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Tidings Newsletter - May 2026

 Pastor's Corner


Let me introduce to you our new summer student marketing intern


Last year during our mission study, we as a church came to the conclusion that we love our church just the way it is, but we need to do a better job of promoting, publicizing and marketing the church and its activities to people likely to partner with us in our mission activities, and that it would be ideal if we could hire a student marketing intern to help us with that. Well, we found one!


Let me introduce to you our new summer student marketing intern: Eli Inman. Eli is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He is majoring in Advertising and Public Relations and Political Science, and maintaining a 3.85 GPA. In the fall he is doing a semester abroad in London at King’s College.


He grew up in Greensboro, the son of two attorneys. His father is a criminal attorney. His mother was a corporate attorney, but is now an Episcopal priest, shepherding a parish in Greensboro, NC. Eli has one younger brother who is also planning to attend UNC.


Eli comes to us with both life experience and academic coursework in the area of helping organizations with promotion, publicity and marketing. He has done that kind of work already at his home church, and his online work has produced very positive results, including increased church membership. He brings particular skills in the areas of recording video, video editing, storytelling, and communication, which have all been sharpened in his work as a Creative Media Intern for UNC, providing live-game video coverage of multiple UNC athletic teams.


Eli is a cradle Episcopalian, still loves the church, and is eager to share his gifts with our church in the same way he has shared them with his home church.


Eli plans to help us as a church to increase our digital footprint, refresh our church website, and help us create and post new digital content that will hopefully get the attention of those in our community and make them curious enough about our church to want to check us out.


We were able to hire Eli thanks to a generous $5,000 Presbytery Community Outreach grant we gratefully received last year from the Presbytery of Western North Carolina.


Eli may on occasion need overnight accommodations when he is in town working. If you have an extra bedroom and are willing to put him up and feed him for a short period, let us know.

—David Garnett

 Associate Pastor's Note  


For the Beauty of the Earth



You know, you really can’t overstate how fortunate we are to have the grounds surrounding Trinity Presbyterian Church and the dedicated crew of volunteers who help keep them healthy and beautiful. I try to take advantage of this blessing by getting outside every so often, and I took some pictures on a particular lovely recent day.

I encourage you to explore our church yard every so often as well – and in the meantime, let’s give thanks for God’s great creation and our dedicated crew of groundskeepers: Priscilla, Claire, Wayne, and Richard. (And if I missed anyone, please let me know!)


Peace,

—Dwight Christenbury

 Session Notes:


April 2026 Session Notes


Here are highlights of major actions the Trinity Session took during its stated meeting of April 13, 2026:


  • We joyfully received into membership Julie Adams! Julie is a student at Union Presbyterian Seminary (Charlotte) and has already become involved in the life of Trinity Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of Western North Carolina (PWNC), including traveling to Malawi with a PWNC delegation just last month.

  • The Session approved a return to our now-customary summer worship schedule, which means that we will hold a single worship service at 10:00 a.m. beginning on May 24 (Memorial Day weekend) and ending on September 6 (Labor Day weekend).

  • The Session decided to use love-offering proceeds from the upcoming Hendersonville Swing Band concert (June 28) to support Circles Henderson County.

  • Beginning this month, the Session will meet on the third (rather than the second) Monday of the month (i.e., the Session’s next meeting will be May 18).

  • The Matthew 25 Ministry presented a position paper regarding the war in Iran for the Session to consider. The paper includes a recent statement on the war from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and it was endorsed unanimously by the Session.

  • An update and a clarification to a Matthew 25-sponsored motion that was approved in March: A flagpole bracket has now been installed on the Trinity streetside sign and a Pride flag has been mounted in recognition of the upcoming Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus concert and Pride Month (June). A further provision of the motion passed in March is that the Matthew 25 Ministry is directed to consider and authorize other displays, in support of other groups and causes, as appropriate.

  • The Session approved a motion from the New Member Ministry to hire a student marketing intern, Eli Inman (a student a UNC-Chapel Hill), to help promote Trinity Presbyterian Church in the community. Eli was hired on a contract basis using funds from a PWNC grant that the church was awarded for this purpose.

TICKETS! - Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus in Concert at TRINTY!

-- Trinity folks - contact the office for YOUR ticket --

-- Community friends - tix available at https://www.fcchendersonville.org/ --

GOING FAST!!! Get yours today 😎🏳️‍🌈

 Worship Ministry


Sanctuary Flowers

Our Flower Ministry had a bump in the road, but that's repaired. Forget Me Not Florist has decided not to close, and we're thrilled. They were Trinity's florist for 30 years, so here we go for another 30!. One BIG change: as of JUNE 1, floral arrangements for the Sanctuary will increase from $40 to $60. If this increase is problematic for you, and you'd like to remove your name from the online sign-up list, please contact Susan at mangrumsusan@bellsouth.net.

—Susan Mangrum

 Christian Nurture Ministry

Youth News


Vacation Bible School 2026 – June 1-4, 9:00 a.m. to Noon

Join us for Operation Restoration VBS at Trinity Presbyterian Church! Children who are entering Pre-K through 6th grade are welcomed to participate, and students who have completed 6th grade may volunteer, click the link at the bottom of this form.


This VBS invites kids to be menders in God's world. As they make connections between Bible stories and mending actions, they'll discover simple ways to live out faith in daily life. Each day, participants will rotate through four different stations, including Art, Story Time, Hands-On Learning, and Games. Please use the links below to register to participate or volunteer. (Note: All volunteers must also register with Safe Gatherings.)


Library Notes:

The following gift books have been added to our collection.  They are located in the library cabinet in the Atrium.

 

 

Please note:

While there is no specific date due, we would appreciate it if you please check any books out by writing the date and your name on the card in the back of the book and placing it either in the box in the library cabinet in the Atrium or on the desk in the library. Thanks.

—Linda & Barry Stokes

Trinity Book Group

 


Hello Readers,


We are doing something a little different in May for Trinity Book Group. We will meet a little earlier, discuss the book, The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller, and then watch the movie, Remarkably, Bright Creatures along with popcorn and drinks. We read the book the movie is based on earlier. If you can’t watch a movie without your favorite snack, please bring it along.


We will also vote on next year’s books. If you need a book list, please contact Billie Hicklin.


Particulars are:

Date: Thursday, May 28, 1:00 pm at the Church Fellowship Hall

Discussion Leader: Pam Villanti

Host: Pam Villanti


If you have any questions, please contact Billie Hicklin or Angela Kuykendoll. ALL are welcome!


Happy Reading!

—Angela Kuykendoll

Photo: Trinity Book Club meets with Merikay McLeod (a/k/a Sunny Lockwood) after reading her book “The Day After His Crucifixion

Cub Scouts - Pack 620


Needed: New liaison between Cub Scout Pack and Trinity Pres

 

As you may know, Glenn and Linda Walker are moving to Florida soon and Glenn needs to be replaced as the Chartered Organization Representative (COR) with our Cub Scout Pack 620.  This is not a time consuming job but is to provide for communication and potential conflict resolution between the church and the Pack.


The Cub Program is now open to both boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 10.  An annual registration fee of $65 is needed which includes a background check.  Laurie Beitler is the Pack Chairperson and the COR works with her and the Trinity Pastor (the Chief Administrator).


Please give this opportunity your consideration and contact Glenn Walker (674-2233) or Dave Garnett (692-6114) if you have any questions.

—Glenn Walker


 Fellowship Ministry


Wed Night Live! Please sign-up ASAP in the Narthex (or call/email the office). Dinners begin at 5:30PM followed by our presentations at 6:30PM. Please note: Starting in January, the cost of WNL meals will be $12/adult. This reflects the recent price increases charged by our catering partners.

—Lorraine Talbot



MAY 13, 2026

Hope Coalition

Hope Coalition is a Hendersonville-based non-profit dedicated to preventing substance use among youth and focusing on long-term recovery for anyone impacted by alcohol and drug addiction.


MAY 27, 2026

Meadowlark Trio

These artists are established professionals in Western North Carolina and surrounding regions, known for their versatility, deep community involvement, and dedication to culturally rich performance projects. 

Take Us Out to the Ball Game!

 

What could be a better way to start the summer season than with a trip to Home Trust Park (previously McCormick Field)!  Your Fellowship Ministry thinks this would be a great way for our church family to kick off the season.  And so, we have arranged for Trinity to have a block of tickets for the 6:05 PM TOURISTS GAME ON FRIDAY, MAY 16.   Joe Malecki, our new Trinity friend and accomplished saxophonist, will be playing the National Anthem that night. Let’s go support him and enjoy the Tourists game.

 


If you would like to participate in this outing, please sign up on the sheet which is posted on the bulletin board in the church narthex.  (If you wish to carpool, please be in the church parking lot by 4:30.)

        

Tickets are $11 each. Questions ??? see Julie Carter.

  

Play ball!

—Julie Carter

 Presbyterian Women

 

Over 40 women and men attended the Trinity PW Spring Gathering on Thursday, April 16. Special guests included Trinity Staff members, Ellie Mercer -  NWP PW Cluster C Chair, Paul Hugger as Circles USA inspiration at Trinity, and technology specialist, Conrad Shannon.

 

Attendees sat at tables with others who were born in their birthday months and wonderful fellowship filled the room. Ellie Mercer shared that the Trinity PW group was one of the more vibrant and active in the Cluster C group.

 

Mary Louise Forsythe and Margaret Bolick were elected Co-Moderators of Esther Circle. Sarah Thibodeau highlighted the two recipients of the annual PW Birthday Offering and gave the historical background of this longstanding PW tradition. 

 

Lin Johnson presented the program on Circles USA of Henderson County. She explained the purpose of this community effort to help lift residents out of poverty. Trinity will play a major role in the next 18 months as host of the twice-monthly dinners and meetings. Classes for adults and children will focus on helping Circle Leaders form allies and build skills and strategies that can help them overcome the many obstacles that may keep them in poverty. Lin offered multiple ways for Trinity members and friends to become involved.

 

Thanks were offered to the PW Coordinating Team for planning the event, to Betty Lockwood for her service to Esther Circle, to Lin Johnson for the program, and to Billie Hicklin for her work as Co- Moderator of PWCT. 

—Billie Hicklin

Global Missions Ministry


Luopads for Malawi


The Trinity Luopad team is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the ‘25-‘26 sewing season.


This year, we sent 335 completed kits, 2,010 luopads, and 2,680 inserts to Malawi to support school girls and young women. We would like to thank everyone who helped us achieve these goals. Whether you contributed through cutting, sewing, snapping, packing, or financial support, we are truly grateful for your assistance with this vital global ministry. Thank you for your dedication.


Best regards,

—Vickie Hugger



Andy and Ellen Collins, longtime mission co-workers in Thailand joined us for a combined Learning Hour on April 26 - happy to see them again!

(Talk about small world - Andy Collins and Eric McAnallen went to school together in Thailand! Happy reunions)


 Local Missions Ministry


Interfaith Assistance Ministry

You may have noticed the beautiful quilt currently hanging in the narthex. This project was inspired by the vision of Diocles Wells, a faithful IAM volunteer, who noted that while IAM displays quilts from many supportive entities, there was not yet a contribution from Trinity. Experienced quilters Barbara Goodman and Carole Garrison led the group effort to create this piece. The panels were sewn by Cindy Ann Bowers, Pat Donovan, Jan Furr, Carole Garrison, Barbara Goodman, Candy Grose, Vickie Hugger, Priscilla Karvonen, and Norie Sanchez. The binding and finishing work were completed by Barbara and Carole. We are incredibly grateful for this team's hard work and the beautiful result. The quilt will soon be donated to IAM, so please enjoy the display while it remains in the narthex.

—Vickie Hugger

Diocles volunteers at IAM, said Trinity needed a quilt to go with so many displayed at IAM by organizations who donate (as Trinity does), & so he is recognized by the quilters who made this quilt as the driver who got it done. The quilters names are listed on the back of the quilt.

—Sandy Weeks


Above: Diocles Wells with our new gift for IAM

Photo below: Some of our good friends from Brethren Disaster Ministries planning out their weekly build schedule in partnership with Habitat for Humanity - Lynn Evans & Marsha Sams hanging out with the boys

 Stewardship Ministry


The Stewardship of Prayer


Stewardship is caring for and using our gifts from God.  Because God loves us so much, opportunities to converse with God anytime and anywhere are among our most precious gifts.  Prayers can be short or long; loud or quiet; at planned times or during daily chores; alone or together with others. Sometimes we cry; other times we whisper; and then there are times when we shout.  Prayers can include praise; adoration; thanks; intercession for others; or confession.  We ask for strength; healing; blessings; courage; hope; peace; comfort; understanding.  We pray when we are happy; calm; sad; worried; or angry.  We pray at mealtime; bedtime; and just any old time.  Praying can include listening for the voice of God. 


There is no right or wrong way to pray. 


God listens to and welcomes all of our prayers.  Our loving God is waiting to talk with you.  How are you stewarding this precious gift?


—Barb T.

 Local Missions Ministry


Books For Good --- A Non-Profit helping our Community

 

What can you do with books that you no longer need to keep? Perhaps, you have finished with books that you have read and are looking for a way to help others benefit from these books.

 

There is a way for you to make room in your home library for additional books that you would like to read. You can donate your old books that are still in reasonable condition to Books For Good. Books For Good is an all volunteer non-profit organization with a store in Fletcher near the corner of Asheville Highway (US 25) and Butler Bridge Road in the shopping center behind the Subway. At Trinity, there is a box beside the entrance to the Fellowship Hall. If you place your books in the box, a volunteer for Books For Good will take them to the store for processing and sales. Donated books are sold in the store. Special books are sold online using Amazon and Ebay applications.  After these books are sold and the expenses to maintain the store are paid, the profit is donated to Trinity to benefit Trinity-specified ministries such as Children Benevolence Fund.

 

Ten years ago, Trinity used to sell these books donated by their members during the annual Garage Sale for 50 cents or 1 dollar each. Since Books for Good was started, these books have been given to Books For Good. Over these ten years, Trinity has received over $30,000 in donations from Books for Good sales of these books. Last quarter, Trinity received over $1,600 from sale of donated books.

 

Books For Good accepts all books, DVDs, and CDs in reasonable condition except for encyclopedias, public library discards, magazines, or cassette tapes.

 

So, bring your books to Trinity, place them in the designated box, and Books For Good will sell them and give the profit to Trinity to support our ministry work. Also, visit the Books For Good store in Fletcher and buy books to read or add to your library. Your purchases of books donated by many people in the community will benefit Trinity and over 150 other charities.

 

This is a Win-Win for both organizations. For more information about Books For Good, visit our website at http://www.booksforgoodinc.com/ or our store in Fletcher.


—Harry Hankla

 Matthew 25 Ministry


Henderson County Social Justice Network


The social justice network began with the sense that a handful of like-minded local congregations are involved with social justice issues but were not communicating with each other in a meaningful way. Discussions at Trinity in the Issues and Concerns class and Matthew 25 meetings showed the need for a boundary between social justice issues and direct political involvement.


Conversations in the fall of 2024 found an interest in improving communication among the congregations. The upcoming election added urgency to the discussions, while materials developed by the NC Council of Churches and other organizations provided guidelines to focus on issues.


Individuals developed personal contacts at the congregations and included community organizations involved with the issues. A planning committee of four members from different congregations that formed at the end of 2024 decided to call a meeting in January 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church. We decided to focus on issues directly impacting the Henderson County community because we could be overwhelmed by broader issues. We also began a weekly online notice of local events related to social justice issues.


At the first meeting, we decided that threats to the Hispanic community was the most immediate local issue and formed working groups on that issue, racism affecting the Black community, and threats to the LGBTQ+ community. We hear additional reports from groups supporting public schools, reducing gun violence, and reducing poverty. In addition, the county sheriff and superintendent of schools attended meetings.

We decided on a title, the Henderson County Social Justice Network, and agreed on a mission statement.


The network usually meets at 6:30 on the third Tuesday of the month. The working groups report and provide requests for congregations to respond, and we hear reports from community organizations. All are invited to participate in person or by Zoom. The network also distributes a weekly online newsletter with social justice news and resources in the community.


The network continues to evolve. We currently are deliberating whether to be more directly involved in advocating for change on social justice issues. Contact me at rmiles6514@sbcglobal.net if you want to receive the weekly newsletter or have any questions.

—Bob Miles

 

 Earth Care Ministry


Solar Makes A BIG Difference!

...savin' the earth, savin' some moola...


Hendo Earth Fest

Many thanks to all the volunteers who made this year Earth Fest a success!


Above: Bud Weeks with Stephen Lott & Cindy's LIFESAVER mobile solar panels; Diane Bowers & Margaret Bolick; Margaret, Diocles Wells, Eric McAnallen

 Building & Grounds Ministry


New Trinity Flagpole

 

Many thanks to Jim Kisner, Wayne Youngdahl, and Bud Weeks for overseeing the installation of our new flagpole. We will celebrate Pride month (June) and welcome the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus with our new Pride flag. Other ministries are welcome to submit ideas to Jan Furr of the Matthew 25 ministry to celebrate THEIR events and causes in fine flag form.


Forever in PEACE may you wave!


Above: Wayne on a scary ladder with Bud

 Photos


Gotcha - There were already SO many photos this month that if I add any more, your inboxes are likely to EXPLODE. So instead, I will trickle out fun photos on our Facebook page over the next several weeks. Keep an eye out for your Trinity friends and family's smiling faces below.


And if you HAVEN'T liked or followed our Facebook page yet, please do so. It makes it easier for the church to keep YOU up to date, AND it tells the algorithm that you think Trinity's pretty peachy keen, making it easier for NEW friends and family to find us online!

 May Birthdays!


This month's been a BEAR, so for those with earlier birthdays, just know that we STILL celebrate you belatedly. Here - let me give you a hug...


 Calendar


Check out what's happening this month on our web calendar




Social Media Nerd Moment:


If you’d like to see more of what YOU and your Trinity family are up to, you can FOLLOW US on Facebook. Yes, I know you can look us up, but if you want to be notified when we post something about all the good stuff YOU ALL are doing in the community, you can go to this link and click “follow”. (I won’t spam you, I promise 😘 - Come on, it’s ME!)



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