We had another productive day today! After finishing the exteriors on all the houses in the Elderly Village, we switched gears and began painting the interiors. The residents of the Elderly Village have welcomed us inside their homes to paint, and we have enjoyed getting to know them this week. The walls of the new house continue to take shape, and we are thankful for our awesome construction worker friends who have been doing such a wonderful job! We have also enjoyed playing with the local children, teaching them songs, and learning Creole from them. Their laughter, curiosity, and enthusiasm warms our hearts and reminds us of God’s presence.
Today was our last day at the Elderly Village in Grison-Garde. We finished painting the living rooms, and we were able to paint a few of the bedrooms as well. We also painted the interior of the kitchen. The bedrooms we didn’t have time to paint this week will be painted by other folks in the community. Over on the construction site, a mason worked on covering the walls of the new house with a layer of cement. The new house will take approximately three more weeks to complete. The highlight of the afternoon was when we blessed the houses and their residents as well as the kitchen and kitchen staff, hanging a cross in each of the buildings. This evening, the team celebrated Holy Communion. Tomorrow we journey back to Richmond. This week has been amazing. Thank you for your prayers! God has blessed us in so many ways, and we look forward to sharing our experiences with the congregation!
Did you know that during the season of Lent, Trinity reached out to several neighboring organizations and showered them with love?
This spring four Covenant groups, a Sunday School class, a circle and a Bible study group participated in the Lenten Love project. The Tuckahoe YMCA, Tuckahoe Library, Firestation 8, Forest Hill Rescue Squad, Henrico Doctor’s Forest ER, Crossover Ministries and The Tuckahoe Rescue Squad were each visited during the course of this project.
The idea came from a seminar last fall, entitled “How to Reach New People.” It was among a list of suggestions how churches can reach out to organizations and those in the community. Most groups took some type of baked treat to the community organization. One covenant group took a full lunch to the Tuckahoe Rescue Squad.
One Trinity project participant writes: “I was overwhelmed at the gratitude expressed by the employees of the Tuckahoe YMCA. They were so joyful and cleared the entire counter where members check in to share the treats and display the note we wrote to them. I came away feeling as if they had done something for me!”
The group that visited Fire Station 8 wrote that the Firemen returned their containers to the church, which they did not expect, and all of them had signed an Easter card. While they did not have much time to visit, as the firemen got a call just as the ladies arrived, they felt their efforts were appreciated and recognized, despite the hasty departure of the firemen.
The covenant group that went to the Tuckahoe Rescue Squad said the members followed them out to their cars “like puppy dogs,” expressing their gratitude.
This Lenten Love Project succeeded in blessing our community this spring and is just one of the many ways Trinity reaches out to our neighbors. If you would like to be part of a similar project in the future, please contact the church office and let us know.
Tuesday, June 7, Trinity hosted a dinner celebrating former Oak Grove students now graduating with honors from Franklin Military Academy. Guests included family members, former and present teachers, and community members.
Trinity partners with Oak Grove and other Richmond schools and organizations for ministry and mission. You can learn more about Richmond area partnerships on our Serve Locally page.
Thank you for your generous gifts to the Challenge Campaign! Still Thinking About Giving? It’s Not Too Late!
Over the past several months we have been running a Challenge Campaign to help offset the costs of the Rock Creek Road House project. That campaign is scheduled to close on Friday, September 30, 2016.
We are SO EXCITED to report that not only did we raise those funds, but we surpassed that goal, raising a total of $168,121.22 for the campaign thus far.
Despite raising the intended funds to offset the purchase price of the house, there will still be costs associated with preparing to use the Rock Creek Road property for the ministries of Trinity UMC. Thus, the campaign is still open. Anyone who feels called is still welcomed and encouraged to give to this project. Visit: trinityrva.net/give/ and be sure to select Challenge Campaign to give.
We appreciate the generosity of those who have given to this project and those still considering a gift. God is so good. We look forward to the many ways this property will be used in the future.
Thank You, Trinity!
Want to learn more about our challenge campaign and the Rock Creek House project? Watch this short video to learn more.
Our Challenge Campaign comes from a generous offer from a Trinity member to match dollar for dollar all gifts received by September 30 up to half of the purchase amount of the 7916 Rock Creek Rd. property. (Trinity recently purchased the house, surrounded by our parking lot, as we have been seeking to do for 20 years.) That is to say, if we raise $150,000, they will give the other $150,000. Paying off the purchase will keep it from being a burden on our church budget and ministries. The matching gift is for actual donations (not pledges).
Checks may be made to Trinity UMC and designated “Challenge Campaign” on the memo line. Donations to this campaign can also be made via our online giving portal at trinityrva.net/give and selecting the “Challenge gift” item.
