Pastoral Reflections
February  18, 2018

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 past 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 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 want to be yours!

Today we celebrate our awesome privilege to have intimacy with God.  Dr. J. I. Packer maintains that we tend to think of fasting as going without food.  Missing a concert in order to spend time with God; that is fasting.  It is helpful to think of it parallel to human friendship.  When friends need to be together, they will cancel all other activities in order to make that possible.  There is nothing illogical about fasting.  It is just one way of telling God that your priority at that moment is to be alone with Him, sorting out whatever is necessary; you have canceled the meal, party, concert or whatever else you had planned to do in order to fulfill that priority.

There are many ways to define prayer.  Prayer is:  Asking, worshipping and praising God.  Prayer is resting in God; or it is spiritual warfare against our enemy.  We celebrate our intimacy with God in prayer.  When we survey the life of Christ, we see Jesus teaches us to pray, saying, "Our Father in heaven," (Matthew 6:9).  Jesus invites us to enter into an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father, an intimacy that He shares with the Father.  The first recorded spoken words of Jesus occurred when he was 12 years old.  Mary and Joseph took the family to Jerusalem for a feast.  They probably traveled in a large group and assumed Jesus was with them as they were returning home, but He was not.  Mary and Joseph searched for a couple of days, finding Him in the Temple.  When asked why, Jesus answered, "Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business," (Luke 2:49).  Many people read that story emphasizing, Jesus was in the house of God.  As good as that point is, the emphasis is that Jesus called God, His Father, which is a term of intimacy.  Look at Jesus' baptism; The Father showed up, because it was the inauguration of His Son into public ministry.  Don't fathers show up for important days in the lives of their children?  The heavenly Father said, "You are my Son; in you I am well pleased," (Matthew 17:5).  There is a difference between the relationship of a father with his child and the reverence between a worshipper and God.

In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself with three names:  Elohim, God the powerful creator who called the world into existence; Yahweh (Jehovah), the personal Lord who told Moses, "I am WHO I am," (Exodus 3:14); Adon, our master and owner-we are, but slaves.  Not once in the Old Testament, did God give the name Father.  Seven times in the Gospel of John, Jesus says His name is Father.  Trinity, Paul teaches us, "We are children of God and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ," (Romans 8:16-17).  Who is an heir?  An heir is one who has the right to the assets (property) of the Father.  Therefore, Trinity we must pray confidently in this season of fasting, asking God as children, seeking assets from our Heavenly Father.

Trinity, in order for us to have and maintain the intimacy God wants with us, we must understand that intimacy is: first, being there; second, it is seeking the Father's presence; third, to experience intimacy with God, you don't need to learn anything; fourth, remember intimacy is a privilege to enjoy; fifth, intimacy is from heaven; sixth, we must let intimacy develop; seventh, expect to grow the art of intimacy; eighth, true intimacy balances the tension between reverence and relationship.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!
 
Dr. John D. Tolbert
Senior Pastor
 

Home Daily Bible Reading
Feb 19  Timothy Joins Paul's Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acts 16:1-5
Feb 20 Timothy, an Active Teacher with Paul . . . . . . . . I Cor. 4:14-21
Feb 21  Epaphroditus, Paul's Coworker and Minister . . .  Philippians 2:25-30
Feb 22  Timothy, Paul's Envoy to the Churches . . . . . . . I Thess. 3:1-10
Feb 23  Teach the Sound Words of Christ I . . . . . . . .  Timothy 6:2b-8
Feb 24   Money, Root of Many Evils . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . I Timothy 6:9-10
Feb 25   The Good Fight of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Timothy 6:11-21
 
Men's Emphasis Weekend, March 9th - 11th 2018
    
Calling all Trinity  Men !  Save the dates for the fellowship and fun that we have planned.  
  • Friday March 9th its "Men's Night Out", we are going to the movies to see Black Panther; in first class theater seating!  
  • Saturday March 10th, we have our Men's Emphasis Brunch, here on Trinity's Campus.  
  • Sunday the 11th is Men's Day, we crown our weekend of fun with Praise and Worship! 
The cost for our Men's Emphasis Weekend is $55.00.  See any member of the T-300 Steering Committee to sign up.


    
click here for various scholarship and college preparedness opportunities! 

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT                 
                             
 
Sunday, February 18, 2018
7:00am ~ Morning Glory
8:00am ~ Morning Worship
9:30am ~ Lifetime Classes (Sunday School)
11:00am ~ Morning Worship
11:00am ~ Children's Church
 
 
Monday, February 19, 2018
6:00pm ~ Youth & Praise
7:00pm ~ Youth Ushers (Sanc)
7:00pm ~ Men's Chorus
7:00pm ~ Mime Rehearsal
 
 
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
6:00pm ~ B3 Night (Youth Ministry)
6:00pm ~ Men & Women's Ministry
Book Signing with Lady Catrina Tillman
 
 
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
11:30am ~ Prayer
12:00pm ~ Bible Study
6:00pm ~ Prayer & Praise Hour
7:00pm ~ Fit-to-Serve
 
 
Friday, February 23, 2018
7:00pm ~ TYB Black History Program
A Night in Trinity's History
 
Saturday, February 24, 2018
9:00am-11:30am ~ Daughters of Destiny &
SIMBA Young Lions

                                               
Today, Sunday, February 18, 2018 will be our first quarterly New Members meet & greet for 2018. The meet & greet will take place following the 11:00am service in Pastor's Memorial Hall. All ministry leaders are asked to attend to greet our new members.
 
TYB is getting ready for their annual Black History Program entitled: A Night in Trinity's History. All children and youth that are interested in participating in this event, please sign up in the vestibule after service. We need actors, narrators, dancers, readers, poets and artist. We are looking forward to having a great time as we prepare for this historical event! And to our women and men...Step up and show off your cooking skills in support of TYB's Black History Month Celebration; A Night of Trinity's History. Not only will this be a night of edutainment (education and entertainment), but we would also like to have a friendly competitive cook-off between our men's and women's ministry. Your contribution, will not only allow you to present an eloquent cuisine of your choosing, (soul food preferably), but you may also earn the bragging rights for being crowned the Top Chef of Trinity for your specialty. For sign up with Dea. Boyd, Sis. Paula Davis, or Sis. DeMilla Prince
 
Calling all Trinity Men!  Men's Emphasis Weekend is almost here; its March 9th - 11th 2018.  Save the dates for the fellowship and fun that we have planned.  On Friday March 9th its "Men's Night Out", we are going to the movies to see Black Panther; in first class theatre seating!  Saturday March 10th, we have our Men's Emphasis Brunch, here on Trinity's Campus.  Sunday the 11th is Men's Day, we crown our weekend of fun with Praise and Worship! The cost for our Men's Emphasis Weekend is $55.00.  See any member of the T-300 Steering Committee to sign up.
 
Centennial Gala - Tickets are available!  If anyone is interested in purchasing a ticket for the Centennial Gala which will take place on Friday, Oct. 26th please see Deaconess Gwen Bynum or Sis. Malishia Hill.  Payment arrangements are available!
 
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
 
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Pontiac Alumnae Chapter is now accepting applications for their 2017 Scholarship Program. Applicants must be High School Seniors who resides or attends school in the DST/PAC service area: Auburn Hills, Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Keego Harbor, Lake Orion, Oakland Township, Orion Township, Orchard Lake, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Waterford and West Bloomfield. Deadline for all applications is April 9, 2018.  Direct questions to Rae Hawkins at 248.853.0885 ( hawkinsr@pontiacdeltas.com ) or Tanoa' Ford at 248.342.1950 (fordt@pontiacdeltas.com). The Trinity contact is Sis. Debra Harris at sirras10@sbcglobal.net   The link for the application can be found on Trinity's website at http://trinitymbc.org . Additional Scholarship opportunities can also be found on Trinity's website.
 
The Pontiac Kappa Foundation, an affiliate of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Pontiac Alumni Chapter, announces its GUIDE RIGHT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM for 2018. The Scholarship Committee will be selecting a few qualified minority high school students scheduled to graduate no later than June 2018 . These awards will primarily be given to students in the Pontiac area.  The application can be found on Trinity's website www.trinitymbc.org  The Trinity contact person is Bro. Kerry Phillips at kop1@att.net
PARTICIPANTS MUST SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS NO LATER THAN APRIL 15, 2018.
All applications should be sent to the: (POSTMARKED BY APRIL 15, 2018)
Pontiac Kappa Foundation, Attn: Scholarship Committee, P. O. Box 430144, Pontiac, MI 48343
If there are questions, please contact Eugene Hawkins, III (248) 939-7349 or Curtis Terry, President,
 
 
HEALTH TIP FOR THE WEEK - HEART HEALTH 2018
 
When the heart beats, it pushes blood through the body that carries oxygen, fuel hormones and other compounds. The flow of blood also carries away waste products. When the heart stops, major bodily functions fail immediately. A major problem is atherosclerosis. This is an accumulation of pockets of cholesterol that clog blood vessels. This can limit blood flow, or it can break off and travel in the bloodstream. Heart attacks or stroke can be the result. High blood pressure is another major cause of heart attack or stroke. It is even more prevalent in the United States. In the fall of 2017, new guidelines lowered the normal blood pressure from 140/90 or lower to 130/80 or lower. Now nearly half of adults fall into the category of people with high blood pressure or hypertension.
 
Normal numbers to strive for are: 1) Blood pressure less than 130/80, 2) heart rate 60-100 beats per minute, 3) cholesterol level less than 200. Things you can do to improve your personal heart health are: exercise regularly, change your diet to include more fruits and veggies and less salt and meat, stop smoking, get 8 hours of sleep nightly, and lose weight.
 
Remember, more than 350,000 people in the US will suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest this year. Most happen at home. You can help your family and friends by learning CPR. The guidelines from the American Heart Association have changed. Anyone can do CPR. Hands-Only CPR has only 2 steps. Step 1 - Call 9-1-1. Step 2 - Push hard and fast in the middle of the chest (to the beat of Stayin' Alive or 100 pushes per minute).
Trinity Missionary Baptist Church Health Ministry

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

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.

 
2018 Church Theme
 
One Hundred Years of Reaching a City to Touch the World
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,   teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20) but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)