|
Your Weekly News & Updates
|
|
Notes from Pastor Zehnder
The Lenten Season
Ash Wednesday, March 1, marked the beginning of our Lenten sojourn. Each Wednesday in Lent through April 5 we will have devotional services at 12:10 and 7PM. The Fourth Sunday in Lent is known by the name
Laetare,
that is,
"Rejoice!"
This is the first word of the ancient Introit used on the Fourth Sunday in Lent. It gives a "flavor" for the week and reminds us of the reason for our rejoicing. It is a paradox, but we rejoice in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for our sakes. We will approach this at our mid-week Lenten services this coming week. Hope you can join us. The service is informal and interactive, and I believe we learn much from each other. Hope you can join the mid-week services! Look forward to Holy Week and Easter Services. These gatherings will be grand!
LiveUCF
On Sunday, April 2, we will welcome Rev. Billy Brath who serves as Pastor for the LiveUCF ministry. Pastor Brath and members of his congregation will be leading the worship at the Sunday services. Pastor Billy and his team will bring us on board with the latest activities and dreams of this fine ministry. Pastor Larry Schaefer will lead the 6 PM worship on Saturday, April 1. We look forward to welcoming our friends!
Trinity Resurrection
Thanks to all who continue to support the Trinity Resurrection effort! While this is a "low key" process our people are responding generously. Please do what you can, dear members and friends of Trinity. The total received thus far is $56,619.00. This helps a great deal. The stated goal is $226,000.00 God bless our efforts!
Foundations
Beginning on Sunday, April 30, Trinity will offer a five week "Foundations" series for members and friends of Trinity who desire a deeper knowledge of what Lutherans believe and confess. These sessions are idea for those desiring to enter into formal membership in the Trinity Family. Foundations will also offer an excellent way to "reconnect" with earlier instruction in the Faith which many received as a young teenager heading for Confirmation!
The sessions will be held on Sundays at 9:30 AM. Nursery is available and makes this handy for families with small children. Sunday school is also available for those 3 years old and up! Our own Pastor Dennis Glander will be leading these sessions and discussion. Five weeks brings Foundations to a close on May 28. Put it on your calendars now!
-Pastor Z
|
|
From Leadership Council
March 12 Voters Meeting Summary
Dear Trinity Family. Thank you to all who attended the regularly scheduled voter's assembly on March 12
th
. The meeting started with a corporate reading of the "Psalm of the Cross", Psalm 22 which introduces the theme of the suffering servant. A timely Lenten theme as we prepare to celebrate the "Resurrection". The minutes from the December 11
th
voter's assembly were approved, thank you. Draft minutes from this meeting will be posted to the Trinity web page under Member Resources.
Pastor Zehnder's report began with a celebration for a successful Foundation class where 50 members and non-members alike participated. For Trinity, Pastor stressed "Fellowship" to build cohesiveness in attendance and stewardship and most importantly, common vision. Pastor and Jackie will be returning to Wisconsin soon after Easter and invite anyone in the "neighborhood" to stop by for a visit.
Vice President Stephanie Landis reported that the Senior Pastor Call process is proceeding. All members of the call committee want to continue faithful participation but one change will be that Tim Norris, a representative from Leadership Council, will chair the committee and Stephanie will participate and insure that administrative tasks move forward seamlessly. The opportunity for Trinity to nominate candidates closed on March 20
th
.
School Board President Kathy Aber spend time discussing the policies that School Board and Leadership have formulated and affirmed in order to align school operations and finances for a sound future. Executive Directors Kevin Brockberg and Patty Moser discussed aspects of Teacher learning and growing. At Trinity, not only students are expected to learn and grow in their faith and abilities.
Campus Development Task Force Chair Rocky Smothers brought the congregation up to date on Task Force activities which have 4 major areas of focus including, 1) Ruth Lane Houses, 2) Magnolia Ministry Center, 3) Food Service, and 4) Campus Security. Rocky discussed aspects of how Foundry Commercial is providing expert guidance and support to these areas of campus need. There will be a campus workday on March 25
th
to advance the work in the three Ruth Lane houses. The focus of the workday will be to remove and dispose of stored items and unneeded items from each of the houses. Eric Havens provided updates on Security, Parking, and Foundry work on their other area of support: Campus Operations. One significant area is inventorying and establishing a maintenance schedule for the many AC units on campus.
Our Finance Officer, David Wilkosz reported on Trinity actual and budgeted financials. Trinity Resurrection giving through March 5 totals just over $55,000. This is short of our goal of $226,000 but there is still time for considering how to use God's gifts. The congregation showed appreciation that weekly attendance and giving totals are now included in the Trinity Weekly.
General Manager Eric Havens reported on operations cash flow. March, with three payrolls remains a challenge. Leadership will be utilizing CDC Bridge Loan funds to fill in any shortcomings in cash flow to meet our monthly obligations. Eric also reported on Trinity Parking. Due to changes in ownership of the parking garage our long-standing agreement will change and represent a significant increase in cost to Trinity. Leadership approved a course of action to utilize our increased parking capacity on campus to meet our parking needs. Of course, for special events we can and will contract with the new operators to insure ample parking is available. Please be diligent in leaving parking spaces near the sanctuary available for those who need them most.
Congregational President Ted Lange reported on Leadership Goals for the coming year. Leadership Council will be working towards developing a true Policy Based model of Governance for Trinity. We are meeting with consultants to provide support in this effort and draft policy will be reviewed at the next Leadership Council meeting. One of the most important events on Leadership Council is the Nomination Process. Currently, Trinity is seeking nominations for Congregational President (2 yr term), Vice-President (1 yr term), two at-large Leadership Council members (2 yr term), Finance Officer (2 yr term), and School Board President (2 yr term). Moreover, there are Elders to nominate to this critically important ministry team. Look for current members filling these positions to describe their roles and responsibilities at upcoming congregational meetings. Planning is ongoing for the One-Hundred Year Celebration, Oktoberfest, and other Trinity fellowship events. Look for opportunities to play a role, large or small in these ministries!
Finally the Leadership Council wanted to recognize significant accomplishments from our staff. From our Finance Office, Ms. Collette Seaton, who has been part of the Trinity family for just under a year, realized her dream of becoming a citizen of the United States. And Ms. Lykeya Murray who has worked in our CDC for nearly 5 years, showed exemplary aptitude and was placed on the Deans List at Seminole State College while pursuing her CDA certification. Both Lykeya and Collette serve in vastly different areas yet both contribute to the mission and ministries at Trinity. Congratulations to both of you.
From Your Elders
Name Tags
The Elder Ministry Team is moving forward with procuring name tags for our members. Wearing a name tag is a gift that you will give to your new Pastor when the Lord brings that man of God to us! (And we pray for that always!)
There are sign-up sheets for Trinity name-tags in the narthex and by the side door to the loggia. Please add your name exactly as you would have it printed. And please include your last name. The Tags to be purchased are sturdy, attractive and magnetic. No more holes in blouses and shirts! We would like to have the name-tags in place before we have our new Senior Pastor. A $7.00 donation is requested for the tag, but not required. Since this is a non-budgeted item, donations are appreciated if you are able. When you make a contribution, please write "Name Tags" on the memo line of your check. If you give a cash donation, place it in an envelope which are in the pew rack and clearly mark it "Name Tag."
As always, please introduce yourself to those around you on campus and in worship! You may recognize the face but cannot attach a name! Let's change this! God bless us in this endeavor!
A Call To Prayer
Please continue to pray once a day for Trinity Downtown, as your schedule permits, through Easter. Trinity is facing two important issues we'd like to ask you to include in your prayers: the call of a Senior Pastor and a serious financial situation; and as always, we join together in prayer to cover the petitions of our entire Trinity family and those we're connected to in addition to those prayers for Trinity. Daily reminders are going out on Facebook each morning at 6am and you are welcome to share your own prayer requests in comments and show you're praying for others who have posted by "liking" their prayer request comment. Let's come together in prayer as we seek God's wisdom and guidance in these matters all other concerns on your hearts.
|
All The News
Tomorrow! Come one, come all!
Your assistance is needed in cleaning out all three of the vacant residences as we start the next phase of renovation. Bring your work gloves and your muscles to haul out all the remaining debris from inside the houses. We will meet on Saturday, March 25
th
at 8:30 a.m. outside of the three houses on the corner of our lot on Amelia and Ruth Lane. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Trinity Lutheran Church Member Tuition Discount, Deadline March 31
If you are registering a child/children for school next year in grades K-8, please consider Trinity Lutheran School! The Trinity Lutheran Church member tuition discount for the 2017-2018 school year has been increased to $1,000 per year, per member child. What a wonderful opportunity to give your child/children a Christian education as well as a sound academic education. If you are interested, you can visit the TLS website at
school.trinitydowntown.com
, or school or church office for more information. The deadline for submitting an application for member discounts is
March 31
, 2017. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity and watch your child grow academically and spiritually. -Trinity Downtown Scholarship Committee.
32 Years & 1000's of Lives -- Sponsor Trinity's Walkers
True Life Choice is a name many of Orlando's long time residents recognize. The same love for women and children is evident in this life-saving ministry, but the name is changed.
Choices Women's Clinic
offers the true choice to frightened and confused women considering abortion. Choices Women's Clinic will soon be a full medical center offering ultrasound, nursing health care, and supportive counseling on West Colonial Drive.
Trinity members Andrea Gabriel and Julia Malenke are representing Trinity on Saturday, April 8 in the annual Walk for Life. Your support with pledge dollars
or joining these faithful women as a walker is evidence of your belief. Choices Women's Clinic would also welcome your help during renovations of the new facility. Your offer to help paint inside walls, landscape, renovate bathrooms, yard work, and other needed assistance is a phone call away. Contact Deaconess Liz:
[email protected]
or 407-488-1919 X127.
OWLS Fellowship March 31
Join us for lunch Friday, March 31 at 11:30am at ITALIAN HOUSE located at 1400 S. Crystal Lake Dr in Orlando. PLEASE call 407-897-1418 or e-mail
[email protected]
to confirm attendance to make the reservation. Hope to see you there---Bob and Audrey Gordon
Meet Your Neighbor Walk
Walk with us through the neighborhood on Saturday, April 1, 10:00 a.m. We'll be sharing prayer with our neighbors, inviting families to "The Great Easter Surprise", and to our Easter Worship at Trinity. We'll meet at our Livingston St. Parking lot. After the walk, we'll have lunch at the Handy Pantry on Amelia. Come joine us!
Read-In Event and BOGO Scholastic Book Fair, April 7
Come spend an evening with Bear at the Read In on Friday, April 6th from 6:00 - 7:30pm in the Trinity Gymnasium.
Students will enjoy listening to the book "A Visitor for Bear" along with crafts and a tea party. Pizza will be available for purchase in the courtyard beginning at 5:30pm. Please RSVP to our PTL board at [email protected].
Book Fair April 6-7
Scholastic Book Fairs is coming to our school with a
Buy One, Get One FREE*
Book Fair! This special event offers a great opportunity for you to add twice as many books to your child's home and classroom library. For every item you buy, you get another item for FREE! It's that simple! You'll leave the Fair with twice as many books! Our fair will be held
on Thursday, April 6
th
- Friday, April 7
th
through the Read-in event!
*All free items must be of equal or lesser value than the ones you buy.
The Great Easter Surprise!
For all Children and Families, Saturday, April 8, 10am on our Trinity campus. Enjoy celebrating Easter, with a variety of activity stations (Extraordinary Energy, Amazing Animation, and more). Experience fun and thrills with emphasis on Jesus' Resurrection... it's even better than an Easter Egg Hunt! Registration forms are in the Narthex and School office. For more info and volunteering contact Gladys at [email protected].
Free Viewing of The Jesus Film
We all know Easter is so much more than eggs and candy! Here's an opportunity to share the whole story. There will be a free viewing of The Jesus Film (family version) at the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola on Good Friday, April 14th at 7:30pm. Sponsored by individuals in a local small group Bible Study, the "Orlando Friends of the Jesus Film." To learn more about and/or contribute to The Jesus Film project visit
https://www.jesusfilm.org/
Golf Tournament May 13
The sweet aroma of freshly clipped grass is in the air! That can only mean one thing...the Pastor Sam Hoard Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Trinity Lutheran School Athletics must be just around the corner! It will be held Saturday, May 13
th
at beautiful Celebration Golf Club. The 4-Person Scramble will begin with a Shotgun Start at 8am. Cost per player is $95 which includes Greens Fee and Cart, Range Balls, Continental Breakfast, Lunch and fabulous prizes! Go to the website at TrinityDowntown.com/golf to register your foursome. Contact Planning Team Member Mark Brink if you have any questions at [email protected] or 321-217-8112.
Comfort Dog Ministry
The Comfort Dog Ministry is now in fundraising mode. Our dog is in training and we need to get busy raising funds. Our immediate goal is $15,000 to cover the costs of the dog, dog supplies, Top Dog training, handler trainings, and next year's budget. We have created a ministry page at
TrinityDowntown.com/comfortdog
where you can learn more and donate any amount. You may also use the collection plate to donate, marking your donation "Comfort Dog". Very soon, we will be creating a Facebook GoFundMe page open for you, your family, friends and community connections to help us raise our goal. This will be an on-going campaign, as this is not a line item in Trinity's budget, but funded solely by donations from supporters. Trinity family, this will be YOUR ministry comfort dog, and we look forward to the endless possibilities that lie ahead for this ministry!
Contact Information
If you have had a change to your contact information, such as, name change, change in phone number, email address, or street address, please get a large blue card form an usher during worship, complete the new information, and return the card to an usher. Thank you!
From the Clausing Family in Kenya
Dear Brothers & Sisters at Trinity, Lenten greetings from Nairobi, Kenya in the name of our Lord Jesus. On behalf of my family and the church of east Africa, thank you for your ongoing financial support through multiple donations over the past year. Although I don't respond
to every individual gift with a thank-you, be assured that every gift is appreciated. It is regular donors like you who sustain us on the mission field, and we thank God for you. God bless you!
Important Dates
Through April 5
Lenten Worship: Wednesdays 12:10pm and 7pm
April 1
Neighborhood Walk 10am
April 8
The Great Easter Surprise 10am
Holy Week
April 9
Palm Sunday
April 13
Maundy Thursday & First Communion
April 14
Good Friday worship noon and 7pm (offices and school programs closed)
April 15
Saturday evening Easter Vigil 6pm
April 16
Easter Sunday (sunrise plus regular services)
**Pancake Breakfast hosted by TYM 1am-10:30am
April 17
Easter Monday - Offices & school programs Closed
May 13
Pastor Sam Hoard Memorial Golf Tournament
July 17-21
Save the Date: VBS
|
 |
|
Trinity's Comfort Dog Ministry
Next Steps: Fundraising & Sending our Top Dog for Training
Donations may be made via Comfort Dog webpage
|
|
March 18-19, 2017
Attendance
Sunday School/Bible Study
Children's Sunday School
20
Youth
NR
Confirmation
NR
Adult Bible Study
23
Worship
6pm
34
8am
62
9:30am
91
11am 60
Total in Worship 247
Giving
Last week C & M
Actual Recd: 10,164 Budgeted: 10,021 Over/(Short): 143
YTD C&M
Actual Recd: 634,168 Budgeted: 625,395 Over/(Short): 8,773
Bridge To The Future
Received: 520
YTD: 45,285
Faith Factor
Received: 300
YTD: 17,770
Holiday/Loose Plate
Received: 478
YTD: 25,228
Trinity Resurrection
Received: 830 YTD: 56,619
Faithfully Forward
Received: 667
YTD: 28,239
Comfort Dog Received 555 YTD: 605
|
|
