2012 guide to ministry

Transcription

1 TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH January 24, 2012 Vol. 46 No. 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2012 guide to ministry where will you serve in 2012? As you read through the various ministries at Trinity, you will find many ways to become involved in the life of the church. Additionally, you will see Connection Points which are ways that you can serve others as part of the body of Christ. Each Connection Point corresponds to a listing on the 2012 Time and Talent card located in the center of the magazine. If you already serve in one or more of these areas, we ask that you still submit a Time and Talent card so our record remains current. You may also submit your Time and Talent card online at connect sunday: On Sunday, February 5, you will have the opportunity to turn in your Time and Talent card during a special moment in our worship services. Children will also have an opportunity to participate. Cards for kids will be located in the pew racks. Make plans to join us in worship on Sunday, February 5! questions? Contact Karen Smith at or her at ksmith@trinitybirmingham.com. Annual Report 3-4 Contact Sermon Series 4 Discovery Weekend 5 Wednesday Supper 5 Scholarships 6 Calendar of Events 7 Please see Andy s Personal Word inside on page 2 for more info on Say Amen. Trinity Men will hold their Spring Kickoff Event on Thursday evening, February 9 at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. All men are invited to join the men s ministry for a catered dinner by The Fish Market and to hear guest speaker, Richard Simmons, III. Simmons is an author and founder of the Center for Executive Leadership, a nonprofit ministry focusing on evangelism and discipleship for men. His book, True Measure of a Man, is available in bookstores and online. For tickets and more info, please contact Rev. Drew Holland at or dholland@trinitybirmingham.com Spring 2012 Kickoff Event Thursday evening, February 9 at 6 PM Guest Speaker: Richard Simmons, III About Richard Simmons III... A native of Birmingham, he received his B.A. from the University of the South (Sewanee) in Economics in Soon after, he moved to Atlanta for a year of graduate school at Georgia State, where he studied Risk Management and Insurance. Simmons began his 25 year career back in Birmingham with Hilb, Rogal, and Hamilton, a property and casualty insurance business. The first 15 years of his new career were spent in sales and then he became the CEO for the next 10 years before retiring. Much of his time was spent volunteering for a youth organization called Young Life, a ministry for teenagers. Through this experience with Young Life, Simmons realized his gift of teaching and communicating his faith to men. He began several men s Bible studies and developed an Investigative Bible Study for men who were inquisitive about the Christian faith. In December of 2000 Simmons founded the Center for Executive Leadership, a nonprofit ministry focusing on evangelism and discipleship for men. When he s not spending time with his wife and three children, you will find Richard teaching, counseling, writing, or speaking to men s groups across the country. Tickets ar $12 in advance and $15 at the door. They are available for purchase in the Narthex on Sunday mornings and in the church office.

2 A PERSONAL WORD SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 8:45 & 11:00 AM Sanctuary The 8:45 AM worship service is broadcast via 15-minute delay from 9-10 AM Sundays on WAPI-1070 AM and FM. SERMON Dr. Andrew Wolfe Sermon Series: Three Simple Questions Who Are We Together? MUSIC 8:45 AM & 11:00 AM Cross & Flame Youth Handbell Choir, Sanctuary Choir & Brass Quintet MINISTER ON CALL Drew Holland, Last week you should have received Connect magazine in the mail. One of our core values at Trinity states that all of us are gifted by God and God calls each of us to use our gifts in ministry. Trinity is a vital congregation because we live out that value. Hundreds of you take the role of servant in some area of ministry whether teaching a children s class, or feeding the homeless. Our goal, our dream, our hope is for every member to discover the joy of living out their faith in some area of ministry. Connect is a book that helps you to do just that to Connect your gifts to ministry. In it you will find dozens of ways you can be in ministry from participating in an international mission trip, to arranging flowers. Please take some time to become familiar with this magazine, and pray about where God might be leading you. Then respond using the Time & Talent Card found within the magazine. February 5 is our official Connect Sunday on which we well receive your responses in worship. You will also soon be receiving a brochure for our Say Amen effort. Over the past five years we have seen remarkable growth in our ministries. Our children s ministry has increased by 68% in six years and our student ministry has more than quadrupled. None of this would have happened without the expansion of our facilities six years ago. We have paid off 90% of this project. Now it is time to Say Amen to the remaining debt so that we are free to continue to grow. Our Finance Committee has set a goal of retiring this debt this year. I believe that God has placed in our hands the resources to do this, if we will faithfully ask God how he wants us to respond. We will all have an opportunity to Say Amen on Sunday, February 12. Watch Tidings for more details. WESLEY HALL 11:15 AM Dr. Dave Barnhart A LOOK AT JANUARY 22 1,292 Worship Attendance 978 Sunday School Attendance information for guests & new members Welcome to Trinity United Methodist Church! Our mission is to Gather people to Christ, Grow people in Christ, Go to serve Christ in the world and Glorify Christ. Sunday Worship Opportunities: 8:45 & 11:00 AM Traditional services in the sanctuary, offering same sermon and a variety of music. 11:15 AM CONTACT a relaxed, informal, service in Wesley Hall featuring praise music from the CONTACT Band, children are encouraged to attend. 10:00 AM Sunday School Ages 2 years and up. Nursery is provided during all services. Interested in Membership? Please join us the first Sunday of every month in the large parlor for Coffee with the Pastor. This is a time to meet the pastoral staff, ask questions and learn more about the core values and mission of Trinity. We also encourage you to attend Membership 101, a basic orientation prior to joining Trinity. It is offered on the second Sunday of each month. Contact Rev. Drew Holland at dholland@trinitybirmingham.com or call with any questions. Andrew Wolfe Senior Minister Suzanne Pruitt Minister of Christian Formation Dave Barnhart Minister of Outreach Drew Holland Minister of Evangelism, Young Adults David Thompson Minister of Students Mack Chapman Minister of Administration Bobby Scales Minister of Pastoral Care & Visitation Church Office: Fax: Care Line: Child Development Center:

3 Annual Report For 2011 Andrew R. Wolfe, Trinity United Methodist Church The health of a congregation can be measured in many ways. In a congregational survey we conducted this year, all of the ministries of Trinity consistently received high marks. There is a pervasive positive spirit in the congregation and an excitement about the future. Trinity continues to attract young adults both single and couples. The warmth of the congregation, the strength of our ministries to children and youth, the quality of our worship are most mentioned by new members as the key factors in their becoming a part of this congregation. All of this indicates the spiritual health of this congregation. Another way to measure the health of the congregation is to look at the numbers the statistics. For Trinity these numbers continue to indicate an upward trend: Trinity has grown by 1,220 professing members and welcomed 456 infants in the past six years. In 2011, Trinity received 196 new professing members, the largest number for more than two decades! Trinity led the North Alabama Conference with 83 baptisms during this year. Our Sunday School attendance has grown by 11% in the past five years. There are 702 children on our Sunday School rolls and nursery rolls, an increase of 68% in the past five years. There is an average of 150 children in nurseries each week. Sunday evening Student ministry has grown from about 50 active students five years ago to almost 400 in The number of adults involved in small groups has grown from 100 to over 500 in the past five years. Over the past decade our average worship attendance has grown from 872 to almost Trinity led the North Alabama Conference in the increase in average worship attendance for Trinity is growing younger; 25% of our congregation are under 18 years of age, and 27% of our congregation are in their 20 s and 30 s. The average age of new members is 36. Trinity has become a truly regional church with 54% of our congregation from outside Homewood. 61% of our new members are from outside Homewood. 70% of the new members received this year are under the age of 40. We averaged 165 visitors a Sunday in We have 150 children enrolled in our children s choirs. More than 420 people participate in our music ministry, which includes 16 musical groups. As so many of our new members tell us, there is something special about Trinity. Through worship, study, outreach, and fellowship, people are finding a relationship with Christ and with others in the Christian community. A core part of our identity as a church is to Go to Serve Christ in the world. In addition to providing funds to dozens of local and international mission agencies and projects, Trinity members are on the front line doing hands on mission work: More than 90 of our youth and adults were involved in SOS this year, a record number. Another 50 mid-high youth were involved in a weeklong mission project with Alabama Rural Ministries. We sent a medical mission team to Ecuador. During Lent, Trinity constructed its fifth Habitat House. When the tornadoes struck Alabama in April, Trinity sent dozens of teams to aid in the clean-up. More than $68,500 was raised to provide disaster relief. The Trinity Special class provides early intervention for 10 children from around the region, at almost no cost to the parents. We provided Christmas to more than 280 children. Dozens of our members are involved with feeding the homeless at the Firehouse Shelter, and Church of the Reconciler. Trinity is a part of the Birmingham Hospitality Network, which provides housing and assistance to homeless families. Through our Missions budget and second mile giving, Trinity provides support to dozens of program such as Babies First, The United Methodist Children s Homes, and Urban Ministry. In 2011, our total giving for missions and outreach exceeded $500,000- this represents 17% of our total giving (the national average for churches is.3%). Our congregation has remained faithful in their generosity. In these difficult financial times, our giving in 2011, exceeded all previous years. We collected 98.2% of our budget, the best percentage since In our Stewardship Program, Thanks Be To God, we have received 657 commitments for a total of $2,623,633 - an increase of 3% over last year. Of these, 235 showed an increase in commitment, another 103 were new commitments. The average commitment is $3993, an increase of 4.4% over SANDWICH MAKING for the homeless and needy Continued on page 4. 3

4 Annual Report For 2011 (continued) The Beyond Ourselves Campaign officially ended last year but a number of families continue to pay out their commitments. In 2011, we collected $5,289,894 of the $5,520,427 committed (95.8 %). The remaining debt on the building is $895,000, out of an original debt of $10,790,334. In 2012, we have set a goal of retiring this remaining debt. One of the key strengths of Trinity is its staff. This is an energetic, committed, and visionary staff, who works together as a team. I sometimes call them the dream team, because of the strength that each one brings to our ministry whether it s our Program Directors, our Office Staff, or our Maintenance team they all do their work with excellence. I feel fortunate to be able to work with such an outstanding group of individuals. Trinity has a long history as a vital church in one of Birmingham s oldest communities. A decade ago, this church was faced with a declining membership, attendance and resources. It was following what is often the natural pattern of churches. That trend has been reversed. 52% of our membership is now in their 30 s or younger. The majority of our new members come from outside Homewood. Trinity has remained a vital congregation because of its willingness to reinvent itself in each generation. In the spring of 2012, Trinity will complete a Strategic Planning process to look at the next three to five years. Our challenge is a good one how to manage our growth as we make disciples of Jesus Christ. 4 What is a God Moment? Our confirmation youth and mentors shared with the Administrative Board during the Faith Moment time what Confirmation had meant to them in their spiritual growth and what one of their favorite God Moments was during their journey. God Moments are those moments that we can see and feel God s presence in a special and/or profound way. God is with us 24-7 but sadly many God Moments go unnoticed by us. Sometimes they knock us upside the head or heart when we are not even looking for them. But most of the time we need to position ourselves by looking for them and opening our hearts and minds to avail ourselves to those moments. While we were on staff retreat last week, I had a God Moment that I completely drank in like a wonderful milkshake. We went as a staff to the little chapel at Sumatanga to participate in Holy Communion. We began by singing some Taize songs. In the small wooden and brick chapel with a large wooden cross hanging from the ceiling over a stone altar, our voices sounded like a large choir of angels instead of the dozen of us that were there. I could feel the songs reverberating in my body and spirit. I had to just close my eyes and drink it all in as we sang. Then we came forward to receive communion that filled my spirit to overflowing. We had had a long day of meetings and were going back to have our final one for the evening. I was refreshed by the spirit and ready to go! This week, take time to look for and recognize those moments when you may feel God s presence in a special or profound way. contact sermon series february 5, The Way We Are Made february 12, Passion, Porn and Paganism february 19, GLBTQ WWJD WESLEY HALL 11:15 AM Dr. Dave Barnhart Hannah s Friends Are you hurting because you want a baby or have lost one? Are you a friend or a loved one of someone who struggles with faith as she longs for a child? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, we invite you to join us. Hannah s Friends is a group of women who struggle with issues of infertility just as Hannah did in the Bible. Our small group shares fellowship, prayer and Bible study as we try to discern the unique path that God has for each of us. Join us on the 4th Monday evening of each month at 5:30 PM in the Small Parlor. For more info, please contact Amanda Hall at acollins24@hotmail.com.

5 Register Now! DISCOVERY WEEKEND for middle school students will be February Register your student now. Forms available in the Haven and online. Questions? Contact Robert Sturdivant at or TRINITY BOOK GROUP Wednesday, February 15, 6 PM Do you like to read, share, discuss, even question? Sue Hair will lead the group in discussing the historical overview The Founding Fathers Reconsidered by R. B. Bernstein. Join us at 6 PM in the Small Parlor on February 15. Don t forget your name tag... on Sunday mornings or anytime you are attending or representing Trinity! This is a great way to provide hospitality to our guests, and to help us get to know one another better. If you don t have a name tag, contact Lisa at or lelliott@trinitybirmingham.com. TRINITY HANDYMEN Handymen are available to provide assistance to Trinity members with minor repair needs, change light bulbs, yard work, etc. Please call the church office at if you need assistance, and describe your need. The office will pass along the information and a Handyman will contact you. Wednesday Supper Serving 4:45-6:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Leave the cooking to us! Come eat and fellowship with your church family. Let us know you are coming...make reservations and find weekly menus online: Menu January 25: ADULTS: Spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans, garlic bread, cookie Salad bar/ 34 items & Soup bar/ 2 soups KIDS: Pizza, fruit, cookie, milkv $6/person $3 /child (9 and under) $5 Salad Bar $20 Family Max. (immediate family only) 5

6 Scholarship Applications Available Deadline to apply: February 6, 2012 The Committee on Higher Education and Campus Ministry is accepting applications for the following scholarships administered by Trinity UMC: 1.) The Huffstutler Scholarship is awarded to students who are members of Trinity UMC and are enrolled at Birmingham-Southern College or Samford University. Selection of the recipients is based upon financial need, academic achievement, community involvement, and church participation. 2.) The Mabel W. McFee Scholarship is awarded to students who are children or grandchildren of clergy members of the North Alabama Conference of the UMC. Applicants need not be members of Trinity UMC. Applicants must be enrolled at any four-year college or university. Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, community involvement, and church participation. 3.) United Methodist Church and College Partnership Scholarship Program. Students who have been accepted to Birmingham-Southern College may apply for this. Trinity UMC nominates a student by pledging a scholarship amount per year for four years and Birmingham- Southern College provides a 2-to-1 match per year for four years, provided the nominee is selected to receive the award. The requirements and applications for these scholarships may be picked up at the church office. Amounts to be awarded from the Huffstutler and McFee Scholarships may vary according to the yearly earnings of the trust funds. The application for the Huffstutler and McFee Scholarships must be returned to the church office no later than February 6, 2011 this date is strictly enforced. The recipients of the Huffstutler and McFee Scholarships and the nomination for the United Methodist Church and College Partnership Scholarship Program will be chosen by the Committee on Higher Education and Campus Ministries and be approved by the Board of Trustees. Recipients will be notified by a formal letter. Applications are available in the church office. If you have questions regarding the scholarships, please contact Lori Higginbotham, Chairperson, Committee on Higher Education and Campus Ministries at lori313@ charter.net or Connection Corner...being the hands and feet of Christ Servant Spotlight: Ben Neighbors If you haven t met Ben Neighbors, you ve probably heard folks mention his name...a saintly legend in our church family! Ben volunteers his time at various Trinity events, sings in the choir, and is active in our Senior Adult Ministry. But there is one thing Ben has been passionate about for many, many years. That is the local Meals on Wheels Program. In 1992, his wife Mary came home from a UMW meeting and informed him that she had signed the two of them up to deliver meals for MOW on the first Friday of the month. Ben says, I had no idea what MOW was, but of course, I agreed to do it. Soon after, the Neighbors found out how many people need this hot meal. For over 20 years Ben delivered meals and has just recently retired from his service to this program. Thank you Ben Neighbors for being a servant to those who need it. If you are interested in serving the Meals on Wheels program, help is needed delivering meals each fourth Thursday of the month. To volunteer or for more info, call Judy Keenum at Connect! To find ways to plug into ministries at Trinity, contact Karen Smith at or ksmith@trinitybirmingham.com. pacesetters news JANUARY 26 Lunch Bunch to Kairos Kafe, 11 AM - 2 PM FEBRUARY 1 Tools to Sand Mountain (Save these dates, times are estimated. Watch Tidings for updates!) FEBRUARY 8 Lunch Bunch FEBRUARY 28 Pacesetters Lunch, 12:00 NOON Program: Jerry Ryan of Three on A String. Save the date for this fun-filled musical lunch event. FEBRUARY 29 Tour O Henry s Coffee Roasting Company, 9 AM There is a limit of 20 people for this very interesting tour of a local Homewood Company. Sign up NOW! MARCH 14 Day Trip to the Antiquities Center We will take a deluxe motor coach to the Explorations in Antiquity Center in LaGrange, GA. We will see exact, full-scale replicas of ancient life settings from Biblical times and enjoy a scripture meal. For more details, contact Amy Lewis at April 3-5 Natchez Spring Pilgrimage Trip Leave Trinity at 7:00 AM on Tuesday, April 3rd.

7 CFT FSR CONF SANC FHALL highlighted events this week Sunday - January 29 8:45 AM Traditional Worship - SANC 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Worship - SANC 11:15 AM CONTACT Worship - WHALL 4:00 PM Sr. Adult Bible Study - SP 4:15 PM Youth Handbells - Rm :00 PM Cross & Flame Youth Choir - MS 6:00 PM ELEMENT - Haven 6:15 PM Adult Handbells - Rm. 225 Monday - January 30 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - Various 5:30 PM Hannah s Friends - SP Tuesday - January 31 6:30 AM Youth Prayer Breakfast - Haven 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - Various 8:00 AM Sr. Exercise Class - GYM 10:00 AM Trinity Singers - MS 11:00 AM Mama & Me - Nursery 11:00 AM Soup & Salad - FHALL 3:00 PM Element Cafe - Haven Wednesday - February 1 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - Various Craft Room 143 Fireside Room 145 Conference Room 220 Sanctuary Fellowship Hall LIB NAT LP SP HAVEN take note 4:45 PM Wednesday Supper - FHALL 5:15 PM Children s Handbells - Rm :00 PM Children s Choirs - Various 6:00 PM Adult Studies - Various 6:45 PM Sanctuary Choir Practice - MS Thursday - February 2 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - Various 8:00 AM Sr. Exercise Class - GYM 9:15 AM Adult Studies - various 3:00 PM Element Cafe - Haven 7:00 PM UMW Circle 1 - SP Friday - February 3 8:00 AM Sr. Exercise Class - GYM Library 218 Not at Trinity Large Parlor Small Parlor 105 Youth Auditorium CHAPEL MS WHALL SDR FLC Mouat Chapel Music Suite 132 Wesley Hall Small Dining Room Family Life Center Valentine s Parents Night Out Friday, February 10 6 PM - 9 PM For children ages 6 months - 6 years $10 per child A completed registration form and fee is required to hold your spot. For a form or questions, contact Jeanne Baswell at or jbaswell@trinitybirmingham.com. JOURNEY TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM Saturday, January 28 - Register Now! You are invited to attend Crown Ministries live financial seminar at Dawson Baptist Church on Saturday, January 28. To register, visit click under the Extra, Extra section. This seminar is based on Biblical principles that really work, this live, fast-paced experience will present what it really means to be financially free. in the hospital ST. VINCENT S: Caroline Wildman BROOKWOOD: Suzanne Pruitt in memoriam Ron Denson January 22 We extend our love and sympathy: to Mike and Anita Lewis on the death of his father, Les Lewis, who died on January 19. He was also the grandfather of Audrey Lewis and Ben Lewis. to Jacken Stubblefield and family and Cissy Johnson and family on the death of their aunt, Jean Hellums, on January 21. to Velma Denson and family on the death of her husband, Ron Denson, on January 22. congratulations to Jeff and Terre Clark on the birth of their granddaughter, Albright Louise Lonegrass on December 30. Proud parents are Missy and Mike Lonegrass. to Jamie and Lindsey Gardner on the birth of their son, Maxwell Drake Gardner, on January 20. Proud grandparents are Donna and Dick Gardner and proud aunts and uncles are John David and Mallory Gardner and Will and Mary Gardner. to Andrew Snow who recently passed the rigorous Special Forces Assessment and Selection process, graduating in the top third of his class. He now begins a 92-week Qualification Course at the John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare, Ft. Bragg, NC. He is the son of Dean and Elaine Snow. to Elizabeth Hale on being named Homewood High School s Miss Heritage. She is the daughter of Max and Nancy Hale. treasurer s report As of January 22, 2012 GENERAL BUDGET: 2012 Given Month to Date: $163,026 Avg. Needs to Date: $202,448 Balance/shortage: $(39,422) Beyond Ourselves Gifts this Month: $6,111 Beyond Ourselves Gifts to Date: $5,296,005 Note from Treasurer: Questions about church finances, income or expense? If you wonder how funds are received or expensed, the financial books of Trinity are open to any member, contact Ann Neptune at or aneptune@trinitybirmingham.com. 7

8 Tidings Trinity United Methodist Church (USPS ) is published weekly, except Christmas week, by Trinity United Methodist Church, 1400 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham (Homewood), AL Periodicals postage paid at Birmingham, AL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Tidings, Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 19069, Birmingham, AL SUNDAYS at Trinity: Worship 8:45, 11:00 & 11:15 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Youth Activities 6:00 PM Serving Greater Birmingham from Homewood Our Mission: To Gather To Grow To Go To Glorify 1400 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL Careline: WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Mike Patterson th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL Mike joined our church family by vows from another Christian denomination. Helen Degree 749 Raleigh Court, Apt. E, Homewood, AL Helen joined our church family by vows from another Christian denomination. She is an athletic trainer for Champion Sports Medicine. Interested in joining Trinity? Join us... Coffee with the Pastors Sunday, February 5 10 AM LARGE PARLOR This is a casual time for guests to meet the pastoral staff. During this hour, you will learn about the mission statement of the church as well as Trinity s core values. This is also an excellent time to ask general questions and learn more about the church family. CWP is held the first Sunday of the month at 10 AM in the Parlor. Interested in Membership? Please join us the first Sunday of every month in the large parlor for Coffee with the Pastor. This is a time to meet the pastoral staff, ask questions and learn more about the core values and mission of Trinity. We also encourage you to attend Membership 101, a basic orientation prior to joining Trinity. It is offered on the second Sunday of each month. Contact Rev. Drew Holland at dholland@trinitybirmingham.com or call with any questions. PARKING Please do not block the TUMC dumpsters or areas that are marked as NO Parking zones. Also, please note that the small parking lot is reserved for Handicapped, elderly and families with small children on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.