Trinity Newsletter for January 22, 2026
From Pastor Tom
The Session and Board of Deacons met Saturday, January 17 for orientation and training. The Welcome & Fellowship Committee provided a generous and tasty continental breakfast. Pastor Tom kept everyone on their toes, asking questions like "What's your favorite muffin?" and "Do you play a musical instrument?" They reviewed the questions of installation and grew to understand the joys and challenges of church leadership. Sunday January 18 the new Elders and Deacons were installed.
We are off to a VERY good start this year. Our elected leaders bring their energy, intelligence, imagination and love to serving the church!
The Work of Your Church
From the Session
The Session met on December 21, 2025, in room 17 and January 18, 2026, in the Trinity room at Trinity Church. The next meeting of Session will be February 15,2026.
During these meetings, the Elders
Approved David Smith and Shane Baker as new members in December and Sarah Tilley as a new member in January.
Approved the date for officer training as January 17, 2026 in the reception hall starting at 8:30.
Approved the proposed budget for 2026.
Approved $850 to install west entry lighting.
Approved Communion dates January 4, *February 1, March 1, April 2 (Maundy Thursday), April 5 (Easter), *May 24 (Pentecost), July 5, *August 2, September 6, October 4, *November 1, December 6, December 24 and January 3, 2027. (*Home communion dates)
Approved The minimum salary for the Minister Discernment Profile (MDP) will be $75,000, thus the cost to the church should be approximately $105,000 including salary, housing, pension, insurance, mileage, continuing education and professional development.
Approved the MDP to be sent to the CLC website to be distributed.
Approved Rev. Dr. Tom Willadsen’s contract for 2026 with corrections.
Approved the baptisms of Graham Sterling Butler and Henry Noble Thomas on March 1,2026. Grandparents are Kristin and Ron Butler.
Approved Max Perryman, Mike Simpson and Rev. Tom Willadsen be liaisons to Brentwood to discuss other safety issues.
Approved the room to the west of the Chapel as the Knitting 4 Peace work and storage room.
By Acclamation, session approved Mike Simpson as a member of the Nominating Committee.
Treasurer’s report:
As of November 30, 2025, Trinity's Operating Account was $64,055; Money Market Account was $227,276; Facility Legacy Account was $221,597; and Mission Legacy Account was $324,797. Thus, on November 30, 2025, available funds equal $837,726.
Max Perryman reported that our expenses verses income for 2025 will virtually break even. Session requested that Nippes and Associates provide a report on committee spending vs budget for each committee monthly if possible.
Questions about the Treasurer’s report may be directed to the Treasurer Stephen Kane or Bob Kick.
The following is a list of various committees’ activities:
Christian Ed. And Faith Formation: Daphne Anderson (E) 2025, Mike Simpson (E)2026
Plans are underway for a Purim Celebration as a joint Sunday School for all ages. Rev. Dr. Tom Willadsen will also lead a Lenten Bible Study, start date TBD.
Communications: Marsha Landrith (E) 2025, Brenda Havens (E) 2026
Generosity and Engagement: Bill Trotter (E) and Nancy Winchip (D)2025, Beth Kick (E and Trustee),Nancy Winchip (D) and Sue Reynolds (D).
This committee wrote thank you notes to the people who pledged for the 2026 budget year.
Finance Committee: David Hart 2025, Max Perryman (E and Trustee) 2026, Larry Bledsoe (E) 2026
The Finance Committee continues to monitor the church’s financial situation. Although full accounting should be available next month, cash basis accounting shows good news. We ended the year in the black with a net surplus due to having fewer expenses and more income than budgeted for in 2025.
Mission and Public Witness: Teresa Olsen (E), Mike Simpson (D) 2025, Martha Sparrow (E), Marsha Landrith (E), Cynthia Oliver (D) 2026.
The committee is providing a dinner meal for the homeless (150 meals), in conjunction with Rev. Alyssa Spradlin, on January 27 and another meal for SAFE TO SLEEP on February 8,2026.
Welcome and Fellowship: Kristin Butler (E) 2025 and 2026, Lois Zerrer (E and Trustee) and
Diane Meade (D), Sarah Muegge (D), Brenda Kane (D) 2026.
The Welcome and Fellowship committee is seeking volunteers to help with coffee nook
clean up following worship one Sunday per month. This only takes 10 minutes. A Welcome to Spring pot luck is being planned for March 22, details to follow.
Worship and Music: Teresa Olsen (E) and Kristen Butler (E)2025 and 2026. Martha Bledsoe (E), Cletus Johnson (D)2026.
Worship and Music met January 14 to plan for Lent. We are eager to offer worship that is creative and meaningful! Trinity will serve communion February 1, 2026. Anyone interested in serving as an usher, liturgist or communion server may contact Kristin Butler, Martha Bledsoe or Teresa Olsen.
Personnel Committee: Carrie Arquitt (E and Trustee)2025 and David Fleetwood (E)2025and 2026
Congregational Care: Colleen Lightwine (D), Marilyn Bell (D) 2026.
Clerk’s report: Patty Dunn, Clerk of Session
Our current membership is 210 including new members David Smith, Shane Baker (December) and Sarah Tilley (January). Also included is the death of Pete Leonard. The attendance for the in-person services hovers around 91 in the sanctuary. This does not include online participation.
For questions regarding the work of the Session, you may contact Patty Dunn, Clerk of Session.
Looking for a Good Used Car to Purchase
Denny Saw (the father in the refugee family that attends church with us sometimes) was in an accident on Christmas Eve which totaled his car when another driver ran a red light. The insurance money should be about $4,000. If you have a good used car that you would be willing to sell to them for about that amount, please contact Mike Simpson (870-736-2172).
Celebration of Life for Pete Leonard
A celebration of life for Byron "Pete" Leonard is planned for Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Join Trinity’s Congregational Care Committee
Trinity is known as a joyful, caring, and compassionate community. Do you want to help support our members as they experience times of joy, difficulty, or sorrow? We send flowers, birthday greetings, and get-well cards; organize receptions following funerals; and coordinate meal deliveries. Our homebound ministry provides important and regular connections with those unable to attend church. Please contact Colleen Lightwine (785-806-3567) for more information.
Trinity Book Club
The book club is taking a break in December, but will resume in January. We have a great line up of books to start the year:
February 21- Every Step is Home by Lori Erickson
March 21- How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
April 18- Clear by Carys Davies
May 16- Horse by Geraldine Brooks
We usually meet at Neighbors Mill on Independence at 9:00 am on the third Saturday of the month.
Everyone is welcome to join and read along with us! Please contact Daphne Anderson with any questions or if you would like to be on the email list.
Welcome & Fellowship Committee
Can you spare 15 minutes after church, one Sunday a month?
We need a few volunteers to help your Welcome & Fellowship committee tidy the Coffee Nook, wipe tables and put away carafes on first or fourth Sundays. Please see Sarah Muegge or Kristin Butler.
HotHands Collection
We will be collecting HotHands throughout Cold Weather Shelter Season, which starts Saturday, Nov. 1 and runs through March 31. In recent years, different organizations have held big collection drives of HotHands, building up the stash available to help our unsheltered friends and neighbors. That has not happened this year and circumstances are all the more critical. You can drop off individual packs or whole cases in the Collections tub across from the Sanctuary. We will share them during our outreach dinners, through the shelter at the Fairbanks, and on occasions when we open our fellowship hall to be a Severe Weather Emergency Plan (SWEP) shelter during major winter weather events.
Per Capita
The per capita assessment for 2026 will be $42.50. Per capita is the amount that churches pay to the Presbytery for each member to cover the cost of higher levels of church government. Members are encouraged to pay this amount, some see it as part of their annual pledge, while others make an added gift to the church.
Trinity gets a lot of return for the per capita we pay. The guidance our Pastoral Nominating Committee is receiving during the search process is paid for by per capita.
You can write a check to Trinity and put “per capita” on the memo line or make a one-time donation through the website. Every little bit helps.
Liturgists for January
We are grateful to the following people who are sharing their gifts with Trinity by serving as liturgists during the month of January.
Jan. 25 - Martha Bledsoe
Feb. 1 - Susie Holiday
Feb. 8 - Mary Kay Hoops
Feb. 15 - Daphne Anderson
Feb. 22 - Bill Trotter
If you would like to serve as liturgist, please contact Martha Bledsoe.
Prayer Chain
There are currently 16 people on Trinity’s Prayer Chain. Pray-ers receive text messages whenever someone requests prayer. Prayer requests can be as specific or general as the requester wants. Two people were added to the Prayer Chain after filling out Helping Hands at Trinity Connects on January 26. If you would like to be added to the Prayer Chain, please text Pastor Tom at 920-237-9840. If you would like to request prayer, please text Pastor Tom at 920-237-9840.
Contacting the Church Office
To reach Alyssa Spradlin, Director of Communication & Administrative Ministries, to communicate with the church office use this and only this email address:
Trinity Sunday School Classes
Sunday School opportunities for all ages. Please consider joining us in exploring our faith and learning from one another in spaces of grace and love. All classes begin at 10:15 a.m.
Children's Class
Sunday School for Children resumes January 4th. We will study the New Testament and teachings of Jesus and his followers.
Adult Class- Room 17
Class Schedule:
January 18- We begin an eight-week study by Jill Duffield: Appreciate These Things; Eight Ways of Cultivating Compassion.
In a world tense with anger and division, how can we preserve our sense of well-being and inject a little more kindness into our daily interactions? Pastor Jill J. Duffield turns to the apostle Paul’s guidance in Philippians 4:8: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Thinking about, looking for, appreciating these eight things can reorient our hearts and minds in ways that nurture compassion for ourselves, those in need, and those with whom we are inclined to disagree.
Our discussion-style class is open to all. Please contact Amy Price or Daphne Anderson with any questions.
Topical Discussions Class
Please join with us for Sunday School weekly in the Fellowship Hall. We enjoy good fellowship, hot coffee, and delicious treats as we discuss God’s presence in our daily lives.
January 25 - Paul- Second Missionary Journey….Dave Muegge
This series on Paul is based upon The Call: The Life and Message of the Apostle Paul by Pastor Adam Hamilton.
Four and More Begins Again!
Rev. Jane Huffstetler has agreed to lead Bible study on Wednesday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. (thus the name) starting on Wednesday, February 4. We meet both at the church and by Zoom if that is what works for you. If you want to be included in the weekly reminder that also includes the Zoom link, please send Jane an email. We will begin with Genesis and work our way through the Bible. No prior knowledge is needed, just a Bible and a desire to study with others.
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