Final Advent Devotion on Wednesday, December 19

Advent is the time set aside to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. The Christmas season has become such a time of hustle and bustle. We invite you to take a break from the rush.Join us for a lunch hour devotion from 12:10-12:50 if you're downtown, or come for a quiet dinner between 5:30 and 6:45 pm in Fellowship Hall followed by a short devotion at 7:00. Pastor Doug will lead us in our preparations through a series on the Characteristics of a Christian Life.  

The menu for dinner 12/19 - Tomato bisque, bread, drinks.

Topics for 12/19 - Stewardship

Open House/Round Table for Trinity Lutheran School K-8

On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, Trinity will offer a Kindergarten Round Up and 1 st -8 th Round Table Discussions. This is a great opportunity for parents of children going into K through 8th grade to learn more about what TLS has to offer!  If you don't have kids that age, please share this information with a friend, neighbor, or coworker! There are two different sessions to choose from and a free spaghetti dinner! Childcare is provided as well! Please click here to RSVP by Monday, January 7. If you have any questions, contact Keri Packman at 407-488-1919 x302 or keri.packman@trinitydowntown.com .

Christmas Poinsettias & Christmas Decor

The flowers & decorations that make Trinity especially beautiful during Christmas celebrations are made possible by members of our Trinity family who wish to remember loved ones, or simply express special thanks to God, and make a donation toward the flowers and decor. Forms are in the Narthex. The names of contributors and those remembered will be published in January in the Trinity Weekly. (Suggested donation $10.00 per flower. You can take your poinsettia home after Christmas Day worship.)  Thank you!

Homeless Memorial Service

You're welcome to attend on Tuesday, December 18 10:30 a.m. at St. James Catholic Cathedral. This is an annual service to remember and recognize the homeless men and women of Orlando who died in 2018. This service is sponsored by IDignity, Inc., the organization that helps poor and needy with Florida identification.  Since 2010, thanks to IDignity's efforts, not one homeless person has died as a "John" or "Jane" Doe. Praise to God for bringing Orlando churches and merciful individuals together eight years ago when IDignity was formed.

Music Notes

Finance Office Request

Please notify the Finance Office of all new and/or one-time contributions from investment firms. We'd like to make sure your contributions are correctly posted to your account. You may contact Finance Manager Liz Roberts directly at 407.488.1919 X110, or 901.674.7722; or via E-mail at liz.roberts@trinitydowntown.com . This notice applies to new and/or one-time contributions. It does not apply to ongoing contributions that are already routinely remitted to the church. Thank you all so very muc h for your generosity!

Unique Business "Vehicle" Around Town?

We need your help to recruit new and interesting vehicles for our Touch-a-Truck event on March 9, 2019. The more unique the better, but simple and fun works too!  Some of our more unique "vehicles" have been the ReMax Hot Air Balloon, the Oscar Meyer Weiner Car, the Truly Nolen mouse cars, mini monster trucks, a rescue helicopter, huge construction cranes... Do you know/or have you seen anyone with an interesting business vehicle that would spend half a Saturday at Trinity with us to raise funds for Trinity Lutheran School? We need the vehicle and one employee who will stay with the vehicle and tell guests all about it. We'll feed them breakfast and lunch, give them a few free tickets for employees and advertise their business name and logo on the TAT webpage and Facebook page. Call them and ask if they're interested. Registration forms, info, and photos can be found on the website at  http://trinitydowntown.com/orlando-touch-a-truck/ .  Or, send us their contact information and we'll call for you!  Email PTL@TrinityDowntown.com. THANK YOU!

So far, Trinity members have recruited:

The next Touch-A-Truck planning meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2019. The meeting will be held  in the 4th Grade Classroom (upstairs in Heritage Hall). Free dinner and babysitting will be provided. Please send your RSVP to  PTL@trinitydowntown.com .  If you aren't able to attend the meeting, but would like to volunteer please let us know. We look forward to seeing you there!

Food and Funds on the Fifth

December has five Sundays!  On the fifth Sunday, December 29/30, we will collect canned goods for donation to a local food pantry as well as funds to replenish Trinity's Pastoral Discretionary Fund to help individuals experiencing a financial crisis. Please plan to bring in food and funds on Dec 29/30.  Because we know the Christmas season is very busy, we'll also extend donation drop offs for one additional week, to include January 5/6. THANK YOU!

Foundations of Faith Series with Pastor Doug

For all those interested in learning more about the Christian Faith and the Lutheran Church, for those considering church membership at Trinity Downtown, for all new full-time staff at Trinity, and for current members who would enjoy a class about the foundations of faith, please mark your calendars! This class is for YOU! The next session begins Wednesday, January 9, 2018 and will continue for eight weeks, concluding on February 27. Meet some new people in the Trinity family, spend some time in great discussions, enjoy some refreshments! These classes are always a lot of fun! Trinity's Senior Pastor, Doug Kallesen, will lead the class and discussion. (Location TBA)

Feel free to extend this invitation to anyone else you think might be interested in participating - these are open to anyone!   CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.  Questions or concerns? Contact us at 407-488-1919 x101 or TLC@TrinityDowntown.com .

Saturday is Last Day to Bid

LWML  has a child's quilt 55" x 90" for a boy or girl. Top of quilt is a print featuring zoo animals and back and binder is solid hunter green. This is a tied quilt of all new material which will wash well and be lightweight but warm. Our group has decided to offer this quilt for bids from November 16, 2018 to December 14, 2018.  We start with a $35 bid and you can bid in $5 or more increments. The money obtained will be donated half to Trinity School Scholarships and half to LWML treasury. Call in bids (leave a message if there is no answer) at 407-491-4452. Each week the newsletter will report the current bid and also the final bid and who won it. (Current bid of $40)

LWML Fall Project - Soap Collection

The collection is going well, thank you! LWML's Fall project for World Relief is a collection of individually boxed bath soaps (no hotel soap). There will be a wash tub with a scrub board in the Narthex until January 2, 2019. This is part of our mission outreach to third world countries where this soap is a precious commodity.

Facebook Users - You Are Missionaries on Facebook

In the next few days multiple event posts representing our Advent, Longest Night, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve worship services are going up on Trinity's Facebook page, as well as some interactive posts that ask for you to share a comment. If you're on Facebook, please help us reach others by sharing those events on your own page, and by commenting on Trinity's page for the interactive posts.  The more those events are shared, the more likely someone outside our Trinity family will see an invitation to worship and find their way one step closer to Jesus. The more interaction we get on interactive posts, the more Facebook recognizes our posts as something that should be shared more often. This really helps us to extend our reach beyond our own Trinity Family.  If you have questions, contact Chanda at TLC@TrinityDowntown.com or 407-488-1919 x101. Thank you.

Walk for Life with Choices Women's Ministry

The annual Walk for Life will take place, April 6th, 2019 at Blue Jacket Park in Baldwin Park. Join hundreds walking to raise money to save lives and protect women & families!  Anyone interesting in starting a team from Trinity? Let the church office know.

Christian Yoga!

You're welcome to join us on first and third Mondays (and if we have enough participants, we could add second and fourth Mondays too) for a $5 Christian Yoga class at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall. The class needs a minimum number in attendance to be held at such a discounted rate, so please email Beth at baschu4@bellsouth.net to confirm you're coming. Class starts at 6:30 pm, please arrive by 6:20 pm. Thank you! Bring with you an exercise mat (and block if you have), $5, comfy clothes, a smile, and enthusiasm!

Peace Comfort Dog

Peace will turn two years old on Christmas Day!  Since Jesus' birthday is so much more important, we will celebrate Peace's birthday each year on her vesting day, July 1st.

Please let us know!
Please let your Trinity family know of any scheduled surgery or hospital stay.  In addition to scheduled procedures, please give the church office a call to let us know about extended illness, unplanned hospital stays, or even the birth of a child.  You can call the office at any time and leave a message-no need to wait until business hours (407-488-1919 x101). During business hours, that information can then be forwarded to the appropriate caregivers.  For an emergency that requires the care of a Pastor after hours or over the weekend call or text us at 407-490-7339 (text preferred) and leave a message. We'll get back to you ASAP. We want to be sure to know when you need us-whether to pray with you before a scheduled procedure, sit with you during a loved one's procedure, pray for you while you recover, visit you in the hospital/at home or to share praise and thanksgiving prayers for good news/results. Just let us know.  Thank you.

Urgent Prayer Requests

If you have an urgent prayer request that can't wait until you fill out a yellow prayer card during worship, please submit it via email to Pray@TrinityDowntown.com .  While submitting a yellow card during worship is still the preferred way to share prayer requests, sometimes a prayer need can't wait until Sunday.  Your prayer request (first name and basic details of the prayer requested) will be shared with a team of committed weekday prayer warriors and will also be added to Trinity's regular printed prayer list for the congregation.  All prayers are kept on the printed list for a period of three weeks, so please resubmit long term prayer needs regularly so that they stay on the printed list. Thank you.

Important Dates

Dec 16 Third Sunday of Advent

Dec 19 Wednesday Advent Devotion

           12:10-12:50p devotion, 5:30-6:45p meal, 7-7:45p devotion

Dec 22 Service of the Longest Night 6pm

Dec 23 One Service: 10AM Worship Service

Dec 24 3pm Children/Family Worship, 5,7,9,11pm Candlelight Communion Worship

Dec 25 10am Worship

Dec 31 New Year's Eve Worship 7pm

Jan 2   Offices, CDC, and Mini-camp reopen

Jan 7 K-8 Back in Session

Jan 6 Epiphany Cantata at 8am and 11am Worship

Jan 9 Foundations of Faith Series begins