Dear Friends, Trinity Treasures December 20 Rebecca Smith Helane Nelson

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1 D ecember 15, 2009 Dear Friends, I ran across this true story in my never-ending search for sermon illustrations. I thought I'd share it with you, in light of the approaching holiday. Christmas was a month away and Paula McDonald wanted her children to learn the true spirit of the season. "Christmas is kindness. Christmas is caring. I want my kids to learn to be kind." Paula gathered her four children together and explained, "We are going to play a game I played as a child. We are going to build a bed for Baby Jesus and we are going to fill it with straw, one piece at a time. Each piece will represent one kind deed we have done for someone between now and Christmas. But we can't tell anyone what good things we do, or who we're doing them for. Once a week between now and Christmas, we'll put all our names in a hat, and each of us will draw one. That will be the person you'll do your kind acts for during the week. Then we'll get the hat out again, and draw a new name. Remember, you can't tell anybody whose name you drew. Everything must be a surprise. Then on Christmas, Baby Jesus will sleep on a straw mattress made from love and kindness. Want to try?" The kids enthusiastically agreed. They collected a box full of straw from a local farm, and that very evening drew names. The next week and for the weeks that followed, the house was filled with loving acts of kindness. The children were no longer fighting or teasing each other. The small pile of hay grew. The children agreed that an old baby doll would make a perfect Baby Jesus. The final week after drawing names, one of the kids became particularly upset. Joe had picked Amy's name for the fourth time in a row, and he just couldn't bear being nice to his little sister any longer. As he rushed out of the house, his mother stopped him. "What is it?" she asked. "Mom, I don't want to spoil Christmas. I'll go live in my snow fort until it's over." "Joe, I haven't looked at the name I chose this week. Let's switch." Joe agreed. As bedtime approached, as her first act of kindness toward her daughter, Paula went upstairs to lay out Amy's pajamas -- but someone had gotten there before her. Joe had turned down his sister's bed, and had even left her one of his car toys to play with, as well. The name Joe chose? His Mother s. It was Joe who placed the final piece of straw in the manger. The bed was full, as were the hearts of the McDonald family. May we carry out the true spirit of this Christmas season, through acts of kindness toward others. And may you have the gentlest of Christmases. Blessings, Worship 8:30 & 10:45 am Solid Grounds 9:00 am Sunday School 9:30 am Lectionary Readings December 20 Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:47-55 Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 December 27 One Service at 10:45 I Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Psalm 148 Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52 Trinity Treasures December 20 Rebecca Smith Helane Nelson December 27 Laurie and John Norman

2 Wednesday Night Fellowship will resume on January 13. Check the bulletin for menu and how you might be able to help. The Prayer shawl small group will resume meeting on Wednesdays January 13 at 6 p.m. to make prayer shawls. Experienced or beginning knitters or crocheters are welcome to join. For more information, contact Barbara Steely at (H), (C), or bksteely@aol.com. January 4, 2010, is the last day to receive contributions that will be credited to your 2009 giving statement. Checks need to be dated December 31, Trinity United Methodist Preschool is excited to begin the process of building a new infant playground outside of the infant room! We sincerely thank Randy Stocks for his valuable help making this dream a reality. There will temporarily be construction blocking the sidewalk near the preschool entrance. Excuse our mess during the construction and please do not cross the barricades. After the project is completed, all access to the stairs leading to the sanctuary entrance will be open on Sunday mornings as usual. If you have any questions about the construction please call Tammy Childress at ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancye Ann Ortmeyer Gates is turning 80 And she is so excited We re throwing her a party and You are invited December 20, 2009, 2:00 4:00 pm Martin Hall No Gifts Susan Gates Joyce John David Gates, Jr. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THANK YOU! The Trinity congregation deserves a huge pat on the back for the wonderful participation in TWO projects during Advent in support of Brady Elementary! The Books for Brady campaign has been a great success! Enough new books were collected so that each child will receive one as a gift. They will be distributed to the children before the Christmas holidays. In addition, 69 Brady children were adopted through the Salvation Army s Angel Tree at Trinity. The gifts purchased for these children will help make this Christmas a very special one for each of them. Thanks to everyone who helped with these projects. The Miracle Team is hosting a Day of Service on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 18, The project chosen is the Wounded Warrior Care Package for injured troops in Afghanistan. Be watching for the list of items we will be collecting. The plans are to ask our Church family to help donate these items and to join us on MLK Day to sort them into Ziploc bags to be mailed to the Chaplain at the Medical Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan. Please remember the troops in your prayers. We support TUMC by our Prayers Jan Barnett, Deanna Etheridge, Reid Hill (daughter of Kie and Jeff Hill), 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), Dwayne Ruggles, Susan Barham (neice of Carol Patterson), Melissa Owen, Charlotte Epps, (daughter of Wayne and Sharon Marrs), Mariann Clark (daughter of Willie and Fay Southern) Trinity Members active in the Military: Matthew Vigneault, Dylan Blancett, Will Goggans, Derek Hays, John Hofman Sympathy is extended to Betty Martin in the death of her brother, George Mc Laughlin. Presence Week of December 6, 2009 Sunday School 331 Worship 338 Visitors 18 Week of December 13, 2009 Sunday School 288 Worship 449 Visitors 41 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. **************************** You are encouraged to read the Pastor s Report presented at Charge Conference. Copies are available at the Welcome Center.

3 2010 Stewardship Campaign Report Name of Class or Committee # of Units in group Pledged amount # of Units rcvd %of Pledge Cards rcvd Altar Guild 20 $103, % Chancel Choir 39 $163, % Church Office Staff 7 $19, % Church Council 41 $342, % Crossroads 9 $38, % Earthen Vessel/Boanerges 25 $110, % Discipleship Ministry Area 21 $62, % Finance Committee 17 $111, % Foundations 23 $47, % Friends in Faith 14 $48, % Journeys 20 $59, % Kindred Spirits 8 $32, % Maranantha 5 $23, % Service Ministry Area 17 $61, % New Beginnings 23 $80, % Open Door 37 $74, % Pathfinders 5 $ % Searchers 10 $43, % Serendipity 12 $30, % Staff Parish Relations Committee 12 $125, % Stewardship Committee 12 $86, % Transitions 17 $76, % Triune 28 $60, % Trustees 10 $43, % Worship Ministry Area 19 $98, % **Individual pledges may be reflected in more than one class or committee. ***211 Units have responded with $788, in pledges. ***Those classes or committees with 3 or fewer units pledging will not have a pledge amount listed.

4 Trinity United Methodist Church ASSESSING THE PAST/ENVISIONING THE FUTURE Senior Minister s Report to Charge Conference 2009 (Part 1 of 5) 1. Radical Hospitality: How have you invited and welcomed persons to your Church in 2009? (A) The new WEBSITE (borne of our EnVision Plan) has attracted interested families. We also have a new Church FACEBOOK page, created in an effort to reach a broader audience. (B) Through our weekday PRESCHOOL, our BELIEVER S VILLAGE Rotation Sunday School Program and SPECIAL CHILDREN/FAMILY EVENTS, we bring in new faces. In an effort to bridge the gap between our congregation and those who utilize the preschool located on our campus: (1) The Minister to Families with Children (Paul Owen) and the Senior Minister made it a point to personally greet and welcome the Preschoolers and their parents individually on the first and second day of class this year. Mr. Paul s creativity and enthusiasm is infectious. He literally created a Red Carpet Welcome. We know that at least one family has been visiting as a result of that effort. (2) Last year the staff began taking turns leading the Preschool Chapel on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings so the children will come to know us better. That practice continues. (3) Last year we began sending newsletters and other church materials home with the children in the Preschool. (4) We are always conscious of inviting the Preschoolers and neighborhood children to special children s functions at Trinity, such as RSVP, the Easter Egg Hunt, MAGIC, VBS etc. Our Vacation Bible School is always energetic and inventive. This year s VBS brought in more unchurched children than ever before. (5) Our rotation Sunday School program is exceptional. Children are able to step into another world where they play dress up and make-believe while engaging in learning activities. While highly labor intensive, this program has proven to be a major draw for children who visit. (6) Each year the staff offers a Journey to Bethlehem dramatic presentation in December for the Preschool children, and this year that event was combined with Grandparents Day in the Preschool. We had both non-member parents and grandparents attend the presentation. (C) We have begun three NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES this year. (1) The first is taught by our Associate Minister, and it is intended to accommodate people who have not been able to find their niche in an established class. This group has been active as a group in mission work, as well; (2) The second class established is taught by a long-tenured couple, and includes single and married adults in their 30 s and 40 s. This class has been particularly successful in drawing in persons who generally worshiped with us, but who had previously not attended any small group/ Sunday School class at Trinity. The third class (3) is comprised of young adults -- college age and young professionals, up to the age of 30. This class has been successful in drawing in new people, and those who have been one-time members of Trinity, but who had lost interest in attending any church. Thanks to our Minister to Families with Youth and Young Adults (who teaches the class), this group is becoming active in other areas of the church, as well such as serving as Youth Counselors, and attending church-wide Family Life events. (D) Our dedicated GARDEN GUILD does an absolutely superb job of indirectly inviting people to Trinity by beautifying the grounds: planting and weeding the flowerbeds, mulching and trimming bushes and trees. This group also takes the time to work in the Brady Elementary School yards/gardens each year as part of our Brady Project/Partnership. This effort is greatly appreciated by the school staff and families, further building those important relationships. (E) When we have SEASONAL & SPECIAL EVENT SERIES planned, hosting events such as River City Men s Chorus, Trinity Presents or guest speaker/ performers such as happened recently when award winning writer/actor Steven Mosley performed The Chosen Garment, we (1) advertise in the community newspaper and use exterior banners in addition to our own newsletter and posters, and the UMC resources at our disposal. (2) Each year during Advent and Lent we design programs that include issuing invitations to the unchurched. Sometimes this happens through word-of-mouth, flyers, postcard mailings and/or door hangers. (3) Our members are encouraged to be intentional about bringing guests year-round, but particularly during these special seasons. On such occasions, guests are given gifts (such as a decorated candle) to welcome them. (F) On Sunday mornings we have USHERS placed in the narthex and GREETERS stationed throughout to welcome people, answer questions, offer directions and/or escort our guests to their destination. (G) Our nursery staff is welcoming to guest-children as well as member-children. Our nursery area is well-equipped; bright and cheerful. (H) The WELCOME CENTER in the narthex continues to play a central role in our Hospitality program. A volunteer is stationed behind it Sunday during the worship hours. He or she is ready to answer questions and offer a variety of current, attractive and well-written BROCHURES about Trinity, our beliefs and our programs. Also available at the Welcome Center are GUEST BAGS, given to first time guests as a token of our esteem and appreciation for their having expressed an interest in us by their attendance. (I) As part of our EnVision 3-Year Ministry Plan launched at the first of the year, we have had NAME TAGS printed, and members are encouraged to wear them when they are on campus, but particularly so on Sunday mornings. (J) A new ministry at Trinity comes this year out of our Christian Network program: PEW PARTNERS. These are adults, youth and children who are proactive in seeking out unfamiliar faces in the sanctuary and making them feel welcome. We encourage our PP to look for those people from week to week in order to begin building relationships, enabling them to find a comfort level at Trinity. The next phase of this plan may be seen below. (K) We continue to utilize (1) REGISTRATION PADS to record information, and we have added a (2) GUEST CARD this year, specifically for 1 st time guests. It gives us slightly different information than that which is gleaned from the Registration Pads. We are beginning an effort to build profiles of each guest based on the cards, the Pew Partners and the Ushers/Greeter-encounters, in order to be able to assign to our guests a (continued on next page)

5 (3) HOSPITALITY REPRESENTATIVE with whom they have something in common, in order to help assimilate the newcomer into the church. Following worship each week, all guest information is collected by the ushers and recorded by Office Volunteers. (4) That information is copied and dispersed to the Senior and Associate Ministers who that day utilize the addresses and phone numbers (if included) in order to make contact. (5) The information is also given to the Director of Internal Communications, whose role it is to organize and mail the Welcome Letters (signed by the Senior Minister) on Monday mornings. (6) An effort is made to discuss the Guest Lists in Staff Meetings on Mondays in order to help build the profile that is intended to aid in assimilating. The Staff Member into whose area the guests fit best is encouraged to make contact and invite the guest to participate in events taking place under their leadership. (L) Prior to singing the final hymn during worship, the Senior Minister issues an INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP, calling all who have not yet formally joined in membership, to come forward and become a member of Trinity. We have many constituents who attend regularly, are involved in small groups and who contribute through service and finances, but who have decided to postpone their formal membership. We are glad they participate at Trinity, and choose not to be impatient about their joining. (M) (1) In an effort to convey our EVERYONE S A HOST program (through our EnVision Plan), members are encouraged to seek out unfamiliar faces on campus and be intentional about greeting them. (2) Each week in worship following the Benediction Response, the Senior Minister encourages people to SHAKE HANDS with others before leaving the sanctuary, and to particularly seek out unfamiliar faces in order to greet them. This is done not only to help members know each other better, but in an effort to convey warmth and hospitality to our guests. (3) The effort is also made to encourage those who have been in attendance in worship, if they were nourished, inspired and strengthened through their experience, to talk about that experience with those members who were not in attendance, and with people they come in contact with outside of the church. They are encouraged to invite those others to attend worship and experience Christ at Trinity. (N) Our Associate Minister is currently working on her doctorate, and her project for that endeavor revolves around the establishment of SMALL GROUP MINISTRIES based on service or special interest. She has recently conducted a training event for 14 small group leaders who have been sent out to begin their own small group ministries. Since her arrival at Trinity and since the recent training event, we have developed a number of new groups through which current members and guests may connect. In addition to those service groups that already existed, we now have a Green Team that works to inform and encourage environmental responsibility, a monthly Dinner Club, and a biking group called the Trinity Trekkers. Other small groups will be forming shortly, such as a new Prayer Shawl Ministry. (O) For the last two years we have held a BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS ceremony on the campus, inviting the community to participate. The first year, we worked in conjunction with the Humane Society s Annual Dog Wash (which took place in our parking lot), and a number of visitors from the community were included. This year it was held in our courtyard, and both members and guests were involved. It was great fun, and those who attended were delighted. Evangelism & Hospitality Plans for 2010 (P) One of our faithful members (Bill Bailey) felt a desire to proclaim his love for Christ by shining Christ s light into the world. His suggestion was to take steps to ILLUMINATE THE STAINED GLASS CROSS (from the outside) on the front wall of the church. Currently, when the sanctuary is empty and the lights are off, the cross is not noticeable at night. Thanks to this man and to another (very generous) benefactor (Beth King), by Christmas 2009 we believe our cross will be lit for the world to see. (This plan has been postponed until January, when the least damage will be done to the lawn by the mechanical equipment required to accomplish the task.) (Q) We hope to HIRE a STAFF MEMBER with computer and marketing experience to help us expand our Evangelism/Outreach and Assimilation efforts. He or she would be charged with converting guests to members, finding and utilizing public relations opportunities to insure a consistently appealing message is promoted regarding Trinity. This individual would be the Staff Liaison to our Evangelism and Hospitality Teams, and serve to organize, encourage and guide them in their efforts to bring in and assimilate guests. (R) (1) One plan we have developed and hope to implement this year with help from the new staff member mentioned in (Q), is the assignment of a MEM- BER-PARTNER for each guest, chosen according to the profiles being developed (and focusing on commonalities such as age, age of children, interests or hobbies). This Member-Partner would be intentional about developing a relationship with his or her guest, helping him/her to achieve a sense of belonging at Trinity. (2) Also to be implemented is a plan to send a GIFT CANDLE (with Trinity s logo and information attached) to each guest family at their home within 24 hours of their first visit to Trinity. These gifts would be delivered by DOOR STEPPERS, who would be identified according to the proximity of their address to the guest s address. This member would deliver the gift (never entering the home), and spend five minutes thanking the guest for attending Trinity, gleaning information that might aid us in building their profile, and inviting them to come again soon. A number of Door Steppers have already been identified through our Christian Network Lay Ministry Program. We are currently investigating the possibility of purchasing a computer mapping program that will be able to find guest addresses and match them with the members closest to them. (S) We recognize how important first impressions are. Therefore a plan is underway to strip and refinish the FRONT DOORS at the north end of the narthex of the church in order to repair weather damage, and make them more welcoming. This project should be completed as weather permits. (T) Plans are being made to build a (1) COLUMBARIUM & PRAYER GARDEN (complete with a Meditation Water Feature) on the northwest corner of the property. While the timeline is in question for the second part of the plan, (2) we are looking at reworking the north entrance to the sanctuary in such a way that it will be both more convenient to enter, and blend into the Prayer Garden construction and décor.

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7 THIS ARTICLE IS FOR THE BIRDS! Calendar of Events Sunday, December 20 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 - All youth Monday, December 21 Tuesday, December 22 Wednesday, December 23 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir Thursday, December 24 Office Closes at Noon 5:00 pm Carols, Candles and Communion (Sanctuary) Friday, December 25 Office Closed Sunday, December 27 One Worship Service at 10:45 9:00 am - Solid Grounds Coffee Fellowship (Martin Hall) 9:30 am - Sunday School 10:45 am - Worship Monday, December 28 Tuesday December 29 Wednesday, December 30 Check out our recently updated website for more information about activities and events at Trinity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CD s and cassettes of the worship service are available in the church office. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Birds help our environment so very much. Without them the insect population would be out of control and our gardens would need help as they are natural pollinators spreading seeds and pollen from plant to plant. As the temperatures drop, so do the food sources for our fine feathered friends. Some simple and fun projects to help our birds are found below: Take a pine cone (not scented, in a natural state) and spread peanut butter throughout the entire cone making sure you get into every crevasse. Now roll this in bird seed and hang from a tree in your yard. This is a beautiful way to decorate for the holidays and feed the birds! Making suet is a little more involved, but gives the birds the needed extra fat in their diets to make it through a long, cold winter. Render beef fat in boiling water, then let it solidify in a refrigerator or freezer. Place the rendered fat in a mixing bowl and add peanut butter, seeds, nuts and berries into the fat. Next, line a loaf pan with wax paper spoon in mixture. Chill and remove from pan by cutting into blocks. You can find suet holders at most major discount or hardware stores. Don t forget to check your bird baths to make sure that they don t freeze over. Change out the water every other day to make sure the birds have a fresh source of water throughout the season. TRINITY PRESCHOOL FAMILIES ARE GENEROUS The families of Trinity Methodist Preschool have joined us in several mission projects this year. We think that it is very important to teach our children the spirit of giving and caring for those in need. Our families participated in the Undy 500 by filling a couple of buckets full of socks and underwear. In November, we collected 4 large boxes full of canned soup that was donated to the Arkansas Foodbank. Finally, our December project was turning a Christmas tree into a "Hat and Mitten" tree. Our wonderful children brought over 110 items to be given to the Mission team to share with the children being served by Arkansas Cares. We are grateful for the opportunity to extend the missions of the church through our preschool children. We were very happy to have one of our preschool Alumni come back and play the piano for us during our weekly chapel service. Anna Harris entertained on Wednesday, December 9 in the sanctuary. Thank You, Anna! Have you started thinking about New Years resolutions? Watch for information about HEAL: Healthy Eating and Abundantly Living; a new Bible study beginning in late January 2010.

8 Where do your tithes go? Wesley foundation Regardless of their age, college students are weighed down with emotional, philosophical, physical and financial burdens. An important portion of the money we give each week goes to provide for United Methodist campus ministries throughout the state. Specifically, our Wesley Foundations provide a supportive community, a spiritual base, and opportunities for growth to people whose lives are in transition. 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 #