household to become a partner
Deborah Ehrhadart
Sharon Harrington
in the Plan by pledging a portion of its resources to support the minMoralah LaBarge
istry areas of Holy Trinity.
Larry Sears
Tom Entler
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not
Jill Porter
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2
Grapevine
Editor
Let’s Talk Stewardship (cont.)
Corinthians 9:7
Marion Griffin, Committee Chair