Tuesday Word
July 28, 2015

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

By the time you're reading this, Jan and I will have "come off the island" - literally, one of the islands in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington, just NW of Seattle.  Decatur Island is the name of it.  About 50 people there, though we seldom saw any of them, no ferry service, just the two of us, some deer, sheep, horses, sea otters, eagles, owls, the 4 Dungeness crabs we caught in our friend's trap, and majestic views of the ocean and other of the 130 plus islands that make up the San Juan.  It has been such a renewing, refreshing experience; hiking, kayaking, reflecting, sharing, and being amazed at the expansiveness and wonder of God's awesome creation.  Today we are enjoying Mt. Ranier national park.  The day we flew into Seattle the sky was crystal clear, and I was taking it all in like a little kid, and then Mt. Ranier came into view - such a stunning site.  

We return this Thursday, and are both honored and saddened to be leading two memorial services on Saturday for dear friends: Mary Ann Taylor at 10 am and Dave Stauffer at 2 pm.  And then, next Friday, a service for Ben Barger.  We're so grateful for a church family that surrounds these and others with love and grace.

While away on the island we did have internet service, so I got to celebrate from afar things like ASP and SIFAT, the excitement that is stirring with Sonlight getting ready to start back up, Michael Cundari being 3/4 time now on our staff, anticipating the amazing things he will bring to us, and praying for the group who will leave Thursday for Malawi, Africa to visit the 300 plus children many of us have been sponsoring through World Vision.  God is good!

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday; I'll be beginning our sermon series on "Extravagant Welcoming."  We still need greeters to ramp up our welcoming once the new "Hub" is completed in mid August!

Thanks for all you are and all you do in the name of Christ Jesus, Our Lord.  Dan

Quick Links
Upcoming Events (July 28 - August 9)
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______________________________
Worship This Week
Wednesday: ASP Participants
Sunday: Dr. Dan Johnson  
31 | Dance Camp Recital, noon, Worship Center
3 |
Deadline to sign up for Faith Mission August Volunteer Opportunities
4 | Faith Mission, National Night Out
9 | Youth week begins

A Message from Rev. Aaron
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Friends,

Our campus is buzzing with activity this week! Outside my window I literally hear the buzzing of saws cutting materials for the new Welcome Center. Throughout the rest of our campus there is a buzz coming from the participants in this week's Trinity Dance Camp and in the Summertime Fun, CrossTrainers, and Fusion day camps who are enjoying their final week together. Never a dull moment! Here a few other things I'd like to call your attention to:
  • This week at the 6:35 service, come hear testimonies from last week's mission trips as some of the participants share about their experience.
  • Pastor Dan and I will be giving each other a figurative "high five" on Thursday as he returns to Gainesville from his time away with Jan, and I leave with our mission team for Malawi, Africa. Please pray for safe travels all around!
  • This week's "Summer of Shorts" video is titled "God's Work." Do you ever wonder if your work matters at all? What if your work is really God's work, and you are being used by Him more than you know. This dramatic illustration suggests that when you do your job well, God may be using you to answer someone's prayer. Watch the video here.

Grace and peace be with you,

Aaron 

Missions   
  • This week's Mission Box is for Peaceful Paths.  Peaceful Paths is the certified domestic abuse network that serves survivors of domestic violence in Alachua, Bradford, and Union counties. Peaceful Paths provides a wide range of services including emergency shelter, transitional housing, crisis hotline, victim advocacy, children's programming, education and training, counseling and support groups, community awareness and intervention, violence prevention programs, and batterer's intervention programming. Peaceful Paths is a member of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV).

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.  As the outreach of Faith Mission grows, so will the opportunities for volunteers to serve.  Next month we'll provide a list of a wide variety of ways for volunteers to plug in!  In the meantime, you can check out the following opportunities to serve with Faith Mission in August:
  1. Supporting the neighborhood's National Night Out Event, Tuesday, August 4: National Night Out is an annual event promoting nonviolence and healthy, drug-free communities.  Faith Mission has been invited to table at this event at Village Green & Forest Apartments and it will be another chance to introduce ourselves to residents and listen to their thoughts about the neighborhood.  We'd like to have drinks on hand for children and adults (it will be a late afternoon event - so typically HOT) and it would be great for a volunteer to purchase drinks, Trinity will reimburse you and bring them chilled to Faith Mission between 4 and 5pm on August 4. We need 3 gallons of sweet tea, 2 gallons of unsweetened tea, 50 Capri Suns or similar pouch drinks, and 2 cases of small bottled water. Trinity will reimburse you.
  2. Supporting Rawlings Elementary teachers and staff Luncheon on Monday, August 17: Most 1st - 5th grade students who formerly would have gone to Duval Elementary will be going to Rawlings this year, so big changes are happening at the school including many new teachers.  August 17 is the first day back for teachers, and we want to welcome the staff to the new school year with a great meal.  Steve Swanson has graciously offered to cook for the ENTIRE staff of 70!  Steve is a wonderful cook and the meal will be fantastic.  But we need volunteers to purchase drinks (8 gallons of tea and lemonade - Trinity will reimburse) and bring them to Rawlings by 11am on August 17 and 3 volunteers to help setup, serve, and cleanup - from 11 - 1.
  3. Supporting Rawlings Elementary Staff Road Trip on Wednesday, August 19: Rawlings has been designated a Fine Arts Magnet School for the new school year.  Teachers will be traveling to Tallahassee to visit a similar Fine Arts Magnet elementary school on Wednesday of pre-planning week. Rawlings leadership has asked if Faith Mission could assist them in preparing 40 swag bags for their road trip that day.  Rawlings will supply a t-shirt and academic year calendar, and Faith Mission would like to include a water bottle, 4 - 8GB USB flash drive and 3" x 3" sticky note pad to each bag. So if you're a great shopper, online or otherwise, or a great negotiator with a local business, this is the PERFECT shopping volunteer opportunity for you! You can identify the specific items and sources, and we can make the purchases directly or you can purchase them and be reimbursed.
  4. Love books?  Love to organize?  Help clean and organize the small library at the Village Green & Forest Apartment complex anytime in August.  There are books and games in this room that need to be organized by age and interest area, particularly for children.  2 people are needed for this in addition to 2 residents who will help as well.  This is perhaps a 6-8 hour job that can be divided up according to the schedules of the volunteers.
If you can help on any of these volunteer opportunities please email Ward by August 3.
 

Want to get involved? Visit the Faith Mission webpage

Youth Ministry
  • Wednesday, July 29
    • 12 - 4 pm: Lunch Bunch at Moe's and GSP. Please wear sneakers.
    • 7 - 8 pm: Ice Cream Social for Mission Trips in the Youth Building. Full length trip videos, awards, and ice cream!
  • Friday, July 31
    • 9 am - 12 pm: PJs and Pancakes. Join us for breakfast and a movie...show up in your jammies!
  • Youth Week Sign Ups have been released! Print the form from our website 

Want more? Visit the Yoots website

Children's Ministry
  • "Jump Into Space" at the next Parent's Night Out on Friday, August 14th from 5:30-8:30!  Our Parent's Night Out will include a fabulous night of dinner and "out of this world" activities for ages 12 months and walking through 5th grade!  Cost is $12 per child with a $30 cap per family.  Please register and pay on-line by Wednesday, August 12th.
  • Our next Baptism Orientation will be Sunday, August 16th. For more information, please call Elizabeth Jones, 416-3045.
  • Promotion Sunday is August 24th.  If you are retaining your child, please let Machelle know so that we can update our records.
  • 3rd Grade Parents:  3rd Grade Bible Presentation is Sunday, September 13th at 9:40. Please register your 3rd grader by September 6th.  If you are in 4th grade or 5th grade and did not receive a bible, please email Machelle.  We want everyone to have the opportunity to receive a bible from Trinity.
  • FALL OPPORTUNITIES: Are you interested in making a difference in the life of a child?  Come and be a part of our Children's Programs! We are looking for Sunday School teachers and youth helpers for all age groups who can commit to at least 1 Sunday a month.   We are also looking for CHEERS leaders, our Wednesday program from 4-5:30 for ages 3 through 5th grade.  (Fall Sunday School begins on August 23rd and CHEERS begins on September 9th). Please contact Brian Wittstruck at (416-3008) to tell us how you'd like to help!

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

Worship Arts
  • Join us Friday, July 31st for the Trinity Dance Camp Recital.  The recital begins at noon in the Worship Center.

Find more information on our Music & Worship Arts page!

Sonlight Youth Choir & Band
  • We had a wonderful turn-out last week for our Sonlight events! I hope that we can continue seeing returning and new members for Sonlight at our other summer events. All events are open to any rising 7th-12th grader interested in joining Sonlight - and friends are welcome! Our website is updated with current information.
  • July 28 (tonight): Listening parties in the choir room from 6:30-7:30pm. Snacks will be provided!
  • August 9: Family BBQ (times TBD)
  • August 10: Sonlight officers meeting from 5-8pm in the choir room (dinner will be provided)
  • August 11 & 12: Back-To-School Bootcamp from 5-8:30pm (dinner will be provided) - attendance is highly encouraged because we will be rehearsing new music and voting on the set list for 2015-16!
  • August 13: Sonlight Service day (times TBD)
  • August 14: Tree-umph with Youth
  • Sonlight High School Opportunities: Starting next month, Sonlight will be expanding it's reach with an A Capella Ensemble and the Sonlight Tech Crew - email Erin if you're interested in joining either of these groups!

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

Sports
  • Soccer registration is in full swing! Register at Trinity (download the form), or online. The last opportunities for an evaluation (everyone must attend 1) will be TONIGHT at Westside Baptist from 5:30 - 7 or Trinity from 2 - 4pm on August 2.

Find out about all our sports activities on the Sports page

Adult Ministry
  • September is only a month away!  Fall studies and ministries will begin and we offer ministry tables in the back of the worship center for advertising your ministry and participant enrollment.  They begin August 16th and run on into September. If you will be leading a class or ministry and would like one of these tables for one Sunday or more, please contact David Leonard (416-3001) to reserve your space. Also, if you need an online registration form, please contact Kelly Ping with the information you need on the form (416-3048).
  • Dan and Jan will be leading a trip 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 email Tammy.

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

Caring & Support
  • There will be an Order of St. Luke Healing Service as part of the 9:40 service  on Sunday, August 9th.  You will not want to miss Steve Bingham's powerful testimony of healing, parts of the liturgy will be directly from The Isle of Iona, Scotland. Please let the Order of St. Luke join with you in healing prayers for those you know and care for, including those you work with, and those whom you hold in your heart and your mind.
  • Loving and caring for one another is something Jesus calls us all to do.  Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which people with special gifts for listening and caring can put those gifts to use, bringing Jesus' love and care to those who most need  it.  Ask God whether Stephen Ministry is the right ministry for you.  Training classes will begin on September 30.  Call 372-1027 for more information.
  • 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
  • Fall is quickly approaching; is your group on the calendar?  Please make sure your class/group is on the calendar for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016.  Please fill out the online request form and if you have any questions please contact Susan Kovi.
  • 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' date is August 30 at 9:40 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.

  • Trinity member, Carter Nute, will teach the AARP Smart Driver Course in a one day session convenient for Trinity United Methodist Church members in the Education Building Room 222 on Monday, August 3rd. This classroom refresher for motorists age 50 and older is offered for a modest fee and you do not have to be an AARP member to register for the class. For course registration call Mrs. Lynda LeGrow at (352) 333-3036.

Bible Studies
  • Women Growing in Faith, Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30, E232
  • Tuesday Morning Moms, Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30, E203 (will not meet over the summer, resumes September 8)
  • 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 (will not meet over the summer, resumes September 10)
  • 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 

Maryann Taylor's Celebration of Life Service will be this Saturday, August 1st at 10 am in the Worship Center.

Christian Love & Sympathy is extended to Gail Stauffer and Family on the July 25 passing of Gail's husband David.  There will be a Celebration of Life Service for David this Saturday, August 1st at 2 pm in the Worship Center.

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

Altar Flowers are To the Glory of God.

If you would like to place flowers on the Altar in honor or in memory of a loved one please contact June.
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