Online Worship - Sunday, March 7, 2021
Sermon: “On What Are We Building Our Lives?
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and
puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
~ Matthew 5:24
As we continue to walk In the Footsteps of Jesus, this week we walk with Jesus to the mountains where he preached the most famous sermon in our scriptures: The Sermon on the Mount. As we reflect on this sermon, we will consider “On What Are We Building Our Lives?” We are abundantly blessed to have the Rev. Dr. Youtha Hardman-Cromwell preach and lead us in worship this Sunday.

This Sunday we will also celebrate Holy Communion. During this season of online communion, there are two ways to participate in Holy Communion. First, for those of you who are local and able, you are invited to pick up consecrated elements immediately following worship from 12-1:30 PM. If you aren’t local or aren’t able to come by, you are invited to prepare the table at home by using bread and juice. 

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

Please register your attendance here! You can also list prayer requests as well. To be added to the Prayer Chain click here.

See below for the Order of Worship.
 
Sunday Worship
March 7, 2021 - 11 AM
“On What Are We Building Our Lives?”
The Order of Service
Welcome to Trinity online.
As we prepare for a time of worship, we invite you to find an intentional space in your home for worship. We encourage you to light a candle or place something that
reminds you of Trinity or your connection with God nearby. Children are invited
to take out their worship boxes to prepare for worship.

Prelude: Be Thou My Vision ~ arr. Alice Parker
Karen Beasley, soprano
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, Nought be all else to me, save that thou art. Thou my best thought by day or by night, waking or sleeping thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord. Born of thy love, thy child may I be, Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee. Riches I heed not, nor mans empty praise. Thou mine inheritance, hope and always Thou and thou only first in my heart, High King of heaven my treasure thou art. High King of heaven, whatever befall; Still be my vision, O Ruler of all. 

Welcome and Announcements
As we light our candles in the sanctuary, I invite you to join us in lighting your own candle at home. As we place the cross in the holder, we invite you to place something that reminds you of Trinity or your connection with God in front of you.
Call to Worship

Come now, to worship, turn to and seek God’s wisdom.
We must embrace God’s truth and way.
What insights guide our decisions?
We must embrace God’s truth and way.
What opinions sway our thinking and actions?
We must embrace God’s truth and way.
What standards shape our practices?
We must embrace God’s truth and way.
How can we be faithful disciples?
We must embrace God’s truth and way.
Hymn: My Hope is Built - Hymnal no. 368
The United Methodist Hymnal ©1989 The United Methodist Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Prayer of Confession and Pardon:
(By Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Thou Eternal God, out of whose absolute power and infinite intelligence the whole universe has come into being, we humbly confess that we have not loved thee with our hearts, souls and minds, and we have not loved our neighbors as Christ loved us. We have all too often lived by our own selfish impulses rather than by the life of sacrificial love as revealed by Christ. We often give in order to receive. We love our friends and hate our enemies. We go the first mile but dare not travel the second. We forgive but dare not forget. 

And so as we look within ourselves, we are confronted with the appalling fact that the history of our lives is the history of an eternal revolt against you.

But thou, O God, have mercy upon us. Forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be. Give us the intelligence to know your will. Give us the courage to do your will. Give us the devotion to love your will.

In the name and spirit of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Passing of the Peace:
Wed love to know you worshiped with us! Please register your attendance here. We also encourage you to comment during the service so we can be in community with you! Click here to sign up for all our eCommunications.

Children’s Time: Katie Cook
We invite the children who are worshiping at home to pay extra special attention. Each week Hannah Day Donoghue will send out Children’s Worship Bulletin and Coloring Page for the children to do at home during this time.
Solo:  Do Not Be Afraid for You Are Mine ~ Lloyd Larson
Do not be afraid for I am with you. I have called you by name. When you walk through the storms, when you walk through the fire, do not be afraid for you are mine. Come to me, you are my child. Through the waters deep, or the valley so steep...Cast your fears on the Lord each day, for He cares for you. Place your trust in the Lord today. God will take care of you. Be not dismayed whate'er betide... Beneath His wings of love abide. God will take care of you through every day, o'er all the way.
1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.
Sermon: On What Are We Building Our Lives?
~ Pastor Youtha Hardman-Cromwell
Invitation to the Offering:
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.
Offertory Prayer

All good gifts come from you, dear Lord,
     and from these riches we bring this offering.
Help us to use it for the furtherance of your purpose in this place,
     and for the benefit of those in need. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
Holy Communion is a sacrament in the United Methodist Church. We believe Christ is present in the sacrament and that through one Spirit, we, though many, are made into one Body. Holy Communion is an embodied experience meant to be shared in Christian community. During this season, we practice online communion as an extraordinary means for observing the sacrament that is permitted “in Extremis” for the present crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic. For additional information about online communion, we encourage you to read this letter from Bishop Sharma Lewis.

We will consecrate the elements on the church’s altar table and on your tables at home. If you are able, we encourage you to come and pick up consecrated elements at the church following worship today, from 12-1:30 PM. If you are not able to come to pick up elements, you can consume the elements you have in your home.  

The Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

…And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

...And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith...
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

...Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
now and forever.
Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father,
     who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
     thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
     as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
     but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
     and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Consecration of the Table
We will consecrate the elements on the Church’s Altar table and on your tables at home. If you are able, we encourage you to come and pick up consecrated elements at the church following worship today, from 12-1:30 PM. If you are not able to come to pick up elements, you can consume the elements you have in your home.

Prayer After Communion
Eternal God,
     we give you thanks for this holy mystery
in which you have given yourself to us.
Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit,
     to give ourselves for others,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Hymn: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee - Hymnal no. 142
The United Methodist Hymnal ©1989 The United Methodist Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Dismissal with Blessing:
During this time, children are invited to take one of the stickers and place it on your clothing to remember that you are sent into the world remembering the love of God and Jesus Christ.

Immediately following worship (from 12-1:30 PM), you are invited to come to the Sanctuary doors to pick up consecrated communion elements.

Postlude: Toccata in e minor ~ Johann Pachelbel
Sunday at Trinity Church
Pick up Communion Elements today from 12-1:30 PM: For those who are local and able to do so, we invite you to pick up consecrated communion elements (individually prepackaged) today immediately following worship. This is a way to maintain the real and communal aspect of communion.

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

No Fellowship Time via ZOOM today, Sunday, March 7th. Please join us next week for Fellowship Time!

Youth Group: Youth group will be returning to our hybrid every other week model March 14th. We will alternate in person youth group and virtual youth group. On March 14th we will meet at Trinitys Courtyard from 5:30 PM-7:00 PM! All COVID precautions will remain in place. This week we will remain online from 5:30-6:30 PM. Email Hannah Day Donoghue with any questions or concerns.
Music Notes
Today’s Prelude: The original Old Irish text, “Rop tú mo Baile”, is often attributed to Saint Dallán Forgaill in the 6th Century, Some date it to the 8th century; others as late as the 10th or 11th Century. The prayer belongs to a type known as a lorica, a prayer for protection. In 1905, the text was translated from Old Irish into English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne. The English text was first versified in 1912 by Eleanor Hull, and this is now the most common text used. The hymn is sung to the melody noted as “Slane” in hymnals, an Irish folk tune. It was common practice to attribute hymn tune names to the place where they were collected by folk song collectors. Slane is a village in Ireland. No matter where we are in life, the Lord is our light and our strength. He watches over us and stands by our side. The powerful lyrics of 'Be Thou My Vision are the perfect reminder of His love and presence. Our prelude is an arrangement of “Slane” by Alice Parker (b. 1925), internationally renowned composer, conductor and teacher. She began her long association with Robert Shaw at the Juilliard School. Her list of published compositions has over five hundred titles.

Todays solo “Do Not Be Afraid” was written by Lloyd Larson (b. 1954), who is also known as a master arranger. His music compositions and arrangements number well over 1,300 published works. He has been involved in church music ministry for over 35 years, serving churches in Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota. This anthem is based on Isaiah 43:1-5 and 1 Peter 5:7 and incorporates the much-loved W. Stillman Martin hymn “God Will Take Care of You.”
Trinity Community News & Prayers
In the Footsteps of Jesus, Lenten Sermon Series (February 21 - April 4, 2021): What does it mean to walk in the footsteps of Jesus? During the season of Lent, we will walk in the physical footsteps of Jesus Christ, tracing his ministry journey from the Jordan River where he was baptized to Jerusalem, where he spent his final days. As we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we see how Jesus lived, how he treated others, what he taught, and the everyday choices he made. What does Jesus’ journey teach us about how we are to live this Lenten season? Join us as we consider what it means to live in the footsteps of Jesus.

Lenten Devotionals: The Christian Formation team has put together Lenten devotionals to guide us in our journey in the footsteps of Jesus. If you didnt pick up a Lenten Kit, we post the Lenten devotionals each Monday on our website.

Lenten Small Group Bible Study: Join Pastor Grace and our Program Director Hannah for a 5 week Wednesday night Bible study from February 24th-March 24th from 7:30-8:30 PM. We will have time to build community and dive deeply into the scripture for the upcoming Sunday. We highly encourage folks to join for all 5 weeks, as we hope to grow deeper in community and deeply dwell in the Word of God. Email Hannah Day Donoghue by February 21st to sign up for this Zoom study.

Holy Week Stations of the Cross: For this years Holy Week, we invite you to come spend some sacred, set apart time praying and reflecting at Trinity. The Holy Week Stations will begin outdoors. There will be a circular path around the Church that is home to each station. We encourage you to spend the time sitting with the story and praying at each station. The final station will finish in the Sanctuary. We welcome you to spend time sitting in prayer during your time slot. Due to safety reasons, you must sign up for a slot to be part of this Holy week experience. Click here to sign up.

2021 Lenten Mission Offering: You can help Trinity Church reach its Lenten Mission giving goal of $5,000 with $1,000 designated for Community Lodgings, $1,000 for ALIVE!, $1,000 for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Disaster Relief Fund, $1,000 for Rising Hope, and $1,000 for Casa Chirilagua. Please click here to give online to Lenten Mission Offering (969) or send a check via the mail notating Lenten Mission Offering on the memo line. We are accepting donations through the end of May. For more information contact our Missions Chair, Mary Gillman.
Celebrate Easter at Trinity
All worship services are available at www.trinityalexandria.org.
Trinity Church’s Weekly News
Order your Easter Lilies & Azaleas today! The Flower Committee invites you to reserve an Easter Lily or Pink Azalea for our Easter Sunday services. Plants are $25 each. Please pay electronically here, choose Flower Fund (765) and comment what type of plant(s) you wish to reserve. Our Office Manager, Jenessa Stokes will confirm your order and request the dedication you wish to have printed in the bulletin for Easter Sunday. Plants will be available for pick up at the Church on Easter Sunday after worship. Please know that all proceeds help us cover the costs of flowers, wreaths, and supplies throughout the year. For questions or assistance contact the Church Office.

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.

ALIVE! is restarting its Housewares program! They will be holding a drive-through collection event in the parking lot of Fairlington UMC on Saturday, February 6th, from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Should this model be successful, ALIVE! will continue to schedule regular collection days. Volunteers will be present to receive donated items on a contactless and socially distanced basis. For the foreseeable future, this will be the only way to donate household items. Please limit donations to items listed on the ALIVE! Housewares page.

Rising Hope has made an urgent request for paper grocery bags. They are critical in delivering food to families in the community. Please consider helping with this effort by collecting them and then dropping them off in the large plastic bin outside the Church Office door, across from the mailbox. You can’t miss it! We will ensure that they’ll be included with the weekly food delivery. Thank you for your continued support with this ministry.

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.

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. Click here to connect. 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.
Giving at Trinity

How to give at Trinity:
There are three ways to give at Trinity!
1. Give online through our online donation portal.
2. Give by text at 703-783-3034. Just send a text that says “Give” and the Amount. 
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 switched our financial management system from Vanco to 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 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, March 7th
    11:00 AM      Worship at via Facebook Live and Trinity Website
    12:00 PM      Fellowship Time via Zoom
      5:30 PM      Youth Group via Zoom

Tuesday, March 9th
      7:00 PM      United Methodist Women’s Meeting via Zoom

Wednesday, March 10th
      6:00 PM      Centering Prayer via Zoom
      7:30 PM      Lenten Small Group Bible Study via Zoom

Thursday, March 11th
      8:30 PM      Chancel Choir Rehearsal via Zoom

Sunday, March 14th
    11:00 AM      Worship at via Facebook Live and Trinity Website
    12:00 PM      Fellowship Time via Zoom
      5:30 PM      Youth Group via Zoom

Tuesday, March 16th
      7:00 PM      Finance Committee Meeting via Zoom
      8:30 PM      Trustees Meeting via Zoom

Wednesday, March 17th
      6:00 PM      Centering Prayer via Zoom
      7:30 PM      Lenten Small Group Bible Study via Zoom

Thursday, March 18th
      8:30 PM      Chancel Choir Rehearsal via Zoom

Sunday, March 21st
    11:00 AM      Worship at via Facebook Live and Trinity Website
    12:00 PM      Fellowship Time via Zoom
      5:30 PM      Youth Group via Zoom