Decatur-Trinity Christian Church 2449 Altruria, Bartlett TN 38134

www.decaturtrinity.org 

901/388-4511 FAX 901/388-1049

 

September 11, 2001

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….”  I know it is a perhaps overused line from Charles Dickens, but I do think it is applicable to our situation here at Decatur Trinity Christian Church.  Many wonderful things have happened here in the last few years, many are still happening, and many more are just waiting to happen.  But as it always is, growth and change come with some difficulty as well. We have a variety of needs within our congregation to support and help grow existing ministries as well as create and provide leadership to new ministry outreaches needed in our community.  We are ready for a full-time Associate Pastor to help with those needs.  Pastor Scott has provided wonderful leadership in helping to get us to this point, but the needs have become more than we can expect one man to meet.  We are ready for the next step in our growth.

To help in taking that next step a Search Committee has been formed to begin the process of searching for a new full-time Associate Pastor.  The committee members are:  Myself (Rick Pilon), Chairman; Theresa Utley; Deborah King; Ron Srygley; and Carol Rogers.  Also serving as ex-officio members will be Ron Ramsey, Ch. of the Board; Paula Coss, Vice-Ch. of the Board; and Pastor Scott Pricer.  As your Search Committee we have met and compiled a list of some of the most pressing needs of our congregation, but now we need your help.  We need to prioritize the top needs of our congregation now and for the future so that we might find the right person with the right set of skills to help us best meet those top needs.  In order to do that we will be distributing Sunday morning in our worship service a list of the needs we have identified and we will be asking you to select the top three needs in order of their importance to us as a congregation right now.  We will be collecting your response during the worship service.  The needs we have identified are as follows:

Children/Youth/Young Adult educational program leadership

General Christian Education program leadership

Pastoral care and visitation of current and prospective members

Women’s ministry program resource

Program leadership for the 25 – 40 yr. old age group

Strong relationship building skills

Occasional preaching duties

Sunday morning corporate worship leadership

Innovative programming for new ministries

If you will not be in worship Sunday and wish to have input in this area, please contact one of the committee members or the church office.  Please pray for us as we seek God’s guidance.  See you in worship this Sunday!!                       Rick Pilon

MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS

      Several months ago Aimee McAlister came forward to place her membership at DTCC.  Aimee, formally a parishioner at St. Ann Catholic Church, is married to Jason.  They have a 2 ½ year old son, Seth, and another little one due in February.  Aimee says she met Jason when they were both 14.  They became best friends and Aimee says she spent most of her teen years at Jason’s home.  She graduated from Bolton High School and is presently working parttime for Dr. Richard Wyse as office manager.  Aimee enjoys gardening, cooking and doing art and crafts with Seth.

            Ann McAlister, who joined DTCC on August 19 along with her sister Sandy Jarvis, is Aimee’s mother-in-law.  Ann is very close to Aimee.  She says when her only son Jason married Aimee, “it was like watching both my son and daughter get married.”  Ann, who is married to Butch (son of DTCC member Eloise McAlister), also enjoys gardening.  She is a member of the Master Gardeners Program at UT Extension.  Ann blends her love of digging in the dirt with her other love – she enjoys working as a Hospice volunteer.  In the last few years Ann has watched both of her parents die of cancer.  She saw the value of the Hospice program when her father was a Hospice patient for 10 months until his death in 1998.  Now, Ann also volunteers at Memphis Botanic Gardens, planting memorial gardens in memory of cancer patients.

      Sandy Jarvis, Ann’s sister, has lived with Ann and Butch since her parents died.  Sandy, who loves meeting new people, also enjoys animals.  She watches TV and enjoys country and western music.  But the light of her life is Aimee’s son Seth.  She enjoys playing with him and entertaining him.  Both Sandy and Ann hope to get involved in Sunday School, Wednesday evening programming and in CWF.  Please welcome our newest members and add their information to your new directory.

OUR PRAYER CONCERNS

Inez Helsley – Health South.

Lem Gorden –  hopes to go home Tuesday.

Myrtle Sylvester, Nora Carter’s mother – St Francis.

Ray Payne.

VISITORS – SUNDAY, September 2

We welcomed the following visitors: John Paul Pannell, Ruth & Arnett Winn 

NOTES OF APPRECIATION

The Christian Education Department would like to recognize and give special thanks to Bob and Jerri Doty for their dedication and service in the library last year.  Decatur-Trinity is a blessed congregation to have two such faithful disciples that do what needs to be done, when it need to be done.  Thank you again, Bob and Jerri, for your service to our congregation.

BIRTHS

      We have several members who recently became great grandparents:  Ralph & Sue Smith and Eleanor Kuss’ granddaughter Jenniffer had a son, Brett Matthew and Kay Williams’ grand-daughter Jennifer, had a son, Cameron Louis!  Congratulations to all!

MEMORIAL

In memory of Mary Elizabeth Acred from Florence M. Acred (debt).

STATISTICS – SUN. September 9

Church School              128

Worship Service            214

SALT Service                  50

Received September 9                $7,715

Rec’d to date in September       $18,864

September Budget Needs          $40,067

Debt/Touch the Dream                $880

Total Debt/Touch Rec’d       $167,205

No SALT service Sunday – Come to the Carpenter’s Crew Concert at 7 p.m.

CHRISTIAN MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

      The CMF will meet this Saturday, September 15 at 8 a.m. in the CFC for its regular monthly breakfast.  There will be good fellowship, good food and a good program.  Call Ed Poole and give him your reservation.

REFILL YOUR CUP DINNER

Next week we will have barbecue chicken and Oreo pudding for dessert from Pig ‘N Whistle.  Reservations are necessary in order to have enough food for every one.  Please make yours Sunday!

REMINDERS:

      This Sunday immediately after worship we will have Open House in the library.  Come by and look over our vast collection.

      TCWF Fall Retreat is coming up September 22-23 at Bethany Hills.  Registration deadline is Sept. 12 – see Carol Rogers for additional information.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR RESUMES

      Wednesday evenings after meals (6:30-7 p.m.) in the Choir Room DTCC’s kids can be “Made for Praise” as we learn exciting new fall music for worship.  We look forward to having children join us for this musical opportunity, as we will also be working on the Children’s Choir part in the December 16 Christmas musical “Start at the Manger.”  We’ll see you there!

      Bill Huff, Trina Luechauer & Mimi Dowling, Children’s Choir Leaders

CARPENTER’S CREW CONCERT

      Hope to see you at this year’s Carpenter’s Crew Concert – our 11^th – this Sunday night, September 16.  This year’s concert will be dedicated to the memory of our former member and special friend, Malcolm Yelvington.  Come and hear some of his favorite songs and some new ones, too.

      Babysitting will be provided and if you need transportation, call the church office and let Ada know.  A reception will follow the concert in the CFC.

CHRISTMAS REHEARSALS BEGUN!

            Rehearsals for the Dec. 16 Christmas Musical Event, “Start at the Manger” have begun.  Wednesday evening Choir rehearsals begin at 7:15 p.m in the choir room and commence with warm-ups followed by work on the new and exciting Christmas musical, which will feature an orchestra comprised of members of the Memphis Symphony and our own exceptions DTCC instrumentalists. 

      New singers are strongly encouraged to attend and experience the fun every Wednesday night this fall at 7:15 p.m!

HANDBELLS NEED YOUR HELP!

      Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. in the Disciples classroom, the Handbell Choir meets to rehearse our fall and Christmas season music selections.  The Handbell Choir is short by a few ringers and we could benefit from someone who enjoys God’s worship through instrumental music.  The Bell Choir will be working on new music from  “Suite for Handbells” and Christmas music to be performed at the December 16 Musical Event, “Start at the Manger.”

      If we are able to recruit more ringers, the music can be simple and fun for all participants, so please consider joining us this coming Tuesday at 6 p.m.

      Thank you!  Bill Huff, DTCC Music Director  

YOUNG ADULTS! (18-35 years)

We will have a Mexican potluck dinner Sunday, September 30^th after SALT at the Sisk’s home.  Call Debbie!

WONDER EXHIBIT

The Keenagers have a trip to the Eternal Egypt Wonders Exhibit on Thursday, October 4.  If you would like to go with us on motorcoach from our parking lot, please call Helen or Frank Fly.

BASKETBALL SIGN UPS

We will have sign-ups for youth basketball teams on Sunday, Sept. 23 & 30 from 3-5 p.m. in the gym.  For boys and girls, ages 4-17.

CHANGE IN MEETING DATE

The Tabitha CWF group will be meeting on Thursday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Disciples classroom instead of date previously announced.

WALK FOR THE HOMELESS

      The 12^th Annual Memphis Walks for the Homeless 5-mile run/walk will be October 6 at Mississippi Blvd. Christian Church.  Information is on the table in the narthex or you may call Bill Parks for additional info.

DIRECTORS MEETING

      There will be a very important meeting of the Directors on Tuesday, September 18, at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room.

CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS MEETING

            Our annual congregational business meeting will be September 23 following the morning service.  We will consider the officers and budget for the church year 2002.  As always your participation is vital to the on going life of the church.

CHURCH FAMILY RETREAT

 October 19 – 20 - Camp Cordova Baptist Center

Friday, October 19

4:30 p.m. – Registration and Check in

6:30 p.m. – Dinner 

7:30 – 9:00 p.m. – Rev. Joe Bryan

9:00 – 9:30 p.m. – Refreshments

Saturday, October 20

8:00 a.m. – Breakfast

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Rev. Joe Bryan

10:30 a.m. – Noon – Free time

Noon – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch

1:00 p.m. – Entertainment

2:00 p.m. – Dr. Pricer

3:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Free time

6:00 p.m. – Dinner

7:00 p.m. – Eleventh Chapter

8:00 p.m.- Bon Fire

9:00 p.m. – Closing and Refreshments

Sunday, October 21

9:15 a.m – Church School

10:30 a.m. - Worship Service – Rev. Joe Bryan

Noon – All Church Dinner

SWAT will meet this Sunday at 4 p.m. in the 5^th  & 6^th grade classroom.  We have many new ideas for this year and look forward to seeing all of our 4^th  & 5^th graders.  Thanks to all who attended our swimming party and we had a great time. 

Judy & Courtney Sandlin 

This website ©2001 Decatur Trinity Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), all rights reserved. Contact David Dowling, webmaster,  for updates.

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