Desert Wanderings: Exploring Questions of Faith
This year during Lent, 6:35 worship on Wednesdays will be an experiment in giving you a chance to help define the direction of each week's message. For six weeks, Catherine and Steve will be preaching on your questions about faith. Where do you struggle in being a follower of Jesus? What question related to faith keeps you up at night? If you could have a one-on-one with Jesus, what question would you ask him to help you understand better? What troubles or confuses you in the Bible?
Here's how it works, submit your question here. All the questions will be gathered, printed on slips of paper, and put into a basket. Each Wednesday, beginning with Ash Wednesday (March 6), a member of the congregation will be invited to draw one of the questions out of the basket (without looking). The question will be read aloud and the following Wednesday, the message will address that question. So join us on Wednesdays this season and invite your friends to come along, too.
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Celtic Rhythms: Keeping Time with God
The season of Lent (40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter) is a time for deepening our faith. This year, we will let the Celts be our teachers in drawing closer to God's own heart. By exploring some core spiritual elements that define the Celtic tradition - finding God in the ordinary, seeking God in creation, silence and solitude, the Iorica (breastplate prayer), and the Celtic High Cross - perhaps you'll discover a new rhythm for daily living that helps you keep better time with God. Join us for this new message series on Sundays during Lent.
This week's message will be "Finding God in the Ordinary," by Rebekah Saveland.
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Mission Box
This week's mission box supports seminary scholarships available to congregation members. This is a way Trinity helps students as they continue to follow the path that God has placed on their hearts. (text giving: text amount and "seminary" to 352-204-0163)
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Wednesday Night Dinners
Join us for food, fun & fellowship.
The menu for March 6 is chili lime pork, tacos, cheese quesadilla, confetti rice, zucchini vegetable blend, soup, salad, and dessert. Dairy and gluten free options are available. Adult meals are
$
7, children 6 and up are
$3, 0-5 eat free with a
$25
family cap.
It takes a lot of hands to make this weekly fellowship successful. If you are able to assist the kitchen in any way please contact
Chris Riggs.
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Lenten Information
Hold the Date! Sunday, March 17
One Worship Service @ 9:30am
Vision Team Presentation @ 10:45am
Ash Wednesday
Join us on Ash Wednesday, March 6 for a service in the round to begin the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a great time to mark a new beginning in one's faith journey or to recommit one's self to walking as a follower of Jesus in this world. We will gather in the Worship Center at 6:35pm. Everyone is welcome.
Drive-thru Ashes
For those who are unable to attend the Ash Wednesday evening service, you're invited to receive prayer and ashes to begin your day in the Trinity parking lot. As a way of extending hospitality and grace to our community, we will be offering drive-thru ashes between 7am and 9am. Parents dropping children off at Stepping Stones or Talbot, as well as anyone else who is interested, will be offered the opportunity to participate.
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We're Hiring
Are you looking for a position where your individual contributions are truly valued, your duties are part of a larger mission, and your work family is like a second home? At Trinity United Methodist Church, we strive to provide that "second home" feeling for our members and our staff team; where being big-hearted, Christ minded, Spirit led, and bound by love are the core values of our community of faith.
We are searching for an outstanding candidate to fill our Director of Communications position. This individual should have a passion and appreciation for the principles of servant leadership, integrity, and the pursuit of excellence. They should also be approachable and have excellent verbal and written skills, as well as a creative mindset. To see the full job description, please click here. Interested applicants should send their resume and cover letter to Jen Thomas.
We are searching for an exceptional candidate to fill an opening on our Stepping Stones team to promote the values of this vital ministry. The Assistant Director of Stepping Stones should have a passion for working with children and adults in ministry and an appreciation for sharing the love of Christ. If you enjoy building relationships and making a difference in families' lives, please submit a resume and cover letter to to McCall Griggs. To see the full job description, please click here.
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Dressing Pastor Steve for Easter
While in Rwanda last month, Pastor Steve had this shirt custom-made by one of several ZOE graduates who now own and operate a tailor shop. Now you get to decide if we will all see him wearing it for worship on Easter Sunday. You can vote FOR the shirt with your contribution to the "YES, he wears it!" fund or AGAINST the shirt with your contribution to the "NO, he doesn't!" fund. All contributions to both funds will go toward supporting our ZOE kids. The fund with the most contributions wins.
You can "vote" on Sunday morning, online
here
, or text the amount and either "yes" or "no" to 352-204-0163.
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Thank you
Dear Friends!
As our family prepares to pull away from Gainesville and drive to Texas, I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation and gratitude for all the ways you have offered us love and support during our time at Trinity.
Wednesday night's celebration seemed to capture the best of all I have come to appreciate about who you are, as individuals and as a church! It was a night filled with joy, and laughter, and tears - woven together in God's abounding love and grace. There were so many special moments that filled the evening. It will be a night that I will cherish for a lifetime to come!
What's more, I cannot thank you enough for the generous love offering that was given to help me launch future ministry in the virtual realm. Over the past couple of years, God has been giving me an imagination for pastoral ministry that could extend beyond the walls of the church, while also serving as a resource for local churches. As we get settled in Texas, I look forward seeing where the Spirit leads in all of this and sharing updates with you along that journey.
During our time serving as your pastors, Aaron and I have been grateful for the ways Catherine and Steve have supported us answering God's call on our lives, individually and as a clergy couple. We pray blessings on their continued leadership, as well as the entire staff team, especially as you await the arrival of your next associate pastor.
Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the many ways you have blessed our lives over the years we were able to share life's journey with you. My deepest hope and prayer is that Trinity will continue to be a beacon of hope in Gainesville (and beyond), where all who are longing to encounter God's transforming love and grace can find a spiritual home among you! Aaron and I will be praying for both Catherine and Steve, as well as all of you, as you navigate your future together. We look forward to hearing great things about all that God continues to do in and through you!
Blessings of peace and joy to all of you - with love and gratitude,
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Do you love to sing?
If your answer is yes, we would love to have you join the adult choir to prepare for their Choral offering of the Holy Week Cantata, "Canticle of the Cross," by Joseph M. Martin, on April 14.
We will be rehearsing this music at the beginning of rehearsals on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays at 7pm in the choir room. No audition is needed--just a willing heart and voice. Please let
Alice know if you can be there, and we will save you a seat!
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Missions
We are hosting the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in the Worship Center from March 12 - 14th. We are looking for a few volunteers willing to serve as overnight hosts on March 12 and 13. If you would be willing to help us show extravagant hospitality to this group, please contact Kelly Ping (352.416.3048).
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Adult Ministries
Lenten study: Deeper Walk Through Lent Do you hunger to go deeper in your faith? Join us for a 4 week study as we discover Christian Meditation through Centering Prayer and Fasting. The first 2 weeks we will focus on the methodology of Centering Prayer and the remaining 2 weeks we will talk about ways to remove distractions that limit us from going deeper in our relationship with God. (Sundays, March 24 - April 14, 11am - 12pm, E203, led by Jim Nilon and Franny Long, childcare available for kids age 1 - 5th grade). Register here.
Spiritual Growth Mission Study, Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Prospective for Covenantal Living
Everyone is welcome to come with open hearts and open minds to participate in this mission study. Our Trinity unit will combine with UMW members from First and Wesley UMC. We will explore the ways God calls us to live in covenantal relationship with all of creation and work toward stronger and healthier relationships with creation, our community, ourselves, and God. Bring a small sample of dirt from your garden. Suggested food donation for Gainesville Community Ministry: oatmeal and grits, but any and all non-perishable foods are appreciated. (March 26, 8:45am -1pm, E232).
Lenten Study, Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality
Listening for the Heartbeat of God presents a spirituality for today, modeled on the vital characteristics of Celtic spirituality throughout the centuries. The emphasis is on the goodness of creation and of humanity made in the image of God. (Wednesdays, March 13 - April 17, 6:30 - 7:30pm, E203, led by Stan Beckerdite & Ann Abbott. Books are $10 and available at the Bookstore, please read chapter 1 before the first session. Childcare is available for kids age 1 year - 5th grade). Register here.
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Caring & Support
The Widow/Widowers monthly meeting will be March 5 at 5:30pm at Northwest Grille (5115 NW 39th Avenue).
The monthly healing prayer service will be in the chapel on March 10 at 9:40am. Marcey Corey will be joining us to speak about the work of the Healing Touch Cancer support group. This service is sponsored by The Order Of St. Luke and includes individual and corporate healing prayer and the Lord's Supper.
Trinity invites anyone who has lost a loved one to GriefShare, the grief support group for people experiencing grief and loss. GriefShare is a 10 week video seminar series that features some of the nation's foremost Christian experts on grief and recovery topics and provides a warm, caring environment with others who are also experiencing loss. The video seminars are combined with support group discussion of the materials presented during the video. They will meet on Wednesdays, beginning March 6 from 6:45 - 8:15pm in room 225. Call Lynn Cunningham at 352-372-1027 for more information.
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Children & Family Ministries
Send your "Lucky Charms" to our next Parent's Night Out on March 15, from 5:30-8:30pm! Our themed evening will be a fabulous night of dinner and St. Patty's activities for all ages, 12 months and walking through 5th grade. $10 per child, cost includes activities. Pizza dinner is available for $4 each, or you may bring your own dinner. For questions contact
Virginia Lewis. Please
register and pay online by March 13.
Save the Date: Vacation Bible School's To Mars and Beyond (June 3-7, 9am-12pm)! We will encounter the limitless power and love of God! VBS is for children going into Kindergarten through 6th grade. Registration begins April 8. Is your child younger than PreK? Volunteer and your child can participate! Volunteers and their children can
register today!
Candy Collection: We are collecting individually wrapped candy for our Easter goody treat bags. Please take your candy donation to the Children's Ministries office, Rm 108 by April 9. A bin will be outside the door for collection. Thank you!
SUMMER CAMPS - Registration for SummerTime Fun, Fusion and CrossTrainers summer camps will begin on March 11. Sign up early, limited spaces fill up fast! Sign up links will be available on Trinity's
website.
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Youth Ministries
UMYF Youth Group (Sundays, 5:30 - 7:30pm)
- March 10 | Illuminate: Special Night of Worship. We'll eat dinner & play games outside, then will enter a special experiential time of worship in the Youth Building. (Bring $3 to help supplement the cost of dinner.)
- March 17 & 24 | 24 Hours That Changed the World. In this UMYF Lenten lesson series we'll spend time going through the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. We'll eat dinner, play games, have a lesson, and worship together. (Bring $3 to help supplement the cost of dinner.)
Wednesday Small Groups:
- Youth Small Group: All students are invited to join our small group in the Youth Building on March 6 & 20, April 3 & 17, and May 1 from 6:30-7:30pm
- Student Leadership Team Meetings on March 13 & 27, April 10 & 24, May 8 & 22 from 6:30-7:30pm
Friday Breakfast @ Bagel Bakery: Drop by from 7-8:30am to eat breakfast and hang out for some Friday morning fellowship. (We recommend carpooling with your fellow students for optimal fun & convenience!)
Youth Summer Mission Trips: This summer we have mission trip opportunities for both
middle schoolers &
high schoolers. Please fill out the corresponding form's information to indicate your student's interest in these trips.
Come See Me!: The Youth Staff wants to come see your sports, academic matches, concerts, and recitals! So, let us know when everything is happening by filling out this
Come See Me! Form.
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New Members
Please welcome Trinity's newest members: Dan & Kathleen Geary, Gaylin & Jane Olson, Ron & Paula Payne, and Jordan & Brooklyn Young.
Christian Love and Sympathy is extended
to the Maurer and Kent families on the death of Christopher Kent on March 2;
and to the friends and family of Virginia Pert who passed away on March 4.
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Altar Flowers
This week's Altar Flowers are given in honor of Ted Greuser, with gratitude for your years of service to Trinity and your dedicated outreach through missions.
If you would like to provide the altar flowers, please contact Alice (416-3016). If you need to make arrangements for assistance or special accommodations during Sunday services, please contact Shannon (416-3005) Monday - Thursday. If you would like to have your milestone birthday or birth of a new child announced in the Tuesday Word, please email Kelly. |
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