Please take a moment to watch this short presentation from the Missions Committee, and prayerfully consider how you can help when we come to the Communion Rail on the first Sunday in January.
Special thanks to Lisa Saladin for creating this video.
The month-long project for January is to collect canned meats and soups for the Denton Wesley Foundation.
The Foundation maintains a food pantry for college students in the area, which our Trinity Family contributes to several times each year.
Please bring your donations to the Narthex and place them in the baskets.
Communion Rail Offering for January: First Meal
First Meal is a cooperative ministry of several local congregations that provides breakfast and a place for respite among the homeless and disadvantaged in our community.
Trinity members gather on the second Sunday of each month at First UMC Denton to prepare and serve a hot breakfast, provide hygiene items, and deliver a spiritual message to our guests.
Monetary gifts designated for First Meal are used to purchase personal hygiene items and food supplies. In-kind donations of personal hygiene items are also welcome.
We currently have 8-9 helpers but the total participating on any given Sunday is usually less than that due to scheduling conflicts. Therefore, we could really use a few more to assist in food preparation, clean-up, and toiletry distribution.
Anyone interested in participating in this worthwhile ministry may contact Georgia Albury.
Honoring this group of God’s children by serving them a sit-down meal in a comfortable place of shelter is very gratifying. It conveys a message to them that they are worthy and loved. Paul says in Romans 12:13, “Share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality.”
Blood Drive – Save the Date!
Sunday, January 26th, the Carter BloodCare Mobile Unit will be in our parking lot from 9:00am to 1pm collecting blood.
Please look for members of the Missions Committee with clipboards before each service Sunday to schedule your blood donation.
Thank you for donating!
The Missions committee has only one ongoing project for the month of December – the collection of winter outerwear for the homeless and disadvantaged here in Denton.
Please bring your clean, gently-used winter wear – coats, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves – to the Narthex and place them on the benches near the women’s restroom.
We need ALL sizes, children to adults.
From your Missions Committee:
The Carter BloodCare Mobile Unit will be in our parking lot THIS SUNDAY, December 1, from 9am to 1pm. We thank those of you who pre-registered a time to donate, and urge others to check with committee members to see if there are slots still to be filled.
We are continuing to collect warm winter outerwear – in all sizes and types – to donate to various Denton organizations for distribution to those in need in our community. Please bring your contributions to the Narthex and place them on the benches outside the Women’s restroom.
Gifts for the children at WS Ryan elementary are due back THIS SUNDAY. Bring your unwrapped gifts, with the identifying ornament attached, to the Narthex. Gifts can still be brought to the church office on Monday and Tuesday, if necessary. Wrapping Paper and tape are also needed!
As you prepare your hearts and minds for our Thanksgiving worship this coming Sunday, November 24th, please read and reflect upon Luke 23:33-43.
It may seem a bit odd to preach on the meaning and the power of Jesus’ crucifixion the Sunday before all of the Thanksgiving festivities. Upon further reflection, though, what could we be more thankful for than God’s gracious act of self-giving love in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
I’ve been hearing the term “crisis” with greater frequency these days.
–Our world is in crisis.
–Nations are in crisis.
–Churches and schools are in crisis,
–Individuals, marriages, and families are in crisis.
How is a crisis defined? What constitutes a crisis?
Consider this definition:
The noun crisis comes from the Latinized form of the Greek word krisis, meaning “turning point in a disease.” At such a moment, the person with the disease could get better or worse: it’s a critical moment. The etymology of the term “crisis” shares a relationship with the term “Christ.”
Life is about choices. If we find ourselves in a crisis, we can choose to embrace the power of the crisis or the power of Christ. I choose to embrace Christ and hold on to his everlasting promises.
The only crisis which has ever existed is the corruption of the human heart. On the cross, Jesus took our disease of sin upon himself, thus offering us the opportunity to be forgiven, loved, and free.
If you ever visit England, be sure to spend time in the city of Coventry, northwest of London.
During WWII, The Coventry Blitz (blitz: from the German word Blitzkrieg meaning “lightning war” struck the beautiful city with relentless force. The city was bombed many times by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). The most devastating of these attacks occurred on the evening of 14 November 1940 and continued into the morning of 15 November.
Christians of Coventry took two charred embers and made the form of a cross with the inscription “Father Forgive.”
While serving a previous church, I would join in a duet with one of our choristers who has a lovely soprano voice. We sang “Give Thanks” every Thanksgiving Sunday. The hymn, written by Henry Smith in 1978 is based on Luke 1:49–53.
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
Give thanks
We give thanks to You
This Thanksgiving as you feast with family and friends at your table, give thanks to the Holy One for giving us Jesus Christ.
Rev. Jim
Christmas Angels for WS Ryan:
If you took an ornament, please bring your UNWRPPED gifts to the church no later than December 1, with your angel attached to the gifts.
Donations of wrapping paper and tape would be greatly appreciated!
Blood Drive:
The Carter BloodCare Mobile Unit will be in our parking lot on Sunday, December 1, from 9am until 1pm. Look for Missions Committee members with clipboards to make your appointment.
This is a time of the year when the need for blood is critical…please donate, if you are able.
Winter Outerwear for those in need:
Missions is still collecting warm outerwear to distribute here in Denton. Men’s, women’s and children’s sizes are needed.
Bring your items to the benches near the women’s restroom in the Narthex.
Camp Grady Spruce:
This is a learning opportunity for students at WS Ryan 5th graders. The three-day camp experience combines science with a fun camping trip. Many Ryan families cannot afford the $171 for the trip. Missions invites the Trinity Family to help shoulder the cost so that as many students as possible can attend. If you can donate, please write CAMP GRADY SPRUCE on your envelope or in the memo line of your check.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone you love is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you (advisedly/carefully).
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout — run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
One of my deepest beliefs is that God gives us dogs (and other domestic pets) to teach us things that God wants for us to know and practice.
The Holidays are quickly approaching. While they can be joyful occasions, they can also be stressful. Love one another as Christ (and your pet) loves you.
Daily prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be just half the person my dog thinks I am.”
In Christian Love,
Rev. Jim
Carter BloodCare reports that they are extremely low on their blood supply. The BloodCare mobile unit will be in our parking lot Sunday, December 1 from 9:00 – noon collecting blood. Please look for members of the Missions Committee with clipboards before each service Sunday to schedule your blood donation. Thank you for donating!
We still have a few W.S. Ryan Christmas angels to be adopted. The unwrapped gifts are due to the church December 1. If you would like to donate wrapping paper and tape, it would be appreciated. Please be sure to attach your angel ornament to the gifts.
We are still wanting to have donations to W.S. Ryan for the 5th graders to attend Camp Grady Spruce, and are still collecting winter clothing.
Because of your generosity, Trinity was able to send ALL THIS FOOD to the Denton Wesley Foundation for their Student Food Pantry.
Thank you for supporting this effort, and being the hands and feet of Christ in our community and beyond.
The Missions Committee at Trinity has a new project to tell you about, and an update on the Adopt An Angel project.
Camp Grady Spruce is an outdoor learning experience that W.S. Ryan students go to overnight from December 3 – 6, 2019. Camp Grady Spruce directly aligns with 5th grade Science TEKS. At the camp, students ride in a pontoon boat, hike, compete in archery competitions, ride horses, set the table for meals, and take science notes. Students also compete in night games, star gazing, and star lab.
Camp cost per student is $171, but over 40% of the W.S. Ryan student population is economically disadvantaged.
If you would like to help these students, please make a donation and place it in the offering plate by November 24. Mark your cash stating Camp Grady Spruce, or If donating by check, please write Camp Grady Spruce in the memo line. Thank you!
The project for November is the W.S. Ryan Adopt an Angel for Christmas. Members of the Missions Committee will be in the Narthex Sunday, November 10 to help you adopt one of these angels in order to meet their Christmas wants and needs. Gifts are due Sunday, December 1, 2019.
You can see the rest of November’s Mission Projects in the post linked here.