Because of God’s love for us through Jesus Christ, we exist to worship, grow, and serve. Volume 45, Number 2, February, 2018 You can’t turn on the television, listen to the radio, or cruise your Facebook news feed without getting a sense that we live in an increasingly divided society. That may very well be, though I don’t experience rancorous division in my daily life anything like the talking heads shows on any 24- hour news channel or the comments section on any news site’s Facebook posts. This is especially true for me at Trinity. Sure, there are disagreements in our church community on issues large and small. But the fact remains we are all still, here, together. My training as a social scientist would have me clamoring for theories to help explain our connection, but my life in the church leaves me with an altogether different notion. It’s simple, really. We are here, because we all have a story to tell of God’s love, made real through Jesus. All of us could give voice to struggle, loss, frustration or fear. Undoubtedly we could also speak of joy, acceptance, care and love. While each of our stories is unique, God’s unbounded grace is woven through them all. We share the compelling truth that we have experienced God in our best and our worst moments. This year, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14, we’ll explore “The Power of Your Story” for our annual Lenten Study. In this series a team of guides, led by Ben Arment, share their own stories of God’s grace using the narrative elements in King David’s story. Following their lead, each of us will work to articulate God’s divine presence in the movements of our own lives. In small groups our church family will share. We will begin to tell our stories anew. All together we’ll lay out our relationship with the God of creation through Jesus our redeemer. In so doing, I pray we all find the words to share our stories and the common understanding that we’re one in God’s love for us, through Jesus Christ. Lenten Study shows “The Power of Your Story” Photos from Music Ministry Sunday Dr. Nick Quinton Director of Discipleship and Adult Ministries The “Circle of Friends” praise band. “Jubilation Bells” “Trinity Ringers” “Sacred Pans” “Pans of Praise” See more photos on page 3
Transcript
Because of God’s love for us through Jesus Christ, we exist to worship, grow, and serve.Volume 45, Number 2, February, 2018
You can’t turn on the television, listen to the radio, or cruise your Facebook news feed without getting a sense that we live in an increasingly divided society. That may very well be, though I don’t experience rancorous division in my daily life anything like the talking heads shows on any 24-hour news channel or the comments section on any news site’s Facebook posts. This is especially true for me at Trinity. Sure, there are disagreements i n o u r c h u r c h community on issues large and small. But the fact remains we
are all still, here, together.My training as
a social scientist w o u l d h a v e me clamoring for theories to h e l p e x p l a i n our connection, but my life in the church leaves me with an altogether different notion. It’s simple, really. We are here, because we all have a story to tell of God’s love, made real through Jesus. All of us could give voice to struggle, loss, f rustrat ion or fear. Undoubtedly we could also speak of joy,
acceptance, care and love. While each of our stories is unique, God’s unbounded grace is woven through them all. We share the compelling truth that we have experienced God in our best and our worst moments.
This year, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14, we’ll explore “The Power of Your Story” for our annual Lenten Study. In this series a team of guides, led by Ben Arment, share their own stories of God’s grace using the narrative elements in King David’s story. Following their lead, each of us will work to articulate God’s divine presence in the movements of our own lives. In small groups our church family will share. We will begin to tell our stories anew. All together we’ll lay out our relationship with the God of creation through Jesus our redeemer. In so doing, I pray we all find the words to share our stories and the common understanding that we’re one in God’s love for us, through Jesus Christ.
Lenten Study shows “The Power of Your Story”
Photos from Music Ministry Sunday
Dr. Nick QuintonDirector of Discipleship and Adult Ministries
The “Circle of Friends” praise band.
“Jubilation Bells”
“Trinity Ringers”
“Sacred Pans”
“Pans of Praise”
See more photos on page 3
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Trinity received the following gifts fromDecember 11, 2017 - January 10, 2018:
Gifts to Trinity What and When is Lent?
My first memories of the Lenten Season had to be the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast I attended sometime during my adolescence. For me, it wasn’t so much about “discipline,” especially while eating a stack of pancakes, as it was about beginning an understanding of the Easter Season and all that it encompasses.
Lent is a season of 40 Days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 14 this year – Valentine’s Day!) and concludes on Holy Saturday (March 31) with Easter falling on April 1, 2018.
These Forty Days represent the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring temptation. During this season of ministry and teaching, Jesus taught us through servant leadership what it means to love one another and live our lives as faithful disciples.
Lent is understood as a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is designed to be a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, lent was a time to prepare converts for baptism. Today, the Lenten Season calls us as Christians to focus on our relationship with God and emphasize our personal disciplines, possibly taking on something new and increasing our servanthood to others.
This year we will once again invite you to join a small group during the Lenten Season. Dr. Nick Quinton will be coordinating this study, and we invite you to consider leading and hosting a small group in your home. Our Study this year is entitled “The Power of Your Story” where Small Groups, Sunday School Classes, and other Study Groups will be invited to discover how our personal story, the Biblical story, and God’s story all come together in one beautiful masterpiece.
Special events during the Lenten Season at Trinity will include:
Ash Wednesday, February 14: • 12 noon at Westminster Oaks with lunch to follow • 5:30 p.m. Valentine’s Dinner by Trinity’s Youth • 6:30 p.m. worship in the Sanctuary
Youth Mission Trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas, March 11-18
Road to Resurrec tion through Music and Drama, March 24, 9 a.m.- 12 noon
Together in Lent - Worship with the other three downtown churches beginning March 1, watch for more info
P a l m S u n d a y a n d O r c h e s t r a Sunday, March 25
Maundy Thursday Worship, March 29, 7 p.m., [Moor Hall and Sanctuary]
Good Friday Worship , March 30, 12 noon, Sanctuary
Trinity’s Easter Egg Hunt, March 31, Tom Brown Park, 10 a.m.
Easter Sunday Worship , April 1, 7:00 sunrise service, 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 a.m.
Trinity’s 11 o’clock service is now being broadcast
on a NEW FM station - 100.7
Trinity on the Radio
Dr. Wayne D. WiattSenior Pastor
In memory of Miriam Peirce from Bob Peirce and Tim and Lynn Byrnes.
In memory of John Thomas Morgan from Henrietta Stevens.
In memory of McKenzie Conn from Margaret Stalvey.
In memory of Bob Deison from Bill and Cynthia Smith.
Local Missions and You
Have you seen the exciting brochure created by the Local Missions Committee? It will keep you informed
of:
“WHAT WE DO AND
WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES
ARE”
This brochure is very informative and is kept up to date.
Pick up your c o p y i n t h e Narthex today!
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Music news for FebruaryMark RepaskyMusic Director
On the Road AgainOur two NETkids choirs are doing
something that has not been done for at least 20 years: They will travel to another church to participate in their Sunday morning worship service. The choirs will present nine songs at St. George Island United Methodist Church’s, 10:30 a.m. service. Our children and parents will enjoy a meal hosted by the church and then return to Trinity. NETkids Choirs will also visit Broadview Rehab Center on February 14. These children are wonderful
ambassadors for our church as they travel around the community more often than any other music group at Trinity…..BRAVO!
Also TravelingMembers of Jubilation Bells and Trinity
Ringers will participate in the annual Winter Ring workshop being held at First UMC, Bainbridge on February 23 and 24. This event draws ringers from the Tallahassee and South Georgia areas. It provides ringers an opportunity to hone their skills through the guidance of professional handbell
clinicians. Each year, I hear from one or more of our ringers, “Thanks, Mark, I learned a lot at the workshop.” It is also a great and rare opportunity for handbell ringers to meet one another in a social setting.
Hearing Viktor practice Sometimes the mystery and awe of our
faith can best be expressed through music. A quote from famed conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein: “Music … can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable.”
Above from left; The NETkids choirs, the ever-growing Trinity Orchestra, and Gregory Hilliard leads congregational singing. Below; the Cherub Choir, led by Jess Cloud, had 16 children, which says so much about our growing Children’s Ministry and our church!
Cindy Repasky sings “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” with the NETkids Orff Ensemble.The Youth Choir on Music Ministry Sunday.
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Nancy BedfordCommunications Officer
UMW in Ministry meeting Tuesday, February 6
The next meeting of UMW in Ministry will be Tuesday, February 6th in Moor Hall.
The speaker will be Nancy Kerce. Her topic will be, “The Gift of Love”. Everyone is invited to attend, even if you aren’t a member of UMW. Monthly meetings are an opportunity to enjoy fellowship, informative programs, and a delicious lunch. Please call Nancy Kerce at 877-6546 for reservations. Standing reservations are preferred. Hope to see you there. *Executive Committee will meet in the library at 10:30.
UMW Circle MeetingsAlpha Circle: Mon., Feb. 12, 10 am 2179 Miller Landing Rd., Mary Ann Moore, hostess, Cynthia Smith, chair.
Dorcas Foster Circle: Tues., Feb. 6, at 1 pm in the church library, Nancy Waugh, chair.
Mary Martha Circle: Mon., Feb.12, at 6 pm 2104 Randolph Circle, Julie Pararo, hostess/chair.
Sojourners Circle: Wed., Feb. 7, at noon, Cafe’ at St. Johns, Marti Chumbler, chair.
Susanna Wesley Circle: Tues. Feb. 20, 10am, 4423 Sierra Ct, Linda Phillips, hostess, Liz Smith, chair
The Voice Circle: Thurs. Feb. 15, at 7 pm 1804 W. Indianhead Dr., Patti Oakley, hostess/chair.
Watch the bulletin or click, https://www.tumct.org/connect/women-in-ministry-unit-of-united-methodist-women/circle-group-action-teams/ for details as they become available.
Please note the following dates regarding enrollment at the preschool:
For the 2018-2019 school year:
• Currently enrolled families may enroll February 1-6, 2018• Church members may enroll February 7-8, 2018• Open enrollment begins February 9, 2018
If you are interested in learning more about the preschool, please call me at 850-224-8992, ext. 3.
Stacey DuggarPreschool Director
Preschool Enrollment for 2018-2019
Do you know anyone who would like to join these smiling faces in the preschool?
Several ladies met together for lunch recently and they all have one interesting thing in common. They are all United Methodist preachers’ wives who are also members of Trinity UMC. Trinity UMC has a total of ten pastors’ wives and widows. Throughout their lives these women and their husbands, have served churches for over 250 years, collectively. Seated from left, Pat Willis, Ann Booth, Helen Fletcher, Cinda Hortin. Standing from left, Sarah Brewster, Beth Curry, Melanie Quinton, Ramona Wiatt and Brenda Gibbs. Not pictured, Becky Hollady.
Upcoming Events• Mats for the Homeless will meet on Thursday, Feb. 8 from 10:30 - 12 noon.
• Hats for Friends will not meet in February. Please keep making hats!
February is Healthy Heart Month – Do you meet the weekly physical activity recommendations (see graphic far right)?
We can help you meet the suggested goal from the American Heart Association. Come join any one of the BFC (Becoming Fit at Church) exercise classes - any time. Classes are non-intimidating, fun, and full of friends and good fellowship (and we DO exercise too!) Suggested donation is $3 per class (the $10 registration for Wed. night may be paid on the first night of class). 100% goes to community service or to fund health initiatives at Trinity thanks to our wonderful volunteer instructors!
Did you know?Physical activity is anything that makes
you move your body and burn calories.
AHA RecommendationFor Overall Cardiovascular Health:
• At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days per week for a total of 150.OR• At least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days per week for a total of 75 minutes; or a combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity.
AND• Moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days per week for additional health benefits.
For Lowering Blood Pressure and Cholesterol• An average 40 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity 3 or 4 times per week.
Can’t meet these goals?
Remember - Something is always better than nothing!
Staying Strong – Tues. and Thurs. 9:30 a.m. - (Taught by Ruth Ann High or Beth Curry with Jaqui Griffith subbing) – a good class for beginners or those wanting an easy, gentle workout — mostly standing and seated.
Variety Mix – Tues. and Thurs. 11:00 a.m. (Taught by Amy Leach or Beth Curry) – A fast paced hour packed with a variety of exercises, equipment and formats. Intermediate to Advanced.*
Bootcamp – Wed. 6:30 p.m. (Taught by Elaine Freni) – A group interval format that builds strength and fitness. Intermediate to Advanced.*
(Bootcamp is on Wednesday nights at 6:30 as part of Lay Academy)
What else – All classes in Parlor. Wear comfortable clothing and exercise shoes. Bring water, and a towel or mat for the floor for Variety Mix and Bootcamp classes if you like.
Show Love for OthersMats for the Homeless – Rose Glenn ([email protected])We will meet Thursday, Feb. 8 from 10:30 - 12 noon. in the Conference Room.
On Christmas Day more than 30 mats were given out and we could have used more. We need more people to help with this important mission work. We will teach you how to fold, cut and roll the balls and we can even teach you to crochet .
Please save clean grocery type plastic bags, any color. It takes from 700-900 bags to make one mat.
For more information, contact Rose Glenn 727-8526 or [email protected].
Hats for Friends (formerly Hats for the Homeless) – Judy Levy ( [email protected])
We will not meet in February. Anyone interested in joining our
Trinity’s Local Missions Team —Trinity Cares SpotlightIt’s February And You
Know What That Means:Sabrina DenmarkLocal MissionsCo-Chair
BearSundayFebruary 18th
Bring a cuddly teddy bear to help a hurting child. Trinity has been donating these bears for many years to Lee’s Place and Caring Tree
of Big Bend Hospice that distr ibute them
to children in stressful situations. Since we have been collecting enough in the last couple years to add other agencies,
we are also giving them
to Children’s Home Society, Guardian ad Litem, Hope Community (see article below) and the Leon County Sheriff’s Department.
P lease mark your calendar and remember to bring a bear to church with you. Let’s fill up all the windowpanes with cuddly teddy bears.
Report on Hope Community
Kate Sullivan Elementary School needs our help!
Sam Rogers, Sr.Local Missions Hope Community Liaison
Since 2011, The Hope Community for homeless families has remained an important and meaningful focus of Tr inity ’s fa ith commitment to Christian outreach for our less fortunate neighbors and their children. Please allow me to express my sincere thanks for the opportunity to serve as Trinity’s coordinator to Hope Community. “Those people” have now become “our people.” They have just been dealt a bad hand and could use a little help to get back on their feet.
Fro m t h e b e gi n n i n g, H o p e Community has remained a church-wide project with active support from pastors John Willis, Wayne Curry, and now our current pastor Dr. Wayne Wiatt. Lay leadership has been provided by the Local Missions Team and co-chairs, Steve and Sabrina Denmark. During those six years, more than 100 Trinity faithful have contributed their time and/or money. Trinity now has over 40 volunteers/families, including children. who are presently involved with monthly meal service. The following is a partial listing of how Trinity members have
responded to the volunteer and financial needs at Hope:
• Refurbished all three dormitories: including complete interior painting, new bug proof mattresses, new cabinetry and window blinds, new automatic washer/dryers in three laundry rooms, and updating all bathrooms.
• Trinity has just started its third year of providing volunteers in addition to financing the cost for meal service to 100+ residents and their kids every second Tuesday of the month.
• Hope Community’s kids are recipients of teddy bears and underwear as part of Trinity’s Bear (see article above) and Undie Sundays. This Christmas a cash contribution from Trinity helped every kid enjoy their own personal Christmas gift.
As we look forward to Trinity’s seventh year of service, the same needs remain— and have even grown. Right now, there is a need for volunteers to help with
meal service once each month. This volinteer opportunity takes approximately 1-2 hours of your time from about 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., each second Tuesday of the month. Write me at [email protected].
Happy New Year and God’s Blessings,Sam Rogers Sr.
A note to current Trinity/Hope volunteer team members: If your plans have changed, please let me know by email to srogerssr@
aol.com. If you are able to continue please advise me of the month/s you will NOT be available. It is completely understandable that unforeseen circumstances do call for changes.
Sam explains the food serving process at Hope Community to volunteers, from left, Patti Oakley, Barbara Allen, and Margie Smith.
We have been asked by Kate Sullivan Elementary School to find more reading mentors! They are in immediate need of five mentors for kids on the waiting list - and there are more children who need mentoring that are not on the list yet.
Mentors meet once a week with their student to work on developing vocabulary
and reading skills. Mentor training continues throughout
the school year so you can become involved at any time, but RIGHT NOW would be best!
Click on the the following link to see how an Orlando Methodist church has helped a local school earn an “A” grade!
As January ushered in another new year, so did our youth! We are back up and running in the Underground and it never ceases to amaze me just how quickly we’re running and even skiing!
Please see a little of what we’re
running toward in the coming months and be reminded of Sunday school every Sunday morning at 9:45 in the Underground and mid-week youth Bible study on Wednesdays at 6:30pm!
We started January with our ski retreat in Lake Junaluska! This trip was to make up for our Rock the Universe trip that was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. This was a great time of fellowship and togetherness
as we came back together after a long winter break. We played, worshipped, tried to stay warm and grew together this weekend in a place so beautifully surrounded by God’s handiwork!
We had fun exploring different types of worship during January as our confirmation class went on the road with a fun Friday night dinner at Moe’s and a terrific service with Rabbi Jack Romberg at Temple Israel. It’s wonderfully eye opening to see how others worship and to learn about why they do the things they do and believe what they believe.
This month, we’re going to visit the Catholic church to take in a Sunday morning service together on February 5. This is
another awesome opportunity to see how different worship can look, sound and feel. Confirmands will learn even more as we head down to Warren Willis for our Confirmation Retreat February 16-18th! February is a full month for our confirmands!
Our juniors and seniors were invited to a weekend retreat at Warren Willis at the end of January where they connected to college ministries
from all around the state of Florida. Those ministries were represented by volunteers, workshop leaders, worship bands, and speakers. The kids had a great time and made some terrific connections with new friends they hope to connect with a little later in their lives.
They have another similar oppor tunity this month right here in town as Wesley hosts their “Beyond Retreat”
February 23-25. Come see Lisa for more information!
We’re busy preparing for our high school mission trip to the Bahamas in March and are so grateful for your
support leading up to this big event! We look forward to sharing all we learn in the Bahamas and the work we’ll be able to do there as the hands and feet of Jesus. Thanks always for all you do to support and promote our terrific youth group. We are endlessly grateful!
Save These Dates!Jun. 10-16 ................... Youth Week!Jun. 17-21 ................... Mid High Mission Trip (TBD)Jun. 18-22 ................... VBSJul. 9-14 ........................ Camp at Warren Willis! (Registration is open! Feel free to go to www.warrenwilliscamp.org and get registered for week 5! More info coming soon!)
Youth Director, Lisa Prasse and assistant, Tanner Johnson.
Group shot before heading for the slopes - and they all came back in one piece.
Other than the snow and ice, it doesn’t look that cold, right?
. Box 1086Tallahassee, Florida 32302(850) 222-1120 w
ww
.tumct.org
Rev. Dr. W
ayne D. W
iatt, Senior PastorJonathan Brew
ster, Associate PastorD
r. Nick Q
uinton, Director of Adult D
iscipleship and EducationRex Adam
s, Director of Com
munications
It is a new year and for many individuals this means a “fresh” start to achieving advantageous goals and resolutions. At Trinity, it means a new liturgical year as we launch into Epiphany, Lent, Pentecost … you get the picture. I believe one of the
beautiful aspects of entering into a new year is that it gives us a chance to renew our commitments. It gives us a chance to evaluate the previous year and ‘turn things around’ so to speak. In a way, the new year forces us to see consider how we can do things differently.
I want to invite you to do something different with me. It is called “Fresh Expressions.” It is a form of church, which looks completely different from traditional church. It is church that reaches out to non-religious and un-churched individuals. It is church that forces us to ask the question, “What is absolutely necessary in order for me to attend church?” Do we have to sing songs? Do we have to hear liturgy? Do we have to listen to someone pray? Do we need to be in a sanctuary in order to do church with others? I will let you wrestle with these questions just as I have over the past year.
I mention this because many un-churched and non-religious individuals will never step into a church sanctuary. Put bluntly,
they are averse to church; they are not interested in what we have to offer. They will never appreciate church the way we have to come appreciate it at Trinity UMC. This means, that we cannot continue to rely on being attractional and hope people will come to us. It will not happen. It would be like drinking a slow acting poison and waiting for the unwanted rat to die! Our Bishop, Ken Carter, reminds us that Christian affiliation is declining at a rapid rate and mainline denominations are experiencing it the worst! To be sure, at the current rate of attrition, unless we begin to do things differently, the UMC will cease to exist.
As such, I hope this encourages us to begin entering into relationship with all people and take the church into the streets. After all, we are called to “make disciples of all nations” and this means entering into unfamiliar territory in order to be the church for the world. Remember, the church is not a building; the church is not a steeple; the church is not a resting place; the church is its people.
Starting this year, Trinity UMC will be hosting a Fresh Expression called Bibles and Bowling. It will take place on the 3rd Thursday of every month at Seminole Bowl at 6:30 p.m. It will be a time for relationship building and casual conversation about God, the Bible, or other spiritual and non-spiritual topics. It will be a time to learn and enter into relationships with people who might not ever consider going to formal
church, but are willing to go bowling and have a conversation. It will also be risky and it might fail! However, I am okay with that option. The more we fail, the more we will learn and grow together.
So, if you are interested and know someone who is willing to be in conversation outside of traditional church, invite him or her to attend. Also, help spread the word and look for opportunities to connect with others! This is a group for non-churched folks in a relaxed and informal setting. It will be a time of growing, learning, and a great way to do something different in the New Year! If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected].
“On the Road” to St. George United Methodist Church
Trinity’s NETkids have received a special invitation to share their musical talents with the congregation of St. George UMC. On February 18, the NETkids will load up and travel to St. George UMC to perform at their 10:30 worship service. They will be singing nine pieces from their repertoire. Following the service, the congregation
will be providing lunch for our children, while enjoying some time of faith and fellowship! We are so honored to have this opportunity!
Easter Fest - back on The Road to Resurrection
Mark your calendars for an event you won’t want to miss! Back by popular demand, The Road to Resurrection is
returning to Trinity on Saturday, March 24. Come join us as we walk in Jesus’ footsteps through the events leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection. Registration forms, as well as online registration, will be available soon! It takes a lot of work to prepare for an event this big. If you are interested in helping—playing a role, decorating, setting up, or cleaning up please contact Allison ([email protected]).
