Accompaniment means walking with people, without the presumption that we can fix, save, or change a situation or person by what we do. It calls for us to walk with others, forming relationships and sharing risks, joys, and lives. There are many opportunities to practice the sacred act of accompaniment at Trinity from Stephen ministry and communion visitors to working with community organizations.
Food Gatherers and Friday Breakfast Program
Each summer Trinity becomes a Food Gatherers food distribution site. Trinity members organize and bag the food in the lounge, then oversee its distribution to the community. Food distribution hours are from 10 am-12 pm. Before the distribution, a breakfast program runs downstairs where community members prepare and partake of the meal together. This breakfast program has created a strong sense of community for our guests.
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Stephen Leaders are trained leaders who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. As Stephen Ministers, our mission is to act as a conduit of God to care receivers by showing up to listen without judgment, remain confidential, be patient and compassionate, so that nobody has to bear their burdens alone.
Communion Visitors
Members of our congregation who are in nursing homes or confined to their homes are visited regularly by a trained member of Trinity’s congregation for the purpose of bringing the sacrament of Holy Communion and visiting on behalf of the congregation. This powerful ministry helps keep people connected to our community who cannot be with us in person.
Seasonal Campaigns
Thanksgiving—Every year Trinity and Zion combine our congregations to celebrate a worship of Thanksgiving. When the worship is hosted by Trinity, we also provide a family-style Thanksgiving feast for the housing insecure community. At the meal, it is difficult to tell who is a church member and who is a guest because we are all one big human family. It is an experience not to be missed.
Christmas—Each Christmas we have a variety of opportunities for generosity. Our Peace Neighborhood and Refugee Foster care tree helps provide Christmas gifts to children. Our mitten tree is filled with hats and gloves and scarves that will be given to people in need. Sunday School children design fund raisers that support the Global Barnyard Initiative, often purchasing an entire farm for a family across the globe. There is always a way to give more around the Holidays at Trinity.
Summer Cereal Search—In Southeast Michigan, more than 300,000 children rely on free or reduced-fee breakfast and lunch each day during the school year. Unfortunately, during the summer months, many of these children suffer from hunger because they no longer receive adequate meals. Each summer Trinity conducts a Summer Cereal Search bringing in over 200 boxes of cereal to be distributed to agencies in our county.
Lutheran World Relief
School Kits—Around the world, education is one of the strongest tools a community has for breaking the cycle of poverty. School Kits contain essential supplies to help children—and in some cases, adults—continue learning in the face of serious obstacles. Each Fall Trinity sews back packs and collects the items that go inside.
Health Kits—When families find their homes destroyed, or must flee for their safety, soap and a towel rarely make the cut for what they can carry. The simple items included in a Personal Care Kit provide much-needed self-care, critical germ fighting, and the chance to regain dignity amidst situations of fear and uncertainty. Each summer Trinity collects the items for the kits and then packs them up and sends them across the globe.
Fill the Jar for World Hunger—On the first Sunday of each month, Trinity puts out a large glass bowl and invites worshipers to "fill the jar" with loose change, bills and checks. The money donated is sent to the ELCA World Hunger which distributes it through the global and well-respected Lutheran World Relief program.
B3
Big, Bodacious, Bold or Be3 is a group consisting of members from the 8 ELCA churches throughout Washtenaw County looking to make a large impact county wide. Together the churches have launched a Plastic Pollution Solution campaign where all the churches are collecting soft plastics for recycling. The group continues to meet to deliberate what next Big, Bodacious, Bold thing we will do together.
Don’t Shop Alone
Throughout the year, Trinity collects non-perishable food items and personal care items not covered by food stamps for the pantries of area social service agencies in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, designated to one agency each month. Permanent baskets are at both entrances to the sanctuary to accept your donations.
Church in Society
The mission of Church in Society is to take action locally and globally to aid the hungry, the needy and the oppressed. We support agencies and organizations with financial, material and volunteer support. Programs and activities throughout the year address: poverty, hunger, homelessness, social justice and donations to charitable organizations. If you have a passion for taking the love of Christ into the community, this is the place for you.
RIC - Pride Festival and Affirming Worship
Ann Arbor Pride (formerly OUTFest), an annual pride celebration hosted by Jim Toy Community Center, offers an array of activities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and allied communities of the Washtenaw County area. The organizers envision an inclusive community where people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity are visible and live together in equality, respect and happiness. The weekend is full of entertainment including: amazing vocal performances from local and nationally recognized talent, live music, a variety of drag and burlesque shows, DJ performances, beer & wine garden, kid zone, pride picnic and much more! Trinity hosts a table at the event where people can find support in and an invitation to a church body. Following the weekend, a celebratory affirming worship service is held on Sunday morning.
Recovery Walk
In support of those in recovery and in order to reduce the stigma around recovery, the Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project (WRAP) and Home Of New Vision sponsor an Annual Recovery Walk in Ann Arbor. Speakers and displays at the rally preceding the walk, provide a safe space where members of the recovery community can enjoy and engage in an activity with other like-minded individuals. Trinity provides sponsorship the walk and hosts a table at the rally.
CROP Walk
CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by religious groups, businesses, schools and others to raise funds to end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. Each year Trinity sends walkers to participate. Donations are generously given by Trinity members in sponsorship of those who walk.
Quilters
Trinity quilters holds daytime and evening sessions during the second week of each month creating quilts that are shipped to disaster sites by Lutheran World Relief. A quilt is special! It brings warmth on a cold night, shelter from the sun on a hot day. It becomes a bed, a room divider, a backpack to carry belongings, and at times even a home. Quilts are made from donated materials, so contributions of woven material, flat sheets of any size, blankets and flannel sheets are always welcome and may be dropped off in the church office.
Loving Casseroles
Loving Casseroles is a ministry of providing meals to those who need food support as they recover from a health event, or who are in the midst of difficult circumstances. Meals may be homemade or purchased. When a need arises, a message will go out to Loving Casseroles members who can respond as they are able.
Bits and Bites
No church event would be complete without food! Bits and Bites is a group of people who plan and prepare food for different events at church such as Senior Connection lunches, funerals, picnics, annual meetings and more. If you love to cook or help prepare meals, this is the place for you.