Trinity Newsletter for January 28, 2024
From Pastor Chris
Over the past few weeks of worship we have been exploring what it means to be loved and called by God. From the realization that we are beloved by God to the sometimes frightening truth that God sees us for who we truly are, not just how we want to present ourselves to the world, carrying the image of God within us is both a joy and a weight.
On Sunday, I challenged each of us to consider what our own unique calling might look like. Is your calling to meet the physical needs of our neighbors here in Springfield? Is your calling to show compassion and concern for the lonely and the lost? Is your calling to witness to the truth and the power of Jesus Christ in a world that claims we can do and be anything we want?
No matter your individual calling, we cannot live out our callings outside of the community of faith. Jesus lived out his ministry with the company of disciples and countless other faithful followers whose names we may never know. We should do the same. We should strive to find our calling, and to find strength to live it out within the community of the faithful. I pray that Trinity is a source of strength for you this week, because you are a source of strength for me.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Chris
Souper Bowl Lunch - February 11 after Worship
Join your Trinity family for our annual tradition of fellowship and warmth over bowls of soup. We will collect canned goods donations to support our ministry partners at Crosslines Food Pantry. Look for sign ups to bring soup, crackers, bread, and other items starting this Sunday in worship.
Thank You to Lydia Circle
Many thanks to the Lydia Circle for the wonderful new kitchen towels for the church kitchen. What a blessing!
Learning Session on Composting
Trinity members are welcome to attend this presentation by the City of Springfield Environmental Services.
We are all tired of winter and here is a way to look forward to Spring and Summer gardens of flowers, veggies and herbs.
Come Wednesday, Jan 31 at 6:00 pm.
*Please Note: This graphic has been corrected by Brentwood to reflect the correct location.
Thank You from Central H.S. Speech & Debate
Thank You, Trinity Family!
On behalf of Chloe and all of the speech/debate kids at Central High School, we would like to thank all of you who donated money and snacks for the speech/debate tournaments thus far. With each tournament, it is our goal to provide a Saturday lunch for the 30-40 kids (usually around $100) and we have 2 big containers we like to fill with snacks. Because of your generosity, we were able to cover the last 2 tournaments and now have 5 more to go! The tournament weekends are very long and it can get very expensive trying to buy concessions and, as Chloe likes to put it, "it's not real food." There are also some kids participating who don't have the resources for lunch/snack money. If you would like to help out for the remainder of the season, we're looking to raise about $500 to cover the Saturday lunches. Donations of water, snacks (prepackaged), fresh fruit (which goes fast on tournament days), would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much, Trinity Family! The Central speech & debate kids, Mrs. Talty (coach), and especially Chloe are all so grateful for YOU! If you are interested in helping, just contact Carla Wootton. (carla@trinityspringfieldpcusa.org or 417-849-6865)
Esther Circle Meeting Change
Henceforth, Esther Circle meets on third Fridays at noon; locations will rotate, so all who are interested in joining us may contact Kristin Butler at 417-414-5544.
Serving All God's Children
Do you know someone looking for a part-time job that lets you put your faith to work?
We are currently searching for a part-time Children and Youth staff member to serve our Trinity family at least through the spring semester. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please pass along the flyer below. Anyone interested should contact Pastor Chris or the church office for more details.
Office Volunteering Opportunities
Every month there are opportunities to volunteer in the church office, answering phones for both congregations and responding to the west side door. These times allow Alyssa, who serves both congregations, opportunities to participate in ministry functions outside the walls of the building. In January she will be out-of-state for two weeks to attend in-person classes for her Doctor of Ministry program. Those days have been broken up into three-hour blocks, but can be reconfigured to accommodate a potential volunteer. Shifts and the opportunity to sign-up to cover them can be found on Sign-Up Genius here. For more information, contact the church office.
Opportunities for Small Acts of Service
There are a few items that our wonderful former custodian, Vickie, did for us when she was working here that now provide opportunities to help in small but meaningful ways.
Wash the mugs from the coffee time on Sunday mornings.
Make the ice (we have a countertop ice maker in the kitchen).
Whether it's one person who takes one task or a team who takes on them all, we would so appreciate any volunteers who would like to take on these tasks! Please contact the church office.
Do You Worship with Trinity Online?
Each week in the Sanctuary we pass our Fellowship Pads and Visitor Cards. We now have a digital Connection Card for all our friends who worship with us online! If you are a regular (or semi-regular) online worshiper, please consider using our mobile-friendly Connection Card the next time you join us for worship.
Simply follow this link to note your participation in worship, share a prayer request, and more: https://bit.ly/trinitysgfconnect
Thanks for helping us better connect with our Trinity family!
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.
Young Children: Ages Kindergarten through grade 5 meet in the Children's Room in the southwest corner of the building. The Bible we use is called Growing in God's Love. Classes include activities and crafts. Teachers Sarah Muegge and Jan Redfern would be happy to see our Trinity kids and their friends.
Youth-Opportunities to Connect: In the planning stages for this year! Friends are welcome to join in activities and events as we connect with each other in and outside of Trinity.
Adult Class Offerings
Studying the Word: (Formerly the Lectionary Class) meets in the Trinity Room. Participants can attend in person or by Zoom. Together we read scripture and apply its wisdom to our lives. We'd love for all interested in learning more about the Bible, one passage at a time, to join us. All are welcome. Contact: Susan Holiday.
Topical Discussions Fellowship: Adult learners of all ages meet in the Fellowship Hall. With good coffee and fresh treats from the class members, we strive to discuss a variety of topics relevant to our religion in today's society. We hope you will join us for fellowship and discussion. Contact: Dave Muegge.
SALT: This class typically decides on materials together and has used a variety of books and study formats, with questions to spark discussion of living out our faith in today's world. Come when you can, no experience required! SALT meets in Room 17. Contact: Amy Price.
Four and More: This Bible study derives its name from meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays (presently by Zoom). Anyone wanting to join can send their email address to the study leader Jane Huffstetler, and she will provide the Zoom link.
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