TRINITY CHURCH
ANNUAL REPORT - 2023
OUTREACH & PASTORAL CARE
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Appalachian Regional Ministry
The Appalachian Regional Ministry was developed in response to the 2017 Vestry call to explore ministry opportunities beyond those of Outreach. A committee was formed to consider regional, national, and international efforts. We decided to start here in NC trying to help our Appalachian neighbors in need.
After studying the area, we decided to focus our efforts on Graham County. It is one of the very poorest counties in the state. There is only one school in the county and only one grocery store. There are almost no jobs. With almost 2/3 of Graham County a national park, their income base will never be great. For example, over half the children are living in poor or low-income homes and over one-quarter of the children live in households that have food insecurity.
To help meet these needs, we have developed two general areas of ministry: those directed at meeting current needs and those we hope to develop to address additional needs identified by the ministers in Robbinsville.
First, as for Trinity's current efforts, a growing number of volunteers have been going out to Graham County every month to work alongside local volunteers. Together, we unload a Manna food truck and repackage big boxes of fruits and vegetables into individual serving sizes so they can be given out to family members. Afterward, our Trinity volunteers go to work in the kitchen and help prepare a meal, which is given out in the evening. Initially, we prepared food to feed 200 people. The need has grown so we are now preparing food for around 300 people.
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Second, we wanted to listen to the ministers with whom we work to learn about other needs. They identified needs such as inadequate housing, a safe social gathering place for youth, and the lack of computer skills for adults. There are other needs, of course, including economic development. Trinity is in conversation with the ministers out there as to how we can best help meet those specific needs. Currently, for example, several people from Trinity have volunteered to help teach computer skills. Mary Howell has designed a curriculum to help the elderly learn how to use the internet, shop online, and other social skills. This is now helping retirees connect with their neighbors and save money on items they need.
With God's help, Trinity is responding to the vestry's call to develop this ministry, and we thank all the volunteers who have helped make this ministry such a successful experience. The ministers out there have repeatedly expressed how grateful they are for all our help. They are genuinely trying to do all they can for the poor. With our mutual prayers and efforts, it is a real blessing to be able to see God's hand at work. If you are interested in helping our less fortunate Appalachian neighbors, please contact me, tegoodrich@gmail.com. Thank you so much.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tom Goodrich
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Pastoral Care Team
The Pastoral Care team meets monthly to oversee Trinity’s many pastoral ministries, coordinate efforts to care for the parish’s sick, grieving, or needy, and discuss the pastoral care and concerns of the community. The goal is to avoid institutionalizing care, as multifaceted care is ongoing with clergy, staff, and parishioners.
The team comprises clergy and lay persons. We continue to meet on Zoom primarily. Often, our meetings last 30 to 40 minutes, and the time travel to and from the church can add another 30 to 40 minutes for some members.
Our meal team continues to deliver hearty meals to those recovering from health issues and those amid difficult times or grief. Trinity’s Encouragement ministry, led by Jennine Hough and consisting of close to a dozen people, continues to offer written cards with words of comfort, prayer, and encouragement to many of our parish members who are sick, unable to travel, or grieving. Corkie Morrill continues to host a group for caregivers of those with dementia or other cognitive illnesses.
The Flower Delivery Guild continues to touch members' lives with altar flowers. They deliver to those who have experienced illness, are recovering from sickness, and have celebrated a recent life milestone. We have a whole host of volunteers who dismantle the altar flowers from Sunday and arrange them in individual containers to be delivered.
We have resumed our Healing Station Ministry at the 10:45 service and will continue to evaluate when we might return that ministry to the 8:00 and 5:30 services.
We continue to walk toward a full recovery of our Lay Eucharistic Ministry.
I am ever grateful to all those who serve on this ministry team and share with me in the pastoral care of Trinity Church.
Respectfully Submitted,
Scott White
Caregivers’ Ministry
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This group meets on the second Friday of each month and is a support group for those who are providing care for loved ones who have terminal illnesses, especially those diagnosed with some form of dementia. Currently, during and post the COVID-19 pandemic, the group continues to meet through Zoom technology. This is especially important at this time because caregivers are often caring for their loved ones 24/7 alone since professional help is often unwilling to come into the homes of individuals.
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As we go forward, post-pandemic, we hope to meet using a combined format of in-person and Zoom. This will enable all who wish to attend to do so.
Florence M. Morrill, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Daughters of the King
The Daughters of the King is an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church or churches in communion with it. Today, our membership includes women in Episcopal, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Anglican churches.
As Daughters, we undertake a Rule of Life, which can be thought of as a covenant between God and ourselves. It helps us to focus on our walk with Jesus Christ. Our Rule of Life incorporates a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service.
Daughters seek to grow and deepen their relationship with God through the Rule of Prayer. We fulfill this vow by praying daily for unity in Christ’s church, the spread of Christ’s kingdom, God’s blessings upon the members of our chapter and our clergy, and the spiritual growth of our parish. We also pray specifically for members of our parish who request prayers and for those on the Sunday prayer list in the bulletin. Our members are involved in diverse services throughout the church such as vestry, altar guild, garden guild, Sunday school teachers, lay readers, outreach in the community, volunteering with the Church of the Advocate, etc.
Through the Rule of Service, a Daughter seeks to do the will of God every day. It is the application of her baptismal vow in which she strives to be Christ’s faithful servant by growing His Kingdom, participating in worship and study, and assisting clergy in the outreach and work of the church.
The Order of Daughters of the King at Trinity has two new members who were admitted on September 24. We held a Quiet day in Lent led by two of our members. We often attend regional meetings hosted by different parishes throughout Western North Carolina. We hold our monthly meetings in the Clark Room usually on the third Sunday after the 10:45 service. Our current book study is Help, Thanks, Wow. We provided two scholarships for students in Haiti to attend school. We have provided underwear, shoes, and monetary donations for the Church of the Advocate and supplies for women at Transformation Village. We also help with breakfast, funerals, and other special events. Two of our members lead contemplative prayer in the Beloved Community Book Club on Zoom as well as meeting in person. We send out personal postcards to Trinity members for Birthdays and Anniversaries. Nancy McCorkle is the President. Ada Jo Foley is the Secretary, and Marty Boone is the Treasurer. Any interested women are invited to contact Nancy McCorkle at nkmccorkle@gmail.com or at 912-224-5387. We welcome new members at any time.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nancy McCorkle
Parish Life
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Mission Statement: Parish Life works to strengthen social and spiritual ties among the members of Trinity Church. Our goal is to foster bonds that hold Trinitarians together.
Breakfast returned on Sunday, August 28th in Tuton Hall at 9:00 am. The cost is $5.00.
Receptions - Funeral receptions provide refreshments with graciousness and abundance thanks to volunteers who come forward on short notice. Receptions generally follow funerals or memorial services. Most of the receptions were outside in the Church Street courtyard.
Parish Dinners and Volunteering
We held our Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper each year with the Trinity men cooking pancakes.
During Lent, Amy Peterson’s program was “Listening to the Voices of Women”. We served lunch during that time, also.
We have our Steak Dinner that coincides with our Musical Revue each year.
We had a reception for Dillon Manly in May, who retired after faithfully serving Trinity for 11 years.
Also, Debbie cooks a meal with a couple of parish life committee members who are volunteering at Transformation Village on the third Tuesday of each month. Debbie Cox also cooks and serves a meal for the Veterans Quarters on the first Wednesday of each month.
Kick-off Sunday is every year in August. We have hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and sides. This year, we had Buggy Pops for dessert. This is the beginning of our academic year.
We will have Dinner To Go in September, October, and November where Debbie Cox cooks and offers a meal for $10.00 which parishioners pick up after the 10:45 service. Members of Trinity’s parish life Committee assemble meals and hand them out to parishioners on the designated Sunday. Any profits from the meals goes to Youth scholarships.
During Advent, we will have Advent Recitals and lunches every Wednesday.
Parish Life Committee
Susan Haldane, Tim Fotinos, Jeannie and Ben Powell, Binford Jennings, Ralph Simpson, Art Garst, Beth Putnum, Grace Pless, Katie Chappell, Marty Boone, Mary Culbertson, Adrian Vassallo, Barbara Setzer, Ada Jo Foley, David Hensley, Michael Andry, Dana Cole, DeDe Swift, Kathy Kvam, Lang Hornthal, Janet Webb, and Debbie Cox
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Cox
The Flower Delivery Ministry was inaugurated after Easter Sunday, 2020. With a huge array of flowers intended to adorn the sanctuary, Easter was a virtual service for the first time in the history of Trinity Church. What to do with the flowers?
Ken Wilson and Pastoral Care Team-member Chris Dismukes, pulled together a team of three to arrange over 60 small vases the day after Easter. Another team of three delivered to parishioners at Retirement Communities, nursing homes and those alone at home.
Out of this effort, the Flower Guild learned that this small gift of flowers from the altar was a symbol of God’s love, and our love and support of one another. This ministry is now a part of Pastoral Care, as we think of those in need, dealing with trying times, or celebrating a milestone.
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Each Sunday, volunteers meet at Trinity after the 10:45 service to rearrange flowers from the altar to smaller vases. Deliveries follow with one or two volunteers who may have 4-6 vases, depending on flower availability.
Our group currently consists of 30 volunteers. Being a part of this ministry gives just as much joy to us as the joy delivered to others. We receive many wonderful well wishes from recipients who are grateful for this small way of showing support. To date, over 1,100 flower arrangements have been delivered by this committed team.
Please contact me if you are interested in arranging, delivering or both, or if you know of a parishioner who would benefit from a delivery.
If you have clear glass vases that you would like to donate, feel free to deliver to the church kitchen. Please kindly run them through your dishwasher before donating, as dirty vases encourage bacteria growth that result in dead flowers!
Connie Wilson
773-769-6939