CROP Hunger Walk - Oct. 4th

This Sunday, a group from Trinity UMC will embark on a short but meaningful mission trip. We will be departing from the church parking lot at approximently 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon to be a part of the Charlotte CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk.

CROP Hunger Walks help children and families worldwide -- and right here in the U.S. -- to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Each year some two million CROP Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors put their hearts and soles in motion, raising over $16 million per year to help end hunger and poverty around the world -- and in their own communities. And you can be a part of it! If you are unable or unavailable to walk on October 4th, don't worry! You can still help by sponsoring someone who is walking.

Be a part of the Community Responding to Overcome Poverty and make a donation today!

Summerville Miracle League

I wanted to let you all know - We finally got the date finalized for our trip to Charleston to help with the Summerville Miracle League.

We will leave Friday, Nov. 6th at 4pm and get back home Saturday, Nov. 7th at 10pm. If you are able and willing to join us, please contact Shelly Black THIS WEEK! We will be reserving the hotel rooms this week if possible and need to have our final count ASAP.

If you are unable to go with us, but still want to help, please consider making a financial contribution. No amount is too small. I have included a link to the video from the spring season of the Summerville Miracle League for those of you who haven't seen it. Please take a few minutes to watch, it will tug at your heart strings.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

http://vimeo.com/5963248

Luke 9:23

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Offering ourselves to God isn't easy because it means we must first die to our own selfish will. Like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, we face our own cross and must cry out, "Not my will, dear Father, but your will be done!"

First Day of Playschool

Tuesday, September 8th was the first day of Playschool at Trinity UMC. What a WONDERFUL sight to see all those parents and children arriving at the church!!! In case you missed it, we included a few photos for you to enjoy!

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -Matthew 18:20

When are friends more than friends? When they gather in the name of Jesus and he meets with them there.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Iwill fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." -Psalm 23:4

Death is the ultimate profanity in today's world. We don't like to think about it, much less talk about it. However, death is that one reality that will not leave us alone. We lose friends and family members to death. At one point in our lives, we too, will face this inevitable unless Jesus comes before our passing. So what is our assurance as we face the inescapable? Our Shepherd! He will walk us through, guiding and protecting and comforting us in our journey. And as Christians, this promise is only intensified because we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd, and he has taken the walk ahead of us to insure that our walk through death's valley doesn't end in death, but in glory.

Proverbs 16:16

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!" -Proverbs 16:16

What are the greatest riches in life? Well surely they are not silver and gold. Of infinitely greater value is wisdom, which helps us understand what is valuable, what is true, what is worthy of our heart, and what is not.

Grandparents Day & Youth Kick-Off

Wow, we had a busy day this past Sunday! During the 10:30 service we honored our grandparents, baptized Hunter and Holden Taormina, heard some wonderful special music from Danny and Sherri Barth, and enjoyed a fabulous message from Preacher Rick! Then later that afternoon we Kicked-Off the 2009-2010 year of youth!!

Frances Whisenant was honored as having the oldest grandchild who is 43 years old... just barely beating Helen Kidd with a grandchild of 42 years! Linda Swaringen was also honored as having the youngest grandchild who is currently 3 weeks, just beating the Taormina's with twin grandchildren that are 6 months old! To all the grandparents of our congregation, we again Thank You for everything you do and for continually being a part of the lives of all the children of Trinity UMC.

Speaking of the children of Trinity, Youth Kick-Off was this past Sunday as well! We had an amazing crowd at the church on Sunday afternoon! Everyone enjoyed the 50ft slip 'n slide, ran a few water relays, ate some delicious pizza from Little Ceasars, were treated to some even more delicious ice cream thanks to Cheryl Howard, and enjoyed the fellowship of some REALLY AWESOME kids! Thanks to everyone that came out and helped! The kids had a blast!

Youth Kick-Off 09! We had a GREAT crowd!

We also had a 50ft slip 'n slide!

It was really soapy!!

Even Preacher Rick took a ride!

The High School is flocking Long Creek!

The kids had a blast!

Then we ate pizza and ice cream!

THANKS to everyone that came and to those who helped setup, serve pizza and ice cream, and clean up! You guys are the best! To find out more about the Flock Long Creek program, see Shelly Black!

Romans 6:15

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!" -Romans 6:15

This matching verse to Romans 6:1-2, is the great reminder that sin is no longer our master and no longer our choice. We choose to live for God with every fiber of our being and loathe the life of sin that once held us in bondage to death and defeat.

Hebrews 4:12

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than anydouble-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of theheart." -Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

What is the greatest tool to repair the human heart? ... by-passsurgery? ... angioplasty? ... artificial heart? ... transplant? Howabout the Word of God? You see, while these other techniques can beof great aid to the physical heart of people, God's tool for heartsurgery is his Word. This sharp scalpel can reach the soul andspirit as well as being a physical blessing. So how much of yourheart are you offering to God and his powerful heart-healing toolto touch? As you open God's Scripture, as you hear the message ofGod preached, why not ask for the Holy Spirit's help to help youunderstand, apply, and put into practice what is being taught?Let's offer our hearts to the Great Physician to do his work in us!

Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." -Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

So often, those of us who have received the blessings of faith and the guidelines of the Word of God don't fully appreciate them. Can you imagine what it is like to try to define ones worth, clarify ones values, and establish ones sense of purpose without a standard of truth? Imagine what it would be like to be lost without a map and without a compass? Remember what it was like to wake up in an unfamiliar place as a child in the pitch black darkness totally disoriented? We don't have to worry about that now, do we? God's Word -- both Scripture and his Son -- light our dark paths and show us the way home!

"For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands." -Psalm 92:4

Gaze into the heavens on a dark night and see the wonders of the starry hosts. Think of the incredible diversity of earth's wonders. Look at your own life and see the fingerprints of God's work in your own experience (Rom. 8:28). As Jesus said, our Father is working still (John 5:17). Yes, it does make us glad to know that we are not alone in working our own life (Psalm 139; Phil. 2:13).There is a deep-seated joy at knowing that the LORD, Creator of the universe is at work in us and for us. No wonder singing praise is such a natural response for us!

Psalm 9:2

"I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." -Psalm 9:2 (NIV)

When was the last time you made up a song? The last time you made up a song of praise to God? Worried that you can't do it? Don't think it will be good? Don't worry! your only audience is your Abba Father who longs to hear your heart sing regardless of your voice's perfection or your melody's tune. He wants to rejoice and be glad with you. So open your heart and raise your voice to praise your God.