Illustration by TYA member Hannah P. Cook

Jen, Hannah, and I looked up from the hot tub: the moon was nearly full and we could see our breath in the air.  It was January and the temperature was well-below freezing, but there we were, sweating away in the bubbling tub outside of Pastor Amanda’s house.   Yup, that’s right.  Pastor Amanda and her husband Jason kindly invited the Trinity Young Adults into their home (and hot tub!).

We’d started our night at Pasqual’s filling our bellies with yummy tex-mex and washing it all down with mango margaritas. It was the first time the newly-formed Trinity Young Adults (TYA) group had what we were calling a “social” meeting.  The TYA is a group of twenty-somethings (with room for a newly-turned thirty-something like me) with the shared goal of contributing to our community here at Trinity as well as our larger community:  the city of Madison, our state of Wisconsin, The United States . . . heck, the world! We’re also determined to have a little fun along the way.

When my sister Hannah and I walked into Trinity on a Sunday this fall, we were immediately welcomed in a way that was sincere, but not overwhelming.  We were treated like long-lost friends, not prospective customers.  To me, that stood out!  In these past few months getting to know the folks of Trinity, I’ve met and talked with people of many backgrounds, from different walks of life.  This diversity is reflected in TYA, too—we’re all at different places in our lives and in our spiritual journeys and that’s what makes TYA a comfortable place . . . for anyone! 

After our first TYA meeting, I said to my sister, “These are good people.”  I really meant it.  It had been a while since I had felt welcomed and listened to and . . . whoa . . . cared about by a group of people I hardly knew.  It was reassuring to find these kind souls who were open-minded and ready to accept me just the way I am.

Hanging out in the pastor’s hot tub (a bargain that she and Jason bought second-hand) is a great example of what makes TYA special.   There’s a certain vulnerability involved in squeezing into swimsuit in the middle of winter and it takes a bit of courage to dash into the cold night air.    TYA is a group where I can be myself.  Let’s admit it, being yourself means being vulnerable . . . swimsuit or not.  It’s also a place I can find the support to be courageous . . . in all I do . . . whether that’s braving the cold on a January night or tackling big life decisions. 

If you consider yourself a young adult (and remember, “age ain’t nothin’ but a number”), I’d encourage you to stop by Trinity or one of our TYA meetings.  No matter what your story, you’ll always be welcome.

Talk to Karen Mayeshiba during fellowship to learn more – or sign up down in Fellowship Hall.

This is their ‘life sharing’ video that was shown on Jan 23.

Wednesdays Feb. 17 (Ash Wednesday)-March 24 from 7:00-8:30pm.
Week 1: Setting a foundation
Week 2: Immigration and Welcoming the Sojourner
Week 3: Race Relations and Civil Rights
Week 4: Native Americans
Week 5: Hard Times
Week 6: War and can there be Peace?

See fully story on Channel3000.com

Plan to join us and invite a friend for Pastor Amanda’s upcoming sermon series:

• War and Peace (January 10, 17, & 24)
• Sex and Sexuality (January 31, Feb. 7 & 14)
• The Seven Deadly Sins (Lent: Feb. 21- March 28)

The service is currently scheduled for 6:00pm — hope to see you there.

Please stay tuned…

Trinity will announce, no later than 4:00pm the day of, any cancellation of Christmas Eve service due to inclement weather. Please call the office at any time (608-257-4591) to hear a recorded message.

Merry Christmas!

Cookies, candies, notes and cards were gathered and distributed to help make the holiday a little brighter for those who very much deserve our thanks and welcome.

Last Sunday was also our Advent Cantata during worship, that being the last ‘official’ performance for Trinity’s choir.  It was amazing to be a part of, but we are excited to see what comes out of this opportunity for more individual performances and creative endeavors by the artists in our congregation.

After the Cantata, four separate groups of singers spread out over the city to bring song and love to the home-bound members of Trinity!  Everyone involved; choir members, church leaders, children, clergy and their audience, was touched and blessed by the simple ministry of song and fellowship that afternoon.

Finally, on Friday night the newly formed Young Adults group hosted Trinity’s first Parents’ Night Out!    We invited the parents of Trinity to bring their children to church and… leave them there!  Because this is such a busy time, we understood that the greatest gift we could give to busy parents was time to shop, wrap, dine or just rest. There was a pretty good turnout – we had nine children to watch a movie, make reindeer and decorate cookies with!  A good time was had by all, but I am guessing the parents probably had the best time.  A small sample of our night:

Here’s wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!  If you’re in town, join us at 6pm on Christmas Eve for a special worship service!