Please lift up Edie Strate in prayers. She and her husband Dave used to live in Grand Lake, but they moved to Denver a few years ago for his health. Dave passed away recently, and Edie has been battling pneumonia for the last month.
We lift up prayers for Pastor David as he leaves on his cross country sabbatical this Thursday.
Jay and Ruth 's friend, Greg Crow, who has been battling abdominal cancer has entered the hospital. Prayers for his comfort and for his wife, Gail.
Dana Conley's daughter's half brother, Zack Gilbertson, recently graduated from high school. Prayers that he finds his path in this next phase of his life.
Prayers for Trudy and Peter Gallo as they prepare to sell their home of 40 years and move to Illinois to be near family.
For past prayer concerns please click on "Ministries" tab and then click on "Prayer and Care"
Below is an exerpt from my sermon before my sabbatical. I believe it captures what I am feeling as I go on this journey.
"I feel a little like Abraham, this morning, although my get up and go journey is no where near as dramatic as was his.
I feel called by God to get up and go, but I’m also called to come back. I’m not moving, like Abraham and Sarah, I’m simply embarking upon a once in a lifetime chance -
To spend a five week tour of 12 cities all across the Western United States with my son Ben and his band – The Planet of the Little Green Men.
As I mentioned in my weekly email to you, it’s a band of 5 recently graduated, 20-something young men, boys, really. That’s not a put down, it’s just that at our age, anyone in their young 20’s seem like that to us.
Our tour begins in New Orleans on May 24th, then we drive in a rented van that is designed for such purposes, to Austin, El Paso, Tucson, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Salt Lake City, and we end in Denver. Then we drive back to New Orleans, and then Ben and I are coming back to drop off the van.
Pray for us. Pray for our safety. Pray for safety in our travels. Pray for uneventful travails and pray for eventful fun. And pray for my stamina! Pray for the old man, that he can hold his own among those young men.
What possibly could have gotten into my head? What could possibly lead me to do something like this,
if not a deep love for my son, and this chance to bond with him, and a calling from God to Go… Go from home to the land that God will show us?
Answering this call, by the way, would never have been possible without your love and acceptance for understanding my need to do this.
You have made this possible. Your grace and ability to allow this is something for which Ben and I will always be so grateful.
The funds for doing this, by the way, have been privately raised and doesn’t impact the church budget.
Although, the church is paying a larger stipend to our guest preachers Scott Schell, and Dwight Gorbold – thank you to them.
Dwight Gorbold has agreed to take on any pastoral emergencies that may arise… And remember, he does have a day job.
Well, all of this, to say thank you! And we covet your prayers, and to remind you, that in part, this is biblical…
to answer God’s call to go away for a short while.
Abraham and Sarah did it permanently. My change of address will only be for 6 weeks.
Love,
David
Our Calling From God
Sometimes our language betrays us! Clergy are “called by God” to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. Everyone else has to go out and “find” a job.
What do we Christians mean by Call? We mean that God has a purpose for each one of our lives. The primary call is the call to discipleship. Jesus said to his first disciples, “Come and follow me.”
Jesus calls us to be Christians more than just to do something. The doing then turns out to be a living out of the being a Christian. For example, in marriage, one is called to be a husband or wife. The doing grows out of living in the role and in the relationship.
In our baptism, God expresses his claim on our life. Living out the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ as a learner or follower is the fulfillment of our Call from God in baptism.
Baptism was the only ordination that Jesus ever had and it represented God’s claim on His whole life! Not Jesus, not Paul, not even the original twelve disciples were ever ordained clergy! Jesus, Paul and the twelve disciples were called by God to full time Christian service. And so are we!
You and I are called by Jesus to be His disciples. The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church sets down the meaning of discipleship in these words:
“A faithful member accepts Christ’s call to be involved responsibly in the ministry of His Church. Such involvement includes:
If you follow from start to finish this sequence, it takes you a while to get beyond the Church and out into the world. Even so, these nine claims put together make up a comprehensive call to full time Christian service. How are you responding to God’s Call?
With love and gratitude,
David
Consider Year End Giving to Support TCP
Financially, Trinity Church in the Pines is having another difficult year. While Trinity’s 2024 budget was thoughtfully developed based on prior years’ expenses, and our current expenses are below that budget, our donations are significantly lower. Here are the facts. As of October 31, 2024, TCP income has significantly decreased during the year. Accumulated income is $127,552, and accumulated expenses are $163,041, for a shortfall of $45,273 in income so far this year.
So here is a reminder as we all consider year end giving. There are three efficient ways to give in order to financially support TCP.
First, donating appreciated securities is quick and simple. You, the donor, receive the current value of the security as a charitable deduction but without the tax liability for the capital gain.
Second, if anyone over the age of 72 has not yet made their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from their IRA or SEP for 2024 it is not too late! You can have the distribution made directly to Trinity Church in the Pines by December 31st and you will not have to declare it as personal income because it goes directly to the church. As always, check with your qualified tax advisor for specifics related to your personal situation.
Third, your cash or check contributions can be given to TCP when you are in church or by mailing them to the church. The TCP mailing address is PO Box 676, Grand Lake, CO 80447.
Marv Fischer & Gay Shaffer 650 Mango Drive Castle Rock, CO 80104-5342
DeAnn Tibbetts 652 Breckenridge Dr. Broomfield, CO 80020
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Money Matters… JUST A REMINDER AS WE CONSIDER YEAR-END GIVING …
As we consider year-end giving, there are two tax efficient ways to give in order to support TCP. First, donating appreciated securities is quick and simple. You, the donor, receive the current value of the security as a charitable deduction but without the tax liability for the capital gain. Secondly, if anyone over the age of 72 has not yet made their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from their IRA or SEP for 2022 it is not too late! You can have the distribution made directly to Trinity Church in the Pines by December 31st and you will not have to declare it as personal income because it goes directly to the church. As always, check with your qualified tax advisor for specifics related to your personal situation.
Trinity Food Bank Has Become Something More
Due to COVID our Food Bank at Trinity has closed. At the time we could not risk allowing people into the church. We felt this would put our administrator and pastor at risk unnecessarily. So as not to waste the food we had downstairs, we gave it all to the Mountain Family Center Food Bank in Granby. They were very appreciative of our large donation. It has all been used well and given out to those in need. In the meantime, your generosity has allowed us to make our foodbank much more. In partnership with Mountain Food Market in Grand Lake, Trinity has been offering $100 gift cards to purchase the groceries they want, (except tobacco and alcohol). The cards are at the market. All one has to do is mention the Trinity gift cards to the cashier and they will be helped – no questions asked. So, if you or someone you know is in need of this assistance, we are only too glad to help!
Men’s Breakfast Group meets every Thursday morning for good food and great fellowship in our fellowship hall. This is open to all men, so invite your friends/neighbors to join us. Hope to see you at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings.
The Knitting Ministry The Ladies of the Knitting Ministry at TCP meet together in the fellowship room on the 1st Thursday and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10:00am. Our Mission is to knit and deliver prayer shawls to people experiencing a setback or illness and are in need of comfort. Please feel free to join us. If you would like more information about our group, please contact Melody Anders, (303) 917-3923, manders63@msn.com All are welcome.
Church is Open for Live, In-Person Worship Services
Masks are welcome, but not required. If you still are not comfortable coming to church, or if you are out of town, you can still participate in our worship. We continue to live-stream our services each Sunday morning at 9:30.
You can view our service on our website: tcpgrandlake.org
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If you would like to be on this email list, or know of anyone else who would please let me know. Just send your or their email to me at heild@me.com
THANK YOU for stepping up and helping us make Trinity Church in the Pines great! Thanks to our corporate officers and the session for all they do and thank you for your willingness to serve. Ike Hull, Clerk, Steve Meyer, Treasurer and Elder, Neal Cross, Karen Smith, Elder, Geoff Elliott, Elder and David Heil, Pastor. We also thank those that are serving Trinity Church in the Pines in their care positions. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Melody Anders, Deacon Brooke Mark, Deacon Kate Elliott, Deacon. Thank you to the musicians who provide us with music each Sunday morning, David Heil, Geoff Elliott, Neal Cross, Mandy Cluck, Dennis Stafford, Daryl Troute, Jerry Pope, Patrick Warfle.
TRINITY CHURCH IN THE PINES
604 Lake Avenue, P.O. Box 676 Grand Lake, Colorado 80447
(970) 627-3510 (Church Office)
Website: www.tcpgrandlake.org
Pastor Rev. Dr. David C. Heil, 970-685-7046 heild@me.com
Trinity Office email: tcpingrandlake@aol.com