February 2015 - trinityupc.net

A publication of Trinity United Presbyterian Church
TOUCHSTONE
February 2015
Vol. 34 No. 2
Trinity United Presbyterian Church ● 79 W. Fayette Street, Uniontown, PA 15401
724-437-2709 ● www.trinityupc.net ● [email protected]
A look at our chancel ministry, By Meg Thompson
One day about eight years ago, I was particularly more than that, He had provided a gift for me to
sad because I had no means with which to cheer a give to my friend that I could have never given by
new friend of mine. She was a poor, lonely, older my own means.
Somehow the daisies uplifted me like nothwoman suffering from emphysema and other meding
else
had in a long time. Their beauty made me
ical concerns. I was in my very early twenties and
could only care for my own basic needs. I had feel beautiful when I had been feeling so weak and
given the woman my friendship, for it was all I worthless lately. And the gift of them made me
had to give. She appreciated me, and I learned a aware that God had not forgotten me nor my lonely friend.
lot from her.
That evening, I arrived at my friend’s
It was a Monday morning, and my friend
apartment
in bright spirits. “These are for you,
was feeling extra hopeless and had just left my
work office after a long, sad cry. I felt inadequate from God,” I told her.
She placed the magnificent arrangement in
and powerless to do much more than pray for her.
her
small,
nearly empty apartment and was moved
I knew that was enough, but I still felt badly that I
could not offer her some tangible thing. “Lord, to tears. When her crying ceased, she brightened.
She began to talk to me animatedly about many
what can I do?” I prayed.
Soon some church ladies came in to care things. She told me how she loved to cook and
for the chancel table from the Sunday service. that she would make me dinner one day soon.
The flowers were not money, or a door to a
From my office, I could hear their happy banter as
better
life,
or medicine that would offer reprieve
they worked. After a while, they came to me
sweet and smiling as always, and in their southern from her pains, but they were a delightful gift
accents that I loved so much said, “Meg, we didn’t from Father God that reminded two of his daughknow what to do with these flowers and unani- ters that He knew exactly where they were and
exactly what they needed and that He would almously decided you should have them!”
They plopped ways be their Provider.
a gigantic basket full
of luscious daisies on
my desk. It was so
beautiful to me that I
almost cried, and I felt
so loved by God that
He would allow me to
have something so
special and probably
pretty expensive. And
Easter Flowers at Trinity
Chancel flowers have been a
big tradition at Trinity Church
for many, many years.
Chancel flowers have been a big tradition
at Trinity Church for many, many years. In recent
years, interest in donating flowers for Sunday
morning services has faded. We can attribute this
to many factors, including the price of flowers.
Continued on page 5
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Our Fellowship
Happy Birthday!
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us
rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
2—Morgan Cahn
16—Mary Gene Cramer
3—Carol Ashton
16—Lynn Laughner
3—Ben Eddy
16—Lauren Molchan
4—Sidney Anderson
17—May Funk
4—Don Ashton
17—Tonye Sharp
4—Harry Haught
19—Wayne Workman Sr.
4—Brandon McMahon
20—Margie Breakiron
4—Bill Ulmer
20—Lauren Spellman
6—Meagan McMahon
20—Diane Williams
7—Harry Albert
21—Tyler Shaffer
10—Margaret MacDonald
27—Bob Spellman
The Rev. Dr. John Sharp would like
to thank the members of Trinity
Church for the luncheon that they
honored him with on
November 2, 2014.
“I am also humbled each time I see
‘Pastor Emeritus’ in the Sunday
bulletin, and I am taken back by the
generosity of the feelings put forth.
I thank you,” he said.
15—Wayne Workman Jr.
Trinity United Presbyterian Church ● 79 W. Fayette Street
Uniontown, PA 15401 ● Phone: 724-437-2709 ● Fax: 724-437-2700
www.trinityupc.net ● [email protected]
Reverend Tom Holslag, Interim Minister
Reverend Dr. John Sharp, Pastor Emeritus
Kyle Lively, Director of Music
Meg Thompson, Secretary
William Addis, Sexton
Prayer List
“Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be
healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
Please especially pray for these:
Feb 2– 8
Henry Gerome, Lyndsay and Ayva Jesko, Donna Teeter, Seth, Amy, Seth & Casey Caton
Feb 9—15
Harry Jr. & Toni Haught, Bob & Pat Tran, Wayne and Mandy Workman
Feb 16—22 Rob, Dana, Sidney, Ryan and Avery Anderson, Carol McDowell
Feb 23—Mar 1
Mary Jane Kanyok, Marika McFadden, Bob Zirkle, Marti Yocum
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Around the Church
I
don’t know about you but last month seemed to
go by pretty fast. And with February already upon
us I have a few positive things I’d like to share.
First of all, Sunday Worship attendance has been
pretty good for the most part. And when I see the
sanctuary relatively filled each Sunday it motivates
me to have as good a message as possible to share
with all of you.
February is also important, particularly this
year, because there are some unique opportunities
we have as a congregation that may not come
along ever again, and here’s one. During February
we’re going to have a financial campaign to
help raise funds to pay off the “Roof Project”
that started last fall. You might say, “That
doesn’t sound too exciting to me.” But when a
very generous individual in the church steps forward and says that they will match dollar for dollar
whatever the final cost of the ‘Roof Project,’ then
it becomes exciting! Don’t you think? The Buildings & Grounds Committee will soon be meeting
and putting together a financial campaign to help
raise $60-70,000, which represents half the cost
that will be matched to help pay-off the final bill
once the “Roof Project” is completed later this
Spring. My prayer would be that you pray how
much God might be asking you to contribute to
this once in a life-time opportunity that our physical plant here at Trinity was in dire need of.
Also this month and for the rest of the
year I’ll be stressing evangelism. In other
words how might we grow Trinity for God’s Kingdom? What I’m asking and challenging each of
you to do is to invite as many of your friends and
neighbors as possible to come worship with us on
Sunday morning. If you can get them in the door
then I believe a certain percentage of them will
desire to become part of the loving and caring
community that you already are here at Trinity!
Pray for those whom you think might bring their
new gifts and who will benefit from joining God’s
community here at Trinity. I’ll also be offering a
‘New Members Class’ for four weeks starting
on February 15th.
Stay warm and enjoy the recent snows that
we’ve been having. God’s blessings as Lent begins on Wednesday February 18th at our Ash
Wednesday Service that will begin at 7:00 pm
in the Chapel that evening.
In Christ’s Service,
Rev. Tom Holslag—Interim Pastor
What’s coming up for Book Journey
Members of Book Journey will travel back in time in February 3, when the
group meets to discuss O Pioneers by Willa Cather. This quintessential
American novel, published in 1913, is described as a “loving celebration of
Nebraska and its immigrant people at the turn of the twentieth century” (Willa Cather Foundation website). Along with My A ntonia and Death
Comes for the Archbishop, it is among Cather’s best known and most
revered works which focus on the pioneer spirit on the western frontier.
Book Journey meets on the first Tuesday of the month (September—
May) at 7:00 p.m. in the parlor. One-time visitors and new members are
always welcome to join in our informal and congenial discussions.
-Jean Nass
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Tidings from the Tower
“Trinity and America, 1937-1946”
When
the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7,
1941, the entire U.S. population “went to war,” including all the
good folks living in Uniontown. Nationwide 3.5 million women stood side-by-side with 6 million men on assembly lines as
the U.S. turned out war materials and equipment. The U.S.S.
Uniontown, a patrol frigate, was commissioned and served in
the Atlantic. General George Marshall received his fifth star
and was made General of the Army and Chief of Staff.
On the home front, movies were big news. Disney’s “Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs” opened in 1937 and “Gone with
the Wind” premiered in 1939, the later being the most discussed
and most expensive movie to date. From the introduction of nylon stockings in 1938 to the appearance of the two-piece bikini
bathing suit in 1946, fashion and fads dominated. Tupperware
was developed in 1945, the same year World War II ended. TV
was in its infancy, but it mushroomed after the war.
U.S.S. Uniontown
In Uniontown, WMBS began operating in
1937 and Uniontown High School played
its first night football game at Hustead
Field. Townspeople enjoyed a week-long
celebration of Uniontown’s sesquicentennial along with a Fall Foliage Festival. And
all America celebrated the surrender of
Germany and Japan in 1945.
At First Presbyterian Church in 1946, a
plaque was dedicated “In honor of those
who represent our church in service of God
and country” and contained the names of 89
men and seven women who served.
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Featured Ministry: Chancel
Continued from page 1
The gift of flowers was very important to the giver who preferred to
have the flowers on the altar on a
particular Sunday, remembering a
birthday, anniversary or death.
But it seems to me that many people have fond memories of the days when the chancel was always
adorned with flowers. Some church members have even donated both live and artificial arrangements just for the sake of not having an empty chancel table.
“It’s a tradition at our church and I do hate to see it completely fail,” said Cindy Jones, the
current Chancel Chair.
Clara Link was also the Chancel Chair for 13 years starting
around 1967. At that time, the merger between First and Second
Presbyterian churches was fresh. The schedule for the flowers to
be on the chancel table at First Church was completely filled, and
with the addition of remembrance flowers from Second Church
there was an overload. Sometimes at a service, two bouquets were
on the chancel table and a bouquet on each of the smaller tables in
the front of the sanctuary.
Clara took over for Mrs. Charles Hubbard, who had been
the chairperson for many years. Clara shares her memories of that
time as follows:
“The gift of flowers was very important to the giver who
preferred to have the flowers on the altar on a particular Sunday,
A chancel display in the past
remembering a birthday, anniversary or death.
We have beautiful tall silver vases. One of the vases was in memory of Carolyn Feather. Red
roses were to be placed in the Feather vase on a particular Sunday. A financial bequest had been
given to the church by the donor for this on-going remembrance.
Mrs. Hubbard’s schedule was interesting and I tried to follow it to the letter. Serving on the
Chancel Committee was an honor. One member’s name was on the list for fifty years; however, she
was inactive during my service. We always kept room for the offering plates on the altar (stacking
two and two) when having big full displays.
Since I served on the Chancel Committee, I am always aware of the flowers on the altar or
the table. We found that the flowers on the small tables are more noticeable as the light is better.”
Aside from the chance to donate something beautiful in
memory or in honor of loved ones or their milestones, what do
flowers really add to a Sunday service?
Flowers come in an astonishing array of colors, scents and
forms and are appreciated for their uplifting effects on the spirit, body
and mind. Studies show that keeping ornamental plants in the home
increases memory retention and concentration. The calming influence
of natural environments increases a person’s ability to concentrate on
the tasks at hand. Keeping flowers around the home and in the workplace also greatly reduces a person’s stress levels. Natural aesthetic
beauty is soothing, and ornamental flowers lower anxiety levels.
Continued on page 6
A chancel display in the past
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Featured Ministry
Easter Flowers
at Trinity
Continued from page 5
If flowers can have these effects in the home, surely they can have similar effects anywhere, including
church. In addition, flowers that are left after Worship at
Trinity are traditionally put in vases and taken to shut-in
church members or those in the hospital.
Studies show that shrubs, trees and flowers have a practical application in hospitals. The
presence of plants in patient recovery rooms greatly reduces the time necessary to heal. The soothing effects of ornamental flowers and plants are so great that simply having daily views of flowers
and other ornamental plants in landscaped areas outside patient recovery rooms significantly speed
up recovery time.
Maybe this is a ministry that does more for us all than we have realized, and maybe it is
time to give it another chance to bless us again. Maybe it’s time to start again noticing the flowers
on the chancel table, to enjoy them, to take time to remember the person they are given in memory
of, or to appreciate the person they are honoring. Maybe more shut-ins can receive the gift of
lovely flowers that says, “You are not forgotten.”
In our haste, we miss many magical moments that if we stopped to recognize them could
make a big difference in our lives.
“Stop and smell the flowers,” is a misquote of advice from the golfer Walter Hagen that
appeared in the 1956 book, The W alter Hagen Story. But the idea is not lost. He had said,
“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers
along the way.”
The “Harvest Table”
at a Thanksgiving
Service in the past.
HOW TO DONATE CHANCEL FLOWERS:
There are many options! Contact Cindy Jones, Chancel Chair, to get started.
 Many families choose one or more Sundays on which to annually donate flowers. Contact the Chancel Chair to
find out what Sundays are available. (Many are!) Or, one time donations are always welcomed!
 Birthday Flowers: We would like to begin having flower s each month to honor all bir thdays. Choose one
month of the year to donate birthday flowers in honor of all church member birthdays during that month!
Remember, you can either take care of the ordering yourself, or tell the Chancel Chair your preferences. Or, you
could simply donate an amount (starting at $30.00) and let the Chair choose the arrangement.
The Chancel Committee also decor ates the chancel and sanctuar y for var ious holidays and seasons. They can
always use an extra hand or more members. Contact the Chancel Chair if you would like to be more involved.
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Outside Groups Meeting at TUPC
Church Calendar
NA
Mondays, 10:30 AM & 7PM
AA
Tuesdays, 7PM
Alanon Wednesdays, 8PM
NA
(Women) Wednesdays, 7PM
NA
Thursdays, 10:30AM
NA
Fridays, 10:30 AM &
(Men) 7PM
NA
Sun
1
Mon
2
10am Adult Sunday School
11am Worship
12pm Coffee Hour
4pm Organ Recital
8
Tue
3
4
9
10
Thu
5
7pm Book Journey
10am Adult Sunday School
11am Worship
12pm Coffee Hour
Fri
Sat
6
7
13
14
6:00 Bells
7:15 Choir
11
12
10:00am Presbyterian Women
6:00 Bells
7pm Session
15
16
10am Adult Sunday Touchstone ArtiSchool
cle Deadline
10am New Member
Class
11am Worship
12pm Coffee Hour
17
22
24
10am Adult Sunday School
10am New Member Class
11am Worship
12pm Coffee Hour
Wed
Saturdays, 7:00PM
23
18
7:15 Choir
19
20
21
27
28
Ash Wednesday
7pm Ash Wednesday Service
6:00 Bells
25
26
7:15 Choir
6:00 Bells
7:15 Choir
Love is patient; love is kind;
love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
It is not irritable or resentful;
It does not rejoice in wrongdoing,
but rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. Love never ends.
...And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;
and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13)
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From the Music Ministry
Many
church musicians subscribe to various groups and receive literature and
magazines that usually only appeal to the select that are “nerdy” enough to read it.
With that said, I try to get my hands on all the literature I can from choral and organ groups, and even one from my former days as an English Education major.
The article (below) that is being shared this week is from one such magazine to which my first organ teacher subscribed for me and I’ve continued for fourteen years. I’ve come back to this article many times over the years because it is a
good refreshment of the call to serve and also to share with the congregation to remind how powerful the music during worship needs to be. The article is shared in
its entirety. I hope you enjoy it and that is speaks to you in a similar way.
Also, I wish to include a littler blurb about the Anthem the choir sang this past Sunday (1/28)- “We Walk By
Faith”. Without an engineering feat in the 1830’s, the real Dunlap’s Creek might have remained forever a small
stream unnoticed outside the community of Brownsville, through which it flows. Today, one-hundred, seventy–five
years later, Dunlaps’ Creek Bridge, part of the original Route 40 and the first bridge in America to be constructed of
cast iron, still stands. Today, also, there are two hymn tunes still standing with the title, one from Southern Harmony
with the text, “My God, My portion”, and this one I found in both the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal and the current Lutheran Online Hymnal called, “We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight.” It’s a favorite tune of mine and several in the
choir that really does “hit home.”
I hope your February is full of love!
Perspectives
By Shirley Schroeder
From “The Organ Portfolio” September/October 2004
“Oh, come on. What you do isn’t all that important,”
argued Dan.
“Think you could handle the job?” asked Carrie.
“Bet you’d fall apart before the bell rang.”
“Really. All you do is play a little music. Can’t
be all that hard.”
“A little music. Ever go to a service where the
organist doesn’t care about the job and it shows? I have,
and it draws attention away from what’s important—
God’s word.”
“Yea, well, I gotta get going.”
Watching her brother walk away, Carrie wonders, “I know my job is important, but am I making too
much of it?”
When looking at the big picture, is an organist
really all that vital? Someone sitting on an organ
bench, playing a little music one or two hours a week
on a Sunday morning?
Joe Average strolls into church—the preservice music softly playing so that he has some time
to meditate. He slumps into a pew next to the aisle and
bows his head. The bell rings and the strands of “Open
Now They Gates of Beauty” envelop him and he grabs
the hymnal. On cue he begins to sing, his thoughts on
the beautiful words of the familiar hymn. Organ ends.
He rises for the liturgical responses. Easy to handle—
just follow the organ. It’s always there.
He fumbles for his envelope during the offertory, thinking how lovely “Amazing Grace” sounds with
a violin playing the melody. He realizes the endless
love of his God every time he ponders the words to that
hymn.
Continued on page 9
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From the Music Ministry
Continued from page 8
After the benediction, the lively Bach Tocatta indicates it’s time to leave. He rises, nods a
greeting here and there, and bounds out the door
with the music ringing in his ears. Another Sunday, another church service attended, and he feels
a quiet peace after worshiping his God and hearing God’s Word.
Joe’s church holds 200 members and sits
on a corner in Peoplesville, USA. It’s one of
thousands and thousands like it across the nation.
The scene described above goes on every Sunday
of the year in most of these churches.
Does it seem at times that the organist is
taken for granted? If so, is that any different than
how we feel about the pastor or the teachers or
the janitor? What these people do can be compared to a professional athlete who has perfected
his game to the point where what he does looks
easy to the spectator. But looks can be deceiving.
It takes a lot of hard work for the professional to
make a performance look easy.
Take Susie Starlet. She looks at her job
as organist much like an actress in a play. She
must be there; must know when to come in, when
to wait. Her hymn introduction has to be accurate to ensure confidence so she can lead the congregation in singing. The pastor trusts she’s going to be there when he needs her and the people
trust her. Much rests on her shoulders because
they depend on her. She must not falter or the
flock is lost.
All Susie’s practicing culminates in a
smooth service. One event follows the other in a
logical, precise way. When all goes well, she’s
barely noticed, but let something go wrong and
all eyes turn to her. If there’s a change in the service, she better catch it or there’ll be that awkward silence when the goofs and the smooth flow
of the service will be disrupted.
Susie must pay attention to her duties
every minute of the service—except during the
sermon, when she can sit and listen like everyone else. Only then can she relax and catch her
breath. With the pastor’s “Amen” she’s quickly
back on the bench and the drama continues for
the rest of the service.
Susie strives to portray relaxation and
confidence. Enthusiastic hymn playing is essential. Her goal is to have her musical talents
come off as background for meditation, leadership for hymns and liturgy, and accompaniment
for choirs. She must not falter. She must carry
on until the last member leaves the church and
the curtain falls, for she is an important part of
the drama.
How significant is an organist? Imagine
a service without one. Could a service even
function? Of course. Years ago there were no
organists. The only music was voices struggling
along. But then again, imagine Easter without
improvisations of “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” or “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” - no
thrilling sounds of “O Holy Night” on Christmas
Eve or “the Birthday of a King” on Christmas
Day. How different it would be. So what Susie
Starlet does is important.
When looking at the broad picture, the
pastor, organist, choir, architecture, décor, furniture are all there so members can worship God
and hear God’s Word. A well-organized service
is the best climate for this to be accomplished.
So, as organists, whether we’re taken for granted—which really means doing the job so well it
seems easy—or truly appreciated, we understand
the importance of our role. Keeping our eye on
the goal—aiding worshippers in drawing near to
God—makes it all worthwhile. ◊
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Family Fun in February
The third Monday in February, observed in the
United States in honor of US presidents, especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who were born in February.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Football Themed Pizza!
SOUPER Bowl!
The Fayette County Community Action Agency Food Bank’s Annual Souper Bowl Program:
For every dollar donated and earmarked for the
food bank, they will be able to provide $10.00
worth of Nutritious foods. You may also participate in Souper Bowl Sunday by donating
non-perishable food items. As you watch the
game and enjoy your special Super Bowl recipes, we urge you to spend a moment to reflect on your less-fortunate neighbors.
Super Bowl Party Game Idea!
Send checks to: Fayette County Community Action Agency
Food Bank
119 North Beeson Boulevard
Uniontown, PA 15401
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
79 West Fayette Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
————
NON-PROFIT ORG.
Trinity United Presbyterian Church
Permit No. 85
Uniontown, PA
Return Service Requested
Please join us for Music Director Kyle Lively’s organ recital!
Kyle will perform some top hits and favorite requests.

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