Dr. Mike Oliver Senior Pastor

Rev. Glenn Bowers Minister of Education and Missions

Rev. Taylor Johnson Minister of Worship & Young Adults

Rev. Teresa Bowers Minister to Youth and College Students

Amy Sims Minister to Children and Families

Trinity Baptist Church of Madison, Alabama January 2015

Happy New Year! I pray that you have a happy, blessed, and meaningful

year. When we turn the calendar to a new year, most of us think of new

opportunities, new challenges, and new possibilities. Maybe, we decide to try

something new or we decide to make a change in our current way of living.

With that thought in mind, I wanted to mention some opportunities for us all.

Several years ago the movie, The Patriot, opened in theaters. It stars Mel

Gibson and is set in the time of the American Revolution. One scene I really

like is in the woodworking shop on the farm. Gibson has just finished a

handmade chair and everyone watches as he sits slowly in it. And then we

hear a creak and the chair collapses dropping Gibson to the floor. He throws

the remains of the chair into a pile where we see several other chair projects

that just haven’t worked out.

For a chair to hold us up, it needs a sturdy seat and four good legs. In life,

in our spiritual development, we also have things that help support us. I have

often thought that the church helps us with these supports in life by focusing

on five major roles: Worship, Fellowship, Outreach, Missions, and

Discipleship. When those five church tasks are out of balance, churches aren’t

as healthy and vibrant as they should be. In like manner, our lives need those

five things to be strong for us to be healthy and vibrant. So, in the spirit of a

new year, let me offer some suggestions for us all as we try to be strong in

these five areas that can support our lives in Christ. Continued on the back page

Trinity Baptist Church 1088 Hughes Road Madison, AL 35758 256-837-9737

Continued from the front page

Worship. Think about what you can do to be ready and primed for worship each Sunday. Consider prayerfully reading the scripture that will be the focus for upcoming worship services. Think about how you enter the sanctuary. I think worship begins when the white Christ candle is lit after the announcements. Let your heart and mind be still and open to God starting then. Come to worship ready to give praise to God who is worthy of our love and devotion. Come to worship for God’s sake first and foremost. Come to celebrate. Take notes during worship and talk about them later with your family or review them privately for how God continues to speak. As you sing, consider what the words are saying to your life. Pray for the Spirit to stir our congregation and move in us during worship. Pray for those who read, pray, sing, preach, and lead. Fellowship. Find ways to deepen connections with church members and guests. Join a K-Group, our fellowship groups at Trinity, in order to get to know folks better. Form a “Lunch Bunch” mentality. Invite one or more families to join you for a lunch at local restaurants a couple of times a month after Sunday worship. Write an email or a card of encouragement to another church member—perhaps one of our kids or youth. Go up in this new year and introduce yourself to someone you might not know who comes to church at Trinity. Outreach. Practice the hospitality of invitation. Invite people to the many activities, service projects, and worship services at Trinity. Let them know you love your church and would welcome them to attend. The number one way people come to visit a church is by receiving a personal invitation from a friend or acquaintance. Share your faith in conversations with others. Let your speech be tempered with a faith perspective so many need to hear in our world today. Share your testimony with at least five people this coming year. If they do not have a personal relationship with Christ, offer them the chance to pray to accept Christ into their hearts. Missions. Pray for our missions field personnel. Pray for the needs of the least of these in our world and for people groups who are the least evangelized. Learn about the global Church and what is happening in God’s overall mission in the world today. Find one of the many service, ministry and missions projects we offer at Trinity and volunteer to serve in our church. Pray daily, “Here am I, Lord, send me.” Discipleship. Have a desire to grow in your faith. Attend a Sunday School class or small group this year. Decide to read through the Bible in 2015 (we can help you find a plan if you need it). Have regular family and personal devotional times. Pray through our church prayer list. Get a Prayer App for your phone and try it out. Pick a topic to study, such as great Bible characters or a theme like grace or a book of the Bible. Well, I could go on and on. These five areas of our lives give us the support we need to be well-rounded, growing followers of Jesus. In this new year, look at these areas, pray for the Lord’s leadership, and decide to strengthen them. May God bless you and use you in a powerful way this year! ~Mike

Your Story, Our Story, God’s Story

Coming Together at Trinity.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Thank You! Misty Granade has been donating her graphic design skills to Trinity for the past ten years as our Tribute designer! She has spent countless hours collecting and arranging articles, pictures, birthdates, and dates for the calendar. She has definitely taken the Tribute to a whole other level! We have been so fortunate that she has shared her professional talents with us in this way. Misty also volunteers in many other areas at Trinity and has decided to focus on new things in 2015, so Joanne Brann will begin working on the Tribute in January. Although Misty will no longer be designing the Tribute, you will certainly see her talents in other areas of the church in the days to come. Thank you so much, Misty!

Prime Timers Sundays Out to Lunch

Join us for a time of fellowship at a

local restaurant the first Sunday of

every month. No need to sign-up,

just show up. We will not eat

together on January 4th, but on

February 1, we will be at the King

Buffet on 72 near Publix . Hope to

see you there!

a new year. By the time you read this,

we’ll be in either the season of

Christmas, known as Christmastide,

or the season of Epiphany. These

seasons, along with Lent and Easter,

tell the story of Christ and his

ministry. We hear again the stories of

Christ healing the sick, feeding the

hungry, and reaching out to those on

the margins. We see what it means to

fulfill the law and to have life more

abundantly. This is the first part of

the story of what God did in the

world. After Pentecost, we enter

Ordinary time, what is considered to

be the season of the Church. This is

where Our Story and God’s Story

intersect, because this is the story we

live out every day. We emulate Christ,

whose story we just relived, when we

too heal the sick, feed the hungry, and

reach out to those on the margins.

Preteen Ice Skating

Ice Skating for TBC

Preteens is January 17th!

We will meet at the Ice

Complex in Huntsville from

2 - 4pm. The cost is $10.00,

which includes admission, skate rental, and

a small snack. You must have a notarized

Medical Release Form to go on this trip!

Choirs and Missional Formations

Classes: We will resume for the semester

on January 7th. This would be a great time

to let your kiddo try out these classes on

Wednesday nights. Graded preschool and

children’s choirs meet at 5:30pm, and RA’s,

GA’s, and Mission Friends meet at 6:15pm.

We’ve been hearing a lot about

stories at Trinity lately. Our wonderful

new mission statement is centered

around stories, we tell and retell the

stories of the Bible, and the young

adults just finished a study on how to

tell their own story. Stories are

important because they capture our

attention. They help us to better

understand the characters in the

stories, help us to understand what

drives them, and gives their actions

and choices a context. When we see

that our own lives tell a story with us

as the protagonist, it gives us

something to work towards – the

climax of the story. This is the first

third of our mission statement, “Your

Story.” The church year gives us the

opportunity to both tell and retell the

other parts, the “Our Story” and “God’s

Story.” Every year at Advent, we begin

K Groups are being formed! If

you signed up, you should be

contacted soon by someone

from Fellowship and

Recreation.

~ Fellowship and Recreation

Committee

We will meet January 13th at

6:00 p.m. We will gather at

Sakura Japanese Steakhouse

located on County Line Road.

January 2015

We had a wonderful time

with our preschoolers at the

Birthday Party for Jesus

on December 14.

Every time we love as Christ loved

and live as Christ lived, we retell

God’s story and write another

chapter of our own story. This story

never becomes stale or trite

because each year we both tell it

and hear it in a new way. Each year

has made us new, and thus makes

the story new. Each year we

rediscover the context of our own

stories, and reimagine what the

climactic scene of God’s grand

narrative will look like. We must

pay attention to this story above all

others, for this is the one that gives

our heart and mind a worthwhile

direction. Truly, each year your

story, our story, and God’s story

comes together here, at Trinity.

~ Taylor

Thanks to all of our VIP’s! Java Bennett

Christine Foster

Beth & Ronnie Francis

Misty & Granade

Hallie Kenny

Jackie & Frank McCall

Laura & Noel Newquist

Julie Reyburn

Kate Rogers

Chris Rosson

Laura & Nicholas Segraves

Stacy & Erika Schorr

Chris Sims

Mitzi Taylor

Each month a group from

Trinity delivers meals for the

Salvation Army. This month we

meet on January 9th at 5:15 pm.

If you would like to volunteer,

please contact Mike Rogers for

more information.

We will recognize our youth who are turning 16 years old in 2015 and getting their driver’s license! On Sunday, January 25, we will have the Sharing of the Keys in the late worship service. There is a signup sheet on the youth bulletin board and in the Gathering Area. We will practice the litany and take a group picture in the sanctuary before Sunday School.

Thank You!

Thank you to our church family

for coming out and supporting the

youth in such a big way at the Youth

Christmas Breakfast Fundraiser!

We had over 130 people there and

had a great time catching up over

some really good food.

Sharing of the Keys

Youth Calendar

Jan. 16-18: Winter Summit, FBC Huntsville

Jan. 25: Sharing of the Keys (Late Worship)

Feb. 8: Youth Sunday

Feb. 20: Youth Prayer Breakfast 6:45 am @ Chick-fil-A

Youth Sunday Nights

Jan. 4: No pm activities

Jan. 11: Worship in Action SNF and Late Nite @ Moe’s

Jan. 18: Sabbath Night

Jan. 25: Celebration SNF @ Zaxby’s

Praise Team Schedule

Jan. 11: Team 2, 4:30 pm

Jan. 18: No practice

Jan. 25: Team 1, 4:30 pm

Passport Youth Camp

June 28 - July 3 2015 Greensboro, NC

Our first ever Winter Summit is coming up January 16-18, 2015! The band “Digital Age” will be there and they are awesome! Our speaker is Rodger Nishioka from Columbia Seminary. This Alabama CBF event will be hosted by FBC Huntsville so we will be staying in different homes for the weekend and meeting at FBC each day. The cost is $60.00 and there is a signup sheet on the youth bulletin board. There will be over 300 students at the Winter Summit and this is a great event to invite a friend to attend!

What a busy season!! Thank you for participating and

providing the Christmas Shoeboxes, the gifts for the

Morris Elementary School Angel Tree, and the 38 Food

Bins for needy individuals in our town. These are

awesome ways to celebrate the season of Christmas!

As a church, we begin to look forward into 2015. As

we do that we will begin with training, celebrating,

teaching discipleship and preparing to go to serve in

areas of God’s creation where we don’t usually serve.

Committee Catch-up Night: January 25 from 4:30-

6pm all committees are invited to come out and meet that

afternoon and plan the remaining activities and events

for the church year. Then join us for Celebration worship

in the Youth Room!

Celebrating Spiritual Formation Sunday: On February 1 our teachers will be recognized in each morning service. After late worship, all our Sunday School teachers are invited to a lunch in the Fellowship Hall at 11:30am. DR Lunch Meeting (for our first-timers to serve in the Dominican Republic): On January 11 at 11:30 we will spend some more in depth time with those DR team members who have not previously been to the DR. We will have more details about travel arrangements, housing, meals, the customs, and how we will be training the group leading up to our trip, May 28-June 4. ~ Glenn

We hope your Christmas was blessed! As we start

back to preschool, we will be focusing on art and

preparing for the art show. The children will be showing

off their talent the month of February, so come by the

preschool hall and enjoy the wonderful art displayed on

the walls.

As the New Year begins we are busy planning for

registration for the 2015-2016 school year! I cannot

believe how quickly this school year is flying by. For

those of you who are interested, and who are not familiar

with our program, here is some basic information.

Trinity’s Weekday Preschool Ministry is open from

9:00am to 1:00pm, Monday through Friday, when

Madison City Schools are in session. We care for children

who are six weeks old by August 1, 2015, through those

who are four years of age or who will not enter

kindergarten until the 2016-2017 school year.

Registration for church members’ children who are

not currently enrolled in the preschool will be held

on Wednesday, February 4th.

When registering, parents will be given several

forms to complete. The Parent Agreement form along

with one month’s tuition and the nonrefundable

registration fee of $60.00 will hold the child's place in

the program. Placement in the program is based

upon availability at the time of registration. Feel free

to stop by the preschool anytime between 9:30am-

12:30 p.m. when we are open to take a tour, meet

teachers, or simply ask questions. Also, feel free to

call us at 256-837-9891 or email me at

nancy@trinitymadison.com Registration for the

community begins on Friday, February 6th. Our In-

house, Sibling, and Church registrations will start at

8:00 a.m. in the preschool office. Registration for the

community will also begin at 8:00 a.m. and will be

held in the fellowship hall, (the south doors in the

fellowship hall will be opened at 8:00am).

Registration will begin as soon as everyone has

signed in. We are excited about welcoming new

children and parents into our preschool family!

~ Nancy

January 2015

Sunday, January 25 9:30 a.m. Picture

10:30 a.m. Worship/Recognition

~ January 2015 ~

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2

3

4 No 8:30 Worship No Sunday School 10:30 Worship Only Deacons Meeting 5:00pm No Evening Activities

5 6:30pm Young Adult Study

6

7 4:45 Fellowship Supper 6:15 Adult Bible Study, Children’s Mission Classes, Youth Bible Study, Heart of Praise 7:00 Adult Choir Rehearsal

8 5:30am Men’s Bible Study

9 5:00pm Craft Night 5:15pm Salvation Army

10

11 11:30am DR Lunch 6:00pm Worship in Action 7:00pm Trinity Carillon

12

13 6:00pm Ladies Night Out at Sakura

14 4:45 Fellowship Supper 6:15 Adult Bible Study, Children’s Mission Classes, Youth Bible Study, Heart of Praise 7:00 Adult Choir Rehearsal

15 5:30am Men’s Bible Study

16

17

2:00pm Preteen Ice Skating

18

11:30am Young Adults Out to Lunch 7:00pm Trinity Carillon

Sabbath Night/No pm Activities

19 MLK Jr. Day/Office Closed 6:30pm Young Adult Study

20

21 4:45 Fellowship Supper 6:15 Adult Bible Study, Children’s Mission Classes, Youth Bible Study, Heart of Praise 7:00 Adult Choir Rehearsal

22 5:30am Men’s Bible Study

23

24 5:30pm Young Adults Bowling

25 Sharing of the Keys 4:30pm Committee Catch-up 6:00pm Celebration Worship 7:00pm Trinity Carillon

26

27

28 4:45 Fellowship Supper 6:15 Adult Bible Study, Children’s Mission Classes, Youth Bible Study, Heart of Praise 7:00 Adult Choir Rehearsal

29 5:30am Men’s Bible Study

30

31

2: Robyn Brick, John Whitt

3: Mike Farr

4: Roger Poole

5: Brad Bowhay

6: David Chisgar, Karra Cochran

7: Java Bennett, Thomas Espy

8: Shirley Finch, Mark Rader

9: Mark Braswell, DeeDee Evans,

Ashley Foulks

10: Maggie Jo Effinger, Faith Ryder

11: Benjamin Arn, Nicholas Cooley,

Hannah Shankle

21: Mike Killian, Lawren Murray

22: Christopher Woodard

24: Melinda Myer, Jessica Robinson,

William Robinson, Nikki Sheehan

25: Abbey Patrick

27: Stephen Evans

28: Bille Caudle, Tom Lynch

29: Missy Jenkins, Heather Pierce

30: Joanne Brann, Lily Champion,

Yvonne Espy, Kate White

31: Ashley Moran, Hannah Whitt

If your birthday is incorrect or missing, please contact Cheri at: cheri@trinitymadison.com

12: Addison Killian, Garrick Sams,

Reagan Webb

13: Sonia Haywood

14: Jackie McCall

15: Deborah Forrest, Sandra Taylor

16: Mike Boersma

17: Merle Blank, Hannah Franck

18: Hannah King, Fred Myer,

Leigh Ann Perkins

19: Weston Sims, Diane Stokes,

April Turner

20: Hazel Rickabaugh,

Mary Melissa Smith

Winter Summit Youth Retreat

Winter Summit Youth Retreat

Sunday Early Worship 8:30 a.m. Bible Study 9:40 a.m. Late Worship 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday

Supper 4:45 p.m. Children’s Choirs 5:30 p.m. Children’s Missions Groups/ Youth Bible Study 6:15 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6:15 p.m.

Thursday

Men’s Prayer Group 5:30 a.m. Morningside Ministry 2:00 p.m.

November 2014 Financial Report

Monthly Information

Target Income $84,371.17

Actual Income $125,437.31

Actual Expenses ($66,788.32)

Monthly Gain/(Loss) $58,648.99

Year-To-Date for 2014

Target Income $928,082.87

Actual Income $852,672.44

Actual Expenses ($864,153.43)

Yearly Gain/(Loss) ($11,480.99)

Account Balances

General Fund $113,962.52

Mortgage Balance ($769,402.61)

January 4: No pm activities

January 11: Worship in Action

January 18: Sabbath Night

(No pm activities)

January 25: Celebration Worship