Christmas Eve Service Remote
For those who won’t be able to be in the sanctuary, the service will be on the Trinity website and YouTube (hopefully) by Christmas Day.
Holiday Office Hours at TUMC
The church office will be closed on December 24 and 27 for Christmas. We will close at 1 pm December 30 and will be closed all day December 31 for New Year’s Day. Pastor Joey will not be in the office from December 27 through 31. For pastoral emergencies during this time please call the church office.
Conference Connection
As our congregation wakes up from COVID-19, I have been noticing the need for renewed volunteers in several areas. Our sound tech group is especially slim. I contacted Rev. David Valera, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries, asking for help from the conference.
Tuesday, December 14th, Pastor Joey, Ken Lillagore, and Jim Stoffer met with David via Zoom. During the meeting, David began assessing the congregation’s needs for people, training, and most of all vision for this important ministry in our church. He and his team will continue to assess our needs and make recommendations for ways that the conference can offer support when he comes to Trinity next month. This resource is offered without charge (as David says—your apportionments at work!)
So here is the first recruitment call. Are there a few folks who are curious, ready to learn something new, up for a challenge? If you are someone who might want to work with David and Ken to serve on our tech team, please contact Pastor Joey, Ken, or Jim. (No tech experience required.)
I thank God for this new resource and for all those who serve in so many ways in our congregation.
Grace and peace, Pastor Joey
Holiday Food Box Distribution
Friday, December 17 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. We are grateful to know that we have enough volunteers already signed up to help. Another way you might consider helping would be to pick up/deliver food to someone (family member, friend, or neighbor) who does not have transportation.
Christmas Eve Offering to Benefit Nepal
Katherine Parker (stationed in Nepal as a missionary for the General Board of Global Missions of the UMC), has indicated that there is a great need for treatment (surgery/physical therapy, equipment, wheelchair-accessible ramps, toilets, and more) for the care and assistance of disabled people in Nepal. Any donation, large or small is greatly appreciated! If you choose to make a donation, please issue a check to TUMC, indicating “Christmas Eve” in the memo section. There is a display in our new Information Center (located just inside / left of the fellowship hall) that shares additional details, as well as biographical info on Katherine Parker.
Weekly Letter/Newsletter Update
There will be no newsletter next week due to the holidays. In January we will be going to two letters. Then starting in February we will be back to our once-a-month Circuit Rider. For those who have newsletter articles for the Circuit Rider, please submit them to the church office by email by the 20th of the month.
Sunday In-Person Services
Sunday services in the church are at 10 am. Current Covid Protocol: The following safety guidelines are still in effect: show your vaccination card (if not on file), wear masks; check-in when you arrive; practice social distancing and no congregational singing.
A Little Music!
Trinity has been given the go-ahead for singing from soloists and ensembles.
Let us all give thanks for this small step forward.
Safety Ministries
Welcome to our newest member of the Ad Council—Safety Ministries. The purpose of this committee is for the overall care of the congregation and the security of the building. It will provide oversight to the safety and security team already in place. The committee consists of Ken Lillagore, chair, and members Dave Croonquist, Laurie Kern, Jim Stoffer, Cynthia Zenner, and the pastor.
Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study
Our group has just completed our current book and we are taking a brief break. We will resume on Monday, January 10, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Our next study book will be “Simon Peter — Flawed but Faithful Disciple” by Adam Hamilton. If you are interested in joining us, would like more information, or would like a copy of the book ordered for you, please contact Barb Parse (bparse@wavecable.com) or Jan Kreidler (janet2.kreidler@gmail.com). Books will be ordered on December 20th. Note: we social distance and wear masks!
Let’s give Trinity some TLC!
Come on out to Trinity TLC where we do light maintenance around the church while sharing in fellowship. We meet every two weeks, and our next meeting is Friday, January 7 at 9:30 AM for a couple of hours. We will be cutting grass (if needed), doing light maintenance and upkeep, doing jobs that need doing, and of course, having a cup of coffee and light eats. All are welcome! For more info, call Andy Pitts at 804-724-3401.
Helping in times of disasters
We recently have seen devastating disasters in the news, some fairly local, some within our country, and often some in other countries. If you would like to help by sending funds, you can issue a check to TUMC, writing one of these Advance Numbers in the memo section:
Pacific NW Conf. Disaster Fund — Advance #352
UMCOR US Disaster & Recovery — Advance #901670
UMCOR International Disaster Response — Advance #982450
The Sequim Food Bank
They are currently accepting feminine hygiene products and baby products. Also needed are cans and shelf-stable low-sodium soups, low-sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese boxes, and various condiments (i.e. ketchup, mustard, etc.). If you would like to donate any of the above items, you may bring them to the church and place them in the food container near the table at the front door. Note: Please donate only the items that are listed above. Thank you for caring!
Online Recorded Services
The Sunday service is being recorded and available online the next day, Monday.
TUMC Finance Report – Operating Fund
November Year-to-Date
Income $ 32,950.05 $ 286,570.82
Expenses $ 28,349.84 $ 288,122.80
Difference $ 4,600.21 ($ 1,551.98)
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Rena Blank, 360-683-2739, or Eva Lundstrom, 360-797-1613, Finance Co-Chairs.
Thank You for returning your “giving estimate” cards.
They helped your Finance/Stewardship Committee follow through with their commitment to producing a 2022 budget. We will not retain these as they were not intended to be Pledge Cards. Our one member to see them will now shred them.
Stewardship is more than tithing – especially in Trinity United Methodist Church of Sequim. Stewardship to us is our relationship with God, with Jesus Christ, and our relationship within our church. We want to support all our committees with new chairpersons and members who are “raring to go” with new ideas to fulfill their missions. This is the type of stewardship that is vital to the health of our church, our community, and even beyond.
Your Finance Committee
In Consideration of Others
As more people are becoming sensitive to fragrances, please avoid wearing perfumes and using scented lotions if attending in-person worship or meetings at TUMC. Thank you!
Home Maintenance Funds Are Still Available
TUMC Missions Ministry has funds available to help folks with necessary home maintenance projects. Please let your friends and neighbors know that this is not just limited to the TUMC congregation. It is truly “neighbors helping neighbors.” This might include basic home repairs, yard cleanup, ramps, grab bars, and other in-home needs. One household could receive one grant per year with a maximum of up to $500. Confidential requests will go through Lois’s Legacy. Contact Senior Ministries Office 360-683-4307 for further information.
Exposure to COVID
If you have been in the church and find out later that you were exposed to COVID prior to being here, please contact Jim Stoffer, 360-775-9356 or jamesstoffer@wavecable.com and the church office, 360-683-5367 or church@sequimtumc.org. There are steps and processes that we will need to take to ensure the health and safety of TUMC and our community.
Office Hours
TUMC Office hours are 9 am-2 pm Monday through Friday. Remember to follow COVID-19 protocols: show your vaccination card (if not on file); wear masks; sign in when you arrive; and practice social distancing.
