Annual Stewardship Drive
Trinity's Annual Stewardship Drive is now underway! You should have received a letter and pledge card in the mail last weekend. If you didn't, please contact the office and we'll email it to you immediately. Sending in your pledge card is
very important
- because your pledges allows Trinity's leadership to create a more accurate budget for the next fiscal year! So, please send/bring that pledge card in as soon as possible! Thank you for your generous giving of time, talent and funds to support Trinity's ministries: sharing the gospel, strengthening and equipping people for service and witness, bringing people one step closer to Jesus!
Redeeming Life Maternity Home - Baby Bottle Campaign
Your Change can Change Lives for Eternity
We're currently participating in the Baby Bottle campaign to raise money for our ministry partner, Redeeming Life Maternity Home. Grab a baby bottle, take it home, to your office, or leave it in your car, then use the next few weeks to fill it with all the loose change you have - you can even drop in some bills or a check!
Bottles are due back on or before Father's Day
!
Redeeming Life Maternity Home is an amazing Recognized Service Organization with the LCMS located in Sanford, Florida, is one of only a handful of maternity homes in the nation. Their mission is to preserve life as they serve single, pregnant, and post-partum women who lack the support of a loving, caring, Christ-centered home and family. By partnering with Redeeming Life through the Baby Bottle Campaign, you give hope to these women in a tangible way and make it possible for them to hear about and experience the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus. The goal is to inspire our residents to love and care for their children as God loves and cares for them. For More Information: 407-790-9745 |
www.rlom.org
. You are encouraged to ask for more information to get to know more about this ministry - ask for a tour, and learn about how you can support this ministry with volunteer service, prayer, spreading the word, referrals, financial support or supplies/vendor needs. THANK YOU for your support!
Summary of Regular Voters Meeting, May 13
On Monday May 13, 35 members of the congregation met to participate in a regularly scheduled assembly of the Voters of Trinity. The meeting began with the Word from Ephesians 2. Draft minutes of this meeting are available in the Church office along with minutes from previous meeting minutes.
Reverend Kallesen reported on our 7 confirmation students who will be celebrated on May 19 and also thanked parents and volunteers who have participated in these children's lives over the past several years. He reported on attendance and 9 recent and upcoming baptisms at Trinity. Pastor discussed how much Julia Malenke, who is retiring at the end of June, has impacted ministry at Trinity and how she will be missed. We wish her God's speed as she and Dan move into new chapters in their lives.
Dr. Middleton gave an update on the K-8 program in our school. She thanked the congregation for their support through the past several months as she works towards an orderly closing of the K-8 program. She is truly providing opportunity for teachers, staff, and students and families to be honored through this transitional period. We celebrate that all staff have found opportunities in their chosen profession with the closing of our K-8 school. Patty Moser updated on recent activities in the CDC. She shared on various aspects of how the CDC staff and families pray for and support each other, Trinity, and those outside the walls of Trinity.
Eric Havens provided the General Manager's report. Trinity is pursuing opportunities for Heritage hall which previously housed our K-8 program. The "Morgan Center" is an charitable organization that serves children undergoing cancer treatment in local hospitals by providing a safe environment for education. We are considering how Trinity can partner with this group. In addition, Quest Inc, a local organization that supports youth and adults with physical disabilities is looking for temporary space for much of next year while their facilities are renovated. Quest could utilize space as well as the Morgan center during the next year.
David Wilkosz, Finance Officer, reported on Trinity year to date finances and cash flow projections. He reported a positive cash flow through April of $2,343 which is $74,052 ahead of budget projections for this point in the fiscal year. He also reported a negative cash flow of ($134,270) through the end of June and the first three days of July when we have scheduled payments to our benefits provider and a payroll. This estimate was calculated prior to addition of any "Over and Above" giving and additional efforts by staff to reduce costs of operations. David reported on "Over and Above" giving; Trinity by the grace of God has received $79,080 in pledges and additional gifts of a total of $128,281 pledged.
In continuation of work that the Campus Development Task Force (CDTF) as worked on over the past two years, David brought a motion to the congregation to petition the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) for a loan to accomplish several tasks. These tasks were the labors of the CDTF over the past two years to fulfill portions of the Trinity Century 2 plan. The loan application will seek funding for a "cost neutral" loan to allow Foundry Commercial to renovate, maintain, and lease office space in the Magnolia Ministry Center. The loan will consolidate the "Bridge Loan" balance from the CDC project. The motion to petition LCEF also includes that the congregation will seek to initiate the sale of two of the three homes on Ruth Lane with proceeds for the sale going directly to LCEF to reduce the term of the mortgage.
Stephanie Landis reported on progress of the Nominations Committee to fill vacancies on the Elders Ministry Team and the Leadership Council. All positions have individuals who are accepting their nomination while there are two positions on Leadership Council that individuals are currently praying over.
The congregation was introduced to DRAFT language for a Trinity Weapons policy prior to the meeting. Further discussion suggests that, as expected, this is a controversial subject. Policy seeks to find balance between ensuring the safety of members, staff, and visitors with the rights provided by current state and federal laws that govern our land.
Finally, Tim Norris reported that Leadership Council has approved the final disposition of the remaining $66,000 in Thrivent Pulse Funds provided by Lutherans through Thrivent Financial. There is a continuing need to support first responders in our local law enforcement and medical fields that can be supported by these funds.
K-8 Closing Events- Join Us!
May 29
End of Year Party and Field day events from 12-2pm.
May 30
6:30pm 8th Grade Graduation in the Sanctuary, Reception to follow in Fellowship Hall.
May 31
8:30am
End of Year Chapel in the Sanctuary
May 31
10:30am Kindergarten Graduation in the Sanctuary
OWLS Fellowship
Join the group for lunch on Friday, May 31 at High Tide Harry's. Please call Audrey at 407-897-1418 or email
Robert.w.gordon@hotmail.com
. Hope to see everyone there!
VBS June 17-21
We've got a great week planned for your Rising Kindergartner - Rising 6th Grade child! Join us June 17-21, 9am to Noon for our "Roar" safari adventure where children will learn that "Life is wild - God is good"! Each day will be filled with awesome songs, a stampede of fun games, dramatic presentations of engaging Bible stories, yummy snacks, and an amazing worship celebration to wrap things up. There is no charge for this week of VBS, but children and families will be given the opportunity to make a donation to "Water for Tanzania", a Kids Empowering Kids project to bring clean water to children in need of this life giving resource.
Youth who have completed 6th grade through High School are invited to serve as volunteers during the week. Please contact jmalenke@trinitydowntown.com if you are interested in this opportunity and would like more information. There will be a mandatory information/training meeting on June 9 at 12:30 pm for all volunteers
This event is posted on Trinity's Facebook page too. Please like and then share on your own page to spread the word to others. Thanks!
Registration forms are available on-line or in the church office.
https://forms.gle/9ymj4a4PeULMShCK6
We are looking forward to sharing the love of Jesus and God's goodness with you at Trinity's "Roar" VBS.
VBS Donation Tree
We are now just FOUR weeks away from the start of our exciting VBS safari adventure "ROAR- Where life is wild, but God is good!" to be held June 17-21 here on Trinity's campus each day, M-F, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Thank you to all of the youth who have been volunteering to serve on staff that week, and what a great week it will be!
Our VBS is a gift that we give to our community, so we do not charge children to attend, although they are given an opportunity to contribute to our mission project each year. One of the ways that makes this gift of a full week of fun Bible learning possible is through the generosity of the Trinity family in purchasing and bringing in donations of items that are needed for VBS. Sunday, April 28 - Sunday, May 19, there will be an African baobab tree in the corner of the Narthex with leaves that contain the names of items that we need donated. The lighter colored leaves will have items for approximately $10 or less, while the darker green leaves with be for items $20 or less. Please cut off the leaf (or leaves) of your choice, purchase the items, and return them to the large basket sitting underneath the tree. Thank you very much for each and every gift that will be part of a week of blessings for our own children and for the children in our community.
It's Nominations Time Again
Please meet the 2019 Leadership Nominations Committee: Stephanie Landis, Marcy Shively, Maggie Bowles, Myrt Rhodes, Mary Beth Brink, Tom Finger, Ted Lange and Pastor Doug. We have already begun work to complete the slate for the elections in June. The nominations period is officially open, and we are in need of candidates to fill the following positions:
Vice President
- serves as the assistant senior elected officer of the congregation and will be prepared to act in the President's place whenever required. Will be responsible for reviewing all contracts, remaining informed of any property development, chairing call committees as appointed, acting as Parliamentarian at voters' meetings, and assisting the President as needed.
Finance Officer
- serves as the congregation's financial adviser at all levels of the organization with responsibility to recommend policy changes and report improper actions to the next level of authority. Duties include integrating finances into annual stewardship/giving program, serving on the finance committee, reporting "closed" financial status monthly to leadership and at voters' meetings, assuring timely disbursements, reviewing human resource/property contracts, assisting staff with annual budgets, and preparing financial documents. This position is supported by the General Manager, Finance Manager, AR Specialist and AP Specialist.
Youth Giving Back!
Trinity family! Thank you for giving and helping our youth meet another fundraising goal! You gave GENEROUSLY -
now let the youth GIVE to you!
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 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
May 19
Confirmation Sunday
May 27
Memorial Day - No School / Offices Closed
May 30
TLS 8th Grade Graduation
May 31
TLS Kindergarten Graduation and Last day of School
June 2
Youth Host Free Car Wash
June 17-21
"ROAR" Summer VBS African Safari Adventure
July 11-15
LCMS National Youth Gathering
Sept 14-15
Trinity's 100th Anniversary Events - save these dates
