Did you know that hospitality is considered a spiritual practice?  Spiritual practices are those things we do to open ourselves to God’s grace and the transforming work of God’s Holy Spirit.  So what makes hospitality an experience of God’s grace?  In Genesis, chapter 18, the patriarch Abraham entertains three travelers.  He invites them to stop and rest under a tree in a cool and safe location.  He brings them water to wash.  And he and Sarah, his wife, prepare a meal for the travelers.  But, these are no ordinary travelers.  They are referred to as men, but also as Lord.  So the story teaches us, as Hebrews 13:2 clearly states, that we encounter the divine through strangers and guests.  The word “hospitality” means “the love of strangers.”  Each time I am on retreat at Benedict Inn, I am amazed at the extravagant generosity and graciousness shown by the nuns.  As members of the Order of Saint Benedict, they follow his teaching that guests are to be received like Christ and, in fact, we welcome the presence of God in each person and circumstance.

One of the most important expressions of hospitality at Trinity is through the ministry of our Sunday morning greeters.  Many of us have had the experience of visiting a church where we are either ignored or embarrassed.  Neither feels good.  True hospitality welcomes people while also providing them with space.  True hospitality creates a safe, open and generous space that communicates welcome and respect.  It means being fully present and attentive to another person.  That is a rare gift and blessing in today’s fast-paced electronic culture.

Right now at Trinity, we are in great need of greeters.  Please pray about this.  Research shows that most people decide within the first several minutes of entering a church whether or not they will come back.  So greeting is a very important ministry. 

If you would consider being a Greeter, please let Pastor Tracey know. 

When we welcome others, we serve as ambassadors for Jesus.  And when we are attentive to our guests, we often experience God’s blessing through them.  I hope you will consider this ministry need and opportunity. 

When it comes to knowing your Bible, when’s the last time you read a passage out of Obadiah?  Or heard a message from Habakkuk?  Let’s face it, if you start a daily Bible Reading program on January 1 as a New Year’s Resolution, chances are pretty good you’ve gotten off track long before you made it to those obscure last 12 books of the Old Testament—known as the Minor Prophets.

Many of us, if not most, have never truly studied the Minor Prophets, which is a shame because they tell us a lot about social injustice and what God thinks about the rich and powerful taking advantage of the poor and weak—a topic certainly relevant to our times! Plus, they give us insights into what everyday life was like during Old Testament times and show us how God deals with evil—then, now, and still to come.

Starting on October 6, Jeremy Grossman will be leading a new discussion series on the Minor Prophets, “Prophets by the Dozen,” with the Earth and Stars discussion group. This new study will focus on three objectives:

1. Improving Biblical Study Methods: How to read the Bible for all it’s worth
2. Increasing Bible Literacy: Knowing the Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, and How? of what’s going on in context
3. Life Application: What’s in it for me?  

This discussion series will take place in two parts, with Part I starting October 6 and running through November 17:

• October 6: Prophets by the Dozen: Introduction
• October 13: Prophets by the Dozen: Hosea
• October 20: Prophets by the Dozen: Joel
• October 27: Prophets by the Dozen: Amos
• November 3: Prophets by the Dozen: Obadiah
• November 10: Prophets by the Dozen: Jonah
• November 17: Prophets by the Dozen: Micah
• November 24: no meeting

Part II of the discussion will begin after the New Year.  The group meets Sunday mornings at 9:15 in the Great Room Conference Room. Adults of all ages are welcome. Refreshments are provided and childcare/youth classes are always available. 

​October is stewardship month at Trinity.  We have so much for which to be grateful.  I hope you will take some time during the month of October to prayerfully reflect on the many blessings God has given you and how you have been blessed by your engagement with Trinity.  At Trinity, our mission is to make disciples and our vision is to grow in love and service through relationships with God and community.  How has your involvement with Trinity contributed to your Christian discipleship?  How have you grown in your ability to love God and others through your involvement with Trinity?  And how has Trinity provided you with opportunities to grow through loving and serving those in need?  I am grateful for the difference Trinity makes in my life.  I continue to be stretched as a disciple and a servant of Christ through my involvement with Trinity.  I hope you can say the same!  Even since my return from sabbatical, on numerous occasions people in our community have made remarks to me about situations they are aware of and ways that we have engaged in the lives of those in need in our community and helped and supported individuals during difficult times.  What a privilege it is for us to support our church’s ministry that is making a difference in people’s lives.

I hope you will join us for worship throughout the month of October as we reflect together on what it means to give out of a sense of gratitude, as a way of giving thanks to God. 

Also, watch your mail and email for stewardship updates, the 2020 estimate of giving card, and a personal letter from
Finance Chair, Eric Danz.

Please return your 2020 Estimate of Giving Card on or before October 27. 

Mission Statement:  To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Vision Statement:  Growing in love and service through relationships with God and community.
Trinity’s Core Spiritual Practices reflect the vows we take for church membership (to support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness):

• Daily Prayer – for the church, individuals and the world
• Attendance in Worship
• Financial Stewardship that emphasizes tithing (giving 10%)
• Evangelism that is invitational and relational
• Discovering and using spiritual gifts and talents to serve individuals and the church
• Study and reflection on scripture and other religious writings
  

Ways to get information about Trinity

• weekly bulletin front inside cover and announcements
• monthly newsletter, The Messenger  (digitally at www.trinitylafayette.org/newsletter)
• website:  www.trinitylafayette.org 
• Like us on Facebook:  Trinity United Methodist Church, Lafayette, IN (By liking us, it’s an easy form of evangelism because it’s gets the word out to others about Trinity and its ministries)
  https://www.facebook.com/TrinityFusion

Caring Fund – Amber Traeger and Bob Lilly
Sunday Morning Teams and Helpers:

• Sunday Worship Greeter Team (contact the church office)
• Sunday morning building open/lock team (contact Pastor Tracey)
• Ushers (contact Frank Cederquist: fcederquist@aol.com)
• Sound Crew (contact Lisa Drake: music@trinitylafayette.org)
• Children’s Worship Helper (contact Melissa Kramer)
• Coffee Cart Volunteer (contact Isabel Danz: isabelgewgle@gmail.com or Gloria Thompson: lpnlmtquilter@yahoo.com)
• Bus Ministry (contact Susie Riley)
• Music Ministry (contact Lisa Drake)
• Fusion Team (contact Pastor Tracey) or to volunteer at Fusion, go to the Fusion page and click on the links on the bottom right of the page listing the team leaders.

Other Opportunities:

• Visitation Team (contact Pastor Linda Dolby: Linda@trinitylafayette.org)
• Maintenance Team (contact Bob Lilly: boblilly2901@gmail.com; also connects to Caring Fund)
• Lawns and Ground Crew (contact Kristi Evans klevans@purdue.edu or Dave Yoran: dyoran@yahoo.com)
• Offering Counters (contact Melissa Kramer)
• Office help (contact Melissa Kramer: Melissa@trinitylafayette.org)
• Garden Ministry:  contact Mel Shoaf or Gloria Thompson
• Living Stones Historic Preservation: contact Pastor Amber Traeger (amber@trinitylafayette.org)  
• Caring Fund:  contact Pastor Amber

• Discipleship Groups:  contact Kay Franscoviak (klrfranscoviak@centurytel.net)  
• Trinity Fusion Planning Team – contact Pastor Tracey
• Miller Elementary Ministry – Pam Delaplane (765-543-3007)

Hands-on Missions (show up, do something meaningful and then go home):

• Family Promise – we host 4 x/ year – Kay Franscoviak or Melissa Kramer
• Back to School Bash – Melissa Kramer
• Jubilee Christmas – Kristi Evans and Susie Riley (finance@trinitylafayette.org)
• Prayer Shawl Ministry – Kay Franscoviak (klrfranscoviak@centurytel.net)
• Senior Luncheon – Pastor Linda
• Garden  – Mel Shoaf and Gloria Thompson
• Learn more on the Serve tab.