Hi everyone, We continue fishing this Sunday and I need your help. Even though you might not believe it, I haven't fished much in my life. So I need your help to have a big catch this Sunday and on May 3. Since we don't want the sanctuary to be too "smelly," would you bring canned fish (tuna, salmon, etc.)? Then on May 9, our brothers and sisters who need a little help will receive our "big catch" at the Assembly of God Food Pantry.
Remember, they ran out of food last month so we don't want that to happen in May.
As always, thank you so much for your generosity.
Blessings, Susan
4/23/09
4/21/09
The Journey
The Journey
Romans 8:25
Scripture for April 26
We’re still fishing this week and looking at what we need to take with us. Ok, there’s a pole, of course, and bait and you better take a lot of patience. You can buy the pole and bait but patience is something else all together. Patience with fishing, just like in other areas of our lives, isn’t always easy but so important. Sometimes you might fish and catch a big one immediately. But most of the time, fishing means waiting and waiting and waiting and then waiting some more! Patience can teach us a lot and Sunday we will look at how fishing and patience is part of our journey as followers of Jesus…
Prayer
Well, God, you know it isn’t easy for us to be patient…we want what we want when we want it. Teach us to slow down, to keep our eyes focused on you and to wait for your still, small voice to lead us to where you want us to go. Amen.
Romans 8:25
Scripture for April 26
We’re still fishing this week and looking at what we need to take with us. Ok, there’s a pole, of course, and bait and you better take a lot of patience. You can buy the pole and bait but patience is something else all together. Patience with fishing, just like in other areas of our lives, isn’t always easy but so important. Sometimes you might fish and catch a big one immediately. But most of the time, fishing means waiting and waiting and waiting and then waiting some more! Patience can teach us a lot and Sunday we will look at how fishing and patience is part of our journey as followers of Jesus…
Prayer
Well, God, you know it isn’t easy for us to be patient…we want what we want when we want it. Teach us to slow down, to keep our eyes focused on you and to wait for your still, small voice to lead us to where you want us to go. Amen.
4/20/09
30 Hour Famine
Hey everybody, hope your week is starting well. As most of you are aware, the youth are participating in World Visions 30 Hour Famine. We have done several things in an effort to remove the focus from ourselves and place it on others and we plan to continue with activities to teach the kids about sacrifice and loving others. We have raised just over $600 (far from the goal of $5,000 they set for themselves) with the purple throne and the Hearts for Hunger. We appreciate all who have supported these efforts and want you to know that you can still help. It takes $30 to feed and care for one child for one month. We would just ask that you prayerfully consider giving enough to care for one, or more, children for one month. Did we mention it's a tax deductible donation and we have receipts for that?
Now, the event itself begins this coming Friday right after school. The youth are planning to build cardboard hotels, similar to something a homeless person would live in, and they will be available prior to the opening service for the congregation to judge. Just bring cash, cause that's how you'll vote. The winning hotel will receive a prize of some sort. The opening service will begin at 6:30 and will end at 7:00, and the entire congregation is invited. Tony, Lara and Annette will provide the music and Brad will have a short devo on fasting. Please come join us and feel free to stop in and hang out at any time starting at 3:00 pm on this Friday and ending at 12:00 pm on Saturday.
Thanks so much for supporting the youth in this effort, they are really excited about it.
Lina
Now, the event itself begins this coming Friday right after school. The youth are planning to build cardboard hotels, similar to something a homeless person would live in, and they will be available prior to the opening service for the congregation to judge. Just bring cash, cause that's how you'll vote. The winning hotel will receive a prize of some sort. The opening service will begin at 6:30 and will end at 7:00, and the entire congregation is invited. Tony, Lara and Annette will provide the music and Brad will have a short devo on fasting. Please come join us and feel free to stop in and hang out at any time starting at 3:00 pm on this Friday and ending at 12:00 pm on Saturday.
Thanks so much for supporting the youth in this effort, they are really excited about it.
Lina
4/13/09
A Light in the Window
A Light in the Window
Susan Hoyle, pastor Trinity UMC
The Lenten season is over and we are in the hallelujah time of Easter because Christ is risen, Christ is alive! We have traveled the journey from the ashes of Ash Wednesday to the celebration of Palm Sunday to the horror of Good Friday to the joy of Easter Sunday. Now what? Does this mean the hallelujahs are over for another year? How do we live our lives as Eater people?
We live knowing that Resurrection is real, authentic and beyond what we can really understand. So how do we make sense of it? We human beings want to make sense of everything. We try to figure things out so we know where to put it in our brains. You know, kind of like a computer. When we can’t figure something out and make sense of it and we don’t know where to put it in our brains, we may discount it or just throw it away, not giving it much thought. But as deeply thinking Christians, we don’t want to throw the Resurrection away because we can’t make sense of it.
So where do we begin? We begin by thinking about love. We can’t explain love for our spouses, children, parents and friends, but we know it’s real, don’t we? Just because we can’t explain something, doesn’t mean it isn’t true. We call that faith.
We are also given glimpses of resurrection right here on earth that help us begin to understand how Jesus really did leave that tomb. One glimpse is when a woman marries a man and he just doesn’t like her young children. No matter what she does nothing changes. Then they have a child. What should she do? Stay or go? Then years later, he changes, somehow, and he becomes friends with those grown children. Is that not a glimpse of resurrection and new life? A man has smoked cigarettes for nearly 50 years. He is physically and psychologically addicted to them. He quits smoking, is this not a glimpse of resurrection, a new life? A young woman is given a terminal diagnosis, no possibility of surgery. Then one year later, she can have the surgery and her prognosis is good. Is this not a glimpse of resurrection and new life?
You see God gives us glimpses of resurrection right here on earth to help us understand that new life is possible. God wants us to see with “new eyes” that resurrection happens all around us if we will just notice. No, we cannot understand all that there is to know about resurrection because we do not have the mind of God. But we can know that we don’t have to explain everything to make it true. We can believe and have faith and leave the rest to God.
Perhaps you might think of glimpses of resurrection in your own life and in the life of your family. Those times when you had no hope and new life came out of the ashes. That is resurrection right here on earth. And that, my friends, is only the beginning…
Susan Hoyle, pastor Trinity UMC
The Lenten season is over and we are in the hallelujah time of Easter because Christ is risen, Christ is alive! We have traveled the journey from the ashes of Ash Wednesday to the celebration of Palm Sunday to the horror of Good Friday to the joy of Easter Sunday. Now what? Does this mean the hallelujahs are over for another year? How do we live our lives as Eater people?
We live knowing that Resurrection is real, authentic and beyond what we can really understand. So how do we make sense of it? We human beings want to make sense of everything. We try to figure things out so we know where to put it in our brains. You know, kind of like a computer. When we can’t figure something out and make sense of it and we don’t know where to put it in our brains, we may discount it or just throw it away, not giving it much thought. But as deeply thinking Christians, we don’t want to throw the Resurrection away because we can’t make sense of it.
So where do we begin? We begin by thinking about love. We can’t explain love for our spouses, children, parents and friends, but we know it’s real, don’t we? Just because we can’t explain something, doesn’t mean it isn’t true. We call that faith.
We are also given glimpses of resurrection right here on earth that help us begin to understand how Jesus really did leave that tomb. One glimpse is when a woman marries a man and he just doesn’t like her young children. No matter what she does nothing changes. Then they have a child. What should she do? Stay or go? Then years later, he changes, somehow, and he becomes friends with those grown children. Is that not a glimpse of resurrection and new life? A man has smoked cigarettes for nearly 50 years. He is physically and psychologically addicted to them. He quits smoking, is this not a glimpse of resurrection, a new life? A young woman is given a terminal diagnosis, no possibility of surgery. Then one year later, she can have the surgery and her prognosis is good. Is this not a glimpse of resurrection and new life?
You see God gives us glimpses of resurrection right here on earth to help us understand that new life is possible. God wants us to see with “new eyes” that resurrection happens all around us if we will just notice. No, we cannot understand all that there is to know about resurrection because we do not have the mind of God. But we can know that we don’t have to explain everything to make it true. We can believe and have faith and leave the rest to God.
Perhaps you might think of glimpses of resurrection in your own life and in the life of your family. Those times when you had no hope and new life came out of the ashes. That is resurrection right here on earth. And that, my friends, is only the beginning…
4/10/09
Don't Miss Out!
Good morning. I hope you’ve had a great week, so far. This Sunday will be off the charts @ Trinity so I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out. Check out all that’s going on, starting tonight.
TONIGHT
COMMUNITY GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE - Trinity’s honored to host the Good Friday Service tonight @ 7pm. Our very own Tony Thorn will team up with Greg Stevens from 1st General Baptist and Delisa Sitze from St. Joe General Baptist to lead our music. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross after his friend and disciple, Judas Iscariot betrayed him. What makes Good Friday so Good? As Christians we are submitting to the hope that no tragedy-not even death-can overwhelm God’s providence, love, and grace.
EASTER SUNDAY - Join us for worship this Sunday as we recount the story of Jesus' death and resurrection through beautiful music and an inspirational message that will fill you with hope. We are preparing to welcome many visitors this Easter. For some this may be their first time in church in years. I’m pumped up because I know they’ll experience Jesus through the people of Trinity. Bring your energy!
WORSHIP LEADER -
DUB PIERCE - Easter is the most important day of the year for Christians. We think the resurrection of Jesus calls for a celebration. So Trinity’s bringing in Warner Brothers singer/songwriter Dub Pierce from Springfield to lead our music. We know you’ll love this guy. Check out this link for a sample - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y_Jw-AAyfk You can also visit his myspace site at http://www.myspace.com/dubpierce We are very fortunate to get Dub, especially for Easter. – Another great opportunity to invite friends.
Have you noticed the excitement around Trinity lately? Hold on to your fork……we’re just getting started.
Brad
TONIGHT
COMMUNITY GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE - Trinity’s honored to host the Good Friday Service tonight @ 7pm. Our very own Tony Thorn will team up with Greg Stevens from 1st General Baptist and Delisa Sitze from St. Joe General Baptist to lead our music. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross after his friend and disciple, Judas Iscariot betrayed him. What makes Good Friday so Good? As Christians we are submitting to the hope that no tragedy-not even death-can overwhelm God’s providence, love, and grace.
EASTER SUNDAY - Join us for worship this Sunday as we recount the story of Jesus' death and resurrection through beautiful music and an inspirational message that will fill you with hope. We are preparing to welcome many visitors this Easter. For some this may be their first time in church in years. I’m pumped up because I know they’ll experience Jesus through the people of Trinity. Bring your energy!
WORSHIP LEADER -
DUB PIERCE - Easter is the most important day of the year for Christians. We think the resurrection of Jesus calls for a celebration. So Trinity’s bringing in Warner Brothers singer/songwriter Dub Pierce from Springfield to lead our music. We know you’ll love this guy. Check out this link for a sample - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y_Jw-AAyfk You can also visit his myspace site at http://www.myspace.com/dubpierce We are very fortunate to get Dub, especially for Easter. – Another great opportunity to invite friends.
Have you noticed the excitement around Trinity lately? Hold on to your fork……we’re just getting started.
Brad
4/6/09
The Journey for Holy Week
The Journey
John 20:1-18
Scripture for April 14
Holy Week began as a celebration of Jesus. People lined the streets as he came into Jerusalem and waved palm branches as he rode by them on a lowly donkey. They hoped he would overthrow the Roman government and become their king. They believed Jesus came to free them from Roman rule. Yes, Jesus came to free them, not from Roman rule but from themselves. Free them, to release any barriers that kept them from surrendering themselves to God.
As we walk with Jesus during this Holy Week, how do we begin to surrender ourselves to God? We begin by seeking to know Jesus in deeper ways. Our love for Him must grow so that we yearn, we long to be closer to God. We begin by getting to know His story, Jesus’ story.
Each passage below helps us to think about how that last week was for Him. As you read each day’s passage, imagine you are there, watching, listening, wondering how you fit into this story today, 2000 years after Jesus walked this earth. Become a part of the story because in reality, you all ready are---you follow Jesus and you are right there with Him. Give yourself some time to allow the story to sink deeply inside you. You might read it out loud or allow yourself to see the story in your mind’s eye. Perhaps read it three times, slowly. You are reading for formation, not information. You aren’t gathering facts, you are opening yourself to God’s Spirit to touch you. After each story, ask yourself, how can I surrender, how can I release anything I hold that keeps me from God?
Monday Mark 11:15-19
Tuesday Mark 12:41-44
Wednesday Mark 14:1-9
Thursday Mark 14:10-42
Friday Mark 14:43-15:47
Saturday John 20:1-18
Prayer for each day:
Oh, God, that looks like a lot of reading…I need your help in my busy life to find time to get to know you better. Please give me nudges this week to learn more about Jesus and more about myself. Teach me how Jesus surrendered to You and how I can surrender to You, too.…amen.
John 20:1-18
Scripture for April 14
Holy Week began as a celebration of Jesus. People lined the streets as he came into Jerusalem and waved palm branches as he rode by them on a lowly donkey. They hoped he would overthrow the Roman government and become their king. They believed Jesus came to free them from Roman rule. Yes, Jesus came to free them, not from Roman rule but from themselves. Free them, to release any barriers that kept them from surrendering themselves to God.
As we walk with Jesus during this Holy Week, how do we begin to surrender ourselves to God? We begin by seeking to know Jesus in deeper ways. Our love for Him must grow so that we yearn, we long to be closer to God. We begin by getting to know His story, Jesus’ story.
Each passage below helps us to think about how that last week was for Him. As you read each day’s passage, imagine you are there, watching, listening, wondering how you fit into this story today, 2000 years after Jesus walked this earth. Become a part of the story because in reality, you all ready are---you follow Jesus and you are right there with Him. Give yourself some time to allow the story to sink deeply inside you. You might read it out loud or allow yourself to see the story in your mind’s eye. Perhaps read it three times, slowly. You are reading for formation, not information. You aren’t gathering facts, you are opening yourself to God’s Spirit to touch you. After each story, ask yourself, how can I surrender, how can I release anything I hold that keeps me from God?
Monday Mark 11:15-19
Tuesday Mark 12:41-44
Wednesday Mark 14:1-9
Thursday Mark 14:10-42
Friday Mark 14:43-15:47
Saturday John 20:1-18
Prayer for each day:
Oh, God, that looks like a lot of reading…I need your help in my busy life to find time to get to know you better. Please give me nudges this week to learn more about Jesus and more about myself. Teach me how Jesus surrendered to You and how I can surrender to You, too.…amen.
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