Missions News from the Ukraine…
Greetings all of our Trinity friends!

It was great to be able to see many of you when we were back. Unfortunately, with such a tight schedule, we were unable to make it to a Sunday service and see everyone. But we know that we are in your hearts and prayers, and I hope you all know that you are in ours.

Life has been hectic since returning! We had building decisions to make, dozens of people to re-connect with, and new opportunities for ministry too. Good news on our “rent-front”. Due to the economic crisis, many businesses have closed. That meant more spaces open and less demand. Rent prices have fallen steeply and we were able to get our new place for roughly half what we were paying last year! What a great blessing.

I also had a very encouraging meeting this past week with a local Ukrainian pastor. He has been developing a pastors’ network for the city. They are meeting once a month to pray and plan joint ministry activities together, and are interested in our church coming alongside them. We’ve been praying for a long time that churches here would work together, so I was excited. His personal story is also an interesting one. The city building they were renting had a serious fire two weeks ago and they can no longer conduct church services there. But, through that trial, God opened a door to speak with the mayor about securing land for a permanent building. It looks good for them, and he assured me that he would do everything he could to help our goal of securing land too, as he works with the mayor on his project. So keep praying!

Thank you all for ongoing prayers, encouragement and support! We do greatly appreciate your partnership with us in this work! (We did receive word of your donation several months ago, but I just haven’t managed to write and say thank you. Sorry!) Thanks also for your prayers for Josiah. You may not all have heard that he was having headaches and hand-trembling. The doctors have told us that there is no serious problem to worry about, and that it may be simply connected to his growth spurt/thyroid/hormones. He is going on 15 now, so between him and Nathan (12) they are eating us out of house and home! Hannah is, of course, still our little bundle of joy… and energy. We’re still hoping she’ll learn to sleep at night…there’s always hope.

Hope to see all of you again in the near future. God bless!

Sincerely,
Todd, Tammy, Josiah, Nate and Hannah

APRIL 2009 EVENTS CALENDAR

1 - Wednesday
9:00 Sewing Group
1:15 Bible Study
2:15 Prayer group
6:00 Handbells
7:00 Chancel Choir

2 - Thursday
5:30 Praise Team
6:00 Girl Scouts-GP
6:15 Marriage Course

3 - Friday
7:30 AA/Alanon

4 - Saturday
Young Adults in GP

5 - Sunday
9:00 Traditional Worship
10:00 Sunday School
11:00 Modern Worship
5:00 Kids’ Kingdom
5:30 Alpha & Phillipians Bible Studies

7 - Tuesday
12-6:00 Free Clinic

8 - Wednesday
1:15 Bible Study
6:00 Handbells
7:00 Chancel Choir

9 - Thursday
5:30 Praise Team
6:30 Maundy Thursday meal & serv.

10 -Friday
7:30 AA/Alanon
7:00 Good Friday service

12 - Sunday
9:00 Traditional Worship
10:00 Sunday School
11:00 Modern Worship

13 - Monday
7:00 Trustees Meeting
6:00 Girl Scouts-GP

14 - Tuesday
12-6:00 Free Clinic
6:30-8:15 Youth in GP

15 - Wednesday
12-3:30 DAR in GP
1:15 Bible Study
2:15 Prayer group
6:00 Handbells
7:00 Chancel Choir

16 - Thursday
12:00 UMW Salad Luncheon
5:30 Praise Team
6:00 Girl Scouts-Library
6:15 Marriage Course
Quilt group-GP 6:30

17 - Friday
7:30 AA/Alanon

18 - Saturday
9:00-12:00 Musical Dress Rehearsal
Young Adults in GP

19 - Sunday
10:30 Easter Musical-Unity Worship Service
12 Fellowship lunch
4:00 Kids’ Choir
5:00 Kids’ Kingdom
5:30 Alpha & Phillipians Bible studies

20 - Monday
9:00 Sewing Group
7:00 Cantron
7:00 Endowment Committee Meeting

21 - Tuesday
12-6:00 Free Clinic

22 - Wednesday
6:00 Handbells
7:00 Chancel Choir

23 - Thursday
5:30 Praise Team
6:15 Marriage Course

24 - Friday
7:30 AA/Alanon

25 - Saturday
GP Building in use all day

26 - Sunday
9:00 Traditional Worship
10:00 Sunday School
11:00 Modern Worship
4:00 Kids’ Choir
5:00 Kids’ Kingdom
5:30 Alpha

27 - Monday
6:30 Preschool Board Meeting

28 - Tuesday
12-6:00 Free Clinic
1:00 Wesleyan Service
ABWA in GP building
6:30-8:15 Youth
7:00-9:00 New Member Class

29 -Wednesday
6:00 Handbells
7:00 Chancel Choir

30 -Thursday
5:30 Praise Team
6:15 Marriage Course

NEW MEMBER CLASS
Pastor Ballinger will be holding a class in April for anyone interested in learning more about church membership. Phone the church office and let us know if you are interested in taking this one evening class.

May Newsletter Deadline
The deadline for the May CHIMES information is Monday, April 20. Please have all your May newsletter information in the church office by noon.

Attention Graduates
If you are graduating from high school or college this spring, please notify the church office with your information. We will publish all graduates in the CHIMES and need your information.

Young Adults Fellowship
Are you between the ages of 19 and 45? If so, you are invited to come join the Young Adult small group. They meet the first and third Saturday of each month. So mark April 4th and 18th on your calendar and plan to come. They meet at 5:30 in the Gathering Place. If you have any questions, phone the church office.

Annual Church Audit Report

In January preparations were started to select a date for the 2008 audit. In order to establish a date for the audit, certain information needed to be acquired from the Financial Secretary-- what day she would be available for necessary questions, how much time she needed to finish the final report, and when the final report is due in the conference office.

The audit committee was contacted and the date of Wednesday, March 4 was agreed upon. Prior to our meeting on March 4 the financial secretary had contacted the various groups for their financial accounts. When the committee arrived for the audit, all accounts and all necessary equipment were found in a central location and ready for the audit.

Our work commenced at 9:00 a.m. and was completed in one day. The committee noted that the ease of the audit attested to the manner in which the books were kept by those responsible.

The committee notes that the procedures for handling the offering are excellent. On Sunday morning, an appointed person bags the offering and delivers the locked bank bag to the night depository at the bank. On Monday morning the bag is picked up and unlocked with the financial secretary and the weekly volunteer both present. The offering is then counted by two individuals and the weekly contributions are recorded. The Monday morning volunteer receptionist then takes the deposit and does the weekly banking. The church treasurer works in the office on Thursdays and bills are paid each week. All bills are paid by check.

Sincerely,
Max McDowell, Norm Cozad,
Max Fordyce & Barbara Mc Dowell

The Gathering Place is CHANGING DAYS

The Gathering Place has moved from Wednesdays to Tuesdays. We still meet from 6:30 – 8:15…but we now meet every other Tuesday.

The Gathering Place is Trinity’s Youth Ministry for students grades 6-12. Join us at the Gathering Place across the street from the church. Come and experience a night of worship, dinner, and fun!

April Youth Calendar
April 14 – GP Youth 6:30-8:15 pm
April 28 – GP Youth 6:30-8:15 pm

PASTOR DAVE'S PAGE

Dear Friends of Trinity,

Easter is our greatest hope for life transformation. I Corinthians 15:5, 7 says:
“He (Christ) appeared to Peter…then He appeared to James…and l last of all He appeared to me also…”

To prove the bodily resurrection of Christ, Paul mentioned six occasions when Jesus appeared to people after He arose from the dead. Three times He appeared to a group of people, three times to an individual. Who these three individuals were makes a very interesting study.

First, Christ appeared to Peter, the disciple who denied Him. On the night of Christ’s arrest, three times Peter declared to certain bystanders, “I don’t even know the man!” But he sincerely repented and went out and wept bitterly. So Jesus had a special reason for wanting to see Peter again – to let him know that he was forgiven, and restored to fellowship with his Master.

Then Christ appeared to James, His own brother, who had doubted Him. The Gospel writers tell us that Jesus’ own family did not believe in Him; in fact they claimed He was mad (John 7:5; Mark 3:21). So Jesus wanted to confront James with the greatest proof of His Messiahship – His resurrection – and give him a chance to turn from doubt to faith.

Finally, several years later, Christ appeared to Paul, an enemy who sought to destroy the Church. Christ was demonstrating that even though He had ascended to the Father, He was still the living Savior, working in the lives of men and women.

Christ’s resurrection appearances changed the lives of these three men. They became committed disciples and leaders in the early Church. Peter became the Apostle to the Jews; Paul, The Apostle to the Gentiles; and James, the first Bishop of the Church. All three eventually laid down their lives for the master.

Christ is still appearing to people today and changing their lives. Every Sunday we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, especially Easter Sunday! May God use our Church to share the glorious news of (I Corinthians 15:3 & 4) that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures! Hallelujah! Share the good news!

Sincerely,
Pastor David Ballinger