Why we're here: We became involved with Trinity right after we married in 1996. It was then that the current pastor and a church member invited us to attend and told us about the church's need for leaders for the celebration service. After getting involved with a Sunday School class and feeling very welcomed by the members of the congregation, we applied for the position. Even though our roles in the service are very different, we feel that we each bring unique skills to the planning of the service and work together well as a team.
 

Angie and Matt Dickinson
Praise Team Leaders

Education: Angie graduated from Northern Lebanon High School, received a B.A. in elementary education from Grove City College and earned a master's degree, early childhood certificate and reading specialist certificate from Penn State University. After teaching first and third grades for several years she now works at home with a class of two (daughters Annie and Emma) and tutors area students.

Matt graduated from Shippensburg High School, received a B.S. in music education from Lebanon Valley College, and is currently working on his master's degree in music at Lebanon Valley College. Matt's a music teacher at Lower Dauphin Middle School and serves as artistic director for the Lebanon County Choral Society.

Favorite Scriptures: Angie likes the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace recorded in Daniel Chapter 3. The fact that the three men know that God is able to save them from the fiery furnace, but that they would choose to worship God even if God DOESN'T choose to rescue them is a wonderful model for the type of boldness and resolve she wants to have in her Christian life.

Matt finds Psalm 73 meaningful because it is always a challenge to choose to live a life that is God-centered when the worldly lifestyles are so worshipped in our society. It's so difficult for teenagers to choose to walk away from behaviors they know aren't Godly when they see the popularity and success that follows students who engage in those self-destructive ways. As a teenager and as an adult, Matt found Psalm 73 to be an inspiration to follow God, not because of the doom that will eventually find those mentioned in the text, but because "it is good to be in the house of God." Our lives as Christians are rich because we are blessed with the ability to love and be loved in the way that God intends. This Psalm reminds Matt that this reward is far greater than popularity, riches or stardom could ever afford.

Their Little Secrets: Angie likes to play the harp and watercolor paint. She can't cook without a recipe and wouldn't touch a lima bean with a 10-foot pole. Someday she'd like to run a marathon and learn Spanish (as well as being able to actually play her harp in public, learn to make something without a recipe and actually eat limas without gagging).

Matt would rather eat any kind of ice cream except chocolate. He desperately wishes to be able to play the bagpipes or the Irish (ullian) pipes, but can't find a set that is remotely affordable. His favorite hymn is "Be Thou My Vision," and he someday dreams of being able to play the pipe organ well enough to cover for Faith on her vacation Sundays. His dream vacation is a month-long trip back to Nova Scotia, a week in Ireland and a day in Florence.

At home: Angie and Matt have been married 10 years with two daughters, Annie and Emma.