The Extra Mile

God with His People

2010-09-29T11:21:00.004-04:00

Monday nights are bursting at the seams with God’s incredible presence. I am honored to work with such an amazing team, who long to see God’s people find love and peace. We are seeing these signs of God’s redeeming love.

Yesterday, I was working with a gentleman who is staying out on the streets and he shared to me how God was speaking to him. He attended a Monday night worship service and was intently watching and listening to the illustrated parable of the Prodigal Son that Pastor Karen was sharing to us. In the reading as the father saw his son in the distance he ran towards him with arms extended open. When the gentleman heard this, he felt God touch his shoulder and he started to weep. He then continued to share to me that he has been struggling with addiction and longs so much to break free from this habit, but in the midst of the struggle still feels God’s love with him.

How powerful and precious is God’s presence and love with His people!

Blessings & Peace,

Mary Gunderson King

In the Garden with God

2010-06-29T09:14:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I had the most wonderful opportunity to go out to the community garden, at the Orchard House, and work alongside the families who have garden spaces. I was a bit apprehensive at first with the heat and humidity, but the gentle breeze that crossed the expanding field made the work so enjoyable.

Michael was proud to show all that was growing in the garden. Lettuce, beets, radishes, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and more. He put me to work harvesting the lettuce and spinach for last evening's Trinity 6:34 meal. As I bent down to gather with my bare hands the fresh greens I was reminded how often Christ went to a garden to pray...to find peace...to be with His Father.

It is written in Genesis that God walked through the Garden of Eden...did He walk alongside humanity as well? Did He gather the harvest with Adam and Eve? I feel as though God placed a special blessing on gardens, wherever they may be. That we get to feel the very essence of His creation and His gift through the soil and the seeds...through the watering and the harvesting.

As summer knocks on our doors I pray that instead of retreating into our air conditioned lives that we would step outside...step into the garden...dig our hands in the soil...wait for the gentle breeze to enfold us...and just be with God in the garden.

“The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.”

A Quote by George Bernard Shaw

A "Word" from Trinity 6:34

2010-04-13T11:10:00.002-04:00

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Message from Mario Shelby

A "Word" from Trinity 6:34

2010-04-06T10:57:00.003-04:00

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Easter Message from Pastor Lloyd McCanna

http://thequietwon.is-a-geek.net/~mark/T634/Y010405_T634.mp3

4th of July Picnic

2010-03-19T11:57:00.010-04:00

Thank you for the wonderful food, fellowship, and FUN!

June 2009 T.O.P Concert

2009-11-12T17:56:00.014-05:00

Phase II Drum Circle

Edwards Band

Reeder Family Band

Max Honn

Back Creek Valley Boys

Craggy Island Band

Anthony Wells Experience Starship

A Day at the Garden...A Day at the Park

2009-04-20T14:10:00.015-04:00

Saturday we had two teams working hard for Social Ministries. A group of folks were at the Orchard House laboring hard on the garden...

...and Carmen Winiarski and I spent most of the day at the Earth Day Festival in War Memorial Park, Martinsburg promoting the different projects of Social Ministries.

Skip Reader, team member of The Orchard Project, donated two huge piles of composted manure. Michael spread what he could over the garden with a tractor lent to us by Wes Dilly. The crew at the Orchard House spent most of Saturday morning shoveling up more of the composted manure to put over the garden.

We are continuously amazed at the commitment to help out with the garden. Skip's family and Ray are always right there to help, and Richard took two days in a row to lend his hands. Michael and I are so encouraged by the great support from everyone involved.

Over at the park, Carmen and I shared information and help raise funds for The Orchard Project.

For the In Sight project we displayed a painting done by Kirby Lewis on Mountaintop Removal and encouraged people to raise their voice to stop Mountaintop removal in West Virginia...amazingly enough there was another group, CARE North Mountain, who were just doing the same thing. North Mountain is in danger of being mined and the same thing that has happened to mountains in southern West Virginia can happen to ours.

We also had two empty canvases that the community could paint on. The themes were Broken Earth and Earth Renewed.

We were amazed at the artistic contributions from all ages!

Each person expressed things that harm the earth and things that help it.

Cars and hearts...

...flowers and tears were just a few of the things painted.

It was an incredible day!

A Helping Hand

2009-04-20T11:17:00.011-04:00

Art Weber from Woodbrier Nursery has been incredibly helpful to The Orchard Project with materials for starting plants, space to grow the plants, taking his own time to water the plants, and teaching us how to transplant them. He has shared his wisdom and encouragement for the project. And he asked for nothing in return. The Orchard Project team though longed to return his great generosity.

Michael has been going over parts of the week and I joining him on Monday mornings and Saturdays...not only to take care of The Orchard Project plants, but to help Art with his own tasks for the nursery.

Friday we had three incredible volunteers show up to help Art with clean-up.

Carl Frasch, Darryl Johnson, and I pulled out stakes and organized them, as well as pulled out dead plants and raked leaves.

Richard Cleaves potted 100 trees that Michael picked up at the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds for The Orchard Project. Richard stayed on till the task was finished. Richard shared that each time he thought he was done he saw more trees that needed to be planted...kind of like the Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Art thanked us for helping him out...but we could only thank him in return for the opportunity and his continued generousity.

Art took on the nursery after his father passed away and he and his family have ran it ever since. Because of the growing big companies coming into the community it is difficult for small, family run businesses like Art's nursery to compete. We encourage everyone to shop at small, local businesses in your area.

Sleeping Bag Project

2009-04-20T10:01:00.009-04:00

Since November of 2008, very committed people have been gathering each Wednesday to sew together "sleeping bags" for individuals who are staying out in the cold in Martinsburg, WV. Even when just two gathered a sleeping bag would be made.

Rev. Karen Erskine Valentine led the project and help teach the unexperienced how to sew. Yeshuah Burbank was our most faithful sewing bee. He came most Wednesdays with such joy to help his brothers and sisters in need.

Through incredible donations of used fabrics, blankets, sheets, and neckties about 20 sleeping bags were created and given out to our homeless in the community. As soon as a sleeping bag was created, the next day it was needed.

Sleeping Bag Wednesdays were not only a time of service for our neighbors in need, but also a time of great fellowship for those who gathered. Lively conversations, laughter, and the occasional called out "ouch" were shared.

And So We Gather

2009-04-13T11:17:00.020-04:00

One of the greatest hopes of The Orchard Project and I believe of any good project is the gathering of people.

People committed to work together...

...laugh together...

...and serve together. But how beautiful that on such beautiful days as this one, that we could all gather around the earth...

...learning, nurturing, and growing.

We had 13 people come on this 2nd Garden Day...as we have now called them in our email announcements..."Garden Day"...and what an enthusiastic crew! Each worked so incredibly hard! Folks of all ages came on this wonderful day!

Rocks were picked up through the field by a very determined crew.

Compost was hauled and spread over part of the field without any desire to take a break.

The field and rows were measured out.

Sand donated by US Silica was applied over the rows.

All in all it was a great day of fellowship and service. Thank you everyone!

"Thanks for going and helping today, Gracie."...Gracie responed, "It's you I owe a thank you."..."For what?" asked Jeff, "For telling me about it and how to help the poor," responded Gracie back to her Dad.

The First Garden Day

2009-04-09T11:40:00.005-04:00

The first Garden Day maybe wasn't the most pretty of tasks. After the first gathering of team members for The Orchard Project in February, Michael and Skip's family went and picked up composted manure donated by Dr. Robin Townsend.

Amber, Dr. Townsend's daughter, helped load the compost into the trucks.

Skip's family was truly a blessing that day...as they helped load the truck as well us unload compost at the garden site.

First Seeds Planted by Mary Gunderson

2009-03-21T10:32:00.017-04:00

A few weeks back Micheal and I went over to Woodbrier Nursery and planted the first seeds for The Orchard Project. We used an assortment of seeds that were donated by Cheryl & Gary Hoover from Trinity UMC and Art from Woodbrier Nursery.

Art, who owns Woodbrier Nursery, donated soil, seeds, trays, and greenhouse space so we could get the plants started. He and his daughter, Nikki, taught us how to break up the soil and get it pre-moistened, which would help in watering the seeds later. Michael got the soil ready while I separated the trays and got the tags ready.

We used a wonderful seed machine that helped us place about a hundred small seeds in the cells of the tray...it saved us a lot of time!

We were not alone...under the table at which we worked were three kittens in one of the soil bags. We would take breaks to allow the timid Mommy Cat to be with her babys. In time she moved them from that place to a more private space.

It was wonderful to work with a wide variety of seeds. Some of them I was so amazed at how small they were, but knew they were going to grow into something big and beautiful.

There were some seeds we had to plant in rows than in cells. This took a little bit more time as we had to do it with our hands.

Here are all the trays and cells that hold the first seeds planted for the garden. They are growing beautifully. We have more seeds to plant that will bless the community and families participating in the family garden.

A Colorful and Sweet Trinity 6:34

2009-03-21T09:27:00.014-04:00

We never know what the kitchen crew on Monday nights is going to surprise us with. Whether it be pancakes and corned beef hash or cabbage rolls and apple crumble.

One Monday evening though, Ray and Sarah spent a great deal of time decorating church-made cupcakes with beautiful shades of blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, and pink.

Everyone was stunned by the array of colors and how fancy the designs were. Each cupcake was unique and carefully designed! The community felt so special and loved. They brought such a life and joy to the evening! And they weren't just pretty either, they were absolutely sweet and delicious! Thank you so much, Ray and Sarah!

Hope in Guatemala by Karen Erskine Valentine

2009-03-18T11:03:00.001-04:00

The last week in February 2009 I went with a group from the Frederick Conference of the UMC on a mission trip to Guatemala. It was an amazing journey that I hope to repeat.
We spent our week at a school by the name of Mi Refugio, “My Refuge”. The school was founded and is run by an amazing woman by the name of Kari Engen. Kari has been in the mission field in Guatemala for approximately thirty years. She is now a Guatemalan citizen.
Soon after her arrival in Guatemala, Kari was introduced to a community near Guatemala City. This community of about 1000 people lived in a landfill. Presently their homes are built on what was the dump which is now adjacent to the active landfill. The water is bad, the smell is bad, and the air is polluted. The people scavenge the landfill for things to sell and recycle. Resources are scarce and it is very difficult for a family in that kind of poverty to pull themselves out. It is difficult for them to see beyond the present moment when they do not know whether or not their children will eat that day. It is a place that seems to be void of hope. In the midst of that hopelessness God gave Kari a vision.
Kari had a vision of the children of the dump coming to her up a hill. They were coming to school and they were coming to her. The vision would not leave her and so Kari said to her parents and friends, “I think God wants me to start a school for the kids of the dump.” She moved onto the dump to spend time with the families there and gain their trust and then she started a school. At first her school was right there by the dump, but when that property was no longer available to her another property became available and so did the money to buy it. When she needed a van, a van became available and so did the money to buy it. When they needed a school bus, a bus became available and so did the money to buy it. This seems to be the way it is with Kari. She will tell you, God provides everything that they need.
The school is on a beautiful campus way up in the mountains. The air is clean, the ground is free of trash, the water is clear. The children are bused from the dump to the school where they wear their school uniforms and they look just as clean and beautiful as the children that come from the local village. They begin their day with a nutritious breakfast. They brush their teeth and wash their hands and faces; and then they go to their classrooms where they are ready to learn.
Mi Refugio is a grammar school educating children from Kindergarten to sixth grade, but there is so much more that happens there because Kari has the faith to move mountains. If a child completes 6th grade and wants to continue studying, Kari provides scholarships through university. Children and families receive medical and dental care. Children are given medication for parasites helping them to stay at a healthy weight. There are opportunities for locals to take sewing classes and woodworking classes. Kari’s ministry reaches out to so many with so much, it is nearly impossible to believe. Oh… and Kari provides all of this completely free of charge. These families would otherwise be unable to provide an education for their children. Education is officially paid for by the government, but uniforms and books and supplies and miscellaneous fees are beyond the reach of all of these families. And so… Kari takes children that are underfed and poorly clothed and without hope and she feeds them, rids them of their parasites, clothes them, gives them medical and dental care and then provides them with an education.
That dump may have seemed to be void of hope, but there is always hope. Because of Kari’s willingness to trust God and do God’s work there is a great deal of hope in that community. Several of the teachers at Mi Refugio were Kari’s former students. They have been through university and are now certified teachers. They are now providing an education to children who came from the same hopeless situation that they came from. They are passing on the hope.
At Mi Refugio the children learn Math and Reading and Writing, and Science and History, but they also learn that God is their refuge and strength. That in God all things are possible. They learn that there is hope.
If you want to learn more about Mi Refugio and Kari’s work you can go to http://www.mirefugio.org/.
Next entry… Our work and experience at Mi Refugio.

“When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” Matthew 25:39 (NIV)

2009-02-26T17:18:00.005-05:00

On Tuesday, February 17, I was in attendance at the Prison Ministries meeting, held at Calvary UMC, which was open to our community. I was very impressed and quite relieved to find that Warden Lewis Barlow, recently assigned to the Eastern Regional Jail, in Martinsburg, is a strong supporter of Prison Ministries and believes in the difference that God can make in ones life. He stressed that he has found that change in the cycle of a prisoner's behavior can only be achieved through a combination of spirituality and education; and that one by itself is often not effective. He pointed out that our nation's prison system, including Martinsburg's, is severely lacking programs that incorporate both elements and would welcome more spiritual involvement from the community at his facility.

Many other knowledgeable and dedicated individuals were in attendance to share their support and ideas for the program. I was pleased to see that there is a push to bring the word of God to those who may not feel His presence at a time in their life when they are secluded from the general community and may well feel alone and in need. Often times, once a judgment has been handed down to an offender, the community forgets that the offender still has human needs and frequently he or she is not a bad person, just a person who has done a bad thing; someone who needs to connect or reconnect with God to find a straight path.

I hope that there are others here at Trinity UMC and in our community of faith that will feel the call to reach out to those who are incarcerated for the mistakes that they have made. There are many things that can be done to make this a successful program. From ministering to the incarcerated, to becoming support staff for those who do the ministering; we all can find a way to participate in changing the lives of those among us who have been lost. This program is a benefit to them as well as to our community when they return to us. A man or woman who feels the self worth that can be achieved through education and feels the presence of God is much less likely to be a repeat offender and much more likely to contribute to our community. Martinsburg and Berkeley County need this program just as much as the residents of the Eastern Regional Jail do.

Chrissa Cunningham

God Please Change Me

2009-02-26T16:32:00.002-05:00

I have been struggling with churches saying they want to do so much yet nothing gets done. It is either because those who do tend to do more are the ones who already are so busy doing and those who don't mostly complain that nothing is being done. When was the last time you said you would die for your God, the God who created you and only wants us to love Him and wants us to tell everyone about Him so He can love them too. Sometimes what worked before won't work now. God did not create us to be robots He created human beings with feelings and intelligence. We need to get out of our comfort zone, let God out of the box that we have put Him in, and do something, anything, we need to get the job done what ever it takes, even if it means going out into the street and getting dirty. It could mean that we have to work together, WOW what a concept. Is it possible? I have been struggling with my passion in how I am to do God’s work. I want to be available in any capacity to do the Work God has chosen for me. I don't want to lose my passion because I am afraid to change.

God PLEASE change me

Carmen Winiarski

Let Us Plant the Seeds Together

2009-02-26T15:49:00.000-05:00

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way in order that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
2 Corinthians 9:10-12

Social Ministries is truly excited about the new garden project that will be starting out at the Orchard House. We call you to join us in this new venture!

Social Ministries was seeing a great need to allow low to no income families and individuals a place where they can grow a few vegetables for their home, as well as allow volunteers to grow food for the community in need. In interacting with the earth one grows in self-worth. Not only will the garden provide substance for the body, it will bring substance to the mind and spirit.

The garden being a place that calls us to serenity and prayer stirred the idea of adding a meditation element by adding a labyrinth and areas of beauty where one can sit. Also down the road having an art garden where art pieces can be displayed by the students from Eye in the Sky class.

It is a great opportunity for the congregation and other churches to break the soil, plant seeds, nurture plants, and lift up our whole community together. We do not come together around the earth as much as we should. It is time that we turn the swords into plowshares, it is time for us to plant seeds and bring nourishment to the soul and body. Pray and participate with us in this new ministry!

Blessings & Peace,

Mary Gunderson

Thank You Orrs Farm Market, Panera Bread, and our Volunteers & Donors for Trinity 6:34!

2009-02-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

In August of 2008 I went to Orrs Farm Market and asked if they would donate to Trinity 6:34. My intention was to have fresh fruits and vegetables for our dinners. What I got still amazes me. The quality and the quantity of the food, mostly the quantity. Every Monday I would drive to Orrs and pick up fruits and vegetable by the cases. Yes I said CASES. most times filling the back of our truck. As a result of Orrs donations we were able to save a generous amount of money allowing us to provide a well rounded nutritional meal. What is also amazing is the number of people coming to Trinity 6:34 has increased, but because of the donations of food, it did not matter we were able to have enough food for everyone. I calculated an average cost of the meals per a person since August and I was pleased with the numbers. I calculated the amount of money spent since August and then divided the amount by the approximate number of people ( I averaged about 100 people even though we have had 130 on most recent Mondays) coming to Trinity 6:34 for a meal. The approximate cost per person came to about .40 cents. I did not calculate the exact value because I had not calculated the donations from Panera Bread or any other generous donations from individuals. Should I calculate just the bread into the equation the cost would be around .35 cents per person per a meal. I am so pleased with the results of the donations. I thought that we were finished at Orrs for the season but NO they said we could continue picking up fruits and vegetables. There will not be as much as there had been all summer, but I am still grateful for their generosity. Thank You Orrs for you generosity and commitment to our community

From Carmen Winiarski

We would like to say Thank YOU to all of our Trinity 6:34 volunteers. We have enjoyed getting to know each of you and look forward working with you in 2009.

Carmen And Raymond Winiarski

A New Year to Live! A New Opportunity to Serve!

2009-02-26T15:24:00.000-05:00

2008 was an exciting year! January 2008 Social Ministries started the In Sight Social Awareness Art Project, which we hope to continue into this year with new issues and artists. The In Sight project birthed the Eye in the Sky art class, led by Kirby Lewis. A very joyous and explorative crew of learning artists met each Wednesday to discover their gifts in art. The Shalom Ministry was also able to start their new Laundry Program, Suds & Bubbles, which has truly been a blessing to folks who are unable to afford getting their clothes washed. And through the help of Ray and Judy Foss started a Nutrition and Cooking Class. In July Karen Erskine Valentine, a Lutheran Minister, joined the Social Ministries team to help with Trinity 6:34 and Social Ministries Education. Karen introduced the Just Neighbors class and has also been leading the Sleeping Bag Project. Nancy Jackson and Michael King, who are Title V participants, joined the Social Ministries Team. This year we also had two Social Work Interns from Shepherdstown University who participated in Shalom Ministry and Trinity 6:34. Trinity 6:34 continued to expand and serve the community around us. The Free Clinic program on the 3rd Monday of the month has been blessed by Dr. Jacques, Laura Clayton, Kathy Dilley, and the nursing students of Shepherdstown University and through their commitment have been a blessing to the community. We were truly blessed by volunteers, donations, and guest speakers, singers, and Puppeteers! November the Martinsburg Berkeley County Coalition for the Homeless/Shalom Ministry became an affiliate site for Angel Food and we have been doing this ministry through Trinity UMC. It has been a blessing to so many people. In November more than ten people gathered in a prayer vigil for the Homeless and Hungry of the nation and world. December 13, we held our annual A Perfect Gift Christmas Fair and had 13 organizations share the wonderful work they do for the community. The Relief Fund continued to be a great support for people financially struggling. We have been able to help folks get their ID’s, help with electric, housing, food, get back home, and the list goes on.

But what does this New Year have in store for us? An opportunity to enhance the ministries of Trinity United Methodist Church. To pray, serve, and grow closer to God. A couple of things on the burner which need your prayers and your involvement. Social Ministries approached Trinity Center with a proposal to start a Community Vegetable, Fruit, and Art Garden. Trinity Center was excited about the idea and asked us to get things started. So during the winter we will be gathering a garden team and designing a layout that will help this vision come to life. What a great opportunity to connect with the earth and bless the community with food! A Call to Action will also be sent out to everyone to help specific families that are in need beyond financial. This will be done best by email and phone. So if you don’t have email get hooked up! Another form of Call to Action will be in the light of advocacy. The Shepherdstown Amnesty International Chapter, led by Lynn Yellott, is looking for more participants. I have had an opportunity to work with them and I deeply encourage you to get involved. I look forward to praying, serving, and growing closer to God with you in this New Year. May God bless you in all that you do!

Blessings & Peace,

Mary Gunderson