Church Newsletters
Topics-2024-April
Topics-2024-March
Topics-2024-February
Topics-2024-January
Topics-2023-December
Topics-2023-November
Topics-2023-October
Topics-2023-September
Topics-2023-July-August
Topics-2023-June
Topics-2023-May
Holy Week Services
+ On Palm Sunday, March 24, the 9:30 and 11 am services will begin outside, and then we will walk into the church in remembrance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
+ On Maundy Thursday at 7:00 pm, we will join the congregation of Eden Lutheran Church (located at 4725 Brockton Avenue) for a special communion service in remembrance of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Before that service, you can also attend the “Meal in the Upper Room” starting at 5:45 pm (but you need to sign up in advance if you want to attend this meal; contact our church office if you are interested and haven’t already signed up).
+ On Good Friday at 7:00 pm, we will have a special tenebrae service at Trinity to remember Jesus’ death.
+ On Easter Sunday, our worship services at Trinity will be at 8:30 and 11:00 am, with a pancake breakfast starting at 9:30 am. The suggested donation for the breakfast is $4/adults, $2/kids under 12 (with a maximum of $10/family).
The Season of Lent: Lord, Teach Us to Pray
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on February 14. On Ash Wednesday we will have a special service at 7:00 pm, which will include the imposition of ashes and holy communion. The congregation of Eden Lutheran Church plans to join us for worship on Ash Wednesday, and our congregation is invited to attend the service at Eden on Maundy Thursday. Both churches will have services on Good Friday.
This year our midweek Lenten services will focus on the Lord’s Prayer. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ disciples say to him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). In response, Jesus taught them the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer. Each Wednesday during Lent, we will explore the meaning of one part of this prayer. Pastor Kent and Pastor Stephanie from Eden will take turns leading Wednesday soup suppers and a study of the Lord’s Prayer at Trinity and Eden.
Lenten suppers at Trinity will begin on Wednesday, February 21, at 6:00 pm (there is no supper on Ash Wednesday). There is a sign-up sheet at church to help with the supper by providing a soup or bread.
Mark your calendar and plan to join us for these special times of worship and fellowship during Lent!
Christmas Sing Concerts, December 9 & 10
You are invited to attend a special concert of Christmas music featuring the Trinity Choir with a chamber orchestra. The concert will be presented two times: on Saturday, December 9, at 4:00 pm, and again on Sunday, December 10, at 4:00 pm. Choral arrangements will alternate with the audience singing Christmas carols along with the choir and orchestra. Admission is free (there will be a freewill offering). Invite your family and friends to attend one of these special concerts!
Trunk-n-Treat on Saturday, October 28
You are invited to join us on Saturday, October 28, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for a family-oriented community event in our church parking lot that includes games, candy, music, food and fun. This is a fun event for all – young and old and in between.
Sunday of Service on September 10
“God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday is an annual day of service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). We will have one worship service at 9:30 am on September 10, followed by these service projects that will be set up in our fellowship hall:
- Fill “blessing bags” with food for the homeless
- Fill personal hygiene bags
- Sort and fill plastic bags with donated stationery that will be sent to people who are incarcerated
at the California state prisons in Chino - Tie quilts made by our Quilting Bee
- Sign greeting cards for members of our church who are homebound or live far away
Worship Schedule Change for July
During the month of July, we will have one combined Sunday service at 9:30 am, with a mixture of contemporary Christian music and familiar hymns. The 11:00 am traditional service will resume in August.
Day Camp: July 17-21, 2023
Register now for our day camp week in July! This program is for children who will be entering Kindergarten through 6th grade in the fall. Click on the link below to download a copy of the registration form.
Day_Camp_Registration_Form-2023
Day camp will by led by camp counselors from Lutheran Retreats Camps and Conferences (LRCC). They will lead kids in games, music, Bible studies, crafts, and more for a week of faith-focused, community-building activities. The participants will need to bring their own lunch, but the church will provide snacks. This year’s theme is “Break the Mold,” and will explore Jeremiah 18: 5-6 and Romans 12:2. These two verses remind us to break away from the patterns of the world and see God working in our lives. When we do this, we make room for God to mold us into the creations we were meant to be. Enrollment is limited, so be sure to register soon! The registration fee is $25 for one child and $10 for each additional child from the same household (up to a $50 maximum).
Holy Week & Easter Services
On Palm Sunday, our 9:30 and 11:00 am services at Trinity will both begin in the courtyard next to the sanctuary for a procession with palms. On Maundy Thursday, April 6, you are invited to attend a “Meal in the Upper Room” at 5:45 pm (please notify us in advance if you plan to attend this supper) and/or a 7:00 pm communion service at Eden Lutheran Church (located at 4725 Brockton Avenue). On Good Friday, April 7, services will be held at both Trinity and Eden at 7:00 pm. On Easter Sunday, April 9, services at Trinity will be at 8:30 and 11 am, and a pancake breakfast will be served starting at 9:30 am. The suggested donation for the breakfast is $4/adults, $2/kids under 12 (maximum $10/family).
Lenten Suppers
Join us on Wednesdays in Lent for soup and bread suppers at 6:00 pm, followed by a short worship service at 6:30 pm. Inspired by the 250th anniversary of the hymn “Amazing Grace,” this year our midweek Lenten services focus on how God’s grace was at work in several biblical stories, and what that grace means for our lives today.
Hope Food Pantry
Our church’s food pantry distributes boxes containing a variety of canned and packaged foods, frozen meat, milk and eggs every Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:30 am. We occasionally have fresh produce as well, and soon hope to provide fresh produce to Riverside residents on a weekly basis. These food items are all distributed free of charge. If you are struggling with high food prices, come and pick up some free food this Wednesday!
Choir Cantata & Appreciation Brunch
The Trinity Choir will present the modern cantata, “Wondrous Gift” during our 9:30 am worship service on Sunday, December 4. After the service, brunch will be served in our fellowship hall in honor of Jerri Mendivel, our Director of Music Ministries. Jerri is relocating to northern California, and we deeply appreciate her 29 years of music ministry at Trinity! Here last services at Trinity will be on Christmas Eve.
Trunk-n-Treat
Join us for free family fun on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm! Vehicles will be lined up in our parking lot, featuring games and candy. A free hot dog dinner will also be served.
“God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday
On Sunday, September 11, 2022, we will have one combined worship service at 9:30 am so that we can participate in the annual “God’s Work, Our Hands” day of service. We will have several service projects to do in Heinecken Hall after the worship service, including ones to help a local animal shelter. In preparation for that Sunday, we are collecting donations of food for dogs and cats.
School Supply Donation Drive
Our social concerns project for the month of July 2022 is collecting donations of school supplies for children who may not otherwise be able to have them. With your help, we plan to fill 60 student backpacks with supplies to help students in need get off to a good start with school! Here’s a shopping list for the items we need: 2022 School Supply Drive Shopping List-Updated 7-26-2022.
You can buy everything on the list, or you can pick one or more of the items on the list and purchase several of those items to donate. Please bring your donations to the church any time during July.
Living the Resurrection
Beginning in February 2022, our congregation is participating in a program called “Living the Resurrection.” This 18-month process involves a deep exploration of the passions and struggles of both a congregation and its neighborhood, listening to discern where God is working to build connections. It includes eight workshops spaced about two months apart. The process is designed to help congregations build and maintain momentum for change. It is an exciting process that helps congregations find their place in God’s mission and start participating! To learn more, go to www.livingtheresurrection.com.
Shower of Hope
Trinity became the first host site in Riverside for the Shower of Hope in February 2021. Every Thursday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, guests can come to shower and receive food, clothing and personal hygiene products. Lutheran Social Services staff can also meet with guests to help them apply for ID cards, housing, and other social services. We are happy to partner with this worthwhile organization! You can find out more about the Shower of Hope program and the other sites where it is operating in Southern California by visiting their website at http://theshowerofhope.org.
Lutheran Social Services of Southern California
The Riverside office of Lutheran Social Services moved to our church campus in July of 2019. In the summer of 2021, a storage shed was added to provide additional space for storing food and clothing. LSS Riverside provides emergency assistance and case management to meet critical needs such as food and clothing, utility and housing assistance (deposits, arrears payments), transportation assistance (gas or bus vouchers), benefits assistance (medical insurance), and Cal Fresh and Credit Repair. They also conduct workshops on financial literacy and career empowerment. To reach the Riverside LSS office, call (951) 689-7847. To learn more about Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, visit https://www.lsssc.org/.