Trinity United Church of Christ is situated in a lovely village on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. The major industry centers the leisure pursuits afforded by the lake. The impressive Central School sits on a hillside campus in the center of the village.
Trinity is new to the United Church of Christ. The church is a merger of three congregations representing three different denominations: United Methodist, Episcopal and Presbyterian. In 1994 the congregation joined the Oneida Association of the New York Conference UCC.
It is a small congregation. There is a Sunday school. They used to have a youth group, but most of those children graduated. They have an active music ministry. There are some younger adult members, but most are over the age of 50. So, Trinity UCC is typical of many of the congregations in the Upstate Region of the conference.
What interests me, however, is that Trinity UCC takes mission seriously. They have a very active Mission Committee. The committee only numbers about 5, maybe 6 people, (pictured around the table in the Church kitchen are Bob Nelson, Marge Jorgensen, Lisa Dodman, Carolyn Walter, and Linda Bower) but they believe in mission. And, they make certain that the congregation as a whole believes in and takes mission seriously, too. You better believe it!
Their main mission emphasis is working with the Social Ministry Committee of Good Shepherd Catholic Community that welcomes and assists the migrant farmworkers (mostly from Guatemala) who live and work in the area each summer.
In the descriptive brochure the Trinity Mission Committee writes:
"The presence of a local migrant camp provides us with an opportunity to practice what we preach as Christian people -- to reach out to someone in need, to provide a genuine welcome, and and doing so to become profoundly enriched ourselves. The project offers a variety of opportunities to appreciate, help and love the migrant farm workers who send us the fresh fruits and vegetables we enjoy year-round."The brochure describes ways in which parishioners can become involved in this ministry. Donate or Sponsor a Collection of Gently Used Items; Distribute Donations; Help lead a small broup Bible Study/Discussion Group with interested workers; Help cook Breakfasts at the migrant camps on Sunday mornings; Teach English; Volunteer at organized social events; volunteer at special Health Education events.
The church didn't know about the two Resolutions on U.S. Immigration Policy and Reform that are being submitted to General Synod 26 on Friday when they got involved in this ministry. But, the resolutions will certainly effect these workers in our midst across Central New York if they are implemented. Read about these and all the Resolutions by clicking onto the UCC website: www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions. And here are the links to the specific resolutions on Immigration: www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/gs26-1.pdf and www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/gs26-5.pdf.
Oh, there another very impressive spiritual gift that God has granted our sisters and brothers at Trinity UCC, Union Springs: they listen to their children, youth and young adults. A couple of young persons brought up the idea of pursuing a ministry of micro-credit to help those in need to rise out of poverty. The Mission committee and Church Council are actively looking into this mission.
Our local churches can change the world, with God's help, by looking right outside the front doorsteps. "As you have done it to the least of these...you have done it to me," said Jesus. (Matt. 25:40)
Blessings,
Rick Cowles
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