Welcome to  Trinity Today  - monthly e-news and opportunities at Trinity UMC  

On Palm Sunday morning, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children, ages 3-11, in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 9:45 a.m.
Please join us for a spectacular Sunrise Service on the grounds of our new property, located at 1290 W. Plymouth Avenue. The service will begin at 6:45 a.m.


Don't forget to bring fresh flowers to decorate the cross located in the front of the church on Easter morning.(Take pics of your family and post them on your Facebook page, as well as ours!)
In This Issue
Birthdays
  
April 2 Dick Brunning
April 3 Chris Fuller
April 3 Bill Welsheimer
April 4 Linda McCormick
April 6 Rebecca Agnew
April 6 Susan Largen
April 8 Betty Decker
April
11
Brittany Baumgartner
April 11 Marilyn Thomas
April 13 Gwen Clifton
April 13 David Moor
April 13 Wilda Westervelt
April 14 Debra Wood
April 15 Julie Baumgartner
April 16 Don Brunning
April 17 JoAnn Cheesman
April 19 Bill Adams
April 19 Hansel Bland
April 19 John Solar
April 19 Pat Wallace
April 20 Trisha Bishop
April 20 Dave Gibbons
April 21 Mark Jackson
April 22 Sean McGehee
April 23
Patricia Umberger
April 24 Lee Packer
April 25 Sadie Labchuk
April 25 Anne Welsheimer
April 26 Betty Hamilton
April 27 Isabelle Adams
April 28 Mike Pertler

Anniversaries
  
April 5 Stan & Jan Lilly
    31 yrs
April 6 Buster & Patty Hunt
    4 yrs
April 12 George & Dawn Trullinger
    13 yrs
April 15 Roger & Julie Baumgartner
    53 yrs
April 17 John & Anita Campbell
    13 yrs
April 20 Paul & Lori Ebanks
    26 yrs
April 20 Don & Lucy Halavin
    49 yrs
April 24 Don & April Brunning
    18 yrs
April 26 Travis & Ashley Dunne
    3 yrs
April 28 David & Susan Eunice
    32 yrs

Administrative Council

The next Administrative Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 24th, beginning at 6 p.m. Council meetings are open to any member of the church.

John Campbell, Chair
(386) 734-9224

Operation Love Your Neighbor
Sunday, April 30th

April 30th is our next 
Fifth Sunday  and we would like to celebrate in a very unique way!

Operation Love Your Neighbor is a one-day ministry outreach event that involves our entire church family. Whether young or old, able or homebound, we each have a role to play.

Do you know of a nonprofit in town that may need a little TLC? Do you have a neighbor that may need a helping hand around his or her property? Perhaps you are thinking of a park or a highway that is littered and could use a good cleaning? 

Whatever idea you can think of as a potential project is worthy of investigating! Give me a call or email me to let me know. A small committee will review all ministry ideas and make a decision in a few weeks. At that time, ministry teams will be formed and assigned to every project. It's an exciting way to show God's love for all of His people. Circle this important date - April 30 - on your calendar and make plans to join us!

Pastor Brian
Master Calendar
The church's master calendar can be seen online at anytime 24/7. Visitors can view both previous and coming months.  Click here to view.

Hard copies are available in the church office or in the Narthex on Sundays. To add or correct information seen on the calendar, contact Lori Jones at  [email protected]  or 734-4425.
Citrus Grove Elementary Partnership

Pastor Brian recently spoke with leaders at Citrus Grove (CG) who, again, expressed their gratitude for the "Sneakers" program and gift cards. They would like to let members know some facts:
  • CG is the largest (940 students) and newest elementary school in Volusia County
  • CG is a very diverse school with a 57% white, 27% Hispanic, 8.6% black, 3.5% Asian, and 3.9% other population.
  • CG has a need for tutors, mentors, reading aides and general volunteers.
With the target population for our new church facility living in and around this school, we would like to inquire further about their needs and begin planning ministry programs and services we can provide. If you are interested in forming a team to serve this important area of ministry, please let me know.

Pastor Brian
DeLand Homeless Initiative

Pastor Carr and John Campbell attended a meeting in February, called by DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar and City Manager Michael Pleus. The city has introduced a new initiative aimed at reducing the homeless population. The initiative is a partnership between the city and the Neighborhood Center that will work to reduce the negative impact that many churches and businesses are experiencing, due to the population's constant need for emergency services.

Making it happen, however, depends on getting enough West Volusia churches, businesses, individuals and organizations to pledge financial support.  The "West Volusia Solution" is a planned 20-bed, 5,000-square-foot shelter and day center to be built on the site of a former dry-cleaning business at 224 S. Florida Ave.

The facility's mission will be to serve the estimated 127 people across West Volusia who don't have homes, connecting them with social services and getting them into shelter. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served at the day center, and showers and laundry facilities will be available.

If successful, the program will encourage local churches and businesses to direct homeless individuals and families in need of shelter and emergency services to the Neighborhood Center. This will free-up considerable time, manpower and valuable resources that can be re-directed to providing assistance to the "working poor" - those who have shelter but lack basic supports and resources that will enable them to maintain their housing.

For more information on the Initiative, CLICK HERE to read more.



On Friday evening, April 21, Easter Seals will hold a walk-a-thon to raise funds for the critically-needed services they provide to children with special needs and their families. The event will be held at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach from 5:30 p.m. until the last person makes it home .

Trinity is forming a team (named "TEAM HAPPY FEET") and walkers of all ages, sizes and shapes are needed! Make plans now to join our team and get ready to enjoy a 1.3 mile scenic stroll around the Sweetheart Trail on Riverside and City Island parks. The event will end with a Family & Friends Picnic and night out at the ballpark with the Daytona Tortugas!

For more information, see Lorena Carr, Susan Moor or visit their website.


Human Trafficking Awareness Training
 
On April 8, at Orange City UMC, from 9 - 12 noon, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Florida will conduct a training for providers of youth services and anyone else interested. This training will offer a common definition of Human Trafficking (HT) and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. It will explain how children are recruited, who the exploiters and customers are, the effects of trauma, and how to identify youth who have been exploited.

Devereux works with the Florida Department of Children and Families to help survivors of HT and has worked for over 25 years in the state offering services for children who are victims of sexual abuse, sexual trauma, and more recently sexual exploitation. The class is free and open to all.

For more information, call Lana Saxon, 736-1008.
A Note from the Editor

 
As most everyone knows, the beloved matriarch of our church, Louisa Stewart, went to live in heaven on March 5th. (Her service of celebration will be held on Tuesday, April 4th at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Good Samaritan Lutheran Home.)

Our new matriarch is Eva Jerome! Congratulations, Eva, for your faithful  love of Christ and dedication to a life of worship and joy in God's presence (and ours). We love you!

Grace and Peace,

The Editor

TRINITY MUSIC MINISTRY

The Puppetual Motion Puppet Team will  rehearse Sunday, April 2nd, at 5:00 p.m. to prepare for a presentation on Sunday, April 23rd, during Worship.

Our Music Makers are going strong! We have 26 wonderful children in our after-school program. They are preparing "The Tale of Three Trees" to share with you on May 20th. We will have a large group graduating this year out of elementary school, so be on the look-out for future children to invite to our program. We need each one to reach one!

The Chancel Choir is a dedicated group of singers who share music at the 11:00 a.m. worship service. What a joy it is to sing with Larry Graham's wonderful and creative musical talents! If you are interested in joining us, please see me.

Worship services are designed to involve many lay servant volunteers. We have hosts, liturgists, children's moments speakers, children's church leaders, communion servers, ushers, greeters and sound technicians. If you have an interest or questions about any of these roles, please contact me for more information. We would love to have you involved!

Conya Hartman, Music & Worship Director

Trinity Angels

Trinity Angels will be going to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home on Saturday, April 1 for their annual Open House event.

Since meeting with Dr. Donna Sallee from Ruth House last month, members have expressed interest in receiving special training on the prevention of human trafficking and will attend their training session on April 8th at Orange City United Methodist.

Angels continue to contact members who are ill, house-bound, going through a rough time, or simply in need of prayers, a phone call, and/or the presence of a caring church friend. Cards are being personalized and mailed to each person on our list, plus a new idea, preparing "caring bags" for individuals on dialysis, is in the works. This is what God has called us to do! If you know of someone in need of an angel, please call me at (386) 747-8804. A nd, if you are interested in joining the Angel Team, let me know that too!

De bra Wood, team leader
Trustees' Update 

A new camera security system with recording ability has been installed in the church by Security 21. Most all public areas of the church can now be monitored.

On April 8th, the Trustees will hold a "Work Day" to dispose of surplus Trinity Learning Center items and to spruce-up the public areas of the church in preparation for Easter. Members can certainly come join us!

Trinity's Boy Scouts have cleaned up and cleared a trail to be used for the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday and the area to be used for the Easter Sunrise Service.

We are making some changes to the outside and first floor of the education wing of the church in order to meet the needs of Easter Seals and Volusia County Schools for the new Easter Seals Charter School. The portico on the south side of the church is currently being modified to accommodate school buses. Hot water is required in all classrooms to meet code; consequently, we are getting cost estimates for the necessary plumbing and electrical work.

The Inventory of Assets has been completed and Rick Jones has been working diligently in getting this enormous task organized and on paper. We will be conducting a building maintenance and safety assessment soon.

And, finally, we recently purchased a new lawnmower for the Parsonage and a new computer was purchased for Pastor Brian.

The next scheduled meeting of the trustees is on April 12.

Charlie Daniels, Chair

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Happy April! We find ourselves two weeks from Easter. Can you believe it? Easter is the most important day all year! Easter is the most important day ever! Christmas is wonderful and incredibly important as we celebrate God With Us, God incarnate in human flesh, the birth of the Messiah Jesus, but Easter is when we celebrate Christ's resurrection from the dead, Christ's defeat of sin, disease, death and evil. Easter seals our eternity! Hallelujah!
 
How will you choose to celebrate Easter this year? In the following pages you will find details on all the different ways we will worship God as we walk through Holy Week and celebrate Easter. But that isn't really what I'm talking about.
How will you celebrate Easter this year? Easter is not just a one day celebration. In the Church liturgical calendar we actually have the season of Easter which begins on Easter morning and continues for six more weeks before we celebrate Pentecost Sunday!

We are planning an emphasis on community service this month known collectively as "Operation Love Your Neighbor." On Friday, April 21 st, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Park in Daytona Beach, you are invited to participate in the Easter Seals Walk With Me walk-a-thon to raise funds and awareness for Easter Seals. Our church now hosts the Easter Seals Charter School for DeLand and are excited to participate with them in impacting our community. For more details please contact Lorena Carr at 386-490-0094. Thank you.
 
Our next big event of "Operation Love Your Neighbor" will occur on Saturday, April 28 th when we participate with the City of DeLand's Community Unity Day at Earl Brown Park from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. This is a community event designed to promote and support local charities who help at-risk children. We hope to have a team participate in the day's sports activities, as well as team members to just serve wherever we are needed that day.
 
On Sunday, April 30 th we will continue to celebrate Easter with a Fifth Sunday brunch at 9:00 a.m. followed by worship at 10:00 a.m. After worship, we will leave to serve out in the community as the Church! We hope to serve our community on hands-on ways throughout DeLand continuing our "Operation Love Your Neighbor." That may involve giving gift cards to folks at local grocery stores or gas stations, that may involve preparing "Manna Bags" here at Trinity to bless our community, that may involve special contact with our Police and Fire Departments, or that may involve any idea you come up with to serve others.
 
We are excited about all of these ideas to get out and bless our community but that still isn't exactly what I'm talking about when I ask how we will celebrate Easter this year. I think the best way for us to celebrate Easter this year is from hearts of gratitude and faith to love GOD with all our hearts, souls, strengths and minds and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves wherever we may find them. So, how will you celebrate Easter this year?
 
Pastor Brian
PASSIONATE WORSHIP
HOLY WEEK SERVICES

COME! Let Us Praise Him!

Trinity will present inspirational images and messages, praise music, choral anthems and magnificent organ selections at its seven Holy Week events and services, April 9-16.

On Palm Sunday, April 9th, Trinity's choir will perform several beautiful anthems: Ride On, King Jesus! - a dramatic choral presentation that incorporates the traditional spiritual by the same name; The Lamb is Silent Now - sung with cello accompaniment, this anthem depicts Jesus' silence as he stands before Pilate and his accusers; and She Stood in Silent Love - a heartfelt melody describing the tears of Mary which are used to express not only a mother's pain and loss, but the deep sorrow of us all as we consider the cost of grace. Rev. David Allen, chaplain at Bethune Cookman University, will be our guest preacher that day for both the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.

On Thursday, April 13th, we will hold a Maundy Thursday service beginning at 7 p.m. The choir will present From an Upper Room - a musical tableau of The Last Supper which paints the scene of this important moment from Scripture. Rich harmonies carry the words of Christ as He delivers His blessing and speaks the words of the new covenant. Pastor Carr will conduct the Tenebrae Service which includes communion.

On Friday, April 14th (Good Friday) beginning at 5 pm, the public is invited to walk the Stations of the Cross on our future church property located at 1290 West Plymouth Avenue. The Stations of the Cross refers to a self-guided journey featuring a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion with accompanying prayers. The stations grew out of imitations of Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem which is believed to be the actual path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. The object of the event is to encourage faithful believers to pray and contemplate the many challenges Jesus faced as they walk. Participants may worship and pray at their own pace. The Stations will be open from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

On Easter Sunday, April 16th, there will be a magnificent celebration of the life of Christ and the resurrection story told through both message and music. First, a Sunrise Service will be held on the Plymouth Avenue property beginning at 6:45 a.m. Pastor Carr's sermon titled "Was It a Morning Like This?" will be based on Luke 24:1-12.
Two worship services will be held in Trinity's Sanctuary later that morning. The early service, with its blended-style of worship featuring Trinity's Praise Team, will begin at 8:30 a.m. Pastor Carr will present a message titled "Garden Variety - Garden Surprise" which will be repeated at the later service. The sermon is based on John 20:1-18.

From 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., breakfast will be served by Trinity Youth in the church Fellowship Hall. Cost is by donation and the proceeds will go to support the youth and their planned mission trip and camping experience this summer.

The Chancel Choir will sing two anthems during the 11 a.m. service: See What a Morning! - a triumphant hymn that tells of the first Easter morning when Christ conquered death and won our salvation; and The Day the Cross Held Up the Sky - a powerful anthem and haunting portrait of Christ's passion which masterfully captures the anguish of Holy Week.

Members are encouraged to bring their entire families. Our nursery staff is looking forward to meeting all little angels ages birth to 5, and Children's Church will be held in the Fellowship Hall for children ages 6-9 during both services.

We look forward to seeing both old friends and new during this - the most holy week of the year. Please join us!

Sermon  Topics  for April
 
April 2
Fifth Sunday in Lent
"Tomb Talk"
John 11:1-45
April 9
Sixth Sunday in Lent
Palm Sunday
Guest Pastor - Rev. David Allen
April 16
Easter Sunrise Service
"Was it a Morning like this?"

April 16
Easter
"Garden Variety - Garden Surprise"
John 20:1-18
April 23
TBD
April 30
TBD

Worship Team News 

Our wonderful, visionary leader,  Carla Rhoderick, has sadly informed us that she and her husband, Lynn, are moving to New Mexico to be closer to family. We will miss them so very much. Please join with us in expressing our gratitude for Carla's leadership and the fine Christian example she set for all of us. She truly "Led Like Jesus" and we are so fortunate to have served with her on the Worship Team. We love you, Carla!

Conya Hartman
Becky Kellogg
Brian Carr
Cherrie
  Casselberry

Cindy Rosso
Claud Anna Smith
David Griffis
Mitch Frierson
Anita Campbell
David Ross Debbie Bennett
Karen Robbins
Mary Gilmore

INTENTIONAL DISCIPLING & EVANGELISM
Bicycle Ministry

Did you know? Trinity member, Mark Jackson, has a most wonderful "Bicycle Ministry" where he finds (or is given) broken bikes, repairs them, then gives them to adults with no other means of transportation. By reaching out to a hurting world, not with a handout but with a hand-up, Mark truly is putting his faith into action.

Recently, three bicycles were donated by church members. Mark fixed and then gave them away to a local homeless couple and church member, Brian Medendorp. The couple, Peter and Reghan, said it was "as exciting as Christmas" and Brian has named his bike Blessing.

.. ."The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." (Matthew 25:40)

Thank you, Mark, for all you are doing to show the love of Jesus to all of God's people. We are so blessed to have you and Helen as members of our Trinity family!

Editor

Children & Youth News

On Palm Sunday, the Children & Youth Ministry Team will sponsor several special activities for children, ages 2 to 11 and their parents/guardians during the fellowship hour and Sunday school. Beginning at 9:45 a.m., we will serve snacks and provide fun crafts, such as cookie and egg decorating, plus tell the story of the "Resurrection Egg" followed by an Eas ter egg hunt. Trinity Youth will help hide the eggs and run the craft stations. Come and watch the fun!

Trinity Youth

The youth will be helping during the Trustee Work Day on April 8th and assisting Children & Ministry Team teachers with the Palm Sunday events on the 9th.

The teens will decorate Trinity's cross (located downtown) on April 15th in time for Easter morning.
 
The Pasta Dinner originally scheduled for April 2nd has been changed to April 9th. It will be in the Fellowship Hall from 5-7 p.m. Admission is by donation. Come and let our youth cater to you! All proceeds will go toward our mission and camping trips this summer.

On April 28th and 29th, the youth will participate in the 30-Hour Famine, a national event sponsored by World Vision. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students in the U.S. and around the world unite to do the Famine. While on a "lock-in" at the church, our youth will learn about world hunger, raise funds to help the hungry, and then fast for 30 hours. Through the Famine, teens grow closer to Christ and each other -- all while helping to save the lives of hungry kids.  Maia Carr will team up with Mrs. Lori to run the event.

And finally, thanks again to all the people who have supported our two car washes. We have raised over $800 to go toward church camp scholarships!

Blessings,
Mrs. Lori, Mr. Jeff, Mrs. Lorena
Mr. Brian and Mr. Frank

RADICAL HOSPITALITY
Hospitality Team Update

There is a great deal we can do to make our church a more welcoming community. Small things matter, especially to those who may be struggling with difficulties in their lives. Being more sensitive to both visitors and regular attendees during the Easter season and beyond is a simple way to help others recognize the love of Christ in us. Here are a couple of ways that we can help our guests, members, and ourselves have a better worship experience on Sunday morning.

Have you ever arrived just before the beginning of the service and looked at the pews from the back doors? You may have noticed that most of the outer portions of the pews are filled, while the middle areas are empty. This makes it awkward for visitors to choose where to sit, as they must decide whether to step over those at the end of the pew, or select a seat in one of the front rows. You can perform a simple act of kindness to guests by moving toward the center of the pew and leaving a couple of open seats on the ends for guests and late arrivals.

Do you seek out new faces when it is time to meet and greet during the worship service, or find someone new to sit with at fellowship hour? Why not find someone you don't recognize or know well and make a point of approaching that person? One way to do this is simply to give your name and say "I don't think I know you." A brief conversation could help both of you feel more connected to our church community. In fact, you have probably noticed people shaking hands with others near them during the greeting time, but then standing alone and feeling a bit awkward before the meet and greet has ended. A warm interaction could mean more to someone than you might imagine.

For those regularly attending worship, It is easy to become comfortable with our Sunday habits. However, if we look at our worship service through the eyes of guests, we will all see opportunities to be more welcoming and inclusive.

Dave Ross, Team Leader

SALTY SERVICE
COMMUNITY UNITY DAY
 
Community Unity Day is a community bridge-building initiative of the  Color Line Roundtable , a racially, economically, socially and professionally diverse group of concerned citizens who meet monthly to share their personal thoughts and feelings about provocative issues in American race relations in an atmosphere where discretion and mutual respect can allow strangers to become friends. Maia Carr and Anita Campbell have been attending as representatives of Trinity.
 
The goal of the  Unity Day event, to be held on Saturday, April 29 th,  from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Earl Brown Park, is to raise funds for nine local nonprofits who specifically work with at-risk youth in West Volusia County. A variety of five sports competitions will be put on, including a 16-team basketball tournament (5-on-5, full court), a one-mile relay race around the lake, sack races, a tug-of-war event, and a one-mile walk. The DeLand Rotary Club will provide free hot dogs, hamburgers and water (while they last) and Sonny's Barbecue and Shaved Ice will have food items for sale. Live music will be provided by the No Detours Band, Travis Redmond and the Dungeon Dawgs.
 
The Roundtable hopes that these events will bring together diverse members of our community to participate in organized sports competitions, listen to family friendly live music and enjoy food in an atmosphere where mutual interest and respect can allow strangers to become friends.
 
Teams are being formed now and it is hoped that Trinity can form a team to participate. For more information, contact Anita Campbell by emailing her at [email protected].

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA CONFERENCE

The North Central District of the Florida Conference has created a district-wide initiative to encourage churches to adopt and embrace the concept behind the "Fresh Expressions" movement. A fresh expression can be simple and organic, and is meant to be replicated. For many churches, this is just a beginning - to move folks into the community and seek out where God would have them join the work already happening.

There are 13,628 members in the NC District and on April 8th they will go outside the walls of the church into the streets to begin the "fresh expressions" process. Here is what they are doing --

"13,628 - Going From the Steeple to the Streets"

On April 8th, we are asking all the churches in our district to begin the first step of the fresh expressions process. The first step is usually "listening," i.e., going out into your communities where the Holy Spirit is already at work, and discovering ways you can join up in what God is doing. All we are really encouraging you to do when we say "listening" is to mobilize your congregation to go out to predetermined locations and do three things: pray, observe, and encounter. (Click HERE to read the entire article.)
EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY
Capital Campaign Update

Praise God! We are within reach of the one-third mark toward fulfilling our capital campaign pledges! To date, we have received $395,760 toward our $1.2 million dollar goal.

Please continue this important work of supporting our vision for the future. Thank you for all you are doing to make Trinity the best church around!

Carolyn Linder, Treasurer
Financial Peace University Classes Starting

Classes will start on Sunday, April 2nd, and run for nine weeks, except Easter Sunday and Memorial Day weekend. We still have openings. To register or learn more, visit  https://fpu.com/1039629.

Mark and Susan Moor
Bob and Becky Kellogg, leaders


Serving our new community begins with understanding it...

The demographic information that we have learned about the neighborhoods surrounding the new church property came from MissionInsite. Rev. Dan Jackson referred to these demographics during the Mission-Vision Weekend last month. Click HERE to view our reports.
New informational card
will soon be available!

Trinity has now partnered with Halifax Health Hospice to host a new monthly support group for people who have experienced the death of a loved one. The April meeting will be held on Thursday, April 13th, in the Wesley Room beginning at 3 p.m.

If you know of someone who is grieving over the loss of a loved one, please refer them to this new group. Informational cards are being printed and will soon be available for pick-up. To learn more, c ontact Gina Francolino, group leader, at (386) 425-9889 or email her
at [email protected]. Debra Wood and Pastor Carr also can be reached.


Trinity United Methodist Church  386-734-4425  www.trinitydeland.org
306 W. Wisconsin Avenue, DeLand, FL 32720