Trinity Together | November 2017

session summary: october

October was a quieter month as far as Session activity was concerned. Our meeting on the 12^th was, as usual, opened with a devotional time and a season of prayer for congregational needs.

After we reviewed and approved minutes from our September meeting, we elected four commissioners to the November Presbytery. Of special interest to all of us is that Walter Kim will be examined for transfer to the Blue Ridge Presbytery from his former church, Park Street Church in Boston. Walter has already received unanimous approval from the Leadership Development Committee of the Presbytery and now must be approved by the Presbytery as a whole. This is an exciting time for the church!

The Pastor Search Committee, which had decided to go into recess for a time, asked for guidance about when to renew their search for a Pastor for Preaching and Community Care (PPCC). We decided that no later than February 2018 we will form a committee to evaluate our pastoral needs. The committee will determine whether we should make changes to the PPCC job description, which the committee will use to continue its search.

We heard a thorough update from Director for Missions Kevin Sawyer on our work in global, local, and national missions. He also announced the recent hiring of Grady Smith as Missions Assistant. Please welcome Grady to the church staff if you haven’t already done so. Also, we were able to pray for Kevin’s approaching trip to Nicaragua. He has since returned and proclaimed it successful!

Elder Sam Heath reminded us of the Faith Seeking Understanding Forum on the Reformation. Many of you were able to attend this and enjoy not only the occasion, but also the wonderful teaching of former pastor John Cunningham. John’s wife, Susan, a friend and counselor of many of us, was able to make the trip from California with him. We are grateful to all who participated in the event.

Have a question about our Session? Email session@trinitycville.org.

meet elder bob amacker

Bob Amacker was born and grew up in Charlottesville and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from UVa. With a master’s in information technology management he has worked in a variety of related positions, the first of which was with the U.S. Navy. While stationed in Massachusetts he met college student Kristy, and they were married in 1993. Both Bob and Kristy now have jobs that require a lot of travel, although Bob says hers is more interesting and fun, as he goes to other states while she goes to other countries. After working as a consultant for several federal agencies, Kristy now works in microfinance through the World Bank.

Bob was raised in the Roman Catholic Church but as an adult wanted to try a different church tradition. When he and Kristy lived in northern New York, where their two sons were born, they were part of a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. When the family moved to Charlottesville in 2001 for Kristy to enter grad school, they met neighbors Ray and Betty Hogan, who were Trinity members. The Hogans invited them to Trinity. Bob and Kristy’s earliest involvement was in teaching children’s Sunday School over several years as Will and Charley advanced through our Children’s and Student Ministries. Will is now a junior at the College of William & Mary studying international relations, and Charley is in his senior year at Charlottesville High School and interested in studying urban planning.

About ten years ago the Amackers began participating in a small group and Bob started working to grow the small group ministry. He saw groups get larger and split as he helped educate and mentor new group leaders. In 2010 Bob was nominated to become an elder. After preparing, he was elected, ordained, and installed in 2011. Bob has served on the Session’s Personnel Committee and is now its representative on the Officer Development Ministry Team. One of the elder duties he most enjoys and finds fulfilling is that of caring for and shepherding individual members. Seeing our members forge greater connections and friendships with each other and extend true welcome to others who enter our community is Bob’s desire for Trinity. He points to our five-year mission and urges all to understand it and find the parts most important for themselves on which to focus.

Sermon Podcast	Small Groups
Morning Prayer Emails	Adult Classes
Evening/Family Prayer Emails