Current Newsletter
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Trinity Lutheran Church
433 S. Winstead avenue
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 443-7462
Identity Statement:
With God We Can!
The Joyful Noise
May 2024
This month’s highlights
Sunday, April 28 Sunday School
9:00 am
Worship
10:00 am
Sundays, May 5-19 Sunday School
9:00 am
Sundays, May 5 – 26 Worship
10:00 am
Sundays, May. 5, 19 Fellowship
After Worship
Sunday, May. 26 Council meeting
After Worship
Wednesday, May 29 Meals on Wheels
Please read articles in the newsletter for more information about ministry opportunities offered here at Trinity Lutheran Church during May.
Please accept the invitation to participate.
be safe, be kind.
Pastor: Rev. Alice Johnson-Curl
pastortlc@trinityrm.org 252-443-7462
Administrative Assistant
officetlc@trinityrm.org 252-443-7462
From the Pastor’s Desk
A Message from Pastor David
Greetings People of God thru Trinity Church,
It’s been suggested that our top two human fears are public speaking and dentistry. I’m not surprised. Here’s another one that fortunately doesn’t come around too often: drivers license renewal. Were it any more frequent than every four to six years, a cottage industry would grow to manage our anxiety.
Peer into the Driver’s License Test Machine and what shows up? All the road signs. Underneath those signs is the title: Stop, Yield, Railroad Crossing, etx. What a relief. It’s a breeze. But then the next slide only the shapes and colors of the sign appear. No identifying words. It’s on you this time. The diamond shaped sign causes me to stumble. It’s used in so many ways. So, I guess. What I’ve learned to say is, “That’s an informational sign.” And then I wait for the officer to say something. She is silent. One year I asked about my answer to that sign. All she said was, “You were close.”
Thank you, people of Trinity, for allowing me to be among you these weeks. You’ve provided me with so much guidance. It’s as though through you I wasn’t left wondering. You enabled me to be more equipped to serve here. Thank you! I suspect on many occasions you could have said to me, “You were close.” You didn’t. My first Sunday here, I made my first mistake, right as worship began: I neglected to encourage kneeling when at Confession. Not a peep or reminder from you.
I love your identity statement: With God, We Can! Frankly, it’s spot on! Nothing hidden there. Such a statement can be written over many times/seasons in our days:
--when uncertain of the future, pray in your heart, “With God, I can!”
--when troubled and worried about someone dear, find time to declare, “With God,
we can!”
--while standing beside a grave, behold the Resurrection promise, “With God, we
can!”
--when shrinking beneath a mountain of issues, whisper, “With God, we can!”
I did pass the driver’s license renewal test. Good for another six years! That driver’s license is an identity of sorts. At many places we are required to show it.
I hope and pray that you will be granted many and various opportunities to share your identity. To live and abide by Jesus. To believe that his grace and love becomes, again and again, an inflection point declaring through you WITH GOD, WE CAN!
Grateful for the gift of Trinity Church!
In Christ,
Pastor David Sloop
PS. I’ll be praying for you and Pastor Alice upon her return to Trinity in mid-May. You are fortunate to have her as your Shepherd—and she you!
An update on Pastor Alice’s mini-sabbatical:
Remaining Itinerary
· Drive to Great Barrington, MA; spent several days at Gutherie Center;
drive back to Rocky Mount, NC.
· Back to Trinity on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
This is a gracious time for all of us. I’ll miss you while I’m gone, but look forward to returning will a renewed spirit and energy for our ministry together.
You all continue in my prayers. I ask that I would be included in yours.
Breathe peace,
Pastor Alice
From the Congregation Council
Here’s an Update on Pastor Alice’s Mini-Sabbatical: Pastor Alice will be gone from April 1 to May 13, returning to the office on May 14. Rev. David Sloop will be in the office on Tuesday, April 30; and Tuesday, May 7. If you are in need of pastoral care outside of his office hours, please contact Aaron Webb, congregation president, or Anica Weeks, administrative assistant, who will reach out to him. Please understand that Pastor Alice will not be available by phone, text, or email due to traveling or participating in learning experiences onsite during her sabbatical. In case of extreme pastoral emergency, Pastor Sloop will contact her.
Please include in your prayers our members, relatives, and friends who have requested our prayers:
for those who are traveling, for people and land threatened by or recovering from recent weather events especially our brothers and sisters who have no shelter, for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Gaza, Palestine and Israel and all communities wounded by violence, for those who feel there is no one to pray for them
If you have added a name to the prayer list, please contact
Pastor Alice and share an update regarding the person.
Names will be rotated off the list every 30 days. Thank you.
Our Homebound Members
Please remember our shut-ins and seniors with a note
or card or phone call.
Please call before visiting.
Pray for Our Troops
Words of Appreciation
Thank you to everybody who has given time and effort in assembling bulletins and newsletters in March! We are truly blessed by your partnership in ministry.
Thank you to the folks who help prepare for worship and share worship leadership!
You are Invited to Help Provide
a Beautiful Witness of Easter!
Flowers for the Easter Cross – contributions of home garden flowers (or store bought!) will be used to decorate our Easter Cross. This effort is a beautiful visual announcement of the celebration of the Resurrection to all who drive along Winstead Avenue. Please bring flowers to the church on Holy Saturday, March 30, at 10:00 am. Also, help is needed to do the decorating of the Cross for Easter. The Easter Cross will be at the gate of the Memorial Garden for the entire Easter season (through May 19). Please help keep this visual acclamation of the Resurrection bright with fresh flowers and greenery. For more information, please contact the church office. Thank you!
Love Meals A reminder that the 1st Sunday of every month is designated as Love Meals Sunday. Please bring non-perishable food items to share with folks in our community who struggle to provide food for their families. Our cupboard is extremely low, and the need is still great. The bucket is in the Gathering Space. Thanks!
Book Group We will gather on Tuesday, May 14 at 11:00-12:30 to discuss Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving. This is an adjustment to the previously posted schedule. Please note – book group will not meet in April. The book selection June 11, at 11:00 am is The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Everyone is invited to join this time of conversation.
Weekly Worship continues to be posted usually by late Sunday afternoon. Google Trinity Lutheran Church ELCA Rocky Mount NC Facebook to access the recording. Or go to our website at www.trinityrm.org, scroll down to worship where you’ll find a link to Facebook and YouTube. Remember, you do not need a Facebook account to view, only to comment. All the worship videos are available on our Facebook page for you to watch at your convenience. The website also offers embedded videos for the most recent three services. Hope you’ll share this worship time.
Ah! Spring Time! Yes, warmer days are here! Flowers are in bloom! Birds sing from tree limbs! And the grass needs to be mowed! Coming soon – the signup sheet on the bulletin board near the office and on the door of the mower shed. Our yard is known throughout Rocky Mount as being attractive and well-kept, bringing many compliments from folks. Let’s work together to provide this visual ministry of God’s amazing creation to our community. For more information, please the church office. Thanks!
Graduates – We Want to Celebrate With You!
Families of graduates, please send information about your graduate to the church office via email at officetlc@trinityrm.org by Tuesday, May 14, so it can be shared in the June newsletter. Include student’s name, school, date of graduation, and plans for after graduation. A litany of blessing will be part of worship on Sunday, July 7. Thanks!
Meals on Wheels Trinity is scheduled to help deliver meals on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Please pick up meals at First Presbyterian Church at 10:00 am. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the Gathering Space. Please contact the church office if you have any questions. Thanks!
A Summer Change Beginning in June During the summer months, we’ll change from having after worship refreshments twice a month to only gathering in Resurrection Hall on the first Sunday of the month which will be when we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. But, a change to the change is that on Sunday, June 2, we’ll have lunch and conversation, sharing updates about ministries and asking questions about Pastor Alice’s mini-Sabbatical and reconnecting. Everybody is invited for this opportunity to celebrate being called to serve in this faith community. Please watch for more information. Any questions – please call the church office.
With God We Can! will start for the season in mid-June. It is a sacred privilege to be in the partnership that includes vendors of the Farmers’ Market, the soup kitchen and shelter, Peacemakers, and the Salvation Army. Please keep this feeding ministry in your prayers. If you have any questions, please contact the church office. All are invited to participate. Thank you!
Congregation Council
Cluster Reports
April 2024 meeting
Worship Cluster
March 31st Easter Sunday
Maintenance of Easter Cross- During the Easter Season, the gate to the Memorial Garden will be adorned with colorful flowers and greenery. All are invited to participate in this witness of the Resurrection by keeping flowers and greens fresh. If you have any questions, please talk to a member of council.
April 1st- Annunciation of Our Lord
May
· 9th- Ascension of Our Lord
· 18th- Vigil of Pentecost
· 19th- Day of Pentecost (Red)
· 26th-The Holy Trinity (white)
Faith Growing Cluster
The weekly adult Sunday School class conducted by a member of the congregation is beginning a study of the book of Proverbs. Following Proverbs we will study Ecclesiastes. Both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes were written by Solomon who was the son of David. We studied King David followed by a review of selected Psalms. Many of the Psalms were written by David.
Please join us on a very informative and interesting journey. Sunday School will pause for the summer on May 26th, with the last class meeting on May 19th.
Caretaking Cluster
Family Life
A Summer Change Beginning in June During the summer months, we’ll change from having after worship refreshments twice a month to only gathering in Resurrection Hall on the first Sunday of the month which will be when we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. But, a change to the change is that on Sunday, June 2, we’ll have lunch and conversation, sharing updates about ministries and asking questions about Pastor Alice’s mini-Sabbatical and reconnecting. Everybody is invited for this opportunity to celebrate being called to serve in this faith community. Please watch for more information1. Any questions – please call the church office. This is in effect for June 2, July 7, and August 4. There will be a sign-up sheet for those who will bring food items.
Finance – see separate report
Property
The church outdoor and sanctuary workday was held on March 16. We had a turnout of eight hard working members to help with the yard work and indoor cleaning. Bushes were trimmed, leaves were raked and discarded and bark was added to all of the natural areas.
As the grass and weeds are again letting their presence be known, a mowing sign-up sheet has been put on the bulletin board outside of the church office. We appreciate anyone that wants to contribute their time and talents for the cause.
HVAC air filters have all been inspected and changed where needed throughout the sanctuary and Resurrection Hall.
Special note: Our long-time plumbing contractor had to give up his practice several years ago due to serious health issues. We have been informed that he has worked through the worst of those issues and has reopened his plumbing business. He has been on Trinity's Prayer List for a good while, and we are glad to hear of his recovery.
Invitation Cluster
· YouTube and Facebook continue to be updated on a weekly basis.
· The Book Group continues each month. See separate articles and bulletins on titles and times.
· Love Meals Sunday is the 1st Sunday of every month.
· Meals on Wheels will be on May 29th.
· Highway Clean-up for the first quarter will be on April 7th.
· Council decided that with Pastor Sloop coming, that we will start using name tags again. This will start Palm Sunday.
The Congregation Council meeting for May has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 26, after Worship.
A Prayer for Memorial Day
O God of life, you are older than time. You have seen generations who have died through sacrifice, war, courage and folly. You have comforted generations who mourned and grieved and sang solemn songs and laid flowers on graves. Gather us in your embrace and cradle us with your compassion. As we remember those who have died in past wars and conflicts, help us to remember that you were there when the mountains were formed. You were there to soothe our grief and breathe hope into the hopeless. You are with us still. We give you thanks for life in Jesus and pray that your lives may be reflections of His love. Amen.