The Real Giver. Lord, may I always trust you more than mere human beings. Daily Lenten Reflections

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1 F ebruary 23, 2010 The Real Giver Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away form the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5 Usually it is those who know Him that bring Him to others. That is why the Church, the whole body of Christians showing Him to one another, is so important. You might say that when two Christians are following Christ together, there is not twice as much Christianity as when they are apart, but sixteen times as much. But do not forget this. At first it is natural for a baby to take its mother s milk without knowing its mother. It is equally naturally for us to see the man who helps us without seeing Christ behind him. But we must not remain babies. We must go on to recognize the real Giver. It is madness not to. Because, if we do not, we shall be relying on human beings. And that is going to let us down. The best of them will make mistakes; all of them will die. We must be thankful to all the people who have helped us; we must honor them and love them. But never, never pin your whole faith on any human being, not if he is the best and wisest in the whole world. There are lots of nice things you can do with sand, but do not try building a house on it. Lord, may I always trust you more than mere human beings. Daily Lenten Reflections C. S. Lewis Worship 8:30 & 10:45 am Solid Grounds 9:00 am Sunday School 9:30 am Lectionary Readings February 28 Genesis 15:1-12, Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35 March 7 Isaiah 55:1-9 Psalm 63:1-8 I Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9 Trinity Treasures February 28 Misty and Monty Baugh March 7 Tammy and Byron Childress

2 The menu for WNF on March 3, is Smokey Joes Barbeque; on March 10 Earthen Vessel class members will serve Sloppy Joes, Green Salad and Dessert. Please make reservations as soon as you know you will be attending; we need to know how much food to purchase and prepare. Drive by Trinity some evening between 6pm and 2am to see the newly lighted cross on the Mississippi side of the church. Many thanks to Bill Bailey who has planned and overseen this project and thank you to Beth King who gave the memorial money given in Don s memory to fund this outreach effort. This is another way that shows Trinity is Living As the Light! If you are planning to cheer on a runner in the Little Rock Marathon held on Sunday, March 7, you are invited to join the Methodist Mile at First Methodist Church in downtown Little Rock. From 8:50 till 10:50 am, the congregation will be outside playing some good running music and enjoying hot coffee and pastries. Anyone is welcome to join in the festivities. For more info, and the best route to use to get there, contact mcole@advis.com HEARTS FOR HAITI The Boanerges/Earthen Vessel Sunday School class had a very successful fund raiser Feb. 7 and 14. A total of $ was sent to UMCOR for Haiti relief. The class accepted donations for Valentines which were delivered by class members to individuals in their Sunday School classes. Thank you to all the Trinity folks who visited Barnes and Nobles on Brady Day. The school earned almost $800 from purchases made that day. Also, thanks to everyone who helped with Valentine parties at the school. There were lots of loving hearts and smiling faces at Brady that day! Looking for another way to help the people of Haiti? The Presbyterian Church has a Disaster Assistance Center in Ferndale which needs volunteers to help pack hygiene and other kits for Haiti relief. The website is ferncliff.org/giving/ volunteering. They can be reached by phone at The Altar Guild has recently provided back cushions for those with troublesome back pain. We hope these cushions will relieve some back discomfort for members while sitting on our church pews. These cushions are in baskets in the narthex for those in need. Our special thanks to Billie Beardsley for her monogramming work on these cushions. We support TUMC by our Prayers Jan Barnett, Deanna Etheridge, Reid Hill (daughter of Kie and Jeff Hill), John Fulmer, Betty Moore (mother of Dr. Robin Moore), Virginia Faubel, Ila Harville (mother of Carla Haynie), Sally and Gerald Kenworthy, Bridget Wilson (mother of Richard Yager),Gay Bard, John Hughes (brother of Mary Smead), Jackie Parker, Helen Johnson, Mariann Clark (daughter of Willie and Fay Southern) Trinity Members active in the Military: Matthew Vigneault, Dylan Blancett, Will Goggans, Derek Hays Sympathy is extended to Helen Johnson and family in the death of her husband. Rev. Robert Johnson; to Dorothy Little in the death of her special friend, Dr. Roy Mayer. Presence Week of February 14, 2010 Sunday School 272 Worship 329 Visitors 22 Week of February 21, 2010 Sunday School 316 Worship 314 Visitors 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Holy Communion is offered in the Prayer Chapel immediately following each service on Sunday morning except on the Sunday Communion is served in worship. In an effort to reduce the spread of viruses, all communion servers use hand sanitizer before serving. In addition, we have placed bottles of sanitizer throughout high traffic areas and you are welcome to use it. **************************** SAVE THE DATE April 24, pm

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4 Miracle Team Update Others Recognize Trinity s Service Outside our Walls Wounded Warriors Project - from Craig Joint Theatre Hospital Bagram Air Field Thank you all so very much for your support of our troops These gifts (hygiene kits and other supplies including children s clothing) will support our troops who have been wounded in the current conflict, and will also help us reach out to our Afghan hosts. Included in the mail were two blanket sleepers. I passed these on to our hospital ward. Fortunately we do not currently have any infant patients, unfortunately we receive them far too often, as the children here get caught in the conflict more often than any of us would ever want. Thank you so much for your ministry to our troops and, truly, to the least of these, our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan. As you pray for our warriors, please remember this nation and its people and pray that peace many come to this wartorn land. Blessings, John M. Von Almen, Ch. Capt.USAF Salvation Army Angel Tree portion of a letter thanking Trinity for our service Thank you for your warm support of The Salvation Army in Central Arkansas during Christmas Your actions expressed the true meaning of love that is revealed in 1 John 3:18: My little children, let us not live in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Love is more than a feeling or a kind word. Love requires action, and you set a great example of this concept during the holiday season. You actively gave of your time, resources, and spirit for the poor and forgotten in your community. God bless you! Because of your generosity, 6,000 children received the blessings of Christmas. They woke up knowing that they were loved by their family and community. The parents and guardians of those children are deeply grateful Warmest regards, Majors Ann and Harvey Johnson Trinity s Generosity in Disaster Relief Philippines Trinity donated more than $600 through February s communion rail offering for Philippines disaster relief through UMCOR. Haiti Trinity has donated more than $7,000 in disaster relief for Haiti through UMCOR. We continue to collect the items listed below for health kits (bulk items preferred). You may place donations in the Missions area outside Martin Hall): 1 gallon plastic bag 1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels) 1 washcloth 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized) 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers) 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up) 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes) 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages $1.00 to purchase toothpaste (so it won t be expired date) One Great Hour of Sharing - UMCOR does not advertise outside the Methodist Church. However, UMCOR is there to help when disasters occur. 100% of disaster relief donations go to help victims because all administrative costs are covered by once-a-year donations through the One Great Hour Of Sharing. Trinity will designate collections from our March Communion Rail offering for this purpose. Please be generous! Lenten Offering 2010 Trinity launched our 2010 Lenten Season at the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 16 th. There was something for everyone and a good time was had by all from our youngest members to the more mature ones! Visitors from Trinity s local Lenten Offering beneficiary organizations (Ellen Ingram, executive director of Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County--in the member-nominated category and Rev. Maxine Allen, Director of Wesley Foundation of UALR--in the Conference-endorsed category) were present to inform us about their organization s service to those in need in our community.

5 January Memorials & Gifts In Memory of Leota Bard Earthen Vessel Sunday School Class In Memory of Helen Bishop Mike & Becky Matthews In Memory of Dennis Fureigh Deborah Stancil In Memory of Steven Kenworthy Mary Frances Damour Mike McWilliams (Music) In Memory of Sylvia McWilliams Jeff & Laurie Barber Richard Bassett Charles & Cindy Crone David & Martha Ann Fox Trisha Goodson Joe & Miki Keene Gerald & Sally Kenworthy Brent & Tandy Miller Family Georgeann Osam Robert & Melba Petersen Charles & Shirley Price Dorothy Rogers Jim & Martha Shirrell Lee & Georgiana Soderberg Don & Barbara Steely Joe & Nancy Wall Suzie Warren In Memory of Pearl Moschera Jim & Anita Westbrook (UMCOR-Haiti) In Memory of Doug Stroud Jim & Margaret Ault Pat, Debi and Karen Baldridge Mr & Mrs Allen Brown Esther Clevidence Charles & Cindy Crone Mary Frances Damour Lee & Astrid Elliott Leon & Jean Hoffman Roland & Eloise Launius Everett Leath Betty Martin Mike McWilliams (Garden) Bob & Pat Parette Joe & Wilma Reed Dorothy Rogers Louis & Dorothy Segalla Christie Shope Dorothy Snow Triune Sunday School Class (Van) Suzie Warren Barbara Webb Mary Evelyn Wheeler Mr. & Mrs. Forrest Wisdom In Honor of Edna Fell Trinity UMC Altar Guild In Honor of Bob Johnson Triune Sunday School Class (Van) Triune Sunday School Class (Van) In Honor of Ray Mayer Triune Sunday School Class (Van) In Honor of Jane Price Triune Sunday School Class (Van) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to Linda McLain Who recently joined our Trinity Family. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pictures from RSVP held on

6 CONGRATULATIONS FAITH AND LUCY!! Just wanted to brag on our young people for a moment. We have lots of kids that are involved in many extracurricular activities, and from time to time I get to hear about them and find out...when I do, I like to brag on them so you, the rest of our church family, can know and be proud as well! The Testimony to Tolerance Initiative and Cultural Diversity Commission of Little Rock had a Middle and High School "Lessons from the past...visions of the future" Art and Writing Contest...now keep in mind these are all the Little Rock public schools! They had a first, second and third prize for both Middle and High school...trinity can PROUDLY say that two of OUR youth won the FIRST PLACE PRIZE! in BOTH the Middle and High school competitions!! Congratulations to Faith Roberts for winning for her essay entitled "Strength Through Diversity." Faith won the first place in the Middle School category; and Congratulations to Lucy Richardson for her winning essay entitled "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" which won the first place in the High School category. An Eagle Scout Among Us! Congratulations to Andrew Miller for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout! As we all know, this is not an easy accomplishment and that it takes years of hard work and dedication to the scouting program. Andrew asked that I (Jay) sit in on his final review board and it was there that I got to hear about what the scouting program has meant to him as well as see his Eagle Scout project, which was reclaiming and in some areas "claiming" a large trail for people to walk and hike off of Hwy 10. When we finished grilling Andrew with questions and reviewing all his accomplishments, I knew that I had NO reservation in putting my signature on the paperwork, Andrew had definitely earned his rank, and it gives me continued hope about our future with leaders like him. So if you see Andrew at church, be sure to tell him congratulations and we, as a church family, can be proud of yet another of our young people! What an amazing group of young people we have been blessed with at Trinity. Be sure and congratulate the three of them on their accomplishments!

7 People enjoying pancakes at the Fat Tuesday Pancake supper sponsored by the Miracle Team. (continued on back page)

8 (Continued from previous page) Our international recipient for this year s Lenten offering is the Central Conference Pension Initiative, established as a long-term project to help support retired Methodist clergy and their spouses struggling in poverty following retirement from ministry in impoverished areas of Africa, Asia, and Europe. DO NOT CAST ME OFF IN THE TIME OF OLD AGE; DO NOT FORSAKE ME WHEN MY STRENGTH IS SPENT." PSALM 71:9. Our international recipient for this year s Lenten offering is the Central Conference Pension Initiative, established as a long-term project to help support retired Methodist clergy and their spouses struggling in poverty following retirement from ministry in impoverished areas of Africa, Asia, and Europe. DO NOT CAST ME OFF IN THE TIME OF OLD AGE; DO NOT FORSAKE ME WHEN MY STRENGTH IS SPENT." PSALM 71:9. Learn more about our Lenten Offering beneficiary organizations through the lavender Lenten Offering 2010 Brochure. You will find one in the Narthex or on the Mission Table. WE WILL BE COLLECTING LENTEN OFFERING DONATIONS THROUGH EASTER SUNDAY. Upcoming Service Opportunities - Save the Dates March 27, Trinity s Rummage Sale. Proceeds from our Rummage Sale will help Trinity UMC in supporting other worthy projects this year, including local projects and missionaries across the globe. April 11, 2010 Methodist Family Health Day of Service and Ingathering. Volunteers will perform outside service activities (like landscaping or lawn activities) at both the Little Rock (Methodist Children s Home on Fillmore) and Maumelle (Methodist Behavioral Hospital) campuses. Items needed by clients will be announced in the near future, collected at Trinity, and then delivered to United Methodist Children s Home (2002 South Fillmore in Little Rock) ingathering style--on April 11 th between 1 and 4:30 p.m. (Collections will end at 4:00 at Maumelle). At 4:30 the FaithSpring Praise Band will play at Methodist Children s Home and a special celebrity will be present. Volunteers are needed to staff the collections sites and to perform outside service. Save this date and sign up to help on the afternoon of April 11 th You may sign up at the Church Office, the Mission Bulletin Board, or by contacting Cindy Crone at Second Sundays Dinner Service at Our House There are Sundays still available for 2010 Our House dinner preparation and serving. The Miracle Team has budgeted $150/month to help with expenses. Dinner is served to working homeless persons and their children at 6:00 p.m. and the number served varies between per month. Groups always report having a good time and Our House residents are grateful for dinner. Months currently available are May, June, August, September, October, and December. Sign up at the Mission Bulletin Board or contact Cindy Crone at for more information. May 20-23, 2010 Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic in Monticello at UAM. For the third year, Trinity volunteers will assist in relieving pain and disease for those who cannot afford needed dental care. This year s Arkansas Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic will be held at Gibson Student Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Rooms have been reserved at the Hampton Inn in Monticello for our team (let us know if you want to attend). Volunteers can also reserve a dormitory room at the UAM campus. Volunteers for patient escort and dental assistants are particularly needed. Save these dates (set up May 20, Clinic May and take down/pack may continue into Sunday morning, May 23) and plan to attend. You may register at ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WELCOMES Dr. J. Ellsworth Kalas Sunday, March 28, :45 am Sermon Sunday, March 28, :00 pm Lecture and Book Signing

9 Calendar of Events Thursday, February 25 Noon DMA (Martin Hall) Friday, February 26 Saturday, February 27 9:00 am - Altar Guild (O. Door) Sunday, February 28 8:30 am Worship 9:00 am - Solid Grounds Coffee Fellowship (Martin Hall) 9:30 am - Sunday School 10:45 am - Worship 5:30 pm Youth Monday, March 1 9:30 am Kitchen Committee (Open Door) 6:00 pm Mom s Book Club (6th gr. classroom) Tuesday March 2 6:30 pm Men s Bible Study 9:00 am Tues am Bible Study Wednesday, March 3 5:15 pm WNF 6:00 pm RAGtime 6:00 pm HEAL 6:00 pm Knitpickers 6:00 pm Adult Council (Library) 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir Friday, March 5 7:00 pm Open Door Fun Friday (Sue Walls) Sunday, March 7 8:30 am Worship 9:00 am - Solid Grounds Coffee Fellowship (Martin Hall) 9:30 am - Sunday School 10:45 am - Worship 5:30 pm Youth Monday, March 9 6:30 pm Men s Bible Study 9:00 am Tues am Bible Study Wednesday, March 10 5:15 pm WNF 6:00 pm RAGtime 6:00 pm Knitpickers 6:00 pm Trustees 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir Check out our updated website for more information about activities and events at Trinity. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle The Trinity way!! We have all heard the mantra reduce, reuse, recycle and most of us have applied it to our lives in one way or another. Now let us talk about another wonderful way to do all three things at one time The Trinity UMC 4th annual rummage sale on Saturday, March 27, 2010! You can reduce the clutter in your home while allowing others to reuse your items, thus recycling them back into use. This recycling will keep new consumer goods from being produced, which ultimately takes the load off our environment. Bring your items to the old boy scout room under Martin Hall. Call or come by the office for further information if needed. We accept all items, but have found that furniture, household items, baby things, and electronics all sell quickly. As always, when donating clothing items, please make sure its something usable, not something that should be tossed away. Now get going through your house and find things you no longer use and think of how others will be able to use them and at the same time you are helping to raise money for our community. Just think of how green you are being while also being of service to your church community ANGIE AWARD PRESENTED Every few months in worship, we like to recognize an individual or a group within the church that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their service; a person or a group that exemplifies the Spirit of Trinity. Part of that recognition is the presentation of our Angie (Angel of Trinity) Award. Last week in worship, we awarded the Angie to Steve Bonds. At the presentation, Dr. Moore read this about Steve: This individual has an abundance of spiritual gifts, and he uses them generously at Trinity. His love for God and his devotion to this church are seen in everything he does. Before I list just some of those services he offers, I want to say that I believe one of the most amazing gifts he has is the gift of joy. He is simply everywhere, doing everything -- and he always does it with a smile on his face. He mans the sound booth during worship and for special occasions, and has worked overtime to help Don Wold get the sanctuary sound system in order. He has served as a Trustee, and even after rolling off the formal committee, he has continued to work with the Trustees in helping the physical plant run smoothly. He is one of our official photographers, attending almost every function, taking pictures and submitting them to the newsletter. He comes to Wednesday Night Fellowship every week and he sings in the Chancel Choir. He works with Bill Hyatt to keep our website up to date, and he stays in close touch with Laura and with me to make sure there isn t something we need that he might attend to. He is an absolute a blessing to all of us. We love you Steve! Congratulations!

10 Where Do Your Tithes Go Pensions One of the ways every member can be in ministry is through the morning offering. A portion of our offering every week is set aside for a Pension Fund to support retired and active United Methodist pastors in the Little Rock Conference. Contacting your Church Staff Dr. Robin Moore Rev. Candace Barron David Glaze Paul Owen Jay Sweningson Laura Hales Judy Gribble Tammy Childress DRNRMoore@tumclr.org cbarron@tumclr.org DAGMusic@tumclr.org powen@tumclr.org jay@tumclr.org laurahales@tumclr.org judy@tumclr.org tammyc@tumclr.org Dr. Moore s emergency # Rev. Barron s emergency # Trinity United Methodist Church Living as the Light!