Greetings!

“Welcome to Epiphany”

 

Just prior to our Christmas celebration, we traveled through the darkest and longest night on December 21 (winter solstice). There were lights going up everywhere that week and we hardly noticed the long dark night. We were following the star, so to speak.

 

Rev John Henry Hopkins first sang about following the light in 1857 with his song, "We Three Kings":

 

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to Thy perfect light

 

The light goes on just when we need it most and we’ve had an epiphany! Exactly, that is what this season after Christmas is. Epiphany begins on January 6th and lights the way for the wise men of the east, as well as for us, and leads us toward Lent and the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. 

 

May the light of Christ bless you and keep you in this new year of 2019. Anything is possible when we walk in the Epiphany light of Christ.

Pastor Dale

JOIN US FOR COMMUNION

 

On the first Sunday of each month, we observe the Sacrament of Communion in all Sanctuary worship services. Your next opportunity to partake is Sunday, January 6th. Please make plans to join with us!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all of you who have followed our journey over this last year with your presence, prayers, love, and concern. As many of you know, Heather had seizure surgery on November 8th and is recovering nicely. The recovery and healing were more of a concern than the surgery itself, due to prior surgeries and radiation.

"Thank you" hardly seems enough to express our gratitude to you all. We have been so very blessed with all of you praying for us. Please continue to pray for Heather in the months ahead, as her doctors determine whether she is stable enough to start drug reductions and still remain seizure-free. 

Praise God and bless all of you; we are getting there.

With so much love and appreciation, 

Debra and Heather Wood

January 6 - Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” “When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and [worshipped him].”

January 13 - We believe in faith and good works

Romans 3:20-28 and James 2:14-26

“We see God’s grace and human activity working together in the relationship of faith and good works. God’s grace calls forth human response and discipline.” Few of our United Methodist practices illustrate our practical Christianity more vividly than our Social Principles.

January 20 - This too shall pass

Matthew 24:36 and Revelations 21:1-5

Everything we know, see, and touch is coming to an end. That end talk is called ‘eschatology’ and we refer to that end as the 2nd coming of the Messiah. Our life journey in the church is preparation for Jesus’ return.

January 27 - Thinking like Wesleyans 

Matthew 22:36-40

John Wesley believed, “The distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his opinions of any sort. What then is the mark? Who is a Methodist?” he asked. His answer, “A Methodist is one who has ‘the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost.’ The test is love. “Do no harm, do good, stay in love with God.”

MOST WORSHIP SERVICES ARE NOW BEING VIDEO RECORDED AND POSTED TO FACEBOOK AND 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.

Christian nurture, the edification of believers, helps people understand, know and love God more. Teaching, guiding ministries must be a priority to help fulfill our church's purpose.

If you are interested in serving on one or more of our nurturing ministries, contact Donna Beaty.

YOUNG AT HEART

The next gathering of Trinity's Young at Heart ministry will be held on Tuesday, January 8th at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Young at Heart (YAH) is a ministry for senior adults age 55+. Come and enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie with other seniors. Lunch cost is $7 per person. Reservations are required. Complete the form inserted in weekly bulletins or call the Church Office. Payment is due at the time of reservation.

This month's program will feature DeLand's own Mayor Bob Apgar who will speak on the "State of the City."

The votes are tallied and members have said they want to go to Saint Augustine to see the "Night of Lights" for our next day trippin' fun outing. We'll finalize our plans at the January gathering. Plan now to join us and don't forget to invite your friends and neighbors. Remember, the person who brings the most guests wins a prize! Questions? Call or send us an email. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Anita and John Campbell

To spread the love of Christ and connect our congregation with opportunities to serve our community, both locally and globally.

If you are interested in serving on one of our outreach ministry teams, contact Dee Miller.

OUR SCHOOL-CHURCH PARTNERSHIP

Citrus Grove Elementary will hold its 7th Annual Groovin' at the Grove 5k & Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, February 23rd. Volunteers are needed to fill a variety of jobs. Contact Denise Riberio at the school to learn more and to sign up. She can be reached at (386) 626-0053, extension 22578.

If you have not applied online and received approval to volunteer at the school, I can assist you! Simply contact me via email .

Anita Campbell, CG Mentor & Volunteer

SNEAKERS FOR KIDS

Trinity, you made 56 kids at Citrus Grove Elementary School very happy. All of them received a new pair of sneakers and two pairs of socks during the last week of November and the first of December. We fitted Kindergartners all the way to 5th graders. It is a very fulfilling time for Judy Wall and myself, who fit the kids and see their smiles. Some don't say “thanks,” but their faces show it. Included in their sack with their old shoes, we put a letter with all of Trinity's Christmas happenings. One parent kept her daughter out of school and came to the Breakfast so she could thank us personally and give us thank you notes—that was a wonderful surprise!

Thanks so much to my many helpers. Judy Ross helps me purchase the shoes and put the child's name on each box. It took several of us two hours just to cut the tags off all the socks. Many thanks to Gale Gately, Becky Hurlbert, Anita Campbell, Donna Beaty, and Judy Ross for help with tags and also matching up sneakers and socks. The manager at Shoe Carnival in Daytona comes over and measures all the kids. What a wonderful help that is!

Thanks again to each of you who gave money for this project. You have helped students and parents more than you know!

Lana Saxon, Coordinator

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

January is Human Trafficking Month. On January 7 at 7:00 p.m., River City Presbyterian Church in DeBary (267 E. Highbanks Rd) will be hosting a showing of the movie, Chosen, followed by a question and answer period. We have shown this movie at Trinity, but some of you may have missed it and might like to go. Call me if you need a ride.

On January 8, Orange City's City Council will proclaim January Human Trafficking Month. Orlando will have an Awareness Day on January 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Calvary Assembly in Orlando.

From our Missions budget, Trinity donated $250 to the H.O.P.E. Team (Helpers of People Enslaved) to help trafficked women with lodging in emergency situations. Human Trafficking is not just happening in other countries; it is happening in Florida and right here in DeLand. Our next banquet to raise money for helping agencies provide housing to women coming out of the trade is April 6. We welcome all support.

Lana Saxon, H.O.P.E. member

DINNER CHURCH IS COMING!

A new approach to worship is gaining a lot of attention these days. It's called Dinner Church. What is it? First and foremost, it is church. Second to that, it incorporates a meal, whether it be a dinner or a lunch or breakfast. The concept is grounded in the fact that Jesus always invited those around him to share a meal. It was during those meaningful, intimate settings that he engaged and developed close relationships with them -- men, women, sinners, Jews and Gentiles alike. That relationship is what started the church and eventually grew the church into the millions of Jesus followers today!

Trinity is forming a Task Group that will attend multiple trainings on the Dinner Church concept to learn all about it and how it is being successfully implemented in churches around Florida and the U.S. The Task Group will learn how the simple act of sharing a meal and sharing the Word can work miracles in bringing the unchurched and marginally churched to Christ.

If you are interested in learning more or want to join this exciting new task group, contact me by email or call Pastor Dale at (386) 734-4425.

Denise "Dee" Miller

Christian witness is a public act of both faith and hope intended to awaken in the world belief in Jesus Christ and hope of salvation.

The Witness Team coordinates, plans, carries out, and evaluates the congregation’s witness ministries, helping all to know and respond to the love of God in Christ. This includes planning for evangelistic outreach and setting goals for congregational growth, visitation, and hospitality.

If you are interested in being a part of this essential new team, contact Rob Miller at church, by email, or by leaving him a note in the Witness Team mail box at church.

What it means to witness: Honoring our United Methodist vow

By Julie Dwyer

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 , serv ice and witness . But, how can they go beyond the words they profess to actually living into these vows? In a special five-part series , we look at each aspect of this membership vow and how United Methodists can answer the call to serve Christ through the local church.

Members of The Gathering United Methodist Church in St. Louis are spending a lot of time back in school these days. Each weekday, you’ll find church members at Peabody or Washington elementary schools reading to kids and providing support to school staff and families. Their efforts are part of The Literacy Project, an outreach ministry at The Gathering that is committed to improving the literacy rate in St. Louis Public Schools...

To finish reading this article, click HERE .

PRAYER CORNER

January 2019

Brian Wren’s hymn, “This is a Day of New Beginnings”, is often sung at Easter but our Trinity family can rush the Season and sing it now, for this year will bring many new beginnings for us. Imagine the possibility of selling our present facility and worshiping in an interim location until we can gather sufficient funds to build our new church. Consider all the unchurched people in the surrounding neighborhoods (and there are 20!) that we can invite to worship with us. Imagine all the new ministries we will be able to offer.

In November, Rev. Beth Fogle-Miller led a Visioning and Planning Retreat at the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, to which the Church Council and all interested church members were invited. Soon you will receive by email, the report Rev. Beth submitted to the Council, whose approval must be given before any of the recommendations coming out of the retreat can be implemented.

Several things have become clear. We need to move forward. We can’t keep sitting on “Go” and taking no action. The land has been paid for and we have architectural renderings for a new church which, at the moment, we can’t afford. Building Team members and the Council have been wise not to move forward when pledged Capital Campaign funding did not become a reality due to lower attendance at worship and attrition. Our current facility, beauty though she may be, has become a money pit taking funds needed for operating costs and other areas of ministry.

Rev. Beth poses this question and the need for prayer.  ‘How can you be involved?  Pray steadily for clear vision and sufficient resources, both human and financial to move forward with faithfulness. '  Pray for ways God wants you to be involved as we move forward and, my friends, we are going to move forward, indeed.

 

Please join me in praying for our Trinity family and friends listed in the Directory:

 

Cindy Fox, The Brian Fuller family, The Frank Gagnier family, Michael & Gale Gately, and Lydia Gehling (Iowa snowbird)

Carolyn Harner, Coordinator

NEWS FROM OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS TEACHERS

Yes, we are open on Sundays! Our Friendship Church School Class starts at 10:00 a.m. and we would like to see many of you join with us, learning how to apply our faith in this ever-changing world.

Our Bible-based lessons challenge us to look at how we are living out our faith here and now. Are we following God's way or the world's way? When we stand before God, will we hear "Well done good and faithful servant" or will we be looking for a place to hide?

As Christian witnesses, our numbers have decreased greatly in our lifetime. We need to be at our very best and that takes training and education to face the enemies of God in the world. We need to join in support of each other, to help carry the gospel to the world and in our own neighborhoods. Come join us. We can learn together and strengthen our faith and our witness.

Don & Nancy Taylor, Class Leaders                              

If you do not personally know some or all of these ministry team leaders but want to contact them about volunteering, call the Church Office (386) 734-4425 to request an updated "People Directory."

LOCAL CHURCH INFORMATION

DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND BY VISITING THE EC DISTRICT WEBSITE.

How much do you know about the Bible? Find out with this week's Bible Quiz and Crossword Puzzle .

Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church

450 Martin L King Jr Ave, Lakeland, FL 33815 | 863-688-5563 

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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!

306 W. Wisconsin Avenue,

DeLand, Florida 32720