What Is New at Trinity Presbyterian Church

What's New?

Ash Wednesday Service and Soup Dinner

Please mark your calendars for the evening of February 22nd. At 5:30 pm we will dine on Art Hoffman’s delicious creative soups. Then at 7:30 p.m. we will have an Ash Wednesday service in the church sanctuary.

This service marks the beginning of Lent. The theme of the Ash Wednesday service is repentance. Traditional readings from the prophet Joel and the gospel of Matthew remind us that we are called to a new way of life and that we don't always live up to that call.

During the service there is an opportunity to reflect on ways we fall short of God's intent for us. These are written down and then brought forward and burned as a sign that we are beginning anew.

At the conclusion of the service participants receive the mark of ashes on either their forehead or hand to remember that we are mortal, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust." This helps us enter Lent with a deeper understanding of who we are and what God desires for us.

The season of Lent then prepares us for Easter, as we enter into the mystery of Christ's live, death, and resurrection. This service has become one of the most important in the year for many Trinity families. We'd love to have you come be a part of this Ash Wednesday experience.

Souper Bowl Sunday 2012
On February 5, we will celebrate the 22nd Souper Bowl – not the one in the stadium, but the effort to fight hunger and poverty in our own community. The Souper Bowl collection, now organized by Sarah Circle, has become a Trinity tradition. All donations will be given to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), which every day helps a growing number of unemployed and poor citizens who need food assistance. On Super Bowl Sunday, please bring a can of soup or other nonperishable food item, or make a monetary contribution to Trinity marked for Souper Bowl-AFAC. Let’s support “the least of these” sisters and brothers who also are God's beloved children, by sharing our good fortune during these difficult economic times.

What Does Trinity Church Do on Sunday Morning When it Snows?
1) We thank God, play in it and have fun.
2) We blame it on the devil.
3) We have worship if at all possible.
4) We do all the above.
5) We do 1 and 3.

If at all possible, Trinity will have worship if it snows. We have a contract for plow-ing (and will do so when the snow reaches a depth of 2 inches, the plows don’t work well with less than that) and shoveling, But, we want you to be safe so use your personal discretion about venturing out in bad weather. To be sure, check the church website (the easiest to change and update), Facebook, and the church phone message. We will do our best to let you know as early as possible. Should you not feel comfortable venturing out, you can always dial in and listen to the 11:15 am service by calling: 703.276.3148. By the way, the correct answer is 5, because we are positive Presbyterians.

30 Hour Famine - Youth Fundraiser!
This year's 30 hour famine is scheduled for February 24-25. Sponsor a youth by finding and talking with one OR online:

http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/30HourFamine/30HourFamine?team_id=30993&pg=team&fr_id=1610

The link also has more information on the Famine and what your donation can accomplish.

WAY TO GO TRINITY YOUTH!

Vacation Bible School

Trinity’s Vacation Bible School this year is Operation Overboard: Go Deep with God! Join us for this underwater adventure theme for the week of June 25th-June 29th 9am-noon.
Registration forms can be downloaded here or at the church office in mid-February. The deadline for registration is April 1st (no joke!).

Children who are turning 4 by Dec. 31st 2012 through 5th grade are welcome to join us for the week. The cost is $45 per child unless you are a full week volunteer and then the cost is $25 per child.

We are having a planning meeting February 22nd at 12:15 at the church if you are interested in helping out this year! We operate on a volunteer basis and can use the help! Questions? Email Courtney or call the church office.

Winter Adult Education
All classes start January 15th.
Bible 101: The New Testament

Dan Campbell continues this study for those who wish to learn Bible basics. If you were not able to take the fall class, please join us now! The class is in response to a request for more background for parents who are seeking to help their children un-derstand the faith and the stories they are learning at church.

Living Life, Living Faith>/b>

A chance to learn how faith impacts real life through stories of faith shared by Trinity members. All of the study and contemplation of our faith comes together in how we live each day and through all of the joys and challenges life brings. In this class, participants will share their experience and wisdom about what it means to have a living faith. A different person, or couple, each week will share a piece of their faith story. It may include experiences with family, work life, friendship, or a special event. Reflections will focus on how faith and community inform our choices and decisions. We already have 13 individuals/couples committed to sharing how God has been present in their lives. Please join us (you do not have to share!) for this spe-cial opportunity to witness God's work in our Trinity community. The class will be facilitated by Sue Bodner. If you are interested in sharing your story with the group, please contact Sue.

Inquirer’s Class

A new Inquirer’s Class will also be beginning on January 15. This class is for anyone who is interested in knowing more about Trinity Church or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The class also prepares those who are interested in becoming a part of the Trinity Church family. The class is very open, however, and is exactly what it says, and inquiry process, not a “new members class.” Consider this class an invitation to prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to become a member of Trinity Church at this time.

The Inquirer’s Class will include 4 sessions:

Session I: “Getting to Know You”

Session II: “The Presbyterian Church”

Session III: “Spiritual Gifts”

Session IV: “What Does Membership Mean?”

During the course of these sessions you will be introduced to the mission and minis-tries of Trinity, share some of your own faith journey with others who are consider-ing membership, and explore how God might use your gifts to carry out the ministry of the church here in this place. Class leaders are Wren Abramo, Jim Dykstra, and Judith Fulp-Eickstaedt. Contact any of the above if you have questions about the class, want to sign up, or know of someone we should invite!

Thursday Morning Book Group

The Thursday morning Bible Study group is starting a new 6-week study on January 5th, 9:45-11:45 in the little classroom on the second floor next to the bathroom - you may know it as what was the "couch room." Lisa Toews-Daughtery will be facil-itating the class based on Philip Yancy's book "The Jesus I Never Knew." There is a video to go with each session and a Participants Guide with discussion questions. It was just updated in 2010, so it's fresh and current. There are 6 Sessions, each focus-ing on one chapter in the book. The book has 14 chapters, so not each chapter is covered. The main preparation for each class will be to read the chapter covered in the video. Some of the topics include: The Jesus I Thought I Knew; Beatitudes: Lucky Are the Unlucky; Mission: A Revolution of Grace; Miracles: Snapshots of the Supernatural; Death: The Final Week; Resurrection: A Morning Beyond Belief; The Difference He Makes.

Wednesday Morning Bible 101

This is a new class! 9:45 am beginning January 18th. This class lead by Ben Stewart is designed for those who want to know more about the Bible to help relate to your children’s knowledge in Sunday school (thanks to those fab teachers!!). We will be working through the Bible cover to cover, learning about the books and picking out the big stories. Whatever you learned from watching Veggie Tales will at last be put right. Please email Ben or Courtney to rsvp for this class. Feel free to bring a friend, an infant (or little kids, we can find a sitter!).

Elder Nominations
It is time to consider who would help effectively lead this church. Nominations are accepted from any church member - but those nominated should be willing to serve for three years. More information and a nomination form can be found at this link.

Now in the Narthex: New Phone Directories, Donation Envelopes, Valentines Day Cards for College Students
The new, hot off the press, Trinity Presbyterian Church Directory. Thanks to the Trinity Database Team who worked for many weeks to update and print our new Directory. There is one directory for each church family.
Your Offering Envelopes for this calendar year. If your name is not on a box of envelopes and you would like some, please notify the church office.
Valentines Day cards for our college students. These are also available to sign in the back of the gym during the Contemporary Service. Let our students know they are remembered and supported even when away at school. If we don’t have your students name and address, please contact Laura McDonald.

Trinity Art Show
When you hear the phrase “Living Stones” what do you thing about? Can you capture these thoughts in a photograph, a collage, a painting, a sculpture or a collection of objects? If so, we would like to use your creativity and feature your works of art at the Trinity Art Show to be held in the Narthex, this coming May. There is still plenty of time, so think about what you would like to create, in what media, and then share it with the members of Trinity. So we can properly display and showcase your creation we need to know who would like to participate. Please contact Carol Feather Martin or Jocelyn Hunn to let us know you want to participate and what you want to exhibit. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Annual Trinity Ski Trip
It’s time to begin planning for Trinity’s annual ski trip, this year being held the weekend of February 17-20, 2012, at Seven Springs Resort in Pennsylvania. For more information contact Trinity’s official “Ski Bum in Residence”, Russ Scholl.

Intergenerational Mission Trip Interest Meeting - March 11, 12:30 pm, Lewis Room
If you are interested in taking part or just learning more about the Intergenerational Mission Trip to Belize join us for an interest meeting at 12:30pm in the Lewis Room. The dates for the Mission Trip are June 30 - July 8th. Doug Gardner is the person to contact with any questions or if you want to sign up right away.

College Scholarship Opportunity - Deadline 2/15/2012
The Stanley A. Jashemski Memorial Scholarship Fund was originally established in 1986 by action of the Session of the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church and through the generosity of the family and friends of Stanley A. Jashemski, a physicist with deep appreciation for the arts. For many years he and his wife, Wilhelmina, then a professor of humanities and ancient history at the University of Maryland, sponsored a Sunday school forum in which young adults could explore their faith in an intellectually challenging environment. Their shared commitment to encourage the development of persons with potential for inspired, enlightened leadership is reflected in the goals and purposes of the Fund. When Wilhelmina Jashemski died in 2007, the scholarship was renamed the Stanley A. and Wilhelmina Jashemski Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Jashemski Scholarships provide financial assistance for students of outstanding intellectual ability as evidenced by prior academic performance, and significant religious commitment as evidenced by formal membership in a religious body, regular participation in its worship life, and active involvement in its service ministry. Ordinarily recipients will be young people (17-25 years of age) who demonstrate in their thought and action the broad religious sensitivity characteristic of Stanley and Wilhelmina Jashemski; have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5; are active members of a Christian church; are pursuing liberal arts studies; show evidence of social and civic concern; have financial need.
“Pursuing liberal arts studies” is understood as having a balanced curriculum that includes the arts and humanities, sciences, social sciences, and mathematics. Qualifying students will normally major in one of these areas. Students from other fields must demonstrate how they are pursuing the liberal arts.
Grants are made in amounts up to $10,000.
For more information, please see http://takomaparkpc.org/jashemski.html

Preschool Registration is now open!
Priority registration for Trinity members runs through January 31st. If any questions, please contact the Preschool office at 703-536-5616 or check the Preschool page (link on the left-hand menu).