We are Trinity (Joanne and Don Icken)
1)
Names(s), where you live,
hobbies/activities, other info about your family?
Joanne and Don Icken – We have lived in Mahopac for
35 years. We have two grown children. Kevin lives in Astoria and works for
Lockheed Martin in Long Island and Lauren will shortly begin her MD residency in
Emergency Medicine at Albany Medical Center. Don and I are retired computer programmers
from IBM. Don is now the IT consultant at the Mahopac Library. Joanne is fully
retired and volunteers’ “lives” at Trinity. Don enjoys working around the house
and especially splitting and stacking wood. Joanne enjoys reading, cooking, crocheting
and some gardening. 2) When did you start attending worship at Trinity? And why did you keep coming?
We began attending Trinity in 2001. Joanne was raised as a Roman Catholic but wasn’t happy as she became more involved when Kevin and Lauren were small. Don’s grandparents were early members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Pearl River, NY, his parents were married there and he was brought up as a Lutheran there, but he wasn’t happy attending a Roman Catholic church so we started to shop around for a new church in the area. Pastor Maertens spoke with us on several occasions and we decided to attend worship at Trinity. The rest is history. Our children enjoyed Sunday School, Affirmation, and church activities and we got involved in the assorted ministries at Trinity.
3) Favorite experience at Trinity (be as specific as you can)?
Don enjoys Sunday coffee hours and First Friday’s spending time talking with people. He enjoys Vespers, the Moravian Love Feast, and the Christmas candlelight vigil. Joanne enjoys service events and Senior Choir.
4) Favorite hymn and/or Bible verse/story and why it's your favorite?
Joanne’s favorite hymn is “Here I Am, Lord”. I feel the lyrics are about being called by God and trusting him to be with you always. Joanne’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 46:10 “Be Still and know that I am God!”. It relaxes her and reminds her to stop fighting as God is always with me.
Don’s favorite hymn is “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” because he remembers it from growing up and going to church with his family and “Little Town of Bethlehem” because it reminds him of Christmas. His favorite Bible verse is II Corinthians 8:15 “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”
5) How have you experienced the presence of Christ in the congregation?
We have experienced the presence of Christ while growing our faith through bible study, Pastor’s spiritual sharing, servant events and surrounding ourselves with our TLC family.
6) What one word comes to mind when you think of Trinity?
When we think of Trinity the word that comes to mind is “Love” or “Friends”. Bit of a disagreement here.
