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TRINITY CALLING
July, 2025
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
131 East Perry St.
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
Phone: 419-447-3191
Website: www.trinityucctiffin.org
email: officeadmin@trinityucctiffin.org
Pastoral Update
Grace and peace to the Body of Christ in Tiffin!
Grace and Peace to the Body of Christ in Tiffin.
By the time you read this, I may already be in Kansas City, MO for our General Synod gathering. The theme this year is “Into the Deep” and is inspired by Luke 5:4 in which Jesus encourages his disciples to throw their nets into the deep. After bringing in a record catch, Jesus calls them to fish for people.
Every time I hear this story, I feel the disciples’ exhaustion, a hollow feeling accompanied by rubber legs, sinking shoulders, and a fuzzy brain. They had fished all night and caught nothing. And, to make things worse (I imagine they were at least a little cranky), Jesus appears and calls them into the unknown. Not only were they tired, but they also did not know what to expect. They also had to deal with the anxiety of not knowing.
Feeling tired and stressed, anyone?
This story hits the mark of how many experience ministry these days. Many of them exclaim…
“We’ve tried everything we can think of! We don’t know what to do!”
“Why don’t people come to church like they once did?”
“Does the story of Jesus even matter anymore?”
For many in ministry today, things are not clear. There are many challenges. Things are different than they were.
When thinking about things like this, I often return to a statement one of my colleagues made a while ago, “We are not called to be successful,” they said, “but faithful.”
Have you ever thought about the difference between success and faithfulness?
Their statement reframes how we normally think about ministry. Instead of numbers, we are to focus on relationships. Instead of creating a certain image, we are to focus on helping others. We are not called to be successful but faithful.
“Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be fishing for people.” Jesus said to Simon-Peter, someone, I might add, who had many hang-ups and challenges when it came to success and faithfulness.
If we can continue to hear Jesus’s voice. If we can continue to follow Jesus’s teachings. If we can continue to love others as Jesus did, we will be ok.
In this way, let me close by reminding you of a line from our Communion Prayer. “We give you thanks, Holy One, for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church you have gathered. With your sons and daughters [and siblings] of faith in all places and times, we praise you with joy (NCH page 6).”
When we feel the weight of renewing and revitalizing our congregation and the greater Church on our shoulders, let’s remember the Church exists because of the movement of God’s Spirit. God is reason, the source, and the meaning behind what the Church is and has been and will be. Though it may look differently in different times and places, as long as people open their hearts to Love and serve God and their neighbors, the church will carry on.
When I return, I will share with you my experience at General Synod. In the meantime, let’s continue to follow Jesus out into the deep, so newness of life, greater depth and breadth of Love, and a clearer call can emerge.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Karsten
Pastor Karsten Snitker
Luke 5:4 (CEB) When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.”
COUNCIL REPORT
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
Christian Education
– would like to withdraw $305 from the C.E. Fund #25 to acquire a video presentation license from CVLI for one year.
Church and Ministry
– staff goal-setting meetings are now complete, results still being compiled. Committee provided a new policy for “Vacation for Salaried Employees”:
Salaried employees, both full-time and part-time, are paid a budgeted amount yearly. Full-time employees accrue one week paid vacation for each year of employment up to 4 weeks total. An ordained pastor automatically receives 4 weeks paid vacation.
Part time employees, such as music staff, have predetermined work schedules and take vacation time accordingly. They may choose to be paid during their music season or over a 12-month basis. See also the PAID LEAVE section concerning the Organist and Chancel Choir Director/Music Coordinator.
Property
– Usual maintenance activities continue. Dry fire suppression system requires annual flushing and has now developed a leak. In 2026, repairs to the sewer line under the rear parking lot will be completed, at no cost to the church.
– summer worship music is being planned.
Worship and Music
– PK shared recent activities. PK and Katie will not renew as chaplains at Heidelberg next year. The first service (formerly “Contemporary” or “Homestyle”) will be called “Daybreak Service” beginning in August with a new focus and format.
PK shared a “Learning and Service covenant” between Trinity and Beth McKibben-Nee to describe the expectations of both the church and the student during her extended learning experience here in the next two years.
Pastor's Report
Old Business
– 100th Anniversary celebration is just days away; final displays and documents are being put in place. The council recognized the great work done by the 100th committee!
TSCCC departure from Trinity has been pushed back to September 2025.
New Business
– Dian Ewald, wedding coordinator, proposed updates to our Wedding Fee Schedule and reported that a non-member wedding in our church is being requested for March 2026, which would require church council approval. Council will wait to receive details before acting on the non-member request. President Kisabeth appointed an ad-hoc committee to review changes to the Wedding Fee Schedule (PK, Larry K, Kurt H).
Next regular Council meeting is August 13, 2025,
Submitted by
Kurt Huenemann, Secretary
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Word from the Council President
On behalf of the church council and congregation, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 100th Birthday Committee - Pastor Karsten Snitker, Donna Dorsch, Lynn Huenemann, Jim Koehl, Derrick Smith – along with Trinity Women Together, the Shepherd’s Family, the Missions Committee, Arts Committee, Kathleen Rose, our Bell Choir, Church Choir, our Organist, and all other members of the congregation that contributed time, talent, and treasures to make for a highly successful and memorable birthday celebration and service for Trinity United Church of Christ.
Congratulations to all on a job well done. The documentation in the booklet and the time capsule will be interesting reading in fifty years when it’s opened to document a celebration in our church that took place on June 15, 2025.
Again, congratulations on a job well-done.
Larry J. Kisabeth, Church Council President
Music notes
Music Report for Trinity Calling July 2025
What a centennial celebration we had! All our music groups are now going to take a bit of a breather to recharge. Two special hymns were sung during the 100th anniversary service. The first was "Let This House Be Thine" written by Rev. Dr. Samuel Z. Beam and sung to the familiar tune ELLERS, for the 1925 dedication of Trinity. The second was "We Come to Find a Sacred Space", with words by Lynn Huenemann and the 100th anniversary planning committee, and an original tune by past Choir Director Doug McConnell. The bell choir will be taking the months of June and July off.
The Praise Band will be taking the month of July off. Pastor Karsten will be conducting the Contemporary Service in the green space at the back of the church parking lot, weather permitting, (NOT AT HEDGES-BOYER PARK) as previously reported. Please bring chairs.
The Bell Choir is going to play at the First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, July 27, in their 10 a.m. service and at Our Lady of Consolation basilica in Carey on Sunday, August 3. We will rehearse on Tuesday, July 22, at 6:45 p.m. in our sanctuary.
Members of the Chancel Choir will join with singers from First Lutheran, First Presbyterian, and Old Trinity Episcopal when we have our next Ecumenical Service on Sunday, June 29, at Old Trinity. (Choir meets there at 9 a.m. to rehearse.) The choir will take a break for the rest of the summer, returning in the fall.
Fortunately, Blake Depinet is only taking one week off in July, and will be on the organ bench the rest of our summer services. We appreciate his efforts!
In the choir’s absence, our Music Meditations this summer should be very interesting and offer a wide variety of styles. Below are the musicians who will be playing at the 10 a.m. service in July and August. (There are some additions and corrections to the list published last month.) Thanks to all of them for sharing their talents.
July 6 Becky Traxler and Sara Rose, violin duet, Vicki Ohl, piano
July 13 Dulcimer Duo, Deb Kisabeth and Pat Powers
July 20 Cole Newlove, piano (He will play the entire service)
July 27 Blake Depinet and David Arter, piano duet (Bells are at Presbyterian Church)
August 3 TBA (Bells are at Our Lady of Consolation)
August 10 Cassi Miller, flute, Vicki Ohl, piano
August 17 Pastor Karsten, guitar
August 24 Music Connections (dulcimer group)
August 31 (Labor Day) TBA
Vicki Ohl, Music Coordinator and Chancel Choir Director
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THANK YOU!
Thank you for the beautiful flowers donated by Ron and Phyllis Bosler and delivered by Shari Beidelschies. They were beautiful.
Dear Trinity,
Dear Friends,
Inez Emerson
Congratulations on the 100th anniversary celebration of Trinity UCC! While I am unable to attend the event, I am holding you in my thoughts and prayers. Serving as the director of Christian Education from 1994-1996 was one of the most formative experiences of my life. Many thanks for taking the risk on a recent college graduate to service God and the Trinity family. You hold a special place in my heart and memories.
Many blessings,
Liesl Higgins
Dear Trinity,
Larry and I would like to thank you for the June 15 flowers, donated by Lewis Miller, in honor of our 50th wedding anniversary. They certainly capped off a wonderful 100th celebration of the church. Hats off to the coordinators of that event.
Larry and Debbie Kisabeth
Dear Friends in Christ,
We would like to thank so many of you for your kind words and gifts given to the church that were given in my moms name (Marilyn Homeister) after her death. I also need to thank Pastor Karsten for the lovely and meaningful Celebration of Life service that could not have meant any more to all of us as a family than it did that day! Thanks also goes to Blake Depinet for the wonderfully comforting music that he played on the organ, and to Lynn Huenemann for her beautiful solo of “Let There Be Peace On Earth”. A special thanks goes out to Vicki Ohl for playing piano for the special choir piece and to all of my fellow choir members for singing “Easter Hymn of Promise”. It was such a touching moment during the service, thank you. Derrick Smith did a wonderful job on recording Mom’s service along with running the sound and playing the slideshow of her photos before the service. And finally we also need to thank Joan Nelson for all of her work on preparing the bulletins, helping me with some of the smaller details for the service, and just being there for me. Without our beloved church family none of these things for Mom’s service would have been possible. We are all truly blessed to have such loving, giving and talented members here at Trinity UCC in Tiffin, Ohio!
God’s Blessings to All of You.
Becky and Paul Grammer
MISSION EMPHASIS
July Mission Emphasis: FELC
The Franciscan Earth Literacy Center (FELC) was founded in 1994 as an outreach mission of the Sisters of St. Francis. The center makes indoor and outdoor learning experiences meaningful. However, we can be instrumental in building up a financial base for the camps to resume in the future. Your donations will be used for the future reinstallation of the summer camp system. Let's do our best to make that possible.
As Christians, one of our most important tasks is to serve as good stewards of God's creation. This emphasis is even more meaningful as we face issues involving our environment. The youth of today need opportunities to experience working with the earth and learning how together we can sustain God's creation. The FELC works with thousands of children annually throughout Northwest Ohio. Summer Day Camps will see 200 youth attend annually for week-long day camps. The children are able to go on hikes in the woods and explore the wetlands on the St. Francis campus.
In 2004, The FELC started Seeds of Hope Farm. The farm is a chemical free operation, raising vegetables, fruit, herbs for the public, farmer's markets and wholesale customers in a sustainable agriculture system. Sr. Shirley said the center received a grant to provide jobs for disabled people. The new employees are assisting with the market by picking vegetables, stocking the tables, cleaning, weeding, watering and doing other tasks.
The Trinity Farmer scholarship fund was established in memory of Cliff Farmer, a UCC pastor, administrator and faithful member of Trinity Church who worked to establish the FELC scholarship so young people could learn more about God's creation. The Mission Committee is proud to continue the work Cliff started so area students can attend the FELC summer camps. Help by donating to this fund during July. Trinity has a unique opportunity in July to help children from Tiffin and Seneca County who would benefit from attending one of the summer camps sponsored by the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center. The FELC, located right here in Tiffin, is an environmental education center and demonstration facility designed to promote appreciation of nature and encourage sustainable living practices.
Thank you for your support,
Trinity Mission Committee
August Mission Emphasis: Back Bay Mission
This month Trinity UCC has its Mission Emphasis, the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Miss. Its mission statement says, "Back Bay Mission, a community ministry of the United Church of Christ, serves the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the wider church community by faithful witness for social justice and compassionate service to the poor and marginalized."For many years many members of Trinity have been involved in this mission work. This month we hope to continue our support for BBM through generous mission offerings by using the mission envelope enclosed in Trinity Calling.Back Bay Mission participated in the UCC Mission 4/1 Earth initiative by planting 7 trees in Mississippi and 3 across the globe. They volunteered more than 300 hours toward a better earth. Over the course of 90 years of service, the Back Bay Mission's programs have changed and evolved as to meet the specific needs of the community it serves. Yet the core of Back Bay Mission's character and purpose has remained steadfast. Back Bay Mission has worked on Mississippi's Gulf Coast to assist those who have been marginalized by their poverty, race, and lack of education or other life circumstances.One of the top issues being targeted by Back Bay Mission is homelessness. The program has been addressed by creating a permanent housing and outreach program (Home at Last) at Back Bay Mission, and by working with other community stakeholders to develop the Open Doors Homeless coalition of South Mississippi, which is responsible for bringing in approximately $1.8 million in new funding to deal with the homelessness issue.We are planning on having a speaker from Back Bay Mission at Tiffin Trinity UCC sometime this fall. This month however, we can help the Back Bay Mission in all of its efforts through our Mission Emphasis gifts.
Traditional Service begins its summer schedule on June 1. Service will be at 10 a.m.
CALENDAR
CALENDAR
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
Did you know that you can earn money for the church just by buying groceries? Use your existing digital Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card (or sign up for a free Kroger Plus shopper’s card) to convert a percentage of your grocery spending into a donation to the church.
Go to the Kroger.com website; Community; Kroger Community Rewards;
• Create a digital account and pick your preferred Kroger store;
• link your Kroger Plus shopping card to a selected organization (in this case click on Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin and enter the NPO.
• Any transaction using the shopper’s card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program at no cost to you. Quarterly contributions from your purchases will be forwarded to Trinity Church.
