A Monthly Magazine ofA Monthly Magazine of

Trinity United Methodist ChurchTrinity United Methodist Church

Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado

Volume 21, Issue 2Volume 21, Issue 2

T his Sun-day will be a long-awaited

day for our community. It has been 15 years since our local pro football team played in

the Super Bowl championship game. SB48 is not a bill on the Senate floor, but the big game that will bring billions in bets for the Broncos. The Official Super Bowl XLVIII website is literally counting down the seconds to the 4:30 p.m. MST kick-off and bills the game as “The Irresistible Force (the Broncos’ explosive offense) vs. the Immoveable Object (the ma-rauding Seahawks defense).”

Most everyone in Colorado will be watching and cheering for the Denver team and its super quarter-back to win. We hope for history to repeat itself and have a victory parade down Broadway that passes right in front of our historic church home! The annual Super Bowl game has become iconic with its creative commercials, star-studded halftime shows, and mas-sive viewing audiences. I encour-age you to take time on Super Sunday to gather in worship and experience genuine teamwork, eternal victory, and the irresistible force of love. We will share a special message for the day, “Super Bowl Spirituality.”

Another Super Sunday comes on February 16. As shared in this space last month, our church leaders have been studying,

gathering information, and plan-ning for over a year how to best upgrade the 30-year-old Plaza Building. Members of the Board of Trustees will present plans, answer questions, and seek input from the congregation in five gatherings over the next two weeks. A schedule of the dates, times, and locations of the Infor-mation Sessions is on page 2 of this newsletter. Church leaders also invite you to share your input via a brief online survey that was emailed earlier this week. Paper copies are available in the church office. Please complete by Feb. 12.

The goal of past and present articles, the listening sessions, and surveys is to prepare us for a called Church Conference on Sunday, Feb. 16, to gather in Holy Conferencing to prayerfully and carefully discuss, deliberate, discern, and decide on a campaign to provide for the Plaza Building renewal, as well as two major mission projects.

As I have sat in many meetings with Trustees, conversed with our staff, reviewed budgets, prayed over possibilities, listened to questions of our leaders and weighed the benefits, I believe we have a super opportunity before us to do something significant and sacrificial that will make a differ-ence at our ministry center, in our community, and across the globe.

I am anxious for you to learn more about this challenging oppor-tunity before us. We are so blessed that capable, committed persons have stepped up to lead a

Super Bowl, Super Sunday, Super Opportunity!

We offer a welcoming and transforming experience: the love of Jesus Christ.

VisionVisionVision

Discipleship Freshman Orientation Feb. 9 and 23, Mar. 2

Feb. 2 “Super Bowl Spirituality” I Cor. 9:24-27 Feb. 9 #2, “Salt, Light, and Law” Matthew 5:13-20 Feb. 16 “Listen to the Voice” Matthew 17:1-9 Feb. 23 #3, “Revolting Radical Decisions” Matthew 5:21-37

March 2 #4, “Retaliation, Revenge, and Reflection” Matthew 5:38-48

Some of the Features Inside this Issue …

Adult Ministries ..................................... 9 Care Ministry ...................................... 13 Children’s News ................................. 12 Contemplative Corner ....................... 15 Council Corner ....................................... 3 Lenten Study Groups ............................ 6 Memorials & Honorariums ................ 15 Music & Arts .......................................... 8 Our Church Family ................................. 7 Trinity in Denver & the World ............... 4 UMW News ............................................. 7 Youth Ministries ................................. 11

The Trinity Pulpit

The February 2014The February 2014 Where Is This Disciple Now?, page 10

Continued, page 3 

The Vision of Trinity UMC Page 2

SCOPE 

Complete renova on and remodeling of the Plaza Building, including:

Replacement of 30‐year‐old HVAC mechanical system

Replacement of 30‐year‐old sewage pump system

Replacement of 30‐year‐old storm water pump system

Elevator upgrade

Widen stairwell between Plaza and Sanctuary Buildings

New entrance to Plaza Building

Restroom upgrades on Levels 1 & 2

Replace fire alarm system

Replace fire sprinkler system

Communica ons wiring on both floors

Reloca on and reconfigura on of classrooms, nursery, and administra ve offices

New security system

New furnishings, carpet, ligh ng

 

 

BENEFITS 

Reduced opera ons and maintenance costs

Improved building security

Improved security for nursery and children’s classrooms

Improved emergency evacua on for infants and children

Improved access between Plaza and Sanctuary Buildings

Improved technology in offices and classrooms

Increased flexibility of S les Chapel, classrooms, and mee ng spaces

Increased hospitality in a warm, safe, quality, modern environment to care for and grow God’s children of all ages who come by the thousands 6‐7 days each week to our church home to pray, meet, eat, sing, ring, study, worship, teach, serve, listen, and share, fulfilling our mis‐sion “To offer a welcoming and transforming experi‐ence…the love of Jesus Christ” 

MISSION TITHE 

5% gi to the Hunger Relief Center of Metro CareRing

5% gi to Rocky Mountain Conference “Imagine No Malaria” Campaign

PBI Campaign Team in Place Knowing the importance of being ready to go when

the time comes, the following church and staff members have stepped up to offer their time, skill, and experience to serve in campaign leadership to fund the Plaza Building Initiative and Mission Tithe this spring, pending approval by the Church Conference on Feb. 16.

Campaign Co-Chairs: Don and Brenda Lewis, Jim and Scotty Wilkins

Campaign Director: Dave Licko Campaign Events Director: Rhonda Wyche Trinity Council Representative: Lynn Willcockson Campaign Administrator: Juli Van Hooser Communications Director: Erin Acheson Communications Team: Lara Davies Worship Director: Judith Mitchell Spiritual Formation Directors: Tim & Julie Mueller,

Kyle and Andrea Evashevski Prayer Directors: Nancy and Arlen McFaddin Vision Leader: Pastor Michael Dent The willingness of these folks to commit to leadership

so early is an indication of the timeliness, attraction, and desire to see this effort come to pass. These leaders have inspired us by their commitment, skills, and enthusiasm. All of us have roles in such an effort. We are so blessed to have these folks of faith willing to lead.

Plaza Building Ini a ve Proposal 

Called Church Conference Feb. 16 A called Church Conference is scheduled for Sunday,

Feb. 16, at 12:45 p.m. in Fellowship Hall to formally present the plans, address questions and concerns, seek God’s guidance and wisdom through prayer and Holy Conferencing, and make a decision on the campaign to provide for the Plaza Building Initiative and mission tithe to two local and global life-saving efforts.

Every confirmed member of Trinity Church has voice and vote. The meeting will be presided over by a guest ordained United Methodist clergyperson trained in spiritual direction and Holy Conferencing.

The youth will be serving their famous burritos all morning and after the 11:00 service.

The proposal to be considered is to move forward with a campaign to provide funding for remodeling the Trinity Church Plaza Building (the 30-year-old, two-level underground ministry center housing classrooms, parlors, meeting spaces, administrative offices, rest- rooms, storage, and Stiles Chapel). The proposal also includes a mission tithe of up to $200,000 to be appor-tioned equally between the Hunger Relief Center of Metro CareRing in Denver and the “Imagine No Malaria” effort of the United Methodist Church.

Estimated cost of the total construction, architectural designs, furnishings, contingency, mission tithe, and campaign costs is $2.6 million. Over $100,000 is al-ready available from designated gifts to the Sesquicen-tennial Mission Campaign in 2009.

February 2014 Page 3

What do you think about when you hear the word discipleship? Do you think of being a student, loving God, or helping others? I would say that it is all of the above. Being a disciple is a lot different from just studying it. When we choose to be a disciple of Jesus, we are asked to be active, not just observers. We decide to do God’s work in our world with every part of our being. We decide to use the many gifts that God has given each of us to bring glory to Him. After all, the best way to honor those we love is to emulate them. So when we are disciples, we are doing our best to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

Looking for ways to be God’s student at Trinity is easy. Between our Sunday School classes, Bible study classes, prayer teams, worship, Lenten small groups and even just conversations with fellow Christians in Fellowship Hall, we have ample opportunities to hear God. When we engage in these activities we are not just learning; we are giving our soul an opportunity to soak God in… When this happens, the possibilities are limitless as to how much we can grow and do God’s good work.

Loving God is sometimes not as easy as we would hope. God asks us to love him first. That means that nothing else can come before Him – not our egos, not our ambitions, and not desires. He gives us total freedom on

this. He does not force us to love Him before all – he allows us to choose. He allows us to grow and learn from our successes, as well as our failures. He allows us the opportunity to choose to grow in Him, know Him and love Him even more.

Helping others, or loving our neighbor, is another example of discipleship. When we love our neighbor as ourselves, we are actively doing God’s work. Loving our neighbor is not a feeling; it is practical, concrete behavior. It is being present and looking around to see the needs of those around us and responding. It is not doing simple acts of kindness (although those are fun!), it is time, energy and commitment. It is having your life be your response to God for the love He gives us every day.

Trinity has several programs that help grow our discipleship. Each member of our Council represents a different area where our members use their gifts to do God’s work not only here, but around the world. We are blessed to have these people. So if you are looking for ways to practice your discipleship, look no further than Trinity.

May each of you be filled with God’s grace and love, and may we all become better disciples of our most awesome God.

By Lorraine Knitt Trinity Council

Chairperson

Council CornerCouncil Corner

Continued from Page 1 

campaign to provide the funding for the Plaza Building ministry center and two mission tithe causes.

Please join your church family on Super Sunday, Feb. 2, and Super Opportunity Sunday, Feb. 16, as we worship, share, listen, and commit to the future of Christ’s work in us and through us. Many years from now, few people will remember the score of this year’s big game. But what we do now will be told to a generation not yet born. United in orange and in Christ,

Pastor Mike

Five Congregational Information Sessions Set

Please plan to attend a congregational Information Session to learn about, ask questions, and offer input on the Plaza Building Initiative. Several members of the Board of Trustees and Dr. Dent will be present at each meeting. Dates, times, and places follow:

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6-7 p.m., South Parlor Sunday, Feb. 9, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall Sunday, Feb. 9, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Fellowship Hall Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6-7 p.m., South Parlor Sunday, Feb. 16, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall

PBI Congregational Survey Kicks Off A brief survey about the Plaza Building Initiative (PBI)

was sent out by email Monday, Jan. 27. Please take 15 minutes or less to answer the short questions online by Feb. 12. For those who prefer paper, copies of the survey may be requested, picked up, completed and returned to the church office between now and Feb. 12. Thanks for your participation.

The Vision of Trinity UMC Page 4

Trinity at Work in the City and in the World 9Health Fair: Trinity

Church at YMCA Downtown

Spring will be here before you know it, and springtime in Colorado means 9Health Fair time. Trinity UMC and the Downtown YMCA will collaborate once again to sponsor our site, Trinity Church at YMCA Downtown, on Friday, May 2, 2014.

The mission of 9Health Fair is to promote health awareness and to encourage individuals to assume responsibility for their own health. Be a part of this 34-year Colorado tradition by volunteering at our 9Health Fair site. Both Medical and non-medical volunteers are needed to help draw blood, conduct health screenings, manage registration, secure donations, provide health education, and much more. Your involvement makes 9Health Fair – and saving lives – possible. It’s a good thing to do, and it’s fun.

New this year: All volunteers are eligible for a 20% discount on any blood tests or colon cancer screening!

You can sign up to volunteer beginning Feb. 1, either by calling

303-698-4455 or visiting www.9HealthFair.org.

Liberia Team Receives Grand Welcome!

Bob Gibb has just returned from Liberia where he led a team from the Michigan United Methodist Conference. Three United Methodist Churches in the Ann Arbor area have come together to replicate the Liberia Connect Project that Trinity UMC, under Bob’s leadership, established in the villages surrounding Camphor Mission Station. Read the most wonderful descriptions of the team’s experiences from their work trip. Here are some highlights that Bob shared:

With the initial funds Trinity sent as seed money for the Traditional Birthing Attendants in John Dean Town, a TV/ VCR for training was rented and a generator for the

newly completed guesthouse was installed.

• The Mission Chairperson for the Detroit Conference, speaking for three churches in the Ann Arbor area, has made public that the Detroit Conference will complete the John Dean Town Project.

• Three representatives from the Liberia government are with Bob and the team and have arranged a meeting to plan for the govern-ment to replicate the Liberia Connect program.

• UM Bishop Innis has called every day to encourage the team.

• Bob and the team gathered around one of the two wells that are being dug and offered a prayer for the well and water that it will be bacteria free, as well as for the health of the villagers for generations to come.

• The cook from the Camphor Clinic came to cook for the team in a shelter the villagers built near their guesthouse.

• As the team walked the two-hour hike to the village of John Dean Town, they passed under four welcome arches made of palm branches put up by residents to welcome them.

• The new training class has begun for the Traditional Birthing Attendants of the John Dean Town area.

• One of the women, dressed up as a New York City tourist, came out from the village to accompany our team on the two-hour hike to the village. She skipped around the group pretend-ing to take their picture (á la Hollywood fashion) with a pretend camera. One hundred school children met Bob and the team to carry all their luggage and provisions. There were signs on every building in the village, “Welcome Bob and his team!”

• At one village, they’ve begun dig-ging the well and the diggers

struck water while Bob and the team watched! At another, they’ve begun digging the latrine and could tell the team why this was so important.

• Each village chief has to support the program by digging a well and latrine, building a birthing hut, and providing remuneration for the Traditional Birthing Attendants.

• The villagers told Bob and the team that we were the only peo-ple from outside the village to come and help them.

• God is using the money TUMC has provided to improve the lives of people who in turn are sharing their gratitude with all their hearts.

See report of our work on Estes Park Flood Relief, page 11.

Our Liberia work team, led by Bob Gibb, leaves the John Dean Town area following a very successful mission work trip! 

February 2014 Page 5

BOOKS for BRICKS! Habitat Interfaith Alliance Annual Book Sale Fundraiser

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 

Want to help Habitat but can’t swing a hammer all day?

Do you LOVE BOOKS?

This event is for you!

There are dozens of jobs & more than 80 shi s to be filled from

Saturday, February 8 through Monday, February 17!

More than 300 volunteers are needed!

SALE DATES 

Monday, Feb. 10 – Monday, Feb. 17 – At First Universalist Church. 4101 E. Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80222

Please sign up to help with this important fundraiser!

To volunteer, simply go to the HIA website, www.hiadenver.org

and click on the Book Sale Volunteer link.

For more information, contact Trinity member Carol Strini at cstrini@q.com or 303-455-9132.

Annual Soup Cook-Off

On January 25, Habitat for Humanity held its annual soup dinner at Christ the King Church. Members of our congregation and of other churches were invited to compete in the following soup categories: Kosher, Meat, or Vegetarian. Almost 300 were in attendance, enjoying 60 different soups, helping Habitat raise money to build homes in

2014! Grace Rampacek, age 11, won “Most Intriguing Ingredients

– Vegetarian.” Grace is the daughter of Trinity members Jill and Tony Rampacek.

Her recipe for Brie & Roasted Garlic Soup is available upon request at the Office.

Congratulations to Grace, and thanks to everyone who attended.

The Vision of Trinity UMC Page 6

Lenten Study Groups 2014Lenten Study Groups 2014

Dr. Marcella Ruch, an Evangelist in the United Methodist Church, is a retired educator with a Ph.D. in Administration, an author, and the co-founder of Healthy Women Healthy Liberia. This non-profit is organized for the purpose of developing healthcare in Liberia for the 2 million women who live there now without access to adequate healthcare. Faced with daunting health statistics – including the fifth worst maternal mortality rate and eighteenth worst infant mortality rate in the world – Liberia has fewer than 55 physicians for the entire population of almost 4 million.

Dr. Marcella Rejoice Ruch, Ph.D., of Colorado Springs and Dr. Christiana Hena, M.D., of Liberia have teamed up to work for God in order to make a difference.

Dr. Ruch authored three books: Pablita Velarde, Painting Her People; The Gang of One, The Life of Vera Gang Scott; and Just Doing My Job: The Life of Norvell Simpson. Currently she is on the Spiritual Care staff at the Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, Arizona, as Coordinator of the Healthy Heart Project, an effort to involve churches in stabilizing and healing heart patients

using volunteer nurses. Her work for the last ten years has been starting and supporting Healing and Prayer Ministry in UM churches across the country. Her training in Healing Prayer Ministry comes from both the Methodist Church and Christian Healing Ministries in Jackson-ville, Florida.

Dr. Ruch will speak following a supper served at 5:30 p.m. A freewill offering will be received for the supper. Plan to attend this important program by registering in advance with the church office at 303-839-1493.

Dr. Marcella Ruch Speaks at Trinity on February 26 

We often look to the Bible as the book of “answers.” How often, though, do we consider the challenging questions God asks us? Jesus was asked nearly 180 questions by persons in the New Testament Gospels, but he only directly answered three. Instead he asked questions back to those asking him the questions. Transformation most frequently comes through consideration of questions rather than answers.

Beginning March 9, Trinity’s Adult Ministries Council will offer multiple neighborhood small groups through the six weeks of Lent to explore some of these important questions that God and Jesus ask us. Sample questions include: What are you looking for? What are you doing here? Do you want to get well?

Register for a small group in your neighborhood by visiting the Adult Ministries table in Trinity Café each Sunday morning beginning Feb. 9 or by registering on the Trinity website: www.trinityumc.org

Focus of Lenten Study Groups: Questions God Asks Us

February 2014 Page 7

Trinity United Methodist WomenTrinity United Methodist Women

We celebrate the life of Betty Damerau, who entered eternal life on Jan. 17, and remember in pray-er her husband Bob. We remember Bill Roberts in the death of his mother; Marian & Mark Gordon in the death of Marian’s mother; Kathy & Jeff Thompson in the death of Kathy’s mother; Marti Robards and Mary Soroka in the death of Marti’s brother/Mary’s uncle; and Tommy James in the death of his cousin. We celebrate the birth of Benjamin David to Christiana & Scott Sparks on Jan. 11. Our Family Serving Overseas

Please update your church family on your loved ones! Have any of those listed below returned home? How are you and your family faring? Please send any updates to Lee Anderson at the contact information listed below.

We keep in our prayers these brave men and women serving overseas in the Armed Forces, and their families: Family of Trinity Members

Major Bradley Matthew May, US Navy, son of Tom and Carolyn May;

Petty Officer 2nd Class Wes Cody, U.S. Navy, son-in-law of Clark & Ann Rheem;

PFC Krystal Wright, US Army, niece of Darlene & John Medlin;

Lt. Daniel Ford, US Navy, son of Michael and Joanne Ford;

2Lt Tristan Felchlin, grandson of Joan & Jack Leimkuhler;

Sgt. Preston Linger, US Army, son of Kathy and Dan Linger If you would like to have a family member placed on our prayer chain and listed in the monthly Vi-

sion, or if you have any updates on these loved ones listed here, please contact Lee Anderson at 303-839-1493 x11 or landerson@trinityumc.org.

Our Church FamilyOur Church Family

Trinity UMW Leadership Team will meet Feb. 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. Any interested member may attend this meeting, during which most of the UMW business is done so that the UMW meetings may concentrate on program.

Meeting time changes: Trinity United Methodist Women have changed

meeting times for the General Unit meeting and two of the Circle meetings.

The Unit meeting will be on the third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the South Parlor in February, April, September and November. The February meeting will be Feb. 18. The program will be “Hospice and Pallia-tive Care 101” presented by Michele Ferguson, retired hospice doctor.

Deborah Circle will have a short meeting following the Unit meeting and at that time in March, May, June, October and December.

Miriam Circle will meet on the second

Monday of each month except July, August and September. The February meeting will be Feb. 10 at 6:30 in the Heritage Room. Program will be by Marcia Hull.

Book Circle time is unchanged. The February meeting will be at 10 a.m. on Feb. 11 at Jan Morgan’s, 632 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood. This month’s book to be discussed is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

Mark your calendar: March 29 is the Metropolitan District UMW Spiritual

Day Apart at the Mother Cabrini Shrine. May 2-4 is the Rocky Mountain Conference UMW

Spiritual Retreat at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park.

The Vision of Trinity UMC Page 8

Music and ArtsMusic and Arts

Intervals of Joy in February: Celebrating the Artists Among Us

This four-week session beginning on Feb. 2

features presentations by several of Trinity’s talented musicians, as well as parents of Trinity youth who are active in the arts. The schedule is as follows:

Feb. 2: Tom Kampman Feb. 9: Brandy Jackson Feb. 16: Steve Van Hooser with a presentation

on his el Camino pilgrimage Feb. 23: A Parent Panel on Nurturing Your Child

in the Arts (Michelle Herd-Fetch & Robby Herd, and Sally & Dan Hirsch)

Please join us Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in the Choir Room. All are welcome!

Dramatic Arts Ministry Hosts Theater Outings

Trinity’s Dramatic Arts Ministry is headed to the theater! Join us for a fun afternoon of drama and fellowship. We will be experiencing Stories on Stage (http://storiesonstage.org) on Sunday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, Mar. 8. Both performances start at 1:30 p.m. at Su Teatro Cultural and Per-forming Arts Center (721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204). If interested, please contact Brian and Caroline Lee at cegrummon@gmail.com or 303-320-3454.

Welcome Dawn Williams, Trinity’s New Adult Handbell Director

Trinity’s Adult Handbell Ministry is pleased and grateful to have a new director for its two hand-bell choirs, the Chancel Handbell Choir and Trinity Ringers. We warmly welcome Dawn Williams to our Music & Arts Ministry! When asked to

provide some background information about her-self, Ms. Williams shared, “I began playing bells in sixth grade in a church music program in Lawrence, Kansas. After college, marriage and a move to Jefferson City, Missouri, I started directing the adult choir at the Methodist church. When we moved to Kansas City, I played and directed bells at Country Club United Methodist, where Phil Szajnuk, now a TUMC choir member, directed the Chancel Choir. Our family moved to Denver 13 years ago, where I found a vibrant range of community choirs. I played with several, as my family schedule and their openings worked out. That is how I met Jeanne Becay, who is also a TUMC bell choir member. All that history combined with God’s hand to guide me back into directing bells. My husband John and I have two children, one in college and one in high school. We live in lovely Coal Creek Canyon.”

HENRI POURTAU TO GIVE ORGAN CONCERT

On Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m., organist Henri Pourtau, Director of Music at the Notre Dame de Bon Voyage Church in Cannes, France, will present an organ recital in memory of his student, Vicki Bartel. Vicki conducted choirs and served as organist and accompanist for several Denver churches and choral groups, including Parker UMC, St. Andrew UMC, the Littleton Chorale and the Cherry Creek Chorale. She also sang in the Trinity United Methodist Church Choir at one time. Mr. Pourtau will perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, including Pièce d’Orgue in G, BWV 572, and Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654, as well as Louis Vierne’s 3rd Symphony. The performance is free, and contribution opportunities to support pancreatic cancer research will be available. Visit www.concertforvicki.com for more infor-mation.

Pourtau is pictured here at Notre Dame de Bon Voyage Church in Cannes. At his side is student Vicki Bartel. 

February 2014 Page 9

Adult MinistriesAdult Ministries

The Miracle of Deep Listening Sometimes life brings challenges. It can be

confusing, stress-filled and new unknown territory. These are times when the listening of a fellow traveler can help us find the quiet wisdom of God within ourselves. It provides the support and encouragement to move with and through the chaos.

Learning and practicing deep listening allows us to listen deeply within ourselves, friends, God, co-workers, and the world. It provides a way of living richly on this planet.

We live in a world with many loud, overwhelming voices telling us what we must do. It is easy to lose ourselves in the demanding voices. Deep listening provided by Stephen Ministers (a group of well-trained volunteers within the congregation) can allow anyone to find answers within and the courage to act when helpful. You can connect with this program by calling the church office or by speaking with Lee Anderson or Linda Marshall.

— Gay Freeman

Couples’ Retreat Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This one-day seminar is for couples in the beginning stages of their lifetime commitment and for couples looking for a “tune-up” in their relationships. The pur-pose of this training is to explore both the joys and challenges faced by a couple during their shared life together. In this fast-paced and sometimes crazy world, we face many turns in our married or partnered life, and it can be advantageous to “slow down” and explore how to create a meaningful and lasting relationship with our best friend.

The seminar is designed to be non-threatening; couples participate in exercises and discussions between just the two of them and are not required to share among the group if they do not wish to do so. This seminar is not taught from a rigid faith-based perspective; the individual beliefs of the participants are respected. It is intentionally a “fun” time to explore skills that could be very helpful in keeping the romance alive.

The seminar is led by Trinity members Larry and Karen Hone, who hold graduate degrees in Coun-seling and Social Work from Colorado universities and have conducted hundreds of hours of training in both the public and private sector. It is held in the comfort of their private home, and refreshments and lunch are provided during the breaks. The pastoral staff at Trinity endorses the Hones’ leadership.

Cost: $125 per couple. Childcare can be arranged upon request.

To Register: Contact Lee Anderson at landerson @trinityumc.org, or 303-839-1493 x 11.

Youth host Primetimers for a Valentine’s Day Party

On Sunday, Feb. 9, Primetimers are invited to join the youth for a Valentine’s Day party from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Four-Square Rooms, lower level. We will share in a baked potato lunch, hear our own Youth Choir sing, play games and share in conversation! Please RSVP to Cami Twilling by Sunday, Feb. 2 at ctwilling@trinityumc.org.

Trinity Quilters

Discipleship is the basis for all the projects that Trinity Quilters undertake. One of our many projects is the baby bears with prayer squares you see during babies’ baptisms.

When you see one or more of our beautiful prayer

quilts in the Fellowship Hall, we give Trinity members an opportunity to tie a knot and say a prayer for someone who is facing a health or personal crisis. This quilt gives great comfort to the recipient.

Another project we are working on is to provide quilts for our youth to take to families in need when the youth make their trip this summer to Guatemala. Here are pictures of some of the quilts we are working on:

Come join us for fun and fellowship at 9:00 on the second Saturday morning of each month at the church. You don’t have to be a seasoned quilter, or even a beginning quilter. We welcome everyone!

The Vision of Trinity UMC Page 10

Where Are These Disciples Now?Where Are These Disciples Now?

We watch our children grow up in God’s grace at Trinity. Then they graduate from high school, we honor them as seniors, and send them off to whatever comes next – often a college career. Do you ever wonder where they are, how they are doing, when they will graduate? How they will influence the world? Here is information about three of Trinity’s children, all of whom are good dis-ciples of The Word, who are close to finishing their college careers.

Danielle Burton Daughter of Paul and Mary Soroka, this amazingly

talented young lady is attending Colorado State and will graduate this May. She is majoring in Human Develop-ment and Family Studies, with an eye toward counseling at the high-school level. She is applying to grad schools to get that all-important Master’s degree, which opens up secondary school possibilities. She has been working with an on-campus program called Campus Corps, a non-profit group that works with at-risk youth in northern Colorado. “The kids at Campus Corps have had such a profound

impact on my life; they are why I want to work with teens. So many youth struggle every day with de-pression, peer pressure, studies, etc. They just need someone to support them. That’s what I want to do!” When asked what she misses most at Trinity, she answered,” Definitely, 110%, I miss the kids from the nursery.” Danielle worked part-time as a nursery attendant where the children still have special places in her heart.

Krista Petersen When Krista was a toddler barely out of diapers, she

knew Trinity better than anybody. She once guided me from the Bell Rehearsal Room on the lower level of the Plaza Building to the Music Director’s office, which is upstairs, through the Sanctuary, and up the south stair-case. She had literally grown up at Trinity and already knew most of its nooks and crannies.

The daughter of Dian and Jeff Petersen, Krista is attending Colorado Mesa University and will graduate in the spring of 2015. She is majoring in Musical Theater and hopes to enroll in the Disney College Program. Her long-term goal is to perform in the Disney parks and on cruises. She appeared in many dramas at Trinity during her teen years and graced us with her beautiful voice.

Krista says, “I have really enjoyed college and will defi-nitely miss the people I’ve met and the awesome classes I’ve taken. I have really missed choir and handbells at Trinity, and the youth group, and going on mission trips.”

Kyle Steeno This young man spent his high school years in various

dramas and musicals and developed a love of theater. Son of Jackie Ives and Pat Steeno, he is now at Arizona State, where he will graduate in the spring of 2015. He has chosen filmmaking for his career and is studying Film & Media Production. This program is limited to twenty students every year, and Kyle had to apply and interview to be received into the program, including writing a very critical essay analyzing himself. In order to graduate, he has to create a thesis film. He will write the script, choose the actors, direct and produce, and even edit the film. He has been working at ASU in the Video Department where he edits film – wonderful experience for his future. His biggest challenge will be raising funds to finish his film. He expects to mount an on-line campaign of fundraising next year.

“I miss the friendships I formed at Trinity,” Kyle wrote. “While I do my best to stay in touch with people, it’s diffi-cult. Having that level of regular interaction with people from my youth group and elsewhere in Trinity is definitely something I miss.”

Watch out, Everybody. These three have the energy,

the knowledge, and the grace to make real changes in our world!

— Carol Feickert

Kyle, center, on location with two of his fellow students in Arizona. 

February 2014 Page 11

Youth MinistriesYouth Ministries

Youth Sunday School Senior High Youth meet in Room 1-12 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Confirmation (Middle High Sunday School): Our next group of confirmands meets in the

Youth Room (1-3) from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. This class is for all middle school youth and any high school youth who have not been confirmed.

Ichthus…Youth group for grades 6-12 meets the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month! Middle and Senior High Youth meet together at Trinity from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for lunch,

games, devotions, music and awesome group building time. This is a great time for all of the youth to get to know one another and grow together on their faith journey. We meet Feb. 9 for the Primetimers and Youth Valentine’s Party, and again on Feb. 23.

Summer 2014 Denver Dive Middle High Mission is July 7-9, 2014. This is a mission experience for youth

currently in grades 6 and 7. Youth will have hands-on opportunities to reach out to their neighbors here in Denver. We will volunteer at the Olin Hotel, Project Angel Heart, Metro CareRing and more. Registrations are due March 23. (Early Bird is due March 16.) Contact Cami or Emma at 303-839-1493.

Trinity Team Visits Estes Park 

A team of Trinity members drove up the Big Thompson Canyon toward Estes Park in late January to see first hand the devastation of last year’s flood. Houses tipping precariously on partial foundations, eroded riverbanks and piles of debris collected by the roadside are examples of the magnitude of the flood’s power. Meeting with members of Estes Park UMC, Trinity members have begun to identify ways in which we can provide on-going help.

The SOUPer Bowl Flood Relief fund drive, to be collected on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2, is a first step in providing food for needy families in the Estes Park area. Working together with Crossroads, an Estes Park non-profit, Trinity will be able to supply food items to stock the food pantry’s shelves. Some Trinity members may want to join a day trip to help out at Crossroad’s pantry. A work trip in the spring is in the planning stages to assist with clearing trees. An opportunity for Stephen Ministers to visit individuals and families to provide a listening ear has been suggested. If you would like to participate in one of these outreach opportunities, please contact Rev. Miriam Slejko in the church office to express your interest. 303-839-1493 x14.

Donate your loose change on Feb. 2, SOUPer Bowl Sunday, to our neighbors in Estes Park as they recover from the floods. Youth and children will receive your donations in soup kettles at each of the Sanctuary entrances as you leave worship. Thank you for your gener-osity towards those still rebuilding their lives. 

Our Trinity Work Team 

The Vision of Trinity UMC Page 12

Children’s NewsChildren’s News

Save the date for:  Vaca on Bible School June 23 – 27, 2014 

9:30‐1:00 p.m. daily 

For children four years old through  those presently in fi h grade 

Save the Date for Family Camp! The third annual family camp for parents and children will

take place March 14-16 at John Wesley Ranch in Divide, Colorado. Throughout the weekend, we will embark on an adventure to draw closer as individual families and as a Trinity family. For more information or to register, contact Kathy Gibb at kgibb@trinityumc.org or Wayne Brown at wbrown@trinityumc.org. You will also be able to register online at www.trinityumc.org by Feb. 15.

February 2014 Page 13

Trinity’s Care MinistryTrinity’s Care Ministry

Trinity Care Ministry’s Celebration of Care

Trinity’s Care Ministry is a thriving ministry designed to promote the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being of the congregation. Under the leadership of Rev. Linda Marshall, Minister of Nurture, and Lee Anderson, Care Coordinator, those involved in the Care Ministry provide Christian companionship and support to members and friends of Trinity. This support comes in many forms, from one-on-one visits to prayers to simply connecting with resources in the community. The Care Ministry also provides education in mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Do you ever wonder how Trinity can help when you are in a challenging place in your life? Learn more about the Care Ministry and its programs and people at the Celebration of Care. Even if you don’t need help now, it’s helpful to know where to turn when you do.

Please join us in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, Feb. 23 between 9:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. There will be information to take home and caring people who can answer your questions!

“Moral Choices: Deficit Reduction and Protection of the Poor” will be the theme of the 2014 Faith Advocacy Day on Monday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at History Colorado, 1200 Broadway.

The yearly event, sponsored by Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–Colorado, Jubilee Ministry of Colorado and the Colorado Council of Churches, will draw people of faith from across the Front Range to an examination of what impacts federal deficit reduction measures are having on the poor in Colorado, including the loss of food

stamps, housing subsidies, job training and other safety net programs.

The keynote speaker will be Ellen Teller, Director of Government Affairs for the Food Research and Action Center, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations working to reduce hunger in the United States.

Cost to register is $30, including lunch. Register online at www.lam-co.org. For infor-mation, contact The Rev. Rebecca Jones, 720-300-5011, advocacy@reselca.org.

Faith Advocacy Day to Examine Impacts of Federal Budget Cuts

Wesleyan Breakfast Club with Bill Wilde In 1969 the Colorado legislature created RTD as a small planning agency charged

to create a public transportation plan and take it to a vote by 1973. The resulting plan called for a 100-mile Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system and bus network funded by a new sales tax. The vote was favorable and RTD became an operating agency. What happened to PRT?

What is PRT? Bill Wilde joined RTD before the vote in 1973 and will answer these questions and others at our next breakfast at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, at Hot Cakes Restaurant, 18th Avenue and Humboldt St., Denver. All are welcome.

The Vision of Trinity UMC Page 14

Shirley Ward is Trinity’s nomi-nee for the Metropolitan District Quiet Disciple recognition. She is recognized within our congre-gation for the decades of quiet service she has given Trinity. Her careful work and trusted judgment have been a great benefit to our congregation as she has generously applied her skillful accounting practices in Trinity’s business office, thoughtful consideration as a member of the Board of Trustees, and her generosity in volunteering in a variety of capacities during her membership.

We are grateful for her skill in handling the business side of Trinity’s ministry. Shirley has assisted for more than 25 years in the business office handling the Accounts Payable function each week. In addition, she has served as Board Treasurer for Trinity’s Turnabout, Inc., a

program to reintegrate former offenders. During the hot summer months she is regularly seen early in the morning lovingly caring for the vintage roses on Trinity’s green. She is a member of Trinity’s Flute Choir. She also volunteers regularly to serve lunch to our downtown neighbors at Trinity and Redemption Fellowship.

Shirley’s faithful service expresses her faith. “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7-8

Plan to attend the Metropolitan District Annual Celebration on

Feb. 22 where Shirley will be recognized. [For additional details, see info below or contact Rev. Miriam Slejko at the Trinity office.]

Burrito Breakfast on February 16

The youth serve their famous burritos the third Sunday of each month in Trinity Café from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. to help raise funds for the 2014 summer mission trips here in Denver; to Pine Ridge, South Dakota; and to rural Guatemala. Come have breakfast with your Trinity friends and help make youth missions possible.

Thank you for your support!

Shirley Ward, Trinity’s 2014 Quiet Disciple

You are invited to the 2014 Metropolitan District Annual Celebration

“Fruits of the Tree of Life”

The 2014 Metropolitan District Annual Celebration (MDAC) will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at First United Methodist Church in Golden, 1500 Ford Street. Reg-istration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the meeting starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending with a community meal. This celebration includes busi-ness items interspersed through-out the meeting with music by guest musicians and commen-tary by Metro District Superin-

tendent Rev. Steve Goodier. Business includes a report from the District Committee on Ministry that will include the intro-duction of ministry candidates; election of Lay Equalization members to Annual Conference; presentation of petitions for Annual Conference; and the presentation of the Quiet Disciple Nominations.

February 2014 Page 15

Memorials & Honorariums December 2013

In Memoriam — Royal McKay To Trinity Music & Arts Ministry Jeanne & Harlan Buss

In Memoriam — Bob Mitchell To Trinity Music & Arts Ministry

Jeanne & Harlan Buss

Carol & Jim Feickert Tina & Glenn Winn

In Memoriam — Betty Mueller To Trinity Music & Arts Ministry Jeanne & Harlan Buss

Carol & Jim Feickert

Willa M. Gallier

In Honor of Dean Lynn Chris Lynn

If you would like to make a memorial or designated gift, please contact

Fred Lyons at (303) 839-1493, x30.

Discipleship is the state of being a Disciple, and the very first defini-tion of a Disciple is “any professed follower of Christ.” The Contempla-tive Spirituality group at Trinity United Methodist Church (TUMC) primarily practices two ancient tra-ditions of prayer: Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer. Both allow us to be Disciples and, therefore, followers of Christ.

First, Lectio Divina is a tradition-al way of cultivating friendship with Christ, according to a pamphlet published by the Contemplative Outreach Ltd. The pamphlet con-tinues to explain that “By practic-ing Lectio Divina, we are not just following Christ, but with a daily encounter with Christ and reflec-tion on His Word, it leads beyond a

mere acquaintanceship to an atti-tude of friendship, trust and love.”

Centering Prayer, the second Contemplative Spirituality tech-niques often used at TUMC, is described by Thomas Keating in The Prayer of Consent as, “The deepening of our relationship with the Living Christ, that tends to build communities of faith and bond members together in mutual friendship and love.”

So by participating in these two Contemplative Spirituality methods, we not only are professed followers of Christ, or Disciples, but also we are continually on the journey of pursuing a deeper relationship with Christ and are actively pursuing trust and love among ourselves as well. — Joy Harvey

Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Stiles Chapel

We practice Centering Prayer each week, as well as other prayer practices such as Lectio Divina and contemplative journaling in the group setting. We will also watch DVD series with various teachers such as Father Thomas Keating.

Sunday mornings from 9:30 to10:30 a.m. in the Chapel

We are learning from the Rule of Benedict and practicing the ancient prayer practice of Lectio Divina. This is a time of quiet prayer for those looking for peace and con-templation.

Contact Cami Twilling, ctwilling@ trinityumc.org or 303-839-1493 x32.

Contemplative CornerContemplative Corner

Professed Followers of Christ

Sunday Schedule: Informal Worship

8:15 a.m. (Sanctuary)

Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. (Sanctuary)

Sunday School for adults and

children at 9:30 a.m.

Church Office Hours: Monday-Friday

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: 303/839-1493 Fax: 303/839-1901

Trinity United Methodist Church 1820 Broadway Denver, CO 80202

1820 Broadway Denver, CO 80202

Phone: 303/839-1493 Fax: 303/839-1901

Email: info@trinityumc.org Web: www.TrinityUMC.org

http://Facebook.com/trinitydenver http://Twitter.com/trinitydenver

Trinity United Methodist Church

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Send address changes to:

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Trinity United Methodist Church

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Financial Report

December 2013 (Year End)

$ 1,600,000 $ 1,900,000

$ 1,939,880

$ 1,981,209

THE STAFF OF TRINITY UMC

Senior Pastor Dr. Michael D. Dent

Minister of Discipleship Rev. Miriam Slejko

Minister of Nurture Rev. Linda Marshall

Director of Music and Arts Judith Mitchell

Director of Adult and Family

Formation

Wayne Brown

Care Coordinator Lee Anderson

Director of Youth Ministries and

Contemplative Spirituality Cami Twilling

Director of Children’s Ministries

Kathy Gibb

Church Administrator Angie Cummins

Director of Communications Erin Acheson

Discipleship Assistant and Front Office Administrator

Jill Rampacek

Administrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor Juli Van Hooser

Finance Administrator Fred Lyons

Wedding Coordinator Laini Tompkins

Trinity Young Adults Jasper Peters

James E. Barnes Iliff Intern Dan Krause

Ministry Giving

Ministry Investments