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TRINITY CALLING
Trinity United Church of Christ
131 East Perry Street
Tiffin, Ohio 44883-2312
Phone No: 419-447-3191 – Fax No: 419-447-3199
Web Address: www.trinityucctiffin.org
E-Mail Address: officeadmin@trinityucctiffin.com
Pastoral Update
Grace and Peace to the Body of Christ in Tiffin!
Happy New Year! (You read that correctly!) December marks the first month of the Christian liturgical year and the beginning of the season of Advent.
I think Advent is a counter-cultural experience. Amid all the rushing around, frenzied shopping, loudness, and pace of consumerism, Advent call us to to wait quietly, patiently, in stillness and silence for God to be born into our world. Instead of exhausting and depleting Creation, Advent is a time of renewal and restoration as all of Creation waits in hope for the good news that is about to emerge. I hope you will join us during this quiet season of preparation as we reflect on the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that the Christ-Child will bring into this world.
The following are a few dates to keep in mind:
Sunday, December 1 is the first Sunday of Advent. Hope’s Landing will join us in worship to update us on their work and will have their candles for sale.
To help us settle into the meaning of Advent, we will hold Evening Prayer services on the following Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.: December 4, 11, and 18.
We are caroling at The Willows, The Shawhan, and the Courtyard on Monday, December 16 from 1-4 p.m. Contact our office if you are interested in joining.
Our Christmas Eve service will be held on Tuesday, December 24 at 6:45 p.m.
What does it mean to take on an Advent kind of mind amid the hustle-bustle? How are we and our world needing Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love? Where have you already seen these things? What promises of God are stirring in your hearts?
These are the questions of Advent. As we reflect on them together, may the Spirit of God inspire us all to “pump the breaks” this season, live more deeply and joyfully, and notice where hope is rising all around us.
Peace be with you.
Pastor Karsten
Music Notes
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
Advent is here and we are eagerly planning the celebration of Jesus’s birth. All of our music groups–Praise Band, Handbells, and Chancel Choir–have selected special music for the four Sundays in Advent. We will be assisting in the Wednesday Advent services, which will occur at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. And the Christmas Eve service will feature all our music groups as well as the organ and piano.
The Handbells have been collaborating with our other musicians. On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, they will be playing the prelude with our organist, Blake Depinet. On Christmas Eve they will assist the choir on the anthem.
We invite everyone to join us as we go caroling on Monday afternoon, December 16, singing Christmas carols in area assisted living homes. Meet in the lobby of the church at 1 p.m.
Finally, on the last Sunday in December we will continue sharing our worship with First Lutheran, Old Trinity Episcopal, and Presbyterian Churches, as we participate in a hymn sing at the First Lutheran Church, 300 Melmore Street. We hope you can join us for all our Christmas preparations!
Vick Ohl, Music Coordinator
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
Did you know that you can earn money for the church just by buying groceries? Use your existing digital Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card (or sign up for a free Kroger Plus shopper’s card) to convert a percentage of your grocery spending into a donation to the church
Go to the Kroger.com website; Community; Kroger Community Rewards;
• Create a digital account and pick your preferred Kroger store;
• link your Kroger Plus shopping card to a selected organization (in this case click on Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin and enter the NPO.
• Any transaction using the shopper’s card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program at no cost to you. Quarterly contribution from your purchases will be forwarded to Trinity Church.
Sound System Update
As you may have noticed there are some pews missing at the back on the right side of the sanctuary. This area is where the new sound booth will be located. There is a taped area that represents the location of the sound booth. I have contacted Clouse Electric and they will provide us with an estimate of how much it will cost to run electric to the sound booth.
Hopefully, by the time you read this, we will already have begun construction. I do not have a completion date. I plan on keeping the congregation informed through announcements in church and on our Facebook page.
Thank you again to all of our contributors who helped make this possible.
Pat Powers and the Sound Team
Dinner and a Movie
December 7th, 2024: Leap of Faith (1992)
Are you ready for a miracle?! A large cast of false prophets appears in this striking comedy-drama about faith and swindlers. Join us as we travel from town to town with a so-called faith healer named Jonas Nightingale, a man who is assisted by a troupe of players who help him to deprive innocent people of their hard-earned money. Jonas has quite the slick operation, but can he compete with someone who demonstrates true faith? With Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Liam Neeson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and...Meatloaf!
Mission Emphasis for December
Crossroad Child & Family Services
Crossroad is a faith-based, nonprofit treatment provider for troubled children and their families. Behind that simple description is an extensive list of therapy, education, and family support services provided both to children who live on its campus and in the surrounding community. Located in Ft. Wayne, IN, it provides services for children in the tri-state area of IN, OH and MI. Crossroad is one of the largest providers for treating seriously troubled children and families in the Midwest.
Crossroad provides a team consisting of a chaplain, case managers, teachers, therapists, housekeepers, cooks, nurses, and others – working together to build promising futures for children. They come to Crossroad through a variety of avenues. Judges, mental health professionals, public service agencies, pastors, counselors, and educators may refer children to Crossroad to receive services. Some youth come to us through and with their families.
The German Reformed Church in the United States, a predecessor of today’s United Church of Christ, established Crossroad in 1883 as “The Reformed Orphan’s Home of Fort Wayne, Indiana.” Trinity has been a longtime supporter of Crossroad. Your donation will support these children during this Christmas season.
Christmas Fund
The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over one hundred years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.
United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. A donation to the Christmas Fund is a way of thanking those who provided spiritual guidance and development throughout our lives.