TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH July 21, 2015 Vol. 49 No. 29 VBS 2015 During the entire month of July, you are invited to Packed House! Over 400 children ages 3K-2nd grade enjoyed an action packed, fun-filled four days last week learning of God s love in action! This year s Vacation Bible School was a huge success due to the help of the Trinity family. Over 120 adult volunteers and many youth helpers participated. Thank you to all who served during this amazing week for our children. Above: The Sanctuary was full each morning during the opening session. Traditional & Contact Worship 8:45 & 11 AM
PERSONAL WORD SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015 8:45 & 11 AM Sanctuary The 8:45 AM worship service is broadcast via 15-minute delay from 9-10 AM Sundays on WAPI-1070 AM. SERMON Rev. Brian Erickson MINISTER ON CALL Brian Erickson, 410-8583 I wish I could say I was shocked to hear of the murder of four marines and a naval officer in Chattanooga, but we have all seen too much senseless violence in these last several years to be shocked anymore. Saddened, angry, speechless yes, but not shocked. You do not need me to tell you that we live in a dark time. It is so easy to become crippled by fear and anxiety, especially when you imagine the world our children and our children s children will inherit if we continue down this path. But I keep reminding myself that this is not the first time Christianity has been called on to endure a world of violence, darkness, and hopelessness. The scriptures speak again and again to times such as these, calling on us to remain steadfast in our hope, despite how deep the darkness may seem. Isaiah, in the midst of his people s suffering, envisions a day when the people who walked in darkness will see the light of God s own Son. And one lone gunman, or even an army of evil men, cannot be allowed to define our time for us. The horror that is created at the hands of a few cannot be the measure of who we are as a people. In another dark time over 250 years ago, British philosopher Edmund Burke wrote, All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. We cannot afford to be good-willed spectators, helpless as our world comes apart at the seams. Being the Church, the body of Jesus Christ on earth, entails some phenomenal responsibilities. It means we can never sit by and watch like so many do as the world crumbles around us. It does not give us permission to simply add more deadbolts to our doors and hope the evil will strike somewhere else. 8:45 & 11:00 AM WESLEY HALL Rev. Nathan Carden JULY 19 - ATTENDANCE 1,303 Total Worship Attendance 810 Traditional 493 Contact 70 ARM Youth Mission 547 Sunday School Attendance We are called to stand up for good news, in a world drowning in bad news. We are called to cling with all that we are to the promise that God is in control, that God gets the final word, and that God s kingdom is at hand. That hope must be realized in each of us-in our families, in our workplaces, even in the darkness of this world. Please be in prayer for the families of those fallen soldiers as they grieve this senseless tragedy. Remember the difficult teachings of Jesus, to pray even for our enemies, and pray for the soul of Muhammad Abdulazeez. Pray for the young people in our country and around the world, that they will not turn their backs on hope. And pray for the Church. That we might rise to the occasion of this dark hour in our history, just as we have so many times before. May we be bold enough to speak truth in a sea of cheap words, to return grace-filled love in the face of evil, and sow peace in a world that only knows war. Until Christ returns, let us be about His business. See you Sunday. Brian 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. 8:45 & 11:00 AM CONTACT a relaxed, informal, service in Wesley Hall featuring music from the CONTACT Band, children are encouraged to attend. 10:00 AM Sunday School Ages 2 yrs. 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. Questions? Call 879-1737. Brian Erickson - Senior Minister Nathan Carden - Minister of Contact Worship and Young Adults Suzanne Pruitt - Minister of Christian Formation Bobby Scales - Minister of Pastoral Care Reid Crotty - Minister of Pastoral Care David Thompson - Minister of Students Robert Sturdivant - Minister of Students Church Office: 879-1737 / Fax: 868-9714 Care Line: 868-9709 Child Development Center: 879-1749
Fall Studies Coming Soon... Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 It s HOT outside so, to quench your thirst, here is just a taste of the study opportunities coming this Fall to Trinity UMC...watch Tidings for registration details coming the first week of August. In-Depth Bible Studies DISCIPLE 1: A Foundational Overview following the biblical story from Creation to the New Jerusalem CHRISTIAN BELIEVER: Classical teachings of the Christian faith through the use of words, symbols, and hymns as well as both ancient and modern Christian commentators COVENANT: Three 8-class sessions will examine what Covenant means, and the progression of a Covenant relationship with God Short-Term Study for Women GIDEON: See our weaknesses as the gifts that they are, given specifically and strategically by God to unlock the door of God s strength Short-Term Studies for All REVIVAL: Faith as Wesley Lived It Wesley s story challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion INSIGHT INTO ISLAM: Provides a greater understanding and appreciation for both Islam and Christianity s similarities/differences WHEN HELPING HURTS: How to Alleviate poverty without hurting the poor and yourself DIVORCECARE: A small group counselling approach for help, health and healing BECOMING THE PARENT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE: Helping parents create in their children a self image that s healthy and rooted in Christ A BEAD AND A PRAYER: Introduces Protestant prayer beads as a tool for connecting with God MY TODDLER TALKS: Learn how to engage your toddler with play routines that stimulate speech while having fun. Full course descriptions and registrations available the 1st week of August, so keep your eyes on Tidings to taste and see that the LORD is good! Questions? Contact Jessica Lane at jlane@trinitybirmingham.com. Class will begin meeting on August 9 10 AM Room 308 ATTENTION: CLUB SANDWICH GENERATION A new Sunday School class for Baby Boomers! You are invited to a kickoff for a new Sunday School Class for the Club Sandwich Generation. Sunday, August 2, 10 AM Brunch Meet & Greet Small Dining Room Light refreshments will be served. The class will begin meeting on August 9 at 10 AM in Rm. 308. The book for the study will be Attitude is Your Paintbrush by James Moore. QUESTIONS? Contact Donna at 879-1737 or email droose@trinitybirmingham.com. PACESETTERS NOTE! THERE IS NO PACESETTER MEETING IN JULY. AUGUST 25 - Pacesetter Lunch Pacesetters Lunch resumes in August with special speaker: J.P. Dice, Fox6 Meterologist. For more info on any Senior Adult event, contact Amy Lewis at 879-1737 or alewis@trinitybirmingham.com. Trinity UMC YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Are you a young professional? Not married? Out of college? If so, we would love for you to join us on Tuesday nights! Rev. Nathan Carden is currently leading lessons on the Seven Deadly Sins. Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm at the home of Mark & Lisa Elliott. Come hang out and have a fun time with folks like you! Free homecooked dinner, fellowship, and door prizes! Questions? Contact Lisa at lelliott@trinitybirmingham.com. 4168 Memorial Park Circle, Hoover, AL 35226 3
ATTENTION Rising 6th graders! If your kiddo has finished 5th grade and will be a newly minted Jr High student in the fall this night is for you! We are going to have an event where we celebrate that these kids are moving out of the Children s Dept and into the Youth Dept. Along with that, we re going to have last year s 6th graders give tips to these future 6th graders on what to expect, do a little Q&A, and generally try and calm the anxieties that always accompany a big change like moving schools. And parents, there will be a session for you too, with experienced Jr High parents, to help guide you through this new zone and fill you in on everything from resources to eye rolls. Suzanne & David T will also be present to answer questions about Confirmation and give a preview into what life in the youth dept is like. From school to church, we want to walk you through this transition so that it is full of more excitement and less nervousness. Please let us know if you plan to attend: echristiansen@trinitybirmingham.com. Daddy Day Camp Rescheduled for Saturday, July 25 An outdoor experience for young children and their dads at Camp Sumatanga! 9 AM - 5 PM (Completed 5K-3rd grade) $35 This one day event provides Trinity kids a chance to experience Camp Sumatanga and anticipate summer camp when they are older, while having fun with Dad. NOT TOO LATE to sign up...contact Eleanor at 879-1737. REGISTER NOW! www.trinitybirmingham.com/kids/summer-programs/ 4
3rd-5th graders! student ministry weekly update www.elementstudentministry.com Here is what is happening at Element this week: Who? Completed 3rd - 5th grade students What? Three awesome nights designed especially for older elementary students to venture into God s word with fun music, Bible stories, service activities and recreation. When? August 3-5 Mon-Wed 6:00-8:30 pm (Dinner will be served) Where? Trinity UMC Cost: $10 Register your child now! Forms available online at www.trinitybirmingham.com For questions or to volunteer to help, contact Eleanor Christiansen at 879-1737 or echristiansen@trinitybirmingham.com. ELEMENT AT THE PARK, 7/26 We will have Element this Sunday night, July 26, from 6:00 8:00pm at Edgewood Central Park. Students are encouraged to bring dinner with them as we fellowship, play Frisbee and worship together. I hope your student will join us! 2ND ANNUAL ELEMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT, 8/7 Our 2nd Annual Element Golf Tournament Registration is NOW OPEN! This year s tournament will be held at Highland Park Golf Course on Friday, August 7. Check In begins at 12 Noon (lunch provided) with a 1 PM shotgun start. Our hope with the tournament being earlier this year (before school begins) is that this will allow for parents and students to play together! Registration can be done either as individuals or as a team. For more information and registration, go to www.elementstudentministry.com/golf. WIDE OPEN 2015! HIGH SCHOOL DISCOVERY, 8/15 & 16 High School Discovery Weekend registration is NOW OPEN! Wide Open 2015 will be August 15-16 and is for all upcoming high school students. For more information and for registration, go to www.highschooldiscovery.com. Make sure to take advantage of our Early Bird Discount! SUMMER MUSIC SESSIONS One of our goals this summer is to gather students who are interested in helping lead worship through instrument or vocals. Trey Hill will be leading and teaching students throughout the summer in preparation for the fall. If your son or daughter knows how to play an instrument or can sing and is interested in leading their peers in worship, please email Trey Hill at thill@trinitybirmingham.com. ELEMENT TAILGATE PARTY, 8/30 I know that it is early to be posting about the annual Tailgate Party, but we are so excited about our speaker and this event so go ahead and mark your calendar. This year we are honored to hear from Mike Lutzenkirchen, father of beloved former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen as he shares an important message for students and for parents. We believe that this will be an event that you do not want to miss. We are also looking for people to host a tailgate tent for this event. We would love to have 40+ tailgate tents set up all serving different types of food. If you are willing to host a tent then please go ahead and sign up at: http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0a49a9aa28a5fd0-tailgate1 As always, please let us know how we can best serve your family. Remember, summer is a great time to have your student hangout with a youth staff member. Email us to set something up! David Thompson Pastor of Youth and Family dthompson@trinitybirmingham.com 5
LIVE Auction F U N D R A I S E R The Family Promise Live Auction Fundraiser will be held on JULY 30 at Rosewood Hall in Homewood. We are very excited about this beautiful new venue and we have some fun surprises in store for you. There will be heavy hors d oeuvres, beverages, a photo booth, raffles and much more! Watch for further announcements! Tickets going fast! So don t wait! Contact Jamie Fitzwater for information, 205.977.6637 or email at jf2208@yp.com TRINITY STUDIO Tuesday 9 am & Thursday 6 pm Trinity has opened the doors of the old Craft Room and continues to have open paint/sketch sessions. Bring your own materials (all mediums welcome!), Bring a friend, and the fellowship and creative inspiration will be provided for free! All artists or soon-to-be-artists are welcome. PARKING NOTICE: Do not block the dumpsters or areas that are marked as NO PARKING zones. Note that the small parking lot is reserved for handicapped, elderly and families with small children on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Do not park in marked handicap spaces if you do not have an official handicap permit. 6
CFT FSR CONF SANC FHALL HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS THIS WEEK Sunday - July 26 8:45 AM Traditional Worship - SANC 8:45 AM Contact Worship - WHALL 10:00 AM Sunday School - various 11:00 AM Traditional Worship - SANC 11:00 AM Contact Worship - WHALL 8:00 PM Men Pick-up Basketball - GYM Monday - July 27 6:00 PM TCDC Board Meeting - CONF Tuesday - July 28 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - various 9:00 AM Trinity Studio - CFT 11:00 AM Youth Lunch Club - Haven 6:30 PM Young Adults (20 s) - NAT Craft Room 143 Fireside Room 145 Conference Room 220 Sanctuary Fellowship Hall Isaiah 54 LIB NAT LP SP HAVEN Wednesday - July 29 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - various 9:00 AM Yoga - Rm. 304 5:00 PM Contact Music Practice - WHALL 6:00 PM Men s Study - 310 7:00 PM Boy Scouts - Scout Room 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir Practice - MS Thursday - July 30 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - various 9:15 AM Women s Study - Rm. 309 6:00 PM Trinity Studio - CFT 6:00 PM Reasonable Faith - Rm. 219 Friday - July 31 8:00 AM Senior Adult Activities - various 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 NEW! INFERTILITY SUPPORT GROUP Trinity has a recently formed an Infertility Support Group for couples. The group is open to any interested members, community, and guests who are currently experiencing infertility. The group will meet on the last Sunday of the month at 5 PM in the Small Parlor (Seminole Drive entrance). Questions? Contact Mallory & Brian Wilson at mallorywilson725@gmail.com. ASPIRE REHAB IN MEMORIAM We extend our love and sympathy: to Jolene Mills on the death of her husband, Paul Mills, on July 11. to David Click on the death of his wife, Mary Hale Click, on July 12. She was also the sister-inlaw of Martha Click. CONGRATULATIONS to Ben and Amy Rimmer on the birth of their son, James Clark Rimmer, on July 10. Proud grandparents are Guy and Phella Patterson. to Amanda and Andy Robinson on the birth of their son, Aidan Connor Robinson, on July 12. TREASURER S REPORT GENERAL BUDGET: IN THE HOSPITAL As of July 19, 2015 Gee Gee Breeding Month to date revenue - July $169,144 Monthly needs to date $234,582 Balance/shortage $(65,438) Capital Debt Retirement gifts this month $7,777 Capital Debt Retirement gifts year to date $78,498 Balance owed on building debt $33,500 Note from the Treasurer: Questions about church finances, income or expenses? If you wonder how funds are received or expensed, the financial books of Trinity are open to any member. Contact Ann Neptune at 879-1737 or aneptune@trinitybirmingham.com. 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 Marie Pasco at 879-1737. PLEASE NOTE: Tidings publishes each week on Tuesday (except for the week of Christmas). The deadline for submitting information to be included is on Thursday, the week prior to the publish date. Please submit info via email to Haley Smith at hsmith@ trinitybirmingham.com. Tidings is delivered to the printing company each Monday at Noon. It is printed and mailed on Tuesday afternoon. Should you not receive your copy in a timely manner, please contact your postal carrier. The online version of Tidings is available each week on Tuesday at: www.trinitybirmingham.com/news/tidings Find us on Facebook Trinity United Methodist Church, Homewood Follow us on Twitter @TrinityBHM 7
Tidings Trinity United Methodist Church (USPS 0641-120) is published weekly, except Christmas week, by Trinity United Methodist Church, 1400 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham (Homewood), AL 35209-3998. Periodicals postage paid at Birmingham, AL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Tidings, Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 19069, Birmingham, AL 35219-9069. SUNDAYS at Trinity: Worship 8:45 & 11:00 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 35209 205.879.1737 Careline: 205.868.9709 www.trinitybirmingham.com NOW AVAILABLE on ITUNES Hear both Traditional and Contact sermons each week Search: Trinity United Methodist Church - Birmingham, AL HOW CAN YOU SERVE THIS WEEK? Check out WEEKLY CONNECT for ways that you can plug in to ministry today simple sign-ups available now. Log on to: http://bit.ly/tumcvolunteer