Missions & Outreach Blog
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Author Matthew Sleeth Coming to TUMC
Aug. 23, 2009 Haley SmithSunday, August 23
Time: TBA
Serve God, Save the Planet by former emergency room doctor Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth is a deeply personal book with far-reaching ramifications for Christians and all those who take their devotion to God seriously. The book presents a gripping account of Dr. Sleeth’s personal and spiritual journey to environmental stewardship. It lays out sobering rationale for life changes and a “how-to” guide for lifestyle changes that will help care for others and protect the earth.
Five years ago, Dr. J Matthew Sleeth and his family lived in a big house on the coast, had two luxury cars and many material possessions. As chief of the medical staff at a large hospital, Sleeth was living the American dream – until he realized that something was terribly wrong. As he saw patient after patient suffering from cancer and other chronic diseases, he began to understand that the earth and its inhabitants were in trouble. Feeling helpless, he turned to his faith for guidance. He discovered how the Scriptural lessons of personal responsibility, simplicity, and stewardship could be applied to modern life. The Sleeths have since sold their big home and given away more than half of what they once owned.
In Serve God, Save the Planet, Dr. Sleeth shares the joy of adopting a less materialistic lifestyle, and reveals what was easy and what was hard about the changes his family has made. He shares how material downscaling led his family to healthier lifestyles, stronger relationships, and richer spiritual lives.
For more visit: http://www.servegodsavetheplanet.org/
Invisible Children Film Screening
Jul. 12, 2009 Haley SmithInvisible Children Film Screening
Sunday, July 12 at 10 AM • Fellowship Hall
Invisible Children is a service-based organization committed to ending the longest running war in Africa. They tour the country presenting films that promote awareness, education, service, and love for people all over the world. This summer they have a team of four “roadies” touring the southeast region of the United States and they are coming to Trinity to screen one of their documentaries. The war in northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) have been waging a war that has left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle. The GoU’s attempt to protect its citizens from this rebel militia has largely failed, resulting in an entire generation of youth that has never known peace. Invisible Children is working to end this war and help the people of Uganda.
The film screening will take place on Sunday, July 12 in the Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour (10-10:45 AM). All Adult Sunday School classes are invited. Don’t miss it.
For more information visit: http://www.invisiblechildren.com
UMCOR
Apr. 29, 2009 Haley SmithSome people are asking how we can help those who have been affected by the floods in North Dakota. We give our support to the work of UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, who are often the first on the scene of a disaster and the last to leave. If you would like to help financially with the relief effort in North Dakota, you can make out your check to Trinity UMC, and put UMCOR Advance #901670 in the memo line, or visit http://www.umcor.org.
Trinity’s Summer Vegetable Co-Op
Apr. 29, 2009 Haley SmithFRESH FOOD, GREAT CAUSE! JOIN TRINITY’S VEGETABLE CO-OP
Partnering with East Lake UMC’s Farmers Market Basket Program
Get a basket of the freshest produce around for an 18-week season (June 13- October 10). Boxes will contain a variety of seasonal, local produce, recipes, preparation tips, as well as occasional specialty items such as honey or pastries. GO LOCAL!!!
Boxes will feed a family of two-four for a week. $400 for an 18 week season (approx. $22/week)
The fee for the baskets can be paid in installments.
• First payment upon registration, $150
• Second payment due July 25, $150
• Third payment due September 5, $100
ALL CHECKS MADE OUT TO: P.E.E.R.
Commitment is to pick up Trinity’s boxes on TWO of the Saturday mornings during the season. Boxes will be delivered to the church for a convenient Sunday morning pickup. This money goes to support a great inner-city market program that provides fresh produce to a diverse community. Additional donations are given to neighborhood seniors and to area feeding agencies. Purchasers may choose to donate baskets on weeks where you are unable to pick up your market basket.
For more information or to join the co-op, contact Laura Eanes at or 879-1737.
Great Day of Service - April 4
Apr. 4, 2009 Haley SmithSaturday • April 4 from 7:15 AM - Noon
The Great Day of Service is a challenge to the Trinity community to be involved in missions and service outside the church walls. On Saturday, April 4, we will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 7:15 AM to breakfast together and share a devotional, then go out into the Birmingham area at 8:00 AM to do hands-on ministry. For families with young children or people who are unable to leave Trinity, there are some ministry opportunities at the church building as well.
Here are some of the service opportunities available for that day. If you or your small group would like to participate in a project, please contact one of the site coordinators below.
Urban Ministry: painting of homes, light repair.
Contact Suzanne Mills ()
Project Homeless Connect: (FULL) volunteering at BJCC to help connect homeless people to medical, financial, and other services.
Contact Donna Burgess ()
Firehouse Shelter: painting, pressure-washing.
Contact Reggie Eady ()
M-Power: painting agency offices.
Contact Ami Teague ()
Greater Birmingham Ministries: painting and cleaning agency offices.
Contact Neal Burton ()
Mission Birmingham: painting, landscaping area houses.
Contact Ken Stalnaker ()
AMBUCS: building wheelchair ramps.
Contact Ken Stalnaker ()
Southwest Community Center: Light repair work.
Contact Larry Taylor ()
Highlands United Methodist Church: (FULL) Helping to serve breakfast.
Contact Gary Holder ()
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Opportunities at Trinity:
Bettie Jackson will be leading a group of volunteers to help sort clothes, make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and assemble snack kits and personal care kits in the gym. These efforts will go to help the Firehouse Shelter, Church of the Reconciler, Restoration Mission and others.
• Birmingham Hospitality Network van/trailer clean up:
Contact Mark Grauel ()
• Easter Baskets for the Elderly:
Families with young children can assemble and deliver Easter baskets to our elderly homebound and/or nursing home residents.
Contact Jeanne Baswell ()
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Needed Items!
• A list of items needed for the Great Day of Service was distributed to Sunday School Classes. These items need to be returned to your Sunday School Class no later than Sunday, March 22. They will be sorted for the April 4 projects.
Questions? Call Bettie Jackson at 879-7201.
• Used men’s and women’s clothing and shoes are needed at three of our shelters. Deliver your items to the Game/Pool Room on Sunday mornings, March 15 & 22 from 8 AM - 12 PM. Someone will be there to receive them. Bag your items and label men’s / women’s. They will be sorted for the April 4 projects. Questions? Call Bettie Jackson at 879-7201.
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Guidelines for Missions Participants:
1. Be flexible
2. Smile and share your joy
3. Be flexible
What will I need to bring to my project?
For most projects, wear comfortable work clothes that you can get dirty. Some will need work gloves, eye protection, or other tools. Your site coordinator will be able to tell you more specifics.
What kind of work will we be doing?
Your site coordinator will be able to tell you about your project. Service work is often unpredictable. Weather or other unforeseen problems can crop up. Remember, your role is servant: be flexible! If the project you want is unavailable, or if there is something more pressing that needs to be done, just go with the flow and try to see what God wants you to do there. Sometimes it might be merely to visit with someone who needs to talk. People are more important than projects.
Nursery Available.
Financial Peace University Returns January 7
Jan. 7, 2009 Haley SmithFPU returns to Trinity on January 7. This is a 13-week course designed by Dave Ramsey that teaches people how to get out of debt and stay out of debt, how to manage their money and resources wisely, and how to plan for the future. The course uses Biblical principles, video, small group discussion and accountability. Course: $99 per family.
For more information visit: http://www.daveramsey.com
To register:
Call Lisa Elliott in the church office (879-1737)
Or click here!
Holiday Video Conferencing for Troops
Dec. 31, 2008 Haley SmithHOLIDAY VIDEO CONFERENCING OFFERED FOR ALABAMA MILITARY
FAMILIES AND TROOPS
The Hare Wynn Foundation is providing free video conference calls linking troops serving in Iraq and Kuwait with families and friends in the Birmingham and Central Alabama area. Families can schedule a time to reunite with, talk to, and see their loved ones during the holiday season via a video conference at the Hare Wynn law offices in downtown Birmingham. This opportunity is available to family members with a soldier or Marine stationed at or near the following camps: Iraq: Camp Taji, Camp Fallujah, Camp Taqaddum, Al Asad Airbase, and Camp Victory. Kuwait: Camp Arifjan.
For more information about the Hare Wynn
Foundation Freedom Calls visit http://www.hwnn.com.
To set up a free video conference, please call Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton at 205-328-5330.
Missionary Janet Lewis to Speak on 12/16
Dec. 16, 2008 Haley SmithJanet will be at Trinity on Tuesday night, Dec. 16th at 7:00 PM in Wesley Hall to speak about her missionary experiences in the West Bank and particularly in Bethlehem. Janet has been a missionary there for many years. This is a rare opportunity to hear and question one of our United Methodist missionaries. Janet Lewis will tell you how it really is in the Holy Land.
Janet Lahr Lewis is a missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church serving as liason between ecumenical groups and Israel and Palestine.
Focusing on the areas of advocacy and activism, Janet’s responsibilities are numerous. She circulates updates about developments in the ongoing crisis and suggests courses of action people can take to address it. She educates visitors about the realities of the situation, organizes conferences, develops media campaigns, offers worship opportunities, hosts delegations to the area and oversees other special events. Janet is the main contact for VIM teams and United Methodist visitors who wish to follow the recommendation of the General Conference to spend a significant amount of time in the area with local Christians, acting to make those connections with UMC partner organizations and Advance Projects.
“After taking a typical Holy Land tour and seeing the devastating consequences of the ongoing illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, I experienced not only a ‘call’, but rather an undeniable ‘push’ to go back to that not-so-holy land and do whatever I could to help bring about ‘freedom for the oppressed,’” Janet recalls. She sold her house in the U.S. and volunteered for several years, first in the Galilee, then Bethlehem where she “lived with my neighbors under the heavy hand of injustice and military occupation.”
For more information, call Paulette West at 226-7962 at the Conference Center.
Festival of Three Kings
Dec. 12, 2008 Haley SmithDecember 12 & 13
The Festival of Three Kings is a special event that Trinity has had the opportunity to participate in with other area Methodist churches for many years. Our “Angels” are children that are involved with DHR and Urban Ministries. We rejoice in the fact that we can help those less fortunate. Please call Kali Barney at 902-8794 or email if you would like to help!
Volunteers “Loaders” – needed on Friday night, 12/12 to load the angel gifts onto the truck at Trinity at 6 PM, 15-20 people ideally.
Volunteers “Unloaders” – needed Saturday morning, 12/13 around 8 AM at the Harris Arena in Five Points West where the festival is held, to unload and organize gifts in numerical order.
The actual festival will take place from 2-4 PM on 12/13, and volunteers who are helping during that time are asked to be there by 1 PM. “Runners” are needed to retrieve and distribute gifts. Hosts/Hostesses are needed for children while their parents are retrieving their angel gifts. Volunteers during the festival are especially needed due to Trinity acquiring more angels this year, so there will be more gifts that will need to be retrieved! Please call Kali Barney at 902-8794 or email if you would like to help!
Mission Spotlight - BOLIVIA
Nov. 30, 2007 Haley SmithDid you know that thirteen volunteers from Trinity traveled to Montero, Bolivia back in July to work with children and to help construct a kindergarten? We did!
Did you know that eight volunteers from Trinity worked with children and was one of the first teams to work on a new education building in Puesta Fernandez, Bolivia in summer of 2006? We did!
Did you know that we support the UMC in Bolivia through Missionaries like Kay Twilley? We do!
Did you know that there is interest in going back in 2008 into Puesta Fernandez to try and complete that project? There is!
Ken Stalnaker, Outreach Coordinator and Bolivia Team leader will be at the Mission Spotlight Booth Sunday 12-2-07 to answer questions. The booth is located in the commons.
See you at Trinity.
Outreach Spotlight: Festival of Three Kings
Nov. 15, 2007 Haley SmithFestival of Three Kings - Volunteers Needed!
During the Christmas season, Trinity is provided the opportunity, through the Angel Tree, to participate with Urban Ministry and other churches to give toys and clothing to children in Birmingham whose families have been identified by the Department of Human Resources as needing assistance. The Festival of Three Kings, the culmination of your giving, is a one day event during which the children are entertained while the parents receive the gifts for their children.
This year the Festival of Three Kings will be December 8, 2007 at the Harris Arena of the Fair Park in Fairfield from 1 to 5 PM. Volunteers are needed at Trinity on the evening of December 7 to help load the gifts into a trailer for transporting the next day to the arena. On the day of the festival, your help is needed to help greet the families, entertain the children, (games, food, music and crafts are part of the celebration), or help the families to load the gifts into their cars.
Times needed for volunteers are:
• Friday, December 7th at Trinity, 6 PM
(to load angel tree gifts onto trailer)
• Saturday, December 8th, 8:00 AM
(to help unload and organize gifts at Fairgrounds)
• Saturday, December 8th, 12:45 PM
(at Fairgrounds for volunteer orientation)
Trinity’s participation in the Festival is being coordinated by Kali Barney (979-3801 or 902-8794) and Elizabeth Myers (978-9331 or cell 753-0540). Please contact them and volunteer your time to help with this effort. It is a great way to catch the Christmas spirit!
Outreach Spotlight: Church of the Reconciler
Oct. 24, 2007 Dave BarnhartWould you like to help Birmingham’s homeless? You can, by joining others at Trinity and becoming involved in the work of the Church of the Reconciler in downtown Birmingham. The Church of the Reconciler is a United Methodist congregation with a unique mission. This church began its ministry in 1993 with a goal of confronting racism in the city and as a way of bringing black and white citizens together in worship. It is a multicultural, multiracial congregation where everyone is welcomed. Because of the needs of the community it serves, the church over the years has evolved towards helping the poor. The church building is a renovated warehouse in downtown Birmingham. Rev. Kevin Higgs, the current pastor and son of founding pastor Rev. Lawton Higgs, has said that the church has the largest door of any church anywhere because it is a warehouse door and when it is opened up, all are welcomed.
The church provides a place of Sunday worship, Sunday School classes for both adults and children, and a midweek worship service. It also has a number of programs in place to address the needs of the people who worship there. There are support programs during the week for those dealing with mental illness and addiction and tutoring programs for children from housing projects nearby.
Because almost half of the congregation is homeless, the church, with help from congregations of other churches in the city, serves a meal on Sunday as well as meals on 4 other days of the week. Groups and individuals at Trinity have prepared and served the Thursday morning meal weekly for a number of years.
Trinity supports the work of the Church of the Reconciler in many ways, through preparing and serving meals to up to 125 homeless individuals weekly, contributions to food drives, individual donations of service or money for special projects and to sustain the overall church budget. Your help is needed in all of these projects but especially in assisting others who are providing the weekly meals at the church. If you or your group is interested, please contact David Miller or Dave Barnhart.
Click here or here for a couple of interesting articles on the Church of the Reconciler.
U2Charist Wrap-Up
Oct. 21, 2007 Dave BarnhartWow! Wednesday’s U2 Eucharist was fabulous. We had 232 people counted for Stand Against Poverty (38.8 million worldwide) and we raised $1500 for Nothing but Nets. We were esepcially blessed because 22 SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) participants from all over the world also sang and helped lead worship. Max Blalock from East Lake UMC preached a sermon on the Good Samaritan.
Other organizations that participated were:
ONE Birmingham
The Society of Saint Andrew
Sojourns fair trade store
Thanks to everyone who helped make it a special evening! We’ll post pictures soon.
Trinity is Building a Habitat House in Homewood
May. 21, 2007 Haley SmithTrinity is Building a Habitat House in Homewood!
But before we can strap on our tool belts, we need to raise $44,000. We will set a ground-breaking date when we raise over half of our goal. Luckily, we have already received some seed money and generous donations from these businesses:
Johnstone Supply Company • V&W Plumbing • Cash & Carry Lumber • Bright Future Electric
Would you prayerfully consider helping to build this house for a family who needs it? Here are some ideas for donations:
Over $500
Exterior Siding $5500
Framing Lumber $4500
Kitchen Cabinets $2500
Carpeting $2500
Doors & Windows $2000
Kitchen Appliances $1500
Complete Bathroom $700
$200-500
Paint the House $550
Nails & Caulk $400
Trim $350
Oven $250
Kitchen Floor Tiles $225
Tub/Shower Combo $200
$100-199
Bathroom Cabinets $150
Kitchen Sink $125
Exterior Door $135
Toilet $100
Baseboards $100
$50-99
Roofing Materials $75
Interior Doors $75
Ceiling Fan $50
4 Gallons of Paint $60
2 Boxes Roofing Nails 50
Under $50
Smoke Detectors $40
Bathroom Accessories $35
Medicine Cabinet $35
Mailbox $10
Door Knob $10
10 lb. Box of Nails $10
If you would like to buy any of these supplies for Trinity’s Habitat House, please make your check out to Trinity UMC and put “Habitat House” on the Memo line.
Come by the Commons Area on Second Floor Sunday mornings to view information boards and watch the chart of “progress” as donations come in.
Suggestions/questions are welcomed. Call Laura McCain at 870-4550.
View “It’s A Thick Book” Online
May. 2, 2007 Dave BarnhartAlabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform has posted the documentary It’s A Thick Book on their website. Click Here to watch the documentary in your web browser.
If you missed A Taste of Justice, our gathering last week on social justice, you can brush up on Social Justice and Christian Action by following these links:
Fair Trade article at Wikipedia
Equal Exchange, the supplier of Trinity’s fair trade coffee
Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform
Alabama Arise
General Board of Global Ministries