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Holy Trinity’s Endowment Committee is pleased to announce we have $30,000 for the disbursement of grants for the 2021 funding cycle.  Once again, the funds will be applied across our three designated constituencies:

• Community Outreach efforts
• ELCA activities within synods, seminaries, colleges, or local social service agencies
• Holy Trinity program enrichment, ministry support, or capital improvements

Application materials are available at Holy Trinity’s Info Center or by clicking and downloading Endowment Fund Grant Application Instructions, Grant Application Cover, Grant Application (page 1) and Grant Application (page 2).  All materials must be submitted to Holy Trinity no later than Monday, October 26, 2020.  People are encouraged, however, to submit their materials as early as possible.  If you know of an entity that might be interested in submitting an application, please inform whoever would be responsible for completing the forms.  For anyone requesting grants for Holy Trinity ministries, organizational history, financials and 503(c) information is not needed.  Our goal would anticipate making grants that allow each to be of measurable impact.  Thank you for your interest and help.  If you have any questions, please contact Endowment Committee chair Tom Grabenstatter.

After decades of service, quilting thousands of blankets to ship with truckloads of care packages around the world, we say to our Beacons Quilting Ministry:  Well done, good and faithful servants!!  We celebrate the compassionate and generous contributions offered by this impactful ministry which comes to a close this month after so many years of faithful service.

You can help affirm them by supporting their last sale of goods, the proceeds of which will be used for delivering their last batch of care packages.  Please also join us, too, in giving thanks to God for these faithful participants through the years:

Phyllis Bliss                Judy Carter                   Genie Craven              Shirley Doolittle
Ann Hunter                Midge Janz                   Marge Markowich      Charlene Maxwell
Nancy Riley                Mariruth Seubert        Mary Ellen Simpson   Lois Spurlock
Carol Stewart             Shirley Wehr                Dot Wheatley

And thanks to Shirley Boyd for helping coordinate Holy Trinity’s ministry with Lutheran World Relief and transport our donated items to the local collection area.

With the nation’s racial reckoning swelled; feelings quickened; conscience roused and propriety startled, “The Why” . . . has engulfed the USA. Furthermore, data gathered for the treatment of minorities is a factor contributing to the USA moving in the wrong direction, when examining metrics of well-being for the Social Progress Index.  And according to Nicholas Kristof’s writing in the September 9, 2020, issue of The New York Times, “We’re No. 28! And Dropping!” in the most recent Social Progress Index. Besides, using data from 146 countries on 50 indicators assessed worldwide, the USA, and two other countries are worse off than when the index began in 2011. And the downward trends in the other two countries were smaller than the USA’s downward trend. “The data paint an alarming picture of the state of our nation,” offers Michael Porter, a Harvard Business Professor, and Chair of the advisory panel for the Social Progress Index. “It’s like we’re [USA] a developing country,” and “no longer the country we like to think we are.”

To Illustrate: the USA “ranks No. 1 in the world in quality of universities, but No. 91 in access to quality basic education,” writes Kristof, and “a shameful No. 100 in discrimination against minorities.”  Also, the USA ranks No. 1 in medical technology, but has a disgraceful, to use language similar to Kristof, No. 97 ranking in access to quality health care.  Dr. Michael Porter responds, “We hope it will be a call to action,” and Nicholas Kristof says, it “should be a wake-up call.”  Well let me indicate them boldly, those three indicators in the Social Progress Index: quality education, discrimination and health care, are what causes us, as Black people, to be in the unfortunate state of suffering disproportionately.  They are a wake-up call, not just should be, and we believe the nation is awakening and starting to act.

And, I think it can be safely said, the continued shootings of Black people by white police, Black Lives Matter signs appearing everywhere, plus the downward trend of the Social Progress Index, and the on-going protests condemning inequality of minorities are a wake-up call for our nation to act.  They are a wake-up call to recognize and restructure subtle forms of institutionalized discrimination that exists against people of color and other minorities in: governments, legal systems, corporations, health care facilities, schools, and yes churches, to name a few.  They are a wake-up call to remove barriers blocking diversity and inclusion.  They are a wake-up call to rethink behaviors and convictions, and reflect on negative experiences that minorities have and are enduring, brought on by the reality of prejudice, racism and denial.  And just perhaps, our nation might heed the lessons from team sports and the COVID-19 pandemic, working together, to identify and remove minority disparities so our justice system will be equitable.

Again, with the wake-up call to the nation, Holy Trinity’s racial justice ministry team is working to keep us embraced, and engaged.  And invites us to become informed and participate through a seven (7) course offering.  Such is the work of the church.  Faith! Hope! Empowerment! Liberation! God is Good!   – Carl Peterson

A big THANK YOU to all who hunted up old eyeglasses while sheltering in place. Those of you who have returned to church and brought them in allowed us to pack 122 pairs of glasses, many with cases, and get them off to VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity) who will continue their work in countries where eye ware is needed. Now you are reminded that even if you didn’t get them in earlier, glasses, sunglasses, and cases are always accepted in the faded orange box with glasses pictured on it at the sign up table in the Gathering Place. Keep them coming for the next send off. Thanks again!

Sunday, October 4, 7:30pm – FaithFlix on Racial Justice – “Harriet”

We’ll be discussing the movie “Harriet” together.  “The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.”- IMDB.  2019 release, PG-13.  Please join us for discussion!

Monday, October 12, 7:30pm – Please join us for The Next Chapter on Racial Justice. Please access a copy of our first book: “The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves.”  The book is by the Arbinger Institute and there is a free study guide available with it. A summary of the book is here: https://www.amazon.com/Outward-Mindset-Change-Transform-Organizationsebook/dp/B07V4GKZCV/ref=sr_1_1

You have the next few weeks to read the book and savor it before our book group discussion together. We’d love to have you participate, even if you haven’t finished the book! Zoom and in person gathering.

Otherwise, please enjoy the newsletter article from Carl Peterson in this week’s Engaged by Grace Weekly! We have also had newsletter articles for the past several weeks, if you want to do some additional reading.  Other menu items from our seven course banquet table, will continue to be gradually added…

If you’d like to join our Racial Justice Ministry Team, or you have any other questions, please contact Vicar Sara Wunsch, at sara.wunsch@engagedbygrace.org for more information.

Holy Trinity’s Parish Health Ministry Team has partnered with CVS/Target to provide a flu shot clinic on Sunday, October 11 from 9am-12noon when a pharmacist will administer flu shots at the church.  the cost is free for most Medicare and insurance plans or $25 for those without insurance.  It is recommended, but not required, that you register in advance to help determine how many doses will be needed that day.  Clinic Registration Link: Click here to register   Take care of your health and let Holy Trinity help!

Save the date for the next blood drive at Holy Trinity scheduled for Thursday, November 5. Anyone who last gave blood on or before September 10 is eligible to donate. Hope to see you then!

After two enjoyable Sunday afternoons walking with new collections of Holy Trinity Church friends, we look forward to extending this new Community Connection ministry through October.  We’ll check out these parks in the coming weeks:

September 27 – Three Creeks Metro Park

October 4 – Heritage Rail-Trail Metro Park

October 11 – REI River Trail (Grove City)

October 18 – Blendon Woods Metro Park

October 25 – Prairie Oaks – Darby Bend Lakes Entrance

A host from church will greet you at the entrance to each park, giving instructions as to where the group is parking.  Each walk will last about an hour, with individuals certainly welcome to do more after that! While an RSVP is not necessary, you can let us know to look for you by signing up below.

Nominations are being accepted for a slate of candidates to serve 3-year terms on Church Council.  All confirmed members of Holy Trinity are eligible to serve.  Church members are invited to suggest candidates (including themselves) to Council President Mike Christman michael.d.christman@gmail.com, Pastor Steve Wachtman steve.wachtman@engagedbygrace.org, Director for Equipping Ministers Laura Hudson laura.hudson@engagedbygrace.org or contact the church office at 614-486-9433.