Trinity Press

Trinity Press is the monthly newsletter of Trinity Presbyterian Church.  Here you can find current and upcoming events and congregational news.

​The congregation is encouraged to submit articles/information that may be relevant for this newsletter to Pastor LaVera via her email by the 22nd of the month.  Ideas include:  notes to the congregation, community ministry news, community events, volunteer opportunities, and celebrations.

December 2023

From the Pastor
Jim and I have reached that age where we are medically expensive.  He hasn’t ever been especially cheap with his back injuries, but now his eye condition has become chronic.  I used to rarely go to the doctor; now I have medical debt because of my ongoing tennis elbow.  Thankfully, it is a small debt that will be paid off in just over a year. That being said, the Presbytery of New Hope is encouraging its members and churches to contact their representatives about the state of healthcare in this country.  Consider the question, “Should healthcare in the US be a consumer product or a public good?” 
Currently, healthcare comprises nearly 20% of the US GDP and is expected to continue rising.  That means people are getting wealthy off of your sicknesses and injuries.  We can debate whether or not healthcare is or should be a “right”.  We can debate on what actions regarding healthcare should be taken in this country.  We can debate on whether single payer healthcare is the answer.  What is not debatable is our healthcare system is deeply broken and contributes to systemic poverty and structural racism, two of the 3 main Matthew 25 initiatives. 
While “Obamacare” (enacted in 2010) was good in that it eliminated the pre-existing condition denial, it has also been detrimental to many families.  There are more Americans without insurance today, despite it being mandatory, or who are underinsured than there were in 2010.  60% of medical debt in this country is held by people with insurance.  We are the only country that has people declaring bankruptcy because of medical debt.  More rural Americans are without access to healthcare because of the closure of rural hospitals and independent doctor’s offices.  The US spends twice as much as other western countries on healthcare and yet our quality of care is at the bottom compared to these countries.  We have higher infant and maternal mortality rates.  Most of the excess cost goes to administration.  For example, Duke Hospital has 957 beds and yet they employ 1500 billing clerks.  There is no reason the system should be this complicated.
 In addition, drug prices are out of control.  We pay twice as much for the same drugs as Britain even though many of those drugs were developed through research paid for by our tax dollars in our universities.  What can we do?  What can a small church without a lot of financial resources do? There is something we can do which costs nothing.  That is to write, email, or call your representatives.  There are a lot of big companies with lots of money who lobby for things who do not have your best interests at heart or the interests of the American people in general.
But we are the electors and the constituents, and when you take the time to individually contact your representatives, your voice has a lot more power than merely signing a petition.  There are two proposed pieces of legislation regarding health care.  These bills aren’t necessarily the whole answer, but they are start.  One is Senate Bill 1655 which has been referred to the Finance Committee on which Senator Tillis serves.  Committees are where bills get changed and edited, get passed on, or get killed.  I would encourage you to read it and send your personal comments to Senator Thom Tillis.  You can email him through his official website here:  www.tillis.senate.gov/email-me
The second bill is HR Bill 3421.  It is being examined by many committees.  Again, I would encourage you to read it carefully and contact Representative Greg Murphy.  His New Bern office phone is 252-636-6612, and his Washington, DC phone is 202-225-3415.  You can also email through his official website at gregmurphyforms.house.gov/contact/email-me.htm  Taking action on this issue falls under the Matthew 25 initiatives of Eradicating Systemic Poverty and Dismantling Structural Racism. 

Worship News
Readers for the weekly Advent Candle Lighting Devotions are still needed.  See Rev. Parato.

We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper on Sunday morning on December 24 at the 11:00 am service.  This year’s Christmas Eve service will be at 4:00 pm, which we can do since Christmas Eve is on Sunday.  

Stewardship News
Thank you to everyone who turned in a pledge card for 2024.  If you have not yet done so and would like to, pledge cards are still available.  

Mission News
 We delivered 47 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.  Helen and her daughter Heather were able to volunteer at the Distribution Center in Charlotte, NC. 

The Pregnancy Resource Center needs several items, which can be found on the flyer on the bulletin board.  However, their biggest need is car seats.  If you are interested in giving a few dollars towards the purchase of a car seat, see LaVera.  It would be nice if we as Trinity Presbyterian Church could donate a car seat.  
 

Fellowship News
We will have a fellowship meal after we undecorate on Sunday, Dec. 31.  

Project Regeneration
The people from Head Start are very interested in using our property!  There are many logistics that must be worked out between various boards, government regulations, etc. for this to become a reality.  Please pray that that the way would be made clear and that all puzzle pieces would fall into place if this be God’s will for Trinity Presbyterian Church.  

Scout News 
Both the Troop and the Pack will be participating in the Havelock Christmas Parade on December 9.  The pack will return to the church following the parade for a Christmas party with a “Decorate Your Leader” activity.  

There will be a Court of Honor on Monday, December 11 at 6:30 pm.  Many merit badges will be awarded!
 
​Community News
There will be a gingerbread house contest in conjunction with the annual tree lighting event at Havelock City Park on December 2.  The event will start at 3:30.  Anyone entering the contest must have their Gingerbread House display at the park by 3:15 pm.  Rules for contest: display base must be no bigger than 20” x 20”, the base may be decorated in non-edible decorations and battery operated lights may be used on the display, all other decorations must be edible, designs must be original (not a kit), designs can be submitted by individuals or groups, attendees will serve as the judges, winners will be announced at 4:45 pm after which displays must be removed. 

The annual Havelock Christmas Parade will be on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 10:00 am.  This year’s theme is the “All-American Christmas Parade.”  
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Important Dates in December
Dec. 1-2 Craven Community Chorus Concerts (Jim Parato) @ 3:00 pm at Orringer Auditorium, Craven
                Community College, New Bern
                Carolina East Singers (LaVera Parato) @ 4:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, Morehead City
Dec. 2 – 3:30 pm Gingerbread house competition and Tree Lighting at Havelock City Park
Dec. 3 — 1st Sunday of Advent
Dec. 9 – 10:00 am Havelock Christmas Parade
Dec. 10 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
                 Session Meeting following worship
Dec. 11 – 6:30 pm Scout Court of Honor
Dec. 17 – 3rd Sunday of Advent
De. 24 – 11:00 am 4th Sunday of Advent worship with Communion
                  4:00 pm Christmas Eve Service
Dec. 25 – Christmas Day
Dec. 31 — 1st Sunday of Christmas Prayer Service
                   Undecorate following worship followed by a fellowship meal
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