Greetings!

The church is not closed, we are just not meeting in large groups for worship, as we have traditionally done on Sundays. Bishop Carter has asked all churches not to meet corporately for worship at least through April. Instead, we have been asked to use social media or other creative means by which to worship.

In times like these, people still need God and our church is uniquely poised to spread the Word of God during this time... just in safe, new and creative ways... like we did last week! For those who participated, thank you for attending our Drive-In Worship LIVE! Service and Drive-By Blessings events. What a tremendous outpouring of Christian love we shared together. Though we had to keep our distance, my heart was overfilled with joy for all who attended while sitting in their cars, watched live on Facebook, and viewed later on YouTube.

We will continue to offer a Drive-In Blessing experience every Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. and the Drive-In LIVE! Worship Service on Sundays for the foreseeable future. Please join us. Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join us too. With the School Board lot next door, we have lots of parking space, and with Facebook Live, you can watch and listen at the same time. Create a "Watch Party" on Facebook so you can personally invite your FB friends. Tell them that we will have one service at 10 a.m. and anyone can drive to the church, tune their car radio to 88.5 FM, and enjoy the service. This way, we stay safely in our cars but can still see each other.

Weekly Communion will be BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread). You can bring juice too, if you like, but it doesn’t take both elements to make the sacrament complete. God is fully present in whatever elements we offer. We will not pass out communion elements. Bring your tithes and offerings, or anything you need to drop off for the church office. We will have a bucket to collect those things when you arrive or as you depart. Just remember, if you are not feeling well, please stay home. Honk if you love Jesus!

Our Easter service will be at the Ford Family Farm at 8:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday. We will have one service that day. It is earlier than our normal 10 a.m. service time to help us avoid the heat. There is very little shade at the Farm, and we want everyone to be as comfortable as possible. This will be a drive-in service and we will practice social distancing by staying in our cars. We will celebrate Holy Communion so bring your own bread and juice.  

Holy Week activities are published in this newsletter. Check them out! We will communicate more on these things in the days ahead. Which reminds me, if you are not getting our emails, Phonevite calls, or want to know how to subscribe to the newsletter, YouTube, or Instagram, read the article under the heading "Communications" below. Want to know more? Call Anita Campbell at 386-734-9224 with your questions.

The office is open, but with a skeleton crew. Nonetheless, we are here for you, so don't hesitate to call us if you have needs at 386-734-4425.

I LOVE being your Pastor!

Todd

Holy Week 2020

Sunday, April 5th - Palm Sunday

Drive-In LIVE! Worship at 10 a.m. - parking areas around the church

Everyone bring a branch to wave our your window. Also BYOB (Bring your Own Bread) for Communion. (You may bring juice too, if you wish.)

Wednesday, April 8th

Drive-By Blessings at 6-7 p.m. - under the portico on the south side of church

Give us your praise reports and special prayer requests so the staff can pray over you.

Thursday, April 9th - Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday Worship Service will be held online beginning at 6 p.m.

Attendees will experience a Virtual Labyrinth Prayer Walk on Zoom. No need to download the program. Look for the invitation to be emailed to you. Click the link to participate. Got questions, email Pastor Todd.

Friday, April 10th - Good Friday

Stations of the Cross will be on our Plymouth Avenue property from 5-7 p.m.

This outdoor event will allow us to practice social distancing while contemplating Christ’s journey to the cross.

Sunday, April 12th - Easter

Drive-In Live! Worship Service at 8:30 a.m.

BYOB for Communion. Bring juice too, if you wish. The service will be held on the Ford Family Farm on SR472 (where church picnics have been held in the past). The physical address is 2040 State Road 472, Orange City (not DeLand). If ordered, don't forget to pick up your Easter flowers after the service, otherwise we will distribute them.

USING TECHNOLOGY

While our church building may be closed, Pastor Todd, staff and TOT volunteers are working harder than ever to seek new and creative ways to encourage spiritual growth and unity, while ministering to the sick and lonely. It's proving to be stressful for all, especially those who are quarantined. Please keep them in your prayers.

As a result, using technology to stay connected is vitally important right now. With things changing more than usual, we ask that you check our Event Calendar frequently (located on our website at www.trinitydeland.org) for up-to-date information on what services and activities will be held, when and where.

When you see an event listed on the calendar,

click on it to learn detailed information and who to contact.

Pastor Todd and other ministry team leaders are using Zoom to conduct online meetings like Lectio Divina (Thursdays from 6-7 p.m.) and Trinity Youth (Sundays from 3-5 p.m.). Classes and small groups like Susanna Circle are also meeting this way. For information on how to use Zoom to host or attend a meeting, call me and I will be more than happy to assist you!

Anita Campbell, Communications

386-734-9224

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTINUE MY GIVING?

During this unique and difficult time, some of you may be wondering, “ What is the best way to continue my giving? ” Here's how!

 

Online giving – We are encouraging members and friends to use our safe online giving program to make either a one-time or recurring donation. Our online e-giving site is secure through a company call Vanco, used by hundreds of churches.

When you go to our website ( www.trinitydeland.org ) look for the purple " Give Today! " button in the upper right corner. When you click on it, you will be taken to our proprietary page where you must first Create Your Online Profile . As with similar online banking applications, you can choose to have your contribution taken from your bank checking or savings account, debit, or credit card. You can choose whether you would like your contribution to go to our general operating fund and/or any of our “restricted” funds.

 

Electronically with your smart phone - Another way to give to Trinity is to use our GivePlus+ app (provided to us from Vanco). With so many members using their smart phones these days, most are familiar with downloading apps. If so, GivePlus+ is for you! You can find the free app in both Google and Apple stores using your phone. Simply search using key words “Give Plus”. (The application program should pop up first but, to be sure, the logo will look like the one above.) Download the app then follow the directions to search for Trinity’s page and set up your profile.

 

Mail in your check – Yes, Trinity still gladly accepts your offering in the form of checks. The church mailing address is: 306 W. Wisconsin Ave, DeLand, FL 32720.

If you find you need assistance in setting up/using either of the electronic giving options, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to assist.

Mark Moor, Finance Chair

REMEMBERING LARRY GRAHAM

Our beloved and talented organist/keyboardist, Larry Graham, passed away at home on March 17th. He will be greatly missed… Here are the words of our Worship and Music Director, Conya Hartman, who knew him best and said it best…

I am heavily grieving the loss of Larry. Words can’t begin express my deep sadness. I keep wanting to text him as we usually communicated, and when I came to the church I choked up looking at the piano and organ and thinking I would not see him playing again. He blessed us for a little over 5 years, and considered us his family.

Fern [Larry’s mother] loved us equally, and I know our church impacted both of their lives. They felt loved and a part of our church family. I share all this since I can’t see you in person to grieve together and hug one another. He and I had texted the night he got out of the hospital. He let me know he was released, and had gotten dinner. I am grateful that he did get to go home before he passed. He got to see his pets, and that was a blessing for him.

I doubt I will ever know again the kind of musician that he was. There are those of us who love music, who train in music, who share music, who perform music, but Larry, I would describe, WAS music. He also could relate to anyone, cared about everyone, and never made anyone feel that their talents or abilities were not good enough. He never acted like his talents were anything special, and almost seemed embarrassed if he received praise. He was a true humble spirit, and he was a good friend. Thank you for allowing me to share about him in this time of grief. ~ Conya Hartman

Here are more words from Bob Sollien, one of our talented choir members and local celebrity:

In a way I am glad Larry had a bad heart. If not for his heart, he may yet still be driving a big rig across endless miles with his true talent lying hidden and dormant. If not for his bad heart he may not have been home to help his mom, maybe would have put her in a nursing home. Instead she got to have her son close by for the last years of her life. And of course if not for his bad heart we would not have known or shared his incredible talent and his wonderful friendship and fellowship at our church. He was poet on the keyboard, an orchestra, a marching band, a rock group or even just a solo singer/pianist in quiet dark corner of lounge somewhere. Maybe he had a bad heart but he had the most wonderful soul of anyone I’ve ever known. ~ Bob

We are happy to have video recorded many worship services on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Click HERE to learn how to access those sites and to watch and listen to some of the beautiful music that Larry made during his years at Trinity.

MUSIC AND WORSHIP UPDATES

Oh how I am missing each of you and our usual worship times together. There’s never been more of a time to “ be still and know that I AM God.”

This corona situation has changed our lives in many ways, and we are not sure for how long. However, our God is greater than anything that comes our way, and He is with us.

I know my prayer life has grown through all of this, and I have a new appreciation for many things: time... which we never seemed to have enough of before; family and friends... as we are not able to gather and I miss my hugs! worship….as we have not been able to meet together, but finding new ways to worship in a safe way; serve... finding what needs our church family and community have; and our earth... which is showing signs of healing the ozone layer with fewer factories, cars and mass transportation systems operating.

I wanted to update you on some worship things:

We are continuing our Drive-By Blessings on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. This Sunday, April 5th, we will have our Drive-In LIVE! Worship at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot. It’s Palm Sunday so please bring a palm branch to wave outside your car window!

For Maundy Thursday, April 9th, Pastor Todd will host an online event using Zoom. Please join us, as he will be incorporating a Prayer Labyrinth during the service. And we are still planning to host our Stations of the Cross event on Good Friday, April 10th, since we can control social distancing for that event. Of course, all of these events will occur as long as we continue to follow the guidelines set forth from our local and national government.

On Easter Sunday, April 12th, we will have one worship service at 8:30 a.m. at the Ford Family Farm off State Road 472. (For directions, see the map in this newsletter, call the church office or visit our website.) We decided to hold the service at that time to avoid the heat of the day out, since cars will be parked in the pasture and there are no shade trees. After Easter, we will resume our Drive-In LIVE! Worship Services at the church every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. (for the foreseeable future.)

I pray each one of you remains safe and healthy until this crisis passes, and I look forward to worshiping in person with you soon. For now, I’m sending you all virtual hugs! And, for your “to-do” list:

Blessings,

Conya

P.S. I created an activity for families/individuals to do during this time of social distancing. It's called a Prayer Scavenger Hunt and you can play from the safety of your car. The page will be mailed out to you today. I hope this activity will provide a great prayer experience in a season where lots of prayer is needed for all those around us!

CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRIES

Trinity Youth are now meeting online from 3 to 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons using Zoom.

Plans for both "church camp" at Warren Willis and our summer mission trip have been put on hold until we know more about Volusia County Schools and the distance learning schedule for the rest of this school year. For questions, email me at [email protected].

Vacation Bible School is still being planned for July 6-10, from 9 a.m. to noon. More information will be posted on the church website, calendar and in e-blasts over the coming weeks, months.

Lori Hansard,

Director of Youth

125 CHALLENGE FOR APRIL

Rick Warren eloquently said, “Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time."

For our Give 125 Challenge this month we planned to ask everyone to give of themselves with acts of kindness given to the community to show the love of Christ. During our time of social distancing, you may be wondering how we can fulfill this Challenge. Below are a few ideas:

1. Pray: Enter into a time of prayer, meditation, and contemplation for our families and community.

2. Contact: We can continue to call, text, email, send notes of encouragement, and use technology to make meaningful contact with our community.

3. Help: If you are well enough to leave your home, check with those around you who can not leave their home to determine what needs you can meet. Pick up groceries, medicine, to-go meals, etc.

4. Household needs: Trash still needs to go out and cans returned after. Mail needs to be picked up. Gardens may require watering. Dogs need to be walked. Look for opportunities to help your neighbors while keeping yourself and them safe!

5. Donate: More than ever, there are individuals who live in food insecurity. Food banks will be running low on supplies including cleaning supplies that are in such great demand.

6. Local Businesses: Look for ways you can support our local business. Many are open for limited services. Buy a gift card for local stores and restaurants to be used once life is returned to normal.

“So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” ~ NRSV 6:9 Galatians

Please report your acts of service weekly by going to this site:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z8PBPT2

Be Kind, Wash your hands, Repeat!

With love,

Steve and Debbie Jones

Both our April Young at Heart Day Trip on April 7th to see the "Wings of West Volusia" and our monthly luncheon on the 14th have been cancelled due to the pandemic.

We miss you all terribly but do hope to see you again in the fall. Stay safe, stay healthy, and don't take risks going out unless it's absolutely necessary. If you need something, call the church office. We should be able to help.

Sent with prayers and love for each of you during these trying times,

John and Anita Campbell, coordidnators

SNEAKERS FOR KIDS

During the first and second weeks of March, a few of us and many students at Citrus Grove had sneakers on our minds. We made 40 children happy with sometimes colorful, but always comfortable sneakers. One boy told us he didn't want any new ones, but when we arrived with a nice pair, he decided he liked them a lot. Another boy was wearing his dad's sneakers, which were very large on him; he was glad to get his own. One boy's sneakers had the sole separating from the shoe; he was beyond thrilled when he got his new pair. I wish you could see all the happy faces that Patty Lawrence and I saw as we fitted all the children.

Thanks so much to Judy Ross for helping with the purchasing and swapping. Thanks to Anita, Jim & Paula, Carmel, Becky, and Judy R for helping match socks with sneakers. Thanks to Patty L for helping with the fitting. Each child got 3 pairs of socks and a letter telling the parents that the sneakers came from Trinity's congregation and giving them information about upcoming activities at Trinity.

Trinity, THANK YOU so much for all your contributions of socks and money for sneakers. You are making a HUGE difference in the lives of students at Citrus Grove.

Lana Saxon, Coordinator

NIGHT FOR FREEDOM—POSTPONED

The H.O.P.E. Team's Night for Freedom, set for May 2, has been postponed until the Fall due to all the turmoil surrounding our country and the world at this time.

While all this is going on, there are still women and men, young boys and girls out there who are faced daily with having to be sex slaves. In Volusia county, most of our Human Trafficking cases are from parents selling their daughters for drug money. In some homes, young girls are being used for sex by fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and brothers. If you see something that doesn't look right or if you suspect someone is being abused, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-373-7888.

We have to protect our children and grandchildren from being lured into this “trade.” Parents especially need to monitor their children's use of their phone and computers and who they are in contact with on those devices.

Thank you for all the gift cards given for the March 125 Challenge that will go to women in “safe houses.” They can shop with these cards for essentials, something they were not able to do as “trafficked women.” Cards will continue to be accepted. Please mark the amount on the card.

Being aware and being educated takes a lot of vigilance by all of us. Contact Susan Largen or Lana Saxon if you would like more information.

THANK YOU!

Over the last year, a team of 25 dedicated church members worked to update the church directory and assist with the photography sessions. It has been quite a task and we hope you will all appreciate the many hours dedicated to this project. Our new pictorial directory will be available soon, in both print and online versions. Enjoy!

Tracy Bates, Becky Blystone & Joni Soboski - photographers

Steve & Debbie Jones - coordinators

Dear Trinity Family and Friends,

Perhaps many of us have been so taken up with the Coronavirus Pandemic that we have almost forgotten this is the season of Lent. Perhaps we’ve been so busy protecting our physical well-being that we have neglected our emotional and spiritual lives. Trinity is so blessed to have Pastor Todd, Conya, Anita and other church leaders who have developed innovative ways of assuring us that God loves us and wants to comfort us during this troubling time.

Habakkuk’s prayer keeps coming to my mind and I’ve read it over and over. This O.T. prophet cried out to God but the only answer he received was that “God is God. God is holy and does care and will act as he sees fit, but only in his time” (NLT):

Habakkuk 3:17-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

  and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

  and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

  and the cattle barns are empty,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD!

  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength!

  He makes me as surefooted as a deer,

[a] able to tread upon the heights.

Take heart, Trinity. God’s got this. Pray often for Covid-19 to end, for the health and wholeness of all impacted by the virus, especially our doctors and nurses, all healthcare workers, families without jobs and a paycheck, the most vulnerable, and for our Pastor, Conya, and church and governmental leaders. I didn't add the Directory names this month, as all of us need prayer, so please pray for each other. Thank you.

Carolyn Harner, Prayer Team Coordinator

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 [email protected] , or call the Church Office (386) 734-4425 to request an updated "People Directory."

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