Yours in Christ, Pastor Chris

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1 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 1:20-23) Go deep or go home. I recently heard this at a seminar several months ago, and it has been burning within me since. It means this: when talking with each other, it s easy to play it safe. We talk about everyday things. We talk about the weather, our kids and grandkids, the news, etc. But we re a bit more reluctant to take the conversations deeper to the places of our greatest needs, our unspoken fears, our hidden faults, our most stinging regrets, and our wildest aspirations. We must go deep. But it s there, in those more hidden, murkier part of ourselves, that real spiritual growth and personal maturity takes place. It s there, lurking within the shadowy parts of ourselves that we truly encounter God in each other. When we can break the ice to get to what lies just below the surface of our comfortable exterior selves, we can help each other grow up in Jesus Christ. If we re not doing that for each other, then what are we really accomplishing? In other words, go deep or go home. Building each other up in Christ That s what Jude was talking about in the Scripture passage I quoted above. In a depraved, dangerous world, we brothers and sisters in Christ truly have an obligation to take care of each other. We have a duty to build each other up in God s love as we prepare ourselves and each other for the eternal life we will inherit through Jesus Christ. We must share and wrestle with our doubts, and extend mercy to each other. When going astray, we must pull each other back into the fold. We must pray praying about what really matters, while encouraging each other to grow in our willingness and capacity to pray. We must go deeper into God s Word together, worship passionately together, and serve with every gift God has given us. All this takes courage and vulnerability from each of us to grow and deepen while helping each other grow and deepen their roots in Christ. Over the next several months, you ll be hearing more from me about this. We ll look at opportunities we currently have or can create to help each other go deeper and grow in Christ. We ll look at how we can engage each other in the areas of spiritual growth and accountability. And we ll get more clear about what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ (a Christian!). Go deep. Go deeper with each other. It s there that we ll truly experience Christ in one another and lay stronger roots leading to the very best fruitful lives for God! Yours in Christ, Pastor Chris

2 October 2018 page 2 The Trinity Lamplighter is published monthly by Trinity United Methodist Church 1300 West Street Annapolis, MD Church Office Phone office@trinintyannapolis.org Website Church Staff Rev. Chris Owens Pastor Blairlee Owens Office Manager Dr. Edryn Coleman Director of Music Wanda Lee Custodian Karen Jung-Yeon Yim Organist/Accompanist Dear Trinity Family, Reminder Trinity UMC s Church Conference will be on Saturday, November 3 at 11:00 am in Room 209. Hope to see you there. Please be sure to be in Worship on Sunday, October 21 as we honor the members of the Youth Sunday School Class with new Study Bibles and celebrate our other children in Sunday School. Nancy and I praise God for my recovery, and thank all of you for your prayers, caring and concern. There s no doubt God was protecting me when my car crashed into that tree in Arizona, and is supporting me every step of the way in my recovery. Nancy and I feel your prayers surrounding us way out in Arizona, and have felt your love and God s love throughout. We are deeply grateful for your cards, messages, and most of all your prayers. We thank God for my recovery, and for all of our dear friends at Trinity! ~ Bob Plaxico On Sunday, November 4, we will be recognizing the Saints of our Church who have passed away in the last year. Please submit the names of your loved ones, who have passed away during this past calendar year, to be remembered on All Saints Sunday to the Church Office no later than Monday, October 29. The Children s Choir will be rehearsing on Sunday, October 14 from 9:30 am 10:10 am in the Music Room as well as Sunday, October 21 at 10:00 am 10:20 am. They will be singing on Sunday, October 21 in our Worship Service. On Sunday, November 4, be sure to change your clocks and fall back. Please keep our ASP Mission Trip Team in prayer as they serve in West Virginia from Wednesday, October 3 until Sunday, October 7.

3 October 2018 page 3 Well #30 Dedicated June 2, 2018 in Tungan Zubi Dankowasagu, Nigeria The well will benefit about 100 villagers. Before, they depended on water from open wells. These wells would dry up during the dry season and were easily contaminated. The water was not fit for consumption. The homes in the village are constructed with mud-bricks or concrete with either a tin or thatched roof. The roads in and around the village are not paved. The villagers are primarily farmers and they also keep sheep and goats to help earn an income. They are predominantly pagan but there are a few Christians in the village. They are quite friendly and co-exist with people of other faiths peacefully. At the dedication, the villagers were overwhelmed with joy to receive this new well with potable water. The well was dedicated to the glory of God. Well #33 Dedicated June 3, 2018 at Pana Mahudi, India The well will benefit about 300 villagers. The bore well is constructed in the middle of the colony. The total depth is 301 feet. The water from the well is fit for drinking. Located in the desert lands, the village has a climate and weather that are usually very hot. Monsoons arrive in July. People live in unclean surroundings and lack proper food, clothing and shelter. They live in small houses of mud and walls made of stone with a tiled roof. The area is rocky and there are no proper roads. They have no electricity and they do not observe proper hygiene and cleanliness. Most of the people are uneducated. Their main profession is agriculture and they grow vegetables. Others work as laborers for daily wages. The villagers follow a number of religions including Christianity, but they are predominantly Hindu. The well was drilled in memory of Meredith Mahr-Edmunds. At the dedication, the villagers were told about Meredith. One of the villagers said, I would like to say that it was a blessing to know about Ms. Meredith and how she was a blessing to many around her. We feel privileged and blessed that our village was chosen to honor such a wonderful lady.

4 October 2018 page 4 Germantown Elementary needs our help again this year. Every Thursday by 12:00 pm, we are in need of someone to drop off 10 pieces of fruit to the school and once a month drop off toiletries. The sign-up sheet is available in the Church Office. If you have any questions, please contact Pam Hanna at (410) or phanna1353@verizon.net. Light House has certain items that they are most in need of at this time. Those items needed are: ground coffee, jars of jam, 15 oz cans of fruit, 32 oz cans or smaller of fruit juice, instant mashed potatoes, Hamburger Helper, taco kits, canned spaghetti or ravioli, and pancake mix. Any donated items may be left in the baskets located near the elevator or outside the Sanctuary. It s that time of year for the Light House s annual Pumpkin Patch being held at St. Martin s Lutheran Church (1120 Spa Road, Annapolis, MD Trinity s day to cover the Patch is Friday, October 26. We will be covering the 12:00 pm 6:00 pm time slot. There will be two shifts: 12:00 pm 3:00 pm and 3:00 pm 6:00 pm. We will need three volunteers for each shift. There will be a sign-up sheet at Coffee Hour on Sunday mornings and in the Church Office the rest of the week. For questions, please contact Art Lewis, our liaison to Light House. Please come out for the Civilian Reaction to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Training being led by Cpl. Shiloh of the Anne Arundel County Police this Tuesday, October 2 at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium. Refreshments will be served. Since 1993, Samaritan s Purse, Franklin Graham s international relief organization, has distributed Christmas shoe boxes to over 157 million children in some of the most remote places on earth. This is the 25th anniversary of Operation Christmas Child. Every box is also an opportunity for the Gospel. The Story of Jesus pamphlet is put in every box along with your gifts and each child has the opportunity to participate in a 12 lesson discipleship course. Last year, Trinity UMC sent 150 boxes. We hope to send even more boxes this year. Shoe boxes will be available beginning October 8 at every entrance to the Church. In each box is a pamphlet with suggestions of what to put in and what not to put in, labels so you can choose to do a box for a boy or a girl, three age ranges to choose from, and a rubber band the size to fit around your box. Please bring your completed box back to Trinity anytime before November 12. If you would like to know where your box goes, you can do that by getting a special label online. If possible, include $9 for each box you fill to cover the cost of delivery. If you have an questions, please contact Nancy Busch at (410) Thanks for your faithful support of this mission.

5 October 2018 page 5 United Methodist Women News Please join us for our Fall United Methodist Women s Fall Gathering on Saturday, October 13 at 10:00 am in Room 209. We will have a program on being an encourager and that role in our church. Come, share and enjoy the fellowship with other ladies in our congregation. Remember to join us for our monthly Circle meeting. The Faith Circle meets every third Tuesday at 7:00 pm in Room 209. All women of Trinity are welcome. Bring a friend and join us. A light refreshment will be served at each meeting. The United Methodist Men s Cookout will be on Saturday, October 20 at 12:00 pm at Bill Finagin s hangar at Lee Airport. On Saturday, November 3 from 2:00 pm 4:00 pm, we will be holding a VBS Treasure Hunt with food and a fun treasure hunt. If you are able to help or have questions, please contact Liz Williams at (410) Please contact the Church Office if you have a child who will be attending so we can get an accurate head count. Every second Saturday of the month at 7:00 pm, come to Room 209 for a fun-filled evening of fellowship and dominoes. Hope to see you there. Interested in learning to make beautiful stained glass projects? If so, come to the Youth Room at our new day and time, every Monday from 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. to design and make a beautiful work of art. No previous experience required. Would you like to learn how to knit? Interested in making a sweater for a child in need? Join our Crafts for Christ group that meets every other Wednesday of each month from 1:00 pm 3:00 pm in Room 209.

6 October 2018 page 6 Wednesday Bible Study with Pastor Chris is studying the book of Revelation on Wednesdays at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm in Room 209. They are using the book Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger to enhance our study. Any questions, call the Church Office. The Women s Bible Study meets every other Friday at 9:30 am in Room 209. We are currently studying the books of Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Check the church calendar for which Friday s we are meeting in July & August. Do you like to pray, especially with others? Join Pastor Chris on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 am in the Sanctuary for a time of prayer for members of our church family and the community, and our church. Holding each other up in prayer is an essential part of our discipleship. Please come and support the life of Christ s church. There is always someone who will pray for you. If you would like to place someone on the Prayer Chain, please call the Church Office ( ) or Cindy Sawyer at ( ) or hmclsawyer@yahoo.com. The Most Essential Things October 7 Learn to Love Wholly and Unconditionally I John 4:7-21 October 14 Listen and Watch Luke 12:35-48 October 21 Attitude is Everything Philippians 2:1-11 October 28 Before Anything Else: Christ Alone John 15:1-17 We now have Body & Soul Fitness Classes meeting during the day and at night. On Monday and Thursday mornings at 9:00 am, there are cardio strength classes. On Wednesday morning at 9:00 am, there is a strength and flexibility class. The newest class, a combined Dance Blast and Strength & Conditioning is meeting on Tuesday evenings at 6:45 pm. All fitness levels are welcome.

7 October 2018 _page 7 October 2 Julia Miller October 2 Lindsey Miller October 2 Kathy Roop October 10 Susan Beall October 10 Ida-Ann Dunagan October 11 Kathryn Hawes October 3 John & Janice McDowell October 18 Ben & Gretchen Butler October 18 David & Pam Hanna October 20 John & Jo Anne Smith October 24 Jerry & Carol Kulasik October 27 Mike & Laura Korba October 13 Bill Finagin October 14 Judith Rehn October 18 Joyce Brimhall October 18 Dan Palmer Please note: If your birthday or anniversary is in October and is not listed, please let the office know so we can update our database. Thank you. October 29 Sylvia Spencer October 30 Nancy Brown October 30 Jack Spencer Serving in Worship October 2018 Thank you for this important ministry in the life of the church. If you are unable to fulfill your scheduled duties, kindly switch with someone and notify the Church Office. Date Greeter(s) Liturgist Usher Captain Acolyte October 7 Bob & Nancy Plaxico Kitty Cawood Steve Busch Jolene Wright October 14 Marilyn Harrison Art Lewis Jack Spencer Noah Busch October 21 Claire Hayward Kathryn Hawes Jack Spencer Genevieve Robertson October 28 Susan & Richard Sienkiewich Carol Dakin Tom Myers Carmen Hudgins

8 Trinity United Methodist Church 1300 West Street Annapolis, MD Phone: (410) Fax: (410) Website: Facebook: Trinity United Methodist Church Annapolis, MD Instagram: trinityumcannapolis **Change Service Requested** Upcoming Church Events Wednesday, October 3 Sunday, October 7 ASP Mission Trip to West Virginia Saturday, October 13 UMW Fall Gathering 10:00 am in Room 209 Sunday, October 14 Communion Sunday Saturday, October 20 October Lamplighter submission deadline Sunday, October 21 Promotion Sunday Monday, October 22 AHOH Winter Relief Annapolis Day Room Opens for 2018/2019 Saturday, November 3 Church Conference 11:00 am in Room 209 Saturday, November 3 VBS Treasure Hunt 2:00pm in the Auditorium Sunday, November 4 Communion Sunday & All Saints Sunday