Many years ago, far up in the Himalayan Mountains, there was a monastery with several faithful monks. On one particular morning, one of the monks left the monastery and descended the mountain to get some supplies at the local village. On his way down, he met one of the villagers who looked strangely at the monk and asked: "What do you all do up there?" The monk answered: "We fall down and pick each other up. We fall down again and pick each other up."

One of the most precious things I treasure about Trinity Church is that in spite of all our trials and losses, we pick each other up when we fall down. How do we do this? With words of encouragement, prayers of hope, tokens of appreciation, friendly visitors, a listening ear, the treasure of friendships, pastoral care, concrete interventions, and symbols of compassion like get-well cards, flowers, phone calls, prayer shawls, and crosses. These are just some of the ways in which we pick one another up when we fall.

At the annual meeting last week, our Jr. Warden, John Lafferty, gave a witness to the caring and loving Trinity community. His words are listed below. I am forever grateful for all of his oversight with the buildings and grounds during the last two years. Paul Lewis is the new Jr. Warden for 2015.

So where do we go from here? In February, we will co-sponsor a centering prayer workshop with the folks from the Catholic Church. The Health Ministry Board is currently advocating the establishment of a dialysis treatment unit here in Amador County. In conjunction with the adult education committee, there will be a public offering of three forums on cutting edge subjects like: Death with Dignity, Transgender Issues, and Making Medical Decisions in our Later Years. While the specifics have not been ironed out, it is my hope that we can work with Amador Hospital, the Senior Center, and other agencies to become a more active and visible force in the county.

Then of course, there is a list of possible construction projects like replacing the floor in the parish hall, putting up a sign in front of the church, installing a dishwasher in the kitchen, and doing more work to prevent flooding in the undercroft. The possibilities are endless and with your help and resources, they can become a reality.

Ash Wednesday is coming up this February 18th, with services at 12 and 7pm. This day of the imposition of ashes marks the beginning of the season of lent. During the four Wednesdays in March (6-8pm), we will resume our potluck suppers followed by a spiritual program.

Jesus said: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." So in this spirit of love, may God Bless you and uphold you and keep you faithful to your promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons.

Grace and peace be with you,