Pastoral Reflections
November 19, 2017

Praise the Lord Trinity! I pray that you and your family have experienced the Amazing Grace and stimulating preeminence of our Awesome God in significant ways this week, and you have come ready to enter His gates with thanksgiving in your heart, and praise on your lips. This morning as we gather to worship God in spirit and in truth let me express my gratitude to our guest worshipping with us today. You are welcome here at Trinity Church and I pray God's richest blessings upon you and your families. If you and/or your family are looking for a Church home, we welcome you with open arms to this versatile ministry & multi-generational experience. Everybody needs a church family and a pastor. We aspire to be yours!  
 
Trinity, continuing from last week's reflection- Seven basic components of corporate worship, here are the last components five, six & seven:
 
5. Prayer as corporate worship : In describing the corporate worship gatherings of the church, Paul says "first of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" (I Tim 2:1-2). In fact, Paul says that as the church gathers, it needs to model the power of "sound doctrine" seen through preaching, along with the power of "prayer" (I Tim 4:5-6). While certainly there should be congregational prayer involved in corporate worship, among countless others, the Scripture also puts an emphasis on the prayers of the pastors (Acts 6:4).
 
6. Preaching as corporate worship : Congregational singing, prayer, music, giving, scripture reading, and fellowship are all expression of worship that are seen in the gathered church. But when the congregation turns to the word of God, the preaching time becomes the most intense act of worship. By the sheer humility and faith expressed in being reliant upon the Word for instruction, God is honored and worshiped. As his people come together and demonstrate their reliance on teaching from the Word to supply knowledge for living, they are manifesting that their direction comes from God. When the teaching exposes gospel truths to the Lord's people, the worship revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This shared experiences is what guides the congregation as they scatter throughout the week to do the work of the ministry.
 
Preaching is the tool that the pastors use when the body is gathered to equip the people to do the work of the ministry (Eph 4:11-12). Preaching is how the Bible is taught to the congregation, so that the entire body has a shared experience in the word. The Bible is what the Spirit uses to sanctify believers, and preaching is the means in which God exposes believers to His word (Titus 1:3). Thus, the more clear and expositional the message, the more powerful the sanctifying effect of preaching. And because presenting our bodies as sanctified sacrifices to God is our spiritual act of worship, then preaching is the fuel for worship.
 
In other words, if worship that flows from a sanctified heart can only be based on right information about God, and if preaching is the tool God uses to convict people of sin and turn them to Christ, then preaching that is clear and convicting becomes the catalyst for powerful worship. If an individual's worship will not rise above their level of knowledge, than a congregation's worship cannot rise above the level of the pulpit.
 
7. Singing as corporate worship : If the preaching time is the loftiest form of corporate worship, the singing can be the most personal. As people sing songs with sound theology, they often sing words with better theology than they know. As the truth of the lyrics echo in their souls, God is worshiped. When singers set their minds on the things above, and proclaim them with joy, it is public demonstration of the worth of God. They then can be used by God to direct and lead the congregation into heir own acts of worship. Thus singing is an essential part of the corporate worship service. It is commanded by Paul in Ephesians and modeled by the Psalms. While certainly Christians don't have to be in a congregational worship service to sing (think Christian radio, or jail)-but I repeat myself; the function of a body as a whole lifting up voices to God glorifies him in a unique way. This is why we are not only commanded to sing, but to sing "to one another".
 
In light of all this, it is simply impossible for a person to love God, but not worship. And it is difficult to imagine how a person could love worship, but not the church; after all, God has designed at least 7 ways of worship that can only be done with the congregation.
 
Praise God From Who All Blessings Flow!  Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
   
Dr. John D. Tolbert
Senior Pastor

Sharing, Sowing & Seeking 2017
 

Home Daily Bible Reading
Nov 20       Christ Our Creator, Savior, Peacemaker . . . . Colossians 1:9-20
Nov 21       Mealtime, Foretaste of the Lord's Supper . . .  I Cor. 11:17-22
Nov 22       Keeping the Faith Entrusted to You . . . . . . . . Jude 1-4, 17-25
Nov 23       Preparing to Share the Passover Meal . . . . .  Mark 14:12-16
Nov 24       Jesus Celebrates with Bread and Cup . . . . . . Mark 14:22-25
Nov 25       Participating in Spiritual Worship . . . . . . . . . .  Romans 12:1-8
Nov 26       Observing the Lord's Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . .  I Corinthians 11:23-34
 
  
  
  
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT
                   
 
Sunday, November 19, 2017
7:00am ~ Morning Glory
8:00am ~ Morning Worship
9:30am ~ Sunday School
11:00am ~ Morning Worship
11:00 ~ Children's Church
 
Monday, November 20, 2017 ~ Friday, November 24, 2017
No Evening Activities This Week
 
Happy Thanksgiving To All
Enjoy Time With Your Family & Friends!!!!!!

                             
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Road to 100 Centennial Committee is looking for members of Trinity that have been here for 50+ years. If that is you or if you know of someone, please contact the church office and leave the name.
 
LIFE Time, Your Sunday Morning Christian Education Experience.  January 7 begins our new curriculum. Registration is open now by going to Life.TrinityMBC.org.  Join us for a "sneak peek" preview of classes.  November 19: Biblical Studies Life Group; November 26: Biblical Studies Life Group; December 3: The Great Commission Life Group; and December 10: Personal Spiritual Growth Life Group.  Learning Is For EVERYONE!

Trinity Missionary Baptist Church will be having a Christmas Brunch on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at the Pontiac Centerpoint Marriott. Tickets are now available for purchase after either service. Ticket prices are Children 6-12 years old $20.00; Adults - $35.00; Children under 5 years are free. Please see Dea. Thurley or Deac. Joan Love for ticket purchases in the Fellowship Hall.

The Trinity General Mission is establishing a cold weather closet in support of those in the community who are in need of cold weather gear.  We are collecting serviceable and new coats, scarves and hats/caps for men, women and children. In addition, we are collecting new gloves and warm socks.  Your participation is requested.  If items are used, we request that coats, scarves and caps be freshly cleaned and that gloves, and socks are new.  Coats need to be delivered to Trinity on hangers in plastic coverings and marked "Coat Closet".  Other items should be bagged and clearly marked.  A coat rack will be placed in the vestibule or Founders Hall for your convenience.  You may start to bring items as soon as possible.  Thanks for your support. Contact Sister Epps or any General Mission Member if you have questions.

T.Y.B. will be going to the 45th Annual Noel Night on Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 . We will start the day off with lunch and continue our day with visiting the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Michigan Science Center, the Detroit Institute of Arts and participate in many family craft activities and listen to live music performances. We will depart from the church at 2pm and return at 8pm. Lunch will cost $10 and children 8 and under need to have a parent chaperone. If you would like to be a chaperone, please contact Sis. DeMilla Prince or call the church office. All children and youth interested in participating may sign up in the vestibule or see Sis. DeMilla Prince. Also...0 Tuesday, December 12th will be our last B3 night for the year from 6-8pm. (parents are welcomed to come up and celebrate with us after Bible Study) On this night we will have our first semester academic celebration night. I am encouraging all children and youth who have done well this school year ("A" honor roll, "A-B" honor roll, perfect attendance, any other academic or school related awards and sports or extra-curricular activities and accomplishments). Please bring copies of report cards and/or special awards by December 5th to Sis. DeMilla Prince, Staci Oliver, or to the church office, so that we can acknowledge and celebrate our youth. This will also be our Christmas party celebration, please bring a small wrapped gift ($5 limit) for our gift exchange. Happy Holidays!

 
SAVE THE DATE: In honor and celebration of Trinity's 100th Anniversary we will have a Centennial Directory! Individual and/or family members will have the opportunity to have their photo and designated contact information in the Directory. Each family will receive a free directory and 8X10 portrait as well as access to electronic capability if all of our members and families schedule and appear for photo sessions with Lifetouch Photography. The Friends & Family Program will allow for non-Trinity members to be photographed and receive an 8X10 portrait free of charge! The first set of photo sessions will take place on December 14th and 15th, 2017 in Pastor's Memorial Hall. Onsite scheduling for the December Photo Sessions will begin on November 5th, 2017.  Members can register in the vestibule on Sundays after 8AM and 11 AM Services or log in to 100.TrinityMBC.org beginning at 4:00PM on Sunday, November 5th! Online registration will not be available on Sundays between 8 AM and 4:00 PM!  Get ready to smile for the camera!

SAVE THE DATE:  JANUARY 19 AND 20, 2018 is our 2018 Family Conference, A Family Affair: 100 years of Building, Protecting and Advancing the Family, is JANUARY 19 AND 20. This year we are excited about our Workshops, Food, Games, Fellowship and an Information Fair and Expo!  STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION.


Free  Tutoring: The Trinity Academic Enrichment Ministry is accepting students into our tutoring program.  We are looking for children:
  • who are experiencing difficulty in a subject area and need their skills strengthened.
  • who are doing fine but would like enrichment in a subject area.
Register by Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 online at the Trinity website Tutor.TrinityMBC.org or registration forms are available in the church office.


CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT
 
"The Trinity Missionary Baptist Church is spiritually impacting our families, neighborhoods, city, and state by Exalting the Savior, Equipping the Saints & Evangelizing the Sinners.  Ephesians 4:10-15.
 
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting  of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:10-15
 

 
VISION STATEMENT
 
Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 
Habakkuk 2:2

The Trinity Missionary Baptist Church will be a 21st century model for the Christian Community.  Our hope is to be a church family that faithfully and intentionally prioritizes ministry initiatives following the example of Jesus Christ, the teaching of the Apostles, and the New Testament Church.
 
We will be a God-Centered Church, devoted to the practices and disciplines of personal discipleship, evangelism, and servant ministry.  We will be determined to promote the Gospel, and share the Compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ through missions, evangelism, and outreach.

Where there is no vision the people will perish. Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no finance the vision will perish.
 

 
CHURCH THEME
 
The Church Working on the Lord's Harvest (Luke 10:2), through Sharing the Gospel (Mark 16:2; I Peter 4:1-6), Sowing into the Community (Luke 10:26-37),  and Searching for the Lost One (Matthew 18:12-14