Hope you survived the rain these last couple of days and aren’t too waterlogged! In addition to all of our announcements below, I’m writing with a prayer concern and important reminders for us all.
Carolyn and Bernie Hyman have tested positive for COVID-19 and are symptomatic, thankfully not critically so. Please keep them in your prayers for a quick and full recovery with no lingering issues! If you did not receive a direct communication regarding this potential exposure, you have not been exposed at Trinity to the best of our knowledge. All plans continue for in-person worship, committee meetings, and youth kick-off this Sunday, all appropriately socially distanced, of course!
The reminders are that the longer this pandemic continues, the easier it is to grow weary and lackadaisical in keeping our guard up, especially for those among us who are most vulnerable. Therefore:
-Any time you enter any part of our church buildings, especially for in-person worship or to be a part of any group gathering (small group, committee, etc), you MUST wear a mask over your mouth and nose and keep it on. This is a requirement from the Virginia Conference. In addition, please practice good hygiene by continued washing of hands, etc.
-Any time you gather for in-person worship or as a group/team/committee, each time you gather, you must register your attendance with first and last names and either phone number or email address. That registration list then must be turned in to the church office immediately after your gathering. This is to let folks know in the event of a positive case(s), as we did in this instance. The church office is mandated to do the contacting on behalf of the church.
-If you or anyone in your household feels ill and/or is running a fever before planning to attend in-person worship or other gatherings, please stay at home!
-If you should test positive and/or become symptomatic with COVID-19 symptoms, AND you have attended either in-person worship and/or group gatherings at Trinity, you MUST notify the church office immediately. Your name will not be shared if you do not want it to be.
-The church is cleaned with disinfectant on a weekly basis by our custodial crew.
Thank you for your attention to these matters! It helps not only keep everyone safe, it also helps ensure that we’re able to continue gathering in-person for those who feel safe doing so.
Be blessed,
Pastor Dan
Loss of Buzz Cooper
We express our sympathy to Tammera, Kevin, and Patrick Missel. Buzz Cooper, Tammera’s dad, died this past Wednesday. Arrangements are pending.
Blood Drive Volunteers
We are still in need of just two more volunteers to serve at the next blood drive, September 24, at the church. Please contact Linda Hollis if interested at 757-619-3053 or lh1613@aol.com.
From Margaret Altman
Margaret Altman expresses her sincere gratitude toward everyone who has reached out during this difficult time. She is touched beyond words and deeply thankful for her Trinity family.
COP Virtual Learning Center
COP is getting ready to initiate a new program called the COP Virtual Learning Center. The purpose of the VLC is to provide a place for students without internet access to come, with their Macbook and headphones, to participate in live school lessons, download lessons and/or do homework. Days and hours of operation will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9am-3pm, beginning October 5th, 2020.
They will need adult monitors to staff the center, scheduling two volunteers per 3 hour shift (9am-12pm and 12pm-3pm). Volunteers will able to sign up via Sign-up Genius, which will be emailed to all volunteers on our volunteer list. Students, parents, and volunteers will be required to sign a waiver in acknowledgement of center rules and expectations. All CDC guidelines will be followed, using face masks, hand sanitizer, partitions and social distancing. Students will enter through a far door of the building and will be contained within the conference room, with restrooms directly across the hall.
If you are interested in volunteering as a monitor, please email Cris Lawrence at cop@iowcop.net. She will then send you the Sign up Genius link.
COP Children’s Book Drive
Whether you’re headed back to school or not, you’re invited to bring new or gently used books to the church to be distributed by COP. Reading at home will be ever more important with virtual learning this year, so let’s help provide some great books for children in our area! And don’t forget your regular COP donations of non-perishable food as well.
“Thank you ever so much for posting our need for children’s books at COP! I’m assuming one of our FOOD FOR THOUGHT angels submitted it. If asked, we especially need board books for birth through age 2 for the diaper and food programs. Blessings!” -Beth Buntner
College Care Ministry
Things may look a little different for our college students at the start of this school year, so now more than ever we want to send them some love and support from Trinity! If you have students who will be attending college or trade school this Fall (whether in-person or virtually) please send their mailing address to sara539@hotmail.com Thank you!
Four Worship Services a Week
With the addition of the Rivers Service, we now offer 4 weekly worship services:
- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM, in-person service, meets in the Sanctuary
- Sundays at 9:00 AM, online-only service, on facebook
- Sundays at 9:30 AM, in-person service, Rivers of Life in the FAC
- Sundays at 11:00 AM, in-person service, meets in the Sanctuary
Ways that you can help our Worship Services
- Volunteer to sing a solo. Volunteer to play an instrument. Volunteer to share a personal message from you to our congregation; perhaps some words of encouragement, a talent, or just a message to say hi. For any of these, contact Richard Winfree at music@mytrinity.org and he will assist you.
- Volunteer to be a liturgist at any of our services. Please contact Linda Hollis at (lh1613@aol.com).
- Volunteer to help at the 9:30 Rivers service. Please contact Lisa Munford at (lisa_munford@icloud.com).
- Volunteer to be a greeter at the 7:00 PM Wednesday or 11:00 AM Sunday services. Contact the church office at (trinityumcsmithfield@mytrinity.org).
- Volunteer to be a Church Bell ringer or Acolyte. Contact Angela Gibson at (angelamgibson@hotmail.com).
Prayer Mail
Please remember to submit your prayer mail requests to (prayer@mytrinity.org). Prayer mails are sent out each Tuesday.
NEW Online Giving: https://www.mytrinity.org/giving
Reminder: The church website has become our main communication hub. All messages and communication from the church are now archived at www.mytrinity.org on the main page. This includes all T-Mails, Worship services, and much more.
