January 2019 R E S O LU T I O N S It has become common practice for many of us to adopt New Year s resolutions. In theory this is a good practice. It gives us the chance to assess the year gone by and determine if there are any changes we would like to make for the coming months. In reality, many of these resolutions are broken within the first few weeks and then forgotten until the next new year. Because this is such a widespread practice, and because it does have some positive contributions to make in how we live our lives; I would like to offer a few spiritual resolutions for each of us to think about adopting in the coming year. First, let all of us consider expanding our devotional and prayer life for the coming year. If you are not doing regular devotions, now is the perfect time to start. You don t need to commit to everyday to begin with. Set aside a few days each week for devotional reading. You might begin by committing to read three Psalms a week for the next year. You might chose one of the devotional books we have available in the Narthex of the church to use as the source of your devotions. The important thing to do is to add to what you are presently doing, and do so in measured steps. The same holds true for our prayer life. Try to set aside time each day for prayer. If you already do this, try adding just a few extra minutes to the prayers you already say. In this way we will build up our spiritual lives. Second, with all the new people we have coming into town for the winter months, try identifying someone in your neighborhood or complex that you haven t met or is new. Seek them out and establish a relationship with them. Become a resource for them while they are here. And don t forget to ask them about their faith. Offer your own witness to them if they need; and especially offer and invite them to your church for as long as they are here. Finally, let each of us be concerned about each other. Words that we speak should be positive and encouraging. Pay attention to strengthening the bonds that hold our relationships together. Think first not about what you want to say; but rather, about how it will be heard by another. Make every effort to be a peacemaker, just as Jesus said. With these thoughts in mind, we can make 2019 a year of spiritual growth and vigor. Pastor Tom Tr i n i t y L u t h e r a n, F o u n t a i n H i l l s - C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n Phone: 480-837-0130 Website: www.tlcfhaz.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/tlcfhaz Tom Daly, Pastor: pastor@tlc.phxcoxmail.com Joani Peterson, Organist: azjoane@aol.com Dr. Jason St. Claire, Director of Choirs: Jason.stclaire@gmail.com Carolyn Hallock, Office Secretary: secretary@tlc.phxcoxmail.com; Office Hours 9:00AM-12NOON, Monday-Friday
LW M L N e w s 2018 LWML Work in Review BY Christine Colley 2018 was a busy year for the LWML team. Our gratitude goes out to everyone who helped with the projects carried out during the year. Fundraisers produced $9,945 from a number of initiatives including Groundwork Guatemala collection, Garage Sale, Afternoon Tea, Oktoberfest booth, Scrub Bucket collection, Cookie walk and mite collections. Non monetary projects included Toys for foster children (120 toys collected), FH Shoe Box drive (1,800 boxes) collected from contributors in FH and the hosting of the LWML fall rally. Below is the breakdown of the funding sources. The LWML team became actively involved with a number of charities that welcomed the contributions from our church. They included Sunshine acres, Groundwork Guatemala, Food4Kidz, Meals for the Phoenix respite program, Extended Hands Food Bank, Lutheran Social Services and Lutheran Church Charities and Mites. The contributions were distributed to organizations on the local level and also supported needs in the valley, National and International groups per the chart below. The teams have carried out the many activities in 2018, and they both have stepped down from their roles looking for other volunteer opportunities
C h r i s t m a s S c e n e s A r o u n d Tr i n i t y Page 3
E x t e n d e d H a n d s F o o d B a n k tended Hands Food Bank. Please bring your donations of any nonperishable food to Trinity and place them in the bin by the kitchen entrance. Thank you again for During the first quarter of 2019, we are collecting donations of nonperishable items including peanut butter, jelly, soup and proteins (canned tuna, chicken, beans, etc.) for the Exyour generosity in supporting this local mission. Extended Hands Food Bank happily accepted the $3,000 check that was presented by LWML members. The contribution was 50% from the cookie walk/sale and the remainder was from LWML funds generated from the cook book sale. M A R K YO U R C A L E N DA R January 6, 8:00 am and 10:30 am services begin January 6, Installation of Officers January 7, 8:00 am Nativity takedown January 18 February Newsletter Deadline January 19, 10:00 am LWML Meeting February 24, 9:15 am Volunteer Appreciation Brunch Page 4 January 12, 9:00 am undecorate Sanctuary
R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e U p d a t e f r o m At the December s Congregational meeting the results of the Research Committee were presented. (Please see any member of the committee if you weren t able to attend and would like to review/discuss). Key Findings: Fountain Hill is changing 2014 average age was 44, 2018 average age is 57 Overall US Church attendance is changing weekly to monthly Trinity Lutheran is in a state of transition 2010 focus on youth, 2018 focus on cross-generational (youth to shut-in) Communication is key as Trinity goes through this transition During the meeting a motion was approved to Authorize the Board of Elders to establish a call/search committee to bring forth candidates to fill position. Committee members have been identified by the Elders and are being contacted with the intent that the committee will be in place and begin meetings by the end of January. The committee will initially focus on the work of the Research Committee to develop a position profile (similar to a job description) that will outline the capabilities and talents desired in the candidate. The committee will also discuss if this position is to be called or hired and further define the areas of focus identified in the survey (Outreach & Christian Education). As we go through this transition, it s good to remember that God s love and the Gospel is constant.
Link to online Calendar: http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=g1j4l6m7k5k5o9l6i3
N e w Ye a r s E v e C e l e b r a t i o n The Trinity Truth A Trinity Group Enjoying New Year s Eve Together Page 7
Thank You Notes TRINITY ORGAN Thank you for working on the organ! Great job!! THANK YOU FROM GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH Christmas Greetings and thank you notes were sent to LWML from the Pastor and some of their staff at Grace Lutheran Church, for providing sandwich lunches to needy visitors at their church. LWML is sharing some of these notes with you to see how much our outreach mission work here at Trinity is appreciated by them. We are so grateful for our new partnership in ministry with Trinity this year. Please thank Christine Colley and the whole lunch crew for their efforts. You are a blessing. We wouldn t be able to do what we do without your help. Thank you! You bring joy; you bring love. We are blessed because of you. Thank you. Thanks for being the hands and feet of Christ. We are so grateful for your partnership! What a gift you were to Grace this year. We appreciate your openness. Page 8
J a n u a r y S u n d a y S e r v a n t s F e b r u a r y N e w s l e t t e r D e a d l i n e The deadline to submit news items for the February edition of The Trinity Truth is January 18. Please bring written items to the church office or email them to: newsed@tlc.phxcoxmail.com. Thanks! Page 9
T r i n i t y L u t h e r a n C h u r c h P.O. Box 17270 Fountain Hills, AZ 85269 Phone: 480-837-0130 Website: www.tlcfhaz.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ tlcfhaz J a n u a r y Wo rs h i p S c h e d u l e Sunday Mornings 8:00 AM Worship Followed by Refreshments and Fellowship 9:30 AM Christian Education for all ages 10:30 AM Worship Holy Communion is celebrated at all Sunday morning worship services. B i b l e S t u d y O p p o r t u n i t i e s Sunday morning at 9:30 AM with Pastor Tom Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM with Pastor Tom Women s Bible Study 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 PM Please call (480)837-0130 to confirm times and places