Wednesday Night Fun

Trinity's Wednesday Nights are always a bunch of fun, especially the last Wednesday night of the month, where families take time to enjoy each other's company through interactive games and activities courtesy of Children's Ministry.

Last week kids and parents held a sledding party at Huffman Elementary (right behind Trinity) and Game Night. A little hot chocolate, a plate of warm cookies, some BINGO and Go Fish, a lot of fellowship. Everyone is welcome to join the fun beginning at 5:45 p.m. for dinner. Activities follow the meal and classes and discussion groups wrap up at 7:15 p.m.

Contact Trinity for more information 907-345-4823 or just show up!

In 11 Days...

It's coming.

A very, very special day.

You can take blessings you've received, be they time, talent, or otherwise, and present them to our community. Everyone can contribute, everyone can participate.

The only thing we need is Y.O.U.

The 30-Minute Service and community project beings Sunday, February 7 with worship from 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. We will be serving the Anchorage area from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Trinity-poured out.

Call the church office 345-4823 or keep checking the blog for ideas and partners for this incredible day.

What the Heck?

If you life is like mine, and I'm sure it's similar, you find yourself going back and forth to the same few places: get up in the morning, drive to the coffee shop, drive to work, run some errands, go home, and repeat. I have found myself asking the question, "Where am I supposed to go to reach out to others in Jesus' name?" Sometimes I have time to fit "community service" in my day, but mostly I don't. I also don't quite have the time to get involved in something outside my normal routine that would put me in a place to build relationships with other people outside of my job and home life.
Then I remember that Jesus affected the lives of others as he walked through the marketplace - the most normal of places. What is my marketplace? The grocery store, coffee shop, credit union, restaurant, gas station...all of the places I find myself throughout the week is my marketplace! How am I walking through it? With the intention of finding Jesus in the eyes of all I meet? Not always, but some days I just pray in my car, "God, give me the eyes to see you in those I meet today."
It's never a big deal, it's never a life-changing encounter for me, but who knows what effect my awareness of those around me has on those around me...or even on me.
Where is your marketplace and what encounters have you had there? Post your comments below :).
-Megan Holliday

Annual '30-Minute Service' Coming Soon

It's almost here! Sunday, February 7 is Trinity's annual 30-Minute Service, a chance to offer ourselves to the community as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Last year, our Trinity community participated in the Ski 4 Women event, helped out at the Recycling Center, spent time polishing cars as they came out of a local car wash, baked cookies for the Rescue Mission, and many, many more activities.

We want to know how your family will spend the day. Share your ideas here, as there are many of us still considering how to best participate in what has become a wonderful way to share our hearts and hands with others, all in the name of Jesus.

Filled up, poured out.

A 'Day On' Instead of a 'Day Off'

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King lived inside out; every day. Tomorrow is the day set aside to honor both his birthday and memory and honor the spirit of a life truly lived as one inwardly strong and outwardly focused.

A campaign to bring awareness of Martin Luther King Day is asking Americans to spend tomorrow in acts of service; nothing fancy, not necessarily as part of an organized activity, but something to make lives better. How appropriate that this day should arrive just as the situation in Haiti grows ever more desperate, when the holidays are over and donations drop and funds are depleted, when taxes are due and emotions stretch thin...

There is no age limit to serving one's community, all that is needed is a love for others and a sense that any contribution, however small, can and will make a difference.

Dr. King said once "Everybody can be great, because everyone can serve." He was right. How will your family or group of friends choose to spend tomorrow?

Helping Haiti: How You Can Contribute

As Haiti continues to struggle in the aftermath of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that all but leveled the capital city of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti's largest city, it becomes even more important to know how we can assist in both immediate and longer-term ways.

Whenever a disaster occurs, there are a number of organizations that stand ready to provide basic supplies and services; medical care, shelter, and food. We here at home want to help, too, but often are unsure of how, and what to offer. In this age of internet donations, too, scam artists make a dishonest living by capitalizing on others' misfortuntes, and sometimes we are fooled by what seems to be a legitimate cry for help.

Many aid organizations have requested only money to help in these immediate efforts. In this tangible way, we the donors allow the staff to determine the greatest need and purchase any supplies needed. Below is a list of organizations most of us are familiar with if you or your family wishes to contribute. Their web sites will let you know if anything beyond cash is needed, and how and where to send these items.

I am sure I join hundreds of thousands of people who are praying for the continued efforts of all those involved with Haiti's rescue and relief efforts.

Food for the Hungry

Compassion International

World Vision

American Red Cross

Trinity Parents Meet Weekly

Parents always like talking to other parents, for it is in these situations we are allowed to vent, enthuse, and allow ourselves to discuss a favorite topic, these little (or big) people with whom we live and love.

Trinity started a Parents' Discussion Group (hmm, maybe we need to come up with a catchy name...) that meets concurrently with our kids' Club L.I.O (Living Inside Out) groups every Wednesday evening. We gather together for dinner with our respective families, then split up for 45 minutes of discussion and fellowship.

For the last few months our group of between 6-8 parents has been reading and discussing Susan Vogt's book "Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference", a wonderful book that has brought about interesting conversation and a commitment as parents to be proactive in our kids' lives with respect to being truly "filled up and poured out" in our community.

Taking turns week by week leading the discussion, we have talked about everything from our identities as family groups to materialism to spirituality. Our discussions have also centered around how we, a group of families, might become interactive in the lives of others not at Trinity. This Wednesday we reconvene after a few weeks off; we'll be bringing up some ideas for service projects that can involved the entire family in the coming months.

Trinity's famous "30 minute service" will take place in early February, and our group is being challenged to create a project. What should it be? Will you join us?

Any parent, whether or not you have kids at home, is absolutely welcome and encouraged to attend. You don't even have to bring a book! We meet at 5:45 on Wednesdays for dinner, with discussions following. The last Wednesday of the month is a "whole family" activity sponsored by Megan Holliday, our Children's Ministry Director.

Contact Megan at 345-4823, or Erin and James Kirkland at 332-1435 for more information about the Parents' group. We look forward to meeting you!

A New Year, a New Beginning

The following post is courtesy of Melody Balcao, Worship Arts Director at Trinity...
It is that time of year again. A time of closing and a time of beginning. A time when I think abou what it is that I've done in the last year, new thoughts for what it is God is calling me to in the new year. I am thankful that in the everyday routine I call life, I see god's hand and direction. As I think about what it is to be a follower of Christ, and sense that He desires relationship with me, I see small evidences of His work around me. The most simple of prayers are still a cherished fragrance to the Maker and Redeemer of mankind.

As I reflect on the past, I see small, seemingly meaningless encounters with others, standing in line at the market visiting with a stranger, talking to a bank teller, smiling at a little one and receiving a smile in return, helping someone with their packages, opening the door for someone, and on and on and on. Are these touches of grace, chances to offer compassion, moments of peace in the midst of a world of chaos, or just chance?

I like to think that these are small ways God chooses to use me, one of the wrecked-up vessels of this world to offer a piece of Him to others. In my heart I want to much to be used, to be a witness of grace, love, and compassion. I have been offered so much, so how can I possibly hold it to myself?

Each day I start over again with a simple prayer, "Use me today", and a new adventure begins with anticipation and a smile. What is he going to do next?

Let the blessings flow in abundance!

Still Wondering How to Share Your Story?

It was exciting to walk into church yesterday and have at least five people comment on our new and improved InsideOut blog, encouraging those of us who have worked on the project since last summer. But there is always more to do.

If you have a question regarding the inner workings of InsideOut or want to know how to post your story, email Erin Kirkland, blog administrator, at e.kirkland0@gmail.com

InsideOut publishes as topics are received, but we do try to list specific events in a timely manner if received as such. Please, send us event information with the appropriate time, date, place, and contact name in the body of an email, along with a photo or two if applicable. This will facilitate prompt posting and less confusion.

God bless you as you consider sharing a life lived Inside Out!

A Review of Christmas from Anaktuvuk Pass

This from Sally Johnston, Certified Christian Educator and wife to Pastor Keith Johnston at our partner church, Chapel in the Mountains, Anaktuvuk Pass (AKP). Sally gives a hilarious (and a bit frightening) look into their Christmas Eve services this year, and relates it to the probable chaos that actually occured at the original manger after Jesus' arrival. Life is life, no matter who is involved! Thank you Sally for this wonderful glimpse into your life. We hope to hear from you again, and thank you LeeAnn Crumbley for sending this in. (The letter was a a bit long, so it has been edited to fit our blog format).
ek

Dear Friends and Family,

Keith and I lovingly joke about the holy chaos we often experience as we involve children in worship services at our small chapel, but this was a Christmas Eve service to remember.

Keith left the house around 10 p.m. for the 11 p.m. service, and I promised I would not fall asleep and be there on time. At 11 I awoke to the phone ringing, looked at my watch and snapped awake as I realized the service WAS STARTING!

I jogged-walked along Contact creek, over the bridge and up the hill to the church, and, out of breath, barged in the door. Adults and youth filled the church, while poor Keith dashed about organizing helpers to assist with the Advent wreath, candle-lighting, and communion; my job had I been on time.

Keith gives me directions I only half understand and heads to the pulpit while I scurry around to find art supplies to engage 16 kids in a "quiet activity" and count it a miracle the kids settle down quickly.

Then it is time to light the Advent candles. Keith has asked only four kids to help with the wreath, but when he calls me, at least six other kids come along to "help". In the confusion, as I am helping the designated four candle lighters, my hair catches on fire!

I put the flames out quickly, apologizing for the smell of burned hair (a burnt offering to the Lord???) and continue guiding little hands and bodies in the chaos of children still wanting to cluster close with lit candles in hand. Finally my small hoard and I return to the tables where I keep them fairly occupied through Keith's sermon in English, and again in James' (a friend/helper/volunteer) extended translation of the sermon into Inupiat.

When we get to the singing of Silent Night in both Inupiat and English, all four verses, I have a three-year-old in my lap and a little boy next to me, who manages somehow, during the third verse, to catch the cardboard holder of his candle on fire. He drops the whole thing to the floor, yelling "I'm on fire!" Keith stomps out the flame and another "near miss" on this holy night is extinguished.

After the service we gather around the cake I've made to celebrate Jesus' birth. We sing Happy Birthday to Jesus...but this year I make a last-minute executive decision NOT to put candles on the cake.

As I reflected on the holy chaos of this Christmas Eve, at the Chapel of the Mountains, I pondered about the first Christmas. We imagine a tranquil scene of animals and shepherds gathered around the holy family; but after last night I am imagining a lot more chaos surrounded our baby that first holy night of his birth.

Keith and I have had a lot of discouraging weeks in our ministry this fall as we've wondered if anything hopeful will happen or endure here. But our adventure in worship with children last night somehow reassures me that in the midst of life's chaos, we can trust that Christ continues to be born anew, even when, and where, we don't think it new life is happening. We are just called to keep lighting candles and putting out fires.

We have to trust God with the rest. Christmas joy and hope to you this day!

Love,

Sally