THE TRINITARIAN. A Letter from the Pastor. Greetings to the Saints of God..

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1 THE TRINITARIAN Issue 16, April East 3rd Avenue, Red Springs, NC ( ) Follow us at OR Weekly Events Sunday School Sunday Worship Wednesday Chancel Choir Thursday Discipleship Meal Thursday Bible Study Saturday Feeding Jesus 10am 11am 7:00pm 6:30pm 7pm 9am UPCOMING EVENTS AT TRININTY UMC Boles Lunch eon, Thursday 12 noon May 17, Heritage Sunday 11am. NC UMC Wilmington, NC on thru Greetings to the Saints of God.. A Letter from the Pastor I pray this letter finds you well, and ever living in God s perfect will! We are reminded in this Eastertide, that Christ is not only Risen, but that he abides with each of us who confess Him as Lord. It is only by His Great Presence and Matchless Grace that we are able to function in a world that becomes more dysfunctional every day. The prophet Isaiah reminds us in the 24th chapter of his writings that The Earth trembles, is utterly broken, is torn asunder, is violently shaken, staggers like a drunken man, and sways like a grass hut in the wind! The prophet paints a very bleak portrait of the world we live in. We look around and see increased crime as a result of economic pressure, and revolt under the Rule of Law. We see sin exalted and righteous behavior abased. Christendom is daily by the false Baalistic religion of Islam. Jesus Christ said that He is the door of the Sheep. He that comes any other way comes as a thief, and a robber. (John 10:1) Islamic terrorist, (whether people find the term politically correct or not!) are killing Christians from Darfur, Sudan to Paris, France. This fight is as old as Isaac and Ishmael, and it continues today as fierce as ever. Because of original sin that came into the world by one man (Rom.5:12) we see the Prophecy of Isaiah coming to fruition in our lifetime. BUT CHRIST LIVES!!! In spite of the world s problems, we have an advocate before God! He stands up for us! He is our defense! We have GRACE, the unearned Love of God, because of Him (Rom. 5:15) Because of that Great Grace, we have his Matchless presence. Even as the world is seemingly shaken and faltering around us, GOD IS WITH US!!! It is in our hearts that HE ABIDES!!! GOD IS GOOD!!! To Him be ALL GLORY!!! Pastor John FROM THE ARCHIVES Did you know? A pastor in our past only served one year because he died. He drowned in an outing with the youth. He was a young man and had never learned to swim. What was his name? Check our Wall of Ministers in the hallway of the Educational Building.

2 Boy Scouts Page 2 Boy Scouts from across Robeson County pinned new Merit Badges to their vests Saturday after riding along the Red Springs and Northern Railroad. More than 50 young people took part in the Merit Badge event, which was organized by the Red Springs and Northern Railroad Foundation. My children were involved with the Scouts, so I knew they did a Railroading Badge, said Mark Bullard, a member of the foundation who spearheaded the event. We had a unique opportunity to make a difference in the Scouting community. After receiving a tour of the Red Springs Railroad Depot, about 30 Cub Scouts hopped aboard a seven-car train bound for Parkton. A group of 20 Boy Scouts took the 13mile trip after completing a class at Trinity United Methodist Church, where they learned about trains and recited facts required for the Railroading Badge. Roger Sheets was really instrumental in getting us a classroom, Bullard said. He and other members of the church made 50 bag lunches for the scouts. Volunteers from the Parkton Historical Foundation and troop leaders from the Boy Scouts Lumber River District also helped out during the event. Established in 2001, the Red Springs and Northern Railroad Foundation is a nonprofit that organizes events to support the line, which was built in the early 1880s and abandoned by rail customers after a fire in Bullard says the Merit Badge event may become a tradition for the foundation. I got a lot of really good feedback from the troop leaders and we re already talking about doing it again, he said. It was a good experience to have on a nice, bright day. It went so smooth you would have thought we had done it a dozen times. Feeding Jesus People who reach out to others usually do it because they believe it is the right thing to do. The Bible tells us so. Glancing through the New Testament at the teachings of Jesus, we hear his instructions repeatedly to help those less fortunate, to do for others as we hope they would do for us, to love our neighbor, to be kind, to show compassion. So we reach out because Christ has commissioned us to do so. How can we not? It is no secret that lives are impacted. Those in need, or lonely, or sick, or without hope are touched; their situations are made better by the actions of others. But those who reach out are blessed as well. Not because anyone "returns the favor" or "pays it back". The blessing comes in the feeling of having brought joy and comfort to someone else. Contentment comes with helping someone simply because of their need. There is the peace of mind which comes with feeling that God's purpose has been served. That beautiful lesson is being learned (and lived out) by the teens who take part in the Feeding Jesus Ministry. Sometimes as many as seven energetic young people give up their Saturday mornings to help prepare and deliver meals to home-bound residents. Possibly, they do not even realize the full extent of their impact on those who receive the meals. They are unselfishly helping to build God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, Our hearts are touched by these young people who use their gifts and talents to serve you by serving others. We ask that you guide them as they continue to grow in their faith. Use them and continue to bless them to be a blessing to others. Amen Feeding Jesus Special Needs: Individual juice bottles Fruit cups Ziplock sandwich bags Paper lunch bags To volunteer food, supplies, or time, please call Beverly Hinds at

3 Girls Scouts Troop #1623 Several Girl Scouts of Troop 1623 joined the members of Trinity UMC on Sunday, March 8 to worship together and celebrate Girl Scout Sunday. We had a beautiful service with our Girl Scouts assisting in worship service. This also marked the end of our 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Sale and the Girl Scout Leaders were relieved to have had another awesome Cookie season behind them. The Annual Conference and Awards Banquet for the North Carolina Coastal Pines Council was held in Wilmington, NC the weekend of March Members of the Robeson County GS Service Unit and a few other Girl Scout Leaders attended with their County Membership Director, Kammala Brayboy. Ms. Kim McMillan was one of the recipients of a most prestigious award, receiving the Girl Scouts of the USA Appreciation Pin, during the banquet. Girl Scout Troop Leader, Kim McMillian Page 3 MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE DATES OF VBS AT TRINITY UMC FOR JUNE 21 THROUGH 27. THE TIME IS UNDECIDED AT BUT WILL BE POSTED IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER. Names and Address of Trinity s Friends Lamar & Edna Whittle 9 St. James Ct. St. James Circle Southern Pines, NC Billy & Gaynelle McMaster 100 McRae Street Red Springs, NC Louvene Garner Elkin Healthcare Center 560 Johnson Ridge Center Elkin, NC Clyde Wyrick The Brian Center th Avenue Place NW Hickory, NC Linda Culbreth 301 McLauren Ave. Laurinburg, NC Vera Holcomb Whispering Pines Nursing & Rehab 523 Country Club Drive Fayetteville, NC Mrs. Martha McMillan Wittmann 2200 Elm Ave. Room# 102 Scotia Hall Laurinburg, NC 28352

4 The March meeting of UMW was hosted by Mildred Townsend with ten members attending. Our unit voted to change our monetary support from World Vision to the Liberia mission project recommended by Todd Rentz. We also voted for Vickie Lennon to replace Beth Townsend as secretary. Beth will be moving away and can no longer serve. Beth has been an active member and will be missed. Gerry Boyette gave a report on the progress of the parlor renovation, which will soon be finished. We thank those who have worked on this progress with such enthusiasm. The Archives Room project is also making headway, with many changes. It will be dedicated on Heritage Sunday, May 17, with a covered dish meal following the worship service. Please invite friends to come for that special occasion. Rebecca Jackson gave the program, which was a summary of the mission trip from her daughter's home church to South Sudan. Paige and Mark visited villages to learn needs of the hospitals, schools, and orphanages. Future teams from Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia and others will return with follow-ups to this visit. Pictures will be displayed on the UMW bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. On Saturday, March 14,Nancy McPhaul and Rebecca Jackson attended the UMW Spiritual Enrichment Retreat at Garber United Methodist Church in Raeford. Rev. Linda Harris was the keynote speaker. Communion included a skit by the Chrysalis Mime Team, which was very moving. A Doctrine of Truth He to whom the Eternal Word speaketh is set free from a multitude of opinions. From the One Word (Jesus) all things have existence; all things speak of that One (Jesus) which is the Beginning, which also speaketh unto us. Without that Word, no man understandeth or judgeth rightly. Verily, he to whom all things are One, who reduceth all things to One, who seeth all things as One, the same will enjoy quietude of heart and mind, and abide in God s peace. O God, who art the truth, make me one with Thee in love everlasting. I am oftentimes wearied by hearing and reading many things: in Thee, Lord, is all that I would have and can desire. Let all manner of learned men hold their peace; let all creation be silent in Thy sight; let Thou alone, O lord, speak unto me. From the Author: St. Thomas a Kempis Book: The Imitation of Christ Josh and Caroline Brooks Are proud to announce the arrival of their son Chandler Jace Brooks Born on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 4:48 pm Weighing 6lbs 12oz And 20 inches long

5 Parlor Renovation Mrs. Debra Duncan and Mrs. Gerry Hayes have been extremely with putting a new face on the parlor. Work included new paint, new Furniture and recovering some of the antique pieces that were existing pieces. Please come by to look at this great job these two ladies have done in the parlor. The muscle behind the scenes was supplied by Howard Batton and Frank Boyette. With funding by UMW and donations, the Trinity Parlor has received an Extreme Makeover. Youth Sunday On March 29, the Youth of Trinity once more done an outstanding job leading worship. The worship hour consisted of Nellie Jackson singing acappella Redeemer and the Rainbow Kids (Rebecca Jackson s class) singing Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves the Little Children. Scripture was read by Ryan McMillan, Marisa McMillan, Victoria Oliveria, and Rile Prine. Children s Time was given by Kelli Cottrell and was titled Being Missionaries for God in Our Daily Lives. The Youth Choir sang More Than You Think I Am. Abigail Boyles, Kenya Contreras, and Ray Whittington spoke individually about their mission trip to Nicaragua. Their presentation also consisted of numerous pictures that they took while on their trip. The youth were well received by the Congregation. JOB WELL DONE TRINITY YOUTH!!! United Methodist Men On Wednesday, April 1 Trinity s UMM met for their monthly dinner. They were treated to Hobo Meals by the Boy Scout Troop #416. Guest speaker was Pastor John Prine. Pastor shared his testimony and call to the ministry to the group. So far this year, the men have completed two projects. They have replaced all tips on the metal chairs in the fellowship hall. They have also completed the Pete Cottrell Memorial Garden on the west side of the Education Building. On April 25, Trinity s UMM will met to complete their 3rd project. The men will be cleaning the flower beds and working on the landscaping on both the education building and the sanctuary. Any of the UMW or UMYF that would like to join in this project please let President Len Edwards know. All help is welcomed. The men also, plan a fall carwash details will be made available as soon as they are finalized.