Trinity Family
Pastor’s Notes
TIME CHANGE WEEKEND! Set your clocks AHEAD an hour Saturday night!
DEDICATION WEEKEND First, we have the privilege of welcoming of welcoming Rev. Jerry Kieschnick, President Emeritus, LCMS, as our guest preacher at all services this weekend. Then at 12:30 PM this Sunday March 13 the Dedication festivities begin in the courtyard with FL/GA District President, Rev. Greg Walton kicking things off with the Blessing of the building. You can expect to see other special guests such as Daniel Reichard-V.P. Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Patty Sheehan-City Commissioner, District 4, and David Martens-President of the Lake Eola Heights Neighborhood Association. The ceremony at the New Century Center will include a
Welcome and Recognition, Blessing of the Building, speakers from our Ministry Partners, City Partnerships, reading of a Mayoral Proclamation, and the long awaited official Ribbon Cutting! Following the ceremony, please join us for a tour of the NCC, a reception by Green Coat Catering in the Courtyard complete with children’s activities and “find your brick” fun. At 1:15pm you’ll enjoy live music from Josh Wilson’s Cross Generation Band and at 2:15pm we complete the afternoon with an organ concert in the Sanctuary by Ture Larson. Please join us to celebrate, together, this great blessing to Trinity Ministries!
A BIG THANK-YOU to all who helped make our Campus Clean-Up Day a great success…we now have a Youth Room, and a Nursery in the church basement (we’ll start using it on Palm Sunday)!!! Another thank-you to the 25+ participants in the Bless Workshop. We’ll be planning follow-up activities soon. Kudos also to the Concordia New York Choir for a wonderful concert, and to the folks who hosted 30+ choir members.
BRING A FRIEND WEEKEND…March 19/20. Start thinking about whom to invite to worship with you on Palm Sunday weekend, as we let our friends, neighbors, & coworkers know that we’d love to have them worship with us at Trinity!
PICTURE PALM BRANCHES WAVING IN FRONT OF JESUS That’s a traditional part of our Palm Sunday celebration. This year Palm Sunday is March 20; Easter is March 27. So, we’re going to give our kids the opportunity to practice with a “Palm Branch Parade” in our 3 yr old Chapel on Wednesday, March 16. Parents and Grandparents are welcome to join us as we march from the sanctuary over to the CDC and invite other classrooms to join us. JOIN THE PALM BRANCH PARADE… Wednesday, March 17 at 9:20 am…and the PALM BRANCH PROCESSIONAL in Church March 19/20 at 6 pm & 8/9:30/11 am.
JESUS INVITES YOU TO HIS TABLE If you haven’t received the LORD’S SUPPER recently, let Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter be your special time with the Lord. Whatever has happened, the Lord is still inviting you to His table: “How I have longed to eat this meal with you!” Please, if you’re not able to make it church for any reason, let us know so we can bring the Lord’s Supper to you at home! It’s the Meal of the Lord for all His People!
IT’S CONTRIBUTIONS CATCH UP TIME!
We’re approximately $63,000 behind expectation in our regular offerings this fiscal year. March is “crunch time,” because we have 3 payrolls this month, and our first payment on the new mortgage will be due very soon. We’re looking at four major concerns:
1) Renting out more of the Magnolia Ministry Center;
2) Recouping some K-8 tuition payments;
3) Catching up on church contributions;
4) Thanking the Lord that CDC revenue is ahead of budget.
If all of us make sure we’re caught up on our contributions…or even go above and beyond, “church” will have done its part. We’re working very hard on 1 & 2, and most grateful for all the blessings in the CDC.
We’re all in this together. With a concerted effort from the whole Trinity family for the rest of March we can be prepared for the March 31 payroll and the first payment on the new mortgage. Please pray: “Lord, thank for Your blessings. Please provide for Your work at Trinity through Your people. Grant us strong faith and generous hearts! GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, O LORD! In Jesus name. Amen!
SERMON ON MENTAL ILLNESS Last week’s message on Mental Illness is available online. If you need more info on the topic, or have a story to share, please email Pastor Martin jim.martin@trinitydowntown.com or call him at the office.
Dr.Brockberg Called as K-8 Executive Director-Please continue to keep both Kevin and Susan Brockberg in your prayers as they seek God’s will about this call to serve at Trinity that was extended to him at our February 21 Voters Assembly.
TRINITY NEWSLETTER Did you receive our first printed/mailed Newsletter to all Trinity households in quite some time? If not, pick one up at church, or call or email the office so we can mail one to your home. You’ll learn about many behind-the-scenes activities that we can’t explain in detail in the Trinity Weekly.
CAMPUS REVITALIZATION PROJECTS We continue to be blessed with “over and above” gifts that are helping us fund two small but important projects: 1) an upgrade to the lighting around the sanctuary and loggia; 2) upgrading sanctuary railings including the removable railing on the front steps. As of last weekend, about $15,000 had been given or pledged. Contributions can be made at church by earmarking “Campus Revitalization” on your check. Talk to Eric Havens, our General Manager for more detailed information.
SAVE THE DATES! April 30 Confirmands Retreat May 15 Confirmation Day
MORE NEWS
Books are Connecting People
March is National Reading Month and Trinity School is celebrating! Last week Dr. Seuss’s birthday, a Book Fair, and a Golden Ticket Celebration kicked off the month of guest readers, author talks, and novel studies.
On Thursday, Ms. Beltz’s class read The Keeping Quilt, an award winning book by Patricia Polacco. After sharing time with their reading buddies in our VPK, the 2nd and 3rd grade children met with Trinity’s Lutheran Women in Mission group and learned all about the quilts we make and send to Lutheran World Relief. It was a terrific inter-generational experience for everyone. Great questions and good answers resulted in fun interaction. Trinity’s LWML quilting group had assembled and sent thousands of quilts for use in disasters, poverty areas, and for mission outreach all over the world. Thank you Ms. Beltz for helping your class connect and grow together.
Bunco Time Bumped
Remember? We temporarily moved the regular meeting date this month in order to attend the amazing and beautiful Concordia-New York choir concert. Bunco meets March 17 at 6:30 p.m. for food and the games begin at 7:00. It will be a St. Patrick’s Day theme, so bring your best Irish luck and enjoy a night out. If your birthday falls on an even date, bring a “golden” snack to share! If your birthday falls on an odd date, bring a $10 range gift to share as a prize. Every month, the second Thursday is an evening of fun with women of all ages eating, talking, laughing and playing a simple game. We meet in the Magnolia Ministry Building, 2nd floor conference room.
Rise Up Eggstravaganza!
March 17 our 3 and 4 year old classes will join the Kindergarten class for a special morning filled with Easter activities. Rise Up With Jesus is a journey that drives home this one truth: Jesus is alive today! Stations will be set up with fun activities to help your child explore surprising details about Jesus’ resurrection on that glorious Sunday morning 2,000 years ago. You can help share the Good News by supporting this special school event with your time:
We are looking for help on Wednesday (16th) to make jelly sandwiches.
Come on Event Day, Thursday (17th) to scatter eggs and read stories in each room.
Thrivent Action Dollars are helping pay for some of the expenses of this Christ-centered event, but additional monetary donations are welcome. Make sure you indicate on your check or donation envelope: “RISE UP WITH JESUS”.
If you are interested and want to participate in a memorable Easter celebration, please see Stacey Carroll or Wendy Havens. Contact Wendy with questions, volunteer time, or words of encouragement: hvns87@gmail.com. Thank you.
Plastic EGGS Wanted!!
Contributions of plain (no decorations) colored plastic eggs are needed for the March 17th Resurrection Egg hunt. Bring them this weekend to church or to the New Century Center lobby BEFORE Tuesday, March 15. Resurrection Eggs are filled with reminders of Holy Week events that teach about God’s love, Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. The hunt will be fun and focused on Jesus!
Nursery Care on Sunday Mornings
Sunday morning nursery care will move to the first floor of the church, below the Narthex, beginning on Palm Sunday. Trinity Downtown provides nursery care for infants and children through 3 years old during all Sunday services for children whose parents are participating in worship or Bible study on campus. (Please note, children are always welcome in worship services).
Thrivent Members, Remember to Direct your Choice Dollars
Deadline is March 31. Each of you with a Thrivent account receive Choice dollars annually, that you can direct to any non-profit. We encourage you to call Thrivent (1-800-236-3736), and direct a your dollars to Trinity. Remember, the deadline is March 31. (You can also do it online, but a phone call is easier.)
Thrivent Action Team
If you’re a Thrivent member, and have an idea for a fundraiser for church, school, or a community need, check out the new Thrivent Action Team! You can receive $250 as seed money to start your project (fund raiser, service project, or educational event.) Go to the Thrivent website, Thrivent.com with your Password and User ID. Each member can do 2 projects a year (different events/projects). If you need help, contact Gladys 407-658-9815, odittmer892@gmail.com. It’s a great start to any fundraiser!
Service Project
The Sr. Confirmation students will participate in a on-campus retreat on SATURDAY, APRIL 30. The theme for the day and class verse is: Luke 9:23 deny your #selfie take up your cross and follow Him. Part of the day includes a service project of making care-packages of self-care items. We need your help. Please help us make 50 bags! We need deodorant, (new) socks, lip balm, wet ones, granola bars, etc. where confirmands will assemble kits to distribute. Please leave items in Narthex in box labeled #selfie. We could also use a snack break during the day. Would you like to provide a snack for our confirmands- sweet treat and water bottles? Please email Jenn Blackwood mom23girls@cfl.rr.com.
High School Youth Group Easter Ham Sale – Fundraiser for National Youth Gathering
The Trinity High School Youth Group is selling Spiral Cut Bone In Hams just in time for Easter Dinner! Two sizes are available: 7-8 pounds ($27) or 9-10 pounds ($30). Order forms are available in the Narthex each weekend. You can also download a form here. Please make your check out to Trinity Lutheran Church and mark in the memo section “Youth Group Easter Ham Sale.” Return your order form with the check attached to the box in the Narthex. You may pick up your ham at Trinity on Saturday, March 26th between 1 and 3 or you may have it delivered to your house on Saturday, March 26th between 1 and 4. Please mark your choice on the form. The last day to order your ham will be Sunday, March 20th. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Ramiz or Mike Miessler at trinityhsyouth@gmail.com. The Youth Group thanks you for your support!
Spring Break Camp at Trinity – K-8th grades, March 21-24
Spring break at Camp Trinity is going to be a blast! We have amazing activities planned for our campers, both on-site activities and off-site field trips. They include adventures at local parks, walking to the library and an even an on-campus water day. In between our field trip fun, we will be doing science and discovery activities, crafts & creativity projects, music and religion. Expect tie-dyed shirts, water balloon baseball, and an Easter egg hunt. To balance all of these high energy activities, we also schedule time for movies and book-buddy reading sessions. Morning and afternoon snacks are also included. Sign up forms are ready for you in the front office and also in the art room!
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Prayer Warriors Needed
From time to time an urgent prayer request comes in during the week that can’t wait to be shared on Sunday when we share prayer requests in worship on the yellow prayer cards and also distribute our weekly printed prayer list. Trinity member Marcy Shively has volunteered to serve as a point person for receiving weekday urgent prayer requests and is now seeking volunteers who are committed prayer warriors with access to email during the week and will be able to commit time to prayer for these urgent requests. If you’re interested in serving as a weekday prayer warrior, please contact her at PRAY@TrinityDowntown.com to volunteer.
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.
Want to support Vacation Bible School?
What many think of as tradition, or a must have, is really essential ministry for community outreach and inreach. For decades, churches dedicate 1 or 2 weeks to sharing Jesus’ Gospel message to children who may not hear it any other way. Trinity’s VBS is currently scheduled for July 25-29, 2016. But to make it happen, a co-director and teacher volunteers are needed RIGHT NOW, Do not wait for a personal invitation from a staff member. Pray first, and then listen as the Holy Spirit moves you to share your talent where it is most needed. Contact Deaconess Liz : eborth@trinitydowntown.org or 407-488-1919 X 127.
Bring in Those Box Tops and Pop Tabs!
Please remember to cut those box tops and bring in your soda can tabs — drop them off in the narthex collection boxes or in the front office. Remember…It’s free and only takes a few seconds to clip or pop a tab! This is a great way to help earn money for Trinity Lutheran School and help the Ronald McDonald House!
Youth News
Sr. Confirmation Retreat
Sr. Confirmation students will participate in a on campus retreat on SATURDAY, APRIL 30 1:00-5:00 then dinner and attend 6:00 service. The theme for the day and class verse is: Luke 9:23 deny your #selfie take up your cross and follow Him. Part of the day includes a service project of collecting self-care items: deodorant, socks, lip balm, wet ones, granola bars, etc where confirmands will assemble kits to distribute. Please help them make 50 bags! Please leave items in Narthex in box labeled #selfie. We could use a snack break during the day. Would you like to provide a snack for our confirmands- sweet treat and water bottles? Mark your calendars. Please make every effort to be there. Any questions? Want to help? Please email Jenn Blackwood mom23girls@cfl.rr.com. Many thanks to Thrivent for a grant to help cover expenses for the day. #livegenerously
Middle & High School Bible Classes available at 9:30 Sunday Mornings
MS and HS Youth each have their own Sunday classes providing opportunities for students to grow deeper in their relationship with God as well as their relationships with others. Meet the Youth Ministry Team leaders in the second floor classrooms of the K-8 building for fellowship and study time each week.
High School Youth
- July 2016–National Youth Gathering–check website for more information!
For more info: Contact Laura (407) 404-3242 or Mike (727) 686-7403, email TrinityHSYouth@gmail.com, check the Trinity Website or the Trinity HS Youth Facebook page!
Trinity Events
Wednesdays through March 16 Wednesday Lenten Worship
March 13 New Century Center Dedication, Celebration of Trinity Ministries
March 17 Rise Up with Jesus
March 20 Palm Sunday (bring you palms) & Bring a Friend Sunday
March 27 Easter Sunday
April 30 Sr. Confirmation Retreat
May 15 Confirmation Sunday
Attendance & Giving
6-Mar-16
Worship Attendance
6:00 p.m. 31
8:00 a.m. 63
9:30 a.m. 97
11:00 a.m. 94
Total 285
Contributions
Current & Missions:
C & M Budget $22,705
C & M Actual $11,407
Faithfully Forward $52,450
Historical Debt $50
Faith Factor $0
Dedicated Funds $82
