What’s Happening at Trinity—Dec. 17, 2023
MCREST HELP—MCREST has many needs this year, take a look at the big board located in the foyer to see if you can help. Or, take a tag from the MCREST Giving Tree located in the foyer. Take the ornament, purchase the item and return both to the Church Office or place it under the tree.
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED—The Church Office will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 25-26. If you are in need of pastoral support, call the Church Office at 586-463-2921 and leave a message on the emergency line. Someone will call you back as soon as possible.
CHRISTMAS AT TRINITY
www.trinityct.org/Christmas
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICES—We have three Christmas Eve services at one Christmas Day service for you to celebrate the newborn king with us.
- † Saturday, Dec. 23—No Saturday evening worship
- † Sunday, Dec. 24—10 a.m.—Regular Sunday morning worship. One service only.
- † Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.—Family Christmas—A worship service designed for families, young and old.
- † Christmas Eve, 7 p.m. & 11 p.m.—Candlelight Worship—A candlelight service celebrating the miracle of Christ’s birth.
- † Christmas Day, 10 a.m.—Christmas festival worship with organ, brass and Voices in Praise choir. There will also be Holy Communion.
A list of all scheduled Advent and Christmas activities can be found at Trinityct.org/christmas
>ENGAGE GOD
ADVENT SERMON SERIES-Our sermon series takes us through Advent and into Epiphany. Advent is a season of anticipation—but also a season of past and future colliding with the present. We focus on all aspects with the series titled, “Hope is on the Way.”
ADVENT MIDWEEK CHAPEL—Trinity’s midweek chapel is held Wednesdays at noon in the chapel. This year’s theme is Traditions of Advent.
- † Dec. 20—Carols
ADVENT CROSSTALK DEVOTIONS —Our Crosstalk audio devotions are short devotions are sent directly into your email or through our website. If you’d like to sign up, go to Trinityct.org/crosstalk or contact Rebecca Thomas at You can also find these devotions on iTunes or Google Play by searching for Trinity Lutheran CrossTalk.
E3 RESUMES JAN. 10—Mark your calendars because E3, our Wednesday evening activities, resume Jan. 10. We will have dinner and a new set of Bible studies. Watch for more information as the new year approaches.
FIRST BIBLE COMING IN JANUARY—If you are the parent of a first grade, or other elementary school student who hasn’t participated in the First Bible Stepping Stone, a new session is planned for January. Join Ms. Elizabeth on Jan. 22 and Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. in the Community Center. These meetings are for parents and kids. Come learn about the Bible and what you can do at home to encourage your child’s faith development. Bible presentation is Sunday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. Register at Trinityct.org/firstbible.
WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES AND CLASSES
NEW MONDAY NIGHT LADIES BIBLE STUDY starts Mon, Jan 8 at 7 p.m. in the Church Lounge. It's a 7-week study titled, "When you pray" led by various women including, Jen Wilkin and Jennifer Rothschild. Covers "Hannah's Prayer" and "The Lord's Prayer" and other prayers. Questions or to reserve a book, please contact Bonnie Young by cell or text at 586-350-3222.
TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY-- Meet to enjoy God's Word every Tuesday morning 9:30-10:45 a.m. Led by Mary Hartman and Lila Tirsell. Meets in the Church Lounge.
BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN – Jesus told captivating stories/parables. This Bible study is a chance to explore some of Jesus’ most famous narrative parables: The Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Rich Fool and others. Join us on Wednesday mornings from 6– 7 a.m. in the Church Lounge. Hot coffee, study guides and Christian fellowship await you! Questions? contact Pat Anderson
SATURDAY MORNING MEN’S STUDY —A Saturday morning men’s Bible study meets in the Church Lounge at Trinity at 8 a.m. For more information, contact Brian Lanko at
>ENGAGE GOD’S PEOPLE
WOMEN’S LEAGUE CHRISTMAS MEETING—On Tuesday, Dec. 19, 6:30-8 p.m., in the Church Lounge the Women’s League celebrates Christmas. The agenda includes enjoying appetizers and Christmas punch, singing carols, playing games, and learning of our next "Woman of the Year." Please remember to bring a donation for our gift to a Trinity school family in need, and to wear Christmas attire, including a Christmas pin. Visitors are always welcome. Contact Debbie Graham-Large at 313-318-6513 for more information.
BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOUR MARRIAGE—Presents under the Christmas tree are wonderful gifts, but can they heal a hurting marriage? Transforming your marriage into a mutually satisfying relationship is a "gift that will keep on giving." Retrouvaille is a Christian peer ministry designed to help heal troubled marriages. The next Retrouvaille program begins Friday, Jan. 12, in Farmington Hills. For confidential information or to register call 800-470-2230 or visit HelpOurMarriage.org.
>ENGAGE THE WORLD
FEED THOSE IN NEED-Trinity provides meals/casseroles for Family of God in Detroit on the second Wednesday of every month. Volunteers are needed to help cook or donate a dish. You can even just donate fruit, muffins, rolls or sweets to be included with the dinner. Members from our congregation deliver and serve at the mission. If cooking isn't your thing but you'd like to contribute, cash donations can be turned in to the Church Office or you can send funds via Venmo to Cathy Essig (@CLEssig). Family of God serves meals to over 100 people in the Detroit community 6 days a week. Call Karen Langreet at (586) 445-2460 or (586) 291-6273. For more information on Family of God, visit http://www.fogdetroit.com.
>SCHOOL AND ECC
CHRISTMAS BREAK—The school is closed beginning at noon on Thursday, Dec 21. Classes resume Monday, Jan. 8. SAC will be open for those in need of childcare over the holidays. Call the Early Childhood Center at 586-463-8803 for information.
DINNER DANCE TICKETS ON SALE—The 8th grade class parents will sell tickets for the annual dinner dance fundraiser beginning after Thanksgiving. The event is Feb. 24 at the Italian American Cultural Center. Tickets are $65 each and include dinner, dancing, and an open bar. Bring extra cash for fun games and drawings! Purchase your tickets from an 8th grade parent, or see Mrs. Nyboer in the school office.
PRESCHOOL OPENINGS-- Trinity's Early Childhood Center has openings in the traditional half-day three and four-year-old preschool program and in the FREE Great Start Readiness Program. This program is free to four-year-olds who qualify. Find out more on at Trinity’s website at Trinityct.org/ECC.
GIFT CARDS MAKE GREAT GIFTS—With the holidays approaching, get your holiday shopping done with Raise Right and help Trinity in the process. By purchasing gift cards through RaiseRight, you can earn money towards student tuition and help Trinity. RaiseRight offers physical and e-cards. For the enrollment code and questions, contact Rachel Nyboer in the school office at 586-8511 ext. 130 or
>ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSITION OPEN—Our church administrative assistant Robin Shuell has announced her retirement. Trinity is seeking a qualified candidate to fill this role. If you’d like to apply, send your resume or questions to Debbie Simmons, Director of Operations, at
THANK YOU, from Women’s League, to all those who supported our All-Weekend Bake Sale. We didn't think it possible, but we sold out! And evidently, everybody likes Christmas cookies cause the plates of assorted Christmas cookies were the first to go! (Next year, there will be more!) We raised $1,380, all of which will be donated to missions and nonprofits.
YEAR END GIVING—As we approach the end of the 2023 year gift giving, this is the time many of the congregation evaluate their ability to make special donations of stock or cash gifting. If you are 70 ½ or older you can give from your IRAs Tax-Free to the charities of your choice. You don’t have to wait for the end of the year, but this option is available throughout the year. Contact your financial advisor to find out if this would be a good option for you. When considering giving from IRAs consider if any of the following apply to you:
- You would like to give all of a portion of your REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION (RMD) to a charity income tax-free
- You want to give a charitable gift using your IRA tax-free.
- The withdrawals from your IRAs are forcing you to pay more tax on your Social Security payments
This week at Trinity—Dec. 17-23, 2023
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Sunday (17) |
9 a.m. |
Worship— Sanctuary |
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11 a.m. |
Worship—Sanctuary |
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Monday (18) |
1 p.m. |
Alanon—Church Lounge |
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5:30 p.m. |
Girl Scouts Pot Luck—Community Center |
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6:30 p.m. |
Tai Chi—Gym |
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7 p.m. |
Women’s Bible Study—Church Lounge |
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Tuesday (19) |
9:30 a.m. |
Women’s Bible Study—Church Lounge |
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6:30 p.m. |
Women’s League-Church Lounge |
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Wednesday (20) |
6 a.m. |
Men’s Bible Study—Church Lounge |
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11:30 a.m. |
Paper Hugs Express—Church Lounge |
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Noon |
Kiwanis—Community Center |
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Noon |
Midweek Chapel—Chapel |
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Thursday (21) |
9:30 a.m. |
Trinity Quilters—Community Center |
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1 p.m. |
Hearing Loss Group—Church Lounge |
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7 p.m. |
Purls Knitting—Church Lounge |
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7 p.m. |
Confirmation Module—Youth Lounge |
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Friday (22) |
7 p.m. |
NA—Community Center |
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Saturday (23) |
8 a.m. |
Men’s Bible Study—Church Lounge |
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No Saturday evening worship |
PRAYER LIST
Members Who Are Ill/Recovering Helen Luft, Fran Kuchenmeister, Kathe Balon, Vanessa DeGeorge, Karl Hallberg, Greg Dennis, George Wagner, Sandra Leibnitz, Lew Thumm, Nash Shoemaker, Beatrice Trombley, Brian Bolitho, Rudy Nurmi, Doreen Buric, Ron Sogge, John Swatosh, Ed Peltier, Amy Hanselman, Jane Boeling, Mary Peltier, Lynn Huff, Marlie Nazarko, Rob Garvin, Lucille Fuller, Janet Ragsdale, Joan Justus, Keith Ringstad, Ron Heckmann, Rose Kuechenmeister, Bob Mann, Bill Ash, Jim DeGeorge, Christopher Mushenski, Sue von Fange, Marilyn Jordan, Linda Pagel, Bob Knopf, Richard McGee, Lori Ruppel, Mei Ye-Habel, Merl Terry, Neil Pickoff, Matthew Card, Joan Sobosky, Norm Conrad, Edie Dolinar, Rob Garvin, Marilyn Dobson
Others Who Are Ill/Recovering Elowyn Pollard, Kate Krupsky, Lee Smith, Jill Pannell, Everleigh Albensi, Janice Turner, Olivia Curis, Todd Lanko, Harrison Ahee, Mary Yoblonski, Jordan Tippin, Meryl Poynter, Gary May, Roger Ellis, Leah, Karen Richardson, Jenn Campau, Simone Goodin, Lucy Harris, Kayden Strong, Debbie Ward, Carson Jones, Denny Hill, Norman Puffpaff, Mario Finazzo, Samantha Kintz, Emily Chalabian, Mike Maurer, Carole Kuhn, Alice Liva, Paul Steele, Mary Hutt, Ryan Bowling, Gordon Munn, James Maier, Brent Danket, Brandon Colon, Jim Whitehead, Denny Hill, Sandra Velasco, Jackie Moran, Mark Thullen, Larry Knapik, Jill Fantin
Please update any prayer requests with Pastor Gary at to avoid having the names of those still in need removed from the list.
Special Prayers
- † For the sick and suffering
- † For the ministry of our school
- † For all who serve at Trinity and for the faithful use of gifts and talents
- † For the senior pastor search process
- † For our mission partner Family of God-Detroit
- † For our sister congregation Shepherd’s Gate