Responding Faithfully to COVID-19 - Letter to Trinity
NOTE: The following is a version of a letter sent to the Trinity family on Thursday, April 9, 2020. It has been lightly edited for this format. To view a PDF of the original letter, click here.
Dear Trinity Family,
I am proud of you. In the midst of a public health crisis unlike anything our world has seen for generations, you have stepped up in a big way. It’s been four weeks since we made the hard decision to suspend all in-person activities at Trinity, and in that time you have done some amazing things:
Every day you are checking in on each other, your neighbors, and your friends.
Dozens of you have said “yes” to being on the Trinity Volunteer Team to help make deliveries to those who need extra help; getting needed supplies to our local mission partners.
Even when we can’t meet in person you are showing up for worship online, joining Zoom calls to fellowship with others, and lifting our community and world up in prayer.
Thanks to your generosity in the past we have been able to respond quickly to pressing needs in our community, providing over $6,000 in emergency grants in the last three weeks. This has allowed us to support critical needs at Crosslines, Grace UMC, Rare Breed, and Eden Village as they care for the most vulnerable in our community during this crisis.
However, we know that this crisis is far from over. Trinity will not gather again for worship until at least Sunday, May 17, dependent on guidance from public health officials. The road ahead is long and uncertain, but our calling is sure: to be a witness to Christ’s Kingdom in all we do. We will continue to work with our ministry partners to serve the “least of these;” we will continue to meet our obligations to our staff, our facility partners at Brentwood, and John Calvin Presbytery; we will continue to worship and sing and pray and study; for as Paul reassures us in Romans 8, there is nothing able to separate us from the love of God — not even a pandemic.
I want to specifically ask your your help today as we look to this road ahead of us. For many in our community this crisis has led to unprecedented financial hardship; if this is the case for you please reach out - contact us here. We want to help. However, if you are in a more stable financial position I would ask you to consider maintaining or increasing your participation in the financial life of Trinity. Below is some information about how you can participate in this important aspect of our common ministry, including a new online giving option.
For the first disciples Easter morning began in fear and isolation and lost hope. May we all be reminded that Jesus isn’t limited by our fear, our closed doors, or our isolation. Good news is coming my friends. Thanks be to God.
Wishing you the Peace of Christ,
Rev. Christopher Miller
Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church
Participating in the Financial Life of Trinity During COVID-19
For many in our community the COVID-19 pandemic has meant unprecedented financial hardship. If this is the case for you, please get in touch. We want to help. However, if you are in a more stable financial situation, please consider maintaining or increasing your financial support of Trinity in this time of increased need. Right now, there are three key ways you can participate in our financial life:
If you want to:
Help Trinity Fund our Planned Mission & Ministry ➛ 2020 General Fund
Provide Immediate Support for COVID-19 Relief ➛ COVID-19 Relief Fund
Provide Resources for Long-Term Relief & Recovery ➛ One Great Hour of Sharing
2020 General Fund
The General Fund is what enables Trinity to do our “day to day” ministry. It funds all of our planned mission and ministry activities from worship to mission to education to administration. When you make a pledge to Trinity, you are pledging to support the General Fund. If you can support one area of our financial life, please support our General Fund.
COVID-19 Relief Fund
Our COVID-19 Relief Fund provides resources for immediate and local needs relating to the COVID-19 crisis. These funds are used by our Mission & Public Witness Committee to provide emergency grants above and beyond our annual mission budget to our mission partners to meet the pressing needs of our community.
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)
OGHS is one of the four annual, special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It supports three key national agencies, all of whom are on the front line of long-term relief and recovery efforts for the COVID-19 crisis. OGHS supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People.
How Can I Participate?
Even though we aren’t gathering in-person for worship, you can still participate in the financial life of Trinity. There are two easy ways you can support our work together: mailing a check or giving online.
Mail a Check
You are welcome to mail a check to Trinity, noting the fund you wish to support in the memo line. Please note, due to staff and volunteer reductions at the church it may take longer than usual to process your donation.
Please address your envelope:
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Attn: Treasurer
1900 E Barataria
Springfield, MO 65804
Donate Online
You may make a secure gift to Trinity from our website: https://trinityspringfieldpcusa.org/give
From our site you can make a one-time or repeating gift using your checking account, credit, or debit card. For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions section of the giving page.
