This year our Lay Leaders Laura Graves and Lauren Reynolds are encouraging us to observe an outward focused Lent.  They will be sharing their thoughts throughout the Lenten season.

Two of the strengths identified by the strengths finder for me are learner and discerner. These two strengths work hand-in-hand for me because I don’t just want to learn new things; I want to understand them.

Since becoming Lay Member to Annual Conference I have been exposed to a great deal of information about the UMC and its polity. At General Conference our church polity, as stated in the Book of Discipline, will be reviewed and amended. There are literally 100’s of amendments being brought forward by individuals, congregations, Annual Conferences and other organizational bodies that will be reviewed by General Conference delegate committees. Some of these amendments will come to the floor to be discussed by all the delegates and some will be adopted.

Some of the most complex and controversial legislation would restructure our denomination. This would involve consolidating 9 of the church’s 13 general agencies under one, 15 member board. Other questions will include whether ordained elders in good standing should have job guarantees and whether we should fully welcome LGBT people into our faith community.

It is my goal over the Lenten season to try to learn what I can about this legislation and this process and discern what it means to Trinity UMC. I also want to share this information with those of you who have interest through the use of the bulletin boards downstairs and the Trinity UMC website.

- Laura Graves

Download Lauren’s Message HERE.

Listen to Lauren’s Message HERE
Listen to Laura’s Message HERE

Often during the forty-day period of Lent, Christ followers have often given up something – like chocolate or alcohol. Some  skip one meal a week, the money saved sent to a hunger-related organization, or tackle programs of daily spiritual reading, or increase charitable contributions – all examples of Lenten disciplines.

At Trinity Church, we are observing an outward focused Lent this year.  Rather than inward practices of discipline, we are invited to use our God-given strengths in a more outward, intentional way. (See how other United Methodists are observing an outward focused Lent by checking out the article on the bulletin board by the church office, or by going to umportal.org/article.asp?id=8569.)

What could you do this Lent, either daily or weekly to use your strengths to bless others? God has given all of us strengths.

What do you love to do? What do you do best?

Answering these questions points you towards your God-given strengths.  (Taking the Clifton Strength Finder inventory is another way to learn about your strengths.)
We are at your best when we do what we naturally do best.  That is true of individuals and churches.  God has given our congregations strengths and passions too.  At our planning retreat we named Trinity’s passions (or “core values”) as the following: equality, wisdom, freedom, a peaceful world and true friendship.  (Health and inner harmony were also rated pretty high.)  During Lent at Trinity we will focus on these core values and how they connect with the needs of the world around us.

In worship our lay leaders Laura Graves and Lauren Reynolds will each share how they plan to use their strengths more intentionally during Lent.  Their comments will also be posted online.  All are invited to join Laura and Lauren in observing an outward focused Lent this year, starting with Ash Wednesday (February 22nd) and continuing through Easter Sunday (April 8th).

Join us on March 3 & 4 for a Women’s Retreat at Pine Lake sponsored by UMW. Woman from Divine Savior, Asbury and Trinity will be traveling to Pine Lake for a time of fellowship, spiritual growth, fun and renewal. The spiritual focus this year is “Pathways to Peace.”

Cost for double-occupancy room, meals and registration is $50, and the deadline for signing up is Monday, Feb. 20.

Contact: Karen Mayeshiba (277-1883/ kamayeshiba@yahoo.com)

Download a sign-up sheet by clicking on the icon below.

Our Lenten small group study begins Wed., February 29 at 6:30 p.m., meeting weekly for seven weeks.  To prepare, make sure you have taken the Clifton StrengthsFinder inventory (included in the “Living Your Strengths” book by Winseman, Clifton and Liesveld). The cost of the book is $14.  Checks can be made to Trinity Church with “Lenten study book” in the memo space.  Once you have your top five strengths (using the StrengthsFinder), you can join others at Trinity, and together learn how to live even more out of your areas of giftedness.  There will be daily journaling, and a weekly 1-hour meeting (including a short video presentation).  Leaders:  Katherine Loving and Pastor Marianne.  Sign up in the narthex.

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