Online Worship - Sunday, November 22, 2020
Sermon: Knowing Our Commitments
|
|
But she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.
~ Mark 12:44
|
|
This Sunday is Commitment Sunday! It is a day when we celebrate and lift up our commitments before God: our membership commitments, our leadership commitments, and our financial commitments. We will talk about how we are called to give out our knowledge, rather than our ignorance. We will install new leaders in the church, hear stories about why we make commitments, and we will lift up our 2021 financial commitments. It will be a day of celebration and I look forward to our worship on Sunday! If you haven’ t already done so, it’ s not too late to make your 2021 Annual Giving Commitment!
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
November 22, 2020 - 11 AM
Commitment Sunday ~ Knowing Our Commitments
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: What Shall I Render to My God? - Austin Lovelace
Paul Taylor, baritone
What shall I render to my God for all His mercy’s store? I’ll take the gifts He hath bestowed and humbly ask for more. The sacred cup of saving grace I will with thanks receive, and all His promises embrace and to His glory live. My vows I will to His great name before His people pay, and all I have and all I am upon His altar lay. Thy lawful servant, Lord, I owe to Thee whate’er is mine, born in Thy family below and by redemption Thine. Thy hands created me, Thy hands from sin have set me free; The mercy that hath loosed my bands hath bound me fast to Thee. Praise Him, ye saints, the God of love, who hath my sins forgiven, Till gathered to the church above, we sing the songs of heaven.
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:
We gather this morning to celebrate our commitments.
Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
We gather today to give thanks to God for God’s blessings.
Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
With you there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
Let us worship knowing who we are and whose we are.
Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
|
|
Hymn: What Gift Can We Bring - Hymnal no. 87
The United Methodist Hymnal ©1989 The United Methodist Publishing House. All rights reserved.
|
|
Prayer of Confession and Pardon:
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
we have broken your law,
we have rebelled against your love,
we have not loved our neighbors,
and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Time for Silence and Prayer)
Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God’s love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.
Passing of the Peace:
We’d 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.
Installation of New Leaders
This morning we celebrate the new leaders who have made a commitment to serve in the 2021-2023 term.
Children’s Time: Hannah Day Donoghue
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 activities for the children to do at home during this time.
|
|
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 n 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.
|
|
Duet: Here I Am, Lord - Dan Schutte; arr. Paul Taylor
Tom Tyler, tenor; Paul Taylor, baritone
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them. They turn away. I will break their hearts of stone, give them bread for love alone. I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord…. I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them. My hand will save. Finest bread I will provide; 'til their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord…
|
|
17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.
|
|
41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
|
|
Sermon: Knowing Our Commitments
|
|
Celebration of Commitments
This morning, we lift up our commitments to God. We thank God for being the source of all our gifts and we make our commitments knowing who we are and whose we are.
|
|
Invitation to the Offering:
We invite you to consider giving on-line or giving by text! To give on-line, click here and click on the Giving tab. To give by text, text “GIVE” to 703-783-3034. Further instructions will follow. For further information about online giving, please see the Tithes & Offering announcement below.
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
|
|
Prayer of Dedication
God we celebrate the commitments we make to you this morning.
We pray these gifts will be used to build your kingdom.
We pray that our hands and feet will do your work.
We pray that our tongues and minds will speak in truth and love.
We pray our spirits will be enlivened in your Holy Spirit.
Above all, we give you thanks for your love that surpasses all understanding that comforts us, saves us, redeems us, and restores us.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
|
|
Hymn: For the Fruits of This Creation - Hymnal no. 97
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.
Benediction Response: The Irish Blessing – Traditional/The Idea of North
The Trinity Men’s Quartet: Tom Tyler, tenor; Gordon Johnson, tenor; Paul Taylor, baritone; Greg Saunders, bass
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rain fall softly on your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
|
|
Music Notes
Today’s Prelude: What Shall I Render? is an arrangement of an old American folk melody with text by Charles Wesley. Dr. Austin Lovelace (1919-2010) was nationally known as a composer and church organist, whose prolific writings also included six books. He was well known for his lectures on music, often humorous, such as “Hymns That Jesus Would Not Have Liked.”
Duet: “Here I Am, Lord” is a well-known hymn by Dan Schutte, an American composer of Catholic liturgical music and a contemporary Christian songwriter of over 150 popular hymns and Mass settings. The words are based on Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3:4. Schutte wrote the song when, as a student of theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California, he was asked to compose a piece for the ordination mass of a dean that was to take place three days later. Adding to the challenge of the short notice, the lyrics were supposed to incorporate God’s word, the idea of Jesus as the light, and the bread and wine of the eucharist (!). The arrangement by Paul Taylor, originally for men’s choir and piano, is performed today as a vocal duet with piano. Words and music by Dan Schutte(1979, published 1981); adapted by Carlton R. Young (1989). © 1981, 1983, 1989 Daniel L Schutte and North American Liturgy Resources.
Benediction Response: The traditional Irish blessing, “May the road rise to meet you…” has been set to music many times. The version performed by the Trinity Men’s Quartet is by the Australian a cappella vocal group The Idea of North, from their 1997 album The Early Years. © 1997 The Idea of North.
Sunday Morning at Trinity Church
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God.
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.
|
|
Trinity Community News & Prayers
It is with sadness we share the death of Amy Williams, sister of Trinity member Julia Williams Walters. We express our prayers and sympathies to Julia, Norris (Bud) Williams (Amy’s father) and Rhiannon Jones (Amy’s daughter), as well as extended family and friends. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to Julia at 4764 River Shore Road, Portsmouth, VA 23703.
Today we bless Trinity Members Rachel King and Joshua Hone who are moving to Kuwait this week as part of Rachel’s job in the United States Foreign Service. We send them off with our blessings and prayers.
|
|
Trinity Church’s Weekly News
Youth Group is via Zoom from 5:30-7 PM at Trinity. For more information contact Hannah Day Donoghue.
Advent Sermon Series (November 29, 2020 - December 27, 2020): It has been a been a dark and difficult year. Many of us enter this holiday season already exhausted, overwhelmed, and anxious with the brokenness of our present reality, wondering if and when hope will finally come. While we face darkness, Advent is a season of hope and light that reminds us that despite our dark our world seems, Jesus is coming. Jesus comes to shine a light in the midst of darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it. Join us these four weeks as we anticipate the light of the world.
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.
Christmas & Advent at Trinity Online: Click here to learn more about how you can celebrate Christmas and Advent at Trinity Online this year!
Christmas Trees Arrive Soon! Each December we serve as host to the North Ridge Citizens Association and Almost Heavenly Christmas Trees for the Annual Community Tree Sale. It’s a wonderful, friendly community tradition, to which anyone is welcome. This year the trees are on sale Friday, December 4th through Sunday, December 6th. To preorder a tree, questions, comments, or special requests, contact, Almost Heavenly Trees.
Rising Hope Angle Tree: It’s time to start leaning into advent and with it Christmas! With that comes our Angel Tree. This year, instead of having a tree, we will use this sign up: Trinity's Rising Hope Angel Gift Sign Up Genius to sign up for our angels. Once purchased, the gifts should be wrapped and given a tag with the Child’ s Name and Angel ID (number and letter of the Angel) visible. Drop off dates for gifts will be alongside the Rising Hope Food and Supply drive on: November 21st from 10 - noon, November 28th from 10 - noon, December 5th from 10 - noon. If you cannot make these dates work for drop off, please contact Mary Gillman to make alternate arrangements. Just a reminder, do not purchase additional things for your child and each item should be no more than $25. If you have any questions please email Mary Gillman.
Virtual Advent Party December 5th at 5 PM with Christmas Carols and Advent Wreath Making! Come join Linda, Pastor Grace and Hannah for a night jam packed with Christmas Carols, games, advent wreath making and community as we enter into this Advent season. Learn more and RSVP here.
|
|
Online Donations to Trinity
Trinity is in the processing of switching our financial management system. If you still give through VANCO, you can access your Legacy VANCO account here. We encourage you to consider switching to Breeze, our new online management system. If you do switch,
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.
Tithes and offerings may be sent to Trinity via normal mail (checks only) or via the online donation portal here. You may make online donations directly from your checking account with no check required to be mailed. This will help us immensely as our office will have limited hours to receive and process the checks. However, you may still give by mailing a check - whatever donation you want to provide will be very welcome.
We also have the capability to give by text. Just send a text that says “Give” to: 703-783-3034.
If you want more information on giving by texting works read on:
Step 1. Text the word “Give” - to 703-783-3034. Don’t worry - nothing will be charged to you until you enter your credit card or bank information.
Step 2. You will receive a text back to you saying, “It looks like you are a new giver ; to begin (a link to the text giving site will appear), click on it.
Step 3: A form will appear that will clearly say “Trinity United Methodist Church” at the top left. It will ask you to fill in the following information:
- Amount you want to give and the fund you want to give to. If you want to give a general offering, you don’t need to write anything! If you want to give to a specific fund, you can use one of the following funds: Lent; Flowers; Music; Pastor (For Pastor’s Helping Fund)
- How you want to give - credit card or direct deposit from your bank (called ACH bank transfer)
- If you select credit card, it will ask for your name, address, email address and credit card information.
- If you select ACH - it will ask for you name, address, email address and bank routing and bank account information
- At the bottom you can select one time gift or a recurring period. Suggest you select one time gift for the first time.
- That is it. Then click on Donate Now!
If you made a mistake or change your mind - no worries just send the word “refund” to the same number the last amount you sent them will be refunded to you! Also you can send the word “commands” that will give you a list of options on how to change your account or update your giving amounts.
Have you wanted to set up electronic giving for Trinity? Great! Here are the simple steps for you to follow:
That’s it! But here are a few more things to watch for and questions you’ll be asked:
- Enter the amount you would like to give.
- Select what fund to give to; to give your normal donation use “Pledge Giving”
- Then select one time gift or recurring gift. It helps our church greatly if you can select a recurring giving – either weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly or yearly.
- Select if you want to give by credit card or a direct deposit from your bank (called ACH).
- Next enter your credit card or bank information, address and email address
- And that is it.
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, November 22nd ~ Commitment Sunday
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
Wednesday, November 25th ~ Church Office Closed
6:00 PM Centering Prayer via Zoom
Thursday, November 26th ~ Thanksgiving - Church Office Closed
Friday, November 27th ~ Church Office Closed
Saturday, November 28th
10:00 AM Rising Hope Drive Through Food Drive - Parking Lot
10:00 AM Rising Hope Angel Tree Drop Off - Parking Lot
Sunday, November 29th ~ First Sunday of Advent
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
