Your Weekly News & Updates
A Note from Pastor Zehnder
Dear Trinity Family, "It's going to the dogs!" Quite literally! There will be a "Dog and Dough-mut, I mean Doughnut (or Donut), gathering this Saturday at 10AM in the Magnolia glass conference room. Then, at each service this weekend, we will be honored to welcome Comfort Dog Sasha and her "family" to our congregation! This bow-wow visit will help us get ready for that great day when Trinity will be presented with a Comfort Dog.  The wheels are in motion! Look forward to this canine visit. I am told that you will have an opportunity to give a pat-on-the-head welcome to Sasha after each service.

This Saturday at 4pm "Foundations: Life from a Lutheran Perspective" begins. This will be the first of six sessions. The first discussion session will be focused on the origins of the Lutheran Church. Since this year marks the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, the topic is relevant. To date we have 49 folks signed up to participate. Add Jackie and me and we are over 50! This fellowship will take place in the Fellowship Hall. That makes sense!

We are all praying for Pastor and Mrs. Mueller as they consider the Divine Call sent their way from Trinity. They will be visiting next weekend (Friday through Sunday). We are looking forward to meeting them. By the way, Mrs. Mueller (Bonnie) has strong ties to the Orlando area, as her father served as the Business Manager and LCEF representative for the Florida-Georgia District for many years. And she even worked at Trinity years ago with the CDC ministry, in one of the "old houses."



Trinity is beautiful. Almost one hundred years old - imagine! Almost every day there are 400 hundred children and adults on this campus. I believe we have over 100 employees as well. It takes a great deal of labor and effort to keep this ministry vital and up to date. And, as you can imagine, the challenges are daunting. We will soon hear from our faithful Ted Lange about urgent, I mean really urgent, matters which must be addressed. We must be deeply in prayer for the sake of this Trinity and her future. No task is impossible, even ones which seem so. Why? Because the Church is Christ's and the power of hell will never diminish it. As Luther said, so we say, "God help us."

Looking forward to worship with you!  Isaiah, John, Paul, and Jesus - especially Jesus - will be addressing us.  Not to be missed!

trz

Poinsettias
Thank you to everyone who sponsored poinsettia purchases for Christmas worship.  Please  feel free to take your plant(s) home this weekend.  Whatever is left after this weekend's worship services will be share/donated.  Thank you!

Servant Saturday, January 28th -- Sign Up Now
Thank you to the many who have signed up for Servant Saturday on Sat. Jan. 28, 9a-12p.   We appreciate you!  Sign up sheets are still in the Narthex for those interested. ALL PARTICIPANTS , please add 1. Your T shirt size, 2. The number in your family staying for Lunch and Sharing,  at The Diner (next to Travel Lodge), provided by Thrivent Financial.
SERVANT SERVANT SATURDAY will take place on Jan. 28, 9am-12pm This is Trinity's chance to help our Downtown neighbors. Trinity's Outreach Ministry Team has organized three service opportunities:  
1. Grand Ave. Primary School  
2.Orlando Rescue Mission Thrift Store (ages 15+)  
3. Coalition for the Homeless (preparing 150 sack lunches).  
Please sign up in the Narthex by Jan. 22.  If you have questions, please contact Gladys Dittmer at odittmer892@gmail.com . Don't miss this great opportunity to serve and help our Downtown Neighbors!

Sign up this weekend for Church Directory Photos
This weekend is the last chance to sign up for a Church Directory Photo appointment in the Narthex!  You can choose your date and time. Each family that participates will receive a free 8x10 portrait and have the option to buy other photo packages. All members are strongly encouraged to participate. After this weekend Re:MEMBER will take over scheduling of all appointments. Members who have not signed up may receive a call from Re:MEMBER offering them a last opportunity to schedule an appointment.  If you have any questions or need to schedule or change an appointment after this weekend Trinity's Point of Contact is Tom Finger.  407-765-9483,  tfinger888@aol.com .

Comfort Dog Ministry - Informational Meeting
The Dogs & Donuts meetings is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, January 14th at 10am in the first floor conference room of the Magnolia building. SASHA Comfort Dog will be joining us for this meeting AND will be present at all weekend worship services ! During this meeting we'll share an overview of the next steps in planning to get a comfort Dog Ministry established at Trinity, and all the volunteer roles available to Trinity members.  Please RSVP to Chanda in advance @ TLC@TrinityDowntown.com so we can plan for adequate space (and donuts).

More about Sasha Comfort Dog Team
LCC K9 Sasha Comfort Dog arrived at Island Lutheran Church, Hilton Head, SC on March 6, 2016. Comfort walked in on for paws! This 26 month old  AKC certified purebred golden retriever was raised and trained by Lutheran Church Charities in Northbrook, Illinois, and has over 2000 hours of training to a service dog level. Sasha and her handlers work six days a week in the Hilton Head Island and surrounding areas visiting hospitals, schools, care facilities, military installations, community events and so forth. Sasha lives with her Top Dogs and primary caregivers, Phil and Brenda Burden, formerly of Trinity Lutheran Church, Jackson Michigan. Sasha's calling is to serve as a bridge to open doors to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those persons hurting or in need.  Please extend a warm WELCOME to Phil, Brenda and Sasha while they're here. We're very grateful to them for visiting with us to encourage us as we move forward with plans for a Comfort Dog Ministry for Trinity Downtown!!

Do you like to Garden? 
A group of gifted gardeners is gathering at Trinity on Saturday, January 21  to pull some weeds and tend to the landscaping.  If you have a green thumb, we would love to have you join us for some fresh air and sprucing up our Trinity campus! The following week is National Lutheran Schools Week with lots of Grandparents visiting and various activities on campus, so it would be nice to have everything looking great. We'll be on campus from about 9am to noon if you'd like to participate!  If you have questions, contact Darlene at darlene.rehbein.sabin@gmail.com . (Darlene is a retired Trinity school teacher and church member who loves working out in the fresh air and sunshine!)

Science Night at Trinity
Science exploration stations will be set up by the Orlando Science Center for kids 4yo to 8th grade. Come explore, invite a friend, all are welcome.  We'll see you in the gym at 6pm on Thursday, January 26th.

OWLS Fellowship Lunch, Fri Jan 27th
To start the NEW YEAR, let's have lunch at Sonny's BBQ located at 7055 S. Semoran in Orlando.  Please call (407-897-1418) or e-mail 
robert.w.gordon@hotmail.com  if you will be attending. Looking forward to seeing all of you---Bob and Audrey Gordon.

SOUPer Sunday
For nine years, Trinity has set aside the fifth Sunday, whenever it occurs, as Food and Funds on the Fifth .  Anyone who attends services on that weekend is encouraged to bring money for Trinity's discretionary fund or food.  The weekend of January 28 and 29 is the first 5th Sunday weekend of 2017. THIS MONTH ONLY we are helping the Christian Service Center collect SOUP!   So bring a can or two of soup and put it in the grocery basket located in the narthex.  Of course, you may also bring any "bogo" canned or boxed food items to help fill the grocery basket.  Monetary donations for the Discretionary Fund can be placed in the collection plate, but be sure to indicate "Discretionary Fund" on the check or envelope.  Trinity has partnered with the Christian Service Center since 1971 to provide various programs designed to meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs, regardless of race, religion or gender of those hurting and struggling in Central Florida. All food collected is distributed through the Christian Service Center's three core programs: Family & Emergency Services (FES), Daily Bread, and the Love Pantry. Last year, more than 25,000 cans of soup filled our pantries!  Let's top that this year!!!!  Any questions?  Ask Deaconess Liz: eborth@trinitydowntown.org or 407-488-1919 X 127.

Step Beyond Trinity's Building
In April, Susan Brockberg, our Middle School teacher, is participating in a mission trip to Haiti with the LCMS Florida-Georgia District.  She is asking the children in our school to bring new toothbrushes and tubes of small toothpaste.  These will be donated to the many people in Haiti in need of basic hygiene care.  We all can participate in this mission project!  Bring your donation to church and put in the white "Food" basket, or drop off with the school & church receptionist desk during the week..

Volunteer Opportunities at TLS
Upcoming PTL events could use your volunteer support if you have the time and talent to share!  We have Book Fair, Grandparents Day and Science Night all coming up during the week of January 22-29. You can sign up online through this link http://signup.com/go/PsbVtX , or in either of the school offices. Thank you.

What is a Mite?
No, not the insect!  The Lutheran women in our congregation and other Lutheran congregations collect pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters (and certainly larger paper money) and call the donation "mites".  Jesus commented on a large gift of two small coins in Luke 21. We know it was not the actual value of the coins that Jesus noted, but the heart of the donor.  LWML asks everyone to purposefully collect loose change and bring those "mitey mites" to the collection box in the east narthex (where the drinking fountain is located).  A list of the LWML mite grants totalling  over $2 million is there as well.  Mite boxes and donations are welcome all year long.  Any questions?  Contact Mary Lou at mevanchy@att.net

Confirmation Class
Pastor Zehnder will be assisting Tim Norris and others in the teaching of the Confirmands. That will start in January, two Sundays a month at the 9:30 am time. Again, dear brother Pastor Schaefer will step in at those 9:30 am services as needed. Parents of Confirmands, please note this and help your son or daughter be present!

Update from Kenny Green
For those of you who heard the presentation given by Kenny Green this summer in preparation for his mission trip to Uruguay, he sent out an update to us saying things are going well. Kenny worked at Trinity this summer and is the son of Peg Green, our 1st grade teacher, and Pastor Ken Green of Prince of Peace Lutheran). You can read his newsletter here: http://globallutheranoutreach.com/blog/green/newsletters/ . Kenny ended the update with a few prayer requests too: -Continued Spanish studies in Xela, Guatemala -San Pablo Lutheran Church and School and its missions -Mission partners who will support this ministry through financial gifts and/or prayer. I am currently at 75% fund raised. -Safe travels back to the US and to Uruguay.

Important Dates

January 14  Dogs & Donuts Meeting
January 14  Foundations Class Begins
January 14-15 Sasha Comfort Dog in all services
January 16   MLK Day Campus Closed
January 22-29  National Lutheran Schools Week
January 24 Kindergarten Round-Up / TLS Registation for '17-'18
January 26 PTL Sceince Night 6pm
January 28 Servant Saturday
February 1-4 Re:Member Church Photos on Campus

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Trinity Downtown | The Ministries of Trinity Lutheran Church & School 
407-488-1919 | TLC@TrinityDowntown.com