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Steeple TalkTrinity Presbyterian Church Santa Cruz

“Coincidences” 1

Session 2

Things That Make Us Happy 3

Trinity Skate Party 4

Non-Prophet Corner 5

Vacation Bible Camp 6

June Calendar 7

Sunday Saints 8

Meetings:Fellowship Meeting

June 1, 6:00 p.m., Karen Wichelmann’s home

WCE MeetingJune 14, 11:00 a.m.,

Fireside RoomSession Meeting June 14, 5:30 p.m.,

Fireside RoomDeacons’ MeetingJune 26, 11:30 a.m.,

Fireside RoomDates to Remember:

Book ClubJune 27, 7:00 p.m.,

Joanne Clever’s homeBoutique

June 7 & 21, 9:30 a.m., Youth Room

Sweet PeaJune 11 & 25,

9:00 a.m., Youth RoomTrinity Skate PartyJune 28, 7:30 p.m.,

Santa Cruz Roller PalladiumNewsletter Articles Due

June 28

From time to time we are blessed with hearing from guest writers in the cover article of the Steeple Talk. This month we are all privileged to enjoy the writing of Jan Dunbar. She and I discovered that our lives overlap in a way that surprised us both. I asked if she might tell the story and she agreed. Thank you Jan for your story.

“Coincidences” Witness here a short cautionary tale of frontier mission and uncanny coincidences. In 1908, the tracks of Union Pacific Railroad came to a predictable halt at the western boundary of Yellowstone Park. No railroads in the park. Abruptly a tent-and-log-cabin frontier town grew with all the glamour and muck of illegal gambling, bootlegging, and oddly, impromptu church services in a dance hall. It took few credentials to officiate in Sunday services. One can imagine the quality, the diversity, the unexpected and sometimes dubious values exhibited.

Fast forward. 1950: a small brown church, seating perhaps 200 at most, a non-denominational church, financed locally by the few, struggling to present a worship venue for the many who made short overnight visits during “the season.” Then news: The Presbytery of the Yellowstone invites the little brown church to become a Mission Church, a way to bring a stable church community into existence with a pastor of its own, albeit a shared or “yoked” pastor who served, in this case, four other churches in a hundred-mile area and in what may be the most intense winters in the U.S. PCUSA funded this effort. And I am here to shout from the rooftops that it worked. By 1961 we were part of that church family.

Word went out to the Presbyterian seminaries that this tiny mission church had an attached manse with basic amenities. Yes, indoor plumbing. Louisville Seminary, obviously one of the most prestigious, idly mentioned that such a facility was available in the “off season” for its exemplary stable of professors, just perhaps. And guess what? From 1962-1966, five venerable and respected professors came for the summers with their families. What church anywhere could duplicate such an amazing feat? With a set of coaches like that, the Mission Church quickly assumed its own responsibilities, and off it went.

Continued on next page…

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One of the visiting professors, Arnold Black Rhodes, came with his wife Lela in 1963. I was part of the Sunday School that summer. It would take pages to tell of the remarkable qualities and magnificent personalities of those two. So where are the coincidences? #1 is that we Dunbars, active for many years in the little church, became sometime-attendees of Trinity Church in Santa Cruz. #2 is that its pastor, Evie Macway, is a graduate of Louisville Seminary, was a student of A.B.’s, had served as a student pastor and then later pastor in the church attended by the Rhodes, and was a close friend of Arnold Black and Lela Rhodes. “Evie, you mean you actually knew and worked with the Rhodes?” Dr. Rhodes had subsequently suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, and after his death was recognized with the designation of a “Chair” named for him at the seminary. Yes, Evie not only knew them but had remained a friend of Lela and her family all these years. The whole MISSION Church idea was a work in progress during the time Cal and I were in West Yellowstone, and the uncanny opportunity to know and learn from such remarkable professors, exemplified by the Rhodes, was a bonus of major proportions to our community. Then, the drop-jaw COINCIDENCE of Evie’s career experiences with the same unforgettable Rhodes makes for an almost unbelievable scenario.

Somebody once told me that a coincidence is God working anonymously. Yes, I am convinced. -Jan Dunbar

May 2016 Session Meeting The May 10 Session meeting was opened with prayer by Moderator, Evie Macway.

The meeting began with a time of reflection on Matthew 22:37-40, one of the scripture texts that is the focus of reflection and discernment for the Presbytery of San Jose this year:

37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Evie reported that she and deacon, Amanda Bell shared home communion with church members Mary and Gene Gilliland and June Hoover on April 28. Juanita Stock and Bob Scott will be the ruling elder commissioners from Trinity at the next meeting of the Presbytery of San Jose on June 4. Committee Reports included the following: Worship and Christian Education: Evie reported that Bernie Adeney-Rissacotta, PCUSA missionary in Indonesia will be preaching at Trinity on August 21, 2016. Plans continue for Vacation Bible Camp, scheduled for July 18-22. Administration: The cedar tree in the Poplar yard has been trimmed and the corner of the yard near the Poplar house has received considerable clean up. The new irrigation system in the yard is to be up and running by mid-May. Outreach: Committee member, Amanda Bell is exploring new ways to publicize Trinity Presbyterian Church on Facebook. The photographer will be here taking photos for a new church pictorial directory on October 7 and 8. Look for more details soon.

After hearing a number of prayer concerns, it was MSP to adjourn the meeting with prayer. Next meeting will be June 14, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room.

T R I N I T Y P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

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Financial Report January - May 2016

Income $128,757 Expense $110,583 Net $18,174

June Birthdays1 Chad Bell2 Pete Halper4 Isaac Beach, Joseph Ribeiro10 Kate Miller17 Mary Ann Hobbs18 Cliff Brothers20 Jake Eschen-Pipes24 Bethany Eschen-Pipes29 Rosie Bell, Ed Sams, Lenore Spalaris

June Anniversaries 23 Dave & Evie Macway

If  you  don’t  see  your  special  date  listed,  please  call  the  church  of5ice,  

831-­‐423-­‐8995  and  let  us  know!

Things That Make Us Happy…• All the folks who baked cookies

and stayed after church to help fill the boxes for the Care Packages that were sent to eleven college kids - all connected in some way to the Trinity family. Our current college students are: Katherine Macway, Megan Durham, Loren Edwards, Fatima Miranda, Weston Gomez, Bethany Eschen-Pipes, Harli Law, Ryan Moll, Alicia Dashiell, Christina Robinson and Meghan Collins.

• To hear that Florence Nuss has knit her 250th premie cap!

• To hear Chuck Cobery’s moving sermon last month. Thank you Chuck for sharing your faith and life with our Trinity family.

• To enjoy the beautiful corsages given to all the moms and women during worship on Mother’s Day. A special thanks to Deacons for providing the supplies, Karen Wichelmann for coordinating the efforts and Jean Bowerman, Janice Peak, Betty Gangware and Joanne Clever for being Karen’s talented assistants!

• To hear that Meghan Collins received an Outstanding Musical Theater Student award from Chico State.

• To hear that The Hooleys are staying in Santa Cruz. Mark's new employer is Flex. The day after he signed his employment papers he headed to Vietnam.

• For the generosity of Trinity folks who contributed to help Fatima with green card and educational expenses. Thanks to you, Fatima was given a check for $990!

• To receive the gift of glass communion cups from Felton Presbyterian Church. Thank you Marta Narus for your part in this.

Visit us on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trinity-Presbyterian-Church/135556766517

Fellowship PicnicJoin us following worship on June 19 as there will be a barbecue to honor our wonderful choir as well as all the fathers. Please plan to bring a dish to share.

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Book ClubThe June book on the agenda for the Book Club is “Gutenberg’s Apprentice” by Alix Christie. Book Club always meets on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at Joanne Clever’s home. Come join us!!! We are a friendly group.

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Congratulations Graduates!• Katherine Macway will graduate from the University of California, Davis,

with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering this June. • Levi Santos-Nuss will graduate from Harbor High School this June

and will attend University of California, Santa Barbara, in the fall. Levi is the grandson of Florence Nuss.

• Fatima Miranda graduated from Cabrillo College with an Associate of Arts degree in International Studies.

• Meghan Collins graduated from Chico State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Musical Theatre in May.

• Megan Durham will graduate from California Polytechnic State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology this June.

• Ryan Moll will graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Statistics this June. Ryan is the significant other of our administrative assistant, Maggie.

Trinity Skate PartyTrinity Deacons will be hosting a skate party on Tuesday, June 28 at the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium, located at 1606 Seabright Ave. Party time is between

7:30-9:30 p.m. Youth are encouraged to bring a friend if they wish. The Deacons will be paying for both admission and skate rental. This is a private party, thus we will have the entire rink for Trinity Presbyterian. Come join Evie and Pete for the Hokey-Pokey, music, and games. For more information, contact Pete Halper.

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The Non-Prophet CornerDarrell  W.  Yeaney,  Parish  Associate  

Updating the Science and Religion Dialogue

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In her marvelously succinct little book (80 pp.) theologian Barbara Brown Taylor explores, summarizes and offers insights into the Religion vs. Science debate from which every thoughtful Christian – or for that matter – any person would benefit. In her book entitled The Luminous Web, Taylor quotes theologian Bennett Sims who speaks of Jesus as the prototype of an entirely new level of evolving humanity. As much as Jesus may have looked like any other Homo Sapiens (cunning humanity), Sims says, “he was not. He was the firstborn Hetero Pacificus (peaceable humanity), who came to bring a new species of creature into being.” Obviously, if true, we 21st Century humans who continue to poison our universe with our pollution and slaughter one another in our lust for power and wealth, have not proceeded very far on the evolutionary – and revolutionary – way of Jesus. However, if 21 Century Christians are sincerely committed to the transformational Way of Jesus, then we have much to learn from the faith of scientists who have led humans in their collaborative search toward the amazing discoveries of the human connection and interdependence on the luminous web

of all life and indeed the unifying mystery of the universe. The implications for the Christian community of faith – the church – become clear whenever we see how the Way of Jesus does not separate us from our neighbors who “grow up” like us in other religious faith traditions. Rather it calls us to find common ground in our stories and our values. Our mission is to listen and to share, to learn together from the “faith” of scientists that it is through honest exploration and collaborative sharing that we can move beyond our warring ways, and toward an inter-faith sharing and cooperation that implements Jesus’ vision of the “Reign of God.” For it is the faith of science and religion that tells us, in the words of British biochemist Arthur Peacock, “we are that part of the cosmos consciously capable of being aware of and responding to that immanent Presence” – God. Indeed as Taylor writes, “in human beings, matter has become aware of itself. In us, God has given all creation a voice.” You are invited to join in a discussion of Barbara Brown Taylor’s stimulating book at the June 1st Progressive Christian Forum meeting in the Trinity Fireside room on Wednesday, at 12:00 p.m.

S E Q U O I A C L U B

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T R I N I T Y P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

SundayA.A. 8-9 p.m., Fellowship Hall

MondayO.A. 12:15-1:15 p.m., LibraryA.A. 8-9 p.m., Youth Room

TuesdayBoutique Workshop (Every first and third Tuesday) 9:30 a.m., Youth RoomOA 1-2 p.m., Youth RoomA.A. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Fellowship HallC.A. 7-8 p.m., Youth RoomBoy Scouts 7:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall

WednesdayOA 10:30-11:30 a.m., Youth RoomNeuropathy (Every other third Wednesday) 1 p.m., Fireside RoomOmbudsmen (Every fourth Wednesday) 10-12, Fireside Room

Faith Community Shelter 5:30 p.m.- 6:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall

ThursdayO.A. Workshop 11:30-12:30 p.m., Youth RoomO.A. 1-2 p.m., Youth RoomF.A. 9-10:30 a.m., Library

Friday A.A. 7:30-9 p.m., Fellowship HallAlanon 7:45-9:15 p.m., Youth Room

SaturdaySweet Pea (Every second and fourth Saturday) 9:00 a.m., Youth Room

Korean Presbyterian ChurchFriday 8:00 p.m., Sanctuary Saturday 7-8 a.m., Sanctuary Sunday 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., Sanctuary3-6 p.m., Fellowship Hall

Groups Using Trinity Facilities

Reminder: Fourth Tuesday Lunch is on recess until September.

See you in a few months!

Trinity Vacation Bible Camp 2016There is still time to sign up for Trinity Vacation Bible Camp 2016! The dates this year will be July 18-22. Camp is open to all children ages 4 through rising 5th graders. The theme this year is Surf Shack: Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing Love. What could be better for Santa Cruz! Registration forms are available at http://www.trinitypressc.org/day_camp_registration_form Spread the word!

Hike at Byrne-Milliron ForestJoin us Saturday, June 4, at Byrne-Milliron Forest off Browns Valley Road near Corralitos for an all church hike. Byrne-Milliron provides multiple scenic trails of redwoods, creeks, views, and even scattered unique wood carvings. There are a variety of trail loops to provide: shorter 1 mile Family Hike to picnic table with wood carvings, 2-3 mile Moderate Adventure Hikes which can include drop down along a creek to visit the “Great White Redwood Tree,” as well as 3-5 mile Challenge Hike with “Eagle in the Tree” vista for those who climb the “Ridge Top Trail.” Meet at Trinity parking lot at 8:30 a.m., and we will plan groups to be back by noon. Contact George (geobunch@gmail.com, 600-8338) with questions.

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T R I N I T Y P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Office Hours:Tues. - Thurs.10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

1Fellowship Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Karen Wichelmann’s home

Progressive Christian Forum, 12:00 p.m., FS

Faith Community Shelter, 5:30 p.m, FH

2

Bible Study, 1:00 p.m, Fireside Room

3 4

5Adult Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., SanctuaryWorship Service, 10:30 a.m.

6Office Open

7

Boutique, 9:30 a.m., Youth Room

8

Faith Community Shelter, 5:30 p.m, FH

9

Office Closed

Bible Study, 1:00 p.m, Fireside Room

10 11

Sweet Pea, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Youth Room

12Adult Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., SanctuaryWorship Service, 10:30 a.m.

13

Office Closed

14W.C.E. Meeting, 11:00 a.m., FS

Session Meeting, 5:30 p.m., FS

15

Faith Community Shelter,5:30 p.m., FH

16 17

Office Closed

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19Adult Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., SanctuaryWorship Service, 10:30 a.m.Fellowship Picnic, 11:30 a.m., FH

20

Office Closed

21

Boutique, 9:30 a.m., Youth Room

22

Faith Community Shelter,5:30 p.m., FH

23 24Office Closed

25

Sweet Pea, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Youth Room

26Adult Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomWorship Service, 10:30 a.m.Deacons’ Meeting, 11:30 a.m., FS

27Book Club, 7:00 p.m., Joanne Clever’s home

Office Closed

28Newsletter Articles Due

Trinity Skate Party at Santa Cruz Roller Palladium, 7:30 p.m.

29Faith Community Shelter,5:30 p.m., FH

30 Office Hours:Tues. - Thurs.10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

June 2016

Trinity Presbyterian Church420 Melrose Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Phone: 831-423-8995Email: trinitysc@sbcglobal.netWeb: www. trinitypressc.org

July 3 Communion ServersFrank Miller, Kate Miller, Marta Narus,

Juanita Stock

June 5 Frank & Kate Miller Sally Walters Pete Halper Karen Wichelmann

June 12 Elizabeth Bunch Deacons Mark & Beth Hooley Carolyn Brothers

June 19 Amanda Bell Fellowship Picnic David Gomez Joanne Clever

June 26 Reed, Sunshine, Dale Bradshaw & David Gomez Nancy Cobery& Mia Duffus Lenore Spalaris

June 5 Communion ServersJean Bowerman, Barbara Christie, Michael Christie, Lenore Spalaris

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