JANUARY 2015 ISSUE 1| VOLUME XXIV TRINITY ON MISSION HELPING TO MAKE GOD’S LOVE VISIBLE IN ATLANTA, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND AROUND THE WORLD. PAGE 1 MISSIONS: JOINING IN GOD’S TRANSFORMATIVE WORK How have you engaged in Mission at Trinity Church over the past year? Have you found yourself swinging a hammer in the fall on a Habitat build? Maybe you enjoy being a homework buddy in D building at Trinity with the Agape children? Have you spent an hour or so delivering meals to frail or homebound seniors? Perhaps you’ve had an opportunity to journey to Haiti or Cuba? We have a rich tradition of ministry at Trinity Church, and powerful mission continues to take place in and through you—the PEOPLE who are Trinity Church. Building on the strength and legacy of Mission Ministries here at Trinity, our goal is to engage every member in an activity that brings fullness to their lives while helping to Make God’s Love Visible in our community and beyond. Because of our desire to increase our impact in the world while faithfully being good stewards our resources, the Mission Council decided to reexamine our ministry model. One of the major themes we noticed was that our budget drove our ministry, in many respects, rather than our ministry shaping the budget. We spent a great deal of time discussing, debating, and praying about the mission budget. Our funding last year supported forty-four organizations; while each of these organizations does wonderful work, the practical side of supporting forty- four organizations means a lot of paperwork, checks, and balances—not the best use of our resources! It’s also too many relationships to effectively maintain, which we believe is key to good mission work. As a result of this reexamination, we began an infrastructure assessment that led to a ministry re-ordering of sorts. During this sixteen-month redevelopment period, we discerned the need to put our ministries in a stronger position to shape our priorities—particularly through the cultivation of deeper and more effective partner relationships and the creation of more For more information about meaningful engagement opportunities for our members. We also discerned a need to mission ministries, please communicate more effectively to the congregation. contact: the Rev. Matthew Ruffner, Associate Pastor for To help us meet these goals, the Mission Council has identified five main mission initiatives. We Mission Ministries will invest a large portion of our budget, time, and relationship-building energy in these mission partnerships. These initiatives for 2015 are: 404-495-8423 •Cuba; [email protected] •Agape; •Church of the 21st Century; •Advocacy Gun Violence Faith Values; and •Haiti. Each initiative has a ministry team that will work to develop its vision and ministry. These teams exist to deepen our partnerships with these organizations AND to develop ways for you to more fully engage in mission. These main initiatives by no means mean we will neglect all other missions. We will continue to make an impact through a wide variety of engagement opportunities at Trinity, including building our fall Habitat for Humanity house, delivering Meals on Wheels five days a week, preparing and serving a meal at Journey Night shelter, and volunteering at BCM, to name a few. With all of these exciting ways to engage in the life and ministry of Trinity Church, you can see why Mission is enthusiastic about what is to come in 2015, including our new Mission Momentum night coming later in January! Stay tuned to find out how you can get involved in this exciting new chapter of the Mission Ministry at Trinity Church! PAGE 2 UPCOMING MISSION OPPORTUNITIES RHINO January 26 – 31 Trinity has participated with St. Charles Ave. Presbyterian Church, in New Orleans since 2006 helping to Rebuild Hope In New Orleans. Since opening their doors in October 2005, RHINO has welcomed over 6,000 volunteers and built over 34 homes through New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, as well as partnered with The New Orleans Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank, Magnolia Community Services, and Parkway Partners to rebuild hope in many different ways all over New Orleans! Trinity will journey again to New Orleans and participate in a Habitat for Humanity build with RHINO. If you are interested in participating in this Spirit-filled mission you can sign up on the website, http://www.trinityatlanta.org/register-now/. If you have questions, please contact John Shepard or Matthew Ruffner. JOURNEY SHELTER January 22, February 26, March 26, April 30, and May 28 Join in God’s transformative work through Journey by preparing a meal for thirty men prior to arrriving at Journey Night Shelter and then serving the meal. Afterward, grab a plate and join in fellowship for the evening. All ages are welcome to serve! Volunteers should arrive at Journey (Druid Hills Presbyterian Church) at 6:45 p.m. in order to prepare dinner at 7 p.m. Please contact Lisa Carson at [email protected] to sign-up for an evening. PAGE 3 MISSIONS: HOW DO I FIT IN? 2015 MISSION FOCUS AREAS Advocacy Local Community Global Missions Ministry Teams: Ministry Team: Ministry Teams: Gun Violence Faith Values Agape Cuba, Haiti Chair: Jamie Brownlee Chair: Peter Barratt Co-Chairs: [email protected] [email protected] Steven Darst [email protected] Andie Goodrich [email protected] Denominational Sustainability Engagement Ministry Team: Ministry Team: Ministry Teams: Church of the 21st Century Sustainability will work with all focus Habitat, BCM, Journey, areas including committees outside of Meals on Wheels, Earth Day Co-Chairs: Mission. Joe Brown Contact: Lisa Carson [email protected] Chair: [email protected] Peggy Shepard John Hitchins [email protected] [email protected] Cultivation Teams Those ministries that have not been identified as Mission Council Ministry Teams are encouraged to continue to meet and develop their ministries. The cultivation teams will coordinate with Matthew Ruffner, Rebekah Groover, Chair Associate Pastor for Mission Ministries, and may become focuses in years Peter Barratt, Vice Chair to come. Joe Brown David Carr Information For more information on opportunities to join in God’s Frank Fuerst transformative work at Trinity, visit http://www.trinityatlanta.org/serve or email Lisa Carson at [email protected]. John Hitchins Hanna Hope Julie Hope SERVE. BELONG. BELIEVE. Shirley Mills Charlie Sides Matthew Ruffner, Associate Pator for Mission Ministries PAGE 4 CLERK’S CORNER The paradox of Advent is that it is both tiring and exhilarating at the same time. We get a rush from doing so much, but get exhausted at the same time. Special thanks to our pastoral and support staff at TPC for making this time inspiring and reminding us always of “the reason for the season.” What was your favorite part? The sermon series on “Watching”? The splendid music? The Christmas Market? The Advent Workshop? Personally, I loved the Advent Devotional. Each day’s reading was a gift. I enjoyed guessing the name of the author and loved learning more about the people with whom I worship by reading their stories. The ancient tradition of storytelling is, after all, how we learn about each other. It is also how we learned about our Savior. As I write this, the new year approaches. It is time to put away the decorations. The house is less festive and a little bare. We all assume our regular routines and there is less anticipation in the air. How can we keep that Christmas spirit year- long? Charles Dickens wrote, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” What a great idea! On the same topic, President Calvin Coolidge said, “Christmas is not a time nor a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” Laurie Coleman, As we turn the calendars to a new year, I am filled with gratitude to Session, the TPC Clerk of Session pastors and staff and our volunteers for their unending dedication. I am grateful that since we instituted new security measures, we have not experienced any more car break-ins. The new signage is great and helps visitors feel welcome. Please know that hospitality will always be a priority at Trinity. I am also filled with excitement as Mission Council kicks off a new year and as the Strategic Planning Committee and Session prepare to announce and implement the strategic plan. All of the TPC committees submitted their Big Dreams to the Strategic Planning Committee. To fulfill these dreams, we will need to meet our commitment campaign goal. If you have not made a pledge for 2015, please do so right away. 2015 will be a significant year for TPC and volunteers will play a big role. Keep that generous and kind Christmas spirit so we can accomplish great things together. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the passing of our beloved founding pastor Allison Williams on December 13. His service was held December 17. The sanctuary was filled to capacity and the chapel was available for overflow. His contributions to Trinity were great and he is already missed deeply. Laurie Coleman Clerk of Session P.S. Mark your calendars for our congregational meeting on January 11 following the 11 a.m. service. PAGE 5 SPIRITUAL FORMATION New Class Offerings for 2015 Winter Term Among the over thirty offerings at Trinity this winter/spring, there are also four new offerings. Find class descriptions and informaton on how to register below. To learn more about on-going groups and classes, go to www.trinityatlanta.org, click “connect” and then “spiritual formation.” Printed catalogues are also available in the kiosk outside of Williams Hall.