Trinity Newsletter for March 14, 2024
From Pastor Chris
Holding one another, and our whole world, in prayer is one of our great privileges and responsibilities as followers of Jesus. To help, this week we are launching an update to the prayer list in our weekly newsletter. Here are some things I'd like you to know:
The prayer list now contains a suggested opening and closing section for your prayer time.
Each week we will be including a selection of general topics for prayer taken from the PCUSA Book of Common Worship. These will rotate each week over a 14 week schedule; allowing us all to pray for various regions of the world, denominational groups, and other needs.
We will continue to share specific needs within our community. To help make sure the prayer list remains current, we will typically only list concerns for two weeks. Information on how to submit a prayer request for inclusion in the newsletter is listed below the prayer list each week.
My hope is these changes will make our communal prayer list a more vibrant resource for your personal prayer time each week. I would be most grateful of your feedback on this, or anything else happening in our life together.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Chris
Annual Congregational Meeting
The Session of Trinity Presbyterian Church has called a Congregational Meeting to be held Sunday, March 17, 2024 immediately following morning worship. The purpose of this meeting is to receive the Annual Report and Budget as well as to hold elections to fill a vacancy on Session. We hope all active members of Trinity will participate in this important work of our community.
Elder Nominee: Bill Trotter
I have been involved in the Presbyterian church my entire life. I was baptized at Trinity Presbyterian Church in St. Louis in 1959. I attended Westminster Presbyterian growing up and after attending college. Then I was at First and Calvary for 25 years. I started attending Trinity because I wanted to continue the friendships I had made. Trinity has a very welcoming community.
I have been a deacon, served on the Worship and Music committee, ushered and played the tuba in musical groups. I attend the Topical Discussions Sunday school class.
My hopes for Trinity are to continue to build on the relationships we have in our congregation. I learn more about what God’s purpose is for me by serving and helping others. Please join me on this journey.
Trinity Photo Directory Coming Soon!
We are delighted to share that we are preparing a new photo directory for our church family! As we prepare this exciting project, we need your help to make sure everyone's information is up to date and that we have new photos of each person and family.
LEARN MORE HERE: https://trinityspringfieldpcusa.org/directory
Here's how you can help:
This Sunday, March 17, 2024: Stop by the Welcome Desk in the West Entryway to pick up your Directory Update Packet. This packet contains an individual update sheet for each member in your household that contains the current information we have on file. Please review the information, update and/or fill in any blanks, and return the sheets to the office (in person or by using the included return envelope) by Thursday, April 4, 2024.
Any packets that are not picked up this Sunday will be mailed (if we have a mailing address on file for your household). If we do not have a mailing address on file, you may receive an additional email or phone call in the coming weeks.
Also starting this Sunday, we will have a Photo Booth set up near the Chapel. Please stop by in the next few weeks to have your individual and family photo taken for the directory. If you aren't able to come get your photo taken, you may email a photo to the church office.
A few final points:
If you would rather securely update your information online, or have other questions, visit our Directory Update page on our website: https://trinityspringfieldpcusa.org/directory
If you no longer consider yourself part of the Trinity community, please contact our office so we may update our records. You may send an email to (office@trinityspringfieldpcusa.org) requesting to have your records updated. We only want to contact those who wish to be affiliated with Trinity.
Thank you for being part of the Trinity family! We look forward to sharing our new directory with you soon!
Save the Date: Pottery Painting Party on April 22
Mark your calendars now for a fun event happening in April! Trinity has reserved the studio at Firehouse Pottery from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22. Come and enjoy an afternoon with your church family as we paint pottery together. You choose your own piece to paint; options range from mugs and plates to fun figurines and sculptures. Trinity Welcome & Fellowship will cover the first $10 toward the cost of whatever piece(s) you choose to paint; there is no studio fee or other cost to attend.
We will need RSVPs for numbers; look for signup sheets the first two weeks of April.
Help Trinity Plan For New Ministry Opportunities
Trinity Presbyterian is part of an initiative at Princeton Theological Seminary called the Ministry Collaboratory. We are working with them to explore ways to engage young adults in the church and in the community.
As a part of this, we have the opportunity to learn more about our congregation through an anonymous survey, the Innovation Culture Index (ICI). The purpose of the ICI is to measure our congregation’s outlook and attitude in key areas associated with innovative potential. The ICI helps to reveal perceptions, beliefs, and practices around how congregations might foster or hinder innovative activity. It is not a test—there is no pass or fail. It’s an interpretive tool to help our team identify strengths and challenges as we prepare for upcoming ministry opportunities. The link for the survey is below. Please be as honest as possible as you reply.
https://mqxazakjof6.typeform.com/TrinityPres
After you click the link, you’ll be prompted to enter an access code. The code is: 9indicators
Once completed, you will receive your personal scores via email. Scores will be combined into an aggregate score before we receive it so no individual answers will be shared. The average scores will give us a big picture view for our team to reflect and discuss together.
Thank you for helping us in our work!
Coming Soon!
Grand opening of the Redfern Memorial Children and Youth Library. Ribbon cutting following the Palm Sunday service on March 24.
Trinity Easter Brunch
The Trinity Welcome & Fellowship Committee is delighted to invite you to our Easter Brunch! Join us on Easter Sunday before worship in Fellowship Hall. No RSVP is needed, simply come at 10:00 a.m. and enjoy the fellowship of your Trinity family. You are invited to bring a favorite brunch dish to share, but it is not required.
New Office Volunteering Opportunities
The Office Volunteer Sign-Up page has been updated to include dates for February and March. New dates will be added monthly. Dates noted with an asterisk (*) reflect standing ministry commitments Alyssa has outside the office, times when volunteers are most needed. On other days, volunteers in the office provide her with undistracted time to grow our digital footprint in ministry. Volunteers will primarily be responsible for answering phones for both congregations and responding to the west side door. Days have been broken up into three-hour shifts, but can be reconfigured to accommodate a potential volunteer. Please check the list on Sign-up Genius here. For more information contact the church office.
Assistive Listening Available During Worship
Learn More Here: https://trinityspringfieldpcusa.org/listen
Trinity has a new hearing assist system in the Sanctuary. This state of the art upgrade will allow anyone who needs assistance hearing during worship to use one of several options to feel more connected. Here are the highlights:
For anyone: we have new, individual audio receiver units you can borrow during worship that come with an ear-piece. You can adjust the volume with a simple up/down button, and even bring your own corded headphones if you prefer.
For individuals with T-Loop compatible hearing aides: our audio receiver units can be adapted to hang around your neck and broadcast directly to your hearing aides.
For anyone with an iPhone or Android smartphone: we have a free app you can download and use to broadcast audio directly to your Bluetooth-enabled hearing aides or your own personal headphones. Download the app here: https://trinityspringfieldpcusa.org/listen
If you would like to make use of our new hearing assist system, please see one of our AV volunteers in the back-right corner of the sanctuary prior to the service ask Pastor Chris for help.
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) and SALT Classes have now combined!
Together we decide on materials and apply the wisdom of scripture to our lives. We'd love for all interested to join us in sharing how to live out our faith in today's world.
We have been using current event articles from the Wired Word, which includes scripture passages and questions to spark discussion. Starting February 18, we will be using devotional materials and commentary from Sanctified Art. We will continue this through the season of Lent. We currently meet in Room 17 at 10:15 and welcome virtual participation via Ring Central. Contact: Amy Price or the church office for Ring Central link information.
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.
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.
Get More Each Week
Our weekly email newsletter contains more updates than we include on the website. Get our monthly birthday updates, prayer requests, and more by signing up to get the newsletter delivered to your inbox each Thursday morning. Tap the button below to sign up now.
