SATURDAY NIGHT - MARCH 7TH!
A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR
pastor
Greetings!

The season of Lent is here. Lent is a penitent season. To be penitent is to be humble before God. It is a season of looking at our hearts and seeing where we could do better in following God. What things are you doing well? What things are you sorry for? What sins do you need to confess? What relationships do you have that need work? How is it with your soul?

This is my first Lent with Trinity. In Lent, I like to explore ways to pray. The following classes are open to anyone who would like to attend. All classes will be held in Room 215 ( the ramp room):
Prayer with Protestant Prayer Beads 

I don’t know about you, but my mind tends to wander when I pray. Having something to hold (such as prayer beads) helps me to focus and concentrate during my prayers. This six-week class will meet every Thursday at 7 p.m. until April 2nd. Even if you have missed a class, you can join in - anytime!
Lectio Divina 

This is an ancient method of praying the scriptures. We will meet Wednesdays during Lent starting March 4th, at 6 p.m.
Contemplative Sit
 
We will practice being still before God with a contemplative sit. These classes are geared for the beginner. No experience is necessary! If you miss a class, that is ok. Come to the next one. Together we will explore these ways of praying to enrich our Lenten journey. We will meet on Sundays at 9:45 a.m.
This Lent we will also explore contemplative walking . Jonathan Stalls, of Intrinsic Paths , will be in town to lead us in these exercises.  The Walking Weekend will be March 13-16.  We are planning contemplative walks around our church, downtown, and Blue Spring State Park. Click HERE to view/download a flyer on the weekend's events.
 
On Sunday, March 15, we will prayer walk from our current building on Wisconsin to our new property on Plymouth Avenue.  There will be one combined service that day at 10:30 a.m.  We will serve a catered breakfast on-site; advance reservations must be made in order to have enough food. Click on THIS LINK to reserve your spot or call the church office.
 
Finally, this Lent I’ll be preaching a sermon series on our new mission statement:  We are disciples creating disciples through the transforming love of Jesus . Discernment about who God is calling us to be in the next 125 years actually began months before I was appointed as pastor of Trinity. Now that we have clarity on who we are, it is time to align our resources to support our mission. To that end, please save the following date for an important church-wide, informative event:  April 7 at 6:30 p.m., Cell Group Training
 
As we move through Lent, this is an exciting time to live into the future that God is calling us toward. The best is yet to come!
 
I LOVE being your Pastor!
 
Todd
COMING EVENTS
MARCH
CALENDAR
BIRTHDAYS

2 - Sharon Lyster
3 - Steven Gagnier
4 - Ed Hencinski
6 - Peggy Ferrara
7 - Barbara Brunning
7 - David Wall
7 - Russ McGehee
12 - Eric Birnie
14 - Sue Jackson
14 - James Cole
20 - Mary Gilmore
22 - Brian Smith
22 - Karl Umberger
22 - Aria Brunning
24 - Judy Ward
28 - Dale Sisk
29 - Conya Hartman
30 - Riley Linda Wasdin
ANNIVERSARIES

3 - Dave & Jennifer Griffis
  • 30 years
10 - Dick & Barbara Brunning
  • 69 years
17 - Howard & Joanne Osterhouse
  • 53 years
18 - Ed & Louise O'Quinn
  • 25 years
21 - Bret & Suzanne Forbes
  • 3 years
21 - Jim & Paula Staudt
  • 34 years
23 - Troy & Jennifer Panda
  • 25 years
25 - Bob & Sandy Allinson
  • 41 years
28 - Lee & Beth Britton
  • 56 years
WORSHIP SERVICES FOR THE MONTH

March 1
Sermon Title: Our Strategy for Discipleship
Scripture: 2 Cor. 5:16-21
Today we begin a five-part sermon series on our Mission and Vision.  We are disciples creating disciples through the transforming love of Jesus. If we do this, over time we will multiply disciples everywhere and our world be will changed.
 
March 8
Sermon Title:  The Examples of Jesus and Wesley
Scripture: Matthew 4:18-19
The way of making disciples is in our church DNA. To study John Wesley is to study the early church. All Christians have the ability to make disciples. No special gifts are needed; we all can learn how to be disciples and make more disciples. Today we will look at discipleship through our Christian heritage and see what we can learn about making disciples today.
 
March 15
Sermon Title: Moving from Growing Deeper to Reaching Outward
Scripture: Acts 2:43-47
When we think about discipleship today, we often think about growing deeper on a personal level. But discipleship is more than personal spiritual growth. True growth is realized when we reach out to those around us and share our lives with others. Deep discipleship involves living life with others. We love and support each other along the journey of life. Today we will look at how our Journey groups can make this a reality.
 
March 22
Sermon Title: Moving from Member to Disciple Maker
Scripture: Hebrews 5:11-14
Discipleship is about more than church membership. Multiplying disciples is not a church growth plan, though that will probably happen. The focus of our discipleship is raising up mature followers of Jesus who can replicate their results. Every member can become a disciple maker. It is what we are all called to do.
Note: This is UMCOR Sunday, so please consider making a generous gift to this worthy and successful ministry of our denomination.
 
March 29
Sermon Title:  Moving from Programs to Relationships
Scripture: 1 Cor 16:19
People today crave relationships. We live in a fragmented and pluralistic society. Our electronic devices give us a false sense of community. We need each other now more than ever. Gone are the days of lecture-style Bible studies and programs that are more entertainment than spiritual meat. Today we will explore how our discipleship model can fill the need for relationships.  
Note: This is a 5th Sunday, so please remember the children at our Florida United Methodist Children's Home.
CHURCH DIRECTORY

Lifetouch photographers will be onsite March 4 – 7 in Rooms 215 and 217 (Not Your Momma’s SS classroom and the "ramp room"). These rooms will be reserved for the entire 4-day period. Appointments can be made during the following times:

Wednesday, March 4th – 1 to 8 pm
Thursday, March 5th – 1 to 8 pm
Friday, March 6th – 1 to 8 pm
Saturday, March 7th – 10 am to 5 pm

To schedule your own appointment time online, use this link: https://booknow-lifetouch.appointment-plus.com/b6ypesey/

For members who do not have online access, look for our signup table in the Fellowship Hall every Sunday between services.

For more information or to send in a photo to be included in the directory, email us at history@trinitydeland.org or call the church office at 386-734-4425.

Steve and Debbie Jones, Coordinators
NEEDS TO BE MET
  • Individuals to sign up/donate goodies for Holy Grounds Fellowship Hour.
  • Individuals to volunteer to assist the Kitchen Team during Fellowship Hour. See Betty Kobler.
  • Individuals to sign up for altar flowers. Look for signup sheet on bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. The cost is $25 for one arrangement. Two can be purchased. Great for birthday/anniverary celebrations. See Sue Jackson.
  • Individuals to assist as a host or a guide during "picture days" (March 4-7). See Debbie Jones.
SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 4TH - 8:00 A.M.

The Trustees' will hold a church-wide spring cleaning day to prepare our church for the many visitors and guests that will be coming to Trinity during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday. We are looking for volunteers to help with window washing, window cleaning, sanctuary cleaning, pressure washing, mulching, leaf raking/bagging and other needs.

Please call/inform the church office if you can volunteer that day and plan to bring any special cleaning supplies, tools, and talents you have to share!
MUSIC AND WORSHIP UPDATES

Tri-M Music Honor Society of DeLand High School will give a concert in our sanctuary on Sunday, March 1st at 6 p.m. This is a free concert but donations will be accepted to benefit the organization. Last year's concert was a big success, so you won't want to miss it.

Music Makers is well underway, and we currently have 25 children.

Plans and preparations for Easter are being worked on. If you are interested in being a part of our enhanced Easter Choir, rehearsals will be held on Sunday afternoons, March 22 and 29 from 3-4 p.m., and Wednesday evenings, April 1 and 8 from 7-8 p.m. The choir will sing two specials for Palm Sunday (April 5th) and Easter (April 12th).

Holy Week activities will include a glorious Palm Sunday service, labyrinth walks on Maundy Thursday (7-9 p.m. in the Wesley Room and Fellowship Hall), Stations of the Cross on the Plymouth Avenue property from 5-7 p.m., an Easter Sunrise Service on the property beginning at 6:30 a.m., followed by our 8:30 and 11:00 am services. The annual Easter Eggstravaganza (egg hunt) will take place at the church from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Conya Hartman
Director of Music & Worship
CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRIES

The children's sunday school classes are continuing to follow Pastor Todd's sermons. We will be working on Lent activities to go along with the season.

The youth will be participating in the prayer walks during the weekend of March 13-15. We will be joining with youth from a United Methodist church in Naples that will be staying at the church.

On April 11th, we will have an Easter Eggstravaganza for ages 3 years old through 5th grade. The children will enjoy egg hunts, bubbles, balloon activities, fun and food. The event will be from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the church.

The youth will be going to Warren Willis Camp this summer from June 15-19 (Week 2). If you know any rising 4th graders through high school who are interested in going, see me for details. The cost is $430 and there are scholarships available.

Our youth mission trip this year will be to North Carolina. The cost is $300 and scholarships will be available. The age range is rising seventh graders through high school. See me if interested. We will be going with the youth from Community United Methodist Church in DeBary.

Vacation Bible School for elementary-age children will be held July 6-10. Times will be from 9 a.m. to noon. The theme will be "Railways". Visit the church website for more info or call the church office.

Lori Hansard,
Director of Youth
Susanna Circle

   Susanna Circle continues to meet each month on the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. We invite all interested women of the church to join us. Becky Hurlbert will host our next meeting on March 9. Contact her for more information.
OUTREACH & MISSIONS
The ME STRONG 5k and Citrus Grove's Groovin' @ The Grove 5k races were both highly successful events! We have received several pictures, texts and personal notes from the organizers thanking us for our sponsorship. Congratulations go to Bill Hartman, Sue Atkinson and Marty Atkinson for winning top medals as top runners in their age categories at the Citrus Grove 5k! View and enjoy some of our pictures HERE. More will be added in the near future.
125 CHALLENGE FOR MARCH

The Trafficked—girls, boys, women. None of them choose this life voluntarily. Most are tricked into the “life,” some are abducted, and some are trafficked by their own family. Beatings or death await them if they even think of leaving; the lives of those they love are threatened. They are introduced to drugs, which hook them and make their daily life of submission somewhat bearable. This is modern day slavery. A small percentage do escape, but they leave with only the clothes on their back.  

Freedom means buying your own clothes, shoes, toiletries, and even things for children you've had in the “life.” Most need educational materials, because most were trafficked between the ages of 11 and 13.  

Our 125 Challenge for March is a plea for gift cards for survivors of Human Trafficking. These gift cards will allow the survivors to independently shop on their own. Gift cards to WalMart or Target in $5 or $10 increments are requested. (Please write the dollar amount on each card.) Bus passes for the Votran system are also needed. Turn in gift cards to the church office or place in the offering plate.  

These cards will be distributed to some of the “Safe Houses” in Central FL and to the Children's Home Society in Daytona, an agency that works with women exiting the “trade” and the recipient of H.O.P.E.'s 2018 grant. These agencies will distribute the cards as needed to the survivors as they seek to regain “lost” lives through much counseling and restorative care.

Trinity supports Human Trafficking Awareness through its Mission/Outreach Team.

Lana Saxon, Coordinator
The next Young at Heart (YAH) luncheon will be held on Tuesday, March 10th. Designed for men and women over the age of 55, this vibrant ministry program will feature a great lunch prepared by our Kitchen Team and a program (which is a surprise! )

Lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall. Time to start is 11:30 a.m. All YAH events are open to the public. Cost of the lunch is $7 and paid reservations are required in advance of the event. To reserve a seat, CLICK HERE TO PRE-REGISTER . The office must receive your payment by noon on Monday, March 9th.

Never been to a YAH luncheon? First-time attendees can enjoy a complimentary meal. Complimentary tickets (that look like bookmarks) can be found in the church office or on the shelf outside the sanctuary. First-time guests must turn in a completed ticket and make a reservation, as well.

Still have a question or want to make a reservation, call the church office at 386-734-4425 or email us at reservations@trinitydeland.org .

Hope to see you at the next YAH event!

John and Anita Campbell
Breakfast at Trinity

    The Bridge at the Neighborhood Center is opening in April and all feeding of those in need will be moved to the Bridge; this includes lunch and dinner.  
   However, this does not cover breakfast, so Breakfast at Trinity will continue to feed those in need in our community on the fourth Friday of each month from 9:30 – 11:15.
   Come volunteer with us. We are always in need of extra hands and loving hearts who will certainly receive more blessings than they can imagine. Call Lana Saxon or the church office for more info.
FLORIDA UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME DAY ON CAMPUS

Mark Your Calendars for FUMCH Day on Campus 2020

Saturday, March 28th is the annual Day on Campus at Florida United Methodist Children's Home. We encourage you to mark your calendars now for Saturday, March 28th. It will provide an opportunity for guests to see the breadth of the Children's Home Ministry. Whether this will be your first time on campus or you are a regular attendee, we invite you to come to learn about the many ways your Children's Home is serving children and families in need.

The schedule of the day is as follows:

• At 9:00 a.m., gates will open for tram tours of the Enterprise campus. These tours will run continuously from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. to allow people to see the entirety of the Children’s Home campus.
• At 9:30 a.m., there will be an opportunity to attend one of three educational breakout sessions. The subject matter for the three sessions will be: foster care, planned giving, and trauma-informed ministry. *Admission to these breakout sessions is by RSVP only; if you are interested in attending, please indicate as much on your Day on Campus RSVP (see below). 
• At 11:00 a.m., we will gather in the gym for the morning program. This will include presentations and awards, testimonials, as well as music and dance. The program provides an opportunity to celebrate the amazing things that God continues to do through the ministries of the Children’s Home.
• At 12:00 p.m., we will provide lunch under the Big Top.
• At 12:30 p.m., campus tours resume once again, with many of the cottages also being open for tours.

Day on Campus has become a well-loved tradition in the life of the Children’s Home for 35 years. The purpose of the event is to thank all of the individuals and churches who continue to support and empower the ministry being done through the Children’s Home.  

You are invited to come and experience Day on Campus for yourself! While anyone is welcome to attend this event, the Districts specifically invited to this year’s Day on Campus are:

East Central (which includes Trinity!)
South West

To help accommodate all the guests, please RSVP as soon as possible. You may make reservations online at www.fumch.org/contact-us/join-us-for-a-day-on-campus/, or by emailing Trista Calvin at trista.calvin@fumch.org or by phone at 386.668.5088.

Perhaps we can carpool. Please let me know if you are planning to go and are able to either drive or need a ride churchilljj@msn.com 386-624-6235.

Jill Churchill, FUMCH Representative
NIGHT FOR FREEDOM---SAVE THE DATE

   On Saturday, May 2, at 5:00 p.m., the H.O.P.E. Team (Helpers of People Enslaved) will have its 6th Annual Night for Freedom.
   It will be held this year at the Diamond L venue in Deltona. Tickets, priced at $50, will be on sale in late March and April in the Fellowship Hall. Auction items for our online or live auction are needed by the beginning of April; sponsorships of $500, $1000, or $1500 are welcomed. Our theme this year is Blue Jeans, Bling, and Bar-B-Que. As always, we will have two speakers, one of which is a trafficking survivor.
   All our proceeds will go to one of Central Florida's Safe Houses. H.O.P.E's grant will benefit a trauma-informed residential program operated by eligible public, private, or faith-based entities. Counseling and restorative care go hand in hand with education and life skills. Our last year's grant of $15,000 went to Samaritan Village, located in Orlando.  
   Contact Lana Saxon or Susan Largen for more information.

Lana Saxon, H.O.P.E. Board Member
Sneakers for Kids

   In early March, we will be measuring, buying, adding socks, and fitting children in need at Citrus Grove with brand-new sneakers.  
   In September 2015, the congregation of Trinity donated monies and made it possible for us to reach out to children at Citrus Grove Elementary who were in need of sneakers, as related to us by their teachers. Children's sneakers were too large or too small, torn up and held together with masking tape, or very smelly and causing class disruptions and bullying. Trinity, your generosity has solved this problem. Girls and boys show their delight with big smiles, jumps into the air, or excitedly telling their classmates about their new sneakers. They also wrote many thank you notes this past year.
   We are so appreciative of the January 125 Challenge, which provided us with hundreds of pairs of socks and also some monies to use toward our purchase of sneakers.  
   To date, usually buying twice a year, we have purchased 296 pairs of sneakers.  
   Since we only bought once last year, we have plenty of funds at this time.

Lana Saxon, Coordinator
WITNESS
PRAYER CORNER

Dear Family members and friends,

You are cordially invited to attend our pastor’s Lenten opportunities, which will begin with the Ash Wednesday Service on February 26th at 6 p.m., and continue with prayer and meditative sessions designed to help us draw closer to God and deepen our faith during this Holy Season.

Those who are seasoned people of prayer weren’t always at ease praying aloud or indeed, knew how to approach God with private prayers. Someone taught them by word or example. These sessions will demonstrate how to approach our Heavenly Father and access the Holy Spirit’s intervention to help us pray with ease and, eventually, boldness. Our sometimes meekly spoken prayers often limit our holy, loving and gracious God, who stands ready and eager to hear our thanks, praise and petitions.

Please plan to attend one of the Lenten sessions: A Bead and a Prayer and Lectio Divina. Our pastor is a great man of prayer and one who knows the benefits of meditation. Through these sessions, he is teaching us the importance of being silent before God and listening, bringing serenity and peace to our sometimes over-burdened and troubled lives. Reminders of the dates and times will be posted in worship bulletins, mentioned in John Campbell’s weekly "phone vites" and Pastor Todd’s email communications. You won’t regret attending and the experience will definitely change the way you view God and learn more about yourself as one of his beloved children.

As we continue to praying through our church directory, please lift up these church family members and friends during the month of March:

Dale & Pat Renniger, Carla Rhoderick, Mary Richards,
Jon & Karen Robbins and John & Marsha Rooney

Carolyn Harner, Prayer Team Coordinator
COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES
Every Sunday, Pastor Todd asks us to "check in" on Facebook when we are attending church in person, but what if we are traveling or ill? Be sure to visit our Facebook page on Sunday mornings at 8:30 to view our early worship service live - online. Even better? Invite your friends to view with you by creating a "Watch Party!"
STAY IN TOUCH

If your contact information (name, mailing address, telephone number, email address) has changed, please notify the church. You can call the office at (386) 734-4425 or email the office volunteers at officemgr@trinitydeland.org .
Trinity Today, our monthly newsletter, is distributed by email. Current and older issues can be viewed on the church website http://www.trinitydeland.org/newsletter. Printed copies are available for pickup in the Narthex. If you need to have a newsletter mailed to you, call the church office.
* IMPORTANT EMAILS *


Conya Hartman -

Trinity Office Team (TOT) -

Lori Hansard -
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The church Calendar of Events is always available for viewing and can be accessed anytime - 24/7. Visit http://www.trinitydeland.org/calendar to view and print. To submit corrections, changes or new entries, send an email to the church office: officemgr@trinitydeland.org.
Heard about our PhoneVites? It's a weekly phone call to let you know what is happening at Trinity. To sign up automatically, visit our website and look under the Get Connected tab, or call the church office.
On Instagram? Follow us by clicking on THIS LINK!
PRE-REGISTER FOR EVENTS!

We have created an easy way to pre-register for events via email. Simply create an email using the address reservations@trinitydeland.org to let the office know which event you will be attending and how many RSVPs you are making. There is no way to make an online payment yet, but we hope to have that system set up in the new year.
WAYS TO SERVE
  • Like to take messages and talk with folks? Want to help in the Church Office? Contact Debra Wood.
  • Willing to be a greeter or ambassador on Sundays? Contact Dave Shipman, Susan Largen or Jennifer Griffis.
  • Love cooking and want to serve on our Kitchen Team? Contact Betty Kobler.
  • Want to serve the least of these through our monthly Breakfast at Trinity ministry? Contact Lana Saxon. Or Interfaith Kitchen? Contact Melissa Fuller.
  • Excited about going to Cuba or taking other mission trips? Contact Dee Miller or Dan Vergara.
  • Willing to call, write or visit homebound members? Contact Becky Hurlburt or John Campbell.
  • Want to help our TLC (Trinity Loving Care) team with funeral services, receptions and bereavement calls? Contact Debbie Bennett.
  • Love kids and want to serve as a volunteer or mentor in local schools? Contact Anita Campbell.
  • Interested in serving on the Altar Guild? Contact Cherrie Casselberry or Becky Kellogg.
  • Want to help showcase our historical artifacts and write our history in preparation for our 125th Anniversary celebration? Contact Steve Jones.
  • Willing to learn how to operate our sound board and video camera? Contact Conya Hartman.
  • Interested in reading scripture and/or participating in worship services? Contact Rev. Todd Bardin or Conya Hartman.
  • Find it easy to talk with people about your faith? Join the new Witness Team to study, pray and plan for ways to strengthen our ability to witness to others. If interested, see or contact Rob Miller.
  • Are you an outgoing extrovert and love people? Willing to serve as an "ambassador" for Trinity at church and area events? Consider joining the Hospitality Team. Contact Judy Ross, Ann Jenkins or Susan Largen.

If you do not personally know some or all of these ministry team leaders but want to contact them about volunteering, send an email to volunteers@trinitydeland.org , or call the Church Office (386) 734-4425 to request an updated "People Directory."
DISTRICT INFORMATIONAL GATHERINGS TO BE HELD

General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church. The assembly meets at the beginning of each quadrennium to consider revisions to church law as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years. General Conference 2020 will take place May 5-15, 2020, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In order to have uniformity across the Florida Annual Conference and, in order to build trust, Rev. Alex Shanks will lead an informative gathering for each of the eight districts along with assistance from the respective resident District Superintendent. In this way, the same information will be shared during each session.

The gatherings in each district will replace any scheduled local church meetings for a similar purpose, and lay leaders will be encouraged to attend in their own district (or in a district near them, if there is a schedule conflict). Please save this date. More info will be shared in the April newsletter.

East Central District Gathering
Thursday, April 16th
10-11:30 a.m.
Asbury UMC, Maitland
How much do you know about the Bible? Find out with this month's
GOD HAS ASKED US TO
GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND
MAKE DISCIPLES FOR JESUS.
PLEASE JOIN WITH US ON THE JOURNEY!
306 W. Wisconsin Avenue
DeLand, Florida 32720