IMPORTANT & TIMELY 

Fall Kick Off Continues – Find Out More
A huge thank you to everyone that “Showed Up” to help us kick off the program year on September 13. We are so excited to have each of you here and we cannot wait to help you find ways to continue to show up for yourselves, for each other, and for God this program year! If you’re looking for more information, consider checking out our Newsletters & More page on the website. It has the Trinity Guide, program year flyers, the September newsletter & more. https://www.grtumc.org/navailable-more/  Paper copies are also available around the church. Questions about how to continue to Show Up? Contact your Church Staff. We cannot wait to help you find ways to be in community this year. 

FoRT Fall Update – Small Groups Resuming Now
Our weekly Friends of Rohr at Trinity (FoRT) small groups are back! On Sundays, some of us meet as the “DBC” Small Group. Our first class for the fall was Sunday, September 13 from 5:00pm-6:30pm in the Fireside Room. We’re continuing The Tears of Things. On Thursdays, as part of TNT, others of us gather as the “Everything Belongs” (EvB) Small Group in the upstairs Library. Our first class will be September 17 from 6:15pm-7:30pm. We will be starting a new book: Jesus’ Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount. Questions about any of these acronyms or the amazing groups of people they represent? Contact Laura Johns at l.johns@grtumc.org or other members of the FoRT Leadership Team: Merrita Tumonong, Penny Murray & Steve Murray. 

Mugs and Munchkins – This Tuesday, September 15 from 9:30am-10:30am
Mugs & Munchkins will be every third Tuesday of the month from 9:30AM – 10:30AM.  This is a relaxed, welcoming space where caregivers can connect, kids can play, and we can all build friendships that will last a lifetime! More questions? Contact Annie Slabaugh (a.slabaugh@grtumc.org) or Laura Johns (l.johns@grtumc.org). 

Faith at the Movies Voting Begins Now!
You have the power to decide which stories we’ll dive into this year—and, perhaps most importantly, what will Pastor Mike wear?!  Cast your vote and help determine the movies, the conversations, and the hijinks that will ensue!  Vote here: https://bit.ly/FATM27

Missed Worship Yesterday?
Click here to watch.

Looking for the Latest Newsletter?
Click here for the September Trinity in Touch Newsletter
The next newsletter will be for October.  October newsletter articles are due by September 22.
(NOTE: Going forward, newsletter articles will be due on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. If a month has five Tuesdays, the due date will be the 4th Tuesday instead.)

UPCOMING

The Deep End: Diving into the Book of Acts – September 13 to October 18
The church didn’t happen by accident. It was built by ordinary people who showed up, took risks, and let the Spirit lead them somewhere new. Join Pastor Mike as we dig into the book of Acts and watch the first followers of Jesus figure out what it actually means to be the church, together. This fall, we’ll trace how a small, scared group in an upper room became a movement that changed the world, and ask what it means to live that same kind of faith today. Adult Faith Formation meets Sundays at 11:30am in Discovery Room. 

God’s Naturehood: Adult Edition – Friday, September 25 from 1:00pm-3:00pm
Designed for Trinity families & friends ages 18 & up, God’s Naturehood: Adult Edition is a great opportunity to visit a new park, get to know members of your Trinity family better, and get your daily steps in. For our September walk, we’ll be explore some of the City Center Art Prize venues! Meet at 1:00pm at the northeast corner of Veterans Memorial Park at the corner of E Park Place NE & Library Street NE; across the street from the GRPL Downtown building. We will try to get to several larger venues like Fountain Street, Kendall, the Amway Grand, Park Church, etc. There will be a snack & beverage stop part way through our extended 2 hour timeframe in case anyone needs refreshments or a few minutes to rest. Contact Laura Johns at L.Johns@grtumc.org with questions or to RSVP. 

Annual Church Conference – SATURDAY, September 26 at 3:00pm
Trinity’s Charge Conference will take place on Saturday, September 26, at First UMC located at 227 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, with our specific church meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m. 

Family Family Night: Hoppers – Friday, October 2 from 5:00pm-8:30pm
Hop on over to our first Family Night of the 2026-2027 program year on Friday, October 2nd from 5:00pm-8:30pm. You don’t want to miss “Hoppers” themed activities, dinner, dessert & a mini creation justice service project. Plus, we’ll close our time with a screening of the film! As Grandma Tanaka says, “It’s hard to be mad when you feel like you’re part of something big.” And this, my friends, will be big! So join us and remember that you are welcome at this event. Regardless of your age, whether you have kids, whether the idea of talking beavers freaks you out, or whether you have never seen a Pixar film – you are welcome and have a place here with us! In order to plan supplies and food appropriately, we need folks to RSVP. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person; maximum $35 per family to help offset food & supply costs. That said, we never want price to prevent participation, so you’re always welcome to select the subsidized options on our online form. Get all the details and register at: https://tinyurl.com/TUMC-FN26. If you have questions about this opportunity, contact Laura Johns at l.johns@grtumc.org.

One Church. One Family. One Photo. – Sunday, October 4 after Worship
This World Communion Sunday, a day that reminds us that even in a divided world, the table of Christ is big enough for all of us, help us capture a snapshot of who Trinity is today.  Every year we grow a bit and things change subtly.  New faces join, families move on to new adventures, kids grow up, and longtime members keep showing up faithfully.  This is our chance to freeze this moment in our story, this specific gathering of people God has brought together.  Plan to wear a solid color (red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, orange, etc.) and bring you best smile!

Trinity Orchard Outing – Saturday, October 17 from 3:30pm-5:30pm
Join us at Schwallier’s Country Basket in Sparta for another daytime outing! We’ve rented the upstairs of the big red barn for a private gathering & fellowship space. We’ll meet there before heading out into the public areas on a special all-ages scavenger hunt – can you find the baby goats, the pumpkin patch, the rubber duck races, the special family photo booth with our amazing photographer Randy ready to take a perfect fall family pic? We’ll reconvene in the barn for a time of sharing with cider & donuts. The cost is $15 per person and includes the barn rental, cider, donuts, cow train passes, goat food, and other Trinity supplies. Free activities around the barn include petting zoo, duck races, straw pile, corn crib play area, slides, swings, and more! For more information and to sign up, use our online registration form at: tinyurl.com/TUMC-Orchard2026. Deadline to register is October 15 at 12:00pm. If you have questions about this opportunity, contact Laura Johns at l.johns@grtumc.org.

Save the Date!  “A Night to Remember” Community Ministries Program Dinner – November 6th from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Join us for an evening of food, music and stories from our community partners about the work from Trinity UMC and the Community Ministries Program. This is an extraordinary evening of song and story that you won’t forget! This is free-event but event registrations are encouraged to help provide numbers for space and food. Invite a friend to come and have a night out! Come hear inspirational stories and be a part of the ministry that happens at each of these evenings by encouraging youth to speak in front of a cheering crowd and overcome their fears (and even some adults too!). This is an evening you won’t want to miss!

ONGOING

Looking for Links?
Not sure where to find something online? Check out these links below…

• Greeters (Adults & Families): Welcome people at the doors and in the Parlor before worship. https://tinyurl.com/TUMC-GreetersSept-Dec2026

• Acolytes (Kids & Youth): Help light the candles in the Sanctuary. https://tinyurl.com/TUMC-AcolyteFall2026

• Order a “Belong, Be Love, Be You” Trinity Shirt HERE

• Order a “God Loves You” shirt HERE.

• Trinity’s New Social Justice Resource HERE

• Pastor Mike’s Sermon Blog HERE