 |
Trinity United Phone: (804) 748-2439, Website: www.trinity-umc.com Church e-mail: trinity@trinity-umc.com Prayer e-mail: trinityprayer@trinity-umc.com Pastor’s e-mail: trinityrev@trinity-umc.com Music Director’s e-mail: trinitymusic@trinity-umc.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/TUMC.Chester Webmaster: Keith Nowlin: keith.nowlin@msn.com
We answer God’s call to impact lives for eternity through ministry, mission and worship. Volume: 2012 Issue: PASTOR’S CORNER FAMILY MATTERS Family matters. It matters that we know who each other are and get to know each other. It’s so easy to come into church, smile and say “hi” to the people around us and then be seated. It’s easy to do this for months and years and not to know any more about each other. But family hopes for closer relationships. So during Advent I posted ‘Family Groups’. With some help I grouped us into gatherings of about 12 adults. I did not mix the services. For this time, my hope is that we get to know the people who sit around us. I did not go through the membership list. People are in our gatherings that are not church members. These are people we sit around. I asked one person on each list to call a gathering 4 times during the upcoming year. Once every 3 months I am asking the groups to get together to laugh, eat, play, and get to know each other better. This is not a serious group. I have not asked us to pray…though we can. Families gather. Families share stories. Families know each other…at least by name. So when you are approached or called and someone says that they are the head of your family group, rejoice! I know that some of the groups have already met. Some are getting ready to meet. Some are still working on it. But I hope that you will enjoy this opportunity. Most of the groups have some new people. I know we will all welcome each other. Thanks so for trying this. This is only for this year. If next year you want to try this again but in groups that mix the two worship services, we can do this. This year, we get to know our neighbors. And again, thanks. Teresa. SHORT AND SWEET Mark is the shortest gospel in the New Testament. It is also believed to be the oldest. In February and March, I am offering a 6 week Bible study on The Gospel of Mark. I’ll have one session at I have asked everyone to try to read the Gospels this year. I want to help make this easier and hopefully more meaningful. So I hope that one of these meeting times fit your schedule. Even if you’ve read Mark before, come join us for the fellowship and sharing. Thanks If it’s hard to focus…. At the beginning of Lent we are borrowing the Conference’s labyrinth. A labyrinth is a type of maze. Only it is a maze that has one beginning and one end. In the Middle Ages, Christians were called to take a pilgrimage to the Some people are not good at sitting and being still. Silent prayer times are long and restless. This isn’t a sign of spiritual weakness. Some people just aren’t good at sitting. In acceptance and awareness, labyrinths are designed to let people walk their energy out. Because there is only one entrance and one exit, one can’t get lost. As a person’s body walks the labyrinth, their spirit is freed to focus on and with God. During the first of Lent, we will have the Conference’s labyrinth on the floor of our sanctuary. It is copied off the floor of Chartes’ Cathedral in “Whenever you do it for the least of these, you do it for me.” During Lent, we are going to be trying a couple different things. On February 27th and March 26th, we have the opportunity to serve them dinner. The shelter houses 21 people. That’s all. So I will come up with a menu and ask people to help supply a cake or rolls or whatever. Then we’ll take the dinner down there. We will leave the church about So if you have an idea for a great menu, please let me know. If you are interested in going down to serve with me, let me know. It only takes about 4 people. In the meantime, I will be getting a menu and volunteer list together. I know that you will be blessed by these people. I hope that you will take the time to meet them. “Making Christ the Center of our lives.” If you have parked in the back parking lot of the church, you will have noticed a new building. The TUMC Men have constructed a 20 x 12 foot shed to house church equipment such as the Pumpkin Patch and Brunswick stew equipment. This construction effort was headed up by Bill Foster, Harold Saunders, and Al Tougas, with Maury Beck coordinating the delivery of materials. Special thanks should also go to the volunteer crew of Bill Poole, Pete Page, John Morris, Jeff Harrison and Dave Shaffer who volunteered many hours to the project. Also, we were blessed by Brian Gray of Buckeye Builders (the same roofing company that re-roofed the church and the parsonage) who donated the installation and material for the roof. As thanks we recommend, you call Brian (804-897-2829) if you or your neighbors need any roof repair. They do a great job at a very reasonable price. If you would like to enjoy a hot breakfast, participate in some fun fellowship and worthwhile endeavors, we invite you to join us at our monthly meetings, which are held on the first Saturday of each month at
On Thursday, February 9th please join the UMW at Antonio’s in Special Project: Personalized Chocolate Covered Easter Eggs Sunday, February 19th – Tasting and pre-orders between services Prepaid orders due by March 11th Eggs will be delivered on April 1st – Palm Sunday
Children’s Fellowship Friday, February 10th All 1st thru 5th graders welcome Come and bring a friend Questions – Contact Janet Collins This will be our Valentine’s Day party! 271-9740 or montanadog@comcast.net
As most of you know, the Membership Care Committee's mission is to provide assistance to our church families. As Methodists, we often use food to show our concern for them. Whenever there is an illness or death in the immediate family, we deliver a meal to the home. The Rev. Dr. Rudolph Dunbar, Chairman of the CARES Board of Directors, sent us a very nice thank you letter that everyone should see. The body of the letter is as follows: “Thank you for all you did to ensure that the families at the shelter had a wonderful Christmas. Everything was well organized and went like clockwork. After everyone left (I’m sure this means Santa and his helpers), the families had a quiet day. The mothers cleaned up and then sat around the table and talked. The children went upstairs and played with their games and toys. It was a peaceful evening. Everyone was contented and relaxed. It was more than the presents. It was that someone thought about them and cared. That’s a rare and most precious gift. Again, thank you for all you did. And I wish you the best of new years.” What an insightful comment…someone thought about them and cared! That is a rare and precious gift and one that seems to be present in abundance at Trinity. The Holy Spirit is alive and well at TUMC. About Our People * Trinity’s February Birthdays If you don’t see your birthday here, let us know! Our information is not complete, and we would like to have everyone’s birthday listed. If your birthday is in another month, call and make sure we have it! Happy Birthday to the following folks: Feb. 3 Isabelle Clarke Feb. 5 Cecil Burley Anthony Lively Allie Pettigrew Feb. 6 Lauren Hayes Feb. 7 Gary Poythress Feb. 8 Eric Rasmussen Feb. 9 Rodney Shields Feb. 10 Drew D’Amato Feb. 11 Diana D’Amato Alexia Krauchunas Feb. 12 Alexis Bailey David Clements Katie Griffith Lucas Griffith Feb. 13 Laura Dho Mark Saunders Claude Springfield Feb. 14 Bonnie Balis Ken Elsass Suzanne Saunders Feb. 16 James Galluzzo III Feb. 17 Faye Cormier Feb. 19 Barbara Linkous Angela Rasmussen Feb. 20 Maurice Linkous Feb. 22 Jerome Swann, Jr. Feb. 23 Bob Hartman Feb. 25 Tom Kennedy Ronald Cash Joshua Lisagor Feb. 27 Sally Love * Congratulations to Paul and Colleen Cassada on the birth of their daughter, Jean Kathryn Elizabeth Cassada born on * Thanks so much for your prayer support during the difficult days I’ve had the last couple of months. I am doing okay now and look forward to some good times ahead. Your cards, calls, visits and food have been a huge help to me and my children. I’ve missed the fellowship with all of you wonderful people in church and hope to get back on a regular basis again now. In Christian love, Amelia
MISSIONS NEWS Missions Chairperson
We will be meeting at Sherbourne on Saturday, February 11th at to put together bags of food. Please keep this in mind if you would like to help. Please contact Deborah Napolitano if you have any questions. Thanks to all who have supported this endeavor with gifts of non-perishable food items, and coming to help with the bagging. Prayer Shawl Ministry News Pam Soto Baby Nursery Toddler Nursery Feb. 5 Judy Seely and Lucy Shields Ann Wright Feb. 12 Lucy Shields and Carol Sanders Janet Collins Feb. 19 Carol Sanders and Judy Seely Feb. 26 Judy Seely and Lucy Shields Diane Springfield February 5 David Shaffer and Flo Gray February 12 Harold Saunders and John Morris February 19 Harold Saunders and John Morris February 26 Maurice Linkous and Bob Adams February 21 is Shrove Tuesday. Look for the committee to be calling on participants and helpers. Goals of the Church adopted at the Charge Conference in November. The goals are focus points to help stimulate discussions and help formulate and coordinate all our activities. Remember our mission statement at Trinity: “We answer God’s call to impact lives for eternity through ministry, mission and worship.” A. To grow disciples 1. Becoming active in Rebuild Richmond (a non-profit organization with a focus on home modifications, safety, and energy efficiency for the elderly. Find out more from the Mission Committee and visiting www.rebuildingtogetherrichmond.org 2. Connected to local fire departments with outreach (UMM lead) B. To grow in fellowship 1. Gathering to eat every month 2. Joint services every 5th Sunday C. To increase involvement by breaking down jobs in Social Ministries D. To grow in our use of technology 1. Use more email in addition to the postal service 2. Develop webpage and Facebook 3. Improve our visual worship experience E. Explore the needs of a larger kitchen to facilitate community and missions Council note – just highlights: Maurice Linkous served as the chair for the meeting as we had not elected the new chairman and vice chair for the year. While a veteran of many council meetings, he elevated our interest with a couple of long range ideas. David Schaffer and Anthony Lively were selected as chair and vice chair. Thanks to these two for answering the call of their congregation and the Lord. They are very approachable and have shown over the years their commitment to the very visible activities and to the behind the scenes tasks that we depend upon. The youth announced all kinds of activities that show their involvement in missions inside and outside the church. They also reported adult volunteers are stepping up to help as needed. Ask any junior or senior high youth what they have been up to recently and what else they have planned. Bet you will be impressed with their answers. Missions had a fantastic reports of records set on the most recent missions around the holidays and they announced more and different opportunities that are yet to come. Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me… Matthew 25:40 11th Annual The Chester Rotary Club is holding its annual bowling tournament on Saturday, February 11th at Bowl America Southwest. This is an excellent opportunity to have fun and give back to your community. The cost to participate is $125 per 5 person team which includes bowling 3 games and a chance to win cash and prizes. There are forms on the sign-up booth. For more information about this event visit the website: http://www.chestervarotary.org or contact Larry Madison, Jr. FINANCE COMMITTEE NEWS The Finance Committee developed a resolution which was approved by Church Council and the Charge Conference for the establishment of an Endowment Committee to oversee and manage the existing “Special Needs Fund” and any other church endowments which may be established. The new Endowment Committee consists of permanent office holders: Pastor, Chairman of Finance Committee, Church Treasurer and a member to be appointed by the Board of Trustees and three elected members that will serve one, two or three year terms. MUSIC NEWS Shake off those winter “blues” and become a participant in one of Trinity’s music groups. We are all preparing for spring events. Please know that we always have room for new people in any group! Cherubs and Angels are meeting at Our Odyssey Choir is working on the opening number for “A Night at the Movies” on March 9th. We are also choosing our musical for Youth Sunday and hope that all youth will join us in this presentation. All Jr. & Sr. High students are invited to join us on Sunday at Thanks to Pat Shrader and the Trinity Chimers for their presentation in the service. Keep up the good work! We look forward to hearing from you again! Our Tintinnabulation bell choir is meeting every Sunday night and we hope to be part of the worship service soon. Thanks to all adults who make this group possible. Our new chimes will be arriving soon! Thanks to all who gave their support to help us make this purchase. The Talent Show, “A Night at the Movies” will be held on March 9th at A special thanks to Janet Collins for her help with the Cherub crafts and to the members of the UMW who provide food for our wonderful children on Wednesday nights. Also, thanks to Jeff and Al for fixing my desk drawer! Blessings, Pat THE Trinity United RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
|
|