Blog Archives - South Meriden Trinity United Methodist Church

New Year, Fresh Faith - Start Off With Another Way

12/30/2018

You can have the same old kind of year, doing the same old things.
Or, you can find another way.
Our church offers all kinds of people ways to re-engage and revive their faith, so that our faith can change not only our lives, but God's world.
Even you.
It starts every Sunday at 10AM, with our joyful worship, and warm fellowship.
It grows during the week as we walk through our community in prayer each Monday, with brown bag lunch discussions afterwards. It continues during the week as we pray together for God's possibilities.
It brings us into circles of friends at our Faith Groups every Wednesday at 5 and 7 PM, and as we bring faith to our families during the week.
It puts us in touch with people, in our community, and around God's world, who need the healing touch of God.
We have events throughout the year that make a difference in people's lives.
We hope that you will choose a fresh approach to your life, through faith, that will help you to grow in new ways, and to find real joy in life, whether life is perfect or not.
Let us know how you'd like to begin. Or, just start. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Jesus Grew in Faith - So Should We! Dec 30th Worship at South Meriden Trinity UMC

12/30/2018

Happy Christmastide, the beautiful season when we keep basking in the light of God's love at Christmas!

We had a warm and joyful service, which highlighted Pastor John's message about the important of Christian families raising children in Christian faith together - just like Mary and Joseph raised Jesus!

Afterwards, we enjoyed Christmas treats, with a special unicorn birthday cake for Jesus - baked by Sally Dow for granddaughter Lexi. Happy Birthday, Jesus! You are special, and unique.

Worship podcast below, text of Pastor John's message here and below the podcast. Have a safe and blessed New Year Celebration!

OUR CHARGE TO KEEP THIS WEEK
Let the love of God on earth, born on Christmas day in Jesus, fill our hearts, and inspire us to grow in God’s grace, through faith, as long as we can!

"Why Were You Looking for Me?" - Sun Dec 30th Christmastide at South Meriden Trinity UMCAC

12/28/2018

The tide of Christmas rolls on, as the baby Jesus becomes a young man so very quickly! Are we ready to grow in faith like Jesus in the new year? Are we ready to help our families to grow in faith? Christmastide is a time to continue rejoicing in the baby Jesus, and to prepare for letting God grow in us. Celebrate Christmastide this Sunday at 10AM in our beautiful church with warm and joyful worship, and great fellowship afterwards. Ring in the new year with us this Sunday! See you then,

A Shelter of Grace! Our Annual ShelterNow Christmas Celebration Brought Food, Gifts, and Love

12/27/2018

Meriden's ShelterNow program provides emergency housing and guidance for people of all walks of life who need to get to the next right step in their lives, and we are blessed to be in ministry with them throughout the year. But at Christmas, we get to give back to them in ways that bring special joy to shelter residents - and to us!

Mary Barker and Linda Kirk spearheaded our efforts again this year, assembling over 20 bags of much-appreciated gifts of clothing and hygiene items, and a fantastic dinner that would make a fine feast at tny table! Friends of the church pitched in, and we had a great time with the men of the shelter program, sharing some laughs and touching stories, getting to know one another, praying and offering the gospel's hope for the new year.

We thank Mary, Linda, and everyone in the church who made donations to help fund this mission effort, and who volunteered to make it a success. May you all feel the warmth of Christmas blessings in your heart for helping to bring them to people who need God's hope so very much!

Remembering Rev. Susan C. Desousa

12/26/2018

It is with heavy and loving hearts that we announce the passing of retired Reverend Susan Colby DeSousa into God's eternal kingdom on Christmas Eve. Susan was formerly a Pastor of South Meriden Trinity United Methodist Church. She passed at the age of 75, having lived most recently in New Milford, CT.

Christmas is our time of rejoicing, which we use today to remind ourselves that all rejoicing comes to a final rejoicing, and that we can be grateful for all of the servants of God who teach us how to rejoice. Susan was certainly among them. Please pray for Susan's family, in gratitude for her service, offered to us in love. We will post additional details as we receive them.

Silent Night - Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service invited Christ into our Hearts

12/25/2018

We entered into a sanctuary where every light was lit softly, with spiritual sounds everywhere, and with the joy of Christ being born in our hearts. We sang familiar and stirring carols, and listened to a message celebrating God being born like us, so that we could be born like God again. We prayed, quietly, and humbly, and finished with everyone holding a candle, as we sang "Silent Night" and formed a cross around the Advent wreath. Christ our savior is born today!

We wish you and all who you love, and serve, a merry, happy, and blessed Christmas celebration, feasting on re-joicing in all that God has given us at Christmas. Our Christmas greetings video is here, followed by a short video of our sanctuary before the service began, Pastor John's message and prayers, and sermon text here and below the podcast. Joy to the World!

Our Christmas Eve 7 PM Candlelight Service Will Warm Your Heart

12/23/2018

Monday, December 24th, is Christmas Eve - at long last, Jesus is arriving, born again in our hearts! We welcome you to an evening of song and celebration at 7 PM in our beautiful church, lit by candles, and filled with the radiance of the God who loved us enough to become one of us. Pastor John Blossom will leave us with a message that will remind us that Jesus, the reason for the season, can enter our lives again, and give us reason to re-joice in all of God's promises and hope. Joy to the world - a savior is born! Merry Christmas!

Star Struck! Our Christmas 2018 Pageant Was a Miracle - and So Much Fun! [PHOTOS] [VIDEO}

12/23/2018

Joy to the world! Merry Christmas! We had a wonderful time telling the story of Jesus this Sunday, with children and adults all sharing in the wonder of the coming of Jesus. Our special thanks to Cindy Gdovin, who, as Mary, "coached" our baby Jesus (Gracey) - it was a special joy to have a new life playing the new Jesus in our life!

Our deep appreciation again to Daryl Fitzgibbons, who did an outstanding job organizing and directing the pageant, and all of the people who did such a wonderful job helping to make it happen in the background. Our thanks also to everyone who put on our great feast afterwards, rejoicing in everything that God gives us at Christmas. Lots of photos here, and a complete podcast and pageant closing video also (complete video coming).

Come tomorrow night for our beautiful Candlelight Service at 7PM to finish your preparations for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Joy to all of God's world!

OUR CHRISTMAS CHARGE TO KEEP Rejoice! God’s star, Jesus Christ, has come to earth, for us! Celebrate Christ living in our hearts, and feast on Christ’s love this Christmas! Amen!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Sun Dec 23rd 10 AM Christmas Pageant and Dinner, Mon Dec 24th 7PM Candlelight Service

12/20/2018

A baby! A baby! Our Christmas celebrations are filled, with lots of fun for families, kids, and adults of all ages. It all kicks off this Sunday, 23rd, at 10AM, as our church presents our annual Christmas Pageant,, filled with music, a live baby Jesus, and a heart-warming story told by the members and friends of our church. Celebrate Jesus, our miracle!

Right afterwards, in our fellowship hall, everyone is invited to stay for a hearty Christmas dinner, with great food, and lots of laughter and fun. Your ticket is waiting at the pageant - come, and rejoice in the coming of Jesus!

Then on Monday, December 24th, our Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7PM will be a night to remember in our beautiful church, with your favorite Christmas carols, prayers, and a message from Pastor John to help us rejoice, as we get ready to open the gifts of faith at Christmas.

Joy to the world! Come and find it! Come and share it! Merry Christmas!o

Annual Shelter Now Dinner and Christmas Celebration This Sunday, 5PM

12/20/2018

Gifts are lining up in our Clark Room, ready to be part of our annual Adopt-A-Gift dinner and celebration at Meriden's ShelterNow residence - a moment to bring joy and hope to our sisters and brother who need to find the next right step to wholeness in their lives. It is a wonderful event, and we thank Mary Barker, Linda Kirk, who do such a great job putting this project together, and all of our church members who are supporting it with their kind donations and helping hands. If you'd like to contribute or lend a helping hand on the evening of December 23rd, please contact, Mary, Linda, or Pastor John. What a friend we have when people act like Jesus!