Our 4th & 5th graders run the Dog and Car Wash each August to raise money for the Christmas Angel Tree
There are so many ways we help others at Holy Trinity. Keep the following activities in mind:
- Buy from Lutheran World Relief and help women, men and families around the world:
- Sustainable Fair Trade Crafts and Foods
- Fair Trade Coffee and Chocolates – HTLC sales dates are usually the second Sunday of each month.
- Hamomi – donate to feed a student for a month or a year; support a teacher; support a graduate.
- ELCA Good Gifts – similar to Heifer project, you can purchase animals, support a missionary and lots of other options.
Healing and Wholeness Ministry
An exciting new ministry for seniors at HTLC. Holy Trinity would like to provide help and support for our Seniors. We recognize that sometimes it is hard to get out and accomplish what you would like to. This is our way of bringing our ministry to you. [More]
El Milagro
In 2003 the Holy Trinity Church Council decided to partner with the Seattle-based Agros Foundation to provide an ongoing ministry opportunity for our congregation. Agros helps small villages in Central America and Mexico escape the cycle of poverty by enabling the villagers to buy and develop their own land. Villagers are building their own homes for the first time, and developing resources such as small gardens, greenhouses, chicken coops, and herds of goats.
We have proudly concluded our commitment to El Milagro with a final visit in February 2011.
Emergency Feeding…. And You!
Statistics show that 1 out of every 6 Americans now live in poverty, or 46 million Americans. Households with annual earnings of less than $22,314 for a family of four are considered to be in poverty. The poverty rate for children younger than 18 increased from 20.7 percent the previous year to 22 percent. Emergency Feeding Program has recently been notified that some federal funding they had been receiving has been discontinued, making it even more difficult for them to feed the homeless and hungry.
Chuck Pietka notified me that our EFP funds have reached a very low level once again, and I have to notify all you faithful supporters that we really need your financial help now. Based on the information in the first paragraph, this would be a very bad time for Holy Trin- ity to cut down on the bags we donate. So, PLEASE, PLEASE consider making out a check to Emergency Feeding SOON.
“To be your presence is our mission here, to show compassion’s face and “list’ning” ear, to be your heart of mercy ever near, Alleluia! Alleluia!
We are your heart, O Christ, your hands and voice, to serve your people is our call and choice, and in this mission we, the church, rejoice. Alleluia! Alleluia! Blessings!”
Hamomi
This year, proceeds from our Latte Cart (and other fundraisers) will support a student at Hamomi Children’s Centre in Kenya, enabling them to continue their education beyond the 8th grade. The Kenyan school year runs from January to November, and in November all 8th graders take the Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam. The scores on this exam determine who is eligible to continue on to high school. Tuition for 1 student for 1 year is about $1000, and covers tuition, transportation, room and board, uniforms and school supplies.
Compass Housing Alliance
Christmas Angel Tree
The Compass Housing Alliance in Seattle provides short-term transitional housing for homeless people. Members of the congregation provide and serve Sunday morning breakfast on the 4th Sunday of every month, serving about 80. We also have ongoing collections of clothing and personal items for the residents.
Each December for the last 7 years, our 4th and 5th graders have set up the Angel Tree, decorated with wish lists from the Women’s Compass Cascade Center. Congregation members shop and supply gifts, and the kids go shopping for the remainder, using funds they have raised during their annual Dog & Car Wash in August. Gifts are delivered the week before Christmas.
Holy Trinity and Al-Anon
Just what is this Al-Anon organization listed on the monthly calendar in Holy Trinity’s newsletter? Their statement of purpose says that “the Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope, in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness, and that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause…”. This is an anonymous organization that focuses exclusively on alcohol and drug issues at a family or friend level.
The Al-Anon group called ‘Parents for Serenity’ has been meeting at our church for about eight years. This group focuses on the parent’s perspective in dealing with alcohol or drug problems in a son or daughter; however, the meeting is open to all who are dealing with abuse problems of family or friends. With forty to fifty people at the Monday night meetings this is one of the largest of the 150 or so Al-Anon meetings in the greater Seattle area with people coming from throughout the region.
Although anonymity is the spiritual foundation of Al-Anon, Dian and I have given up our anonymity as we are members of both HTLC and Al-Anon. Anonymity means that a person can share experiences with addiction at the meeting without it going any further. We are extremely pleased and thankful that our church has supported Parents for Serenity by reserving a meeting place EVERY Monday night year around. Likewise the Al-Anon group is most appreciative to the church for their support. In additions to the monthly donations to the church the group cleans up after each meeting and restores (or sets up) the fellowship hall as found. It has been amazing to witness the life changes that come out of this program, and that is something for the church to be proud of in our outreach. Parents for Serenity is open to everyone and invites anyone to be part of the meeting or just to come and observe. For more information check at www.seattle-al-anon.org ,or talk to Gary and Dian Schill.
