M A Y 2 0 1 5

Steeple TalkTrinity Presbyterian Church Santa Cruz

From the Pastor 1

Session 2

Church News 3

Things That Make Us Happy

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Non-Prophet Corner 5

Update from our Missionaries in Indonesia

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May Calendar 7

Sunday Saints 8Meetings:

Deacons Meeting, May 12, 1:00 p.m.,

Fireside RoomFellowship Meeting,

May 13, 6:00 p.m., Karen Wichelmann’s homeAdministration Meeting,

May 21, 4:00 p.m.,Fireside Room

Dates to Remember: Bible Study

May 7, 14, 21, & 281:00 p.m., Fireside Room

Book ClubMay 25, 7:00 p.m.,

Joanne Clever’s homeFourth Tuesday Lunch

May 26, 12:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall

BoutiqueMay 5 & 19

9:30 a.m., Youth RoomSweet PeaMay 9 & 23

9:00 a.m., Youth RoomNewsletter Articles Due

May 19

Ashes to Ashes....

During the last couple of months two committees of our Session have been considering the creation of a memorial garden on our church property. Both the WCE (Worship and Christian Education Committee) and the Administration Committee, the committee that addresses issues concerning our church property, have taken up the topic in response to a few requests that a memorial garden become a reality at Trinity.

The idea is to create a memorial garden in the corner of the Poplar Avenue yard where there is currently a small garden. This would be a place where church members could request that their ashes be scattered following their death. There would be both a plaque and book in which the names of those remembered in the garden would be recorded. The garden would not be a place where ashes would be buried in containers like a columbarium. Rather, the ashes would be scattered, returning to the soil.

A place for the remembrance and interment of the earthly remains of church members on church property has a long history in the Christian faith. There are several churches in our presbytery that have memorial gardens. The Session feels that the idea of creating such a place at Trinity warrants our prayerful consideration.

To this end the WCE committee asked Truett Bobo, regular worshiper here at Trinity and board member of the local chapter of the Funeral Consumer Alliance to do some research on the feasibility of such a project. Truett learned, and shared with the Session, that it appears such a garden would meet city approval. Before moving forward with plans for the garden however, the Session requested that we as a congregation take some time to pray and consider such a move, giving all of us some time to share thoughts on the idea.

So, in the weeks ahead our Session invites us to take some time to reflect on the possibility of a memorial garden at Trinity. Is this something you might use? Would you appreciate having such a place here at the church for prayer? Share your thoughts with our current Session members. (Ellen Bauerle, Reed Duffus, Jennie Edwards, Jeff Lawton, Charlie May, Frank Miller, Bob Scott) The Session will take up the matter again in May.

As much as we associate the phrase, ‘ashes to ashes and dust to dust...’ with our rituals of committing those who have died to God, it is not a phrase that comes from scripture. It is a phrase however that reminds us that we are forever a part of God’s creation. Decisions we make around plans for our own death or those of ones we love are powerful ones. I look forward to conversations with you regarding ways Trinity may play a part in those plans and decisions.

In Faith,Evie

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March 2015 Session MeetingThe Session met on March 24, 2015. Moderator, Evie Macway, opened the meeting with prayer. Items the Session addressed included the following:

• Work on the Poplar Street House continues. Bob Scott and Charlie May are currently working with our general contractor on the house.

• Truett Bobo, invited by the Worship and Christian Education committee, reported on his research concerning a possible Memorial Garden on Trinity’s property.

• Frank Miller reported that two more speakers will be installed at the back of the sanctuary. The speakers will be situated half way back in the sanctuary.

• Debbie Bates is the new director of the Faith Community Shelter.• Our Mission Statement, as found on our web page, is as follows: “A member congregation of the

Presbyterian Church (USA), Trinity is an open and inclusive church that is both Christ-centered and mission-driven. We are committed to growing together in our walk of faith and serving Santa Cruz and the world at large in the name of Christ.” It was MSP to approve this statement for 2015.

Dates to mark on your calendar:• Evie will be attending the San Jose Presbytery Clergy Retreat in Carmel on April 20 – 21.• April 26 is the next Service Worship Sunday.• Geoff Browning will preach on May 17th.• Vacation Bible Camp is set for July 6 – 10. The theme is “G Force-In God we move, live, and have our

being.” T-shirts will be ordered for both children and teachers.• Maggie will be out of the office from April 23 to May 7. LeAnn Rudolph will fill in for Maggie.After hearing a number of prayer concerns, it was MSP to adjourn the meeting with prayer.

Next meeting will be April 22, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room.

New Member Spotlight: Chuck and Nancy Cobery Married for over 20 years, Chuck and Nancy Cobery are “having a blast” together in Santa Cruz. Nancy is a nurse at Dominican Hospital, specializing in surgeries. Early in her nursing career she tried out some other fields, but enjoyed the operating room best and has been practicing there for about 30 years. She grew up in the San Joaquin Valley where she met Chuck while he was stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station. Chuck’s father was in the Air Force, so he grew up all around the country, including southern California, Florida, and Illinois. He attended the University of Florida where he studied English before joining the U.S. Navy. Nancy and Chuck were married in Washington D.C. Shortly thereafter, they, along with their three children from previous marriages, traveled to Hong Kong where they were stationed for three years. They travelled around China and had many adventures with the children, who were five, seven, and 14 years old at the time. Following Hong Kong, Chuck was stationed in Alameda where he served one more tour before retiring in 1994. The Coberys lived for many years in the East Bay and San Francisco for a year before settling in Santa Cruz permanently about three years ago. They are neighbors of Bob Scott, and attended Barbara’s memorial service at Trinity. They really liked the church and the people and started attending regularly. Nancy said they looked a long time for a church before settling here with us. Their children are somewhat scattered regionally, with their son and his family living in Dallas, their older daughter and her family in Santa Rosa, and their younger daughter and her family in Minneapolis (where she is carrying out the family military tradition in the Navy). They have four grandchildren in all, ranging in age from six to one. Chuck currently serves as a Federal Contract Investigator, which he mentioned nonchalantly at the end of our interview. I can’t wait to talk to him some more about this because I’m sure he has many interesting stories! Nancy and Chuck have a great energy and are a wonderful addition to our church family at Trinity! I hope you will take a moment to introduce yourself to them soon if you have not yet done so and welcome them home! -Amanda Bell

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Good News to ShareThanks to the Outreach Committee and David Gomez, you may have noticed the screen in the narthex displaying pictures and events in the life of the church. Do you have any celebrations, wedding, births, trips, or events that you’d like to share/have featured on the screen in the narthex? We’d love to hear/see about it! If you would like to share some good news happening in your life please e-mail David Gomez at gomezd@cruzio.com a (only a blurb, not a lot of text) and pictures or contact the church office at trinitysc@sbcglobal.net. We will add your good news to the Powerpoint in the Narthex and the “Things that make us happy” column in the Steepletalk.

April's Fourth Tuesday Luncheon will feature History of Founding of UCSC 50 Years Ago

We are pleased to have Bill Doyle of UCSC, one of initial faculty 50 years ago to discuss the founding of the University. He also played key role in starting the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at UCSC. Music will be supplied by our Preschool Children. Invite a friend or neighbor and join us Tuesday, April 28 at noon for this interesting program, fine food, and fun music.

An Opportunity to Help Spread Christian CharityThe Food Pantry at Holy Cross Church has been helping people in Santa Cruz for many years by distributing food and other necessities. The food comes from Second Harvest and other donations. Staffing comes from volunteers who take people around the shelves on a one-to-one basis. The shifts are 2 hours long, once or twice a month, either Wednesday morning (10-12), Wednesday afternoon (2-4), or Friday morning 10-12.Volunteers at the Holy Cross Food Pantry are in short supply at the moment. If you'd like to learn more about this and have 2-4 hours a month available, please contact the director, Irene Lennox (scotirene@yahoo.com ) or Pegatha Hughes (pegathahughes@gmail.com).

May 26 Luncheon: Jennie Edwards flute music and Pogonip Polo Club ProgramMay 26 Fourth Tuesday Luncheon at 12:00 p.m. will feature flute music by Jennie Edwards accompanied by Elizabeth Bunch with program about Pogonip and its Polo Club by one of founding polo players, Colleen McInerney-Meagher. Remember this is the day after Memorial Day Holiday so don't forget to mark your calendar ahead, invite a friend and come enjoy a fine lunch, great music, and interesting program.

Trinity Mission Activities UpdateTrinity has been engaged is numerous mission activities this spring. A few of these activities include:Several church members helping in the classrooms at Branciforte Junior High on a weekly basis. This effort has been an opportunity to help children with their reading and math skills and has given us the chance to build our relationship with those in our neighborhood. Those participating are enjoying the interaction and the students seem to be enjoying our involvement. Trinity continues as a founding church in the Faith Community Shelter program. We feed and house approximately 20 people every Wednesday night in the Fellowship Hall. The participants include men, women, and children and they have become a caring community that looks after each other. Those church members participating have built relationships with the guests and it is having a positive and meaningful effect on everyone who has engaged. Trinity continues to provide lunches on a monthly basis to the Habitat for Humanity workers who are building houses for lower income families. We also provide workers on a weekly basis to serve food at the Rebele Family Shelter which houses families needing temporary shelter. We continue to be a member church in the Santa Cruz al Salvador project, providing members who serve on the organization’s board of directors. Over the past many years members of Trinity have traveled with delegations to El Salvador in an effort to provide school supplies and scholarships; medical care; and to build relationships with our brothers and sisters in El Salvador. Another trip is currently being planned and organized for next winter. While the activities above are in no way inclusive of all of our mission activities, they provide a glimpse of the work being performed by members of our church. If you have interest in participating in any of these meaningful activities, or if you have a passion for some other activity that would promote the work of Christ in this community and world, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of the members of the mission committee. Even better, please join our committee, we would love to have you!

May 3 Cinco de Mayo LuncheonPlan to stay for lunch after church on Sunday, May 3. The Fellowship Committee has planned a taco salad bar in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Please bring your own table service, your appetite, and interest in some social time with Trinity family.

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May Birthdays2 Mary Blanchard, Kostas Spalaris 3 Harry Blanchard5 Bob McCarroll6 Veronica Christie7 Carolyn Brothers23 Jennie Edwards29 Jesse May31 Patricia Parshall

May Anniversaries 13 Allen & Janice Peek #70!25 Jake & Kathleen Eschen-Pipes29 Reed & Sunshine Duffus

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…• To enjoy the Lenten Dinner/Studies this spring.

Thank you to all the leaders and hosts for making this time of study and fellowship so special once again.

• To hear Martin Rojas-Dietrich sing Gethsemane during worship on Palm Sunday.

• To see all the beautiful flowers in worship on Easter Sunday. Thank you to Ellen Bauerle for all her work in decorating the sanctuary for the Holy Week services.

• To once again worship at the Blanchards’ home for our annual Easter Sunrise service. What a beautiful place to begin Easter day.

• To enjoy the special music at the Easter worship service. So exciting to sing the Hallelujah Chorus accompanied by a brass quintet! Thank you to the choir for their leadership and to Nicki for arranging and leading our guest musicians on Easter.

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

Calling All GraduatesIf you or someone in your family is graduating from middle school, high school, or college this spring please contact the church office and let us know by May 19. We will list all graduates in an upcoming newsletter and share the good news!

Trinity Vacation Bible Camp 2015Mark your calendars for TrinityVacation Bible Camp 2015! Thedates this year will be July 6-10.Camp is open to all children ages 4through rising 5th graders. The themethis year is G-Force: God’s Love in Action. Register online at trinitypressc.org, pick up a form in the narthex, or call the church office at (831) 423-8995.Spread the word!

Financial Report Jan. - March 2015

Income $90,183 Expense $62,457 Net $27,726

Book ClubBook Club will meet on the usual 4th Monday - the evening of April 27th - at the home of Joanne Clever at 7:00 pm. The book to be discussed is “Outliers - The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell. New faces are always welcome!Don’t forget to check out the book sale every Sunday during coffee hour. The shelved books are usually in the open door of the library. There are lots of good books on sale for $1.00 or whatever you choose to donate.

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The Non-Prophet CornerDarrell  W.  Yeaney,  Parish  Associate

Overcoming  Prejudice

We  are  all  familiar  with  the  song  from  the  musical  play  entitled  “  South  Paci5ic”  in  which  a  young  American  lieutenant  sings  to  the  island  girl  with  whom  he  has  fallen  in  love  and  is  then  reminded  of  the  racial  barriers  that  bar  him  from  pursuing  their  relationship;  “You’ve  got  to  be  taught  to  hate  and  fear,..  its  got  to  be  drummed  into  your  dear  little  ear…to  hate  all  the  people  your  relatives  hate…  you’ve  got  to  be  carefully  taught.”   But  as  we  know,  prejudice  is  not  limited  to  race  or  religion  or  national  origin.  Nor  is  it  taught  or  passed  on  only  from  one  family  to  another.  Prejudice  is  a  subtle  emotional  and  mental  conditioning  that  we  absorb  from  our  social  and  cultural  surroundings  without  knowing  it.  Most  of  us  were  born  WASPs  (White  Anglo  Saxon  Protestants)  and  have  absorbed  our  values,  beliefs  and  prejudices  from  within  that  social-­‐cultural  bubble.     These  inherited  cultural  prejudices  include  the  notion  that  we  (our  group)  are  somehow  “chosen  “  or  favored  by  God,  called  to  live  in  and  be  missionaries  of  a  nation  chosen  for  “Manifest  Destiny.”  We  hear  our  political  leaders  talk  about  the  “American  Century”  and  call  for  strong  (military)  leadership  to  assert  American  power  in  the  world.       Such  “patriotic”  prejudice  locks  our  minds  and  emotions  into  false  and  limited  compartments  which  are  often  

then  exploited  by  clever  leaders  who  are  hungry  for  power  and  control.     As  Christians  we  are  often  wooed  away  from  loyalty  to  the  Biblical  values  of  universal  compassion,  respect  for  the  Image  of  God  in  every  person  and  the  rejection  of  power  and  control  and  the  use  of  violence.  We  are  quick  to  accept  the  notion  that  only  through  the  exercise  of  American  power  can  we  be  safe  or  lead  the  world  to  become  more  like  us.      Our  Lord  Jesus  broke  out  of  the  prejudices  of  his  ethnic-­‐religious  (Greco-­‐Roman-­‐Hebrew)  background  and  taught  that  God’s  love  and  forgiveness  was  for  all  people  and  that  love  was  the  key  for  humans  to  unlock  the  stereotypes  of  their  lives  and  cultures  and  choose  to  be  part  of  a  timeless  global  family  that  he  called  the  “Reign  (‘Kingdom’)  of  God.”   Many  of  the  persons  we  Christians  regard  as  saints,  prophets  and  heroes,  are  individuals  who  have,  like  Jesus,  broken  out  of  the  prejudices  of  their  group  and  have  pointed  out,  through  words  and  deeds,  the  error  of  our  various  tribal  prejudices  and  stereotypes.  They  call  us  to  do  the  same.   This  requires  re5lection,  discernment,  listening  prayer  and  the  courage  to  step  out  of  the  approved  prejudicial  stereotypes  of  our  “group.”  This  might  be  called  the  way  of  the  prophet  or  the  way  of  discipleship  or  the  way  of  the  cross.    It  certainly  is  the  way  of  following  Jesus.

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An Update from our Missionaries Bernie and Farsijana Adeney-Risakotta in Indonesia

Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues,

Recently Farsijana celebrated her 50th birthday. We organized a big party with guests limited to 50 people, including our household, family and friends. We chose friends to represent different stages and parts of Farsijana’s life. Everyone was requested to share a gift in the form of a story, song, poem, prayer, dance, scripture, etc. A Muslim friend shared verses from the Qur'an while a Christian shared Bible verses related to the blessing of those who serve others, open their homes and build true family hospitality.

Eleven days after the party, Farsi joined young people in a poor village, to harvest cassavas from their gardens. She wanted to teach them to prepare new kinds of food from this common root plant. Rather than just sell the raw tubers at a low price, they could receive a much higher resale value if they process and cook it into saleable food. So after the harvest, all day long they cleaned, grated and cooked the cassavas. They made three kinds of Javanese cakes and four kinds of chips. The young farmers became entrepreneurs who could ask much higher prices for the product of their land. While they worked, they also prepared a delicious vegetable dish for their lunch, from young cassava leaves, picked straight from the garden.

The village youth are led by Luki Fidiantoro, a 27 year old, Muslim man. He lives adjacent to the rice fields with two brothers, a sister and their father. His mother died of diabetes. Luki graduated from a top university and works as a junior high history teacher. His job pays little but gives him plenty of time to serve the youth in his village. Among other activities, he offers them simple leadership training. Farsijana was invited to attend the annual evaluation of the village youth organization. From the evaluation, it was clear that Luki needs spirit from outside the community to encourage his voluntary service. As in many close knit communities, there was conflict. Some of the young people were angry over the results of competitions held in celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. They thought the committee was unfair in determining the winners. After Luki and his friends learned to make cassava cakes they took them to the alienated young people so that all could eat together and make peace.

Food is not just for taste or health. Food brings people together and can stimulate new visions for cooperation, using the common materials of everyday life to reduce poverty and improve everyone’s life. In the future, the young people led by Luki, will visit other villages, sharing their experience of processing cassava and making peace. Conflict resolution and economic empowerment are mutually reinforcing. To strengthen this vision, Farsijana is bringing the resources of our university to bear on the real practical problems of villagers. Dr. Singgih Santoso, the Dean of the Business School at Duta Wacana Christian University (DWCU), is holding workshops in entrepreneurship and small business development for villagers. In turn, his colleagues and students can go out of their classrooms and learn of the real economic problems of villagers at their source. As the impact spreads, the Peace and Conflict Studies program at the university will also become involved in this two way process of learning and sharing. Community economic development increases awareness of the urgency to cooperate, in spite of differences in religion, culture and experience. Working together for the common good brings a sense of justice and peace to family members in the villages.

Our life in Indonesia is not all celebration and work for the community. It also includes the unexpected pains of our human frailty. Last year Farsijana faced the stunning shock of a car accident that fractured two of her vertebrae and forced her to find new creative ways of living during her recovery. Now she is back to all her normal activities. Recently, Bernie followed her good example (not really!), and hurt his back after falling from his bicycle. He ended up in hospital for a week but is now out and making a rapid recovery. This week he was able to teach all of his classes at Universitas Gadjah Mada (History of Religions in Indonesia), Duta Wacana (Indonesian Social Ethics) and Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (Political Ideas). He is learning to live with pain and has to wear a back brace for about a month. Bernie is thankful for this accident, because it stimulated many new and powerful ideas, changing how he thinks about his identity and place in life. Sometimes God uses pain to get our attention.

We are grateful for all of you who know us and/or follow our journey. Some of you pray for us. Some of you support us financially through PCUSA. Some of you love us. Thank you so much.

Warm regards,Farsijana and Bernie Adeney-Risakotta

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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.

1Office Closed

2Santa Cruz al Salvador Wine Tasting, 3-5 p.m., Bargetto Winery

3Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.Cinco de Mayo Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall

4Office Closed

5

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

6Office Closed

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m, FH

7Bible Study, 1:00 p.m., FS

8Office Closed

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

10Bible Study, 9 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

11Office Closed

12Deacons Meeting, 1:00 p.m., FS

13Fellowship Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Karen Wichelmann’s home

Rotating Shelter5:30 p.m., FH

14

Bible Study, 1:00 p.m., FS

15Office Closed

16

17Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

18

Office Closed

19Boutique, 9:30 a.m., Youth Room

Newsletter Articles Due

20Neuropathy Group, 1:00, FS

Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m., FH

21Bible Study, 1:00 p.m., FS

Administration Meeting, 4:30 p.m., Fireside Room

22Office Closed

23Sweet Pea, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Youth Room

24Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m

25

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

Office Closed

26Fourth Tuesday Lunch, 12:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall

27Rotating Shelter, 5:30 p.m., FH

28Bible Study, 1:00 p.m., FS

29Office Closed

30

May 2015

31Bible Study, 9:00 a.m., Fireside RoomChoir Practice, 9:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m

Trinity Presbyterian Church420 Melrose Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

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

June 7 Communion Servers Reed Duffus, Frank Miller,

Kate Miller, Paul Seever

May 3 !! Mark & Beth Hooley! Cinco de Mayo Luncheon! Jane Beach and George Bunch! ! Juanita Stock

May 10!! Dave Macway ! ! ! Deacons! ! Charlie & Gwen May! ! ! Sally Walters

May 17!! Charlie & Gwen May! ! The Bunch Family ! David Gomez! Charlie & Gwen May

May 24!! George Bunch! ! ! Jane deVette! ! Bob Scott and Harry ! ! Lee & Emily Duffus! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! & Mary Blanchard!

May 31!! Chad Bell! ! Debbie & Greg Blackwell! Ed Sams! ! Leon Wong & Leonita Pistor ! ! ! ! ! and Ann Carle

May 3 Communion ServersMichael Christie, Jane deVette,

Sunshine Duffus, Bob Scott

If  you  would  like  to  receive  this  newsletter  via  email,  or  if  you  no  longer  wish  to  receive  this  newsletter,  please  send  us  an  email  or  give  us  a  call.  Thank  you!

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