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Alpha
Sep. 14, 2010 Drew HollandALPHA (Begins Sept. 14)
Tuesday evenings, 6-8 PM
If you are looking for an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting, ALPHA is for you! The Alpha course meets once per week for 10 weeks. Each session includes great food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere where no question about life or God is seen as too simple or too hostile. Alpha is for anyone…anyone who thinks there may be more to life than meets the eye. Dinner and childcare are provided, and there is no charge for the course.Click below to register.
First Day of Kindergarten!
Sep. 1, 2010 Kim WoodThe first day of Kindergarten for the TCDC 2010-2011 school year will be Wednesay, September 1! Watch your mail in August for more details! We can’t wait to get back to school! 
2010-2011 TCDC Parent Orientation
Aug. 31, 2010 Kim WoodTCDC’s 2010-2011 Parent Orientation will be held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, August 31, in Wesley Hall (Trinity’s small sanctuary). This meeting is mandatory for all families, whether new or returning to TCDC. Come and learn about our exciting plans for the upcoming year! The meeting in Wesley Hall will be followed by time in your child’s classroom to meet with our teachers. This is your chance to learn about what your child’s day-to-day experience is like at TCDC, as well as special events that will occur throughout the year. You will also have a chance to sign up for volunteer opportunities in the classroom. Please make plans to join us!
Register NOW for Fall Studies!
Aug. 29, 2010 Amy MezzellYou can now check out all the studies Trinity is offering this fall, and you can also register online! To view the courses, click here. You can also find a registration form in Tidings.
Posted in: All GroupsAugust Menu
Jul. 28, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in: TCDCALPHA
Jul. 27, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:July 27, 2010
Jul. 27, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Clean & Unclean
Jul. 25, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:July 25, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
Jul. 25, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Clean & Unclean, 7/25.
Jul. 22, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
Outreach Team meets first Monday of every month—come and bring a friend!
Jul. 22, 2010 Chris UnderwoodPlease join us for the next meeting of Trinity’s Mission & Outreach Team. We meet the first Monday of each month at 7 PM in the Fireside Room. (Downstairs on the bottom floor behind the kitchen.) Church members update each other regarding current outreach projects. This is a good way to get involved in mission work and meet others who are currently participating in projects. Feel free to invite a friend! Contact Dave Barnhart at for more details.
Posted in: NewsFair Trade Coffee & Chocolate Sales Support Missions
Jul. 22, 2010 Chris UnderwoodA Fair Trade Coffee booth with information about upcoming mission trips is located in the 2nd floor commons area after the 8:45 AM worship service on Sunday mornings. Proceeds from this fair trade coffee and chocolate sales support our upcoming mission trips.
Capri Sun Drink Pouches will reap dollars for our preschool program
Jul. 22, 2010 Chris UnderwoodJoin us and help collect CAPRI SUN DRINK POUCHES (or any similar drink pouches). The collection box is located in the Nursery.
This will help get pouches out of landfills and help our preschool too. Terracycle.net will give $$$ back to Trinity’s PDO program.
Zambia trip October 2010 to build training center—come be part of the team
Jul. 22, 2010 Chris UnderwoodTrinity has partnered with SIFAT and the UMC in Zambia to build a facility which will house both a new conference office and a SIFAT training center in the capital city, Lusaka. We still need at least 2 more people to fill out our Zambia team! The trip is from October 27 to November 10 and will cost around $4,000 for the flight, lodging, food, and safari. Special scholarships are available for skilled labor: we especially need contractors or those with building experience! For more information, contact Dave Barnhart at .
Teach Someone to Read…
Jul. 22, 2010 Haley SmithTeach someone to read! There are approx. 20+ adult students eagerly waiting for tutors. You will be trained in three sessions lasting approximately 3 hours each in a method that is being used world-wide. There is no charge for the training, thanks to a recent grant by the Dollar General organization. For more info or to register for the next training session contact Beverly Sansom, M-POWER Ministries Literacy Director, at 205-595-5991 or .
Posted in: NewsJuly 20, 2010
Jul. 20, 2010 Haley SmithIt’s Monday morning and the church is filled with children – hundreds of noisy children at Vacation Bible School. I like the sound of a noisy church. When it gets too quiet around here, then we are in trouble!
As I watched the 3 year olds - 8 year olds file into the church, my mind flashed back to Sunday morning when we commissioned 50 plus youth for a week long mission with SOS in Memphis. These youth are living out the les- sons they learned in Bible School: to be a disciple of Jesus. They are giving a week of their summer to work on home repairs with folks who otherwise would do without. Not long ago, they were singing, “He’s got the whole world in his hands,” at VBS. Now they are serving as the hands of Christ to the world.
At Trinity we believe that to be a follower of Christ is a matter of head, heart and hands. It is important to connect all the dots...to know about Jesus, to experience and love him as Savior and to serve him as Lord. Hopefully, as a church, we are doing those things that help our children and youth connect the dots...to know and serve Christ.
But we can’t do that alone. The line between those dots goes right through the homes. When our children are baptized as infants, we promise to nur- ture our children in the church, “that by our teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly and to lead a Christian life.” That’s a big promise to make! But it is a life giving promise – meeting the spiritual needs of our children is as important as meeting their physical and emotional needs. It is so rewarding to see the results of our efforts when our children grow into mature, strong, faithful youth and adults. It takes both the church and the home to make that happen.
Thanks to the over one hundred VBS volunteers, the adults who are working with our youth, and to the parents. It takes all of us to connect the dots.
Posted in:Grow Sundays
Jul. 20, 2010 Haley SmithTrinity is Growing! Therefore...Two Grow Sundays are Needed!
With the growing number of new members our space cannot hold all children, youth and adults for one Grow Sunday event! To meet the needs of all God’s people, we are having two events to celebrate the importance of Christian Education as we journey to know God more fully and grow in our discipleship.
August 15 & August 22, 2010
KIDS! August15 - Growing Under the Big Top
Children will go to their new classrooms to meet their teachers for an Open House beginning at 10 AM. As they leave they will receive two tickets to use under the Big Top. Choir sign-ups for children will be held in the gathering area on the first floor right outside the elementary classrooms. When you sign up for choir, you will receive another ticket to use under the Big Top in the Gym. Big Top (in the Gym): Your tickets will be your free admission! You may use your tickets to play carnival games and even eat a bag of popcorn! Kids and adults alike can enjoy live music, jugglers, balloon makers and more! Note: Adult Sunday School classes have been asked to provide the games for this event. Make sure if your class has committed to this event that you are prepared! Remember, adult classes will meet unless your class is full of parents with children...or a few of your members who are helping with the games may not be present.
ADULTS! August 22 - Growing Together in Study..under the Big Tent
10 AM • Gym
Come one and all to celebrate under the Big Tent in a time of worship with singing hymns, hearing testimonies, learning about new spiritual growth opportunities and enjoying a wonderful time of fellowship with adults of all ages over a cup of coffee and breakfast muffin. The gym will have booth displays with sign- ups for small groups studies being offered in the fall, Sunday School opportuni- ties, choir and handbells, and the list goes on! Note: Each adult Sunday School class and other Grow ministries have received information inviting you to have a booth and descriptions of what you will need. Please make sure you turned in your form if your class or ministry plans to 3 have a booth. Contact Suzanne Pruitt at 879-1737 with questions.
July 20, 2010
Jul. 20, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Sunday School Teachers are needed!
Jul. 19, 2010 Haley SmithYou’re Invited...to become a teaching team member in Children’s Ministry!
There are opportunities in all ages and classes for just the right people to help guide our children in their faith journey.
Benefits include: easy to prepare, Biblically sound curriculum, supplies, lots of support, training and a weekly dose of smiles and hugs from the kids. Let’s explore all options! You’ll be glad you did. Please contact Linda or Jeanne at 879-1737, or email , .
Classes begin August 22, 2010.
Posted in: NewsPriests
Jul. 18, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:July 18, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
Jul. 18, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Priests, 7/18.
Jul. 16, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
July 13, 2010
Jul. 13, 2010 Haley SmithIt’s the kind of thing you wouldn’t notice unless you knew to look for it. Like a
flower pushing its way up through a crack in a sidewalk, or an empty cicada skin
clinging to a tree; we see subtle evidence of the Kingdom of God growing and pushing
into our world.
One of the privileges of serving on staff at Trinity is that I get to see these signs of the
Kingdom. Many people who show up Sunday morning may not even be aware that
they’re happening; but Trinity members are involved in ministries beyond the church
walls every week. Some sew for Baby Love; others tutor kids in after-school programs;
some teach adults how to read; and others serve meals to the homeless.
Last week several Sunday school classes and individuals helped prepare lunch for the
kids at Urban Ministry’s summer camp. Urban Ministry is a United Methodist mission
organization that serves West End in Birmingham. You can learn about some of what
they do at their website, http://www.urban-ministry.com. I took a lunch prepared by Trinity
staff. I met the kids as they swarmed in from the sweltering heat. They had been playing
at the park and had worked up an appetite.
“Mr. Dave, sit over here. Mr. Dave, when you get your plate, I’ve got your seat right
here.” Demarcus gestured to a place between himself and Martavius. I sat down
between them and tried to share my attention equally between the five kids vying for
my attention. “Mr. Dave, do you like sports? Are you watching the World Cup? Mr.
Dave, do you have kids?” One curly-headed boy beamed at me. “I’m on my sixth
plate of celery,” he announced. Fresh produce can be hard to find in poor neighborhoods.
I’d never thought of celery as a treat.
We finished the meal, and I began mentally listing the tasks I’d need to do when I got
back to the office. Demarcus interrupted. “Mr. Dave, can I read to you?” How could I
say no? He fetched his book from a desk, and read ten pages from a story about life
on a ranch. I signed off that he had met his reading goal for the afternoon.
It’s the kind of thing you wouldn’t notice unless you knew how to look for it. But bidden
or unbidden, the Kingdom of God comes, growing like a mustard weed, pushing
up through cracks in the sidewalk. Those who delight in what God is doing scrape
their knees on the concrete, look through a magnifying glass at the unfolding leaves,
and wave at passers by, shouting, “Come and see! Come and see!”
Dave Barnhart
Posted in:July 13, 2010
Jul. 13, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Guilt, 7/11.
Jul. 11, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
Guilt
Jul. 11, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:July 11, 2010 • Rev. Drew Holland
Jul. 11, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Blood, 7/4.
Jul. 9, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
Holiness, 6/27.
Jul. 9, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
God Is In The Details, 6/20.
Jul. 9, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
Southern Coupon Savers Workshop
Jul. 8, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Crown Ministries: Life Group
Jul. 8, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Other Adult Small Group Options (Fall 2010)
Jul. 8, 2010 Haley SmithALPHA (Begins Sept. 14)
Tuesday evenings, 6-8 PM (10 week course)
If you are looking for your first small group study or a basic study on the fundamentals of Christianity, ALPHA is the course for you! There are 10 weekly sessions with casual, small group discussion. Dinner and childcare are provided, and there is no charge for the course. Call Karen Smith at 879-1737.
Crown Ministries: Life Group (Begins Sept. 15)
Wednesday evenings, 6-8 PM (10 week course)
(*Informational meeting: Sept. 1 at 6 PM in Rm. 328)
Come learn God’s perspective on spending, saving, giving, and planning. This small group/discussion format teaches the Bible’s view in the areas of stewardship, generosity and finances. 10 weekly sessions with some homework required. This is a great course to follow Dave Ramsey’s FPU...you’ll learn more of the “why” as opposed to the “how” of financial stewardship. The Bible has over 2,350 verses relating to money and possessions. Understanding God’s true desire for our lives results in a closer walk with Him and a contentment that you might not have ever experienced!
Fee: $45 single/$55 per couple
Leaders: Paul and Catherine Brown
Register: Call 739-9944 or email
Southern Coupon Savers Workshop (Sept. 15)
Wednesday, September 15, 6-8:30 PM
Instructed by Jenny Martin from SouthernSavers.com,
this is a one-time 2.5 hour class that will teach you to be a true couponer. Learn how to use coupons to save hundreds of dollars a month on all of your grocery, household and personal care items. You can also use these new skills to donate items to local charities.
Register online at http://www.southernsavers.com and click on Couponing Workshops or call the church office at 879-1737. $10 per person fee, payable at the door by either cash or check.
STRENGTHS (Dates TBD)
Are you interested in discovering the strengths that God has given you? Come and learn about yourself and how God has gifted you with talent for ministry.
Fall class dates are to be determined. Watch Tidings for dates. Questions? Call Karen Smith at 879-1737.
Zambia Mission Trip
Jul. 7, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in: OtherSmall Group Studies Registration
Jul. 7, 2010 Haley SmithTrinity Adult Small Group Studies - Register Beginning July 7 for Fall Classes!
In the July 6, 2010 issue of Tidings you will find a full listing of studies being offered this Fall. From Disciple classes to women’s studies, there is something for everyone.
Included is a printed registration form or you may register online at http://www.trinitybirmingham.com/adults/ssgroups. (Beginning July 7)
Registration deadline is Sunday, August 22.
If you have a question about a particular study listed, please contact Suzanne Pruitt at 879-1737 or email .
Posted in: All GroupsWOMEN’S STUDY: Beth Moore’s Jesus the One and Only WEDNESDAY PM
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:WOMEN’S STUDY: Beth Moore’s Jesus the One and Only THURSDAY AM
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:MEN’S STUDY: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:PRODIGAL GOD by Timothy Keller SUNDAY AM
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:PRODIGAL GOD by Timothy Keller WEDNESDAY PM
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:NO PARTIALITY
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:WESLEY FOR ARMCHAIR THEOLOGIANS
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:PRAYING MOMS
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:Disciple 1: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study SUNDAY PM
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:July 6, 2010
Jul. 6, 2010 Haley SmithAny job worth doing is worth doing well. It’s an often repeated phrase, or at least it used to be. Pride in workmanship and in a job well done feeds our spirits. We are naturally drawn to or admire people for whom the bottom line is not just how much, but how well.
The seventeenth-century violin maker Antonio Stradivari made instruments of such quality that they are still prized and in use today. Every violinist dreams of playing/owning a Stradivarius violin. Stradivari describes his quest for excellence in this way: “When any master holds ‘twixt chin and hand a violin of mine, he will be glad that Stradivari lived, made violins and made them of the best...If my hand slacked I would rob God...since he is the fullest good. (But) he could not make Antonio Stradivari’s violins without Antonio.”
Stradivari understood that the gifts he was given were unique, but that they were God given. Using those gifts called for excellence and to do his best. His pride of workmanship was not just about him, but about living his life to the glory of God.
I like the phrase, to the glory of God. You see it inscribed on cornerstones of church buildings: “This building erected to the Glory of God.” What if we thought of that phrase in connection with our own work or life? Do we use our gifts in such a way that we would be happy to have “to the Glory of God” inscribed across our efforts?
Part of what we ascribe to and attempt as a church is to do things with excellence so that we honor God with our best.
Posted in:July 6, 2010
Jul. 6, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Disciple 1: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study WEDNESDAY PM
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:Disciple 1: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study THURSDAY AM
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:DISCIPLE 3: Remember Who You Are
Jul. 6, 2010 Amy Mezzell Posted in:Blood
Jul. 4, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:July 4, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
Jul. 4, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Pictorial Directories Are Here!
Jul. 4, 2010 Haley SmithThe new Olan Mills directories have arrived and will be available for pick up in the 2nd floor Commons Area after worship services on Sundays, July 4 and July 11.
There is no charge if you were photographed for the book. If not photographed, there is a small fee of $5 per book. Please limit one per household.
Directories will also be available for pick up in the church office on weekdays.
Posted in: NewsJuly 01, 2010
Jul. 1, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Summer 2010! Kids join the fun!
Jul. 1, 2010 Jeanne BaswellBASKETBALL CAMP
August 2-6, M-F, 9 am-4 pm
Or 1/2 day 9 am - 12 pm or 1 pm-4 pm
Completed 5K-7th Grade
Enjoy improving skills and learning fundamentals in this fast paced, fun environment. Participants are grouped by age and skill level. Instructor: Coach Paul Brown $80 for ½ day OR $145 for full day.
Camp registration forms are available in Children’s Ministry Office Room 208
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
July 19-22 Mon.-Thurs., 9 am-12 pm
Completed 3K-2nd Grade
Come join the fun at Galactic Blast. as we take a Cosmic Adventure Praising God through Bible stories, crafts, music and recreation!
Contact Linda Whatley or Jeanne Baswell with any questions.
--- The following camps have already taken place. ---
MISSION CAMP
June 8-10, Mon.-Wed, 9 am-3 pm
Completed 3rd-5th Grade
Kids will experience a different “hands on” mission opportunity every day, including visiting a retirement home and an agency involved in providing for the poor. $25
TRINITY DAY CAMP
June 14-17 Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 am-3:30 pm
Completed 3rd-5th Grade
Join your friends for summer time fun. We’ll take the vans to Camp Coleman each day to enjoy outdoor activities including craft time, Bible study, swimming, hiking and nature activities. $70
FUN DAY FOR 4 AND 5
July 8th 9am-11:30pm Ages 4 and 5 only
The Gathering Place (room 111)
Come join us for a fun day of experiment and exploration. We will be making God’s word memorable through active learning. Supplies fee: $5
SUMATANGA SLEEPOVER
June 26-27 Sat. 10 am - Sun. 12 pm
Completed 5K-2nd Grade
An overnight camp experience for children and their moms. Provides kids a chance to experience Camp Sumatanga and anticipate summer camp when they are older. $75
ART CAMP
June 7, 14
All camps Mon.-Fri., 9 am-12 pm
Completed 5K-7th Grade
Creativity is encouraged as children experience a variety of media. Instructor: Elizabeth Hubbard $120
FUNTASTIC MUSIC CAMP
June 21-25 Mon.-Fri., 9 am-12 pm
Completed 5K-5th Grade
Sessions include singing, movement, instruments. Proceeds go to the Alabama chapter of American Orff-Schulwerk Association for continuing education for music teachers.
Coordinator/instructor: Theresa McKibben $85
TRINITY GOES TO SUMATANGA DAY CAMP
June 28-July 2 Mon.-Fri., 7:30 am-5:15 pm
Completed 5K-2nd Grade
We’ll be going to Camp Sumatanga on the church van each day for swimming, canoeing, ropes course, hiking, crafts and Bible study. This day camp for younger children is directed by Sumatanga staff. $100 (space is VERY limited).
CAMP SUMATANGA ELEMENTARY CAMP
Camps begin on Sundays, June 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25
Sun. 4 PM-Fri. 5 PM
Completed 3rd-5th Grade
Enjoy a week long camp with Bible study, crafts, swimming, hiking and other outdoor activities. Trinity kids receive $50 scholarship with registration confirmation. $275
Register online at http://www.sumatanga.org
Journey to Everest
Jul. 1, 2010 Haley SmithJoin us for a Summer Family Movie Night!
Wednesday, July 28 at 7 PM - Wesley Hall
Featuring:
JOURNEY TO EVEREST
“They came for an adventure. They discovered a new purpose.”
Adventure lives at the core of all of us, yet sometimes we are afraid to risk stepping into the unknown. This entertaining motion picture explores themes of courage, teamwork and self-discovery to inspire audiences to seek God and the adventures He has set before us.
To watch a 2 minute movie trailer, click here.
JOIN US!
• FREE! Fun evening for the whole family.
• Come early...6:45 PM...for ice cream and fellowship before the movie.
• Nursery provided for ages infants - 3 years.
• Game time in the Gym available for ages 4-7.
June 29, 2010
Jun. 29, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:June 29, 2010
Jun. 29, 2010 Haley SmithWriter and teacher, Rabbi Harold Kushner, tells about a class on Jewish history that he was teaching to teenagers in his congregation. One day the class was studying the Holocaust, the destruction of six million Jews at the hands of the Nazis in World War II. As the class read example after example of butchery and cruelty, Kushner would see the horror rising in his students, and felt their outrage approach the boiling point. That was when he asked them, “Why was Hitler wrong?”
The students were confused by the question. “What do you mean, why was Hitler wrong?” one student asked. “Do you mean he might have been right, that the Jews were an inferior race and should be murdered?” Another cried, “Why was he wrong? You can’t just take people and kill them because you don’t like them.”
Kushner observed. “Remember, the Nazis were careful to pass laws sanctioning everything that they did. It was all within the law. Was it still wrong?”
“Of course it was,” the first student replied. “Just because you pass laws permitting the gassing of children doesn’t mean it’s right.”
Kushner pressed further, “But why? Are you trying to tell me that some things are wrong, even if the majority of people think they are right? Are you telling me that there is such a thing as good and evil, some standards of morality that exist no matter how we feel about them, or whether or not we agree with them? Where do you get such an idea?”
Of course, Kushner knew where his students got that idea. They got it from their Biblical heritage, and especially from the prophets like Amos. For the prophets to say that there was a God was in itself a moral and political statement. The prophet, Amos, thundered against the religious and political authorities of his day, because of their failure to do deal justly. God’s authority trumps all earthly authority.
The writers of the Declaration of Independence stood in line with this prophetic belief in the ultimate authority of God over all systems. They gave as their rationale for separation from England, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed – that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.
There are those old adages that one should not talk about religion or that religion and politics don’t mix. If we believe in the God of the prophets, this is impossible. To say the name of this God is to make a political statement – it is to assert a claim over all of life.
So on this Fourth of July Sunday, we are going to share the family story of Amos, who talked about religion and politics in the same breath.
Posted in:Drew Holland
Jun. 29, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in: RegularWelcome Reception
Jun. 27, 2010 Haley SmithJoin us for a reception to welcome Trinity’s new pastor
Rev. Drew Holland and his wife, Vaughan.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
10:00 a.m. - During the Sunday School hour
Large Parlor
June 27, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
Jun. 27, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Holiness
Jun. 27, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:June 22, 2010
Jun. 22, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:June 20, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
Jun. 20, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Family Stories
Jun. 16, 2010 Haley SmithSUMMER SERMON SERIES: Family Stories
June 20 - July 25, 2010
Dr. Andy Wolfe
Sunday: 8:45 & 11:00 AM, Traditional Worship Services
Whenever families gather, they tell stories. They recall events from the past – funny things that happened, crisis resolved, disasters averted.
“Remember the time when ol’ Uncle John….”
Or “Can you believe what Grandpa Jones did when….”
These not only entertain us, they inform and form us. They remind us of where we came from, who we are, where we belong. Stories put ground under our feet and root us. They give us insight and wisdom beyond our own years.
Preacher/theologian Carlyle Marney once suggested that there are at least eighty thousand generations behind each one of us, and that we are not able to bless ourselves and others, until we are able to bless our own origins. To understand who we are as a people of God, we need to look back through the centuries to those who have gone before us. We need to bless our origins.
The Old Testament provides us with a wealth of family stories – stories of men and women whose lives can bless, instruct, inspire, challenge, and even confound us. Over these next weeks this summer, we will be a holding a “family reunion” with some of these men and women. Their stories can make us laugh and cry, and hold for us the promise of shaping our own stories.
June 20 – Jacob
June 27 – Joseph
July 4 – Amos
July 11 – Moses
July 17 – David
July 25 – Esther
June 15, 2010
Jun. 15, 2010 Haley SmithWell, it’s another one of those things people tell you that turned out to be true after all! Your children grow up in a hurry. It seems like yesterday when we were rocking them to sleep, teaching them to ride a bike, going to little league games. Now they are, well almost, grown and gone. Of course, once a parent always a parent. The job never ends, though the roles shift. Yet, that period of our most profound and lasting influence is short-lived. If research is to be believed, the first three years are the most critical. By 12 or 13, the die has been cast! The window of opportunity is small. With an average life expectancy of 78, we have about 17% of our years to do the most important thing we will probably ever do – be a good mother or father.
Dads, this Father’s Day, take a moment to check the clock! Your kids will grow up fast. You will never have these days again. Grandmother and Educator Esther Jantzen lists the five most powerful things kids need to hear from their father:
1. “I’m proud…you’re my son or daughter.” You can say this out of the blue; it does not need to be connected to any achievement, although it could be. They’ll also get this message when you say, “I notice…how your drawings are changing…how you seem happier…or how you’re doing better at school.”
2. “That’s okay…how can you learn from that?” Use this when there’s been a mistake or problem. It teaches kids it’s normal, necessary, and perhaps even healthy to make mistakes. We all do. The important thing about a mistake is what you can learn from it. If you can learn from it, the guilt and hurt often go away.
3. “I’m sorry…for ____.” Fill in the blank. Maybe it would be… for yelling at you the other night… for missing your ball game… for not keeping my promise. When adults apologize, kids learn how to clean things up between people, and that’s something they need to know. And, of course, the best apology is changed behavior.
4. “Tell me more…” or “Yes, and what else?” These words let a kid know you’re listening, you’re interested and you’ll give them your attention and time. These words encourage them to develop and express ideas. Believe it or not, they can help kids gain skills that are useful in school. And, of course, be sure you listen when they talk.
5. “I love you forever.” Even if you’re mad as heck or live far apart from your kids, they need to know you’re behind them and you love them for no reason except that you’re connected as father and child forever. Your love is their birthright.
Happy Father’s Day.
Posted in:June 15, 2010
Jun. 15, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Sacrifice, 6/13.
Jun. 13, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
Sacrifice
Jun. 13, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:June 13, 2010 - Dr. Andy Wolfe
Jun. 13, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:June 8, 2010
Jun. 8, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:The Inspired Conversation
Jun. 6, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:Choir Tour - Homecoming Concert
Jun. 6, 2010 Haley Smith2010 CROSS & FLAME YOUTH CHOIR TOUR
May 29 - June 6
Atlanta • Savannah • Orlando
The Cross & Flame Youth Choir will depart for their annual summer choir tour on May 29. This year they will travel with First Methodist Church of Prattville’s Genesis Singers. They will travel to Georgia and Florida, making stops along the way to sing at various churches. The choirs will also participate in hands-on mission projects.
Homecoming Concert!
On Sunday, June 6, the tour will conclude with a Homecoming Concert at Trinity UMC. This will take place at 4:30 PM in the Sanctuary. All are invited to attend and to welcome Trinity’s youth choir back to Birmingham!
Join us for a Farewell Reception
Jun. 6, 2010 Haley SmithYou are cordially invited to attend a Farewell Reception
Honoring Rev. Tim and Stacey Tatum
Sunday, June 6th, 2010
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. in the Large Parlor
The Inspired Conversation, 6/6.
Jun. 3, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
June 01, 2010
Jun. 1, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:June 1, 2010
Jun. 1, 2010 Haley SmithAs United Methodist Christians, we are a part of a connectional church. We do not see ourselves as isolated units. Each local congregation is connected to other congregations. Our understanding of church follows Paul’s view of the church as a “body.”
For just as the body is one and has many members – all of the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member, but of many.
We belong to each other. Together, we are able to be and do more than we can apart.
This organic/relational/bodily/connection finds its practical expression in our organization into “Conferences.” Each local church is a part of a “Conference.” In our case, we are a part of the North Alabama Conference, made up of 150,500 individuals in 759 congregations, both large and small. Together, we join in ministries such as Camp Sumatanga, the United Methodist Children’s Homes, United Methodist Homes for the Aging - including Fairhaven, Residential Alternative Home for special needs adults, and Birmingham- Southern College and Huntington College. By joining hands, our circle of ministry is
larger than it could ever be if we all trued to do it alone.
Each year the churches of the Conference meet together in what is know as our Annual Conference session. Our session of the Annual Conference will be held this week, June 3-5. All clergy are members of this body, along with lay delegates from each local church. Trinity’s lay delegates include: Kim Yarboro-chair, Carrie Carter, Lucy Lee, Allen McCain, Kirk Mills, and Tom Carter-alternate.
At our sessions, we will hear reports of our connectional work; we will worship; we will learn; and we will celebrate our life together. In our system, pastors are “sent” or assigned by the Bishop annually. As a part of the session, appointments of pastors to local churches will be fixed for the coming year. In the old days, this was kept secret until the last day of Annual Conference when appointments were read aloud and churches/pastors learned who went where. This made for lots of anxiety and high drama! Today, appointments are largely made and announced in the months preceding the conference, and the actual moving follows after the conference session.
At Trinity, Dave Barnhart, Suzanne Pruitt, and myself will all be returning for another year. Tim Tatum, our Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Young Adults, will be assigned to Valley United Methodist Church in Huntsville. We will soon be receiving a new person in Tim’s position. Drew Holland, who is graduating from Duke Divinity School, will be assigned to Trinity. Tim will be moving out in mid-June, and Drew will be moving in. We will have the opportunity to express our gratitude to Tim at a farewell reception on Sunday, June 6 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM in the Large Parlor.
Posted in:June 1, 2010
Jun. 1, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Preparation and Performance, 05/30.
May. 31, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
Why We Go, 05/23.
May. 31, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion
Preparation and Performance
May. 30, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:Summer study available!
May. 30, 2010 Amy MezzellTrinity is now taking registrations for the upcoming study using Max Lucado’s book, Fearless. To read more or to register, click here. The registration deadline is May 30.
Posted in: All GroupsMay 30, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
May. 30, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:May 25, 2010
May. 25, 2010 Haley SmithZambia…
Back in October, Trinity had an exciting opportunity to help get a new ministry and a new United Methodist Conference started in Zambia, a country in the middle of southern Africa. We helped purchase 11 acres of land which will be used both by SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) and the United Methodist Church. Two weeks ago, I traveled to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to see the facility being built there.
I was impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of the local churches. Members would walk hours from their homes to the work site to lay concrete blocks for the wall around the property. After a tiring day of work, when we gave them a lift in the back of a 4-wheel drive pickup truck, they sang joyfully all the way back to their neighborhood. Two members stayed at the work site, sleeping in a tent to make sure the construction materials weren’t stolen.
It’s amazing that these tiny United Methodist churches, who have so few resources, are poised to have such a tremendous impact on their community, their country, and their continent simply by their willingness to work and be used by God. As we worshiped on Sunday in a Spartan classroom, clapping and singing, I was humbled. I wondered to myself, “Our church has far more resources and many more people – could we have the same kind of impact on our community?”
We can and we do! Our greatest strength in transforming the world is when we get on board with what God is already doing – with Church of the Reconciler, or Urban Ministry, or BHN or any number of ministries already going on in Birmingham. In this case Trinity is also helping to transform Africa, by partnering with the Methodist churches in Zambia in helping their own communities.
Look around and ask yourself, “Where is God moving in the world? In Homewood? In my life, my job, my school? How can I join God in God’s mission?” The invitation is always there. You can come with me to Zambia, or you can come with any number of Trinity servants into the mission field in your own back yard.
-- Dave Barnhart
May 25, 2010
May. 25, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Why We Go
May. 23, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:May 23, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
May. 23, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:May 18, 2010
May. 18, 2010 Haley SmithIn an interview on the occasion of turning 60, a famous actress had this to say:
“As an actress I know how important third acts are. Third acts make sense of the first and second acts. You can have first and second acts that are interesting, but you don’t know what they mean. Then a good third act pulls it all together. And so I thought, for that to happen, I have to know what the first and second acts were about, and I have to know where I want to end up.”
The retirement years are eagerly anticipated by most people. After a lifetime of work, structure and marching to the orders of others – retirement promises leisure and freedom. But for some, the passage into retirement is the most difficult. Leisure turns to boredom. Lack of structure becomes lethargic. No more work means no purpose. There is nothing to get you out of bed in the morning.
And yet for some, this third act of retirement truly represents the Golden Years of fulfillment. The Bible is full of stories about people whose third act was the main act. Moses was middle-aged when he was set on fire by a burning bush. Abraham was an old man when he left his home for the land that God would show him. The passage into retirement doesn’t have to mean retiring from life!
The challenge of this passage into retirement is to finish strong. Third acts of plays begin tying the action together and revealing the meanings. Every coach tells his players that games are won and lost in the fourth quarter.
As we continue the May Sermon series on Passages, this week’s topic will be “Finish Strong.” Join us on Sunday.
Posted in:May 18, 2010
May. 18, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:UMW General Meeting
May. 17, 2010 Haley SmithJoin us on Monday, May 17 at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall for our monthly UMW General Meeting.
Featuring Food and Faith Speaker: Charlie Gagne, Executive Chef Vestavia Hills UMC
Join us for lunch after.
Gazing Up Toward Heaven
May. 16, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:May 16, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
May. 16, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Senior High Graduation Recognition
May. 16, 2010 Haley SmithHigh School Graduation Senior Recognition
Sunday, May 16
Student Ministries and the Committee on Higher Education are planning High School Graduate Recognition Sunday for May 16. We invite you and your family to the 8:45 AM service that day, where your class will sit together and be recognized during the service. Following the service, graduates and their families are invited to a Celebration Brunch in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM.
RSVP:
If you plan to participate, please RSVP to Amy Mezzell at 879-1737 by Tuesday, May 4 with how many people will be attending brunch.
ALSO!
Please provide two pictures of yourself, one from an early age and one of your senior portrait, for use in the service no later than Wednesday, May 5, by Noon. Deliver your pictures to Haley Smith – drop them by the church office or email to .
May 11, 2010
May. 11, 2010 Haley SmithMay means moving on! Graduation and commencement mark an ending and a beginning! They are both happy and sad filled with the joy of accomplishment and the anxiety of “what next?” It’s one of those times in life when people want to give you lots of advice. Here are a few gems:
• Your families are extremely proud of you. You can’t imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing. This would be a most opportune time to ask for money. ~Gary Bolding
• All that stands between the graduate and the top of the ladder is the ladder. ~Author Unknown
• You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world. ~Tom Brokaw
• Your schooling may be over, but remember that your education still continues. ~Author Unknown
• Don’t live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable. ~Wendy Wasserstein
• Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~Robert Louis Stevenson
• Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. ~Albert Einstein
• There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. ~Beverly Sills
• What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift to God. ~Eleanor Powell
• The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
And from the Bible:
• I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8
• The child (Jesus) grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:39
This Sunday we will honor our graduating Seniors as we look at this passage in life.
Posted in:May 11, 2010
May. 11, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Stump the Preacher
May. 9, 2010 Contact Worship Posted in:Mother’s Day Concert
May. 9, 2010 Haley SmithJoin Us for a Mother’s Day Concert
Featuring
The Waldorf Wind Symphony of Waldorf College, Iowa
Sunday, May 9 at 4 PM, Sanctuary
The program will be tailored to suit a Mother’s Day celebration. It will feature a wide range of works, including pieces rooted in the
traditions of folk-song, dance and jazz.
“Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ is one of the ensemble’s audience favorites,” said Scott Robertson, Trinity’s Director of Music. “They’ll also play other pieces that should be familiar to many in the audience, including ‘Amazing Grace.’ This will be an enjoyable concert that will appeal to mothers on Mother’s Day.”
The touring group’s 40 musicians will be under the direction of Dr. Brent Dodson, who earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Trumpet Performance at The Julliard School in New York City.
There is no admission charge. Come, and bring your Mother for the afternoon concert.
Posted in: NewsMay 9, 2010 • Dr. Andy Wolfe
May. 9, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Boy Scout Garage Sale & Pancake Breakfast
May. 8, 2010 Haley SmithThis Saturday, May 8!
Boy Scout Troop 97 GARAGE SALE
Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction
Saturday, May 8
7 AM - 1 PM • TUMC Fellowship Hall & Gym
Sale Open to the Public!
Pancakes $5 (Kids under 5 free)
May 4, 2010
May. 4, 2010 Haley Smith Posted in:Why We Move Preachers, 05/02.
May. 2, 2010 Contact Worship
Posted in: Sermon Discussion