Trinity Newsletter for February 19, 2026
Purim Celebration
We will celebrate the Jewish holiday Purim during Sunday school at 10:15 a.m in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, February 22. Please wear the most festive, playful and the most ridiculous clothes you can. Wear a silly hat or outfit as we tell the Esther story! Think “Halloween, with less dignity.”
Part of the celebration of Purim is doing acts of charity. So please bring a food item, personal hygiene item, or household item to Fellowship Hall with you on Sunday morning.
Hamantaschen (the traditional pastry of Purim), juice and coffee will be provided. Pastor Tom is looking for three people to help him make hamantaschen at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 20, in Fellowship Hall. Please bring a rolling pin and pastry bags, if you have them.
It will be fun!! Please contact the office if you want to help, office@trinityspringfieldpcusa.org.
Brown Bag Bible Exploration in Lent!
Starting Tuesday, February 24, and running until March 31, we will meet for Brown Bag Bible Exploration. We’ll meet in the Trinity Room from noon until 1:30 p.m. All you have to bring is your lunch, your curiosity and a Bible. We’ll read passages for future worship services out loud and talk about them and react to them. No prior Bible knowledge required. No preparation or homework. Just open hearts, open minds and open ears!
Here’s the schedule of readings:
February 24 Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11 and John 4:4-42
March 3 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41
March 10 Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45
March 17 Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:11-54
March 24 Acts 10:34-40, Luke 23:56-24:12
March 31 Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Isaiah 51:1-6, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35
Usher Training (For New and Experienced)
Trinity is a place of welcome!
Sunday after Sunday, usher teams show the love of Jesus, setting a tone of love and belonging in this church.
Whether you have considered volunteering as an usher, are semi-new at it, or an “old pro,” please join Kristin Butler in the coffee nook after worship on ONE of the following Sundays:
Feb. 22 OR March 8
We'll review basic usher duties (and a few things that have changed), and you'll have an opportunity to update me on your preferred “rhythm” of serving.
Church Directory Supplement
We are working on publishing a supplement to the 2024 Trinity Directory, in anticipation of printing a fully new directory once Trinity's new, settled pastor is in place.
Our intent is to publish information on Trinity members who have joined since Easter 2024, and updated information on Trinity families whose contact information has changed. We will also accept updated photographs. Please submit that information to the church office (office@trinityspringfieldpcusa.org) by March 1.
Trinity Book Club
Our group meets monthly to discuss books over delicious treats at Neighbors Mill at 9:00 a.m. Please note a few date changes for the schedule the next several months:
February 21- Every Step is Home by Lori Erickson
March 21- How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
April 18- Clear by Carys Davies
May 16- Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Please contact Daphne Anderson for information or to be included on our email list.
Join Trinity’s Congregational Care Committee
Trinity is known as a joyful, caring, and compassionate community. Do you want to help support our members as they experience times of joy, difficulty, or sorrow? We send flowers, birthday greetings, and get-well cards; organize receptions following funerals; and coordinate meal deliveries. Our homebound ministry provides important and regular connections with those unable to attend church. Please contact Colleen Lightwine (785-806-3567) for more information.
Welcome & Fellowship Committee
Can you spare 15 minutes after church, one Sunday a month?
We need a few volunteers to help your Welcome & Fellowship committee tidy the Coffee Nook, wipe tables and put away carafes on first or fourth Sundays. Please see Sarah Muegge or Kristin Butler.
HotHands Collection
We will be collecting HotHands throughout Cold Weather Shelter Season, which starts Saturday, Nov. 1 and runs through March 31. In recent years, different organizations have held big collection drives of HotHands, building up the stash available to help our unsheltered friends and neighbors. That has not happened this year and circumstances are all the more critical. You can drop off individual packs or whole cases in the Collections tub across from the Sanctuary. We will share them during our outreach dinners, through the shelter at the Fairbanks, and on occasions when we open our fellowship hall to be a Severe Weather Emergency Plan (SWEP) shelter during major winter weather events.
Per Capita
The per capita assessment for 2026 will be $42.50. Per capita is the amount that churches pay to the Presbytery for each member to cover the cost of higher levels of church government. Members are encouraged to pay this amount, some see it as part of their annual pledge, while others make an added gift to the church.
Trinity gets a lot of return for the per capita we pay. The guidance our Pastoral Nominating Committee is receiving during the search process is paid for by per capita.
You can write a check to Trinity and put “per capita” on the memo line or make a one-time donation through the website. Every little bit helps.
Liturgists for February
We are grateful to the following people who are sharing their gifts with Trinity by serving as liturgists during the month of January.
Feb. 22 - Bill Trotter
March 1 - Jill Bryant
March 8 - Sue Reynolds
If you would like to serve as liturgist, please contact Martha Bledsoe.
Prayer Chain
There are currently 16 people on Trinity’s Prayer Chain. Pray-ers receive text messages whenever someone requests prayer. Prayer requests can be as specific or general as the requester wants. Two people were added to the Prayer Chain after filling out Helping Hands at Trinity Connects on January 26. If you would like to be added to the Prayer Chain, please text Pastor Tom at 920-237-9840. If you would like to request prayer, please text Pastor Tom at 920-237-9840.
Contacting the Church Office
To reach Alyssa Spradlin, Director of Communication & Administrative Ministries, to communicate with the church office use this and only this email address:
Trinity Sunday School Classes
Sunday School opportunities for all ages. Please consider joining us in exploring our faith and learning from one another in spaces of grace and love. All classes begin at 10:15 a.m.
Children's Class
Sunday School for Children resumes January 4th. We will study the New Testament and teachings of Jesus and his followers.
Adult Class- Room 17
We continue the study by Jill Duffield: Appreciate These Things; Eight Ways of Cultivating Compassion.
Based on Philippians 4:8
Feb. 22 - Join in the Church-wide Purim celebration in Fellowship Hall
March 1 - Chapter 5: Appreciate Whatever is Pleasing
March 8 - Chapter 6: Appreciate Whatever is Commendable
March 15 - Chapter 7: Appreciate Whatever is Excellent
March 22 - Chapter 8: Appreciate Whatever is Praiseworthy
Our discussion-style class is open to all. Please contact Amy Price or Daphne Anderson with any questions.
Topical Discussions Class
Please join us for Sunday School weekly in the Fellowship Hall. We enjoy good fellowship, hot coffee, and delicious treats as we discuss God’s presence in our daily lives.
In February, our topics include:
February 22- Purim Combined Class….........................................................………..Sophia Platz
Four and More Begins Again!
Rev. Jane Huffstetler has agreed to lead Bible study on Wednesday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. (thus the name). We meet both at the church and by Zoom if that is what works for you. If you want to be included in the weekly reminder that also includes the Zoom link, please send Jane an email. We will begin with Genesis and work our way through the Bible. No prior knowledge is needed, just a Bible and a desire to study with others.
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