Ambassadors for Christ

We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. – 1 Corinthians 5:20 (The Message)

There is a good spirit within the congregation of Trinity United Methodist Church that is noticeable in our Sunday Morning Worship. We believe this is God’s spirit — with us, in us, and through us. I believe such a condition is contagious. As our church sign says this week, “Faith is not taught, it is caught!”
In some ways our children and youth are leading us, as they bring friends with them to church on Sunday. We all need to be inviting our friends and neighbors to our occasions of worship, fellowship, and even to opportunities of learning and serving.
Let me ask three simple things of you that will help us connect with persons that we might connect them with Christ and His church:
1. On Sunday morning, if you have any visitors sitting on the same pew as you, when you sign the Friendship Pad, please fill out your sign-in completely, giving your name and address, phone number and email. If you do, our visitors are much more likely to do so.
2. If you have brought someone to church with you, take the initiative during our greeting time in the service to stand up and say something like, “I’d like to introduce you to the Smiths; James and Jan are new in our neighborhood and we’re delighted they’re with us today.” Even introduce your out-of-town family home for a visit. And if a “stranger” is visiting and sitting near you, introduce yourself as we’re settling in, then stand up during the welcoming time and say, “I’ve met a new friend this morning; this is Tom Jones, who is visiting with us today.” It is so much easier for us to recognize them, than for a visitor to self-identify themselves.
3. The housing market has definitely slowed down, but north Hall County is still growing. Let us know if you have a new neighbor that we might invite to church. There is a card on the table in the rear of the sanctuary that you can use to tell us of a new neighbor.
Aren’t you glad to be a part of a good “family of faith?” Let’s watch our family grow as we intentionally open our doors and hearts to others!

-Don

New Music Director

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ira Frank for the wonderful job she did as our Interim Music Director. She stepped in to a big job and she did it well. For that she deserves our appreciation.
At the same time, we need to say a word of thanks to Dr. Jack Pirkle who stepped in and served as a music director for the past two services. The longer I am here, the more I have realized that Jack is a very multi-talented individual and a blessing to our church.
I want to take this opportunity now to introduce our new Music Director, Dr. Elizabeth Cochran. There may be some of you already familiar with Dr. Cochran or had the opportunity to see her lead the singing at Antioch Camp Meeting this past summer.
Dr. Cochran holds a Bachelor of Voice Performance and Master of Voice Performance from West Georgia (we are gaining a few West Georgians in our church family). In 1992, she received her Doctor of Vocal Performance from Florida State University. Dr. Cochran has taught at both John Brown University and Brenau University.
Elizabeth is a trained and very accomplished servant of Christ. Though she is very comfortable with opera, performance, and the sacred hymnody of the church, she is also one who wants to sing music that “you can hum the tune as you walk out the door.” Most recently, Elizabeth served as Director of Music Ministries at Cleveland First United Methodist Church.
I believe that Elizabeth will be keeping some office hours during the week and she has volunteered to do some visitation when needed. The Staff Parish Relations Committee found Elizabeth to be engaging and is excited about her taking this position.
Sunday, February 3, will be Elizabeth’s first day with us. I want to invite all of you who are able to come to this first Sunday and let Elizabeth feel your support and encouragement. You will not be disappointed.

In Covenant,
Lee