News from the Children’s Ministry, Local Missions, Lay Academy, and Becoming Fit at Church (BFC)
News from the Children’s Ministry
by Candace Duclos, Director of Children’s Ministries
WOW! What an amazing holiday season we have enjoyed together. We kicked off with Hanging of the Greens, then Gingerbread Festival, and our Christmas Eve Family worship service. How blessed we all are to worship and serve together. Thank you so much to each family who participated in any or all of the Christmas events.
As we look to January 2023, our Sunday school classes will study the early days of Jesus’s ministry. Sunday school is an excellent time for your child to learn more about our God and grow in faith. In NETKids, we will begin to prepare for our teacher banquet, spring show, and service projects. If your sweet child has been pondering joining the NETKids fun, now is the time! The new year brings new studies and fresh opportunities to serve our church together. Please contact Candace Duclos at cduclos@tumct.org to learn how to enroll. Our ministry is growing. We are excited to see how the Lord moves in the lives of our children. It is a joy and delight to serve the Lord together.
Local Missions Spotlight
by Pat & Lyn Bevis, Local Missions Committee Co-Chairs
Angel Tree Program Report: We are so happy to report that the 120 tags were all taken, and gifts were returned and distributed to youth in our community, who had a brighter Christmas because of you!
Next, we want to introduce our Missions spotlight for January 2023.
Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) works to serve and protect survivors of human trafficking of all ages in the Big Bend. Their mission is to disrupt child, sex, and labor trafficking by building awareness through training businesses, workplaces, and employees. They also provide case management services directly to victims of trafficking. Human trafficking is a reality in Leon County, but despite its high prevalence throughout the area, trafficking survivors are frequently under-identified, underserved, or not served at all.
Leon County relies on several industries where human trafficking is present, including tourism/hospitality and agriculture with low-wage workers often exploited and trafficked. A statewide anti-sex trafficking organization for youth and young adults, which has a program in Tallahassee, reported an over 40% increase in human trafficking throughout Florida. STAC’s caseload tripled at the onset of the pandemic. Furthermore, the harsh economic realities facing many individuals, such as increased costs of living, high cost of healthcare, and other economic challenges facing Leon County, may make many vulnerable to the lure and lies of traffickers who falsely promise that they will meet these basic subsistence needs.
Trinity will welcome Robin Hassler Thompson, executive director, to our worship services on January 15, 2023, to introduce us to this serious problem in Tallahassee.
Since one of the main programs of STAC is education, we hope this opportunity to reach our congregation will result in the chance to provide additional education to businesses, clubs, and other activities our members are involved in. We have also invited Ms. Thompson to participate as a Lay Academy speaker in the Local Mission series after Easter, at which time she will provide a one-hour training to help us learn what to watch out for and how to recognize human trafficking.
Lay Academy: Winter Session I
by Jess Cloud, Chair of Lay Academy Committee
Lay Academy will launch its first winter session on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 with a new class on Native Americans that will be offered both in-person and online. The Lay Academy class “Native Americans: Historical and Contemporary Issues,” will explore topics related to the Land Acknowledgement and Land Back Movements, Seminole Tribes in Florida, understanding historical and contemporary issues related to Native Americans, and how people who identify as Native American connect to their heritage. Other topics related to indigenous peoples will be presented.
Alternatively, you can learn to play guitar, participate in Parenting Village, join MakerSpace to make hats or mats, walk with the Becoming Fit Outdoors Group, or join the men’s group discussion through Lay Academy. All these groups will meet in-person on Wednesday evenings January 11, 18, 25, and February 1, 8, and February 15. Sign up for a class and dinner here.
Start Your New Year Off Right by Becoming Fit At Church
by Beth Curry, BFC Team Leader
Want to get fit in 2023, but not sure where to begin or don’t want to go to the gym? Did you know Trinity’s BFC (Becoming Fit at Church) Ministry, now in its 15th year, offers two different options to help meet your fitness goals?
BFC Exercise has six weekly exercise classes for beginners to advanced. Come learn how to use all kinds of exercise equipment in a non-intimidating atmosphere or even ZOOM any class from home.
BFC (Becoming Fit Outdoors) takes a weekly outdoor walk on Thursday evenings. Walkers are paired up by pace so everyone can join in. Bring the family. Come meet new friends and enjoy a fitness walk around Cascades Park.
The BFC Ministry Mission — Together We Can Make a Difference
Our BFC Team’s focus is to provide a safe and fun exercise environment and help each person maintain an independent lifestyle by increasing strength, endurance, flexibility, and/or balance. Not only do participants reap the health benefits gained by consistent exercise, but the BFC Team volunteers their time, so 100% of participants’ exercise class donations (suggested $3) go to community service. Over $70,000 has been raised for local and global missions so far. BFO participants’ registration ($10) goes toward program costs. When participants become more fit, they are better able to physically serve in our community or perhaps even by going on a mission trip . Together we can make a difference!
Come have fun, fellowship, (food- sometimes) and get FIT! Classes begin Thursday, January 5, 2023.
Advanced registration is required. Please email BFCSeries@yahoo.com for more information or to register. BFO registration may also be made through Lay Academy. Visit the website at https://www.tumct.org/serve/bfc-becoming-fit-at-church/ or stop by the bulletin board in the Welcome Center hallway for more details.