Thoughts from Lewis

trinitystudent — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:59:38 +0000

You know those Bible verses that you can’t help but sing as you read them? For me, it’s not anything super devout. It tends to be verses used in praise songs that I’ve listened to or sung over and over again. This week, I’ve been reading Psalm 36. When I get to verses 5 and 6 -

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. (Psalm 36:5-6 ESV)

- I can’t help myself. I’m instantly 17 again at a Third Day concert at the Knoxville Coliseum. Good Times…!

I love this psalm, and the powerful images of the vastness of God’s character. This is also an extravagant Psalm. Look at verses 7-9:

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. (Psalm 36:7-9 ESV)

It is so good to be reminded of the reality of how extravagantly God loves and provides for us. We feast at his table and drink from the river of his delights. God does not give us the scraps from his table. He delights in giving us good gifts. Take time today to be thankful for God’s abundant blessings, and especially for His Son’s blood, poured out for you.

Lewis

Thoughts from Lewis

trinitystudent — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:32:23 +0000

Hi friends,

I’m really excited to tell you about the Student Ministry summer outreach project. Last year, middle school students participated in an outreach soccer camp, targeting kids living in the Southwood neighborhood, which is right next to The Covenant School campus. TCS generously offered to host the week-long camp on their fields. I’m happy to say that we’ll be putting on the same camp this summer, and we need help from all middle and high school students. This year, we’re cooperating with Kelly Scott and Athletes in Action at UVA. Trinity’s middle and high school students will be laboring alongside UVa student-athletes to love on kids, to help them develop their soccer skills, and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our very own Kaitlyn Amos (current Fellow and former Baylor University soccer team member… sic ‘em Bears) will be directing the Trinity students. I’m grateful that she’ll be bringing her soccer skills, her love for students, and her enthusiasm for life to this camp.

The camp will be the week of July 2 – 6. There is no camp on Wednesday (Happy Birthday, USA). In order to make the camp available to more students, and to escape the hottest part of the day, the camp will be held from 6 to 8PM, and our students will be meeting at Trinity at 5pm. Please be on the lookout for more details soon, but be praying about being involved as a student, parent, or leader in this summer’s outreach project.

On a personal note, Dan and I want to express our heartfelt thanks for the prayers for us and our families on Sunday night. Thank you especially to the many of you who shared notes with us in our scrapbooks. We will cherish those forever. We are so blessed to be a part of this ministry with you!

God Bless,

Lewis

Thoughts from Dan

trinitystudent — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:59:06 +0000

Learning from Peter

If someone were to ask you about one of your best friends, would your answer change depending on who you were talking to? If you value the friendship, hopefully not. You would speak well of them and maybe even brag a little about them no matter who is asking.

However, if there’s one thing that middle school taught us, it’s that friends are often betrayed for the sake of popularity. Unfortunately, as we adults experience, the pressure to fit in at the expense of loyalty never really goes away. The apostle Peter experienced such social pressure on the night of Jesus’ arrest (Matthew 26:69-75). When questioned about his association with Jesus, the man that he has already proclaimed to be the Christ, Peter completely caves and denies even knowing Jesus – the man with whom he has spent the past three years of his life!

As we have recently celebrated Good Friday and Resurrection Day, it might be helpful to think about the experience of Peter. Much like him, we are sometimes quick to announce the depth of our commitment to Jesus, saying things like, “Jesus is my Lord!” or “I want to follow Jesus with my life!” However, weeks, days, even hours later… we can totally cave to social pressure and, in our own way, pretend like we don’t even know Jesus.

Two thoughts: one is bad news and one is good news.

Disowning Jesus is hurtful to him. God is not an unfeeling machine. He is a person with emotions and it is a BIG DEAL when we act like we don’t even know him.
Jesus loved Peter. After his resurrection, Jesus mercifully restores his relationship with Peter. The grace that Jesus extended to one of his best friends, is the same grace that he extends to us. Praise the Lord that even our most personal sins against God are forgiven!

Important Youth Ministry Vision Meeting this Sunday, March 4!

trinitystudent — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:47:47 +0000

Parents,

Please join students and leaders in the gym this Sunday night from 6-7pm for a meeting with Greg Thompson, Dan Marotta, and Lewis Lovett as they share the vision and direction for Trinity’s youth ministry. We strongly encourage everyone to attend this meeting as it will give you a chance to hear details about future plans and to ask questions of Greg, Dan, and Lewis.

*Note: Oasis/Wired will still meet at 5pm for dinner and worship; parents can then join the students and leaders at 6pm for the large group meeting.

Meet Maegan Moore – 9th grade girls D-group leader

trinitystudent — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:46:10 +0000

Full name: Maegan Mackenzie Moore

Hometown: Portland, OR

Number of siblings: 2

Graduated from: Baylor University (Waco, TX) – SIC ‘EM BEARS!

Current job: Project Assistant at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture

Best vacation destination: I can’t decide… but Maggie Patrick would probably say anywhere in Italy! So I’ll take her word on that one.

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader? I’m excited to get to walk with my girls as they begin the very fun and sometimes hard years of high school.

Christian community is important because… Living in fellowship with other Christians not only allows us to know Christ better, but also to know ourselves better.

Favorite Bible verse: Ephesians 3:16-19 “That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Ultimate frisbee!

A book you’d recommend: East of Eden

Shoes: I love being barefoot!

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: Absolutely honey nut cheerios

Good at: I’m really good at spelling. Maybe that would be my professional sport… I’ve always wanted to win a spelling bee.

Bad at: Unfortunately, cooking.

Top 10 Reasons to go on Trinity’s Beach Weekend Retreat

trinitystudent — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:43:49 +0000

10. It beats doing homework!

9. Play sand volleyball on the beach.

8. Get a sweet suntan.

7. The food is AMAZING!

6. Make some new friends.

5. Watch the sun rise over the Atlantic ocean.

4. Hang out with your friends all weekend.

3. Relax…

2. Spend some quality time with your D-group leaders.

1. Take a break from your normal routine, and connect with God in a new way!

Meet Alex Tenney – 9th grade boys D-group leader

trinitystudent — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:24:30 +0000

Full name: Alejandro Franco Moreno Tenney

Hometown: Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Number of siblings: 3

Graduated from: University of Virginia

Current job: Researcher and translator at Process Engineering

Best vacation ever: My Euro trip this summer for over 5 weeks!

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader? I love being active and seeing how kids I knew from my time at Trinity during my college years have been growing and maturing.

Any funny memories from high school youth group? The extremes of hearing yelling and laughing at the same time while playing ultimate octopus.

Christian community is important to you because: It creates a place where you can build each other up in the image of Christ.

Favorite Bible verse: Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be…Basketball because it’s awesome, and I love being a part of a group that has a clear common goal.

A book you’d recommend: Tim Keller- Counterfeit Gods

Shoes: Barricades

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Good at: Playing any sports

Bad at: Playing any instruments

This Just In! Dates for the HS Nicaragua Missions Trip!

trinitystudent — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:24:53 +0000

When? August 3rd-11th
Cost? $1,200
Deadline to sign up? May 27th
Questions? Contact Dan Marotta at dan.marotta@trinitycville.org

Thoughts from Lewis

trinitystudent — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:55:58 +0000

Hello Friends,

I want to thank everyone for praying for and encouraging Maggie and I over the past weeks. It is such a blessing to be a part of Trinity as new parents. We feel so loved.

Getting to know our daughter Ellie Kate has been a joy. Honestly, Maggie and I have been surprised by how much we love her already. When Maggie was pregnant, I remember being afraid that I wouldn’t have enough love to give to both my wife and my child. I thought that the total amount of love I had to give was a set value. To illustrate, I imagined that I had one gallon of love, and once the baby was born, Maggie and the baby would each get a 1/2 gallon. A wise woman reminded me that love DOES NOT work that way. Love multiplies. I can honestly say my heart is full of love for my family in a way I did not expect.

This is a picture of God’s love toward us. It is so encouraging to know that God’s heart is completely full for each of us, His children. We don’t each get a portion; we each get His whole heart. God bless you and your families today.

Lewis

Meet Jessica Fink – 8th grade girls D-group leader

trinitystudent — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:07:51 +0000

Name: Jessica Fink

Hometown: Somerset, Pennsylvania (small town in western PA)

Number of siblings: 1 younger sister, Julie

Graduated from: Messiah College (near Harrisburg, PA) in 2011

Current job: Trinity Fellow Also, Service Delivery and Marketing Intern at Silverchair Learning Systems

Best vacation ever: Going to Saltzburg, Austria with my family. The mountains were beautiful, and it was fun to pretend I was a part of the VanTrap family from The Sound of Music

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader? I am a Fellow so it is built into my schedule, but I am super excited to be hanging out and investing in students’ lives.

Christian community is important to you because: My brothers and sisters in Christ are the ones who challenge me, comfort me, laugh with me, and help me to grow in Christ. Together we build one another up in the Lord.

Favorite Bible verse: Lamentations 3:23 – “They [the Lord's mercies] are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Tennis because I love the sport, and I’d love to meet Roger Federer .

A book you’d recommend: A Ring of Endless Light by Madaleine L’Engle

Shoes: My Target rain boots

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: Frosted Mini Wheats

Good at: Eating ice cream! I enjoy this, and I’m pretty good at it, too!

Bad at: Doing cartwheels