In the Fellowship Hall, we will meet at 9:30 am to share refreshments and just have a time to reconnect. You don't have to come right at 9:30, so feel free to trickle in as you arrive. We hope to see you all there!

Join us this Sunday for the fifth sermon in the series, "Practicing the Way: How to be with Jesus, be like Jesus, and do what Jesus did." We will be streaming online at trinitydurham.org or YouTube. Rev. Carolyn Schuldt will be talking this Sunday about What's Love Got to do With It? The Scripture readings will be from Psalm 139:1-17, Ephesians 2:4-10, John 13:1-5, 12-15 & 33-35. We hope you will join us!

These next two weeks holds the final session of my searock continuing education cohort, this time in London (https://www.searocksessions.com). The cultural insights, missional innovation, and mentoring relationships formed at these events have been priceless. I am overwhelmed to have been a part of such a great small group of leaders in the church at a critical juncture in the western church. Thank you for making a way for me and I am excited for the implications for Trinity. 

I sensed the Lord was leading me to take a research trip to London nearly two years ago and asked the SPRC who approved it. The plan was to meet with St Martin in the Fields’ pastor Sam Wells to see how they execute their music ministry as an intersection and invitation with the secular city, how they run a homeless ministry integrated with the church well, and how they seek diverse income streams to support their large historic building. Sam has overseen the church’s successful adaptation and growth in the post-Christian era in London, which we are entering into here in Durham. He was previously Dean of Duke Chapel and so is also acquainted with our context.

What I could not have dreamed of was that we would be getting to go with the Searock group to London and visit not just this church, but several others: like Saint Church, who have done something similar with their historic space with diverse income steams and venue but for modern music, and Holy Trinity Brompton, who started Alpha - the most effective way of getting young disconnected people connected with Jesus and the local church in a non-coercive or icky way. It is the west’s leading evangelism strategy today.  

I am also thrilled to also be visiting some Methodist heritage sites of John and Charles Wesley to dive deeper into our vibrant heritage that we might continue to find its relevance for fruitful ministry today in our modern context: the Wesley home, the first Methodist preaching house, your Oxford where it all started, and even meet with NT Wright there - one of my favorite modern theologians. So much to learn and share!

I will be sharing some notes from the road in the next two Steeple, so keep a look out!  I will be back for service on June 5. 

Grace and peace, 

Daniel

Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Holy Land?

Now is your chance, we'd like to recommend an opportunity to join Rev. Ian Bailey and Educational Opportunities on a trip to the historic land of Israel. They have plans to pilgrimage throughout the Holy Land in worship, prayer, and revelation at the major historical sites found in the Bible. 

The rate for the trip is very reasonable. It will include your travel costs (both airfare and ground transportation), first-class hotels, meals (both breakfast and dinner) as well as the ticketing at historical landmarks we visit. An optional encounter will also involve, dinner at the home of a Palestinian-Christian family. This event as well as gratuity will not be included with transactions through our tour group (more information below). If you or someone you know is interested in going, but cost is an issue, we are working to secure some donors to create scholarships for this lifetime experience - so do not hesitate to reach out about that! 

If you have time and are able, the C4C Committee would like to invite you to help them directly following the service on Sunday to fill up the backpacks with all the school supplies that have been donated! This is a wonderful opportunity to put your hands to work for the glory of God!

On Monday morning, May 23, we plan to deliver the kindergarten book bags to Eastway Elementary.

LAST WEEK TO BRING ITEMS!!!

Trinity’s Congregations for Children (C4C) Kindergarten Book Bag Mission Project for Eastway Elementary will continue through Sunday, May 22. We are collecting new book bags, small enough for kindergarteners and without rollers, as well as the school supplies to fill them. 

(3) Student folders with pockets & prongs for notebook paper

(1) Notebook paper (approx. 100 sheets, wide ruled)

(1) package of #2 Ticonderoga sharpened pencils

(1) Crayola large crayons (approx. 8 crayons per box)

(1) package of Elmer’s school glue sticks (packages of small sticks)

(1) plastic pencil/crayon box (with snap closure)

(1) small bottle of hand sanitizer  

If you prefer for C4C members to shop for you, please mail a check to Trinity, and be sure to put C4C on the memo line. For questions or to drop off items at the home of Felix and Mary Beth Markham, please email marybeth.markham@gmail.com.

Families Moving Forward is having a one-time volunteer event TOMORROW on May 21st called Rock the Block. This is a friend-raising event to engage community volunteers and revitalize our facility. There will be a variety of projects including painting hallways, mulching, and landscaping, organizing donations, staining fences, and more! Volunteers must be 18 years or older, but everyone is welcome to attend. There will be activities for kids, live music, food, and the celebration of service!

If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator, Anna Krecklow through email, anna@fmfnc.org.

On Monday, May 23 at 9:30 am, the Allred/Shoaf Christ Care group will be meeting in the Parlor. They will begin a new study about women in the New Testament. We'd love to see you there!

Every year Trinity has a number of scholarships that are available for students of any age who are undertaking studies in higher education. A description of the various scholarships and the application form can be downloaded here. The deadline for submission of all scholarship materials to the scholarship committee is Tuesday, May 31. Questions should be directed to the chairman of the scholarship committee, Alex Crowell (acrowell71@gmail.com).

We are now in Season 2 of our Steeped in the Faith series of the new hit series, The Chosen. Watch Episodes online and join us each Wednesday, at 8 pm. We hope to see you there!

We need to start our Financial Review of last year's reports. Anyone who has a few hours please contact Elizabeth Benson at e-benson@nc.rr.com. The work can be done independently any time before August, and we have detailed written instructions. 

We are asking for at least 5 volunteers to split the work, so please sign up.

We know that every day brings new opportunities to praise the Lord for all the big and LITTLE things! 

We want to celebrate with you. No matter how big or small, share with us the ways that we can rejoice over what God is doing in our midst. If you have something to share click here. 

Give if you can and call if you need.

Celia Ponder who is recovering from surgery • Pamela Benbow (sister of Marcia O’Neal) • The people of Ukraine during this time of crisis • Dot Shoaf • Wayne Beverly • Micah Thornton (Marcia O'Neal's Grandson) • Carol Ayres • Susan Leggette • Jane & Paul Mickey • Dianne Foster • Daniel Jones (Kory's Cousin) • Myra Markham