Pathways JUNE 2009

TR IN I TY PRE S BY TER IA N C HURC H

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Join Trinity for Camp E.D.G.E.
Vacation Bible School to
TRINITY
Experience and Discover God
PRESBYTERIAN STAFF
Everywhere.
Pastor
Gary Hanson The day camps run June 22-25,
Home: (651) 501-1820 2009 from 9 to 11:30 am.
Cell: (651) 373-1821
gary@trinitywoodbury.org Taking inspiration from Psalm
118:14 “The LORD is my strength
and my might,” this summer‟s
Administrator/Pastoral curriculum will keep children from
Care Coordinator
Dee Lindblom age 4 through 6th grade active,
Mon-Fri 8:30am-2:00pm engaged and learning about God.
dee@trinitywoodbury.org
Cell:(651) 353-6724 The camp features all new
contemporary music, high energy
recreational activities, fun and
Christian Education
Director
challenging crafts, and daily Bible
Carmen Speich lessons. Some of the VBS modules
carmen@trinitywoodbury.org teach about “Following God,” “Learning Jesus‟ Teachings,” and “Loving
Cell: (715) 310-7006
God and Others.”
Church Musician Parents can get a preview of the camp‟s activities, music and scripture
Joyce Piper lessons by visiting http://cokesburyvbs.com/camp-edge.php in your
web browser.
Choir Director
Neal Strand Registration forms are now available in the church office and one form
per student should be completed. The cost is $25 for the first child,
Seminary Intern $15 for additional children, with a $50 per family maximum cost.
Joa Sevlie
Cell: (952) 303-2679 Confidential scholarship assistance is available by contacting Carmen
Spiech or Dee Lindblom through the church office.
Child Care Providers Adult volunteers are still welcome if you‟d like to contribute to making
Ali Peterson this summer‟s Camp E.D.G.E. experience the best it can be for
Nicole Rucker
Trinity‟s kids.

2125 Tower Drive

Woodbury MN 55125 Newsletter Deadline Changes for the Summer
Phone & Fax: The June 15 deadline will cover news and information for July 1st
(651) 738-0045 through August 15th.
The July 31 deadline will cover news and information for August 16th
through September 30th.
Page 2 Pathways

MUSINGS AND AMUSINGS FROM THE PASTOR…

Pastor Hanson is on sabbatical leave until mid-July 2009.

PASTORAL CARE MESSAGE

Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children...
We are encouraged to write a “living will” to express our wishes on end-of-life issues, and a “last
will and testament” to ensure that our assets will be divided according to our wishes, but leaving
a spiritual legacy to our children and grandchildren is just as important. Early rabbis encouraged
men to “transmit the tradition‟s ethical teachings,” and the Old Testament contains the first
written record of an “ethical will.” In Genesis 49:1-33, Jacob called his 12 sons to his deathbed
to bless them and make pronouncements regarding each of them. Ethical wills were initially
transmitted orally, but over time they evolved into written documents. These wills are not le-
gally binding documents, but are a way to share values, blessings, life's lessons, hopes and
dreams for those who come after us.
Not long ago I attended a class about creating a “Spiritual Will,” a term the instructor preferred
to the traditional term of ethical will. He noted that a spiritual will would pass on to the next
generation what was most important to us—our faith traditions, spiritual values, and the princi-
ples upon which we lived. It might also contain family stories, poetry, parables and advice.
These insights, words of wisdom, and hopes or dreams are of far greater value than money and
possessions to those we love.
I liked the idea of composing a spiritual will because sharing ones beliefs, values and important
lessons learned can be as spiritually rewarding for ourselves as for those for whom we write
them. It encourages us to think about our values and beliefs, and appraise whether or not we
are living up to them. It gives us an opportunity to examine our spiritual roots and put into
words why we embrace the faith we do. As I began this process, something my mother always
said came to mind: “God helps those who help themselves.” Without being conscious of it, I re-
alized that this adage has always been important for me as I faced obstacles and prayed for
resolution. This saying reminded me that God is always present to support me, but that I am
expected to work with God through my problem. “God helps those who help themselves” is a
motto I want to pass on to my children and grandchildren.
I have not completed my “spiritual will,” but I have at least started the process. I want to share
information such as how God has worked in my life; what family traditions I treasure; my big-
gest mistake and what I learned from it; for what am I most grateful; and what I want most for
my children and grandchildren.
I think a spiritual will is one of the greatest gifts we can pass down to future generations. I en-
courage all of you to begin recording the reflections of your life wisdom, experiences and aspira-
tions.
Blessings, Dee Lindblom

Attend our second International Dinner at Ewan and Joann Ha’s. The theme is
Korean Bul-go-ghee (barbecue). Recipes will include various beef and pork bar-
becues. Please plan to attend on Saturday, June 20 at 6 pm. We will enjoy fel-
lowship together along with Korean cuisine! The sign-up sheet and recipes are in
the Welcome Room. If you have any questions, please contact Ewan and Joann
anytime (393-2842). Address: 3546 Sunbury Drive, Woodbury.
JUNE 2009
Committees
Adult Education
Marnelle Anderson 735-
3287
Building & Grounds
Greg VanderVeer 739-3032
Christian Education
Kirk Breen 436-4212
Clerk of Session
Pat Kimbrough 714-0704
Communications
Susan Jamison 578-7100
Long Range Planning
Darryl Willison 739-2674
Mental Health Group
Dee Lindblom
738-0045 or 353-6724
dee@trinitywoodbury.org
Mission & Action
Pat Channer 735-7741
Moderator of Deacons
Cheri McCreary 735-9094
Newsletter
Mark Allen 204-3188
newsletter@trinitywoodbury.org
Nominating
Stacie Anderson
612-483-2630
Nursery Coordinator
Tina Hacker 714-9671
Pastoral Care
Gary Hanson 738-0045
Personnel
Steve Theiss 578-9348
Prayer Chain
Dee Lindblom
738-0045 or 353-6724
dee@trinitywoodbury.org
Shared Ministry
Wilson Ekinde 501-3661
Special Events
Barb Freeman 731-1220
Stewardship & Finance
Jay Wilkinson 731-7607
Worship
Ruth Bloom 739-0715
Page 3
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Hammock-A-Thon
The Trinity Youth
participated in the
annual Hammock-A-
Thon, raising money
for their upcoming
trip to Belize. As a
part of this ritual, the
youth spent the night
sleeping in Mexican
hammocks in the pre
-school room. After a
dinner of pizza, they
were committed to
spending the next 14
hours in the hammocks. This was quite successful, despite a few that
sunk to the ground by the end of the event.
Thank you to the generous sponsors, who helped raise nearly $600,
and a big thanks to the youth that participated: Ateh Ekinde, Stepha-
nie Schenck, Laura Behler, Sydney Johnson, Josh Anderson, Nick
Behler and Kate Radzwill.
Garage Sale
Thank you to the many volunteers that made this years Trinity Ga-
rage Sale a success! Thanks goes especially to Gretchen White, who
coordinated the event, and to Jane and Darryl Willison, who priced
nearly every item. In total, $1700 was raised for youth missions.
Congratulations Confirmands!
Pictured L to R:
Pastor Gary
Hanson, Davis
Johnson,
Christian
Finn, Erin
Donnelley,
Lars Espe,
Nick Ander-
son, Josh
Anderson, Joe
Pendal and
Carmen
Speich
Page 4 Pathways

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2009!

Stephanie Schenck will be graduating from

Woodbury High School on June 6.
She will be attending Drake University in the fall
and majoring in Pharmacy.

Sean Finn will be graduating from Woodbury

Senior High School on Sunday, June 7, 2009.
Sean is planning to attend the University of
Minnesota at Duluth next year with a focus on
Business, and Pre-Law.

LONG RANGE PLANNING

Purpose of the Long Range Planning Committee
To develop a long range plan that will serve as a guide to help Trinity‟s decision-makers and
members to develop and execute programs and practices that are consistent with, and can fur-
ther, the church‟s stated mission. The goal of the committee is to establish a process that is as
inclusive as possible and invites all members to provide input. Additionally, the committee will
work in conjunction with Session and members to create a report that doesn‟t simply gather
dust, but rather influences and guides the decisions made by the church.
First Steps
The committee will develop a questionnaire that will be used to lead small focus groups of con-
gregational members in discussions of all aspects of the church‟s life, their individual and family
interests, what they participate in, what they don‟t, why, what are we doing right, what needs
work, what needs to be added, what needs to be discarded. The same questions will be asked
of all focus group participants to better ensure comparisons based on comparable things.
To increase the chance of greater participation, and to make every reasonable effort to include
as many of the congregation in this process as possible, these focus groups will be held on sev-
eral occasions.
(Continued on page 6)
JUNE 2009 Page 5

STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Last month I introduced you to a book entitled “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” by
Robert Schnase, a United Methodist minister. The five practices are:
1. Radical Hospitality,
2. Passionate Worship,
3. Intentional Faith Development,
4. Risk Taking Mission and Service,
5. Extravagant Generosity.
The following is a short synopsis of the second practice. Stay tuned for other topics in this series
in future months of this column.
Passionate Worship
Worship describes those times we gather deliberately seeking an encounter with God in
Christ. We cultivate our relationship with God and with one another as the people of God. God
uses worship to transform lives, heal wounded souls, renew hope, shape decisions, provoke
change, inspire compassion, and bind people to one another. Through worship, God actively
seeks a relationship with us, pardons sins, restores relationships, and changes lives.
Passionate describes an intense desire, an ardent spirit, strong feelings, and the sense of
heightened importance. Passionate speaks of a connection that goes beyond intellectual con-
sent. It connotes eagerness, anticipation, expectancy, deep commitment, and belief.
Passionate Worship means worship that connects people to God, worship that people enter into
with expectancy, and with the anticipation that God desires to speak to them and connect with
them. Whether traditional, blended, or contemporary, Passionate Worship is authentic, connect-
ing, and sustaining.
Jay Wilkinson, Stewardship and Finance Committee Chair
“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth. . .” Deut. 8:18

Financials Apr 2009 Month Actual YTD Actual Year Budget

Total Program Donations $22,145.04 $80,587.07 $259,562.45

Total Program Expenditures $19,581.48 $80,721.20 $259,520.38

Donations Less Expenses $2,563.56 ($134.13) $42

Bldg Expansion Donations $8,370.08 $22,286.74

Bldg Expansion Expenses $7,053.00 $28,212.00

Mortgage Balance $798,473.07

Please remember as summer begins and we head for the cabin or vacation, the church‟s finan-
cial responsibilities continue. If you could pay your summer pledge ahead or mail it to the
church office, we would greatly appreciate it. Have a joyous summer!
Page 6 Pathways

 RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED: Harry Krueger, Bob Culver

 OUR SYMPATHIES ARE EXTENDED TO: Sam Harder and his family on the passing of Hazel
Harder on May 13. A memorial service will be held at Trinity for Hazel on Saturday, June 6
at 11 am.
 A MEMORIAL SERVICE was held for Bob Craft, who passed away on November 26, 2008, on
Saturday May 16.
 Una Craft extends her sincere thanks to Trinity‟s funeral committee and all who helped with
Bob‟s service.

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

1 Bill Richards 11 Niall Finn 20 Carson Pawlyshyn

2 Una Craft Emily Pawlyshyn 21 Chad Thuet
Dexter Johnson Whitney Pawlyshyn 22 Sophia Carpentier
Jeff White 12 Madelyn Carpentier 23 Nick Anderson
3 Bob Blanck 13 Theo Andersen Katy Gavin
5 Ava Hacker Tina Hacker 24 Ella Markovitz
Evie Ryden Aysia Williams 26 Tom Rooney
6 Wilson Ekinde 14 Cameron Jamison 29 Abigail Bensen
Madeline Upson Judy Punt Steve Werden
7 Pat Channer 15 Davis Johnson 30 Virginia Geer
8 Marbury Johnson Jack Mayfield
We regret if we missed your
Kayla Sawyer Ari Ryden
birthday; if we have, please
9 Sigrid Espe 19 Jason Zerbe phone the office! 738-0045
10 Barb Outcelt 20 Betty Lidell

(Continued from page 4)

We are seeking the assistance of the Deacons by organizing our focus group meetings based on
their Kindred Spirit groups. It is our hope that each Deacon will select a date in June or July and
contact their group members to invite them to participate.
Members of the LRP Committee will lead the discussions. The meetings will be posted to last 90
minutes, but the length will be determined by the participants. The committee hopes to hold
one session for each Deacon group.
Final Product
The committee is hoping to have completed the focus group meetings by the end of July to be
on track to complete a version of its report for presentation and consideration at the January
2010 Congregational Meeting.
For more information please contact Darryl Willison (739-2674), LRP committee chair.
JUNE 2009 Page 7

HEALTHY MIND MATTERS

DID YOU KNOW? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can
develop after exposure to a catastrophic, life-threatening event. PTSD is
Research has shown often associated with soldiers returning from military combat, but physi-
that PTSD changes cal or sexual abuse, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or be-
the biology of the ing diagnosed with a life-threatening illness may trigger PTSD in anyone.
brain. Those with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of
People who have their traumatic ordeal and may experience sleep problems, feel detached
heart attacks or or numb, or be easily startled.
cancer sometimes Children and adolescents are also susceptible to developing PTSD if they
develop PTSD. have witnessed or experienced a traumatic incident. According to the
Soldiers involved in a American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, a child's risk of
war consistently developing PTSD is related to the seriousness of the trauma, whether the
show high rates of trauma is repeated, the child's proximity to the trauma, and his/her rela-
PTSD. tionship to the victim(s).
Following the trauma, children may show intense fear, helplessness, an-
RESOURCES ger, sadness, horror or denial. Children with PTSD avoid situations or
places that remind them of the ordeal, and often become less responsive
American Academy emotionally, depressed, and more detached from their feelings. A child
of Child and with PTSD may re-experience the traumatic event by having frequent
Adolescent memories of the event, or in young children, play in which some or all of
Psychiatry the trauma is repeated; having upsetting dreams; acting or feeling like
www.aacap.org the experience is happening again; and developing repeated physical or
emotional symptoms when reminded of the occurrence.
National Institute
Support from family, school, and peers is extremely important, with an
of Mental Health
emphasis on establishing a feeling of safety and security for a child ex-
www.nimh/nih/gov
periencing PTSD. Child-focused treatments that have been successful in-
clude psychotherapy which allows the child to speak, draw, play, or write
Mental Health
about the event; behavior modification and cognitive therapy to help re-
America
duce fears and worries; and medication, if needed, to deal with agitation,
www.nmha.org
anxiety, or depression. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can be very
helpful in diagnosing and treating children with PTSD.

PTSD IN CHILDHOOD
On Monday, June 22, at 6:30 pm, Trinity‟s Mental Health & Wellness Group will sponsor a
presentation about PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) in children. We are fortunate to have
two experienced practitioners from the Youth Service Bureau come to discuss symptoms of
PTSD and to provide interventions and resources to aid families and teachers. Sarah Fuerst
has a Masters in Counseling and Psychological Services and works as a Youth and Family Thera-
pist to provide services for youth 4-18 years of age, as well as group and family services. Cath-
erine Olson has a Masters in Social Work and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
(LICSW) who provides strength-based child-centered family and individual therapy; including
play and art therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, attachment, reality therapy, and solution-
focused therapy.
This program is free and open to the public as well as to Trinity members.
 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT 46
COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The newsletter is also available on

the church website:
Trinity Presbyterian http://www.trinitywoodbury.org
Church
2125 Tower Dr
Woodbury MN 55125 Next Newsletter Deadline:
651-731-0038
info@trinitywoodbury.org June 15, 2009

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ACTIVITIES AT TRINITY

Sunday Schedule June Upcoming Events

Pastoral Care 2
Schedule
Worship Korean International
10:00 am June 7 Dinner
Christian Education 3
Communion June 20, 6 pm
Fellowship and
Class of 2009 (page 2)
Coffee
Congrats Class of „09 4 11:00 am Celebration
Childhood PTSD
June 14
-=- June 22, 6:30pm
Stewardship Corner 5 Child care is available June 21 (page 7)
Father’s Day
during worship Camp E.D.G.E. VBS
Birthdays and Events 6 service June 28 June 22-25, 9-11:30am

Healthy Mind
7
Matters

Additional parking is available in New Horizon‟s parking lot

directly across from Trinity and by parking along one side
of the driveway.