The Trinity Vine April/May 2015 Issue

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you

can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”—John Wesley

The Trinity VineApril/May 2015 Issue

A publication of Trinity United Methodist Church, Denver, Colorado

A panel from a wall in the Youth Room on Level 1, where renovations will begin in the Plaza Building.

Contact Us

Church Office HoursMonday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church1820 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202

Phone: 303-839-1493 | Fax: [email protected]

www.Facebook.com/trinitydenverwww.Twitter.com/trinitydenver

www.YouTube.com/c/TrinityChurchDenverwww.Google.com/+TrinityChurchDenver

Our MissionTrinity United Methodist Church offers a welcoming and

transforming experience: the love of Jesus Christ.

This mission is further articulated through three goals:1. Inviting our congregation and others throughout the community

to Come Worship God2. Helping our congregation to Grow in Spirit

3. Preparing our congregation to Go Serve Christ

Come join us as we Grow Our Souls.

Trinity Staff

Dr. Michael D. DentSenior Pastor

Rev. Miriam SlejkoMinister of Discipleship

Rev. Linda MarshallMinister of Nurture

Judith MitchellDirector of Music and Arts

Wayne BrownDirector of Adult and Family Formation

Lee AndersonCare Coordinator

Cami TwillingDirector of Youth Ministries and

Contemplative Spirituality

Angie CumminsChurch Administrator

Erin AchesonDirector of Communications

Jill RampacekDiscipleship Assistant and Front Office Administrator

Juli Van HooserAdministrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor

Laura WinbergDirector of Finance

Sharon ScheminskeWedding Director

Jasper PetersDirector of Young Adult Ministries

Dan KrauseJames E. Barnes Iliff Intern

David WilcoxUrban Ministries Intern

In This Issue

Rev. Miriam Slejko Retires..............................5Women’s Retreat..............................................9Vacation Bible School...................................10 Brahms Requiem.....................................12-13New Members...............................................15United Methodist Women...........................17Contemplative Corner.................................18Second Century Foundation.......................20Staff Book Recommendation......................23 Upcoming Events................................6, 8, 10

The Challenge of Change

Dear Trinity Friends and Family,

As this edition goes to press, some major changes are underway at Trinity. The first is preparing for the long awaited renewal of the Plaza Building. Many of our staff members have been packing boxes, cleaning closets, throwing away the accumulated clutter of 30 years, and moving to new temporary shared offices for the next four months. It has been cathartic to cleanse our building of many items that are no longer useful here. Having donated 13 boxes of books to Iliff School of Theology, we have reduced what we have to move and have helped students preparing for ministry. Change, of course, brings stress. As someone remarked long ago, “The only person who likes change is a wet baby.” During the soon-to-begin demolition and reconstruction of the Plaza Building, there will be inconvenience. Inconvenience will be the operative word as level one of the building is rebuilt for four months, and then level two is renewed in a similar time frame. Classes will be moved. Meeting space will be limited. Offices will be shared. Patience will be required. Some additional money will be needed. During this time, our ministry will continue. Worship will be celebrated. Our nursery will operate. Our offices will be open. Our classes will continue. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other ministries will take place. There will be dust, noise, and other challenges as we renew our ministry center. But we will keep our eyes on the prize. We look forward to a warmer, safer, more attractive, functional, and efficient ministry center. Temporary inconvenience is the price we pay to move forward for ministry in the twenty-first century. Thank you for embracing the challenge of change for the good of God’s work among us. Thank you for your prayers, presence, and gifts in support of the renewal of a vital part of God’s house used nearly each day of the week. Change is also coming as we soon bid goodbye to two staff members in the next month. As you will read elsewhere in this newsletter, we are bidding farewell to Rev. Miriam Slejko who is retiring after ten years of service as Minister of Discipleship. She will preach on April 26, her final Sunday. Cristina Muldoon, Director of Children’s Ministries, is moving on to a new opportunity, as well. Her final day is Easter Sunday. While change always brings some anxiety, we know it also brings new hope, new opportunities and new ways of being in ministry. We worship a resurrection God who is always “doing a new thing”–one who brings life from death, hope from despair and new beginnings from endings. Thanks be to God for transitions that transform us in the midst of inconvenience!

Yours in Easter expectation, Pastor Mike

The Trinity PulpitWorship in April and May

Sundays, 8:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.Dr. Michael Dent, preaching

Sunday School is offered for children, youth and adults

at 9:30 a.m.

Holy Week Worship

April 2, 7 p.m.Maundy Thursday CommunionBlessing, Breaking, Body Building

April 3, 7 p.m.Good Friday Community Service

Brahms RequiemTrinity Chancel Choir, Soloists &

Orchestra

April 5Easter Sunday Celebration at

9 a.m. and 11 a.m.“I Am the Resurrection and the

Life” - Knowing God’s PossibilitiesJohn 11:17–26

Pancake Breakfast served by the Youth, 8–11 a.m.

Children’s Eggstravaganza, 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

April 12“The Opening in Doubt”

John 20:19–29Dr. Thomas Wolfe, preaching,

President & CEO, Iliff School of Theology

April 19“Disbelieving for Joy”

Luke 24:36b–48

April 26“Listen to Your Life”

John 21:1–19Rev. Miriam Slejko, preaching

continued on next page...3

We are pleased to report that a check in the amount of $50,000–half of our mission tithe to Metro Caring from the We’re Here for Life campaign–was delivered in March. We celebrate with Metro Caring in the opening of their new Hunger Relief Center. Community members are invited to attend their Grand Opening Celebration on April 23. Registration and information may be found at www.trinityumc.org under “Upcoming Events.” The contracts have been signed and demolition has begun on the Plaza Building! In late March Trinity staff and volunteers packed up offices and meeting rooms in preparation for the first phase of renovations to begin. Level 1 is now completely closed. Movers took 12 truckloads of furniture, decor, files and supplies to long-term storage, in addition to filling several dumpsters. Updates and photos will be provided throughout the process through our communication channels and at www.trinityumc.org/plaza-campaign.

From the Board of Trustees

News From the Rocky Mountain Conference

Rev. Paul Kottke named District Superintendent Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has appointed Rev. Paul Kottke, currently serving at University Park UMC in Denver, as the metro area’s new District Superintendent beginning July 1, 2015. Rev. Kottke graduated from the Iliff School of Theology in 1981 and served as founding director of Denver Urban Ministries that same year. Other previous positions include Director of Development for Iliff from 1985–1988 and pastor of Warren UMC from 1988–1995. “I’ve said for many years The United Methodist Church should be on the cutting edge,” Kottke said, adding that he firmly believes “the place to rebuild society” is within the church. “Churches have to be on the forefront, no matter location or size. We need to identify purpose and live into it.”

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The Trinity Pulpit(continued from page 3)

May 3“Better Than Dogs, Diamonds and

Double Plays!”John 15:9–17

Music by the Children’s ChoirRecognition of High School Seniors

May 10“My Big Fat Greek Mother”

Proverbs 31:10–31Mother’s Day

Second Century Sunday

May 17“Blessing Begets Blessing”

Luke 24:44–53Barnes Scholarship Presentation

Ascension Sunday

May 24“Don’t Forget to Remember”

Acts 2:1–21Pentecost Sunday

Celebration of Holy Communion

May 31Trinity Sunday

Exploring Trinity Class Joins

Rev. Miriam Slejko, Minister of Discipleship, will be retiring from the Trinity staff at the end of April. A native of New Jersey, Miriam joined Trinity in 1996 where she served on the Prayer Team, as Spiritual Gifts Teacher, Homebuilders Leader, and Mission Outreach Member and Chair. Miriam received a BA degree from Baldwin College in 1967 and a MS in Education in 1968 from the University of Pennsylvania. She served at the Durand Academy & Community Services from 1968-1985 in various capacities, including staff psychologist, director and executive director. From 1985-2005, Miriam worked for Tall Oaks Publishing, the last 15 years as general manager. Miriam’s call to ministry came through Trinity. In 2002 the church approved Miriam as a candidate for ministry. She attended the Iliff School of Theology, was commissioned and joined the Trinity staff in 2005, and was ordained a deacon in 2008. She serves as a member of the Metro District Committee on Ministry. Her focus at Trinity over the past decade has been in evangelism and missions. She has also preached, taught, married, buried, led Exploring Trinity, and served in the community representing Trinity with the Capitol Hill United Ministries, Colorado Council of Churches, and other mission connections. She is a graduate of the Five Day Spiritual Academy. Miriam and her husband have been married 38 years and have two daughters, one son-in-law, and two precious grandsons. Senior Pastor Michael Dent says, “We are so grateful for Miriam’s ministry at Trinity the past 10 years. She leads by example with joy, enthusiasm, creativity, and a positive spirit. She is a generous and gentle soul. Her love for God and God’s people is deep and genuine. Many of us have been blessed by Miriam’s leadership in our missions and evangelism. We look forward to celebrating her ministry on April 26!”

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Pastor Miriam Slejko to Retire April 30Contributed by Dr. Michael Dent, Senior Pastor

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is hosting a reception in Miriam’s honor on Sunday, April 26, following the 11:00 service. She will be preaching that day.

The SPRC invites all who would like to share in a love offering to honor and thank Miriam on her retirement from ministry. Checks may be mailed to the church marked

“Slejko Love Offering.”

Trinity Academy

Trinity Academy has moved to the Sanctuary during the Plaza Building renovation. With the new space comes room for more people! All are welcome to attend the remaining classes on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Upcoming classes:

April 12, 19 and 26: Dr. Amy Erickson from Iliff School of Theology will speak on Jonah’s Afterlives in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.(Class will not meet on Easter Sunday, April 5.)

May 3, 10 and 17: Dr. Albert Hernandez from Iliff School of Theology will speak on Religion and the Arts in the Italian Renaissance.

Upcoming Events

For additional information on these and other upcoming events, visit www.trinityumc.org/experience-trinity/upcoming-events.

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We rejoice in welcoming the Rev. Dr. Thomas Wolfe, president and CEO of Iliff School of Theology, to our pulpit Sunday, April 12. His message on the Sunday after Easter is The Opening in Doubt, from John 20:19-29. Tom and his wife Marilyn are both ordained elders in the United Methodist Church and became affiliated with Trinity last fall. Prior to his appointment to Iliff on August 1, 2013, Tom served as Senior Vice President and Dean of the Division of Student Affairs at Syracuse University since June 2008. He previously served as the fifth dean of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse for nine years as well as the Interdenominational Protestant Chaplain. Tom also served as pastor of United Methodist parishes in Moravia and Ithaca in upstate New York. He holds a BA degree from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University. He was ordained in 1980. Tom currently serves as the president of the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. He previously served as a trustee at Lycoming College. In 2014, Wolfe was elected to serve on the board of directors of the National Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities of the United Methodist Church. Prior to relocating to Denver, Tom served the central New York region as the president for InterFaith Works of CNY, chaired three White Ribbon Campaigns for Vera House where he completed two full terms on the board, serving as president in 2006, and was involved in a variety of community initiatives that brought diverse people together to address common concerns. In Denver, Tom has served an appointment to Governor Hickenlooper’s Commission on the Sand Creek Massacre Commemoration. He currently serves on the board of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and is an active member of the Religious Advisory Council and the Downtown Denver Rotary Club. He and Marilyn, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, have two daughters, Erin Barkan and Kimberly Wolfe, two sons-in-law, and a granddaughter. Trinity is blessed to have three outstanding Iliff students on its staff – Lee Anderson, Dan Krause, and Jasper Peters. It will be a wonderful day to welcome Iliff ’s president and our friend to preach on the Sunday after Easter.

Iliff President to Preach at Trinity April 12Contributed by Dr. Michael Dent

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Trinity QuiltersContributed by Judy Woodring Our mission of providing comfort and joy with our prayer quilts is validated when we receive notes from recipients. Here are some of the quotes:

“I’m a great believer in prayer and I love covering my lap with your beautiful quilt as I pray.” “The prayer quilt has stayed beside me during my recuperation from surgery, and I’m sure the love and blessings that are in my quilt helped my healing.” “The prayers are welcomed, much appreciated and felt!”

We strive to provide our members and their families with a Prayer Quilt to help comfort them during a difficult period, and as you can see from the quotes, the quilts do exactly that. Our meetings include fellowship and sharing of new techniques to use in our quilts. We meet on the second Saturday of the month and invite anyone interested to join us at one of our meetings, which will be held temporarily at Highlands United Methodist Church (3131 Osceola St., Denver) during the Plaza Building renovation. Please contact Sherry Valentic at [email protected] for further information about our group.

Upcoming Events


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Our Church FamilyContributed by Lee Anderson, [email protected], 303-839-1493 x11

We celebrate the life of Daisy Buhrmaster, who entered eternal life on January 9, and remember in prayer her husband Ed. We celebrate the life of Esther Tatlock, who entered eternal life on February 25. We remember Karen and Mike Bergman in the death of Karen’s mother on January 22, Peggy and Dwight Steen in the death of Peggy’s mother on January 25, Diane and Dan Hopmann in the death of Diane’s aunt on February 1, Susan and Jim Becia in the death of Susan’s mother on February 1, Dee and Don Felker in the death of Dee’s mother on March 4, and Shirley Ward in the death of her brother on March 7. We celebrate the birth of Colby Ryan and Jeffrey Henson to Matt and Natasha Harris on January 22, and Jean Christian to Rachel and Godefroid Mugara on January 31.

Our Family Serving Overseas Please update your church family on your loved ones! Have any of those listed below returned home? How are you and your family faring? We keep in our prayers these brave men and women serving overseas in the armed forces, and their families: Andy Haber, USAF, deployed to Qatar, nephew of Julie Gladney Sr. Airman Alex York, USAF, deployed to Saudi Arabia, husband of Megan Crichton Major Bradley Matthew May, US Navy, son of Tom and Carolyn May Petty Officer 2nd Class Wes Cody, US Navy, son-in-law of Clark and Ann Rheem Lt. Daniel Ford, US Navy, son of Michael and Joanne Ford Captain Tristan Felchlin, grandson of Joan and Jack Leimkuhler Sgt. Preston Linger, US Army, son of Kathy and Dan Linger

If you have updates to loved ones serving overseas or would like to have a family member placed on our prayer chain and listed in The Vine, please contact Lee Anderson at the contact information above.

Our Congregation

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2015 Spring Women’s RetreatContributed by Rev. Linda Marshall, [email protected]

Trinity’s Spring Women’s Retreat will collaborate with the Rocky Mountain Conference Women’s Retreat held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park April 24–26. This event promises to be a wonderful time of renewal, which includes Harriett Jane Olson, General Secretary and CEO of the United Methodist Women’s National Office, as the keynote speaker. “Spiritually Empowering Women” is the theme with scripture study on Ephesians 3:16. Special activities are planned for young women including assembling health kits for United Methodist Committee on Relief. More information on the retreat and how to register may be found at www.trinityumc.org/experience-trinity/upcoming-events/417-spring-women-s-retreat-2015.

Upcoming Events


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Support Trinity by Shopping Online!

The General Council on Finance and Administration of the United Methodist Church is pleased to present UMCmarket, a rewarding opportunity to earn money for your church. UMCmarket makes it possible for the church to receive donations from retailers every time someone within your congregation makes an online purchase. Every store at UMCmarket (including names such as Kohl’s, Macy’s, Petco, Barnes & Noble, Expedia, Overstock.com, Groupon, and many others) is happy to pay a percentage of the purchased amount as a donation to our church. There is no additional cost or charge to the church or the shopper. It is easy and free to sign up. Visit www.UMCmarket.org and click on the “Get Started” button to sign up. Download the Easy Give Button and find Trinity United Methodist Church Denver from the list of churches. Once the Easy Give Button is downloaded on your computer, you will see the UMC Cross and Flame icon in your internet browser toolbar. This Easy Give Button allows you to shop directly at store websites and know you are connected to the UMCmarket program. Each time Trinity reaches $100 in total donations from participating retailers, we’ll receive a check. Learn more and sign up at www.UMCmarket.org!

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Our CongregationA Christian Perspective on Mental IllnessContributed by Lee Anderson, [email protected]

On February 11, 2015, I was honored to participate in a presentation on preaching about mental illnesses as part of the Thought Leaders in Conversation conference at the Iliff School of Theology. I sat on a panel with three professionals representing the mental health community who either experience a mental illness or have a family member who does. My job was to hear their presentations and respond to the needs and hopes that I heard by speaking about how pastors can respond to the topic of mental illnesses. United Methodist beliefs make very clear that as members of the body of Christ, we are all in ministry. So, fellow ministers, here is what I want to share with you. There is an ongoing need to reduce stigma around mental illnesses. They are no more the fault of the individual than physical illnesses. And like physical illnesses, there is hope in proper treatment. The secrecy and shame around mental illness prevents people from seeking treatment that can lead to happier, fuller lives, isolating them and their loved ones. A man on this panel who lives with bipolar disorder and has found help through treatment and faith had this to say:

“There is a difference between staying alive and living. My therapist and psychiatrist help me stay alive. My mentors and church teach me how to live.”

He has also found that people with a mental illness just want to know that they are of worth, that their life matters. As Christians we can share the love of Christ without even saying Christ’s name. We can let people know that they are indeed of sacred worth, that no matter whom they are and what their circumstances, they are loved by God and they do matter. We can let them know this through our words and actions, and it probably doesn’t take as much as you might think. What I also heard from these panelists is that a ministry of presence can make all the difference. In other words, just being there in the fear, anxiety, and despair that comes with a mental illness lets a person know that he or she is not alone. You do not need to try to fix anything; this is not within our capability anyway. Simply show up, don’t be afraid to talk about it, and share that there are people who care about what that person is going through. I am writing this from the perspective of someone who does not have a mental illness, primarily to those who also do not have a mental illness, because I want to convey how the Christian community can be the welcoming body is it intended to be. However, the danger is putting a false line of separation between “those people” with mental illnesses and “the rest of us.” There is no separation. We are all God’s children. Further, we are all connected in the human experience including sadness, anxiety, and other forms of suffering as well as happiness, joy and peace…for all of us. Whether or not you live with a mental illness, you are of sacred worth.

Save the Date! Trinity Choirs to Sing at Rockies Game

Trinity’s Chancel and Youth Choirs have been invited to sing the National Anthem at the Colorado Rockies game on Sunday, July 12. Watch the Weekly Vision bulletin inserts and Weekly Good News emails for information on how you can participate and attend the game.

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Winston Churchill stated, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” So it may be with the major work, Brahms’ A German Requiem, which the Trinity Chancel Choir is preparing. We as a choir, individual members, are working on the music to learn the pitches, the rhythm, the meter, the dynamics, the phrasings, the nuances of the line, the pronunciations, and so forth, AND, all the time, the music is working on us, shaping us in ways perhaps seen and unseen. By now, we know that we are in a creative process that has many phases to it as we prepare to perform this work with baritone and soprano soloists and orchestra in our Good Friday worship service at Trinity on April 3rd at 7 p.m. Johannes Brahms died on April 3rd, 1897, and the city of Vienna gave him one of the grandest funerals ever seen. Brahms was a prophet very much honored in his adopted country of Austria. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1833. Our own church in Denver began in 1859 when Brahms was 26 years old. Our current Sanctuary building was erected in 1888 when he was 55 years old. He was 64 at his death. Brahms, throughout his lifetime, turned his sorrows and joys into music. Jan Swafford, in his biography of Johannes Brahms, wrote, “A great work is great in large part because of what it tells us, not about the artist, but about ourselves and the world we inhabit, including the world of sounds.” The German Requiem certainly reflects this statement. It was performed for the first time on Good Friday in 1868. Brahms wrote about human mortality and death and mourning throughout his lifetime, but we find in his Requiem the most profound expression of grief and loss. He was the first to write a requiem for the living, rather than for the dead. He called it Ein Deutches Requiem – A German Requiem – but would have been just as happy calling it “A Human Requiem.” It is not a conventional requiem mass, since it avoids the liturgical Latin text. Brahms assembled his texts for the Requiem’s seven movements from 15 passages in Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible. The focus, as I mentioned, is less on death than on consolation for the living. The Chancel Choir will be singing in English. Dr. Donald Neuen wrote that it would violate Brahms’ intentions to do it in German for an English-speaking audience, although twice during his lifetime, Brahms approved the performance of the Requiem in languages other than German. Ralph Locke, a Brahms scholar at Eastman School of Music, said, “Brahms wanted to write a requiem of peace and comfort at the time of death and wrote it in the German language so every German singer and every German audience member would understand it.” A young Eastman student, an orchestra principal cellist, said that upon playing the German Requiem, he felt, for the first time, at peace about his father’s death from cancer. Our prayer is that all who sing, play and listen will find the peace that passes understanding and comfort for the wounds of loss and death.

A German Requiem

Movement I is based on Matthew 5:4 and Psalms 126:5, 6. The choir sings the words that embody the principle idea of the entire Requiem: “Blest are they that mourn, for they shall have comfort.” The message of solace and joy is occasionally emphasized by increase of volume and motion. The accompanying grief is subtly underlined by phrases rising, to once more fall. Movement II is based on 1 Peter 1:24, James 5:7-8, I Peter 1:25, and Isaiah 35:10. This is a striking cross between a funeral march and a dance of death. It speaks of the transitory nature of life. The central section now counsels the need for patience. There is a recapitulation of the funeral march graphically demonstrating the need for patience. There comes an exultant theme proclaiming the promise of redemption, future happiness. “The redeemed of the Lord shall return with singing unto Zion” – the bass section begins the rejoicing. This movement, for all its power, ends with magical tranquility, a final soft reminder of joy everlasting. Movement III is based on Psalm 39:4, 5, 6, 7 and Wisdom of Solomon 3:1. The baritone solo is filled with mystery and awe. The mourner is sadly contemplating impending death. The question arises, “Now Lord, what then do I wait for?” The choir seizes these words with an impassioned search for reassurance. It sounds

A Reflection on Brahms’ A German RequiemContributed by Judith Mitchell, [email protected]

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like a mob desperately crying out. The hushed answer is the noble choral cadenza, “My hope is in Thee.” What follows is 36 measures of unchanging pedal point on D – it is unremitting –an overwhelming physical impact of the music. Movement IV is based on Psalm 84:1, 2, 4. This is the calm center of the Requiem. It creates a vision of the heavenly host lost in rapt praise. Movement V is based on John 16:22, Ecclesiasticus 51:35 and Isaiah 66:13. This is now the second half, where the emphasis will turn from inexorable death and grief to hope and comfort. The composer uses the woodwinds sensitively. This movement was the last written, and we know it is for his mother. The soprano soloist soars and sings of being given comfort. Movement VI is based on Hebrews 13:14, I Corinthians 15:51, 52, 53, 58 and Revelation 4:11. The movement sets the stage for the atmosphere of change and impermanence. The baritone soloist returns to tell of a mystery. Later, the singers double the tempo and sing jubilantly, predicting the resurrection of the dead. Movement VII is based on Revelation 14:13. Movements I and VII have the same tempo and key, but now the work of consolation has been accomplished. No longer a blessing for the living, but now for the dead who have gone to their rest. “Blest are they that mourn” of Movement I becomes “Blessed are the dead … for they rest from all their labor; for their works follow after them.” We, the Chancel Choir, began this journey together on October 11, 2014. Death, grief and loss have touched us all in varying ways, and we join together to do something no one of us can do alone – not musically nor spiritually. We are grateful for our awareness of our need of grace, of one another and of God. It is a good thing to live our daily lives dependent on God’s grace. It makes us strong and able to serve Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone Be the Glory!

Cristina Muldoon Departing Trinity Contributed by Dr. Michael Dent

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) announces the resignation of Cristina Muldoon as Director of Children’s Ministries at Trinity. Her final day will be Easter Sunday, April 5. She joined the staff almost a year ago after Kathy Gibb’s retirement. Cristina has accepted a position in the development office of the Emily Griffith School in Denver. Senior Pastor Michael Dent says, “We are grateful for Cristina’s service to our children and their families the past ten months. We wish her all the best in her new position of service.” The SPRC is also pleased to announce Kathy Gibb is returning to serve as Interim Director of Children’s Ministries beginning April 7. She will serve four days a week, providing leadership to Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, teacher recruitment and the nursery. “We are blessed to welcome Kathy back to our staff team for the next several months. She knows our church, children, and their families.” Kathy retired from the position last summer after ten years of highly effective ministry.

Our Congregation

Military Ministry Care Packages Contributed by Clark Rheem

The Military Ministry Committee would like to thank Trinity for the support to our Troops given throughout the year. We are presently supporting Chaplain Derrick Riggs and his flock, who are currently deployed to Afghanistan. We will be shipping care packages this spring and throughout the summer. One box, which will make a soldier very happy, can be purchased for $65.00. We will have a tabletop display in Fellowship Hall on the third Sunday of each month. Please make checks payable to Trinity United Methodist Church, with “Military Ministry” on the memo line. Thank you, again, for your dedication and support of our troops.

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Jasper Peters Appointed to Trinity Contributed by Dr. Michael Dent

Metropolitan District Superintendent Steve Goodier sent a letter to Trinity on March 19 with good news. It read, “Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am writing to share with you that Bishop Elaine Stanovsky intends to appoint Rev. Jasper Peters as Associate Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church of Denver, Colorado, effective July 1, 2015. You are free to announce this to the congregation beginning Sunday, March 22, 2015. I pray God’s blessing on this congregation during this time of transition. May the Holy Spirit enliven and guide your ministry to the people of your community. Your brother in Christ, Steve Goodier.” Trinity Staff-Parish Relations Committee Chairperson Susan Turman shared this news with the congregation in both morning services on March 22. The announcement was greeted with spontaneous applause at each service. Jasper has served as Young Adult Coordinator for nearly two years. He will graduate with a Master of Divinity degree on June 3 from Iliff School of Theology and be commissioned towards elders’ orders at the June 11–14 Rocky Mountain Annual Conference meeting at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. His appointment to Trinity will be formally made at the conference. Learn more about Jasper in the June-July Vine.

Andrea Ditch and her preschool-aged daughter Kylie live in downtown. Andrea has a degree in Criminal Justice and is interested in serving our downtown neighbors.

David Douglas joins by letter of transfer from the Londonderry UMC, Londonderry, New Hampshire. He is a retired architect and is interested in services for at-risk teens. He is a member of the Chancel Choir.

Allison Mendes and Eric Johnson are engaged. Allison is a landscape designer and Eric is a commercial real estate broker. Allison joins by reaffirmation of faith. Eric joins by letter of transfer from Fort Morgan UMC, Fort Morgan, Colorado.

Gyamfuaa and Emmanuel Kontor come to Trinity by letter of transfer, Emmanuel from the Methodist Church of Ghana and Gyamfuaa from Heaven First Ministry, Ghana. Emmanuel works for the US Department of Defense as a budget analyst. He and Gyamfuaa have recently welcomed their first daughter, Ohemaa Abena.

Judith and Bob Marlowe join by letter of transfer. Judith joins from Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, Kentucky, and Bob by letter of transfer from Broomfield UMC. Bob is a retired UM minister, and both Judith and Bob have practiced marriage and family therapy.

Catherine Moore joins by profession of faith. She is interested in our Women’s Bible Study.

Dr. Steve and Katy Portenga join Trinity by letter of transfer. Steve is a sports psychologist. He and Katy have lived in the Denver area for ten years. They are expecting their first child this spring!

Dr. John Sadler is a psychiatrist at the Mental Health Center of Denver. He plays the organ and speaks Italian. He joins by letter of transfer from First UMC, Boulder.

Barbara and Jim Steely join by profession of faith and restoration of membership, respectively. Jim is an historian with SWCA Environmental Consultants and Barbara is an historic preservation planner with the City and County of Denver.

Our Newest MembersContributed by Rev. Miriam Slejko, [email protected]

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Andrea Ditch

David Douglas

Allison Mendes and Eric Johnson

Gyamfuaa and Emmanuel Kontor

Judith and Bob Marlowe

Catherine Moore

Steve and Katy Portenga

John Sadler

Barbara and Jim Steely with Dr. Michael Dent

Stock in Youth Sunday is April 26 Here is your chance to buy stock that is guaranteed to grow! On Sunday, April 26, between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Trinity youths will be calling to ask for your financial support and prayers. You can help make youth mission trips possible by buying “STOCK in YOUTH.” This summer the Senior High youth will spend a week in San Francisco serving at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church. (Check out their website to learn more at www.glide.org.) They will also serve at the San Francisco Food Bank, St. Anthony’s, and more. This will truly be a life-changing week. The sixth and seventh graders will spend three days in mission here in Denver serving at the Olin Hotel, Metro Caring, Project Angel Heart, and more. The youths each pay a portion of the cost of these trips and we need our Trinity family to help make these trips happen. In addition, buying stock will support our year-round youth ministry programs. All “stockholders” will receive a postcard in the fall from our mission trips letting them know how their “investments” are doing. The youths will share their summer mission trip experiences in the fall on Youth Sunday. Please show your support and buy “STOCK in YOUTH” on April 26!

Youth Winter Retreat A group of 34 youth and adults spent an awesome weekend in the mountains March 6–8. Laughter could be heard as we played games, encouraging words were shared through group building activities, and wise thoughts emerged as we shared in our devotional time. Saturday was packed with fun at Loveland Ski Area as we ripped down black diamond runs with our friends or learned the ropes together in lessons. Great stories were shared over lunch and dinner about their mountain adventures. We have amazing youth here at Trinity and getting to spend a weekend away with them is truly a blessing.

Youth MinistriesContributed by Cami Twilling, [email protected]

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Health MinistryContributed by Peggy Steen, [email protected]

It’s 9Health Fair time again, a springtime tradition in Colorado for the past 35 years. 9Health Fair provides all of us the opportunity to be proactive in taking charge of our own health and well-being. The Trinity Health Committee encourages you to attend a 9Health Fair. Over 25 free and low-cost health screenings are available. Medical professionals do-nate their time to answer your health questions…at no cost to you! Low cost blood tests are available, with results and recommendations sent to you within 3–6 weeks. Representatives of nonprofit and government organizations are available to provide information about their services. Fairs are scheduled from April 17 though May 2 at locations throughout the metro area. For those living downtown, the Visiting Nurse Association at 390 Grant Street will host a fair on Saturday, April 18. To see a full list of health screenings and find a link to all site locations, check www.9healthfair.org/find/screenings.aspx or call 303-698-4455.

The speaker for the April 21 UMW meeting will be Sarah Jackson, director of Casa De Paz. Five members of Trinity UMW visited Sarah Jackson at Casa de Paz in late January, presenting her with a $100 King Soopers gift card. Casa de Paz (House of Peace) offers free lodging and meals to guests visiting their loved ones held inside the immigrant detention center in Colorado. They also host guests who have recently been released from the detention center and are in need of a place to stay for a couple of nights as they make plans to make their way back home. Everything is donated—meals, rent money and furnishings. Casa de Paz is a strong example of one community of people working together to welcome another community. A collection will be taken at the April 21 meeting for “A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial.” United Methodist Women funds mission projects through the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial offerings in four-year cycles. The first year supports programs at institutions related to United Methodist Women, the second year has an open theme, the third year funds buildings and institutions that have relationships with United Methodist Women, and the fourth year supports pensions and medical care for retired missionaries and deaconesses. The offering for 2015 will be the fourth year in the four-year cycle. Before the February UMW meeting, several members arrived early to make crosses for the Easter Baskets that Trinity’s Outreach Mission Committee put together for the children at Warren Village. The speaker for the February meeting was Sheri Altland, Executive Director of the Imagine No Malaria Campaign–UM Communications. Her update on the Imagine No Malaria project was encouraging, though there is still work to be done.

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United Methodist WomenContributed by Lois cochran, 303-934-8838

UMW Calendar:

Book Circle meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. in members’ homes.April 14 at Adelaide Murray’s home discussing the book One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber.May 12 at Sylvia Wedmore’s home discussing various books by the author Annie Lamont.

Deborah Circle meets the second Wednesday each month at 12:30 at Piccolo Restaurant. Contact person for lunch reservations for April 8 is Peggy Steen (303-653-8824) and for May 13 is Roberta Townsend (303-322-8897).At the March meeting they made baby blankets for Florence Crittenton home.

Miriam Circle has changed their meeting date to the second Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room (Level 3). They will meet April 12 and May 3, as the second Sunday of May is Mother’s Day. Miriam Circle will host Deborah Circle for their annual joint picnic meeting in June.

Making crosses for Easter Baskets

Discover “The God We Can Know”

In the Listening to the Word of God in Scripture pamphlet published by Contemplative Outreach Ltd., Lectio Divina is described as “one of the great treasures of the Christian tradition and was part of the devotional practices in the days of Jesus.” Lectio Divina is used to reflect on the reading of a scripture chosen for the occasion, with the hope of leading to a deeper and more personal meaning of the scripture for the listener. The Contemplative Spirituality group, which meets on Wednesday evenings in Stiles Chapel, is participating in the ancient practice of Lectio Divina and has chosen the “I Am” sayings of Jesus as the scriptures used during this Lenten season. The pamphlet also states, “A contemplative reading of the Scriptures, such as Lectio Divina, is compatible with well-grounded interpretations of the Bible.” Our practice of Lectio Divina using the specific scriptures found throughout the Book of John, corresponds with Pastor Dent’s sermons, the Lenten Small Group Studies, and the Lenten Devotional booklet, all intended to help us interpret “The God We Can Know” through our own translation of the “I Am” sayings of Jesus.

Contemplative Spirituality meets on Wednesday evenings from 7–8:30 p.m. in Stiles Chapel (Level 2), practicing Centering Prayer as well as other prayer practices such as Lectio Divina and contemplative journaling in the group setting. We will also watch DVD series with various teachers such as Father Thomas Keating and Richard Rohr.

A Journey of RenewalContributed by Cami Twilling, [email protected]

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” A quote by Lao Tzu and so very true as I begin a journey of thousands of miles. On March 11 the first step will be onto a plane bound for Trichy, India. There I will spend two weeks at an ashram that was the home and spiritual center of Benedictine monk Bede Griffiths. From India I journey to Dublin, Ireland, where I will visit Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, travel to the cliffs of Moher and peacefully explore where my heart leads. From Dublin to Chartres, France, where on Easter Sunday I will hold you each in my heart as I worship at Chartres Cathedral in a language I have yet to understand. The rest of the week will be spent in quiet reflection and open-eyed wandering. From France I will begin my return back to the US with a stopover in Reykjavik, Iceland. Why Iceland? Because I have always wanted to go! A three day adventure to see all I can and then soak in the blue lagoon on my way to the airport. Reentry into the US will bring a few days with George and Nora Brunner to thaw out in the Florida sunshine. On April 18 I land back in Colorado with a heart full of many blessings of a journey I cannot yet describe. I shall carry each of you in my prayers and give thanks for the blessing you are in my life. Thank you for allowing me this time of renewal. Peace, Cami

Contemplative CornerContributed by Joy Harvey

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Staff Pick! Book RecommendationContributed by Rev. Linda Marshall, [email protected]

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Family MinistriesContributed by Wayne Brown, [email protected]

Reflections on Family Camp During the last weekend of February, carloads of parents and kids migrated south to John Wesley Ranch just outside of Divide, Colorado, for a weekend of fellowship, snow tubing, crafting, singing, eating, and cozying up to the crackling fireplace in the lodge. As a joint effort between the Children’s and Adult and Family Ministries, the weekend was an amazing blend of participation and rejuvenation with everyone pitching in to help with meals, firewood, snow tubes and sleds, lodging concerns, and other needs as the weekend progressed. Our theme was “BUILDING” – building our families, our faith, and our future – and recognizing the role that each family member plays in making this happen. If you missed the retreat this year, make a family note now not to miss it next year. Family Camp creates memories that remain a family touchstone for years to come.

Homebuilders April:Sunday Morning Class: This month we shift from a recent focus on family-related themes to a discussion of some of the key elements of the world’s great religions. Rather than a comprehensive overview, we will approach the subject more thematically.Sunday Afternoon Potluck: Scott and Julie Tannehill will host an April Homebuilders potluck at their home (exact date and time to be announced).

May:Sunday Afternoon Class: During the month of May, Beth and Wayne Brown will teach on the Old Testament book of Daniel.Sunday Afternoon Potluck: Stay tuned for more information.

Single Mom Connection The Single Mom Connection meets the fourth Sunday of each month from 12–2 p.m. for fellowship, connection, and discussion. On April 26 Trinity staff member and Denver psychotherapist and author Wayne Brown will present material from his award-winning book, Living the Renewed Life. RSVP to [email protected].

Would you like to receive a printed issue of The Vine?

Copies are available in the church office, at the Welcome Cart on Level 3, and often in the back of the Sanctuary. Those who are unable to pick a copy up at the church building may request that a copy be mailed

to their home by contacting the Communications Department at [email protected] or 303-839-1493 x25.

Large print copies can be provided upon request.

Second Century FoundationContributed by Landon Julius

The Trinity Second Century Foundation serves people in need in the downtown and metro Denver area by providing financial resources to outreach programs. The foundation has been serving those in need since 1984. During the 2nd Quarter of each year, the Second Century Foundation board, made up of eight Trinity members, meets and reviews grant requests received from numerous organizations. Last year, the Second Century Foundation granted over $50,000 to numerous programs in the Denver area. The programs range from providing food to the hungry, support and shelter to the homeless, assistance to women who suffer from addiction and drug abuse, as well as providing advocacy work for minority day laborers in Denver. This year, the Second Century Foundation will be meeting in mid-April to review the grant requests received and allocate the funds accordingly. Once the funds are allocated, the Board will notify the grantees and will work to schedule site visits to many of the locations throughout the rest of the year. To find out more information or to support the Trinity Second Century Foundation, please contact the church office at 303-839-1493.

Explore Trinity’s Urban Ministry PartnersContributed by David Wilcox, [email protected], 303-839-1493 x34

Join David Wilcox, Trinity’s Outreach Intern, on May 1 for a tour of four of our partners in urban mission work: St. Francis Center, the Women’s Bean Project where we will have lunch, Denver Urban Ministries, and Metro Caring. The tour group will meet at the church at 10 a.m. and return to Trinity at 3:30 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand the volunteer opportunities available to us. Call the church at 303-839-1493 by Monday, April 27, to sign up.

Our Ministry and Mission

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Creating a New FutureContributed by Jill Rampacek, [email protected]

The mission of Women’s Bean Project is to change women’s lives by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency through social enterprise. Women’s Bean Project employs chronically unemployed and impoverished women in a transitional job in food and jewelry manufacturing and helps them earn the job readiness, interpersonal, and life skills needed to move into career entry-level employment. By working in an active business, women learn basic job readiness skills–reliability, accuracy, punctuality, attention to detail and attendance–while also addressing life skills such as communication, accountability, problem solving, and goal setting. The average woman who applies to the Bean Project is around 38 years old, has no support network, feels little or no self-worth, and many times has been referred by friends or family members who have already been through the Bean Project program. In order to be accepted into the program, an applicant must exhibit mental readiness to change, be clean and sober for at least six months, read at a 5th grade level at least (salt and sugar look the same if you have trouble reading the label!), and lift 50 pounds. There is also a group interview and a chance to work on a mock production line to test social interaction skills. This thorough and thoughtful process ensures the success rate of the nine month program. Out of each group of women, 77% percent graduate. Of that 77%, 100% are successful in finding a job. Graduates go on to lead successful, self-sufficient and fulfilling lives, creating a new future for themselves, their families, our community, and our economy. Ready, Set, Grow!, Women’s Bean Project’s annual graduation celebration and fundraising luncheon, is an opportunity for our community to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of recent graduates, as well as their efforts to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 29 from 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. in the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. The event is free, but requires reservations. RSVP online at https://readysetgrow2015.eventbrite.com.


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John Wesley School English CampContributed by Dana Crandall, [email protected] Pura Vida Ministries will be holding an English Instruction Camp in Guatemala. The best students at the John Wesley School will be attending a week of intensive English at the Methodist Camp in Lemoa. No Spanish language skills or teaching experience necessary – the only requirement is a desire to spend time working and playing with Guatemalan children who want to learn English! Native English speakers are needed to teach or assist with small groups of three to four well-behaved children and lead crafts and games using English. The trip is scheduled for June 20–28, 2015, and there is still space available. For trip details and application, please visit www.puravida.org/English.

Luanne Hill, Development Associate with Women’s Bean Project, at Trinity’s

March 2015 Mission Fair

Trinity Build Day on May 2Contributed by Nancy Green, [email protected], 303-831-8583

Save the Date! Our 14th Habitat for Humanity home build sponsorship has already begun at 939 Mariposa in Denver…just minutes from our downtown church! We will be building through July on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Saturday, May 2, is reserved for Trinity members and their families and friends to build – this day is ours to enjoy together. Volunteers can simply sign up at www.hiadenver.org or contact Trinity member and our Habitat Interfaith Alliance (HIA) Rep, Nancy Green, at [email protected] or 303-831-8583. No prior building skills are required. Join us for a fun day of fellowship! Lunch will be provided for Trinity volunteers on May 2 so please let Nancy know once you have signed up.

Meet the Family Mariam Salem and her sons Mohammed, Yaseen and Imad are living in very close quarters in a two-bedroom apartment. They have to move in a few months when their lease is up. The stability of homeownership will be better for this family, rather than moving from apartment to apartment trying to find somewhere affordable. Where they live now makes Mariam and her family uncomfortable; her neighbor is very threatening and Mariam and her sons are scared to use the common space. Mariam will have a fresh start with some wonderful Habitat neighbors when they move in to their new home on Mariposa.


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Fellowship Meal with Carol PartridgeContributed by Rev. Miriam Slejko, [email protected]

Join Trinity friends for a potluck fellowship meal with United Methodist missionary Carol Partridge on Wednesday, April 15. Carol has been a missionary of the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church in Macedonia for 16 years. Carol first went to Macedonia as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1997–1999. “Even then I felt the Holy Spirit was leading me,” she says. She connected with the UMC in Macedonia by attending services, making friends and even teaching Sunday School. “I was at home in the UMC in the States, so it felt like a welcoming place in Macedonia, too.” Carol returned to Macedonia as a missionary early in 2000. “I loved my work and felt this was exactly the place God wanted me to be. Being a missionary is even more fun and rewarding than being in the Peace Corps. A Macedonian teacher and I started a Saturday morning Bible class for neighborhood children. We knew it was a success when the children did not want to leave at the end of class!” Carol spreads the word about the United Methodist Church in Macedonia through articles and stories that have been published by magazines and newspapers in the US and Western Europe. She also participates in the church’s humanitarian outreach programs. Carol will retire from active service on May 1. Carol holds local church membership at Twin Towers UMC (California-Nevada Annual Conference) where she served on many committees and boards. Register for this evening meal and hear Carol share her work in Macedonia through stories and pictures. Call the church office at 303-839-1493 to reserve your place. Bring a dish to share. A freewill offering will be taken to benefit UMW missions. Read more about Carol at www.carolpartridge.com.

What To Do When There’s Too Much To DoBy Laura StackOrder online: http://www.amazon.com/What-When-Theres-Too-Much/dp/1609945395

As a mom who works full time, efficiency and organization are important aspects of my life each and every day. While my job as Trinity’s Church Administrator offers me flexibility that other positions might not, I still have to be on my toes to ensure that the church runs smoothly and everyone at home is fed and has clean clothes. Oh, and that there is time to ski or hike on weekends, too! As a member of a book club that meets once a month, I enjoy a good novel here and there, but I also try to include a self-improvement or productivity book when I can. I love tips for being organized, but often find that I am already employing them. I recently read a book by Colorado author and “Productivity Pro” Laura Stack that caught my attention. Written in 2012, her book offers fundamental and philosophical approaches to organization, time management, and institutional challenges as well as practical tips to improve work flow, organization, and overall effectiveness. For years I used the Franklin Covey planner to plan my work and work my plan and loved the basic structure the system provided for my life and goals. With the increase of email and electronic planners and the reduction of paper, my daily planner has taken a backseat to my handheld device, and I miss the fundamental virtues upon which the Franklin planner was built. Stack’s book was a reminder that you need to make time for the “big rocks” and priorities in your life and that if you are organized and have control over the fundamentals, the smaller, less important issues will fall to the bottom, exactly where they belong. The book touts that you can save 90 minutes a day by using her tips and tricks. There are no gimmicks, and the practical application of her suggestions impacts my overall effectiveness on any given day. She calls it her Productivity Workflow Formula (PWF) and encourages the reader to organize life around those things that are actually important and those things that appear to be important but really aren’t. Using strategies I learned from this book that reduce or eliminate distractions, interruptions, commitments, and inefficiencies, I have been able to reduce my to-do list and increase my productivity. The book is a quick read (I couldn’t put it down), and while I initially read it on an e-reader, I also ended up purchasing a copy for my permanent collection and so I could make notes. The author has a website (www.productivitypro.com) that offers a free 6-day productivity email course and lists her other books as well as productivity quizzes to assess your skills and areas of opportunity. I enjoyed this and hope you will too!

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Staff Pick! Book RecommendationContributed by Angie Cummins, [email protected]

Habitat Soup Cook-Off Winners

Trinity is proud to have two winners from the 2015 Habitat Interfaith Alliance Soup Cook-Off in our midst! Julie Mueller took the prize in the Meat-Based Classic Comfort category with her Chicken Enchilada Soup, and Grace Rampacek, a three-year consecutive Soup Cook-Off Winner, won for her vegetarian Sweet Potato Soup. Recipes for both award-winning soups are available on Trinity’s website under the Missions tab.

We’re Here for Good...We’re Here for Life!Trinity United Methodist Church1820 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202

303-839-1493 | 303-839-1901 fax | [email protected]

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Send address changes to Trinity United Methodist Church Communications Department

Trinity United Methodist Church1820 BroadwayDenver, CO 80202

The Trinity Vine April/May 2015 Issue

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Transcript of The Trinity Vine April/May 2015 Issue