Trinity Talk...A Weekly Newsletter

Trinity Talk – September 26, 2010

AN INVITATION FOR THIS AFTERNOON:
Church Family: Let's go fishing this Sunday afternoon! If you'd like to join us, we'll be at our place at Puxico. Mike Dumey is bringing 4 canoes. You may fish, paddle around the lake, or come to visit. There will be a fire going for hot dogs this evening, & we'll also have the hot dogs, buns and paper plates. So pack your fishing pole, lawn chair, drinks for the afternoon, and anything else like chips, etc. The gate will be open so drive on through and park down by the "lake." We'll have maps with us at church today if you need one. For those of you going to the winery at Puxico this afternoon to hear Josh Monroe sing at 2 p.m., just drop by afterward. Come on out after lunch and let's celebrate the arrival of autumn! Marcia & Earl 624-8160 or 820-0141

DOOR HANGERS ANYONE? Join us for a potluck lunch next Sunday and then we will "cover" Bloomfield with our 10-10-10 door hangers. We're counting down the days until our new worship schedule and we want EVERYONE to know that they are invited to join us. We need door hangers and drivers.

A BIG TRINITY CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME to LYLA MAE SCHOOLFIELD, new baby daughter for Julie and Tyson Schoolfield, born September 21, weighing 6 lbs, 8 oz and 19 inches long. We know that proud grandparents, Larry and Sandra Massey, are feeling more than “blessed.”

Adoption baby showers are so much fun; let’s get together to welcome the new little one
It is with great joy that we invite you to a baby shower honoring
Lyla Mae Schoolfield
Saturday, October 2, 10:00—11:30 a.m. (drop-in) at Trinity United Methodist Church
New parents are Tyson & Julie Schoolfield
They are registered at Target, Wal Mart, & Toys R Us

TO TRINITY SINGERS: Due to the memorial service in Ohio for my uncle on Saturday, Sept. 25, the Trinity singers will be postponed until Sunday, October 3. We will practice again on Wednesday, September 29, at 7 p.m. immediately following the JOY service. So sorry for any inconvenience.


So how's the Acts 29 prayerful reading going? We're on day 36 and we're reading Acts 29 for the fourth time. It may seem rather odd that we're praying this book five times. But I know I have deeper insights each time I read through it. How about you? What difference is Acts 29 making in your life, especially your prayer life?

COMING UP: UMW entertains Trinity Women on Thursday, October 21, at 6 p.m. – dining room.

Trinity Talk...A Weekly Newsletter

Trinity Talk – September 19, 2010

This week begins our mass mailing to every household in the 63825 zip code. This mailing will concern our new worship services which will begin on October 10. This is a part of our Healthy Church Initiative activities. The second mailing will be in mailboxes on September 29 and the third one on October 6. This is a GREAT opportunity for each one of us to ask a neighbor, friend, do-worker or acquaintance if he or she received that post card (they are 5 x 8) and to invite him or her to worship. If the person says, “No, I didn’t see it,” then we have another GREAT opportunity for an invitation to Trinity. The post cards have been prayed over and we pray that hearts and minds will be open to Jesus.

TRINITY SINGERS – Don’t forget practice this Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. after the JOY service. You will be singing at the 11 a.m. worship on September 26. If you can, why not come for the JOY service.

Please bring your kits for the Festival of Sharing to the church this week. These will be taken to the Dexter UMC on Saturday, the 23rd. If you can, plan to go to Dexter on that date, as help will be needed to fill bags with rice and popcorn. These kits and bags will be distributed to the food banks in our area. This is also a good day for fellowship, as you get to meet and work with people from the other churches in the area.

The Church Administrative Council will meet next Sunday morning immediately following the 11 a.m. worship service. This runs into the noon hour, but most present at the last meeting felt it was better than a night meeting. The business of the church is conducted at this meeting which is open to everyone and everyone is encouraged to attend.

THE BLOOMFIELD FALL FESTIVAL WILL BE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9. TRINITY WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE PARADE, WEARING 10-10-10 T-SHIRTS AND CARRYING 10-10-10 YARD SIGNS.



UPCOMING EVENTS:
United Methodist Women will meet this Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. in the church dining room.
TUMC Girls regular meeting – October 5, 7 p.m.
UMW/TUMC Girls fall get-together – October 27 at 6 p.m. in the dining room.

SEPTEMBER FOOD ITEM FOR THE ASSEMBLY FOOD BANK – CANNED FRUIT

Trinity Talk...A Weekly Newsletter

Trinity Talk – September 12, 2010

Last Sunday was the anniversary of the 9/11 attack on America – a day that made us aware that there are terrorists running rampant in the world and ready to give their lives to take the lives of others. We remember those who lost their lives on that day, their families, and all who have been touched in any way by that tragedy. We pray for our service men and women who are stationed around the world to keep freedom alive. Perhaps we can adopt Gorty Aslin’s prayer that he always prays in his Sunday School Class, “Lord, save America for future generations.”

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Trinity Singers will be singing at the 11 a.m. worship on September 26. Practice will be held Wednesday evening, September 22, following the JOY service. The invitation is extended to all who enjoy singing to join in this worship activity. Cissy Williams, directing.

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The Festival of Sharing for this area is at the Dexter UMC on Saturday, September 25. People who are preparing kits may bring them to our church anytime Monday, the 20th, through Friday, the 24th, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Doors will be open. The Emergency Clean-up Bucket (value $56) and the Health Kit (value $11) are two recommended kits. There is also a school kit (value $11). A list of items for each kit is on the table in foyer. If you do not wish to gather the items, you may give your $$$ to Pastor Susan or put it in the offering plate designated as Festival of Sharing and someone will prepare the kits.

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We've been praying the book, Acts 29, together since August 22. Yes, we are reading it but this book takes us to a deeper level of prayerful reading. We read the daily Scripture and consider how it applies to our lives and connects to our church today. Can Trinity really be "on fire" for God just like the early church? We answer thoughtful questions at the end of each day's reading and think about the questions such as praying for folks who no longer worship at Trinity or who come only occasionally or choosing a neighborhood and intentionally praying as we drive by. If we are serious about this book, it cannot be read, we must pray. How serious are you reading Acts 29? It's changing me; I pray it is changing you, too. There are still books available if you wish to join this important time of offering ourselves sacrificially

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The TUMC girls met on Tuesday evening September 7th. Barb led the devotional about giving of our time to God's work. The upcoming spaghetti supper was discussed, so watch your calendar for the date to be announced. Check out the bulletin board for a sign-up sheet for a Ladies Day Conference at Living Water Worship center, scheduled for October 16 from 9:00-2:00. Marcia Metcalf will register anyone who wants to go and the R.S.V.P. must be returned by October 8. Fee is $10. The cost of seven Bibles was given to the Epworth Children's Home in St. Louis, and an update was received about the ongoing diaper ministry. Lara Thorn was hostess and served delicious refreshments. All ladies of the church are encouraged to become a part of the TUMC Girls or UMW.

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Mary Stevens, Trinity member, has been transferred from Central Gardens at Dexter to a home in Nob Noster where she is near her son, George Baldwin. Let us keep Mary in our prayers.

A Light in the Window

A Light in the Window
Susan Hoyle, pastor Trinity United Methodist Church

We receive invitations nearly every day. Some invitations come in the mail or in an email. We’re invited to shop at a particular store or to support a local charity. We really appreciate the invitations to weddings, graduations and baby showers. Sometimes we receive an invitation over the telephone to buy a particular product or to come to a party at a friend’s house. Then there are those invitations we receive in person, face to face. We might be invited to go shopping with a friend or to join our neighbors for the big game. There’s one more personal invitation that really makes a big difference in our lives. It’s when someone cares enough to invite us to worship.

We learn how important this invitation is from Jesus who was always inviting folks into the Kingdom of God on earth. The first thing Jesus did as He began His earthly ministry was to invite people to “come and see” and to follow Him. He invited Zaccheaus to come down out of that tree. He invited Nicodemus to be born again. Jesus invited Martha to sit down for awhile and not complain about her sister Mary who wasn’t helping her prepare the meal. Even when Jesus was on the cross, He invited the two criminals on either side of Him to join Him in Paradise.

After His death and resurrection, His followers invited folks to open their hearts to Jesus and our faith ancestors have been inviting folks for 2000 years. Someone invited me to know Jesus and someone invited you to know Him, too. How do I know this? Because I’m writing this column and you’re reading it.

Now it’s our turn. Who will you invite to know Jesus? Maybe you’ll invite a friend or co-worker or neighbor, maybe even a stranger, to Sunday school or youth group or worship on Sunday morning. Maybe you will invite someone to join you at church for a Bible study, an ice cream social or movie night.

Oh, sometimes we can stumble over our words or wonder if we’re too pushy or too “churchy.” When we worry about how to invite folks we’re coming from our own insecurities and not from centering ourselves in God. You see, I’m a Christ follower today because a little girl cared enough about me to invite me to Sunday school a long, long time ago. Who do we care about enough to push through your own insecurities and invite him or her to worship? Remember, we stand in the gap for Jesus. Jesus trusts us so much that He holds our hand and we reach out with the other hand to invite someone to come closer to the Kingdom of God.

Perhaps no one has ever invited you to worship. Or it’s been so long it’s not easy for you to come back. So here’s my invitation to you. If you don’t have a church home, won’t you join us at Trinity for worship next Sunday? Our chapel service is at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast is at 9:30 a.m. followed by Sunday school for all ages at 10:00 a.m. Our second service is at 11:00 a.m. We also have a Wednesday evening service at 6:00 p.m. We dress causally and we are kid friendly. We have Children’s Worship during the 11:00 a.m. service. Next month I’ll talk more about worship at Trinity with some exciting news about 10-10-10. See you Sunday!

Trinity Talk...A Weekly Newsletter

Trinity Talk – September 5, 2010

What is God's vision and mission for Trinity UMC? We talked about that question last Sunday with our Healthy Church Initiative coach, Rev. Dr. Royal Speidel. We learned that a vision is a clear, compelling picture of God's future for this congregation. Our mission is a broad, brief biblical statement of what God wants us to accomplish as we lead others to Jesus Christ. We talked about the church life cycle, who the people are that are most open to our invitation to a relationship with Jesus Christ and our hopes for what our congregational ministries will look like in three years. We prayed as individuals and as a community for God to show us the needs here in Bloomfield and how we can serve those needs. We thank Royal for leading us in this time of looking beyond ourselves and dreaming about where God is leading us.

Don’t forget your Festival of Sharing Kits that are to be at the church by Sept. 24. Clean-up Buckets, Health Kits, and School Kits are among those needed.

Since we did not have a newsletter last week, we have not “officially” welcomed Little Mister Jiles Monroe, new baby boy for Stephanie and Josh Monroe, born August 26. Best wishes to a “Beautiful” baby!

Several from Trinity are in the hospital. Todd Gibbs and Gorty Aslin are presently in St. Francis; Mrs. Hazel Patrick will have knee surgery on the 7th at St. Francis. Prayers are needed for these and others who may be dealing with health problems.

You will soon be seeing lots of “10-10-10” signs and logos from Trinity. Just what does it mean? We hope to make people curious as to what is in store for Trinity and the community on that date. Curiosity makes a HUGE difference in getting people’s attention. (Getting a person’s attention these days isn’t always easy.) That’s why our T-shirts will say 10-10-10 on the front and back, as will the yard signs. Then when folks begin to ask what it means, we can tell them to check us out on our website and on the morning of 10-10-10. We will also have a float in the Stoddard County parade wearing our t-shirts and handing out cards about 10-10-10. We will also wear our shirts on October 3 as we have lunch together and then teams will hang door hangers all over Bloomfield. Why are we doing all of this? Because Jesus sends us into the world to lead others to a saving relationship with Him. Does this seem like a gimmick or just too much work? Yes, it's work, God's work; and no, it's no gimmick if it gets folks interested enough to attend worship and see how God really can change their lives. We know it, we experience it and we want to invite others to know it, too. Please sign up for your t-shirt and yard sign this Sunday. Thanks.

The United Methodist Women met last week and made plans for the ladies night supper which will be October 27 at 6 p.m. More details will be forthcoming. They voted to purchase three Bibles for the Epworth Children and Family Services in St. Louis.