Tuesday Word
June 9, 2015

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Worship: Sundays @ 8:15 am, 9:40 am, 11:00 am | Wednesdays @ 6:35 pm | Fridays @ 7:00 pm
Dear Friends,

Can you hear their voices from where you are - the children at VBS - having so much fun learning about Jesus!  Such joyful enthusiasm of 300 children, 100 volunteers and a super staff!  Thanks for helping make VBS a reality for so many.  

And thanks to so many of you parents (and Grandparents) and children who have sent me your great questions and wonderful sayings about God and other spiritual matters - keep them coming!  They're helping me put together my sermon for this week - and I hope as many of your children can join you in worship as possible as I'll be talking to "children of all ages" this Sunday.

I'll also be citing some amazing research from the brand new book:  The Spiritual Child, The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving, by Dr. Lisa Miller.  In short she says that developing and encouraging and supporting your child's spirituality will help your child navigate the teen years and provide giant steps forward for life long thriving - things I've believed and tried to preach all my ministry, and now supported by scientific research.  I hope to see you Sunday - where Children are loved and Youth are embraced and supported in their spiritual journeys, the most important journeys any of us can take!

Congratulations to two Trinity "Top Seniors" who were highlighted in Sunday's Gainesville Sun:  Logan Wright and Joey McGinn!  So proud of you both.

I hope you'll make it a priority to be at Sonlight's Send Off Concert - this Sunday, 7:00.  They are sounding so amazing! 

Dr. Matthew Jacobs, will be giving his talk on the Middle East at Trinity on Wednesday, June 17 at 7:15 pm in Room 232, as a part of our series on "Seeking to Understand the Middle East."  Dr. Matthew Jacobs is a Professor at UF who lectures on US Policy in the Middle East and, along with his family, Jessica, Ally and Jeremy, is a part of our Trinity family.  His recent book, Imagining The Middle East, The Building of an American Foreign Policy, 1918 - 1967, will be available in our Trinity Book Store in the Atrium.  His talk will be:  "ISIS, who is it, where did it come from, where is it going, and what should the US do about it?"  Also, please know I am very open to your suggestions for persons who might come and provide a talk on this important topic; just let me know.

Don't forget about the information meeting on Monday, June 15 at 7 pm in room 232 about the trip/cruise Jan and I have been asked to lead along the coast of Chile, around Cape Horn, up the coast of Argentina and Uruguay from January 16 - 30, 2016, with special guest lecturer, our own Dr. Bob Westin.  It would be grand to have many of you from Trinity join us.  You can access the itinerary here. If you are interested in the trip but can't attend the meeting on June 15, please email me or Tammy to note your interest. 

As I've said, we want to keep you posted on our finances at Trinity, and we have good news:  Going into our summer months (as of May 31) our gifts exceed the budget by 103.6% and our expenses are under budget by 88.6%!  There will very likely be some summer time Trustees Expense (new carpet in the first floor hall way of the Educational Building), so we will continue to be diligent and also extremely grateful for your faithful giving.

Love and prayers,
Dan

P.S. Thanks to the leadership of Bill Burger, the "Trinity Foundation" has been reactivated.  Please see Bill's note below about the Trinity Foundation.  This will become a major, positive factor for Trinity!

The Trinity Foundation was created in 1995 as a way to support the mission of our church with gifts and bequeaths over and above the funds we commit for annual support.  Since that time, two funds have been earning income.  In March, Church Council elected 6 at large members to the Foundation, including Bill Burger as chair.  The Foundation will meet quarterly with the next meeting on September 10th.  At its recent meeting the Board responded to a request from the Trustees and voted to distribute $5000 towards the new sidewalk projects.  These will come from the earnings of the Trinity Foundation General Fund.  Earnings from this fund may be used for items that are not part of the regular Operating budget of Trinity UMC.  The board members also authorized an additional $15,000 to be available for other projects which support the mission of our Church, but are not part of the Operating budget.  Any group or committee within the Church may apply and their request will be considered at the Foundations board meeting.  All request should be directed to Laura Richardson, local plan administrator. 

Quick Links
Upcoming Events (June 9 - 21)
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______________________________
Worship This Week
Wednesday: Kimberly Webster
Friday: no service June & July
Sunday: Dr. Dan Johnson 

This summer we will have all of our regular Sunday Worship services except for July 5, when we will have one service at 9:40 am. Friday Night Praise will not gather in June & July. 
10 | Family Promise Host training session, 6-9pm, 232
11 |
Family Promise Host training session, 6-9pm, 232
14 |
Order of St. Luke Healing Service, 9:40, Chapel
14 | Farewell reception for Rev. Esther, between services
14 | Life South blood drive
14 | Sonlight send-off concert, 7pm, Worship Center
15 | Informational meeting, South America Trip, 7pm, 232
17 | Dr. Matthew Jacobs - ISIS presentation, 7:15pm, 232
19 | Parent's Night Out, RSVP by 6/17
21 | Father's Day





A Word from Rev. Esther
Friends; this is my final week as one of Trinity's pastors. I, along with your other pastors and lay representatives, will be involved in holy conferencing in Daytona for Annual Conference. We covet your prayers for this time which will involve important matters of our future.

As far as a note of farewell, I can say that I am filled with gratitude at the thought of you. You have blessed me greatly, and it has been my privilege to be one of your pastors. As I've been reflecting on the past, the last few days, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude at the realization of how God has been present - in the good, the bad, and the ugly - God cares and works out good. May you continue to be a congregation that seeks to know God and love and serve sacrificially. We are all heralds of this kingdom of hope, whether we're in the same town or not - that brings me encouragement. Blessings, peace, and grace upon grace.

A Word from Rev. Aaron
Three things:
1. This week I am away at our Annual Conference being held in Daytona on the campus of Bethune Cookman University and I invite you to join me in prayer for the work being done there. These are important days in the life of the United Methodist Church.
2. You won't want to miss the 6:35 service this week. Kimberly Webster is preaching!
3. One of the things that I hope the videos in our series "Summer of Shorts" will do is help us all consider where we are in our journeys as followers of Jesus, as we seek to grow in grace and become more fully the people God made us to be. This video, titled "How Do We Grow?", inspires us to reflect on the work of Christ in our life and our spiritual growth. What helps you to grow?
Missions   
  • This week's Mission Box will go directly towards our VBS mission of building a house for a Jamaican family.   We have a team from Trinity going to Jamaica at the end of the month to share the love of Christ by building this home for a family.  The recipients currently live in a lean too made of sheet medal and scrap wood with a dirt floor.  The cost of building a home is $4,000.  The kids at VBS this week are doing their part to collect funds to make it possible for this family to have a new home. Let's do our part to make this a reality.

  • Family Promise will begin accepting guests on July 19 and Trinity will be the first host church! There will be training sessions this week at Trinity on Wednesday and Thursday from 6-9 in room 232.  There is a representative from national FP coming for this.  The Wednesday meeting is for all volunteers and coordinators.  Thursday will be mainly for coordinators.  Both meetings are open to anyone interested. Hoping some of our volunteers are around and can make it Wednesday evening. 

Find more opportunities to serve on the Missions page

Faith Mission   
 
Faith Mission, located at 3701 NE 15th Street, is a church and neighborhood collaboration. Interested in Faith Mission?  Working on your summer reading list?  There are some wonderful books that get to both the heart and the work of what is Faith Mission - Ministries of Mercy (Keller), A New Kind of Big (Sweney), and Toxic Charity (Lupton) are a few great examples.  Kim Lewerenz will be glad to order these for you.

This week at Faith Mission:
  • We're organizing roundtables at two nearby apartment complexes to introduce Faith Mission and gather resident input.  Relationship building with area residents is so important as Faith Mission begins to learn and serve.
  • We're beginning our neighborhood outreach to gather input and petition for the UF Mobile Health Clinic to return to the neighborhood.  
  • Nine neighborhood children are attending the Upper Room Church of God summer program through scholarships provided by Faith Mission.  We worked with Kids Count staff and a social worker in the area to determine who would most benefit from attending.  
  • Two program leaders from Peaceful Paths are working with Faith Mission and Kids Count to organize their first set of healthy relationship programming this summer geared towards elementary children.
  • Many thanks to Nanette Carnes and Cheryl Osborn for answering the call to transcribe the Faith Mission surveys as we gather them.  This will be really helpful and is much appreciated.   

Find more opportunities to serve on the Faith Mission page.

Youth Ministry
  • We still have spaces available for our summer mission trips! High schoolers can check out ASP forms, and middle schoolers need SIFAT forms.
  • Wednesday, June 10th, 12:30 to 1 pm - Lunch Bunch at Moe's. If you are helping in VBS, we will give you a ride to Moe's from the Youth Building after VBS.
  • Sunday, June 14th, 7pm - Sonlight Send-off Concert in the Worship Center
  • Summer Sunday School: Kylie will be teaching "(H)Ewoks with Us," based on the original Star Wars Trilogy. Join us at 11 am on Sundays!

Want more? Visit the Yoots website

Children's Ministry
  • Thank you for your donations, preparations, VBS set-up help, support and prayers for VBS!  This week, over 400 children, youth and adults are experiencing God's unstoppable love and discovering how to fuel up and move in and through life with God.  Please continue to pray for all involved in VBS as we are on this wonderful faith journey together.
  • PARENTS:  Summer Sunday School begins THIS Sunday!   We will be combining our incoming 1st through 6th graders at both hours. 9:40 and 11:00 hours:  "Check-in": rooms 228/229; "Check-out": big playground.  Preschool Classes:  Little Lambs-Rm. 114; Dawning Doves and Loving Lions-Rm. 113.  
  • Serve with us this summer, June 14-August 16! Summer is a great time to get involved with the Children's Ministries Team! Play a part in helping children grow in their faith. No experience or preparation needed - just be ready to have some fun! Here's how you can help:  Give our regular leaders some time off. Sign up to serve 2 times this summer. You pick the age: 2 year olds through 5th grade. Contact Brian.
  • Register your child for Summer Time Fun, space is limited!

There are more great things for your kids on the CMT page

Sonlight Youth Choir & Band
  • Sonlight wants to send a huge THANK YOU to all the Trinity members who have supported them this year! We are so excited for our Send-Off concert next Sunday and to leave for tour, and we couldn't have done it without the outpouring of love and encouragement of this amazing community!
  • We'd love to invite you to the Send-Off concert Sunday night at 7pm - it will be the culmination of all our hard work this year and we can't wait to show you how we connect with God in this secular world through music and song.

Access previous performances, tour info and more on the Sonlight page

Sports
  • Upward Soccer time! Register at Trinity (download the form), or online. It is $85 for early registration, after July 19th it will be $100. Evaluations (everyone must attend 1) will be held at Westside Baptist from 5:30 - 7 on July 6, 14, 16 & 28. At Trinity from 2 - 4pm on July 19 and August 2. The first practice will be August 24, first game on September 10.
  • Hogtown FC Soccer Clinic: The sessions will continue on June 12th, 19th & 26th from 4:00 - 6:30 pm on the Trinity Soccer Fields. Come to whatever sessions you can, you can join at any time. Open to kids age 9-16 (some exceptions can be made). This is a free clinic; however, we do have a suggested donation for those who are able. Sign up here!
  • Sports Ministry is looking for a new intern! If you are interested, contact Ben for more information and how to apply.
  • We are still hiring Crosstrainers Counselors (16+) and are always open to having volunteer help so please fill out this form and get it to Ben if interested. 

Find out about all our sports activities on the Sports page

Adult Ministry
  • Invitation To Romans - 8 sessions, 90 minutes, Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 PM, June 24th - August 12th. Exploring how people have interpreted Romans through the ages is a good lens to view the history of Christianity itself.  Compare what Paul writes in Romans to what theologians like Augustine, Luther, and Calvin say in trying to understand Paul in their time.  The hope of this course is that participants have a more informed commitment to Paul's radical vision of God's relationship to both Christians and Jews and to their relationship to each other.  This study is meaty and extremely enjoyable for those students with some familiarity of Romans and with a strong biblical foundation to rely on.  Sign up at worship or click here. Books are available at the bookstore for $15.
  • Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends is a 10-week class to help people adjust to the ending of a love relationship, as in divorce or death, or in the loss of an engagement or other significant love relationship. Registration is open, the course runs May 31st - August 9th (Skips July 5th) from 3 - 5:30 PM. There is a $25 course fee and partial or full scholarships are available if needed. Childcare is also available with a reservation. 
  • Trinity Women: Join Kim Lewerenz for an online study this summer with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  The study will run June 22 - July 31.  We will be reading The Mended Heart: God's Healing for Your Broken Places by Suzanne Eller.  Register online for the class, and when the study begins you will receive emails throughout the week to help you follow along with the reading.  You can purchase the book directly with Proverbs 31 Ministries or contact Kim to order the book.  The cost will be $15. Invite friends to join along!

Looking for a course, Bible study or Sunday school class? Look no further than the Adult Ministry page

Caring & Support
  • The next Order of St. Luke Healing Service will be in the Chapel on June 14th at 9:40.  We have something new and different this time - the Healing Service from the Abbey of the Isle of Iona in Scotland and short talks by Trinity members who were Pilgrims on a Methodist spiritual pilgrimage to this holy place. Please come and pray for the healing of the world, your friends, your family, or yourself.
  • Healing Touch Cancer Support Group meets this month on Thursday, June 18th at 5:30 in the prayer room off the atrium. We welcome David McMahon, a brain cancer survivor, who will be sharing his story with us. Cancer patients, survivors, family and friends will be encouraged and inspired by his cancer journey and we look forward to meeting David. If we can help you, call Marcey at 331-2960 or Margie at 386-462-9592.
  • It's not too late to join the Trinity grief support group.  This group is being offered to anyone in our church family or our community who has suffered the loss of a loved one.  It is a 10 week class, meeting on Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 - 8:00 in room 226. We are using the GriefShare materials which include discussion and a video. Call 372-1027 for more information.
  • A Stephen Minister is a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting and a caring Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports & encourages. Whatever the crisis or difficulty, Stephen Ministry equips Lay people to provide individual, confidential Christian care to those in our congregation and community facing tough times. You will meet weekly for at least 1 hour. To receive care from a Stephen Minister please contact Kay Walker (336-2006) or Fred Korzec (219-5652).
  • Caregiver Support Group: Meets every Monday from 7 pm-8:30pm (E225). Contact: Mary Steinwandt (214.662.4869).

If you're in need of love and a helping hand, the Caring & Support page offers a search feature so you can find the support you need. 

General Announcements
  • Are you interested in joining Trinity UMC? If you want to learn more about the vision, mission and ministries of Trinity, we invite you to attend one of our upcoming Coffee with the Pastors, a casual gathering in which you'll learn more about the United Methodist Church, who we are at Trinity and what is expected of members. The class is designed for visitors and gives you the opportunity to meet our ministers and learn about the many ways to become involved in our church family. The next Coffee with the Pastors is Sunday, June 28 at 9:40 am and 11:00 am in room 222. To Register for Coffee with the Pastors click HERE or email Carmen Nelson to receive the form via email.   We would love to meet you and to welcome you into the membership of our church!  Let us know if you need childcare.
  • The Trinity Circuit Riders (TCR) are back! 1 Saturday a month join them to go for a ride, breakfast and group prayer. Tom Wallace will be in front of the Worship Center on Sunday with more information, or you can email him. 

Bible Studies
  • Women Growing in Faith, Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30, E232
  • Tuesday Morning Moms, Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30, E203 (will not be meeting over the summer)
  • Men's Prayer and Bible Study, Wednesdays, 7 am, E232
  • Wednesday Morning Pastor's Bible Study, Wednesdays, 9:15, Chapel
  • Exploring Jesus' Teachings, Thursdays, 10:30, E226
  • Life Changing Gathering with Rev. Marvin Celso, Wednesdays, 6:00pm, E225
  • Weekly Prayer Group, Thursdays, 7pm, Chapel   
  • Dan Johnson's Daily Scripture Email (DSE) is available upon request 

If you would like more information or would like to visit one of these groups, please contact Kim.  

Family Matters

Happy Birthday to Anne Knight who will be turning 80 on the 14th.

Christian Sympathy is extended to Judy Vanasse and John Coughlin & their families on the May 22 passing of their mother Lucille Rose Marie Gagne Coughlin and also to Joye Malone Walker & Barry Wayne Walker and Family on the May 29 passing of Joye's husband and Barry's father Don Wesley Walker.

If you are celebrating your 80th, 90th or 90+ birthday and would like it announced in the Tuesday Word and/or the bulletin, contact Kelly Ping
Altar Flowers

To the Glory of God and in Honor of Anne & Bill Knight's 57th Wedding Anniversary and Anne's 80th Birthday. 

If you would like to place flowers on the Altar in honor or in memory of a loved one please contact Tammy.
Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Ave | Gainesville, FL 32653
352.376.6615
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Friday, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm