Heartfelt Thank You Notes from Angel Tree Recipients

How wonderful to receive expressions of gratitude from our Angel Tree recipients!  

From a caregiver in a lovely Thank You card:

 

"...thank you from the bottom of my heart for the Christmas gifts for [children]. It helped to make their Christmas a special one, knowing that they were not forgotten from their father."

 

From four inmates' letters:

 

"...my prayers go out to your congregation. I would like to say thank you for putting a smile on my daughter's face...I pray that God will continue to bless your church."

 

"I just wanted to write and express my thanks and gratitude to ya'll for being God's instrument in blessing my children on Christmas. This really touched my heart and my children's heart to know that God heard my prayers and used the Angel Tree Program and your church to answer that prayer to bless my children on the special day we celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ birthday...Continue to be the Lord's arms and feet...May God bless your church in a special way - Numbers 6:24-26." [Words of the Benediction]

 

"Thank you for helping me give my kids a special Christmas...I will be praying that God will open up the windows in heaven and shower all of you with blessing. I know that you have blessed my kids for the last four years and I don't know how I can ever repay you for everything you have done for my family. All I can do is continue to pray for you all."

 

"...I was so blessed and overjoyed to know you were able to assist my 3 children with Christmas gifts and my small message, but also provided food and a publix gift card for a family Christmas meal, 'Thank you so much' to that very special family that took from their blessing to bless my family, my season became joyful and filled with peace and joy..." (His letter was decorated with hand-drawn hearts and the Christian fish symbol.)

Adult Bible Studies - New Topics 

This is a great time to jump in!

Let us know: If there's a topic you'd like to study that you don't see offered, a day/time you'd like to see a study offered, or if your nervous about attending a new study on your own - contact Chanda to see what other options are available!  We'll find a way to make it happen. TLC@TrinityDowntown.com or 407-488-1919 x101

A Series on Stewardship

1 of 4 - by Senior Elder, Tom Finger

What is Christian Stewardship?  Many of you probably think you know the answer to that question, and maybe you do. I was pretty sure I knew the answer. After all, I have been a Lutheran all my life and have always willingly given of my talents and treasures to the church. After doing some research, however, I found that my personal definition was not complete. I knew it involved sharing my treasures with the church, but I didn't have a true understanding of what Christian Stewardship is.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines stewardship as "the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."  Christian Stewardship defined by The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is "Christian Stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God's family, the church, in managing all of life and life's resources for God's purposes." It goes on to say "Maturing stewards do the right things for the right reasons and strive for excellence in all they do!"    

 

A key to practicing Christian Stewardship is the realization that we don't actually "own" the things we are entrusted to manage. As Christians we live secure in the knowledge that everything we own and all that we accomplish in life comes from God. After all, he created all things and is thus the rightful owner of all things!  We acknowledge that our Lord has merely entrusted to our care everything we have and all that we have the skills and ability to accomplish. Therefore, when we "give" to the church, we are not actually giving God something that we ourselves own, but are instead attempting to manage the gifts he has given us in a careful and responsible manner.  It is important to keep this in mind when deciding how much to drop in the collection plate at this weekend's service or whether you "really" have the time to serve the Lord as a Reader, Usher or PowerPoint operator once a month on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. See you in church!

 

Ash Wednesday is March 6

Weekly Lenten devotions will begin that week at both 12:10 and 7:00pm. Mark your calendars and consider extending a personal invitation to someone who may enjoy a small midweek service during the Lenten season.

Trinity Lutheran School's PTL needs YOU

Volunteers and Sponsors

Touch a Truck is coming up in just three weeks on Saturday March 9 from 9a-1p.  Volunteers and sponsors are much needed and appreciated to make this big community fundraiser a great successes. We've been blessed with the gift of billboard advertising for Touch a Truck from one of our school families this year and have some great I-4 visibility - so we're anticipating and even better turnout than last year.  At the event you'll enjoy Live music, Food and drinks, Hot Wheels Car Races, Face painting, Dozens of trucks to explore...and much more! 

The event itself is $5.00 to attend (children 2 and under are free), but we are in need of sponsors to make this event a success. Please consider donating your time and/or resources to this event. See the information below for sponsorship opportunities, and click here for volunteer opportunities

 

Sponsor Opportunities
Circus/Dog Show $ 350.00
Raising Cadence Band $ 250.00
Popcorn/Cotton Candy $ 100.00
Hot Wheels $ 100.00
Game Truck - Art of Gaming $ 500.00
Jr. Sports Game Arena $ 200.00
Face Painting $ 300.00
Marketing/Flyers $ 150.00

You may sponsor the entire amount or just a portion. You can also donate as an individual, business or several families can sponsor together. If you would like to help with any of the above sponsorships, please email our PTL Board at PTL@trinitydowntown.com, or bring your donation to the front office. Note: Sponsor names will be posted on the event webpage. THANK YOU!   

LWML News

Trinity's LWML quilters have transported the 70 quilts we made this year to Redeemer Lutheran for later trucking to Lutheran World Relief in Maryland.  Also, we shipped the 210 bars of soap collected during December. LWR will distribute these donations throughout the world in the next year. We are glad to report that the last shipment of quilts we sent to LWR in February 2018 were sent on to Zambia, Africa on September 20, 2018, for distribution there. LWML quilters are now starting new quilts for shipment in February, 2020. Right now we have all the material we can store, but, we can always use more women willing to tie quilts twice a month and/or sew quilt tops together. Call MaryLou at 407-491-4452 if you are interested in further information.  

In memory of our dear sister, Peggy L. Trapp, Trinity's LWML has donated $100 to the Current Expense & Missions Fund of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Trinity Lutheran School K-8 is now in Open Registration

TLS Discount Registration Deadline is March 1. Trinity Lutheran School is open for registrations for the 2019-2020 school year; discount registration is available until March 1. Contact the school office for more information: Keri.Packman@trinitydowntown.com

Update on the Ruth Lane houses

Trinity's staff and Campus Development Task Force is currently investigating the sale of the three houses on Ruth Lane. In reviewing Trinity's current loan application, Lutheran Church Extension Fund has asked Trinity to consider this option. In the future, if a sale is formally under consideration, a Congregational Voter's Meeting would be called and is required to approve the sale.

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!

Loving Each Other Well - We're Family
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 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!

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.

Passion Play - Lutherland Tour 

Visiting the Luther Sites in Germany from Berlin to Wittenberg to Augsburg  + The Passion Play at Oberammergau  (June 28 - July 8, 2020)  Limited size group! Contact Pastor Darold Reiner, retired LCMS Pastor & former International LWML Counselor for a brochure: 406-890-1149 orimhis38@gmail.com.   (Some spaces still available on Israel Tour in November, 2019!)

Important Dates

February 17 VBS Training

March 1  TLS K-8 2019-2020 Discount Registration Deadline

March 3 New Member Welcome

March 4-6 Veteran's of the Cross Retreat

March 6 Ash Wednesday  (Weekly Wednesday Lenten Devotions begin)