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Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
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Greetings!
Rejoice in Blessings
“From the fullness of God’s grace we have all received one blessing after another.” (John 1:16)
Yesterday was Sunday, and before worship, I felt the Holy Spirit’s tug on my heart, as if to say, “why are you all not asking for my blessing more in your lives?” We live and love and often try to go about our “business” alone. We struggle, succeed and fail often without seeking the abundant blessing of our Lord. I realized in that moment that I am more apt to complain than pray. We complain about the things we cannot change instead of praying to the One who can actually change them. My great revelation was: What in the world is wrong with me? Perhaps in this revelation, you might be asking the same question. It’s easier to complain than pray, however the narrow way for Christians is never easy. And in fact Scripture tells us, “Blessed is the person who perseveres under trial…(James 1:12).
Again, why would we not ask for God’s blessing in difficult times or for that matter even in good times? We love our pets and recognize they are wonderful blessings to us. We enjoy our homes and yes, it too is a blessing to us. As I look around, I realize there is so very much in my life that is a blessing. I also wonder why we do not call upon our Lord more often to bless all that is in our lives?
Every year there is a National Day of Prayer where the community comes together to seek God’s blessing on our state and national civic leaders, businesses and even our military. When is the last time we laid hands on and prayed for our pets, homes and other things important to us? I think we should set aside a day for “Blessing of the pets,” "Blessing of the bicycles,” “Blessing of our homes,” and any other blessing you can think of. What about a blessing for our teachers and students? Let’s put some “blessing days” on our calendars!“
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High!” (Psalm 9:1-2)
May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. Amen.
~ The Irish Blessing
Your humble servant in Christ Jesus,
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Pastor Dale
"The Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." -
Numbers 6:22-26
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SERMON SERIES FOR THE MONTH
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February 4 -
"The Offspring of Camelot" (Ruth 4)
February 11 -
Transfiguration Sunday (Mark 9:2-9)
NOTE: Since Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day, the imposition of ashes and serving communion will be shared on Sunday the 18th at both services.
February 18 -
First Sunday of Lent (Mark 9:2-9)
February 25 -
Second Sunday of Lent (Mark 8:31-38)
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MOST WORSHIP SERVICES ARE NOW BEING VIDEO RECORDED AND POSTED TO
YOUTUBE
. PLEASE VISIT AND SUBSCRIBE TO TRINITY'S
YOUTUBE
CHANNEL TO CATCH UP ON THOSE SERVICES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED. TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE.
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BIRTHDAYS
2
Judith Krein
4 Cindy Rosso
7 Michele Bishop
7 Kristin Rosen
8 Lana Saxon
9 Charles McLaughlin
10 Angel Bohner
10 David Jackson
11 Clay Griffis
14 Teresa Temperly
15 Carol Forrer
15 Barbara Helms
21 Bertha Fletcher
22 Michael Gately
24 April Brunning
25 Katie Churms
25 Norma Clemente
26 Lauren McGehee
27 Beth Harner
28 Peggy Hill
28 Nancy Taylor
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A fun
Valentine's Dinner will be held on Saturday, February 17th beginning at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased in advance by visiting the sales table in the Fellowship Hall for the next two Sundays, February 4 and 11. (Continued on next column.)
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ANNIVERSARIES
8 Glen Oberst & Patricia DeBellis
4 years
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To call, write or send a member a card or email, contact the church office to request an updated
"People Directory."
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Invite your friends to join you. (Pay for their tickets and ask them to pay for yours!) This is a great way to introduce your friends and neighbors to Trinity.
The evening will be chock full of fun featuring Larry at the Piano Bar, tasty appetizers, great food (your choice of chicken or roast beef), photo keepsakes, interactive games and prizes. Make your reservations this Sunday! For more information, see Steve and Karin Roland or any member of the Kitchen Team at the sales table.
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NEWS FROM THE UM CHURCH
AND FLORIDA CONFERENCE
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Annual East Central District Training for Laity and Clergy
Called to Serve
February 3 - First UMC, Oviedo
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
7:45 a.m. Registration & Refreshments
Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend. This is a day for everyone in the local church: clergy and laity. We will have 25 different workshops with something that is bound to be interesting to everyone.
This is NOT just for leaders of the church
. We have workshops that will help you grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
To register online, click on the link below then call the church office to inform us that you will be going. Plans are to carpool or take the church bus, if enough folks register. We'll all go out to lunch afterwards, so come join the fun!
Click HERE
for a complete description of workshops.
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Adam Hamilton’s 2015 Presentations on
Church Vitality and Growth Available on Video
Rev. Adam Hamilton, the leader of the largest United Methodist church in the nation, is on a mission. His goal is to share his expertise with every conference in the denomination to help churches restore their vitality. He shared his message of church vitality with the Florida Annual Conference in 2015.
Hamilton listed three differentiating factors between churches that are vital and those that are not. The must-haves are
effective leadership,
meaningful worship and preaching and
missional outreach to the community.
Click here to access videos of Hamilton’s three workshops on leadership and church vitality and the handouts for the presentations.
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE DATES
This year's Annual Conference event will be held in Florida Southern College’s Branscomb Auditorium, 1085 Johnson Avenue, Lakeland, June 7-9.
Our theme this year is
“Remembering Who We Are" and activities will feature and reflect on the day, fifty years ago, when Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Bishop Rueben H. Mueller and Methodist Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke joined hands over a table laden with symbols--the Bible, hymnals, books of Discipline and a 307-page "Plan of Union." 1,300 delegates and 10,000 visitors met in Dallas, Texas, on April 23, 1968 proclaiming the formation of the newly-constituted United Methodist Church when 10.3 million Methodists and 750,000 members of the EUB Church merged to become one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world.
Want to learn more about the inner-workings of our denomination? Contact Pastor Dale or Dave Griffis, Lay Leader.
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Over its nearly 123-year history, Trinity is blessed to have many men and women who have grown up in the church and gone into the service of our Lord, or they were appointed to serve the church in the early years of their ministry. We were recently made aware of two individuals who revealed through personal letters to Pastor Dale how the many members of Trinity UMC served as teachers, leaders and mentors in their lives, enabling them to understand and answer God's call into ministry. Please read these heart-felt letters and know that without your help, love and inspiration, such occurences would never happen. David Averill's letter follows below. To read the letter from Douglas Moore, click
HERE
John Campbell, chair
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January 24, 2018
Dear Trinity United Methodist Church,
It is with sincere gratitude that I am writing you. Fourteen years ago, you wished me farewell as I transitioned from being your Youth Director to enlisting into active duty in the United States Army. Though I only served for four months as your Youth Director, Trinity has had a dramatic effect on my formation as a Christian leader.
Two days ago, I was recommended by the Board of Ordained Ministry for the status of Elder in Full Connection. This means that the Bishop will ordained me at the 2018 Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Reflecting on my Christian journey so far, I see that God uses certain churches to nurture young people and call them into ministry for the church and the world. Trinity is one of those churches.
For example,
Rev. Bob Bushong
, our current district superintendent in the East Central district, was mentored by Trinity United Methodist Church as a young man. In turn, Rev. Bushong has paid this mentoring forward by investing in the lives of young people in The United Methodist Church, including myself. When I returned home to DeLand from active duty in 2010 and rejoined the Trinity family, Bob mentored me during the early stages of my ordination process when he was Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Winter Park. At Winter Park, Bob and his wife Jeanne mentored countless other young people through the young adult group at that church.
I serve now at St. John’s United Methodist Church, which has another Trinity connection. Previously,
Rev. Beth Fogle-Miller
served St. John's as co-pastor from 2000 to 2004 with her husband Jim. Rev. Fogle-Miller is another fine example of the exceptional influence that Trinity has had in calling and shaping young people into vocational ministry.
Here in Winter Haven, I have counted it as a blessing from God to learn from
Rev. Jim Harnish
and his wife, Martha, who live in Winter Haven. Rev. Harnish started his ministry as a young man at Trinity in the 1970s. If that is not enough, I recently met
Bryant Manning
in Lakeland, who was one of the students that I led in the youth ministry at Trinity. Bryant is now an assistant chaplain at Florida Southern College, mentoring hundreds of young people, some of whom are preparing for ministry in The United Methodist Church.
Thank you, Trinity, for investing in young people and their families. The Lord has used this investment in wonderful ways. However, I want to challenge you to continue planting seeds for the future so that God may bring more growth. Just as you support a wonderful staff in Rev. Dale Golden (Pastor), Lori Hansard (Youth Director), and Conya Hartman (Director of Music and leader of the renowned Music Makers program for children) who lead you in ministries faithfully with their wisdom, grace, and knowledge, you should invest in your new holy ground that will no doubt lead countless more young people into service for the Lord Jesus Christ in both sacred and secular careers.
I cannot wait to see what the future for Trinity United Methodist Church holds in your new holy ground near Plymouth Avenue. This is an area where many young families are moving, and you will be called to share God's love with them, upholding our baptismal vows to nurture these persons in the Christian faith. My wife, Alesia, and I cannot give much to this campaign because we have committed to tithing at St. John‘s and giving to their building campaign. However, please accept this small gift of $25 as a token of our love and appreciation for what God has done in our lives through you and through the leaders in ministry that you have raised and nurtured. My prayer for you is that you continue to follow God's call and raise up a new generation of young, principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.
With the Love of Christ,
Rev. David T. Averill
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WHERE IS GOD?
Every month we would like to post stories in our newsletter and on our Facebook page about where our members have seen God at work and helpful information to share about our small groups and ministries.
We would love to tell your story of healing, forgiveness or transformation!
To suggest an idea for a story or to share yours, send me an email using
this email address
or call me.
Anita Campbell, Communications
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Trinity members have been invited to attend a special event at
First UMC of Ormond Beach on Saturday, February 10th at 5:00 pm
:
Discover Author Peter Enns!
“Cross a stand-up comic, a robust theological mind, a college professor, and a decent, normal guy, and what do you get? Peter Enns!"
Peter Enns has emerged as one of the stars of biblical interpretation for thinking Christians.” Consider attending what looks to be a fun, event. You can
ORDER TICKETS HERE or by calling the church office at 386-677-3581.
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PASTOR DALE'S WEEKLY BLOG
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For those who are looking for a deeper insight into some of Pastor Dale's teachings and leadings, he has created a blog which can be viewed anytime on the church website. Click
HERE
to read his latest blog! And, to get an email notice about new blogs being posted on the website, click on the red button below to sign up or contact Lori Jones in the church office for assistance.
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Dear Trinity Family,
I was recently sent this article which I hope you will take the time to read. It emphasizes the essential need to pray, which (if you do not remember)
we promised to do when we joined the church and which we re-affirm every year through our membership vows.
A PROMISE TO PRAY: HONORING OUR METHODIST VOW
By Julie Dwyer
October 9, 2017
As part of The United Methodist Church’s Baptismal Covenant
, new members promise to faithfully participate in a local congregation through their
prayers
,
presence
,
gifts
,
service
and
witness
. But how can they go beyond the words they profess to actually living these vows? In a special five-part series, we’ll look at each aspect of this membership vow, beginning with prayer, and how United Methodists can answer the call to serve Christ through the local church.
Mary Meyer carried index cards with her wherever she went. On each was a list of names of people she needed to pray for or other concerns. She would jot down new names and prayer requests as they came to her, and then she’d tuck the cards into her Bible, her purse or even the cushions of her favorite chair.
If she had a free minute, she was praying...
Click
HERE
to finish reading the entire article.
****************************************************************************************
Also, as we continue to pray for all of our members and friends listed in the Church directory, here are the next five names:
Glen "Andy" & Linda Anderson, Robert & Rebecca Anderson,
James "Jim" Armstrong, Kirk & Stephanie Ashe, David Atchley
Blessings,
Carolyn Harner, Prayer Team Coordinator
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The Trustees met on January 10th. A slate of officers for the coming year was presented and approved:
Daniel Vergara - Chair
Bob Kellogg - Vice Chair
Bill Hartman - Finance Team Rep
Steve White - Church Council Rep
Jackie Westlake - Easterseals Rep
It was decided that the position of Secretary would be filled on a rotating basis.
Items of business discussed include the church bus maintenance schedule and the installation of a new camera outside the front door so ushers can monitor during worship services. Trustees also discussed the pending selection of a construction management company by the Building Committee, the purchase and installment of a new AED defibrillator for the Narthex, general maintenance issues (including mold removal in some areas), and replacing the Wisconsin Avenue door electronic key lock.
The church Mission Fair brought us two new trustees: Larry Miller and David Shipman. (Thank you, gentlemen, for agreeing to serve!) Finally, the Staff Parrish Committee asked trustees to find one or two people to fill in for Miro when he goes on vacation. He will try to let the Trustees know as soon as possible when those dates may occur.
Our next meeting is February 7th. Happy New Year and countless blessings to all from the Trustees!
Daniel Vergara, chair
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TRINITY BUILDING COMMITTEE
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As reported, we have collected approximately $840,000 of the pledged funds for the new church. The Building Committee, with input from our architect, has identified 12 construction firms for consideration to serve as the
construction manager
. We have also decided to pursue the
tilt-wall construction method
which, we believe, will yield cost savings, maintain flexibility, and provide enhanced structural integrity. We also believe it might be quicker. A local example of this process is the new Goodwill building across from the Walmart Supercenter. (Our architect emphasized that Trinity's building will
not have to look like
the Goodwill building.)
A request for qualifications is being circulated to the identified firms. After receipt of their responses, the committee will narrow the list further, then interview the top candidates before determining the preferred company.
Alex Ford
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Ways to Help Trinity Grow!
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Make plans to join us -
TRINITY STRONG!
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If you intend to participate in the 5k, you must register at the
MeStrong website before February 3rd. Look for the "Team Registration" page and select
Team Trinity Strong.
Even if you are not going to participate in the run/walk, volunteers and cheerleaders are still needed. If you are willing, we need volunteers to man tables and serve water/hot chocolate along the route. Email me or see me at church, if you are interested.
Come out early on Saturday with your tee shirt on ready to run, walk, volunteer or cheer on our T
eam Trinity Strong! Also, we need lots of folks to take
lots of pics and post them to our Facebook, Twitter or their Instagram page using the hashtag
#TeamTrinityStrong.
Can't wait to see you all this Saturday!
Dona Butler, Team Trinity Strong Coordinator
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SCHOOL-CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS
Thank you to all the volunteers who assisted with bringing lunch to the teachers and staff at Citrus Grove Elementary. I know it was greatly appreciated.
I have received updates from our volunteers and mentors about how much they enjoy working in our schools and meeting with their mentees. Donating your time provides such enrichment to all students and especially those who need positive adult role models in their lives. Please remember it only takes an hour once a week to be part of this amazing community outreach effort. Let me know if you are interested in joining us. It's not too late to become a volunteer or mentor for this year.
Leslie LaRue, chair
386.748.8501
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The following story first appeared on the
Florida Conference website and was subsequently picked up by the
United Methodist News Service. It drives home the fact that our church-school partnership with
Citrus Grove Elementary is one of, if not the most important
mission,
outreach &
church-building efforts in which Trinity is currently involved.
CHURCH MAKES THE GRADE WITH FLORIDA SCHOOLS
January 09, 2018
By Joe Henderson | FLUMC
Barrie Wilkie’s approach to Christian service is a call to action. “You can’t be a pew potato,” she said. “Being a Christian is a verb.”
That motto was never more evident than it was after she attended a meeting in 2011 about nutrition and elementary school students. She remembers being shocked after being told, “You have hungry children right here.”
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CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRIES
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Thank you to all who came out and supported the
Youth Spaghetti Dinner & Talent Show. Funds raised will go toward our mission trip and church camp this summer. What great talent we had! (And the food was good too!)
Saturday, February 3rd is the
Me Strong 5K Run/Walk. We need cheerleaders to meet at the Cunningham's home at 236 W. Minnesota Avenue to support all the walkers/runners. We will meet at 7:45 in the morning.
Sunday, February 4th is our annual
Souper Bowl of Caring. The youth will be collecting canned goods and monetary donations that will be distributed to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. Bring your contributions to church that day.
A new
Confirmation Class for students in 6th grade through high school will be held on Thursdays starting on February 1st. We will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Wesley Room. Come and learn about our Methodist traditions, John Wesley, and other interesting topics. The class will run for eight weeks.
Our Children's Sunday School classes will be visiting
The Alliance Nursing Home on February 11th for Valentine's Day. We will pass out cards and Hershey Kisses.
The Education Team is working on a
Trinity Family Picnic for Sunday, March 4th beginning at noon. Watch for details to be coming!
Youth lessons for the month of February will be about love and respect for parents, siblings, and peers. We will be doing some
heart games that will teach us how, when, where and why we need to appreciate each other more.
Lori
Hansard, Children & Family Ministry Coordinator
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TRINITY ANGELS
The Angels had their first meeting of the new year on January 16th. We made great headway in setting some future goals and plans! It was decided that we will continue sending out cards to individuals on Trinity's
Prayer List
. We also are planning to visit some of our homebound folks starting in January, and intend to make that a regular monthly activity. The flu season is making those visits difficult right now, but we hope the epidemic is over by February and we can get back out.
Becky Hulbert suggested making verbal announcements about the Angels in church at both services for the purpose of raising awareness of what we are doing and to solicit new volunteers. This was done on January 21 and seemed to be well-received. We intend to periodically make similar announcements so that members will know more about the scope and depth of this very important ministry.
We pray that everyone has a blessed New Year! Contact me if you would like to join our team.
Debra Wood, Angels team leader
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BREAKFAST AT TRINITY
2018 begins our seventh year of serving breakfast to those in need in our community. On January 26, we fed 59, including two children, with 29 volunteers doing all sorts of jobs to make the food and experience a good one.
Our purpose is to not only give a physical meal, which is so important, but also to let everyone feel respected and loved. Our pastor has prayer with them; tent cards with scripture verses on them are on the tables; and devotionals wrapped around a package of crackers are given to them when they leave. In addition, we have table hosts who sit, talk, listen, and pray with them. We want them to feel God's love and the love of Trinity's people. How blessed we all are that God has given us an opportunity to serve "the least of these."
Do you want to bless others and in the process, bless yourself? If so, we can always use more volunteers. Call Lana Saxon or the church office to find out more.
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Night for Freedom Dinner & Auction
The Fourth Annual Night for Freedom fundraising dinner and auction will be taking place on April 14 at 5:30 p.m.
at St. Ann's Catholic Church in DeBary. Th event is sponsored by the H.O.P.E. Team of Orange City UMC, a collaborative partnership of several churches of all faiths in the West Volusia area.
Human trafficking exists in every state and in every town. In December, several
News-Journal articles written by Suzanne Hirt expounded on cases right here in Volusia County. One of these cases involved a mother and father who introduced their daughter to drugs, got her hooked, then the mother sold her daughter for sex in exchange for drugs. Her daughter was 14. She was about to do the same to her younger daughter when the older one told school authorities. The mother got five years in prison and the father got a sentence of one and a half years because he claimed he didn't know what the mother was doing. The 14 year old, now 19, experiences horrifying flashbacks, seizures and headaches. Thanksfully, she and her sister have been adopted.
The H.O.P.E. Team seeks to raise funds and awareness to help those affected by trafficking in our community. The Night for Freedom will benefit organizations that provide a “safe” haven for young girls. We invite you to come hear a survivor and a law enforcement officer at the banquet. Tickets are $50 per person. Cash and new in-kind donations for the auction are greatly needed and appreciated. To make a donation online using a credit card, visit this website:
www.stannsdebary.org/fighttrafficking or talk with Lana Saxon, a H.O.P.E. member.
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SUSANNA CIRCLE NEWS
We are a group of 22 Christian women who combine service projects and interesting programs that bring us closer to God and each other. We meet the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. One of our service projects is feeding those at Interfaith Kitchen; another is chairing the Fall Festival Chili & Hot Dog Sale. The proceeds we raise go to local, national, and international groups that are voted on every year.
Along with our programs, we have a devotional, yummy refreshments, and time for "women talk and catch-up time." Our February 12th meeting will be an overview of Beth Moore's 40-day devotional book,
Get Out of the Pit. We will meet at the home of Becky Hurlbert. Women, do you want to get closer to God and meet some new friends? We would love to have you join us! Call Lana Saxon for more info.
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Join one of our Sunday School classes
designed just for you!
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Adult Sunday School Opportunities
Visitors are always welcome to attend any of our Adult Sunday School groups. If you would like more info on these or other adult classes and groups, contact Cindy Fox, Adult Education Chairperson by
email here
.
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THE DISCUSSION CLASS
For more information, contact
Steve Roland
, class leader.
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NOT YOUR MOMMA'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
For more information, contact
Cindy Fox
, class leader.
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THE FRIENDSHIP CLASS
The Friendship Class meets Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Wesley Room, located on the first floor (no stairs to climb). Open to all adults. The current lesson material comes from the Bible and the United Methodist Church's
Adult Bible Studies
“Covenants With God”. For more information, contact
Don Taylor
, class leader.
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BRING A FRIEND AND JOIN US
FOR THE NEXT YOUNG AT HEART LUNCHEON!
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The next
Young At Heart
Luncheon will be held
Tuesday, February 13th at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
.
This month's program will focus on
Immunizations For Seniors
. Our speaker will be Denise Ayers with the Volusia County Health Department. Denise will explain all of the myths and facts about the myriad of vaccinations that should (and perhaps should not) be given to seniors. Here's a link to a short video that addresses how to stop the spread of diseases:
VACCINATIONS HELP
Plan now to invite your neighbors and friends (
who do not attend Trinity
) and join us! The member who brings the most guests wins a prize. The cost of the lunch is $7 per person.
Reservations
with payment
are now requested in advance
. Complete the reservation form found in Sunday's bulletin and insert with your payment in a pew envelope.
Miss church? Mail or hand-deliver your reservation to the Church Office with your check no later than Monday, February 12th. RSVPs
without possibility of cancellation
can also be made by calling or emailing
Anita
or
John Campbell.
MENU
Ham slices with horseradish sauce
Pineapple casserole
Mixed vegetables
Confetti coleslaw
Hot rolls
Beverages
Cupcakes
Make plans to join us -
today!
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How much do you know about the Bible? Find out with this week's
Bible Quiz and Crossword Puzzle.
Which book in the Bible has 'Vanities, vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity?' (Find out the correct answer to this week's Bible Quiz!)
What’s a 4-letter word for “secret of Samson’s strength”? (Post your answer on this week's Bible Crossword Puzzle!)
Click
HERE to visit the Conference website and learn the answers!
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GOD HAS ASKED US TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND
MAKE DISCIPLES OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
PLEASE JOIN WITH US ON THE JOURNEY!
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306 W. Wisconsin Avenue,
DeLand, Florida 32720
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