This morning as we conclude our sermon series called Faith and Reason: A Thinking Persons’ Guide to Faith, we are going to talk about one of the oldest and most difficult questions we face as Christians: Why do people suffer? If God is a good God, why is there suffering and evil in the world? What we’ll see is that while the Bible never promised that we wouldn’t face hardships, the promise we do have is that God will always be with us, no matter what, and that God’s love will always prevail.

We will gather at 11 AM for online worship through our website and on Trinity’s Facebook Page.

Please register your attendance here! You can also list prayer requests as well. To be added to the Prayer Chain click here. Don’t forget to join us on ZOOM for a special time of fellowship. Click here to join!

Click here for the Children’s Activity.

Prelude: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten - Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg

Call to Worship: (based on Isaiah 41:10 and 43:2-4)

Hymn: O Christ, the Healer - Hymnal no. 265 (verses 1, 2, 5)

Children’s Time: The Root Family

We invite the children who are worshiping at home to pay extra special attention. Each week Hannah Day Donoghue will send out a Children’s Activity for the children to do at home during this time.

Solo: Come to Me - Dan Forrest

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 6:2-6

² Have mercy on me, Lord, because I’m frail. Heal me, Lord, because my bones are shaking in terror! ³ My whole body is completely terrified! But you, Lord! How long will this last? ⁴ Come back to me, Lord! Deliver me! Save me for the sake of your faithful love! ⁵ No one is going to praise you when they are dead. Who gives you thanks from the grave? ⁶ I’m worn out from groaning. Every night, I drench my bed with tears; I soak my couch all the way through.

The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.

^*Gospel Lesson: Matthew 11:28-30 - James Thompson

²⁸ “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon: Why Do People Suffer?

We invite you to consider giving on-line or giving by text! To give on-line, click here. To give by text, text “GIVE” to 703-783-3034. For further information about online giving, visit here.

     and from these riches we bring this offering.

Hymn: Precious Lord, Take My Hand - Hymnal no. 474

The flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Jack Bowers from Beth Bower.

Worship Online this Sunday: While we aren’t meeting in person, we will be worshiping online via livestream on Trinity’s Facebook page and through our website. Each Saturday evening, we will send out an email with links to the worship sites and the bulletin for worship that Sunday. This Sunday, we will invite you to be intentional about finding a space in your home to worship and to be truly present in a time of worship. For additional questions about how to worship online, please contact the Church Office. 

Fellowship Time via ZOOM on Sunday after Church: After worship this morning, we invite you to a time of fellowship via Zoom led by our Program Director Hannah Day Donoghue! This will be a time for us to connect after worship, check-in, and to have a time of conversation about worship. Click here to join. For questions, contact our Program Director, Hannah Day Donoghue.

Youth Group: Four Youth Groups left for the YEAR! This week we will meet from 5:30-7:30 PM for Movie Night! For additional information, contact Hannah Day Donoghue.

Today’s solo: Dan Forrest (b.1978) has chosen text from Matthew 11:25,28-29, 2 Cor. 6:18 and John 3:1 for his choir anthem Come to Me. Adapted for solo voice today, the choral anthem with cello was commissioned by the Sanctuary Choir of Athens First UMC, Athens, Georgia. © copyright 2018 by Beckenhorst Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-713613. All rights reserved.

It is with sadness we share the death of Ruth Deibert, grandmother of Trinity member Jennifer Deibert. We extend our prayers and sympathies to Jennifer, David, Christopher and William, as well as extended family and friends. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to Jennifer Deibert at 3215 Old Dominion Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22305.

Join the Trinity Prayer Chain: During times of trial and uncertainty, we pray to grow in our faith and encourage one another. To respond to our growing prayer needs, we will be starting an email prayer chain to share our prayer concerns with one another. We will share joys as well as concerns and needs. If you are interested in being part of this prayer chain or have a prayer request, please email us here.

4^th and 5^th Graders: Current 4^th and 5^th graders are invited to join youth group on June 6^th from 5:30-7 PM. Come get a taste for what youth group will look like when you are in 6^th grade. RSVP/Registration required. For additional information, contact Hannah Day Donoghue.

Rising Hope Video Project “Build Back Dream Forward”: Our mission partner, Rising Hope Mission Church invites us to an unveiling of a new film “Build Back Dream Forward” which highlights the effects of COVD-19 on Communities of Color and low-income communities. This event will take place on Sunday, May 16^th at 7:30 PM via zoom. Click here to join the zoom call. (Meeting ID: 912 2842 4021; Passcode: 706691) All are welcome!

Calling all Graduates--High School, College, and beyond! On Sunday, June 13^th we will recognize our graduates at both the 9 AM Outdoor Communion Worship in the Courtyard and our 11 AM online worship. If you are a graduate or have a graduate in your family, please provide the following information to the Church Office by Sunday, June 6^th: graduate’s name, where they are graduating from, plans after graduation, and contact information. Please also indicate if the graduate will be present for the 9 AM Outdoor Communion Worship on June 13^th. Please send all information to our Office Manager, Jenessa Stokes in the Church Office by Sunday, June 6^th.

Youth Mission Week! Youth 6^th-12^th graders, join us for Neighboring Mission Week, July 18^th-23^rd! On July 18^th we will have a required worship blessing as well as begin mission activities. This is a Youth and Guardians meeting! Email Hannah Day Donoghue with any questions or concerns.

Expanding our Partnership with Rising Hope: Rising Hope is looking for volunteers to help with unloading food and filling bags to give to clients. The shift starts at 10:30 AM and runs until about 2:30 PM(ish), depending on how many volunteers show. No advanced contact is needed, just show up.

They also stock a “homeless shelf” with items such as tuna or chicken salad snack packs, peanut butter crackers, Ensure drinks, water, applesauce or small fruits and vegetables, pop-top can meals, crackers, etc. for those who do not have access to a kitchen. Please consider these items, as well. Paper bags are also welcome. For additional questions or concerns contact Mary Gillman.

Volunteers Needed to Help with Food Ministry: Mission is seeking volunteers who are willing to make food deliveries to Rising Hope Mission Church on Tuesday or Thursday mornings. Someone from the Mission Team will determine delivery contents and will help you load your vehicle. Sign up here. For additional questions or concerns contact Mary Gillman.

Centering Prayer meets weekly on Wednesdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, via Zoom. Centering Prayer is a 20 minute practice to sit in quiet prayer to make ourselves open to God. A reading is shared by the leader with a short discussion prior to the prayer time. For more information contact, Alva Smircina.

COVID-19 Vaccination Registration Information for Alexandria City Residents who are 65 years and over: If you are 65 and over, or have a condition that places you at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, please complete this registration form by clicking here. For more information contact Alexandria City Health Department.

1. Give online through our online donation portal.

3. If you prefer to mail in your donation, you can send a check to Trinity Church, 2911 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, VA 22302.

For further questions about how to give, visit here!

Trinity has a NEW financial management system.......Breeze. If you still give through Vanco, you can access your Legacy Vanco account here. We encourage you to switch to Breeze, our new online management system as soon as you can. Please cancel your Vanco account first and then send an email to the Church Office so you can receive an email to set up your new giving through Breeze. Thank you for however you give, it is all very much appreciated! For additional questions or concerns, contact the Church Office.

Did you know you can support Trinity UMC with a tax-free transfer from your IRA?  If you are age 72 (or 70½ before Jan 1, 2020) and have a Traditional, Rollover, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA, you are required by law to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) annually.  But did you know that you can use the RMD as a way to make a tax-free transfer to a charity, including Trinity UMC?  The transfer must be directly from your IRA to Trinity, and your broker can help you with this process so that you get the full tax benefit. Please notify Trinity when you authorize a transfer so that we may confirm receipt.  

Another way to provide financial support to Trinity is with a gift of stock.  Please consult with your broker and a tax adviser (prior to selling stocks intended to benefit Trinity) on how to handle to maximize the tax benefits.  But if you do decide to give stock – please contact the church help. We can provide a form for your broker or tax adviser to facilitate the transfer.  

As always, Trinity is very grateful for any gifts. It makes everything we do at Trinity possible.  If all else fails - please contact Rich McKinney. Thank you again for your giving - no matter how you give!

Sunday, May 16^th

Tuesday, May 18^th

Wednesday, May 19^th

   6:30 PM   Trinity’s Ringer Rehearsal

Thursday, May 20^th

   8:30 PM   Chancel Choir Rehearsal via Zoom

Sunday, May 23^th ~ Pentecost Sunday

Wednesday, May 26^th

   6:30 PM   Trinity’s Ringer Rehearsal

Thursday, May 27^th

   8:30 PM   Chancel Choir Rehearsal via Zoom

Sunday, May 30^th