+WORSHIP | IN-PERSON or Online | 9:30 AM+
As we get into the winter months, we are aware that inclement weather can happen on any day of the week. In the event of storms on the weekend, we will try to make decisions on Saturday evenings about changes to our Sunday morning schedule.
PLEASE CHECK TRINITY WEBSITE FOR CHURCH CANCELLATIONS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
Welcome Pastor Pauline Farrington!
This week, a new era has begun at Trinity with the arrival of Pastor Pauline Farrington and her husband Eric. Our paths toward Christ have now merged with theirs.
The two of them are settling into Maryland remarkably well following a big move from Tennessee. The snow has not even dampened their spirits. In fact, Pastor Pauline is excited to get started and get to know the congregation.
The transition team, led by the two Nancy’s, has been welcoming and assisting Pastor Pauline and Eric in various ways. Thanks to all who have been supportive already! If you haven’t yet, please fill out a Get-to-Know-Me card in the social hall and email your photo to the Trinity office.
This Sunday, January 28, is Pastor Pauline’s first Sunday as our pastor. Hooray! The installation service will happen at a later date. Meanwhile, let’s all pray in celebration of Pastor Pauline’s new ministry.
New Beginnings
On January 13, Eric and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary — the very day that our friends came to help us load a truck for our move to North Bethesda. Six years ago, we adopted a French phrase that encapsulates how we each feel about our relationship and our life together: c’est la nouvelle vie (this is the new life)! Lately we’ve been talking in terms of starting a new adventure, a new beginning.
It’s a hopeful thing. To recognize and realize a new beginning. And it’s with great hope, excitement, gratitude, and anticipation that we embark on this new adventure with you.
Many of you filled in cards with information about yourselves and the DC-Maryland-Virginia area. Here is my “card” with info about our family and the things we look forward to in “DMV.”
Pastor Pauline and Eric: both are from Georgia (Atlanta area mostly).
What we miss about Atlanta: some dear friends and Pauline’s family; we still feel a sense of belonging there.
Some of the best things (so far) about DMV: parks and green space, cultural diversity, there are no billboards (!), the welcome we’ve received from Trinity
Gems we look forward to: exploring everything from the bay to the mountains; parks and museums and historical sites; hiking
Another tidbit about our family: Amanda Cat, born in Knoxville. She and Eric were family before I joined them. She is quite small, less than 5 pounds, with short, scruffy hair and calico markings. She’s also quite old, approximately 18 years! We think she likes our new, temporary apartment home.
And another tidbit: Eric and I are committed to keeping our bodies healthy, active, and vital. Thus we have a morning exercise routine and will be checking out exercise-recreation facilities to support that commitment. We also strive for a healthy, real-food, farm-to-table eating lifestyle — that includes a lot of spice!
In these next few weeks, we will continue to get acclimated to our new city and me to this new Call as your pastor. Here are some things that might help answer some basic questions you have as I take on this new role.
Contact information: pastorpauline@trinityelca.org; 770-265-2241. Please save my phone number in your contacts. If you have an emergency, you’ll have the number handy, and my phone is the best way to contact me quickly. And if I call you, you’ll know who’s calling. Email is not always reliable for quick responses as things can get buried, so if you have an urgent communication, please text or call.
Contact/Office hours: My work day/week will be more about contact hours than office hours as my schedule will fluctuate with evening appointments, odd-time activities, and off-site visits and meetings. Generally 9am is my preferred time to arrive at church, but that can change based on the variables noted above. Whether I’m in the building or out and about, I am available by contact — my phone is the best way.
Sabbath (pastor’s day off): is Friday. My normal workweek is Sunday through Thursday, with various, odd Saturday activities (and sermon finalization!).
This is an exciting time for all of us as we embark together on this new beginning. I hope that we can all be patient and be gracious with each other as we become acquainted and develop new relationships — and as I navigate the learning curves ahead. I can hardly wait to see what’s ahead!
Meanwhile, I’ll see you on Sunday! I look forward to sharing the Christ’s holy meal of great thanksgiving with you!
Peace and every good,
Pastor Pauline
Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday
Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday is an annual worship celebration created to express our congregation’s commitment to the ongoing work of welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ people in the life, rites, and practices of the church. As we celebrate, we join 1,050+ partnering faith communities across the United States and Canada.
We pray that your spirit will be expanded by your participation in this liturgy as we bear witness to and embody the expansive love of Christ for all people without exception.
We continue to worship in a hybrid fashion. Please worship in the manner which is best for your household. Although we no longer require advance signup for in-person worship, please check in with a greeter as you arrive (for contact tracing purposes if needed). If a change needs to be made to this plan, we will notify you via email.
This Week’s Bulletin: HERE
View the JANUARY 2023 Trinitarian HERE
Readings for this Sunday
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
Masks are now optional.
+COMMUNITY NEWS+
2023 Annual Giving Statements Have Been Mailed
To aid you with tax preparation, we mailed a hardcopy of your contributions of record in 2023 this past week.
Please check them for accuracy and let Carol B know (finsecy@trinityelca.org) if you did not receive one, or if any corrections need to be made.
Trinity Music Team Seeking Timpanist!
The Music Ministry team is looking for someone interested in learning how to play timpani for Sunday services. We can teach music reading and how to play the instrument itself. The time commitment is occasional rehearsals in the week and performances on selected Sundays. If interested, please contact Marcello Silva.
Adult Forum
How much of the Bible have you read? Maybe you’ve started with good intentions and gotten bogged down in Leviticus. Maybe you’ve just read the gospels or the Old Testament histories and stories. Maybe you’ve read the whole thing, cover to cover. Maybe you’ve just picked out some of your favorite stories or Psalms. No matter how much you’ve read, whether you’ve read it all or only a little, the Adult Forum class now is for you. We will be using Daniel Erlander’s Manna and Mercy to try to understand the Bible as a whole—its major themes and messages, ultimately covering both the Old and New Testaments. Last fall we started with six sessions that took us through the people of Israel settling in the land of Canaan (Genesis to Judges). We will continue our exploration this winter starting with the the people of Israel wanting a king and ending with the birth of Jesus.
Please join us for Adult Forum each week in Room 10.
Mardi Gras Pancakes and Games Carnival, Saturday, February 10th, 5:00 p.m.
Come for pancakes and sausages, stay for games and Mardi Gras festivities! We will start with pancakes and transition to a game night with board games and silly challenges. There will be something for all ages. If you would like to help out, please reach out to Nancy J. or Valerie M. Come, see, and laissez les bons temps roulez!
Bring a can of soup for Souper Bowl of Caring. All cans of soup will be donated to the Manna Food Center.
See the February Trinitarian for more details.
Connect to Trinity’s Hearing Assistance System
Follow these easy steps to get connected:
1. Download the AudioFetch app to your smartphone or tablet.
2. Connect your phone/tablet to the AudioFetch WiFi network.
(No password should be required.at this time.)
3. Connect your phone/tablet to your listening device. This will be unique to your situation:
●Bluetooth hearing aid
●Bluetooth earbuds
●Wired headphones
Please come to the A/V table if you need assistance.
Live streaming team needs YOU!
We’d like to express our deepest thanks to our live streaming team at this busy time of the year: Mike M, Jeanine B, John B, and Greg F. If not for these people, we would not be able to share in weekly worship from home. If you have been sick, out of town, snowbound, or otherwise unable to come to church in person, you know how wonderful it is to be able to worship with us live or at your convenience on YouTube. This service is provided entirely by volunteers. We need a few more people to join the team. Please speak with Mike M about how you can help. Schedules are flexible and training will be provided.
+HAPPENING AT TRINITY+
Epiphany Baby Food Drive | All Month
Mardi Gras Pancakes and Games | February 10
Ash Wednesday | February 14
Food Drive | February 17
Breakfast Casserole Cook-Off | February 25
Women’s Center Dinner | February 26
+Next Week at Trinity+
Sun, Jan 28 Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
9:30 am Holy Communion Worship Service
Coffee Hour (Following Worship)
10:45 am Sunday School Classes and Adult Forum
Mon, Jan 29
7:30 pm Heavenly Handbells
Tues, Jan 30
10:00 am Stephen Ministry Training
11:00 am Staff Meeting
Wed, Jan 31
7:30 pm Worship Team Meeting
Thurs, February 1
7:30 pm Trinity Singers
Sun, Feb 4 Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
9:30 am Holy Communion Worship Service
Coffee Hour (Following Worship)
10:45 am Sunday School Classes and Adult Forum
+CLASSES AND MEETINGS+
Trinity Singers | Thursdays | 7:30 pm | Room 9
Sunday School and Adult Forum Classes | Sundays | 10:45 am
Trinity Men’s Group | Every Second Wednesday | 1:00 pm | Zoom
Contact the church office for zoom info
Heavenly Handbells | Mondays | 7:30 pm | Sanctuary
Stephen Ministry | See the Calendar for meeting dates
Mission Endowment Committee | See the Calendar for Future meeting dates
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED
There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for Coffee Hour! Please call the church office to sign up, or click here or contact Margaret M at gmfitzwm85@gmail.com with questions.
+DONATIONS AND AID NEEDED+
Epiphany Baby Food Drive
For the entire the month of January, we are having a drive to support the Greater DC Diaper Bank using an Epiphany theme; rather than gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the new baby, we will be collecting formula, baby cereal and baby food.
Please contact Leslie S for more information.
Food Collection: Food Drive | February 17, 2024| 9-noon | See the list of critical food needs here.
Thanks to the many congregation members who continue to support our monthly food drives to support Bethesda Help. We are also pleased that each month we welcome donations from members of the neighborhood. Each month we drop off between 300-500 pounds of food and 10-20 gift cards. Bethesda Help is very appreciative and recognizes Trinity each month in the BH newsletter. Trinity’s food drives will continue the third Saturday of the month from 9-12. The list of food donation requests is on Trinity’s website. If you have any questions, please contact Margaret F at gmfitzwm85@gmail.com.
Little Free Library and Little Free Pantry
We are excited to have our Little Free Library (LFL) and Little Free Pantry (LFP) open for business. Both are located near the entrance of the southside parking lot (the big lot), facing Old Georgetown Rd.
The LFL has 2 shelves and is accepting children’s and young adult books (lower shelf) and adult books (upper shelf). The books may be new or gently used books in good condition.
The LFP is accepting food items (no produce or perishables), as well as non-food items. A detailed list of what is needed can be found here: https://trinityelca.org/little-free-library-lfl-and-little-free-pantry/.
Questions can be directed to Stella, Jerry, and Social Ministry members.
+REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS+
We are grateful that people have been lifting up our members and friends in prayer during Zoom gatherings. Please also call the office at 301-881-7275 or email office@trinityelca.org to add them to the list below.
The church
our synod & bishops: Bishops Elizabeth E, Michael B, and Leila O
our missionaries: Stephen D/Marta G, Cent. Amer
our congregation: Trinity Church
the nations: Afghanistan, El Salvador, Gaza, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, North Korea, Palestine, Somalia, Spain/Cataluña, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela
the sick and suffering
nursing/rehabilitation center/hospital
Yulie N (Village at Rockville)
home
Isabel F, Tigist G, Lineth M, Anya N, Vimala P, Elizabeth R, Gio S, Margo W
family and friends*
Donald B, brother of Marilyn C
Gene B,friend of Kim and Pam B
Pam C, sister of Mike M
Sylvia DeV, sister-in-law of Tad and Vi DeV
Ruth F, aunt of Donna S
Josefa F-V, friend of Len S
Betsy G, friend of Margaret F
David G, friend of Tad and Vi DeV
Debbie G,friend of Valerie M
Lyla G, friend of Carmen D
Terry K, brother-in-law of David and Leslie C
Carol K, mother of Jim K
Susan K, niece of Nancy and Thor N
Anne L, friend of Len S
Randi L, friend of Mike and Valerie M
Jacob M, son of James M and Leslie S
Juan-Maria M-M, friend of Len S
Kathy M, niece of Margaret and Greg F
Ditte R, sister of Thor N
Karen and Harold S, friends of Pamela B
Paul S, brother of Steve S
Victor V and family, friends of Kim and Pam
Cheryl Van A, friend of Cathy C
Andrew Z, friend of Carol B
births
Nicholas R, January 22, 2024, son of Elizabeth and Ben R
deaths
Mario Cioffi, + January 13, 2024 +, cousin of Len S
first responders
Lisbeth N-D
Greta S & Linda A, sister & sister-in-law of Anita S
*For family and friends, prayer requests will be kept on the list for 4 weeks. To renew, please complete another card/call the office.
+RESOURCES+
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrinityELCA/streams
+OFFICE HOURS+
Carmen will be in the office from 9-5 on Monday-Friday. Please contact the office or a council member if you have a request for pastoral care.