Trinity Newsletter for November 7, 2024
Meet Our Transitional Pastor
Rev. Dr. Tom Willadsen
I grew up in Peoria, Illinois with my mother and older brother. Peoria is my mother’s hometown; we moved there when I was almost a year old, following my father’s death.
I attended public school and Westminster Presbyterian Church. In my family, school was like church: you went unless you were sick. I attended Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, church camp and youth group. Each summer the Senior High Youth Group went on workcamp. By the time I graduated high school I had seen 13 states through the window of the church van.
I began to feel what I now know was a call to ministry on workcamps.
I attended college in the Chicago area, where I majored in Urban Studies. Following college, I served the City of New York for one year as an Urban Fellow. My internship was in the Department of City Planning’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.
I attended seminary at the University of Chicago, taking numerous courses at McCormick.
My first call was to First Presbyterian in Mankato, Minnesota, as associate pastor. While there I led the Senior High Youth Group on work camps, the first of which was to Springfield, MO. After nearly five years, my wife and I moved to the Baltimore area, where I was associate pastor of a large, suburban church. Our first son was born in Baltimore. After three years I accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where I served 19 years. Our second son was born in Oshkosh. While in Oshkosh, I earned a Doctor of Ministry from Louisville and my first book, “OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter” was published.
Following my time as pastor in Oshkosh, I took about a year away from parish ministry. I worked on a variety of interfaith and civic efforts to make Oshkosh more welcoming.
I returned to parish ministry as a Transitional Pastor in late 2019, six months before the COVID-19 pandemic. I served Faith Presbyterian Church in suburban Omaha for nearly three years. I found transitional ministry is a good fit for my short attention span and lack of ambition.
Most recently, I just finished serving Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church in suburban Reno, NV for two years. While at Spanish Springs the church reduced its mortgage by about 25%. I was also very active in the strong, engaged interfaith community. My proudest achievement was organizing Interfaith Laughter Night on April 1, 2024. The event raised money and awareness for a local literacy non-profit. More than 20 people, representing eight religions, took the stage to tell jokes about their faith traditions.
Why did the Presbyterian cross the road?
You’re confusing us with pedestrians; we get that a lot.
My older son is in graduate school at the University of Kansas and my younger son serves is the United States Army.
I am excited to begin another chapter in my career as I begin serving Trinity Presbyterian Church, December 1, 2024.
New Office Volunteer Sign-ups are Available
Can you give three hours a month to help Trinity be a more welcoming place? We are looking for some friendly folks to help staff our volunteer Welcome Desk during the week. Volunteer shifts are usually 9:00 a.m. to Noon or Noon to 3:00 p.m. You do not need to be tech-savvy to volunteer.
The primary responsibilities are to answer the main Trinity and Brentwood phones and assist callers with grace; assist with basic office tasks, such as folding and stuffing bulletins or mailings; and – most importantly – to be a friendly, welcoming face for anyone who comes to our doors.
You can sign up for one shift a week, one shift a month or anything in between. There are available dates through Nov. 4, with more dates added each week. To sign up, simply follow the link below, choose an open time slot(s), and enter your name, email, and phone number. There is no login or password needed. SIGN UP HERE.
Thank you in advance for helping make Trinity a more welcoming place!
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Screen Time?
Our wonderful AV team would like to request that if you ever need anything put on the screens for any service that is held at Trinity, please let us know in advance so we can load things into the program properly. Sometimes it is very hard to load things moments before an event. Thank you for this consideration.
Lost and Found
Wondering where your pen, mug, charger, book, hat, sunglasses, or other elusive item is? Items turned into the church office will be placed in our new Lost & Found tubs, located on the shelf above the accessibility devices near the West entrance.
Upcoming Pulpit Supply
With grateful hearts, we should all feel the joy that we at Trinity have in our church family. What resources we each have and we can ALL share our gifts with each other! The Worship and Music committee is grateful for those who have helped in “filling our pulpit” at this time of change until a Transitional Pastor is called to serve with us here at Trinity.
Nov 10 Robert Reed
Nov 17 Howard Cavner
Nov 24 Bill Havens
Wiggle Room
Everyone is welcome in the sanctuary. If you have a fussy child and would like to step out while continuing to participate in worship, please feel free to make use of our new Wiggle Room in Room 14. The room is outfitted with comfortable chairs, a changing table, a small bathroom, and a new (to us) television mounted on the wall, showing the livestream. Please note that children in the Wiggle Room must be accompanied by a grownup who brought them. Children three-and-under can be dropped off in the Nursery in Room 12.
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 Sunday School: We meet from 10:15-11:15 in room 10. In October we will study Joshua, in November we will study lessons about David, and December lessons will be related to Adventure.
Youth-Opportunities to Connect: In the planning stages for this year! Friends are welcome to join in activities and events as we connect with each other in and outside of Trinity.
Adult Class Offerings
Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit
The combined SALT/Studying the Word class is excited to be utilizing the book Tending the Wild Garden by Eugenia Gamble. The PCUSA store states: "In a world fixated on outward appearances, discover the joy of cultivating an inward relationship with the Spirit, where virtues like love, joy, and self-control blossom naturally."
We welcome all to come when you can during this 10-week study (Schedule below). There are books still available.
Please join us in Room 17 at 10:15 a.m. as we continue our Faith Journey.
Sept. 29: Love Nov.3: Goodness
Oct. 6: Joy Nov. 10: Faithfulness
Oct. 13: Peace Nov. 17: Gentleness
Oct. 20: Patience Nov. 24: Self-Control and conclusion
Oct. 27: Kindness
Contact Amy Price if you have any questions
Topical Discussions Fellowship: Topical Discussion Fellowship meets each Sunday, 10:15 to 11:15, in Fellowship Hall, with coffee, treats, Christian education, discussion, and fellowship. You are welcome and encouraged to take part in this enjoyable Fellowship of friends!
Our current study and discussion is from Pastor Adam Hamilton’s book and DVD titled Wrestling with Doubt and Finding Faith. Pastor Hamilton reminds us that doubt is not the enemy of faith. Rather, our faith can strengthen when we are open to discussing and exploring our questions. If you have wondered: Is there a God, How to Understand the Bible, What is Heaven and Hell, When Prayers Seem Unanswered, and Why do the Innocent Suffer, then we encourage you to join our Fellowship as we discuss Pastor Hamilton’s teaching along with our own ideas.
If you cannot attend in person, please join us by Zoom: TAP THE LINK BELOW TO JOIN THE TOPICAL DISCUSSIONS FELLOWSHIP CLASS: Topical Discussions Fellowship Class Meeting ID 872 5897 6689 Passcode: 225115
Four and More: This Bible study derives its name from meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays (presently meeting in person in room 17 at Trinity, and by Zoom). Anyone wanting to join can send their email address to the study leader Jane Huffstetler, and she will provide the Zoom
