Your Weekly News & Updates
 
We Give Thanks - Music Ministry
Our interim Sunday organist, Carol Eichinger, is moving to St. Petersburg to be closer to family and to take on a new position; her last services with us will be this Sunday, July 30.  Carol has blessed Trinity greatly for the last 2 ½ years with her beautiful organ music, and she and husband David have become a part of our Trinity family. Thank you, Carol, for your dedication and for sharing your music and enhancing our worship.  We will miss you! We ask God's blessing on your move and on your new music/teaching position.

Also, we give thanks for the gifts of time and talent shared with use over the summer by Josh Brink. Josh begins preplanning for the upcoming school year next week, so this will be his last week serving with the Praise band at the 930 service. We pray God will bless you in this upcoming school year. Thank you Josh!  

"Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Eph 5:19-20

Food & Funds on the Fifth Collection This weekend
Thank you for your donations! This month the recipient is the Christian Service Center. Funds are also collected through the offering plate by designating "Church Discretionary Fund" on the memo line or envelope face. These monies are designated to help people within our congregation and in our community who are in difficult or desperate financial stress.

Pastoral Call Candidates - Upcoming Visit and Town Hall Meeting with Rev. Braun
Greetings Trinity! As you know, God has provided us a great list of potential Pastors, and we have added one additional candidate, Rev. Doug Kallesen. (Bio included below)  The call committee is spending a great deal of time doing its best to bring forward a wonderful recommendation to the congregation. The committee asks that you continue to keep Trinity in your prayers as they try to discern God's will for Trinity. More information and a recommendation coming soon, so stay tuned!

Town Hall Meeting with Rev. Braun
Rev. Dr. Wayne Braun and his wife will be arriving in Orlando on Monday.  We will host a Town Hall meeting for the Congregation at 6pm Tuesday, August 1st in the Sanctuary.  This will give us an opportunity to learn more about Pastor and Mrs. Braun, share information about our Trinity family, and participate in some Q&A.  Please be sure to join us.

God's Blessing,
Tim Norris, Call Committee Chair

Call Candidate Bios:

Rev. Douglas Kallesen
Age - 60. Married with 3 adult children. Wife is a piano teacher, organist and has DCE background.
Currently, lives in here in Orlando has been working with FL-GA District since 2001. Pastor Kallesen has been serving as the Mission Executive for the district and has help plant 75 churches. He travels through the District and helps churches with outreach planning. Prior to that, he was the Senior Pastor at Faith Lutheran in Franklin, TN.

Rev. Dr. Wayne Braun  
Age 58. Married with 4 adult children. Wife is a Lutheran school teacher and has directed a pre-school.
Currently, lives in Germany pastoring a church there and working with the Board of Internation Missions. He has been there the past four years. Prior to moving to Germany, he was a pastor at 4 other churches here in the US.
Average attendance is 100+ a Sunday.

Rev. Andrew Ratcliffe  
Age 37. Married with one two-year-old little girl. Wife has a degree in Music Education and is an organist.
Currently, Pastor Ratcliffe is the associate pastor at St. John Lutheran in Seward, NE for the past 6 years. Very active in the youth and family ministry at St. John. He has been the sole pastor at his first church, St. Paul in Sac City, IA
Average attendance is 1000+ a Sunday

Rev. Mark Dahn  
Age 42. Married with 3 children. Youngest is starting middle school and oldest in starting high school.
Currently, Pastor Dahn is the Associate Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Chuch in Tyler, TX. He is specifically the Family Ministry and Outreach pastor. He has been at Trinity for 8 eight years. Pastor Dahn was also an Associate Pastor at his first church, St. John Lutheran in Battle Creek, NE.
Average attendance is 300+ a Sunday

Rev. Jason Taylor  
Age 48. Married with 4 children ranging from elementary to high school. Wife is a Lutheran School Teacher and a DCE.
Currently, Pastor Taylor is the sole pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in New Palestine, IN. He has been the pastor there for the past 8 years. Prior to Zion Lutheran, Pastor Taylor was the Associate Pastor at Holy Savior in Lincoln, NE.
Average Attendance is 350 on a Sunday.

Rev. Douglas Croucher
Age 54. Married with 3 adult children.
Pastor Croucher is the Sr. Pastor at Concordia Lutheran in Fort Wayne, IN. He has been at Concordia since 2004, where he has served as both Sr. and Associate Pastor. Pastor Croucher started out as a Lutheran School Teacher and DCE before going on to become a Pastor. He has worked at several other churches as a teacher or DCE.
Average Attendance is 900+ on a Sunday.

Women of the Word
Trinity's Tuesday morning women's Bible study has a new name: Women of the Word. The group began a new bible Study series this past week: Forgiveness: Received From God, Extended To Others.  All are welcome to attend, and you can jump in at any time! This group meets on Tuesdays at 8:45am in the Magnolia building first floor conference room.   If you have any questions please contact the office at TLC@TrinityDowntown.com

August Bible Study Series @ 9:30 on Sundays
Through the month of August, the Adult 9:30am Bible Study on Sundays will be working through the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel and God's response to his prayer. We will also be listening to a piece of music called by the same title and connecting the Scripture to the music. It is going to be a multi-sensory in-depth look at a powerful story in the Old Testament. Please join us!  All are welcome.

Comfort Dog Ministry Fundraising update
We are so blessed to be able to say that we have raised $785 so far in this journey through our GoFundMe campaign.  In addition to those funds,  our Trinity VPK students have raised $230 and are selling homemade doggy treats this weekend in church to raise more!  (Read the story here ) We are hoping to get closer to our goal of 17K, so that when our dog has completed training, we can send our handlers to Chicago for their 3 days of training, and return to Orlando with our Comfort Dog. But even before that, we need to purchase supplies; crates, leashes, toys, etc.   Thank you so much for your ongoing suppor t. The next team meeting is set for August 16 at 6:30pm in the first floor Magnolia conference room.  On the Comfort Dog Webpage you'll find a list of opportunities to serve on this ministry team.  Contact us at ComfortDog@TrinityDowntown.com to let us know. Let's get to know one another, find out where and how everyone can serve, and learn more about what is involved in community visits with the dog and taking care of the dog. Together amazing things will happen with this ministry!

You're all Invited to an International Music Tea - August 4
Most people take a plane, ship or train to travel around the world, but this summer, our preschool children in the PreK 2, Pre K 3, and VPK classes have used their imaginations to experience music, dance, stories and food from countries all over the world. We would like to share what we have learned on these adventures with you in an International Music Tea on Friday, August 4, at 9:00 a.m. in our gym and fellowship hall.  Trinity Lutheran Church and School families, friends are welcome to attend.

August 5, Campus Work Day
August is the month we go back to school. Our CDC children move to new classes, and we welcome new families. We are also preparing for the new pastor God will send us. We need helpers to spruce up the whole campus... weeding, trimming, planting, cleaning. Our work day is set for Saturday, August 5th from 8:30 to 12pm. Lunch will be served afterward. Please sign up in the Narthex or contact Darlene Sabin at darlene.rehbein.sabin@gmail.com. Let's have a great turn out. Many hands make light work!

Enchanted Garden Workshop for Trinity Kids and Lake Eola Heights Kids - Aug 5, 2-4pm
Connect with our neighbors and have some fun!  Sponsored by our Lake Eola Neighborhood Watch in collaboration with Urban Garden & Goods and Broadway Methodist, Trintiy kids are invited to take part in an Endhanted Garden Workshop. This workshop is for kids to create an enchanted tiny fairie garden! $15 rate for Trinity families. Bring your own container or choose from a variety on the day for an additional fee. Suggested containers include small pots, small drawers, tea kettles, etc. The class is limited to (18) kids and includes instruction along with three small fairy plants and two pre-selected fairy garden accessories-- additional costs will apply for extra plants and fairy garden accessories. Refreshments will be provided! Saturday, August 5, 2017, 2:00pm-4:00pm @ Broadway United Methodist Church.   Register THIS WEEKEND with Tracey Jacobs, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator at eolawatch@gmail.com.  DOWNLOAD FORM HERE.

Voters Meeting, August 6th
Please join us August 6th , after the 11am worship service (about 12:15) to review & vote on the proposed annual budget.

Blessing of the Backpacks and Dedication of All Teachers
At all services August 12 & 13 we will be blessing backpacks and dedicating all those who serve as teachers in various school systems in our community, including Trinity's teachers, preparing to begin a new school year!  Our CDC families and teachers will join worship Saturday evening after their open house activities, and our K-8 families will join us at the 11am worship service before their Open House activities.  Be sure to pack those backpacks in the car before you head to church - so kids can bring them up and have them blessed during the service!

Senior Pastor Call - Special Voters Meeting
By Sunday, August 20th, the Senior Pastor Call Committee will have a final recommendation for the Trinity Family and will ask the congregation to vote on the individual we will call as our new Senior Pastor.  Please mark your calendars and plan to gather after the 11am worship service, about 12:15 for this Special Voters Meeting.  Thank you.

Rally Day, Sunday School and a Potluck Trinity Family Picnic
Trinity will be recognizing the official beginning of our fall Sunday School and Bible classes on Sunday, August 27, with a special Rally Day celebration.  All Sunday classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the children meeting for opening in the church basement music room and the adults gathering in the fellowship hall. Adult Bible study and Sunday School teachers will be installed in the 11:00 a.m. service. Immediately following worship, all are invited to a Rally Day Potluck Picnic in the Fellowship Hall and courtyard.  Please bring a main dish, side dish, salad, or dessert to share.  Paper goods, tableware, and iced tea will be provided.



Re-Forming Living Stones-President's Equip Conference
EQUIPPED with tools - EMPOWERED with others - ENGAGED in the world
Be part of an energizing three-day event, September 28-30 , with Florida-Georgia pastors, educators, DCEs, music ministers and lay members, participating in:
  • 60 workshops for church professionals & lay volunteers, with topics ranging from youth ministry, fundraising, strategic planning and social media to fabulous family nights, insights for church treasurers, greeter and usher ministries and more
  • Fellowship including an opening night dessert reception, Friday evening banquet and regional gatherings
  • Uplifting closing worship service
Let us know if you're planning to go!  TLC@TrinityDowntown.com
Registration through August 11th is $100 per person
Registration August 12th to 31st is $150 per person
Registration September 1st and after is $200 per person

Senior Safety Summit - Crime Prevention Techniques for Seniors
Due to lack of interest, we've chosen not to host a senior safety summit at this time.

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.

Invest with LCEF and Save Trinity money!  
If you haven't already, please consider opening an LCEF savings account.  The more investors mean the higher the rebate check will be next year.  Savings account investments start as low as $25 for children under 18 and $100 for adults.   If your child is new to Trinity Lutheran School in either the CDC or K-8 programs Trinity will donate $25 to start the account.  Adult investment accounts with LCEF benefit Trinity in the same way the Youth Investor accounts do, so parents and church members, you can participate as well!  You can apply online at LCEF.org .  For more information, please contact Bruce Hahn at 407-701-3234 or email bruce@mm-c.com .

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.


Important Dates

August 1  Town Hall Meeting with Rev. Braun 6pm Sanctuary
August 4  International Tea & Cookies
August 5  Campus Work Day 8:30-12:00pm, lunch provided
August 6   Voters Meeting 12:30pm Sanctuary
August 11  Trinity Staff Workday, school offices & programs closed
August 12  CDC Open House and Meet the Teacher 4:00-6:00pm
August 12 & 13  Blessing of BackPacks & Teacher Dedications in all worship services
August 13  K-8 Open House 12:30-2:30pm
August 14  First day of school
August 16  Comfort Dog Ministry Meeting
August 20  Special Voters Meeting, Senior Pastor Call
August 27  Rally Day, Sunday School Begins, Trinity Family Picnic
September 4  Campus closed for Labor Day
September 28-30 FL/GA President's Equip Conference 

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